Women

This seems like an odd topic to talk about, but I have been thinking a lot about them lately. They sure have been badly treated for eons. Men often treat them as no more than possessions, a piece of property, something to satisfy their sexual drive, something to make money with, slaves, have their babies and take care of them, and so on.

I don't believe Father God meant it to be this way. In the creation story of the Bible, God first creates man. The following is from Copilot: 

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In this narrative, God forms man (Adam) from the dust of the ground and breathes into his nostrils the breath of life. Adam is placed in the Garden of Eden to tend it and is given the command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Then comes an important moment: God declares, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” (Genesis 2:18, ESV).

To achieve this, God first brings all the animals to Adam to see what he would name them—perhaps revealing that none of them were suitable as a counterpart. Then, God causes Adam to fall into a deep sleep, takes one of his ribs, and from it fashions the woman (later called Eve). Adam recognizes her immediately and says, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.”

The story is often interpreted to highlight companionship, complementarity, and a shared origin that forms the foundation for human relationships. It also contrasts with Genesis 1, where male and female are created together in the image of God—suggesting a poetic layering rather than a contradiction.

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I want to bring out some things that I think are very important to this story, found in Genesis 1

Genesis 1:26-28

New International Version

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

27 So God created mankind in his own image,

    in the image of God he created them;

    male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

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I have talked about this in other posts but let me reiterate them. In the creation narrative, the creator is in a plural form. I believe that Yeshua (Jesus), God's son, was with Father God during creation, thus "let us make mankind in our image". Something that has always struck me as odd. There is Father God (male), and his son Yeshua (male). We never see mention of a female in God's realm. But a female is created in their image?

To help with understanding that Yeshua was with Father God at creation, here is something he said:

John 17:1-5

New International Version

Jesus Prays to Be Glorified

17 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

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I remembered something that Yeshua said once when he was here on earth. 

Mark 12:25

New International Version

25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.

Here is something that the Apostle Paul said:

Galatians 3:28

New International Version

28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

He’s emphasizing spiritual equality and unity in Christ, not necessarily commenting on gender in the afterlife.

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I read the book, 'Celestine Prophecy' a while ago and I remembered something in the book. I couldn't remember the specifics so asked Copilot about it. I thought it fit in with this subject nicely. 

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In The Celestine Prophecy, the central idea is that people can “steal” energy from one another if they aren’t spiritually grounded. Relationships work best when both individuals have aligned, flowing energy sourced from the divine, not drawn from each other. If that alignment breaks down—if someone relies on the other for spiritual validation or control—it leads to imbalance and dysfunction.

By contrast, the Bible speaks about relational harmony through a very different lens. In passages like Ephesians 5:21–33, unity in marriage is built on mutual love, sacrifice, and submission to one another out of reverence for Christ. The husband is called to love his wife “as Christ loved the church”, and the wife is invited to respond with respect and partnership. Rather than two individuals guarding their energy, Scripture emphasizes two becoming “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24)—a self-giving, covenantal unity rooted in divine love, not self-protection.

In short:

Celestine: Alignment is about tuning into universal energy individually and avoiding “control dramas.”

Scripture: Unity is forged through self-giving love, mutual submission, and shared purpose under God’s design.

Satan temps, Father God does not

I was thinking about something this morning that goes along with my last post 'Test the Spirits'.

Satan temps us to sin and do evil. I was thinking about the 'Lord's prayer ' where it says "lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil" and I wanted a deeper meaning of this so I went into ChatGPT to find out what it had say.  I thought it said it very well so here it is. 

The phrase "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" from the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:13) is deeply meaningful, and Christians have reflected on it for centuries. Here's a breakdown of its deeper significance:

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"Lead us not into temptation"

This line can sound confusing at first—why would God lead anyone into temptation? But it’s important to know that in the original Greek, the word for temptation (πειρασμός, peirasmos) can mean both "temptation" and "testing" or "trial."

So this phrase can be understood as:

• A request for protection from trials that might overwhelm us, that is, “Don’t allow us to be tested beyond what we can bear.”
• A humble admission of weakness, acknowledging that we’re vulnerable and could fall if faced with temptation.

It doesn’t suggest that God tempts us (James 1:13 clearly says He doesn’t), but rather that we’re asking God not to allow us to be placed in situations where we might fail.

