06/01/26 DEALING WITH LIMITATIONS
This rack holds 275#s of barbell plates, along with my weight bench have been retired. I still have a machine for lighter exercises and 60#s of plates for lighter movements in my Pastor Cave.
I did not want to put my equipment away, but it is the best thing for me to do. I need and want to stay active, but I have to pick and choose my exercise regimen carefully. It takes me longer to recover from injuries, and I can't afford to miss my conditioning program of walking.
I have been using weights (off and on) since I was 14 years old. My weight program has kept me strong and seen me through some very difficult health concerns. Of course, I realize my help came from the Lord, but He used my commitment to exercise.
My weights have been an important, though inanimate, part of my life. My equipment has given me strength, health, endurance, and a certain amount of vitality in my later years. Weight training has given me opportunities for youth work, fellowship, and discipleship activities with men in the church. It has been part of my parenting, grandparenting, and my friendships. I always tried to use my experiences and influence to make their lives better. I have always tried to encourage the folks in my churches to pursue and maintain good health. Neglecting the temple of God is a very dangerous thing to do, and limiting your own service to Jesus takes place when you don't take care of your body.
My exercise activities have contributed to my emotional and mental health. I get these same kinds of benefits from kayaking and fishing. Those activities are not only beneficial to my health, but also to my outreach.
I know I have been blessed by God with good health, even in times of physical setbacks. It is not my own accomplishment. Other people have been just as attentive to their physical needs, but God chose our paths for us. I never saw my well-being as a personal accomplishment for boasting. It has been God's choice.
It may seem silly for me to say this is a significant change in my life. But I am facing limitations, and I am adjusting for a better future. My equipment was almost like a friend. I would walk into my weight area and feel good about being there, for the reasons I mentioned earlier.
I am dealing with my limitations. I am not crying about them. I am disappointed that I did not accomplish more with what I had in years gone by. But I don't want to spend my days crying about the past or withdrawing from the future.
God has given me many great years and experiences. I have always thought that I was living in the greatest time in history. I still believe this is true for Christians, at least in the western world.
The great need is for people to be dedicated to spiritual excellence. Physicality is a tool for spirituality. I am hoping to live a meaningful life for Christ for many more years. I just have to make some adjustments along the way.
Monday, June 1, 2026
Saturday, May 30, 2026
05/30/26 SHAKING THE WORLD...
05/30/26 SHAKING THE WORLD...
When I was a Quaker pastor (EFCER) I told my congregation we should be "EARTHQUAKERS, SHAKING THE WORLD FOR JESUS." We had T-shirts with a shaking world and this phrase. This is not the same picture, but it gives you an idea.
Whether we are "Friends" or not, all Christians should be "EARTHQUAKERS." Remember, the world was so messed up during the first days of the Church that the non-believers accused the Christians of turning the world upside down. Today, the world is so totally corrupted that Christians are trying to get folks right-side-up. The world needs to be shaken back to reality, and only Bible believers can accomplish this mission.
Whether we are "Friends" or not, all Christians should be "EARTHQUAKERS." Remember, the world was so messed up during the first days of the Church that the non-believers accused the Christians of turning the world upside down. Today, the world is so totally corrupted that Christians are trying to get folks right-side-up. The world needs to be shaken back to reality, and only Bible believers can accomplish this mission.
Thursday, May 28, 2026
05/28/26 THE PICTURE IS GETTING CLEARER
05/28/26 THE PICTURE IS GETTING CLEARER
This is a short post to point out that the modern Bible-believing Church is the result of a thousand-year series of various Christians rediscovering Biblical truths that had been abandoned for 1,200 years by the Roman religion, claiming to be The Church. Since the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s, the true message and mission of Christ followers, and sadly, for the many false Christs and false doctrines in these days of confusion.
As I said, this is a limited overview, but it shows us that the rediscovery, recovery, and restoration of Biblical Christianity took a long time, for many different believers to correct the corruption of the Roman religion.
