Noah, Abraham, Moses obeyed YHWH implicitly because they believed in YHWH. Their Obedience was from a humble and contrite heart, the kind of heart that God promises not to despise.

Saul, Pharisees, Sadducees obeyed God out of pride in their birth, role, and alleged surety of salvation. God did not accept their obedience, he despised it.

Jesus says about his disciples
John 15:11-14 DRB

What would you do with this? Do what you will with it. Use your imagination or go by the book.

I love this tune.

.

Ain't Zwinglian: "I'll call your bluff. Inconsistencies....Maybe you could come up with a list of 15-20 rock solid inconsistencies of the Resurrection narratives which we here at CF have "no hope of resolving" and at the same time "exposing our inability to resolve them. I can't wait for your listing."

[1] Disciples Ordered to go to Galilee to See the Risen Lord Vs. Disciples Ordered to Stay in Jerusalem
'
In His first appearance to the disciples in Luke Jesus forbids His disciples to leave Jerusalem:
"So stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:49)."

But in Matthew (and Mark) the angel at the tomb sends the women to instruct the disciples to go to Galilee to see the Risen Lord:
"Go QUICKLY and tell His disciples, "He has been raised from the dead, and indeed He is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see Him (Matthew 28:7)."

The angel is merely echoing Jesus' earlier promise on tlhe Mount of Olives:
"But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee (Mark 14:28)."

So how does Luke resolve this apparent contradiction? First, in both Luke and Acts he is careful to create the impression that Jesus never appeared to His disciples in Galilee. So how does Luke handle the angel's instruction to go to Galilee to see the risen Lord? He simply rewords the angel's message to refer to Galilee without mentioning the instruction to go there to see Jesus:
"He is not here but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and n the 3rd day risen again (Luke 24:5-7)."

So how would you resolve this apparent contradiction? Remember, I believe in Jesus' resurrection; and after presenting some of the most glaring apparent inconsistencies, I will present my perspective on the actual sequence of events on and after Easter Sunday.

What are your thoughts about reading about demonology? I've read everything I could about the late Ed and Lorraine Warren who were a devout Catholic couple. I also read many stories about Father Amorth.

Is it spiritually dangerous?

God bless

BE BLESSED AS YOU READ THESE DEVOTIONS, PLEASE SHARE THEM.

Please listen to the sermons at the bottom.

If you aren't already subscribing and you wish to, please email me at keitherichobkirk@hotmail.com


ONLY JESUS
唯独耶稣

I have just had another birthday, life goes fast doesn't it, the older I get the more I focus on what is truly important.
我刚刚又过了一个生日，人生如白驹过隙，转瞬即逝，不是吗？我年纪越大，就越专注于真正重要的事情。

So many things are calling for our attention, so what is important?
有那么多事情需要我们关注，那么什么才是重要的呢？

Life goes very quickly; it is over in a flash. I wonder where all those years have gone, it seems like yesterday that I was 16.
人生匆匆数十载，转瞬间就结束了。我好想知道这些年的时光都哪儿去了，一切恍如昨天16岁时的我。

What is truly important today?
今天真正重要的是什么？

Jesus asked some of the penetrating questions anyone ever asked, he asked:
耶稣问了一些其他人曾问过的具有穿透性的问题，他说：

Who do you think I am?
你们认为我是谁？

This is the question everyone must answer.
这是每个人都必须回答的问题。

The answer to this question will define you, it will not only define you here on earth, it will be the deciding factor to where you spend eternity.
这个问题的答案将界定你，它不仅将定义在世上的你，也将是你在哪里度过永恒的决定性因素。

What is your answer to this question?
对于这个问题你的答案是什么？

The apostles said in Acts 4, Now is the appointed time , now is the day of salvation.
正如门徒在使徒行传第4章所说的，现在是指定的时候，现在是拯救的日子。

The writer of the book of Hebrews said harden not your heart.
希伯来书的作者说，不要使你的心刚硬。

Jesus offers you life, don't put him off, don't put him aside and don't harden your heart.
耶稣给了你生命，不要敷衍搪塞把他放在一边，不要使你的心变得刚硬。

