An Examination of Biblical Precepts Involved in Issues at Hand |
Great ethanol scam
What oil shortage?
US debt, $546,668 per household
Federal Reserve System
Doctors warn: Avoid GMO
GMO corn & infertility
War against men
Americas first openly anti-Christ president
The day is here (Martial Law Exercise With Foreign Troops )
The Gathering of the Nations
How to Dance in the Rain
Marriage, Richard Baxter
Lose your Property
Apology for Slavery. Who should?
Support Torture?
Letter
Interesting
Below are 11 things I believe you will find interesting, followed with an optimistic scripture study.
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/may2009/bw20090514_058678.htm
Editor's Comments:
So far, this scam has cost us one STIHL trimmer. The ethanol destroyed the carburetor and desolved the plastic fuel filter, $65 worth. Advice from the shop: If you cannot get real gas, use the highest octane ethanol gas you can get, which seems to decrease the damage to small engines. Also, do not let ethanol gas sit in the tank for over 30 days. CostCo thus far has no ethanol, and is holding out as long as possible. Next option, the cheapest trimmer you can find, and throw it away when it quits, and it will. Expensive mowers, however, are a different story. The Kubotas are very expensive mowers, but they are diesel, so there is no problem with the fuel.
For years, Brazil's cars have safely burned 100% alcohol. In fact, they can run 100% alcohol or gas. Alcohol is a good bit cheaper because of its poor fuel mileage. We seem to be unable to make such cars. Our 2000 Camry gets at least 10% less fuel mileage with Ethanol, yet we must pay the same the same as for real gas. We look for real gas, and seldom must use Ethanol.
Not only is ethanol proving to be a dud as a fuel substitute but there is increasing evidence that it is destroying engines in large numbers
By Ed Wallace
"Does the average citizen understand what this means? In from 10 to 20 years this country will be dependent entirely upon outside sources for a supply of liquid fuels paying out vast sums yearly in order to obtain supplies of crude oil from Mexico, Russia, and Persia."Yale Professor Harold Hibbert, ethanol promoter, 1925. [See next article, What Oil Shortage?]
More than one major transportation-based industry in America besides Detroit is on the ropes. For the fourth time in our history the ethanol industry has come undone and is quickly failing nationally. Of course it's one thing when Detroit collapsed with the economy; after all, that is a truly free-market enterprise and the economy hasn't been good. But the fact that the ethanol industry is going bankrupt, when the only reason we use this additive is a massive government mandate, is outrageous at best.
Then again, the ethanol lobby and refiners have a solution to ethanol's failure in America: Hire retired General Wesley Clark as your point man and lobby the government to increase the amount of ethanol in our fuel to 15%. The problems with that proposition are realunlike ethanol's benefits.
Where's the Logic?
First, the primary job of the Environmental Protection Agency is, dare it be said, to protect our environment. Yet using ethanol actually creates more smog than using regular gas, and the EPA's own attorneys had to admit that fact in front of the justices presiding over the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in 1995 (API v. EPA).
Second, truly independent studies on ethanol, such as those written by Tad Patzek of Berkeley and David Pimentel of Cornell, show that ethanol is a net energy loser. Other studies suggest there is a small net energy gain from it.
Third, all fuels laced with ethanol reduce the vehicle's fuel efficiency, and the E85 blend drops gas mileage between 30% and 40%, depending on whether you use the EPA's fuel mileage standards (fueleconomy.gov) or those of the Dept. of Energy.
Fourth, forget what biofuels have done to the price of foodstuffs worldwide over the past three years; the science seems to suggest that using ethanol increases global warming emissions over the use of straight gasoline. Just these issues should have kept ethanol from being brought back for its fourth run in American history.
Don't let anybody mislead you: The new push to get a 15% ethanol mandate out of Washington is simply to restore profitability to a failed industry. Only this time around those promoting more ethanol in our gas say there's no scientific proof that adding more ethanol will damage vehicles or small gas-powered engines. With that statement they've gone from shilling the public to outright falsehoods, because ethanol-laced gasoline is already destroying engines across the country in ever larger numbers.
Got a Spare $1,000?
Last July was bad enough for motorists on a budgetgasoline prices had shot up to more than $4 a gallon. But for some the pain in the pocketbook was about to get worse. At City Garage in Euless, Tex., for example, the first of numerous future customers brought in an automobile whose fuel pump was shot. A quick diagnosis determined that that particular car had close to 18% ethanol in the fuel. For that unlucky owner, the repairs came to nearly $900. The ethanol fun was just beginning.
