Don't Let Anyone Entice You To Do Something Wrong

2nd Kings 6:25-30, “And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress? And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow. So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son. And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.”

Proverbs 1:10, “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”

I was listening to the King James Bible today, from the Old Testament book of 2nd Kings. I love the Old Testament. I agree with Evangelist Lester Roloff (1914-1982) who said that the Old Testament will put iron into your blood. He is speaking spiritually, of course. Romans 15:4 says, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Please don't miss that truth dear friend, God gave us the Old Testament FOR OUR LEARNING. Amen.

As I was listening to this disturbing passage today, I became infuriated at the wicked woman who said to a stranger: “Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.” That evil stranger had no intention of ever killing and eating her own son. She was a pathetic manipulative liar, and as far as I am concerned. demon inspired. Can you image someone being so evil that they would even try to convince you to murder, cook and then help eat your own child? That is exactly what the wicked woman did, but she lied and after eating the other woman's child, fled with her own child. She took advantage of a stranger. It's not hard to understand why so many people in the world hate people.

The Ungodly “Friend” From Hell

When I was about 7 or 8 years old, I was walking to the grocery store one day with my friend Bobby. He tempted me to steal a small carton of chocolate milk. Now, God knows my heart, that such a wicked thought had never once entered into my mind. I know for a fact that as a good kid I never would have tried to steal that milk, had my so-called “friend” not taunted, tempted and pressured me to do it. At first I refused to do it. But Bobby started calling me a “chicken.” So I relented and did it under pressure from Bobby to steal.

But I got caught. The store owner stopped me and said: “Son, open that bag,” and I did and he saw the chocolate milk. The elderly man said I was not allowed to come back into his store until he talked with my mother, and he asked me for her phone number, and as an otherwise honest boy I gave it to him. On the way home I kindly asked Bobby to please not tell anybody about the incident. Bobby was so rotten and evil (also about age 7 or 8) that when we arrived home, he literally ran throughout the neighborhood hollering: “David got caught stealing from Johnny Joes! David got caught stealing from Johnny Joes!” I was crying. My grandma was crying. My mother was upset when the store owner, Johnny, called her.

From that day forward, I never once stepped foot into Johnny Joes' store again, because I was too ashamed of what I had done. I walked to other grocery stores in the area, some a few blocks farther away, so I wouldn't have to face the stigma and shame of being a thief, all because my crooked ungodly “friend” Bobby pressured me to steal that chocolate milk one day. Bobby was a low character boy, and I fell for his trap.

The good thing is that I learned some lasting character lessons from that painful incident:

1. There's no such thing as a “friend” who entices you to do something wrong. Proverbs 1:10, “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” Bobby was never a true friend.
2. I never should have succumbed to Bobby's enticing words. He was an evil influence. If someone today were to ask me to do something wrong, I would tell them to: “Get the hell away from me!”; and you do the same dear reader if someone entices you to do evil.
3. When you do wrong, evil people will rub your face in it. Proverb:22:1, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” Always protect your name and innocence. What Bobby did was evil. It was his idea in the first place and he pressured me to steal, and when I did and got caught he went and told everybody in a malicious effort to destroy my reputation. To run through the neighborhood tearing down someone whom you enticed to do evil is ten times more evil.
4. Ultimately, I have no one to blame but myself for what I did that day. In our text passage from 2nd Kings, that foolish mother who killed, boiled and ate her child with a complete stranger who enticed her to do it, has no one to blame but herself. She ran crying to the king begging for justice, but she did that to herself and her own child. And worse, she had to live with that regret for the rest of her life.
5. People will entice you to do wrong, but you alone will suffer the consequences. That woman's baby is dead, but the other woman still has her baby. People will manipulate lie and take advantage of you if you are weak and foolish. That is why I have and always will reject Medicare Advantage Plans. All they are is greedy private insurance companies wanting to screw you out of your due benefits. They're a bunch of dirty thieves! I have to live with getting caught stealing for the rest of my life. Bobby didn't get caught, I did. He convinced me to do something wrong, and I succumbed to his Satanic mouth. I suffered the consequences alone, but nothing bad happened to him.
6. The people who entice you to do wrong will disappear from your life. That foolish mother never saw or heard from that evil stranger again, the wicked woman who pressured her to boil her child; just like the evil serpent who ruined Eve's life in the Paradise of Eden, and then was never seen or heard from again. I have no idea where Bobby is today, and I really couldn't care less. His father was a Chicago police officer who used to physically beat his wife. I'd see her working at Jewel food store, in the deli, with a black eye. Bobby is probably no better.

By God's grace, I will never again allow anyone to entice me to do something wrong, unethical, immoral or illegal! We never know when evil will rear its ugly head in our life's journey, but we can plan ahead of time to say, “No.” We can avoid hanging around bad influences. As a general life's rule, I wouldn't want to be around anybody who doesn't like to share Bible truths, talk about the things of God, and who has a heart for sharing the gospel to win souls to Christ.

Though The Stars Fall, Do Right!

Dr. Bob Jones Sr. (1883-1968) taught that truth, and he preached it often. Though the stars fall, do right! There's nothing to weight, consider or ponder, if it's wrong I'm not going to do it. Prisons are full of fools who allowed someone else to entice or pressure them to break the law. People will entice you to do something wrong, and when you do they'll blackmail you to do something else wrong, or threaten you that they'll go to the police. That is how small crimes lead to big ones.

 “All things truly wicked start from innocence.” —Ernest Hemingway

“If you want to never do anything that is terribly wicked, then you never do anything that is slightly wicked.” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "Unjust In The Least"

I live by these precious quotes and truths today. Throughout your life you will meet evil people who have no problem skirting the law, breaking the rules and doing what is wrong.

