Truth Justice & The American Waytag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2007://12007-10-25T04:51:00ZMovable Type 3.31CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A RELIGIONtag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2007://1.622007-10-25T04:47:07Z2007-10-25T04:51:00ZMan, not God, labeled Christianity a religion when man started denying the power of God. When you look at the truth of God’s Word Christianity is the way of the Father with His children.
Christianity is not a religion! That is right! I am here to refute the long held belief that Christianity is a religion. It is not! Now there will be one side that will say that I don’t know what I am talking about because everybody knows that Christianity is just ONE of the major religions. The other side will be incensed by this idea because they will think that I am trying to pull their religion from its exalted position. Both will be wrong. Man, not God, labeled Christianity a religion when man started denying the power of God. When you look at the truth of God’s Word Christianity is the way of the Father with His children.
Back to the Basicstag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2007://1.602007-10-18T03:56:16Z2007-10-18T04:07:03ZOur country is sick and we as individuals are the only ones that can change it and heal it and the only way to do that is for us to change and heal as individuals. One of the best things we can do is to “LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS.”
Our country is sick and we as individuals are the only ones that can change it and heal it and the only way to do that is for us to change and heal as individuals. One of the best things we can do is to “LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS.”
If you read any commentary on current events you will have most likely read something similar to what I am about to write, BUT, it is important that people continue to sound the alarm now and in the years to come. What is so important? It is to get back to the basics! Unfortunately a lot of people don’t even know what the basics are because they have lived in a time where government advocates spending and big business the same to all who will listen. Our country is sick and we as individuals are the only ones that can change it and heal it and the only way to do that is for us to change and heal as individuals. One of the best things we can do is to “LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS.”
Do you know that the average house in the 60’s was only 1100 square feet in size and the families were bigger than they are today? The average house of today is 2400 square feet. I remember in 1970 a friend and his family lived in an 1800 square foot house and I thought that they were really rich. The point that I am trying to make is that we don’t know what the basics are anymore because we have lived in an era of “mega more”. Everybody wants more and they think it is their right to have more. IT’S NOT YOUR RIGHT TO HAVE MORE AND MORE AND MORE. Right’s are given by men, by governments and by God and not one of them says that it is your right to have more and more and more. If the trend were to continue in another 30 years people would think it is their right to live in a 3500 square foot home.
The car is another area of contention. I see people, young couples, driving around in new cars and trucks. How can they afford that and raise a family, too?
Our nation has the worst case of keeping up with the Jones in the history of the world. The only thing that I have to say to that is STOP IT! Live within your means.
These are the guidelines.
1) Don’t by it unless you have the cash to buy it.
2) Don’t spend more than 1/4 of your monthly salary on an house payment. This is a rule of thumb and may vary a little in the area that you live in
3) Save 10% of your pay check for retirement or a rainy day.
4) If you have to use a credit card pay it off at the end of the month or else don’t use it.
5) Keep a budget on all expenses for the upcoming month and try to stick to it.
6) Tithe 10% (it is God’s due). 90% with God’s blessing will go further than 100% without it.
These may seem hard to you but these are the economic principles that helped make this country great. It would be better to learn to live with less and be happy than to live with a lot of stuff and have the creditors calling you and you not being able to pay them.
There are different types of freedom but freedom from debt is one of the sweetest I know. Until you are free from debt you are a slave to your creditors.
WHY WAR?tag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2007://1.292007-09-27T02:22:58Z2007-09-27T02:29:53ZA nation has to have beliefs that it holds near to their heart, things that are non-negotiable, for it to stay a nation. If it doesn’t then it will cease to stay a nation because it will be destroyed from without or within. The reason it will be destroyed from without is because it’s citizens have no internal substance, no beliefs, no moral compass, nothing that they would hazard their life to defend. They will be destroyed from within because they will allow their leadership to wax more and more evil taking away the freedoms and wealth of the people for the benefit of the leadership. We are at that point in our country right now.
here are many superficial reasons given for a country to go to war. Some are to get more land, to advance democracy, to free an enslaved people, etc.. I will tell you there are only two reasons that nations go to war. One reason is to protect their way of life and the other is to advance their way of life. Greed and the lust for power drive the aggressor nations sense of duty drives the others. Both are proud of their countries. Both have to have a unified populace. Without the traits that prevail in both neither type of nation would survive.
There are many superficial reasons given for a country to go to war. Some are to get more land, to advance democracy, to free an enslaved people, etc.. I will tell you there are only two reasons that nations go to war. One reason is to protect their way of life and the other is to advance their way of life. Greed and the lust for power drive the aggressor nations sense of duty drives the others. Both are proud of their countries. Both have to have a unified populace. Without the traits that prevail in both neither type of nation would survive.
A good example of both is World War II Both the Germans and the Japanese were trying to protect and to advance their way of life while the nations they opposed tried to protect their way of life The Japanese were trying to accumulate resources from Manchuria as a change in direction in manufacturing due to loss of their silk industry to the depression. Later with embargos from the U.S. and European Nations for their war in Manchuria and China Japan felt it had no option but to protect it’s interests by attacking Pearl Harbor. Although historians will argue the points of Japan’s necessity to invade Manchuria (aggressor expansionism) and attacking Pearl Harbor (protectionism) it is clear to see that both were driven from a pride of country and were able to carry it out because of a unified populace.
