|
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Hey Jude – Pete Garcia - https://www.rev310.net/post/hey-jude
"The gospel’s most dangerous earthly adversaries are not raving atheists who stand outside the door shouting threats and insults. They are church leaders who cultivate a gentle, friendly, pious demeanor but hack away at the foundations of faith under the guise of keeping in step with a changing world.” – Phil Johnson In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Inside the confines of Genesis 1:1, exists everything that was ever made…to include the Angelic hosts in the heavenly places. At some point between Genesis 1:1, and Genesis 3:1, Lucifer, (aka Satan) the ‘anointed Cherub that covers’, attempted to wage war against God and was expelled from heaven taking with him a third of the heavenly hosts. The first question of the bible, and presumably of all history, was the one in which Lucifer (in the bodily form of the Serpent) asks Eve on that fateful day; Yeah, hath God said….? And he’s been asking that same question ever since. Since the beginning, man has constantly wrestled with two primary questions concerning our existence; a.) Where we came from, and b.) Why are we here? In regards to what men will come to accept as the truth, Lucifer has launched a three-pronged assault at separating man from God and from each other: False religions, false gospels, and false doctrines. False Religion’s Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. Jude 1:3 Man has, in both his ignorance and rebellion, chosen to follow after falsehoods, fables, and figments of his own imagination rather than seek after God. These demonic and satanic doctrines, which were imported into the darkened hearts of men, have lead millions, perhaps billions into the gaping mouth of hell. These poor souls, (who are there now as you read this) will continue to spend an eternity in torment, separated from God, in what Jude deemed, the blackness of darkness forever. One of the more persistent lies is one in which men say that all religions (particularly that of the Judeo-Christian faith) were really offshoots of early pagan culture. At the cradle of human civilization, mankind developed elaborate systems of worship birthing false gods and goddesses aplenty which supposedly, Moses (1500-1400BC) liberally borrowed from. Aside from the book of Job, which was written between Noah’s and Abraham’s day (circa 2300-1900BC), there were no formalized written copies’ of God’s Word that have survived antiquity. But according to Scripture, God interacted with mankind in a much more direct manner, using both angels and Personal revelation to bring mankind into fellowship. It would seem that because of these direct, divine interactions, that people who lived before Scripture was written have even less of an excuse than we do today. Currently, we live in a day and age where an abundance of Scripture has been made available to us (translated in over two thousand languages and dialects). There is also an abundance of sound teachers, preachers, writers, and the internet, which leaves little excuse for anyone to have not heard or had an opportunity to hear a clear explanation of the Gospel at least once in their lifetime. Even though God knows how to get His message out and how to preserve His Word, still much of the world remains under the darkened shroud of false religions, which is a testament to man’s unrelenting rebellion against God. I can think of no more important mandate that we as a corporate body of believers have in this day and age than to combat false religions, which only feed hell’s appetite by the souls of men. The Great Commission, was not just about going out to evangelize the world, but to make disciples of all nations. Disciples are not just passive-participants on Sunday mornings, nor are they simply followers. Disciples are dedicated and devoted when it comes to following Jesus Christ. But before we can be a disciple, we must gain access to eternal life, which means we must be born-again. Christianity is not simply a ‘religion’ filled with traditions and rituals, it is a personal relationship with our Creator God. But before one can become born-again, one must come to accept two fundamental truths; a.) There is a God, and b.) We are not Him. False Gospels For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 1:4 We need to know that our salvation can’t be earned, bought, bribed, inherited, or gained through human efforts. Salvation is solely by God’s grace, through our faith (which is also a gift of God), and it is not of works, but based on God’s grace and mercy towards us. (Eph. 2) Because we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Col. 1) Salvation is based on God’s love for us, and our ability to receive this love as a gift, through faith. Because of our sinful and fallen nature, we could never measure up to God’s perfect standard of righteousness, which is why Salvation has to be a gift (not a wage earned). In fact, the only wages we rightfully earn on our own are that of death. (Rom. 6:23) Many a conversation are based upon man’s inability to accept this simple truth... For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 -Wait a minute you say, you’re telling me that all I have to do to receive eternal life, is to believe in Jesus Christ and what He did for me on the Cross? Yes. -That can’t be right. Don’t I have to walk an aisle, or fill out some kind of church membership card, or be baptized, or have some kind of huge emotional breakdown at the front of the altar before I can be saved? Nope. Let me re-visit what Christ said in another way. