Fear and Uncertainty 

     "Israel is not just another nation," pastor David Jeremiah said. "It is the epicenter of God's activity in the last days. The rebirth of Israel in 1948 was a major prophetic milestone, and every conflict surrounding it brings us closer to the fulfillment of end-time events." 

     As the world around us gives in to fear and uncertainty, Christians have hope and a faith anchored in God's promises (Luke 21:25-28, Titus 2:13).

     "We as the church hold the message they so desperately need - the gospel of Jesus Christ," Jeremiah said. "While others are panicking, we should be proclaiming."

     "We are here for such a time as this, Jeremiah continued, "to share the Gospel, to pray without ceasing and to live holy lives that reflect the light of Christ. The final hour is not a message of fear but a wake-up call."  

     John Silkman, Israel country director for Samaritan's Purse, says, "Believers in Jesus Christ inside Israel are praying for peace and safety in their country. People in Israel think they're forgotten and isolated. When we say to them that people in the United States or people around the world in general...are praying for them no matter what their beliefs, they are very inspired and encouraged, and it uplifts their spirits." 

     

Court Decisions Matter

     "The Supreme Court's decisions matter. These judicial decrees trickle down and touch our everyday lives, activities and freedoms. The decisions impact the education of our children, parental rights, freedom of speech and thought, rights of conscience, protection of children born and preborn, and how we operate our churches, ministries, religious schools, businesses, even our livelihoods. 

Todd Chasteen, Decision magazine

     "Most Americans who receive a paycheck have tax dollars withdrawn. And most believers would be livid to find that their tax dollars were going to organizations that intentionally terminate innocent lives in the womb or to the distributer of gender transition drugs. 

     "In June, in U.S. v. Skrmetti, the court held that Tennessee can protect children from what is likely the largest medical scandal and deception in our nation's history: experimentation with dangerous gender transition drugs and genital surgery. Children in Tennessee and nearly 25 other states are now safe from this harmful practice." 

 

 

Moral Minority 

     "Many conservative Christians, who see the left as the only threat to Christianity, open themselves to malevolent influences on the right," said Mark Tooley of the Institute on Religion and Democracy.  

     "They falsely assume that any force on the right must be a friend to Christianity. They also forget that sin is universal and not confined to the political left. 

     "In the past, many conservatives who didn't claim Christianity still operated under its umbrella. Now, they're more comfortable with publicly expressing their secular beliefs.    

     "At the Republican National Convention in 2024, virtually all of the anti-abortion language was stripped from the official platform. You have to ask yourself how many of the people who had signed off previously really believed any of it." Well, Jesus is neither Democrat or Republican.

WORLD magazine 

Thanks for returning to Views after our disappearance Monday and most of Tuesday. Our daughter and husband are returning to St. Louis, a 16-hour drive. Along with their dog, Charlie.  

What began as an uneventful visit turned into a roar Tuesday morning. My late sister-in-law's house in our neighborhood will belong to new owners on Friday. By one trick or another we had emptied out almost everything in the house. What remained were two large/heavy items...a china closet and a three piece office furniture. 

When the people who take such things to the dump backed out of our agreement - like the astronauts we "had a problem." Our daughter and husband needed to get on the road, and we needed a miracle. Long story short, daughter wanted the cabinet, which they somehow got into our garage, where it will sit until they return at Christmas with a larger vehicle. Her husband meanwhile dismantled the office furniture and set it in sister's garage where "Two men and a truck" will - hopefully - take them out on Thursday, hours to spare. Daughter and husband were hours late started home. Oh, almost forgot that Mrs. Donut and I spent an hour in a medical office this morning for my annual heart checkup. 

                    Jimmy

Fish, Birds, and last, Trees 

     There are more than 300 palms and cycads representing some 73 species from around the world. 

     Here in central Florida, there is the Texas palmetto. There is the pineapple palm, and the cabbage sabal palm. 

     Add to that, the Miami palmetto, Jamaican coconut and the ribbon fan palm, the Cuban royal palm, the foxtail palm, and the bottle palm. 

