Words to Blow Our Mind 

  Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory! - Isaiah 6:3.  

     We continue our focus on the word "holy," from an article by Pastor Tripp, an award-winning author of more than 30 books. "Holy, holy, holy is meant to stretch the boundaries," he writes. "We need to know that (God) is in an entirely different category of holiness."

     "The triple holy, holy, holy is to humble us, to realize God is unlike us...to help us understand that we are dealing with Someone absolutely different. He is unlike anyone or anything that has ever been called holy."   

     "We can pray that our hearts get even a glimpse of the grandeur of His holiness. It will change the way we live. Our word holiness comes from the Hebrew word qadowsh, which means 'to cut.' To be holy means to be cut off or separate from everything else. Qadowsh also means be morally pure, all the time in every way."

     First Peter 1:15-16: "But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'" 

     "From our conversion to our homecoming, God's redeeming work is focused on radical, personal transformation." Caution: 

     A one-time decision/conversion, followed by years of living a normal worldly life apart from the family of God doesn't look like salvation to me.    - Jimmy

 

Hamas and Hezbollah in USA? 

     "These dutiful Western foot soldiers for murderous Islamism bear a ghoulish resemblance to last centuries' Hitler Youth. 

     "Those yearning for Hezbollah's jackboot and chanting 'We are Hamas' and 'Long Live Hamas' just a few months after the single deadliest day for the Jewish people since the defeat of Nazi Germany would have felt right at home in Berlin in 1938.

     "As we know from the Bible, book of Ecclesiastes: 'What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.' 

     "For the Jews, alas, it has always been thus. Today's Hamasniks are the modern-day incarnation of Hitler's Brownshirts; the terrorist flag of Yasser Arafat's PLO is the new Nazi swastika."  

From the book, 

ISRAEL and CIVILIZATION AND THE DESTINY OF THE WEST

by Josh Hammer

PS. Our Democrats who accuse President Trump of being another Hitler are themselves leaning in that direction. 

How to end our war with God 

              Continuing Friday's blog, when we wrote about the word holy.                 In every case holy means something other. Things set apart. 

     "Things are not holy in themselves but become holy when sanctified by God. He alone is holy in Himself. Only God can change something from common to something different and apart." 

A 1985 article by the late Pastor R.C. Sproul

     "The word holy calls attention to all that God is. His love. His justice. His mercy. His knowledge, His spirit."

     "When we call things holy when they are not, that's idolatry" (extreme veneration or worship).       

     "We tend to have mixed feelings about holiness. We can't seem to decide which way we want it. The struggle we have with holy God is the conflict: He is just, and we are unjust."   

     At the age of accountability: "We are at war with God unless/until we are justified (declared righteous in the site of God). Only the justified person can be comfortable in the presence of holy God. For the (earnest) Christian the holy war is over."

     "Martin Luther explained, 'We are to fear God not like prisoners, but as children who do not wish to displease their father. We come to Him in confidence. We have access. We have a holy peace.'"

😊

  

 God.   

We are at war with God, unless...

     History is marked more by war than peace. Even the United States, founded to separate itself from the militaristic ways of Europe, engaged in war to free itself from Europe. We suffered a civil war, followed by two world wars to save Europe. And there was Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc. 

     Humans begin life potentially at war with God who created us. This, far more serious than terrible national wars, which may take our life, but not our soul. Better to die at age 3 and go to heaven than live to 103 and go to hell. 

     Faith, hope, love etc. are important. Even with all we think and do, our "works," it's His mercy and grace that saves. 

     Satan's daily war with God - launched against Adam and Eve - will continue until Jesus returns. None of us enlist or are drafted into this spiritual war. We are born into it. Each of us is another Adam or an Eve. 

     How can we be holy enough? Don't we expect pastors, teachers, missionaries, cardinals etc. to be the holy ones? 

     R.C. Sproul years ago taught, "the primary meaning of holy is separate. Holiness is also transcendent - above and beyond, higher. To be holy is to be other, different in a special way."

     "The Bible speaks of holy ground, holy nation, holy sabbath, holy place, holy water and much more. God has holy love, holy justice, holy mercy, holy knowledge. His spirit is the holy spirit." 

We plan to pick this up on Monday. 

  

When Good is Evil and Evil is Good 

     While our nation recovers somewhat, economically, we still need to recover our morality. Consider the Ivy League grad who shot a wealthy CEO from behind. 

     Oh, just a few bad actors here and there.

