JAG**

Our Guardian Angels Watch Over Us. By JAG September 18,2021 Based on . . . Matthew 18:1-10 Hebrews 1:14 Psalms 34:7 many have concluded that each of we Christians have at least one, or more, Guardian Angles that are assigned to watchcare and protect us during our lifetime. Matthew 18:10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." Hebrews 1:14 "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" Psalms 34:7 "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.". The context of Matthew 18:1-10 requires that we interpret Matthew 18:10's "one of these little ones" to be a reference to we adult Christians. (Jesus is telling adults to take the lowly place of children, that is to become properly humble). So? So we adult Christians are in that group that have "angels in heaven" ~~~ ("their angels in heaven." Matthew 18:10) So? So based upon Matthew 18:1-10 and Hebrews 1:14 and Psalms 34:7 ~~ we Christians DO have Guardian Angels that watch over us. Its NOT . . . ONLY . . . young children that have Guardian Angles that watch over them. Of course, our Guardian Angels start their protecting work, watching over us, when we are very young. The world of Angels is as real as it gets. There is an unseen world out there that you can't see, that is actually more real than this world that you can see. How so? Well, the people and most of the things of this world are in the process of dying or rotting or rusting away, but the people and things of That Other World Heaven are not. dying rotting, and rusting away. That which is NOT dying, rotting, and rusting away, is more real than that which IS dying, rotting, and rusting away. Notice I said "more real." This world IS real, but That Other World Heaven is more real. So Angels are as real as it gets. You can't see them, but they can see you. They know who you are. they know your name and they know where you live. And they like you ~ actually its reasonable to believe they love you . Why? Because they would love what God loves and God loves you. Here is a list of some Bible verses/passages if you ever want to "do a read up" on what the Bible has to say about Angels: Luke 15:10 Psa. 103:20 Ex.23:20 Psa 91:11 Luke 1:19 Judges 6:11-12 2 Kings 6:15-17 Acts 10:4 Acts 12:7-9 Dan. 9: 21-23 Matt. 1:18 Gen 24:40 Gen 19:1-11 Matt. 13:41-42 Thoughts? ``

Okay. Thanks for the clarification. Best. JAG ``

You quoted this part of the OP: "Yes", replied Frail Christian Pessimist, "Jesus' command to His Christian Church to go and make disciples of all nations will fail. And you then said Amen under what you quoted. Are you saying you agree with Frail Christian Pessimist, that Jesus' Great commission will fail? Just trying to get clarification regarding what you are saying. Thanks, JAG ``

"Because God can NOT be defeated and Jesus is God."__JAG "I'm not sure you believe that"__Other one I DO believe that. Strongly too. Best JAG ``

Thanks. Your post was very good to. I'm gonna make a copy of it to keep. Thanks for writing that up. Best Regards. JAG ``

