JESUS Said I AM!

JESUS Said I AM!

JESUS said there is a broad path and a wide gate that leads to destruction and there are many who go that way. He also said there is a straight path and a narrow gate that lead to life and few go that way. (Matthew 7:13-14)

JESUS said that He is the Gate and that all who enter by Him enter into life in it’s fullest measure. (John 10:1-10)

JESUS said that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and none enter into the Father’s presence except through Him. (John 13:18-20, 14:6)

JESUS said that He and the One True GOD (the Father) are eternal life and we must know Them to receive it. (John 17:1-8)

JESUS said that He and the Father are One. (John 14:8-14, 16:28, 17:20-26)

Knowing GOD is not knowledge of Him but a relationship with Him through His Word and His Spirit. (John 14:1-4, 14:15-31, 15, 16:1-15, 16:29-30) We must study His Word for life and follow His Spirit into life. We need the fellowship of other Believers (those born of Spirit and Truth, John 1:1-18, 3, 4:1-26) to safely navigate the straight path that leads to the narrow gate (John 10-17).

Then we must do the greater works! (John 12:24-26, 14:11-14, 16:21-22, 16:33)

Lawlessness and Predestination!

Lawlessness and Predestination!

Sin is the result of lawlessness! Sin corrupts predestination!

What is lawlessness? Generally speaking it is not keeping the law: driving 45 in a 40 MPH zone is lawlessness; taking something that does not belong to you and that you do not have permission to take is lawlessness; telling a little white lie is lawlessness; Lawlessness is simply disobedience. Here is the scary part, in Matthew 7:21-23 JESUS is talking to believers who have been doing mighty miracles, but He says they practice lawlessness and cannot enter into His Kingdom. How are prophesying in His Name, casting out demons in His Name and doing wonders in His Name lawlessness? He answers that in verses 24-29 (24, 26) “Therefore whoever hears these saying of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on a Rock…But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand (world):”

GOD gave The Law to Israel through Moses, not to control the people but to guide the people into being Light and Salt to the nations of the world. GOD called Abraham to be obedient and he was. Not, that he didn’t make mistakes, because he did, but he always repented and returned to obeying GOD. That is what The Law was supposed to do for Israel, be a guide on how to live obediently to GOD so that the world could see and know Him as Israel was supposed to. That is what the Church is supposed to be doing today, be Light and Salt to the world through our obedience to GOD so that the nations can see and know Him as we are supposed to.

Our obedience is outlined in His Word and directed by His SPIRIT.

So is lawlessness not sin itself? Yes it is, but it leads to greater sin. Let’s take Abraham (when he was still called Abram) for example, during a famine in the land of Canaan, the promised land that GOD called Abraham to, Abraham took his people and herds to Egypt where there was no famine. Since the Bible does not tell us that Abraham asked GOD nor that GOD told Abraham to go to Egypt I believe that going to Egypt was an act of lawlessness because at this point in his life Abraham did not have full trust (faith) in GOD, actually this was just one of the experiences that would bring him to the place of fully trusting GOD with his life, his son Isaac and possessions. {This is a key lesson for us.}

So he packs up and goes to Egypt based on his knowledge of the situation and fearing the long term effects of the drought on his people and possessions. This leads to another fear that affects his thinking, that the Egyptians will kill him because of Sarah’s (she was still called Sarai) beauty, so he has her join him in a lie; that she is his sister not that she is his wife. This leads to the Pharaoh taking Sarah into his harem to become his wife. But, GOD intervened and revealed to Pharaoh through plagues that Sarah was Abraham’s wife so that the Pharaoh returned Sarah to Abraham and commanded him to leave Egypt. (Genesis 11:27-12:20) {He did not learn the first time but repeated this sin, Genesis 20}

So Abraham’s act of lawlessness led to greater sins in that he lied and convinced his wife to also lie. This could have led to terrible events that could have changed the course of GOD’s call and purpose for Abraham and his descendants. Since the Law was not yet given how is Abraham’s act of going to Egypt lawless? Because, GOD had not told him to go to Egypt and Abraham had not asked permission to go.

What causes lawlessness? Vanity, pride; “I don’t have to live like others are required or expected to.” “I’m special and the same rules don’t apply to me that apply to everyone else.” Also rebellion; “I know I’m not supposed to, but I don’t care.” “I can do what I want, I’m not hurting anyone.” Finally fear and lack of trust in GOD; “GOD! What will people think if I do that?” or “If I say that?” “If I give that how will I live?” “How can I go there or do that? How will I live?”

