I don't, and I didn't let my kids say that when living under my roof. Having said that, when other people say it, Christians or not, they don't bother me. The phrase by itself does not violate the commandment: You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain. It is not what you say but what you mean by it. In some usages, it may violate the commandment.

Instead of "Oh my God," when you are surprised positively, you can say "Wow!". If you are in disbelief, you can say "No way!".

Is saying Oh my God as an exclamation of shock or surprise a violation of the Commandment?

No.

See also Mind your language

I am not at all big on Trump. But I know that him being assassinated, for just one thing, would cause a lot of trauma, and some say even Civil War, in this country.

I can’t prove it, but on two occasions recently, I have been kind of awakened out of sleep with an urgency to pray for him to not be murdered.

Please pray that no such horrible thing happens in this nation.

Matthew 5:

5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

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Strong's Greek: 2816. κληρονομέω (kléronomeó) — 18 Occurrences

What is this usage of "inherit"?

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

1. "to receive a lot, receive by lot; especially to receive a part of an inheritance, receive as an inheritance, obtain by right of inheritance";

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This first meaning has to do with inheritance after the death of someone. There is a more general meaning:

2. universally, "to receive the portion assigned to one, receive an allotted portion, receive as one's own or as a possession; to become partaker of, to obtain".

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This develops into a special usage:

But as the Israelites after taking possession of the land were harassed almost perpetually by their hostile neighbors, and even driven out of the country for a considerable period, it came to pass that the phrase was transferred to denote the tranquil and stable possession of the holy land crowned with all divine blessings, an experience which pious Israelites were to expect under the Messiah: … it became a formula denoting to partake of eternal salvation in the Messiah's kingdom.

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Is 60:

21 Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever; they are the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, so that I may be glorified.

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BDAG κληρονομέω:

① to be an inheritor, inherit
② acquire, obtain, come into possession of
esp. of participation in Messianic salvation
receive, share in eternal life

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Matthew 19:

29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

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They will obtain and partake in eternal life on the new earth.

If Jesus is living in our hearts by faith, how is it that people look up and raise their hands in worship, as if God is somewhere above them? If people really believed that Jesus is living inside of them, as the Scripture clearly points out, then they might not feel the need to lift their hands and look up to the ceiling.

It has been said that people lifting their hands are like those who like to pray on street corners in order to receive the praises of others. Drawing attention to themselves to show everyone how devoted they are in worship is a great way of demonstrating how spiritual they are. Perhaps the positive response from others may be all the reward they are going to get. It is the same with praying in tongues out loud in a meeting to show everyone he or she is filled with the Spirit, liking the attention that he or she brings to self. Maybe the Scripture, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble". The parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Gatherer can apply here as well. The Pharisee prays loudly all his religious observances to show how dedicated he is to God, while the Tax Gatherer won't even lift his eyes off the floor and quietly prays "Lord, forgive me, a sinner". Jesus lets His listeners guess which one will leave justified by the Lord.

Did Adam know he was naked before he ate the forbidden fruit?

Before the fall, Ge 2:

25 The man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

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They were aware of their physical state of nakedness but felt no shame in their consciences.

After eating the fruit, Ge 3:

7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.

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Now, they had a new type of awareness: the nakedness bothered their consciences. So,

they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths

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to cover their nakedness. But this only covered their physical nakedness, not the shame they felt.

8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

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They hid because they felt shame. They felt shame because they had disobeyed God. Their consciences told them they were guilty. Hiding from God was how they dealt with their guilt. They didn't want God to see their attempt to cover their nakedness with fig leaves.

10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

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Why was Adam afraid? Because he was naked? Because he was half-naked?

Yes, even with the fig leaves, he still felt naked or half-naked. He felt shame and he felt guilt in his conscience. The feeling of guilt was a new sensation to Adam. He didn't know how to handle it.

This was the critical moment for Adam to confess his disobedience. At this point, he should have said, "I'm sorry. I have disobeyed you and ate the forbidden fruit."

Adam missed this critical moment. Instead of dealing with the deeper issue of disobedience, he only pointed out the superficial problem of being naked or half-naked.

11“Who told you that you were naked?” asked the LORD God. “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

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God pointed out the real issue to Adam. They were completely naked before, and it didn't bother them before.

Why did Adam think that he was still naked after sewing the fig leaves?

Because he was still half-naked and could not face the deeper issue of guilt of disobeying God and the shame of being half-naked. Guilt and shame were new feelings to him.

To partially solve this problem:

21 the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them

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i.e. animal skins.