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"But deliver us from evil"

This part is a prayer for rescue and protection:

• The word "evil" can also be translated as “the evil one,” referring to Satan, the adversary.
• It’s a plea to be freed from the power of sin, darkness, and spiritual harm.
• It’s also a call for God’s ongoing help to walk in righteousness, not just avoidance of sin, but deliverance into life and light.

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Together, the phrase is a cry for God's protection:

"Father, don’t let me be overwhelmed by trials or temptations. Keep me safe from the power of sin and evil, and lead me in Your ways."

It reflects a spirit of dependence, humility, and trust, recognizing our need for God’s help in our daily spiritual battle.

Definition of temps:

The phrase "he temps me" means that someone is presented with something or someone attractive or desirable, and they feel a strong inclination to want or do something, even if it goes against their better judgment or goals. 

"To tempt" means to draw or entice someone, often towards something they shouldn't or something unwise or harmful. The desire for this tempting thing or action can be very strong, potentially leading to negative consequences. 

So, if someone says "he temps me," the person is saying that the actions, words, or presence of another person makes them want something or behave in a way they are trying to avoid. For example, someone on a diet might say, "He temps me with that delicious-looking dessert!" meaning that the dessert he offers makes them want to break their diet.

Test The Spirits

Test The Spirits

Jesus frequently warned about false teachers and prophets, cautioning his followers to be discerning. Here are some key scriptures:

Matthew 7:15 – "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves."

Matthew 24:24 – "For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."

Luke 6:26 – "Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets."

2 Peter 2:1 – "They will secretly introduce destructive heresies—even denying the Master who bought them."

1 John 4:1 – "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

Recognizing false teachings requires discernment and a strong foundation in biblical truth. Here are some key ways to identify them:

1. Distorted Scripture – False teachers often twist or misinterpret biblical passages to fit their own agenda rather than staying true to the intended meaning.
2. Appeal to Emotion Over Truth – They may prioritize emotional experiences or personal revelations over sound doctrine.
3. Self-Promotion – Instead of pointing people to Christ, false teachers often seek personal fame, wealth, or influence.
4. Contradicting Core Christian Beliefs – They may deny essential doctrines such as the divinity of Christ, salvation through grace, or the authority of Scripture
5. Encouraging Sin or Compromise – Rather than calling people to repentance, they may justify sinful behavior or water down biblical standards.
6. Lack of Accountability – They often resist correction and operate outside of biblical community and oversight.

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I've been thinking about something lately. Throughout time Lucifer, AKA Satan, the Devil, has tried to thwart Father God's plans of salvation and bringing all things back into himself; God becoming all in all. 

I have often wondered what happened in heaven. Why did Lucifer and the other angels fall away from Father God? 

Satan has always wanted to be like Father God. He tries to deceive people in ways to turn them away from Father God and to put roadblocks in God's plans. I kind of think there may be two main reasons for him doing it. He wants them to worship him instead of Father God. The second is so he can accuse us to Father God of being no better than himself. Satan is very cunning and often uses scripture to deceive. This is why it is important to not just trust everyone.

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Here is an example.

We often drive by a huge church on 59 North of Houston, Texas. It has a huge gold dome on top. We've noticed that the dome has gone through some changes over the last year or so. They redid the gold dome, and it now has a large gold symbol of some kind on top. 

For a long time, we didn't know what it was because we never saw any signs to identify it. My wife and I kept talking about it every time we drove by so my wife recently decided to do some investigating and found out that it is the Iglesia de La Luz del Mundo (Light of the World Church). There are a number of these large churches in more than 50 countries throughout the world. She found a documentary, and we found out that they have a dark history. 

From Wikipedia:

Controversies and criticism

La Luz del Mundo has been the subject of several controversies. Church leaders have been accused of creating a cult of personality, sexually abusing members, and have been criticized for amassing wealth, living a lavish lifestyle, and attempting to build entire cities. In 2022, the church director and self-proclaimed “Apostle of God” Naasón Joaquín García pled guilty to three charges related to sexually abusing children.[144] In December 2022, HBO and RAINN released an original documentary series titled Unveiled: Surviving La Luz Del Mundo, which tells the story of child sexual abuse within the church.[145]

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In these churches of deception, they use scriptures to manipulate the people so that they can get what they want. I thought about how the Devil tried to tempt Jesus in the wilderness. He used scriptures and he offered him power, riches, control over all the nations. (Luke 4:1-13)

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Some things I have noticed with these churches of deception: Not only in churches but in governments. 