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36 -But the preacher said that I had to do speak in tongues before I was saved… -But the preacher said that I had to be baptized before I was saved… -But the Priest said that I had to take the Eucharist before I could be saved... -But the pastor said that I had to walk an aisle and make my profession before the whole church before I could be saved… -But the guy on television said I had to give a $1,000 dollars as an act of faith before I could be saved… -But the… Let’s set aside what men say, and go with what the Bible says. The Bible is God’s direct revelation of Himself to mankind via the Holy Spirit (who is also God). Here is what the Apostle Paul said as directed by God Himself to say; …that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:9-13 Seems pretty clear to me…and the Apostle Paul was no slouch either when it came to understanding the burdensome task religion plays in messing up the simplicity of the Gospel. Paul, formerly named Saul, was a Jewish Pharisee from the tribe of Benjamin, and trained by one of the most respected and famous Rabbis of all history, Gamaliel. (Acts 5:34; 22:1-21) Saul knew the law inside and out, and was zealous in persecuting the early church. Yet, God chose him to become Paul, and was given the ministry to explain the Gospel to the Gentiles. It was given to Paul, to deliver THE Gospel by which men in this age, are saved. I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:6-9 So what was the Gospel that Paul preached? Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15:1-4 That is what Paul called, ‘my Gospel’, (Rom. 2:16; 16:25, 2 Tim. 2:8) and that is the Gospel that Paul received from Christ to preach, teach, and write about. (Gal. 1:11-12) He said, if ANYONE preached ANY other gospel, it was no gospel at all, and that those people would be anathema, or accursed. False Doctrines These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. Jude 1:16-19 So do not be deceived by those who either ADD to, or SUBTRACT from the Gospel by which we are saved by. Many deceivers have crept into the church and muddy the waters by introducing leaven (false doctrines) that either cause confusion within Christianity, or prevent those who don’t know Christ from ever knowing Jesus Christ by turning them astray unto ANOTHER gospel. These are heretics and apostates, who make a living off of promoting ANOTHER gospel which leads to death and destruction. The prophet Hosea, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit states; My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…Hosea 4:6 Notice how Hosea does NOT say my people are destroyed for a lack of; faith, love, mercy, tenderness, social justice, equality, ecumenicalism, ritualism, prosperity, tradition, etc. It is true biblical knowledge, which comes by way of the Holy Spirit, which shepherds believers and guards them against the wolves who prey on them. People are gullible…like sheep. Ever notice in John 10, when Jesus is talking about how His sheep hear His voice? Well, Jesus didn’t say that only Christians were sheep. He said that HIS sheep hear and know HIS voice. Translation…humans are sheep. But true Christians, belong to the Good Shepherd, and we don’t follow any other voice but His. And to this incredible ability to be deceived, Paul warns before departing Ephesus… For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. Acts 20:27-31 Concerning the Biblical doctrines by which many false teachers have used as catalysts to creep into the church and pervert by, it was given to the Apostle Paul to make clear the mysteries thereof;
We are instructed to study to show ourselves approved, workmen who need not be ashamed by ‘rightly dividing' the Word. (2 Tim. 2:15) We are to be complete and thoroughly equipped for every ‘good work’. (2 Tim. 3:16-17) This means, not accepting someone who cherry-picks verses to fit their theology. We take in the ENTIRETY of Holy Scripture, then ‘rightly divide’ the Word to find out what applies to whom. The whole Bible was given for us, but the whole Bible was not written to us. We must ‘rightly divide’ so that we do not confuse ourselves, and possibly lead others astray into false teachings. And the world will continue to struggle against God and His Christ, by the promulgation of false religions and false teachings that lead men into hell. But you believer, you have the truth in your hands when you hold your Holy Bible. You believer, have the Holy Spirit indwelling in you, that will lead you into all truth. (John 16:13) Hey Jude, any parting words for us? Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen. Maranatha! Biden’s ‘weakness’ towards Tehran could trigger Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites - and Third Lebanon War – Joel Rosenberg - https://www.allisrael.com/rosenberg-tells-jerusalem-post-that-biden-weakness-towards-tehran-could-trigger-israeli-airstrikes-on-iranian-nuclear-sites-and-third-lebanon-war The United States has paid little attention to Lebanon in recent years. And that needs to change fast. ALL ISRAEL NEWS Editor-in-Chief Joel Rosenberg warns that if U.S. President Joe Biden renews his country’s participation in the Iranian nuclear deal, thousands of missiles could rain down on Israel from Lebanon. “Biden strikes me as more desperate than Iran to get back into the deal. This has all the makings of emboldening the terror masters in Tehran… I think Tehran is getting ready to attack Israel.” So what does this have to do with Lebanon? In an interview with Jerusalem Post reporter Seth Frantzman, Rosenberg explained that an Iran would use Hezbollah, the Shiite militia entrenched in southern Lebanon, against Israel in a proxy war. “What people don’t realize is that Iran’s number one way of striking back at Israel is not primarily with Iranian missiles but with Iranian-built missiles – 150,000 of them – positioned in Lebanon and all aimed at us here in Israel,” Rosenberg said. “That type of scenario – with thousands of missiles raining down on Israel every day – could completely overwhelm Israeli missile defense systems. That is a terrifying prospect and not just for Israel. It could also pull the U.S. into a war inadvertently and the Biden administration must take this seriously.” Rosenberg said that while the Second Lebanon War in 2006 was horrible, he believes that Lebanon will be the site of the "next major war in the Middle East, and possibly even in 2021.” “In the 34 days of the Second Lebanon War, we saw 4,000 missiles fired by Hezbollah at Israel – but in a Third Lebanon War, we could see 4,000 missiles a day being fired at Israel. I am very concerned. This is the type of thing that could erupt at a moment’s notice.” The Biden administration is “beginning to take a series of actions that look very weak toward Iran. There is a growing sense among senior Israeli officials that they may have to go back to the way they were thinking in 2012 – that if the U.S. and international community don’t take decisive action either diplomatically or militarily to stop Iran from getting ‘the bomb,’ then the IDF may be forced to launch pre-emptive airstrikes against nuclear facilities inside Iran.” Israel, which frequently launches airstrikes against Iranian targets in the region, has issued warnings about Iranian nuclear enrichment and has expressed concern about Tehran’s role in Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. While former President Donald Trump gave Israel the freedom to strike back, Iran now seems to be taking advantage of what it perceives as a weak American policy. Iran has attacked U.S. targets in Iraq, is hammering Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones and even attacked an Israeli-owned ship in the Gulf of Oman. “If the White House and State Department make Israel feel vulnerable, and don’t find a way to force Iran to back down on its nuclear program – if Biden cannot or will not find a way to neutralize the Iranian threat – then Israel won’t sit around and do nothing,” Rosenberg said. “Israeli leaders may feel they have no other choice but to strike Iran, and the implications for every country in the region – and for the U.S. – are huge.” These threats to regional stability are some of the consequences of Middle East peace. "Making peace is the right thing to do, but never think for one moment that you’re operating in a static environment,” he said. “There are forces that are hell-bent on making sure that Arabs and Israelis never make lasting peace and they will do everything in their power to create war and terror to prevent peace from taking hold.” On the other hand, Iran's recent bold actions could be driving the Saudis to make a peace deal with Israel. Rosenberg, who was hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in Saudi Arabia, said he believes it may happen sooner than we think. “But I also want to show people that such a peace treaty is going to be far more explosive and controversial to the extremists in the region, from Iran to Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis,” he said. “Why? Because the Saudis are the custodians of the Two Holy Mosques. For them to make peace with Israel could very well set off the mullahs in Tehran and all their allies. So that is something that we have to sort of understand and factor in.” The U.S. implication of Saudi Arabia in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi may also force Riyadh toward a peace deal with Israel. “Because of the Iran threat and possibility of the U.S. abandoning the Saudis, the Saudis may decide that they need a strategic alliance with Israel sooner rather than later,” Rosenberg explained. “My recommendation is if they truly believe they should make peace with Israel for their own national interests, then they should do it as soon as possible. A Saudi-Israeli