Common Sense Commentary:
A young lady I knew, out sowing her wild oats, told her father, "I just want you to love me unconditionally". Her father responded, "You already have my unconditional love. What you do not have is my unconditional approval of your wayward life and sin."
Does God love His children unconditionally? Yes, of course, but we do not have His unconditional approval. The Bible tells us He "loves righteousness and hates sin" in Hebrews 1:9. We have no righteousness of our own merit but are covered with the holy robe of Christ's righteousness. Otherwise we would all go to hell. "For there is not a just man on earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not." Ecc.7:20. God hates sin because it is the opposite of His holy will for us. It is UN holy rejection of God and His love for us. He cast out one third of the angels from heaven because of UN holy rebellion. He hates sin because He knows the devastation, pain, and damage it does to us, body and soul. God must hate what is happening to our nation and people but He does not worry or fret about it. He is above that.
I too hate the spiritual decline of "Christian America" into a black hole of unspiritual darkness. I hate the so called New Morality which is simply the Old Immorality in a different uniform. I abhor the passing of
our dearly beloved Christian Standards in our churches, the sad departure of those Great Old Hymns, the dismal dirge attending the death of self-respect and the solemn requiem being sung over the corpse of Conscience. I do not accept these things, I reject them. I do not approve of them, I disapprove them.
I do not like what is happening in America and the degree to which open, brazen wickedness displays itself ; but, I do not let it worry me to death. At 80, I will die soon enough without assisting in my own demise... at least soon enough for me if not everybody. If you others will be patient, I will die as quickly as I can so you can rest easy til its your turn. I can live with the ruin and shambles left by Satan's war with God because I know God wins in the end and He holds the scales of judgement. He will enforce His law of sowing and reaping without any help from me. "...For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Gal.6:7. Evil will not triumph, with its raucous laughter, forever. The humor will cease when the trumpet of heaven sounds across the earth and Jesus Christ returns in power and judgement.
Yes, we have the unconditional love of God but not His unconditional approval. Judgement is certain.
"Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, the heart of the sons (and daughters) of men is fully set in them to do evil." Ecc.8-13.
Pass it on. RB
Jun 29, 2011
Jun 28, 2011
Nihilism: Radical, Lawless, Unprincipled, Unrestrained Anarchy
Common Sense Commentary: Human language is as limited as human bodies and minds. So much of what we feel and think cannot be adequately communicated. As if that is not enough, some words have double meanings and some cannot be translated into another language with absolute accuracy.
The translators of the New Testament often could not translate a Greek word into a single English word.
In that case they usually used several English words or a phrase to express the Greek meaning of a single word. They sometimes chose to simply "transliterate" the word; This means, they made the Greek word a new English word. the word "baptize" is such a word. They "literally transposed" the Greek word "baptizo" into "baptize" and invented a new English word.
There are also English words just as difficult to convert to another language. Many new technology, English words have been transliterated into many other languages. You will see them in foreign news papers... an English word made into a Spanish or German word. Thousands of our English words have been transliterated from Latin and Greek. Such an English word is Nihilism. It derived originally from the Latin, "nihil" and became an English word. I cannot define the original meaning of Nihilism in a single word that describes it accurately. The best I can do is to say, the Latin word meant something like this:
"Nothingness, nil, no will, unwilling to obey rules, radical, lawless, unprincipled, unrestrained anarchy."
The English version of its meaning, as we use it today, is best defined by Noah Webster: "A view point that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and useless. A doctrine that denies any objective ground of TRUTH and especially Moral Truths." This is far beyond Libertarianism, much of which I agree with. Nihilism means "everything goes". That's the shortest definition I know of.
I have said all that to suggest this: If present trends in America have greased the political, moral, religious and educational skids which have carried us so far down the slippery slope into "the valley of the shadow", where lieth immorality and ... lies too, what will they do next? Nihilism has become the religion of a vast congregation of fanatical, amoral Americans. As a religion, nihilism may be quite new to most Americans, but it dates back to its founder, Lucifer. He was the very first to convert to Nihilism, the first to say, in effect, "There's no good reason to not eat this beautiful, delicious fruit. You know you want it. God was not being honest when he threatened you. This fruit won't kill you. That's silly. Its nourishing and delicious. Here try it: You'll like it whether God likes it or not. Be your own self. Do what YOU want."
Similarly, it has become "logical and scientific", in America, to deny the promises, warnings and truths of God's word. It has, therefore, also become "enlightened" to deny RIGHT and WRONG (moral nihilism), and to deny that TRUTH is KNOWABLE (epistemological nihilism), and to deny OBJECTIVE REALITY (metaphysical nihilism). Isn't it then probable that this same deluded segment of our society who poisoned the well of TRUTH in our country will continue to undermine our Heritage and our Constitution and the Principles upon which America was founded and has thrived for over 200 years ? They want to legalize illegal drugs, prostitution, casinos, teen sex, every kind of perversion, even child pornography, open borders for illegal aliens, and the list is endless.
The momentum is all downhill, right now, in America.... but that light at the end of the tunnel is not more bad news.... but the "good news" gospel of Jesus Christ. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." Psm.23:4. Jesus is our Chief Shepherd and has a shepherd's staff with a hook on one end, to pull his sheep out of trouble, and a rod on the other to ward off the wild beasts and sheep stealers, so we need "fear no evil: Jesus is with us" and will keep us safe and "comfort" us. The future is ours, LOOK UP.
Pass it on. RB
The translators of the New Testament often could not translate a Greek word into a single English word.
In that case they usually used several English words or a phrase to express the Greek meaning of a single word. They sometimes chose to simply "transliterate" the word; This means, they made the Greek word a new English word. the word "baptize" is such a word. They "literally transposed" the Greek word "baptizo" into "baptize" and invented a new English word.
There are also English words just as difficult to convert to another language. Many new technology, English words have been transliterated into many other languages. You will see them in foreign news papers... an English word made into a Spanish or German word. Thousands of our English words have been transliterated from Latin and Greek. Such an English word is Nihilism. It derived originally from the Latin, "nihil" and became an English word. I cannot define the original meaning of Nihilism in a single word that describes it accurately. The best I can do is to say, the Latin word meant something like this:
"Nothingness, nil, no will, unwilling to obey rules, radical, lawless, unprincipled, unrestrained anarchy."
The English version of its meaning, as we use it today, is best defined by Noah Webster: "A view point that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and useless. A doctrine that denies any objective ground of TRUTH and especially Moral Truths." This is far beyond Libertarianism, much of which I agree with. Nihilism means "everything goes". That's the shortest definition I know of.
I have said all that to suggest this: If present trends in America have greased the political, moral, religious and educational skids which have carried us so far down the slippery slope into "the valley of the shadow", where lieth immorality and ... lies too, what will they do next? Nihilism has become the religion of a vast congregation of fanatical, amoral Americans. As a religion, nihilism may be quite new to most Americans, but it dates back to its founder, Lucifer. He was the very first to convert to Nihilism, the first to say, in effect, "There's no good reason to not eat this beautiful, delicious fruit. You know you want it. God was not being honest when he threatened you. This fruit won't kill you. That's silly. Its nourishing and delicious. Here try it: You'll like it whether God likes it or not. Be your own self. Do what YOU want."
Similarly, it has become "logical and scientific", in America, to deny the promises, warnings and truths of God's word. It has, therefore, also become "enlightened" to deny RIGHT and WRONG (moral nihilism), and to deny that TRUTH is KNOWABLE (epistemological nihilism), and to deny OBJECTIVE REALITY (metaphysical nihilism). Isn't it then probable that this same deluded segment of our society who poisoned the well of TRUTH in our country will continue to undermine our Heritage and our Constitution and the Principles upon which America was founded and has thrived for over 200 years ? They want to legalize illegal drugs, prostitution, casinos, teen sex, every kind of perversion, even child pornography, open borders for illegal aliens, and the list is endless.
The momentum is all downhill, right now, in America.... but that light at the end of the tunnel is not more bad news.... but the "good news" gospel of Jesus Christ. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." Psm.23:4. Jesus is our Chief Shepherd and has a shepherd's staff with a hook on one end, to pull his sheep out of trouble, and a rod on the other to ward off the wild beasts and sheep stealers, so we need "fear no evil: Jesus is with us" and will keep us safe and "comfort" us. The future is ours, LOOK UP.
Pass it on. RB
Some People Are Just Bad ... To the Bone
Common Sense Commentary: See if you recognize someone you know ...below.
SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST ... BAD!
By Jay Clarke
What people do matters. But, who they are determines their
behavior. Who they are will express itself in what they do on a
consistent, regular basis.
As human beings we all make mistakes. We sin. But, people who are
bad make a lifelong, regular habit out of it and have very little, if
any, sense of remorse. Actually, they rather enjoy it. There's a
sense of autonomy, self-determination, and blazing one's own path
that seems to thrive in a person who recognizes no rules but his/her
own and no authority other than the desires of his/her own heart.
In his book, People of the Lie, M. Scott Peck tackles a problem that
most psychiatrists and therapists avoid. The problem is bad people,
or as Peck describes the issue, "evil." Peck concludes that evil
people are outside the norm of healthy, human behavior, but they're
not crazy or delusional. They're quite sane, which makes them all
the more terrifying. They are dysfunctional members of society. In
a nutshell, bad people lack two critical human characteristics that
the rest of us share and admire.
#1. They lack Honesty. They lie.
Most people lie to prevent embarrassment or to cover an error. It's
not a way of life. Bad people lie all the time and about almost
everything. It's purposeful and automatic. It's part of who they
are. It's how they live, it's how they function, and it's how they
manipulate, gain advantage, and achieve success. They lie with
reckless abandon and they are really good at it. Mix a little truth
into a lie, add some well-contrived sincerity, and it's instantly
believable.