I used to work with a shady man at the U.S. Postal Service about 20 years ago, who would go to lunch without clocking out. He'd work out at the gym while on the clock getting paid. He stole boxes of toilet paper from the post office. I stayed away from him! His wife (that he swindled from her husband) was a devout Roman Catholic. I shared the gospel with him and he claimed that I had led him to the Lord. So, he went around the workplace telling everyone that he was a Baptolic (half Baptist, half Catholic). I have no idea if he really got born again or not. Only he knows that. I am not condemning the guy, because we are all wicked sinners. My point is that he was a bad influence, so I maintained my distance from him, lest I go down with him if he ever got caught. To my knowledge he never did. What saith the Scripture? 1st Timothy 5:24, “Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.”

Dear reader, by God's grace I implore you to become vigilant in this matter of not allowing wicked people to entice you to do something wrong. Teenagers especially, be vigilant in this matter of being truthful, chaste and righteous. Temptations abound for youth today. As we grow older not so much. I'm just an old man living a boring life, and I like it that way.

These Are Perilous Times

We are living in a greedy culture today of ungodly people who couldn't care less about loving one's neighbor as thyself. My dog Miss Pickles peed blood on the floor at PetSmart yesterday. The vet charged me $112 for a urine analysis and another $136 for some antibiotics ($258 total). A cat had also scratched her eye on Friday and that cost me $182 for a stain test and some antibiotic eye drops earlier in the day yesterday. I checked online for pricing. For just 4 ounces of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (antibiotics) liquid, the vet charged me $146. I found it online (only veterinarians can buy it; $20.45 for 16 ounces). So, for what costs them $20.45, they charge their customers $584! I see this greed everywhere I go today. Matthew 24:12, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

All in all, I am thankful that Miss Pickles seems to be doing better. The urine analysis showed white blood cells and bladder cells present, which the doctor said is likely either a UTI (Urinal Tract Infection), or possibly early signs of cancer. The dog is 5 years old as of January. She has gotten hold of a Little Debbie fudge brownie the day before, which I read online can caused digestive bleeding; but the vet said he didn't think that was the problem.

The Stain Test confirmed that the cat scratched her left cornea. There's a spiritually dead Presbyterian church a block away from my house. I've never seen more than 3 or 4 people present. Someone at the church feeds the cat, and there's a bowl of water. So I call it the “Presbyterian cat.” When I was walking Miss Pickles Friday evening, she ran ahead (her leash is about 15 feet long). She ran around the corner of the church building and I heard a loud yelp, and she came running back. When I turned the corner I saw the black cat, who hadn't budged until she saw me. She had clobbered Miss Pickles before I could see what was going on! Thankfully, the doctor said her eye seems to be healing well. No more cats!

Miss Pickles didn't pee blood this morning on her pee pads in the living room by her portable playpen. I'll be giving her liquid antibiotics for the next 14 days, and eye drops in her left eye for 7 days. She wouldn't allow me to put the syringe in her mouth, so I mixed her antibiotics with a tablespoon of yogurt, which the nurse said I could do. The dog likes that. Lord willing, she'll be back to normal. I also had her groomed yesterday, since it is hot and humid outside. I got her the shortest number 10 haircut. And they cleaned her teeth. That cost $122. I also have three Zebra finches, and I bought some Millet and liners for them yesterday at PetSmart. It all came out to about $600. Praise the Lord! It was a hectic day, especially for Miss Pickles.

I took this photo of her last night at the animal hospital...

Miss Pickles

In these perilous times people don't care about their neighbours like they should, charging as much money as they possibly can just because they can, God is still faithful. 

God's free gift of eternal life is still 100% free, completely paid for by the precious blood of Jesus. Don't you dare believe any lying preacher who says you must be willing to forsake your sinful bad habits to get to Heaven, because that is works (Jonah 3:10). Christ died on a cross 2,000 years ago to pay for our sins, because there is nothing that we can do to remedy the situation. The very idea of having to be willing to turn from your sins to be saved is preposterous, because NO ONE has ever done so. The true Gospel always points you to CHRIST; a false gospel always points to YOU. If salvation is truly by grace, then you don't need to start or stop anything to be saved. Eternal life is a free gift from God (Romans 6:23).

Thank you sincerely for reading my ministry blog. God is good and faithful.

Pastor Brad Strand Is Wrong To Call Eternal Security A “Secondary Doctrine”

1st Corinthians 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.”

Before I get into my article, let me say that I have tremendous admiration for Pastor Brad Strand. Today, he has been faithfully pastoring a small country church in Texas for decades, a man after my own heart. Brother Strand was one of my favorite Bible professors at Hyles-Anderson College in the late 1980s. He was already laboring on his intriguing Bible commentary back then, which he told us about. He spent 30,000 hours over 33 years preparing his invaluable Bible commentary. I bought five copies (2 new and 3 used).

That being said, as a fundamentalist Bible preacher myself, I feel compelled to correct doctrinal issues when I humbly disagree with any preacher, regardless of who they are. I have corrected Pastor Jack Hyles (my hero of the Christian faith) when I thought he was wrong.

That being said, in his commentary for 1st Corinthians 13:12, Pastor Strand points out that the Bible concedes we see through a glass darkly for now, which means that no one has it all figured out. 1st Corinthians 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.” He uses this premise to teach that as believers we ought not be dogmatic or condescending toward our Christian brethren in secondary doctrines.

Here is Brother Strand's disturbing commentary for 1st Corinthians 13:12...

