Disputed Presidential Elections

 Amendment 12 of the U.S. Constitution provides that the certified votes of the Electoral College (electors from each state) shall be submitted to the “seat of government;” specifically the President of the Senate (current Vice President of the United States) in Washington, D.C.  It provides that the votes will be counted in a joint session of the U.S. Congress (Senate and House of Representatives), and that the candidates with the most votes shall be the new President and Vice President of the United States.  Provision is made for congress to resolve tie votes and cases where no candidate gets a clear majority of the votes.  After that, things become unclear. 

So what happens if the Congress does not accept the legitimacy of the elector’s votes? On January 6, 2021, we may find out.  Although the constitution does not address the issue, situations have come up in the past where not all members of congress agreed about the acceptability of the electoral college vote.  In those cases, the Congress was able to resolve its differences.  Laws have been passed to try to deal with those cases where the legality of the popular vote is disputed.  The laws, however, are not very clear. 

I will not attempt to explain the process that is unfolding regarding the 2020 general election.  Like most Americans, I do not understand all the legal ins-and-outs involved, and no one seems to be able to explain it in layman’s terms … in a way that is understandable to someone who had not had the “benefit” of a legal education.  Sadly, we are just going to have to watch and see how it all shakes out.  Please refer to the following link for more information on the process: 

https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/explaining-how-congress-settles-electoral-college-disputes

Several members of Congress have already stated that they will not accept the current vote of the Electoral College, due to irregularities in the conduct of the popular vote in a number of states, including Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico.  Further, the Trump campaign and others are still fighting it out in court.  It seems clear that we are in for a rough road ahead after 6 January. 

Additionally, it looks like the results of disputed 2020 election will take time to be decided. Therefore, I appeal to my fellow Americans in the strongest terms to be patient and let things get resolved without riots and violence.  Rather, I urge you to write your Senators and Congressmen or to petition.  If you plan to demonstrate, that is your right, but please organize it in ways that prevent violent, disruptive groups from turning your peaceful protests into violent chaos.  Nobody wins when that happens.  It just makes things worse. 

I am not urging people to give up or to turn their backs on what they think is right.  I am asking that we all keep our tempers and do the right thing, nonviolently. 

 

Christmas 2020

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.  So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,  to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.  So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

    Glory to God in the highest,
    And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”  And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.  Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. (Luke 2:1-20 NKJV) *

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1John 4:7-11 NKJV) *

 

*  https://biblehub.com/

 

The Sermon on the Mount

I am told that it is better to keep blog posts short, that it is more respectful of the readers’ time, and that today’s readers are conditioned to getting information in “sixty second sound bites.”  There are some passages of scripture, however, that call us to spend a little time reading them in their entirety.  I am asking that you take the time to read the Sermon on the Mount as a whole, to read it meditatively, and to let the Holy Spirit show your heart what Jesus wants you to know.

Some say that in the Sermon on the Mount the Lord gives us the standards for the kingdom He will establish at the time of His Second Coming.  Others say that he was pointing out our inability to be righteous enough to earn our salvation in our own strength by doing good deeds and following a set of rules … that He was showing us that we need a Savior.  There are those who believe that Jesus gave us this sermon because that is the way we are to live right now, as we are carried along in His strength provided by the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Maybe it’s all three.

Please pray that God will show you His will for you as you read this rendering from the New International Version of the Holy Bible.  Pray that He will give you ever increasing faith through the hearing of the Words of God.

Matthew Chapter 5

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him,  and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

He said:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
(those who are aware of their own spiritual poverty and need for a Savior),
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted. 

Blessed are the meek,
(those who are humble),
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Salt and Light

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

The Fulfillment of the Law

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.  Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Murder

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’  is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you,  leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Adultery

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.  And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Divorce

It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’  But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Oaths

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’  But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;  or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.  And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.  All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. 