For those of you, who have trusted Christ and him alone, there is an ongoing relationship. Once you are his, it is the start of a relationship that will go on for eternity.
对于你们中那些信任基督和他的人来说，这是一种持续的关系。一旦你是属他的，这就是一段将持续到永恒的关系的开始。

What are you living for believer?
作为信徒的你是为什么而活呢？

Here are some reasons, why I should be living for Jesus
以下是我为什么要为耶稣而活的原因

I HAVE A MANSION
我有一座豪宅

People often say I have many flats/houses, many people in the world say look at my house isn't it brilliant, but all I can say, look I have a mansion John 14:1-6.
人们经常说我有很多公寓/房子，世界上很多人说看看我的房子不是很漂亮吗，但我只能说，看我有一栋豪宅（约翰福音14:1-6）。

I HAVE A REWARD
我有奖赏

We have a reward, Paul is striving for a heavenly reward, look at Philippians 3 and 2 Timothy 4. We see so many people get rich and have many rewards, we may envy them, but we have no need to envy them, we will have the most amazing reward for our service to Him.
我们有一个奖赏，保罗正在努力获得天堂的奖赏，看看腓立比书3章和提摩太后书4章。我们看到这么多人变得富有，得到了很多奖赏，我们可能会嫉妒他们，但我们没有必要嫉妒他们，我们会因为事奉他而得到最惊人的奖赏。

I HAVE AN INHERITANCE
我有一笔遗产

We have an amazing inheritance, that will not rust or be taken away, so many people have money in the bank, but we have treasure that will never fade away 1 Peter 1.
我们有一笔惊人的遗产，它不会生锈或被拿走，很多人在银行里存有钱财，但我们有永远不会朽坏的财富（彼得前书1章）。

I HAVE ETERNITY WITH GOD
我有上帝永恒的同在

We have our Jesus, we will be with him for eternity, whatever we go through here on earth, in terms of persecution, suffering etc is worth it, because of the glory we will have when we spend eternity with him in his heavenly home. Romans 8
我们有耶稣，我们将永远与他同在，无论我们在地上经历什么，无论是在迫害、苦难等方面，都是值得的，因为当我们在天家中与他共度永恒时，这将是我们拥有的无上荣耀（罗马书第8章）。

What matters to you believer?
什么对作为信徒的你来说很重要？

What will be the legacy you will leave?
你将留下什么遗产？
Will your legacy be one of spiritual or monetary value?
你的遗产是精神价值还是金钱价值？

I want my life to count for God, I want to remembered for the grace of God in saving a sinner like me.
我希望我的生命为上帝而活，我希望人们记住上帝拯救像我这样的罪人的恩典。

Whilst here on earth, I want to do two things:
在世上，我想做两件事：

I WANT TO KNOW HIM Philippians 3
I WANT TO MAKE HIM KNOWN MATTHEW 28:19-20
我想认识他（腓立比书3章）
我想让他被人所认识（马太福音28:19-20）

Make your life count, if you have never trusted Christ, trust him today, if you are serving him, strive for that heavenly crown, for your heavenly reward.
让你的生命有意义，如果你从未相信过基督，今天就来信他，如果你在事奉他，就为那天上的王冠而奋斗，为得着你天上的赏赐而奋斗。
Because LIVING FOR AND LOVING JESUS IS THE ONLY THING THAT TRULY MATTERS
因为为耶稣而活和爱耶稣是唯一真正重要的事情。

GOD BLESS YOU
上帝祝福你

KEITH








ACTS 12
使徒行传第12章

12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.
12（彼得）想了一想，就往那称呼马可的约翰，他母亲马利亚家去，有许多人聚集在那里祷告。13他敲门的时候，有一个使女，名叫罗大，出来探听。14她认出了彼得的声音，就欢喜的顾不得开大门，而是跑进去告诉众人说：彼得站在门外。15他们对她说：“你是疯了。”使女极力地说：“真是他！”，他们说：“必是他的天使！”16但彼得不住地敲门，他们开了门，看见他，就很惊奇。


MAD OR GLAD
疯狂还是兴奋

What do you expect when you go to a prayer meeting? You expect answers to prayer right! Maybe your prayers aren't answered in such a dramatic way as they were here.
I want to focus on Rhoda; one of the forgotten heroes of Scripture.
当你去参加祷告会时，你期待什么？你希望祷告得到正确的回应！也许你的祈祷没有像在这里那样得到戏剧性的回应。
我想关注的人物是罗大；圣经中被遗忘的英雄之一。

