Wake up Castle Rock and America

I pray that everyone had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving. Now, I have a question for you. Do you keep Christ in Christmas at Christmas? Or would you instead celebrate something else? This question has haunted me for almost as long as I can remember. I remember the first time that it ever crossed my mind. It was in the military, and we were in the field on maneuvers at Christmas in Germany. I wonder about Christmas customs around the world. One of the stories I had heard was about the people of China celebrating Christmas in a completely different way than most other countries. It went like this back when the Chinese Communist Party ruled over them, and many homes wouldn't even have doors on the holiday. They would have a small image of Jesus at the center of the door and another person or family member outside to greet guests. It bothered me to think about how different our culture was from theirs, but at the same time, it also made me want to learn more about them so that I could be like them without being afraid of what others might think of me. So I started praying about it, asking God whether or not I should change what I am doing with my heart this holiday season. I asked Him to show me if keeping Christ in Christmas is possible or if even I am too stuck on the tradition to see past it all and accept Jesus as my true love gift from God… Christmas is one of the most important holidays of the year for Christians. It is a time to remember that God's gift of His Son, Jesus, came to earth as a man and died on the cross so that we could live. In this Spirit-filled season, we rededicate ourselves to living life to the fullest and celebrate Christmas as a time to focus on Him—not things, people, or ideas that can't be missed on December 25th. So here are some tips from a Christian standpoint on how to celebrate Christmas from a healthy perspective.         What is Keeping Christ in Christmas? Keeping Christ in Christmas is crucial to Christ's birthday—Christmas—in the holiday season. It is making room for Jesus in one's own home during this time of year. Traditionally, this has meant that the door to one's home is shut, and a small image of Jesus is placed at the center of the door. On the doorframe is a picture of the Nativity or the Ascension. Family members and close friends are invited to open the door and greet the guest as the doorbell rings. Gifts are exchanged, and the Christmas spirit is brought into the home.       Does Keeping Christ in Christmas depend on our culture, or can it be changed with time and effort? It's really up to you. You can choose to keep what Christ is believed to have meant for your culture and celebrate it throughout the year with your family, friends, and community. Or, you can turn back the hands of time and observe what your culture does not celebrate. This is why it's so important to make time for yourself this season and open the door for the season of giving. This is the first step to keeping Christ in Christmas. By making time for yourself this season, you are actively choosing to keep Christ in the Christmas season. Stay in the Christmas Spirit. When you celebrate Christmas, you are celebrating the life and death of Jesus. You are paying him tribute, and by doing so, you are acknowledging His existence and His power and celebrating how he redeemed us from our sins by giving us his precious blood. When you stay in the Christmas spirit, you are focused on only some things that are supposed to be done on December 25th. Instead, you are aware of the fact that this is a special day, and you are making an effort to focus on what is likely to be an incredibly joyous occasion.       What are other customs keeping Christ from us this season? Many customs are associated with Christmas that we could spend our time examining and discussing, but a few could be more positive. For example, there is the custom of reindeer-ing, in which poor, tired, abused, and hungry reindeer are forced to pull a sleigh full of toys and other gifts made by humans. Other animals are often forced to serve as companions; most of the time, they are not given adequate food or water to keep them alive through the long journey. There is also the custom of equipping the reindeer with sledgehammers and chainsaws so they do not have to walk in pain and can deliver the gift parcels. Celebrate the true meaning of Christmas: living a new life and being born again. Many people need help understanding the true meaning of Christmas. They think it is about Santa and presents and getting into the nitty-gritty of bargaining with the most powerful man in the world. But the truth is, the real meaning of Christmas is about living a new life and being born again. Most of us have heard the story of how Jesus was born. We have been told that He was born in Bethlehem of Nazareth. We have been told that He was born under the sign of the star that His parents saw in the sky. We have also been told that He grew up in Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee. But what we may not know is that after living a life of sin, after being tempted in every way that human souls could be drawn, He came to earth as a man and died on the cross for our sins. And now He is alive again and has returned to heaven.       Is keeping Christ in Christmas even possible? It is possible to keep Christ in Christmas, but it requires a lot of work. People might not notice if you don't actively work on it, but the choice is there for you to make. The first step is to accept Christ as your true love gift from God. Then, you need to make space for Him in your home this Christmas. This can be as simple as closing the door or turning off the lights in the room where you typically keep your traditions. It would be best if you chose to open the door for the season of giving by accepting the gifts others have brought for you. Finally, it would be best if you spent time with people celebrating something different from you. Celebrate the birth of Christ by reciting his birth announcement and His story. At the heart of Christmas is the birth of Christ. And during this season, you can celebrate the fantastic fact that through the power of God, the Son of God was born to earth. You can observe that He lived a sinless life and that we were all born again through His birth. You can also celebrate how the perfect babies were conceived through a virgin's womb. You can observe that this baby, conceived through God's power, was born to a virgin. This is the compelling story of the birth of Christ, and while you are celebrating the beginning of that story, you are also celebrating the end. Don't forget about the poor and oppressed. As the most famous religious holiday in the world, the opportune time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas is during this season. During this time, we are all more conscious that we are all connected by a shared humanity and that by participating in this season of giving, we are extending a warm and fuzzy feeling to people less fortunate than ourselves. Look to Jesus for redemption. When you celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, you are also celebrating the fact that through the death of Christ, our sins were forgiven, and a new relationship with God was begun. This is a time to think about how we can return the favor and be more welcoming to the people in our lives who have been having a rough time this past year. When you think about the poor and oppressed, you are also thinking about the people in your community who may not have had a chance to celebrate Christmas because they are struggling with their own economic issues. You can't make a wish for the whole world during this season of gifts because you are not going to change anyone's mind—only your heart. So instead of being hard on yourself for being so selfish as to forget about other people, you can look to Jesus for forgiveness and try to give him a warm and fuzzy on this birthday.       Conclusion The true meaning of Christmas is about giving, and it is possible to celebrate Christmas without giving to others. This is the essence of Christmas, but some people choose to keep it out of duty or obligation. The truth is that Christmas is a time to spend with family, friends, and loved ones, but it can also be a time to give gifts to others. The key is to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the son of God, in a way that makes His birth meaningful to the recipient. As you can see, there are many ways to celebrate Christmas from a nutritional standpoint and keep Christ in Christmas. By carefully planning your celebration, you can avoid excess and focus on the good things that come with this beautiful holiday. If you are struggling with overeating or feeling stressed out this time of year, try to stay focused on the good in your life and schedule downtime for a relaxation exercise before the big day. This will help you stay in the Christmas spirit and focus on the true meaning of this most important holiday. Jesus Christ

A Visit from St. Nicholas BY CLEMENT CLARKE MOORE 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds; While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, Gave a lustre of midday to objects below, When what to my wondering eyes did appear, But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer, With a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; So up to the housetop the coursers they flew With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too— And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack. His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow; The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight— “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”  

Thanksgiving with a Christian Point of View What are you thankful for? Let us Talk about Thanksgiving. There are so many things to be thankful for in life. From the most minor things, like a beautiful sunrise, to the bigger things, like being alive and having friends and family. Here are a few things that come to mind when I think about what I am thankful for. Primarily, I am thankful for my family. Able to tell my that I loved her before she went home to be with Christ Jesus' mom, last living sibling, my sister Eva Lee, my wife Deanna, and children are the most important people in my life, and I could not be happier to have them all around me. I am thankful for their love, support, and laughter. I am also thankful for my friends. I have never had as many great friends as I do now, and I am grateful for every single one. They have helped me through some tough times; I think of them as my second family.   Lastly, I am thankful for my health. Although not perfect, and I have had my share of setbacks, I am happy with my health. I do not always feel great, but I know that I am lucky to be alive and able to do all the things that I love according to the will of God. Giving thanks is a crucial part of the Christian faith. The Bible tells us to give thanks in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18). And what better time to give thanks than Thanksgiving? Giving thanks is a way of showing our dependence on God and His blessings. It is also a way of expressing gratitude for all He has done for us. When we give thanks, we acknowledge that everything we have is a gift from God. What a reason to give thanks! This Thanksgiving, let us remember to give thanks for all of God's blessings, big and small. Let us also remember to give thanks for His most extraordinary gift of all - His Son, Jesus Christ. Through Christ, we have been given the ultimate blessing of eternal life.   Thanksgiving is a time when most people take time to reflect and be thankful for the things they have in their lives. This may be why it is often considered one of the happiest holidays. But it can also be stressful, especially if you host friends or family for the first time. However, there is more to Thanksgiving than just food and football games. This holiday has a deeper meaning that harkens back to the Puritans, who first celebrated this special day in 1621 by giving thanks to God for their blessings. In fact, "The First Thanksgiving" was an event that brought together settlers from England and Native Americans as allies instead of enemies. As with any other Christian holiday, there are diverse ways you can celebrate Thanksgiving from a Christian point of view.       Keep the focus on giving thanks and celebrating abundance. The central theme of the day should be. That is why the first pilgrims came together in the first place. If you want to go even further, you can incorporate the celebration of abundance. You cannot be grateful if you do not also have a bunch of blessings in your life. The Christian celebration of Thanksgiving invites us to celebrate the goodness of God by reflecting on all the blessings in our lives. Whether struggling or thriving, you can always find something to be grateful for.   Have a meal that reminds you of all you are grateful for. The centerpiece of most Thanksgiving celebrations is the meal itself. But if you want to take things a step further, why not choose a food that reminds you of something you are grateful for? You can also select the type of food based on the person you are thankful for the most. This can be a friend, family member, or significant other. You can even make it a group celebration by choosing food that reminds you of your friends or community. If you want to do this in a way that is as inclusive as possible, you can ask each guest to bring a dish that represents something for which they are grateful.       Do not forget that helping others is one of the most important Christian values. As someone welcoming guests into your home, you may need to emphasize that helping others is a prominent Christian value. However, the best way to do this is to demonstrate the importance of giving to others while planning and preparing for your celebration. This way, your guests will see your value first-hand in helping others. If you are hosting the meal, think of ways to help others by donating your time or money. This can be as simple as giving to your local food bank or helping a friend who needs extra hands. If you are attending a friend's celebration, think of ways to help that do not involve active hosting. For example, you can offer a side dish to share or even help clean up.     Help your guests understand why this holiday is unique to you as a Christian. While celebrating the first Thanksgiving is a beautiful way to celebrate the Christian holiday, it is not the only way. You can also develop your traditions and help your guests understand why they are essential to you. You can go all out with a full-blown, themed celebration, or you can keep things simple by choosing one aspect of the holiday to focus on. This can be anything from the menu to the decorations. Let your guests know what you are planning so they can participate in the celebration to the best of their ability. If they are not Christians, tell them that the holiday is something you celebrate annually but that they do not need to participate in any religious aspects. You can even help them find ways to experience that do not have anything to do with Christianity.   Did you know Thanksgiving is a holiday that celebrates the harvest season, and the holiday was first celebrated by the Pilgrims in 1621. The holiday is not a pagan holiday and is celebrated worldwide by Christians.   Thanksgiving is a holiday that celebrates the harvest season, and the holiday was first celebrated by the Pilgrims in 1621. The holiday is not a pagan holiday and is celebrated worldwide by Christians. While Thanksgiving is celebrated by many people, there are some who believe that it is a pagan holiday. The holiday is not celebrated in England until the mid-18th century and in Canada until the late 1800s. The holiday is also not celebrated in Scotland until the late 19th century. The holiday is celebrated first in the United States and then in other countries worldwide.   Remember to continue celebrating when the holiday is over. The holiday itself is excellent, but you do not have to stop celebrating when it is over. There are plenty of ways you can continue to focus on gratitude once the celebrations are over. A straightforward way is to keep a gratitude journal. Every day, write down one thing for which you are grateful. Once a week, read your diary so you can reflect on all the blessings in your life. This way, you can extend the holiday if possible and always remember to be grateful for everything you have. There are also more involved ways to continue the celebration even when the holiday is over. You can create an ongoing tradition that you perform every year on Thanksgiving, whether decorating your home for the winter season or baking a particular type of pie. Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for all the blessings in our lives. But what if we could also give thanks for the ultimate blessing of eternal life through Christ Jesus? Just think, if it were not for Christ, we would have no hope of eternal life. So, this Thanksgiving, let us give thanks for the ultimate blessing of eternal life through Christ. Because without him, we would have no hope. Also, invite Jesus into your home this Thanksgiving Tell Jesus You're Thankful Primarily, you can bring Jesus into the holiday by expressing gratitude to him. It is easy to get so caught up in the busyness of the season that you forget to pause and give thanks to the Divine Being, who is the source of all blessings. When people are often gathered during the holidays, it is a beautiful time to express gratitude. You can do this formally, such as having everyone at the table go around and say what they are grateful for. You can also do this informally while waiting for family members to arrive at a gathering.       Participate in a Thanksgiving Meal Ritual One of the most important rituals of Thanksgiving is the meal itself. When was the last time you invited Jesus to sit at your table for a Thanksgiving meal? To ask Jesus into your holiday festivities this year, you can make the meal a memorable spiritual experience. You can do this in a few ways. You can start by ensuring that your table and surroundings are clean and tidy. This is not only respectful of your guests, but it also represents taking time to clean up your life and surroundings. You can also make sure that your table is set beautifully. This can be a highly creative activity that engages all your senses. For example, you may want to set the table with fall flowers and candles to create a beautiful atmosphere. You can also make the meal itself an act of worship! You can start by saying grace before eating or by making a special ritual out of blessing the food. You can also include special foods representing the fall season, such as pumpkins and apples. Finally, you can invite all your senses into the meal by creating a unique atmosphere and serving the dinner with special attention and care.       Light A Candle to Guide Your Thanks Another way to invite Jesus into your meal is to light a candle to guide your thanks. You can do this after you have said grace or at any other time you want to give thanks during the meal. When lighting the candle, you can use it to help guide your thoughts and words so that you express gratitude in a beautiful and meaningful way. To do this, look at the flame, and allow it to draw you into a state of deep relaxation. Then, as you inhale, imagine that your breath fills the flame with gratitude. As you exhale, imagine the flame taking your breath and gratitude and guiding it toward the Divine Source of all blessings. Continue to do this until you feel that you have expressed your gratitude fully. You can also add words to your candle ritual by saying something like: "I give thanks for all the blessings in my life that come from above."   Read Scripture and Pray to Celebrate the Season Another way to invite Jesus into your meal and holiday celebrations is to read scripture and pray to celebrate the season. Many Bible passages can be significant during Thanksgiving, such as the Psalms, Proverbs, and Gospels. You can use these to inspire your prayers and thoughts throughout the day. You can also try reading the Thanksgiving Prayer many people use during the holiday season, a beautiful prayer expressing gratitude and hope.     Have Guests Over for A Special Dinner   Finally, you can invite Jesus to your festivities by having guests for a special dinner. You can do this at any time during the season, but it could be significant to do it with family members, especially if they are not religious. Otherwise, you can invite friends with a spiritual focus or who share your spiritual beliefs. You can make the dinner a spiritual occasion by creating a unique atmosphere and serving the meal with special attention and care. You can create a beautiful table setting and make the dinner an act of worship, such as saying grace before eating.       Conclusion The holiday season is a particular time of year to take a moment to reflect on the blessings you have in life. It is a time to slow down, enjoy time with loved ones, and be thankful for all you have. Bringing Jesus into the holiday season can be a beautiful way to do that.      

When I share this, I'm speaking of myself as a military veteran that served 21 years of service to this country. And went through many ups and downs and had many doubts. I also would like to share with not only veterans but everyone. Christian service is noble, sacrificial, and life-changing. At the same time, serving as a Christian soldier is challenging and often lonely. As a result, veterans who identify as Christians sometimes feel isolated from their faith and unprepared for their post-military life. Thankfully, several Christian organizations support veterans with unique benefits and services. But you don't need to be an active member of any organization to remain vibrant in your faith, pursue God's will for your life, and transition smoothly into civilian life. This quick-read ebook podcast will explore Christian veterans' challenges, specifically as they transition from military service into civilian life. From there, we'll get you ready to take the next step toward becoming a thriving veteran who knows what you believe and why you believe it!         Christian veterans struggle to find their place in civilian life. For many veterans, the military is the only way they know how to make a living. As such, veterans often struggle to identify their new selves in civilian life. What do you do with your skills and expertise? And where do you belong if you can't remember a place for yourself? Veterans often find themselves alone, sitting uneasily between civilians and fellow veterans. This can create a "no man's land" where you struggle with your own identity as you question where you belong. This feeling is familiar among veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. While many civilians can walk away from service knowing they made a difference, veterans often don't. They were caught up in the mission and the mission alone. While the task was necessary, the veterans frequently asked what their service meant.   Christian veterans struggle to maintain a healthy relationship with God. Veterans who walk away from active duty often wonder how they can continue to trust and follow God. For many, the decision to walk away from military service was to walk away from God. This makes it challenging to maintain a healthy relationship with God. Where do you start? How do you trust again after putting your trust in yourself and others who ultimately failed you? As a Christian veteran, you must seek a healthy relationship with God. This relationship will help you regain your faith and grow as you trust God to see you through your post-military life.     Christian veterans struggle with depression and anxiety. While we don't have enough data to know how prevalent mental health struggles are among veterans, we do know that veterans who identify as Christians are more likely to struggle with anxiety and depression. There are many reasons for this. Among them, veterans who identify as Christians often struggle to find their place in civilian life. They work to maintain a healthy relationship with God, and, as a result, they struggle to understand the point of their service. As a Christian veteran, you must understand the signs of depression and anxiety and seek help as soon as they arise. You must also realize what an unhealthy relationship with God looks like. You can challenge these issues independently, but you will likely face significant challenges and setbacks. It's best to seek the help of a qualified and experienced mental health professional.     Christian veterans have difficulty finding purpose and meaning in their service.     As a Christian veteran, you may need help understanding the point of your service and the service itself. The challenge here is to recognize that your service's effectiveness differs from the service itself. The fact is the impact of your service on those around you. The best way to understand the point of your service is to ask yourself a straightforward question: "What difference did my service make, and how did it make a difference?" If you're having difficulty answering this question, it may be because you have yet to witness your service's impact. If this is the case, you can continue to trust God during this waiting period. Trust that God has a plan for your kindness and service itself. As you await God's plan, you must remember that the point of your service is the impact of your service on others.   Christian veterans struggle to understand where they fit in the Church.   As a Christian veteran, you may have difficulty understanding where you fit in the Church. After all, you're no longer in uniform and not a part of a specific unit or community. While your service will inform your role in the Church, you'll likely find that you're not restricted to any single position or community. As a veteran, you may find yourself in various settings, including in a civilian congregation, a veteran's Church, online, or even in prison. Whatever role or community you find yourself in, you can learn more about your faith and how you fit into the Church by reading the Bible (both the New Testament and the Psalms are great places to start), attending a Bible study, or even joining a veteran's Bible study.       Conclusion When you're ready to jump into your post-military life and know who you are and what you believe, you'll find it easier to be the best version of yourself! As a Christian veteran, you must understand the challenges you face in becoming a thriving veteran who knows what you believe and why you believe it. You can use the information in this article to prepare for the long and challenging journey ahead.   Why I Choose To Celebrate Veteran's Day As A Christian The Bible contains plenty of information about serving in the military. While many of the Bible's references to the military are only analogies, several verses directly relate to this question. The Bible does not explicitly state whether or not someone should serve in the military. At the same time, Christians can rest assured that being a soldier is highly respected throughout the Scriptures and know that such service is consistent with a biblical worldview.   The first example of military service was in the Old Testament (Genesis 14) when Abraham's nephew Lot was kidnapped by Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and his allies. Abraham rallied to Lot's aid by gathering 318 trained men from his household and defeating the Elamites. Here we see armed forces engaged in a noble task—rescuing and protecting the innocent.   Late in its history, the nation of Israel developed a standing army. The sense that God was the Divine Warrior and would protect His people regardless of their military strength may have been why Israel was slow to develop an army. The development of a regular standing army in Israel came only after Saul, David, and Solomon developed a robust, centralized political system. Saul was the first to form a permanent army (1 Samuel 13:2; 24:2; 26:2).   What Saul began, David continued. He increased the army, hired troops from other regions loyal to him alone (2 Samuel 15:19-22), and turned over the direct leadership of his armies to a commander-in-chief, Joab. Under David, Israel also became more aggressive in its offensive military policies, absorbing neighboring states like Ammon (2 Samuel 11:1; 1 Chronicles 20:1-3). David established a system of rotating troops with twelve groups of 24,000 men serving one month of the year (1 Chronicles 27). Although Solomon's reign was peaceful, he further expanded the army, adding chariots and horsemen (1 Kings 10:26). The standing army continued (though divided along with the kingdom after the death of Solomon) until 586 B.C. when Israel (Judah) ceased to exist as a political entity.   In the New Testament, Jesus marveled when a Roman centurion (an officer in charge of one hundred soldiers) approached Him. The centurion's response to Jesus indicated his clear understanding of authority and his faith in Jesus (Matthew 8:5-13). Jesus did not denounce his career. Many centurions mentioned in the New Testament are praised as Christians, God-fearers, and men of good character (Matthew 8:5; 27:54; Mark 15:39-45; Luke 7:2; 23:47; Acts 10:1; 21:32; 28:16). The places and the titles may have changed, but our armed forces should be just as valued as the centurions of the Bible. The position of a soldier was highly respected. For example, Paul describes Epaphroditus, a fellow Christian, as a "fellow soldier" (Philippians 2:25). The Bible also uses military terms to describe being strong in the Lord by putting on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20), including the tools of the soldier—helmet, shield, and sword.   Yes, the Bible does address serving in the military, directly and indirectly. Those who honorably serve in the military deserve our respect and gratitude. Christian men and women who serve their country with character, dignity, and honor can rest assured that our sovereign God condones and respects the civic duty they perform.     ‍     ‍   There are many national holidays that Christians may struggle with. Veteran's Day is one of those. Many Christians perceive it as a secular holiday and perhaps even a bit un-Christian. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. When we look beyond the surface, there are many Christian principles within Veteran's Day that can help us grow in our faith. Let's explore why as Christians, we should embrace Veterans Day rather than shy away from it.           Decoration And Acknowledgement Of The Fallen Veteran's Day is about more than just celebrating our armed forces; it is about paying tribute to those who have fallen in combat and continue fighting for our freedom today. While we honor those who have served, we should also remember those lost during the war. Let's take a moment to reflect on how their sacrifice has impacted us. Veterans Day is a way to remember our fallen brothers and sisters in arms. It is a chance for us to pay homage to those who have sacrificed everything for our freedom. We should also remember those who are currently serving. We can't forget that they are fighting for our freedom right now and deserve just as much recognition as those who have fallen before us.       Veterans Day Is About Honoring And Remembering Those Who Have Sacrificed Veterans Day is not just a day to celebrate the lives of those who have served in the military. It is also a day to remember the lives of those who have been lost. When we celebrate Veteran's Day, we should have a special remembrance for those who have given their lives in the name of freedom. Veterans Day is a chance for us to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. It is a chance for us to reflect on how their lives have impacted our own. We should not only reflect on the positive impact they have made. We should also be willing to acknowledge the impact their sacrifice has had on our lives.     We Should Celebrate All Holidays That Help Build Good Character Veteran's Day is not only about remembering those who have fallen but also about celebrating the virtues of those who are serving. Veteran's Day is a chance to celebrate the integrity of those serving in the military. It is an opportunity for us to celebrate their courage, honor, and self-sacrifice in the name of freedom. Christianity is all about promoting good character. Veteran's Day allows us to demonstrate and celebrate the virtues of those serving in the military. It is a chance for us to show gratitude and appreciation for their work. It is a day for us to remember that freedom isn't free. It is a day for us to show honor, gratitude, and appreciation for those currently serving.       Biblical Principle: Duty To Our Fellow Man One of the core Christian principles is that we have a duty to our fellow man. We are to respect and care for others just as we would want them to care for us. On Veteran's Day, we have the opportunity to show our gratitude and appreciation for those serving in the military. We have the chance to help those who are sacrificing for our freedom. We can offer our gratitude by volunteering at a veteran's home, donating to veterans' charities, or even simply thanking a veteran for their service in person if you happen to see them. We don't need a specific day to show gratitude for our fellow man. However, Veteran's Day provides us with an opportunity to demonstrate appreciation for those who are currently serving.       Biblical Principle: Commemorate Those We Have Lost And Show Respecting For Life Another Christian principle demonstrated on Veteran's Day is commemorating those we have lost and showing respect for life. Veteran's Day is a day to celebrate those who we have lost. It is a day to remember those who have given their lives for our freedom. Veteran's Day is also a chance to show respect for life. It is a chance for us to acknowledge that every life is precious. Every life is extraordinary and has a unique gift to give. Veteran's Day allows us to recognize the lives of those who have been lost while also celebrating the lives of those currently serving.       Biblical Principle: Be Prepared To Defend Our Faith, Country, And Others Another essential Christian principle is to be prepared to defend our faith, country, and even others. We don't just have a duty to protect our faith, and we also must defend our country. Veteran's Day is a chance for us to show appreciation for those currently serving in the military. It is a chance for us to show gratitude for those who are defending our freedom. We are also responsible for protecting other innocent and vulnerable people who may be suffering. Veteran's Day provides us with an opportunity to show appreciation for those who are currently serving in the military. It is a chance for us to show gratitude for those who are defending our freedom. Veteran's Day is also a good chance for us to protect other vulnerable people who may be suffering. It is an opportunity for us to show appreciation for additional services that protect and defend the freedoms of others.       Conclusion Veteran's Day is a day to celebrate and remember those who have served in our armed forces. It is a day to reflect on the sacrifices they have made and the impact they have had on our lives. Veteran's Day is a day to celebrate the virtues of those currently serving in the military. It is a day to show gratitude and appreciation for their work. Veteran's Day is a day to remember those lost during their service. It is a day to reflect on the impact their sacrifice has had on our lives. Veteran's Day is a day to show gratitude for the services provided by all military branches and other services that protect and defend the freedoms of others. Most importantly, Veteran's Day is a day to celebrate and remember the fallen, the virtues of those currently serving, the services others provide, and the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. What are your thoughts?

                                                        I'm a Christian with PTSD                                               God can even use my situation for His glory                                                                                                                                                     Mt acronym for PTSD = PRAYER -THANKFUL-STEADFAST-DEDICATED (TO TRUST IN GOD)   I have military service-connected disabilities, and yes, there were moments when I even had suicidal thoughts because I felt like I was a burden to my family. I found myself withdrawing from society and avoiding social situations at all costs.  I did not want to be around people, but my wife kept pushing me to seek help and got me back into the church. While symptoms of PTSD won't ever go away, through treatment, they can be managed and remain dormant, so living and thriving with PTSD is possible. FYI only People who have experienced a traumatic event and have PTSD are at greater risk of attempting suicide. About 27% of those diagnosed with PTSD have attempted suicide. Last month, the media reported on three separate yet related death by suicide in just one week. Does PTSD damage the brain?   According to recent studies, Emotional Trauma and PTSD cause brain and physical damage. Neuropathologists have seen overlapping effects of physical and emotional trauma upon the brain. Although The Bible does not say anything specifically about Posttraumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, I can glean much guidance from some indirect teachings in the Bible. What is PTSD: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a severe accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, or rape or who have been threatened with death, sexual violence or severe injury. Yes, I have a treatment process involving physical, mental, and spiritual healing. I also require professional help. My treatment is ongoing. I have gotten many resources from the VA hospital. Medication has helped alleviate some of my symptoms. I m thankful to have a network of support—counselors, doctors, my family members, pastors, and the church family—it has been essential in my recovery process.  Of course, my most important support is God, our ultimate Healer, and Counselor. David wrote, "From the ends of the earth I call to you, / I call as my heart grows faint; / lead me to the rock that is higher than I. / For you have been my refuge, / a strong tower against the foe" (Psalm 61:2–3). It is our responsibility to exercise faith in God, to stay in the Word, to cry out to God in prayer, and to maintain fellowship with other believers.  We go to God in our distress and use the resources He provides. Regardless of the circumstances, there is hope. First and foremost, that hope comes from God. Posttraumatic stress disorder can be devastating, but I must remember that I was not alone in my struggles.  Many others have dealt with PTSD, and resources are available to help you. It can be challenging to get through each day when you're struggling with PTSD, but staying positive and focused on the good in your life is essential.    You deserve happiness in your life, and you deserve to be healthy. There are many ways to cope with PTSD, but staying in God's Word does help. By changing your thinking, focusing on the good, practicing self-care, and finding a support group, you can manage your PTSD and find joy in your life again. I did. I discovered that Changing my perspective helped me stop feeling sorry for myself and focus on the good things God has blessed me with in my life. Finding humor in my situation allows me to laugh away some of my stress and fear. I had to learn to speak the truth about practical things; it was challenging but also necessary. Often, I felt endangered when the situation did not warrant it.  Remind me that going to Walmart or any store is not a traumatic event but a new and safe situation. This is important. It is also essential to say that PTSD is not an excuse for bad behavior. Likely, PTSD will contribute to opposing thoughts and behavior patterns. This is understandable, but it should be resisted. James 4:7 New International Version Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. When we encounter trauma, it's natural to have an immediate and often intense response. After all, the human brain was not designed to experience these kinds of events.  When we are suddenly confronted with danger, it triggers the "fight-or-flight" response in our brains. This is an automatic reaction that our ancestors needed when they were in trouble — but unfortunately, these responses are now triggered by experiences that are not physically threatening.  Fortunately, as Christians, we do not have to leave suffering unaddressed or unresolved just because we believe that Jesus has already won the final victory over evil and sin.  With Christ and his Holy Spirit living within us, we can still find a way forward from any traumatic event and begin to heal from its effects on our lives. If you or someone you know has experienced trauma from abuse or other events and needs help understanding how the Christian faith can help with PTSD, read for some suggestions. Know that God cares about you and will help you heal.   Jesus suffered significant trauma in his life — not only on the cross but also in his childhood when he was separated from his mother and had to confront the injustices of his society. Jesus also lived with the knowledge that he would suffer an unjust death.  Like Jesus, you can rely on God's presence and love when you feel most alone. God is always with you and will help you heal from the trauma you have experienced. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to get to know God better. Read his Word to find out what he thinks about you and the trauma you've experienced. Remember that you are not alone. When you suffer trauma, it's important to remember that you aren't alone.  The Bible tells us that we've all experienced hardships due to living as human beings on this broken planet. One of the most reassuring passages for those suffering trauma is Psalm 34:18: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." God's Word tells you that you are not alone; others have endured the same suffering and survived, and so can you. It would be best if you reached out to others in your community who can be there for you when needed. You may want to find a local trauma survivors' support group or a counselor who can help you connect with others who have also experienced trauma.   Acknowledge your feelings, but don't rely on them exclusively. When we encounter trauma, we are often encouraged to express our feelings, but it's important not to rely too much on them.  For example, if you were sexually abused as a child, it's not healthy to continually re-experience those emotions or sensations in your body. Instead, you want to acknowledge those feelings and emotions and then focus on healing from them.  You can do this by writing down your memories, speaking to them to a trusted friend or counselor, or engaging in other activities that can help you process what has happened without re-experiencing the trauma again and again. You can do this for any traumatic event in your life: a car crash, the death of a loved one, acts of violence, or natural disasters.  Remember Can PTSD be permanent? In some cases, mainly where it is not treated, PTSD can last a very long time, perhaps the remainder of one's life. Most people with longstanding PTSD find that the symptoms are not steady in severity. For some people, PTSD symptoms gradually fade over time. I have developed insomnia and sleep apnea and still wake up in a sweat. I still react to sudden movement or noise. However, I continue to work on myself through God and my wife and ongoing counsel. Identify what helps you feel safe. Some people want to avoid the situations that trigger their trauma. Others want to face their fears. It's essential to identify what helps you feel safe: • Avoiding certain people or places. • Facing your fears. • Engaging in activities that help you relax. • Engaging in activities that help you feel strong. • Connect with friends or family members who can support you. • Spending time in nature. • Reading scripture. • Praying. • Seeking professional counseling — these are just a few of the many ways you can begin to heal from trauma. My wife convinced me to join the recreation center's American Legion and silver sneakers and pursue my photography hobby.     Find a trusted counselor and build a support network. Talking with a professional counselor can help you process your trauma and find new ways to cope with your anxiety, fear, or other negative emotions. It can be helpful to talk with someone who understands what you're going through and who can help you process and heal from the trauma you have experienced in your life. It's also essential to build a support network of people who can be there for you when you need them. You may want to find a support group or start visiting a counselor who can help you find others like you who are going through similar things.   Take care of your body by eating well and exercising. Taking care of your body is an essential part of healing from trauma. Eating well and exercising can help you to feel empowered, relaxed, and strong. In addition, taking care of your body can remind you that you are worth taking care of. You can do whatever works for you: meditative exercises like yoga or tai chi, physical exercise like running or weight-lifting, eating well by eating a balanced diet — it's essential to find something that works for you. One important thing to remember is that you don't have to get over trauma in one day or even a few months. Healing takes time and is an ongoing process — but you don't have to go through this alone.   Conclusion Life can be difficult and painful. But when we know how to handle these difficult experiences, we can find life more meaningful. If you have PTSD, you must reach out to others who can help you. It's also important to remember that God loves you and cares about you deeply, and he wants to help you through your pain and suffering. You don't have to go through this alone. Reminder: PTSD is a complex challenge requiring strong faith in God and willingness to persevere. But God is faithful, and each day we can choose to surrender to God's love, battle the PTSD as best we can, and ultimately rest in God's grace and compassion.  PTSD is not something to ignore but something to turn over to God and actively engage with. We are invited to approach God boldly and pour our hearts into Him (Hebrews 4:14–16).  We are assured that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:35–38). God can restore the mental health of the person living with PTSD. In the end, God can even use the situation for His glory. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ" (2 Corinthians 1:3–5).

