Monthly Archives: July 2023

The Devils Most Successful Counterfeit

Posted in Christian values by

My last post dealt with counterfeiting and the world’s biggest counterfeiter, the devil. However, I saved this for a separate post as it is particularly angering to me. I would guess it also angers God in that it leads folks away from Him and to death, the counterfeiting of religion.

To the best of my knowledge, the Bible does not mention false religion that much before the flood. The first mention of idols, as near as I can tell, is when Jacob was returning to home with Leah and Rachel. Ever since, it has become a constant subject. It is why Israel was split into two countries. Soloman, in all his wisdom worshiped the idols of some of his wives.

And so it is, ever since, we read about false gods. One of the reasons God destroyed Egypt was because of false gods. One of the primary reasons that God allowed Israel to go into the promised land was the false religions being practiced there. And, finally, it is why Israel was overtaken captive and then Judah.

Repeatedly, the tribes of Israel turned their backs on God and they worshiped false gods, counterfeits. Over and over, that was the main reason for Israel’s sorrows. Oddy, even while Moses was getting The Ten Commandments from God, the Israelites were worshiping counterfeits. I would suspect the devil felt particularly proud of himself for that one.

But today, we don’t have false gods, right? Wrong. In the first place, there are still religions in this world that bow down before pieces of stone and pray to the things not living. They bow down before big likenesses of Buddha. They still worship all manner of gods throughout Asia and the South Pacific. They are all counterfeits and they have not the power…. Let me rephrase that. They have no power other than in the minds of those worshiping them.

God set up a religion for the Israelites. They were to worship him only at the Temple and only Him. They were given strict instructions as to how. They were to bring to Him the tithes and sacrifices to the Temple. They were forbidden to worship any other gods anywhere at anytime. Yet, from time to time, they worshiped the counterfeit gods even to the point of sacrificing their children. Then, after being punished, they repented and turned back to God.

Where did the idea of the counterfeit gods came from? You need to ask? Isn’t it obvious. The devil was behind the false gods. He was behind the false religions, and he was behind the idea of sacrificing children. The end of all of this was great sorrow, even without God’s punishment. The natural result of counterfeit religion is sorrow and grief.

When Jesus rose alive and left an empty tomb, the world changed, I would guess instantly. It is my guess that it changed more than any other time, except for possibly during the fall of Adam and Eve. How did it change. Well, I can make a list but let’s stick to the basics.

First and foremost, it allowed the salvation of man. If Jesus did not rise from the grave, if He is not alive physically, then Christianity is just another empty religion. It is just a way of life that helps one man get along with the other. It is just another nice idea.

The evidence is solid. He did arise so Christianity changed the world. No longer is our relationship with God a religious one. When we are saved, we are instantly and forever the sons and daughters of God. Our citizenship is in the Kingdom of God, and we are left here on earth for primarily one reason, to teach others so they too can be born into the Kingdom of God.

And yet, you look around and the counterfeit religions persist. People worship in churches that say they teach Christianity, but they are counterfeit. As said before, for the counterfeit to succeed, it must look real. And there are many churches that look real but they teach religion. If they teach religion, I submit they are counterfeit because of all the religion they teach.

I would suspect, God is tired of religion. He wants to do away with it in all forms. So, when you want to speak to God, go to him through the name of Jesus. There is no other way. Certainly, God can and does use others to speak to us, but if so, make sure it agrees with the Word of God, the Bible. Make sure that those speaking aren’t speaking of themselves too highly.

The other day, I heard a man speak about how we should go to church on Saturday, not Sunday. Well, that’s religion. It refers back to the commandment to remember the Sabath to keep it holy. That simply carries not a drop of water. Most of those who wrote the New Testament worshiped on Sunday. It is a celebration of Jesus rising from the dead. Moreover, we are encouraged to bring our offerings the first day of the week, Sunday. (I Corr 16: 1&2)

If a church leadership wants to worship on Saturday, fine. I have no problem with that. However, let’s not condemn the first disciples for worshipping on Sunday. That is religious and it is counterfeit.

Also, when we want to confess a sin, which will be good, let’s confess to God. He and he alone can forgive us. It is a power that He reserves to Himself and He does not permit it to even the highest clergy.

Most of all, let’s get the counterfeiting (religion) out of the way of our relationship with Jesus. That will be much better, especially for us.

The Great Counterfeiter

Posted in Christian values, Uncategorized by

I suppose it’s been close to 10 years now. Not absolutely sure it’s true, but the story goes like this. A group of high school kids, as an experiment, decided to see if they could make and pass off counterfeit money produced with a scanner and high-quality color printer. When they found out they could, they did.

Of course, that’s not legal, even if it works. For a couple of weeks, it had the Desoto County, MS area in something of a tizzy. Once discovered by the authorities, they started trying to chase the source down. On the other hand, when the merchants and banks found out, they started checking the money they received with a fine tooth comb.

