Tag Archives: christianity

Revisiting the CEO Principle

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I can’t remember how long ago it was, but many years ago, I posted what I call the CEO principle. Some might actually remember it. I suspect most have not read it. For that reason, I will briefly review it.

You know when you go to the store and buy that gizmo wrapped in that really wonderful bubble wrap. When you get home, you go to work in the effort to remove the blister wrap. I’ve got to believe that they spent a lot of time and money engineering how to enclose those wonderful gizmos in that wrap. Invariably, one thing you must remember, never use a knife to remove the wrap. First, it is not very effective. Second, you might actually hurt yourself. I have no idea how much validity there is to it but I have heard of people cutting off a finger while trying to break into the things.

I really doubt that, but I can believe that some have cut themselves pretty good. So, if you are going to use a knife, be sure to have plenty of bandages. It might also be a good idea to have someone around to apply the bandages. Make sure whoever it is, is not so squeamish.

Now, what does this all have to do with my CEO principle? Simple. If the CEO of the company that makes those wonderful gizmos actually used the product, off the shelf, they would not be wrapped as they are.

I get it. I know why they do it that way. There are thieves out there that will steal the gizmos by the dozens. The blister wrap is something of an antitheft system, to make sure that the product is complete when you get it home.

The principle not only applies to the way that it is wrapped, but also how they are made. Did you ever try to put one of those pieces of furniture together with those “Easy instructions?” Yep. You know exactly what I mean, that is, unless you are one of those who can afford to have the furniture delivered completely assimbled.

My electric lawn more almost escaped the CEO principle. It is real nice and works good. Not only that, it is easy to use. However, I almost have to use a prybar to remove the charged battery from the charger. No way does the CEO have to do that. He has someone else do it. Well, that is not totally fair. I bought it 5 years ago. They might have fixed it by now, though I hold out little hope. The battery slides in and out of the mower easy. Why not the charger?

I’m sure by now, you get the idea. There is no purpose to go on, though I could for a long time. The reason that I am revisiting the post is that I realize it also applies to the government. Let’s face it. When Obama had that Obama care thing written up, he knew he would not ever need to use it. He knew his family would never need it, very likely to the 3rd and 4th generation. He knew that, when he or his family needs to see a doctor, they will be able to go to the doctor he wants to and he will not have to go on the internet and sign up for one of the plans. He will never have to pay a doctor, lab or hospital bill, EVER.

However, It does not stop there. All those idiots that call themselves democrats and voted for Obama care knew they would never have to deal with it as we do. I know that because the bill was originally written so that they would have all have to go through the same stuff. Then, suddenly, before it was passed, they found out and that was changed. So, it would appear that what is good for us is not good enough for them or theirs.

That is to say, they need not concern themselves with most of the stuff they force down our throats. Is there anyone out there that actually believes that the senators and representatives ever had to put up with all the stuff we did during the pandemic? Do you believe their kids have to take the shots before they can go to school? It is sort of the way things are done in government. The laws are intended for us, not them.

It does go beyond that. Nowadays, the laws do not apply to the dems, only the republicans. Moreover, they have lots of help from the media. There is not one law that they and their minions can’t break. On the other hand, if a republican walks within a mile of the Capitol building, he is picked up and thrown in prison. Then, by the way, he is denied a lawyer or speedy trial. Many of those that were imprisoned four years ago remain imprisoned, uncharged and without lawyers.

Worse yet, a republican need not do anything wrong to feel the sting of the dems and their media. If a man being nominated for a cabinet post is targeted, they simply dream up something from decades ago, so as to make it difficult to disprove. Never mind, true or not. He is indicted by the press and that is more than enough.

One thing I know about the CEO principle. Private or government, complaints are useless. I know. I tried. I don’t think I was the only one either. And… by the way… in case you haven’t noticed, I am still complaining, for what little good it does.

Consider, how the Keating five got off Scott free, though they were all guilty of banking corruption. They were never even charged. Google it, Keating Five scandal. Four dems and Senator John McCain were caught with their hands in the proverbial cookie jar and they all should have gone to prison. Instead, they did away with Savings and Loan system, forcing us to go to banks for our loans.

Moreover, if they had all been Republicans, they would have all gone to jail.

