Reality Crisis

     Columnist Andree Seu Peterson wrote a zinger in WORLD magazine under the subhead, "What happens when we can no longer trust everything we see?" 

     After five long paragraphs about questionable information in our world, she turns to the Bible.

     "Psalm 119. Its 22 stanzas correspond to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Each stanza has eight verses, all starting with the same letter. Key words are repeated throughout, hinting at a message in a pattern of eight. In Isaiah, a sequence of thoughts is presented and then repeated in reverse order, with a third idea inserted in the middle, such that the middle idea is emphasized by virtue of its position." 

     "The Bible is a living code. We have now entered the rarefied realm of 'gematria,' secret patterns of numerical values of Hebrew letters and meaningful repetitions of 7s, 4s, and 40s, not only in the literary content but in the frequency of words and the lengths of sections."

     Peterson touches on nature's pattern of numbers, and biology. Then to Scripture: Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!" - Romans 11:33 

     She concludes: "The Word of God is a light in a dark place. We always said that was true. And now, more than ever before, the darker it becomes the brighter His Word shines."

Money Money 

     We don't particularly care to write about money, but it's a subject most people deal with. 

     On the positive side, some 25% of American adults want to start investing in the stock market this year. Younger adults are leading the way. Some 42% of those aged 18-29 are considering investing for the first time.  

     Younger adults have shifted from buying a starter home to investing in the stock market. The typical sale price for a smaller, more affordable starter home exceeded $260,000 last year, more than double the 2015 price of $110,000.

     Meanwhile, consumer use of debt for necessities, instead of discretionary spending, reached an all-time high last year. Total American household debt is nearly $19 trillion, and a record number of consumers lack enough money to repay debts. 

     Analysts expect the trend to continue this year. Almost 30% have more credit-card debt than emergency savings. Paying down credit-card debt and increasing emergency savings is difficult. 

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Jesus said:

Matthew 5:44, 45 - But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  

Mark 8:34-38 - If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?  If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels. 

Luke 8:16-18 - No one lights a lamp and hides it. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known. Therefore, consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.  

John 4:23-24 - Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and truth. 

 

A Story of Friendship  

     We know about Mark Twain (not his real name), a literary genius. And Ulysses S. Grant, the general who brought our Civil War to an end. 

     You may not know that Twain had failed investments and other personal loss. In 1884, Grant faced financial collapse due to a fraudulent business partner and a terminal diagnosis of throat cancer. 

     Would no one in North America help this man who - along with Lincoln - saved our Union? Mark Twain would. The two met at a Washington banquet. Twain's humor broke through Grant's reserved demeanor.

     Grant began to write his memoirs as a way to provide for his wife. Publishers offered modest terms, but Twain saw the literary value. He offered his new friend a more generous deal and took the book to market. As Grant labored through pain, Twain organized sales, recruiting agents and ensuring the book reached a wide audience. 

     "The Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant" became a triumph in literature and financially. Grant didn't see its impact, but his final effort proved as resolute as any campaign he had fought. 

     "Twain was known as a cynic, but he was a steadfast friend." 

                      Tomorrow: What did Jesus say?

Freedom and Prosperity... 

     Creates fertile ground for idolatry and covetousness. - Janie Cheaney

     "Credit scores sink and bankruptcy claims rise. Problem gamblers have a higher rate of suicide attempts than alcoholics or drug addicts. This is about coveting and misplaced love. 

     "In Exodus 20 the Lord pronounces the Ten Commandments in a voice of thunder that terrifies them - so the fear of the Lord will keep you from sinning. It appears to work. All that the Lord has spoken we will do. But we know how our promise worked out. 

     "Commandments Two through Nine address actions. Commandments One and Ten aim directly at the heart: 'You shall have no other gods before me' and 'You shall not covet (anything that belongs to your neighbor.)' 

     "Displacing God and desiring what is not lawfully mine are the heart of sin. 

     "Even for sincere Christians it's a continual struggle. Unlawful desires lurk in the byways. 'We will do everything the Lord has commanded,' people promise. Except the first thing and the last. 

     "Covetousness may be the chief problem of democracy, especially when a nation becomes wealthy and self-indulgent. Rule by and for the people often means that people get what they want.  Every generation of Americans had its idols and gimmes, rushing for fame and treasure over broken commandments. 

     "The U.S. is not uniquely sinful, but our system, so conducive to freedom and prosperity, was the first to make covetousness pay off. At least for some. Freedom and prosperity are good things, the very things God promised to his people if they keep his commandments. 

     "But if we don't guard our own hearts against idolatry and covetousness, who will?" 

   

Socialism's Salesman  

           A few words from an article on New York City's new mayor. 

     Zohran Mamdani had placed his hand on the Quran and taken the oath of office to become mayor of New York City.  

     The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have the perfect pitchman to sell its politics to a new generation of voters in New York and beyond. 

     Americans underestimate the dedication of DSA activists who devote nearly every free hour to advancing socialism. 

     Mamdani is very popular with immigrants, who played a huge part in getting him elected. 

     Americans are more positive toward capitalism than socialism, but the gap is shrinking, with only 54% viewing capitalism favorably - down from 60% in 2021. Meanwhile, the positive numbers for socialism are gradually climbing, from 36% in 2021 to 39% in 2025.  

WORLD magazine

The First Sinners...our examples   

     It was only fruit, but Adam and Eve ate from the tree God forbid. They failed his test, and we do the same today, far worse than apples.

     Our pastor says, "We try to cover shame with success, image, religion, busyness, or 'being a good person.' Not that those are wrong, but they can't restore relationship with God."  

     "On the night of Jesus' resurrection, the disciples were locked in a room, fearing Jewish leaders who wanted their status restored. Doors are shut. Dreams shattered. Their leader for three years has been crucified. Suddenly, Jesus stands before them. He doesn't need the door. He is the door."  

     "Peace be with you," he says. "Like in Genesis when God breathed into Adam and he became a living soul, Christ breathes into his followers and they become spiritually alive." 

     "Today we may feel locked in anxiety, shame, a painful past, or circumstances. Doors shut. But the risen Jesus doesn't need an open door to reach us. He steps into our room and says, 'Peace be with you.'" 

     "It's not patching ourselves with better fig leaves. It's Jesus giving us life. The Holy Spirit taking residence. Beginning to produce love, joy, peace, patience and more. You don't have to fix yourself first. You simply believe that he died and rose again, confess your sin, and receive the breath that starts it all." 

     John 20:22. "When he had said this, he breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit." What to pray?

     "Jesus, I confess that my independence has left me empty. I lay down my self-effort, my pride, my attempts to fix myself. Breathe on me, and let your peace fill every locked room of my heart." 

 😌