Jesus Can Not Be Defeated. By JAG September 16, 2021 Because God can NOT be defeated and Jesus is God. Jesus is the Word and "In the beginning was the Word and . . . the Word was God" {John 1:1} . . . . . . and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and He can not be defeated by Sin, Satan, and Satan's sad selfish self-seeking sapiens. Would you please seize . . . upon this mighty truth: Jesus is NOW the most powerful Person in the Universe. John 13:3 John 3:35 John 5:22 Col. 2:9-10 Matt. 28:18 1 Cor. 15:24-25 And He was there when . . . The Holy Trinity {Father, Son, Holy Spirit} created Andromeda, a galaxy 41,631,870 miles in diameter {67 kiloparsecs} which is only one of a few hundred billion galaxies in the Universe ~ by the way Andromeda has an estimated one trillion stars. Speaking of stars . . . Astronomers estimate there are between 30 to 70 billion trillion stars in the Universe. The Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit created it all. So? So They are powerful. They can not be defeated. "Now wait just a minute", objected Frail Christian Pessimist, "the Father, the Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit lose the War For The World. They fail to Christianize the world, and defeat evil, before Jesus returns." Then out spake Braveheart the man of God, "So, Frail, you teach that Jesus and His Great Commission fails?" "Yes", replied Frail Christian Pessimist, "Jesus' command to His Christian Church to go and make disciples of all nations will fail." "But consider this.", replied Braveheart the man of God, "When Jesus commanded His Christian Church to carry out His Great Commission, He said 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. THEREFORE go and make disciples of all nations' and He added 'surely I am with you always to the very end of the age'" "Where in the Bible does Jesus say all that?", asked Frail Christian Pessimist. ""Matthew 28:16-20", replied Braveheart the man of God. "Moreover", continued Braveheart the man of God, "Jesus' death on The Cross and His Resurrection, has NOW defeated all His Enemies, and Sin, and Satan and . . . . . . Jesus NOW sits at the right hand of the Father God Almighty, so Jesus NOW has ALL power to win the War For The World. "I base my beliefs about the future on what the newspapers say", replied Frail Christian Pessimist, "and the news headlines say the world is growing more and more evil all the time." "So Evil, not Jesus, wins the War For The World?", asked Braveheart the man of God. "Yes, that's exactly right. You are correct", replied Frail Christian Pessimist. "Are you saying that Jesus is a Loser?", asked Braveheart the man of God. "I fear the worst", replied Frail Christian Pessimist. {A wise man once asked: Can we trust newspapers and news headlines to tell us the truth? Do you, reader, trust newspapers to tell you the truth?} "By the way I'm curious, what are your favorite news sources?", asked Braveheart the man of God. "I read the news headlines every day on the Internet", replied Frail Christian Pessimist, "and I listen to the cable news networks a lot. I particularly like Fox News." "But the Bible is our source", replied Braveheart the man of God, "and all Scripture is given by inspiration of God {2 Timothy 3:16-20} . . . . . . and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us . . . . . . this means . . . . . . we can successfully carry out our Lord Jesus' Great Commission command, to go and make disciples of all nations." "No! We can not do that", replied Frail Christian Pessimist. "Evil is more powerful than Good, and the Good loses the War For The World. I'm not giving up my newspapers." Elsewhere on the battlefield . . . Lieutenant Pale Grasshopper: "Look General, our Christian Army is taking heavy losses everywhere along our front, on both our flanks, and in our center. We're losing the battle, sir, and we must speedily retreat right now, General." General John Strongfaith: "Stand firm. Stay calm. Be strong. Get a hold of yourself Lieutenant Grasshopper. Have faith in God. Hold on. Take courage. Our heavy casualties only serve to make our army battle-hardened which makes us stronger. We know how this war ends. We win it. This Christian Army gradually destroys all it's enemies {1 Cor. 15:24-25}. Therefore we fight it on out to the end. So advance the entire line forward right now, and do it with a glad heart." Back to Braveheart . . . Braveheart the man of God speaks: "There is world-changing power in The Blood of The Cross. There is world-changing power in Jesus' Resurrection. The Bible says Jesus 'was declared the Son Of God WITH POWER by the Resurrection from the dead' {Philippians 2:8-9} . . . . . . and shortly after His Resurrection, Jesus boldly proclaimed that 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth' {Matthew 28:18} So? So Jesus commanded His evangelizing Great Commission SOON AFTER His Resurrection. Why is this important? Because of the huge enormous power of His Resurrection to change the world. We have Victory in Jesus! Jesus NOW has the power to empower His Christian Church to go and make disciples of all nations." "Evil is strong and the Christian Church will fail to successfully carry out Jesus' Great Commission", replied Frail Christian Pessimist. Braveheart the man of God, in kindness and with compassion now said to Frail Christian Pessimist: "Frail, I leave you with these Christian victory thoughts: There is no power on this earth that can defeat the power of The Cross and the power of Jesus' Resurrection . . . . . . that now empowers Jesus' Christian Church to successfully carry out His Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations . . . . . . therefore the Lord Jesus will gradually win the War For The World. "The newspapers paint a different picture", replied Frail Christian Pessimist, "and I have faith in the news." [] Agree? Disagree? Thoughts? ``

My pleasure. Glad you liked it. Best. JAG ``

Thanks. Sometimes give this one a listen: God Bless. JAG This was filmed in Saint Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. ```

Did you like anything in the piece? Was there just one (1) point that you liked and appreciated? Best Regards. JAG ``

