Glory Comes Later 

     Wednesday's instructions from Paul might puzzle you, because most of us don't hear much about the Holy Spirit. God's connection with the spirit of believers is the real deal. In chapter 14 Paul explains that the kingdom is not a matter of (our preferences) but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 

     In Romans chapter 8. Jesus "intercedes" for us (connecting with our spirits). Awesome! Paul asks, Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Trouble? Hardship? Persecution? Famine? Danger? Sword?

     Paul, who endured all this himself, wrote, We are sheep to be slaughtered. (Psalm 44:22) 

     But: We are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Neither death nor life nor angels nor demons nor the present nor the future nor any powers neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God...that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

     Most Americans don't suffer what other believers might experience around this wicked world. That doesn't mean we are loved more. Our spirits and all that goes with us - mind, soul, etc. - are considered already alive in heaven forever more. 

Monday: President Trump in the Bible?

It is Finished! 

     On Monday, we wrote from Romans chapter 8 the law of sin and death, and the law of the Spirit. While still alive on the cross, Jesus said, "It is finished." What was finished? His life? Yes, but he rose again and spent 40 days witnessing to his disciples, his half-brother, and many others.

     Ten days later, the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples and other God-fearing Jews in Jerusalem. Read Acts chapters 1 and 2 for the thrilling account. 

     The sacrifice of the Son of God himself sets us free from the law of sin and death...if...Jews and Gentiles alike, believe, confess and turn from our sinful ways, be they small or great.

     God sent the Holy Spirit - all over the world - to connect with our spirits, setting us on the narrow road of growth and obedience until he takes us home (to heaven). 

     Sounds easy enough. But God allows Satan (see Genesis chapter 3) to lie and deceive). While we seek freedom through the law of the Spirit of life, this war continues. We are on one side or the other. 

     John the Baptist (Jesus said, "he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he") baptized people in water, but baptism in the Spirit results in power to follow, trust, obey and witness. It is the Great Commission. 

     What to pray for? The Holy Spirit intercedes for us in accord with God's will. As Christ became an "heir of God," we become "co-heirs" with him. Amazing. We don't have to be beautiful or highly skilled or rich. In fact, the humbler we are, the more we will conform to his likeness.

     If God is for us, who can be against us? - Romans 8:31

Friday: 

      We are sheep to be slaughtered, yet more than conquerors.

   

What is Truth?  

...the Roman governor sniffed

     Two laws are more critical than all laws passed by all governments over all the centuries. Read on...

     Nature. The world and our inclusion in it. What about it? Nature can be beautiful, harmful, changeable and deceptive. What happened to the Garden of Eden?

     We were conceived in a mother. Ideally, we were born with two parents. In some cases, we are adopted. If not, is there no teacher?  

     Whatever the circumstance of our birth, we are weakened by our sinful nature. No matter how good we or others think we are, our nature is Adam and Eve's nature. For simply biting into a fruit their Creator forbid, they were evicted from the awesome garden. They hadn't killed or robbed anyone. They believed in God. They disobeyed. 

     Animals, birds and creatures of the sea don't need to be taught. We do. Who will teach us?  

     God exists in his forever realm, called heaven, unseen. He created the world we do see and live in. So, how does Almighty God communicate with this inferior world, and how can we reply? 

     He provides the WAY! In scripture, he says he is Spirit. He gives each human - along with a soul, mind, emotion, etc. - a spirit. This is the necessary connection, if we choose to believe, trust and obey. And pray.

     God calls our sinful nature "the law of sin and death." Our only escape is "the law of the Spirit." And what is that?

     God himself in the person of Jesus was born to a virgin. In his early 30s he underwent severe testing for 40 days. He presented himself to the people of Israel. Performed miracles. He died a horrible death on a cross, suffering the law of sin and death in our place...and returned to life, appearing to some 500 people over another 40 days. We then acknowledge our guilt and allow him to be our Lord in "new life."

So, Governor Pilate, that's the Truth

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Culture Infiltrates Churches

     "In America today, even among evangelicals, God has been domesticated. He's made more sin friendly. Americans don't mind saying they believe in 'God' as long as they can choose the god they believe. This god turns out to be their own consciousness."

Erwin Lutzer, 83, former pastor 36 years of Moody Church in Chicago, in his latest book, The Eclipse of God, calls Christians to return to the God of the Bible, prayer and repentance. Next week on Views, a sure path to recovery.

     Lutzer says, "this book is to help people understand where this eclipse of God, this darkness, came from, and why we must get back to the Biblical concept of God and not the gods of popular culture." 

