Common Sense Commentary: "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations (God has given me) there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure" 2Cor.12:7. The Apostle Paul had been given a fantastic revelation of heaven and had been used of God to do marvelous things. He was subject, therefore, to not only be proud within himself but exalted by other Christians for what God had done. So God let Satan touch his flesh, to bring him down a notch or two, as he did with our friend Job. I think that is why Paul said, "That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereto." 1Thess.3:3. There must be many such "thorns" given us to keep us humble, repentant, and submissive to God. Things like poor vision, bodily dysfunction, untrue slander, sickness, pain, physical impairment and so on.
During my 60 years of ministering to and counseling people, I heard just about everything you can possibly imagine. My wife will tell you, I never discussed people's confidential matters with her. That would not only be unethical but also unkind to her. She had our six children, church services, weddings, and baby showers to attend plus ME to keep her life overflowing . Of all the amazing things I heard, in private, over many years, one which was more common than you might think, and which always puzzled me, was a kind of mental phenomenon which was causing the person to reject people in general. Their problem seemed akin to anorexia, bulimia or "fatphobia"... if there were such a word. I have a bit of the latter myself ... not that it keeps me from over indulging at the table.
The phobia I was referring to is when a person develops a revulsion to common, daily, human, bodily functions ... which everyone has ... equally; but which some people seem to be in denial of as a normal,
inescapable condition. "Bodily functions" are not one of my favorite subjects, and I really have an aversion to those who use bathroom and bedroom language as a substitute for conversation.
My point is, if you have any of these biological, body image distortions, please remember that God created us exactly as He wanted us to be, for His own reasons. I think He "built in" some features and functions of our bodies to slap us in the face with when we get full of ourselves and start feeling self-righteous, superior and prideful. As David said in Psm.119:67, "Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now have I kept thy word." Also, in Hebrews 12:11 says, "Now no chastening for the present
seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." I like that, "exercised thereby" phrase.
When we become so vain, proud, self-righteous, or superior to others, we are also in denial of our own secret failures, sins, and built in, human odiousness. That is to belie a human common denominator that should keep us all humble as God intended us to be. We are what we are...human ... all of us.
Such "holier than thou, wonderful me measly you" attitudes, especially in Christians and more especially in Preachers will, in time, hit the brick wall of reality and leave a big pile of smelly mud where vanity was.
God has given me enough thorns to moderate the worst of cases. It seems that every time I have an attack of viral superiority, God gives me a "thorn messenger" dream. It comes in various scenes. One is, I lie naked, dirty, hungry, helpless and freezing on a blazing battlefield and wake up shivering. Another is, I arrive in the pulpit ... having forgotten to cloth myself. There I stand, on the platform, bible in hand, before the TV world and the congregation ... naked or in my underclothes. Yes, my memory IS failing but, not quite that bad... I hope. My primary concern is not with my "thorn messenger" detractors and critics but with myself. "Lord, send the thorns, even those from Satan, if that is what it takes to make me humble, submissive to your will and to care about others."
Pass it on. RB
Nov 29, 2011
Great Truths Are Ageless
Common Sense Commentary: "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." Prov.25:11.
My son Robert (Bob) Blair sent this to me. RB
1. In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm and three or more is a congress.
-- John Adams
2. If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.
-- Mark Twain
3. Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But then I repeat myself.
-- Mark Twain
4. I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.
-- Winston Churchill
5. A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
-- George Bernard Shaw
6. A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money.
-- G. Gordon Liddy
7. Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.
-- James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)
8. Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.
-- Douglas Casey, Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown University
9. Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.
-- P.J. O'Rourke, Civil Libertarian
10. Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.
-- Frederic Bastiat, French economist(1801-1850)
11. Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
-- Ronald Reagan (1986)
12. I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.
-- Will Rogers
13. If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free!
-- P.J. O'Rourke
14. In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
-- Voltaire (1764)
15. Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you!
-- Pericles (430 B.C.)
16. No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.
-- Mark Twain (1866)
17. Talk is cheap...except when Congress does it.
-- Anonymous
18. The government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.
-- Ronald Reagan
19. The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.
-- Winston Churchill
20. The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.
-- Mark Twain
21. The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.
-- Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)
22. There is no distinctly Native American criminal class...save Congress.
-- Mark Twain
23. What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.
-- Edward Langley, Artist (1928-1995)
24. A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
-- Thomas Jefferson
25. We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.
-- Aesop
26.
-- John Adams
2. If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.
-- Mark Twain
3. Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But then I repeat myself.
-- Mark Twain
4. I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.
-- Winston Churchill
5. A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
-- George Bernard Shaw
6. A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money.
-- G. Gordon Liddy
7. Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.
-- James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)
8. Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.
-- Douglas Casey, Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown University
9. Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.
-- P.J. O'Rourke, Civil Libertarian
10. Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.
-- Frederic Bastiat, French economist(1801-1850)
11. Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
-- Ronald Reagan (1986)
12. I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.
-- Will Rogers
13. If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free!
-- P.J. O'Rourke
14. In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
-- Voltaire (1764)
15. Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you!
-- Pericles (430 B.C.)
16. No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.
-- Mark Twain (1866)
17. Talk is cheap...except when Congress does it.
-- Anonymous
18. The government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.
-- Ronald Reagan
19. The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.
-- Winston Churchill
20. The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.
-- Mark Twain
21. The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.
-- Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)
22. There is no distinctly Native American criminal class...save Congress.
-- Mark Twain
23. What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.
-- Edward Langley, Artist (1928-1995)
24. A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
-- Thomas Jefferson
25. We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.
-- Aesop
26.
“Any man who is under 30, and not a liberal, has no heart; but any man is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains!”
Winston Churchill
FIVE BEST SENTENCES
1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity, by legislating the wealth out of prosperity.
2. What one person receives without working for...another person must work for without receiving.
3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.
4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.
5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work, because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work, because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation!
Can you think of a reason for not sharing this?
Neither could I......
1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity, by legislating the wealth out of prosperity.
2. What one person receives without working for...another person must work for without receiving.
3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.
4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.
5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work, because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work, because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation!
Can you think of a reason for not sharing this?
Neither could I......
"In your patience possess ye your souls." Luke 21:19
Nov 27, 2011
People Said It Didn't Matter
Common Sense Commentary: "Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: Fear ye not me? saith the LORD." Jer.5:21-22.
Hear Now This
Hear Now This
Nov 21, 2011
Who Is The "Friend Of The Bridegroom?"
Common Sense Commentary: The following verses are John the Baptist's, not Apostle John's, explanation to his disciples, whom he had baptized, that he was only the forerunner and heralder of Jesus Christ.
"Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews .... And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan (Jesus), to whom thou barest witness, behold, he baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said, a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.... He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeh and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled." John 3:25-29. John the Baptist clearly makes a distinction between "the bride, the bridegroom and the friend of the bridegroom". John gives not the slightest inference that he is, in any way, related to the "bride" (Christ's Church). He refers to himself as "the friend of the groom" who "rejoices at the groom's voice" and that was his "joy fulfilled". What does that mean?
James, the Lord Jesus' younger, half brother said, "...Abraham ... was called the friend of God." Jm.2:23.
