SHEEPLES

   Jesus said,
       "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 
                  (John 8: 32)

   Sheeples are herd people:
they stick together and abide
within the same fence.

Whatever the herd does, they do together.  Wherever the herd goes, they go together.  And whatever the herd believes, they believe together.


On September 13, 2011, Joel Osteen released a new book,  Every Day a Friday,  and many people bought it because they believe in the words of Joel Osteen:  that they can have Friday seven days a week.

   But the Bible says,
       "Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward."
                                   (Job 5: 7)

   To the people following Joel Osteen, however, their faith is in his words instead of having their faith in the Word of God, which is the Holy Bible.  Therefore, since Osteen's followers are sheeples, does Christ remain the stranger whom they have never met?

   Next, let us consider eating fish on Fridays in the season of Lent.

   If people have been studying history, then they should know that Dagon was the half-man, half-fish diety of the ancient Philistines as well as the father of Baal; therefore, eating fish on Fridays is a feast to Baal and Dagon is the high priest.
   Obviously, sheeples eating fish on Fridays in the season of Lent is to be faithful to the words of their ministers and priests, to their rites, rituals, traditions, and religious law because they have been trained not to question their spiritual authorities because this would be unlawful or even sinful.
 
   Jesus said,
      "And call no man your father upon the earth: 
          for one is your Father, which is in heaven." 
                                (Matthew 23: 9)

   Consider, too, that the Pope's mitre is the image of Dagon, the high priest of Baal.

   For the sheeples of Lent, however, the Pope's uniform of the day is of no concern, and neither is the Pope's headdress because their faith is in the words of the Pope instead of in the words of Christ:  just as other sheeples have their faith in the words of Joel Osteen and many other false prophets.
   It must be said here, however, that the forty days of the Lent season came from the forty days of women weeping for Tammuz at the tower of Babel.

   
   "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  (Philippines 2: 9-11)

END GAME

   The game of chess has three games:  the opening game, the middle game, and the end game.
    If a player has a good opening game and followed by a challenging middle game, he should be able to swoop in and checkmate his opponent if the opponent is weak in his opening and middle games.
    But if the opponent is a strong and experienced adversary, he could quickly strike back with a surprise victory because his opponent's pride blinded his eyes to his lines of defense.

      "For we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."  (Ephesians 6: 12)

    As believers in Christ, what should we do in the chess game of life since we are engaged in spiritual warfare in our walk with the Lord?
    Have we prepared ourselves with a good opening game and a good middle game to strengthen our weaknesses in the time of trouble when the devil launches a full-scale attack to take us out of  the game?

      "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."  (1st Peter 5: 8, 9)

      "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh; (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled."  (2nd Corinthians 10: 3-6)

   Knowing, then, that these things are true, and, as we continue to stand strong with the Lord, we also know that the Lord Himself will checkmate the devil in the end game,

                                     "and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 
                                               (1st Thessalonians 4: 17)
 

"And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written,

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS"

(Revelation 19: 16)

TITANIC U.S.A.

   On April 10, 1912, it is said that the band played on as theTitanic  was sinking to the bottom of the sea.
    The Titanic  experienced a tribulation in the North Sea because the pilot could not see the icebergs that were hidden in the darkness.  More than 1500 people perished that day in icy waters while just over 700 survived to tell about it when the ship struck an iceberg at 11:40 p.m.

     Jesus said,
         "For then there shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."  (Matthew 24: 21)

    Jesus also said,

        "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."                      (Matthew 24: 37-39)

   In my previous blog post, as I described the United States as A PARTY NATION, perhaps we should stop here and ask the question:  How many Americans are living in a party state of mind?

   So that, before working or after working, before anything else or after anything else, people are thinking and saying:  Let's have a party!  Let us eat, drink, and be merry, forget about our troubles and our woes, let us have a party and dance the night away while the bands play on.

  While not knowing the danger of the darkness, they do not see the tribulation waters that is all around them, which impairs them to see that the Titanic---which is the United States--- is sinking to the bottom of the sea beneath their feet.

   Jesus said,
      "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth:  for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.  (Luke 21: 25-26)

   The solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, was a sign from God out of heaven to let us know that "things are coming on the earth".  
   Hurricane Harvey is the evidence of "the sea and the waves roaring", while another piece of evidence is the tropical storm that is hitting the east coast as God is bringing more flood waters on Titanic U.S.A.
   Feat not, however, for now is the time and now is the place for people to come to know Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

                            "for there is none other name
                                  under heaven
                                    given among men
                             whereby we must be saved."
                                       (Acts 4: 12)
   

Titanic U.S.A.

