Be Ready For The Lord's Coming

 More downloads. This hit me, also shortly after my 9/11 reflections. In the end, all that matters is did we do God's will or not? Did we live our lives according to the Bible or not? Did we love others as Jesus has loved us? Get right with God now. Do His commands now.

The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant (Luke 12:35-48, NKJV)

35 “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; 36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 38 And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

41 Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?”

42 And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. 45 But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

Repent Or Perish: All Sins Are Bad

 There is this notion that not all sins are created equal. I do tend to agree with it, but I disagree with anyone who takes this as far as to say that certain sins "aren't really all that bad." It's not just "the Bible" that says that this notion is wrong; even Jesus Himself, the Son of God, has this to say:

Repent or Perish (Luke 13:1-5, NKJV)

1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

The Parable of the Wheat and Tares

 I do believe God has been downloading things for me to reflect on and pass along. Coming off the recent September 11th reflections, two urgent messages came right behind. I don't want to speak too much because the Word of God speaks plenty and it speaks sufficiently. The below parable answers the heart-wrenching question of why God not only allows evil and suffering but calls us to it:

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ” Matthew 13:24-30, NKJV

What's also not lost on me is how the above parable is immediately followed by this:

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32, NKJV

Amen.

Lessons from 9/11, 2023 edition, Part 3: handling "survival mode" better

 I was in high school when the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 happened. The attacks on the World Trade Center in New York particularly hit me hard, considering just a few years prior I went to school in Manhattan and got to visit the Twin Towers twice during my time there. Obviously, the day it happened was a big deal, as classes stopped for about an hour while we all gathered as a school to listen to ongoing radio reports and process together as a community what was unfolding. It wasn't until a few hours later that I finally got to see video of what happened, the time in between during which I was left to my imagination as to what exactly happened. I had seen movies come out in the 1990s like "Independence Day" and "Deep Impact," both films which depicted how their respective doomsday scenarios affected the Twin Towers, among other things. All those assumptions were overthrown. Also eerie was how, like in New York, the weather was a perfect balmy sunny day in the Chicago area.

In the intervening years, the impact of this day diminished with time. The one-year anniversary was still poignant, as I distinctly remember one class session (I think it was my US History class) where we devoted the entire time to processing the events, one year later. But after that, each anniversary became less significant to me. The first three times I returned to New York City, post-9/11, I made sure to spend time at Ground Zero. Until my first visit there, I still had this denial factor in my mind that, despite what everyone else was saying, 9/11 never really happened, and that the Towers would still be there, just like they were when I was still living in Manhattan. Nope. Each of the other visits, at least until I made two visits there to visit my ex who lived in a suburb north of the city, I made a point to spend time at the site, reflecting.

I feel blessed that I didn't lose anyone I knew that day. Neither did I know anyone - or know of anyone - who lost someone that day. But it was - and is - still a loss. Two years ago, I blogged about it, but even in doing so, it didn't feel all that fresh or poignant to me, but rather as a painful but distant memory that happened a long time ago. I think it was because the context in which I wrote about it was more about reflecting on what has happened since, on how our country has changed, and on how our world has changed. And it has changed a lot.

This year, it hit me harder than it has before. And I believe that it is due to the fact that, for the first time, I watched a bevy of YouTube videos all at once about it. But there is a greater context to it: how I let myself get sucked into it this year like I hadn't previously was that a series of videos that popped up in my YouTube video feed focused on the survivors, those who walked through the valley of the shadow of death and were led to safety and new life by the God of the Bible, whether or not they realized it.

I did eventually go to other videos afterwards that just focused on the horror and loss associated with the day. But in retrospect, I firmly believe that God used the first batch of YouTube videos to highlight to me precisely regarding something that I had been gnawing on in my prayer life. I don't have the exact words to describe it, but what I believe He was addressing was my incessant complaining about having to keep surviving trials and tribulations over and over and rarely (if not never) getting ahead. These videos weren't designed to shame me about how "these folks had it worse," even though they factually did. Rather, how I took was how each video - especially one in particular* - showed how such a mighty God, the God of the Bible - intervened in these folks' lives and saved them, despite grossly improbable circumstances.

*The one video in particular was a scenario where both the husband and the wife worked in the towers (the husband worked in the north tower, the wife worked in the south tower), and the wife was already a few months pregnant with their child. The odds were quite improbable that either of them - let alone both of them - would make it out alive. Not only did they and the unborn child all survive (and the child has grown to his current age), but the man and his wife were able to connect via cell phone after not too much time had passed. The video, told from the husband's perspective, went on to show how he was very grateful to God for preserving him and his family, and how, he felt he had a responsibility to live out of that gratitude by giving back. (I don't specifically recall how much he shared also about the responsibility of sharing the Gospel, but I get the impression that that is very much there, also.)

When I entered therapy in my mid-twenties, one of the first major things I learned was that survival was not a good thing. It was and is a necessary thing, of course, but I was there to get healing and to get better. (Which I did.) But the key thing is that it's one thing to be in "survival mode" while a trial or tribulation is occurring; it's quite another to remain in that same "survival mode" once it's over. As a key piece for my healing and growing-up process, I had to teach myself that remaining in "survival mode" (which at that time I had never exited) was wrong. In doing so, I suspect I learned to teach myself that having to be in "survival mode" was also bad. 

Today, I'm in "survival mode" because my sweetie pie is. (Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15, NKJV) My supporting and comforting her - which I freely choose to do, repeatedly - has unintentionally led me to begin to hate those who have treated her wrongly. In my own flesh strength, the only other option I can see is to stop supporting and comforting her. Considering that I love her and am planning to marry her, that's not an option. 

Neither is hating the individuals in question. (“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. Matthew 5:21-22, NKJV) So, I have to find something else not only to cope but to figure out how to get through this season of life.

