Wednesday, September 4, 2013

MILITARY COUP: Get Rid of Democrats, Republicans, and Most Particularly Obama

I never ever thought I would be the one to call for a military coup to overthrow the United States government. Not during the Carter administration, not during the Clinton administration, and not even during the first Obama administration. But the time has come, if there is any hope in keeping America the land of the free.

In the spring of 2008, before the Republican presidential nominee had been selected, I swore I would never vote for the likes of Mitt (make me gag) Romney. Not that I had much political affection for John McCain at the time either, but I still considered myself a Republican. Albeit leaning strongly libertarian; I still claimed the Republican Party as my political party of choice. Thankfully Romney did not get the nomination, but unfortunately McCain did. Disappointed yes, I was very disappointed, but when McCain selected Sarah Palin to be his VP I was on board. My hope was that he would not make it very far through his first term (don’t judge me – if you weren’t thinking the same thing then shame on you) and Sarah would become Commander-in-Chief. Alas, it never happened – McCain ran as lousy of a campaign (in much the same way I feared he would have run the country), and Obama won.

Fast forward to the spring of 2012. Mitt (make-me-gag all over again) Romney ran for the nomination a second time. I made it clear to all my friends, family and anyone else who would listen to me that I would in no way vote to elect Romney as president if he got the nomination. Regretfully, he got the nomination, and I continued to do my very best to discourage anyone I could to not vote for Romney. Their only argument against my position was to get rid of Obama. That was their ONLY argument. In the end, about a week before the election, I agreed that was a valid argument – I too was desperate to do whatever it took to get rid of Obama. My position became I would vote for Romney this one time, but after, win or lose, that I would never gain vote for any Republican or Democrat in future presidential elections. My thought was if the true conservatives in this country did not start a third party (which I would be willing to support the best I could by the way) I was more than prepared to write off this republic … be it through a revolution, a military coup, a secession, or whatever it would take to save America.

Romney lost to Obama; and still there is no serious move by conservatives to break away from Republican Party (a party that is nothing more than “liberal lites” caving in to the party of “liberal darks”). As I feared, the conservative politicians did little to stop any of liberals … other than climb up on a soap box and voice stuff they think might appease their conservative constituents.

Obviously I have no faith in the Democrats to do anything right … nothing. I have also come to the same conclusion about the Republicans. And yet, to say the very least I am DISAPPOINTED with the conservative wing of the Republican Party. So much so I hold out little to no hope that they will attempt to do the right thing and separate themselves from the devil.

A revolution has been my first choice of action, but that is going to take some time to get organized and implement – unfortunately time is short. Secession sounds good, but has many drawbacks and pitfalls. Therefore, because time is of the essence it seems to me the onus has fallen on the United States Military to do the right thing and rescue the United States. Apparently, there are no conservative politicians willing to support such an act.


Hopefully there are some military generals who will do the right thing for America.


Tuesday, September 3, 2013

What Happened to Detroit?

Oh, how proud Michiganders were of the City of Detroit back in the 1950's, and for good reason. It was the fourth largest city in the United States, and was as responsible for the incredible American ingenuity of that day as much as any of the large industrial areas in this country. As a truck driver traveling all over the country from the late 1970's to the mid 2000's, I frequently had the opportunity to visit Detroit. Over those many years I watched in amazement as the once great Motown crumbled seemingly brick by brick, block by block, neighborhood by neighborhood. 

I was born in Michigan not far from Detroit, spent many of my grade school years living in Michigan, all the while becoming an avid Detroit Tiger baseball fan - to the point of listening to every Tiger baseball game radio broadcast throughout the entire season - season after season. The great Al Kaline was my hero. The Tiger's have had some pretty good ball teams in the past few years, but they no longer play in downtown Detroit as they did back when I was a kid - and for good reason - so sad.




Wednesday, August 7, 2013

A New Mission


'A Reasoned Report' has been dormant for several weeks, but now as of the publishing of this post today, I intend to bring my blog back to life. The focus of my reports have been for the most part a venue for me to communicate with the world on whatever subject I felt needed to be reported on at the time.  

