Where does God come down on the Supreme Court’s ruling to reverse ROE v WADE?

Where does God come down on the Supreme Court’s ruling to reverse ROE v  WADE?

God has ALWAYS been Pro Life AND Pro Choice.

Of course God s pro life. 

God is the Creator of all life. And he loves every life he created. God evenGod’s own image loves all those who think the court should leave Roe alone. They wanted abortion on demand. God even loves those folks (remember they each were created in God’s own image. God loves Maxine Waters and Chuck Shumer and members of Antifa and AOC!  

God’s not concerned with your political persuasions or your goals and aspirations or your station in life..  God is concerned with your heart. God loves every ones children to love him back. In fact he spends his time pursuing his wayward children in hopes they will turn back and love him back.

So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them. From Genesis 1

For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be. From Psalm 139

Here’s a truth to rejoice about. Do you recall them saying that since Roe was enacted back in 1973 60 million babies have been aborted in this country.

Do you know where every one of those 60 million babies are? They are ALL  with God and he is loving and caring for them like only way God can.

What’s with LGBTQes and pronouns?

LGBTQes have a real problem with identity and acceptance by normal folks. One way they try to garner support is to use pronouns in their quest for true identity.

Here is a very partial list of pronouns LGBTQes use

fae e/ey he per she they ve xe ze zie then theres–(f) em him per her them ver xem hir

I have absolutely no idea what these groups of letters mean that LGBTQes call pronouns. And to be honest I understand it’s common when one gay meets another gay to ask them what pronoun they want to go by or what “gender” they want to be referred to as. They’ve got a bushel full of gender identities they can use as their identity.

An LGBTQ can identify themselves as male, female, transgender, gender neutral, non-binary, agender, pangender, genderqueer, two-spirit, third gender, and all, none or a combination of these.

God settled His plan for identity in the Garden of Eden. I wrote about God’s plan on a post on this site back in May.

Follow this lihk https://stevensawyer.wordpress.com/2022/05/17/god-settled-gender-identity-in-the-garden/ to read about God’s plan.

According to the Almighty God there has only ever been or ever will be two genders, male and female. God will accomplish His entire plan for ALL of mankind with the two genders He created.

INFLATION, SHRINKFLATION, SALVATION

I wrote recently about how people are dealing with inflation. Since then, inflation has risen to 8.6%! It is a major problem, and it is being handled in a variety of ways.

One way businesses are dealing with it is referred to as shrinkflation. I thought that that would be just a temporary thing that would stop if it were exposed. Not true. It seems to be escalating.

More companies continue to shrink the size of their products while keeping the prices the same. I want to quickly say that this is deceptive but not illegal as long as the reporting on the item is accurate. We are easily deceived!

Crest toothpaste has gone from 4.1 oz. to 3.8 oz., which is 15 fewer times you can brush your teeth with that tube of Crest toothpaste. Fritos have gone from 9.75 oz. to 9.25 oz. That’s five fewer chips per bag. Charmin Ultra Soft toilet paper has gone from 264 sheets to 245 sheets. That’s fewer sheets per roll. Raisins have gone from 22.6 oz. to 20 oz. You can count them—that’s 70 fewer raisins per pack. Kleenex reduced the number of tissues in a small box from 65 to 60. If your coffee doesn’t last as long, Folgers has shrunk its 51 oz. to 43.5 oz. containers.

Even restaurants are doing this. Restaurant costs have risen faster than the rate of inflation. Burger King’s nuggets and Domino’s wings have shrunk from ten pieces to eight. It probably will continue since the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts a 6% increase in retail food prices this year.

Count your chips and raisins and Kleenex—they may shrink even more.

The answer to every problem is salvation through Jesus. The cost of salvation is still the same—it hasn’t changed. The cost is to give everything that we have to God. (Read Matthew 19:21-22) No deception—just the truth.

