To see all my reach and teach devotions in Chinese/English and hundreds of devotions in English, please click on this link.

我们有了一种分享灵修的新方式，要查看我所有的中文/英文灵修以及成百上千的英文灵修，请点击以下链接。

TBL China – The Bottom Line, Ministries






My Testimony 我的见证 - 基思·霍布科克



"But God"... a story of Amazing Grace “然而神”...... 一个奇异恩典的故事



Ephesians 2 以弗所书第2章



And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

“你们死在过犯罪恶之中，他叫你们活过来。那时，你们在其中行事为人，随从今世的风俗，顺服空中掌权者的首领，就是现今在悖逆之子心中运行的邪灵。我们从前也都在他们中间，放纵肉体的私欲，随着肉体和心中所喜好的去行，本为可怒之子，和别人一样。然而　神既有丰富的怜悯，因他爱我们的大爱，当我们死在过犯中的时候，便叫我们与基督一同活过来（你们得救是本乎恩）。他又叫我们与基督耶稣一同复活，一同坐在天上，要将他极丰富的恩典，就是他在基督耶稣里向我们所施的恩慈，显明给后来的世代看。你们得救是本乎恩，也因着信；这并不是出于自己，乃是　神所赐的；也不是出于行为，免得有人自夸。我们原是他的工作，在基督耶稣里造成的，为要叫我们行善，就是　神所预备叫我们行的。



I pray that my testimony touches your heart! My name is Keith, but everyone knows me as KK. The first thing to say is that I am just an ordinary person; I am not a pastor; I have no special gifts or abilities: I am what I am because God has showered His grace upon me.



祈求我的见证能触动你的心！我的名字是基思，但大家都叫我KK。首先要说的是，我只是一个普通人；我不是一位牧师；我没有特殊的恩赐或能力：我之所以成为现在的我，是因为神倾注了他的恩典在我身上。



Well, I had better start at the beginning. I was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, U.K., and then lived most of my life in Morecambe, a beautiful seaside town on the Lancashire coast. My childhood was difficult. My parents were great, but they were consumed with work and as I spent much time on my own, I gained a very rebellious and angry streak from an early age. I was a very troubled and restless child... I craved attention. My parents tried everything, I had serious issues relating to a childhood stammer, which led to bullying. I was in and out of speech therapy/relaxation classes.



嗯，我最好从头开始。我出生在英国约克郡的布拉德福德，然后大部分时间生活在兰开夏海岸的美丽海滨小镇莫卡姆。我的童年很艰难。我的父母很好，但他们忙于工作，我经常一个人待着，从小就养成了非常叛逆和愤怒的性格。我是一个非常困扰和不安的孩子……我渴望得到关注。我的父母尝试了一切，我有严重的童年口吃问题，导致遭受欺凌。我一直在接受言语治疗/放松课程。



(I was) Sent to Sunday school, I listened to the stories of Jesus and thought that they were just stories. My favourite hymn was "There was a Green Hill Far Away". This hymn said that He died to save us all. "Great," I thought, "Jesus died - I can live as I want."



（我）被送去上主日学。我听过耶稣的故事，但觉得那只是故事。我最喜欢的圣诗是《远处有座青翠的小山》。这首圣诗说他为了拯救我们而死。我心想：“太好了，耶稣死了 - 我可以随心所欲地生活。”



I was in the church; I even did the collection for upstairs at the church. Sad to say, I was a Judas-- not just from the church, but from my parents. By the age of 14, I was placed in the lowest class at school; I was a very nasty and angry person; a sinner who had all the appearance of a good person, but was a devil on the inside. . . in all my churchgoing, I have never heard the true Gospel that Jesus saves personally.



我常去教堂；我甚至在教堂楼上收集了奉献。可悲的是，我像犹大一样——不仅背叛了教会，也背叛了我的父母。到了14岁，我被分在学校的最低班级；我是一个非常恶毒和愤怒的人；一个看起来很善良的人，但内心却像个魔鬼……在我所有的教会活动中，我从未听到过真正的福音，即耶稣亲自拯救罪人。



At school, I was known as trouble; teachers thought I had no hope, but my parents didn't give up-- they fought for me to be placed in a higher class. They finally got their wish and I was placed in Class 4S, along with two very special people, both whom are close friends today, David and Andrew, the person whom God used to bring me to faith.



