07/31/24 DIVINE GRACE AT WORK

07/31/24 DIVINE GRACE AT WORK

Though compromise is not always a bad thing, be aware that even minor compromises on major issues loses the game or nullifies the objective. 

Read carefully.
Take time to find treasures of truth in each verse.
Take time to focus on, and write down, God’s counsel to you.
Deliberately make God’s enlightenment the pattern and schedule for your daily activities 

2 Peter 1:2-12
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

07/30/24 IT IS GRACE, NOT PREJUDICE

07/30/24 IT IS GRACE, NOT PREJUDICE

Divine justification does not make God blind to your sin, it delivers you from your sin. If you are still guilty of sin, you are not justified. 

Salvation is not simply a bookkeeping entry, it is the work of Divine transformation from death to life, from darkness to light, from sin to righteousness, through the atoning death and physical resurrection of Christ. 

1 John 2:3-8
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

07/30/24 IMPORTED IDIOCRACY

07/30/24 IMPORTED IDIOCRACY

Mark wrote a post pointing out the national violence of Socialism (as with Venezuela) when their leaders don't get what they want. 

I commented,
"Sad, but probable, which is why we should not trust in horses, chariots, the arm of flesh, the sword of steel (especially in the hands of wicked people), human wisdom, worldly leaders, donkeys or elephants."

07/25/24 PARTISANSHIP PRODUCES CHAOS

07/25/24 PARTISANSHIP PRODUCES CHAOS

I have friends who are professing Christians that have voted for people (as they have stated), who look like themselves, based on race, gender, and/or political party affiliation, and often times have voted for people, platforms and policies, which advance and force taxation, laws, codes, restrictions, oppression on Christians, contrary to the Christian faith and Constitutional protection. 

I also have friends who are not Christians, that vote for politicians who attack family, freedom of speech and faith and financial security, morality, self determination, truth (such as two genders, marriage between a man and a woman, ownership of property, right to life). 

Look at the chaos and corruption we are in now. Identity politics is a destroyer. Vote concerning policies, Christian principles. Turn your back on systems, which do not protect the law abiding and punish the criminals. Turn your back on Socialism. 

However, it will require more than a political vote to deliver Americans: it will take people turning from sin to the Lordship of Christ. 

It is time for people to vote against government that is Socialistic, anti-freedom, anti-Christian, anti-family, anti-American.

07/25/24 DO NOT BLASPHEME

07/25/24 DO NOT BLASPHEME

God requires us to love the person who has done us wrong.
God requires us to forgive the person who has done us wrong. 

God enables us to love the person who has done us wrong.
God enables us to forgive the person who has done us wrong.
As believers, we love and forgive the person who has done us wrong. 

God does not require us to allow, align with, encourage or enable a toxic, destructive person to defile, corrupt, oppress, abuse, malign, disrupt our life or the lives of other loved ones, and He does not allow us to participate or enable others to live in rebellion. 

When a person refuses God's message of reconciliation, it results in a broken relationship. When a person refuses to take Biblical steps of reconciliation, there is nothing anyone else can do for them. 

Broken relationships have happened and are happening between God and evil men, and it happens within families. 

What can be sadder than people separating themselves from their family?
But this has been happening in the human family since the time of Adam. 

Jesus told us that it would happen in Christian families.
Matthew 10:34-38
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
When there is relational breakdown with Christians, it is because someone is not walking in the way of love, humility and obedience.

07/21/24 HOW LIMITED IS YOUR GOD

07/21/24 HOW LIMITED IS YOUR GOD 

Does your G(g)od forbid you to kill, rape, rob, abuse, lie, blaspheme, pervert, or to dishonor your parents? 

Can your G(g)od deliver you from killing, raping, robbing, abusing, lying, blaspheming, perverting, or dishonoring your parents? 

Is your G(g)od delivering you from killing, raping, robbing, abusing, lying, blaspheming, perverting, or dishonoring your parents? 

If your answer is, "No," to any of these questions, then you do not have "clean hands" or you do not know God or have a right relationship with the God of the Bible, the only true God. 

If your answer is yes to these questions, then let me ask you something else. 

Does your G(g)od forbid carnal anger, hatred, lust, covetousness, malice, deception, evil and corrupt and sinful thoughts, resenting or resisting your parents? 

