Genesis 12: Old testament Survey

Abram: The Call, The Covenant and the Cowardice In chapter 11 we met Abram, son of Terah, a man we will hear much about in the chapters to come, and the one with whom God made His covenant. Our story begins as he and his father Terah, along with his wife Sarai and nephew Lot left Ur of the Chaldeans , They settled in Haran, where Terah died.
Abram was a wealthy prince and likely did not know God in a personal way, but shortly after Terah's death he received a call from God, calling on him to leave the land of his birth , his friends and family, and everything he knew bheing and go forth to " a land which I shall show you". Moreover he was told that God would make a great nation of him, and bless him and make him a blessing to the world. He also issued a warning that those who bless Anram would be blessed and that those who cursed him would be cursed. Imagine being told something of this out of the blue.... especially when as we shall find out, Sarai was barren, and long past childbrearing years, so it was indded an act of faith on Abram's part to accept what God had told him and act on it.

When Abram arrived in the Land of Canaan, he pitched his tent at Shechem, a place about which we will here much more and again heard from God, who honoured his faith and Made a promise that the Land of Canaan would be given to his descendants.

After this, there was famine in the land and Abram and Sarai went to Egypt, wherupon Abram, after having such great faith in leaving home and travelling to an unkniown land simply because the lord told him to commited a shameful act of cowardice that was conceived in anything but faith. Upon arriving in Egypt, he feared what might happen to him if the Egyptians took a liking to Sarai. Abram asked Sarai to tell the Egyptians that she was his sister, a half truth since she was also the saughter of terah, by a different mother, so that things would go well for Abram, as he was given livestock and riches as Sarai was taken into the household of Pharaoh himself, However, before Pharaoh had committed the conjugal act with her, his house was struck with plagues, and it came to light, though we are not told how that Sarai was actually Abram's wife . Pharaoh returned Sarai to Abram and sent them on their way out of Egypt with all he had.
One of the great things about the Bible is that the characters we read about are presented exactly as they were, with all their warts and flaws. Which one of us has not been rewarded for our faith and then turn right around and sin? Thankfully, we have a od who forgives, and teaches us, and works with us to turn us into what he created us to be. Previous post: Genesis 6-10 Next post: Genesis 6-10

Proper Stewardship of Our One Vote

In most western countries each one of us, by the Grace of God, and by virtue of sacrifices made by those before us have the right to have a say in who governs us and under what priciples. To this end, we each have ONE vote entrusted to our stewardship, as part of our means of participating in the process that has thus far allowed us to resolve our issues by ballots instead of bullets. It is a very serious responsibility, as how we use our vote (or not usen it) sets the course for the future. The worldview of those elected to serve in high office is what will guide them in their decisions that have ramifications that can, and often do resonate through decades and even centuries to come. Christians need to detach from the media news and (mostly) opinion cycle of the secular media and social media which calls us to rally around one party or another, and cheer them on as if it was a basketball game. It is anything but. If we havent reached the conclusion that elections have consequences it's time we did, and time to get serious about the power of that one vote entrusted to us.

Street Called Straight is a Christian  Conservative publication and we make no bones about that, so obviously we want to see the right kinds of people elected to office who will stop and even reverse the years of Progressive secularism  which have shredded the social fabric of our countries.Financial issues are secondary to social issues, as a change in policy can correct and repair most of that, but when the social fabric of the country, the tried and true principle sthat have enabled us to live in peace and settle our differences peacefully are destroyed, it is difficult to recover from, if not impossible.
There are 65 Million people in the United States who idenitfy as Roman Catholic, and a similar number who identify as Christian in one form or another. That is over half the population of the USA. If most or all of them voted according to a well formed Christian worldview, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we would be in a radically different place. But like the proverbial frog placed in a pot where the temperature of the water is gradually raised to boiling, like the frog, many Christians have not noticed that they are being slow-boiled in the cauldron of secular progressivism. ,  Now is as good a time as any  to put out a voter's guide  which will help Christians, especially Catholics, make a sound choice on election day.  For Non-Catholic Christians these guidelines are in line with Christian teaching, and it is strongly suggested they be followed, but for Catholics, observing  the Five Non Negotiables featured in the voters guide is NOT optional.  In fact, any Catholic who knowingly votes for a Candidate or party that is on the wrong side of any of these issues, is guilty of aiding and abetting  intrinsically evil policies. 

Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics was published by Catholic Answers  based on The teachings of the Church and papal documents from Pope John Paul II

Without even reading the document, It is fair to say that NO Christian who takes the teachings of Christ seriously may vote for any candidate of any party that does not permit the excercise of conscience to vote freely on such issues of consequence. In Canada , most parties will not even permit a candidate to run who does not agree to espouse and vote consistently the secular progressive line on social issues. such as support for abortion "rights" , euthanasia and same sex "marriage" and other intrinsic evils.
As voters, it is incumbent on each of us to study the Five Non Negotiables)  and learn what cannot be supported, and just as importantly why, so that we can credibly engage with others to guide them in proper stewardship of the vote. We cannot wait until election day approaces either, we must familairize orselves with what consitutes a well forrmed Christian worldview, and get involved with the political process at all levels where we may exercise our franchise.
This means doing research on candidates prior to primaries or nomination meetings and persuading as many as possible to join us in supporting the one who best represents the Christian worldview. It means discerning whether we , ourselves should seek elected office and whether we would properly represent that worldview. It means participating in and applying the same principles to all levels of elected office, from school boards, hospital boards and other local offices, in addiction to the big offices that command all the media attention. By following these principles consistently at every level we can elect people who can stand in the gap, and do what they can on a civic level to reverse the cultural decline and societal schism we see all around us. Politics can take us only so far, for this to be fully effective we as individuals need to turn to Jesus Christ as out Lord and Saviour and live by the teachings He left in the deposit of faith of His Church, and to fortify ourselves through the Sacraments He gave us.
It is not either/or. It is a both/and proposition.

Does Scripture Favour Nationalism or Globalism?

