Proclaim With The Voice of Thanksgiving

HT for graphic:  3.bp.blogspot.com

Even though today is two days after Thanksgiving Day, I think that we should remain thankful to God always, and proclaim with grateful hearts our love and thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Because He loves us and He alone is our salvation!  Praise God for all that He has done for us!

We need to be grateful, not only on Thanksgiving Day, but every day, for family and friends who share their lives and love with us, and give us joy in our hearts.

The Bible mentions the term “thanksgiving” several times in many different verses.

Some of my favorites:

Psa 26:7

That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,
And tell of all Your wondrous works.

Psa 69:30

I will praise the name of God with a song,
And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.

Psa 95:2

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

Psa 100:4

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Psa 107:22

Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And declare His works with rejoicing.

Psa 116:17

I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
And will call upon the name of the LORD.

 

We can even see the message of salvation (and, our need to share it with others!) in many of the verses!

 

Jon 2:9

But I will sacrifice to You
With the voice of thanksgiving;
I will pay what I have vowed.
Salvation is of the LORD.”

Phl 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Phl 4:7

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Col 2:6

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

Col 2:7

rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it [fn] with thanksgiving.

Col 4:2

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

Col 4:3

meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,

Col 4:4

that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Col 4:5

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.

 

We are told of the coming Millennium via Isaiah’s prophecy and the End Times via Revelation 7:

 

Isa 51:3

For the LORD will comfort Zion,
He will comfort all her waste places;
He will make her wilderness like Eden,
And her desert like the garden of the LORD;
Joy and gladness will be found in it,
Thanksgiving and the voice of melody.

Rev 7:9

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

Rev 7:10

and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Rev 7:11

All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,

Rev 7:12

saying:

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever.
Amen.”

HT: Blue Letter Bible

First Pro-Truth Grand Jury Witness Murdered ? DeAndre Joshua, 20, found dead yards from scene of Michael Brown’s death

 

Before I get to the terribly sad subject matter of yet another young black life being taken away amidst the Ferguson riots – and why this young man was probably shot dead – I want to share some background information that may help educate people as to why the Ferguson riot was allowed to get out of control PURPOSELY, and what kind of anti-Martin Luther King philosophy has taken over the entire political culture of race relations.  The hatred of the rule of law is being taught to many in order to promote the dangerously evil propaganda and  philosophy brought about by Frances Fox Piven;  ever since she and her ilk were “inspired” by the Watts riots in 1964.  Here is a link to a radio show podcast on this very issue from  Glenn Beck’s radio program yesterday.

Glenn Beck.com: Ferguson just the latest example of the dangerous Frances Fox Piven philosophy

Brief introduction:

Influential radical progressive Frances Fox Piven was so inspired by the Watts riots in 1964 she created an entire strategy that centered around civil unrest and violence. Last night in Ferguson was merely an extension of this strategy, as instigators in Guy Fawkes masks and others made sure this opportunity to riot didn’t pass quietly in the night.

Glenn explained on radio today [yesterday]. CLICK HERE!

With that in mind, read the entire article at the original blog post site (or below), about First Pro-Truth Grand Jury Witness Murdered ? DeAndre Joshua, 20, found dead yards from scene of Michael Brown’s death

Notice the question mark after the first sentence in the beginning of the title – “First Pro-Truth Grand Jury Witness Murdered?” I am not sure if this young man has been positively identified as one of the grand jury witnesses, but if he was – then this AWFUL development is beyond EVIL and needs to be EXPOSED for what it is!

More about Frances Fox Piven HERE.

Also read: Cloward-Piven Strategy of Orchestrated Crisis, the Radical Left, and Obama. It will help you to understand exactly what is behind Zero’s BADministration and the tactics being used to negatively “change” the United States of America.

The question still remains exactly why the National Guard was not present on the first night of the Ferguson protests that happened directly after the Grand Jury finding was released. Please see Megyn Kelly’s interview with Lt. Governor Peter Kinder and you will notice that the lack of additional security is a typical Cloward-Piven method strategy used in order to create an orchestrated crisis.  It has been reported that many of the agitators were not residents of Ferguson.  So, even more questions come up.  Were they all bussed in to create havoc and destroy businesses in the town?  Who sent them?  Who paid for it?

With all of this in mind, now we go to the blog post that describes yet another tragic young black life being taken due to rage and evil against someone who told the truth!

First Pro-Truth Grand Jury Witness Murdered ? DeAndre Joshua, 20, found dead yards from scene of Michael Brown’s death

Copy of post:

 

Comment by Jim Campbell, Citizen Journalist, Oath Keeper and Patriot.

