He Who Has An Ear Let Him Hear What The Spirit Says To The Churches

I watched “The Good Wife” on TV last Sunday night.  I was not surprised when one of the characters said that Jesus never said anything about homosexuality.  Apparently their writers are just going along with the liberal line and not checking out the truth.  I weep for all those who continue in sin, do not turn from it, don’t know, or will not acknowledge the truth:

In Matthew 15: Jesus said:
19 “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.”

Fornications means:
1. illicit sexual intercourse
a. adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.
b. sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18
sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; MK. 10:11

The majority of the world knows that homosexuality is wrong.  Here is a blog which tells us that if anyone boycotts states where there is a freedom of religion law, they would also have to boycott most of the nations in the world. Click here to read. 

The trials for Christians who know the truth continue.  Here is a you tube telling the story of the florist in Washington State who is being sued out of business for telling some dear customers that homosexual marriage is not something that she can condone because of her Christian beliefs. Click here to watch.

If the writers for “The Good Wife” had studied what the Bible said, they may or may not have discovered this truth.  But there are many who call themselves “Christians” who twist scripture to make it say what they want it to say.  Only those who have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior will have their eyes opened by the Holy Spirit.  God will reveal the truth through prayer and study. In Revelation, the last book of the Bible,  Jesus says to the churches—“He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

  We must keep studying the Word of God so that we can grow spiritually,  know God, and what He commands. John 14:

21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." 

HAPPY EASTER

View From Down Low

My wheelchair just back from a trip. Unfolded and folded.

If you’ve never ridden in a wheelchair try it sometime.  It can be a great experience as kind strangers open doors for you or let you go first into an elevator.  But sometimes it can be a discouraging occurrence. Callous people ignore you, don’t notice you, let doors slam in your face, and avoid eye contact with you.  I’ve experienced both as I’ve ridden in wheelchairs because of chronic pain. 

Pain is a pain.  Most people would do anything they can do to avoid hurting.  I’m one of them. My muscles retain lactic acid if I walk, stand, or move a muscle in any way.  So when Chris wanted me to travel with him by plane for various meetings and outings I declined.  Airports, malls, or any large area that involve much walking causes me so much discomfort I would end up in tears, and be unable to sleep, which made the pain worse.  Chris decided to buy a wheelchair for me and talked me into going with him as I could save my muscles by riding in the wheelchair.  Here are some things to consider if you ride in a wheelchair:

·      You must have strong core muscles, as these muscles will help you to hold yourself steady as you wheel around corners, turns, and down hills.

·      Choose a chair pusher who is patient and willing to go slowly.

·      Never ride over cobblestones or bricks or any pavement that is not smooth, as the bumps will cause you to experience compression in your spine and thus more pain.

There are some disadvantages to riding in a wheelchair.

·      You may have an inexperienced wheelchair pusher pushing you. (One time my cousin took his mom, my aunt, to the San Diego Zoo, in a wheel chair.  Unfortunately he went a little too fast down a hill and she was thrown out of the wheelchair and injured.  I heard that someone who wasn’t experienced in pushing a wheelchair also threw Joni Erickson Tada out of a wheelchair and broke her nose.) So if you are a careful wheelchair pusher you will be in demand.

·      It may be that your wheelchair will be too high or too low for a table at which you might want to sit.  You will have to move to a chair that is the right elevation.

There are some advantages of riding in a wheelchair. 

·      The view from down low is interesting.  When riding in a wheelchair you can identify with people less than 3’ tall.

·      You will always be able to spot the handicap door opener, as it is eye level for you.

·      Your wheelchair may be the right height for a table so you will leave a chair vacant for someone else.

That’s all I can think of right now.  Do you have anything to add?

I Think J. Vernon McGee Was Correct

While Glenn Beck* rails and rants about the Obama White House being involved with the Muslim Brotherhood and Al Qaeda, Jonathan Cahn**, and Joel Rosenberg***, warn that we are in the last days of planet Earth. While listening to and reading what these men have written, I couldn’t help thinking about J. Vernon McGee****, and Thru the Bible radio. My parents listened to J. Vernon faithfully every morning and studied thru the Bible every five years with him up until they went home to be with Jesus.  J. Vernon McGee believed in the pre-tribulation rapture of the Church.  In other words, he thought that all Christians will be caught up into the clouds with Jesus before the terrors written about in the last book of the Bible-- Revelation, come to pass.  I believe he is accurate because God through Jesus Christ has promised that all those who are in Him will not be condemned, Romans 8:1, and John 3:18.

*(Glenn Lee Beck (born February 10, 1964) is an American television personality and radio host, conservative political commentator, author, television network producer,^[5] filmmaker, and entrepreneur.)

**(Jonathan Cahn is a messianic Jewish Rabbi and pastor best known for his best selling novel "The Harbinger" in which he compares the United States and the September 11 attacks, to ancient Israel and the destruction of Kingdom of Israel), click here for his website.

***(Joel C. Rosenberg (born 1967) is an American communications strategist, author of the Last Jihad series, and founder of The Joshua Fund.^[3] An Evangelical Christian), click here for his website.

