Saturday, February 23, 2019
Friday, February 22, 2019
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Snow Day, Gift from God
The snow is thickly coming down this morning, breaking all snow records for the month of February in Minnesota.
My school was cancelled. Cherie's school has a late start, which means her class was cancelled and she will not need to drive today. Ed will venture out soon, crazily, in this winter storm. My husband made it to work this morning, and so did Margaret---so there is hope. (Edit: Ed's school just cancelled completely!)
But I------I get to sit by the fire and read.
(smiley face!)
Days like this are gifts. There is not supposed to be anything but normal on the schedule and snow has transformed the day into a gift.
When you have heat and food and all the pets are snoozing by the fire comfortably you have the makings of a wonderful day.
You really SHOULDN'T go anywhere.
When my mom was a little girl, a pastor's daughter in a southwestern Minnesota country church, if a blizzard came through their family was literally holed up for days---until the plow could come through and release them from the deep snow.
It was a way of life, and no one expected anything else.
These days we have places to be and things to do, activities on the calendar and lists of stuff. Our fast-paced world is incredibly different from even 50 years ago.
I'll need to wash the dishes and do some laundry. Maybe I'll vacuum today, and since it is Wednesday I'll water the plants. There's always that kind of thing happening. Tomorrow it's back to subbing (at the high school) and a math test for Cherie that should have been today. She's actually taking the C.A.T. on this gift of a day today. This fulfills our Minnesota home-schooling requirement for the school year (BLESS THOSE HOME-SCHOOLING PIONEERS WHO CRAFTED THE MINNESOTA HOME-SCHOOLING LAWS BACK IN THE LAST CENTURY!)
I love home-schooling. It is the best of possible worlds for any schooling. Children can work at their own pace, mastering subjects as they wish. They are not unduly influenced by their peers, but rather by their siblings and their parents. Drugs aren't an issue, nor alcohol. Clothing can be simple and there is a lack of sophistication in each child that one sees so regularly in the public schools.
I love my public school students, and believe me, after 2 years of subbing I know almost every face in the system. I think they are wonderful, each and every one, but I also want to hug them and give them the freedom of learning that my own kids have had. Don't worry. Hugging isn't allowed. We can't even touch kids.
The little ones run up to me with open arms and I must gently divert these precious hugs.
I have accidentally touched a child on the wrist or forearm in an exuberant gesture of affirmation on occasion. That's a no-no, and this old grandma just shakes her head and pretends it didn't happen....What else can I do? I'm just a normal human being who enjoys the successes of EVERY ONE!
The world is crazy. Truly, really, absolutely.
COME LORD JESUS!
Yesterday at school the principal got on the intercom for the weekly pledge of allegiance. She began by saying that the word of the week is "Karma." She briefly defined it and encouraged students to make good karma.
I wanted to add, to the class, "Karma is a concept that comes from the Buddhist RELIGION."
Just want to keep it real, folks. But I kept my mouth shut. I resent that there are yoga classes at the school---HINDU RELIGION---- and all types of gender allowances. These things are so antithetical to my own faith, but they are forced down our throats at the school.
Remember; Bible stuff, talk about the Christian faith, is NOT encouraged. We do have some Christmas carols sung around Christmas, and all the kids love them. Granted, most of the kids ARE Christian. The one Islamic family that I know of that attends this school is always given their preference on participation in any activity.
Rightly so.
Since I have the time, I have some questions---rhetorical, provoking thought, perhaps. At least these thoughts and questions have been on my mind for some time. It's a bit of doctrine, theology and Biblical interpretation to chew on.
Question Num.s 1-5: Why do preterists have such a negative and fearful outlook? Isn't this anti-Biblical? Why are they so quick to point out doom and gloom? Why must people prepare for persecution? Doesn't persecution happen everyday, everywhere in some form? Why do they attack other believers in Jesus, but especially those who hone to a Dispensational viewpoint?
Why do they insist that Dispensationalism comes from someone named John Darby when it is mentioned in the New Testament by Paul?
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1%3A10%2CColossians+1%3A25&version=KJV
The word is even Biblical.