Salvation brings a new life—a new person! You are born again. (John 3:1-7) You are a “new creation.” (II Corinthians 5:17) You have a new perspective on everything. You enter a new life—an abundant life. (John 10:10)

I am glad that the Christian faith is not practicing shrinkflation in order to get more people to join. God is not providing anything less in terms of forgiveness, grace, love, hope, etc. In fact, He’s offering more than I have ever imagined!

Inflation in our economy is playing havoc with how people live. Anxiety, worry, use of drugs, alcohol, and all kinds of witchcraft are benefiting from inflation. All of these things will leave you in a situation that’s far worse.

Jesus has the only answer! He taught that if God takes care of the flowers in the field and the birds in the air, how much more will He take care of you. There is a price—seek first the Kingdom of God and all the things you need will be given to you. (Matthew 6:24-33) That’s the answer!

You can count the Fritos and raisins in a pack. It’s more important to count your blessings. Fritos and raisins are diminishing—God’s blessings are increasing exponentially! Receive them.

Shrinkflation or salvation—it’s your choice.

Everything is broken

Can you name an industry today that’s working? How about a big company that has it all together.

Is there something that’s working.? Is there a manufacturer that’s cranking out it”s product and making a healthy profit with satisfied customers and consumers clamoring to gobble up their stock?

I don’t think so.

Treasures in heaven

A group of extravagantly wealthy investors are hording millions in precious metals to enrich their own wealth. In their TV commercials the filthy rich investors encourage prospective hoarders to protect their own fortunes by buying more gold and silver.

These are treasures on earth.

Jesus had a different idea about treasures:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ 

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

Two ways to look at life

There are two ways to look at life. One way is to be an “if only” person who is always talking about if only things had been different, they would be different. The other way is the “nevertheless” person who takes any situation and, nevertheless, asks God to help them.

The “if only” person is very negative. He always has an excuse for why he failed or why he didn’t accomplish some task. He begins the sentence with “if only,” and then comes the excuse.

I have heard some people say, “If only I had more God-given talent, I could accomplish more in life.” Talents were not intended to be evenly distributed. We are expected to use the talents God gives us. Read Matthew 25:15-29.

I have heard people say, “If only my parents had been like your parents, I could have turned out better.” You don’t get to choose your parents, but you can choose how you live in that situation.

I have heard people say, “If only I had known the right people, I could have gotten a better job.” Knowing the right people might help, but it is not essential to success.

On the other hand, I have seen people face an impossible situation and say, “It is a tough situation, nevertheless, I know that God has a plan for me in this situation. I can learn from it.” The “nevertheless” person quotes Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans that God has for me …”

I have been with families who lost a child or a family member due to some illness or accident. I have heard people say, “This is the toughest thing I have ever faced, nevertheless, I know that God will supply my every need.” “Nevertheless” people quote Ephesians 3:20, “He is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think…”

I have been with people who have been mistreated or betrayed by a good friend who cheated them or killed a precious family member through murder or a senseless accident. They have every human right to be bitter and unforgiving. “Nevertheless” people quote Ephesians 4:32, “… forgive each other as God has forgiven you.”

The best example of a “nevertheless” person is Jesus. The night before He went to the cross, He prayed for a different plan, but then said, “Nevertheless, not My will but Your will be done.” (Matthew 26:39) That’s the secret to the best life possible!

Developing an “if only” lifestyle or a “nevertheless” lifestyle is a decision every person makes. The determining factor is not circumstances, tough situations, mistreatment, or bad luck. The determining factor is the attitude that you choose.

“If only” people are miserable and make everybody else miserable. “Nevertheless” people create a climate of humility, trust, joy, and hope. I have heard my dad say, “Some people cause happiness wherever they go—others, whenever they go.” My friend, Derrick Johnson, says, “Some people are like clouds. Once they disappear, it’s a beautiful day.”

Are you an “if only” person or a “nevertheless” person?

“They” are wrong. What’s wrong with “Them”?

Who’s “They”? Who’s “Them?”

“They” and “them “are all the folks who are not like us. We all know who “they” are. And “They” just don’t know what “They” are talking about.