Was a question I was asked earluer this week. The shoort answr is Neither. Scripture does not advocate for any one form of earthly government, much less any of the options presented to us in our times. It DOES, however, give us guidelines as how we should govern ourselves no matter what form of government we find ourselves living under. Our primary allegiance is not to a country, ethnicity or political arty but to a KING. That King is God. Throughout the Old Testament we see exactly what we see today. The King inviting people to live in direct relationship to Him offering us a light yoke.And the peoplerejecting that to choose their ouwn fatally flawed path. In Samuel , the people of Israel reject the rule of Judges ( represented by Samuel at the time) and demand a King like other nations. Samuel warned them in no uncertain terms of the tyranny that will develop. God Himself tells Samuel that they are not rejecting Samuel but Him. Throughout the Old Testament we see that in spite of warnings to follow the true King whose principles ring true even under earthly kings, the Israelites go their own way. .... until they lost their earthly kingdom. First it divided into The 10 northern tribes of Israel and the 2 southern tribes of Judah. Both eventually fell under Foreign rule. During the captivity we see through Daniel and his 3 friends Shadrach, Meschach and Abed-nego , as well as through Esther that regardless of who rules we need to live by God’s ways and this can help us not only to survive, but influence any earthly govt. In the New Testment we were taught how to live under the tyranny of Rome, under which we still live to an extent, insofar as the Roman Empire never was truly destroyed but rather fell apart, and according to prophecy, will be reassembled in even more brutal form at the end of days. Nowhere in the New Testament does it tech us how to be a majority faith but teaches us that through allegiance to Christ the King and what he taught we can be salt and light in a depraved culture that surrounds us, andmaybe even effect some positive change. One thing the scripture warns against is global government run by anyone but Christ. When Nimrod tried to establish the first global government and his people began building the Tower of Babel, He frustrated that attempt, as he did with other attempts throughout history, both biblical and secular. However at the end , he will allow it to come about just as he allowed Israel and Judah to be devoured first by Sennacherib, Shalmeneser and then by Nebuchadnezzar, then by Antiochus and finally by Rome and its system, because they rejected God’s rule . By the power of the Holy Spirit He held back the temporary victory of evil through people who chose to follow Christ. The US constitution is only meant to serve a People who put God first. That is the only self government that works. That which submits to the light yoke of the Holy Spirit. When you make government a higher authority than God it all falls apart.Rights can only come from God, a higher authority than government. when man seeks to supplant God as that authority, what were rights become privileges which exist at the whim and caprice of whoever holds power at a given moment. So once again we are in a time when people have rejected God and are seeking a Nimrod. Once again, they will attempt to build their own Tower of Babel so they can forget God and reach to the heavens by themselves on their own terms. And once again , God will come down and frustrate it. So, the only government the Bible advocates is serving the King Himself, freely in spirit and in truth. All else is evil and fleeting, and will end in disaster for those who try. Sooner or later will will be under global government. First one led by Antichrist which will last about 7 years before being wiped out , with all its evil, and replaced with the rule of Jesus Christ, for those who have chosen Him.

What do the destruction of old Poland and today’s USA have in common?

I originally wrote and posted this in May 2015. Its points are more relevant today than ever. I have made some edits to bring it up to date.

In 1772, 1791 and 1795, Russia, Prussia and Austria dismantled and absorbed what had been at one time the dominant power in Eastern Europe: Poland. To understand how such a great nation could be erased from the map into an enforced absence of 123 years we need to look at what could have caused them to be wiped out with barely a whimper. And when we study this, we will see some eerie similarities to what is going on in the USA today which could also conceivably erase the USA from the map, something, even 15 years ago would have seemed inconceivable to most people. Also worthy of note is that in eschatology, we recognize many of the countries that will be players in that time, but there is no entity in prophecy that can be definitely identified with the USA. Poland rose to great power status with the marriage of Grand Duke Jagiello of Lithuania with “King” Jadwiga of Poland. (She was crowned King when she was brought in from Hungary to take the throne at age 5. The Magnate class who really ran things in Poland could not conceive of having a Queen) . This marriage united the two large but relatively weak kingdoms into one confederation, and made it strong enough to take down the Teutonic knights, and became the leading power in Eastern Europe. The reason Poland could not maintain this status was because of the feudal system of government that existed. There were the previously mentioned Magnates, who were a dozen or so moneyed and powerful land owning families who controlled everything that went on in Poland. There were the petty gentry who administered estates and villages and enjoyed some privilege, but were essentially what we would call “middle management”. They did the bidding of the magnates. Then there were the peasants who worked the land, fought in the front lines in the wars, and were essentially the property of the magnates and their gentry. Poland elected its kings. It was not universal suffrage, but essentially the choice of the magnates. This would have been survivable if the magnates were patriots who put Poland first, instead of their own petty interests. The trouble was that these families believed that they were Poland. They would almost always elect a foreigner as King, since none of them wanted one of their own to get an upper hand on the others. The King was essentially powerless, and could only raise armies or do almost anything only if the magnates would back him. But the real problem was that foreign powers would put the magnates into their pay so as to promote their interests and vote for their candidates for King. Some of these magnates were taking payments from more than one other foreign power! Eventually though a middle class, or perhaps better put , a merchant class which grew up in the cities, and some changes began to come, and a parliament, known as the Sejm was instituted. The trouble was that the members of the Sejm were all petty gentry appointed by the magnates. Nevertheless some of these men came up with some great ideas that would have helped secure Poland as a functioning country that could properly govern itself. What prevented any of that from actually happening was something called the “Liberum Veto” . The Liberum Veto was a mechanism that allowed for one member of the Sejm to negate all the work of a particular Sejm, simply by rising and declaring “I object!” . Thus when Russia, Prussia, France Sweden and Austria caught wind of legislation that would strengthen Poland, they would slip some money to a magnate in their pay, and he would order one of his lieges in the Sejm to rise, and say “I object!”, thus Poland became subject to the wishes of whichever foreign power or powers could get the most magnates into their pay. Eventually , Poland was partitioned 3 times in 1771, 1791 and 1795, by Russia, Prussia and Austria with the help of magnates who were in their pay. In the new order that emerged, the wealthyu magnates fared well, but not so much the people who fell under some of the worst tyrannies that had existed to that point in Europe. Fast forward to our present day. Concerns were raised about Hillary Clinton who ran a “foundation” that has been accepting funds from foreign powers. She has enriched herself to the tune of almost 200 million dollars through this foundation. It may even be that while she served as secretary of state, that policy changes took place that benefitted some of the interests of these foreign powers, and corporations.
We also see other candidates receiving donations from corporations and unions quite openly and legally. And now we are hearing of many high ranking US elected officials who have been compromised by financial dealings with the peoples Republic of China. Does anyone really believe that these donations have all been made for altruistic reasons? Do corporations, unions and foreign powers make millions of dollars of donations if they don’t expect something in return? So we watch helplessly as the United States is rotted out from the inside as the interests of the people are sold out for the wishes of foreigners, corporations, unions and special interest groups. It is seriously time for some campaign finance Reform. I suggest that if we start with the premise that in a free society, election time should be a dialogue between the voters themselves, and those who wish to represent them, then it follows that it is time that all donations from any third parties, ie: corporations, Unions, Special interest lobby groups and the like do not get a say in the process. Money from foreign powers is technically illegal already, but clearly this is not being enforced. Therefore I propose a solution such as has been brought in in the province of Quebec in Canada, which permits only individuals to donate to political parties and candidates, and only up to a maximum of $5400.00. Third parties aka super PACs may not advertise either. When we hear of candidates boasting they will raise and spend hundreds of millions of dollars to get elected, it should be obvious that there is a problem . First, it leaves the Presidency or almost any elected office to the wealthy and those who have wealthy corporate, union or special interest backers, and second, those who seek political office are often laden with political debt that must be paid, and often, it seems beholden to hostile foreign powers. Campaign finance reform is an idea whose time has come as long as it is done in a way that is fair to all. But we also need to look carefully at who is financing which candidates, and whether there is any connection between how they vote, with their donors' interests. Anyone receiving money from foreign donors must be permanently disqualified from holding office. America has thusfar failed to act to put a stop to foreign influence, or third party special interest funding, and it is now becoming clear that the collection calls on these political debts will begin soon, and ar probably already underway. Very soon these foreign powers and corporate interests will gather around a table and divide the United States as they did to Poland 200 plus years ago.

