I know we don’t like to hear about pain, about loosing someone we love, about struggles. We have enough of those, why go and read about them? We don’t like difficulty and struggles. We don’t like hearing about ours or other peoples’; it burdens us. But God has a purpose for sufferings, not necessarily for pain(emotional or physical), financial struggles, or stress, but for what they cause us to do: suffer.
Something that might be good for us all to remember is that our Savior was made perfect through suffering. Christ’s example of what a perfect life, of what a good Christian should be was perfected through sufferings. In Hebrews, it says that Jesus was made captain of suffering.
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. –Hebrews 2:10
This doesn’t mean he destroyed it. Neither does it mean that he champion over sufferings. No, it means that he was put in command of sufferings; they no longer were to be pain for the sake of pain, and hardship for the sake of hardship. Jesus came to give purpose to our pain, to help us see a future passed our fears, to help us find security in sufferings. He is the commander, the captain of suffering; it has been put in subjection underneath Him and He leads it where He wills. Suffering is no longer a punishment. It is no more simply an effect of our actions, but an action to bring about an effect.
Jesus captained our sufferings to bring direction to them. Every hardship we endure in life as Christians is meant to push us towards something not to chase us away from something. Every trial, every tribulation, every difficulty that the world without Christ faces, pushes them away from Him. But Christians, with the Holy Spirit of God living inside of them, their sufferings only serve to bring them closer to the Comforter; to point them to the one who controls their circumstances.
Sufferings are human. But with Christ, fear is not an enemy, sufferings are not despair. Christ has become captain of our sufferings. What have we to fear of our personal well-being? Never should we doubt the capability of our Creator to care for us: His creation.
Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. –2 John 1:8
We sang this morning to kick-off a camp meeting revival in Virginia and I took a lot of this post from the message today, hence the lateness of its publishing. Anyway, here are some thoughts and notes from today’s message. Enjoy.
You can lose your first love
Sin will rob you of your joy. Like the church at Ephesus was reprimanded time and again for its apathy and loss of heat, Christians have lost their joy and vigor. It’s not how you begin as a Christian, it’s how you end up.
When you love your first love like you first loved it, you won’t want to stay home from church. Love doesn’t wither and die, it only grows. If we keep our first love we will only love Him more and more as the days go by.
Sin can steal that first love from us, not destroy it, never destroy it, but sin can separate us from our first love.
How do we keep our first love and ensure that we do not lose it?
Remember the cross and what Christ has done for you. I haven’t gotten over my salvation because the cross is my greatest accountability. I can’t look at the cross, visualize the agony of my Lord for my sins, and turn away the same as I was. The cross is irresistible. I cannot help but gaze upon the wondrous love of Christ for sinners. I cannot look away from the cross and leave the same as when I came.
You can lose your joy
The joy of the Lord is our strength and many people don’t apply that to our struggles. We hear, trust in the Lord, lean on the Lord, and pray for your needs. However, we need to realize that the joy of the Lord is the strength in our struggles. Trials are fleeting, joy is lasting and enduring. Our greatest weapon against our personal struggles and sufferings is the joy of the Lord for it is the strength of believers.
You can lose your courage
After the 62 word prayer that brought fire from heaven, in chapter 19 Hillary-, I mean Jezebel wrote a note and sent it to Elijah and he crumbled. This man of God asked the Lord to take his life for fear of Jezebel.
–T. D. Burgess
That note killed his courage and stole his joy even right after the miracle he just witnessed God perform. Even the greatest among us are susceptible to fear and doubting.
How do keep courage and avoid falling into fear?
We are to be filled with the Spirit of God as the disciples on Pentecost. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is joy. Where there is the joy of the Lord there is courage.
Stay in His presence. In the presence of the Lord there is fullness of joy. So, how do we stay in His presence and experience this fullness of joy?
First, we need to ask for it.
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. –John 14:14
We need to expect it and believe that He will do it. Then we need to praise God regardless of what happens, knowing that it is His will.
In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. –1 Thessalonians 5:18
If the Holy Spirit of God is controlling your life you will have a passion to witness and to lead others to Christ. You won’t have to go to church, you’ll have to go to church. You won’t have to witness, you’ll want to witness. Why don’t we see revival? The Holy Spirit is in us but doesn’t have control over us. We need to let go of the wheel and let Christ take the throne of our life.
