In July of 1969 I was bleary-eyed before the TV switching from CBS to NBC watching the iconic mission into space: The first man to step foot on the moon in response to Jack Kennedy's challenge. Like many space geeks (that term wasn't even thought of back then) of the time, I glued to the tube watching every history making moment. This week will end a space shuttle era when Atlantis will deliver a load of supplies to the space station. The weather looks grim, but I know the mission will be a success because frankly, "failure is not an option."
Only 4 crew members will make this historic last flight. I find it bittersweet, and yet so exciting. The new program will make way for deeper space missions such as to asteroids and to Mars. I'm wondering why not use some of the resources found on the moon? Why not utilize our oh so efficient advanced technology to invent new things which would give us the opportunity to use our moon to advance into deeper space?
We have definitely benefited from our space exploration through new products...
We have come such a long way in 42 years since July 20, 1969 because of the Space Race. We have
Corningware™
pens that don't use gravity to write
freeze-dried beverages
cordless tools
ear thermometers
forehead thermometers (the really cool color temp gauge)
better baby food from algae experiments for long-term food usage closer to Mother's Milk than soy
Nitinol -- nickle/titanium alloy which has an unusual property. The NiTi wire will continually exert pressure on the braces with no need for wire tightening thus making the brace time shorter. Personally, when my wires were tightened, I couldn't eat anything for at least 3 days... wonder if this would be a good diet restricter, too.
Better pace makers
Protective paint
Smoke detectors
Shoe soles
Scratch resistant glasses
Water filters
Teflon
Disposable diapers -- absorbent gelatin that maintained a thermal balance
Memory foam
Micro-chips -- leading to desk top computers, leading to laptops, cell phones
Advanced robotic missions to the moon and into deep space
Satellites -- leading to GPS, global telecommunications
Hubble telescope
Reusable shuttle for trips back and forth into space
We owe a great deal to the space exploration endeavor in that the inventions make our lives easier and more comfortable with better communications worldwide. I tip my hat to NASA -- job well done.
Question: Can you think of any other inventions that I've overlooked or left out?
Bin Laden found by CIA man behind the scene
We all knew it, but here is a story of great perseverance to find the intractable terrorist.
When most of the movers and shakers in the CIA weren't so sure of who lived in the compound, "John" was, and pushed for an operation to take out Bin Laden. For months, Obama fretted over who or who was not in the compound, finally giving the go ahead in April. The CIA is being rightfully cautious in not revealing the names of those operatives involved in discovering the whereabouts of the murderer and assassin, bin Laden.
"John" toiled for ten years like a bloodhound on a fresh trail. His
I understand the prez's trepidation, but sometimes you just have to trust the person who has been dogging the trail of the most wanted man in the world. From September to April, the operation was grinding to a point of exposing the Islamic villain. "John" knew the courier would lead to the terrorist leader, and he kept updating the memo with fresh information. He finally had his man.
The fact that Pakistan was harboring the criminal is something that our country's heads of state should be deeply contemplating. This country has taken billions of dollars from us every year, and yet with the other hand has been doing some covering up of villainous acts and villainous people. In actual fact, that is an act of war. Yet, one of the most embarrassing presidents we've ever had is twiddling thumbs while Pakistan continues to accept billions of our tax payer dollars.
Yes, we need friends in that area of the world, but we need to be chary of friends with knives in their hands and fake smiles on their faces.
Whatever you want to say about the CIA and some of its more unsavory acts in times past, this agency did not just the United States but the whole world a great service in destroying the head of the snake called al-Qaeda.
When most of the movers and shakers in the CIA weren't so sure of who lived in the compound, "John" was, and pushed for an operation to take out Bin Laden. For months, Obama fretted over who or who was not in the compound, finally giving the go ahead in April. The CIA is being rightfully cautious in not revealing the names of those operatives involved in discovering the whereabouts of the murderer and assassin, bin Laden.
"John" toiled for ten years like a bloodhound on a fresh trail. His
I understand the prez's trepidation, but sometimes you just have to trust the person who has been dogging the trail of the most wanted man in the world. From September to April, the operation was grinding to a point of exposing the Islamic villain. "John" knew the courier would lead to the terrorist leader, and he kept updating the memo with fresh information. He finally had his man.
The fact that Pakistan was harboring the criminal is something that our country's heads of state should be deeply contemplating. This country has taken billions of dollars from us every year, and yet with the other hand has been doing some covering up of villainous acts and villainous people. In actual fact, that is an act of war. Yet, one of the most embarrassing presidents we've ever had is twiddling thumbs while Pakistan continues to accept billions of our tax payer dollars.
Yes, we need friends in that area of the world, but we need to be chary of friends with knives in their hands and fake smiles on their faces.
Whatever you want to say about the CIA and some of its more unsavory acts in times past, this agency did not just the United States but the whole world a great service in destroying the head of the snake called al-Qaeda.
Afghanistan: War without end
I'm not trying to beat a dead horse here, but the more I think about that Eugene city counsel, the angrier I get. The more I hear about Obama's plans for the Afghanistan war, the more nauseated I become. The more I hear about our soldiers with boots on the ground in Afghanistan the prouder of them I am. There truly is something great about our country and a lot of has to do with our soldiers!
Our country as a whole has no notion what real sacrifice is. We have grown so fat and complacent in our daily plenty, we don't know that our troops have blisters on their feet, our military live in tents, and our men are being killed all to pay the price of freedom.
The most recent attack in Kabul makes it clear the job is NOT done in Afghanistan, yet the idiot we call president has publicly declared the last day our men will be there. Oh, wait! It was after he announced the date 10,000 troops were leaving that the bomb dropped. Hello? Is there anything in there at all?
Our forefathers never went to war unless they were sure they could finish it, and they never went to war unless it was the right thing to do. As a young nation, we had to stand firm on baby legs, but the character and strength of men like George Washington, Samuel Adams, Admiral Farragut, Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Kit Carson and all the others helped to shape our nation into the giant it has become -- Paul Bunyan, move over!
Now we have people who break their word, who think things like Socialism and Fascism are good things even when they failed miserably in other nations.
Then we had people who lived by God's word, who believed in biblical principles and gauged character by those principles. Today, Christians are embarrassed by God and are apathetic to anything godly to the point of allowing a minority to decide saying the Pledge of Allegiance is divisive. The minority have no respect for our flag or for our country. Where is the patriotism, the pride, the character, and the love for Freedom in our country?
Afghanistan is a symptom of cancerous Taliban, not a war. It is indicative of the cancer the people of this world are suffering. If we allow the Taliban to overtake Afghanistan again, then we are Isaiah 58.
The question isn't "What should we do?" The question is "What does God desire us to do?"
Our country as a whole has no notion what real sacrifice is. We have grown so fat and complacent in our daily plenty, we don't know that our troops have blisters on their feet, our military live in tents, and our men are being killed all to pay the price of freedom.
The most recent attack in Kabul makes it clear the job is NOT done in Afghanistan, yet the idiot we call president has publicly declared the last day our men will be there. Oh, wait! It was after he announced the date 10,000 troops were leaving that the bomb dropped. Hello? Is there anything in there at all?
Our forefathers never went to war unless they were sure they could finish it, and they never went to war unless it was the right thing to do. As a young nation, we had to stand firm on baby legs, but the character and strength of men like George Washington, Samuel Adams, Admiral Farragut, Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Kit Carson and all the others helped to shape our nation into the giant it has become -- Paul Bunyan, move over!
Now we have people who break their word, who think things like Socialism and Fascism are good things even when they failed miserably in other nations.
Then we had people who lived by God's word, who believed in biblical principles and gauged character by those principles. Today, Christians are embarrassed by God and are apathetic to anything godly to the point of allowing a minority to decide saying the Pledge of Allegiance is divisive. The minority have no respect for our flag or for our country. Where is the patriotism, the pride, the character, and the love for Freedom in our country?
Afghanistan is a symptom of cancerous Taliban, not a war. It is indicative of the cancer the people of this world are suffering. If we allow the Taliban to overtake Afghanistan again, then we are Isaiah 58.
The question isn't "What should we do?" The question is "What does God desire us to do?"
Saying the Pledge of Allegiance is divisive
“It’s a little ironic to see those who have championed the idea of tolerance be less tolerant on this question,” Clark Said. Mayor Kitty Piercy called the Pledge of Allegiance divisive. “If there’s one thing the flag stands for,” Piercy says, “it’s that people don’t have to be compelled to say the Pledge of Allegiance or anything else.”
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/06/28/compromise-on-pledge-allegiance-in-oregon-town-has-some-seeing-red/#ixzz1QbfcBTcd
I have heard just about everything now. We are going to celebrate the 4th of July in just a few days. It will be the 235th anniversary of thousands of lives given in sacrifice to a young America just so we have the privilege of pledging our allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
Shame on those city officials who don't want to say the pledge. Shame on that mayor, Kitty Piercy" who calls the pledge divisive.
Shame on anyone in the United States who has lost that patriotic spark when the fireworks go off, the lump in the throat when we sing "Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming. Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, o're the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? The rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that Star-spangled banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
No one knows the second verse of that song, but in it we find our nation's motto in the very words of the second verse. Those words come from scripture, Psalm 20:7 "Some trust in chariots and ... horses, be we trust in God."