The complete solution is found in Christ, who frees us from a guilty conscience. Both required the shedding of blood.

There was no shame in being naked before Adam and Eve ate. After the fall, they felt shame, guilt, and fear. They tried to cover their naked bodies. They couldn't face God in their conditions. They had lost their innocence.

Why was Adam afraid because he was naked?

Actually Adam was afraid because he felt guilt in his conscience. The nakedness pointed to his disobedience. If he had obeyed, the nakedness wouldn't have bothered his conscience. The nakedness symbolized his guilt. He wanted to hide from God. He wasn't just hiding his nakedness; he was hiding his guilt.

Ephesians 2:

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

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Is water baptism necessary for salvation?

Technically, no, because technically, baptism is a kind of ritualistic work. See also This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you.

Mark 16:

15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

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The great commission is the context.

16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,

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Is water baptism optional?

No, believers are commanded to be baptized. Belief and baptism go hand in hand together. Jesus commanded us to spread the good news and baptize people who believe. Looking at baptism as an outward sign of salvation accompanied by inward repentance and faith, then baptism does save.

but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

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Belief is the key to salvation, not baptism. It does not say:

1. He who believes and is not baptized will be condemned
2. He who is not baptized will be condemned.

When a person believes, he should be baptized as soon as possible. Belief and baptism are a tightly knit pair. If a person claims to believe but refuses to be baptized, then something is wrong with his understanding of salvation.

Does baptism save?

Baptism is an outward ritualistic work that does not save anyone. However, it is a sign of inward repentance and faith and confirms salvation. God often uses external (physical) appearance to symbolize internal (spiritual) reality.

See also

• born of the Spirit
• When should you get baptized?

To read and study the psalms is like coming upon a hidden treasure – the more you study it, the more beautiful and priceless the treasure becomes. The first 19 psalms covered many subjects. Many touched on how to deal with the problems and suffering of life. Psalm 19 was especially beautiful as it pictured the presence of God in His creation.

Now, another treasure is revealed in Psalm 20. This psalm is a song of encouragement, and the structure of the psalm gives some strong indications as to how the song was sung and by whom. The subtitle states that David wrote Psalm 20. David and his army composed this psalm in anticipation of their imminent military campaign against a foreign adversary. The psalm adopts a statement-response structure.

The first five verses were written with such words as: he, you, we, our, and etc. “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! And May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high!

May He send you help from the sanctuary and support you from Zion! And He remember all your meal offerings and find your burnt offering acceptable! May He grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your counsel!



We will sing for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.” The same was also used in verses 7-9. Such words indicate that probably the people of David’s army sang the first and last part of the psalm.

However, in verse 6, the psalm changed to the first person, with the word “I”. “Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.” The indication was that a high priest, or David himself, sang the response in verse 6.

The poetic picture surrounding the reciting of Psalm 20 is very impressive and beautiful. David and his men were going to war. The people sang for their king before the Lord. The king responded with his faith in the Lord, and the people again sang of their assurance that they had in the Lord.

​

Many may wonder what possible application such a psalm could have today; but across the centuries, this psalm of David reaches out and touches the lives of people today. Every person has to deal with the struggles of life – whether that person is a Christian or not. However, for a Christian, there is help that will bring victory over the conflicts of this life. Some of that help comes in the form of fellow Christians who can give spiritual support, encouragement, and comfort to those who are struggling – just like fellow soldiers will do in an army.

Then there will be times where a person will be the one in a position to give support and encouragement. Psalm 20 holds the key in understanding how this works. The first 5 verses contain words of comfort and hope that can be given to a brother or sister who is in need. Carefully read the first 5 verses and see how they can be used. All of the good feelings, love, and hope are reflected in those verses.

Verse 6 also applies today just like it did in the past. In the Psalm, David was talking to his people. In David’s time, it was a declaration of his trust in the Lord – “Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed….” As inspired prophecy, David also pointed to the future certainty of Jesus’ victory over death.

Jesus Christ is now the King, and He has plainly said that all authority now belongs to him. Verse 6 reflects the assurance that any of God’s children can have. Whatever will be faced and whatever happens, Christians know that Jesus Christ is King. He is the victor; and, in Him, one can find salvation and victory.


Finally, verse 7-9 are also very appropriate today. “Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God. They have bowed down and fallen, but we have risen and stood upright. Save, O Lord; may the King answer us in the day we call.”

The key to this passage is verse 7. “Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the Lord our God.” Instead of chariots and horses, a Christian can substitute words such as careers, money, power, family, security, happiness, or pleasure. Whatever the words, the principle is still the same. Others may trust in all sorts of things, but Christians trust in the name of the Lord our God. Through God the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, the battle is over and the victory has been won!

