Neighbor

God has raised up many a notable warrior, even tellin g of how He has used them mightily and then often returning them to their previous standing. Their military use perhaps being the high point of their service to God. The most famous of world war one USA heros was of Quaker heritage. There is an old and classic movie about his amazing service to the military and his fellow soldiers of the USA, Sargeant York. we have had a US president that was Quaker and had served in the US Navy, President Richard M. Nixon. I cnnot identify with the denigration of those that serve willingly or by way of draft boards. Though it is good warning that came from a brilliant Soldier General Dwight D. Eisenhower that warned of the extreme dangers to the military and the country that the military -industrial complex poses to freedom itself. I have respect for all , ALL, that have served their country in the sacrifice that it is to be in the military for my own benefit. The memories of those that gave life itself, in causes heralded by civilian leadership that had no direct threat to themselves, cries out for better citizen selection of it's leaders. It does not cry against the honor of soldiers; the honoring of them all being well deserved by all that do get to live a daily life of secure affluence like never before known to any society. What is needed is better involvement by all civilians in their government leadership selection.

I personally know of many Christians in service to our Lord in the joy and certain hope of Jesus that do not or did not have any strong desire to be baptized in water. In fact I know one friend that opposed it for years. Yet when told by the elders that he must be baptized if he is to lead a ministry work he spent time in prayer with his wife then in obedience to the elders he and his wife both were baptized. Was he strong in his ministry duties? Yes! Was he an extremely active witness of the gospel of Jesus? Yes! I had the job duty to have facilities prepared for water baptisms for some 14 years and so saw and heard the testimonies of many a Christian, a whole lot of them waited years to be baptized in water.

God is awesome. He provides my need perfectly, for furthering my sanctification. I need not worry despite the woes of this world, for my hope is certain in Christ, my Lord Jesus.

Hmmm, Actually I have seen and experienced many over the years of being involved in Baptism ( Water Baptism) occasions.

Which Is? Seems to me military conscription itself, an active military draft, is not a bad thing. It is better than an all volunteer military force in that it comes with the fear to all that they might have to engage in war up close and personal.

Pick up the full armor of God, and use it in kindness is my own thought. Being a Christian warrior isn't being a person of violence.

Onward Christian soldiers....

I'll buy a pound of that one, medium grind please.

Talk about strange imaging- Biden with his eyes fixed down at his tablet, waiting for answers to be sent to him at his news conferences. Have you noticed when he reads he does so word by word by word, one word at a time. No Evelyn Woods there. He does not see more than one word at a time. Hard to have much comprehension reading that way. But he adds "No joke" at the end and that makes it all seriousness, I guess.

Did you hear what President Biden and Candidate Trump said about AI when asked? Trump said it was all a scam, that he was the only AI, while President Biden first just looked down at his tablet for the answer to be sent by one of his handlers. Not seeing anything, He finally said; I am in favor of AI. Adding; and all the other union shop vowels too, except the sometimes Y thing, it not being good solid union vowel like the others I might ban it from any government contracts. With that he said; they are telling me I have go now, they are telling it is my time to go listen to Roosevelt's fireside message on the radio. Rainman is going to sit with me fireside.

Funny one. Course progressiveness is progress in action is it not? We are already in a serious war where AI is the commander against us already. This progressive VP knows that commander well. Might be nice to have such knowledge of AI packaged in a rather brilliant mind on one's own side. -end commercial.

WWI which had it's Pacific theater beginnings as far back as 1885. Course our war's beginnings go way way back eh? " For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

While I am tempted to agree, I find exception in at least one strong voice in America ( USA). It is now a political voice, that of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who is seeking a place on every ballot at every State of theUnion of United States, including petition signatures gathering occurring right now at Florida. I won't do a commercial for RFK Jr. here, but simply want to share there is a voice one that like His uncle and father both knew how to negotiate and the why of doing so, and also recognized the excellent mindset of Eisenhower who had warned of the military industrial complex with it's might. One can find details at Kennedy24. Well I guess that did become a bit of a commercial, sorry bout that. But it does refute and for me give hope too that there are some at least one that is not like all the rest of the pack, pack of jackels-

Nice, very nice! Will be I think a most useful (productive call) worship opener at gatherings of the saints as the Spirit swirls about the gathered corporate body of Christ Jesus.