Predestination is that call and gift every person conceived is given by GOD while in their mother’s womb.

There are some in the Church who believe that predestination means that some are born to be saved and have no choice, they will be saved; and that some are born to be condemned to hell and they have no choice, they will be condemned. If that were true then GOD would not have said things like John 3:16-21, “For GOD so Loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For GOD did not send His Son onto the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of GOD. And this is the condemnation, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than Light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But, he who does the truth comes to the Light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in GOD.” This passage is the explanation of John 1:1-18, “In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD was GOD. He was in the beginning with GOD. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend (Or overcome) it…That was true Light which gives Light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right (authority) to become children of GOD, to those who believe in His Name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of GOD. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His Glory, the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth…And of His fullness we have all received, and Grace for grace. For the Law was given through Moses, but Grace and Truth came through JESUS CHRIST. No one has seen GOD at anytime. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” This is confirmed by JESUS, “JESUS said to him, ‘I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” “And this is eternal Life, that they know You, the only True GOD and JESUS CHRIST whom You sent.” John 14:6 & 17:3 As stated above we are all born with call for the Kingdom of GOD, but we are also born with a heart of sin and not all of us will answer the call.

GOD does know everything! There is nothing hidden from Him! He knows our every thought, He knows every word before we speak it, He knows every choice we can and will make! But it is our choice to think, speak and do! We can do it in obedience to GOD led by His SPIRIT and Word or we can chose to do what we want based on whatever. We can do both! We can be a born again believer and do the work of GOD’s Kingdom in the earth according to our own will. I know, I have! John Paul Jackson once asked about why GOD let Barak Obama be elected President said GOD told him, “The person I ordained to be President in 2008 was aborted by their mother.” We do have free will and our choices do make a difference! Obedience is a choice that we must make every day!

But it appears that some are called to salvation no matter what and some are called to condemnation no matter what.

Called to salvation no matter what: Adam, Eve, Cain, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Samson, Saul (first king of Israel), David, Elijah, Cyrus, John the Baptist, Peter, Andrew, James, John, Nathaniel, Phillip, Matthew, Simon, Bartholomew, Thomas, James Thaddaeus, Paul and many more.

Called to condemnation no matter what: Nimrod, Esau, Pharaoh (to Moses), Ahab, Jezebel, Herod (who saw JESUS), Pilate and many more.

What is the difference between these two groups? Their decisions!

The Bible tells us that Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3); the Bible tells us that Cain murdered his brother (Genesis 4:1-15); The Bible tells us that Enoch walked with GOD and GOD took him (Genesis 5:23-24); the Bible tells us that Noah obeyed GOD (Genesis 6:8, 22, 9:1, Hebrews 11:7); the Bible tells us that Nimrod was a mighty hunter before the LORD (we always hear that Nimrod was evil and the leader of the building of the Tower of Babel but that is not what the Bible says, (Genesis 10:8-12, 11:1-9, 1 Chronicles 1:10); the Bible tells us that Abraham obeyed GOD and was His friend (Genesis 12:1-9, 22:1-19, Hebrews 11:8-12, 17-19, James 2 :23); the Bible tells us that Isaac fulfilled his call even though he sinned like his father (Genesis 26:1-11, 27:1-40, Hebrews 11:20); the Bible tells us that GOD loved Jacob but hated Esau (Genesis 25:21-34,26:34-35, Malachi 1:2-3); the Bible tells us that GOD raised up Pharaoh (to Moses) to show His Glory (Exodus 9:13-17); the Bible tells us that Moses fulfilled his call but sin kept him from entering the promised land (Deuteronomy 34, John 1:17, Hebrews 3:2, 5, 8:5, 11:23-29); the Bible tells us that Samson was a Nazarite but that he lived by his own desire (Judges 13-16); the Bible tells us that GOD sent a troubling spirit to plague King Saul (1 Samuel 13:13-14, 1 Kings 16:14); the Bible tells us that King David was a man after GOD’s heart but he was not allowed to build His temple (1 Samuel 13:14, 1 Chronicles 22:1-9, Acts 13:21-23); the Bible tells us that Elijah was a bold servant of GOD yet he feared Jezebel but GOD took him (1 Kings 17-19, 2 Kings 2:1-13); the Bible tells us that GOD sent King Ahab to his death in battle (1 Kings 22); the Bible tells us that GOD sent Jehu to kill Queen Jezebel (2 Kings 9); the Bible tells us that Cyrus was prophesied by Isaiah and fulfilled his call (Isaiah 44:28-45:7, 2 Chronicles 36:22-23, Ezra 1); the Bible tells us that John the Baptist fulfilled his call and was beheaded (Matthew 11:7-15, Luke 1:5-25, 57-80, 3:1-22, Mark 6:-29); the Bible tells us that the Twelve Apostles were chosen by JESUS, even Judas who betrayed Him (Matthew 27:3-10, John 6:70-71, 13:18, 15:15-17, 17:6-19, Acts 1:15-20); the Bible tells us that Pilate gave in to the will of the people, historically we know that the rest of his life was a failure by the world’s standards (Matthew 27:1-2, 11-26); the Bible tells us that GOD killed Herod for his pride (Acts 12); the Bible tells us that Saul of Tarsus (Paul) persecuted JESUS’ Church until He met JESUS! (Acts 7:57-8:2, 9:1-30)