在学校，我被认为是个麻烦制造者；老师们认为我没有希望，但我的父母没有放弃——他们为我争取进入更高的班级。他们最终如愿以偿，我被安排在4S班，与两个非常特别的人一起，他们至今仍是我的密友，大卫和安德鲁，他们是神用来带领我信仰的人。



As I said, I was trouble at school: if there was trouble in class, it usually revolved around me; Keith had said or done something to upset them. Well, I created havoc in class, tormenting virtually everyone: I was a mixture of Dennis the Menace and Homer Simpson, loveable and dumb but just a pain in the bum: well. . . except for Andrew.



正如我所说，我在学校是个麻烦制造者：如果班上有麻烦，通常都是围绕着我；基思说了或做了什么让他们生气。嗯，我在班里制造了混乱，几乎折磨了每个人：我是丹尼斯·门纳斯（美国电影《小鬼当家》当中的主人公，以调皮捣蛋著称）和霍默·辛普森（美国动画片《辛普森家族》中的人物，以懒惰笨拙著称）的混合体，可爱但愚蠢，但只是个让人头痛的人：嗯……除了安德鲁。



Everything I tried to do to him, it didn't upset him at all! What is it with this guy? Why is he so calm? OK, he's a Christian; well, so am I! I go to church, so what's the big deal? Also, we had R.E. (Religious Education) in our school, led by Mr Curnow. I just sat the back of the class and mocked him. He said at the end of the class, "Jesus loves you and is the Answer!" "What?" I thought, "Why doesn't he tell it to us through all the class, if Jesus is so good?" Many years later I had the pleasure of meeting him and his wife, who was my French teacher; also, my history teacher, Mr Waterhouse, who were all Believers-- the ones I had mocked were Christians.



我尝试了一切办法，但对他毫无影响！这家伙怎么回事？为什么他这么冷静？好吧，他是个基督徒；那我也是！我去教堂，那又怎么了？此外，我们在学校有宗教教育课（R.E.），由卡诺先生主持。我就坐在教室后面，嘲笑他。他在课堂结束时说：“耶稣爱你，他就是答案！”我想：“什么？为什么他不在整堂课中告诉我们，如果耶稣是那么好的话？”多年后，我有幸遇见了他和他的妻子，她是我的法语老师；还有我的历史老师，沃特豪斯先生，他们都是信徒——那些我曾经嘲笑的人都是基督徒。



Andrew was getting under my skin; he invited me to these meetings, and on a Saturday night! "What, you go to these Bible meetings on a Saturday? You are a fanatic, man!" One day he invited me: and to be honest, just to stop him asking me, I said "OK, but look, I have to be home by 10, the football is on."



安德鲁开始影响我了；他邀请我参加这些聚会，还是在周六晚上！“什么，你在周六去参加这些圣经聚会？你是个狂热者，伙计！”有一天他邀请我：说实话，只是为了不让他再问我，我说：“好吧，但是听着，我必须在晚上10点前回家，足球比赛要开始了。”



So, on Saturday, the 15th of February, I set out to Moorlands Gospel Hall in Lancaster. Meeting me at the bus station, we made our way to the meeting. It was different to everything I had ever been to: this was lively, hymns were sung truly and powerfully, people stood up and told how Jesus had changed their lives, and finally Victor Jack (an evangelist) stood up and preached. He said "If Jesus came tonight, where would you spend eternity? You are a guilty sinner, condemned by your sin; but Jesus has provided salvation through the Cross." For the first time I had heard the true Gospel. Victor said he was going into a side room, anyone who would like to talk with him, please do so. I remember closing my eyes-- the curtain was raised; the light went on! I turned to Andrew, "I want to go into that room!" I got there first, just before someone else; this was something I just had to do. Victor took me through "Journey into Life" (tract by Norman Warren). I said the prayer, and trusted Christ. My prayer was sincere. Something happened that night-- something life changing! Thanks, Andrew and Victor!



