Where Do We Get Our Identity? 

     Columnist Andree Seu Peterson says, "Beware of where your identity is. If it is reputation or identity other than saved-sinner and child-of-God, it will sooner or later backfire."

     "I actually enjoy a good humbling now and then. Not in the moment, of course. It recenters me. And God is happy to supply these moments. No chastening seems to be joyful for the present. Afterword it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those trained by it. - Hebrews 12:11. 

     "Paul remarked, 'But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court - 1 Corinthians 4:3." When you are confident of God's love, the opinion of others can sting but not destroy.  

     "The surpassing greatness of the wisdom and knowledge of God breaks down all pride. We can laugh at the impostors we have been. Even Job got too big for his britches, and God had to review for him the facts of the universe. 'Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding." - Job 38:2-4 

     "Just as I am without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me." 

  

Higher Education; Lower Results

     A book by Kevin Roberts, Higher Education in America, asks how bad the university system has become. He says, It's worse than you think. Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, says a number of academics and analysts attempt to diagnose what ails America's colleges. 

     "One group of essays take on education's affordability.  As the cost creeped up, the federal government tried to help, making it easier for students to borrow money. So, what did the schools do? They raised costs even higher.

     "Transparency: Under the guise of financial aid, colleges offer various discounts. Families often don't know how much it will cost until late in the process. No one knows who much 0ther students receive in discounts. This lack of price transparency allows colleges to warp the market and squeeze additional revenue out of students. 

     "What schools spend on instruction hasn't risen at the same rate as the cost of attendance. There is bureaucratic bloat, much of it spending tuition dollars on left-wing causes. Recent attacks on Jewish students and problems with DEI (diversity equity inclusion) come up repeatedly. 

     "How do we fix affordability, bloat and the left's stranglehold on higher education? Some say reform. Some say create new colleges and universities. But part of the solution is to remember the purpose of college. Stop thinking about college as job training and the acquisition of knowledge - and think about it as a place to form free and responsible citizens."  

Views: We've learned that numerous leftist graduates have no knowledge to lead them to employment. So they are using the system to gain political power, and if they succeed, to destroy our constitution, senate, and the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That's what the progressives want: for themselves only. 

            Jimmy

The Apple of His Eye  

     Yesterday from Old Testament Zechariah chapter 8 we listed the Lord's 10 promises to Israel...still in the future. The Bible being truth, Israel will be the center of God's activity for a thousand years.

     Why don't most people believe it? In Lighthouse Trails Research Journal, "Demonic influences have worked their way into the church and altered the way some Christians think about the Jews, Israel and the Word of God. Martin Luther turned against the Jews, and Hitler used Luther's thoughts in his attempt at genocide of the Jewish race." 

     "We find the church having less knowledge of prophecy, especially as it relates directly to Israel. Most evangelical Christians have supported the Jews and the modern state of Israel, but things are changing. The church drifted away from her Jewish beginnings, many believing the church has replaced Israel. But, we see prophecy being fulfilled with God's protection and restoration of the Jews to their land." 

     "God says we are to bless them. 'They have been entrusted with the very words of God' - Romans 3:2. 'Salvation is of the Jews' - John 4:22. God has blessed and prospered them wherever they went (Except World War II). Christians, are we to think as the world thinks?" 

- for whoever touches you touches the apple (pupil) of his eye. - Zechariah 2:8. The Godly remnant of Israel and believing Gentiles will be God's people in the millennium. 

   Priest and prophet Zechariah, 520-470 B.C., receiving God's plan for Zion and Jerusalem 

The Lord Almighty says:

     "I am burning with jealously for Zion     

     "I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem (the city of truth, Holy Mountain) 

     "Men and women of ripe old age will sit on the streets of Jerusalem. Streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there 

     "It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time 

     "I will save my people from the countries of the East and West. I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem 

     "You who hear these words spoken by the prophets who were there when the foundation was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty; let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built

     "Just as I had determined to bring disaster upon you and showed no pity...so now I have determined to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah 

     "The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore, love truth and peace

     "Many people and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come. Many people and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty 

     "In those days, ten men from all languages and nations will take firm the hold of one Jew and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you." 

