“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” Romans 13:1-4 (KJV)
God says that government is ordained of God, and we should honor and respect the government, and not rebel against it. God will severely punish those Christians who rebel against the government. However, God did not say he would punish rebellious Christians if the government is evil and goes against the word of God.
In Exodus 18:21a, we read, “Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness…” as rulers and servants of the people. God fearing, truthful, hating covetousness (wanting what everyone else has)…leaders, not people with evil ways.
Let us examine if OUR government is evil, and must be protested. The Bible says, thou shall not kill, yet the government authorizes abortions, and fights mightily and secretively those who protest this government sanctioned murder.
We have a president so inept that he is dangerous. This country has lost its honor and integrity overseas due to presidential priorities. Untold vacations, golf matches, and White House parties while civil wars ferment in the Middle East, the earthquake in Japan, subsequent tsunami, and possible nuclear melt down have about destroyed this island nation, but Mr. O spends his time playing golf, picking basketball teams, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland, and leaves for Brazil for yet another vacation—sorry, he’s putting in a little work by discussing ways Brazil can help us (US) increase our manufacturing, and reduce unemployment.
We have navy ships in Bahrain, but when the civil war unrest started, did we reply? No, Saudi Arabia sent in forces to quell the unrest—will they quell this unrest like Libya has by dropping bombs and shooting with live ammunition, and making news correspondents disappear? Tunisia and Egypt have erupted and changed hands, and what does Mr. O say? “You (heads of countries) better stop fighting or, or, or….?” Yemen is erupting, and the government is shooting its people, and Mr. O says…nothing.
We have a president who promised change. Well, he has kept his promise.
When he took office in 2009, unemployment was 7.3%, it rose to over 10.1%, and now hovers at about 9.5%, not counting those who ran out of unemployment checks, or those who got so discouraged they quit looking.
In January, 2009 gasoline sold for $1.81, and how hovers around $3.60.
Mr. O promised to help people with their mortgages. Now 5.7 million people don’t have to worry about their mortgages. They have lost their homes and don’t have to pay them.
We now have a president against oil, gas, and nuclear energy for America. He has shown this by shutting down oil drilling, and blocking new areas where oil could be drilled. He refuses to allow new nuclear power plants licensed, and he is against coal energy, even though it is cleaner than it has been in the past. He sells American oil and coal to Japan and China. He has not pursued the precious metals needed to go forward. He has carried out draconian decrees to take away our choices in light bulbs, cars, and even what we feed our children.
Mr. O is for electric cars, but fails to connect the dots of where this electricity will come from. We can’t just plug our Volt into a tree. It must be connected to the grid somehow, Mr. O.
There was a story on TV this week about “food police” stopping people in grocery stores to go through their carts and expose the wrong foods they were about to buy and feed their families (all in the guise of educating them). Food prices are increasing dramatically, but by presidential decree, there will be no COLAs for folks on Social Security for the second straight year.
The president blames Congress for not passing a budget, but it was HIS party in office when the fiscal year ended October, 2010. His lack of leadership has the appearance of being almost deliberate. DOES HE REALLY WANT AMERICA TO FAIL—FALL?
Is this the motive for his dithering? Or is he just so incompetent?
In the book, The 5,000 Year Leap, A Miracle That Changed the World, by W. Cleon Skousen, Samuel Adams, one of the fathers of the American Revolution, is quoted saying, “Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. He therefore is the truest friend of liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue, and who, so far as his power and influence extend, will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office of power and trust who is not a wise virtuous man.” (Subsequent quote taken from Wells’, Life of Samuel Adams.)
I have stopped feeling guilty about protesting the current state of affairs in our country. I now know it is my God given right and duty to protest, and to write, and to make noise. Please dear readers, don’t just believe everything you see and hear on mainstream media. What you don’t see or hear could fill volumes. Educate yourself. Search other web sites. Read conservative writers, both in print and on-line.
It is our duty and right to hold America accountable.
In God We Trust!! Verify everyone else!!!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
"Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep"
My entry today is a little different, and a short trip down memory lane. Please read. I will put my political hat back on at a later day.
When I was a kid my parents and grandparents taught us kids to say our prayers at night. The one I remember, and subsequently taught my kids went like this:
“Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” Then we would ask God to bless a number of people, our parents, grandparents, and others.
Some folk told me I shouldn't teach my kids that they might die in their sleep, that I should teach them a “more peaceful” bedtime prayer. I'm not sure where the original prayer came from. And I know as an adult that “rote prayer” isn't the best way to pray. We should pray from our hearts whatever is on our mind and in our needs at the time we pray. However, this bedtime ritual was an “introduction” to God, and to a prayer life.
I got saved at about age five, as a result of Sunday School classes and my grandmother's teaching. We prayed in Sunday School, and learned at an early age about Jesus, and His saving power. Today, as an adult, I try to ave daily Bible reading, sometimes morning and night. I use the faithful King James Version Bible, and have read it cover to cover. I will admit I don't get there every day, but most every day. In the last few years I have kept a reading journal to show where I read. What it shows is when I didn't read.