The Choice We Face: Civil War or Civilization?

All of us have noticed a sharp decline in political discourse. It started off with smear and vulgarity replacing the discussion of ideas and policies. Campaigns and debates have degenerated into tearing down the other candidate(s) rather than telling the people why they should support our policies and ideas. It is now about talking points and creating bogeymen, rather than honest examination of pros and cons, and now it always involves schoolyard behaviour such as name calling, and even threats to punch each other out. I am even sorrier to say that this type of behaviour is practiced by almost all parties. Certainly all the major ones. Now, however, in recent elections we have now hit new lows. Politicians are now attacking not only their opponents, but are now going after their opponents supporters. We the voter used to be off limits. It was left to us to decide which candidates we would support, or as the case may be hold our noses to vote for. It really stated becoming apparent around 2008 when one candidate for the US Presidency piled supporters of another together as a bunch of rubes who clung to their guns and their Bibles. Then there was the "Basket of deplorables and irredeemables" and since then it has only gotten worse since then , to the point where now , office holders - people who have actual power- are posting videos warning supporters of another party to shut up, or else. It is not the first time things have been said that may potentially incite violence against one particular group of people based on their political leanings, nor will it be the last, but here are some of the larger ramifications that it may have on the body politic. it further galvanizes an electorate which is now by and large, divided into two opposing camps with a handful of us in the middle who want no part in this. The division above further turns our political system into something where it becomes not a matter of winning hearts and minds , but of getting the vote out BY ANY MEANS NECCESSARY. If and when extreme measures are used, including fraud and cheating to win, this kind of division encourages one side to completely excuse behaviour they would find deplorable under any other circumstance, because it produced the result they wanted, which is not electing someone they believe will serve the interests of the nation but who is simply not the one they have come to hate... yes, hate. That is what I see going on. Hate is a very effective tool in terms of motivating people to do what you want them to do, or to deflect their attention to something else other than the fat that their Emperor really has no clothes. Orwell used "The Two Minutes hate" in "1984 to illustrate how easy it can be to direct the popular energy toward something else, most often imaginary and off of what you are doing. As a result, candidates no longer seek to win new votes and persuade those in the middle (of which there are fewer and fewer due to the kind of manipulation outlined above) but to get their vote out, and suppress the voters on the other side. This is a dangerous place to be, and a sign of a fast advancing cancer on Democracy itself that is on the verge of metastasizing and becoming terminal if it hasn't already. When politicians and parties start pitting their supporters and the supporters of the other party, it produces a situation which divides friends and families against each other. and could result in civil war. Anyone who understands history will tell you that civil wars are the most brutal and bloody of all. As a microcosm, there is no call a police officer hates responding to than a domestic dispute. Another by product of the decomposition of civility and basic civics is that due to the the nature of the beast the political system has become, good people no longer wish to seek office, leaving the field open to thugs, operatives and unscrupulous, ambitious individuals. Who wants to be dragged through the mud and have every embarrassing detail of their past exposed in public for all to see? What's worse is that many voters disengage, not only in disgust over politicians' behaviour, but out of fear that they themselves will be doxxed and publicly humiliated, or even be placed in physical danger for expressing themselves. Only we the voter can put a stop to this. It is going to take courage, and a thick skin, because standing up to these dark forces on either side is going to bring repercussions. but the choice is between accepting the same caliber of public officials we have been getting, and the cabal of thugs that bring them to power and whose job it is to keep them there, or to shake ourselves free of them and strip them of their power by voting for men and women of integrity and civility who have the best interests of the citizens and the country at heart, and will not be penned in by ideology. Yes, they must be principled, but part of being principled means thinking and discerning things for themselves, and choosing the right thing to do even if it means going off the proverbial reservation. Above all we must not allow ourselves to be recruited into factions and manipulated to serving the interests of politicians. It needs to be the other way around where politicians must answer to the people. One path leads to civil war, the other to Civilization.

