Logostician

There are always struggles within churches between loving acceptance and adherence to the full and truthful word of God. There is also a struggle between worldly things and full adherence to the teachings of Jesus. The go along (with the world) to get along (with the world) approach is dangerous. An ecumenical approach is good when it is based on agreement to the full teachings of Jesus. But an ecumenical approach that avoids the full teachings of Jesus, and adherence to these teachings is a trap. Half truths are no truths The seven churches of Revelation are instructive. They were actual churches at the time of John's writing. But I also think they represent the churches of all time, and especially the end times when churches will be, and are, under assault from without, and within. 5 out of 7 churches in the book of Revelation receive stern rebukes from Jesus. Ephesus adheres to church discipline and the teachings of Christ, and would reject ecumenicalism. But during this quest they have lost their strong love for Jesus and each other. Pergamos is the church that will allow anything and everything, to the point of outright heresy. They have gone far beyond ecumenicalism in a quest for "inclusiveness" that no longer resembles Christianity at all. Thyatira displays love, but like Pergamos allows heresy in it's midst. Like Pergamos, false teaching is tolerated in the ecumenical quest for inclusiveness. Sardis is called the dying church. They are going through hollow formalism that lacks love. Laodicea is the lukewarm church that has lost it's intensity of love as their worldly wealth has increased, and their heavenly treasures have diminished. Only Smyrna and Philadelphia find no fault with Jesus. Smyrna is the opposite of Laodicea. They are poor in worldly terms, but rich in love and faithfulness to God. They remain true to Jesus and will not tolerate an ecumenical, anything goes approach. Philadelphia also "hast kept my word". They are the loyal church that will not budge from truth of Jesus. So what is the answer? Love and truth must coexist in the church to be pleasing to Jesus. We cannot have stern formalism that lacks love. And we cannot have love that denies the full truth of the teachings of Jesus. As the world falls further into sin, and politically correct conformism, we must stand true to Jesus, and be prepared for the persecution it brings, rather than allowing the world to encroach and allow our churches to die from a cancer that is introduced from the outside/world, and then weakens and eventually kills us from the inside. But we must do all things with love.

Christianity is a community of people who each have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and therefore each other. Personal means you know somebody, which starts with believing that they are, and then goes far beyond in love, trust, and committment. And Jesus is the one we know, love, and trust. The Spirit of Jesus lives in us. It doesn't get more personal than that. Rites and rituals are for religionists who substitute these things for the real and personal relationship with Jesus that unites us with God. Christianity is not a religion. It is a direct relationship with God, through the Son of God. John 14:9 “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” The apostles knew Jesus personally. They beleived and followed him. So they knew the Father too. The same is true for us. Saying there might be God, or I'll pretend like there is a God, denies a personal relationship a with God. Any works that men might call good are also meaningless in that they have not been authored by the indwelling Spirit of God. We all know people that we like and love who we think of as good. And we try to bring them to Jesus, with varying levels of success in our own eyes. It's heartbreaking when they deny him. Because he is the way. And there is no other way. And there is no good without God. Goodness flows into and out of us like a wellspring that is the Spirit of God. God really doesn't ask too much of us. He knows our frame, that we are weak. But certainly it is not too much for him to ask that we recognize that he is. He is known to be from all of his creation around us. But it's up to us to seek a personal relationship with him through Jesus Christ. Some would like to think, and have said "There are many ways to heaven". The source of that deception is the prince of this world. Let no man be deceived. There is only one way to heaven. The way. Jesus.

Well said. Amen.