peace deal will dramatically change Americans’ view of Saudi Arabia for the better. It is the one move that the Saudis can make that will break through to the American people and show Americans and the world that the Saudis truly are trustworthy and long-term partners for peace.” Rosenberg said the region is changing fast. “It used to be that if Israel got itself in a war in Lebanon or with any Arab group or state, this would drive back any Arab desire to make peace with us. But I no longer think this is the case," he concluded. "The Saudis are now experiencing what Israel has experienced for years, where Iran and its proxies fire rockets and the world hates you for defending yourself.” Nearing Midnight: March to May Donation Drive – Todd Strandberg - https://www.raptureready.com/category/nearing-midnight/ The past couple of months have been stressful for those who love their country and hate to see the enemy winning at every level. I’ve had to deal with an issue that most people have no clue of what is taking place. The Big Tech companies are fixated on setting up a Chinese-style censorship of the internet. Members of Congress are now pushing for public and private censorship on the web and in other forums. They are being joined by an unprecedented alliance of academics, writers and activists calling for everything from censorship to incarceration to blacklists. This call for censorship even extends to the television market. Democrats have pressed a mix of cable, satellite and streaming providers about their decisions to carry Fox News, One America News Network and Newsmax, accusing the right-leaning outlets of serving as “misinformation rumor mills and conspiracy theory hotbeds that produce content that leads to real harm.” Over the past month, I received emails from four firms that say they are updating their guidelines for using their service. I now get a message about every other day that warns me of problems with Rapture Ready’s content on some pages, but they don’t say what the problem is. I’m currently involved in an Identity verification battle with one of these demonic firms. They are wondering who are the people who run RR, and they’ve asked me to send a host of documents. I sent them a photo of my driver’s license, tax ID records, state articles of incorporation, and even a copy of my water bill. All these documents show Todd Strandberg as the guy running RR. But No, they still need more proof. The next question will probably be for me to take a picture of me posing at the grave of my mother and father. If I did that, the next request will be the broomstick of the wicked witch of the west. I’ve locked up my account with them and moved to another firm that provides the same ad service. I was watching a video on the persecution of Hungarian Jews in the 1930s, and I recognized the game that is currently playing out. The Nazis asked the Jews to show proof that they are real Hungarian citizens. Many Jews went through the vast Nazi bureaucracy to get the right papers to show they were a true citizen of Hungary. One woman recalled her father happily waving the document in the air. The Nazis kept changing the rules, and this woman’s whole family became non-citizens and were sent to a death camp. The woman’s father and mother were both killed. The fixation on declaring everything racist is just plain scary. There should have been a massive blowback when the Muppets were deemed racist, Dr. Seuss Books were ‘canceled’ over ‘racist imagery,’ and math as we know it is now racist. At some point, these liberal nut jobs are going to look at the Bible. I’m sure they will find it’s loaded with Racism and Homophobia – and get out the smelling salts if they find out that Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). I doubt there will ever be a ban placed on the Bible. There will be a ban on people’s interpretation of the Holy Word. They will maintain that God loves all people the same, you can be a gay Christian, and Jesus is just a way to God; never mind that John 14:6 typo. Years ago, my main thought about the rapture is that I wished it would come so I could escape the dying process. My current view is that the rapture will be needed to rescue us from those who wish to aid the dying process. We are so close to what the Bible described as being the last days, the horrors of the tribulation must be in earth’s near future. There are probably a dozen ways for the enemy to completely block RR from being seen on the internet. Because God has held things together for so long, I don’t think the left is going to turn American into a clone of China. Since we are only a few steps away from total tyranny, the rapture must be very close. We still need your financial help to pay for our soaring expenses in telling the world that time is running out. What we really need is prayer. Rather than prayer about our enemies and the many problems in our nation, people praying “Please come, Lord Jesus “will resolve every one. There are three ways you can contribute to Rapture Ready: You can send a financial gift via our P.O. Box address, you can make a one-time donation, or there is a frequent option that allows you