Texas vs. USA 

     Are we drifting toward fracture of the country, reminding us of North-South hostility in the 1800s?

     We're a long way from another civil war. But Texas is trying to protect itself from runaway immigrants, while the Feds are bent on keeping the border porous.

     Gov. Abbott expands his border security, claiming a constitutional right, while the Biden administration demands he leave the border policy to them.

     Texas's law allowing state and local law enforcement to arrest illegal migrants took effect in March. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court ruled that federal border agents have authority to cut through concertina wire placed by the state. 

Knowing the Times

     We haven't read it, but a new book is out: LIFE in the NEGATIVE WORLD. The author gives evangelicals food for thought about living in a world in which Christians are viewed with suspicion. 

     This just occurred to me. Jews might be well equipped to advise Christians who are being challenged by their world.

     Anyway, the book covers three eras in recent history: 1964 to 1994 - positive toward Christians; 1994 to 2014 - neutral, and 1914 to the present, negative.

     The book review says: Renn (the author) sounded an alarm to prepare for harder times. He urges readers toward excellence, resilience, and truth spoken clearly. These recommendations never go out of date.

          Jimmy

     

      Men and women of Jerusalem......something.....something has happened this morning! We don't know........  

     There is word that Jesus of Nazareth.....the one soldiers beat until his face was unrecognized......who died on a cross......we witnessed this....his body was placed in a tomb in this garden......before Shabbat.....

     Please hear me.....it's unbelievable.......Jesus may be alive!  

     A follower of him, a woman, went to the tomb early this morning.....What was she thinking?.......She wouldn't be able to roll back the heavy stone.....But when she got there the tomb was open. 

     Inside where the body was, there were strips of linen and burial cloth all folded up neatly.......not like someone in a hurry removed him....and where did the guards go, the ones there to prevent a break-in? 

     She was upset when someone standing there asked her why she is crying......The woman....I think her name was Mary....thought this someone had carried him away. 

     Then the man said, "Mary" .......she looked up and knew him. It was Jesus......alive.....as if he had not been beaten......He said something to her......something to tell his disciples.

     We don't know where his disciples are hiding from the Jews......but we wonder what Jesus is going to do.....Will he show himself to Pilate? ...... Make himself king of Israel?......Appear to the Pharisees? 

     Wait a minute.....I just remembered.....some time ago Jesus brought his friend Lazarus alive out of his tomb where he had been dead four days. Everyone who was there, including Pharisees, knew the truth.   

     Excuse me.....I'm out of breath......One thing is sure......This isn't the end we all thought......This is the beginning of something never known before over all the earth........

 

     Friday. This just in. We have a shocking update on the arrest of Jesus of Nazareth. The governor ordered him to be flogged. We still don't know what crime he committed. 

     Last Sunday a great crowd at the Feast took palm branches and greeted him as he entered Jerusalem. They expected him to become their king. 

     This afternoon, all talk of kingship has ended. Roman soldiers held the man who annoyed Israelite leaders. Soldiers beat him without mercy, and mocked his claim to be a king. 

     As we speak, here on Friday, he is hanging on a cross, crucified along with two other men. His mother and one of his disciples were spotted at the scene. 

     This is the unexpected end of the life of the man, Jesus, who claimed to be the Son of God. Israelites hoping he would deliver them from Roman rule will be greatly disappointed. That's the story here at the place they call "the rock." 