Ministers of the gospel
Take heed, just so you know,
You work for God, not for self.
He’s the one who makes things grow.

The church is not of yourselves.
She is not your creation.
You didn’t make her, God did.
She is His holy nation.

The plans for her are of God,
Not of the will of man.
Forget those marketing schemes.
Surrender your lives to HIS plan.

The church is not a building.
Not a denomination.
Not an incorporation.
Not a business of man.

The church is the body of Christ,
The people who trust in God.
Those who are filled with God’s Spirit,
Who for Jesus do plod.

Jesus is to be their Master,
The One on whom they rely.
He is the One to lead them,
To Him they then should cry.

So, lead them to follow Jesus,
To go wherever He leads.
Teach them to trust in Him fully,
And to let Him meet all their needs.

Teach them to forsake their sins,
And to follow in all of Christ’s ways.
Teach them to obey their Lord,
And to give Him all their sway.

An Original Work / April 25, 2021

When we believe in Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of our lives, we die with Christ to sin, and we are raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but now as slaves to God and to his righteousness. We also enter into a spiritual marriage covenant with Christ whereby we become his bride and he becomes our husband and so we are now to be faithful to him as our only Lord (Owner-Master). And we also become members of his body, the church, the people of God.

So all of us who are of genuine faith in Jesus Christ are now part of the body of Christ, his church, the one and only church of God, with Jesus Christ as our only head. And this is the universal body of Christ who all make up one church, but we live in different places and so we gather in different locations, too. And each one of us has a participatory part in this body which we are to do as gifted by God, as equipped by the Lord, and as assigned by God to varying areas of ministry and service within the body of Christ.

Now this has nothing to do with the institutional church which is a creation of man and which is incorporated as a business under the state. These “churches” are institutions and businesses of human making and origin which are being marketed to the world just like any other business. So they mostly are all diluting and altering the gospel and the character of God to make them more acceptable and agreeable to human flesh. And they alter the biblical character of “church” to draw in people from the world.

So just because it is called “church” does not mean that it is the body of Christ comprised of those who are of genuine faith in Jesus Christ with Christ as their only head operating as the biblical body of Christ in order to do the will and purpose of God for his church. So many of them today are these human based businesses being marketed to the world, and so they are mostly not following our Lord’s design for his church, but they are following marketing people’s design for these businesses called “church.”


Now, because so much of what is called “church” here in America are these institutions of human making which are being marketed to the world, they are being designed to attract the world to their gatherings. And many of the pastors of these “churches” are being trained in how to market their “churches” to the people of the world. Since most of these are not the biblical body of Christ operating as the biblical body of Christ, but they are following marketing books, then we have much of “I don’t need you.”

And that is because Jesus is not the head of these “churches,” and they are not following the leading of the Holy Spirit, but they are following after the spirits of the flesh, and are learning what to do to make people want to come to their gatherings. I know! I was once a church planter along with my husband and we went to some of their training. And we were told to use “needy” people to get up and running, but once we were up and running we should get rid of the “needy” people or they will drag us down. Wow!

And I had at least one pastor tell me that he was warned about people like me, i.e. “people with strong convictions.” And he was warned in his marketing training to get rid of people like me. At first he told me that I was to let him be God’s voice to me, in place of God, but then he invited me to go someplace else where I would be “a better fit.” I did not fit there or anywhere that “the church” was a business being marketed to the world, for they rejected my body part, for it would not draw in large crowds.

But this should not be! As Christians we are not to be trying to attract the world to our gatherings via marketing schemes and tricks and entertainment and the altering and diluting of the gospel message to make it more acceptable to the ungodly of the world. We are not supposed to be inviting the world into our fellowships. We are supposed to be going out into the world to reach them for Christ, and via genuine faith in the Lord then they become part of the body of Christ, his church.

But as the body we are all given different assignments from God which we are to fulfill. And these are biblical assignments, not fleshly assignments of men who want to attract the world to their gatherings. And we have all been given spiritual gifts which we are to utilize within the body of Christ to minister to one another. So we would do well to study the Scriptures and what they teach our gatherings should be like and how we are to operate as the body of Christ so that we aren’t telling those who are walking in fellowship with the Lord that we have no need of them. We do need them!