Paul admitted that we know “little” (For now we see through a glass, darkly) compared to what we shall know when CHRIST returns. If 1 Corinthians 13:12 emphasizes anything, it stresses that we ought to be slow to be dismissive (flippant and indifferent) and condescending toward others who may hold a different theological view concerning 

“secondary doctrines not related to salvation; such as: (1) when the rapture of the church is to occur (Lk 17:27); (2) eternal security” (Jn 10:28-29, Mt 13:44-45, Gal 5:16-17,21 and II Tim 1:12); (3) Calvinism (Mt 28:19a), predestination (Rom 8:29 and II Thes 2:13); (4) differences between the versions of the Bible (Lk 11:51, Acts 7:45 and Heb 10:39); (4) gap theory (Gen 1:2b, 28c); (6) music standards (Psa 47:7 and Eph 5:19); (7) personal standards (Rom 14:1, 22a and 1 Cor 6:12); (8) tongues (Mk 16:17a, Acts 2:3a, 4, 6, 7, 8, 13a, 17-18 & 10:44-46 & 19:6); (9) global warming (Gen 1:25, II Pet 3:7 and Jud 21:25); and (10) etc. (Rom 14:1b and Phil 1:17). According to Paul truth exists, but it is our process of acquiring it that is limited and imprecise (Deut 29:29). 

NOTE: Outside of the doctrine of salvation (Gen 49:18, Exo 14:13, 30-31, Psa 74:12, Jonah 2:9, Hab 1:5, Mt 7:13-14, Lk 7:50, Jn 4:14 & 5:29 & 6:28-29, Rom 13:11, Titus 3:5a and Heb 6:1c), which came to us via great LIGHT (Gen 1:3b, Lk 2:30-32 & 18:34 and Jn 1:3-5), every other theological subject is, at best, clouded. Meaning: The Word of God can appear to us at times in dark speeches (1 Cor 13:12 and Num 12:7-8). —Pastor Brad Strand, The Strand Study Bible, p. 1902

Now, kindly said, I would agree with Pastor Strand that issues like global warming, music standards, gap theory and personal standards are non-essential “secondary doctrines” not worth fighting over in the churches. However, I strongly disagree with him that important issues such as eternal security, predestination, Calvinism and differences between the versions of the Bible are mere “secondary doctrines” that we shouldn't be dogmatic over.

Eternal Security Is NOT A Minor Secondary Doctrine

Brother Strand goes on in his commentary (on the same page for 1st Corinthians 13:12) to define “dogmatism” as: “the foolish art of deceiving one's self into seeing absolutes where they don't exist.” Huh? Say what? That is ridiculous when we're talking about the biblical doctrine of eternal security! I detect a level of contempt in Pastor Strand's words for those Christians who debate over these matters. That is not good.

Eternal Life and Eternal Security are NOT two separate Bible doctrines, they are one and the same teaching. If you have Eternal Life, you have Eternal Security! I am surprised that Brother Strand considers Eternal Security a non-essential doctrine. How can Pastor Strand glibly dismiss Eternal Security as being a mere “secondary doctrine” that we shouldn't be dogmatic to fuss over? How can he teach that Eternal Security is not an absolute truth? I couldn't disagree with him more, respectfully.

Dear reader, if you deny the great doctrine of Eternal Security, then you are saying that we must DO SOMETHING to remain saved. If you think you can lose it, then you clearly believe YOU must do something to keep it, and that is WORKS. Salvation is of the LORD, not man (Jonah 2:9). The only thing that you and I contribute to our own salvation is the sin that made it necessary. What do you mean that Eternal Security is a secondary doctrine? No Sir. No way!

The biblical truth of Eternal Security is just as important and worthy of fighting over to contend for the faith, as is the gospel itself.

Calvinism Is NOT A Minor Secondary Doctrine

Furthermore, Calvinism is of the Devil. John Calvin (1509-1564) is either burning in Hell now and forever, or else there are two different gospels. John Calvin emphasized that to get to Heaven, one must repent to turn from your sinning, have faith in Jesus Christ, and live according to God's commandments until death. This is NOT the gospel.

Perhaps the most notable Calvinist of our generation is Dr. Albert Mohler (president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) in Kentucky. Richard Albert Mohler Jr. (born 1959) has been the theologically incompetent President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Hillcrest, Kentucky since 1993. The man is a brilliant writer and loves to read many books. In that respect, he is a man after my own heart. I humbly think Dr. Mohler is a good man and sincere in his beliefs. That being said, he is unfortunately WRONG on God's simple plan of salvation. ...

“We don't affirm easy-believism.” —Dr. Albert Mohler Jr. 'Have We Really Misunderstood the Gospel for 2000 Years?' (23:47 time in YouTube video)

What a darn fool! Dr. Mohler is openly a 5-point Calvinist, an infidel, as is his mentor Dr. John MacArthur (1939-2025). These men are theologically dangerous, despite both being likable personalities and good men (as far as sinful humans go). Although I admire certain aspects of both men, I also loathe their corrupt view of God's simple plan of salvation.

How can Pastor Strand carelessly make light of the damnable false teachings of John Calvin, which are dooming millions of men's souls to everlasting fire, torment and damnation in Hell? There is no way that Albert Mohler is a born again believer when he openly teaches that as Calvinist's, “We don't affirm easy-believism.” Dear reader, if you think getting saved is hard, YOU ARE NOT SAVED! What do you mean you don't affirm Easy-Believism?

Was it not easy for 3,000 people to get saved on the Day of Pentecost? Sure it was easy, they gladly received the gospel which the Apostle Peter preached unto them (Acts 2:41).

Was it not easy for Cornelius and his companions to get saved? Sure it was, they simply believed the gospel truth which Peter preached unto them (Acts 10:43-44).

Jesus likened getting saved to looking at an object on a pole (John 3:14-16).

Jesus likened getting saved to drinking some water (John 4:13-15).

Jesus likened getting saved to eating some bread (John 6:48-58).

Jesus likened getting saved to walking through a door (John 10:1, 9).

Albert Mohler is a fool. It is very free, simple and yes, easy, to get to Heaven. You simply need to believe that Jesus did it all for you.

Therefore, I have to strongly disagree with Pastor Strand that Calvinism is merely a “secondary doctrine” that Christians should not be dogmatic to oppose and expose! This is not a matter that we are in the dark about. We can be absolutely certain that all five tenets of Calvinism are FALSE.

