Jun 30, 2013
Free Enterprise Vs. Political Decree And Executive Orders
Common Sense Commentary: The contrast contained in the facts below is so enormous and revealing, it is like unto huge black letters on a bright white wall 500 miles high running across our U.S. Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico, and readable from California to the Carolinas. You will see it if you are not blind or stupid. RB
Wal-Mart vs. The Monetary Morons
A more perfect picture has never been painted or contrast drawn. RB
Wal-Mart vs. The Monetary Morons
A more perfect picture has never been painted or contrast drawn. RB
Jun 28, 2013
When These Things Begin ... Look Up !
Common Sense Commentary: When Jesus said, "... beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod" (Mk.8:15), He was warning us of the evil infusion of religious heresy on the one hand and political heresy on the other. We are now there, in the midst of both, in the ditch of "No Hope", between the two heresies.
"...having no hope, and without God in the world...." Eph.2:12
When the entire world has run off the road of worldly progress, worldly success and fleshly, human pride ... into the toxic, septic ditch of "No Hope", there is yet one good thing left to us. Amidst the swirling, dark ditch of putrid sin's failure, there is just one direction left in which to look ... "Up"! We are at the place in human history, of which Jesus spoke, when He said, "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Lk.2:28.
I will briefly paraphrase the verses, in that chapter, leading up to Jesus' "heads up" warning to His redeemed. Beginning in Lk.2:7 through 32.
Jesus was forewarning His disciples about the last days when He would return to Earth at His second coming. His disciples asked, "when shall these things be? and what sign will there be ....?" Jesus answered that there would be many false Christs and false, counterfeit, "pseudo-Christian" groups arise; but don't be misled by them. There will be "wars and commotions", conflict between nations and between alliances of nations. There will be increased earthquakes, famines and diseases and strange things happening in the sky. The true Christians remaining will be persecuted both by worldly religions and governments. But, this will be an opportunity for Christians to give testimony, as He gives us words to speak. There will be betrayals of true Christians by parents, siblings, relatives and friends ... even to death. True Christians will be hated by the whole world for Jesus' sake. But you are in God's hands. He will deliver you. At this point, Jesus says, "In your patience possess ye your souls." You who remain will see Jerusalem surrounded by opposing armies ready for Earth's final battle. "For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written (prophesied) may be fulfilled." Great wrath falls upon the land until "the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." More signs in the sky, and an affliction of mass heart failures at all these terrifying events. "And then shall (the whole world) see (Jesus) coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Like a budding fig tree is a sign summer is near, "So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily, I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled." Our only option; our only hope; the only one to whom we may look for help, strength, direction and truth.... is UP. Heads UP!! Look UP to our God and our Savior. He is our only hope.
There is no hope, no prayer, no salvation, no deliverance but by and in Jesus Christ. RB
Below are the verses I paraphrased:
Luke 21:7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
Luke 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
Luke 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
Luke 21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
Luke 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Luke 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
Luke 21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
Luke 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
Luke 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
Luke 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
Luke 21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
Luke 21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Luke 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Luke 21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
Luke 21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
Luke 21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
Luke 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luke 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luke 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Luke 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
Luke 21:30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
Luke 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Luke 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
"...having no hope, and without God in the world...." Eph.2:12
When the entire world has run off the road of worldly progress, worldly success and fleshly, human pride ... into the toxic, septic ditch of "No Hope", there is yet one good thing left to us. Amidst the swirling, dark ditch of putrid sin's failure, there is just one direction left in which to look ... "Up"! We are at the place in human history, of which Jesus spoke, when He said, "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Lk.2:28.
I will briefly paraphrase the verses, in that chapter, leading up to Jesus' "heads up" warning to His redeemed. Beginning in Lk.2:7 through 32.
Jesus was forewarning His disciples about the last days when He would return to Earth at His second coming. His disciples asked, "when shall these things be? and what sign will there be ....?" Jesus answered that there would be many false Christs and false, counterfeit, "pseudo-Christian" groups arise; but don't be misled by them. There will be "wars and commotions", conflict between nations and between alliances of nations. There will be increased earthquakes, famines and diseases and strange things happening in the sky. The true Christians remaining will be persecuted both by worldly religions and governments. But, this will be an opportunity for Christians to give testimony, as He gives us words to speak. There will be betrayals of true Christians by parents, siblings, relatives and friends ... even to death. True Christians will be hated by the whole world for Jesus' sake. But you are in God's hands. He will deliver you. At this point, Jesus says, "In your patience possess ye your souls." You who remain will see Jerusalem surrounded by opposing armies ready for Earth's final battle. "For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written (prophesied) may be fulfilled." Great wrath falls upon the land until "the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." More signs in the sky, and an affliction of mass heart failures at all these terrifying events. "And then shall (the whole world) see (Jesus) coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Like a budding fig tree is a sign summer is near, "So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily, I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled." Our only option; our only hope; the only one to whom we may look for help, strength, direction and truth.... is UP. Heads UP!! Look UP to our God and our Savior. He is our only hope.
There is no hope, no prayer, no salvation, no deliverance but by and in Jesus Christ. RB
Below are the verses I paraphrased:
Luke 21:7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
Luke 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
Luke 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
Luke 21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
Luke 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Luke 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
Luke 21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
Luke 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
Luke 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
Luke 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
Luke 21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
Luke 21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Luke 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Luke 21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
Luke 21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
Luke 21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
Luke 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luke 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luke 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Luke 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
Luke 21:30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
Luke 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Luke 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Jun 27, 2013
Unusual, Unbelievable or Just Wonderful Videos
Common Sense Commentary: Here is a collection of special videos. Some funny, some beautiful, some heart rending, some unbelievable.
Good Music Brings The Best Out In All Of Us
Daredevil On Wire Over Grand Canyon Praises Jesus
A Whale's "Thank You"...
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=EBYPlcSD490
The Resurrection is a 12' x 40' mural, oil on canvas. It is a depiction of the moment Jesus emerges from the tomb. This mural was commissioned by the Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas , Texas .
Turn on
your sound and ....Click-Here
How do you know you're shopping in Texas? |
Good Music Brings The Best Out In All Of Us
This Would Seem To Be Impossible
Click here:
|
Getting even with the car salesman:http://myfox8.com/2013/03/12/undercover-jeff-gordon-takes-car-salesman-on-a-thrilling-test-drive-viral-video/
Israeli scientists develop first photonic topological insulators to provide protection for transport of light
and
most of europe and all the arabs want to
destroy these people!!! please watch
this video is short
Illegal aliens getting huge tax payments claiming dependents in Mexico
|
Jun 26, 2013
Is It Any Wonder Our Country Is In Such A Mess?
Common Sense Commentary: This is just one of thousands of cases of senseless neglect, violations of law, blatant disregard of their responsibility and then lying about it, in the Senate of the United States? Thank God for the few who raise objection to it.