Some of my favorite parts of the Bible are the Psalms and Proverbs. I was reading there in Psalms today, and came across the following verses:
“I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.” Ps. 3:5; and “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” Ps. 4:8.
These verses are very close to my childhood prayer. When I am ready to go to bed, my childhood prayer can still be my night time adult prayer. As a Christian, I know that when I lay me down to sleep, God will protect my soul and spirit. Should I die before I wake, I know Jesus will be there to take me to Heaven. Should I make it through the night, I will awake refreshed, and in peace, for Jesus has kept me safe through the night.
Can you relate to this simple prayer? Do you feel the peace and safety when you lay your head on your pillow? You can if you have Jesus in your heart, and go to bed with a prayer on your lips.
When I was a kid my parents and grandparents taught us kids to say our prayers at night. The one I remember, and subsequently taught my kids went like this:
“Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” Then we would ask God to bless a number of people, our parents, grandparents, and others.
Some folk told me I shouldn't teach my kids that they might die in their sleep, that I should teach them a “more peaceful” bedtime prayer. I'm not sure where the original prayer came from. And I know as an adult that “rote prayer” isn't the best way to pray. We should pray from our hearts whatever is on our mind and in our needs at the time we pray. However, this bedtime ritual was an “introduction” to God, and to a prayer life.
I got saved at about age five, as a result of Sunday School classes and my grandmother's teaching. We prayed in Sunday School, and learned at an early age about Jesus, and His saving power. Today, as an adult, I try to ave daily Bible reading, sometimes morning and night. I use the faithful King James Version Bible, and have read it cover to cover. I will admit I don't get there every day, but most every day. In the last few years I have kept a reading journal to show where I read. What it shows is when I didn't read.
Some of my favorite parts of the Bible are the Psalms and Proverbs. I was reading there in Psalms today, and came across the following verses:
“I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.” Ps. 3:5; and “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” Ps. 4:8.
These verses are very close to my childhood prayer. When I am ready to go to bed, my childhood prayer can still be my night time adult prayer. As a Christian, I know that when I lay me down to sleep, God will protect my soul and spirit. Should I die before I wake, I know Jesus will be there to take me to Heaven. Should I make it through the night, I will awake refreshed, and in peace, for Jesus has kept me safe through the night.
Can you relate to this simple prayer? Do you feel the peace and safety when you lay your head on your pillow? You can if you have Jesus in your heart, and go to bed with a prayer on your lips.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Outrage Fatigue
I haven’t written for my blog for quite sometime. A lot is going on, both locally, and around the world. I have been having difficulty forming my thoughts that could be uplifting, and not completely negative. However, with the world, national, and local headlines so bleak.
Like I said at the beginning, it’s been frustrating lately. It’s almost enough to make a person lose hope. But, then, you have to ask yourself, where is your hope? What foundation is your hope? In the government? Fat chance. (No, thin chance, sorry Mrs. O.) In your job? Hold onto it. In a political party? I haven’t seen any brilliance in the local winners of the past election, nor any brilliance in Columbia, nor any brilliance in the US House of Representatives or US Senate.
I have felt compelled to write using only the top keys of the keyboard. If you don’t know what I mean by this, I will give you an example. But I don’t like that feeling I get when I get so outraged.
The @#$$ stock market goes down, but the ##%$ oil prices go up. It makes it ##%&*ing hard to fill up the tank in my car. This will surely help in the economic recovery!
Mrs. O continues her assault on personal freedoms and families by passing the @#47*&^@ food restriction rules, counting salt grams and fat grams, outlawing fundraising bake sales at schools, all the while eating baked lobsters on yet another #@#%*ing vacation.
The president and his #@#$$%ing CZARS rule the roost on what type light bulbs we can use, and how many watts we can have in our kitchen, what type refrigerators we can buy, and what type toilet we can put in our house.
The @#$#@ TSA’s pervert tactics of x-ray scans and “pat downs” would get any man arrested if conducted in the public square, surely encourages people to want to fly. Flying may or may not save oil, but, I for one will not fly until such tactics are changed.
The number one ranked Christian leader in India and also in Pakistan were murdered by Islam extremist for insulting Allah, and no outrage or response by our Christian president, but Washington was outrage when Rep. Peter King holds hearings to find out if Muslims in America are assisting in notifying agencies when they suspect their children are being recruited by Islam extremists to become terrorists. The claim was that there are other groups who are extremists. Maybe so, but let’s hold hearings on the ones we know about. If other groups are becoming terrorists, let’s study them also. Just don’t paint every dissenter as an extremist!
Wisconsin’s battle with @#@$@ unions and striking teachers and missing senators brings the state government to a standstill, but the outrage by protesters is for the ones trying to pay the bills.
In South Carolina, the Senate works days and weeks in trying to pass an immigration bill that will satisfy Washington, DC and the U S Supreme Court. What happened to states’ rights? What happened to: if you are here illegally (per Federal Law) you are also here illegally per S.C. law!?
Social Security and Medicare are “elephants in the room.” Obamacare is a @#$#ing poison pill with more tax law in it than medicine. While some folks out of work have found jobs, most are receiving 75% less pay than they were before. The upper-income jobs, the ones needed to be able to tax these folks enough to pay for all the government programs, will not return. Everyone needs to be retooled to something new to be able to work.
