SENIOR CERTAINTIES (4)

Sometimes humor is helpful in senior years (sometimes not).

I’ve been stopped about speeding only two times in my life.
Notice I said about speeding, not for speeding.
One time I was driving my 80cc Yamaha motorcycle on a rough street.
I was stopped for driving too slow—no ticket, no problem.

The other time was a during a sincere effort for a second honeymoon after some very rough years.
We were involved in meaningful conversation, and I didn’t realize I had slowed down, and that got the attention of an officer.
He had me get out of the car, perhaps to check if I was under the influence.
He pointed out that I was driving too slow, and wondered why.
I told him the truth.
He had to verify this with my wife in the car, separately.
When her answer matched mine, the officer was amazed by our story, and engaged in a few minutes of warm conversation.
– – –
A couple positive notes about driving, from my personal experience:
+ In 59+ years of driving, I never had a ticket for a moving violation.
That may have something to do with growing up on the farm, and driving as soon as I could reach the pedals—and driving the tractor slowly for loading hay before I could reach the pedals.
+ The second is such an amazing blessing, holding true for nearly four decades now—there never was a time when I was a passenger with any of my four children driving, that I felt uncomfortable with their driving.
That calls for a humble shout of PRAISE THE LORD ! ! !

SENIOR CERTAINTIES (3)

There is a growing list of uncertainties as we get older.

— thinking of things that might/will happen (worry)
— surprises that catch us off-guard (oh no)
— slowing down (difficult)
— getting weaker (dealing with it)
— forgetting more (with anxiety)
— limited manual labor (can’t do it)

There remains a list of certainties that count.
— getting closer to God
— getting stronger in faith (sometimes because you have to)
— more treasured Bible verses
— more prayer
— more thinking of heaven
— more thanking
— more talking about Jesus
— slowing down (positive—SLOW in search box)

SENIOR CERTAINTIES (2)

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.”

SENIOR CERTAINTIES (1)

Just the facts – – – and – – – something positive.

Learning something new—Limited.

Sharing what I’ve got—Unlimited.

WHAT IF IT’S AN INVENTION, NOT A DISCOVERY ?

Disclaimer/Warning !

Please note “WHAT IF” in the title.
I do not declare the following definitively, but the widespread emphasis on (and acceptance of) complex, detailed delineation of end-time time-lines makes me think of the possible parallel between the invention of evolution and the ‘obvious’ conclusion of pre-trib rapture.

My point is not a proof against pre-trib, but an observation that raises the question,
“What if pre-trib positions, and the details that follow, come through logic that makes everything fit, complete with charts that tell all ?”

What if pre-trib is an invention to fit into the end-times what we want—to avoid big trouble ?

The average person (that is, everybody except the teacher/theologian) never experiences, never grasps the Bible verses leading to the conclusions about end-times—as opposed to the common pattern of just “Let me tell you what it means.”

If the end-time sequences are so clear to the theologians, as shown by their ‘charts’, then it should be easy to lead the listeners through the verses from the start, step by step at their speed, to see how you get there.
That doesn’t happen.

– – –

“WHAT IF” there is a parallel ?

Pre-trib rapture:
So sure it’s going to happen exactly this way, right away, with all these details.
Never heard so much fine-tuned detail until recently.
All figured-out—with Bible prophecy to prove it.
Lots of conclusions—now just exactly how did you get there ?

Evolution:
So sure it happened exactly this way, long, long, long time ago.
Why such majority acceptance (or partial acceptance) of evolution by Christians ?
Why Christians did not rise up and stop the universal introduction of evolution in schools ?
Why Christians, even today, are wish-washy about young earth/old earth ‘debate’ ?

– – –

The biggest pitfall, the biggest fallacy, the biggest red flag—with growing emphasis in end-time teaching— is the shift by many in the original Gospel message,
from:
+++ “Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus to not go to hell but have eternal life in heaven.”
to:
XXX “Accept Jesus to avoid The Great Tribulation.”

POLITICS AND RELIGION

Please read DO POLITICS AND RELIGION MIX ?

WHY THE P U S H ! FOR TRANSGENDER ?

I came across an article from ten years ago, that listed some patterns, outcomes, consequences of the militant gay agenda—developments that show “unnatural never has enough”, is never satisfied.
As I re-read about the sadness of unfulfilled lifestyles, that turns to ever-greater power grab for meaning—it almost said, “What’s next ?”