God Loved Us And Gave Us ♫ Sarah Brightman ♫ And Many Other Blessings Too. By JAG September 3, 2021 Gave us Sarah Brightman . . . to brighten our lives with songs like the beautiful "Canto Della Terra" duet with Andrea Bocelli, and the lovely captivating "Sarai Qui" sung with Alessandro Safini. Sarah Brightman, her voice and her music, makes us happy. . . . as does the delightful personality and voice of the beautiful Russian operatic soprano Anna Netrebko. To see and hear Anna sing "Dammi tu forza, O Cielo" from Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata, deeply moves our soul. Its also powerfully sung by the graceful and talented American soprano Renee Fleming and the lovely Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu {ger gue}. All three renditions will deeply stir the human soul. "Dammi tu forza, O Cielo" is powerful music. We thank You Father, for the gift of soul-stirring music. God, who loves Sarah and Anna, also loves music. We humans received our love of music from Him who is the Original Musician ~ the creative Creator of music-making birds and the creative designer of their bird songs. And not just those ear-pleasing happy sounds . . . God also created rain and designed it to make its own music. Rain sounds. Some of us hear musical notes from pouring down sheets of rain when we're safe inside our homes ~ you probably do too. And when the wind blows through the tree tops . . . . . . and we hear musical notes in the sounds of the ocean's waves crashing against the shore line. And in the distant rumblings of thunderstorms . . . . . . and in the roar of great falls, like Niagara . . . . . . and in the sounds of rustling leaves in Autumn ~ the falling leaves of Fall. Thank You Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit for the music-sounds of Sarah, Anna, song birds, rain, wind, the ocean's waves, thunderstorms, and the rustling leaves of Fall. All these gifts make living life lovely. And what would we have done, Lord, without Luciano Pavarotti? What a voice! What a magnanimous personality! We miss Luciano, but we'll see him again in Heaven. Thank You Father for the gift of Luciano Pavarotti, for his life and his music . . . . . . . and thank You Father for the magnificent gift of Andrea Bocelli, who now not seeing, has helped untold millions see and feel and come to love Your gift of music to the world through his soul-stirring "il Mare Calmo Della Sera" and "Romanza" and "Melodramma", to name only three of many. And thank You Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit for life itself. Our days in this world are like "a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" {James 4:14} ~ so help us to enjoy our fleeting earthly days and to live our lives to the full . . . Vivamus, moriendum est {Let us live, since we must die} Yet we do not die. We do not die because the Lord Jesus has defeated Death for us on The Cross and with that Empty Tomb on Resurrection Sunday. And now whoever believes in Jesus will not die, but have Eternal Life. The Lord Jesus said to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die, and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die." Thank You Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit for The Cross and for Salvation and Eternal Life, the greatest gifts of all. [] Thoughts?