Like I said at the beginning, it’s been frustrating lately. It’s almost enough to make a person lose hope. But, then, you have to ask yourself, where is your hope? What foundation is your hope?
My hope is not on earthly things or people.
"But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation”. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 (KJV);
1"Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace," 2 Thessalonians 2:16 (KJV)
"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 (KJV).
Does my faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ promise that I will never run out of gas? No. But He promises, if I have faith, I will not run out of spiritual gas. When the world is in a whirl around me, I remember that we Christians win this race. Read the last Book in the Bible. Satan, and his demons, are overcome and literally thrown into the lake of fire.
I try to read my Bible daily. This gives me a daily walk and talk with God. I pray for my friends and family, my church, my town, state and country. I pray for patience so I can write and type without using only the top keys on the keyboard. The more I do this, the less sick and frustrated I feel about world events.
I can’t change or control anything that is going on. But, my God is in control, yesterday, today and forever. He holds the world in his hands, and He will mete out justice to all those who scorn Him and His Word.
Have YOU walked and talked with God today?
Like I said at the beginning, it’s been frustrating lately. It’s almost enough to make a person lose hope. But, then, you have to ask yourself, where is your hope? What foundation is your hope? In the government? Fat chance. (No, thin chance, sorry Mrs. O.) In your job? Hold onto it. In a political party? I haven’t seen any brilliance in the local winners of the past election, nor any brilliance in Columbia, nor any brilliance in the US House of Representatives or US Senate.
I have felt compelled to write using only the top keys of the keyboard. If you don’t know what I mean by this, I will give you an example. But I don’t like that feeling I get when I get so outraged.
The @#$$ stock market goes down, but the ##%$ oil prices go up. It makes it ##%&*ing hard to fill up the tank in my car. This will surely help in the economic recovery!
Mrs. O continues her assault on personal freedoms and families by passing the @#47*&^@ food restriction rules, counting salt grams and fat grams, outlawing fundraising bake sales at schools, all the while eating baked lobsters on yet another #@#%*ing vacation.
The president and his #@#$$%ing CZARS rule the roost on what type light bulbs we can use, and how many watts we can have in our kitchen, what type refrigerators we can buy, and what type toilet we can put in our house.
The @#$#@ TSA’s pervert tactics of x-ray scans and “pat downs” would get any man arrested if conducted in the public square, surely encourages people to want to fly. Flying may or may not save oil, but, I for one will not fly until such tactics are changed.
The number one ranked Christian leader in India and also in Pakistan were murdered by Islam extremist for insulting Allah, and no outrage or response by our Christian president, but Washington was outrage when Rep. Peter King holds hearings to find out if Muslims in America are assisting in notifying agencies when they suspect their children are being recruited by Islam extremists to become terrorists. The claim was that there are other groups who are extremists. Maybe so, but let’s hold hearings on the ones we know about. If other groups are becoming terrorists, let’s study them also. Just don’t paint every dissenter as an extremist!
Wisconsin’s battle with @#@$@ unions and striking teachers and missing senators brings the state government to a standstill, but the outrage by protesters is for the ones trying to pay the bills.
In South Carolina, the Senate works days and weeks in trying to pass an immigration bill that will satisfy Washington, DC and the U S Supreme Court. What happened to states’ rights? What happened to: if you are here illegally (per Federal Law) you are also here illegally per S.C. law!?
Social Security and Medicare are “elephants in the room.” Obamacare is a @#$#ing poison pill with more tax law in it than medicine. While some folks out of work have found jobs, most are receiving 75% less pay than they were before. The upper-income jobs, the ones needed to be able to tax these folks enough to pay for all the government programs, will not return. Everyone needs to be retooled to something new to be able to work.
Like I said at the beginning, it’s been frustrating lately. It’s almost enough to make a person lose hope. But, then, you have to ask yourself, where is your hope? What foundation is your hope?
My hope is not on earthly things or people.
"But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation”. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 (KJV);
1"Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace," 2 Thessalonians 2:16 (KJV)
"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 (KJV).
Does my faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ promise that I will never run out of gas? No. But He promises, if I have faith, I will not run out of spiritual gas. When the world is in a whirl around me, I remember that we Christians win this race. Read the last Book in the Bible. Satan, and his demons, are overcome and literally thrown into the lake of fire.
I try to read my Bible daily. This gives me a daily walk and talk with God. I pray for my friends and family, my church, my town, state and country. I pray for patience so I can write and type without using only the top keys on the keyboard. The more I do this, the less sick and frustrated I feel about world events.
I can’t change or control anything that is going on. But, my God is in control, yesterday, today and forever. He holds the world in his hands, and He will mete out justice to all those who scorn Him and His Word.
Have YOU walked and talked with God today?
Monday, January 24, 2011
What’s Wrong Across America?
Around the area where I live there is much discussion on the criminal element who are bent on shooting each other, robbing anyone who has anything, and with no remorse. The newspapers and television reporters have asked, “What’s wrong in ---?” I would hazard to widen the scope of this question and ask, “What’s wrong across America?”