We've all met people like this. Something about them sets off alarms
in our intuitive brain. We don't know why, but we know they're lying
and we're being deceived. If asked to repeat what the lie was, it
would be tough to nail down. Bad people are really, really good
liars. If challenged, they will back-pedal and change their story
until they can find solid ground to stand on which cannot be
questioned or refuted. Victory. Trained therapists have a difficult
time divining truth from fiction when faced with such a person whose
very identity is rooted in half-truths. A common way of referring to
these bad people is that they are "like nailing jello to the wall."
It's almost impossible to pin them down.
#2. They lack Empathy.
Empathy is the ability to put one's self in the shoes of another,
even if only for a moment. To be a good person, empathy is
required. It is the essential ingredient in humanity and is deeply
embedded in our culture. Americans care. We care because we have
empathy. It's in our national DNA. It's in our religious texts. We
teach it to our children every day and we gladly help others when
we're able because it's the right thing to do.
Bad people view empathy as a weakness to be exploited. But, they do
care about themselves. A lot. Passionately. They are the "Me
Generation" on steroids. Spouses, children, and friends don't
matter. Not really. They're valued only to the extent that they can
provide support, praise, honor, and adulation. Bad people live for
that. If they cannot garner praise and adoration from their
reluctant relatives, it's just as satisfying to intimidate, control,
and manipulate them. The ability to instill fear in others is a
powerful narcotic to their warped sensitivities. Bad people use and
abuse others. They feed off of the insecurities of others and
exploit their vulnerabilities. If the targets of their exploitation
refuse to show fear or admiration they will be abandoned, family and
friends included, with a shocking coldness. The unfortunate souls
who find themselves living with these monsters will often develop
significant mental, emotional, and physical symptoms. It is a
horrific nightmare.
Bad people come to us as sweetness and light, charming, intelligent,
confident, and often successful. But, they are chameleons who will
say whatever is necessary in order to get what they want and do what
they may. No truth. No empathy. No soul. Shape-shifting through
life they reinvent themselves to suit their audience so as to be
everything to everyone. Inside, they are soulless. Alone. Scared.
Afraid of being found out and exposed as a fraud. Their fragile
self-image hides behind a facade of confidence, humor, and "I'm above
it all." Hence, they appear arrogant, haughty, and cannot bear scorn
or reproach.
Barack Obama is a Bad Man.
When he first entered the national political arena, I thought Barack
Obama was a sincere man, mistaken in his political beliefs, but an
honest advocate of them. Today, like millions of Americans, my
evaluation of Barack Obama would be quite different.
Without attempting to go over every policy, speech, and embarrassment
to explain what is wrong with the man, I might just sum it up the way
that many parents do when teaching their sons and daughters about
right and wrong. "Obama," I would say, "is a bad man."
Barack Obama is one of these bad people. He's dishonest,
narcissistic, and pinning him down can be like nailing jello to the
wall. He's all things to all people, but he is no one -- an empty
vessel. He uses people and then disposes of them when it's
expedient. His grandmother, his spiritual mentor, anyone who becomes
an inconvenience is thrown under the now infamous bus. He is adept
at mockery and ridicule. His arrogance is legendary. His skin is
decidedly thin and he cannot bear to be contradicted or challenged.
He works, not for the American People but, for himself.
Obama's presidency is a lot like Obama. It's all about him. His
needs. His wants. The nation's crises can't compete with his love of
golf, parties, or globe-trotting vacations. After all, in his mind,
he deserves these creature comforts. Despite his appearance of
confidence, Obama's is an empty soul in search of fulfillment. The
salve for his wounded heart is the acquisition of raw power. Power
that is unimpeded, unopposed, and subject only to the capricious
whims of a self-conscious, adolescent boy housed in a middle-aged
man's body. Nothing less will do.
Fortunately for us, there's an election in 2012. Unfortunately,
there are still Americans willing to reelect this alien that inhabits
the White House. They need to know who he really is. Someone needs
to tell them just like their mom and dad used to. Someone needs to
help them understand.
To all Obama supporters:
America is depending on you, the electorate, to do the right thing.
When you vote on November 6th, 2012, please do so carefully.
Consider your country. Resist the temptation to vote the party
line. America is in trouble and needs a president who believes in
America and values Americans. Remember this as you choose your
candidate:
Barack Obama is a bad man. A very bad man indeed.
Jay Clarke is a businessman and life-long Conservative from Southern
California. Like many people, he has held a number of careers during
his life time including 9 years as an EMT/Paramedic, 4 years as a
music pastor and 19 years as a small business owner. He's a proud
husband, father and grandfather.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/.../barack_obama_is_a_bad_man.html
SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST ... BAD!
By Jay Clarke
What people do matters. But, who they are determines their
behavior. Who they are will express itself in what they do on a
consistent, regular basis.
As human beings we all make mistakes. We sin. But, people who are
bad make a lifelong, regular habit out of it and have very little, if
any, sense of remorse. Actually, they rather enjoy it. There's a
sense of autonomy, self-determination, and blazing one's own path
that seems to thrive in a person who recognizes no rules but his/her
own and no authority other than the desires of his/her own heart.
In his book, People of the Lie, M. Scott Peck tackles a problem that
most psychiatrists and therapists avoid. The problem is bad people,
or as Peck describes the issue, "evil." Peck concludes that evil
people are outside the norm of healthy, human behavior, but they're
not crazy or delusional. They're quite sane, which makes them all
the more terrifying. They are dysfunctional members of society. In
a nutshell, bad people lack two critical human characteristics that
the rest of us share and admire.
#1. They lack Honesty. They lie.
Most people lie to prevent embarrassment or to cover an error. It's
not a way of life. Bad people lie all the time and about almost
everything. It's purposeful and automatic. It's part of who they
are. It's how they live, it's how they function, and it's how they
manipulate, gain advantage, and achieve success. They lie with
reckless abandon and they are really good at it. Mix a little truth
into a lie, add some well-contrived sincerity, and it's instantly
believable.
We've all met people like this. Something about them sets off alarms
in our intuitive brain. We don't know why, but we know they're lying
and we're being deceived. If asked to repeat what the lie was, it
would be tough to nail down. Bad people are really, really good
liars. If challenged, they will back-pedal and change their story
until they can find solid ground to stand on which cannot be
questioned or refuted. Victory. Trained therapists have a difficult
time divining truth from fiction when faced with such a person whose
very identity is rooted in half-truths. A common way of referring to
these bad people is that they are "like nailing jello to the wall."
It's almost impossible to pin them down.
#2. They lack Empathy.
Empathy is the ability to put one's self in the shoes of another,
even if only for a moment. To be a good person, empathy is
required. It is the essential ingredient in humanity and is deeply
embedded in our culture. Americans care. We care because we have
empathy. It's in our national DNA. It's in our religious texts. We
teach it to our children every day and we gladly help others when
we're able because it's the right thing to do.
Bad people view empathy as a weakness to be exploited. But, they do
care about themselves. A lot. Passionately. They are the "Me
Generation" on steroids. Spouses, children, and friends don't
matter. Not really. They're valued only to the extent that they can
provide support, praise, honor, and adulation. Bad people live for
that. If they cannot garner praise and adoration from their
reluctant relatives, it's just as satisfying to intimidate, control,
and manipulate them. The ability to instill fear in others is a
powerful narcotic to their warped sensitivities. Bad people use and
abuse others. They feed off of the insecurities of others and
exploit their vulnerabilities. If the targets of their exploitation
refuse to show fear or admiration they will be abandoned, family and
friends included, with a shocking coldness. The unfortunate souls
who find themselves living with these monsters will often develop
significant mental, emotional, and physical symptoms. It is a
horrific nightmare.
Bad people come to us as sweetness and light, charming, intelligent,
confident, and often successful. But, they are chameleons who will
say whatever is necessary in order to get what they want and do what
they may. No truth. No empathy. No soul. Shape-shifting through
life they reinvent themselves to suit their audience so as to be
everything to everyone. Inside, they are soulless. Alone. Scared.
Afraid of being found out and exposed as a fraud. Their fragile
self-image hides behind a facade of confidence, humor, and "I'm above
it all." Hence, they appear arrogant, haughty, and cannot bear scorn
or reproach.
Barack Obama is a Bad Man.
When he first entered the national political arena, I thought Barack
Obama was a sincere man, mistaken in his political beliefs, but an
honest advocate of them. Today, like millions of Americans, my
evaluation of Barack Obama would be quite different.
Without attempting to go over every policy, speech, and embarrassment
to explain what is wrong with the man, I might just sum it up the way
that many parents do when teaching their sons and daughters about
right and wrong. "Obama," I would say, "is a bad man."
Barack Obama is one of these bad people. He's dishonest,
narcissistic, and pinning him down can be like nailing jello to the
wall. He's all things to all people, but he is no one -- an empty
vessel. He uses people and then disposes of them when it's
expedient. His grandmother, his spiritual mentor, anyone who becomes
an inconvenience is thrown under the now infamous bus. He is adept
at mockery and ridicule. His arrogance is legendary. His skin is
decidedly thin and he cannot bear to be contradicted or challenged.
He works, not for the American People but, for himself.
Obama's presidency is a lot like Obama. It's all about him. His
needs. His wants. The nation's crises can't compete with his love of
golf, parties, or globe-trotting vacations. After all, in his mind,
he deserves these creature comforts. Despite his appearance of
confidence, Obama's is an empty soul in search of fulfillment. The
salve for his wounded heart is the acquisition of raw power. Power
that is unimpeded, unopposed, and subject only to the capricious
whims of a self-conscious, adolescent boy housed in a middle-aged
man's body. Nothing less will do.
Fortunately for us, there's an election in 2012. Unfortunately,
there are still Americans willing to reelect this alien that inhabits
the White House. They need to know who he really is. Someone needs
to tell them just like their mom and dad used to. Someone needs to
help them understand.
To all Obama supporters:
America is depending on you, the electorate, to do the right thing.
When you vote on November 6th, 2012, please do so carefully.
Consider your country. Resist the temptation to vote the party
line. America is in trouble and needs a president who believes in
America and values Americans. Remember this as you choose your
candidate:
Barack Obama is a bad man. A very bad man indeed.
