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Concerning Gossip
Without wood a fire goes out;
without gossip a quarrel dies down.

As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to a man's inmost parts.

Proverbs 26:20-22 NIV

__________________

Thou shalt not go up and down
as a talebearer among thy people:
neither shalt thou stand against the
blood of thy neighbour; I am the LORD.

Leviticus 19:16 KJV

__________________

A worthless man digs up evil,
While his words are like scorching fire.

A perverse man spreads strife,
And a slanderer separates intimate friends.

Proverbs 16:27,28 NASB

__________________

Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.
 
“Your refuge from the avenger of blood.”

Joshua 20:3

It is said that in the land of Canaan, cities of refuge were so arranged, that any man might reach one of them within half a day at the utmost. Even so the word of our salvation is near to us; Jesus is a present Saviour, and the way to him is short; it is but a simple renunciation of our own merit, and a laying hold of Jesus, to be our all in all. With regard to the roads to the city of refuge, we are told that they were strictly preserved, every river was bridged, and every obstruction removed, so that the man who fled might find an easy passage to the city.

Once a year the elders went along the roads and saw to their order, so that nothing might impede the flight of any one, and cause him, through delay, to be overtaken and slain. How graciously do the promises of the gospel remove stumbling blocks from the way! Wherever there were by-roads and turnings, there were fixed up hand-posts, with the inscription upon them — “To the city of refuge!” This is a picture of the road to Christ Jesus. It is no roundabout road of the law; it is no obeying this, that, and the other; it is a straight road: “Believe, and live.” It is a road so hard, that no self-righteous man can ever tread it, but so easy, that every sinner, who knows himself to be a sinner may by it find his way to heaven.

No sooner did the man-slayer reach the outworks of the city than he was safe; it was not necessary for him to pass far within the walls, but the suburbs themselves were sufficient protection. Learn hence, that if you do but touch the hem of Christ's garment, you shall be made whole; if you do but lay hold upon him with “faith as a grain of mustard seed,” you are safe.

“A little genuine grace ensures
The death of all our sins.”


Only waste no time, loiter not by the way, for the avenger of blood is swift of foot; and it may be he is at your heels at this still hour of eventide.
 
The Enduring Word’s For Unbearable Times



A lot of people are living through hard times right now…maybe even you, so to help you (or them) get through this crisis, lay hold of these enduring Bible verses.

Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
I’m not sure I could finish what God has started in me because I keep falling, however, this promise of God (Phil 1:6) tells me that it is God Who began the good work in me…and it is God Who “will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” What God begins, God completes. He sought me, He bought me, and then He taught me. I’d hate to think that God started it in me, only to have me finish it, however, it’s somewhat like I did years ago when I walked my son across the street to school. I never told him, “I’ll take your hand but you have to hold on as best as you can,” but rather it was, “I’ve got a firm grip on your hand and I’ll make sure you make it to the other side.” God began it…God will finish it.

Second Timothy 1:12 But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
Many who profess Christ may be ashamed to do it in public, but not the Apostle Paul or most of the early believers, but in this last letter of Paul’s, we see that He still has the same confidence that he had years before (Phil 1:6). He still knows the enduring Word and that all the precious promises of God will never fail. Knowing whom He has believed in (Jesus Christ), He is utterly convinced that God “is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.” There are no surprise endings to God. God is sovereign over all and where man rules…God overrules.

1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
What was it that the Apostle Peter said that they were rejoicing over? It was that God “has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet 1:3), and it is “to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Pet 1:4). If it’s kept in heaven for you, it’s not possible it can be lost. Remember, it’s “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,” and it’s being held “in heaven for you who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Pet 1:4c-5). If we understand that we are being kept by God in heaven, and guarded by God’s power, we can better endure the present times. A faith that’s not tested cannot be trusted, and trials test our faith. James wrote, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).

Psalm 34:17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
When there is nothing more you can do, all you can do is cry out to God, and maybe that’s what God was waiting for in the first place. That takes humility and an admission that we cannot solve this on our own (whatever “this” is). Those who are righteous are made righteous only through Christ Who became sin for us so that we might receive the necessary righteous to be saved (2 Cor 5:21), and the right to “cry for help,” but the righteous also know that “the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” I can’t count the number of times when I or someone else I know had their backs against the wall, but in time, looking back, we see that God was faithful and delivered us out of it all.

It wasn’t always immediate, and sometimes it was painful, but all of that’s turned out for the good. I know this was for the glory of God because when deliverance came, God received the glory by our praising Him with our lips! We glorify Jesus’ Name when our prayers are answered. His Name is glorified because that is the Name by which we pray, so again, God says, “call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me” (Psalm 50:15). Call upon God. He delivers you. You glorify Him. This is how we can “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2-3).