"Ihre Papieren , Bitte!"

"Your papers , please!" was a familiar phrase to germans and those living under Nazi occupation in the '30's and '40's. According to the ONtario Health Minister Chriostine Elliot, it is command we will soon be hearing here....Only instead of being barked out by a uniformed officer, it will be by the same officious 17 year old standing at the store entrance wearing a face shield and armed with a spray bottle of hand sanitizer and thermometer. Christine Elliot has just announced that the Government of Ontario will be issuing "Proof of Vaccination" cards. In so doing she also "reassured" us that "Vaccination will not be mandatory" , however, those who refuse to be vaccinated may find themselves restricted in their activities, such as travel, and going to the theatre.
This is typical of the behaviour of many of our governments. Instead of issuing edicts themselves, and owning them, they are fobbing it off to Public health agencies, and private enterprise to take the blame.
It will probably end up being even more sinister. Initially , the proof of vaccination will likely be a chip card , much like the one we use for banking and debit payments, or, they will offer the convenience of downloading a COVID App, which will have a scan code that will have your vaccination information and test results, etc encoded there. Soon without one of these it is likely you will not be able to enter a place of business..... or even keep your job, since access to the building will be restricted to those who have been vaccinated.Welcome to the "Brave" New World.
This begs the question: Is this the "Mark of the Beast" System that the Scriptures warn about? It is certainly a step in that direction. Once people have complied with this, more resistance will have been broken down, and eventually they will come out with a new app, that offers us the "convenience" of having all our information... our health records, our financials, everything all in one place!!!! Out with cash, and in with the simplicity, convenience and SECURITY of a cashless society!!!
The final step will be implantation of some kind of techniology that will allow us to have everything with us at all times, so you dont need to worry if you lose your phone or wallet. That will be the Mark of the Beast. It will require a pledge of allegiance to the One World Government that will be in place by then, and to its leader. This scenario is what is outlined in Revelation 13-16-18: Scripture also warns that the decision to take the Mark of the Beast is fatal from an eternal standpoint. Revelation 14:9-11
and if you call within the next 10 minutes we will throw THIS in at no extra charge!! Revelation 16:2 But wait! There's more!!!! and it isnt good. then comes the fine print and disclaimers you always see at the end of adverts. You agree that by using these services, you gain access to buildings, businesses, doctors' offices, Transit, voting etc, but in so doing you hold harmless and indemnify all of the above, and agree that they may access your information for evaluation purposes, and may share (sell) your information with Third Parties as they see fit..
The information will also be used to compile a social credit score. We are already tyrannized by regular credit scores, which allow companies to make decisions about you based on creditworthiness which is established by 2 or three companies, depending on where you live, who know everything about your financial life. In China they have taken it a step further, and they incorporate other information they have on you which determine whether you are a good or bad person, and your freedom to live and trade is defined by your "social credit score" . And POLITICS plays a huge role in establishing this. What can it entail? Certain establishments may deny you admission if your social credit score is too low.
Sadly, though, most people will accept all of this with relatively little in the way of protest. There will even be some who will DEMAND such a system. There are always those who value the trains running on time , more than privacy or liberty.
Welcome to hell..... or at least the closest you can get to hell on earth. As Ben Franklin is attributed to saying "Whever would exchange freedom for security shall have neither.
So what is the timetable for all this? The way I see it, and it is my opinion only, the vax cards are only a matter of weeks or a couple of months away. I also believe that if the Democratic presidential ticket does end up taking office in January, at some point in the new year, they will order a national lockdown, and all other western countries will follow suit. A few weeks later once we "flatten the curve" or whatever excuse they are using by then, we will emerge as a "Global Community" with open borders , which implies that a supranational government of some sort will be in place, and the new cashless society will be introduced. I do not believe the implanted technology will be in place initially, they need to complete the process of boiling the frogs. That will probably take a year or two.... But I could be wrong. Haven't things been moving much faster than any of us would have predicted?
We must be ready spiritually for what is coming our way, faster than a speeding bullet, as it were. Only Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit will give us the strength and discernment we will need to face the times that lie dead ahead.
Eventually refusal to comply may cost many of us our lives. When you can't buy or sell, starvation throuh marginalization becomes a possibility. You will also face the hostility of others who will view you as a selfish "superspreader, a rogue who does not care about the good of society. Don't believe me? How many people are turning in neighbours for violating COVID rules? Ever been scolded by a random stranger when your mask has a "wardrobe malfunction?
You must receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour to get through this time. There is no way out. There is only a way through. and Without Jesus Christ you won't make it through.
First, dying without settling the Jesus question results in a one way ticket to Hell. Imagine dying while resiting earthly tyranny only to find yourself in an even worse place. No God does not "send" people to Hell. They choose it for themselves by rejecting Jesus as their Saviour. The old line from the song "Free Will" from Rush rings true: " If you choose not to decide , you still have made a choice" . Here is why you need Jesus and how to get Him in your Life. Without Him you will not be able to stand in the times ahead, and if you end up as a casualty , without Him, there is no hope afterward.
Have a nice day....
Now, I believe that we have been put here for a time such as this. God knew this from eternity past, that you would be here at this time and has a purpose for you and He wants you in your kingdom. But He is a gentleman and would never force anyone in. He wants you to come of your own free will.
Whether we like it or not we are now in a time where we will be the 29th Chapter of Acts. It is our turn to do great deeds in His power , In His name, for His glory. And-SPOILER ALERT!- if you skip forward to the book of Revelation, we win.