She had faith! Let's look at her faith:
It was an excited faith. She was probably saved. She probably knew the situation and was praying for Peter. People were there at the gate, and it says "in her joy". Literally she was so overcome with joy, that her heart was overflowing with excitement. When God answers prayer, does it excite your heart or is just, "oh well that's good?"
It was an eager faith. She couldn't wait to share what God had done. Is it like that with you/me? When God does something in your life in answer to prayer, do you want to share it?
她有信心！让我们看看她的信仰：
这是一种令人激动的信心。她很可能得救了。她可能知道当时的情形，也正在为彼得祷告。人们都在门口，上面写着“她正感到喜悦之际”。从字面上看，她是如此的欣喜若狂，以至于她的内心充满了兴奋激动。当上帝回应你的祷告时，你的心会激动吗？或者只是，“哦，好吧，这很好？”
这是一种热切的信心。她迫不及待地想分享上帝的作为。你/我就是这样吗？当上帝在生活中回应你的祷告时，你愿意分享吗？

Look at the reaction of the rest of the church. They thought she was totally mad. But, last, her faith was an enthusiastic faith. She kept telling them, over and over again.
看看教会其他人的反应。他们认为她完全疯了。但是，最后得以证明，她的信心是一种满腔热情的信心。她一遍又一遍地告诉他们。

The whole church was gathered for prayer. Seems impressive... yes. But when Peter arrived, they didn't believe it was him.
整个教会的人都聚集在一起祷告。看起来令人印象深刻。。。对但当彼得真的来得时，他们却不相信是他。

Why was the church amazed at what God had done?
Why are we so amazed when God answers prayer?
Why pray and ask God to answer us and then when He does, we refuse to believe Him?
为什么教会对上帝的工作感到惊讶？
当上帝回应祷告时，我们为什么如此惊讶？
为什么我们祷告并要求上帝回应我们，而当他回应时，我们却拒绝相信他？

God opens doors for us and then stands knocking on the door, but we refuse to answer the door. We think it's an "angel."
Do you truly believe that God answers prayer?
Rhoda did. She was glad!
Let's be a Rhoda and have an excited, eager, and enthusiastic faith.
上帝为我们开门，然后站在那里敲门，但我们却拒绝应门让他进来。我们认为这是一个“天使”而不是上帝自己。
你真的相信上帝会回应祷告吗？
罗达做到了。她很高兴！
让我们像罗达那样，有一个兴奋、热切和充满热情的信心。

God bless you
上帝祝福你
KK





SOAK IN SCRIPTURE

CLICK ON LINK OR COPY AND PASTE INTO BROWSER


CHINESE

John Knox Insitute

Systematic Theology

Part 1

传福音 第一课 羔羊君王

Part 2

传福音 第二课 复活基督的荣耀

PART 3

传福音 第三课 海德堡主日6 – 中保

Part 4

传福音 第四课 海德堡主日7 – 真信心




ENGLISH

John Knox Institute

Hermenutics

Part 1

John Knox Institute of Higher Education

Part 2

John Knox Institute of Higher Education

PART 3

John Knox Institute of Higher Education

PART 4

John Knox Institute of Higher Education

New York Mayor Eric Adams said Wednesday that the migrants arriving rapidly in New York will “destroy” his city.

The mayor’s comments marked a significant escalation in his rhetoric and offered a new challenge to the Biden administration, which has failed to stop the surge of people and has failed to offer the kind of financial support Mr. Adams and other local officials say is needed to accommodate all the new arrivals.

“I don’t see an ending to this,” Mr. Adams said at a community meeting. “This issue will destroy New York City.”

Lukewarm, as our Lord warned us of in Revelation 3:14-22. At the heart of it, a refusal of sound teaching also known as liberal theology ("MUSHY").


Liberal Theology

It's such a long story, but I am 59 and had a LOT of problems with religion growing up. Spent a larger portion of my life having it forced down my throat than I care to recall, mostly because when I tell someone I am not interested, they can't respect me. But anyway, that's not why I'm here.

