Tag Archives: bible

Won the Debate, Lost the Campaign

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It is a shame, but if Trump had done one thing at the beginning of the debate, it would have ended right there. At his first turn to speak, he should have pretended waiting a few seconds and said, I’m still waiting. You never answered the question. Go ahead right now. It will take five seconds to answer. I’ll give you ten. However, I do expect a real answer.

It would have stopped her cold. She would have had to remain silent and look bad or she would have had to give an answer and look bad, maybe worse.

Regardless, as they say, that is water under the bridge. There is no way to get it back. It is on the way to the sea, or at least a lake.

However, as I think back over it, the American people are still pretty smart. They knew what was happening. They could figure out that Kamala was getting a tremendous amount of help from the umpires. The American people do have a since of fairness. Maybe, when all is said and done, in the long run, Kamala just might have really muffed it. I have heard a few voters interviewed who said as much.

Moreover, and worse, I am sure I am not the only one who noted that Kamala avoided answering any of the questions. In essence, she usually simply repeated the question in a different form and then went on to answer the question that was never asked.

It is the method of evil. They don’t lie. A lie is too easy to see. They use deception or redirection, which always has an element of the truth, but only part of it. For instance, she quoted part of the thing about some good from both sides. She left out the important part, which negated the part she quoted. Hence, you can always tell when a person lives by deceit. He goes around telling part of the truth, but only part of it. It is worse than a lie and it is always more successful in deceit. Those that have read the Bible can tell you, it is the primary method used by the devil repeatedly.

For sure, do we really want a person in the White House who operates by deceit and misdirection? Do we want a president who never will provide the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Just a Little Speculation

Posted in Christian values, Uncategorized by

We are cautioned about speculation. If it isn’t in the Bible, we shouldn’t try to answer the question. So, we are left hanging without answers. I certainly don’t have the answers. The fact is, I don’t even have all the questions. Nonetheless, lets look at a few questions and some facts associated them.

Perhaps the two most asked questions are interrelated. Why did God permits someone like Hitler to live while he He permits the death of some innocent two or three year old? You might want to remember, Hitler and all those like him were at one time innocent one-year-olds.

Yeah. That one causes me confusion too. I have seen many wonderful men die in the prime of their life. On the other hand, I have seen some survive well into old age that should have never survived their teens. We are given something of a peek into this. The king of the Jews was going to die and God told him he would. The king pointed out all the good that he did and asked to live a little while longer. God granted his prayer and he lived longer. During this time, in his pride the king showed the treasures of silver and gold to the king of Babylon. God’s judgment was that Judah would be captured by Babylon.

The Bible makes it reasonably clear that if the king had died when he was originally going to die, he would have not shown the treasures to the king of Babylon and Judah would not have had the judgment pronounced on them.

Sometimes, people are taken early to keep them from doing something bad. Don’t jump to conclusions. I am not saying if someone dies early, he or she was going to do something bad. If God always took people early before they did bad things, Hitler would not have ever started WW II. God would have taken him 6 or 7 years earlier. The irony, several attempts were made to kill Hitler and failed.

However, let’s speculate what might have happened if God caused the death of Hitler, perhaps right after WW I? Hitler would have never started WW II and the world would have been far better off, or at least that is the way it appears. That is only speculation and we need to be careful about speculating.

However, we can look at a fact. If Hitler died 20 years earlier, he would have been thought of as, perhaps a good man. Then they would have wondered why God permitted the death of such a good man. If I might, sometimes the difference between a man being good or bad is a matter of time, perhaps just a few years.

It can happen the other way. Paul, in the Bible, was a murderer. He coordinated the murders of many Christians to the point that the Christians were very much afraid of him. Then, Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus and we benefited with one of the great writers of the Bible.

God knew He did not want to kill Paul for his sin. He had plans for him. If you had asked the Christians of the time, they would have likely wanted to say God made really bad mistake.

I don’t know why God takes those he takes early. I don’t know why he allows others to live into old age. There are many that I wish God had let them live. My mother died at 49. Three of my brothers died while in their early forties. Two died of brain cancer. Certainly, why cancer. I don’t have a clue. I don’t even have a speculation.

If it had been my decision, they would have lived much longer.