A PARTY NATION

   The United States has an abundance of parties.
    First to come to mind are political parties, and political parties have parties.
    There is also the Green Party that has parties.
    We have Christmas parties, Easter parties, New Year's parties, Saint Patrick's Day parties, Mardi Gras parties, church and religious parties of all ages, Thanksgiving Day parties---normally called feasts---Labor Day parties,  July 4th parties, Spring Break parties, Holiday parties, and beach parties throughout the day, or under the light of the moon, or all night long until the sun comes up, and, of course, graduation parties from kindergarten through college.
    Hollywood has parties for the Academy Awards, and all other music and movies and television shows have parties.
    Then there are the music festivals, which are parties, and they have parties both before and after the music festivals.
    Sports has parties, too.
    Baseball has parties, both before and after the playoffs, as well as before and after the World Series.
    In both college and professional football, they have tailgate parties, and parties before and after each game in the regular season, for the whole season, and parties before and after the playoffs, and more parties before and after the Super Bowl and the National Championship.
    Bachelors and bachelorettes have parties, and there are usually parties before the weddings, after weddings, and even parties for the wedding parties after the honeymoons.
   Then there are parties that are off the cuff as people use iPhones to send text alerts to all their friends, saying there's a party going on, and within an hour or so two hundred people arrive with party essentials in hand to have a party with a lot of honking going on.
   When people get bored and with nothing to do, they say let's have a party, and, quick as a wink, they can invite a few friends or next door neighbors and have a little party.
    Then there are those office parties, block parties, homemade ice cream parties, Tupperware parties, Mary Kay parties, and parties to plan parties.
   When people are working, how much time do they spend thinking about parties, talking about parties, and also planning surprise parties for people at work, such as promotion parties or retirement parties?
   Meanwhile, food and beverage companies, plastic ware and paper ware companies, and catering companies make a fortune in selling and delivering all the goodies for all the parties.
   Added together, how many millions of hours  do Americans spend in thinking about parties, deciding what clothes to wear or buy before parties, and how much money do they spend in buying food and beverages and lodging and travel expenses for parties?
     
     "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God:  having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:  from such turn away."                                                             (2nd Timothy 3: 1-5)

SUN WORSHIP

   As long as people believe that a man in priestly garments can forgive their sin, what do they need Christ for? 
   For their belief is that the priest has been granted power from above, as a god-man on earth, with the authority to give them absolution for their sin, and now they are attempting to by-pass the Lord's death on a cross for their sin while also believing they are on their way to heaven.
   This false belief, however, is a common theme in false churches, which is work of false prophets, who look and sound like they are ministers of God, when, in fact, they are ministers of Satan.
   Jesus said,
       "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."  (Matthew 7: 15)
    In false churches, Christ is just part of the program, an illusion that compels them to believe they are Christians because they see an image of baby Jesus rocking in the arms of his mother as well as rocking under the Christmas tree, and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas  is the "gospel" message they read to their children on Christmas eve because the second chapter of Luke's Gospel, to them, is just a fairytale.
   In false churches, neither is hell a common theme, for hell is for the infidels,  that place for those who do not believe as they believe, or do not have what they have been granted by the god-man they see with their eyes, which is absolution for sin, and the infidels are not as lucky as they are.
   Neither do they believe that their children and grand-children will go to hell, for they, too, have been granted absolution by the god-man they see with their eyes.
   But who is this god in whom they believe is in heaven above?
   He is none other than Saturn, the sun-god of the ancient Babylonians.
   Saturn's image, moreover, is in the image of the sun, but appears in the image of a halo  around the heads of the disciples of Christ, around the heads of the apostles of Christ, around the head of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and also around the head of baby Jesus, rocking in the arms of his mother, which leads them to believe that Mary is the mother of god and queen of heaven, another false teaching from the ancient Babylonians.
   But in heaven, God has no queen sitting at His right hand, nor does God have a mother.
   Saturn, of course, is Satan himself, who appears as an angel of light.

   Jesus said,
      "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."  (Luke 10: 18)

      "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."  (2nd Corinthians 11: 14-15)

   In conclusion, we must understand that religion is all about sun worship, and it all began at the tower of Babel.  As pagan priests departed Babel, they transported sun worship worldwide as they also created religions worldwide.  Therefore, it does not matter what name a religion is named, for all the people in all religions worship the same sun-god, who is Satan, transformed as an angel of light, whose ministers and priests work for him to deceive people worldwide from seeing Jesus Christ, the one and only Son of God.
 
   "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."  (1st John 5: 12)
   "May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen."  (Revelation 22: 21)
                                     

CHRIST: KING OF CHESS!

   In the game of chess, the queen's primary responsibility is to defend the king at any cost, and players will often need to sacrifice the life of the queen to protect the king.
   The queen, therefore, should not be the star of the show, nor should she be dancing and prancing all over the board, snatching needless pawns, for she will find herself in a vulnerable position, and, blinded by her pride, she will be ambushed by a leaping knight to destroy her and take her off the board and out of the game.
   But if we will look at chess through spiritual eyes, we can see a different game appear, where Christ is the King of chess, and the Queen, of course, is the bride of Christ, which is the church, which Christ gave His life for.
   The pieces on the back row of the board are the rooks, bishops, and knights, and they represent  evangelists, missionaries, ministers of youth, ministers of music, and church pastors, and they are the under shepherds of the Good Shepherd.  Their role is to be shepherds, watching over their flocks by night, to feed the flock, and to warn the flock of the danger of wolves, who are the false prophets, who work as ministers of Satan to destroy and scatter the flock.
   The pawns are the flock of sheep, soldiers of the Lord, and their role is to take the Gospel of Christ to the uttermost parts of the world while working with the rooks, bishops, and knights.
   In the final move of the game, we know that Christ will "descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:"  at which time the Lord will checkmate the great Red Dragon, the Devil, that old serpent, which is Satan, who is also known as Saturn, the sun-god.
   Game over!
                       "and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 
                                  (1st Thessalonians 4: 17)