The Rapture Is Near

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First a quick word about the rapture so you know what I’m writing about. In the Bible, in I Thessalonians 4, it is made clear. Quickly, in the twinkling of an eye, Jesus will return for His Church. Suddenly every person who was saved and is dead, will be brought to life and they will go up to meet Jesus. Then, quickly, those who are saved and remain alive, will be changed and also will go to be with Jesus.

Those who remain will go through the tribulation, a time of great misery, which will last for 7 years.

Now, read for yourself and it will become clear to you, all the signs are met. However, there is one more thing. The more we hear people scoff that it is not near, the more likely it is near. Some say it may yet be another two thousand years. Actually, that is true. It could be another four thousand years. I simply don’t know. No one knows but God.

However, it might also be in the next 2 minutes. If that be the case, it would be a wise thing not to put salvation off for 5 minutes. Indeed, even the scoffing is predicted as Jesus compared it to the way those of Noah’s time mocked Noah about the ark.

Once God sealed the door on ark and all but Noah and his family perished; once the rapture is over, all who remain will face the tribulation.

Censors?

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At one time, movies were actually censored officially. Whenever a movie was produced, it had to be previewed by sensors and if it didn’t pass the sensor’s rules, it could not be released until it did.

I guess it was continued until some time in the seventies. Until then, the content was guarded, both visual and audio.

Even today, in theory, what goes out into the world of radio and TV is regulated. I get the feeling that many FCC regulators intentionally look the other way. I can’t imagine that it is legal for some of what is broadcasts meets specs. Moreover, they are all the time pushing the envelope, always just pushing it more and more, day by day. The swimsuits keep getting smaller; the language is getting worse; and the activities/subjects becoming more graphic.

That is not to say that we don’t still have sensors. Only the sensors have started limiting in other ways. Already, preachers are beginning to have some fears in preaching about homosexuality. If churches wonder into the politics, they stand in danger of losing their tax free status, unless it is a Black church. Then it is encouraged.

Worse, there is the unspoken censoring. Preachers aren’t kept from preaching on certain subjects, but when they do, the media launches assaults on them. They joke about them and they search for ways to make them look like hypocrites. Look how they went back into the pasts of the more recent judge appointments, also coined as Borking. Moreover, there is no shame, even when there is no proof. In the court of public opinion, none is needed. The allegation is all they need. Saying it enough makes it so.

These same methods are now used on preachers and conservatives. I am not proud of some the things Trump said and did, but no one gets called on any of it if they have a D after their name. Perfection is required for republicans only.

Moreover, politically incorrect things are not permitted on radio, TV and even on college campuses. This censoring is more powerful and stringent than any of the old censoring. Worse, things such as the Ten Commandments are not permitted in many places and it’s getting even more so disallowed over time.

Could it be that they will even be disallowed in our churches; or Bibles; or casual conversation, or thoughts.

I mean what is so objectionable about the words, “Thou shalt not bear false witness?” Why does anyone want to block the words, “Thou shalt not murder,” from our schools or courts? Why is it so bad to suggest that we encourage our nation to honor our fathers and mothers?

It would seem that there are those afraid of the words. If I put them out on my front lawn, I suspect that someone would sue me the next day to have it removed. They just can’t stand to have the words in their face reminding them daily of what they are doing wrong. If there is no God, why are they afraid of His law? Why to they fear His words?”

Why is it so important that they censor every word of the Bible? What harm does it cause them?

Why Did Noah Build an Ark?

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It is a simple question. It just might be conceivable, though not likely I’m the 1st to ask it. I guess most of us think he did as he was told. Then again, maybe it was simply that he was afraid for him and his family.

He might have had the attitude, if there is a flood, it will come in handy. You do realize, while he built, he evangelized? That was part of the reason for building ark. When those around saw him building the ark, they did laugh at him. They did ask him about the project.

I do sort of wonder, was he the first to build anything like a boat. Did they ever go sailing on a weekend. These guys were living four and five hundred years, remember. They had plenty of time to build stuff like this just for fun. Contrary to what some learned folks might say, we are likely speaking of a very advanced civilization. The Bible recorded that there was a man who worked with iron, long before the bronze age.

So, let’s say Noah has some success at evangelizing. I think it was even conceivable that God might change his mind and not send the flood. We know, of course, God has the foreknowledge. He knew they wouldn’t. However, we also know He was giving them one more last chance to repent.

It looks to me as if Noah was acting from faith. However, we also know that if Noah was a successful evangelist, he would have been the only one in town with a big boat sitting in his front yard.