We can lose our vision
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. –Proverbs 29:18
When we lose our vision we lose our testimony. If we don’t go to church, if we don’t actively witness, if we’re not living with a purpose, why would anyone want to be a part of this church thing, this Christian thing? Without the evidence in you, your testimony won’t reach even as far as your front door. Let Christ out of your house, let Him out of the church. Don’t keep Him locked up and visit him once or twice a week. Let Him out, allow Him to rock the world.
You can lose your reward
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. –Revelation 3:11
If you stop participating, stop being active in your church and in your faith, you’ll lose your reward. Something as simple as a cup of water given in Jesus name and you will not lose your reward in heaven. How simple is that? And yet some Christians will walk away from the throne with nothing to lay at our Master’s feet because they didn’t even give a cup of water in Jesus name.
There’s something burning in my soul that tums and rolaids can’t put out. Jesus loves us! And yet we only talk to him when we want something.
–T. D. Burgess
Unless we forsake all else we cannot truly follow Christ.
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. –Mark 10:21
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
–Hebrews 1:1-4
This week’s reading in the Bible Book Club was selected based upon a suggestion from Caleb Allen. Hebrews as a book stands out from the rest of Paul’s letters, mostly in the fact that it is written expressly to Hebrews; not Christians in Phillipi or Corinth or Rome. He was writing to the Hebrews wherever they were ion the world. Because of this fact, he needs to establish right from the start who Jesus is. The Hebrew people believed in God, they were His chosen people, but they didn’t know Jesus in the way He wanted them to know Him. Paul starts off by introducing this man called Jesus to the Hebrews.
He starts by establish the revelation of Jesus as being a new revelation and more powerful and important, more significant than the revelation God spoke through the prophets in the old testament. He introduces Jesus as one greater than the angels, this places Him in a rank above mere men who were made a little lower than the angels. Jesus Christ has inherited a name more excellent than the angels for his is above them.
The Hebrews were not to be taught and exhorted in the same way as the gentile Christians, for one, the Hebrew people rejected the deity of Christ. They scorned and spurned their Savior whereas the gentiles, recognising their need for a savior accepted Him with opened arms. The Hebrew people knew about Jesus, but the gentiles knew Jesus. Paul didn’t have to explain Jesus to them and verify His Godship, he merely reinforced that fact. But, to the Jews, the Hebrews, he had to almost pander his messages, teaching them about how their laws fell short of God’s righteousness and how Christ was the fulfillment of God’s perfect law and their only Salvation. The gospel of Hebrews is one that takes many chapters to fully build up to and is a stark awakening for a nation once righteous to the fact that when Jesus comes, everything changes.
America need the book of Hebrews. Our souls need the book of Hebrews. We need to be reminded that our once good works and passable Christianity is not enough to make a difference as servants of Christ. As a nation, we need to recognize that righteousness exalts but does not save. Yes we need to correct the moral status of our country, but we need to be saved from our many sins first, else as soon as we clean up one mess we will create another. There is no change without Christ and there is no Christ without change. We need to realize that. It’s time for a change.
I know what you’re thinking, but this isn’t politics, it’s personatics. I’ve heard it said that there are three was to relay private, military information: telephone, telegraph, and tell Hillary. But, despite her many flaws, scandals, schemes, and lies, I’m not here to discuss her politics. I’m here to discuss her as a human being.
Hillary Clinton is a sinner in need of Jesus Christ, as am I. She is blinded by personal greed and selfishness that every sinner faces and I am not passing judgement on her. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but some people just aren’t safe to be around. What I am about to say is not me judging Hillary Clinton, but I am genuinely terrified of what she may do if she gains power over a nation. Thus: my list of ten things I trust more than Hillary Clinton.
1. A vegan cookbook.
2. A serial killer on his day off.
3. Off-brand soda.
4. The IRS.
5. Barack Obama’s birth certificate.
6. Expiration dates on water bottles.
7. A parachute made of toilet paper.
8. The Book of Mormon.
9. Theology from Bill Nye.
10. Shaquille O’Neil’s barber.
Obviously, I wouldn’t put my faith in any of those things as a preference, in the same way, I would never trust Hillary Clinton as a president. Not simply because of her politics. If she was a republican I still wouldn’t trust her; because it’s not about politics, it’s about people. We don’t vote for the politics we want to become president, we vote for the people we want to become president. Why do you think people say that they’ll vote for Hillary Clinton on no other merit than the fact that she is a woman. Well, I have a slight and possibly insignificant thing to say on this matter: voting for Hillary because she is a woman, is like filling your car with soda because it’s at the gas station. Simply because it is an option, regardless of how absurd, does not constitute it being a safe and healthy option.