"My Body, My Choice"

Millions of people are waiting with bated breath for the first doses of "The Vax" to arrive so they can line up to take this concoction which they believe to be a life saving elixir that will protect them , once and for all from the Chinavirus that they have been taught by the media to fear like nothing else. Millions also have grave reservations about this same potion, which has been rushed through into approval and production, being declared safe and effective after only a matter of months. Some believe it is the beginning of the mark of the beast system. Others remember their history and can recall Thalidomide, a miracle vax given to many women in the late fifties and early sixties, which was also rushed out and deemed to be a safe way to protect oneself from prenatal nausea and the like.. The result was thousands of children born with severe physical deformities, if they survived the pregnancy at all. 10 000 or so were actually born 3000 remain alive today. Not a great stat considering all these children would be under the age of 65. Whatever ones reservations are , one's wishes must be respected, no matter what field one works in, or whether one lives in a high risk situation. This Vaccine must NOT be mandatory. While I believe that the fear industry, aka the media has about 60 percent of the population ready to throw caution to the wind and line up for this vaccination the way so many do for Black Friday sales, Some polling I have seen from Leger marketing indicates that similar numbers believe the vaccination should be mandatory, ie. that they have the right to demand that the bodily sovereignty of their neighbour be violated by a syringe delivering god knows what into their system, consequences be damned. When one thinks that vaccines take many years to develop, be tested and subsequently approved, it is astonishing that people are accepting the narrative that THIS one is somehow safe after 7 months! Ask yourselves The vax has only been in development for a few months, and has been tested for even less time. Even if we are being told the truth that no adverse side effects have been noticed, that only proves that there are no IMMEDIATE side effects. Have pregnant women been part of the testing? If so, how many babies have actually been born? How do we know that side effects in children wont manifest themselves months or years later? Even among the human guinea pigs themselves, has enough time lapsed to clearly demonstrate that this Vaccination will not have any long term effects on them? Could it cause sterility? Do we even know how long this vaccine will protect a person for? Will one need to get annual vaccinations? In light of the foregoing, Mark of the beast theories aside, I, for one would NOT even CONSIDER taking this vaccination until I had satisfactory answers to the questions above. Further complicating matters, I believe i am not alone when I declare that I have in large part, lost all faith in the integrity of our institutions. They are all infiltrated and infected by politics and agendas, and of course big money. I do n ot trust the government on this, whether we are talking about Donald Trump, who I generally like or Justin Trudeau. I do not trust medical associations which no longer subscribe to the Hyppocratic Oath, nor to the idea that their own membership should be able to exercise freedom of conscience on life issues. I especially do not trust Big Pharma. These institutions need to be cleaned out , and must regain our trust before we can be pressured into taking this, or any other vax. And that will not happen overnight. Until then, I say, "My body, My Choice" . Please feel free to share this post widely if you agree.

Lenten Reflections on Scripture Day 5: Getting the most out of Scripture

Today we will look at the passage from this morning’s Gospel reading, Luke 4:1-13.  We talked a bit about it yesterday, so today we will mostly focus on how to get the most out of this -or any other- passage of scripture.
Let’s face it Just reading scripture for its own sake can become habitual, and we end up taking it for granted rather than digging in for the gold that lies therein , and all too often we don’t get the full message the writer is trying to convey because a) we don’t look at it in context, not just in terms of what the writer is trying to tell us, but in a context of time as well.  Often we don’t even look for different layers of meaning and symbolism  in it, and much of the seed, as it were, falls by the wayside among thorns and rocks, instead of fertile soil, where if watered by the Holy Spirit it can produce fruit in abundance. To wit, you can gather something new from a passage each time you read it. THAT is why we say it is life changing.
So let’s dissect this passage.  My comments are in red, and they look at what has just happened  in light of the old testament, and from meditating on what is said, instead of skimming over it.

4 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the desert,  Note that this takes place shortly if not immediately after his baptism at the hands of John the Baptist When The Holy Spirit descended on Him. Which is the first time the Third Person of the Trinity the Holy Ghost/Spirit is mentioned and at this point, as it would be until Pentecost, Jesus is the only one indwelt.

² For the space of forty days; and was tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing in those days; and when they were ended, he was hungry.  To really get the most out of this passage, we need to try on Jesus’ Sandals for a while, as it were to really get a grasp on what is going on here. First, let’s remember that Even though Jesus is both fully God and fully man He voluntarily laid  aside His powers as God in order that he could properly live out the life of a man facing all the temptations , suffering and pain all humanity must.
Those of us in modern western countries have trouble grasping where Jesus must have been at mentally and physically at this point.  He went to the desert for 40 days with no food and probably only enough water to survive (He too was bound by natural law) We in the west generally don’t know such deprivation. Imagine how you feel after one DAY of fasting... We know how we feel after a full day especially when dinner is being served late. Now try putting yourself in that kind of hunger in Jesus place in your mind’s eye. Now imagine a really hot, dry, summer’s day spent with no shade, when you are weak from fasting. Now imagine Jesus 40 days down the road.
Satan perceived that it was the time to strike and see if there was any way to derail the Cross, and disqualifying Jesus as Saviour.

³ And the devil said to him: If thou be the Son of God, say to this stone that it be made bread.

⁴ And Jesus answered him: It is written, that Man liveth not by bread alone, but by every word of God. Jesus , in the midst of his suffering with the devil dangling the middle eastern equivalent of a  Cheeseburger and fries and a bottle of water in front of Him immediately reverted to scripture to fortify Himself against this temptation. He reached into the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy and silenced the devil.  He also showed us how important it is to read and know scripture and use that as the guidepost against which  you make your decisions.

⁵ And the devil led him into a high mountain, and shewed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time;

⁶ And he said to him: To thee will I give all this power, and the glory of them; for to me they are delivered, and to whom I will, I give them.

⁷ If thou therefore wilt adore before me, all shall be thine.

⁸ And Jesus answering said to him: It is written: Thou shalt adore the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
A good hermeneutical principle to follow when reading scripture is that if something is repeated, especially soon after , that it is a point that God (who inspired the writer, in this case Luke) wants to hit home with and underline the importance of the principle. So once again, when Jesus is tempted , this time with temporal political power , He falls back on scripture to help Him resist.
Again there is a reference to the Old Testament here. Doesn’t this remind you of Genesis where Esau had such little regard for his birthright as the firstborn of Isaac’s sons that in his hunger (only after a few hours out hunting) how easily he sold his birthright to his younger brother Jacob for a bowl of red pottage? Jesus was having none of that from Satan. The difference is that Jesus, unlike Esau, strengthened through prayer, and reverence for the Word of God was thus able to keep in perspective what really had value.

