The Importance of the Shepherd

The most important part of the Christmas story is the Shepherd.  What? That probably surprised you. Let us start with a little foundation first and then see if you don’t agree when finished.  There is a reason that the shepherds were the first to be told of the birth of the Christ Child.  A Shepherd’s sole mission was to safe guard the sheep. If a new lamb was born, everything revolved around that little lamb until it was on its feet. Everything stopped the night the Lamb of God was born.

The Shepherds had taken care of their flocks since the dawn of creation.  Genesis 4:4, Abel brought unto the Lord the “firstlings of his flock” for an offering.  Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were nomadic.  They lived off of the animal herds they controlled.  This continued until the children of Jacob went to Egypt.  In Genesis 46, because they were shepherds they lived in the land of Goshen.

The raising and shepherding of livestock continued when they left Egypt and settled in Canaan.  Two tribes (Rueben and Gad) had so much livestock they wanted to remain on the opposite side Jordan for the grazing (Numbers 32). During the forty years in the desert they had been given laws by God.  These laws instituted the priestly line of the Levities and the atonement for sin with the sacrifice of a lamb. These practices continued up and through the establishment of kings in Israel.  David as the youngest had to protect the flocks while his brothers went to war.  His son Solomon dedicated the Temple with 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep being sacrificed. 1 Kings 8:63

Lambs would continue to be the focal point of Temple worship and sacrifice.  The logistics that were in place for daily sacrifice are beyond the scope of this document. Without the quantity and quality of lambs being raised, the daily sacrifice would have come to a stand still. With that many sacrifices the shepherd had a huge responsibility in the daily life of the Jew at the time of the birth of Jesus. 

The prophets and Jesus himself often referred to Israel as “sheep” or “flock”.

Isaiah 40:11 -  He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Jeremiah 31:10 -  Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.

Ezekiel 34:5 -  And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.

Ezekiel 34:12 -  As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are

scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.

Matthew 26:31 -  Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

Then we come to the Chief Shepherd.  In the larger herds the Chief Shepherd was in charge.  At the time of the sacrificial offerings in the temple; the Chief Shepherd was a man of extreme importance.  In the tenth chapter of John; Jesus called himself the “good shepherd”.

Paul not only calls Jesus the “Shepherd” in 1 Peter 2:25 but he goes on in 1 Peter 5:4 to state:

“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

Jesus is the Chief Shepherd.  Now let’s head back to the scene at the birth of Christ.  When the shepherds were worshipping the baby, they knew they had not only been the first to be told, they knew there was a new King born that was also the CHIEF SHEPHERD and the only spotless lamb on the planet!

That is why THE Shepherd is important.

Thessalonians Chapter Reviews Complete

 The Book of Thessalonians is complete and the Chapter Reviews have been published to the Resource Page.  It joins Daniel; Matthew; Rapture and Second Coming pages

Silence from Exodus to the Church

 When Exodus starts there is a “new king of Egypt” (Exodus 1:8) who did not know about Joseph.

He is worried that “children of Israel are more and mightier than” he is (Exodus 1:9). He plots many ways to fix the problem.  We then step into the story of the birth of Moses, his growing to adulthood (Exodus 2:11), now age 40 he kills an Egyptian and flees to Midian for 40 more years. This Egyptian King dies while Moses is gone and a new one comes to the throne. (Exodus 2:23)

This one would have been “raised in the same court” with Moses.  Therefore, the purpose God had Moses spend his first 40 years a “prince” of Egypt because as a nomad, Moses would have had trouble getting “audiences” before the king but not as a prince.

Then we FINALLY get to the last half of verse 23:

“…Israel…cried, and their cry came up unto God…”

THEY JUST NOW CRIED OUT TO GOD!

God Never Left……..the People Did!  Do we wonder how much sooner they could have left Egypt if they had only asked?

Scholars have all written of the “years of God’s silence” while the Jews were in bondage in Egypt.  Their mistake, it was “years of silence by the children of Abraham”.

One other side note in the story….that is often “MISSED”

When this Pharaoh decides to give chase to Moses…Exodus 14:7 says Pharaoh took 600 “chosen chariots”.  These chariots were the ELITE vehicles in the army.  They were inspected for all faults!

That adds more flavor to verses 24 and 25 when the “Lord….took off the chariot wheels…” in the middle of the sea.

Then there is the fact that World Historians have had trouble pin-pointing the story of the Exodus because they cannot prove which “Pharaoh Ramses” was the king during the Exodus. The records for those years are all “jumbled” as thought some MAJOR catastrophe happened!  DUH! Three Pharaoh’s died during the first 80 years of lifespan of Moses (remember the heir to the throne also died in the plaques). This Pharaoh (unlike what Hollywood depicts) died in the river at the HEAD of His army. He was…

“Washed from History”….. Imagine the “recovery period” for Egypt.  Economically, environmentally and militarily alone would take decades to recover.  All caused by the plaques and the total annihilation of their army in the river.

Egypt would once again provide sanctuary for the seed of Abraham when Joseph would flee there with Mary and their child.  Egypt also has the promise of a significant part in God’s plans for the children of Abraham in the Last Days.

