Disappoint:

to make somebody feel sad because something that they hope for or expect to happen does not happen or is not as good as they hoped.

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There are two aspects to disappointment: sadness and expectation.

Ep 4:

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

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The Spirit can feel grief (anthropomorphically).

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

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God wants us to be kind. However, he knows our weaknesses and that we will fail at times.

Does God expect us to be kind?

Expect:

to think or believe that something will happen or that somebody will do something.

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God knew everything. He had no false expectations of men.

Can we disappoint God?

No, because God knew everything. He is the ultimate realist. He has no false expectations.

Woo, finally got to making this devotional. Galatians 5:22-23 are one of my favorite Bible verses. Sometimes, it can be hard to use the Fruits of the Spirit, but I pray about gaining more patience and self-control.

Matthew 7:

21 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

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I find myself occasionally calling out "Lord, Lord" in some deeply distressful situations. Is it bad to say "Lord, Lord" per se?

The phrase "Lord, Lord" itself is not inherently bad or wrong to say. You can do the will of the Father and occasionally say "Lord, Lord" and enter the kingdom of heaven. The doubling of the same word is an ancient way of making emphasis.

Jesus' point is this: Don't keep calling me "Lord," and don't obey my commandments. Some Christians use the single word "Lord" like a comma in their conversations. They should take heed and not neglect the will of the Father. Don't just mouth the word "Lord" without meaning it. Don't just pay lip service to the Lord.

Peace in Christ.

The righteous shall dwell in the “land”…that is, the earth…and the perfect/complete shall remain in it. They will have an age-lasting life (aka “eternal life”). They shall not be mortally removed from this earth. They will not perish but shall have an age-lasting life.

Pro 2:21-22
(21) For the upright shall dwell in the land (earth), and the perfect shall remain in it.

The wicked though shall perish. They shall be cut off from the earth… and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it. They do not have an age-lasting life and will perish mortally from this earth.

(22) But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

He that does the will of God abides “forever”….that is, into the age (throughout this present evil age). We are not to be removed from this earth like those who are conformed to this world.

1Jn 2:16-17
(16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
(17) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever (into the age).

What we have witnessed so far in the churches of men have been the vessels of His wrath as no mortal flesh has been saved. They have all mortally perished without inheriting “eternal life”…that is, an age-lasting life in their mortal bodies.

They are and were the “flock of the slaughter”….the “many” who went down the broad way to their destruction….the “generation of His wrath” (Jeremiah 7:29)….the house of Esau.

They were the “vessels of wrath” that were fitted to destruction.

Rom 9:21-24 KJV
(21) Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
(22) What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

But now He makes known the riches of His glory on the vessels of His mercy….on the “few” who find life (find age-lasting life)…on the “little flock”….on the house of Jacob (both Jews and gentiles) …the “remnant” ...those who are left here abiding in this earth.

(23) And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
(24) Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

The many before us went after “other gods”….other judges. They have made their “gods” to serve: their church handwritings of ordinances (church constitutions, bylaws, statutes, etc) which they use to self-govern and self-judge themselves just like the “gods” of the people which are around us.

The outside nations have their “gods”…their handwritings of ordinances that form their governments…their “constitutions” and laws that they use to govern and judge themselves with as they do not serve God in His kingdom/government...whose writings are within our hearts and minds.

Deu 6:14-15 KJV
(14) Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;

Our LORD our God…our Judge…is a jealous God/Judge. What we have witnessed is His wrath upon the many who “go to church” and submit themselves to “other gods”….to the church handwritings of ordinances which are “images” … “idols”. They are being destroyed mortally off the face of the earth as our God (our Judge) is a consuming fire. They are saved but as through the fire of His wrath which consumes them mortally from off this earth. The "first" shall be last in the resurrection...as the dead (those who mortally perished) shall be resurrected AT the last day of this age (at the "last trump"). They will miss out on the reigning with Jesus upon this earth.

(15) (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.