Calvinism teaches the heresy of Limited Atonement (i.e., that Christ only died for the redeemed, not all men). The very idea that we cannot know absolutely that Christ died for all men is absurd. 1st John 2:2, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Brother Strand is very wrong in this important matter. We can know of an absolute certainty that Calvinism is blatant heresy!

And the same argument can be made for predestination. It doesn't take a trained theologian to expose Calvinism as blatant theological fraud. If you'd like to learn more about the false teaching of predestination as taught by John Calvin (1509-1564), and the correct biblical teaching of predestination, I highly recommend reading this free book in .pdf format by Pastor Max D. Younce (1935-2023) titled: 'NOT CHOSEN TO SALVATION.'

RIGHT DOCTRINE MATTERS!!!

The Differences Between Bible Versions Are NOT A Minor Secondary Doctrine

I am appalled that Pastor Strand would glibly make light of the threat of Satan's corruptible seed. The corrupt modern Bible revisions change God's simple plan of salvation, by redefining what it mans to repent and believe.

The Greek verb for “repent” in Mark 1:15 in the King James Bible is metanoeo, which means, “to think differently.” It is a change of mind. It DOESN'T mean to “change your hearts and lives,” which is what the corrupt ERV says!!! . . .

KING JAMES BIBLE (KJB) — Mark 1:15, “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” [emphasis added]

EASY-TO-READ VERSION (ERV) — Mark 1:15, “He said, “The right time is now here. God’s kingdom is very near. Change your hearts and lives, and believe the Good News!” [emphasis added]

That is wrong, wrong, wrong! You don't have to change your own life as a requirement to be saved. Rather, it is the indwelling Holy Spirit that comes into a person at the time of salvation that changes one's heart and life, over time as one grows in grace by nurturing on the milk of the Word (1st Peter 2:2).

To “repent” just means to think differently. The word itself doesn't even tell us what to change our mind about. For that, we need to examine a particular Scripture passages' content to determine what to change our mind about. In the case of Mark 1:15 the Bible plainly tells us. We need to think differently to believe the gospel to be saved.

Many foolish men have made a religion out of repentance. They have made a Christ out of repentance. Instead of repentance facilitating (to make possible) believing to be saved, wicked but sincere religious men have made it into an additional step to be saved. No one has ever been saved who didn't repent. That is, change their mind to admit two things: You are a guilty SINNER; and second, Jesus is the SAVIOR.

Pastor Harry Ironside (1876-1951) said it well...

"Repentance is the recognition of my sinnership—the owning before God that I am as vile as He has declared me to be in His holy Word." —Pastor Harry Ironside, 'Except Ye Repent,' chapter 3

That is vastly different than being willing to forsake one's sinful bad habits to be saved, which is a false gospel commonly taught in most churches and religious institutions today.

Some smart alec will say that you have to turn “from” something in order to turn “to” something. Well, then the answer is very obvious, the opposite of belief is unbelief. The truth is that you must change your mind from whatever has been hindering you from coming to the light of the truth of the GOOD NEWS (Jesus' crucified, buried and risen) to be saved. So, if a man has believed, has HAS repented. It is a false teaching to question whether or not someone has “repented” who has already put their childlike faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Initially, getting saved does not change a person one bit, except that now you have the gift of Christ's Holy Spirit living inside your body (Romans 8:9; 1st Corinthians 3:16-17; 1st John 3:24, 4:4). It is the Lord's Holy Spirit working in us that changes our life, but this is not a requirement to be saved. You see, the ERV is teaching doctrines of devils, requiring people to change their own life (which is human effort) as a requirement to be saved. This is reformation, not repentance, which does not bring regeneration (the new birth).

So, as you can clearly see for yourself, the issue of exposing the Devil's different Bible versions is not a mere “secondary doctrine” that we cannot be dogmatic over. We certainly can! I am absolutely certain that the Devil's Bible revisions are dangerous!!! All of Satan's apples have worms! All of Satan's Bible revisions attack the deity of Jesus, remove the Godhead, and water-down the truth of God's eternally inspired Words.

Calvinism, Denying Eternal Security and False Bibles Are Absolute False Teaching's We Must Divide Over

Although I agree that Christian believers ought not fuss and needlessly divide over secondary doctrines; such as, the timing of the Rapture, age of the earth, Zionism, standards of dress, music styles and tithing; I full disagree that critical issues; such as, eternal security, Calvinism (limited atonement, predestination, perseverance of the saints, et cetera) and differences between the Bible versions are mere secondary doctrines that ought not divide us.

So, kindly said, if you follow Pastor Brad Strand's advice for his commentary on 1st Corinthians 13:12, then you will wickedly support Pastor John MacArthur's and Dr. Albert Mohler's damnable Calvinist heresies. Calvinism is anything but a secondary doctrine! It is major false teaching! That is an absolute fact!!!

And any false teacher who denies eternal security (e.g., Dan Corner, Seventh-Day Adventists, Catholics and many Protestants) has been inspired by demons. Of that I am certain! This is not a mere secondary doctrine that we ought not be dogmatic over. Eternal Security is Eternal Life, and you cannot separate these two biblical doctrines. To deny the eternal security of a believer is to deny a free grace gospel, which is the simplicity that is in Christ. Catholics deny eternal security because they teach that works (avoiding mortal sins) are required to stay saved. That is a major damnable false teaching, not a “secondary doctrine.”

That all being said, I appreciate Pastor Strand's Bible commentary. It is truly a masterpiece of English literature, and I sincerely mean that praise. I cherish The Strand Study Bible, which you can purchase on Amazon. I bought some used ones from Abe's Books and eBay. Buy one while you still can, because I don't think they are still in print. I have learned so much truth from Brother Strand. I love the guy for his labors for Christ! To God alone be all the glory.