     Well. A large number of Americans believe he did nothing wrong. On Tik Tok - filled with comedy-type references to the killing. On posters - the killer is a folk hero. On United Healthcare's website - more than 36,000 "laugh" comments. In the USA! 

     A poll - 17% of Americans, 40% of young adults, consider the murder acceptable. Merchandise celebrating the killer was sold over the internet.   

     Franklin Graham says this "moral sickness and depravity is a problem no president, legislature or law can solve. It's a spiritual degeneracy that can only be cured by repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ." 

     It's an ancient problem. See Isaiah 5:20. Graham says, "Without a Biblically informed conscience and commitment, truth is turned on its head...devoid of right and wrong." Truth is fallen in the street - Isaiah 59:14.  

     Graham calls for prayer, that the Lord brings us to repentance, faith and restoration. "It has happened before in our country, through several spiritual awakenings. It will not be brought about by political maneuvering, but through an outpouring of God's Spirit." 

 maneuvering...only

A friend of mine sent this to me in 2010:

If you cross the border illegally into...  

     North Korea, you get 12 years hard labor 

     Iran, you are detained indefinitely

     Afghanistan, you get shot

     Saudi Arabia, you will be jailed

     China, you'll most likely never be heard from again

     Venezuela, you will be branded a spy and your fate will be sealed 

     Cuba, you will be thrown into political prison to rot

     Mexico, you will be jailed and deported within 24 hours

If you cross the U.S. border illegally, you get:

a job    driver's license    Social Security card     welfare

food stamps   credit cards   subsidized rent or a loan to buy a house 

free education   free health care   a lobbyist in Washington

public documents printed in your language 

the right to carry your country's flag while protesting whatever

and in some instances, you can vote

Has it changed much for those already here?

           Jimmy  

                     He is

       Risen

Because of Jesus, 

love is alive;

His sacrifice paid the price.

Because of Jesus,

hope is reborn;

His death will forever suffice.

Because of Jesus,

joy is renewed;

His life is a portrait of grace.

Because of Jesus,

victory is ours;

His heart now our resting place.

Rebecca Barlow Jordan

 

The Son of David... 

...is David's Lord.  Part 5 of 5. 

     Matthew was a Jewish tax collector in Israel, for Rome. Not likely to have friends. Jesus chose him to be his disciple. In the A.D. 60s, he wrote - or God wrote through him - the book of Matthew. 

     Chapter 1:1 - "A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham." He named everyone in the order of birth over 42 generations, concluding with baby Jesus. In verse 17 Matthew summarized: "Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile...and fourteen from the exile to the Christ."   

     Matthew's 28 chapters concluded with "The Great Commission," Jesus' direction for missionaries. Matthew's many words of Jesus, 30-plus years later, had to be God's doing, or Matthew had the greatest recall in all history. 😏 

     In the book of Samuel, God said "Tell my servant David 'I took you from the pasture...to be ruler of my people Israel. Now I will make your name great...not promised on David's merit, righteousness and good deeds, but out of the Lord's mercy and grace." (as it is today)

     David said, "Let us fall into the hands of the Lord for his mercy is great." Peter said in Acts 1:16, "The Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David..." And in Acts 2:29-30, "Brothers...David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. He knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his (David's) descendants (Christ) on his throne." 

     "Therefore, God set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, 'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts'" - Hebrews 4:7.

David will arrive with his Lord for the Millennium

  

A Shepherd Becomes Prince  

     In the Millenium to come: I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David and he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the Lord will be their God and my servant David will be prince among them - Ezekiel 34:23-24.

     My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. David my servant will be their prince forever - Ezekiel 37:24. 

     Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days - Hosea 3:5. 

     In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch (Jesus the Christ) sprout from David's line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness - Jeremiah 33:15-16. 

Dr. David Jeremiah: "David was a flawed human like us all. Notably, he saw to it that Bathsheba's husband was killed in war, and he took her as his wife." 

     "He was shaped by God into a magnificent being...for future service. God wants to shape all of us...He the potter and we the clay." 

Friday:  Samples from four sheets of scripture regarding David 

 

 Who Could Keep Up With David? 

     Three millenniums ago, he had strength and agility. He scaled walls, outran armies, was accurate with his sling, and confident. David was skillful, prudent, handsome, a musician, and poet.  

     While Saul was king, he asked for someone who plays music well. A servant answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him" - 1 Samuel 16:18. 

     Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with David - 18:12. In everything he did he had great success. The king of Israel no less, Saul wanted the hated Philistines to kill David. 