• The leaders are said to be chosen by god.
• This may be true, but I do not think it is by the one true God, Father God, the God of gods, the creator of all things.
• Because they are purported to be chosen by god, and people believe it, it makes it difficult to speak out when people have been wronged. This is the case in La Luz del Mundo church. The girls and boys who have been sexually abused feel helpless to say anything. Their own families won't believe them. Suicides are fairly common. 

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In contrast, here are God's ways, his character:

Jeremiah 9:24

New American Standard Bible 1995

24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.

Christ Jesus, who is One with Father God, gave us examples of this when he was here on earth. All that he did exemplified lovingkindness to people. When Jesus was with his disciples, he demonstrated another example by washing their feet.

 

John 13:12-17

New American Standard Bible 1995

12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

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In God's kingdom, all become One in Christ Jesus, who is One with Father God. The Holy Spirit works to bring the people together, exercising lovingkindness to each other. It is like a marriage feast. 

Never forget Yeshua (Jesus). Never forget Father God. Jesus' great sacrifice for us, his love for us, Father God's love for us, is what made this all possible.

The Kingdom of God

I want to talk about Father God's kingdom—and share my belief that you and I are invited to live in it today.

In the Bible, especially in the book of Acts, we read about the early church. This first community of believers was founded on the teachings of Yeshua (Jesus) and held together by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

Luke, a physician and close companion of the Apostle Paul, is traditionally believed to have written both the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. His detail-oriented nature made him well-suited to record these events accurately and thoughtfully.

In Acts 1:1–11, Luke describes the risen Jesus speaking with His followers about the kingdom of God. He instructs them to wait in Jerusalem for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Then, before their eyes, He ascends into heaven—leaving them with the promise that He will return the same way.

This early Church was not simply an organization—it was a Spirit-formed body of believers.

• Their identity was rooted in who Yeshua is and what He accomplished for us.
• The Holy Spirit, promised by the Father, became their helper—teaching them, empowering them, and uniting them in love and purpose, just as Yeshua prayed in John 17:11: “that they may be one as we are one.”
• Entrance into this community began with repentance and baptism, as Peter declared in Acts 2:38–39: “Repent and be baptized... and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
• These believers were devoted to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. They shared their possessions, lived in unity, and praised God daily (Acts 2:42–47).

I've been reflecting deeply on this picture of the early Church, especially as I grow older. For much of my life, I’ve lived independently—doing things on my own, relying on my own strength. Family has helped at times, and for larger tasks I’ve hired assistance, though not always with satisfaction.

Now in my late 70s, I'm more aware than ever of the importance of true community. And despite being in church for most of my life, I don't believe I've ever been part of a fellowship that fully mirrors the Acts church—where the Holy Spirit knits believers together in unity, and God's authority, not man's, leads the way.

Jeremiah 9:24 reminds us what truly matters:
"Let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord.

Being part of God’s kingdom is a serious calling—not to be entered into lightly. Think about what Yeshua endured on our behalf: the sinless one, crucified for us, fulfilling prophecy, rising on the third day, and appearing to many before ascending. All of this was done so we might be forgiven and restored to the Father.

Lately, I’ve been thinking more about this kingdom in light of the troubling direction I see in today’s world. What we’re witnessing from political leaders—such as President Trump and his administration—reminds me of the rise of oppressive regimes in history, like Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Many people are fearful of what the future holds.

But in God’s kingdom, fear has no place. Who is more powerful than God? When we live under His rule—trusting in His righteousness, justice, and mercy—we can find peace even in uncertain times.

Everything In the Universe Is Vibrating -- Edited

 Think about it, everything is vibrating. You and I are vibrating, outputting frequencies. Even our thoughts, our emotions, our feelings vibrate. We can’t hear every frequency but they’re still there. Somehow, we can pick up the frequencies of others, kind of like we have internal receivers.

Have you ever been with a group of people, all the conversations are going great, and someone enters the room, or joins in with the group, and everything kind of sours.

