Piracy in State Capitols and the Biggie in Washington DC? What Else Can You Call It?

How about a change in the flags that fly over state capitols and the one over that big building in Washington DC which houses a group of persons known as the United States Congress?

You can easily recognize the one at the very top and it has always been identified with certain unscrupulous persons who go about taking money and valuables from other persons, usually at the point of a pistol or sword!

Yes, I know -- it is bordering on the insane to even suggest such a change! But stop and reason for a bit -- all I am suggesting that we try to have the flag truly reflect what has happened inside the buildings over which it flies.

While there are quite a few things that could build a case for the flag change, let's just cite one notorious instance.

It used to be a long time ago that a couple would marry and have children. They continued to work and accumulate some earthly possessions and get a bank account established -- miracle of miracles, maybe that bank account would build up and amount to a considerable amount of wealth! The time would come that the couple would arrange for drawing up a will that divided all the wealth and property among the children or perhaps they would include their church or a charitable organization in their will.

The day came when the couple exited this earthly life and their estate was divided and dispersed to the parties so designated in their will -- every single cent was passed on to the chosen persons, church or organization as so chosen.

But something happened eventually over time -- politicians, as corruption set in, got the idea that a couple having accumulated an amount of wealth should share a good portion of that with government, at the state level and the federal level. Presto, something called "inheritance tax" was born!

Basically these "pirates" in business suits and claiming to represent the best interests of their "constituents" have pointed the sword at the throats of the citizens and demanded to have a generous share of whatever a couple has accumulated before it is passed on to the selected parties in the will of the couple!

Now in all honesty -- is that right and just? Call it whatever you want, but piracy is a most accurate label to apply to this horrendous practice! We have reached a point where some mention is made of it and once in a while some rumblings may briefly occur in the capitols, but nothing is ever constructively done to correct this mass injustice.

And you'll notice that presidential candidates while professing that they will bring about desired "change" if elected, don't seem to mention this one in addition to the many other critical issues which are causing the nation to capsize!

I admit to being greatly influenced by the prophets of the Old Testament -- if we could resurrect them, the only thing changed in what they said would be names of people and locations -- such as Washington DC instead of Jerusalem!

For those who think this policy is quite acceptable -- that is, government at some level taking a generous portion of the estate of persons who have worked all their lives and want certain parties to receive ALL of that estate after those persons have passed on to the next life -- if this is considered an OK thing, then how about having a good heart to heart talk with God about it? Below you will see His feelings about such activity -- it happened centuries ago -- seems piracy is too often an ongoing thing when it comes to governing officials!

Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain...... Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city! She has not obeyed His voice, she has not received correction; she has not trusted in the LORD, she has not drawn near to her God. Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave not a bone till morning. Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. --- Ezekiel 22:27; Zephaniah 3:1-4

More Power to the Feddy, But Will It Actually Work?

Washington DC - March 31, 2008 - Big news release focused on a proposal by the Bush administration to do a major "make over" of the financial regulatory system -- about the biggest thing yet since that infamous "crash" of 1929! Treasury Secretary Paulson had a 218-page plan (could you expect anything less from the federal government?) which spelled out the way the Federal Reserve will do this new "regulating." Its additional tentacles will now reach all the way down to local insurance agents and mortgage brokers!

It can very well be documented by a fully authoritative and totally reliable source -- if you are in agreement with and obedient to Almighty God, then things go rather well and blessings are experienced in great abundance. BUT if you are not in agreement with God and persist in ignoring His spiritual, moral and ethical standards for a sane, strong, stable, sensible, satisfying, serene, superior and successful cultural experience, then chaos and calamity will be the inevitable outcome!

Persons in elective or appointive positions of power and authority in the republic of the United States have yet to learn a very fundamental fact as best expressed by a man named Jeremiah who lived a long time ago and witnessed first hand what happens when a culture says a loud and very defiant "No!" to God one time too many! Listen to this:

O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. --- Jeremiah 10:23

The Federal Reserve time and again has stepped in and cut interest rates -- then the DOW rebounds a bit, but then slips back into the red. The "news" of the impending major "overhaul" will probably bring the DOW back into the green area, but for how long?

When money has become a prominent "god" in any culture, the time comes when the living God does some things which are a shocking reminder that when you embark on a course of pleasure seeking, materialistic expansion and money grabbing while at the same time you draw your moral standards out of a sewer and you don't blink an eye at the destruction of a hundred thousand of your future citizens per month, a price will always be paid! No person and no culture has ever beat the law of sowing and reaping yet and none ever will -- the law applies whether we want to acknowledge it or not -- there is always a pay day someday, for each person and each nation!