Can your G(g)od deliver you from carnal anger, hatred, lust, covetousness, malice, deception, evil or corrupt or sinful thoughts, resenting or resisting your parents? 

Is your G(g)od delivering you from carnal anger, hatred, lust, covetousness, malice, deception, evil or corrupt or sinful thoughts, resenting or resisting your parents? 

If your answer is, "No," to any of these questions then you are not enjoying and experiencing the salvation that Christ provides. You do not have a pure heart and therefore you are not walking in the Spirit and you are not walking as He walked, and you are not loving Him with your whole heart, and you are not living by faith. 

If this is the case, then why are you not walking in the light as He is in the light, why do you not crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts and walk in the Spirit? 

If you answer, "No," to the previous questions then the problem is... 

Your god does not want to redeem us from all iniquity (or, as the Greek word, anomia "iniquity" means, "lawlessness"). see Strong's Greek numbering:
(From G459; illegality, that is, violation of law or (generally) wickedness: - iniquity, X transgress (-ion of) the law, unrighteousness), and your god does not want to purify us, even as He is pure.

Or...
Your god cannot save us from all sin in this present life. 

Or...
Your god does not care that we live in sin in this present evil world.
In any case, you are not believing the truth of the Bible, you are not believing the word of God, you are not believing in the salvation of Christ. 

Read God's word and believe it. Don't let the devil give you a Garden of Eden theology lesson, as he did to Eve. 

Titus 2:11-15
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. 

James 4:7-8
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

07/20/24 SALVATION IS NOT A POLITICAL PARTY

07/20/24 SALVATION IS NOT A POLITICAL PARTY

People have always tended to align their spiritual beliefs with their political foundation. This is problematic for those who want to be Christian because Biblical faith is separate from and independent of political authority.

Americans, for the most part, and especially those who have a western culture Christianity, build their faith foundation on Americanized Christianity, which means it is Statist oriented rather God oriented. This is because the State became intermingled with Christendom, beginning with Roman Catholicism and Anglicanism, followed by the Reformed movement (Lutheranism, Calvinism), and then passed-on to Presbyterianism, Methodism. It has continued to infiltrate most denominational groups since the time of the American Revolution, until today Patriotism and Nationalism (both of which have a legitimate, but limited place the Christian worldview). However, our relationship with the State should always be defined by our faithful relationship with God, rather than our relationship with God being defined by our relationship with the State. 

The idea of human government came from God, going all the way back to Noah. Biblically, human government is the right and the responsibility of men to provide law, order and stability for their society. God is the Lawgiver and God is Judge and God is King (Is. 33:22), therefore human government is supposed to recognize and enforce Divine law, Divine Justice and Divine rule. 

God is sovereign over the entire universe, but His earthly kingdom, since the time of Christ's resurrection, is comprised of those who believe Christ for salvation and acknowledge Him as Lord (King, Master, God) of their lives. 

Human government was established by God to protect the law abiding and punish the law breakers, and it carried with it the authority to punish the wicked. The New Testament clearly states this and makes it clear that this authority and power is given to the State (as a legitimate representative of God) and not to the Church. However, Christians are required to submit to legitimate authority, as long as the authority of man does not conflict with the rule, the authority of God. 

Even godless Governments are accountable to God for their decisions. Though God has not set up a Theocratic Rule over nations, He requires all men to submit to His rule. This does not mean God forces individual compliance, but rather God requires responsibility and accountability. When rulers or citizens disobey God's rule, they are allowed to be willfully disobedient, but they will answer for their disobedience. Sometimes God limits the wickedness of man, but this does not mean that God decreed evil. 

With this as a background, we need to realize that the influence of our society, our culture, our families, our spiritual leaders and teachers, and our nation has often instilled within us beliefs that are not Biblical. We therefore, as Christians, must examine our hearts, our minds, our lives, our habits, our views, our commitments, our relationships and take steps to turn from that which is not Biblical and then pursue that which is God's revealed truth. 

Too many folks align with worldly and even demonic beliefs and behaviors that have been presented as Christian principles. This leads people to abandon God's truth for Satan's counterfeits. God, His word, salvation, Christian values must not be wrapped in the Flag or Red, White and Blue (or any other worldly system). Christians must not substitute or mingle God's rule with human rule or authority. This is something, which Christians must become proactive in doing. Nonchalance and gullibility are two of Satan's off-ramps to deception and destruction.

