Category: Uncategorized

Are You Prepared?

Once upon a time, I was a boy scout. Their motto at that time was, “Be Prepared.” Of course, this was long before they pandered to the feminists, homosexuals, and the politically correct crowd. But, I digress. My question to you is, Are you prepared?

I have recently read or seen several news stories about people who were caught up in the “peaceful” protests” and were unable to get help from the police. In some cases, they didn’t respond. In at least two instances, they told the caller to contact the city hall and complain to them. In one occurrence, the “peaceful” protesters surrounded a car containing a young mother and her young child. The dispatcher told her to be sure not to hit anyone with her car and to contact city hall because the police were told not to intervene in the protests. The woman and child were terrified. In another, the “peaceful” protesters broke and destroyed a gate that led to private property and started marching and yelling in front of a residence. In this instance, the property owners armed themselves with a rifle and a handgun and stood outside. This case really troubled me because the individuals obviously had no idea how to handle these weapons.

I saw this husband and wife display their weapons most carelessly and dangerously. The husband pointed his rifle at his wife on more than one occasion while his hand was near the trigger. The wife pointed her handgun in a way that reminded me of someone painting a wall. Her arms were bent, and the gun was about six inches in front of her face. If she had fired the weapon, she would most likely have missed her target and would have to get stitches in her face.

I am a 100% supporter of the 2nd Amendment of the United States’ Constitution. I believe that it clearly allows those who want to own firearms to do so without their right being “infringed” upon. However, if you exercise that right, you should know how to use the weapon you choose. This is just plain common sense. Unfortunately, the time in which we live is causing people to endanger themselves and others.

Firearms are selling at such a pace that the manufacturers cannot keep up with the demand. Why? Because people are scared. We watch on TV the arson, riots, and violence against innocent people. We hear the leaders of this anarchy say that it will continue and move out into the suburbs. These mobs start up fast and random. We have been trained for decades to call 911 when we need help, but now there may be no help coming. We cannot expect help from the police, and when we take action on our own, we can expect the law to go after us. So, we must be diligent in how we decide to defend our families and protect our property.

I am a veteran as well as a retired police officer, and I know how to use firearms. If you choose to protect yourself with them, please learn how to use them properly. If not, you may cause more harm than good.

Let’s Keep’em on the Plantation

I bet when you saw that headline, you thought this was going to be some racist rant, didn’t you? But no, it’s not. The headline should be the motto for the DemocRAT Party.

Despite the Republican Party being responsible for ending slavery, ending Jim Crow laws, desegregation of schools, criminal justice reform, and much more, somehow, the DemocRATS have hoodwinked many of the Black-Americans into supporting them. This is despite them opposing every legislation to help themselves. The DemocRATS have, in fact, kept many of the black people on the plantation and are still using them to serve their own agenda.

As a matter of fact, not much has changed since 1865. In 1865 slaves were housed and provided for by the plantation owners. Today, many are provided for by money that the white people pay in taxes. Instead of being kept on farms, they are kept in the inner cities. In 1865, slaves were not taught to read, write, or any other educational benefits. Today, the inner-city schools, which are made up primarily of blacks, are the worst in the Country. Recently in Baltimore, there was not one student that could pass a basic math class, much less English.

What the DemocRATS have done is to create their very own plantations right in the middle of the big cities which they run. There is no easy path for someone born into that situation to get out. There is no incentive for them to stop having babies they can’t afford. I’ve already mentioned Baltimore, so let’s look at that city.

Baltimore has been the scene of protests and riots like many other large cities. The protestors/rioters are upset about the police as well as their living conditions. They want to blame white people and especially President Trump (who has only been an elected official for 3 1/2 years). However, for as long as anyone can remember this is who is in charge of Baltimore: black Democrat representative in Congress, Democrat black mayor, Democrat black deputy mayor, Democrat black attorney general, 100% Democrat black council, Democrat black police commissioner, Democrat black police chief, and a Democrat black deputy police chief. This makeup is similar in almost every large city. So, who is to blame? As Dr. Phil would say, “How’s that working out?”

It’s time to wake up (not to be confused with “woke”). Vote out all these DemocRATS that are keeping the blacks in modern-day slavery and replace them with Republicans who want to help get them off the plantation.

Of course, this is just my humble opinion.

“…Burn it Down.”

A Black Lives Matter leader told Fox News on Wednesday evening that if they are not given what they want then they will “burn down” the system.

Hawk Newsome, head of Black Lives Matter for Greater New York, part of the neo-Marxist Black Lives Matter movement, made the remarks in a combative interview with Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum. Threats like this are allowed because of weak politicians who are more concerned about staying in power than the good of the Country.