     That's just one region. Think of the variety of maple trees, oak trees and those towering trees in California. 

     Like the birds and sea creatures, there is an amazing variety of growth on land. Much of it beautiful all year long, while others lose their leaves in winter and renew them in the spring.   

     We're not even writing about incredible human beings, especially with brains that even those who don't believe in our Creator cannot explain. 

     So, remember these and other features of our planet as you thank God for your life, pray to him daily, read his Bible, and see what else He might want you to do. 

Note: We are having company for a couple days,

so we will paus here and return soon.  

Jimmy

Can't See um Til You Catch um 

     So, we'll see um for you. Here along the Suncoast of Florida the ocean is home to trout, king mackerel, bluish colored snook, grouper, barracuda, (a long scary look), reddish flounder, and the black sea bass. 

     There are many more, some slender, others more rounded. Fish come in most any color. Tails are different. A gray fish has black stripes. A black fish on top is white on the bottom. 

     The mouths aren't too different, but the tails vary quite a bit. 

     Further out to sea are swordfish, sharks, whales and other creatures like rays, hammer heads and so much more. 

     Like the birds we discussed yesterday, every fish and other creatures like snakes and turtles and those that never come up for air, we credit our Lord, who made earth and everything on it, above it or within. 

     The wise ones who say all this just happened are Satan's tools to fool God's (potential) children. 

     Some 500 people, not just the disciples and others who knew Jesus before the crucifixion, saw and worshiped him until he rose to heaven. A few of them wrote one or more books of the New Testament. 

     In a sense, you and I can be honored above some or all of the 500. Why? Because we believe on faith. God could show himself to every person in the world and invite them to heaven. But the great Satan, who knows God well, knows that we can live forever in the Kingdom, by faith, and obedience, without seeing Him with human eyes. 

       Jimmy

  

 

      

Tweet Tweet 

     Suncoast birds have something to tell you. We'll introduce a few and let them tell you everything you must know.  

     There is the brown pelican, with a long white neck and a brown beak as long as the neck. 

     A proud osprey watches over everything like an eagle. 

     The roseate spoonbill has long, bright orange wings.

     A sandhill crane also has a long neck and long wings

     We have small ibis here in our own neighborhood. 

     The great white egret is well named.

     The herring gull is shaped like a robin, white front and gray wings.

     Cattle egrets have a head and nose looking very angry.

     Great blue herons have a crooked neck and bluish wings. 

     The laughing gull has long gray wings, each with a black tip. 

      These and 500 others are evidence of creation. As are you and me. Don't let Satan tell you there is no evidence. He is the chief liar of our planet. 

            Jimmy 

  

Gridiron Girls 

     Before we get to the girls, your blogger has a potentially untreatable red left eye. Fortunately, my doctor took me in without an appointment. He knew what it is, ordered two different medications, one taken four times a day and the other three times...all for two weeks. 

     So, if you see something unreadable, you'll know why. 😏

     Girls can play football, sanctioned in 16 states. Schools can compete for state championships. Next year, 26 more states will have girls' flag football programs. There are two conferences at the college level.

     The sport's growth has been explosive, with nearly 69,000 girls playing flag football. These girls want opportunities to play, as others who have long played other sports. What makes football available to girls are the two flags/strips attached to a belt around the waist.

     When a defender rips a flag from a ball carrier, the play is over. Normally flag football teams have seven players. Fields can vary from 50 yards to 100. Extra points are determined by runs or passes. Violent collisions do occur.

     Women's flag football will debut in the Olympics at the 2028 summer games in Los Angeles. 

     In my school days, 130 pounds or less, I loved playing football with other kids. No flags. Two hands on the ball carrier ended a play. 

     Later, in the Army at Ft. Lee, I played touch football in a league, on a field 80 yards long. One of my favorite memories: a pass landed on the back of an opponent. I quickly grabbed the ball and stepped into the endzone. 

          Jimmy 

Five Cities in One 

     What do Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Staten Island have in common? They are all different, and all together comprise New York City. 

