Common Sense Commentary: Before midnight, December 31, Calendar in hand, the Old Man of the Mountain, Rayburn Blair, advises .........
" ORCHESTRATE YOUR FATE !"
"Seven DAYS shalt thou consecrate..... Ex.29:35.
A New Year's Resolution for financial success: If you promise a date to congregate, officiate, celebrate, arbitrate, associate, candidate, congratulate, dedicate. consecrate, cremate, debate, demonstrate, educate, incorporate, indoctrinate, litigate, moderate, negotiate, matriculate, graduate or otherwise participate ....
Then in heaven's name, and in your APPOINTMENT slate, Indicate that Date ! Accommodate your fate, allocate the time and be accurate. Calculate and checkmate that date. Contemplate, coordinate, and, yea, anticipate that set date. Illuminate and stimulate your fate, regulate and situate that date . In other words, locate and predestinate that date ... and don't waaait. Beware to relegate your eternal fate to a "time" apostate or you may have to relocate ... and innovate another failure in that resume "the dog ate".
But, whatever you do .... don't aggravate your mate, deviate your fate and stir up hate, by forgetting that agreed upon BIG date. Don't approximate and be late. Don't alienate your friends and associates, decimate your influence and abdicate your future estate. And please don't unilaterally amputate an important, bloody date. When we equivocate and procrastinate, we thereby complicate, frustrate, violate, invalidate and irritate. In short, we vegetate. Don't be an innate ingrate or a time reprobate which makes one "third rate" and causes friends to separate. Boy, you ain't nothin but turtle bait and your employment will fluctuate when you speculate on a given work date. If you are not punctual, they will punctuate your employment state. Beware to desecrate a committed, promised date. Be an EXECUTIVE PLANNER and don't hesitate or you will never live in an Employer's Estate or eat from an Employer's plate.
That's 80 years of experience talking. Pass it on to your young hopeful or associate before it is too late for them to Orchestrate their fate. In 3 words, be HONEST, HONORABLE, FAITHFUL. RB
Dec 29, 2010
Dec 24, 2010
Pacifism: "Peace At Any Price" is Ridiculous !
Common Sense Commentary: Freedom is not free and neither is public safety or good government.
If, in your mind, you pacifists can conjure up any circumstance in which you would use violence to protect yourself or your family, your anti violence philosophy becomes contradictory and therefore disingenuous. Likewise, if you insist there is no such situation, no matter how fearful, painful or deadly, in which you would lash out at a perpetrator to save yourself or family from death, you are either naive, a coward or a liar. And, if you disapprove of any and all military action in defence of our country, including foreign invasion, then you must also disapprove of any and all police protection from home invasion, murder, rape, theft and reckless driving, if you are to be consistent in your pacifism.
The Pacifist is certain that war is never necessary and peace can always be achieved through arbitration. Enemies can talk out their differences and come to agreement. Nevil Chamberlain believed that and "talked out England's differences" with Adolph Hitler and returned to England waving a mutually agreed upon peace promise from the Nazis. "Peace in our time" he shouted to England as he got off the plane from Germany. The peace lasted only as long as Hitler needed to prepare for war with England. The Soviet Communists had a similar agreement with Hitler. It was also a ruse ... but on both sides. Common sense reality is a foreign language to Pacifists and Liberal Socialists alike. It's like they are from another planet, a different form of life or children in adult bodies.
A realist does not make peace agreements with a hungry lion, a shark, a sociopath, a terrorist, a Charlie Manson, a Hitler or a Stalin. A realist makes this agreement with such animals, habitual criminals and serial killers, " cross this line and I'll break your leg, cross this next line and I'll kill you. Simple, to the point, and in less than ten thousand pages; but you must live up to your promise or it gains nothing except sneers of contempt and even greater danger.
The result of absolute pacifism, if embraced by the majority of citizens, would quickly become chaotic and result in anarchy, where nobody would be safe from the lawless criminals and sociopaths.
God's Word makes provision for Military and Police protection as well as self defence. It is most obvious in the Old Testament but also clearly defined in Romans 13:1-7 . Even Jesus told his disciples, "He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one". Luke 22:36. Don't try to explain away His words: He meant exactly what He said.
If I had my choice for neighbors, it would be a policeman next door, a sheriff's deputy on the other side, an FBI agent over the back fence and an NRA member across the street. That is not for protection, I can take care of my own, but I just like that kind of folks. The finest people I have ever met were in church, on the rifle and pistol range, or at a Tea Party Rally.
If you don't like my attitude, I am sick of yours. Most Americans have had it up to here ... my right ear, with lillie livered, yellow bellied, weak kneed, power hungry, Liberal Politicians, both Republican and Democrats.
We have had it up to the other ear with their greedy, government give away, pacifist supporters, who hate business owners and successful employers and don't even pay taxes but want more and more free money from the public trough in place of a job. If they weigh 300 pounds, they are not starving.
If pacifists had their way, we would all be living under the heel hell of the Nazis, Japanese Imperialists or Communists. Even Castro, Chavez, or Mexican drug lords could whip us.
It is high time for the flag waving Patriots, tax paying workers, good old boys and Constitutional Americans to stand up, step forward and be the "Heroes who saved America" for our children and grandchildren. I'm too old to do much (80 today), but expressing myself, obviously comes easy.
Pass it on. RB
If, in your mind, you pacifists can conjure up any circumstance in which you would use violence to protect yourself or your family, your anti violence philosophy becomes contradictory and therefore disingenuous. Likewise, if you insist there is no such situation, no matter how fearful, painful or deadly, in which you would lash out at a perpetrator to save yourself or family from death, you are either naive, a coward or a liar. And, if you disapprove of any and all military action in defence of our country, including foreign invasion, then you must also disapprove of any and all police protection from home invasion, murder, rape, theft and reckless driving, if you are to be consistent in your pacifism.
The Pacifist is certain that war is never necessary and peace can always be achieved through arbitration. Enemies can talk out their differences and come to agreement. Nevil Chamberlain believed that and "talked out England's differences" with Adolph Hitler and returned to England waving a mutually agreed upon peace promise from the Nazis. "Peace in our time" he shouted to England as he got off the plane from Germany. The peace lasted only as long as Hitler needed to prepare for war with England. The Soviet Communists had a similar agreement with Hitler. It was also a ruse ... but on both sides. Common sense reality is a foreign language to Pacifists and Liberal Socialists alike. It's like they are from another planet, a different form of life or children in adult bodies.
A realist does not make peace agreements with a hungry lion, a shark, a sociopath, a terrorist, a Charlie Manson, a Hitler or a Stalin. A realist makes this agreement with such animals, habitual criminals and serial killers, " cross this line and I'll break your leg, cross this next line and I'll kill you. Simple, to the point, and in less than ten thousand pages; but you must live up to your promise or it gains nothing except sneers of contempt and even greater danger.
The result of absolute pacifism, if embraced by the majority of citizens, would quickly become chaotic and result in anarchy, where nobody would be safe from the lawless criminals and sociopaths.
God's Word makes provision for Military and Police protection as well as self defence. It is most obvious in the Old Testament but also clearly defined in Romans 13:1-7 . Even Jesus told his disciples, "He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one". Luke 22:36. Don't try to explain away His words: He meant exactly what He said.
If I had my choice for neighbors, it would be a policeman next door, a sheriff's deputy on the other side, an FBI agent over the back fence and an NRA member across the street. That is not for protection, I can take care of my own, but I just like that kind of folks. The finest people I have ever met were in church, on the rifle and pistol range, or at a Tea Party Rally.
If you don't like my attitude, I am sick of yours. Most Americans have had it up to here ... my right ear, with lillie livered, yellow bellied, weak kneed, power hungry, Liberal Politicians, both Republican and Democrats.
We have had it up to the other ear with their greedy, government give away, pacifist supporters, who hate business owners and successful employers and don't even pay taxes but want more and more free money from the public trough in place of a job. If they weigh 300 pounds, they are not starving.
If pacifists had their way, we would all be living under the heel hell of the Nazis, Japanese Imperialists or Communists. Even Castro, Chavez, or Mexican drug lords could whip us.
It is high time for the flag waving Patriots, tax paying workers, good old boys and Constitutional Americans to stand up, step forward and be the "Heroes who saved America" for our children and grandchildren. I'm too old to do much (80 today), but expressing myself, obviously comes easy.
Pass it on. RB
Dec 23, 2010
The Slave Trader who wrote "Amazing Grace". Letter to my son
Common Sense Commentary: Today, my son Rex forwarded to me a letter written in 1778 by John Newton to his friend entitled, "Like Coins From The Same Mint". John Newton, who wrote the beloved song, " Amazing Grace", was a wicked slave trader before his acceptance of Jesus Christ as his Saviour and forgiveness of his sins. His letter was reprinted by Grace Gems and sent out to their subscribers. I will first give you, my readers, my reply to my son, Rex, and then John Newton's letter to his friend below that.
Yes, Son, I agree with John Newton and relate to his confession as did the Apostle Paul. Though we be saved, the common, sin nature is still in our flesh pulling and pushing us to yield to the evil lurking there. I am afraid we Christians have been led astray by preachers and other Christians who are still clinging to the false doctrine that somehow, out flesh is different from that of the sinful world; and we must pretend we are exempt from it's presence. That pretension is simply the delusion of self righteousness. It is the inner man, the spiritual man who is "born of God" and thereby "clothed in the Righteousness of Christ" of whom God speaks in 1Jn.3:9. "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; (why?) for His (God's) seed remaineth in him; and he CANNOT sin,because he is born of God." This verse clearly states that the inner, spiritual man, which is what is born of God, not only "doth not commit sin", but "he CANNOT SIN". Any honest Christian KNOWS that he or she DOES sin, in the flesh, but hates it. Our "outer", fleshly man does the sinning but our "inner" spiritual man hates it. A truly spiritual life can only be lived by the Christian who yields his fleshly appetites to the Spirit filled, born again, inner, spiritual man who wants to walk "in the Spirit not in the flesh". "Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord will not impute sin". Rom.4:8. The Apostle Paul clearly infers that the sin is there but "the Lord will not impute" it to the Born Again Spiritual man or woman because the sin is in their flesh not their soul where God's Holy Spirit lives. Jesus paid for all our sins, past, present and future. Our sins were "crucified with Him" "Our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." Rom.6:6. Paul also said, in Rom.7:14-25, the same thing John Newton, who wrote "Amazing Grace", said.
Paul's inspired words .... "For we know that the law is spiritual; but I AM carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not; for what I would do, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that is is good (it convicts me of sin). Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, IN MY FLESH), dwelleth no good thing: for TO WILL is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I delight in the law of God after the INWARD man; But I see another law in my members (flesh) warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members (flesh). O wretched man that I AM ! (present tense) who shall deliver me from the BODY of this death ? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." "There is therefore NOW no condemnation (painful discipline) to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 7:14 through 8:1. The Apostle Paul spoke it, of himself, in the present tense not the past tense.... Present tense .... while he spoke it. If our "flesh" were saved, born again, it would not betray us constantly, get sick, smell bad, get old, ugly, die and rot. The key is, to stay in God's Word, Pray a lot, and with God's help, walk in the Spirit with Him, not in the flesh, to avoid divine discipline and stay in close Fellowship with our Saviour. Yes, it is a struggle between Spirit and flesh, good and evil, light and darkness. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." 1Jn.3:2. At the Rapture, these old dying and dead bodies will be resurrected, glorified and "we shall be like Him when we see Him". Until them, I Love you Son. Psm.115:1, Your Dad.
Here is John Newton's 1778 letter to a friend entitled, "Like Coins from the same mint"!
My dear sir, I could write a long note indeed, upon your very great mistake in considering me as a great man. If we could have a personal interview -- I think you would be quickly undeceived ! Ah! how different I am -- from what perhaps I appear to be to others when in the pulpit.
Your mistake, however, has done me good. A whole quire of invective from an enemy could hardly have given me so keen a sense of shame. The Scripture assures us that our hearts by nature, "like coins from the same mint" -- are all alike. I hear my fellow-Christians complain of evils similar to what I feel. Otherwise I would have reason to conclude that there could not be one believer upon earth -- so inconsistent, so evil, so vile beyond expression -- as myself !
Ah, dear sir ! what would you have thought of me -- had you seen me when I lived among the slaves ? The sight of me would have been offensive to your eyes, and my vile speech would have struck you with horror ! I was miserable and despicable in every view -- the common mark of scorn and insult! My whole wretched amusement and pleasure seemed to lie in blaspheming the name and person of Jesus, and in feeding my imagination with schemes of wickedness!
Some of my unhappy companions have perished in their sins-- who have just cause to charge the ruin of their souls to my account! for Satan himself, had he been upon earth in a bodily shape -- could hardly have been more industrious in tempting to infidelity and profligacy than I was !
There is seldom a day of my life, in which my thoughts are not led back to my former state of estrangement from Him, and that pre-eminence of wretchedness into which my sins plunged me !
Yet, it is of grace that my poor story is not much worse. The Lord is my keeper -- therefore I am still preserved. "By the grace of God -- I am what I am!" 1Cor. 15:10/
I am, dear sir, your affectionate friend and servant, John Newton, 1778.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see!
Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine !
John Newton.
Reprinted from Grace Gems
Pass it on. RB
Yes, Son, I agree with John Newton and relate to his confession as did the Apostle Paul. Though we be saved, the common, sin nature is still in our flesh pulling and pushing us to yield to the evil lurking there. I am afraid we Christians have been led astray by preachers and other Christians who are still clinging to the false doctrine that somehow, out flesh is different from that of the sinful world; and we must pretend we are exempt from it's presence. That pretension is simply the delusion of self righteousness. It is the inner man, the spiritual man who is "born of God" and thereby "clothed in the Righteousness of Christ" of whom God speaks in 1Jn.3:9. "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; (why?) for His (God's) seed remaineth in him; and he CANNOT sin,because he is born of God." This verse clearly states that the inner, spiritual man, which is what is born of God, not only "doth not commit sin", but "he CANNOT SIN". Any honest Christian KNOWS that he or she DOES sin, in the flesh, but hates it. Our "outer", fleshly man does the sinning but our "inner" spiritual man hates it. A truly spiritual life can only be lived by the Christian who yields his fleshly appetites to the Spirit filled, born again, inner, spiritual man who wants to walk "in the Spirit not in the flesh". "Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord will not impute sin". Rom.4:8. The Apostle Paul clearly infers that the sin is there but "the Lord will not impute" it to the Born Again Spiritual man or woman because the sin is in their flesh not their soul where God's Holy Spirit lives. Jesus paid for all our sins, past, present and future. Our sins were "crucified with Him" "Our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." Rom.6:6. Paul also said, in Rom.7:14-25, the same thing John Newton, who wrote "Amazing Grace", said.