However, it would still have purpose. Every time the animals started going into it, 2 by 2, the neighbors might take note.

Which does bring up a plausible additional reason for Noah to take on the project. It did give Noah a tool for evangelism. As I said, they did laugh at him. However, some must have started taking note as the animals without any prompt, started wandering in. Some might even have repented but fear. They did not want to be subject to the same ridicule as Noah.

I don’t know when the rain started, some just might have had second thoughts if it started sprinkling before the door was closed. If I may, I don’t think God would mind me using a little imagination. I am almost sure that God had the love that allowed everyone every last chance. I suspect it was sprinkling before the door was sealed.

Then, Noah and his family boarded the ark. God, Himself, closed and sealed the door. It was for two reasons. It kept both the water and the people out. It was the final decision point in time. Those that were in the ark lived. Those that were outside the ark died.

Not only is it a historic fact, but it is something of a picture for us. God is long suffering. He gives us chance after chance because of His love. However, one day, He will close the door for each of us. Those of us who never repented and accepted Jesus, it is too late. Death is all that remains for them. With that in mind, for those who haven’t already, it would be a good idea to accept Jesus, now, before the rain starts falling.

Some, when they tell the story of the ark, use the term perish instead of died. Well, the do both mean the same. Perhaps, perish sounds better. Perhaps it covers it a little so that it has a little less of an edge. But it was not my intention to make it sound nice in the least. I wanted it to have its full impact, for the benefit of anyone who needs to know. If I take the edge off, how does it help those who need to repent?

Political Parties and Jesus

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Just happened to be listening to Allen Jackson, the preacher, not the singer, though I do listen to the singer from time to time too. Though it was not his primary subject of his sermon, he did, in an aside speak to the claim that Jesus was never a member of a political party. However, He did speak to power and he did speak to the powerful.

Incidentally, if I were a multi-millionaire, I would never contribute a penny to either party. They have been far too weak on abortion and border matters. It would be my way of speaking to power. Republicans have come out weak on gambling. Indeed, in some cases, some republicans have fought for it. You can come out with you logic why why I am making my mistakes. If I give any money to anyone, it is to the individual and only to the individual that shares my beliefs.

Looking back over things, you might have a tendency go along with me. The Republican party selected a senator who was a thief and another man who was a wimp rino. It is no wonder they both lost.

Sometimes these preachers say more as an aside than they say as their main subject. I think this is one of those cases. Every time we vote, we speak to the powerful. Every time we send a note to representative, we are speaking to the powerful. And, of course, this is regardless of political party.

Moreover, God does caution us not to call good evil, or evil good. It is not idle advice but a warning. There are threats of punishments for that.

Given these two little factors, maybe it would be a good idea not to vote for a political party that is in favor of causing death, you know, like abortion. Like causing wars. Like causing rumors about viruses and virus treatments that resulted in large amounts of death and then denying it. Do you really think He would want any of us to be in favor of a party that doesn’t punish the lawless and looks the other way in mass theft and rioting.

If and when you voted for Old Joe, you spoke to power and you told them that killing is perfectly okay. The doctors that do it should be respected instead of put in prison. As a voter, you have said that we cannot use a gun for defense, but the lawless can use them to steal and and murder. You have told the powerful to stop locking up the lawless and be sure to arrest Trump and anyone who supports him. This though you know he never did anything to deserve it.

Before you vote for Kamala, just remember, in essence you are speaking to power and saying good is evil and evil is good. That is true, regardless of any party affiliation.

Jesus might not be a Republican, but he is pro life. He still is in favor of the truth. As dems speak their lies, they may and do deceive some people. They may and sometimes do deceive themselves. However, they never deceive Jesus. And it is true; He is neither Republican or Democrat. So pretending to be one or the other will not impress Him one bit. For Him, those that deceive are guilty no matter if he has an R or a D after his name.

Who is Abandoning and Who is Being Abandoned?

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I have been hearing rumors here and they do seem pretty substantial. Some have been saying that the Catholics are abandoning the democrats. Some have been saying that the democrats have been abandoning the Catholics.

I’ll let you y’all make up your own minds as to which is which. I don’t have the resources to say with any authority. Maybe you can tell me which one or maybe both. The thing is that everything I know about Catholics or dems I learned from books or second hand.