City Garage manager Eric Greathouse has found that adding ethanol to the nation's gasoline supply may be a foolish government mandate, but it has an upside he'd rather not deal with. It's supplying his shop with a slow but steady stream of customers whose plastic fuel intakes have been dissolved by the blending of ethanol into our gasoline, or their fuel pumps destroyed. The average cost of repairs is just shy of $1,000.
It gets better. Scott Morrison is the owner of the City Garage chain in North Texas and he related the story of his technical director's run-in with ethanol; in December he filled up his E85 Flex Fuel Chevy Suburban at the Exxon station in Ovilla, just south of Dallas. His Suburban died on the spot, because even an E85-equipped vehicle will not run on the 100% pure ethanol that Exxon station was pumping that day. In that case it was not Exxon's fault but a mistake at the distribution center, and Exxon (XOM) quickly made good for the cost of repairs.
On Jan. 16 of this year, Lexus ordered a massive recall of certain 2006 to 2008 models, including the GS Series, IS and LS sedans. According to the recall notice, the problem is that "Ethanol fuels with low moisture content will corrode the internal surface of the fuel rails." In layman's terms, ethanol causes pinpoint leaks in the fuel system; when leaking fuel catches your engine on fire, that's an exciting way to have your insurance company buy your Lexus. Using ethanol will cost Toyota (TM) untold millions.
An Unpublicized Trend
Though the media is ignoring it, one can easily find many stories on BMW (BMWG.DE) blogs relating similar problems with fuel systems damaged by the use of ethanol. Certainly that was the case with Christi Jordan and her 2007 Mini. For weeks it was difficult to start; Moritz BMW in Arlington, Tex., inspected it and found severe carbon buildup inside the engine. On her second trip to the mechanics they decided to test the ethanol content of Christi's fuel and found it was much higher than the federally mandated limit of 10%. This time the fuel pump had been destroyed by the ethanol. The repair bill came to $1,200: As in all cases where vehicles are damaged by ethanol, legally the factory warranty no longer applied.
Jim Keppler, Moritz's fixed operations director, said he's had at least 10 other cases of ethanol poisoning in Minis over the past six months. Christi was one of the lucky ones; Moritz covered her repairs. But there's no telling how many motorists across the nation have had to pay for fuel pumps, or fuel systems, that ethanol damaged. Most were probably unaware of the real culprit behind the breakdown, because virtually no repair shop tests the level of ethanol in the gasoline when these fuel system problems occur.
And there are active lawsuits from boat owners; ethanol broke down the resins in their fiberglass gas tanks, destroying their marine engines. Additionally, those who deal in small gas engines for lawnmowers, edgers, and weedeaters have quickly learned that, as Briggs & Stratton's (BGG) Web site warns, "Ethanol-blended gasoline can attract moisture, which leads to separation and formation of acids during storage. Acidic gasoline can damage the fuel system of an engine while in storage. B&S strongly recommends removing ethanol-blended fuels from engine during storage."
Like motorists, if landscaping tool owners put gasoline with more than 10% ethanol in their small engines, that immediately voids any factory warranties. In the case of the Lexus recall, using just a 10% ethanol blend was found to be destroying many of these engines also.
Another Government-Mandated Mistake
It now appears that in just a few years since the government forced ethanol use on the country, engine and fuel system failures caused by ethanol are causing major damage to more and more new and used vehicles. This means the hapless owners are not only paying for snake oil in lower fuel efficiency and more smog, but pay again when it damages their vehicles and lawn mowers.
We seem to have forgotten, but the promise of turning over farmland for fuel production was to reduce our nation's demand for imported crude. But until this massive economic slowdown, as Gusher of Lies (PublicAffairs, 2008) author Robert Bryce pointed out, even while the ethanol mandate was being ramped up we were increasing our imports of foreign oil.
Translation: The entire politically stated purpose of using ethanol had already been proven to be a false one before the program even got fully under way.
No surprise there. The premise that ethanol could give America the freedom to one day stop importing oil has always been fraudulent. Another fun fact: If we outlawed gasoline and diesel, thereby removing every last car, truck and SUV from our highwaysno vehicles anywhere on any road in the countryAmerica would still have to import oil because we would still use more crude than domestic production can supply.