To be sure, when just a few start making their own money, to some extent, we all suffer. There are reasons for this. If it is permitted to continue, it devalues the currency. Foreign countries are less likely to honor the real stuff. Besides, it’s all just plain wrong, even if it is an experiment.

Throughout the history of our country, there have been folks trying to make money, the wrong way. We are supposed to go out and get a job, not print it. Unfortunately, money is not the only thing around that folks try to counterfeit. Certainly, works of art signatures, watches, and would you believe, purses are just a few things that people try to copy well enough to pass off as originals. Selling Rolex watches that aren’t made by Rolex have been the plot of many a story. Not being an expert, I don’t know how prevalent that is. However, can you imagine spending a thousand dollars for a watch that is nothing but a knockoff. Worse yet, the thing might not even keep good time. (in itself, that would be a blot on Rolex)

This begs the question, why do people counterfeit? For what purpose do they go to such great lengths to defraud their fellow citizens. While it might seem a simple question to which there is a simple answer, it is a little more complicated. Well, think… what about our Southaven students. They just wanted to see if they could.

And so, it is with many. There is something of a pride that goes with the success of producing a painting that looks just like a Renoir. Then too, it is something of a silent pride that must be kept quiet. Then too, it might be used as a type of weapon. During WWII, the Germans from time to time tried to dump fake money into our system. It provided a double advantage for them. First, it helped them with their war effort, and second, it could have caused a meltdown of our economy.

There is an odd feeling of accomplishment. Even when they know that they will eventually be caught, they do it just for the sake of being able to say, “I did it.” To some degree, the wealth they derive is somewhat secondary to some.

There is something of another question involved. To succeed, the counterfeit must resemble the original. It seems simple but people have gone to all kinds of lengths to make a fake twenty-dollar bill look like just exactly like the original. On the other side, the US mint is going to all sorts of lengths to make impossible to copy, which, by the way, increases the costs of legally making money. When we pull out that twenty to pay for that hamburger and fries, we take it for granted. However, a great deal of money went into the design and printing of those bills. Fortunately, they keep the price down by making a few thousand at a time.

Nonetheless, occasionally, someone comes along and finds a way to get away with it for a while. It’s one of those things that provides job security for the Secret Service as well as the rest of law enforcement. It also keeps the banks busy checking what they bring in as well as what they disperse. No bank wants to get the reputation of passing bad money.

There is however, one counterfeiter who has been getting away with it a long time. For thousands of years, he has counterfeited the work of God. Satan promises the same happiness as God and, like all counterfeiters, provides nothing but grief. He promises the good life and, in the end, he causes death.

Of course, to counterfeit God’s work, he has to make it look good and he does. Indeed, billions have been taken in by his false promises and hopes. Without exception, what he provided the world was pain and suffering. In the Garden of Eden, what he has done for the human race, was to deceive mankind into death and men have been paying for it ever since.

Why do men fall for his counterfeit happiness. It’s simple. It looks good. The successful counterfeits always do. So, we humans, look at the counterfeit and chose it over the real thing. It is a choice of deception, and it will not go away until the devil himself goes away.

As the banks check those twenties, it would behoove us to take a second look. Let’s make sure we aren’t accepting counterfeit happiness instead of the real thing… that which is provided by God, our maker, our provider and our savior. That which the devil and his minions provide are, in the end, far too expensive.

By the way folks, lest you get the wrong idea, I too have been deceived and from time to time am deceived to this day. I speak from experience not theory. Sorrows, never happiness, follow sin. Now, into my 70s, I know about what I speak. If you be wise, learn from my mistakes. Chose God, not the counterfeiter. Chose happiness, not sorrow, pain and grief.

Something I Noticed About Air Conditioning

Posted in Being woke, Biden, Climate Change, Fantasy, Going Green, Politally Correct by

Over the years, I discovered my auto air conditioning was always, without exception more effective in the shade. I have a vague idea as to why but it really doesn’t matter.

What I’m interested in is taking advantage of it. Perhaps we could build highways with shade. I figure I’d be more comfortable quicker and I might save a few gallons of fuel. The going green outfit would appreciate that.

However, my main interests is my home. Do you suppose the city would permit me to put a shade cover over my home. If we all did it, it would really reduce the load on the grid. And, by the way, Old Joe would love it, that is unless his neighbors did it. He wouldn’t want to live in such a neighborhood.

As my aside, I wonder how practical such a cover would be for schools. It would not only save fuel but taxes as well.

Another Word on Responsibility

Posted in Abuse of Power, Biden, Deceit, Fear, Gathering false infomortion, Gun Safety, law enforcement, Lawyers and Representation, Reporters, responsibility & irresponsibility by

Just now heard a joke on the radio. It was supposedly Hunter Biden on the phone, who said, “Say, Pops. Have you seen my laptop?”