Well, I guess I did know one thing first hand. It did seem that whenever I found out someone was Catholic, they were invariably also dems. Logic tells me that much of that comes from origins. I mean, those who came from Italy, Spain, France or Ireland, it were most likely Catholic. Over time, It seemed a little odd, considering the teaching of the Catholic Church. If you look at all those in power in the “Organization,” they were also in good standings in Catholic Church. It seemed it mattered not what a Catholic did Monday through Saturday, as long as you attended church on Sunday and officially confessed your sins to the priests. I am sure it also helped to put a coin or two in the collection bucket too.

I suppose, I guess, I can only imagine as to why this is. It might be the concept that, well, everyone sins, regardless of how serious. On the other hand, if the Catholic church fought back, they might fear loss of followers. Then too, it might be those special followers, you know the ones with money. After all, didn’t the fella say, when you have problems understanding things, follow the money.

And so it was, since before the beginning of the 1900s, the Catholic population in this nation has grown, and not just a little. It’s not any kind of prejudice. It is a fact. Today, percentage wise, Catholics are a far greater part of the country. As the Catholics grew, so did the dems. I don’t know why. Just and observation. I don’t care why.

For decades and decades, the loyalty of the Catholic population was taken for granted. It reached a point where they are doing things that are completely contrary to the beliefs of “The Church,” as they like to say. It is as if The Church represents all Christianity.

At any rate, the dems are starting to step on the toes of Catholic believers and they are starting to put some pressure on their relationship. Consider the Little Sisters. Consider the requirement for Christian doctors and hospitals to participate in abortions. Well, not required yet, but the dems are putting the pressure on and the toes are being stepped on.

And so, regardless of the reasons, the Catholics are beginning to change their party affiliation. As near as I can tell, the Pope himself seems to be tied at the toe to the dems. However, if things keep going as they are, he will either have to change his affiliation with “The Church,” or the dems. If he prizes his beliefs, he, and the Catholics in general, will have to separate themselves with the dems. If he prizes his power, he will try to serve two masters. Those who have read the Bible know he can’t do that. The power he will wield will either come from God or the men. Never from both.

Already, Catholics are leaving the Democrats. Or is it that they simply recognized that the party left them? Will it happen that they will leave the the Pope. It happened before, you know. It is where the Church of England came from, AKA Episcopalism in the US.

Irregardless, as we in the South like to say when we are overemphasizing things, almost every Christian oriented church, as well as Arab beliefs, condemn abortion. It might seem that the dems have the down-hill fight. They just might want to pay a little more attention to what is going on behind them. If the Catholics leave the dems, we are talking about a loss of up to 33% of their party and it won’t much matter who abandoned whom.

A Common Religious Lie

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If I heard it once, I heard it a hundred times that we are all children of God. I have even heard it from behind the pulpit. Either it is a lie or Jesus lied. I am going to believe Jesus.

When Jesus was being confronted by the pharisees, (John 8:40 to 48) He said that their father was the devil and that they did the will of the devil.

While all men and women are created by God, not all men chose to be his children. Instead they chose to follow Satan. When a person chooses to not follow God, then he follows Satan and Jesus, according to this passage, says that their father is the devil.

Only when a person accepts Jesus as his savior and master does a person become the child of God. Once a person becomes a child of God, that is permanent. It is irreversible. Argue with me if you like. First read the passage. Read what Jesus has to say on the matter. Read John 3:16 and 17. (Note, if eternal life might be reversed, then it is not eternal.)

Winning & Losing

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When I was a lad, I played a lot of chess. I was pretty good, though I’m pretty rusty today. Okay. I am very rusty today.

Back in the day, I did play a lot, I really liked it when I won, as I did frequently. You might find this odd, but also felt badly when I won. Okay. That doesn’t make an ounce of sense.

Let me explain. Mostly, when I played, my opponent, was a relative or friend. I knew how it made me feel when I lost so I hated to see my opponent lose. I never threw a game. It would not be right to do that. It would be disrespectful. Still, especially as I grew older, it did kind of spoil the win.

Then they came out with computers and they came out with computer chess. I didn’t have to feel bad about beating the computer. It has no feelings. Besides, unless I kept it on he lowest level, I usually lost. What an ego buster.

I watched the professional sports, in which of course, there were also winners and losers. I really liked it when the Dodgers won. When the Rams lost won, I was unhappy, for a while anyway.