The Pharaoh in chapter 1:8 was worried about the eventual downfall of his empire from the Jews taking sides with an eventual enemy.  If he had lived long enough he would have seen the death of the next 2 generations caused by his own throne.

Silence of Israel

For 40 years the Children of Abraham would wander until they could get their lives in servitude to God.

They would eventually get into Canaan and go through years of ups and downs always forgetting God. They did not listen when they had Moses.  They did not listen when he sent Judges one after another to “bail out” the children of Abraham.  Then through the generations of Kings and their guilty pleasures, they would not listen and time came for the Prophets.

That did not work so, God allowed them to go back to “Egyptian Bondage” that they wanted so badly.  Five more empires over the generations to come would chastise (oh, I love that word) them.

Assyrians, Babylonians, Medo-Persians, Greece and the Roman Empire all would take them captive. Every time, ONCE the children would “cry out” for HELP, their Father would rescue them!

The last time he did….God sent HIS Son!  What did they do?  They killed him…….

Now enters the Gentiles, now enter the “Church”, now enters “Christianity”……

Silence of Christianity

The Jews turned their backs too many times and the door opened to the rest of the world.  Scripture from beginning to end is still about His plan for the Children of Abraham.  However, the Church and Christianity have now been added to the script that is playing out before our eyes.

The Church and Christianity that came into existence upon the message that Jesus preached. They have had 2000 years to do what the Jews did not. Has it been done? Christians might be eagerly awaiting the return of Christ but what are they doing in the meantime?  The best effort they can generate usually comes on Sunday mornings.  As long as it occurs early enough on Sunday to be done before the sports kick-off at noon.  And the preacher does a good job on the sermon; they have succeeded in doing their requirement for the week. Out the door on Sunday, turn on the electronics and get caught up on what was missed during the hour in church!

How is that any different than what has gone on for the past 6000 years? How is this any different than the Children of Abraham in Egypt or in Canaan?   Silence from the Church and Christians.  TOO BUSY FOR GOD.

WHERE IS THE DESIRE TO SPEND EVERY BREATHING MINUTE WITH THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE?

I AM A SLAVE TO GOD MANIFESTO

What is your “Standard”?  What do you stand for?  Any idea what you believe? What would you die for?

A day is soon coming that WILL require every person to AGREE to a set “CODE of CONDUCT” that is approved by society, social media and ultimately governmental laws.  When that day occurs and you are forced to accept that “Code” or face consequences, what WILL YOU DO?  Will you then STAND for the laws of God or those of man?  When that choice suddenly dictates imprisonment, lack of right to purchase food, and even family not acknowledging you, it may be too late to suddenly find your backbone!  If there is no backbone in you now, what gives you the impression that you will suddenly find one when the noose is tightening around the neck?

I challenge everyone to write a “manifesto” of their own words.  DO NOT copy mine or anyone’s.  If you do, then it is not truly a manifesto, because you did nothing more than copy words from someone else’s heart and not your own. 

What is a manifesto? 

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

“Manifesto: a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer”

 

I AM A SLAVE TO GOD MANIFESTO

I am not a Christian. That is a term created by the world to identify a particular group of people. The world can have it and label anything they want with that term. As is true with any term used to group people, this term “Christian” has come to identify a broad spectrum of beliefs and ideas.  It no longer has the same context it originally had when used in the first century. A term that once made the Apostle Paul proud would now be a term fit to describe the very people he was trying to reach with the words of Christ. 

I cannot find any reference to Jesus THE Christ telling anyone to first you must become a Christian and once you do that be willing to die for being called one. 

God did ask me if I was willing to do one thing.  Was I willing to give my life for the proclamation of HIS Word and for the Defense of the Name of HIS Son Jesus Christ?  I gave Him an answer.  It was an unconditional and fully bonded shout of YES SIR!  He called me to accept Him as the controller of my life, soul and spirit.  In making that pledge to Him, I have given away ALL RIGHTS and have subjected myself to his governing laws and rules.  If I did not want to be controlled in such a way then I would not accept and commit my life to Jesus Christ and HIS Father the God of the Universe!  I am not a Christian, but I AM a child of God and a follower and believer of EVERYTHING taught by His son Jesus Christ!  I have accepted and acknowledge before Him that Jesus died for my sins!

This commitment requires a bond, no simple pledge will suffice. It is a commitment that requires me to unconditionally waive all rights and beliefs.  I am placing myself into bondage to the God of the Universe!

I can already feel the weight of that yoke of burden.  How am I worthy enough to even attempt to claim the right to any opinion or belief that is not His? I just handed those rights over in order to make this bond!

A Christian cannot do what I just did. Christians have been seen coming and going, following the latest wave that provides what they want.  They are never able to put themselves into bondage to ONE Lord and Master. I feel free and comfortable denying I am a Christian. I will NEVER deny that I am a follower of Jesus Christ! He alone is my Master and I am in His service. I will speak and do ONLY that which he allows me to do.

I will attempt to live up to the faith that for centuries has caused HIS other followers who have gone before to be able to boldly stand; and for some to even give the ultimate price for the name of Jesus Christ. Those men and women who have followed Jesus Christ may be long gone but they are still impacting lives!

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.”