Jay Clarke is a businessman and life-long Conservative from Southern
California. Like many people, he has held a number of careers during
his life time including 9 years as an EMT/Paramedic, 4 years as a
music pastor and 19 years as a small business owner. He's a proud
husband, father and grandfather.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/.../barack_obama_is_a_bad_man.html
Jun 27, 2011
The Committed Christian's Crown
Common Sense Commentary: "The four and twenty elders (representing Old and New Testament saints) fall down before Him that sat upon the throne, and worship Him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power...." Rev.4:10-11. Where did they get those crowns ?
I.... OUR INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN - "Every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they (worldly champions) do it to obtain a corruptible CROWN; but we (for) an incorruptible CROWN." I Cor 9:25. All worldly fame, accomplishments and honor shall become dust and ashes... and be forever forgotten (corruptible); but every thought, word or action of Christian commitment and kindness is eternally recorded, rewarded and remembered... (incorruptible).
II... OUR CHRISTIAN BROTHERHOOD CROWN - "Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my JOY and CROWN , stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved." Phil.4:1. The Apostle Paul, having faithfully witnessed and preached Jesus Christ across two continents and established churches everywhere he went, loved the Christian brotherhood, male and female, with a Christlike devotion... almost inexpressible.
III.. OUR SOUL WINNERS CROWN - "For what is our (my) HOPE, or JOY or CROWN of
rejoicing? Are not (is it not) even YOU in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
1 Thess.2:19. Paul's faith in the eternal promises of our future, in God's Word, to all believers, was reflected in his certain HOPE, Christian JOY, and constant REJOICING in KNOWING that all those souls he had lead to "Faith in Christ" would live forever "in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming." That was all that mattered to Brother Paul.
IV.. OUR CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS - "Henceforth there is laid up for me a CROWN of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto ALL them that love His appearing." Paul had personally experienced and well knew the conflict and struggle every Christian "ENDURES" in a human life, between the spiritual, righteous, born again, inner man and the constant fleshly temptations of the outer man. Paul never doubted that the only righteousness HE had was the righteousness of Christ bestowed upon his soul at the moment of his eternal salvation. Hear the similar testimonies of other believers in the Bible: David = "Hear me ... O Lord of my righteousness..." Psm.4:1. "Judge me O Lord... according to THY righteousness." Jeremiah = "He shall be called, 'The Lord of OUR righteousness'." Jer.35:15. Isaiah = "...My God... hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of (His) righteousness..." Isa.61:10. Also "WE are ALL as an unclean thing, and ALL OUR righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Isa.64:6. Daniel = "O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto THEE...." Dan.9;7. Hosea = "Seek the Lord, til He comes and rains righteousness upon you." Hosea 10:12. Jesus = "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and HIS righteousness." Matt.6;33. Paul = "...Not having my own righteousness, WHICH IS OF THE LAW, but that which is through the FAITH OF CHRIST, the righteousness which is OF GOD." Phil.3:9. Titus= "Not by works of righteousness WHICH WE HAVE DONE...."
V... OUR CROWN OF LIFE - "Blessed is the man that ENDURETH temptation for when he is tried, he shall receive a CROWN of life,which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." Jm.1:12. Two "HUMAN" realities, which are universal, are "temptation" and "tribulation". Even Jesus was tempted, in His flesh, by Satan for forty days and nights. (Lk.4). "Yet without sin". Heb.4:15. He was tempted and tried in His "human, fleshly" side but His spiritual side did not yield ... "He ENDURED" and was blessed. Now if Jesus endured temptation and tribulation, we, in whom He now lives, can also endure if we "Walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." Gal.5:16.
VI.. OUR CROWN OF GLORY - "When the chief shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a
CROWN of glory that fadeth not away." IPet.5:4. We, like sheep, await our Shepherd's return. Until then, we ENDURE the trials and temptations to quit or run away. We ENDURE the goats and dogs and domineering rams. We even sometimes have to ENDURE our Chief Shepherd's hireling shepherd. But we know our true Shepherd's voice and our rewards, crowns and security are with Him.
VII. A CROWN ... LOST - "Behold, I come quickly:hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy CROWN." Rev.3;11. If He tarries His return to a time certain, don't give up, don't run away, and don't stray away from your assigned fold. Be patient, be faithful .... ENDURE and a crown awaits you .... to place at our Lord's feet. If the righteousness is His, the Crown is also His. If the righteousness is ours, the crown is ours to keep. You decide to whom it belongs.
Pass it on. RB
I.... OUR INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN - "Every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they (worldly champions) do it to obtain a corruptible CROWN; but we (for) an incorruptible CROWN." I Cor 9:25. All worldly fame, accomplishments and honor shall become dust and ashes... and be forever forgotten (corruptible); but every thought, word or action of Christian commitment and kindness is eternally recorded, rewarded and remembered... (incorruptible).
II... OUR CHRISTIAN BROTHERHOOD CROWN - "Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my JOY and CROWN , stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved." Phil.4:1. The Apostle Paul, having faithfully witnessed and preached Jesus Christ across two continents and established churches everywhere he went, loved the Christian brotherhood, male and female, with a Christlike devotion... almost inexpressible.
III.. OUR SOUL WINNERS CROWN - "For what is our (my) HOPE, or JOY or CROWN of
rejoicing? Are not (is it not) even YOU in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
1 Thess.2:19. Paul's faith in the eternal promises of our future, in God's Word, to all believers, was reflected in his certain HOPE, Christian JOY, and constant REJOICING in KNOWING that all those souls he had lead to "Faith in Christ" would live forever "in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming." That was all that mattered to Brother Paul.
IV.. OUR CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS - "Henceforth there is laid up for me a CROWN of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto ALL them that love His appearing." Paul had personally experienced and well knew the conflict and struggle every Christian "ENDURES" in a human life, between the spiritual, righteous, born again, inner man and the constant fleshly temptations of the outer man. Paul never doubted that the only righteousness HE had was the righteousness of Christ bestowed upon his soul at the moment of his eternal salvation. Hear the similar testimonies of other believers in the Bible: David = "Hear me ... O Lord of my righteousness..." Psm.4:1. "Judge me O Lord... according to THY righteousness." Jeremiah = "He shall be called, 'The Lord of OUR righteousness'." Jer.35:15. Isaiah = "...My God... hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of (His) righteousness..." Isa.61:10. Also "WE are ALL as an unclean thing, and ALL OUR righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Isa.64:6. Daniel = "O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto THEE...." Dan.9;7. Hosea = "Seek the Lord, til He comes and rains righteousness upon you." Hosea 10:12. Jesus = "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and HIS righteousness." Matt.6;33. Paul = "...Not having my own righteousness, WHICH IS OF THE LAW, but that which is through the FAITH OF CHRIST, the righteousness which is OF GOD." Phil.3:9. Titus= "Not by works of righteousness WHICH WE HAVE DONE...."
V... OUR CROWN OF LIFE - "Blessed is the man that ENDURETH temptation for when he is tried, he shall receive a CROWN of life,which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." Jm.1:12. Two "HUMAN" realities, which are universal, are "temptation" and "tribulation". Even Jesus was tempted, in His flesh, by Satan for forty days and nights. (Lk.4). "Yet without sin". Heb.4:15. He was tempted and tried in His "human, fleshly" side but His spiritual side did not yield ... "He ENDURED" and was blessed. Now if Jesus endured temptation and tribulation, we, in whom He now lives, can also endure if we "Walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." Gal.5:16.
VI.. OUR CROWN OF GLORY - "When the chief shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a
CROWN of glory that fadeth not away." IPet.5:4. We, like sheep, await our Shepherd's return. Until then, we ENDURE the trials and temptations to quit or run away. We ENDURE the goats and dogs and domineering rams. We even sometimes have to ENDURE our Chief Shepherd's hireling shepherd. But we know our true Shepherd's voice and our rewards, crowns and security are with Him.
VII. A CROWN ... LOST - "Behold, I come quickly:hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy CROWN." Rev.3;11. If He tarries His return to a time certain, don't give up, don't run away, and don't stray away from your assigned fold. Be patient, be faithful .... ENDURE and a crown awaits you .... to place at our Lord's feet. If the righteousness is His, the Crown is also His. If the righteousness is ours, the crown is ours to keep. You decide to whom it belongs.
Pass it on. RB
Jun 26, 2011
The Third Level Of Faith
Common Sense Commentary: Where does "FAITH" come from? "Faith comes by hearing ... the word of God." Rom.10:17. That would be, from reading "the word of God", or "hearing" it read or quoted by someone else. "The word of God" is absolutely essential in the process of "FAITH" being born into a person's heart.
Bible definition of Faith: "Now FAITH IS the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things NOT seen." Heb.11:1. So "faith" claims "things HOPED for", before the fact, as real as if the thing "hoped for" was "substance" in hand and positive proof "EVIDENCE" of the thing ... yet UNSEEN.
I. Level One: FAITH for SALVATION... "Jesus Christ ...whom having NOT SEEN, you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." 1 Pet.1:8. That is the kind of faith Jesus spoke of when he said, "Thy faith hath saved thee." Lk.18:42. When Jesus came into the world and spoke the word of God, many of the hearers believed and were thereby saved. "As (Jesus) spake these words, many believed on him." Jn.8:30.
The first level of faith is, "Faith in his word and in him to believe unto salvation."
II. Level Two: FAITH for MIRACLES ... "And Jesus said ... if you have FAITH as a grain of mustard seed, ... nothing shall be impossible unto you." Mt.17:20. He illustrated the fact of "faith healing" in Mt.9:29 ... Jesus "touched blinded eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you."
Jesus often said unto the sick , "Thy faith hath made thee whole." This second level of faith is, "Faith to believe God for Miracles.