No longer… the blog will now endeavor to accomplish two things:

The first is to bring to light the evil, socialistic, multicultural ideology masquerading as a religion called islam.

The second is to focus on saving America by encouraging all freedom loving citizens to revolt against the federal government and do so quickly.

I will make every effort to post, with no holds barred, (using my own commentary and others, reader comments, videos, photos, website links, Facebook pages, Twitter posts and other means of communication available to me) to report the truth, to inspire Americans to once again take seriously the freedoms given to us by our forefathers, and to encourage Americans to start taking a viable stand against the very real and present danger posed by islam.

Ultimately, the Christian Americans (the American Church) is going to be the audience I most hope to persuade. I am convinced that without the Church fully and completely on board and heavily engaged in this fight to destroy islam, the road to victory will be far more difficult than need be. It is the Church, and only the Church, who has claim to the promise found in the Old Testament book of 2 Chronicles 7:14 - "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." - or – the promise in the New Testament book of Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

I firmly believe in my Savior, the LORD Jesus Christ, to be the only true source for victory, and I look to the Church to rise up, do battle to destroy islam, return America to the land of the free (one nation under God) and in so doing be blessed by the God of the Bible, the one true God, the God who created everything, the God who sent His Son to save the world.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Resolving Disputes Among The Brethren


Maintain Peace In The Body Of Christ

Ephesians 4:1-3 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:30-32 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.




Keep Satan From Gaining Advantage Over Us

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

Matthew 18:35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”




Restore A Fallen Brother

Galatians 6:1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

Matthew 18:15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

18:16 But if he will not hear you, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

18:17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. 

John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

First: Meet privately with your brother. (Matthew 18:15)

1 Corinthians 13:6-7 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Luke 17:3-4 So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

         Second: Seek out another brother. (Matthew 18:16)

a.   To witness to the serious effect of the confrontation.

b.   To collaborate the exhortation of scripture.

c.    To amplify the LORD’s presence in the meeting.

d.   To verify the exchange of testimony.

Third: Should the first two attempts fail tell the Church leadership.           (Matthew 18:17)

a.   Jesus said to tell the Church (Pastor and elders only).
b.   To bear responsibility in dealing with the offending party.

Finally: Should the first three attempts fail the Church is no longer required to consider the trespasser one of their brothers. (Matthew 18:17)



If You Are To Do If You Trespass

Matthew 5:23-24 "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift".

a.   If you are the trespasser, you are then responsible to go to him and seek reconciliation.

b.   Even if you don’t believe you are the trespasser, but your brother does, you are then responsible to go to him and seek reconciliation.

c.    If you know your brother holds offence against you, you are then responsible to go to him and seek reconciliation.

d.   Don't be so rigid and self-righteous that you stand in the way of a brother or sister's reconciliation with you or with God.

Romans 15:1-3 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”

e.   Offer your unpretentious, sincere apology for any unintentional offense and make every effort to reconcile, so that your relationship with God will not be hindered.



Tuesday, April 2, 2013

My Job: The Great Commission


We as Christians are commissioned to do one thing in particular. It is called the Great Commission: Matthew 28:16-20 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

We are to teach the Gospel to people, and baptize them when they become born again (believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and be baptized in water as a public testimony that they are a child of the King; a Christian. Then it becomes the mature Christians responsibility to teach these newer Christians all the Bible commands us to do and not to do. 

The only way to do that is to explain what the Bible states is right and what the Bible states is wrong. We teach new believers, not judge them. As a matter of fact we are not to judge anyone, but we certainly need to judge their actions and conduct. We need to not be afraid to call sin what it is “sin”.

So the question becomes “What do we do when someone doesn’t accept truth of the Bible?” The answer is we walk away. You can pray for them if you wish – God hears all of our prayers, but we can in no way force salvation on to anyone. We teach (share the Gospel with the lost), the Holy Spirit convicts them of their sin, the individual chooses. If they choose to believe we teach them more; if they choose not to believe we leave it alone.

Just as a side note: Preaching the Gospel to the lost is a commandment. Praying for the lost is not. That is not to say we shouldn’t pray for some ones salvation, but there is no commandment to do so. Point being: it the preaching of the Gospel that we are commanded to do. It is convicting power of the Holy Spirit that forces a sinner to choose. It is the sinner who makes the choice.