As a result I'm suspecting that I have to un-teach myself this component of this understanding. Trials and tribulations happen; naturally, we are going to be surviving these things, all while also trusting God.

Honestly, what makes a difference is the basics: spending time daily reading God's Word and meditating on it; spending time praying daily; and giving God praise, glory, and honor. I got away from the basics, somehow, yet again.

Lessons from 9-11, 2023 edition, Part 2: yet even greater humility required

I wrote the below on September 14th, just a few days after the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. In short, I'll say that 9/11 hit me harder this year than it has for a long time, in large part because, starting on the 10th and going through much of the week, I spent a lot of time watching videos of what happened this day, and the memories flooded back. Not only so, but I started to feel God downloading a lot of lessons for me, which began with what I wrote below, and hasn't stopped since. I'm hoping to be able to catch up and share it in a faithful manner.

After writing and refining the first post of this series, which ran yesterday on this blog, I thought it best to chop this series up even more. Originally planned to run as 1 post, it became 2, and now it's 3 posts. Also, out of respect for anyone who might feel uncomfortable viewing explicit images of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, I wanted to separate the other reflections I felt God put on my heart, so as to allow them to be able to read these. As such, I continue:

Title: Main points in remembering 9/11 this year, part 2

(Continuing from yesterday)

 2.) 9-11 was much more than any single tragedy. I disagree with the phrase “1 death is a tragedy; 1 million deaths is a statistic” and replace with “1 death is a tragedy; 1 million deaths are 1 million simultaneous tragedies.” For me this was a lesson in humility. I want to use the example of the below picture:

It shows cars speeding away from the crash site. I don't know if one of the cars in this photo ended up colliding with another, but it sure looks that way. The point being: it occurred to me that if I was driving on a Manhattan street leading away from the World Trade Center and a car behind me rear ended me, I would actually selfishly be more upset about having gotten hit and demanded personal justice/accountability from the one driver (“my own personal tragedy”) than realize that the other driver was stressed and panicked trying to escape the danger zone. In this context this obviously would be stupid for me to get upset at this other driver, considering the events of that day. Point is, to apply this to other areas of my life. (In 2023 there are reports of Covid returning or something else coming to cause the same kinds of fear and confusion.)

3.) To never forget, but also to never wallow. There’s no sugarcoating it; 9/11 was horrible, and especially in this day and age seeing a tragic series of, well, tragedies occurring daily in our country’s fabric of life (not to mention our world’s), this feels like a US “holiday” that is more apropos than July 4th at this point. In the last 22 years we have not only forgotten 9-11 but also forgotten what kind of country we were supposed to be. At the same time, while we still have time, we must repent. I must repent. Whether it’s forgetting 9-11 or forgetting God Himself, we and I must take advantage of the time that is now (but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13, NKJV), and return to the Lord. And part of the redemption work that we need, that can only be done via the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, is to lay aside every encumbrance that ensnares us. (Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1, NKJV) It’s not only sin although it certainly includes it. (I only learned this recently - it’s also one’s own personal baggage.) It’s also one’s own personal baggage. Ouch. So much for complaining about being rear ended by a fellow citizen who, like me, is also trying to flee the carnage and the impending carnage to unfold. (This is from the theoretical scenario I used in bullet point #2.)

PAUSE: I tread lightly for those who lost loved ones on that horrible day. Nothing can replace those losses. Period. So this advice, which is primarily for myself, as well as for any others to whom this would resonate, is not meant to be used for someone who suffered such a horrific loss. At least not for some time after the tragedy. But I would posit that after some time this important lesson would apply even to them. Eventually enough time will have passed that one’s life without their lost loved one will be normal. That person is gone, period. 

4.) Greater humility is required of me. I know that the above - not wallowing - applies to me because, while I am blessed and very grateful to not have lost anyone super close in such a horrific way, I still to this day have a fierce hatred for trials and tribulations, specifically when they extend beyond what I believe I can handle. What this hatred is rooted in is having endured a series of trials of different kinds, really from conception through my entire childhood and long into adulthood. Until really the last few years to a decade, I had no clue where God was. I still don’t. But there’s only so much shaking one’s fist at heaven can do. (Which is not much.) Not only that, but that kind of attitude, especially over the long term, has led to a sentence of not only death but eternal separation from God.

News flash: that means hell, and that’s bad.

The reason I say I have been able to see and experience God’s hand after such trials is because the times I did see Him, it was only after I finally gave up being angry. Not only that but also gave up being selfish and stubborn, at least for that time. Coming out of previous trials has resulted in a lot of loss, loss of the things to which my angry and defiant thoughts and emotions. Because though of those angry thoughts and feelings I don’t know what potential rewards I have lost that I would have had if I had just chosen to stay faithful, despite my intense thoughts, feelings, and opinions. It took losing all of that stuff for me to realize and change. But because I finally repented and humbled myself, only then could the results of God’s work finally manifest themselves. 

Considering all of this, I’m one of the lucky ones. (I know this has nothing to do with luck; it’s just that at this place from which I’m writing this, considering myself “lucky” speaks louder to me than the word “blessed”. It is what it is. So…) I consider myself one of the lucky ones. Countless people have died and gone to hell because they didn’t do this or realize this until it was far too late. I’m realizing it early but I’m trying now to get myself to learn this before I lose my current blessings and have to start all over yet again. After all, even Jesus has commented that for the faithless, even what little that person has will be taken away from them (To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Matthew 25:29, New Living Translation), if they don’t realize and repent and change. 