Soda will go in your tank; it’s happy to do it. But it won’t get you very far and will cause serious and perhaps even irreparable damage to your car and potentially yourself. It’s not about the fact that she is a woman, and if we are putting men and woman on an equal plain of stature, she is as bad a woman as these men are men. They’ve all sinned, they all stand for things that are a stench in the nostrils of God. The sins of a woman are no more insignificant, neither are they greater than the sins of a man.
You want equality? The ground is flat at Calvary. Everyone stands on the same level, and we are all the same in the eyes of God. Politics, yes they matter when choosing a candidate, but personal integrity and a fear of the Lord are a million times more important. If America stops serving God and protecting Israel, no amount or good or bad politics and no leader can prevent our demise. It’s not about men and women. It’s not about equality. It’s about integrity, and I’m afraid Hillary Clinton has none.
This was a more light-hearted post, but I strongly encourage to study what God says a good leader is before making decisions based on physical appearance or party.
He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. –Proverbs 9:7-10
The secret of a wise man is to know when to keep silent and when to speak. To dignify a scorner is shame; to recognize the wicked is a blot to one’s character and integrity. The wise have no dealings with the foolish: for upon communication doth the dignity of a man hinge. Our mouths are our most potent tools, they can be used to build up or tear down. When we speak, we reveal our true nature and character.
“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”
–Abraham Lincoln
A wise man knows not to confront a scorner in public, if the scorner is proven wrong, he will despise his reproof. Better to take the scorn in silence than to make yourself look a fool and cause the scorner to become a man of scorn. A fool hates to hear the truth, especially when he’s dug himself into a pit. However, a wise man accepts his reproof for he knows the truth is the truth and his humility in accepting that will make him wiser. He will also look wise to those who see this. No matter how the reproof comes, the wise will humbly accept it.
What does it take to be a wise man? Well, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. By learning and experiencing the holiness of our God we obtain understanding into His plan and purpose for us.
Wisdom is the fantasy end of all mortal life.
We long to know: it’s the root of the curiosity impulse, the obsession of scientists, and the basis of the sociopathic desire for power among all men. We want to know, we want to discover. We are the only living things on earth that have imagination. Our minds are complex and we pursue new canvases of knowledge on which to paint our imaginations. We want to know, but God withholds the future from us. Why? Well, with the dandy of a mess we’re making of the present, He knows we would make a worse one of the future if we only knew what it would be.
Wisdom is in honoring and serving the Lord, seeking His will, and following His commands wherever they lead. A silent defense was what Christ gave His accusers, showing true wisdom in when to keep silent. Nothing He said would change their minds and wisdom would not be quick to waste words on stone ears. We learn to be wise through listening to what the Master has to say when He would speak and applying ourselves to His teachings. Read, study, listen, and find wisdom.
Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: for he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.
–Luke 7:1-5
What do we know about this centurion in Capernaum? We know that he is a good master of his own household. Centurions commanded 100 Roman soldiers and were wealthy men among the common tiers. This man had many servants, yet he cared for them. The Bible says that this one who was sick was dear to him and was ready to die. We also know that he was a man of faith. “When he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.”.
This was a good man, not your typical hostile, Roman centurion. He was sympathetic to Jews and even built a synagogue for the Jewish people.
Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
–Luke 7:6-10
Interestingly we see that the two miracles of Jesus surrounding this one, (the healing of the multitudes and the raising of the widow of Nain’s son), were performed by a touch of Jesus and by His presence. This miracle of healing was not caused by Jesus presence, for the centurion felt unworthy to have the Son of God enter his house. This miracle was performed through faith in the word of Jesus.
This centurion caused the Son of God to marvel. Think about that. It says that Jesus marveled at him having not found faith like that in all of Israel. And here we see great faith in a gentile, in a Roman centurion who has authority over many men.
When this centurion said to Jesus through his servants, “For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.”, he was comparing himself to Christ. He recognized that Jesus was under authority from God the Father, that He had power to say to the sickness “flee”, and it would flee. This man believed that Christ could heal his servant with a word. He didn’t need a magical touch, just a single word from the one who spoke the earth into existence. Jesus is the Word, and the faith of this centurion healed his servant.