Click here: Senators Voting without Reading the Bills
Click here: Senators Voting without Reading the Bills
Jun 25, 2013
Maybe The Most Powerful Video You Will Ever Watch
Common Sense Commentary: There are very few absolutely
essential things you must do. This could be the one that stops
the insanity and re-establishes our American heritage and
Constitutional freedoms. Watch this short video. RB
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=jeYscnFpEyA
essential things you must do. This could be the one that stops
the insanity and re-establishes our American heritage and
Constitutional freedoms. Watch this short video. RB
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=jeYscnFpEyA
Jun 24, 2013
She Says Wyoming's U.S. Senator Is A @#$%&*;)
Common Sense Commentary: Obviously Out Of Obama's Oxymoron Orbit, Patty Myers wins my OOOOOO award. RB
Alan Simpson, the Senator from Wyoming calls senior citizens the
Greediest Generation as he compared "Social Security " to a Milk Cow
with 310 million teats. Here's a response in a letter from PATTY MYERS
in Montana ... I think she is a little ticked off! She also tells it
like it is!
"Hey Alan, let's get a few things straight!!!
1. As a career politician, you have been on the public dole (tit) for
FIFTY YEARS.
2. I have been paying Social Security taxes for 48 YEARS (since I was
15 years old. I am now 63).
3. My Social Security payments, and those of millions of other
Americans, were safely tucked away in an interest bearing account for
decades until you political pukes decided to raid the account and give
OUR money to a bunch of zero losers in return for votes, thus
bankrupting the system and turning Social Security into a Ponzi scheme
that would make Bernie Madoff proud.
4. Recently, just like Lucy & Charlie Brown, you and "your ilk" pulled
the proverbial football away from millions of American seniors nearing
retirement and moved the goalposts for full retirement from age 65 to
age, 67. NOW, you and your "shill commission" are proposing to move
the goalposts YET AGAIN.
5. I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying into Medicare
from Day One, and now "you morons" propose to change the rules of the
game. Why? Because "you idiots" mismanaged other parts of the economy
to such an extent that you need to steal our money from Medicare to
pay the bills.
6. I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying income taxes
our entire lives, and now you propose to increase our taxes yet again.
Why? Because you "incompetent b#@%&*s" spent our money so
profligately that you just kept on spending even after you ran out of
money. Now, you come to the American taxpayers and say you need more
to pay off YOUR debt.
To add insult to injury, you label us "greedy" for calling "b*%&@#t"
to your incompetence.
Well, Captain B*%&@#t, I have a few questions for YOU:
1. How much money have you earned from the American taxpayers during
your pathetic 50-year political career?
2. At what age did you retire from your pathetic political career, and
how much are you receiving in annual retirement benefits from the
American taxpayers?
3. How much do you pay for YOUR government provided health insurance?
4. What cuts in YOUR retirement and healthcare benefits are you
proposing in your disgusting deficit reduction proposal, or as usual,
have you exempted yourself and your political cronies?
It is you, Captain Bullshit, and your political co-conspirators called
Congress who are the "greedy" ones. It is you and your fellow nutcase
thieves who have bankrupted America and stolen the American dream from
millions of loyal, patriotic taxpayers.
And for what? Votes and your job and retirement security at our
expense, you lunk-headed, leech.
That's right, sir. You and yours have bankrupted America for the sole
purpose of advancing your pathetic, political careers. You know it, we
know it, and you know that we know it.
And you can take that to the bank, you miserable son of a bitch.
P.S. And stop calling Social Security benefits "entitlements". WHAT AN
INSULT!!!!
I have been paying in to the SS system for 45 years “It's my
money”-give it back to me the way the system was designed and stop
patting yourself on the back like you are being generous by doling out
these monthly checks .
Montana citizen, Patty Myers,
Alan Simpson, the Senator from Wyoming calls senior citizens the
Greediest Generation as he compared "Social Security " to a Milk Cow
with 310 million teats. Here's a response in a letter from PATTY MYERS
in Montana ... I think she is a little ticked off! She also tells it
like it is!
"Hey Alan, let's get a few things straight!!!
1. As a career politician, you have been on the public dole (tit) for
FIFTY YEARS.
2. I have been paying Social Security taxes for 48 YEARS (since I was
15 years old. I am now 63).
3. My Social Security payments, and those of millions of other
Americans, were safely tucked away in an interest bearing account for
decades until you political pukes decided to raid the account and give
OUR money to a bunch of zero losers in return for votes, thus
bankrupting the system and turning Social Security into a Ponzi scheme
that would make Bernie Madoff proud.
4. Recently, just like Lucy & Charlie Brown, you and "your ilk" pulled
the proverbial football away from millions of American seniors nearing
retirement and moved the goalposts for full retirement from age 65 to
age, 67. NOW, you and your "shill commission" are proposing to move
the goalposts YET AGAIN.
5. I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying into Medicare
from Day One, and now "you morons" propose to change the rules of the
game. Why? Because "you idiots" mismanaged other parts of the economy
to such an extent that you need to steal our money from Medicare to
pay the bills.
6. I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying income taxes
our entire lives, and now you propose to increase our taxes yet again.
Why? Because you "incompetent b#@%&*s" spent our money so
profligately that you just kept on spending even after you ran out of
money. Now, you come to the American taxpayers and say you need more
to pay off YOUR debt.
To add insult to injury, you label us "greedy" for calling "b*%&@#t"
to your incompetence.
Well, Captain B*%&@#t, I have a few questions for YOU:
1. How much money have you earned from the American taxpayers during
your pathetic 50-year political career?
2. At what age did you retire from your pathetic political career, and
how much are you receiving in annual retirement benefits from the
American taxpayers?
3. How much do you pay for YOUR government provided health insurance?
4. What cuts in YOUR retirement and healthcare benefits are you
proposing in your disgusting deficit reduction proposal, or as usual,
have you exempted yourself and your political cronies?
It is you, Captain Bullshit, and your political co-conspirators called
Congress who are the "greedy" ones. It is you and your fellow nutcase
thieves who have bankrupted America and stolen the American dream from
millions of loyal, patriotic taxpayers.
And for what? Votes and your job and retirement security at our
expense, you lunk-headed, leech.
That's right, sir. You and yours have bankrupted America for the sole
purpose of advancing your pathetic, political careers. You know it, we
know it, and you know that we know it.
And you can take that to the bank, you miserable son of a bitch.
P.S. And stop calling Social Security benefits "entitlements". WHAT AN
INSULT!!!!
I have been paying in to the SS system for 45 years “It's my
money”-give it back to me the way the system was designed and stop
patting yourself on the back like you are being generous by doling out
these monthly checks .