This would seem to have a chilling effect on anyone living in a ghetto among black racists desire to help the police and authorities when a heinous crime has been committed.

Don’t count on it, many of these young people understand the axiom that evil will triumph over good if good men choose to do nothing. 

DeAndre Joshua, had to have known what he was getting himself into yet he chose to stand up to evil.

November 25, 2014 ~ Lorra B.

Ace News Group:

DeAndre Joshua, 20, fits the social profile of an eye-witness who gave a police/FBI statement and testified before the Grand Jury in the Mike Brown shooting case.   He was an employed black male, with no history of drug use or illicit behavior. He was also a friend of Dorian Johnson who is currently under protection.

Several of the eye-witnesses, who gave honest testimony to the Grand Jury, were, according to their own statements, warned immediately after the shooting to keep their mouths shut.   All of the eye-witnesses were African American.  If you read the reports the overwhelming sense of fear about speaking the truth is overwhelming.  

Many, if not all, of the witness statements outlined in police reports, FBI reports, and later in Grand Jury testimony -who testified to the factual events as outlined by officer Wilson, and whose testimony fit the physical and forensic evidence- were threatened by the local Canfield Greens community.

(Via Daily Mail) A man has died during the Ferguson riots just yards from where Michael Brown was shot dead.  Residents on Canfield Drive said that DeAndre Joshua, 20, was shot whilst in his car though police at the scene refused to confirm any details.

DeAndre’s grandmother Renita Towns said that ‘somebody killed him’ during the carnage.

She said that he graduated Beaumont High School and that he was working in Wal-Mart.

Family member Brian Joshua, 45, added: ‘He was a good kid, he’s gone to high school, he’s got a job, he’s not into drugs or any of that stuff.

‘I only saw him yesterday morning. He was a smart guy, he spoke cleanly, he was positive’.

Police took away DeAndre’s white Pontiac Grand Prix and interviewed witnesses around 11am.

A woman in her 20s broke down in tears and said: ‘I knew him, he was my twin’.  (read more)

This is a typical example of the sentiment:

See entire article below.

{snip}

You can read through just this one report and read/see all of the people who would not assist law enforcement or the FBI out of FEAR.  – CLICK HERE –

A Note On Face Book

The following is a note that I wrote on Face Book today.  Thought I’d share it with bloggers here.

~Christine

 

While on the way back from vacation, I received another one of those FB emails that makes one groan.  Another “we’re updating our terms and policies and introducing Privacy Basics” spew that is so long it will take me until past Christmas to read all the links “explaining” these “basics” and other changes.  *sigh*

 

As some here may know, I left my g00gle Talk Wisdom blog because I could not agree with their new rules – especially the one that would have forced me to “sign into all of g00gle.”  Therefore, I had to abandon that blog site (without telling my followers I was leaving because in order to do that I would have had to “sign into all of g00gle) and start a new WordPress blog – right around this time last year.  My new WordPress blog now has built up to 43 followers, so that’s good.

 

There are many factors that bother me about social media – especially FB.  I won’t bore you with the details, but when some people post lies and hate  about Christians (and Christian owners of businesses) who are pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, and Bible-based believers in Jesus, it is so disheartening…to say the least.  For me, it is especially difficult when one has become a “friend” with someone on here without previously knowing one’s religious, political, or social views; and then finding out that they are rabidly against my views and spew hateful political posts against cherished beliefs.  The term “tolerance” has been re-defined as tolerating absolutely everything (and, unfortunately, anything) that is anti-Christian.

 

It’s OK to “tolerate” moral depravity but not OK to tolerate biblical morality standards.

 

It’s OK to “tolerate” other religions – even violent ones like Islamic terrorism – but not Christian belief and faith.

 

It’s OK to “tolerate” any social issue that goes against the Ten Commandments of God, but label as “hatred” the moral standards that have been set by God in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.

 

Well, I could go on and on, but anyone who reads this will probably already get my point.

 

I need to think about and read about the new “FB terms, policies, and privacy basics” before making my decision to either stay on or leave FB (again).

 

I basically came back on here [to FB] to view my daughter’s wedding photos and video clip.  I have been on and off since then for various reasons.  Now, I need to make the decision, once again, before the FB changes take affect in January, 2015.

