Neighbor

With the terrible hateful attitudes so prevalent in the USA today I think it might be beneficial to look at what very one brave quiet tempered man did in 1974. He pardoned Richard Nixon. See the US congressional record of his statement at https://www.gilderlehrman.org/sites/default/files/inline-pdfs/t-02109.pdf From which comes this little excerpt: ..."we can help to achieve the purpose I had for granting the pardon when I did. That purpose was to change our national focus. I wanted to do all I could to shift our attentions from the pursuit of a fallen President to the pursuit of the urgent needs of a rising nation. Our nation is under the severest of challenges now to employ its full energies and efforts in the pursuit of a sound and growing economy at home and a stable and peaceful world around us. We would needlessly be diverted from meeting those challenges if we as a people were to remain sharply divided over whether to indict, bring to trial, and punish a former President, who already is condemned to suffer long and deeply in the shame and disgrace brought upon the office he held. Surely, we are not a revengeful people. We have often demonstrated a readiness to feel compassion and to act out of mercy. As a people we have a long record of forgiving even those who have been our country’s most destructive foes. Yet, to forgive is not to forget the lessons of evil in whatever ways evil has operated against us. And certainly the pardon granted the former President will not cause us to forget the evils of Watergate-type offenses or to forget the lessons we have learned that a government which deceives its supporters and treats its opponents as enemies must never, never be tolerated.".... President Ford saw the bigger picture and purpose that the USA may serve. He sacrificed his own future in US politics when he stepped up so bravely and said in effect; Enough we have a higher purpose than to be turning like so many snakes biting at each other.

See details at https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-names-jared-kushners-father-as-us-ambassador-to-france/ Excerpt: WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) — US President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he wants real estate developer Charles Kushner, father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France... Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a real estate firm. Jared Kushner is a former White House senior adviser to Trump who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka. The younger Kushner played a large role in brokering the Abraham Accords, the 2020 peace agreement between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The elder Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations. Prosecutors alleged that after Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was cooperating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation. Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to his own sister, the man’s wife, prosecutors said.... ...Kushner eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion and witness tampering. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison — the most he could receive under a plea deal, but less than what Chris Christie, the US attorney for New Jersey at the time and later governor and Republican presidential candidate, had sought.... ...Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009. The Times of Israel Staff contributed to this report.

Is the tone being set at the executive branch of USA government one of a conciliatory nature, one akin to what Christians are guided and even instructed to live out? Seems to me it is not, at least not as I read the statement attributed to the nominee for FBI director. ...”We’re going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections,” Patel said, referring to the 2020 presidential election in which Biden, the Democratic challenger, defeated Trump. “We’re going to come after you, whether it’s criminally or civilly. We’ll figure that out. But yeah, we’re putting you all on notice.”.... Kash Patel Wow! Going after news people that have opposed the President elect. Criminally and civilly (I didn't know the FBI brings about civil suits). Is that one of the first things that fascism does too? Is this nominee appointment more of the "signs' that God is working in the President elect? That he is a softer more thoughtful gentle person now having been anointed in the ear in blood by God? If you wrote, or said something not favorable to our cause then we will get you! Oh may even Republican elected Senators have courage to stand up to this. Lord help the USA.

....”We’re going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections,” Patel said, referring to the 2020 presidential election in which Biden, the Democratic challenger, defeated Trump. “We’re going to come after you, whether it’s criminally or civilly. We’ll figure that out. But yeah, we’re putting you all on notice.”.... Kash Patel https://apnews.com/article/kash-patel-fbi-trump-things-to-know-4cb7802bb3378576f3aa37df5f9770ad Also note the FBI's authority statement at https://www.fbi.gov/about/faqs/where-is-the-fbis-authority-written-down

....”We’re going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections,” Patel said, referring to the 2020 presidential election in which Biden, the Democratic challenger, defeated Trump. “We’re going to come after you, whether it’s criminally or civilly. We’ll figure that out. But yeah, we’re putting you all on notice.”.... Kash Patel https://apnews.com/article/kash-patel-fbi-trump-things-to-know-4cb7802bb3378576f3aa37df5f9770ad

