Friday, November 15, 2024

We are One in Christ Jesus and Living by the Spirit

“For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.  There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26-28 NLT) 

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.  Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” (Galatians 5:24-25 NLT) [1]

Saturday, November 9, 2024

The Lord - Our Help

 

Psalm 121

 

A Song of Ascents.


I will raise my eyes to the mountains;

From where will my help come?

My help comes from the LORD,

Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to slip;

He who watches over you will not slumber.

Behold, He who watches over Israel

Will neither slumber nor sleep.

 

The LORD is your protector;

The LORD is your shade on your right hand.

The sun will not beat down on you by day,

Nor the moon by night.

The LORD will protect you from all evil;

He will keep your soul.

The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in

From this time and forever. (NASB) [1]

 

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Hoist by Their Own Petard

Our presidential election seems to be over.  Kamala Harris has conceded, and Donald Trump is now the President Elect.  Thankfully, Mr. Trump won by a large enough margin that contesting the election by demanding recounts or challenging results in court would be futile.  We will need to wait and see if that holds true over the next few weeks. 

There appears to be a few sour grapes on the Democrat side, and a bit too much ebullience on the Republican side.  Let’s hope that doesn’t last long.  In her concession speech Vice President Harris spent a lot of time urging her supporters to continue to “fight” for equality, social justice, opportunity for all, and so forth.  Fine, but the repeated use of the word “fight” was probably not appropriate.  It might be misinterpreted as a call to violence by some, and it certainly was not a call for national unity.  Wait a minute, isn’t that what President Trump was accused of before things got out of hand on 6 January 2021? 

We all need to take a deep breath and resolve to work together for the good of the country.  We are all Americans first and Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, and any other labels that divide us second.  Let’s be “One nation, under God, indivisible” as we move forward. 

Ironically, the Democrats must take part of the responsibility for Donald Trump’s victory on themselves.  In his play “Hamlet” William Shakespeare uses the phrase “Hoist with his own petard.”  Literally, it refers to a bombmaker who is blown up by his own bomb.  It may be loosely understood to mean someone who gets caught in a trap they set for others.  It’s sort of like the American cartoon in which Wile E. Coyote keeps setting traps to catch the Road Runner. (Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies) The bombs, rockets, and various machines always backfire on the coyote, and then the Road Runner comes speeding by going “beep-beep.” 

The Democrats’ “lawfare” used to persecute Donald Trump only made him more and more popular.  At the start of the Republican primaries President Trump didn’t appear to be a strong candidate.  Each time new charges were filed against him, or the impossibility of a fair trial became obvious, Donald Trump’s popular support increased.  Furthermore, the Democrats just didn’t get it.  The prosecuting attorneys, eager to make a name for themselves, just kept on pursuing their cases before obviously biased judges. 

Now this is a generality, but Americans value fair play and hate a stacked deck.  So, the Democrats ended up getting hoist with their own petard. 

Americans also value perseverance in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds.  The Democrats threw everything but the kitchen sink at Donald Trump, and it seemed to many that their purpose was not to punish any serious wrongdoing, but rather it looked like they were doing it to make it impossible for President Trump to run for president again. 

Americans don’t like it when someone tries to tell them who they can vote for.  Of course, there were a lot of other variables at play, but it is easy to see how this may have contributed to Mr. Trump’s ultimate victory.

 

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

The Way Out of This Mess

During his Republican primary campaign in 2016, Sen. Ted Cruz frequently repeated this Bible verse: 

“… if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”                   (2Chronicles 7:14 ESV) [1] 

Repentance, revival, and direction from the Holy Spirit are needed to fix this country of ours.  Our salvation does not rest in the hands of a political leader.  Only God can fix the mess we have made of things. 

Pray that God will forgive us for turning our backs on Him.  Pray that God will heal our land.  Pray for the United States of America.

Sunday, November 3, 2024

Please Get Out and Vote

On Tuesday, We the People, will finish the process of electing the next President and Vice President.  The election will determine which political party will have a majority in the US Senate and House of Representatives.  The composition of the Supreme Court, and the future appointment of its justices will also be at stake.  Therefore, all three branches of the federal government will be affected.  We must not forget that the election will also determine who will be governing at the state and local levels as well. 

Whenever we have a presidential election, the politicians, and the talking heads on the broadcast news, tell us that this is the most important election in our history, and that the survival of the country is at stake.  Given the widening differences in the intended direction of the nation offered by the candidates, it is true that this is an important election.  Whether the survival of the country is at stake remains to be seen.  The United States of America is a strong, vital, and resilient society, and we are bigger than any flight of political imagination. 

Nevertheless, it is incumbent upon all citizens who are eligible to vote to exercise that right now.  It is not only our right, but it is our privilege and our duty to vote.  Many have already voted in places that allow early voting.  For those who have not, please pray for guidance and then get out and vote. 

A lot of people have made up their minds about which candidate they intend to vote for.  Many remain undecided.  Some will not make up their minds until they step into the voting booth.  Many people will stay home, and not vote at all.  They may believe that none of the candidates deserve their vote. 

