Jesus

Arrogance

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I watch as I see the arrogance of humanity rise to the top. Once again thinking that humans have power over all. As a result they allow themselves to become overconfident. They think they know better than others. They feel that all others are their pawns, their puppets. Their toys to play with as they so desire.
As a result people die, people starve and suffer. Do they care? In a superficial way. They blame their errors upon those that think that God is the way to go. They call those that believe in God ignorant and stupid for believing in what they see as a non-existent entity that adds nothing to the equation. They blind themselves to history. They blind themselves to the evidence before them.
All I see is history once again repeating itself. I see the pride and aloofness that in the end was shattered and crushed. Yet they still go on thinking that THEY can make a perfect world. As every action they take follows what science has stated will always happen. There is an opposite and equal reaction. For everything they do that they call good something evil goes in its place. Something they do not realize actually comes from within them.
For without God there is only evil, and evil begets only evil. When something truly good does occur it lasts for decades, but whenever evil erupts all that results is death and bloodshed. Yet it was not humans that caused the problem, for they are “perfect” especially if they are educated, especially if they know what is best for their fellow human beings.
Their striving to make the perfect reality only causing slavery and division; bloodshed and war. They break apart that which honored God and as a results diminishes humanity. For in their arrogance they belittle and abuse. Murder and rape, for it is not a fellow human they are hurting, but a lesser animal for it does not think as they do. It believes in a one true God and that all humanity was created to serve God. But they do not wish to serve, but to rule. For that is their destiny to control and manipulate. Like a master of all that is good to them for it makes them feel they are the savior of humanity. Not realizing the true savior of humanity, those like them killed.
They deny He is real for they do not see Him. Even though on the third day he rose from His grave and walked and talked to them. Yet this is not real, but a fairytale. It can only be a fairytale, because they are the masters of deceptions and lies for they do it all the time, and those that believe them are idiots and worthy of lying too for they are too stupid to see the truth.
Now humanity’s time is finally waning all because of those that think they are perfection and the masters of the world. While those that see the truth warn them and tell them that He they deny is near and is almost ready to start the coming of the end of the gentile rule of His world.
It is sad that so many would rather live here in this temporal life than in the eternal that is soon to start. May God’s glory truly shine on many before it is too late.

One of the steps toward being a reflection of Christ

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For one thing there are several, but this is just about one. Now first, I wish to remind folks that in being a reflection of Jesus Christ we are to not only have faith in Him and His promises, but also in our actions and behavior known as works when taken in context to the Bible. Some will say that “works” is legalism. However, “legalism” is when people go through the motions of actions and rituals, especially when they have no faith. It is both FAITH and WORKS, but on with the topic at hand, which is this step of faith through works:
Romans 13:1 – Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. 6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.
Titus 3:1 – Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good.
Now what does it mean to submit to the government? It is shown very clearly in Romans. All governments are in existence by the grace of God. So we are to follow the laws that are set forth by said governments, as long as they are not counter to the teachings of the Bible. Like for instance, abortion.
So once again I go back to my fall back example of this. The speed limit on roads. This is a state law. If you break this law you can be punished by getting a speeding ticket. Yet millions break this law every single day because this law is inconvenient to them.
Now I want those reading this to look at that last sentence and ponder upon it a second.

Now read this:
Matthew 22:37 – Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.”
Luke 10:26 – Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” 27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
Mark 12:29 – Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’
It is made clear that per Romans and Titus we are to honor God by following the laws set forth by those in government. However many speed “because this law is inconvenient to them.
TO THEM.
To the self.
So God and His laws are “inconvenient to them!”
If we are to place God at the center of our lives. How can HE be an inconvenience? How is this possible?
Because GOD is not at the center of their lives.
THEY are at the center of THEIR LIVES.
2 Timothy 3:1 – You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
Matthew 16:24 – Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. 28 And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”
“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.”
I cannot out do the very words of Jesus Christ. I end this here.