God created the universe and everything in it. Everything is vibrating. It seems to me that God would have set everything in harmony with each other. Think about music. When everything with the music is in harmony, it sounds great, but when there is dissonance, it doesn't sound so good. I think that when we humans are not vibrating in harmony with the universe and with each other, then trouble comes.

So, how can we reset ourselves to be in harmony, be at peace with each other? Music is one way.

I have been studying Solfeggio frequencies, the 528Hz in particular. 528Hz is known as the Love Frequency, the Miracle Tone, and the frequency of Transformation. There has been much research with 528Hz, and it has shown to have many benefits. When instruments tune A4 to 444Hz, then the note C5 is 528Hz. This tuning is the only one that will get a note that is 528hz.

I have a homemade dulcimer that I made from a pie box. I have taught myself to play and have only recently found out about tuning standards. I have an app on my phone, Universal Tuner, that I've been using to tune it with. I am playing around with tuning my dulcimer to different tuning standards just to see if I can tell any difference. I feel like tuning to 444 Hz gives a richer sound. 

I think I am noticing something interesting as I use the Universal Tuner app to tune my dulcimer to different standards. Tuning to 444 Hz seems to take less effort tuning each string to the correct frequency, less loosening and tightening the string. After tuning a string, I will fret the string up the scale. I think I am noticing that tuning to 444 Hz makes each note more in tune to the correct frequency that it is supposed to be. When I tune to other standards, each fretted key is on the sharp side of what it was supposed to be. If what I think I am seeing, tuning to 444 Hz, is correct, it would suggest to me that this frequency tuning is more in line, more in harmony with the universe, per say. 

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2/28/2023

I am going to give you some things to think about.

Love is at the center of who God is. There is a little bit of God in each one of us. Love is said to vibrate at 528 Hz. When something that is vibrating is placed near something else, and if that something else is able to vibrate at that frequency, then it will start vibrating at that frequency, and the amplitudes combine to a higher amplitude. If we listen to music that has the 528 Hz frequency, tuning A4 to 444 Hz, it should help increase our 528 Hz, Love. It's just a thought.

When there are multiple frequencies, one frequency can drown out, so to speak, the other frequency. Think about all the frequencies we humans are subjected to, cell phone towers, cell phones, microwaves, all kinds of frequencies just to open and lock doors, control lights and other things, and on, and on, and on. When you think about it, it is no wonder why we have such a hard time to love God, love others.

Do you know what love is? Can you put love into words? Do you know how to love, how to get yourself in that place, that state, of love, to love?

These are just some of my thoughts.

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I am going to end this very short post but point you to a couple of websites.

528Hz – Calming Harp

Solfeggio Frequencies - History, Science & How They Work (mindvibrations.com)

One of the Most Mysterious Solfeggio Frequency 528Hz | Meditative Mind

Restoration

Restoration

Something I like to do when I am studying a specific subject in the Bible is I will make a list of all the scriptures. This post will go with my post ‘Forgiveness – Repentance – Restoration’.

Deuteronomy29:1

Covenant Renewal, Oaths, Restoration, Charges to the Nation

These are the words of the covenant that Yahweh commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in the land of Moab besides the covenant that he made with them at Horeb.

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

1. 2 Chronicles 24:13

   So those doing the work labored, and the restoration for the work made progress under their hand. And they restored the house of God to its position and strengthened it.

   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

2. 2 Chronicles 27:3

   He built the upper gate of the house of Yahweh, and he did much restoration on the wall of Ophel.

   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

3. Ezra 5:1

   Temple Restoration Resumed

   Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and in Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them.

   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

4. Nehemiah 4:7

   Opposition Stopped

   Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem were going forward and the gaps were being closed, they were very angry.

   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

5. Job 42:1

   Job’s Repentance and Restoration

   Then Job answered Yahweh and said,

   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

6. Psalm 60:1

   A Lament After a Defeat and a Prayer for Restoration

   For the music director, according to Shushan Eduth.

   A miktam of David. To teach.

   When he fought Mesopotamia and Aram Zobah, and Joab returned and struck Edom in the Valley of Salt, twelve thousand persons.

   O God, you have rejected us. You have broken us. You have been angry. Restore us!