And so it is, there seems to always be those who win. Then too, there is also a loser. The winners always loves it. The losers always feel dejected. I think that was true more at the college level than at the pros. Think about it. Loyalty really isn’t so important in the pros. While it is always still good to win. While it always feels bad to lose. The player might actually end up playing for that team they just beat so greatly last season.

If we go back to the chess for a while. The loyalty thing isn’t an aspect there. I don’t know of too many cases where chess is a teem event, though I suppose it is possible. It might even make things interesting.

I think most realize that chess is actually a game based on real war. If nothing else, the names of the pieces makes that plain, right? Actually, many board games are base on wars, though I guess one of the most popular is based on business and real estate.

In chess, each player sets his pieces in array. Then while following the rules, the player tries to capture the opponents king. In many ways, it is the way battles of old were fought.

You wonder why the soldiers back then wore bright uniforms. It was so the officer, the one moving the pieces, could tell his men from his enemy’s soldiers. While the men charged each other, the officers sat on their horses on a high place so they could see what was happening and issue their commands.

When it comes to real war, for sure, no one wanted to lose. All the soldiers, from the private to the generals wanted to win. Rarely did they feel bad for the loser. Those that might, often lost. To be sure, if it is decided that war is a must, then it is imperative that you fight all out to win. As loose quote- it is not good to give your life for your country. It is far better that you make sure the enemy soldier gives his life for his. (Thank you General Patton for making sure we get the right perspective.)

I was a marine. I never faced an enemy face-to-face. Though I hate killing, if I were ever put in the position where I were on a battlefield, I would not hesitate to pull the trigger, over and over. I wouldn’t like it but I would.

Sargent York didn’t want to go to war during the first big war. He tried to be a coconscious objector. Yet, when it came down to it, he killed several Germans and took many more captive. When his CO asked why? York basically said it was to protect those he was fighting with.

In most cases, soldiers don’t fight against men but monsters. During their training they are taught those that they are fighting are subhuman. It helps to avoid feeling bad about pulling the trigger. Truth be told, I don’t think York ever thought as his enemy sub-human. He might not have ever shot at the Germans if it were just him. However, they were killing his friends and fellow soldiers. He felt he had to stop them. Moreover, he never felt like a hero for doing it.

Not all wars are fought on the battle field. Some would say we are in a battle of ideas. A few decades ago, maybe I would agree. Nowadays, it is a battle of deception. I am convinced that if people really knew Trump they would vote for him. If people really knew Kamala and her liberal friends, very few would vote for her.

And so it is, Trump is trying to expose the truth. He knows if he does, he will win. On the other hand, Kamala is trying to hide the truth. She knows if you learn who she is, she will lose. Personalities aside, if you vote for someone that is two bits different than a communist, you are helping the deceit. The hitch is that this is real. If the dems win this battle, all future votes will likely be nothing more, nothing less than a show. The outcome will always be predetermined as it was in the Soviet Union. It will be as it today in China. And our Constitution will become nothing more than old paper and ink. No one will respect it. Actually, not many respect it now. Many have no idea what it means.

I found it thoughtful that Jesus said that wars must be. He said there will be wars and rumors of wars. No atheist will ever be able to deny this little bit of prophecy. Speaking of wars, he said that these must be. He could see the end from the beginning. He knew what would happen.

But why did he say that about wars, as something of an afterthought, that the wars must be? I know it is not because He liked war. It is simply because, Jesus, knowing what He knew, saw that there would be wars, not in general, but specifically. He knew every man that would die and how.

Occasionally, He would intervene. Had he not helped us during the Revolutionary war, our primary monetary amount would be the pound. Hitler slept through the landing at Normandy and the Nazi’s reserve tanks could not be used to repulse the allied troops. By the way, even the weather helped. It was stormy before the landing, but cleared just in time for the successful landing.

Millions of Arabs surrounded Israel with their planes and tanks. Yet, greatly outnumbered, the Israelis sent them all running. God has his hand on the Jews. Better all take note. I can’t speak for God, as I am not a prophet. But this one thing I know for sure. No mater your weapons. No matter the size of your army. Unless God permits it, no foreigner will put one foot in Israel. If you decide to attack Israel, you might as well figure on being on the losing side.

Then too, I know I am on the victorious side. It has been foretold. It is there for all to read. I am not talking about chess or Monopoly. When it is time, Jesus will ride His white horse and he will destroy evil, all of it.