The New Testament's Demons Are As Real As It Gets. By JAG August 31, 2021 They are bodiless spirits of fallen angels. They strongly desire to get back inside a body ~ and the bodies of pigs will do just fine. How can we be certain they are bodiless spirits? Because if they had bodies of their own, they wouldn't be begging to be allowed to use the bodies of pigs. "The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs." {Luke 8:32) (same in Mark 5:9-13} Once upon a time I was puzzled reading about demons ~ in the New Testament I mean. They also made me just a wee bit uneasy. Are demons really real? The Bible is the inspired inerrant word of God, I never doubted that, but we're living in modern times and there has to be some other explanation. Wrong. Demons are as real as dogs, dolphins, and daffodils, and here is what I think happened: There was war in heaven. We know that. We've read about it in Rev. 12:7-9. In that war . . . Michael and his good angles killed the physical bodies of Satan and his evil angels and sent their bodiless spirits hurling down to earth ~ where they now, apparently crave above all else, to get back inside a body and they'll even beg to be allowed to enter hogs if its that or nothing. Let's take a minute and read Rev. 12:7-9 together: "Then war broke out in Heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled to the earth ~ that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him." So there was War in Heaven . . . And this is what Jesus said about that war: "I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven." {Luke 10:18} In Rev. 12:9 the Apostle John said the same thing like this: "Satan "was hurled down . . . He was hurled to the earth." Jesus' disciples said to Him: "even the demons submit to us in Your name" {Luke 10:17}. Upon hearing that Jesus immediately came back with "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." {Luke 10:18} So? So there is a direct connection between demons on the earth and that War in Heaven where Satan was kicked out and hurled like lightning to the earth. Moreover . . . Demons, now spirits without bodies, hate their present condition. They need to occupy bodies so they can meaningfully interact with their surroundings. They find living without a body to be extremely unpleasant. And even pigs will do . . . Again, "the demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs" {Luke 8:32} And they actually did that. Jesus gave them permission and then "they went into the pigs." {Luke 8:33}. Being inside a body keeps them out of the Unpleasant Void. When they are not occupying a body, they are in a place they don't want to be. They call it The Abyss. "They begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. {Luke 8:31} (The NIV capitalizes the word Abyss.) They're smart enough to avoid The Abyss, if they can. The New Testament's demons are persons with intelligence that can carry on a conversation. They did exactly that with Jesus in Luke 8:26-33. And they know how important the Lord Jesus is: "A demon-possessed man . . . [shouted] what do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" {Luke 8:27-28} And demons can feel pain and they want to avoid it. One demon said to Jesus, "I beg You don't torture me." {Luke 8:28}. The New Testament's demons know that Pain is in their future. "What do You want with us, Son of God? [the demons] shouted. Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?" {Matthew 8:29}. Here is a comforting thought . . . God protects His people from demons: Christians cannot be possessed by demons. We have the Holy Spirit living within us {1 Cor. 6:19}. and He protects us from the Evil One. The power of The Cross, the Resurrection, and the Exaltation {Jesus now being seated at the right hand of Almighty God} has secured eternal redemption for we who believe in the Lord Jesus as our Savior. Thank You Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit for loving us, for saving us, and for protecting us from the Evil Ugly One. Demons are sentient beings {able to perceive and feel things}. They are self aware. "I beg you not to torture ME", said one demon. {Luke 8:28}. More than one demon spirit can occupy the same human body. "What is your name?", asked Jesus. "Legion", he replied because many demons had gone into [the man]." {Luke 8:30} So what can we conclude from all this? (1) Demons are looking for susceptible people to occupy. They need a body. (2) Being fallen angels, they're no more mysterious than angels. We don't find angels to be hugely mysterious. We understand a lot about who they are and what they do. Demons are the spirits of fallen angels who followed their leader Satan in rebellion against God and like Satan, were kicked out of heaven and hurled bodiless to the earth where they began searching for humans susceptible to being demon possessed. Their bodies were killed during the War in Heaven and they don't like being in that condition. They crave bodies so they can escape The Abyss and remain on earth interacting with the much more enjoyable aspects of human life. How about now? Do demons occupy humans today, 21st century? I think they do. Why is it hard to believe that Charles Manson was demon possessed? Nine murders in four locations. Cult leader of the Manson Family who had mesmerizing control over approximately 100 followers. You ever looked into the eyes {pictures} of Charles Manson? Spooky. Scary stuff. How about Jeffery Dahmer the Milwaukee Cannibal? A serial killer, sex offender, and murderer who dismembered 17 men and boys and ate some of them. Dahmer was also into Necrophilia {sex with dead people . . . with corpses} So? So why is it difficult to believe that Jeffery Dahmer was demon possessed? And what about the "Rev." Jim Jones and what happened in Jonestown in Guyana? 918 people drank cyanide-laced Kool Aid and laid down to die under the captivating control of demonic Evil "Rev." Jim. You ever read "Our Father Who Art In Hell: The Life And Death Of Jim Jones"? Don't. It's not pretty. Why is it difficult to believe that Jim Jones was demon possessed. And how about the world's criminally "insane" murderers, torturers, and rapists ~ locked away in maximum security cells. How many of them could be occupied by the spirits of Satan's fallen angels? And why wouldn't they be? [] Epilogue. It was noised abroad that some Christians actually put the personal blame on Charles Manson, Jeffery Dahmer, and Jim Jones for what they did and had the nerve to label it as sin against the God of the Bible. "Listen", said Sly Sigh-Chiatrist, "we don't like the Bible, or the God of the Bible, or the concept of personal sin." "That's exactly right, we surely do not", replied Cunning Sigh-Chologist, "so let's invent some pseudo-intellectual gobbledygook medical-sounding terminology to befuddle the easily-befuddled masses." "That's a splendid idea", cooed Sly Sigh-Chiatrist, "how 'bout 'borderline personality disorder' and 'psychotic disorder' and here's a really good one 'schizotypal personality disorder'. Will these get the job done?" "Yes, I think they will", replied Cunning Sigh-Chologist, "and let's add 'psychosis' and 'schizophrenia' to the list. The masses will swallow our science-sounding bafflegab hook, line, and sinker. Gullibility flows strong and thick 21st century." "I love it", smirked Sly Sigh-Chiatrist, "and then the masses will have to come to us and give us their money for our therapy treatments and our pills." "Exactly", grinned Cunning Sigh-Chologist, "and at the same time we can get rid of the outdated notions of God and personal sin." "Okay then", smiled Sly Sigh-Chiatrist, "let's do it." And so they did. [][] Agree? Disagree? Thoughts? ``

Thanks for the comment. In my 3rd paragraph I said this: "Some atheists say they do not know if humans cease to exist after death, that there may be an afterlife." Best. JAG