Jehoshaphat, King of Judah called Abraham the "friend" of God. 2Chronicals 20:7.
Even God called Abraham "my friend". Isa.41:8.
Ex.33:11 says that ... "The Lord spake unto Moses ... as a man speaketh to his friend."
The prophet Zechariah prophesied a question asked of Christ, and answered by Christ, which will take place in the future when his wounds will still remain in the Millennial Kingdom and maybe even in heaven. "And it shall come to pass in that day .... one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thy hands? Then he (Christ) shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." Zech.13:6. Please notice, He did not say "my friends wounded me" but "I was wounded in the house of my friends." In fact, his friends, the house of Israel, the land of Israel, did not do the "wounding". They demanded His death but it was the Gentile, Roman soldiers' hands who held the whip and Thorn crown, and drove the Roman nails, with a Roman Hammer, through his Jewish flesh into a Roman cross ... but it happened in Jerusalem, the "house" of his friends. Since this scene will take place in the future, and long after his crucifixion, the establishment of his Church and even after the Rapture of His Bride, the Church, why will he then say, "wounded in the house of my friends" if they are included in his "Bride" the "Church"? And if not included in the bride (the church) those Old Testament saints must be the friends of the Bridegroom of whom John the Baptist spoke. Everything before the crucifixion was in the O.T. dispensation even the birth and life of Jesus recorded in the first pages of the Gospels. Only after His death and resurrection did He commission his church and then send the Holy Spirit to empower them to carry it out.
Now, the statement of Jesus himself concerning John the Baptist. "...Jesus began to say unto the multitude concerning John, What went ye into the wilderness to see?....A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written (Mal.3:1 &4:5), Behold I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you , Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: not withstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Now what could THAT mean? "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias which was for to come." Matt.11:7-14. Something ended here... the Old Testament ... the law for righteousness... and the O.T. prophets. Here Jesus makes it very plain that there is a difference in whatever category John Baptist was in and those in the category of "the kingdom of heaven".... His Bride (the Church). Besides angels, the only other ones at the wedding are the Father, the Spirit, the Son Jesus Christ the Bridegroom, the Bride and the "Friend of the Bridegroom".
My original question, "Who is the friend of the Bridegroom?" In my opinion it is all those O.T. saints who were resurrected right after Jesus' resurrection when those who were buried in Jerusalem walked in the streets there (Matt.27:53). They were the first fruits of the first resurrection. All who have accepted Christ since then are part of His Church (Bride), Jews, Negroids, and Gentiles (Shem, Ham and Japheth, Gen.5:32). These shall be Raptured when Christ returns in the air for his Church who will attend the Marriage as the Bride of Christ attended also by the "Friends of the Bridegroom".
If you disagree with me, that's OK. It is not a Fundamental of the Faith.RB
Pass it on. RB
z
"Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews .... And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan (Jesus), to whom thou barest witness, behold, he baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said, a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.... He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeh and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled." John 3:25-29. John the Baptist clearly makes a distinction between "the bride, the bridegroom and the friend of the bridegroom". John gives not the slightest inference that he is, in any way, related to the "bride" (Christ's Church). He refers to himself as "the friend of the groom" who "rejoices at the groom's voice" and that was his "joy fulfilled". What does that mean?
James, the Lord Jesus' younger, half brother said, "...Abraham ... was called the friend of God." Jm.2:23.
Jehoshaphat, King of Judah called Abraham the "friend" of God. 2Chronicals 20:7.
Even God called Abraham "my friend". Isa.41:8.
Ex.33:11 says that ... "The Lord spake unto Moses ... as a man speaketh to his friend."
The prophet Zechariah prophesied a question asked of Christ, and answered by Christ, which will take place in the future when his wounds will still remain in the Millennial Kingdom and maybe even in heaven. "And it shall come to pass in that day .... one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thy hands? Then he (Christ) shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." Zech.13:6. Please notice, He did not say "my friends wounded me" but "I was wounded in the house of my friends." In fact, his friends, the house of Israel, the land of Israel, did not do the "wounding". They demanded His death but it was the Gentile, Roman soldiers' hands who held the whip and Thorn crown, and drove the Roman nails, with a Roman Hammer, through his Jewish flesh into a Roman cross ... but it happened in Jerusalem, the "house" of his friends. Since this scene will take place in the future, and long after his crucifixion, the establishment of his Church and even after the Rapture of His Bride, the Church, why will he then say, "wounded in the house of my friends" if they are included in his "Bride" the "Church"? And if not included in the bride (the church) those Old Testament saints must be the friends of the Bridegroom of whom John the Baptist spoke. Everything before the crucifixion was in the O.T. dispensation even the birth and life of Jesus recorded in the first pages of the Gospels. Only after His death and resurrection did He commission his church and then send the Holy Spirit to empower them to carry it out.
Now, the statement of Jesus himself concerning John the Baptist. "...Jesus began to say unto the multitude concerning John, What went ye into the wilderness to see?....A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written (Mal.3:1 &4:5), Behold I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you , Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: not withstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Now what could THAT mean? "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias which was for to come." Matt.11:7-14. Something ended here... the Old Testament ... the law for righteousness... and the O.T. prophets. Here Jesus makes it very plain that there is a difference in whatever category John Baptist was in and those in the category of "the kingdom of heaven".... His Bride (the Church). Besides angels, the only other ones at the wedding are the Father, the Spirit, the Son Jesus Christ the Bridegroom, the Bride and the "Friend of the Bridegroom".
My original question, "Who is the friend of the Bridegroom?" In my opinion it is all those O.T. saints who were resurrected right after Jesus' resurrection when those who were buried in Jerusalem walked in the streets there (Matt.27:53). They were the first fruits of the first resurrection. All who have accepted Christ since then are part of His Church (Bride), Jews, Negroids, and Gentiles (Shem, Ham and Japheth, Gen.5:32). These shall be Raptured when Christ returns in the air for his Church who will attend the Marriage as the Bride of Christ attended also by the "Friends of the Bridegroom".
If you disagree with me, that's OK. It is not a Fundamental of the Faith.RB
Pass it on. RB
z
Nov 19, 2011
Normalcy Bias #2 "Blind In Mind"
Common Sense Commentary: "All things continue as they were from the beginning...."2P.3:4
One of the most notable cases of "Normalcy Bias" or "Blind In Mind" was in Nazi Germany in the 1930s. By 1935 all the perceptive, realistic Jews had fled Germany. Approximately 100,000 of them had seen the "writing on the walls", sold out at a loss and got out of the only home they had ever known. Jews had lived there for hundreds of years. Strangely, four or five times that many thought Hitler's hatred of them would pass so they stayed in Germany, thinking those who had fled were just exaggerating the danger. "We have always been safe here ... this is our home ... nothing will happen to us." Many who stayed were highly intelligent, educated and successful. it wasn't long til they couldn't get out any longer. Their peace and safety became persecution, confiscation and death camps. Before it was over, seven million of them had been burned or worked to death in the concentration camps. Their last thoughts were probably, "I should have listened to those who left." Normalcy Bias had kept them there and sealed their doom. Some 100,000 saw it coming, saw the clear signs and left behind everything they couldn't sell and built new lives all over the world. the other 450,000, in Germany, and millions of other Jews in Europe, stayed and lost everything including their lives. They saw and heard the same Nazi facts and signs as those who left but were "Blind in Mind". Normalcy Bias. "They...... seeing ... see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand." Matt.13:13.