Jesus said to His disciples, “follow Me”. If they followed Him, then fine. If they didn't that was their choice. Jesus didn't stand around and worry about those who didn't follow, pleading with them to please, please follow Him. He preached, He taught, He said “follow me” and then He went on His way.

As a Christian it is my job (calling) to preach, teach, and live the Gospel … period … not save anyone. For me to follow such a calling I feel compelled to address sin when I see in in myself or in others, and to do the same with righteousness.






Homosexuality: Is It Really a Sin?


Recently a Christian friend questioned me about my judgmental position on the sinfulness of homosexuality. I told my friend I believed that sex between two men or two women is a sin, because that is the Bible says.

In Romans chapter one Paul writes “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”

In Genesis 13:4 we read, “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” The whoremongers and adulterers spoke about are those folks who engage in sexuality activity outside of marriage, which includes all homosexual activity.

In Genesis 19 Sodom and Gomorrah is the first time in the bible where men were to be punished for their sexual perversion. There were two angels that visited Lot’s home in Sodom.  The passage says “all the men from every part of Sodom” had Lot’s house surrounded. These men demanded that Lot force his visitors (the two angles) to go outside where the men were “so that we can have sex with them.” Their sin was not simply one of violence (rape) but of sexual immorality (homosexuality).  As further evidence of the sinful nature of homosexuality, Leviticus 18:22, and 20:13 both describe homosexuality as an abomination.

Leviticus 18:22, “Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.”

Leviticus 20:13, “If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”

The 7th verse of the Book of Jude, “In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire”, indicates that Sodom and Gomorrah’s punishment was due to their sexual perversion, which obviously included homosexuality. 

The writer of the Book of Hebrews in chapter 13:4 wrote, “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” In other words all sexually activity outside of marriage (which by definition includes homosexuality) will be judged by God.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:9, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind.” Malakos is the Greek word for effeminate and literally means something soft to the touch, used in a negative context to describe a boy kept or used for homosexual relations with a man. “The abusers of themselves with mankind,” are men who practice unnatural sexual relations with other men – in other words homosexuals.



Sunday, March 24, 2013

68 Years Ago Tomorrow


This is a re-post of A Reasoned Report post dated February 18, 2012. Now that it is 13 months later I submit it again, with an updated title "68 Years Ago Tomorrow". It was 68 years ago tomorrow, when the battle thought by most historians to be the most difficult battle ever fought by United States Marines, ended in victory.









Wednesday, March 20, 2013

It's A Matter of Christian Nullification

America has changed - and not for the better. Most citizens do not realize how close they are to losing their freedom. These good people are not ignorant - on the contrary they for the most part keep themselves well informed. They see the decadence that has invaded our country over the last 50 years, but these they insist on behaving like the frog being boiled in water. They have no idea that it is now time to jump before it is too late. The ballot box is no longer a solution - sadly, that is how corrupt the governments of this country have become.

Thus far, those folks currently preparing to jump out of the water are none other than the secessionist, the revolutionaries, and the militants.The Church has not embraced any of the three movements or any other ideology desiring to reinstate the rule of law. The short sighted mind set of the Church seems to be "Lets preach the Gospel; get as many people saved as possible as soon as possible; but not concern ourselves with the preserving of the fundamentals of liberty... because we know God will take care of us, no matter what happens." 

Thankfully that wasn't the attitude of the Pilgrims, nor the founding fathers, nor the spiritual leaders of the 1800's, nor the majority of good American people living in those same time periods in American history. Unfortunately, the situation now calls on those few, willing to jump out of the water, to also be the ones willing to turn off the flame. As it happens, I am convinced the flame will be turned off in the not to distant future; the question is who will be the ones who snuffs out the flame? Will it be the secessionists, the revolutionaries, the militants ... or will it be the Church and those who understand "nullification" to be the better, most effective, and least destructive way to strategically and tactically win our freedom back?