GOD does kill people and He will judge all humanity who reject Him! (Revelation 19-22)

Do not confuse calling and gifting with purpose every Christian has the same purpose: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our GOD, the LORD is One! You shall love the LORD your GOD with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength.” “This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” “And JESUS came and spoke to them saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on the earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the HOLY SPIRIT, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.’” (Leviticus 19:18, Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Matthew 22:34-40, 28:16-20, Mark 12:28-34, 16:14-18, Luke 10:25-37, 24:45-48) Our purpose is to know GOD, to love GOD, to glorify GOD and make Him known. Our call and gift is how we do that every day and everywhere all the time. We are all called to fulfill the purpose of the Church in every aspect of our life! We all have a call based on our gift that allows us to fulfill the purpose of the Church! Very few of us are called to the fivefold ministry but we all have a call to minister from GOD and our gift is how we do that. As we fulfill the purpose of GOD we will come into our call; our ministry is to love GOD and reveal JESUS to everyone we can through our daily life. That is what the Ten Commandments are all about; how we interact with GOD and other people. Remember JESUS said there is no greater love than a true friend; the one who lays down his life for you. Remember the parable of the Good Samaritan; our neighbor is anyone in need any where we are, at all times. Remember Solomon’s admonition, to be a friend you must be friendly. Our call and gift work together; if you are gifted as a mechanic than your call is to use that skill to make JESUS known to others; if you are gifted as an athlete than you are called to use that skill to make JESUS known to others; etc. Our gift and call are not any more or any less important than anyone else’s; they are the tools GOD gives us to fulfill our purpose of loving GOD and making Him known. Study Proverbs 17:17, 18:24, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Matthew 20:16, Luke 10:25-37, John 15:9-17, Romans 8:28-30, 11:29, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, 7:17-24, Philippians 2:5-16 and 2 Peter 1:5-11.

What have we learned? GOD loves every person ever conceived and has a plan for our salvation from eternal judgment: JESUS CHRIST! The purpose of the Church is to love GOD and reveal Him to the world. GOD has a call and gift for every person ever conceived to do the work of His Kingdom in the earth and in Eternity, but not everyone follows theirs. GOD will judge those who reject Him and His Salvation for eternity and He gives life eternal and rewards those who call on JESUS and obey Him!

The key lesson is Matthew 7:21-29, we can find out our call and gift from GOD, but if we are not obedient to His will (what, when, where, and how) then it is wood, hay and stubble not gold, silver and jewels; it may be death not life! Study Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 3.

Evidence of Global Warming? by Edwin Benson

Can History Cast Doubt on the Evidence of Global Warming?

By Edwin Benson

A recent article in Commentary informs its readers that, “there has been no increase in average temperatures in the continental United States over the last 14 years…. If anything, overall temperatures are slightly cooler than they were.”

These are not the ravings of a “climate change denier.” This information comes from an agency of the United States Government called the U.S. Climate Reference Network (USCRN). The USCRN collects data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These findings are reported by “Real Clear Energy.”

Unlike the “settled science” of former Vice-President Al Gore, this information is not garnered from computerized “climate models.” USCRN bases its conclusion on real data, gathered over the last fourteen years.

Reasons to Distrust the Data

The study behind the Commentary article provides ample reason to doubt the conclusions of the global warming alarmists.

The article’s author is the financial historian John Steele Gordon, who is no right-wing extremist. On his resume is staff work for two members of Congress, both New York Democrats, and frequent appearances on PBS and NPR.