I am not a hyper-Dispensationalist. I believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the gift of healing, even the gift of tongues. I was baptized in the Holy Spirit when I was 16, and it was a remarkable experience that I cannot deny or denigrate. I do not speak and have not spoken in tongues, but I firmly believe that the Holy Spirit is active and powerful in the world today, and one MUST try the spirits to discern them. God is at work, but He does not conflict with His Word. Everything MUST be tested by Scripture. To work in the Spirit is to be a master of the Word. Not many people are, and I certainly am not. I am very careful to analyze whether or not something is truly of God or NOT. I have been fooled, and I am not above being fooled again. I find it safer to stay with a solid stance on Scripture. Perhaps I'm sort of a doctrinal hybrid. I am thrilled by the supernatural stories of people coming out of Islam and Buddhism and following Christ through supernatural experiences. I am very wary of manifestations that mimic demonic activity, masking as the Holy Spirit. God is a God of order. Healings must truly be healings, not temporary surges of adrenaline or demonic psychic surgeons. I'm wary. Does the life of the minister reflect Jesus Christ absolutely? It's always a good question to ask. You can eliminate many "faith healers" by examining their lifestyle. It must be consistent with Scripture!
That is why I am so critical of popular preachers and doctrines. I recognize that they can be false!
I am a Bible-believer, and I believe in the inerrant Scriptures. Interpreting Scripture is all fine and good----I'm in the exegesis camp. I'm very wary of eisegesis. Exegesis= taking out of, Eisegesis=reading into. We should never search for and find Scripture to back up our presupposed doctrines! That is Eisegesis.
We can confidently let Scripture speak for itself. We can study doctrine to rightly divide Scripture and see the bigger picture of history and God's ultimate plan. It all fits together beautifully.
It's wonderful to have archaeology as a science to support and back the Word of God, but ultimately we can trust God's Word to give us every wisdom for our existence.
Back to the preterist people: Why are they so gung-ho on taking down those who believe in the rapture of the church (like Enoch, Elijah, and even the body of Moses---. Jesus Himself was taken up in the air! Raptures happen, and they are Biblical!) Not only is there the verse 1 Thess. 4:17, which specifically mentions the believers being caught up (raptured) there are multiple references to Christ's coming for the church.
Each of these references are routinely dismissed and over-interpreted by Preterists. And they are militant about it.
Perhaps it stems from the heavy Roman Catholic influence on the church, or even the influence of Martin Luther.
These early Reformers were indoctrinated in church theology, and it was hard to break away from it completely, even if they stood on the premise of Sola Scriptura, Sola Fides, Sola Gratia. That Catholic stuff didn't go away easily.
The basis for a Biblical worldview plants its foundation on the writing of the Gospels and of Paul, primarily. There are writings from Peter, James, John, and Jude as well, and they all mesh together in a wondrous message of hope and blessing for believers. Persecution, yes, but ultimate hope and escape from God's wrath.
When I encounter someone who insists that "The Rapture" is a figment of imagination I point to the beliefs of the early church, before the tainted paganism of the Roman church lost the blessed hope of Christ's sacrifice for our rightful punishment. God's wrath is not for believers. The early church clearly expected the Rapture in their lifetime! Paul had to reassure them that no, they did not miss it!
Jeremiah 30:7 speaks of Jacob's Trouble. This is a time (dispensation) mentioned in Daniel that lasts for seven years. It hasn't happened yet, because there are specific descriptions of events that are literally out of this world and there's no record of such things in world history, but there certainly are many ideas about how they WILL occur and play out---in the future.
Theologians dismiss the events described in Revelation as hyper-realistic. I read a book by a Lutheran pastor about Revelation a few years ago. She completely dismissed the entire book, chalking it up to sensationalism. Naturally I didn't agree with her, but it's good to get the perspective of those who don't believe in the Bible, but pretend to be people of faith.
Those who insist on tainting their Biblical understanding with theology will naturally question the very word of God. God is above theology.
Why those very people have the knives out for those of us who DO interpret Scripture "plainly" as one would with an understanding of history, culture, AND the help of the Holy Spirit is beyond me.
I can't quite get it.
So I ignore it. Their time would be better spent evangelizing the atheist or the lost tribe, the cultist, the pagan.
No one can take away the blessed hope that God gives us in Jesus Christ.
The rapture is just part of that promise and hope.
And, by the way, IF there is a New World Order that comes before the last days, why would ANYONE want to stick around for that?
Be the first to sign up for elimination. There's no way anyone can survive the technology of our current world system without becoming a part of it, wholly and fully. The Bible prophesies buying and selling with a mark. One cannot exist without the mark in the new order. If you take the mark you are eternally doomed.
Better a quick earthly demise and an eternal glory than a prolonged earthly existence (awful) and eternal fire.
It's all there. It's pretty plain.
Stop the attacks already! Live the love of Christ and encourage one another! Choose the high path, and you may find peace and joy instead of anger and despair.
Blessed hope.
My school was cancelled. Cherie's school has a late start, which means her class was cancelled and she will not need to drive today. Ed will venture out soon, crazily, in this winter storm. My husband made it to work this morning, and so did Margaret---so there is hope. (Edit: Ed's school just cancelled completely!)