 ⁹ And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and he said to him: If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself from hence.

¹⁰ For it is written, that He hath given his angels charge over thee, that they keep thee.

¹¹ And that in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest perhaps thou dash thy foot against a stone.

¹² And Jesus answering, said to him: It is said: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
The next move in his bag of tricks was to ask Jesus  to step back from total faith and trust in God the Father, by putting Him to the test as to whether He would indeed protect him from harm.  Jesus once again falls back on Scripture from the Old Testament, and let Satan know that Hunger , thirst, fatigue and discomfort notwithstanding, He knew the Word was built upon solid rock. Jesus said this knowing full well what was coming at the end of his brief sojourn on earth, and knew that if He didn’t have total trust in His father now, He might succumb later at the Cross, and call upon legions of angels to tke Him down, and the mission will have failed.
So we too, have our mission here on earth, and the enemy would like nothing better that to derail it, so Jesus is telling us, “Trust in the Father and His will, and that his plan and your small part in it will be fulfilled. You don’t need to test Him, and in fact testing, not trusting will break His heart”

¹³ And all the temptation being ended, the devil departed from him for a time.
And if we , inspired by Jesus, fall back on the word, and the Holy Spirit which now indwells every believer, Satan will depart from us too..... Until a more opportune time... Like “The Terminator” , unfortunately, “He’ll be back” .
He will wait for our next time in the desert, whether we have wandered off there to fast and meditate, or more likely, got careless and wandered back in inadvertently, but Scripture provides us a way out in God’s will.

Lenten Reflections on Scripture, Day 4: Spiritual Warfare

For the next few days we are going to look at the topic of Spiritual warfare, , as it is something everyone who walks with Jesus is facing or is going to face. No exceptions. It’s as certain as death and taxes.
This Sunday’s gospel reading is about When Satan tempts Jesus while he is out in the wilderness fasting for 40 days, so there is no better time to broach this subject, so as to provide a solid foundation to help us walk through Lent, with open eyes and a receptive heart.
So our scripture today lays the groundwork.  We will look at  Matthew 10-16 ““See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”
I will also make mention of what Paul said in his letter to the Ephesians 6:12  “For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”
So we need to be aware that the enemy is out there, and that the enemy is not really our fellow man, but the forces of darkness, namely Satan and his motley army of demons and imps who are always looking for a weakness to exploit.
He hits hardest those who are walking closest to Christ, and he makes his move when we have reached a point of physical, mental or spiritual weakness, whether brought on by hunger and thirst (as with Jesus in the wilderness) ,  illness, setback or anything else. He will tempt us with “an easy way out”, or some empty promise about how things will be better if only ......, or with raw power, whatever he can.
His goal is always to kill and destroy and draw people away from Christ and His gospel. But remember what he is selling you is an empty promise...All sizzle and no steak. The goal is always to convince us to accept a cheap trinket, and leave the Pearl of great price. Whether that is the Lord, or our spouses, families, principles.
This is what he did in Luke 4:1-13 when the Devil tempted him to turn stones into bread to alleviate his hunger from the fast, then to take a flying leap off the top of the temple, after all, God promised that no harm would come to Him until the due time, and then to give Him all the kingdoms of the world, if He would only lay aside His divinity and Worship Satan.
When we remember that Jesus was not only fully God, but fully man as well, we realize that these temptations were real and not a simple matter to simply brush off, so we need to look at how he handled it. First, he never lost sight of who was tempting Him. He knew this because He knew the word of God, and He responded with references from scripture which He knew to be the Word of God and thus provides us with the fundamentals of what we need in order to discern the true source of temptations we face. He is also instructing us that we need to KNOW scripture if we are to properly discern what is going on, and reflect on what it means. He is also telling us that what God offers us though it may not glitter and shine as much is worth for more than the fleeting pleasures we would get by accepting the wooden nickel that Satan offers.
So we face temptations all the time while we live out our lives in the world on a daily basis, however, we must always keep in mind that this is all going on in the background as war is raging in the spiritual realm and is merely manifesting itself in temporal life as well.
Prayer, fasting and scripture will help us discern and fight back against these powerful temptations. So we need to be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
It is the imitation of Christ, which we can only successfully do if we know him personally and seek Him daily in prayer and in His word. And in the imitation of Christ we show Him to others.
The Good news is, even though the battle does rage on, and it is very real, Scripture also serves  as a Spoiler Alert: God wins. Join the winning team, and bring as many others as possible along the way!

Lenten Reflections on Scripture Day 3

Lenten reflections on scripture Day 3 : In keeping with this week’s theme of “repent and believe the Gospel”, today’s scripture is II Chronicles 7:14
" if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

It is a verse about revival, and preceding any revival is repentance, both as individuals and as a body of believers. One is never too far gone to receive forgiveness, for any sin, no matter how great, as long as one has breath in one’s body. What is repentance? It is feeling genuine remorse for one’s sin, for what it has done to yourself, to others, and mostly how it grieves God.
Think about Jesus at Gethsemane, and how he perspired blood in his anguish, grief and even anger. Here was a perfectly sinless man, the only such person who has ever lived, about to die for the sins of the world. No doubt he as shown every single sin of the world past, present and future. Your sin. MY sin (which is worse than yours 😊) and every other sin from the 60 million plus babies killed in abortion, the Holocaust, The Killing fields of Cambodia, the Rwandan Civil War, everything.... And no doubt Satan found this to be the more opportune time to return and taunt and tempt him to give up his mission.
Imagine Satan whispering “Do you really want to die for THAT person? For the Nazis? For Stalin, For Pol Pot?”
Imagine how He was grieved, He who made us. How we have disappointed Him in our disobedience! How our words and actions have hurt others... and ourselves...
yet He chose to pay the cost for all these sins at the price of severe torture such as we cannot imagine, and death by crucifixion, which was considered the most shameful and painful forms of execution. Imagine the pin caused by the fact that he knew that many would choose not to accept His redemptive sacrifice, freely given.
So take this opportunity today to reflect on your own sin, and the sins of the world, let remorse overtake you, and resolve to change, with the help of the Holy Spirit who will come and indwell you when you accept Jesus as lord and Saviour. You will not be perfect, but you will be His, and He will work with you until he is finished! And through Him you will bear fruit which will change the world and draw many more to Him, so that as few souls as possible will be lost as His desire is that none shall perish.