Even though He has spared me from death thus far, I have had to lose other potential blessings and rewards simply because I flat-out didn’t believe. And I have noticed God has been warning me again lately about this. And even before I met my sweetie pie I had a dream that warned me about my baggage and how it could cost me if I didn’t pay attention to how it still affects my life. As I write it is now a little over 300 days to our wedding. The venue and the photographer have been booked, and because our reception is at a restaurant, nothing is booked yet but will once we cross over into the new year. But, 300 days is still a lot of time to screw things up. 300 days is a lot of time to stop believing, stop prioritizing my relationship with God, and go back to old habits.

Keith Green wrote a song called “So You Wanna Go Back To Egypt.” It’s a Biblical pop song; it doesn’t quote verses from the Bible but it captures the essential message of the Israelites’ sinful murmuring attitude with modern references (like “manna soufflé” for example). It captures their complaints as if they were wandering through the Egyptian/Arab desert during the late-1970s or early-1980s.

Also I recently watched a YouTube video that talked about the first signs of spiritual decline or backsliding. Three of the four mentioned points indicated a lack of desire for connecting with God in His Word, an inconsistent prayer life, and intentionally withdrawing from a healthy community of other believers. All of these are important to watch out for. But the one that stood out the most, especially as it pertains to the topic at hand, indicated that a return to old habits, especially due to a lack of spending time in God’s Word and in prayer, is a very clear indication of a person’s spiritual backsliding.

I mention these two things because of the point I made earlier about returning to old habits. Even this far into my life, let alone my Christian walk, I still have found ways to backslide and completely forget God, leading me to thoughts, feelings, and yes sometimes even behaviors that are not pleasing to God.

So I repent. Again.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9, NKJV

Lessons from 9/11, 2023 edition, Part 1: who really destroyed the Twin Towers

I wrote the below on September 14th, just a few days after the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Although I'll say more in a part 2 (and a part 3) on this topic, I'll say that 9/11 hit me harder this year than it has for a long time, in large part because, starting on the 10th and going through much of the week, I spent a lot of time watching videos of what happened this day, and the memories flooded back. Not only so, but I started to feel God downloading a lot of lessons for me, which began with what I wrote below, and hasn't stopped since. I'm hoping to be able to catch up and share it in a faithful manner.

One word of warning: this post contains graphic photos of planes hitting buildings, buildings being on fire, and buildings collapsing to the ground, so please skip through the rest of this post if these images make you uncomfortable.

Title: Main points in remembering 9/11 this year, part 1

(These points are not in order, but rather stream-of-consciousness. There is some mild editing in the first parts, as I had to do further research to prove my point a little better.)

1.) I actually don’t think the US government destroyed the towers, like some conspiracy folks have indicated. I think the Islamic terrorists did. See picture of the south tower’s “not-so-precision” fall.

Unlike Flight 11 which hit the north tower on a direct hit, Flight 175 which hit the south tower, hit at such an angle that it veered off toward the side (in this case, toward the east side of the building). The below image shows how, at the point of impact, Flight 175 was banking hard left in an attempt to try to make a direct hit:

By the grace of God, however, the hijackers failed at least to accomplish that. The results of this flight show that the projectiles of the plane landed in such a spot that showed that it had veered off to its right. From the perspective of the below picture, the plane in question is approaching from the top-left and hitting the tower that is on the left. From this particular perspective it ended up hitting more toward the left (as this is from a backwards perspective) which, if you look back to the first photo in this post, this drawing would correspond more directly with it in terms of directionality:

The result was, despite the fact that people in the South Tower had less time to evacuate due to the lower point of impact vs the North Tower, there was still one stairwell open:

I got the above image from this blog. I don't know the person who wrote it. I found it because I found the photo in an online photo search and it directed me to the blog. As of this writing I've only perused a couple of his posts. Certainly thought-provoking albeit rather emotional. To each their own, though. I really wanted to use the above photo, so I find it only right that I also reference his page.

I share this graphic stuff because one of the things I began to believe in the intervening years was that 9/11 perhaps was a hoax, or at least an inside job by the US government. Watching these videos and seeing these images has helped to disprove that (at least in my eyes) and once again re-prove the original truth that, yes, this was the work of Islamic terrorists. The key argument that I heard was that any “inside job” was predicated on explosives that were already planted within each of the towers, and that each tower fell in a perfectly “precision-drop” manner. As the first image in this blog post shows, the South Tower did not fall straight-down. It fell in a vertical manner, for sure, but it shows (to me) that the impact of the plane's collision combined with the explosion of fire is what played a role in its fall, not any explosives that were supposed to have been planted in the buildings already.

Also, this report shows in much more detail its findings, also supporting the fact that airplanes crashing into each tower (plus the raging explosions and infernos that ensued) caused the collapses. 

Usually I would have included a Bible verse (or a few) by now, but because this has become a three-part posting series, it will wait until the later parts. Come back tomorrow for Part 2.

Devotionals from my Bible app: Romans 12:2

 This was a powerful devotional (and a powerful verse), but for whatever reason, the devotional part didn't seem to make it on the journey from my app to this blog page. The verse is still powerful on its own, considering it is the Word of God. So I'll just let it speak:

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2, NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.12.2.ESV

https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.12.2.ESV

On the flip side, I did figure out how to make the below images smaller. 😃

The Desiderata, revisited

 

I first heard of the sort-of famous poem titled the "Desiderata" when I came across a copy of the document posted on the inside of a door to a public restroom at a restaurant in 2008, as per the above photo.

A few weeks ago I was having a conversation with my love dove (one of my pet names for her) and we were talking about how to approach certain difficulties in the work world, especially given that we each had been sheltered and have each had to come to terms with how things work. A piece of feedback I had given her included a line from this document which states that the world is "full of trickery": [Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.] It is; this world is indeed full of trickery. 

But - this document is not the Bible, nor should it be held in any regard even close to Scripture.