                                                          *

     Zechariah chapter 8. The key to Israel's restoration is Christ's return in glory and begins his earthly reign over all the nations. It's called the millennium - a thousand years. Jerusalem will be a city of truth and faithfulness. The mountains of the Lord will be holy. (They will be rearranged.)  

     Much will happen before Christ returns - a world hatred of Israel - but we're getting closer. 

 

Fauci in Contempt 

     We've been occupied with other topics. So, six weeks after the fact, August 6 a Senate committee voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress. That came after Fauci had invoked his Fifth Amendment right more than 100 times. He had been forgiven of any wrongdoing by outgoing President Joe Biden, so the Governmental Affairs Committee had reason to question him.   

     It all has to do with the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which Fauci helped lead. The committee also released portions of a diary Fauci kept during the pandemic. Sen. Rand Paul argued the pardon nullified Fauci's Fifth Amendment rights. Whatever. Fauci retired as the wealthiest government employee. The pandemic helped some people. 

Social Security's shortfall 

     Lawmakers are running out of time to fix Social Security's funding shortfall. By 2032, payouts will exceed payroll taxes, leading to an automatic reduction of benefits. Most Americans expect to get Social Security when they retire. Many say they aren't saving anything else. (All three of our "kids" are not expecting SS to last and are working and saving accordingly.) 

      Some 77% of respondents to a survey opposed a $1,300 payroll tax increase. Even that wouldn't close the funding gap. And 77% of respondents oppose benefit cuts to save the program. 

     This year, 71 million Americans receive SS benefits. Workers paying into the program in 2025 outnumbered the beneficiaries 2.9 to 1. 

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Prayer often is triggered by adversity.  

When we face great difficulty, we come to the end of ourselves.

There are times when only the Holy spirit can pray for us and with us.

Jack Graham

     Lynn Vincent: "Paul told the Romans how they should respond to the spiritual journeys of other Christians. 

     'We have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another...that together you may with one voice glorify God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.'" - Romans 15:1, 5-6

There is only one ground upon which man may 

meet God with joy and not with despair. 

That ground is the atoning blood of Jesus Christ.

 

Ukrainians beginning to win?

     "Ukraine has been pummeling Russian oil sites and warehouses that are part of Russia's military supply chain. In 2026 Ukraine has achieved an 8-1 casualty ratio. This could create a window of opportunity for peace talks. But Russia is preparing a move which may include 30,000 new (more) troops from North Korea. (What a shame for men who never volunteered for war.) 

WORLD magazine

     "Starting in 2022, both sides have intensified their tactics. Russia's drone and missile strikes nearly killed 300 civilians and wounded another 1,800. Destruction of Ukrainian energy and heating capacity set conditions for a brutal winter. Russia's economy suffers from inflation and high costs of war. 

     "The supply of Ukraine weapons is dwindling, and America's involvement in Iran adds to the problem. The Senate passed a bill in August to impose sanctions against Russia. If approved, the bill includes extreme measures against Russia's economic machinery, oil and natural gas. America runs a charity in Ukraine. 

     "In Washington, William Taylor notes that 'Putin is still the biggest obstacle to peace. When he finally concedes that too many Russians have died, the economy is too weak, and Europe and the U.S. are against him...he will lay aside the might of the Russian military.'" 

Views isn't convinced Vladimir Putin will ever give it up. He is placing images of Joseph Stalin all over the nation. Stalin was born in Georgia with a very long name and became Russian dictator from 1924 to 1953. Stalin was a Marxist. Russia controlled numerous nations in its Soviet Empire. He welcomed America's help in stopping Hitler's invasion; then he tried to force the U.S., England and France out of Germany, where we/they were sent to restore civilization.* Russia then built a large wall around its German territory (apparently to keep Germans from escaping for freedom. Gun men saw to it.) Putin has nukes which his military wants him to use. Doesn't he want to be remembered, like Stalin?    

* That's when I and many others were drafted.