III. Level Three: FAITH to totally yield our WILL to His WILL. We see this level of faith in the virgin Mary when the angel came unto her and told her she was about to conceive and bring forth a baby who would be the prophesied Messiah (Christ). She was soon to married; she loved Joseph; would he believe her? What would people say? Nobody would believe such a story. How would this affect all that? But she simply askedthe angel, "how that could be" when she had never "known" (been with a man in that way)? The angel explained that the child would be conceived by the Holy Spirit of God and would be the Son of God. Most young girls would see all their plans evaporating but Mary did not reject , complain or ask to be spared the consequences of such a calling. Her faith rose above the first and second levels all the way up to the third level. In her transcending faith, she yielded her will to God's will and answered, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." Lk.1:38. What great faith.
By far the best example of this third level of faith is when Jesus was praying in the Garden Of Gethsemane. He knew he had come into the world to redeem lost sinners from the consequences of their sins by taking their sins upon himself and carrying them to the cross and into death because there was no other way to save us from God's irreversible law, "The wages of sin is death...but... (so Jesus took the wages of our sins upon himself and died on that cross for our sins and by doing so, he became "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom.6:23. Before he went to the cross, while he was praying in the Garden, he asked God, "... O Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.... Jesus knew, in order to take away our sins, he had to be "made to be sin for us, him who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." 1 Cor.5:21. It is my opinion that Jesus was not afraid of dying but knowing the awful wicked filthiness and offence to God of sin, he was asking if there was any other "possible" way but being "made sin" and then to carry our sinful slime upon himself into death. He had no sin of his own; it was totally against his Holy nature. If Jesus had stopped praying right there with the words, "let this cup pass from me", I think a miracle of faith would have immediately delivered him from being made sin and his death on the cross .... but, he didn't stop there, he continued to the third level of faith .... "Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."Mt.26:39.
God's primary will and purpose for us is that we might be saved from the horrors and penalty of our sins, and begin, then to grow in Christlikeness. Christlikeness is what the Bible is all about and Christlikeness is living in a state of total yieldedness to the perfect will of God. We must not doubt or forget that God is omniscient, knows all things past, present, and future and what is best for us. We do not know those things and resisting God, who does, is like stumbling in the dangerous darkness of life and refusing to let Him light up the path and lead the way before us. God help us to walk in the footsteps of Christ and pray, "Not my will, thine be done" the third level of faith.
Pass it on. RB
Bible definition of Faith: "Now FAITH IS the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things NOT seen." Heb.11:1. So "faith" claims "things HOPED for", before the fact, as real as if the thing "hoped for" was "substance" in hand and positive proof "EVIDENCE" of the thing ... yet UNSEEN.
I. Level One: FAITH for SALVATION... "Jesus Christ ...whom having NOT SEEN, you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." 1 Pet.1:8. That is the kind of faith Jesus spoke of when he said, "Thy faith hath saved thee." Lk.18:42. When Jesus came into the world and spoke the word of God, many of the hearers believed and were thereby saved. "As (Jesus) spake these words, many believed on him." Jn.8:30.
The first level of faith is, "Faith in his word and in him to believe unto salvation."
II. Level Two: FAITH for MIRACLES ... "And Jesus said ... if you have FAITH as a grain of mustard seed, ... nothing shall be impossible unto you." Mt.17:20. He illustrated the fact of "faith healing" in Mt.9:29 ... Jesus "touched blinded eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you."
Jesus often said unto the sick , "Thy faith hath made thee whole." This second level of faith is, "Faith to believe God for Miracles.
III. Level Three: FAITH to totally yield our WILL to His WILL. We see this level of faith in the virgin Mary when the angel came unto her and told her she was about to conceive and bring forth a baby who would be the prophesied Messiah (Christ). She was soon to married; she loved Joseph; would he believe her? What would people say? Nobody would believe such a story. How would this affect all that? But she simply askedthe angel, "how that could be" when she had never "known" (been with a man in that way)? The angel explained that the child would be conceived by the Holy Spirit of God and would be the Son of God. Most young girls would see all their plans evaporating but Mary did not reject , complain or ask to be spared the consequences of such a calling. Her faith rose above the first and second levels all the way up to the third level. In her transcending faith, she yielded her will to God's will and answered, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." Lk.1:38. What great faith.
By far the best example of this third level of faith is when Jesus was praying in the Garden Of Gethsemane. He knew he had come into the world to redeem lost sinners from the consequences of their sins by taking their sins upon himself and carrying them to the cross and into death because there was no other way to save us from God's irreversible law, "The wages of sin is death...but... (so Jesus took the wages of our sins upon himself and died on that cross for our sins and by doing so, he became "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom.6:23. Before he went to the cross, while he was praying in the Garden, he asked God, "... O Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.... Jesus knew, in order to take away our sins, he had to be "made to be sin for us, him who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." 1 Cor.5:21. It is my opinion that Jesus was not afraid of dying but knowing the awful wicked filthiness and offence to God of sin, he was asking if there was any other "possible" way but being "made sin" and then to carry our sinful slime upon himself into death. He had no sin of his own; it was totally against his Holy nature. If Jesus had stopped praying right there with the words, "let this cup pass from me", I think a miracle of faith would have immediately delivered him from being made sin and his death on the cross .... but, he didn't stop there, he continued to the third level of faith .... "Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."Mt.26:39.
God's primary will and purpose for us is that we might be saved from the horrors and penalty of our sins, and begin, then to grow in Christlikeness. Christlikeness is what the Bible is all about and Christlikeness is living in a state of total yieldedness to the perfect will of God. We must not doubt or forget that God is omniscient, knows all things past, present, and future and what is best for us. We do not know those things and resisting God, who does, is like stumbling in the dangerous darkness of life and refusing to let Him light up the path and lead the way before us. God help us to walk in the footsteps of Christ and pray, "Not my will, thine be done" the third level of faith.
Pass it on. RB
Jun 21, 2011
U.S. Muslim Head, Farrakhan's Deranged Dilemma With Obama
Common Sense Commentary:
In 2008 when Barack Obama, making campaign speeches on "Change and Hope", made some outrageous statement, Muslim Head, Louis Farrakhan would announce, with a knowing smile, "Messiah is speaking." Now, after three "outrageous" years of Obama as President, Farrakhan, in a "sermon" to a Black "Christian" Conference caught on video, said, "We voted for our brother Barack, a beautiful human being with a sweet heart, and now he's an assassin. They turned him into them .... that's a murderer in the White House."
(See U-Tube video at "The Root").
I have two questions for Muslim Minister Farrakhan. (1) "Which is it ... Messiah or Murderer?"
(2) How, exactly do "they" turn the prophesied Messiah Christ (meaning God's Anointed) into an "assassin murderer"? Farrakhan's Muslim Messiah is not our Christ but some counterfeit named "Maddie" who will supposedly come to earth bringing Jesus Christ with him. According to Muslim doctrine, "Christ will convert to Islam and Maddie will teach Him to pray."
I watched the video. You should have seen the expressions on that jaw dropping crowd of "professing" Christian blacks as they listened in confused horror to this Muslim Fanatic quoting their
Holy Bible, not his Koran bible, and weaseling his way into their confused minds as he condemned Obama, of whom he first said, "Messiah is speaking". Farrakhan then claimed everything he says is "prophecy". But .... a true prophet is known by his prophecies and Farrakhan's prophecy of "Obama is the Messiah" has proven to be a false prophecy and Farrakhan himself a false prophet. "Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of THAT Prophet.... And that Prophet .... shall be put to death;
because he hath spoken to turn you away from the L0RD your God." Deut.13:3-5.
In my opinion, Farrakhan has "blasphemed the Holy Spirit", the only unpardonable sin, and God has pronounced his judgement and determined the moment and method of his death. We shall see.
Matt.12:31 (Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit)
In Jesus' own words, "Beware if false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly
they are ravening wolves." Matt.7:15.
"Many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many." Matt.24:11.
Pass it on. RB
In 2008 when Barack Obama, making campaign speeches on "Change and Hope", made some outrageous statement, Muslim Head, Louis Farrakhan would announce, with a knowing smile, "Messiah is speaking." Now, after three "outrageous" years of Obama as President, Farrakhan, in a "sermon" to a Black "Christian" Conference caught on video, said, "We voted for our brother Barack, a beautiful human being with a sweet heart, and now he's an assassin. They turned him into them .... that's a murderer in the White House."
(See U-Tube video at "The Root").
I have two questions for Muslim Minister Farrakhan. (1) "Which is it ... Messiah or Murderer?"
(2) How, exactly do "they" turn the prophesied Messiah Christ (meaning God's Anointed) into an "assassin murderer"? Farrakhan's Muslim Messiah is not our Christ but some counterfeit named "Maddie" who will supposedly come to earth bringing Jesus Christ with him. According to Muslim doctrine, "Christ will convert to Islam and Maddie will teach Him to pray."
I watched the video. You should have seen the expressions on that jaw dropping crowd of "professing" Christian blacks as they listened in confused horror to this Muslim Fanatic quoting their
Holy Bible, not his Koran bible, and weaseling his way into their confused minds as he condemned Obama, of whom he first said, "Messiah is speaking". Farrakhan then claimed everything he says is "prophecy". But .... a true prophet is known by his prophecies and Farrakhan's prophecy of "Obama is the Messiah" has proven to be a false prophecy and Farrakhan himself a false prophet. "Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of THAT Prophet.... And that Prophet .... shall be put to death;
because he hath spoken to turn you away from the L0RD your God." Deut.13:3-5.
In my opinion, Farrakhan has "blasphemed the Holy Spirit", the only unpardonable sin, and God has pronounced his judgement and determined the moment and method of his death. We shall see.
Matt.12:31 (Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit)
In Jesus' own words, "Beware if false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly
they are ravening wolves." Matt.7:15.
"Many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many." Matt.24:11.
Pass it on. RB
Jun 20, 2011
Every Working, Tax Paying, Patriotic American.... "Register To Vote"
Common Sense Commentary
“America will never be destroyed from the outside.
If we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”
~ Abraham Lincoln
“Government’s first duty
is to protect the people,
not run their lives.”
~ Ronald Reagan
"Amen, Amen, and Amen."