Paul's inspired words .... "For we know that the law is spiritual; but I AM carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not; for what I would do, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that is is good (it convicts me of sin). Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, IN MY FLESH), dwelleth no good thing: for TO WILL is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I delight in the law of God after the INWARD man; But I see another law in my members (flesh) warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members (flesh). O wretched man that I AM ! (present tense) who shall deliver me from the BODY of this death ? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." "There is therefore NOW no condemnation (painful discipline) to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 7:14 through 8:1. The Apostle Paul spoke it, of himself, in the present tense not the past tense.... Present tense .... while he spoke it. If our "flesh" were saved, born again, it would not betray us constantly, get sick, smell bad, get old, ugly, die and rot. The key is, to stay in God's Word, Pray a lot, and with God's help, walk in the Spirit with Him, not in the flesh, to avoid divine discipline and stay in close Fellowship with our Saviour. Yes, it is a struggle between Spirit and flesh, good and evil, light and darkness. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." 1Jn.3:2. At the Rapture, these old dying and dead bodies will be resurrected, glorified and "we shall be like Him when we see Him". Until them, I Love you Son. Psm.115:1, Your Dad.
Here is John Newton's 1778 letter to a friend entitled, "Like Coins from the same mint"!
My dear sir, I could write a long note indeed, upon your very great mistake in considering me as a great man. If we could have a personal interview -- I think you would be quickly undeceived ! Ah! how different I am -- from what perhaps I appear to be to others when in the pulpit.
Your mistake, however, has done me good. A whole quire of invective from an enemy could hardly have given me so keen a sense of shame. The Scripture assures us that our hearts by nature, "like coins from the same mint" -- are all alike. I hear my fellow-Christians complain of evils similar to what I feel. Otherwise I would have reason to conclude that there could not be one believer upon earth -- so inconsistent, so evil, so vile beyond expression -- as myself !
Ah, dear sir ! what would you have thought of me -- had you seen me when I lived among the slaves ? The sight of me would have been offensive to your eyes, and my vile speech would have struck you with horror ! I was miserable and despicable in every view -- the common mark of scorn and insult! My whole wretched amusement and pleasure seemed to lie in blaspheming the name and person of Jesus, and in feeding my imagination with schemes of wickedness!
Some of my unhappy companions have perished in their sins-- who have just cause to charge the ruin of their souls to my account! for Satan himself, had he been upon earth in a bodily shape -- could hardly have been more industrious in tempting to infidelity and profligacy than I was !
There is seldom a day of my life, in which my thoughts are not led back to my former state of estrangement from Him, and that pre-eminence of wretchedness into which my sins plunged me !
Yet, it is of grace that my poor story is not much worse. The Lord is my keeper -- therefore I am still preserved. "By the grace of God -- I am what I am!" 1Cor. 15:10/
I am, dear sir, your affectionate friend and servant, John Newton, 1778.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see!
Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine !
John Newton.
Reprinted from Grace Gems
Pass it on. RB
Dec 21, 2010
Sins Of The Tongue, Most Numerous & Offensive
Common Sense Commentary: "Let thy words be few " and true. EC.5:2
Preparing a sermon on gossip, sowing discord, and idle talk, I discovered that there are ten times more references, in the Bible, to the sins of the tongue than to all the other forms of sin combined. This was a surprising and revealing fact to me, but it shouldn't have been. I should have known the evil tongue's manifold preponderance, destructiveness and offense to God by simply observing the types of sin one comes in contact with every day. The same percentages hold true in life as in Scripture ... We are exposed to ten times more sins of the tongue than all other sin combined. Similar to a contagious, deadly virus, it is communicable and spreads rapidly to others.
I think it is accurate that most of us are so inundated these days with gossip, idle talk, cursing, criticism, lies, misrepresentations, exaggerations and broken promises that we are almost immune to any reaction to these wicked verbal violations of God's Word. "The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell". James 3:6. This verse should scare us into examining every single word we utter.
In today's world, many people think absolutely nothing of promising to do things they have no intention of doing. Character assassination of a third person is passed along to another gossip as "Constructive Criticism" or "For your protection". It more resembles "Destructive Terrorism". Vicious gossip is given and received as eagerly as if it were delectable morsels of nourishment to a starving, emaciated beggar. No one should allow their ear to become
a receptacle for some gossip's verbal vomit.
King David was speaking for the Lord when he warned, "Whoso privily (secretly) slandereth his neighbor, will I cut off .... " Psm.101:5. King Solomon spoke Holy Scripture, in Prov.10:18, when he said, "He that hideth
hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool". He also declared, "An ungodly (person) diggeth up evil ... a froward (person) soweth strife and a whisperer separately chief friends." Prov.16:27-28
Solomon no doubt spoke from experience and revelation when he said, "A fool's mouth is his destruction .... the words of a talebearer are as wounds ...." Prov.18:7-8 . Gossip and idle talk not only wound the target of evil remarks, but shortens the gossip's own life as well. It was wise advice indeed when Solomon counseled, "Whoso keepeth ... his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles." Prov.21:23.
Jesus suffered more than any of us at the hands of the backbiters, rumor mongers and hateful gossips. He was so hated by the Devil that false witnesses and liars were constantly recruited, by the Serpent tongues of Satan's crew, in their desire to destroy Him or to neutralize His message. Satan has not changed his methods. He still hates God and God's church and God's people and does all in his evil power to hinder us with his venom. But remember, when he strikes out at you with his verbal, poison darts, it is not for your sake but, Jesus said, "for my sake". Matt.5:11.
Before we say bad things about others, we should first ask ourselves, "Will my words glorify God" ?
I must confess, many of mine have not.
Pass it on. RB
Preparing a sermon on gossip, sowing discord, and idle talk, I discovered that there are ten times more references, in the Bible, to the sins of the tongue than to all the other forms of sin combined. This was a surprising and revealing fact to me, but it shouldn't have been. I should have known the evil tongue's manifold preponderance, destructiveness and offense to God by simply observing the types of sin one comes in contact with every day. The same percentages hold true in life as in Scripture ... We are exposed to ten times more sins of the tongue than all other sin combined. Similar to a contagious, deadly virus, it is communicable and spreads rapidly to others.
I think it is accurate that most of us are so inundated these days with gossip, idle talk, cursing, criticism, lies, misrepresentations, exaggerations and broken promises that we are almost immune to any reaction to these wicked verbal violations of God's Word. "The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell". James 3:6. This verse should scare us into examining every single word we utter.
In today's world, many people think absolutely nothing of promising to do things they have no intention of doing. Character assassination of a third person is passed along to another gossip as "Constructive Criticism" or "For your protection". It more resembles "Destructive Terrorism". Vicious gossip is given and received as eagerly as if it were delectable morsels of nourishment to a starving, emaciated beggar. No one should allow their ear to become
a receptacle for some gossip's verbal vomit.
King David was speaking for the Lord when he warned, "Whoso privily (secretly) slandereth his neighbor, will I cut off .... " Psm.101:5. King Solomon spoke Holy Scripture, in Prov.10:18, when he said, "He that hideth
hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool". He also declared, "An ungodly (person) diggeth up evil ... a froward (person) soweth strife and a whisperer separately chief friends." Prov.16:27-28
Solomon no doubt spoke from experience and revelation when he said, "A fool's mouth is his destruction .... the words of a talebearer are as wounds ...." Prov.18:7-8 . Gossip and idle talk not only wound the target of evil remarks, but shortens the gossip's own life as well. It was wise advice indeed when Solomon counseled, "Whoso keepeth ... his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles." Prov.21:23.
Jesus suffered more than any of us at the hands of the backbiters, rumor mongers and hateful gossips. He was so hated by the Devil that false witnesses and liars were constantly recruited, by the Serpent tongues of Satan's crew, in their desire to destroy Him or to neutralize His message. Satan has not changed his methods. He still hates God and God's church and God's people and does all in his evil power to hinder us with his venom. But remember, when he strikes out at you with his verbal, poison darts, it is not for your sake but, Jesus said, "for my sake". Matt.5:11.
Before we say bad things about others, we should first ask ourselves, "Will my words glorify God" ?
I must confess, many of mine have not.
Pass it on. RB
Dec 19, 2010
God Promised, Time passed and "It Came to Pass".
Common Sense Commentary:
God's Word says, "To every thing there is a season, and a TIME to every PURPOSE UNDER HEAVEN; a TIME to be born and a TIME to die...." Ecc.1:1.
God knows the past, present and future ... each as thoroughly as the other. He plans all the big things, lets nature run on automatic pilot, and leaves our decisions up to us ... but with unseen encouragement to do His will and surrender our lives to His divine guidance. But still leaving us with a free will to yield our will to His perfect will or to rebel. Prophecy proves God's perfect knowledge of the future. What He does not determine, He, nevertheless, knows and could stop it if He chose to, and sometimes does, but still leaves our free will in tact. His Holy Spirit is constantly working in our lives to "guide us into all truth", convict us of sin, convince us of the need for righteousness and certainty of judgement. Jn.16:8 & Jn.16:13
Every plan and purpose of God and His established order of things, shall "come to pass". This little sentence, "It came to pass" is found 457 times in the Bible. Time always passes. Everything that God knows will happen, does happen. It always comes to pass whether it is His plan and purpose or a result of our free will which He gave us and allows us to exercise but also which we must give account for in the day of judgement.
There is what is known as "The Law Of First Mention". This law says that the first mention of any word or phrase in the Bible has special significance to it's meaning. The first mention of "It came to pass" , in God's Word, is in Genesis 4:3 "And in PROCESS OF TIME IT CAME TO PASS ...." The "process of time" is required for anything to "come to pass". Needless to say that God's Word ALWAYS comes to pass. His prophecies always come to pass. His promises always come to pass.
NOAH, in obedience to God, preached and prophesied that a world wide flood was coming and he built an ark in preparation for the certainty of God's Word. Then, Gen.7:10-13 says ...."It came to pass".
BONDAGE may last years or a life time but God promised Israel deliverance ... and chose Moses to lead His people OUT of Egyptian bondage ..."And it came to pass at the end of 430 years .... that the host of the LORD went out of the land of Egypt." Out of bondage ! Ex.12:41
LEADERSHIP has a beginning time and an ending time. "After the death of Moses ... it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Joshua ..." Josh.1:1. One ministry ends and a new one begins. As God chose Moses to lead His people OUT of bondage, He chose young Joshua to lead them INTO the Promised Land: And "It came to pass" as God had promised.
OLD AGE always "comes to pass" if life continues. "And it came to pass ... that Joshua grew old ..." Josh.23:1
Old age is the only option other than death. All who live will get old, weak, sick, invalid or die first.
DEATH is as certain as birth and life. Since the moment original sin began in Eden, the human body is destined to grow old or die or both in the passage of time. "And it came to pass... that Joshua ... the servant of the Lord, died .... Josh.24:29.
BIBLE PROPHECY always "comes to pass". Christ's virgin birth, the city he was born in and all related prophecies came to pass in Luke 2. "And the angel said ... I bring you good tidings of great joy , which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." v.11. " AND IT CAME TO PASS ..." v.15.
EVEN THE DEMONIAC OF GADARA had a special time of redemption and healing. "And it came to pass on a certain day, that (Jesus) went into a ship with his disciples; And he said unto them, Let us go over to the other side ...." Lk.8:22. They set sail to cross the ten miles over to Gadara. They sailed through a raging storm which nearly capsized the boat but arrived safely on the other side of the sea of Galilee. There they were met by a lunatic, demon possessed naked man who lived among the tombs crying and cutting himself. Jesus healed this Demoniac of Gadara, saved his soul and sent him to bear witness to his home town and relatives. That is all Jesus did there... Save and heal one crazy man. The people who saw that miraculous healing, demanded that Jesus leave. He immediately got back in the boat and sailed back to the opposite side of the stormy sea from whence He came, and was welcomed by those who lived there. "And it came to pass, that when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him." v.40. If Jesus would spend an entire day sailing, with His Apostles, through stormy seas to save and heal such a person, He certainly cares for YOU. As, "It came to pass" for this poor man, it will "come to pass for you" ... IF you are willing !
THERE IS A CLIMACTIC TIME OF OBEDIENCE AND SACRIFICE FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN WHETHER THEY ACCEPT IT OR NOT. Jesus accepted His calling. "And it came to pass, WHEN THE TIME WAS COME , that (Jesus) should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem ..." knowing that when he arrived there, he would be arrested, abused and crucified according to the prophecies and God's will for his life. Even knowing it would happen, he went on to his destiny and our salvation. Lk.9:51. But it didn't end on the cross or in the tomb ....
A TIME OF RESURRECTION. God promised it for Jesus and for all His followers. "Now upon the first day of the week .... when Jesus' disciples came to his tomb, "AND IT CAME TO PASS ....two (angels) stood by them in shining garments .... and they said unto them, Why seek the living among the dead ? He is not here but is risen ...." Lk.24:1-7. Also "...and the dead in Christ shall rise ...." 1Thess.4:16
Yes, sometimes the days and months of trial and suffering seem never to pass but remember, "This too shall pass" .... It SHALL come to pass. In his trouble, David prayed in Psm.31:15 "My times are in thy hands".
Pray that prayer with David.
Time always passes. Not the clock or calendar time but the rotation of earth, day and night, the passing of one season and arrival of another: The circuit of the sun and quartering of the moon, the infinite, all inclusive motion of the universe, the thought and actions of God..... His plan unfolding, His record books filling ... and endless time flows in perfect harmony with the river of life.
