Jesus said:

     "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:20 

     "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. Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? - Mark 8:34-37 

     "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you." - Luke 6:37-38

     "Everyone who drinks water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." - John 4:13-14

A Spiritual Battle

     Pastor Gary Hamrick continues: "In Romans 11, Paul writes, 'I say then, has God cast away his people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away his people whom he foreknew.'" 

     "Christians have become the beneficiaries of the blessings of God, grafted into the vine. ...remember, you do not support the root, but the root supports you. Salvation is available to all," he writes. "For God does not show favoritism," Romans 2:11. "Israel has a unique place in world history." 

     'For you are a holy people to the Lord your God...chosen to be a people for himself, a special treasure above all the people on the face of the earth.' Deuteronomy 7:6.   

     "Make no mistake" - Hamrick writes - "This is a spiritual battle. Satan incites antisemitism, and antisemitism is satanic. And no one bears more responsibility in the fight against antisemitism than the church." 

     "God chose Israel for a sacred purpose. Because of this, we bless Israel, we honor the Jewish people, and we pray for the peace of Jerusalem" - Psalm 122:6. 

So, the U.S. military (some members Christian) and Israel have joined forces in conquering to some extent the satanic leadership of Iran. The Bible says that "there will be wars and rumors of wars." 

  

 Friends at Last! 

     Isn't it interesting that the U.S. (the great satan) and Israel (satan) are joined in war on Iran's leadership, a tool of the real Satan? 

     Today, there are Americans in colleges, workplaces, politics, even in some circles of the church, who fall under antisemitism. Around the world, there is hatred for tiny Israel for no reason, other than Satan.  

     God loves people, his creation, and yet he allows Satan - his creation turned against him - to incite people and nations. There will be an end to Satan, but we're not there yet. "People have hated Israel ever since the tiny nation became the conduit for God's redemptive plan for mankind." (Pastor Gary Hamrick) 

      The "chosen" people themselves haven't always pleased God, and the rest of us, likewise. Still, he loves us. 

     "God, through the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, introduced the Savior to the world. His name is Jesus, Yeshua - Jewish Messiah, on a rescue mission to save. This Savior was born in Israel, died in Israel, rose from the dead in Israel and is coming again to Israel!" 

     "God's covenant that he would establish a people and a place through whom Messiah would come for the sake of the whole world - is the basis for why we support and bless the Jewish people while we pray for their salvation." 

 Continued Saturday

     

Trump, China, Christians, Muslims

     Continuing Wednesday's blog, "President Trump has criticized America's military entanglements. A 'fellow' (woman) in Washington says that Trump's military action in Iran follows in the same vein as his Republican predecessors. "It was the dream of neoconservatives to get rid of the Iranian regime after getting rid of the Afghan and Iraqi regimes. 

     She added, "Years of American opposition to Iran in the form of economic sanctions bolstered the regime's position by weakening Iranian society, unintentionally stalling reform efforts and pushing the Islamic republic into the arms of China. China buys more than 80 percent of Iran's crude oil exports."

     She worries Chinese propaganda painting the U.S. as "reckless" and the People's Republic as the "true upholder of international law and stability." She also is concerned that the Trump administration's intervention could jeopardize internal Iranian resistance efforts. 

     Another expert agreed, but noted Operation Epic Fury may also strengthen the U.S. in the eyes of its Asian rival. Trump is willing to back up foreign policy objectives with force. 

     Christian ministries say growing numbers of Iranians are becoming disillusioned with Islam and are looking elsewhere for answers. Heart4Iran is a ministry that broadcasts Christian programming into Iran. Its satellite TV station operates a 24/7 call center. The CEO, who fled from Iran, said, "The Iranian people's perspective regarding Islam has changed a lot, long before this attack. 

     The doctoral student in Ohio (see yesterday's blog) is considering moving back home - but only if the regime fully changes. "I want the whole world to know the true nature of this government. How their ideology destroyed my beautiful country." 

           Jimmy  

Tuesday's Update

     Cancel 8 p.m. Eastern-time all-out bombing. President Trump: "If Iran opens the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend bombing for 2 weeks." Cease fire. Talk better than bombs. This morning looked unwinnable. Tonight, Trump wins again. If the Iranians keep their word. 

Wednesday Morning                                          WORLD magazine

     On the news that Iran's supreme leader was dead, an Iranian college student in Ohio, on his way to class, remembers, "For a moment, I couldn't breathe," he said. "I just started crying for all the years that they ruled us. We begged for that. This man killed his own people." 

     "U.S. and Israeli forces have destroyed much of Iran's military might. Thousands of Iranians flooded the streets of cities across the globe to celebrate. But not all Iranians share that view. 

     "They worry foreign interference could sabotage ongoing efforts to advance democracy...and lead to worse crackdowns or civil war. Other critics argue the war violates U.S. campaign promises. 

     "The student in Ohio says most students coming to the U.S. are 'just desperate for a life out from under the prying eyes of the government.' A study showed that on average a protest occurred in Tehran once every three days from 2009 to 2024. A U.S. organization verified the Iran government killed more than 6,000 protesters, and is investigating over 17,000 other deaths.   