Montana citizen, Patty Myers,
Jun 23, 2013
Saddle Up, And Cinch Down, Wimps, A Wild Ride Is Coming
Common Sense Commentary: You have to give old Charlie Daniels this ... He's a realist, he's a real man and he plays a mean fiddle. Thanks Fredric. RB
By Charlie Daniels
Saddle Up, Wimps, a Wild Ride Is Coming
June 9, 2013 - 2:48 PM
One of my biggest heroes was my maternal grandfather or "Granddaddy" as I called him. He was born in 1895 and I never knew anyone who fit the description of a "man's man" any better than he did.
He could build a house, a boat, grow crops, handle livestock and supervise the work of other men, a natural leader, master hunter and fisherman, a big man with a heart full of charity and a head full of common sense.
He worked all his life, until he was in his middle 80s, didn't ask for or receive assistance feeding his family, weathered his storms and raised his children with nothing more than his own ingenuity and an abiding faith in his Creator. And, the amazing thing is that he was, by no means, an anomaly. Most of his generation, give or take a little, had the same work ethic and the same abilities and the same sense of responsibility as him.
You could literally have left these men and their families in the wilderness with some seed, some tools, a mule and plow and a bushel of shotgun shells and they could have made it.
They were not only capable, but they were also practical and willing to accept responsibility for the well-being of them and theirs. They didn't waste time whining about what might have been and knew how to make do with what they had.
They feared little besides Almighty God and believed they had the right to protect their families from any danger that presented itself.
This United States of America has gone from a nation of men like this to a generation of whiners who would rather fake an injury and draw a disability check than hold down an honest job and people who are so dependent on the government that, instead of trying to escape a flood, they simply sit and wait for somebody to come and get them.
Back during the aftermath of Katrina when the Superdome in New Orleans was basically a refugee camp with thousands of displaced persons who had to be housed and fed, an acquaintance of one of my band members, out of the goodness of his heart, took a big load of chicken sandwiches and bottled water to the Dome to help in the effort - only to be told by many people, "I don't want a chicken sandwich, I want a Big Mac and fries."
What would happen to these people if they were just required to show up for work every day and were paid for only what they produce, much less to go out in the world and fend for themselves?
What would happen if, God forbid, a national catastrophe would interrupt the flow of goods and services for an extended length of time, what would happen to these totally dependent citizens and what would the millions of illegal immigrants roaming America do?
Such has become the mentality of much of the entitlement society of today: it's somebody else's place to give me what I want, when I want it. And, make sure my check gets here on time.
Lyndon Johnson's Great Society was presented as the greatest humanitarian political undertaking of the century, but when you get to the bottom of its true intent, I think you would find mostly politics designed to sway the vote for generations to come.
The provisions of the Great Society legislation may look good on paper, but when the ramifications reach street level, it fosters laziness, irresponsibility, drug and alcohol dependence and the wholesale birth of children whose fathers are never identified, who have to be supported by the state and stand at least a 50-50 chance of becoming street criminals.
The cesspool our government has turned into has neither the honesty nor the will to confront the root of this problem and on it goes, worsening with every passing day, unabated until we finally reach the tipping point when this nation is flat broke, no longer able to send the monthly checks, pick up the abortion bill, provide the food stamps or subsidize housing.
So folks, cinch up your saddle and make sure your feet are in the stirrups, because when this thing finally blows, it's going to be a wild ride.
I sure hope some of Granddaddy's genes passed on to me.
What do you think?
Pray for our troops and the peace of Jerusalem
God Bless America
Charlie Daniels
Jun 21, 2013
When Abundance Becomes A Curse
Common Sense Commentary: Misuse and abuse of God's blessings, the truth and of that which is good, always results in lies, evil and certain punishment. The seed of destruction is contained within the sin itself.
An important understanding in scripture is that material abundance is not synonymous with the "life abundance" Jesus spoke of in Jn.10:10 "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." The "abundance" in this verse is spiritual. Wealth abundance is material. Wealth, like money, is not in and of itself a bad thing. It is not money that is the root of all evil but "The love of money". 1 Tim.6:10 "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." "Coveting" (loving) money, or the stuff it can buy, can do great damage to a person. In that verse, we are told that it has caused many people to err from the faith and pierce themselves through with many sorrows. But money didn't cause that tragedy, covetousness in the person caused it. Money is just a tool like a hammer or saw. It is an inanimate thing... no mind, no feelings, no opinion. Those things are in the person wielding the hammer or money. God disapproves of covetousness and greed for any kind of stuff, but He approves of wealth and even promises to prosper those who use it well. Jesus, himself, gave us a formula for gaining wealth. Luke 6:38 "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." The primary subject in this verse is not about "giving" but "receiving". The first word is "Give" but the rest of the verse is "receive". This divine formula is as automatic as sowing and reaping. "....whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Gal:6:7. Jesus brought that formula down from heaven with him from God. It was taught in the Old Testament but had become a legalistic tool in the hands of the religious leaders, those receiving the tithes and offerings. Jesus updated it by reminding his disciples that real giving, while a sacrifice, is a blessing not a burden. The front part of giving is against human nature and even Christians who know better, experience the fleshly human inclination to hold on to what we have. But that fleshly emotion to keep value, to retain it, to store it up, is the reason God blesses those who lay greed aside and yield to a higher, nobler standard of obedience to God, and compassion toward those who suffer need and those who do the work of God. When that formula is followed, by joyful giving, abundance results ..."good measure" (more received than given), "pressed down" (still more received), "shaken together" (yet more increase), "and running over" (abundance of increase). This kind of giving clearly results in abundance and wealth. The formula works when it is done in good conscience and in joyful obedience to God in our giving. That kind of abundance is a blessing; but, abundance not used as a tool for good becomes a tool used for bad and against good. We are all seeing the results of abundance misused, world-wide, as a tool against good and God while promoting everything God is against and opposing everything He teaches us in the Bible. That, my friends is "When abundance becomes a curse" and rots the souls of those who practice such evil. "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" Isa.5:20
An important understanding in scripture is that material abundance is not synonymous with the "life abundance" Jesus spoke of in Jn.10:10 "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." The "abundance" in this verse is spiritual. Wealth abundance is material. Wealth, like money, is not in and of itself a bad thing. It is not money that is the root of all evil but "The love of money". 1 Tim.6:10 "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." "Coveting" (loving) money, or the stuff it can buy, can do great damage to a person. In that verse, we are told that it has caused many people to err from the faith and pierce themselves through with many sorrows. But money didn't cause that tragedy, covetousness in the person caused it. Money is just a tool like a hammer or saw. It is an inanimate thing... no mind, no feelings, no opinion. Those things are in the person wielding the hammer or money. God disapproves of covetousness and greed for any kind of stuff, but He approves of wealth and even promises to prosper those who use it well. Jesus, himself, gave us a formula for gaining wealth. Luke 6:38 "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." The primary subject in this verse is not about "giving" but "receiving". The first word is "Give" but the rest of the verse is "receive". This divine formula is as automatic as sowing and reaping. "....whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Gal:6:7. Jesus brought that formula down from heaven with him from God. It was taught in the Old Testament but had become a legalistic tool in the hands of the religious leaders, those receiving the tithes and offerings. Jesus updated it by reminding his disciples that real giving, while a sacrifice, is a blessing not a burden. The front part of giving is against human nature and even Christians who know better, experience the fleshly human inclination to hold on to what we have. But that fleshly emotion to keep value, to retain it, to store it up, is the reason God blesses those who lay greed aside and yield to a higher, nobler standard of obedience to God, and compassion toward those who suffer need and those who do the work of God. When that formula is followed, by joyful giving, abundance results ..."good measure" (more received than given), "pressed down" (still more received), "shaken together" (yet more increase), "and running over" (abundance of increase). This kind of giving clearly results in abundance and wealth. The formula works when it is done in good conscience and in joyful obedience to God in our giving. That kind of abundance is a blessing; but, abundance not used as a tool for good becomes a tool used for bad and against good. We are all seeing the results of abundance misused, world-wide, as a tool against good and God while promoting everything God is against and opposing everything He teaches us in the Bible. That, my friends is "When abundance becomes a curse" and rots the souls of those who practice such evil. "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" Isa.5:20
Jun 19, 2013
Bill Clinton's Military Career
Oh! You didn't know he had a military career?