The passage of universal time is revealed in the existence of Christ. He is " The first and the last: The beginning and the ending, who was and is and is to come." Rev.1:8. His past, present and future are summed up in the name He identified himself with when Moses asked Him, "when the people ask me who sent me, what shall I say"? YHVH answered, "And God said unto Moses, I AM that I AM : and He said, thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" Ex.3:14. His true name is YHVH which is unpronounceable without the added vowels .... JEHOVAH, or YAHVAH. YHVH actually means, "The Existing One" .... I AM. I AM that I AM. He is the great I AM of eternity, past, present and future. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Heb.13:8. " And thus it shall be for believers in Christ .... when we see Him in the rapture, we shall be like Him. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God ... but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him ; for we shall see him as he is." 1 Jn.3:2. Christ, our future, our destiny !
He promised heaven and revealed the reality of hell and they shall "Come to pass" in their TIME.
He promised eternal life for believers or eternal ruin for others. Both shall "Come to pass" in God's TIME.
He promised to return to earth for us and that Second Coming of Christ shall also "Come to pass" in His TIME.
Throughout eternity we shall repeat His promises to us and then sing out, "It came to pass, it came to pass, PRAISE GOD it came to pass".
Pass it on. RB
God's Word says, "To every thing there is a season, and a TIME to every PURPOSE UNDER HEAVEN; a TIME to be born and a TIME to die...." Ecc.1:1.
God knows the past, present and future ... each as thoroughly as the other. He plans all the big things, lets nature run on automatic pilot, and leaves our decisions up to us ... but with unseen encouragement to do His will and surrender our lives to His divine guidance. But still leaving us with a free will to yield our will to His perfect will or to rebel. Prophecy proves God's perfect knowledge of the future. What He does not determine, He, nevertheless, knows and could stop it if He chose to, and sometimes does, but still leaves our free will in tact. His Holy Spirit is constantly working in our lives to "guide us into all truth", convict us of sin, convince us of the need for righteousness and certainty of judgement. Jn.16:8 & Jn.16:13
Every plan and purpose of God and His established order of things, shall "come to pass". This little sentence, "It came to pass" is found 457 times in the Bible. Time always passes. Everything that God knows will happen, does happen. It always comes to pass whether it is His plan and purpose or a result of our free will which He gave us and allows us to exercise but also which we must give account for in the day of judgement.
There is what is known as "The Law Of First Mention". This law says that the first mention of any word or phrase in the Bible has special significance to it's meaning. The first mention of "It came to pass" , in God's Word, is in Genesis 4:3 "And in PROCESS OF TIME IT CAME TO PASS ...." The "process of time" is required for anything to "come to pass". Needless to say that God's Word ALWAYS comes to pass. His prophecies always come to pass. His promises always come to pass.
NOAH, in obedience to God, preached and prophesied that a world wide flood was coming and he built an ark in preparation for the certainty of God's Word. Then, Gen.7:10-13 says ...."It came to pass".
BONDAGE may last years or a life time but God promised Israel deliverance ... and chose Moses to lead His people OUT of Egyptian bondage ..."And it came to pass at the end of 430 years .... that the host of the LORD went out of the land of Egypt." Out of bondage ! Ex.12:41
LEADERSHIP has a beginning time and an ending time. "After the death of Moses ... it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Joshua ..." Josh.1:1. One ministry ends and a new one begins. As God chose Moses to lead His people OUT of bondage, He chose young Joshua to lead them INTO the Promised Land: And "It came to pass" as God had promised.
OLD AGE always "comes to pass" if life continues. "And it came to pass ... that Joshua grew old ..." Josh.23:1
Old age is the only option other than death. All who live will get old, weak, sick, invalid or die first.
DEATH is as certain as birth and life. Since the moment original sin began in Eden, the human body is destined to grow old or die or both in the passage of time. "And it came to pass... that Joshua ... the servant of the Lord, died .... Josh.24:29.
BIBLE PROPHECY always "comes to pass". Christ's virgin birth, the city he was born in and all related prophecies came to pass in Luke 2. "And the angel said ... I bring you good tidings of great joy , which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." v.11. " AND IT CAME TO PASS ..." v.15.
EVEN THE DEMONIAC OF GADARA had a special time of redemption and healing. "And it came to pass on a certain day, that (Jesus) went into a ship with his disciples; And he said unto them, Let us go over to the other side ...." Lk.8:22. They set sail to cross the ten miles over to Gadara. They sailed through a raging storm which nearly capsized the boat but arrived safely on the other side of the sea of Galilee. There they were met by a lunatic, demon possessed naked man who lived among the tombs crying and cutting himself. Jesus healed this Demoniac of Gadara, saved his soul and sent him to bear witness to his home town and relatives. That is all Jesus did there... Save and heal one crazy man. The people who saw that miraculous healing, demanded that Jesus leave. He immediately got back in the boat and sailed back to the opposite side of the stormy sea from whence He came, and was welcomed by those who lived there. "And it came to pass, that when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him." v.40. If Jesus would spend an entire day sailing, with His Apostles, through stormy seas to save and heal such a person, He certainly cares for YOU. As, "It came to pass" for this poor man, it will "come to pass for you" ... IF you are willing !
THERE IS A CLIMACTIC TIME OF OBEDIENCE AND SACRIFICE FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN WHETHER THEY ACCEPT IT OR NOT. Jesus accepted His calling. "And it came to pass, WHEN THE TIME WAS COME , that (Jesus) should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem ..." knowing that when he arrived there, he would be arrested, abused and crucified according to the prophecies and God's will for his life. Even knowing it would happen, he went on to his destiny and our salvation. Lk.9:51. But it didn't end on the cross or in the tomb ....
A TIME OF RESURRECTION. God promised it for Jesus and for all His followers. "Now upon the first day of the week .... when Jesus' disciples came to his tomb, "AND IT CAME TO PASS ....two (angels) stood by them in shining garments .... and they said unto them, Why seek the living among the dead ? He is not here but is risen ...." Lk.24:1-7. Also "...and the dead in Christ shall rise ...." 1Thess.4:16
Yes, sometimes the days and months of trial and suffering seem never to pass but remember, "This too shall pass" .... It SHALL come to pass. In his trouble, David prayed in Psm.31:15 "My times are in thy hands".
Pray that prayer with David.
Time always passes. Not the clock or calendar time but the rotation of earth, day and night, the passing of one season and arrival of another: The circuit of the sun and quartering of the moon, the infinite, all inclusive motion of the universe, the thought and actions of God..... His plan unfolding, His record books filling ... and endless time flows in perfect harmony with the river of life.
The passage of universal time is revealed in the existence of Christ. He is " The first and the last: The beginning and the ending, who was and is and is to come." Rev.1:8. His past, present and future are summed up in the name He identified himself with when Moses asked Him, "when the people ask me who sent me, what shall I say"? YHVH answered, "And God said unto Moses, I AM that I AM : and He said, thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" Ex.3:14. His true name is YHVH which is unpronounceable without the added vowels .... JEHOVAH, or YAHVAH. YHVH actually means, "The Existing One" .... I AM. I AM that I AM. He is the great I AM of eternity, past, present and future. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Heb.13:8. " And thus it shall be for believers in Christ .... when we see Him in the rapture, we shall be like Him. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God ... but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him ; for we shall see him as he is." 1 Jn.3:2. Christ, our future, our destiny !
He promised heaven and revealed the reality of hell and they shall "Come to pass" in their TIME.
He promised eternal life for believers or eternal ruin for others. Both shall "Come to pass" in God's TIME.
He promised to return to earth for us and that Second Coming of Christ shall also "Come to pass" in His TIME.
Throughout eternity we shall repeat His promises to us and then sing out, "It came to pass, it came to pass, PRAISE GOD it came to pass".
Pass it on. RB
Nov 30, 2010
Seven National Political Systems Or States Of Being
Common Sense Commentary: "And he (Jesus) said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's". Luke 20:25. These words of Jesus are clear. Everyone has a God given responsibility to support and keep law and order for the safety and functioning of every society and protection against the lawless. However, we are not to give government "the things which be God's". If Caesar's law violates God's law, we are not to give up God's Word for Caesar's laws, opinions, or demands. God created government for the "welfare" and safety of people not to abuse and misuse them. Christians are to stand against such illicit, government actions.
Every National, Political System will, slowly or rapidly, but eventually, be moved by it's masses of people or by a strong faction of it's people to left or right of it's present state. All Nations are in flux. Even the greatest and strongest empires, in all of history, grew out of some other political system, in it's beginning, and eventually fell and changed to something else. This may not be America's turn to fall but it is headed in that direction. Only God, and our commitment to Him and what He created here, in our nation, can save us from something much worse than we have had. If we do not fight for our freedom, God will not do it for us. Because of our turning from Him, we do not deserve deliverance.
.... Here Are Seven National, Political States Of Being .....
1. ANARCHY = Total, national freedom from governance of any kind and therefore, political and social disorder. A state of lawlessness, survival of the fittest, prey and predator, every man for himself and his own tribe as among animals in the jungle. Chaos ! No Government. Example: Probably Somalia and maybe even Mexico ... soon.
2. SOCIALISM = Government ownership, control and distribution of all production, markets, and resources, with Supposed equality which has never yet been accomplished because of the inborn, sinful nature of all human beings including those who rise to power. Socialism cannot last long. Example: Every single nation which has experimented with socialism has failed. Present Examples: Half the world is going toward it and the other half is coming away from it.
3. FASCISM = Government which exalts nation, race and leadership. Fascism results in severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition. A ruthless Dictatorship. Cult of personality worship. Example: Mussolini's Italy.
4. SOCIALISTIC FASCISM = Government which exalts nation, race and leadership plus Socialization of all production, markets and resources under absolute control including violation of any and all national laws and violent reaction to opposition or resistance. Requires the expansion of national borders to absorb neighbors and other countries, with natural resources or wealth, to pay for Socialistic distribution to it's own citizens. Fascist Cult of personality worship. Example: NAZI (National Socialist Party) Germany under Adolph Hitler.
5. COMMUNISM = Government of unrelenting Socialism plus Atheism. Government, supposedly chosen by the people, and ruled by the proletariat (Lowest, poorest, labor class) is god. Government worshiped but eventually is destroyed by disillusioned masses and change to some other system. This happens when they run out of nations to conquer and pilage of more wealth to sustain their socialistic, military system. Examples: Soviet Union, North Korea, and China under Mao.
6. CAPITALISM = Government of laws and personal freedom to pursue happiness, success and possessions with no outside help promised but personal opportunity. Capitalism and Free Enterprise therefore result in unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done , personal management of one's resources, time, talent, and discipline.
7. A DYING POLITICAL SYSTEM = (a) Dying Communism and Arising Capitalism or Socialism. Examples: Russia, China, Eastern Europe, Cuba. (b) Dying Capitalism and Arising Socialism/Communism. Example: United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada and Western Europe.
Capitalism and Free Enterprise are dying because our nation and other free nations have turned away from God to greed and materialism. There is more "revival" of Christianity in Russia and China than in America today. If we do not defend our American freedoms and pray for deliverance .... God will not do it for us.
Pass it on. RB
Every National, Political System will, slowly or rapidly, but eventually, be moved by it's masses of people or by a strong faction of it's people to left or right of it's present state. All Nations are in flux. Even the greatest and strongest empires, in all of history, grew out of some other political system, in it's beginning, and eventually fell and changed to something else. This may not be America's turn to fall but it is headed in that direction. Only God, and our commitment to Him and what He created here, in our nation, can save us from something much worse than we have had. If we do not fight for our freedom, God will not do it for us. Because of our turning from Him, we do not deserve deliverance.
.... Here Are Seven National, Political States Of Being .....
1. ANARCHY = Total, national freedom from governance of any kind and therefore, political and social disorder. A state of lawlessness, survival of the fittest, prey and predator, every man for himself and his own tribe as among animals in the jungle. Chaos ! No Government. Example: Probably Somalia and maybe even Mexico ... soon.
2. SOCIALISM = Government ownership, control and distribution of all production, markets, and resources, with Supposed equality which has never yet been accomplished because of the inborn, sinful nature of all human beings including those who rise to power. Socialism cannot last long. Example: Every single nation which has experimented with socialism has failed. Present Examples: Half the world is going toward it and the other half is coming away from it.
3. FASCISM = Government which exalts nation, race and leadership. Fascism results in severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition. A ruthless Dictatorship. Cult of personality worship. Example: Mussolini's Italy.
4. SOCIALISTIC FASCISM = Government which exalts nation, race and leadership plus Socialization of all production, markets and resources under absolute control including violation of any and all national laws and violent reaction to opposition or resistance. Requires the expansion of national borders to absorb neighbors and other countries, with natural resources or wealth, to pay for Socialistic distribution to it's own citizens. Fascist Cult of personality worship. Example: NAZI (National Socialist Party) Germany under Adolph Hitler.
5. COMMUNISM = Government of unrelenting Socialism plus Atheism. Government, supposedly chosen by the people, and ruled by the proletariat (Lowest, poorest, labor class) is god. Government worshiped but eventually is destroyed by disillusioned masses and change to some other system. This happens when they run out of nations to conquer and pilage of more wealth to sustain their socialistic, military system. Examples: Soviet Union, North Korea, and China under Mao.
6. CAPITALISM = Government of laws and personal freedom to pursue happiness, success and possessions with no outside help promised but personal opportunity. Capitalism and Free Enterprise therefore result in unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done , personal management of one's resources, time, talent, and discipline.
7. A DYING POLITICAL SYSTEM = (a) Dying Communism and Arising Capitalism or Socialism. Examples: Russia, China, Eastern Europe, Cuba. (b) Dying Capitalism and Arising Socialism/Communism. Example: United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada and Western Europe.
Capitalism and Free Enterprise are dying because our nation and other free nations have turned away from God to greed and materialism. There is more "revival" of Christianity in Russia and China than in America today. If we do not defend our American freedoms and pray for deliverance .... God will not do it for us.
Pass it on. RB
Nov 27, 2010
U.S. Liberal Party Platform For 2012 Elections
Common Sense Commentary: Politics makes Strange Bedfellows ???