The shooting in Arizona led to quick response by the political left that it’s the fault of conservative right, the gun owners. It’s talk radio or cable news’ fault. I would like to follow different path and ask, “When did we stop loving our children?
I was in Sunday School one day and the teacher asked why Satan has such an easy time of influencing our lives. My first thought was, because what we used to think was terrible sin is now common place, and accepted by society. What used to be thought of as unthinkable, is now a daily occurrence.
When Roe vs. Wade became the law of the land, we stopped loving our children. When children perceive that they are unloved, they do bad things to get attention. If we reward bad actions and overlook good actions, this will only escalate.
Since R vs. W, 53,000,000 babies have been murdered. That comes to about 3821 per day. That is 76 per day per every state in the union. If you saw a headline that 76 people per day were shot in every state every day for all those years, you would think someone would do something about it.
One of the excuses for abortions is the economy. There is an increase in the medical abortions, those with the RU-486 pill. These now account for 25% of abortions performed in the first nine weeks of pregnancy.. However it is done, whenever it is done, in whatever stage of pregnancy, women, girls, are convinced by the abortion machine that unborn babies have no value. If they hear that and follow through with their abortion, they will progress through life with less value on their born alive-children. There is little difference from those killed thirty seconds before birth, and those killed thirty seconds after birth. It is still murder.
A doctor in Pennsylvania was arrested this past week for killing babies after they were born. He was an abortion doctor. If the baby was born before he could kill it in the womb he would snip the spinal cord and the baby would die. If it is murder when the baby lies on the operating table, it is murder when it is inside the womb.
Statistics show that Hispanic and African-American women have a disproportionate share of abortions. Do the powers that be consider these children of less value? Or do they continue to allow this madness to appear to be the friends of these demographic groups.
Unprotected sex leads to pregnancy, and for those who are “unprepared to be parents,” leads to abortion.
For the children born alive to “unprepared to be parents” their lives are often low income, and single parent homes. When children are raised in single parent homes, it is usually the father who is absent. So there you have a child who feels unloved, raised by a harried single mom, and the child grows up to be an adult. What values do they have? How much God do they have in their lives? Any? Or do they have a vacant stare where life should be?
I believe this crime and violence will not turn around until children have value—all of them. If they are born to “unprepared to be parents” this is better than being murdered before they draw their first breath. It is a long road to turn around. We must start by teaching young girls that they aren’t boys’ toys. That they have more value than producing another generation on welfare.
We, as parents, must get our children to church so they will learn that, no matter what, Jesus loves them. And that our children have value. If they learn they have value, we can teach them that others have value. That everyone has value, and no one has the right to murder others, either before they are born, or after.
It starts in the home—and in the churches, and progresses to the schools. Children need to hear that they have value. Everyone has value, and we do not have the right to end a life. Children need to be taught morality at home, in the churches and in the schools. This abortion machine, and the left-wing liberals, must be stopped.
If we don’t exhibit love for our children, they will feel no value, and no reason to live. And troubles come from people who have no reason to live. What do they have to lose? If people in this county want to get a hold of the crime/violence problem, they must look in the mirror of their own souls and ask, “Am I part of the problem, or part of the solution?” Where do you stand today?
The shooting in Arizona led to quick response by the political left that it’s the fault of conservative right, the gun owners. It’s talk radio or cable news’ fault. I would like to follow different path and ask, “When did we stop loving our children?
I was in Sunday School one day and the teacher asked why Satan has such an easy time of influencing our lives. My first thought was, because what we used to think was terrible sin is now common place, and accepted by society. What used to be thought of as unthinkable, is now a daily occurrence.
When Roe vs. Wade became the law of the land, we stopped loving our children. When children perceive that they are unloved, they do bad things to get attention. If we reward bad actions and overlook good actions, this will only escalate.
Since R vs. W, 53,000,000 babies have been murdered. That comes to about 3821 per day. That is 76 per day per every state in the union. If you saw a headline that 76 people per day were shot in every state every day for all those years, you would think someone would do something about it.
One of the excuses for abortions is the economy. There is an increase in the medical abortions, those with the RU-486 pill. These now account for 25% of abortions performed in the first nine weeks of pregnancy.. However it is done, whenever it is done, in whatever stage of pregnancy, women, girls, are convinced by the abortion machine that unborn babies have no value. If they hear that and follow through with their abortion, they will progress through life with less value on their born alive-children. There is little difference from those killed thirty seconds before birth, and those killed thirty seconds after birth. It is still murder.
A doctor in Pennsylvania was arrested this past week for killing babies after they were born. He was an abortion doctor. If the baby was born before he could kill it in the womb he would snip the spinal cord and the baby would die. If it is murder when the baby lies on the operating table, it is murder when it is inside the womb.
Statistics show that Hispanic and African-American women have a disproportionate share of abortions. Do the powers that be consider these children of less value? Or do they continue to allow this madness to appear to be the friends of these demographic groups.
Unprotected sex leads to pregnancy, and for those who are “unprepared to be parents,” leads to abortion.