Mr. Gordon points out a severe problem with many of the 1221 weather stations NOAA uses to collect weather information. He raises a hypothetical case – one with many real-world counterparts. Many weather stations have big problems for these reasons:

“While they haven’t changed appreciably over the years, the land around them has changed, often profoundly, with the great growth in urban and suburban areas. The weather station that was put, say, in the middle of a Nassau County, Long Island, potato field in 1923 is still in the same spot. But the potatoes are long gone, and now it’s behind a strip mall, twenty feet from the kitchen exhaust fan of a Chinese take-out joint.”

For comparisons of weather over time, the station needs to remain in the same location. Moving it will not work since no two places are exactly alike. However, a weather station set up in a small forest in the early twentieth century will record very different information when that location has become the roof of a convenience store. The cool of the forest has been replaced by a hot roof that receives unfiltered sunlight for an average of twelve hours a day.

Mr. Gordon’s article refers to a study conducted by Anthony Watts in 2009. It reveals that, “89 percent of the stations – nearly 9 of every 10 – fail to meet the National Weather Service’s own siting requirements that stations must be 30 meters (about 100 feet) or more away from an artificial heating or radiating/reflecting heat source. The conclusion is inescapable: The U.S. temperature record is unreliable.”

The Arrogance of Scientism

Those who sustain the theory that man-made global warming is an “existential threat” dismiss such information. Mr. Gordon’s analysis is that of a historian. It is anecdotal, even though it points to the failure of a system, it is not per se scientific. This attitude is the product of a mistaken idea called scientism – the idea that only science can determine truth.

However, both historians and scientists are on different searches for the same truth. Anything that is scientifically true must also be historically accurate. A historically false proposition can never be scientifically true.

The Plight of the Non-Scientist

Most people are not scientists. For at least thirty years, climate experts have claimed that non-scientists cannot have valid opinions about global warming. If people are to appear intelligent, they will jump on the solar-powered bandwagon, abandon fossil fuels and renounce cows and other producers of “greenhouse gases.” Those with contrary opinions are simply disregarded.

However, as Mr. Gordon’s article proves, the scientists base themselves upon a minimal amount of real data. In addition, the National Weather Service was only established in 1890. Its methodology and systems of recordkeeping developed over time. At most, there is only a century of real data. The rest is computer-generated projections.

The “scientific” data used by the climate alarmist scientists is thus questionable. The dire warnings are dubious. If a gradually warming climate cannot be proven by unquestionable “scientific data,” there must be other means to look at the record to reach conclusions. That other means is found in history.

The Little Ice Age

History offers an alternate explanation to the “man-made global warming” phenomena that is no less true that real science.

This author’s grandfather, born in 1899, used to say that winters were colder when he was a child. He was right. His youth began shortly after the end of the Little Ice Age. Some specialists speculate that it started about 1400 A.D. It lasted until the late nineteenth century. The twentieth century ushered in a period of gradually increasing temperatures.

Therefore, the Weather Service’s data, beginning in 1890 would logically show that winters are growing warmer. However, the data cannot conclude that the world was considerably warmer between A.D. 1000 and 1400, reaching a peak sometime during the late twelfth century. Historic accounts however do record this “Medieval Warm Period” when food became more plentiful, and travel became more comfortable. Such weather was a blessing upon the Christian civilization that was then reaching its peak.

The Danger of Incomplete Information

In comparison to the historic record of the world, the century of scientifically collected data is ridiculously small. The climate experts feed that minimal data, their biases and politically correct narratives into computers to predict the long term future. They blithely disregard other forms of evidence that contradict their idea of “science.”

It is like moaning that you are going to die when you catch the ghastly flu. If you extrapolate that evidence to predict the future, then you appear to be declining and will soon die. Of course, the week of the flu represents the downhill slope of a natural process. In another week, you will feel better.

History tells us that the current warming trend will continue for another century or so, and then the climate will cool. Such a forecast is not a guarantee, but the evidence of centuries of experience is far stronger than computer models.

The pseudo-scientists who chant the mantras of the destruction of humanity within twelve years need to reconnect to reality. We should not turn claims of man-made climate change into a man-imagined apocalypse.

Liberals Attacking Common Core by Edwin Benson

Liberals Attacking Common Core? Yes, It’s That Toxic

By Edwin Benson

The American educational system is always awash with proposals for “change” or “reform.” There are plenty of opportunities. Every time the legacy of John Dewey fails, the educationists rework Deweyism and call it “change” and “reform.” Only the ideas of Karl Marx have failed more often than those of John Dewey. Common Core is only the most recent iteration.