But I------I get to sit by the fire and read.
(smiley face!)
Days like this are gifts. There is not supposed to be anything but normal on the schedule and snow has transformed the day into a gift.
When you have heat and food and all the pets are snoozing by the fire comfortably you have the makings of a wonderful day.
You really SHOULDN'T go anywhere.
When my mom was a little girl, a pastor's daughter in a southwestern Minnesota country church, if a blizzard came through their family was literally holed up for days---until the plow could come through and release them from the deep snow.
It was a way of life, and no one expected anything else.
These days we have places to be and things to do, activities on the calendar and lists of stuff. Our fast-paced world is incredibly different from even 50 years ago.
I'll need to wash the dishes and do some laundry. Maybe I'll vacuum today, and since it is Wednesday I'll water the plants. There's always that kind of thing happening. Tomorrow it's back to subbing (at the high school) and a math test for Cherie that should have been today. She's actually taking the C.A.T. on this gift of a day today. This fulfills our Minnesota home-schooling requirement for the school year (BLESS THOSE HOME-SCHOOLING PIONEERS WHO CRAFTED THE MINNESOTA HOME-SCHOOLING LAWS BACK IN THE LAST CENTURY!)
I love home-schooling. It is the best of possible worlds for any schooling. Children can work at their own pace, mastering subjects as they wish. They are not unduly influenced by their peers, but rather by their siblings and their parents. Drugs aren't an issue, nor alcohol. Clothing can be simple and there is a lack of sophistication in each child that one sees so regularly in the public schools.
I love my public school students, and believe me, after 2 years of subbing I know almost every face in the system. I think they are wonderful, each and every one, but I also want to hug them and give them the freedom of learning that my own kids have had. Don't worry. Hugging isn't allowed. We can't even touch kids.
The little ones run up to me with open arms and I must gently divert these precious hugs.
I have accidentally touched a child on the wrist or forearm in an exuberant gesture of affirmation on occasion. That's a no-no, and this old grandma just shakes her head and pretends it didn't happen....What else can I do? I'm just a normal human being who enjoys the successes of EVERY ONE!
The world is crazy. Truly, really, absolutely.
COME LORD JESUS!
Yesterday at school the principal got on the intercom for the weekly pledge of allegiance. She began by saying that the word of the week is "Karma." She briefly defined it and encouraged students to make good karma.
I wanted to add, to the class, "Karma is a concept that comes from the Buddhist RELIGION."
Just want to keep it real, folks. But I kept my mouth shut. I resent that there are yoga classes at the school---HINDU RELIGION---- and all types of gender allowances. These things are so antithetical to my own faith, but they are forced down our throats at the school.
Remember; Bible stuff, talk about the Christian faith, is NOT encouraged. We do have some Christmas carols sung around Christmas, and all the kids love them. Granted, most of the kids ARE Christian. The one Islamic family that I know of that attends this school is always given their preference on participation in any activity.
Rightly so.
Since I have the time, I have some questions---rhetorical, provoking thought, perhaps. At least these thoughts and questions have been on my mind for some time. It's a bit of doctrine, theology and Biblical interpretation to chew on.
Question Num.s 1-5: Why do preterists have such a negative and fearful outlook? Isn't this anti-Biblical? Why are they so quick to point out doom and gloom? Why must people prepare for persecution? Doesn't persecution happen everyday, everywhere in some form? Why do they attack other believers in Jesus, but especially those who hone to a Dispensational viewpoint?
Why do they insist that Dispensationalism comes from someone named John Darby when it is mentioned in the New Testament by Paul?
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1%3A10%2CColossians+1%3A25&version=KJV
The word is even Biblical.
I am not a hyper-Dispensationalist. I believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the gift of healing, even the gift of tongues. I was baptized in the Holy Spirit when I was 16, and it was a remarkable experience that I cannot deny or denigrate. I do not speak and have not spoken in tongues, but I firmly believe that the Holy Spirit is active and powerful in the world today, and one MUST try the spirits to discern them. God is at work, but He does not conflict with His Word. Everything MUST be tested by Scripture. To work in the Spirit is to be a master of the Word. Not many people are, and I certainly am not. I am very careful to analyze whether or not something is truly of God or NOT. I have been fooled, and I am not above being fooled again. I find it safer to stay with a solid stance on Scripture. Perhaps I'm sort of a doctrinal hybrid. I am thrilled by the supernatural stories of people coming out of Islam and Buddhism and following Christ through supernatural experiences. I am very wary of manifestations that mimic demonic activity, masking as the Holy Spirit. God is a God of order. Healings must truly be healings, not temporary surges of adrenaline or demonic psychic surgeons. I'm wary. Does the life of the minister reflect Jesus Christ absolutely? It's always a good question to ask. You can eliminate many "faith healers" by examining their lifestyle. It must be consistent with Scripture!