Conclusion
It’s easy so just give up, but God never gives up on us so we must remain faithful, even in hard times, so I hope these Bible verses have helped solidify your faith, and if so, why not share these with someone else who might need a spiritual boost from the Word of God. We should thank God that “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:13-14). Notice that the deliverance from the dark domain is past tense (“He has”), but also praise Him that “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones” (1 Sam 2:9a). We can rest in the knowledge “that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations” (Deut 7:9).

As we live our life through various struggles, we must take the eternal perspective “that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom 8:28). Are you in trouble? God says, “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me” (Psalm 50:15), because you know that God “will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 1:8). He’s got your hand…not the other way around (John 10:28-29).
 
Called to Suffering
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

1 Peter 4:12,13 KJV

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"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Matthew 5:10-12 RSV

__________________

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.

1 Peter 2:21 NASB

__________________

Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.
 
“At that time Jesus answered.”

Matthew 11:25

This is a singular way in which to commence a verse — “At that time Jesus answered.” If you will look at the context you will not perceive that any person had asked him a question, or that he was in conversation with any human being. Yet it is written, “Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father.” When a man answers, he answers a person who has been speaking to him. Who, then, had spoken to Christ? his Father. Yet there is no record of it; and this should teach us that Jesus had constant fellowship with his Father, and that God spake into his heart so often, so continually, that it was not a circumstance singular enough to be recorded. It was the habit and life of Jesus to talk with God.

Even as Jesus was, in this world, so are we; let us therefore learn the lesson which this simple statement concerning him teaches us. May we likewise have silent fellowship with the Father, so that often we may answer him, and though the world wotteth not to whom we speak, may we be responding to that secret voice unheard of any other ear, which our own ear, opened by the Spirit of God, recognizes with joy. God has spoken to us, let us speak to God — either to set our seal that God is true and faithful to his promise, or to confess the sin of which the Spirit of God has convinced us, or to acknowledge the mercy which God's providence has given, or to express assent to the great truths which God the Holy Ghost has opened to our understanding.

What a privilege is intimate communion with the Father of our spirits! It is a secret hidden from the world, a joy with which even the nearest friend intermeddleth not. If we would hear the whispers of God's love, our ear must be purged and fitted to listen to his voice. This very evening may our hearts be in such a state, that when God speaks to us, we, like Jesus, may be prepared at once to answer him.
 
Why Does Jesus Say “Blessed Are Those Who Mourn?”



Isn’t mourning a bad thing, so why does Jesus say, “Blessed are those who mourn?”

Mourning
Everyone goes through a time of loss and mourning. It might be a beloved aunt, grandparent, parent, or even a child. Those who lose their pets go through very much the same thing, so why does Jesus say, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matt 5:4)? How is mourning over something or someone supposed to bring a blessing? Part of the answer comes in Jesus’ next breath, saying that “they shall be comforted.” Why does God bless those who mourn? Perhaps it is their mourning over their own sin, maybe even the sins of the world.

Believers know that sin brings death and judgment, and without Christ to bridge that gap, they have the wrath of God abiding on them (John 3:36b). That fact makes me mourn over those who are still lost…separated from God by their sins (Isaiah 59:2). I’ve mourned over a lot of things, including the death of some people very dear to me, but I’ve also mourned over the sins I did because I know that they do not please God. My love for God makes me mourn over my own sins, knowing how it hurts our fellowship.

Grieving
Everyone goes through a time of grief, and if you have a friend or family member who’s going through a time of grief right now, all you can do is mourn with them. When words fail us, we can simply sit with them quietly, acknowledging how sorry we are for what’s happened. Sometimes, fewer words are better. In the funerals I’ve presided over, I can see the grief just pouring over the family like rain. They have lost someone close to them, and they know, their world will never be the same, but it’s different for believers. We don’t grieve like the world does.

We have hope after death. We know it’s not, “Goodbye,” but “See you later,” so if you know of someone who is mourning, offer to be there for them; bring them meals; or do anything you can for them. I want those who’ve lost their beloved ones who died in the faith to know that the Apostle Paul said “about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thess 4:13), and “since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep” (1 Thess 4:14). Do you see? The ones who’ve passed into glory are not dead, because He is the God of the living and not the dead (Matt 22:32; Mark 12:27). That is our hope. We who have trusted in Christ will see them again. That should give us some comfort.