[Matt 5:13-16; Matt 28:18-20; Jn 4:31-38; Jn 13:13-17; Jn 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:14-18; Acts 26:18; Rom 10:14-15; Rom 12:1-8; Rom 15:14; 1 Co 12:1-31; 1 Co 14:1-5; Gal 6:1; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:1-16; Eph 5:11-27; Eph 6:10-20; Php 2:1-8; Col 1:9; Col 3:12-16; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 3:13; Heb 10:23-25; Jas 5:19-20; 1 Pet 2:9,21; 1 Jn 2:6]

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

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September 26, 2011

I was reading in 1 Corinthians 10 for my quiet time with the Lord. The children of Israel had experienced all of God’s blessings and provisions, as well as his guidance, leadership, and protection in bringing them out of slavery. And yet, God was not pleased with them, because they did not obey him. They wanted the blessings of God absent of obedience. So, their lives are examples for us to keep us from setting our hearts on evil, and from becoming followers of idols, in place of being followers of God.

So many times in our lives we allow so many other things to crowd out our times with God and our relationship with him. When we need to be still before our Lord so that we can hear him speak, we are busy doing other stuff, or we are fretting over this or over that, often involving other things which have become our idols.

So, he calls us to be still so that we can hear his voice speaking to our hearts, so that he can point these things out to us. Then, we need to recognize what things are taking his place in our hearts, so that we can forsake those, and then draw closer to him in fellowship with him, and in obedience to his Word.

When in The Stillness

An Original Work / September 26, 2011

When in the stillness of this moment,
Speak to me, Lord, I humbly pray.
Be my desire, set me on fire,
Teach me to love always.
Help me to walk in fellowship with You,
Listening to You; sit at Your feet.
Whisper Your words to me,
Oh, how gently, guiding me in Your truth.

While we are waiting for Your blessing,
Lord, in our hearts be King today.
Help us to live for you ev’ry moment,
List’ning to what You say.
May we not stray from your word within us,
Help us obey You, Lord, in all things,
Walking each moment, Lord, in Your presence,
Our offerings to You bring.

Help us to love You, Lord, our master;
Be an example of Your love,
Helping the hurting, lift up the fallen,
Showing them Your great love.
Teach them to love You, follow You always,
Bearing their cross and turning from sin;
Walking in daily fellowship with You,
Making You Lord and King.

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The context here is that of the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. With most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Why? Because they were idolaters and revelers and drunkards and those who indulged in sexual immorality and who put Christ to the test and who grumbled against God and against Moses. They did not listen to God. They did not heed his instructions and his warnings. But they lived however they wanted to live regardless of our Lord’s commands.

And then what does this tell us? These things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. And they were written down for our instruction. We are not to do the things that they did and thus suffer the same result, which is that they did not get to enter into God’s eternal rest. We will not inherit eternal life. And they did not get to go to the Promised Land because of their sinfulness and their unwillingness to repent of their sins and to obey the Lord and to submit to his Lordship over their lives.

So, if we don’t want to end up the same way that they did, we are to flee from idolatry. And idolatry is the worship of anyone or anything that is not God. It is to give our undying loyalties and devotion to any person or entity or organization or government or possessions, or to any sinful practices, or to being entertained, and regardless of what the Scriptures teach. An idol is anything which pulls us away from the Lord and/or that replaces him in our hearts and minds and devotion, to where he gets pushed aside.

And then we have a reference to the taking of communion, which Jesus instructed his followers to do after his death as a remembrance of what he did for us in dying on that cross so that we can now die with him to sin and live with him in obedience to his commands in holy living, because he was resurrected from the dead. But this was not to be a mere formality or just a religious ritual, for Jesus’ blood was shed for us on that cross to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our slavery to sin so we now honor him.

So this is a time when we not only remember what Jesus did for us on that cross, but when we repent of any known sin and when we recommit our lives to the Lord to dying daily to sin and to walking in obedience to his commands. For, again, this is not a religious ritual we go through. What Jesus did for us needs to be a reality in our every day lives or perhaps we don’t really know him, in truth, and heaven is not our eternal destiny. For many profess his name but they are still walking in sin.

Now if we are idolatrous, and our hearts and minds and passions and desires are being given over to the flesh and to sinful practices and to following and obeying what is not God, in place of God, then it is the devil we are serving and not God. And the Bible teaches that we don’t know God, we are not born of God, we are not in fellowship with God, and we will not have eternal life with God unless we repent and we turn and we follow Jesus in walks of obedience and in holy living and no longer in deliberate and habitual sin.