Of course, it was not Hunter Biden who was speaking, but it was Hunter who lost his laptop, his gun and “forgot” to report income for two years. Considering that’s likely not a tenth of it, I think we can assume that he is the epidemy of irresponsibility. This was a man who, with the help of his Pops, became an officer in the military. Now let me see. Aren’t military officers supposed to be responsible? I certainly would not want him as my commanding officer. I actually don’t think many would. Certainly not in battle.

So. When we need a person to point out when we want an example of irresponsibility, he’d be the first one I’d think of, he and his Pops. And, of course, all the while, the reporters keep turning a blind eye. That’s irresponsibility too.

Responsibilities

Posted in Christian values, Education, Fast Food by

Of all the things I have learned in all my 70 plus years, taking responsibility was perhaps one of the greatest. Certainly, I learned it while in the Marines. There are three aspects. Knowing, when I do something, I must know that I will take responsibility for it. When I make a legal promise, I must do everything humanly possible to fulfill it. When I take on a debt, assuming there is no deception or fraud, I must pay off that debt.

Maybe it is something well worthwhile for college students to learn that lesson. At seventeen or eighteen, they should learn what responsibility means. They should learn, when they sign the paper, they need to make good their word.

To be sure, they are young. However, 17- and 18-year-olds make the decision to go into the military. They are expected to put their lives at risk and not back out. It is likely the first thing many men and women really learn. However, even then, they usually have some guidance from parents. Unfortunately, sometimes the parents don’t provide proper guidance.

In some cases, parents co-sign for the loan. Maybe, then, they provide just a little better guidance, especially in choosing a major. The father just might spend a little while convincing that youngin that basketweaving might not be the best thing to major in. Maybe, if we started requiring parents to cosign for collage loans, this problem with unpaid loans would simply go away.

Having just put so much responsibility on the students and parents, I digress. These big schools. These outfits that claim that they are for learning deserve some of the blame. Shouldn’t they know better? If they are going to offer useless and semi-useless courses, shouldn’t they require some kind of full disclosure. Some folks actually have more money than they know what to do with. They can easily pay to learn how to appreciate art. In such cases, I say, fine. It’s their money. Let them throw it away if they want.

However, in cases where money is involved, maybe the colleges and universities should be held responsible. I mean, if this is a place where smartness is something that they impart, maybe they should be required to exhibit some basic intelligence. When they see a person headed head-long into a disaster, just maybe they should not permit it. “No, you can’t take that course; not until you demonstrate you can afford it.”

At the very least, maybe they should separate their courses: those that are good for making a living and those that aren’t.

May I go back on my Marine days just one more time? I took Instructor training. One of the first things they taught us was to impress on the student the importance of the course. It makes me wonder just what some of these professors tell their students about how important their subject is. I suspect, no, I know they have to do some real stretching to explain just why their field is absolutely essential.

Okay. I get it. If it were not for art, the world would be a pretty dull place. To be sure, actors go on to provide the world with more than a little entertainment. The Sound of Music, The Fidler on the Roof were both more than entertainment. For those of us who are willing to listen, they have a lot to say. They help remind us of how things were so that, hopefully, we won’t go back there, or even think about it.

However, there are but so many positions for actors. My best guess is that we have, oh maybe, a glut of them. Maybe when someone wants to major in acting, the counselors might suggest at least a minor in math or business. Who knows? Even if the student does become a great actor, he might be able to use his business training to help him handle all his millions.

Basically, I said all that to say this. On such degrees as acting, art, and the like, colleges should require the money upfront, no loans. Or, they should be notified not to expect payment until the student can pay. Maybe them, they wouldn’t offer so many courses on art. I mean the only folks not taking a risk are the institutions of higher learning.

Let the old laws of supply and demand take hold in the halls of ivy. Now there’s a unique idea.

Those with sheepskins ought to be able to do more than serve fast food.

Now that’s a thought. Maybe a person could major in fast food preparation. Why not. A person can actually make money in the restaurant business, though it is real honest, hard work.

Is it Right or Is it Wrong?

Posted in Biden, Education, Fear, Lawyers and Representation, Liberals, Socialists, Supreme Court by

In last few days the Supreme court has made some decisions. Old Joe has said he will need to find another way. The homosexuals have said they have been slighted. The dems are upset that there is no longer a quota system in the colleges. It would seem there is a whole lot of disagreeing going on. One says one thing. The other says the other.

So, the question is arising, were they right or were they wrong? I submit to you. it is very easy to tell. When the dems hate it, the Justices can suspect they got it right. When the NY times complains about the decision, it goes beyond suspicion. When the major news anchors complain as if someone has them by the little toe, then they will know, beyond any reasonable doubt that they have it right.