Eye for Eye

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’  But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.  And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.  If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.  Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew Chapter 6

Giving to the Needy

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,  so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Prayer

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“ ‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Fasting

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,  so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Treasures in Heaven

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,  your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eyes are unhealthy,  your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Do Not Worry

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew Chapter 7

 Judging Others

 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

 Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

 Ask, Seek, Knock

 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!  So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

 The Narrow and Wide Gates

 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

 True and False Prophets

 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?  Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

 True and False Disciples

 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

 The Wise and Foolish Builders

 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,  because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. *

  

*  https://biblehub.com/niv

  

The Fullness of God In Christ Jesus

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 

For in him all things were created:

things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,

whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; 

all things have been created through him and for him. 

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

And he is the head of the body, the church; 

he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, 

so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 

and through him to reconcile to himself all things, 

whether things on earth or things in heaven, 

by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 

(Colossians 1:15-20 NIV) * 

* https://biblehub.com/

Don't be Anxious, Be Happy!

 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:4-8 NKJV) *

 

 

* https://biblehub.com

 

 

Thanksgiving 2020

My daughter referred me to this passage today:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; 

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; 

hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. 

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. 

May your whole spirit, soul and body 

be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. (emphasis added) 

(1Thessalonians 5:16-24 NIV) * 

* https://biblehub.com/

No Such Thing

"Any government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have." *

It appears that a majority of American voters prefer freebies to freedom.  Those who promise student loan forgiveness, free college tuition, free health care, free public transportation, a guaranteed income, and so forth are not doing it because they are benevolent.  They are doing it because if the government can control your educational opportunities, access to medical care, travel, and the livelihood upon which you depend, they can control you.  It’s all about power.

Fellow citizens, there is no such thing as a free lunch.  Somebody has to pay.  The Liberals, Progressives, and Democratic Socialists say they will tax the “rich” to pay for it.  A half-truth is still a lie.  They will indeed tax the “rich,” but it is not possible to raise the kind of revenue they will need to pay for what they are proposing by taxing the “rich” alone.  The math just doesn’t work.

The government will pay for your freebies with deficit spending (spending more than they take in), which will drive huge increases in the public debt.  When more public debt is created than the government can pay for, they just print more money.  That will increase the amount of money in circulation, causing the value of money to go down. Mr. Average American, your money will be worth less.  In other words, your hamburger will cost more in the future than it does now; much more.  Does that sound familiar?  It will take a hundred dollars to buy the athletic shoes that now cost seventy-five.  What does this mean?  It means that you will pay for your “free” government benefits.

The private sector converts natural resources into products, and value is added to those products at various stages until they are sold to consumers.  This productive activity creates wealth resulting in prosperity (jobs) for those who are part of the productive process.  The government taxes the income from productive activity and then spends it, often wastefully.  When AOC and Bernie Sanders say they will pay for your freebies by taxing the “rich,” what they will actually do is motivate the “rich” to relocate productive activity overseas.

Dude!  It means you will have to keep on living in your parent’s basement because you can’t find a job.

It looks like those who voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, or who did not vote at all, may get the bad government they deserve.  The rest of us (almost half the voters) who voted for Donald Trump and Mike Pence may suffer for something that is not our fault.  We will just have to get by the best we can until 2024.  Hopefully, states like Pennsylvania and Georgia will learn how to run an election honestly by then.

 

* “Neither this quotation nor any of its variant forms has been found in the writings of Thomas Jefferson …  It was copyrighted in 1957 by the General Features Corporation, as part of a syndicated newspaper feature called "Today's Chuckle."  It later became a popular saying among Republican politicians.  Governor Harold W. Handley of Indiana used it in his annual message to the Indiana General Assembly in 1961; Barry Goldwater was quoted using it in his 1964 run for president; and Gerald Ford is on record using it in an address to a joint session of Congress on August 12, 1974.”    https://www.monticello.org/

 

The Cross

Traditionally, the cross has been a symbol of Christianity.  It has been used on the exterior of churches to identify them as Christian places of worship.  Inside or outside our churches, the cross reminds us that Jesus died in our place for our sins.  The cross prompts us to remember that He died for us so that we may have eternal life.

In Roman times, crucifixion was a method of execution that was reserved for criminals and traitors.  For example, Spartacus and his fellow rebel slaves were crucified.  It is a slow, agonizing death, and those who were crucified were looked upon with contempt.