Atheism And Ceasing To Exist Oblivion. By JAG When you die, is that the end of you? Or do you continue to live on and on somewhere after you die? Atheists answer those questions as follows: Some atheists say they do not know if humans cease to exist after death, that there may be an afterlife. Many other atheists say that humans DO cease to exist after death. The following remarks are addressed to those atheists who we can correctly label "Humans-Cease-To-Exist-Atheists." Cockroaches . . . On Humans-Cease-To-Exist Atheism there is no ultimate difference in the end of a human being and a cockroach, in that both have the same ultimate destiny, namely oblivion as in ceasing to exist. This is a very sad position to hold and believe. House plants . . . On Humans-Cease-To-Exist Atheism there is no ultimate difference in the end of a human being and a house plant, in that both have the same ultimate destiny, namely oblivion as in ceasing to exist. The same very sad thought. Question for Humans-Cease-To-Exist-Atheists: How does it make you feel to believe that you have no more ultimate worth and value than a house plant and a cockroach? Or dead critters smashed in road kills . . . . {they cease to exist too } Again, that which ceases to exist has no ultimate worth and value. Nothing cannot be valuable. Cockroaches and house plants die and cease to exist. They cease to be valuable. They become trash to be collected and discarded. Get set for some repetition . . . . On Cease-To-Exist Atheism you eventually cease to exist and that which has ceased to exist has become a zero. Atheists do have worth and value in the present to their own selves and in their own mind and in their own feelings. And they do have present worth and value to their family and to their friends. However on Cease-To-Exist Atheism atheists have no ultimate worth and value because they ultimately become nothing. Zero. 0.0000 Atheists can make valuable contributions to humanity and they can leave behind that value, for example if an atheist finds a cure for a disease -- but the atheist himself, on his atheism, has no ultimate worth and value because on atheism he ceases to exist and that which has ceased to exist has become a zero 0000000 and a zero is not valuable. He ONCE WAS valuable --- but now that he has, on atheism, become a zero, he is no longer valuable. Ultimate definition: "being or happening at the end of a process." On Cease-To-Exist Atheism atheists will cease to exist at the end of the process of their lives. That which no longer exists is not worth anything. Its utterly impossible for nothing to be valuable. And on Cease-To-Exist Atheism, they end up ultimately in oblivion, as in nothing. Zero. Why do I keep repeating this? Because repetition is the mother of learning. And because , , , , This is very sad. Atheism is pure sadness. No future. No hope. No more love. No more music. No more good movies. No more friends. No more satisfying relationships. No more beauty. No more sunsets to enjoy. No more good food to enjoy. No more beautiful images to enjoy. Name one, just one, good thing about ceasing to exist. Name it: {1} _________________ Contrast Christendom's great doctrines of Eternal Life. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16 "My sheep listen to my voice, I know them, and they follow me, I give them eternal life and they shall never perish." John 10:27-28 JAG

Thanks for your comment. JAG

Thanks for your comment and your interest in the OP, Missmuffet. God bless. JAG `