Consider Your Ways

Haggai 1:7, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.”

One thing that I have learned in life is that God will not force someone to do what is right. If you have a rebellious wife, you can pray for her morning, noon and evening, but God will not force her to repent (change her mind) to do what is right. Sadly, America has a serious problem with defiant rebellious wives today because of the Satanic influence of feminism. The inspired Holy Bible in our text passage of Scripture says to, “Consider your ways.”

And if you have a stubborn ungodly husband, all your prayers won't influence God to force him to repent to do what is right. But the Bible does say in 1st Peter 3:1, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives.” Many Christian wives angrily demand that their husband do this or do that; but she is as lazy as a hound dog on a hot summer day, she tells lies and goes behind his back deceitfully, she is more stubborn than her husband when it comes to apologizing or admitting when she is wrong. I tell you with Scriptural authority than no husband will ever “be won” by that kind of shameful wife.

Haggai 1:7, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.” We all need to consider our ways. The English word “consider” is translated from three different Hebrew words which mean: “to put, the heart, above.” And then the word “ways” means: “road, or course of life.” Hence, we are to put our heart above the road we are traveling to examine it.

“I said there's only one thing that'll take a man to Hell. You know what it is? It's the opposite of faith, it's unfaith or unbelief. That's all. Now then, what will take a man all the way to Heaven? Faith, in Jesus Christ. What is the one prerequisite to being saves? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” —Brother Lester Roloff, “Faith”

“A man that's not a Christian can't be honest. Now that's gonna hurt some people, but that's the truth. You cannot be honest until you come to Christ, because you're living a life of ingratitude; and you're living on God and won't recognize him. And God supplies and holds everything together, and in him you live and move and have your being; and yet you won't recognize God's ownership in your stewardship, you're being dishonest. You're God's property by creation, by sustenance and by regeneration; and if you don't recognize it, you're not honest with God. Nobody! I believe that the main the root of honesty is recognizing that God owns everything. Living off of Him.” —Brother Lester Roloff, “Faith”

Life is short dear reader. Are you prepared to meet God? Hebrews 10:31, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Cultural Christians Are Not True Christians

I learned this week that Elon Musk is a “Cultural Christian.”

Cultural Christians are individuals who appreciate Christian values and culture but do not actively practice the Christian faith. They may identify as Christian due to their upbringing or cultural environment, rather than a commitment to religious beliefs. Cultural Christians often enjoy elements of Christian culture, such as holidays and traditions, without adhering to the faith itself. SOURCE

Dear reader, kindly said, Elon Musk is treading on thin ice! He is living dangerously! Being a Cultural Christian is not the same as the new birth. In the past Elon identified as an atheist, but now says he is agnostic (unsure).

Around 2014, famous horror writer Stephen King (who has been dubbed The King of Horror) said publicly that he is no longer an atheist. Stephen King stated that he made a decision to believe in God, noting that it was better to believe than not to believe, especially during his struggles with addiction. He has expressed that while he is a believer, he remains uncertain about the existence of an afterlife. What saith the Scripture? James 2:19, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), a Founding Father of the United States, considered himself part of Christian culture, despite his doubts about the divinity of Jesus. Sadly, unless he repented on his death bed, Thomas Jefferson is burning in Hell now and forever.

Jesus Is The Great “I AM”

Nobody is saved who denies Jesus' deity (John 8:24). The pronoun “he” in John 8:24 is in italics in the King James Bible. Which means the verse literally reads: “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am, ye shall die in your sins.” Exodus 3:14, “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”

Some people have foolishly alleged that Jesus never claimed to be God. Oh, but He did dear reader, He most certainly did in John 8:58, “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” The unbelieving Jews fully understood that Jesus was claiming to be God, evidenced by their angry response in John 8:59, “Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.”

The unbelieving Jews knew exactly what Jesus was claiming, that He is God almighty! The Jews said to Jesus with contempt in verse 57, “Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?” Jesus replied by saying that He existed before Abraham was even born. What saith the Scripture? John 10:33, “The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.” The Jews fully understood that Jesus claimed to be God almighty!

We find a remarkable Scripture passage in Job 23:12, “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job said that he considered and highly regarded God's Word more than his food. Do you regard God's Word as being more valuable than a Little Caesar's pizza? Do you esteem the 8,810 promises of God in the inspired King James Bible more than your favorite meal? Matthew 4:4, “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Consider Your Ways

According to Hebrews 9:27, we all have an appointment with the Grim Reaper, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Most people are not prepared to die. Most people have never been born again.

By God's grace and mercy, may we all consider our ways. Haggai 1:7, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.”

God Sees Your Suffering, Burdens And Life

Genesis 31:7-12, “And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me. If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked. Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled. And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.”

I was listening to Willard Waggoner read the book of Genesis yesterday and today, and I heard this passage of Scripture, and two phrases caught my attention:

1. but God suffered him not to hurt me (verse 7)
2. for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee (verse 12)

I love the book of Genesis. I love the amazing true stories, especially the story of Joseph. God is so beautiful the way that He always works behind the scenes. Dear reader, we have a wonderful, good and faithful Creator, God.

Jacob had cheated his brother Esau out of his inheritance. Jacob had deceived his father by conspiring with his manipulative mother Rebekah to trick Isaac. When Rebekah heard that Esau was plotting to murder Jacob, she sent Jacob to live with her brother Laban. So, Jacob married his cousins Leah and Rachel (and their two handmaidens), and they all bear unto him 12 children. Laban cheated Jacob 10 times, lowering his wages. When a wild animal killed some of the livestock, Jacob took the loss instead of Laban. Again and again, Laban defrauded Jacob, just as Jacob had defrauded his brother Esau. What goes around comes around! This is the reciprocating law of life.