O thus be it ever, wen free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just;
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust!"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall
Wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Francis Scott Key wrote the words 1779-1834
I believe that if someone has a problem with singing the National Anthem, or with saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, then they should look for another nation in which to live. There are none so blessed with so much as America the Beautiful.
Violent video games = Free Speech says Supreme Court
It was a 7-2 vote to overturn a California law which limited the sale of video games classified as violent to minors. I guess the next thing minors can buy will be Playboy and Penthouse.
Why do we need a law prohibiting the sale of violence and pornographic materials to minors? What is it about our society that screams for legislating every part of our lives?
Justices Antonin Scalia, Anthony M. Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan agreed that the government should not protect children by limiting violence in the media. Scalia said there hasn't been any traditions set by our government that restricts child access to violence, stating in his brief, "Certainly, the books we give children to read -- or read to them when they are younger -- have no shortage of gore. Grimm's Fairy Tales, for example, are grim indeed."
While my imagination is most certainly more vivid than any TV show or movie, I'm not so sure that the violence our society faces today more specifically the disregard of the sanctity of life, isn't somehow tied to the views of the parents instead of the viewing of cowboy/Indian shoot-em-ups on Saturday morning.
My nine and ten year old daughters somehow acquired a pack of cigarettes and decided to try this product behind the school gym. Fortunately, they were seen and the little bird imparted the tasty morsel to my ears before my daughters made it home. Of course they were dizzy and sick at their stomachs, so I knew the lesson was learned that you must learn to smoke. Since I smoked regularly at that time, my orders for them to cease and desist weren't that piercing. They didn't notice the many times I tried to quit. Unfortunately, they both started smoking long before they were old enough all because of my own example rather than the Camel commercials or the Benson & Hedges ads in magazines.
The deeper question is how could a minor play a violent video game without the parent knowing and putting a stop to it? Of course that would take pay attention to the minors of the household, wouldn't it? That would mean getting home in time for dinner and bedtime activities rather than allowing hired help do those particular "chores". How do parents know what their own child is capable of if they are not home long enough to actually relate to him/her/them?
Society has leaned upon government so long now that we can't seem to live a single day without some kind of intrusion into our homes regulating how we live, how we use products, how we raise our children. Isn't it time to take the reigns back into our own hands? Isn't it time to take raising our children in the way they should go seriously?
Why do we need a law prohibiting the sale of violence and pornographic materials to minors? What is it about our society that screams for legislating every part of our lives?
Justices Antonin Scalia, Anthony M. Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan agreed that the government should not protect children by limiting violence in the media. Scalia said there hasn't been any traditions set by our government that restricts child access to violence, stating in his brief, "Certainly, the books we give children to read -- or read to them when they are younger -- have no shortage of gore. Grimm's Fairy Tales, for example, are grim indeed."
While my imagination is most certainly more vivid than any TV show or movie, I'm not so sure that the violence our society faces today more specifically the disregard of the sanctity of life, isn't somehow tied to the views of the parents instead of the viewing of cowboy/Indian shoot-em-ups on Saturday morning.
My nine and ten year old daughters somehow acquired a pack of cigarettes and decided to try this product behind the school gym. Fortunately, they were seen and the little bird imparted the tasty morsel to my ears before my daughters made it home. Of course they were dizzy and sick at their stomachs, so I knew the lesson was learned that you must learn to smoke. Since I smoked regularly at that time, my orders for them to cease and desist weren't that piercing. They didn't notice the many times I tried to quit. Unfortunately, they both started smoking long before they were old enough all because of my own example rather than the Camel commercials or the Benson & Hedges ads in magazines.
The deeper question is how could a minor play a violent video game without the parent knowing and putting a stop to it? Of course that would take pay attention to the minors of the household, wouldn't it? That would mean getting home in time for dinner and bedtime activities rather than allowing hired help do those particular "chores". How do parents know what their own child is capable of if they are not home long enough to actually relate to him/her/them?
Society has leaned upon government so long now that we can't seem to live a single day without some kind of intrusion into our homes regulating how we live, how we use products, how we raise our children. Isn't it time to take the reigns back into our own hands? Isn't it time to take raising our children in the way they should go seriously?
Google: The search is on the other foot
The Wall Street Journal reported today Google, the giant search engine which has multiple service companies, faces a serious probe by Federal regulators due to some market dominance issues siting a group called Fairsearch.org.
The most serious accusation is Google manipulates search results to favor Google services, and the use of product descriptions of other companies without their permission. Of course Google denies these allegations. Since Google has more than two-thirds share of web searches and more than that in Europe, according to WJS, why would the giant need a manipulation crutch?
I'm not saying Google is the best, however after doing multiple searches for the same thing over many months, I still get the same top results. I'm not at all sure what that says considering empirical data must be controlled along with other scientific things. I do know that of all the search engines I've used, only Google seems to give me the optimum results more specific to my searches.
Internet businesses have complained Google positions itself above their sites in searches for business information as an example. If you do your own search, you'll see that Yahoo comes in just below the paid ads. It seems to me they just might be jealous.
Question: What has your experience with Google been?
"Google engages in anticompetitive behavior…that harms consumers by restricting the ability of other companies to compete to put the best products and services in front of Internet users, who should be allowed to pick winners and losers online, not Google," said Fairsearch.org, a group representing several Google critics, including Microsoft and travel services Expedia Inc., Kayak.com, and Sabre Holdings.
Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303339904576403603764717680.html#ixzz1QDOjqx4e
The most serious accusation is Google manipulates search results to favor Google services, and the use of product descriptions of other companies without their permission. Of course Google denies these allegations. Since Google has more than two-thirds share of web searches and more than that in Europe, according to WJS, why would the giant need a manipulation crutch?
I'm not saying Google is the best, however after doing multiple searches for the same thing over many months, I still get the same top results. I'm not at all sure what that says considering empirical data must be controlled along with other scientific things. I do know that of all the search engines I've used, only Google seems to give me the optimum results more specific to my searches.
Internet businesses have complained Google positions itself above their sites in searches for business information as an example. If you do your own search, you'll see that Yahoo comes in just below the paid ads. It seems to me they just might be jealous.
Question: What has your experience with Google been?
Prayer life and results
At Jacob's Well, we're studying how to deal with anxious thinking. This kind of thinking permeates our world today because we are flying around trying to get a thousand things done in 30.5 seconds. Knowing it is impossible, we worry how it will all be done. Most of it is our own fault because we simply overextend ourselves similar to piling mountains on our plate because we are terribly hungry, but knowing we can't possibly eat everything on it.
Other times our anxiety stems from the unknown mountains or valleys with dark corners. How is it that we do not seem to hold onto the complete peace God has given us through the Fruit of the Spirit?
It isn't bad to want to see results of prayer and confirmation of God's working in our lives. Sometimes that is how He comforts us when He instantly says yes to a small thing, so that we will understand that He is definitely working on the BIG things we've been praying about incessantly.
We just cannot know or understand God's ways. We ask, and we receive. Then we ask, and then we receive. It seems to be a results motivated prayer life.
Jesus taught His disciples to pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. " Why isn't that enough?
We are told in many different ways, but most clearly through Paul to, "worry over nothing, to pray about everything."
Phi 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
So the mature Christian should be able to leave everything in God's hands and be comfortable with how He answers our prayers. It is rather difficult to just let go and let God. God showed me in no uncertain terms that His will is done for those who love Him. And sometimes... sometimes He is waiting on us to conform to His desires and to let go of our desires.
It all boils down to Trust. When we know our God has plans not to harm us, but for our good, then there is no way we can go wrong. It's just those trials and painful tribulations, and that dark valley of death that we know we must walk through that gets us all twisted into knots.
Has He ever failed me? Never.
Will He ever fail me? Never.
That must be enough.
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD rejoices over you. He will quiet you with His love. Or as The Message puts it,
Your GOD is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he'll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs.
Other times our anxiety stems from the unknown mountains or valleys with dark corners. How is it that we do not seem to hold onto the complete peace God has given us through the Fruit of the Spirit?
It isn't bad to want to see results of prayer and confirmation of God's working in our lives. Sometimes that is how He comforts us when He instantly says yes to a small thing, so that we will understand that He is definitely working on the BIG things we've been praying about incessantly.
We just cannot know or understand God's ways. We ask, and we receive. Then we ask, and then we receive. It seems to be a results motivated prayer life.
Jesus taught His disciples to pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. " Why isn't that enough?
We are told in many different ways, but most clearly through Paul to, "worry over nothing, to pray about everything."
Phi 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
So the mature Christian should be able to leave everything in God's hands and be comfortable with how He answers our prayers. It is rather difficult to just let go and let God. God showed me in no uncertain terms that His will is done for those who love Him. And sometimes... sometimes He is waiting on us to conform to His desires and to let go of our desires.
It all boils down to Trust. When we know our God has plans not to harm us, but for our good, then there is no way we can go wrong. It's just those trials and painful tribulations, and that dark valley of death that we know we must walk through that gets us all twisted into knots.
Has He ever failed me? Never.
Will He ever fail me? Never.
That must be enough.
