Eclipse

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks our view of the sun. Today's story is about an eclipse taking place, not in our solar system, but in our hearts.

"The moon of secularism has blocked the face of God." - Dr. Erwin Lutzer

I watched a YouTube video of Kirk Cameron's show Take Aways this week. His guest was Dr. Erwin Lutzer, president emeritus of The Moody Bible Church in Chicago.

Dr. Lutzer wrote a booked entitled, The Eclipse of God. He goes on to say, "Americans don't mind saying they believe in God just as long as they get to choose the god in which they believe. Often times God becomes themselves actually, and as a result of that we are in the society where we are leaving transcendent truth behind and the implications are massive."

That is SO true.

When I was a youth leader at church I encountered many kids who SAID they believed in God, but when asked about God's specific views on same-sex relationships for example, they'd say, "Well, I don't believe THAT."

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." - James 1:17

God does NOT change to suit our desires. It is WE who must change to conform to His will. God is the light of our spiritual self. Anything that gets in the way of His light (a spiritual eclipse) is sin and obscures our view of Him.

"I am the light of the world." - Jesus, John 8:12

We will close with one last word from Dr. Lutzer . . .

"Churches often times make concessions, one compromise at a time, and they think, "Well, I can compromise here but I won't go here," but eventually the pressure is so great that they give in to the culture, they give the culture whatever the culture wants and as a result they lose their effectiveness because they've lost the Gospel."

Has your church experienced an eclipse of the truth? Have you? Read and study the Bible. We must KNOW the God we worship, not worship the god we have created for ourselves.

Take Aways - Lutzer Episode

15 Minutes?

Have you ever heard of a 15-minute city? According to Wikipedia (so you KNOW it's true, right?) the 15-minute city is an urban planning concept in which most daily necessities and services, such as work, shopping, education, healthcare, and leisure can be easily reached by a 15-minute walk, bike ride, or public transit ride from any point in the city.

This concept is already active in cities like Paris, Madrid, Shanghai, etc. It has even been embraced by Klaus Schwab and the World Economic Forum (WEF). Uh-oh....

The ancient city of Nineveh would never have made it as a 15-minute city.

"Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it." - Jonah 3:3

The problem with these pie-in-the-sky ideas is that it takes a people willing to conform to the will of the governing body. Remember Covid? How many people conformed and took the jab? According to Statista, 81.3% of Americans had one or more shots. That's huge! But 18.7% did not conform.

So, what will happen to those unwilling to conform to the government's wishes? 

"He required everyone - small and great, rich and poor, free and slave - to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. ¹⁷And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name." - Revelation 13:16-17

Basically, conform or die.

Would you take "the mark of the beast" if death was the only alternative? Remember, by taking "the mark" you are pledging to follow Satan. I don't know about you, but I would rather follow Jesus.

The average walking speed for a human is about 3 mph. So a 15-minute walk is about 3/4 of a mile (3960 feet). Go for a 15-minute walk sometime and check it out.

"Stop trusting in mere humans." - Isaiah 2:22

15 Minute Cities - Brad Holthaus

15-Minute Cities - WEF

Deception

When Jesus was walking through Jerusalem with His disciples, they asked Him, "What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” - Matthew 24:3

Jesus gave them a really strange answer.

“Watch out that no one deceives you." - Matthew 24:4

Huh?

Jesus could not have been more right. 

The world we live in is absolutely filled with deception. Even in the church! But you know where the most deception exists? In our own hearts and minds. This is an exceedingly dangerous time. For everyone. 

Here's what I mean. How do we know that what we believe is actually true? Where do our beliefs come from? Some pastor? The news? A YouTube video? Our friends and family?

Jesus said, "I am the way, THE TRUTH, and the life." - John 14:6. But who is this Jesus? There are many versions of him out there. Which one is THEE Jesus? Mormons have a Jesus. So do Jehovah's Witnesses. Even the Quran of Islam mentions Jesus. So many versions to choose from. Which one is right?

"For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many." - Matthew 24:5

That's for sure! Can we agree that there can be only ONE truth? I mean, either something is true or it is not, right?

I go back to my encounter with Jesus of the Bible. Not a face-to-face meeting by any means. But when Jesus, THEE Jesus, became real to me, January 15, 2006, I changed.