That is why I am so critical of popular preachers and doctrines. I recognize that they can be false!
I am a Bible-believer, and I believe in the inerrant Scriptures. Interpreting Scripture is all fine and good----I'm in the exegesis camp. I'm very wary of eisegesis. Exegesis= taking out of, Eisegesis=reading into. We should never search for and find Scripture to back up our presupposed doctrines! That is Eisegesis.
We can confidently let Scripture speak for itself. We can study doctrine to rightly divide Scripture and see the bigger picture of history and God's ultimate plan. It all fits together beautifully.
It's wonderful to have archaeology as a science to support and back the Word of God, but ultimately we can trust God's Word to give us every wisdom for our existence.
Back to the preterist people: Why are they so gung-ho on taking down those who believe in the rapture of the church (like Enoch, Elijah, and even the body of Moses---. Jesus Himself was taken up in the air! Raptures happen, and they are Biblical!) Not only is there the verse 1 Thess. 4:17, which specifically mentions the believers being caught up (raptured) there are multiple references to Christ's coming for the church.
Each of these references are routinely dismissed and over-interpreted by Preterists. And they are militant about it.
Perhaps it stems from the heavy Roman Catholic influence on the church, or even the influence of Martin Luther.
These early Reformers were indoctrinated in church theology, and it was hard to break away from it completely, even if they stood on the premise of Sola Scriptura, Sola Fides, Sola Gratia. That Catholic stuff didn't go away easily.
The basis for a Biblical worldview plants its foundation on the writing of the Gospels and of Paul, primarily. There are writings from Peter, James, John, and Jude as well, and they all mesh together in a wondrous message of hope and blessing for believers. Persecution, yes, but ultimate hope and escape from God's wrath.
When I encounter someone who insists that "The Rapture" is a figment of imagination I point to the beliefs of the early church, before the tainted paganism of the Roman church lost the blessed hope of Christ's sacrifice for our rightful punishment. God's wrath is not for believers. The early church clearly expected the Rapture in their lifetime! Paul had to reassure them that no, they did not miss it!
Jeremiah 30:7 speaks of Jacob's Trouble. This is a time (dispensation) mentioned in Daniel that lasts for seven years. It hasn't happened yet, because there are specific descriptions of events that are literally out of this world and there's no record of such things in world history, but there certainly are many ideas about how they WILL occur and play out---in the future.
Theologians dismiss the events described in Revelation as hyper-realistic. I read a book by a Lutheran pastor about Revelation a few years ago. She completely dismissed the entire book, chalking it up to sensationalism. Naturally I didn't agree with her, but it's good to get the perspective of those who don't believe in the Bible, but pretend to be people of faith.
Those who insist on tainting their Biblical understanding with theology will naturally question the very word of God. God is above theology.
Why those very people have the knives out for those of us who DO interpret Scripture "plainly" as one would with an understanding of history, culture, AND the help of the Holy Spirit is beyond me.
I can't quite get it.
So I ignore it. Their time would be better spent evangelizing the atheist or the lost tribe, the cultist, the pagan.
No one can take away the blessed hope that God gives us in Jesus Christ.
The rapture is just part of that promise and hope.
And, by the way, IF there is a New World Order that comes before the last days, why would ANYONE want to stick around for that?
Be the first to sign up for elimination. There's no way anyone can survive the technology of our current world system without becoming a part of it, wholly and fully. The Bible prophesies buying and selling with a mark. One cannot exist without the mark in the new order. If you take the mark you are eternally doomed.
Better a quick earthly demise and an eternal glory than a prolonged earthly existence (awful) and eternal fire.
It's all there. It's pretty plain.
Stop the attacks already! Live the love of Christ and encourage one another! Choose the high path, and you may find peace and joy instead of anger and despair.
Blessed hope.
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Monday, February 18, 2019
Sunday, February 17, 2019
The Great Divide
The other night I had a great conversation that has pervaded my thoughts since.
I am a proponent of the faith called Christianity being integrally rooted in Judaism. I see, as Edith Schaeffer's book was titled, "Christianity IS Jewish."
Jesus was a Jewish man, a follower of the Torah, raised and baptized in the Jewish faith. He was Christ, Messiah, for the Jewish nation; He is Christ, savior of the world.