Normalcy Bias dates back to the time of Noah's flood. In 2P.2:5, we are told of Noah who was a "preacher of righteousness" warning the people of their need for repentance and being "right" with God. At the same time he was building this gigantic ark or enclosed boat. You could see it for miles. Everybody must have been talking about it and how crazy Noah was. They not only had never seen a flood, it had never even rained at that time. God watered the ground with heavy dew and water from beneath the ground. A flood had never happened and therefore would not and could not happen ....but, they were wrong. Normalcy Bias. Blind in mind.
Normalcy Bias was prophesied by the Apostles as a spiritual blindness during the last days, just before the return of Christ to earth. "There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep (died) all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of,
that, by the Word of God (there was a flood in Noah's day) Whereby the world that then was, being
overflowed with water perished. But the heavens and earth, which are now, by the same Word, are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgement.... of ungodly men." 2P.3:3-7. Friend,
don't think it can't happen even though it has never happened before. Normalcy Bias cost those in Noah's day their lives. It cost those seven million Jews everything, family, friends, property, lives.
See the signs of his coming in Matt.24. Here are some or them": False Christs, wars and rumors of wars, political and internal strife, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, persecution of Christians, offences, betrayals, hatred, false prophets, rampant sin, cold and loveless hearts, and this one which began to be fulfilled when the Muslim's occupied a Catholic church built on the ruins of the Temple Mount where the Jew's Temple with the holy of holies had been. The Muslims put the gold plated dome on it and called it El-Aqsa Mosque. That was in 711 AD eighty years after the death of Mohammad. It is second only to Mecca to all Islam. The prophecy of that is Matt.24:15. "When ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place ...." "The holy place" was where God dwelt among his people in the holy of holies. The day will come when the Antichrist will occupy and rule from that site. It is hard to make a case for his exact nationality or religion except that he will unify all religions and make treaties with them which he will violate in the midst of the tribulation after three and a half years. It seems logical to me that he may be Muslim or Arab with no real religion, but that is my opinion. He could even be the head of some other world religion or the chosen world leader who embraces all religions. Time will tell. But be careful of "Normalcy Bias". It will happen but many terrible things will lead up to it and seem now to be beginning.
Pass it on.RB
One of the most notable cases of "Normalcy Bias" or "Blind In Mind" was in Nazi Germany in the 1930s. By 1935 all the perceptive, realistic Jews had fled Germany. Approximately 100,000 of them had seen the "writing on the walls", sold out at a loss and got out of the only home they had ever known. Jews had lived there for hundreds of years. Strangely, four or five times that many thought Hitler's hatred of them would pass so they stayed in Germany, thinking those who had fled were just exaggerating the danger. "We have always been safe here ... this is our home ... nothing will happen to us." Many who stayed were highly intelligent, educated and successful. it wasn't long til they couldn't get out any longer. Their peace and safety became persecution, confiscation and death camps. Before it was over, seven million of them had been burned or worked to death in the concentration camps. Their last thoughts were probably, "I should have listened to those who left." Normalcy Bias had kept them there and sealed their doom. Some 100,000 saw it coming, saw the clear signs and left behind everything they couldn't sell and built new lives all over the world. the other 450,000, in Germany, and millions of other Jews in Europe, stayed and lost everything including their lives. They saw and heard the same Nazi facts and signs as those who left but were "Blind in Mind". Normalcy Bias. "They...... seeing ... see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand." Matt.13:13.
Normalcy Bias dates back to the time of Noah's flood. In 2P.2:5, we are told of Noah who was a "preacher of righteousness" warning the people of their need for repentance and being "right" with God. At the same time he was building this gigantic ark or enclosed boat. You could see it for miles. Everybody must have been talking about it and how crazy Noah was. They not only had never seen a flood, it had never even rained at that time. God watered the ground with heavy dew and water from beneath the ground. A flood had never happened and therefore would not and could not happen ....but, they were wrong. Normalcy Bias. Blind in mind.
Normalcy Bias was prophesied by the Apostles as a spiritual blindness during the last days, just before the return of Christ to earth. "There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep (died) all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of,
that, by the Word of God (there was a flood in Noah's day) Whereby the world that then was, being
overflowed with water perished. But the heavens and earth, which are now, by the same Word, are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgement.... of ungodly men." 2P.3:3-7. Friend,
don't think it can't happen even though it has never happened before. Normalcy Bias cost those in Noah's day their lives. It cost those seven million Jews everything, family, friends, property, lives.
See the signs of his coming in Matt.24. Here are some or them": False Christs, wars and rumors of wars, political and internal strife, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, persecution of Christians, offences, betrayals, hatred, false prophets, rampant sin, cold and loveless hearts, and this one which began to be fulfilled when the Muslim's occupied a Catholic church built on the ruins of the Temple Mount where the Jew's Temple with the holy of holies had been. The Muslims put the gold plated dome on it and called it El-Aqsa Mosque. That was in 711 AD eighty years after the death of Mohammad. It is second only to Mecca to all Islam. The prophecy of that is Matt.24:15. "When ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place ...." "The holy place" was where God dwelt among his people in the holy of holies. The day will come when the Antichrist will occupy and rule from that site. It is hard to make a case for his exact nationality or religion except that he will unify all religions and make treaties with them which he will violate in the midst of the tribulation after three and a half years. It seems logical to me that he may be Muslim or Arab with no real religion, but that is my opinion. He could even be the head of some other world religion or the chosen world leader who embraces all religions. Time will tell. But be careful of "Normalcy Bias". It will happen but many terrible things will lead up to it and seem now to be beginning.
Pass it on.RB
Nov 17, 2011
Five Steps From Critical Dreamer To Action Leader
Common Sense Commentary: "For a dream cometh (comes true) through the multitude of business;
and a fool's voice is known by a multitude of words. Ecc.5:3.
Here are five steps to move from a quick critic ("Why doesn't someone do something") or from a fearful dreamer.... ( "I wish I had the knowledge or courage to do something worth doing").....
to a person of action .... a leader.... a doer rather that a big talking dreamer.
Awareness, Hope, Will, Motivation, Action
I. Are you AWARE of an important need or problem in your neighborhood, at your work place, in your nation or in your church family? If you are aware at all, the answer is "Yes". If your answer is "No", read no further, go back to sleep.
II. Being aware, what do you HOPE someone will do to answer the need or solve the problem? Pray for leadership and put your hopes on paper. Outline a plan in five steps which will answer the need or solve the problem.
III. Knowing, Hoping and Praying for what must be done, WILL you commit yourself to fulfill your outlined plan, which God put in your mind, and begin with step #1 ? Will you take the responsibility?
IV. Having begun with step #1, will you continue with step #2 and stay MOTIVATED with prayer for wisdom and strengh, faith that God will inspire and lead you, and knowing you can and will do it?
