Christian

The distraction merchants

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These are those that cause you not to place God at the center of your life. They cause you to think of you and of them, but not God.
They come in the form of music, television, movies, books, sports and themselves. They tell you to do as they do. To live as they live, to think as they think. They say “I am your god, for I know better than you. I am smarter than you!”
What is sad is that people worship them, as if they are God. They do listen, and they do live their lives under the edicts of these fellow humans, which in the eyes of God are equal to those they wish to lead and master. Making of them subservient slaves to their will and command.
It has been this way for centuries. There is nothing really new here. It is just wrapped in a newer and brighter wrapping.
We know of a few of them. For some were so horrid in their actions and demands that it caused them to be remembered. A mark upon the history of humankind that due to their blemish upon it none can forget. But most of those that seek dominion over their fellows shall and have been forgotten to all of humanity. Only God knows who they are or were. Yet those alive today think that they will be remembered. However they forget that only those that slaughtered were the ones remembered.
Yes we can partake of music, TV, movies, books and sports. But only in small portions. God must be the focal point in ALL that we do. God must be thought of and present in His light as we listen to music; as we watch TV and movies; as we read books other than the Bible. God must be the statistic we think of when we observe sporting events.
This is how we are to attack the distraction merchants and give all Glory to God though His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.

Confessions of a screwed up middle aged man: A letter to my new congressperson

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Dear BLANK,

Since you are now MY new REPRESENTATIVE. I wish to introduce myself. Why did I capitalize “my” and “representative?”
Because, that is what you have chosen to be. Your views are now officially dead. You have pledged yourself to vote for what is best for those you now are the focal point for in the congress of this nation. You do not represent the northern part of this state, but the entire state.
I saw the vote. Yes, you did receive 55.5%, but there is still the other 44.5% that you still must equally represent. For it is nearly half of all those that voted.
I am one of this minority. For in my view your party does not represent my values in anyway shape or form.
I believe ALL are equal from the point of conception till they leave their body at the end of their life in this temporal plain of existence. No matter their race or personal lifestyle choices, which includes religion or the lack there of.
That means I see abortion as murder and a same sex relationship lifestyle choice as misguided and misinformed nurturing, but that is their choice, as is mine not to agree with it. This however does not make me and those like me wrong, nor does it make those that oppose my viewpoint right. This does not mean that the federal government has a say so in the matter either. This though is the dilemma you have chosen to take on.
It is your job to weight all the views of those you have decided to represent, not govern, but act for. Not just the 55% of those that voted for you, but the entire 100%.
If a law is passed that shows bias to either side it should be changed to be equal to all. For over sixty years the trend has been against those view and beliefs that I and many like me hold sacred.
The constitution is not something to be manipulated or interpreted, not even by the Supreme Court. Technically two Justices should be impeached. For the constitution states that as long as those in the office maintain “good behavior” (Article III Section 1) they can remain in office. At this time Justice Ginsburg and Justice Sotomayor have publicly displayed BAD behavior and should be removed from office. Only someone that will follow the constitution should ever be a Justice. These rulings that have violated the constitution, but were allowed by the SCOTUS should be revisited and looked at in this light ONLY. Once looked at in this light, things like abortion and the recent marriage issue would go back to the states as they were originally being addressed.
“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.” 10th amendment.
Now I do realize that some states were allowing these actions, while other states were not, but that is the point. Yes we are one nation, but we are also fifty states. This again goes back to my previous topic with you about whom you represent. 45% do not agree with your party, which does not mean you can impose your party’s views and values upon this group. This is a clear violation of the constitution, and the bill of right.
“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” Preamble of the Constitution
To “promote the general welfare,” is to allow ALL the ability to live as they see fit. It does not say that this group will live better than that group. It means all groups will receive equal representation is all that matters. That is why I have no issue with those that do not think as I do. Yet, especially in the last eight years, my way of thinking and living has come under attack. Lawsuits because someone does not wish to make a cake and forcing someone to make something that hurts them if not physically, spiritually is not general welfare but selective misery. Christianity is now the most persecuted religion in the world. Is this the “blessing of liberty” the founding fathers spoke of? I think not. Yet this is what is being promoted by your party. The systematic destruction of my lifestyle choice.
You have chosen to be the representative of all your constituents, and now you are there to be that in congress. Are you up to being a true representative or are you there for the 55% and what your party tells you to do and vote? It is time for you to decide or to let me know now that my viewpoint means nothing to you. If it is the latter I will do my best to have your term in the congress be as short as possible, so enjoy your two years there if that is the case.