“They” have these odd ideas about life, society, religion, work, politics, clothes, relationships, friendships, kids and families, you name it. I have no idea where “they” came up with all the things “they” believe and do, because “they” are nothing like me.

But, before we start to judge “them” and “they” get upset because we are nothing like “them” we need to determine who we really are.

But you know something, I don’t understand “them” either. If you think I’m not anything like “they” are, I’m just as much not like any of “them” either.

But before we find out who “they” or “them” are about, lets find out who we really are.

Here’s what James said about us (me) If you really keep the Royal Law ( “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love another.) you are doing right if you love your neighbor. But if you show favoritism you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

So how much did Jesus love me. God loved me so much that he allowed his only son to be crucified on a cross and pay the price for my sin and allow his blood to cleanse me and make me pure. And God invited me, encouraged me, to call him Dad. He created me in his own image.

And guess what. God loved every one of “them”, despite how much different I am from “them” as much as he loves me. And he created each one of “them” in his own image and invited each one of “them” to call him Dad as well.

And “they” were all created in God’s own image, loves them all as much as “them” or me and are invited to call him Dad.

Guess who their “them” is? Me! Guess who their “They” is–Me!

What does that make us all? Brothers and sisters in Christ! Family! God’s family

And our CHURCH is the only place on the planet that, despite ALL our differences we can come together and celebrate our differences gather together, sit by one other and love Jesus and each other. What a blessing.

The Truth about Truth

Fake news has emerged as a hot trending topic these days. Discussions about the veracity of “news” and its sources dot the blogosphere, social, political and mainstream media landscapes.

In my view (my opinion, not fact), mainstream broadcast, print and online media have all slithered into a quagmire of unreliability and an egregious lack of accountability. Now fake news is raising its ugly head; and the press and left-leaning political establishment can’t figure out a way to bite it off.

The mainstream media and fake news outlets make it difficult, if not impossible sometimes, to decide what’s true, what’s fake and what’s slanted towards an irrevocably entrenched liberal bias.

The only truth we can all rely on ever is the Way, the Truth and the Life, Jesus Christ. And we find His Truth in God’s word, and nowhere else.

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It’s your choice

When you wake up in the morning, you can either say “Good morning, Lord, help me make this a great day,” or you can say, “Good Lord, it’s morning—I dread what’s going to happen today.”

Life is a choice. A great neurologist and Holocaust survivor, Victor Frankl, said, “The last of the human freedoms is to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

Only you are in charge of your attitude. I believe a Godly attitude toward any situation is more important than the situation itself. I have seen two different people face the same situation. One sees it as an opportunity to grow, and the other sees it as an obstacle that cannot be overcome.

The circumstances don’t dictate how your day will go—your attitude will. A person who is living life to the fullest is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather is a person with a certain set of attitudes.

I heard about a 92-year-old lady. She was petite, well-dressed, and a proud mother. She was fully dressed every morning by 8:00 a.m. Her hair was always perfectly fashioned, even though she was legally blind.

She was moving to a nursing home for the first time because her husband of 72 years had recently passed away. She was a gracious, lovely, positive, dignified woman who had a great attitude about life. She was the kind of person you like to be around.

When she arrived at the nursing home, she had to wait several hours in the lobby. She was patient. She smiled sweetly when she was told that her room was ready. She lifted herself to her walker and started toward the elevator. The supervisor started describing her tiny room, including the sheets that had been hung on her window for curtains. She replied, “I love it.” She was as enthusiastic as a five-year-old boy who had just gotten a new bicycle.

The supervisor said, “Ma’am, you haven’t seen the room. Just wait.” 

The new resident replied, “That doesn’t have anything to do with it. Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged; it’s how I arrange my mind. I have already decided to love it.”

She continued, “When I wake up every morning, I have a decision to make. I can spend the day in bed thinking about all the parts of my body that don’t work well anymore, or I can get out of bed and be thankful for the fact that I’m still alive and most of my body still works well.”