Mourning’s End
Blessed are those who mourn, for one day they will be comforted, and comforted beyond all measure. The Apostle John writes about a time when “the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev 21:3-4). God Himself desires this time to come too because we know what God thinks about the death of His saints.

It is as the psalmist declares, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” (Psalm 116:15). Even in Job’s day, thousands of years before the cross, Job was convinced “that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another” (Job 19:25-27). Daniel also wrote of the resurrection of the dead, writing that “many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Dan 12:2).

Made Alive
At one time in our lives, we were dead in our sins (Eph 2:1-7), but when the Spirit of God quickened us to new life in Christ, the separation between us and God was gone. We might have cried out like Paul, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death,” but like Paul, we also knew the answer, saying, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin” (Rom 7:24-25). So now we can almost taunt death’s dark, icy grip, saying, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting” (1 Cor 15:55)?

I’ll tell you where deaths sting is at. It’s like the honey bee that stings dad in the car. His son is panicking, believing it’ll sting him too, but the father says, “Son…its okay. I took the stinger. He can’t hurt you anymore.” Jesus took on death and defeated it. “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 15:56-57), the sting is gone, but this is only true “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you” (Rom 8:11).

Conclusion
If you’re mourning, then say, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Cor 1:3-4). Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matt 5:4), but God may want to use you to do that comforting. We are to be an extension of the work of God here on earth, and that will mean we comfort others, just as others, at God’s direction, have comforted us.

The same kind of comfort we’ve received from others, we are to give to others. If you have never trusted in Christ, you too will mourn. Maybe not today, but someday, perhaps at Jesus’ return (Rev 1:7), or after death (Heb 9:27), and that mourning will be forever more (Rev 20:12-15). That is why I urgently plead with you to repent of your sins and place your trust in Christ now. If not today, when? Today is the best of days to trust in Christ because tomorrow has no guarantee of even getting here.
 
After the Epidemic, Should Churches Retain Social-Distancing?




During the COVID-19 epidemic, churches have implemented rigorous social-distancing and hygiene protocols. But after this particular disease runs its course, it might come back. Other epidemics might break out. And there are lots of other diseases out there that people can catch. Should churches continue their anti-coronavirus practices to keep people from getting sick?
Some people are advocating that, at least to a certain extent. Gordon College biology professor Craig Story has published an interesting article in Christianity Today: Biologist: COVID-19 Made Me Reevaluate Church Hygiene Practices with the deck [that is, a description of the story after the headline] “Churches have responded to public health issues before. Will today’s pandemic change future practices?”
From the article:
Congregational singing is getting most of the attention today, but there are so many other opportunities to spread contagious illness at church. The moment you enter, a greeter offers a warm handshake; then church members enthusiastically exchange the passing of the peace with a touch, handshake, or hug. Next, an usher circulates the offering plate around, and then—everyone partakes in Communion.
Will the lessons we are learning now lead to permanent changes in church practices?
He raises the prospect of choir singers wearing masks to prevent their joyful noise projecting infected particles into the air. Air-borne diseases are less transmittable outside, so maybe churches should move out of their sanctuaries to hold outdoor services. As for Communion, that is going to be unsanitary however you practice it.
Here is what some congregations are considering and doing [my bolds]:
Andrew Smith, a pastor in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, mentioned the likelihood of not holding a separate children’s ministry and said, “we’ll probably look at two services instead of one to allow for social distancing.” Alex Burgess of Ward Hill, Massachusetts, and Steve North of Grand Rapids, Michigan, both mentioned holding outdoor services, weather permitting. . . .

Several of the pastors in my personal network have been working to make Communion more pandemic-proof, including having people bring their own elements. One fascinating variation is from pastor Micah Smith of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. He mentioned that his church tried doing online Communion by pantomime, with no elements, explaining he’d heard of persecuted churches doing this in prison. “I wanted to borrow meaning from that practice of Communion when we don’t have full gathering as we can’t all be together, rather than everyone grab whatever bread and whatever drink they choose,” he said. “That felt individualistic, and I wanted to feel the loss of our full practice even while observing it.”
Prof. Story says that new research shows that just being outside is not the protection it was thought to be. He recounts how the little individualized plastic cups replaced the common chalice in many church bodies, due at first to an article in a medical journal in 1897. The switch was accelerated, he says, due to racism, so that white people would not have to drink from the same cup as black people. (But were churches that integrated in the early 1900’s?) The AIDS epidemic also caused many congregations to switch to the plastic shot glasses, though research found that the disease couldn’t be spread that way.