I have some serious questions, and having asked SO many believers/followers over the decades, not ONE of them was able to give me an answer.
It would be appreciated if someone could actually answer these questions. Thank you.

As mentioned in the subject, there is no joking, mocking or anything negative. These are all questions I have wondered for years, and some information about past girlfriends.

1a. If we are all supposedly from Adam and Eve, and for lack of a better work Adam "gave birth" to Eve from a rib, why isn't it still done that way?
1b. When did it "switch" to a woman giving birth?

2a. Also, if we're all from Adam and Eve, wouldn't/shouldn't we all be related? (We've all heard during incestuous birth, the newborn often has some medical issues.)
2b. Also also, if we're all from Adam and Eve, why are there several blood types?

In 1990, I had a girlfriend who was relentless is trying to get me to "convert." I honestly have no interest in that, in any way, shape or form. Before she started buying me bibles, trying to get to to go see Billy Graham and trying to get me to go to church with her, she knew from day 1 that I was an Athiest and all of that. But like I said she was relentless. Why can't people just live and let live? So I was driving my ex-girlfriend and I to dinner one night and out of the blue, she says, "If it's not in the bible it doesn't exist." So I looked at her with a "stunned" look on my face and asked her, "Well then how in the world are we getting to dinner?" She said nothing. She also said, "There is no such thing as dinosaurs." Later that week we went to the Museum of Natural History in New York City. I pointed to the T-Rex and said, "See that? THAT is a dinosaur."

3a. Why would she (or anyone) say that if it isn't in the bible it doesn't exist? Obviously that is not correct.
3b. Why in the world would she say there's no such thing as dinosaurs when you can clearly with your own eyes see them in pretty much any museum?

One day we went on a long ride somewhere, I forget where. About an hour or so into the trip she realized she forgot her Insulin. So, I turned right around and went back to she could get it. She actually got MAD at me, because I DIDN'T get mad at her. Can someone PLEASE explain that one to me? So after all that and maybe a few months later, when she got fed up trying to get me to convert, she gave me an ultimatum one day and said, "If you don't convert, it's over." I was pretty much out the door by the end of the sentence and never talked to her again.

4a. If Noah's Ark was real, can someone please explain to me how the kangaroos were able to get to Australia?
4b. And on the subject of Noah, if he entire world was flooded and destroyed ALL life, didn't the fish survive?

5. For those who may not be familiar, the late comedian George Carlin has a video on YouTube about praying. (I'll leave out the expletives,) but he said that if your god has a "divine plan" for everyone that cannot be changed, why do people pray?

6. When my father was in the hospital in 2003, 7 years after his heart transplant, with a diabetic issue, so many people said, "I'll pray for him." He died from the bacteria from a bedsore, which the hospital denied. The point there is, praying did absolutely nothing to help. Many people will say it "was his will." Yeah, but if he was already supposed to die because of the "divine plan," again, why bother praying?

7. If the bible is supposed to be the "word of god," then why was so much removed from it in various version of the bible? There should be ONE version, with no contradictions. Can someone help me with that?

8a. If we're "all made in god's image," who is supposed to be a loving god, all-knowing, all-powerful, etc. Why was Hitler allowed to kill over 6 million people?
8b. Why is Putin allowed to do what he is doing?

9. I have been told SO many times that I ma not interpreting the bible correctly. While I have never and will never read it, I have of course, seen parts, many times. My question to the people who DO read it is, "How do you know YOU are interpreting it correctly?" Just because you believe/follow, there is nothing concrete in here. It's ALL open to interpretation." So what makes THEM right?

10. I thought long and hard about posting this question. I in NO way want to bring up politics (my other least favorite thing in the world) in this post, but I do have a question. I've heard there is a state that wants to bring the bible into the school and teach it. Isn't that what Sunday school is for? If it is an "elective" course, then sure. But if they are planning on making it part of the standard curriculum, then my children (if I had any) would pull them from there instantly and home schooled. Why are some people so adamant about this and not respecting the fact that not everyone follows the same thing? I never understood that.

11. It's a known fact that religion is a VERY large cause of many murders. Why? Why would someone kill someone just because they don't believe in the same thing? What happened to "Love thy neighbor?" Also going back to us all being related - why are you killing a "family member?"

