Fear the Boom

   There were seconds to decide. We were on vacation in Canada with some of our relatives.

   I could sail my sloop, but was not an expert. We headed across the lake, my young daughter and a niece aboard.

   Wind was blowing over the port side, giving us a good ride. We neared the opposite shore. There wasn’t enough room to make an easy turn with the wind,  so we would need to make a hard 180 into the wind.

   The mainsail had a metal boom along its bottom. The kids were sitting on the port side, elevated as the boat listed to the right. 

   Executing the necessary maneuver into that wind would result in a violent swing of the boom, knocking them out, and possibly out of the boat.     

   I yelled, “When I say GO! duck your heads and move to the other side! Don’t let the boom hit you!” When I was sure they understood…

   I did a metaniono.

   The first command John the Baptist gave to those who flocked to him was “repent.” The first command Jesus gave when he began to preach was “repent.”

   Jesus repeated this numerous times, warning those who don’t repent. 

   The risen Jesus, in Revelation 2, complimented the Church at Ephesus for numerous good deeds, hard work and perseverance amid hardships. But he scolded them for forsaking their “first love,” declining to love and obey the Lord himself. He ordered them to repent, else he would remove them from his kingdom.

   In Greek, repent is metaniono, a 180-degree turn in life.

   So, I yelled "GO!" and pushed hard on the rudder. Our sailboat swung around, rocked a bit, and no one died. 

   Fear the Lord…and you will have hope of eternal life, forever free from the troubled world we wrote about yesterday.  

               Jimmy

 

Is the End Near?  

   We don't claim the Great Tribulation begins next week. But we see previews of it in history and in present-day troubles.

   You know about the Four Horsemen in Revelation chapter 6, as revealed to John. 

   First is a white horse. Its rider is "a conqueror bent on conquest." 

   We think of the Pharaohs, Alexander, Napoleon, British kings, Hitler, Stalin, Tojo. Could we include Hussein, Bin laden, Chinese communists and militant Muslims? 

   Second is a red horse. Its rider makes men slay each other. 

   Examples: civil wars, homicides, extremists and terrorists. 

   Third is a black horse. Its rider symbolizes a specific famine, inflation and hunger. 

   Refugees are increasing by the tens of thousands. We've known of floods, famines and hunger in various places. Inflation is coming again.

   Fourth is a pale horse. Its rider is named "Death," a time of intense war, famine, plagues and disease. 

   During the Tribulation's last 3-1/2 years, there will be all-out persecution of Christians and Jews. Martyrdom has been most frequent in the last century-plus. Satellites and other inventions will enable the political antichrist to exercise authority over every tribe, people, language and nation (Rev. 13:7). 

   Kings, princes, generals, the rich and mighty will know their time is up. The Almighty will shake the world, and cosmic upheaval will terrorize. 

   Chapter 6 is only the beginning. Satanic wrath will be answered with judgment on this ungodly world. There will be silence in heaven, as horror descends upon the earth. 

   Our opinion: From here, world turmoil will only worsen. Our republic, which has lost its Judeo-Christian influence, is struggling to survive as founded.  

   We pray the Lord will revive us one more time.

        Jimmy

Relationship, not religion

If we are going to be with God at all,

we must be with him in this moment.

This is the day the Lord has made.

This moment is the ONLY place where you can meet God.

In church tradition, a sacrament is a means of grace.

It is the water used in baptism.

The cup of communion. 

Each moment can be a sacrament, 

a vehicle for God's love and power. 

To discover God in the most ordinary things,

as well as the greatest, is to possess faith. 

GOD IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK       

THE GREATEST MOMENT

The greatest moment of our life is now.

This tick of a clock. This beat of our heart.

Every past moment is irretrievably gone.

If you live there, you lose your life.

This moment is God's gift to us.

This moment is where God is.

- John Ortberg

This is the day the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

God's mercies never fail because

they are new every morning.

The Declaration of Dependence  

   With a decent Respect to the WOKE Opinions of every approved person, we are required to declare the causes which impel us to present a Declaration of Dependence, to render our history null and void, and to dissolve the racist, hateful U.S. Constitution written by white-supremacist males, among them slave holders. As follows:

   WE hold these opinions to be self-evident, that all 52 varieties of gender evolved with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are guaranteed income, free healthcare and education, and the pursuit of voting privileges in any or all states. That to secure these Rights, the Democratic Party is formulated among the elite, to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as the elitists shall seem most likely to effect their Loyalty and Compliance. Prudence will dictate that this Government will be long established and not abolished for any Cause not warranted by the Powers that be. Experience has shown that the proletariat are enslaved by capitalism. The suffering masses must right themselves by Depending on Government to deliver them from Despotism. When a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations reduce them so, it is their Duty to throw off such Government. Their patient Sufferance constrains them to look to the Democratic Party in pursuit of happiness. 

   WE therefore, the Representatives of the Masses, by our Authority do solemnly Publish and Declare, that all citizens ought to be Governed and Dependent; that they are totally dissolved, free and independent of white-male domination and religion; and that they have full Power to appeal to Government for basic needs and dismissal of charges. Under the Just Powers of the Government, citizens also have the Right and Duty to surrender all firearms, and contribute such Taxes as is fitting to the welfare of the new privileged. 

   WE the Caretakers reserve the right to cancel Obstructionists who resort to interference with any person's Opinion as to the nature of Life, and the conduct thereof. 

   

President's Positives 

   We decided today, rather than complain about our president's negatives and those of others in leadership roles, we should be fair and list the accomplishments of these public servants:  

   

   And remember, the Bible says, "Pray for those who are in authority." God loves them too.

              Jimmy

Allies Flabbergasted

         Enemies Smell Blood   

   This is our view after our embarrassing evacuation from Afghanistan, including the sacrifice of 13 troops "protected" by the Taliban.  

   Our president painted it mostly successful, but no allied leader can count on him, and no enemy will fear him. Watch your back - Taiwan, Ukraine and others. 

   Attending the arrival of 13 flag-draped caskets at Dover Air Force Base, the president put his hand over his heart, then looked at his watch. What? Was he told to get Air Force One back to Washington before sundown?  

   Here's one example of the character of leadership Democrats provide Americans. Arne Dunkan was Secretary of Education for eight years under Obama. This week he tweeted that anti-vaccination and anti-mask citizens have the same mindset as terrorists who killed 13 troops at the Kabul airport.  

   If you hadn't already seen that, take a deep breath and avoid sharp objects until you feel better.

   Hey! I know what to do. They told trapped Americans to go to the airport...simple as that. Well, that door has closed, but now they can tell them to go to Mexico...and walk home. 

   We never wanted to use Views By the Sea for political rumblings. But, these know-it-alls impact our lives - to advance their own careers. We're not crazy about Republicans, but they aren't as divisive or bent on permanent control. 

Our Generous Gifts 

   We don't know the condition of $85 billion in military assets now in Taliban hands. They were meant for the Afghan government, mostly deposited in Marar-i-Sharif, Kunduz, Herat, Kabul, Gardez, Lashkar Gah and Kandahar.

   73,672 Humvees, mine-proof vehicles, personnel carriers, trucks and SUVs.

   549,364 machine guns, assault rifles, pistols and artillery guns.

   174 helicopters, transport planes and other flying machines.

   300,699 Afghan troops had access to all this in July, but no matter. 

            Jimmy