Saturday, October 17, 2015

repair



It's CHANGE TALK WEDNESDAY!Today remember that family matters. Whatever your role is in your family you can be a catalyst for change. Who will repair the breach? Who will heal our society? It starts with us and it begins in our homes!#belivingwater
Posted by Belivingwater on Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Who will repair the breach? Who will heal our society? It starts with us and it begins in our homes!

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Bad_evil_wrong

As far as human actions go
EVIL is simply ill WILL.

Natural events are beyond
the control of individual
human will.

free will is the defining
human characteristic.

The only forbidden option
to man was defining good.

Whenever we attempt to
define good we make
ourselves "as God"
which was the lie
"promised" by
the serpent.

How is it possible for all of the following statements to be true at the same time:

(1) God is omnipotent (that is, all-powerful).

(2) God is omniscient (that is, all-knowing).

(3) God is perfectly good.

(4) Evil exists.


The existence of evil and suffering in our world seems to pose a serious challenge to belief in the existence of a perfect God.

If God were all-knowing, it seems that God would know about all of the horrible things that happen in our world. If God were all-powerful, God would be able to do something about all of the evil and suffering. Furthermore, if God were morally perfect, then surely God would want to do something about it. And yet we find that our world is filled with countless instances of evil and suffering. These facts about evil and suffering seem to conflict with the orthodox theist claim that there exists a perfectly good God. The challenged posed by this apparent conflict has come to be known as the problem of evil.

The "logic" of these kinds of arguments breakdown with the defining of good or evil.

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Monday, October 12, 2015

Hurt

I used to cry a lot as a kid.
I got chastised a lot too.
I can't remember which
started first. Neither
has stopped BTW.

I know this for sure it never mattered to me during the "chastisement" whether or if my parents loved me
or whether they were angry. In fact I did notice a couple of times that they did not seem angry. I was always too busy bawling !!! So, is this punishment, correction or vengeance? . . . and why it matters.

I DON'T KNOW
FOR SURE !
Do you?

"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:"
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:6-14‬ ‭

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Sunday, October 11, 2015

Pastor_McCook

PASTOR'S PEN 
SUNDAY OCTOBER 11, 2015

Deliver us from evil
The presence of evil is one of the most unwelcome and unexplainable aspects of human existence.  In a world of such awesome beauty, abundant resources, pleasurable experiences, wonderful people, abundant opportunities and so much good, why is there so much evil?
We live in the most technologically advanced age in recorded history.  The level of knowledge in all fields of learning is light years ahead of what used to be.  One would say that mankind has made tremendous progress.  We should be experiencing a golden age of peace and prosperity.  But the awful reality is that our progress in so many areas is overshadowed by an ancient foe, evil.
This unwelcome visitor that haunts and harasses the human experience that mocks our claim to progress and laughs at our claims of being cultured and civilized.  Evil is a reality of the human experience.  It manifests itself in the most sophisticated of society as well as in the most uncouth and unsophisticated of people.  It exists among the most highly educated and among the most unlearned.  It exists in highly developed countries where unemployment is unheard of and poverty is foreign.  It exists in advanced metropolitan cities and in isolated rural villages.
Great social experiments have sought to eliminate the effects, if not the existence of evil. We have better schools, better health care, better social services, better cultural experiences, better economic welfare, better social intervention, better education, better this, and better that.  But society seems incapable of producing better human beings, human beings who are more committed to the good than they are to the evil.
We are seeing the manifestation of evil in our country in tragic and troubling ways.  The brutal killing and burning of a family in the quiet community of Logwood in Hanover is the most recent example of how much evil there is among us as a people.  It is a condition that captures and controls the hearts of men removing their capacity to be human and converting them into brutish beasts.  But it is not a 'Jamaica thing' it is a universal problem, the news is filled with stories of evil acts being committed all across the world.
But the Bible has warned us against these days.  We are told that in the last days, perilous times shall come, and that 'evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse' those days are here.  We must stand up to evil and fight for the good, each of us in our own way can make a difference.  Too many us as Jamaicans are turning a blind eye to evil and then throwing up our hands in horror and shock when the seeds of evil become massive trees of destruction.
We need to get involved in serving where the needs are; helping at risk youth, troubled parents, dysfunctional families, hurting children, hopeless men and women, the hungry, the angry and the lost.   
It is time for the word Christian to mean more than just people who go to church. It should begin to mean people of hope and help, people who inspired and empowered by Christ, are actively fighting to reclaim our country and the lives of our people, from the clutches of the 'evil one.'   People who can pray with conviction and expectancy, "DELIVER US FROM EVIL, FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER."
God Bless
Pastor Sam

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King

EVERLASTING GOSPEL
OF THE KINGDOM
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:14‬ ‭

THE BOOK OF ACTS
SHOWS HOW THIS
"gospel of the kingdom"
Instructs the subjects
Invades enemy territory
Intrudes upon enemy efforts
Infiltrates enemy strongholds
Interferes with enemy operations
Interrupts enemy plans
overcomes evil with good

"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers."
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:3-5, 7-8, 10, 13-14‬ ‭

SOLDIER
A) Preparation - training, diligence, regimen 

B) Performance - personal accountability 

C) PERSISTENCE
"For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief." - Proverbs‬ ‭24:16‬ ‭
_____________