So, the message here for us is that we cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. We cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. We are either on the side of God or we are on the side of Satan. We are either walking according to the flesh or according to the Spirit. For we can’t be in fellowship with God if sin is our practice. And we can’t even know God if we do not obey his commandments (New Covenant), in practice. Obey idols and not God? You will not have eternity with God.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2]

Teach Them

An Original Work / May 24, 2012
Based off various scriptures

Open up the blinded eyes of
Those who walk in sin’s darkness.
Turn them to the light of Christ
And to His righteousness.
Turn them from the pow’r of Satan.
Turn them to the peace of Christ,
So they may receive forgiveness
And eternal life.

Teach them to put off their old selves
And their former way of life,
And to put on their new self,
Reborn to be like Christ;
To not copy worldly customs;
Be transformed in life and mind;
Obey freely His word in them,
Pleasing unto God.

Teach them how to love their neighbors
Truly as they love themselves;
Be a witness; share the gospel;
Satan’s lies dispel;
Comfort all who mourn in sadness;
Share Christ’s love and joy today.
Do this through your life and witness
For your Lord always.

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To reflect upon the Psalm 23 meaning is like trying to do a critical review of the Sermon on the Mount! Many writers have written extensively about this beautiful work, requiring caution to avoid sounding trite or shallow. For millions of people, this psalm of David has been, and will be, the pearl of the Psalms.

One of the amazing things about Psalm 23 is that it only contains six verses. Yet, the effect of those six short verses has been felt throughout the world. The 23rd Psalm has brought rest to weary souls for many centuries, and it has presented a message of hope that no writings of man have been able to match.

Psalm 23 Meaning​

Jesus Christ has been called the Good Shepherd. He used the analogy Himself in several of His parables. In John 10:11 Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Jesus also said in John 10:14, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” For Christians, Jesus Christ is the good shepherd. He knows those who are joined to Him, because there is a relationship that exists. That relationship is based upon love. The love of God opened the way of salvation for all people.




Psalm 23 points to Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd, and it also describes the work He does for His disciples. The shepherd protects and nurtures His flock. That is what happens to those who are joined to Jesus Christ through faith, repentance, confession, and baptism. Of course, foremost of those is love. The emphasis in the Old Testament scriptures was on obedience and judgment. The New Testament scriptures also contain the principles of obedience and judgment; but with those are joined the great love of God through Jesus Christ, and the blessings that those in Christ can enjoy.

Paul wrote that Christians receive every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Those that are outside Christ Jesus are lost. Nothing is more helpless than a sheep with no shepherd or protection. Lost sheep are easy prey for wolves and other animals. They can become easily trapped, and they cannot care for themselves. Sheep without a shepherd will perish, and people without Jesus Christ will likewise perish.

But for those in Christ, there is the Good Shepherd. Because of Him, there is the promise of rest, nourishment, and guidance. When a Christian faces the dangers of life, he, or she, can say, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

In verse 4, the “valley of the shadow of death” does not directly refer to the time of physical death. Verse 4 has a more direct bearing upon life today. The “valley of the shadow of death”, or “The darkest valley” is the time when the experiences of this life result in intense sorrow, distress, and pain. The anguish of the soul can make the heart break under the load.

The imagery is so vivid! A person is walking along a path that leads into a dark and dangerous place. In the dark, you can’t see an enemy approaching. In the shadow, you can’t know if there is an ambush prepared just around the next turn. What a scary place for a person who is alone. But in Christ, a person is not alone! Each step of the way, a Child of God is protected from evil. When problems loom up, when there seems to be no solution, when we tremble on the edge of despair, we need to remember these words! We are never alone! Trust in the Lord!

The inspired Word of God always states the truth that there will be trials in life. But verse 5 emphasizes again that God will take care of His people – His children. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.”

Children look to their parents to meet their physical needs. Loving parents will try to provide shelter, food, and safety for their children. In the same way, God will, not just try, but will, provide for His children. Sometimes physically, but always spiritually, the Lord will give us comfort, nourishment, and protection from our enemies.

The last verse of this psalm reveals its crowning jewel: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” This powerful declaration encapsulates both present assistance and hope for eternity—a profound combination that fulfills our deepest needs. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift – Jesus Christ our Lord!

Hello to all Christian Brethren. Myself Rajkumar from SRIKAKULAM CHURCH OF CHRIST, AP, INDIA.

Greetings to you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Wondering if anyone can point me to specific documents amongst the writings of the early Church fathers that express the belief that the bread and the wine are literally the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Thank you.

Not directly. I don't reckon ancient authors of scripture had any knowledge of DNA, nor did they understand how manipulation could occur.
However before the great flood they did observe the intermarriage of human females and those Jude referred to......