I love that the parable of the wise and foolish men occurs exactly one verse before this story. It’s almost as if Jesus is showing us an example of what He just said. This man has built a house on faith, on a solid rock. He is respected amongst the Jews and Romans, he is kind to his servants and generous with his wealth. He is a good man with a solid foundation for his house and his family. Because he has set his foundation upon the rock, when storms come, he has faith that a word from the Master can calm them every time.
The story of Polycarp the martyr is one of obscure, but profound identity. Polycarp was a student under the apostle John and one of the first martyrs of the early Christian church. He was a brilliant man of faith who devoted his life to teaching others about Christ and copying the works of John to be distributed in the regions of Rome. Because his name is never mentioned in the Bible, most people overlook his importance, or his existence. But Polycarp has one of the most incredible testimonies of the early Christians.
Now, this review is going to be slightly different than the others because I want you to watch the movie; I don’t want to spoil it for you. If you know anything about the life of Polycarp, then this movie will simply bring that to life. However, if you know very little about the man, or nothing at all, this movie could very well be life-changing for you.
So, rather than babble about the history, the biblical significance, and the worldview even, I’d like to introduce to you some of the people who brought history to life.
The man behind the movie:
Joe Henline. Joe is a young, eccentric, Christian filmmaker from Cincinnati, OH. He is one of the youngest directors that I’ve ever heard of, being only a few years older than myself, yet he does an inconceivably fabulous job in this, his first feature. I had the opportunity to talk with Joe and his sister Jerica (the script writer of “Polycarp”) about the film and what effects it has had upon their lives. Not simply asking about the film itself, but really getting down to the reasons behind the making of it.
When I asked Joe why he first became a filmmaker, he had this to say:
“It wasn’t an overnight decision as much as it was like being led up a long staircase. If I’d been given the big picture all at once, I might have been too intimidated to continue. But, my heart has definitely been driven from the start by how impactful media is to humans in our culture. One of the most efficient ways to communicate with someone is through imagery and story.”
–Joe Henline
The real drive of the film is, in part, Joe Henline’s motivation to tell a culture effective story that will impact lives. Henline Productions is not in the filmmaking business to make entertainment for the sake of entertainment. There is a desire to produce wholesome and life-changing films behind this man and this company.
The woman with a story:
Jerica Henline. I’ve heard nothing but praises for Ms. Henline’s script of “Polycarp”, but I wanted to learn more about the concept. Seeking to uncover the reason behind their specific choice in the story for this film, I asked Jerica how she and Joe came by it. She explained how their father, Jerry Henline (executive producer of “Polycarp”), had been reading articles written by a pastor friend of his on early church Christians, and how those articles were the inspiration for the story.
“One day my dad asked me to read the articles, mentioning that they might be good story ideas for future film projects… I was immediately drawn to the story of Polycarp and more specifically Germanicus.”
–Jerica Henline
She went on to explain about discovering how little know the historical figure Polycarp was to her generation. This became confirmation of the need for this film, to bring history to life and tell a story of true faith. As if the history of Polycarp was not powerful enough, the script for this story brings a level of realism that is nothing less than stunning. This script made random names on the pages of a history book come to life.
The man behind the man:
My path then led me to interview the man behind the character of Polycarp: Garry Nation. I’m a writer, it’s not my job, but it is a full-time passion of mine. So, I wanted to find out more than just what kind of actor he was, I wanted to know why he became an actor and discover his passion.
“Early in my sophomore year of college, I answered God’s call to the ministry of His Word. Music and drama were always an aspect of that ministry- still are, in fact.”
—Garry Nation
God opened the doors for his acting from there. Now, Garry doesn’t consider himself a Method actor, but still went to great lengths to study this obscure figure known as Polycarp.
“I never thought that playing a role would have as much impact on me as a person and as a Christian as this role has had. I knew who Polycarp was when I took the role; I had read the two paragraphs you’ll find on him in any Christian history textbook…
I wanted to get behind the script, so I did my own study of Polycarp and his writings. He is said to have written several letters to different churches, but the only one that has survived is his epistle to the Philippian church. I did my own translation from Greek because I wanted to get the feel for the way he thought and the dictation he used…”
—Garry Nation
The study he went to for this character shows in Nation’s portrayal. Many people have said that he was Polycarp in every way. The depth of story endeared this character to Nation, who described his relationship with the character as being so close that, “It was as easy and comfortable to slip in and out of character as to slip in and out of costume.”. And truly his portrayal was profoundly inspiring.