 

Meanwhile, you can always find me at my newer Talk Wisdom blog.  https://talkwisdom.wordpress.com/

 

Lastly, I would like to encourage all readers of this note to read and study the Bible on your own.  It is the BEST way to learn the truth about God, why Jesus Christ came to the earth to be our Lord and Savior, and also one great way to be able to recognize and avoid getting involved in a church that practices error, heresy, and apostasy.  I suggest reading the book of John first, where you will discover (or re-discover and reinforce what you may have previously learned about) the identity of Jesus Christ.

 

Our bodies will one day die, but our soul and spirit lives on.  The Bible teaches that there are only two places where our soul and spirit will end up, and it all depends on repenting of one’s sins and accepting Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of your life.  When Jesus walked the earth during his ministry here, he talked about avoiding hell even more than he talked about the wonder and awesomeness of heaven.  Hell was originally created for the devil (the father of lies) and his demons – and ever since Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, they have been busy throughout the past, the present, and in the future, tempting people away from God.  Heaven is where God resides and Jesus went to prepare a place for all of redeemed mankind.  The Good News is that it’s available to all who place their trust and belief in Christ!

 

I’d like to share the words of Dr. David Jeremiah from his new book “Agents of the Apocalypse” regarding the last invitation in the Bible:

 

Let him who thirsts come.  Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.  Revelation 22:17

 

Why do people come to Christ?  They are thirsty!  All human beings are born with an empty place in their lives that can only be filled with what John calls “the water of life” (Revelation 22:17).  Most people try to quence that thirst with pleasure, accomplishment, possessions, human relationships, or power, but in time, they see that these things are not satisfying.  As Solomon said after trying wealth, sex, power, and glory, it is all meaningless vanity.

 

When people realize that nothing on earth will satisfy their longing, they begin to identify their thirst.  That is when they are poised to come to Christ.  They realize that they are thirsty and He is not.  He has–no, He is–the living water every human craves.  It is He who fills the empty place that all of us since Adam have been born with.  As Blaise Pascal put it, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.”

 

The restrictions on who might come to Christ are nonexistent!  The invitation is open to all.  John says, “Whoever desires.”  Who can come to Christ?  Anyone who wants his or her thirst quenched forever.

 

We all must answer Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?”  How one answers that question will determine where one spends eternity.

 

Love in Christ,

Christine

Signs of Someone Being Saved

A final post about the series, “Agents of the Apocalype” will be posted at the beginning of next week. The episode entitled, “The Judge” (which aired yesterday) is very sobering. However, those who believe in Christ and are saved by grace through repentance of sin – won’t be facing The Great White Throne judgment. But when I am reminded of where all of the lost will end up, it makes me feel the urgency to share the Gospel message! Why? Because it is my hope that those who haven’t accepted Christ yet will make that eternally important decision. As Christians, we can only share the truth – God does the rest through the work of the Holy Spirit.

For now, I would like to share a page from a devotional called, “Destination.” Here is a portion:

Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:10

“Corrie ten Boom used to tell people who had just received Christ as Lord and Savior, “Now you’ve made the decision that makes the angels sing!” Imagine that! While yet on earth, we can influence the mood in heaven. Our spiritual decisions can prompt a concert of praise beyond the stars.

If the angels take seriously the conversion of a sinner–imagine them peering over the balustrades of heaven, scanning the earth for signs of someone being saved– how eager we should be for the same! This is what Christ died to accomplish. This is what we are commissioned to do. We’re ambassadors for Christ, and there is no greater joy than helping others find Christ.” – Dr. David Jeremiah

Anticipation of the Kingdom

HT for graphic:  thegloriousbattle.com

In a previous blog post thread, GMPilot wrote a comment where he challenged God’s goodness and righteous judgment upon cities and people in the Old Testament.  His contention, “when god deals with his people, one hand holds the grace and the other hand holds the mace.”  He claimed that such cities were never given a chance to “choose life” because God had them exterminated.  GMPilot challenged me by writing, “You’re not going to sit there and deny that, are you?”

First, I will state that GMPilot’s purpose here at Talk Wisdom has always been to challenge the beliefs of Christians.  He even admits (in the comment exchange below) that he is not “seeking to be reached” with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Therefore, his challenges against God, Jesus Christ, and God’s Word, the Bible are only meant to purposely counter, disparage, and even ridicule (at times) Christian belief.  In doing this, he often shares his contempt for our God of the Bible.  I write this so that readers here will understand where such challenges are coming from and for what purpose GMPilot writes comments here at this blog.