It appears that the line to the pay out window has been forming for quite some time and the question will increase in volume all the while -- "Why is God doing these things to us?"

The overhaul of the Federal Reserve and granting of more powers to that financial albatross around our republic's neck will be as effective as a doctor slapping a band aid on the finger of a terminal cancer patient, giving him an aspirin tablet and then saying, "You look fine, come back and see me tomorrow and we'll check how much you have improved!"

"The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it. Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good."' And they said, "That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart." --- Jeremiah 18:7-12

Do Any of Those Candidates Agree with You?

OK - here's what's up -- circulating now over the Internet is an opportunity for you to find out how close any of the candidates come into agreement with you on a number of issues!

It's really very simple -- just below is a link which will take you to a place called Vote Chooser where you will answer some questions. After completion you will find how much a candidate agrees with you -- it sounds better to put it that way than if you agree with him or her!

The four candidates are B. O., Mrs. William Clinton, John McCain, and Ron Paul. You see where there is agreement or disagreement. It's an interesting exercise.

If you want to come back here later, after you have recovered, use the reverse feature on your web browser.

That link is
Vote Chooser
And the good news is that no political party has anything to do with this by way of setting it up, sponsorship, or anything else!

Enjoy!

The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: "He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, Like the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain." --- 2 Samuel 23:3, 4

Penn State University Continues to Build on a Foundation of Notoriety!

.....The ceremony will be held March 29 at the HUB-Robeson Center. State College Mayor Bill Welch, who said he supports the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community and its allies (LGBTA), will preside over the event. It is the first event of LGBTA's Pride Week. "I'd have no problem performing same-sex marriages, but it's not legal," Welch said.... --- from a Penn State campus news organization reporting on a scheduled commitment ceremony to be held for homosexual and lesbian couples on March 29, 2008

Penn State University continues to add to its list of accomplishments for top entry in the Notoriety Hall of Fame! In the central Pennsylvania region the news diet as it pertains to Penn State University is a steady stream of stuff that makes a cesspool smell like a rose!

Here are the kinds of things we are told as they unfold at the school which has a well known coach named Joe Paterno and a football team which has some members who have done more than their share in tarnishing the image of the school:

• Penn State football team players involved in brawls with various charges brought against them for such conduct
  
• sexual assaults
  
• underage drinking and arrests on that basis
  
• assaults, which often are connected to use of beverage alcohol -- seems the alcohol flows practically unrestricted around the university!
  

Now comes the latest blunder of blunders -- a "commitment" ceremony to be held on campus for couples who practice sodomy or lesbianism! One news release indicated there will be 3 male couples and 3 female couples. State College Mayor Bill Welch will conduct the ceremony for them at the HUB-Robeson Center. The mayor has been quoted as saying that he supports the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community and its allies (LGBTA).

A couple of the males involved in the ceremony spoke of receiving strong support from the community and throughout the campus. They are both doctoral students at Penn State. One said, "We just want to show the public that we're just like any other committed couple who loves each other."

There will be a protest gathering at the same time as the ceremony is taking place. It has been organized by Gary Dull, pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Altoona.

Already a large number of petitions have been submitted in protest of the commitment ceremony. But Mayor Welch has indicated his intention to go ahead with the ceremony in spite of the protesting that is taking place.

This is but one of many unfolding events across the entire nation indicating the progress which has been made by those supporting the sodomite/lesbian agenda. With a lot of highly intelligent people, lots of financial support, effective strategic planning, masterful waging of psychological "warfare" and successful infiltration of the educational system and mass media these people are much nearer their goal of forced acceptance of their "way of life."

Those of us who still choose to believe that God's boundary lines for acceptable sexual intimacy is limited to a male and female within the covenant of marriage are finding our ranks diminishing. Perhaps in part due to an unwillingness by some to live with the negative labels of "homophobic," "mean-spirited," "unloving," "unchristian," etc. For those supporting the sodomite/lesbian agenda, this aspect of the psychological warfare is proving to be quite effective!

It is also very possible that some have capitulated and gone along with the strategy of "dialog" -- we sit down and discuss how we can agree to disagree, thus creating a "loving" environment and a "positive" attitude -- which translates into "live and let live!"

A few would agree -- probably very few -- that we are witnessing the predictions of Jesus being fulfilled before our very eyes -- He said that the human race would regress to the point that it would be like a rerun of the days in which Noah lived before the judgment of the flood and the days of Lot when he lived in a city by the name of Sodom!

And you know what? I'm not going to cite the book, chapter and verse numbers on that -- if you want to verify it, it's in the Bible SOMEWHERE! You know, that Book which gathers dust by the inch in many, many homes across this republic!