The cast and crew that made it possible:
Whenever multiple homeschooled, young, Christian filmmakers get together, there will be craziness. The Henlines did a laudable job of amassing their team for this film. From the supporting cast to the art department, production was meticulous and superb. Speaking of, here is a perspective of the art department from one of the support cast: Andrew Hurt, a centurion of Rome.
“We had a stellar team, both in wardrobe and art! They did an amazing amount of research and paid attention detail. The leaf mail shirt that I wore was hand made by the wardrobe people, link by link! With that kind of quality, it made our job as actors to immerse ourselves into the time era a lot easier…
One thing that I thought was really neat that the art department did, was getting real papyrus scrolls and plants for the actors to work with; then they took the time to write on the scrolls in a foreign language!”
–Andrew Hurt
It’s evident that good was not good enough for these people and for this movie. Nothing but the absolute best they could give to this movie and to God was even considered. Because of that faithfulness, and integrity, God has blessed this company, these people, and this film with tremendous success. It was also clear that they had fun while doing it. I asked four people what the funniest moment on set was, and I received four different answers.
Every person I spoke with about this film described it as being one of the spiritual high points of their lives. Andrew Hurt described the atmosphere in this way: “We had film and Christ as common ground”. Garry Nation commented, “Everyone seemed to be swept up into something much bigger than making a movie.”, and Jerica Henline called it, “A turning point”, in her personal walk with the Lord. This film changes the lives of everyone it touches in a positive way, from the filmmakers to the viewers. I highly recommend you watch it. I believe it will impact your life like nothing you’ve ever seen before.
Have you ever read a passage of scripture and thought it was just a collection of thoughts that didn’t really go together? That was me with 1 John 4, until yesterday.
The passage I speak of is one about knowing that you have surety in Christ and security in your salvation. The first few verses read:
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
–1 John 4:1-4
The context of that last verse is something we often overlook. We haven’t overcome physical things, but spiritual things. The spirits of darkness have been conquered in our lives because of the Holy Spirit living in us. We overcome in our own life first, then we can overcome for others.
But, not every voice you hear as a Christian is a voice from heaven. That’s why we are to prove the spirits, the voices; test them and try them to find whether they be of God or of the devil.
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. –1 John 4:13
Hereby we know that we dwell in Him and He in us… We know; we are sure of; we do not doubt that we are in Him: that we are saved and secure. How do we know? Let’s go back to verse 1: try the spirits whether they are of God.
We question the spirit that speaks to us to prove whether it be of God. That spirit gives us a comfort and a peace, and by testing or trying the spirit, we can know that we are saved. If that spirit can testify of Christ and convince us of our salvation, it is true and we can testify of Christ and convince others of His love.
Prove your salvation. Know that you are saved.
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
You know who you are, but who you are doesn’t make you an idiot. What you do makes you an idiot. I’ll be using some very strong words in this post, and to be completely clear in my meanings, I’d like to define them from the start.
Pervert: alter something from its original state to a corruption of what was intended.
Desecrate: treat a sacred place with violent disrespect.
Man: an adult human male.
Woman: an adult human female.
Idiot: a stupid person.
Those are all fairly straightforward, but the one I want to start with is: idiot. That is the litteral definition of the word “idiot” from the New Oxford American Dictionary. Even the definition is… Well, stupid. Synonyms of idiot are: ignorant, stupid(obviously), unintelligent, and mentally handicapped. So, what do you call it when a major department store, and let’s just say for argument sake that this store is Target, starts allowing men identifying as women to share a restroom with actual women? Based upon the definitions we just looked at, I would call Target(the management), idiots.
First things first, even should a man say that he is a woman, we still consider him a man who says he is a woman and not a woman. Therefore his, “gender identity” may be woman, but he is still a male who identifies himself as such. The real point is that being a man and being a male are slightly different. Male is a position, not just a moniker. Whereas the word man is a distinction from other created beasts that can technically mean both male and female: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”, (Genesis 1:27 ), the words male and female are not.
Female is a gender title that refers to the position in reproduction, and the make and model of the appearance and functionality of a person. Male, likewise refers to a specific role in reproduction and operates entirely opposite, but in complete compatibility with the female. You can’t change your gender, it is biologically, biblically, and ethically impossible. God, as well as nature forbids it.