Excellent points. Thanks for your valuable contribution. God bless. JAG ``

The Sad Heartbreaking Unnecessary Death Of The Wicked. By JAG August 23, 2021 "There are some men that ought to be killed". said Bitterlycold Hard. "That's true", replied Merci Grace, "the police shot to death Badd Mann who refused to drop his gun. Mann had just murdered three bank tellers." "I hope Mann died slow and in agony. I would have enjoyed seeing him shot to pieces", replied Bitterlycold Hard. "The bank robbing murderer Badd Mann didn't have to die like that", said Merci Grace, "the Lord Jesus would have saved him, but Badd said no to God." "That's true", replied Forgiven Christian, "Badd had previously posted on social media that he 'wanted no part of the God of the Bible.' " "I'm glad he's dead and in Hell", smirked Bitterlycold Hard. "Quite unlike God on that, you are", replied Merci Grace. "He says, 'Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked . . . rather am I not pleased when they turn from their [evil] ways and live? I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord.' " {Ezekiel 18:23, 32} Justice Shallbedone speaks: Once there was an evil king named Jehoiakim whose heart was set on dishonest gain, shedding innocent blood, oppression and extortion. "Therefore, this is what the Lord says about Jehoiakim . . . He will have the burial of a donkey ~ dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem." {Jeremiah 22:18-19} "But God took no pleasure in the death of Jehoiakim", said Merci Grace. God wanted him to turn from his wicked ways and repent." "Agreed", replied Justice Shallbedone. "There but for the grace of God, go I", said Forgiven Christian. Justice Shallbedone speaks again: "The evil King Jehoram's intestines came out", said Justice Shallbedone. "What?" "Jehoram [King Of Judah] received a letter from Elijah the prophet, which said: 'This is what the Lord . . . says: you have murdered your own brothers, members of your own family, men who were better than you . . . [therefore] you . . . will be very ill with a lingering disease of the bowels, until the disease causes your bowels to come out.' " {2 Chronicles 21:12-15}. "I would have greatly enjoyed watching Jehoram's bowels come out, and hearing his moans of agony as he died", said Bitterlycold Hard. "God took no pleasure in the agony-death of Jehoram", said Merci Grace. "God wanted him to be a good man, but Jehoram was locked-down in his Free Will upon doing evil. He chose cold-blooded murder." "What you said is true", replied Justice Shallbedone, "and justice had to be done. God cannot be mocked ~ the Universe would not survive it." "I would have greatly enjoyed watching him die", replied Bitterlycold Hard. "That's very much unlike God", said Merci Grace. 'God does not want anyone to perish, but for everyone to come to repentance.' " {2 Peter 3:9} "You are right again", said Justice Shallbedone. "God even repeats His true heart's desire for us to hear once again on this matter and He says", 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn! from your evil ways.' " {Ezekiel 33:11} Forgiven Christian speaks: "Yes that's right", 'God our Savior . . . wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.' " {2 Timothy 2:3-4} "Agreed", replied Justice Shallbedone, "but God has given men Free Will. The Bible offers men a choice: 'Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . . but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.' " {Joshua 24:15} "Jehoiakim and Jehoram chose the Dark Side and that led to their destruction", said Forgiven Christian. "I'm sad to say", replied Merci Grace, "that some men will choose death and destruction. It says, 'At the end of the age. The Son Of Man will send out His angles, and they will weed out of His kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will be thrown into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' " {Matthew 13:40-42}. "That's so sad and it doesn't have to end like that", said Forgiven Christian, "because God says, 'Turn to Me and be saved, all you ends of the Earth.' " {Isaiah 45:22} "Yes amen", replied Merci Grace, "and it says 'for the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.' " {Titus 2:11} "Hallelujah to the Lamb", said Justice Shallbedone. "Amen to that", smiled Forgiven Christian. 'Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.' " {John 1:29} Father, we thank You for sending Your Son the Lord Jesus, who went straight into the pain of The Cross to save us from our sins. And we thank You for His Resurrection which conquered Death for us, thereby giving us Eternal Life. Merci Grace speaks: And now Jesus says: "Here I am. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door. I will come in and eat with that person and they with Me." {Rev. 3:20}. [] Agree? Disagree? Thoughts?