About ten or twelve years after we moved in here, a couple moved in next door. They seemed the ideal young couple. They had a baby that appeared to be walking in a month or so. One day I heard some yelling and screaming out front. I went out and looked and the woman was in the street yelling. Her baby died, a crib death.

Do I go to her and tell her that God had a good reason to take him? The question is ludicrous. So much, I wished I could say or do something to comfort her. I just stood there helpless. Anything I did or said would just make things worse.

A short time later, the couple moved out. I hated to see that but I could understand. She was asking why? and she was finding no answer. I didn’t see the man much, but I’m sure he was hurting too.

Invariably, people go to preachers thinking they can say the right things. They can’t. I was five when my mother died and the only thing I heard from everyone was, I’m so sorry. I really wished they would stop it. It just made it worse.

The thing about death is that it doesn’t just hurt the dying, but the living too.

It makes me wonder. If Hitler had died as a two or three year old, do you suppose his mother would have understood it was for the good of the world?

I don’t think I answered any questions. Maybe I raised some new ones. These two things I do know though. The only thing we can take with us to heaven is our children. It would be a good idea to make sure they know they are saved. By the way, it would be a good idea to know you are saved too. How horrible would it be for them to go to heaven and find out their mother or father isn’t there.

The Secret to Hitting the Target

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When I was seven or eight, I got a gift of a bow and arrows. They were safe. They had the little suction cups on them. I don’t know why I got the gift. I never showed any interest in them. Nonetheless, I did mess with them from time-to-time and got pretty good with them, as long as I was less than about 20 yards from the targets that were furnished with it.

It was not long that I figured out the secret to hitting the target every time. I had to aim high. I guess at 20 yards or so, I had to aim about 4 or 5 feet above the target.

Though I had no idea of it at the time, there is a reason for this. An arrow dropped from 5 feet above the ground falls at the same speed as an arrow shot level from a bow. Many have actually done experiments to prove this with very complex and accurate equipment.

Moreover, no matter how far the arrow is drawn, it is the same. That is to say, the arrow falls at the same speed regardless of the forward speed of the arrow. It just is that a fast arrow has less time to drop before reaching the target.

Therefore, even the most experienced archer will aim high, or above the target. Just how high the archer needs to aim depends on the forward speed of the arrow and the distance of the target. The speed only figures in because the faster the arrow goes, the less time the arrow has to drop.

This is not only true with arrows but with all projectiles. I can’t remember what it was, but it seemed to me that when I fired my M-14, the bullet dropped about 4 to 5 inches on the way to that target 500 meters away. So, if I was to hit the bullseye, I had to aim high.

It was, more-or-less, done for me. I had a little wheel I turned to adjust the sights up and down. I didn’t have to do the math. If I was hitting low, I adjusted the wheel one way. If I was hitting high, I adjusted the other way. Hence I was able to put the bullet through the bullseye regularly from 500 meters. Those that don’t know, that is about 550 yards.

It’s no wonder that rifle knew how to kick.

As I think back over it, I kind of get the idea that it is where we got the expression, “Aim high.” I think it is a good thing to do, both on and off the range. I guess way back when, it was sort of the common thing to teach. Not so much anymore.

I said all that to say this, I noticed that McDonald’s fell short of their Q2 estimates (AKA target sales). It doesn’t surprise me. I am sure I am not the only one that figured it was going to happen. You see, almost all customers have the option of going somewhere else… somewhere where the service is faster and the food is better, AKA hot instead of lukewarm.

A few years ago, my water heater went out. I called a plumber to replace it. In the past, they treated me good and had reasonable prices. The woman at the other end of the phone started trying to talk me into a service plan. I went back and forth a few times. I explained why I don’t buy service plans. I was very patient with her, really. Finally, plainly, I said, one more word about service plans and I hang up.

Someone else got my business. I don’t know who that woman was on the other side of the phone but she forgot one important fact of business. The customer can always hang up, and I did.

The real problem with these businesses is simple. They decided that they do not need to aim high.

We went to Burger King this afternoon. I felt like having a fish sandwich and they have very good fish sandwiches; or at least I think so. I ordered two fish sandwiches, one medium fry, a large onion ring, (don’t care too much for their fries) and two large Diet Cokes. I also told her that one of the sandwiches needs to be mustard and ketchup only. My wife does not like tarter sauce. Don’t have a clue why. That stuff is good.