We are not to make to ourselves any “graven image”….any graven-by-the-pen of the church scribes handwritings of ordinances/dogmas. We are not to bow down to them nor serve them. Why go and willingly and humbly submit yourselves to a “church” where they are serving their images?

Exo 20:3-6 KJV
(3) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
(4) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

The MANY are being mortally destroyed for such things which are being passed down from the church fathers to their future generations.

(5) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

But the FEW (the many thousands)….the vessels of His mercy…are shown mercy. They love God and KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS….and do not bow down and serve the doctrines and commandments of men contained in their handwritings of ordinances.

(6) And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

The FEW….the vessels of mercy…the house of Jacob…shall be shown mercy. He will set us in our own “land”. We shall rule in/with Christ over the people of this earth.

Isa 14:1-2 KJV
(1) For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.
(2) And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.

Jesus must put down all rule and all authority and power. And we are to rule with Him in this. The governments of the nations of this world will be put down as the global government of God is coming. They will rage.

1Co 15:24-25 KJV
(24) Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
(25) For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

The nations will rage at Him....but He that sits in the heavens shall laugh at them and will have them in derision.

Psa 2:1-6
(1) Why do the nations rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
(2) The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
(3) Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
(4) He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
(5) Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
(6) Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

Jesus will give us His power (which He received of the Father) over the nations of this world.

Rev 2:26-29 KJV
(26) And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
(27) And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
(28) And I will give him the morning star.
(29) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches

Those who are left remaining here on this earth….the “remnant” of Jacob….shall be as a lion among the nations of this world…as a lion among the “beasts” of the forest….as a young lion among the flocks of sheep…who, if he goes through, both treads down and tears in pieces and none can deliver.

Mic 5:8 KJV
(8) And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

Whoever blesses you shall be blessed and whoever curses you shall be cursed.

Num 24:9 KJV
(9) He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

He will give us who overcome the “morning star”.

Num 24:17-19 KJV
(17) I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
(18) And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.
(19) Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.

Who are you going to trust - the Federal Reserve Board or Donald Trump's "instinct"?

"I feel the president should have at least (a) say in there," the former president told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. "I think that in my case, I made a lot of money, I was very successful, and I think I have a better instinct than in many cases, people that would be on the Federal Reserve or the chairman."

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-president-should-have-say-fed-decisions-2024-08-08/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_campaign=Daily-Briefing&utm_term=080924&user_email=bd8837a5345dc6cbc3787e7804ee34e28984e0d06cd3f36b82b5b743d0d6b4e2&lctg=62347fe4ea3e6439186f0ea6

Just thought we should check the medal table. Paris 2024 Olympics: what you missed overnight in Australia on day 13 of the Games

1. 1 United States	30	38	35	103
   2 China	29	25	19	73
   3 Australia	18	14	13	45
   4 France	14	19	21	54
   5 Great Britain	13	17	21	51

Now I don't want to boast. Well...yes I do. Are we punching above our weight or what!

Howdy. For you folks that know my history, this short vid reveals exactly how Jesus healed my mind and spirit (keyword: repentence). We are all in the same battle, and its my prayer that for any of you who are similarly, if not as profoundly, struggling, that you will allow Billy Graham to reveal the war for what it really is, and allow Jesus to set us all free! God bless us all and tap here please:

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p.s. For any who need encouragement in your path to mental and spiritual wellness, from a guy who can definitely relate (no, you are not the only one), please pm or email me and I'll be all ears to you and walk with you, friend! Believe it or not, your unique brain is actually a GIFT. God bless us all!

Joseph
joegunlock@gmail.com

Howdy. For you folks that know my history, this short vid reveals exactly how Jesus healed my mind and spirit (keyword: repentence). We are all in the same battle, and its my prayer that for any of you who are similarly, if not as profoundly, struggling, that you will allow Billy Graham to reveal the war for what it really is, and allow Jesus to set us all free! God bless us all and tap here please:

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p.s. For any who need encouragement in your path to mental and spiritual wellness, from a guy who can definitely relate (no, you are not the only one), please pm or email me and I'll be all ears to you and walk with you, friend! Believe it or not, your unique brain is actually a GIFT. God bless us all!