Nothing in this world is "safe". Taking a shower in the morning isn't safe. You could fall and be seriously injured. Driving to work isn't safe. You be seriously injured or killed in a car accident. Even after you park your car and begin walking you could be run over by a car in the parking lot. If you live in certain cities like Seattle or Portland, you could be attacked and killed by evil, hateful people who think they have a cause, or they could just be common thieves. If you don't get the vaccine, you could get Covid and become seriously ill, and die. If you do get the vaccine, you could become seriously ill, and die. If a bee stings you, you could become seriously ill and die. You could have cancer right now at a microscopic level which is totally undetectable, but will quickly metasticize. It may have been caused by the air you breathe, the water you drink, or the food you eat. Unless you stop breathing, and eating, you cannot prevent it. But asphyxiation and starvation are sure to be deadly. I accept the risks, and will continue to get out of bed in the morning, take a shower, eat breakfast, go to work, and breathe while doing all of these things. And Jesus can take me at any time. After all, he's in control, not me. And I am clinging to him, not this world. I will not get the Covid vaccine because I already got Covid in November. Prior to that time, I prayed to Jesus saying your will be done as to whether I get Covid or not. When I did get Covid, my prayer was your will be done as to whether I survive it or not. God is in charge. Not me. All you can do is make reasonable choices, and not obsess about them. One thing is certain...everyone will die. Even more certainly...everyone in Christ will live forever, even though he dies in this world. Eternal life with Jesus is more important than this short life in this world. And he is in control of this world and the next. John 12:25 “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”

They enjoyed companionship with God and each other in a perfect world. They would have enjoyed children and the generations that followed them in this perfect world as well. As far as specific activities, I think God was fully capable of capable of keeping Adam and Eve from being bored in the garden, just as he will keep us from being bored in heaven. Creation and the fall are covered quickly in Genesis, but there was obviously a lot going on. The time between the creation and the fall is not certain. I am sure there was plenty to do in the meantime, before everything became hard. But the fall had to happen to bring Jesus into the world to be freely chosen by people with knowledge of good (Jesus/God) and evil (departing from Jesus/God). Eden was a foretaste of heaven that lasted for an unknown period of time for exactly two people. All of humanity thereafter has had to choose Jesus in order to someday see the promised glorified kingdom of God foreshadowed by the Garden of Eden. I don't know what the activities agenda will be in heaven, so I'll just keep trusting Jesus. But the center of it will be Jesus. And we will be a community that loves God and each other.

Jesus does not forgive again and again as much as he forgives eternally. At salvation, his forgiveness is sufficient for all sins, past, present, and future. And Jesus knows every one of these sins before he blots them out. While salvation does involve forgiveness of sin. It is more about asking Jesus to be your savior and becoming a new creature. Salvation is about establishing and fully recognizing a deep and eternal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We are redeemed from our sinful carnal natures and become fit to be sons of God by having faith in Jesus. This is the grace and love of God, which is boundless. As men, we cannot blot out the sins of our fellow man. We can not give them eternal life. Only Jesus can do that. And only Jesus is fit to judge every man who has ever lived. He earned that on the cross. We are told not to judge, and that we will be judged as we judge our fellow man. The flip side of judging others is to forgive them. We need to forgive to yield to the judgement of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Forgiveness parallels the parable of the good samaritan. The good samaritan cares for the physical needs of the wounded man regardless of who he is. This is an act of love, which Jesus calls us to. But forgiveness is a powerful act of love that restores the soul of the foregiver as well as the foregiven. The injured man in the parable of the good samaritan is not said to ask for help from the priest, Levite, or samaritan. He is described as "half dead" and probably unconscious and unable to ask for help. Maybe he does. Maybe he doesn't. But it really doesn't matter to the priest and the Levite. They have no love for the man and would pass him by in either case. In contrast the samaritan has a heart to help this man that overcomes the societal and personal issues between jews and samaritans. He is going to help the injured man whether he asks for help or not because it is in his heart to do so. This is how Jesus wants us to approach forgiveness which heals the eternal soul rather than the mortal body. Agape love is a free gift that should be given freely all the time. It does not require special requests, and if it is only given in response to the requests of men who have wronged us it will surely wither on the vine. Is it easy to love your enemy? No. Is it easy to foregive those who wrong us, especially repeatedly? No. But is this what Jesus wants from a soul that is united with his Spirit? Yes. We can always find convenient reasons not to forgive. We can rationalize a lack of forgiveness in a way that seems very logical. But Jesus wants more from us. He wants himself in us.

If this was a dream, cast your fears away because demons flee at the name of Jesus. If this really happened, cast your fears away because Jesus protected you. There is truly power in the name of Jesus. I have been oppressed before. Calling out the name of Jesus, verbally if possible, or just mentally, if that's all that's possible works. Just his name. No other words are necessary. Let your faith in Jesus overcome your fear, and let Jesus overcome your oppressors. May the peace of God which surpasseth all understanding keep your heart and mind through Christ Jesus.