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD rejoices over you. He will quiet you with His love. Or as The Message puts it,
Your GOD is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he'll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs.
Occupations with the most job openings
Thanks to my friend Buddy McDonald who posted an interesting article on the deplorable education we Americans are getting...
Here is a great place to search for that job that will spur your passion and put money in your pocket. I've copied below the top ten which require a graduate degree. I hope the links transferred, too.
Now compare the article posted on CNBC. Siemens, the German giant corporation is bitterly complaining that U.S. workers do not have the education, training, and skill sets that they require for certain staffing jobs. The company has had to use 30 recruiters to fill their expansion plans. Plus, Eric Spiegel, CEO of Siemens said the company has had to invest in education and training. Volkswagen had 85,000 applicants for 2,000 jobs so it isn't for lack of applicants, but the skill sets that are lacking.
Keeping this complaint in mind, please notice the CollegeBoard.com's second set of most job openings needing a Bachelor's degree...
Not one engineer in the bunch. So how does one really know what kind of education to pursue?
I would venture a guess and say, combining the complaints with the projections that teaching adults would be the number one job opening from now on. Right now on www.Indeed.com there are 5,646 new jobs for teaching adults.
If you live in San Jose, California there are 218 job openings for every person living there; compared to New Orleans where there are 29 job openings for every person living there. The quality of job isn't mentioned, however. We have to search a bit further for that. No surprise the most job openings are for cashiers. (No wonder when I go to Walmart only 1/3 of the cash registers are open!)
For 2008 - 2018 -- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
#1 Cashiers -- 171,990 openings and the earnings are basic minimum wage
#2 Retail sales -- 162,690 same problem
#3 Servers -- 146,620 same problem
#4 Customer Service -- 110,900 barely above minimum wage
#5 Registered nurses -- 103,900 w/Associate Degree -- good living
If we delve a little further into the BLS, we find an interesting table which tells us the projections of occupations -/+ through 2018.
Ah ha! Here we see that service occupations will increase a whopping 13.76% and professional occupations (doctor, lawyer, teachers) will increase by a staggering 16.83% with construction occupations increasing 13.04% by the year 2018.
Here's the kicker... The projections do not uphold what the corporations are begging for since production jobs will decrease by 3%. So what is a person to do to make sure there will be income until the angels escort us to Heaven?
A most excellent dilemma. Why would anyone want to go down a career path for money only and hate what they will have to do for the next 50 years? That's a recipe for burnout, stress related diseases and all kinds of anger issues.
The best advice is determine your motivational spiritual gift, then work within that motivation. Find the occupation which will utilize your God-given gifts, and God-motivated skills. Develop those skills with the best education you can find then, keep close to the LORD. In all you do, do it for Christ for it is He who strengthens you.
Question: Is there an occupation that you wish you had pursued way back when? I'd be really interested to know if you began your perfect occupation when you graduated!
Here is a great place to search for that job that will spur your passion and put money in your pocket. I've copied below the top ten which require a graduate degree. I hope the links transferred, too.
| Occupation | Total Job Openings 2008–2018 | ||
| Postsecondary teachers | 553,000 | ||
| Doctors and surgeons | 261,000 | ||
| Lawyers | 240,000 | ||
| Clergy | 218,000 | ||
| Pharmacists | 106,000 | ||
| Educational, vocational, and school counselors | 94,000 | ||
| Physical therapists | 79,000 | ||
| Medical scientists, except epidemiologists | 66,000 | ||
| Mental health and substance abuse social workers | 61,000 | ||
| Instructional coordinators | 61,000 | ||
Now compare the article posted on CNBC. Siemens, the German giant corporation is bitterly complaining that U.S. workers do not have the education, training, and skill sets that they require for certain staffing jobs. The company has had to use 30 recruiters to fill their expansion plans. Plus, Eric Spiegel, CEO of Siemens said the company has had to invest in education and training. Volkswagen had 85,000 applicants for 2,000 jobs so it isn't for lack of applicants, but the skill sets that are lacking.
Keeping this complaint in mind, please notice the CollegeBoard.com's second set of most job openings needing a Bachelor's degree...
| Occupation | Total Job Openings 2008–2018 |
| Elementary school teachers, except special education | 597,000 |
| Accountants and auditors | 498,000 |
| Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education | 412,000 |
| Middle school teachers, except special and vocational education | 251,000 |
| Computer systems analysts | 223,000 |
| Computer software engineers, applications | 218,000 |
| Network systems and data communications analysts | 208,000 |
| Computer software engineers, systems software | 153,000 |
| Construction managers | 138,000 |
| Market research analysts | 137,000 |
Not one engineer in the bunch. So how does one really know what kind of education to pursue?
I would venture a guess and say, combining the complaints with the projections that teaching adults would be the number one job opening from now on. Right now on www.Indeed.com there are 5,646 new jobs for teaching adults.
If you live in San Jose, California there are 218 job openings for every person living there; compared to New Orleans where there are 29 job openings for every person living there. The quality of job isn't mentioned, however. We have to search a bit further for that. No surprise the most job openings are for cashiers. (No wonder when I go to Walmart only 1/3 of the cash registers are open!)
For 2008 - 2018 -- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
#1 Cashiers -- 171,990 openings and the earnings are basic minimum wage
#2 Retail sales -- 162,690 same problem
#3 Servers -- 146,620 same problem
#4 Customer Service -- 110,900 barely above minimum wage
#5 Registered nurses -- 103,900 w/Associate Degree -- good living
If we delve a little further into the BLS, we find an interesting table which tells us the projections of occupations -/+ through 2018.
Ah ha! Here we see that service occupations will increase a whopping 13.76% and professional occupations (doctor, lawyer, teachers) will increase by a staggering 16.83% with construction occupations increasing 13.04% by the year 2018.
Here's the kicker... The projections do not uphold what the corporations are begging for since production jobs will decrease by 3%. So what is a person to do to make sure there will be income until the angels escort us to Heaven?
A most excellent dilemma. Why would anyone want to go down a career path for money only and hate what they will have to do for the next 50 years? That's a recipe for burnout, stress related diseases and all kinds of anger issues.
The best advice is determine your motivational spiritual gift, then work within that motivation. Find the occupation which will utilize your God-given gifts, and God-motivated skills. Develop those skills with the best education you can find then, keep close to the LORD. In all you do, do it for Christ for it is He who strengthens you.
Question: Is there an occupation that you wish you had pursued way back when? I'd be really interested to know if you began your perfect occupation when you graduated!
Walmart and the sex discrimination case
Recently the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 the class action suit claiming Walmart was discriminatory against women. Walmart has a company-wide policy that local managers set salaries and give promotions.
The ruling brief from Justice Scalia stated because the suit did not prove discrimination was a company-wide policy it had no basis. Interestingly the liberal brigade stated:
Come on! Why is it automatically assumed that people (I'm not discriminating here) people who work at a certain place for more than five years are automatically qualified to manage the place? How can that be?
Walmart's managers do have considerable control -- pay scales, pay raises, promotions, and days off. However, the problem isn't with the Walmart managers, it is with this ruling brief quoted above...
I have certain qualms with this. A person does not learn how to manage by osmosis. It takes a great deal of training. Running the sports department and managing a store full of employees does have some of the same skills, but frankly managing people is much harder and much more crucial than keeping guns stocked, and ordering the right kind of tents.
I am not saying that 70% of Walmart's employees are not good, conscientious people. What I am saying is that there isn't a nation-wide company that has more than 33% women in management unless it is woman-owned. Corporate America is not kind to women.
Unless a woman has the kind of husband that works from home or wants to be the homemaker, a woman can't juggle the time involved in corporate management with being soccer mom. That is burning the candle at both ends which ends with no candle at all in a much shorter period of time.
Rather than women v. men manager stats, I would love to see secret ballot employee votes on the best managers. It would probably be as many women as men -- or maybe not. Women bully women in the corporate world 71% of the time. (Workplace Bully Institute.org 2009 study).
Plus there's the old adage, if a person can't do the work -- promote him out of the department. So what's fair?
Absolutely nothing in this world is fair. We have to wait until we get to Heaven for that.
The ruling brief from Justice Scalia stated because the suit did not prove discrimination was a company-wide policy it had no basis. Interestingly the liberal brigade stated:
In a partial dissent, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said there was enough evidence of systematic sex discrimination to allow the suit to proceed, though not for damages. "Women fill 70% of the hourly jobs in the retailer's stores, but make up only 33% of the management employees," she wrote. "The higher one looks in the organization, the lower the percentage of women."Quoted from Los Angeles Times
Come on! Why is it automatically assumed that people (I'm not discriminating here) people who work at a certain place for more than five years are automatically qualified to manage the place? How can that be?
Walmart's managers do have considerable control -- pay scales, pay raises, promotions, and days off. However, the problem isn't with the Walmart managers, it is with this ruling brief quoted above...
I have certain qualms with this. A person does not learn how to manage by osmosis. It takes a great deal of training. Running the sports department and managing a store full of employees does have some of the same skills, but frankly managing people is much harder and much more crucial than keeping guns stocked, and ordering the right kind of tents.