Why is that? Crude oil is also used to make fertilizers, aviation fuel, home heating oil, and many other products. Not to mention polyester suits for car salesmen.
Comment Now, Public!
Pushed into it by the corn growers' and ethanol refiners' lobbying organizations, today the EPA is starting to go through the public comment phase on increasing the level of ethanol in our gasoline from 10% to 15%. Time and time again we have heard from these groups, who now claim that there is zero scientific evidence that a 15% blend of ethanol would do any damage whatsoever if the mandate for ethanol were raised. As with all statements made by vested interests, few outsiders have actually taken the time to look and find out whether this statement was true.
[Contact your congress person. It is quite simple with e mail.]
In fact, it's false.
Not one mechanic I've spoken with said they would be comfortable with a 15% blend of ethanol in their personal car. However, most suggest that if the government moves the ethanol mandate to 15%, it will be the dawn of a new golden age for auto mechanics' income.
One last thought: Most individuals who have had to repair their fuel systems in recent years never had the gasoline tested to see if the ethanol percentage might be the problem. Today most repair shops and new-car dealers are still not testing for ethanol blends. They're simply repairing the vehicles and sending their unhappy and less wealthy customers on their way. But, where dealer and repair shops are testing the gasoline, ethanol is becoming one of the leading culprits for the damage.
Sadly, when a truly bad idea is exposed today, Washington's answer is to double-down on the bet, mandate more of the same, and make the problem worse. Only this time around motorists will be able to gauge the real cost of ethanol when it comes time to fix their personal cars.
Ed Wallace is a recipient of the the Gerald R. Loeb Award for business journalism, given by the G. and R. Loeb Foundation, and is a member of the American Historical Society. His column leads the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's "Sunday Drive" section. He reviews new cars every Friday morning at 7:15 on Fox Four's Good Day, contributes articles to BusinessWeek Online, and hosts the top-rated talk show Wheels Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on 570 KLIF.
The modern Tower of Bable is being built with the same slime as used for the firstpitch, asphalt, bitumen or oil. Genesis 11:3. The US has intentionally been brought to this stage of almost complete dependence on foreign sources for manufacturing and oil. What else needs to be done before the control over the people is complete?
Consider
#1 U.S. Hands Oil-Rich Island to Russia,
by Wes Vernon, NewsMax.com, October 17, 2002
WASHINGTON Billions in oil rights are at stake. But the State Department is handing the oil-rich Sakhalin Island to Russia. Single-handedly, the Bush administration is breaking a peace treaty signed at the end of World War II by 47 countries...
[Larry McDonald's flight 007 was shot down over Sakhalin Island, which was up to that time, marked by the State Department as illegitimately occuppied by the Soviets. After the 007 shoot-down, the State Department removed the dividing line and the "not sovereign" notation to justify the shooting down as being over Russian territory.]
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/10/16/183311.shtml
#2 Oil adds to Alaskans' ire at island giveaway
Congress ignores legislature's resolution condemning transfer to Russia
The US moved Alaska's border, without Alaska's input, to give to Russia areas purchased from Russia. It includes several oil rich islands and fish rich ocean areas. However, what has remained of Alaska in US hands has more than enough oil to supply the US for centuries.
"Earlier this year, WorldNetDaily reported that, according to national security advisers on Capitol Hill, oil ministers from OPEC nations had quietly confided to them that oil production cutbacks and resulting price increases had been implemented at the request of the Clinton administration on behalf of Russia, Indonesia, Mexico and Iran.
The idea was that higher oil prices would help Russia, a major oil exporter, to generate funds to get out of massive debt and rebuild the Russian economy... [Is this a reason why some of America's richest oil fields have been given to Russia?]
Alaska is believed to have some of the largest oil fields in the world. Much of Alaska's oil cannot be pumped, however, because of wilderness designations placed on much of Alaskan land, said Coghill, who believes access to vast oil fields may now be lost to Russia if the transfer is not reversed...
Olson said the U.S. government has prevented oil companies from drilling by declaring areas of Alaska and other parts of the U.S. as wilderness areas. But the U.S. has more than enough oil to supply its own needs and export oil as well, he says."
