Podcasts about Willful

Welcome, once again, to my UnMind podcast, also published on Substack, and as my Dharma Byte in the newsletter of the Silent Thunder Order (visit www.STOrder.org — STO). Please let me know if there is a subject you would like to hear about in a future segment. In STO, we are pioneering a creative, collaborative approach to establishing true Zen community (Skt. sangha) in the USA. This haiku poem, in the traditional 5,7,5-syllable format, I composed some years ago. Memorial day this year happened to coincide with the 51st anniversary of wedding my long-suffering wife, the love of my life, a living bodhisattva of compassion. The bouquet I presented her at our breakfast date had a few buds that had not yet blossomed, until this morning. Recalling my mother often saying, "Don't bring me dead flowers!" I realized that cut flowers are, indeed, if not dead already, then at least dying, as we trim them and put them in a vase, prolonging the decaying process with water and flower food. I revised the haiku to read: Flowers blossom allunaware of their beauty —though doomed to failure Repositioning "all" so that it modifies both "flowers" and "unaware" depending on the reader's interpretation, the last line reflects my mother's cold-eyed insight that cut flowers are no longer living, and that the seeds they produce through pollination have the chance of a snowball in hell of germinating. This brings up another common trope of modernity, the concept of "dichotomies." Giving dying flowers to celebrate the living is a kind of dichotomy, or contradiction. My root teacher, Matsuoka-roshi, was prone to say, "There is no dichotomy in Zen!" I think he was implying that any dichotomy is in the eye — or mind, or both — of the beholder. Suffering from obsessive curiosity as to all things verbal, I looked up the term in the New Oxford American Dictionary bundled with my MacBook Pro: di•chot•o•mynoun (plural dichotomies) [usually in singular] a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different: a rigid dichotomy between science and mysticism. • Botany repeated branching into two equal parts. One of the most common dichotomies — speaking of a "rigid dichotomy between science and mysticism." and which has become a trope in the USA, and perhaps all over the world — is the expression, "There are two kinds of people in the world..." followed by the speaker's perspective on some defining difference between their worldview and that of others. My rather circular version is "There are two kinds of people in this world: those who believe there are two kinds of people in this world, and those who don't." But seriously, folks... It occurs to me that one of the many such distinctions that do make a difference — particularly on the social level, and with ramifications in the natural sphere — is of religious viewpoints. The "first kind of people in the world" believe that there is a loving creator God watching over humankind — His children made in His image — protecting us from the worst consequences of our actions, or at least assuring us that they must be in some way the manifestation of His will. A current example is that of climate change. If our most dystopian fears come to pass, anything coming to pass on such a grand scale must be part of God's plan, rather than an unintended consequence of our collective action, mustn't it? Wouldn't it be ironic if the human race were to wipe itself out, based on a mistaken belief that our reckless stewardship of the planet is under the control of a loving God, who would surely not allow such a thing to happen. It begs the existential question: What if we are wrong? We may be forgiven for our resistance to elevating such a belief to the lofty level of "thought," which is held in such high esteem in Western philosophy. "Religion" as such was supposedly replaced by "Reason" following the Enlightenment, as deserving of our highest reverence. In its most extreme manifestation, this worldview — shared by the "second kind of people in the world" — devolves to "secular reductionism," widely reviled by theistic creationists as reducing the existence of humanity to some kind of evolutionary fluke. The second kind subdivide into two camps as well — those who are agnostic on the concept of the existence of God as a being, though it is unclear whether or when, and under what circumstances, they suppose they might find an answer to the question — and those who take the contrarian position, defaulting to atheism, which some mock as the strongest form of theism, by the theory of opposites. You can't have atheism without theism. A few atheists enjoy a degree of fame and fortune from their efforts railing against the popular tide of conventional belief systems. Buddha knew that his teaching would be swimming upstream against the prevailing tide of contemporaneous beliefs, such as that of the atman, or soul, of Hinduism. However, he apparently did not make a public case of it by challenging the political hierarchy of the time, which was based on Hinduism, and in which he enjoyed a privileged position as a prominent member of the second highest caste. Instead, he shared his views with his followers for reasons of personal salvation. Buddhism promised to reform society by offering an alternative to the status quo, which he interpreted as motivated primarily by self-striving. His doctrine began with challenging the belief in the existence of the self, not in that of God, or gods. If this manifestation of two contrary and opposed worldviews of believers and nonbelievers — one requiring hard evidence, the other only faith — stopped at the boundary between the personal and social spheres, its unintended consequences would be relatively trivial, in their impact on the world we live in. But when the claim is made that the ways of the world, including the machinations of mankind, reflect the will of God — in particular those people who are likeminded, and part of our political cohort — the worst impulses and basest motives of men are enabled in His name, not ours. We are now witness to an international situation in which the most powerful men in the world are child killers and / or child molesters; take your pick. It is impossible to imagine anything more selfish than that. Their family, friends and supporters are implicated to a degree proportional to their proximity to the inner circles of power. Six degrees of non-separation. That they do not, or cannot, see this fact, and own up to it, constitutes an undeniable manifestation of the root of the trouble that Buddha identified as "ignorance." According to his model of the Twelvefold Chain of Interdependent Co-arising, everything arises out of a kind of universal ignorance, including most centrally for humans, the conviction that we are independent, existent entities — i.e. the constructed self. This ignorance is, originally, essentially innocent: a case of simply not-knowing. But when this sense of self is taken to be real, it intervenes in our judgment calls in navigating the world, leading us to commit all kinds of actions in defense of it. Willful ignorance, that is. But again: What if we are wrong? What if what we take to be our persona, our very own self — stemming from the very convincing assembly of the body-mind complex: the six senses, five aggregates, DNA, et cetera, implying a fundamental bifurcation into "self" and "other" — is a kind of categorical error, a rudimentary, ingrained confusion? The sixth ancestor in China, Master Huineng, was famous for saying, "Show me your face before your father and mother were born!" or words to that effect. What if what we are now — channeling through this biological body — is precisely what we were, before this body was born? What if we will be exactly the same, after this body dies? My understanding of one Buddhist teaching is that desire — the primordial desire for existence itself — precedes birth, and indeed, is the impulse that logically leads to birth. However, to assume that this idea necessarily implies the existence of a self or soul, an entity of some sort that precedes birth, a basic tenet of Hinduism's doctrine of reincarnation, namely the atman; or that the soul comes into existence with the advent of birth in this lifetime, which I take to be a fundamental doctrine of Christianity; is to impute to Buddha's teaching the very idea that he refuted with his doctrine of anatman: he found no evidence of such a being in his transformational spiritual awakening. In the Heart of Great Wisdom Sutra chanted in Zen centers and monasteries around the world on a frequent basis, the implication is that in Zen meditation, we progress through the Five Aggregates of sentient existence until arriving at "consciousness only," our awareness shifts to "no consciousness also." Or as Buddha is said to have taught, a "turning about in the inmost consciousness," Master Dogen's "backward step" of "turning the light around to shine on the self." This "no consciousness" is not the absence of consciousness, but the necessary complement to consciousness itself – the resolution of the apparent dichotomy. You cannot have consciousness without "no consciousness." You cannot have impermanence without permanence. You cannot have being without nonbeing, as the great Ch'an poem illustrates: Emptiness here; emptiness there —But the infinite universe stands always before your eyesInfinitely large; infinitely small — no differenceFor definitions have vanished, and no boundaries are seenSo, too, with Being and Non-being According to this principle of no dichotomy in Zen, then, even the existential question resolves itself into a complementarity. There is no being without non-being. The dichotomy exists only in our interpretation. Paraphrasing Krishnamurti, don't "Think on these things"; Sit with these things.