****(John Vernon McGee, Th.D., LL.D, (June 17, 1904 – December 1, 1988) was an ordained Presbyterian minister (PCUS) and later became the pastor of a non-denominational church, a Bible teacher, theologian, and was also a radio minister), click here for the website.            

Sausage For Breakfast and Dessert Before Lunch

I have had many happy days in my life—a solid family growing up, a steadfast husband, healthy and wise children and grandchildren, many vacations, numerous loyal friends, and much much more. But one of the happiest days of my life was when I turned fifty-five.  It was then that I could get a senior coffee.  I could get the early bird senior dinner.  I could order off of the senior menu at Denny’s and Shari’s.  I could move into a retirement home.  What’s not to love?

One of the saddest days of my life was when I realized that I no longer had a waist. I’m shaped like a bar of soap, a tongue depressor, a book, a box, or a square tile.  I could no longer snap my pants. Bummer!

 Speaking of happy days, for me, they would include attending birthday parties in honor of a member of my family, or one of my friends.  On one birthday for our daughter it became clear that we would have to serve the ice-cream and cake just after breakfast, and before lunch, due to the ice-cream melting while out camping.  Heather coined the phrase “Sausage for breakfast and dessert before lunch.”  She made it into a joyful time for everyone.

A sad day for me is when I think of the over thirty years I’ve lived with chronic pain.  But the Lord looks after me in many ways.  My friend, Nancy, in Florida, encouraged me to sign up to take the Bible Study Fellowship class next year, as they are studying Revelation.  I thought I was not going to be able to, because the classes were so far away from me, and it caused me more pain to have to drive such a distance.  But a Moms in Prayer friend, Mary Anne, mentioned to me that one class now meets within 3 miles of where I live.  I was able to attend a welcome class and will be placed in a group for next year!

Life is happy and sad. To know the whole truth about God is the most important thing in living through good times and bad.  “God is judge, but because of Jesus, we can go to Him as our refuge.” Dave Branson

Mahdi Batto

 My dad on the right at an American Meteorological Society meeting.  

Mahdi Batto (not sure of the spelling) was a Christian Iraqi meteorologist who took part in an exchange program my dad was involved with through his work at the U.S. Weather Bureau.  It was back in the 60’s when my family was living in Alexandria, Virginia.  I remember meeting Mahdi Batto and enjoying the delicious hamburger shish ka bobs, with lemon dressed salad, on flat bread, which he taught us to make.  My dad had taken flat metal strips and cut them into 6 inch pieces.  The hamburger was mixed with flour and patted into a rectangular shape along the metal.  Then it was placed onto the briquette barbeque and grilled to a golden brown.  That is the extent of my memory. 

Because of this memory I’m telling my Christian brothers and sisters in the Lord that you may meet someone from Iraq and they may be a Christian.  Don’t jump to judgment that they are not.

But recently, in my case, I jumped to a conclusion because of my experience with Mahdi Batto.   We had a man who is Persian visit our church.  He had come over from Iran over 20 years ago.  I assumed he must have been a Christian but no—he had not become a Christian until two years ago.  His father is still a Muslim.   So I learned that Christians must work on a relationship first—(this is what Pastor Bill teaches us).  Then as you get to know a person’s story go from there with witnessing.

I hope my youngest brother, Wayne, will have more memories to add to this story.

Being An Idiot For Dummies

Many books have been written for dummies such as— “Business Writing for Dummies,” “Classical Music for Dummies,” “I Phone For Dummies,” etc.  Now another book should be written—“Being An Idiot For Dummies.”  Last week I was an idiot and here’s why.

In my blog I was writing about the need for social justice and truth.  Unfortunately I neglected to check on the definition for social justice---It is defined as redistributing wealth.  See here.  My friend Connie was kind enough to let me know about that explanation. (Also it could be called communism--Communism arose as a reaction to a distribution of wealth in which a few lived in luxury while the masses lived in extreme poverty. In The Communist Manifesto Marx and Engels wrote "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need."^[10] While the ideas of Marx have nominally been embraced by various states (Russia, Cuba, Vietnam and China in the 20th century), Marxist utopia remains elusive.)^[11]

Because of this I changed some words in my last weeks blog.  Then I decided to do some research.  I was amazed at what Albert Mohler wrote back in 20 10 about the controversy when Glen Beck brought up questions about social justice on his show.  (Since Glen Beck is a Mormon I doubt that he has been schooled in the Bible.) See here for the article.

  

Another blog in 2010 takes on the issue.  Many young evangelicals are engaged in social justice issues simply because it's popular:

Click here to read. 

Next in 2013 John Piper, David Platt, and Matt Chandler discuss the relationship between social justice and the gospel. Click here. Watch the full 10-minute video to see Piper, Platt, and Chandler discuss the relationship between social justice and the gospel, contemporary distortions of love, and more.

The whole issue boils down to the heart.  Do we love others enough to be compassionate and to also tell them the truth?