For the children born alive to “unprepared to be parents” their lives are often low income, and single parent homes. When children are raised in single parent homes, it is usually the father who is absent. So there you have a child who feels unloved, raised by a harried single mom, and the child grows up to be an adult. What values do they have? How much God do they have in their lives? Any? Or do they have a vacant stare where life should be?
I believe this crime and violence will not turn around until children have value—all of them. If they are born to “unprepared to be parents” this is better than being murdered before they draw their first breath. It is a long road to turn around. We must start by teaching young girls that they aren’t boys’ toys. That they have more value than producing another generation on welfare.
We, as parents, must get our children to church so they will learn that, no matter what, Jesus loves them. And that our children have value. If they learn they have value, we can teach them that others have value. That everyone has value, and no one has the right to murder others, either before they are born, or after.
It starts in the home—and in the churches, and progresses to the schools. Children need to hear that they have value. Everyone has value, and we do not have the right to end a life. Children need to be taught morality at home, in the churches and in the schools. This abortion machine, and the left-wing liberals, must be stopped.
If we don’t exhibit love for our children, they will feel no value, and no reason to live. And troubles come from people who have no reason to live. What do they have to lose? If people in this county want to get a hold of the crime/violence problem, they must look in the mirror of their own souls and ask, “Am I part of the problem, or part of the solution?” Where do you stand today?
Thursday, December 16, 2010
The Reason for the Season!
I feel obligated to put aside political rhetoric for today and concentrate on what is REALLY important. Please read the following with an open heart and mind.
The Christmas Season is upon us, and there should be joy abounding around the world. Some people celebrate Christmas as a tradition, very removed from the Babe in the Manger. Some people around the world never heard of Jesus Christ, and have no idea what’s going on. Some people in the world don’t celebrate Christmas due to an alternative religion. Some who call themselves Christians don’t celebrate Christmas because December 25th isn’t really Jesus’ birthday.
Would it really shock you for me to say, I believe that December 25th is NOT Jesus’ birthday. If a person studies the Bible and Bible history, using various Jewish earmarks in the Bible, one could say that Jesus was born in the fall. By tracing the birth of John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, and using names on the Jewish calendar, you might learn that John the Baptist was born in the spring. And the Angel Gabriel visited Elisabeth before he visited Mary, and John was born about six months earlier than Jesus. That would put Jesus’ birth in the fall. However, all that is really irrelevant—if you have the Spirit of God in your heart. The actual day of Jesus birth is not known. However, for whatever reason when it started, December 25th is now set aside to celebrate this miraculous Birth.
Some folks, myself included, have signed their Christmas cards, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” Very poetical, but not completely true. Yes, Christmas, with the emphasis on CHRIST, is here to celebrate Jesus’ birth, but only in the concept of celebrating His death. You see, Jesus came to earth, born of a virgin, and laid in a manger, to be our Savior. He fulfilled Scripture with His birth, and the angels proclaimed it in the heavens:
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:8-14
Around the world are people who don’t understand that Jesus came to the world for them, for YOU.
“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.” John 3:16
The trouble with most people is that they don’t think they need a Savior, they think they are all right, they “aren’t that bad.” Before a person can “get saved”—accept Jesus as their Savior, they need to know they need him.
When Jesus was preparing to come to earth, the angel came to Mary and then to Joseph. “Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Jesus came to earth to die!
When we tell a lie, we sin. When we steal, we sin. When we have hate in our hearts for another person, we sin. When we don’t honor our father or mother, we sin. Jesus came to earth, born in a lowly stable, laid in a lowly manger, and thirty years later He began his earthly ministry which led to His death on the cross—for you—for me. To pay our sin debt so we would go to heaven when we die. But we have to CHOOSE to be saved, choose to have Jesus in our hearts. It’s not difficult—just repent (be sorry for your sins and turn from them) and ask Jesus into your heart to be your Lord and Savior. It is the most valuable Christmas present you can give to yourself.
There is a song that says it all. I don’t know the writer, but I attribute it to him anonymously.
Down from His glory, ever living story,
My God and Savior came, and Jesus was His name,
A man of sorrows, tears and agony.
What condescension, bringing us redemption,
That in the dead of night, Not one faint hope in sight;
God, gracious, tender; laid aside His splendor
Stooping to woo, to win, to save my soul.
Without reluctance, Flesh and blood His substance;
He took the form of Man; revealed the hidden plan;
O glorious myst’ry, Sacrifice of Calv’ry;
And now I know Thou art the Great, “I AM.”
Chorus:
O how I love Him! How I adore Him! MY breath, MY sunshine,
MY all in all! The great Creator became my Savior,
And all God’s fullness dwelleth in Him.
The Christmas Season is upon us, and there should be joy abounding around the world. Some people celebrate Christmas as a tradition, very removed from the Babe in the Manger. Some people around the world never heard of Jesus Christ, and have no idea what’s going on. Some people in the world don’t celebrate Christmas due to an alternative religion. Some who call themselves Christians don’t celebrate Christmas because December 25th isn’t really Jesus’ birthday.