When I was not saved (of course, having grown up in a church, I didn't realize this til much later), I loved this document. It sounded nice, and it made me feel good. After all, this document is not necessarily a set of rules but rather guidelines for a person as they would make their way through life. At that time, having guidelines but not hard-and-fast rules was music to my ears.

But there was a problem (multiple, in fact): 1.) growing up, I never learned how to develop structure for myself, regardless of times when there was structure and times when there wasn't; I needed the rules and the rigidity from the Bible that I resisted in this season of my life; 2.) not only rules, but I also needed black-and-white clarity on what was true in life versus what was not, and on what was real in life versus what was not; 3.) theologically, the Desiderata isn't even Christian, despite the fact that multiple mainline/traditional churches have either posted this or shared this or preached this. The only reference to God is as follows (and even this is debatable): [Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.] That's it. There's no mention of Jesus, or any other hint that this is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, let alone the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I realize that some may balk at this and complain at what I've written. Further, some may say that all the Desiderata is is meant to be encouraging and uplifting. Perhaps it is, but I would still caution anyone who would listen, to guard their hearts and watch out for any doctrines that run the risk of being even slightly off compared with the Bible. I've been in such a place many times where I've let myself be taken by things that sounded nice, only to later realize that what first caused me to have gotten off the faith track was doctrine that was even slightly false. I would suggest getting to a point where you know the Bible so intimately that you cannot help but live according to its rules and principles, so that if you read other documents that are contrary to Scripture, you won't get swayed away.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23, NIV

Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” Matthew 16:6, NKJV

Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Matthew 16:12, NKJV

Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:6-8, NKJV

Baseball rambles - a Biblical take on sports curses

 This was originally sketched to be part of an email to a couple friends I trade emails with periodically on sports topics. I had originally planned to include the below section, but I chose to omit it as my email was getting really long as it was, plus what I had hoped to share from the below was still in its half-baked stage when I was running out of writing juice for the email. So I nixed it and moved it here, to allow the email I had otherwise written to be submitted within a reasonable timeframe.

I grew up believing that the Cubs were a cursed sports franchise. And I do think they were for a long time. But, curses can be broken (and have been broken), and new curses can occur on teams that may previously not have been cursed. For a Biblical context: 

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21, NKJV

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. James 3:6-10, NKJV

My point is that words have power, even when a person might not realize or think so. For the Cubs, I think they had two curses occurring simultaneously: Reason #1, which the world knows, is because of William Sianis cursing the franchise in 1945 when they kicked him and his goat out of a World Series game, even though he had paid for his ticket. He said that they would never be in a World Series again (or win a World Series, depending on whose account you believe). He did recant not long before his death, but the team didn't appear in a World Series again until 2016. Reason #2, which may not be as well-known, but the Cubs and Red Sox, both of whom participated in the 1918 World Series, it is said that both teams were trying to throw (i.e. lose) the World Series, but that the Cubs managed to be more successful at it (meaning they lost the World Series, and the Red Sox won). What is significant for both teams is that the Red Sox never won another World Series again until 2004, and neither did the Cubs until 2016, but, Boston continued winning pennants every so often all the while, and the Cubs kept winning pennants once every few years on average until 1945, when they then experienced their pennant drought.

Now that I think about it, one of the fallouts of the 1919 White Sox's World Series scandal (in addition to several of their players were banned from baseball for life) was a similar drought to that of the Cubs over the next 80-plus years: no World Series titles until 2005, and only one appearance in between, with the 1959 team having captured the American League pennant before losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the championship round. Even though they haven't been back to the World Series since 2005, I don't necessarily think they're cursed; they have had a bad run of leadership and decision-making that has sabotaged a few chances along the way, but nothing freakish has happened to lead people to think that their team is cursed.

The Cubs are currently enjoying a resurgent season, and there's something about the joy of just watching them play, and win. As frustrating as the seasons after their 2016 title were, culminating in the dissolution of the championship core in 2021, something did finally fundamentally shift. This team is no longer cursed, and most definitely no longer cursed with the curses that they brought upon themselves in the early-to-mid 20th-century. Time will tell where they finish at the end of this year (and the playoffs), but I'm just grateful to see the Cubs making the type of winning plays that once seemed to elude them (and all-too-easy for several of their rivals to do, including at their expense). I hope and pray that this doesn't change for a long time, even if they don't experience ultimate championship success as much as I would like for them to experience.

Devotionals from my Bible app: No One Else (1 Samuel 2:2)

Note prior to sharing the devotional: two words: "I'm there."

No, I'm not looking to get pregnant (I'm a man), and although my fiancée and I, once married, will take care of any children we end up having, that's not a pressing goal we have.

No, this is about having a prayer request (or a few) that I (and we) are waiting on. I separate and itemize "I" and "we" because while some of my prayer requests are related to our future together, I have a few other prayer requests that are independent of that. To say I am still waiting is at this point an understatement.

Nonetheless, God is in heaven, He is on the throne, and He is holy. Therefore, I wait.

No One Else

Hannah desperately wanted a child, but she wasn’t able to conceive. Year after year, she was mocked, tormented, and left heartbroken because of her infertility.

Have you ever been there?

Maybe you have desperately wanted something: a godly marriage, a healthy body, a thriving family, a hard-earned title, a close community, a restored relationship. Maybe you’ve looked around at everyone else’s seemingly full lives and wondered why your arms were empty.

Eventually, after years of waiting, God answered Hannah’s prayer. And because of that, she was filled with wonder and worship, saying:

“No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.”
1 Samuel 2:2 NLT

Despite the excruciating years of longing and disappointment, Hannah knew there was no replacement for God. There’s no one else who’s able to create something from nothing. There’s no one else who holds the power of life.

There is no other Rock on which to build our faith.