I am not saying that 70% of Walmart's employees are not good, conscientious people. What I am saying is that there isn't a nation-wide company that has more than 33% women in management unless it is woman-owned. Corporate America is not kind to women.
Unless a woman has the kind of husband that works from home or wants to be the homemaker, a woman can't juggle the time involved in corporate management with being soccer mom. That is burning the candle at both ends which ends with no candle at all in a much shorter period of time.
Rather than women v. men manager stats, I would love to see secret ballot employee votes on the best managers. It would probably be as many women as men -- or maybe not. Women bully women in the corporate world 71% of the time. (Workplace Bully Institute.org 2009 study).
Plus there's the old adage, if a person can't do the work -- promote him out of the department. So what's fair?
Absolutely nothing in this world is fair. We have to wait until we get to Heaven for that.
The Lamb's Book of Life
There are several reasons that I believe the Lamb's book and the Book of Life are actually one book.
Psa 69:28 Blot them out from the Book of Life; yea, let them not be written with the righteous.
This tells me that at one time, the unrighteous were written in the Book of Life since they can be blotted out.
On the other hand...
Psalm 139:16: "Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them."
I believe this is the same book but is a description of what is in the Book of Life. Our days are ordained by God is what this verse tells me. This is when we see that God has a definite plan of works for each of us to do. He establishes the work of our hands if we are willing to submit to His authority and to obey Him in His perfect will. Because 1 Corinthians 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually even as He wills. We can only do God's work with the power of God's Spirit.
Therefore, from the beginning God had a plan. He wrote every person's name to ever be born into the Book of Life. Every one starts off on the same plain. As David points out, those who embrace iniquity and choose to ignore their innermost knowledge of God and then choose the things of the flesh rather than the things of God, get blotted out of the Book of Life.
Romans 1:18 For God's wrath is revealed from Heaven on all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, holding the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because the thing known of God is clearly known within them, for God revealed it to them.
First, God makes sure that everyone has a yearning for Him. We are created in His image and we have an embedded knowledge of Him.
Second, God doubly makes sure that everyone knows of Him by creation and "...being understood by the things made, both His eternal power and Godhead, for them to be without excuse."
Third, verses 24 & 26 say that God gave them up to their lusts of their hearts and to their own passions. Verse 28, since they refused to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them up to reprobate minds. This makes them worthy of death= being blotted out of the Book of Life.
Paul says it three times, God gave them up after ...
1. They had other gods before Him making graven images and worshiping them; worshiping the creation instead of the creator.
Because of this, God gave them up...
2. They had dishonorable lusts of the flesh, not just adultery but much more perverted love of man for man and woman for unnatural lusts.
3. They knew the righteous order of God (v.32) but chose to embrace and be filled up with all unrighteousness.
God gave them up... what a chilling statement.
So, we see how people get blotted out of the Book of Life so that they (as David says) will not be written with the righteous.
As I said in a previous post, the word ζωή zōē dzo-ay' life (literally or figuratively): life the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate every living soul; vitality.
That is the Book of Zoe. It is the Book of Life everywhere (except the Hebrew). Then it becomes the Lamb's Book of Zoe in Revelation. Why is that? Because until Jesus rose from the dead, death still had sting which was sin and sin still had power and it was the Law that gave it power.
1Co 15:56 Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law;
1Co 15:57 but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
1Co 15:54 But when this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality, then will take place the Word that has been written, "Death was swallowed up in victory." Isa. 25:8 55 "O death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?" Hos. 13:14
Jesus paid the price to own the Book. It is His because He not only fulfilled every work that God ordained for Him but He also willingly gave Himself as the Scapegoat for us while we were still wallowing in sin so unworthy. We do not do eveything God has planned for us but Jesus said, "I'll take the responsibility," we are blameless when we give our self and our life over to Him.
Psa 69:28 Blot them out from the Book of Life; yea, let them not be written with the righteous.
This tells me that at one time, the unrighteous were written in the Book of Life since they can be blotted out.
On the other hand...
Psalm 139:16: "Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them."
I believe this is the same book but is a description of what is in the Book of Life. Our days are ordained by God is what this verse tells me. This is when we see that God has a definite plan of works for each of us to do. He establishes the work of our hands if we are willing to submit to His authority and to obey Him in His perfect will. Because 1 Corinthians 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually even as He wills. We can only do God's work with the power of God's Spirit.
Therefore, from the beginning God had a plan. He wrote every person's name to ever be born into the Book of Life. Every one starts off on the same plain. As David points out, those who embrace iniquity and choose to ignore their innermost knowledge of God and then choose the things of the flesh rather than the things of God, get blotted out of the Book of Life.
Romans 1:18 For God's wrath is revealed from Heaven on all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, holding the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because the thing known of God is clearly known within them, for God revealed it to them.
First, God makes sure that everyone has a yearning for Him. We are created in His image and we have an embedded knowledge of Him.
Second, God doubly makes sure that everyone knows of Him by creation and "...being understood by the things made, both His eternal power and Godhead, for them to be without excuse."
Third, verses 24 & 26 say that God gave them up to their lusts of their hearts and to their own passions. Verse 28, since they refused to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them up to reprobate minds. This makes them worthy of death= being blotted out of the Book of Life.
Paul says it three times, God gave them up after ...
1. They had other gods before Him making graven images and worshiping them; worshiping the creation instead of the creator.
Because of this, God gave them up...
2. They had dishonorable lusts of the flesh, not just adultery but much more perverted love of man for man and woman for unnatural lusts.
3. They knew the righteous order of God (v.32) but chose to embrace and be filled up with all unrighteousness.
God gave them up... what a chilling statement.
So, we see how people get blotted out of the Book of Life so that they (as David says) will not be written with the righteous.
As I said in a previous post, the word ζωή zōē dzo-ay' life (literally or figuratively): life the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate every living soul; vitality.
That is the Book of Zoe. It is the Book of Life everywhere (except the Hebrew). Then it becomes the Lamb's Book of Zoe in Revelation. Why is that? Because until Jesus rose from the dead, death still had sting which was sin and sin still had power and it was the Law that gave it power.
1Co 15:56 Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law;
1Co 15:57 but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
1Co 15:54 But when this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality, then will take place the Word that has been written, "Death was swallowed up in victory." Isa. 25:8 55 "O death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?" Hos. 13:14
Jesus paid the price to own the Book. It is His because He not only fulfilled every work that God ordained for Him but He also willingly gave Himself as the Scapegoat for us while we were still wallowing in sin so unworthy. We do not do eveything God has planned for us but Jesus said, "I'll take the responsibility," we are blameless when we give our self and our life over to Him.
| Someone asked me a question... |
From what I understood, the Psalm's Book referred to God's plan for everyone's life. The OT Book of Life referred to those in the OT who went to Abraham's Bosom (such as Lazarus of Luke 16:19-31). The NT Lamb's Book of Life is the record of the redeemed by the blood of Christ who believe in Him and are thus written into that book as they believe, and when Christ rose again, every name that was in the OT Book of Life who were in Abraham's Bosom had their names converted over into the Lamb's Book of Life on the 3rd day. Any possibility for that? |
Why would God go to the trouble of blotting out the names of unrighteous people if the Book of Life would become obsolete after Christ rose from the dead? He could just have easily had a Book of Those Who Lived and then have another Book of Spiritually Alive and that would be the Lamb's Book of Life.
But here's the thing. When we get our glorified bodies (just like Jesus displayed to the over 500 witnesses after He rose from the dead), we will be alive both physically in the physical realm and alive Spiritually in the Spiritual realm. Because of this, it makes most perfect sense that God has one Book of Life which the unrighteous are blotted out of and the blameless are retained. It is Jesus Who makes that distinction between the two.
In Jesus' story (and I believe it is a true life story not a parable) of Lazarus and the Rich Man, we see the Rich Man in torment and Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham in comfort and the Rich Man's request for a drop of water is refused. Torment in Hell had not changed the Rich Man's attitude at all. He was still trying to use Lazarus as a "gofer" or a servant. So Hell didn't teach him any lessons. He thought of himself first (drop of water) and his brothers last ("...send him back to warn my brothers so they won't have to come to this place.")
Since nothing had changed about his heart from his mortal life to when he was in torment this proves to me that God is Just and Right to blot out the names of the unrighteous which is how the Rich Man wound up in torment instead of in Paradise. But Lazarus was found in the Book of Life which is why he wound up in Paradise instead of Hell.
Isaiah 7:15 He shall eat curds and honey until He knows to refuse the evil and choose the good.
This verse tells me (there are others but this will suffice), that when a child finally understands the difference between good and evil and then is old enough to choose evil ways instead of the righteous ways, he is at a crossroads between the Book of Life and the Books of the Dead. RE: Romans 1 for the NT era. In the OT era, if a person died before this age then I believe that person was not blotted out of the Book of Life. But when the person reached this age of understanding and chose to live unrighteously then He was blotted out of the Book of Life. God declared it so in Isaiah.
Isa 33:15 He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly; he who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands free from taking the bribe, who stops his ear from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from looking at evil. 16 He shall live on high; strongholds of rocks will be his retreat; his bread shall be given; his waters are faithful.