Would it really shock you for me to say, I believe that December 25th is NOT Jesus’ birthday. If a person studies the Bible and Bible history, using various Jewish earmarks in the Bible, one could say that Jesus was born in the fall. By tracing the birth of John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, and using names on the Jewish calendar, you might learn that John the Baptist was born in the spring. And the Angel Gabriel visited Elisabeth before he visited Mary, and John was born about six months earlier than Jesus. That would put Jesus’ birth in the fall. However, all that is really irrelevant—if you have the Spirit of God in your heart. The actual day of Jesus birth is not known. However, for whatever reason when it started, December 25th is now set aside to celebrate this miraculous Birth.
Some folks, myself included, have signed their Christmas cards, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” Very poetical, but not completely true. Yes, Christmas, with the emphasis on CHRIST, is here to celebrate Jesus’ birth, but only in the concept of celebrating His death. You see, Jesus came to earth, born of a virgin, and laid in a manger, to be our Savior. He fulfilled Scripture with His birth, and the angels proclaimed it in the heavens:
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:8-14
Around the world are people who don’t understand that Jesus came to the world for them, for YOU.
“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.” John 3:16
The trouble with most people is that they don’t think they need a Savior, they think they are all right, they “aren’t that bad.” Before a person can “get saved”—accept Jesus as their Savior, they need to know they need him.
When Jesus was preparing to come to earth, the angel came to Mary and then to Joseph. “Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Jesus came to earth to die!
When we tell a lie, we sin. When we steal, we sin. When we have hate in our hearts for another person, we sin. When we don’t honor our father or mother, we sin. Jesus came to earth, born in a lowly stable, laid in a lowly manger, and thirty years later He began his earthly ministry which led to His death on the cross—for you—for me. To pay our sin debt so we would go to heaven when we die. But we have to CHOOSE to be saved, choose to have Jesus in our hearts. It’s not difficult—just repent (be sorry for your sins and turn from them) and ask Jesus into your heart to be your Lord and Savior. It is the most valuable Christmas present you can give to yourself.
There is a song that says it all. I don’t know the writer, but I attribute it to him anonymously.
Down from His glory, ever living story,
My God and Savior came, and Jesus was His name,
A man of sorrows, tears and agony.
What condescension, bringing us redemption,
That in the dead of night, Not one faint hope in sight;
God, gracious, tender; laid aside His splendor
Stooping to woo, to win, to save my soul.
Without reluctance, Flesh and blood His substance;
He took the form of Man; revealed the hidden plan;
O glorious myst’ry, Sacrifice of Calv’ry;
And now I know Thou art the Great, “I AM.”
Chorus:
O how I love Him! How I adore Him! MY breath, MY sunshine,
MY all in all! The great Creator became my Savior,
And all God’s fullness dwelleth in Him.
Happy Birthday, Jesus, and Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Will the Grinch Steal Our Christmas?
Christmas will soon be upon us, with hearts turned to Peace, Love and the Joy that only Jesus can give. He said the earth was not His world, and that we shouldn’t hold too tightly to the physical aspects of life.
It is a good thing that our rewards and security are in a different realm because our leaders here on earth, local, state and federal are bent on squeezing out of us every drop of sustenance we can muster.
At this writing, the Dunces in D.C. are doing a Dueling Dance to extend/end the Bush tax cuts—in the process, the amendments and inclusions will add over $600 Billion—with a B more dollars to our debt with China. State governments are trying to balance state budgets currently very much in deficits; and local leaders in many states, counties and municipalities have so cowed to the pseudo-science of global warming that they are passing “green” building codes that restrict how many light bulbs we can put in our kitchens—latest rule is (4) 60 watt bulbs per average kitchen. Now, THAT is intrusive!!
Holiday travelers are sexually accosted in the name of security by TSA workers with no common sense, who strip search, both virtually, and physically, law-abiding Americans who want to visit Grandma on the holidays—all because they don’t want to “profile” would-be Muslim terrorists.
Meanwhile, as our POTUS finally found his TOTUS, he has been reaming out both sides of the political aisles. He rails that the Republicans are taking hostages over this tax cut/extension. The Democrats suddenly don’t understand that to NOT extend those tax cuts at this time, will throw the country into double dip recession in January. And, while all this political theater is taking place, Iran is making plans to move missiles into Venezuela capable of reaching the USA!!
The Shining Light in all this chaos is Jesus. When His trumpet sounds to call out the Church, and we fly to higher ground, all our needs will be met, all our ills will disappear, and we will be with the King—the Real King. And all this without being manhandled by the TSA to get there!!
"God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.”
--President Thomas Jefferson
Merry Christmas
Note: “Grinch” attributed to Dr. Seuss
It is a good thing that our rewards and security are in a different realm because our leaders here on earth, local, state and federal are bent on squeezing out of us every drop of sustenance we can muster.
At this writing, the Dunces in D.C. are doing a Dueling Dance to extend/end the Bush tax cuts—in the process, the amendments and inclusions will add over $600 Billion—with a B more dollars to our debt with China. State governments are trying to balance state budgets currently very much in deficits; and local leaders in many states, counties and municipalities have so cowed to the pseudo-science of global warming that they are passing “green” building codes that restrict how many light bulbs we can put in our kitchens—latest rule is (4) 60 watt bulbs per average kitchen. Now, THAT is intrusive!!