   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

7. Psalm 126:1

   A Prayer for Restoration

   A song of ascents.

   When Yahweh restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like dreamers.

   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

8. Isaiah 14:1

   The Restoration of Israel

   But Yahweh will have compassion on Jacob, and he will again choose Israel and set them on their land, and the immigrant will join himself to them, and they will attach themselves to the house of Jacob.

   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

9. Ezekiel 36:1

   Prophecy to the Mountains of Israel and of Israel’s Restoration

   “And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel; and so you must say, ‘Mountains of Israel, hear the word of Yahweh;

   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

10. Amos 9:11

    Restoration of Israel

    On that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen, and I will repair its breaches and will raise up its ruins and will build it like the days of old.

    In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

11. Acts 3:21

    whom heaven must receive until the times of the restoration of all things, about which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from earliest times.

    In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Forgiveness -- Repentance -- Restoration or maybe Reconciliation (Edited 12/16/22)

I've been thinking about these things, Forgiveness, Repentance, and Restoration or maybe Reconciliation might be a better word, so wanted to do some studies on them.

I said something on Facebook and after saying it, I wondered if what I said was correct. I said, “Without repentance, there is no forgiveness. There is nothing to forgive, right?” Talking about the sinner, the one committing the sinful act. In the sinner’s eye, he doesn't recognize the sin, or he tries to hide it, or he denies to himself that it exists.

I think I may be confusing forgiveness with reconciliation. So, here goes. I am sure I will be modifying this post as I glean new insights.

It appears that forgiving each other is something we must do. Wow, that is extremely difficult to do.

Matthew 6:14&15

New International Version

Matthew 6:14-15

New International Version

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

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Edited: 12/16/2022 -- I woke up around 3am thinking about this and felt the need to add some things. 

When we say the Lord's prayer, we should include verses 14 and 15 to remind us. 

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

They are a warning to us.

Jesus is our Lord and our savior, but he is also our example to live by. 

Read about all the things that were done to him (John 18 & 19) during his trials before being crucified on the cross, convicted of crimes he didn't commit. He did not lash out. He said hardly a word; like a lamb to the slaughter. 

Some of Jesus' last words, as he hung on the cross were "Father.... forgive them.......for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34)

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I think I understand the reason to forgive. It is to help us let go of hate and anger. That hate and anger will eat us alive and it keeps us from God and his love.

I think there is another reason to forgive. Only God truly knows each person. God judges us perfectly and I believe he is always working to bring us back to himself, no matter what we have done. God says that vengeance is his. Jesus tells us to love our enemy and pray for them, praying that something happens to turn them back to God. These are hard things to do.

I was thinking about God's perfect judgement. I can think of only a few periods in the Bible where God was the judge and not man. God judged when he sent the flood which wiped out most every living creature except those on the arc. God was the one who judged during the exodes where the Israelites were brought out of their captivity in Egypt, wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, and part of the time after they entered the Promised land. But there came a time where they didn't want God's judgement anymore, they wanted man to judge. Another time God judged was when the early church came into being.   

Our judgement is clouded. When someone does something evil to us or a loved one, we only see that evil. We don't know anything about the person. Our hate and anger only see that evil deed. 

If you ever get the opportunity to read the book or watch the movie ‘The Shack’, do it. His book does a really good job bringing these things together in a coherent way. To prepare you for something you may not like in the book, Father God is known as Papa, and appears to the main character as a black woman. There are reasons why Papa appears to Mack, as a black woman.

Here is a really good interview with the author of ‘The Shack’, William Paul Young. 

https://youtu.be/M2lCu17NkTk

Acts 10:43

Revised Standard Version

43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

As I am studying about forgiving, repenting, reconciling, and all things relating to this, my mind brought me to remember my “Hammer Story”. It’s like the prodigal son story in the Bible. No matter how far we fall into sin, the Lord never gives up on us and is also waiting for us to return to him. There is great joy in heaven when a sinner turns from his wicked ways.

1 Corinthians 13

New International Version

13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

The Reality Of Things.