     So, why is a man with no resume running for mayor of our largest and one of our most important cities? He is a socialist, basically communist, far left, although he won't say so before election day. 

     Zorhran Mamdani is a Muslim immigrant. He has the support of Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, far left Bernie Sanders of Vermont and far left Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. Oh yes, being a socialist is all that matters, not what state you represent. And there are national implications. 

     Recently Mamdani debated with former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, now an independent, and Curtis Stiwa, founder of Guardian Angels crime organization. Current Mayor Eric Adams has dropped out of the race. Mamdani won the primary. 

     Stiwa has enough supporters to send Cuomo's way, possibly giving the troubled ex-governor the lead. But we saw him interviewed, sounding like he knows best and isn't going to quit. Well, he isn't going to rise that far in two weeks, and we'll never know if he could have saved New York by dropping out.

     Mamdani is already stirring people to leave the City. He hates the police, Israel and claims to be President Trump's worst nightmare. Why can't a city of 8 million produce one respectable mayor?

             Jimmy  

   

Israel and Civilization 

     That's the title of a book by Josh Hammer, writing about "the fate of the Jewish nation and the destiny of the West." 

     We were stirred to buy the book by Mark Levin, who we watch sometimes on Fox TV, Saturday and Sunday evenings. Levin didn't warn us that Hammer uses words like socioeconomic, capabilities, revanchist, homogeneity and immanentize. 

     Back to our world, page 106, Hammer wrote that "the woke left says, 'you will be made to care.'" Care about what? He says, totalitarianism, not quite Soviet Union, or Islamist Hamas. 

     But close enough. This movement has captured the European Union, the World Economic Forum, and the United Nations. Remember the flock of UN members who walked out on Israel's leader last month? And there is a flock of Democrats in the movement, believe it or not. 

     Hammer writes of "progressivism, globalism, universalism, intellectual and homogeneity." Why should we care? 

     With favoritism for Islam, they focus their hate on Judaism and Christianity. Tiny Israel is their obvious target. America is next, with groups like Antifa already in our midst, and defenders claiming Antifa isn't an organized enemy. Satan is organized.  

     We may not live long enough to finish Hammer's book. But if we come across any six-syllable words you care about, Views is on it!

       Jimmy

Brothers Getting Kicks Out of Life 

     And one of them, Alex McPherson, wears an ostomy bag. But that doesn't keep him from kicking field goals and extra points for the Auburn Tigers. 

    His older brother Evan kicks for the professional Bengals (those are tigers also if you didn't know). Evan went from the Florida Gators to Cincinnati. In 2021 he tied the NFL record for post season field goals without a miss. 

     The brothers also have faith in common, with humility. Evan says "we are here to do for God. My journey is for everyone to know Jesus Christ." 

     His brother Alex, 5 foot 9 and 160 pounds, in high school set an Alabama state record with a 61-yard field goal. In 2023 he made all 13 field goal attempts and all 40 extra points for Auburn. 

     But last season, out of nowhere, he dropped to 110 pounds. With ulcerative colitis, his entire large intestine was removed. He credits "the Great Physician" and his faith is stronger, he says, back in the game at Auburn.

     His older brother Evan emphasizes "spirituality, physically and mentally, personal salvation and appreciation for God's blessing."        

         Jimmy

We Are Sent 

     Ever since the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples at Pentecost, the disciples and missionaries have been sent throughout the world with the "good news." 

     Did you know that all of us Christians are sent, even if we haven't left our hometown? We never thought of it that way, but that's what our pastor wrote to the congregation. 

     He says, "We are not living our life by chance. We are sent ... strategically placed by God. Not a coincidence, but a divine assignment. We have a role to play in His kingdom, right where we are. We can make a difference.

     "Our mission field is wherever God has placed us. Our conversations with coworkers become opportunities to show Christ's love. Our interactions with others become chances to demonstrate His grace...to display His faithfulness. That difficult coworker? Struggling neighbor? 

     "Being sent doesn't mean we have all the answers or are perfect. It simply means being available and willing to let God work wherever He has placed us."   