所以，在2月15日的星期六，我前往兰卡斯特的Moorlands福音堂。安德鲁在车站见到我，我们一同前往聚会。这与我以往参加的所有聚会都不同：这里气氛活泼，唱诗班真诚而有力地唱着圣歌，人们站起来讲述耶稣如何改变了他们的生活，最后维克多·杰克（一个传教士）站起来讲道。他说：“如果耶稣今晚来了，你将在何处度过永恒？你是个有罪的罪人，被你的罪定罪；但耶稣通过十字架提供了拯救。”这是我第一次听到真正的福音。维克多说他要去一个小房间，任何想和他谈话的人，请去找他。我记得闭上了眼睛——窗帘拉开了；灯亮了！我转向安德鲁，“我想去那个房间！”我比其他人先到了那里；这是我必须做的事情。维克多给我讲解了“通向生命之旅”（诺曼·沃伦的福音小册子）。我做了祷告，信靠基督。我的祷告是真诚的。那天晚上发生了一些事情——一些改变生命的事情！感谢你，安德鲁和维克多！



I remember going home: I shouted out in glee, "I've become a Christian!" My parents weren't impressed. "It will wear off," they said. My form teacher had said to Andrew, "Keith will never get saved." Things did change. I went to church and got baptised, but still had many problems. . . but I knew something had happened-- I had new affections and new interests; I loved reading the Bible and praying.



我记得回家时：我高兴地大喊：“我成了基督徒！”我的父母并不感到印象深刻。“这会过去的，”他们说。我的班主任曾对安德鲁说：“基思永远不会得救。”事情确实改变了。我去了教堂并受了洗，但仍然有许多问题……但我知道发生了些什么——我有了新的情感和新的兴趣；我喜欢阅读圣经和祈祷。



For the first 10 years of my Faith walk I went up and down, but I still made progress. But I was now to enter the "wilderness years". For nearly 15 years from 1986-2001, I went off the rails completely. Not terrible sin, but just rebellion and disobedience: no prayer, no church, living in the world; yet through all that time God Who had saved me, held me.



在我信仰之路的头10年里，我经历了起起落落，但我仍在进步。但现在我要进入“旷野岁月”了。从1986年到2001年的将近15年时间里，我完全迷失了方向。并非可怕的罪恶，而是叛逆和不顺从：没有祷告，没有教堂，生活在世俗中；然而在那段时间里，拯救我的神始终扶持着我。



He was drawing me back to himself.

他一直在召唤我回到他面前。



During my wilderness years, I saw many things and met many people, I wish I hadn't. My life was apart from God, I was out of work, depressed and very alone. During that time, I thought about suicide and was on anti-depressants, Ciprail 15mg, eventually I was able to stop taking them, but it took time and prayer.



在我的旷野岁月里，我见过很多事情，遇到了很多人，但我希望我没有见到。我的生活与神无关，我失业了，沮丧而孤独。那段时间里，我想过自杀，并且一直服用抗抑郁药，15毫克的西普乐，最终我能够停药，但需要时间和祈祷。



I was and am a modern-day prodigal, one more thing I saw.



我是一个现代的浪子，我还见到了一件事。



On the 11th May 1985, I sat in the stand at my home town football ground (Bradford City), a fire broke out in the stand where I was sitting (right behind me). Five minutes earlier, something had stopped me going to the toilet at the back of the stand, it was God preventing me, if I had gone, then I would have been trapped by the fire, again it was the hand of God on my life.



1985年5月11日，我坐在我的家乡足球场（布拉德福德城）的看台上，看台上爆发了火灾（就在我后面）。五分钟前，有什么事情阻止了我去看台后面的洗手间，那是神阻止了我，如果我去了，我就会被火困住，这又是神在我生命中的作为。



I do not tell you these things to make you think, look at Keith, but to let you know that Christ is everything, he is faithful, despite me, despite my failings. He is and always will be ..MY LORD AND MY GOD.



我告诉你这些事情不是为了让你觉得基思很了不起，而是让你知道基督是一切，他是忠实的，尽管我，尽管我的失败。他是我永远的……我的主和我的神。

I've been dating a young Christian woman for a couple of months now. When/how should the topic of past sexual sin come up? Is it still too early? Have I waited too long already? The sexual sin in my past consists of (1) pornography and (2) some sexual activity in one past relationship (though thankfully it never turned into full intercourse).

Some days I feel it is not necessary to tell her yet, but then other days my conscience convicts me that I should have told her already. I would appreciate any advice here.

What is the mind of Christ? In my opinion It dies and lives daily. It doesn't desire or have wealth or political ambition, care, worries, or fears. It suffers many afflictions. It's content in all situations and wants only basic needs. It's simplistic not luxurious.