The right has attacked the Common Core ever since it stuck its ugly head into America’s public, parochial, and private classrooms. It is, therefore, delightful to find a convincing attack against Common Core that comes from the left.

The new book, Let the Children Play: How More Play Will Save Our Schools and Help Children Thrive by Pasi Sahlberg and William Doyle, makes a compelling case. Mr. Sahlberg’s resume includes a stint as Director General at Finland’s Ministry of Education and professor of education policy at the University of New South Wales in Australia. Mr. Doyle is an American who was a Fulbright Scholar and TV producer. The two met when Mr. Doyle served as an advisor to Finland’s Ministry of Education and Culture.

The authors claim that the stressful climate inside modern schools is holding students down. They find that the “supreme irony of the dark age of childhood over-testing, overpressure, stress and play deprivation in our public schools is that there is no evidence that it works, even when measured by the narrow metrics promoted by its own proponents – standardized test scores.”

Common Core came through two initiatives of the federal government, “No Child Left Behind” and “Race to the Top.” Both programs required schools to prove that they met educational goals through a burdensome testing regime.

That obsession for testing was such that many classes spent massive amounts of time preparing for them. Schools de-emphasized and even dropped courses not related to tested areas. The testing itself often consumed weeks two or three times a year.

Within this test-happy context, states rated schools as successful, marginal, or unsuccessful. The schools used the scores to assess, punish or reward teachers. Teachers responded accordingly by regulating every minute of the day to focus on improving test results. Schools eliminated “time-wasting” activities like recess and nap time.

Mr. Sahlberg and Mr. Doyle denounce the “Global Education Reform Movement” or GERM. They find GERM “pitting schools against each other” as an incentive to raise scores. It institutes “one-size fits all teaching” and introduces “universal standardized testing.” Other common practices include “punishing schools and teachers,” eliminating “the arts and physical activity,” and “the crowding out and elimination of play.”

The effects of this regimen are serious. The authors quote psychologist Peter Gray of Boston College who says that “Over the past half century…anxiety, depression, suicide, feelings of helplessness, and narcissism have increased sharply in children, adolescents, and young people.” Mr. Sahlberg and Mr. Doyle admit that “correlation is no guarantee of causation.” However, the tone of the book ascribes these harms to the high-stress nature of schools centered around testing.

The authors frequently compare this repressive atmosphere without play with that of Finnish schools, which have a recess after each forty-five-minute class. Physical activity and play give students a sharpened focus for the next class. The schools of Finland regularly rank high in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) evaluations.

The book also makes a solid case for another effect of GERM, the over-diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It does not break new ground here. However, abundant evidence proves that children who have no outlet for physical energy will tend to misbehave in class. This practice is especially harmful to boys. The authors point out that twenty percent of school-age boys are diagnosed with ADHD. They assert that the vast majority of these are erroneous.

This book does have its flaws. It is endlessly repetitive. The first four chapters spell out and substantiate the book’s case nicely, but the rest introduces little that is new.

The book is clearly a product of the left since it shares the common flaws found in leftist educational thought. A prime example is the class struggle narrative that appears in its criticism of American education. Thus, they state that “the problem in the United States, simply stated, is that decades of neglect, racial and economic segregation, poverty, and political mismanagement have devastated many schools, especially those in inner-city and poor areas.”

References to race and class oppression also pop up. For example, the authors quote the principal of the “Cornerstone Academy for Social Action” as saying that testing is “a form of modern-day slavery…designed to continue the proliferation of inequality in our society.”

On the contrary, they present Finland as a haven of equitable funding noted for its “gender equity.”

Despite its flaws, conservatives can profit much from reading Let the Children Play. It provides resources to oppose standardized testing. The book contradicts school officials who see unstructured activity as a waste of time, rather than part of the growing process. The book’s liberal slant gives it credibility with educrats who routinely dismiss criticism from the right.

The book would be much more refreshing if it drew the lines that link Deweyism to the Common Core. Likewise, one could wish that the connection between the Common Core to over-testing was more defined. Perhaps that is too much to ask. Nonetheless, parents who are trying to bring some sanity to their children’s schools will find much of value here. And children might be allowed to be children once again.