The Cross Has Defeated Unlove. Love Wins The War For The World. By JAG August 17, 2021 "i want to be loved", said John Doe. If John would change that to "I want to love" John would end up getting what he wanted because John can control that. Getting love and loyalty from human beings is not always easy to come by. When the Lord Jesus most needed love and loyalty from His friends "all [His] disciples deserted Him and fled." {Matthew 26:56}. And they were Christians too. The great Paul "195 lashes" the Apostle had friends that treated him the same way. At the end of his life, old, in prison, and according to tradition, soon to be beheaded by the evil absurd insane Nero ~ Paul said "At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me." {2 Tim. 4:16} They were Christians too. Julius Caesar had a very close friend named Marcus Brutus who plotted with others to murder his close dear friend. They stabbed Caesar 23 times. They did it to "save the Republic", they said. In other words, we're the kind of immoral men that will commit evil-cold-blooded-murder in order to do what we claim to believe is the greater good for the majority. That's what the traitor Benedict Arnold thought too. The "Greater Good" is afoot out there, and legion is the number of people who have Benedict Arnold'd their friends and family for the "Greater Good." The "husband" who, after 30 years of marriage and 3 children, walks in and tells his wife, "Goodbye. I don't love you anymore. I've found somebody else, and all of this will eventually work out for the better, for all of us." The "Greater Good" has struck again. Judas Iscariot, self-seeking, and craving a divorce has traitor-abandoned his wife of 30 years and his 3 children because "we'll all be happier this way." A liar too ~ an "until death do us part" liar. Remember Absalom? King David's son that turned on his father and wanted him dead, so that he Absalom could become king ~ for the "Greater Good" of course. {This treacherous drama ingloriously unfolds in 2 Samuel chapters 13 ~ 19}. In a 2016 movie about Lyndon Baines Johnson, the script writers have LBJ, at the end of the movie, say this: "But right now we're going to party like there is no tomorrow {LBJ had just been elected POTUS}, 'cause there is no feeling in the world half as good as winning. But the sun will come up, and the knives will come out, and all these smiling faces will be watching me, waiting for that first moment of weakness and then they will gut me like a deer." A typical scene from human history: "Can I count on you, my friend, to be there for me when the going gets really hard and tough?" "Yes of course you can", replied his friend. But later, when the personal cost of love and loyalty began to increase the friend tucked tail and ran away. By the way, you remember that US Senator from Pennsylvania, Arlen Specter, who wrote a book about his time spent in Washington, D.C. among his fellow politicians, and titled it Life Among The Cannibals. "Et tu, Brute?" {You too, Brutus?"} But here is the good news. The self-seeking traitorous cowards of the world will not win The War For The World. Judas Iscariot and his kind lose the ongoing battle to control the world. The world's hero's hugely outnumber them. There are hundreds of millions of hero's out there whose motto is, "I Live My Life To Help Others And I Love Others More Than I Love Me." On 911 over 340 fire fighters, in fact, did run into those burning towers while others were running out. They went in there, not to save themselves, but to save others. And America's large army of First Responders are hero's and not self-seeking Judas Iscariots. They risk their lives, many every day, to help others. These are the kinds of people that have the favor, praise, and protection of God, and therefore their kind will inherit the earth and rule it. Their tribe wins The War For The World . . . . . .but not so the Judas Iscariot-self-seekers, "for those who are self-seeking . . . there will be wrath and anger." {Roams 2:8}. Back to the great Apostle Paul: At the end of his life when all his friends had deserted him {except Luke see 2 Tim. 4:11}, Paul says, "But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength." {2 Tim. 4:17} God is like that. Always. Humans not! Oft times humans are fickle, undependable, unpredictable, and disloyal. But we don't write them off as hopeless. Paul says about his friends that deserted him, "May it not be held against them." {2 Tim.4:16} We frail humans need Love, Forgiveness, and Second Chances to do better next time. Many people today would love to find a soul-mate, "a person ideally suited to them". a close friend, a confidant, somebody they can trust. Natural affinity is what humans crave and an Inner Circle of warm personal loving relationships. Faithfulness and Loyalty. Love. Family. Family Love. But . . . the truth is, all this is not easy to get. Many people get married 3,4,5,6, times trying to find it ~ until they finally come to realize that we humans are at our best when we love without trying to be loved. I came not to be loved, but to love, is how the Lord Jesus lived His life. We can choose to live like that too. The Apostle Peter denied his Lord three times and all Jesus' friends deserted Him in His greatest hour of need, but He loved them in spite of their unlove. To love others when they do not love you, is to be like the Lord Jesus. When faced with unlove, the first human impulse is social distancing, rejection, flight. Then comes cynicism, pessimism, and negative thinking about the present unlovely human condition. Yes indeed! Many people, 21st century, are fickle, vacillating, undependable, and disloyal. But God loves them and wants them to become loyal hero's who live their lives to help others. God is the God of Forgiveness, Hope, Second Chances, and Restoration. And God has a Plan to defeat unlove with love. The Cross says God loves the world. The Cross and The Resurrection is where the Father defeated Sin, Satan, and Death ~ and now Jesus says, "All authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations." {Matthew 28:16-20} That's the Plan. It shall be accomplished. "Behold, I am making everything new."__The Lord Jesus {Rev. 21:5} [] _____________ Agree? Disagree? Thoughts? JAG

Its utterly impossible to believe the Old Testament and the New Testament are inspired by God and therefore true, and at the same time hold the pacifist position. Best Regards. JAG Thought For Today: "Take the whole army and go up and attack Ai"___God Joshua 8:1 ``

Michael, Thank you for the link. I read it and made a copy for my files. I really love angels and I have a collection of pictures and paintings of angels. Best. JAG `

Dennis, thank you for that write up. You made some very good points. And I appreciate you taking the time to share them. Your posts sounds like you might be interested in Mark R. Levine's latest book titled American Marxism. I think its now on the New York Times Best Seller List. Amazon has it. It just came out recently and I think they have sold about 1 million copies and are fixing to print some more. Best Regards. JAG

Riverwalker, Great points. Thank you for your contribution to the thread. Best Regards. JAG