Will the communist BLM along with Antifa “burn it down?” My prediction is that they will try to do it no matter the outcome of the election in November. Why? You may ask. Well, the reason is that these groups along with their financial backers want a new country. Mr. Newsome went on to say,  “I just want black liberation and black sovereignty, by any means necessary.” What do you think that means? Do you think this is going to happen by means of those “peaceful” protests the liberal media and the DemocRATS keep telling us about? Not a chance!

The groundwork for this uprising was laid long ago by those that hate the USA. President Obama stirred the pot causing more dissention between the races than anyone before him. When Donald Trump won the 2016 election, Obama and his fellow ‘RATS like Pelosi, Schumer, Nadler, and Schiff, threw gasoline on the fire that had already been ignited. How will this end? Sadly, I don’t think it will be peaceful.

Had God Had Enough?

It seems as if most Christians today have little regard for the Old Testament. We seldom hear sermons from it and almost never study an entire book. I believe we (Americans) are missing so much. The OT is in the Bible so that we can learn about the history of Israel and, hopefully, learn from their mistakes. I believe the Israelites in the OT are representative of the USA today. There are so many similarities that it is no doubt that is the case.

The Israelites were given the promised land. It was a land rich with everything. They had to take it away from those that were already inhabiting it. Those inhabitants did not worship the true God. They worshiped idols and gods of the earth. These people had to be displaced.

The Puritans were looking for a place rich with everything and where they could worship according to their beliefs without persecution. They found that land in America. However, America was also inhabited by people that did not worship the true God. They worshiped idols and earthly gods. These people too, had to be displaced.

The Israelites were a blessed people. As long as they obeyed God and His rules, they didn’t have to worry about anything. They were protected from other peoples and destruction from other sources. Unfortunately, by reading the OT we learn that they continually turned their backs on God. He would send plagues and prophets to get their attention. Finally, He had enough. I encourage you to read Jeremiah, Lamentations, Hosea, and Malachi, as well as other books in the OT and see what happened to the Israelites.

Now, compare the Israelites to us. There is no doubt the USA was a blessed country. It was founded on Christian principles. George Washington and the first Congress dedicated our Country to God. They all, every one of them, got on their knees and prayed immediately after his inauguration at St Paul’s Chapel in NYC.

Look at the history of our Country. We most certainly mirror the ancient Israelites. Has God finally had enough of our rebellion? Has He finally had enough of the slaughter of millions and millions of babies? Has He finally had enough of the mockery of His Word? The answer is, I don’t know. What I do know is that the only chance we have is told to us in 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 CSB:

If I shut the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the grasshopper to consume the land, or if I send pestilence on my people, [14] and my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

Coronapocalipse 2020

During the Coronapocalypse. Remember that God is still on His throne and in control. Some have said this is a judgment from Him. I don’t know if it is or isn’t. We just need to keep a pure heart by confessing our sins to God and repenting from them. Use common sense and don’t panic. If you have an opportunity to help a brother or sister, then do it. If God chooses to take me during this crisis, then He surely will do it.

This virus may get worse, but should we live in fear and isolation? Should the fear of dying cause us to hoard food and deprive others of the opportunity to buy what they may need?

If you are a Christian, then we should always be ready to go. The Bible tells us that “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” It also tells us in James 4:17, “To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” As a Christian you should “count others as more important than yourself.”

So, remember to “love the Lord your God with all your strength” and “love others as you love yourself.” We must do this regardless of the circumstances or the situation.

All Sins Are Not Equal

Some Christians claim that all sin is the same in God’s eyes whether someone tells a white lie, or someone commits murder. In one sense, this is true since all sin, whether a white lie or murder, will keep you out of heaven. But that is as far as it goes. As Protestants, we must always go back to the Bible to see where we have wandered from the truth. We often believe something is biblical just because it feels spiritual, we’ve heard other Christians say it or a major denominational leader believes it to be true. However, we must go back to the text every time.

Referring back to the text corrects the idea that “God helps those who help themselves” (Benjamin Franklin, not God). It equips us to discern whether cleanliness is, in fact, next to godliness (I have no idea where that comes from). And I believe it can help with another common statement I repeatedly hear Christians say: “All sins are equal.”

When confronted about their sin, I’ve heard people say, “All sins are equal, so who are you to rebuke me? Your problem with pride is as bad as my (insert sin here).”

I’ve heard people say that greed is as bad as abortion, selfishness is as bad as divorce and slander is as bad as murder. But are these claims in line with what the Bible actually says?