You would not have a clue how many times I had to go through all that. First, she tried to sell me the meals. I told her, I don’t care how you write it up. Then I went back through the whole thing. She was apparently having a difficult time getting the register to accept that. I haven’t an idea why.

At any rate, having it my way is a nice saying, but in this case, maybe not so much. She read the order back and it was wrong, believe it or not. Why does this restaurant say I can have it my way and have so much difficulty figuring out a simple order. I can’t imagine what might happen if I ordered a dozen Whoppers, each to be made in a different way.

I am a patient man. Really I am. Moreover, I did want that fish sandwich. Still, if she got the order wrong one more time, I think I would have turned around and walked out. Actually, the girl was trying. It was her training. Somehow, when they came up with their neat little saying, they forgot to tell her. They have this “meal thing” on their minds and they don’t like it when a person comes in and asks to have it their way.

To their credit, they did get the order right. It was ready in about 3 minutes, great in my book. and the food was burn your mouth hot, especially the onion rings. It makes me, all the more, wish I could get them to get over this meal thing. Just maybe they can aim a little higher and actually practice their saying.

Before I left, I thanked them for a hot meal and told them that they had permission to have a nice day. After all. They did serve me good food promptly. More than I can expect from McDonald’s.

By the way, if you want a good fish sandwich, Burger King is a good place. If all you want is a whopper, those are good too.

The Inevitable Results of a Godless People

Posted in Abuse of Power, Christian values, Crime, Elections, News media, Politcal Opinion, Religion, Salvation, School Shootings, The Clintons by

Most of those who regularly read my posts know that I am not a person who likes surveys. However, I would like one survey made of one question. I would like it asked of all criminals immediately after they are convicted. The one simple question, “Do you believe in God?”

I wonder how many would say, “Yes,” but I don’t wonder much. I would guess you would go through a month or two before you would find so much as one.

And then, people are puzzled over why the country is full of liars, thieves, child and wife beaters, and murderers. If only the parents would teach their children about God. If only they would take their children to church. If only our schools teach one hour about the Bible a week.

Don’t misunderstand me. Some very bad people come out of churches; some are even the leaders of the church. Moreover, I’m not sure but I got the impression that Al Capone and his like went to church on Sunday; regularly went to confession and had absolutely no respect for the law.

However, we do need that survey. I wonder if they would permit me to do it. More important, I wonder if they would permit me to publish it. I don’t think too many would like the outcome.

The fact of the matter is, the nation that is Godless will inevitably soon be lawless as well. Indeed, today we are a Godless and lawless society today. Truly, guns don’t kill people, but rather Godless people kill people, not the law biding Christians. To be sure, you can include the Godless politicians who are in favor of murdering the unborn, even to the point they kill the child just before birth. Why should anyone wonder when even our doctors practice murder? Why should anyone be surprised when the Ten Commandments are no longer permitted while homosexuality is permitted and and encouraged?

Where nothing is morally wrong, all is permitted, including murder.

Some Folks Want What They Want, Even When They Know It Is Wrong

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In a way, I wish I were more as a reporter. I guess that if I had taken the right classes in college, I might have learned how to do research better. Mostly, if I can’t find it on the internet, I’m sunk. Moreover, what they put on the internet isn’t always true. Like the fella said, you can’t believe half of what you read or anything you hear. So it is that in order to write something and be believable, I have to find it in at least three places, better if it’s five.

Well, there is one thing I can write about… that which I have seen or experienced. For instance, I do have considerable knowledge on the gas shortages of the seventies. I was there. I saw it and I experienced it. If someone tried to tell me it didn’t happen, I would know the person either lacked the knowledge or was lying. Oddly, there are people who do that sort of thing. Perhaps I might one day write a book on such things. There would be but two problems. The book would be very thick and I’d never finish it. As soon as I thought I was done, I’d have ten more things to add to it.

You see, I don’t write so fast. Moreover, before I could release it, I would have to proof read it three times to make sure I didn’t have a bunch of stupid grammar mistakes. There are people in this world that could likely write something like that but I’m afraid no one would read it. One dem intentionally tells something I know is false. Before I can get my computer turned on, ten more repeat the lie, which, of course makes it true, even though it’s not.