There is a seamless progression from Genesis to Revelation, creation to the end of all time.
And after that: eternity.
My friend and I were hashing out the dichotomy of life within the faith and living in a broken and dark world. We always do this. Once in awhile we solve the world's problems. (jk)
My friend is a story-teller, and he has written a story about this idea. That is a palatable way to convey truth. I'm the elementary teacher, and I break things down, so I communicate things in bites.
Here are some bites from the conversation. (All credit to my friend Jeremy)
The words we discussed were synagogue and ecclesia and their differences. There is an interesting divide here, and both definitions apply to us children of the most High.
God established a covenant with Israel, Abraham. There are several covenants in the Bible. Some are eternal, everlasting (like the one with Abraham) and some are for a time or dispensation.
God gave Moses the 10 commandments and many other societal laws that were extremely helpful in keeping the nation of Israel called out from the rest of the world. The purpose in keeping Israel separate as the chosen people was the promise God made to Abraham about the coming savior of the world, stemming from the Hebrew people. God blessed the Jewish people and He continues to bless them. He has never ceased His promise to them. It's eternal.
God's societal laws are fantastic. They are the best: God is the holy judge, honor your parents, keep faithful in your heterosexual marriage, don't kill, don't steal, don't lie, don't covet.
This (much maligned by Satan) system really works, and psychiatrists and research, statistics and facts support it.
Children fare better with a Judeo-Christian society valuing them and training them, even if the society isn't spirit-filled the benefits trickle down.
The dreaded "theocracy" is really better, but you can't tell people that. You have to prove it, even if all the research already has.
SO, as followers of the way of Christ we can see that a family unit holding to the old covenant societal mores (More-ays) will fare better in life. We are the people of honesty and faithfulness, safety and peace.
We love. We understand hate only in the context of hating evil.
WE love as Christ loves.
We have standards for our families that abide by godly laws and Old Testament values, but we cannot impose those holy ideas on the culture. The culture is lost, dark, blind, and deaf to righteousness. How can we expect them to value life, marriage, and honesty?
Abortion, marriage, and gender issues----all issues of our age---are entirely confused compared to the ideology given by God for our existence.
We believers want to raise our families within the successful patterns of God's covenant laws. We know they work. Marriages that last for a lifetime give security to the children of those marriages. Those who value life will give birth to valued children always. Abuse is illegal in God's law.
We can't make the society follow our values, but we can do something better: WE CAN LIVE THEM, and we have the spiritual advantage of the Holy Spirit to draw anyone into the family of God and plant conviction in their hearts.
We have people looking in on us and pointing hatefully----yet they have no idea (no spiritual insight, nor power) how to understand what makes us hold to such a paradigm.
That power comes from God and it is there to attract each and every soul into His kingdom.
He is not willing that any perish.
So, live the values of the old covenant! Live them and succeed!
Jordan Peterson, a current philosophical favorite, acknowledges that Biblical values succeed. He's an agnostic, and can't humble himself before the Holy eternal God. He's still spiritually blind. He is just one of the many ideologues who confirm God's best for culture and society.
One must bend. One must bow to the Creator to understand Him. He's holy, almighty, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent. He's beyond our understanding. One must gather in (synogogue: bring in together!) to His ways.
It takes a certain form of debasement to humble one's self before that Presence. We cease to know all, and become a servant of God instead of self.
On the other side of that divide there is the church, (Ecclesia: calling out!) beckoning with the irresistible attraction of Jesus Christ, lover of all, healer, helper! We meet the one in jail, the homosexual, the murderer, the thief and liar, the adulterer and the drug addict and LOVE them with the powerful love of Christ. We share the way of spiritual victory with these cultural failures, and love them into the kingdom of God. There's war. There's a battle going on, as the devil doesn't give in easily, but the winner is God and He offers victory to all who trust in Him.
God's ways work.
As for me and my house we will serve the LORD.
It is a division. One must follow Christ to enter the kingdom of God's society. The barrier is real, but God has most definitely provided a door.
I am a proponent of the faith called Christianity being integrally rooted in Judaism. I see, as Edith Schaeffer's book was titled, "Christianity IS Jewish."
Jesus was a Jewish man, a follower of the Torah, raised and baptized in the Jewish faith. He was Christ, Messiah, for the Jewish nation; He is Christ, savior of the world.
There is a seamless progression from Genesis to Revelation, creation to the end of all time.
And after that: eternity.
My friend and I were hashing out the dichotomy of life within the faith and living in a broken and dark world. We always do this. Once in awhile we solve the world's problems. (jk)
My friend is a story-teller, and he has written a story about this idea. That is a palatable way to convey truth. I'm the elementary teacher, and I break things down, so I communicate things in bites.