I'm at peace, because Jesus is the one thing that this world cannot cancel. This world has been trying to cancel Jesus since it began plotting his crucifixion. Nobody can separate me from Jesus. They can kill me, as they did Jesus, and I will live, because he lives. I am victorious because Jesus is victorious. Everything else is shifting sand. Jesus is the immoveable rock. Peace comes from a full commitment to Jesus Christ. There is no other way. He is the way.

Did you notice the BLM/ Antifa riots that have been going on for months, or is it only the left wing narrative surrounding a single day, with news coverage that will probably last for months, that has captured your attention?

We've all wondered about these things at some point in our journey with Jesus. It's OK to ask questions about the nature of God. We can't know everything about God. But I think he wants us to search him out and to know him. There is no knowledge test to get into heaven. You only have to knock and it will be opened to you. But we all have some level of desire to know him more and more. Romans is a very deep book. Paul lays out some serious theology about the nature of God and his plan for us. Don't get discouraged if it doesn't come together for you immediately or if you hear different people present different views. Only when we leave this world to see Jesus in the next world will we know the things of God clearly. And even then we will not know everything because we're not him. 1 Cor 13:12 For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known. I would like to address your concerns about approaching God and asking him questions. Do it. Jesus is infinitely approachable and the ultimate teacher. To me, that's praying. Just talk to him. Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. God wants to work on things with us. He wants to answer our questions so we can be fully united with him. Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Here we have a high priest, King of kings, and Lord of Lords, who is always working on our behalf. Always approachable. Always wants to help us. And always does. Because he always loves us. You have questions about free will vs predestination. Many people seem to think you have to choose one or the other. I don't. I think God gave us free will to choose him because only this is an act of true love, as when husbands and wives choose each other. Forcing us to him would take true love out the picture, and potentially force those who didn't love to come to him anyway. God is love, and love does not force. It draws. 1 Jno 4:16 God is love. And he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God. And God in him Predestination works for me in the sense that God sees all things past, present, and future. He knows we will be saved before we even ask. He knows who has a heart for him and will provide a way for them to come to him, while still leaving the choice to them. As for why God allows/causes some to be hardened against him. I think Romans gives a pretty good answer. Rom 1: 20-24 For the invisible things from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead. Because when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and there foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves. As with salvation for those who love God, and are saved, I see the same free will and predestinational knowledge of God working in those that will not be saved. God says he should be known by all the things he created. But even with this obvious knowledge men harden their hearts against him, and choose any false narrative they can think of other than the true creator God. It says God gives them up to the sin and lusts they have already formed in their own hearts. There is no love in these hardened hearts. These people have hardened their own hearts against God of their own free will. But God does not force them to come to him because true love cannot be forced. He allows them to fall of their own free will. It is predestined because he knows it will happen and allows it to happen.. I don't know everything. This is just what I think. I'm sure I'm wrong or overly simplistic about alot of things. But I know Jesus is my Lord. And I love him, and he loves me. And that's what's really important. Keep searching God. It's time well spent.