There’s no one else who sees the worst of us and loves us anyway. There’s no one else who has compassion for our deepest longings. There’s no one else who can be trusted with the most tender part of our dreams. There’s no one else who’s there to guide, teach, and comfort—when it feels like everyone else has left.

There’s no one else who has the power to save.

Because God is holy, He is always good. Most of all, He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Rest assured, there is no one else who’s more worthy of your trust, your respect, and your heart.

https://bible.com/bible/59/1sa.2.2.ESV

https://bible.com/bible/59/1sa.2.2.ESV

Devotionals from my Bible app: A Gift Worth Receiving (John 5:24)

A Gift Worth Receiving

After Jesus healed a man who had been paralyzed for almost four decades, the religious Jews were angry with Him. This may seem strange, because healing is a good thing, but Jesus performed this miracle on the Sabbath—the day of rest. In the Old Testament, God gave believers a long list of rules to follow in order to stay right with Him, and these rules included honoring the Sabbath.

But in the New Testament, Jesus was sent to change our relationship with the Father. By sacrificing Himself on the cross, He gave us access to a relationship with God—so that long list of rules was no longer needed. Throughout Jesus' life, He shows people the nature of this new relationship. But because it didn’t line up with what the religious establishment believed, they were angry with Him.

In John 5, Jesus justifies these changes through revealing His true authority. By calling God His Father, He shared that He was equal to God. This angered the religious Jews, but it gives us a deeper look into the relationship between the Father and Son.

Jesus tells us that the Father and Son are united in love. The Son does not ‘work’ for the Father—instead they work together, and the work Jesus does perfectly reflects the will of His Father.

This relationship reveals that Jesus has authority to give us eternal life with Him.

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
John 5:24 ESV

When we hear God’s Word and believe in Jesus, we have access to a relationship with Him that will last forever. Unlike the Jews in the Old Testament before this new covenant, we don’t have to follow strict laws perfectly to gain salvation.

All we have to do is accept the gift Jesus has given us through His authority.


https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.5.24.ESV




https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.5.24.ESV

Devotionals from my Bible app: Becoming Like Christ (2 Timothy 2:15)

Note prior to sharing the devotional: along with the recent convicting message about complaining and grumbling, Paul in his letter to Timothy takes it a step further: it's not just about not complaining or grumbling, but actually wanting to imitate Jesus, including the part about letting our pasts be a testament to how He has changed us. God's word does encourage, but sometimes it is specifically designed to challenge you and me. The below passage -- and the accompanying devotional -- does just that.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

https://bible.com/bible/59/2ti.2.15.ESV

Becoming Like Christ

Scripture tells us that we who belong to Christ are now ambassadors for Christ. As ambassadors, we are tasked with two things: the mission of God and the character of Jesus.

The goal this passage sets out for us sounds pretty simple: to become more and more like Jesus in the way that we act, think, and feel, and to also accomplish the purposes that God has for our life. We are tasked to accomplish the work of God in the way He wants it done, following the "word of truth," or the Bible.

As Christians, we should strive to be like Christ. We want to have the same mind and attitude that He had. Paul’s encouragement to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15 reinforces that mindset about our character. In the midst of a culture that is grumbling and fighting, act like Jesus.

In this letter, Paul tells Timothy not to be ashamed of his past, but instead to let his past be a testament to how Jesus has changed his life. Your past is part of your story, and it’s not something to be ashamed of. It’s a way that you can show others how Jesus changed your life.

The best way that we can continue to be transformed by Jesus is to continually seek His truth in Scripture. As we engage with Scripture and the Holy Spirit, our mind, heart, and hands are changed to be more like Christ.

How can you be more like Christ today? Think of a few small steps you can take to begin to shift your thinking and action towards the mission of God or the character of Christ. Ask God for His help as you seek to follow Him daily.

https://bible.com/bible/59/2ti.2.15.ESV

Devotionals from my Bible app: God Gives Good Gifts (Romans 15:5)

Note prior to sharing the devotional: This is another timely message, both the day when I received this in my Bible devotional app, and again today. I realize I've been sharing a lot about myself lately when posting these devotional posts, and at this point there isn't really anything new I can share. I need these things to carry me right now. I hope that as I share these devotionals, for anyone reading who themselves need God to carry them; just know that He is willing and able. Just make sure that you've given your life to Him and accepted Jesus's blood sacrifice on the cross as an atonement for your sins, and that you thank Him daily for this sacrifice as your redemption to God. Sin is no laughing matter. You must let your heart be changed to be in alignment with His Word, the Bible, and every command that it says. God wants, nay, desires to forgive you and bless you with good gifts, because He loves you.

God Gives Good Gifts

There are seasons in our life when we are more discouraged than encouraged. It is inevitable that all of us will experience those moments, and it is often in the face of insurmountable grief or negative experiences that this happens.

But Romans 15:5 reminds us that there are three things that God gives to those who believe in Jesus. The first is that God gives endurance. When we begin to grow tired of doing good things, or living our life for God, it is often because we are living with the wrong motivation.

True motivation comes from living for God, not ourselves. It is God who gives us the endurance through the Spirit to make good choices and live for Him.

The second thing God gives us is encouragement. In seasons of discouragement when we feel let down by people, God gives us lasting encouragement. He reminds us that we are loved. He reminds us that we are being transformed. We don’t need to strive for approval or acceptance because we’re already sons and daughters of God.

The third thing that we can pray for God to give us is unity of mind toward each other. This means that we consider others how Jesus would consider them. Instead of seeing their flaws or mistakes, we see them as people loved and cared for by God. We should work towards unity with each other rather than division.

All three of these things are worthy of spending time in prayer, asking God for: endurance, encouragement, and unity with each other. If you’re feeling tired and want to quit, ask God for the endurance to continue doing good for those around you.