V. Will you take ACTION now ? "Arise and go"
"Let us arise and go up to Bethel, and make an altar unto God." Gen.35:3
"...We will arise and go; that we may live, and not die...." Gen.43:8
"I will arise and go to my father, and will say ... I have sinned...." Lk.15:18
"And the Lord said ... arise and go ... and it shall be told thee what thou
must do." Acts.9:6
"Arise and go ... for the Lord hath called for a famine ...." 2 Kings 8:1
"For a dream comes through the multitude of business; and a fool's
voice is known by a multitude of words." Ecc.5:3.
Pass it on. RB
and a fool's voice is known by a multitude of words. Ecc.5:3.
Here are five steps to move from a quick critic ("Why doesn't someone do something") or from a fearful dreamer.... ( "I wish I had the knowledge or courage to do something worth doing").....
to a person of action .... a leader.... a doer rather that a big talking dreamer.
Awareness, Hope, Will, Motivation, Action
I. Are you AWARE of an important need or problem in your neighborhood, at your work place, in your nation or in your church family? If you are aware at all, the answer is "Yes". If your answer is "No", read no further, go back to sleep.
II. Being aware, what do you HOPE someone will do to answer the need or solve the problem? Pray for leadership and put your hopes on paper. Outline a plan in five steps which will answer the need or solve the problem.
III. Knowing, Hoping and Praying for what must be done, WILL you commit yourself to fulfill your outlined plan, which God put in your mind, and begin with step #1 ? Will you take the responsibility?
IV. Having begun with step #1, will you continue with step #2 and stay MOTIVATED with prayer for wisdom and strengh, faith that God will inspire and lead you, and knowing you can and will do it?
V. Will you take ACTION now ? "Arise and go"
"Let us arise and go up to Bethel, and make an altar unto God." Gen.35:3
"...We will arise and go; that we may live, and not die...." Gen.43:8
"I will arise and go to my father, and will say ... I have sinned...." Lk.15:18
"And the Lord said ... arise and go ... and it shall be told thee what thou
must do." Acts.9:6
"Arise and go ... for the Lord hath called for a famine ...." 2 Kings 8:1
"For a dream comes through the multitude of business; and a fool's
voice is known by a multitude of words." Ecc.5:3.
Pass it on. RB
Nov 16, 2011
Failing Empires Open Hitler Doors
Common Sense Commentary: Who and what did God intend for you to be when he drew the plans?
Since the dawn of creation the world has seen many empires come and go. Every failing empire has been followed by something totally different in answer to the majorities demand for change and hope for a better life than they had previously. The human Psyche is constantly driven to seek more and better for itself ... usually at the expense of others. Like the philandering, unrealistic, immature woman who was constantly looking for the perfect husband. She was convinced he awaited her... somewhere. She wanted a man unlike the husband she had. Disliking some annoying trait about her present husband, she sought a new one unlike him and always found one she thought perfect ... "this time". But after living with the new one awhile, she would become aware he had twice as many offensive shortcomings as the last guy ... though in different ways. It never dawned on her that the problem was hers. Her natural, human dissatisfaction was not tempered with wisdom and a mature recognition of reality. There is no perfect man or woman or government or anything else. The imperfect one you have is usually better than the next one "up" at the exchange counter.
All Socialistic countries have eventually run out of other people's money and failed. That is what happened to the Soviet Union and is happening to all the European countries and good old, generous America too. We are at the end of our rope ... at the noose end. Like the guy hanging to a root on a shear cliff. Looking up, he cried out, "HELP! Is there anybody up there". A deep, sympathetic voice came back, "This is God. I'm up here. Just let go and I'll catch you." The desperate, doomed man was silent for a moment and then whined, "Is there anybody else up there?" Honey, there ain't nobody else up there. Without God, we are on our own ... holding to a rope or root or welfare check.
As the "religion" of Holy Dependence on Political Power defaults on its unlimited promises and ceases to be worshiped as "humanities HOPE for all our needs and wishes" ... tell me what will take its place when there are riots in city. We have divorced our Republic and Constitution in favor of the majority desire for Free Everything. As an attendee of "Occupy Wall Street" had written on his cardboard sign, "Free Everything For Everybody". Again, my question, "Exactly what will take the place of our Democratic Republic?" Most often, in the past, as in the Roman Empire, it was a dictatorship. Will an angry, desperate majority demand a worldly savior to "deliver us from the evils" of inflation, no jobs, no food, no gas, no heat, crime and disease? I think so. And who will it be?
We are presently witnessing another empire "change" from a strong, American, Constitutional Republic bankrupted and neutralized by Socialism and headed for a dictatorship. Our Republic may still be saved if our citizens awake from dreamland and face the reality of Socialism's nightmare. The adolescent mind set, of adult Liberals, is exactly like the teenage graduate with his first credit card. He is the life of the party ... until his card is maxed out. Then he doesn't have a friend. The USA is maxed out and doesn't have a friend except the most unpopular one at the party, Israel. Its the Prodigal Son Syndrome of "give me" which was the last thing Prodigal said to his father on his way to party time.
Other empires have been bankrupted by war, corruption, free bread and circuses, as in Rome, when in the resulting national and economic crises, the majority wanted a King or Dictator savior. In 1Sam.8:6, when the people said, "Give us a king", the Lord told his chosen Judge, Samuel, "They have not rejected you, they have rejected me to reign over them." Rome got Caesar. Russia got Lenin. China got Mao. Cuba got Castro. Is it our turn for a dictator or, since the developed world is in extreme crisis and kingdoms are falling, will the whole world get a dictator... such as the Antichrist, as is prophesied? The only thing "holding back" the rise of "that man of sin ...the son of perdition", is the presence and power of God's Holy Spirit who lives in Christians here and now. Here is the Scripture which says it: "The day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you ... for that day shall not come, except there there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exaulteth himself above all that is called God, showing himself that he is God.... And now ye know what whithholdeth (holds back) that he might be revealed in his time (God's set time). For the mystery of inquity doeth already work: only he who now letteth will let (katecho= holds/controls), until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that wicked (one) be revealed...." 2Thess.2:3-8. Question for Christians: When he who holds back Satan and the Antichrist is "taken out" of this world, will he leave us in whom he dwells? No, of course not. So this tells us that we Christians will be "taken out" when the Holy Spirit is "taken out"... while the Antichrist is in the wings but before he is "revealed" or recognized as such. This also means we will not go through the Tribulation (PreTrib. Rapture).
When Christians are raptured and gone from the earth, God's Holy Spirit will go with us from the earth to meet Christ in the air and on to Heaven. Later, the Holy Spirit will obviously live in the "two witnesses" of Rev.11:3. When the Holy Spirit is "taken out of the way", the Antichrist will take over.
I believe that some of you will be alive when that happens.