With all due respect, I understand that this is not your theory in the sense that you created it. The gospel of prosperity has been embraced by many people. And I beleive it is a trap to take our eyes off Jesus. It is particularly popular among televangelists who have acquired considerable wealth in the course of their ministeries. The gospel of prosperity makes them feel better about aquiring worldly wealth, or at least less guilty. And they can point to it and say, "Look how God is blessing me!", as the poor pay for their jet airplanes and extravagant lifestyles. I can quote many scriptures that counter the gospel of prosperity. But I will use one continuous agent for reasons of continuity and clear context, rather than cherry picking verses. The following is a continuous teaching from Jesus, and his sermon on the mount. Mat 6:19-24 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 the moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye. If therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thy eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. The Puritan Christians who formed this country were good Godly people for the most part. But they weren't perfect. They used to say "The Lord helps those who help themselves". But there is no such verse in the Bible. The Lord does not reward selfishness. The Lord rewards charity, which appears in the KJV as the translation for the greek agape, which means divinely inspired love. Later in the sermon on the mount Jesus says that God will provide what we need. V 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Notice how God comes first. And what are these things that will be added to us? They're right there in the immediately preceding verses. V 31 specifically states food, drink, and clothing. These are basic needs. God is saying he will provide for our basic needs. He is not promising an abundance of worldly wealth. After all we are not of this world. We are of the kingdom of God. This is why Jesus tells us to store our treasures in heaven. Money is needed for basic individual and family needs. God knows that, and will provide for us. But the only true good that comes from excess wealth beyond meeting these needs is to give it away to those in need. Anything good, in the eyes of God, must invoke agape/charity/love for God and our neighbors. These are the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ (Mat 22:37-40) on which "hang all the law and the prophets". Francis Chan was right in his book, "Crazy Love". You might want to read it. The single eye in the verses above is a heart, soul, mind, and love totally focused on Jesus. The pursuit of excessive wealth is the evil eye focused on the accumulation of worldly wealth. I choose Jesus. He is the focal point and destination of the narrow road I will follow, no matter how difficult it may be at times. The world has no hold on me. I am free in this world because I am a bondman of Jesus Christ. Be well.

King Manasseh is probably the most evil king in the entire history of Judah or Israel. He practices any and all forms of idolatry, and leads the people into the same sins. He desecrates the temple. He sacrifices his own children. God is prepared to destroy Judah at the hands of the Assyrians who have already destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel. But when Manasseh humbles himself before the Lord, his prayer is answered, and God delivers Judah from destruction. If God would hear and answer this prayer, there is no prayer that can't be answered. Humbling, meaning repentance is the key. A similiar situation occurs in Ninevah, which is interestingly that capital of Assyria which laters destroys the Northern kingdom of Israel, and even later becomes the threat to Judah that Manasseh prays to God for deliverance from. God tells Jonah to tell Ninevah that they will be destroyed for their abundance of sin. But when the Ninevites repent and pray to God, God spares them. All prayers to God come from sinners, because we are all sinners. God looks for the humble, contrite, and repentant heart of the one who is praying. He would rather give life than take it. He would rather save than condemn. Let Jesus be the judge of good and evil, and rejoice in his mercy. 2 Chr 33:1-10 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. 2 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord,(D) following the detestable(E) practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. 3 He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished; he also erected altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles.(F) He bowed down(G) to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. 4 He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “My Name(H) will remain in Jerusalem forever.” 5 In both courts of the temple of the Lord,(I) he built altars to all the starry hosts. 6 He sacrificed his children(J) in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens, and consulted mediums(K) and spiritists.(L) He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger. 7 He took the image he had made and put it in God’s temple,(M) of which God had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever. 8 I will not again make the feet of the Israelites leave the land(N) I assigned to your ancestors, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them concerning all the laws, decrees and regulations given through Moses.” 9 But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites. 10 The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.

We're going to leave everything behind eventually. So now is a good time to start letting worldly things go. The more the worldly things of life hinder our relationship with Jesus, the more we should want to let them go. Does God really need to ask us to give things up? Hasn't he already done that? We are supposed to live Godly lives. Shouldn't we know our worldly weaknesses already, and be praying to him to heal us? I specifically prayed to be released from alcohol 12 yrs ago, and God healed me overnight. I have never had the slightest desire to drink since that time. But I suggest that we not choose to keep some sins, and remove others. We should pray to God for a clean and pure heart committed to him. 100%. Let God do the work in us. It's the only way it's going to get done anyway. And he wants to do it. Ask and you will receive.