PRAYER

     Lord, help me see my daily life through your eyes. Make me sensitive to the opportunities You place before me.             Amen.

Your blogger needs to get with it. 

Palestinians Share Gospel with Muslims?

   Conclusion

     Joel Rosenberg says, "Jesus loved neighbors, and had compassion. That was not His primary mission. He did model it. He told his disciples to take 'the Gospel from Jerusalem into Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.'" 

     Concluding his September interview, he said, "The Messianic Jewish community in Israel is exhausted by this war...with missiles coming from all directions and their own sons and daughters serving in the Israeli military. They need encouragement and refreshment. There's a tremendous need for Biblical counseling"  

     "We're doing a lot of humanitarian relief work through local believers as they try to care for their own devastated communities." 

     "And pray for Palestinian believers to have courage to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with their Muslim neighbors - especially in Gaza - and to have great compassion to show the love of Jesus Christ to their suffering neighbors, especially the many widows and orphans in their midst." 

     "Please also pray for the Lord to grant Palestinian pastors a burning desire not only to preach the Gospel but to plant new house churches based on the model in Acts chapter 2." 

#

No Easy Task 

    part 3 of 4

     Joel Rosenberg, of Jerusalem, founder of the Joshua Fund nonprofit, may know the Middle East as well as anyone. In his September interview, he said, "Finally, the conditions are ripening for people to at least listen carefully, seriously. This is what we see everywhere we go." 

     As for the expectation that Jesus must return before there is lasting peace, Rosenberg says, "It's certainly true that lasting peace won't come until Jesus Christ returns to establish His reign over the planet. People say to me, the antichrist is going to create a deceptive peace with Israel Daniel chapter 9. That will happen."

     "But Jesus said, 'Blessed are the peacemakers' Matthew 5:9. The Psalmist tells us to seek peace and pursue it Psalm 34:14. Paul in Romans 12:18 tells us to be at peace with all men to the extent it depends on us. Ecclesiastes 3:8 says there is a time for war, and a time for peace.'" 

     "Let's at least ask. God can say no if He has other plans, but let's be faithful in praying and being peacemakers to the extent that we can." Regarding Palestinians, Rosenberg says, "For followers of Jesus Christ, our job is to love Israel and her neighbors. Compassion."

     "Too many Christians who love Israel haven't thought about their Biblical obligation to love Israel's neighbors - and even Israel's enemies. But that's what Jesus practiced. He went into Judea and Samaria. He went into Lebanon. He crossed the Jordan River and ministered in the country now called Jordan. The Gospel spread all through Syria."

  Conclusion tomorrow

His Most Important Thing 

   part 2 of 4

     Joel Rosenberg said in his September interview "The spread of the Gospel throughout Israel, the Palestinian Territories, the entire region, and strengthening of the church in the Middle East" are most important. 

     Why most important? "Because...the era of terror, tyranny, volatility and death are the ruins and results of all: shattered lives."

How would the Gospel (good news) spread?

     "As bad as the situation is, it does create an environment where people are looking for light in the darkness. They're looking for hope in a hopeless environment. Their governments have not shown them they have the answers. I would argue that their religions, both Jewish and Muslim, have not convinced the people that they're bringing hope." 

Views doesn't know that, but this knowledgeable Jew said it.

      He continues: "So people are open to considering that maybe Jesus isn't just a good Jewish rabbi or a good prophet, but that Jesus really is the crucified and resurrected Savior, God Himself, who came to rescue us and adopt us into His royal family."

     "More Jews and Muslims are listening to the claims of the Gospel than ever in history. And more Jews and more Muslims are coming to faith in Jesus as Messiah, as King, as God and Savior, than at any other time in history." 

Tomorrow: Biblical obligation  

Peace in Middle East 

What does the Bible say? 

     We appreciate what President Trump and other leaders did to bring the Middle East closer to complete peace. And we feel for all Israelis who were taking hits from Iran while dealing with Hamas, and those who lost loved ones. 

Hamas hasn't given up, yet!