The 92-year-old continued, “Each day is a gift. As long as my eyes are open, I will focus on the new day and all the happy memories I have stored away just for this time in my life.”

Wow, that’s an attitude. The Bible says, “Let this attitude be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5) Today’s happiness will not depend on circumstances as much as your attitude. William Ward said, “The pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist projects that the wind will change, but the realist adjusts the sail.”

If yesterday was the worst day of your life, then today will have to be better! You choose your attitude, which will dictate how today goes.

Make this a great day—unless you have other plans.

Why can’t we get along?

I can’t remember any time in my life when our country has been more divided and bitter towards one another.

James gives us a biblical example of the divisiveness we’re witnessing all across our country today.

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. ² Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. ³ If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” ⁴ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? James 2:1-4.

Bring those ideas forward into the divisive self-centered environment in our country today.

FAVORITISM–Don’t we choose to hang out with, associate with and do business with people who agree with us and our beliefs and how we live our lives? In James’ example above, the meeting host favors the guest with the fine clothes? But the guest who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes the meeting host relegates to a lowly place on the floor at his feet. Don’t we do the same thing with people who are more like us than people who aren’t– folks who believe more like us, dress like us, work like us think like us? God doe not show favoritism. Romans 2:11

Of course we do. And our favoritism towards others further widens the chasm between us and makes it even harder for us to get along.

DISCRIMINATION–Not only do we show favoritism towards people who aren’t like us. we discriminate and become critical and judgmental of those who aren’t like us. We will gravitate towards those who are like us and be repelled by those who are different from us.

The divide in this country is no more glaringly obvious than it in is in our politics. Liberals run down conservatives and criticize their policies and talk bad about their mamas and talk ugly about everything about them. Conservatives do the same to liberals.

The only chance our country has for reconciliation, the only chance we all have to get along falls on THE CHURCH. The church is the only place in the entire country where we can come together and sit next to people who may not agree with us and be different from us and we can still get along and sit together and like each other. The ONLY place. Because Jesus has called us to love one another, regardless of our race, our ethnicity, our nationality, our background.

The inspiration for this blog post was a message by Steve Walton at 12Stone Church June , 2022 https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGpGKjcGFTCfFcwwkSPRWbWGMpk. I highly recommend you follow the link and watch this message

My call to ministry

It was June, 1964

Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa

The occasion–MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship) Summer Camp from Our Methodist Church youth group in Shenandoah, Iowa. A boatload of kids were on campus from churches across Southwest Iowa.

God did a number on my heart one day but I didn’t understand it. All I knew was that I wanted to tell a bunch of folks about Jesus.

I went to my pastor, who was one of five pastors who were counselors at the camp. We talked a long time and I was able to unburden my heart with him.

Well, he called the other four pastors together (I didn’t know he was going to do that) and we all sat around and talked about God and what he was doing in my heart. After hours of pouring out my heart, pastoral counsel and prayer ALL FIVE pastors agreed that God was calling me to the ministry.

The next few years baffled me one day, thrilled me the next, filled me with joy, and confused me. I often asked myself, “What in the world are you doing?”

When I got home from camp and for the next few months I was offered opportunities to write and preach some sermons at some churches in our church conference.

The first sermon I ever wrote and preached was at my home church (the First Methodist Church of Shenandoah, Iowa) was called “Thy Kingdom Come”. I was such a novice. It was 5 pages long, typed, single spaced. I don’t remember whether I preached the whole thing or not. I hope not. I’m going to write a summary of it and post on my website soon.

For the next few years I joined a Lay Speakers Bureau and we would take turns filling the pulpits on Sundays in small churches in the area that didn’t have fulltime pastors.

Then Satan showed his ugly head and tempted me with women and sex and pornography and failed relationships. And I fell hard for it all for the next three decades. I was saved and I was a believer, but living in sin and playing Christian.

I am no longer living in sin. I am an authentic follower of Christ. Living a new life in Him.