If you’re feeling discouraged and down, ask God for encouragement that only He can give. And above all, ask God for the same heart and mind of Jesus that brings us together in unity rather than division.

https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.15.5.ESV

https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.15.5.ESV

Sermons from Good News: Leaving the dry places

Note before sharing the sermon: This sermon is very apropos for me right now. Even though I believe that Jesus is who the Bible says He is, and that He did everything that the Bible says He did, and that He died on the cross for me and for my sins, and that I have said "yes" to a personal relationship with Him... I still struggle with doubt in my life. I always have, and the roots of that doubt (regarding some things) are deep and they go way back. I am desiring to surrender that over to God, but on my strength it is difficult. What I did not note in the sermon notes below, that our pastor exhorted us to do, is to pray this:

In the name of Jesus, doubt, I command you to leave! In Jesus' name, doubt, you must go!

Church 9/9/2023

Offertory scripture:

Jesus says it’s going to be ok.

Psalm 23:4

We are called to do miracles and great things for God. Start thinking like God thinks.

Romans 8:5-6

We cannot merely continue to be like everyone else. Forgive others. Be spiritually minded.

Sermon message:

Thesis: Leaving the dry places.

It’s time to move into the promises of God.

(Even demons don’t like dry places.)

Point #1: God wants you blessed and refreshed.

This is backed up by scripture. God wants you refreshed.

Psalm 23:3 He refreshes my soul

Jeremiah 31:25 I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.

Proverbs 11:25 a generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Matthew 11:28 come unto Me (says Jesus) …. and I will give you rest, refreshing your souls with salvation.

God also wants you blessed.

In the mouth of two or three witnesses let something be established.

3 John 1:2 God wants us to prosper.

Psalm 33:12 blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, and the people who He has chosen for His inheritance.

Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the Lord is good. The one who trusts in Him is blessed.

Psalm 5:12 the Lord will bless the righteous; with favor He will compass them as a shield.

Numbers 6:24-26 the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:27 “And they shall put My name upon the people of Israel and I will bless them.”

Point #2: God sent us a deliverer.

God has delivered us through Jesus.

John 8:36 if the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.

You still need to believe God for righteousness and that He will help you in your journey of life.

You need God all the way.

Point #3: God sent Israel a deliverer.

God sent Israel Moses to set them free from bondage in Egypt. But they still had a journey to complete. They still needed God.

The distance from Egypt to the promised land is not far at all. Maybe 7-11 days journey by foot. But because of the Israelites’ unbelief it took them 40 years. (~14,600 days)

1 Corinthians 10:11

God has promises for you. But you gotta trust Him.

What can we learn from the Israelites regarding where they went wrong?

Could it be possible we could be stuck in a dry place?

Point #4: The Israelites’ attitude was a problem.

They stopped God’s promises from happening due to their murmuring and complaining.

Point #5: Their doubt and their unbelief was a problem.

They doubted God.

Numbers 13:30 Caleb had scouted the promised land and encouraged the people that they can go in and get it.

But the Israelites didn’t believe Caleb’s good report and swayed each other to not believe.

Point #6: Doubt is a thief.

Mark 11:23 believe and do not doubt

Mark 14:31 Jesus caught Peter while they were on the water and asked why he doubted.

Matthew 13:58 Jesus’s hometown was full of non-believers; He couldn’t do any miracles there.

Matthew 10:1 Jesus gave his disciples power over unclean spirits.

Matthew 17:20 Jesus rebuked His disciples for their unbelief.

Point #7: Feed your faith and not your doubts.

Romans 10:17 faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 12:2 be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Devotionals from my Bible app: Walking in the Light (1 John 1:7)

Note prior to sharing the devotional: I received the below in my Bible app just a day or so after receiving the devotional that covered Acts 20:24, and I thought it appropriate to share this one before too much time passed. As I've mentioned a bit in one or two of the other recent devotional posts, one thing I've struggled with is the question of my purpose while here on earth. A big part of it has been tied to what I understood based on my observations of my world around me growing up and well into adulthood, which is spelled out further in the Acts 20:24 devotional: 

All of our lives are used for something. Most people spend their lives focused on growing a family, building their career, or amassing possessions. While none of those things are necessarily wrong, they can become distractions from our ultimate goal in life.

A big source of my lifelong frustration has been seeing how the above has not really happened in my life, or has happened but exceedingly slowly, at least compared with my peers. And at multiple points I had thought thoughts along a common theme: Once I accomplish this task in front of me, I will attain this reward, or: Once I reach this milestone, then a certain expectation I have (presumably tied to the milestone) will happen. Sometimes it has happened like that; sometimes not. And I've developed this habit of complaining that things don't work out the way I expect, particularly because I've compared my own experiences to that of many of my peers, where things would often work out the way I expected - for them.

I had a dream one night last week where, over the course of the dream, I was having trouble with my eyesight. I don't think it was a case of things appearing dimmer throughout the course of my dream; rather, the dimness of my eyesight and vision was something I gradually realized over the course of the night, until it became obvious that something was wrong. And then at some point after that, I found a restroom with a mirror, and I was able to see clearly that my eyes were not working properly. One eye was almost constantly looking up almost into my eyelid (or to the side), and even my other eye was only somewhat looking straight ahead some of the time, also sometimes looking up or to the side. The other big takeaway was that at no point were my eyes working together.

I woke up shortly after that. I forget now if this devotional came before or after the dream, but it was (and is) very much apropos to what I believe God is revealing to me about myself right now. It's humbling. But I do need to know if I'm walking around blind and seeing everything around me dimly. And it is clear that this is true, and it needs to be corrected. So I'm grateful for this revelation, as humbling as it is, but I'm also recognizing that I don't know the way back. I do still pray and read my Bible every day. It's a start. But more is needed from me.