“Though the single-cup movement was correct that a shared Communion cup is not a good public health practice,” Prof. Story concludes, “this coronavirus outbreak, as well as common colds, flu and such are very likely to spread in churches whether or not Communion is happening.”
He says that churches should incorporate common-sense measures, such as more hand-washing and more intentional cleaning. Members–including choir members–should get in the habit of wearing a mask when they are sick (for example, when they have a cold and are coughing or sneezing). But probably not otherwise, unless another specific epidemic breaks out.

He doesn’t really address whether or not churches should have greeters, passing of the peace, offering plates. and the informal hugging and hand-shakes that have become staples of congregational fellowship.
I agree that common sense is called for. I have heard calls for “courage” in the face of disease, but the issue, especially for Christians, should not be so much fear that I will get sick, as fear that I might cause someone else to get sick. Not love of self, but love of neighbor.

But there is another issue: Do we really think we can protect ourselves from the human condition? Disease has afflicted human beings from the beginning, and eventually our bodies will break down and the consequent disorders will kill us. Yes, modern medicine is doing wonders, and we should encourage and be glad of that. But it has its limits. We can’t expect to be perfectly insulated from every thing that can make us sick or kill us.
Yet we seem to have that expectation. We cannot attain a social utopia or perfect health or constant happiness. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do what we can to improve our society or our personal well-being. But we shouldn’t let unrealistic expectations harm our society or our well-being.
Even if churches cut out singing and all human contact, its members will still get sick and will still eventually die. The same will be true for people who only worship online or who never worship at all.

Human beings breathe the same air, touch each other, and touch the same things. We are not isolated individuals in bubbles; rather, we are all bound together and share the same condition. This is why we can have empathy and solidarity with each other.
This is also why God gave us an immune system. Yes, it can get overwhelmed and it might not work when it encounters something that it has never dealt with before. But our immune system does protect us from the everyday germs and viruses that are all around us. And if our level of hygiene were so complete that our immune system had never encountered them, we would be vulnerable to the least bacteria that slipped through.
We dare not become so careful, so averse to any kind of risk, that we pull away from each other. That would make communities, economies, nations, cultures, and churches impossible.
 
Concerning Joy
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.

Isaiah 55:12 NIV

__________________

The LORD is my strength and song,
and is become my salvation.

The voice of rejoicing and salvation
is in the tabernacles of the righteous:
the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

Psalm 118:14,15 KJV

__________________

These things I have spoken to you
so that My joy may be in you,
and that your joy may be made full.

John 15:11 NASB

__________________

Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.
 
“Pray one for another.”

James 5:16

As an encouragement cheerfully to offer intercessory prayer, remember that such prayer is the sweetest God ever hears, for the prayer of Christ is of this character. In all the incense which our Great High Priest now puts into the golden censer, there is not a single grain for himself. His intercession must be the most acceptable of all supplications — and the more like our prayer is to Christ's, the sweeter it will be; thus while petitions for ourselves will be accepted, our pleadings for others, having in them more of the fruits of the Spirit, more love, more faith, more brotherly kindness, will be, through the precious merits of Jesus, the sweetest oblation that we can offer to God, the very fat of our sacrifice.

Remember, again, that intercessory prayer is exceedingly prevalent. What wonders it has wrought! The Word of God teems with its marvellous deeds. Believer, thou hast a mighty engine in thy hand, use it well, use it constantly, use it with faith, and thou shalt surely be a benefactor to thy brethren. When thou hast the King's ear, speak to him for the suffering members of his body. When thou art favoured to draw very near to his throne, and the King saith to thee, “Ask, and I will give thee what thou wilt,” let thy petitions be, not for thyself alone, but for the many who need his aid.

If thou hast grace at all, and art not an intercessor, that grace must be small as a grain of mustard seed. Thou hast just enough grace to float thy soul clear from the quicksand, but thou hast no deep floods of grace, or else thou wouldst carry in thy joyous bark a weighty cargo of the wants of others, and thou wouldst bring back from thy Lord, for them, rich blessings which but for thee they might not have obtained:

“Oh, let my hands forget their skill,
My tongue be silent, cold, and still,
This bounding heart forget to beat,
If I forget the mercy-seat!”
 
4 lessons we MUST teach our kids about racism




I vividly remember the first time I had a racist thought. I was a young kid at my Grandma’s house. She’s a woman of predominantly caucasian descent, but she had a Cherokee Great Grandmother and she has always felt a deep connection to her Native American heritage. She was telling me the story of the Trail of Tears and Wounded Knee where thousands of Native Americans were slaughtered by the United States Military. She paused to reflect on the tragedy of those events, and she said, “When I think about the oppression of those people, I can’t help but think ‘I hate the white man.'”
I thought about the terrible injustices of the past, and an angry thought flashed through my young mind… “I hate the white man too.”
The irony, of course, is that I’m a white dude.