Confessions of a screwed up middle aged man: Taking a beating

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One thing Jesus Himself talks of is that following Him will lead to persecution. In my personal experience this is all too real. People do not wish to hear the truth. Especially those that feel they are following the teachings of Jesus Christ when in reality they are not. This was a major reason the Pharisees hated Jesus so much. Because what He taught was truly Biblical and sound, while theirs was all show and left many going into damnation instead of salvation.
Matthew 23:13 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.
This is true today. For many within the pulpits and upon the dais no longer teach the Bible, but man-made ideals and doctrines which are in reality causing many to think they are one with God, but in reality they are nowhere near Him.
But when people like myself say these things we are ridiculed, insulted, belittled or ignored and called crazy. In a way I feel honored, for this was how the prophets of the Old Testament were received in most cases to the dismay of the people of Israel who did not accept the words of the prophets until it was too late and their nation was subjugated multiple times due to their in part ignorance, but for the most part their arrogance.
Their attitude in both those to the prophets and the Pharisees to Christ Himself is how people for the most part have always been. This is why Christ said upon the Sermon on the Mount that it would be a blessing for those persecuted for remaining loyal to Him and the Bible.
Matthew 5:10 – Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
In another way I feel sorrow, for I truly do love my neighbors, and I wish all to see that glorious day of reward as we joyfully and happily stand before the throne of God in pure white garments. I know all too well though that this is the furthest thing from the truth.
I know that when the Rapture occurs it will be far smaller than many actually expect. Many thinking they will be going with God upon the day when the trumpet blows will find themselves still exactly where they are. As they turn to look at someone else and find that person gone. It will be a noticeable event. For many will go, but it will also be able to explained away because if will not be a significant event to cause the world to stop functioning as some say will happen.
1 Thessalonians 4: 14 – For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. 15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
But many, as I said above, will still be here. Thinking they should be with God, but instead they find themselves still here. Why? Because they did not read the Bible themselves. They took the words of others as true, but in reality they were the lies of humans, with no eternal value.
And even now as I type these words I know that some will again tune me out, shut me down and lock my words away from them, for they do not wish to hear these words. Why? Because it would mean that the sins they live within and accept over God are more important to them. Because they were not truly taught of Christ’s true love for them, but of a man-made “love” that equals nothing to Jesus.
They do not wish to hear Jesus say to them that their prayers were never heard for they never truly knew Him.
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
I would rather suffer rejection for my fellow humans than to ever reject my Savior.

Confessions of a screwed up middle aged man: FINALLY!!!

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This last Sunday I finally heard a true preaching of the Bible from a minister. It was shocking and yet satisfying.
To hear a man standing upon the dais actually teaching the Word of God. Saying that to live for sexuality either outside the marriage or with those specifically named sins with the Bible was not living for God, but for themselves. To hear him say, that we are to be a true reflection of Christ. That we are to follow the teachings and commandments within the Bible, but not to a place a ritualism, but by both faith and works combined. Saying that we are not to seek after money to be seek after our rewards which are not of this earth, but in the eternal life that is to come.
To hear my own beliefs be reaffirmed and shown to be the truth of following Jesus Christ as my Savior. It was amazing.

God First part 3

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We are told to seek out the kingdom of heaven and to seek out righteousness. In multiple commentaries it places emphasis that we are to seek out God first. That we should strive to be righteous in all that we do. Will we stumble and fall? Yes, but as long as we pick ourselves up and return to seeking to place God over all we do then we are heading down the right path.
It is a path that will be rough, you will find that not all wish to follow it for they will say that it is too hard and many times you will find that you are shunned, hated and even rejected by those that you once thought were your friends and allies.
They may even ostracize you and call you unworthy, a fanatic and even crazy. These are all things we are warned will happen to us once we go down the narrow road, for most would rather take the wide and easy path, not realizing they are, but they do anyway. It will be painful at times and even lonely, but if you know you are grounded correctly and properly within the teachings of the Bible you have nothing to fear.
One of the hugest misconceptions plaguing the world and even the church is the belief that all there is, is this world we now live within in. This is the furthest thing from the truth. For Christ has promised us an eternal life, yet many still mourn the passing of a loved one more than they should. In all actuality it should be a time for rejoicing for they have been called home unto God if they have tried to live a good and righteous life and avoided sin as best they could through the glory of Christ.
Now I can understand there being sorrow and weeping if they did not, for they may not make it passed the Great White Throne Judgment.
This is why it is so important to strive to place God first in all we do. So when we are called up into heaven we know it will be because we have finished our commission for Christ and we have been a good and righteous servant unto God, His Son and the world and we will have left it at least slightly better than when we first entered into it.
It is then that we will know without a doubt that the life we just left was nothing more than a proving ground. A short test to see if we would stay loyal to the Creator of all and everything by turning from sin.

God First part two

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Jesus said to think of and love God first. What this means is in everything thing you do you must say to yourself is this the way God would want it. If you do not know the answer it can be found within the Bible. If you say to yourself “Is this a sin?” then go to the book of Leviticus as well as Deuteronomy and you will find all the sins listed. A majority of our church and family interactions will be found within the New Testament. In fact this is one thing I have noticed all the letters and books in the New Testament were aimed at those that called themselves “Christian.” Now think upon that for a moment.
It states of sin and misbehavior in many of these. The writers of the letters give direction on how to fix these issues. How to become better Christians and advice on how not to sin. They also show how to form a church and how leaders are supposed to act. In this particular fact it tells leaders to be servants to those they lead, which again takes us back to placing God first, all others second and ourselves last an ongoing and continuous theme throughout the New Testament.