     David was a working class shepherd. A king in the making, a soldier, and his ability seemed endless. He wanted to glorify God and help the chosen people. The world will see this when he returns from heaven to govern Israel in the Millenium. 

     Also in 1 Samuel: God told Saul, "Now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people..." (No election necessary) "The Lord said to Samuel, the Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

      Psalm 89:20 - "I have found David my servant. With my sacred oil I have anointed him. My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him."

     Psalm 89-27-29 - "I will also appoint him my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail. I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure."

 Thursday: David in the final Millenium

The Coming Golden Age

     Part 2 of 5

     Before we introduce the Prince, note the Kingdom he will serve - the King of kings, heir to the Prince's throne. So, the Prince was once a king, and some day he will serve the King of kings.

     Long ago, Daniel had a vision of this (7:13-14). 

     In chapter 1:5 of Revelation, an angel reveals to former disciple John that Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the first born from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. 

     Two millenniums ago, when Jesus was choosing his disciples, Nathanel, no doubt hearing from above, said Rabbi, you are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel. Still in our future, He will rule from Jerusalem, not only Israel, but every nation on earth. 

     And who will be his Prince governing all Israel? Not Jacob, but David, who is considered the founding father of the Jewish people. 

     David was the man. Prophet Jeremiah knew this ahead: In that day declares the Lord Almighty, I will break the yoke of their necks and will tear off their binds. No longer will foreigners enslave them. Instead, they will serve the Lord their God and David their king whom I will raise up for them.  

     The coming Prince was king in Hebron 7 years and Jerusalem 33 years. David lived three millenniums ago. His story is found in 62 chapters of the Old Testament, and 56 mentions in the New Testament. He wasn't perfect, but he related to his God. Leaders of all other nations in the Millennium will be humans. 

Wednesday: David from sheep herder to king

   

 

 Monday to Friday

Five-day series - Prince of Israel

     Who is this prince? We have several candidates for the man who will be second only to Christ himself when the Millenium begins. 

     Could it be Noah? He and his sons did a terrific job building an ark to save his family, animals and birds during the flood. Noah could build the new temple. 

     Maybe Abraham, who obeyed God to the moment of - but not sacrificing - his only son, when the Lord tested him. We're all to follow Abraham's example. He would obey the King of kings.

     How about Jacob, Abraham's grandson, the founding father of the Israelites? Father of 12 sons, 10 who had issues with a young brother they hated. Israelites served the Egyptians for centuries until...

     Moses. Just a shepherd, called by God to "deliver my people" from the Egyptians. Numerous miracles. What a prince. 

     Ahhhh...Daniel, taken to Babylon with most Israelites, where he served the king, and interpreted his famous dream. Daniel received many visions and dreams, annoying jealous Babylonians. They tricked the king into throwing him into a lion's den, but God kept the lions quiet. Daniel later received dreams about the antichrist and events yet to come. It's gotta be Daniel. 

     But, Solomon became the greatest king of the times, and God promised him much. Solomon got carried away with his insatiable quest for knowledge...and wives. So... 

     Hold on!!! Wait a minute. We forgot Solomon's father?

Tuesday: the Prince's calling

 

   age, and built the Temple.    time, 

          

 Journalism Matters   

A Biblical calling

     Once a journalist myself, I want to share part of an article by Les Sillars, a journalism teacher, now executive editor of WORLD magazine. 

     "For the USA to survive, journalists must be truthful. The journalist's task is to see the world clearly, and help other people see it clearly too. 

     "The Bible is the only authoritative source of key truths about God, humanity and reality. We need it to see the world clearly. A reporter can tell the whole truth about this world as Scripture shapes his or her reporting. 

     "Journalism is a noble and deeply Biblical calling. To do it faithfully requires the gifts of the storyteller, historian, philosopher, theologian, and even scientist or economist. We must understand the times, the culture that shapes us, and the people God calls us to serve and love - our neighbors. 

     "Like Israelites in Babylon, Christians are called to seek the good of the city to which we've been exiled. We have a life beyond this one. We're citizens of heaven first, but we've been called in many different ways to serve our neighbors now. We know that the political realm is often very important, but it's not ultimate. 

     "Christians are supposed to be salt and light. We want to preserve and defend the best parts of our culture. But we never paper over its weaknesses and failures. We must tell the truth."

Three blogs next week: the second most important man in history!

