Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †
Posted in Uncategorized
✝️
.
.
.
A Forward-Thinking Man
By Pastor Ricky Kurth]
Recently, Fox News told of a 13-year-old girl who got in trouble at school for wearing a shirt that said, “Virginity Rocks!” The back of her shirt was equally delightful and showed that she was one very forward-thinking young lady. It read, “I’m loving my husband, and I haven’t even met him yet!”
This sweet girl’s wonderful testimony reminded me of how the Lord Jesus showed that He was one very forward-thinking Man when He prayed to God about His eleven disciples:
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word” (John 17:20).
Most Bible commentaries maintain that the Lord was talking about you and me, and all of the other members of the Body of Christ who had not yet believed on Him at that time. The problem with this view is that you and I didn’t believe on Christ through the words of the twelve apostles. We believed on Him through the words of the Apostle Paul! Paul is the only biblical writer who presents salvation by grace through faith in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:25). If someone introduced you to Christ using the words of the twelve apostles, they had to read Paul’s gospel into their words, for he is the only biblical writer to preach the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as the gospel that must be believed in order to be saved (I Cor. 15:1-4).
So who were those who were saved through the word of the apostles? Well, the twelve preached their word at Pentecost, which tells us that those who believed through their word were all Jews, for they were the only people that Peter addressed on that day (Acts 2:14,22,36). So in praying for “them also which shall believe through their word,” the Lord was praying for future Jewish believers. Of course, this means that He had only Jewish believers in mind when He went on to pray for these future saints.
“That they all may be one…that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me” (John 17:21).
Here again, the commentaries all contend that the Lord was talking about us. After all, didn’t Paul say of Christ, “He is our peace, who hath made both one” (Eph. 2:14), speaking of how Jews and Gentiles were all “baptized into one body” (I Cor. 12:13). The commentaries insist that this is what the Lord had in mind when He prayed “that they all may be one.”
But we’ve already seen that this couldn’t be what the Lord had in mind, since those who believed on Him through the word of the apostles were all Jews. So why was He praying that the Jews might be made one?
Well, if you know your Bible, you know that there came a time in Israel’s history when the ten northern tribes broke away from the two southern tribes and formed their own kingdom (I Kings 12). While God allowed this, He had no intention of letting His people be divided forever! To illustrate this, God instructed Ezekiel to take a stick and write “Israel” on it to represent the ten northern tribes, and then to take another stick and write “Judah” on it to represent the two southern tribes, then to join them together and “make them one stick” (Ezek. 37:15-19). He was told to do all this to illustrate God’s plan to take Israel and Judah and “make them one nation” (v. 22). This, then, is the oneness for which the Lord prayed in our text.
Was His prayer answered? You know it was! At Pentecost, “there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews…out of every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5). “And all that believed…were together…continuing daily with one accord…with…singleness of heart” (Acts 2:41-46).
Of course, the Lord had a purpose in mind for praying for the reunion of Israel’s two houses. It was, as He said, “that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me”; and when the reuniting of Israel’s two houses continues in the millennial kingdom, their oneness will cause the world to believe on Christ.
Do you think this will work today? That is, when the world sees the oneness that we have in Christ, do you think maybe they might want in on it? I know for sure that it works the other way! When we bite and devour one another, the world about us finds this most UNattractive. Brethren, do you know who does the most to keep people from believing on Christ? It is not murderers, rapists, and thieves; nothing that men like that do keeps men from believing. No, it is Christians who can’t get along with one another, and who present a poor testimony to the world in other ways, that keep men from believing on Christ. Why not determine right now that as a Christian you are going to “walk worthy of this calling…that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you” (II Thes. 1:11,12).
https://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/a-forward-thinking-man/
John 17:20 ¶ Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
1 Corinthians 15:1 ¶ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Acts 2:14 ¶ But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
Acts 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Ephesians 2:14 ¶ For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
1 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.
1 Kings 12:22 But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
23 Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying,
24 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.
Ezekiel 37:15 ¶ The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
18 And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?
19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.
Ezekiel 37:22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 ¶ And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
2 Thessalonians1:11 ¶ Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
“”That they all may be one…that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me” (John 17:21). Here again, the commentaries all contend that the Lord was talking about us.”
It’s interesting that the writer would use the word “all“, and not just because of the implication that most everyone but him and his commentary has missed something. Here is John 17:20-21 in full:
“But I do not ask for these only, but also for those believing in Me through their word, that all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
Going back to John 1:12-13: “But as many as (Gr. hosoi) received Him, He gave to them authority to be children of God—to those believing in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of will of flesh, nor of will of man, but of God.”