  God's Plans or Your Plans   God's plans never fail and always lead us to a happy ending, but that doesn't mean we won't get scared or feel like giving up. Feelings are real and can take over your mind, giving you second thoughts about continuing with what you believe is the right path. However, if you keep listening to your fears, you will never know what God has in store for you. If we let fear control our actions, we might miss out on the great things that are waiting for us around the corner. Whatever challenges come our way, trusting God is the most important thing we must do to succeed. With these inspiring quotes about trusting God when everything feels off, you will be able to remind yourself that it's not about your plans or His plans but rather His plan for your life.           Change your perspective When everything feels off, and you're second-guessing every choice you make, you might want to consider changing your perspective. We can all change our perception of an event, situation, or person and start seeing things differently. If your life is feeling off, start looking at things with a new perspective. You might discover that you have nothing to worry about. You can change how you feel by changing how you look at things. If you are stressed out and feel things aren't going well, try looking at the situation differently. Break down the problem into smaller pieces, and focus on the positives. By changing your perspective, you might realize everything is going according to plan.       Don't be afraid to fail. When you're walking through life, there will be moments when you will feel like everything is going wrong. You may feel like you're failing at life and don't know where to go from here. You may feel like giving up and quitting everything you've been trying to achieve. At these moments, you must remember not to be afraid to fail. If you forget this one thing, it doesn't mean you're a failure as a whole. Everyone fails at some point in their lives. All great people who have ever walked the face of the planet have failed. This is how we learn to grow and get better. If you don't make mistakes, you can't learn from them. Failing at something doesn't make you a failure; it makes you human.       It's not about you Sometimes we get so caught up in our own lives and plans that we start to forget that it's not about us. It's about what God has planned for us. We will make mistakes. We will feel lost and lonely. We will question our faith. This is all part of our journey, and it's OK to feel this way. When you get overwhelmed with your feelings, remember that it's not about you. It's about God. God has a plan for your life, and he has your back. He sees you when you are in the depths of despair, and he hears your cries for help. He is there for you. He wants you to know that he is with you through the ups and downs of life.       God won't give you more than you can handle There will be moments in your life when you feel like you're being tested. You will face many obstacles, and you will struggle to find a way to get past your fears. You will feel like giving up and want to walk away from your journey. This is when you must remember that God won't give you more than you can handle. Every situation you encounter is meant to help shape who you are as a person so you can grow into a better person. You are not meant to go through life without facing any obstacles. They help you grow and become a better version of yourself. You can get through anything you're faced with. Remember that God won't give you more than you can handle.       Take time to reflect. When the universe feels turned upside down, and you want to give up, take time out of your day to reflect. Reflect on your past and experiences, or even those who have played a role in your life. Think about the things you have learned and how you have grown. Reflecting on your past can help you realize that you can do great things. You have what it takes to make it through the tough times and succeed in whatever journey you're on.       Bottom line The universe is a crazy place, and it will throw us curve balls regularly. It can be hard to know what to do when everything feels off. You might get scared and feel like giving up, or you might have to force yourself to move forward. Regardless of your thoughts, you must remember that it's not about your or God's plans. It's about God's plan for your life. Never let fear make you question your decisions, as God's plans always result in a happy ending. Even if we get scared or feel like giving up, when we follow God's plans, they will lead us to a good place. When you listen to your fears, you will never know what God has in store for you. Whatever challenges arise, trusting God is the most important thing you can do to succeed. We must heed God's plans rather than our own if we wish to achieve. In these inspiring quotes on trusting God despite everything going wrong, you'll be able to remind yourself that it's not about His plans versus your plans, but rather His plan for your life. In the book of Galatians, Paul challenges the church to "Stand firm and do not be intimidated." In verses 17-19, he encourages them by reminding them of who they are in Christ. As believers, we have an identity in Christ that is much more than what we were before salvation. We are saved and set free from the penalty of sin, but we also have a new identity. In this booklet/podcast, you'll learn about your identity in Christ, how it changes everything, and how it should impact everything. Read on to discover more about your new identity in Christ as a follower of Jesus.     What does it mean to have an Identity in Christ? The first part of Galatians 4:4 reads, "In Christ you are..." This is your identity in Christ. It is the place you find yourself as a believer. To have an identity in Christ means having an identity in relationship to Jesus. Your identity in Christ is an excellent reminder of what you were, who you are now, and who you are yet to be. First, it reminds you of what you were. Before salvation, you were a slave to sin. You were captive to the power of sin, held by its grip, unable to break free. The Christian life is not about trying to live a perfect life. You were not saved to try and be good enough. Instead, you were saved from being set free. With God's help, you've been free from sin's power and given power over sin. Second, it reminds you of who you are now. As a believer, you are set free from the power of sin. You are no longer a slave to sin but a slave to righteousness. You are not just set free from the penalty of sin; you are also set free from the law of sin and death. No longer are you held captive by its power. You have been adopted as a child of God and have a new identity as God's child.   You are no longer a slave to sin. First, you are no longer a slave to sin as a believer. Sin has a hold on all of us. Sinful desires and tendencies are a part of our fallen state. Because of the fall, we are all born with a sinful nature. That sinfulness is directed toward our relationship with God. We are sinful and want to do sin. We want to do what is against God and His word. We want to live our lives our way and on our terms. We are in an ongoing struggle with our sinful nature. In Christ, you are no longer a slave to sin. You are free from its power and have the power to fight it. In Christ, you have been given the ability and capacity to defeat sin and to live above it. You have been given a new nature, a new heart, and a new spirit. You are now a new person because the older person has been crucified with Christ. You have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. He lives in you, empowering and enabling you to live above sin and be set free.   You are set free from the law of sin and death. Second, as a believer, you have been set free from the law of sin and death. Law is a rule or standard. The law of sin and death refers to the practice or standard given in the Old Testament. It is a rule written on the hearts of humans that they failed to live up to. The law of sin and death refers to the power of sin and death holding humans back from eternal life. In Christ, you have been set free from the law of sin and death. You are set free from the power holding you back from your potential and the life you were meant to live. The law of sin and death was a rule written on your heart. It was within you holding you back from being all that God created you to be. In Christ, you have been set free from the law of sin and death. In Christ, you have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. He lives in you, empowering and enabling you to live above sin and be set free.   You have been adopted as a child of God. Third, you have been adopted as a child of God as a believer. God, the author of life, created you and has great plans for you. In Christ, you are adopted as a child. This means that God has adopted you into His family. You are no longer just a friend or a companion but a child of God. Through His Son, Jesus, God has adopted you as His child. You have been given a new identity as God's child. You have also been given a new name. Your name is no longer the one your parents gave you. Instead, it is the name of a son or a daughter of God. God gives you His name and an identity as a son or a daughter. You are God's child, and you are called to represent Him.   How does your Christian Identity change everything? Your identity in Christ is everything. It is where you find yourself and how you see yourself. It is your past, present, and future. In Christ, your past has been forgiven and forgotten. Your present is transformed, and your future is filled with hope and promise. You were saved and set free from the penalty of sin, but you also have a new identity. You are no longer a slave to sin, set free from the law of sin and death, and adopted as a child of God. Your Christian identity changes everything. Everything changes because you have an identity in Christ. The Christian life is not about trying to live a perfect life. It is about living above sin and being set free. It is about living in light of your new identity. You no longer have to live a life that is frustrated and caught up in the power of sin. You can live a life set free from the penalty and law of sin and death. You can live a life empowered by the Holy Spirit and live above sin, and be set free. Your identity in Christ should lead you to live in light of your new identity. As a child of God, you should live like one. You were bought with a price and are no longer an enslaved person but a child. You were adopted into God's family. You were given a new name and a new identity. You are no longer a slave to sin. You've been set free from the law of sin and death. You are a child of God, adopted and given a new identity. Your Christian Identity changes everything.   It should lead you to live in light of your new identity. Your identity in Christ should lead you to live in light of your new identity. You are not saved to try and be good enough. You are dedicated to being set free. God has set you free from the penalty of sin and the law of sin and death. He has adopted you as His child and given you a new identity. You are no longer a slave to sin but a child of God. You are no longer just a friend or companion but a child of God. You were bought with a price, and you are no longer a slave but a child. The Christian life is about living as God's child. It is about living above sin, being set free, and being empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is about living in light of your new identity.   And finally… The first part of Galatians 4:4 reads, "In Christ you are..." This is your identity in Christ. It is the place you find yourself as a believer. To have an identity in Christ means having an identity in relationship to Jesus. Your identity in Christ is an excellent reminder of what you were, who you are now, and who you are yet to be. That identity is everything. It is where you find yourself and how you see yourself. In Christ, your past has been forgiven and forgotten. Your present is transformed, and your future is filled with hope and promise. You were saved and set free from the penalty of sin, but you also have a new identity. You are no longer a slave to sin, set free from the law of sin and death, and adopted as a child of God. Because of your identity in Christ, everything changes. Your Christian life is not about trying to live a perfect life. It is about living above sin and being set free. Your identity in Christ should lead you to live in

Welcome to Wake up Castle Rock. Wake up, America.   We are living in a world of corruption, destruction, hypocrisy murderous individuals, and was sad about it is that a lot of this is the outcome many political leaders have taken God and Jesus out of our nation. I think some people question where's God. The reality, we all need Jesus, from the sinner to the Saint, from the prison to the politician, from the church members to the pastors. We all need Jesus. God is right here with us. We must continue faith, hope, and trust in God and never lose heart. We all know, at least I hope that we all know, that in God's word, this says there will be wars and rumors of wars; take a good look around you. Are we living in end times? I believe we are, but if that date is near, none of us truly knows. I can only hope and pray that Christians will wake up and share the gospel of Jesus Christ and not be afraid to do it. I also hope to pray that non-believers will come to Christ and also pray that these political leaders, those that have hearts of stone, God will give them a heart of flesh, so they will realize what they are doing. You know, I don't care too much about watching the news. It is very depressing a times. It's just one-sided. It's OK for them to promote homosexuality, yet they do not want to promote the virtues of living for Christ. You have churches that are being burned down, people that believe in pro-life are being attacked but yet that somebody says something negative about homosexuals, they want to take you to court they want to say, oh, that is a hate crime it's very confusing what about the hate crimes that it's been formed and that have been targeted against Christians. I am not that naive not to think that someone will say something negative about this podcast. They will hate me for being a Christian speaking the gospel truth. Still, it's OK because if they say something negative about this podcast, all they do is what it says in God's word. Jesus said in this world you would have trouble, you would have tribulation but take heart he has overcome the world. Jesus also said you would be persecuted. And I'm not going to lie; I genuinely believe that some who profess to be Christians are afraid to stand up for Christ because I might lose my job or fear what people would think of me. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.   Suppose you need any appliance repair. I highly recommend Aspen Appliance Repair of Castle Rock. Ask for Kevin Kreger 720 909 3095 Aspen Appliance Repair - Best Rates in Castle Rock CO https://www.aspenappliancerepairofcastlerock.com/   We service all Major Brand Name Appliances. Quality Service to Castle Rock residents for over 25 Years. No Service Call Fee. Services: Oven Repair, Appliance Repair, Washer Dryer Repair. Garbage Disposal Repair · ‎Contact Us · ‎About Us · ‎Professional Services This is not a paid advertisement

DUCT TAPE   DUCT TAPE It can fix many things, but it cannot improve stupidity -ignorance-foolishness-arrogance Has Covid caused many just to go stupid-foolish-arrogant-ignorant-You decide Many people lack knowledge; yes, this includes our elected leaders but rather than trying to find it, they don't. Fools remain in stupidity and would rather live in evil than learn the way of righteousness. Just take a look around rainbow fentanyl pills-hate crime mounting up-yale professor working with 3-year old's on their gender journey-john Kerry climate hypocrisy-man arrested for buying body parts-foot floating in yellow stone park-people sucker punching innocent bystanders- Body found in Clear Creek in Adams County; investigation underway Shooting outside a sports bar in Aurora and so much more.   Look at what Scripture teaches about being stupid Proverbs 9:13 Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing.   Ecclesiastes 7:25 I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and to understand the reason for things. I was determined to prove to myself that wickedness is stupid and that foolishness is madness.   2 Timothy 3:7 Always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.   Proverbs 27:12 The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.   Ecclesiastes 10:1-3 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left. Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense and show everyone how stupid they are.   Proverbs 14:23-24 In hard work, there is always profit, but too much chattering leads to poverty. The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the stupidity of fools is just that—stupidity!   Psalm 10:4 The wicked are too proud to seek God. They seem to think that God is dead.   Fools hate getting corrected.   Proverbs 12:1 The person who loves correction loves knowledge, but anyone who hates a rebuke is stupid.   Idol worshipping   Jeremiah 10:8-9 People who worship idols are stupid and foolish. The things they worship are made of wood! They bring beaten sheets of silver from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz, and they give these materials to skillful craftsmen who make their idols. Then they dress these gods in royal blue and purple robes made by expert tailors. Jeremiah 10:14-16 Everyone is stupid and without knowledge. Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his images are false. There is no life in them. They're worthless, a work of mockery, and when the time of punishment comes, they'll perish. The Portion of Jacob is not like these. He made everything, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance. The LORD of the Heavenly Armies is his name.   Reminders   2 Timothy 2:23-24 Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Proverbs 13:16 All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly.   Ignorance is the lack of knowledge or understanding. Ignorant people are either unaware or uninformed. Sometimes we are ignorant because we do not know there is a need to learn something. Other times, we are ignorant because we have chosen not to learn something we need to know. In Hosea 4:6, the Lord says, "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you." Willfully rejecting knowledge that God wants us to have is sinful ignorance. While unintentional ignorance about earthly topics is understandable, intentional ignorance about spiritual matters can lead to eternal destruction (Romans 1:18–23).   The Bible makes a distinction between ignorance and innocence. We don't have to be ignorant of sin; we can be highly informed about sin yet remain innocent of it. But we should all be ignorant about the practice of evil. Ephesians 5:11–12 says, "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret." In Matthew 10:16, Jesus warned us, "I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."   We must know how our enemy functions to fight the spiritual battle. Believers are encouraged to forgive each other "so that Satan would not outwit us; for we are not ignorant of his designs" (2 Corinthians 2:11, ESV). Ignorance about what the devil is up to—and ignorance of the damage done by unforgiveness—is dangerous to our spiritual health. One of Satan's basic tactics is to keep people ignorant: "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:4). Ignorant people are easy prey for those with wicked schemes (Psalm 1:1–2; Proverbs 7:6–7, 21–23).   God says that idolatry springs from spiritual ignorance: "Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save" (Isaiah 45:20). Ignorance of the true God is unjustifiable because the knowledge of God's existence and power is available all around us (Romans 1:18–23). People who substitute false gods instead of pursuing the real God are sinfully ignorant.   Hebrews 5:2 says that Jesus is "able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray since he himself is subject to weakness." God has great patience, even with the ignorant. Even when we are willfully ignorant, He gives us a multitude of opportunities to learn (2 Peter 3:9). Paul said that God showed him mercy because, before Jesus saved him, he had "acted in ignorance and unbelief" (1 Timothy 1:13; Acts 3:17).   God commands us to repent of our ignorance and seek Him with all our hearts (Acts 17:30; Jeremiah 29:13). The opposite of spiritual ignorance is wisdom, and we are told to seek wisdom above all things (Proverbs 3:13–18). Fortunately, knowledge is readily accessible; the book of Proverbs personifies wisdom as a noble lady who is calling out to all publicly: "To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it" (Proverbs 8:4–5). Every time the Bible commands us to "listen" or "hear," God gives us a chance to trade ignorance for His wisdom.     Foolishness results from a person misusing the intelligence God has given him. A fool uses his reasoning skills to make wrong decisions. The most basic type of foolishness is denying God's existence or saying "no" to God (Psalm 14:1). The Bible associates folly with a quick temper (Proverbs 14:16–17), perverse speech (Proverbs 19:1), and disobedience to parents (Proverbs 15:5). We are born with innate foolishness. Still, discipline will help train us in wisdom (Proverbs 22:15).   Proverbs 19:3 says that foolishness is counterproductive: "A person's folly leads to their ruin." Jesus in Mark 7:22 uses a word that means "senselessness" and is translated as "folly." In that context, Jesus describes what comes out of the heart of man and defiles him. Foolishness is one of the pieces of evidence that man has a defiled, sinful nature. Proverbs 24:9 says, "The schemes of folly are sin." Foolishness, then, is the breaking of God's law, for sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4).   To the fool, God's way is foolishness. "The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing." (1 Corinthians 1:18; cf. verse 23). The gospel seems foolish to the unsaved because it doesn't make sense to them. The fool is entirely out of phase with God's wisdom. The gospel goes against the unbeliever's native intelligence and reason, yet "God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21).   The believer in Christ receives the very nature of God (2 Peter 1:4), which includes the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). By relying on the Holy Spirit's indwelling power, the believer can reject foolishness. His thoughts can please the Lord, and he can make decisions that glorify God as he enriches his life and the lives of those around him (Philippians 4:8–9; Ephesians 5:18—6:4).   When it comes to our eternal destiny, one is either a fool, meaning he rejects the gospel of Christ, or one is wise, meaning he believes in Christ and commits his life to Him (see Matthew 7:24–27). The believer discovers that the gospel—what he thought was foolishness—is, in reality, the wisdom of God providing him eternal salvation. Has Covid caused many just to go stupid-foolish-arrogant-ignorant- You decide Many people lack knowledge; yes, this includes our elected leaders but rather than trying to find it, they don't. Fools remain in stupidity and would rather live in evil than learn the way of righteousness. Just take a look around rainbow fentanyl pills-hate crime mounting up-yale professor working with 3-year old's on their gender journey-john Kerry climate hypocrisy-man arrested for buying body parts-foot floating in yellow stone park-people sucker punching innocent bystanders- Body found in Clear Creek in Adams County; investigation underway Shooting outside a sports bar in Aurora and so much more   Look at what Scripture teaches about being stupid. Proverbs 9:13 Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing.   Ecclesiastes 7:25 I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and to understand the reason for things. I was determined to prove to myself that wickedness is stupid and that foolishness is madness.   2 Timothy 3:7 Always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.   Proverbs 27:12 The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.   Ecclesiastes 10:1-3 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left. Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense and show everyone how stupid they are.   Proverbs 14:23-24 In hard work, there is always profit, but too much chattering leads to poverty. The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the stupidity of fools is just that—stupidity!   Psalm 10:4 The wicked are too proud to seek God. They seem to think that God is dead.   Fools hate getting corrected.   Proverbs 12:1 The person who loves correction loves knowledge, but anyone who hates a rebuke is stupid.   Idol worshipping   Jeremiah 10:8-9 People who worship idols are stupid and foolish. The things they worship are made of wood! They bring beaten sheets of silver from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz, and they give these materials to skillful craftsmen who make their idols. Then they dress these gods in royal blue and purple robes made by expert tailors. Jeremiah 10:14-16 Everyone is stupid and without knowledge. Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his images are false. There is no life in them. They're worthless, a work of mockery, and when the time of punishment comes, they'll perish. The Portion of Jacob is not like these. He made everything, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance. The LORD of the Heavenly Armies is his name.   Reminders   2 Timothy 2:23-24 Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Proverbs 13:16 All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly.   Ignorance is the lack of knowledge or understanding. Ignorant people are either unaware or uninformed. Sometimes we are ignorant because we do not know there is a need to learn something. Other times, we are ignorant because we have chosen not to learn something we need to know. In Hosea 4:6, the Lord says, "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you." Willfully rejecting knowledge that God wants us to have is sinful ignorance. While unintentional ignorance about earthly topics is understandable, intentional ignorance about spiritual matters can lead to eternal destruction (Romans 1:18–23).   The Bible makes a distinction between ignorance and innocence. We don't have to be ignorant of sin; we can be highly informed about sin yet remain innocent of it. But we should all be ignorant about the practice of evil. Ephesians 5:11–12 says, "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret." In Matthew 10:16, Jesus warned us, "I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."   We must know how our enemy functions to fight the spiritual battle. Believers are encouraged to forgive each other "so that Satan would not outwit us; for we are not ignorant of his designs" (2 Corinthians 2:11, ESV). Ignorance about what the devil is up to—and ignorance of the damage done by unforgiveness—is dangerous to our spiritual health. One of Satan's basic tactics is to keep people ignorant: "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:4). Ignorant people are easy prey for those with wicked schemes (Psalm 1:1–2; Proverbs 7:6–7, 21–23).   God says that idolatry springs from spiritual ignorance: "Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save" (Isaiah 45:20). Ignorance of the true God is unjustifiable because the knowledge of God's existence and power is available all around us (Romans 1:18–23). People who substitute false gods instead of pursuing the real God are sinfully ignorant.   Hebrews 5:2 says that Jesus is "able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray since he himself is subject to weakness." God has great patience, even with the ignorant. Even when we are willfully ignorant, He gives us a multitude of opportunities to learn (2 Peter 3:9). Paul said that God showed him mercy because, before Jesus saved him, he had "acted in ignorance and unbelief" (1 Timothy 1:13; Acts 3:17).   God commands us to repent of our ignorance and seek Him with all our hearts (Acts 17:30; Jeremiah 29:13). The opposite of spiritual ignorance is wisdom, and we are told to seek wisdom above all things (Proverbs 3:13–18). Fortunately, knowledge is readily accessible; the book of Proverbs personifies wisdom as a noble lady who is calling out to all publicly: "To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it" (Proverbs 8:4–5). Every time the Bible commands us to "listen" or "hear," God gives us a chance to trade ignorance for His wisdom.     Foolishness results from a person misusing the intelligence God has given him. A fool uses his reasoning skills to make wrong decisions. The most basic type of foolishness is denying God's existence or saying "no" to God (Psalm 14:1). The Bible associates folly with a quick temper (Proverbs 14:16–17), perverse speech (Proverbs 19:1), and disobedience to parents (Proverbs 15:5). We are born with innate foolishness. Still, discipline will help train us in wisdom (Proverbs 22:15).   Proverbs 19:3 says that foolishness is counterproductive: "A person's folly leads to their ruin." Jesus in Mark 7:22 uses a word that means "senselessness" and is translated as "folly." In that context, Jesus describes what comes out of the heart of man and defiles him. Foolishness is one of the pieces of evidence that man has a defiled, sinful nature. Proverbs 24:9 says, "The schemes of folly are sin." Foolishness, then, is the breaking of God's law, for sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4).   To the fool, God's way is foolishness. "The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing." (1 Corinthians 1:18; cf. verse 23). The gospel seems foolish to the unsaved because it doesn't make sense to them. The fool is entirely out of phase with God's wisdom. The gospel goes against the unbeliever's native intelligence and reason, yet "God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21).   The believer in Christ receives the very nature of God (2 Peter 1:4), which includes the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). By relying on the Holy Spirit's indwelling power, the believer can reject foolishness. His thoughts can please the Lord, and he can make decisions that glorify God as he enriches his life and the lives of those around him (Philippians 4:8–9; Ephesians 5:18—6:4).   When it comes to our eternal destiny, one is either a fool, meaning he rejects the gospel of Christ, or one is wise, meaning he believes in Christ and commits his life to Him (see Matthew 7:24–27). The believer discovers that the gospel—what he thought was foolishness—is, in reality, the wisdom of God providing him eternal salvation.

Your Thoughts Is It Okay to Push or force Homosexual Ideas on People? Welcome to wake up castle rock and America. I'm your host Willie Ayers.   ‍I remember when many spoke about Christian trying to force religion on others; however, I do not hear anyone speaking of homosexuals forcing their ideas on others, including children. You turn on the tv or go to a movie nine times out of 10; there with be an act of homosexual activity or conversation eluding to it. Many researchers cite environmental factors as major contributors to homosexual feelings. They firmly believe that negative early childhood experiences in an unloving or non-supportive home environment are a critical part of this process. In the modern world, it's evident that there are many different ideas about what is right and what is wrong. It doesn't take much to see that Christians and homosexuals have very different viewpoints on what is acceptable behavior. Many people today don't believe in God or think he doesn't exist. To many non-believers, it seems clear that the Christian faith is outdated and irrelevant. But the truth is that we live in a world where people make decisions about their eternity every day. The Bible makes it clear that everyone will answer to God one day, no matter who they are or what they have done on earth. In this podcast, I will be discussing homosexual ideas vs. Christian views on love and relationships with a further focus on gay marriage and Christianity. The Problem with Same-Sex Marriage for Christians For many people, it might seem like a good idea to have people marry whomever they want, regardless of their sex. But Christians have a problem with this because they believe God designs marriage between one man and one woman. They reason that only a man and woman can create a family and be there for each other in a way that nobody else can. Christian marriage is based on God's creation of humans, male and female. That marriage was designed to bring together two individuals of the opposite sex for a life-long relationship to love and care for one another and raise children. The Bible and Homosexuality The Bible has a lot to say on various topics, and homosexuality is one of them. When people try to discuss the issue of homosexuality and Christianity, the first thing they often do is look at specific passages in the Bible that talk about it. The Bible makes it clear that the act of homosexuality is a sin. God created humans, male and female, and he didn't make any others. According to the story in the book of Genesis, God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. But just because the Bible condemns homosexuality, that doesn't mean that every person who is gay is automatically going to hell. The Bible clarifies that no person is beyond God's mercy if they ask for it. What the Bible Says About Homosexuality and Marriage Homosexuality is against the Bible, but it isn't the worst sin out there. Homosexuality is a sin, but not all sins are equal. We know, for example, that murder is a much worse crime than lying. Similarly, some sins are worse than others, and homosexuality is one of them. By committing this sin, a person rejects the gift of gender that God has given them. In dismissing their God-given identity, they leave a core part of who they are. So, the Bible doesn't say much about homosexuality because it wasn't a common practice in the times when the New Testament was written. But when it does address homosexuality, the Bible makes it clear that gay marriage is an act of rebellion against God's desire that people have a family with a member of the opposite sex. If people choose to have homosexual relationships, they are sinning against God, and they aren't able to have the family he has in store for them. How that Changes the Christian View The Bible clarifies that homosexuality is a sin and isn't something Christians condone. But the fact that homosexuality is a sin doesn't mean that the Bible condemns gay relationships. There are some things that the Bible says that apply to homosexual relationships. While it is true that Christians believe that gay relationships aren't ideal, the Bible also makes it clear that people should love and care for each other, and they should be faithful to one another. These are characteristics that most relationships have, regardless of their sexual orientation. Indeed, the Bible makes it clear that all people are worthy of love and that all people are capable of loving others. It also makes it clear that all people are capable of having healthy relationships with members of the opposite sex. What is Christian Love? As we've already talked about, the Bible clarifies that all people are capable of love. It also makes it clear that love is a choice that we make. But the question is, how can we know what love is? To understand love, we must first figure out what love isn't. It isn't a feeling, and it isn't automatic. It isn't something that happens to us. Instead, love is something that we choose to show to other people, and we can only show it when we decide to do so. The Bible tells us that love is patient, kind, and selfless. It is something that we do for others, not something that we expect to get in return. Conclusion The Bible makes it clear that homosexuality is a sin and that gay marriage is against the wishes of God. But it also makes it clear that all people are capable of love. Some may believe or misinterpret this to include regardless of their sexual orientation. However, this does not mean it is okay to go against the will of God. We have seen that the Bible makes it clear that homosexuality is a sin and that gay marriage is against the wishes of God. But it also makes it clear that everyone is capable of love, regardless. Most researchers have concluded that sexual orientation is a complex, multifactorial issue in which biological, social, and psychological factors combine to play a role in the ultimate sexual orientation of an individual. According to Julie Harren, Ph.D., the formula for this interplay between factors might be represented by these equations:   --Genes + Brain Wiring + Prenatal Hormonal Environment = Temperament. --Parents + Peers + Experiences = Environment. --Temperament + Environment = Homosexual Orientation.   What's missing from these equations is the existence of a soul, the individual's choice, and the devil's temptation (see James 1:14).   Prejudice is not a constraint. Although it may be more accessible psychologically for a homosexual to believe that homosexuality is inborn, the accumulated scientific evidence suggests otherwise. Homosexuals may have a genetic predisposition, but the human choice is still a factor. Ultimately, sexual orientation is determined outside of the womb. This truth offers hope for change for those unhappy living a homosexual lifestyle. Clinical experience has shown that, with help, some homosexuals can change learned responses and defense mechanisms to early painful experiences.   In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, the sin of homosexuality is listed next to theft. Just as there is no genetic excuse for stealing, there is no genetic excuse for homosexuality. Environment, culture, and choice make one a thief, and the same factors make one a homosexual.   Christ died for homosexuals. God loves persons of all sexual orientations, just as He loves all sinners. The Bible says, "God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Jesus Christ "is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:2). The gospel of Christ "is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). In Christ alone we find the definitive source for healing, restoration, forgiveness, and comfort. He is the way we can all experience the affirming, unconditional love, value, and acceptance of our Father in heaven.     If this is true and homosexual behavior is dishonoring, a separation from God's blessing, and self-harm, then the loving thing to do is to stay away from it. To encourage others to indulge in sin is to encourage them to reject God's blessings on their lives. It is the opposite of love. That being said, those with homosexual attractions desperately need love. Even if they agree with the Bible that homosexuality is a sin and resolve not to seek fulfillment of their sexual desires, they must still find love in other relationships—the self-sacrificing love of agape and the friendly companionship of phileo. When our emotional and social needs for love are met, we are less likely to seek fulfillment in unbiblical ways. It's no different for single heterosexuals than for those with homosexual attraction.

DO YOU HAVE TO GO TO CHURCH? Welcome to wake up castle rock and America I'm your host, Willie Ayers member of Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Franktown, Colorado. I got asked this question the other day. Nowhere does scripture mandate one's attendance at church as a condition of salvation. Paul writes, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).   Does a Christian have to attend every service his church provides? The simple answer is "no." There is no New Testament command for believers to maintain perfect attendance at church. Attending every church service does not make a person "holier" than the one who misses a service here and there. Our relationship with God is not based on rule-following or punching a time clock at church; it's based on our position in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2).   The question that matters in eternity is not "How many times was I in church" but "Did I truly know Jesus Christ?" (Matthew 7:21–23).   However, there is a problem with having a nonchalant attitude toward church attendance. We should not be ambivalent in the matter. God's plan in this age involves the church, which Jesus promised to build (Matthew 16:18), and we should be supporting God's plan enthusiastically. However, why is church attendance going to church important?"   Simply put, the Bible tells us we need to attend church to worship God with other believers and be taught His Word for our spiritual growth. They had no designated church building back then, but "every day they continued to meet in the temple courts.   The early church "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer" (Acts 2:42). We should follow that example of devotion—and to the same things.   They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts" (Acts 2:46). Wherever the meeting takes place, believers thrive on fellowship with other believers and the teaching of God's Word.   "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24–25).   Interestingly, even in the early church, some made a "habit" of not fellowshipping with other believers. Their example is not to be followed. The church is where our spiritual gifts best edify the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11–12). It is difficult to "spur" each other to love and good works if we are not attending church. How can we encourage one another if we're never around one another?   Church attendance is not just a "good suggestion" but God's will for believers. Hebrews 10:25 says we should "not be giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Even in the early church, some were falling into the bad habit of not meeting with other believers. The author of Hebrews says that's not the way to go. We need the encouragement that church attendance affords. And the end times approach should prompt us to be even more devoted to the church.   The church is where believers can love one another (1 John 4:12) and encourage one another.   (Hebrews 3:13), "spur" one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24), serve one another (Galatians 5:13), instruct one another (Romans 15:14), honor one another (Romans 12:10), and be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32).   When a person trusts Jesus Christ for salvation, they are made a member of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). For a church body to function correctly, all its "body parts" need to be present and working (1 Corinthians 12:14–20). It's not enough to attend a church; we should be involved in some ministry to others, using the spiritual gifts God has given us (Ephesians 4:11–13).   A believer will never reach full spiritual maturity without having that outlet for their gifts, and we all need the assistance and encouragement of other believers (1 Corinthians 12:21–26).   For these reasons and more, church attendance, participation, and fellowship should be regular aspects of a believer's life. Weekly church attendance is in no sense "required" for believers, but someone who belongs to Christ should have a desire to worship God, receive His Word, and fellowship with other believers.   You and I, as Christians, should be committed to our local church, involved in our local church, and supportive of our local church.   Be it zoom or online, God is not limited in what He does (Luke 1:37). He can use live, in-person preaching and live streaming on the internet. Many of Billy Graham's crusades were filmed live and are still being broadcast on television and streamed online.   This requires regular church attendance. And they are still having an impact. "Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear" (Isaiah 59:1). It is the gospel that saves (Romans 1:16); as long as the gospel is preached, the fact that it's online doesn't matter.   An online church service cannot replace "the assembling of ourselves together" (Hebrews 10:25, NKJV). Still, it is a good way of doing church, especially when faced with circumstances beyond our control that prevent us from being together.   A believer will naturally love his brothers and sisters in Christ (1 John 4:21), and that love will manifest itself in a desire to fellowship, not avoidance.   When the church is praising the Lord, all believers should want to join in the praise; when the church is praying for others, all believers should want to participate in the prayer; when the church is studying the Word, all believers should want to join in the learning.   We live in a world of distractions. So many things call us away from our commitments, our involvement, and our support of the local church:   I know I have been guilty of these sports activities, work schedules, community projects, or just being lazy, etc.—the list is never-ending.   There are valid reasons for missing a church service, and we must avoid legalism in such matters. At the same time, we should ensure absences are the exception, not the rule.   Each believer should examine their own heart to determine their motives for missing church, and therefore, I'm during this podcast. It could be that a rearrangement of priorities is in the order I know that I need to do so.     Jesus is the Cornerstone of the Church (1 Peter 2:6). We are "like living stones . . . being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5). As the building materials of God's "spiritual house," we naturally connect. That connection is evident every time the Church "goes to church." If you are in Franktown or surrounding areas, come worship with us. Be blessed and be safe. Thank you for listening to this podcast.  