Joseph
joegunlock@gmail.com

Why are you angry?
Why does your heart burn?
Why disappointed
With how life does turn?

Who has appointed you,
Put you in charge?
Why are you angry
With what is at large?

Who made you God
To determine all things?
You’re just a human,
Created being.

God is Creator,
The One Who’s in charge,
He is the One who
Determines “at large.”

Put your trust in Him,
Submit to His will,
Obey Him freely,
Live not for a thrill.

Turn from your sins and
Give your life to God.
Love Him, in truth, and
Not in a façade.

Walk with Him daily,
In His righteousness.
Serve Him with your life
And you will be blessed.

An Original Work / April 23, 2024

The Lord Jesus gives me poems to write, and I don't always know what they mean immediately. So I looked up the term "at large" to see what it meant, and it means "freedom" or "at liberty." And as I contemplated how that fits with the other words in this poem, which to me sounded a bit like some of God's conversations with Job (in the Bible in the book of Job), I realized that this poem is about someone questioning God's definition of what it means to be "free in Christ." For God defines "free in Christ" as freedom from slavery to sin and empowerment of the Spirit to walk now in holiness and in righteousness and in walks of obedience to our Lord and to his commands.

But many people today are defining "free in Christ" solely as freedom from the punishment of sin and a guarantee of heaven when they die, regardless of how they live. And so some of them get angry when they hear that we are not just free from the punishment of sin, but we must live as those who are set free from our slavery to sin in walks of holiness and righteousness and in obedience to our Lord if we want God-gifted salvation from sin and eternal life with God. For the Scriptures teach that if sin is what we practice, and not obedience to God, we will not inherit eternal life 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]

I'm just trying to understand this so I can better explain my position to my protestant libertarian friend who thinks things like drug use, abortion, and sodomy are morally wrong but must legally be allowed for people to be truly free. He's a hardcore conservative yet I don't see that position to be much different than Biden's who says he personally opposes abortion but thinks it needs to be legal.

I don't know how to best explain what I understand as the Catholic position that we have a duty as long as we're on this earth to save souls and that means using temporal apparatuses to protect everyone, whether they're part of the Church or not, from the effects of these objectively evil things.

Is there a paragraph in the catechism that lays it out? An encyclical? Is there even a term for this position?

The testimonies of the Lord are now the Old Testament and the New Testament in the Bible (Genesis to Revelation). For a good part of the Old Testament, God’s people were under the Old Covenant, including in the Gospels in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). But Jesus Christ taught the New Covenant when he lived on the earth during that time. And beginning with Jesus’ death and resurrection, God’s people (all who believe in Jesus Christ with genuine faith) are under the New Covenant.

Now "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV). But not all Scripture is to be specifically applied to everyone who professes faith in Jesus Christ. We need to read the Old Testament in light of the New Testament, and we need to read all the Scriptures in their context to see who they are for and how they are to be applied to our lives today.

And even under the New Covenant we have to obey the commandments of our Lord that he has for us now to obey, and which are spelled out for us all throughout the New Testament, which is filled with “put off that, put on this,” and “don’t do that, but do this,” and “You used to do that, but now do this.” For we learn in the New Testament, under the New Covenant, that faith in Jesus Christ involves us dying with Christ to sin, not just once, but daily, and us walking in obedience to his commands in holy living, by God’s grace.

Now the Scriptures (Old and New Testaments) give light to us who listen to them and who take God and his word to heart to obey them. They teach us about God – Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit – and of his/their divine character and will for our lives. And they teach us the ways of the Lord – of righteousness, godliness, moral purity, uprightness, honesty, faithfulness, integrity, and obedience. And they instruct us in death to sin and in living to God and to his righteousness in obedience to his commands.