“God meets us where we’re at.”

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This is a saying I hear a lot, but here is how I see it.
God promises all the chance to acknowledge that there is a god and He is that God (Romans 1). This is the first level of meeting. It does not offer full enlightenment, nor salvation. There are many out there that say there is a God, yet they show no other interest in their Creator. Others down right reject Him, even though they did encounter this first level, even if they do not wish to admit the truth.
Then the next level comes into play for those that wish to go to it. They see He is the one and only God and so seek to know more. They read the Bible, and some insight begins. They decide to attend a church and seek to know more. However here confusion sets in. Why? Because many within the churches follow conflicting interpretations of the Bible and so doubt and bewilderment sets in for the majority of these.
It is at this point that many seek salvation and do receive it. Yet their awareness of God and His desires are limited and lacking. Many at this point fall back into the world even though they see themselves as saved (2 Peter 2).
What many don’t understand is that when you seek salvation you are making a commitment to God and His Son, Jesus Christ the Messiah. It is here that we are required to study the Bible, not just read it, but learn it. To come to know the Word of God and in so doing come to know God Himself.
Studying means to seek the true meaning of the teachings of Jesus and His apostles. Also the interaction between the Old and the New Testaments. To know the meaning of words in the Bible as they were originally written in the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. As well as in the context it was stated in originally. This is something that takes years to accomplish, and at each stage, in the growth, God gives us more insight into Him and the truth.
The more we know the Word of God, the more we truly understand God and His plan. We realize just how small we are in His great plan, which is humbling and rewarding at the same time.

Confessions of a screwed up middle aged man: the attitude of feeling special/elect/above others

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I need to start this article with a situation I have observed in my life:

At my job there are different sections of a process to make a very large product. Three to be exact.
The first two are found within the same building and the workforce coexist very well, even though you can see the divide between them. Not just physically, but in a visceral sense as well. The other section though is off by itself. Most of those workers have been at this place of employment for a long time, and they for the most part make the highest salaries, and there is good cause for this.
In the last two years though there have been layoffs and the workforce has shrunk. This has resulted, due to this being a union a shop, that some of those in the separate area have been demoted and moved into the main building with the rest of the workforce.
I like to say “hi” to folks. Its the way I am, mainly due to spending most of my live in the south. For years the office workers, who are not included within the workforce I have described above, would turn their heads or avert their eyes to avoid eye contact and thus avoid a “hi” from me. Now the people that were moved into the main building do the exact same thing. Now on some level I can understand the office personal, even though deep down I know their behavior is incorrect, but now these folks? No. they are like me. We make the same money and work on the same product. Yet they see themselves as special, above the rest of us.
Now I went through this to make a point. All of humanity is exactly the same, especially in the eyes of God. Yet there are those that see themselves as better, different, special. Above all others.
I see this from those that think humans must rule humanity. I also see it in those that feel they are special because they see themselves as being “saved.” However their actions are those of the unsaved. To be more exact. Their actions and behavior is like that of the Pharisees. Why this comparison?
Even though the Pharisees were the religious power in Jerusalem in the time Jesus first walked amongst us. They did not follow the laws set forth in the Torah. They added rituals and works to draw attention to themselves. All they sought to do was gratify themselves. Jesus called them out this, which started the ball rolling to His crucifixion and resurrection. Because both God and Jesus knew this is how they would react, for it challenged not only their authority, but their selfish lust and desires to be the focal point of the people.
Proverbs says this:
18:12 – Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
Too many fall into this trap of haughtiness. I myself have fallen into this in the past, but I awoke to my sin and have sought to correct it.
No human is better or greater than any other. Be they the same or different in form, color or language. All humanity is equal, and any who seek to be above any other sins against God.

