Logostician

Luke 18:1-8 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Keep praying. God does not tire of your requests like worldly men. He wants to have an ongoing conversation with you. And he doesn't answer prayers because he hopes you will then leave him alone. He listens to, and answers, prayers because he loves you.

Malachi 3:1-3 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Jesus is the great gold and silversmith. And we are the ore. He refines us, burning away the worldly and selfish impurities, until we are pure, and he clearly sees his own reflection in us, be cause he is in us. Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

I have always been in favor of a national sales tax to replace the income tax. The IRS, like other government departments, is too easily weaponized for political purposes. Apart from political corruption, it makes no sense to punish people, or companies, for being productive, stimulating the economy, and providing jobs to others. But it is entirely reasonable to tax people for the goods and services they withdraw from society. Currently the states of Nevada, Florida, Texas, Wyoming, and Oregon, all follow this system successfully. And it would work at the federal level. Income tax also punishes savings, which hinders investment, and leads to a paycheck to paycheck subsistence society. I should not be punished for pragmatic saving for the future. All saving should be tax free. Only consumption should be taxed. Money saved also provides businesses with the capital necessary to grow the economy through increased equity from investment, as well as availability of funds from lenders.

John 6:66-69 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus is the way. There is no other way. Jesus is the strait gate. He is the narrow way. And he is the Good Shepherd that leads through both.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. This is the most powerful verse in the Bible. So I guess that makes John 3 the most powerful chapter in the Bible.

God does not always speak with a still small voice. I have heard God's voice thunder at me at times. And he has every right to do that, because I belong to him. These assertive "callings" have not been frequent. In fact they are few, and far between. They have always involved helping someone else in a dire/emergency situation, even if they didn't know it at the time. I didn't know any of them. But God did. And he used me to help them. More usually the voice is the still small voice of the Spirit of God in me. But the response is the same. Yes Lord.

Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. This is very clear. There is no list of disclaimers or exceptions here. As for sins prior to salvation, the wages are death. Upon salvation, these sins are forgiven. All of them.

It is a very difficult thing for a Christian to love family members and friends, and deal with their lack of faith in Christ. We know that this is an eternal life or death situation. Paul struggled with being an apostle of Christ who reached and converted many gentiles, while most of his fellow Jews continued to deny Christ. Romans 10:1-4 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. All we can do is the same thing that Paul did, share the gospel, and pray. God calls his own, and the results are rightfully in his hands.

1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us. I am because he is. And he is love. 1 John 4:16 God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Jesus

Good observations. I also think that God works through people because we were created by God to be with God. Forever. God created us in his image to be with him. Not as playthings, But as active sons and daughters in his family.

Jesus does not create division based on race, ethnicity, or any of the other characteristics that unGodly men use to express their hatred and animosity towards each other. Jesus divides on one, and only one, criterion. Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Anyone who is a servant Jesus Christ has essentially entered into a voluntary bondservant or slave relationship to the King of Kings and Lord of lords. Paul begins the Epistle to Philemon by stating that he is a prisoner (which could be interpreted as slave) of Jesus Christ. Philemon 1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow labourer As far as worldly masters and slaves I think that Paul clearly shows that the master Philemon and slave Onesimus do not have this same relationship in the eternal Kingdom of Heaven. There is only one master in heaven. And that's Jesus. I think that the Bible's seeming indifference to slavery in the world is a call to focus on the eternal Kingdom of Heaven, rather our temporal positions in this world, which like our worldly possessions will wither away. Matthew 6:19-20 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

Worldly Godless people don't behave well do they? Only Jesus truly unites people. But they have to deny their own selfish, wordly pride, and embrace him. John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Wherever you go, and whatever you do, keep Jesus close. Let the Spirit lead. Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.