God is eternal and knows all things past, present, and future. This includes our sins. When we are saved, he forgives our sins. All of them. Past, present and future. Jesus does not give gifts only to take them away. Rom 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance. Jesus will not change his mind over time because he is eternal and time has no hold on him. Jesus holds time in his hand with all things, and uses it to bring about his perfect plan. Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Spirit of Jesus and the Father is given to us at salvation. It seals us as belonging to him, while sealing out the evil of the world. It gives us life and goodness in the eyes of God. When the Father looks at us, he sees his Son and his Spirit in us. He wills not to see any sin which he has already blotted out. The Spirit does not share space with sin. Sin is driven out. We are good only because God is good, and lives in us. And anyone who claims to be good without the salvation of Jesus Christ, and the Spirit of God living in him is deceived. The Spirit of God is also how we pray without ceasing. The Spirit always directs us to Jesus. And it is always in us It never ceases. Why does God's plan work like this? Love. God doesn't just want to give us eternal life in a weak state. He wants to raise us first to the level of sons of God through his son Jesus Christ. It's a perfect plan authored by a perfect and loving God, and carried out by a perfect and loving Son.

The Law never saved a single person. It was only capable of convicting them with a sentence of death. Jesus knew this when he gave the Law to Moses. And yes, Jesus was there for that too. Just like he created the universe. He was there. He's always been there. Jesus gave us the Law to show us that we could not fulfill the will of God on our own, and needed him to have life. Only the direct and personal salvation of Jesus Christ can give us life. This is accomplished through faith. I beleive the writing of the Law on the hearts of men addressed in Jer 31:33, Eze 11:19, 36:26, Heb 8:10, is in fact the free gift of the indwelling Spirit of God received when we are saved by Jesus. The Spirit will always direct us to Jesus, and the fulfillment of his will. We should follow the moral portion of the Law. The Spirit of God strengthens us to do this. It is God's will that we live Godly, as Sons of God. As for the ceremonial Law it is absolutely replaced by Jesus Christ himself. Jesus fulfilled the moral portion of the Law by living it. No other man has ever lived a life free of sin. The ceremonial portion of the Law was also fulfilled by Jesus. But in this case, it was rendered obsolete. The temple was the center of ceremonial Law. God willed it's destruction in 70 AD to put the focus entirely on Jesus. An animal sacrifice today would be an abomination to God after the finished work of the cross and the perfect sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Moral, Godly behavior will always be willed by God. But ceremonial symbols for Jesus have been replaced by the Son of God himself. He has shown himself to us. And he is all we need. He is the author and finisher of our faith.

It is the height of presumptuousness (and denial) for any man to judge himself or another man to be "good". God is the living embodiment, and standard of good. Jesus became flesh primarily to die for our sins, but also to show us what a good man truly is. He is the second Adam, the embodiment of what man fully united with God should be. The standard that Jesus set has never been acheived by any other man in the entire history of mankind. Only Jesus was "good". But through his salvation, he gives his goodness to us. It is the goodness of the Son of God himself. We don't earn it. It is a gift from God. All efforts to be good, or self proclaimed attainment of goodness without God, are delusional, no less than proclaiming we are as powerful as God. Mat 10:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Only God is inherently good. Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. All of the things men call righteousness or goodness fall so far below God's goodness that they are filthy rags by comparison. Jno 18:38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. Pilate unwittingly makes a very true statement about truth. Truth for most men is whatever they want it to be. If men can't be truthful, how can they be truthful about their own goodness or the goodness of anyone else. Only Jesus is qualified to judge these things. He is the way, the TRUTH, and the life. He is the standard of goodness. And no man attains or earns his goodness except as a free gift of salvation from the Son of God.

It isn't our government that's the problem. The US Constitution is is as valid as it has ever been. It is the second greatest document in the history of the world whose truths are still self evident to those with eyes to see. Obviously the Bible is the greatest document in the history of the world. The real problem is that our citizenry has increasingly descended into evil. When the majority of the people in a society become evil, no form of government will stop the evil. It will only reflect that evil. When the majority of the people become so evil as to deny God and his word, and seek to eliminate God from all areas of life, in direct violation of the will of God as well as the Bill of Rights of our Constitution, it is not our government or God who has failed. It is the hearts of men that have failed. We are at the tipping point or beyond now. The majority of our citizens seem to have rejected God, Godly values, and government and law rooted in faith in God. A new government will not solve the problem of an evil populace that will simply use or subvert it for evil designs. The only thing we can do is to stay our course with God, bring as many people as possible to Christ, and pray. The rest is in God's hands. We are near the end times, so it may be God's will to allow these things to escalate to the final reckoning. We need to fight the good fight to the end. There is no reason to overthrow government. There is every reason to change the hearts, minds and souls of evil people who promote the use of government, and freedom to advance their own evil agenda. Godly people lead to good governance, and evil people lead to evil governance within the same basic government structure. This is especially true in a democracy where changes can be huge and swift, based on the most recent elections. When freedom is viewed as freedom to sin, and defy God, a great blessing is subverted, and becomes a tool of evil. But is is still just a tool of evil. The source of the evil is in the hearts of men. 2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. Isa 3:8-9 For Jerusalem stumbled, And Judah is fallen, Because their tongue and their doings Are against the Lord, To provoke the eyes of His glory. The look on their countenance witnesses against them, And they declare their sin as Sodom; They do not hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought evil upon themselves.