                                       Words & Music by Squire Parsons

DECEMBER 25th

    Now that we know that Jesus was born on September 11, 3 B.C., this fact will undoubtedly cause some conflict in the minds of people.  If their minds are locked in the arena of traditional thinking, it will be difficult for them to let go of December 25th because of unbelief.
   After all, it seems both natural and normal to celebrate Christmas in December because people have been doing this over the past 1700 years, and perhaps others will say this is just a conspiracy to stop Santa Claus from coming.
   Therefore, to accept September 11 as the true birthday of Jesus, this would be out of sync, or not in keeping with the natural order of things according to this world's system.
   Then there is the question of what to do about the children when they arrive at grandmother's condo with no empty boxes with colorful bows and ribbons to drop on the floor in December.
   There is also the Camaro parked in the driveway for Sally Sue.  Even though her birthday is not until spring, her parents decided that her gift for turning sixteen should be celebrated early because she needs a new ride to drive to school to keep up with all the families' kids on the block. 
   The parents also know how sensitive Sally is with getting her feelings hurt, when all of her friends have all new stuff, and she certainly can't drive to school in a hand-me-down car.  After all, this is not the normal or natural way in the neighborhood.
   What would also happen to all of the Christmas parties that people have planned for families, friends, and offices all over town for a least a week?
   What about the Christmas bonus checks, the family vacation to ski Vale, the Caribbean cruise, or the Vegas trip to play the slots and things like that?
   My, my.  So much is riding on December 25th, and people all over the world are saying:  all in.
   Could it be, however, could it just be that Christmas is all about us and not about Christ?
   Have you ever heard people sing happy birthday to Jesus on the 25th of December in any year over the past 1700 years?

      "Now when Jesus born in Bethlehem in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him.
       "And when they came into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him:  and when they opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh."  (Matthew 2: 1-2; 11)
 
   Joseph and Mary did not receive presents from the wise men, for they knew this child had been chosen to be born unto them as they also knew they did not choose his name; for the angel of the Lord had appeared unto Joseph earlier in a dream, and said unto him:

   "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:  for he shall save his people from their sin."  (Matthew 1: 21)

   The question, therefore, is not what to do about December 25th, but to answer the question that Pontius Pilate asked before the Lord was crucified in Jerusalem:

       "What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?"
                                  (Matthew 27: 22)
                                                     
    

   
      

A BASEBALL STORY

   Because I have learned to look at baseball from both sides now, I can study the facts and understand the reasons teams lose.
   Baseball fans, however, look at the fantasy  and do not like people like me for pointing out the facts  for their team's loss:  after which they will get caught up in anger which allows their emotions  to blind their eyes from seeing the truth.
   In like manner, people of religion also believe in the fantasy, then they will get caught up in the emotion of anger that blinds their eyes from seeing the truth that is in Christ Jesus.

      "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."  (2nd Corinthians 4: 3-4)

   

   

      

BIBLE BILLBOARDS

   "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for SIGNS, and for seasons, and for days, and for years:  (Genesis 1: 14)

   "And this shall be a SIGN unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger."                       (Luke 2: 12, 16)

   "And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye unto the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water:  follow him.  And he will show you a large upper room furnished and prepared:  there make ready for us.  And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them:  and they made ready the passover."  (Mark 14: 13, 15, 16)

   Obviously, the SIGN  that Jesus gave the two disciples was the man bearing a pitcher of water.

   There came a day in Jerusalem when Pontius Pilate presided as judge following the trial of Jesus.
 
       "When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him saying, Have nothing to do with that just man:  for I have suffered many things in a dream because of him."  (Matthew 27:  19)
   Obviously, Pontius Pilate ignored the SIGN  from God in heaven, which was the note from his wife, and Pilate said, "Let him be crucified."  (Matthew 27:  23)

   Therefore, it should be easy to understand that, if people ignore the Bible's billboards, which are SIGNS  from God in heaven, they will say as Pontius Pilate said, "let him be crucified"---after which,
 
      "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourself thrust out."  (Luke 13:  28)

   But!
      "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."  (Romans 10: 9)

                            "for there is none other name
                                  under heaven
                                       given among men
                                  whereby we must be saved."
                                          (Acts 4: 12)

     
  

ISRAEL = U.S.A.

                                                                                                                                                   

According to Ynetnews Jewish Scene, 2015, there are more Israelites living in the United States than in any other nation.
   Therefore, is it reasonable to consider that, as God looks down at the United States out of heaven, He sees Israel, His chosen people, living out of their own land?

   "Thus saith the Lord GOD, I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel."  (Ezekiel 11: 17)

   Jesus said,
       "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!  Behold, your house has left you desolate.  For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."  (Matthew 23: 37-39)

   Let me say, too, that I believe the rapture and the day of the Lord will be two events on the same day when Christ returns to take His children home.

      "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
       For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and with the voice of he archangel, and with the trump of God:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:  and so shall we ever be with the Lord."  (1st Thessalonians 4: 14-17)

   Please receive the gift of Christ today and not be left behind.

   

      

OPEN MINE EYES

                                                                                                                                                           

    This is the stuff men have used to alter history books, to alter the Bible, and to alter the birthday of Jesus.
    But with forensic technology today, we can raise the writing beneath the White-Out and reveal the intent of their hearts to deceive.
   Or, we can see clearly once the lies are gone.

    Like Jesus said,

       "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  (John 8: 32)

   The Bible also says,

       "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."  (Psalm 119: 18)

     

   

INSTITUTIONALIZED

   "Did you hear about your son?"

   "No, what?"

   "He's been institutionalized."

   "Where?"

   "Down at the house of religion."

   "No, not my son!"

   "Yes, he's down there worshipping idols---you know, those statues they have on the floor."

   "Well, I'm not giving up.  I will pray for the Holy Spirit to visit my son and remind him of the lesson he learned when he was young and the words the Lord said, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."  