    Hello and welcome to wake-up-castle-rock-and-America. I am your host Willie T Ayers. Did you know that do not fear is in the Bible Three Hundred Sixty-Five times?    Yes, there is so much happening today in our society inflation -abortion – daylight murders- corrupt politicians-homosexuality-IRS destroying tax returns- domestic terrorists and so much more.    Did you know that our brains express only two primary emotions: fear and love? And we decide to choose one or the other. Christ says, "Perfect love casts out all fear." Which will you choose?  1 John 4:18, Isaiah 41:10, Romans 8:38    Today, I would like to share the following scripture from Isaiah 41:10; “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.”    I repeat it again, Did you know that the bible tells us not to fear 365 times? That is once for every day of the year! God makes it clear in scriptures like Isaiah 41:10 that he wants us to choose faith over fear daily. He wants us to trust that He will provide for our every need.    You might ask, how do I have faith? I believe that religion is when we choose to stand on the promises of God even when we begin to feel insecurity or doubt. Confidence is like a muscle; every time you believe God's word, it is an opportunity to exercise that muscle.    Sometimes God allows situations to arise in the lives that force us to trust him. If you and I are faced with a difficult decision or circumstance today, I want to encourage you because you are in the right place! There is no place better than to be in the House of God with fellow believers, be it Zoom, TV, blog, podcast, etc.; your body our body is the temple.   When the Apostle Paul wrote the words "Your body is a temple" to the church in Corinth, he was saying this: You no longer must go to a building, an ornate, gilded temple built with your blood, toil, and sacrifice, to meet with our God. Know how you are in the temple. You are the place in which you can dwell with our God.    God is promising us in his word that He will reward our faith. As you view this blog/podcast, I want to challenge you to think about the areas of your life where God asks you to take a step of faith and trust him.      Fears are normal. They're a natural response to our environment and the situations we encounter. So, what can we do when fear seems overwhelming? The Bible has many examples of people who experienced fear or anxiety.   They trusted God during their struggles and remained obedient despite their fears. If you're experiencing fear or anxiety, these scriptures will help you trust God in those moments and lean on Him for strength.    What does Bible say about standing firm?    Ephesians 6:11-16 provides us with advice on standing firm in the Lord. Standing firm in the Lord is done by putting on the whole armor of God. These verses include filling your life with truthfulness, righteousness, peace, and faith. To put on the full armor of God, you must consist of him in all you do    Know that God is with you no matter what.      In the book of Psalms, King David writes, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in him.” (Psalm 34:8). In that moment of David's life, he was experiencing betrayal and loss. He had placed his trust in others and his abilities but had been let down.   He found himself experiencing fear and anxiety. But David also found God. And through his faith in God, David discovered a peace he couldn't have found alone. God has never left you. He's never changed His mind about you. He is good, and He is always with you. He knows every struggle you're facing, and He is there with you during it all. Trust God. Lean on Him. Let Him know you need Him now.    What is the biblical definition of stand?    To stand means you remain firm and immovable, even when (or especially when) you are the smallest, youngest, or last standing. You may be the means for holding up others.    Be on the lookout for deception.    In the book of Corinthians, the Apostle Paul writes, “For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (2 Corinthians 12:8). Paul says that the Holy Spirit intercedes with us or prays on our behalf.   He also describes the prayers of the Holy Spirit as groanings or noises too deep for words. Paul is warning us that sometimes when we feel overwhelmed, we might be tempted to give in to panic or despair. These emotions can come from the Enemy and lead us to make bad decisions. Trusting them can lead us down a path of deception and put us in danger.   The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, guides us towards God and helps us find strength in Him to make the right choices. Find ways to quiet your mind and listen to the Holy Spirit at this moment. Take deep breaths. Meditate. Read your Bible and pray.    Turn to God for comfort and strength.    The book of Psalms again provides insight into how people can best handle anxiety. In Psalm 94, the psalmist prays, “Gather my sons together to me, and my daughters too; Let the children of my house understand the end of the Lord and His provision for them.” The psalmist is facing a great battle or perhaps a terrible plague that has left many of his children dead. He is anxious and afraid but turns to God for strength and comfort. He prays for his children and the rest of God's people to know that God is good and has a plan for those who trust Him. No matter what your struggles are, turn to God. Let Him know you need Him now.      Plan to fight your fears.    The Bible tells us not to be afraid in the book of Psalms. It also tells us to trust in the Lord. These are great advice, but they're not enough on their own. We also must take action to fight our fears and face our anxieties head-on. The Bible also provides us with strategies and examples of people who lived through difficult circumstances.   The Bible tells the story of Daniel, thrown into a den of lions for refusing to worship the king's gods. Many people would have been overcome with fear, but Daniel trusted God. He had a plan: He kept his faith in God and remained obedient to God's word. He knew he would be okay. You have a plan, too.      Trust God even when you don't understand.    In the book of Job, a Job is a man who has lost everything—his family, his health, and all of his wealth. Job is grieving and angry that he's been betrayed and forced to suffer in such a terrible way. Job has every right to feel the way he does, but he has also lost sight of God. Job doesn't understand why he's been betrayed and forced to suffer. He doesn't understand why God has let this happen to him. In his despair, he prays, “My cry for help is worthless and unneeded” (Job 10:1). Job struggles but refuses to turn to God. He refuses to trust God even though he doesn't understand what God is doing. Let Job's story be a lesson to you.    To be steadfast and unmovable is to be spiritually grounded. A responsible person knows what he believes and cannot be “tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching” (Ephesians 4:14).   An unmovable person can hear false teaching, engage doubters, and defend the truth without shaking his faith. In his other epistle to Corinth, Paul expresses his concern for this church: “I am afraid that just as the serpent's cunning deceived Eve, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). Even believers who the apostle had personally taught Paul were victims of deception. How much more vulnerable are we?    To remain steadfast and unmovable, we must know God's Word. Second, Timothy 2:15 says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (NASB). To accurately handle the word of truth, we must not only read the Bible, but we must allow it to become part of us. Its truth should penetrate our minds and hearts and shape our thinking and actions. It should so fill our minds that we can detect error when we hear it. Satan uses Scripture for his purposes, twisting it to sound as though it says something it doesn't say (Luke 4:9–11).    We are vulnerable to error if we have not been diligent in our study and meditation on truth. The world's false religions can be persuasive when they quote Bible verses to support their error. Even Christians can be duped by smooth-sounding heresy if they do not have a solid grounding in the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). God desires that we grow daily in our understanding of Him and His Word so that we will remain faithful to the end (John 8:31; 2 Peter 1:2; 3:18; 1 John 2:24).    Bs blessed and be safe. Do not let fear control you; Jesus is the answer  

Is Satan Using Covid to Destroy Your Relationship in your life? Did Satan use Covid to bring out the true and hidden evil in people?   Satan is a master at destroying relationships, marriages, and families. The Bible is filled with examples of how Satan attempted to destroy relationships through deception, temptation, and other destructive means. Even in the church, Satan seeks to divide and attack the unity of believers. I believe that Satan has used elected leaders to divide America. In Revelation 12:9, Satan is described as "the accuser of our brothers" and "the adversary." These are just two ways of saying he's a liar who wants to trick us into mistrusting each other so we can't trust one another or God. It sounds rather complex, but it comes down to something that is not only very simple but obvious as well; so many people are afraid of trusting others because they don't want anyone to know what they're doing or who they are on the inside. Many are so scared to have faith over fear. We need to trust in the word of God. We need God and Jesus now more than ever.   What is Covid? COVID-19, or coronavirus disease 2019, is a respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). The effect of the illness can range from mild to severe. First identified in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, the virus quickly spread to other countries. On March 11, 2020, COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Why would God allow Covid-19?" The world seems to be asking this question, which gives the most significant part of the answer. More on that shortly.   Why Are People Afraid of Trusting Others? Trust is the foundation of a successful relationship. It's essential in friendships, marriages, and even our relationship with God. But many people are afraid to trust others. All relationships have some level of risk. Whether at work, home, or church, you are putting yourself in a position of being open to hurt. You may be rejected, criticized, or even ignored. But if you let these fears control you, neither you nor your relationships can ever be as strong as they could be. They are so worried about being let down or hurt that they don't allow themselves to be vulnerable or open enough to develop authentic and lasting relationships. Satan's favorite way to keep people from trusting each other is to sow seeds of doubt. He knows that if he can get someone to question another person's motives, he'll cause a rift in their relationship. He'll keep them from ever being close enough to one another to be vulnerable.   On the topic of trusting others, King David said, "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes" (Psalm 118:8–9). David spoke from experience, having been betrayed many times by those close to him (see Psalm 41:9). Instead of becoming bitter or regarding all people as inherently untrustworthy and not worth his time, he learned and taught a simple truth: sinful people will fail us, but we can always trust in God. David's son, King Solomon, knew that lesson well and added to it, saying that it's better to trust God than to trust our own minds (Proverbs 3:5–6).   Satan's Strategy to Destroy Relationships Satan's strategy to destroy relationships is to get people to mistrust one another. He knows that if he can get someone to question another person's motives, he has stopped that relationship from ever being close enough to be vulnerable. He's blocked it from growing stronger and becoming even more potent for good. Even though others will fail us sometimes, and we are not always trustworthy, we can and should still trust people to vary degrees. Without Trust, a genuine relationship is impossible. It is precisely because we know that God will never fail us and that we can trust others. Our ultimate security is in Him, so we are free to trust others and experience the joy it brings. Trusting others is almost inseparable from loving others. True intimacy can only be achieved through honesty and Trust. It requires Trust to bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2) and "spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24). It takes Trust to confess our sins to one another (James 5:16) and share our needs (James 5:14; Romans 12:15). Trust is necessary for any number of human relationships, and especially for the healthy functioning of the family of Christ. What is Covid? here's more as promised Only a liar or a true prophet can claim to know God's reasons for bringing about COVID-19 or any other specific calamity. That's partly because God's purpose extends to every individual involved, from the beginning of time to the end of the world. Understanding every possible factor goes far beyond human ability, but God has within His complete knowledge and control of every facet of every situation (Romans 8:28–30). The Bible reveals some insights about God's use of deadly disasters. Still, we must apply relevant Scripture and the principles of faith to gain wisdom about any specific disaster.   As with any mystery, we must go from the known to the unknown in our search to solve it. So we'll put the question of why God would allow COVID-19 into the context of what we already know from the Bible and personal experience: we know that life is a gift from the Creator (Isaiah 42:5; Acts 17:25). We know that God alone has the right and power to give life and take it away according to His wisdom and plans (Job 2:10). We know that life is short and includes some degree of suffering, ending in death and judgment for how we lived our lives—only one life with no "do-overs" (Hebrews 9:27). Short or long, our lifespan and date of death are set and controlled by God (Matthew 10:29). Even the most extended human lives are "like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow" (Psalm 144:4).   Moses described God's sovereignty over life and death, and this could have been written about today's COVID-19 pandemic: "You turn people back to dust, saying, 'Return to dust, you mortals.' A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by or like a watch in the night. Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death— they are like the new grass of the morning: In the morning, it springs up new, but by evening, it is dry and withered." (Psalm 90:3–6).   So what is God's purpose in allowing COVID-19? Without being too dogmatic, we know that generally speaking, one of God's purposes in trials is to get the world's attention off themselves and onto Him, their Creator and Savior—which is the most significant part of the answer to the question at hand. "Why would God allow COVID-19?" Millions are suddenly asking that question right now, believers and non-believers alike, which means God is on their minds. God desires for all people to earnestly seek Him and find Him, discovering that He is close to us (Jeremiah 29:13; Acts 17:26–28). God desires us to sense our weakness and neediness so that we put our Trust in Him (2 Corinthians 12:9). God desires people to fear Him with proper reverence and awe (Proverbs 9:10); to love Him more than their own lives (Matthew 10:37; John 12:25); and to show love and gratitude for the Savior by loving and helping fellow humans, especially the suffering (Romans 15:1; James 2:14–17). God desires to shift our focus and affection away from this temporary, troubled world to our eternal, heavenly home (Colossians 3:1–2; Hebrews 12:1–2). Times of trouble are a prime motivation for us to store up treasures in heaven rather than cling to treasures on earth (Matthew 6:19–20; Colossians 3:1–3) and to be good stewards of those blessings God gives us in this life (Luke 16:11; Matthew 25:14–30). God wants us to trust Him, knowing that our times are in His hand (Psalm 31:15).   Ultimately, the poor and hurting seek God, not the rich and comfortable. It is danger and calamity that turn men to their Savior, not health and wealth (see Mark 2:17). It is suffering that wakes us to our actual needs. C. S. Lewis put it this way: "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world" (The Problem of Pain, HarperCollins, 1996, p. 91). Life for all people means facing suffering, death, and eternal destiny. Even if we develop immunity to COVID-19, we can't escape the fact of trouble in the world. What's best for us in any situation is to seek God: "Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart" (Psalm 119:2). A final decision, the bottom line, RightNow, your choice. Trust in God and Being honest with yourself and others is the best way to avoid the lies Satan uses to destroy relationships with God and others. If you are a believer or in a relationship, don't let fear or the media lies control you. Trust in God first than yourself and others, and know that prayer and honesty is the only way to grow your relationships. resources; Logo bible study -Got Questions-my observation-asking questions- and lots of prayers New International Version Psalm 91 1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a] 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”   Christ over viruses and infectious diseases

Is America Full of Hate? The Conversation We're Not Having   20-year-old woman shot and executed while pushing ‍her 3-month-old in a stroller. Seattle Street Preacher Assaulted at Pride Event, Abortion Rally; Arrested After Bible Thrown in Portable Toilet Biblically speaking, there are positive and negative aspects to hatred. It is acceptable to hate those things that God hates; indeed, this is very much proof of right standing with God. “Let those who love the Lord hate evil” (Psalm 97:10a). Indeed, the closer our walk with the Lord and the more we fellowship with Him, the more conscious we will be of sin, both within and without. Do we not grieve and burn with anger when God's name is maligned, when we see spiritual hypocrisy when we see blatant unbelief and godless behavior? The more we understand God's attributes and love His character, the more we will be like Him, and the more we will hate those things that are contrary to His Word and nature. Is America full of hate? That's the question many are asking after a recent spate of high-profile and disturbing incidents. In just one week in late September, a man armed with an automatic rifle murdered 22 people at a restaurant in suburban Denver; a man sent explosive devices to prominent critics of President Trump, including several Jewish leaders and former Vice President Joe Biden; and, in response to these events, the president tweeted a video of him beating up another person with the face of CNN labeled as “Fraud News Network.” If you think we're living in a particularly hateful moment — one highlighted by divisive rhetoric from our leaders — you're not alone. But the answer isn't as simple as that. There is ample evidence to support this claim, but this phenomenon is not new. This type of hate has always existed in America but recurs cyclically throughout history. It's an essential distinction because figuring out why these events continue to repeat themselves is the key to resolving them. So let's explore what is driving this current resurgence of hate and what we can do about it.   A Brief History of Hate in America That America has a long history of hate is not news. It's in our DNA. We were founded as a nation on the principle that certain people aren't worthy of being part of our collective “we” — that they're “others” who don't deserve to be treated like “we” do. Given this, it makes sense that there have been several cyclical upsurges of hate in American history. The first significant one was in the early 19th century when a movement of “nativism” — or fear of cultural or racial change — was directed against newly arrived Irish and German immigrants. In the 1850s and 1860s, during the era of western expansion and the Civil War, there were two more violent upsurges: one against Native Americans and another against African-American slaves and freedmen. Each of these movements featured the signs of modern hate: false propaganda, dehumanization, and the use of violence. They culminated in a tragedy: the Native American population in the U.S. declined by about 90% in the 19th century, and black people were terrorized and subjected to the Jim Crow system of segregation and discrimination until the mid-20th century. During these eras, many people of conscience tried to speak out against the hate and warn of the tragic consequences it would bring. But they were ignored. However, the hatred that is negative indeed has to be that which is directed against others. The Lord mentions hatred in the Sermon on the Mount: “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment” (Matthew 5:22). The Lord commands that not only should we be reconciled with our brother before we go before the Lord, but also that we do it quickly (Matthew 5:23-26). The act of murder itself was certainly condemned, but hatred is a “heart” sin, and any hateful thought or act is an act of murder in God's eyes for which justice will be demanded, possibly not in this life but at the judgment. So heinous is the position of hate before God that a man who hates is said to be walking in darkness, as opposed to the light (1 John 2:9, 11). The worst situation is that of a man who continues professing religion but remains at enmity with his brother. The Scriptures declare that such a person is a liar (1 John 4:20), and he may fool men, but not God. How many believers live for years pretending that all is well, putting on a front, only to be found finally wanting because they have harbored enmity (hatred) against a fellow believer?   The Myth of American Exceptionalism American exceptionalism is the belief that the U.S. is qualitatively different from other nations. It is a core premise of President Trump's political philosophy (and his brand of right-wing nationalism). It also infects many other political ideologies and its proponents often use it to justify the idea that the U.S. is immune to the kind of “bad things” that happen in other countries. But this myth of American exceptionalism is a distraction from the real issues facing our country. It is a myth because, in fact, hate and other social ills have been present in America as long as there has been an America — since the beginning. So this is nothing new. What is true is that America has been a leader in many positive social and political movements, including the abolition of slavery, women's suffrage, and civil rights for black people and other minorities. These are all things worth celebrating. But they don't negate the fact that hate is deeply rooted in our history and culture, and it is cyclical in nature.   Code Words and Hidden Meaning Many of the talking points that fuel hate are framed in terms of “freedom,” “security,” and “American values.” This is why it's important not to take these terms at face value but to think critically about what they actually mean and to whom they apply. For example, many of the leaders who promote the idea of building a border wall use the argument that it will protect the nation from “illegal” immigrants who are coming here to do us harm. This is an example of “dog whistle” politics — a coded language used to appeal to the prejudices of a particular group of people. “Illegal” immigrants are a made-up group that doesn't actually exist. All immigrants who come here without proper documentation are violating the law — that's why they're called “illegal.” Yet we conveniently forget this and speak in terms of “them” being “evil” and “us” being “good.”   An Outgrowth of Institutionalized Racism The hate that is currently being stirred up in the U.S. is, in part, a continuation of the racism that has always been present here — but it's also a reaction to the tremendous demographic and cultural change that has taken place in the past several decades. We've become more diverse and less white, and we've become more globally interconnected. This has created more economic and cultural competition, and it's brought more people of different backgrounds and cultures into our country. All of this seems to be triggering a backlash among certain people who feel that their “way of life” is being threatened. They fear that they no longer “own” their country and that they don't have the same opportunities as other people.   A Culture of Violence and War as Entertainment We've also become a more violent society in recent decades. We are attracted to images of violence and war, and we've created a culture in which these things are seen as entertainment. We've also become more isolated and self-focused. We're less likely than ever to know our neighbors, and we're less likely to engage in civic activities like voting or volunteering for charities or community organizations. This has created a climate in which people become more susceptible to the fear-based messaging of the hate-mongers, because they have less opportunity to engage with others and get the facts that would contradict these messages.   Where Do We Go From Here? The good news is that hate is not a new emotion, nor is it an emotion that is unique to America. There is ample evidence that all societies have the capacity to hate and inflict harm, and we see these tendencies in both our history and our present. The difference between now and other historical moments is that our society has never been as connected as it is now, and we have more tools at our disposal for propagating hate and triggering violent responses. So how do we respond to this challenge? First, we need to recognize that hate is a cyclical phenomenon. We must learn from the past, study the patterns of history, and recognize the signs of its cyclical nature. This will help us to not get caught up in the hysteria of the moment and keep us from making knee-jerk reactions that might make the situation worse. Second, we must continue to speak out against hate in all its forms and call out those who promote it. This is essential and will be increasingly important as we move into the 2020 election cycle. Third, we must use all the tools at our disposal to promote understanding, encourage dialogue, and break down barriers between people of different cultures, races, and backgrounds. This is the only way to overcome the fear and ignorance that breed hate.   Conclusion This podcast is meant to help us better understand the current state of hate in American society. Hatred is a poison that destroys us from within, producing bitterness that eats away at our hearts and minds. This is why the Scriptures tell us not to let a “root of bitterness” spring up in our hearts (Hebrews 12:15). Hatred also destroys the personal witness of a Christian because it removes him from fellowship with the Lord and other believers. Let us be careful to do as the Lord advised and keep short accounts with everyone about everything, no matter how small, and the Lord will be faithful to forgive, as He has promised (1 John 1:9; 2:1). We must remember that hate has been present in America since the beginning, and it often recurs cyclically throughout our history. We must remain vigilant and aware of the signs of its cyclical nature so that we can better recognize and respond to it. Only then will we be able to address the root causes of hate and move towards a more peaceful and just society. COME LORD JESUS COME

What It Means to be a Christian in a Nation with an Evil Government We live in a world where suffering seems familiar to many of us. We can learn and apply many truths and healing principles to our lives by studying the book of Job in the Bible. The overturning of Roe vs. Wade did not create division in America; it started when leaders started supporting individual groups, such as BLM, ANTIFA, DEFUND THE POLICE, and OPENING THE BORDERS. However, they want to attack freedom of speech, the 2nd amendment, religious beliefs, parental rights, and more. With the rise of nationalism, right-wing movements, and the encouraging of far-right ideologies in the current political climate, many Christians are asking what it means to be a Christian in a nation with an evil government.  Today, we see many examples of leaders who do not align with Christian values. There is also an increase in persecution of Christians and laws that restrict our ability to practice our faith. This has led many Christians to wonder how they should respond to a government that is unkind to their beliefs. Should we separate from society and isolate ourselves?  Or are there better ways for us to answer? In this podcast, we will look at what it means to be a Christian in a nation with an evil government and explore several helpful principles that can guide us in living boldly as followers of Christ during these times. What does the Bible say about being a Christian in an evil society? The Bible has much to say on this topic. We see several examples of Christians being persecuted for their faith by leaders who did not align with Christian values.  One example is when the apostle Paul was charged with being a troublemaker and was imprisoned. Another example is when the apostle Peter was imprisoned for preaching about Jesus.  There is also the example of how Christians were pressured to participate in worshiping the Roman emperor as a god. Despite these societal pressures and the risk of persecution, the Bible teaches us that followers of Christ are to follow God's word, not the government's.  The Bible also teaches us that as followers of Christ, we must remain in society, not isolate ourselves. Jesus himself said that Christians should be part of society. He said, "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). The importance of resisting evil One of the essential principles to keep in mind as Christians in a nation with an evil government is that we should actively resist evil.  There are many examples in the Bible of how Christians actively resisted evil in their societies. One example is when Peter and the apostle John were ordered not to preach and were threatened with arrest, they replied by saying,  "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge. For we cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19-20).  Another example is when the apostle Paul boldly resisted the evil practices of false teachers in his society. He said, "When I came to you, I did not come with excellence of speech or wisdom. For I have known you for a long time, and your souls are in an idle state.  But now I am going to come to you for the third time, and I will not be a shame to you as I have been, but with a little shame, as the representative of the shame of the Christ" (2 Corinthians 2:1-2). Finding ways to resist evil actively. As a Christian, you don't have to wait for society to oppress you before resisting evil.  You have a responsibility to fight corruption whenever you see it actively. When you witness an injustice, speak up against it. When you encounter a form of evil, resist it with the truth. When you see violence, stand against it with love.  When you observe hatred, respond to it with kindness. When you detect greed, meet it with generosity. You don't have to wait until you are imprisoned or until your rights are taken away to resist evil. You can do it now, and you can do it with words and actions that show the love of Christ. Finding ways to respond to evil with good Another principle to keep in mind as a Christian in a nation with an evil government is that you should actively respond to evil with good. While we should always respond to evil with truth, there are times when we need to respond to evil with interest.  For example, if you witness a violent act and try to speak up against it only to be met with hate and hostility, then a better response for you might be to respond with love.  Or, if you meet a person who is consumed with greed, a better answer might be to respond with generosity. You can bring light into a dark world by responding to evil with good. How can we find strength during times of trial? Another essential principle to remember as a Christian in a nation with an evil government is that we should not expect to be free from trials.  Followers of Christ are promised that they will experience difficulties and testing during their lives. The apostle Paul himself said, "In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).  When you are going through a trial, instead of focusing on what is happening to you and your rights being taken away, focus on how you can use this trial to bring glory to God.  How can you use what you are going through for others? How can you turn your situation into a blessing for others? You can keep your eyes on the goal, knowing that God will use your trials to draw you closer to him, strengthen your faith, and make you more like Christ. Run From Sin Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22   Conclusion When we focus on the principles discussed above, we can find strength during times of trial and persecution.  We can also find comfort as we navigate the current political landscape of our society, knowing that we have the eternal word of God to guide us.  As we navigate these challenging political times, we can find strength and comfort knowing that God is sovereign and is in control. We can also find comfort knowing that God is a God of justice, and we can trust him to bring justice to all people.  In the meantime, we can continue to resist evil actively, respond to evil with good, and find strength during times of trial. With these principles in mind, we can be confident that we can be followers of Christ during the current political climate, no matter what society throws our way. If you would like a topic to be discussed on this podcast, send an email to  standup4yourfaith@gmail.com  

      You hear many say that they found Jesus. No, Jesus found them. Jesus was never lost. We are the ones that are lost.   The Proof: How Jesus Christ Founded Me I had fallen away from God. When I got Out of the military, I lived in and out of hotels. I was a drinker daily: stone-cold alcoholic and a drunk. I went out looking for fights, furious and bitter. I did not have a job and went to eat in and out hamburger stand. I got into a conversation with an elderly gentleman (Jack Eager). He asked me if I needed a job. He hired me the next day. This was November 1993. God blessed me to meet a wonderful church-going woman, and she got me back into the church. I ( rededicated my life to Christ and got re-baptized.   The Proof is a modern-day gospel that reveals Jesus as the most influential person who ever lived. It's not just a book, it's a movement that inspires, challenges, and changes lives. As you listen to this podcast you are on the edge of something unique. You're standing at the threshold of your new life in Christ – an adventure that will change everything about you. The Proof is about more than just believing in Jesus as your Savior; it's about having a personal relationship with Him by responding to His love with faith and obedience. So what are you waiting for? Let's dive in and explore how Jesus Christ founded you     The Proof is not about Christianity; it's about Jesus. The Proof is about Jesus and what He has done for you. Christianity is a religion that people try to follow in order to make a relationship with Jesus. The Proof flips this concept and creates a relationship with Jesus, your starting point. We don't try to pursue Jesus; we follow him and walk with him. This is why it's so important to know you know Jesus. If you believe in a Jesus you've never met, He can't be your Savior.     You can never know too much about Jesus. This may sound extreme, but it's true. The more you know about Jesus, the more you will love Him, and the more you will want to follow Him. More excellent knowledge of Jesus will also protect you from false teachers and doctrines that are out there. Let your desire to know everything about Jesus be your driving force. Be hungry for more information about His life and His teachings. Read the Bible and books about Jesus, and go online to learn more. The more you know about Jesus, the more you will love Him and trust Him with your life.     Be sure of your decision to follow Jesus. Don't make Christianity about what you're going to get out of it. If you're going to have a relationship with Jesus, it has to be a decision you're sure about. Look at your life and ask if you've done anything for Jesus lately. If the answer is no, you need to do something right away before you start to lose your passion for Him. If you decide to follow Jesus, you're making the most critical decision of your life. Make sure you're ready to take full responsibility for your decision. Once you're His follower, there's no turning back. Your life will never be the same.     Everything you do must be because of Him. Jesus said that whatever we do to others, we do to Him. Once you've decided to follow Jesus, everything you do must be for Him. Whatever mission you're on, be it at your job or in your community, let the goal point people toward Jesus. Let your prayers and your actions be to glorify Him. Remember that even your hard times are for Him. They are lessons He wants to teach you.         You can only fully know and love God through Jesus Christ. You cannot fully know and love God if you don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ. God is a Spirit, and Jesus was God in the flesh. Through Jesus, you get to experience a personal relationship with God. You can know God's voice, character, plans, and love through Jesus. You can see the fullness of God's love by accepting His sacrifice on the cross. You can know God's forgiveness and heal through Jesus. It's only through Jesus that you can know God and love Him.    

Gun Violence in America: What Can We Do to Stop the Madness This memorial day lets us all remember not just our military but also the victims of the senseless shooting.‍ In the wake of another school shooting, America Robb Elementary School shooting is once again grappling with gun violence and how to prevent these tragedies from continuing to happen. In response to the Parkland shooting in February 2018, many students have taken a stand and spoken out about the need for stricter gun laws and other measures to reduce gun violence. The NRA has come under fire, with many questioning why they continue to have so much influence over politicians and whether their money has anything to do with it. There are no easy answers to this question. This podcast examines gun violence in America today, what may be fueling it, what we know about its effects on society, and possible solutions that may help reduce it in the future. What is the current state of gun violence in America? According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report (UCR), there were about 15,000 homicides committed with a firearm in the U.S. in 2017, the last full year for which data are available. This is a rate of 6.3 homicides per 100,000 people, or about 3% of all homicides in the U.S. The UCR data also show that firearm homicide rates have generally declined since the 1990s. While rates have decreased, they've also shown a dramatic increase in the past two years. In 2016, when the UCR data were compiled, there were 14,415 firearm homicides in the U.S. The following year, the number increased by nearly 10% to 15,386. This represents the highest number of firearm homicides in the U.S. since 2014. Why has there been an increase in gun violence? Most academics who study gun violence agree that there has been a general downward trend in homicide rates since the 1990s. But there have been significant increases in firearm-related homicides in recent years. So, why have rates of gun violence increased? A couple of essential factors may be driving the rise in gun violence: ACSW. These factors may help explain the increase in gun violence from 2016 to 2017. While the causes of the rise in gun violence are speculative at best, we can take action to reverse the trend and reduce gun violence in the future. Who is most at risk for gun violence? Homicide is a pretty rare event in the U.S.; according to the CDC, it occurs at 3.7 per 100,000 people. But gun violence is much more common among specific segments of the population. The FBI's UCR data show that black Americans are disproportionately likely to be victims of gun violence. Black Americans make up only 13% of the U.S. population, but they account for over half of firearm homicides. The homicide rate among black Americans is 11.7 per 100,000 people. The FBI data also show that the 15-34 age group has the highest rate of firearm homicide. But homicides committed with a firearm are also common among young children and the elderly, who are least likely to commit a homicide with a gun. How can we reduce gun violence? The first step to reducing gun violence is better understanding its causes and effects. While there's no denying that there's a problem, we need to determine what's driving the increase in gun violence, who is most at risk, and what can be done. This may sound challenging, but it's pretty simple. We need to follow the data. With the information provided above, we can identify who is most at risk and what may be causing gun violence to increase. Armed with this information, we can develop policies and solutions to help reduce gun violence in the future. The most obvious answer is to enact stricter gun laws. While gun violence has been declining since the 1990s, it's still far too familiar and has shown a dramatic increase in the past two years. We know that the majority of firearm homicides are committed with handguns. So, we can pass laws that make it more challenging to buy and own guns by requiring background checks and waiting periods while also making it more difficult to transport and store handguns. We can also make it more difficult for people with a history of violence or mental illness to obtain guns.   Auburn High School — Rockford, Ill.   Seminole High School — Sanford, Fla. Oliver Citywide Academy — Pittsburgh, Pa.   Magruder High School — Rockville, Md.     Beloit Memorial High School — Beloit, Wis.     South Education Center — Richfield, Minn.     Rufus King High School — Milwaukee, Wis.   Wenonah High School — Birmingham, Ala.   Catonsville High School — Baltimore     Minneapolis Public Schools — Minneapolis     McKinley High School — Buffalo, N.Y.   Olathe East High School — Olathe, Kan.   .   East High School — Des Moines, Iowa     North Gardens High School — Miami Gardens, Fla.     Justin F. Kimball High School — Dallas   Dunbar High School — Baltimore     TechBoston Academy — Dorchester, Mass.     Eisenhower High School — Yakima, Wash.     Lee Williams High School — Kingman, Ariz.   Oakdale Elementary School — Charlotte, N.C.     Tanglewood Middle School — Greenville, S.C.      Erie High School — Erie, Pa.     Edmund Burke School — Washington, D.C.     Heights High School — Houston   Walt Disney Magnet School — Chicago       East Kentwood High School — Kentwood, Mich   Robb Elementary School  — Uvalde, Texas   Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., 2012. The Columbine shooting on April 20, 1999

We need to pray for our leaders even when it is hard to do so. How's your FAITH?   Our leaders have many pressing issues to address, and it can be easy for them to forget topics that they feel further removed from or don't hear from their constituents about. But our leaders can help end global poverty and hunger through policy change. Pray that they would hear from constituents on issues impacting the most vulnerable and that they would be moved to action. Also, Father God, Our leaders are juggling their interests, the interest of many constituents, and sometimes the interest of organizations. It can be hard to find solutions that meet everyone's wants and needs. I pray that our government leaders represent all of their constituents well and courageously uphold biblical values. I ask this in the mighty name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ Amen What does the Bible say about praying for our leaders: Prayer for our leaders is not unique to democratic nations, and it did not begin with the United States National Day of Prayer. The Bible contains many commands to pray for our leaders—national and local, secular and religious.   Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:1–4, "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." God told the Israelites in exile to pray for Babylon: "Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper" (Jeremiah 29:7). Romans 13:1 says, "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. God has established the authorities that exist." Paul requested prayer "for all the Lord's people" and for himself that he would speak the gospel boldly (Ephesians 2:18–20).   Prayer is important. And it seems the Bible makes special mention of praying for those in positions of authority. Such authorities include government officials (international, national, and local) and pastors, church elders, school boards, school principals, employers, etc.   We do not pray for our leaders simply because we are commanded to. Praying for them makes practical sense. Our leaders can affect the conditions we live in and impact our families, our churches, our workplaces, our cities, and our countries. When those in authority obey God's will, it is easier to "live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness" (1 Timothy 2:2). When evil men are in authority, our prayers for them are just as needed, as illustrated by William Tyndale's last words as he was being burned at stake: "Lord, open the King of England's eyes."   Also, we do not pray for our leaders merely for our benefit. Leadership can be a tiring task. James 3:1 says, "Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." Leaders carry a degree of responsibility to their followers. They are often the targets of criticism and the go-to people in a crisis. If they are leading well, they are living their lives in service. We pray for them because we recognize the greatness of their task and because we are grateful for their willingness to lead.   So how should we pray for our leaders? First, if we are uncertain that they know Jesus, we should pray for their salvation. But whether or not our leaders are Christians, we should pray that God will guide them as they guide us. We should pray that they   are wise, discerning, and surrounded by helpful advisers. We know that God has placed our leaders in authority over us (Romans 13:1), and we can ask Him to use them as He will. We should also pray for their protection. When praying for pastors or ministry leaders, we can pray for them to have strength during spiritual warfare and to remain encouraged in the Lord. We can pray for their families, who often feel scrutinized and bear an extra load.   Briefly stated, we should mention our leaders before God in prayer and ask Him to have His way in their hearts, support those around them, and use their leadership to benefit their followers.   Why are bacteria on mars considered life bet, yet a heartbeat on earth is not? Biden Blunders 58th' birthday In an interaction with reporters after undergoing his first routine physical in office, the oldest president in American history said that he is going to celebrate his ‘58th' birthday while it was his ‘79th' on November 20 in 2021.       'President Harris' While delivering a speech at South Carolina State University during its 2021 Fall commencement ceremony, Biden referred to US Vice President Kamala Harris as “President Harris”.  The US President said, “… all kidding aside, of course, President Harris, who's a proud Howard alumn, she might have something to say about Delaware State.”      Confusing history During a menorah lighting celebration at the White House for Hanukkah, the president appeared to forget Arab–Israeli history as he got confused between 1967 Six-Day War and Yom Kippur War of 1973.      Pray that these leaders will be given a heart of flesh