And we are to view the teachings of God to us as something wonderful, and as something to be desired above all else. And we should long for the commandments of the Lord and not try to find “wiggle room” around having to obey them. They are not something to be avoided, but embraced and followed. And we should desire strongly to be taught by the Lord in his ways and for him to grant us the strength and wisdom to follow him in obedience, and to fulfill his plan and his purpose for our lives – all in his power.

Now, when it comes to asking the Lord to keep steady our steps and to let no iniquity get dominion over us, this involves our full cooperation with God and our full participation with him in his work of grace in our lives. We cannot expect God to treat us like marionettes with him pulling all the strings and with us having no choice regarding what direction we go. The Scriptures are quite clear on this subject that we must say “No” to sin, and we must say “Yes” to God by our choices that we make every day.

So, if we choose to go the wrong direction, and if we choose to make our steps unsteady and to let iniquity (sin) get dominion over our lives, that is not God’s fault! It is our own fault! For he gives us everything we need to make the right choices and to live godly and holy lives in obedience to his commands. And if we give in to (yield to) the oppression of other people, and so we let their treatment of us define who we are and what choices we make, that is also not God’s fault. We alone are to blame if we do wrong.

So, not only must we earnestly and sincerely seek out the Lord and his commandments, and his will and purpose for our lives, but we must yield control of our lives over to the Lord, and we must submit to his will and purposes, and we must cooperate with his work of grace instead of resisting him, and instead of choosing to go our own way. And then we should be among those who truly shed streams of tears because people do not keep the law of the Lord, rather than us rejoicing with what is evil.

[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]

As the Deer

By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

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A classic by Chris Tomlin, from 20 years ago, and from my childhood.

The song reminds me of how vast God's creation is, and how we can not describe God fully, though He came down as man in the form of Jesus Christ to die for our sins. The skies are His tabernacle.

Milky Way Concept Art



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Indescribable (Lyrics, 2004):
From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creations revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming
Indescribable, uncontainable
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name
You are amazing, God
All powerful, untameable
Awestruck, we fall to our knees
As we humbly proclaim
You are amazing, God
Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go?
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light?
Yet, conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom
Indescribable, uncontainable
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name
You are amazing, God
All powerful, untameable
Awestruck, we fall to our knees
As we humbly proclaim
You are amazing, God
You are amazing, God
Indescribable, uncontainable
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name
You are amazing, God
All powerful, untameable
Awestruck, we fall to our knees
As we humbly proclaim
You are amazing, God
Indescribable, uncontainable
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name
You are amazing, God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart
And You love me the same
You are amazing, God
You are amazing, God

Good Works

We are not saved from our sins because of our own fleshly good works, but our salvation from sin and our walks of faith in Jesus Christ are not absent of good works. For Jesus Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (see Titus 2:11-14). And we are God’s “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (see Ephesians 2:8-10).

See: [John 15:1-11; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Galatians 5:6; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-14; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12; 2 Timothy 2:21; Titus 2:11-14; Titus 3:8; James 2:17]

And Jesus said that if anyone would come after him that he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to (save) our old lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if for Jesus’ sake we deny self, die daily to sin (lose our lives), and follow him in obedience to his commands in holy living, then we have the hope of eternal life with God. For if we are ashamed of Christ and of his words in this life, he will be ashamed of us when he returns (Luke 9:23-26).

For when we believe in Jesus Christ with God-gifted and God-persuaded faith in him, we are crucified with him in death to sin, and we are raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to be enslaved to sin but to God and to his righteousness. So we are not to let sin continue to reign in our mortal bodies, to make us obey its passions. For if sin is what we obey, it leads to death, but if obedience to God is what we obey, it leads to righteousness and sanctification, and its end is eternal life (Romans 6:1-23).