By David M. Bresnahan. Worldnetdaily, October 07, 2000
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?pageId=482
#3. Moreover, The Energy Non Crisis, by Lindsey Williams (1981, Worth Publishing Co, Wheatridge, Colorado. 80033)
For two and half years, Mr. Williams was a Chaplain on the Alaskan Pipeline project. In his book, he shows that there is more oil in only one field than in all of Saudi Arabia.
"[Alaskan State] Senator Chance asked, "Mr. X, [a name for the head engineer over all the Alaskan oil workings while Mr. Lindsey was there] if you developed the entire North Slope of Alaska as private enterprise what would happen?" Mr. X looked at the Senator and answered simply, "If we as oil companies were allowed to develop the entire North Slope oil field, that is the entire are north of the Brooks Range in Alaska, producing the oil that we already know is there, and if we were allowed to tap the numerous pools of oil that could be tapped (we are tapping only one right now), in five years the United States of America could be totally energy free, and totally independent from the rest of the world as far as energy is concerned. What is more, sir, if we were allowed to develop this entire field as private enterprise, within five years the United States of America could balance payments with every nation on the face of the earth, and again be the great nation which America really should be. We could do that only if private enterprise was allowed to operate freely, without government intervention." (P. 39.)
Moreover, Mr. Williams documents that there is enough natural gas on the North Slope to supply American needs for 200 years.
Mr. Williams makes this statement in his conclusion:
"I am persuaded after what I have seen with my own eyes and heard with my own ears, after two and a half years on the North Slope of Alaska, that there is no energy crisis. There has never been a true energy crisis, and there will never be a genuine energy crisis. There is a crisis, but iti s an artificially induced crisis for the purpose of controlling the American people, and perhaps the rest of the world, as well. After all, if they control our energy and our communications systemswhat else is left ... they control us." (P. 238)
There is a great amount of documentation details for "Mr. X's" statement in the book.
One Federal Government purpose, as expressed in this 1981 book, was to turn the people against the "evil" oil companies, so the companies could be nationalized.
"[After proving the find at Gull Island an ARCO executive] went on to say, Chaplain, America has just become energy independent!' ... The energy crisis had just come to a screeching haltthis ought to hit the front page of every newspaper in America .... but before an announcement was made the government forced them to cap it and seal the records which document the find.... WHY?!?" (From the back cover.)
The Energy Non-Crisis is available from Amazon. It worth reading.
Further note: I was in charge of the church buses when I was on the staff of a large Baptist Church in Elkton, MD. We ran 60 buses for church and 23 for their Christian School. When the "crisis" hit in 1973, I could not get gas for the buses. I called our distributer, and was told they had plenty of gas, but the Federal Government would not let them sell it. They gave me the name of the Federal agency in Baltimore to contact. I went to Baltimore, and met the "man in charge." He told me there was plenty of gas, and he would pass the word down so we could run the buses.
It all comes down to one word: money which can purchase power over people.
In other words, there is no US oil shortage. There never has been, and there never will be. It is simply how the game is played to bring the strong willed American people under the control of the one-worlders. Americans are now slaves to the private Federal Reserve System, who owns us all with its fait money schemes.
"The latest increase raises federal obligations to a record $546,668 per household in 2008, according to the USA TODAY analysis. That's quadruple what the average U.S. household owes for all mortgages, car loans, credit cards and other debt combined.
"We have a huge implicit mortgage on every household in America except, unlike a real mortgage, it's not backed up by a house," says David Walker, former U.S. comptroller general, the government's top auditor."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-05-28-debt_N.htm
The Creature from Jekyll Island, by G. Edward Griffin is a worthy read. His lecture delivered just after the release of his book can be downloaded from http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8484911570371055528
It is a 100 meg jpg file. If you do not have broadband, do not even attempt the download. If you do not have web access and want hear the very informative, and troubling, lecture, I will send you a copy on a cd, at your request.
"Where does money come from? Where does it go? Who makes it? The money magician's secrets are unveiled."
I will not even try to described to you the evils perpetrated by the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, which has since caused crisis after crisis. That act empowering the privately owned Federal Reserve has transferred all the wealth of America to the private owners of Federal Reserve as they have purchased the world with their fiat moneythat is, "money" created out of nothing. Thus, the FED produces "money" out of thin air, and then loan that "money" to us, for which interest must be paid, paid on nothing. If we do not repay their "money" with interest, the bank then acquires real property in exchange for theirworthless fiat "money." Their gains are then used to purchase every means of controlling people. Download the lecture, order the book, or request a copy of the lecture from me.