Holiday travelers are sexually accosted in the name of security by TSA workers with no common sense, who strip search, both virtually, and physically, law-abiding Americans who want to visit Grandma on the holidays—all because they don’t want to “profile” would-be Muslim terrorists.
Meanwhile, as our POTUS finally found his TOTUS, he has been reaming out both sides of the political aisles. He rails that the Republicans are taking hostages over this tax cut/extension. The Democrats suddenly don’t understand that to NOT extend those tax cuts at this time, will throw the country into double dip recession in January. And, while all this political theater is taking place, Iran is making plans to move missiles into Venezuela capable of reaching the USA!!
The Shining Light in all this chaos is Jesus. When His trumpet sounds to call out the Church, and we fly to higher ground, all our needs will be met, all our ills will disappear, and we will be with the King—the Real King. And all this without being manhandled by the TSA to get there!!
"God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.”
--President Thomas Jefferson
Merry Christmas
Note: “Grinch” attributed to Dr. Seuss
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Blackout and Withdrawal Symptoms
To clarify things, my computer crashed two weeks ago, and I lost all my data, including e-mail accounts and addresses. I am still rebuilding. This technical blackout came just at the time of the elections. I was unable to get on the internet to keep up with the news. I became sorely aware of the extreme lack of information available on the mainstream newscasts and local newspapers.
After a few days, I used my work computer to check in with a couple of sites I read for news. I found out that our president and his wife are blaming George Bush for the drumming the democrats took. An article on Foxnews.com stated that there is one thing that the Republicans and Democrats fear even more than the Tea Party—it’s the INTERNET. It’s no wonder that our president wants complete control of the internet.
The president already has the power to shut it down whenever he feels there may be a threat to the nation. The only threat that he has about the internet is the information that is available. Truth is hard to hide. Eventually someone finds it out and can now spread it around the world in seconds. That is the threat to the politicians. There is no place to hide. To their benefit, though, there have been so few people looking for the truth. The numbers of truth-seekers are growing daily. And their link to TRUTH is the internet.
While I sat in the dark listening/watching mainstream newscasts, the internet had up-to-date news of winners and losers, and how each precinct or county broke down their votes. It took three days to learn from a newspaper who won a state house of representative race that I was interested in.
Then, no sooner had the election come and gone, when our leader also went—on another excursion. This time to India and other Asian countries. Time to uplift the Muslims again. A lot of flack arose when he planned his trip and learned he was supposed to visit a mosque in India. Muslims wear turbans or other headdress, and the president didn’t want to do that, for fear he would ignite the rumors again about his Muslim history. It turned out that the mosque in India wasn’t Muslim, but Hindu, but courageous president had already crossed that tourist stop off his agenda. But what did he do instead? He went back to the town where he was raised and uplifted the Muslims there, and in other parts of Southeast Asia.
Some other tidbits about our president and his “neutral” thoughts about religion. The Imam Rauf, founder of the Ground Zero mosque, the same person who refuses to admit that Hamas is a terrorist group, the same person who called the USA an accessory to the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, went on a “Good Will Trip” at the taxpayers expense funded by the U. S. State Department.
Associated Press reported the “Hope and Change” administration will give $6 million in tax dollars to restore historic sites around the world, which include: $76,000 for a mosque in China, $67,000 for a mosque in Pakistan, $77,000 to restore minarets in Nigeria and Mauritania, and $50,000 for an Islamic monument in India. The Secretary of State said this is money well spent. Which Muslim repair job will your tax dollars pay for.
What about rebuilding the Orthodox Christian church at Ground Zero that the Muslim terrorists destroyed? Not a penny.
In the Islamic celebration of Ramadan, the “Hope and Change” president stated, These rituals remind us of the principles that we hold in common, and Islam’s role in advancing justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human beings. Ramadan is a celebration of a faith known for great diversity and racial equality. And here in the United States, Ramadan is a reminder that Islam has always been part of America and that American Muslims have made extraordinary contributions to our country.”
What part of Islam’s role in 9-11-01 tragedy did we have in common?
And now a word about “turning the other cheek.” A Muslim terrorist once said that the terrorists will win this war because Americans have been taught to “turn the other cheek.” This terrorist said they have been trained to kill all Americans and Christians. While Americans reach out in the name of Jesus to show Christian love, the terrorist will simply slit throats.
There has been a discussion about the “turning the other cheek” philosophy. Steven Crowder of FoxNews.com stated that George W. Bush is a “man’s man” who leads by example. Crowder explains that Jesus told his followers to turn the other cheek. As Crowder stated, Jesus is the prime example of what it means to turn the other cheek. He (Jesus) was beaten, tortured, and crucified, but didn’t fight back. Crowder asks, “Could he have?” Well, he is Jesus…who died, was buried, and rose again. Without the resurrection, Jesus would have never been able to “turn the other cheek” because he would have been…well, dead. Crowder reported that Jesus could have swatted down those centurions at any given moment, but consciously chose not to.”