A country, that is in a great depression would be more willing to follow someone that promises to get them out of what they are in and to have the finer things of life than a populace that is already satisfied. Germany was like that before World War II. The Germans saw in Hitler an opportunity for their country to rise out of the depressed state that they were in. Hitler took them further into an expansionist mode.
Another example of a nation advancing their way of life can, also, be seen in Al Qaeda and radical Islam (nations don’t need borders to be nations.) Al Qaeda and radical Islam kills to advance their way of life “You are either with us or you’re dead.” This is the way of true Islam and all other Muslims that deny this must believe that the Quran is a dynamic book that can change with the whim and will of the people.
Examples of the good side of these traits are England and Russia during World War II. Both suffered greatly with great loss of life but both persevered to saving of their countries and their way of life.
This is all predicated on the idea that a nation has a way of life that they hold near and dear to their heart. The War of Independence was fought because people wanted to protect their way of life. The way of life in the Colonies moved away from the thinking patterns and way of life of England and it’s people.
A nation has to have beliefs that it holds near to their heart, things that are non-negotiable, for it to stay a nation. If it doesn’t then it will cease to stay a nation because it will be destroyed from without or within. The reason it will be destroyed from without is because it’s citizens have no internal substance, no beliefs, no moral compass, nothing that they would hazard their life to defend. They will be destroyed from within because they will allow their leadership to wax more and more evil taking away the freedoms and wealth of the people for the benefit of the leadership. We are at that point in our country right now.
Over the years we have allowed our thinking to be morphed into “everybody is good and that everybody maybe different but we are all the same”. “The Communist Chinese are ok if they only have democracy then they would be just like us.” Our way of thinking has been changed to caring more about our personal immediate gratification rather than what is good for us in the long run and what people think of us. We have forgotten what the term “deferred gratification” means. We have forgotten that we have a responsibility to our children to give them a decent place to live and we have forgotten that we don’t get something for nothing.
I don’t agree with some of the creeds that our parents and grandparents lived by BUT, there was a cohesiveness that was found in those generations that we will not find in the generations of today. I would say that they not only believed in a Christian God they, also, believed God. The majority eschewed evil. They had an innate sense of patriotism, something that is now scoffed at and ridiculed as hickish and unmetro. Men protected women whether they needed it or not. The family unit was an important part of society and sexual deviation was frowned upon. The value of human life was held in high esteem and was taken to protect family and the freedoms of this country. Today is much different.
Today sexual deviation is sought after in Hollywood touted as special in magazines and music and tolerated in the halls of The Congress and Senate. The household savings rate is below zero people are living paycheck to paycheck while they finance construction of a new home from a second mortgage on their existing home, hoping to make the big money. Our government lies to us daily and we just accept it. The men who are in charge of people’s retirement funds (Hedge Fund Managers) are putting the money in riskier and riskier investments, jeopardizing the life savings of millions of people while they play Jack Horner and pull out plums to the tune of tens and hundreds of millions of dollars for themselves. When their investors are left to hang out in the wind they themselves will be in the tropics enjoying the warm breezes of luxury and no one complains. Our government Under Bill Clinton sold the ball bearing technology to China that allowed their missiles to start in silence and to shrink the accuracy of those missiles from a mile to a meter. If it weren’t for Bill Clinton the Chinese would never have been able to shoot down a satellite as they did a few weeks ago. George Bush opened the borders to murderers and thieves and terrorists as well as free loaders that are draining our country dry yet in the halls of Congress they debate the issue rather than upholding the law. Over the past twenty years our country has moved away from the freedoms that we have enjoyed and the Constitution that protected those freedoms and have allowed President Bush to enact powers that will turn this country into a military state. The government has built hundreds of camps that look eerily like concentration camps capable of holding twenty million people and trains to transport prisoners and yet all our congressmen/women, religious leadership and media are silent. Our government has allowed the Federal Reserve to destroy our currency and yet we sit around wondering what is on TV..
We are in for the biggest downward economic ride in history and our populace sits and fiddles because that is exactly how they have been trained. We have been fed a diet of sitcoms and reality shows, of rap and punk rock, people telling us that the “Old Way” (which by the way are the principles that this country was found on) is passé and that they are going to “build a bridge to the future”. The problem is that that bridge can’t hold all the graft, greed and corruption that goes with it.
There is, however, a way out and it doesn’t start with closing the borders or bringing back the manufacturing plants or enacting new laws; it starts with you. Yes, you and me and it is called knowledge. We must be willing to come back to the foundational principles that have made this country great. First is an understanding of God and the position that a Christian holds in this world as a son of God and joint heir with Jesus Christ. We must understand that God does stand with us and will bear His arm (fight) for us. We must understand the Constitution of the United States, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights and demand that our Senators, our Congressmen/women our President and our Judicial branch abide by them. We must accept that there are consequences for our gluttonous actions of the past three decades, pick ourselves up and start planning our way out of this. And we must pray to God for Him to help us and to show us the way.
Our country was built by rugged men and women that stood for what they believed in. It can be rebuilt by the sons and daughters of those people using those same principles just as suredly as the sun rises in the morning.
STOP FIDDLING!tag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2007://1.222007-08-09T03:27:05Z2007-08-09T03:33:02ZAs I read about current events and watch the news on TV I get the distinct feeling that America is tearing itself apart needlessly.
What I mean by this is that the camps of Democrats, Liberals. Republicans, Noecons, atheists, Christians (of all flavors) are verbally attacking each other, blaming each other for the ills of the nation while the politicians fiddle
As I read about current events and watch the news on TV I get the distinct feeling that America is tearing itself apart needlessly.