So don’t let people fool you into believing that no works are required of you by God under the New Covenant. They are just the works that God prepared in advance that we should do (walk in them) as those who have believed in him to be Lord and Savior of our lives. This is us living and walking in the salvation already provided, not us working to try to earn our salvation. And we do so in the power of God and under the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit living within us, and not in our own human flesh and strength.

Foolish Controversies

What is a “foolish controversy”? Well, first of all, what is “foolish”? It is anything that is unwise, thoughtless, stupid, reckless, and senseless. And a fool is someone who refuses to listen to wisdom or learn from discipline. A fool is also someone who has rebelled against God and against the teachings of Christ and of his NT apostles. Fools are those who choose to say “No” to God and “Yes” to their sins repeatedly and deliberately. But we don’t have to be fools in order to sometimes do things which are foolish (unwise).

And a controversy is a disagreement, dispute, contention or argument. Now is it wrong to have disagreements? No! Is it wrong to contend for the truth and against the lies? No! Jesus did. Paul did. Peter and John did. For we are not to just lay down and accept the lies of the enemy and to not refute them. We are to expose the fruitless deeds of darkness and to contend for the faith and for the gospel of our salvation. So the wrongness is not in disagreeing with others and with stating the truth as opposed to the lies.

But we need to exercise much discernment and wisdom in knowing how to choose our battles and what is worth fighting for and what is not, and when. And we must realize that there will be people out there, just like Jesus experienced with the Jews, whose goal it is to pick fights and to stir up controversy and to bait us into getting into senseless arguments with them which go nowhere. For they are hoping to waste our time or to “stir up our dander,” or to try to trip us up with our words so they can accuse us.

So, we need to learn to ask ourselves questions like, “Does this matter for eternity”? “Is the other person just trying to bait me into an argument?” “Do they sound like they want knowledge and understanding or are they just trying to stir up a debate?” “Have we had this same conversation with this same person more than once? Perhaps habitually? Does it always end up with the same result?” If so, then it is pointless. Learn when to say “No” and to walk away from a conversation when to continue with it is senseless.

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

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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In this segment, Thomas Kidd, professor of church history, and Dr Michael Reeves recommend reading the Christians of history, following the advice of CS Lewis, 'read an old book before you read another new one; if you have not time for both the old and the new, read the old' Login to view embedded media

I mean - I almost can't look.
Then I go back and look again - and I can't stop laughing

I wasn't sure where to put this, because it's a personal confession. But it springs from a science fiction television program, so I'll put it here.

One of my now-favorite science fiction programs is Star Wars: Andor. The program is a really remarkable showcase of sparkling dialog, a tight plot, epic high points...it's just a great show.

At one point, a character is about to be tortured by an Empire technician-scientist. The man is clearly a nerd type, kind of like a Nazi scientist who is totally involved with the technology and not making a connection with the inhuman horror his technology is a achieving. As he is preparing his torture machine to be used on the victim, he's practically giddy with delight in describing the details of how they came to develop such exquisite torture technology. He was killing people, and the technology was soooooooo cool to him. Boooo, you bad guy, you!

I watched that maybe twice before it brought back to my mind an evening during the DESERT STORM bombing phase of the Persian Gulf War. I had done "bomb scoring" during Vietnam and had always been disgusted by the inaccuracy of "dumb" bombs in that war. The statistic was that it took 24 strike attempts to successfully destroy one target, which meant that 23 bomb strikes hit something else. Something like 95% of the bombs dropped in the Vietnam war had destroyed something or someone unintended.

But we were using "smart" weapons on Iraq, and from the first night of bomb scoring, the results were spectacular. We were truly achieving "One target, one bomb" results. Our Tomahawk missiles were literally able to fly through the front door of a building, negotiate the building to a specific office, enter it and explode. Sooooooooo cool!

But we were having a problem penetrating the "Yugoslav" aircraft bunkers at the Iraqi airfields. Our penetration bombs were just exploding on the concrete surface, blowing out a shallow crater but not penetrating as intended. Bummer!