One interesting insight - even though this post is running on Monday, I'm finishing up writing this post a couple days prior, on Saturday. This is significant because this is after a full week of PTO from work and visiting with my dad. I've had time to be away from certain things that I do believe have been clouding my vision. Although I'm returning today and getting back in the swing of things at work starting on Monday, this has been a valuable time for a necessary pointing out of where I'm at spiritually. I pray for God to lead me back to Him, and for the strength to endure whatever He wants me to endure. Even if in a couple days I find myself wanting to back to the old thought patterns. Like anyone else, I need His help, constantly. I don't want complaining to be my legacy, both here on earth and in the hereafter.

Enough about me. I hope the below devotional blesses you like it has been blessing me.

Walking in the Light

Have you ever walked in darkness? Maybe the power went out in your house during a storm, or you were stranded on the road with car trouble. Walking in darkness can be scary, and it can be dangerous.

Having a light is just a little better, isn't it?

The same is true in our spiritual journeys.

How we find that light in the midst of darkness is actually pretty straightforward: Psalm 119 says that God's Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path—in other words, the Bible itself is the light! It is our guide. It helps us make decisions to follow Christ and not walk in darkness. Just as He is the light of the world, we are called to be His reflection in the world. When we intentionally choose to walk in His light, we embrace truth, righteousness, and love.

Walking in the light means surrendering our old ways, seeking God's guidance, and allowing His Spirit to shape our thoughts, actions, and attitudes.

As we walk in the light, a beautiful transformation occurs: we find fellowship with one another. This light of Christ not only illuminates our individual paths but also creates a bond of unity among believers. It’s how we discover the joy of shared faith, encouragement, and accountability. It is through this bond that we are reminded that we are not alone on our journey.

Today, reflect on your walk with Christ. Are you consciously choosing to walk in His light? Are you growing in community? And are you fully embracing the cleansing power of Jesus' blood, allowing His grace to purify your life?

As you reflect, think about ways you can grow closer to God, experiencing the abundant life He has promised, and become a beacon of His light in a world that so desperately needs it.

https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.7.ESV

https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.7.ESV

Devotionals from my Bible app: There's More

Note prior to sharing the devotional: This devotional arrived in my Bible app on Friday, and if I'm honest, it touched a very deep nerve. Just like the preacher who delivered the video message on my app, the concept (and truth) behind this verse remains very difficult for me to grasp. I included the two preceding verses before the focus verse as well, because 1.) the preacher included it, and 2.) he included it because it is critical to be able to grasp this verse, by faith, in order to deal with the things brought up in the previous verses.

Like the preacher delivering this message, I still struggle to grasp this, big-time. I've been aware more and more of my complaining habit (and why it is imperative to have this habit removed from me), and aware of different things God has been highlighting in my heart that are still problematic and, honestly, stumbling blocks to my faith and growth. I'm committing to working through these things. But it's a slog, and part of this work is coming to a greater true acceptance that where I am right now is on earth and not in heaven. Life is hard. Even now, I still didn't think it would be this hard. But the reality is that this is earth. It's not hell, but it's not heaven, either. And it is imperative that I jettison the expectation that, short of heaven itself and short of Jesus's impending return, this place -- and this life -- will never come close to being heaven.

Only then, I suspect, will I be able to understand better -- and believe more truly -- God's goodness. Although He blesses us with good things, His goodness is not based on, nor is it tied to, the goodness of this life, because, after all, this is earth. But because He is sovereign and because He is on the throne in heaven, His goodness is independent of any goodness related to this life, and in fact His goodness supersedes anything that happens here on earth by leaps and bounds.

I'm going to add an extra Bible verse because although it has nothing to do with the below devotional, it's a challenge that I must embark on and ultimately find a way to attain:

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6, NKJV

At the end of the day, all that is going to matter is whether we are right with God, and whether we lived our lives in complete trust and complete obedience to Him, especially pertaining to the above verse, or not. Because each person's eternity is on the line.

2 Corinthians 4:18

(*2 Corinthians 4:16-18, as you'll see further down below)

https://bible.com/bible/59/2co.4.18.ESV

https://bible.com/bible/59/2co.4.18.ESV

There’s More

There are plenty of things we can see: trees, stars, mountains, oceans, people, penguins, our best friend's smile, elephants, skyscrapers, coffee beans, sunsets, and tulips, to name a few.

God created all those things. He made the natural world, as well as the laws that govern it.

But there are also things we cannot see: behind the breath of the wind, beyond the depths of the universe, beneath the foundations of love. Through Christ, all things were created—in heaven and on earth, both visible and invisible (Colossians 1:16).

And while our mortal eyes might not be able to see the wind or infrared light or the Spirit of God, we still experience their effects. Because there’s more than what meets the eye. There’s more beyond this life.

Paul’s friends, the Corinthians, were experiencing great hardship. They were being hunted and persecuted because of what they believed about Jesus—that He was the long-awaited Messiah. Some were even facing death. But Paul encouraged them to endure such fleeting trials with a hope that’s beyond this world. He wrote:

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV

Human eyes can only see so much. Human minds can only grasp so much. But we can trust God with all that we cannot see or comprehend.

God is real. We might not be able to see Him today, with our physical eyes, but we can experience the effects of His life. Jesus sacrificed Himself so that you might live, and an abundant life awaits you—both on earth and in heaven. There is more beyond the here and now.

So, will you fix your eyes on what’s seen or unseen? Will you trust your five senses, or have the sense to trust in Him?