What I mean by this is that the camps of Democrats, Liberals. Republicans, Noecons, atheists, Christians (of all flavors) are verbally attacking each other, blaming each other for the ills of the nation while the politicians fiddle
As I read about current events and watch the news on TV I get the distinct feeling that America is tearing itself apart needlessly.
What I mean by this is that the camps of Democrats, Liberals. Republicans, Noecons, atheists, Christians (of all flavors) are verbally attacking each other, blaming each other for the ills of the nation while the politicians fiddle. What we have is a misdirection of emotion and frustration. I believe that if the American people would put down their prejudices for a little while and ask yourself “ What is it that I want and believe in then we would see that, yes, we have some differences but most of our core beliefs and desires are the same”. In doing this we would be able to see who is to blame and redirect our frustration on those who are to blame.
I am not afraid to tell you about myself and about my desires and thoughts somebody has to start. I am a fifty year old man. I own a company, have a wife and two children. I am a Christian and in the political world I would consider myself a republican, although I am ashamed of the republican party.
My desires (not my fantasies) are to have good work or jobs that pay well. I want my country and specifically the area that my family and loved ones are in, safe and secure so that we can live quiet and peaceful lives. I would like to be able to have food on the table and health for me and my family. I would like the neighborhood and town that we live in to be prosperous. I want the same opportunities that my generation had available to our children and our children’s children. I would like to be left alone to live my life the way I see fit, as long as it is within a tolerable framework of laws. I want my political representatives to represent me and not special interest groups..
Some of the things that I don’t want are; I don’t want to have to worry if we will have enough oil in the country for gas in my car or heat in the homes of those that use oil to heat their houses. I don’t want our sons and daughters being put in harms way or being killed when it is not to protect this country and it’s people. I don’t want the government making deals with big business lobbyists to the detriment of our countries best interests. Although, I speak Spanish fluently and have many Mexican friends I don’t want illegal immigration. I don’t want the government lying to us any more, if it is bad news tell us and tell us what you are going to do about it. I don’t want the Media trying to feed us only what they want us to hear. America is a lot smarter than you politicians give us credit for and most of us know when you are feeding us a bunch of garbage.
I don’t want to be taxed to death. The reason both husband and wife have to work is because of the government and taxes that they put on us. That’s another thing, I don’t want to pay for stupid government programs or disgusting art projects with tax dollars or any other dollars.
If any of this is what you want then I would say that we have a lot in common. So who is to blame for our situation? I would say that it is our leadership! They are the ones that are either to lazy to learn what they need to so that they can make intelligent decisions or too, greedy to do their job without a little extra on the side, for example our energy policy. The U.S. is buying oil from foreign governments that hate us because we don’t have enough to supply our own needs. The planning for energy independence should have been done long ago and implemented years ago. The world is running out of the light sweet crude oil that has fueled the world for the past century. We have plenty of alternative oil sources such as oil shale or oil from coal but we are on the edge of a global oil shortage and while China, Russia and other countries are solidifying oil rights across the globe our politicians sit and fiddle.
Who put our country into nine trillion dollars of debt? I didn’t and I can guarantee that anybody reading this article didn’t either. So who did? Our Government leaders. The interest on that debt is 1.2 billion dollars a day. The average persons will make between one and one half to two million dollars over their entire life. So, about 800 people would have to work their entire lives to pay one day’s interest on the national debt. It isn’t all from the Iraq war, that cost one trillion dollars to date, so, where did the other eight trillion go to?
Some good old fashion living within your means by the politicians could have helped this country.
Our problems aren’t caused by the people of this country but by the leadership, both Republican and Democrat. The way I see it the people don’t have a choice as to whether we get involved or not. We have to be if we want the things that I’ve mentioned. The politicians have to be put on notice that WE ARE WATCHING and that we want them to stop fiddling Nero’s tune. We want them to roll up their sleeves and start working FOR US, or else.
Olympics, Here We Come, Maybetag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2007://1.202007-07-24T22:33:16Z2007-07-24T22:49:45Z As I looked through the headlines on World Net Daily my attention has been arrested by the Headline “China sweeping Christians out”. It seems that the Chinese government has decided that Christian missionaries aren’t worthy to stay in China before or during the Olympics so the Chinese government is expelling them.
So, let me see if I have this right, the whole Christian world is invited to China for the Olympics. But, to have the games all missionaries have to get out. Have I got that right? Now I have a problem with that and EVERY CHRISTIAN IN THE WORLD, should have the same problem
As I looked through the headlines on World Net Daily my attention has been arrested by the Headline “China sweeping Christians out”. It seems that the Chinese government has decided that Christian missionaries aren’t worthy to stay in China before or during the Olympics so the Chinese government is expelling them.
So, let me see if I have this right, the whole Christian world is invited to China for the Olympics. But, to have the games all missionaries have to get out. Have I got that right? Now I have a problem with that and EVERY CHRISTIAN IN THE WORLD, should have the same problem
As I looked through the headlines on World Net Daily my attention has been arrested by the Headline “China sweeping Christians out”. It seems that the Chinese government has decided that Christian missionaries aren’t worthy to stay in China before or during the Olympics so the Chinese government is expelling them.