There's many more questions, but this is a good start, Following are just some of the things I have gone through. Interested in others' take on these experiences.

While I do not celebrate or practice anything, if anything I guess I should be Jewish, as my ancestors were, mostly coming from Eastern Europe. My paternal grandmother actually survived the holocaust by putting blood from the murdered on herself and "playing dead" amongst the other murdered people. I had HOURS of her talking about this recorded on cassette in the 1970's, but sadly those were ruined in a basement flood.

So, since I don't practice anything, I have a (personal) problem with religious holidays. I have absolutely NOTHINBG against what people believe follow, etc. But if I tell you that I am not interested, I will ALWAYS say it politely, even though I want to scream. If that person cannot respect MY wishes, they better DARE not expect me to respect theirs. If I had a nickel for every time someone tried to force their religion down my throat or disrespected my wishes, I would have choked to death decades ago. Literally.

One day I was coming out of a store, and a woman was going through the parking lot with the Watch Tower magazine. Of course most everyone knows they're about the Jehovah's Witnesses. She came up to me and asked if I'd like some information. I played dumb like I didn't know what it was and asked her if it was religious. She said yes. I said no thank you. She said, sorry to bother you, have a nice day and then walked away. That was the FIRST and ONLY time in my life that someone actually respected my wishes. I was so shocked that I almost called her back to tell her I would take one of the magazines.

I have a serious personal problem with people who say "god bless you" and "merry christmas." I will say that I DO understand that not one of those people is saying that with ANY malice. They only mean it in a friendly and nice way. I REALLY do understand that. But the problem is, what THEY don't realize is, that they have NO idea who they're saying that to. They have NO idea what that person has been through in their lives (like myself.) I find it extremely frustrating. Depending on the situation. I say nothing and just keep moving. I find that MANY people who celebrate christmas don't realize that there's actually other holidays during that same month. THAT is what drives me nuts. Except for maybe the Muslims and the Orthodox or Hassidic Jewish people, it's not easy to tell what people do or do not believe it. What is wrong with "Happy Holidays"? Even though I hate all of it with a passion, I'd much rather hear THAT then the other thing. My problem with holidays is the commercialization of them. The fact that some store put the stuff out MONTHS in advance. That bothers me. It's a personal thing, I know, but still... I know for a fact I am not the only one.

I just don't understand why we all can't just get along. This world would be a MUCH better place.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Hope nothing was offensive in there!

Mike

I have been reading a booklet on DANIEL .

And in Daniel 2 :1 King Nebuchdnezza had a DREAM that no could interpret .

#1 We know that this statute was what the KING saw

#2 a head of GOLD .

#3 Breast and Arms of SLIVER .

#4 BELLY and THIGH OF BRASS

#5 LEGS of IRON

#6 FEET AND TOES , are part of IRON and CLAY .

#7 We have to also notice that what is pictured are all KINGDOMS .

#8 The BODY OF CHRIST is not to my understanding a KINGDOM as we are PARTS OF CHRIST as written in 1 Cor 12:13-21 .

#9 What the KING wanted to know is in Dan 2:29 What shall come to pass HERE AFTER .

# 10 We have to before the Kingdom of FEET and TOES , because our gospel is a MYSTERY , and many there are that say that DISPENSATIONALISM is , just a new INVENTION and is fairly new interpretation and many refuse to see it was HIDDEN in Christ and we were chosen BEFORE / PRO the foundation of the world .

dan p



3

People constantly ask why God allows evil. But no one ever asks why He allows good.

We constantly sin, and yet He is loving and kind. We constantly sin, but He judges no one (even though we constantly judge Him), so we can all come to Him and repent, and have eternal life.

We constantly mock Him, yet He brings the sun, the rain and gives us fruitful ground so we can have food. He gives us air to breath, He gives heartbeat to our hearts. He blesses us with families, with relationship, even though many will never thank Him. He gave material for houses and wisdom to builders so we have somewhere to live, but no one ever cares.

All the good comes from God, He loves us with pure love, yet we do nothing, but evil. We know He cannot lie, but we do not trust Him. We know He is all powerful, yet we depend on ourselves rather than Him.

No one loves us more than God, yet we are most evil towards Him, and yet He still loves us despite this.