to make monthly donations. If you’re interested in signing up, find the input links on the Donation page https://www.raptureready.com/donate/ . Donations can be sent to our P.O. Box at: Rapture Ready P.O. Box 969 Benton, AR 72018 Brace Yourselves For The Most Dramatic Shift In The Standard Of Living In All Of U.S. History - by Michael Snyder - http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/brace-yourselves-for-the-most-dramatic-shift-in-the-standard-of-living-in-all-of-u-s-history/ They are assuring us that we don’t have to be concerned about “inflation” because they have everything under control. Do you believe them? The value of the U.S. dollar has been steadily declining for a long time, and most Americans have grown accustomed to having the cost of living rise at a faster pace than their paychecks do. But over the past 12 months an enormous paradigm shift has begun. Instead of devaluing our currency a little bit at a time, now our leaders are going “full Weimar”. Our money supply is growing at an exponential rate, and this is becoming a major national crisis. As I pointed out yesterday, it took from the founding of our county all the way to 2020 for M1 to reach 4 trillion dollars. But then from the start of the pandemic to today, M1 has gone from 4 trillion dollars to 18 trillion dollars. To call that “economic malpractice” would be way too kind. The truth is that it is complete and utter lunacy, and we are all going to literally pay the price for such madness. Sadly, inflation is already starting to show up in a major way all throughout our economy. For example, most Americans have noticed that the price of gasoline has really started to shoot up over the last several weeks… Gas prices have been increasing at the pump for the past few weeks, reaching a national average of $2.77 a gallon as of Monday, which is 39 cents higher than the same time in 2020, according to AAA. A lot of people are alarmed by this, but the Federal Reserve insists that this is completely normal. Meanwhile, the price of agricultural commodities has risen by 50 percent over the past year… The price of agricultural commodities traded on the global stage has shot up by 50 percent since the middle of 2020, according to economists at Rabobank. In a new report, the bank pins the lift in the price of wheat, corn, soy, sugar, and a range of other commodities on the northern La Niña, a weakening US currency, market speculators, and rising demand from importing nations. As those prices are passed along to the consumer, you will be paying more for groceries at your local supermarket, but authorities assure us that prices will stabilize once the economy returns to “normal”. The good news is that at least the price of food is not rising as fast as the price of lumber is… Lumber prices have increased more than 180 percent since last spring, and this price spike has caused the price of an average new single-family home to increase by $24,386 since April 17, 2020, according to the NAHB standard estimates of lumber used to build the average home. Now that is some serious inflation! There are so many people that have had to put their plans to build a home on hold in recent months because the price of lumber has gotten so ridiculously high. But the experts at the Fed insist that those that are warning of hyperinflation just have wild imaginations. Over the course of the past year, our leaders have pumped trillions and trillions and trillions of dollars into the system, and all of that money has to go somewhere. In such a highly inflationary environment, this sort of a thing can happen… A digital collage by American artist Beeple which exists only as a JPG file sold Thursday for a record $69.3 million at Christie’s, fetching more money than physical works by many better-known artists. ‘Everydays: The First 5,000 Days’ became the most expensive ever ‘non-fungible token’ (NFT) – a collectible digital asset that uses blockchain technology to turn virtual work into a unique item – after being listed at the start of the two-week auction for only $100. The U.S. dollar is being transformed into “toilet paper money”, and we are rapidly approaching the point of no return. At least if our paychecks were rising as fast as the cost of living was, American families would be able to keep up with the escalating prices. But of course that is not happening, and more Americans are falling out of the middle class with each passing day. In fact, vast numbers of formerly middle class Americans no longer have jobs at all. Last week another 712,000 Americans filed new claims for unemployment benefits, and the number of claims continues to hover around “four times the typical pre-crisis level”… Weekly jobless claims have remained stubbornly high for months, hovering around four times the typical pre-crisis level, although it’s well below the peak of almost 7 million that was reached when stay-at-home orders were first issued a year ago in March. There are roughly 10 million fewer jobs than there were last year in February before the crisis began. This is not what an “economic recovery” looks like. The truth is that the U.S. economy is broken, and the