Sacrifice for Kingdom Rewards (1) (audio) David Eells – 7/1/26 Eat Your Manna David Eells Don't miss any opportunity to eat your bread of life from heaven every day. Partaking of the Word of God and fellowship with those who share it is of utmost importance. Exo.16:4 Then said Jehovah unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or not. The Israelites didn't obey God in this, and they murmured and fell in the wilderness. When, because of worldly pursuits, we pass up the chance to eat our manna today with the excuse that we will do it tomorrow, we miss the only chance we had to eat that manna and prepare our soul for the wilderness. 19 And Moses said unto them, Let no man leave of it till the morning. 20 Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and became foul: and Moses was wroth with them. You see, either you eat it, or you lose it forever. If you have a phone, you can listen and program your mind daily. All excuses aside, people do what is important to them. If the Kingdom is not first in a person's life, God will find someone else who values what He has to offer. Mat.22:4 Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them that are bidden, Behold, I have made ready my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come to the marriage feast. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise. 8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they that were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore unto the partings of the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage feast. Luk.14:15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. 16 But he said unto him, A certain man made a great supper; and he bade many: 17 and he sent forth his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for [all] things are now ready. 18 And they all with one [consent] began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a field, and I must needs go out and see it; I pray thee have me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. Jesus accepted none of these excuses to abstain from the Word. 21 And the servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and maimed and blind and lame. 22 And the servant said, Lord, what thou didst command is done, and yet there is room. 23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and constrain [them] to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say unto you, that none of those men that were bidden shall taste of my supper. (Manna Lost) 25 Now there went with him great multitudes: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (Even these cannot be an excuse.) 27 Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. I pray for you that God will be first in your life. You have a chance to prepare for the wilderness. Without taking advantage of this, you will fall and someone will take your place. “Let no man take thy crown”.   A Call to Sacrifice Debbie Fenske Prophesy 1/25/26 (My dear children, I am doing a work in each of you. My Beloved, I am preparing you. Have you sensed a preparation? Yes, I have been preparing you for a new thing. A new thing, by My Spirit, is coming to you. But it will take you seeking Me so much more than you do. It will take sacrifice. For I need your attention, My children. Attend to Me. Give ear to My words. Give ear to this, My dear ones, whom I have chosen to be in My Bride company. Not only have I chosen you, but you have been My choice pick. Yes, My children, precious to Me. My first pick. So, now comes the sacrifice. It is this one in particular. Give ear. There is much going on. There is much news. What can you trust? Who can you trust? You have been hearing and reading things that have been preparing you and helping you to know how to pray. But I see your confusion. I see doubt and uncertainty in things you are hearing and reading. It is time My children, to pull back. No more, for the time being, of being on your own, hearing and reading so much news. Pull back from letting your eyes see and your ears hear all this news going forth. Pull back and spend time seeking Me, speaking to Me, and hearing Me. Starting now, set that time for Me first. Your daily duties can follow. I appoint your leaders; your leader, David, and your leader, Michael, to give to you what is important for you to know, and to pray for, and to do spiritual warfare against. Whatever they give you to read, and whatever you hear from them, is My will for you to know about, and to do the job I have equipped you for: prayer and spiritual warfare. No seeking, and no sifting through the news, but seeking only Me and gleaning what I have for you from My Word, with ears and eyes wide open to the things of My Spirit. This will be a training for you. A training in sacrifice. For truly, the flesh is what drives you to know these things of the world. I say, listen to your leaders whom I have appointed over you. I know you can do this. I know you can seek Me and hear Me. And I know you can listen. I know you can lay down your life in this small way of sacrifice. My Beloved, you will be rewarded. And the time to let up on what I am putting on you right now will be revealed. But now is the time for sacrifice in this way, unto Me with obedience of heart. This is for your good, My Beloved. And as the days continue on, and as the news continues on, and as the things happening continue on, you will know for certain that this is for your good, and for the good of many, My Beloved. Be humble. Be faithful. Be true. Be obedient to Me out of your love for Me. And, remain in love with one another.   Rewards and Penalties David Eells I want to share a revelation the Lord gave me a few years ago (6/25/02). I was walking on the road next to a golf course, where I sometimes get some exercise. I immediately noticed golf balls here and there by the road, having been knocked out of the course. It is not unusual to see one or two like this, but I was seeing many now. Usually, this area is combed very well by earlier walkers. After picking up six or seven balls, I thought, “How unusual, I wonder if you are talking to me, Lord”. Then I saw a bright yellow advertisement on the ground, probably blown from someone's mailbox or front door. The unusual thing was that it was within inches of a golf ball that was the exact same unusual color. There was nothing else of that color as far as I could see. The chances against this happening are awesome, I am sure. Then I knew the Lord was speaking to me, but I was not yet sure what. I continued my walk, picking up nine golf balls. My pockets were bulging. On my way home, I had the distinct impression that I would find one more ball. I turned down my street, and just before reaching home, I found one more ball, quite a ways from the course. That made ten in all. I asked the Lord what He was saying, but received no answer until the next day. The Lord showed me that the golf course was like the believers' race to the finish line. I know little of golf, but I understand the trick is to follow that little ball (like we are to follow Christ) across the finish with as few strokes as possible. A hole-in-one, which would of course win the race for that particular hole, would necessitate hitting the ball only once. In disregard to God's command to merely speak to the rock, Moses “smote the rock with his rod twice” and it brought forth water. The penalty for this was that he was not permitted to enter the Promised Land with Joshua and Caleb (Num.20:8-13). 1Co.10:4 and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ. 5 Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Jesus, our Rock, who brought forth the water of life, was smitten once at the crucifixion. We are told that He is not to be smitten twice. We are told that those who walk in willful disobedience “crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame” Heb.6:6. The person who walks in obedience crucifies the old man (2Co.4:16), but those who walk in willful sin “crucify to themselves” the new man who is “Christ in you the hope of glory”. They smite the rock twice. Those who are twice born and continue to walk in this way will be “twice dead, plucked up by the roots” Jude 12. Heb.10:26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 A man that hath set at nought Moses law dieth without compassion on [the word of] two or three witnesses: 29 of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? Jesus bore all sin; He also bore the penalty for all sin, except willful disobedience. Notice that there is “no more a sacrifice” for that sin. Instead, there should be “a certain fearful expectation of judgment”. Many of us have been lied to about the cleansing of the blood. 1Jn.1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Notice that the blood cleanses the one who walks in the light of the Word, not in the darkness of willful disobedience. For willful disobedience, we are promised certain judgment. Those who knock the ball off the course cannot retrieve it and pay the penalty for losing a stroke, while everyone else passes them up. We pay the penalty for this sin here and now, as in the following verses: Mat.18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors (demons), till he should pay all that was due. 35 So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts. God will use the demons to make us pay for the sin of the will. Mat.5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art with him in the way; lest haply the adversary deliver thee to the judge (God), and the judge deliver thee to the officer (demon), and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the last farthing. The prison here is spiritual bondage to sin and the curse is administered by the demons. Jesus came “. . .to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening [of the prison] to them that are bound” Isa.61:1. Willful disobedience throws us back into the prison that Jesus delivered us from. David sinned willfully with Bathsheba. When he repented, Nathan the prophet said, “The Lord also hath put away thy sin”; but he also said, “The sword shall never depart from thy house”. In other words, I forgive you, but you will have to pay the penalty. This proved true, for David lost three sons and many people. His own son Absalom won the sympathy of the people and usurped the kingdom. David had to flee for his life. As parents, we do not spank our children for failure or mistakes, but for willful disobedience. Paul said, “For the good which I would I do not: but the evil which I would not (or willed not), that I practice. But if what I would not (willed not), that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me” Rom.7:19,20. Paul was failing God in a sin that his will was against. Notice that he hated the sin and was not accounted guilty; the old sin nature was guilty. When we are against the sin, God takes our side against the sin. He takes the side of the spiritual man against the old man. In this state, Paul cried out to the Lord. 24 Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death? Then he accepted God's promise of deliverance by faith. 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus bore the curse of the sin for a person who is repentant, like Paul, even before he overcomes the sin. There are types on top of scriptural types, and one does not negate the other. The clear type that the Israelites in the wilderness show us is that those who walk in rebellion and do not bring forth a measure of fruit will not enter the Promised Land, representing the Kingdom of Heaven. Many years ago, I saw another less-known type in the same text that is important here. In golf, as in life, there are penalties. Moses struck the rock twice and did not enter the Promised Land in his body as Joshua and Caleb did. He entered the heavenly Promised Land as a spiritual man. The Israelites who failed to totally walk by faith died in body, but their fruit, the spiritual man, represented by their children, entered the Promised Land of heaven. Num.14:30 surely ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware that I would make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But your little ones (Their fruit, Christ in You, the spiritual man), that ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have rejected. 32 But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. After their bodies died, their little ones, that which was conceived in them and born from them, as is our spiritual man, entered the Promised Land of heaven. Only the seed, representing the spiritual man or new man, of those whose bodies died in the wilderness, entered the Promised Land of heaven. Mat.13:38 and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; ... The body is not a son of the kingdom or son of God, but a son of man. 1Co.15:50 ... Flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven. Only a body born from above can enter the Promised Land. Joshua and Caleb had their bodies under submission to the Word. In these days, the totally faithful, represented by Joshua and Caleb, will receive this body before dying, but “the soul that sins must die”. The ‘pre-wilderness all fly away' lie says that everyone will enter the Promised Land in their new bodies, but the penalty for not overcoming sin in the wilderness is that the body will die. In a nutshell, those who believe, like Joshua and Caleb, will enter the Promised Land in body after the wilderness trial. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. The faithful will not die but be translated. Heb.11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God: 6 And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing [unto him]. However, those who walk in a measure of unbelief will have to die in body in the wilderness and will enter only as the spiritual man. Num.14:33 And your children shall be wanderers in the wilderness forty years, and shall bear your whoredoms, until your dead bodies be consumed in the wilderness. 34 After the number of the days in which ye spied out the land, even forty days, (The number of tribulation) for every day a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my alienation (meaning, the revoking of my promise). Contrary to popular opinion both those who sleep, whose bodies fell, and those “who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord”, like Joshua and Caleb, will go through the wilderness which God says is the tribulation (Rev.12:6, 17:3). Joshua and Caleb knew because of God's promises that they could conquer the carnal man (the Canaanite) and take the Promised Land. They spoke the good report (Num.14:6-9). Those who say that the carnal man is too strong for us, that we are always going to be sinners, and speak the bad report will die in the wilderness (Num.14:36, 37). To them, the carnal old man is a giant, but to little David they were nothing. Remember that Jesus already crucified the old man, and you are to “reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus” Rom.6:11. God is able to do it for the people who believe it, as Joshua and Caleb did. Getting back to golf, the trick is to keep the ball in the fairway. That's the “fair” “way”. Those who do not run the race and keep their ball in the fair-way will fall into the hazards of the water, the sand traps, the rough, or out of the course entirely, like the balls that I found. These hazards are the penalty of costing golfers more strokes to get the ball back in the fairway while everyone else passes them up in points. The major penalty is losing the race to the one who does it right the first time and hits the ball the fewest times down the fairway. The water represents the curse of the Word that falls on those who are contrary to it. There are penalties written there for the disobedient. The sand traps are for those who do not stand on, or build their house on, the rock of Jesus. Mat.7:26-27 And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: 27 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof. The rough and sand trap is for those who are not on the fairway of the straight and narrow road, the manicured grass. Mat.7:13-14 Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. 14 For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it. Pro.13:15 Good understanding giveth favor; But the way of the transgressor is hard. Those who knock the ball out of the course cannot retrieve it and pay the penalty of losing a stroke, while everyone else passes them up. I believe the Bride and the Man-child are hole-in-one golfers. Rev.3:11 I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no one take thy crown. We struck the ball, the rock of Christ, once. Let us not do it again. I asked the Lord why there were ten balls. Ten represents the law of God, as does the Ten Commandments. Paul taught that God's law in our covenant is no longer written on tablets of stone but hearts of flesh, meaning it is to be a part of our nature (2 Cor.3:3). For much of the church, God's law has been struck out of the “fair way” like the balls I saw. The curse of the law is the penalty for this. When Moses was in the mountain of God getting the law, Israel took the opportunity to create their own God, the golden calf, to follow and called it in Hebrew YHWH and Elohim (Exo.32:4,5,11), much like the church today puts the name “Christian” on their own creation. When Moses came down and saw this, he cast the tables with the commandments down and brake them (Exo.32:15,19). The church is in much the same way today, and the Man-child is coming with the true Word that has been broken by them. Again, here is a true type in the midst of many true types. When Israel was in Egypt, as the church is in the world, the Egyptians represented the old carnal man, and the Israelites represented the spiritual man. Here is clear proof of this. When Moses (representing Christ), put to death the Egyptian (representing the carnal man who died on the cross), he left Egypt (the world) and married a Gentile bride, one of seven daughters (representing the seven churches - Exo.2:16; Isa.4:1; and Rev.3:10- who was the obedient Philadelphia Bride who escaped the trial.). These were daughters of one father, Jethro (Hebrew meaning: His excellence), who represents the Father. Paul also said that Israel was baptized in the Red Sea and, of course, the Egyptians, who represented the carnal man died there in a baptism. I said all that to say this. God smote the Egyptians, the old man, with ten strokes, from the waters being turned to blood to the Passover. The world is headed toward many strokes of judgment from the hand of God, but ten categories typified by these judgments. This represented the curse of the law that was broken. This was to cause Israel to repent and come out of Egypt, out from among them. In this type, they left the world represented by Egypt. A parallel revelation is that Israel tempted God ten times by not hearkening unto His voice in the wilderness (Num.14:22). The Egyptians took the penalty of ten strokes, while Israel missed out on seven of them because they abode in Goshen, representing Christ. It took three strokes before God made a division between Israel, the spiritual man, and Egypt, the carnal man (Exo.8:22,23). When Paul no longer willed to do sin, even though he was failing, God made a division between him and the sinner, the carnal man. Rom.7:20 But if what I would not (willed not), that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me. After seven more strokes, they not only willed to give up sin, they gave it up. The old man was put to death in the baptism of the “washing of water with the word” Epe.5:26 in the Red Sea. I found the last ball when I was almost home. The Passover was the last great stroke that came on those not under the blood when Israel left Egypt, the world, to go home. That last great stroke will be the Day of the Lord at the end of the tribulation, when God pours out His wrath in a spiritual end-time flood of destruction as Noah lifts off. Now the following dream speaks to those disciples of Christ who abide in Him by grace through faith and have endured the trials to walk in His steps of His Word. 1Jn.2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him: 6 he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked. If Jesus lives in you by His Word and Spirit, He can do this. Joh.7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water. 39 But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive…   Bride Rewarded for Building the House of God Eve Brast - 10/01/2017 (David's notes in red) (I was hesitant to send this, but I believe it primarily has a corporate meaning. I asked Father if He wanted me to send this dream, to give me all heads on three quarters, and He gave me all heads. So I think I'm representing the corporate bride body. Maybe it has individual meaning as well. But I believe the first fruits are about to be rewarded for diligence in “building the house” and being a habitation for the Lord to dwell in. :o) I dreamed that I was at the back of our local UBM meeting. (Which is a type of Larger UBM) I had been working very hard cleaning the house up with those white Mr. Clean “Magic Erasers”. (1Pe.4:8 above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins) (Eve and all of the Bride do work hard to clean up the house. They are very serious about pleasing God in this way.) Everyone was sitting facing the opposite direction than usual, and the musicians weren't in their normal places with their instruments. David had called a special meeting to make an announcement to everyone. (David here represents those Davids who will take the place of the Sauls to raise up Jerusalem, which John in Revelation revealed is the Bride. God said He is restoring the Kingdom of David, but in the spirit. Amo.9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up its ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old.) In the meantime, while everyone was sitting and talking amongst themselves, waiting for the announcement, I was over in the back left-hand corner of the room, near the front door with a flat-edge shovel, shoveling a 3-foot diameter pile of leftover dust and red dirt into a container or bucket of some kind, in order to throw it out the front door. (Here are the first three mentions of “dust” in the Bible. Gen.2:7 And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath (Hebrew = spirit) of life; and man became a living soul. (So the carnal man is dust. The spirit breathed into man is from God.) Gen.3:14 And Jehovah God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, cursed art thou above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: (So Satan, the serpent, can devour dust which is the carnal or fleshly part of the man. If we don't want Satan taking advantage of us we must lose our carnal life.) Gen.3:19 in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. (1Co.15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. So dust goes back to dust and the fruitful receive a NEW heavenly body. So the dust must be swept out of the house of God, which is to be holy.) I was also patting down the red dirt into a hole in the floor with the shovel and trying to seal it up. (So that what is earthly is removed from the house of God and put under our feet. Red dirt reminds us of getting rid of the flesh of Esau and his faction against his brother. Esau was red, and his seed, Edom, means “red”. And dirt is what the flesh comes from.) This seemed like hard work in the dream, and I was breaking a sweat. (It is hard work. Eve worked a regular job, raised a family, and carried on her prophetic ministry, too. Also, this is great training for the Bride to deal with God's people in the wilderness tribulation.) David had been observing what I was doing with a smile while standing in the dining room. (This was true even in the letter.) He then walked swiftly past me into the room and took his seat, which was located near the restroom. I felt the wind (Greek word pneuma: wind, spirit) rush past me as he went by. As David sat down and began to speak, everyone settled down and became quiet. He said, “The Father has instructed me concerning a blessing for Eve Brast (As a type of the larger Bride body.) and here's why... Father gave me these verses....” 1Ch.22:3, And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the couplings; and brass in abundance without weight; (The Davids are preparing the “Words”, which are nails, to build the house of God, which is His people. They build the walls which separate us from the world. They build the gates that keep the enemy out and the sheep in. And Eve received this very fitting verse.) Ecc.12:11, The words of the wise are as goads; and as nails well fastened are the words of the masters of assemblies, which are given from one Shepherd. (Who is Jesus. Goads are sharp prods to keep the sheep or cattle in line. They are like nails in this regard. The “Words” keep the people in line and hold them together. The Word is what the people are made of. Like their Lord, they are the Word become flesh. Joh.1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth. Heb.2:17 Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.) Exo.39:40, the hangings of the court, its pillars, and its sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court, the cords thereof, and the nails thereof, and all the instruments of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of meeting; (All furnishings of the house of God, which is His people.) Ecc.2:4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards; 5 I made me gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit; 6 I made me pools of water, to water therefrom the forest where trees were reared; (Houses, vineyards, gardens, trees, fruit are ways the scripture uses to speak of God's people, which are “builded” here by the wisdom of Solomon, son of David.) Pro.24:3 Through wisdom is a house builded; And by understanding it is established; 4 And by knowledge are the chambers filled With all precious and pleasant riches. (The wise and humble love to be taught truth, seeing it as riches. The wise teacher will separate the sheep from the goats by the Word. The sheep are the building blocks of the house.) Heb.3:4, For every house is builded by some one; but he that built all things is God. (God uses His Man-child reformers and five-fold ministry to build His house.) Eph.2:20 being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets (These have laid the foundation of the Church which is God's house), Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone; (Jesus is a replica of the whole building and it is squared by Him.) 21 in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord (We, as individual buildings, are builded together as God's temple.); 22 in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. When I heard my name in the dream, I straightened up, and leaning upon the handle of my shovel, I stopped to listen. I was shocked that the Father had wanted to bless me like that. (The Bride is a humble and unassuming people.) I thought the blessing should be for someone more deserving and involved, someone who was more useful or important to His Kingdom. In my mind, all I had been doing was hard, menial labor in the background that didn't seem to amount to much. Then I woke up. (Eve has worked hard to clean up the Kingdom people who are the House of God being built in the verses given. She is a good type of the Bride. She worked full-time and had a household to take care of, but she took time to type up and think about the prophetic exhortations to the body, too. So this is a labor of love. I also believe there is an important larger view here, in that the Lord uses Eve as the bride of Adam, and the last Adam is Jesus. So the Bride, and Eve as part of the Bride, is working to perfect God's people, and we are so thankful to God for all of them.) (As David read the verses, the words nails, build, builded and house, stood out to me and were very important to his message to everybody. David read them as if they were one whole passage. He didn't give scripture references in the dream, so when I woke up, I searched for the key words nails, build, builded, and house. The Spirit helped to clarify which ones I had heard David read in the dream.) I asked Father for a personal word for me concerning this dream, if there was a personal aspect for me in it. (Because the dream doesn't seem to fit with my current reality. I've had to devote so much of my time to working in “Egypt”. The enemy tries to use this a lot to condemn me, which is probably why I was shocked in the dream and even afterwards, when I woke up and was pondering on what it could mean. [The enemy does a lot to keep us humble.]) So anyway, I received: Pro.8:31 (in context: 30-31) (my finger was on “habitable” from Pro. 8:31 in the Bible concordance.) 30 Then I was by him, as a master workman; And I was daily his delight, Rejoicing always before him, 31 Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men. (God delights in His builders who delight in His people. The wicked and the Pharisees hate them with a passion.) In the context of Proverbs 8, these verses seem to fit with the ones David read in the dream. :0) Very encouraging. Thank you, Father!