In apologetics, it is always important to realize that the challenges presented by non-believers and the answers given by a Christian may end up never being satisfying to the inquirer.  Why?  Because when a non-believer starts out admitting that he/she is here for the purpose of challenging, and not for the purpose of being reached through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then he/she has already purposed within his/her own mind that he/she will not accept the answers regarding faith (and what is needed in order to be saved from our sins and reconciled back unto God) that are given by the Christian believer.

Scripture tells us exactly why such a mindset is so in non-believers (who aren’t seeking God)  in the “those who are perishing” verses. However, as Christians who are here to spread the Gospel, we are instructed to give an answer to those who are perishing.  Whether or not such answers are accepted are ultimately between God and the individual.

With that said, here is the comment exchange from the previous post:

gmpilot Says:
November 6, 2014 at 4:25 pm |

(Christine wrote:) Steve can certainly speak for himself here if he chooses to and I can’t really speak for him, but from what I have seen of his former comments to you, he has figured out that you aren’t here for the purpose of being reached.
(GMPilot wrote:) If you can remember that far back, please recall that I originally came to your forum because I believed that your premises were wrong, and I wanted you to know why I thought so. It wasn’t a question of ‘being reached’.
All I’m saying is that steve said he didn’t care one way or the other if I heeded his words. If he can’t be sincere about his religion, there’s no reason why I should be enthused about it.

(Christine wrote:) As I have mentioned many times before, it is always good and important to consider the verses before and after the quoted verse for greater context. Plus, if you read the verses along with theentire commentary>, you will gain a much better understanding that Isaiah was writing about An Invitation to Receive the Glory of the LORD’s Restoration.
(GMPilot wrote:)  I read and understood the passage in its context, and Guzik was not needed to tell me that. But the basic message is unchanged: when god deals with his people, one hand holds the grace and the other hand holds the mace. The cities and people I listed above were never given a chance to “choose life”; god had them exterminated. You’re not going to sit there and deny that, are you?

 

My reply:

christinewjc Says:
November 7, 2014 at 2:32 pm |

GM wrote:

If you can remember that far back, please recall that I originally came to your forum because I believed that your premises were wrong, and I wanted you to know why I thought so. It wasn’t a question of ‘being reached’.

C:  Therein lies the problem. Your purpose for being here is completely the opposite of my purpose(s) for writing this blog.

I think that you are wrong about Steve [not] “being sincere about his religion.” It is more about faith, rather than that broad term “religion.” Not every Christian chooses to participate in the work (nor, does every Christian have the gift) of apologetics. Many are here for other worthy purposes, and God gives severally [Note: see relatively – especially in word origin – “mid-15c., “relatively;” 1620s, “relatively to each singly,”] in such matters.

Speaking biblically, when Steve said what he did to you he was probably utilizing what Jesus said about shaking the dust off under your feet as a testimony against them.

YOU are the one who admitted to not WANTING to be reached. You are only here to challenge my beliefs and attempt to impose your own lack of belief upon me. Sorry – no can do! Christ and his promises to believers wins out with me now and throughout eternity.

GM wrote:

I read and understood the passage in its context, and Guzik was not needed to tell me that. But the basic message is unchanged: when god deals with his people, one hand holds the grace and the other hand holds the mace. The cities and people I listed above were never given a chance to “choose life”; god had them exterminated. You’re not going to sit there and deny that, are you?

C:  How do you know that those peoples were never given a chance to choose life? We would need to dig deep into historical documents in order to find the truth of the matter. However, we DO have other examples of peoples who refused to repent. Take the example of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham asked to spare the city if 50 persons could be found who were righteous. Then the request dwindled down to 40, then 30, then 20, then 10. As we know, the only righteous people found were in Lot’s family so they were warned to flee by the angels before the city and all of its wicked and sinful inhabitants were destroyed. Then, Lot’s wife looked back (ignoring the warning not to) and turned into a pillar of salt! Her longing for, and desire not to leave that city of sin showed what was truly in her heart – and she was far from God’s righteousness, holiness, mercy and forgiveness; precisely because she ignored the angels of God and their warnings and thus she refused to repent.

We all have a conscience. It is built within us to know right from wrong. When Adam and Eve sinned, they knew that they had chosen evil and death rather than the good and life that they enjoyed with God. Therefore, the plan of salvation was devised in order to save people from their sins and be reconciled back unto God through the coming Messiah – Jesus Christ. All of the Old Testament saints who believed in God the Father and looked forward to the coming of the Messiah were saved. Once Christ appeared, preached, suffered, and died on the cross; then was resurrected unto life and ascended into heaven to be at the right hand of the Father, people had no excuse for not believing in Him.