It took only two weeks before the technicians had developed a new penetrating smart bomb for the Yugoslav bunkers. I remember looking at the reconnaissance imagery that first night and noting the neat "pinholes" on the surface of the bunkers (instead of a crater), showing that it had nicely penetrated the shell. Then in front of the bunker, the blast doors lay on the concrete like burnt potato chips, the evidence that the bomb had penetrated and exploded inside, killing anyone inside. I called over other people to take a look. Soooooooo cool!

If you were watching CNN during that time, you probably saw some of the "bomb camera" footage from the attack aircraft. In that footage, you could see the weapons officer's crosshairs on the target for the seconds that he guided the bomb into it, then the explosion of the target being destroyed.

Well, in one case, I had located a camouflaged bunker at an airfield, probably where the aircrews lived. It would not have been discovered if I hadn't been exceptionally good at my job. I reported it and flagged it as a target.

The next night, I got a chance to see the bomb camera footage of that very bunker being struck. This time, as we watched the crosshairs on the bunker while the bomb was gliding toward it, suddenly the figure of a man dashed from the side and dived into the bunker...a split second before the bomb struck it and destroyed it.

That was a new sensation for me, and it was unpleasant. It's certainly not what combat troops go through. I had an uncle who during the Korean War actually had to strangle an enemy soldier to death with his bare hands....no, this was certainly not like that.

But after watching that scene in Andor, it brought back to me the feeling I had with the first evidence of success of the new bunker-busting bombs. It was the same kind of giddiness over a weapon that the Imperial torturer displayed. I had been that guy.

At the campaign event at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, Walz said this:

This statement would seem at odds with Walz's implementation of a COVID hotline, in which citizens were encouraged to "snitch" on their neighbors for not obeying COVID restrictions.

One has to wonder if Walz is in favor of "minding your own ... business" or tattling on people who don't do what the government tells them to do.

Trump disavows knowledge of Project 2025...
But Agenda 47, the Republican platform on his website, is cut from the same cloth as Project 2025.
There will be a Democratic platform after the convention.
Study both.
Campaign speeches are sometimes very short on details.
Agenda 47, what Trump/Vance are running on, has me running in the opposite direction.

I submit missing links as strong evidence that macroevolution can take a hike.

Since macroevolution depends on the belief that any gaps in the fossil record should be assumed to have been filled in at one time in the past, it demonstrates a "substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

And that is the Biblical definition of "faith."

And since faith is not a part of the scientific equation, I submit that science -- by definition -- should rule out macroevolution.

What say you?

When you feel everything around you seems to be falling apart?

My interpetation:
1 Peter 1:3 KJV
'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, '

"The story of Jeremiah during the fall of Judah is a profound example of faithfulness and divine protection amidst overwhelming adversity." Jeremiah 20:11-16 KJV

Ways we can have God's hand over us and faithfulness is to have a clean heart and thoughts (Jeremiah 29:11 KJV) keep God's morals when living life. Believe God's word for bread of life and living water.(‭John‬ ‭6:35‬ ‭KJV‬)

Morals- right from wrong , good from bad.

God has blessed me believing in God's word for bread of life and living water.
John‬ ‭6:35‬ ‭KJV‬
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Jeremiah 29:11 KJV
'For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD , thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. '

Ways you can stand firm and not conflict for example in Jeremiah 37 KJV. Are Allowing us Christians our hands to see God, work and accomplish for us and succeed. -Mark‬ ‭10:43‭-‬44‬ ‭KJV‬. Genesis 39:3,6,23 KJV
Ways you can overcome conflict is by having faith , praying, reading God's word.-holy bible.

Mark‬ ‭10:43‭-‬44‬ ‭KJV‬
43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: [44] and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
Genesis 39:3,6 KJV
"And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 6And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.33 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

Recognizing God's hands at work.Jeremiah 38:20 KJV

Jeremiah 38:20 KJV
But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.