Lawlessness 2

Lawlessness

What is lawlessness? Generally speaking it is not keeping the law: driving 45 in a 40 MPH zone is lawlessness; taking something that does not belong to you and that you do not have permission to take is lawlessness; telling a little white lie is lawlessness; as you study the definitions and scriptures below you’ll see that lawlessness is simply disobedience. We divide it into two groups, minor and major or what we do and what others do! But, JESUS says it keeps people out of His Eternal Kingdom of Heaven! JESUS said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve GOD and mammon (Lit., in Aram., riches). Matthew 6:21,24 NKJV

Here is the scary part, in Matthew 7:21-23 JESUS is talking to believers who have been doing mighty miracles, but He says they practice lawlessness and cannot enter into His Kingdom. How are prophesying in His Name, casting out demons in His Name and doing wonders in His Name lawlessness? He answers that in verses 24-29 (24, 26) “Therefore whoever hears these saying of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on a Rock: But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand (world):” So how is the group in verse 24 not the people in verse 22? They seem to be doing what Jesus said! Well, they could be like the people in Matthew 23 where Jesus is chastening the religious leaders of the Jewish people. Or they could be like Simon the sorcerer that was converted but had not yet been discipled (Acts 8); some Christians never get discipled or they get discipled into something that GOD did not call them to.

In Matthew 6 JESUS teaches us that we must seek first the Kingdom of GOD and His righteousness and pray to do the Will of the Father in the earth as it is in Heaven. In John 10 JESUS teaches us that we must be connected to Him if we are to be productive in the Father’s Kingdom; in John 13 JESUS teaches us that we have to love one another; in John 15 JESUS teaches us that we must hear and obey His voice; in John 14 and 16 JESUS teaches us about His Spirit, the HOLY SPIRIT who will come and teach us about JESUS; in John 17 JESUS teaches and prays that we will be in unity with Him and the Father as He and the Father are in unity.

Paul teaches us in 1 Corinthians 12, 13 and 14 about the gifts of GOD for His people and in Galatians 5 he reminds us what Jesus taught about unity in His Body, then he contrasts the fruit of the flesh and the Fruit of the SPIRIT. In Romans 11 Paul reminds us that GOD has given each person a gift and a calling, from our mother’s womb (Psalm 139), and they are eternal.

This is where many Christians get messed up, we seek to do the works of GOD that we want rather than what He has ordained for us. Most Christians are not doing what GOD wants them to do where they are, many are not where GOD wants them to be and some want to be something that GOD has not called or gifted them to be. All of these situations make us lawless or a law unto ourself. Many Christians are not taught or discipled to find out what GOD called them to be therefore many just waste their life doing virtually nothing at all except going to Church meetings regularly and giving money (tithing) because that is all they’ve been taught. Many Christians don’t know how to hear the voice of GOD and do not know that He has a plan for their life.

Every Christian is called to have a personal relationship with GOD the Father. How do we do that (John 12:44-50, 17:1-3)? By having a personal relationship with His Son JESUS (John 1:12, 3:16). How do we do that (John 14:1-6)? By His HOLY SPIRIT that lives in every Born Again Christian (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 2 Corinthians 6:11-18, Ephesians 4:30) and by His written Word the Bible (Joshua 1:8-9, Psalm 119, Matthew 7:24-29, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, Revelation 1:1-3, 22:12-21)!

Remember Christianity is not a religion but a personal relationship with GOD Almighty, the creator of everything that exists; the One who formed us from the dust of the earth and breathed His breath of Life into us making us a living spirit. GOD gave us procreation to continue the creation and the parameters (marriage of one man and one woman) for that; and Salvation to restore us to the Father’s Eternal Kingdom of Heaven (Luke 9:56, John 1:12, 3:16-21, 6:37-40).

Remember Faith is Trust, having faith in GOD means that we trust GOD. To trust GOD or anyone we have to know them, understand what they are about and how we fit into their world. As we grow and mature, as we are taught and discipled we will know GOD more personally and deeply which will lead to a greater relationship and a lawful obedience to His will and purpose for us.

“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” Romans 15:1 KJV “We then who are strong ought to bear the scruples (weaknesses) of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” Romans 15:1 NKJV “Now may the GOD of Hope fill you with all Joy and Peace in believing, that you may abound in Hope by the Power of the HOLY SPIRIT.” Romans 15:13 NKJV “May GOD, the source of Hope, fill you completely with Shalom as you continue trusting, so that by the Power of the Ruach HaKodesh you may overflow with Hope.” Romans 15:13 CJB Oswald Chambers said of Romans 15:1, “Intercession leaves you completely and entirely indentified with GOD’s interests in others lives.”