   Then the son said,
       " I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son:  make me as one of thy hired servants.  And he arose, and came to his father.  
         But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
         And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
         But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:  and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry.   For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.  And they began to be merry."  (Luke 15: 18-24)
         

   

SHEPHERDS & RANCHERS

  A shepherd leads the flock, but a rancher drives the herd.
  Are you a shepherd, or a rancher?
  We will see.
  A shepherd will lead in front of the flock, but a rancher drives from the rear.
  Because the sheep know the voice of the shepherd, they will follow him; but a rancher will poke and prod the herd from the rear.
  The rancher will also hire cow punchers, who constantly poke and prod the head to get them to do the will of the rancher.
  Because the shepherd is in front of the flock, he can see the danger of the deep water, the valley of the shadow of death, as he can also see the green pastures, the happy feeding grounds.
  But because the cow punches are in the rear, they can see nothing  that is in front of the herd, which is why the herd can be driven over a cliff and to their deaths because the cow punchers have no vision of the future.

  The Bible says,
    "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."  (Isaiah 53: 6)

  Jesus said,
      "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  My Father, which gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."  (John 10: 27-29)

   I, too, was once a sheep gone astray, for I had turned my own way. 
   But when I heard the voice of the Great Shepherd calling my name, early in the morning of April 27, 1995, I knew  that voice---and I followed Him to my salvation; after which He restored me into the flock because of His love, grace, and tender mercy.


   
     


    
   
 
   

AN IMAGE OF GOD

   If you know me, you can write everything you know about me and give an accurate report.  If others believe in you, they will also believe in the report you have written about me.
   If all you know about me is my name, however, all you can do is speculate and thereby create an image of me out of your own imagination; and if others believe in you, they will also believe in the image that you have created, and this image will become their image in their imaginations.  Even though they have never met me, they can believe in this false image that you have created all because they believe in you.
   False images are also contagious.  When they are lit, they will spread like a wild fire from person to person, from family to family, and from friends to friends, and then they can continue for years and even for generations.
   How many people today will not read about God of the Bible, but they will read books about God written by people who do not know God?  In so doing, they will embrace an image of God from the imaginations of the writers, for their belief is in the writers.
   This false image of God is also contagious.  When lit, it will spread like a wild fire from person to person, from family to family, and friends to friends, and then it will continue for years and even for generations.
   Therefore, when people arrive in church or in a Christian religion, and with their belief in this false image of God, they will believe this God is real, they will also believe that this God will forgive them for their sins---when all they have is an image of God in their imaginations.
   Thus we can see that a false image of God from the imaginations of others can also become a God of our own imaginations.
   Whereas, if these people had believed in God of the Bible, then their forgiveness of sin would have been real.
   A false image of Christ can also be presented in the same way:  by people who do not know Christ, they can create a Christ of their own image, and this image will also be contagious---going from person to person, family to family, friends to friends, for years as well as for generations.
   For, just as people believe in books about God written by people who not know God, they can just as easily believe in books about Christ written by people who do not know Christ.
   So today, my friends, is God of the Bible real in your heart, or is God an image in your imagination?
      "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"  (2nd Corinthians 10: 5)
   Is Jesus of the Bible also real in your heart, or is Jesus an image in your imagination?
   Is Jesus, therefore, the Christ in your life?
      "Neither is there salvation in any other: 
           for there is none other name
             under heaven
                given among men,
           whereby we must be saved." 
            (Acts 4: 12)

A HOUSE OF PRAYER

   Jesus said,
      "Let not your heart be troubled:  ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my father's house are many mansions:  if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."  (John 14: 1-3)
   
   Jesus also said,
      "It is not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer?  but ye have made it a den of thives."  (Matthew 11: 17)

   By the words of Christ, we should be able to understand that prayer should be first and foremost in the house of the Lord, or in churches.

   If prayer, however, is not first in the life of a church, has Christ become secondary---or third or fourth---according to the programs that are written and handed out at the door?

   If prayer is not first in the life of a Christian family, has Christ become secondary---or third or fourth---according to the programs the family has planned for itself?

   If prayer is not first in the life of an individual believer, has Christ become secondary---or third or fourth---in the life of an individual's programs he has planned for his life?

   In my own life, I will tell you that I have made my mistakes in my prayer life with respect to my family, but also with respect to myself as an individual believer, and I am guilty.
   If we, the body of Christ, have not made prayer first, have we---in the words of Christ---made His house "a den of thieves"?  and thereby robbed Christ of His position to receive glory and honor?

   John the Baptist said,
     "He must increase, but I must decrease."  (John 3: 30)

      "But without faith it is impossible to please him:  for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."  (Hebrews 11: 6; underline mine)

 
      "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."  (Matthew 6: 33)

   What things?
   The blessings of God.
   So that, as the body of Christ diligently seeks Him first in prayer, He will reward us in ways that will truly amaze us!

                                                          

TRAIN UP A CHILD

   "Train up a child in the way he should go:  and when he is old he will not depart from it."  (Proverbs 22: 6)

   From infancy to five years of age is the most critical time in early childhood development, both in body as well as in mind and spirit.

   Before a young child can completely understand right from wrong, truth from lies, or even before he is taught to read, this is the perfect time for the lies of religion to be planted in their little heads. 

   This technique is none other spiritual molestation of virgin minds, for they do not know, nor do they comprehend, all that just happened to them.  Because adults take advantage of their innocence before they are allowed to make their own decision, this decision of religion is made for them. 