ABORTION IS MURDER The Bible never specifically addresses the issue of abortion. However, numerous teachings in Scripture make it abundantly clear what God's view of abortion is. 10 Lies the Pro-Abortion Community Tells To Convince You Abortion Is Okay! ‍ The pro-choice movement is complex, and abortion is a polarizing topic. But, whether you're for or against abortion, there are always things you didn't know about the subject. Today, we're breaking down the top lies the pro-abortion community tells to convince you abortion is okay. Read on to learn more about the myths, truths, and arguments surrounding abortion. The Pro-Abortion Movement Is Bipartisan The pro-abortion movement is sometimes accused of being a small group of radical feminists. They often take a skeptical stance toward the more significant "pro-life" movement, which is often seen as a group of conservative, religious conservatives. However, the movement to decriminalize and then legalize abortion has a long history of bipartisan support. While the pro-life movement is often seen as a single-issue movement, abortion laws and policies are usually decided by lawmakers who are often not very vocal about their own beliefs. You Can Tell Your Senator About Your Abortion Before You're Pregnant This is one of the most popular pro-abortion lies. You should know that the average first-trimester abortion takes about nine weeks from the first day of a woman's last menstrual period. So, if you're planning to get an abortion before you're about 37 weeks pregnant, you can't tell your senator about it. This is because abortion laws are supposed to protect women's right to make their own decisions. Still, doctors are legally prohibited from divulging the pregnancy to anyone before fetal viability. Within the first five months of pregnancy, the medical community agrees that unborn children can survive outside the womb, with organs and a heartbeat, and even begin to move. So, unless you have an excellent reason to get an abortion before you're about nine weeks pregnant, you can't tell anyone you're pregnant. Abortion Will End Human Trafficking And Abuse Will abortion end human trafficking and abuse? Um, no. Many of the victims of sexual trafficking and abuse were victims of their own decisions to get an abortion or have unprotected sex. It's also important to remember that abortion is never safe or "free." Considering that an abortion commonly costs between $300-$500, you're probably better off financially and emotionally not getting an abortion, especially if you were exploited as a victim of sexual abuse and trafficking. However, if you were raped and didn't want to parent a child, getting an abortion isn't worse. Having An Abortion Will Make You Unhappy Women report feeling a wide range of emotions after having an abortion. Some report feeling relief, while others say sadness or even anger. Depending on the person and the circumstances, it's also possible to feel regret or sadness, but these are very personal feelings. Most people feel sad or regretful when they have a loved one's death, but this doesn't mean they will be unhappy. Having an abortion should not negatively impact your life. Abortion Is Safer Than Having A Baby This is another one of the pro-abortion myths we're going to debunk. Despite what the medical community says, there's no scientific proof that having an abortion is safer than carrying a baby to term. Since the method and circumstances of each abortion vary, it's hard to generalize the safety of having an abortion. This means that you're taking a risk no matter how you choose to end a pregnancy. You Shouldn't Feel Guilty About Having An Abortion Guilt is often a very personal feeling. That's why you shouldn't feel guilty about having an abortion. If you were raped or became pregnant due to sexual abuse or exploitation, you shouldn't feel bad about having an abortion. Not only do you have the right to have an abortion if the circumstances are right, but you shouldn't feel guilty about it, either. There's Only One Right Decision For Every Woman This is another one of the pro-abortion myths that we're debunking. It's important to remember that every woman has no right decision. Some people might prefer to save their money or have another child later in life. Some might decide not to have children at all. These are all excellent choices, and no one should make them feel guilty for making their own decisions. Conclusion The pro-choice movement is complex, and abortion is a polarizing topic. But, whether you're for or against abortion, there are always things you didn't know about the subject. Today, we're breaking down the top lies the pro-abortion community tells to convince you abortion is okay. Read on to learn more about the myths, truths, and arguments surrounding abortion. Additional information Jeremiah 1:5 tells us that God knows us before He forms us in the womb. Psalm 139:13–16 speaks of God's active role in our creation and formation in the womb. Exodus 21:22–25 prescribes the same penalty—death—for someone who causes the death of a baby in the womb as for someone who commits murder. This law and its punishment clearly indicate that God considers a baby in the womb to be just as much a human being as a full-grown adult. For the Christian, abortion is not a matter of a woman's right to choose to have a baby. The baby is already present and living. Abortion is a matter of life or death of a human being made in God's image (Genesis 1:26–27; 9:6).   What does the Bible say about abortion? Simply put, abortion is murder. It is the killing of a human being created in the image of God.   A common argument against the Christian stance on abortion is "What about cases of rape and/or incest?" As horrible as it would be to become pregnant due to rape or incest, is the murder of a baby the solution? Two wrongs do not make a right. A child resulting from rape or incest could be given in adoption to a loving family. Many families, some unable to have children on their own, stand ready to receive and love a child from any background. The baby in this situation is entirely innocent and should not be punished for the evil act of their mother or father or any family member.   It's also important to keep in mind that abortions due to rape or incest account for a tiny percentage of total abortions: only 1 percent of abortions can be traced to cases of rape or incest (Torres and Forrest, cited by Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health and the Alan Guttmacher Institute in An Overview of Abortion in the United States, October 2001, www.abortionfacts.com/facts/8#cite-1, accessed 9/9/21).   Another argument often used against the Christian stance on abortion is, "What about when the mother's life is at risk?" Honestly, this is the most challenging question to answer on the issue of abortion. First, let's remember that such a situation is exceedingly rare. Dr. Landrum Shettles, a pioneer of in vitro fertilization, wrote, "Less than 1 percent of all abortions are performed to save the mother's life" (Landrum Shettles and David Rorvik, Rites of Life, Zondervan Publishing House, 1983, p. 129). When testifying before the U. S. Senate, Dr. Irving Cushner, Professor of Obstetrics at the UCLA School of Medicine, when testifying before the U. S. Senate, was asked how often abortions are necessary to save the life of the mother or preserve her physical health. His response: "In this country, about 1 percent" (testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution of the United States on October 14, 1981, quoted in The Village Voice, July 16, 1985).   Other medical professionals state that abortion is never necessary to save the mother's life. Over 1,000 OB-GYNs and maternal healthcare experts signed a statement in 2012, saying, in part, "As experienced practitioners and researchers in obstetrics and gynecology, we affirm that direct abortion—the purposeful destruction of the unborn child—is not medically necessary to save the life of a woman" (Dublin Declaration on Maternal Health, www.dublindeclaration.com, accessed 9/9/21). Further, in 2019, "medical leaders representing more than 30,000 doctors said intentionally killing a late-term unborn baby in an abortion is never necessary to save a mother's life" (www.lifenews.com/2019/03/05/30000-doctors-say-abortion-is-never-medically-necessary-to-save-a-mothers-life, accessed 9/9/21).   Second, let's remember that God is a God of miracles. He can preserve the life of a mother and her child despite all the medical odds against it. Third, even in the small percentage of abortions performed to save the mother's life, most of those abortions can be prevented by an early induced delivery of the baby or a C-section. It is infrequent that a baby must be actively aborted to save the mother's life. Ultimately, if the mother's life is genuinely at risk, the course of action can only be decided by the woman, her doctor, frequently the father of the child, and God. Any woman facing this complicated situation should pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) as to what He would have her do.   Most abortions performed today involve women who simply do not want to have the baby. As indicated above, just 2 percent of abortions are for rape, incest, or the mother's life is at risk. Even in these more difficult 2 percent of instances, abortion should never be the first option. The life of a human being in the womb is worth every effort to preserve.   All sins can be forgiven (John 3:16; Romans 8:1; Colossians 1:14). For those who have had an abortion, remember that the sin of abortion is no less forgivable than any other sin. A woman who has had an abortion, a man who has encouraged abortion, and a doctor who has performed an abortion can be forgiven by faith in Jesus Christ.  

Why Trusting God is Better than Trusting Man It can be tempting to trust only those most familiar to us, especially in moments of uncertainty and doubt. For example, we don't always feel like trusting God. In such situations, we may feel tempted to seek out the advice of someone we know and trust instead of trusting in God. It may seem logical to look to our friends and family first and trust that they are acquainted with the right people. But, in truth, this is not the ideal way of approaching the matter. Why trusting God is better than trusting man. At its core, a trust is a selfless act. Trust cannot exist under the threat of losing our reputation, position, or well-being. Therefore, to truly trust someone, we must first be assured that this person will not use our trust for their gain. Because of this, we must first trust God before trusting anyone else. But what does this mean? What does trusting in God have to do with trusting man? And more importantly, should we trust God? Let's look at this topic and explore why trusting God is better than trusting man. It's the right thing to do In the book of Proverbs, Solomon states: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5) This is a critical aspect of trusting God. When we trust God, we are not doing so because we think it is the right thing to do, but because we know it is the right thing to do. We are trusting because we are confident that what we are trusting in is trustworthy. We are not trusting because it is a "good" idea. We are trusting because it is the right thing to do. We are not trusting because we hope for a reward. We are trusting because we know it is the right thing to do. God is trustworthy In the book of Numbers, God gave the Israelites a promise: "I will bring you into the land of Canaan, where you will be able to enter the land and possess it.   (Numbers 14:22) Why did God not allow the Israelites to enter the Promised Land until they had completed 40 years of wandering in the wilderness? Why did God let the Israelites walk for nearly two full decades before He finally allowed them to enter the land? The answer is simple: To trust God is to rely upon a trustworthy person. God, Himself states, "My house will be a house of prayer for all nations." (Isaiah 56:67) We trust God because we know He will keep His promises.                                                                          Our trust is rewarded. When we know they will repay our trust with kindness, we trust a person. God is the ultimate source of faith, and He always rewards our trust with kindness. We can see this in the account of Joseph. Joseph was an enslaved person in Egypt, and he warned his master that he was being taken to prison. His master then put Joseph in prison, and the guards put Joseph in a dungeon. During this time, Joseph did not trust the guards or the jailer. Joseph trusted God no matter how bad his situation got. His trust was rewarded when Joseph was finally released from prison. God sent His angel to Joseph, and the angel told Joseph to flee to the land of Canaan, where he would eventually become the second in command and deliver His people.    God always keeps His Word.                                                                God is reliable and trustworthy. This is why we trust Him, and this is why we should trust Him. We trust God because He is trustworthy and dependable, and we can trust Him to do what He says He will do. We trust Him when we know He will be accurate and faithful to His word. We see this in the story of Gideon when the Philistines were invading the land. The people of Israel begged Gideon for help, and Gideon promised to deliver them. But, one promise, in particular, drew Gideon's trust: "The Lord will fight for you, and you will defeat the Philistines." (Judges 6:12) When the Philistines were finally defeated and the Israelites were freed from the oppression of their enemies, God kept His promise. He fought for them, and He defeated the Philistines.                                                                      It's essential to trust in God. Trust is a relationship between two parties, and rightly so. In this case—we trust God. However, this means that we need to trust Him, but how is this possible? How can we trust something we do not understand? And how can we trust something that we have no tangible evidence of existing? To trust something, we must believe it based on evidence. God, however, is something that most people do not know exists. But God promises to give us enough proof that we can trust Him.                                                                                         Conclusion There are many reasons to trust in God. One of the most important reasons is that trusting Him is better than trusting man. It is better because it is something that we do, not something that we think about. It is something that we do, not something that we hope for. It is better than trusting someone because it is for the long-term, not just for now. Trusting in God is better than relying upon someone because it is something that is for eternity. Trusting in God is better than trusting someone because God is trustworthy and reliable. Trusting in God is better than relying upon someone because God can keep His Word, and this is what matters most. The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever puts his trust in the Lord shall be safe. To fear man also means to please a man, prioritizing the will of man above the will of God. There are two main ways we can come under the fear of man. The first is through control or domination. This is where some men use intimidation to try and force you under their power because of their position, wealth, and status. The second way is through manipulation, and this is where persuasive lies are used, so they show you a false love or give you false praise, but the goal is to get you in a place where you don't want to lose that seeming love or praise, so you are subject to their will. In another case, by subjecting your will to them, you are ultimately subjecting to Satan because those men are themselves subjects to Satan. So, you are not only their slave, but you become a slave of Satan. In the book of Colossians, Paul says that even when you serve in your work under other men, do it as unto God and not unto men. This way, every decision can be guarded by God alone. If our goal is ultimately to please men, then we cannot be servants of Christ.

Do you believe in the power of Prayer……I certainly do….Jesus Lives New International Version Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.   Matthew 24:6-13 New International Version 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.   9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Please pray for God's protection upon the Ukrainians, and for His protection upon Israel. Both are being attacked by evil people and terrorists.       Please pray for those who are suffering from pain; addictions;  depression;  loneliness;  heartache;  loss of a loved one/pet;  homelessness;  fighting cancer/diseases; obesity;  anorexia; financial issues;  job issues;  and attacks from the enemy.   Please pray for our parched land to receive an abundant amount of rain and snow.   The Bible never specifically addresses the issue of abortion. However, there are numerous teachings in Scripture that make it abundantly clear what God's view of abortion is Jeremiah 1:5 tells us that God knows us before He forms us in the womb. Psalm 139:13–16 speaks of God's active role in our creation and formation in the womb. Exodus 21:22–25 prescribes the same penalty—death—for someone who causes the death of a baby in the womb as for someone who commits murder. This law and its punishment clearly indicate that God considers a baby in the womb to be just as much a human being as a full-grown adult. For the Christian, abortion is not a matter of a woman's right to choose to have a baby. The baby is already present and living. Abortion is a matter of the life or death of a human being made in God's image (Genesis 1:26–27; 9:6).   What does the Bible say about abortion? Simply put, abortion is murder. It is the killing of a human being created in the image of God.    Please pray for babies not to be aborted/murdered, and for the Doctors and Nurses who do this to repent of their sins, confess them to Jesus, and receive Him as their Savior. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus tells his followers, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.”    And please pray for those of us who minister on the streets to Momma's as they try to enter the murder mills. For Jesus to shine His Light through us into their hearts, and for His protection upon us as we witness. And for his protection upon the babies and the mothers.      For God's will, strength, courage, Word, peace, love, boldness, wisdom, and knowledge upon all who minister in His Son's glorious name.

Is there really 7 Reasons America is NOT the New World Order The New World Order is an international conspiracy that aims to establish a world government. The term comes from a novel by John Wilkes Booth, who referred to it as "The Great Rebellion." The roots of the New World Order can be traced back to the 18th century and the emergence of the Illuminati. The Illuminati was an occult society founded on May 1, 1776, with the intent of creating a new world order. Similar groups have popped up over time and they continue to this day. The Illuminati isn't the only secretive society that has inspired the New World Order. Groups like the Freemasons, Skull and Bones, and the Knights Templar have also been accused of working toward the same goal. Many of these organizations are also thought to be part of the New World Order.   Is The New World Order is an international conspiracy The New World Order refers to an international conspiracy that aims to establish a world government. The roots of the New World Order can be traced back to the 18th century and the emergence of the Illuminati. The Illuminati was an occult society founded on May 1, 1776, with the intent of creating a new world order; similar groups have popped up over time and continue to this day. The Illuminati isn't the only secretive society that has inspired the New World Order: other groups like Freemasons, Skull and Bones, and Knights Templar are also thought to be part of it. Many believe these organizations are also part of the New World Order.   The Illuminati The Illuminati is an international secret society that aims to establish a world government. The term comes from a novel by John Wilkes Booth, who referred to it as "The Great Rebellion." The roots of the New World Order can be traced back to the 18th century and the emergence of the Illuminati.   The Freemasons Freemasons are one of the oldest and most powerful secret societies. They are a fraternity that aims to spread the ideals of Freemasonry. Founded in 15th century Scotland, the Freemasons have been influential throughout history. The group is also thought to be part of the New World Order because they are an older society with ties to many other societies who are also thought to be working toward world domination. A significant number of presidents and world leaders were Masons: George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, William McKinley, Teddy Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Lyndon B. Johnson, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan. Many members of Congress today are also Masons. That includes Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan.   The Skull and Bones Skull and Bones is an American society at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. It is the oldest senior class society of Yale College, with a membership of about 2,000 men. The society's alumni organization, the Russell Trust Association, owns and manages the Skull and Bones building and endowment. Skull and Bones has been surrounded by many conspiracy theories throughout its long history. The most well-known one is that it was created as a front for an Illuminati group who aims to create a so-called "New World Order." However many conspiracies are unfounded. For example, there is no evidence that the society is an Illuminati front or that they plan to take over the world. There are also no ties between Skull and Bones and organized crime or that they maintain any control of Yale's academic life.   The Knights Templar One of the more mysterious groups connected to the New World Order is the Knights Templar. The Templars were a medieval Catholic order with a military and monastic focus. They're best known for their role in the Crusades, but they also had a hand in establishing banking and trade routes. The Templars' most famous moment came with their involvement in the persecution of King Jacques II of France, who was later absolved by Pope Clement V. After Jacques II's death, Philip IV arrested all members of the order in Europe and seized its assets. Although it was initially founded to protect Christians on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, many began to view the Knights Templar as a corrupt institution that traded in violence and extortion along with pagan practices like witchcraft. The Knights Templar are thought to be responsible for hiding some kind of treasure, which some believe might be buried beneath Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland. Some even go so far as to say that this treasure includes Jesus' bones and his holy bloodline, which would make it worth trillions of dollars today. Some people think that those involved in the New World Order are trying to take control of this "Holy Grail," but there's no evidence linking them together outside speculation.   Fact or fiction Conspiracy theories One of the most common conspiracy theories is that the New World Order is an organization that seeks to control and manipulate world affairs, including the economy, politics, and social issues. The theory says that this organization has been slowly trying to take over the world since it was first conceived in 1776. Many people believe that the New World Order has already achieved its goal. Others say they've come close to achieving their goals but have not completed them yet.   *Theories about the New World Order are very diverse. Some people say it's a group of powerful political families who rule together; others believe it's a committee of wealthy individuals who mastermind every major event on Earth. There are also people who believe it's a secret society working for centuries to create a one-world government system.* However, there is no consensus on what exactly the goals of this group or society are. This leads many theorists to disagree and fight with each other about what should be done next, if anything at all.    Summing up with God's word America America is not the New World Order. America is one of many countries that were once part of the New World Order. The United States has never been a member of the New World Order and there's no reason to believe that it ever will be. The Bible does not use the phrase “one-world government” or “one-world currency” in referring to the end times. It does, however, provide ample evidence to enable us to draw the conclusion that both will exist under the rule of the Antichrist in the last few days.   In an off-the-cuff remark “Now is a time when things are shifting,” Biden told a crowd of CEOs at the Business Roundtable's quarterly meeting on March 21. “There's going to be a new world order out there, and we've got to lead it.  And we've got to unite the rest of the free world in doing it.” Is this opening the door for the anti-Christ? No this is not a  Conspiracy Theory. Just something to ponder.   In his apocalyptic vision in the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John sees the “beast,” also called the Antichrist, rising out of the sea having seven heads and ten horns (Revelation 13:1). Combining this vision with Daniel's similar one (Daniel 7:16-24), we can conclude that some sort of world system will be inaugurated by the beast, the most powerful “horn,” who will defeat the other nine and will begin to wage war against Christians. The ten-nation confederacy is also seen in Daniel's image of the statue in Daniel 2:41-42, where he pictures the final world government consisting of ten entities represented by the ten toes of the statue. Whoever the ten are and however they come to power, Scripture is clear that the beast will either destroy them or reduce their power to nothing more than figureheads. In the end, they will do his bidding.   John goes on to describe the ruler of this vast empire as having power and great authority, given to him by Satan himself (Revelation 13:2), being followed by and receiving worship from “all the world” (13:3-4), and having authority over “every tribe, people, language and nation” (13:7). From this description, it is logical to assume that this person is the leader of a one-world government that is recognized as sovereign over all other governments. It's hard to imagine how such diverse systems of government as are in power today would willingly subjugate themselves to a single ruler, and there are many theories on the subject. A logical conclusion is that the disasters and plagues described in Revelation as the seal and trumpet judgments (chapters 6-11) will be so devastating and create such a monumental global crisis that people will embrace anything and anyone who promises to give them relief.   Once entrenched in power, the beast (Antichrist) and the power behind him (Satan) will move to establish absolute control over all peoples of the earth to accomplish their true end, the worship Satan has been seeking ever since being thrown out of heaven (Isaiah 14:12-14). One way they will accomplish this is by controlling all commerce, and this is where the idea of a one-world currency comes in. Revelation 13:16-17 describes some sort of satanic mark that will be required in order to buy and sell. This means anyone who refuses the mark will be unable to buy food, clothing, or other necessities of life. No doubt the vast majority of people in the world will succumb to the mark simply to survive. Again, verse 16 makes it clear that this will be a universal system of control where everyone, rich and poor, great and small, will bear the mark on their hand or forehead. There is a great deal of speculation as to how exactly this mark will be affixed, but the technologies that are available right now could accomplish it very easily.   Those who are left behind after the Rapture of the Church will be faced with an excruciating choice—accept the mark of the beast in order to survive or face starvation and horrific persecution by the Antichrist and his followers. But those who come to Christ during this time, those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life (Revelation 13:8), will choose to endure, even to martyrdom.

The Easter Story: What It Is and How It Changed History Easter is one of the most celebrated Christian holidays in the world. Every year Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This day has been a holiday since the early 1900s, but it has roots in ancient times. The story of Easter is told through three main parts: The Last Supper, Jesus' crucifixion, and His resurrection. This blog post will explore each part of this ancient story and how it changed the world forever.   The Last Supper The Last Supper is a term that describes the last meal that Jesus shared with his disciples before being executed. This meal was a Passover Seder, the Jewish celebration of liberation from slavery in Egypt. Symbolically, this meal represented Jesus' death and sacrificed for the sins of all people.   Jesus's Crucifixion Jesus's crucifixion is the second part of the Easter story. This event took place on April 7, 33 AD, and his crucifixion occurred in Jerusalem. The Romans often used crucifixion as a form of punishment for those who rebelled against them, which Jesus did during his life. With help from Pontius Pilate and Judas Iscariot, he was sentenced to crucifixion.   Jesus's Resurrection The most important part of the Easter story is Jesus's resurrection. At first, Jesus's followers were heartbroken and depressed after his death. But after he was resurrected, they went out and spread the good news to everyone. The Bible says that he appeared to his disciples and friends in several places after his death. He spent 40 days with them before ascending to heaven. They told the world what happened on Easter, and the importance of Jesus's resurrection changed everything.   The Story of Easter The story of Easter is told through three primary parts: The Last Supper, Jesus' crucifixion, and His resurrection. The Last Supper is when Jesus broke bread with his followers and said that they would share in his body and blood. Jesus was crucified the following day and died on the cross. He rose from the dead that night, appearing to his followers before ascending into heaven. The story of Easter has been celebrated for centuries by Christians worldwide and has changed our understanding of what it means to live a good life. One of the most significant changes was how Christianity viewed death. Before this story, Christians believed the end-all-be-all was to ascend into heaven as Jesus did after dying on the cross. Afterward, Christians realized that death is not an end but a new beginning for those who believe in Christ's teachings about eternal life.   Did you know... that many thought that Easter began as a pagan holiday to celebrate fertility in the spring. It was called Eastre or Eostra, and it marked the arrival of spring. No, Easter is not a pagan holiday. Easter is the Christian celebration of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead. Christians believe that Jesus, the Son of God, died for our sins on a Roman cross, was buried, and rose to life again "on the first day of the week, very early in the morning" (Luke 24:1).   Those who claim that Easter is a pagan holiday usually mean that the word Easter is etymologically linked to the name of an ancient goddess or that various pagan groups also held ceremonies in the springtime. Neither claim carries much weight.   First, we'll consider Easter as a pagan holiday because the name Easter has pagan origins. Some say that a Saxon goddess named Eostre is the namesake of our modern holiday. Others say that the word Easter comes from a Germanic goddess named Ostara. The problem with both theories is that there is no objective evidence that anyone ever worshiped a goddess by either name. The only mention of Eostre comes from a passing reference in the history of the Venerable Bede. The first mention of a goddess named Ostara is in a book by Jakob Grimm—and Grimm admitted that he could find no solid link between Easter and pagan celebrations.   Next, we'll consider that Easter is a pagan holiday because its springtime observance coincides with those of pagan religions. There are a plethora of pagan holidays that occur during the season covered by Easter: the Day of Bau (Babylonian), Dark Mother Day (Indian), the Day of Fortuna (Roman), the Feast of Blajini (Romanian), the Feast of Artemis/Diana (Greek/Roman), the Feast of Tellus Mater (Roman), the Festival of Ba'ast (Egyptian), the Festival of Ishtar (Babylonian), the Feast of Elaphebolia (Athenian), and Odin's Day (Norse), to name a few. But sharing a date on the calendar is no proof that two holidays are related. A married couple who celebrate their wedding anniversary on October 31 should not be accused of appropriating Halloween.   In short, claims that Easter is a pagan holiday are based on hearsay, assumptions, and inferences, with no hard evidence to back them up. Even if Easter Sunday were a Christianized version of an ancient pagan holiday, it would not mean that Easter itself is a pagan holiday. No one today is sacrificing to a goddess named Eostre or Ostara. Regardless of what a day may once have meant, today's observance needs to be evaluated based on what it means today. Christians celebrating Easter are no more pagan than are churches who gather to worship on Sunday (so named because it was the pagan "Day of the Sun"). The pagan origins of the names of the days of the week have nothing to do with the church's weekly gatherings, and ancient pagan spring festivals have no real bearing on the modern Christian celebration of Easter.   Although not written about Easter, Romans 14:5–6 can apply: "One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord." If individual Christian worries about some aspects of an Easter celebration, that Christian should do what they believe to be correct. He should not judge others who celebrate differently, nor should the others consider him when no clear biblical guideline is involved. Conclusion The Easter Story is a story of death and resurrection, but it's a story that has changed the world. Every year, Christians worldwide celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ by eating Easter eggs and acknowledging the story of Jesus laying down his life for others. Christians believe that Jesus died as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity and that his death was a victory over sin and death. Many scholars believe that the empty tomb is one of the most historically verifiable facts about Jesus. The message of Easter is one of hope and redemption. The Easter story does not just belong to Christians; it belongs to everyone who celebrates life.

Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old, he will not depart from it" - Proverbs 22:6, Sex is a topic that most do not want to mention or talk about.   Did you know: Most teenagers in America have sex for the first time, have sexual intercourse at about age 17. So it differs by socioeconomic class, race and ethnicity, and that sort of thing. But generally speaking, sex, intercourse at 17.  However, kids engage in sexual activity, usually at about 13 or so. And if you think about your growing up and when you were in high school, and when kids started making out and having boyfriends and getting seriously sexually active, it was usually about then.  By the time kids are age 13 - 16, they begin to develop their sexual muscles, fooling around, making out with their boyfriends, or with people they don't know well. So it's essential for your kids to know this and to know it's typical and familiar, and for you as a parent to know what to expect in terms of your kid's sexual activity. Amy Lang, MA Do your best Help Your Teenager Make the Most of Their Relationships with the Opposite Sex. It's common for parents to worry about their teenager's relationships with the opposite sex.  But things are different today. The internet, smartphones, and social media have significantly impacted how we interact with each other.  Teenagers now spend more time online than they do in person, which has led to a new set of challenges in relationships. From sexting and cyberbullying to addiction to pornography, there are many ways that our digital devices can get us into trouble when it comes to relationships with the opposite sex.  Here are some ways to help your teenager make the most of their relationship with the opposite sex. The Challenges of Relationships with the Opposite Sex in the Age of Technology We usually refer to romantic relationships when we talk about "relationships," but this term can also apply to spiritual or familial relationships. It's not easy to raise a teenager in this day and age, especially when it comes to relationships with the opposite sex.  The two main challenges of teen relationships today are: - Cyberbullying: Cyberbullying is any form of bullying that occurs through digital communication devices such as cell phones, text messages, phishing emails, or social media posts.  Teens have started using these forms of communication for their malicious purposes, sending hurtful messages or posting embarrassing pictures of others without their permission. - Cyberdating/sexting: Another challenge is shifting from traditional courtship (dating) to cyber dating/sexting. With cyber dating/sexting, teens use technology like Snapchat or Facebook Messenger as ways to flirt with each other before meeting up in person for a date.  With these apps, there are no repercussions if you get rejected because the conversation isn't face-to-face or if you break up with someone because they don't exist in real life. Do your best to Help Your Teenager Make the Most of Their Relationships with the Opposite Sex. If you're a parent of a teenage child, the last thing you want is for them to get into trouble with the opposite sex.  And with everyone now available on social media and smartphones, it's easier than ever for your teen to get themselves in trouble. But there are ways for parents to help their teenagers make the most of their relationships with the opposite sex. One way is by teaching them about healthy relationships. Conversations about what consent means, what constitutes cheating, and what values they should have when it comes to dating are essential topics that should be discussed throughout adolescence. Helping your teen understand these topics will help them later in life when they start to date and form genuine relationships with the opposite sex. Teach your teenager how to maintain healthy friendships that won't come between their relationship with the opposite sex.  There are many types of friends that might come between your teen's relationship: friends who gossip or share secrets, friends who constantly need something from your teen, friends who don't have boundaries when it comes to phone time and privacy, or friends who might use social media against them.  These friends can be harmful to your teenager's relationship; if teenagers don't establish and maintain healthy friendships early on, it will only worsen as they grow up. Do your best to Help Your Teenager Make the Most of Their Relationships with the Opposite Sex. Perhaps the best thing you can do to help your teenager make the most of their relationship with the opposite sex is to get educated.  You need to know everything going on in their lives and what they might be facing. The internet, smartphones, and social media can be addicting, and it's easy for kids to get into trouble when it comes to relationships with the opposite sex. Here are some ways you can help your teenager make the most of their relationships with the opposite sex: - Talk about sexting and cyberbullying. It's common for kids to send an inappropriate text or post a picture of themselves on Instagram without thinking about how someone might react. As a parent, it's your job to talk about this type of interaction, so they understand the potential consequences. - Talk about addiction to pornography. Pornography is accessible, and many kids have addictive behaviors towards it.  This could lead them down a road where they don't want to have actual sexual contact with people in real life because they're only interested in using porn as their source of arousal or gratification.  Make sure your teen understands that porn should never replace having an actual sexual partner! - Know what apps they're using -  Even though this may seem like common sense, many parents don't know what apps their kids are operating daily or which ones may be dangerous for them or other people online. Ask your child which apps they regularly use so you know what types of interactions Conclusion Understanding how to help your teenager make the most of their relationships with the opposite sex is a challenge.  Still, with a little patience and guidance, you can help them navigate the challenges of dating in the digital age. Parents need to understand that their role is not to monitor their teenager's relationships but to provide them with the tools they need to navigate them successfully. In this way, you're helping your teenager make the most of their relationships with the opposite sex. 3 John 1:4 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Also, meet the parents of your son or daughter's friend

What Does the Bible Say About Gun Ownership? The idea of a Christian owning a gun seems contradictory, but what does the bible say about it? The Bible is not as clear on this topic as we may hope.  The Bible doesn't provide explicit instructions on whether or not Christians should own guns. Interestingly,  when Jesus was asked whether Christians should “turn the other cheek” in regards to violence, he said yes. Some people have taken this to mean that turning the other cheek means not defending ourselves at all,  which contradicts messages from scriptures like Proverbs 24:11-12 and Romans 12:17-21 that encourage us to defend ourselves if we are being harmed.  perhaps this podcast will help you make peace with your decision to own a gun or not by examining biblical texts about self-defense and violence for answers. Should we as Christians Own Guns? again The Bible is not as clear on this topic as we may hope.  Due to the growing level of violence in our world and the extent of peace in Scripture, there is much debate among Christians regarding whether it is appropriate for a Christian to own weapons. However, a comprehensive look at the Bible offers insight regarding historic practices that inform this issue today. We have the example of the apostles, who owned weapons. On the night Jesus was betrayed, He asked His followers to bring swords. They had two, which Jesus claimed was enough (Luke 22:37-39). As Jesus was being arrested, Peter sliced off the ear of one of the servants of the high priest (John 18:10). Jesus healed the man instantly (Luke 22:51) and commanded Peter to put away his weapon (John 18:11). Peter's ownership of a sword was not condemned, only his particular use of it. On another occasion, soldiers came to be baptized by John the Baptist. When asked what to do to live for God, John told them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages” (Luke 3:14). John stopped short of telling them to lay down their weapons. And then there is David, who praised God “who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle” (Psalm 144:1). The Old Testament contains many other examples of godly men who owned and used weapons, usually in the context of warfare. The Bible never forbids a Christian from owning a weapon, but it does offer some principles to consider. First, Christians are called to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:10). A Christian considering the purchase of a weapon should prayerfully consider if doing so would aid in peace-making. Second, a Christian should only own a weapon for a purpose that would honor God (1 Corinthians 10:23). Using a weapon for hunting, military or law enforcement duty or self-defense may honor God. Still, a person should reflect on his or her motives for owning a particular weapon. Third, a Christian should abide by local laws, including gun laws. Romans 13 is clear that governing authorities are from God and are to be obeyed. Further, we are to pray on behalf of governing leaders who oversee our communities and nation (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Ultimately, there is nothing sinful about owning a gun or other weapon. A weapon can be useful and even necessary in some contexts; at the same time, Christians should carefully consider their motive and purpose in owning a weapon, and local ordinances should be followed.   maybe this podcast will help you make peace with your decision to own a gun or not by examining biblical texts about self-defense and violence for answers. The Bible and Gun Violence The Bible actually provides some insight into what it says about gun violence. The bible has a lot to say about violence in the Old Testament, but it is ambiguous in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, there are many instances of violence.  The stories of King David and King Saul both have many tales of violence and war. In each instance, God sometimes commanded that they do not take innocent life while at other times they were commanded to kill innocent people. In the New Testament, Jesus dissuades his followers from using force or defending themselves if someone is attacking them with a sword (Luke 22:36).  This can be interpreted as Jesus telling his disciples to simply turn the other cheek when confronted by an attacker rather than fighting back. The Old Testament verses that talk about self-defense seem to be more open to taking life from an aggressor. Proverbs 24:11-12 seems to say that it's okay to use force in order to save someone's life or property if they are being attacked by another person.  Romans 12:17-21 also encourages Christians to defend themselves against attacks if their lives are in danger or their property is being threatened.  If you're struggling with this decision and want guidance on whether or not you should own a gun, examine these biblical texts for answers and peace with your decision! The Bible and Self Defense The Bible does not say much about self-defense and violence, but it does have a few passages about the topic. Proverbs 24:11-12 says,  “Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter”. The passage is instructing Christians to help those in danger of dying or being killed by preventing their death. It is unclear if this means that we should only defend people or if we can use violence to save them. The passage in Romans 12:17-21 also seems to encourage Christians to defend themselves when necessary.  It states, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil" but "overcome evil with good" and "If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone".  This passage doesn't specifically mention self-defense but it does instruct us how we should respond when somebody hurts us. We should do good instead of evil and try our best to live peaceably with others. Jesus's teaching in Luke 6:27-36 was more specific about violence than the other passages mentioned above. He instructed his followers not to seek revenge when someone mistreated them and instead give what is due—love and mercy.  Again, it is unclear whether Jesus meant that we shouldn't defend ourselves from aggressors or whether he meant that we should only love others even when they mistreat us for example, by giving them mercy instead of defending ourselves from harm How to Make Peace With Your Decision  Some Christians feel like they are at odds with their faith and their desire to own a gun. Some people think that owning a gun is inherently contradictory. hopefully, this podcast will help you make peace with your decision by examining biblical texts about self-defense and violence.   We can make sense of these verses by considering them in context and in society today.  For example, Romans 13:4 says, "For he is God's servant for your good." In the original context of this verse, Paul was saying that because government officials do things for our good - such as enforcing laws - we should respect them and obey their commands without dispute or resistance. Today, however, many view this verse as an argument against obeying the law when it conflicts with what's morally right; some use it as an argument against gun ownership because they believe it would violate God's commandment to "turn the other cheek." There are some verses that prohibit violence  If you decide not to own a gun If you decide that owning a gun is against your values, then you will need to figure out how you can keep yourself safe without one. There are many other weapons and self-defense methods that can be used to defend oneself. Perhaps the easiest solution for Christians who don't want a gun is to use martial arts training or learn karate. Weapons such as pepper spray and knives can also be used for protection. Above all, it is important to seek God in this decision and know that He will protect you no matter what you decide.  If you decide to own a gun If you decide to own a gun, there are some important things to keep in mind. First, the Bible does not give specifics on whether or not Christians should have guns. However, Jesus' teaching on turning the other cheek has been interpreted by some people to mean that Christians shouldn't defend themselves at all. If you do decide to keep a gun on hand for protection, there are some things to keep in mind. Ask God for guidance pray about owning a gun  know that you're in good company The Bible is not as clear about this topic, but there are some scriptures that can guide your decision. If you decide to own a gun, know that you're in good company.  The United States is the most heavily armed society in the world with around 270 million firearms. There are around 89 guns per 100 people and 46 percent of Americans say they own a firearm. remember Psalm 46 King James Version 46 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. 6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. 9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.        