Jude 6-7 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh.

Moses mentioned it.

Gen 6:2–4 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

Humanity was under attack. The goal was to introduce foreign DNA into the gene pool thus transforming humanity into a trans human hybrid.

The strangest thing about this period event is that Jesus says it is going to happen again.

Luke 17:26 'And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.'

Transhumanism has already made a come back. It will not be done through interbreeding , it will be done through gene splicing, and implants. We will be linked through computer chips to global networks that will make us super humans. Satan's desire is to so defile humanity that they cease to be human.


In Revelation 18:23 says 'For by thy sorceries were all nations deceived'

When we think sorcery we tend to think in terms of magic, and witches. However, in the Strongs Concordance sorcery is G5331 Pharmakeia: Medication, magic, sorcery, witchcraft. Where we get the word Pharmacy.

Now when in present time has Satan been able to fool THE WORLD with Medication/Pharmacy??

The bible also mentions in........

Daniel 2:43
And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

Are we not at the point where iron and metallic by products are being introduced and inserted in our bodies/clay?

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I keep my eyes fixed on you
No matter what I go through
Even on the darkest day
I trust you

Whatever may come my way
I make a choice to give you praise
Even on the hardest day
I trust you

I trust you
Cause I love you
I trust you
Cause I love you

CHORUS
I live to worship you Lord
With all that I am
I live to sing of your love
With all that I can
There’s no place I’d rather be
Than your presence Lord
Where I come alive
I come alive

V2
I’m walking with you today
It doesn’t matter what they say
My heart is full of faith
I trust you

Yeah I trust you
Cause I love you
I trust you
Cause I love you

BRIDGE
This is the moment
Everything changes
Chains are now broken
By the power of Jesus name

​

With President Joe Biden bowing out of the 2024 presidential race following intense pressure from within his own party, Vice President Kamala Harris is the likely Democratic nominee to face former president Donald Trump in November’s general election.

Harris was raised by a Christian father and a Hindu mother and attended both Hindu and Christian services as a child. As an adult, Harris was a member of a Black Baptist church. Her husband, Douglas Emhoff, is Jewish and attended a Reform Synagogue growing up.

Throughout her career — as vice president, senator, and attorney general of California — Harris has taken a variety of stances that could pose problems for Catholic voters, a key voting bloc.

Harris has consistently promoted abortion, scrutinized Catholic judicial nominees, and opposed pro-life pregnancy centers and activists. She has also embraced gender ideology as well as transgender and contraception mandates that have, at times, jeopardized religious freedom.

Leading Biden administration’s pro-abortion efforts​

Continued below.

Brothers and sisters in Christ....

Anyone here have any experiences doing somatic therapy? E.g. "Waking the Tiger" by Peter Levine for example.

And/or experiences doing somatic experiencing, with a focus on perceptions of energy in the body?

I have been seeing a doctor who kind of funneled me into this type of therapy. We have been doing it consistently for 6 months, a combination of talk therapy and what's going on in my body.

Almost like - my physical health problems come from an energetic block, and helping the energy move by paying attention to the stuck energy is what brings health.

What's getting my attention is that my life has literally been a non-stop assault for the last few months and it feels very spiritual in origin. If God is testing me, that's OK, though I don't understand. I also know that He chastens whom He loves.

I believe we have energy that is created by God, and that we have authority over it in Christ, to the extent our Father has given us. However, something about this therapy feels wrong spiritually. Sometimes there is a reference to chakras. I don't see exactly why this would contradict God, but something feels off.

I'm hoping to hear from others who have had lived experiences with this type of work, or have witnessed other Christians who have tried something like this.

Thank you for reading.

A sea of Palestinian flags dominated the protests.
Chants of “No justice, no peace,” “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be freed,” and “Intifada” were shouted repeatedly.
“I never imagined seeing the flag of a terror group holding eight Americans hostage for 292 days waved in the streets of our nation’s Capitol,” Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) said on X. “Over a million Americans have given their lives to protect that right — including my own father.”

As I've said, Israel is first and then the United States. Why are there not more troops there to defend the Capitol?