   Therefore, when this seed of religion is planted at an early age, the vine will grow and produce dead fruit:  and when they are old they will not depart from it.

   Adolph Hitler understood this, which is why he captured young kids, taking them away from their parents and away from their normal environment, and sent them to Hitler's Youth Camps, where they were isolated and insulated as their minds were indoctrinated in all manner of Nazi this and Nazi that, so that, when they were older, they did not depart from it.  Even though Hitler's motive was political, this technique is the same.
      "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou?  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."  (Job 1: 6-7)
      "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"  (1st Peter 5: 8)
  Therefore, this spiritual molestation of children began at the tower of Babel as Satan, like a roaring lion, walking to and fro, went after kids through the minds of evil men, who burned the bodies of young children on coals of fire to false gods; but also introducing the indoctrination of infant baptism as a replacement for salvation in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  And ever since that day, Satan has been at war with children all across the face of the earth as children have been targeted by the Devil to get to their minds and to get to their minds EARLY---before they know the difference between truth and lies.
   In Proverbs, we are told to "train up a child".  Yet this train up a child can also have other implications, such as,
   Train up a child to like television, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
   Train up a child to idolize sports and movie stars, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
   Train up a child to be a Communist or Socialist, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
   Train up a child to be a Republican or Democrat, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
   But!
   Whatever happened to train up a child to read the Bible so that when he is old he will not depart from it?
   If parents, however, never read the Bible, why should their kids?  Because they have not, could this be a reason the minds of their own kids have been spiritually molested by every wind and doctrine that has invaded their minds from influences outside the home, as well as from influences from inside the home such as television, radio, and the internet, so that, when they are old they will not depart from it?
   Jesus said,
      "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for such is the kingdom of heaven."  (Matthew 19: 14)

   Young children can come to know Christ at early ages, and when they are old they will not depart from it.

ON WINGS OF EAGLES

. 

    "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that  have no might he increaseth strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."  (Isaiah 40: 29-31)

   The word for "wait" in Hebrew is sharath, which means "to serve", "to minister", as in the capacity of a servant or attendant.  It means to get up, get busy, get active in service to the Lord, and not to idle the time away by doing nothing.
   As servants of the Lord, we should be "watchers of the inhabitants"  as in the days of Nehemiah as he was rebuilding the walls in Jerusalem; or as watchers on the walls to warn people of the enemy, such as his personality characteristics and behavior; or as shepherds, "keeping watch over their flocks by night"  (Luke 2: 8)
   Knowing, too, that when we are weak, He is strong, and that God will strengthen us in our weakness.
      "And let us not be weary in well doing:  for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."  (Galatians 6: )
      "Being confident of this one thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."                    (Philippians 1: 6)
   Remembering, too,
      "My grace is sufficient in for thee:  for my strength is made perfect in weakness; for when I am weak, then am I strong."                                   (2nd Corinthians 12: 9a, 10b)

   Now that we know that God's will is made perfect in our weakness, it is time to MOUNT UP!

             "Redeeming the time, for the days are evil."  (Ephesians 5: 16)

   In Hebrew, "mount up" means alah,  which is "to go up, to ascend, to go over a boundary".
   By this, we can believe that God will strength our courage.  In other words, as we are faithful to God, we will also soar  with Him!
   Knowing, then, that "he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him"  (Hebrews 7: 25), we can also declare as the angel of the Lord proclaimed to the shepherds in Bethlehem, "Fear not:  for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."  (Luke 2: 10)
   Therefore, because of Christ our Savior, we are empowered to stand on the promises of God in the midst of our circumstances, and believe,
     "The LORD is my rock and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:  in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me upon a rock."  (Psalm 27: 1, 5)

   

A SIGN FROM HEAVEN

  

"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming upon the earth:  for the powers of heaven shall be shaken."  (Luke 21: 25-26)

   On the day when Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem, there was an eclipse as well as an earthquake.

      "And it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour."  (Luke 23: 44)

     "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;"  (Matthew 27: 50-51)

   Since we know there are no coincidences nor accidents with God, what should we expect to happen, either during or just after, this great American eclipse that is coming on August 21, 2017?

   We should expect to see an abnormal number of earthquakes as well as abnormal in magnitude here in the United States; for this eclipse is a sign from heaven for the United States, designed specifically for this nation:  for other nations will not experience the swath of this eclipse as we will.
   Therefore, this eclipse on August 21, 2017, is a sign from God out of heaven for things to come upon the earth.
   At this time, it would be wise for us to humble ourselves before God and say the prayer that Jesus taught us to believe:

       "Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:  For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  Amen."  (Matthew 6: 9-12)
      