More and more doctors are already prescribing GM-free diets. Dr. Amy Dean, a Michigan internal medicine specialist, and board member of AAEM says, "I strongly recommend patients eat strictly non-genetically modified foods." Ohio allergist Dr. John Boyles says "I used to test for soy allergies all the time, but now that soy is genetically engineered, it is so dangerous that I tell people never to eat it."......
http://www.newswithviews.com/Smith/jeffrey125.htm
"Citizens need not wait for the results before taking the doctor's advice to avoid GM foods. People can stay away from anything with soy or corn derivatives, cottonseed and canola oil, and sugar from GM sugar beetsunless it says organic or "non-GMO." There is a pocket Non-GMO Shopping Guide, co-produced by the Institute for Responsible Technology and the Center for Food Safety, which is available as a download, as well as in natural food stores and in many doctors' offices."
GM watch (EU), November 12, 2008
In a new Austrian study that will send shock waves through the corridors of power in the EU, and through the offices of GM corporations, it has been discovered that GM corn has damaging effects upon the reproductive system. ... (Frankenfood News. The Heirloom Gardener, Spring 2009. 2278 Baker Creek Road, Mansfield MO 65704.
Sowing Seeds of Starvation: Monsanto Hype in Growing Food Crisis.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/06/06/Sowing-Seeds-of-Starvation-Monsanto-Hype-in-Growing-Food-Crisis.aspx
Japan makes most of our birth control pills. Japan doesn't use birth control pills. The estrogen from birth control pills ends up in our water supply, evaporates right along with normal water evaporation, rains back into our water supply, and just continues to accumulate. I think this is why some American "men" [read: feminists] act more like women than women:
Sperm count decreases from 113 million per ml in 1938 to 66 million per ml in 1990. Male patients at a fertility clinic on the edge of London were more likely to have fewer, less active sperm if they drank water from the Thames Water company than if they drank water from outside London....
[Complete estrogen article reproduced and posted at http://biblicalexaminer.org/w200905.html#anchor556669]
NY Terror Suspects Wanted To Commit Jihad'
4 Men Arrested In Plot To Car Bomb Temple In Riverdale, Use Stinger Missiles Against Military Planes
NYPD Commissioner: The Men Were Petty Criminals, Acting Alone'
Motive For Attack: Revenge For U.S. Actions In Afghanistan
http://wcbstv.com/breakingnewsalerts/terror.plot.temple.2.1015238.html
MUSLIM KILLS SOLDIER, WOUNDS ANOTHER AT ARKANSAS MILITARY RECRUITING CENTER UPDATE: JIHAD MURDERER STUDIED WITH ISLAMIC SCHOLAR IN YEMEN
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2009/06/muslim-kills-soldier-wounds-another-at-arkansas-military-recruiting-center.html
Yet Muslims Jihad murderers are not on the terrorist's lists, while patriotic American citizens are. With the gun laws now in effect, it appears that those who love America must be disarmed, while those out to destroy America are left with their guns.
The Emergence of President Obama's Muslim Roots, June 02, 2009
ABC News' Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller report: The other day we heard a comment from a White House aide that never would have been uttered during the primaries or general election campaign.
During a conference call in preparation for President Obama's trip to Cairo, Egypt, where he will address the Muslim world, deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communications Denis McDonough said "the President himself experienced Islam on three continents before he was able to or before he's been able to visit, really, the heart of the Islamic world you know, growing up in Indonesia, having a Muslim father obviously Muslim Americans (are) a key part of Illinois and Chicago."
Given widespread unease and prejudice against Muslims among Americans, especially in the wake of 9/11, the Obama campaign was perhaps understandably very sensitive during the primaries and general election to downplay the candidate's Muslim roots.
The candidate was even offended when referred to by his initials "BHO," because he considered the use of his middle name, "Hussein," an attempt to frighten voters.
With insane rumors suggesting he was some sort of Muslim Manchurian candidate, then-Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and his campaign did everything they could to emphasize his Christianity and de-emphasize the fact that his father, Barack Obama Sr., was born Muslim. ...
In his April 6 address to the Turkish Parliament, President Obama referenced how many "Americans have Muslims in their families or have lived in a Muslim majority country. I know, because I am one of them."