07/19/24 THERE IS STILL HOPE

07/19/24 THERE IS STILL HOPE

If the present Administration and his Woke, Socialist, anti-freedom cohorts had not been so destructive to America over the past 3.5 years then Trump would not have so much to criticize, and repair when he gets into the White House. 

Hopefully we will see an actual restoration, even if it is a brief respite, giving our country another window of opportunity to turn to Jesus. Don't wait to follow, now is the time to lead, no matter what happens in November. 

Regardless of who the messengers are, it should be clear that there is hope, but only in and through faith in Jesus Christ.

07/18/24 GOD ORDAINS GOVERNMENT

07/18/24 GOD ORDAINS GOVERNMENT

Backing The Blue does not include backing the evil that is done by anyone in the blue. 

Wanting a Christian based society and nation does not include wanting a politicized or nationalized "Christianity." 

There is a sense in which the Kingdom of God is in our midst (with us), but there is a sense in which the Kingdom of God will not be manifested fully until the return of Christ, or as we say in our church, "We will not see the Kingdom, 'til the King comes back, Himself." 

We should want Christian morals, justice, community, freedom but we should not expect Kingdom Now manifestation, because not everything that calls itself "Christian" is Christian. 

I oppose the Socialist, Communist, Humanist, Globalist, Secularist, Naturalist, Materialist agenda, which is seeking to destroy the Christian stability and influence of the USA. 

BEWARE... Be careful not to be drawn into the web of deceit that Satan is casting these days. Satan is assimilating Christian culture (nomenclature, behavior, religiosity) in order to destroy the impact and influence of the Christian message in our society. 

Though the left does not actually understand the Bible or salvation, it fears and warns people about the political rise of a "Christian Nation." 

Christians are easily ensnared in such a "Christian Nation" notion. Time after time there are people, organizations, movements that use Christian culture, nomenclature, behavior, while they align with totally non-Christian thinking, action and vocabulary. 

I am careful not to require others to have the same light that I have. However, when a person's beliefs and behavior is contrary to clearly revealed truth, which God requires, I do not allow myself to be caught-up in their deception. 

I can accept a person as being fit for a particular job (doctor, lawyer, law enforcement officer, engineer, baker, airline pilot or President of the USA) without requiring that person to be a faithful follower of Christ. If, and when a person claims to be a Christian, I do not accept their words if their life is in contradiction to God's word. 

Be aware, there are people who use the right words, the right phrases, the right physical behavior when they claim to be Christians. But if the fruit of the Spirit, and if the life is contrary to the life of the Spirit, then that person is a cloud without water, a branch without fruit, a whited sepulcher. They are false representatives of Christ and His message, or stated differently, they are presenting a false message. 

In his speech at the RNC, Vance said his grandmother, "was in so many ways a woman of contradiction. She loved the Lord. Ladies and gentlemen, she was a woman of very deep Christian faith, but she also loved the "f" word. I am not kidding, she could make a sailor blush." 

Vance smiled while he said this. I don't doubt that he had a great relationship with his grandmother and I am not saying she did not provide a home for him. However, she did not love Jesus if she used such language. Few women, much less a Christian woman, would have used that language in public, or with family, or especially with children. 

I am not saying not to vote for Vance as Vice President. I am saying that Vance is not a voice of reason when it comes to salvation or Christianity. For all I know, Vance may use such language, and we have heard the language of Trump in the past. But this is not about their personal relationship with God. This is about the job of governmental leadership in our country. 

However, this is just an example of how people need to be discerning, be wise in how they view the message of Christ and salvation. 

The so-called Progressives actually attack the principles that Christians hold. On several occasions the RNC had references to Christ. I don't doubt that some of them were true and accurate. But a lot of the things we saw and heard from the RNC, and a lot of the seemingly positive things we see and hear in society concerning Christ are not coming from folks who are actually saved. Most folks in our society have a cultural Christianity rather than a relational salvation. 

There are people who assimilate the Christian message, phraseology, terminology, zeal, compassion, morality, yet they are referred to in the New Testament as, "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." 