So, let me see if I have this right, the whole Christian world is invited to China for the Olympics. But, to have the games all missionaries have to get out. Have I got that right? Now I have a problem with that and EVERY CHRISTIAN IN THE WORLD, should have the same problem.
This is an event that men and women train their whole lives for. The event itself can make a nation wealthy or it can bankrupt smaller ones from the turnout of spectators, or lack thereof. All of the “civilized” world watches as many of the events as they can, even to the point of disrupting their work and social lives. It has been marketed as a means to get nations together so that people from different countries can see the commonality of all people. The rewards for the winners are instant fame and fortune. National heroes are made in an instant. So, what is my problem? Is it with the Olympics? No. Is it with the Olympic concept? No. Is it with the Chinese people? No. Then what is the problem?
The problem and concern that I have is the blind eye that the Christian world has turned to the abuses and persecutions by the Chinese government.
It doesn’t matter which denomination is being persecuted. It matters that CHRISTIANS are being persecuted. HELLO, is anybody listening? Aren’t Christians of the household of God? The Bible doesn’t say anything about denominations. It says those born of God’s spirit.
Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. I Corinthians 12: 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. II Corinthians 5: 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Galatians 4: 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Ephesians 2: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Philippians 1: 27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.
We are in a global business and financial environment. Something that happens in the U.S. affects people in Singapore, Paris and Sidney. Likewise, something that happens in Japan affects the market in London, Prague and Rio. Yet, the thing that should most concern us shouldn’t be the financial sector or the commodities sector or the business sector, NO! It should be a concern about the health, safety and well being of the Christians through out the world.
I Corinthians 12:13-27. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
There is more to this life, for the Christian, than pleasures, entertainment and riches. Does God want His sons and daughters to have the best in this life? YES! He wants us to have a life that is more than abundant but we are not to forget to put God first. Matthew 6:31-33 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
But we as Christians have gone so far off track that we don’t even consider what is the best because we are wrapped up in the things of this world. Luke 12:16-21 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Do you see what it says? It doesn’t say that you have to be poverty stricken but there is one thing that you need to do and that is to be “ rich toward God”. Do the things of God. Walk for God. Luke 11: 23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. This is Jesus Christ talking. If you are not for Him you are against him.
There are a lot of governments that are persecuting Christians and it hurts the body and we should be concerned. But China is persecuting Christians so that they can make ready for the tide of dollars that are going to come from CHRISTIANS. We as Christians could stop this right now.
There are over two billion Christians in the world. If the leadership of the Christian churches stood up and said to China “Stop it. Stop persecuting our brothers and sisters in China or we are not going to support your Olympics” and had the backing of their respective denominations the Chinese government would have to listen and stop. They want this Olympics to be their show piece to the world. If the world didn’t show up the Chinese would loose face and no self-respecting Chinese man would allow that to happen.
If this persecution continues unabated and the leadership of the Christian Church does not try to stop it and if the Christians of this world support the Olympics in China without a major change in policy toward the Christians of that country know that it is only a matter of time before your government knocks on your door ...
A TIME TO UNITEtag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2007://1.182007-07-12T03:27:30Z2007-07-12T03:34:54ZThe Pope just signed a document that says “ non-Catholic Christian communities are either defective or not true churches”. The Pope goes on to say that “ other Christian communities such as Protestants ‘cannot be called ‘churches’ in the proper sense since they don’t have what’s known as apostolic succession- that is, the ability to trace bishops back to the original apostles of Jesus’” WORLDNETDAILY. This statement needs to be addressed but not the way most in other Christian communities will. They will bluster and harrumph but they won’t get to the truth of the matter. Well, that’s where I guess I come in.
WORLDNETDAILY. This statement needs to be addressed but not the way most in other Christian communities will. They will bluster and harrumph but they won’t get to the truth of the matter. Well, that’s where I guess I come in.]]>
WORLDNETDAILY. This statement needs to be addressed but not the way most in other Christian communities will. They will bluster and harrumph but they won’t get to the truth of the matter. Well, that’s where I guess I come in.
To begin with, why, in a time like this where all Christendom needs to put their differences aside and unite to face the Muslim onslaught that has started and will continue to get worse, has he done this. The Pope has the ability and power to stop the swelling tide against all Christendom and Jewry and yet he drives a wedge between the very people that are being destroyed.
Does the Pope not remember that the Sudan is a killing ground with Muslims killing millions of Christians? Does he not remember that the war in Yugoslavia was Muslims against Christians? Does he not remember that Christians throughout the world are being persecuted and killed by Muslims? Does he not remember that 9/11 was an act of terror against Western Civilization by Muslims? Does he not remember the murders of nuns and priests by Muslims in various countries when he, the Pope, quoted a Pope that said something a little disparaging about Mohamed?
This is a time for Christians to come together and get back to their roots and their roots are in the revealed Word and will of God, the Bible. Oh sure, I could lecture on how Peter, to whom the Roman Catholics claim apostolic succession, was never in Rome. Or I could go into the “Catholic” closet and bring out tons of dirty laundry but this is not the time to air our differences about who’s religion is better! If you read my last article Born Again part one) you would know that it is not which “Christian community” that you are with or belong to it is when you “confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead” Rom. 10:9 that you become a child of God. Honestly, there are both “born again” ones and unsaved ones in most every “Christian” church in the world.
A study of the word church in the Bible would have saved the Pope a lot of problems. In the New Testament the Greek word for church is Ekklesia. Ekklessia is used in the Bible for anyone called out for a specific purpose. As a matter of fact a mob is called an ekklesia or a church. Look at Acts 19:23-41
23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.