August 18, 2008

   On this date in 2008 I underwent successful surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which is often referred to as The Triple A, or AAA for short.
   On May 13 of that year, I had a falling accident and hurt my back.  An MRI was ordered to determine the extent of my back injury, at which time the radiologist detected the aneurysm, and I was sent to a hospital for a further examination as well as to be introduced to a heart surgeon.
   In months to follow, I went to the surgeon for continuous observations every two weeks to determine the growth of the aneuryism.  Finally, in August, he told me it was time to go under the knife, and the surgery was successful!
   In looking back, however, I have come to realize that, had it not been for the falling accident, I would have not hurt my back, an MRI would have never been needed, and the radiologist would have never detected the aneuryism, and, obviously, I would have never had the surgery.
   Had all of those things never happened, however, the aneurysim would have continued to enlarge unnoticed, and, at a certain time, the aneurysim would have ruptured and I would have bled to death internally.
   In looking back, too, I have come to realize that, had I died, I would have never retired, never moved away from Atlanta, never learned to play golf, never written the 7th Highway, as well as never experienced all of the many experiences that I have experienced over the past nine years.      
   Therefore, I believe God spared my life as well as has given me an addition nine years of life so far!
   But what about you?
   Have you ever had life-threatening surgery?
   Have you ever had a near-death experience?  Or more than one?
   Have you ever been in a horrific automotive wreck, yet you survived?
   Have you ever been in a horrific automotive wreck, when others were injured or even killed, yet you survived without a wound, without a broken bone, or without the sight of your own blood?
   Is it possible, just possible, that God is trying to get your attention? 
   Could it be that God has extened your life on earth just as He did for me?
   The word "coincidence" does not exist in the Hebrew language, nor is that word written in the Bible.  Neither is the word "accident" written in the Bible:  because, to God, there are no coincidences or accidents!

                       "To every thing there is a season,
                            and a time to every purpose
                               under the heaven: 
                                  a time to be born,
                                    and a time to die;"      
                                 (Ecclesiastes 3: 1-2a)

HIGH NOON

   Her day began as just another ordinary and boring day in the life of a woman who lived in a village on the outskirts of town.  The sun was high and the sand was hot beneath her feet as she paced herself to the well as she had done a thousand times before. 
   Once there, however, she thought about all the people looking down their noses at her as she was looking down at her bucket at the bottom of the well.
   Why, then, should this day be any different than all the other days before?
   For even she knew more about herself than others knew about their own souls.  And there they were, as usual, looking out their doors and windows and down their long noses as she was at the well, all alone, and without a friend in the world.
   She knew she was not "most popular" of her senior class, just as she knew she would never be considered to be the homecoming queen, which would include a ride in a convertible in the homecoming parade in the city.  She had been there, too, many times, but always hidden in the crowd, for nobody wanted her there as well.  Not her.  Not this woman.
   Then one day a stranger come to town, a man that nobody knew.  Not even she knew this man, nor from whence he came.  He was suddenly there and at the well and talked with her as if he had known her all of her life.
   To her, however, the stranger did not appear to be a man of great wealth.  He had no camel, no bag for personal essentials, and he had no jingle in his pockets.  Neither did he ask for directions to the frequent spots in the city.
   Instead, he simply sat down and talked with her---with no intention of expecting anything more.
   And for the first time in her life, she began to think of herself as a respectable lady, and not a tramp.

   The stranger also arrived at high noon:  that time of day when people have been known to lose their minds in heat such as this.  But not this man.  This man was different.  This man treated her with dignity and kindness.
      "Give me to drink,"  he said to her.
      "How is it that thou, being a Jew, asketh drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria?  for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans."
      "If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water."
      "Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep:  from whence then hast thou that living water?  Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?"
       "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up unto everlasting life."
       "Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw."
       "Go, call thy husband, and come hither."
        "I have no husband."
        "Thou hast well said, I have no husband:  for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband:  in that sadst thou truly."
        "Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.  Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship."
         "Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.  Ye worship ye know not what:  we know what we worship; for salvation is of the Jews.  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth:  for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  God is Spirit:  and they that worship him worship him in spirit and in truth."
        "I perceive that Mes-si-as cometh, which is called Christ:  when he is come, he will tell us these things.
        "I that speak unto thee am he."

   And after the stranger had spoken these things to her, she left her waterpot and went to the city, saying, "Come, see a man, which told me all things that I ever did:  is not this the Christ?"
   Then they went with her to meet Christ, the stranger, and the Lord abode with them two more days.

(story from the Gospel of John, chapter 4, verses 7-40)

    
      

A LOST MAN

   Now that we the true believers have been saved by the power of the blood of Christ, our salvation in Him enables us to look inside the mind of a lost man and see our minds as we once were:  without God, and also without His Son.
   First, a lost man is a prideful man, and therefore he is proud of himself, for he sees himself above and beyond all others.
   He is proud of his education, his career, the money he earns, and the nest egg he is storing for his golden years.
   He is also proud of his estate as he manicures the shrubs and lawn as well as the spic n' span interior of his abode, for he believes that as people come to visit him they will reward him with special attention as their eyes are dazzled at his castle.  He likes that even though he tries to shrug it off by saying, "Oh, it's nothing".  But in his mind he is doing cartwheels.
   He is proud of serving on various civic organizations all over town, for, in his lifetime, he will have served on all of them  because he believes in his own self-ordained motto,
                                         "If it is to be, it is up to me."
   Even now, a lost man is proud of his selection to the board of directors out there at the country club where he plays golf with the prez of this and v. p. of that with his top-of-the-line golf clubs with fancy leather grips---which, by way, he will need when he enters the longest drive contest this fall.
   Secondly, and beyond these worldly, prideful matters, a lost man is also proud of his service to his church or religion as a member of the board of elders, or the board of deacons, or as chairperson of various committees, for he believes that it is himself that makes a difference because of his charming personality, his contagious smile, and his tender persuasion.
   But what a lost man does not understand, which we as true believers did not understand until we met Christ, is that invisible fine line of deception that Satan has drawn between truth and lies; for a lost man will believe that himself and his religion are truth, and that Christ and the Bible are lies.
   Therefore, when confronted with the truth of God's Word, he will find that himself as well as his religion are now challenged, and he does not like that!  At this time his anger will stand up within himself as he fights to defend himself, his religion, and everything else that he has worked so hard to achieve unto himself.
   As true believes, we understand a lost man's mind because we also had proud minds; and a lost man's mind is therefore a reflected image of our own minds before we met Jesus, the Son of God:  whereas before we never believed that we could be sinners.
      "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."  (Romans 5: 8-11)

   What, then, is so special about the blood of Jesus?