It seems to be and can be hard to be yielded to GOD so that we only do what He shows and tells us like JESUS did, “For I have come down from Heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:38-40 NKJV And His most famous prayer, “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Matthew 26:39 NKJV, study 26:39-44, Luke 22:39-44. If we are not doing the will of GOD then we are lawless.

“JESUS answered ‘The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the LORD our GOD, the LORD is One. And you shall love the LORD your GOD with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” In Matthew Jesus is quoted as saying, “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Mark 12:29-31 NKJV, Matthew 22:34-40 NKJV This is the Will of GOD and to not fulfill these two commandments is lawlessness.

JESUS told us to, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:12-14 NKJV Why do few find the narrow gate and difficult way, because few are looking for it; most of us are happy to be on the wide and easy way. But when GOD finds us and takes us from the way of destruction and puts us on the way to life if we do not stick to the difficult way then we will become lawless.

Lawlessness is not an accident it is a series of choices which are either purposeful or from being lazy and comfortable! That is what happened to me, I chose how I would serve GOD and that led to rebellion and backsliding. When I repented GOD put me back on the straight and narrow and showed me what I did not know and now I try to be obedient to the will of GOD for me.

Matthew 7:21-23 (23) “And then will I profess unto them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.’” KJV “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness (Strong’s Gk. 458).’” “Then I will tell them to their faces, ‘I never knew you! Get away from Me, you workers of lawlessness.’” CJB – Psalm 6:8-10 (8) “Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity (Strong’s Heb. 205); for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.” KJV “Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; for the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.” NKJV “Get away from me, all you workers of evil! For ADONAI has heard the sound of my weeping.” CJB

Matthew 23:1-36 (28) “Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity (Strong’s Gk. 458).” KJV “Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” NKJV “Likewise, you appear to people from the outside to be good and honest, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and far from Torah.” CJB

Hebrews 1:8-9 (9) “Thou has loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore GOD, even Thy GOD, hath anointed Thee with the Oil of Gladness above Thy fellows.” KJV “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness (Strong’s Gk. 458); therefore GOD, Your GOD has anointed You with the Oil of Gladness more than Your companions.” NKJV “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness, therefore O GOD, Your GOD has anointed You with the Oil of Joy in preference to Your companions.” CJB – Psalm 45:6-7 (7) “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness; therefore GOD , Thy GOD, hath anointed Thee with the Oil of Gladness above Thy fellows.” KJV “You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore GOD, Your GOD, has anointed You with the Oil of Gladness more that Your companions.” NKJV “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness, therefore GOD, Your GOD, has anointed You with the Oil of Joy in preference to Your companions.” CJB

Romans 14:23 “But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.” NKJV Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to GOD must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” NKJV Study the whole chapter.

Study these scriptures on what lawlessness actually is; Psalm 81:8-16, Romans 1:18-2:29, 14, Galatians 5:19-26, Ephesians 4:1-5:21, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, 1 Timothy 1:8-11.

Hebrew [Strong’s 205] ’aven aw’-ven; from an unused root perh. mean, prop. To pant (hence to exert oneself, usually in vain; to come to naught; strictly nothingness; also trouble, vanity, wickedness; spec. an idol;–affliction, evil, false, idol, iniquity, mischief, mourners (-ing), naught, sorrow, unjust, unrighteous, vain, vanity, wicked (-ness) Comp. 869

Greek [Strong’s 458] avopia anomia, an-om-ee’-ah; from 459; illegality, i.e. violation of law or (gen.) wickedness;–iniquity, X transgress (-ion of) the law, unrighteous-ness.

Song "Everybody Ought To Know"

While I was doing some paper work today the song “Everybody Ought To Know” was running through my mind when I realized the words were different. I don’t know if these are already actual lyrics but I don’t remember them.

(Original verse and chorus)

Everybody ought to know, everybody ought to know, everybody ought to know who JESUS is, who JESUS is.

He’s the lily of the valley, He’s the bright and morning star, He’s the fairest of ten thousand, everybody ought to know.

(The new verse)

Everybody wants to go, everybody wants to go, everybody wants to go, where JESUS is, where JESUS is.

He’s the lily of the valley, He’s the bright and morning star, He’s the fairest of ten thousand, everybody wants to go.

The Little Girl Satanist Next Door by Edwin Benson

The Little Girl Satanist Next Door

By Edwin Benson

In a parents’ mind there are few horrors that come close to the sense that their child could be senselessly and seriously harmed. That is the reason that the attempted stabbings of middle school students in Polk County, Florida is so compelling.