In the United States, the cross has recently become controversial … a hot button that has been the focus of court cases.  Atheists, demanding “freedom from religion,” have sought to remove it from public view, and persons of other faiths have declared it to be offensive.  Christian, these difficulties are just a preview of things to come, and a sign that the Rapture is drawing near.

To keep from giving offense, many churches are removing crosses from the exterior of their buildings, and from sanctuaries and other places inside the church that are dedicated for worship.  For reasons best explained by their members, some sects have never displayed the cross on or in their houses of worship in the first place.

Among Christians, churches with large congregations are generally seen as desirable.  It is viewed as a sign of evangelical success.  Many so-called “megachurches” have been able to grow because they give people the truth in love, rightly teaching the Word of God.  Others have attracted large numbers of congregants by becoming a kind of self-help resource and a place for social contact.  The latter type of church teaches about the love of Jesus, but they avoid subjects that some people might find to be upsetting; like end-times prophesy, the torture and crucifixion of Christ, calls to holy living, Hell, the persecution of believers, Christ as the only way to salvation, the cleansing Blood of Jesus, and the Cross of Christ.

In the spirit of providing truth in love, there are some Bible verses that shed light on the attitude the believer should have toward the cross:

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1Corinthians 1:18 NASB) *

For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.  They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.  But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.  He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. (Philippians 3:18-21 NLT) *

And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, ’If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.  For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?  For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.’ (Mark 8:34 NASB) *

‘Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master.  Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of my household will be called by even worse names!

But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.  What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!’

‘Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.’

‘Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.  But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.’

‘If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.  If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.’   (Matthew 10:24-27, 32-33, 38-39 NLT) *

 

I am not advocating that believers have an “in your face,” confrontive attitude toward others.  We must be humble.  I am saying, however, that we must not hide who we are, what we believe, or on whom salvation depends.  Our faith will show itself by our actions. (1John 2:3-6, Ephesians 2:8-10)

 The cross is an object. We do not worship the cross.  For the Christian, however, there is an appropriate reverence for the cross because of what Christ did for us by enduring death by crucifixion.  We must be careful not to lose what those who have gone before passed on to us.  The old hymns give us an idea of what that is:

 

When I survey the wonderous cross

On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.

(When I Survey the Wonderous Cross, by Isaac Watts)

 

In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever,

‘Til my raptured soul shall find Rest beyond the river.

(Near the Cross, by William H. Doane and Fanny J. Crosby)

 

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

‘Til my trophies at last I lay down,

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

And exchange it some day for a crown.

(The Old Rugged Cross, by George Bennard)

 

* https://biblehub.com/

 

 

Do We Have A Winner?

The press is taking it upon themselves to declare that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won the 2020 election.  The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees them the right to publish freely.  Just because they have the right to do something, however, does not mean it is the right thing to do.    In this case, it is premature and presumptuous.  Their role is to report the results of the voting, not to decide the winner.

The Electoral College submits their votes to the U.S. Congress, which certifies the results of the election.  At that time, it will be appropriate to refer to the winners as President Elect and Vice President Elect.

If President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence concede the election, the job of the press is to report it.  Perhaps it might then be appropriate to refer to candidates as the winners.  However, Mr. Trump has the right to exhaust any and all of the legal recourse available to him.  He is not compelled to concede.  He just must follow the law and peacefully vacate his office in January 2021, if the Congress certifies that Joe Biden is the winner.

Lamp in a Corner recognizes the need to examine the conduct of this election until a resolution is reached that confirms to the American people that they can have faith that the elected government was legally elected.  However, President Trump also has a responsibility to act for the good of the country, should it become apparent that the outcome of the election will not be changed by continuing a contentious and divisive legal process in the courts.

We urge all who read this post to pray for the United States of America.

 

 

Life After Death

I was sitting on a hillside and enjoying the sunset.  I began to pray.  I do not even remember what I was praying about when the prayer began, but after a little while I just started to pray about the places where I have lived.  I was not complaining.  I was just talking to God about how I have never really found a place I could call home.  There have been a few places that I really liked, but something has always come up that made it necessary to move on.