only solution our leaders have is to print, borrow and spend even more money. Now Biden and his minions are about to pump another 1.9 trillion dollars into the system. Do you think that will make the inflation crisis better or do you think that it will make it worse? You don’t need to answer, because the answer is self-evident. As prices soar into the stratosphere, life is going to become increasingly difficult for most Americans. If your income does not rise as fast as prices are going up, your standard of living will go down. Of course you will be far from alone. The vast majority of Americans are about to experience a dramatic shift in the standard of living, and most of the population doesn’t even realize what is happening. All they know is that more government checks are on the way, and most of them are absolutely thrilled about that. But all of this printing, borrowing and spending has put us on a path to national financial suicide. As we continue to recklessly destroy the value of our currency, other nations will begin to realize that a move to a different reserve currency is needed. And once the U.S. dollar is no longer the reserve currency of the world, there will never be any going back to the “good old days”. We are so close to the economic endgame, and the word “collapse” is not nearly strong enough to describe what is eventually going to happen to us. Daily Jot: Farm Chronicles: The satchel and the bowling ball – Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com It was the summer of ’69. I was 14 when my cousins Nancy, 16, and Bobby, 18, visited from Phoenix. Nancy stayed with us most of the summer, but Bobby was visiting other relatives and came to our place, thankfully, only a couple of times. Nancy was a pretty blonde, slim, athletic, a great sense of humor and a good friend. Bobby was an ego-driven, smart aleck, bully who thought he was God’s gift to the world. Nancy and I were good pals. She enjoyed farm life and we spent a lot of time in the woods, going swimming at Leisure Lake down the road, and other silly things like one day we decided to make a calendar so she put her bathing suit on and I snapped pictures of her and my horse Wimpy with the polaroid. We were having a great summer. Nancy and I were inseparable. We were either riding horses, swimming or finding some other fun to do, like popping wheelies on our Simplicity riding lawn tractor. Sometimes we would fall over backwards and the tractor just kept on bouncing down the driveway until we caught up with it. Other times we would go out to the pond and catch frogs or turtles. Life was a wonderful adventure in the summer of ’69. Then Bobby showed up for a few days. Paradise lost. From the moment my parents’ backs were turned, he made my life miserable. He constantly made fun of me. Pushed me around. Wanted to fist fight. It wasn’t light-spirited play fun. He was mean and calculating. The day before Bobby was to leave to visit other relatives, Nancy and I cooked up a scheme to get back at him. The idea was to lay a trap and not only hurt him a little, but also make him look really foolish. We plotted on how to make him pay. I found my brothers old Southeast Pirates gym satchel and we designed a plan to rig the satchel with a bowling ball in it over the hallway door at the top of the stairs in the farm house. We hammered a nail into the frame at the top of the door, tied a string to the satchel and secured it on the door knob. The door would be opened just enough to steady the satchel at the top and when the door was opened, the string would release and the satchel would fall on his head. We tested it a few times (without the bowling ball) and it worked like a charm. We giddily stuffed the bowling ball into the satchel and rigged the trap. From the back bedroom we started calling for Bobby, who was downstairs. Then footsteps. Step by step coming up the stairs. We were getting so excited. Then the door creaked open. And “BAM!” That satchel and bowling ball slammed down on its target. And my mother shrieked and dropped her laundry basket as she went to her knees. Fortunately, she was more surprised than hurt, but we got into a lot of trouble. And Bobby, well, he just mocked us about being so stupid. Proverbs 22:5 says, “Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: he that keeps his soul shall be far from them.” If you are going to set a snare for the wicked, better make sure it doesn’t spring on the just–like your mother. Daily Devotion: All You Need - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. —Psalm 119:97 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/all-you-need/ - Listen As the head coach of the Green Bay Packers, Vince Lombardi would start his training camps by holding up a football and saying, “Gentlemen, this is a football.” Then he would take the professional players through the basics of football. He treated them like blank slates, as though they’d never heard any of it before. As Christians, we can lose sight of the basics as well. We may find ourselves losing ground instead of gaining ground as we fall back into old sins that we thought were a part of our past. And we can suffer