All Sins Are Not Equal

The Bible is clear that all sins are not equal:

  1. In John 19:11, Jesus says to Pilate, “…he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” Jesus is saying that some sins are considered greater.
  2. In Ezekiel 8:6, Ezekiel is told “…But you will see still greater abominations.” This passage declares that some abominations or sinful actions are greater than others.
  3. In Matthew 5:19, Jesus rebukes anyone who “…relaxes one of the least of these commandments…” This verse reveals that some commands are lesser while others are weightier (Matt. 23:23).
  4. In Numbers 15, the Bible contrasts sin done unintentionally and sin done “with a high hand,” meaning sin done willingly while shaking one’s fist at God. Intentional sin is treated as far more offensive than unintentional sin.
  5. Unrepentant sins are worse than repentant sins. For example, someone who struggles with same-sex attraction but fights it because they love Christ is very different than someone who gives themselves over to their sin because they love the sin more than they love Christ (1 John 1:8-10).
  6. Jesus also taught all sins are not punished the same way inferring that there are degrees of sin. In Mathew 11:23-24 He says, “And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” In other words, because Capernaum witnessed firsthand the Son of God and saw and heard His miracles and teaching…when judgment comes they will suffer worst punishment in the eternal abode.
  7. When Jesus spoke of His Second Coming and judgment, He warned that among those deserving punishment some would “be beaten with many blows” and others “with few blows.” (Luke 12:47-48).
  8. The Apostle John distinguishes sins that do and do not inevitably lead to death (1 John 5:16).

Clearly, some sins are more offensive to God than others. Some sins are more high-handed. Some sins come from a much darker heart than others. Some sins will carry heavier consequences in this life, while some sins will hinder your relationship with God more than others.

…But All Sins Are Equal

But there is good news. When someone says all sins are equal, they are not entirely off base. All sins are equal in the sense that all sins are offensive to God. All sins are equal in that God demands perfection, and any sin makes you imperfect, thus, making you in need of a perfect Savior. The best news is that all sins are equal in that Jesus’ blood is enough to cover all of them. Whether it is abortion, lying, stealing, cursing, adultery, pride, pornography or gluttony, Christ’s blood is stronger than both the weakest and strongest of sins.

So How Should We Live?

This message offers a warning for those who are tempted to wander into darker and darker sins. Stay in the light. Stay away from things that will hurt you. Don’t allow the phrase “all sins are equal” to blind you from the damaging and damning effects of sin. Don’t fall for the trap that suggests you may as well sleep with the coworker you are flirting with since you have already committed adultery in your heart. Don’t buy into the lie that you might as well have premarital sex since you are addicted to porn, anyway. Lesser sins have a way of begetting greater ones.

Conversely, don’t be crushed by the lie that your sin is too great for the grace of God to cover. All sins may be unequal in the degree to which they offend God and harm others, but all sins are equal in their ability to be forgiven. We are not Christians with an asterisk. We are beloved children of God by adoption, and in Christ He sees us as perfect.

Race to the Finish

Life for the Christian is a race. Richard Petty, the king of racing, says, “To finish first, first you have to finish.” So it is for the Christian. Racers race for a certain amount of time to win trophies they can display. They have multiple races during a season to determine the champion. Christians have only one race that lasts a lifetime. Our goal is to win crowns that we will cast at our Savior’s feet when we get to Heaven. Just like racing cars, there is a strategy to race the Christian life. What we accomplish during our short time here in this life determines our rewards in Heaven.

Christians must live their lives with an all-out pursuit of Christ.  Those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb lean in, seeking to run longer, go higher, serve better, love deeper, and live more faithfully according to what God has given us in His Word. We pursue transformation into the image of our Savior from glory to glory, and we seek to help other believers do the same (2 Cor. 3:18). We run the race of faith set before us.

Ending the race well is not easy and is not an accident. Too many professing Christians try to please God with their own efforts. Others disregard God’s law entirely, distorting our freedom in Christ into lawlessness. Even worse, the church often encourages this.

I have seen it again and again as I read about what is going on in my own Southern Baptist Convention as well the UMC, PCUSA, and almost every other group calling themselves Christian. The focus has been lost somewhere along the line. Trying to do good, the church has taken its focus off the Gospel and put it on political, social, and cultural issues that at best are marginal to the Gospel. We too easily forget the Gospel of God’s grace that presents Christ alone as the Savior and Sanctifier of His people. He tells us who value the reign of God over their lives and who diligently pursue righteous living can trust God to satisfy all of their needs (Matt. 6:3).