     "Operation Epic Fury is not a 'regime change' war, but our president urges Iranian people to 'take over your government.' That appears unlikely. The U.S. achieved its objectives: preventing the Islamic Republic from developing nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, naval power and terrorist armies. 

     "Without their dead leaders, other Iranians launched a series of attacks by drones. Israeli air defenses have intercepted hundreds of Iranian missiles, some fired by Hezbollah."

Tomorrow: NBC poll. 54% of Americans disapprove

 

New Identity, Based on Truth 

     Humans are born; we live our lives and die.  

     Oh, there are differences in how we live, but death wins. 

     God himself, in the person of Jesus, died on the cross to pay for our sins. Then he came back to life, offering new life to all of us. Death doesn't have to win. 

     Father, Son and Holy Spirit - with more love than we have - want us to be born again. (Ask Nicodemus.) If you...know how to give good gifts...how much more will our Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? - Luke 11:13. 

     On Resurrection Sunday we wrote about God's message through Peter, chapter 3:18-22. In the days of Noah, God flooded the disobedient world. Only Noah and his family survived. 

     God tells us through Peter that the flood symbolizes baptism...that now saves us also...a pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at God's right hand...with angels and power in submission to him. 

     Baptism is an obedient expression of our repentance, our faith in Christ and commitment. Once baptized, we belong to Christ and (spiritually) have died and risen with him. God wants more from us, but baptism opens the way.  

          Romans 6:3-5   Galatians 3:27   Colossians 2:11-12   Acts 2:38-39

     No one ever imagined a world flood. But Noah believed God and survived.  

     This blogger was baptized as a baby, like so many of us. At age 30, I was baptized, by my decision. Which one did God favor?  

             Jimmy   

Yes, we know this is a serious day for Iran

Easter Sunday is over.

But the resurrection daily calls on sinners to believe and repent.

Baseball History 

     In my last year of college, I was walking toward my appointment when I happened on a group of students listening to the seventh game of the 1960 world series, Pittsburgh Pirates vs. the vaunted New York Yankees. I think each of the Yanks' three wins were blow outs. 

     I moved on and returned to find...nobody. Was the game over?

     The Pirates' young Bill Mazeroski, known for his second base defense, came up to lead off the bottom of the 9th inning, score 9-9. 

     While I was posing for my photo, I missed seeing Mazeroski crush a fastball over Pittsburgh's left field fence to secure victory, and his place in baseball history. 

     Mazeroski died this February, at age 89. 

Football History 

     A football coach led six different football programs to bowl games. Lou Holtz died in March. He too was 89. 

     He took over William & Mary, and after a short time with the New York Jets, he was an assistant at Ohio State, coached Arkansas and Minnesota. Then he coached Notre Dame, winning 100 games in 11 seasons, including the Fighting Irish's last national championship, in 1988.  

     Holtz then broadcast football for CBS and ESPN. We remember him as very likeable, even when he brought Notre Dame (our lady) to Columbus for a tussle. 

                           Jimmy 

The Resurrection  

     Early Sunday morning, after the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene (for whom Jesus had driven out seven demons) went to the tomb. There was a violent earthquake. An angel rolled back the stone and sat on it. The frightened guards became like dead men. 

     Mary heard a voice, thinking it was the gardener. Jesus said, "Mary." She turned around and saw him. She cried out, "Teacher!" "Go to my brothers," he said. "I am returning to my God and your God." 

     Jesus' "brothers" didn't believe Mary. But Peter and John ran to the tomb and saw strips of linen and the burial cloth folded up. They still didn't understand from Scripture that Jesus would rise from the dead. 

     Two men who heard the news were walking from Jerusalem to their home in Emmaus, seven miles away. They wished that Jesus was the one who was going to redeem Israel. A stranger began walking with them, saying "How foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory. He explained Moses, all the prophets and about himself. Reaching home, they invited him in. He suddenly disappeared. 

     "Their eyes were opened and they hurried back to Jerusalem and the 11 disciples." Truth was breaking out. 

     Later, Jesus appeared to his disciples, not through their bolted door; he just appeared. He invited them to touch his damaged hands and feet. He was not a ghost, but flesh and bones. And he told them, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. Receive the Holy Spirit." 

The above a summary of reports. Some varied.

Note: As my relatives immediately changed facial expressions when they died, their minds, not brains, went somewhere. Jesus went somewhere after he cried out on the cross and gave up his spirit. Like other authors in the Bible, Peter wrote what God revealed. In 1 Peter chapter 3, that Saturday - between Friday's crucifixion and Sunday's resurrection - Jesus went to Hades, just short of hell. He gave Noah's disobedient generation a scolding, apparently. Peter also wrote, "The Spirit of Christ spoke in times past through the prophets." We will have more from Peter sometime this week. 

   

  

Jesus, the way to the Father

     In John chapter 14 - Jesus was beginning to inform his disciples I am going to prepare a place for you. You know the way to the place where I am going. 

     Thomas said, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Good question. Jesus answered,

     I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.

     Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." 

     Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. Don't you believe that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father living in me, who is doing his work.