........................................There's another word for that.
Liberal Party Platform's Priority Planks (LPPPP) and =Our reasons:
1. Support faster transportation for Brazilian sloths =Steep trees unfair.
2. "Feed the ocean's fish" legislation = Fairness and to Restore Oceans.
3. Plough all land Fort Worth to Eastern California =Useful Farm Land.
4. Annual "Be Kind To Rapists Week" Holiday =Fairness They can't help it.
5. Fed.SunScreen & Popsicles for all natives & Yukon Territory =Sunburn & Nourishment.
6. Federal Canal Frisco Bay to Death Valley =Potable Lake Water for L.A.
7. Federal Interstate Bridge Seattle to Anchorage =Save Time & Money.
8. Interstate Tunnel Tijuana Mex.to New York =Fairness to Arizona Tunnelers.
9. Federal Overpass Del Rio Mex to Chicago =Bypass Texas & Fairness to Jose.
10. Fed. pay all credit card debt =Fairness ! IT'S NOT OUR FAULT !
Pass it on. RB
........................................There's another word for that.
Liberal Party Platform's Priority Planks (LPPPP) and =Our reasons:
1. Support faster transportation for Brazilian sloths =Steep trees unfair.
2. "Feed the ocean's fish" legislation = Fairness and to Restore Oceans.
3. Plough all land Fort Worth to Eastern California =Useful Farm Land.
4. Annual "Be Kind To Rapists Week" Holiday =Fairness They can't help it.
5. Fed.SunScreen & Popsicles for all natives & Yukon Territory =Sunburn & Nourishment.
6. Federal Canal Frisco Bay to Death Valley =Potable Lake Water for L.A.
7. Federal Interstate Bridge Seattle to Anchorage =Save Time & Money.
8. Interstate Tunnel Tijuana Mex.to New York =Fairness to Arizona Tunnelers.
9. Federal Overpass Del Rio Mex to Chicago =Bypass Texas & Fairness to Jose.
10. Fed. pay all credit card debt =Fairness ! IT'S NOT OUR FAULT !
Pass it on. RB
Nov 26, 2010
Ministers Of Righteousness or Unrightness ?
Common Sense Commentary: Noah Webster says "to counterfeit" means "To imitate, copy or pretend with intent to deceive." Most people pretend to be something they are not at one time or another in their lives. I have pretended to be brave when I was scared or happy when I was not or calm when I was angry. David once pretended to be a lunitic, slobbering and acting crazy, when he was captured and brought before an enemy king. There is surely a time to do such a thing but the Bible says, Satan is a counterfeit and (counterfeits) "transforms his ministers into ministers of righteousness"." I think nothing in this world is exactly, precisely what it "appears" to be. It may be better or worse, but our perception, vision, hearing, understanding are not ever as perfect as God's. " ...Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." 1Sam.16:7.
I saw advertised on TV a "new improved bath bar". What is that ? It looked exactly like soap, and it's purpose was to wash your body but it wasn't soap, they said, "It's Dove." I'm sure they have a reason f or counterfeiting soap in the form of a bird but I still prefer that old 99 % pure stuff without the perfume. Yes, "It floats" but it doesn't fly.
I feel that way about my onions, too. I love onions (those close to me already know that) ... my wife will gladly verify it. I like onions with everything but dessert. Now forgive me you Georgia folks, but I have a serious question from all of us true onion addicts. Why would anyone develope a hybrid, streamline onion that is an onion in "appearance" and name only ? People from all over the world converge from every direction on the little farm-to-market roads of southeast Georgia to Vidalia, Ga. to pay homage to the famous Vidalia Onion. But, let's be honest, it doesn't smell like an onion, it doesn't burn even a little, it doesn't affect your breath at all, and they say, "It's sweet as an apple". That being the case, why not just slice an apple on your hamburger ? If I wanted an apple, I'd look in the fruit department.
I expect that, at any time, soneone will come out with a new pudding called "Destiny Dessert". It will have all the minimum daily requirements of vitamins and minerals and look, smell and taste like good food. It will be "Our all-new, enriched, good as home-cooked, plastic pudding." "Try it, you'll like it". But you better act quick to get a patent on the formula and a trademark on "Home-cooked Plastic Pudding" before some food chain picks up on it.
Honestly, I will not be surprised the day some guy comes to me with a marriage license, a ring, a bridesmaid, a best man and requests to be married to a gorgious wo mannequin that looks, feels and talks like she's human. Stranger things are now happening in this crazy world of pretension, lying, deceiving and counterfiting.
That brings me to my point .... It's about time, right ?
In these critical days when the truths of God are so sorely needed in the world, God's former Light lifter, Lucifer (alias Satan, the devil, the dragon, the serpent, and old slewfoot) is busily passing himself, and his ministers off as legitimate "men of God". He is, himself, running many religious organizations. He is sending his servants to seminaries, dressing them up as ministers are assumed to look, in pompous "ministerial vestments", collars, suits or dungarees and tee shirts today, with degrees and sending them out . They are like counterfeit $100 bills, passing themselves off as real ministers of God, pretending truth but skillfully dusting it with lies. They disgrace the cause of Christ, defame true ministers, cast doubt upon The Word of God and undermine the faith of weak Christians. Do such people really exist ? Ask God ....
God said of them, "For such are false Apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness." 2Cor.11:13-1.
Remember when Jesus said, "One of you shall betray me", NONE of the Apostles knew who he was talking about. They had lived and worked with Judas, their treasurer, constantly for 3 1/2 years, but NONE of them knew he was a wolf in sheep's clothing. I know that because each of them asked, "Lord is it I". Mt.26:22. Not one of them suspected it was Judas. If the Apostles of our Lord could not discern that Judas was a traitor, how can we, today, discern a counterfeit minister ? The answer is, that they did not yet have the New Testament (canonized) or the Holy Spirit as true Christians have today. Jesus had promised, "When he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth ...." Jn.16:13. Jesus also promised, concerning the completion and His New Testament, "When that which is perfect is come, THEN that which is in part shall be done away (with). 1Cor.13:10. As you will remember, when He said that, very little of the New Testament had been lived or written and the Holy Spirit had not yet been given. True Christians now have both and the Holy Scripture says, "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his". Rom.8:9. The Apostles had resources we do not have but we have resources they did not have until after Jesus ascended back into heaven. God's Holy Spirit working through God's Word will guide us in our discernment and understanding, IF WE STUDY IT. Professional money handlers do not study counterfeit bills but Government printed currency. They study it so meticulously that when a counterfeit comes to hand, they immediately recognize it as a fake. True Christians who study God's Word thoroughly and are led by His Spirit, have little trouble recognizing the counterfeit. It is not necessary to study the counterfeit religions or professing believers. Study the truth thoroughly and you will recognize the error, the false, the counterfeit.
True Christians must maintain a close, spiritual relationship with God through devoted prayer, Bible study, love and fellowship if we are to "prevail against the gates of hell", this Satanic, illegitimate, "angel of light" ,
his "false Apostles", "deceitful workers", and his "ministers of unrighteousness". God help us to be real.
Pass it on. RB
I saw advertised on TV a "new improved bath bar". What is that ? It looked exactly like soap, and it's purpose was to wash your body but it wasn't soap, they said, "It's Dove." I'm sure they have a reason f or counterfeiting soap in the form of a bird but I still prefer that old 99 % pure stuff without the perfume. Yes, "It floats" but it doesn't fly.
I feel that way about my onions, too. I love onions (those close to me already know that) ... my wife will gladly verify it. I like onions with everything but dessert. Now forgive me you Georgia folks, but I have a serious question from all of us true onion addicts. Why would anyone develope a hybrid, streamline onion that is an onion in "appearance" and name only ? People from all over the world converge from every direction on the little farm-to-market roads of southeast Georgia to Vidalia, Ga. to pay homage to the famous Vidalia Onion. But, let's be honest, it doesn't smell like an onion, it doesn't burn even a little, it doesn't affect your breath at all, and they say, "It's sweet as an apple". That being the case, why not just slice an apple on your hamburger ? If I wanted an apple, I'd look in the fruit department.
I expect that, at any time, soneone will come out with a new pudding called "Destiny Dessert". It will have all the minimum daily requirements of vitamins and minerals and look, smell and taste like good food. It will be "Our all-new, enriched, good as home-cooked, plastic pudding." "Try it, you'll like it". But you better act quick to get a patent on the formula and a trademark on "Home-cooked Plastic Pudding" before some food chain picks up on it.
Honestly, I will not be surprised the day some guy comes to me with a marriage license, a ring, a bridesmaid, a best man and requests to be married to a gorgious wo mannequin that looks, feels and talks like she's human. Stranger things are now happening in this crazy world of pretension, lying, deceiving and counterfiting.
That brings me to my point .... It's about time, right ?
In these critical days when the truths of God are so sorely needed in the world, God's former Light lifter, Lucifer (alias Satan, the devil, the dragon, the serpent, and old slewfoot) is busily passing himself, and his ministers off as legitimate "men of God". He is, himself, running many religious organizations. He is sending his servants to seminaries, dressing them up as ministers are assumed to look, in pompous "ministerial vestments", collars, suits or dungarees and tee shirts today, with degrees and sending them out . They are like counterfeit $100 bills, passing themselves off as real ministers of God, pretending truth but skillfully dusting it with lies. They disgrace the cause of Christ, defame true ministers, cast doubt upon The Word of God and undermine the faith of weak Christians. Do such people really exist ? Ask God ....
God said of them, "For such are false Apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness." 2Cor.11:13-1.
Remember when Jesus said, "One of you shall betray me", NONE of the Apostles knew who he was talking about. They had lived and worked with Judas, their treasurer, constantly for 3 1/2 years, but NONE of them knew he was a wolf in sheep's clothing. I know that because each of them asked, "Lord is it I". Mt.26:22. Not one of them suspected it was Judas. If the Apostles of our Lord could not discern that Judas was a traitor, how can we, today, discern a counterfeit minister ? The answer is, that they did not yet have the New Testament (canonized) or the Holy Spirit as true Christians have today. Jesus had promised, "When he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth ...." Jn.16:13. Jesus also promised, concerning the completion and His New Testament, "When that which is perfect is come, THEN that which is in part shall be done away (with). 1Cor.13:10. As you will remember, when He said that, very little of the New Testament had been lived or written and the Holy Spirit had not yet been given. True Christians now have both and the Holy Scripture says, "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his". Rom.8:9. The Apostles had resources we do not have but we have resources they did not have until after Jesus ascended back into heaven. God's Holy Spirit working through God's Word will guide us in our discernment and understanding, IF WE STUDY IT. Professional money handlers do not study counterfeit bills but Government printed currency. They study it so meticulously that when a counterfeit comes to hand, they immediately recognize it as a fake. True Christians who study God's Word thoroughly and are led by His Spirit, have little trouble recognizing the counterfeit. It is not necessary to study the counterfeit religions or professing believers. Study the truth thoroughly and you will recognize the error, the false, the counterfeit.
True Christians must maintain a close, spiritual relationship with God through devoted prayer, Bible study, love and fellowship if we are to "prevail against the gates of hell", this Satanic, illegitimate, "angel of light" ,
his "false Apostles", "deceitful workers", and his "ministers of unrighteousness". God help us to be real.
Pass it on. RB
Nov 24, 2010
No Money ? Learn From The U.S.Fed., Counterfeit It.
Common Sense Commentary: In Bible days, before paper currency, coins were in short supply and the people used weights and measures as a medium of exchange, and that according to the standard of honest and constant weights and measures as commanded by God Himself.
I read the other day about an unemployed printer who had ingeniously created for himself a very lucrative job out of paper. The first year he made something like ten million dollars. I say "something like" because it wasn't "exactly like". He produced some brand new, beautiful, homemade, paper, hundred dollar bills. They looked like money, spent like money, felt like money, but it wasn't money, it was counterfeit. That is exactly what "legal tender", fiat, paper U.S. dollars are too ....counterfeit. The only difference is, "Official", fiat (paper) currency is legal but to counterfeit it, is illegal. Yes, I said, "the greenback, U.S. currency, dollars are counterfeit. To counterfeit these "legal" dollars is something like counterfeiting counterfeit money. This is true because real money is supposed to always be worth an exact amount in buying power and our currency is not. It's "buying power" keeps changing downward because our government and the Federal Reserve Bank are constantly deflating the dollar, and thereby inflating the things we buy, so that our money and savings diminish in value and buying power. They do this by simply printing up all the paper money they want to pay for the hundreds of ways they give it away so the American voter, and nations we support, will love them and they can raise their own salaries and remain in office. This kind of theft of the American savers and taxpayers could not be done when we were on a gold and silver standard. Back then, before they dumped the gold and silver standards, we could take a hundred dollar bill, which said "Gold Certificate" or ten dollar "Silver Certificates" into the local bank and trade them for that exact amount of silver or gold coins. The Government or Federal Reserve Bank could not print more currency than the U.S. had in physical Gold and Silver Reserves, so they couldn't spend the country into bankruptcy as they have now done. Example: When I was a boy and the $1.00 bill was a silver certificate, I could buy a little package called a "Guess What", with two pieces of soft candy and a small toy in it, for one cent. Today, the price of that "Guess What" would be an even bigger surprise at about one (fiat) paper dollar bill. So, in "Guess What" terminology, our dollar today has lost 10,000 % in buying power since 1936 when I was in first grade. A "fiat", paper, U.S. $50.00 bill may be worth slightly more than the $100 counterfeit of the counterfeit, but with the U.S. printing presses smoking hot, printing more trillions, soon they will be worth precisely the same .... zero. While our diminishing dollars will soon plunge at increasing speeds, old fashioned gold and silver are rising at comparative speeds. The only thing holding a crash back now is "Stimulus Billions", "Qualitative Easing", "Printing Free Money". When that stops, the wheels come off, but if it continues, the wheels may stay on and carry our national " LocoMotive" down the mountain at twice the speed to the worst national train wreck in history. Only "Christ in you is the hope of glory" and don't forget it. . Col.1:27.