In the young mind and heart of a child, there’s a sort of “wet cement” and the impressions that are made there harden over time. Racism, in any form, is a learned trait (you never see infants or toddlers avoiding each other in the nursery because of skin tone). Whenever we categorize a group of people as a nameless, faceless mass of color (whether the color be white, brown or something else), we’re stripping away the humanity of people and committing the sin of racism and we’re teaching our kids to do the same.

Racism hurts people, but we can’t seem to get past it. We can’t seem to find ways to have honest, healthy conversations about issues of race. We can’t celebrate a sense of unified brotherhood through our beautiful differences. The recent riots in Baltimore are yet another example of the current crisis and why we must do more to promote real hope and healing and not just artificial harmony.
As a Christian, I believe one of our highest callings is the promote unification among God’s people throughout the nations. Jesus taught so much about this. It should be a big part of our mission, and this is why I feel it’s heartbreaking to see our churches remaining some of the most segregated places in our societies. The Church should be on the front lines of racial reconciliation and unity.
This all begins with teaching the right lessons to our children early on and then doing our best to live out these principles in our own generation as well. There are many lessons that need to be taught beyond the four listed below, but I believe these four foundational truths are a great place to start.

1. ALL people are created in God’s image.
The Bible teaches that God created all people in His image, so to condemn or mistreat any person who is created in God’s image is really an insult to their Creator.
“There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.Galatians 3:28
2. Critique and challenge your own culture; not somebody else’s.



Ethnicity (or race) is permanent and out of our control. It’s sacred and nothing we should critique, rank or judge. “Culture” is different. A person’s culture is a learned, shared set of norms, beliefs and values. Since our culture is something that is taught, it is also something that is open to critique. We need to have the courage to have honest conversations about the cultural values we’re teaching to our own kids and challenge those norms when they don’t line up with wisdom and truth of God’s Word. Instead of critiquing the cultures of others, we must start with our own.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3

3. There’s really no “them.” There’s only “us.”

The moment we allow race or skin tone to draw lines of separation, we’ve all lost! This isn’t about a loyalty to one particular race (which can lead to a false sense of supremacy and eventually to mistreatment of others). Our goal is to have unity in the midst of our beautiful diversity. Christ died for all people, so we should love all people. Seek to understand where others are coming from. Don’t be so quick to get offended. We’re all on the same side (or at least, we should be)!
“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” James 1:19

4. The only cure for racism is love.
This might sound like a cheesy bumper sticker, but love is much more than just a feeling or giving someone a hug. Love is a passionate commitment given for the sake of another. Love, not politics or prejudices, is what will eventually heal the wounds of racism.
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8
 

On His Side
The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.

Deuteronomy 28:7 NIV

__________________

That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

Luke 1:74,75 KJV

__________________

"No weapon that is formed
against you will prosper;
And every tongue that accuses
you in judgment you will condemn.

This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
And their vindication is from Me," declares the LORD.

Isaiah 54:17 NASB

__________________

Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.
 
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling.”

2 Timothy 1:9

The apostle uses the perfect tense and says, “Who hath saved us.” Believers in Christ Jesus are saved. They are not looked upon as persons who are in a hopeful state, and may ultimately be saved, but they are already saved. Salvation is not a blessing to be enjoyed upon the dying bed, and to be sung of in a future state above, but a matter to be obtained, received, promised, and enjoyed now. The Christian is perfectly saved in God's purpose; God has ordained him unto salvation, and that purpose is complete.

He is saved also as to the price which has been paid for him: “It is finished” was the cry of the Savior ere he died. The believer is also perfectly saved in his covenant head, for as he fell in Adam, so he lives in Christ. This complete salvation is accompanied by a holy calling. Those whom the Savior saved upon the cross are in due time effectually called by the power of God the Holy Spirit unto holiness: they leave their sins; they endeavor to be like Christ; they choose holiness, not out of any compulsion, but from the stress of a new nature, which leads them to rejoice in holiness just as naturally as aforetime they delighted in sin.

God neither chose them nor called them because they were holy, but he called them that they might be holy, and holiness is the beauty produced by his workmanship in them. The excellencies which we see in a believer are as much the work of God as the atonement itself. Thus is brought out very sweetly the fulness of the grace of God.

Salvation must be of grace, because the Lord is the author of it: and what motive but grace could move him to save the guilty? Salvation must be of grace, because the Lord works in such a manner that our righteousness is for ever excluded. Such is the believer's privilege—a present salvation; such is the evidence that he is called to it—a holy life.
 
