What About Illegal Drugs? 

    On the first day of his second term, President Trump issued an order designating drug cartels as global terrorist organizations. You probably saw pictures of airstrikes on boats delivering drugs from Venezuela. 

    Traffickers have entered governments in the Western Hemisphere, and drugs entering the U.S. kill tens of thousands every year. Cocaine is also sent from South America to Europe, where demand has skyrocketed and penalties are not stiff. Much of the cultivation is in Columbia, Peru and Bolivia.  

     Chinese traffickers began exporting fentanyl into America in 2013. through ports of entry. In 2024 fentanyl was 93 percent of illicit opioid seizures. The drug is a powerful depressant that slows bodily functions and produces feeling of euphoria. It can also be used to treat severe pain in cancer patients.  

     America's heroin stems from opium harvested from poppies in Asia or Latin America and smuggled across the U.S. Mexico border.  

WORLD magazine

Don't know about you, but we don't see any solution to illegal drugs, so long as users in America and in Europe are willing to pay, and willing to risk death. The producers will earn their living, so long as customers want. The U.S. has intercepted large amounts of drugs, enough to destroy our way of life. But, they keep on coming.

            Jimmy

Christ in the Old Testament

   No. 7 

     In the OT, persons, events and other history focused on redemption.

     Israel's exodus from Egypt was the greatest redemptive event under the old covenant. It lays the way for Christ and his redemption under the new covenant.

     In Exodus - Moses, the Passover, the Red Sea crossing, manna, water from the rock, the Tabernacle and the High Priest - carry the theme of redemption. 

     Abraham waited 25 years - beyond his ability to father a child, to become the father of Isaac. Now, Jews have returned to Israel, although they share their land with Muslims and Christians. They still wait for their Christ. 

     "But when the time had come, God sent his Son, born under law, to redeem those under law, that they and we might receive the full rights of sons." - Galatians chapter 4.

     Jesus was crucified, rose to life, and returned to the Father. Everyone on earth is invited to believe in Him and receive redemption. No one enters eternal life by their "works," not even their righteousness, which describes Christ himself. (Philippians chapter 3). 

     Like Jews, Christians wait. And they carry the good news to the ends of the earth.      

 conclusion 

Mayhem in Minnesota 

     Who are the rioters (not "peaceful protesters" as claimed). What's up with the governor and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul? Why aren't police engaged? 

     The mayhem resembles the riot in LA a number of years ago. Military call-up is on the table.  

     In December, Immigration & Custom Enforcement (I.C.E.) began to arrest Somali nationals for deportation orders. President Trump criticized the community for its role that several individuals of Somali descent had in siphoning hundreds of millions of dollars in food and housing programs. 

     The president also claimed that Somali gangs are tormenting the state. In November, he planned to end Temporary Protected Status for Somalia, which protected about 700 Samali nationals from deportation. 

     As we write, rioters (who is paying them?) battle I.C.E. agents, while local politicians and members of Democratic organizations support the gangs. This is happening because millions of people welcomed into America under the Biden administration are still here, many of whom would never get a legal invitation. 

     Democrats once approved of I.C.E. Now they want to end it. 

     When word got out about the millions (billions?) of stolen money, Gov. Walz announced he will not run for reelection. We hope to learn more about the thievery, and how something like this can rise up in the USA.    

              Jimmy 

 Multisyllable - that's 7 - words 

     In journalism school, better yet, working for Westinghouse when company headquarters had a department overseeing communications one individual did at each of its many locations. We wrote the monthly magazine and whatever else management might want employees to know. 

     We were to assume employees had a 10th grade education. Using even 3-syllable words was discouraged, but of course they are common and necessary, as you see in this paragraph. My job was in a factory of 5,000 employees...unionized.  

     Today, I counted syllables in the Bible to see what God did, if anything, about big words. Of course, it's in English, so...  

Genesis 1. The start. About 120 words, of which 23 are 3 syllables, one every 5.2 words. No PhD language in Eden. 

Deuteronomy 16. The Passover...92 words, 35 of 3 syllables, every 2.6 words. Wow! This wasn't grad school either, but words like unleavened, possession, anniversary, menservants and partiality had to be included.

Psalm 23. Awesome. Just 25 words, only "righteousness" - big. 

Ephesians 1. 580 words, just one 3 syllable every 14.8 words. 

Revelation 1. 85 words, one 3 syllable every 8.5 words. 

Revelation 22. The end. 89 words, one 3 syllable every 4.7 words. Jesus himself used 10 of the 17, none of them PhD level words.

     We bought a book by a Jewish author writing about the U.S. and Israel. One hyphenated word totaled 17 syllables. How could he expect wide readership? I put the book away for another day.  

               Jimmy

 

Nimrod's Legacy Today 

     Bible scholars consider Nimrod, the great grandson of Noah, to be the first "antichrist." 

     The other day when I closed a book I bought recently, inside the cover was information I used for a blog some years ago. How did that happen? Anyway, here it is. If you don't think Christianity is for you, here are some options from around the world:

     Animism   voodoo   cults   false gods   spirit worship   witchcraft   tribal   spiritist   mystical   ancestor worship   astrology   magic   head hunting and river spirits. 

     The nations in which they exist include, Benin,  Burundi,  Cameroon,   Central African Republic,  Chad,  Ethiopia,  Gambia,  Guinea-Bissau,  Indonesia,  Malawi,  Malaysia,  Mali,  Niger,  Nigeria,  Senegal,  Togo, Uganda,  Congo,  New Zealand,  Burkina Faso,   Boque,  Myanmar,  Zaire, Laos,  Liberia,  Sierra Leone,  Jamaica,  Kenga,  Madagascar,  Mozambique, Zaire,  Papua New Guinea.  Some nations have more than one "religion."

     Did we forget to list the United States? Billions more people follow major religions such as Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Shintoism and others. 

     Judaism and Christianity offer eternal life, and that for those who live their faith, daily. Muslims - a religion since the 7th century AD offer salvation for those whose good deeds outnumber their sins. Oh well. 

     Do you think, maybe there is a devil at work? Why do people want a false religion? If only Nimrod could return to life and confess.   

      Jimmy 

 Can we influence when Jesus returns?

a pastor's thoughts

     "Advancing the day of the Lord is more than evangelism. It's also living with focus and dedication to God's purposes."

     "Imagine...if every believer took this seriously. If we all showed up for prayer with the same enthusiasm we show for entertainment. If we actively looked for opportunities to share Christ's love." 

     "If we all lived with the understanding that our faithfulness today impacts eternity. Our lives matter more than we realize. Our obedience has eternal consequences. Our faithfulness is part of God's grand plan to redeem the world."

Ephesians 3:19: And to know this ls love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 

Monday: The religions of the world. Did Nimrod start this?

Christ in the Old Testament 

  No. 6

     When world leaders leave this life, they may be remembered with statues, or street names, even a city or state. But their influence in future decisions comes to an end. 

     The disciple John, having watched with Mary the horrible crucifixion of Jesus, was still carrying on with Jesus' Word, 50 years or so later. It still has not come to an end.

     Jesus had risen from the grave. His disciples couldn't believe the report, until Jesus himself met with them several times before he returned to the Father. 

     Psalm 33:6, written long before Mary gave birth to Jesus, God being the Father: By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. 

     Hebrews 1:10: In the beginning O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 

     Also in the book of Hebrews: God spoke through the prophets. In the last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he made the universe. The Son is the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.