      "For the life of the flesh is in the blood:  and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul."  (Leviticus 17: 11)
    Moreover,
        "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"  (Ephesians 1: 7)
        "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."  (Matthew 26: 28)
   As true believers, we know that the body of Jesus contained blood, we know that "life is in the blood", and we also know that the blood of Jesus is holy blood.  Therefore we know that nothing can take away our sins but the holy blood of Jesus.
   What, then, should a lost man do in order to receive forgiveness for his sins? 
   He must do as true believers have done, which is to humble himself and kneel in the presence of God and admit to God that he is a sinner.
       "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."  (Romans 10: 9)
       "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  (1st John 1: 9)
       "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God:  not of works, lest any man should boast."  (Ephesians 2: 8-9)
    

THIS MAN

   If a man submits his mind to a religion, he will become it:  his religion will dwell in him and he will become a walking-talking textbook of his religion because his religion is his lord.
   If this same man, however, receives Christ as his Savior, Christ will dwell in him and he will become a walking-talking textbook of Christ because Jesus is his Lord.
   But if this man wants to receive Christ while wanting to keep his religion?  This will not work; for Jesus said,

      "No man can serve two masters:  for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.  Ye cannot serve God and mammon."  (Matthew 6: 24)

   What does the Bible, therefore, say to this man who wants Christ but also wants to keep his religion?

      "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."  (2nd Corinthians 6:  16-18)

   Obviously, this man must come out of religion and stop dwelling with idols, leaving those things behind him.

     "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things pass away; behold, all things are become new."  (2nd Corinthians 5: 17)

   Now that this man has accepted Christ as well as surrendered his religion and his idols, what should he do?
   The Psalmist says it this way:

       "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth."  (Psalm 121: 1-2)
     
   Above all else, this man should be thankful.

      "Likewise I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."  (Luke 15: 10)
      

KINDNESS

    "And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."      (Ephesians 4: 12)

  Have you ever written a letter or an email to a friend, a loved one, a family member, a fellow employee, or to a person you haven't seen in years and perhaps for decades, telling them about something they did for you that you have never forgotten?  Or it could be the way they always treated you well or were an encouragement to you in your life?  Have you ever done that?
   Try it. 
   In so doing, you will discover that the person receiving your letter will be shocked to hear that you remember them for the kindness that they extended to you a long, long time ago.
   In so doing, you will also discover that a letter such as this will do for yourself.  You will experience a release of praise for another person as your heart goes out to others instead of your heart beating for yourself.
   Show a little kindness, a little tenderness, and a gratitude for people who have helped you in your life, and to the people who have helped you to become the person you are today.
   Remembering, too, that there was a certain man from Nazareth and how he extended kindness out of his heart for the whole world.

      "That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace, and his kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus."  (Ephesians 2: 7)

THE BIG APPLE

   Perhaps it is safe to say that most people in disagreement with the Bible are those who have never read it. 
   What they have done is collect various opinions from various people about the Bible, after which they embrace these opinions in their own minds, which becomes the foundation on which they stand.
   All of this is possible because of that invisible fine line that Satan draws between truth and lies, and therefore people are influenced to believe that lies are truth and the truth of the Bible is a lie.
   As people continue to live in this state of deception, they also become deceivers to others in their lives, including their own children and grand-children.  While they have been influenced to believe that these opinions are truth and that the Bible is a lie (or a myth), they will also influence others to agree with them and accept the words of non-believers as truth.
   When we arrive at the story about Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, the opinion of many people has led them to believe that the tree was an apple tree and the big apple was the fruit that Adam and Eve chose to eat in their rebellion against God, which led to this whole issue about this thing called sin.
   For it was also there in the garden of Eden where Satan first drew an invisible fine line between truth and lies when Satan said to Eve,
      "Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"  (Genesis 3: 1)
   And the seed of doubt was planted in the mind of Eve; therefore, all people need in order to disagree with God, or to disagree with the Bible, is a seed of doubt.  In other words,
       Did God really say that?
       Does the Bible really mean all that is written?
       Does God not want you to have fun?
       Does God not want you to enjoy the flavor of a big apple?
       What's wrong with that!
   Ever since that day in the garden of Eden, people have continued to believe in the big lie of Satan by turning their faces against the truth of the Bible:  while also believing in the lie of the big apple that has been manufactured in the minds of people and spread from mind to mind across thousands of years, up to and including this present day; for people today are still telling this story of the big apple to children as if it is truth.
   Unfortunately, the adults telling kids this story still believe it themselves!  For they, too, have turned their faces against the Bible because they embraced the opinions of people, which is the foundation on which they stand---and all because of that invisible fine line that Satan has drawn between truth and lies.
   "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  (Matthew 8: 32)
   "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."        (Romans 3: 23)
  People of the big apple lie, however, do not believe in these two Bible verses.  How can they?  For if their belief is that the Bible is a myth, then the whole Bible is a myth,, even the story of Christ the Lord, up to and including the resurrection of Christ.  For it is impossible  to believe in a lie and truth at the same time!
   Now, for them to come to know Christ, something must happen in a word we call faith.
      "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
      " How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach except they be sent?
      "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  (Romans 10: 17; 14-15; 13)
   
     "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God."  (Ephesians 2: 8)
   
      

PARENTING

                                       "O wretched man that I am!"  
                                                 (Romans 7: 24)

   In my lifetime, I have failed God many times and in many ways.  I care not to remember the many times, nor do I care to remember the many ways:  o wretched man that I am.
   In my lifetime, I have also failed my children many times and in many ways.  I care not to remember the many times, nor do I care to remember the many ways:  o wretched man that I am.
 