And that is the key. Jesus, the Truth, changes us. Our eyes become opened and we can see clearly for the first time. And by 'see' I mean understand. It's like the man born blind.

"One thing I do know. I was blind, but now I see." - John 9:25

Only our 'sight' is an understanding of the Word of God, the THINGS of God.

When we meet Jesus, we become changed. No change = No Jesus = no Holy Spirit.

In the Book of 1st John there is a checklist of sorts for the Christian. Here's an example:

"⁶If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. ⁷But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." - 1 John 1:6-7

This is a check for us. Are we "walking in the light?" In other words, are we obeying God's comnands? Are we seeking after His will? If we are not, why would we then be referred to as Christians?

There are many other proofs such as this in 1st John. How many can YOU find? There is a link below. Check it out. There are only five chapters, but the book is FILLED with eye-opening truths.

1 John

Anxiety?

Do you find yourself getting anxious from time to time? Worrying perhaps about how a particular situation on your life will get resolved? This story might be helpful for you.

So often, when we are feeling anxious or worried, we are merely concerned with ourselves. Isn't that true? "I feel this way. I am worried about that."

"I, I, I, I ..." That sounds like an old Fritos commercial. "Ai, yi, yi, yi. I am the Frito bandito."

We need to turn our inward focus away from ourselves and focus outward towards God. Upward, not inward. We need to focus on God and not on our present situation. We need to focus on who HE is, not on who we aren't.

Psalm 46 is a great reminder of God's attributes and not our shortcomings. Read it and see if you don't feel less anxious at it's end.

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. ²Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

³though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

⁴There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. ⁵God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. ⁶Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 

⁷The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

⁸Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. ⁹He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. ¹⁰He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 

¹¹The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." - Psalm 46

Did you notice that verses 7 and 11 are identical? Perhaps it is important and worthy of remembering then.

When we focus on who God is, and we remember that "He will never leave us nor foresake us," what do we have to be anxious about?

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6

"Who of you by worrying can add a single moment to your life?" - Matthew 6:27

Knowing God's Attributes

Frito Bandito Commercial

So Help Me God?

Did you watch Trump's inauguration? I did. And I noticed something. Something very troubling. Did YOU see anything unusual?

Take a look at the picture above of Trump being sworn in. That's Melania standing next to him on his left. What is she holding?

She is holding two books. It look's like they are both Bibles, but it's hard to really tell.

So, where is Trump's left hand? You know, the one he is supposed to place on a Bible to swear by the Lord God Almighty? It sure as heck is NOT on the stack of Bibles! Like I said in my opening paragraph, this is VERY troubling to me.

I wrote a story not that long ago about possible candidates for the antichrist. You can read it here. Trump was one of them. He just shot WAY up on my list of possibles. Consider this from the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

"One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast." - Revelation 13:3

Did Donald Trump appear "to have a fatal wound" recently? Yeeees.... He was shot in the ear while campaigning in Pennsylvania.

The "fatal wound" could also be referring to Trump's political career, after he lost to Biden. Hasn't that wound been healed now upon becoming the 47th president? His political career has been "resurrected" so to speak.

And look at all of the world leaders. They are flocking to him, bowing down to him. Back to Revelation 13:3 . . .

"The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast."

And what is the nickname for the presidential limousine that the president rides in?

The Beast.

Yeah, I know. I'm crazy, right? Alright. Let's change the topic. Do you think Trump is saved? I'm leaning 'no.' He talks the talk, but is it an act? One thing we know for sure. Where the Holy Spirit is, Satan cannot enter in.

"For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back (The Holy Spirit) will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. ⁸And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming." - 2 Thessalonians 4:7-8

Is Trump the Antichrist? We who believe will never know. Keep your eyes on the skies, and trust in The Lord.

Joy

It's a cold winter's day. Mid-January. Temps just BARELY below zero (-11°). Yet, I feel warm. Inside. I'm reflecting on God's love and grace. And I am filled with joy! Why?

As I was traveling to visit a friend this past week I turned on the radio just in time to hear a short 60-second devotional. The speaker suggested reading the Book of Philippians. "It's only three pages," they said. "And it's filled with joy." So I did.

It was definitely worth the read. And it IS literally filled with joy. Which is odd, considering that Paul wrote this letter . . . IN PRISON.