defeat. So we need to go back to the very beginning. If we want to be growing Christians, then we must read, study, and love the Word of God. Joshua 1:8 says, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (NKJV). A growing believer will be a lover of God’s Word. The psalmist wrote, “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97 NKJV). The Victorian-era Scottish preacher Alexander MacLaren said, “He who has the Holy Spirit in his heart and the Scripture in his hands has all he needs.” We can find everything we need to know about God in the pages of the Bible. So if you want to know God, then you need to open, read, study, and apply what the Bible teaches. Success or failure in the Christian life is determined by how much of the Word of God we get into our lives on a regular basis and how obedient we are to it. FROM THE HEART Let Us Make the Short Time We have Left, Count for ALL of Eternity! IF YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED THROUGH THIS MINISTRY, THEN WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD PLEASE REMEMBER PROPHECY UPDATE IN YOUR GIVING - WE ARE TRULY, TRULY, THANKFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT WORTHY OF YOUR SUPPORT? One of the most reliable ways to determine if a ministry is worthy of your financial support is to examine its fruits. If Prophecy Update is keeping you informed, and if that information inspires you, and causes you to draw closer to the Lord, if Prophecy Update equips you with valuable information and knowledge to share with and encourage other believers, and open the eyes of non-believers, and if Prophecy Update keeps you connected to current events relating to Bible Prophecy, then you are partaking of the fruit produced through this ministry. None of this would be possible without the Lords blessings and your support. I believe where the Lord guides, the Lord provides, and most of the time He provides through the willing and generous hearts of believers just like you and me. Humbly Seek Your Support Prophecy Update has no corporate sponsors. This ministry is paid for and prayed for by readers and supporters. Without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update, Please pray about becoming a monthly supporter - thanks! If ever there was a time to invest in God's Kingdom, it's now! What on earth are you doing for Heaven's Sake? "Share in the Blessings and Rewards that will last Forever!" "Folks, it's all beginning to unravel. America is in more danger of falling than at any time in its history. But I believe Bible prophecy predicts this very decline. From this point on, we believers have to get serious. We are going to face discouragement, disillusionment and, most certainly, persecution in the time between now and the Rapture. But don't be discouraged or disillusioned. The coming turmoil will provide us unrivaled opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel. So be ready to share your faith and your hope with those who need Christ. We still have time to reap a great harvest of souls for God's kingdom!" - Hal Lindsey 1) We need your prayers!- We proclaim the Truth of the Word of God and we are under constant spiritual and sometimes even physical attack. 2) We need your encouragement!- We need to hear from you, let us know how the Lord is blessing you through this ministry so that we can share it with others. 3) We need your input! - If you have a prophetic article or story or if there is a news related item we missed, let us know. 4) We need your financial support!- To put it quite simply, without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update. I ask that you would prayerfully consider partnering with us to get the Word out and keep the world informed. Remember, your gift, no matter how small, does make a difference! You will be helping to touch lives, around the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, thanks to the internet your generosity carries a global impact! - Thanks! Our Prayer for You- "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." 2 Corinthians 9:10-13 If you have been blessed by Prophecy Update and would like to help support this ministry financially. You can make a secure donation online by going to: DONATE NOW Or write us at: Prophecy Update P.O. Box 40516 Bakersfield, CA 93384-0516 We are very pleased to offer all our readers this FREE download on Bible Prophecy from the Evangelical Bible College of Western Australia - Just download and enjoy and be blessed! Feel free to share it with all your friends and family members. Click below to download! "AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING" If You Died Today, Would You Go To Heaven? Find out, visit: www.thegoodtest.net www.gotquestions.org www.wayofthemaster.com How to know God DID YOU KNOW? You can submit an article, leave a comment or praise report at email: [email protected] Maranatha! (Lord Come Quickly) "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand, All other ground is sinking sand." "Let Us make the short time we have left count for all eternity!" YBIC-Randy
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
September 2024
Categories |
RSS Feed