And in Ezekiel 18 God declares that each person is responsible for his own iniquity. The man that turns from his wicked ways and live in righteousness will live but if he turns from his righteous ways and again lives in wickeness, he shall surely die. But God pleads for us to make a new heart and a new spirit for
Eze 18:32 For I do not have delight in the death of him who dies, declares the Lord Jehovah. So turn and live.
This tells me that God is very long suffering and that He does not soon blot out a person from the Book of Life. 2Pe 3:9 The Lord of the promise is not slow, as some deem slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, not having purposed any to perish, but all to come to repentance.
Gov. Scott Walker and Wisconsin law upheld by Supreme Court
The lawsuit brought against the Republicans who passed the law limiting pay raises through collective bargaining said they Republicans did not give enough advance public notice before bringing the law to the floor for a vote. I guess they just didn't see all the people camped out in the building in protest. Their selective seeing passed over all the signs and, of course, they weren't watching the news which is how they missed the trumpet proclamation bringing attention to the fact the Demorats fled the state. What idiots.
Now, Gov. Walker can breathe easy because the Supreme Court of Wisconsin tossed out the ruling of the liberal judge had interfered with the legislature. The law rises from it's deathbed and will now move forward so Wisconsin can hopefully rise from it's economic woes.
The real story here is not the law, but the ruling by Maryanne Sumi, the circuit court judge who ruled in favor of the lawsuit. Sumi overstepped her authority of interpreting law into usurping legislative power. Wall Street Journal quotes the justice's brief:
Amazingly, this juxtaposing of power has been going on for decades, only now the veil has been torn in two. If only we the people could trust the executive branch to NOT overstep authority into the legislative branch, and trust the judicial branch NOT to overstep into the legislative branch. It is checks and balances at the best, and is precisely why our forefathers designed our government this way.
Kudos to the four judges in the Wisconsin Supreme Court for recognizing authority struggles for what they are, and for calling attention to clear lines between the powers that be.
Question: Have you notice an article that draws distinction between the governing bodies, and that points to infractions of authority?
Now, Gov. Walker can breathe easy because the Supreme Court of Wisconsin tossed out the ruling of the liberal judge had interfered with the legislature. The law rises from it's deathbed and will now move forward so Wisconsin can hopefully rise from it's economic woes.
The real story here is not the law, but the ruling by Maryanne Sumi, the circuit court judge who ruled in favor of the lawsuit. Sumi overstepped her authority of interpreting law into usurping legislative power. Wall Street Journal quotes the justice's brief:
“One of the courts that we are charged with supervising has usurped the legislative power which the Wisconsin Constitution grants exclusively to the legislature.”Since the lawsuit's only relevant claim was that there wasn't sufficient lead time given to those Democrats who had fled the state for the purpose of missing the legislature vote, it doesn't take the deductive reasoning power of Sherlock Holmes to understand it was all a ruse.
Amazingly, this juxtaposing of power has been going on for decades, only now the veil has been torn in two. If only we the people could trust the executive branch to NOT overstep authority into the legislative branch, and trust the judicial branch NOT to overstep into the legislative branch. It is checks and balances at the best, and is precisely why our forefathers designed our government this way.
Kudos to the four judges in the Wisconsin Supreme Court for recognizing authority struggles for what they are, and for calling attention to clear lines between the powers that be.
Question: Have you notice an article that draws distinction between the governing bodies, and that points to infractions of authority?
Herding cats or keeping kitten in a basket...
Michael Hyatt is a genius. He is obviously a person who has survived the jungle of corporate America, even in the Christian world.
I laughed at this video, but without even reading Hyatt's blog post, I know I've been on the back of one of those horses, trying to live the life Christ would be proud of and still maintain respect of my peers and my boss so as not to get fired in secular corporate America. I can't tell you the number of times I fell off my horse or got scratched to ribbons. Sometimes I never had the strength to get back up in the saddle, but I found myself there nonetheless. Only God can put us back in the saddle when all we're looking at is the ground, and tasting is dust and blood.
So each morning the sun also rises, we roll out of bed to begin a new day with all the aches and pains from yesterday. The difficulties from yesterday, the seeming flat plain with hidden arroyos and gullies that can tumble you in an instant into a dusty creek bed, are no match for our Father who cares intensely and profoundly about His children.
He restores our souls with peace like a river flowing full and free. His eyes are watching lest we fall. His hands are ready to catch us. It's when we deliberately jump from the saddle that we get bloody knees and black eyes. However, we should remember Job who lost everything. His tumble into the deep valley of shadows and death wasn't because of bad choices or sin but because God trusted him to react just the way he did. That is amazing trust.
Can you relate? What has knocked you off your horse recently and how did you get back in the saddle?
Waiting upon the Lord
I copied this from a conversation in the forums at Studylight.org on October 19, 2005. I did not copy or indicate who wrote the post, but it is so very good I wanted to post it here anyway. Perhaps, one day he/she will see it and let me know who wrote it. The discussion going on at Michael Hyatt's blog started me thinking about it so I searched it out. Now here it is...
~~~~~~~~~ 
This beginning of miracles Jesus did was in Cana of Galilee, and manifest forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. John 2:1-11 KJV.AV.
'Waiting upon God' I thought it might be interesting to look at one of the examples we have of just this.
We are probably familiar with this account from the miraculous turning of water into wine, but let us look for a moment or two at those to whom Mary said- “Whatever He tells you to do, do it.”
They were probably household servants trained to serve, but what about the character that makes a waiter, one whose sole purpose is to wait upon others.
They would need to be –
They would need to be –
Directed - without Mary directing them to heed Jesus, and to wait upon him they could not know what to do.
Attentive - for them to obey Mary they would have had to listen attentively, or to watch closely.
Patient - we have no intimation of whether the Lord spoke to them right away, or if they had to wait patiently.
Dedicated - they would need to be able to put all other things on hold to give him their full attention.
Obedient - they filled the water pots without question, even though they must have wondered at this.
Discrete - they did not question the commands of Jesus, nor did they gossip about what had happened.
Unobtrusive - no one but they and the Lord knew how this wine had been provided. Which thing meant that they had their 'special reward' for they were privy to the miracle in all it's unfolding.
There are other things to be learned from this account, but for now perhaps it might afford us with a clearer idea of what is required of one who is bidden to wait upon the Lord.
~~~~~~~~~
The take on this is, of course, serving God not waiting for an answer to prayer, but does delve into the mysterious realms of responding to His directives.
We wait for answers to our prayers never realizing that in our obedience we are receiving the answer. Rarely does God gives us a peek at the full tapestry of His will. If He did that, we'd be sorely tempted to take shortcuts thus depriving ourselves of some special exercise purposed to strengthen one or all of our spiritual muscles including that most special exercise of obedience.
Question: In hindsight, how did your obedience to a directive from God strengthen your spiritual muscles?
We wait for answers to our prayers never realizing that in our obedience we are receiving the answer. Rarely does God gives us a peek at the full tapestry of His will. If He did that, we'd be sorely tempted to take shortcuts thus depriving ourselves of some special exercise purposed to strengthen one or all of our spiritual muscles including that most special exercise of obedience.
Question: In hindsight, how did your obedience to a directive from God strengthen your spiritual muscles?
Let’s Dance
Do you believe God is bigger than any problem?
I know beyond any doubt that God can be trusted. He has been true and faithful my whole life even when I decided to turn my back on Him. What God says He will do, He will do. Fully one quarter of the Bible is prophecy and every one of the prophecies have come true so far even to the exact timing. I am quite sure the rest of them will come true in God's good timing.
Paul explains to us that those that wandered in the desert for 40 years all ate of the Spiritual food (manna) and all drank of the Spiritual drink (sweet water from bitter). 1 Corinthians 10. But these people kept on complaining, kept on trying Him, kept on murmuring, they fornicated and the crown of their sins was they disbelieved God. Yet... God was with them through it all. He could have so easily breathed Holy fire on them and burned them up as he did Aaron’s sons for offering unholy fire. But, He didn't.
Nothing is greater or bigger than God. All things fall in line with Scripture and God most certainly is Who He says He is and will do exactly what He says He will do. When He says He will never leave or forsake us, He means it. I am living proof.
Our God is an awesome God.
The key to realize is our battles begin and end in the Mind. Our thinking is a powerful tool that can be used by Satan, if we allow him to take control of our thoughts. To thwart that, we must ask God to take complete authority over our hearts, our minds, and our tongues just as David did. We must redecorate our minds with Jesus and that will take the shackles of bondage off of us so, as that song goes, we can dance!
God is the only safe, consuming passion we have. Our Enemy is seizing technology and is trying to make evil from what God intended for good. The only way to be released from evil is to take down that tacky decor in our mind and replace it with Jesus. The drugs of constant TV and games and internet junk must be replaced with things that are holy and things that are pure and things that are godly. Meditate on these things and watch how the addictions of the world have no more power. It is astounding!
Yes, evil and horror get up in our face everyday. We know that darkness prevails in this world because Satan is the prince of this world. However, we do not have to live in the darkness since we are the Light on the Hill so to speak. We are to embrace Truth, and sometimes truth is horrible and ugly. That means there are times when we must deal with the evil of this world. Thank goodness we don’t have to live there. Jesus has spread His wings so we can always find our safe haven under them. He has provided us with the perfect defense tools.