"In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy." - Philippians 1:4

I have heard people say, "I just want to be happy." My response is aleays, "Why stop there? Why not go for JOY instead?"

What gives you joy? Think about it. Maybe make a list sometime. There are things that make us happy. But joyous? That would be a shorter list for most of us, I think.

Here's a theory I just came up with - JOY is inseparable from LOVE. One can always find them hanging out together. Here's an example.

I find joy in Jesus, His Word, my wife, our kids and grandkids, and my very close friends. What do these things have in common? I love them all. See what I mean?

"⁸Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." - 1 Peter 1:8-9

Seek joy instead of happiness. As a bonus, you will also find love.

Philippians

Course Correction

"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” - John 3:8

Each of us is on our own faith journey. It can be likened to getting on board a sailing ship and setting out in hopes of reaching some distant port, somewhere beyond the horizon.

Occasionally along the way our course might need to be adjusted. Just a small adjustment perhaps, but if it is not taken we can find ourselves miles from our intended destination.

As an example, Apollo 11 made five course corrections on its way to the moon. Without those course corrections the spaceship would have missed its destination entirely. They were small corrections, but absolutely necessary.

It is the same with our walk with Jesus. It's called sanctification. We are continually learning and growing - course corrections in the journey of every Christian.

What happens if the winds aren't blowing and the sails on our "faith ship" go limp. Do we just sit there and wait on the Lord. Or do we get out the oars and keep moving?

That all depends. One could easily liken the wind to the Holy Spirit. Without it our faith journey is hopeless. But also a lack of wind in our "faith sails" could be attributed to God testing us and our resolve.

Either way we need to remember that God has His hands on the wheel, not us. And it is His ship, not ours. We are the passengers.

May God continually guide you on the journey you are on. Pray for favorable winds. And may you have safe travels on your way to Paradise.

"We put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. ²We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. ³After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. ⁴We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. ⁵When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray." - Acts 21:1-5

Read, learn, grow, worship, serve, love, pray. Soon, we will be there. It will be more beautiful than we can imagine. In the meantime, help hoist the sails and swab the deck. During our time at sea we will experience much. Just remember whose hands are on the wheel.

The Dead In Christ

According to the Apostle Paul, meeting the Lord will be like this:

"¹³Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. ¹⁴For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. ¹⁵According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸Therefore encourage one another with these words." - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

I have some questions . . .

#1.) Who are "the dead in Christ?"

According to GotQuestions.org, the dead in Christ are those believers who have died before the second coming of Jesus. Billy Graham qualifies in that regard. So does Stephen, the first martyr. Believers who have died before the Lord's return "will rise first."

Next question - #2.) Will the dead in Christ rise physically or spiritually?

The reason I ask this question is that when Jesus died on the cross several dead people rose physically from the grave.

"⁵²The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ⁵³They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people." - Matthew 27:52-53

A foretaste of things to come? Hmm.

Here's an interesting truth. Paul writes to the church in Corinth, about being "away from the body and present with the Lord." A lot of people have gotten this verse wrong. Including me. Paul doesn't say WHEN we are away from the body we are present with the Lord. Read the actual verse and see.

"⁸We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord." - 2 Corinthians 5:8

Various translations use the words 'rather' and 'prefer.' None say WE WILL. Be careful out there. So where do we go when we die?

When Jesus spoke to the thief on the cross He said, "²³Today you will be with me in paradise." - Luke 23:43

Read this additional comment from GotQuestions.org:

There has always been a separation of believers and unbelievers after death (Luke 16:19-31). The righteous have always gone to paradise; the wicked have always gone to hell. For right now, both paradise and hell are “temporary holding places” until the day when Jesus Christ comes back to judge the world based on whether or not individuals have believed in Him. The first resurrection is of believers who will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive rewards based on meritorious service to Him. The second resurrection will be that of unbelievers who will stand before the Great White Throne Judgment of God. At that point, all will be sent to their eternal destination—the wicked to the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15), and the righteous to a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21—22).

Note that it says we who believe will go to PARADISE' when we die, not heaven. Interesting distinction.

Does it really matter who rises first? I don't think so. But meeting "the Lord in the air" will be spectacular!! THEN we will be with the Lord forever. That's all that matters.

Who Are The Dead In Christ

- Gotquestions.org

The Gospel

"And He said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim The Gospel to the whole creation." - Mark 16:15

Okay. First off, the word 'gospel' means 'good news,' so keep that in mind as we go through today's story.