Pass it on. RB
Since the dawn of creation the world has seen many empires come and go. Every failing empire has been followed by something totally different in answer to the majorities demand for change and hope for a better life than they had previously. The human Psyche is constantly driven to seek more and better for itself ... usually at the expense of others. Like the philandering, unrealistic, immature woman who was constantly looking for the perfect husband. She was convinced he awaited her... somewhere. She wanted a man unlike the husband she had. Disliking some annoying trait about her present husband, she sought a new one unlike him and always found one she thought perfect ... "this time". But after living with the new one awhile, she would become aware he had twice as many offensive shortcomings as the last guy ... though in different ways. It never dawned on her that the problem was hers. Her natural, human dissatisfaction was not tempered with wisdom and a mature recognition of reality. There is no perfect man or woman or government or anything else. The imperfect one you have is usually better than the next one "up" at the exchange counter.
All Socialistic countries have eventually run out of other people's money and failed. That is what happened to the Soviet Union and is happening to all the European countries and good old, generous America too. We are at the end of our rope ... at the noose end. Like the guy hanging to a root on a shear cliff. Looking up, he cried out, "HELP! Is there anybody up there". A deep, sympathetic voice came back, "This is God. I'm up here. Just let go and I'll catch you." The desperate, doomed man was silent for a moment and then whined, "Is there anybody else up there?" Honey, there ain't nobody else up there. Without God, we are on our own ... holding to a rope or root or welfare check.
As the "religion" of Holy Dependence on Political Power defaults on its unlimited promises and ceases to be worshiped as "humanities HOPE for all our needs and wishes" ... tell me what will take its place when there are riots in city. We have divorced our Republic and Constitution in favor of the majority desire for Free Everything. As an attendee of "Occupy Wall Street" had written on his cardboard sign, "Free Everything For Everybody". Again, my question, "Exactly what will take the place of our Democratic Republic?" Most often, in the past, as in the Roman Empire, it was a dictatorship. Will an angry, desperate majority demand a worldly savior to "deliver us from the evils" of inflation, no jobs, no food, no gas, no heat, crime and disease? I think so. And who will it be?
We are presently witnessing another empire "change" from a strong, American, Constitutional Republic bankrupted and neutralized by Socialism and headed for a dictatorship. Our Republic may still be saved if our citizens awake from dreamland and face the reality of Socialism's nightmare. The adolescent mind set, of adult Liberals, is exactly like the teenage graduate with his first credit card. He is the life of the party ... until his card is maxed out. Then he doesn't have a friend. The USA is maxed out and doesn't have a friend except the most unpopular one at the party, Israel. Its the Prodigal Son Syndrome of "give me" which was the last thing Prodigal said to his father on his way to party time.
Other empires have been bankrupted by war, corruption, free bread and circuses, as in Rome, when in the resulting national and economic crises, the majority wanted a King or Dictator savior. In 1Sam.8:6, when the people said, "Give us a king", the Lord told his chosen Judge, Samuel, "They have not rejected you, they have rejected me to reign over them." Rome got Caesar. Russia got Lenin. China got Mao. Cuba got Castro. Is it our turn for a dictator or, since the developed world is in extreme crisis and kingdoms are falling, will the whole world get a dictator... such as the Antichrist, as is prophesied? The only thing "holding back" the rise of "that man of sin ...the son of perdition", is the presence and power of God's Holy Spirit who lives in Christians here and now. Here is the Scripture which says it: "The day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you ... for that day shall not come, except there there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exaulteth himself above all that is called God, showing himself that he is God.... And now ye know what whithholdeth (holds back) that he might be revealed in his time (God's set time). For the mystery of inquity doeth already work: only he who now letteth will let (katecho= holds/controls), until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that wicked (one) be revealed...." 2Thess.2:3-8. Question for Christians: When he who holds back Satan and the Antichrist is "taken out" of this world, will he leave us in whom he dwells? No, of course not. So this tells us that we Christians will be "taken out" when the Holy Spirit is "taken out"... while the Antichrist is in the wings but before he is "revealed" or recognized as such. This also means we will not go through the Tribulation (PreTrib. Rapture).
When Christians are raptured and gone from the earth, God's Holy Spirit will go with us from the earth to meet Christ in the air and on to Heaven. Later, the Holy Spirit will obviously live in the "two witnesses" of Rev.11:3. When the Holy Spirit is "taken out of the way", the Antichrist will take over.
I believe that some of you will be alive when that happens.
Pass it on. RB
Nov 14, 2011
Wall Street Can't Be Cleaned Up By Rapists, Killers and Morons
Common Sense Commentary:
Love it….The truth may be hard to swallow but is a miracle
cure for stupidity. RB
Regarding the OWS Protesters
Love it….The truth may be hard to swallow but is a miracle
cure for stupidity. RB
Regarding the OWS Protesters
Here is an excellent video ... shooting the turkey from a different angle but bringing it home for Thanksgiving.RB http://www.gotgoldreport.com/2011/11/bill-whittle-three-and-a-half-days.html#more Pass it on if you like. RB |
Nov 12, 2011
"A Republic if you can keep it."
Common Sense Commentary: At the close of the U.S. Constitutional Convention, in 1787, a lady asked Benjamin Franklin, "Well Doctor, what have we got?" To which he replied, "A Republic if you can keep it." Franklin knew, better than anyone in today's world, the obstacles and difficulties of "keeping" a democratic Republic ... over time. I use "democratic" as an adjective and "Republic" as the noun. A Republic must, of necessity, be a democracy. When a nation loses its Republic ... there is no adjective; there is no democracy.
When the Constitution, which Franklin and our other founding fathers established as the Law of the land, ceases to be honored, observed and enforced, we have lost the judicial foundation of our nation and therefore our nation itself. Our last opportunity of saving this Republic is at hand. "He that sleepeth in harvest ... causeth shame." Pr.10:5. We, as a nation, have just twelve months to force our political parties to nominate, and we ourselves to elect, a strong, true Constitutional candidate for President. But that is only half of the battle. We must also run and elect a strong, honest and Constitutional Congress committed to the restoration of our nation. And remember, if we had the very best, most honest, intelligent and committed men and women in America in those top 498 positions .... President, Legislature, Senate and Supreme Court, their efforts to save this country would still require extreme sacrifice, pain, and a much lower standard of living for the rest of us. With less character and patriotism than I describe in the candidates, the job will be even harder to accomplish.
A leader among our Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, coutioned us, "Educate and inform the whole mass of the people ... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty."
What can YOU do? Stand up, Speak up and Convince others to vote RIGHT...VOTE AMERICAN not "me, my, and mine". We must also PRAY; but as prayer without faith is empty, so "Faith without WORKS is DEAD." James 2:20 & 26.
Pass it on. RB
When the Constitution, which Franklin and our other founding fathers established as the Law of the land, ceases to be honored, observed and enforced, we have lost the judicial foundation of our nation and therefore our nation itself. Our last opportunity of saving this Republic is at hand. "He that sleepeth in harvest ... causeth shame." Pr.10:5. We, as a nation, have just twelve months to force our political parties to nominate, and we ourselves to elect, a strong, true Constitutional candidate for President. But that is only half of the battle. We must also run and elect a strong, honest and Constitutional Congress committed to the restoration of our nation. And remember, if we had the very best, most honest, intelligent and committed men and women in America in those top 498 positions .... President, Legislature, Senate and Supreme Court, their efforts to save this country would still require extreme sacrifice, pain, and a much lower standard of living for the rest of us. With less character and patriotism than I describe in the candidates, the job will be even harder to accomplish.