I take some solace in the few thoughtful historians, politicians, and others leading the charge of an ever growing nullification army. Again the question is will that army comprise of only the secessionists, revolutionaries or militants, and not include the Church? The Church needs to keep in mind "to the victor goes the spoils." The new government will most certainly be put into place by whatever group ends up winning the battle; be it the secessionists, or the revolutionists, or the militant. Any new government established, without God, by either of those groups will surely end in tyranny. 

With out the Church being equally involved in the battle, there will be no victory for right thinking, God-fearing American people.  




Sunday, March 10, 2013

The Disease of Tolerance and Political Correctness


The following article was written by John Renken and posted on Pastor Doug Giles' CLASHDAILY.COM blog on March 9, 2013 under the title "The Disease of Tolerance and Political Correctness."
 

Revelation 2:19&20

"I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols."

In the midst of all of the political blundering, failure of leadership on both sides of the aisle, the Global War on Terrorism, increasing debt, and the attempt to disarm the citizens there is an underlying problem that has led to the silence of the People of America … it is a disease that is so insipid that most don’t even realize they are sick.

As a culture we have embraced the false teaching of Political Correctness or tolerance. In essence we have become a nation of people who don’t have a spine. We see evidence of it in each of the problems threatening to destroy our great nation right now. When you look at the debt crisis you see Republican leadership failing for fear of violating this disease. They failed to speak the truth. Remember after 9/11? Then President Bush fell victim to the disease when he falsely called Islam a “Religion of Peace”. We could go on and on about how America has slept with the prostitute of Tolerance and Political Correctness.

The thing that amazes me is the Media portrays Tolerance and Political Correctness as a Christian Value and nothing could be farther from the truth. As a matter of fact, Jesus was the most intolerant and politically incorrect person the world has ever seen. When confronted with the Political and Religious leaders of the world He mocked them. Called them white washed tombs and the cultural equivalent of “You ‘Sons of Bitches’ “

Not only did Jesus on multiple occasions speak loudly and “rudely” against the evil in the political and religious realm, He was completely intolerant of Sin. Jesus called it what it was. The Act of Homosexuality and Gay marriage is a sin, sex outside marriage sin, abuse of women and children sin. He makes no concessions based on genetic make up, parental upbringing, lack of money, excess of money, or what you thought was right. Sin is Sin. Right is Right and wrong is wrong. Jesus didn't back down from a fight, nor did He not speak the truth for fear of how he would be seen, however Jesus’ intolerance was not towards people! His political incorrectness was towards ideology and beliefs not the people themselves.

We all need to take a lesson from the passage in the Book of Revelation and not tolerate sin, failure, and political correctness, but be like our King who says “I WILL NOT TOLERATE” this anymore.





Thursday, March 7, 2013

My Name Is Sue ... How Do You Do

I have a friend who recently started her own blog. Her name is Sue, and the title of her blog is My Name Is Sue ... How Do You Do.

My friend, Sue, is a wonderful Christian lady, wife to a close friend of mine, mother and grandmother. She has a story to tell. Check out her first two posts.



and

Monday, January 28, 2013

It Is The Law That Condemns: Not Jesus Christ


In Romans 8:1 the Apostle Paul tells the Christians in Rome “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

The inverse to that statement implies that anyone who is not in Jesus Christ, who does walk after the flesh and not after the Holy Spirit, remains condemned. The questions then arise, “Why is that? Why is that those people who are not in Christ are by definition condemned? Didn't Jesus say God sent Him to the world not to condemn the world but to save the world?”

Paul answers by writing about the law that does the condemning; once again the implication being it is not Jesus Christ who condemns. It is the law which condemns every person who chooses not to be in Jesus. And the reason the law is so full of condemnation is because the law is powerless to do otherwise. The law has no power over man’s sinful nature.

The good news is that we who are in Christ Jesus do not live according to our sinful nature, and therefore subject to the law. But because of Jesus, and Jesus alone, all the condemning requirements of the law have been lifted. As a result, we who are in Jesus Christ are no longer subject to the law or any of its condemnation. Does that mean born again Christians can live their lives according to any ole’ carnal desire that happens to cross their mind? No! Absolutely not! The reason, as Paul goes on to explain in chapter 8, is that because Christians are in Christ Jesus they in deed live according to the Holy Spirit and not according to the law (not according to their carnal desires).