And who was Jesus talking to? He was talking to the Eleven when He appeared to them after rising from the dead. 

So, "The Gospel." Let's start with some basics. God knows everything. He always was, and always will be. God is perfect and demands perfection. That's where we all should go, "Uh-oh." Because WE, none of us, are perfect.

We WERE perfect once but then there was the serpent and Adam and Eve eating forbidden fruit. You know the story. From that point on we were separated from God. That's not good news.

The Bible says that "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). That means that if we sin we're going to hell. Forever. So, where's 'the good news?' Wait. It gets even worse.

The Bible also says, "there is no one who does good, not even one" (Psalm 14:3). People then asked "who then can be saved?" (Luke 18:26). Good question. But then Jesus said this:

“What is impossible with man is possible with God.” - Luke 18:27

And that's where "the good news" begins.

We read about all God's rules and laws, like The Ten Commandments and the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy, and we realize that no one can possibly keep all those. And that's right. I think that was the point.

God made the people sacrifice various things to atone for their sin. Goats, cattle, lambs, doves, first fruits of the land, etc. But the sacrifices weren't lasting. Neither was their repentance for sin.

So, we ask the question again, who then can be saved? "With God, all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).

God is a just judge. And the wages of sin is death, right? Someone has sinned, so someone has to die. God demands a sacrifice.

We have heard words like grace, mercy and forgiveness before. But we cannot understand the true meaning of 'sacrifice' and 'first fruits' until we contemplate someone actually dying for something that WE did.

And this is the good news . . . 

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8

Jesus is our once-for-all sacrifice. Jesus died so that we might live. All we have to do is believe in Jesus, follow His commands, turn from our life of sin, and follow Him.

It's pretty simple once we understand the basics.

How was it that YOU came to be saved? Did someone share the good news about Jesus with YOU?

Why Preach The Gospel? - Voddie Baucham

Is Babylon Falling?

"And the lookout shouted, “Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post. 

Look, here comes a man in a chariot with a team of horses. And he gives back the answer: ‘Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the images of its gods lie shattered on the ground!’” - Isaiah 21:8-9

What is this Babylon that the chariot driver mentioned? It seems to be quite a mystery. 

I was watching the news this past week concerning the wild fires in California. Several reporters called the fiery scene 'apocalyptic' in nature. That got my attention.

Is there any connection between this Mystery Babylon and fire in the Bible? There is.

"Like whirlwinds sweeping through the southland, an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror." - Isaiah 21:1

Well, there are definitely whirlwinds blowing in California. Winds gust of 100mph have been reported. And the fire? This is from John, writing about a Babylon in Revelation 18.

"Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her." - Revelation 18:8

There's the fire! But is Los Angeles 'Mystery Babylon?' I don't think so. But the fiery scenes we've been witnessing in LA will be definitely happening to a futuristic Babylon.

There are many potential candidates - Rome, Jerusalem, America, even a general economic system. No one seems to know for sure.

The Babylon thay Isaiah was talking about was most likely the Roman Empire. It DID fall, and it DID burn. But the Babylon in Revelation has not happened yet.

The Babylon in John's writing could be a city somewhere. It also could be an economic system, like the U S. dollar or the European Union. But it also could be this sinful so iety that Satan has built around himaelf. Who knows? Not me. But things seem to be falling into place. Just watch the news.

Who Is Babylon In Revelation?

God Provides

"The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you:” - Exodus 31:1-6

That was God talking to Moses about building the tabernacle. But it is also evidence that God can instill in specific people amazing talent and knowledge and wisdom for His utlimate glory.

I was reminded of this story as I spoke to people yesterday about my friend Kortney's heart and double lung transplant that took place on January 1st. Everyone was amazed at the skills these surgeons and technicians have.

You can almost see them operating, maybe 6-8 of them seated around her. Each of them performing some amazingly difficult task.

What skills has God given YOU? I write stories about God to give Him glory. That' just a small thing. Maybe you're a daycare teacher or a mom. Maybe you're a dad volunteering to coach his son's baseball team. The important thing is, does what we do glorify God?

You might wonder if the heart surgeons were really glorifying God or just doing their jobs. Well, they definitely posess God-given skills. They may or may not be believers. But what about the effected families?

