free will

FREE WILL?

Why does anyone bring this up?

Do I talk about this with any kind of idea of independence or autonomy? Can I measure the distance between myself and my creator as far as control is concerned?

Does The length of the leash on my dog's collar 'determine' his freedom? How about my car? Does it have "free will" because it has automatic transmission or is fuel injected or because the lights will CHOOSE to go off if I forget to turn them off?

How about that rooster that crowded as Peter was denying The Lord, did this rooster have "free will"?

I must confess, I do not have sufficient knowledge at this time to intelligently discuss or determine wether or not or how much "free will" I have.

The Bible does say this:

"as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

From which I can safely conclude that:

1. There is a will of the flesh (instinct?)
2. There is a will of man (conscious choice?)
3. There is a will of God

The boundaries seem not to be always clear, varying from time to time and from person to person. 

I want to be as much focused as I can not on my own free will; which has proven to be defective or unreliable in the past; I AM TRYING MORE AND MORE TO FOCUS ON THE WILL OF GOD. Surrendered?

"be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what isthat good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Amen 

Amen 

Amen 

PS: I will become a 'little' anxious if/when my six year old grandson brings up the subject of "free will".

Wife

Herod's error with John

SOAP OPERAS OLD & NEWER

There is some confusion over whether Good Wives is merely the second part of Little Women, or a novel in itself. Louisa May Alcott wrote it after, not with, Little Women, but several publishers include it with the the latter.

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Herodias (Greek: Ἡρῳδιάς, Hērǭdiás; c. 15 BCE – after 39 CE) was a princess of the Herodian dynasty of Judaeaduring the time of the Roman Empire.[1] Christian writings connect her with John the Baptist's execution.

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Esther[a] is described in all versions[b] of the Book of Esther as the Jewish queen of a Persian king Ahasuerus.[1] In the narrative, Ahasuerus seeks a new wife after his queen, Vashti, refuses to obey him, and Esther is chosen for her beauty. The king's chief adviser, Haman, is offended by Esther's cousin and guardian, Mordecai, and gets permission from the king to have all the Jews in the kingdom killed. Esther foils the plan, and wins permission from the king for the Jews to kill their enemies, and they do so

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Abigail (Hebrew: אֲבִיגַיִל‎, Modern: 'Avīgayīl, Tiberian: 'Aḇīḡayīl) was an Israelite woman in the Hebrew Biblemarried to Nabal; she became married to the future King David after Nabal's death (1 Samuel 25).[5] Abigail was David's second wife, after Saul and Ahinoam's daughter, Michal, whom Saul later married to Palti, son of Laishwhen David went into hiding.

Stumble

I really really didn't want to do this

posting, it is taking just as much courage 

and wrestling with self . . .  lest 

I come across as a 'holier than thou', pharisaical,  hypocrite !!!

So, yes, God's Holy Spirit is as real as what we see when we look in the mirror. James 1:23

The main point of this post is to remind readers that the Christian Believer/Disciple does not make up the principles that guide our lives. They come from the Bible, which the Holy Spirit brings to memory to guide our conscience or awareness of our behavior/actions.

JESUS: "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come." John 16:13

"do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30

Amplified Bible

Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:19

Abstain from all appearance of evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:22

LET OTHERS TO 'STUMBLE' OR SIN?

Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. - Luke 17:1-3

"do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." 

Aramaic Bible in Plain English

In this way also, Ministers should be pure and should not double-speak, neither be inclined to much wine, neither love defiled riches - 1 Timothy 3:8

"we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all"

New International Version

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. - Colossians 4:5

ARE YOU SAVED?

saved.com

Together

A SEASON OF CELEBRATION 

Today we celebrate the life of a blessed Child of God. Major Carmen Mott was a mother and friend to many of us who knew and loved her. 

I cannot remember when I first met her. It just seems as if I have always known her, just as my own mother. 

We traveled many roads together. In the early 90's, our family drove from the East coast of the United States to Chicago, the crossroads of America. We attended the Salvation Army Congress. It was an unforgettable experience driving hundreds of miles together, laughing, talking, singing . . . 