Bill & Hillary got about $20 million for their memoirs.
They forgot to mention anything about Bill's Military Career
or Hillary's Military experience at Benghazi
Here's some help for them since their memories of these things are limited.
BILL CLINTON’S MILITARY CAREER:
Bill Clinton registers for the draft on September 08, 1964, accepting all contractual conditions of registering for the draft. Selective Service Number is 326 46 228.
Bill Clinton classified 2-S on November 17, 1964.
Bill Clinton reclassified 1-A on March 20, 1968.
Bill Clinton ordered to report for induction on July 28, 1969.
Bill Clinton refuses to report and is not inducted into the military.
Bill Clinton reclassified 1-D after enlisting in the United States Army Reserves on August 07, 1969, under authority of COL. E. Holmes. Clinton signs enlistment papers and takes oath of enlistment.
Bill Clinton fails to report to his duty station at the University of Arkansas ROTC, September 1969.
Bill Clinton reclassified 1-A on October 30, 1969, as enlistment with Army Reserves is revoked by Colonel E. Holmes and Clinton now AWOL and subject to arrest under Public Law 90-40 (2) (a) - registrant who has failed to report... remain liable for induction.
Bill Clinton's birth date lottery number is 311, drawn December 1, 1969, but anyone who has already been ordered to report for induction is INELIGIBLE!
Bill Clinton runs for Congress (1974), while a fugitive from justice under Public Law 90-40.
Bill Clinton runs for Arkansas Attorney General (1976), while a fugitive from justice.
Bill Clinton receives pardon on January 21, 1977, from President Carter.
Bill Clinton becomes the FIRST PARDONED FEDERAL FELON ever to serve as President of the United States.
All these facts come from Freedom of Information requests, public laws and various books that have been published, and have not been refuted by Clinton.
After the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, President Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.
After the 1995 bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed five U.S. military personnel, Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.
After the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 and injured 200 U.S. military personnel, Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.
After the 1998 bombing of U.S. embassies in Africa, which killed 224 and injured 5,000, Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.
After the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, which killed 17 and injured 39 U.S. sailors, Clinton promised that those responsible be hunted down and punished.
Maybe if Clinton had kept those promises, an estimated 3,000 people in New York and Washington, DC, who are now dead would be alive today.
THINK ABOUT IT!
It is a strange turn of events.
Hillary gets $8 Million for her memoir.
Bill gets about $12 Million for his memoir.
This from two people who spent 8 years being unable to recall anything about past events while under oath.
Sincerely,
Cdr. Hamilton McWhorter USN (ret)
Jun 17, 2013
Perfection Is A Holy Goal ... Not An Accomplishment
Which will be bestowed upon believers, at the end of life's race, in the resurrection at the Second Coming of Christ. Until then there is absolutely nothing, on this earth, perfect.
When Jesus said, "Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matt.5:48), He didn't mean we could ever be as perfect as God, but that, as God is as perfect as it is possible for Him to be, we should strive to be as perfect as it is possible for us to be ... which is not equal to God's absolute, total perfection, but as far as we can go in this flesh. The Greek word "teleios", translated "perfect" in that verse, means "complete or mature". In another verse, Luke 6:36, Jesus said, "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." Jesus is simply encouraging us to take on the attributes of God, as His children, to be as much like Him as is humanly possible. It certainly does not mean that we, in the flesh, will ever be holy, perfect and merciful in equal measure as God. The same is true of Paul's admonition in Phil. 2:5 where he said, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Paul was not suggesting that we could be omniscient, knowing all things, as God, but that we, as Christians, should yield our minds to the Spirit of Christ and to think good and spiritual thoughts as He did.
I have known people, who had been convinced by some professing Christian, that perfection was possible, and they tried so hard to be perfect, but continued to fail over and over until they grew frustrated and gave up trying and quit. Though we will never reach perfection, in the flesh, we should never quit improving, rejecting sin, confessing sin, feeding on God's word and growing in grace. Though nobody, but Jesus, has ever been absolutely perfect, and equal with God, in these fleshly bodies, we will ... one day be "glorified" and "perfect".... "like unto him"...."Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." 1Jn.3:2.
In the mean time, please don't try to pass yourself off as perfect. Those who know better will write you off as a dishonest hypocrite, and those who believe you, will struggle through years of effort to be "perfect like you" until they finally give up and think they are either a hopeless sinner or eternally damned. Do not do that to anyone. That is why the Scripture says, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another...." James 5:16. The Greek word translated "faults" here, isn't necessarily sin. The word means a failing or shortcoming. Confess your sins to God and faults to others only as God leads, with wisdom which will not cause further problems, so that others won't think you are without fault. The point of such confession is to prevent those who admire you from "exalting you above measure", thinking you are holier than you really are, as the Apostle Paul explained in 2Cor.12:7 ..."And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, ( he had been caught up to the third heaven) there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. I believe Paul's "throne in the flesh" was poor eyesight. My reasons are, he only signed his name on each of his epistles, having dictated them to a writer... maybe Luke, Mark, Silas or Barnabas. Note in 2Thess.3:17 "The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write." Also, when he did write his own letter, he emphasized it as in Gal.6:11..." Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand." We know for a fact that Paul's letter to the Romans was dictated to someone named Tertius . "I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord." Rom.16:22. Also contributing to my "poor eyesight" theory is the fact that when he was still Saul of Tarsus, before his conversion, Paul was struck down on the Road to Damascus, was temporarily blinded by a bright light and had to be led by the hand into the city. He was blind for three days, and his sight may not have fully recovered.