How big is your but?

I’m not getting personal here. I’m not talking about your posterior. I’m talking about your perspective of your posterior–your real but.

In his book, The Rest of the Gospel, author Dan Stone writes a chapter called, “The Holy But”¹. Stone writes that the Holy But originated in the Garden of Gasthemene, “Going a little farther, he (Jesus) fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, ΒUT as You will.” (Matthew 26:39)

Jesus was suffering and grieving about what He was about to do. His circumstances led Him to the cross to die a painful, bloody, lonely death. In spite of the horrible agony He suffered, Jesus lived behind the Holy But. “Yet not my will BUT Yours be done.” Jesus put His life in the hands of His Heavenly Father. He focused on His Father, not His circumstances. Jesus chose God’s will over His own.

Stone says we all live behind our buts.

For example,

• “I like our pastor, but he’s too long-winded.”
• “I’d volunteer in the nursery, but Sunday’s my only day off.”
• “Our atheist neighbors are facing a crisis, but I’m afraid to talk to him about Jesus.”
• “We’d like to tithe, but we barely make enough to pay the bills.”

Do we know some Christians with big buts like these?

• “I know Jesus loves me, but you don’t know what I’ve done.”
• “The Bible says Jesus freed me from sin, but I still sin.”
• “I believe in Jesus, but church people are hypocrites.”
• “I know I need to forgive my dad for abandoning us, but I just can’t.”
• “I know I need to pray more, but I just don’t have the time.”
• “The Bible tells me God accepts me completely, but I don’t feel accepted.”
• “God’s grace may work for some people, but not for me.”

The Apostle Paul lived after his but as well. In 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 Paul says,

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 48-9

Paul faced dreadful, seemingly hopeless circumstances, but he chose to live behind his buts and above beyone his circumstances.

Later in that chapter, Paul writes,

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  Vs 16-18

“Paul put the trouble in front of his buts and put God, or God’s perspective, after the but. He was still afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. But, his perspective and his focus was on God and what God could do.

God’s word teaches us we are totally loved, totally accepted, children of the eternal God? Let’s start putting our circumstances before our “buts” and our faith (and God’s truth about us) behind them.

If we know who we are in Christ, isn’t it time we get off your buts?

¹The Rests of the Gospel, by Dan Stone and Greg Smith; © 2000 by One Press, Richardson, Texas; pg.186.
Parentheses in this blog are mine.

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Peter’s piece on peace

Peter says, “Do you want more and more of God’s peace?” (II Peter 1:2) That’s a question that most people are asking. How can I find peace? How can I live a life that conquers anxiety and worry?

Peter doesn’t just ask the question, but he gives the answer. He outlines in the next few verses the steps that lead to a life that experiences peace. Here is Peter’s answer:

1.    The first step is to “know Him … and He will give you everything you need for living a truly good life.” (II Peter 1:3) There are many philosophies today pointing to the way to have peace. Real peace only comes through knowing Jesus Christ. No Jesus—No Peace; Know Jesus—Know Peace.

2.    We will know God better and experience His peace more fully when we follow His instructions. “He promised to save us from the lust and rottenness all around us and give us His own character.” (II Peter 1:4) God’s peace and immoral decadence never go together. Buying into what the world offers negates the possibility of receiving what God freely gives.

3.    The next step is to put aside your own desires and let God have His way with you. God wants you “to know what He wants you to do.” (II Peter 1:5) Life consists of making choices. Having peace knows that we win the battle between knowing what we want to do or doing what God wants us to do.

4.    “We will become patient and gladly let God have His way with us.” (II Peter 1:6) Peace comes in knowing that God has a plan for our lives and how we can fit into that plan. Stress and anxiety occur when we try to chart our own course for life. “The peace that passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) only occurs when God has His way with us.

5.    “The next step is that we discover that we are able to enjoy people and grow to love them deeply.” (II Peter 1:7) Peace is not something that we find in isolation, but rather when we are engaged with people and love others as we would like to be loved. We follow God’s great commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves. Loving people gives us peace because it makes us more like Jesus.