Jacob said if Laban could have robbed him of everything, he would have. Genesis 31:42, “Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.” But God protected Jacob and his family. I love these two statements that Jacob made:

1. but God suffered him [Laban] not to hurt me (verse 7)
2. for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee (verse 12)

I especially love that last statement from Genesis 31:12. God told Jacob that He had seen all the horrible things which his uncle Laban had done unto him. I love that truth because it means God sees everything that happens in our life too.

Psalms 139:1-4, “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.”

Nothing escapes the eyes of God! NOTHING! Dear reader, you are known to God. The LORD knows the very number of hairs on your head...

Matthew 10:29-31, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

I'm sure you've often prayed like I do and felt like it's a big waste of time. I admit that I don't see God answering my prayers. In fact, not any of them! I used to struggle with religious scrupulosity and felt like it must all be my fault. I thought to myself, “Maybe I did something wrong, or perhaps I didn't do something that I was supposed to do, and God is offended.” But as I grew in grace I came to understand that it wasn't anything I had done wrong. It is normal for God to appear to ignore us when we pray. Anybody who says differently is a liar!

There were periods in the Old Testament when several hundred years passed without a single miracle being mentioned in the Bible. Jesus taught the people in the synagogue that in the time of famine in the days of Elijah, only one widow was provided food by God. The rest starved to death (Luke 4:25-26). Joseph and his family sojourned in Egypt in peace for 30 years. But then a wicked Pharaoh rose up who knew not Joseph, killing the Hebrew male babies. The Hebrews were enslaved for 400 years! The lesson to be learned here is that God doesn't always work in our time frame, and in the way that we desire.

Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

When I pray today, I don't look for visible results. The Scripture tells us in 2nd Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” If we pray and wait for visible results, we are trying to force God into our thinking and mold, walking by sight. I have learned that God works behind the scenes in mysterious ways. The LORD loves to work that way!

We see this truth bared out in the Old Testament book of Esther. In those ten intriguing chapters we see the hand of God at work, yet “God” is not mentioned even once in all ten chapters. There is no mention of the “Lord.” The lesson to be learned here is that when you cannot see the HAND of God at work, just trust the great HEART of God.

God sees your burdens, heartaches, needs and suffering dear reader. It burns my heart with joy and comfort to know that God told Jacob, “I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee” (Genesis 31:12b). God sees when our spouse does us wrong. God sees when thieves rob our possessions. God sees when someone does evil against us, whether it be bearing false witness or trying to destroy our name and reputation with slander. God sees it all.

Another Scripture passage comes to mind from Hebrews 4:13, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” We all have an appointment with the Grim Reaper (death), and then we must answer to God (Romans 14:10-12; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Hebrews 9:27).

Nothing escapes the scrutiny of God. He is the keeper of our soul. Proverbs 24:12, “If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?” I love that Bible verse. It means God doesn't need any juries in Heaven, because He already knows THE TRUTH of all matters. No one will be able to deceive or lie to God. It greatly comforts my soul to know that our omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent God sees everything going on in everyone's soul and life, so that we must all be judged for every word (Matthew 12:36), our intentions (Proverbs 24:12), and every deed done (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

Sometimes The Best Thing To Do Is Absolutely Nothing

2nd Samuel 1:10-14, “So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord. Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou?  And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?”

I could show you umpteen examples from the inspired Holy Bible where people would have been MUCH better off had they simply done nothing. In our text Scripture passage from 2nd Samuel, an Amalekite confesses to King David that he has killed King Saul. He was lying of course, Saul commit suicide, but the Amalekite did attempt to kill Saul. He sincerely thought by slaying David's enemy that the king would be pleased and reward him handsomely, but to his horror David was enraged and instead ordered him to be executed for treason. Had the Amalekite done absolutely nothing when Saul begged for him to kill him, the Amalekite would have been just fine. The lesson here is clear: Be careful about doing what people ask you to do.

I cannot think of a better example of what not to do then the way the south handled the issue of slavery. For decades prior to the American Civil War (1860-1865) there had been protests and talk up north from activists and preachers about freeing the slaves down south. This constant antislavery rhetoric from the Union made southern Confederate slave owners paranoid, big time! I mean, the slaves were their cash cow, their life's blood. Without the slaves who would work the cotton and tobacco fields? The plantation owners down south didn't want to lose their slaves.

So, when Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was elected as U.S. President on November 6, 1860, the south panicked. The best thing that they could have done was absolutely NOTHING! But under the misguided leadership of the first and only president of the Confederate States, Jefferson Davis (1808-1889), the south decided to secede from the northern Union, and that is what compelled President Lincoln to start the Civil War. If the southern states simply hadn't seceded, they could have kept their slaves. Abraham Lincoln said so, as I will show you in a moment.

Several hundred thousand men and teenage boys were killed by each other. Approximately 250,000 to 420,000 boys under the age of 18 were involved in the American Civil War, with estimates suggesting that around 100,000 Union soldiers were 15 years of age or younger. That is a shocking statistic! Sadly, many of them were killed in a needless battle over slavery that didn't even need to be fought!

The most common musket balls used during the Civil War were .58 caliber Minié balls, which were designed for rifled muskets, and .69 caliber balls for smoothbore muskets. The .58 caliber Minié ball was approximately 0.58 inches in diameter, while the .69 caliber ball was about 0.65 inches in diameter. Minié balls caused extensive damage to the body due to their design and high velocity, often resulting in severe tissue destruction and shattered bones. This led to a high number of amputations during the Civil War. An estimated 60,000 amputations were performed during the Civil War, with a significant portion of those being necessary due to the severe injuries caused by the weapons of the time. Approximately 75% of those who underwent amputation survived the procedure, many wishing they had died.

Abraham Lincoln Wasn't Concerned About Freeing Slaves

In a shocking letter written by President Lincoln to Horace Greeley (founder and editor of the New-York Tribune newspaper) on August 22, 1862, Lincoln states:

Executive Mansion,
Washington, August 22, 1862.