Many preachers make the mistake of leaving the impression they are better than they really are, and thereby influence some to seek to be as holy as the pastor appears to be, not realizing that the pastor himself isn't that perfect either. This often results in their disillusionment with the pastor when they see his faults or they give up on themselves ever pleasing God, because their eyes are on a man rather than on Christ. Intentionally leaving false impressions is lying and can be very harmful. RB
When Jesus said, "Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matt.5:48), He didn't mean we could ever be as perfect as God, but that, as God is as perfect as it is possible for Him to be, we should strive to be as perfect as it is possible for us to be ... which is not equal to God's absolute, total perfection, but as far as we can go in this flesh. The Greek word "teleios", translated "perfect" in that verse, means "complete or mature". In another verse, Luke 6:36, Jesus said, "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." Jesus is simply encouraging us to take on the attributes of God, as His children, to be as much like Him as is humanly possible. It certainly does not mean that we, in the flesh, will ever be holy, perfect and merciful in equal measure as God. The same is true of Paul's admonition in Phil. 2:5 where he said, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Paul was not suggesting that we could be omniscient, knowing all things, as God, but that we, as Christians, should yield our minds to the Spirit of Christ and to think good and spiritual thoughts as He did.
I have known people, who had been convinced by some professing Christian, that perfection was possible, and they tried so hard to be perfect, but continued to fail over and over until they grew frustrated and gave up trying and quit. Though we will never reach perfection, in the flesh, we should never quit improving, rejecting sin, confessing sin, feeding on God's word and growing in grace. Though nobody, but Jesus, has ever been absolutely perfect, and equal with God, in these fleshly bodies, we will ... one day be "glorified" and "perfect".... "like unto him"...."Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." 1Jn.3:2.
In the mean time, please don't try to pass yourself off as perfect. Those who know better will write you off as a dishonest hypocrite, and those who believe you, will struggle through years of effort to be "perfect like you" until they finally give up and think they are either a hopeless sinner or eternally damned. Do not do that to anyone. That is why the Scripture says, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another...." James 5:16. The Greek word translated "faults" here, isn't necessarily sin. The word means a failing or shortcoming. Confess your sins to God and faults to others only as God leads, with wisdom which will not cause further problems, so that others won't think you are without fault. The point of such confession is to prevent those who admire you from "exalting you above measure", thinking you are holier than you really are, as the Apostle Paul explained in 2Cor.12:7 ..."And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, ( he had been caught up to the third heaven) there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. I believe Paul's "throne in the flesh" was poor eyesight. My reasons are, he only signed his name on each of his epistles, having dictated them to a writer... maybe Luke, Mark, Silas or Barnabas. Note in 2Thess.3:17 "The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write." Also, when he did write his own letter, he emphasized it as in Gal.6:11..." Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand." We know for a fact that Paul's letter to the Romans was dictated to someone named Tertius . "I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord." Rom.16:22. Also contributing to my "poor eyesight" theory is the fact that when he was still Saul of Tarsus, before his conversion, Paul was struck down on the Road to Damascus, was temporarily blinded by a bright light and had to be led by the hand into the city. He was blind for three days, and his sight may not have fully recovered.
Many preachers make the mistake of leaving the impression they are better than they really are, and thereby influence some to seek to be as holy as the pastor appears to be, not realizing that the pastor himself isn't that perfect either. This often results in their disillusionment with the pastor when they see his faults or they give up on themselves ever pleasing God, because their eyes are on a man rather than on Christ. Intentionally leaving false impressions is lying and can be very harmful. RB
Jun 15, 2013
Question For The Self-Righteous Salvationist: How Many Sins Does It Take
Common Sense Commentary: Wisdom, logic, truth and Holy Scripture ring true to a spiritually receptive soul.
If you can lose your salvation, how many or how much sin does it take before God springs that trap door under your feet? 77? 66? or 1 ? Maybe you think God doesn't count the "little" sins you do in thought, word or action at least several times every day. Things like impatience, anger, exaggeration, gluttony, laziness or a flash of lust. Or maybe you think God rates sins according to their degree of offence. In which case it may take ten type "A" sins, or seven type "B" sins or just one type "F" sin to cancel out your eternal salvation. If cursing like a sailor will send you on to hell, how near the fire do you get by "thinking" just one profane word..... all the way out of salvation and into the flame? Does it take a whole carton, a pack or just one wicked cigarette for God to erase your name again from His big book? You've been saved and lost so many times, your page is worn thin. You say, "Cigarettes won't send you to hell". No but it makes you smell like you've been there. How about a beer? Does it take a six-pack or will one do it? How about a swallow? If you give a pass for cigs and beer, how about lying? Is it a lie if it isn't absolutely true, every word and nuance? Will that small a lie abort your salvation? OK, lets go to the big stuff. How many of God's Ten Commandments can you break before you are dishonorably discharged from the ranks of the saints? Let's say you exaggerate just a little about something your neighbor does that you don't like. You have violated the ninth Commandment, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor". Ex. 20:16. Now you can't gainsay that one: It is a sin. That means you lost your salvation again.... right? But there are even more serious ramifications. James 2:9-10 says if you break one Commandment, you have broken all the Commandments. Those same verses say "respect of persons" is a sin. So if you show preference or partiality to one person over another, you have sinned. "But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." "Guilty of all". So the fact is, you who believe one must be perfect, without a single fleshly flaw or sin... to be a Christian, you are lying. And if you say you live up to that standard, you are not only lying but are a hypocrite as well.
The truth is, that the Ten Commandments are one thing as the body is one thing. If you break one of your ten fingers, you have broken your body. If you break one of the ten Commandments, you have broken God's Commandments. So, it has to be true that if ten sins will send a Christian off to hell again, one sin will do the same ... if, as some of you believe, your salvation is won or lost by your own ability to reach perfection and stay perfect, in this frail, flaw filled, sin prone flesh, for the rest of your life... when, in truth, you can't do it for one day.... but you pretend to. Don't you get tired of always hiding who you really are ... a sinner saved by grace ... or not saved at all?