Moreover, people do like to believe the lie. In some regards, it is called gossip and the only place you would see something like it printed were in the tabloids like The National Inquirer. Nowadays, I am more prone to believe The National Inquirer than something like the New York Times.

So, let me explain something I saw on TV. Some of it I suppose you can take with a grain of salt. However, it is what I saw and it is what I heard, maybe 15 or 20 years ago. My memory is not so good, but I do remember enough to make it an effective true story.

Sorry, can’t remember, but I think it was on Sixty Minutes. To be sure it was one of those TV magazines and it includes my thoughts and emotions as I heard it.

At any rate, they were interviewing a chaplain of either Yale or Harvard. They said which one, I forgot, sorry. The point is, it caught my attention. Why…why, would they be interviewing a chaplain. I figured they would never interview any kind of a preacher on any major network TV, let alone on prime time. I had to stop and see what my ears would not believe.

Actually, something else surprised me. I didn’t know they had chaplains at those colleges. I sort of wanted to find out about that too.

So the interview began. They introduced the man and immediately got down to the reason they decided to interview him. He was homosexual. I guess it is one of those man bites dog stories. I mean, if the man taught against homosexuality, no one would want to give him a second on TV let alone one of the expensive minutes.

So now I’m thinking the commentator will never bring up the point that the Bible does speak against homosexuality. I mean, 15 years earlier, they would have. Certainly not in the here and now. Surprised me! He did. He had the nerve to ask about it.

Here’s the thing. It was arranged. Now the so called chaplain was given a soapbox and he was not going to pass up the chance to use it for spreading his guile and deceit. You see, he explained that God meant it only for the Jews. You see, he wanted the Jews to become a large nation. If they were a bunch of homosexuals, they would not increase in population.

Okay. After I reached up and put my jaw back in place and I listened to his logic, weak as it was. Still, I had to admit that I could not sit down with anyone and explain his error. Nonetheless, I knew the reason for the logic. He wanted to believe the lie, possibly suggested to him by someone else, so he did.

Afterword, I went to my Bible and read the passage he quoted, Leviticus 18:22-23 and quite frankly, as far as it went, I had to agree with the man. But then I read on. Verses 24 & 25 makes it obvious that the man was in error. Perhaps he stopped reading before he got there.

Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.

It is plain that the reason God has given the Hebrews the land is that God is also punishing those who were in the land. They had there chance to repent and didn’t. If you look at the larger picture, you will see they were given 440 years. And, because they were defiling the land, God has given the Hebrews instructions to utterly kill everyone there. It was Gods way of pronouncing judgement on those who lived in the land, same as He can pronounce judgement on the US if we don’t repent. If the US continues to defile this land with, among other things, homosexuality, He would be completely righteous to destroy us and remove us from this rich and bountiful land just as he did those in the land given to the Hebrews.

This tells me that God simply does not like homosexuality, regardless of who is doing it. Moreover, it speaks of them defiling themselves, which tells me that it is not only wrong but deviant. You see, of all the sins, homosexuality is the only one that is not natural. I guess you could say, it was man made. In Romans, Paul calls it unnatural.

How-some-ever the man did have something of a point. When God gave the law to the Israel, He gave it to Israel as a gift. If they obeyed the law, God promised to bless them and keep them in the land. If they disobeyed the law, God told them that he would punish them and drive them out of the land, which He eventually did.

Nonetheless, I do not see that it would cause any harm to any nation to collectively follow God’s law to the best of our ability, or at least the 10 Commandments. Murder, stealing, lying and even jealousy can spell doom for any country. Certainly, idolatry will do it no good.

There are two more things I need to say about homosexuality specifically. Regardless of the law, disease has a habit of following the practice. It may be why God wanted both man and animals killed. It was an effort to control the disease that had become common in the area. Can’t say for sure but I have heard the theory from those that know more than me, a lot more.

Besides, it is logical. It’s not just the disease that destroys the cities it abounds in but the immorality as well.

Secondly, what ever it is called, it is outside of marriage as God defines marriage. That, in itself makes it wrong, even if there were no passages at all directly concerning the practice.

Now, going back to that TV magazine, I wonder just what the motive was for them to conduct the interview. I wonder just how the interviewer is explaining it to God. For that matter, I wonder how that So-called chaplain is explaining his actions to God. As a leader, he will have far more to answer for.