Lenten reflections on Scripture Day 2

Lenten reflections on scripture Day 2 : Another phrase used during the distribution of the ashes is Genesis 3: 19 “You are Dust , to dust you shall return” (NRSV) the words that God spoke to Adam after the fall when the death sentence to the progeny of Adam was handed down.

Ash Wednesday and Lent remind us of the Fall, that we are all sinners. But the Lenten path is one which Jesus leads us down, where he takes us all the way to His passion, Death and resurrection, where he shows us that He is the way out of the death Sentence, and can restore us to eternal life!

meditating on this today I was reminded of the funeral ceremony of the Hapsburg Emperors of Austria to which I thought I would link for the occasion. I will post a song to go with the verse as first comment.

Again you are all invited to share and join in as we show the world who we are and whose we are.

http://www.nobility.org/2011/07/11/burial-protocol-austria/?fbclid=IwAR2edRVH1xdliyHlIol-HCIkzohvIwbuNQEF2EbLzxZc_5c1w5H2XHokm_4

Lenten Reflections on Scripture: Day 1. Ash Wednesday

It is Ash Wednesday , which marks the beginning of what I consider "The most wonderful time of the year", Lent.
There is always the question "What are you going to "give up" for Lent?Coffee? Chocolate? Facebook? 
For me I will not "give up" anything, but rather give back to the world some of what Christ and His Church have given me. 

For the 40 days of Lent I challenge all of you to post a verse or passage from scripture for others to think about, along with a song to back it up. Our mission as Christians is the Great Commission, which is to Bring the Gospel to the world. 
The words i heard when they applied the ashes to my forehead today were "Repent and believe in the Gospel" . 
Sadly, Christians are more known for what we are against rather than WHO we are for, and WHOSE we are. So by posting the verses from scripture, my goal is to show people WHO we are following and what it is all about, for on that final day, we will not be asked about Kenosis, whether we are "pre-trib" , "post trib" or anything like that, nor will be be asked wht denomination we were. We will simply face Jesus, and He will either know us , or He will not. He will know us by whether we had a personal relationship with Him, through prayer, and getting to know Him through scriptural revelation, through what the Church teaches us about Him and he will know us by our fruits: ie works done IN HIM, THROUGH HIM, and FOR HIM. 
So let's introduce HIM to the world, the reason for our hope. It' not about us anyway. 
So without any further ado, today's Scripture comes from today's Psalm (#51 :10-12) is "Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.." 
I'm tagging some of you in this, people who I think would want to participate in this challenge, but even if you are not tagged, feel free to join in. And let me know.

"Yes, it is Legalized Murder...."

...Sighs the Russian abortionist at the end of this video, after attempting to rationalize what she does.

This video is difficult to watch, and by way of warning, features some partial nudity in the form of some female genitalia during the labour stage of the abortion. The woman is obviously in severe pain. There are no pictures of aborted children. It's a six minute segment of what was supposed to have been a 54 minute long documentary on abortion in Russia. They stopped production because of lack of financing.

While the conditions in Russian clinics are somewhat less well-appointed than those over here, one thing that is not different is that in spite of the glamour that the culture ascribes to casual, recreational sex, that the real picture of the consequences is not pretty at all. Abortion is all about suffering. The child suffers as it is being destroyed, and the women suffer physical pain as is shown here, not to mention the mental anguish that will plague them for a lifetime. And, surprisingly, it appears that even some abortionists suffer.

The Russian abortionists , unlike their North American counterparts, who tend to glorify it as a woman's reproductive "rights", acknowledge that their profession is repugnant, and that what they do, despite their justifications, amounts to the murder of another human being.


It is estimated that 80% of all Russian women have had abortions, and that the average woman has between 2 and 10 over their lifetime. You do the math.The numbers are staggering.

Breakfast With Jesus

This morning, the Gospel reading was from John 21 , where Peter and the other apostles were out on the water and had been fishing all night and caught nothing. Then a  voice called to them from shore and told them to try and cast the net out the other side of the boat whereupon the nets were filled to near the breaking point, and then Peter recognized Jesus and went ashore.

Jesus was sitting by a charcoal fire he had made and was cooking up some fish for Breakfast.  Jesus then sat down and started sharing the fish with them .He then asked Peter three times if he loved Him, and when Peter replied affirmatively Jesus told Peter "Feed my sheep".

This is a remarkable story of redemption and restored  friendship, and it was all done over breakfast.

Jesus chose breakfast as the time to restore Peter, since it is the beginning of a new day, and it is also the least formal meal of the day. It was a quiet, friendly time of renewal, and a time when Peter was given his mission.

Since the day I became a Christian, I have had breakfast with Jesus every day . There is no better way to start a day than to rise at the crack of dawn, spend some time in prayer, and then pour out some coffee and  hear from Jesus Himself in the Bible. So for us too, the morning is a time when we can renew our friendship with Jesus, fresh every day, spend some quiet, informal time with Him, getting to know him through prayer and the Word.

 And more often than not you find that, if you listen carefully, he will restore you, and give you your mission for the day, and beyond.

Tomorrow and every day thereafter, why not have breakfast with Jesus?

Why is This Night Not Like Any Other?