I personally believe that any and all sin is so very, terribly wicked, in the eyes of God, that if the guilt of just one sin could be spread equally upon every soul on earth, that that one sin would send every single soul tainted by it to hell ... if, that is, you discount what Jesus did on the cross, and forget that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
So stop bothering people with your inconsistent, impossible and wicked theory that somehow we can earn or deserve or work our way into the holy of holies of God's presence by our own goodness rather than the precious, holy work of Christ on Calvary's cross. If you don't come to God totally and only on the merits of Christ, not your own, you will be hopelessly lost in eternity... clinging to all you have left.... your puny, faked self-righteousness. RB
If you can lose your salvation, how many or how much sin does it take before God springs that trap door under your feet? 77? 66? or 1 ? Maybe you think God doesn't count the "little" sins you do in thought, word or action at least several times every day. Things like impatience, anger, exaggeration, gluttony, laziness or a flash of lust. Or maybe you think God rates sins according to their degree of offence. In which case it may take ten type "A" sins, or seven type "B" sins or just one type "F" sin to cancel out your eternal salvation. If cursing like a sailor will send you on to hell, how near the fire do you get by "thinking" just one profane word..... all the way out of salvation and into the flame? Does it take a whole carton, a pack or just one wicked cigarette for God to erase your name again from His big book? You've been saved and lost so many times, your page is worn thin. You say, "Cigarettes won't send you to hell". No but it makes you smell like you've been there. How about a beer? Does it take a six-pack or will one do it? How about a swallow? If you give a pass for cigs and beer, how about lying? Is it a lie if it isn't absolutely true, every word and nuance? Will that small a lie abort your salvation? OK, lets go to the big stuff. How many of God's Ten Commandments can you break before you are dishonorably discharged from the ranks of the saints? Let's say you exaggerate just a little about something your neighbor does that you don't like. You have violated the ninth Commandment, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor". Ex. 20:16. Now you can't gainsay that one: It is a sin. That means you lost your salvation again.... right? But there are even more serious ramifications. James 2:9-10 says if you break one Commandment, you have broken all the Commandments. Those same verses say "respect of persons" is a sin. So if you show preference or partiality to one person over another, you have sinned. "But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." "Guilty of all". So the fact is, you who believe one must be perfect, without a single fleshly flaw or sin... to be a Christian, you are lying. And if you say you live up to that standard, you are not only lying but are a hypocrite as well.
The truth is, that the Ten Commandments are one thing as the body is one thing. If you break one of your ten fingers, you have broken your body. If you break one of the ten Commandments, you have broken God's Commandments. So, it has to be true that if ten sins will send a Christian off to hell again, one sin will do the same ... if, as some of you believe, your salvation is won or lost by your own ability to reach perfection and stay perfect, in this frail, flaw filled, sin prone flesh, for the rest of your life... when, in truth, you can't do it for one day.... but you pretend to. Don't you get tired of always hiding who you really are ... a sinner saved by grace ... or not saved at all?
I personally believe that any and all sin is so very, terribly wicked, in the eyes of God, that if the guilt of just one sin could be spread equally upon every soul on earth, that that one sin would send every single soul tainted by it to hell ... if, that is, you discount what Jesus did on the cross, and forget that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
So stop bothering people with your inconsistent, impossible and wicked theory that somehow we can earn or deserve or work our way into the holy of holies of God's presence by our own goodness rather than the precious, holy work of Christ on Calvary's cross. If you don't come to God totally and only on the merits of Christ, not your own, you will be hopelessly lost in eternity... clinging to all you have left.... your puny, faked self-righteousness. RB
Jun 13, 2013
A Free-Will Passenger On A Predestined Cruse: A Poem
Common Sense Commentary:
Many ships ply the waters of Earth's open seas;
Each sails through storm and darkness with relative ease,
With predetermined destinations already assigned;
The captain and crew keeping that course aligned.
Every ship has a final port and a purpose too;
Each carries either cargo or passengers who
Freely searched till their choice of cruses was found;
Agreed to the terms and were destiny bound.
So if you choose to sail on a predestined liner,
You must choose your ship, one half star of finer.
You may do as you will in the options you choose,
But the Captain decides all else on the cruse.
You will embark and debark at His command;
The ship's schedule, speed, and safety are in His hand.
Everything not for the passenger's own choice is.....
Soverignly, totally and absolutely His.
All ships arrive at their predestined ending ...
But just one survives to the "Harbor Ascending".
This ship sails to it's home port on Glory Shore,
Where all is eternally holy, and which is more,
Our Captain Father lives there and our Savior too,
And believers of all time whom Jesus foreknew.
Many ships ply the waters of Earth's open seas;
Each sails through storm and darkness with relative ease,
With predetermined destinations already assigned;
The captain and crew keeping that course aligned.
Every ship has a final port and a purpose too;
Each carries either cargo or passengers who
Freely searched till their choice of cruses was found;
Agreed to the terms and were destiny bound.
So if you choose to sail on a predestined liner,
You must choose your ship, one half star of finer.
You may do as you will in the options you choose,
But the Captain decides all else on the cruse.
You will embark and debark at His command;
The ship's schedule, speed, and safety are in His hand.
Everything not for the passenger's own choice is.....
Soverignly, totally and absolutely His.
All ships arrive at their predestined ending ...
But just one survives to the "Harbor Ascending".
This ship sails to it's home port on Glory Shore,
Where all is eternally holy, and which is more,
Our Captain Father lives there and our Savior too,
And believers of all time whom Jesus foreknew.
Jun 10, 2013
There Is Someone Out There
Common Sense Commentary: If the whole truth could be known and each person in this world could be perfectly and accurately analyzed and their character and thoughts measured, there is someone out there who fits every possible description. There is someone out there among the seven billion people of the world with every level of gratitude or ingratitude, interest or disinterest in any subject imaginable; as well as every level of spirituality or unspirituality, cruelty or empathy, hate or love, meanness or kindness possible. Name the most ridiculous lust or the most unimaginable religious commitment you will, and someone, somewhere experiences it or believes it. No two people are alike but the differences swing, for lack of a better comparison, from a Charles Manson to a Billy Graham or Mother Teresa, from the Royal, golden palace of wealth and physical cleanness to the sewer habitats of Calcutta. The point is, every single one of those seven billion people are eternal souls on their way to heaven or hell ... and not based of their morality, religion or lack thereof. Their eternal destiny is based on one single thing .... Faith in Jesus Christ alone. "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:17-18
See it big and keep it simple to be an effective soul-winner for Jesus. RB
See it big and keep it simple to be an effective soul-winner for Jesus. RB
Jun 9, 2013
If This Is True.... And I Think It is.... Look Out !
Common Sense Commentary: There's an old adage, "Where there's smoke there's fire". Our forebears who utilized such common sense observations, were more plain spoken and wiser than our modern day public defenders who have a counter-punch lie for every true clue, visible proof and undeniable evidence. As Mark Twain put it, "A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." The smoke I'm talking about is now showing blue flame from the White House windows and roof. I think it is approaching firestorm proportions. If it is true, and I think it is, it will ignite those other piles of dirty, oily and explosive scandals now in the headlines, and lead to a national constitutional crisis, maybe a melt-down and probably race riots.
But that is better than continuing to constantly give a free pass to the White House, by the national news media and half of our citizens, for every kind of corruption, violation of our laws and spending the nation bankrupt. RB
Mike Zullo is the lead investigator for Sheriff Arpaio, America's toughest Sheriff.
