Approximately 22 million people live in America illegally. With the misguided politicians of the Biden administration adding plentifully to the numbers each month. Those hiring illegals have never been prosecuted with fines, imprisonment and suspension of business licenses.
What fatal flaws in the liberal psyche exists to think that just because people want to come here, we’re obligated to cover their medical costs; and to give them licenses to drive on our streets and freeways—without insurance? Try entering any country in the world without permission, then applying for privileges illegals get here—just because they’re here! San Diego U/T, 8/23/22 Then there’s the new policy from the board that oversees jail and prison rules. Finally, U/T 8/23/22, they have decided to physically search all people entering the facilities to stop contraband being smuggled in. Shouldn’t that have been RULE #1 long ago? And why have inmates had the privilege of possessing cell phones? When they’re just another way for them to continue their illegal activities? And why shouldn’t guards have been searched all these years to prevent them from smuggling contraband? Much more could be said, but you get the idea. We get more moronic the farther from God we go. He is watching. He will punish us. We won’t like it. He won’t care. He rules, not we. We spit in his face; he rubs it in ours. We want freedom from him. We find it slavery to our worst instincts and Satan’s deceits. We’ll like it less and less until we loathe it. Which God will watch in Justice until we get sick of ourselves and BEG him to forgive our wickedness. Which he will, in GRACE only his LOVE fuels.
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Kuralt’s book Charles Kuralt’s America showcases geography, people and traditions, plus a series of successes and experiences enjoyed. One story he told related to AGE—as in, too old….A home-built, sail-around-the-world-vessel called Appledore III offered the occasion. Friends he knew had built two other Appledore’s for the same reason.
Charles suffered pangs of melancholia at their success. For he had long before desired to sail the ocean in his own boat. But had waited too long and found himself too old. Charles Kuralt’s America, 166-167 That happens lots of times to lots of us. Who hasn’t been surprised at how quickly advancing years have come? With it a decreasing ability to fuel the plans and desires and intentions we once had? Yet…as Christians, ONE GOAL remains intact for us, with fulfillment of it truncated by the flesh. It’s the same goal that remains within our reach, however old we are. It’s the Goal “for which Christ Jesus took hold” of Paul Philippians 3:12. And takes hold of us as his disciples. It’s the goal of increasing in Christ-likeness, however incrementally—in thought, attitude, habits and relationships. For we never get so old we can’t:
P.S. though it’s understandable that 86 years of life would now have most of us looking in life’s rear-view mirror, some 86 year old’s keep looking through life’s windshield. However that may be, whatever our:
Soaking one’s mind in the Holy Spirit’s creative writing results in benefits that merely reading Scripture lacks. That means pondering the passage read: thinking about it, praying over it, balancing, comparing and interpreting it with other passages. That’s when insights surface and delight fills one’s mind.
David started with anger when Uzzah died, a not un-natural response. For why kill a Levite who only intended to stabilize the endangered ARK? With further thought and objective thinking, however, he moved from anger at God to FEAR of God. Long story shortened for this blog, two events led the King to re-evaluate both anger and fear. First, hearing the blessing Obed-Edom received by hosting the Ark in his house. Second, reading passages that gave instructions on how to convey the Ark safely and securely. I will gladly send gratis a fuller account of this blog—to be the start of a 2-part message beginning September 4, 2022. Remember: God’s word always has specific meaning in its original context AND supporting practical lessons for daily life. Finale Genesis 34:1-31 illustrates that genius. The story revolves around Dinah, daughter of Jacob, and Shechem, son of Hamor, the Hivite. Shechem violated Dinah in a fit of lust, but fell in love with her as he did. In contrast, see Amnon’s response to Tamar, II Samuel 13:15.
True to the culture of the day, negotiations with her family involved her brothers Simeon and Levi, Genesis 24:28-31, 50-51, 55. They deceived the male Hivites in order to weaken them. Then, when vulnerable, all of Dinah’s brothers plundered the city. The essential verses, 8-9, 13-23, summarize the account. II Samuel 6:1-15 illustrates that genius. It records King David’s initial and ultimate effort to bring the Ark into Jerusalem. (I Chronicles 13 and 15 give extended post-exilic accounts.) Many wonderful details festooned the entire pilgrimage:
Until they all reached Nacon’s threshing floor where:
The essential verses, 6-11, summarize the account. End Part II. Part III reveals very helpful homiletic points we can learn. Any Bible account can contain multiple verses; but each has the genius of being encapsulated in a few essential verses. The rest relate details that:
The result is:
That’s HOW modern and relevant GOD’S WORD is! End Part I -Being only a student of God’s WORD, and not educated in all the sciences that pretend to know when life begins in a woman’s womb, I suggest readers consult Luke 1:39-45.
Jesus could have been no more than a “tiny ball called a blastocyst” in his mother’s womb when a servant answered her knock at Elizabeth’s door. Nevertheless, when Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice, the 6-month-old John in her womb leaped in ecstasy. That simple statement means that Jesus LIVED at the time, and with SUCH FORCE of PERSONALITY that 6-month John recognized Christ’s August Presence, Authority and Lordship! That shouldn’t surprise us since Jesus as God Almighty always exercised his God-nature. Verses 41-44 assure us: human life begins at conception. That’s the only part we play in conceiving a child—and that’s no claim to fame. Since God, in his mysterious genius, and hidden from human sight, molds and attaches and stitches every part of the body in perfect harmony with every other part, HE as Creator determines the purpose of the human body when it emerges from the womb. Conclusion: it’s unrealistic to expect from a product we buy what the manufacturer doesn’t promise for it. We understand that. We don’t buy pitchforks to dig a trench; we do rent pile drivers, however powered, to punch steel foundation beams into the grounds. Yet, without any reason than our desire to be free of God, and in the worst possible illusion we can suffer, mortals want to determine HOW TO govern our bodies. God never promised we could do so. He did warn, repeatedly, that only HE could do so. Fools we are, and fools we’ll continue to be until we fall down before and knee our way to Christ, seeking forgiveness and enlightenment. Amen. Fini Who has the RIGHT to determine how humans use their body? The question certainly envelopes the abortion issue; and surpasses it, relating to each person’s life.