In Reference to Jeremiah 38:20 KJV My interpetation: "it shall be well unto thee and thy soul shall live." Because you come from God-"1 John 4:4-7KJV. Your are God's son- 2 Corinthians 6:18 KJV.

Seeing myself born of God made into his image Genesis 1:27 living as God identification of male/man in this world but not of it has blessed with God and of him and his church to partake of the consolation which provides support and aid.

Support- To sustain, to act,represent well as to support, to support the part assigned.

Those who believed in Jesus Christ origin ( Christians) who had faith Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV and the church to both show the truth were the partakers of the consolation.
- Refrence example in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 KJV

Genesis 1:27 KJV
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. '

I found prayer today that I like that goes with this publish and writings. What caught my attention was the uncommon favor, uncommon choices. I have faith in praying this prayer not just my past uncommon favor,choices to my benefit but my future to walk into as well.


With each new breath I take today I will give thanks for the words found in the Bible. As in the days of Jeremiah I thank You in advance for sending people my way like the Ethiopian Eunuch in today's reading. When others seek to throw me into a cistern and try to muddy my character and name, I thank You that through the clothing of kindness and humility You will provide a way out of the muddy pit for me. When the hands of influence shift around me because I live in integrity I will receive uncommon favor and uncommon choices regarding the desires of my heart even in the midst of my enemies. No matter what may come my way I am resting in the finished work God, I am at peace because I know that I am a child of God! In Jesus’ Name, Amen


Published Interpertation by Reginald Taylor Jr

The Lord, in my life is always there. And always me trying to figure why.
Let me explain. My life since a very young age had God in it. Not just because of an affiliate withe denomination.
But I know and felt the Lord presence more then once. Some times as soft and warm as sheep's wool.
As when I recall so very young I became deathly ill and had internal bleeding mind you this was in the early 1970's .
Doctors knew little still then and ER was two letters. Doctors didn't know how to treat me at 12.
My parent called the church elders, they came to me at my home. My parents had brought my mattress into the living room.
So I could be around them, in a comfortable. I was anointed oil and hands were placed. The best I can explain it to anyone was it felt
like being in my mothers womb. Peace I never had felt nor since then. I felt like I was lifted even though I was not moving.
The feeling was like no drug you could take, and no words can still explain clearly. I would be baptized shortly after that.
However, as much as this sounds pretty amazing to tell people. I know now that didn't know then.
I was a threat to satan. Such a young age that felt a presence that would heal me. To this day there is no scars. No evidence I was ever ill.
But as we know that would put me on his radar.
Within 4 years my parents would get divorced, we would lose our house. I would end up sleeping my car at 16 and my parents would not be near me.
My mom was at my uncles and he said it was too crowded for me to stay too. So was sleeping in my car 70 miles away alone. My dad split I would not see
him again until he was dying in 1991 when some how the doctors found me. I would live in my car for one year and for a 16-17 year old that was eternity.
No family would help. I was truly alone I thought. One night I was on mb CB in my car. A friend I would talk to told me about a job.
I grabbed it and eventually would rent a floor to sleep on for 50.00 a week including dinner. That was allot of money when wage was 3.25 hr.