24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
31 And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.
32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly (ekklesia, the same word used for the English word “church”) was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.
34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
35 And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.
37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
38 Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
39 But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly (ekklesia).
40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.
41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly (ekklesia).
My point in showing you this is to clear up how the Bible (the Word of GOD) uses the word ekklesia. This word is used for group that is called out for a specific purpose. It is used for both the called out in Jesus Christ, for a mob and for a lawful assembly. So, any Christian group or community is called for a specific purpose and can be called an ekklesia a church according to biblical usage.
It is time for all Christians to come back to the integrity and accuracy of God’s Word, the Bible, put away our petty differences and unite to face down those who want to destroy our Christian communities, our families and us.
]]>
THE COST OF FREEDOMtag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2007://1.162007-06-26T22:38:22Z2007-06-26T22:42:25ZMany times we have honored our men and women in arms for their service to our country and rightfully so, but there is another cost to be paid for the freedom that our forefathers have given us. It is ours and it is only we here in the United States who can pay. That obligation does not rest on the shoulders of the brave military men and women of our country. This is an obligation that they cannot fulfill. It requires the same dedication that our troops exhibit and that obligation lays at the feet of our Christian leadership, our government officials and the citizenry of America.
Many times we have honored our men and women in arms for their service to our country and rightfully so, but there is another cost to be paid for the freedom that our forefathers have given us. It is ours and it is only we here in the United States who can pay. That obligation does not rest on the shoulders of the brave military men and women of our country. This is an obligation that they cannot fulfill. It requires the same dedication that our troops exhibit and that obligation lays at the feet of our Christian leadership, our government officials and the citizenry of America.
Many times we have honored our men and women in arms for their service to our country and rightfully so, but there is another cost to be paid for the freedom that our forefathers have given us. It is ours and it is only we here in the United States who can pay. That obligation does not rest on the shoulders of the brave military men and women of our country. This is an obligation that they cannot fulfill. It requires the same dedication that our troops exhibit and that obligation lays at the feet of our Christian leadership, our government officials and the citizenry of America.
It takes bravery to be on the front lines doing what needs to be done and the stakes are high. If a soldier doesn’t perform his/her obligations when they should it could mean death or injury to themselves or their squad. They are in constant danger of attack. Even if they are not in a fight the stress levels are extremely high. Soldiers are willing to put it all on the line and risk life and limb to protect the U.S. from foreign invaders, terrorists and people that want to take away our lifestyles and our freedoms. But the price borne by the troops of the U.S. is a small part of the price to be paid to keep America free.
The other price that has to be paid for our freedom is the cost paid by the citizens and leadership of the U.S.. What price, you ask, the price of selfless service, dedication and sacrifice. No we don’t have to sell war bonds and collect rubber for the war cause, not yet, anyways. But, we have to stand up for what we believe in and we have to stand up and be counted. Today, our country is being attacked, invaded and our freedoms are being taken away with unprecedented speed. To counter this all those that want America to stay free have to join the battle.
The leadership in the Christian church has to come back to a realization that God is real and that He authored the Bible. They need to study the Bible diligently and they have to speak the word boldly because only it is the word of life. It is the truth and it sets men and women free. If the leadership doesn’t believe that the Bible is the word and will of God then they should have the decency and honesty to step down and leave. People are starving for the truth of God’s deliverance, love, care and understanding. You leadership should stop playing around and get to work. As for you closet ministers, you that desire to walk with God and do great things for God and in the name of Jesus Christ but the fires of desire are being extinguished by the shear weight of the unbelief in the church leadership and the morass of bureaucracy do what you need to do to change it or get out and go somewhere where you can be free to teach THE WORD OF GOD. You only have a short time here on earth so why pawn your eternal verities for job security. If God can’t take care of you and bless your life beyond anything you have now then you shouldn’t be working for him in the first place. But God guarantees that He WILL take care of you and give you the desires of your heart if you do one thing STAND FOR HIM!
The leadership in government has to stop this insanity of greed and avarice that has become the landscape of Washington and instead damn the demigods and do what is honest and right. That would start by turning your backs on big business lobbyists and do what is right for the country. Why can’t you be happy with your government salary? It is higher than most other government employees and a lot more than most of the other workers in the U.S.. Close the borders, find a solution to the fiscal crisis that we are in and work to make our country energy independent!
The Christian’s must demand the leadership in the church know the Bible and teach one thing and one thing only and that is the Word of God, the Bible. Then they must endeavor to do what they have been taught. A Christian’s walk is not a Sunday only thing it is an all the time thing, 24/7/365.
The citizen’s of this county must demand that the government officials do what they were elected to do and that is to represent the people in this land, not their self-interests. It is high time for the people of this land to stand up and say I have had enough! You elected officials do what your constituents want not what your party tells you to do. And if you don’t do it we are going to recall you and get some one that WILL do our bidding in Washington and not sell out to the lobbyists.
If you have read this and said OH, I couldn’t possibly do that but deep down in your heart you want to do it or if you are scared then you have a glimpse of what our young men and women in arms deal with everyday.
Does this mean that you may not be the most popular person around? Maybe, but this is what it is going to take to save our country and keep it free. It takes self sacrifice and a belief in an authority higher than yourself and/or having children of your own and wanting the same freedoms and opportunities that you had and have. It takes honesty, integrity and determination. You may think you are alone but there are many people that have the same concerns and interests that you do and they are hoping that some one might stand up and boldly proclaim ENOUGH! I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!