I want to make it extremely clear that I'm not telling anyone to leave their church. To be honest, the Bible tells us we need to attend church to worship God with other believers and be taught His Word for our spiritual growth. The early church "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer" (Acts 2:42). Back then, they had no designated church building, but "every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts" (Acts 2:46). Wherever the meeting takes place, believers thrive on fellowship with other believers and the teaching of God's Word. We should follow that example of devotion—and to the same things. Why Christians Need to Get Out of the Church: A Powerful Call for Change The church is a central part of many Christians' lives. It's where we come together to worship, study scripture, and share life with other believers. But as necessary as it is, the church has become stagnant and uninspiring. For some, the thought of going to church seems like a chore. Others enjoy it but find it challenging to make time for it when they have so many other things going on in their lives. I remember my mother would say that you need to go the most when you do not feel like going to church, so you see, this doesn't mean that all hope is lost! It just means that we need to make some changes if the church stays relevant in this new digital age. In our lives, here are some ways you can help change your church into something more modern and engaging.   Why Christians Need to Get Out of the Church More than ever, the church is alive and well. Whether you're looking for a community to speak your faith with or need a place to worship, churches are easily accessible in almost every city. But as necessary as the church is, it has become stagnant and uninspiring. Church attendance has been declining since the 1950s, so it's time for Christians to make some changes if we want our faith to stay relevant in this new digital age. The problem is that many people have become disconnected from church culture because of how unappealing it can be at times. For some, attending church seems like a chore because of how lifeless and outdated it can seem. Others enjoy going but find themselves too busy with life to take time out of their days to attend on Sundays or even during the weekdays when they have more free time. But don't let those reasons stop you! We need your help changing our churches into something more modern and engaging. Here are six ways you can help transform your church into something more interesting:   What Is Modern and Engaging? What does it mean to have a modern and engaging church? It implies including more technology and making it easier for people to find out about your church. More access points for information are reasonable. You want to post on social media, use email lists, or even send text messages. Find out what works best for you and your community, and then take the necessary steps to get that information in the hands of others.   A Christian congregation is one of the central parts of many Christians' lives. The church is where Christians worship, study scripture, and share life with other believers. As important as the church may be, some people feel it has become stagnant and uninspiring due to a lack of change. For those struggling with this stagnation or lack of inspiration in their churches, some changes should be made if the church wants to maintain its relevance in today's digital age. Here are six ways you can help change your church into something more modern and engaging!   How Christians Can Make Changes at Their Church No one denies that the church can be a powerful and life-changing place. But it's also important to recognize that many times, we aren't engaging with our church in the same way anymore. It's not just about going to church every week and listening to sermons from the pulpit. Churches need to find ways to engage their communities in meaningful conversations about faith, hope, and love. One of the best ways churches can change is by using social media for outreach and engagement. One way is through technology. Digital platforms like Facebook and Twitter are an excellent way for churches to reach people who might not come on Sundays or even know that there's a church nearby. Each day, there are more than 600 million people on Facebook who have expressed interest in Christianity as well as Christianity-related content. More than 400 million active monthly users on Instagram--a popular app among young adults--who have expressed some interest in Christianity-related posts, meaning that this platform could be the perfect place for churches to connect with those who don't feel connected at church.   Making Change Happen If you want to make change happen, there are a few things you need to know. First, people believe that a church is something expected and required. We feel obligated to go because it was ingrained in us early. But remember going to church doesn't have to be a chore; it can be enjoyable! The key is finding a meaningful and relevant church for your own life. Next, try bringing these ideas back with you from your next Sunday service. You might find that some of them are hard to implement. If so, don't give up! You'll need to find other ways that fit better into your life and the lives of those around you. For example, if you're on vacation for two weeks and can't attend your church's Sunday service, start looking for video recordings or sermons online so you stay connected with the congregation when you're away from home. Lastly, take time out of your day (or week) every day - even if it's only 15 minutes - to pray and read scripture together as a family unit or individually if necessary (even on social media!). It will help foster intimacy with God in our daily lives and remind us why we're doing all of this in the first place: our love for Jesus Christ!   The Challenge of Change The challenge of change is a hurdle for many churches. It can be scary for some to think about what could happen if the church changes too much. Many worries that people will leave and stop coming to church because it's not what they're used to. But this can be a good thing. If we make our congregations more accessible and engaging, attendance will increase, and we'll see new faces in our pews. The way we change things doesn't have to be drastic either. We can make minor, incremental adjustments that will result in significant changes over time.   Conclusion Christians need to take their faith out of the church and into the world. A faith that is not lived out in the community, with the people of this world, is not a faith at all. We are called to be in the world, not of it. We need to be where people are hurting, where people are lonely, where people require a word of encouragement or hope. We need to meet people where they are, not where we want them to be. We need to open our churches—not as a place for Christians to go on Sundays, but as a center for community and change. Numbers 6:24-26 New King James Version 24 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The Lord [a]lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” '   Blessing in Jesus Christ Thank you for reading this and listening to this podcast. Willie T Ayers

Lent 2022 began on Wednesday,  March 2and ends on Thursday,  April 142022 A little about Lent; Lent is a solemn religious observance in the Christian liturgical calendar commemorating the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert,  according to the Gospels of Matthew,  Mark,  and Luke,  before beginning his public ministry,  during which he endured temptation by Satan.  Dear podcast listeners As you stroll through the local stores,  you'll see an abundance of bunnies,  baskets,  and candy for sale,  and those may be the only signs of Easter you'll find outside of the church.  Easter is primarily uncommercialized,  unlike its Christmas counterpart,  which is pretty remarkable: the day that we celebrate the glory of Christ's resurrection remains untainted by retailers.  However,  just because we're not receiving Easter ad upon Easter ad in our newspapers and inboxes doesn't mean we should pigeonhole the holiday as a minor celebration.  Easter is perhaps the most important holiday on the Christian calendar—even the word crucial has its roots in Christianity,  stemming from the term crucify.  And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.  He was in the wilderness for forty days,  tempted by Satan,  and he was with the wild beasts,  and the angels waited on him.  Now after John was arrested,  Jesus came to Galilee,  proclaiming the Good News of God,  and saying,  “The time is fulfilled,  and the kingdom of God has come near; repent,  and believe in the Good News. ”– Mark 1:12-15 The season we call Lent,  the forty days before Easter,  represents the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness,  continually tempted by Satan.  When He emerged from the wilderness,  He knew it was time for the prophecy of His death and resurrection to be fulfilled.  As believers,  we remember this.  We look to this time of Lent as a way to go into our own ‘wilderness' of sorts; we pray,  we fast,  we meditate,  we worship,  we focus on God.  We ready ourselves for the grief of Christ's death,  and we take joy in the gospel of His rising again.  We are granted eternal life through Christ; the Messiah lifted up.  I invite you to join us as we take a closer look at the life of Christ these next few weeks as we recall what this season is all about.  Blessings in Christ, 

    Greetings in Christ! Brothers and sister in Christ I don't know about you, but I imagine your heart is breaking like mine as we see the images coming out of Ukraine as Russia attacks them.   While this conflict is seven in duration to this point, we know there has been a conflict for years. While I don't know all the political ramifications, I do know there are Christians in Ukraine, and yes, there are Christians in Russia!   I believe God has representatives of His family in every Nation and Tribe of this world, and we should do our best to pray for the protection of those who love Jesus AND who may have never heard of Jesus! They need to hear of His love and mercy for them. Matthew 24:8 tells us, "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come."   This podcast is not intended to be a prophetic word about where we are in God's timetable. Of course, only God the Father knows the "day and hour" when Jesus will come again, but if we genuinely love the Lord, we look forward to that day!   Revelation 22:20 (NKJV) 20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!   With that in mind, we know that while we as the people of God dwell on this earth, there will be challenges along the way. The people of Ukraine are going through tremendous difficulty as Russia (primarily Putin) has declared war on them.   I want to encourage you to pray for the believers in Ukraine, as well as those who may not know the Lord but, even at this time, are calling to Christ quite possibly for the first time.   According to the latest polls, a very high percentage of the population, 86.52%, professes to be a believer in Ukraine.   Did you know that Ukraine has the highest percentage of Evangelical Christians in the ancient USSR and continental Europe today?   Ukraine has the largest concentration of evangelical churches in Eastern Europe. And many Ukrainian missionaries are serving in different countries today.   God has been doing amazing things in Ukraine, and I believe He is not finished yet!   This is not meant to be a "political" podcast, but in fact, God has His family spread out all over this world in every nation. Many of our brothers and sisters in Christ live in persecution and hardship, but they are our family!   I am simply asking you to pray for God's protection and perfect will to be accomplished in this situation. There is power in prayer, and God wants us to come to Him with humble hearts pleading for His mercy.   Will you commit to joining me in prayer in the way God leads you throughout the days ahead?   Matthew 18:18 (NKJV) 18 Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.   Let's pray that hearts will soften, and peace will prevail, but most of all, that the Gospel of Christ will permeate the earth!   Blessing In Christ, Thank you for your prayers Willie T Ayers Veteran for Christ    

  With so much going on in the world, we all need to get right with God. We need to develop a steadfast relationship with God, an unbreakable Unshakeable relationship. Many are worried about Russia's outright invasion of Ukraine. We as Christians should pray for peace on behalf of the Ukrainian people (1 Timothy 2:1–2; Romans 12:1) also for Russia as well.     To develop a close relationship with God, we need to spend quality time with Him. We need to study His Word and let His Holy Spirit speak to us through it. We require time to spend in earnest prayer, talking to Him, praising and worshiping Him. We need time to look at nature and reflect on all the beautiful creations He has made. And finally, we need time to spend with fellow believers, worship together in song, and have fellowship with each other, encouraging one another and building up each other's faith by our testimonies.   In this hectic world with our busy lifestyles, it is so easy to get so engrossed in other things that we never have time for God. Some of us may spend a couple of hours of a Sunday morning attending church. Still, then the humdrum of the rat race catches up with us, and we find ourselves mowing lawns, going to the footy, or off doing other secular activities where God is not a part of it.   With stress-related diseases such as heart attack and cancer increasing every year, the necessity to take a day's break and bask in the presence of our mighty father in Heaven has never been so vital. We need to be replenished and rested so that our bodies have time to recuperate.   God gave us His Sabbath day as a blessing to all humankind. A day that we could genuinely get to know and fellowship with Him and not have to do any work or labor. A day on which to rest, away from the worries and cares of this world. He also ordained it as a day in remembrance that He is the Creator of Heaven and Earth. The scriptures say Exodus 20:8-11 New International Version 8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.   The Bible shows the true spirit of the Sabbath. Isaiah 58:13-14 New International Version 13 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, 14 then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. This is a verse that all of us should consider Joshua 24:15 New International Version 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” All Bible references are from the New International Version  

  A miracle of God is an extraordinary or unnatural event that reveals or confirms a specific message through a mighty work. Jesus performed plenty of miracles. All the miracles He did were to glorify God, help others, and prove that He was indeed who He said He was—the Son of God. When He calmed the storm in Matthew 8, for example, the disciples were astonished and they asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (verse 27).   The Gospels record many of the miracles that Jesus performed. Of course, many of the things that Jesus did could not have been recorded in such short works. John freely admits, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book…Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” (John 20:30 and 21:25).   Different Gospels often record the same miracles, with each one giving slightly different details. Sometimes, it is impossible to know if a particular miracle recorded in the Gospels is simply one miracle recorded from different angles or if two separate miracles are being recorded. None of the Gospel writers are particularly concerned with strict chronology, and they sometimes do not give us all the details we might be interested to know.   The miracles Jesus performed and listed below have been grouped into broad categories with accompanying references without attempting to determine which miracles are recorded multiple times and which may be unique to each of the Gospels:   Miracles of Healing Lepers cleansed: Matthew 8:1–4; Mark 1:41–45; Luke 5:12–14; 17:11–19 Blind receive sight: Matthew 9:27–31; Mark 8:22–26; 10:46–52 Luke 18:35–43; John 9:1–38 People are healed from a distance: Matthew 8:5–13; Luke 7:2–10; John 4:46–54 Peter's mother-in-law healed: Mark 1:29–31 Paralyzed man healed: Matthew 9:1–8; Mark 2:1–12; Luke 5:17–26 People touching Jesus' clothing are healed: Matthew 9:20–23; 14:35–36; Mark 5:25–34; 6:53–56; Luke 8:43–48 Various healings on the Sabbath: Mark 3:1–6; Luke 6:6–10; 13:10–17; 14:1–6; John 5:1–18 Deaf and mute man healed: Mark 7:31–37 Cut-off ear is repaired: Luke 22:47–53 Demons cast out (and specific physical ailments accompanying the demons healed): Matthew 9:32–33; 17:14–18; Mark 9:14–29; Luke 9:37–42 Demons cast out (no specific physical ailments mentioned): Matthew 8:28–34; 15:21–28; Mark 1:23–27; 5:1–20; 7:24–30; Luke 4:31–37; 8:26–39 Multitudes healed: Matthew 9:35; 15:29–31; Mark 1:32–34; 3:9–12; Luke 6:17–19 The dead raised to life: Matthew 9:18–26; Mark 5:21–43; Luke 8:40–56; John 11:1–45   Other Miracles Multitudes fed (food multiplies): Matthew 14:13–21; 15:32–39; Mark 6:33–44; 8:1–10; Luke 9:12–17; John 6:1–14 Walks on water: Matthew 14:22–33 (Peter too); Mark 6:45–52; John 6:15–21 Calms a storm: Matthew 8:22–25; Mark 4:35–41; Luke 8:22–25 Fills nets with fish: Luke 5:1–11; John 21:1–14 Peter catches fish with money in its mouth (for the temple tax): Matthew 17:24–27 Turns water to wine: John 2:1–11 Cursed tree withers: Matthew 21:18–22; Mark 11:12–25   From the list above, we see that the vast majority of miracles recorded in the Gospels were miracles of healing. While those who received the healing were relieved of their physical ailments, the stated purpose of the miracles is rarely ever the simple alleviation of physical suffering. The miracle of healing always points to a greater truth, namely, that Jesus is the Son of God with authority. When He casts out demons, His authority over them is emphasized. When He heals on the Sabbath, His authority as Lord of the Sabbath is emphasized. Likewise, many of the miracles emphasize Jesus' authority over nature.   There is no better way to study the miracles of Jesus than to read through the Gospels and make a list of each miracle and the explanation that is provided. (For instance, in John 2 we read of Jesus turning water into wine. That miracle did alleviate a potential embarrassment for the host and it did appease His mother who asked Him to get involved, but the primary result is recorded in verse 11: “What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.”) Sometimes the purpose of a miracle is given directly, and sometimes it is recorded in the response of those who saw it. Jesus never performed miracles for the sake of putting on a show. Every miracle pointed to a greater truth. John especially emphasized this point by referring to Jesus' miracles as “signs.”   The feeding of the 5,000 is just one example. John 6 begins by saying that people were following Jesus because they saw the signs. One would think this is a good thing. Jesus goes on to feed the multitude, over 5,000 men plus women and children, with just five loaves and two fish. Then, He slipped away in the night.   The next morning, the people went looking for Him. Jesus, however, is not impressed and confronts their selfish motives for seeking Him: “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill” (John 6:26). There is some irony here. They were seeking Jesus because they had a free meal as the result of a miracle. No doubt they thought that this was a pretty good arrangement. If Jesus would continue to feed them, all would be well. Jesus, however, says that they did not truly see the “sign.” They saw the miracle, yet they could not see past the loaves and fish. The “sign” Jesus performed signifies something greater. Although the multitudes saw and partook of the miracle, they missed the sign that was to point them to Jesus, the Bread of Life. Throughout the ministry of Jesus, many people saw His miracles as ends in themselves rather than pointing to something greater.         37 Miracles of Jesus in Chronological Order These miracles of Jesus Christ are essentially presented in chronological order. 37 Miracles of Jesus # Miracle Matthew Mark Luke John 1 Jesus turns water into wine at the wedding in Cana       2:1-11 2 Jesus heals an official's son at Capernaum in Galilee       4:43-54 3 Jesus drives out an evil spirit from a man in Capernaum   1:21-27 4:31-36   4 Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law sick with fever 8:14-15 1:29-31 4:38-39   5 Jesus heals many sick and oppressed at evening 8:16-17 1:32-34 4:40-41   6 First miraculous catch of fish on the Lake of Gennesaret     5:1-11   7 Jesus cleanses a man with leprosy 8:1-4 1:40-45 5:12-14   8 Jesus heals a centurion's paralyzed servant in Capernaum 8:5-13   7:1-10   9 Jesus heals a paralytic who was let down from the roof 9:1-8 2:1-12 5:17-26   10 Jesus heals a man's withered hand on the Sabbath 12:9-14 3:1-6 6:6-11   11 Jesus raises a widow's son from the dead in Nain     7:11-17   12 Jesus calms a storm on the sea 8:23-27 4:35-41 8:22-25   13 Jesus casts demons into a herd of pigs 8:28-33 5:1-20 8:26-39   14 Jesus heals a woman in the crowd with an issue of blood 9:20-22 5:25-34 8:42-48   15 Jesus raises Jairus' daughter back to life 9:18, 23-26 5:21-24, 35-43 8:40-42, 49-56   16 Jesus heals two blind men 9:27-31       17 Jesus heals a man who was unable to speak 9:32-34       18 Jesus heals an invalid at Bethesda       5:1-15 19 Jesus feeds 5,000 plus women and children 14:13-21 6:30-44 9:10-17 6:1-15 20 Jesus walks on water 14:22-33 6:45-52   6:16-21 21 Jesus heals many sick in Gennesaret as they touch his garment 14:34-36 6:53-56     22 Jesus heals a gentile woman's demon-possessed daughter 15:21-28 7:24-30     23 Jesus heals a deaf and dumb man   7:31-37     24 Jesus feeds 4,000 plus women and children 15:32-39 8:1-13     25 Jesus heals a blind man at Bethsaida   8:22-26     26 Jesus heals a man born blind by spitting in his eyes       9:1-12 27 Jesus heals a boy with an unclean spirit 17:14-20 9:14-29 9:37-43   28 Miraculous temple tax in a fish's mouth 17:24-27       29 Jesus heals a blind, mute demoniac 12:22-23   11:14-23   30 Jesus heals a woman who had been crippled for 18 years     13:10-17   31 Jesus heals a man with dropsy on the sabbath     14:1-6   32 Jesus cleanses ten lepers on the way to Jerusalem     17:11-19   33 Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead in Bethany       11:1-45 34 Jesus restores sight to Bartimaeus in Jericho 20:29-34 10:46-52 18:35-43   35 Jesus withers the fig tree on the road from Bethany 21:18:22 11:12-14     36 Jesus heals a servant's severed ear while he is being arrested     22:50-51   37 The second miraculous catch of fish at the Sea of Tiberias       21:4-11 Many people desire miracles from God. They want God to perform miracles to “prove” Himself to them. “If only God would perform a miracle, sign, or wonder, then I would believe!” This idea, though, is contradicted by Scripture. When God performed amazing and powerful miracles for the Israelites, did that cause them to obey Him? No, the Israelites constantly disobeyed and rebelled against God even though they saw all the miracles. The same people who saw God part the Red Sea later doubted whether God was able to conquer the inhabitants of the Promised Land. This truth is explained in Luke 16:19-31. In the story, a man in hell asks Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to warn his brothers. Abraham informed the man, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead” (Luke 16:31). Jesus performed countless miracles, yet the vast majority of people did not believe in Him. If God performed miracles today as He did in the past, the result would be the same. People would be amazed and would believe in God for a short time. That faith would be shallow and would disappear the moment something unexpected or frightening occurred. A faith based on miracles is not a mature faith. God performed the greatest “God miracle” of all time in coming to earth as the Man Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins (Romans 5:8) so that we could be saved (John 3:16). God does still perform miracles—many of them simply go unnoticed or are denied. However, we do not need more miracles. What we need is to believe in the miracle of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The purpose of miracles was to authenticate the performer of the miracles. Acts 2:22 declares, “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.” The same is said of the apostles, “The things that mark an apostle—signs, wonders and miracles—were done among you with great perseverance” (2 Corinthians 12:12). Speaking of the gospel, Hebrews 2:4 proclaims, “God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.” We now have the truth of Jesus recorded in Scripture. We now have the writings of the apostles recorded in Scripture. Jesus and His apostles, as recorded in Scripture, are the cornerstone and foundation of our faith (Ephesians 2:20). In this sense, miracles are no longer necessary, as the message of Jesus and His apostles has already been attested to and accurately recorded in the Scriptures. Yes, God still performs miracles. At the same time, we should not necessarily expect miracles to occur today just as they did in Bible times.  

Another story baby left in a hot car on a summer day how many children must die before we get enough Sense to know that Leaving babies in hot cars is deadly.  Crime has gone up more than 30%, yet people crying defund the police. Common Sense does not seem to be that common in today's world, and we have people suing fast-food restaurants for serving hot coffee.  Do they not realize that typically coffee is hot? Even if they make coffee at home, it will be hot. Where is Common Sense? There are warning labels on hair dryers that say do not submerge them in the water. I do not know about you, but I know that electricity and water do not mix.  Knives that come in boxes warn us that the blade is sharp. I do not know too many knives that are not sharp or razor blades that may not. It appears that some people do not seem to understand that common Sense has taken a backseat to idiotic Behavior.  You know this idiotic Behavior is also coming from elected leaders. This is real American.  You got people that want to sue people for using the n-word. What is the N-word is no different from any other racial slur, be as a racial slur towards a white person, Asian person, Hispanic person, or Jewish person it is all racism.  All racist comments should be treated equally, not just the n-word because it is based on a Black and white Society. This nation is not just a nation made up of Black and white people. This nation has lost its common sense and has taken a backseat to idiotic I do not get it; I believe that clear thinking has left the building. Many have given up on clear thinking, perhaps because of fear of losing their power or jobs.  if we dig deeper into the word of God word, we can learn from proverbs wisdom discretion is and what is needed most in the world. That brings life and Grace if we will put what is clear thinking life of benefit, we need to focus on doing things that make sense and that start from the president down to all individuals.  We all need just to practice clear thinking, and it would be beneficial to us all if we just focus on doing things that make sense and think before we speak it, and before we act, we need to make and use common Sense again.  I pray that we can do that sooner than later. In Proverbs 8:5 some translations speak of the need to develop "common sense," which other translations simply call "prudence" or "discretion." Common Sense is sound judgment in practical matters. Biblically, common Sense can be thought of as a combination of wisdom and discretion (Proverbs 3:21; 8:12–14). Wisdom knows what to do; discretion knows when and where to do it. Common Sense is sound judgment in practical matters. In Proverbs 8:5 some translations speak of the need to develop "common sense," which other translations simply call "prudence" or "discretion." Biblically, common Sense can be thought of as a combination of wisdom and discretion (Proverbs 3:21; 8:12–14). Wisdom is knowing what to do; discretion is knowing when and where to do it. Part of being a fool is having no common sense or being "void of understanding," as the KJV puts it (Proverbs 7:7; 24:30).  The book of Proverbs proclaims the benefits of gaining wisdom and also shows the folly of being a fool (Proverbs 13:16; 16:22; 26:11).  Proverbs 3:13–14 says, "Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold." Wisdom allows us to see life the way God does. When we seek God's perspective, we can make decisions based upon their eternal significance rather than selfish interest.  When we choose to make decisions based on wisdom alone, we are exercising Common Sense. The desire for instant gratification is the enemy of common Sense. Many people have become ensnared in trouble and heartache because they rejected a wise path and sought instead immediate satisfaction.  Common Sense is often developed by learning from the consequences of such poor choices—the school of hard knocks educates many. Everyone makes bad decisions at some point. The difference between the wise and the foolish is that one learns from his mistakes and the other keeps repeating them. Some people seem born with a more level head, while others learn from experience, either way, wisdom and common Sense should be continually pursued in order to experience the best God has for us (Proverbs 2:1–8). God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world. C. S. Lewis

  Freedom as we know it is under attack, be it freedom of speech or Christian liberties and so much more. Please wake up American citizens. If up do not stand up for something, you will fall for anything. Take time to research your constitutional rights. Did you know that the 4th amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. Through the Fourth Amendment, the Constitution protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. However, the Fourth Amendment is not a guarantee against all searches and seizures, but only those that are deemed unreasonable under the law.  Or the 8th amendment protects against Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. I would encourage you to search the laws of each state and the constitutional laws as well; it is your choice, your freedom. Webster's dictionary defines freedom of speech as “the right to express facts and opinions subject only to reasonable limitations (as the power of the government to protect itself from a clear and present danger) guaranteed by the 1st and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution and similar provisions of some state constitutions.” According to this definition, freedom of speech is a right given to the citizens of the United States by law. In that sense, freedom of speech is not a biblical concept but a political one specific to a particular time and place in history. The founders of the United States believed that humankind has certain “inalienable rights,” including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Thomas Jefferson spoke of these rights as having been endowed to man by his Creator; he called the right to liberty “inherent” and postulated that governments are instituted in order to allow man (the governed) to secure those rights and to pursue his rights freely. In Jefferson's mind, the liberty and consent of the governed were imperative for governments to be efficient and beneficial. Under that umbrella of privilege falls freedom of speech. The idea that the Creator has endowed us with the right to liberty is debatable, but God indeed created man with a free will. Adam and Eve had the liberty to partake of any fruit in the garden (except one), and they even had the liberty to disobey. God created man to serve Him, to know Him, and to enjoy Him forever in eternity, so liberty within the bounds of righteousness is certainly a biblical ideal. Christians believe that serving God and enjoying a relationship with Him is the ultimate liberty. The ultimate freedom is found in belonging to Christ (Galatians 5:1; 2 Corinthians 3:17). Sin brings bondage (Romans 7:14), but the one who belongs to Christ is spiritually free (Romans 8:2). But does that spiritual freedom from sin entail political freedom of speech? Perhaps not directly, but speaking the truth in love is a biblical mandate (Ephesians 4:15). Therefore, any government law that guarantees citizens the right to speak the truth aligns with godly principles. By the same token, any law that suppresses a person's right to speak truth is working against God's command. Freedom of speech does not guarantee that truth is told, of course, but it does permit it to be told. In the final analysis, there is no conflict between biblical principles and the civic principle of freedom of speech. The Bible states emphatically in Galatians 5:1 that believers are free in Christ: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1). Before Jesus died on a cross, God's people lived under a detailed system of laws that served as a moral compass to guide their lives. The Law, while powerless to grant salvation or produce true freedom, nevertheless pointed the way to Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:19–24). Through His sacrificial death, Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law, setting believers free from the law of sin and death. God's laws are now written in our hearts through the Spirit of God, and we are free to follow and serve Christ in ways that please and glorify Him (Romans 8:2–8). In a nutshell, this is the definition of Christian freedom. Despite the First Amendment, in the United States today, Christians do not have total freedom of speech. There are things we believe, ideas clearly taught in the Scriptures, that are now considered “hate speech” in our world of political correctness. A society that proudly proclaims freedom of speech and then creates laws against hate speech is talking out of both sides of its mouth. Laws and governments aside, there are still what we might call “social laws” in place, and when Christians are faced with ostracization due to their beliefs, it certainly does not demonstrate freedom of speech. Many believers throughout history have been persecuted by their societies because the expression of their beliefs did not line up with the status quo. A notable example is Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, whose refusal to bow down to the king's idol landed them in the midst of a fiery furnace (Daniel 3:1–26). God wants us to obey Him and to speak according to His Word. If obedience to that principle makes people hate us or gets us thrown in jail or even killed, we are not to back down. God wants us to speak the truth boldly (Ephesians 6:20), but He never promises that we will always be free to speak without consequences.  So are you willing to stand up?   As Christians, the two things we can do to stand up for Christ are to live according to His Word and grow our own knowledge of Him. Christ said, “Let your light shine before men…” (Matthew 5:16). This means that we should live and act in a way that supports the gospel. We should also arm ourselves with knowledge, both of the gospel (Ephesians 6:10-17) and of the world around us. First Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” All we can do is live and teach as Christ would and let Him take care of the rest. Again I encourage you to do your own research. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I humble myself before You, Your will not mine be done. Forgive me for being selfish and deliver me from insisting on my own way at the expense of others. I will mediate on your Word day and night. By the grace of God I will be an obedient doer of your Word, seeking to love as You have loved me. I renew my mind to your Word, and pray that your Word will dominate my thoughts, words and actions. I submit to Truth so that I will not be seduced or deceived by the works of the devil. I am born of God, I am born of Love and by Your grace I am strong in you, Lord, and in the power of your might. Today, I choose the way of Love, in the name of Jesus! Scripture References: 1 Peter 5:6; 1 Corinthians 13; Romans 12:2; 1 Online References  Got Questions and many more Take a look at Fox Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson they will give you something to think about  

STRESS THE SILENT KILLER   We are going into the third year of this pandemic, and this has been a very stressful time. Many of us had to deal mentally and financially with many hardships, and we have our political leaders invoking fear of this pandemic. I have been highly stressed doing this pandemic coping with my medical issues, and just dealing with the health and welfare of my family stress is also known as the silent killer.   Stress is a reaction of the body due to any change leading to physical, mental, or emotional tension. It may arise from any occurrence that leads to frustrations, anger, and nervousness. The body's reaction to these feelings is stress. Stress may bring a positive or negative effect, depending on how it is handled. Stress response may be beneficial in protecting the body. However, stress has harmful effects, becoming a severe chronic condition if not well managed. I honestly believe that our political leaders have placed a lot of stress upon the American people. I read that Colorado has one of the highest suicide rates in the nation among adolescents ages 11 through 18, which is pretty horrifying. In a lot of this came from not having social interaction with their peers. It had been said that the COVID-19 pandemic increased its suicide depression anxiety in many other health issues that were not COVID related. I'm sure that perhaps this number went down, at least according to the CDC. I am not sure because numbers can be manipulated just as numbers have been conducted about the number of COVID deaths, including the alleged number of people hospitalized. We even had one of the Supreme Court Justice make a false statement about the impact COVID-19 had on children, and this is the highest in America; what type of an example it's being set here. Well, at least the Supreme Court struck down the vaccine mandate coodles. Thank you for doing this. We all make mistakes, and perhaps this was just an honest mistake. I genuinely don't know because the media doesn't always get it right. With some much false news, incorrect news, or whatever terminology you want to use, this can lead to a lot of stress within our American system. I think that's why I try not to watch the news. I wonder whether our leaders realize the stress they have placed upon the American people who elected them. Let's see what God's word says about stress. Question: "What does the Bible say about stress?"   Answer: The dictionary defines stress as "physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension." Some stress is necessary and even reasonable—such as the physical strain we put on our muscles to make them stronger. But when we talk about "stress," we usually refer to excessive or damaging mental or emotional strain or tension. While "stress" is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, Scripture does speak to things such as anxiety, worry, and trouble—things we often associate with stress—and gives us clear answers on how we should deal with them.   Everyone suffers from stress at one time or another. How we naturally deal with it depends in large part on who we are. For some, emotional stress causes physical illness. Others might become hyper-productive. On the other hand, some people under stress shut down mentally and emotionally. And, of course, there are a variety of other responses. Stress is a common human experience, particularly in a world where the demands for our time and attention seem to be unending. Our jobs, health, family, friends, and even ministry activities can overwhelm us. The ultimate solution to stress is to surrender our lives to God and seek His wisdom regarding priorities as well as His enabling to do the things to which He calls us. He always gives enough, so we need not be defeated by stress.   One common cause of stress is financial. We stress over money because we never seem to feel that we have enough. We worry about being able to pay all our bills, many living paychecks to paycheck. Or we become consumed by materialism and, in turn, stressed out about maintaining our lifestyle. Some become stressed over finances because they don't trust God to provide the basic necessities of life. But Jesus said, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? … And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?" (Matthew 6:25, 27). It is true that we are called upon to be good stewards of money and to provide for our families (1 Timothy 5:8), but we must never forget that God is ultimately our Provider. If we are His, we need not fear that He will abandon us. On the other hand, there are those whose financial stress is caused more by materialistic greed than it is by true need. Materialism inevitably leads to stress because, when we seek the world's goods, we have fallen for the "deceitfulness of wealth" (Mark 4:19), the lie that such things relieve stress and lead to happiness, contentment, and joy. They do not.   We might also find ourselves stressed when facing hardship or trial. James 1:2–4 counsels, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." When we encounter hardship, we can succumb to stress, or we can view it as a means by which God can strengthen our faith and mold our character (Romans 5:3–5; 8:28–29). When we redirect our focus on God, we find comfort in our sorrows and strength to endure (2 Corinthians 1:3–4; 12:9–10).   No matter the type of stress in our lives, the starting point for dealing with it is Jesus Christ. Jesus offers us great encouragement in John 14:1: "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me." We desperately need Him in our lives. We need Him because He is the only one who can give us the strength to cope with the troubles in our lives. Believing in Him does not mean that we will have a trouble-free life or that we will not feel overcome by stress in our lives. It simply means that a life without Jesus Christ makes coping with stress an impossible and often debilitating task.   Believing leads to trusting. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to "trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Leaning on "our own understanding" often means adopting the world's ways of relieving stress—things like alcohol or drugs or mindless entertainment. Instead, we are to trust His Word as our ultimate guide to a stress-reduced life. David says, "I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears" (Psalm 34:4). David knew that by seeking the Lord and sharing his troubles with Him that perhaps he would find favor with Him. The Lord in turn answered him and calmed him down.   Perhaps no passage in Scripture better captures how to handle stress than Philippians 4:6-7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." The Lord tells us not to be anxious about anything, but rather to turn everything over to Him in prayer. Lifting our burdens and concerns to a holy and righteous God daily will mitigate or eliminate the stress in our lives. Psalm 55:22 tells us to cast all our cares on Him because He will sustain us and never fail us (see also 1 Peter 5:6–7). Jesus Christ offers peace if we come to Him with our worries and concerns. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid" (John 14:27).   Stress of all kinds is a natural part of life (Job 5:7, 14:1; 1 Peter 4:12; 1 Corinthians 10:13). But how we deal with it is up to us. If we choose to try to do it on our own, we will not find lasting relief. The only way we can consistently and successfully deal with stress is with Jesus Christ. First, we must believe in Him. Second, we need to trust Him and obey Him. We should trust Him to do what is right because His ways are always best for us. Disobedience and sin can produce stress and cut us off from the only means of peace and joy. By obeying His commandments we reap the blessings of true contentment from a loving God. Finally, we need to seek His peace daily by filling our minds with His Word, lifting all things to Him in prayer, and sitting at His feet in awe and reverence. It is only by His grace, mercy, and love that the stress in our lives can be managed.        