Anyone who chooses to live their life not according to the Holy Spirit is in fact living according to their sinful nature. It is always one or the other. When we take that thought to the next step, it can only concluded that by living a life according to one’s own sinful nature (carnal desires) we are not in Christ Jesus. And once again, if we are not in Christ Jesus, we are subject to a powerless law - a law that only condemns.

Anyone who lives according to the powerless law has their minds set not on the desires of the Holy Spirit, but rather on their carnal desires. That sinful mindset will always lead to condemnation, which is death (an eternal separation from God the Father). There is no life or peace for the man who lives according to the law. There is no life or peace for such a man living here in this world, and certainly not in the world to come. Why is that?

We know anyone who is not in Christ Jesus is subject to the law. Paul goes on to make it clear, that in addition to being under the law, the same man is considered by God to be hostile to God. Those men subjected to the law do not, will not, and if fact cannot submit their lives to God’s law. They cannot do so because they are controlled by their sinful nature, a sinful nature which is and will always be uncontrollable by the law. According to Paul anyone living their life in line with the law is not in Christ Jesus, and therefore does not please God. Later in the chapter Paul goes on to say in essence that anyone who does not please God, because they continue to choose to live subject to the law, they will certainly die (be eternally separated from the love of God).

For those of us choosing to reject the law, who choose to remain in Christ Jesus and therefore be led by the Spirit of God are called the sons of God. Because of that very son ship we needs no longer be a slave to fear. Why is that? Because anyone led by the Spirit can call out to God by His name; “Abba, Father”.

We who choose to be in Christ Jesus, choose to be led by the Holy Spirit, and choose to be a son of God, become eligible to receive, from God our Father, an inheritance along with Christ. We, who choose to reject the powerless law will always condemn us, need to live in fear no longer. Under the law fear abounds; in Christ Jesus there is no fear. When it comes to fear, no matter the gravity of the situation, I like to ask myself this question, “What is the worst thing that can happen?” “No matter the situation (no matter the finance issues, no matter the health issues, no matter the relationship issues, no matter what my concerns might be) I have learned to answer that question with this statement of truth, “God is Good, He is Good all the time, He is Good no matter what happens, and no matter what happens God is always in control.”

That answer, to the “What is the worst thing that can happen?” question, helps allow me to look forward to my sharing in the sufferings of Jesus, knowing full well I will ultimately share in His glory. I take that promise to the bank!



Friday, January 25, 2013

There Will Never Be A Greater Love

Last evening I suggested in our weekly men’s Bible study that Jesus went to the cross knowing He would surely die, but not knowing whether or not He would actually be raised from the dead. I was immediately reminded of the fact that Jesus, on several occasions, prophesied both His death and His resurrection.  My answer to that statement, which I formulated into a couple of question, was, “He did in fact prophesy His death and His resurrection, but was He able to deliver such a prophesy because of a certain knowledge on His part, or did He prophesy based only on His own understanding of prophetic scripture, and under the instruction of the Father? Did He prophesy only because God spoke those words into His heart and He in turn to spoke it by faith to His followers?” After all, Jesus also said on several other occasions that He only did what His Father told Him to do, and He only said what His Father told Him to say.

Could it be that the agony Jesus suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane, was suffered because He was (barring some miracle He [as a man] was unaware of) about to be crucified? If so, He must have known He had a choice to either willingly die for the sins of all mankind, or to avoid death by calling upon 10,000 angels to rescue Him from what otherwise was going to possibly result in Him having to spend eternity in a lake of fire - forever separated from His Father.

What impresses me about this line of thought, if true, is how much Jesus must have loved all of mankind to be willing to be the one sacrifice for all of their sins – not knowing … NOT KNOWING for certain He would be raised from the dead. Jesus had to know, absolutely, the only chance for any man to have the opportunity to once again develop a right relationship with God the Father was for Him to die; for Him to be the sacrifice for all sin. Jesus knew that He was without sin. Jesus understood from scripture that for men to be forgiven from their sin there had to be a sinless Lamb sacrificed in order to spill the only blood that could wash away all sin once and for all. Jesus knew that. He knew for certain, when He was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was to be that sacrifice. He knew the final decision to carry out the Father’s salvation plan was for Him, the perfect Lamb, to ultimately make that choice. Jesus had to make the choice to either die or not to die.