     We understand that everything Jesus - born by a virgin - taught, he received from the Father. On Friday, we wrote of the crucifixion. On Saturday, Thomas, Philip and other disciples, and the women close to Jesus are extremely upset. If Jesus and the Father are/were as one, how can this be? His death on the horrible cross? How can the dead go anywhere, much less a very special place? 

     Mary Magdalene and two other women, weeping over the death of their Jewish Lord, are preparing spices to anoint Jesus' body at daybreak after the Sabbath day. Of course, they don't know who will roll the heavy stone away from the tomb. 

   

     

Good (?) Friday 

They Mock Jesus

Then the governor's men took Jesus into the Praetorium...

They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him...

And twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. 

They mocked, "Hail king of the Jews!" They spit on him and struck him. 

On the Way to the Cross  

Soldiers took charge of Jesus. 

Jesus told women mourning for him, Do not weep for me; weep for yourselves.

The Crucification 

They forced him to carry a cross. They brought him to "the place of the skull." 

Those hurled insults at him. "Come down if you are the Son of God." 

And they crucified him. They cast lots to see what clothes each would get. 

The "notice of charge" against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. 

Those who passed by hurled insults. Chief priests and teachers mocked him. 

"He saved others, but he can't save himself!" 

The Death of Jesus 

Darkness came over the land. When Jesus had cried out, he gave up his spirit.

The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

The earth shook and rocks split. Many holy people were raised to life.

Those guarding Jesus were terrified and said: "Surely he was the Son of God." 

The Burial of Jesus

A rich man asked Pilate for Jesus' body. He placed it in his own new tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb 

Chief priests and Pharisees asked that the tomb be secure to prevent deception.  

So they made the tomb as secure as they knew how and posted a guard.  

Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19 

None of us deserve the substitute He became for us.

Young children are the exception.

The Suffering Iranians  

     Columnist Lynn Vincent recalls her long-ago meeting with teenagers Mohammed and Hussein, 7,000 miles from their home, Iran. 

     She says, "Their parents sent them to America, out of the killing path of the Ayatollah Khomeini, the radical Shia cleric, and his followers, who called their uprising 'the Islamic Revolution.'" 

     "Khomeini promised justice, peace and dignity and the worship of Allah. Many believed and supported him. Instead, Khomeini institutionalized repression. The Islamic Republic fused religion with politics and purged dissenters." 

     "Women lost legal rights, were forced to wear the hijab, and were beaten if they refused. Protesters were shot in the streets. That's how two Iranian teens wound up in Scottsboro, Alabama. Their parents feared for their lives." 

     "All this makes the current U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran very personal to me. I've learned that many parents sent kids to America, while they stayed behind under the boot heals. What American parents can imagine sending their children 7,000 miles from home, even amid simmering racism?" 

     "The people who stayed behind in Iran are still paying the price. They still cry, 'Azadi' 'Azadi' - Freedom! Freedom! Vincent's young friends - now maybe grandparents - "are blessed with self-determination secured by the sacrifice of their parents."

     "But their countrymen still suffer imprisonment, rape and public executions under a dictatorship desperate to hold onto power. Forty-seven years is enough. For the sake of my friends, their families and all families like them, I cry with them. Azadi!" 

Do some of us despise this war to end nuclear threats? Or went along with our President, but now fed up with higher gas prices, wanting this to end, never mind suffering Iranians? Well, the goal was to destroy everything nuclear. 

             Jimmy

 

   

Our Thoughts

     Yesterday we wrote about our thoughts and how they come and go, and sometimes become actions on the broad roads of life. 

     In Isaiah (our favorite Old Testament book) chapter 55, God spoke about thoughts. He addressed those who are thirsty and those who are poor, urging them (us) to come to him. 

     He said David, "my everlasting covenant," is our "witness." David had faulty thoughts, like us, but he ended life a solid follower of God. (And in the New Testament we read that David will govern Jerusalem when the Lord returns.)

     "Seek the Lord," the Lord himself said. "Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Turn to the Lord" for mercy and pardon. 

     God continued, "My thoughts are not your thoughts nor your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." 

     "This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign." 

 That's the "narrow road" God wants us to take. 

   

 Feeling Guilty?

     If you are like me and many others, we often do or think the wrong thing. On self-examination, we feel guilty, but of course we don't dwell on it or share our guilt with friends. 

     What if someone told us wrong thoughts are not a sin? So said a pastor on TV recently.

     Was he approving wrong thoughts? Not at all. But he explained that human beings as we are, thoughts of all kinds come and go. Jesus knows who we are, and died to pay our penalty. He offers salvation to those who repent - as often as necessary - and strive to think and do what pleases him. 

     There's another mind involved...Satan. He has a mind, all wrong, and he and/or his followers seek to work on our minds. 

     So, while aware of our shortcomings, we should resist allowing the wrong thoughts to take hold. We recognize and replace wrong thoughts with God's thoughts. We may fail, but we repent and move on. 

     Need help? It's there in the Bible God provides. We all want what benefits us to some degree or another. The best benefit is knowledge of the Word of God, which saves us from hell. 

     Let's replace our wrong thoughts as we catch them, and replace them with God's thoughts...plentiful throughout the Bible. 