I will be doing a post soon (may take a while) where the connections between the Old Testament prophets who prophesied (about the coming Messiah Jesus Christ) and how it relates to the end times, the Jews, and the return of Christ – who is the King and the Jewish Messiah – who will usher in the Millennial Kingdom that will fulfill what God promised the Israelites of the Old Testament regarding their Messiah. What the Jews expected of their Messiah didn’t occur at Christ’s first coming here on this earth, but such prophecies WILL be fulfilled at His second coming. This is what connects Judaism to Christianity, even though the Jewish people of today {except Messianic Jews who accept Yeshua) reject the Lordship of Christ now, it will not forever be so in the end times, during the earthly Millennial kingdom, and ultimately in the eternal state.

Update 11/8/14 –

GM wrote:

So, god told the Israelites “I shall send my son to earth twice. The first time only the Gentiles will believe him, but the second time you will, and then my kingdom will be established.” That’s quite a statement—is there anything in the Jewish scriptures that supports it?

I suggested to him to come to this post and read it.  It helps answer GM’s latest question.

*******

As I have explained before at this blog, I am in the middle of reading and watching the episodes on television of Dr. David Jeremiah’s new book, “Agents of the Apocalypse.”

My reading finally caught up with the television presentations, and I am currently in chapter nine which is entitled, “The King.”

In regards to the Millennium, it may be considered  far to simplistic to say that the  Old Testament saints (Jewish believers in anticipation of the coming Messiah),  we as believers in Jesus Christ, as well as the Jewish evangelists and converts to Jesus during the Tribulation  “get a do-over” after our lives here in this fallen world.  But basically, that is what the Millennial Kingdom will be!  [Also see: Jesus is a Jew]

Dr. Jeremiah masterfully examines the writings of the prophets concerning the millennial kingdom, and twelve features command our attention. I will not be able to cover all twelve in this post, but I will share the first two.

I highly recommend that readers here GET THIS BOOK! It is one of the THE BEST books on Revelation that I have ever read; and I have read at least half a dozen.

Chapter 9 has impacted me tremendously! I have always wanted to have a resource that connects the many prophecies written in the Old Testament to the end times book of Revelation in the New Testament.

The first feature regarding the millennial kingdom that commands our attention include:

“The Anticipation of the Kingdom.”

I have set My king on My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Psalm 2:6-9

Dr. Jeremiah writes:

The Old Testament prophetic books tell us a great deal about the millennial kingdom. In the book of Isaiah, entire chapters are devoted to the subject. Before Isaiah, David wrote these prophetic lines in Psalm 2, which describe God the Father gifting the Kingdom to His Son, Jesus Christ.

Some of the most vivid prophecies of the Kingdom age are found in the writings of Daniel. Chapter 2 records that he saw the whole course of the world’s future revealed in the dream of pagan king Nebuchadnezzar. This dream featured the gigantic statue of a man formed with layers of descending quality, from a golden head to feet of clay. Each layer represented a succeeding world empire. The vision culminated when “a tone [that] was cut out without hands” shattered the image (Daniel 2;34) and grew until it filled the earth.

Here is Daniel’s explanation of this vision: “In the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (Daniel 2:44).

In a later vision, Daniel saw the King coming to take His Kingdom: “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).

One of the most famous prophecies regarding the coming of the King is found in the book of Isaiah: “Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever” (9:6-7).

In the book of Revelation, the seventh trumpet sounds, and the message that accompanies it makes a bold statement about Christ’s Kingdom:  “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (11:15).

“The Coronation of the King”

Out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations.  And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron…And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:  KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19:15-16

In this passage, John tells us how the King will arrive and begin His reign.  He will come as a conqueror, taking back His world.  As the Old Testament prophecies indicate, there is a close connection between our Lord’s victory at the Battle of Armageddon and His reign as King over all the earth:  “The LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle….And the LORD shall be King over all the earth.  In that day it shall be–“The LORD is one,’ and His name one” (Zechariah 14:3,9).  Christ must rid the earth of its evil usurper before He can establish His reign.

In the Millennium, Satan will no longer be the prince of the world.  His era will end, and Christ will initiate His eternal reign of righteousness, joy, prosperity, and peace.  His glory will shine forth and bathe the universe with righteousness.

This is the same message Gabriel announced to Mary.  He told her that one day her son Jesus would serve as the supreme Ruler of the world:  “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:32-33).