He forgives our sins freely, yet it costed Him everything, He gave His life for us. Honestly, what more do we want from God? He sent His Son to bring us back to be in loving relationship with Him, but what to we do? Constantly sin, mock Him, do evil, say there is no God, worship idols. God's love cannot be comprehended, how can He love us so much? Just how?

The Son of God comes to Earth and all He does is good to us, heal us and what do we do? Call Him demon, crazy, mock Him, crucify Him. Yes we all crucified Him with our sins, we are all guilty.

Why doesn't God just throw us all into hell? At least no one will sin against Him, no one will mock His Holy name.

I can at least understand why God allows evil, but why He allows good? People never praise Him, never worship Him, never love Him, but soon as something bad happens to us we blame God for it, but when good happens to us, we never thank God. Doesn't seem fair to me.

There are food items that I do not keep in the refrigerator:
Here’s a partial list:

1. Vinegar
2. Mustard (prepared: yellow, brown, and powdered)
3. Dried spices
4. Ketchup
5. Soy sauce (all varieties)
6. Bullion paste
7. Breads

Any writers in here? What do you write if so? Ever had anything published?

Psalms 119:142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your Law is truth.

Are you in favor of following truth or not? Why or why not?

A few weeks ago I had a very strange experience occur. I was driving and I noticed two road signs in a row that had my middle name and my fathers middle name as the road names. As I continued driving, I heard a voice come in my head saying my full name and that I am condemned to hell. It freaked me out and I pull over immediately to the nearest parking lot.

It was a uhaul center. When I got there and parked. The vehicle parked with no one in it lights started flickering, it did so for about 10 mins. I went and looked at the truck after it stopped and the license plate had my birth year in the numbers and it was an Arizona perm license plate. I live no where near AZ. The truck also has snacks painted on it, as others did in the parking lot. When I went back to my truck the lights started flickering again.

This event freaked me out and I don’t know what to make of it. Before it happened I had been praying to Jesus to come into my life and for surrender to sin. I have a problem with drinking and fornication. I’ve been in an immoral sexual relationship with someone I’m not married for over 4 years. I had tried to break it off after that prayer, but feel back into it after backsliding into drinking and just told her I wasn’t feeling well.

Prior to this relationship I was even worse, I lived in the casual hookup culture, had a very loose view of religion and thought that everything we do is forgiven and ok. I have a hard time with breaking up with her because she feels like the one, but she isn’t at this time interested in marriage, but maybe down the road.

Anyways after the event I got so stressed out and drank again, I thought for sure it was me missing my lance chance to become a real Christian and I’m now done for. I’m still with the girl, but keep going back n forth whether I should break it off.

Can anyone give me insight to the event? Was it the voice of the enemy? Was it Jesus trying to scare me to correction? Was I really condemned? The only thing strange about it is the vehicle was parked in area not approved for parking, so maybe it was a trick from the enemy??

Any insight and prayers for this is well appreciated. Thank you.

Gallup: Americans Rate Dallas and Boston Safest of 16 U.S. Cities (but are they really?)​

Text of the Gallup question:

Now thinking about some large cities, both those you have visited and those you have never visited, from what you know and have read, do you consider each of the following cities to be safe to live in or visit, or not?


There are two angles on the story. First, that there is a huge partisan difference in how people see most of these cities. Given the 'anti-urban' bias of some conservatives, it's perhaps not surprising that Republicans see these cities as less safe than Democrats do (with the sole exception of Dallas). But the magnitude of the difference is pretty stark. 30%-40%+ in most cases.



Second, of course, is how does this perceived safety match up with actual safety? It's hard to come up with a single number that adequately sums up safety. But there are a few details from an LA Times story about the poll.

Americans are hopelessly confused about big-city crime. Partisanship is partly to blame​

Forty-one percent of Americans described L.A. as a safe place to live or visit, the highest number Gallup has ever recorded for the city.
[But despite this high water mark in the polling...]
Los Angeles, which has the fifth lowest homicide rate so far this year among the 16 cities in the survey, was ranked as the third most dangerous.