     Let's replace our hidden sin nature with the truth of God's Word. We will be so glad we did. No one, not the pope, not the so-called greatest Christian who ever lived, deserves salvation. But, God loves us and wants to bring us into his family. Satan hates God and wants to keep us from joining God's family.

             Jimmy 

   

Swallow-Tailed Kite

    We planned to write about Peter Schweizer on China's exploitation of birthright citizenship - and how Christian language is used against us. But the truth is too disturbing. 

    So, we'll praise God's swallow-tailed kite (my favorite bird). 

    My bird book on the Florida's Everglades describes the kite as "loveliness of form, beauty of plumage patter, and graceful flight." I've seen one in the trees behind our Florida home and will never forget it. 

     "White feathers cover the bird's head and underparts. Black plumage with purple sheen clothes its back, it's long, narrow. pointed wings and its deeply forked tail." 

     "In flight, this hawk may soar high in the sky or swoop for a drink without pausing, it seizes prey with its talons and eats the food while flying. Its menu includes large insects, amphibians, small reptiles and nesting birds. The kite chooses tops of tall trees (as in our back yard) for nesting."

     "The female uses her talons to snatch large twigs and mosses for nest building. Spectacular flocks leave the park in August, flying to Central and South America." 

     There. Isn't that better reading than what the Chinese are doing to use nests for births in countries linked to America? To give them voting rights? 

         Jimmy

   

     

Palm Sunday    

     Jesus made a "triumphal entry" to Jerusalem on Sunday. Well, the people who loved his healing power considered it a triumph. They must have thought he came to replace the Romans. 

     In Luke 19, we read that on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples ahead to find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden.

     They found the colt, brought it to Jesus, and put him on it. Not a kingly wagon, or even a horse. A colt, which normally would not tolerate a rider. 

     When he approached Jerusalem, a whole crowd of disciples joyfully praised God in loud forces for all the miracles they had seen. "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" They through palm branches and clothing on the road.

     Did Jesus grin and wave to the crowd? No! He wept over the special city, and he warned...what enemies were going to do to them, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you. Luke 19:41-44. 

     Five days later Jesus was crucified, voluntarily enduring the sentence the Jerusalem crowd - and all of us - deserve. 

    God loves us that much. Do we recognize the limited time we have? Heaven or hell. Nothing halfway. 

  

 

Who Really Owns Your House?

     "It may be the government," writes Andree Peterson in WORLD magazine. 

      "These days, young people can't buy houses, and retired people have difficulty holding on to them. For seniors, mortgages were paid off long ago. We own them free and clear...or do we? We can still lose them. An estimated 42 million homeowners are in danger of going bankrupt.

     "In all states, K-12 schools rely on revenue from property taxes. The appraising district sets the value of your house - often inflated - for taxing purposes. The legitimate worth of your house is thus fraudulently overvalued, which gives the taxing entities an extra few thousand dollars worth of value to play with. 

     "What makes your house worth more than it was five years ago? It may be nothing. It happened because school districts are borrowing money and using your house as collateral. Money also goes to many NGO's with names like Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul, and American Indian Family Center. 

     "You have now entered the big boy world of federal markets, of $23 trillion in property overvaluation affecting every home in the country...and of compound interest that can never be paid off. On a fixed income, this is unaffordable. 

     "One of President Trump's proposed affordability measures is to repeal property taxes. Good for him. How about we get local schools out of the bond business and have them overate on a cash-only basis?"

Who really owns your house? "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." - Psalm 24:1

A Historic Decline

     "For the first time in half a century, more immigrants left the United States than entered. Researchers examined immigration and Customs Enforcement data, which show deportations within the interior of the U.S.- away from the border - jumped 46 during Trump's first nine years in office. 

     "ICE arrests quadrupled as a whole, including a sevenfold surge in arrests of immigrants with no criminal convictions. ICE conducted more than 675,000 deportations last year. That included almost 300,000 from within the interior of the country - a record for this century. As the Trump administration continues its crackdown, net migration will likely continue to decline."

Better Than Expected

     "Economists expect the global economy to expand by about 3% this year and next. Based on strength shown by the private sector and governments last year, despite economic shocks from trade disruptions and marketplace uncertainties. 

     "Experts revised their expectations upward after observing responses to tariff increases that began in April, investor optimism and surging tech investments. Worldwide, economic growth has averaged about 3% each year since 2021.

     "Trade and market analysts were surprised that global economics, led by the U.S. and China recovered well following the 2020 recession. 

     "The risks rosy projections remain numerous: rising government debt levels, higher than predicted inflation, reduced AI investments, and economic or military disruptions to supply chains." 

 

Drawn to Darkness

     Teens are succumbing to the lure of violent online extremism. Can their families save them before it's too late?

     An article in WORLD magazine: "Radicalization often happens behind closed doors, making it impossible to know the entire scope of the problem. But existing metrics suggest this is a significant and growing threat." 

     "Happy kids aren't stumbling on these sites and they are being radicalized. The are already struggling with difficult experiences and broken relationships and want to know 'does anybody else feel like I do?"

     And a reminder from Scripture. Ephesians 6, in this war-like world, we must put on the armor of truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and Spirit. 

Views has company this week. Our blogs continue, but short.