A False Statement

Posted in Biden, Border wall, Crime, Deceit, FOC, Immigration by

Certainly, just because a statemen is true on the surface doesn’t mean it’s effectively true. I heard a statement person on the news today say that shootings are up this year over last year. Sorry. I don’t have cable anymore so I couldn’t rewind it to get the specifics. (can’t remember the idiot’s name that said it, but I would like to thank him for providing the example)

The thing is, I believe him. I’d guess shootings and deaths by guns is likely up this year by five to ten percent. What the man failed to mention was that prosecution and convictions of gun crimes are down. Go figure.

It all goes back to the basics, if you don’t punish people for committing crimes, they will continue to commit them. Even more, more people will commit them.

Then, on the other side of the coin, prosecutors more and more are going after those shooting in self-defense.

It’s no wonder gun crime is going up. They have created the gun criminals paradise. They get to shoot at us and we don’t get to shoot back.

It’s what I call the perfect example of using the truth to deceive. Using the truth for deceit is the most effective way of deceiving. If he had lied, we would have known it quickly. So, he lies not. He just withholds the truth. Maybe it would be a good idea to put the criminals in prison. That way gun crime, all crime would decrease.

Just off hand, I wonder if he ever checked to see if maybe all crime has increased. I suspect it has, but it doesn’t suit his purpose to address that. That fact would get in the way of his agenda to remove guns from us all.

As a side inquiry; I wonder just how many of those shootings were committed by illegal aliens that Joe invited over the boarder or by people in the drug or human trade that has increased from the open border policy.

BUILD THE WALL

Soloman Chose Wisdom

Posted in Christian values by

It is an interesting selection. To be sure, given the fact that he was going to be king of God’s chosen people, I guess it is the wisest choice. From time to time, Soloman was given impossible decisions and quickly resolved them; for example, the two women and the baby. It is not only a wise decision but one that has been used down through the years in varied ways.

Now, no one has asked me what I want, but if God did, I would be a little self-centered in that I would want two gifts. Certainly, I would like to be just as close as I could get to God and still have my feet on terra firma. Well, I did say it was selfish. It would be very difficult for me to think of anything better.

The second choice would be to be the gift of healing. I have no disillusions. I suspect that maybe it would have aspects I cannot foresee. Jesus had the perfect power to heal, and they nailed him to a tree. Moreover, I know that any such gifts should not be used for me but to further the great news, what others call the gospel.

Once word got out that I could put my hands on a person and make them well, I would be, perhaps, the most well-known person on this planet. Almost anyone who makes it to their thirties have health problems. No parents want to see their child succumb to cancer. How many parents would love to see their child healed of some kind of crippling disease or injury.

I’m afraid that as soon as I hung out my shield, I would have a mile long line. As soon as it became known that I was for real, the line would become ten miles long. I don’t think I like that. I mean I would have no problem working more than an eight-hour day healing people. I’d love it. I just don’t think it would be the ideal way doing it. I would not like the side-show atmosphere.

I think it would be better if I go from place to place unannounced. I could visit the bed ridden and the diseased. In each case, I could say a word or two about who Jesus is and how he wants to save all people of all races throughout the world. I could explain how one must accept Jesus as his personal savior. For he is the only one who has that power to save. He does not impart it to any man. I would explain how he or she must have faith to be saved, for we ourselves have no such power to do it or add to it.

To the lame I would say, “Just as you had not the power to heal yourself, you have no power to save yourself. It is just as vein and pathetic to try to heal oneself of ALS as it is to heal oneself of the curse of sin.

Well, I don’t have the gift of healing and likely never will. Still, I can spread the great news of salvation. Sometimes I’ll be scoffed or ridiculed. Then too, occasionally, someone might understand and accept what the Bible says about it as truth.

Jesus himself said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” John 3:3. You notice how emphatic the words are. You notice there is not so much as one exception. So, it would seem, according to the spoken word of Jesus that there is simply no way around it. If you have not had a second birth, you will not see the kingdom of God. How much plainer can it be. How clear it is that it is most important to each and every one of us.

To Nicodemus at the time, heard Jesus likely spoke in Aramaic. To us, the translation is clear. Yet, millions will hear these words and ignore them, though they are some of the most important words ever spoken. The entire chapter of John 3 might be the most important words ever spoken by anyone. It would behoove all of us to read them and read them again until we can quote them from memory.

Soloman chose wisdom. If you have not been born again, the wisest decision of your life is to seek the salvation that has been offered as a gift by Jesus.

Incidentally, don’t even try to earn the gift. You haven’t the power. You definitely haven’t the authority. You can only make the choice to accept or reject it. Then, the instant you accept it, all your sins, past, present and future will be removed from your records. You will not be held accountable for them ever. That is what is called forgiveness and God alone has the power to forgive sin.