As for Penn State, will it qualify for an entry in Guinness World Records for doing more to gain notoriety than any other university has ever done?

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!......... And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. --- Isaiah 5:20; Romans 1:28-32

Fences, Open-Range Ministry and The United Methodist Church!

"Wrangling over fences? Try open-range ministry." --- title of article by Eric Van Meter in 08/03/14 issue of the United Methodist Reporter

Mr. Van Meter seems to be upset with this fence thing in the United Methodist Church and has expressed the same in an article that has a scenario in which he expresses his frustration with an imaginary therapist.

He poses what some would view as a powerful illustration by relating an experience of helping a fellow tear out an old fence of rusted barbed wire and rotted fence posts.

What is the point of all this? It seems that Eric is suggesting that we need to get over this "fence wrangling" thing that is often prominent within the United Methodist Church -- especially at General Conference sessions with one scheduled to take place next month in Texas. The one high profile issue will be over homosexuality and lesbianism -- officially sanction these practices or not?

Open-range ministry? Is this suggesting that we get away from this thing of trying to maintain "fences" and no longer make any issue over what is right or wrong -- just go out and "make disciples for Jesus," whatever that is supposed to mean anymore in the UMC?

Wait a moment or so -- on this "fence" thing -- how did it get started in the first place?

Is Almighty God not the original fence builder? What was that which He put around a certain tree in the Garden of Eden?


No, it was not a literal barbed wire fence -- but the prohibition which in so many words said plainly, "Don't eat the fruit of that tree!" amounted to much the same thing as though it really surrounded the tree completely about 10 yards out from the trunk and had "No Trespassing" signs hanging on it!

Ooops! I almost forgot -- we need to realize that there are those clergy plus a batch of laity who write off about the first 11 chapters of Genesis as being myth -- fairy tale stuff, etc. They are not to be taken literally, so the fence idea probably has no application or meaning whatsoever in such cases. Maybe Eric is among that unfortunate group!

But let's move forward a bit -- God put up more "fences" later on in His dealings with the Israelite people. Ever hear of something called the Ten Commandments? But there were more than just a few statements forbidding certain types of behavior and relationships -- the "fence" God set up is a spiritual, moral and ethical code which enables His people to live at the highest level possible when it comes to peace, harmony, confidence and hope for the future!

But there are those who have come on the scene over time that look on these fences as being too "restrictive" -- we want to be "free" without being told what is right or wrong -- to do what we have judged to be best for us on basis of human reasoning and human "logic" which is always a deadly combination when God is placed on the bench as though He were a 3rd string quarterback!

We have been witnessing the tragedy within many church groups of a return to the ancient times of the judges -- those who want to tear out the fences that a few of us insist we must have -- this bunch is aptly described in the last statement of the book of Judges --

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. --- Judges 21:25

It appears that Jesus was also a bit concerned about the fence matter -- did He not say somewhere that not one jot nor tittle would pass from the law until all was fulfilled? I believe He said that in the Sermon on the Mount from which so many love to quote, except possibly that statement! (Matthew 5:18).

And "open-range ministry?" Well, how about Jesus' parting statement in Matthew 28 about confronting the entire world? This amounts to letting everyone know that He is the Son of God and the Savior of the world -- but there is a condition -- REPENT of all known sin and false religous practices, receive Him as Savior and Lord, and commit to a life of obedience to Him! Seems there are people who want to be "Christian" by way of identity but they don't want to quit their sinning, whether that involves immoral sexual conduct, the practice of false religion (of which there are many in this world), self-centered attitudes and desires, affection with idolatrous objects (such as money), or refusing to break with personal pride and vanity!

So it is -- there will be those of us around who may be accused of being "legalistic" and other rather negative labels, but we will continue to insist that we need the "fences" for our own good and the health and well being of the church -- break down and attempt to remove the fences and you'll have a church that goes into decline! By the way, what are the numbers involving membership in the United Methodist Church in the U.S. since the big merger of 1968?

For a Few, Celebrating the Greatest Victory Ever!

He is risen!

"Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.".... And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." --- John 10:17, 18; 20:26-29

This is being posted a day early due to the fact that come tomorrow morning Jean and I will be off to a rather early start. We will journey 27 miles to the church we have been working with for over 8 years in Gipsy PA. If you want to take a look at it plus some other things we have posted there, slip on over to Gipsy Christian Church -- a Musings of a Maverick link is there to bring you back here.