ALL GLORY AND HONOR AND PRAISE TO THE ONE AND ONLY GOD OF THIS UNIVERSE WHO SACRIFICED HIS SON JESUS CHRIST SO THAT I WOULD LIVE AND THEN SENT THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BRING POWER UNTIL THE DAY OF HIS RETURN!

signed and dated November 2, 2020 by WD KEMNER

SKILLS NEEDED FOR UNDERSTANDING BIBLE PROPHECY

Do you have trouble understanding passages in the Bible?  Particularly those that may appear to be prophetic in nature?

Let us look at it from how a person may approach other forms of literature.  As a reader, why do you read books that fit into a particular genre, such as horror, mystery or western theme books? Or, do you read items written only by a particular author?  If you do so, why?

You read a particular genre or particular author’s books because you understand his/her style when you read it.  Have you ever noticed that you can tell when your author has not written it and it was written by a ghost writer?  That was because something is different.  The same is true in scripture. You can not pull out the books of Revelations, Daniel or Ezekiel without having read any other books of the Bible.  You will not understand any of it without a total comprehension of the context of the entire Bible.

Another problem occurs attempting to read books you are not capable of understanding.  In that manner, to read particular books of the Bible you need understanding that comes after developing particular skills.

Ten Skills Needed:

You need to be a believer in God.

You need to be a follower of His Son Jesus.

You must believe that they both exist.

You must have a personal relationship and have submitted control of your life to God.

You must be living under submission to God’s authority.

Without submission you cannot accept the truths laid down in scripture as being the word of God.

You must be able to acknowledge that the Bible (as written) is the literal word of God.

You need to have the anointing of the Holy Spirit in your life in order to process the simplicity of His word.

The anointing does not come without the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.  It is the Holy Spirit who gives the discernment and guidance needed when reading the words of God.

You need daily time with God in prayer if you are attempting to understand His Words. If the time is not

spent communicating with Him, how can there be any understanding of what he says?

You need daily time reading of the Bible.  Do you understand any book in which you have read only the first and last pages?  Likewise it is foolish to have the mentally that says to God: “Okay, I have an hour today, what are you going to show me?”  Why waste His time?  Approaching the study of scripture in this manner leads to man inserting his opinion and interpretation into a passage.

You need an open mind and heart.  Be prepared to throw away EVERY preconceived idea, thought and

opinion.  Those are all items that belong only to you and are not the Lord’s.  

The following rules are mandatory requirements in order to understand

ALL SCRIPTURE stands together.  There are no theological debates or interpretations.  His word is what it is.  All scripture is part of the entire package, no one verse stands alone.  If it is not supported by other scripture then it is the idea of man and not God.

God does not need another new revelation of His Word.  It is complete in itself from Genesis (the Beginning) to the end of the story the Book of Revelation.  It can stand alone without man’s extra books of interpretation and self helps.

DO NOT ever attempt to make a passage “fit” into your understanding. If you must try to make or find scriptures to prove a theory or interpret it; then it is just another good theory.  Throw it out!

At some point in history men decided that we must be able to explain things in a manner similar to the way we have for the past 100 years.  This is a fallacy in understanding scripture.  Deciding that something described must be equaled to something today does not have any place in God’s Word.

Example, one writer in the 1960’s wrote that Russia has to be destroyed because the territory they control needs to be broken up. Why write that? Of course he could not imagine the possibility that 30 years later the USSR would fall without a war. 

In order to understand scripture, you must understand that you are not the center of the universe.  God’s Word, centers on a chosen and specific group of people.  This group is to be the focus of His Plans for the past, present and future.  You need to be able to accept the following regarding who the Chosen People are.

The “chosen people” are not Christians. It is not the “church” of any form.  It is the Jews!  Jews are those that are of the seed of Abraham and no one else.  God has had and will always have a special place for the “seed of Abraham”.  The scriptures and all its words are focused/centered on that group of people. All prophecies are focused on or involve them.  You must understand and accept that.  If not you will have trouble understanding anything in the Bible. It is ONLY a privilege that the rest of the world (non Jews) will be allowed to be a small part in the story from beginning to end of the Bible.  How we honor and respect that privilege will determine how we understand it. 

Let's Go Waste A Vote! - REPOSTED

Reposted from November 2016

Every four years we have Elections. As is true each year, everyone has an opinion on who to vote for. No one seems to remember what the reason is for voting. I am not going to comment on the candidates or tell you who to vote for. I am simply going to REMIND you of what the reason is for voting. 

PART 1 - Directions on Voting from the Bible

There are “religious” people who have forgotten what the Bible says about voting. This could be a result of not hearing it spoken of from the pulpit. Historically this is a country with religious freedom. That does not include the freedom to speak about politics from behind the pulpit. Why is there a dependency upon the pulpit for guidance on how to vote and not the Bible?

Now, with that said, let us see what the Bible says regarding voting in the election. Oh, wait a minute. That is odd. The word “vote” is not in the Bible. Where does the Bible say: “Thou shalt vote every four years for a religious person to be your leader”? It may be hard to believe, but the Bible does not tell us to go out and vote.