Here are some bites from the conversation. (All credit to my friend Jeremy)
The words we discussed were synagogue and ecclesia and their differences. There is an interesting divide here, and both definitions apply to us children of the most High.
God established a covenant with Israel, Abraham. There are several covenants in the Bible. Some are eternal, everlasting (like the one with Abraham) and some are for a time or dispensation.
God gave Moses the 10 commandments and many other societal laws that were extremely helpful in keeping the nation of Israel called out from the rest of the world. The purpose in keeping Israel separate as the chosen people was the promise God made to Abraham about the coming savior of the world, stemming from the Hebrew people. God blessed the Jewish people and He continues to bless them. He has never ceased His promise to them. It's eternal.
God's societal laws are fantastic. They are the best: God is the holy judge, honor your parents, keep faithful in your heterosexual marriage, don't kill, don't steal, don't lie, don't covet.
This (much maligned by Satan) system really works, and psychiatrists and research, statistics and facts support it.
Children fare better with a Judeo-Christian society valuing them and training them, even if the society isn't spirit-filled the benefits trickle down.
The dreaded "theocracy" is really better, but you can't tell people that. You have to prove it, even if all the research already has.
SO, as followers of the way of Christ we can see that a family unit holding to the old covenant societal mores (More-ays) will fare better in life. We are the people of honesty and faithfulness, safety and peace.
We love. We understand hate only in the context of hating evil.
WE love as Christ loves.
We have standards for our families that abide by godly laws and Old Testament values, but we cannot impose those holy ideas on the culture. The culture is lost, dark, blind, and deaf to righteousness. How can we expect them to value life, marriage, and honesty?
Abortion, marriage, and gender issues----all issues of our age---are entirely confused compared to the ideology given by God for our existence.
We believers want to raise our families within the successful patterns of God's covenant laws. We know they work. Marriages that last for a lifetime give security to the children of those marriages. Those who value life will give birth to valued children always. Abuse is illegal in God's law.
We can't make the society follow our values, but we can do something better: WE CAN LIVE THEM, and we have the spiritual advantage of the Holy Spirit to draw anyone into the family of God and plant conviction in their hearts.
We have people looking in on us and pointing hatefully----yet they have no idea (no spiritual insight, nor power) how to understand what makes us hold to such a paradigm.
That power comes from God and it is there to attract each and every soul into His kingdom.
He is not willing that any perish.
So, live the values of the old covenant! Live them and succeed!
Jordan Peterson, a current philosophical favorite, acknowledges that Biblical values succeed. He's an agnostic, and can't humble himself before the Holy eternal God. He's still spiritually blind. He is just one of the many ideologues who confirm God's best for culture and society.
One must bend. One must bow to the Creator to understand Him. He's holy, almighty, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent. He's beyond our understanding. One must gather in (synogogue: bring in together!) to His ways.
It takes a certain form of debasement to humble one's self before that Presence. We cease to know all, and become a servant of God instead of self.
On the other side of that divide there is the church, (Ecclesia: calling out!) beckoning with the irresistible attraction of Jesus Christ, lover of all, healer, helper! We meet the one in jail, the homosexual, the murderer, the thief and liar, the adulterer and the drug addict and LOVE them with the powerful love of Christ. We share the way of spiritual victory with these cultural failures, and love them into the kingdom of God. There's war. There's a battle going on, as the devil doesn't give in easily, but the winner is God and He offers victory to all who trust in Him.
God's ways work.
As for me and my house we will serve the LORD.
It is a division. One must follow Christ to enter the kingdom of God's society. The barrier is real, but God has most definitely provided a door.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Thursday, February 7, 2019
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Report
I thought that the SOTU last night was remarkable. I've never been one to praise President Trump much, but how could anyone find fault with his remarkable pro-life, pro-USA speech?
Anyone with a heart for God's morals, that is.
I'm sure the tide will turn and the left will have its say, and even heyday, but for now we can be thrilled that such God-honoring statements were made by a world leader.
Don't disagree with me unless you have watched the speech. It was tear-rending.
I remember watching Bill Clinton's apology to the country years ago, and believing him, so I may not be a good judge of speeches. I admit it. I was inspired last night with all the pro-life statements.
I was appalled at the KKK-clad leftists and their open hostility for life, the USA, and anything but themselves. It was on display. Did you see Chuck Schumer smirk at the reference to killing babies?
I did.
Nancy Pelosi was rude. She was in her own world, shuffling papers, grimacing, forgetting to sit down ----it was embarrassing.