So put on that Helmet of Salvation and remove Satan's influence by trusting God...Believe God. Wear the Sword of the Spirit so that the evil thoughts won't find a foot hold. Wear the shoes of the Gospel of Peace and dance with Him. And the Belt of Truth will keep us from tripping over our skirts when we dance. He wants to dance with us. Can you see His hand outstretched? Can you hear His sweet voice asking you to dance? We'll never be wallflowers, because our Beloved always has His protective arm around us. Turn up the music and let's dance!
Should marriage between homosexuals be legal?
A recent poll by Gallup indicates the majority of Americans think it should be legal, in fact 53% think that way.
I've questioned Gallup poll results before but this one takes the lid off the pot. I am not prejudice against homosexuals, I am adamantly against their lifestyle and their actions since it that lifestyle is an abomination to the LORD. I'm being obedient in my beliefs.
However, this poll finding by Gallup I deeply question especially since only 28% of the respondents to the 2011 question below has this result.
What an amazing difference from 2005 which asked the simple question, "Do you believe marriage between homosexuals should be legal?" Since the change in wording of the question by Gallup's own admission, the slow acceptance of homosexual marriages has shown a marked increase since. When you read the methodology, you see the question was asked of only half sample in three years. Hmmmm.
Does that raise anyone's eyebrows except me? What about a shocked look?
Gallup has also drawn a correlation between the Don't Ask, Don't Tell law repealed by Obama and his minions and this "trend" of acceptance. Since my own research has shown me that the majority of the military deeply resented that repeal, and do not particularly want homosexuals to be open and blatant about their sexual habits, I must disregard this as a slight of hand correlation.
I especially like what Penny Young Nance of FoxNews.com reported Bishop Harry Jackson said of Judge Vaughn Walker's language in his ruling:
Even in my basic research methods college class we learned from the beginning when questions change, wording changes or the method changes then the comparison's lose some credibility.
While I think polls are interesting, they still have +/- 4% to 5% accuracy; add to that the rather slippery way Gallup presented the questions, we have a brew in the pot that should be tossed out because it isn't fit for consumption.
Question: Do you believe marriage between homosexuals should be legal?
I've questioned Gallup poll results before but this one takes the lid off the pot. I am not prejudice against homosexuals, I am adamantly against their lifestyle and their actions since it that lifestyle is an abomination to the LORD. I'm being obedient in my beliefs.
However, this poll finding by Gallup I deeply question especially since only 28% of the respondents to the 2011 question below has this result.
What an amazing difference from 2005 which asked the simple question, "Do you believe marriage between homosexuals should be legal?" Since the change in wording of the question by Gallup's own admission, the slow acceptance of homosexual marriages has shown a marked increase since. When you read the methodology, you see the question was asked of only half sample in three years. Hmmmm.
Does that raise anyone's eyebrows except me? What about a shocked look?
Gallup has also drawn a correlation between the Don't Ask, Don't Tell law repealed by Obama and his minions and this "trend" of acceptance. Since my own research has shown me that the majority of the military deeply resented that repeal, and do not particularly want homosexuals to be open and blatant about their sexual habits, I must disregard this as a slight of hand correlation.
I especially like what Penny Young Nance of FoxNews.com reported Bishop Harry Jackson said of Judge Vaughn Walker's language in his ruling:
"The implicit comparison Judge Walker made between racism and marriage is particularly offensive to me and to all of us who remember the reality of Jim Crow. It is not bigotry, it is biology that discriminates between same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples."
Even in my basic research methods college class we learned from the beginning when questions change, wording changes or the method changes then the comparison's lose some credibility.
While I think polls are interesting, they still have +/- 4% to 5% accuracy; add to that the rather slippery way Gallup presented the questions, we have a brew in the pot that should be tossed out because it isn't fit for consumption.
Question: Do you believe marriage between homosexuals should be legal?
Raw study of Psalm 19
Psa 19:1 To the chief musician. A Psalm of David. The heavens are recounting the glory of God, and the expanse proclaiming His handiwork.
Psa 19:2 Day by day they pour forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
Psa 19:3 There is no speech, nor are there words where their voice is not heard.
Psa 19:4 Their measuring line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world; in them He has set up a dwelling-place for the sun,
Psa 19:5 and he comes forth like a bridegroom from his canopy. He rejoices like a hero to run a race;
Psa 19:6 his going forth from the end of the heavens, and his orbit to their ends; and nothing is hidden from his heat.
Verses 1-6
Recounting -- H5608 ספר sâphar saw-far'
A primitive root; properly to score with a mark as a tally or record, that is, (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively to recount, that is, celebrate: - commune, (ac-) count, declare, number, + penknife, reckon, scribe, shew forth, speak, talk, tell (out), writer.
Contrast between the Sun—ever constant even behind clouds—and the Lord God who literally does run the race and literally nothing is hidden from Him. Constancy so perfect that we know the hour and the minute when the first rays will peek over the horizon. Whether Man wants to recognize it or not, this is entirely for the service of Mankind.
They speak in the universal language, each hears in his own tongue the testimony of God the Creator of all the universe.
Matthew Henry: They plainly speak themselves to be God's handy-works; for they could not exist from eternity; all succession and motion must have had a beginning; they could not make themselves, that is a contradiction; they could not be produced by a casual hit of atoms, that is an absurdity, fit rather to be bantered than reasoned with: therefore they must have a Creator, who can be no other than an eternal mind, infinitely wise, powerful, and good. Thus it appears they are God's works, the works of his fingers (Psa_8:3), and therefore they declare his glory.
Compare the animals who walk on all fours to man who was made erect. The animals look down and contemplate the here and now, concerned with the things of survival where as Man looks up. It is an embedded thing for Man from our Creator, to know there is a Spirit and a realm which is other than ourselves.
Psa 19:7 The Law of Jehovah is perfect, converting the soul.
Of course God’s Word is perfect (whole and complete) it provides the counsel that guides.
The Testimony of Jehovah is sure, making the simple wise.
It is sure: 'âman aw-man' A primitive root; properly to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; morally to be true or certain; once (in Isa_30:21; by interchange for H541) to go to the right hand: - hence assurance, believe, bring up, establish, + fail, be faithful (of long continuance, steadfast, sure, surely, trusty, verified), nurse, (-ing father), (put), trust, turn to the right.
God’s gives us faith and His word has proven to be true from the very beginning, so if we cannot believe faithfully, we can believe with reason because of His testimony.
Psa 19:8 The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart.
Having this guidance, we can throw off the burdensome worries and be glad that when we follow Him, when we are within His will, then our hearts are light, brightened and full of glee.
The commands of Jehovah are pure, giving light to the eyes.
Moral purity, Holy, Just, giving us a deep understanding of the world around us as well as understanding people and motives.
Psa 19:9 The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring forever.
Morally reverencing God is טהר טהור ṭâhôr ṭâhôr haw-hore', taw-hore'
From H2891; pure (in a physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense): - clean, fair, pure (-ness).
The judgments of Jehovah are true, they are righteous altogether.
True: Trustworthy, Certainty, Assured Righteous: Morally Correct. and Both together at once.
Psa 19:10 They are more precious than gold, even much fine gold, and sweeter than honey and drops from the honeycomb.
Psa 19:11 Also Your servant is warned by them; in keeping of them is great reward.
Verses 7-11
Instruction is the Hebrew word Torah Torah H8451 תּרה תּורה tôrâh tôrâh to-raw', to-raw'
From H3384; a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch: - law.
Notice it is the double word usage which means it is of intense importance.
Psa 19:12 Who can discern errors? Acquit me from secret faults.
Matthew Henry 1. He takes occasion hence to make a penitent reflection upon his sins; for by the law is the knowledge of sin. “Is the commandment thus holy, just, and good? Then who can understand his errors? I cannot, whoever can.” From the rectitude of the divine law he learns to call his sins his errors. If the commandment be true and righteous, every transgressions of the commandment is an error, as grounded upon a mistake; every wicked practice takes rise from some corrupt principle; it is a deviation from the rule we are to work by, the way we are to walk in. From the extent, the strictness, and spiritual nature, of the divine law he learns that his sins are so many that he cannot understand the number of them, and so exceedingly sinful that he cannot understand the heinousness and malignity of them. We are guilty of many sins which, through our carelessness and partiality to ourselves, we are not aware of; many we have been guilty of which we have forgotten; so that, when we have been ever so particular in the confession of sin, we must conclude with an et cetera - and such like; for God knows a great deal more evil of us than we do of ourselves. In many things we all offend, and who can tell how often he offends? It is well that we are under grace, and not under the law, else we were undone.
…Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee…
Psa 19:13 Also withhold Your servant from arrogant sins; do not let them rule over me; then I shall be upright, and I shall be innocent from great transgression.
Complete submission to the will of God, recognizing only God can cause us to live the Christian Life. When we submit to Him, He gives us the spiritual wisdom to recognize our own arrogance, and gives us the spiritual strength to turn our minds from that course.
Psa 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing before You, O Jehovah, my Rock and my Redeemer.
God is the perfect filter for our mouth and mind. When He guards our thoughts, our mouth will will spew refreshing waters rather than caustic acid.