Confessions of a screwed up middle aged man: Opening up to the fact that you may be wrong

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First and foremost, I must say that I have been wrong in my interpretation of the Bible in the past. For all I know I may still be wrong. Why? Because I did not study the Word of God correctly. At first I just read it. Not understanding that what I was reading was a translation made by humans. Who interpreted the Bible the way they saw it. This is shown as fact when you read the NIV Bible. It has important phrases removed or changed, which we are told in Galatians 1 not to do. However this post is not about me or those that have sinned against God by not translating the Bible correctly. It is about those that do not wish to see the truth.
I interact with many. I interrelate with Catholics, and those that think they are the “select.” I interact with atheist and homosexuals. One think that always stands out is an unwillingness to say: “I am wrong.”
I have also seen what the cause of this steadfast is. Selfishness.
They do not wish to hear that how they think of God and the Bible is wrong. Simply because they are happy with where they are with their beliefs. It allows them to live their lives the way they want.
They see that if they see the truth and accept the truth, they will have to follow the Word of God. Which will cause them to have to stop living the way they wish to live. They enjoy their sin. They live in and for their temporal happiness. Not even acknowledging that this live we now live is fleeting and simply a test to see that we will see and recognize and then follow Jesus Christ and His Father our Creator.
To them this acceptance is too humbling. They must abdicate their throne as king or queen of their own lives. Too many place the self before anything or anyone, especially God. However the Bible makes it clear that God and the teachings of the Bible are to be first in the lives of those that submit to His will. It is something too much for most to concede and accept. Which is a very sad statement when you truly realize the truth.

What is beyond this life?

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This is a question many ask. This is an answer that should be a quick reply to those that call themselves “Christian,” but too few can. Which is extremely sad. Not just because they cannot respond quickly, but it is due to the fact that they themselves do not know the answer.
Here is what we do know.
First and foremost all of humanity, saint and sinner are promised an eternal body (1 Corinthians 15:53). This is a concept that most cannot get their minds around. They see this temporal existence as all there is. This goes not only for those that do not accept the Son of God as the Savior, but also for those that do.
This is why so many seek after rewards in this life. Why they seek after a huge home, an expensive car, clothes, luxuries. All those things which are temporary compared to a billion years are more important to them than their eternal life. This is why so many, who invest all into a hundred years will not see a reward in the billions of years yet to come.
At the end of the Bible these words are written:
Revelation 21: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
The implication is there will be a new Big Bang. A new universe. A new earth. One where there is no ocean. One where God Himself will leave Heaven and live with the immortal humanity, who will be in service and worship unto Him. They will do this within the huge cubical city of New Jerusalem.
As for those that live in the now and deny God. Their reward is told about as well. A place within the pit of fire. An eternal living example of the free-will choice to deny God. Their life will be eternal pain and agony, because they sought to place themselves above God. They are there not because of a vengeful God, but because they themselves rejected God and His eternal reward of a home within New Jerusalem. When they are not serving God elsewhere in the new universe.
We also know that there will be new mortal beings that once again sin. We are but a peg in an eternal plan. The question I have. Is this how it was for the angels? Did they go through a similar temporal existence?
These are questions that should go through all Christian’s minds. For if they truly studied the Bible they would not worry or care about the here and now. For what is a hundred years in comparison to the plan of God that doesn’t even matter to a few hundred years, nor a few million. But a plan that is designed to take billions of years to seek the point of completion and perfection that can only be achieved by God through His wisdom.