“For patients who screen positive for suicide ideation and deny or minimize suicide risk or decline treatment, obtain corroborating information by requesting the patient's permission to contact friends, family, or outpatient treatment providers. If the patient declines consent, HIPAA permits a clinician to make these contacts without the patient's permission when the clinician believes the patient may be a danger to self or others.” Sentinel Event Alert, The Joint Commission, Issue 56, February 24, 2016 Many Colorado professionals have the legal authority to place mental health “holds” on the citizens of Colorado. This deprivation of one's freedom is nothing less than the equivalent of an arrest. You can call it whatever you want, but the right of hospital room emergency rooms, for example, to take someone into custody on a 72-hour “hold” can be, and is being abused in Colorado. The procedure leading to the seizure is very loose, ill-defined, and dangerous.     Galatians 6:2 states, “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (emphasis added). What exactly is the law of Christ, and how is it fulfilled by carrying each other's burdens? While the law of Christ is also mentioned in 1 Corinthians 9:21, the Bible nowhere specifically defines what precisely is the law of Christ. However, most Bible teachers understand the law of Christ to be what Christ stated were the greatest commandments in Mark 12:28–31, “‘Which commandment is the most important of all?' Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” The second is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.'”       The law of Christ, then, is to love God with all of our being and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. In Mark 12:32–33, the scribe who asked Jesus the question responds with, “To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” In this, Jesus and the scribe agreed that those two commands are the core of the entire Old Testament Law. All of the Old Testament Law can be placed in the category of “loving God” or “loving your neighbor.”   Various New Testament scriptures state that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament Law, bringing it to completion and conclusion (Romans 10:4; Galatians 3:23–25; Ephesians 2:15). In place of the Old Testament Law, Christians are to obey the law of Christ. Rather than trying to remember the over 600 individual commandments in the Old Testament Law, Christians are simply to focus on loving God and loving others. If Christians would truly and wholeheartedly obey those two commands, we would be fulfilling everything that God requires of us.   Christ freed us from the bondage of the hundreds of commands in the Old Testament Law and instead calls on us to love. First John 4:7–8 declares, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” First John 5:3 continues, “This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome.”   Some use the fact that we are not under the Old Testament Law as an excuse to sin. The apostle Paul addresses this very issue in Romans. “What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!” (Romans 6:15). For the follower of Christ, the avoidance of sin is to be accomplished out of love for God and love for others. Love is to be our motivation. When we recognize the value of Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf, our response is to be love, gratitude, and obedience. When we understand the sacrifice Jesus made for us and others, our response is to be to follow His example in expressing love to others. Our motivation for overcoming sin should be love, not a desire to legalistically obey a series of commandments. We are to obey the law of Christ because we love Him, not so that we can check off a list of commands that we successfully obeyed. Do Christians have to obey the laws of the land?   Romans 13:1-7 states, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” This passage makes it abundantly clear that we are to obey the government God places over us. God created government to establish order, punish evil, and promote justice (Genesis 9:6; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Romans 12:8). We are to obey the government in everything—paying taxes, obeying rules and laws, and showing respect. If we do not, we are ultimately showing disrespect towards God, for He is the One who placed that government over us. When the apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, he was under the government of Rome during the reign of Nero, perhaps the most evil of all the Roman emperors. Paul still recognized the Roman government's rule over him. How can we do any less?   The next question is “Is there a time when we should intentionally disobey the laws of the land?” The answer to that question may be found in Acts 5:27-29, “Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 'We gave you strict orders not to teach in this Name,' he said. 'Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood.' Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than men!'“ From this, it is clear that as long as the law of the land does not contradict the law of God, we are bound to obey the law of the land. As soon as the law of the land contradicts God's command, we are to disobey the law of the land and obey God's law. However, even in that instance, we are to accept the government's authority over us. This is demonstrated by the fact that Peter and John did not protest being flogged, but instead rejoiced that they suffered for obeying God (Acts 5:40-42).

Are we heading to totalitarianism? you decide.... After the election of Joe Biden, why put yourself through the misery of reading and watching what was about to unfold — and indeed has unfolded; A Political Pandemic You cannot live in denial of what surrounds you. You cannot ignore what has been occurring these past days, nor erase the four years leading up to them. You cannot ignore what seems surreal but is all too real: the social strife unlike any other period of conflict in American history. A political pandemic toward totalitarian socialism spreading at a rapid pace. A rejection of the constitution of individual liberty to the point we hear this refrain daily:  “This is not the country I knew and loved.” quote by: Matt Walsh Editor & CEO OPINION Is this not discrimination/also a form of racism? Promoted by an elected official, Biden administration guidance prioritizes race in administering COVID drugs. Biden: “For the unvaccinated, you can expect a winter of death “is a sad comment to make to the American people. Biden Orders Shots for Millions, Calling Unvaccinated a Threat. So now the American people are a threat because they exercise their rights, come on in China and Russia. Biden admin trying to 'workaround Congress,' Ohio AG claims after Supreme Court session on vaccine mandates Attorney General Dave Yost, who is vaccinated, urged everyone to get the vaccine, "But that doesn't mean OSHA can mandate them."   Twice as many military members died from suicide July-Sept than from coronavirus since pandemics start 163 service members committed suicide in Q3 2021   but yet being forced out for not getting a covid shot. You decided the unjust or prejudicial treatment of distinct categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex. "Victims of nonracial people of color discrimination now many are victims of covid shot discrimination Types of Discrimination Age Discrimination Disability Discrimination Sexual Orientation Status as a Parent Religious Discrimination National Origin Pregnancy Sexual Harassment Race, Color, and Sex Reprisal / Retaliation covid treatment based on one's race   What is totalitarianism?   Totalitarianism is a political system in which the state holds total authority over the society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life. Totalitarianism is characterized by a dictator or one-party rule, censorship of media, intimidation of the populace, propaganda in media and education, secret police forces, prohibition of all criticism of the government, and the repression of freedom of religion. Examples of totalitarian regimes are Germany under the Nazis, the Soviet Union under Stalin, China under Mao Zedong, and North Korea since 1948.   Historically, Christianity has flourished under totalitarian regimes. The book of Acts recounts the persecution of the Christians under Roman rule—including Nero's reign—and the resulting spread of the gospel. After the stoning of Stephen, believers were forced to flee from those who wanted to put them to death. "On that day, a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria" (Acts 8:1). It appears from Acts 9:31 that this persecution backfired and worked toward the further spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ.   Christian's today is no less persecuted in some parts of the world where totalitarianism rules. Citing a Pew Research survey, Bishop John McAreavey, chair of the Council for Justice and Peace of the Irish Catholic Bishop's Conference, stated that Christian persecution is being gravely underestimated, as "Christianity is now the world's most oppressed religious group, with persecution against them reported in 110 countries" (The Christian Post, May 19, 2015). According to the International Society for Human Rights, a non-religious organization, 80 percent of all acts of religious discrimination in the world today are directed against Christians, most occurring in North Korea, where a militant, atheistic dictatorship holds power, and the Middle East, where Islamic totalitarianism is on the rise.   As in the early church, God's sovereign control ensures that the gospel will be preached "in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). No dictator or totalitarian government can prevent the spread of God's message throughout the world. They can oppress people, but they cannot suppress Truth. God's plan for salvation will not be thwarted. Jesus will build His church (Matthew 16:18). Totalitarianism is just another futile effort by the forces of evil to impede the Lord's work.

Self-hatred, to varying degrees, is not uncommon, but hating oneself is not what God would have for us. The world would tell us that the solution to self-hatred is self-love. It offers various ways to conjure up this love and acceptance for self. While some are healthy practices, none are permanent solutions that speak to the depths of the needs of our souls. The Bible, on the other hand, tells us that the solution to self-hatred is having an accurate view of God and of oneself in light of who God is. First, let's understand what causes self-hatred. Some may arrive at self-hatred because they consider themselves losers who lack certain talents or resources (intelligence, personal connections, money, and influence). Anyone who accepts the idealized standards of beauty, success, and power as portrayed in the mass media—and fails to live up to those standards—may arrive at the unreasonable conclusion that he or she is not worthy of love and begin to sink into self-hatred. People may hate themselves because of the things they have done in their pasts, or they might hate themselves because of things with which they are currently struggling, like addiction or unhealthy relationships. In short, self-hatred results from not living up to standards either we or others have set for acceptability. In our recognition that we cannot be perfect, we may descend into self-hatred. Biblically speaking, we know we are sinners who are separated from God (Romans 3:23; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1–5). There is a standard that we will have failed to live up to and will never be able to live up to on our own (Romans 3:20). Apart from God, we are without hope. But this is not cause to hate ourselves. Rather, it is cause to turn to God and to rely on His grace. He has made a way of salvation! God created humanity in His image (Genesis 1:27). He loves us, and we reflect Him. Though sin marred this image, God did not abandon us. Instead, He sent His Son, Jesus, who, though remaining fully God, took on human flesh. Jesus lived a perfect life. He then died to pay the penalty for our sin, and He rose again to prove His victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:3–7; Romans 5:6–11; Philippians 2:5–11). All who put their faith in Him are saved (John 3:16–18; Romans 10:9). This is cause for great rejoicing! When we become a redeemed child of God, there is no reason to hate ourselves. If you have not been reconciled with God and brought into personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ, that is the first step in overcoming self-hatred. But we know that even those who have trusted Jesus as their Savior can struggle with hatred of self. What is the solution for that? Having a biblical view of who God is and who you are. Romans 12:1–2 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Committing our lives to God in action and thought—having a renewed and transformed mind and living our lives for God—is how we overcome self-hatred. What are some of the things the Bible says about who God is? God is holy, just, gracious, merciful, and compassionate (1 Peter 1:16; Psalm 103:8–12; Hebrews 6:10; Colossians 3:25; Nehemiah 9:31). He is the Creator, all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present. God is unchanging (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:5). God's ways are above ours, and His Word accomplishes what He intends (Isaiah 55:8–11). God's promises are true. God is love, and He loves you (1 John 4:7–10). Self-hatred is simply not compatible with this truth. It has been quipped that “God made you on purpose and for a purpose.” Your life has meaning. God gives us many instructions in His Word about His will for our lives and how we are to live. Things like regularly studying the Bible and coming to God in prayer help us understand who God is and His heart for us. Our love for God and our trust in Him grows. Consequently, self-hatred wanes. When we obey God's Word, we orient our lives to truth. This will naturally result in focusing less on ourselves, the world's perceptions, and our own false idols. It will also result in our more often saying no to sin—which is important because sin is a primary cause of self-hatred. When we do sin, the Bible tells us that we can come to God and receive forgiveness and mercy (1 John 1:9; Hebrews 4:14–16). It assures us that sin has been defeated and that we need no longer live in it or in hatred of ourselves over it. We can hate the sin within us, but we do not hate ourselves because in Jesus Christ there is no condemnation and nothing that can separate us from God's love (Romans 7—8). When our minds and lives are steeped in truth, there is no room for self-hatred. Doing things like actively loving others in our words and deeds, as God calls us to, helps us have an accurate view of ourselves. Serving others can actually contribute to our own well-being and thus remove opportunity for self-hatred to arise. Spending time regularly with other believers and exercising our spiritual gifts within the body of Christ also helps us have a better view of God and of self. Fellow believers are our family, and they can help us reject notions of self-hatred. Obeying God, both in loving Him and in loving others, is life-giving (see John 15:1–11). The solution to self-hatred is so much deeper than mere worldly self-love. A person who knows and trusts God derives his or her worth from God. That worth is unchanging. The words of Ephesians 1:3–14 are true of anyone who has been born again in Jesus Christ. We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing (verse 3), so self-hatred due to perceived lack of ability is unfounded. We have been chosen to be holy and blameless in His sight (verse 4), redeemed (verse 7), and forgiven (verse 7); we need not hate ourselves due to guilt over past sin. We have been predestined for adoption as sons (verse 5) and marked with the seal of the indwelling Holy Spirit (verses 13–14); we are not alone. God “lavished” “the riches” of His grace on us (verses 7–8). God's love for us “surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:17–19). When we understand this type of acceptance and position in God, there is simply no room for self-hate.

Willie is using an AI voice to continue this podcast because it is long.   We live in a mean old world got politicians that advocate racism. We have talk show hosts that continue to add fuel to the fire of racism. We have our military that is being destroyed from higher up being forced out because they refused to take a COVID vaccine shot that is incredibly sad at how our defense is being weakened by leaders. we live in a mean, mean old world yes, meanness it is all around us be it in elementary schools, high schools' colleges an as well within the political world. instead of our politicians coming together, they act like little children at play, very infantile, very childish. Instead of them trying to pull this nation together, this nation it is divided it has started from the top down. I will continue to pray for my nation, but this is the will of God.  No, I am not going to preteen that I am not against same-sex attraction, racism I am against anti-American groups, I am against prejudice, I am against child trafficking, yes, I am against a lot of. I will continue to pray then this world will wake up.  God would like all men to come to him through his loving son Jesus Christ. We must repent, and God knows America, this nation needs to repent and surrender unto Christ. We live in a mean old world as a Christian.  I am going to stand firm in my faith, I am not afraid I am not ashamed of the gospel I am not ashamed to profess Christ as my Lord and savior. I am going to stand firm I am going to be steadfast and be unmovable now what does this mean. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV). This verse concludes a chapter that details the future resurrection of our earthly bodies. Paul encouraged the Corinthian church to remain faithful to everything he had taught them.  When we see the word therefore in Scripture, we should always back up to see why it is there: what is the "therefore" there for? The word usually indicates a summation of what was previously stated. In this case, Paul addresses those who had fallen away from his original teaching on the resurrection. They were embracing heresy and introducing destructive ideas contrary to the gospel. That is what is going on in this world right here in now. Paul restates the truth of Jesus' death for sin and bodily resurrection and then exhorts them to remain firm in that teaching. And we as Christians need to stand firm in a Christian in the teaching of Christ. Yes, we live in a mean old world it is no doubt about that. And I am not going to lie Satan is using uh leaders as his minions to destroy America. to be steadfast and unmovable is to be spiritually grounded. A steadfast person knows what he believes and cannot be "tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching" (Ephesians 4:14) and what is going on right now in America will I be taught being taught that bad is good and being right is wrong. An unmovable person can hear false teaching, engage doubters, and defend truth without it shaking his own faith. In his other epistle to Corinth, Paul expresses his concern for this church: "I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3)I do believe we as American citizens we're being led astray from the word of God. Even believers who had been personally taught by the apostle Paul were victims of deception. How much more vulnerable are we in today's society. So yes, I am going to stand firm in my face I am going to main steadfast unmovable, and I am going to continue two live in God's word then I am going to continue dig deeper and deeper into God's word. To remain steadfast and unmovable we must know the Word of God. Second Timothy 2:15 says, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately managing the word of truth" (NASB). To accurately manage the word of truth, we must not only read the Bible, but we must allow it to become part of us. The Bible the true living breathing word of God Its truth should so penetrate our minds and hearts that it shapes our thinking and our actions. It should so fill our minds that we can detect error when we hear it.and we should not be afraid to correct that error when we hear it. Satan uses Scripture for his own purposes, twisting it to sound as though it says something it does not say (Luke 4:9–11). If we have not been diligent in our study and meditation on truth, we are vulnerable to error. The false religions of the world can be persuasive when they quote Bible verses to support their error. yes, we have had presidents that have done this try to quote Bible verses to support their failure in their errors.  Even Christians can be duped by smooth-sounding heresy if they do not have a solid grounding in the "whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). It is God's desire that we grow daily in our understanding of Him and His Word so that we will remain faithful to the end (John 8:31; 2 Peter 1:2; 3:18; 1 John 2:24). It doesn't matter well your pastor elder a churchgoing member we can all be tricked but tricks other enemy and I'm going to do my best to stand firm in God's word I'm going to pray for our leaders I'm going to pray for the Christians I'm going to pray for believers and non-believers  yes this is going to be an empty podcast but I'm not ashamed of the gospel we live in a mean old world.

Don't do as I do but do as I say do that sound familiar, we are living in troubled times; however, we still must hold to our faith in God. We still have leaders that are flat-out hypocritical people walking around without mask to Florida ex-presidents party in without mask at a birthday party. The list goes on elected leaders put fear into the hearts of the American people in 2021 by using covid as the tool to place this fear. I would like to share the following scripture from Isaiah 41:10; “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.” Did you know that the bible tells us to not fear 365 different times? That is once for every day of the year! God makes it clear in scriptures like Isaiah 41:10 that he wants us to choose faith over fear every single day of our lives. He wants us to trust that He will provide for our every need. You might ask, how do I have faith? I believe that faith is when we choose to stand on the promises of God even when we begin to feel insecurity or doubt. I believe that faith is like a muscle, and every time you choose to believe the word of God, it is an opportunity to exercise that muscle. Sometimes God allows situations to arise in our lives that force us to trust him. Such as what we have been dealing with over the past 2 years now going into the 3rd year. Yes, we are faced with a difficult decision or circumstance as we welcome a new year, I want to encourage you to stand firm in your faith and trust in God. God is promising us in his word that He will reward our faith.  I want to challenge you to think about the areas of your life where God is asking you to take a step of faith and trust him. Wake up, America. Let us be not afraid and reclaim our American spirit. We had Marine Corps has kicked out 206 troops for refusing to get COVID vaccine: At least 95% of active-duty soldiers have had the shot and DOJ has 'ignored' 3,247 requests for religious accommodation so a soldier no longer has religious rights what they may have believed to be their rights under the constitution Relationship to statutory or constitutional rights. The order must not conflict with the statutory or constitutional rights of the person receiving the order.  Only lawful orders must be followed. This is what the Manual for Courts-Martial says about the lawfulness of orders: discharging these military personnel is weakened or military defense. Some of the nation's soldiers facing discharge claim they are being crushed by President Joe Biden's vaccine mandate and say it's pushing out the military's best and brightest even if they are given an honorable discharge, they are still being forced out.  You got people talking about following the science but not doing it themselves. Fauci Can't Use Science to Excuse His Missteps. science is defined as "the observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena." Science is a method that humankind can use to better understand the natural universe. It is a search for knowledge through observation. Advances in science demonstrate the reach of human logic and imagination. However, a Christian's belief in science should never be like our belief in God.  A Christian can have faith in God and respect for science, as long as we remember which is perfect and which is not. I'm not trying to belittle anyone I'm praying that believers and non-believers wake up to this fear that has been created.  Yes, covid is real, but we need not live in fear or be forced to do something that goes against God or our beliefs. Controlling people do not have anyone's best interest in mind except their own (see Philippians 2:3). They are concerned primarily with pleasing themselves. Many of the Old Testament kings were controlling people. They had power, and they used it to their own advantage, often at the expense of the people they ruled. Queen Jezebel was a controlling person who used her power to get what she wanted. Her husband's method of controlling people was pouting and throwing a fit (1 Kings 21:1–4). Our belief in God is a belief of faith. We have faith in His Son for salvation, faith in His Word for instruction, and faith in His Holy Spirit for guidance. Our faith in God should be absolute, since when we put our faith in God, we depend on a perfect, omnipotent, omniscient Creator. Our belief in science should be intellectual and nothing more.  We can count on science to do many great things, but we can also count on science to make mistakes. If we put faith in science, we depend on imperfect, sinful, limited, mortal men. Science throughout history has been wrong about many things, such as the shape of the earth, powered flight, vaccines, blood transfusions, and even reproduction. God is never wrong. The words “one day at a time,” it's message must not be lost with familiarity. The message is that we are called to live today and not worry or fret about tomorrow. While we can certainly make plans, we should always keep in mind those plans should always be ready to be molded to the will of the Lord. Let's make this a year of victory. One day at a time! In closing  Lessons From Life Perhaps God had chosen me in my time to detail what I learned from all the madness about. I learned that often the false is made to look appealing. I learned that witnesses today may be testifiers tomorrow. I learned that one must be careful in helping others. I learned that you do not proclaim another man's evil. I learned that mediocrity within yourself is unacceptable. I learned that the more one says the less he is heard. I learned that one does not argue with an arguer. I learned that anonymity can be valuable. I learned that there is safety in moving with the crowd. I learned that not all praise is meant well. I learned that secrets should neither be heard nor spoken. I learned that you do not divulge what you cannot reverse. I learned that all has its day. — Baltasar Gracian in The Wisdom of Baltasar Gracian. Christianity Today, Vol. 37, no. 4.  

We need God and Jesus back into this Nation whether you believe it or not The final week of 2021!  As we enter the year of 2022, it seems almost unbelievable that we will soon be entering the third year of the Global Pandemic.  It would be great to just move beyond it, but it seems it's still a reality that we must face. We have often said that we don't know what tomorrow holds, but we DO know who holds tomorrow!  Jesus Christ! Just look at the headline's political violence, mass shooting, family member killing, hypocrisy among high-ranking leaders, Critics slam 'hypocrite' Biden for claiming 'no federal solution' to pandemic after vow to 'shut down' COVID. A quick note. The shootings never stopped during the coronavirus pandemic, they just became less public, researchers say. Here is an incomplete list of shootings with multiple victims in 2021. It leaves out many more but offers a small glimpse of the gun violence the country has already suffered this year. People kill people with guns.   Nov. 30: Clayton County, Ga., and Oakland County, Mich. Four people were killed after a gunman opened fire at Oxford High School in suburban Detroit, Mich., in what became the deadliest shooting on school property in the United States this year.   Hours later, a police officer and two women were shot and killed during a domestic violence episode in the metropolitan Atlanta area, the police said. The shooter was also killed.     Nov. 28: Lancaster, Calif. A 29-year-old father was accused of fatally shooting his four children — ages 1, 2, 7 and 11 — and his mother-in-law inside the family's home. He was arrested and charged with five counts of murder and three counts of assault on a child causing death.   Nov. 14: Tucson, Ariz. Four people — two sets of brothers, related as cousins — were killed when a party ended in gunshots. No one has been charged in the deaths.   Oct. 20: Farwell, Mich. The police said a woman fatally shot her father, sister and two others inside of a home. The woman's car contained a journal that included a list of other people she intended to kill, the police said.   Sept. 25: Athens, Tenn. A man and a woman were charged with killing four people inside of a home. The police said there had been a dispute about parenting a 10-month-old child.   Sept. 12: St. Paul, Minn. Four people were found dead in an abandoned car in a Dunn County, Wis., cornfield after being shot in St. Paul, Minn., the police said. They did not say how they knew the victims were shot in the city.   Sept. 5: Houston, Tex. A man shot four people, including a 10-year-old and a 12-year-old, before fatally shooting himself days later. The other victims were the gunman's mother and stepfather.   Sept. 5: Lakeland, Fla. A former Marine sharpshooter fatally shot four people, including an infant, in two homes and fired at officers before he was arrested. Investigators did not know what started the rampage.     July 25: Wasco, Calif. A 41-year-old man armed with an assault rifle and a handgun killed four people, including a police officer, after taking hostages inside a home. The gunman was fatally shot by a police officer.   July 20: Jacksonville, Tex. Three men were arrested in the fatal shootings of four people in the town about 125 miles southeast of Dallas. The police said they believed it was planned as a robbery, and that one of the men who were arrested had a relationship with one of the victims.   June 15: Chicago Two gunmen broke into a home in the Englewood neighborhood in the South Side of Chicago and shot eight people, killing five of them. Seven of the people were shot in the head, the police said.   May 26: San Jose, Calif.   People gather near a railyard in San Jose, Calif., after eight people were killed. People gather near a railyard in San Jose, Calif., after eight people were killed.Credit...Noah Berger/Associated Press Nine people were killed in a shooting at a rail yard in San Jose, Calif., the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office said. The gunman, a transit worker, was also dead, said the authorities.   May 9: Colorado Springs   Outside the scene of the shooting in Colorado Springs. Outside the scene of the shooting in Colorado Springs.Credit...Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette, via Associated Press A man killed six people before fatally shooting himself at a birthday party at a mobile home park. Friends, family and children were gathered inside when the shooting occurred. The gunman was “a boyfriend of one of the female victims,” the police said.     April 28: Boone, N.C.   Two deputies were killed and three other people, including the gunman, were found dead after a 13-hour standoff in Boone, N.C., on April 28. Two deputies were killed and three other people, including the gunman, were found dead after a 13-hour standoff in Boone, N.C., on April 28. Credit...WSOC-TV A 32-year-old man killed his mother, stepfather and two police officers before fatally shooting himself at the end of a 13-hour standoff. Another officer was struck by gunfire but avoided injury because the bullet hit his Kevlar helmet.   April 15: Indianapolis Public safety officials at the crime scene on Friday after a shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis. Public safety officials at the crime scene on Friday after a shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis. Credit...A J Mast for The New York Times At least eight people were killed, not including a gunman who was believed to have taken his own life after opening fire in a FedEx warehouse. Family members said that workers were unable to use their cellphones on the job, leaving them unable to confirm their safety for hours.   April 7: Rock Hill, S.C.   A memorial service and prayer vigil for the Lesslie family at Fountain Park in Rock Hill, S.C. A memorial service and prayer vigil for the Lesslie family at Fountain Park in Rock Hill, S.C.Credit...Sean Rayford/Associated Press A former N.F.L. player shot and killed a doctor, the doctor's wife and their two grandchildren inside their house, as well as two air-conditioning technicians who were working outside the home. The gunman later killed himself, the authorities said.   April 3: Allen, Texas   Police officers standing at the scene in Allen, Texas, where six people were found fatally shot in the suburban Dallas home this month. Police officers standing at the scene in Allen, Texas, where six people were found fatally shot in the suburban Dallas home this month. Credit...Jason Janik/The Dallas Morning News, via Associated Press The authorities said two brothers killed four family members before killing themselves. The bodies were discovered after the police arrived to a home for a welfare check.   March 31: Orange, Calif. Police officers on the scene at a shooting in Orange, Calif., in March. Police officers on the scene at a shooting in Orange, Calif., in March. Credit...Allison Zaucha for The New York Times A gunman opened fire at a real estate office, killing four people, including a 9-year-old boy. The shooting was most likely related to a “business and personal relationship which existed between the suspect and all of the victims,” the authorities said.   March 28: Essex, Md.   Two people at convenience store were among those killed by a gunman in in Essex, Md. Two people at convenience store were among those killed by a gunman in in Essex, Md.Credit...Amy Davis/The Baltimore Sun, via Associated Press A gunman killed his parents, two people at a convenience store and then himself in a shooting spree, the police said.   March 22: Boulder, Colo. The emergency response to the shooting in Boulder, Colo., in March. The emergency response to the shooting in Boulder, Colo., in March.Credit...Theo Stroomer for The New York Times A gunman inside a grocery store killed 10 people, including the first police officer to arrive at the scene. The gunman was injured and taken into custody.   March 16: Atlanta Jami Webb, the daughter of Xiaojie Tan, a victim in the Atlanta area shooting, outside the site of a spa. Jami Webb, the daughter of Xiaojie Tan, a victim in the Atlanta area shooting, outside the site of a spa. Credit...Chang W. Lee/The New York Times Eight people, including six women of Asian descent, were killed at three spas, at least two of which had been frequented by the gunman. The attack caused particular alarm among many Asian-Americans.   March 13: Indianapolis A shooting near the city's east side left four people dead, including a 7-year-old child, and critically wounded a woman, the authorities said. The police said the shooting stemmed from a domestic problem.   Feb. 2: Muskogee, Okla.   The home in Muskogee, Okla., where six people were fatally shot in February. The home in Muskogee, Okla., where six people were fatally shot in February. Credit...Tulsa World Mike Simons/Tulsa World, via Associated Press Five children and a man were killed and a woman was seriously injured when they were shot at a home. A brother of one of the victims was arrested at the scene. The police said they believed that the victims were related.   Jan. 24: Indianapolis Five people, including a pregnant woman, were found dead inside a home after the authorities came in contact with a juvenile male, who was suffering from gunshot wounds. A day after the shooting, he was arrested.   Jan. 9: Evanston, Ill.   Image The police investigating the scene of a shooting on the Chicago-Evanston border in January. The police investigating the scene of a shooting on the Chicago-Evanston border in January. Credit...Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune, via Associated Press   At least five people, including a 15-year-old girl, were killed in a shooting spree in the Chicago area, the police said. The gunman shot a total of seven people before he was killed by the police.       Why are people putting trust in Fauci¸? We need to put our trust in God, not man. Did you know that Dr. Anthony Fauci's $417,608 Tops All Federal Salaries, but Does Performance Match the Pay? I think not. Should we get more than one Medical Doctor's opinion and not someone working for the government, just asking. What does the Bible say about not putting your trust in man? Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them-- the LORD, who remains faithful forever. Psalm 146     The Bible on Trust The words translated "trust" in the Bible mean "a bold, confident, sure security or action based on that security." Trust is not the same as faith, which is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). Instead, trusting is what we do because of the faith we have been given. Trusting is believing in the promises of God in all circumstances, even in those where the evidence seems to be to the contrary. Hebrews 11 talks about faith, which is accepting and believing the truth that God reveals about Himself, supremely in the person of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, the practical consequence of faith in God is trust, which we prove by living out our full acceptance of God's promises day by day. Furthermore, it is by this trust that we are promised peace: "You will keep in peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you" (Isaiah 26:3).   The classic verse regarding trust is Proverbs 3:5: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." This verse sums up the Bible's teaching on trust. First, it is the Lord in whom we are to trust, not ourselves or our plans, and indeed not the world's wisdom and devices. We trust in the Lord because He and He alone is truly trustworthy. His Word is trustworthy (Psalm 93:5; 111:7; Titus 1:9), His nature is faithful and true (Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 25:10; 145:13; 146:6), and His plans for us are perfect and purposeful (Isaiah 46:10; Jeremiah 29:11). Further, because of God's nature, we are to trust Him with all our hearts, committing every aspect of our lives to Him in complete confidence. Finally, we are not to trust in ourselves because our understanding is temporal, finite, and tainted by our sinful natures. Trusting in ourselves is like walking confidently across a rotten wooden bridge over a yawning chasm thousands of feet deep. Disaster inevitably follows.   Trust in God is a feature of many of the psalms of David. There are 39 references to trust in the Psalms alone, whether referring to trusting in God and His Word or not trusting in riches or the things of this world. Based on this trust, David finds deliverance from all the evil he encounters. Many of David's psalms describe situations when he was pursued by Saul and his army, as well as his other enemies, and always did the Lord come to his aid. One thing that can be noted about biblical trust is that it always engenders further confidence in our God. The man of God never stops trusting in God altogether. His faith may be knocked, He may stumble, or He may fall into the foulest of sins, but "though he stumbles, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand" (Psalm 37:24). The man of God knows that, though trials will beset in this life, his trust will not waiver because that trust is based on faith in the promises of God: the promise of eternal joy with the Lord and the guarantee of an inheritance that "can never perish, spoil and fade" (1 Peter 1:4).     The Bible on Violence   So what does the Bible say about violence? Violence is defined as "physical force exerted to violate, damage, or abuse," and sadly, violence is a part of everyday life. It's in our movies and television shows, and we live in a world where power is often established through violence. But for Christians, the way of the world is always trumped by the truth of the Word.   First of all, violence in mind is just as hurtful as violence by the hands. Leviticus 19:17 says, "Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt." When we know someone is in sin, is it more loving to keep it quiet and build up hate and resentment towards them? God says that we should speak frankly, and Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:21-22 that murderous anger can lead the angry man to judgment from God as quickly as a physical blow. The violence he exhibits toward someone else can be brought back upon himself by God.   What about violence in war? Exodus 20:13 had been incorrectly translated as "do not kill," but it literally means "do not murder." God has allowed for just wars throughout the history of His people. From Abraham to Deborah to David, God's people have fought as instruments of judgment from a righteous and holy God. Romans 13:1-4 tells us to submit ourselves to government authorities and that nations have the right to bear the sword against evildoers, both foreign and domestic.   Violence occurs, but we must recognize the difference between holy judgment on sin and our own personal vendettas against those we dislike, which is the inevitable outcome of pride (Psalm 73:6). While men are more prone to accept violence (especially as cultures depict real men as those who never cry, always have a plan, and carry a gun), the wisest man of all time wrote, "Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways" (Proverbs 3:31). Prayer and patience beats violence and anger on any day.   In my Closing As we embark upon a New Year, once again, we find that we are still dealing with this Pandemic in America . But, as you know, the entire world is going through much of the same.   I don't know about you, but perhaps there was a sense of hope last year at this time that as we turned the page on 2020, this would all be behind us within a few months. But that's not the case despite man's best efforts of masks, vaccines, and mandates!   While humanity can only do what we can in our strength, I want to remind you today that God is still on the Throne regardless of where we have been or where we are going! Believers and non-believers alike   There is a wonderful verse of scripture which serves as a reminder of who God is found in Revelation 22:13 (NKJV) 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”   While we cannot possibly know what the future holds, we know who holds the future! We are not even gifted enough to know what tomorrow will bring to us, but as Christians, we need to rest assured that God does!   When I understand just a bit of how much God loves me, it puts my mind at ease about His plans and purposes.   This New Year will unfold as God has planned it to happen. Not one thing will take place that does not first sift through the loving hands of an almighty God.   There are many times I don't understand the ways of God, but that's not something we should concern ourselves with. We must only trust Him!   Isaiah 55:8 (NKJV) 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.   Moving forward into this New Year, I want to encourage you to live your life to the glory of God. We can live in confidence and not timidity! We can live our lives in boldness and assurance because God is on the Throne!   There's a beautiful song written by Bill Gaither many years ago, and the lyrics are as powerful today (maybe more so) as when they were written:   Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know, yes I know, He holds the future. This life is worth the living, just because He lives!   Keep God first in this New Year, and you will be amazed at the things God will do in you, through you, and for you!