ONE MAN AWAKE
One man awake awakens another,
The second awakens his next-door neighbor,
And three awake can rouse the town,
And turn the whole place upside down.
And many awake can raise such a fuss
That it finally awakens the rest of us.
One man up with dawn in his eyes multiplies.
Author Unknown
The way I see it we don’t have the dangers that our soldiers do but we have as great an obligation and calling to keep this country free, as do our troops in the field. This is not a time for complacency it is a time for introspection and commitment. It is a time for bravery and self-sacrifice to keep this country free. Our soldiers are doing their part it is time that we do ours.
A FULL PANTRY, PRUDENT OR LUNACYtag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2007://1.142007-06-04T21:28:06Z2007-06-04T21:46:49Z“Just in time supply” was and is good for business but what about the consumer in today’s world?
Over the last four decades the businesses and corporations in the United States have shifted their philosophy on storage and stock piling of goods to a “just in time supply” mode. In other words, there is little to no “stock” or stored items in the store. All the merchandise, food, etc. comes in just in time for the consumer to purchase it. This has been a real cost saver to the businesses that, before the “just in time supply”, had to carry large amounts of merchandise and hold it for long periods of time. Their cash flow is better and the cost of holding those goods is virtually gone. “Just in time supply” was and is good for business but what about the consumer in today’s world?
Over the last four decades the businesses and corporations in the United States have shifted their philosophy on storage and stock piling of goods to a “just in time supply” mode. In other words, there is little to no “stock” or stored items in the store. All the merchandise, food, etc. comes in just in time for the consumer to purchase it. This has been a real cost saver to the businesses that, before the “just in time supply”, had to carry large amounts of merchandise and hold it for long periods of time. Their cash flow is better and the cost of holding those goods is virtually gone. “Just in time supply” was and is good for business but what about the consumer in today’s world?
Things have changed in the world over the past three decades. The world is no longer the same. The word terrorist wasn’t a daily byword thirty years ago. People didn’t know what jihad meant nor did they care. America was an exporter of crude oil, not an importer. Oil was abundant. The United States was safe from attacks from foreign powers. But what about today?
Today we are constantly under the threat of attack. If you don’t believe me just go to an airport where the “terrorist threat meter” has been stuck on orange, meaning almost immanent, for years. The reports of plots to kill Americans in the U.S. thwarted by the F.B.I. and other law enforcement agencies are commonplace.
The U.S. now imports 60% of it’s oil and most of that is from sources that are antagonistic to the United States or on the verge of civil war. One hiccup in one area of the oil delivery system will slow down or stop deliveries of goods and services across parts or all of the U.S.. A disruption in oil supply could happen from many different directions: terrorist attack here in the United States, terrorist attack on any of the oil refineries or distribution points around the globe, civil war in one or more of the African nations, war with Iran, Iran choosing to close the Straits of Hormuz, hurricane or hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, South American country or countries cut off their supply of oil to the US, flu virus pandemic. All of these and more are possibilities that can stop the fragile flow of goods to the stores in your local area.
How long does it take to run the grocery stores out of goods and produce? Just ask one of the many people who have lived in the path of a hurricane. I bet their experiences were similar to mine. I was living on Cape Cod when it was announced on the radio that we were in for a Noreaster (big storm off the Atlantic). I was in college at the time and was headed for class. After class I went to the store to get some extra supplies. And what did my wondering eyes see at the store? Nothing! Everything was gone! I had never been to a grocery store and seen that before but in a matter of two hours people had cleaned out the store.
The idea of stockpiling food and necessary items like toilet paper etc. came into full force during the Y2K scare. So many people considered it lunacy to store extra supplies and food because of that. So the question begs, is it prudent or is it lunacy to store more than a weeks worth of food and necessary items.
To answer that we would best be served by looking at the way people live that are outside of the “just in time “ supply chain. This would include our grandparents and perhaps our parents. To our grandparents and great grandparents food was a seasonal commodity. Pears, peaches, carrots, peas, and all of the other fruits and vegetables were grown in summer and if they wanted to have these in their diet come winter they would can this produce and have it in stored in a pantry. Some people would have a root cellar that stored fresh apples and fresh vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, beets and other tuber type veggies.
The further away from the cities and towns people lived the more food and necessary items they stored because they didn’t know when they would get to town. It wasn’t uncommon for a family to have enough food stored to last until the next harvest, that’s a full year.
With the advent of freezers the way some foods were stored changed and it was easier for the grocery stores to keep a continuing supply of frozen foods in stock. Thus, the need to put up food for the year diminished.
So, what about now? We are arguably the most advanced civilization in the history of the world. We have a supply system that brings us fruits and vegetables and beef and teas and coffees from the farthest reaches of the earth, on demand. Our clothes, hair dryers, dolls, shoes, car parts and just about everything else is made thousands of miles from our coastline and brought to us just in time.
All of this is hanging on the thread of oil dependency. If any one of a myriad of possibilities comes to pass the “just in time” signs will be replaced with “sorry we’re closed” signs. Is this negative thinking? Is this government and industry bashing? I don’t think so. I think it is common sense.
Another question you can ask yourself is “how much do I trust the government and big business.” If you have implicit trust in the Government and big business then you have no worries. But, on the other hand, you have a level of distrust or uncertainty then perhaps you should think through your stock in the pantry.