A leader among our Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, coutioned us, "Educate and inform the whole mass of the people ... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty."
What can YOU do? Stand up, Speak up and Convince others to vote RIGHT...VOTE AMERICAN not "me, my, and mine". We must also PRAY; but as prayer without faith is empty, so "Faith without WORKS is DEAD." James 2:20 & 26.
Pass it on. RB
Nov 10, 2011
Change Keeps Acoming ! Its Predictable
Common Sense Commentary: The only thing that doesn't change is change itself ... and GOD. "For I am the Lord, I change not..." Mal.3:6. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Heb.13:8. Better get hold of something permanent cause change keeps acoming.
Exactly where are we, as a nation, in the United States today? Since I was born in 1930, our country has gradually picked up the cadence with the other "western" nations until we were all marching in locked-step union ... left, right, left, right, left, left, left ... in Socialistic agreement.
The next "step" will be "forced" conformity to the total Socialistic Regime ... Dictatorship.
Yes, unimaginable things can happen, given enough time, when done in small revisions but continual, gradual, changes toward a political goal such as Liberalism's so called Progressivism. And, yes, we have "progressed" but in the wrong direction. Even a wonderful, democratic republic such as our forefathers devised in our Constitution and Bill of Rights can and has been slowly eroded away by devious leaders and greedy voters. It has been quite a long "march" from Freedom and responsibility to Socialism and irresponsibility, but.... we have arrived .... at the precipice of a Socialistic Dictatorship.
Read the following words of a very wise man from Oklahoma in 1951:
"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. After that, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits with the result... the democracy collapses because of the loose fiscal policy ensuing, always to be followed by a dictatorship."
~ The earliest known appearance of this quote
was December 9, 1951, in what appears to be an op-ed piece in
The Daily Oklahoman under the byline Elmer T. Peterson.
Did I say, "We have arrived"? RB
Exactly where are we, as a nation, in the United States today? Since I was born in 1930, our country has gradually picked up the cadence with the other "western" nations until we were all marching in locked-step union ... left, right, left, right, left, left, left ... in Socialistic agreement.
The next "step" will be "forced" conformity to the total Socialistic Regime ... Dictatorship.
Yes, unimaginable things can happen, given enough time, when done in small revisions but continual, gradual, changes toward a political goal such as Liberalism's so called Progressivism. And, yes, we have "progressed" but in the wrong direction. Even a wonderful, democratic republic such as our forefathers devised in our Constitution and Bill of Rights can and has been slowly eroded away by devious leaders and greedy voters. It has been quite a long "march" from Freedom and responsibility to Socialism and irresponsibility, but.... we have arrived .... at the precipice of a Socialistic Dictatorship.
Read the following words of a very wise man from Oklahoma in 1951:
"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. After that, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits with the result... the democracy collapses because of the loose fiscal policy ensuing, always to be followed by a dictatorship."
~ The earliest known appearance of this quote
was December 9, 1951, in what appears to be an op-ed piece in
The Daily Oklahoman under the byline Elmer T. Peterson.
Did I say, "We have arrived"? RB
Nov 8, 2011
Common Sense Comments From My Three Sons
Common Sense Commentary: "My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me." Prov.27:11
To my three Sons:
I'm happy you are reading A.W. Tozier, Rex. He is one of my all time favorites. A real man of God. There were few like him. He truly walked with God, loved His Word and lived it. Tozier and a very few other such men of God spoke with such spiritual depth as to be almost voicing the mind of God, as in the Biblical days of the prophets. Not only were they chosen for such purpose but their calling was saturated with Bible study, prayer and the love of God. I believe there will always be a remnant of true believers as well as a rare prophet who sees the future simply because he knows God's Word and God's "Spirit of truth... shall guide you into all thuth..." as Jesus said in Jn.16:13. Being "guided into all truth", and knowing Bible, end-time prophecy, Tozier was simply applying it where it belonged. But, as you pointed out, Ron, the words of Jeremiah, "Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way [is], And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk [in it].' "Also, I set watchmen over you, [saying], 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not listen.'" Jer.16-17. The majority of people simply will not listen.
In almost every reference, in the Bible, the word "prophet" means "one who speaks forth" the Word of God, the Scripture.... and that is sufficient. In a few places, the word means "foretells" the future. But upon what is that foretelling based? I think it is primarily based upon, thoroughly knowing God's Word and, therefore, knowing God. Add to that the Spirit of God living in the Christian, "guiding us into all truth". He who knows God well, by studying His Word consistently, and "praying always", can pretty much predict what God will do in a given situation. He will simply do what He has always done in recorded Scripture and in history. He is absolutely consistent and does not change. "For I am the Lord, I change not...." Mal.3:6. Also, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Heb.13:8. Everything changes except God and His Word.
So the best we, as Christians, can do is what all great Christians and men of God have done throughout time, "Study to show thyself approved unto God...rightly dividing the word of truth". 2Tim.2:15. Enduring this wicked world also requires, "Praying always..." Eph.6:18. As Bob says and quotes often, the words of Jesus, "In your patience (endurance) possess ye your souls." Lk.21:19. Our responsibility to, "possess our souls" in self control is repeated by the Apostle Paul in 1 Cor.14:32 "The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." We alone are responsible to God for what we say and do in this life. "So then everyone of us shall give account of himself to God." Rom.14:12. I am proud of you and love you dearly. Psm.115:1, Your Dad.
--- On Tue, 11/8/11, Rex Blair <rexblair@rocketmail.com> wrote:
From: Rex Blair <rexblair@rocketmail.com>
Subject: Re: First Real Audit of Federal Reserve = 16 Trillion Rip Off.
To: "Rayburn Blair" <rayburnblair@att.net>
Date: Tuesday, November 8, 2011, 5:57 AM
To my three Sons:
I'm happy you are reading A.W. Tozier, Rex. He is one of my all time favorites. A real man of God. There were few like him. He truly walked with God, loved His Word and lived it. Tozier and a very few other such men of God spoke with such spiritual depth as to be almost voicing the mind of God, as in the Biblical days of the prophets. Not only were they chosen for such purpose but their calling was saturated with Bible study, prayer and the love of God. I believe there will always be a remnant of true believers as well as a rare prophet who sees the future simply because he knows God's Word and God's "Spirit of truth... shall guide you into all thuth..." as Jesus said in Jn.16:13. Being "guided into all truth", and knowing Bible, end-time prophecy, Tozier was simply applying it where it belonged. But, as you pointed out, Ron, the words of Jeremiah, "Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way [is], And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk [in it].' "Also, I set watchmen over you, [saying], 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not listen.'" Jer.16-17. The majority of people simply will not listen.
In almost every reference, in the Bible, the word "prophet" means "one who speaks forth" the Word of God, the Scripture.... and that is sufficient. In a few places, the word means "foretells" the future. But upon what is that foretelling based? I think it is primarily based upon, thoroughly knowing God's Word and, therefore, knowing God. Add to that the Spirit of God living in the Christian, "guiding us into all truth". He who knows God well, by studying His Word consistently, and "praying always", can pretty much predict what God will do in a given situation. He will simply do what He has always done in recorded Scripture and in history. He is absolutely consistent and does not change. "For I am the Lord, I change not...." Mal.3:6. Also, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Heb.13:8. Everything changes except God and His Word.