Before the "Protestant Reformation" of the 1500s, there had been smaller and scattered attempts to return to Biblical faith. Part of the problem was that the Roman religion persecuted and murdered those who were turning from the false head of the Church to the Real Head of the Church, and turning from the corrupted word of men to the inspired word of God. During that time, some believers sought a truly holy life, and others risked their lives to make the Holy Bible available to the masses.
In the 1500s, Martin Luther and others rediscovered and taught the basics of God's plan for Salvation by Faith and the Priesthood of the Believer as the Biblical foundation of salvation. Sadly, the Reformation was centered around a few men who were not that far removed from some of the Romanist errors. Many of the errors of Rome continued into the Reformed movement. It was a significant start, but sadly it became a final destination for millions of Luther's and Calvin's followers.
Other Biblical truths were recovered as the Protestant movement continued. Basic doctrines concerning the nature and work of God, the Trinity, the Father, the Holy Spirit and the Son, along with restoration of doctrines concerning salvation, the nature and ministry of the Church, and Missions, among other rediscovered doctrines.
In the 1700s, John Wesley and others rediscovered and taught God's plan for the Fullness of the Holy Spirit, Entire Sanctification, and the life of Holiness and victorious living as the Biblical model of Christian living.
In the 1800s, John Darby and others rediscovered and taught God's plan for End Times and Last Things from a Dispensational model.
Martin Luther did not invent the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith, and Wesley did not invent the doctrine of heart purity, and Darby did not invent dispensationalism. These were great truths of the Scriptures which had been denied and hidden by the Roman religion for centuries. The light of the gospel was hidden with the rise of Romanism and it was kept hidden for over a thousand years. In the1500s a movement began which would lead to hundreds of years rediscovering God's Biblical truths.
The light of truth has grown brighter and there is a new attack on the word of God. This was foretold by Jesus and the New Testament Apostles and Prophets. In the last days there would be an explosion of deception, with many false Christs arising and many people being led astray. The End Times will usher in the Tribulation, the Anti-Christ, the One World Government and Economy and Religion.
The signs of the times indicate that the Last Days might be upon us. The Rapture can take place at any time. But until then, the Body of Christ must be strong, and holy. Make sure that you are totally committed and that you are part of a faithful body of believers. I need it, you need it, your family needs it, your community needs it.
This is a short post to point out that the modern Bible-believing Church is the result of a thousand-year series of various Christians rediscovering Biblical truths that had been abandoned for 1,200 years by the Roman religion, claiming to be The Church. Since the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s, the true message and mission of Christ followers, and sadly, for the many false Christs and false doctrines in these days of confusion.
As I said, this is a limited overview, but it shows us that the rediscovery, recovery, and restoration of Biblical Christianity took a long time, for many different believers to correct the corruption of the Roman religion.
Before the "Protestant Reformation" of the 1500s, there had been smaller and scattered attempts to return to Biblical faith. Part of the problem was that the Roman religion persecuted and murdered those who were turning from the false head of the Church to the Real Head of the Church, and turning from the corrupted word of men to the inspired word of God. During that time, some believers sought a truly holy life, and others risked their lives to make the Holy Bible available to the masses.
In the 1500s, Martin Luther and others rediscovered and taught the basics of God's plan for Salvation by Faith and the Priesthood of the Believer as the Biblical foundation of salvation. Sadly, the Reformation was centered around a few men who were not that far removed from some of the Romanist errors. Many of the errors of Rome continued into the Reformed movement. It was a significant start, but sadly it became a final destination for millions of Luther's and Calvin's followers.
Other Biblical truths were recovered as the Protestant movement continued. Basic doctrines concerning the nature and work of God, the Trinity, the Father, the Holy Spirit and the Son, along with restoration of doctrines concerning salvation, the nature and ministry of the Church, and Missions, among other rediscovered doctrines.
In the 1700s, John Wesley and others rediscovered and taught God's plan for the Fullness of the Holy Spirit, Entire Sanctification, and the life of Holiness and victorious living as the Biblical model of Christian living.
In the 1800s, John Darby and others rediscovered and taught God's plan for End Times and Last Things from a Dispensational model.
