Many Against One 

     Did they win?

     His disciples were to learn though his prayer. As he finished:

     Righteous Father, though the world does not know you...I have made you known to them...that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.

     Notice the emphasis on love, not power or other human desires. Then Jesus and his disciples - all but one - crossed the valley and went into an olive grove. 

      So it was that night. The betrayer, Roman soldiers (who normally would be hated) and officials from the chief priests and Pharisees would find him. They were after one man, and their verdict was fixed in their minds. They came with torches, lanterns and weapons to arrest...or worse? 

     If you are looking for me, then let these men (his disciples) go. 

     They bound him and took him ultimately to the Roman governor who had power to order a horrible beating followed by an execution that would be even worse.

     Did they win?

     Yes and no. Yes! Those who wanted him dead refused to believe reports of his resurrection. They considered themselves justified. No! Romans ended their reign in A.D. 70.

     Jesus had no further contact with them, but focused on the gospel that his disciples and other believers would take to Jews and gentiles scattered over the world. The refusal to believe continues today. 

     On the cross, Jesus forgave them. That's love. God determined before creation that the Christ would bear the punishment we all deserve. He made a way for those who trust and obey to receive salvation, as did Abraham and many others. 

           Jimmy

     

Christian Nationalism? - Part 2

     Article 6 of the Constitution: No religious test may be required for public office. The First Amendment prohibits Congress from establishing any religion and from making laws to bar religious free exercise. As for God blessing America only if America is Christian, Gregg Frazier asks how one explains Sparta. Sparta lasted 800 years and was maybe the most ungodly regime in history.

     It is true that American settlers fled a political system with a desire to create a better one. Many of us recall a time of two-parent families, prayer in public schools...and abortion and transgenderism were not common. The 1950s, minus racism, were welcome, though no era is fault free.  

     Christians who oppose Christian nationalism don't want government doing the Church's work or adding the Ten Commandments or the Apostles Creed to the Constitution.

     Jesus himself said, My kingdom is not of this world. 

     A reformer warns that amid America's cultural moral slide, something will emerge to fill the vacuum...win the day, in terms of our laws, customs, traditions in the public square. 

     A professor, Anglican priest, says, "Progressives have no qualms equating Christian nationalism with white supremacy and theocracy...it alienates people from aligning with conservatives. They want to frighten people into thinking, "all Christians have extremist beliefs." 

     He warns against combining church and state. "We need to keep the main thing, the main thing. Focus on the gospel." 

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Battle for America's Identity 

   Excerpts from Sharon Dierberger and Emma Freire

     January 6, 2021. A Regent University professor waiting at Dallas-Ft. Worth airport knew nothing of events taking place at the U.S. Capitol. 

     A reporter emailed, asking him to comment on Christian imagery among the protesters. He began scrolling through online videos, appalled by the riots, seeing no Christian imagery within a mile of the Capitol. Except, a rioter with crazed look and a Christian symbol, dressed all in black holding a Bible. He told the reporter the man didn't look like any Christian he'd ever known. 

     "The next day," the professor said, "the headline was, 'Christian nationalists have attacked the U.S. Capitol building.' She didn't mention anything I said." 

     That was the beginning of the mainstream media's adoption of "Christian nationalist" as its new pet contempt. A 2020 academic book, Taking America Back for God, sparked commotion. The authors used a six-question survey to conclude that most Americans are somewhat supportive of Christian nationalism. Critics called the survey seriously flawed. 

     Supporters of Christian nationalism disagree among themselves, but most want to see laws that are grounded in Biblical teaching and promote Christian living. 

     Gregg Frazer, a college dean, examined the private writings of eight founders: Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, Morris, Wilson, Madison, Hamilton and Washington. He says personal diaries and correspondence reveal their most candid thoughts about belief. "And it wasn't Biblical Christianity, even though they believed in God and used Christian-like terminology." Some scholars see it differently than Frazer. 

To be continued

       

The Bible

contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers. 

     Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true and its decisions are immutable.

     Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe and practice it to be holy.