Here is what God says about honest, dependable, constant money values, weights and measures:
1. "Thou shalt have perfect and just weights and a perfect and just measure shalt thou have." Deut.25:15.
God demands that a nations money (means of exchange) must be "PERFECT and JUST", always right and always of the same value or weight.
2. "A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: All weights in the bag are HIS work." Proverbs 16:11. It is God's Work.
3. "Divers (deviating) weights and measures, both ... are ... abomination to the LORD." Proverbs 20:10. Inflation or deflation of the earner's money.
4. "Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have ...." Lev. 19:36. Keep constant money values.
5. "Shall I count them pure (who use) wicked balances, with a bag of deceitful weights"? Micah 6:11. Buying or Selling perversions.
6. "With what measure ye mete... it shall be measured to you again." Mt.7:2. Honest or dishonest money, we reap what we sow.
Whether at the gas pump, gallons and cents, or a store's scales, ounces and pounds, or truck scales, to pervert an accurate gallon, quart, pint or to tamper with a scale to cheat the buyer, it is a crime and our Government will prosecute offenders. But, our Government and the Federal Reserve Bank tamper and pervert our means of exchange for those things, money, all the time and have been doing so for many years. It is time for a housecleaning in Washington D.C.
Pass it on. RB
I read the other day about an unemployed printer who had ingeniously created for himself a very lucrative job out of paper. The first year he made something like ten million dollars. I say "something like" because it wasn't "exactly like". He produced some brand new, beautiful, homemade, paper, hundred dollar bills. They looked like money, spent like money, felt like money, but it wasn't money, it was counterfeit. That is exactly what "legal tender", fiat, paper U.S. dollars are too ....counterfeit. The only difference is, "Official", fiat (paper) currency is legal but to counterfeit it, is illegal. Yes, I said, "the greenback, U.S. currency, dollars are counterfeit. To counterfeit these "legal" dollars is something like counterfeiting counterfeit money. This is true because real money is supposed to always be worth an exact amount in buying power and our currency is not. It's "buying power" keeps changing downward because our government and the Federal Reserve Bank are constantly deflating the dollar, and thereby inflating the things we buy, so that our money and savings diminish in value and buying power. They do this by simply printing up all the paper money they want to pay for the hundreds of ways they give it away so the American voter, and nations we support, will love them and they can raise their own salaries and remain in office. This kind of theft of the American savers and taxpayers could not be done when we were on a gold and silver standard. Back then, before they dumped the gold and silver standards, we could take a hundred dollar bill, which said "Gold Certificate" or ten dollar "Silver Certificates" into the local bank and trade them for that exact amount of silver or gold coins. The Government or Federal Reserve Bank could not print more currency than the U.S. had in physical Gold and Silver Reserves, so they couldn't spend the country into bankruptcy as they have now done. Example: When I was a boy and the $1.00 bill was a silver certificate, I could buy a little package called a "Guess What", with two pieces of soft candy and a small toy in it, for one cent. Today, the price of that "Guess What" would be an even bigger surprise at about one (fiat) paper dollar bill. So, in "Guess What" terminology, our dollar today has lost 10,000 % in buying power since 1936 when I was in first grade. A "fiat", paper, U.S. $50.00 bill may be worth slightly more than the $100 counterfeit of the counterfeit, but with the U.S. printing presses smoking hot, printing more trillions, soon they will be worth precisely the same .... zero. While our diminishing dollars will soon plunge at increasing speeds, old fashioned gold and silver are rising at comparative speeds. The only thing holding a crash back now is "Stimulus Billions", "Qualitative Easing", "Printing Free Money". When that stops, the wheels come off, but if it continues, the wheels may stay on and carry our national " LocoMotive" down the mountain at twice the speed to the worst national train wreck in history. Only "Christ in you is the hope of glory" and don't forget it. . Col.1:27.
Here is what God says about honest, dependable, constant money values, weights and measures:
1. "Thou shalt have perfect and just weights and a perfect and just measure shalt thou have." Deut.25:15.
God demands that a nations money (means of exchange) must be "PERFECT and JUST", always right and always of the same value or weight.
2. "A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: All weights in the bag are HIS work." Proverbs 16:11. It is God's Work.
3. "Divers (deviating) weights and measures, both ... are ... abomination to the LORD." Proverbs 20:10. Inflation or deflation of the earner's money.
4. "Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have ...." Lev. 19:36. Keep constant money values.
5. "Shall I count them pure (who use) wicked balances, with a bag of deceitful weights"? Micah 6:11. Buying or Selling perversions.
6. "With what measure ye mete... it shall be measured to you again." Mt.7:2. Honest or dishonest money, we reap what we sow.
Whether at the gas pump, gallons and cents, or a store's scales, ounces and pounds, or truck scales, to pervert an accurate gallon, quart, pint or to tamper with a scale to cheat the buyer, it is a crime and our Government will prosecute offenders. But, our Government and the Federal Reserve Bank tamper and pervert our means of exchange for those things, money, all the time and have been doing so for many years. It is time for a housecleaning in Washington D.C.
Pass it on. RB
Nov 22, 2010
Self-Righteous Blind Spots
Common Sense Commentary:
Some people's moral standards seem to allow them to steal from a stranger but not from a friend. They may lie without conscience when nobody around knows they are lying, but avoid it where the truth is known.
Good people often overlook or smile at naughtiness in their little angel but severely condemn the same thing done by the little devil next door.
You may have known the woman who screamed at her husband, "Don't you dare lift your voice to me".
Then there was the father who rebuked his son ... "I've told you a million times do not exaggerate."
Let's not forget the drunk who whipped his son for smoking a cigarette.
The truth is that a thief is a thief and a liar is a liar 24 hours a day. If he doesn't steal, it's because he fears getting caught or hasn't the opportunity. If he doesn't lie, it's because it isn't safe or it isn't to his advantage at the moment.
A wise old gentleman once told me when I was young, "If a man will steal for you, he will steal from you, and
if he will lie for you, he will lie to you. I have found that to be absolutely true.
When Jesus encountered these type people, he said they were "blind leaders of the blind." Mt.15:14. In such cases, the person seldom sees his words or actions as self-righteous or hypocritical. Most people have some such blind spots. Human nature seems to be quite ready to justify personal sins while condemning the sins of others. The double standard is every bit as common as the single standard ... if not more so.
Every prison has a pecking order. Thieves, pimps, narcotics pushers, kidnappers and murderers are all to be expected and accepted. You could be a mass murderer who ate his victims and find a place up with the top guys but sexual crimes are the most hated ... except there in the prison ... inmate on inmate ... that seems to be OK if you can get away with it and were not a sex offender on the outside.
The police drove up to a crack house in the ghetto in the middle of a cuss fight. They asked one of the young women what the problem was. "Dat ho done sweet talk my man" she said. "Where is your man"? they asked. "He done gone out to rob somebody" she said. Like he had gone to the mini-market for a loaf of bread. As if he was just on the job making a living but "sweet talkin her man" was unforgivable.
The most extreme cases of such hypocrisy were condemned by Jesus in Mat.23:27, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! for ye are like unto (whitewashed graves), which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but are full of dead men's bones, and of all (rottenness)." Hypocrisy was the sin most severely dealt with by Jesus.
There are far more examples of self-righteous blind spots than anyone can possibly see. Permit me to mention just three that are so well camouflaged they are almost invisible but are quite common.....
The first may be identified by it's unique double mindedness. It is expressed by the habitual offender whose attitude toward his oft offended wife is, "I'll forgive you of anything but unforgiveness."
The second is employed by the idealistic, pacifist type who says to his non-conformist comrades, who all look alike, "We will tolerate anything but intolerance by all those slaves to the clock hypocrites wearing suits, and we won't tolerate their intolerance of us.
The third is what I call the hate hate syndrome. This one is as elusive as a zebra standing by a white picket fence. It is seen in the eyes and facial expression of those who march and demonstrate for love, truth and equality. It says, in it's self-righteous fervency for fairness, "I hate those hypocrites who hate people".
Pass it on. RB
Some people's moral standards seem to allow them to steal from a stranger but not from a friend. They may lie without conscience when nobody around knows they are lying, but avoid it where the truth is known.
Good people often overlook or smile at naughtiness in their little angel but severely condemn the same thing done by the little devil next door.
You may have known the woman who screamed at her husband, "Don't you dare lift your voice to me".
Then there was the father who rebuked his son ... "I've told you a million times do not exaggerate."
Let's not forget the drunk who whipped his son for smoking a cigarette.
The truth is that a thief is a thief and a liar is a liar 24 hours a day. If he doesn't steal, it's because he fears getting caught or hasn't the opportunity. If he doesn't lie, it's because it isn't safe or it isn't to his advantage at the moment.
A wise old gentleman once told me when I was young, "If a man will steal for you, he will steal from you, and
if he will lie for you, he will lie to you. I have found that to be absolutely true.
When Jesus encountered these type people, he said they were "blind leaders of the blind." Mt.15:14. In such cases, the person seldom sees his words or actions as self-righteous or hypocritical. Most people have some such blind spots. Human nature seems to be quite ready to justify personal sins while condemning the sins of others. The double standard is every bit as common as the single standard ... if not more so.
Every prison has a pecking order. Thieves, pimps, narcotics pushers, kidnappers and murderers are all to be expected and accepted. You could be a mass murderer who ate his victims and find a place up with the top guys but sexual crimes are the most hated ... except there in the prison ... inmate on inmate ... that seems to be OK if you can get away with it and were not a sex offender on the outside.
The police drove up to a crack house in the ghetto in the middle of a cuss fight. They asked one of the young women what the problem was. "Dat ho done sweet talk my man" she said. "Where is your man"? they asked. "He done gone out to rob somebody" she said. Like he had gone to the mini-market for a loaf of bread. As if he was just on the job making a living but "sweet talkin her man" was unforgivable.
The most extreme cases of such hypocrisy were condemned by Jesus in Mat.23:27, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! for ye are like unto (whitewashed graves), which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but are full of dead men's bones, and of all (rottenness)." Hypocrisy was the sin most severely dealt with by Jesus.
There are far more examples of self-righteous blind spots than anyone can possibly see. Permit me to mention just three that are so well camouflaged they are almost invisible but are quite common.....
The first may be identified by it's unique double mindedness. It is expressed by the habitual offender whose attitude toward his oft offended wife is, "I'll forgive you of anything but unforgiveness."
The second is employed by the idealistic, pacifist type who says to his non-conformist comrades, who all look alike, "We will tolerate anything but intolerance by all those slaves to the clock hypocrites wearing suits, and we won't tolerate their intolerance of us.
The third is what I call the hate hate syndrome. This one is as elusive as a zebra standing by a white picket fence. It is seen in the eyes and facial expression of those who march and demonstrate for love, truth and equality. It says, in it's self-righteous fervency for fairness, "I hate those hypocrites who hate people".
Pass it on. RB
Nov 20, 2010
A Thousand Fiery Advocates
Common Sense Commentary: I first wrote of the following experience in 1990 after pastoring 33 years and beginning to burn out physically and emotionally. I type it now as a blog addressed to Pastors, zealots, active Christians, Go-getters and Do-gooders too. My purpose is to help fire-brand people refocus and follow God's leadership for your remaining years just doing His will and work as Jesus taught us .... not someone else's good causes.
I think I must have more opportunities to "participate" in good causes than anyone I know. Invitations, RSVP's, challenges, pleas, and warnings arrive in almost all of my mail and most of my phone calls. There must be thousands of good causes for ministers and hundreds for laymen to get involved in .... each more important than the others.
There is hardly enough time in a day to do the survival things, much less the optional things. I neglected my wife and children for years trying to correct a steady stream of serious injustices, solve explosive world problems, right ten thousand wrongs, defend all the downtrodden, house all the homeless, feed all the hungry, shelter the fatherless, love the unloved, befriend the friendless, champion all good causes and snatch up every opportunity commanded in the Bible.
While recuperating from open heart surgery, I inventoried my life and all the good causes flooding my old, painful heart. I asked myself, "what is the most important thing in the world you can do for the rest of your life "? Examining all the possibilities, I visualized myself surrounded by a thousand fiery advocates of a thousand good causes. Each, in turn began to answer my question to myself for me.
A white-haired senior citizen spoke up first, "Take care of the elderly.' He that careth not for his own is worse than an infidel.'"
A precious widow raised her hand and said, "Look after the widows and orphans. The Holy Bible says, 'this is pure religion.'"
An inebriated street person spoke up, feed the poor and fight greed. The Good Book says, 'money is the root of all evil.'"
A tither stepped forward and said "tithing would solve all the world's problems. God's Word says, 'the tithe is the Lord's and is holy unto him.'"
A newly saved sinner volunteered, "We must forgive one another. The Bible says, 'to err is human, but to forgive is divine.' " "Those are Alexander Pope's words," I said. "Well", he said, "I knew one of those apostles said it."
Up jumped a flag-waving patriot, "Fight atheistic Communism and Socialism. It's still the biggest threat in the world. Glasnost and perestroika are Communist tricks. Stop Socialism in America.
"No", answered a Pro-Lifer. "Abortion is the worst evil in the world. There were two million babies murdered by this infanticide last year."
Someone in the back cried our, "Stop child abuse".
"Yes", answered a good citizen, "but pornography and drugs are causing most of these problems."
A middle-aged man responded, "If we don't stop this wave of crime, we are doomed, It is bankrupting America."
Deep conviction could be heard in the voice of a preacher-type, "Plain ole sin is the problem. Hebrews one says God hates it."
A well-dressed state Representative said convincingly, "Get out and vote. Support candidates who will correct all these things."
In the meantime", agreed a political activist, "write your Senator. If we let Senate Bill #666 pass, you can wave goodbye to America."
The weary wife of a philanderer wept as she said, "Strengthen the home. As goes the home, so goes the nation."
"Brethren, Brethren, intoned a pastor, "support the church. The Scriptures declare that Christ gave Himself for the church. The church is God's instrument in this old world."
"That's true," answered the parent of a teenager. "But if we don't reach these young people, the whole next generation will go to hell in a hand basket."