- Rayburn Blair
The point of the following summation of the last Presidential election is not Democrat or Republican but Liberal Socialist vs Conservative Constitutionalist. John McCain was not my choice to bear the Conservative Constitutional banner but the vote would have been about the same no matter which Republican won the Republican Primary after eight years of President Bush and two wars.
Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul , Minnesota , points out some interesting facts concerning the last Presidential election:
If we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”
~ Abraham Lincoln
“Government’s first duty
is to protect the people,
not run their lives.”
~ Ronald Reagan
"Amen, Amen, and Amen."
- Rayburn Blair
The point of the following summation of the last Presidential election is not Democrat or Republican but Liberal Socialist vs Conservative Constitutionalist. John McCain was not my choice to bear the Conservative Constitutional banner but the vote would have been about the same no matter which Republican won the Republican Primary after eight years of President Bush and two wars.
Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul , Minnesota , points out some interesting facts concerning the last Presidential election:
- Number of States won by: Obama:19 McCain:29
- Square miles of land won by: Obama:580,000 McCain: 2,427,000
- Population of counties won by: Obama:127million McCain:143 million
- Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by: Obama:13.2 McCain:2.1
Professor Olson adds: "In aggregate, the map of the territory McCain won was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of the country.
Obama territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in low income tenements and living off various forms of government welfare..."
Rayburn's Comment:
It is now all too obvious how destructive Socialism has been to our nation. We are deeper in debt than simply bankrupt. We owe those who have bought our U.S. Treasury bonds and notes 14.7 Trillion dollars plus legal commitments in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps, Federal Retirement funds etc, upward of 100 Trillion dollars and growing by one and a half Trillion per year ... so far. And the flood of Government spending is still increasing. The important question now is not "who is responsible" so much as, "What are we going to do about it?" The truth is, like Robert Schuler's Christal Cathedral, in California, which owes $50,000,000 and is bankrupt, our leaders too have spent us so far into debt we will never get out. My concern is for all the suffering our whole nation will have to endure. Especially children and old people who have lost their retirement savings. Frankly, it is too late to avoid years of sacrifice and difficulty no matter who is elected our next President. But, if present policies are continued, it will yet get worse. Unless hard working, taxpaying, Patriotic Americans register to vote and then vote for a budget balancing, Constitutional candidate with wisdom, for President, the future is destined to be similar to Germany's Wiemar Republic which brought Hitler to power. Even if we had another Harry Truman or Dwight Eisenhower, they could not solve the problem we are in. One good thing about these reversals is, our leaders will have to cut all the dumb give away programs out. So called "Entitlement" Programs will go down the tube. Socialists gave welfare charity this name so the recipients wouldn't be embarrassed to spend it and working tax payers would have the illusion they weren't paying for it. Social Security should not be listed with this misnomer. S.S. is paid for insurance. The use of "Entitlements" to cover up taxing workers to give money to non-workers is an abuse of the term, a perversion, a distortion and an injustice. The sad truth is, all Americans will pay the price of our leader's really astounding stupidity. A second "good" possibility to come out of what is soon coming about is, Spiritual Revival. Hard Times usually draw people to God. "Tribulation worketh ...." Pray for Revival."
Pass it on. RB
Obama territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in low income tenements and living off various forms of government welfare..."
Rayburn's Comment:
It is now all too obvious how destructive Socialism has been to our nation. We are deeper in debt than simply bankrupt. We owe those who have bought our U.S. Treasury bonds and notes 14.7 Trillion dollars plus legal commitments in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps, Federal Retirement funds etc, upward of 100 Trillion dollars and growing by one and a half Trillion per year ... so far. And the flood of Government spending is still increasing. The important question now is not "who is responsible" so much as, "What are we going to do about it?" The truth is, like Robert Schuler's Christal Cathedral, in California, which owes $50,000,000 and is bankrupt, our leaders too have spent us so far into debt we will never get out. My concern is for all the suffering our whole nation will have to endure. Especially children and old people who have lost their retirement savings. Frankly, it is too late to avoid years of sacrifice and difficulty no matter who is elected our next President. But, if present policies are continued, it will yet get worse. Unless hard working, taxpaying, Patriotic Americans register to vote and then vote for a budget balancing, Constitutional candidate with wisdom, for President, the future is destined to be similar to Germany's Wiemar Republic which brought Hitler to power. Even if we had another Harry Truman or Dwight Eisenhower, they could not solve the problem we are in. One good thing about these reversals is, our leaders will have to cut all the dumb give away programs out. So called "Entitlement" Programs will go down the tube. Socialists gave welfare charity this name so the recipients wouldn't be embarrassed to spend it and working tax payers would have the illusion they weren't paying for it. Social Security should not be listed with this misnomer. S.S. is paid for insurance. The use of "Entitlements" to cover up taxing workers to give money to non-workers is an abuse of the term, a perversion, a distortion and an injustice. The sad truth is, all Americans will pay the price of our leader's really astounding stupidity. A second "good" possibility to come out of what is soon coming about is, Spiritual Revival. Hard Times usually draw people to God. "Tribulation worketh ...." Pray for Revival."
Pass it on. RB
Too Blessed To Be Stressed By Uncertainty
Common Sense Commentary:
Are you a true believer in Jesus Christ, a spiritually born again, redeemed, converted, saved, heaven bound Christian? I didn't ask if you were good enough, perfectly sinless in your flesh, worthy of salvation, or worked your way into acceptance by our Holy God. I didn't ask if you tithed, or never have a bad thought, or say a bad word under your breath, or smoked a cigarette or drank a beer last week, or ever feel lust, anger, jealousy, selfishness, or told a little white lie (exaggerated something). I didn't even ask if you have been baptized, or read your Bible every day, or even if you go to church regularly. I asked, have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour? If you have sincerely asked God, with a repentant heart, to save your soul, because of what Jesus Christ did on that cross for you, you are saved. And if your sins are forgiven, the Spirit of Christ lives in you even though you are not perfect in your flesh. The Apostle Paul, speaking to the Roman Christians said, "But you are NOT IN THE FLESH but in the SPIRIT, IF so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man (human) HAVE NOT THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, he is NONE of His." Rom.8:9. If a professing Christian doesn't have the Holy Spirit, they are not saved at all. If you truly have the love of Christ in your soul, and are saved, heaven is your final home, God is your father, Christ is your Saviour, and you are "Too Blessed To Be Stressed By Uncertainty" ! So STOP IT! Don't waste your vital time and life doubting, trying your best to be perfect or good enough to deserve Christ. Stop fussing at yourself or calling yourself names when you fall short. STOP IT! Oh yes, I know we Christians must always strive to live an overcoming, perfect, totally committed life, but absolutely NOBODY lives up on that mountain all the time and only God Himself can keep us saved in this wicked world.
"There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not." Ecc.7:20.
Jesus ALONE never falls short of the glory of God.... not you and not me, JESUS only. All of us flesh and blood human beings stumble, fail, sin in the flesh and often find ourselves back down in that fleshly valley.... in a mud puddle of sin (anger, greed, bitterness, gossip, worry, fear, doubt or worse). You say worry isn't sin. What is it if it is not a lack of faith? Jesus said, "Fear not". Anyone who says they never sin and fall short of God's standard of righteousness is a liar. "For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Rom.3:23. Stop lying about it ... We are all flawed in our flesh if not in our born again soul ... where God lives and where we are spiritually reborn ... not in our frail, sinful flesh. Look at your flesh. Is that the part of you which is "born again", clean, perfect? No! Jesus drew a line of distinction between the inner man and the outer man, " That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." Jn.3:6. "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Mt.14:38. "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing...." Jn.6:63. That is why the Apostle Paul was so clear on this subject and said, "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God." 1Cor15:50. And then he confessed, "In me, that is, in my flesh dwelleth NO good thing...." Rom.7:18. Paul challenged the Christians, "Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are CONTRARY the one to the other...." Gal.5:16-17. The Spiritually born again Christian has a two fold nature, the inner, spiritual person and the outward, fleshly person. Do not confuse the two. Only Jesus was sinless in both flesh and Spirit.
Of course, we Christians must strive to live an overcoming, spiritual, Christ-like, perfect life but none of us will reach that perfection until Jesus returns for us .... "When He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." 1 Jn.3:2. Our flesh shall remain in the grave, imperfect, dead, corrupting until that great day when Jesus returns and brings the born-again "Spirits of just men made perfect" Heb.12:23 to be rejoined with their bodies at which time they shall be glorified as they are resurrected and "we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as he is." 1Jn.3:2. For now we, like the Ancient Mariner, must live with this corruptible flesh hanging around our necks until we are set free from it. Until then, as the "beloved" Apostle John said, "If WE (included himself) say WE have no sin, WE deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us". Jn.1:8.
There are dozens of other verses I could use, but let me close with this challenge. Read Romans 7. In this chapter, the Apostle Paul explains the purpose of the Law of Moses and 10 Commandments in bringing sinners to Christ. It is our "schoolmaster" (Gal.3:24-25) to convince us we are sinners. Then Paul humbly opens his heart in honest confession and describes, in repetitious detail, the constant, raging war going on between his inward spiritual man which is born again and his outward fleshly man which is NOT. We all share that conflict with Apostle Paul. In the last twelve verses of Rom.7
I counted Paul's use of the personal pronoun (I,me,my) 25 times and the present tense verb 35 times. Any honest person who knows anything about language must confess that Paul is speaking of HIMSELF and in the PRESENT TENSE, at the time he wrote it. He was speaking as a born again, secure, Christian Apostle not as an unsaved sinner. He was saying ,"I am not perfect in the flesh but I am still saved." If you can't see that, you may never have even been saved. If you are, in fact, saved...
You are too blessed to be stressed ... rest by faith in Jesus alone.
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us."