At the very least, for such perverts there ought to be a third restroom designated. And I use the word pervert in the strongest possible sense. Not only are these humans perverting God’s plan in the most disgusting way, they are perverting nature and even our government.
This issue, for which we can hold the transgender crowd alone responsible, is causing strife and contention between the once united States, even greater than the election of President Obama. It is the single most destructive movement whose purpose is to attempt to pervert and desecrate the United States, Christianity, and the order of the world. It’s as if they’ve painted a target on their backs that says, “kick me”. Something like we would do as kids as a joke, and laugh about how stupid the person was to not notice. Idiots deserve to get a good kick in the pants. But are they idiots…? Or are they idiot geniuses?
Without intending to, this freak of nature movement has endangered the safety of all the nations. They have painted a target upon the heads of the world. You thought Sodom and Gomorrah got it bad for their abomination, think of what would happen to the United States of America, or the UK, or Canada, or Germany, or Japan, or Nigeria if this movement took over. God’s wrath would be so hot upon that country you would feel it in Antarctica.
But, back to Target: why stop there? Why not have species neutral restrooms? Just so we’re not discriminating of course. Why not specify that murders, rapists, child abductors, cannibals, sexual perverts, and all other manner of sinners are allowed into the women’s restroom? Simply because an idiot “believes” that they are something does not make it so. If I told you I was a 5’4 African/American Jewish Imam from Switzerland, you would stare blankly and then walk away. Why? Because what I told you would be so absurdly skewed and twisted that you would think me insane.
Yet, even that statement above would be more realistic than a male by birth, nature, and ordinance of God to physically be able to change his gender. Are we really that stupid? I almost can’t believe it.
Target has been a sick example of the drastic decline in moral values in the world today, but mainly in the US. The fact that we even have this problem of transgender, perverted idiots, who are obviously ignorant of God’s law, or indignant of it, is a sign of the end of time. Christ’s coming is near, sinners need to repent. This sickness in our souls, this befouling in our spirits can only be cured by the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is power of God unto salvation to them that believe. There are no grey lines, there is no such thing as neutrality. Choose a side: believe God or die.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Commitment. It’s difficult to keep commitments, especially ones made to yourself. We are fallible beings. We are susceptible to all evils in some way. Humans sin: to believe anything else is simply sinful. To prove my point about commitment… It took me 2 weeks to write this post.
Never again is a promise. It’s more than just words, it’s a solemn vow, though too often broken and belittled. We laugh our commitments to scorn. Every time we break them, “we the hypocrites” commit to keep them in future, as if the repetition of words will solve our sinful nature.
Never again: It’s a promise I’ve never kept. With how many times I’ve said it after dusting myself off from falling, you’d think it would mean more to me. But, in reality, the more you say it, the less it means to you. How many times can you say never before it starts loosing it’s significance?
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
–2 Peter 1:4
This verse helps with the hurt of letting go of the wheel and the crash and burn we experience so many times. It tells us that we are not automatically partakers of the divine nature, escaping the corruption in the world through lust. It is something we have to work for. We are given the exceeding great and precious promises, that by them we might be partakers. It is the intention of God that we trust His promises and by them become partakers of the divine nature. But, we have to trust and believe the promises.
First we have to know them. As the song goes: “You can’t stand on promises of you don’t know what they are.”. It’s imperative that we stay inside of the Word, hide it in our hearts, write it on our doors and upon our foreheads. Let the words of God be always before our eyes and in our minds. By them, we can stand, having a divine nature and escaping the corruption of lust in the world.
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you
faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
–Jude 1:24-25
This is my favorite passage for broken times. In the moments when I’ve messed up so bad that I hate myself and feel unlovable, it soothes the pain by telling me that the God who loves me in spite of myself can keep me from falling. Sometimes I wonder why I fall… Is it simply to teach myself how to get back up again? Or, maybe, do I fall to teach myself not to fall? The end of every Christian is totally conformity to the image of God, but life slows us down sometimes, we slip, we fall, we fail. That’s why we need to trust the one who never fails, who can keep us from falling.
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
–1 Peter 5:7
The solution to falling: repent and leave it at the alter. Trust the one who can keep you from falling. Give God your problems and let Him solve them. Only then can you truly say to your sin, “Never again”.