     The sky has turned dark here, so we turn it over to you. 

~~~   

We have word this morning from our reporter in Jerusalem. 

     They led Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor. He asked them what charges they bring. They said he is a criminal. Pilate told them to judge him by their own laws. They answered that they had no right to execute anyone.

     Pilate went back inside to question Jesus. When he came back out, he said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. It is your custom for me to release one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release him?"

     They shouted loudly, "No. Give us Barabbas."  

     When we know what Pilate will decide, we'll bring it to you.

Breaking News 

     This evening, Thursday in an olive grove outside Jerusalem, witnesses say that Judas the disciple has betrayed Jesus, his teacher. Apparently, Judas led a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees - carrying torches, lanterns and weapons - to the place Jesus often met with his disciples. 

     We were told they arrested Jesus, bound him and brought him to Annas, father-in-law of the high priest. A witness reported that Jesus said, "I have spoken openly to the world. I said nothing in secret. Why question me?" At that, one of the officials struck him in the face. 

     We have an update. This just in... they have led Jesus from Caiaphas the high priest to the palace of the Roman governor. 

     This activity is highly unusual, this being Passover Week. We will bring you more information on the arrest when we know it. 

Being Conscious of God  

     The disciple Peter - after the resurrection, after he knew to follow the Spirit rather than his own inclinations - wrote: "It is commendable...to be conscious of God" (1 Peter 2:19). 

     How do we do that? Don't we have to wait for him to appear someday...in Jerusalem? 

     Where did the author of Hebrews get this idea? "Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him" (Hebrews 11:6). 

     Seek him? Where is he? Abraham met him. Moses also. He spoke into the minds of prophets. David knew him. 

     Is that it? Two thousand years and counting. Silence? Demons running loose?

     Hold on. The night sky lights up with the "glory of the Lord." Angels reveal to lowly shepherds that "a Savior has been born in the town of David. He is Christ the Lord."   

     Isaiah (chapter 9) wrote of this centuries earlier. 

     He grew up conscious of God. He is God. He taught his disciples and healed the people. Painfully, He gave his life, a "lamb" sacrificed for the sins of the world. He "was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father."

     He provides the Holy Spirit to all who believe. We become conscious of God. Daily. Hourly. "Newness of life" (Romans 6:4). 

     "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" (John 3:16).

His invitation is not indefinite. 

 

The Lamb of God  

     As the world turns, it hates Jesus, because he testified "that it's works are evil" (John chapter 7).

     As the world turns, the "thief comes to steal to kill and to destroy" (John chapter 10).

     As the world turns, "the ruler of this world is coming" (John chapter 14). 

     Jesus knew he was to be crucified to satisfy God's justice: sin must be punished by death. People escape second death only by faith and trust in Christ, "the lamb of God," who spent himself for us - once for all. What love! No more sheep, goats etc. 

     So, we know only that one third of the angels became demons. There are enough to manipulate the leadership of every nation. And now, taking advantage of our proud communications connecting the world, demons can influence people remotely, daily opposing God. 

     As the world turns, this Sunday is resurrection day. Let's open our hearts and minds to Christ...and watch our backs. 

From Genesis 3 to End of the Age

     No, 8 of 8

     We trust you have appreciated our blogs - scriptures about Satan and his demons from Genesis to Revelation. We don't live our lives looking for a demon under every rock.

     But if Jesus, his disciples, and other authors of the New Testament - writing over decades - all warned us about the underworld, we cannot ignore their report, provided of course from God himself. 

     These men also remind us that we have the Holy Spirit for many helps, if we allow him to work in our hearts and minds. 

     Demons are as furious as they were thousands of years ago. They may or may not enter people as before, as Satan himself entered Judas. Worse, they may be controlling world leaders, teachers, politicians and parents unawares. 

     Want evidence? Consider the world's hostility toward little Israel. And the USA is next on the endangered list. 

Hebrews 2:14-18.  "He (Jesus) shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil - and free those who were held in slavery by their fear of death. 

     "For this reason, he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."   

We may have a few thoughts tomorrow. 

         Jimmy

The Devil in Revelation  

     No. 7 of 8

     "In that day (the millennium) the Lord will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings below. They will be herded together like prisoners bound in a dungeon" (Isaiah 24:21). 

     The Lord above chose his disciple John, still living decades after the resurrection, to reveal history's last days and beyond. Here are verses from the Revelation:

     Jesus: "To the church in Smyrna. 'The devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution. Be faithful even to the point of death and I will give you a crown of life'" (v. 2:10). 

     "The rest of mankind...still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons and idols...that cannot see or hear or walk" (v. 9:20). 

     Seven bowls of God's wrath: "Evil spirits that came out of the mouth of the dragon and of the beast and of the false prophet. They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world..." (v. 16:14). 

     Fall of Babylon: "...another angel. With a mighty voice he shouted, 'Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit'" (v. 18:2). 

     "And I (John) saw an angel coming down out of heaven having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent (Genesis 3), who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years" (vv. 20:1-3).

Next: From Genesis 3 to the End