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Cut it up!
cut cut it, cut, cut, cut, cut it, cut it
cut, cut it, cut it up one time!
cut it up one time!
Hu, Heaven, hu, hu, huh heaven
Huh, Heavenbound!
Heavenbound,
don't you know I'm heavenbound?
Heavenbound,
reaching for that higher ground.
Heavenbound,
don't you know I'm heavenbound?
Heavenbound,
reaching for that higher ground.
Cold rappin' for the king with a sting in my voice
Not condemnin' men and women, but relayin' a choice.
Higher ground is the sound that I'm talking of.
Opportunity knocks through a different love.
Not love like we know it, like ya love your girl.
It's a love from above, not of this world.
Kinda profound, a trump will sound;
and all God's children are heavenbound.
Heavenbound,
don't you know I'm heavenbound?
Heavenbound,
reaching for that higher ground.
Heavenbound,
don't you know I'm heavenbound?
Heavenbound,
reaching for that higher ground.
Jump on the job, and live for him.
Do you lie satisfied in a state of sin
Listen while I christen a serious sound.
Rap cold revin' cause I'm heavenbound.
Serious lyrics don't disregard
No treason, gotta reason that I rap so hard.
Don't look down or stand around
But keep on reachin' for higher ground
Heavenbound,
don't you know I'm heavenbound?
Heavenbound,
reaching for that higher ground.
Heavenbound,
don't you know I'm heavenbound?
Heavenbound,
reaching for that higher ground.
Call us the heavenbound crew and you can be, too.
If ya only knew what he did for you.
Christ died, don'tcha see, to set us free.
Look in the word, unblurred, you can find the key.
Gotta choice to be voiced, reveive him or not.
Like right or left, cold on the spot.
It seems kinda easy when ya break it down.
As for me and my boys, we're heavenbound.
If you want eternal life,
choose my friend, he's Jesus Christ.
Only he can set you free
from your sin and misery.
Ooh, God's promised us a home in glory.
Trust in him,
a trump will sound,
and all God's children are hea-hea-heavenbound.
Don't look down, stand around
keep on reachin' for higher ground.
Kinda profound, a trump will sound,
and all God's children are heavenbound!
Don't you know, don't, don't you know
I'm heavenbound, that I'm heavenbound?
Can't ya see, can't, can't ya see
that I'm heavenbound, I'm heavenbound?
HEAVENBOUND!!!

As those who saw my praise that after eleven years of retail and three at my current place of employment, I was finally getting the opportunity for Front End Advancement training. Well I took my first of four tests tonight, passed with a 90%!

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I found myself looking into the mirror
Knew I wasn't who I wanted to be
I was living like the way that I wanted
But my eyes reminded me, I'm not free
Believed a lie so everything that I know
Says I got to go, tired of going solo
But I'm never gonna go there again
This is what it is
This is who I am
This is where I finally take my stand
I didn't wanna fall
But I don't have to crawl
I met the One with two scarred hands
Giving Him the best of everything that's left of
The life inside this man
I've been born again (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
I see you walking like you're living in fear
Having trouble even looking at me
Wishin' they would give you more than words
Sick of people telling how it should be (how it should be)
What's your download, where'd you get your info?
You saw that I'm show, now you're in the in load
Gonna tell you what I believe, oh
This is what it is
This is who I am
This is where I finally take my stand
I didn't wanna fall
But I don't have to crawl
I met the One with two scarred hands
Giving Him the best of everything that's left of
The life inside this man
I've been born again (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
We are the ones they call by name
(I'm never gonna look back)
Let go, let go the guilt, the shame
(Said, "I'm never gonna look back")
This is who I am
This is what it is
This is who I am
This is where I finally take my stand
I didn't wanna fall
But I don't have to crawl
I met the One with two scarred hands
Giving Him the best of everything that's left of
The life inside this man
I've been born again
This is what it is
This is who I am (am)
I didn't wanna fall
But I don't have to crawl (crawl)
I met the One with two scarred hands
Giving Him the best of everything that's left of
The life inside this man
I've been born again
I've been born again
(Never gonna look back)

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This is probably one of the BEST and MOST famous songs by the Newsboys!!!! I love this song!!!! *chair-dances*


Let love explode and bring the dead to life
A love so bold to see a revolution somehow
Let love explode and bring the dead to life
A love so bold to bring a revolution somehow
Now I'm lost in Your freedom
In this world I'll overcome
My God's not dead, He's surely alive
He's living on the inside, roaring like a lion
God's not dead, He's surely alive
He's living on the inside, roaring like a lion
He's roaring, He's roaring
He's roaring like a lion
Let hope arise and make the darkness hide
My faith is dead, I need a resurrection somehow
Now I'm lost in Your freedom
In this world I'll overcome
My God's not dead, He's surely alive
He's living on the inside, roaring like a lion
God's not dead, He's surely alive
He's living on the inside, roaring like a lion
He's roaring, He's roaring
He's roaring like a lion
He's roaring, He's roaring
Let heaven roar and fire fall
Come shake the ground
With the sound of revival
Let heaven roar and fire fall
Come shake the ground
With the sound of revival
Let heaven roar (let heaven roar) and fire fall
Come shake the ground
With the sound of revival
My God's not dead, He's surely alive
He's living on the inside, roaring like a lion
God's not dead, He's surely alive
He's living on the inside, roaring like a lion
God's not dead, He's surely alive
He's living on the inside, roaring like a lion
God's not dead, He's surely alive
He's living on the inside, roaring like a lion
He's roaring, He's roaring
He's roaring like a lion
He's roaring, He's roaring
He's roaring like a lion
He's roaring like a lion