Jesus informed those who evidently boasted of their physical lineage (cf. John 6:39, 53) rather than recognizing the need to be born of God: “And I have other sheep which are not of this fold. It behooves Me to bring those also, and they will hear My voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.” This comports with what was foretold about “the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD to minister to Him” (cf. Isaiah 56:6), as “My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations (Gentiles)” (cf. Isaiah 56:7): “Thus declares the Lord GOD, who gathers the dispersed of Israel: “I will gather to them still others besides those already gathered” (Isaiah 56:8).
It is evident that the uttermost parts of the earth (cf. Acts 1:8) are where the nations / Gentiles dwelled (cf. Matthew 28:19). As shown in Acts 10, 11, 15, and elsewhere, God’s “holy apostles and prophets” came to realize by revelation (cf. Eph. 3:5) “that the Gentiles are joint-heirs, and a joint-body, and joint-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus, through the gospel” (Eph. 3:6). Going back to “those believing in Me through their word, that all (Gr. pantes) may be one” (cf. John 17:20-21), look at how this comports with the picture of all of those believing and who are born of God:
Galatians 3:26-29 — “For you are all (Gr. pantes) sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you (Gr. hosoi) as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male and female; for you are all (Gr. pantes) one in Christ Jesus. Now if you are of Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.”
Again, those who are “all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” also “are all one in Christ Jesus”.
“Most Bible commentaries maintain that the Lord was talking about you and me, and all of the other members of the Body of Christ who had not yet believed on Him at that time. The problem with this view is that you and I didn’t believe on Christ through the words of the twelve apostles. We believed on Him through the words of the Apostle Paul!”
In many countries, copies of the gospel have been very hard to come by. Sometimes, time and resources have been limited as far as translating Scripture into what is sometimes referred to a people’s “heart language“, with the New Testament accounts of the life of Jesus often being a starting point before getting to translate other parts of Scripture.
At least one modern outreach ministry has primarily focused on giving a pamphlet-sized hard copy of the Gospel of John in many different languages. Not only would the recipients have had the verses from John 17 to consider, but many other ones relevant to salvation by grace through faith:
John 1:1-3 — “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and without Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being.”
John 1:12-14 — “But as many as received Him, He gave to them authority to be children of God—to those believing in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of will of flesh, nor of will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld His glory, a glory as of an only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:16-17 — “For from His fullness, we have all received and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
John 1:29 — “On the next day, he sees Jesus coming to him and says, “Behold the Lamb of God, the One taking away the sin of the world.”” Also, the baptism account of the Son of God” who is “the One baptizing with the Holy Spirit” (cf. John 1:32-34).
John 2:21-22 — “But He was speaking concerning the temple of His body. Therefore when He was raised up out from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.”
John 3:14-17 — “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, thus it behooves the Son of Man to be lifted up, so that everyone believing in Him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave the only begotten Son, so that everyone believing in Him should not perish, but should have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”
John 5:24 — “Truly, truly, I say to you that the one hearing My word and believing the One having sent Me, he has eternal life and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”
John 6:28-29 — “Therefore they said to Him, “What must we do, that we may be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you should believe in Him whom He has sent.””
John 11:25 — “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; the one believing in Me, even if he should die, he will live.”
They would also have John 4 and the woman and the well; John 6 and all that’s spoken regarding His body and blood and receiving them spiritually (cf. John 6:63). Also included of course were the raising of Lazarus from the dead and the chapters covering the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. A clear purpose is given by John for what was written:
John 20:30-31 — “So indeed Jesus also did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you may have life in His name.”
Could people be saved through believing these “words” from one of the 12 apostles? If so, did that cease at some point? If not, could that be why modern ministries have chosen to share in such a way — not intentionally excluding Paul or other Biblical writers, but using relevant portions of Scripture in a fruitful way? Of course, in what is believed to be near the conclusion of Paul’s ministry, Paul reminded Timothy “that from childhood you have known the sacred writings, being able to make you wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15).
“If someone introduced you to Christ using the words of the twelve apostles, they had to read Paul’s gospel into their words, for he is the only biblical writer to preach the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as the gospel that must be believed in order to be saved (I Cor. 15:1-4).”