 

It Was the Lord's Will

Isaiah 53:9-12 

     He was assigned a grave with the wicked. and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 

     Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. 

     After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life, and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 

     Therefore, I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Your blogger is a transgressor,

but Jesus took my punishment. 

How about you? 

We Know Who He Was and Is 

Suffering and Glory     Isaiah 53:5-8

     But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

     He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgement, he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people, he was stricken. 

Isaiah 53:9-12 tomorrow

What the Lord Suffered for Our Escape from Hell 

700+ years before it happened    Isaiah 52:13-15   

     See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up (on the cross) and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him, his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness - so he will sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand. 

Isaiah 53:1-4   v 

     Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 

Jesus was not handsome, as portrayed today.

     He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.

Continued tomorrow

     

 

 Never Be Discouraged

There is really nothing we need to know

or even try to understand.

If we refuse to be discouraged

and trust in God's guiding hand.

So take to heart and meet each minute

with faith in God's great love,

aware that every day of life

is controlled by God above.

 And never dread tomorrow

or what the future brings.

Just pray for strength and courage

and trust God in all things.

For God never comes too early, 

and He never comes too late.

                                             Helen Steiner Rice

Friends, stay with us, back 2700 years to Scripture more important than Christmas, beginning Sunday. 

 

Going Through the Gates

     In ancient times, city gates were symbols of strength and centers of life. Business deals, marriages arranged, disputes settled, kings addressed and prophets proclaimed God's word. 

     There is a specific gate God calls "the gate of the Lord," the gate of righteousness. We don't have righteousness of our own. Isaiah says our righteousness is "like filthy rags." 

     So how do we walk through the gate of righteousness? 

     The answer is Jesus. He is the gate. "I am the gate. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved" John 10:7,9

     We don't present God our impressive record; rather, clothed in his righteousness, we present His Son. 

     Some of us try to enter life's gate in our good works, our ministry record, our morality. 

     Prayer: Jesus, I lay down my filthy rags of self-righteousness and striving. Clothe me in Your righteousness. 

Part of a message from our pastor.

Contrarian, Like Him or Not

     What do we do about a person we appreciate on one hand...and don't on the other hand?

     Senator Fetterman, D- Pa., wrote an honest book about his rise in politics, and trouble with depression. He despises the Congressional dress code, which he calls the only bipartisan cooperation he has seen in Washington. 

     "He won the race even after suffering a massive stroke that left him struggling to relearn how to speak. In February 2023 after his Senate term began, Fetterman admitted himself to a psychiatric ward. Some of the effects continue today." 

     "In his book, Unfettered, he said his memory fails. He has a wife, brother and close friends. It's a story of cognitive dissonance," wrote Carolina Lumetta. 

     "He battled suicidal thoughts. After he won a hard-fought Senate race he was in a depressive fog. He described himself as stubborn and proud. He believed mental illness was fixed by 'pulling up your socks and getting on with it.'" 

     "Fetterman is the Rand Paul of the Democratic Party, often voting against his caucus on matters like immigration and Israel (and we think the war on Iran). Whenever reporters ask about his contrarianism, he stomps through the Senate basement repeating, 'I am not a Republican.'" 

     Views recognizes his honesty, his effort to conquer mental illness, and his willingness to go against his party. But we can't cheer for those linked with communists, who have steadily gained Democratic seats in government since their elders fled Hitler in the 1930s and settled in the U.S. Are Republicans worse than communists, Mr. Fetterman? 

          Jimmy

British Ships Head for New York

   Part 2 By Janie Cheaney

     "In June 1776, while the Continental Congress met, British ships were coming. Richard Lee of Virginia proposed a resolution that the colonies had a right to be free and independent. What was demanded was a formal statement of separation. 

     "As Jefferson said, the purpose of the Declaration was not to find new principles. The principles already existed in the writings of Aristotle and Cicero and modern thinkers like John Locke and Algernon Sydney. They appealed to 'nature's God,' a recognition of God's laws over nature made evident by way of man's reason.

     "The Declaration's endorsement of 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' was the foundation of God-given individual rights. The list of grievances against King George shows how each right would later be addressed in the U.S. Constitution. 

     "A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since 1776, carrying Americans further away from their founding principles. The 250th anniversary of the Declaration is an ideal time to review our founding principles and be grateful for the men who articulated and fought for them." 

Democrats care about individual voting rights for foreigners. 

 The 250th Anniversary of the Declaration 

     This is a good time/year to recall the founding principles of the men who studied and fought for independence. The Declaration was not a radical document to excuse an uprising.

     It was based on common sense, in terms plain and firm, to command the assent to actions the colonies were soon to take, wrote Hillsdale professor Matthew Spalding in his book, The MAKING of the AMERICAN MIND. 

     He wrote, "political ferment merged with traditional thought in a room of forward-thinking men together in Philadelphia." He says "the Declaration probably could not have been written a half-century earlier, or a decade later. It came to light between the rule of kings and the revolutionary upheaval that overthrew kings." 

     Thirteen colonies had been governing themselves almost since their founding, with English monarchy practicing in neglect. The French and Indian War changed all that. Parliament expected the colonies to help pay for their own defense. 