We will be having an Easter Sunrise service at 7:00 AM. After that we will be having an Easter fellowship breakfast in our newly acquired church hall just across the parking lot from the church. We do more than the cinnamon rolls and coffee thing -- our men do eggs, potatoes, sausage, pancakes, toast with all the trimmings! Yes, there are some doughnuts too! So we have a great time of fellowship -- it's just like family!

Then we will go back to the church for our regular worship time at about 9:30 AM for more celebrating.

Our celebration involves the greatest victory ever won in the history of the human race. It was won by the Lord Jesus Christ over the human enemies of sin, death, Satanic forces, and Hell!

A gang of people thought they had finally gotten rid of Jesus that day 2,000 years ago when they saw Him die on a Roman cross -- bunch of blind fools! Three days later He came out of the tomb alive! What does it all mean?

By virtue of our true repentance from our sins -- the receiving of Him into our lives as our personal Savior and Lord we have not only victory over sin, Satan, death and Hell, but the "fringe benefits" which are a part of all that:

• His promised living presence with us always (Note this in the Great Commission statement in Matthew 28).
  
• His promised peace to give rock solid assurance as we continue our journey in this perilous world -- while the storms swirl around us, within is that still small voice saying, "Peace, be still!" Also, a reminder from out of the Psalms, "Be still and know that I am God!" (Also note His reference to peace in John 14 & 16).
  
• His promised power as imparted by the Holy Spirit (Note this in the opening portion of the book of Acts).
  
• His promised provision for the meeting of our needs as mentioned by Paul in Philippians 4.
  
• His promise of a prepared place -- so special in so many ways including the fact that it is totally free from all corruption, pollution, conflict, pain and sorrow. Something great to look forward to when our journey here on earth has ended, is it not? (Note this in John 14 and further details in Revelation 21).
  

Unfortunately over the decades past there has been the infiltration of one of the most deadly heresies within the ranks of the church ever perpetrated in the history of the human race -- those "scholars," theologians, professors of theology and pastors who say/teach that Jesus did not literally come back from the dead! Mention is made somewhere on the vast acreage of Circuit Rider's Range of a seminary student who was very excited about entering the ministry and while in seminary he had a professor who did not believe that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. This charlatan seemed dedicated to convincing students in his class that this was so. The student in question could not handle that -- dropped out of seminary -- abandoned what he believed had been a call to the ministry and his life ended up a disaster!

For a few of us -- let the skeptics, inside the church as well as out in the world, rave on in their blindness and their first magnitude ignorance that Jesus is still in the grave -- we know better, do we not? After all when you are in conversation and fellowship with Him each day you know that more than a corpse is necessary for such experiences!

I do often sort out the human race by using such terms as "few" vs. "many" -- the reason? Because that's how Jesus often did it when referring to humanity -- separated into two categories -- "few" and "many!" But more about that at a later time.

I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today; I know that He is living, whatever men may say......He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart. --- from song, He Lives, written by Alfred H. Ackley

If There Were Other "Ways," Why Did He Do It?

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him... For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: "Who committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth"; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. --- 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:21-25

For a minority of persons, this is a special day -- we travel back in time and remember a brutal execution just outside the city of Jerusalem. This was no run-of-the-mill execution carried out by the Romans -- they were doing this sort of thing all the time!

But this one involved a very unique individual -- God Who chose to take on human flesh, bones and blood. He was guilty of no crimes against the Roman Empire -- in fact, He was not guilty of doing anything wrong ever -- He was pure and without sin and blemish so far as character was concerned.

Somehow in that act of dying on a Roman cross all my sins -- all of your sins were transferred to Him, and that opened up the way by which every human being can be totally forgiven of all offenses committed, no matter how horrible they may be!

There are those who say that one religion is as good as another -- just pick and choose what delights your particular fancy!

Ask yourself -- if it doesn't make any difference, then why did God give up His Son and why did Jesus go through the brutality and humiliation of execution on a Roman cross, if "one way is just as good as any other" when it comes to religious expressions in this world?

No other religious expression apart from Christianity has the reality of God taking on human form and then sacrificing Himself for the sins of the entire human race! And by repenting of sin, receiving Jesus Christ by faith as Savior and Lord, and committing to a life of obedience to Him, a person is forgiven and looked upon favorably by Almighty God!

For some of us -- we continue to be lost in a whirlwind of amazement -- that the Creator of this great universe was willing to give up His life for the likes of us so that we in turn could be forgiven and have the assurance of living in His eternal Kingdom forever!

As a side trip, take a look at:

God Dressed Up in Bones, Flesh and Blood!

A link at the bottom of that area will bring you back to this place.

Again, if there are so many different "ways" to God and His eternal Heaven, why did Jesus go through what He did?

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me... But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. --- John 14:6; Hebrews 2:9