Hon. Horace Greeley:
Dear Sir.

I have just read yours of the 19th. addressed to myself through the New-York Tribune. If there be in it any statements, or assumptions of fact, which I may know to be erroneous, I do not, now and here, controvert them. If there be in it any inferences which I may believe to be falsely drawn, I do not now and here, argue against them. If there be perceptable in it an impatient and dictatorial tone, I waive it in deference to an old friend, whose heart I have always supposed to be right.

As to the policy I "seem to be pursuing" as you say, I have not meant to leave any one in doubt.

I would save the Union. I would save it the shortest way under the Constitution. The sooner the national authority can be restored; the nearer the Union will be "the Union as it was." If there be those who would not save the Union, unless they could at the same time save slavery, I do not agree with them. If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time destroy slavery, I do not agree with them. My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors; and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views.

I have here stated my purpose according to my view of official duty; and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men every where could be free.

Yours,
A. Lincoln.

Wow! All that President Lincoln cared about was saving the northern Union. The Confederacy fought a costly and egregious war that never even needed to be fought in the first place, all because they were enamored with unwarranted paranoia and fear over nothing. If the south had just done NOTHING, no slaves would have been freed. The south created their own dilemma by wrongly reacting due to their fear (False Evidence Appearing Real). Pastor Jack Hyles was absolutely right, who said: “It's not our actions that destroy us; it's our reactions.”

I admit that I am guilty of having often done this very same thing throughout my life, allowing my stupid fears to cause me to make bad decisions that caused even more pain, loss, suffering and grief. I am a worrier by nature, which makes it all ten times worse! So, knowing this about myself, I have to be careful not to make hasty decisions. I have painfully learned that oftentimes the best thing to do is absolutely NOTHING. Or as Dr. Jack Hyles used to wisely say, “Don't make decisions when your decision maker is broken.”

For every time in my past that I regret having not taken action when I should have, there are far more times that I regret having taken action instead of just doing nothing. This is why we all desperately need God's wisdom, to know how to respond in different given situations.

When the Apostle Peter drew His sword and cut off the servant's ear in defense of Jesus, Peter would have been better if he had done nothing. Peter had previously told Jesus that he would prevent Him from being crucified, for which Jesus called the apostle, “Satan” (Matthew 16:23). Peter had good intentions, but he was very wrong (Proverbs 14:12). It was absolutely necessary for Jesus to be crucified that God's free gift of salvation could be offered to humanity. Peter had tunnel vision, failing to grasp the big picture of what was going on.

So, when you're in a situation and not sure what to do, sometimes doing nothing is the best thing. Let the other person make the first move. It all depends on the particular situation, but I think in many cases we'd be better off doing nothing. Exodus 14:14, “The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” You don't have to always react to someone's words or a situation. Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Throw The Cross Into It

Exodus 15:25, “And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them.”

That tree dear reader symbolizes the cross upon which Jesus Christ died for you and me, and for the sins of the whole world. Throw the cross into it!

One of my loyal ministry followers told me that his father commit suicide today. My heart broke with sympathy and empathy for my Christian brother. Oh my. We never know what's going on in someone else's mind. There but for the grace of God, go you and I.

I comforted my friend, letting him how sorry I am for his father's death. I am so very sorry for his inexplicable loss, pain, grief and suffering. My best friend during childhood, Greg, commit suicide with his father's shotgun in Tennessee. He was only 22 years old. I wept bitterly at the funeral for Greg. I placed my pocket New Testament in his coffin. Although I miss my friend, no one can take away all of the cherished memories I have of my childhood and teenage years spent with my best friend. We went to the Bill Rice Ranch in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, together with our church's youth group as teenagers. We attended the same public and then Christian schools together.

Greg strayed away from the Lord, dropped out of church, started drinking booze, and then the family moved from Chicago to Tennessee. A few years had passed and then one day I learned that he had killed himself. I was heartbroken. Dr. Bob Jones Sr. (1883-1968) was absolutely right, who said: “Behind every tragedy in human character is a slow process of wicked thinking.” That is why for the longest time now my favorite Bible verse has been Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

I was reminded today of a beautiful sermon by Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001) titled: "Throw The Cross Into It." I shared that sermon with my grieving ministry friend today.

In the sermon Brother Hyles talks about a woman who was one of his church members in Garland, Texas. She called him in panic one day to let Pastor Hyles know that her husband had just commit suicide, and she found his body. Brother Hyles rushed to their home and arrived before the police did, and he saw the man's brains lying on the floor. Dr. Hyles opened the Bible and showed the man's distraught wife Exodus 15:25, “And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them.” She threw the cross into her tragedy! The cross is the answer to everything.

The multitude of Jews in the Wilderness came across some much needed water, but it was toxic. In Exodus 15:25, Moses cried out to the Lord, and God showed him a piece of wood, which he threw into the bitter water at Marah, making it fit to drink. This event demonstrated God's provision and guidance for the Israelites in their time of need. Dear reader, we have the precious old rugged cross of Jesus Christ to throw into all of our burdens, bodily pain, bitterness, loss and inexplicable trauma that happens in life. 

Pastor Hyles shares another story about a woman in his church in Texas who became bitter against God when her baby died. He showed her Exodus 15:25, but she refused to put the cross into it, holding onto her anger and bitterness against God. Weeks later Brother Hyles said that he and his wife read in the local newspaper that the woman had murdered her husband. The bullet had entered into the top of his head and exited at the bottom of his neck, which indicated that she killed him while he was on his hands and knees begging for mercy and forgiveness. Then she drove off speeding over 80 mph and died in a crash.

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS

Alas! and did my Savior bleed

And did my Sovereign die?

Would He devote that sacred head

For sinners such as I?