Clarity as to salvation coming in the same manner for all was manifested as God moved with specific directions to the appointed preachers of the gospel, as well as the Gentile hearers. Scripture showed how an angel directed the centurion Cornelius to Peter (cf. Acts 10:1-8, 22). Meanwhile, Peter was given instruction by the Holy Spirit related to meeting those sent by Cornelius (cf. Acts 10:19-20).
Peter then began to speak regarding what applied to all: “And Peter, having opened the mouth, said, “Of a truth I understand that God is not One who shows partiality, but in every nation, the one fearing Him and working righteousness is acceptable to Him, the word that He sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming the gospel, peace by Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all” (Acts 10:34-36).
The message included witnessing to Christ’s death on the cross, Christ’s resurrection, and that forgiveness of sins through the name of Jesus is available to all / “everyone believing in Him”: “And we are witnesses of all things that He did, both in the region of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they also put to death, having hanged Him on a tree. This One God raised up on the third day, and gave Him to become manifest, not to all the people, but to the witnesses having been chosen beforehand by God, to us who did eat with and drink with Him after His rising out from the dead. And He instructed us to proclaim to the people and to testify fully that He is the One having been appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets bear witness that everyone believing in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name” (Acts 10:39-43).
The full implications of this included the reality that Gentiles received salvation in the same manner as the Jews:
“Of Peter still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those hearing the word. And the believers from the circumcision, as many as had come with Peter, were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit has been poured out even upon the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, “Is anyone able to withhold the water to baptize these who have received the Holy Spirit, just as we also have?”” (Acts 10:44-47).
After Peter shared with “the apostles and the brothers” (cf. Acts 11:1) about his preaching to the Gentiles about Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection, they responded thusly: “And having heard these things, they were silent and glorified God, saying, “Then indeed God has given also to the Gentiles repentance unto life” (Acts 11:18).
More about what Peter had been privileged to reveal followed in Acts 15:7-9: “And much discussion having taken place, Peter having risen up, said to them, “Men, brothers, you know that from the early days God chose among you for the Gentiles to hear by my mouth the word of the gospel, and to believe. And the heart-knowing God bore witness to them, having given them the Holy Spirit, as also to us. And He made no distinction between both us and them, having purified their hearts by the faith.
James further noted in Acts 15:14 that “Simeon has related how God first visited to take out of the Gentiles a people for His name.” And of course, Paul and Barnabas were among those “apostles and the elders, brothers” (cf. Acts 15:23) who heard this and had “come with one accord” (cf. Acts 15:25). As far as apostles who are also biblical writers, in addition to what was written in his gospel account, the apostle John also spoke on such matters:
1 John 2:2 — “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you might not sin. And if anyone should sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One. And He is the propitiation (atoning sacrifice) for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.”
1 John 4:10 — “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son as a propitiation (atoning sacrifice) for our sins.”
Thank you for these clarifying examples. James also told his readers to receive the implanted word which is able to save their souls.
Mr. Kurth’s interpretation may have some historical application but so many have come to faith in Christ and the new birth by reading the words of the 12 apostles, we can see that the Word is powerful and operating today in anyone who is seeking.
On another topic, many pastors promote the passage in Acts where the believers (all Jewish and living in Jerusalem) had all things in common as proof that communism, not owning anything, and having all things in common are a scriptural ideal that we should practice. Such an idea is absurd and plainly unworkable as ever. Suppose I use your car, then it breaks down- who pays for the repair? The real owner, of course.
A possible explanation is that many of the Jewish believers in Jerusalem had been thrown out of the synagogue as a result of abandoning their old religion. There were young families that had no land. For this reason, maybe some wealthier believers gave some land to them so that they could support their families.
The “socialism” depicted can’t be a spiritual or societal ideal that we would practice if only we weren’t so selfish, because subsequent verses in the New Testament contradict that idea.
Many a pastor and many an unbelieving devotee of socialism try to tell us that Jesus was a socialist using these verses.
Re your paragraph third from the bottom, one observation. If Our Lord was speaking about receiving His Body and Blood “spiritually” it is doubtful the people would have found that hard to believe, and turned away from Him. His words were quite clear He was speaking plainly and repeatedly.
This is re your 12:48 post.
John 6:63 — “It is the Spirit giving life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life.”
How could one receive His sacrifice, the sacrifice of His body and the shedding of His blood once on the cross, except spiritually?
Even the earthly manna literally came down from Heaven (and had non-earthly properties, as it stayed fresh for one day then got worms and stank (cf. Exodus 16:20) unless gathered prior to the Sabbath, upon which it lasted two days without fail per Exodus 16:24-29), yet the recipients died [John 6:58]), but the bread received in masses is made from earthly sources.