Martin Luther did not invent the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith, and Wesley did not invent the doctrine of heart purity, and Darby did not invent dispensationalism. These were great truths of the Scriptures which had been denied and hidden by the Roman religion for centuries. The light of the gospel was hidden with the rise of Romanism and it was kept hidden for over a thousand years. In the1500s a movement began which would lead to hundreds of years rediscovering God's Biblical truths.
The light of truth has grown brighter and there is a new attack on the word of God. This was foretold by Jesus and the New Testament Apostles and Prophets. In the last days there would be an explosion of deception, with many false Christs arising and many people being led astray. The End Times will usher in the Tribulation, the Anti-Christ, the One World Government and Economy and Religion.
The signs of the times indicate that the Last Days might be upon us. The Rapture can take place at any time. But until then, the Body of Christ must be strong, and holy. Make sure that you are totally committed and that you are part of a faithful body of believers. I need it, you need it, your family needs it, your community needs it.
05/28/26 GOD DESIGNS AND ASSIGNS, WE RESIGN AND ALLIGN
05/28/26 GOD DESIGNS AND ASSIGNS, WE RESIGN AND ALLIGN
I am not a Doomsdayer, and I am not a negative person. I know there is good and evil, I know there is right and wrong, and I know there is peace and tribulation. My reality transcends the temporal and trusts the eternal. I do not trust the process; I trust the Processor. This is faith at work. I am pragmatic insofar as my hope is in Jesus, although I am living in a world of chaos, contradiction, and conflict.
I am a Bible believer. I don't like the dark side of life or the trouble that comes with a world in freefall, but I am hopeful. I am not hoping in this world or this world's "solutions" to human problems. My hope is in Christ alone. In Christ we have peace, even in this world of chaos and suffering. I hope for the things He promised. In the world, we have tribulation (difficult times), but Christ has overcome the world. The "tribulation" He was speaking about in John 16:33 was not the designated time of judgment described in the book of Revelation. The "tribulation" He spoke of was personal suffering, trouble, affliction, persecution that they would face after His death. It was not Divine judgment.
Christians face and experience "tribulation" in this world, but we look beyond this vale of tears. I will give a brief note and quote a passage. Consider these verses.
(dlg note... Jesus' parable of the stony ground. The seed (the word of God) was received by the shallow ground. This person received the word with joy and endured for a short time because he did not get rooted and grounded in Christ. Therefore, when difficulty [tribulation or persecution] came, it caused him to stumble and fall away).
QUOTE
Matthew 13:21
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
(dlg note... Jesus assures His disciples that He has given them his peace; and though they will have tribulation in the future, they can rejoice because He has overcome the world).
QUOTE
John 16:33
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
(dlg note... Paul exhorted the followers of Christ in the faith, even through they would go through much tribulation).
QUOTE
Acts 14:22
22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
(dlg note... Circumstances, including tribulations, do not determine our relationship with God. We make our own choice. Sometimes it is very difficult, but even death does not determine our destination).
QUOTE
Romans 8:35-39
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(dlg note... Paul mentions our victory over tribulation).
QUOTE
Romans 12:10-12
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
(dlg note... God comforts us in all of our tribulations, making it possible for us to comfort others in difficulty. Paul acknowledges that their victory was based in a right relationship with Christ).
QUOTE
2 Corinthians 1:3-10
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
(dlg note... Paul had told Timothy he would be greatly tempted. Paul was concerned about Timothy's response during heavy tribulation).
QUOTE
1 Thessalonians 3:2-5
2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
(dlg note... Those who abound in faith and love, will face persecution and tribulation. They show patience and God will count them worthy as they endure tribulation. God will also recompense those who trouble faithful believers).
QUOTE
2 Thessalonians 1:3-10
3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
(dlg note... Though John addresses the event of God's judgment, which is called, "The Tribulation," John points out that he had gone through personal suffering (tribulation) because of his faithfulness to Christ).
QUOTE
Revelation 1:9
9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
(dlg note... When writing to the church at Smyrna, John commends them for being faithful during their own suffering (tribulation). This is not to be confused with the Divine judgment which is later called "tribulation."
QUOTE
Revelation 2:9-11
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
My comments simply point out that believers go through trying times, but maintain a faithful, victorious and Christlike response to their tribulations.