Please allow me to remind that there are no perfect people, so there are no perfect candidates.  To cynically expect the worst from any candidate ignores the historically demonstrated tendency for those who are elected to “grow into the job.”  It verges on intellectual snobbery and hypocrisy to pass judgement on the candidates in this manner.  Please – even if you must hold your nose – get out and vote for the candidates whose stated positions and goals for our people mesh the best with your own.  Remember, we never will find anyone that we agree with all of the time. 

According to the polls, this election will be close.  It may come down to a few thousand deciding votes in many states.  Every vote counts, even if it is not counted properly.  Which leads us to a major point:  please pray that all winning candidates will win by a large enough margin so that the election cannot be contested.  One thing America does not need is another contested election, which is all the more reason why every eligible citizen must vote. 

There is a God.  The president is not God.  The senators and representatives are not God.  The court justices are not God.  The government cannot usurp God’s place in the life of the believer.  God has a plan for the ages that He is carrying out in accordance with His will.  No person or government is so powerful that they can thwart God’s purposes.  Please pray with me that God’s will be done – on earth as it is in heaven.  Thank you, and God bless you.


Thursday, October 31, 2024

Truth is Truth - In Any Language

Johannes 1:1-14 (Deutsch) 

Im Anfang war das Wort und das Wort war bei Gott. Und das Wort war Gott,  solchergestalt war es im Anfang bei Gott.  Alles ward durch dasselbe, und ohne dasselbe ward nichts, was geworden ist.  In ihm war Leben, und das Leben war das Licht der Menschen:  und das Licht scheint in der Finsternis, und die Finsternis hat es nicht ergriffen.

Es trat ein Mensch auf, abgesandt von Gott, Johannes hieß er,  dieser kam zum Zeugnis: um zu zeugen vom Licht, auf daß alle durch ihn glauben möchten.  Nicht war er das Licht, sondern zeugen sollte er vom Licht.

Das wahrhaftige Licht, welches jeden Menschen erleuchtet, war: der da kommen sollte in die Welt.  Er war in der Welt, und die Welt ist durch ihn geworden, und die Welt hat ihn nicht erkannt.  In sein Eigentum kam er, und die Seinen nahmen ihn nicht auf.  So viele ihn aber annahmen, ihnen hat er die Macht verliehen, Gottes Kinder zu werden - als die an seinen Namen glauben - die nicht aus Blut und nicht aus Fleisches-, nicht aus Manneswillen, sondern aus Gott gezeugt sind.

Ja, das Wort ward Fleisch und schlug seine Hütte auf unter uns, und wir schauten seine Herrlichkeit, eine Herrlichkeit als des einzigen Sohnes vom Vater, voll Gnade und Wahrheit – (Textbibel 1899)

 

 Jean 1:1-14 (French) 

Au commencement était la Parole, et la Parole était avec Dieu; et cette parole était Dieu : Elle était au commencement avec Dieu.  Toutes choses ont été faites par elle, et sans elle rien de ce qui a été fait, n'a été fait.  En elle était la vie, et la vie était la Lumière des hommes.  Et la Lumière luit dans les ténèbres, mais les ténèbres ne l'ont point reçue.

Il y eut un homme appelé Jean, qui fut envoyé de Dieu.  Il vint pour rendre témoignage, pour rendre, dis-je, témoignage à la Lumière, afin que tous crûssent par lui.  Il n'était pas la Lumière, mais il [était envoyé] pour rendre témoignage à la Lumière.

[Cette] Lumière était la véritable, qui éclaire tout homme venant au monde.  Elle était au monde, et le monde a été fait par elle; mais le monde ne l'a point connue.  Il est venu chez soi; et les siens ne l'ont point reçu;  Mais à tous ceux qui l'ont reçu, il leur a donné le droit d'être faits enfants de Dieu, [savoir] à ceux qui croient en son Nom; 13Lesquels ne sont point nés de sang, ni de la volonté de la chair, ni de la volonté de l'homme; mais ils sont nés de Dieu.

Et la Parole a été faite chair, elle a habité parmi nous, et nous avons contemplé sa gloire, [qui a été] une gloire, comme la gloire du Fils unique du Père, pleine de grâce et de vérité. (Martin Bible)

 

 JUAN 1:1-14 (Spanish) 

En el principio existía el Verbo, y el Verbo estaba con Dios, y el Verbo era Dios.  El estaba en el principio con Dios.  Todas las cosas fueron hechas por medio de El, y sin El nada de lo que ha sido hecho, fue hecho.  En El estaba la vida, y la vida era la luz de los hombres.  Y la luz brilla en las tinieblas, y las tinieblas no la comprendieron.

      Vino al mundo un hombre enviado por Dios, cuyo nombre era Juan.  Este vino como testigo, para testificar de la luz, a fin de que todos creyeran por medio de él.  No era él la luz, sino que vino para dar testimonio de la luz.