6.    The next step is that we “grow strong spiritually and become fruitful and useful to our Lord Jesus Christ. (II Peter 1:9) An interesting thing about peace is that it increases every day as we do more of what Christ has called us to do. We experience more peace as we grow. Failure to grow in God’s grace and peace will diminish our experience with peace.

7.    The ultimate step for experiencing God’s peace is how Peter reminds us that “God will open wide the gates of Heaven for you to enter into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (II Peter 1:11) God’s peace is for now and for eternity!

You and I have only one life to live. You don’t get a redo. You do get an opportunity to start today by surrendering your life to Jesus, receiving His grace and peace, growing every day in becoming more like Him, and looking to the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Do you have real peace today?

God and abortion

All these abortion activists and pro choice protesters screaming and hollering and marching and waving abortion signs remind me of a line in William Faulkner’s classic novel The Sound and the Fury. Faulkner says his story is, “a tale told by an idiot signifying nothing.”

That’s what all the noise and clatter coming from all these godless abortion activities and protests and marches is all full of sound and fury and they signify nothing. They won’t influence anybody, or any judges or change any laws. They will only make a disturbingly harsh and loud noise and make fools of themselves.

The truth that all these rebellious folks fail to accept is that Almighty God determines when life begins.

God knew every child He created before He created him or her. ““Before I would form you in the womb I knew you.” Jeremiah 1:1.

Memorial Day Tribute

This memoir may speak to and for lots of folks like me.

My dad was a proud World War II veteran. Like most of his friends, and lots of young men in the 1940′s, the Japanese invasion of Pearl Harbor shocked him. He enlisted in the Air Corps in early 1942.

Dad rarely discussed his tour of duty defending our country. He saw plenty and did plenty, but refused to talk about it. I think lots of his contemporaries felt the same way. One day, before he became ill I asked him flat out, “Dad, would you write your thoughts about your WWII experiences?” I asked him if he would consider writing an account of his career in the military. He agreed.

I thought after so many years he might not remember much. His mind was slowly slipping away. He was having trouble remembering lots of things.

But what he wrote shocked me to the core.

Dad wrote, from memory, every mission (19 total) he flew and the dates he flew them. He remembered the target and the details of every mission he and his crew flew. Dad was the radio man on a photo reconnaissance squadron.  His crew flew in ahead of the combat missions to photograph the locations and areas around potential bombing targets. Dad and his crew flew missions out of Guam and several other South Pacific locations into Japan. On one or two missions they took anti-aircraft fire and feared for their lives.

Since Dad’s crew was photo reconnaissance, they developed their own film. Dad asked my grandpa to send him a camera, which he did, and dad took more than 2000 personal pictures during his tour. A typhoon pounded the base, however, and destroyed his pictures and everything else on the island. Dad said he escaped the typhoon with only the shirt on his back.

Dad was very proud of his service. He joined the American Legion when he returned from the war and was a faithful member and servant for 50 years. He earned a burial with full military honors, including a flag-draped coffin, taps and a 21-gun salute.

My dad was one of many honorable veterans in our family, including my grandfather, Uncle John and great uncles. I was proud to serve a tour in the Air Force during the Vietnam War in Selma, Alabama (uneventful as it may have been). I didn’t see combat like my dad, but served plenty of airmen and officers who had been in the thick of battle.

Dad is and will always be one of my heroes.

Many other sons my age can recall stories (different details, different missions, different theaters of war) about their fathers’ or uncles’ military service in World War II or Korea.

And today we have lots more veterans still serving here at home and far from home. Whatever our political views, or our opinions about our United States military, we remain the most independent, blessed nation on the planet. And we have all those who are currently serving, have served, or died in battle whose sacrifices have helped us gain that freedom.