Question: "What was the star of Bethlehem?" Answer: The star of Bethlehem is associated with the birth of Christ and the visit of the magi (wise men) as recorded in Matthew 2:1–12. The text implies the star of Bethlehem appeared only to the magi in the East (most likely the area of Persia, or modern-day Iran). There is no biblical record of anyone else observing the star of Bethlehem. The magi in the East saw something in the heavens—the star of Bethlehem—that alerted them to the fact that the Jewish Messiah was born. The magi do not call the star of Bethlehem by that name; in Matthew 2:2 they refer to it as being “his star,” since it was a sign to them that a king was born. The star prompted the magi to travel to Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. This would be the logical place to start looking for the birth of the King of the Jews for someone who did not know of Micah's prophecy about Bethlehem. In Jerusalem, the Magi visited King Herod and were told that the new king they were looking for would be born in Bethlehem, not in Jerusalem (Matthew 2:5). The wise men left Herod's palace, and the star of Bethlehem appeared to them once again. In fact, the star “went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed” (verses 9–10). The star of Bethlehem, apparently mobile, led the magi to the precise place where they could find Jesus. Modern portrayals of the Christmas nativity scene usually show the wise men visiting Jesus on the night of His birth. That is likely not what truly occurred. King Herod discovered from the magi the “exact time” the star of Bethlehem had first appeared to them (Matthew 2:7), and he later ordered all male children two years old and under in Bethlehem to be killed (verse 16). Herod obviously thought the star of Bethlehem had first appeared when Christ was born; if he was right, then Jesus could have been up to two years old when the star of Bethlehem later guided the magi through the streets of Bethlehem. The Greek word translated “young child” in Matthew 2:9 can mean anything from a newborn infant to a toddler. So, the magi may have first observed the star of Bethlehem the night of Jesus' birth, or they may have first seen it up to two years beforehand. Either way, they found Jesus still in Bethlehem when they arrived. Joseph and Mary almost surely stayed in Bethlehem until Mary could travel again. In fact, they probably stayed there for the 40 days necessary to complete Mary's purification. From Bethlehem, they could easily make the five-mile trip to Jerusalem for the sacrifice for Mary's purification (Luke 2:22). The fact that the magi came to a “house” (Matthew 2:11) rather than the stable makes sense because Joseph naturally would have moved his family to a more protected place as soon as possible—the morning after Jesus was born, in all probability. After seeing the star of Bethlehem, the magi traveled to Jerusalem to look for the Messiah. The question arises, how would Persian magi know about the Jewish Messiah? Undoubtedly, they would have been exposed to the writings of the Jewish prophet Daniel, who had been the chief of the court seers in Persia. Daniel 9:24–27 is a prophecy that gives a timeline for the birth of the Messiah. Also, they may have been aware of the words of the pagan prophet Balaam (who was from the town of Pethor on the Euphrates River near Persia) in Numbers 24:17. Balaam's prophecy specifically mentions “a star” and “a scepter” rising out of Jacob. What exactly was the star of Bethlehem? The Greek word translated “star” in the text is the word aster, which is the normal word for a star or celestial body. The word is used 24 times in the New Testament, and most of the time it refers to a celestial body. It can be used to denote angels, as in Revelation 12:4, where aster seems to refer to the fallen angels who followed Satan's rebellion. Basic rules of biblical interpretation state that we should take the normal sense of a word unless there is compelling evidence to suggest otherwise. In that case, the star of Bethlehem should be considered an actual heavenly body. Many Bible scholars suggest a natural explanation for the star of Bethlehem, their theories ranging from a supernova to a comet to an alignment of planets. Something in the heavens provided a brighter-than-normal light in the sky. However, there is evidence to suggest that the star of Bethlehem was not a natural stellar phenomenon, but something unexplained by science. First, the fact that the star of Bethlehem seemed to appear only to the magi indicates that this was no ordinary star. Also, celestial bodies normally move from east to west due to the earth's rotation, yet the star of Bethlehem led the magi from Jerusalem south to Bethlehem. Not only that, but it led them directly to the place where Joseph and Mary were staying, stopping overhead. There is no natural stellar phenomenon that can do that. So, if the normal usage of the word star doesn't fit the context, what does? The star of Bethlehem in Matthew 2:1–12 was likely an angel or a manifestation of the Shekinah Glory. The Shekinah, which literally means “dwelling of God,” was the visible presence of the Lord. Prior to this, the most notable appearance of the Shekinah was the pillar of cloud that led the Israelites by day and the pillar of fire that led them by night (Exodus 13:21). The Shekinah can obviously lead people to specific locations, and it was seen later in connection with Christ's ministry (e.g., Matthew 17:5; Acts 1:9). Either an angel or the Shekinah would fit the evidence. It shouldn't surprise us that God would use a miraculous sign to signal the advent of His Son into the world. Those with eyes to see joyfully beheld His glory. Recommended Resources The Case for Christmas by Lee Strobel The word shekinah does not appear in the Bible, but the concept clearly does. The Jewish rabbis coined this extra-biblical expression, a form of a Hebrew word that literally means “he caused to dwell,” signifying that it was a divine visitation of the presence or dwelling of the Lord God on this earth. The Shekinah was first evident when the Israelites set out from Succoth in their escape from Egypt. There the Lord appeared in a cloudy pillar in the day and a fiery pillar by night: “After leaving Succoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people” (Exodus 13:20–22).

In 16 days or less, December 25, 2021, will be Jesus Birthday (Christmas)   As I sit here, on 12/9/2021  I realize that God has truly blessed me with a wonderful life, he has brought me through many, surgeries more than I can count, has blessed me with a wonderful wife and children. Even with the ups and downs of this ongoing pandemic, and many trips back and forth to the VA for medical reasons, God is still faithful and continues to show his grace towards me. Yes, indeed God has blessed me with a wonderful life. I used the term wonderful life because it is true for me. Also, it is one of the most popular Christmas movies I have seen.       In this movie, George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, became quite unhappy with his life through challenging events he encountered. While he had hopes and dreams of his own, due to the death of his Father, he felt “stuck” in his hometown as he took leadership of the Savings and Loan, soon to be defunct.       As it appeared that everything had been lost due to the wrong actions of “Mr. Potter,” he was moved to the edge of despair. He wondered aloud whether the town and world would have been better off if he had not been born.       I won't share any more of the story with you in case you haven't seen the movie, but I would highly recommend it for anyone to view who may need a reminder of the value of their life!       We have all been going through challenging times over the past year or two and many months. So many people have struggled in so many ways, physically, emotionally, financially, or other ways. to be honest even those of us who know Christ have had seasons that have been something we would not have “signed up for” if we knew ahead of time what we would deal with.       Here's a beautiful article to read on the value of having a spirit of thanksgiving and how it helps us physically and emotionally! The Profound Health Benefits of Being Grateful.     https://www.theepochtimes.com/the-profound-health-benefits-of-being-grateful_4127489.html?utm_source=ref_share&utm_campaign=copy&rs=SHRHNZNH&       During this Christmas Season, I would encourage you to lead your loved ones in a time of appreciation for the blessings of God in your lives. I realize we just came through Thanksgiving, but I genuinely believe that thankfulness is something we should be doing daily!       Your life and the lives of your loved ones are of tremendous value! But have you ever stopped to think that God thought so much of you that He only made one of you! some of you may have heard me say if I was any more blessed there would be two of me,

I trust all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving as you enjoyed time with family and friends. I know we enjoyed our time with family as we had a fantastic meal with Turkey, ham pie, and all the "fixings." We need to turn our attention to the "reason for the season," which is that Jesus Christ came to be born and ultimately died on the cross for our sins. But that was not the end of it! He arose from the grave so that we may have everlasting life as we ask for and receive forgiveness of sins!   Luke 2:12 – This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 16 – So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.   In all of the activities and events of this Christmas season, the verses above give us a sense of the very first Christmas morning. A time of excitement, yet serenity, a time of anticipation, the realization of the most blessed Gift that could ever come to humanity, Jesus Christ, the Son of God!    John 3:16 New International Version 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.   We are living in a day when it seems that the word "Christmas" is constantly under attack and many acts if we as Christians are to feel somehow "guilty" when it comes to this particular time. Well, let me say in as loud a "voice" as bold as I can type… "I'M NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL."  Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.   I want to sincerely encourage all of you to remember to keep Christ pre-eminent (first) in all you do and say while going through your Christmas activities.   It is important to remember that this is a great chance for ministry opportunities to existing at this time of year. Many people struggle with depression and loneliness as memories of what "used to be" fill their minds yes, I can identify with this issue. And also dealing with the pandemic.   By keeping Christ first, we can be sure to reach out to those around us (yes, even those who are rude) with the true message of Christmas, and that is that Jesus Christ came to earth to seek and to save that which was lost. He came to serve, not be served!   Take time as well to be faithful to Church, as well as remember to pray and read the Word, and you will be ready in ways you never dreamed possible.   Be sure to invite a friend! Christmas is one of the best times of the year to invite someone to attend Church with you (if you are in the Franktown Colorado area come visit Trinity Lutheran Church and School). Ask the Lord to help you think of a few people right now to invite to your church so they too can hear the message of Christ at Christmas! Please enjoy the video I put together. Blessing in Jesus Christ Willie and Family   A bit of humor:   FAVORITE 7 CHRISTMAS GIFTS OF SELECT BIBLE CHARACTERS    7 From the disciples, Peter received a pet rock and Popeil's Pocket Fisher–o'–men.   6 Ham and Japeth gave Noah male and female Chia Pets.   5 In order to imitate Esau better, Jacob requested “spray-on hair” and Rogaine.   4 David requested a self–cleaning, repeating slingshot.   3 Gideon received a Bible and then promptly left it in his hotel room.   2 Peter was given a Paul and Mary CD.   1 The church at Corinth received a pocket translator for tongues.  

God, please help me!”? Are you even in my home anymore? please keep me in your prayers thank you     This past Sunday night, I got so frustrated with my son, I thought God was not in my home anymore and that he had abandoned me, and I even commented that Satan was in-complete attack mold. But I calmed down and asked God for His forgiveness: yes, I doubted: I felt abandoned by God in my time of great need while dealing with my frustration with family.  Even during this uproar mentally, I was asking God for help but not receiving what was asked for. Does this mean that God does not care or that He is ignoring my cries for help? When we cried out for Him, asking Him to stop the pain and suffering, and the family arguments, when I went to pick up my other son from his place of work, I asked God for the forgiveness of the statement I had made in an intense argument, I began to realize that I was communicating a universal desire to avoid hurt. That is not weakness, but it is human.   I began to research God's word: are you aware that The Bible records several testimonies of those who called out to God in a time of need and were met with silence at least for a while. Job is the most obvious example, as in his distress, he felt as if God were nowhere to be found: “If I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him” (Job 23:8–9). The psalmists also struggled with the feeling that God was not responding to their cries: “Why, LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1); “How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1); “Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?” (Psalm 44:24).   Jesus our Lord and Savior understands the mindset of not wanting to experience pain and suffering. In the Garden of Gethsemane, just before His arrest, Jesus asked His Father three times, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39) (also see Matthew 26:42 and Matthew 20:22). Though He asked for the “cup” to pass, Jesus asked with the condition “if it is possible.” Jesus was in complete submission to God's will and not His own. If His suffering was a part of God's will, then He was willing to accept that.   When we cry out, “God, please help me,” God hears us and always responds. He may not respond in the way you or I wish, but He responds, nonetheless. Understandably, when amid the throes of pain, suffering, and grief, family disputes and more it is difficult to see the wider perspective of God's plan, especially when we receive an answer of “no” or “not now.” But you and I can trust in God's sovereignty because you and I know He is good (Psalm 48:1; 95:3, 6). Even as we go through the trials, God gives grace (2 Corinthians 12:9). After Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane, “an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him” (Luke 22:43).   Since God is omniscient, He is privy to details we cannot begin to understand, I know that I cannot. Psalm 147:5 says, “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.” When we cry out to God, “Please help me,” He sees the heart and understands (Hebrews 4:15), and His response will always be out of love (Romans 5:8; Psalm 139:13–16). We can submit to His authority because He is trustworthy. Remember, God broke His silence and revealed Himself to Job in an unmistakable way (Job 38:1). And I know and believe that when I picked up my son God spoke to me through him. Also, I believe that when my wife asked the Holy sprit to calm me down as she laid hands on me, she asked Holy spirit to enter into this home it did perhaps not at that given moment, but it did.   Jesus assures us that God will only give us what is good and right in Luke 11:11–13, “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” The God who keeps track of every sparrow cares about the details of our lives, too (Luke 12:5–6).   Since God knows what is best for our lives, He will not say “yes” to a prayer that goes against what is best. We may not understand or agree with the why of that response, but we can trust that God does and that His actions will redound to His glory and our ultimate good (Psalm 19:7; 2 Corinthians 4:7). Through painful moments in life, we can learn Christlikeness and glorify the Lord with our words and actions even through our suffering (Job 1:22; James 1:2–8; 1 Chronicles 16:28–29).   God responds to every call for help. But whether or not that answer is the one we most desire is up to God. God works for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28) and for His glory. We can trust that He will always respond to cries for help in accordance with His good and perfect will. Even when the psalmist was searching for a seemingly absent God, he chose to live by faith: “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord's praise, for he has been good to me” (Psalm 13:5–6). So, I will live by faith trusting in the Lord: Lyrics from a song my mother sang: We've come this far by faith Leaning on the Lord Trusting in His Holy word He never failed me yet Oh' Can't Turn Around We've come this far by faith (Repeat) Verse Just the other day, I heard a man say He did not believe in God's word But I can truly say, the Lord has made a way He's never failed me yet Chorus Oh'Can't Turn Around We've come this far by faith

Greetings in Christ! Once again, we are coming to that special day of the year that we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Christmas, I have often said that Christmas is every day when the Lord wakes me up in the present when he blesses my eyes to open my feet to hit the ground, my first words are Lord, I thank you for another day let thy will be done not mine. I wanted to share a verse that we would not often associate with Christmas, but I believe it is relevant, especially in light of all we have faced over the past months and a couple of years John 10:10 (NKJV) 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly. The Global Pandemic has impacted so many lives in a variety of ways. Last year at this time, there was so much division about the various opinions of how things should or should not be. It was hard to imagine things could be more divided at the time, but it seems the enemy is doing all he can to “divide and conquer.” This even includes the separation within families the vaccinated and the non-vaccinated, not wanting to sit down and worship together, the enemy is on the prowl. The verse I just shared gives such a powerful thought that Jesus came not just so that we could have life, but that it would be abundant life! Please bear with me as I speak of abundant life. We receive this abundant life the moment we accept Him as our Savior. This word “abundant” in Greek is perisson, meaning “exceedingly, very highly, beyond measure, more, superfluous, a quantity so abundant as to be considerably more than what one would expect or anticipate.” In short, Jesus promises us a life far better than we could ever imagine, a concept reminiscent of 1 Corinthians 2:9: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” The apostle Paul tells us that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, and He does it by His power, a power that is at work within us if we belong to Him (Ephesians 3:20). Before you and I begin to have visions of lavish homes, expensive cars, worldwide cruises, and more money than we know what to do with, we need to pause and think about what Jesus teaches regarding this abundant life.  The Bible tells us that wealth, prestige, position, and power in this world are not God's priorities for us (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). In terms of economic, academic, and social status, most Christians do not come from the privileged classes. Clearly, then, abundant life does not consist of an abundance of material things. If that were the case, Jesus would have been the wealthiest of men. But just the opposite is true (Matthew 8:20). Abundant life is eternal life, a life that begins the moment we come to Christ and receive Him as Savior and goes on throughout all eternity.  The biblical definition of life — specifically eternal life — is provided by Jesus Himself: “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3). This definition makes no mention of length of days, health, prosperity, family, or occupation. In fact, the only thing it does mention is knowledge of God, which is the key to a truly abundant life. What is abundant life? First, abundance is spiritual abundance, not material. In fact, God is not overly concerned with the physical circumstances of our lives. He assures us that we need not worry about what we will eat or wear (Matthew 6:25-32; Philippians 4:19).  Physical blessings may or may not be part of a God-centered life; neither our wealth nor our poverty is a sure indication of our standing with God. Solomon had all the material blessings available to a man yet found it all to be meaningless (Ecclesiastes 5:10-15). Paul, on the other hand, was content in whatever physical circumstances he found himself (Philippians 4:11-12). Second, eternal life, the life we as Christian should be genuinely concerned with, is not determined by duration but by a relationship with God.  This is why, once we are converted and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are said to have eternal life already (1 John 5:11-13), though not, of course, in its fullness. Length of life on earth is not synonymous with abundant life. Finally, a Christian's life revolves around “growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).  This teaches us that the abundant life is a continual process of learning, practicing, and maturing, as well as failing, recovering, adjusting, enduring, and overcoming, because, in our present state, “we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror” (1 Corinthians 13:12). One day we will see God face to face, and we will know Him completely as we will be known completely (1 Corinthians 13:12). We will no longer struggle with sin and doubt. This will be the ultimately fulfilled abundant life. Although we are naturally desirous of material things, as Christians our perspective on life must be revolutionized (Romans 12:2). Just as we become new creations when we come to Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), so must our understanding of “abundance” be transformed. True abundant life consists of an abundance of love, joy, peace, and the rest of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), not an abundance of “stuff.” It consists of life that is eternal, and, therefore, our interest is in the eternal, not the temporal. Paul admonishes us, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:2-3 Perhaps we can become just a bit too focused on the things the enemy is doing and forget that the very purpose of the Lord's coming was to be a life-giver! Not only in the physical sense of living a full life but eternal life so that when we take our final breath on earth, we take our first breath in eternal bliss. The message of Christmas is breath and life to all who believe! It is up to us to share this good news with the world, yet if we are so preoccupied with our own problems, it just will not get done! To be completely honest If you or I am looking to the media to share the “good news,” we will find great disappointment as that will not happen for the most part! At the end of a half-hour or hour of news, I have noticed that they might share a two-minute good news story. Then again, maybe not! Jesus came to bring life to a lost and dying world, yet it is up to us as believers to share the message! Proverbs 18:21a (NKJV) 21a – Death and life are in the power of the tongue. During this Christmas Season and on into the New Year, I would like to encourage you to let your words be healing words! I pray your words would be life-giving! I pray you and your loved ones have a wonderful Christmas as you remember and appreciate the Christ of Christmas! Blessing in Christ from Willie at wake up castle rock-wake up Americs

Sunday, November 28, and ends on Friday, December 24 What is Advent? ANSWER Advent is the season of the year leading up to Christmas. It is observed with various traditions and rituals by Catholics and other liturgical groups such as Lutherans, Anglicans, and Methodists. In recent years, Advent celebrations of one type or another have been added to many evangelical services as well. The word advent itself means “arrival” or “an appearing or coming into place.” Christians often speak of Christ's “first advent” and “second advent”; that is, His first and second comings to earth. His first advent would be the Incarnation—Christmastime. The Advent season lasts for four Sundays. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, or the nearest Sunday to November 30. Advent ends on Christmas Eve and thus is not considered part of the Christmas season. The Advent celebration is both a commemoration of Christ's first coming and an anticipation of His second coming. As Israel longed for their Messiah to come, so Christians long for their Savior to come again. The Eastern Orthodox Church does not observe Advent per se, but they do keep a long fast before Christmas. In the West, Advent has developed a more festive tone, although many churches also keep a fast and focus on prayer and penitence akin to what takes place during the Lenten season (sometimes, Advent is even called “Little Lent”). Advent is seen as a time to prepare one's heart for Christmas and for the eventual return of Christ (and the judgment He will bring to the world). Churches that observe Advent usually decorate their sanctuaries in the liturgical color of Advent, purple (or in some cases royal blue). Some churches change the color to rose on the third or fourth Sunday of Advent to signify a greater emphasis on the joy of the season. One of the most common Advent traditions involves the use of evergreen wreaths, branches, and trees. On the first Sunday of Advent, churches and homes are decorated with green to symbolize the eternal life that Jesus brings. An Advent wreath—an evergreen circle with four colored candles surrounding a white one in the middle—is placed in a prominent spot. The candles are then lighted one at a time, on successive Sundays. The first candle is the candle of “hope” or “expectation.” The three remaining candles on the perimeter are given various meanings depending on the church. On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, the center white candle is lighted; this is the “Christ Candle,” a reminder that Jesus, the Light of the Word, has come. Advent calendars, used to count down the days till Christmas, are popular in many homes. An Advent calendar contains a number of covered “windows” that are opened, one a day, until Christmas Day. Each open window reveals a picture related to the season or a poem or a Bible verse or a treat of some kind. Many parents find that an Advent calendar is a good way to teach their children the true meaning of Christmas—although there are secular versions of the calendars, too. Should Christians observe Advent? This is a matter of personal conviction. Here is the biblical principle: “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord” (Romans 14:5–6). There is certainly nothing wrong with commemorating Jesus' birth and anticipating His return—such commemoration and anticipation should be an everyday part of our lives. Are Christians required to observe Advent? No. Does observing Advent make one a better Christian or more acceptable to God? No. Can celebrating Advent be a good reminder of what the season is truly all about? Yes, and therein lies its greatest value.