It's just James and Charles to recollect and swap rants about the goings-on of the land of the free and the home of oddball. The cast of characters includes the world's first billionaire, an Angeleno who lost an election for common sense, a lunatic posing as a model working man, and the deeply flawed judgment of Democratic voters about guys like these. Lileks and Cooke also delight in watching Europeans share their newfound love for America, and embrace Trump's can-doism vis-à-vis public beautification.Sound this week: CNBC announces the world's first trillionaire, Jimmy Kimmel recoils, and Graham Platner continues to gaffe.

It's just James and Charles to recollect and swap rants about the goings-on of the land of the free and the home of oddball. The cast of characters includes the world's first billionaire, an Angeleno who lost an election for common sense, a lunatic posing as a model working man, and the deeply flawed judgment […]

Sermon Audio

In this episode, Justin is joined by Scot Irwin and Drew Moss to discuss 1 Chronicles 7–29, Ephesians 3–6, and Philippians 1–2. Together they explore David's final years, why Chronicles leaves out some of his major failures, how these texts point us to Jesus, and what Ephesians teaches us about God's will, prayer, submission, and life together as the church.

Marriage, Divorce and Fornication (1) (audio) David Eells, 5/24/26   Scriptural Marriage and Divorce David Eells I know this can be a real can of worms and such a touchy subject when dealing with people who love each other, but we owe it to the brethren to speak the truth concerning their eternal life. We must consider scripture rather than human reasoning, which has gotten a lot of people in trouble and they don't know why they are there. Here are some basic things the Lord has shown from scripture on divorce and remarriage: Jesus' commands superseded the Jews' permission for divorce by His statements, so we cannot go to the law to justify divorce. (Mat.19:8) He said to them, Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. Once again religion is wrong. Hardened hearts cannot be turned easily but in respecting scripture there is safety. There is only one reason for divorce. (9) And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for fornication (Numeric) and marries another woman commits adultery.” If a spouse commits fornication, whether outside of the first marriage or by illegal remarriage, the other is free to remarry because the first spouse broke the marriage bond. Being legally able to remarry does not mean this is God's will for you. God loves to restore. If your mate repents and asks your forgiveness, then forgive as Christ forgave you. Also, spiritual fornication of the heart is not an excuse, for the scripture speaks of physical fornication of the body. You may be concerned, thinking, “What can I do if I got married before I came to the Lord?” Don't worry about that, because everything we did before we came to the Lord was sin, and we can't go back and do anything about it. After you're saved, you are now a new creation in the Lord, and your sins are washed clean by the blood of Christ. The disciples admitted this was a hard statement, and many think so today, but it is better to obey than to bring yourselves under a curse that many endure. (Mat.19:10) The disciples said to Him, “If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry.” Even in the Old Testament, it was fornication for a believer to be married to an unbeliever but hear me out... (Ezr.9:2) For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the peoples of the lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass. ... (Ezr.10:10) And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have trespassed, and have married foreign women, to increase the guilt of Israel. (11) Now therefore make confession unto Jehovah, the God of your fathers, and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women. Don't act here without reading on. And so it is in the New Covenant: (1Co.7:39) A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. Notice we are to marry “only in the Lord”. (1Co.9:5) Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer. Notice the condition, the wife must be a believer.. (2Co.6:14) Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness? (15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever? (If one becomes one with an unbeliever to some extent they are leavening themselves.)(16) And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (17) Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you. Better not even to date an unbeliever, saints. You don't want to go there because it will bring you a lot of heartache and curses in the future. However, God makes a concession in the New Testament when a person comes to the Lord with an unbelieving spouse because the unbelieving spouse might eventually be saved through their faith. (1Co.7:12) But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her. (13) And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband. (14) For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. If that spouse, as an unbeliever, departs, you can remarry. (15) Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such [cases]... Even if you are remarried illegally many times before coming to the Lord, the commands are to Christians and are not retroactive to the old life, for we are a new creation, cleansed of all past sins. Also, Christians can do things in ignorance that are under the blood, for knowledge precedes sin in the New Testament, as before the Law. (Rom.5:13) for until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. (Rom.7:8)... for apart from the law sin [is] dead. (Jas.4:17) To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (Joh.15:22) If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin. This is not an excuse for someone to falsely claim ignorance because God looks on the heart and knows all; He knows what you understand and what you do not. Judgment is sure for fornicators and adulterers. (1Co.6:9) Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators (Basically illegal sexual actions), nor idolaters, nor adulterers (Sometimes this is marrying someone who is already married and not scripturally divorced), nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, (10) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (Rev.21:7) He that overcometh shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (8) But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part [shall be] in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death. Marriage and divorce can be a very convoluted problem. If, after diligently searching into all that the New Covenant teaches on this subject and asking elders with no satisfaction, remember what Moses did. (Exo.18:25) And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. (26) And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. God told Moses that he would be as God to Israel. For some things, we need to get a word from our Lord. But be careful that you don't receive a flesh pleasing answer from your own mind. Samson kept choosing women for looks rather than staying with scripture and it got him killed. Let's look at what Paul wrote to the Corinthians about marriage. (1Co.7:1) Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. (2) But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. (3) Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. (4) The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife. (5) Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency. (6) But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment. (7) Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that. (If you're not married, then you won't be distracted, but not everybody has this gift to be celibate, and we're told, (Pro.18:22) Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favor of the Lord.) (8) But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. (9) But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. (10) But unto the married I give charge, [yea] not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband (11) (but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.  (I know there are circumstances where a believing or unbelieving husband can be very obnoxious, very overbearing, very sinful, and that's very crucifying to the wife, but that's not an excuse to leave. In most cases, unless he is asking the wife to willfully sin, there can be submission on her part. However, no one should stay in a situation where their life or the lives of their children are in physical danger. We have permission in such a case to flee (Matthew 24:16; Luke 21:21; etc.). (12) But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her. (13) And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband. (14) For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. Sanctified here means that the influence of you Christian life can save them and also your faith can stand in for them. (15) Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such [cases]: but God hath called us in peace. (Just know that in the New Testament, being married to an unbeliever is not grounds to leave them; again, only if they leave you, are you free. In the Old Testament, however, if a believer married a non-believer, they demanded a divorce over that because for Jews to be married to non-Jews was fornication (Nehemiah 13:23-30; Ezra chapters 9 and 10). (Neh.13:26) Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin. (27) Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying foreign women? Back to (1Cor.7:16) For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife? …(25) Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy. (26) I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, [namely,] that it is good for a man to be as he is. (27) Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife. (28) But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you. (29) But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none; (In other words don't let this distract from your service to God.) (30) and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not; (31) and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away. (32) But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; (In other words, they're not divided in their attention. However, people don't have to be divided in their attention; they can be celibate or they can always put the Lord first.) (33) but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife, (Well, if a man is married, it's necessary for him to please his wife, but not to the extent that he lets her be the head of the house; that's bad, very bad. That's like Jezebel and Ahab  and I'll share more on that later.) (34) and is divided. [So] also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. (Is this a bad thing? No, it's commanded, as a matter of fact. It's not a bad thing; it's just that your ability to have your total attention on the Lord without being distracted by family situations is going to be limited. God created the family, so He's not against families. He's against families where they're not married, obviously. What Paul is saying is that if a woman is married, she has to please her husband.) (35) And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. (36) But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin [daughter], if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry. (You have to understand that a woman was under the authority of her father until she married.)(37) But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching in his own heart, to keep his own virgin [daughter], shall do well. (38) So then both he that giveth his own virgin [daughter] in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better. (39) A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. (40) But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.   Polygamy in the Church? Question from a sister: Someone told me that polygamy is allowed by God! I don't believe this, but I had no way to refute this claim. I tried finding some scriptures, but to no avail. When I looked this subject up on the internet, I actually found a “Christian” website promoting polygamy. What will they think of next? Can you share some scriptures that refute this claim? My answer: Under the Law, they were permitted to have more than one wife and divorce their wives because of their “hardness of heart” but under grace, there is no such permission. Jesus said a man could have one wife and “the two shall become one flesh.” (Mat.19:5-8) and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh? So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorcement, and to put [her] away? He saith unto them, Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so. From the beginning, God gave Adam, the Son of God, one wife. It appears his righteous seed through Seth were monogamous also. Cain's evil descendant, Lamech, was the first to take two wives. (Gen.4:19) And Lamech took unto him two wives. In order that a line of Israel not be extinct, the next of kin was permitted to raise up seed to a dead man's wife. But the seed of New Testament spiritual Israel is passed on through the Word (seed or sperma) of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Although they disobeyed God, the Kings of Israel were forbidden to multiply wives. (Deu.17:17-19) Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of [that which is] before the priests the Levites: and it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life; that he may learn to fear Jehovah his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them. The Apostles had one wife. (1Co.9:5) Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? All of God's people must be upright, but Paul required elders to be “without reproach” and “blameless” in that they were to be the “husband of one wife.” This is definitely one wife at a time because fornication is a legal ground for divorce and remarriage (1 Corinthians 7), and the death of a spouse is a legal ground to remarry. (1Ti.3:2) The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach. (12) Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling [their] children and their own houses well. (Tit.1:6,7) if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly. For the bishop must be blameless, as God's steward... If the elders or the mature in the Lord need to be upright in having one wife, all need to be this way to be mature. The husband is the head of one wife as Christ is the head of one church. (Eph.5:23-33) For the husband is the head of the wife (not wives), as Christ also is the head of the church, [being] himself the saviour of the body. (24) But as the church is subject to Christ, so [let] the wives also [be] to their husbands in everything. (25) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; (26) that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, (27) that he might present the church to himself a glorious [church], not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (28) Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself: (29) for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church; (30) because we are members of his body. (31) For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife (not wives); and the two shall become one flesh. (32) This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church. (33) Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and [let] the wife [see] that she fear her husband. Now, I want to share this, too. Men, do not appease a Jezebel spirit; it's going to seduce you and lead you astray. This is our command from God. (Eph.5:22) Wives, [be in subjection] unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. (The Lord, not I, said this, but those who have a Jezebel spirit will still get angry, although this is the truth. We have to obey God's Word, or we can't call ourselves “disciples.”) (23) For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, (Just as much as Jesus is Head of the Church, the husband is the head of the wife.), [being] himself the saviour of the body. (If a wife does not obey her husband, she is not going to get saved.) (24) But as the church is subject to Christ, so [let] the wives also [be] to their husbands in everything. (To make this possible for the wife, we are then told,) (25) Husbands, love your wives (Feeling unloved isn't an excuse for a wife to disobey her husband, but love makes it easier for the wife to obey her husband.), even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it. Men, loving your wife does not include giving in to a Jezebel spirit. Giving in means you are putting yourself under a demon spirit and taking yourself and your family out from under God. If you do that, you will pay the price. On the other hand, do not judge the lost wife. God insists on Christ the Word being your Head. Don't judge her, but don't allow her to be your Head. If Jesus is not your Head, then you are following a false god. It's very plain. (Mat.12:30) He that is not with me is against me… If, because of your stand for Christ, your wife leaves you, then suffer for Christ's sake. We all have to suffer in one way or another, but do not follow a false god. The Bible says, (1Co.7:15) Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such [cases:] but God hath called us in