That is the way it is in our modern world.  Mobility expands the opportunities that are available to us, but I have never really been able find a place to call home.

If we listen when we pray, sometimes God answers back.  I don’t hear a thundering voice from heaven or see a blinding flash of light.  I just get a feeling, a blessed assurance as the Holy Spirit moves me.  There on the mountainside God gave me a sense of peace, and I understood that He wanted me to know that He has a home for me.  It is a place where I will be able to know the happiness that comes from being with Him … forever.

Jesus said:

‘Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.

In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you;

for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again and receive you to Myself,

that where I am, there you may be also.

And you know the way where I am going.’

Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going,

how do we know the way?’

Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life;

no one comes to the Father but through Me.’  (John 14: 1-6 NASB) (1)

 Jesus also said:

‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,

and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?’

(John 11:25-26 NASB) (2)

Our bodies will die.  Then, that part of us that is not physical, our soul and spirit, will instantly be with Jesus in heaven. (2Corinthians 5:6-10) When the resurrection of our bodies happens at the Rapture, our soul and spirit will be reunited with an immortal resurrection body to remain forever with the Lord. (1Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1Corinthians 15:42-44)

Do you believe this?  If you haven’t already, believe in Jesus today.  Your true home is waiting for you.  All you have to do is enter in.

 

(1) https://biblehub.com/

(2) Ibid.

 

 

The COVID-19 Pandemic as a Campaign Issue

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a campaign issue in the U. S. general election.  If you have read any of my previous posts, you know that I try to avoid inflammatory language and “loaded” wording.  Let me break from that to state the obvious for those who are unable to see it.  Whether you support President Trump or former Vice President Biden, to make the blame for the alleged mismanagement of COVID-19 pandemic an issue that will decide your vote is stupid.  In case you didn’t get that … IT IS STUPID!

The Democrats point to the ever increasing number of persons who are being infected, and to the number of lives lost, and they blame President Trump for reopening the economy.  Their answer is to mandate wearing masks and another ruinous general shutdown of our society.

The Republicans hold that, due to the president’s policy of accelerated treatment and vaccine development, treatments have improved to the point that fewer people are dying, and a vaccine is just around the corner.  They say that the Democrats are to blame for the high rates of infection and death in places like New York City and California, and that the problem would be far worse nationwide if the Democrats had been in charge.  They point to the high rates of infection where drastic shutdowns have been implemented in Europe and the United Kingdom, and they say that another general shutdown would do more harm than good.

I say that we should stop bickering amongst ourselves and work together.  The problem is bigger than petty politics.  The blame for the COVID-19 pandemic falls squarely on the Communist government of Mainland China.  Our leaders need to be working together toward leading the world in the measured response that must be taken to hold the Chinese government responsible and consequence them.

We will probably never know, conclusively, whether the Chinese Communist Party was trying to weaponize the Corona Virus and whether they released it accidentally or intentionally.  What we do know is that faulty decision making on their part inflicted a pandemic on the world.

Let's stop playing into the hands of our enemies.  Put the blame on the Chinese government where it belongs.  Let your vote be decided by your position on the many other issues that are important to America.

Albert Einstein is reported to have said, “Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.” And, “The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.” *  Well said.

  

* https://www.brainyquote.com/

 

 

Once We Were, Now We Are

For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.  But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,  He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,  whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,  so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  (Titus 3:3-7 NASB) *

... for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.  (2Timothy 1:12 NASB) *

  

*  https://biblehub.com/

Abortion 2020

STOP!  THIS POST IS INTENDED FOR MATURE READERS ONLY.  IF YOU ARE NOT 18 YEARS OLD OR OLDER ASK FOR PERMISSION FROM YOUR PARENTS BEFORE READING THIS POST.

In American politics, abortion is the 500 pound gorilla in the corner of the room.  Politicians fear taking a public position on abortion.  No matter whether they say they are pro-choice or pro-life, they are going to make a lot of people mad at them if they tell the truth about where they stand.  Nevertheless, abortion is a deal breaker for many voters, and they want to know a candidate’s position on it.