     "I think we find ourselves in the presence of a god who exists for us, not God whom we need to fear. In the New Testament era, it's emphasis on the love of God, which needs to be preached." 

     "But where's the wrath of God? There are two doctrines that destroy the church: the goodness of man and the tolerance of a nonjudgmental god. The drift began in Europe during the Enlightenment. It gave people the confidence that reason alone is all we need."

     "Love and truth are not enemies. Sometimes the most loving thing is to tell people some very hard things. There's a difference between music that has dignity and much of the modern music...trying to popularize the gospel through songs. People think they are Christians, but they are only cultural Christians."  

     "Cultural Christianity ultimately falls apart, unless we get back to a Biblical view of the gospel and God, that provides the basis for a common Christian culture."   

     "If you don't have truth, justice can become whatever people want it to be. Truth is based on the revelation of God. If we drift toward a nation without God, without heritage, we could easily move into a totalitarian society. There would be ways to force churches out of business. We certainly seem to be on the way."

The cure: Romans chapter 8, all next week

The Patient Survives. Time for Healing

     To summarize Monday's impressive transfer of power, President Trump restored some of his own first-term executive actions. He issued directives regarding our borders, the federal workforce, energy and trade. 

     He declared our borders to be a "national emergency," and seeks cooperation from Canada and Mexico. 

     Trump pardoned more than 1500 January 6, 2021 prisoners. We hope it is the innocent. And he removed the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord. (We thought that had already been done.) 

     In his inaugural address, the president promised to "end unfair weaponization of the Justice Department." He paused a TikTok decision for 75 days, and he terminated the Diversity Equality Inclusion (DEI) agenda, which is Marxist based, in government. Many corporations have already ended DEI activity. Some climate programs also bit the dust. 

     Outgoing President Biden had a big day also. He preemptively pardoned a number of people who haven't been charged. True. > Anthony Fauci, Chairman Mark Milley, Biden's brother, sister-in-law, sister, and brother-in-law, minutes before his term ended at 12 Noon. Biden had already pardoned his son Hunter. 

     We've long known that the Bidens were milking $ millions from other nations, without delivering on promises. Yet, in 2020 we elected the chief "milker" to the presidency. 

     Pardons should be given only for convicted people. Otherwise, this undermines our legal system. If there is no consequence for criminal activity, what's to prevent the Biden family from continuing to milk? Thankfully, father Biden no longer has power to sell for profit. 

     Innocent people don't need pardons.  

            Jimmy

This is the Day! 

     People usually recover from various troubles - sickness, financial loss, broken marriage, accidents, etc. 

     Today is the day the United States begins to recover from government abuse, corrupt and partisan prosecutors, politicians and judges. From Deep State lies and corruption. From war on our First Amendment and other civil rights. From those who call Right to Life groups "terrorists." From criminals and foreign agents the outgoing administration allowed to cross our borders. 

     Our incoming president and cabinet, and many other appointees will have much to clean up, from damage to education, to justice, to our military readiness. Some recent history can't be reversed, probably, but integrity, fair, responsible governance can flourish going forward. Foreign relations look promising. 

     Woke discrimination, abuse of power, mutilating surgeries for minors, transgender policies, DEI in the military...all this and more must end. 

     Tom Fitton of Judicial Watch hopes..."we enter a pro-transparency and anti-corruption era under the new administration." 

     We hope our leaders will be Americans first, Republicans and others second. Pray for those in authority, Paul wrote, keeping in mind that the Son of Man, Jesus, has ultimate authority. 

     By the way, President Trump did not ask for my advice. 😢

             Jimmy

  

Monday       Wednesday     Friday       

Big Game, Bigger Inauguration

     So, after four-plus months of college football competition, the championship game is set, 7:30 Monday night, January 20. By that time, President Trump will have taken oath, many executive orders in the playbook, and various fans celebrating victory. It wouldn't amaze me if he sneaks out to attend the game in Atlanta, but we don't expect it.

     Political parties compete 12 months/year, and numerous Democrats won seats in Congress in November's election. Most of them will not consider Republicans as teammates.  

     The 77 million people who voted for Trump are looking for new rules to tackle wokeness, high inflation and border security. Christians among them want more constitutionalist referees on the team, fumble free religious liberty, and left wingers blocked from their infractions.  

     As coaches have duties throughout the year, voters also have work to do. Tony Perkins, of Family Research Council, says, "The government protects our freedom and our ability to do the work only the church can do. That is to change the hearts and minds of people through the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ." 

  ```

     "Life is hard. But this is what I know. Whatever the circumstances, personally or politically or nationally, as we face the new year, our hope is not in Washington. Our hope is in God." - Anne Graham Lotz