The Bible teaches that there is something more important than going to vote. It teaches a concept called responsibility.
This is a concept that is alien to our society. Man considers himself; and not others; therefore he cannot possibly be held responsible for his actions and deeds. Pages can be spent on that topic. How does this relate to Elections and the vote?

Man is responsible for his actions. 
When you vote, you and you alone are responsible for, and held accountable for, how you use that vote.

If you vote for any one candidate; you assume ALL responsibility for putting that Candidate into office. You have chosen to use the “privilege” for that “once in a lifetime” opportunity to have a “say in the outcome”. How you chose to use it, was not the fault of the “candidate” or “media”. You made the choice. You are the one RESPONSIBLE for that vote. No matter what your “logic” is for voting for that person, you are responsible for that decision until the next election. If your choice makes BAD decisions for the next four years, it is your responsibility to live with it.


Part 2 - Wasting Your Vote

Can a vote be wasted? Now, how you use that “privilege” is addressed in the Bible! Do you squander it, if you do then you have done nothing more that put it to waste. 

Jesus taught the parable regarding wise use of your talents. I am not going to go into a sermon on it. The man was a fool for burying the money in the ground instead of putting it to use. If you are going to intentionally squander your vote, you are no different than that man was.

What is a wasted vote? The following statement summarizes the approach many people are taking to waste their vote.

Not wanting either Candidate A or B. Candidate B is worse than Candidate A. Vote is given to Candidate A because a vote for A is a vote AGAINST Candidate B.

That is the most pathetic case of giving up. This voter is in a row boat with a hole in it. The voter takes the paddle and throws it into the water because they believe they might drown anyway. They do not try to use the cell phone they have because the battery is probably dead anyway!

Candidate C or D has no chance to win against Candidate A or B

That is true. Surprise you with that statement. When a Baseball pitcher takes the mound; he is expecting the other eight players to take the field as well. Suppose they decide to quit because they will lose anyway. He goes to the mound to attempt to “finish the game to the best of his ability” anyway. What can he do without a catcher or the other seven?

Is it really any different? Millions of voters are planning on taking the same attitude on Election day. They have given up in the eighth inning. They are planning to “give up”. They are losers in the eighth inning instead of losers after nine innings who gave it all on the field.


Part 3 – What are YOU going to do about it

1. RESEARCH candidates. ALL candidates regardless of “party platforms”.
2. Vote for all offices that are up for election. National – State – Local
3. Research all issues. Referendums, ballot initiatives. These may be local or state wide
4. Do not WASTE a vote to keep someone out of office. Vote for the best candidate.
5. GET OUT AND VOTE

Daniel in the Lion’s Den – A little known fact

In Book of Daniel Chapter 6

King Darius and Daniel’s relationship was apparently quite strong.  Darius faith in Daniel was due to “an excellent spirit was in him”.   Darius set 120 princes over the kingdom.  Over these were three presidents.  Of the three presidents Daniel was number one.  What envy and jealousy that created among all the others.  So much so, they kept up a constant vigil to see what “dirt” they could get on Daniel to “bring him down”.  (122 vs 1)    I would take those odds any day when you have God on your side.

They could not find a fault in Daniel nor could they create any conflict of interest to “trip him up”.  A scheme was created to attack Daniel by forcing him to choose between the King and his God.  They convinced the king that he the King was worthy of worship and NO ONE was to worship anyone but the king. 

The Medes and Persians operated under a set of laws and no king had ultimate authority. The king could not side step his own governments’ laws.  Knowing this, the men created the law and convinced the king to put it into place, well knowing that Daniel would have an issue with it.

Daniel knowing this had taken place did not allow it to prevent him from still staying true to his God.  In plain sight he prayed and worshipped God.

The men knew they had succeeded in “trapping” Daniel and took it to the king.  When evil is so entrenched in its attack on the righteous it fails to be able to see what is coming in the “end game”!

Darius now knew he had been swindled into trapping Daniel. The King had to have Daniel cast into the lions den.  But note that it was the king who states: “...Thy God...will deliver thee”

The den was sealed with a stone and the seals of both the king and his lords, so that there would be no tampering.  King Darius fasted for Daniel!  This was the king who was not a follower of Daniel’s God.

Daniel was found unharmed and brought out of the Den, praise being given by both Daniel and the king that God had intervened.  In true form of how punishment was dealt with, the men (122 of them) that had tried to get rid of Daniel, were ALL thrown into the Den of lions and were eaten before they hit the floor!

That is how we have all heard the story told.

Now, for the “rest of the story”.

Jewish historian Josephus in recounting this event adds a little more detail that Daniel was humble enough to leave out.  Paraphrasing the historian, he adds these details to the story:

After Daniel is brought out of the Den, these same men (not smart enough to leave things as they were) questioned that Daniel did not survive due to his God, but rather because of the fact that the lions had all been fed before Daniel was put in the den and that the lions were just “not hungry”.  King Darius, now ready to “turn the tables” on these men decided to get in on the game and ordered that the lions all be fed to overflowing.  The lions were fed and fed and fed.  Finally when everyone thought they were full, the King stated that it was now time to test the theory that these men had suggested about it not being God that delivered Daniel.  So he had the men tossed in the den one after another to see if it was true.  The lions not only ate the men, but their families as well!