peace If your spouse leaves because you follow Jesus, then so be it. You are not bound in such a case; God never really wants you to be married to an unbeliever anyway. He says to stay married to them only if they are content to dwell with you, because they can be saved through your witness. Amen! The wife who has an unbelieving husband should obey him up to, but not including, moral sin. (1Pe.3:1) In like manner, ye wives, [be] in subjection to your own husbands; that, even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be gained by the behavior of their wives. (Read our book on our site, Word Woman and Authority.) If you want to be a disciple of Jesus, you have to follow the Word. If you want to be a “Christian” and not be a disciple of Jesus, you are not going to be saved. It's that simple. The word “Christian” is a very loose term in our day, meaning almost nothing. In the early days, people were called “Christians” because they followed Christ Jesus and did His works. Today, the word “Christian” should mean more, but, sadly, it doesn't mean much to people. Jesus told us, (Mat.10:34) Think not that I came to send peace on the earth (You might think, “Peace between me and my wife is the most important. I have to do whatever I have to do.” No, you don't. Jesus did not come to send peace on the earth.): I came not to send peace, but a sword. (And that “sword” is to divide those who are loyal to God's Word from those who are not.) (35) For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law (Now, there are many more relationships. He's just making a point.): (36) and a man's foes [shall be] they of his own household. When you come to God, and they have not, you have no communion there. The Bible says, (2Co.6:14) Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness? If you follow the Lord, they can be converted by your witness. If you don't follow the Lord, you have no favor from God, and in that event, don't expect your family to be saved. For your family to be saved, the most important thing for you to do is follow the Lord as a disciple of Jesus Christ and have favor from God. He will save your family if you believe Him for it. (Mat.10:37) He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. You can love people more than you love the Word. The Lord and Word are the same. If you love someone or something more than the Word, you are going to be deceived. It's possible to pity demon-possessed people and then, through demons manipulating that pity, to be deceived and fall right into their situation. Don't believe that all those who call themselves “Christian” are going to be saved, because (Mat.10:38) And he that doth not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me. (We are to die on our “cross” in order to gain our higher life, the life of the born-again man.) (39) He that findeth his life (This is the old psuche life.) shall lose it; (39) and he that loseth his life (Again, this is the old psuche life, the carnal self.) for my sake shall find it. Let me share with you a testimony we have on our site called:   Marriage Lost and Found William and Jamie Leek - 02/09/2010 My wife and I have been separated and near divorce twice since the year 2000 because we loved “our sin”, plain and simple. The first separation was in 2002 and 2003. This separation wasn't as bad as the second, but there were a lot of lies and deceit practiced by both parties during the first separation. We got back together in 2003, where our “Mother in the Lord” renewed our vows. The only problem with this is that we were still mocking God in our walks with Him and still “playing church.” We had made a “confession” of Jesus Christ, but we were not being taught the “whole counsel of God,” so we thought the Lord forgave our sin at the cross, and we were “Covered in the Blood.” According to Matthew 12:43-45, when we confessed Christ and His blood cleansed us from our sin and the curse, we allowed that sin to remain in our lives. The demons, which plagued us, brought seven more back with them, stronger than the first. Thus, we were worse off than ever before. We thank the Lord for His mercy, grace, and long-suffering with us. In 2004 came the second separation. This time, the Lord had given us both over to the desires of our very own wicked hearts and allowed us to sink to levels of darkness that we never knew we had in us. During our second separation, the Lord allowed us to see just how sick the human heart, will, and emotions really are (Jeremiah 17:9). During this time of separation, we both fled at top speed back into the world, and we returned to our old ways. I began to smoke pot again (all day EVERYDAY), and she began to drink more than she ever did. We both began to sleep around with other people outside of our marriage. We were separated for nine months, and the combined number of people the two of us slept with was 16. The Lord really allowed us to fall to the bottom of the depths of the sea of sin, which our lives had become. We were going to a little Pentecostal church at the time when these separations took place. It was here we met a woman I considered to be like a mother in the Lord. She loved my wife and family with all her heart. She took time to come to our home and share the scriptures with us once a week for an extended period of time. She believed with her whole heart that we were “called” to the ministry. She would call me in the middle of the night and say, “I woke up in tears, praying in tongues because I just had such a burden for your family.” The Lord would end up using this mighty woman of God and her fervent prayer life to reconcile our marriage and heal our family. She also told me during the 2004 separation that the Lord gave her a dream where He showed her my family living together in a home happier than we had ever been. This, of course, did not matter to me at the time because my heart was full of rage and hatred. I don't believe in accidents; I believe in the sovereign God written about in the scriptures. In January of 2005, I took a trip to Florida with a woman with whom I had been committing adultery. We drove down together, but for some reason at the end of the trip I made her get on a plane, and I drove home alone. On the trip home, my wife and I started to talk again. The Lord also began to really convict me of my sin. Even though, at the time, I did not understand the meaning of “conviction of sin.” All I knew was that I had an overwhelming feeling of guilt for what I was doing. I knew that a change had to come. In April of 2005, my wife and I really started to talk again on a regular basis. At the beginning of May, we had been together for the entire weekend when we received a phone call from a lady with whom we had gone to church. This lady had news that would shake my wife and me to the very core of our being. She told me that my Mother in the Lord, Shirley Summers, was dying of cancer. Well, this is where we know the Lord began to heal our marriage. When the woman shared this news with me on the phone, I began to weep. With tears streaming down my face, I shared the news with my wife, and we shared tears together. She looked at me and said, “I am going to my parents' house, and I'm getting my things, and I am coming home.” That was on May 4, 2005. The next day, my mom called me on the phone and told me that Shirley had gone on to glory. The reason this stands out as one of the most important events in our marriage is that this woman prayed for us fervently (James 5:16). She never stopped believing in our call to the ministry, and she stood in faith for our marriage when we couldn't. Also, the number “5” in the scriptures signifies “GRACE,” and we didn't realize that until a year later, that our Mother in the Lord had died on 5/05/05, a number and day of GRACE. The Lord was very long-suffering with my wife and me. It was not until after we reconciled that we ran across a website where we began to hear the “full Gospel” being preached. We had never heard all the important doctrines taught throughout the scriptures. We had not been taught about repentance, obedience, holiness, or real Bible faith. We also realized that neither one of us was truly saved, as spoken of in the Bible. The scariest thing of all is that we realized that if the Lord would have called our numbers, we would have gone to HELL! It has been a long journey for both of us, as we got rid of the leaven in our lives after leaving the organized church. Over the years, we have had to learn what it means to repent and to truly come to the Lord, believing who He is and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. We thank the Lord for UBM for standing for the “TRUE GOSPEL”! Deuteronomy 4:30 When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the Lord your God and obey his voice. Matthew 3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Now, what about common law marriage? Is that biblical? Most states in America have abolished common law marriage, and only a few states recognize it as a legal marriage between two people who have not purchased a marriage license or had their marriage solemnized by a ceremony. The few states that do recognize it have conditional statutes. Scripture is clear that marriage is a binding commitment before witnesses and God; a public, covenantal relationship. It is a commitment agreement until death. When Christians marry, they commit to loving each other just as Christ loved the church. If you are not married, you are living in fornication.   Heterosexual and Homosexual Fornication Letter from a friend:  Hi! I have a neighbor friend with whom I've been having sort of an ongoing “discussion/argument” about whether sex outside of marriage is OK, according to the Bible. I know in my heart it is not, but he wants me to prove it to him with scripture. I haven't studied it extensively, but what I've read doesn't say it precisely enough to prove my point. There is one passage about two unwed people being found in the act and having to marry. Since the Ten Commandments do not say, thou shalt not have sex outside of marriage, he thinks it is ok. (LOL) Of course, the real issue is that he's not a born-again believer. But he asked me to prove it to him, so I'm going to try to do it. I don't know much about the Hebrew meanings of the words, etc. Can you help when you have time? :-) Thanks! My reply:  Fornication is the broad term that covers all sex outside of heterosexual marriage. Adultery, homosexuality, whoremonger, bestiality, and masturbation all fall under this category. The Greek word for fornication is “porneia”, from which we get pornography. Many commit fornication with pornography in print or on any visual screen, TV, social media sites, movies, etc. (Mat.5:28) but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. The same is true for any other illicit sexual desire. Repentance and faith deliver from these sins.   Heterosexual Fornication Everyone who has sex out of marriage is a fornicator. (1Co.7:1) Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. (7:2) But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. All fornicators must repent or face eternal damnation. (1Co.6:9) Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, (10) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (11) And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. (15) Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ? shall I then take away the members of Christ, and make them members of a harlot? God forbid. (16) Or know ye not that he that is joined to a harlot is one body? for, The twain, saith he, shall become one flesh. (17) But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. (18) Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. (1Co.10:8) Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. (Gal.5:19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness (License to “go beyond the things that are written”), (21) envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Rev.21:7) He that overcometh shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (8) But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part [shall be] in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death. (Rev.22:14) Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right [to come] to the tree of life, and my enter in by the gates into the city (the bride). (15) Without are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loveth and maketh a lie. (1Co.7:9) But if they have not continency (self-control of sexual appetites), let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. (1Ti.5:14) I desire therefore that the younger [widows] marry, bear children, rule the household, give no occasion to the adversary for reviling: (15) for already some are turned aside after Satan. (Job.31:1) I made a covenant with mine eyes; How then should I look upon a virgin? (9) If my heart hath been enticed unto a woman, And I have laid wait at my neighbor's door; (10) Then let my wife grind unto another, And let others bow down upon her. (11) For that were a heinous crime; Yea, it were an iniquity to be punished by the judges: (12) For it is a fire that consumeth unto Destruction, And would root out all mine increase. (Pro.2:16) To deliver thee from the strange woman, Even from the foreigner that flattereth with her words; (17) That forsaketh the friend of her youth, And forgetteth the covenant of her God: (18) For her house inclineth unto death, And her paths unto the dead; (19) None that go unto her return again, Neither do they attain unto the paths of life: (Exo.22:16) And if a man entice a virgin that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely pay a dowry for her to be his wife. (17) If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins. (Deu.22:28) If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, that is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; (29) then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty [shekels] of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he hath humbled her; he may not put her away all his days. Do you believe that because you are “saved” that you can get away with this willful disobedience? (Jer.7:9) Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods that ye have not known, (10) and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered; that ye may do all these abominations? (11) Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it, saith Jehovah. (12) But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I caused my name to dwell at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. (13) And now, because ye have done all these works, saith Jehovah, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not: (14) therefore will I do unto the house which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I did to Shiloh. (15) And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim. That is just the Old Testament, you say? In any place that we are willfully disobedient, we need the fear of God. Sins of ignorance (Rom.5:13; 7:8,9) and sins of failure (Rom.7:19-25) are under the blood when we repent. However, we cannot claim the sacrificial benefits if we willfully walk in premeditated sin. (Heb.10:26) For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, (27) but a certain fearful expectation of judgment... Jesus bore all sin; He also bore the penalty for all sin, except willful disobedience. Notice that there is “no more a sacrifice” for that sin. We would have “a certain fearful expectation of judgment.” Many of us have been lied to about the cleansing of the blood. (1Jn.1:7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. The blood cleanses the one who walks in the light of the Word, not in the darkness of willful disobedience. For willful disobedience, we are promised certain judgment. We pay the penalty for this sin here and now, as in the following verses: (Mat.18:34) And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors (demons), till he should pay all that was due. (35) So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts. God will use the demons to make us pay for a sin of the will. (Mat.5:25) Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art with him in the way; lest haply the adversary deliver thee to the judge (God), and the judge deliver thee to the officer (demon), and thou be cast into prison. (26) Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the last farthing. The prison here is spiritual bondage to sin and the curse, administered by the demons. Jesus came “...to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening [of the prison] to them that are bound” (Isa.61:1). Willful disobedience throws us back into the prison that Jesus delivered us from. David sinned willfully with Bathsheba. When he repented, Nathan the prophet said, “The Lord also hath put away thy sin”, but he also said, “The sword shall never depart from thy house.” In other words, I forgive you, but you will have to pay the penalty. This proved true, for David lost three sons and many people. His own son Absalom won the sympathy of the people and usurped the kingdom. David had to flee for his life. As parents we do not spank our children for failure or mistakes, but for willful disobedience. Paul said, “For the good which I would I do not: but the evil which I would not (willed not), that I practice. But if what I would not (willed not), that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me” (Rom.7:19,20). Paul was failing God in a sin that his will was against. Notice that he hated the sin and was not accounted guilty; the old sin nature was guilty. When we are against the sin, God takes our side against the sin. He takes the side of the spiritual man against the old man. In this state, Paul cried out to the Lord. (24) Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death? Then he accepted God's promise of deliverance by faith. (25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus bore the curse of the sin for a person who, like Paul, is repentant. The curse of death is upon the one who will not save themselves for marriage. (Deu.22:13) If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her,(14) and lay shameful things to her charge, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came nigh to her, I found not in her the tokens of virginity; …(20) But if this thing be true, that the tokens of virginity were not found in the damsel; (21) then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the harlot in her father's house: so shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee. Only repentance and faith in the sacrifice of Jesus removes this curse. (22) If a man be found lying with a woman married to a husband,(Adultery) then they shall both of them die, the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away the evil from Israel. (23) If there be a damsel that is a virgin betrothed unto a husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; (24) then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them to death with stones; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbor's wife: so thou shalt put away the evil from the midst of thee. (25) But if the man find the damsel that is betrothed in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her; then the man only that lay with her shall die: (26) but unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbor, and slayeth him, even so is this matter; (27) for he found her in the field, the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her.   