Mark of the Beast? Microchips to replace credit cards, car keys



This is not a joke or fake news. This is actually happening right now.
The Independent reports that Swedish workers were implanted with microchips– the size of one grain of rice– to replace cash cards and ID passes.
Microchips are injected in between the thumb and index figure and injected with a syringe.
The Associated Press reports:
“What could pass for a dystopian vision of the workplace is almost routine at the Swedish startup hub Epicenter. The company offers to implant its workers and startup members with microchips the size of grains of rice that function as swipe cards: to open doors, operate printers, or buy smoothies with a wave of the hand.”
The injections have become so popular that workers at Epicenter hold parties for those willing to get implanted.
Patrick Mesterton, co-founder and CEO of Epicenter, says the microchip basically “replaces a lot of things you have, other communication devices, whether it be credit cards or keys.”
The human microchip is similar to the one used for pets. Except these chips show how often an employee comes to work or what they buy at a store.
Epicenter oversees more than 100 companies and roughly 2,000 employees. It began implanting some employees with microchips four years ago, in January 2015.
A volunteer getting a chip implanted in his hand (EPA)
Microchips use near field communication (NFC) technology– the same used for contactless credit cards or mobile payments– to transfer a small amount of data between two devices through electromagnetic waves.


Imagine having your hand hacked– which is a possibility.
According to Ben Libberton, a microbiologist at Stockholm’s Karolinska Institute, he told the AP that hackers “could conceivably gain huge swathes of information from embedded microchips,” creating huge ethical dilemmas.

“The data that you could possibly get from a chip that is embedded in your body is a lot different from the data that you can get from a smartphone,” he told the AP. “Conceptually you could get data about your health, you could get data about your whereabouts, how often you’re working, how long you’re working, if you’re taking toilet breaks and things like that.”

Microchips throw privacy out the window. Imagine all of the data collected and stored in your hand– what happens to it, who uses it, for what and why– is completely out of the control of the user. People who willingly become chipped are quite literally giving their lives away.
In a remarkable turn of events: “The implants have become so popular that Epicenter workers stage monthly events where attendees have the option of being ‘chipped’ for free.”
 
Let Us Humble Ourselves
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,
who put darkness for light and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight.

Isaiah 5:20,21 NIV

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Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Galatians 6:1-3 KJV

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For it is not he who commends himself that is approved,
but he whom the Lord commends.

2 Corinthians 10:18 NASB

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Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.
 
“Remove far from me vanity and lies.”

Proverbs 30:8

“O my God, be not far from me.”

— Psalm 38:21

Here we have two great lessons—what to deprecate and what to supplicate. The happiest state of a Christian is the holiest state. As there is the most heat nearest to the sun, so there is the most happiness nearest to Christ. No Christian enjoys comfort when his eyes are fixed on vanity—he finds no satisfaction unless his soul is quickened in the ways of God. The world may win happiness elsewhere, but he cannot. I do not blame ungodly men for rushing to their pleasures. Why should I? Let them have their fill. That is all they have to enjoy. A converted wife who despaired of her husband was always very kind to him, for she said, “I fear that this is the only world in which he will be happy, and therefore I have made up my mind to make him as happy as I can in it.” Christians must seek their delights in a higher sphere than the insipid frivolities or sinful enjoyments of the world. Vain pursuits are dangerous to renewed souls.

We have heard of a philosopher who, while he looked up to the stars, fell into a pit; but how deeply do they fall who look down. Their fall is fatal. No Christian is safe when his soul is slothful, and his God is far from him. Every Christian is always safe as to the great matter of his standing in Christ, but he is not safe as regards his experience in holiness, and communion with Jesus in this life. Satan does not often attack a Christian who is living near to God. It is when the Christian departs from his God, becomes spiritually starved, and endeavours to feed on vanities, that the devil discovers his vantage hour. He may sometimes stand foot to foot with the child of God who is active in his Master's service, but the battle is generally short: he who slips as he goes down into the Valley of Humiliation, every time he takes a false step invites Apollyon to assail him. O for grace to walk humbly with our God!
 

Seek Him!
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey him.

For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath.

Deuteronomy 4:29-31 NIV

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Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy;
break up your fallow ground:
for it is time to seek the LORD,
till He come and rain righteousness upon you.

Hosea 10:12 KJV

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The LORD also will be a
stronghold for the oppressed,
A stronghold in times of trouble;

And those who know Your name
will put their trust in You,

For You, O LORD, have not forsaken
those who seek You.

