One of the evidences that we are in the end times is the proliferation and execution of every kind of pleasure. Anyone who speaks against this pleasure is called a "buzz kill", demeaned and rejected. Pleasure is the god of this nation.
There are even those who claim that these pleasures are good for us. It is clear to those with discerning eyes that the worship of pleasure has brought us to the level of debauchery we have achieved.
Not only has this pleasure seeking culture spent more time on their indulgences than personal relationships and hard work to produce something of value, they have ignored and negated God, so much so that there is a contempt and disdain for Him and those who belong to Him.
I was actually involved in an "argument" one time when I made the statement that sports was a distraction and useless activity. I can understand someone disagreeing but the venom that emerged from the mouth of the defenders of sports was astonishing.
My only conclusion was that sports was so important to these people, that they couldn't even hear a "judgmental" word against it. When something that is pleasure based, there is no reason to defend it as though it were important.
Someone could say to me that there is no value in playing with my dog outside on a nice day, I would disagree, but it wouldn't make me angry, let alone contemptuous enough to destroy a relationship over it.
When we see arguments over unimportant things then we can be sure that thing is something the arguer worships.
Let me be clear, there is no value whatever to the sports industry today except the millions of dollars that the players and coaches make, if one thinks of that as value.
When we enjoy the simple things in life, the every day pleasures of God's creation, the antics of animals, the beauty of the trees and other things in nature, this can glorify God, but no contrived orchestrated demonstration of pleasure is necessary to be content and happy.
2 Timothy 3:4 "Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;"
Notice from this verse the word "traitors" is used to describe those who love their pleasure. They will throw their own mother under the bus to defend that which is worthless, just because they enjoy it. The pleasure is more important that people or God.
This pleasure seeking mentality should not be present in a born again believer. Our delight is in the Lord and all that He has made for us.
Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart."
When we delight in the Lord, His desires become ours, what He loves works deeply into our hearts.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Islam Is Dangerous To Us
There are those who would say that we are not being tolerant to Muslims in a country that has been noted for allowing every religion.
The freedom to worship as you please has been a right of every American early on in our history. Those who came to worship as they please most often came in legally desiring to blend into our "melting pot" society.
Islam not only does not want to blend in, they intend to take over, force others to worship as they say while brutally torturing and killing anyone who will not submit.
Let's make it clear, Buddists, Catholics, Hindus, Bahai, and other religions co-exist in this country every day. The reason Islam is singled out for discrimination is because they have vowed to take over our government and kill everyone who will not become Muslim.
None of the other religious groups have a holy book that commands them to kill Jews, Christians and every one who does not accept their religion. They abide peacefully in our culture, even allowing believers to speak to them about Christ. The other religions do not command their people to lie and commit violence against those who are not of them.
Islam is more of a political system with religious overtones. Their goal is total destruction of our culture, our people and our government. They have beheaded believers all over the world, vowing to do the same thing here when they become powerful enough here.
Many false religions at least have a semblance of goodness and kindness, Islam openly practices meanness, hate and destruction where ever they are found.
Islamist are our enemy, they seek to destroy us, this makes it vitally important that we not allow them any ground for the worship of their religion, which promotes these atrocities against our people.
The freedom to worship as you please has been a right of every American early on in our history. Those who came to worship as they please most often came in legally desiring to blend into our "melting pot" society.
Islam not only does not want to blend in, they intend to take over, force others to worship as they say while brutally torturing and killing anyone who will not submit.
Let's make it clear, Buddists, Catholics, Hindus, Bahai, and other religions co-exist in this country every day. The reason Islam is singled out for discrimination is because they have vowed to take over our government and kill everyone who will not become Muslim.
None of the other religious groups have a holy book that commands them to kill Jews, Christians and every one who does not accept their religion. They abide peacefully in our culture, even allowing believers to speak to them about Christ. The other religions do not command their people to lie and commit violence against those who are not of them.
Islam is more of a political system with religious overtones. Their goal is total destruction of our culture, our people and our government. They have beheaded believers all over the world, vowing to do the same thing here when they become powerful enough here.
Many false religions at least have a semblance of goodness and kindness, Islam openly practices meanness, hate and destruction where ever they are found.
Islamist are our enemy, they seek to destroy us, this makes it vitally important that we not allow them any ground for the worship of their religion, which promotes these atrocities against our people.
Baililng People Out Doesn't Help Them
When we bail people out of the problems they created, before they learn their lesson and repent, we thwart God's will for them to learn important things that change their heart and their life.
I never want to be responsible for enabling a person to remain in sin, continually doing the same evil over and over again, ultimately separating them from God.
Bailing people out of their trouble before they learn their lesson is selfish, we don't like to watch their discipline so we ...jump in and save them to please ourselves.
I never want to be responsible for enabling a person to remain in sin, continually doing the same evil over and over again, ultimately separating them from God.
Bailing people out of their trouble before they learn their lesson is selfish, we don't like to watch their discipline so we ...jump in and save them to please ourselves.
True love is more concerned about a changed heart than good feelings.
One of the other things that happens when we bail out others is the problems we bring upon ourselves in the process.
One of the other things that happens when we bail out others is the problems we bring upon ourselves in the process.
Monday, December 7, 2015
Homeschooling Surpasses Public Institutions
At a political banquet several years ago I was placed next to a man who was running for governor of Oregon. When he found out that I was an homeschooling advocate, having home schooled several of our children for a short time, he had several of the obvious and traditional questions for me, one of which was the following;
"What about socialization", I said "Oh, you mean drugs, alcohol, disrespect for authority and filthy language, I don't think my children need that, they have people at home that they interact with every single day."
He didn't ask me any more questions!
The Two Prodigals
Notice the father of the prodigal son allowed him to wallow in the pit until he was repentant, changed his mind about his sin and came back to confess his sin, humbly asking to be counted as a servant, rather than a full fledged son.
He was restored fully as a son, but came back not expecting that, because he knew what he really deserved. This is the mentality we should have in ourselves and should see in others when we have sinned. Admitting the sin, confessing what the sin is and accepting whatever the response is from those we offended.
The offended parties should forgive quickly, desiring for the relationship to be restored.
This account of the prodigal son and his father is a picture of our Father in heaven and us as the prodigals. We should be ashamed of our sin, never defending or excusing it, but rather broken over it, broken enough to be willing to be treated whatever way we deserve.
Anyone making excuses, expecting to be fully restored and angry when we do not receive the expected response, then it is a sure sign we are not sorry, our mind has not been changed, we are just tired of the struggle and want everything back that we lost.
Luke 15:11-32
Don't forget, there was more than one prodigal in this story. There was the jealous and rebellious son that stayed, but remained disobedient, even though he never left. It was really a story of the two prodigal sons.
Mixing Paganism with Christianity Leaves Only Paganism
Mixing paganism with Christianity only leaves us with paganism. A perverted and tainted version of Christianity is no longer Christianity.
Galatians 6:7 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
And, we wonder why we are under discipline?
Galatians 6:7 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
And, we wonder why we are under discipline?
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