“Rules don’t matter to me!”

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These are the words most say and think. This is also the best indicator of an unsaved soul.
“WHAT?” someone just shouted.
Yes, this is a true statement.
“But I am saved!” another says.
You only think you are.
The Bible makes it very clear. A sign of a child of God is the willingness to obey the teachings of God. No government comes into power without the approval of God. Governments make laws and rules. Companies make rules. In Titus 3:1 we are instructed to follow the laws and the rules make by government and any in some form of power over the individual. Jesus even states when paying taxes, to give unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s.
Yet people every day do as they please. They speed, they break rules, because they are tiresome to them. These rules and laws cause them not to sleep in. not to stay up late. Take shortcuts in the tasks they are assigned to do. Not work even though they can. Take handicap parking away from those that are truly handicapped. All this is a sign of a selfish, self-serving mentality. All of this is the sign of a sinner.
Those that truly seek to be a reflection of Jesus Christ know the Bible as best they can. They know that the laws and the rules of mankind, which do not go against the Bible, come in some minor to major way from the Bible or the teachings of the Bible. Since we love God, through this love we willingly conform to these rules and laws.
For they are not inconvenient, but necessary to show we desire to honor God through His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Understanding the duality of God’s work

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One thing that many have problems understanding is God’s use of duality. Throughout all levels of the Bible and its teaching down to words themselves. A duality can be found that expands upon just how great God is. God knows who will follow Him. Yet we ourselves do not and through the use of free-will, we, ourselves must make the choice to follow Him.
God knows from the outset that Eve would eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In turn He knew that Adam would eat it as well. Yet allowing their free-will to dictate their live as well as all that have followed since that fateful day.
God is both physical and spiritual, and as Christ manifested after His resurrection. He used both attributes to enter into a locked room. Becoming physical enough to eat and drink as he talked with the apostles present at that time.
Any attempt to take away from this duality means to diminish not only our Creator, but His will as well. Any that say the Word of God is not what it says, takes away from God. We are told not to add or take away from the Bible.
The ultimate example of the duality comes in the form of faith and works. We are told clearly that faith alone is dead. We are also told that doing works alone has no meaning to God, and many times is used to glorify the person not God, and so is an example of death as well. It is made very clear that the duality is we must have faith and live the teachings of the bible, which is works (James 2:14-26).
When you horde your wealth, speed, gossip, think yourself special, but at the same time say you belief in Christ. You have failed the duality and are not one with Christ, which is the duality of hypocrisy.
The teaching within the Bible make it perfectly clear. We are to live modestly and share our extra wealth with our fellow Christians in need. We are to obey the laws of the land, no matter how inconvenient, that do not go against the Word of God. We are not to gossip or place anything above God. We are also to humble ourselves and to treat all others as better than us. We do this for God is the first thing we consider above all else.
For one day Christ will return to earth and split the Mount of Olives. For He is the Son of Man, the Son of God, the Messiah.

Confessions of a screwed up middle aged man: Why Christians should have nothing to do with “Star Wars”

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Now I need to make this very clear on the front end. For decades I was a “Star Wars” fan. I was still a teenagers when the first movie came out. Now I have heard the excuses like “It’s just a sci-fi. It’s just in outer space. It’s just a story.” All the brainwashing excuses. It still causes you to form an opinion, it still causes you to think, to ponder, to wonder. It is still a fairytale, written by men that as I write this are still alive today. That is the key element of this whole argument, I am about to pursue.
As of the fourth movie or “Episode One” as it is known. This franchise made it clear that it was anti-Christian.
With the virgin birth of Darth Vader. A person that turned to evil. It was made clear that these writers hated Christianity. The concept of the “force” is a direct assault upon God Himself. Thus making it clear that the universe, which is the creation is the place of ultimate power.
Romans 1 makes this type of belief very clear and explains how those that reject God when His prove of existence is right before them. They turn to fantasies and say this is the way of the universe, and so are led astray. There is evidence that “Star Wars” in some corners is worshiped as a religion now.
What this boils down to is this.
Any who profess to be a Christian, should not give any finical support of this franchise, which includes no longer dealing with Disney as well, which has its own issues.
Do I expect this to happen? I would only hope it would, that would be the true last hope.