Psa 19:2 Day by day they pour forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
Psa 19:3 There is no speech, nor are there words where their voice is not heard.
Psa 19:4 Their measuring line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world; in them He has set up a dwelling-place for the sun,
Psa 19:5 and he comes forth like a bridegroom from his canopy. He rejoices like a hero to run a race;
Psa 19:6 his going forth from the end of the heavens, and his orbit to their ends; and nothing is hidden from his heat.
Verses 1-6
Recounting -- H5608 ספר sâphar saw-far'
A primitive root; properly to score with a mark as a tally or record, that is, (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively to recount, that is, celebrate: - commune, (ac-) count, declare, number, + penknife, reckon, scribe, shew forth, speak, talk, tell (out), writer.
Contrast between the Sun—ever constant even behind clouds—and the Lord God who literally does run the race and literally nothing is hidden from Him. Constancy so perfect that we know the hour and the minute when the first rays will peek over the horizon. Whether Man wants to recognize it or not, this is entirely for the service of Mankind.
They speak in the universal language, each hears in his own tongue the testimony of God the Creator of all the universe.
Matthew Henry: They plainly speak themselves to be God's handy-works; for they could not exist from eternity; all succession and motion must have had a beginning; they could not make themselves, that is a contradiction; they could not be produced by a casual hit of atoms, that is an absurdity, fit rather to be bantered than reasoned with: therefore they must have a Creator, who can be no other than an eternal mind, infinitely wise, powerful, and good. Thus it appears they are God's works, the works of his fingers (Psa_8:3), and therefore they declare his glory.
Compare the animals who walk on all fours to man who was made erect. The animals look down and contemplate the here and now, concerned with the things of survival where as Man looks up. It is an embedded thing for Man from our Creator, to know there is a Spirit and a realm which is other than ourselves.
Psa 19:7 The Law of Jehovah is perfect, converting the soul.
Of course God’s Word is perfect (whole and complete) it provides the counsel that guides.
The Testimony of Jehovah is sure, making the simple wise.
It is sure: 'âman aw-man' A primitive root; properly to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; morally to be true or certain; once (in Isa_30:21; by interchange for H541) to go to the right hand: - hence assurance, believe, bring up, establish, + fail, be faithful (of long continuance, steadfast, sure, surely, trusty, verified), nurse, (-ing father), (put), trust, turn to the right.
God’s gives us faith and His word has proven to be true from the very beginning, so if we cannot believe faithfully, we can believe with reason because of His testimony.
Psa 19:8 The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart.
Having this guidance, we can throw off the burdensome worries and be glad that when we follow Him, when we are within His will, then our hearts are light, brightened and full of glee.
The commands of Jehovah are pure, giving light to the eyes.
Moral purity, Holy, Just, giving us a deep understanding of the world around us as well as understanding people and motives.
Psa 19:9 The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring forever.
Morally reverencing God is טהר טהור ṭâhôr ṭâhôr haw-hore', taw-hore'
From H2891; pure (in a physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense): - clean, fair, pure (-ness).
The judgments of Jehovah are true, they are righteous altogether.
True: Trustworthy, Certainty, Assured Righteous: Morally Correct. and Both together at once.
Psa 19:10 They are more precious than gold, even much fine gold, and sweeter than honey and drops from the honeycomb.
Psa 19:11 Also Your servant is warned by them; in keeping of them is great reward.
Verses 7-11
Instruction is the Hebrew word Torah Torah H8451 תּרה תּורה tôrâh tôrâh to-raw', to-raw'
From H3384; a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch: - law.
Notice it is the double word usage which means it is of intense importance.
Psa 19:12 Who can discern errors? Acquit me from secret faults.
Matthew Henry 1. He takes occasion hence to make a penitent reflection upon his sins; for by the law is the knowledge of sin. “Is the commandment thus holy, just, and good? Then who can understand his errors? I cannot, whoever can.” From the rectitude of the divine law he learns to call his sins his errors. If the commandment be true and righteous, every transgressions of the commandment is an error, as grounded upon a mistake; every wicked practice takes rise from some corrupt principle; it is a deviation from the rule we are to work by, the way we are to walk in. From the extent, the strictness, and spiritual nature, of the divine law he learns that his sins are so many that he cannot understand the number of them, and so exceedingly sinful that he cannot understand the heinousness and malignity of them. We are guilty of many sins which, through our carelessness and partiality to ourselves, we are not aware of; many we have been guilty of which we have forgotten; so that, when we have been ever so particular in the confession of sin, we must conclude with an et cetera - and such like; for God knows a great deal more evil of us than we do of ourselves. In many things we all offend, and who can tell how often he offends? It is well that we are under grace, and not under the law, else we were undone.
…Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee…
Psa 19:13 Also withhold Your servant from arrogant sins; do not let them rule over me; then I shall be upright, and I shall be innocent from great transgression.
Complete submission to the will of God, recognizing only God can cause us to live the Christian Life. When we submit to Him, He gives us the spiritual wisdom to recognize our own arrogance, and gives us the spiritual strength to turn our minds from that course.
Psa 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing before You, O Jehovah, my Rock and my Redeemer.
God is the perfect filter for our mouth and mind. When He guards our thoughts, our mouth will will spew refreshing waters rather than caustic acid.
WHO says cell phones can cause cancer. Really?
A week long conference by International Agency for Research on Cancer regurgitated an opinion that cell phones and electromagnetic fields can cause glioblastoma... I wonder if that actually meant GLIB-O-Blast.
Thirty-one scientists decided there is enough evidence (while it isn't really much at all) to raise it to group 2B (one notch above the not classifiable because of non-evidence).
What they are actually saying is there could be some risk and we must keep an eye on the accumulating evidence. The difference is like inhaling benzine daily or living five miles from a plant that makes benzine. The first will probably cause cancer while there isn't enough evidence to indicate that living within spitting distance of a plant that makes the stuff would make you pregnant. (I'm not saying scientifically it can, but when Exxon had a benzine spill in Baton Rouge, 9 months later there was a population explosion of brand new babies born to chemical plant workers).
If there could just be some responsibility about these press releases concerning cancer causing substances and/or actions I believe many more people would pay attention. I'm beginning to require more evidence than just a scientist saying something. I want stats, and empirical data. It has reached the point of ridiculous science. If you don't like the results of a study, then wait two minutes... another one will be out and this one will bite the dust.
Thirty-one scientists decided there is enough evidence (while it isn't really much at all) to raise it to group 2B (one notch above the not classifiable because of non-evidence).
What they are actually saying is there could be some risk and we must keep an eye on the accumulating evidence. The difference is like inhaling benzine daily or living five miles from a plant that makes benzine. The first will probably cause cancer while there isn't enough evidence to indicate that living within spitting distance of a plant that makes the stuff would make you pregnant. (I'm not saying scientifically it can, but when Exxon had a benzine spill in Baton Rouge, 9 months later there was a population explosion of brand new babies born to chemical plant workers).
If there could just be some responsibility about these press releases concerning cancer causing substances and/or actions I believe many more people would pay attention. I'm beginning to require more evidence than just a scientist saying something. I want stats, and empirical data. It has reached the point of ridiculous science. If you don't like the results of a study, then wait two minutes... another one will be out and this one will bite the dust.
Memorial Day--Did they know?
(Reprint from last year.)
I do not know who was the first to say, “Freedom isn’t free.” The sentiment is certainly true. Our men and women who have given their lives for our freedom are being honored Memorial Day, just as they have been for decades. I can hardly read the stories of some of these men, and now women, who fought for us, because tears streaming down my face.
I do not know who was the first to say, “Freedom isn’t free.” The sentiment is certainly true. Our men and women who have given their lives for our freedom are being honored Memorial Day, just as they have been for decades. I can hardly read the stories of some of these men, and now women, who fought for us, because tears streaming down my face.
I wonder sometimes, did they know?
Did they know that years later I would appreciate their bravery and discipline to stand between me and the bad guys with such deep gratefulness? Did they know while hunkered down in the trenches, bombs bursting overhead, how beautiful freedom feels? Did they join the service because it was the “right thing to do,” and because Uncle Sam needed them. Or did they know in their heart of hearts that Imperialism and Communism and Socialism were bad for the health of this beautiful nation we call the
Would it have mattered to them that some would think freedom so cheap they would withhold honor from the warriors’ homecoming? Would it still have been worth it to them if they had known not everyone back home bled red, white and blue?
Did they remember how glorious our flag waves from the top of the ship that brought them to the shores of Tripoli or the trenches of Germany or the mountains of Korea or the jungles of Viet Nam or the deserts of Iraq?
The veterans of WWII are dying at the rate of about 1,500 or more per day. The eye witness accounts are dying with them. Yes, we have some of their stories, but it is surprising what someone remembers after 60 years while just talking with another. I have been blessed to hear some of those special memories.
The image that pierces my heart the most is the photograph of those six men who were raising Old Glory over Iwo Jima . That place is where more of our boys gave their lives than in most any other battle. The image is so great because America is the home of the brave of heart who did what was right and fought for freedom from fear and oppression.