I am not a Doomsdayer, and I am not a negative person. I know there is good and evil, I know there is right and wrong, and I know there is peace and tribulation. My reality transcends the temporal and trusts the eternal. I do not trust the process; I trust the Processor. This is faith at work. I am pragmatic insofar as my hope is in Jesus, although I am living in a world of chaos, contradiction, and conflict.
I am a Bible believer. I don't like the dark side of life or the trouble that comes with a world in freefall, but I am hopeful. I am not hoping in this world or this world's "solutions" to human problems. My hope is in Christ alone. In Christ we have peace, even in this world of chaos and suffering. I hope for the things He promised. In the world, we have tribulation (difficult times), but Christ has overcome the world. The "tribulation" He was speaking about in John 16:33 was not the designated time of judgment described in the book of Revelation. The "tribulation" He spoke of was personal suffering, trouble, affliction, persecution that they would face after His death. It was not Divine judgment.
Christians face and experience "tribulation" in this world, but we look beyond this vale of tears. I will give a brief note and quote a passage. Consider these verses.
(dlg note... Jesus' parable of the stony ground. The seed (the word of God) was received by the shallow ground. This person received the word with joy and endured for a short time because he did not get rooted and grounded in Christ. Therefore, when difficulty [tribulation or persecution] came, it caused him to stumble and fall away).
QUOTE
Matthew 13:21
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
(dlg note... Jesus assures His disciples that He has given them his peace; and though they will have tribulation in the future, they can rejoice because He has overcome the world).
QUOTE
John 16:33
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
(dlg note... Paul exhorted the followers of Christ in the faith, even through they would go through much tribulation).
QUOTE
Acts 14:22
22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
(dlg note... Circumstances, including tribulations, do not determine our relationship with God. We make our own choice. Sometimes it is very difficult, but even death does not determine our destination).
QUOTE
Romans 8:35-39
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(dlg note... Paul mentions our victory over tribulation).
QUOTE
Romans 12:10-12
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
(dlg note... God comforts us in all of our tribulations, making it possible for us to comfort others in difficulty. Paul acknowledges that their victory was based in a right relationship with Christ).
QUOTE
2 Corinthians 1:3-10
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
(dlg note... Paul had told Timothy he would be greatly tempted. Paul was concerned about Timothy's response during heavy tribulation).
QUOTE
1 Thessalonians 3:2-5
2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
(dlg note... Those who abound in faith and love, will face persecution and tribulation. They show patience and God will count them worthy as they endure tribulation. God will also recompense those who trouble faithful believers).
QUOTE
2 Thessalonians 1:3-10
3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
(dlg note... Though John addresses the event of God's judgment, which is called, "The Tribulation," John points out that he had gone through personal suffering (tribulation) because of his faithfulness to Christ).
QUOTE
Revelation 1:9
9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
(dlg note... When writing to the church at Smyrna, John commends them for being faithful during their own suffering (tribulation). This is not to be confused with the Divine judgment which is later called "tribulation."
QUOTE
Revelation 2:9-11
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
My comments simply point out that believers go through trying times, but maintain a faithful, victorious and Christlike response to their tribulations.
05/28/26 IT IS YOUR CHOICE, BUT IT HAS CONSEQUENCES
05/28/26 IT IS YOUR CHOICE, BUT IT HAS CONSEQUENCES
Sometimes a person does not realize he has, or is close to having, major health problems until he gets a complete physical exam, including a total blood workup.
Such a checkup can ward off impending dangers, or discover the need for specific treatment, or expose an imminent threat to life, and sometimes it is too late. Sometimes it takes well-trained healthcare workers or high-tech medical equipment to detect the problem.
This principle applies to our spiritual lives as well. The Bible tells us what normal spiritual health is, how to achieve it, and how to maintain it. The Bible also warns us that the believer can become callous, unaware of his own condition, and will even think that he is doing well.