An elementary teacher could take it no longer. "Teach the children", said she. "Jesus Himself said, 'of such is the kingdom of Heaven' "
Wait just a minute", chimed in a music minister. "Evil music is the problem and good music is the answer, Remember the Pied Piper."
A saintly prayer warrior whispered, "Pray continuously. It's talking to God about our problems and prayer changes things."
"Yes", bellowed a type-A shaker and mover. "But faith without works is dead, dead, dead."
"But love and forgiveness covers a multitude of sin. We must forgive and love all these sinners", said a sweet little old lady.
Nine hundred and eighty two other advocates were waving their hands and jumping up and down to get my attention ......But as I drifted off to sleep, I heard a nurse say, "You need to walk, Mr. Blair, It's the most important thing you can do right now." Oh me !
"Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already unto harvest." John 4:35.
Pass it on. RB
I think I must have more opportunities to "participate" in good causes than anyone I know. Invitations, RSVP's, challenges, pleas, and warnings arrive in almost all of my mail and most of my phone calls. There must be thousands of good causes for ministers and hundreds for laymen to get involved in .... each more important than the others.
There is hardly enough time in a day to do the survival things, much less the optional things. I neglected my wife and children for years trying to correct a steady stream of serious injustices, solve explosive world problems, right ten thousand wrongs, defend all the downtrodden, house all the homeless, feed all the hungry, shelter the fatherless, love the unloved, befriend the friendless, champion all good causes and snatch up every opportunity commanded in the Bible.
While recuperating from open heart surgery, I inventoried my life and all the good causes flooding my old, painful heart. I asked myself, "what is the most important thing in the world you can do for the rest of your life "? Examining all the possibilities, I visualized myself surrounded by a thousand fiery advocates of a thousand good causes. Each, in turn began to answer my question to myself for me.
A white-haired senior citizen spoke up first, "Take care of the elderly.' He that careth not for his own is worse than an infidel.'"
A precious widow raised her hand and said, "Look after the widows and orphans. The Holy Bible says, 'this is pure religion.'"
An inebriated street person spoke up, feed the poor and fight greed. The Good Book says, 'money is the root of all evil.'"
A tither stepped forward and said "tithing would solve all the world's problems. God's Word says, 'the tithe is the Lord's and is holy unto him.'"
A newly saved sinner volunteered, "We must forgive one another. The Bible says, 'to err is human, but to forgive is divine.' " "Those are Alexander Pope's words," I said. "Well", he said, "I knew one of those apostles said it."
Up jumped a flag-waving patriot, "Fight atheistic Communism and Socialism. It's still the biggest threat in the world. Glasnost and perestroika are Communist tricks. Stop Socialism in America.
"No", answered a Pro-Lifer. "Abortion is the worst evil in the world. There were two million babies murdered by this infanticide last year."
Someone in the back cried our, "Stop child abuse".
"Yes", answered a good citizen, "but pornography and drugs are causing most of these problems."
A middle-aged man responded, "If we don't stop this wave of crime, we are doomed, It is bankrupting America."
Deep conviction could be heard in the voice of a preacher-type, "Plain ole sin is the problem. Hebrews one says God hates it."
A well-dressed state Representative said convincingly, "Get out and vote. Support candidates who will correct all these things."
In the meantime", agreed a political activist, "write your Senator. If we let Senate Bill #666 pass, you can wave goodbye to America."
The weary wife of a philanderer wept as she said, "Strengthen the home. As goes the home, so goes the nation."
"Brethren, Brethren, intoned a pastor, "support the church. The Scriptures declare that Christ gave Himself for the church. The church is God's instrument in this old world."
"That's true," answered the parent of a teenager. "But if we don't reach these young people, the whole next generation will go to hell in a hand basket."
An elementary teacher could take it no longer. "Teach the children", said she. "Jesus Himself said, 'of such is the kingdom of Heaven' "
Wait just a minute", chimed in a music minister. "Evil music is the problem and good music is the answer, Remember the Pied Piper."
A saintly prayer warrior whispered, "Pray continuously. It's talking to God about our problems and prayer changes things."
"Yes", bellowed a type-A shaker and mover. "But faith without works is dead, dead, dead."
"But love and forgiveness covers a multitude of sin. We must forgive and love all these sinners", said a sweet little old lady.
Nine hundred and eighty two other advocates were waving their hands and jumping up and down to get my attention ......But as I drifted off to sleep, I heard a nurse say, "You need to walk, Mr. Blair, It's the most important thing you can do right now." Oh me !
"Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already unto harvest." John 4:35.
Pass it on. RB
Nov 19, 2010
Truth
Common Sense Commentary: "He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true." Jn.3:33.
This verse describes a condition of the soul which develops out of salvation. When someone believes on Jesus and receives His " testimony", God redirects their thinking and they have a new awareness of truth. From the moment of salvation, the converted soul may declare with Paul,"Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar", who contradicts God. Rom.3:4. King David expounded upon the subject of truth many times. In Psm.100:5 he said, "His truth endureth to all generations."
The prophet Isaiah faced similar problems as we do today. He declared that, "None calleth ... nor (any) pleadeth for truth ." Isa.59:4. Jeremiah lamented, "Truth is perished, and is cut off ...." Jer.7:28.
The reason for that sad situation was and is, "They are not valiant for the truth ..." Jer.9:3. Moses looked for spiritual leaders when he specified these qualifications in Ex.18:21 ... "such as fear God, men of truth ..."
Wicked King Ahab swore he wanted the absolute truth from God's prophet ..."And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the Lord ?" 2Chr.18:15. But when the prophet told King Ahab the truth, Ahab wouldn't believe it and hated God's man for saying it. Many follow "Ahab's Contradiction". They want the truth ... but only if it conforms to their beliefs and fits their plans.
Wise King Solomon declared, "The lip of truth shall be established forever." Prov.12:19. This verse says plainly that the truth cannot be changed ! When the truth is twisted into a lie, it is no longer the truth. When the truth is denied or rejected ... it is still and forevermore the truth. "Know the certainty of the words of truth " preached Solomon in Prov.22:21. One lie can motivate the masses to stampede over the facts and evidence of a matter, in their flight from God's Truth of the matter. Isaiah exclaimed, "truth is fallen in the street...." Isa.59:14.
That great prophet, Zechariah, challenged, Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor .... therefore love the truth." Zec.8:16 & 19. The truth is our only means of reasoning with ourselves or communicating with others, or with God. "This above all: To thine own self be true." Shakespeare. Truth is the only thing which can solve a problem, help a bad situation or build a life. But the truth is, most of the world does not want to hear God's truth unless it conforms to their own philosophy or understanding.
Jesus told it like it is in John 3:21. He said, "He that doeth truth cometh to the light." Anyone who does not "come to the light", is not "doing the truth" of God. He may be practicing "religion" or he may be pretending or doing what he "feels" is right, but he is not "doing" truth until he "cometh to the light".
The whole world is seeking truth and freedom .... freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of action, sexual freedom, racial freedom, financial freedom, and a thousand other freedoms. But, there is just one door to freedom and that door is marked "TRUTH". "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." Jesus said it in John 8:32. He didn't mean the American truth or the Russian truth. He didn't mean my version of the truth or your version, but THE TRUTH as God knows it. Jesus asked the people, "If I say the truth, why do ye not believe me ?" Jn.8:46. Only a small percentage of the world's population has "believed" His truth. Of those who do believe, Jesus said, "Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice." Jn.18:37. In fact, He went further than that ..."I am the truth". Jn.14:6.
Governor Pilate, who must have been an early advocate of "situational ethics" and the "truth is relative" philosophy, questioned Jesus about these things in Jn.18:38, "Pilate saith unto him, what is truth" ? Many seek to pacify their miserable conscience and justify their lifestyles in the gray area of uncertainty or the darkness of error. God threw the spotlight on these argumentative souls in 1 Tim.6:5 where He calls their debate, "perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth." "So do these also resist the truth." 1 Tim.3:8. Surprisingly, many people enlist in that drumbeat of agnosticism. "And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." 2 Pet.2:2.
The primary problem, and root of conflict, in the world today is, "Because they receive not the love of the truth."
2 Thess.2:10.
Pass it on. RB
This verse describes a condition of the soul which develops out of salvation. When someone believes on Jesus and receives His " testimony", God redirects their thinking and they have a new awareness of truth. From the moment of salvation, the converted soul may declare with Paul,"Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar", who contradicts God. Rom.3:4. King David expounded upon the subject of truth many times. In Psm.100:5 he said, "His truth endureth to all generations."
The prophet Isaiah faced similar problems as we do today. He declared that, "None calleth ... nor (any) pleadeth for truth ." Isa.59:4. Jeremiah lamented, "Truth is perished, and is cut off ...." Jer.7:28.
The reason for that sad situation was and is, "They are not valiant for the truth ..." Jer.9:3. Moses looked for spiritual leaders when he specified these qualifications in Ex.18:21 ... "such as fear God, men of truth ..."
Wicked King Ahab swore he wanted the absolute truth from God's prophet ..."And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the Lord ?" 2Chr.18:15. But when the prophet told King Ahab the truth, Ahab wouldn't believe it and hated God's man for saying it. Many follow "Ahab's Contradiction". They want the truth ... but only if it conforms to their beliefs and fits their plans.
Wise King Solomon declared, "The lip of truth shall be established forever." Prov.12:19. This verse says plainly that the truth cannot be changed ! When the truth is twisted into a lie, it is no longer the truth. When the truth is denied or rejected ... it is still and forevermore the truth. "Know the certainty of the words of truth " preached Solomon in Prov.22:21. One lie can motivate the masses to stampede over the facts and evidence of a matter, in their flight from God's Truth of the matter. Isaiah exclaimed, "truth is fallen in the street...." Isa.59:14.
That great prophet, Zechariah, challenged, Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor .... therefore love the truth." Zec.8:16 & 19. The truth is our only means of reasoning with ourselves or communicating with others, or with God. "This above all: To thine own self be true." Shakespeare. Truth is the only thing which can solve a problem, help a bad situation or build a life. But the truth is, most of the world does not want to hear God's truth unless it conforms to their own philosophy or understanding.
Jesus told it like it is in John 3:21. He said, "He that doeth truth cometh to the light." Anyone who does not "come to the light", is not "doing the truth" of God. He may be practicing "religion" or he may be pretending or doing what he "feels" is right, but he is not "doing" truth until he "cometh to the light".
The whole world is seeking truth and freedom .... freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of action, sexual freedom, racial freedom, financial freedom, and a thousand other freedoms. But, there is just one door to freedom and that door is marked "TRUTH". "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." Jesus said it in John 8:32. He didn't mean the American truth or the Russian truth. He didn't mean my version of the truth or your version, but THE TRUTH as God knows it. Jesus asked the people, "If I say the truth, why do ye not believe me ?" Jn.8:46. Only a small percentage of the world's population has "believed" His truth. Of those who do believe, Jesus said, "Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice." Jn.18:37. In fact, He went further than that ..."I am the truth". Jn.14:6.
Governor Pilate, who must have been an early advocate of "situational ethics" and the "truth is relative" philosophy, questioned Jesus about these things in Jn.18:38, "Pilate saith unto him, what is truth" ? Many seek to pacify their miserable conscience and justify their lifestyles in the gray area of uncertainty or the darkness of error. God threw the spotlight on these argumentative souls in 1 Tim.6:5 where He calls their debate, "perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth." "So do these also resist the truth." 1 Tim.3:8. Surprisingly, many people enlist in that drumbeat of agnosticism. "And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." 2 Pet.2:2.
The primary problem, and root of conflict, in the world today is, "Because they receive not the love of the truth."
2 Thess.2:10.
Pass it on. RB
Nov 12, 2010
Hey, It's Consequence Time !!!
Common Sense Commentary: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Gal.6:7. "For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind."Ho.8:7.
God's law of sowing and reaping is inviolable. He set the standard in Genesis, that everything would bring forth "after it's own kind". The tiny seed has within itself eons of generations of exact duplicates of itself. Every plant and animal will bring forth "after it's own kind". Even the first man, Adam, was "created in the image and likeness of God" and the human race in the image and likeness of Adam. So it is with our words and actions. Sow truth, reap truth. Sow sin, reap the consequences of sin. Every sin has within itself the seed of it's own destruction.
America's people have followed the example of our government's reckless, extravagant spending for so long, we think it is normal and our right to spend more than we take in. Half the nation thinks a welfare check and food stamps are an inherited right of passage. Their parents owned it; their grandparents owned it. It's theirs as much as a salary is to those dumb people who hold a job and they will riot if that government check doesn't come in, and it better be on time. It doesn't stop there. We have all benefited materially in some or many ways in the U.S climate of "free stuff". Free food, free money, free medical care, free schools, free parks, free highways, free a thousand things. So the result was predictable. It's Consequence Time !!
Outrageously, out of control spending by our credit card addicted people , our 'free stuff" culture, and our greedy, power hungry, dumb politicians have left our ship of state, a rusted, rotting, hulk sinking with a quadrillion spouting holes. Our once proud, ship of state, conservative country, leader of the free world, model of freedom has been attended by a drunken, negligent, overpaid crew of idiots and misfits. We voted them in, let them set all the terms of their own lavish benefits. They promised utopia but have run our titanic country into an immovable, monetary iceberg in the middle of a sea of sharks, with no lifeboats !!! Makes a preacher want to say "dangit". We should have voted the windbags out back when the wind was just a little Texas Dust Devil named Lyndon. We sowed that windbag and reaped a whirlwind and the whirlwind a hurricane and now a tsunami.
"Quantitative Easing" (what a lying word) has a momentum factor. When carried to infinity (borrowing money to pay debts), as seems the Fed policy, it results in diminishing dollar values. Our dollars go down, down, down to the finite, where dollars still look the same but are worth a penny. Farther down, a dollar will buy a grain of rice. This was what happened to the German Weimar Republic when Moms pushed wheelbarrows full of fiat currency to market to buy a loaf of bread. Quantitative Easing is another way of saying, rev up the printing presses so we can suffocate this monetary fire with a flood of new paper dollars. You know, a spark often dies on it's own. A flame is easily extinguished with a cup of water or sand. Trash fires can be doused with a garden hose. Even an out of control grass fire can be extinguished by dialing 911 early on .... but what we have here is a full blown Dresden, Germany Fire Storm that feeds on itself by creating it's own wind and metal melting heat. Such a fire cannot be controlled but must burn itself out until everything is ashes and rubble.