Alva McClain, the founder of Grace Theological Seminary, describes Christ’s Kingship this way:

The age to come, as [Jesus] like to call it, will be ushered in by the exercise of His immediate power and authority.  He has all power now; He will take this power and use it to the full when He returns.  The age-long silence of God, the taunt of unbelief, will be broken by the transition and resurrection of the church, by the unloosing of judgment long withheld; by the visible and personal presence of the Mediatorial King, and by the complete establishment of His Kingdom on earth for a period specified by our Lord as “1,000 years.”…During this period, every aspect of the Kingdom as set forth in Old Testament prophecy will be realized upon earth, truly the golden age of the world.  Children will be born, life will go on, and men will work and play, but under ideal conditions.5

[5 Source:  From unpublished notes by Alva J. McClain, Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Indiana.]

There is SO MUCH MORE to share!  In future posts my goal is to share the other ten features that command our attention:

1.  The Incarceration of Satan

2.  The Administration of David

3.  The Participation of the Saints

4.  The Elimination of War

5.  The Realization of Prosperity

6.  The Integration of Holiness

7.  The Prolongation of Life

8.  The Celebration of Joy

9.  The Centralization of Worship

10. The Continuation of the Kingdom

 

The song “Joy to the World” is generally played and sung at Christmastime.  Well, the first stanza can be applied to Christ being born in Bethlehem, but did you know that the remaining stanzas actually describe the Second Coming of Christ and how life will be in the Millennium?

Pay close attention to the lyrics!

Joy to the World

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Hat tip: Agents of the Apocalypse by Dr. David Jeremiah

It Begins…

First, I would like to say that it has been a long time since I felt happy about the political direction last night’s GOP victories gained for America!  To have captured the Senate, 52- (whatever) was a great victory!  Booting Harry (who has blocked most House bills from coming up for a vote) Reid out of the Senate will be the first important step in helping the middle class in this nation to be brought back up to the status that they deserve regarding job creation, pay, and hopefully the replacement of Zerocare – which has devastated millions across our beloved nation.

With that said, I want to continue to focus on what my last two posts discussed:

1. I Stand Sunday.
2. ADF: Protecting Your Ministry From Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Lawsuits

When the “HOUSTON! WE HAVE A PROBLEM” debacle occurred, it FINALLY WOKE UP Christian Pastors not only in the state of Texas, but also across this nation to take a stand and fight for their Christian and biblical values. It has been a LONG TIME COMING for this, but I’m so glad to see pastors across the nation taking action and not allowing the continued outrageous political-landscape suppression and  trampling of our God-given and Constitution-affirming rights; namely, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of association!

I received an email this morning about another pastor who previously took a stand for our freedoms back in July.  The email came from the Family Research Council (which led the I Stand Sunday rally) and I’d like to share it here at my blog today.

 

Pastor Robert Dekker of New Covenant Presbyterian Church in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware took a stand after city officials denied him a permit to hold church services on the public beach, largely due to their misinterpretation of separation of church and state. What is ironic is that there is a plaque on the beach commemorating the fact that the Rehoboth Beach community was established as a permanent Christian camp.

On July 4th, Pastor Dekker didn’t take “No” for an answer. He went forward with a “Freedom Rally” at the beach featuring music, prayer, and a sermon he preached titled: “Drawing a Line in the Sand,” based on John 8. The celebration also honored our Founding Fathers and the men and women in uniform that know firsthand that freedom is not free.

HT for photo:  The Blaze.com

Although they normally would expect to have 20 or 30 people at a beach service, they had several hundred. “Freedom is to be cherished,” Dekker told the crowd. “We are exercising the liberties that happened 237 years ago.”

We honor the courage of Pastor Dekker for exercising his First Amendment freedom. He is indeed a Watchman Pastor. In fact, Pastor Dekker made a commitment to 1) Pray for the nation, 2) Preach the whole counsel of God, and 3) Partner with other like-minded pastors. This simple “P3” commitment by pastors to pray, preach, and partner has the potential to impact our nation in a profound way. Would you draw a line in the sand and stand with Pastor Dekker and thousands like him?

PRAY, PREACH, AND PARTNER in order to impact our nation in a profound way?

CERTAINLY!

This blog has always been dedicated to this goal as you can see from what is written in the header of my title page:

Talk Wisdom

Talk Wisdom’s goal is to defend the tenets and values of Biblical Christian faith. We defend our Constitutional Republic and Charters of Freedom, especially when speaking out against destructive social and political issues. As followers of our Savior and Lord, we should boldly stand up for Jesus Christ in our present circumstances. He is our Savior, Lord, and King, and His love needs to be shed abroad in our hearts and in our world – now.