Hi Michael, Thank you. Regarding JAG: JAG is the initials of my name. And thank you for your contribution to the thread. Best Regards. JAG PS If you'd like to explain what you mean when you include angels going to war for control, I'd love to read it. I'm guessing its a reference to Revelation 12: 7-9 [] ``

Worthless Bravery In Battle (Wasted Courage). By JAG August 10, 2021 First, love God with all your heart, obey Him, then be successfully-brave during deadly death-dealing battles. The fighters of the tribe of Manasseh were Spartan-like. "They were brave warriors, famous men", but "they were unfaithful to God" so the Lord delivered them into the hands of Tiglath-Pileser King of Assyria, who took them into exile captivity, and slavery. (1 Chronicles 5:23-26.) The Spartans were brave and famous too. But today Sparta exists only in our imaginations, our books, and in our movies. The Spartan-like warrior General George Patton said, "The fixed determination to acquire the warrior soul, and once having acquired it, to conquer or perish with honor is the secret to victory." That isn't true. "Warrior soul" does have its useful place in the Drama Of Life ("There is a time for war" Eccl. 3:1, 8 but if nations want to survive General Time (who is a fierce cold-hearted killer) they need more than battle-bravery and fighter's fame ~ they need the favor, blessing, and protection of the Sovereign God. In the world of men today there is much hate and evil afoot. "Such is the nature of evil. Out there in the vast ignorance of the world it festers and spreads. A shadow that grows in the dark. A sleepless malice as black as the oncoming wall of night. So it ever was. So will it always be. In time all foul things come forth."__Thandril, the Elvinking of the Woodland Realm of Mirkwood. Mankind is a warrior species. Today, 21st century, the human race has not yet outgrown its love of war. Humans are combatants ~ fierce ferocious fighters who forever fight military or political battles. Homo homni lupus (man is a wolf to man). One U.S. Senator, Arlen Spector from Pennsylvania, wrote a book about his time with the politicians in Washington D.C. and titled it Life Among The Cannibals. "Only the dead have seen an end to war." Happy Note: Al this war-stuff will be over one day (Rev. 21:3-5) . . . but not right now. In the certain-coming battles of the 21st century the men of America (and women) will urgently need the praise, approval, and shielding of the God Of Battles (Exodus 15:3) in order to emerge victorious against the onslaughts of General War and General Time. Wars, military wars or political wars, are inevitable but God will fight for The Good and for His People. "The LORD is a Warrior" (Exodus 15:3) . . . Yet, peace, not war, is here being celebrated. The best (and noblest) soldiers are absolutely-fierce reluctant warriors whose motto is "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God."__The Lion Of The Tribe Of Judah (Matthew 5:9) The best (and most dangerous) warriors are the ones who take to heart, "if it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live at peace with all men." Romans 12:18 But sometimes its not possible. And the absolutely-fierce reluctant warriors who prefer peaceful solutions to human disagreements have nevertheless demonstrated a fierce locked-down determination to fight fiercely and ferociously against evil-tyranny, to defend the good, and destroy the evil. One example: America and The Allies came together (1941 - 1945) with the edge of the bloody sword and stomped to death German Nazism and Italian Fascism. World War 2 was a just war. It had to be fought. Hitler and Mussolini were dead-set in their Free Wills and craved war and world domination. America, defending freedom, lost over 400,000 dead in World War 2. Hero's they were. The absolutely-fierce reluctant warriors say to all men, Come let us peacefully settle our differences. But to the would-be enslaving tyrants who demand their surrender and that they lay down their weapons: Molon Labe. And they then quote: "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome and fight for your families, your sons and daughters, your wives and your homes." (Nehemiah 4:14) Yet, no sane person wants war. War is metal flying through the air ripping off arms and legs leaving stumps. War is facial disfigurement. People that want war have never walked through those special wards in VA Hospitals where doctors care for the seriously and permanently-damaged hero's. War separates husbands and wives. War breaks the hearts of families. The Lord Jesus was sent to eventually save us all from the ravages of war, and He will do exactly that in due time (Rev. 21: 3-5). Meanwhile we pray for peace among all nations, we remain proudly armed to the teeth, and we remember every minute of the day, that loving God and obeying Him is the only path to victory when fighting military (and political) wars. [] Agree? Disagree? Thoughts?

He was the Lazarus that died and went to what was it? Abraham's bosom? So? So Lazarus ended up good. right? And all is good that ends up good, right? Best Regards. JAG ``