By choosing not to die, Jesus understood all men would be damned for eternity. Jesus knew His Father loved man so much that He was more than willing to have His own beloved Son killed so men would not have to be damned; but rather be given the chance to share in a perfect fellowship with the Father, as children of God, forever and ever. Jesus also knew that the Father would not, could not; force Him to suffer such a horrific death should He choose not to do so. But, because of Jesus’ love for the Father and His own love for mankind Jesus chose to die. He chose to believe the Father would raise Him from the dead on the third day just as it was for told; but if not, Jesus was still willing to die and spend eternity in Hell so men could escape that awful place and instead experience a wonderfully close relationship with God the Father, a relationship that was so precious to Jesus – more precious than anything … except for saving sinful man from the Hell they deserved. There was no greater love. The wonderfully glorious part of this story is that because Jesus did indeed rise on the third day, we as believers can draw on that love every moment of every day. There is no greater love.

One final note: Please turn to Paul’s letter to the Church in Ephesus and read his prayer to God for the Ephesian Christians. Start with chapter one verse seventeen and read to the end of the chapter. Paul prays about the incomparable great power God exerted when He raised Jesus from the dead and His assigning all honor and authority to Jesus. Paul went on to write about how the Father, bestowed upon His Son, Jesus, (because of His willingness to go through the uncertainty, the pain; the torment; the anguish; the shedding His own blood; (the only blood pure and incorruptible - the only blood available for salvation in all of creation) so man could be saved from his sin. Because Jesus was willing to be that kind of sacrifice, God the Father seated Jesus at His right side. He placed Jesus far above all rule and authority; far above all power and dominion. God gave Jesus every title that could be given for all of eternity. God placed all things under Jesus’ feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the Church.

Then in Paul’s letter to Philippi he also writes about God the Father exalting Jesus to the highest place and giving Him the Name above all names. There will never be a greater love.





Monday, January 14, 2013

A Declaration: It Is Time For History To Repeat Itself



A desire for independence sprouted and festered in the minds of men, inevitably becoming an ever-increasing resentment toward their own government. Overtime the resentment of these men developed a rebellious mind set, which in 1775, erupted into an anti-government gunfight at Lexington and Concord. A few months later the gunfight became a war on a knoll called Bunker Hill.

The Sugar Actthe Currency Actthe Quartering Act and the Stamp Act proclaimed during those years fed the flames of a rebellion; soon bursting into a roaring fire of open resistance in 1764-65. In fact the Stamp Act was repealed by the government due to constant and unrelenting harassment inflicted by the Sons of Liberty.

A few years later, in 1770, rioting broke out in the streets of New York. Five colonists involved in minor confrontations with the government were shot and killed. Then in 1773 the colonists became further incensed with their governments newly claimed power to levy a small tax on tea by enacting what was called the Tea Act. As a result the rebels challenged their King's authority to legislate at a tax on the colonies, by staging the infamous Boston Tea Party; which was instrumental in provoking King George into issuing what was called the “Intolerable Acts.” His military began seizing ammunition from local militias and at the same time fortifying the city of Boston.

In response, the colonists convened the First Continental Congress, and local militia throughout the colonies formed a force called "the minutemen," to include men willing, able and ready to fight at a minute's notice. On April 18, 1775 just before midnight, these minutemen scattered throughout the countryside were warned by two men named Paul Revere and William Dawes riding through the night on horseback from Boston. Their warning to the militia was to prepare, because the government troops were coming to confiscate all guns and ammunition the colonies had stored in Concord. The “shot heard around the world” sounded just as the sun began to rise. These rebels were not about to give up their God-given right to keep and bear arms.

The world soon became informed in a written Declaration document signed by 56 men, as to why such ordinary men were compelled to raise their muskets and began firing on their own government. The document read in part: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new government..."

The Declaration of Independence: God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice...became the basis of a newly formed federal government.