I, personally, have lost a lot of my trust in our government and in the ability of the stores and businesses to keep the shelves full in the time of crisis. So, I am one of those that believe that having an extra supply of food in the pantry is prudent and that it will not only help me but I will be one less person our government will have to worry about in a time of crisis.
If you are prepared for an emergency then it won’t be an emergency for you. For example, if you are out on a hike in the woods and a cold front and associated snow storm moves in and all you’re wearing are shorts and a shirt and all you are carrying is a fanny pack with a granola bar and a bottle of water then you may well be in serious trouble. If you take that same scenario only this time you are carrying a hooded winter jacket, a pair of gloves and your shorts are the type that you can zip the legs on for a full set of pants and you have food for a day, fire starter, a back pack stove, hot chocolate, a mess kit, tent, GPS and a map THEN the bad weather would only be an inconvenience and not life threatening.
Another way of looking at it is as if your storehouse of goods and groceries is an insurance policy that doesn’t cost anything if done right.
The best way that I have found for having extra food is to do just that, have extra. For example peanut butter, instead of having one jar in the cupboard have two or three and when you are done with the open jar replace it with another jar but use the oldest jar in the rotation line. This is called rotating your stock. Simple, I know, but effective. The same goes for frozen foods, toilet paper, aspirin, etc.. Just be careful that you don’t buy something that you won’t use before it expires.
In this crazy and turbulent world that we live in it is not only prudent but necessary to have extra food and supplies on hand.
IS IT REALLY GOD’S WORD?tag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2007://1.102007-05-09T01:06:53Z2007-05-09T01:38:16ZOver the centuries men have continued to hack away at the Bible and it’s reputation so that now it is almost impossible to find a person that believes that the Bible is THE WORD OF GOD. Even in the hierarchy of the Christian Churches (where this should be a given (a cardinal rule)) they think that they are modern or sophisticated to believe exactly the opposite
Over the centuries men have continued to hack away at the Bible and it’s reputation so that now it is almost impossible to find a person that believes that the Bible is THE WORD OF GOD. Even in the hierarchy of the Christian Churches (where this should be a given (a cardinal rule)) they think that they are modern or sophisticated to believe exactly the opposite
Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary
I’ve got a couple of different words/terms for you: divine revelation verses pollution.
Tell me, are the teachings of the Bible antiquated? Are the miracles of the Bible old fashioned and out of style? Are the teachings from the pulpit today more up to date? Have the teachings of today gone on to a higher standard of ideas and techniques? Or, as I see it, has the purity of the Word of God been polluted by the leadership of the Christian church? Mark 7:6-9 “ He (Jesus Christ) said unto them, well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit, in vane they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups, and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” So, you tell me, is the moving away from the written Word of God modern, new, up-to-date? Or, is the moving away from the written Word of God by teaching other things a pollution of the purity of the Word that God testifies to?
As individuals, as a nation (USA) and as a civilization (western civilization) we are facing or will face a myriad of problems that seem or will seem insurmountable. We as a civilization have come to the brink because Christian leadership has chosen to pollute the accuracy of God’s Word and the only way out, that will allow us to be the “more than conquerors of Romans chapter eight, is by each of us coming back to an understanding of and believing in the integrity and accuracy of God’s wonderful Word, the Bible.
Oh and by the way: the council of Nicea did not ad or remove books from the Bible and God protects His Word (Jeremiah chapter 36). So, do not fret little children just start reading the Bible and I will be here to help you along.
]]>
WHAT IS ISRAEL’S BEST DEFENSEtag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2007://1.92007-05-01T22:31:47Z2007-05-02T19:53:15ZMain stream Christian leaders and government officials in the United States have held a belief over the past few decades that the Western World especially the United States has to protect Israel because of some Bible thing that (they say)...
Main stream Christian leaders and government officials in the United States have held a belief over the past few decades that the Western World especially the United States has to protect Israel because of some Bible thing that (they say) Israel has to remain a nation because they are God’s chosen people and this is the end times etc.. I see things differently.
Main stream Christian leaders and government officials in the United States have held a belief over the past few decades that the Western World especially the United States has to protect Israel because of some Bible thing that (they say) Israel has to remain a nation because they are God’s chosen people and this is the end times etc.. I see things differently.
Israel was and is chosen and instituted of God. You know, the God of Heaven and Earth.
Genesis 17:5-9 “Neither shall thy name anymore be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and Kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee. And I will give unto thee, and thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan , for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. And God said unto Abraham, thou shall keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.”
Do you see where it says God is going to make Abraham and his seed fruitful and gave them all of Canaan? In Exodus 32:13 Moses is talking with God in an effort to persuade God not to destroy Israel because of their disobedience and Moses said “Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants to whom thou swearest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto you seed, and they shall inherit it forever.”
Deuteronomy 9:5 “Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thy heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” The word that God sware unto Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is making them fruitful, making them nations and kings AND giving them all the land of Canaan. This promise is throughout the Bible so, what happened? Why isn’t God fulfilling His promise to Israel? Perhaps God is a liar. Perhaps the Bible is just a bunch of nice stories and is not THE WORD OF GOD. Perhaps God is dead.
I started thinking about this whole thing after I read an article that mentioned that a lot of Jews were agnostic. Agnostic?? Like, don’t know whether there is a God or not? Wow! My reading that article was followed by a conversation with a man and his wife that are leaders in the Jewish community in my area. What they had to say was even more shocking to me.