It takes Jesus to conquer this world, and the prince of this world. An when he returns on a white horse, wearing many crowns, he will defeat everyone who opposes him, and reign openly forever. You can call it conquering or just claiming what has always been his. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. There is no other. Every knee will bow to him. Even those who have chosen the lake of fire will acknowledge his power. And this will be the destiny of people who seek power through any means in this world without acknowledging the ultimate power of Jesus Christ.

(1) The Holy Spirit is immediately received at salvation and seals us as sons of God. (2) The Holy Spirit is absolutely restraining sin in us and the world. 2 Thes 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work. Only he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming. Letteth in the KJV means hold back or restrain, which is kind of confusing. The "he" who letteth has been speculated on differently by biblical scholars. Some say it was Paul preaching the gospel. Some have said it is the archangel Michael warring with Satan. Some have even said it is the revived Roman Empire providing some order to an otherwise chaotic and evil world. But I beleive "he" is the Holy Spirit himself. I believe that the Spirit indwells Christians and causes us to be an empowered force for good in an evil world. I beleive that when the rapture occurs, the Spirit of God in us will depart this world with us. And for those left behind when we, and the Spirit in us, are "taken out of the way", all hell will literally break loose during the great tribulation. There will be nothing to restrain it. As terrible as the great tribulation will be, many will come to Jesus during this time. It will be the final wake up call to the world. It will be a terrible awakening. But many will awaken. Rev 7:13-14 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the lamb.

Outstanding statement of what repentance really is. Repentance is a heart, soul, and mind change from self to Jesus. It's not about what we do. It's about what he did...The finished work of the cross, what he will always do. The Law wasn't just given to convict us of sin and leave us in a hopeless state. The bigger purpose of the Law was to show us that none of us can do it by ourselves. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. And the wages of sin are death. We need help. We need Jesus. He is the way. There is no other way. When we realize that, and give ourselves over to Jesus, his Spirit will help us to be better people. We will sin less. We will strive to perfect, but never acheive it in this world. But when we stumble into sin, he is faithful to forgive us. The relationship between us and Jesus stands, and will stand forever. Without Jesus and his indwelling Spirit, it is utterly futile to be pleasing to God. No works of our own in trying to avoid sin, or trying to do the "right" things on our own will cause us to be justified by God. To be justified by God, we need to be one with God, and do it his way. And Jesus is that way. With salvation, and the Spirit of God, which is given at that time, we become sons of God. Nobody earns salvation. It is a gift from God to anyone with eyes to see him, and a heart to give him.

I don't see a conspiracy or cover-up here. HIPAA is common sense to me. I work as a caregiver in addition to my full-time job. Various groups I've worked with have issued badges to be worn around the neck when going out with clients. I have told them all that I wouldn't wear it because nobody needed to know that the people I was with had any issues at all. As far as I was concerned we should just be viewed as a group of family or friends just like anyone else. So far they have all agreed with me. Most people who do see that the people I'm with me have issues don't ask about it, they just get it. In the rare case that somebody does ask, my response is that we all have issues of some kind. Nobody needs to know all the personal details of someone's life. If and when they want to tell you things, they will. In the case of heath care, only the individual, close family, or legal guardian needs to be provided with full information, so they can make informed treatment decisions. We live in an internet age where privacy is a rare commodity. But it still needs to be respected. The wife of this man obviously didn't wish to discuss details with you. That is is her right. You need to respect her wishes. Prayer is powerful. You could also offer to help in any way you can. You don't need to know everything to help someone. Just be there for them.