 

A Day is Coming  

     "Galileo, bored during a service in the cathedral, noticed the swinging of a lamp suspended from the ceiling. Using his own pulse to time the movements, he concluded that a pendulum could measure time and he went on to make scientific breakthroughs." 

     If only he had a cellphone to prevent boredom. 

Article by Andree Peterson

     "God said to Daniel that 'the last days...many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.' But what quality knowledge?" 

     Peterson noticed a long line of people in the subway, each person in his or her own space, head bowed, staring at their cell phones. I've seen that same unsociable thing, and so have you. 

     "Who benefits from our infatuation with the screen?" Peterson asks. She answers herself: "labs, app companies, social media titans" and such. 

     She offers "the first battle against any bondage is to admit the problem. AA's first step. The next step, be aware that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity." 

     "A day is coming when no one will be able to buy or sell" without the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:17).  

    '

Marriage: Yes or No 

     One of the goals of Marxist Democrats is to end the institution of marriage in America. Of all their weapons - disguised under pretend devotion to our constitution - marriage doesn't get much press. 

     At one time, 81 percent of Americans ages 23-38 were married. The number dropped to 53 percent for Generation X, and in 2020 the rate was 44 percent.  Brad Wilcox wrote a book, Get Married, Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families and Save Civilization.

     Wilcox sees a "decline in well-being for adults, children and society itself." 

     He shows that "married folks are happier, less lonely, and wealthier than the unmarried. Children from intact families have fewer problems in school, are less likely to be abused, or go to prison as adults. The happiest Americans are those married with children." 

     "Asians from India set a good example for others of us." 

     Surprisingly, Wilcox didn't get much pushback. There may be more recognition that something is wrong with family tradition. There are problems: "The young American dating culture...a lack of maturity among young men...and a radically progressive view of marriage among young women." 

     The Left he says has "encouraged women not to marry. And now their message is for men. In a weakened culture, it will be difficult to convince young Americans that the responsibilities of marriage and family leads to more happiness for most." 

       Jimmy 

Worked for me, on the second try

PS. America will be great again when families are great again

     

Is God Good?

     "There is scriptural evidence that God created animals to amuse himself," writes Lynn Vincent in WORLD magazine. "All the creatures show us his delight, his imagination, his limitlessness." 

     "He is the master engineer, the One who made the octopus which can disguise itself, deep-sea creatures that make their own light, and the caterpillar that reorganizes itself as a butterfly." 

     For his invisible attributes, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived - Romans 1:20. 

     God first revealed himself to us with the sevenfold, And God saw that it was good. God made children for his glory (Isaiah 43:7) and the heavens declare his glory (Psalm 19:1). 

     Lynn is ''thrilled'' to think God is so overflowing with goodness that He chose to create the planet. That He is so full of love, joy, compassion, grace, creativity and beauty that He had to share it. 

     She writes, "We know His grand plan will end in ultimate good, even if He allows savagery, betrayal, disease and death because of our corruption. The road to glory is paved with the blood of the Savior who reconciles us." 

    For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth...as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies - Romans 8:22-23.

Revelation 19 reveals God's anger with those who refuse to trust and obey: With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 

            Jimmy

     

Joy to the World 

     Every Christmas, growing up, we sang this hymn. Decades later I learned this hymn is all about Christ's return to earth - not His birthday - to rule a thousand years. Believers then in heaven will come with Him. 

     No more sins and sorrows...nor thorns...He comes to make His blessings flow...far as the curse is found... 

     In a bookstore, looking for a book they didn't have, I settled for Dr. David Jeremiah's latest book, The Coming Golden Age. How fortunate I was. Thirty-one short chapters, hundreds of Bible verses.

     Scattered over the Bible, God promises blessings. In the wonderful 8th chapter of Romans, verse 19, Paul wrote: For the creation waits in eager expectation... 

     The coming tribulation will be followed by Jesus' return to Jerusalem for a thousand years...the "golden age"...sandwiched between history and eternity (Revelation 21 and 22. 

      It will be the most blessed time since Eden, which was a glorious beginning erased by our sins, starting with Adam. Meanwhile, the Son of God came to earth, born to a virgin. Beyond his teachings and miracles his primary purpose was to take upon himself the penalty for our sins. Itself a curse to reverse the age-old curse on mankind. 

     When this good news reaches the ends of the earth, He will return to Jerusalem and the Millenium will begin. A golden age the world over. 

     Believe in Him, trust and obey Him, and sing, Joy to the World. We joyfully recommend Dr. Jeremiah's book.

         Jimmy