A Violent Eruption of Evil

The would-be assailants were female students at Bartow Middle School on Tuesday, October 23, 2018. Their names have not been released because of their ages, one was eleven years old and the other was twelve. In the early afternoon, another student told school administrators that the two girls were hiding in the restroom armed with knives.

When officers entered the restroom, they found the two girls armed with several knives, a pizza cutter, and a knife sharpener.

Violence in a school is always a matter of great concern. What makes this story especially troubling is the motive of the two girls. They claimed to be Satanists. They admitted their plan to the police. According to a report in USA Today, an affidavit said that, “The plan was to kill at least 1 student but were hoping to kill anywhere from 15-25 students. … Killing all of these students was in hopes it would make them worse sinners ensuring that after they committed suicide … (they) would go to hell so they could be with Satan (sic).”

According to the article, the girls devised their plan after watching scary movies the previous weekend. Messages on their cellular telephones were scrutinized by detectives, including one that read, “We will leave body parts at the entrance and then we will kill ourselves.”

The Desire for the Satanic

Satanism is rapidly attracting adherents, a situation that is showing no signs of stopping.

The attractions of Satanism are difficult to understand. Eugenio Fizzotti, a professor of the Psychology of Religion at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome, describes four reasons that people are inclined toward these beliefs. In brief, they are:

·         A self-destructive need to feel weak and impotent which creates the desire accept the orders of an “unquestioned leader.”

·         A profound sense of guilt that leads them to believe that they deserve punishment.

·         A rejection of the society, family, law, and culture as tyrannical.

·         An orientation toward the dead and to dead objects.

To sum it up, Satanists reject the idea of a loving and protective God, and embrace the power of one who, they believe, will both protect them and harm those that they see as their enemies.

Modern materialist culture contributes to this sad and evil state of mind. Its emphasis on sensuality tells people that they are powerless to control their own biological inclinations. A material world teaches those who have comparatively little that they are worthless. The glorification of evil in the various entertainment media attracts those who see themselves as powerless and worthless. This brutal cycle of emotions leads one on a never-ending downward spiral into despair.

Satan? What Satan?

Conversely, there is a sense among many that Satanism is disturbing, but harmless. “They must be crazy,” is a common reaction. Indeed, when the local officials held a press conference, the assembled journalists repeatedly raised the question of the two girls’ mental health.

Many have been lulled into the idea that Satan does not really exist. If he does exist, some say, he is harmless. Some years ago a popular t-shirt said “God will not let me into Heaven, and Satan is afraid I’ll take over.” Anyone willing to have that message emblazoned on his chest has little sense – and no fear – of the reality of Satan.

The Resurging Belief in the Power of Exorcism

Many in the Catholic Church are very concerned. The rite of exorcism is on an upswing. An ultra-liberal magazine, The New Republic, published an article in 2015 entitled, Why Are Exorcisms as Popular as Ever? It related that nineteenth century Catholics, especially in Northern Europe and the US, came to see exorcism as an embarrassing relic of the past. However, that situation is very much changed in the modern world.

In the Baylor Religion Survey, 53 percent of Catholics said they either agree or strongly agree in the possibility of demonic possession. Twenty-six percent disagreed or strongly disagreed, and the rest were undecided. …[In] countries like Italy and the Philippines, there is active demand for more Catholic exorcists.

Battling Satanism

There has been considerable evidence of a resurgence of Satanism coming from the Satanists themselves. Over the past decade, our organization, The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) has fought against Satanic monuments and temples in places as divergent as Minnesota, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Florida, Washington, Texas, Arkansas, and Arizona. It also led a drive to get the Satanic “Ouija Boards” off of the shelves at the now defunct Toys R Us stores. In 2010, the TFP led a series of protests against the film Legion, a film with many Satanic elements. The conversion of Satanist high priest Zachary King to Catholicism exposed many of the dark secrets of these cults.

One can hope that this most recent eruption of Satanic activity, one which could well have caused the deaths of children, will awaken both Church and civil authorities. Yes, one can indeed hope, but do not hold your breath until it happens. As long they can pretend that Satanism is a weird and ridiculous fantasy only indulged in by the mentally ill and Hollywood filmmakers, they do not need to do anything about it.

All Satan needs to do to damn many souls is to convince people that he does not exist. He has been at it for a long time, and has been remarkably effective. It is long past the time to take off the blinders and see Satan as the repulsive and resourceful enemy that he is. Our Lady has already crushed his head, as promised in the book of Genesis, but he still slithers about, seeking those whom he may devour.