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/06/abc-news-jake-tapper-and-sunlen-miller-report-the-other-day-we-heard-a-comment-from-a-white-house-aide-that-neverwould-have.html
As recently as John Kennedy, there were hot discussions about even electing a Catholic president, fearful he would answer to the Pope. Now we seem to have a president who answers to Muslim leaders.
FEMA Web Page Shows Martial Law Exercise With Foreign Troops Set for July 2009
http://www.fema.gov/media/fact_sheets/nle09.shtm
The above is a link to FEMA.GOV website page that details the upcoming nationwide training exercise in July 2009. This is directly cut and pasted the full text below from the site.
This is very alarming. This IS NOT an exercise for FEMA to practice disaster relief. This page states very clearly that this exercise will "focus exclusively on terrorism prevention and protection, as opposed to incident response and recovery".
AND THEY ARE BRINGING FOREIGN TROOPS INTO OUR TOWNS AND CITIES TO TRAIN TO POLICE US. As stated in FEMA website, "This year the United States welcomes the participation of Australia, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom in NLE 09."
Imagine, armed Mexican troops protecting us from "terrorism" in the United States! Don't you feel safer already? ¿Dónde están sus documentos? ...
http://targetfreedom.typepad.com/targetfreedom/2009/06/femawebpagemartiallawforeigntroops.html
For a good number of years, we have been hearing of foreign troops here to control Americans, rather than using American troops. MEXICAN TROOPS!! They are not even able to control civil unrest in Mexico.
It certainly looks like we are going to reap what we have sown in our invasion of sovereign foreign nations that have done us no harm.
The NRA is giving FREE 1-yr memberships to everyone who wants to join. They are trying to build up their membership to fight pending Legislation that impacts our right to keep and bear arms.
It is very important that anti-gun congressmen see how many people they will have to fight to get their legislation through.
https://www.nrahq.org/nrabonus/accept-membership.asp
PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!!
This can include spouses and children also.
[I probably do not agree with everything the NRA does, but I believe that the NRA is the most "powerful" of the gun lobbies today.
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"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."
Dr. Adrian Rogers. 1931 - 2005.
Zephaniah 3:8-10
Zephaniah is a little book in the minor prophets. He was the last of the minor prophets to prophesy before the Babylon captivity. Really, Habakkuk and Zephaniah both cover the same line of thought, with Zephaniah picking up where Habakkuk leaves off.
Reading through Zephaniah, we come to 3:8-20. That passage is such a clear reference to the New Testament Gospel Church that we should examine the events leading up to the closing remarks of this prophecy What events lead up to the promise of vv. 8-20?
I realize the message was to Old Testament Israel, but how does it apply to the New Testament Israel, the Gospel Church? Is not the law of the Lord the same yesterday, today and forever? Does not His law of sowing and reaping remain the same forever?
So let us look at this Old prophecy through our New eyes.
3:8 calls for the Lord to gather or assemble all the kingdoms of the earth, so He can exercise His fierce indignation, anger and devouring fire against them. Vv. 9ff. puts the time frame after the first advent of Christ.
Are we not seeing all the nations of the world gathering together in their rebellion against God, v. 8? Even nations that once were leaders in the Evangelization of the world, e.g., Britain, U.S. &c., are now officially at war against the Lord and his Christ.
Every nation under the sun today is doing all it can to remove Christianity and Christian liberty, sadly with the support of the vast majority of their Christian citizenry. The enemy has worked hard for many years to remove the Christian spirit and character from every area of society. However, we do see a growth of the Christian spirit in "third world nations," which could make them "first world nations," as the primary nations turn from the God of the Bible.
The primary means of destroying Christianity has been the "public" education system which Christians have embraced so readily.
The heathens are ragingliterally raging as the followers of Muhammad rage with death to all who will not follow Muhammad with them. Sadly, the anti-family attitude bred into Christians by the state education system is letting the Muhammadans take over the world simply by having large families.
It appears that the heathens are successfully raging against the Lord, and tempting Christians to say, "Woe is us. We sure hope the Lord comes back before things get much worse." However, Scripture soundly condemns such an evil attitude.
...The prophet therefore affectionately exhorteth and presseth them [the Jews of his day] to repentance, Zep 2, by examples of those he mentioneth, whose impenitence, added to their sins, ruined them. By promises, and encouragements to expect mercy upon their hearkening to his counsel, he foretells the coming of the Messiah, the calling of the Gentiles, the preserving of a remnant of them amidst all the troubles and wasting judgments that should follow them, and a return out of captivity, with the re-establishing them as the church and people of God; which promise closeth his prophecy, and for which he calls on them to be thankful to and rejoice in their God, who in the midst of their sins, and his wrath for those sins, yet remembered his own mercies and covenant for them. (Matthew Poole)
Chapter 1
Let us quickly go through the whole book to our text.