Why is this important? Because Christians need to be discerning and selective concerning the people that they align with. Whole religions and cults (Roman Catholicism, LDS, SDA, JWs) are not Biblical and they do not present or represent Christ. Whether the empty clouds use foul language or not, they are guilty of taking God's name in vain. They are claiming salvation, but refusing to follow Christ or His word. Christians need to realize who the false witnesses are and Christians need to come out from among them and be separate. 

Satan has always used the tool of, "Personation" (not impersonation) in order to confuse people concerning the message of God. Satan presented himself as an authoritative voice in the Garden. Satan instructed the Son's of God (the godly community) to intermarry with the Daughters of Men (the ungodly community). Balaam instructed Balak to intermarry with the Israelites. This has always been Satan's way of corrupting the people of God. 

The Bible tells us,
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 thru 7:1
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2 Corinthians 7:1
1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 

And also,
Ephesians 5:8-21
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 

Don't follow the world.
Follow Jesus.
Let the world see Jesus in you.
It is by lifting Him up that He will draw men to Himself.

07/17/24 KEYSTONE KOPS TO THE RESKUE

07/17/24 KEYSTONE KOPS TO THE RESKUE

If you did not realize before this past Saturday that the present Administration was not fit to be in office, then you should be fully convinced after seeing the Keystone Kops (the SS) in action. 

46's DEI, Wokeism, incompetence, negligence is ruining FBI and CIA and DHS and IRS and USN, USAF, USA, USMC and ATF, and the grassroots of America. The policies and actions look like a Mack Sennett slapstick version of Idiocracy. But it isn't funny because it also looks like The Purge. 

The SS on, Saturday The 13th, with other Nightmares On Main Street, USA, is the Spawn of A Fundamentally Transformed Amerika. And, That's Not All Folks: it is scripted and on schedule, as if it is, 1984. 

Americans are now thinking the unthinkable and doing the unimaginable.

07/16/24 DON'T BE CAUGHT IN THE NET

07/16/24 DON'T BE CAUGHT IN THE NET

Most folks live in a community that actually has evil people, violent monsters, perverts. But some folks live in communities, which have an over abundance of violence and perversion because they have a very little Christian influence or their culture has rejected Biblical standards. 

However, there are many more people living closer than we realize, which are hateful, angry, vicious, violent, prejudiced, bigoted. Culture, racism, politics, Christ-less "Christianity," all contribute to social upheaval and civil overthrow. 

This is why there are people wanting, calling for, and are willing to exercise violence. This is why we could eventually see "civil war," or racial war, and attacks on Bible following Christians. 

Don't be drawn into their web of destruction. Find God's truth and follow it. Don't let heritage, or modern "Christianity," or popular teachers, or politics determine your view of God or salvation, or the Bible, or Christian values.

07/16/24 CONSPIRACY IS NOT A THEORY

07/16/24 CONSPIRACY IS NOT A THEORY

Whether they are the product of evil people or stupid people, and whether they are theories or realities, conspiracies often serve demonic and dangerous purposes. 

Referring to an evil plan or action as a "conspiracy theory" is Satan's way to cover his wickedness, and his way to close our eyes to his destructive agenda, and his way to silence God's witnesses. 

Biblical wisdom (knowing when to speak and when to remain silent, and when to act and when not to act), is essential for believers today. 

Don't be blinded by intimidation and don't be stirred by deception.

07/16/24 IT IS WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS

07/16/24 IT IS WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS

I don't look for "proof" that the Bible is true. The evidence is already in.
The question is, will we believe what God has said? 

Men without salvation love darkness and hate God's light (truth, way). The enticement to evil is often love of the world and the things of the world, which is greed (also known as idolatry). The desire to do evil and to have things are two expressions of self exaltation. 

One very powerful confirmation that Scripture is true is found is in the verse, which says, "the love of money (material gain) is the root of all evil." This corruption is everywhere, destroying the most noble, most valuable relationships and ideas of men. 

A person will sell-out his family, his community, his country, his heritage, his morals, his future and even his eternal relationship with God for the love of material gain and worldly position and passing pleasures. 

The only deliverance comes through a living relationship with Jesus Christ.