Titus 3:5
Pass it on. RB
Are you a true believer in Jesus Christ, a spiritually born again, redeemed, converted, saved, heaven bound Christian? I didn't ask if you were good enough, perfectly sinless in your flesh, worthy of salvation, or worked your way into acceptance by our Holy God. I didn't ask if you tithed, or never have a bad thought, or say a bad word under your breath, or smoked a cigarette or drank a beer last week, or ever feel lust, anger, jealousy, selfishness, or told a little white lie (exaggerated something). I didn't even ask if you have been baptized, or read your Bible every day, or even if you go to church regularly. I asked, have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour? If you have sincerely asked God, with a repentant heart, to save your soul, because of what Jesus Christ did on that cross for you, you are saved. And if your sins are forgiven, the Spirit of Christ lives in you even though you are not perfect in your flesh. The Apostle Paul, speaking to the Roman Christians said, "But you are NOT IN THE FLESH but in the SPIRIT, IF so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man (human) HAVE NOT THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, he is NONE of His." Rom.8:9. If a professing Christian doesn't have the Holy Spirit, they are not saved at all. If you truly have the love of Christ in your soul, and are saved, heaven is your final home, God is your father, Christ is your Saviour, and you are "Too Blessed To Be Stressed By Uncertainty" ! So STOP IT! Don't waste your vital time and life doubting, trying your best to be perfect or good enough to deserve Christ. Stop fussing at yourself or calling yourself names when you fall short. STOP IT! Oh yes, I know we Christians must always strive to live an overcoming, perfect, totally committed life, but absolutely NOBODY lives up on that mountain all the time and only God Himself can keep us saved in this wicked world.
"There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not." Ecc.7:20.
Jesus ALONE never falls short of the glory of God.... not you and not me, JESUS only. All of us flesh and blood human beings stumble, fail, sin in the flesh and often find ourselves back down in that fleshly valley.... in a mud puddle of sin (anger, greed, bitterness, gossip, worry, fear, doubt or worse). You say worry isn't sin. What is it if it is not a lack of faith? Jesus said, "Fear not". Anyone who says they never sin and fall short of God's standard of righteousness is a liar. "For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Rom.3:23. Stop lying about it ... We are all flawed in our flesh if not in our born again soul ... where God lives and where we are spiritually reborn ... not in our frail, sinful flesh. Look at your flesh. Is that the part of you which is "born again", clean, perfect? No! Jesus drew a line of distinction between the inner man and the outer man, " That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." Jn.3:6. "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Mt.14:38. "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing...." Jn.6:63. That is why the Apostle Paul was so clear on this subject and said, "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God." 1Cor15:50. And then he confessed, "In me, that is, in my flesh dwelleth NO good thing...." Rom.7:18. Paul challenged the Christians, "Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are CONTRARY the one to the other...." Gal.5:16-17. The Spiritually born again Christian has a two fold nature, the inner, spiritual person and the outward, fleshly person. Do not confuse the two. Only Jesus was sinless in both flesh and Spirit.
Of course, we Christians must strive to live an overcoming, spiritual, Christ-like, perfect life but none of us will reach that perfection until Jesus returns for us .... "When He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." 1 Jn.3:2. Our flesh shall remain in the grave, imperfect, dead, corrupting until that great day when Jesus returns and brings the born-again "Spirits of just men made perfect" Heb.12:23 to be rejoined with their bodies at which time they shall be glorified as they are resurrected and "we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as he is." 1Jn.3:2. For now we, like the Ancient Mariner, must live with this corruptible flesh hanging around our necks until we are set free from it. Until then, as the "beloved" Apostle John said, "If WE (included himself) say WE have no sin, WE deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us". Jn.1:8.
There are dozens of other verses I could use, but let me close with this challenge. Read Romans 7. In this chapter, the Apostle Paul explains the purpose of the Law of Moses and 10 Commandments in bringing sinners to Christ. It is our "schoolmaster" (Gal.3:24-25) to convince us we are sinners. Then Paul humbly opens his heart in honest confession and describes, in repetitious detail, the constant, raging war going on between his inward spiritual man which is born again and his outward fleshly man which is NOT. We all share that conflict with Apostle Paul. In the last twelve verses of Rom.7
I counted Paul's use of the personal pronoun (I,me,my) 25 times and the present tense verb 35 times. Any honest person who knows anything about language must confess that Paul is speaking of HIMSELF and in the PRESENT TENSE, at the time he wrote it. He was speaking as a born again, secure, Christian Apostle not as an unsaved sinner. He was saying ,"I am not perfect in the flesh but I am still saved." If you can't see that, you may never have even been saved. If you are, in fact, saved...
You are too blessed to be stressed ... rest by faith in Jesus alone.
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us."
Titus 3:5
Pass it on. RB
Jun 17, 2011
America Owes No Apoligies To Anyone Except American Indians "Maybe"
Common Sense Commentary:
Two huge, unexplainable contradictions which amaze me about Muslims and Frenchmen: (1) Muslim hatred of our American Freedoms and way of life, and their delusions about the lack of both in their own Countries and yet tens of thousands of them move here but still feel the same way. (2) Even after we saved France's hide twice, in two World Wars, they still don't like us. It took them 15 minutes to forget the price we paid for their freedom from the NAZIS. I was there just after WWII and saw no sign of appreciation for the USA and they called us the "Ugly Americans". So why does our President apologize to everybody for us? We owe them no apology. RB
Scroll down ......
The following taken from : cdigiacomo@cogeco.ca
Two huge, unexplainable contradictions which amaze me about Muslims and Frenchmen: (1) Muslim hatred of our American Freedoms and way of life, and their delusions about the lack of both in their own Countries and yet tens of thousands of them move here but still feel the same way. (2) Even after we saved France's hide twice, in two World Wars, they still don't like us. It took them 15 minutes to forget the price we paid for their freedom from the NAZIS. I was there just after WWII and saw no sign of appreciation for the USA and they called us the "Ugly Americans". So why does our President apologize to everybody for us? We owe them no apology. RB
Scroll down ......
The following taken from : cdigiacomo@cogeco.ca
These are good.
JFK'S Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, was in France in the early 60's when DeGaulle decided to pull out of NATO. DeGaulle said he wanted all US military out of France as soon as possible.
Rusk responded,"Does that include those who are buried here?"
DeGaulle did not respond.
You could have heard a pin drop.
When in England, at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of 'empire building' by George Bush.
He answered by saying, "Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom
beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return."
You could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying, "Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intend to do, bomb them?"
A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: "Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?"
You could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S., English, Canadian, Australian and French
Navies At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of officers that included personnel from most of those countries.
Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many
languages, Americans learn only English. He then asked, "Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than
speaking French?"
Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied, "Maybe it's because the Brit's, Canadians, Aussie's and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German."
You could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AND
THIS STORY FITS RIGHT IN WITH THE ABOVE...
Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane.
At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on.
"You have been to France before, monsieur?" the customs officer asked
sarcastically.
Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France
previously.
"Then you should know enough to have your passport ready."
The American said,"The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it."
"Impossible.. Americans always have to show their passports on arrival in France !"
The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, ''Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day, I saw no Frenchman to show a passport to."
You could have heard a pin drop.
Taken from cdigiacomo@cogeco.ca
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
tary:
Jun 15, 2011
Be Yourself Not Your Hero Even If YOU Are Your Hero...Especially Then
Common Sense Commentary:
In 1929, at Stalin's fiftieth birthday celebration, near Christmas, an adoring, famous Russian writer, Leonid Leonov, expressed the sentiment of millions of Communists. He wrote that, "The day will come when all mankind will revere Joseph Stalin and history will recognize him as the starting point of time, not Jesus Christ." As we know, it is now 2011 A.D.( Anno Domini ) or "Year of our Lord", and not 132 ADSB or 132 After Dictator Stalin's Birth.
In April of 1949, after Mao Zedong's rag tag army of communists drove Chiang Kai-Shek's government off the Chinese mainland to Taiwan, Mao declared himself the Emperor of all China ... still now, a Communist nation but wearing a mask of democracy. Joseph Stalin quickly became the first to announce recognition of "Communist China" with accolades to Mao. Neither liked nor trusted the other but when Stalin's emissary, General Ivan Kovaku notified Mao of Russia's recognition, Mao shouted his appreciation, "Long live Comrade Stalin, Long Live Stalin, Long Live Stalin." Even though Mao hated Stalin for his self worship, he began to pattern himself and China after Stalin's self glorification and cult worship which Stalin had cultivated around himself in the Soviet Union and among Communists all over the world. They literally made themselves little "gods"
with huge egos, billbroards, and propaganda machines.
In my years of ministry I have seen many young preachers mimic the worst traits of seemingly successful preachers they admired ... a tick in the neck, a way of walking, mounting the pulpit, or unique sermon delivery. But, most often, they take on the worst traits not the best. A young preacher once came to me wanting support to start a church in our town. I asked him to tell me about himself and what he planed to do. He said, "I'm God called and don't have no time for schooling. I'm studying Billy Graham and Jerry Falwell for how to do it and I plan to do exactly what they have done but much bigger." I offered him a job mowing the grass but he said he didn't need work, he needed money. If he had said, "I've been studying God's Word every night after work for a year but have a family and can't afford to go to Bible School. I plan to start a church across town and build it in exactly the way Jesus told his disciples and as they did it in the book of Acts"... I would have offered to help him.
These examples of "self-worship" and "hero-worship" are no less common today as pertains to men of "wealth, power, or fame". We have all seen it in some sports fans (fanatics) and with some athletes who, themselves, have no doubt they are the greatest who ever lived and say so. You have also seen it in those who worship wealth and the wealthy by mimicking their hero and often out-Caesar Caesar by spending themselves into oblivion trying to "look" the part. The same is true with many followers of Power. Often it doesn't matter what their hero's character or morals or politics ...just his power. They attach themselves to the power like a blood-thirsty leach and obey his every command, and suggestion. Witness Chouchesque, the sadistic Communist Dictator of Romania who became more cruel than his master Stalin, if that is possible. His crueltly made the people bow and scrape and worship him until the first day they saw weakness in his government. Then they rushed as one great mass to get their hands on him and hang him in the street. That was the day he stopped worshiping himself and Stalin and woke up in hell trying to politic a truce with the devil. Never been there, but I'll bet it didn't work.