I was rejected for a paper route by the distributor, I was the wrong color and creed in a city ghetto area. But I helped a friend who was proper. If he collected the money he got tipped by the customer if I collected I did not. Not only that I got a lot of catch me next week. My earliest independent effort at raising money was to go door to door collecting empty tonic bottles ( Soda) and old newspapers then taking the papers along the railroad tracks over the river on the railroad tressel to the salvage yard. Was scary to be on that tressel dragging my "red wagon" stacked with old newspapers, hoping a train would not come while I was out there. I was five years old at the time. I did a lot of car washing and waxing, babysitting, and piece work, before I got my first "real job that came with a paycheck twice a month. No matter how many workdays in the month 1st and 15th were pay days, same pay each time. Things looked up though as at my second real job I got one weekend a month off and one addition Sunday too. Otherwise I was "on duty" ( For a funeral home along with being on coroner duty some weeks). What a different world we lived in back then. Back then benefits were don't get sick. Now wow everyone is entitled in fact don't even have to go into work. Come to think of it I worked from home too as I could get called in anytime 24/7. My longest continuous work stretch without a break was 56 hours. But hey I lived through it all, managed to feed myself and then soon married with family. Been a long haul, and the hits just keep coming. Having just sold an asset planning to get by on the proceeds. I paid the fed and state taxes on it, thought well now I am done need to live on these proceeds and Social security but it is good. Then got the notice from Social Security that proceeds from that sale has seriously increased my Social Security Medicare cost to me so my Social Security retirement monthly benefit has been hacked with a very huge axe. Wow has it ever-SURPRISE "no soup for you". and the hits just keep on coming. That's ..."life in America, Amer-ri-ca" runs through my head from the movie West Side Story. Least I'm not going to be rounded up put in a detention camp and shipped out- well hopefully not, better take a look in the mirror though, and stay out of the sun too I guess. LOL Ah none the less, during good times and bad ones God is good, awesome even, His mercy from everlasting to everlasting.

Hi, He was a Roman Catholic that became associated with the Evangelical Free Church which is pretty much the American church of Sweden. When I was associated with one( EFC) I was the only person not named Olson. -Well just about anyway. There were some 3,000 Olsons, and me;nd evidently at least one McCarthy. LOL

Click on "Watch On You Tube" down in th lower left corner. NOTE this is far less about Trump and more about looking closely at one's own values. I think it to be a most valuable presentation for this time in history especially.

Click on "Watch On YouTube" down in the lower left corner!

I ask for the reason that I just rediscovered a Quick Reference guide prepared by him titled "Roman Catholicism- What you Need To Know" a multipage brochure comparing "The 62 Primary Errors Of Roman Catholicism". - 62 points with side by side comparisons of the Catechism of the Catholic Church with reference numbers, and the Bible with verse references. Been years and even decades since I read through it or studied those points. I think I might be inclined to do so again now that I have found the "lost brochure" Might it make for a basis for discussion, one without bashing Roman Catholics? -Instead accepting them as Christians with differing understandings from my own and I suspect most here too.

Anyone?

Hi, Who was being addressed? Who had kept the command to persevere? May a message to a particular messenger and/or group out of several churches get applied to all the churches as a universal message for/to all individuals for all time to then come, or was it a message for one group out of a few being addressed at the time, a group at one particular place and time?

Hi, Yes I have some thoughts on whether having a constitution and following it's provisions is important. If one provision is violated then all provisions of a constitution are voided, meaningless. For by the ignoring of one sets precedence for violating any and all. It is important that a constitution be respected and adhered to for it is the skeleton upon which all matters are built upon, fleshed out. Without adherence any further law or rule is always subject to avoidance. Either follow the constitution , change the constitution, or have a body built upon random will that will led to frequent changes and never be but that which is built on sand. Better to be three that meet at an apartment somewhere than 300 with all thinking they should follow whatever feels righteous and or convenient at the moment. I have been there as an employee of a medium size church with twelve elders. I put my own livelihood on the line for adherence to the constitution of the local church body. Sometimes God puts us in a position where what we hold onto is challenged. The consequences are real, but so are the long term benefits. I suggest you pray, think, and read of the word of God as you think it through; and then if you are so convicted still, tell the others that you believe it is as important to adhere to the church body constitution, or to formally change it, as it is to follow the written record of the will of God that the local church body uses as it's guidance in faith of Christ Jesus. And expect that it may be God's will that you not prevail but instead that you be moved along just as your previous pastor was so led. May God bless.

Okay. Did it fit your personality?

Another one? I don't know. But from real life I know one thing to never ever do at Christmas as a joke. Never never ever! I had an uncle that had very nicely wrapped a box that was a bit on the heavy side and put it under the Christmas tree very prominently placed and labeled for his wife, my aunt. Suspense built on Christmas day as he kept moving her package around while reaching for other gifts to dispense to all the family gathered that day. Her package was obviously a bit heavy and made a rather solid sound when he moved it about. Finally, it came to the near end of the packages and he presented his gift to his wife. She shook it and started excitedly ripping at the gift wrap. Only to her disappointed horror to see something about toilet on the box. It was a new toilet seat! Which he soon found out was wearable as a hat, his hat. Oh was she ever mad for many days after that one.