However, I’m sure it was what the guy wanted. Otherwise, how in the world would he have talked himself into it, and then try to justify it with God’s word. Some folks want what they want, even when they know it’s wrong. Even when they know it leads to destruction.

Incidentally, what God put in his word is true and you can believe 100% of it.

Now I wonder. Do they even still have chaplains at colleges these days. We might be better off if we don’t, considering what this guy called truth.

Gratitude

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This is one of my favorite subjects. I have already written on it twice and I would write on it far more if I didn’t think people would get tired of reading about it.

Maybe I should start with what started me down this track. It is a Bible story I read many times before it really hit home what it was about. Jesus healed ten lepers but only one returned to him and thanked him. Jesus asked something like, Were there not ten? Where are the other nine? I would guess that Jesus was likely well pleased with the one and disappointed with the nine.

If you look, really look at the story, you will realize that Jesus had three messages here. First, be grateful when someone does something for you. Don’t take it for granted. It is a good lesson regardless what your religious beliefs might be, even for the atheist.

Secondly, a word of appreciation goes a long way. Don’t you think that it made Jesus feel good just to hear those two words of gratitude. Every day, God does things for us. Every day, we take it for granted. That includes me, though I really do try to say thank you for it all. It is simply impossible to be fully aware, let alone to say thank you for it all. Instead, most of us are as the Hebrews as they complained about only having manna to eat. I really hate to admit it, but I would have likely been one of the chief complainers if I were there. Even today, I know I am poor example. God provides things and I complain.

Finally, we should be thankful for what others do for us, even if we are paying for it. It is so easy to neglect being thankful to those we pay for work. You should see the surprised expression on the faces of people I say thank you to in, say in restaurants. Sometimes, it outright confuses them. It’s okay. I like to see that kind of confusion. It makes me feel better to see that I have improved their moment in time for that day.

Sometimes, I really confuse them. I tell them that they have my permission to have a good afternoon. I know they enjoy it. I can see it in their faces. Oddly, some find it funny. The fact is, I really mean it. Okay, it does not lie within my power. However, if I did have the power, I would do as I can to improve their time as they put in a hard day’s work.

And, if there are any atheist reading this, you need to pay particular attention to this. For when we say something to improve the lives of others we will also improve life for ourselves. If you don’t believe me, just try it. I submit that it is impossible to have a bad attitude while you thank someone for what they do for you.

And you know what, It doesn’t cost a thing.

Daily writing prompt
How do you express your gratitude?
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The Laws of the Road

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I’m headed down the road and out of the corner of my eye, I see a police car. Instantly, my eye goes to the speedometer. We all do it, or at least most of us. None of us wants a speeding ticket. Not only is it a heavy fine, but my insurance would go up too. Perhaps, maybe I would lose my insurance altogether. For that matter, if I get too many speeding tickets, I could lose my operators license and have to walk a while, or maybe I could get a bicycle.

Yet the law does have a purpose, a reason to exist. Take for instance the car I saw coming up quickly behind me as I was going over the I-55 bridge on Goodman. I was going west at slightly below the speed limit as I was approaching a car in front of me going slower.

At this particular time, the traffic was not that bad and if the man wanted to get in the right lane and take the southbound lane for 55 he could have moved over and would have been completely unobstructed. However, instead of getting in the right lane, he quickly dodged in front of me without warning from the right and then into the left lane.

It somewhat confused me because there was noting at all keeping him from moving into the left lane before he reached me. Then, of all things, he made another lane change to get in front of the car in front of me. While I was still shaking my head about that maneuver, he moved over to the right lane and took the cloverleaf down to southbound I-55.

The wife and I had to just laugh at it, dangerous as it was. We couldn’t make up our minds whether he was a driver who was having a hard time making up his mind or if he was just a very reckless driver. Law or not, if his insurance agent had seen that little stunt, he would have probably had a very difficult time ever getting insurance again. Certainly, if I were his agent, I would have pulled his policy in a heartbeat.

I don’t know why people pull stunts like that. It absolute served no purpose and it did put others in danger. Regardless, most of us try to follow the rules of the road. It is a benefit to others when they know what we are going to do and it is even a benefit to ourselves. As my brother used to say, on our birthday, we all like surprises. While driving, not so much. It is far better that others know what I am going to do and it is better that I know what all the other drivers are going to do.