Nothing is impossible with God .... but why should He "bail us out", considering our national unfaithfulness to Him? No, "For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap " Yes, it's consequence time ! Human nature doesn't learn lessons quickly. It took time to get here and it will take time to get back to solvency, sanity and the American Dream.You know it's bad when Mexicans go back to Mexico to find work. How can we pay a nearly sixty trillion dollar debt and federal commitments, in a lifetime ? America is addicted to spending and free stuff and can't break the habit easily; but pain, hardship and desperation will work it's perfect work. "Tribulation worketh perseverance". You can endure it and come through it. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phil.4:13.
The national debt is beyond huge. We cannot even pay the interest or sell enough new bonds to pay our bills. So our Federal Reserve simply prints trillions of new fiat dollars to buy our bonds from ourselves... It's Alice in wonder land stuff. It is exactly like the college student who received his new, low limit, credit card in the mail, spent it to the max, applied for another from a different company, spent it to the max, over and over and over until he had ten or twelve credit cards all empty of money and full of debt. When nobody else would loan him money or issue him another card, he just went to the college print shop at night and started reproducing (counterfeit) "fiat" hundred dollar bills. That's like counterfeiting counterfeit dollars. That was logical in his little brain but Master Card smelled a rat before they even opened the cash stuffed envelope. He's in jail now where our Federal Reserve and Political accomplices, to their crime, should be. We cannot spend our way to prosperity or borrow our way to solvency as is and has been their adolescent policy.
At this point, neither Democrats nor Republicans can wave a magic wand and miraculously pay off the national debt .... at least with good money. They can print up a few trillion of "worth a nickel each" dollars, that still says "One Dollar" on both sides, and pay those poor bond holders with weak, worthless dollars that say "In God we trust". They call that "Inflating away our debt" or "Monetising our debt" or "Quantitative Easing" .... all of which mean robbing the loaners (donors) and American dollar savers. We are monetarily terminal unless we either default on the debt or debase the currency . Either way, we ruin our reputation and credit rating with decades of repercussion Consequences. To "Default" is simply reneging on our promise to repay. To "Debase" is to print shiploads of fiat, worthless dollars and repay our legitimate debt with illegitimate paper. That will make them love us again.
Inflation has already eaten up most of the buying power of our paper dollars. Fifty years ago, a "solid silver" dollar would buy a good meal for three people. When our children were all under ten (in age not number), I once bought breakfast for all seven (less Kaye) of us for $1.52. Today, $1.52 won't buy a cup of coffee in most restaurants. What has changed ? Why is a dollar bill so anemic ? Consider this: A real "silver" dime is now worth $3.00 and 3 of today's dollars are worth one silver dime and will only buy what that dime would buy 50 years ago or today. The real value of silver isn't going up; the value of paper dollars is going down. For our government to say the CPI (inflation) rate is 2% is a political fabrication ...which is to say, false ... which is to say, a lie. Like bedbugs in New York City, lies flourish and breed promiscuously in our Hallowed Halls Of Justice .... D.C.
"How shall I pardon thee for this ? thy children have forsaken me ... when I fed them to the full, they then ....assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses." Jer.5:7
Our national debt and commitments have grown too large and gone too far down the slippery slope of monetary excess to stop the slide. It must hit bottom now, before we can begin to pick up the pieces and rebuild our country. Goldman Sachs Chief Economist, Jan Hatzius, says it will take $4 trillion more in "asset purchases"" to turn our free fall around. How do you DO that. Last week, his friends over at the Fed said it would take "another $400 Billion or just a tenth of Hatzius' guesstimate and that doesn't touch all the federal debt, commitments, retirements etc. Neither bit of propaganda is correct if we owe upward of a sixty trillion dollars. Our Liberal leaders have chosen to Soothe us Titanic passengers by calmly telling us that "more lifeboats are in the bilges", and "the water is warm around icebergs", "Don't worry, be happy ... things are getting better".
God is good and Christians were praying .... but the Titanic sank anyway .... Christians and all. In the long term, no one can depend on anything .... except God. I recommend that we all get to know Him better; for no matter what the future holds, we all know life is fleeting and our turn will come when only Jesus Christ can deliver us safely home .... as He always has .... and always will.
Pass it on . RB
God's law of sowing and reaping is inviolable. He set the standard in Genesis, that everything would bring forth "after it's own kind". The tiny seed has within itself eons of generations of exact duplicates of itself. Every plant and animal will bring forth "after it's own kind". Even the first man, Adam, was "created in the image and likeness of God" and the human race in the image and likeness of Adam. So it is with our words and actions. Sow truth, reap truth. Sow sin, reap the consequences of sin. Every sin has within itself the seed of it's own destruction.
America's people have followed the example of our government's reckless, extravagant spending for so long, we think it is normal and our right to spend more than we take in. Half the nation thinks a welfare check and food stamps are an inherited right of passage. Their parents owned it; their grandparents owned it. It's theirs as much as a salary is to those dumb people who hold a job and they will riot if that government check doesn't come in, and it better be on time. It doesn't stop there. We have all benefited materially in some or many ways in the U.S climate of "free stuff". Free food, free money, free medical care, free schools, free parks, free highways, free a thousand things. So the result was predictable. It's Consequence Time !!
Outrageously, out of control spending by our credit card addicted people , our 'free stuff" culture, and our greedy, power hungry, dumb politicians have left our ship of state, a rusted, rotting, hulk sinking with a quadrillion spouting holes. Our once proud, ship of state, conservative country, leader of the free world, model of freedom has been attended by a drunken, negligent, overpaid crew of idiots and misfits. We voted them in, let them set all the terms of their own lavish benefits. They promised utopia but have run our titanic country into an immovable, monetary iceberg in the middle of a sea of sharks, with no lifeboats !!! Makes a preacher want to say "dangit". We should have voted the windbags out back when the wind was just a little Texas Dust Devil named Lyndon. We sowed that windbag and reaped a whirlwind and the whirlwind a hurricane and now a tsunami.
"Quantitative Easing" (what a lying word) has a momentum factor. When carried to infinity (borrowing money to pay debts), as seems the Fed policy, it results in diminishing dollar values. Our dollars go down, down, down to the finite, where dollars still look the same but are worth a penny. Farther down, a dollar will buy a grain of rice. This was what happened to the German Weimar Republic when Moms pushed wheelbarrows full of fiat currency to market to buy a loaf of bread. Quantitative Easing is another way of saying, rev up the printing presses so we can suffocate this monetary fire with a flood of new paper dollars. You know, a spark often dies on it's own. A flame is easily extinguished with a cup of water or sand. Trash fires can be doused with a garden hose. Even an out of control grass fire can be extinguished by dialing 911 early on .... but what we have here is a full blown Dresden, Germany Fire Storm that feeds on itself by creating it's own wind and metal melting heat. Such a fire cannot be controlled but must burn itself out until everything is ashes and rubble.
Nothing is impossible with God .... but why should He "bail us out", considering our national unfaithfulness to Him? No, "For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap " Yes, it's consequence time ! Human nature doesn't learn lessons quickly. It took time to get here and it will take time to get back to solvency, sanity and the American Dream.You know it's bad when Mexicans go back to Mexico to find work. How can we pay a nearly sixty trillion dollar debt and federal commitments, in a lifetime ? America is addicted to spending and free stuff and can't break the habit easily; but pain, hardship and desperation will work it's perfect work. "Tribulation worketh perseverance". You can endure it and come through it. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phil.4:13.
The national debt is beyond huge. We cannot even pay the interest or sell enough new bonds to pay our bills. So our Federal Reserve simply prints trillions of new fiat dollars to buy our bonds from ourselves... It's Alice in wonder land stuff. It is exactly like the college student who received his new, low limit, credit card in the mail, spent it to the max, applied for another from a different company, spent it to the max, over and over and over until he had ten or twelve credit cards all empty of money and full of debt. When nobody else would loan him money or issue him another card, he just went to the college print shop at night and started reproducing (counterfeit) "fiat" hundred dollar bills. That's like counterfeiting counterfeit dollars. That was logical in his little brain but Master Card smelled a rat before they even opened the cash stuffed envelope. He's in jail now where our Federal Reserve and Political accomplices, to their crime, should be. We cannot spend our way to prosperity or borrow our way to solvency as is and has been their adolescent policy.
At this point, neither Democrats nor Republicans can wave a magic wand and miraculously pay off the national debt .... at least with good money. They can print up a few trillion of "worth a nickel each" dollars, that still says "One Dollar" on both sides, and pay those poor bond holders with weak, worthless dollars that say "In God we trust". They call that "Inflating away our debt" or "Monetising our debt" or "Quantitative Easing" .... all of which mean robbing the loaners (donors) and American dollar savers. We are monetarily terminal unless we either default on the debt or debase the currency . Either way, we ruin our reputation and credit rating with decades of repercussion Consequences. To "Default" is simply reneging on our promise to repay. To "Debase" is to print shiploads of fiat, worthless dollars and repay our legitimate debt with illegitimate paper. That will make them love us again.
Inflation has already eaten up most of the buying power of our paper dollars. Fifty years ago, a "solid silver" dollar would buy a good meal for three people. When our children were all under ten (in age not number), I once bought breakfast for all seven (less Kaye) of us for $1.52. Today, $1.52 won't buy a cup of coffee in most restaurants. What has changed ? Why is a dollar bill so anemic ? Consider this: A real "silver" dime is now worth $3.00 and 3 of today's dollars are worth one silver dime and will only buy what that dime would buy 50 years ago or today. The real value of silver isn't going up; the value of paper dollars is going down. For our government to say the CPI (inflation) rate is 2% is a political fabrication ...which is to say, false ... which is to say, a lie. Like bedbugs in New York City, lies flourish and breed promiscuously in our Hallowed Halls Of Justice .... D.C.
"How shall I pardon thee for this ? thy children have forsaken me ... when I fed them to the full, they then ....assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses." Jer.5:7
Our national debt and commitments have grown too large and gone too far down the slippery slope of monetary excess to stop the slide. It must hit bottom now, before we can begin to pick up the pieces and rebuild our country. Goldman Sachs Chief Economist, Jan Hatzius, says it will take $4 trillion more in "asset purchases"" to turn our free fall around. How do you DO that. Last week, his friends over at the Fed said it would take "another $400 Billion or just a tenth of Hatzius' guesstimate and that doesn't touch all the federal debt, commitments, retirements etc. Neither bit of propaganda is correct if we owe upward of a sixty trillion dollars. Our Liberal leaders have chosen to Soothe us Titanic passengers by calmly telling us that "more lifeboats are in the bilges", and "the water is warm around icebergs", "Don't worry, be happy ... things are getting better".
God is good and Christians were praying .... but the Titanic sank anyway .... Christians and all. In the long term, no one can depend on anything .... except God. I recommend that we all get to know Him better; for no matter what the future holds, we all know life is fleeting and our turn will come when only Jesus Christ can deliver us safely home .... as He always has .... and always will.
Pass it on . RB
Nov 11, 2010
"Christian" A Litmus Test For Political Office ?
Common Sense Commentary: Jesus suggested that sometimes, the "unjustified" stewards of this world are "...wiser that the children of light". Lk.16:8.
My question is, should Christians use a "Christians Only" litmus test on candidates for political office ?
Judas was a "professing" Christian. Jim Jones was a "professing" Christian, as is Rev. Jerimiah Wright, Jimmy Carter and both Clintons . Tammy Faye and Jim Baker, and Jimmy Swagard "professed" Christ. Which of these would you campaign for as President or Senator ? Of that limited lot, I would simply choose the most Conservative ... if there is one.
The fact is, none of us can read another person's heart or sincerity or motives. We cannot say whether a person's profession of Christ is real or not. We can't "see" their faith and their outward appearance actions may be politically motivated to gain status and stay in power. What we can do, is look at each candidate's history, his or her past record not empty promises. We can study their voting record, where they stood on the issues in the past. Are they mentally, physically, emotionally capable of standing long and firmly against error, waste, corruption and terrorists ? Will they tell Americans the truth without giving away national secrets to our enemies ? Have they always been meeting the world with humility and strength. We can tell a great deal about them by who they choose as close friends and associates.
I would prefer a strong, Conservative Newt Gingrich with three marriages to a Liberal Jimmy Carter or Bill Clinton with only one marriage. I would choose a Dennis Praeger, who is a wise, honest, strong, all American Jewish Conservative to a Baptist, Sunday School Teacher like Jimmy Carter.
I think we are going to have more upright, Conservative, Patriotic Candidates for political office in 2012 than we have had in years. I also think there will be more chameleon, deceptive, issue claim jumpers, and plain liars than we have ever had .... before the 2008 fiasco, of course. That election was a high water mark for voter ignor-ance, a willful blindness to the plain facts.
Yes, I would prefer a Christian, in high political office, but only if they were also Patriots, prepared, honest, humble, strong Conservatives who would surround themselves with other such men and women. That is my preference but being a "professed" Christian ONLY, is not. If I were choosing a mechanic, eye surgeon, pilot or investment advisor, I would want the very best, most informed, honest, experienced one available. I wouldn't choose a novice or a Christian who didn't know what they were doing.
Similarly, I would vote for a Black, Mexican, Jewish, one eyed Female convert to Mormonism who met my litmus test of "excellence and conservatism" ahead of any "professing" Christian who did not. There are more "professors" than "possessors". So, the answer to my original question above is, "NO we should not". And remember, I am a straight-laced, hard nosed, Bible believing, Fundamental, Baptist Preacher. So you see, all that Liberal propaganda about "Fundamentalists" is false. The "fundamentals" are simply the major Bible doctrines which are clearly established. A "Fundamentalist" simply believes a few things are "essential" if a person is a true Christian. So call me an "Essentialist" if you like. Just don't call me a Liberal on Jesus, God, His Spirit, His Bible, Creation, Salvation by grace not works, or Christ's Death and Resurrection . I cannot be other than Conservative concerning God's Holy Word. I believe it all.