God gives us shepherds, teachers, counselors, and mentors to lead, train, exhort, warn, correct, reprove, and rebuke. Remember, we are a body. We work together, we minister to each other, we submit to each other, we honor each other, we love each other, we build each other up. We are not Lone Ranger Christians. Another model of the local church is that we are a family, a household. The norm, the plan of God, is for babies to be born into families, to be nurtured by parents, to be socialized through family relationships, to work together with the family, to serve the family, to support the family, to be united with the family.
Of course, the person who thinks that he stands may be failing in grace or falling from grace. It is possible that a person will not heed godly instruction, seek spiritual guidance or even yield to legitimate authority, which will result in that person being fallen from grace.
God has provided all that is necessary for life and godliness, from the beginning of our salvation through ever step we take, until we have finished our course. To resist or reject God's grace at any point is to separate ourselves from God. Any way you look at it, the person who is disobedient to God or is resistant to the graces and provisions of God is not following Jesus, or cleaving to Jesus, or continuing or remaining or abiding in Jesus, or in God's grace, or in the faith God has provided. I am not making this up as I go. These are various ways the Bible refers to the same issue.
Sometimes a person does not realize he has, or is close to having, major health problems until he gets a complete physical exam, including a total blood workup.
Such a checkup can ward off impending dangers, or discover the need for specific treatment, or expose an imminent threat to life, and sometimes it is too late. Sometimes it takes well-trained healthcare workers or high-tech medical equipment to detect the problem.
This principle applies to our spiritual lives as well. The Bible tells us what normal spiritual health is, how to achieve it, and how to maintain it. The Bible also warns us that the believer can become callous, unaware of his own condition, and will even think that he is doing well.
God gives us shepherds, teachers, counselors, and mentors to lead, train, exhort, warn, correct, reprove, and rebuke. Remember, we are a body. We work together, we minister to each other, we submit to each other, we honor each other, we love each other, we build each other up. We are not Lone Ranger Christians. Another model of the local church is that we are a family, a household. The norm, the plan of God, is for babies to be born into families, to be nurtured by parents, to be socialized through family relationships, to work together with the family, to serve the family, to support the family, to be united with the family.
Of course, the person who thinks that he stands may be failing in grace or falling from grace. It is possible that a person will not heed godly instruction, seek spiritual guidance or even yield to legitimate authority, which will result in that person being fallen from grace.
God has provided all that is necessary for life and godliness, from the beginning of our salvation through ever step we take, until we have finished our course. To resist or reject God's grace at any point is to separate ourselves from God. Any way you look at it, the person who is disobedient to God or is resistant to the graces and provisions of God is not following Jesus, or cleaving to Jesus, or continuing or remaining or abiding in Jesus, or in God's grace, or in the faith God has provided. I am not making this up as I go. These are various ways the Bible refers to the same issue.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
05/27/26 WHO RULES YOUR REALITY?
05/27/26 WHO RULES YOUR REALITY?
The "Christian" communities across America need to be alert, honest, focused, and committed to Christ and His word, whatever the cost may be.
Give up the futile and godless idea that human force will save America (or the world) from the incoming tsunami or rising tide of violence, perversion, oppression, torture, whether foreign or domestic.
Christians are told to support the State's responsibility to protect and to punish, even with our taxes. This does not mean that we will personally use violence. We are to obey the State until the State tells us to disobey God.
We are called to bear the Sword of the Spirit, willing to shed our own blood in service to Christ, but we are not called to personally shed the blood of our enemies with the sword of steel. Our personal responsibility is to reconcile, not kill our enemies. Jesus said that if His kingdom was of this world, "THEN" would His servant's fight. But this world's system is not God's kingdom. We are fighting a different war, a spiritual war.
The battles of this world will not bring God's kingdom. Christ and His kingdom will not be brought in through Geo/Political or military actions. Christian weapons are not carnal (earthly, material), but spiritual. Christians do not wrestle (fight) against flesh and blood (human beings).
There are plenty of people who are qualified to fight in the power of the flesh, but even then, it is ultimately a losing battle. There are very few who are signing up for duty in the Lord's army, yet this is the most important battle that will be fought.
The question is not whether you like what I say or not. The question is, "Will you do what God says, or not?" We celebrate those who were willing to die for our country, and rightly so. But folks do not celebrate those who take up the cross and marched into the jaws of death for Jesus.