God First

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In Matthew 6:33 we are told to seek out the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Mathew 22:37 says to love God with all our heart soul and mind. This tells me one thing. To place God first is everything that I do and this is how it should be for all Christians.
Why I mention this is the other day I was told that we must keep religion and politics separate. I say if you place God first above all else how can you keep God out? You can’t.
This is a tool that has been thrown out by those that wish us to not place God first. To deny God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. But as Christ said if you deny Him he will deny you to His Father, which leaves only one true recourse. We must place God in every aspect of our life and that includes politics. So any group or person that denies God is a person or group that Christians should not associate with. Why? Because we are not placing God first in all we do if we do give them support.

Confessions of a screwed up middle aged man: And the “love” fest continues

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Once again someone comes to me stating: “but we must love one another.”
Their version of “love one another” being the continuation of the hippie love fest of the late 1960s and early 1970, from a culture that believed in orgies and drugs and that “love will conquer all.” This “love” everyone beliefs coming from open sin and the rejection of morals and common decency. Otherwise known as coming from Satan himself the author of all lies.
When the Pharisees accused Jesus of healing in the name of Satan he stated clearly that evil cannot cast out evil. So how something which has its origins in sin, and thus evil, be something that can honor God? Would that not mean that Satan was honoring God? Since the answer is he would not, then this belief to “love all and love freely” is of the world. And any that love the world are the enemies of God (James 4:4).
I also like how they use the Bible out of context. For example in a recent encounter they offered up 1 John 4:7-12. Now I will concede it does talk of loving one another, but here is where the issue comes into place. The entire New Testament was the Gospels and letters written to people that had already asked Jesus Christ to be their Savior, in other words, they were written for devoted Christians. The pretext of these verses was to love our brothers and sisters who were in Christ, our fellow Christians.
Now are we not to love our enemies? Yes we are, but when you love them you must be willing to be honest with them. Since they are of the world, out of love, we must state that if they stay in the world by living in sin they are destine to a fate that I would not wish on anyone. (Proverbs 13:24 – Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.)
Too many times people throw the “love card” as an escape to avoid confrontation. Did not Jesus turn over the money changing tables in the Temple? Was this not “confrontation?” Did Jesus hate these people or the Pharisees, who were reaping in the profits from these money changers? No, Jesus loved them, as He loves all humanity. However, God does punish those that rebel against Him and especially those that openly sin directly before Him. If you allow someone to think they are saved yet they continue to live in sin, they are in actuality of the devil (1 John 3:6-10).
It is our duty has Christians, in love, to help those of the world turn to God through our Lord Jesus Christ and to repent, to turn from their sins and to leave them behind, which can only happen when they fully accept Christ as their Savior and place God first in ALL that they do every day.
Another verse they gave out of context. Song of Solomon 8:6-7, yet Song of Solomon 8 is about how young women are to live in virtue and honor and maintain their morals. The verse in question is more about the lusts caused by love and to avoid letting love lead you into sin.
They also mentioned of Jesus crying for Jerusalem. Here is the actual verse:
Luke 19:41 But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. 42 “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. 43 Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. 44 They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.”
He was weeping for Jerusalem, the heart of Israel, for the chosen children of God had rejected their King, that being Jesus Christ. Here he predicts the fate of the city just under forty years for that day He entered into Jerusalem that Palm Sunday.
Again showing His full love, but out of that love His sorrow. For not only was it due to their rejection of Him, which would result in the people of Israel being cast out of their nation and spread throughout the entire globe for nearly two thousand year. He was also crying for what was to follow for all of humanity and the many that could have been saved by His very presence on earth as it King.
Now though millions, if not billions, may never know Him as their Savior due to those that would be false teachers unto those that honestly seek after Him to be their Savior, but instead meet man-made doctrines and lies like those that teach to love all no matter how they live, which is the same fate the Pharisees had doomed thousands to damnation before Christ walked amongst us two thousand years ago.
Matthew 23:13 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.”
So we must all remember that true and complete love requires us to be honest and true. If that honesty requires us to say to someone they are living in sin and need to fix this issue with Christ, then that is what we MUST do. For we are to reprove, rebuke and exhort.
2 Timothy 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