It's humble, gentle, meekness in wisdom, lowly minded, forgiving, merciful, compassion, understanding, empathetic and loving.

It's somtimes confused or scared. It's what the apostles teach us. It's hated and rejected.

Jim Justice, the businessman-turned-politician governor of West Virginia, has been pursued in court for years by banks, governments, business partners and former employees for millions of dollars in unmet obligations.

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And for a long time, Mr. Justice and his family’s companies have managed to stave off one threat after another with wily legal tactics notably at odds with the aw-shucks persona that has endeared him to so many West Virginians. On Tuesday, he is heavily favored to win the Republican Senate primary and cruise to victory in the general election, especially after the departure of the Democratic incumbent, Joe Manchin III.

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But now, as he wraps up his second term as governor and campaigns for a seat in the U.S. Senate, things are looking dicier. Much like Donald J. Trump, with whom he is often compared — with whom he often compares himself — Mr. Justice has faced a barrage of costly judgments and legal setbacks.

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And this time, there may be too many, some suspect, for Mr. Justice, 73, and his family to fend them all off.

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In my opinion the world is the kingdom of the beast. False doctrine is e everywhere because no one can buy or sell the truth in the beast kingdom. This doesn't necesarily mean that anyone has taken the mark of the beast however because Satan defeated them and they're dead. Colossians chapter 3 says that we died.

But I'm no Bible scholar and i can be wrong. What's your opinion?

With recent shootings in public and in churches, the question of self-defense has been coming up lately. But first, let's be clear: What we are seeing today is not a gun problem; it’s a moral problem called sin.

Vengeance Is Not Self-Defense
One Scripture often used to support pacifism and banning weapons is found in Proverbs 20:22: “Do not say, ‘I will recompense evil’; wait for the Lord, and He will save you.” But this scripture deals with vigilantism, not self-defense. According to Romans 13:4, one purpose of the authorities is to “execute wrath on him who practices evil.” They are God’s avengers, but we can be defenders.

Seek Peace When Possible
As Christians, I believe that we are to seek peace at every turn and not drape the cross with the flag. But what about self-defense as a last resort and biblical mandates to protect? The Old Testament offers many examples, but what about the New Testament? It does as well. In Matthew 26:52 Jesus says to Peter, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” Jesus didn’t denounce the sword but clarified its place. When we take premature emotionally charged action, it may cost us our life.

Buy a Sword
Later, Jesus adds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me?” If He had been a thief and a robber, the clubs and swords would have been justified. In my opinion, these Scriptures imply that weapons do have a place in society, although we must be careful. Additionally, in Luke 22:36, Jesus said,

“But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.”

What is the context of this Scripture? First, again I would err on the side of peace, but this isn’t always an option. One thing is certain: A sword was for defense. Earlier, Jesus had sent them on a peaceful mission trip where they did not need these items, but now Jesus may be implying that self-defense might become necessary. He wants them to use wisdom and be prepared.

Love Your Enemies Doesn’t Mean Hate Your Family
Some may argue, “Didn’t Jesus say to love our enemies, and bless those who curse us, and do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who spitefully use and persecute us?” (cf. Matthew 5:43-48.) Yes, but these references refer to personal assaults, offenses, and character assassinations, not to self-defense or the protection of others. It is taking a quantum leap to believe that Jesus is saying, “Do good to those who are trying to maim or destroy you or your family.”

Jesus Didn’t Turn the Other Cheek
Paul tells Timothy that if “anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Tim. 5:8). But if I protect my family, which is often a greater responsibility (if not equal), then I’m labeled a war-monger and accused of misapplying the Scriptures.

The Scriptures must be read in their appropriate context. For example, when Jesus was slapped, He didn’t turn the other cheek. He said, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” (John 18:23). Although we are to err on the side of grace and peace, there is a time and a place for confrontation and protection.

Forgiveness Is Not Passivity
I want to make it clear that I’m not advocating violence or aggression; I’m advocating scriptural consistency and continuity. Context is the key factor here. Forgiving is not being passive, and granting grace is not being gullible. Are we called to guard our families spiritually, emotionally, and financially but not physically? This makes no sense. However, my concern with the current gun debate is that we are buying into the fear narrative. A minimizing of sovereignty is directly related to a magnifying of worry. “Most Christians salute the sovereignty of God but believe in the sovereignty of man” (R.C. Sproul).