 

And so the deal was struck between Judas Iscariot and Caiaphas.  The next day Some of Jesus disciples began to ask Him about where they would eat he Passover Seder, as it would seem Jesus had been tight lipped about the subject.
Finally He called Peter and John, and let them in on His plan.  He informed them that if they went into town they would meet a man there carrying water.  They would have no trouble identifying him , since it was not a common sight in the city, as carrying water was considered to be a woman’s work.  The man would then show them an Upper Room where they were to prepare the Passover.   And so Peter and John began the preparations.
When evening fell Jesus arrived with the other 10 disciples, and they all began to recline around the table.  In Exodus and Old testament times, the Jews would be seated around the table, with shoes on, girded loins, and staff in hand, and eat the Passover meal in haste.  In Roman times it was a more relaxed affair, since they were in their own land, no longer in bondage, at least to the extent that they were under Pharaoh. Instead of being seated around the tale , they would recline on cushions, raised up on their left elbow, so they could use their right hand to help themselves to the meal.

 

The Seder, or Paschal supper would begin with the first cup of wine, followed by a prayer calling down the Blessing of God on the wine and he feast. Then  the roasted paschal lamb would be brought, along with unleavened bread, bitter herbs and sauce for dipping. A Second glass of wine is poured, and the senior male present, presumably Jesus, if not by age by rank and he would begin the telling of he Passover Story with the words “Why is this night like no other?” Then the story of how the Israelites had gone to Egypt during a famine, and after Joseph had been forgotten were put into slavery to Pharaoh, and how Moses arose, and the miracles wrought by God  as Moses asked for permission to leave, and then finally the Passover night itself, when death took the firstborn of all Egypt except those of the Hebrews who had marked the lintels of their doors with the blood of The Passover Lamb, and then their hasty departure, and God’s miracle f parting the red Sea so they could cross over to Sinai in safety, and the journey on to the Promised Land.

It was at this point, that the question became why is THIS Passover not like any other?

Jesus knew that the countdown had begun. That in less than 18 hours he would be dead. A pulverized, beaten, spat on object of horror and contempt hanging dead from a cross.  And yet, he still had so much to do and to impart to his apostles.  He was also saddened by the fact that his betrayer sat among the group.  Moreover, the Apostles were at it again, discussing among themselves who was the greatest among them all. Jesus would settle this question once and for all,  before all else.  he rose,  and removed his garment, and girded himself with a towel.  He poured water into a basin and commanded his apostles to allow Him to wash their feet.  In the modern western  mind, that does not seem like a big deal, but in that time foot washing was the task performed by the lowliest of slaves, and there was Jesus, who had been recognized as the Son of God Himself, about to engage in that very task!  Peter saw this and recoiled in horror, admonishing Jesus NOT to wash his feet, to which Jesus replied that unless He did wash Peter’s feet, he could have no part in Him.  To which the always impetuous Peter said “If you are going to wash my feet wash my head and hands as well! “ Jesus replied “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he is clean all over, and you are clean, but not all of you are clean” This was his first of several references to his being troubled at the presence of Judas.
He then told them that since He had washed their feet, they were to wash others’ feet, this was heir ordination, and the message that they were not to think in terms of who is greatest among them, but rather as servants.  Such is the priesthood. The Roman Collar is the symbol of servanthood.

 

Then Jesus put on his robes again, and they once more reclined at the table. Jesus once again allowed his troubled state to show, and again voiced his thoughts “I do not speak of you all for i know who I have chosen. But that scripture may be fulfilled, One who eats bread bread has lifted up his heel against me. I tell you now before it comes to pass so that when it has come to pass, You may believe that I am he.”
Once again Jesus looked up from the meal and it was clear he was troubled in spirit “ Verily I say to you, one of you will betray me” . All the Apostles looked at one another wondering who it may be, They started asking “is it I?” perhaps having learned the true nature of man’s heart after following Jesus for so long, that they even called their own motives into question. Peter motioned to John, who refers to himself as the Apostle whom Jesus loved, who was seated to the right of Jesus and said “Ask him who it is”. John Complied, and in reply Jesus said “ It is he for whom I shall dip this bread and give it to him", whereupon he handed the bread to Judas. At that point, John noted that “After the morsel, Satan entered into him” , the implication being that at that moment Judas made the irrevocable decision to go through with the betrayal, and was thus, lost, the son of perdition.

With that, Jesus told Judas “ What you must do, do quickly” , dismissing him.  John, knowing the truth commented on his impressions as Judas made for the door, saying “Now it was night”, implying that all he saw around Judas Iscariot was darkness.
What of the other apostles?   According to John, they thought that Jesus had dismissed him to go buy some things they might have needed, or to give some money to the poor, and thought no more of it.  Even Peter seemed to have become distracted and no longer pursued the answer to the question he had asked. As for John, he may very well have held his silence about Judas out of fear that Peter would have lashed out at Judas then and there.

Judas had just become the first person to ever leave Mass early, as Jesus then instituted the Eucharist. Jesus then got their attention and said “ I have greatly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I say to you I will eat of it no more until it has been fulfilled in the Kingdom of God”. And having taken the cup, (The third cup of wine at  this Seder) He gave thanks, and said “ Take this, and share it among you, for I say to you that I will not drink the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of God Comes.” And having taken bread he gave thanks, and broke and gave it to them, saying”This IS my body which is being given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” In like manner He took also the cup after the supper saying "This cup is the New Covenant in My blood, which shall be shed for you”.
He told them many things after this.  (I have omitted these for the sake of brevity, but the accounts of what Jesus said and did at the last supper are recounted in full here: MT 26:1-35,  MK 14:1-31, LK 22: 1-38 & JN 13, 14, 15, 16)   He predicted once again his death in a matter of hours, and gave them a new commandment” “Love one another as I have Loved you, you also love one another.”

As the Seder drew to a close, Jesus warned the Apostles that as Zechariah predicted , “ I will Smite the Shepherd and the sheep of the Flock will be scattered.”  All the Apostles immediately protested, Peter the loudest. Jesus looked at Peter, no doubt with great love-and sorrow- and said, “ Before the cock crows , you will deny me three times”.

And so the meal ended, as they sang the Hillal , the traditional hymn taken from a group of Psalms sung by the Jews to end the Passover Seder, and left the upper room, and made their way to the Mount of Olives near which was Gethsemane, where Jesus would meet his betrayer once more, for he last time.

As a postscript, there is another reason why this Passover was like no other. Only Three cups of wine were drunk. The fourth will come later. Stay tuned to find out more.