07/16/24 BOTH SLOW AND SUDDEN

07/16/24 BOTH SLOW AND SUDDEN

Oppressive, truth hating parties and societies make people afraid to ask questions, or make observations or declare facts. 

This is true concerning social, political, historical, moral, spiritual and educational issues. This mentality leads to a post-Christian and an anti-freedom mindset.

The lie becomes the required viewpoint. If you don't wholeheartedly confess the party line, then you become a threat to others and you are marked as an enemy who must be brought under control or eliminated.

There are current event issues and New Testament truths that most people have been conditioned to view as being socially dangerous. If you are courageous enough to proclaim those truths, you will be hated.

Remember, not every issue in life is worth dying for.
Be courageous, be strong, but be wise.

07/14/24 SOME THINGS ARE SELF EVIDENT

07/14/24 SOME THINGS ARE SELF EVIDENT

It is not about a personality or even personal behavior, it is about political platform and national policies. 

Do I agree with Trump or Democratic Party on the following American Rights?

Border Protection.... Trump.
Trans-gendering... Trump.
Financing Crooked Governments i.e. Ukraine... Trump.
Hamas (Palestine) or Israel... Trump.
U.S. Police and Military Support... Trump.
D.E.I.... Trump.
Law and Order... Trump.
Energy Independence..... Trump.
Parental Rights... Trump.
State's Rights... Trump.
America First... Trump.
Socialism, Communism... Trump.
Voting Rights... Trump.
In general, Freedom, Faith, Family, Finances... Trump. 

And the list goes on and on and on; and I did not need the past 3 weeks or past 3 years to figure this out. If Trump betrays American values, I will add him to my reject list.

07/14/24 CHOOSE YOUR PATTERN CAREFULLY

07/14/24 CHOOSE YOUR PATTERN CAREFULLY

The change that comes with salvation is as different as day from night, light from darkness, life from death, right from wrong, good from evil, truth from deception, sighted from blind, hearing from deaf, saved from damned. 

Salvation is a transformation, not simply a reformation.
Salvation is radical, not simply additional.
Salvation is revolutionary, not simply evolutionary.
Salvation is behavioral, not simply judicial.
Salvation is fundamental, not simply peripheral.
Salvation is practical, not simply philosophical
Salvation removes sin, it does not excuse sin.
Salvation is the work of God in us, not simply a legal claim about us. 

God says believers are new creations, old things are passed away, all things become new. 

We better have a Biblical model for salvation rather than a cultural or denominational model.
We better be created unto good works rather than continuing to walk in darkness, carnality, defeat.

07/13/24 DECEIVERS GALORE

07/13/24 DECEIVERS GALORE

Beware of promoters of misinformation, disinformation and violence (media or political).

07/13/24 BUILDING YOURSELF UP IN FAITH

07/13/24 BUILDING YOURSELF UP IN FAITH

Opportunities are like building blocks. If you use them rather than bypass them, you strengthen your superstructure and prepare for further development. 

Our opportunities as Christians, building our Christian lives and relationships, include: meditation, study, fellowship, obedience, good works, self denial, worship, praise, prayer (intercession, supplication, petition, confession, repentance, consecration, commitment). 

If you do not take time to engage your opportunities, you may not have a second chance. If you do not take time to engage your opportunities, you will suffer losses later. Your losses will be personal, familial, social, spiritual, natural, and eternal. God is merciful and often extends us grace, even in our failures. But there comes a time when our resistance, rebellion and rejection will end in a sudden cutting off, and that without remedy. 

Taking advantage of our opportunities not only avoids the negative of slothfulness, it secures the positive blessings of success. 

Jude 1:20-21
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

07/12/24 RENOUNCE AND DENOUNCE

07/12/24 RENOUNCE AND DENOUNCE

Just because the supporters and promoters of the "Anyway," "No joke," "Come on man," "You know the deal" President have to finally admit that which has been obvious for years, it does not mean they are renouncing Idiocracy. It only means they are looking for another Woke Joke to oppress the citizenry. 

They need to renounce and denounce the platform which opposes morality, sanity, freedom, facts, Biblical faith, family, American exceptionalism. They need to reverse the tide of oppression, which has been destroying American freedom (speech, religion, self governance), and peace and sovereignty, financial security, military and political influence worldwide, actual science, family unity and values, academic excellence, safe borders, protection from actual terrorists. 