John 6:58 evidently points to the contrast of the physical and spiritual: “This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”
How does the Holy Spirit, even the Spirit of Christ as described in Romans 8:9 and 1 Peter 1:11, come to us? Do believers receive Christ “in the realm of the flesh” (cf. Romans 8:9) or in a spiritual manner? 1 Peter 1:10-11– “Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.”
Romans 8:9-11: “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you.”
The next chapter also speaks of real drink to be received spiritually, as had occurred with the contrast in John 4 with the woman at the well of physical versus spiritual water:
John 7:37-39 — “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ Now this He said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”
In 1996, the Beach Boys—no slouches when it comes to creating musical magic—invited some very talented people to share their songs. Here are some examples of what happened . . .
Thank you Garrison. I absolutely love these videos and once I listen…can’t get them out of my head for days! Willie Nelson…warmth of the sun…I hear and feel warmth of the SON. GOD is with us in any and all circumstances. Thanks again for posting these! I have shared them with many!
🙂 Music heals. It always, always, heals. . .
Music is a vast apothecary!
🙂
Two Lane Blacktop is an obscure ’60’s movie that is nonetheless, along with Easy Rider, is a profound—in my opinion—comment on the culture, the alienation, of life in the late 1960’s. French sociologist Emelie Durkheim described times represented in this film as “anomic”. What he meant was a society who’s everyday norms didn’t quite work in expected ways. The sense of this movie—if you watch it—is time out of time. You have a distinct sense that what is happening in these scenes is completely unconnected to a larger social reality. True or not, the essential story of Two Lane Blacktop exists in its own reality. We, of course, are invited to be participants in the drama . . . 🙂
Sounds intriguing! Too late now for me to start watching, but I’ll make a note for this weekend.
I have to disagree with the reviewer’s conclusions. This movie is about the street-racing subcultue. The narrative context is clearly street-racing while the narrative’s core—the cross country race for pinks—is certainly within the lore if not exactly something that migh (or might not) have happened. In fact street-racing was rarely about the kind of gambling exemplified by “racing for pinks”. As a practical matter, real racers would never–despite the attractive folklore—put something as expensive as the 55 Chevy on the block in a grudge race. Seasoned racers would simply walk . . .or drive off.
Spent years drag racing on the street. It’s still happening plus newer venues with younger
generations. Plenty of local cruising opportunities available across this nation. Most of the time we raced just to see who was quicker. Now I’m going to pullout my VHS video and watch again.
Here in Texas they have the “Texas Mile” a couple of times a year. It’s a weekend top-end event which attracts some pretty serious street-racers. There were some guys out of Houston w/ a couple of turbocharged Lambos that would easily top 200. You’ll see 150mph tee-shirts and 200mph tee-shirts. Pretty heavy metal there.
Modern technological advances are amazing in newer muscle cars, whatever brand
you buy. But give some thought to what used to be, mid 60’s cars at Talladega at well
over 200. Remembering nylon bias ply tires and drum brakes and shock technology
from the stone age.
If you had a 13 second 1/4 mile car when I was in high school you were quick, now cars
can be in the 9’s and very street able.
I still like to mess with old cars. I much prefer analog. 🙂
Bill has a serious condition that has been progressing. It’s called cerebral ischemia cerebral ischemia def – Bing
In his case it has resulted from wearing his bow tie too tight.
The other one was just born an idiot.
??????
. . . but deliver us from the Evil One.
Amen ?
The Jesus Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.
The 50th Psalm Septuagint (Psalm 51 KJV).
Prayer of Saint Ioannikios the Great of Bithynia (+ 846)
My hope is the Father, my refuge the Son, my protection the Holy Spirit. O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.
Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
Friday of Bright or Renewal Week
The Paschal Troparion
Christ is risen from the dead, by death hath He trampled down death and on those in the graves hath He bestowed life.
BUILDING FOR ETERNITY
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” Luke xiv. 28
Our Lord refers not to a cost we have to count, but to a cost which He has counted. The cost was those thirty years in Nazareth, those three years of popularity, scandal and hatred, the deep unfathomable agony in Gethsamane, and the onslaught at Calvary – the pivot upon which the whole of Time and Eternity turns. Jesus Christ has counted the cost. Men are not going to laugh at Him at last and say – “This man began to build, and was not able to finish.”