A GLOCK for the Flock
Many are prepared militarily but not spiritually, instilling unhealthy fear in their families. They are motivated by the fear of man rather than the fear of God. I hear much about GLOCK, Smith and Wesson, and Remington, but little about brokenness, surrender, and humility. Every time God’s people trusted in their weapons and armies, He called them to repentance. Our protection is in daily submission to Him. Psalm 121:2 adds, “Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Our current trend beckons us to be very careful about who, or what, we “worship,” and who, or what, we place our trust in.

President Biden and Democrats have a plan for American energy: make it harder to produce and more expensive to purchase. Since Mr. Biden took office, his administration and its allies have taken over 200 actions deliberately designed to make it harder to produce energy here in America. A list of those actions, which includes a few high-profile actions taken in states like New York and California, appears below. A PDF of the full list is available to download here.

I’m very double minded but this is the one thing I can’t get past. I’m almost 100% sure I committed a sin that leads to death because I found a verse that promises that god will take vengeance on people who commit the sin I have.

Sorry to be cryptic but my sin is heinous in gravity and god would be just to take vengeance on me- but on behalf of those who I’ve sinned against. I dont want to frame this in a way that says god might not let me repent and kill me before then but at the same time that’s what i feel might happen and I don’t want to die. I do want to turn and change but at the same time I feel that I may not be genuinely repentant or sincere and all I have is false guilt/ humility in me and fear of hell. Other than that I don’t think I care the way I should.

I feel that I might’ve committed a sin that leads to death especially because of the attitude that I sinned with. When I was sinning more and wicked despite having knowledge of the truth I was stubborn and I grew a spiteful evil unbelieving heart. I’d sin and go against conviction on purpose and I just kept sinning. I’m thinking I might’ve became reprobate years before because I was stubborn and refused to let go of my sins.


The Bible says not to pray for those who have committed sins that lead to death so I’m not sure sure if i should still pray or anything.

In Revelation it says that no impure thing will enter Heaven.

Well, all humans are impure. So virtually all humans are headed for Hell.

In a sense, every single human who ever lived or ever will live is on his/her way to Hell, pretty much from birth (or age 7...). Yet some people stop that head-long process toward eternal doom.

The thing is, how does one do that?

You have the world, the flesh and the devil fighting against you every step of the way.

The last one listed is the worst. That so and so has been around "forever" and knows all the tricks in the book. And bad news: he is more intelligent than any human who ever lived, save Jesus (who is God).

Abandon all hope.. (is what things look like)

Yet some say all we have to do is accept Jesus... whatever that may mean (entirely). Um... no, that is not what the Word says. Jesus said that Few find the narrow way to Heaven. Mt 7:21... Lk 13:24 (etc) and that not all who say Lord, Lord will enter

Matthew 11:

29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

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Humility is an attribute of Jesus, but is it an attribute of God?

The almighty God took the form of a fragile human baby in Jesus. Was there any act more humble than that? It was God who did it. Yes, humility is an attribute of God, along with his mercy. It was God's mercy that caused him to do it.

Philippians 2:

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

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Proverbs 11:

2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

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Humility and wisdom go together. You cannot have one without the other.

Jesus humbled himself on the cross to die for us. John 3:

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

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Humility is an attribute of Jesus. The Father humbled himself to send his unique son to suffer for us. Humility is an attribute of the Father.

I'd like to hear the numbers on the other campaign. We are not entirely shocked that Trump would have this many people show up (though it is quite impressive...)

We're talking about New Jersey!

This just confirms my suspicions that even so called blue states are only blue "at the top"--meaning the elites in the state are blue, not the People.. and that there are possible shenanigans going on in the voting systems there, which would explain why no R can get elected in those states..

(yeh, there was Chris Christie but is he really a R?)

Dear Brothers & Sisters,
Please pray for me as I fly out to Honolulu, Hawaii this Tuesday morning. I leave here (Minneapolis/St Paul) at 6:30. I will arrive in Phoenix at 9:30 and then from there go to the Island. I am meeting my stepdad and mom who are already out there. Please pray for a calm mind, little to no anxiety, and safe travels for me. Thank you and God bless yiou all!

Now those are three words, but they can have alot of meaning.

How does the individual define God, and how does the individual define submission to this God?

To clear confusion, God stood on a hill and held a sermon. While there is some debate over a few details, I think overall the message is clear. Submitting to God is surrendering. But what kind of surrendering, then?