     It contains light to direct us, food to support us and comfort to cheer us.

     Here, Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good the design and the glory of God its end.

     It should fill the memory, rule the heart and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully. 

     It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment and be remembered forever. 

     It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor and condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents. 

Author unknown

Like a Business

     Federal and state agents took down a sophisticated crime ring operating within the state of Georgia's prisons. There were 150 arrests and contraband valued at over $7 million. Drones were transporting drugs, weapons and cell phones in and out. There was a drone repair shop where authorities seized 50 drones. 

     The governor's office says more than 1,000 criminal charges have been filed against inmates, Dept. of Corrections staffers, and civilians. Many could face charges under the RICO act. Wow! 

Like a Day

     This is interesting for a man who lived to 120. Writing as if to God, "For a thousand years in your sight are like a day." Moses, (Psalm 90:4).

   Centuries later, Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "...the time is short. From now on...those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. I would like you to be free from concern...that you may live in undivided devotion to the Lord (1 Cor. 7:29-35).

     The author of our magazine column wrote, "Keep a loose grip on the nice things for they will soon be over. Bear with the not-so-nice things for they will soon be over." 

     She adds, "I always thought it would take longer to get old." Double that! 

     And we add: Whether our bodies die at age 2, 52 or 102 is not the most important fact. What matters most is where our souls go.

              Jimmy

  

Rottenest Nation? 

     Let's pick up where yesterday's Islamic activist in Michigan left off...claiming the USA is "one of the rottenest" nations. Aside from the fact "rottenest" is not in the dictionary... 

     We have our problems. We wonder if he would say the same about Islamic Afghanistan, where public flogging and stoning is punishment for adultery. 

     Taliban-appointed judges have ordered 417 floggings and executions, 57 of which targeted women. In February, there were public executions in two different stadiums, with citizens encouraged to attend. 

     Back home, there once were 100 applicants for every police opening. The way our "rottenest" nation is going, we may not have enough police to flog anyone. Since George Floyd's death, disrespect for police has led to an "exodus" of retirement and resignation. Three minutes can mean life or death. In New Orleans, average response time is over 2 hours.   

     Some small towns are relying on neighboring agencies. And some have loosened rules on tattoos, felony convictions, past drug abuses and poor credit history to attract potential officers. 

     If that isn't trouble enough, we're about to be attacked...by cicadas. They live underground, one brood surfacing every 13 years, the other, every 17 years. Both are coming up to mate this year, making a racket of 90 decibels, as loud as a lawnmower or motorcycle. In some counties, there could be 1 million per acre. 

     In the mid 1980s, our home and car in Ohio were overrun with these insects. A "rottenest" problem. Then, along came a tornado, after which not a single cicada was to be found...or half the shingles on our roof. 

           Jimmy 

Looking Down on Us 

     If you read yesterday's Views, you might assume we're referring to God...looking down. Well, the Holy Spirit is God with us. 

     Here we refer to U.S. insurance companies, using satellite imagery to check the condition of homeowners' property, such as roofs. Sometimes they cancel policies as a result. Thank goodness we had our roof cleaned on Monday, for $1,000. Whew! 

     Meanwhile, we're looking for someone to clean and seal the pavers on our driveway. Two companies said they didn't need us to describe condition, size etc. They were looking down, thanks to a satellite. 

     We don't need a satellite to count the number of readers we have. Our "day" starts and ends at 8 p.m. Normally, it's in single digits. Suddenly, eight days ago, 166 read Views. Then there were five more days over 100, then 66, followed by a record 244. While you were reading my welcome, 172 more readers joined you, for a 24-hour record 416. 

     What's going on? We're super glad you are checking us out...we try to provide worthwhile information you may not otherwise have. We're also challenged. We don't want to waste your time. 

     We close with a quote by an Islamic activist - looking down on us - at a rally in Dearborn, Michigan: "We live in one of the rottenest countries that has ever existed on this earth." The crowd responded with shouts of "Death to America" and "Death to Israel." 

...the mouths of liars will be silenced. Psalm 63:11 

           Jimmy