I believe in human rights - as we are made in the image of God - and our primary ethic is to love God with all our heart and soul and might and strength, and love our neighbour as ourselves.

But I think human rights are best protected by a minimalist set of rights that guarantees the democratic process continues. Then nimble democratic processes in parliament can respond better than a dusty old parchment interpreted by equally dusty old judges. Let me explain.

1. A Bill of Rights can be waffly words stuck in an ivory tower - and is not specific or real!
2. A Bill of Rights will make unelected Judges the interpreters of our rights. The risk is that a dusty old parchment is interpreted to mean the wrong things in specific instances. Basically - every extra “Right” written into a Bill of Rights could potentially apply to unanticipated areas of social policy. It could slow down a democratic response to a challenge or crisis in specific policies in the real world.
3. Australians have just enough rights in the Constitution to guarantee democracy – and trust democratic debate to handle the rest.
4. A Bill of Rights will encode the silly prejudices and blind spots of our generation forever!
5. A Bill of Rights enshrines petty selfishness over the rights of the community, sometimes at a vastly disproportionate cost to the community and very little reward for the individual.
6. A Bill of Rights will politicize the judiciary

For example, a “right to privacy” is a concept that Australian’s generally take for granted. Life here is pretty much like life in the USA - but is actually better in certain instances. A “right to privacy” sounds fine - until it protects drunks on our roads and puts us vastly more danger of having our families wiped out by a drunk driver! Now imagine society has a huge debate over whether or not police should have the right to RBT - Random Breath Testing. The idea is that without any indication of bad driving or due concerns, police can set up random testing stations, wave drivers over, ask them to count to ten across an alcohol sensor - and test you! At random. A large number of people might agree - and campaign for it. But they’re prevented by “THE PARCHMENT” that says it is forbidden. This thing was written hundreds of years before the motor car was even invented!

Now imagine a majority REALLY want RBT. The Judges are helpless - “THE PARCHMENT” is clear. But Big Alcohol are funding all the political parties to favour them and get involved in the stacking of the Supreme Court. By its very nature, constitutional reform is slow and tardy. Society cannot be prevented from the harm that is drink driving. Ironically, the “Right to Privacy” ends up infringing on my most basic right of all - my “Right to Life.”

But in Australia we do not have a “Bill of Rights” in the Federal government. We have a few basic rights in our Constitution - and that’s the way I like it! We have the right to vote (Section 41), protection against acquisition of property on unjust terms (Section 51 (xxxi)), the right to a trial by jury (Section 80), freedom of religion (Section 116) and prohibition of discrimination on the basis of State of residency (Section 117).

That’s it. Pretty minimalist hey?

What it means is that questions of privacy can be sorted through the democratic arguments of the day. The government can hold an enquiry - and the public submit thoughts and arguments from their different disciplines. The media gets involved. And we vote.

Australia decided decades ago that RBT was vastly better than protecting drunk drivers. In practice, deaths to DUI are now 8 TIMES lower. Being pulled over for RBT less than once a year is worth being 8 times safer from drunk drivers killing me and my family.

A parliament acting in accordance with the wishes of the people and the latest social policy and best science can! Legislation is just profoundly better and more nimble to meet the needs of the day compared to changing a Bill of Rights!

EG: Australia had an awful mass shooting at Port Arthur. The government passed tough gun control laws straight away! Huge categories of firearms were suddenly illegal. They ran an amnesty and firearm buyback scheme to encourage owners to hand in now illegal firearms. We have not had a mass shooting of that scale since. Try doing that in America!

Conditions and technologies change. Back when America's founding fathers talked about a well organised militia having the right to firearms they were talking about muskets in a mostly walking transport system, not teenagers with automatic rifles able to flee a scene in a 4 wheel drive!

For more on this - here's my blog page.
Here's the Australian ABC podcast - "Don't leave us with the bill."