But that is better than continuing to constantly give a free pass to the White House, by the national news media and half of our citizens, for every kind of corruption, violation of our laws and spending the nation bankrupt. RB
Mike Zullo is the lead investigator for Sheriff Arpaio, America's toughest Sheriff.
Jun 7, 2013
Can A Christian Intentially Walk Away From God?
Common Sense Commentary: In response to my last blog post, concerning "Everlasting Life", a committed Christian sister sent the following email concerning her backsliden, good friend:
Dear Rayburn, Just read your wonderful Blog & it is grand! I have a question: My dearest friend @ great Christian (when I met her) is on a very downhill slide. While they were young & hungry & had 6 little kids, they both worked very hard to stay afloat. And stay afloat they did. Now, her husband who is an independent geologist and lately EVERYTHING has turned to gold. I don't believe her husband ever rec'd Christ as his Savior. Well, now they have bought a gorgeous condo in Destin and the nice big cars, etc. BUT now, my friend drinks wine like it's water and cusses like the proverbial drunk sailor. She seldom goes to church (we go to the same church). Now, do you think she's still saved? She has told me that "once saved, always saved" but do think she has walked away from God? Do you think a person can walk away from God.? Her big "FUN" now is the casinos. I really am concerned about her. It's probably not fair to ask these questions but I'm sure you have heard it before. Thanks, ______.
Her response to my response:
So, you don't think a person can knowingly WALK AWAY from God?
Dear Rayburn, Just read your wonderful Blog & it is grand! I have a question: My dearest friend @ great Christian (when I met her) is on a very downhill slide. While they were young & hungry & had 6 little kids, they both worked very hard to stay afloat. And stay afloat they did. Now, her husband who is an independent geologist and lately EVERYTHING has turned to gold. I don't believe her husband ever rec'd Christ as his Savior. Well, now they have bought a gorgeous condo in Destin and the nice big cars, etc. BUT now, my friend drinks wine like it's water and cusses like the proverbial drunk sailor. She seldom goes to church (we go to the same church). Now, do you think she's still saved? She has told me that "once saved, always saved" but do think she has walked away from God? Do you think a person can walk away from God.? Her big "FUN" now is the casinos. I really am concerned about her. It's probably not fair to ask these questions but I'm sure you have heard it before. Thanks, ______.
My response:
______, it is, of course, impossible
to know if your friend was ever truly a Christian. I think there are as many
unsaved, professing Christians in churches as there are truly born again
Believers. None of the Apostles recognized that Judas was faking it. When the
Lord said, "One of you will betray me", each of them asked, "Lord is it I?"
They doubted themselves but evidently did not suspect it was Judas. On the other hand, your friend may be
truly saved but has gotten off track like Apostle Peter when Jesus told His Apostles he would soon be persecuted and crucified in Jerusalem. In that moment of fear and anger, Peter did the unthinkable ... "Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. "But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." Matt.16:22-23. Later, when Jesus' prediction came true, Peter denied even
knowing the Lord... "I know not the man", he told his accusers. Then, was Apostle Peter, the leader of the Apostles suddenly unsaved again for the second time in two days? Of course not. If that were so, we would all get unsaved and saved again every day of our lives. Nobody could stay saved long enough to serve out a day. He was simply a head-strong, type "A", blusterous Christian who had not fully matured as a Christian. If his sinful bluster made him lost again, the scripture would have recorded a new conversion after each of his failures. And, if that were so, Peter would have to be baptized again after each conversion because the baptism of an unsaved person means nothing. If your friend is truly a Christian, she has to be under a terrible
load of guilt, as Peter was. If she has no real concern about her backsliding, she probably
isn't saved and maybe never was. If a person doesn't know the Scripture
thoroughly, they could mistakenly think they are saved when they are not. A
person who really knows their Bible also knows the difference and knows when
they are out of fellowship with the Lord and knows what they have to do to get
back close to Him. The important thing right now, for you, is to stay steady
and be a testimony to her..... whether she is really a Christian or not. I will
pray today for her ... and for you as you are a key to her future life.
Psm.115:1, Rayburn
Her response to my response:
So, you don't think a person can knowingly WALK AWAY from God?
My answer:
Many a lost person, under conviction, has done just that. I don't think a
true Christian would "intentionally" walk away from God. In frustration and
resentment, at losing a loved one or some other disappointment, a weak
Christian might turn away for a short time as Simon Peter did. But backslidden Christians usually
get in that state a tiny step at a time and usually don't realize it is
happening until they finally "come to themselves", like the prodigal son in the
pig pen, who then said "I will arise and go to my father , and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee..." Lk.15:18.
This is not only a layman's problem. Preachers, like doctors, can slowly grow indifferent, cold and impatient with the people they serve... and not even be aware of it... right in the pulpit or office. That will always happen to Christians who cease to have a worshipful prayer life, study God's word and witness to others. When a professing Christian uses the old expression, "once saved, always saved," to cover their sins, it reflects a callousness toward sin... and God, that is not a "Christian" trait. I am not saying she isn't saved; judging is not my calling or right, but it makes me wonder.
This is not only a layman's problem. Preachers, like doctors, can slowly grow indifferent, cold and impatient with the people they serve... and not even be aware of it... right in the pulpit or office. That will always happen to Christians who cease to have a worshipful prayer life, study God's word and witness to others. When a professing Christian uses the old expression, "once saved, always saved," to cover their sins, it reflects a callousness toward sin... and God, that is not a "Christian" trait. I am not saying she isn't saved; judging is not my calling or right, but it makes me wonder.
There is a prophecy in 1 Tim. 4:1-2, in reference to "departing from the
faith", that describes what we are talking about. Those being discussed could be backslidden Christians or unsaved, professing Christians who are members of
some Christian church, and will "depart from the faith" when it is no longer
profitable, beneficial or politically correct to claim to be a Christian. It is all too obvious, in this country, that we have entered such a time as
Paul describes. Here is his prophecy: "Now the
Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the
faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies
in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron
..."
I did a piece recently entitled, "All Hell Is
Breaking Loose" which dealt, in part, with what is now happening in the
Christian Churches. Many entire churches are "departing from the faith and
giving heed to seducing spirits and even doctrines of devils". I have been
witnessing the descent of churches and professing Christians into this black
hole, for most of my 82 years, but suddenly, the rate of decline increased as
if we have fallen off a cliff and entered a new era of the last of the "Last days". We have nothing to fear. All truly
born again Christians can do, in this storm of wickedness, is take up the indifferent slack, repent, pray, absorb God's
word, and be faithful witnesses. Also keep a look-out for the Lighthouse
and deliverance from above. Good sailors can get dizzy, sea sick and depressed,
but they don't jump over-board in a storm. Man the lines. Lend a hand. Do your calling. RB
Jun 4, 2013
Does Everlasting Life Last Only Till Your Next Bad Action, Word Or Thought?
