August 6, 2022
A REMINDER OF THOSE
THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE
We said previously Stephen was killed by stoning, James the brother of John killed by the sword, but the list goes on--men and women hunted down and yanked from their house by Saul (now Paul). Acts 8:3.
Thomas stabbed and killed by the spear, Jude killed by arrows, Andrew crucified, Bartholomew flayed to death by a whip, Peter crucified, Luke hanged, Thaddeus beheaded by an ax, Mark dragged through the streets until dead, Matthew killed by the sword.
Paul (formerly Saul the persecutor) converted and almost stoned to death and left for dead—then years later imprisoned and executed.
Several decades later a new generation of martyrs--Polycarp (protégé of the Apostle John) burned at the stake—and the list goes on and on--JUST A REMINDER FOR THOSE THAT BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTED CHRIST AND THOSE THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE.
JULY 31, 2022
Stephen killed by stoning, James the brother of John killed by the sword.
In contrast during the "covid-19 pandemic 2020 lockdowns"--pastors and their congregants told stories of great bravado how they courageously preached by online video feeds, asserted great leadership and management by instructing their congregation to stay six feet apart and preventing their choirs from singing worship music because the singing may spread a droplet, and finally pastoral leaders who demonstrated their nobility by wearing a mask and directing their flock to wear a mask over their face to protect others in the name of brotherly or christian love.
The apostle Paul instructs to be discerning—why did so many pastors fail the “discerning” test in 2020?
July 17, 2022
Worry? Why worry?
What can worry do?
It never keeps trouble,
from overtaking you,
It puts a frown upon thy face,
and sharpness in the tone.
We’re unfit to live with others,
and unfit to live alone.
Worry? Why worry?
What can worry do?
It never keeps a trouble,
from overtaking you.
Pray? Why pray?
What can praying do?
Praying really changes things,
arranges life anew.
It puts a smile upon your face,
the love note in your tone,
Makes you fit to live with others,
and fit to live alone.
Pray? Why pray?
What can praying do?
It brings God down from heaven,
to live and work with you.
Author Unknown
JUNE 6 2022 (D-DAY JUNE 6, 1944)
On this day in 1944, an attack was initiated on the beaches of occupied Normandy, France against German forces. The attack consisted of 6,000 war ships, 185,000 men, and 20,000 vehicles. Everyone should be able to recount this great battle for the sacrifices made against evil.
Below are two quotes from Dwight D. Eisenhower and Franklin Delano Roosevelt on the day prior and day of June 6, 1944. These quotes are provided for the invocation of the Lord Thy God upon the events that were about to unfold:
A message from General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force to the Allied Expeditionary Force (the last two paragraphs)--
“I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!
Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.”
Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s prayer on D-Day:
“My fellow Americans: Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far. And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:
Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this date have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.
Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.
They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.
They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest-until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men’s soul will be shaken with the violences of war.
For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.
Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
And for us at home – fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas – whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them – help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.
Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.
Give us strength, too – strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.
And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.
And, O Lord, give us Faith, Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness or our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.
With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.
Thy will be done, Almighty God.
Amen.
April 23, 2022
A little history to remember on this Patriots Day ------The time and place was the Constitutional Convention in 1787, and we borrow this from a book entitled "America's Providential History"
"A somber George Washington, presiding over this assembly, began to despair of seeing success in the Convention. But the oldest delegate in attendance, Dr. Benjamin Franklin, asked for permission to speak.
This was unusual. The 81-year old Pennsylvanian up to this point wrote out his remarks and had someone else read them due to his infirmity. But this time he was stirred to rise and address the delegates himself."
"The small progress we have made after four or five weeks....with each other...is a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the human understanding....In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hiherto, once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understanding?
"In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor...Have we now forgotten this powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?
"I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that "except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it" (Psalm 127:1), "I firmly believe this, and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel. We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages.
"I therefore beg leave to move that, henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven and its blessing on our deliberation be held in this assembly every morning...and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service."
("America's Providential History", by Dr. Mark A. Beliles & Stephen K. McDowell).