I looked for God, don't laugh. But I thought I needed to go find him. So I went to every Christian base church I could find.
Even Buddhist and others. But never saw him.
The Lord healed me and left me I felt, and sinning came easy for me for quite sometime. I mean where did he go right?
I would get better jobs, meet my future wife. And get a college education studying law. Not a lawyer.
My wife would lose her Job in 1996 and I had got injured. So money got tight. So we moved to Oregon where I met my wives family and about 50 family members
now live near us.
So I went looking for God up here. Maybe he moved? I am then in my Mid 30, still sinning. I heard of these homeless people in town that went to a very small Christian church maybe hold 30 ppl . I went there with the Mrs. one day and happen to bump into God that day. I can't explain that other then I have been everywhere looking.
But there it felt like I was grabbed and everything in my life became about Jesus. I would start studying help run men's groups and eventually became ordained in 2005. I was working at a job one day, landscaping. Lighting a burn pile that accidently soaking in gasoline.
It blew up. The pile was 10ft high, maybe 10wide and 20long I could not smell the gas and as I lay my torch a sound that would leave me with permanent tinnitus ,
Burn off half my mustache, and eyebrow, and burn my right hand from fingers to elbow below the nerve layer. Pain like I had never felt then.
Half my face got scorched some and burns my clothes. I would see my skin just roll off. Paramedic arrived and gave me three types of pain meds.
But that Friday I was in a arm cast/wrap and was at our weekly church meeting. This was 5 days later. The group who was the pastor and elders were there.
Sounds familiar. And we all prayed. I felt really loved that night. I had to change the bandages a few times a day which was bad, as it hurt even worse as the nerves grew back. Two weeks after the accident of Saturday morning I woke up and my arm didn't hurt. I thought wow that nice. But they told me it would be months maybe a year. As God as my witness. My wife removed the bandage and there was my arm. brand new soft as a babies skin. Every patch that was burned was new skin.
Two week after it happened. To this day I lose my breath even thinking of this. My doctor could not tell me any reason that would happen medically. And well the
the people at church were as stunned and saw Grace like I did.


And well, I thought satan long gone. I would go one to become Councilor Assistant Supervisor at a impatient facility for drug addiction.
That was faith based. Sounded like life was pretty good.
But satan had other plans. I would catch the CEO and HR stealing from public funding. The state was informed and to my surprise the state told the company I had reported them. How did I know the theft was real? Because some of that paperwork came across my desk. I was threated with termination if I did not drop the issue.
I dropped it, just long enough to quit. I would not be able to find a job because I was no blackballed anytime someone called them. Prior to working there I owned my own business so for 10 years after or so that was the only employer I had.
My youngest son has autism, I would end up being home with him when he accidently cut and artery. He would have died in minutes had I not been there.
He was 18 at the time just out of high school.
I felt beat down and useless I stopped going to church, did a few weddings with my pastoral duties. But sin gripped me again.
Lost and alone I felt pretty far from God. This time I did not go looking for him.

I eventually started investing in 2020 with 500.00. I was home with our son now so give that a try. Since I knew law and business why not try.
8 months later I would somehow land a huge stock that paid all our bills off and be 100% debt free. Never knew what that felt like I always struggled just to get by.
But that hole was still there, money changed nothing. Still wandering looking for the Lord every day.


I was then driving to pick up my wife who works just two miles down the road. I come to end our street.
Its a nice bright clear sunny day. I am making a right turn. And there off to the left of the car in the street I am turning on is two what must have been
twelve foot tall 4foot wide figures. Black as the deepest black I had ever seen right in the road. A car drove right behind it and vanished until it passed.
The Lord two days came to me, not like in form. I kept hearing it is time. Its is time. Since then I feel closer then I can ever remember feeling.
I have then started trying to go forth and spread the word. A feeling I never had to say it in such a clear way.
When I heard the Lord, I can not tell you it was a voice, or a image. It was just there. Like it came from my sound inside.
This is who I am, and now I am 61 on a moving on a vocation I never knew would be.


Thank you Lord for all these lessons and so many more.

Ukraine justifies Kursk attack in first acknowledgment of incursion into Russia​

Ukraine has publicly justified its attack into Russian territory for the first time, amid reports that its forces are advancing towards a village 13 miles (20km) inside the Kursk region on the third day of its incursion.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to the president’s office, said “the root cause of any escalation”, including into Kursk, was “unequivocal aggression” on the part of Russia in believing it could invade Ukraine with impunity.

The statement is the first acknowledgment by any leading Ukrainian official of the ongoing offensive amid silence from the country’s military on events in the Russian region. “War is war, with its own rules, where the aggressor inevitably reaps corresponding outcomes,” Podolyak added.

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Meanwhile, the best bit....

Vladimir Putin described it as a “large-scale provocation”

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