The conditions of discipleship laid down by Our Lord in vv. 26, 27 and 33 mean that the men and women He is going to use in His mighty building enterprises are those in whom He has done everything. “If any man come to Me, and hate not…, HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.” Our Lord implies that the only men and women He will use in His building enterprises are those who love Him personally, passionately and devotedly beyond any of the closest ties on earth. The conditions are stern, but they are glorious.
All that we build is going to be inspected by God. Is God going to detect in His searching fire that we have built on the foundation of Jesus some enterprise of our own? These are days of tremendous enterprises, days when we are trying to work for God, and therein is the snare. Profoundly speaking, we can never work for God. Jesus takes us over for HIS enterprises, HIS building schemes entirely, and no soul has any right to claim where he shall be put.
Oswald Chambers
May 7th Devotional
A few weeks ago, you posted mention of a profound book, “Scenes Beyond The Grave” authored by Marietta Davis. Just wanted to say thank you and to remind others to look it up.
Folks, you won’t regret it. It’s a very clear and true report of a much higher realm of living from where we originated and all heavenly things forthcoming for all of us.
Thank you Justice! I consider this book to be one of the most profound in my library! I have read it multiple times and it never fails to instill deep rooted heavenly principles into my soul! ?
Verse of the Day for Friday, May 7, 2021
✟
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)
Thank You, Jesus, for blessings received and prayers answered!!!
BE MY VOICE
Amen!
Nice! So good to see Lou Dobbs
PRAYING ON THE ARMOR OF GOD
Father God, I now follow your command to put on the full armor of God, because my battle is not against flesh and blood but against rulers, authorities, the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the unseen world.
I first pray on the Belt of Truth that it may be buckled around my waist, may I be centered and encircled by your truth dear Lord. Hem me inside all that is true and right, and may I be protected and held up by the truth of your living word, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Breastplate of righteousness, please protect my vital organs and my inner man, cover my integrity, my spirit, and my soul. Guard my heart for it is the wellspring of life, please strengthen and guard the most vulnerable places in my life with that which is right, good, and noble that I might not receive a fatal blow from the enemy, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Gospel Shoes of Peace. I choose to stand in the shoes of your good news, and on the firm foundation of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the solid eternal rock. All other ground is sinking sand, I pray that I will not slip or fall, but that my feet would be firmly fitted on your lordship, my Lord Jesus. I choose to stand on you, so that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus, the eternal Rock of Ages. I receive your holy peace now my Lord, from the sole of my feet to the crown of my head, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray the Shield of Faith into my hand now. As I take up the shield of faith, I ask that you might extinguish every dart and arrow, that is launched from the enemy to take me down spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and every attempt of the enemy to destroy my joy. I ask that my faith in you would make it flame out. Extinguish every flaming arrow that would come against me, my life, my family, my home, or my ministry. May my faith always be out in front of me like a shield. Give me the courage to “faith my fears” by choosing to walk by faith and not by sight, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Helmet of Salvation, that you might protect my mind from the thoughts that can lead me astray. I choose to take every thought captive, and arrest all intentioned ideas and motives that would harm others, or distract me from your holy will for me. I submit every captured thought to the Lordship of my Lord Jesus Christ, and ask that you would imprison those thoughts that are not of you my Lord. Transform my mind and renew my thinking that I may think God thoughts, and have a sober mind that is focused on your glory. Please protect me from being double minded that I may allow my mind, I reject to live an earthly life, because I choose to live a holy one, governed by you My Lord Jesus, the prince of peace, please have my mind to be saturated with the holy mind of Christ, in my Lord Jesus name.
Finally, I take up the Sword of the Spirit which is the holy word of God, I pray this powerful offensive weapon into my hand, and ask that your holy word would be fitting for every encounter I face. As the enemy gets close to me, please give me the insight, wisdom, and skill to wield the word of God to drive away the enemy, in my Lord Jesus name.
May the enemy and his team flee from me, upon hearing the word of God spoken by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. Give me the sword of the spirit to cut through the wiles of the devil, so that I may discern the schemes of the enemy when he is near.
With all kinds of prayers, supplication, and intercession I pray to you my Lord God as the one who fights my battles. Now that I’m in your holy powerful armor, I walk away covered and ready to face my day as you go before me, and please protect me in the midst of the spiritual warfare in this unseen world, in my Lord Jesus name.
Thank you my Lord, for the spiritual weapons of armor and prayer that you have given me. It is written no weapon formed against me shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses me.