God’s justice will prevail.

Fiery Furnace – A Different Perspective

The Fiery Furnace of Daniel Chapter 3 

King Nebuchadnezzar had a statue of himself built 12 ½ feet wide and 125 feet high.  Everyone was to bow and worship it. Three men did not. They did not even have to stop to consider their answer to the King as to why they did not do so. They would not worship an idol and their God would deliver them from the fiery furnace that they were going to be thrown into for not worshipping the idol.

In a rage of fury the King had his men heat the furnace up seven times hotter than it was.

This is where we usually MISS something in this story.

It describes the Jews being dressed in ALL their garments.  They were layered as thought it was fifty degrees BELOW zero temperature out there.  They were dressed into their: Coats, hats and “other garments”!  The king had mighty men bound the three Jews and throw them into the fire.  No one could break those bonds.

They were wrapped up like a mummy!  Then they were tied up to prevent any escape.  Picture what they looked like BEFORE ever being put in the furnace. REMEMBER this image in your mind.

The mighty men who threw the boys into the furnace died from the fire JUST TRYING to get the boys into the furnace.  Another historical record states the flames coming out of the front of the furnace were 75 feet high!

The boys were so “bundled up” that it says they “fell down” in the furnace.

THEN… (cue the drum roll please) 

Upon looking in the furnace the king found NOT three men BUT four! They were  ALL WALKING AROUND. Not lying down burning.

This is again another place we usually end the telling of this story with the acknowledgement that they came out not even harmed and the king repented.  BUT READ THAT ENDING PART AGAIN!

Correct ending is this:

In the furnace the boys were NO LONGER even tied up. AND they were WALKING AROUND.  Remember that image you had of what the boys looked like when they were thrown into the fire. The ropes had burned off and ALL THE EXTRA CLOTHING must have been burned off because they were walking around freely.  And not one of the men was harmed. 

It gives a DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE now when scripture states that there was not a hair singed or the smell of smoke upon them!

Spiritual Warfare Illustrated by an OLD MAN

Daniel is at least 80 years old; some have listed him as being between 90-100 at the time his fourth vision takes place in Chapter 10 of his book. He spends 21 days in a fast from bread, flesh and wine while seeking understanding and a spiritual break through. After 21 days he is void of all human strength and cannot physically stand when an answer arrives.

The Archangel Gabriel explains to him that “from the FIRST Day that you set your heart to understand….thy words were heard.”  “….but the prince of the kingdom of Persia (one of Satan’s angels) withstood me 21 days…”

Gabriel had come to respond to Daniel’s immediately upon Daniel’s heart being focused.  BUT, it took Gabriel 21 days to get there because of the battle going on in the spirit realm!

21 days of prayer and fasting + 21 days of spiritual warfare = Hundreds of years of pinpoint prophecy in Daniels Fourth vision 

That story may be familiar sermon material on spiritual warfare.

BUT consider what would have happened if Daniel had not pressed on for 21 days? What if he had decided after 7 days (week) that he had enough and called it quitting time?

How about after two weeks of prayer and fasting? Surely that was plenty of time. No, he kept on and on for 21 days UNTIL there was the BREAK THROUGH!

I am not going to recommend fasting for three weeks, but it sure would put a dent in the enemy’s armor. I am going to state that there are not enough sore knees in God’s army. We need to have concern about the outcome of the battles in the spirit realm if NO ONE is praying!

Today’s battle zone is World wide and fiercer than Gabriel dealt with.

IT IS TIME TO QUIT PRAYING “Mother Goose” TYPE PRAYERS that we have learned and start

PRAYING DANIEL TYPE PRAYERS

Pray until it hurts and then keep on praying……

K a l e i d o s c o p i c AMERICAns

 K a l e i d o s c o p i c   AMERICAns

React to Names of Sport Teams

There is another minority in America that is not getting any attention in the midst of all the current propaganda so  it is time for them to speak up.  This group is called the Kaleidoscopic. There are too many different ethnic backgrounds in just one person in this group to label them anything other than Kaleidoscopic AMERICAns.

There are millions of you out there!  You know who you are.  Here is a description of members of this forgotten class. People with an Ancestor who came from country A.  This ancestor met a spouse getting off the boat at Ellis Island who had come over from country B.  They went and did what couples did…had children!

Their son married a girl who was daughter of immigrants from country C. Their second son crossed the river and married the girl whose family had just come up the river from “down under”. The youngest child; a girl; ran off with that traveling salesman who said he was from the “continent”.

A few generations go by.  There are now twenty different lines of descendents scattered across the country.  Not one of those descendents has any clue that the blood of ancestors from at least three other continents is running through their veins! 

With all those variations in the blood type of one individual person; why are those various blood types not killing each other?

Consider this: Country A hates Country C.  Country B would get along with Country F, if it was not for the relationship with Country J.  So instead of killing each other, they get offended at people, monuments and athletic teams that make some kind of reference to their heritage.  Consider the current trend with Professional Sports for an example, let’s see….

There is that blood type “E”. That bloodline starts screaming at what it perceives as the misuse of the terms “Redskins, Indians, Braves and Chiefs”.  That can be fixed when last years football Super Bowl Champion gets renamed.  Why stop renaming teams with the Washington Redskins?  The Washington Football team is an offending name.  It is a reminder that the team is supposed to be from Washington.