     Trump doesn't know that peace (in this world) is not going to last forever. So, who is closer to Israel and knows best? Joel Rosenberg, a Jewish evangelical Christian, bestselling author, and founder of the Joshua Fund, a nonprofit that seeks to bless Israel and neighbors in the Name of Jesus.   

     Interviewed in September while the war dragged on, Rosenberg said "We are experiencing the most volatility and upheaval in the Middle East in many, many years. We are watching the utter transformation of the Middle East in ways we have not seen since 1948. 

     "In the middle of the darkness and war and terror and pain, the light of the Gospel is shining very brightly, although the church is embattled and beleaguered. We need a plan, a roadmap for the Palestinians in Gaza whose lives and homes have been devastated and who have no clarity about what comes next. 

     "Second, we should be praying for the liberation of Iranian people from the tyrants in Tehran. The Iranian regime is weakened...and the top 40 Iranian military generals and officials were assassinated, but it's unrepentant. 

     "Third would be the spread of peace and normalization between Israel and various Arab and Muslim nations. Not all nations are Arab, but they're all Muslim. What's the next step in working peace treaties between Israel and Saudi Arabia and Lebanon?"

Tomorrow: Rosenberg's "most important thing"

Fighting Side by Side as Brothers

     Before we delve into our article, did you see that Hillary Clinton and hubby Bill Clinton have publicly approved of President Trump's historic (three millenniums) success in bringing hopeful peace to the Middle East. I wondered if Hillary is thinking she might get caught in the new roundup of Democrats who lied about important matters. It took me awhile, but Bill's friendly words make it more likely she is worried. When Trump surprisingly defeated her in 2017, he was interested his job, not lawsuits.  

     Barack Obama and other top Democrats haven't congratulated Trump, who they hate. They don't like Israel either. Credit Satan.

Did Hamas Do Israel a Favor?

     The deaths and disruption they caused certainly aren't a gift. Before October 7, 2023, there was political divide in Israel. Demonstrations served to divide Israelis, who didn't know each other well. 

     But as military and reservists served together, soldiers began to dialogue, finding common ground. Out of this grew an aspiring new political party that emphasizes a return to Israel's ideological roots. "We tore each other and the nation apart," Matan Yaffe said. "Political hostility of judicial reform was a mistake."

     The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been a problem, and Benjamin Netanyahu's government resulted in talk of a two-state solution. Hamas took advantage of the strife. October 7 shattered all that. Now, there is a common goal of a safe and prosperous Jewish homeland.      

     And 81% of voters now oppose a Palestinian (enemy) state.  

     Reminds me of the horrible assassination of husband and father Charlie Kirk. The liberal shooter, thinking he was doing his country a favor, sits in jail while Kirk's Turning Point USA is expected to double in membership on college campuses. This is the generation that will save the USA, or not. 

            Jimmy 

Views by the Sea 

Which sea? 

     Well, there is the American Sea, just a mile and a half from us. And there is the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, a seven-hour time distance from us.

     Beach views are beautiful in both cases. The latter is getting all the attention today. The beach itself offers a view of destroyed buildings and thousands of Palestinians walking miles back to their homes, possibly no longer inhabitable. 

     President Trump is here and there, and today possibly in Egypt, just outside the border with Gaza. Ah, Gaza, the hell-hole of humanity where 20 Israelis were delivered (while we were sleeping) into friendly hands after 703 days of unspeakable hostage. Their health must be fragile, and their recovery uncertain. But at least they will experience love, not hate. 

     As we write this Sunday afternoon, we don't trust Hamas. But their friends in Turkey and Qatar may have helped bring the peace. Hamas still needs to be dealt with. 

     The majority of Palestinians voted with Hamas years ago to do whatever they could to make life miserable for Israel. Their hatred hasn't subsided that we know of. Satan doesn't make peace. So, England and France, out with your dreamy two-state solution. 

     Meanwhile, most of our government is shut down by untrustworthy politicians, and - good news - the New York Yankees won't be in baseball's World Series. Back to bad news...Portland, Chicago, Boston. 