     Tax laws led to colonial fury, which led to "Intolerable Acts." Open conflict flared with shots one morning in Lexington, Massachusetts. 

Continued tomorrow

Note: Americans are upset with our (unnecessary?) war in Iran, not that they support Iran (Democrats?) It took war to establish freedom in America, and it may be war that keeps us - and Israel - safe. We regret our wars since the 1960s (Democrat - and Bush - presidents). But in our smaller world, Iran is different. Jimmy

The Number 40 

     Some numbers carry meanings beyond mathematics. Few are as common as the number 40. It occurs across time and cultures, marking the passage from one stage of life to another. 

     In the Bible, Noah's flood lasted 40 days and nights before the world emerged cleansed. Moses fasted for 40 days on Mount Sinai before receiving the law. Israelites wandered for 40 years before entering the promised land. The prophet Elijah journeyed 40 days to Mount Horeb. 

     In the New Testament, Jesus fasted 40 days in the desert before beginning his ministry and he appeared to his disciples for 40 days after his resurrection, before he ascended to heaven. 

     In each case, the number marks an interval that precedes a new beginning. 

     As for practical roots, 40 represents the fullness of testing, long enough to transform a person but not too long.

     The word "quarantine" is from the Italian for "forty days" - the period ships were once required to isolate during plagues. Human pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks. 

     From Scripture to folklore, politics and routine speech, the number symbolizes endurance, patience and renewal. 

Source: EPOCH TV 

Jesus Speaks

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:3-8 

   There are more blessings in that chapter. If we care what God wants, here it is.

What comes out of a man is what makes him unclean. For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery...and more. Mark 7:20-21 

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked...Luke 6:35  

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God...John 3:19-21 

Saturday 2:45 pm. OK. Getting lots of rest. Hope to have a blog on Sunday.  

We have company. We expect to be back on our computer Thursday afternoon.

Yep. That was our message, but the change was replaced by another change when I suffered the shakes and had pneumonia on Wednesday night. I rested but never got sleep, until Friday around 2 am in the hospital. Even that was interrupted by nurses who woke me to test my heart rate or whatever. Mrs. Donut didn't sleep either until she went home Thursday night.

Found my driver's license. Had it all along.

            Jimmy

  

 The War May Never End

     Oh. We don't mean the deadly war that is crushing Iran.  

     Today we're thinking about our war without bullets and bombs. The intentionally open border that allowed 662,566 foreigners with criminal histories to avoid arrest. Some 15,000 freed illegals convicted of or charged with murder, more than 20,000 charged with sexual assault, and 60,268 charged with burglary, larceny or robbery. 

     This war continues with 105,146 charged with assault, 16,820 with weapons offenses, and 3,372 with kidnapping. Over 126,000 have committed traffic offenses, more than 70,000 for drug crimes, 21,106 for fraudulent activities, and some 12,000 for obstruction of justice. 

     Wouldn't American's own lawbreakers be enough trouble in this land of the free and home of the brave? 

     President Biden and "border czar" Kamala Harris "blew our borders wide open to let in a flood of criminals, drug dealers and human traffickers," wrote Tom Fitton, president of Judicialwatch.org. He adds, "Leftist politicians and far-left groups are condoning violent riots to try and stop President Trump from carrying out what 75 million citizens voted for in November 2024." 

     Fitton writes of "real national security risks, quality-of-life concerns, and voting irregularities the Left is all too eager to 'overlook.'" 

     All this, while we're possibly - maybe - making the Middle East free of warfare. Liberal Democrats don't like that either.

         Jimmy

 

A Special Chapter in a Special Book

     Comfort for God's people. Sins paid for. Prepare the way for the Lord. 

     Isaiah chapter 40 is among our favorites. 

     Restoration for Jews. The coming of the Messiah. A new heaven and new earth. Repentance. The glory of the Lord.

     All created life is frail and week, and it will end. God's word endures forever.

     And that is only the first eight verses. 

     God gave Isaiah even more knowledge all the way to chapter 66. 

     We'll stop here and hope you open your Bible to Isaiah 40. 

            Jimmy

Look Out, Camels 

     Saudi Arabia is a large country southwest of Iran. Like others, it is taking fire. We hope none of their 2.2 million camels are killed by Iranian missiles. 😒 

     The Ministry of Agriculture is issuing passports to the camels, including the camel's microchip number, name, birth information and vaccination records. Oh, and photos of the camel's left and right sides. All this will regulate trade and help prove ownership in the kingdom's $13 billion camel industry. 

     The system will help ensure the beauty of camels entering pageants for prizes totaling $80 million. A couple years ago officials discovered 49% of entrants had had illegal cosmetic treatments including Botox or surgery to enhance lips, noses and humps. (Women understand).

     And we think our Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a big deal. 

Green Iguanas 

     Animals that do face trouble are some 2,000 iguanas in Florida. Freezing temperatures in January stunned them. They go into a coma, fall out of trees, and in some cases injure humans. Males weigh up to 17 pounds. 

     Florida allowed residents to round up the reptiles without a permit and deliver them to designated locations, where they could be humanely killed. The public was warned not to bring iguanas into their homes or cars since they will warm up and become aggressive. Volunteer trappers delivered hundreds to drop-off sites. 