2 Corinthians 4:16-18:

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Cor.4.16,2Cor.4.17,2Cor.4.18&version=NKJV

A stone from memory lane: a longing fulfilled is a tree of life

I'm going to post a short(er) post for a change. I wanted to share a snapshot (with words) of two contrasting images, mentally taken years apart, that occurred on the same day. These images are contrasting because of reality. But at the time that each were taken, both mental images conveyed a hope, a wish, a desire, and in one of the cases, a brief moment of it possibly being true.

Back on Sunday, my betrothed and I went to an engagement photo shoot. I had already been in communication with the photographer for the last month or two, and after working through the contract for the wedding my love and I decided we wanted to do another photo shoot so as to get a chance to meet our prospective wedding photographer, get some photos, and ask some questions. My love and I were all gussied up for the occasion, and as we were driving off after the photo session, I had this flashback for a brief moment. 

In the present, I was living a dream realized. But exactly thirteen years earlier to the day, I was in the car with someone else who had just picked me up after I had said goodbye to another friend. Back then, I was still hoping for a similar dream, and for one evening (that one), the possibility still may have been there.

I may have felt like I was on Cloud Nine for that whole weekend I was with this one person, but looking back, it became painfully clear over time that our visit was awkward. I wrote in another post that God used this visit as the catalyst for making changes in my life and setting me on a different and better path, which has to date led me to a great relationship with a great woman, with whom I am excited to spend the rest of my life with. But, thirteen years later, it was really cool to take in this moment with my love this year in 2023, and reflect back to the exact same date back then and see the good thing that God has done. And for that I am thankful.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12, NIV

Wishful Thinking

Following up from my post last week, I wanted to share a new map. 

After having studied what happened behind the scenes in 2020, I believe this is much closer to what the true map actually would have been. I have heard it said that even more states should have gone red but for some reason didn't. I decided to be a little more realistic compared with some of the things I've heard said. So - as the reader, you might be asking: Why? Why are you sharing this? The past is the past, so why are you dwelling on this?

The last 2 1/2 years is why. Since January 20, 2021, this country has seen a sweeping move of demonic movement in the form of governmental regulations, business decisions, social media influencers, etc. The economy has gone in the tank, with inflation surges not seen in decades. Money has been thrown at initiatives that are at best unintelligent and at worst not just degrading to our society but even potentially fatal to our country's ability to recover on its own. Worse, young minds have been warped to incredible degrees that even just ten years ago would have been unimaginable. And blood has been shed. Countless numbers of people were forced to take an experimental biological agent in the name of preventing the spread of an airborne malady that was man-made, with the express design of killing masses of people (only both failed in that they "didn't kill enough people"). As our current "leader" of the free world himself has stated: "the soul of this nation is at stake."

All of this happened in only the last 2 1/2 years, and it could have been prevented by having a fair election. Not only so, but there are winds of what happened in 2020 and 2021 repeating itself. But I'm not going to get into that now. I'm not going to speak this into being, but rather I will come against it because the name of Jesus is above every name, including my own, and including that of each and every evil that threatens to take down this entire world.

What caused me to voluntarily leave Facebook in late-spring 2021 was the result of the amount of unbridled anger I unleashed. Some of it was my own retaliation to the sheer amounts of unbridled anger I experienced on Facebook in the summer of 2020 that was the final straw in my leaving my former church, on a topic that was less so about justice for an unjust murder, and more about attacking me and others like me for the color of my skin. But most of it was what I believed to be righteous anger. It may have started out that way, but then I posted a few items that ended up turning into anger for its own satisfaction. A few contacts reached out to me, some genuinely concerned for me, and others who feigned concern but had judgments and agendas of their own. Nonetheless, I apologized (on Facebook), not necessarily for them, but rather out of my love and care for God and His will. After all, the Bible does say this:

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, Ephesians 4:26, NIV

I may have "not let the sun go down" while irate, but I wasn't sinless. Far from it. As I processed and prayed not just through what had been going on almost a year-and-a-half at that point, but also how it was affecting and changing me, I realized I didn't want my words to be the reason someone else was genuinely hurt. Prior to that point, I had wanted to have the privilege of using Facebook for fun, for connection, for keeping in touch with folks from school and other parts of my past. But with the way the world was changing (as well as ways I was changing), I realized I could no longer be sinless in my conduct in God's eyes while on Facebook. And I considered very carefully what my own Judgment Day might be like if I didn't at least attempt to apologize for the harshness in my comments to date, let alone if I continued on Facebook. So due to what had become an alarming lack of self-control, I left. And my life is so much better for it, more than 2 years later.

As a side note, as for articulating thoughts, struggles, and challenges, I have found that I do much better in this space that God and Blogger.com have graciously provided me. I still believe that part of this purpose God has for me also includes sharing my faith in this space. Considering my history of non-boldness in sharing my faith with work colleagues and otherwise people who aren't already saved, this is a great place for me to share what I believe I need to say, and allows the reader to decide how much he or she is willing to consume before leaving my blog to visit any other website that is not this blog. That seems to work better for me.

We have returned to yet another election cycle, this time for 2024. As we approach the end times, I know that the devil is working overtime to try to screw this world to proportions that are yet unimaginable even now, as well as trying to screw the kingdom of heaven out of as many souls as possible (and vice versa). I'd like to hope and believe that the presidential election this time around will be fair, but at this point in the game, we cannot put our trust in governments. After all:

Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. Psalm 146:3, NIV

But there is a promise (I have to diligently and intentionally note these, given my own current struggles with grabbing hold onto them):

When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Psalm 146:4, NIV

My prayer is that, no matter what happens, the Lord spares His remnant, and that I am part of that remnant.

“In those days, at that time,” declares the Lord, “search will be made for Israel’s guilt, but there will be none, and for the sins of Judah, but none will be found, for I will forgive the remnant I spare. Jeremiah 50:20, NIV

I know that this is technically for Israel and Judah. But honestly, I really believe this applies to us as well.