Sixty-four percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents ranked L.A. safe, while only 21% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents gave it the all-clear, the biggest gap in the poll. [Tied with the gap for Seattle. Seattle's murder rate in 2021 was 5.6 per 100K, about a third the rate of Dallas, the 'safest' city in the overall poll.]

Voters’ opinions probably are being informed by partisanship, media portrayals — including an increase in neighborhood websites and email listservs — and factors such as public homelessness, drug use, shoplifting and other signs of disorder, policy and political experts said.

“The political rhetoric is public nuisance crimes,” Harvey said. “That may not be correlated with where the most serious violent crime is happening.”

Mexico’s Supreme Court decriminalizes abortion nationwide

MEXICO CITY —
Mexico’s Supreme Court decriminalized abortion nationwide Wednesday, two years after ruling that abortion was not a crime in one northern state.

Senate Energy Committee Chairman Joe Manchin III, West Virginia Democrat, blasted Mr. Biden for what he called “caving to the radical left with no regard for clear direction from Congress or American energy security.”

“I can’t explain to the American people why we would willingly become more dependent on foreign oil imports, eliminate good paying American jobs and drive up the cost of our electric bills and gas prices across the country,” Mr. Manchin said. “Let’s be clear — this is another attempt to use executive action to circumvent a law to accomplish what this administration does not have the votes to achieve in Congress. Canceling valid leases, removing acreage from future sales, and attempting to reduce production in Alaska while taking steps to allow Iran and Venezuela to produce more oil — with fewer environmental regulations — makes no sense and is frankly embarrassing.”

Ms. Bedingfield and Mr. Schwerin exchanged the emails on the same day that Hunter Biden called his father from Dubai. According to former business partner Devon Archer, Hunter Biden put his father on the phone with Burisma CEO Mykola Zlochevsky, who was seeking help from Washington to shake off a state corruption investigation.

House lawmakers investigating the president on corruption charges say the email exchange between Mr. Schwerin and Ms. Bedingfield adds to evidence they are compiling that Mr. Biden’s vice presidential office was intertwined with his son and his business associates. It disproves Mr. Biden’s claim that he was never involved with his son’s business dealings, lawmakers said.

"You cut that out now, or you'll go home in an ambulance" 2:07

Login to view embedded media

Colossians 1:24-29 ESV


What kind of sufferings did the Apostle Paul face during his years of ministry on this earth? He had people against him, left and right, falsely accusing him of what he did not do, trying to take him down, trying to kill him and silence him, trying to destroy his ministry, and trying to turn people away from him and away from the truth. And he was falsely arrested and falsely imprisoned for crimes he did not commit, and he faced beatings. And some of the “believers” in Christ turned on him and away from him and deserted him.

So, this was not unlike what Jesus Christ went through, too. And Jesus warned us that if we follow him with our lives that we will suffer as he suffered and that we will be hated and rejected and persecuted as he was hated, rejected, and persecuted. So, if we are following Jesus Christ with our lives, and if we are walking in his footsteps, in doing the kinds of things he did and said, we should expect that we are going to be treated like Jesus was treated, and like Paul was treated, because they stood for truth.

Now we live in a day and time in which truth is coming into disrepute and when the lies are what are largely being proclaimed and accepted as truth. This is a time in history when the lies and deceptions of Satan are what are permeating the church at large (and/or what is falsely being called “church”). And the lies are largely what the people are accepting while they are being taught to reject and to disregard the truth of God’s word and of his gospel of salvation, i.e. to reject the truth as though it is the lie.

And these lies are being spread through social media and their memes, and via short videos and short devotionals and via preachers’ sermons and “Christian” authors’ books, and via movies and cartoons and TV dramas which are loosely about the Bible and the character of God, of Christ, and via “Christian” artists and their music lyrics, etc. And since we live in a “fast-food” society, where most people, it seems, want things short and quick and easy, the masses are falling for these clever lies being told by people in their trickery and cunning and craftiness, and in their deceitful scheming.

Thus, so many people are now being taught that God’s gift of salvation to us is merely forgiveness of sins and a free ride to heaven, but regardless of how we live. And many are buying into this lie and they are regurgitating what they are hearing from those who are teaching them the lies, and some of them are actively opposing the truth via the lies. For the message that keeps coming across loud and clear is that you can believe in Jesus and continue living in sin but you will still go to heaven when you die.