As the first blog noted, manufacturers build into each product how it functions; what the buyer can expect of it when used; how he can assure long-term satisfaction when used; and how any defect or malfunction can be repaired and the product restored to usefulness. To make a longer story short enough for this blog, consider a single essential FACT: no human had anything to do in creating our body. GOD alone stitched it in the womb to achieve his purpose. As every Old Testament and New Testament text proves, it’s only in obedience to every specification his WORD built into us that achieves his purpose. Since sexual immorality doesn’t, God forbids it. Since homosexuality and lesbianism don’t, he condemns them. Since worshipping other illusory deities, including humanity’s ego, blasphemously claims to KNOW what to do with the body, God damns it! Human pride guarantees our destruction, not fulfillment. The only use of the human body that God accepts, honors, and blesses is that which makes a temple to God of our physical frame, with its brain, limbs, genitals and behaviors I Corinthians 6:19-20. It’s unrealistic to expect results from a product that the manufacturer doesn’t promise. That’s why we’re smart enough not to buy pitchforks to dig trenches or mow grass. And why we do use pile drivers to pound steel beams deep into the earth for foundations of skyscrapers. Yet, completely basking in the worst possible moral illusion, many expect God to let us determine how we use our body. Then, declare that it doesn’t matter what he expects, it’s what we WANT. End Part II. Part III discusses when personality begins in the womb. Whoever manufactures machines, medicines, vehicles, locomotives, et al, create them with specific capabilities and for specific purposes. Ignoring the instructions by imposing our opinion when using them will:
A man purchased a build-your-own-airplane kit. He followed instructions to the letter when assembling it. However, he either didn’t read, or ignored the warning that, the kit-airplane had no ability to fly stunts. For he forced it into a stunt somersault in his maiden flight. And last flight. No one blamed the manufacturer. He specified limits he built into the parts making the plane. The illustration relates to the abortion debate. Those demanding freedom of abortion repeat as a hackneyed platitude “a woman has the right to use her body as she sees fit.” Which, when translated into behavior, means she’s as free to abort an unwanted child as she is to have sexual relations with anyone she chooses, any time she pleases. The debate over abortion sizzles over one issue: who has the right to determine how humans use their body? End Part I The second reason Jesus called the men to him: “that he might send them out to preach.”
Which we easily understand. They were, after all, spiritual heralds of God’s Christ. But who are we as Christians if not salt of the earth, light of the world, Matthew 5:13-14, shining “like stars in the universe” Philippians 2:15? Learning all we can about Jesus so we can more effectively teach all we learn? Discipleship begins as we personalize Christ’s life. It continues as we objectify all we embody by witnessing to others. Impression without expression can lead to depression. The surest way to keep personal faith in Christ robustly alive is to keep it actively shared with others, as Paul said in Philemon 6. For Christ activated in life circumstances proves how powerful he is and how influential we can be. The third reason Jesus called the men to himself: “that they might have authority to drive out demons.” Demon possession, coupled with death, posed the greatest challenge Jesus faced. And he flawlessly demolished both in his ministry. To abbreviate this point, understand: Christ’s believers face strong opposition, especially in an America enchanted by the illusion of religious diversity. Never fear defending and proclaiming his Singularity as God’s One and Only Son and humanity’s One and Only Hope. Christians may individually fail as witnesses. Only because we don’t access Christ’s authority over life. Never because he lacks or doesn’t exercise that authority. Churches may fail, but only because they for too long continue making too many mistakes to survive. Never by being true to the principles of church growth repeatedly stressed in Acts. Colleges may fail by courting intellectual pride in lieu of Bible truth. Never by submitting the human intellect to faith in Christ that seeks to evangelize unsaved people. Jeremiah 9:23, coupled with I Corinthians 1:26-31, especially verses 30-31, summarize Mark 3:13-15. Jesus Christ has all authority. He delegates it to believers who willingly witness to others. And, when they do, the Holy Spirit works to achieve God’s purpose in forgiving sin. We need not boast of our strength in service; instead we boast that God’s grace, despite our weaknesses, achieves his will. Amen. Fini Luke 6:12-16 informs us that Jesus “spent the night praying to God” prior to the next morning’s choice of five disciples to finalize the Twelve. The original six had been chosen during the Master’s Early Judean Ministry, John 1:35-51. Matthew’s (Levi) call came early in Christ’s Great Galilean Ministry, Luke 5:27-28. (All chosen had been in the crowds attending Jesus from his baptism by John Acts 1:21-22.)
Mark 3:14-15 explains why he called them. First, that they might be with him. To observe:
However, knowing all the while that his chosen:
Which leaves us a spiritual truth:
We who are advanced seniors in grammar school learned:
Judy’s music career in Frankfort, Indiana began in 4th grade when, with other instrumentalists, she played without counting notes. Then to Jr. High came a teacher who taught them the difference in the basics—the difference between quarter, half and full notes. Suddenly, the disparate musicians became an orchestra. And in High School, Judy became a repeated award-winning violinist in sectional and state contests. Always value, then, whatever you can about the Bible, God or Christ. You never know how the thing learned will help you understand and practice something else learned later. End Part II. Part III is the finale. |
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