The message is unmistakable there also. To this day, no one has been able to hold a single word of this sermon unaccounted, and deny it's most crucial significance, to understanding man's purpose, and the development of the soul.

But of all the valuable insights available there, I think the cornerstone of it all, is the understanding of your own limitations. Understanding these limitations, will enrich you of life's purpose.

And the most valuable limitation, is that you cannot know tomorrow.

We are constructed in such a way, that for the things concerning the future, we have a perspective that spans a few moments, and I think I am exaggerating. Our ability to predict the future is so naught, that it defies all reason, why anyone should even entertain the idea.

I can make further elaborations, or perhaps it is already clear, that the most fruitless endavor possible, is to try to predict the future? Not only is your prediction false, the few data points your mind is able to assess can never be enough to make a serious prediction about anything, given the complex nature of everything that is, the individual can AT BEST predict his future actions, and in the context of the sermon, the only future actions worthy of being considered, are your shortcomings.

Only your shortcomings, the flaws of your character, are of value to God. Else he has nothing to work with, because everything else, is finished by him already.

Only when you come to God with the complete understanding of your limitations and shortcomings, which, due to the very weak data processing ability of the brain, you will receive only one insight at a time, but nonetheless, a continual such stream, will eventuall clear you of all your shortcomings, and the limitations of your being, will be clothed in the unlimitness of God, his Complete and Total Providence, when you see the work of God being unfolded before you, unceasingly, and you see that you too, will die the death of Peter, for you will never again decide where you will go, nor have the knowledge of your direction, other than, that you are firmly girded, and carried.

We never profit the knowledge of how time will progress. We are not beings made for that purpose. The kind of power needed to shape the world around you, is so outside human reach, that no effort should be made even considering it.

Instead, realizing then, that the purpose of your being, given the brain that is only able to process one thing at a time and that not very quickly, you are a perfect match for a continual stream of revelations, which you receive through a concaving of both outer and inner realities, until a perfect match is made, where the shaping of matter, and the inner man, are in complete alignment. You must not forget that all shape is in the hands of God and you only have shape because God gave it to you. He has not only formed everything that there is, but all form exists to serve his Will, and purpose of creation, which is the enrichment of the soul, by forsaking all notions, that God is not currently working, to bring you to the complete realization, of the purpose you have before Him, so that, not only will you know it, but your reality will already be formed according to His Purpose, so that His Work will be evident with no break.

If a person is married to a person that are not in love with are they in sin. Please support with scriptures

Reader..

We understand that God has free will. and Jesus has Free will.

If not, who is pulling their strings? Who is controlling them, as that would be THEIR God.

A.) Not possible.

So, God and the Pre-incarnate word........ said..."let US.... make man...in OUR Image".

"Image" = Likeness......and having free will is a part of that "Likeness' or "Image."

Reader, God would have never told Adam and Eve, what NOT TO DO, if they had no capacity (free will) to not choose to do what they were told not to do.
A&E....= They were not pre-destined by God to do what they were commanded by God, not to do.

And if a person dies, as a John 3:36.......its not because God pre-destined them to not believe in Jesus.

Let me show you something that might "click" inside your Mind, regarding this "pre-destined" theology, if you are still trying to see it clearly.

The Cross of Christ is offered to us all. John 3:16
And God knows (foreknowledge) who isn't going to believe, and God's Foreknowledge knows, who will believe, before you die.
This is KNOWN about you and me, and everyone, by God, before we are born.

And God has created a "pre-destined" end result for those who believe in Christ and are born again, and regardnig also..those who do not believe in Christ and die in unbelief, never born again.

See those 2?

You have the believers born again, and the unbelievers never born again., And God has a pre-determined OUTCOME waiting for both groups that happens to both.

So, what is pre-destined by God,....... is based on how you DIE... regarding having done this or not.....

= Jesus said..>"YOU must be .. .born......again".

1.) So....Did you die rejecting Jesus, never born again..???? . then in that case, there is a pre-determined situation/outcome waiting for you... its pre-destined for all the Unbelievers... Its called the 2nd Death.

2.) Did you die "IN Christ'. .A CHRISTian ?? . then if so, God has a pre-destined outcome waiting for you, after you die, or after you are raptured, Its called "conformed into the Image of Christ".