Homosexual Fornication (Jude 1:7) Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, having in like manner with these given themselves over to fornication and gone after strange flesh (Men with men/women with women), are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire. (2Pe.2:6) and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, having made them an example unto those that should live ungodly; (7) and delivered righteous Lot, sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked (8) (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed [his] righteous soul from day to day with [their] lawless deeds): (9) the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment; (10) but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion. We have seen many people who fell into faction and ultimately into fornication of many kinds, and God reprobated them. Let me share a portion of a dream from Reynaldo Portela: In this dream, an angel put me in a room where a group of men was practicing homosexuality, and the angel told me, “The man who has sex with another man is going to regret it. God hates the practice of that sin.” (David: In the spiritual, we are reborn with Christ's spirit. Therefore, we should only sow Christ's spirit in our soul, which is our mind, will, and emotions. If we receive the spiritual seed of “men”, we often lose our first love and become reprobate.) (Rom.1:24) Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves: (25) for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (26) For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature: (27) and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due. (28) And even as they refused to have God in [their] knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting (32) who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practise them. In an open vision, I, David, saw a factious group, and one of them that I knew left them and went behind a wall. The Lord said, “Follow him,” so I did. What I saw behind the wall was this man committing sodomy on 3 of his friends. Over the next day or two, I went to this man and told him my vision, and his eyes widened, and Michael and I both saw he was guilty. He didn't deny it, but later he threatened me. The factious leader told me about three times that he spoke with them during a certain time period, when he was supposed to be with us, and then he fell away three times. I told him he could not associate with them according to the Word. Eve Brast had a dream where they had captured her, and they were bisexual. Other factious leaders had the same problem and were also bisexual. They all have sexual perversion. Satan demands perversion from his servants. The DS are satanists also and are bisexual. They have the same spirits. God is always willing to deliver anyone like this if there is repentance. (Gal.5:19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (21) ...they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (1Co.6:9) Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, (10) ... shall inherit the kingdom of God. (11) And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. (Deu.23:17) There shall be no prostitute of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a sodomite of the sons of Israel. (18) Thou shalt not bring the hire of a harlot, or the wages of a dog, into the house of Jehovah thy God for any vow: for even both these are an abomination unto Jehovah thy God. (Rev.21:7) He that overcometh shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (8) But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part [shall be] in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death. (Rev.22:14) Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right [to come] to the tree of life, and my enter in by the gates into the city. (15) Without are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loveth and maketh a lie. Sodomite Crossdressers -(1Ki.14:24) and there were also sodomites in the land: they did according to all the abominations of the nations which Jehovah drove out before the children of Israel. (1Ki.15:11) And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, as did David his father. (12) And he put away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. (Deu.22:5) A woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment; for whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto Jehovah thy God. (Lev.18:22) Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. (Lev.20:13) And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.   Bestiality (Exo.22:19) Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death. (Lev.18:23) And thou shalt not lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith; neither shall any woman stand before a beast, to lie down thereto: it is confusion. (Lev.20:15) And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast. (16) And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. (Deu.27:21) Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.   Masturbation (Gen.38:8) And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother unto her, and raise up seed to thy brother. (9) And Onan knew that the seed would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest he should give seed to his brother. (10) And the thing which he did was evil in the sight of Jehovah: and he slew him also. Remember I said that through repentance and faith in Jesus and His sacrifice for us, there is deliverance from these sins and its curses. Now God knows that you did not necessarily choose this life, and some of you think you had this from birth, which is not true. A lot of you already know that you were molested at some point in your life, and you became a sinner. Well, these demons entered in then. Now the Good News of the Gospel is that Jesus Christ bore this sin upon Himself for you, and He is offering you grace to repent and be delivered from it so you will never have these wrong desires and emotions again. He took away the sin nature of homosexuality and any sin of fornication. He wants you to repent and surrender your life to Him. Confess your sins as the Bible says in 1Jo.1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God will give you a new, clean spirit and a new nature, this free gift of His salvation! Let's pray. Father, we thank You, and we ask You, Lord, to reach out and touch the people out there who are in bondage to sin, homosexual, heterosexual, or any kind of sin, and we ask You, Lord, to reach out and touch them with Your convicting power. Father, we ask You to show them that Your word is true. We ask You to reveal Yourself to them, and to show them the Real True Good News that Jesus has already delivered them from this; He's already borne their sin on the cross, and they don't have to bear it any longer. Father, we ask it in the name of Jesus that You go forth right now and deliver those who are listening to us who believe what's been shared here. Please, Lord, go forth and deliver them now in the name of Jesus. We rebuke these demons from your life in the name of Jesus Christ! O Lord, we thank You for Your mighty power going forth to restore those that You have loved from the foundation of the world. Thank you, Father.  Now, friends, if you agreed and prayed this with us, you need to go and start reading your New Testament and believe what it says and know that the Lord is working in you both to will and do of His good pleasure. It's not by your works, it's His working in you! Now, I want to share a published article on a study done that proves there is freedom from homosexuality.   'Groundbreaking' study shows 'gays' can change  Posted: September 15, 2007 1:00 a.m. Eastern © 2007 WorldNetDaily.com In the first longitudinal, peer-reviewed, scientific study of its kind, researchers have concluded that some homosexuals can change their “orientation” through religiously mediated guidance. Researchers Stanton L. Jones and Mark A. Yarhouse released the results of a three-year study on Thursday during an address at the American Association of Christian Counselors World Conference. Their conclusions contradict the claims of the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association, which contend that such a change in sexual orientation is impossible and attempting to pursue it likely will cause depression, anxiety, or self-destructive behavior. The new study concluded such changes do not cause psychological harm to the patient. Nicholas A. Cummings, former American Psychological Association president, praised the research. “This study has broken new ground in its adherence to objectivity and a scientific precision that can be replicated and expanded, and it opens new horizons for investigation”, he said. Exodus International, the world's largest Christian ministry to homosexuals, said it funded the research because of the absence of any scientific, peer-reviewed research on the topic. The major findings are reported in a book to be released by the evangelical Christian publisher InterVarsity Press, “Ex-Gays? A Longitudinal Study of Religiously Mediated Change in Sexual Orientation.” A homosexual-activist group called Truth Wins Out warned news organizations “to be highly skeptical of a biased 'ex-gay' sham study.” The homosexual group said, “Caution should be taken in prematurely critiquing the study until the full methodology is available. However, based on unconfirmed reports, there is great concern that these notorious anti-gay researchers did little more than professional ex-gay lobbyists and ministers from Exodus International, and ask them if they had 'changed.'” Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International and a former homosexual, said, “Finally, there is now scientific evidence to prove what we as former homosexuals have known all along - that those who struggle with unwanted same-sex attraction can experience freedom from it.” “For years, opponents of choice have said otherwise, and this body of research is critical in advancing the national dialogue on this issue”, he said. Chambers said, “the life-changing process of leaving homosexuality behind” is not easy, but “for thousands of us, the journey has been well worth it, and we are grateful that these study findings give credence to our existence as men and women whose lives have been transformed by Jesus Christ.” Jones, a provost and professor at Wheaton College, an evangelical school in Wheaton, Ill., told CitizenLink magazine in an interview he was prompted to do the study because of the “ever-increasing pessimism expressed in the professional world that sexual orientation could ever be changed.” “This was in contrast to the fact that I occasionally met individuals in Christian circles who claim to have experienced precisely such change”, he said. “When the mental-health field actually began to say that change is impossible - that sexual orientation cannot be changed - it formed the perfect scientific hypothesis to be able to conduct a study.” Jones noted there have been dozens of studies conducted suggesting change is possible for some people, but “the research is not of the highest quality and has been deeply and highly criticized.” After studying the criticisms of those studies, Jones and Yarhouse concluded the proper methodology would need to be both “prospective and longitudinal.” “Prospective means that you catch people before they begin the change process and follow them through the process, while longitudinal means that you're actually following people over time to see if the change is stable”, Jones explained to CitizenLink. “The scientific characteristics of the study are unique, in that no one has ever started early and then followed people over a long period of time like we did.” Jones said they found that, by following the subjects over time, “not everyone is successful, not even a majority is successful, but a very substantial group of people report fairly dramatic change.” “We found that 15 percent of our sample of about 100 claimed to actually have changed from homosexuality to heterosexuality”, he said. “These people experienced significant enough change that they really felt like they had left one sexual orientation to shift into another.” He acknowledged “life is still complicated for these people, and some still have some residuals of their homosexual attractions.” “However, they are people who report being able to function as heterosexuals, they're happy with their marriages, and they feel that their lives have changed dramatically”, he said. The other type of success he found - in almost a quarter of the subjects - was “people who left the homosexual lifestyle and experienced very substantial reductions in homosexual attraction by embracing the Christian discipline of chastity, not acting on their sexual impulses.” “These were people who felt like they were free now to orient their lives not on their sexual, erotic desires and needs, but on their relationship with God and on healthy, nonsexual intimacy with other people”, Jones said. The two groups together, those who converted and those who experienced chastity, made up about 38 percent of the sample. “We feel these changes observed over this substantial period of time provide a clear indication that the opinions of the secular mental-health field that change is impossible are simply wrong”, Jones said. The second area of the research focused on the secular mental-health community's claims that the attempt to change is harmful. Jones and Yarhouse administered a standard psychological inventory that measures psychological distress to subjects at every point along the way. “We found that there was essentially no change in their psychological distress over time”, Jones said. “On that basis, we feel that there is no evidence that the change attempt is harmful, and we found evidence that change is possible for some people.” He added, however, the research does not prove that anybody can change or that no one has ever been harmed from the attempt to change. “It just suggests that the forceful way in which the secular mental-health community is saying change is impossible and harmful is just not well-advised”, he said. Jones pointed out that the American Psychological Association has a blue-ribbon panel right now examining the question of how it should formulate its policies on the subject of attempts to change sexual orientation. Certain members, Jones noted, have already said publicly that change is impossible and harmful. Jones said he hopes “there will be enough of an open mind on the part of the secular mental-health community that they will not continue the movement towards banning these kinds of attempts to change sexual orientation, harassing them out of existence and labeling as unethical any professional person who cooperates with them.” “There is a need to respect the autonomy of individuals who are distressed about what they have experienced sexually and for religious or moral reasons want to try the attempt to change”, Jones told CitizenLink. “Those people first need to be fully informed about just how complex and difficult that process is, and then they should have the right as individuals, as an exercise of personal and religious freedom, to seek support in their attempt to change sexual orientation.”   Printer-friendly version