They said that Judaism today is made up of a myriad of people that include agnostics and atheists. Wow Wow! Also, during our conversation this couple said Judaism questioned God’s existence because of what happened to the Jews in Germany during World War II.
I can see (understand) that.
The Jews have been getting their butts kicked around for over 2000 years. Hitler was just one in a line of many. So why if God promised all of this good stuff to Israel has Israel been getting the worst end of the stick? Hhhmmm?
If you want the answer then you have to go to the source that tells you (and the Jews) that the Jews are God’s chosen people.
To start let’s look at Leviticus chapter 26:1-13. Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down to it: for I am the Lord thy God. Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord. If ye walk in my statutes , and keep my commandments, and do them; then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: And shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. And five of you shall chase a hundred, and an hundred of you will put ten thousand to flight; and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you. And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new. And I will set my tabernacle among you; and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people. I am the Lord thy God which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be bondmen, and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.” It’s all good up to hear but the rest is the kicker, are you ready? Exodus 26:14-24 “ But if ye will not harken unto me, and will not do all these commandments; And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: I also will do this unto you : I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of the heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies will eat it.And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you. And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron and your earth as brass: And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits. And if ye walk contrary to me and and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues on you upon you according to your sins. I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy you cattle, and make you few in number; and your highways shall be desolate. And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me; Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.
The list of curses (bad things a happenin’) continues until verse thirty nine. The point here, not my point but God’s point, is that if the children of Israel observe to do the commandments and statutes of God GOD Will cause them to prosper. BUT if they abhor God by not observing God’s laws then a lot of bad things are going to happen to them.
I want to divert to the subject of Jews and Christians for a second because of the confusion as to timelines for Judaism and Christianity. Everything that I read about Israel is that God’s promise, God’s covenant and God’s desire is to bless Israel throughout all time. His promise to them is the prosperity in the land that He gave them. I see no interruption or break in God’s promise. There is confusion on this because a thing
(administration) came about with Jesus Christ’s fulfilling the law and being raised from the dead and ascending into heaven and being seated on the right hand of God. From the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-41) until Christ’s return for his church in I Thessalonians 4:13-18 there is a new body taken both out of Jews and Gentiles (Romans 9:4-30, I Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 2:13- 3:6). The things given to and promised to Christians by God are so much better than the Law that Israel is to live under that I cannot understand why anyone would want to put themselves under the Law or more to the point why anyone would not want to be a Christian. Ok, ok I understand the blindness of Romans 11:25 but still…
So back to Israel and the blessings and cursings thing. Remember what the Bible said? It is Israel’s choice how they are going to walk and if they turn their back on God they are going to get the consequences. The Bible says that God would bring this about but the Bible also, says that God is light and in Him is no darkness nor shadow of turning. In other words God doesn’t do bad things. So, how do we reconcile these two truths? God sets up immutable laws like gravity. If you throw something into the air 100 out of 100 times that object will fall back to earth. It is the same thing in the spiritual realm. God set up immutable laws that when you go against them you receive the consequences of your actions. That is what God is saying in Leviticus.
When will Israel become the nation that God promised? And don’t tell me that they are there now because Israel is being bombed with bombs and missiles as I write this. For the answer look at Deuteronomy 30:1-10 And it shall come to pass when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shall call them to mind among all the nations, wither the Lord thy God has driven thee, and shall return unto the Lord thy God , and shalt obey His voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart and with all thy soul; that then the Lord thy God shall turn thy captivity, and have compassion on thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations wither the Lord thy God Scattered thee.If any of thine be driven out unto the outermost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee; and from thence will He fetch thee: and the Lord thy god will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and He will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. And the Lord thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and them that hate thee, which persecute thee. And thou shall return and obey the voice of the Lord, and do all His commandments which I command thee this day. And the Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thy hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good; for the Lord will again rejoice over thee for good, as He rejoiced over thy fathers: If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in the book of the Law, and if thou return unto the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
Does a nation and a people that are agnostic and atheist etc. sound anything like what God talks about returning “ unto the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul”???? Perhaps you are saying well that is not all of Israel, it is just a portion of Israel. Everybody else in Israel is doing what God says to do. Are they? I’m not a Bible scholar but I can and have read the Bible quite a bit but I have yet to see where the Bible says it’s ok not to sacrifice sheep, oxen, doves, the lamb of the first year. I see it in reference to Jesus Christ and Christians, we are no longer under the law, but not for Jews. Wasn’t the Passover suppose to be eaten standing up with shoes on and staff in hand? When did that change? It didn’t. He who is guilty of one small rule out of the Law is guilty of the whole Law.
When will Israel be the nation that God promised? When they (Israel) chooses to. When they (Israel) returns unto the Lord with all their heart and with all their soul, not before.
So if Jews are reading this, GREAT! If you want God’s blessing promised to Israel do what God commands, that includes sacrifices. Or if you would like something better do Romans 10:9&10 and become a Christian. But as for Europe and the United States having to protect Israel – Hogwash. I can see the strategical importance of Israel but to think that we are doing God’s work you are wrong. Don’t get me wrong, I want Israel to survive . I want Israel to dominate the region, so does God. But, there is only one that can bring Israel into the Promised Land and prosper them and protect them that is God and that will only happen when Israel returns to God with all their heart and with all their soul! Until that time the Jews will continue to be kicked around.