"The Efficacy of Water Baptism" Starting with a definition of efficacy, if the one below is acceptable, then I end up wondering what was the need or desired effect that Yeshua required from John The Baptist for himself? efficacy /ĕf′ĭ-kə-sē/ noun Power or capacity to produce a desired effect; effectiveness. Power to produce effects; operation or energy of an agent or force; production of the effect intended. "the efficacy of medicine in counteracting disease; the efficacy of prayer." Similar: efficacy Ability to produce a desired amount of a desired effect. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition Jesus came to be baptized by John did he not? Matthew 3:13-14. It is recorded that he said it is fitting for him to be so baptized. So if it was fitting, and efficacy is for a desired effective change, what change did Jesus desire or need for himself that he insisted on John's water baptism for repentance for himself? p.s. BTW the thread is a good one, one for all of little or much understanding. May many gain useful insight for themselves that leads to further reading the word of God. Reading with prayer, thinking, and yes much questioning. For questions lead to more prayer and reading perhaps with gaining insight through the Holy Spirit's guidance.

Warring tactics have been evolving since before a little shepherd boy took down a giant of a man with a sling and stones. Strategy for the most part has NOT evolved , it has been always kill the other guys; men, women, children, and their animals too or at least take their water, crops, and grain stores, so that they die. The idea of a "clean war" is a weird concept, likely the invention of the USA led US military industrial complex trying to gain ever more funding for products of war from US income taxpayers. They have been selling the idea of precision strikes with no collateral damage, which in practice has been a failure at two levels, one it is not clean and two it is not effective. Only killing is effective in war; ain't pretty, but is effective. The idea of convention in war is folly of those that lose. It was not ""convention" that beat the Kings army the Red Coats and allowed for the establishment of a new independent nation the USA. What has or had stopped nuclear war for decades was the declaration by then president Eisenhower that an attack on the USA or it's allies will result in an all out unlimited nuclear war response. Today's foolishness of volleyball warring with serve, volley, spike, to gain points as in a game is so much idiocy that ruins many lives, but resolves nothing. Now there is the idea of limited or tactical nuclear strikes. With the threat that Israel just as as example might use tactical nukes on Iranian nuclear facilities,and that such a plan might be acceptable. I personally think Ike had it right, you want to fight well okay it is all out no holds barred death to the losers war then, no in between. That thought sobers up even the makers of warring products, or did anyway.

"Why does Iran hate Jewish Israel?" My guess is it serves the purpose of God.

Efforts are not generally fleshly efforts but instead are the work of one's following the call of the Holy Spirit. Those efforts do work to build up local bodies of Christ Jesus. God uses the nost unlikely seeming individuals of the local bodies to quitely, without prior fanfare of any kind, accomplish much that builds up the body of Christ.

Our Efforts will not Build the Church! Hi, 1st Corinthians 13 and 14 seem to have a theme that instructs otherwise.

And what say you? What is your call? By whom are you called, and what do you see of your own destiny?

My Destiny; by neighbor Destiny implies a forward course that is known. And perhaps it is that, but I have found as I sail on that I need tack and jibe tack and jib. The wind is not always at my back, I am not on a reach either. Yet ever so slowly progress toward a point in the distance is noticed. It is about that time that I am moved along to set a new course, but always into the wind. I do not change, but the wind it shifts. Often I know not whether I am heading into a rising sun or a setting one. The skies and the horizon line are beautiful, whether giving warning or rest. Destiny is before me for sure. It is hope certain in the faith of Jesus. Like with that family car ride, I know not when nor where to along the course, but my destiny is certain none the less.

My Call; by neighbor First may I share that I was indeed called, but for what purpose I have never ever foreseen. I just go as called of the Holy Spirit. I have described my born again life as being like a kid relegated to the rear facing back seat of a family station wagon. I only get to see where I have been, not where I am going. God has put me to use again and again as a "help". God has moved me across the USA three times to serve as a catalyst for use in the cause of others that have ministries in service to God. Once used as a catalyst I am moved on, only getting to see the fruit of the venture in the rear facing view from the back seat as I go on forward to who knows what new Holy Spirit vision awareness led moment. Been that way for decades.