I watched a documentary on that not too long ago. That photo is one of the most recognized war photographs. It was snapped by Joe Rosenthal. What few people know, is that that photograph was a hastily taken photo. When he saw them out of the corner of his eye start to raise the flag, he grabbed up his camera and snapped the shot without even looking in the viewfinder. It was taken while he was setting up, he wasn’t even ready to take the “real” photo. What a shot!
This is more than five U.S. Marines and one Navy Corpsman raising a flag on top of a mountain. It depicts the teamwork involved in fighting for something believed in. It depicts obedience. It depicts ingenuity. It depicts determination. It depicts the need and desire to make order out of chaos.
Of the six men, Frank Sousely, Harlon Block, Michael Strank did not survive the battle. John Bradley, Rene Gagnon and Ira Hayes did, becoming celebrities after the photo was published around the world in about 17 hours after it was snapped. But regardless of who the men were, it is what they stood for, what Old Glory stands for that makes my heart swell with pride to belong to this country whose sons and daughters put boots on the ground in other places so we can sleep peacefully at night.
So I get a lot teary-eyed when I think about Old Glory, and the troops, and the songs sung to cheer them on “Over There”. Because “
God is Satisfied
While preparing for my next class at Jacob's Well, I ran across this piece I wrote a long time ago in StudyLight.or forums. It is about how only Jesus' blood could satisfy God. It is also something that I have been studying off and on for a decade or more. There are so many who believe that Jesus did not pay for all the sins of the whole world, that His blood was only sufficient for the few who believe, but efficient for all. That makes no sense to me.
The fact that all sin had to be paid for in order for it to be finished as Jesus stated on the cross comes from several different places. One is in Leviticus 16 in the Law for Atonement. Aaron was to take 2 he-goats and one was for sacrifice, the other for confession and then in a visual complete removal of those sins, the goat was led away from the Israelites into the wilderness.
What happened to the goat didn’t matter, the purpose was to show the complete efficacy of the removal of sins. Of course laying on hands, confessing the sins of Israel over the goat did not put all the sins on the goat. It was a shadow of what Jesus would do.
The priests could only enter the Holy of Holies one day per year and that was after the goat of Azazel (or Scapegoat) was sent into the wilderness with all the sins of Israel on its head, figuratively speaking. Although sacrifices of bulls, sheep, lambs and others continued through out the year (which was to feed the Levites among other things) the true Atonement only happened once a year. This foreshadowed Jesus’ once and for all sacrifice. Instead of just one priest going into the Holy of Holies, we all may go boldly into the throne room of God, sit at His feet or sit on His lap, if only in spirit now, we can do it bodily in Heaven. Glory!
Isaiah 53 is another place we must look to see that God is satisfied with the willing sacrifice of the Messiah. Isa 53:11a He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
Then to understand what God means that He is satisfied, we must look at the Law as a whole and in part. For anyone who violates one Law has broken them all. In order for the fullness of sin to be completely covered it had to be the most perfect sacrifice for all.
In order for Jesus to have said, “It is finished,” He had to have paid the full price completely and perfectly. Bulls and goats and sheep and lambs had no power to the remission of sin, only Jesus could do that perfectly. Hebrews 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Heb 10:18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
Rom 8:20 - 23 Meanwhile, creation is confused, but not because it wants to be confused. God made it this way in the hope 21 that creation would be set free from decay and would share in the glorious freedom of his children. 22 We know that all creation is still groaning and is in pain, like a woman about to give birth. 23 The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future. But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are his children. This means that our bodies will also be set free.
His death would have been sufficient for our Spiritual beings to not suffer Hell. But, God had a greater plan. He foretold Jesus would be the first fruits and we are of the first KIND of resurrection of which Jesus was the first. He was raised into a magnified physical and spiritual body that was eternal. It didn’t begin decaying as soon as it was created. Our glorified, magnified bodies will not experience entropy. That could only happen if sin was conquered, and sin could only be conquered if the Law was satisfied. The only way the Law could be satisfied is if all sin was covered by the blood of Jesus.
The crux is that God had to be satisfied which is why there must be atonement: The Hebrew word is
- kâphar ×›ּפר (kaw-far') A primitive root; to cover specifically with bitumen; Mineral pitch; a black, tarry substance, burning with a bright flame; Jew’s pitch. It occurs as an abundant natural product in many places, as on the shores of the Dead and Caspian Seas. ...
- A viscous, tar-like oil that requires non-conventional production methods such as mining or steam-assisted gravity drainage.
· figuratively to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel: - appease, make (an) atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon, to pitch, purge (away), put off, (make) reconcile (-liation).
Isn't it interesting that it has to have a gravity drainage system at that it burns with a bright flame? Isn't that exactly what God has promised to do with all who reject Jesus as Savior? God does not throw people in Hell, people choose to go there by not accepting the Scapegoat, not accepting the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I stand amazed.
To say that the unsaved person must pay for his sins is wrong because we all know that we cannot. There is nothing that we can do that will pay for our sins. Burning in Hell does not pay for our sins. It is the result for not believing God, but it does not pay for the sins because only a perfect sacrifice would atone, satisfy, appease the perfect and holy God Almighty. Jesus was the only perfect human and willing sacrifice. And scripture states plainly that God was satisfied with Jesus' sacrifice. If any sin was left unpaid for, then Jesus could not have been raised from the dead.
Sin had to be conquered in order for death to have no sting. The wages of sin is death. Therefore, all sin had to be covered for there to be no required wages.
God said if one command was broken, they all were broken, and that it was sin to break a command.
1John 3:4 Everyone who sins breaks God's law, because sin is the same as breaking God's law.
Therefore, the sin of murder was paid for, the sin of lying was paid for, and so on. How could Jesus pay for one man's sin of murder, but not pay for another man's sin of murder? He could not because sin not paid for gives death the upper hand. In order for Jesus to be raised from the dead God had to be satisfied that all sin was paid for; and that is what released Jesus from the grip of death. He willingly took upon Himself the whole world's sin. His perfect sacrifice paid the price and He was released from death's grip by God who was satisfied with the sacrifice permanently and forever.
Faithing
I had a precious friend years ago whom I have lost touch with, but she taught me a word that you can't find in the dictionary. The word is Faithing.
Faith isn't a thing, it is a verb, an action as well as state of being.
It is easy to believe there is God. He created the heavens and the earth in all their glory. The universe is vast beyond our wildest imaginings, but the Bible tells us that it can be measured by His hand's breadth. A newborn's cry is a testimony to God's presence for He created life. A child’s giggle is a testimony for he loved the little children to come unto Him. His signature is in the stars for He named each one of the billions of billions of stars. Just look at some of the photos that the Hubble Telescope takes, one of them is the celestial cross. The dogwood's flower gives testimony.
Faith isn't a thing, it is a verb, an action as well as state of being.
Hebrews 11:6 tells us that our faith (belief) brings Him pleasure, without which no one can please Him. It is a simple thing, yet so hard.
It is easy to believe there is God. He created the heavens and the earth in all their glory. The universe is vast beyond our wildest imaginings, but the Bible tells us that it can be measured by His hand's breadth. A newborn's cry is a testimony to God's presence for He created life. A child’s giggle is a testimony for he loved the little children to come unto Him. His signature is in the stars for He named each one of the billions of billions of stars. Just look at some of the photos that the Hubble Telescope takes, one of them is the celestial cross. The dogwood's flower gives testimony. But, to believe God? That is harder to do. When you don't "feel" the presence of God, how do you know He's there?
That is when we must go with what we know rather than our feelings. I love to remember the times we have had together and to draw my comfort from those things He has done for me, from the fact He has never failed me, ever. I know He will fulfill His promises because of all the promises He has already fulfilled. He made the sun stand still. He made the wet bottom of the sea dry as toast. He caused it to rain, and He caused the rain to dry up. He raised Jesus from the dead.
That kind of power flows through Him and yet, He is mindful of me. He knows my name and how many hairs are on my head and the number which are gray and the number which are brown. It matters not to Him how many wrinkles I have, for He has taken me Just As I Am.
Is there a power greater than raising Someone from the dead? Perhaps it is the power of changing lives, the power of forgiveness, the power of mercy, the power of grace. Without those, Jesus would not have needed to be raised for He wouldn't have given Himself as sacrifice.
Is there a power greater than raising Someone from the dead? Perhaps it is the power of changing lives, the power of forgiveness, the power of mercy, the power of grace. Without those, Jesus would not have needed to be raised for He wouldn't have given Himself as sacrifice.
Psalm 5:11 But let all who put their trust in You rejoice; let them shout for joy forever, because You cover them. And let those who love Your name be joyful in You.
Such simple words and yet they hold all the comfort of a snuggly quilt and a warm, cozy fire complete with hot cocoa and a purring cat on the lap.
God's asks a lot of us. We can't see Him. We can't touch Him. Why should we believe Him, trust Him, have faith in Him?
Because He said so.
If that isn't enough, then there is plenty of evidence that He is real, that He does exactly what He says He'll do, and that He answers our prayers, that He loved us enough to die for us. There is no greater love than that, except He also loved us enough to rise from the dead. He is alive, back from the dead and that, my friends, is a feat great enough to silence the most scornful voice.
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