These Democrats are killing. Their true colors are showing, and they are repellent.
I have great caution about Republican Party strongholds and their ties to the Deep State Swamp, but I believe there are far more pro-life individuals in the Republican Party than there are on the left. I'm convinced that President Trump is pro-life, and whatever other issues he has that we disagree on, the abortion one "trumps" many, if not all others.
It is a statement of the heart. It defines.
You cannot be pro-abortion and love God. It's impossible.
God is the creator of life. He is the One that knits the babe together in the womb. He is the source of all life, all humanity, all animal-kind, all plant-life. He loves LIFE.
He has created a planet that can sustain ALL the LIFE HE CREATES.
The humanist plot to depopulate the earth is Satanic. WAKE UP people. The New Order proponents "hide" themselves and their agenda in plain sight!
I can't imagine President Trump is party to this demonic agenda, but my trust never has been in him. My trust is in God.
Mountains will rise and fall, figuratively, financially, politically---and my hope is bed-rocked in Christ, live or die.
And it's getting closer to that.
It's a time for repentance. There is always forgiveness for any and all sin, and we all need to repent of sin in our hearts, souls, and minds.
At the jail the other night I introduced the concept of the seven deadly sins to the ladies. As most of these inmates are incarcerated on immigration violations they come from other cultures, and the seven deadlies were completely new to them.
Pride, Anger, Lust, Gluttony, Sloth, Envy, and Greed
We discussed these sins, and how they affect us. What an interesting discussion! "That's why I'm here," candidly confessed one woman----
That's what we're all dealing with, I assured her. We ALL need to repent of these things in our minds and hearts. They lead to evil.
When will we realize our sin?
When will we repent?
When will we get right with God?
I'm away from Corgi Hollows this week. Things are humming along there with extra inches of snow and much ice. Cherie, newly licensed, has had her first "spin-out" driving from school. She calmly reported that she found the car doing a "360" and when it stopped she backed out of its landing spot and drove on home.
Passages. Rites. Driving experience. A mom's heart quakes, but I pray that God puts angels on all sides of my kids' cars, buffering them. I know that accidents occur and God has His perfect plan for even allowing accidents, but I do pray for safety and quiet commutes!
Cherie likes the community college. I'm glad of that. If I get accepted in the fall we'll have at least three college students in the house.
We'll see. I've got a lot of Marie Kondo'ing to do at home, so the Lord may have other plans for me. My mother, who is a housekeeper extraordinaire, cannot fathom the pace and standards at Corgi Hollows. She gave me the Kondo book several years ago (before the big move) in an attempt to help me.
Oh, I vacuum, dust and mop regularly----at least every two weeks! The constant movement of five interacting lives leave challenges to my housekeeping skills. You'd think "older" children would be a piece of cake to have around the house and keep it up. I find that we all feed on each other's tendency to leave textbooks, library books, favorite books, mail, and "projects" out where we ALL can "appreciate" them.
Maybe you can relate. It's a daily battle for me. That, and the laundry.
Anyway, I'm having a respite from all that this week, ensconced in a hotel room somewhere in the Midwest. I'm along on my husband's business trip. It's sort of a "staycation," since there are no beaches or sun, no warmth, no attractions. I'm resting, thinking, reading, blogging, knitting----without a distracting Corgi in my lap, nor demanding cats to snuggle with. I don't have to go out and brave the snowdrifts, either.
It's good for me. Enough of that to come next week.
My reading list is rather heavy, and sort of depressing, but I punctuate it with L.M. Montgomery's Anne and her well-loved stories. I've time to catch up on prophecy videos and other current issues too, and that has suffered since beginning teaching again. I miss listening to Gary Stearman and others while putzing around the house after home-schooling obligations. There's so little time to hear the latest in the world of events pertaining to Bible prophecy. I must be VERY choosy about what I listen to. Our bi-weekly prophecy study has become a real help these days.
Anyone is welcome to join us on these Sunday evenings. We meet the second and fourth Sundays around 6:30 pm at Corgi Hollows.
We serve a bite to eat and get down to business.
It's a time of fellowship and learning, and we badly need these connections in times like these.
You are welcome. Email me at corgihollows@gmail.com for directions. We welcome you.
Maranatha! Come Quickly, LORD JESUS!
Anyone with a heart for God's morals, that is.
I'm sure the tide will turn and the left will have its say, and even heyday, but for now we can be thrilled that such God-honoring statements were made by a world leader.
Don't disagree with me unless you have watched the speech. It was tear-rending.
I remember watching Bill Clinton's apology to the country years ago, and believing him, so I may not be a good judge of speeches. I admit it. I was inspired last night with all the pro-life statements.