The sign of a tyrant

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This is one of those things that always bothers me, as I watch movies, TV shows, video game, or read novels. I was watching one the other day, which I don’t even remember now, but it brought me back to this point, which is the title of this article.
What is it that shows a leader to be a tyrant?
What I was watching stated it was someone that placed their wishes and desires above the people. This was the sign of a tyrant. What really got to me, was the fact that there are people out there that think their actions and behavior are for the good of the people. That they are placing the people first, and they, with all their hearts, are acting for the common good of all. Yet in reality, they are not. They are so blind to the truth, that they do not even see their own tyrannical mentality, which is causing nothing but destruction to common people of a nation.
This blind self-serving mentality has been eating away at the United States of America and other nations for decades. Yet it has been the most visible for the last eight years as this nation has been run by a tyrant. Yes I said Barack Hussein Obama is a tyrant. Not because he is black, but because he does not acknowledge that there is a God. The Father of Jesus Christ.
When he came to power. Those like him upon the left of this nation. Felt they had been given a mandate. That it was time for humanity to reject God. They openly stated that those that follow the Bible needed to change how they viewed the world and their teachings of the Bible. That their views were the true views of humanity.
Hillary Clinton, another tyrant, made this very clear during her election. She felt that she had been ordained to become the next leader of the United Stated to carry on this great mandate that was begun by Obama. A mandate that would in time abolish the Christian beliefs and faith off the face of this earth. That the true religion to follow was the teaching and mandates of a religion that demanded the death of most that follow them blindly.
There are more tyrants in power today, than there has ever been in the past. Because most have forgotten, or in reality never knew, one of the most important teaching of the Bible, when it comes to picking a leader, who is human. These are the words of Jesus Christ on what a leader should be like:
Mark 10:42 – So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
What I really find sad. Is that I even hear those upon the left say these very same words, just in a different way. They ACTUALLY believe they are living this way. Yet they are not. When they spend over eighty million dollars of vacations for themselves with the money of those they are pledges to be a servant to. They are thinking only of themselves.
When they use their office to silence those that have an opposing view point to their own. They are thinking only of themselves.
Yet, to them, they are patriots. They ARE serving the people. Yet millions lose their jobs, and head into poverty. For there is only two classes. The ruling class, those within the government, and those that are to be ruled, the average person. This is the signs of tyranny.
This nation was founded upon Christian principles, teachings and mentality. This created the middle-class, for before this nation came to be their truly wasn’t what can be called the middle-class. Why this is, is because this was the first nation to truly seek for servant-leaders.
Are you aware that until 1855, except for 1815, congresses salary was $6 to $8 per year? Why is this? Because congress was made of servant-leaders. Once they started taking a salary, they became about themselves and not the people they were voted to represent. There are tyrants in congress and the senate as we speak. Reid, and Pelosi are prime examples of tyrants. Yet not all tyrants are on the left. There is McCain for example on the right and others, but I will leave that for you to decide on your own. Any who serve a lifetime in congress are professional politicians, and are in turn tyrants.
What can change this?
For starters, we need Christians to step up to the plate and take office. I don’t mean hypocrites who mouth the words of Christianity yet in reality live of and for the world. We need people who have studied the word of God and come to understand. That those in power are not placed there by a vote, by who they know or who they are related to, but by God.
Any who work of the government, no matter what level they work within were placed there by God, and they are accountable for their actions to God. Many people will awaken in a very warm place one day and never realize until that moment that they lived the wrong life. They lived the life of a tyrant, thinking they were serving the people. When in reality they were only serving themselves.