      Existía la luz verdadera que, al venir al mundo, alumbra a todo hombre.  En el mundo estaba, y el mundo fue hecho por medio de El, y el mundo no le conoció.  A lo suyo vino, y los suyos no le recibieron.  Pero a todos los que le recibieron, les dio el derecho de llegar a ser hijos de Dios, es decir, a los que creen en su nombre,  que no nacieron de sangre, ni de la voluntad de la carne, ni de la voluntad del hombre, sino de Dios.

      Y el Verbo se hizo carne, y habitó entre nosotros, y vimos su gloria, gloria como del unigénito del Padre, lleno de gracia y de verdad. (La Biblia de las Américas) 

 

 Johannes 1:1-14 (Swedish) 

I begynnelsen var Ordet, och Ordet var hos Gud, och Ordet var Gud.  Detta var i begynnelsen hos Gud.  Genom det har allt blivit till, och utan det har intet blivit till, som är till.  I det var liv, och livet var människornas ljus.  Och ljuset lyser i mörkret, och mörkret har icke fått makt därmed.

En man uppträdde, sänd av Gud; hans namn var Johannes.  Han kom såsom ett vittne, för att vittna om ljuset, på det att alla skulle komma till tro genom honom.  Icke var han ljuset, men han skulle vittna om ljuset.

Det sanna ljuset, det som lyser över alla människor, skulle nu komma i världen.  I världen var han, och genom honom hade världen blivit till, men världen ville icke veta av honom.  Han kom till sitt eget, och hans egna togo icke emot honom.  Men åt alla dem som togo emot honom gav han makt att bliva Guds barn, åt dem som tro på hans namn;  och de hava blivit födda, icke av blod, ej heller av köttslig vilja, ej heller av någon mans vilja, utan av Gud.

Och Ordet vart kött och tog sin boning ibland oss, och vi sågo hans härlighet, vi sågo likasom en enfödd Sons härlighet från sin Fader, och han var full av nåd och sanning. (Svenska 1917)

 

От Иоанна 1:1-14 (Russian) 

В начале было Слово, и Слово было у Бога, и Слово было Бог.  Оно было в начале у Бога.  Все чрез Него начало быть, и без Него ничто не начало быть, что начало быть. 4В Нем была жизнь, и жизнь была свет человеков.  И свет во тьме светит, и тьма не объяла его. 

Был человек, посланный от Бога; имя ему Иоанн.  Он пришел для свидетельства, чтобы свидетельствовать о Свете, дабы все уверовали чрез него.  Он не был свет, но был послан , чтобы свидетельствовать о Свете. 

Был Свет истинный, Который просвещает всякого человека, приходящего в мир.  В мире был, и мир чрез Него начал быть, и мир Его не познал.  Пришел к своим, и свои Его не приняли.  А тем, которые приняли Его, верующим во имя Его, дал власть быть чадами Божиими,  которые ни от крови, ни от хотения плоти, ни от хотения мужа, но от Бога родились. 

И Слово стало плотию, и обитало с нами, полное благодати и истины; и мы видели славу Его, славу,как Единородного от Отца. (Russian Synodal Translation) 

 

 John1:1-14 (English) 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.  That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.  He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:  who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (New King James Version) [1]

 

Monday, October 28, 2024

What Would We Do?

If you are critical of Israel for their military response to the atrocity committed against them on 7 October 2023, ask yourself, “What we would do?”  How would we respond in the same circumstances?  If a hostile country provided money, material, arms, ammunition, training, and indoctrination to terrorists who sent suicide bombers to kill our civilian citizens, what would we do.  Israel built a wall to keep them out. 

Then the terrorists lobbed rockets and other projectiles into Israel for years.  The rest of the world, including the United States, effectively told the Israelis they would just have to put up with it.  When the Israelis struck back from time to time, they were condemned by the international community at large, and they were sanctioned by the United Nations.  What would we do if we were in Israel’s shoes? 

If that hostile country mobilized the terrorists that the Biden Administration has allowed into the USA, and they attacked a small American town, what would we do?  Yes, what would we do if those terrorists killed over a thousand US citizens, raped - gang raped - the women, decapitated babies and the elderly, put babies in ovens and made their parents watch while they baked the babies to death, and took hundreds of people hostage, what would we do? 

If our military response was effective, and the hostile country retaliated by targeting our major cities with hundreds of rockets, drones, and ballistic missiles, what would we do?  Go ahead, tell us what we would do! 

On 11 September 2001, terrorists hijacked airliners and flew them into the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, DC.  Thousands of innocent, civilian American citizens were killed.  In response, we invaded two countries and stayed for 20 years in one of them … trying to drag a corrupt government, tribal leaders, and drug warlords into the 21st Century.  We are the only country in the history of NATO to invoke Article 5 of that treaty, asking our allies to join in the conflict with us.  THAT’S WHAT WE DID! 

It would be helpful for the world community of nations, the bought-and-paid-for college professors, their miseducated students, and the craven politicians who are catering to them to take a step back and consider how we felt when our people were murdered.  Then, step right up and cast the first stone.

If, God forbid, we are ever attacked like that again, I hope we respond by reducing the nation responsible to dust.  I hate war.  That is why we need to do more that tell Iran, “Don’t.”  If our enemies think we are weak, they will force war upon us, just like they have been doing to Israel.