      "Train up a child in the way in which he should go:  and when he is old, he will not depart from it."  (Proverbs 22: 6)

   This Bible verse is simple to read, simple to understand, and simple to memorize, but it is not  simple to do.   Just ask me:  o wretched man that I am.
   When parenting, I did things I should have never done, said things I should have never said, and acted at times in ways that were simply childish.  I did.

      "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness."  (1st John 1: 9)

   Now that I have done that, what then should I do about all of those lost years that I had with our children?

   The only thing I know to do is pray to God and give Him time to do all that I am unable to do, which is to believe,

      "And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you."  (Joel 2: 25)

 
      

FALSE GODS EXPOSED

                            "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
                                                   (Exodus 20: 3)

   In the Bible, God exposes false gods and their names.

FALSE GODS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT:

AMON:  chief god of Egypt

ASHERAH:  a Canaanite goddess

ASHTORETH:  a consort of Baal

BAAL:  a Canaanite and Phoenician god

BAEL-ZEBUB:  god of the Philistines

BEL:  chief god of Babylon

CHEMOSH:  chief god of Moab

DAGON:  half-man, half-fish god in Babylon and Philista

MOLECH:  chief god of Ammon

TAMMUZ:  the son of god of Semiramis, mother-wife of Nimrod, at the
                    towel of Babel.  Semiramis was also known as the first
                    "mother of god" and "queen of heaven".

FALSE GODS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT:

ZEUS:  god of the city, Lystra

HERMES:  the Roman god for Mercury

ARTEMUS:  the Roman name for the Greek goddess, Diana

CASTOR and POLLUX:  Zeus's two sons, guarding deities of sailors

Child sacrifices to Molech burned alive.

                 

   "That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus.  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God:"  (Ephesians 2: 7-8)

GOD OF THE BIBLE

                                       "Blessed are the pure in heart: 
                                            for they shall see God."
                                                (Matthew 5: 8)

   As people talk about life after death, they talk about heaven and hell, they talk about a paradise or a utopia, and some talk about that better place now.

   In all of their talking, however, how many talk about seeing God after death?

MASS CONFUSION:

   

   As Christians, we believe in God of the Bible.  We further believe that God spoke His words to the minds of people, who, with pen and paper, recorded God's words for people to read all about Him.
   Therefore, if people do not believe in God of the Bible, then their belief is in all of the gods and goddesses of man's religions, which are scattered all across the earth.
   If a person of religion says he believes in God, in his own mind he is telling the truth in the way that he understands his God to be.  What he does not understand, however, is that he is speaking about the God of his religion and not the God of the Bible.  But in his confusion, he does not know the difference, for he can also believe that he and I are talking about the same God.
  This confusion has been carefully orchestrated by Satan, who has drawn an invisible fine line of deception between truth and lies, so that people will believe in lies, as if they are truth, while believing that the truth of God's word is a lie.
   God of the Bible is not the creator of man's religions all across the earth, for all religions are creations out of the imaginations of men to serve as deception stations to prevent people from knowing God of the Bible.
   Knowing that this is true, then it is also true that man's gods and goddesses throughout his religions are also works out of his own imagination.  They are not real, they do not exist, yet they are believed to be real by people in their religions.  After all, this is what they have been told since they were young children, and, since the days of their youths, they continue to believe because they have never been told the truth about God of the Bible.
   Moreover, we can further believe that Santa Claus and Easter Bunny were invented and sent forth as little gods to distract the minds of adults and especially the minds of children from knowing the truth about the Lord's birth in Bethlehem as well as from knowing the truth about the Lord's resurrection from death in Jerusalem; for this is the same teaching technique that man has used in his religions for thousands of years.
   Perhaps people will say that this comparison of Santa Claus and Easter Bunny to religions is a little bit extreme, a little too far to the right, or sounds a bit nutty, or even silly.  Maybe so---to them. 
   But!
   Has any child ever come to know God of the Bible because of Santa Claus and Easter Bunny?
   Has any child ever come to know God of the Bible by believing in any religion on the face of the earth?
   But do you see how easy it is to distract the minds of people from knowing God than by dangling a pair of puppets in front of their eyes with promises to deliver all of their hopes and dreams under a green tree or from a rabbit dancing down the bunny trail?
   For out of that same teaching technique adults, with child-like minds, have also been easily deceived to believe that gods that do not exist can deliver their souls to a place they will believe is heaven, or a paradise or utopia, or to that better place now that people believe to be true.  For these people do not see their gods and goddesses as children see Santa Clause and Easter Bunny, but they see them in their own minds and in the same way with their own imaginations:  yet they do not know the difference between the real and the abstract because of that fine line that is created out of the mind of Satan.
   Above all else, please remember that none of the gods and goddesses of man's religions never died on a cross for sin, as Jesus did, and none of them never could because none of them has never existed.  Neither has any of them ever been resurrected from death as Jesus is.
      "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."              (John 3: 16-17)