Some can handle the truth however many cannot handle the truth: Almost two thousand years ago, Truth was put on trial and judged by people who were devoted to lies. In fact, Truth faced six trials in less than one full day, three of which were religious, and three that were legal. In the end, few people involved in those events could answer the question, “What is truth?”   After being arrested, the Truth was first led to a man named Annas, a corrupt former high priest of the Jews. Annas broke numerous Jewish laws during the trial, including holding the trial in his house, trying to induce self-accusations against the defendant, and striking the defendant, who had been convicted of nothing at the time. After Annas, the Truth was led to the reigning high priest, Caiaphas, who happened to be Annas's son-in-law. Before Caiaphas and the Jewish Sanhedrin, many false witnesses came forward to speak against the Truth, yet nothing could be proved, and no evidence of wrongdoing could be found. Caiaphas broke no fewer than seven laws while trying to convict the Truth: (1) the trial was held in secret; (2) it was carried out at night; (3) it involved bribery; (4) the defendant had no one present to make a defense for Him; (5) the requirement of 2-3 witnesses could not be met; (6) they used self-incriminating testimony against the defendant; (7) they carried out the death penalty against the defendant the same day. All these actions were prohibited by Jewish law. Regardless, Caiaphas declared the Truth guilty because the Truth claimed to be God in the flesh, something Caiaphas called blasphemy.   When morning came, the third trial of the Truth took place, with the result that the Jewish Sanhedrin pronounced the Truth should die. However, the Jewish council had no legal right to carry out the death penalty, so they were forced to bring the Truth to the Roman governor at the time, a man named Pontius Pilate. Pilate was appointed by Tiberius as the fifth prefect of Judea and served in that capacity A.D. 26 to 36. The procurator had power of life and death and could reverse capital sentences passed by the Sanhedrin. As the Truth stood before Pilate, more lies were brought against Him. His enemies said, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King” (Luke 23:2). This was a lie, as the Truth had told everyone to pay their taxes (Matthew 22:21) and never spoke of Himself as a challenge to Caesar.   After this, a remarkably interesting conversation between the Truth and Pilate took place. “Therefore, Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?' Jesus answered, ‘Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?' Pilate answered, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?' Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, my kingdom is not of this realm.' Therefore, Pilate said to Him, ‘So You are a king?' Jesus answered, ‘you say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.' Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?'” (John 18:33–38).   Pilate's question, “What is truth?” has reverberated down through history. Was it a melancholy desire to know what no one else could tell him, a cynical insult, or perhaps an irritated, indifferent reply to Jesus' words?   In defining truth, it is first helpful to note what truth is not:   Truth is not simply whatever works. This is the philosophy of pragmatism—an ends-vs.-means-type approach. In reality, lies can appear to “work,” but they are still lies and not the truth. Truth is not simply what is coherent or understandable. A group of people can get together and form a conspiracy based on a set of falsehoods where they all agree to tell the same false story, but it does not make their presentation true. Truth is not what makes people feel good. Unfortunately, bad news can be true. Truth is not what the majority says is true. Fifty-one percent of a group can reach a wrong conclusion. Truth is not what is comprehensive. A lengthy, detailed presentation can still result in a false conclusion. Truth is not defined by what is intended. Good intentions can still be wrong. Truth is not how we know; truth is what we know. Truth is not simply what is believed. A lie believed is still a lie. Truth is not what is publicly proved. A truth can be privately known (for example, the location of buried treasure).   The Greek word for “truth” is Alethia, which literally means to “un-hide” or “hiding nothing.” It conveys the thought that truth is always there, always open, and available for all to see, with nothing being hidden or obscured. The Hebrew word for “truth” is Emeth, which means “firmness,” “constancy” and “duration.” Such a definition implies an everlasting substance and something that can be relied upon.   From a philosophical perspective, there are three simple ways to define truth:   Truth is that which corresponds to reality. Truth is that which matches its object. Truth is simply telling it like it is.   First, truth corresponds to reality or “what is.” It is real. Truth is also correspondent in nature. In other words, it matches its object and is known by its referent. For example, a teacher facing a class may say, “Now the only exit to this room is on the right.” For the class that may be facing the teacher, the exit door may be on their left, but it is absolutely true that the door, for the professor, is on the right.   Truth also matches its object. It may be absolutely true that a certain person may need so many milligrams of a certain medication, but another person may need more or less of the same medication to produce the desired effect. This is not relative truth, but just an example of how truth must match its object. It would be wrong (and potentially dangerous) for a patient to request that their doctor give them an inappropriate amount of a particular medication, or to say that any medicine for their specific ailment will do.   In short, truth is simply telling it like it is it is the way things really are, and any other viewpoint is wrong. A foundational principle of philosophy is being able to discern between truth and error, or as Thomas Aquinas observed, "It is the task of the philosopher to make distinctions."   Challenges to Truth   Aquinas' words are not extremely popular today. Making distinctions seems to be out of fashion in a postmodern era of relativism. It is acceptable today to say, “This is true,” as long as it is not followed by, “and therefore that is false.” This is especially observable in matters of faith and religion where every belief system is supposed to be on equal footing where truth is concerned.   There are a number of philosophies and worldviews that challenge the concept of truth, yet, when each is critically examined it turns out to be self-defeating in nature.   The philosophy of relativism says that all truth is relative and that there is no such thing as absolute truth. But one has to ask: is the claim “all truth is relative” a relative truth or an absolute truth? If it is a relative truth, then it really is meaningless; how do we know when and where it applies? If it is an absolute truth, then absolute truth exists. Moreover, the relativist betrays his own position when he states that the position of the absolutist is wrong—why can't those who say absolute truth exists be correct too? In essence, when the relativist says, “There is no truth,” he is asking you not to believe him, and the best thing to do is follow his advice.   Those who follow the philosophy of skepticism simply doubt all truth. But is the skeptic skeptical of skepticism; does he doubt his own truth claim? If so, then why pay attention to skepticism? If not, then we can be sure of at least one thing (in other words, absolute truth exists)—skepticism, which, ironically, becomes absolute truth in that case. The agnostic says you cannot know the truth. Yet the mindset is self-defeating because it claims to know at least one truth: that you cannot know truth.   The disciples of postmodernism simply affirm no particular truth. The patron saint of postmodernism—Frederick Nietzsche—described truth like this: “What then is truth? A mobile army of metaphors, metonyms, and anthropomorphisms … truths are illusions … coins which have lost their pictures and now matter only as metal, no longer as coins.” Ironically, although the postmodernist holds coins in his hand that are now “mere metal,” he affirms at least one absolute truth: the truth that no truth should be affirmed. Like the other worldviews, postmodernism is self-defeating and cannot stand up under its own claim.   A popular worldview is pluralism, which says that all truth claims are equally valid. Of course, this is impossible. Can two claims—one that says a woman is now pregnant and another that says she is not now pregnant—both be true at the same time? Pluralism unravels at the feet of the law of non-contradiction, which says that something cannot be both “A” and “Non-A” at the same time and in the same sense. As one philosopher quipped, anyone who believes that the law of non-contradiction is not true (and, by default, pluralism is true) should be beaten and burned until they admit that to be beaten and burned is not the same thing as to not be beaten and burned. Also, note that pluralism says that it is true, and anything opposed to it is false, which is a claim that denies its own foundational tenet.   The spirit behind pluralism is an open-armed attitude of tolerance. However, pluralism confuses the idea of everyone having equal value with every truth claim being equally valid. More simply, all people may be equal, but not all truth claims are. Pluralism fails to understand the difference between opinion and truth, a distinction Mortimer Adler notes: “Pluralism is desirable and tolerable only in those areas that are matters of taste rather than matters of truth.”   The Offensive Nature of Truth   When the concept of truth is maligned, it is usually for one or more of the following reasons:   One common complaint against anyone claiming to have absolute truth in matters of faith and religion is that such a stance is “narrow-minded.” However, the critic fails to understand that, by nature, truth is narrow. Is a math teacher narrow-minded for holding to the belief that 2 + 2 only equals 4?   Another objection to truth is that it is arrogant to claim that someone is right, and another person is wrong. However, returning to the above example with mathematics, is it arrogant for a math teacher to insist on only one right answer to an arithmetic problem? Or is it arrogant for a locksmith to state that only one key will open a locked door?   A third charge against those holding to absolute truth in matters of faith and religion is that such a position excludes people, rather than being inclusive. But such a complaint fails to understand that truth, by nature, excludes its opposite. All answers other than 4 are excluded from the reality of what 2 + 2 truly equals.   Yet another protest against truth is that it is offensive and divisive to claim one has the truth. Instead, the critic argues, all that matters is sincerity. The problem with this position is that truth is immune to sincerity, belief, and desire. It does not matter how much one sincerely believes a wrong key will fit a door; the key still will not go in and the lock will not be opened. Truth is also unaffected by sincerity. Someone who picks up a bottle of poison and sincerely believes it is lemonade will still suffer the unfortunate effects of the poison. Finally, truth is impervious to desire. A person may strongly desire that their car has not run out of gas, but if the gauge says the tank is empty and the car will not run any farther, then no desire in the world will miraculously cause the car to keep going.   Some will admit that absolute truth exists, but then claim such a stance is only valid in the area of science and not in matters of faith and religion. This is a philosophy called logical positivism, which was popularized by philosophers such as David Hume and A. J. Ayer. In essence, such people state that truth claims must either be (1) tautologies (for example, all bachelors are unmarried men) or (2) empirically verifiable (that is, testable via science). To the logical positivist, all talk about God is nonsense.   Those who hold to the notion that only science can make truth claims fail to recognize is that there are many realms of truth where science is impotent. For example:   Science cannot prove the disciplines of mathematics and logic because it presupposes them. Science cannot prove metaphysical truths such as, minds other than my own do exist. Science is unable to provide truth in the areas of morals and ethics. You cannot use science, for example, to prove the Nazis were evil. Science is incapable of stating truths about aesthetic positions such as the beauty of a sunrise. Lastly, when anyone makes the statement “science is the only source of objective truth,” they have just made a philosophical claim—which cannot be tested by science.   And there are those who say that absolute truth does not apply in the area of morality. Yet the response to the question, “Is it moral to torture and murder an innocent child?” is absolute and universal: No. Or, to make it more personal, those who espouse relative truth concerning morals always seem to want their spouse to be absolutely faithful to them.   Why Truth Is Important   Why is it so important to understand and embrace the concept of absolute truth in all areas of life (including faith and religion)? Simply because life has consequences for being wrong. Giving someone the wrong amount of a medication can kills them; having an investment manager make the wrong monetary decisions can impoverish a family; boarding the wrong plane will take you where you do not wish to go; and dealing with an unfaithful marriage partner can result in the destruction of a family and, potentially, disease. Nowhere are the consequences more important than in the area of faith and religion. Eternity is a long time to be wrong.   God and Truth   During the six trials of Jesus, the contrast between the truth (righteousness) and lies (unrighteousness) was unmistakable. They are stood Jesus, the Truth, being judged by those whose every action was bathed in lies. The Jewish leaders broke nearly every law designed to protect a defendant from wrongful conviction. They fervently worked to find any testimony that would incriminate Jesus, and in their frustration, they turned to false evidence brought forward by liars. But even that could not help them reach their goal. So, they broke another law and forced Jesus to implicate Himself.   Once in front of Pilate, the Jewish leaders lied again. They convicted Jesus of blasphemy, but since they knew that would not be enough to coax Pilate to kill Jesus, they claimed Jesus was challenging Caesar and was breaking Roman law by encouraging the crowds to not pay taxes. Pilate quickly detected their superficial deception, and he never even addressed the charge.   Jesus the Righteous was being judged by the unrighteous. The sad fact is that the latter always persecutes the former. It is why Cain killed Abel. The link between truth and righteousness and between falsehood and unrighteousness is demonstrated by a number of examples in the New Testament:   For this reason, God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth but took pleasure in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:11–12, emphasis added).   “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18, emphasis added).   “who will render to each person according to his deeds; to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation” (Romans 2:6–8, emphasis added).   “[love] does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:5–6, emphasis added).   What Is Truth? - Conclusion   The question Pontius Pilate asked centuries ago needs to be rephrased in order to be completely accurate. The Roman governor's remark “What is truth?” overlooks the fact that many things can have truth, but only one thing can actually be the Truth. Truth must originate from somewhere.   The stark reality is that Pilate was looking directly at the Origin of all Truth on that early morning almost two thousand years ago. Not long before being arrested and brought to the governor, Jesus had made the simple statement “I am the truth” (John 14:6), which was a rather incredible statement. How could a mere man be the truth? He could not be, unless He was more than a man, which is actually what He claimed to be. The fact is Jesus' claim was validated when He rose from the dead (Romans 1:4).   There is a story about a man who lived in Paris who had a stranger from the country come see him. Wanting to show the stranger the magnificence of Paris, he took him to the Louvre to see the great art and then to a concert at a majestic symphony hall to hear a great symphony orchestra play. At the end of the day, the stranger from the country commented that he did not particularly like either the art or the music. To which his host replied, “They aren't on trial, you are.” Pilate and the Jewish leaders thought they were judging Christ, when, in reality, they were the ones being judged. Moreover, the One they convicted will actually serve as their Judge one day, as He will for all who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Pilate evidently never came to a knowledge of the truth. Eusebius, the historian, and Bishop of Caesarea, records the fact that Pilate ultimately committed suicide sometime during the reign of the emperor Caligula—a sad ending and a reminder for everyone that ignoring the truth always leads to undesired consequences.   The truth of the gospel is not subject to any human veto or democratic procedures. Jesus was not elected Lord by humans but chosen by God. Truth about God. God created everything, he created us, and as a result we belong to him. Truth about Sin. God loves us, and as a result he has given us free will. Truth about Jesus Christ. Truth about Man's Response. God exists. The Bible is the source of all truths. Jesus Christ will one day establish His Kingdom here on earth. Satan is the god of this world. It is more blessed to give than to receive. We reap what we sow. All things work together for good to those who love God. Death is not permanent. Sin leads to death. World events will fulfill Bible prophecy.   A few Old Testament Prophecies Fulfilled in Jesus Christ   Prophecy Description Fulfillment Gen 3:15 Seed of a woman (virgin birth) Gal 4:4-5; Matt 1:18 Gen 3:15 He will bruise Satan's head Heb 2:14; 1 John 3:8 Gen 5:24 The bodily ascension to heaven illustrated Mark 16:19 Gen 9:26-27 The God of Shem will be the Son of Shem Luke 3:36 Gen 12:3 Seed of Abraham will bless all nations Gal 3:8; Acts 3:25-26 Gen 12:7 The Promise made to Abraham's Seed Gal 3:16 Gen 14:18 A priest after the order of Melchizedek Heb 6:20 Gen 14:18 King of Peace and Righteousness Heb 7:2 Gen 14:18 The Last Supper foreshadowed Matt 26:26-29 Gen 17:19 Seed of Isaac (Gen 21:12) Rom 9:7 Gen 22:8 The Lamb of God promised John 1:29 Gen 22:18 As Isaac's seed, will bless all nations Gal 3:16 Gen 26:2-5 The Seed of Isaac promised as the Redeemer Heb 11:18 Gen 28:12 The Bridge to heaven John 1:51 Gen 28:14 The Seed of Jacob Luke 3:34 Gen 49:10 The time of His coming Luke 2:1-7; Gal 4:4 Gen 49:10 The Seed of Judah Luke 3:33 Gen 49:10 Called Shiloh or One Sent John 17:3 Gen 49:10 Messiah to come before Judah lost identity John 11:47-52 Gen 49:10 Unto Him shall the obedience of the people be John 10:16 Ex 3:13-15 The Great "I AM" John 4:26; 8:58 Ex 12:5 A Lamb without blemish Heb 9:14; 1 Pet 1:19 Ex 12:13 The blood of the Lamb saves from wrath Rom 5:8 Ex 12:21-27 Christ is our Passover 1 Cor 5:7 Ex 12:46 Not a bone of the Lamb to be broken John 19:31-36 Ex 15:2 His exaltation predicted as Yeshua Acts 7:55-56 Ex 15:11 His Character-Holiness Luke 1:35; Acts 4:27 Ex 17:6 The Spiritual Rock of Israel 1 Cor 10:4 Ex 33:19 His Character-Merciful Luke 1:72 Lev 1:2-9 His sacrifice a sweet-smelling savor unto God Eph 5:2 Lev 14:11 The leper cleansed-Sign to priesthood Luke 5:12-14; Acts 6:7 Lev 16:15-17 Prefigures Christ's once-for-all death Heb 9:7-14 Lev 16:27 Suffering outside the Camp Matt 27:33; Heb. 13:11-12 Lev 17:11 The Blood-the life of the flesh Matt 26:28; Mark 10:45 Lev 17:11 It is the blood that makes atonement Rom. 3:23-24; 1 John 1:7 Lev 23:36-37 The Drink-offering: "If any man thirst" John 7:37 Num 9:12 Not a bone of Him broken John 19:31-36 Num 21:9 The serpent on a pole-Christ lifted up John 3:14-18; 12:32 Num 24:17 Time: "I shall see him, but not now." John 1:14; Gal 4:4 Deut 18:15 "This is of a truth that prophet" John 6:14 Deut 18:15-16 "Had you believed Moses, you would believe me." John 5:45-47 Deut 18:18 Sent by the Father to speak His word John 8:28-29 Deut 18:19 Whoever will not hear must bear his sin Acts 3:22-23 Deut 21:23 Cursed is he that hangs on a tree Gal 3:10-13 Joshua 5:14-15 The Captain of our salvation Heb 2:10 Ruth 4:4-10 Christ, our kinsman, has redeemed us Eph 1:3-7 1 Sam 2:35 A Faithful Priest Heb. 2:17; 3:1-3, 6; 7:24-25 1 Sam 2:10 Shall be an anointed King to the Lord Matt 28:18; John 12:15 2 Sam 7:12 David's Seed Matt 1:1 2 Sam 7:13 His Kingdom is everlasting 2 Pet 1:11   End Times Biblical Answers from Billy Graham QUESTION: How bad is the world going to have to get before God finally steps in and Jesus comes back? Are we living in the last times? ANSWER: The Bible warns us against making precise predictions about the exact time of Jesus' return—but His return is certain, and we may well be living in the last days before He comes again. The Bible says, “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here” (Romans 13:12). Shortly before returning to Heaven, Jesus told His disciples that someday He would come back to establish His kingdom. But before that could take place, He said, certain things would have to happen—and we see many of these today. For example, He said that before His return the Gospel must be preached throughout the world (see Mark 13:10). Never before has this been possible—but now it is through radio and the internet and other modern means of mass communication. Our world is no stranger to evil; Satan has always been working to stop God's plans. But God's enemies now have access to modern weapons of mass destruction, and no one can predict what the outcome will be. Jesus said, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. … Nation will rise against nation” (Matthew 24:6–7, NKJV). With so much chaos and confusion in the world today—from the COVID-19 pandemic to widespread civil unrest—many wonder if we are living in the end times. THE END TIMES 1 QUESTION: How will the world end? Does the Bible say anything about this? ANSWER: I want to assure you that the world's future is firmly in God's hands, and the world as we know it will only pass away when God intervenes to bring it to an end. Does that mean we'll never experience wars, plagues, or natural disasters that look like they might bring life to an end (just as they have in the past)? It's certainly possible; God hasn't promised to deliver us from such tragedies. But they aren't the end, and even in the midst of these we can trust God's promise to be with us. Jesus said, “Such things must happen, but the end is still to come” (Matthew 24:6). What will the end be like? For one thing, it will be sudden and unexpected—and most people will be unprepared. Just as in the days of Noah's flood, a catastrophe will suddenly overtake the earth—and then it will be too late to turn to God. The Bible also hints at total, fiery destruction. “The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything … in it will be laid bare” (2 Peter 3:10). The good news is, we need not need fear that day if we know Christ. “Since everything will be destroyed … live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God” (2 Peter 3:11–12). QUESTION: Why do some people get all wrapped up in trying to predict the end of the world? We've always experienced wars and natural disasters, and we always will. ANSWER: You're right—up to a point. Throughout history some people have claimed to know exactly when the world was going to come to an end—and they were clearly wrong. Jesus said, “About that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36). But there is one prophecy about the future that I urge you not to ignore or dismiss as nonsense—and that is the one spoken by Jesus. Jesus warned that someday this world as we know it will come to an end—not because of a war or natural disaster, but because God will intervene and bring it to an end. The future is in God's hands, and He alone will bring an end to the world. THE END TIMES 2 And when He does, all the evils of this world will be destroyed and Jesus Christ will come again to rule over a new world in perfect peace and justice. We can barely imagine this, but it gives us hope for a better world. As the Bible says, “In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). Don't worry about those who falsely claim to know when the world will come to an end. Instead, put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. He alone gives us hope for the future and strength for our lives right now. QUESTION: If we are living in the last days and the world is going to come to an end before long, then why should we bother having children or saving money for our retirement? Why bother preparing for the future if there isn't going to be any future? ANSWER: If we knew for certain exactly when Christ was going to come again, and when this present world would come to an end—then yes, what you say might make sense. But we don't know—and that is the way God intended it to be. When Jesus' disciples asked Him when He would return to establish His kingdom, He answered by warning them not to be fooled by anyone who claimed to know the answer. Then He said, “About that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32). Why is this? One reason, I believe, is because if we did know, we might be tempted to stop doing the work God wants us to do. In one of His parables, Jesus commended the servant who kept on working while his master was away. Then He added, “It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns” (Luke 12:43). May that be true of us. At the same time, Christ's promise is clear: Someday He will come again in glory and power, and all the evil and rebellion and injustice of this present world will come to an end. That day is closer now than it has ever been before. Are you ready for that day? Make sure of your commitment to Christ—and make sure as well that if He does come during your lifetime, He will find you working and living for Him. THE END TIMES 3 1. RECOGNIZE GOD'S PLAN—PEACE AND LIFE God loves you and wants you to experience His peace and life. The BIBLE says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16, NKJV 2. REALIZE OUR PROBLEM—SEPARATION FROM GOD People choose to disobey God and go their own way. This results in separation from God. The BIBLE says: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23, NKJV 3. RESPOND TO GOD'S REMEDY—THE CROSS OF CHRIST God sent His Son to bridge the gap. Christ did this by paying the penalty of our sins when He died on the cross and rose from the grave. The BIBLE says, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8, ESV 4. RECEIVE GOD'S SON—LORD AND SAVIOR You cross the bridge into God's family when you ask Christ to come into your life. The BIBLE says, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12, ESV

God gave all of us free will to choose. We are not to force conversion: Christian or non -believer Forced conversion uses pressure, force, or threat to make someone abandon their beliefs for those of another religion—forced conversion results in adopting a different religion (or the abandonment of all faiths) under duress. Forced conversion is prominent in some religions, cults, and totalitarian governments, but it's easy to address from a Christian point of view.   Simply put, forced conversion is wrong. Growing the ranks of a religion should not involve any coercion. Often, forced conversion doesn't even work: those who are forced into a different faith may act as a convert outwardly but secretly remain loyal to their former religion.   It is impossible to become a Christian as a result of force or coercion. It may be possible to force someone to engage in a religious ceremony or mouth words to a prayer, but a Christian is not about a ceremony or perfunctory prayers. It's about being born again by the Spirit of God, and no amount of human pressure can force the Spirit's hand. God knows the heart. Regeneration cannot be externally imposed.   Some religious leaders in history have taken up the sword to compel people to join their ranks, but not Jesus. He laid down His life and invited us to follow Him. His kingdom functions differently from what the world is used to. Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place” (John 18:36).   Forced conversion also contradicts the free will that God has given each of us. We extend the invitation to all to be saved, but we do not constrain them. We recognize that people must repent and believe on their own, as the Holy Spirit works in their hearts (see John 16:8). Jesus alluded to the sinner's free will as He spoke to a rebellious Jerusalem: “How often I have longed to gather your children together, . . . and you were not willing” (Luke 13:34, emphasis added).   In Acts 16, Paul and Silas meet a man in the Greek city of Philippi who asks an essential question about salvation. We know at least three things about this man: he was a jailer, he was a pagan, and he was desperate. He had been on the verge of suicide when Paul stopped him. And that's when the man asks, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30).   The very fact that the man asks the question shows that he recognized his need of salvation—he saw only death for himself, and he knew he needed help. The fact that he asks Paul and Silas shows that he believed they had the answer. That answer comes swiftly and simply: “Belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). The passage goes on to show that the man's life began displaying a difference right away. Note that the man's conversion was based on faith (“Believe”). He had to trust Jesus and nothing else. His faith included a belief that Jesus died for sin and rose again because that was the message that Paul and Silas had been preaching (see Romans 10:9–10 and 1 Corinthians 15:1–4). The salvation of the Philippian jailer was anything but a forced conversion; instead, it was based on his own personal desire and a choice to place his faith in Christ.   To convert to Christianity, we must believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died for sin and rose again. We must agree with God that we are sinners in need of salvation, and we must trust in Jesus alone to save. When we do this, God promises to save us and give us the Holy Spirit, who will make us new creations. Being a Christian is having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that results in the forgiveness of sins and eternity in heaven. Something like that cannot be forced. True religion is not coerced.   “Is there a time when we should intentionally disobey the laws of the land?” The answer to that question may be found in Acts 5:27-29, “Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 'We gave you strict orders not to teach in this Name,' he said. 'Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood.' Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than men!'“ From this, it is clear that as long as the law of the land does not contradict the law of God, we are bound to obey the law of the land. As soon as the law of the land contradicts God's command, we are to disobey the law of the land and obey God's law. However, even in that instance, we are to accept the government's authority over us. This is demonstrated by the fact that Peter and John did not protest being flogged but instead rejoiced that they suffered for obeying God (Acts 5:40-42). Are you aware that leaders and others have a force conversion plan directly or indirectly? Many shows are promoting LBGQT themes Many leaders are making racist comments: Joe Biden has a decades-long habit of making overtly racist remarks, taking discriminatory positions, and cavorting with known racists—things ... BLM is making flat out threats: BLM threatens 'riots, bloodshed' in NYC if Adams brings back police unit, DOJ is treating parents as a domestic terrorist: Concerned Parents Aren't Domestic Terrorists CRT is being forced on many schools: Colorado students are being fed the poison fruits of Critical Race Theory   Cancel culture: schools told to avoid the words ‘husband' and ‘wife' under a new language guide; however, LGBT sentiments were commonplace and acceptable: cancel culture is toxic   Religious Freedom Is Under Attack Like Never Before   You decide your choice. As for me, I will believe in not man; I will trust in God, not Man

16명의 미국인과 캐나다인이 아이티에서 납치된 지 한 달이 지났습니다. 그들이 석방되어 가족에게 돌아갈 수 있도록 기도해 주시겠습니까? 이 세상은 실제로 최근 오로라 콜로라도 총격 사건, Biden-Xi가 만난 것처럼 거리에서 혼란 살인의 공입니다. 중국은 대만에서 '불장난'에 대해 미국에 경고하고, 러시아는 가까운 중앙 아시아에 군대를 배치하는 것에 대해 미국에게 경고합니다. 아프가니스탄, 이 지도자들은 많은 사람들의 목숨을 걸고 도박을 하고 있습니다. 그리고 사람들은 예수 그리스도만이 구원에 이르는 유일한 길이라는 것을 이해하지 못하거나 받아들이기를 거부하거나 이해하지 못합니다. 이 나라, 이 세상, 우리 모두는 기도가 필요합니다. 일어나라, 미국이여, 세계를 깨우라. 기도는 수천 년 전에 그랬던 것처럼 오늘날에도 작동하고 계속 작동합니다. 많은 사람들이 그 힘을 경험했습니다. 언제 상황이 나아질지 궁금할 때... 기도는 응답됩니다! 그리고 대부분의 경우 당신이 상상한 것보다 더 나은 결과를 얻을 것입니다! 축복의 기도가 그 기도와 하나님을 믿는 사람들을 위해 무엇을 할 수 있는지에 대한 진정하고 강력한 경험입니다. 무지개는 동성애자를 위한 것이 아니며 무지개는 하나님의 선물이라는 것을 언급하고 싶습니다. 성경적으로 말하면, 무지개는 하나님이 온 땅과 맺은 언약의 표징입니다. 하나님은 다시는 홍수로 세상을 멸하지 않으실 것입니다. 무지개는 말 그대로 비와 관련이 있습니다. 홍수가 물러가고 노아와 그의 가족이 방주에서 나온 후에 하나님은 무지개를 징조로 하여 이 언약을 맺으셨습니다. 하나님이 이르시되 내가 너희와 내 언약을 세우리니 다시는 모든 생물을 홍수로 멸하지 아니하고 땅을 멸할 홍수가 다시 있지 아니하리니... 내가 너와 나와 너와 함께 하는 모든 생물 사이에 세우는 언약의 증표는 이것이니 대대로 대대로 하는 언약이라 내가 내 무지개를 구름 속에 두었고 이것이 나와 사이의 언약의 증표니라 그리고 지구. 내가 구름으로 땅을 덮을 때마다 무지개가 구름 속에 나타날 때마다 나는 너와 나와 그리고 모든 생물 사이에 맺은 내 언약을 기억할 것이다. 다시는 물이 모든 생명을 멸하는 홍수가 되지 아니하리라. 무지개가 구름 속에 나타날 때마다 내가 그것을 보고 하나님과 땅에 있는 모든 생물 사이의 영원한 언약을 기억하리라"(창세기 9:11-15). 하나님은 무지개로 상징되는 이 약속을 인간에게만 주신 것이 아니라 “모든 생물… 새와 육축과 모든 들짐승과 방주에서 나온 모든 것… 땅."(창세기 9:9-10). 그 언약은 영원하고 모든 세대에 걸쳐 지속되며 다시는 세계적인 홍수가 없을 것입니다. 무지개의 색은 때때로 "게이 프라이드"의 상징으로 사용됩니다. 이것은 Gilbert Baker라는 예술가가 샌프란시스코의 게이 커뮤니티를 위한 깃발을 디자인하고 만들면서 1978년에 시작되었습니다. 베이커의 독창적인 디자인은 8가지 색상으로 각각 핫핑크(섹슈얼리티), 레드(생명), 오렌지(치유), 옐로우(태양), 그린(자연), 터키석(예술), 남색(조화)에 의미를 부여했다.) 및 보라색(영혼). 나중의 디자인은 7가지 색상과 6가지 색상을 선보였습니다.  LGBTQ + 커뮤니티에서 사용하는 무지개 깃발과 배너는 다양성, 희망, 사회적 행동을 나타냅니다. 동성애 문화와 무관한 다른 무지개 깃발과 현수막이 있습니다. 예를 들어, 하와이 코 알로하 깃발에는 서구 문명이 도착하기 전에 거주했던 섬을 나타내는 9개의 색 줄무늬가 있습니다. 또 다른 예는 7가지 다른 미덕을 나타내는 깃발을 가진 프리메이슨 조직인 International Order of the Rainbow for Girls의 깃발입니다. 무지개는 하나님의 창조물입니다. 당연히 우리는 그것을 기뻐합니다. 폭풍우 후에 무지개가 나타나는 것은 압도적인 무언가가 있습니다. 우리가 무지개를 하나님의 신실하심과 자비의 하나님이 정하신 상징으로 기뻐하는 것은 선하고 옳은 일입니다. 일부 사람들이 자신의 목적을 위해 색상을 선택하려고 한다고 해서 하나님이 만드신 것의 아름다움과 경이로움이 줄어들지는 않습니다. 그것은 하나님이 의도하신 바에 관한 것입니다. 그것은 사람이 원하는 바가 아니며 그것이 의미하는 바도 아닙니다.

Ha pasado un mes desde que 16 estadounidenses y un canadiense fueron secuestrados en Haití. ¿Podría orar por su liberación para que puedan volver con sus familias? Este mundo es de hecho una bola de confusión asesinato en las calles tan recientemente como el tiroteo en Aurora Colorado, Biden-Xi se reúne: China advierte a Estados Unidos sobre 'jugar con fuego' en Taiwán, Rusia advierte a Estados Unidos contra el despliegue de tropas en Asia Central cerca de Afganistán, estos líderes están jugando con la vida de muchos. Y la gente no lo entiende o se niega a recibirlo, o no entiende, que Jesucristo es el único camino a la salvación. Esta nación, este mundo, todos necesitamos oración. Despierta, América, despierta el mundo. La oración funciona y sigue funcionando hoy como lo hizo hace miles de años. Muchos han experimentado su poder. Justo cuando te preguntas cuándo las cosas van a mejorar ... ¡la oración es respondida! ¡Y la mayoría de las veces serán mejores resultados de los que imaginaba! Es una experiencia auténtica y poderosa de lo que la oración de bendición puede hacer por aquellos que tienen fe en ella y en Dios. Quiero mencionar que el arco iris no es para homosexuales y el arco iris fue un regalo de Dios. Bíblicamente hablando, el arco iris es la señal de un pacto que Dios hizo con toda la tierra: nunca más destruirá el mundo con un diluvio. El arco iris está literalmente relacionado con la lluvia. Dios hizo este pacto, con el arco iris como señal, después de que las aguas del diluvio retrocedieron y Noé y su familia salieron del arca. Dios dijo: "Yo establezco mi pacto contigo: nunca más será destruida toda la vida por las aguas de un diluvio; nunca más habrá un diluvio para destruir la tierra.... Esta es la señal del pacto que estoy haciendo entre tú y yo y todo ser viviente contigo, un pacto para todas las generaciones venideras: he puesto mi arco iris en las nubes, y será la señal del pacto entre mí y la tierra. Siempre que traiga nubes sobre la tierra y el arco iris aparezca en las nubes, recordaré mi pacto entre tú y yo y todas las criaturas vivientes de todo tipo. Nunca más las aguas se convertirán en una inundación para destruir toda la vida. Siempre que el arco iris aparezca en las nubes, lo veré y recordaré el pacto eterno entre Dios y todos los seres vivientes de toda clase sobre la tierra "(Génesis 9: 11-15). Dios hizo esta promesa, representada por el arco iris, no solo para la humanidad, sino para "toda criatura viviente ... las aves, el ganado y todos los animales salvajes, todos los que salieron del arca ... toda criatura viviente de la tierra. "(Génesis 9: 9-10). El pacto es perpetuo, duradero para todas las generaciones, y nunca más habrá un diluvio mundial. Los colores del arco iris se utilizan a veces como símbolo del "orgullo gay". Esto comenzó en 1978 cuando un artista llamado Gilbert Baker diseñó e hizo una bandera para la comunidad homosexual en San Francisco. El diseño original de Baker tenía ocho colores, y le asignó un significado a cada uno: rosa fuerte (sexualidad), rojo (vida), naranja (curación), amarillo (el sol), verde (naturaleza), turquesa (arte), índigo (armonía) y violeta (espíritu). Los diseños posteriores lucían siete y luego seis colores.  Las banderas y pancartas de arcoíris, tal como las usa la comunidad LGBTQ +, representan diversidad, esperanza y acción social. Hay otras banderas y estandartes arcoíris que no tienen nada que ver con la cultura homosexual. Por ejemplo, la bandera de Hawaii Ko Aloha tiene nueve franjas de colores que representan las islas que estaban habitadas antes de la llegada de la civilización occidental. Otro ejemplo es la bandera de la Orden Internacional del Arcoíris para Niñas, una organización masónica cuyo estandarte representa siete virtudes diferentes. El arco iris es la creación de Dios. Naturalmente, nos deleitamos con él. Hay algo sobrecogedor en la apariencia de un arco iris después de una tormenta. Es bueno y correcto que nos regocijemos en el arco iris como un símbolo ordenado por Dios de la fidelidad y misericordia de Dios. El intento de algunos de cooptar los colores para sus propios propósitos no disminuye la belleza y la maravilla de lo que Dios ha hecho. [startSpeech r = StartSpeech lento] [endSpeech] Se trata de lo que Dios quiso que fuera. No es lo que el hombre quiere que sea o para lo que signifique.

  It has been a month since 16 Americans, and a Canadian were kidnapped in Haiti. Would you please pray for their release so they can get back to their families. This world is indeed a ball of confusion murder in the streets as recently as the shooting in Aurora Colorado, Biden-Xi meets: China warns the United States about 'playing with fire' on Taiwan, Russia warns the US against deploying troops in Central Asia near Afghanistan these leaders are playing with the lives of many. And people do not get it or refuse to get it, or do not understand, that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. This nation, this world, we all require prayer. Wake up, America, wake up world. Prayer works and is still working today as it did thousands of years ago. Many have experienced its power.   Just when you wonder when things are going to get better...prayer gets answered! And most of the time it will be better results than what you imagined! It is a powerful authentic experience of what blessing prayer can do for those who have faith in it and in God.   I want to mention this the rainbow is not for homosexuals, and the rainbow was a gift from God. Biblically speaking, the rainbow is the sign of a covenant that God made with the whole earth: He will never destroy the world again with a flood. The rainbow is literally correlated to rainfall.   God made this covenant, with the rainbow as the token, after the waters of the flood receded, and Noah and his family exited the ark. God said, "I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth. . . . This is the sign of the covenant I am making between you and me and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth, and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between you and me and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth" (Genesis 9:11–15).   God made this promise, signified by the rainbow, not only to humankind but to "every living creature . . . the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark . . . every living creature on earth" (Genesis 9:9–10). The covenant is perpetual, enduring to all generations, and never again will there be a worldwide flood.   The colors of the rainbow are sometimes used as a symbol of "gay pride." This began in 1978 when an artist named Gilbert Baker designed and made a flag for the homosexual community in San Francisco. Baker's original design had eight colors, and he assigned a meaning to each one: hot pink (sexuality), red (life), orange (healing), yellow (the sun), green (nature), turquoise (art), indigo (harmony), and violet (spirit). Subsequent designs sported seven and then six colors. Rainbow flags and banners, as used by the LGBTQ+ community, represent diversity, hope, and social action.   There are other rainbow flags and banners that have nothing to do with the homosexual culture. For example, the Hawaii Ko Aloha Flag has nine colored stripes representing the islands that were inhabited before Western civilization arrived. Another example is the flag of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, a Masonic organization whose banner represents seven different virtues.   The rainbow is God's creation. We naturally delight in it. There is something awe-inspiring in the appearance of a rainbow after a storm. It is good and right that we rejoice in the rainbow as a God-ordained symbol of God's faithfulness and mercy. The attempt of some to co-opt the colors for their own purposes does not diminish the beauty and wonder of what God has made. It is about what God meant for it to be. Not what man want it to be or mean for.

Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Question: "How can I heal from the hurt of a broken relationship?"   Answer: The world is full of people with broken hearts, broken spirits, and broken relationships. The pain of a broken relationship includes an authentic sense of personal loss, not unlike bereavement. Sometimes the hurt is so great it prevents people from functioning correctly and, in extreme cases, can result in mental breakdown or even a desire to commit suicide. The world puts forward various ways to assuage the pain: taking antidepressants, writing an angry letter and tearing it up, going on a shopping spree, getting a makeover, etc. Some advocate the power of positive thinking. The most common “cure” is time. While the intensity of heartbreak may wane over time, only a child of God can experience complete recovery because only the Christian has access to the power of the Spirit of God, the One who “heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).   Jesus understands the pain of rejection. “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him” (John 1:11). Jesus was betrayed by one of His closest associates (John 6:71; cf. Psalm 41:9). As we deal with the pain of a broken relationship, we must take our burdens to the Lord (1 Peter 5:7). He weeps with those who weep (John 11:35; Romans 12:15), and He is able to “empathize with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15).   A broken relationship can be the source of many negative emotions. Christians understand the futility of allowing their emotions to guide them. Jesus Christ has blessed us with every spiritual blessing and has made us accepted in Him (Ephesians 1:3, 6). This acceptance transcends all feelings of rejection we may have because it is not based on “hope so” but on “know so.” We know that God has accepted us because God's Word tells us so, and as we appropriate this truth by faith, it changes our hearts and lives.   Everyone experiences the hurt of a broken relationship at one time or another. We are bound to be hurt and disappointed, for we live in a fallen world. What we choose to do with that hurt and disappointment can make us stronger in our walk with the Lord. God promises to walk through the disappointments in life with us (Hebrews 13:5), and He wants us to know His provision for us is sure. His grace and comfort are ours as we rest in Him.   Every born-again child of God has blessings in Christ, but we must choose to utilize them. Living in constant gloom and dejection over a broken relationship is like having a million dollars in the bank and living like a pauper because we never make a withdrawal. It is also true that we cannot use what we do not know. Therefore, every believer should seek to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord” (2 Peter 3:18) and to be “transformed by the renewing of [his] mind” (Romans 12:2). We must face life armed with a real understanding of what it means to walk by faith.   As believers we are not defined by past failures, disappointment, or the rejection of others. We are defined by our relationship with God. We are His children, born again to newness of life, endowed with every spiritual blessing, and accepted in Christ Jesus. We have the faith that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4).   God has prepared for each of us unique opportunities to walk through the “all things” of this life. We can either walk in our own strength and what the apostle Paul calls our “flesh,” or we can walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is our choice. God has provided us with armor, but it is up to us to wear it (Ephesians 6:11–18).   We may suffer disappointment in this life, but we are children of the King, and the rejection we experience is a momentary pain compared to eternal glory. We can allow it to keep us down, or we can claim the heritage of a child of God and move forward in His grace. Like Paul, we can be “forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead” (Philippians 3:13).   Forgiveness of others is important to the healing process. Holding on to bitterness or nursing a grudge only poisons our own spirit. Yes, we may have been truly wronged, and, yes, the pain is real, but there is freedom in forgiveness. Forgiveness is a gift we can give because it was given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:32).   What a comfort to know the God who said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). God is always near to comfort the believer. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles” (2 Corinthians 1:3–4). God, who cannot lie, has promised to go through our trials with us: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze” (Isaiah 43:2).   “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken” (Psalm 55:22). In reality, feelings come from thoughts, so, to change how we feel, we should change how we think. And this is what God wants us to do. In Philippians 2:5, Christians are told, “Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” In Philippians 4:8, Christians are told to think on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, and praiseworthy. Colossians 3:2 says to “set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” As we do this, our feelings of rejection diminish.   Overcoming the hurt of a broken relationship requires taking one day at a time, praying for God's guidance, and reading and meditating on God's Word. The healing can never come from our own efforts; it comes only from the Lord. It helps to take our eyes off ourselves and focus on God instead. He can make us whole. He can take our brokenness and make us into what He wants us to be. A broken relationship is painful, but the Lord is gracious. He can give our lives meaning, purpose, and joy. Jesus said, “Whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37). Our Lord's relationship with His children is one that will never be broken.  

  As we honor those who have served our country on Veterans Day, scammers go to great lengths to steal from them. Some elected leaders will not support or help them.  The number of veterans experiencing homelessness rose slightly even before the coronavirus pandemic, but yet the illegal people coming into America get better treatment than those who served to maintain freedom for this country.   Veterans Day is a celebration across the globe in remembrance of service   -- It reminds us that we have been given a special gift a gift of freedom   -- It is a gift that many died for; and are dying for; in defense of a principle   - Not a dream, not a concept, not a belief … but a PRINCIPLE!   - Webster's defines principle as, “A fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning.”   - Also, “A rule or belief governing one's personal behavior.”   -- When we consider all that God has done for us; we must strive to be loyal   -- We must strive to never give up, and we must never lose focus   - Read Philippians 1:27-30 / Pray   - A Christian Veteran has three principles that he or she MUST stand by   - To never give up, to be loyal, and to never lose focus    A Veteran doesn't give up   It is with deep appreciation I take this opportunity to do this podcast for all veterans old and young currently that our Nation dedicates to honoring War, and non-combat Veterans.   When our Country called, you answered.  While time goes by and many people seem to go on with life with little or no regard for the sacrifices of our Veterans, I want to assure you that I and many others hold you in high esteem.   We know that we live in a world that is filled with “wars, and rumors of wars” as the Bible indicates would be the case in the last days before the return of Jesus Christ.  We also know that true lasting peace will only be known when Jesus Christ establishes His millennial reign, but until then to experience peace, some must “make the peace” through standing up to enemies foreign or domestic and of what is good and right around the world. Isaiah 2:4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.   While you served, mothers continued to kiss their children goodbye as they boarded the school bus, and as you served, fathers continued to attend their boy's baseball games and girls' band recitals.  While you served, workers continued to go to work, and couples in love continued to get married on Saturdays.  While you served, as many Christian Churches continued to gather in freedom to worship the God we love.   Thank you for all you have done for this great country, and may God continue to richly bless you and all you set your heart to accomplish.