Thank you Father God, my Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit, that I am more than a conqueror in my Lord Jesus. I pray all of this in the mighty name of my Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, amen.
Mammoth leg bone found in Florida.
Good morning all!
Only two runs this week. That makes sense because the weather forecast for Friday through Sunday is for rain. Drivers tend to call off runs more in the spring when the weather is nice. They also tend to call off runs more during the winter when the weather forecast is bad along their route.
Monday at 23:00 departed for that TVS warehouse in Wentzville, MO again. Delivered on time and this time there were no problems, like a hole in the roof of the trailer. To give you an idea how big this warehouse/cross dock is I backed into door 374 this time. They unloaded new parts to go to the GM truck plant and then loaded the trailer with empty parts racks. Got back to the terminal in Anderson at 12:30 and did my normal routine then went home.
Next run was to the Toyota parts distribution center in Kansas City, MO on the north side of town up by the Airport. Departed the terminal at 01:00. Arrived on time. At this location I dropped the trailer he brought filled with new Toyota replacement parts. Then pulled a trailer out of door 8 that is full of empty racks and bins and drop it in the designated spot. Then hook back up to the trailer I brought and back it into door 8. Then I hooked to a third trailer that was empty and do my pre-trip inspection on it and depart.
My backhaul was at Unilever in Independence, MO. There is dropped the empty trailer I brought in the designated area and the hooked to another trailer that was loaded.
This Unilever facility produces Knorr Soup mixes. The trailer I hooked to had 21,000 lb. of spice waste in bulk bags. The trailer always smells wonderful. Makes one hungry.
After leaving that facility I drove to the TA truck stop at Oak Grove to take my 10 hour break. I had 1 hour 15 minutes of drive time left but during the day the weigh station on I-70 East bound a few miles to the east is very active and at night it is closed. Though odds are there would not be an issue; Why tempt the Gods? It would not make one bit of difference in the time I got back so why not stop at a place that has the food I want for my early supper?
Had fried chicken for an early dinner and laid down to get some sleep. Alarm at 22:30 and after my morning coffee and my get ready to go routine I departed at 23:45 . Good time since I went through St. Louis during the early morning hours.
Arrived at the terminal at 07:20 and did the usual post trip and fueling after dropping the loaded trailer. Home by 08:30.
After taking my stuff in I I made myself a breakfast of cheesy scrambled eggs with ham, 12 grain toast, and OJ.
I then went out on the back deck to determine if the wind would allow me to burn my big pile of deadfall. Though the breeze was light, it was coming from the wrong direction so no burning. Then I noticed Steve in the back field out by the shelter working on something I walked out to see what he was up to.
Steve and Betty were digging holes to put in concrete parking pads for their fifth wheel camper. Four small pads for the leveling jacks and two larger pads for the wheels of the trailer. I pitched in and once the holes were dug Steve and I put in the wooden forms and staked them in place so that they were level.
While we were doing that Betty went to Menards and bought a load of Sackcrete. By the time she got back we had all the forms in place and level. As we gathered the equipment to mix, pour, and finish the slabs it started raining. Pulled the pickup with the bags of Sackcrete into the garage and put away the tools.
We were done for the day. Except I did take the blade off the mulching push mower I use to trim and sharpened and balanced it and put it back on.
Mornin’ infidels!
Mornin’ WeeWeed!
TGIF
Mornin’ DI!
Good Afternoon WeeWeed!
Another Saturday summer evening coming up. Nothing much better for it than dirt track racing:
Route 66 Motor Speedway,
https://route66motorspeedway.net/schedule/
Amarillo Texas Weekly Racing – Saturday, May 8, 2021
305 Sprints – Winged, Street Stocks, Economy Late Models, USRA Limited Mods, USRA Modifieds
Edit: image
Too much chance of rain here in central Indiana to chance going. I have yet to get to a race this year.
A trip down memory lane – our great canoe adventure
The northernmost part of Michigan’s upper penninsula boasts the Keewanaw penninsula, which juts finger-like into Lake Superior. At the very tip is Copper Harbor, which has a great restaurant, by the way.
We were younger then, and decided to launch our canoe into the harbor, along the shore, in search of thimbleberries. They are like raspberries, but furry and not sweet … delicious. Thimbleberry jam is a real treat.
Well, after we got our berries we paddled through the harbor towards the harbor opening, where boats, including tour boats, went in and out, intending to cross the opening to the other side.