Better known to us today is North Korea's Kim Il Sung, a tin horn dictator if there ever was one. This pip-squeak, followed by his progeny and cruel likeness, maintained one of the largest military powers in the world in his starving little, half-a-country where their main highways are one-lane gravel roads. When we Marines shipped out of North Korea in Dec. 1950, we were followed by a 75 mile long parade of 100,000 of Kim's followers who were sick of worshiping "His Wickedness" and wanted nothing more than freedom from slavery by him whom they hated. We loaded every last one of them on board our ships and took them to South Korea standing up on deck all the way. I remember them as terribly skinny, starving, freezing (25 to 30 degrees below 0), many shoeless and very happy to get out.
All such ruthless, self worshiping, deluded little god-men don't know it but they are simply minute imitations of Lucifer, who wanted to be his OWN god too. These closed circuit, little, insecure men and (fewer women) grasp for power and the money that buys it and hunger for recognition and total loyalty from their worshipers or else. It happens in Politics, Athletics, Hollywood, Wealth and, yes, in the ministry too. Even among those who are called, Men of God, we often see self-worship and Preacher worship. Even then, both the self-worshiper and preacher worshiper take on , not the best, if any, but the worst of their hero's characteristics.... vanity, haughtiness, greed, lust for power, and money.
Let us, as Christians, walk in the steps of Jesus and follow his example of faithfulness and humility... not Lucifer or the preacher or any man or woman. And, be your own unique self, as your Creator intended you to be. Cultivate the you God had in mind and only follow those who clearly follow Jesus. Never forget that no leader is always right. In fact, Power, Fame and Wealth seldom lead a person to greater integrity or a closer relationship with Jesus ... or even to reality and truth. It usually leads in the other direction. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these (other) things shall be added unto you." MATT.6:33.
Pass it on. RB
In 1929, at Stalin's fiftieth birthday celebration, near Christmas, an adoring, famous Russian writer, Leonid Leonov, expressed the sentiment of millions of Communists. He wrote that, "The day will come when all mankind will revere Joseph Stalin and history will recognize him as the starting point of time, not Jesus Christ." As we know, it is now 2011 A.D.( Anno Domini ) or "Year of our Lord", and not 132 ADSB or 132 After Dictator Stalin's Birth.
In April of 1949, after Mao Zedong's rag tag army of communists drove Chiang Kai-Shek's government off the Chinese mainland to Taiwan, Mao declared himself the Emperor of all China ... still now, a Communist nation but wearing a mask of democracy. Joseph Stalin quickly became the first to announce recognition of "Communist China" with accolades to Mao. Neither liked nor trusted the other but when Stalin's emissary, General Ivan Kovaku notified Mao of Russia's recognition, Mao shouted his appreciation, "Long live Comrade Stalin, Long Live Stalin, Long Live Stalin." Even though Mao hated Stalin for his self worship, he began to pattern himself and China after Stalin's self glorification and cult worship which Stalin had cultivated around himself in the Soviet Union and among Communists all over the world. They literally made themselves little "gods"
with huge egos, billbroards, and propaganda machines.
In my years of ministry I have seen many young preachers mimic the worst traits of seemingly successful preachers they admired ... a tick in the neck, a way of walking, mounting the pulpit, or unique sermon delivery. But, most often, they take on the worst traits not the best. A young preacher once came to me wanting support to start a church in our town. I asked him to tell me about himself and what he planed to do. He said, "I'm God called and don't have no time for schooling. I'm studying Billy Graham and Jerry Falwell for how to do it and I plan to do exactly what they have done but much bigger." I offered him a job mowing the grass but he said he didn't need work, he needed money. If he had said, "I've been studying God's Word every night after work for a year but have a family and can't afford to go to Bible School. I plan to start a church across town and build it in exactly the way Jesus told his disciples and as they did it in the book of Acts"... I would have offered to help him.
These examples of "self-worship" and "hero-worship" are no less common today as pertains to men of "wealth, power, or fame". We have all seen it in some sports fans (fanatics) and with some athletes who, themselves, have no doubt they are the greatest who ever lived and say so. You have also seen it in those who worship wealth and the wealthy by mimicking their hero and often out-Caesar Caesar by spending themselves into oblivion trying to "look" the part. The same is true with many followers of Power. Often it doesn't matter what their hero's character or morals or politics ...just his power. They attach themselves to the power like a blood-thirsty leach and obey his every command, and suggestion. Witness Chouchesque, the sadistic Communist Dictator of Romania who became more cruel than his master Stalin, if that is possible. His crueltly made the people bow and scrape and worship him until the first day they saw weakness in his government. Then they rushed as one great mass to get their hands on him and hang him in the street. That was the day he stopped worshiping himself and Stalin and woke up in hell trying to politic a truce with the devil. Never been there, but I'll bet it didn't work.
Better known to us today is North Korea's Kim Il Sung, a tin horn dictator if there ever was one. This pip-squeak, followed by his progeny and cruel likeness, maintained one of the largest military powers in the world in his starving little, half-a-country where their main highways are one-lane gravel roads. When we Marines shipped out of North Korea in Dec. 1950, we were followed by a 75 mile long parade of 100,000 of Kim's followers who were sick of worshiping "His Wickedness" and wanted nothing more than freedom from slavery by him whom they hated. We loaded every last one of them on board our ships and took them to South Korea standing up on deck all the way. I remember them as terribly skinny, starving, freezing (25 to 30 degrees below 0), many shoeless and very happy to get out.
All such ruthless, self worshiping, deluded little god-men don't know it but they are simply minute imitations of Lucifer, who wanted to be his OWN god too. These closed circuit, little, insecure men and (fewer women) grasp for power and the money that buys it and hunger for recognition and total loyalty from their worshipers or else. It happens in Politics, Athletics, Hollywood, Wealth and, yes, in the ministry too. Even among those who are called, Men of God, we often see self-worship and Preacher worship. Even then, both the self-worshiper and preacher worshiper take on , not the best, if any, but the worst of their hero's characteristics.... vanity, haughtiness, greed, lust for power, and money.
Let us, as Christians, walk in the steps of Jesus and follow his example of faithfulness and humility... not Lucifer or the preacher or any man or woman. And, be your own unique self, as your Creator intended you to be. Cultivate the you God had in mind and only follow those who clearly follow Jesus. Never forget that no leader is always right. In fact, Power, Fame and Wealth seldom lead a person to greater integrity or a closer relationship with Jesus ... or even to reality and truth. It usually leads in the other direction. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these (other) things shall be added unto you." MATT.6:33.
Pass it on. RB
Jun 14, 2011
Gossip: The Favorite Passtime Of Liars, Fools And Haters
Common Sense Commentary: I just heard a notorious gossip retelling a rumor of a rumor she overheard parts of between, she said, "two old gossips" in her neighborhood last month. These "two old gossips", though whispering, said "Y_u ... kn_w ... don_ ... you ... tha_ ... JILL ... g_t ... preg__nt ... last ... mon_h ... and ... is... n_t ... ev_n ... Marri__ !" The first gossip was absolutely certain that is what the second gossip whispered to the third gossip because the third gossip gasped and shouted, loudly ...... "WHAT ??? ... "No, she can't be ... ! My son Jack dated her last month and she didn't say a word about it." And so the world turns. Gossip is one of the fastest ways, as Dale Carnegie must also have said, "How to lose friends and influence with people".
I.Wise King Solomon had much to say about the sins of the mouth, lips and tongue:
(1) "...Wicked imaginations ..." Pr.6:18. (2) "He that hideth hatred with lying lips. and he that uttereth a slander is a fool." Pr.10:18. (3) "A talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter." Pr.11:13. (4) "A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare of his soul. The words of a talebearer are as wounds ...."Pr.18:7-8. (5) "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from trouble." Pr.21:23. (6) "Where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth." Pr.26:20.
II. Jesus said, they "... do evil with both hands." Matt.7:3. I see it, I see it ....Driving with their knees while they drink a gallon cola with one hand, talk to a friend on a cell phone with the other hand as they give a "code finger signal" behind the cola bottle ... right? I saw them the other day turning a corner onto a one way street coming at em.
III. The Apostle Paul said the tongue, mouth and lips sinners are "lazy busybodies, idle unfaithful talebearers, and evil surmisers". (1) "...Some among you .... working not at all, but are busybodies." (2) "They are ... wandering from house to house ... idle ... tattlers ...and busybodies, speaking things they ought not." I Tim.5:13. (3) "...Proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings." I Tim.6:4.
IV. Other Apostles/Disciples spoke to this sin. (1) "He that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue ...." IPet.3:10. (2) "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." James 1:26. (3) "The tongue is a little member... Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And 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 3:5:6.
In an extensive study of this subject some years ago, I discovered that the sins of the tongue are spoken of, in the Bible, more times than all the other sins combined and probably does more damage than all the rest of them put together. Think about it.
Pass it on. RB
I.Wise King Solomon had much to say about the sins of the mouth, lips and tongue:
(1) "...Wicked imaginations ..." Pr.6:18. (2) "He that hideth hatred with lying lips. and he that uttereth a slander is a fool." Pr.10:18. (3) "A talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter." Pr.11:13. (4) "A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare of his soul. The words of a talebearer are as wounds ...."Pr.18:7-8. (5) "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from trouble." Pr.21:23. (6) "Where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth." Pr.26:20.
II. Jesus said, they "... do evil with both hands." Matt.7:3. I see it, I see it ....Driving with their knees while they drink a gallon cola with one hand, talk to a friend on a cell phone with the other hand as they give a "code finger signal" behind the cola bottle ... right? I saw them the other day turning a corner onto a one way street coming at em.
III. The Apostle Paul said the tongue, mouth and lips sinners are "lazy busybodies, idle unfaithful talebearers, and evil surmisers". (1) "...Some among you .... working not at all, but are busybodies." (2) "They are ... wandering from house to house ... idle ... tattlers ...and busybodies, speaking things they ought not." I Tim.5:13. (3) "...Proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings." I Tim.6:4.