May God bless all our veterans and our active duty military today and forever, wherever they may be.https://www.youtube.com/embed/xf8hfZuzw_A?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparentAdvertisements

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In “God”

Remembering Dad And Veterans Everywhere On Veterans Day

You Raise Me Up

My favorite song for all time

Do you call yourself a “Good Christian”? That’s too bad.

“Good Christian” is an oxymoron

You can not be good. There is only one who is “good” –the Father. Don’t believe me, the bible says so. Look up Mark 10:18.

Doing “good” things is, I think, what many folks regard as what a Christian is supposed to do. For many folks the distance between their head and their heart is miles apart.

I was one of you for decades. No MORE! I believed like many of you that being a Christian meant doing good things for people, volunteering at church, reading the bible, praying, trying not to sin, helping the poor and disadvantaged, watching my language, being kind to people, forgive those who hurt you or mistreat you, admit when you are wrong, don’t lie or cheat, always tell the truth.

All those are good things to do. Christians ought to be familiar with doing them all. But I’ve known and observed non-believers who do some of these same things. So there can be “Good” Non-Believers too.

But there’s a problem whether “Good” Christians or “Good” Non-Believers do these thing.”

All these things originate in the head–a country mile from the heart. The chief motivation for most people who call themselves Christians and do these things is to make themselves feel better about themselves. For instance when they’re kind to someone they give themselves a gratuitous pat on the back.

But Jesus is all about the heart. Ironically all these things can be done from the heart too. But our hearts need a Jesus transformation. Our hearts must belong to Jesus. We must be totally surrendered to Him. Because Jesus must be the one to do all these things. We must allow Jesus’s love into our hearts and allow His love to flow out to others as we love others.

Jesus taught us the way we are to love and live out our lives. Not as “Good” Christians but as lovers of God and lovers of others.

Jesus was asked this very question by a Pharisee who was considered to be “an expert in the law” (Matthew 22:34–36). Jesus answered by saying, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37–40).

Everything is Broken

Got a minute

Got a minute

By Dr. John Ed Mathison

How’s your Christianity workin’ for you?

When folks see how you are living day-to-day now what evidence would they see that Christ is living in you? Or would folks see evidence that you are surrendered to God’s will in your life and allowing Jesus to live his life through you. If you went on trial for being a Christian would the prosecution have enough evidence to convict you?

I wonder just how many folks today who identity themselves as Christians are making an effort to follow Jesus, love one another, and consider the needs of others as more important than their own. Does your brand of Christianity look like that?

Does your lifestyle now look more like the Galatians 2:20 new man in Christ:  I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Or does your lifestyle reflect worldly thinking like in 1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.

If you’re a believer and an earnest follower of Christ it is easy to fall back into a dangerous pattern of worldly thinking and behavior. The instant we realize we might be slipping down that slippery slope into the world Flee. right away. Get into God’s word. Pray. Call a friend.

Satan will try anything to keep you worldly. And the longer you stay the worse it will be and the harder it will be to extricate yourself

Remembering a friend

During the pandemic, I officiated at the home-going of a great Christian businessman and friend, Bobby Norment. He led Norment Industries in Montgomery to become a successful international business. They provided security products for government buildings, prisons, embassies, court houses, etc.

One Sunday in church, Bobby was challenged about his commitment to Jesus. He committed everything to Jesus Christ. He said, “From now on, Jesus will have first place in my life.” Bobby meant it.

Bobby then felt a call to do some kind of ministry. Rev. Cortez Frazier had moved to a large church in Florida. Bobby was a great businessman. He sold Norment Industries, and he and his family moved to Florida so he could become the business manager of a great church and school. You can imagine the difference in his salary.

He helped establish a strong church and gave leadership in the school to bring it to its strongest position ever. Then Bobby and his family felt a call to go with YWAM—Youth With A Mission. He and his family moved so he could use his business skills to help give direction to a huge nonprofit ministry.

Later, he felt God’s call for him and his family to help establish a different kind of educational model for students that would better prepare them to live in the 21^st century. The result was CreatEd Institute. This model recognizes that students want what they learn to be related to life issues to help them relate more meaningfully to other people, and for their faith to relate to reality. It’s a model based on mentoring rather than lecturing. Bobby’s vision was to help develop an educational system that redefines the meaning of successful education.