Now let’s look at blood type “H”.  It gets offended EVERYTIME religion comes up.  Every time the “Saints or Padres” are mentioned.  How unholy! What a headache every time some band plays “When the Saints…” or “Take me out to…” during the 7^th.

Let’s not mention what happens when one of the bloodlines hears the term Pirates, Buccaneers, or Vikings!  Boy oh Boy, that blood “R” from Great-Great-Great Uncle Jack wants to go do some pillaging and raiding. Shiver me timbers, blood starts boiling enough to make someone walk the plank!

Then there are other names that conjure up memories from ancestors that really get someone thinking of the past!  We do not want to be reminded of the past, do we? Shame on them.

Marching of the “Panthers”.  Was that the 60’s? That has to go.  How about “Patriots”?  Too much blood shed during the 1770’s….blood, blood, blood…  Don’t recall, did we learn anything about that decade while in school?

49ers? Were they not the ones that tore up and destroyed landscape, selfishly looking for Gold? Destroying the environment, how rude!  Got to change that.

What about all those “BIRDS”?  The hunter blood type from “down under” has a real fear of them. Get rid of them!  Eagles, Falcons, Seahawks, Blackhawks, Jayhawks, While-Yellow-Green-Pink BIRDS!

Oh…..I got a vision of Gregory Peck being chased by a huge Raven…I’m shaking in fright at the thought.

Solution?  Hear is the EASY solution.

Add up all the years of accumulated “wisdom” from ALL those generations of intelligent ancestors. How many decades of education and experience among them all?  Maybe not much, but THAT group of Kaleidoscopic AMERICAns, from EVERY land mass on the planet came up with this plan. It is the most logical, sure fire, perfect, alternative to fix all these so called issues from ever happening again!  Want to hear it?  Too bad.  After all, you are the one reading this, so here it is anyway.

EVERY ATHLETIC SPORT TEAM has to change their name!  That’s it.  Nothing more.

Start on the West coast and go North to South and then West to East.  Professional Sport teams are renamed.  They change the name to:  Football Team A – the next one is called Football Team B – etc. Baseball teams will become: Baseball Team A – the next one is called Baseball Team B.  Go through each sport the same way.  This plan is fool proof.  It can be done for Professional and Collegiate!

Wow, is that not the SIMPLIST idea to come along since sliced bread?  Oops, better retract that last analogy, it may be offensive to peanut butter or bologna.

Of course that is, it is fool proof until….

Until, it offends those suffering from Grammaphobia! Then the best choice is using numbers.

Oops, that would offend those suffering from Numerophobia.

Looking out for one’s own selfish desires, means that…SOMEONE WILL ALWAYS GET OFFENDED

Oh well, guess YOU CANNOT PLEASE EVERYONE!

Isn’t that where this all started?  Trying to please everyone?

Liberties: The Sheep or the Wolf?

A key word today is “liberties”.  Make sure your looking to see who’s definition of "Liberty" is being discussed.  Is it the liberties belonging to the Sheep or the Wolf?

President Abraham Lincoln does the best at explaining the difference:

From his Address at Sanitary Fair, Baltimore, Maryland on April 18, 1864:

“…The world has never had a good definition of the word liberty, and the American people, just now, are much in want of one. We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With some the word liberty may mean for each man to do as he pleases with himself, and the product of his labor; while with others the same word may mean for some men to do as they please with other men, and the product of other men's labor. Here are two, not only different, but incompatable things, called by the same name---liberty. And it follows that each of the things is, by the respective parties, called by two different and incompatable names---liberty and tyranny.

The shepherd drives the wolf from the sheep's throat, for which the sheep thanks the shepherd as a liberator, while the wolf denounces him for the same act as the destroyer of liberty…

Plainly the sheep and the wolf are not agreed upon a definition of the word liberty; and precisely the same difference prevails to-day among us human creatures, even in the North, and all professing to love liberty. Hence we behold the processes by which thousands are daily passing from under the yoke of bondage, hailed by some as the advance of liberty, and bewailed by others as the destruction of all liberty. Recently, as it seems, the people of Maryland have been doing something to define liberty; and thanks to them that, in what they have done, the wolf's dictionary, has been repudiated…”

(Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 7 1809-1865.) (https://quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln/lincoln7/1:665?rgn=div1;view=fulltext)

Be-ATTITUDES

Every preacher has probably preached on the Beatitudes at some point in their time in the pulpit. There are probably a few people who can even quote them.  A lot of people reading the Gospel of Matthew probably skim over these nine verses just to get past them since the passage is so familiar.  The verses can even be found on knick-nacks at a discount store. Nothing here to waste time on.  HOLD ON a minute, turns out Jesus had a lot to say about the ATTITUDES prevalent in our society right now. There are more solutions in this passage than in any other media available.  What? Well, take a better look at it ONE VERSE AT A TIME.

Matthew 5:3-11 are the BE - ATTITUDES…

1) BE POOR IN SPIRIT – Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

How do you think of yourself?  In humility or pride? If in humility, then what form of humility?