IV. Other Apostles/Disciples spoke to this sin. (1) "He that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue ...." IPet.3:10. (2) "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." James 1:26. (3) "The tongue is a little member... Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And 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 3:5:6.
In an extensive study of this subject some years ago, I discovered that the sins of the tongue are spoken of, in the Bible, more times than all the other sins combined and probably does more damage than all the rest of them put together. Think about it.
Pass it on. RB
Jun 12, 2011
The Futility Of Measuring The Immeasurable
Common Sense Commentary: We neither comprehend the awfulness of sin, the infiniteness of God nor the awesomeness of His sacrifice of His Son Jesus for our sins.
We could use up all the positive adjectives of all human languages and a billion descriptive sentences and never scratch the surface of these three realities. If we filled the infinite universe with our sincerest adoration, praise and worship it would equal a bare whisper of understanding, but is still the largest thing we can do.
Multiply your most magnificent concept of those three things by a quadrillion and your most noble conclusion might equal a spark beneath the blazing, million earths wide, blinding sun.
So how do I know so much? ...... I don't. I have searched the depth and height and breadth of my mental and spiritual capacity for a lifetime and only learned one thing about these three truths. After eighty years of life and sixty years of active, continuous study, I only comprehend, (1) that the awfulness of sin is far beyond my ability to define or measure it, (2) that the glorious, infinite Holiness of God is eons above my capability to measure it, and (3) that the awesomeness of God's sacrifice of His Son Jesus for our wicked sins, is absolutely unthinkable in my most expansive imagination and study.
Though there is no way we can measure such eminent, holy concepts, there are two measurements we might hold up beside the eternal repulsiveness sin to our omni-holy God. First, a single sin, "prideful rebellion", committed in heaven, by the Arch-Angel Lucifer (Light-giver) and one third of the ministering angels who followed him, resulted in the entirety of them being cast from heaven into earth where the lights went out at the moment they "fell away". For Lucifer, now Satan, and those angels, now demons, there is no redemption for eternity. They had already "been enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift .... fell away" and lost it. Heb.6:4-6. These verses address human believers but the general principle applies to angels who were also enlightened about Christ and the Holy Spirit and of the Heaven's gift. In Lk.15:10, Jesus said, Angels in heaven rejoice when one sinner repents. Also, I Pet.1:12 says, "which things angels desire to look upon." So we know angels know the whole truth about these holy things. Being so enlightened, if they fall away, which a third of them did, there is no redemption for them forever. Heb.6:4 says it is IMPOSSIBLE. The same is true with human believers. True Christians CANNOT "fall away". If it is not our goodness that saves us, our lack of it does not lose us. Secondly, if the only adequate, qualified payment for our sins in the entire universe, was the propitiatory, sacrificial death of God's only Son, Jesus Christ, then we know how utterly, unthinkable a price it took to redeem our unworthy "human" souls. We still cannot measure the awfulness of sin because we cannot measure the value of the self sacrifice God paid .... Jesus.
So don't tell this old preacher that by your puny, penny-ante good works you somehow qualified for God's acceptance of you or that YOU somehow keep your eternal salvation by doing these sweet little things and not doing those bitter things. That is like holding out a grimie, tiny fist with a few soiled, sweaty pennies to God to pay for His painful sacrifice of His Son, Jesus to pay your unpayable debt of sin in eternal hell and thinking that squares you with God. "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." II Tim.2:15. Jesus said, "The truth shall make you free." John 8:32.
Pass it on. RB
We could use up all the positive adjectives of all human languages and a billion descriptive sentences and never scratch the surface of these three realities. If we filled the infinite universe with our sincerest adoration, praise and worship it would equal a bare whisper of understanding, but is still the largest thing we can do.
Multiply your most magnificent concept of those three things by a quadrillion and your most noble conclusion might equal a spark beneath the blazing, million earths wide, blinding sun.
So how do I know so much? ...... I don't. I have searched the depth and height and breadth of my mental and spiritual capacity for a lifetime and only learned one thing about these three truths. After eighty years of life and sixty years of active, continuous study, I only comprehend, (1) that the awfulness of sin is far beyond my ability to define or measure it, (2) that the glorious, infinite Holiness of God is eons above my capability to measure it, and (3) that the awesomeness of God's sacrifice of His Son Jesus for our wicked sins, is absolutely unthinkable in my most expansive imagination and study.
Though there is no way we can measure such eminent, holy concepts, there are two measurements we might hold up beside the eternal repulsiveness sin to our omni-holy God. First, a single sin, "prideful rebellion", committed in heaven, by the Arch-Angel Lucifer (Light-giver) and one third of the ministering angels who followed him, resulted in the entirety of them being cast from heaven into earth where the lights went out at the moment they "fell away". For Lucifer, now Satan, and those angels, now demons, there is no redemption for eternity. They had already "been enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift .... fell away" and lost it. Heb.6:4-6. These verses address human believers but the general principle applies to angels who were also enlightened about Christ and the Holy Spirit and of the Heaven's gift. In Lk.15:10, Jesus said, Angels in heaven rejoice when one sinner repents. Also, I Pet.1:12 says, "which things angels desire to look upon." So we know angels know the whole truth about these holy things. Being so enlightened, if they fall away, which a third of them did, there is no redemption for them forever. Heb.6:4 says it is IMPOSSIBLE. The same is true with human believers. True Christians CANNOT "fall away". If it is not our goodness that saves us, our lack of it does not lose us. Secondly, if the only adequate, qualified payment for our sins in the entire universe, was the propitiatory, sacrificial death of God's only Son, Jesus Christ, then we know how utterly, unthinkable a price it took to redeem our unworthy "human" souls. We still cannot measure the awfulness of sin because we cannot measure the value of the self sacrifice God paid .... Jesus.
So don't tell this old preacher that by your puny, penny-ante good works you somehow qualified for God's acceptance of you or that YOU somehow keep your eternal salvation by doing these sweet little things and not doing those bitter things. That is like holding out a grimie, tiny fist with a few soiled, sweaty pennies to God to pay for His painful sacrifice of His Son, Jesus to pay your unpayable debt of sin in eternal hell and thinking that squares you with God. "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." II Tim.2:15. Jesus said, "The truth shall make you free." John 8:32.
Pass it on. RB
Jun 10, 2011
The Ease With Which Ben Speaks Politicalese Puts The Sheeple At Ease
Common Sense Commentary: "...Except you utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken?" I Cor.14:9
At a speech in Atlanta this week, head of the FED Ben Bernanke said, in his native tongue .... "The economy is still producing at levels well below its potential; consequently, accommodative monetary
policies are still needed." This statement reflects the triumph of HOPE over REALITY and CHANGE
over TRUTH. To translate his politicalese into down home American, he said, "My hysterical printing of trillions of taxpayer's dollars out of nothing and flooding new money into the world's banks, without interest, has failed in both QE 1 and QE 2. Our economy is even deeper in the black hole than it was and is about to erupt like a volcano. The 'consequences' of my actions make it necessary to continue doing what doesn't work ... (printing more trillions of dollars) which will hasten hyperinflation, destroy the dollar and drain the value of everybody's savings and retirement funds. It's either that or default." The question now is, which of their only two last choices will triumph after QE 3 also fails. Will it be QE 4,5,6,10,20 which equals higher and higher inflation, or will it be Defaulting on all U.S. debt and financial obligations? Listen carefully and don't be fooled if they CHANGE what they now call Qualitative Easing (QE). They called the first mass printing,"TARP" followed by QE 1 and QE 2. They will probably change to a new, more acceptable name such as "SAFE" (Save America From Economists), or more patriotic like AFSL (America First - Savers Last).
What we need is a long term, third grade, arithmetic teacher as Federal Reserve Chairman and to
Head-up Treasury. Then eliminate the FED and she will only have the Chair at Treasury and a blackboard with chalk. We could also use a successful, budget balancing, small business owner, farmer or rancher as President or almost anybody who has built something and knows complicated,
hi-tech stuff like how to stop spending and balance a budget. Those are uncommon talents in today's world. Strangely, nearly everyone in America once had that talent....You call the change "hope" or "flying by the seat of your britches".
Pass it on. RB
At a speech in Atlanta this week, head of the FED Ben Bernanke said, in his native tongue .... "The economy is still producing at levels well below its potential; consequently, accommodative monetary
policies are still needed." This statement reflects the triumph of HOPE over REALITY and CHANGE
over TRUTH. To translate his politicalese into down home American, he said, "My hysterical printing of trillions of taxpayer's dollars out of nothing and flooding new money into the world's banks, without interest, has failed in both QE 1 and QE 2. Our economy is even deeper in the black hole than it was and is about to erupt like a volcano. The 'consequences' of my actions make it necessary to continue doing what doesn't work ... (printing more trillions of dollars) which will hasten hyperinflation, destroy the dollar and drain the value of everybody's savings and retirement funds. It's either that or default." The question now is, which of their only two last choices will triumph after QE 3 also fails. Will it be QE 4,5,6,10,20 which equals higher and higher inflation, or will it be Defaulting on all U.S. debt and financial obligations? Listen carefully and don't be fooled if they CHANGE what they now call Qualitative Easing (QE). They called the first mass printing,"TARP" followed by QE 1 and QE 2. They will probably change to a new, more acceptable name such as "SAFE" (Save America From Economists), or more patriotic like AFSL (America First - Savers Last).
What we need is a long term, third grade, arithmetic teacher as Federal Reserve Chairman and to
Head-up Treasury. Then eliminate the FED and she will only have the Chair at Treasury and a blackboard with chalk. We could also use a successful, budget balancing, small business owner, farmer or rancher as President or almost anybody who has built something and knows complicated,
hi-tech stuff like how to stop spending and balance a budget. Those are uncommon talents in today's world. Strangely, nearly everyone in America once had that talent....You call the change "hope" or "flying by the seat of your britches".
Pass it on. RB
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