Bob Marley One Love Bob Marley was a Rastafarian. There's lots of deviations from Christianity. Like the belief that God was manifested in Hailey Selassie of Ethiopia, and that Jesus was black. I don't have to beleive these things to like this song. I guess I Christianize it in my own mind, as I do with other songs. One love, one heart Let's get together and feel all right Hear the children cryin' (one love) Hear the children cryin' (one heart) Sayin' give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right Sayin' let's get together and feel all right Let them all pass all their dirty remarks (one love) There is one question I'd really love to ask (one heart) Is there a place for the hopeless sinners Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own beliefs? One love, what about the one heart, one heart What about, people, let's get together and feel all right As it was in the beginning (one love) So shall it be in the end (one heart) All right! Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right Let's get together and feel all right, one more thing Let's get together to fight this Holy Armagiddyon (one love) So when the Man comes there will be no, no doom (one song) Have pity on those whose chances grows t'inner There ain't no hiding place from the Father of Creation Sayin', one love, what about the one heart? (one heart) What about the, let's get together and feel all right I'm pleadin' to mankind (one love) Oh, Lord (one heart) whoa Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right Let's get together and feel all right Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right Let's get together and feel all right

I think you'd have to ask the communist regime in China about that. Of course, you won't get the truth. China had their reasons for developing and spreading Covid throughout the world. The USA and other countries are simply trying to play catch up and prevent the global economic destruction that China authored. I don't think the rest of the world had time to add anything to their newly developed vaccines that would constitute a weapon. But China had plenty of time to prepare a vaccine with whatever extra components they wanted before they ever even unleashed their Covid weapon on the world. And they control almost every pharmaceutical compound precursor to make everything from pain releivers to vaccines. Cornering these markets was no accident. It was part of a well orchestrated, sytematic quest of global dominance, that includes biological weapons like Covid. With their Tiananmen Square disregard for human life, and utter disdain for truthful disclosure of anything they do, nothing is beyond the pale for them. Would China be willing to kill millions of people to solidify their position of global power? You bet! Would they deny and obscure their involvement in such operations every step of the way? Yep! Is power all that China really cares about? Yes sir! Is China collecting DNA information on individuals in social groups of multiple countries, including the USA, to be used as input into biological weapon targeting? Yes they are! And they are using the Covid vaçcination data, along with other, seemingly innocuous businesses entities to do it. Most people are happier thinking that Covid occurred naturally in China in pangolins, or perhaps escaped lab animals from their highest level biological lab in Wuhan and eaten in a "wet market" that just so happens to also be in Wuhan. What a coincidence huh? It makes people uncomfortable to think that SARS viruses have been synthesized at this biological weapons lab for many years. They would rather pretend that this lab doesn't exist, and that China would never actually use anything that this lab has been producing for many years. They will beleive anything the Chinese state run media propoganda machine puts out. And of course China has already killed more than a few real journalists who tried to expose the truth. Do you trust them? I don't! At least the truth has a chance to eventually come to light in free societies but is aborted immediately in a communist regime when it does suit their narrative. In a closed society, with little regard for human life, actively seeking global domination at any cost, with all of the technology to achieve this goal, what is out of bounds? Nothing!

Get back to Christ. Refocus on what's really important. Black Friday was a bust for stores this year because of Covid, although on line shopping was up. Let's have a different Christmas season this year. Less materiality. More Jesus. But let the kids have some fun. Covid has been a moratorium on fun for them. Do something special to show them you love them this year, with the love that Jesus has given you. Give them some gifts to play with. But give them the gift of love foremost, and a knowledge of where it comes from, a Savior who loves them with an everlasting love. Hos 6:1 Come, and let us return to the Lord, for he hath torn, and he will heal us. He hath smitten, and he will bind us up. Zec 1:3 Therefore say thou unto them, This saith the Lord of hosts, Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.

I don't want to get the vaçcination if it's forced on me. And yes, the military is totally different. The military is not a democracy. The military is what protects and sustains democracy.