         Jimmy 

The First Human War 

     Friday and Saturday we offered God's rebuke of his angel Lucifer, known as Satan. This was the first war. It continues all these centuries later, on earth, although our Lord could end it today if he wished. 

     He wants people to learn of him, to choose him, and to live by his commandments - such as love. He will deal with Satan and other fallen angels at a time of his choosing. 

     So, what about the first war among humans? It didn't take long.

     Adam and Eve's first child was named Cain. The second child was Abel. When they were adults and brought their offerings, the Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering. 

     God gave instructions to disappointed Cain that would enable him to please the Lord in the future. 

     But Cain wasn't satisfied. He killed his brother Abel. The first human war - brother vs. brother. Human nature prevailed. Genesis chapter 4. 

       Jimmy

 Why we have wars   Part 2

In Isaiah chapter 14, God's rebuke of Satan.

How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn.

You have been cast down to earth, you who laid low the nations.

     You said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven. 

     I will raise my throne above the stars of God. 

     I will sit enthroned on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. 

     I will ascend above the tops of the clouds. 

     I will make myself like the Most High. 

But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.

Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble? 

The man who made the world a desert, who overthrew its cities? 

You are cast out of your tomb like a rejected branch.

Satan's last war 

He will be imprisoned during the Millenium, then released to march across the earth, attempting war on Israel. Fire from heaven will stop him, and he will be thrown into "the lake of burning sulfur with the beast and false prophet, tormented forever and ever." - Revelation 20:7-10

 Who started warfare? 

     It began before Adam and Eve. God created angels for his kingdom. One angel was established above all others, and in Ezekiel chapter 28 God tells the prideful angel, and us, what happened: 

In the pride of your heart you say, I am a god. I sit on the throne. 

Though you are not a god, you think you are as wise as a god.

You will die a violent death. 

You will be but a man, not a god, in the hands of those who slay you.

You will die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of foreigners.

You were a model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 

Your heart became proud, and you corrupted your wisdom.

You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. 

You were blameless in your ways till wickedness was found in you. 

Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence. 

So, I threw you to the earth. I made a spectacle of you before kings. 

Tomorrow: Isaiah's version

No Clean Victory?

     What a day! A "phase one" deal involving several nations - the mediator being Qatar, our off and on friend, and apparently assembled by President Trump, may lead to the release of Israel's remaining hostages.

     Israel's cabinet meets today, to agree or not. Will Hamas, their leaders mostly dead, keep their word? Will anti-Semitism continue? Yes. Israel gets blamed for anything that goes wrong. Many American Jews don't support Israel. Many people living in the war zone go for days without food. Water, medical help and shelter are also lacking.  

     Hamas intercepts food and supplies meant for Palestinians...many of whom are prisoners themselves. Since May, the UN claims more than 800 Palestinians have been fatally shot...a claim an aid group denies. World opinion turns on Israel, which didn't start the conflict two years ago.

     Germany stopped military exports to Israel. Hamas is happy to see this play out, so we read in an article. Despite their strategy of moving among Palestinian centers, there are countries - France and Britain - willing to reward the Palestinians with statehood. A new Palestine will be friendly to Israel? Not a chance. 

     When are these do-gooders going to learn that Satan hates Israel and there will be no peace, no matter what Trump and others accomplish in the short run? Meanwhile, we join all hopefuls in Israel and elsewhere that 20 remaining hostages (and bodies of the deceased) will be turned over to Israel ASAP. 

            Jimmy

 The Hour Has Arrived! 

     Will David defeat the Philistines in Gaza?

     Oh! My bad. That war is long over. Palestinians have replaced Philistines and Hamas (Muslims) are the new enemy of David's people. It's the same old devil. 

     Tuesday was the anniversary of the 2023 surprise that killed some 1,200 Israelis and took 250 others hostage. Soldiers have died and buildings have crumbled in the conflict. A humanitarian crisis will or already has begun. 

     Hamas is not like a nation that loses and surrenders. Israel can't defeat them without harm to some 20 remaining hostages. Negotiations in July accomplished nothing. 