Then there were the beautiful extended vacations or home stays, sometimes as much as three months at a time at our homes in Collins Street, and Hazel Street and Mahl Avenue and Main Street and Burnham Street. We would travel to the Washington DC area to spend Christmas with her family or to New York. Good times, really really good!

Major saw us through many happy times and in the tough times as well she was a rock solid support for Millicent, myself and our extended family. At the birthday parties we looked forward to her prayers and blessing. We would be in touch by phone in the celebrations and in the times of challenge or crisis she was there to advise and encourage.

We love you Major. 

We will miss you.

On behalf of Millicent and Terry and Stephen and Mitzie and Catherine, we Thank you for the life you lived and shared and the much love and kindness you showed. You are a Godly example we try to follow.

Today, we do not sorrow as those who have no hope but as we look forward to that great reunion, we will continually remember your laughter, your liberty and your love.

Amen 

Amen 

Amen

BornAgain?

The Peterson Problem 

"the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

BEYOND BELIEF . . . 

"Who can know the LORD's thoughts? 

Who knows enough to teach him?" But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ."

TO KNOWLEDGE 

6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

The question: 

do I know Him?

"to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace"

LISTEN HERE

https://youtu.be/coTKSH_YN7E

If belief is birth then knowledge is growth.

Marvel not that I say to you, 

You must be born again.

Who are the righteous Who are the ungodly Who are the wicked 

the carnal mind 

"The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so"

VS 

the mind of Christ 

"we understand these things, for 

we have the mind of Christ."

https://tinyurl.com/yhb2b96h

SOLUTION - John 3:16

"unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled"

Holy

As nice as this may sound, we want to be careful to say only what the Bible says:

"grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."

THE ISSUE IS NOT GRADUATION BUT GROWTH AND FRUITFULNESS

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain"

So let us be careful not to be caught in the devil's (half truth) BIG LIE that maturity and personal holiness doesn't matter.

#CityFathers

Kinship

GENESIS - beginning 

"the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created."

"the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body." 

"This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church"

BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP 

If Discipline creates disciples are our children our first disciples?

"If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?"

The family was created before the church. Is the church based on the family?

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?

"My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it." Jesus looks carefully at his audience and includes them in His family

#CANNOT

"whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple" - JESUS

"the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

GOD'S WORD® Translation

God places lonely people in families. He leads prisoners out of prison into productive lives, but rebellious people must live in an unproductive (condition) land.

Undone

WILL I REMAIN HUMBLE?

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"

Our limited capacity for 1st hand knowledge is balanced by an almost unlimited capacity for inquiry and for BELIEF.

"He marveled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching."

Scientific inquiry is ongoing and can be tedious. Scientific knowledge must also be tentative since new data will necessitate 'new' conclusions.

"The tentative nature of scientific knowledge – refers to the idea that although reliable and durable, scientific knowledge is neither static nor definitive. Rather it is subject to change in the light of new evidence or interpretation of existing evidence."

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

Secularism while minimizing or ignoring the idea of God, comes to vastly different conclusions about reality.

"even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient"

The LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land. (Hosea 4:1)

I MUST REPENT !!!

Growing

◄ 1 Timothy 6 ►

We all have opportunities to grow

in GRACE but GREED & GAIN can 

slow our growth in GODLINESS 

https://biblehub.com/kjv/1_timothy/6.htm

Family as Business? 

SOWING & REAPING

"we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." 

[means • motive • money • marriage]

BUSINESS 

(GAIN) PROFIT & LOSS

TRADE 

BUY & SELL

Partnerships 

Property 

Purpose 

Power

"whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Loss

◄ 1 Timothy 6 ►

We all have opportunities for

GREED & GAIN or for GODLINESS 

https://biblehub.com/kjv/1_timothy/6.htm

Family as Business? 

SOWING & REAPING

"we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." 

[means • motive • money • marriage]

BUSINESS 

(GAIN) PROFIT & LOSS

TRADE 

BUY & SELL

Partnerships 

Property 

Purpose 

Power

"whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"