Refrain:

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,

And the burden of my heart rolled away,

It was there by faith I received my sight,

And now I am happy all the day!

Whatever your burden may be dear reader, throw the cross into it. If you are fighting bitterness, throw the cross into it. Whatever your loss or heartache may be, throw the cross into it. If you are going through a divorce, throw the cross into it. If you were the one who filed for divorce, commit adultery or had an abortion, throw the cross into it. THROW THE CROSS INTO IT!

My heart is with my brother in Christ whose father killed himself today. I have been thinking lately about famous country singers' Mel Street, Faron Young, Naomi Judd and Tom Hall, who all sadly commit suicide. There but for the grace of God, go all of us. Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Famous movie producer Ridley Scott (Aliens, Blade Runner, Gladiator) had a younger brother named Tony Scott, who was a movie producer in England. At age 68 Tony jumped off the 185 foot high Vincent Thomas Bridge in Los Angeles to his death. Ridley was heartbroken. Life is so short and unpredictable. We don't know what another day may bring (Proverbs 27:1).

“You can't keep from becoming bitter, but you can keep from staying bitter. Throw the cross into it!” - Pastor Jack Hyles, “Throw The Cross Into It!”

Don't let bitterness rule your spirit concerning enemies, family and disgruntled former friends who have hurt you. Let God fight your battles dear child of God. Exodus 14:14, “The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” Throw the cross into it.

I love you dear reader with God's unconditional love, whoever you may be. We all go through difficult times in life, and seemingly unbearable tragedies at times, but the cross is the answer! John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Exodus 15:25, “And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them.”

People Everywhere Are Checking Out

John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

This woman is so right, people these days are losing interest in everything. Jesus foretold in Matthew 24:12, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” People are checking out. People are surviving from paycheck to paycheck. Inflation is sky high. The educational system is trash. People are depressed.

I ran across this intriguing YouTube video today. This woman speaks much truth.

Millions are starting to lose interest in everything

I use a nifty free website called Note GPT that converts any YouTube video into text. Here is some of this woman's text:

There is a shift that is occurring where people are beginning to lose interest in everything and it's causing them to retreat from society. People are radically changing the way that they are living their lives. I know that I have felt this. When you look around our society, you see that everything is really operating on this fear-based narrative.

We are living in a world right now where we're just waiting on the next big event to happen, and we have an extreme amount of financial pressure and economic stress that is overshadowing almost everything that we do. The amount of work that is having to go into life just to maintain it, and to survive; people are getting overwhelmed and exhausted and are completely checking out.

I mean, when you look at the statistics, more people than ever are living paycheck to paycheck. Nobody has any money in savings. People feel hopeless that they'll never be able to own a home. They're having to move into their vehicles. Our food system is trash. Our education system is trash. 

And just the awareness is discouraging that the people who have been in charge and are controlling this system, that we are currently operating in; it's not going so well. And I think more people are waking up to the fact that when we are living in this overwhelming state of fear, we are easier to be controlled and manipulated.

When we're comparing ourselves to other people, it's easier to sell us stuff. We are never happy and we're constantly on this hamster wheel of working really hard just to like, meet our most basic needs. The world is currently operating on a level of corruption that we have really never been aware of before, or a lot of us have not been aware of just how corrupt a lot of systems are operating; and not just within the U.S. but globally as well.

We are constantly on our phones and screens and social media. We're becoming more and more disconnected from each other, and it's making social interactions more challenging for us and for other people. We're losing the ability to have a community and form connections with other people. 

We have been disconnected from nature and outdoors, which is a place where a lot of people can find peace and calm from this place of fear. It is causing people to have this overwhelming sense of anxiety and depression, and we have major mental health concerns that are going on with the majority of people, and that is a red flag that something is wrong.

We can only handle so much stress before we completely shut down, which I think is what is happening to a lot of people. We are becoming overwhelmed and from that place of overwhelm, you know you have to fight-flight or freeze, and we have been in fight and flight for a long time and freeze is where a lot of people are going to, where they are just completely checking out and this is the shift that is leading us into a deep awareness of what is going on, and that awareness is an uncomfortable place to be there; in that place where you are seeing past the veil you know has been over us for so long.

Please keep in mind that she is speaking from a carnal viewpoint, not a Christian one. The first half of her video caught my attention because I could relate to her intriguing comments, which I think we all can. Something is amiss in American society today. People everywhere have lost interest in living. Where are the little league baseball games at the local parks? Where are the bands today? Where are the Christmas carolers in December? The pleasant American culture that I grew up in during the 1970s and 1980s has deteriorated beyond recognition. Everybody is enamored with gadgets and social media. We've never been more connected while being disconnected. I liked it better back in the 1970s before there were any microwaves, credit cards, computers, cellphones, Red-Light Cameras, A.I. generated music, et cetera.

As born again Christians, God doesn't want His children to follow the fear, worry and stress of this temporary crazy world. Jesus encourages us in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Everything's alright in my Father's house. The Holy Bible tells us how to handle this troublesome life down here on earth...

Colossians 3:1-4, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

That is why when by God's grace I wake up each morning, I seek the LORD early. I listen to the King James Bible or some Bible preaching. I check my ministry emails and get to work writing. By the good and faithful Lord's grace. I begin each day by setting my mind and affection “on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001) wisely said that as he grew older he ran to the Bible like a starving man. I fully agree! If we don't pray and abide in the Scripture daily, we are telling God by our behavior that we don't need His help and guidance. I desperately need God!!!

I Need Thee Every Hour

I need Thee ev'ry hour,

most gracious Lord;

no tender voice like Thine

can peace afford.

Refrain:

I need Thee, O I need Thee;

ev'ry hour I need Thee;

O bless me now, my Savior,

I come to Thee.

Hear song

I really like the pedal steel guitar in this song, 'The Old Rugged Cross.'

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!