We, as Christians, need to align with the passage that says, "...they loved not their lives unto death." Rise up o men of God.
The "Christian" communities across America need to be alert, honest, focused, and committed to Christ and His word, whatever the cost may be.
Give up the futile and godless idea that human force will save America (or the world) from the incoming tsunami or rising tide of violence, perversion, oppression, torture, whether foreign or domestic.
Christians are told to support the State's responsibility to protect and to punish, even with our taxes. This does not mean that we will personally use violence. We are to obey the State until the State tells us to disobey God.
We are called to bear the Sword of the Spirit, willing to shed our own blood in service to Christ, but we are not called to personally shed the blood of our enemies with the sword of steel. Our personal responsibility is to reconcile, not kill our enemies. Jesus said that if His kingdom was of this world, "THEN" would His servant's fight. But this world's system is not God's kingdom. We are fighting a different war, a spiritual war.
The battles of this world will not bring God's kingdom. Christ and His kingdom will not be brought in through Geo/Political or military actions. Christian weapons are not carnal (earthly, material), but spiritual. Christians do not wrestle (fight) against flesh and blood (human beings).
There are plenty of people who are qualified to fight in the power of the flesh, but even then, it is ultimately a losing battle. There are very few who are signing up for duty in the Lord's army, yet this is the most important battle that will be fought.
The question is not whether you like what I say or not. The question is, "Will you do what God says, or not?" We celebrate those who were willing to die for our country, and rightly so. But folks do not celebrate those who take up the cross and marched into the jaws of death for Jesus.
We, as Christians, need to align with the passage that says, "...they loved not their lives unto death." Rise up o men of God.
05/27/26 WHICH KINGDOM?
05/27/26 WHICH KINGDOM?
God instituted Human Government in the days of Noah to establish and maintain civil order. God's directive to human government is to protect the law-abiding and punish the lawbreaker. God has given the sword of steel to the State for this purpose. God reiterated this truth through the Apostle Paul in Romans 13. He did not give this responsibility to the Church.
I am in my 80th year, and this is the most aggressive President I have seen who puts America before other countries (while making the world a better place to live in). The Trump Administration has also done more to protect our young people from drugs, our borders from invaders, our streets from rioters, and our nation from terrorists, our churches and families from oppression, and our freedom from overthrow by blood thirsty pagans than I have ever seen in any other Administration. This is not an endorsement of the personal life of the President. It is a political and social observation.
Trump has recovered the world's respect, after we have been shamed by corrupt, mindless and spineless policies of previous Presidents. The policies of this Administration have also made the world a safer place at the present time. We now have a President who stands in the way of the most dangerous and volatile regime we have faced since WW2, and based on its capability and willingness to launch a nuclear war. A few other countries have been much larger, much stronger, much richer, and wars have taken more lives, but Iran's leaders have actually been killing and threatening Americans, and our allies, for almost 50 years (without American reprisal), plus they are able and willing to build and launch nuclear weapons against America, Israel, and even their Muslim allies. They are driven by an end-times apocalyptic vision, which would bring international destruction in order to fulfill their warped view of religion.
We have also seen this Administration present policies and actions against international aggression and domestic corruption that should have been enacted for decades. But America's rejection of the God of the Bible, and the embrace of Socialism, Paganism, Humanism, Hedonism, Materialism, Statism are sabotaging any leaning toward nationwide repentance that could eventuate.
We don't know what will happen from day to day concerning peace in the Middle East or on the homefront. Europe and Africa are suffering and folding under the corrosive invasion from the blood thirsty thugs and pirates that came into our world 1400 years ago, and that band of criminals is taking aggressive steps to replace American freedom and faith with Sharia Law.
We know that the kingdoms of this world will not bring peace. The Bible clearly tells us that Persia will survive and will be part of a deadly alliance in the end-times. Remember, their mantra has been, "Death to America and Death to Israel."
All of the money, all of the weaponry, all of the diplomacy, all of the treaties that will be used by America to bring about good, will not prevent the One World Government, the One World Economy, the One World Religion, the final Anti-Christ from coming on the world scene.