It is time to stop supporting the deviant culture. The Woke need to wake up and recover what they can after their failed experiment in Socialism.

07/11/24 A SACRED RESPONSIBILITY

07/11/24 A SACRED RESPONSIBILITY

Demonizing or Lionizing Trump is not the point. Trump, just like everyone else needs to trust Christ alone for salvation and he also needs to turn from sin, just like everyone else. 

To vote for a man based on his professed spiritual condition is a mindless mistake. To vote against a man based on his obvious personal sins is a mistake. 

Voting for President is not an endorsement of the candidates personal morality or immorality. 

If you reject a political candidate for his personal morality rather than his political direction, then you should reject a doctor on the same basis. 

I prefer a Christian physician, but I would rather have a competent and dedicated sinner as a physician than a well meaning, but incompetent Christian physician, or a professed Christian physician who has a god driven agenda of prejudice and destruction.  

There is always the danger of an elected official (whether a Christian or a sinner) betraying the trust of the people. Trump could turn against all of the good things he has asserted. But a vote for a person who has proved that he is the political enemy of morality, freedom, law and order is not only suicide, it is a death sentence to a free society. 

Our hope is not in crowns and scepters or horses and chariots or ballots and bullets. Our hope is in Christ. But while we have an opportunity to support justice, freedom, morality, then we should use our opportunity. 

Be thankful to God for whatever good arises from our puny efforts. There will come a time when we will not have the opportunity to do good or to promote good on a national level. 

According to Jesus, believers are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Be all you can be for Christ and His cause now. Do all you can for Christ and His cause now. The night comes when no man will be able to do the work of God in our society. 

Whatever you did in the past, make sure you don't support or promote the rule of Socialism, Communism, Statism, Humanism (including Wokeism with all of its perversion and deviance). We have seen Idiocracy rise in power and position, and it is time to abandon this sinking ship. 

Our earthly efforts will not save America, but we might buy a little time for the little ones who are coming along behind us.

07/11/24 CULTURE MATTERS

07/11/24 CULTURE MATTERS

Culture Matters. Choose your culture carefully. 

Culture expresses our values and beliefs. People are raised with a given culture or they adopt a different culture (whether a popular culture or a sub-culture), but much of human culture is often based in non-Biblical principles and preferences. Nastiness (moral and physical) is often part of a Christ-less and a Biblically poor culture. Wherever the message of salvation has gone it has raised people morally, educationally, medically, hygienically, economically. In Missiological terms, this is called "Redemption and Lift." 

Salvation is the reconciling of men to God. Redemption and Lift is the work of God lifting the standard of living through the application of Biblical principles. These two things work together in the transforming of a society. The more a society accepts and submits to the Biblical message, the more refined and advanced that society will become. Societies that have been evangelized have experienced better health, education, morality. As non-Christianized people take over a more evangelized society, there will be a rise in poverty, oppression, disease, crime, pollution, physical filth. The United States of America reached its zenith as the greatest country in the history of the world because the fundamentals of Christianity were given more latitude. This country was built on Christian principles, as found in the Old and New Testaments. However, if people do not trust and obey Christ as their Lord and Savior, then the advantages of the Christian culture are easily abandoned and exchanged for a Humanist and Secularist worldview. We are watching as the USA is trading away its Christian principles and allowing anti-Biblical principles to take over our education, legal system, political parties, military protection, economic foundation and moral values. 

Culture is not salvation and a newly saved person will likely manifest many principles of their Christ-less, native culture. However, salvation is not only a change of eternal destination, it is a change in our beliefs, behavior, socialization. Though personal morality is not the cause of salvation, it is an evidence of salvation. Becoming a Christian delivers believers from the domain of darkness, which includes non-Christian values and actions, which are part of cultural norms. As a believer, do not be so committed to your cultural background that you continue in principles and practices which are contrary to godliness.

Christian beliefs and behavior should be the foundation of your culture. Christian culture does not save, but salvation will deliver from non-Christian culture.

07/10/24 SERIOUSLY FOCUSED

07/10/24 SERIOUSLY FOCUSED

Though my age, health and miles have taken a toll, I have tried to be physically active throughout my life, and I have tried to encourage others to pursue a healthy lifestyle. 