Here is something that not many of us think about. In wars and conflicts, who is it that stands to gain the most from them? It is those at the top, the ones who are in power, those who give the commands. Today, it is also the many companies who build all that is used in wars who stand to gain much wealth. Who is it that does the dirty work; the fighting, the killing, and the dying? They are the ones at the bottom. It has always been this way. We fight each other to keep ourselves in bondage and those at the top powerful and wealthy.

Long ago, the nations had their slaves. Slaves had many tasks and when nations warred with each other, they would always send in slaves first. The slaves would do some damage fighting, using the meager weapons they were given. When the slaves were used up then the better fighters were sent in. Unless things go very bad for a nation, you will rarely see someone at the top help fight against the opposite side.

You can look at any war. Take our American Civil war. This war was over the right to own slaves, essentially. Those who owned many slaves did not fight in that war. It was those who owned no slaves at all or maybe just owned one or two who fought and died. What was strange to me was that those who did fight on the South for the right to own slaves became so caught up in it and angry over not having the right to own slaves, yet they would probably never be in a position to own any.

My wife and I went to see the movie "The Free State of Jones" a while back. This movie is based on the history of Jones County, Mississippi during the Civil War. In the movie, there were a number of black slaves who had run away and found themselves a secret hiding place deep in the swamps. At first, only black slaves knew about it with the help of an abolitionist, Aunt Sally . As more and more whites fighting in the Confederate army understood what was really going on and how their own families were being treated at home while they were away, they deserted. One by one a number of them ended up with the black slaves in this secret hiding place. The food that came into the camp was not much. At first, only a couple of the Whites were willing to share that food with the Blacks even though it was through the work of black slaves that food came in at all. As more Whites showed up, tensions rose. You could see the hatred from the Whites against the Blacks start to come out and how the Whites felt they were better than the black slaves. It was great however to see that hatred and the feeling of superiority fade away. They finally understood that they needed each other and that in reality, they were both slaves.

Last night, we watched the movie “Jimmy's Hall” (IMDB: Jimmy's Hall) (Wikipedia: Jimmy's Hall). This movie is based on real life events of Jimmy Gralton, an Irishman born in Effernagh, Ireland on April 17, 1886 to a poor farmer. (Irish Post: “The true story behind Ken Loach's movie Jimmy's Hall”)

This Irishman decides to build a hall, with the help of other locals, on his father's property. His dream was to have a safe place for the common people, like himself, to gather together, to talk, to listen, to learn, to dance, to have meals together; a place to have some enjoyment in their life's struggles. They had their own teachers to teach all kinds of things from the usual reading, writing, and arithmetic to art, poetry, dance, plays, and sports, such as boxing. They did it all themselves without the help of the government or others. This was during the time of the depression when there was little or no education for the commoners.

However, certain prominent members of the Catholic church saw them as threatening and wanted to put an end to the hall and Jimmy. Shots were fired at a group of men, women, and children who were in the hall one evening and the hall was eventually burned to the ground, and they tried to deport Jimmy (I'm not sure if they succeeded).

I am reading a book right now “GEORGE MULLER The Guardian of Bristol's Orphans” by Janet & Geoff Benge.

George Muller (1805-1898) felt a calling from God to take care of orphans. George starts his early life as a common thief in Prussia. He haphazardly meets up with Beta, someone he sees as a “religious do-good-er”. George goes to a Bible meeting with Beta which changes his life. These types of Bible meetings were against the law at this time in Prussia and people were known to get arrested at them. The law stated that only a registered Lutheran pastor present could give a sermon. “This was supposed to ensure that only university-trained pastors got to preach, which kept the Bible from being distorted and uneducated peasants from getting strange ideas.” At least, this was what George heard so many times was the reason for keeping the Bible away from the peasants, the commoners.

George was well educated, paid for by his father. When George decided to change schools and become a missionary, the purse-strings of his father were severed. George even told his father that he did not want his money and his father disowned him. His dependence shifted from his earthly father to his heavenly Father.

Without telling you the whole story about George, let me just tell you about the one thing that impressed me most about George Muller. In all his work with orphans and setting up orphanages, he relied on God to provide all their needs. When George announced to the public about the first orphanage in Bristol that he was about to start, he said, “God has told me to start an orphanage. There would be no collections, no asking for money, and no payment required from the children who were taken in.” “Instead, George would rely on God to supply all the needs of the orphans.”