THIS GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM
1. Someone is in charge. 
There is a King
"Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:3‬ ‭

"All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." - John‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭

2. I cannot do whatever I want.
The kingdom has rules
"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:1-3‬ 

3. I will be punished for my sin
but not if Jesus forgives/covers them
"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭28:13‬ ‭

"That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."‭‭ - 1 John‬ ‭1:3, 7, 9‬ ‭

4. I don't have to sin
unless I don't love the King

"If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me." - ‭‭John‬ ‭14:15, 23-24‬ 

"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." - ‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:4‬ ‭

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid."
‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:1-2, 12, 14-15‬ ‭

5. I can live forever
If I believe and receive the gift of "citizenship/sonship" - salvation
"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"
‭‭John‬ ‭11:25-26‬ ‭

6. The only other choice is hell
the anger of the King
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
‭‭John‬ ‭3:16, 18‬ ‭

7. The rest of the covenant/agreement is in the "fine print - the BIBLE. You/I won't understand all of it but we have to believe it or else . . .

"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."
‭‭John‬ ‭5:39‬ ‭

"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:18-19‬ 

"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes."
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭19:7-8‬ ‭

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:11‬ ‭
_____________

"And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

All these are the beginning of sorrows.

And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." ‭‭- Matthew‬ ‭24:4-5, 8, 10, 13-14‬ ‭

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."‭‭- Matthew‬ ‭28:18-20‬ ‭
_____________

ABRAHAM
"But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.

For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever."‭‭ - Genesis‬ ‭13:13, 15‬ ‭

"And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,"
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭14:12-16, 18-20, 22‬ ‭
__________________

MOSES
"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.

Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.

Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun.

And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.

And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.

And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.

And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight."
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭13:1-2, 6, 8, 18-20, 23, 25, 27-28, 30-33‬ ‭
__________________

DAVID
"And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.

But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold. The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them."
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭5:12, 17-19, 21‬ ‭

http://www.vtaide.com/gleanings/Kings-of-Israel/biography_David.html

"And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives. Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed. But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor. And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water; And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.

And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah. And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled. And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives. And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.

Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the Lord hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.

And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.

And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt."‭‭ - 1 Samuel‬ ‭30:1-4, 6, 8-12, 16-19, 23, 25, 31‬ ‭

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Monday, October 5, 2015

Pray

C NOTES10415

MISSION
Standing - ideas
Leaning - individual 

Making decisions 
you can celebrate

GOOD CALLS
rest in Gods
sovereignty

Every decision 
in submission 
to His dominion

WHAT ARE YOU
WORRIED ABOUT?
Family, finances, physical health

This week in the world:
Christians martyred in the US

If you believe the bible you cannot believe the pope.

1st century Athens like 21st century America.

Acts17

What will this babbler say? 


"the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent! 

EPICURIANS 
Came from nothing
Going to nothing
Self fulfillment 

STOICS - fate, karma
Self sufficient 
Self discipline 
Based on pride
Reason is king

 LIVING IN
A deceived culture
AGNOSTIC - "the unknown god"
Paul in the "public square"
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 

I DONT MAKE GOD
HE MAKES ME
24God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things - PSALM 33

I DON'T RULE GOD. 
HE RULES ME !
 26And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28For in him we live, and move, and have our being

Acts 17:32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked

Mocking doesn't change truth
GOD IS IN CONTROL
OF EVERYTHING !

http://ebcnewington.com/media/



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Sunday, October 4, 2015

Rain


East coast flooding

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Friday, October 2, 2015

Yes

"I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:12-13‬ ‭

steep

What's the problem ?

Steve

There is no attention deficit
I just spent over an hour doing math problems in the math lab.

It was incredibly unpleasant or to use your word, annoying. I was able to concentrate.

The problem was I didn't "want to".

So yes, perseverance is making yourself DO IT !!!

Now I'm back in the library.
Reading is easier. I developed the habit (persistence) when I was younger. The problem is, this particular book (prescribed reading) is disgusting, PERIOD !!

So once again I must force myself through at least an hour of this.

It is the end of week 5.
Reality is setting in. I need to stay off the computers!

Do the math ONLY in the Lab and use the library for reading.

I am reconstructing.
I still love writing my blogs
but I can't spend time on the computers.

The name of the game now is discipline.

TTYL

PS Thanks for the listening ear

BTW, you were right these professors are not your friends, they can destroy you !

Nobody is really your friend ?

Maybe

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

troubled

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. - James 1:12

THEY APPLAUDED the return to school. The thing reported as pleasant may not always be. To get the infants to swallow the bitter medicine we tell them it is good.
THIS IS THE TEST.

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed

For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh."
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:8-9, 11‬ ‭

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Thursday, October 1, 2015

RAC

Acts17

What will this babbler say?

"the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent !

CONTRARY & DISRUPTIVE
"and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus"

"his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry."

ARGUMENTATIVE ?
Acts17:17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

In some assemblies Doctrine is preached; in others Doctrine is suggested. Are Laws suggestions?

"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
‭‭John‬ ‭14:15‬ ‭

". . . this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:3‬

"These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you."
‭‭John‬ ‭15:11-12

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