Pass it on. RB
My question is, should Christians use a "Christians Only" litmus test on candidates for political office ?
Judas was a "professing" Christian. Jim Jones was a "professing" Christian, as is Rev. Jerimiah Wright, Jimmy Carter and both Clintons . Tammy Faye and Jim Baker, and Jimmy Swagard "professed" Christ. Which of these would you campaign for as President or Senator ? Of that limited lot, I would simply choose the most Conservative ... if there is one.
The fact is, none of us can read another person's heart or sincerity or motives. We cannot say whether a person's profession of Christ is real or not. We can't "see" their faith and their outward appearance actions may be politically motivated to gain status and stay in power. What we can do, is look at each candidate's history, his or her past record not empty promises. We can study their voting record, where they stood on the issues in the past. Are they mentally, physically, emotionally capable of standing long and firmly against error, waste, corruption and terrorists ? Will they tell Americans the truth without giving away national secrets to our enemies ? Have they always been meeting the world with humility and strength. We can tell a great deal about them by who they choose as close friends and associates.
I would prefer a strong, Conservative Newt Gingrich with three marriages to a Liberal Jimmy Carter or Bill Clinton with only one marriage. I would choose a Dennis Praeger, who is a wise, honest, strong, all American Jewish Conservative to a Baptist, Sunday School Teacher like Jimmy Carter.
I think we are going to have more upright, Conservative, Patriotic Candidates for political office in 2012 than we have had in years. I also think there will be more chameleon, deceptive, issue claim jumpers, and plain liars than we have ever had .... before the 2008 fiasco, of course. That election was a high water mark for voter ignor-ance, a willful blindness to the plain facts.
Yes, I would prefer a Christian, in high political office, but only if they were also Patriots, prepared, honest, humble, strong Conservatives who would surround themselves with other such men and women. That is my preference but being a "professed" Christian ONLY, is not. If I were choosing a mechanic, eye surgeon, pilot or investment advisor, I would want the very best, most informed, honest, experienced one available. I wouldn't choose a novice or a Christian who didn't know what they were doing.
Similarly, I would vote for a Black, Mexican, Jewish, one eyed Female convert to Mormonism who met my litmus test of "excellence and conservatism" ahead of any "professing" Christian who did not. There are more "professors" than "possessors". So, the answer to my original question above is, "NO we should not". And remember, I am a straight-laced, hard nosed, Bible believing, Fundamental, Baptist Preacher. So you see, all that Liberal propaganda about "Fundamentalists" is false. The "fundamentals" are simply the major Bible doctrines which are clearly established. A "Fundamentalist" simply believes a few things are "essential" if a person is a true Christian. So call me an "Essentialist" if you like. Just don't call me a Liberal on Jesus, God, His Spirit, His Bible, Creation, Salvation by grace not works, or Christ's Death and Resurrection . I cannot be other than Conservative concerning God's Holy Word. I believe it all.
Pass it on. RB
Nov 10, 2010
The Empty Tomb .... Is Still Empty !
Common Sense Commentary: "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come see the place where the Lord lay." Mt.28:6
Twenty witnesses walked quietly into the beautiful Garden of the Tomb, at the foot of Mount Calvary, outside the walls of Jerusalem. We had come there, as millions of believers before us, to walk where Jesus walked and to see Galilee, Calvary, Gethsemane, and the tomb where He was buried. As we walked through the garden, everything was green and blooming but the sun was behind the hill of Calvary and cold shadows filled the garden as we neared the tomb of Jesus. A leafy frame opened between us and the dark entrance where He was carried, by His disciples, to be buried on that fearsome day. The open door to this famous sepulchre dimly revealed a hollow interior and the cold slab where He once lay.
We approached in a whisper and with reverent steps to the most notable spot on the face of God's earth.
A solid rock cliff loomed over the tomb. In front of the entrance was a 10-inch deep channel, about 15 inches wide and 12 feet long, in which once rolled the four thousand pound stone which sealed this door. As Simon Peter, so many years ago, in Luke 24:12, "... ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld ....", we 20 witnesses stooped down and entered the tomb where the body of Jesus was buried. There, in the semi dark quietness of the sepulchre, we saw the most fantastic sight ever seen by human or angelic eyes, since the day He arose .....the grave of Jesus Christ .... empty !
Every time I see that empty grave, I can almost hear the angelic words echoing down through the centuries ... "He is not here but is risen." Thank God, neither His body nor His bones are in that death grave and have not been since three days after His crucifixion.
"Death could not hold it's prey." Jesus left this tomb with absolute and final victory over death and sin. His crucifixion without resurrection would have meant nothing. Though His death is the heart of the gospel, His resurrection is the power of the gospel.
It is an interesting fact and conclusive that, in the early part of this past century, when an Englishman by the name of Gordon uncovered this tomb for the first time, .... it was empty. There was not a sign of bone or cloth or metal in it even then. It has been empty since that first Easter morning in 33 A.D.
The nearest and dearest thing I know to compare with a visit to the Garden Tomb of Jesus is to bury a true, born again believer in Jesus and His resurrection, and KNOW that I shall see this friend or family member again. PRAISE HIM!
Pass it on. RB
Twenty witnesses walked quietly into the beautiful Garden of the Tomb, at the foot of Mount Calvary, outside the walls of Jerusalem. We had come there, as millions of believers before us, to walk where Jesus walked and to see Galilee, Calvary, Gethsemane, and the tomb where He was buried. As we walked through the garden, everything was green and blooming but the sun was behind the hill of Calvary and cold shadows filled the garden as we neared the tomb of Jesus. A leafy frame opened between us and the dark entrance where He was carried, by His disciples, to be buried on that fearsome day. The open door to this famous sepulchre dimly revealed a hollow interior and the cold slab where He once lay.
We approached in a whisper and with reverent steps to the most notable spot on the face of God's earth.
A solid rock cliff loomed over the tomb. In front of the entrance was a 10-inch deep channel, about 15 inches wide and 12 feet long, in which once rolled the four thousand pound stone which sealed this door. As Simon Peter, so many years ago, in Luke 24:12, "... ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld ....", we 20 witnesses stooped down and entered the tomb where the body of Jesus was buried. There, in the semi dark quietness of the sepulchre, we saw the most fantastic sight ever seen by human or angelic eyes, since the day He arose .....the grave of Jesus Christ .... empty !
Every time I see that empty grave, I can almost hear the angelic words echoing down through the centuries ... "He is not here but is risen." Thank God, neither His body nor His bones are in that death grave and have not been since three days after His crucifixion.
"Death could not hold it's prey." Jesus left this tomb with absolute and final victory over death and sin. His crucifixion without resurrection would have meant nothing. Though His death is the heart of the gospel, His resurrection is the power of the gospel.
It is an interesting fact and conclusive that, in the early part of this past century, when an Englishman by the name of Gordon uncovered this tomb for the first time, .... it was empty. There was not a sign of bone or cloth or metal in it even then. It has been empty since that first Easter morning in 33 A.D.
The nearest and dearest thing I know to compare with a visit to the Garden Tomb of Jesus is to bury a true, born again believer in Jesus and His resurrection, and KNOW that I shall see this friend or family member again. PRAISE HIM!
Pass it on. RB
Nov 8, 2010
How Many Crosses Can A Body Bear ?
Common Sense Commentary: How many crosses can a Christian carry anyway ?
Jesus challenged all who would follow Him, "Take up the cross and follow me." Mk.10:21. Notice that He said, "the cross". "The" is specific, a definite article, one of a kind. He also said, to His disciples, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me". Mt.16:24. These two verses reveal that "the" cross is singular in meaning, but plural in that each of us has our own to bear. To better understand how this can be, consider this; There is only one Holy Bible but many Christian's have a copy. So it is with "the" cross each Christian must bear if we are to "follow" Jesus.
So what is your cross ? Is it your particular physical flaw or mental shortcoming ? No! Is it your private perversion ? No! Is it your ridiculed denomination ? No! Is it your strict, personal convictions ? No! Is it your "besetting sin" ? No! Is it your "that's just me" personality ? No! Is it your fat or skinny body ? No! Jesus bore His cross and we, as Christians must each bear the cross He has assigned us.
When Jesus carried that cross through Jerusalem and up Mount Calvary, it represented all that He stood for, preached, taught and lived for. It represented all those things about Jesus that the world hated, ridiculed and for which He was condemned and crucified.
So what is your cross ? It is all those things which you bear for our Lord Jesus Christ which is hated, feared and denied by the world and for which Christians are "crucified with Christ". Paul said, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me..."Gal.2:20
So what is your cross ? It is all those similarities of Christ in you which separate us from the world ... even the religious world, upon which they nail your reputation and testimony and lift it up for the world to see and ridicule, even as they did our Lord. It is Christ in you. It is confessing Christ in a worldly crowd. It is rough hewn and painful to our flesh. It is hard to consistently bear this "Jesus cross" in a wicked world where it is unwanted but so desperately needed. Our cross is to believe the Bible is the verbally inspired Word Of God in a world which doesn't believe a word of it. Our cross is to believe God created the world and universe, as the Bible says, in a world which worships the "false science" of evolution, worldly accomplishment, wealth, power, possessions and sophistication, but not the true God. Our cross is to believe Jesus, God's Son, died for the sins of the world, was buried dead but arose back to life.
Our cross is to believe Jesus is coming again, to this world where Satan keeps inspiring religious counterfeits to grab the public eye by setting dates for His second coming and the end of the world. Our cross is to be classified with some lying, pseudo preacher pleading for money, on television, when he already has three mansions and a five million dollar jet and he calls that "Christian". Counterfeit Christians are NOT following the humble Jesus or bearing His glorious cross. They are carrying their own load of self styled, comfort crosses and hundreds of "offering" buckets.
Being a true, Bible Believing, faithful Christian is enough of a cross to bear to occupy all of our time, all of our energy, all of our endurance and all of our credibility. How foolish and wasteful it is for a true Christian to add a bunch of plastic or lead crosses to "the" cross assigned to each of us. How destructive and unnecessarily offensive it is to heap up on top of the Fundamentals of the Faith a pile of personal convictions which cannot be clearly confirmed in the Bible. The lost world sees our inconsistent convictions, self-righteousness smoldering, and unholy tirades, and reacts with an outpouring of contempt against all that we stand for .... including the good part. We unequally yoke together Holy Writ with dubious personal convictions and spoil it all ... when lost souls are at stake.
No human being can carry both burdens. It is enough to bear our cross of Divine Calling and Holy Purpose. It is enough to consume all of you, for life, just to carry God's gospel of Jesus Christ, without adding your own gospel and trivial, plastic and dead weight causes to it.
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." Heb.12:1.
Pass it on. RB
Jesus challenged all who would follow Him, "Take up the cross and follow me." Mk.10:21. Notice that He said, "the cross". "The" is specific, a definite article, one of a kind. He also said, to His disciples, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me". Mt.16:24. These two verses reveal that "the" cross is singular in meaning, but plural in that each of us has our own to bear. To better understand how this can be, consider this; There is only one Holy Bible but many Christian's have a copy. So it is with "the" cross each Christian must bear if we are to "follow" Jesus.
So what is your cross ? Is it your particular physical flaw or mental shortcoming ? No! Is it your private perversion ? No! Is it your ridiculed denomination ? No! Is it your strict, personal convictions ? No! Is it your "besetting sin" ? No! Is it your "that's just me" personality ? No! Is it your fat or skinny body ? No! Jesus bore His cross and we, as Christians must each bear the cross He has assigned us.
When Jesus carried that cross through Jerusalem and up Mount Calvary, it represented all that He stood for, preached, taught and lived for. It represented all those things about Jesus that the world hated, ridiculed and for which He was condemned and crucified.
So what is your cross ? It is all those things which you bear for our Lord Jesus Christ which is hated, feared and denied by the world and for which Christians are "crucified with Christ". Paul said, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me..."Gal.2:20
So what is your cross ? It is all those similarities of Christ in you which separate us from the world ... even the religious world, upon which they nail your reputation and testimony and lift it up for the world to see and ridicule, even as they did our Lord. It is Christ in you. It is confessing Christ in a worldly crowd. It is rough hewn and painful to our flesh. It is hard to consistently bear this "Jesus cross" in a wicked world where it is unwanted but so desperately needed. Our cross is to believe the Bible is the verbally inspired Word Of God in a world which doesn't believe a word of it. Our cross is to believe God created the world and universe, as the Bible says, in a world which worships the "false science" of evolution, worldly accomplishment, wealth, power, possessions and sophistication, but not the true God. Our cross is to believe Jesus, God's Son, died for the sins of the world, was buried dead but arose back to life.
Our cross is to believe Jesus is coming again, to this world where Satan keeps inspiring religious counterfeits to grab the public eye by setting dates for His second coming and the end of the world. Our cross is to be classified with some lying, pseudo preacher pleading for money, on television, when he already has three mansions and a five million dollar jet and he calls that "Christian". Counterfeit Christians are NOT following the humble Jesus or bearing His glorious cross. They are carrying their own load of self styled, comfort crosses and hundreds of "offering" buckets.
Being a true, Bible Believing, faithful Christian is enough of a cross to bear to occupy all of our time, all of our energy, all of our endurance and all of our credibility. How foolish and wasteful it is for a true Christian to add a bunch of plastic or lead crosses to "the" cross assigned to each of us. How destructive and unnecessarily offensive it is to heap up on top of the Fundamentals of the Faith a pile of personal convictions which cannot be clearly confirmed in the Bible. The lost world sees our inconsistent convictions, self-righteousness smoldering, and unholy tirades, and reacts with an outpouring of contempt against all that we stand for .... including the good part. We unequally yoke together Holy Writ with dubious personal convictions and spoil it all ... when lost souls are at stake.
No human being can carry both burdens. It is enough to bear our cross of Divine Calling and Holy Purpose. It is enough to consume all of you, for life, just to carry God's gospel of Jesus Christ, without adding your own gospel and trivial, plastic and dead weight causes to it.
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." Heb.12:1.
Pass it on. RB
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