You may think, well it was people who supplied their needs, not God. God works in the hearts of others to give where there is a need. That giving becomes a blessing for the giver as well as for the receiver; there is great joy for both.

You may be wandering why I am bringing all this up. It's because this has been on my mind a lot lately. There are an awful lot of poor people in the world today. I don't see how there can ever be enough good paying jobs for everyone. The only things we ever seem to do about the poor is forget about them, give them things that only help temporarily, or make slaves of them and put more burdens on them.

Why not do something different for a change and learn from these three true stories and probably many other stories, if we will just look for them. Unless something changes from those in control then why not help each other as they tried to do in Jimmy's Hall? Have you ever thought about what it would be like if there was no such thing as money? Those who got together in Jimmy's Hall didn't think about money. They came together to learn from each-other, to talk, to listen, to share meals, to find some joy and meaning in this life.

What we can learn from George Muller is there is nothing too difficult when God is involved. Trust that He will supply all our needs. If whatever you are doing is of God's will then you will learn that He will come through to help; you will learn that you can rely on Him.

Here are some of my most troubling thoughts:

When Hitler and the Nazis came to power in Germany their answer was to create forced labor camps where all the able bodied undesirables went. These were not only the Jews. It included the poor, the homeless (gypsies), the homosexuals, the Blacks, and many others who were deemed not of the purest Aryan race. Many in those forced labor camps died of starvation and many more were eventually moved to the death camps.

We have a new president elect, Donald J. Trump. So far, I am seeing Trump take the same path that Hitler took. Hitler and the Nazis first got rid of those who apposed them. In Hitler's time, there were two other political parties of significant strength, the Social Democratic Party and the Communist Party. Their voice in the decision making process was eliminated because a fire that burned down the parliament building was blamed on one and the condition of Germany was blamed on the other.

Look at how our Democratic Party is viewed right now, and the unrest within the Republican Party, our only two political parties. Hitler got the military commanders on his side. Look how many Trump is getting on his team even in positions were it has always been filled by a civilian. There is something about Trump and Putin that bothers me. If Trump and Putin were ever able to bring our two countries together, United States and Russia, we would become the most powerful force in the world. This is all just my feelings and speculation on my part.

If president Donald Trump ever reads this, I ask you, don't do what Hitler did. You have a clean slate right now and you can, with God's help, do something no other has been able to do before. Allow the poor to get out of slavery and protect that process.

I am not saying these things to try and get people mad at those at the top who are in control. Where there is money and power involved I believe that Satan clouds people's minds so all they can see is the power and wealth they will receive. They don't see all the death, the misery, the evil that happens as a result of their control. It not only happens to the greatest among us but it happens all the way down to the least among us. Whenever there is hardships among people, there is someone who will take an unfair advantage of the situation.

If only those who receive orders leading to something that they know is evil could choose to be like Jesus and disobey and forgive. I say forgive because that person may very well die for disobeying and those who kill are either obeying orders or as Jesus said as He was being crucified, “they know not what they do.” The thing is that blood won't be on that persons' hands and the dirty work moves up the chain.

Look at how Satan tempted our Lord Jesus when He began that which He was sent to do. Matthew 4:1-11 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Temptation of Jesus

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He [a]then became hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil *took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and *said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written,

‘He will command His angels concerning You’;

and

‘On their hands they will bear You up,
So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus said to him, “[b]On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Again, the devil *took Him to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and [c]worship me.” 10 Then Jesus *said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and [d]serve Him only.’” 11 Then the devil *left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.

Satan has always wanted to be like God Most High and he will offer anything to anyone who will bow down and worship him.

If you knew that Jesus Christ is returning soon, would you be different? Well, in my studies several years ago I came across scriptures in Revelations (22:16-21) that seemed to me that Jesus Himself talked to me. At the time I felt there was more to it than just telling the churches that Jesus is coming soon. I think this blog is that something more.

Revelation 22:16-21 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things [a]for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and [b]from the holy city, which are written in this book.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with [c]all. Amen.

If it is true that Jesus Christ is returning soon then God's judgment will also be soon. Everyone both great and small and alive and dead will be judged by their deeds. The Bible describes this judgment as being like someone being stripped naked exposing their shame. God knows the truth about everyone, He even knows our thoughts and the condition of our hearts.