     This is territory that Israel turned over to the Palestinians, forcing some Jewish citizens to relocate. So much for good will.   

     As if the problem isn't dark enough, international pressure, protests and struggle within have heated up. Israeli leaders overruled military officials who raised concerns. Israel doesn't have the support of most UN countries. In fact, most of them would like Israel to disappear. 

     Why so much hatred? Satan hates God and God's chosen. He hates Christians too, but Israel is his enemy. The Lord - and David - will come to the rescue. Meanwhile, God is saving souls around the world. Trust him.

Update tomorrow?

               Jimmy

 What's Going On? 

     We are not yet "great again." There are those who are not teaching truth. Call them "false teachers." They introduce ideas our founders didn't have. There are politicians who shamefully lie on TV.

     Some teachers lead people astray. There are men who practice lawless deeds, such as Antifa in Portland, Oregon. Corruption is most evident in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and New York, and a few others. 

     Politicians and their helpers are bold and arrogant, not afraid to slander anyone they dislike. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, or do not want to understand. They are creatures of instinct.

     They seduce the unstable, the ill-informed. These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. They mouth empty, boastful words and appeal to the desires of sinful nature. 

     They entice people. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity. 

Here's What 

     These sins are taken from the book of 2 Peter, chapter 2, written 2000 years ago. We just applied them to America today. Human nature has not changed since Adam and Eve. Knowledge has expanded, but sin doesn't quit. Not yet. 

          Jimmy

 

How to Win! 

     "To him who overcomes," Jesus says seven times in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, and he will give unspeakable rewards: the tree of life, escape from second death, a permanent place in the Book of Life and the privilege of being in his presence. 

       Does that interest us?                             WORLD magazine 

     "Jesus doesn't say 'to him who has faith, or who loves, or who obeys,' although those would be true. In Revelation, he emphasizes incentives to saints who might remain in a sin. 

     "Overcoming suggests final victory. It looked like followers were never going to master their temper, pride, or that silent treatment strategy. The devil may have told them it was no big deal. 'Christ is enough.' 

     "Jesus didn't talk like that. Each soul has its own weakness (as did the seven churches in Revelation). When Jesus tells us to overcome, he is referring to that area of bondage that has wrecked our relationship all along. He insists that overcoming is doable. A divine command comes with grace to obey it. 

     "Overcoming is so highly valued by the angels 'there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent' - Luke 15:7. If a person doesn't deal with a sin, God will provide obstacles until he or she either obeys or dies without victory - 1 Corinthians 3:12. 

     "He only wants our overcoming ... he the landowner who doled out the same reward (pay) to the 11th-hour hires as to those hired earlier" - Parable in Matthew chapter 20.

 

Yesterday, Hegseth's Army 

Today, God's Army 

Note: Over the years we blogged for six days a week, then five, and three, and seven. Realizing that we can still offer you worthwhile information in our "old age," we return to seven days, sharing articles that are begging to be read. And Sundays will be the Lord's day. From our pastor: 

     "Peter understood the importance of being spiritually armed. He knew we need more than casual familiarity with God's Word. We need to be trained. When we arm ourselves with Scripture, the lies that once seemed so convincing begin to lose their power. Temptations become more recognizable for what they are. Our spiritual muscles grow stronger with each truth. 

     "This isn't to win arguments. It's about allowing God's truth to reshape our thinking, realign our priorities, and redirect our actions. When we are armed with the Word, we begin to see the world through God's eyes rather than our limited perspective.

     "Whatever form it takes, remember that this preparation isn't optional - it's essential for every soldier in God's army." 

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12 

Restoring Our Military 

     Did you ever? Some 800 generals and admirals from around the world sat quietly in the Quantico, Virginia Marine base this week. Most of them were older than our age 40 Defense Secretary.    

     I think we won WWII with far fewer officers. Was this a call to war? 

     Pete Hegseth, read about it on your computer, made his case. We are no longer going to be politically correct - but discourage war - by preparing. Every soldier and sailor - officers included - will become physically fit, and whatever else they can do to protect America.   