Now, What "pre-destined" theology does.. is it twists the 'pre-determined" outcome regarding what happens to you AFTER YOU DIE, and places it in front of your actual Birth, as if becoming the Christian or not, is the pre-determined situation, when God's reality has the predetermined happen to you AFTER you are Born again, or not.

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Let me simplify this for a new Christian.

If you go to an amusement park....and you want to ride the Roller Coaster... then you buy a ticket.

The TICKET pre-determines the RIDE, as the ticket predestines you to the car and the track .. the RIDE.

Now, Salvation is the TICKET that YOU CHOSE.. and the RIDE is what happens after you are born again.... that is pre-destined based on you choosing the Ticket. (Faith in Christ).

The Ticket is not the Ride. The Ticket is the free will CHOICE to receive Christ.. that predestined the SUBSEQUENT... RIDE.

A.) Salvation that is the TICKET, has a RIDE that happens that is pre-destined, after you die or are raptured.

And if you never CHOOSE the Salvation Ticket, then your RIDE is pre-destined also., after you die, and that is the 2nd Death.. The Lake of Fire.

I don't see the gospel of peace in political gossip. How is gossiping about Trump or Biden living at peace with all men? Their own gossip is wrong and they lead us to gossip like they do. The blind are leading the blind.


Matthew 5: Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.

Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

Titus 3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

Avoid Dissension
9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second [a]admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

Final Messages
12 When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing. 14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.

Farewell
15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.

Grace be with you all. Amen.

Christ is risen! Between the eclipse and the solar storm/aurora event, it really has been a season for that. Glory to God!

There will be 7 trumpet actions that will take place during the Great Tribulation. Those actions are announced by 7 angels what they will be.

The last three of the trumpet actions (i.e. 5, 6, 7) are called "woe to the inhabiters of the earth".

There will also be 7 vials of God's wrath poured out during the Great Tribulation. Generally speaking, those take place in the latter half of the Great Tribulation and several of the vials intensify what had already happened by some of the trumpet actions.

I made this chart timeline as a visual aid.

Before any of you say to me that the 7th trumpet is not before the 5th and 6th, please note what the third woe is. The third woe to the inhabiters of the earth is Satan cast down to earth having great wrath because he knows his time is short, Revelation 12:12. i.e. a time, times, half times. Revelation 12:14.

On the last day of the Great Tribulation, Jesus descends to earth, and destroys those armies in Jerusalem and vicinity that will have gathered to make war on Him. Which is the winepress of God's wrath taking place. Also at the same time, an angel given a sickle in Revelation 14:19-20 destroys the armies in the rest of Israel. You can click on the chart to get a better view.

I define interpretation in a broad sense. Given some text on a piece of paper, how does one understand what it says in his head?

Let F1 be a math function to capture the process of interpretation.

What is the input to F1? What is the output?

I understand the meaning of a text by manipulating some neural networks in my brain. I create my own subjective mental representation of the physical objective text on the paper. This process of manipulating existing neural networks and creating new neural networks in my brain is called interpretation. In this case, it is textual interpretation. Without this interpretation process, we cannot read and understand any text. This is the mechanical process of interpretation that is happening in our brains. An interpretation is an assignment of meaning to the symbols.

In the special case of Bible interpretation, the discipline is called hermeneutics. See my hermeneutics.

There is another sense of interpretation when a person interprets something for another person. Joseph Interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams in Gen 41:15. Someone spoke in tongues and someone interpreted (1 Corinthians 14:27).

On the road to Emmaus, Jesus talked to two men in Lk 24:

27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

Click to expand...

Strong's Greek: 1329. διερμηνεύω (dierméneuó) — 6 Occurrences

BDAG:
① to translate from one language to another
② to clarify someth. so as to make it understandable, explain, interpret

With this technical definition of interpret, We understand texts and spoken words in our brains through the process of interpretation. This is the computer science definition.

Is the bible up for interpretation?

Yes, by this technical definition of interpretation.

See also

• No prophecy of Scripture COMES from someone’s own interpretation

We are not supposed to dress up and party. We are not to have luxury. We are not to make a million dollars. We are not to rule America or fight with neighbors, democrats, republicans, family or unbelievers.

We are supposed to instead seek peace with all men and holiness. We are to mind our business at home and show our kids and each other how to act with our own actions. We lead by example and not just words.