How quickly so many forget. https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2012/11/08/10-dramatic-things-people-are-doing-after-obamas-win And what happened January 6, 2021? 2/3 of Republicans still don't believe Biden won, and still think it was okay to riot and storm the US capital building.

Let your yes be yes and your no be no. Man fails because man does not keep it simple, man over thinks and finds escape clauses to all his vows. Well most anyway. God recognized the hardness of man's heart (So he established divorce and gave rules for that too. Rules that man also violates because of the hardness of man's heart(s) Seems to me even God has had change(s) of heart, to the extent of overriding his own vows; perhaps as a mercy or recanting of a punishment. He also has stepped up the conditions that man is to comply with as was done at the sermon on the mount. "You have heard it said... , but I say... (from the sermon on the mount by Jesus).

Hi, My wife is a bit hard for me to shop for. I'd like to get something personal; but also practical and useful, to make her life a bit easier. What do you all think about set of new house chores appliances?

Just thinking: The cost to save money on electricity just doesn't seem to work out over just brute forcing extra heating for comfort. Efficient windows and doors get quite pricey. Near as I can figure I can't live long enough to get to a break even point by saving on an electric bill. For that matter the house may not last that long either. Out of what I considered to be a necessity last year (Hurricanes) I boarded up the second story windows with plywood- from the inside and then just left the draperies closed so it doesn't show. I left 'em boarded up ever since. It is so much quieter now too! I'm trying to figure a nice looking way to put them on a track or hinge them. Or maybe move to North Carolina to get away from these hurricanes - Oops that plan may be most seriously flawed. Poor people thee have taken an awful beating, even worse than what has hit us. Anyone remember the great energy crisis of, when was it late 1970's, when homes were not to be heated over 55 degrees ( Same number as the new hwy speed limit)? I visited at Massachusetts for Christmas back then, wow was 55 ever cold in a home! I think of that when I see the awful destructive waring going on today with people facing winter in cities without any utilities functioning. That's when I give additional thanks to God for my own circumstances. Maranatha

If you haven't already you might take a look at a short This Old House video on cheap and effective ways of improving od window's u efficiency. search "Window Air Sealing Techniques | Ask This Old House"

Don't think so NC. Time to get past the gloating. Gloating does not serve servants of God well. It is most unbecoming of those saved by the grace and mercy of God through Jesus alone. Time to be kind(er), to befriend, and share of the hope that is to be found in Jesus, that hope that is certain regardless of circumstance. What better time than now to get past the pettiness of politics, waring and adding and give testimony of the one real hope. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." - Jesus

BTW- The sinners prayer, and baptism(s), no matter how many times said or done is not an end, nor a beginning even. It is simply your announcement, your calling out to God; "Put me in the game, I'm ready to play today. Put me in coach, I'm ready to play"- Now you are in the game, play your best no matter how many errors are committed by you. Play your own best game, never giving up while there is still time to play on this side of the grass.

Just a thought to share: Meds, and other therapies are not bad at all, not in of themselves. BUT if used to alleviate the pain while not tending to what is causing the pain they will not be of any long term benefit. All that happens with meds alone is one gets dulled into not caring about the pain they are in whether it be physical or mental pains. LIFE CHOICES ALL HAVE CONSEQUENCES. Choose well. Start with and finish with the word of God the Bible. Think on the word and pray over it then ask how do I apply your word to me this very day Lord? Do that as a personal discipline every day. And if you are angry- tell God, have that "little talk with Jesus" each day. Example: Lord is it good today between you and me? Share with me Lord what you will have me to be tending today. Show me your word as I read it, giving me understanding as to how it applies to me personally today. Help me, enable me to act upon my understanding today. Thank You Lord.

On this USA "holiday" of Thanks Giving There is so much for which to give thanks to God. Utmost of which is the sacrifice made by His son come in human flesh to suffer and sacrifice his own blood that many might have eternal life with Him, the Holy Spirit, and His Father. His sacrifice being fully sufficient to redeem each that do hear and heed the call of God the Holy Spirit to turn about to the worship of Jesus as Lord God and savior, and then be seen by God the Father as being perfect and thus acceptable in His sight. No matter the individual circumstance of the moment, whether dire and meager, or overflowing in opulence, the hope that is certain is the promise that God has come and will come yet again. Praise God that regardless of circumstance the very hope certain is the promise of God for eternal blessing to come to us individually even as each that have been called to their salvation are a blessing back to God. Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus come.