HA – 5 paddle strokes into the opening and we cowardly made a quick U turn. Lake Superior is a mean lake with many boat prizes on her bottom. COLD, too. There was a big contrast between the calm harbor water and the inlet waves.
Memories are like little gems of the mind. I remember calm waters, blue sky, warm temps.
My most vivid memory of the Keewenaw is of the thermometer that sits at the entrance to the drive up. It measures 100 inches and shows the snow level. On the drive up you notice that houses have doors on the 2nd floor. That’s because the 1st floor was snowed in. Probably not true anymore, but local lore says folks used to tunnel thru the snow from their houses to shop in town.
Wishing you all a blessed and fun Friday.
If you’re talking about Harbor Haus Restaurant in Copper Harbor, I have been recommended to visit that by a co-worker at a non-profit where I volunteer. He grew up in Ludington but has been all over and knows most of the entire state.
when the boats come back from the tourist cruise the waitresses and waiters (dressed in appropriate attire (costume?)) have a large bell that rings and all go out to dance and greet the passengers.
well, its an old memory. plus things may be different now. whether it was the atmosphere or more, memory says the food was great
spent the first 34 years of my life in Detroit. Traveled to and visited all beautiful parts of Michigan. I am not sure that there is one part more spectacular than any other.
Since then i have flown over and driven over many parts of our beloved USA.
I do believe, tho, that the Keweenaw penninsula is unique, and worth your time to visit. Thunder Bay and Bete Grise stick in memory, too.
don’t know where you might travel to get there, but if you are anhywhere near Macinac Island, that is a must see, too. The Grand Hotel is spectacular. No cars – just horse and buggy. Memory of flying there and watching the full moon rise as the sun was setting. Flying in a Cessna 182, (4 seater) looking down and we were above a perfect circle rainbow.
i forgot an important detail from the above memory. the sun was setting on Lake Michigan and the mood was rising on Lake Huron.
“Birthing People?”
WTH?
The cultural Marxists jumped the shark a long time ago, but this takes the cake
“Student researchers have published experiments of scalps and “full thickness human skin” from aborted babies (18-20 weeks gestation) grafted onto lab rats. Human hair was grown on the backs of these rodents. Additionally, lymphoid tissue, livers and spleens from the same aborted babies were co-engrafted into the same rodent models.”
This is from the open letter by the Pennsylvania Family Organization sent to Dr. Patrick Gallagher, Chancellor
University of Pittsburgh.
Satan is celebrating.
The Most Important Thing With Miracles is to See Them
https://orthochristian.com/139135.html
🙂
We are being bombarded by a catastrophic climate change government/media blitz like none I can remember. They declare it a crisis or emergency but fail to tell us what exactly the crisis or emergency is! That is because they can’t since there is not a single global catastrophe they can point to for which there is conclusive evidence that it was caused by man. In fact there is no global climate catastrophe of any kind from any climate cause they can point to.
Now a little education on Sea Level Rise (SLR). There is no doubt that sea levels are rising. This has been the case since the end of the last ice age about 12,000 years ago. At the height of what is commonly called the last great ice age about 18,000 years ago the sea levels were about 400 feet lower than they presently are. People settled in what is now the English Channel and one could walk from the what is now the British Coast of Dover to France. One could walk from Japan to Korea.
On the geologic time scale we now live in the Holocene Epoch.&cdnurl=https%3a%2f%2
Technically we are still living in an Ice age. In the geologic time scale an ice age does not end until the poles are virtually ice free. On that scale we are living in the Holocene Epoch which is an interglacial period. An interglacial period is a period spanning 1,000s of years between periods of major glaciation. IOW glaciers are supposed to recede and some melt away and the ice packs in the polar regions are supposed to generally diminish during an interglacial epoch and thus the sea levels rise as the frozen water thaws.
Accurately measuring actual sea levels is not nearly as easy or straight forward as it may seem. Tide gauges measurements are effected by factors other than the level of water in the oceans. The structures on which the tide gauges are mounted get moved or altered there by changing the height of the gauge relative to the water surface. Then there is the vertical land movement (VLM) to factor in.
In many places the ground beneath our feet is not nearly as stable and unchanging as many of us would like to believe. VLM can be caused by a number of factors.
Our terrestrial surfaces float on the sea of molten matter below we call the mantel. The huge weight of the ice during the last ice age pushed down the land in some places while in others where there was no great weight of ice the land surface raised.