I was appalled at the KKK-clad leftists and their open hostility for life, the USA, and anything but themselves. It was on display. Did you see Chuck Schumer smirk at the reference to killing babies?
I did.
Nancy Pelosi was rude. She was in her own world, shuffling papers, grimacing, forgetting to sit down ----it was embarrassing.
These Democrats are killing. Their true colors are showing, and they are repellent.
I have great caution about Republican Party strongholds and their ties to the Deep State Swamp, but I believe there are far more pro-life individuals in the Republican Party than there are on the left. I'm convinced that President Trump is pro-life, and whatever other issues he has that we disagree on, the abortion one "trumps" many, if not all others.
It is a statement of the heart. It defines.
You cannot be pro-abortion and love God. It's impossible.
God is the creator of life. He is the One that knits the babe together in the womb. He is the source of all life, all humanity, all animal-kind, all plant-life. He loves LIFE.
He has created a planet that can sustain ALL the LIFE HE CREATES.
The humanist plot to depopulate the earth is Satanic. WAKE UP people. The New Order proponents "hide" themselves and their agenda in plain sight!
I can't imagine President Trump is party to this demonic agenda, but my trust never has been in him. My trust is in God.
Mountains will rise and fall, figuratively, financially, politically---and my hope is bed-rocked in Christ, live or die.
And it's getting closer to that.
It's a time for repentance. There is always forgiveness for any and all sin, and we all need to repent of sin in our hearts, souls, and minds.
At the jail the other night I introduced the concept of the seven deadly sins to the ladies. As most of these inmates are incarcerated on immigration violations they come from other cultures, and the seven deadlies were completely new to them.
Pride, Anger, Lust, Gluttony, Sloth, Envy, and Greed
We discussed these sins, and how they affect us. What an interesting discussion! "That's why I'm here," candidly confessed one woman----
That's what we're all dealing with, I assured her. We ALL need to repent of these things in our minds and hearts. They lead to evil.
When will we realize our sin?
When will we repent?
When will we get right with God?
I'm away from Corgi Hollows this week. Things are humming along there with extra inches of snow and much ice. Cherie, newly licensed, has had her first "spin-out" driving from school. She calmly reported that she found the car doing a "360" and when it stopped she backed out of its landing spot and drove on home.
Passages. Rites. Driving experience. A mom's heart quakes, but I pray that God puts angels on all sides of my kids' cars, buffering them. I know that accidents occur and God has His perfect plan for even allowing accidents, but I do pray for safety and quiet commutes!
Cherie likes the community college. I'm glad of that. If I get accepted in the fall we'll have at least three college students in the house.
We'll see. I've got a lot of Marie Kondo'ing to do at home, so the Lord may have other plans for me. My mother, who is a housekeeper extraordinaire, cannot fathom the pace and standards at Corgi Hollows. She gave me the Kondo book several years ago (before the big move) in an attempt to help me.
Oh, I vacuum, dust and mop regularly----at least every two weeks! The constant movement of five interacting lives leave challenges to my housekeeping skills. You'd think "older" children would be a piece of cake to have around the house and keep it up. I find that we all feed on each other's tendency to leave textbooks, library books, favorite books, mail, and "projects" out where we ALL can "appreciate" them.
Maybe you can relate. It's a daily battle for me. That, and the laundry.
Anyway, I'm having a respite from all that this week, ensconced in a hotel room somewhere in the Midwest. I'm along on my husband's business trip. It's sort of a "staycation," since there are no beaches or sun, no warmth, no attractions. I'm resting, thinking, reading, blogging, knitting----without a distracting Corgi in my lap, nor demanding cats to snuggle with. I don't have to go out and brave the snowdrifts, either.
It's good for me. Enough of that to come next week.
My reading list is rather heavy, and sort of depressing, but I punctuate it with L.M. Montgomery's Anne and her well-loved stories. I've time to catch up on prophecy videos and other current issues too, and that has suffered since beginning teaching again. I miss listening to Gary Stearman and others while putzing around the house after home-schooling obligations. There's so little time to hear the latest in the world of events pertaining to Bible prophecy. I must be VERY choosy about what I listen to. Our bi-weekly prophecy study has become a real help these days.
Anyone is welcome to join us on these Sunday evenings. We meet the second and fourth Sundays around 6:30 pm at Corgi Hollows.
We serve a bite to eat and get down to business.
It's a time of fellowship and learning, and we badly need these connections in times like these.
You are welcome. Email me at corgihollows@gmail.com for directions. We welcome you.
Maranatha! Come Quickly, LORD JESUS!
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