     If only someone would round up an armadillo that messes up our mulch in the middle of the night, digging for food. 

            Jimmy

 

 

 Jesus' Views

From that time on, Jesus began to preach,                                  Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. - Matthew 4:17 

Nothing outside a man can make him unclean by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him unclean. - Mark 7:15 

But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. - Luke 6:27-28 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. - John 3:16-17

 Worry No More

God Knows the Score

Have you ever been caught in a web you didn't weave,

Involved in conditions that are hard to believe?

Well, don't be upset, for God knows the score,

And with God as your judge you need worry no more.

For He looks deep inside and is deeply aware

Of every small detail in your pattern of living. 

And always He's fair and lenient and forgiving,

And knowing that God is your judge and your jury

Frees you completely from man's falseness and fury.

And secure in this knowledge, let your thoughts rise above

Man's small, shallow judgments that are so empty of

God's goodness and greatness in judging men,

And forget ugly rumors and be happy again.

                             Helen Steiner Rice

Universal Truth for All

     Before the news focused on Iran, President Trump was dealing with the leader of Venezuela. Narco-terrorism and cocaine. Millions around the world have been victimized by socialism, communism, corruption, crime and drugs. The arrest of Venezuelan's president was celebrated around the world by those victimized. 

     Franklin Graham: "The demise of once the wealthiest country in South America serves as a stark warning for those who champion the so-called virtues of socialism - a world view that government, not God, has all the answers." 

     He notes, America is "One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." The New York City mayor worships Allah, god who guarantees Paradise for martyrs. 

We interrupt this blog to ask, how many of the Iranian soldiers are Islamic? Why would they surrender when their death would guarantee entry (?) into Paradise. 

     "The God of the Bible came to earth to die for sinners like you and me, though faith alone in his sacrificial death and victorious resurrection."

     "With all the man-centered religions and philosophies of the world, thank God we have the Holy Bible - universal truth for all people, for all time, regardless of culture, ethnicity, politics or socio-economic status." 

     "We live in a day where right is wrong, and wrong is right; feelings overrule facts; delusion distorts reality; debauchery is celebrated; and truth is relative."

     Jesus said "...whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock..." Matthew 7:24-25. 

 

     

The Pope and the Speaker 

     Sometime before Iran took center-stage, Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, called U.S. citizens to "deep reflection" about how we are treating immigrants. He mentioned Jesus' words in Matthew 25:35: "I was a stranger and you welcomed me." Or, in my Bible's version: "I was a stranger and you invited me in." 

     You know how millions of "strangers" came here during the Biden administration, many of them criminals, and many of them still on the loose. What do you think?

     House Speaker Mike Johnson said, "borders and walls are biblical." He argued that scriptural admonitions to welcome sojourners were given to individuals, while it is the responsibility of civil government to maintain order and protect its citizens.  

     Meny top officials in the Trump administration are Catholic, and Trump won a majority of the Catholic vote in 2024. The article said the White House and the Vatican have diverged on other key policy issues, including the UN, the war in Ukraine and in-vitro fertilization.  

     Well, Americans have given jobs to many who crossed our border illegally...usually working at lower pay than normal. And we have seen the wreckage of trucks that immigrants have driven, without license and even without knowing our language. And we have women abused by immigrants. And so far, those deported are mostly those with criminal behavior. We could lock them up. That's my "deep reflection."

          Jimmy

  

 China in Focus 

     "Strikes on Iran dismantle China-Led 'new axis of evil.'" 

     We pass on to you a brief article that "The Iranian regime's top political and military leaders have been eliminated. How is this affecting relations between China and Taiwan? Beijing has quietly stopped its ongoing intimidation campaign against the island, Taiwan. 

     What's China got to do with Iran? Well, "China made a serious strategic miscalculation," and "U.S. strikes may speed CCP's downfall."

     "The U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran are leading some people to imagine a future China without communism. Beijing and Moscow have yet to offer Iran any military help. What's behind the hesitation - and what's next for Beijing?"  

     Across Chinese social media platforms, many internet users are celebrating with the Iranian people. Some are calling for help to remove the Chinese Communist leaders. 

     Some Chinese citizens are cheering for Iranians, and seek their own freedom. China faces pain from disruption, and oil price surge. 

     China's Xi holds fewer economic cards. What was the reason three Chinese leaders lost their positions? 

 The above is all we could find on the subject.

But it may result in news some day.

Jimmy

 Watch God Work? 

     We long to see the "bad guys" go down. But God desires our vindication, not our retaliation. He doesn't invite us to relish the destruction of people, some of whom might be saved, some day. He invites us to trust him as our vindicator. 

     He knows how to unravel the schemes of the enemy and how to expose what needs exposing, in His time, in His way. 

     In Exodus 14, Israel trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army. God told Moses, Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord. 

     Vindication means: God's faithfulness and truth are put on display through your story. It's not that your enemies crash and burn; it's that they later say, "We thought we wrecked you, but God restored you." 