It’s like pushing down on the end of a board floating on the water the end where the weight is applied lowers while the opposite end raises. Once the weight is removed the board returns to floating level. The same effect applies to the land but the return to level is much slower. Geologist term the land sinking now in this process as “subsidence” and land raising as “reboundpl.
Then there is the raising of land where the great plates move and collide as created the mountains along the west coast of the US and the Himalayan mountain range. This process is called “uplift”.
Because of these factors the sea levels that standard tide gauges measure are called “relative sea levels”. Relative sea levels are what people on the coasts are concerned with but accurate measurements of “absolute seal levels” where the VLM is removed as a factor is what we need to get an accurate measurement of true sea level rise.
To do this tide gauges are being linked with GPS monitors that measure the amount of movement of the tide gauge vertically. However relatively few of the 365 or so tide gauges in operation have this technology as yet, though gradually the whole system is being converted. And even after all the gauges are converted it will be a decade before the data they provide can reveal much about actual sea level rise.
In the meantime the simple fact is that no tide gauges anywhere show a rate of SLR that comes close to the catastrophic amounts that are being claimed by so many so called “scientists”. They are lying and not a single dire prediction of catastrophic SLR made in the 80s has come to pass.
For example, the Maldive’s is a group of over 1,000 atolls and islets located in the Indian Ocean about 430 miles SW of the Asian mainland. It is a great vacation destination for those seeking fun in the sun, beaches, diving, or fishing. In 1987 multiple “scientists” and the UN IPCC declared that in 20 years they would be underwater. Today not a single one of the 1,000 plus islets or atolls is underwater nor is there any indication any are threatened by SLR.
Okay. Let’s have the Executive Summary.
Should we, or should we not, purchase green bananas?
You should buy 1,00os of them an use them as suppositories. I would recommend 100 per day. It may loosen you up a bit.
Climate Emergency is slated to be the next MarxMerdia generated panic.
A genocidally useful crisis.
Just like “gun control” it is about control and not the subject supposedly needing addressed. This how the leftist always work. Total misdirection of the weak of mind or those that think they can gain something from it.
As I sit here drinking my Jack and non-Coke and get ready to put a couple Porter House steaks on the grill I am still searching for a Coke substitute for my favorite drink. So far the closest cola brand to the taste of Coke that I have found of the generally available brands is Shasta Cola.
try a jack manhattan, or a jack sour. mix jack with lemonade or orange juice or make a mint julep with jack (we had some watching the derby. my horse won!)
Try Moxie. You can order it from the Box of Maine. You will either love it or hate it.
Frost advisory here in central Indiana early tomorrow morning.
put in cucumbers and sunflowers. frost due here oregon coast next January
So you think you want an electric car?
One in Five Electric Car Owners in California Switched Back to Gas-Powered (legalinsurrection.com)
The trucking company I work for bought an electric yard truck a couple years ago and it was used at the Vandalia, Ohio terminal. Since then they have bought several new yard trucks for the terminal and for serving the contract at Nestle’s across the street and not a one of them has been electric. Hmmmmm I wonder why?
Does anyone know what’s happened to greatawakening.win?
Biden joins Christchurch Call to censor online ‘terrorist’ communication. Facebook, Twitter, Google, and Microsoft, are collaborating to form an independent body https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/united-states-joins-christchurch-call-to-eliminate-terrorist-extremist-online-content/2QV7WTYABCB5N44BK3JDG4DHXU/
lilbirdee12’s prayer:
Our Heavenly Father, Your children come to you tonight to ask for healing and peace throughout our country so that we may return to being One Nation Under God. Guide us to be leaders in Your Kingdom, spreading Your Love and Salvation to all. Forgive us our sins and deliver us from evil.
Lord, we ask for a blanket of protection over all our troops and law enforcement who serve to defend and protect us. Bless our representatives with the strength and wisdom they need to achieve the path You have chosen for us.
Please place Your Guardian Angels of Protection around Donald Trump and his family as they seek to lead America back to You. Also, we pray for Angels to protect and support our Sundance as he works for justice and peace.
Grant us patience, Lord, as the evil ones try to anger us and cause us to fall.
Spread blessings over Israel and Netanyahu.
We humbly ask that You please comfort those who are grieving and in pain.
Thank you Father, for Your Love and the gift of Life.
In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Belgian farmer was just driving his tractor when he came across a stone https://www.politico.eu/article/france-war-belgium-jersey-brexit-fish/
✝️
Good day (test)