There is vanity when one considers how much was sacrificed in giving.  Being proud of how much offering was given or how wonderful it was of us to give those groceries to the needy.  Being proud of how “un-wealthy” we are is just as bad as King Midas counting every one of his gold coins.

Be poor but not proud.  Job was as thankful for the “taking away”; as he was for “the giving”!

Be humble and lowly.  Matthew Henry puts it this way:  “accommodate ourselves to our poverty…not in pride or prejudice….not throwing away what God has given us…be as little children in our opinion of ourselves…”

2) BE MOURNFUL – Receive comfort

Has this verse ever been used for anything other than during the occasion of the death of someone?

We are to be mournful.  Not the sorrow of life in this world but mournful over sin.  We must feel the sorrowfulness for our sins.  Sins which were paid for by the high cost of a blood sacrifice.  Mournful enough that we are apologetic for our sinful nature. Life must be lived in repentance.

There is a second reason for being mournful.  We need to have sorrow for the sins of others.  Do you feel the sorrow watching your fellow man wallow in his depravity?  Jesus did.  That is why he blessed those who mourn.  In Luke 19:41, Jesus wept over Jerusalem and its “state/condition”.

3) BE MEEK - and inherit the earth

This word IS NOT even a part of our vocabulary today.  What does it mean?  You have heard the expression: “Google it”.  Well do that and you will find this definition:

 “quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive”

That entire definition is so opposed to what is broadcasted from every angle of culture and society.  Look for an example of a person around that fits this description of being meek.  How many can you list?

For a follower of God, this one should hit them in some sensitive areas of their lifestyle and attitudes. What a directive on how a child of God should live and conduct themselves daily. It is also a VERY SIMPLE answer from God on how we should be reacting to the strange chaos we are finding ourselves living in today.

Then there is submissive.  An entire paper can be written on that.  Submission is expected to both authority here on earth and in heaven.  We are expected to be submissive in our homes, marriages, jobs, and authorities.

This is “Quiet Submission” to God and man. Not boastful about that submission or humility.  Calling attention to the fact that you are being submissive is false humility.  Titus 3:1-2 dictates that we are to be gentle in dealings with the evil of men.  Not allowing ourselves to being provoked.  OUCH, does that mandate what our reaction is to look like?

4) BE HUNGRY AND THIRSTY FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS – and you will be filled

Thriving constantly for purity.  Not for perfection.  When are you hungry?  Have you ever missed more than one meal?  Your stomach starts talking to you.  When you have that kind of desire for God’s Word and for being in the presence of God you are getting closer.  Unlike eating food, you will never reach a full “stomach” until you are standing before the throne of God.  Our goal is to be as much like Jesus as possible without the self-righteousness displayed by the Pharisee in scripture.

5) BE MERCIFUL – and you will obtain mercy

How quick are we to snap a response at the actions of those we see on media today? We are very quick at pronouncing our judgment.  This does not mean or dictate we condone a sinful life style.  A sinful life will send the soul to Hell. Period, end of story!  BUT, there is NO SOUL THAT IS NOT ABLE TO BE SAVED! 

How much do we assume the afflictions, problems or needs of others?  To little time in our seemingly busy schedule to bother with them.  Where is the compassion and care for our fellow man?  Scripture is filled with examples of mercy.  There were those who lowered their friend through the roof just to be healed.  Boaz allowed Ruth to get food from his fields.  It is also filled with those who treated lepers as outcasts and did not show mercy.  Which form of mercy do you display?

6) BE PURE IN HEART – and you will see God

Cleanliness of the heart.  If your heart has never made a commitment to Christ, then none of this will mean anything to you.  The first thing needed is a heart that has been totally surrendered to God and has agreed to Him being the master of everything.  Once that has happened, priorities begin to change and these Be-Attitudes begin to make sense.

7) BE A PEACEMAKER – to be called the children of God

Are we striving to obtain peaceful solutions or are we always an instigator to say or do something to cause dissention or unrest.

8) BE RIGHTEOUS AND PREPARED FOR PERSECUTION

This covers both blatant persecution and the suffering that comes as a result of standing for the righteousness of God. Persecution WILL COME for adherence to righteousness!

Those living in America have not known true persecution. Are they prepared for it?  There are those who have given their lives for the Gospel.  Persecution can come in many forms from simple name calling and false accusations. However, are you prepared for persecution that results in not having food on the table or a home to live?  How about the loss of a job to pay the bills UNLESS you agree to a lifestyle or organization that denies Biblical principles?

Remaining true to convictions and righteousness is the most difficult of all these.  Being rooted in God’s word will be the greatest weapon available to the children of God.

Each of these BE-ATTITUDES builds upon one another. They were not spoken by Jesus to be used as just another common liturgy or as a cute plague on the wall of an office. Better read them slowly again and pay more careful attention to them before quoting them.

Revising The Three R's - Part 1: RESPECT

There was a time when the emphasis on instruction was a focus on teaching the three R’s:  Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic.  At our point in history those three R’s have now changed but we need to get back to stressing their importance. The Three R’s that need to be emphasized:

RESPECT – RESPONSIBILITY – REVERENCE

Do these three exist in our world today?  What are they and why are they of any importance?