So the best we, as Christians, can do is what all great Christians and men of God have done throughout time, "Study to show thyself approved unto God...rightly dividing the word of truth". 2Tim.2:15. Enduring this wicked world also requires, "Praying always..." Eph.6:18. As Bob says and quotes often, the words of Jesus, "In your patience (endurance) possess ye your souls." Lk.21:19. Our responsibility to, "possess our souls" in self control is repeated by the Apostle Paul in 1 Cor.14:32 "The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." We alone are responsible to God for what we say and do in this life. "So then everyone of us shall give account of himself to God." Rom.14:12. I am proud of you and love you dearly. Psm.115:1, Your Dad.
--- On Tue, 11/8/11, Rex Blair <rexblair@rocketmail.com> wrote:
From: Rex Blair <rexblair@rocketmail.com>
Subject: Re: First Real Audit of Federal Reserve = 16 Trillion Rip Off.
To: "Rayburn Blair" <rayburnblair@att.net>
Date: Tuesday, November 8, 2011, 5:57 AM
Dad, In A.W. Tozer's book..."Man, The Dwelling Place of God"....A.W. Tozer made this statement. " I am among those who believe that our Western civilization is on its way to perishing. It has many commendable qualities, most of which it has borrowed from the Christian ethic, but it lacks the element of moral wisdom that would give it permanence. Future historians will record that we of the twentieth century had intelligence enough to create a great civilization but not the moral wisdom to preserve it."How true how true ...Rex
From Ron:Jeremiah says it well
Jer 6:15-19
15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD.
16 Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way [is], And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk [in it].'
17 Also, I set watchmen over you, [saying], 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not listen.'
18 Therefore hear, you nations, And know, O congregation, what [is] among them.
19 Hear, O earth! Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people--The fruit of their thoughts, Because they have not heeded My words Nor My law, but rejected it. Ron
Sent from my iPhone
From: Rayburn Blair <rayburnblair@att.net>
To:
Sent: Monday, November 7, 2011 5:41 PM
Subject: First Real Audit of Federal Reserve = 16 Trillion Rip Off.
First Real Audit Of The Federal Reserve
Audit of the Federal Reserve has revealed that the Fed has ripped us off to the tune of $16 trillion $16,000,000,000,000
The just completed audit of the Federal Reserve has revealed that the Fed has ripped us off to the tune of $16 trillion. This could to be a death blow to our economy.
http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=9e2a4ea8-6e73-4be2-a753-62060dcbb3c3
The news below of the Fed audit comes from the website of Sen. Bernie Sanders. The above link will take you to this site where you will find a link to the the complete GAO (Government Accounting Office) Report.(Snippet)
"The first top-to-bottom audit of the Federal Reserve uncovered eye-popping new details about how the U.S. provided a whopping $16 trillion in secret loans to bail out American and foreign banks and businesses during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. An amendment by Sen. Bernie Sanders to the Wall Street reform law passed one year ago this week directed the Government Accountability Office to conduct the study. "As a result of this audit, we now know that the Federal Reserve provided more than $16 trillion in total financial assistance to some of the largest financial institutions and corporations in the United States and throughout the world," said Sanders. "This is a clear case of socialism for the rich and rugged, you're-on-your-own individualism for everyone else."
Okay, folks, here’s what this means to you and me. It means that the Fed has run it’s electronic printing press and created 16 trillion dollars worth of new currency. This has the effect of diluting the value of the currency we are already holding.
They gave this money away to banks and corporations in the form of zero interest loans, taking as collaterral worthless toxic assets that include bad loans and financial derivitives that have lost all or most of their value.. They did this without Congressional oversight or approval. To put this bluntly, they ripped us off. As you watch the price of food and other things go up even though your income stays the same or goes down, you are witnessing the results of this ripoff.
How badly have we been ripped off?
The magnitude of this ripoff is mind boggling! To try to get a perspective on this, consider the following:
--The federal government’s annual budget is 3 1/3 trillion dollars. Yes, this is the same annual budget that has the 1 ½ trillion deficit we are all so concerned about.
--Our annual GDP (Gross Domestic Product – the total value of all the goods and services produced in our country) is 14 trillion dollars.
--Our National Debt (the total debt accumulated by the federal government over our 200 year existance) is 14 ½ trillion dollars.--Prior to 2008, the Fed was printing about 9 cents of every dollar spent by the federal government. This resulted in anywhere from 3 to 8 percent inflation depending on whose numbers you believe. Since 2008, the Fed has been printing 30 cents for every dollar spent by the federal government. Now, with this 16 trillion, the Fed has printed more that $7 for every dollar spend this year by the government! How much price inflation will this cause? I really don’t want to think about it. And when prices skyrocket, especially the prices of food, the result will be that most Americans will have to eliminate the purchase of almost everything else in order to put gas in their car to go to work and to put food on the table. This, my friends, is called POVERTY. And, this is the magnitude of the ripoff by the Fed.
To add insult to injury, the Fed not only ripped us off, but they gave a very large chunk of our money, that they printed, to foreign banks and corporations.
This wholesale creation of currency by the Fed is no different that any other crook using his computer to print counterfiet money. If people were allowed to do this, it would trash the value of our currency. And, this is exactly what the Fed has done. The owners of the Federal Reserve should be stripped of their assets and put in prison like any other white collar crook.
For any of you who still do not understand that the Fed is a private corporation,
owned by private individuals dedicated to their own enrichment at the expense of the American people, I have attached my essay; The Federal Reserve: How it operates and why it must be abolished. This essay will provide you with a summary. After you read it, I urge you to watch the video called The Money Masters. This video is very interesting and will give you a detailed account. Here is a link to this video;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXt1cayx0hs
Here is a partial list of institutions that received the most money from the Federal Reserve. This list can be found on page 131 of the GAO Audit.
Citigroup: $2.5 trillion ($2,500,000,000,000)
Morgan Stanley: $2.04 trillion ($2,040,000,000,000)
Merrill Lynch: $1.949 trillion ($1,949,000,000,000)
Bank of America: $1.344 trillion ($1,344,000,000,000)
Barclays PLC (United Kingdom): $868 billion ($868,000,000,000)
Bear Sterns: $853 billion ($853,000,000,000)
Goldman Sachs: $814 billion ($814,000,000,000)
Royal Bank of Scotland (UK): $541 billion ($541,000,000,000)
JP Morgan Chase: $391 billion ($391,000,000,000)
Deutsche Bank (Germany): $354 billion ($354,000,000,000)
UBS (Switzerland): $287 billion ($287,000,000,000)
Credit Suisse (Switzerland): $262 billion ($262,000,000,000)
Lehman Brothers: $183 billion ($183,000,000,000)
Bank of Scotland (United Kingdom): $181 billion ($181,000,000,000)
BNP Paribas (France): $175 billion ($175,000,000,000)
This last comment on the Audit is from....