     We aren't protected by DEI rules, or overweight officers more interested in their careers. Hegseth said those in the room not interested in the required leadership are welcome to retire. 

     Peace. Strength. Competence. Training. Lethality. Risk taking. Merit. Standards. Fitness. Leadership. Obedience. 

     "No more playing games," Hegseth said as he paced across the stage, apparently without teleprompters. "No more walking on eggshells."

Views: Christians, Pete is one, aren't guaranteed success, safety, or health. We may enjoy such, but to suffer for Jesus as he suffered for us is righteous. 

The U.S. may become greater in freedom, safety, success etc. For a time. But enjoying our Lord comes first. 

As for the Lord, Views is going back to Sunday blogs, focused on the Bible. If you want to pass that up, we'll see you on Mondays.  😉

Can we be persuasive again? 

     Part 3 of 3 with Os Guinness 

Where are evangelicals today?

     "Part of evangelicalism has been politicized. The first thing to say about politics is that politics is not the first thing. It's Rousseau and the left that tried to make everything political. Evangelicals are now seen as purely political. 

     "But we are the people of the good news - the best news ever. We've got to explore the greatness of that good news and not tie it down just to politics. Politics is important, but not more than it should be. 

You would say politics is a thing?

     "Yes, it's incredibly important. But you've got to get churches, families and schools right first - that's where freedom is won and preserved. Then you'll have a healthy politics. 

What about states still allowing abortion?

     "Abolition took nearly 50 years of intense prayer, apologetics and political action...persuasion. And then they passed a law that enshrined it. Christians had the numbers, so they rammed it through. It was disastrous. No persuasion, only legislation. 

     We've got to do the persuading. We're increasingly in a culture of death. We've got to make arguments for the sanctity of life."

Saturday: Hegseth drills officers & admirals

  

A Cut-Flower Civilization

We're cut from our roots

     "When that happens, the flower shrivels and dies. Unless there's renewal. Take the American experiment, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and many of the Founders. There's a tie among faith, virtue and freedom. I call it the Golden Triangle of Freedom: freedom requires virtue, virtue requires faith, and faith requires freedom.

     "Today, the Framers' republic is on its last legs. The challenge is to restore it, but no one's talking about that. 'Make America Great Again' is always a matter of economy or the military. America didn't become great through economics or the military. 

But you're still an optimist?

     "Decline always leads to fall. But decline and fall is not the Biblical pairing. The Biblical pairing is exile and return. Reject the way of the Lord, and there will be displacement, dislocation, exile. 

     "Adam and Eve were east of Eden. Israel was under Babylon. The Church, again and again and again has been corrupt and decadent. G.K. Chesterton's line: 'Looking at history, five times the Church has gone to the dogs, and in each case, it was the dog that died.'    

     "So, we have the grounds for renewal. Will there be renewal? Only the Lord knows. I'm wary of announcing revivals, but we cannot be pessimists."

                                      Friday - conclusion  

To Whom Are We Loyal?

Nick Eicher interviews Os Guinness on power and politics. 

Is another shock coming? 

     "I think we're in the middle of a profound crisis. You see this in Friedrich Nietzsche. His last words were, '...it's the will to power - and nothing besides.' 

     "Worldwide today you see the shift to authoritarianism and totalitarianism. We just saw Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un getting together. But the same crisis is in the West itself. 

On the left or on the right?

     "The obvious part is the left, power in the state and cultural Marxism. But Christians need to be aware of examples on the right in America too. Take the administration saying, 'We want to make America great again.' They never say what made it great in the first place. They're trying to reassert American strength through power. That's dangerous.

How should we reassert American strength?

     "We need to go back, as followers of Jesus, to the Biblical, Jewish-Christian understanding. The Bible has a different view of power. The supreme example is the cross. Christians turned that inside out, made it a matter of glory. God's way of dealing with the world is not from power. We are faithful to our Lord and not captured by the spirit of the age.

                             Next: Cut from our roots?