One of the most devastating effects of sin is spiritual blindness. Not only are we blind, but we're blind to our blindness. In today's episode, we continue our sermon series from the archives, The Gospel According to Mark, as Paul talks about the difference of being willfully blind and blindly willful.To hear more sermons from Paul, visit PaulTripp.com/Sermons.

Erin Bury, co-founder and CEO of Willful, shares why more Canadians are naming pet guardians and leaving money for their pets' care. Bruce and Erin cover how pets are treated in Canada, what a cash gift or trust can look like, how to avoid family disputes by writing clear instructions, and practical details to document (vet info, meds, routines) so pets are cared for if something happens. Find out more about Willful at willful.co and connect on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Connect with Erin on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Spiritual integrity is about living a faith that is sincere before God, not just visible to others. Jesus teaches that our giving, praying, and fasting should flow from a genuine relationship with the Father rather than a desire for recognition. It also requires a willingness to let Christ cleanse the areas of our lives that still need His transforming work. In this series, Spiritual Integrity, Pastor Robert and his wife Carolyn explore what it means to move beyond appearances and pursue a faith that is authentic.     One by One is the broadcast ministry of Pastor Robert L. Scott Jr. of Quench Life Christian Fellowship. To learn more about QLCF, visit quenchlife.org. To support our ministry as we spread the Gospel, visit quenchlife.org/giving.

In this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, Bruce talks with award-winning psychologist and author Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe to explore the surprising connection between hope and money, and why hope isn't just optimism, but a practical strategy rooted in trust, agency, and small financial “wins.” Bruce also speaks with Logan Gibson, founder and CEO of Kindly, about how families can navigate aging and caregiving with better planning and support, from legal/financial prep to crisis transitions. Plus, Erin Bury, co-founder and CEO of Willful, explains how (and why) more Canadians are including pets in their wills, including pet guardianship and what a cash gift or trust for ongoing care can look like. To find out more about the guests check out: Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe: drrobyne.ca | Instagram | LinkedIn | Podcast Logan Gibson (Kindly) : kindly.ca | LinkedIn Erin Bury: Instagram | LinkedIn Willful: willful.co | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn Bruce Sellery is a personal finance expert and best-selling author. As the founder of Moolala and the CEO of Credit Canada, Bruce is on a mission to help you get a better handle on your money so you can live the life you want. High energy & low B.S., this is Moolala: Money Made Simple. Find Bruce Sellery at Moolala.ca | X | Facebook | LinkedIn

Spiritual integrity is about living a faith that is sincere before God, not just visible to others. Jesus teaches that our giving, praying, and fasting should flow from a genuine relationship with the Father rather than a desire for recognition. It also requires a willingness to let Christ cleanse the areas of our lives that still need His transforming work. In this series, Spiritual Integrity, Pastor Robert and his wife Carolyn explore what it means to move beyond appearances and pursue a faith that is authentic.     One by One is the broadcast ministry of Pastor Robert L. Scott Jr. of Quench Life Christian Fellowship. To learn more about QLCF, visit quenchlife.org. To support our ministry as we spread the Gospel, visit quenchlife.org/giving.

A child who has been diagnosed with autism is also a child who has been made in the image of God. That beautiful truth is the guiding light for parents who seek to shepherd their children and train them up with a Scriptural foundation. Johanna Pressley is a Biblical counselor and the author of Biblical Counseling and Autism in Children, a resource-rich and easy-to-read handbook for parents who need help identifying disability-triggered behaviors versus sinful rebellion in their children. Many parents may find it hard to sift through research online. Johanna makes it easy! She gives the Christian perspective on parenting autistic children through the lens of a Biblical worldview and recognizing kids as image-bearers of their Creator. TAKEAWAYS We should love our children and train them through difficult moments When you understand who your child is through a Biblical lens, you see them as people saved by Grace Johanna's book gives a Christian perspective on willful sin and how to lovingly address it A child's identity in Christ is key to building their spirit and heart

Content WarningThis episode contains discussions of murder, suicide, and Victorian scandal. Support resources are listed at the end of these notes.This EpisodeSeason 39 Finale: The Balham Mystery. The jury deliberated for three hours. Their verdict would haunt this case for one hundred and fifty years: "Willful murder by person or persons unknown."Murder--but no murderer. Four suspects. Four possible killers. And no way to know which one poisoned Charles Bravo.The VictimCharles Bravo died on April 21st, 1876. On August 12th, after twenty-three days of testimony, the jury confirmed what his family had always believed: he was murdered. But they could not--or would not--name the killer.This was not acquittal. Florence Bravo, Jane Cannon Cox, and Dr. James Manby Gully walked free not because they were innocent, but because the evidence against each was insufficient for prosecution. The cloud of suspicion would follow all three for the rest of their lives.The CrimeFour suspects. Four possible murderers.Florence Bravo had motive: freedom from an unhappy marriage and control of her fortune. She had opportunity: she was present at The Priory that evening. But she was not alone with Charles, and her psychological profile--a woman who had fought for independence her entire life--suggested she might simply have waited for divorce.Jane Cannon Cox had motive: Charles wanted her dismissed, threatening her livelihood. She had opportunity: she was the last person to interact with Charles before his collapse. She had means: the coachman testified she had asked about the antimony in the stables. But her alleged confession story, if fabricated, created enormous risk--the very outcome she feared would result from investigation.Dr. James Manby Gully had motive: jealousy, revenge against the man who had taken his lover. He had knowledge: as a physician, he knew exactly how much antimony would kill. But he was not at The Priory that night. If he killed Charles, he did so through an intermediary--most likely Mrs. Cox.Charles Bravo himself might have committed suicide, as Mrs. Cox claimed. But he left no note, settled no affairs, and had taken out life insurance that would be void if he killed himself--leaving his devoted family with nothing.The InvestigationThe evidence pointed everywhere and nowhere.The antimony was definitively identified--enough tartar emetic to kill three men. It was kept in the stables at The Priory, accessible to anyone in the household. The poison most likely entered Charles's system through his bedside water jug.The servants testified about a household filled with tension. Charles and Florence argued constantly. Mrs. Cox's position was precarious. The shadow of Dr. Gully hung over everything.The jury faced an impossible task: convict without proof, or release without justice.Historical ContextAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this week’s episode of More Than Money, Leanna Wachniak and Dave Popowich break down some of the most talked-about retirement statistics right now, from how much Canadians think they need to retire to what the average Canadian is actually worth. Next, they’re joined by Erin Bury, Co-Founder and CEO of Willful, to discuss why women are more often named as estate executors than men, and what that says about trust, responsibility, and planning. Then, Leanna and Dave sit down with Dan McTeague, President of Canadians for Affordable Energy, to look at why gas prices have surged amid the recent conflict in Iran, and whether relief at the pumps is likely anytime soon. To close the show, Leanna and Dave talk about how stress is showing up in retirement. From headlines and market volatility to ongoing uncertainty, they explore how these pressures are affecting the retirement experience for many Canadians.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Finding Purpose with Russ Andrews, we dive into Hosea chapter 8 and the biblical role of the watchman. Drawing powerful parallels between Paul Revere's warning ride and God's prophets, Russ explains how God lovingly sends warnings before judgment. We examine Israel's rebellion, idolatry, and rejection of God's Word and what those same sins reveal about America today. This message is a sobering call to repentance, revival, and returning to God's truth before it's too late.