What was next in their demands for more, that they could not find in what they had ?

In the decade since the article, the next step in this continuum of evil* has played out so very graphically.

Transgender—suggested, then recruited, then pushed, then imposed, then criminally forced on children with ideological, medical, physical mutilation.

The depravity of the entire lgbt agenda also simultaneously captured the culture by storm with DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion), which caught many institutions and industries so off guard, to drown in the tsunami.

All the above left the culture, this country, without a compass, headed into a hurricane of certain destruction.

THANKFULLY, and I mean “Thank You to God”, there are changes in the last year and the last months.
Major companies have reversed their policies and eliminated DEI.
Many states have banned DEI in public schools and colleges.
The federal government has canceled DEI in all agencies.
And more . . .

Now, America, brought back from the brink of demise, has the biggest fight for its life in history.|
Those who want to change America by destroying it, are writhing in anger and hate over any return to morality, sanity, freedom, democracy, family, nature and nature’s God.
More than ever, Christians must pray and publicly speak up and stand up for Jesus, for family, for Biblical values our country was built on.

* “continuum of evil” answers the question “WHY ?”
When the power of the evil one, the devil, gets hold of individuals and nations, and they forget God, there is no satisfaction or stopping the consequences or indulgence in depravity.

(Read the article from ten years ago, IT IS SAD – – – IT IS ABOUT POWER

CATHOLICISM – – – HALF CHRISTIANITY

The Catholic Church says Jesus is our Savior—got that right—that’s Biblical.
“Jesus said, ‘I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life—no one comes to God the Father except through Me.'”

The Catholic Church adds stuff to Christianity, stuff to do to be right with God—got that wrong—that’s not Biblical.
“By grace you are saved, through faith. It is the gift of God, not of works, so no one can boast.”

Keep it simple—the Bible keeps it simple—come to God as a little child would come to God.
Keep it simple—the Catholic Church makes it complicated—and they are not the only church that makes it complicated.

– – –

Is there a test, a rule of thumb, something to check if a church is keeping things simple, Biblical ?
Yes.

Does the church teaching and preaching quote and emphasize what the Bible says more than what the church says ?
Can the listener tell when the leader is saying words from the Bible or saying words from people ?
Does the church’s theology start with Bible passages or with the church’s doctrinal statements ?

– – –

Can a church offer half Christianity—what the Bible says, plus what man says ?
Trusting any theologian, however educated or revered, is more dangerous than trusting someone from the government, however impressive or persuasive.
Trust the Bible, first, last, always—know what’s in it yourself—read it, study it, live it—then you will discern what teaching is directly from the Bible.

“If anyone desires to do God’s will, he will know the doctrine, whether my teaching is from God, or whether I speak on My own.”—–Jesus said that, and every preacher should also.

JEHOVAH _____

The Old Testament has many names for God, according to His attributes.
Jehovah Jirah—The Lord Who Provides
Jehovah Rapha—The Lord Who Heals
Jehovah Nissi—The Lord Our Banner
Jehovah Rohi—The Lord Is My Shepherd
Jehovah Shalom—The Lord Is Peace
Jehovah Tsidkenu—The Lord Our Righteousness
And more

Jeff Shreve (on afr) added one—
JEHOVA NICKO’TIME

“God is rarely early, but He’s always on time.”

RICH – – – WHAT FOR ?

Rich—toward what ?

Rich—toward whom ?

Rich—have it all, and Jesus ?

Rich—comfortable ?

Rich—give ?

Rich—sacrifice ?

Rich—suffering ?

Rich—Can you surrender ALL to Jesus, and still maintain your standard of living ?

Rich—Who decides your standard of living ?

Rich—What determines your contentment ?

Rich—How much is enough, for you ?

? ? ? “If God gave me the gift of making money (lots of it), then I should spend my life making all I can.” ? ? ? ?
Then what ?
Rich—what for ?

A millionaire friend told me to focus only on making money for a couple years (contracts for full-time bobcat work), and pause helping others whenever they ask, to get out of debt—then return to helping others, with freedom.
Getting out of debt is very good, Biblical—but my pastor immediately pointed out a problem with my ‘successful’ friend’s plan.
He said that once you get used to making more money, it is unlikely you will return to helping others later.