The rules of the road, the laws help us do that. Without the laws and conventions, driving would be far more difficult and very dangerous. Driving at whatever speed we want to go, might get us to our destination faster. On the other hand, we might not get there at all.

I have often said, I do respect the policeman, but maybe just a little less when he pulls me over. I mean there are many others out there that disobey laws much worse than me. Moreover, I do have places to go and people to meet. Besides, I was only going 5 miles an hour over the speed limit.

Indeed, in some such situations, it is most difficult to remember that that law enforcement officer is literally risking his life in order to keep me and my fellow motorists a little safer, in spite of my wanting to go just a little faster.

When you come right down to it, the motor vehicle codes of the various states are relatively new laws. They came onto the scene only sometime after 1900 when cars became commonplace, especially in the cities. In addition, the roads and highways have been built. In the days of the old west, it would be very difficult to find a street with a painted double yellow line, or for that matter, a left turn lane. It is fortunate that Edison invented his light when he did. It would be difficult to see where we are going and of course, there are the signal lights that started popping up all over the place.

Laws in general, however, are not new. Moreover, they are a vary important part of life. They are extremely necessary for civilization. Today, we have a political party that it would seem would like to do away with the laws and the law enforcement. I guess. I am a little guilty. However, it is the lawyers I’d like to reduce.

I have no idea when the first laws were made. I am sure there are some that would have some accurate estimates. Nonetheless, I suspect, the first time more than 50 or so people started to live in one village, some laws of some type started being made, even if they were not written. As I said, they are a requirement for people to live in proximity to each other. If not, the people will be at each other’s throats. In some regards, thy are anyway.

It is both Biblical and historical that when the Hebrews left Egypt, they were twelve tribes, not a nation. As near as I can tell, there were no laws, no rules. The only law they lived under were the laws and edicts of Egypt and the Pharaoh. It only made sense that one of the first things God did when He brought them out of bondage, that he gave them laws to live by.

However, these were not just any laws. They were the laws as made by God and they were presented to the Hebrew people as a gift. If they lived by them, the new nation would thrive and become rich and powerful. On the other hand, if they did not live by the law, then the nation would suffer. Indeed, Moses told them if they did not live by the law and refused to repent, that they would be sent into slavery.

It was not only a warning but a prophecy. Israel was first taken and then about a hundred years later, Judah became slaves. Both nations were warned & warned again and finally, as forewarned, the punishment was announced and carried through.

Before we go too far with this, let’s take another closer look at the law, first the Ten Commandments then many more. The combination was later referred to as simply the law. Let’s get one thing straight. The law was not given to all of mankind, but only to Israel, at least as near as I can tell. I have read the Bible many times and I have yet to find anything that says that the law was given to anyone outside of God’s chosen people.

God connected a blessing to the law, that if they obeyed the law, the nation of Israel would be great. We, as non-Jews are not given such a promise. However, there is a certain logic that tells us it is to our advantage to follow the laws. Would anyone suggest that lying would be a good thing for a nations citizenry? Is theft something that that would benefit any country? Certainly, if we could do away with murder in this nation, it would be far better for the US or any nation, for Mississippi or for any state and certainly for any city, great or small.

Yet as with the traffic officer, we have become defiant. There are those who want to defy the laws, whether from God or man, and we live and die recklessly as the man who gig-zagged past me and the car in front of me. He defied the law and he got away with it. No officer was there to see him so he did not get pulled over.

Yet, we all know that we are better off with the law and it would be better if the man had been caught in the act, so to speak.

Is it so horrible that we post the Ten Commandments in public places. On the other hand, is it better that we not remind the lawless to live by the law, regardless of where that law comes from.

Let’s face it. There are those in all societies that don’t like the law and they don’t like seeing it posted in front of them. They would prefer to ignore it. When they drive recklessly and are involved in an accident, it is someone else’s fault, not theirs. I mean, the streets, the cities, the world does belong to them, right.

Define Religion

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Not a fan of even the word religion. I am a Christian. That is to say, I have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Religion is for people who like to follow rituals. Many times, God has scolded the Israelite people for mindlessly following rituals, for being religious while leaving God out of it.

When Jesus set up His church, He left but two rituals, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Even so, people have made this into a ritual and they leave Jesus out of it. Many of those who go through the ritual have no relation with God. They do not love Jesus nor do they desire to do his his will.