Bobby was always totally supported by his family and his wonderful wife, Jean. She is an excellent teacher and has always been an active leader in women’s ministries.

A young businessman went to Bobby Norment and asked him, “How can I have a Christian business?”

Bobby shocked him by saying, “There’s no such thing as a Christian business. The business is neutral—neither Christian or not. It’s the people who direct the business that determines whether or not Christian principles will be enacted. Christians run a Christian business.”

That young businessman was shocked, but greatly influenced. He saw it! He got it! He started developing a business based on those principles.

Friends and family remember Bobby saying, “You only have one life to live—be sure to make it count. Go all out! Don’t ever leave anything on the field. Let God lead you. Give everything to God and obey him completely!”

Wow! That’s a philosophy that wins!

Bobby Norment’s company was tremendously successful. He was able to create bulletproof glass that is still used in the White House and various embassies. He helped make them safe, but he created a better safety shield when he began following Jesus and inviting others to join him. Following Jesus leads a person into safety, not just for this life, but for all eternity!

How will you and I be remembered?

God settled gender identity in the Garden

The culture has gone totally woke. Convention flew the coop. Reason took a hike. Common sense is so uncommon. Second and third graders don’t even know what their reproductive organs are for, let alone how to use them. The idea that schools should teach them their sexual identity is totally absurd.

Besides, God already settled sexual identity for every male and female in the world with Adam and Eve.

Gender expression is how you choose to express your gender identity through your name, pronouns, clothing, hair style, behaviour, voice, or body features.

Today folks would rather create designer identity rather than accept the true identity God gave them Gender expression is how lots of folks choose to express your gender identity through your name, pronouns, clothing, hair style, behavior, voice, or body features.

Why not call yourself a “nullgender, “genderless”, “butch”, “genderqueer”, “transgender”, how about claiming yourself a “gender outlaw”, these are all legitimate gender ID’s people are using today.

In the Garden of Eden God gave Adam a reproductive organ called a penis. God gave Eve, the mother of all women breasts (which, by the way are fun for men to play with). And God gave the woman a vagina or a vulva.

Every man and every woman is built the same exact way. This is their sexual identity. This has always been their sexual identity. And it will always be their sexual identity. Nothing or no one can ever change God’s design or plan.

St. Francis of Assisi Prayer

Testimony from God

A testimony from God

Me: Can I ask you a personal question?

Them: I may choose not to answer.

Me: That’s fine. Ignore it. Walk away. Call me crazy. Tell me it’s none of my business. Whatever.

Them: Okay go ahead.

Me: Do you know Jesus?

If they say YES

Thank them for their candor and acknowledge your relationship with them as brother or sister in Christ. This can initiate further discussions about fellow biblical topics, spiritual topics, or Christian fellowship. The door’s wide open.

At some point make sure to tell them this: Do you realize that if you and I never see each other again after today, we’ll see each other again and be brother/sister in Christ for FOREVER!. THINK OF THAT. Is that awesome or what.

IF THEY SAY NO, they don’t know Jesus, or they say they don’t want to know Jesus, you say, “Let me tell you why that question is so important to your life. Every person on earth will one day die. We can never predict when that will be. You might die right after lunch today. You might live to be 106. We just don’t know.

But the instant you die you’ll meet God standing there and He will ask you one question, are you one of my children? In other words, do you know my Son Jesus? And since you’ve said you don’t. Your fate is settled. You will burn in hell. God will turn a deaf ear to any of your pleas for mercy or a second chance.

How would you like to change your destiny? How would you like to avoid going to hell? How would you like to make sure you go to heaven when you die? We can make that happen right now? Let me pray with you  and we’ll change your destiny forever, or do you still want to go to hell when you die?

Take my hand and lets pray you out of hell and into heaven with Jesus.