Common Sense Commentary: To believe you can lose your salvation is to believe you were worthy of it in the first place. The two go together hand in glove. And it would be true that you could lose it, would lose it, if your good works either earned or retained it. If we can earn it, be good enough for it, deserve it, when we get it, then we will lose it again and again, every day we live in these fleshly, faulty bodies. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it." Jer.17:9. Jesus said, also, "There is none good but one, that is God." Mark 10:18. "NONE GOOD" disqualifies us all from self-righteous salvation. Maybe the best fleshly man who ever lived was the Apostle Paul; But, even he confessed to being "the chief of sinners...." 1Tim.1:15. "For all have sinned and come short ...." Rom.3:23. That being true, none of us qualifies as worthy of salvation. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph.2:8-9. Therefore, since salvation is by grace alone through Christ alone and not by our good works, we didn't deserve it when we were saved, we do not deserve it after we are saved and never will deserve it in this life. And if good works can't save us, good works can't keep us saved. So how do we stay saved unto everlasting life? The same way we got saved ... "By grace through faith". The "grace" is God's grace. All you can do is to have "faith" which "comes by hearing...the word of God." Rom.10:17. That is what I am seeking to do here... in this post.
That is exactly what Jesus meant when He said, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Jn.3:16. Jesus promised in that verse deliverance from perishing and the gift of "everlasting life" to "whosoever believeth in him". So, how long is "everlasting life"? Does it mean forever? The Greek word translated "everlasting" life here, and in many other places in the New Testament, is aionios, and means exactly what it says, "lasting forever". Besides the many references to "everlasting life" promised to "believers" in Jesus, that same Greek word translated "everlasting" is used in reference to other "everlasting" things. In Rom. 16:26, "The commandment of the everlasting God...." Can God ever cease from being God??? No, He is "everlasting". 2 Thess.1:9 speaks of "everlasting punishment". Will "everlasting punishment" come to an end??? No, it is "everlasting". 1 Tim.6:14-16 makes reference to Jesus Christ as the "blessed and only potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords ... to whom be honor and power everlasting ...." Will Christ's "honor and power everlasting..." come to an end? No, it is "everlasting". Heb.13:20 speaks of "The blood of the everlasting covenant ...." Will God's "everlasting covenant" promise, sealed in the "blood" of Jesus, ever become null and void... a broken promise??? NO! Ten thousand times NO! It is EVERLASTING!!! 2 Pet.1:11 tells of God's "everlasting kingdom". Will God's kingdom ever fail and fall as did the kingdoms of men, Medes, Persians, Greeks and Roman Empire? Not on your life! It is what it says it is, an "everlasting kingdom". And finally, the same Greek word translated "everlasting" life is used in Rev.14:6, applied to, "The everlasting gospel" (Good News) of Jesus Christ (Salvation by grace). That means the gospel of Jesus is also "everlasting". So why do some "self-righteous salvationists" preach that "everlasting life" is constantly conditional, and lasts only as long as your own personal holiness stays perfect, no mistakes, no slips, nothing less than total perfection. Since salvation is "everlasting", and we can't earn it or keep it by our good works, it then, has to be based on God's grace and not our goodness. Everlasting means lasting forever and ever and ever. The fact is, the Holy Scripture says that if you could lose your salvation, you could never again be saved, or recover it, because to do so, Jesus would have to die again for you and thereby put Him to an "open shame". Read it in Heb.6:4-6."For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. " It doesn't get any plainer than that.
When a person has been saved, received eternal life, who were "once enlightened", and have tasted the good word of God... and made partakers of the Holy Spirit, "IF" they could "fall away" from salvation, "to renew them again unto repentance is IMPOSSIBLE, since Christ would have to be crucified again and put to an open shame."
Gal.2:16 "Knowing that man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." You can accept salvation by God's grace through faith in Christ, and receive "everlasting life", or delude yourself into thinking you must earn it by your self-righteous good works, and die, depending on your worthiness, and receive "everlasting punishment".... Like it or not.... there it is. You must decide which is true. Either way, it is everlasting.
RB
That is exactly what Jesus meant when He said, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Jn.3:16. Jesus promised in that verse deliverance from perishing and the gift of "everlasting life" to "whosoever believeth in him". So, how long is "everlasting life"? Does it mean forever? The Greek word translated "everlasting" life here, and in many other places in the New Testament, is aionios, and means exactly what it says, "lasting forever". Besides the many references to "everlasting life" promised to "believers" in Jesus, that same Greek word translated "everlasting" is used in reference to other "everlasting" things. In Rom. 16:26, "The commandment of the everlasting God...." Can God ever cease from being God??? No, He is "everlasting". 2 Thess.1:9 speaks of "everlasting punishment". Will "everlasting punishment" come to an end??? No, it is "everlasting". 1 Tim.6:14-16 makes reference to Jesus Christ as the "blessed and only potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords ... to whom be honor and power everlasting ...." Will Christ's "honor and power everlasting..." come to an end? No, it is "everlasting". Heb.13:20 speaks of "The blood of the everlasting covenant ...." Will God's "everlasting covenant" promise, sealed in the "blood" of Jesus, ever become null and void... a broken promise??? NO! Ten thousand times NO! It is EVERLASTING!!! 2 Pet.1:11 tells of God's "everlasting kingdom". Will God's kingdom ever fail and fall as did the kingdoms of men, Medes, Persians, Greeks and Roman Empire? Not on your life! It is what it says it is, an "everlasting kingdom". And finally, the same Greek word translated "everlasting" life is used in Rev.14:6, applied to, "The everlasting gospel" (Good News) of Jesus Christ (Salvation by grace). That means the gospel of Jesus is also "everlasting". So why do some "self-righteous salvationists" preach that "everlasting life" is constantly conditional, and lasts only as long as your own personal holiness stays perfect, no mistakes, no slips, nothing less than total perfection. Since salvation is "everlasting", and we can't earn it or keep it by our good works, it then, has to be based on God's grace and not our goodness. Everlasting means lasting forever and ever and ever. The fact is, the Holy Scripture says that if you could lose your salvation, you could never again be saved, or recover it, because to do so, Jesus would have to die again for you and thereby put Him to an "open shame". Read it in Heb.6:4-6."For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. " It doesn't get any plainer than that.
When a person has been saved, received eternal life, who were "once enlightened", and have tasted the good word of God... and made partakers of the Holy Spirit, "IF" they could "fall away" from salvation, "to renew them again unto repentance is IMPOSSIBLE, since Christ would have to be crucified again and put to an open shame."
Gal.2:16 "Knowing that man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." You can accept salvation by God's grace through faith in Christ, and receive "everlasting life", or delude yourself into thinking you must earn it by your self-righteous good works, and die, depending on your worthiness, and receive "everlasting punishment".... Like it or not.... there it is. You must decide which is true. Either way, it is everlasting.
RB
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