     When we seek retaliation, we slip back under the power of the flesh and the fear of man. Psalm 23:5 says, You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

     Do I hope God will take down certain people? Yes. What would it look like to release them to God's justice, praying instead for His glory and my own heart's freedom? 

     Your bogger is 100 percent behind the U.S. and Israel taking out evil leaders and their weapons, giving the hope of freedom to millions of Iranians and peace in the Middle East. Am I wrong? 

           Jimmy

 Tomorrow: What about China?

 Who is jimmy donut views by the sea? 

Copilot search on Bing

Jimmy Donut is a blogger known for his online presence under the name Views by the Sea. He shares personal reflections and insights, often addressing various topics such as faith, politics and personal experiences. His blog is known for its engaging content and has a following that appreciates his candid writing style. You can find more about him on his blog here.

blogspot.com   AI 

     Friends, my son in law, Ken, who encouraged me to blog, almost 12 years ago, discovered the above and passed it on to me...and you.

     Who wrote the above? We don't know, of course. I didn't even know observers comment on bloggers. This is not a prize, just a surprise. 

     So, if you are a Views reader, consider yourself among the countless people all over the world who read blogs, as we once read newspapers. Several years ago, I discovered that Views had (a few) readers all over the world. For whatever reason, I don't have that information any longer. No matter. I'm interested in Americans. I care about truth and honesty. 

     And feel free to scroll down and give us feedback as you wish.

               Jimmy

Finally, Decisive Action

     "For far too long, the world has been haunted by Iran's bully threats of 'Death to America' and 'Death to Israel.' Republican and Democrat administrations alike have vowed, for decades, that Iran should never possess a nuclear weapon."

     "Finally, an American president took decisive action. President Trump sent out B-2 stealth bombers to drop bombs on Iran's entrenched nuclear facilities." 

     If that seems odd, it's because the magazine article was about Trump and the Israelis bombing Iran in 2025, taking out nuclear facilities. Fast forward to this weekend; the Iranians stubbornly returned to nuclear development. The U.S. and Israel had enough. Iranians in the U.S. support the attacks. 

     After the 2025 attacks, Trump thanked everybody, "in particular, God. I just want to say we love you, God, and we love our great military. God bless Israel, and God bless America." 

     Of further interest, Jeb Bush, who traded insults with Trump during the 2016 election campaign, congratulated Trump yesterday. Bush helps lead a movement that opposes Iran's nuclear ambitions.  

     Well, our leaders and all of us are living in a fallen world. God sent his Son, not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved - John 3:17. And 2 Peter 3:9: The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

     Too bad the 40 or so dead Iranian leaders had the wrong faith. 

                Jimmy 

 

Friends, 

My sister and husband are on their way home,

Missouri, after helping us and our dog in ways

we had not planned. We planned to resume Views

today but news coming from Iran is more important

for you and all of us. 

We do note to our surprise large numbers

of people read Views Thursday and Friday...our 

supposed days off. But, hooray, Wednesday's 

message in praise of Christ was still there to read,

and our "off days" were "on" for so many readers.

 We expect to return on Sunday. 

And we have a special message for Monday. 

 

  We are busy with company from up North.

 Will be back on Saturday. 

People Are Limited 

     That's a strange statement in a country full of experts, leaders, influencers...the elites of any age...even our recent hockey heroes. 

     Many financial experts, medical experts, spiritual experts and such are helpful and needed. A pastor cautions that our confidence primarily in people - even pastors - naturally sets us up for disappointment at times. 

     In our day, we haven't just trusted people, we've often made idols out of leaders and systems. The Lord himself wants us first of all to believe in and trust in him. We believers may have troubles of all kinds, as did those in New Testament chapters. And Charlie Kirk. But God is watching over his flock. We trust and obey.

     Are the mentors, voices and systems we rely on building our confidence in God, or making us dependent on them? ...says the pastor. 

     Bankers get fired. Governments change. Movements rise and fall. Reputations shift. But God's Word is settled - Psalm 119.89. 

     On Sundays, Views is providing four statements of Christ, one each in the four gospels. We'll do this as long as you join us. There are lots of good messages from good leaders.

     But no one - no not one - can do for you what Jesus promises and fulfills, for eternity. 

 

 

      

Minnesota, famous for ICE...not just frozen water. 

     Border czar Tom Homan changed tactics following public backlash and concerns over the midterm elections. Some 700 of 2,000 ICE agents left Minnesota.

     President Trump had targeted the Twin Cities in December and expanded to all of the state. Aggressive tactics drew criticism, even by those who support immigration enforcement. A small majority of Americans still support the idea that people living here illegally should be deported.

     Minnesota had and still has something else going. Fraudsters are accused of stealing billions in public funds by setting up companies that billed state agencies for social services they never provided. 

In midterm elections, the party in power almost always loses the majority in one or both houses of Congress. The economy weighs more heavily on the minds of voters than immigration, says a WORLD magazine writer.

     It's something, that many Republican and independent voters care more about their wealth (understandable) than the threat of foreign criminals and such. As for Democrats: total control of America is their aim, and they lie daily to that end. 

     Don't believe me? Watch the Trump speech tonight and see how disrespectful the Dems are. That is, those who choose to attend the annual speech to begin with.  

                    Jimmy