There are "ways". There are do's and don'ts too. An excerpt from a speaker I find most informative because he Paul Cowley lives what he talks, comes this most intriguing and I now think very useful conclusion within a presentation: ..."The “West” is a post-Christian society. It is NOT “becoming” post-Christian. It is Here and it is Now! On the other hand, large swaths of the “East” are now bastions of fundamental Christian culture. Case in point: the ongoing disintegration of main-line Christian denominations in the West. Anglicans, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, etc. are in all sorts of theological turmoil over fundamental principles. Who has drawn the line in the sand? The churches in Africa and Asia! Who has stepped “over the line” into apostasy and heresy? The churches in the West! It is the bishops of Africa that are most vocal about the need to “return to our roots” as God-fearing Christians. By failing to recognize this epic Reversal, we are apt to continue on as before...and become increasingly irrational, ineffective and irrelevant in our own society and culture! Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day for much the same... Jesus...said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the Signs of the Times” MATTHEW 16:2- Where do we go from here? What are we to do? First, recognize (like Dorothy) that “we’re not in Oz anymore.” We all live in a new, foreign and increasingly hostile culture. With that in mind, we’d do well to begin ministering like missionaries in hostile cultures. Not expecting easy reaping, but rather hard-core sowing. Planting the first seeds of Christ and Christianity. We call them “Pioneers.” There’s much to be said here. More than I can fit into this brief. But a few basic “Do’s and Don’t’s” of Basic Pioneer Missions Training might prompt some prayerful consideration... Don'ts Don’t be the Christian caricature. Remove the Christian T-shirt, yard signs and bumper stickers. We don’t need accessories. And it only build walls. You wouldn’t do that in a Middle East country...don’t do it here. Don’t be Rude: crashing the Pride parade, blocking the downtown sidewalk on a Friday night, criticizing unbeliever’s lifestyles or beliefs. Do that as a missionary in a hostile country, and you’ll be thrown on the next plane. Don’t complain about Working amongst Unbelievers. Missionaries pray for opportunities to find secular jobs in pagan cultures. That’s the most effective place to engage others. Don’t be a day-trader in Christianese rhetoric. Speak their “language”. Stop the Bold Font All Caps Red Letter KJV with unbelievers. Use the vernacular (but not the vulgar). Do's Spend of your time with Unbelievers. Be Sincere. Don’t befriend someone just to save them. Serve outside the Church tribe. Wash the Unbeliever’s feet. And don’t broadcast it. Start with Outcasts that no one wants to deal with. Infiltrate Individuals, not causes. Be an Example. They’re looking for the fraud. Don’t be one. Be prepared to Suffer. God will allow it. Because that’s when they’re watching you most. The world is in the midst of “The Great Reset.” We need to make a Reset as well. The Signs of the Times dictate as much. It’s high time we Reset our Great Commission approach... “Pioneers”...in a hostile Culture. Infiltrators behind enemy lines...in our own land. ------- What I take away from the presentation: INFILTRATE! Get in behind the lines, the walls, the trenches. One can't infiltrate while wearing a so called Christian message board t shirt. Evangelism takes time, perhaps even decades, it is a course of action that requires much effort, prayer, thinking, and then most of all the blessing of and by the Holy Spirit.

10 ways out of 11 isn't all that bad, but that 11th, nope not all that good. Might I suggest as a beginning, that wearing such gear makes the mindset of the nonChristian seer of it go through what I think of as the Star Trek defense, "Shields up Scotty!" And that is that, the message is abrupt, incomplete, and rejected outright. Nothing further gets through the Shields up defense. The gear only serves to flatter the wearer of it in the mind of the wearer alone. Be Christian, in deeds, not a billboard. Be actively different from the world not just another message within it. The work of Christianity is a long term slog, not a millisecond flash card.

Hi, While I once might have agreed I now find I disagree with the premise and purpose behind #11. For wearing of such gear does not invite, instead it is off putting to the very individuals one may desire to reach out to. I suggest never wear such gear, unless one wants to be enabled to associate only with others wearing similar gear.