ADF: Protecting Your Ministry From Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Lawsuits

HT for graphic:  blackcommunitynews.com

In a negative response to my previous post –  I Stand Sunday – a commenter came along and wrote the following:

 

Patricia:

 

This crowd looks eerily like the crowds we saw when integration of minorities into ‘whites Only’ schools was happening in the 60s. They look the same as the crowds who railed against interracial marriage. Conservatives are excellent at spreading hate and fear. If only they could understand that everyone’s equality is an inalienable right and not up for bigots and haters to control.

This is the typical argument given by homosexual activists and their supporters.  I think that Christians and Conservatives who believe in the God-given definition of marriage should “have an answer” as instructed in the Bible:

 

2Co 5:12  For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.

 

The “hate and fear” argument often sidetracks believers from responding.  Well, I found an excellent tool to use via the Alliance Defending Freedom site.  My answer to “Patricia” includes some of what is written at the ADF site:

 

 

 

Reply to Patricia:

 

Hello Patricia,
Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
From what you have written, I cannot determine whether or not you understand the entire issue that prompted the event.
There have been several lawsuits brought against Christian owners of businesses whose deeply held religious faith does not allow them to participate in same-sex weddings. When they politely declined, the homosexual activists sued them (instead of simply going to another baker, flower shop, wedding venue?) and destroyed not only their religious liberty but also their businesses.
This is not the same as the interracial marriage issue. Skin color cannot be changed in a person, whereas, sexual orientation can. I always find it ironic that homosexual activists celebrate when a formerly heterosexual person “comes out” as homosexual in later years (e.g. Meredith Baxter – formerly Birney – when she was married to a man), but refuse to celebrate when a person who was previously caught in unwanted homosexual behavior (in some cases, because they were abused as a child by a predator of the same sex) gratefully changes their sexual orientation to heterosexual.
What’s up with that?
Anyway, besides the cases involving forcing (or closing down) Christian owners of businesses to participate in ceremonies that violate their religious beliefs, the case that triggered the I Stand Sunday event was because what was done to the Houston Five pastors. Here is what happened:

 

It’s not something many are willing to believe. Europe may encroach on its churches, and Christians have long been persecuted in Asia, but this – this is the land of the free. We put “In God We Trust” on our money. We say “under God” in the Pledge. We sing “God Bless America” at ballgames.
How bad can it really get?
Ask “the Houston Five.”

HT for graphic:  GulagBound.com

In June 2014, the City of Houston’s leaders implemented a sexual orientation / gender identity law which, among other things, prohibits discrimination on the basis of “gender identity” in places like public restrooms. It was not a popular decision: 82 percent of Houstonians opposed the decree. Petitions rapidly circulated throughout the city, signed by citizens demanding that the new law be repealed, or placed on a ballot for the voters to decide. Some of the City’s pastors openly discussed the law and its implications from the pulpit – a right the First Amendment protects.
The Houston law requires a certain number of valid signatures for such petitions to result in a law being placed on the ballot. The citizens of Houston supplied more than three times the required number. The city secretary legally certified the petitions – meaning that the City Council either had to repeal the law or it had to be put to a vote of the people. Yet the mayor and the city attorney refused the certification, saying that less than the required number of signatures was valid.
In response, a group of citizens filed a lawsuit, pressing the city to comply with the law and honor the petitions. Instead, in the course of preparing for trial, the city’s attorneys served a subpoena against five local pastors, demanding 17 categories of information – including copies of their sermons “related to… the Petition, Mayor Annise Parker, homosexuality, or gender identity prepared by, delivered by, revised by, or approved by you or in your possession,” as well as any personal communications they might have had with church members or others about the bathroom law, homosexuality, or gender identity.
ADF <Alliance Defending Freedom> attorneys have filed a motion in a Texas court to block that subpoena – along with an accompanying brief pointing out that neither the pastors nor their churches are even involved in the lawsuit, and that the information being subpoenaed has nothing to do with the lawsuit. City officials apparently want to see if the pastors have ever opposed or criticized them … and to intimidate them, other pastors, and any other citizens from ever doing so again. In effect, it’s an aggressive bid to control – through explicit legal action or implicit political pressure – what preachers preach, and what Christians believe about social issues.
The City of Houston’s actions pose a “clear and present danger” to religious freedom. This is a critical “trial balloon” being floated in the culture. Those pressing the agenda the council supports are watching closely to see not only how the citizens of Houston and the media react, but how Christians across America respond to this direct onslaught against their most basic, cherished liberties.