Crowder’s modern day interpretation was parents who teach their kids not to fight, but to turn the other cheek, have taught their children to be cowards. They give up because they can do nothing else. But, if, as Crowder writes, their son was state champion wrestler, and a black belt in Judo, he could take care of bullies, but chooses not to.
Now back to Mr. Bush. Mr. Crowder stated, though the current president routinely poked his finger in the chest of Mr. Bush every chance he got, the former president remained silent. Mr. Bush could have come out in public yelling, “Listen, you’ve unprecedentedly multiplied the deficit, your irresponsible spending dwarfs any and all presidents that have come before you. Folks, you think I sucked? Get a load of this punk.” Instead he’s chosen to say nothing.
That is turning the other cheek, and being a man.
After a few days, I used my work computer to check in with a couple of sites I read for news. I found out that our president and his wife are blaming George Bush for the drumming the democrats took. An article on Foxnews.com stated that there is one thing that the Republicans and Democrats fear even more than the Tea Party—it’s the INTERNET. It’s no wonder that our president wants complete control of the internet.
The president already has the power to shut it down whenever he feels there may be a threat to the nation. The only threat that he has about the internet is the information that is available. Truth is hard to hide. Eventually someone finds it out and can now spread it around the world in seconds. That is the threat to the politicians. There is no place to hide. To their benefit, though, there have been so few people looking for the truth. The numbers of truth-seekers are growing daily. And their link to TRUTH is the internet.
While I sat in the dark listening/watching mainstream newscasts, the internet had up-to-date news of winners and losers, and how each precinct or county broke down their votes. It took three days to learn from a newspaper who won a state house of representative race that I was interested in.
Then, no sooner had the election come and gone, when our leader also went—on another excursion. This time to India and other Asian countries. Time to uplift the Muslims again. A lot of flack arose when he planned his trip and learned he was supposed to visit a mosque in India. Muslims wear turbans or other headdress, and the president didn’t want to do that, for fear he would ignite the rumors again about his Muslim history. It turned out that the mosque in India wasn’t Muslim, but Hindu, but courageous president had already crossed that tourist stop off his agenda. But what did he do instead? He went back to the town where he was raised and uplifted the Muslims there, and in other parts of Southeast Asia.
Some other tidbits about our president and his “neutral” thoughts about religion. The Imam Rauf, founder of the Ground Zero mosque, the same person who refuses to admit that Hamas is a terrorist group, the same person who called the USA an accessory to the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, went on a “Good Will Trip” at the taxpayers expense funded by the U. S. State Department.
Associated Press reported the “Hope and Change” administration will give $6 million in tax dollars to restore historic sites around the world, which include: $76,000 for a mosque in China, $67,000 for a mosque in Pakistan, $77,000 to restore minarets in Nigeria and Mauritania, and $50,000 for an Islamic monument in India. The Secretary of State said this is money well spent. Which Muslim repair job will your tax dollars pay for.
What about rebuilding the Orthodox Christian church at Ground Zero that the Muslim terrorists destroyed? Not a penny.
In the Islamic celebration of Ramadan, the “Hope and Change” president stated, These rituals remind us of the principles that we hold in common, and Islam’s role in advancing justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human beings. Ramadan is a celebration of a faith known for great diversity and racial equality. And here in the United States, Ramadan is a reminder that Islam has always been part of America and that American Muslims have made extraordinary contributions to our country.”
What part of Islam’s role in 9-11-01 tragedy did we have in common?
And now a word about “turning the other cheek.” A Muslim terrorist once said that the terrorists will win this war because Americans have been taught to “turn the other cheek.” This terrorist said they have been trained to kill all Americans and Christians. While Americans reach out in the name of Jesus to show Christian love, the terrorist will simply slit throats.
There has been a discussion about the “turning the other cheek” philosophy. Steven Crowder of FoxNews.com stated that George W. Bush is a “man’s man” who leads by example. Crowder explains that Jesus told his followers to turn the other cheek. As Crowder stated, Jesus is the prime example of what it means to turn the other cheek. He (Jesus) was beaten, tortured, and crucified, but didn’t fight back. Crowder asks, “Could he have?” Well, he is Jesus…who died, was buried, and rose again. Without the resurrection, Jesus would have never been able to “turn the other cheek” because he would have been…well, dead. Crowder reported that Jesus could have swatted down those centurions at any given moment, but consciously chose not to.”
Crowder’s modern day interpretation was parents who teach their kids not to fight, but to turn the other cheek, have taught their children to be cowards. They give up because they can do nothing else. But, if, as Crowder writes, their son was state champion wrestler, and a black belt in Judo, he could take care of bullies, but chooses not to.
Now back to Mr. Bush. Mr. Crowder stated, though the current president routinely poked his finger in the chest of Mr. Bush every chance he got, the former president remained silent. Mr. Bush could have come out in public yelling, “Listen, you’ve unprecedentedly multiplied the deficit, your irresponsible spending dwarfs any and all presidents that have come before you. Folks, you think I sucked? Get a load of this punk.” Instead he’s chosen to say nothing.
That is turning the other cheek, and being a man.
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