And so we have a large number of professers of faith in Jesus Christ here in America who are continuing in deliberate, and in habitual, and even in premeditated sin against God and against other humans without conscience, without compassion, and without genuine remorse. For they have convinced themselves that they can make a confession of Christ as Lord and as Savior of their lives and now all their sins are forgiven, heaven is guaranteed them, it can’t be taken away from them, and regardless of how they live.

Thus they make a mockery of the whole reason Jesus Christ died on that cross. For he died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness, and that we might live for him and no longer for self. And he shed his blood for us to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our lives of slavery to sin so we will now honor God with our bodies (our lives). And he died that we might be crucified and buried with him in death to sin and raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer as slaves to sin but as slaves to God and to his righteousness.

[1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 6:1-23]

So many men who are charlatans and wolves in sheep’s clothing are serving in positions of “pastor” in so many different church congregations and are spreading the lies as though they are truth, and who are refuting the truth as though it is the lie. And they are leading many people astray to believe that they can be saved and on their way to heaven but while they continue in deliberate and habitual sin. And the predominant sin appears to be mainly in the area of sexual immorality and in pornography addiction.

And so those of us who are proclaiming the truth of God’s word in opposition to the lies are being largely rejected and ignored or fought against, like they did to Jesus and to Paul and to the prophets before them and to the other NT apostles. But we need to keep on proclaiming the truth of God’s word in opposition to the lies, even if we are hated and rejected and falsely accused, in return. For it is the truth that saves, not the lies, and it is the truth that offers eternal life with God, but which is contingent on us walking with God.

We need to keep telling the people the truth that Jesus taught. And Jesus said that if anyone would come after him, he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin and to self) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if, for the sake of Jesus, we deny self and die daily to sin and to self, and follow our Lord in obedience, then we have eternal life with God (see Luke 9:23-26; cf. Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Matthew 7:21-23).

And this is not just for the salvation of human souls, but this is to encourage the body of Christ, the church, toward maturity in Christ in walking in daily fellowship with the Lord, in surrender to his will, in living holy lives, pleasing to him, and in being and doing all that he has for us to be and to do while we live on this earth. And so this will involve not only proclaiming the truth of the gospel, but it must engage refuting the lies of the enemy, for far too many people are believing the lies and are rejecting the truth.

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

Login to view embedded media Caution: This link may contain ads

Many claim that the devil is most powerful during this time period.​

Horror movies and paranormal TV showsfrequently talk about the “devil’s hour.” Depending on the source this can be referring to the time between from 3 a.m. to 4 a.m. or the hours between midnight and 3 a.m. In either case, many claim that the devil is most powerful during this time period.

This idea seems to have sprung from the awareness that Satan loves to mock God.

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke tell us that Jesus died during the “the ninth hour.” In modern calculation this would be 3 p.m. According to this idea, Satan then flips the symbolism on its head by taking for himself 3 a.m., in direct mockery of God.


Another reason that this time is considered a source of unusually high demonic activity is the fact that it is in the middle of the night; the sun has long been set and will not rise for a few more hours.

Scripture repeatedly refers to night and darkness as a time of sin. This concept is perfectly summed up in the Gospel of John, “And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (3:19-20).



Also, Jesus was betrayed by Judas during the night (sometimes thought to be at midnight) and Peter denied Jesus before the “[bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] crowed” (about 6 a.m.). This would mean Jesus’ “trial” before the Sanhedrin occurred during the “devil’s hour.”

Continued below.

Why is 3 a.m. known as "the devil's hour"?

Many claim that the devil is most powerful during this time period.

aleteia.org

Paul fills Galatians with statements of amazement concerning the Galatian Christians who had turned away from grace and had adopted a legalistic approach to Christian living.

Chapter 1: "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ." (Ga 1:6–7)

Chapter 2: "I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain." (Ga 2:21)

Chapter 3: "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?" (Ga 3:1)

Chapter 4: "Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?" (Ga 4:21)

Chapter 5: "You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace." (Ga 5:4)

And in chapter 6, he makes this telling statement: "For not even those who are circumcised keep the law". (Ga 6:13)

It is truly baffling when Christians set aside the grace of God and place themselves under the law.

...