If you are rich you should be humble

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These are the words of James. He says that if we are poor we should be boosting for God has honored us. There are many ways to take this but I am reminded of Matthew chapter 6 myself. In which Jesus makes it clear that we are not to store up riches here on earth for our reward is in heaven. Jesus also states that those that seek their reward here on earth are receiving the reward here and not in the eternal live to come. This is why those that are rich should be humble.
Then why are so many that are rich not humble? Could it be they do not know or accept Jesus Christ as their Savior? This is a possibility, but it is not my place to say yes or no to that question. Do I have the right to ask the question? By all means yes I do. For when we see those that say they are “Godly” yet their manner and actions bring this into question, then the question needs to be asked.
Jesus stated that we are to be a light unto the world and we are to reflect His life. Jesus was the walking embodiment of the Bible itself. He never sinned. Humans do not have that, so we must ever seek to chip the sin out of our minds, and bodies. Does the fact that someone not being humble when they are rich mean they are not following Christ? The answer is in what else do they do? Do they lie? Do they curse? Do they know the Bible?
These are only three questions, but they are many more that we can get from the Bible and apply to them. Even in the Bible there are many questions asked of us to see if people are working toward the glory of God. Many of these questions are directed straight at us the reader.
As we look at those that do things that are not within the Bible and are in actuality opposite the Bible we can form an opinion. We are even told to use this opinion, to either help this person back to God or even to the point of avoiding them.
Jesus even states that there are those that will be like swine. You cast the love of Christ at their feet like pearls and all they will do is trample them then turn and tear you to pieces.
If people do not follow God, those that do follow God should not follow them. We cannot change them no matter how much we hope we can. They are lost and it is their own doing. The road to hell is wide, but the road to heaven is narrow and difficult. There is no easy way and any that offer an easy way are most likely offering damnation.
So remember when you see a boastful rich person to eye them carefully and do not allow them to lead you away from God.

A special message about the 4th of July

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Today I will turn from my usual topic of God and the Bible for the most part to talk about this nation I live in, the United States of America. Why? To approach a topic that needs to be understood. The teachings of the Bible is to be the light and the truth. This is why I am pursuing this topic of nationalism and state governance.
The Civil War was both a great victory, but at the same time a great defeat. The victory was due to this nation beginning to acknowledge that all humanity be it their skin color or their sexual orientation to be treated as equals. For it is not humanities province to place judgment upon others in humanity due to these factors named above. This however does not mean that those in the latter category have the right to impose their values upon those that chose to follow the true teachings of the Bible.
The defeat is something that those upon the left are just now awakening too. The tenth amendment of the constitution. That those rights not directly given to the federal government are the domain of the not just the state, but the county and the city. You see the Civil War started federalism, which is counter to what the founding fathers of this nation wanted. In fact it is the total opposite. It is this type of federalism which caused the Revolutionary War in the firsts place. No central government should dictate what those within their nation should do or not do.
This federalism is the foundation of those upon the left’s beliefs that is until President Trump. Now suddenly they are pushing for state’s and cites’ rights to govern themselves.
Their main reason for this at this time is immigration. However, Due to congress, immigration is the jurisdiction of the federal government. So per the tenth amendment those cities and states that are calling themselves “sanctuaries,” are in fact in violation of the law.
One thing that those that call themselves “conservatives” have been pushing for decades is a return of powers that have been appropriated by the federal government and returned to the states. Like education as a prime example. This is one thing that most do not understand. Each state within this union, even though you can freely travel from one state to the next, with the sole exception of California, is that they are their own nation. Again I turn to the Civil War to make this image.
A prime example is Robert E. Lee. General Lee did not resign as the general in charge of West Point, and then enter in to the war to oppose the United States. He resigned and returned to his state, or nation, which is Virginia. He joined to defend Virginia. He joined to defend his state from invasion from other states. States I may add that were predominantly Republican. You see the Democratic Party was for slavery, the Republican Party was against slavery.
However, the Civil War was not stated due to slavery, but due to the federal government trying to impose its rule over the states. In other words The North, which were also called “Federalist,” were ignoring the tenth amendment and those in the South wished to maintain the tenth amendment, as well as slavery. This was the great defeat of the Civil War, the loss of the power of this amendment, and its repercussions are still being felt today.
Now the federal government is behaving in just the manner that caused the Revolutionary War. Those within the government are wishing to impose their will upon the states. It is taxation without representation all over again. For those in Washington D.C. do not listen to, nor care to listen to those within the states, be they Republican or Democrat. All they seek after is to be the new royalty, thus heading us toward what is now happening to Venezuela, which is a Socialist Nation now in its own Civil War.
The Constitution was written by Godly men that followed the teachings of the Bible. Were they perfect? No. Did they have slavery? Yes, but their goal was in time to remove slavery. Unfortunately it took a Civil War to achieve this goal. Could we be headed to a new Civil War? I don’t know, but all the signs point to a change that is coming. A change that may come in the form of something that very few now realize. The return of Jesus Christ.