RESPECT

What is Respect?

Society puts high importance on Academia, so let’s see what their definition of the word is.  Two well established dictionaries define the word as follows.

From Merriam-Webster dictionary:

“An act of giving particular attention: CONSIDERATION”

“To consider worthy of high regard: ESTEEM”

From Oxford dictionary:

“A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or

achievements.”

“Due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others”

Those definitions are great stand alone statements which do not appear to bring up any issues in themselves.  With that reasoning, then there should be no issue with the single word that those statements define.   Somewhere along with the passage of time, the definition has come to be broaden to include some other words: desires, wishes, sin and immorality.

Just because respect can be defined as “regards for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others”. Does that mean that all morality and sense of correctness is tossed aside? Items that are detrimental to the life, safety and well-being do not need to be allowed in order to provide respect.  Decline in morality today stems from the huge importance placed decades ago on defending “the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others”.  Tolerance and Deference have both been misrepresented in attempts to provide respect.

Tolerance

Respect is often tied to the word tolerance.  Society screams for tolerance for opposing view points and ideas.  In order to provide for tolerance, society has made an allowance for blatant sinful living. When tolerance allows items that affect others in a manner that is unnatural to the laws of God; it has become a shield for making sin permissible when needed in order to respect the “…feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others.”

On the subject of respect; tolerance does not dictate an allowance for disrespect being shown to people or things that should automatically receive that respect.  There are many examples of this, but let’s deal with a simple example that is far too common today.  That is respect or the lack of it being shown to the flag of a country.

By definition a flag is a representation or symbol for a country.  Regardless of personal beliefs or political opinions; as a citizen of a country RESPECT is owed to the flag.  It is a symbol to represent the country.  Lives are lost fighting to defend it.  There is also a REVERANCE when offering RESPECT to the flag.  The “awe” of what has taken place to enable its citizens to stand there in FREEDOM to view that flag.  The prices paid in life and liberty does not give an allowance for disrespect.

In many cultures that disrespect could lead to the loss of liberty and even life. Disrespect for a flag gives the appearance (intended or not) of disrespect for what that flag represents and the millions who have died to defend it.  To not salute is an act of childish rebellion and is no different than a child telling a parent they refuse to do something.

This is but a small example to illustrate how tolerance has destroyed respect.  With more respect being shown there becomes less dependence upon tolerance.

Deference - Respect for others

Deference is a huge portion of Respect.  Deferring to others in an attitude of humbleness that places the other person FIRST IN EVERYTHING regardless of how it may inconvenience you or interfere with what you are doing at that very specific moment.  It is the act of placing that individual in highest esteem regardless.  Esteem others higher than yourself.  If there is a question, the other person always comes first in every action or reaction during the course of the day.

This can be seen in the simple illustration of the act of opening a door for someone.  Regardless of the individual’s sex, age or gender there is a statement being made.  The other person SHOULD be BEFORE me.  I will step to the side in humility and let them proceed uninterrupted in their busy day.  Allowing someone to go ahead of you in a waiting line creates the same effect.  By doing this, the other individual is being elevated to show how important they are.  Not doing so shows an indication of how little others are esteemed and in how high regard we hold our self above the other person.

There are examples every day.  Watch vehicle drivers cutting one another off in traffic instead of practicing patience and waiting.  Pedestrians walking into the path of vehicle traffic without concern because they are busy on an electronic device.  The attitude being displayed is “traffic will stop for me, if not I’ll sue them”.  Where does the attitude originate?  It comes from a lack of respect for another individual.  Placing more importance upon ones self without any amount of humility. 

It is seldom, but we do see respect in some areas of society.   There is the quiet or hush that happens moments before an “important person” steps to a microphone.  Respect is often displayed from a crowd at a sacred monument or service. However, it has all but disappeared in other areas of life. Where has it gone? It belongs in all areas of daily life.  All interactions of the day that involve another human being demands and dictates RESPECT being shown to others.

What does God think of Respect?

Genesis 4:4-5 - God showed “respect” for Abel’s offering but not for Cain’s

Why did God have respect for Abel’s and not Cain’s?  Abel did what was due to the “God of Creation” and out of respect he gave his best in offering.  Cain instead offered second rate gifts as something he had to do.  He was wrong!  He would ultimately pay for that decision to disrespect the offering due to the Almighty!

Today, we do the same thing as Cain.  We do not offer our best.  We give second rate effort in everything.  We do not have any respect for the fact that God or any other individual deserves it simply because of who they are. Then our attitude even turns to one that expects to be protected from any results of our laziness and doing wrong.  We then; like Cain, will take our vengeance out on those that did what was correct or proper.

Romans 12:10 (NIV)  “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

(KJV) - “….in honor preferring one another.”

Philippians 2:3  “…in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”

According to God, others are MORE IMPORTANT than ourselves!  So why do anything to promote self or personal agenda?   That would be the most foolish, self-centered, hypocritical, sinful thing to accomplish  while living on this planet.

1 Peter 2:13-17 says:

“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme, or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.  As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.  Honour all men.  Love the brotherhood.  Fear God. Honour the king.”

(continued on Part 2) (all verses King James unless noted)