Like most kids, I played schoolyard and sandlot kickball, dodge-ball, football, basketball, softball and kill the man with the ball. I also, surfed, swam, skim-boarded, sailed, played ping-pong and walked and jogged a lot. 

Daddy owned and operated a weight training facility, "Gould's Health Studio," in Morehead in 1961. At 14 years of age I became a student of weight training, and continued to train periodically throughout my lifetime. It was during that time that I, One Arm Snatched, 125#s at a body weight of 125#s. I would regularly walk up to a 100# bar and One Arm Snatch it without warming up. I took my training seriously. 

In my early ministry I spent a lot of time playing sports and training with other guys as an outreach. In the early 1970s I was asked to teach a weight training class for ninth grade boys in high school. One of the students was not very athletic, but soon started to progress. Toward the end of that year he wanted to see how many sit-ups he could do. As the other boys worked out, I assigned some boys to hold his feet and count his sit-ups. I also monitored his performance. The class was 45 minutes long. He did continuous and legal sit-ups during the entire class period. When class was over he had done 1,100 sit-ups. 

I was amazed. As i am posting this, I just looked up the world record for most sit-ups in one hour. (Edit note... since reports vary, the world record is probably 2400+, and even higher with special equipment or conditions). Had my student been allowed to continue for an entire hour he was on pace to do 1466 sit-ups, and this was around 1971. The boy said he could have continued, but the class was over. We knew it was an heroic achievement, but had no idea how outstanding it was. 

This is a great story by itself, but there are times in the lives of some other dedicated people, which manifests greatness, but it goes uncelebrated. I am referring to the unique accomplishments of fully dedicated Christians in their service to God. 

Those moments do not happen by accident or for the purpose of self promotion. They happen because of self discipline, self denial. They happen because the person has pursued spiritual excellence, and sacrificed the things of this life in order to please God. 

I think there is potential for greatness in all of us, if we have the Biblical view, "This one thing I do..."

Philippians 3:8-15 KJV
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

07/07/24 DASH-CAM MESSAGE

07/07/24 DASH-CAM MESSAGE

ABSTAIN FROM THE APPEARANCE OF EVIL

This could actually help you live a life that is pleasing to God.

07/06/24 SIMPLY STATED

07/06/24 SIMPLY STATED

God is not a liar.
God is not confused.
God is not delusional. 

When God refers to a person as being alive spiritually, then that person is not dead spiritually.
When God refers to a person as being light, then that person is not darkness.
When God refers to a person as seeing, then that person is not blind.
When God refers to a person as being found, then that person is not lost.
When God refers to a person as being righteous, then that person is not sinful. 

Before salvation we were dead in our sins and trespasses.
Before salvation we were darkness.
Before salvation we were blind.
Before salvation we were lost.
Before salvation we were sinful. 

God does not find us in our sins and leave us in our sins, if we believe Him for salvation.
God came to find us and to save as many as believe on Christ.
God does not leave us dead.
God does not leave us in darkness.
God does not leave us blind.
God does not leave us lost.
God does not leave us in sin. 

God justifies the believer. 

Being just is being righteous.
Jesus is inherently righteous.
Jesus is righteous by nature.
Believers are righteous by salvation, by Divine action. 

To be justified by God is not simply a change of title or description, it is a change of reality.
To be justified is not simply to be called righteous, it is to be made righteous. 

God does not declare us righteous unless and until He makes us righteous. 

Salvation is a Divine, miraculous transformation that makes us into new creatures (creations).
Salvation is not a change of label, but a change of nature, a change of being, a change of relationship. 

God does not give us a title and encourage us to live up to the title.
God gives us a new relationship and condition and enables us to live up to that relationship and condition. 

Salvation is not God seeing what isn't, neither is it God not seeing what is.

Salvation is God changing us from being lost to being found.
Salvation is God changing us from being blind to seeing.
Salvation is God changing us from being dead in sins and trespasses to being alive in Christ.
Salvation is God changing us from being unclean to being clean.
Salvation is God changing us from being rebellious to being faithful.
Salvation is God changing us from evil to holy, pure and righteous. 