The Blood of Christ and the Courtroom of Heaven – Part 1 | KIB 520 Kingdom Intelligence Briefing   Description In KIB Episode 520, Dr. Michael and Mary Lou Lake address the spiritual intensity surrounding this season (Purim, "blood moon," and heightened occult activity) and then go deep into a foundational subject the remnant must understand: the power of the Blood of Jesus. This is not superstition. It's not a chant. It's not a ritual. The Blood of Jesus is covenant reality—a legal transaction that secures redemption, silences accusation, and anchors spiritual warfare in heaven's courtroom. In this episode: Why the enemy pushes believers toward formula-based "churchianity" Passover blood: covenant protection before judgment falls (Exodus 12) "The life is in the blood" and substitutionary atonement (Leviticus 17:11) The Blood of Jesus: eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12) Why the Blood "speaks better things than Abel" (Hebrews 12:24) How victory works in warfare: Blood + testimony + covenant fidelity (Revelation 12:11) Why spiritual maturity requires depth in the basics

We sat down with Adam Meakins to talk about critical thinking in the rehab and strength world.McGill. Squat U. FMS. Back pain fear. Neurotic athletes. Fascia training. “Magic coaching eye.” This is a conversation about nuance.How to question dogma without becoming a troll. How to think critically without becoming arrogant. Why most pain problems are dosage problems. Why graded exposure beats avoidance. Why strength training is safer than sitting on the couch. If you're a young coach trying to find your voice without becoming a carbon copy of your mentors, this one's for you.Timestamps:0:00 Intro2:05 Poking holes in dogma without being a troll10:56 Willful ignorance, sunk cost fallacy, and Squat U18:07 Planting seeds vs shock-and-awe on social media26:00 Scapular dyskinesis and the myth of perfect symmetry34:15 FMS, asymmetry, and creating neurotic athletes45:49 “You'll get hurt if you don't”50:00 Back pain, surgery culture, and financial incentives56:05 Graded exposure vs avoiding movements1:07:27 Fascia training, slings, and overcomplicating everything

A line in Hebrews chapter 10 stops us cold: it's a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. We lean into that tension—grace that saves, holiness that disciplines—and ask what willful sin truly is when we already know the truth. With Hebrews as our guide, we unpack why returning to old systems or familiar comforts isn't neutral; it quietly denies the sufficiency of Jesus' once‑for‑all sacrifice.We start with context. The original audience—Jewish believers—faced pressure to go back to temple sacrifices. The writer's warning is blunt: no other sacrifice remains if you walk away from the only effective one. From there, we explore the vital difference between God's wrath for His adversaries and His fatherly discipline for His children. Expect pruning that grows righteousness, not a pain‑free spirituality. If ongoing, deliberate sin sits easily on the conscience, the Spirit's grief is the alarm we dare not mute. We illustrate “trampling the Son of God underfoot” with a picture of gratitude denied—a rescued debtor ignoring the king who paid it all—because indifference can be its own form of contempt.The conversation turns practical. How do we care for people who claim faith yet persist in open rebellion? Pray with urgency. Confront with Scripture and clarity. And refuse to play judge and executioner—vengeance belongs to the One who knows perfectly. Holy fear is not for scaring the saved; it humbles the heart that's grown casual with God. That kind of reverence restores worship, honesty, and obedience.Finally, we remember the believing Hebrews' past: public shame, prison, and seized property accepted with joy. Why joy? They held a better, lasting possession that outshined every loss. So, we urge courage—do not throw away your confidence. Endure for reward. Live by faith as if Christ might return any moment. The choice stands in bright contrast: persevere toward great reward or shrink back toward ruin. If this conversation stirred you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review with one insight you're taking into your week.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Welcome to Episode #267This weeks topic: This is part two of the series discussing "Crone energy" - representing the third stage of the feminine life cycle (maiden, mother, crone) and embodies the profound wisdom, power, and liberation that comes with age. change your life - How  you feel about yourself - "affects"your ability to manifest" This episode will help shed some light - on how this new phase of life will change "everything" - Let's learn together.. Live Show ⤵️ on the podcast channelhttps://youtube.com/live/-o-_hlcvyRUhttp://www.ElizabethMagicalGarden.comCash app me: $Eliz241 Check out the Live show on my youtube channel @Elizabeth magical Garden Podcast E.p. #263

Episode 300! For decades, the standard response to challenging behavior has been simple: reward the good, punish the bad. But what if non-compliance isn't a sign of disrespect, but a signal of distress? Why do traditional behavioral frameworks like PBIS often miss the mark for neurodivergent students? And how can adults shift from being enforcers to problem-solving partners? Today, Emily Kircher-Morris talks with Dr. Ross Greene, author of The Explosive Child and the upcoming book The Kids Who Aren't Okay, and the originator of the Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS) model, about the critical difference between modifying behavior and solving the problems that cause it. Dr. Ross W. Greene is a clinical psychologist and the originator of Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS), an innovative, evidence-based approach for supporting kids with concerning behaviors. He is the author of several influential books, including The Explosive Child, Lost at School, Lost & Found, Raising Human Beings, and his forthcoming title, The Kids Who Aren't Okay: The Urgent Case for Reimagining Support, Belonging, and Hope in Schools. He also developed and executive produced the award-winning 2018 documentary The Kids We Lose. Dr. Greene is the founding director of the nonprofit Lives in the Balance and previously served on the faculty at Harvard Medical School for over 20 years. He is currently an adjunct professor at Virginia Tech and the University of Technology Sydney. His CPS model has been implemented in schools, inpatient units, and juvenile facilities across the globe, significantly reducing the use of punitive discipline and promoting connection, collaboration, and long-term success for kids. BACKGROUND READING Dr. Greene's website For information about the variety of courses for teachers, parents, and mental health professionals through the Neurodiversity University, check the info page on our website. The Neurodiversity Podcast is on Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, and you're invited to join our Facebook Group. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com. If you'd like members of your organization, school district, or company to know more about the subjects discussed on our podcast, Emily Kircher-Morris provides keynote addresses, workshops, and training sessions worldwide, in-person or virtually. You can choose from a list of established presentations, or work with Emily to develop a custom talk to fit your unique situation. To learn more, visit our website.

As we continue in Matthew 23 this lesson begins with verse 29. Here Dr. Mitchell will finish out the last of 8 indictments of the Lord Jesus against the religious rulers of Israel. Dr. Mitchell reminds us that Jesus knew the motives of these leaders which is why He could bring just rebukes and indictments against these rulers. At the end of His speaking, we still see Jesus' willing heart of compassion for His Jerusalem, to gather them together to Himself, but they would not.Dr. Mitchell admonishes the believer not to be the judge of another person's motives.Only Jesus has omniscience to know all things inwardly and outwardly, past, present and future. He only can and will deal the ones who live a hypocritical life in words and deeds.Let's join Dr. Mitchell in Matthew 23:29 on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast.

fromatoarbitration.com Powell c-11012 Bahakel c-34086 Martin c-10686 Deitsch c-12618

Join us as we discuss how ongoing willful sin, or intentionally rejecting what God calls sin as a sin, is not compatible with true Christianity. Is there evidence of transformation in your life?

Willful CEO Erin Bury explains the real-world costs of dying without a will - court delays, guardianship decisions for children, and extra legal fees and why powers of attorney for personal care and finances matter just as much. She debunks the “old or rich” myth, shows how modern online Will tools make it fast, affordable, and updatable, and shares the life events that should trigger action (kids, marriage/divorce, buying a home). Plus: tips for choosing an executor, organizing passwords and account lists, and why “progress over perfection” protects your family now. Connect with Willful on Instagram and X/Twitter. Connect with Erin on Instagram and X/Twitter.

Ever wondered what happens to your online accounts when you're gone?

Theme: Judgment, Obedience, and the Centrality of God Pastor Matthew's study covered Zechariah chapters 6–7, drawing parallels between Zechariah's visions, the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and God's eternal plan through Christ. The lesson highlighted how obedience, humility, and keeping God at the center are essential for both spiritual and national restoration. Context and Background Zechariah ministered during the time when Israelites were returning from Babylonian exile to rebuild the temple and the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah oversaw the wall; Zechariah encouraged the people spiritually. The prophet's visions often had dual meaning—addressing the present rebuilding work while also pointing forward to the coming Messiah and end-time judgment. Vision of the Four Chariots — Zechariah 6:1-8 Zechariah saw four chariots coming from between two mountains of bronze, symbolizing God's judgment. The red, black, white, and dappled horses represent divine forces sent throughout the earth—similar to the four horsemen in Revelation 6. Pastor Matthew explained the parallels: Red horse – war and conflict Black horse – famine and economic imbalance White horse – deception (often representing the Antichrist's early false peace) Pale horse – death and destruction The vision shows that God rules over all nations, directing both natural and spiritual forces to fulfill His plans. Application: Every believer will face judgment—not for salvation, which is secured in Christ—but for stewardship and obedience. “Think of judgment not as punishment,” Pastor said, “but as whether we've disappointed the One who's given us everything.” Spiritual Reality: The Host of Heaven Zechariah's vision reveals an unseen world—“the spirits of heaven”—at work on God's behalf. Pastor connected this to Jacob's vision at Mahanaim (“two hosts”) and Jesus' words about angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man. Believers are surrounded by heavenly hosts and benefit from their ministry, but only “in Christ”—our access point between heaven and earth. The Crowning of Joshua the High Priest — Zechariah 6:9-15 God commands the making of an elaborate crown to be set on Joshua the high priest, symbolizing restoration. Joshua foreshadows Christ, the true High Priest, called “the Branch”, who will build the spiritual temple of the Lord and reign as both King and Priest. Pastor explained that this prefigures Jesus as the eternal priest “after the order of Melchizedek,” whose covenant was established before the foundation of the world. Core truth: “As long as God stays at the center, everything else—children, crops, work—will be blessed. But when people place themselves in the center, things fall apart.” Obedience as the Condition for Blessing Zechariah 6:15 ends with a key phrase: “This shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.” Pastor emphasized that: God's promises are certain, but our participation in them depends on obedience. Failure doesn't cancel grace—repentance restores relationship. David was contrasted with Saul: both sinned, but David repented, while Saul disregarded God's word and lost his kingdom. Willful disobedience—knowing God's command and ignoring it—invites discipline and loss. Practical Lessons — Zechariah 7 By Chapter 7, the teaching turned practical: People asked if they should continue fasting as before. God responded: “Did you fast for Me—or for yourselves?” Their rituals had become hollow habits. God desires obedience and sincerity over religious performance. Pastor quoted Samuel's reminder: “To obey is better than sacrifice.” The Heart of True Religion Zechariah 7:9–10 commands: “Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion, do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor, and let none of you plan evil against his brother.” Pastor expanded: When in doubt—have mercy, because “you're going to need it too.” God's longsuffering exceeds anything we could show others. Examples included the conversion of an abortion doctor and Joyce Meyer forgiving and caring for her abusive father—proof of the gospel's transforming power. True love does not ignore truth: “You don't have to compromise truth to love people; real love tells the truth.” The Danger of Refusal Israel's ancestors “stopped their ears” and “made their hearts like flint”, rejecting God's word. Pastor warned that when people repeatedly ignore God, He eventually allows them to experience the consequences of their choices. Cross-references included Proverbs 1:20–33 and 2 Thessalonians 2:10–12, showing how those who reject truth can fall into strong delusion. He cautioned America to heed this warning: “Our greatest danger isn't military or economic—it's turning our backs on God and Israel.” Closing Reflection God's mercy and truth work together. The goal is not religious performance but a surrendered, obedient life centered on God. The nation of Israel was restored through obedience; the same principle governs believers and nations today. Pastor closed in prayer, thanking God for His Word and declaring: “We love truth—even when it rebukes or corrects us—because the Spirit and the Word agree.” Core Takeaways Judgment is real, but so is grace. God must remain the center—life flourishes when we revolve around Him. Obedience outweighs ritual. Mercy triumphs over judgment. Truth without love is harsh; love without truth is hollow. A nation or believer that hardens its heart toward God risks losing His blessing.