 

Source: Alliance Defending Freedom website.
What is at stake?

 

Well, it boils down to the following opposing viewpoints below:

 

“There can be a conflict between
religious liberty and sexual liberty,
but in almost all cases the
sexual liberty should win…”
CHAI FELDBLUM
Commissioner, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

 

 

“A time is coming when the government will
demand that churches accept and promote
an understanding of sexuality and gender
that directly opposes God’s Word.”
DR. JIM GARLOW
Lead Pastor at Skyline Church, La Mesa, CA

 

The key words in Dr. Garlow’s statement is “government will demand.”

 

HT for graphic:  oneoldvet.com

 

The mayor of Houston was clearly abusing her power within her governmental position to trample the electorate who petitioned the government about their rejection of the “bathroom bill”;  and since the ordinance was rejected by 82% of the public there, they should be allowed to vote on the issue. In addition, the religious freedom of Christians was trampled upon with her illegal request for sermons from the pastors. Each of these freedoms are guaranteed and written in the U.S. Constitution. This was a blatant attempt by the mayor and her staff to destroy the basic, cherished liberties of Christians.

 

 

 

As Christians, we need to remember that those spewing hate towards us and using the “discrimination” mantra regarding their want for absolute approval of homosexual behavior and same-sex marriage are perishing in their sin.  Without repentance, there is no remission of sin.

 

1 Co 1:18 – For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

 

2 Co 2:15 –  For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.

 

2 Co 4:3 –   But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,

 

One of the best resources that I have found in combating the current onstaught of homosexual activists against Christian pastors (in Houston and anywhere) and Christian believers whose businesses are being targeted is:

 

Alliance Defending Freedom PDF Handbook:  Protecting your ministry from sexual orientation and gender identity lawsuits

 

Such a resource as this is absolutely necessary today because as you will read in the examples of lawsuits filed in the PDF handbook, many judges who hold to the ideology of homosexual rights are trumping religious rights and are deciding cases in courts against the deeply held religious beliefs of Christians.  They are imposing huge fines (and even threatening jail time!)  and running them out of business.  At the same time, the actions of that mayor in Houston shows that given political power, many homosexual activists will pass “ordinances” against the will of the people of any particular city, and even go so far as to demand pastors of Christian churches to hand over their sermons in a Nazi-style statist governmental way in order to punish those who do not adhere to increasing homosexual demands which are now not-so-veiled attempts that are being used to silence us.  It is absolutely necessary to have the written documents BEFOREHAND, in the possession of the Christian churches and businesses, in order to counter against the lawsuits before they even happen!

 

I hope that this great resource will be passed along to every Christian pastor, ministry, and church, and Bible believing follower of Christ to be utilized in protecting their God-given (and Constitutionally given) rights from activists’ lawsuits that intend to punish and silence the church of Jesus Christ and His Word, the Bible.

 

Thank you for reading and God bless!

 

~ Christine

 

My thanks to:

I Stand Sunday [Update #2]

 

 

UPDATE #2 – SEE NEW VIDEO HERE:

 

http://istandsunday.com/

 

WHAT IS THIS REALLY ALL ABOUT?

ANSWER:  GOVERNMENTAL  ABUSE OF POWER!

 

 

 

Why Take Part?

Join Christians across America for I Stand Sunday on November 2, 2014. Hosted by Family Research Council and other partners, speakers from across the nation will gather at Grace Community Church in Houston, Texas to focus on the freedom to live out our faith free of government intrusion or monitoring. We will stand with pastors and churches in Houston, Texas who have been unduly intimidated by the city’s Mayor in demanding they hand over private church communication.

View this live webcast here:

http://www.istandsunday.org/

November 2, 2014

Live Webcast at 7PM ET – 6PM CT – 5PM MT – 4PM PT

Rebroadcast at 9:10PM ET – 8:10PM CT – 7:10PM MT – 6:10PM PT

 

UPDATE!  THE VIDEO AT THE LINK ABOVE HAS REMAINED UP FOR VIEWING AT ANY TIME.  I think that it is very important for all Christians of any denomination to view this event and see how certain political operatives are attempting to take away the free speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of association rights of pastors and Christian business owners in not only Houston, Texas, but across the country.

~ Christine

UPDATE #2:  THE VIDEO IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AT THE .ORG LINK, BUT YOU CAN SEE ANOTHER VIDEO THAT SHARES THE ENTIRE STORY HERE:

http://istandsunday.com/