They call themselves religious but they love not his children, but rather kill them before they are born. Some would go so far as to kill them after they are born. They look at God’s children as an inconvenience to be gotten rid of as a wart or something cancerous. However, many show up on Sunday and chant the words without even considering them.

Old Joe calls himself a Catholic, but he has intentionally said and done things that result in the deaths of thousands. Truth be told, I don’t think the man has any relationship with Jesus. He might call himself Catholic but I can’t see any proof of him being a Christian.

Such can be said of many. They have their faith in their church, their religion and or their preacher. When they see Jesus face-to-face, they will realize they should have had their faith in Jesus. Only, it will be too late. Some with have decades to accept Jesus as their Savior. They will have no excuse. There is simply no religion that will save them and it will be too late for any extensions or revisions of their remarks.

Daily writing prompt
Do you practice religion?
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I Had a Dream

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I knew it had to be a dream, cause I was doing things I knew I couldn’t do. I dreamed I was playing baseball as well as I ever did.

I was running and jumping, throwing and catching, and I was hitting the ball like a pro. Now let me tell you, that is one of those dreams that I would just as soon never end.

It does make me wish I had some control over my dreaming. Maybe before going to sleep I could set my mind on what I want to dream and I would dream it.

I suppose it is a good thing I can’t. I would likely sleep as much as I could. I guess I would spend entirely too much time dreaming that I was playing first base professionally.

It does cause me to speculate. Could it possibly be better in heaven than my little dream? I mean I did so love to play baseball. I wonder how it could possibly be better in heaven. I have not the answer but the Bible does. And God does assure me that it is better than my dream. Even better, I’ll never have to wake up.

As a side note, I will have something to say about it. Because I have accepted Jesus as my savior I will spend eternity with him. It is far better than what the alternative would have been.

And here’s the neat part. There will be no pain, no suffering, and I will be able to run better than my high school days. That, in itself would make it heaven. However, it is just a small part of it.

Before it Was Good Friday

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For those unaware, God likes to plan things.

Not being a professional historian, I don’t know the exact day but God does. The day we know as Good Friday, likely is on or very near the day Israel celebrates Passover. I think God planned it that way. You see, passover is a picture, a foretelling of the day Jesus would die. The lamb was an imperfect picture of of Jesus and the blood of the lamb was a symbol of the blood of Jesus. The blood of the lamb protected those who had the faith to put the blood on the door jambs between them and the wrath of God, in the symbol of the death angel.

Just as the innocent lamb had to be killed, Jesus had to be killed. Just as the lamb’s blood had to be shed for the passover, Jesus’ blood had to be shed for all men. As the scripture says, there is no remission of sin without the blood of Jesus. Not only did Jesus die for us but also shed His blood for us.

Some don’t like the Christian religion because of the blood. I hate the shedding of blood, even the lambs. But how much more precious is the blood of Jesus. And when He himself said it was necessary, He knew it was and is absolutely necessary for man’s salvation, like it or not. As the hymn says, there is power in the blood, specifically Jesus’ blood

It was planned, not for a week or a year but at the very creation. Among other things, it is a picture of God’s love for us, collectively and individually. However, it is more than a symbol. Without it, our death would be certain.

But also, it is more than something that had to be done. It is a demonstration of his love.

But God in His infinite power did something never done before. While some were raised from death, Jesus was alone with God at the time. Moreover, when Jesus came out of the grave, it was forevermore. If you had the ability to search every grave, you would not find Jesus there.

Some put little importance on His resurrection, but if He could not come back to life, then His promise for eternal life is empty. I really don’t think God would come up with an incomplete plan.

So it is, He died to pay for our sins. He rose again from the dead so we can. The third part, he left to us. We do not have to have to accept the salvation He paid for. It’s ridiculous to refuse it, but most do, strange as that might seem.

Good Friday is for us. What we call Easter is for us. Our salvation is completely and totally paid for. Yet some will try to arrange their own salvation by being good. There are some who will try to earn their own salvation. Some simply ignore it, not really realizing what they turn their back on.

One thing is certain. We all die. God has provided for us a way

to spend eternity with Him. If we don’t accept it, we will spend eternity without Him, which is far worse than death.

For those unaware, eternity is a long time.