Nov 7, 2011
First Real Audit Of The Federal Reserve
Common Sense Commentary: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against,
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph.6:12.
First Real Audit Of The Federal Reserve
Audit of the Federal Reserve has revealed that the Fed has ripped us off to the tune of $16 trillion $16,000,000,000,000
The just completed audit of the Federal Reserve has revealed that the Fed has ripped us off to the tune of $16 trillion. This could to be a death blow to our economy.
http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=9e2a4ea8-6e73-4be2-a753-62060dcbb3c3
The news below of the Fed audit comes from the website of Sen. Bernie Sanders. The above link will take you to this site where you will find a link to the the complete GAO (Government Accounting Office) Report.
(Snippet)
Okay, folks, here’s what this means to you and me. It means that the Fed has run it’s electronic printing press and created 16 trillion dollars worth of new currency. This has the effect of diluting the value of the currency we are already holding.
They gave this money away to banks and corporations in the form of zero interest loans, taking as collateral worthless toxic assets that include bad loans and financial derivatives that have lost all or most of their value.. They did this without Congressional oversight or approval. To put this bluntly, they ripped us off. As you watch the price of food and other things go up even though your income stays the same or goes down, you are witnessing the results of this ripoff.
How badly have we been ripped off?
The magnitude of this ripoff is mind boggling! To try to get a perspective on this, consider the following:
--The federal government’s annual budget is 3 1/3 trillion dollars. Yes, this is the same annual budget that has the 1 ½ trillion deficit we are all so concerned about.
--Our annual GDP (Gross Domestic Product – the total value of all the goods and services produced in our country) is 14 trillion dollars.
--Our National Debt (the total debt accumulated by the federal government over our 200 year existence) is 14 ½ trillion dollars.
--Prior to 2008, the Fed was printing about 9 cents of every dollar spent by the federal government. This resulted in anywhere from 3 to 8 percent inflation depending on whose numbers you believe. Since 2008, the Fed has been printing 30 cents for every dollar spent by the federal government. Now, with this 16 trillion, the Fed has printed more that $7 for every dollar spend this year by the government! How much price inflation will this cause? I really don’t want to think about it. And when prices skyrocket, especially the prices of food, the result will be that most Americans will have to eliminate the purchase of almost everything else in order to put gas in their car to go to work and to put food on the table. This, my friends, is called POVERTY. And, this is the magnitude of the ripoff by the Fed.
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph.6:12.
First Real Audit Of The Federal Reserve
Audit of the Federal Reserve has revealed that the Fed has ripped us off to the tune of $16 trillion $16,000,000,000,000
The just completed audit of the Federal Reserve has revealed that the Fed has ripped us off to the tune of $16 trillion. This could to be a death blow to our economy.
http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=9e2a4ea8-6e73-4be2-a753-62060dcbb3c3
The news below of the Fed audit comes from the website of Sen. Bernie Sanders. The above link will take you to this site where you will find a link to the the complete GAO (Government Accounting Office) Report.
(Snippet)
"The first top-to-bottom audit of the Federal Reserve uncovered eye-popping new details about how the U.S. provided a whopping $16 trillion in secret loans to bail out American and foreign banks and businesses during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. An amendment by Sen. Bernie Sanders to the Wall Street reform law passed one year ago this week directed the Government Accountability Office to conduct the study. "As a result of this audit, we now know that the Federal Reserve provided more than $16 trillion in total financial assistance to some of the largest financial institutions and corporations in the United States and throughout the world," said Sanders. "This is a clear case of socialism for the rich and rugged, you're-on-your-own individualism for everyone else."
Okay, folks, here’s what this means to you and me. It means that the Fed has run it’s electronic printing press and created 16 trillion dollars worth of new currency. This has the effect of diluting the value of the currency we are already holding.
They gave this money away to banks and corporations in the form of zero interest loans, taking as collateral worthless toxic assets that include bad loans and financial derivatives that have lost all or most of their value.. They did this without Congressional oversight or approval. To put this bluntly, they ripped us off. As you watch the price of food and other things go up even though your income stays the same or goes down, you are witnessing the results of this ripoff.
How badly have we been ripped off?
The magnitude of this ripoff is mind boggling! To try to get a perspective on this, consider the following:
--The federal government’s annual budget is 3 1/3 trillion dollars. Yes, this is the same annual budget that has the 1 ½ trillion deficit we are all so concerned about.
--Our annual GDP (Gross Domestic Product – the total value of all the goods and services produced in our country) is 14 trillion dollars.
--Our National Debt (the total debt accumulated by the federal government over our 200 year existence) is 14 ½ trillion dollars.
--Prior to 2008, the Fed was printing about 9 cents of every dollar spent by the federal government. This resulted in anywhere from 3 to 8 percent inflation depending on whose numbers you believe. Since 2008, the Fed has been printing 30 cents for every dollar spent by the federal government. Now, with this 16 trillion, the Fed has printed more that $7 for every dollar spend this year by the government! How much price inflation will this cause? I really don’t want to think about it. And when prices skyrocket, especially the prices of food, the result will be that most Americans will have to eliminate the purchase of almost everything else in order to put gas in their car to go to work and to put food on the table. This, my friends, is called POVERTY. And, this is the magnitude of the ripoff by the Fed.
To add insult to injury, the Fed not only ripped us off, but they gave a very large chunk of our money, that they printed, to foreign banks and corporations.
This wholesale creation of currency by the Fed is no different that any other crook using his computer to print counterfeit money. If people were allowed to do this, it would trash the value of our currency. And, this is exactly what the Fed has done. The owners of the Federal Reserve should be stripped of their assets and put in prison like any other white collar crook.
For any of you who still do not understand that the Fed is a private corporation,
owned by private individuals dedicated to their own enrichment at the expense of the American people, I have attached my essay; The Federal Reserve: How it operates and why it must be abolished. This essay will provide you with a summary. After you read it, I urge you to watch the video called The Money Masters. This video is very interesting and will give you a detailed account. Here is a link to this video;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXt1cayx0hs
Here is a partial list of institutions that received the most money from the Federal Reserve. This list can be found on page 131 of the GAO Audit.
Citigroup: $2.5 trillion ($2,500,000,000,000)
Morgan Stanley: $2.04 trillion ($2,040,000,000,000)
Merrill Lynch: $1.949 trillion ($1,949,000,000,000)
Bank of America: $1.344 trillion ($1,344,000,000,000)
Barclays PLC (United Kingdom): $868 billion ($868,000,000,000)
Bear Sterns: $853 billion ($853,000,000,000)
Goldman Sachs: $814 billion ($814,000,000,000)
JP Morgan Chase: $391 billion ($391,000,000,000)
Deutsche Bank (Germany): $354 billion ($354,000,000,000)
UBS (Switzerland): $287 billion ($287,000,000,000)
Credit Suisse (Switzerland): $262 billion ($262,000,000,000)
Lehman Brothers: $183 billion ($183,000,000,000)
Bank of Scotland (United Kingdom): $181 billion ($181,000,000,000)
BNP Paribas (France): $175 billion ($175,000,000,000)
From Shammrock68, Investors Village, Precious Metals Message Board
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