Abortion is an emotional issue, and rational, logical, analytical reasoning does not always hold sway.  People often make up their minds based on what they feel about abortion, and not what they think, or perhaps their feelings overcome their attempts to reason their way through the issue.

Others decide where they stand on the abortion question by gathering the facts, evaluating them, and drawing a conclusion.  Rationalization is one of Freud’s ego defense mechanisms.  Perhaps I tend to rely on logical, reasoned arguments for my point of view because they provide a mechanism for defending it.  However, Albert Ellis is reported to have said that, “Introspection is the high road to neurosis.”  So, I have learned to try to avoid too much of it.

It is easy to offend or wound another person when discussing abortion, depending on their personal history and values.  I try not to hurt people with what I say.  Regardless, an election year is the time to speak out plainly and directly about abortion, before too many more people cast their ballots.

The courts have decided that the 5^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects all persons within our borders from being, “… deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law …”  The courts have ruled that illegal migrants have a right to due process.  Do they have more rights than an unborn American child?  So for me, one of the decision points about abortion is, when does an unborn child become a human being?  There is a lot of disagreement about that.

From the time that the human egg is fertilized, the unborn child has unique DNA that has never existed before and will never exist again.  When the unborn child attaches to the uterus, a pregnancy becomes viable.  Soon, the fetus will have a heartbeat and begin to react to external stimuli.  If carried to full term, a live birth usually results.  A person that is born on American soil is an American citizen by law, and their life may not be taken without due process of law.

Think it over.  When do you think an unborn child is fully human?

For me, once a pregnancy becomes viable the unborn child has a chance at life, and to take it is to kill a human life.  In my opinion, that is unconstitutional, and therefore illegal.

Another argument has to do with values and ethics.  Some people choose not to regard religious belief as logical or rational.  It is their right.  I can only speak for myself.  As a Christian, my values and ethics are governed by the Word of God.  The better modern translations of the Holy Bible render the 6^th Commandment: “You shall not murder.”  (Exodus 20:13 NASB) *  Since I regard the viable fetus as a human life, I think it violates God’s Word to take that life.  I do not have the right to force others to believe the way that I do, but I have the right to peacefully advocate for it.  One way to do that is with my vote.

Emotionally speaking, all I can ask is that you search your heart.  Explore your feelings. If you do so honestly, your conscience will tell you that abortion is just plain wrong.

I believe a woman has the right to defend herself.  If there is a high degree of probability that carrying a child to term will kill the mother, or cause her permanent bodily harm, then she has the right to protect herself.  If a pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, a woman has the right to defend herself from further injury by terminating it.  Even though ending a viable pregnancy is taking a human life, I believe the mother’s right to defend herself supersedes the child’s right to life in these specific circumstances.

Some advocate that the mother may choose to end a baby’s life after live birth, or close to the time of delivery (partial birth abortion).  That is infanticide.  It is so evil that I am sickened by the very thought of it.  How far must we fall before we hit bottom?  God forgive us.

Public funding of abortions makes every citizen complicit, especially those who pay taxes.  It is forcing “people of faith” to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs.  If an elected leader is not able to understand that, they have no business holding public office.  Please do not vote for someone like that.

Abortion must not be just another method of birth control.  There are many alternatives, which deserve public support.  As a Director of Social Services in a remote mountain county in the 1980’s, I personally provided adoptive services.  I know that there are waiting lists of prospective adoptive parents, especially for infant adoptions.  The family is also often a resource for children from unplanned pregnancies.  We need more and better alternative living arrangements for mothers expecting the birth of a child to be placed for adoption.  The church needs to stop judging and step up to the plate to help mothers with unplanned pregnancies.  Birth control must be made available to girls who are of legal age to consent to sex (generally 16 years old and older).  Counselling services need to be expanded to help women avoid unplanned pregnancies and access services for the child if an unplanned pregnancy occurs.

The time to decide is now.  Please vote for life, not death.

 

 

* https://biblehub.com/