Daniel 11:36-39 speaks of a king who will rise up at the appointed time of the end to exalt himself above all gods and lead the world into the Great Tribulation

Stalking, rape, harassment, trauma, murder . . . these words represent the enormous reality that domestic violence has become a global epidemic. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence defines domestic violence as . . . Willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and […]Read complete post.

Willful blindness leads nowhere good.

Spirituality is inner evolution—adaptability to reality instead of struggling with the outside world because you can't handle it. Begin by relaxing and releasing inner resistance the moment it comes up, rather than storing life's events as past negative impressions. This will gradually harmonize your inner energy flow with the unfolding of life. Willful action, when needed, will come from a state of inner clarity, and over time, this elevated state will become a permanent state of being rather than a passing experience. © Sounds True Inc. Episodes: © 2025 Michael A. Singer. All Rights Reserved.

Spirituality is inner evolution—adaptability to reality instead of struggling with the outside world because you can't handle it. Begin by relaxing and releasing inner resistance the moment it comes up, rather than storing life's events as past negative impressions. This will gradually harmonize your inner energy flow with the unfolding of life. Willful action, when needed, will come from a state of inner clarity, and over time, this elevated state will become a permanent state of being rather than a passing experience. © Sounds True Inc. Episodes: © 2025 Michael A. Singer. All Rights Reserved.

How had Judah abandoned God?

Pastor Daniel Lee shares the story of Jonah and how it connects to our own faith journeys. He reflects on Jonah's struggle with God's call, his resistance, and the lessons of divine patience and compassion. Drawing on his own experiences of resisting the call to ministry, he highlights the “wake-up calls” we often face in life and the importance of aligning our hearts with God.This message invites you to reflect on where God may be calling you today—and to find grace in patiently answering that call.

Mayor Bowser has invited the federáles to stay for an indefinite period, so why not come hang out with us! We talk about Trump losing in court more than usual, Epstein victims testifying, and of course the ongoing occupation of DC. Plus some NFL, soccer, and plenty of bad jokes!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/chipchat--2780807/support.

Pastor Daniel Lee shares the story of Jonah and how it connects to our own faith journeys. He reflects on Jonah's struggle with God's call, his resistance, and the lessons of divine patience and compassion. Drawing on his own experiences of resisting the call to ministry, he highlights the “wake-up calls” we often face in life and the importance of aligning our hearts with God.This message invites you to reflect on where God may be calling you today—and to find grace in patiently answering that call.

Memory, and also remembering, are important parts of our faith and worship. Always have been. So, what happens when we forget? Or worse, what happens when God's people seem to have willful amnesia? This Old Testament reading in Jeremiah is a rebuke by God to His people for their willful amnesia. And they are about to be harshly and devastatingly judged for it. One question: Where is a critical place in Christian worship where we purposefully remember? Join us and find out! The artwork associated with this podcast/sermon (seen on the Epiclesis website posting, not in iTunes) is titled "Willful Amnesia" (detail) by Shadia Derbyshire.

When He spoke to the issue of hardened religionists, Jesus had a very impactful message for multiple parties at the same time in Matthew 23. But what's really interesting is how highly applicable that is in the Christianity of today! Be prepared to be challenged as we take a penetrating look at the willful blindness of hardened religionists! // Download this episode's Application & Action questions and PDF transcript at whitestone.org.

Perhaps the clearest testimony to the depravity of man is the amount of light that he can meet with that does him absolutely NO GOOD. It doesn't matter how much spiritual light that an unregenerate person meets with, if left to himself, he is not benefited by that light, rather his guilt is increased because he has no appetite for it. The truth doesn't save him in his natural state; the truth only condemns him. Man's spiritual blindness is more than just spiritual ignorance; it is WILLFUL spiritual ignorance.

Perhaps the clearest testimony to the depravity of man is the amount of light that he can meet with that does him absolutely NO GOOD. It doesn't matter how much spiritual light that an unregenerate person meets with, if left to himself, he is not benefited by that light, rather his guilt is increased because he has no appetite for it. The truth doesn't save him in his natural state; the truth only condemns him. Man's spiritual blindness is more than just spiritual ignorance; it is WILLFUL spiritual ignorance.

HOW TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX6NdGnm_vASERMON ON THIS: https://youtube.com/live/UcrsNVitmeoSUBSCRIBE https://www.youtube.com/c/biblelineLIKE https://www.facebook.com/biblelineminCOMMENT ask us a question!SHARE with all your friends and familyDo you have a Bible question? Send your question to questions@biblelineministries.org!Support Bibleline - https://www.calvaryoftampa.org/donate/Bibleline is a ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida and is hosted by Pastor Jesse Martinez.LIKE THIS? CHECK THESE GUYS OUT:@Northlandchurchstc@YankeeArnoldMinistries@focusevangelisticministriesinc@TheKeesBoerMinistryChannel@FishersWithFaithMinistries@QuentinRoad@NorthsideChurchAthens@C4CApologetics@OnoDiamante#bibleline #salvation #hebrews1026 #wilfulsin #wilfull #willfully #willful #sin #habitual #practice #sinful #hebrews10 #hebrews #explained #lossofsalvation #salvationassurance #assurance #osas #eternalsecurity

Please don't put yourself in a situation where the Holy Spirit has to wonder why you're here. -------- Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible.     Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org   Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

This episode features a full length Bible study taught by Pastor Jack Abeelen of Morningstar Christian Chapel in Whittier, California.If today you prayed with Pastor Jack to receive the Lord, we'd love to hear about it and get you started on the right foot. Visit us online at: https://morningstarcc.org/born-again/To see more of Pastor Jack's Bible studies, visit our Morningstar Christian Chapel channel at https://www.youtube.com/@morningstarcc.To subscribe to our Podcast newsletter go to http://eepurl.com/iGzsP6.If you would like to support our electronic ministry, you may do so by going to our donations page at https://morningstarcc.churchcenter.com/giving/to/podcast.Visit our church website at https://morningstarcc.org.

PREVIEW: Colleague Henry Sokolski of NPEC comments that atomic weapons are the willful product of any country acquiring nuclear power reactors. More.

Willful morons support a terrorist regime and a cult! PLUS, Shaun talks to John Deaton, lawyer and author of the book Food Stamp Warrior: A Memoir, about how his hatred of poverty and dependence on the government catapulted his life to what it is now, Trump's decision to send Marines to calm down the LA riots, and his Senate race against Elizabeth Warren. Stephanie Trussell wants to flip District 42 red! She tells Shaun that we need a seat back at the table in Illinois as she announces her run for State Representative in District 42. Visit her website at www.trussellforillinois.com And The Heritage Foundation's Dr. EJ Antoni talks to Shaun about the market's reaction after we bombed Iran and Shaun tells EJ why he is still dead set against the BBB.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John discusses Dept. of Education Secretary Linda McMahon targeting Columbia's accreditation saying that the school's leadership "acted with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students on its campus" after Hamas' attack on Israel. He also talks about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth who has ordered the Navy to strike the name of pioneering gay rights activist Harvey Milk from one of its ships, orchestrating the change as Pride month celebrations take place. Then, Bob Cesca is back to joke about Elon and Trump's squabbles. Next, It's the God Squad with Desimber Rose and Dillon Naber Cruz discussing the intersection of religion and politics. And then Dr. Tracy Pearson jokes with John and the crew about the legal troubles of the Trump Administration.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David A Willful Sinner Pt.2

David A Willful Sinner Pt.1

In a scathing rebuke in the Abrego-Garcia “lawless seizure” case, Federal Judge Paula Xinis has just ruled that the Trump Administration and its lawyers' “bad faith” to “willfully evade” their court-ordered obligations using “specious arguments,” "ends now.” Michael Popok examines the hearing and the judge's new order that puts the Trump Administration and its DOJ lawyers on a fast track to another federal judge finding them in contempt of court. Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Coalition of the Sane: https://meidasnews.com/tag/coalition-of-the-sane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Louisa May Alcott's 1868 novel, credited with starting the new genre of young adult fiction. When Alcott (1832-88) wrote Little Women, she only did so as her publisher refused to publish her father's book otherwise and as she hoped it would make money. It made Alcott's fortune. This coming of age story of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March, each overcoming their own moral flaws, has delighted generations of readers and was so popular from the start that Alcott wrote the second part in 1869 and further sequels and spin-offs in the coming years. Her work has inspired countless directors, composers and authors to make many reimagined versions ever since, with the sisters played by film actors such as Katherine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Winona Ryder, Claire Danes, Kirsten Dunst, Saoirse Ronan and Emma Watson. With Bridget Bennett Professor of American Literature and Culture at the University of LeedsErin Forbes Senior Lecturer in African American and U.S. Literature at the University of BristolAndTom Wright Reader in Rhetoric and Head of the Department of English Literature at the University of SussexProducer: Simon TillotsonReading list:Louisa May Alcott (ed. Madeline B Stern), Behind a Mask: The Unknown Thrillers of Louisa May Alcott (William Morrow & Co, 1997)Kate Block, Jenny Zhang, Carmen Maria Machado and Jane Smiley, March Sisters: On Life, Death, and Little Women (Library of America, 2019)Anne Boyd Rioux, Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters (W. W. Norton & Company, 2018)Azelina Flint, The Matrilineal Heritage of Louisa May Alcott and Christina Rossetti (Routledge, 2021)Robert Gross, The Transcendentalists and Their World (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2022)John Matteson, Eden's Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father (W. W. Norton & Company, 2007)Bethany C. Morrow, So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix (St Martin's Press, 2021)Anne K. Phillips and Gregory Eiselein (eds.), Critical Insights: Louisa May Alcott (Grey House Publishing Inc, 2016)Harriet Reisen, Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women (Picador, 2010)Daniel Shealy (ed.), Little Women at 150 (University of Mississippi Press, 2022)Elaine Showalter, A Jury of Her Peers: American Women Writers from Anne Bradstreet to Annie Proulx (Virago, 2009)Simon Sleight and Shirleene Robinson (eds.), Children, Childhood and Youth in the British World (Palgrave, 2016), especially “The ‘Willful' Girl in the Anglo-World: Sentimental Heroines and Wild Colonial Girls” by Hilary EmmettMadeleine B. Stern, Louisa May Alcott: A Biography (first published 1950; Northeastern University Press, 1999) In Our Time is a BBC Studios Audio Production