Sing praises to the LORD,
who dwells in Zion;
Declare among the peoples His deeds.

Psalm 9:9-11 NASB

__________________

Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.
 
“There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle.”

Psalm 76:3

Our Redeemer's glorious cry of “It is finished,” was the death-knell of all the adversaries of his people, the breaking of “the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle.” Behold the hero of Golgotha using his cross as an anvil, and his woes as a hammer, dashing to shivers bundle after bundle of our sins, those poisoned “arrows of the bow;” trampling on every indictment, and destroying every accusation.

What glorious blows the mighty Breaker gives with a hammer far more ponderous than the fabled weapon of Thor! How the diabolical darts fly to fragments, and the infernal bucklers are broken like potters’ vessels! Behold, he draws from its sheath of hellish workmanship the dread sword of Satanic power! He snaps it across his knee, as a man breaks the dry wood of a fagot, and casts it into the fire. Beloved, no sin of a believer can now be an arrow mortally to wound him, no condemnation can now be a sword to kill him, for the punishment of our sin was borne by Christ, a full atonement was made for all our iniquities by our blessed Substitute and Surety.

Who now accuseth? Who now condemneth? Christ hath died, yea rather, hath risen again. Jesus has emptied the quivers of hell, has quenched every fiery dart, and broken off the head of every arrow of wrath; the ground is strewn with the splinters and relics of the weapons of hell's warfare, which are only visible to us to remind us of our former danger, and of our great deliverance.

Sin hath no more dominion over us. Jesus has made an end of it, and put it away for ever. O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end. Talk ye of all the wondrous works of the Lord, ye who make mention of his name, keep not silence, neither by day, nor when the sun goeth to his rest. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
 
Christian Worship Is a Discipline, Not a Fun Experience




In January, I joined a gym and signed myself up for some personal training.
My previous personal attitude to strenuous physical activity could be summed up with this great t-shirt slogan, “No Pain, No Pain,” but now in my mid-30s, you might say I’ve lost a bit of my fire, which honestly never burned too hot to begin with. I worked out off and on in college, always stopping when my biceps and waistline started showing the first signs of improvement. I owe it to myself and my family to make some lasting changes this time around, and as a Christian, I really have no other choice. Not caring for my body as I ought is sin, and it’s one that I’m particularly apt to excuse in myself.

I’m not going to lie. Sometimes I really, really hate working out. I don’t like getting up early. Completing each exercise tries my patience. And though it’s getting better with time, it still often feels like I’m punishing myself.
My trainer, Ryan, is quite possibly the nicest person on the face of the earth – seriously, the guy is a real prince – but a lot of mornings, I’m not crazy about him, either.
But this is good for me. I know it is. So I continue to go.
And a funny thing is starting to happen. It’s getting better. I’m feeling stronger. I have more energy for the people and work that I love. My mind feels clearer and sharper, too. Hopefully, when the time comes for my annual physical in a few months, there will be more evidence of positive effects on my health because of the working out, combined with my other resolution to stop eating so much crap.

It’s the same with worship. We go because we need to. The gifts Jesus offers us in the liturgy are to our great benefit, so much so that living a healthy Christian life apart from them is impossible. Some people who call themselves Christians want you to believe otherwise. They tell you that worship is personal. That you need to find the style of worship that fits you just right, gives you nice feelings about Jesus, and allows you to express yourself. They are wrong. They are telling you a lie that defies biblical teaching and 2000 years of church history. What the liturgy affords you is something that you cannot get from being in nature, or playing golf, or repaying your weekly sleep debt.

The fact that I even need to say this would suggest that it’s not all that easy. If worship consistently gave us good feelings, entertained us, and hit our felt needs straight on, churches everyone would be packed. But that’s not how it works. Doing historic, liturgical Christian worship demands a lot out of you. You have to pray things that seem foreign. You have to sing music that is different than what you hear everywhere else. You have to continually humble yourself and admit your full reliance on God.


Hopefully, as the discipline of worship is cultivated within us, things will get a bit easier. The act of physically getting your tired carcass to the church building will become a habit. The patterns of prayer practiced on Sundays will bear fruit in your personal acts of devotion and worship. By God’s grace, He will create in you an awareness of the marvelous salvation offered through His Son.

Sometimes, you will find that you enjoy liturgy. The beauty of the refined language will resonate. The weekly proclamation of the Gospel will overwhelm you. That’s all well and good, but still, be careful! These feeling do not legitimize the discipline, and they should always be subject to your will. Whatever our emotions tell us, we should always approach liturgy with a sense of sobriety and seriousness.