Yes, we should pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and for the repentance of America, and the free countries of the world should withstand the wicked oppressors of the world, but our only hope for ourselves and our families and for a lost world is a personal relationship, a spiritual transformation that can only be found through Christ and His word.
We should do what God wants us to do, publicly and politically, but never forget that this life, this world is but a vapor. Find and commit yourself to the eternal God, Jesus Christ. Don't waste your energies, hopes, abilities on that which is passing away. Spend and be spent for Jesus. Seek the lost, do not think you can raise the dead corpse of worldly politics, principles and powers.
This barely scratches the surface of what we are facing, and sad to say, men are not turning to the Sword of the Spirit; they are trusting in the arm of flesh, they are trembling and falling before the powers of darkness. Even though the masses will not turn to Christ in these times, you have the choice, the opportunity to turn while God is calling you.
God instituted Human Government in the days of Noah to establish and maintain civil order. God's directive to human government is to protect the law-abiding and punish the lawbreaker. God has given the sword of steel to the State for this purpose. God reiterated this truth through the Apostle Paul in Romans 13. He did not give this responsibility to the Church.
I am in my 80th year, and this is the most aggressive President I have seen who puts America before other countries (while making the world a better place to live in). The Trump Administration has also done more to protect our young people from drugs, our borders from invaders, our streets from rioters, and our nation from terrorists, our churches and families from oppression, and our freedom from overthrow by blood thirsty pagans than I have ever seen in any other Administration. This is not an endorsement of the personal life of the President. It is a political and social observation.
Trump has recovered the world's respect, after we have been shamed by corrupt, mindless and spineless policies of previous Presidents. The policies of this Administration have also made the world a safer place at the present time. We now have a President who stands in the way of the most dangerous and volatile regime we have faced since WW2, and based on its capability and willingness to launch a nuclear war. A few other countries have been much larger, much stronger, much richer, and wars have taken more lives, but Iran's leaders have actually been killing and threatening Americans, and our allies, for almost 50 years (without American reprisal), plus they are able and willing to build and launch nuclear weapons against America, Israel, and even their Muslim allies. They are driven by an end-times apocalyptic vision, which would bring international destruction in order to fulfill their warped view of religion.
We have also seen this Administration present policies and actions against international aggression and domestic corruption that should have been enacted for decades. But America's rejection of the God of the Bible, and the embrace of Socialism, Paganism, Humanism, Hedonism, Materialism, Statism are sabotaging any leaning toward nationwide repentance that could eventuate.
We don't know what will happen from day to day concerning peace in the Middle East or on the homefront. Europe and Africa are suffering and folding under the corrosive invasion from the blood thirsty thugs and pirates that came into our world 1400 years ago, and that band of criminals is taking aggressive steps to replace American freedom and faith with Sharia Law.
We know that the kingdoms of this world will not bring peace. The Bible clearly tells us that Persia will survive and will be part of a deadly alliance in the end-times. Remember, their mantra has been, "Death to America and Death to Israel."
All of the money, all of the weaponry, all of the diplomacy, all of the treaties that will be used by America to bring about good, will not prevent the One World Government, the One World Economy, the One World Religion, the final Anti-Christ from coming on the world scene.
Yes, we should pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and for the repentance of America, and the free countries of the world should withstand the wicked oppressors of the world, but our only hope for ourselves and our families and for a lost world is a personal relationship, a spiritual transformation that can only be found through Christ and His word.
We should do what God wants us to do, publicly and politically, but never forget that this life, this world is but a vapor. Find and commit yourself to the eternal God, Jesus Christ. Don't waste your energies, hopes, abilities on that which is passing away. Spend and be spent for Jesus. Seek the lost, do not think you can raise the dead corpse of worldly politics, principles and powers.
This barely scratches the surface of what we are facing, and sad to say, men are not turning to the Sword of the Spirit; they are trusting in the arm of flesh, they are trembling and falling before the powers of darkness. Even though the masses will not turn to Christ in these times, you have the choice, the opportunity to turn while God is calling you.
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