All battles on earth are temporary at best. When Jesus comes, the outcome will be permanent and complete. Jesus and those He has saved will will live with Him forever. Those that refuse to take Jesus as their savior will spend eternity in hell. They will be the losers.

For sure, I will feel bad for those losers, but I assure you, I don’t want to have any part with them. Those who fight against God, deceive themselves. They will be on the wrong side.

Remember these two things. If you do become one of those on the losing team, it will be permanent and it will be horrid. No one is going to be trading you to another team, unless it is before you die. Up until that point, there will always be room on on

God’s team. It just is, you must accept His payment in full. You cannot make any effort to pay in full or even in part. You must have faith in Jesus as your savior. If you take any other stance, you will spend eternity on the wrong side. You will be the eternal loser.

His Master’s Voice

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Most of us older folks grew up seeing the logo, a picture of a dog looking into a an old wax cylinder recording machine. I wanted to use it as a springboard into this current post. However, I figured I should at least make half an effort to get things right. So I looked it up and must admit, I found out a lot.

First of all, let me say I love the logo. I think it is among the best ever made. Not only was it interesting but it had a story behind it, though I had no idea how much until a short time ago. It is an interesting story and I would encourage y’ll to read about it. Just look up “his master’s voice” on the internet. You’ll have to dig through some of the more modern stuff, but the original art was in the late 1800s by Frances Barraud and was later picked up by other recording companies through the years, finally with RCA.

The story, briefly is that Mark, Frances’ brother, died and left many things to Frances. Among those things: a fox terrier named Nipper, a grammar phone that used wax cylinders and a number of wax cylinders with Mark’s voice on them. Frances noticed that that nipper always stationed himself where he could hear the recording and looked down the cone, possibly curious.

So Francis, being an artist, decided to paint it. The rest is, as they say history. The trademark has changed many times over the century but it remained basically the same. Moreover, most of them have the words, his master’s voice.

The truth of the matter is, dogs in general, don’t take long to learn their master’s voice, especially when the dog and the master become very close. It is just the way things are and no one doubts it. In this case, however, the dog is deceived. It is not his master’s voice but a man made copy.

If we look at John 10:27, we find something remotely parallel. Jesus said “My sheep hear My voice, I know them and they follow me. “

It was a long time before recording machines. Yet we learn that the sheep learn the sound of their master’s voice and they learn to follow their master. It does go without saying, if the sheep does not follow the shepherd, it probably is not the master of the sheep. The sheep likely belongs to someone else and follows him.

We modern folk might have a little problem with this. Most of us have little or nothing to do with sheep. However, we do know a thing or two about dogs. If ten men call a dog, it will likely only go to his master. The dog knows his master’s voice and he is obedient to his master.

It is a poor example. A dog is a poor example to a sheep. However, the principle is the same. Jesus has His sheep and He knows them all by name. Moreover, his sheep are obedient to Him. He watches over them and protects them. He makes sure they have food and water.

It is probably a good idea for us to become one of His sheep. Most people chose not to. So, they never know his voice and they go off somewhere else. They have no protection from the wolves and they may or may not get water and food.

Nipper listened to a dead man’s voice. We sheep who are of Jesus’ fold, know our master’s voice and we know He lives. We know He has given his life for us, and yet He lives. And we live, because He lives. And though we die, we will live forever. It is what the master said. And we believe it because He said it. We have no need to know anything else.

However, Jesus is the Good shepherd that cares for His sheep. He provides, protects and leads us as only He can do. Might I remind you of the twenty-third psalm, which is a picture us His sheep and him the Shepherd.

The story of Nipper is a story that pulls at our heart strings. Moreover, it is true. Unfortunately, Nipper today has died. The story of Christ is true. Fortunately, Jesus also died. By doing so, He died for us, paying for all the wrongs we ever did or thought of doing. Then the Good Shepherd rose from the grave to lead his sheep. Most important, the voice we hear is not a recording of dead man, but the living savior.

It is your choice. God has given us the chance to chose Him or death. Those who do not chose Him have chosen death. Those of us who chose Him and accept his Son as our savior, are the sheep of the 23 psalm. For those who are not his sheep, the 23rd Psalm does apply to them. The words provide comfort only to the saved.

Just a Little Speculation

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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.