Salvation is God working in us that which is pleasing in His sight.
Salvation is God delivering us from our sins, it is not God accepting us and our sins. 

Remember, God gave us His word so that we would not sin against Him and if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Christ Jesus the righteous. In that same passage we are told:
1 John 2:3-6
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

07/05/24 DON'T BE ROBBED

07/05/24 DON'T BE ROBBED

OUR ENEMY IS A ROBBER 

People dedicated and sacrificed themselves to give Americans the greatest country in the history of world, and in doing this, they made the rest of the world a better place. 

What a shame to see people who are dedicated to denying and destroying our foundation of liberty and success, and robbing future generations of life and liberty. 

In a more profound way, Jesus gave Himself to save believers from the condemnation, the domination and the contamination of sin, which comes through disbelief and disobedience.

The Bible is the record of Divine victory over sin, death and Satan, and it is the record of God's promise and provision for Christian deliverance from sin and spiritual defeat. 

What a shame to see people dedicated to denying that Christ saves us from sin's penalty, power and pollution. DO NOT BE ROBBED OF... spiritual victory, overcoming faith, clean hands and a pure heart, being filled with God's Holy Spirit and goodness and righteousness and wisdom, living a life worthy of the Lord, and walking in His light and His steps and love and truth, and the ability to obey God's commands and do the things that are pleasing in God's sight, and living righteously in this present evil world, and abounding and being fruitful in every good work, and being conformed to His image, and resisting all temptation, being filled with the fullness of God and walking in righteousness and holiness all the days of our lives. 

Satan is the author of sinning religion, graceless "salvation," fatalism, defeatism. God calls and enables and expects believers to be more than conquerors in Christ, to overcome temptation and the world and the pollutions of this world and the wicked one and evil spirits. God saves His faithful ones to the uttermost, and He always leads us in triumph, giving us victory over the world and the flesh and the devil and death.

07/03/24 CO-LABORERS, NOT PUPPETS

07/03/24 CO-LABORERS, NOT PUPPETS

There is more to be done than time allows and more work to be done than there are people to do the work. 

Christians "while away" their lives as multitudes of near neighbors and far away foreigners fall into eternity without God. 

This is tragic enough, but in this day when the world is only keystrokes away, the tragedy is even more horrific. And as Paul said,
1 Corinthians 15:34
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. 

Remember, being a co-laborer with God (a minister, a witness, an ambassador of God), requires spiritual qualities as well as abilities, skills, talents, gifts and willingness. 

I am not encouraging "lone ranger" ministries, since they are man centered rather than Biblical. 

God's plan is for individual Christians to work in concert with, and under the direction of a Spirit led local church with doctrinally sound preaching, teaching and leadership. 

There is an open door (at the moment) for evangelism, teaching, music, fellowship, training for all ages, both locally and globally. 

Today's opportunities call for gifted and skilled people in proclamation, communication, technology, artistry (music, drama, audio/video, drawing), pencil pushing, "table serving," assisting and supporting financially. 

This also requires Spirit filled leaders with vision, grounded in God's truth. 

We all have personal responsibilities. But as a believer, are you finding and fulfilling your unique place in the local church to take the gospel to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the world? 

One reason God requires the local church model is because it provides spiritual and relational guidance, accountability, and doctrinal stability. 

Redeem the time. Doors will close, time will expire, strength and health will wane.

07/03/24 KEEPING THE UNITY WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE TRUTH

07/03/24 KEEPING THE UNITY WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE TRUTH

I have friends who do not believe some of the Biblical truths I believe, but they are saved if they trust Christ and if they are walking in the light (the truth) God has given them. 

We are answerable to God for the light (the truth), which He has revealed to us personally. 

There are people who live lives that align with Christian values and they believe (at least intellectually and philosophically) many of the Biblical truths I believe, but they are not saved if they are not walking faithfully in the light (the truth) God has given them. 

We are called, enabled and expected to walk (receive, trust and obey) the light (the truth) God has given us. 

The more we know about God and His word the more likely we are to trust and obey Him.

The more we hunger and thirst after God, the more likely we are to love and please Him. 

Submission to God is not simply an ethical or moral decision, it is a faith and love relationship, based in God's gracious and miraculous salvation, afforded to us through the atoning work of Jesus Christ.