That is the real danger in the entertainment, pop-worship church. They do everything they can do to arouse good feelings within you through their music and their charismatic leaders so that the feelings take your will captive. But the experience of an emotional high is not worship, and you need to run from any place that tries this approach. They probably don’t even realize it, but they are manipulating you.

Seriously! Leave them behind, and get out!
Find a church that is actually historically liturgical; find one which holds both preaching the Word and administering the Sacraments in high regard. If your church looks and feels like a jesusy rock concert, you need to find a new one. If it is a country club atmosphere with no real seriousness toward the gospel and liturgy, you need to find a new one. If they talk all about justice but never about the Gospel of Jesus, you need to find a new one. If they cater to your tastes with a bunch of diverse worship “styles,” you need to find a new one. It is not getting any earlier. You’re not getting any younger. It won’t get any easier than it is right now. Stop looking for an emotional experience, and start cultivating some discipline.
 
8 Rules for Effective Family Meetings During COVID-19



While not an original concept, a family meeting can take on new meaning during COVID-19 when family members are sharing spaces and trying to work and spend leisure time at home. Patience can be in short supply when families have concerns about health, money, lack of childcare, and limited resources.

Family meetings can be useful to plan events and to hash out new roles, rules and problems that exist between family members. For the most part, a family meeting is a good place to be vulnerable with each other and to let your feelings, thoughts, and needs be heard by other members in a safe atmosphere. As long as feelings are stated in a non-blameful way, solutions can be reached through compromise and good listening skills discussed under “8 Rules of Family Meetings” below.
The immense effort it can take to get all family members together is one space is worthwhile in most cases. But by no stretch of the imagination are these meetings easy or without conflict. The most important aspects of the family meeting are structure, flexibility, active listening, and having a recorder to write all your findings down.
Here are 4 Tips for Setting Up Family Meetings:
  1. All members need to have choices regarding the day and time of the meeting. It’s important to try not to leave anyone out, meet on a regular basis, and set a time limit.
  2. Family members are advised to write down complaints, suggestions, or grievances on a slip and put them in a box. A meeting can be held when there are several slips in the box or about once a week.
  3. It is a good idea to request a different volunteer at each meeting to be a scribe and to keep these notes in an agreed upon location in your home.
  4. Any family member can request a family meeting with at least one days’ notice given to other members.
8 Rules of Family Meetings:
  1. Practice tolerance and fairness. The thoughts and feelings of all family members count equally regardless of age or status.
  2. All family members turn off electronic devices during meetings unless someone is on call or has an elderly relative.
  3. Ask a volunteer to write down the agenda for the next meeting and to post it in a prominent place in your home.
  4. Feelings are accepted and validated and not judged to be right or wrong, reasonable or unreasonable.
  5. No accusations and name-calling are allowed at meetings. The best way to avoid this is to use “I” statements rather than “You” statements. For instance, if you are feeling upset because your kids leave their dishes in the sink, it’s more effective to say, “I would appreciate it if you’d put your dishes in the dishwasher,” rather than “You kids are slobs and never clean up after yourself.”
  6. The problem-solving stage comes next, and this is the time for compromise after brainstorming solutions. The adults need to take the lead here because they have more experience. However, children often come up with creative solutions and feel empowered when they can share them without criticism. Once a solution has been accepted by most family members, write it down and post it in a location in our home for all to view.
  7. Take a Break if anyone feels flooded. If there’s a lot of conflict between family members, it’s a good idea to take a twenty-minute break or schedule a smaller meeting for members when family members can more easily feel validated and work towards a compromise. But don’t let more than twenty-four hours go by until you meet again.
  8. End family meetings on a positive note. Be sure to conclude meetings with positive feedback and encouragement so that family members will feel okay or even good about coming to meetings again.


Keep in mind that the focus of a family meeting is to address how the family is doing as a whole, rather than individual grievances. Be sure that everyone has a chance to speak and be heard. All family members are advised to validate the feelings of other members and to show respect during meetings. Playing a game of cards or a board game at the conclusion of the meeting can help to encourage bonding, good communication, and more good times during family meetings!
 

He Comforts Us
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her that her
hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from
the LORD's hand double for all her sins.

Isaiah 40:1,2 NIV

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Though the LORD be high,
yet hath he respect unto the lowly:
but the proud he knoweth afar off.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
thou wilt revive me:
thou shalt stretch forth thine hand
against the wrath of mine enemies,
and thy right hand shall save me.

Psalm 138:6,7 KJV

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"The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, every man to his home, and will leave me alone; yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

John 16:32,33 RSV

__________________

Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.
 
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