Kortney's family and friends have been praying for months. Kortney and her husband are SO thankful for the prayers!

The point is that God gives people the ability to do things. What are we doing for Him? God provides for our every need out of love and grace. Do we extend love and grace on His behalf to those we meet on any given day?

Jesus told us to "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." - Matthew 5:16

Are we shining?

The Dude Abides

These pitiful stories that I inflict you with each week come from a variety of places. Songs, sermons, bathroom sink drains, etc. The only thing that can be said about them with any certainty is that the main character of each epistle is God - Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit.

The topic for this one came from the title of a Facebook movie clip called "The Dude Abides." There's a link at the bottom.

The short video features a conversation between Jeff Bridges and Sam Elliot from the movie The Big Lebowski. In the clip, Mr. Bridges' character (The Dude) offers this gem.

"The Dude abides."

I thought about that statement for a moment and, in the light of scripture, felt it should be worthy of consideration. We ALL should abide!

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." - John 15:1-11

After reading that, I have come to the conclusion that Jesus wants us ALL to abide. He is in us, and us in Him.

What does abiding in Jesus look like?

To 'abide' is to live. And not simply to just live, but to live in such a way that we live IN Him. That we become like Him. Like a tree abides with the soil. And here is the test.

When people look at us, or think of us, do they see Jesus? That's a tough one. But no one ever said that living like Christ would be easy. In fact . . .

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33

James reminds us of this 'troublesome' fact later when he writes . . .

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, a whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." - James 1:2-4

To sum up, abiding in Jesus is pure joy, even when it isn't. Does that make sense?

Abide then! And experience the joy that The Father intended from the very beginning. Abide! Yes, abide! "And the peace which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:7

Dear Mr. Putin

I watched a music video recently. No, it wasn't Pink Floyd, Hendrix, or Santana. It was Tchaikovsky.

What struck me about the video (link below) was that is was basically a tour of St. Basil's Cathedral. I had never seen the inside.  Wow!

With such a beautiful building at the center of Moscow, one would think it's leaders would be quite religious. You'd think.

A lot of the world's leaders do things in the name of their god. Except their gods are not really the one-true God.

When Paul entered the city of Athens he made similar observations about its people.

"Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: 'to an unknown god.' So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship - and this is what I am going to proclaim to you." - Acts 17:22-23

Not knowing the God we worship is a one-way ticket to hell. That statement is not simply MY opinion. It's God's Word.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ - Matthew 7:21-23

There's a lot of good words in Matthew 7. Most read 'do not judge' and stop reading. Read the whole chapter! Jesus tells us that we ARE to judge people, by their fruit.

"By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" - Matthew 7:16

As Christians, we are to resemble the God we follow. By that criteria, Putin would appear to follow HIS god, Satan, not Jesus as the images inside his cathedral confesses.

There is one God. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The God who created the universe and everything in it. The God who sacrificed His one and only Son so that we could live with Him forever.

KNOW WHO YOU WORSHIP.

Hymn of The Cherubim - Tchaikovsky

Grace

We had the fam over on Christmas Eve for a light lunch and gift opening. There were eight of us in attendance so thankfully we have two bathrooms.

A few days before our big event, I happened to be down in the basement when I "felt the urge" and hustled into the lower-level bathroom. There, just sitting in the sink, all by himself, was a big ol' spider. So, naturally, I turned on the sink faucet and washed him down the drain.

My wife would never have done that. For example, we get beetles in our house every once in a while, during the winter. My wife lovingly picks them up, carries them to the front door, and puts them outside. Yes, they probably freeze to death, but she doesn't kill them.

God is even more graceful with us humans. We are sinful by nature, deserving of death. Yet God extends US grace and gives US the means to escape His coming wrath.

On Christmas Eve day, with all of our guests in the house, I went down to use the bathroom again. There, sitting calmly in the sink, was my friend, Mr. Spider. I was about to wash him down the drain again, but then I stopped and thought for a moment.

"Leave him alone," I said to myself. "He's been through enough this week."

My wife is a great teacher. Her example of grace saved a spider's life on Christmas Eve. God has given us ALL a way to escape "the swirling waters of death." By placing our faith in Jesus Christ, His One and Only Son. It is the free gift of salvation.

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved." - Ephesians 2:1-5