Vv. 1-3, God pronounces judgment against the whole world for their sin. V. 4, He includes judgment against His people, Judah. V. 5 gives the reason for judgment against Judah: they are attempting to serve both the Lord and Malcham, the state. They are trying to please both the Lord and the state. The promised destruction is upon all for their sin, yet He is more explicit as He exposes the sins of His people.
Vv. 6-11, the Lord calls the beasts of the field to feast on the dead bodies that will result from His judgmentbodies of all classes of men, from the highest to lowest.
V. 12 describes the men who provide the feast with their bodies. They are the ones who feel that things will continue on as they are, so there is no need to turn to the Lord in repentance.
Vv. 14-18 speak of the great day of judgment of which the Lord spoke, and its nearness. It will be a day of judgment against sin and wickedness in both His people and in the world. His judgment includes all nations, no matter how mighty those nations might appear to be.
Chapter 2
Vv. 1-3, the Lord issues a call to repentance.
Vv. 4-15 tells us that He takes great care to include the total of the known Gentile world within His judgment against sin, showing that His judgment is total judgment, not just in a corner of the world. (See Jeremiah 25.) No nation will avoid His judgment. It does not matter where the sinner might hide, God's judgment will reach the farthest island. He can hide to the best of human ability, yet he will be found, 1:12. He can build strong fenced houses and high walls, but all those preparations will not protect in that day. Job said:
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. Job 34:22. (See Ezekiel 39:6 also.)
It does not matter how much silver and gold is stored up for that day of the Lord's wrath, it will be useless, Zephaniah 1:18. Every possible agreement for protection can be made with the state, yet His people will be judged the more severely for those protective deals with the state, 1:5. NOTHING will hide the rebellious those who have turned from God's authority and His law-word from the face of the world-wide judgment of the Lamb.
2:8, the heathen world reproaches God's people. The wicked gather together in a world-wide effort to stamp out His people once and for all. They are self-confident of victory because His loyal people are such a small number, just a remnant. Moreover, His people see the situation as hopeless. They are overwhelmingly out numbered by the huge multitude of Christ-haters who pool all their world-wide resources to oppress His people. Everything, world-wide resources, education, religion, media, financial institutions, all advertising, seems to be united in this effort. (Note that even home education "Christian Curriculum" can be anti-Biblical.)
In all of the total united effort by the anti-christ crowd against His faithful remnant, we see that their effort has not escaped God's notice, as He says, I have heard, 2:8. Then the Lord makes this promise:
9 Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts (His "battle" name), the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.
Surely... There is no doubt that the wicked will be overturned by the Lord, and their possessions will be turned over to the remnant of my people, 2:9.
V. 10 (and Isaiah 26:9) tells us that through God breaking the pride of the Gentile world, conversion to Himself is brought about.
V. 11 establishes a time frame the converted Gentiles will bring back to Jerusalem the scattered congregation, but this new Jerusalem is not a physical location. Men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen. The ultimate fulfillment of v. 11 is in the gospel. Is this not what the Lord told the woman at the well in John 4?
When he will deliver his people and destroy their enemies and idols, his glory will shine throughout all the world. (Geneva)
Zephaniah is consistent in his call for a total world-wide judgment against ALL SIN, the sins of the pagan and of His people alike. The world-wide judgment results in God's righteousness being exalted. Compare with Romans 1:18-21 & Romans chapter 2. As the world is purified by judgment, it will enjoy the full mercies of the Lord. Moreover, starting in Jeremiah chapter 7, we are clearly told that the problem is in the Lord's house, 7:2.
V. 15 refers to Nineveh.
Chapter 3
1-7, the Lord resumes his threats against apostate Jerusalem. He calls her filthy and polluted from her head down, i.e., her princes, judges, prophets, priests, vv. 3, 4. He warns her of destruction, but she refuses to hear and turn back to her God. Midst the promised destruction, the Lord has left a remnant, the "poor and afflicted". Compare 3:12 with Matt. 5:3 (blessed are the poor in spirit), and Mk. 12:37 (the common people heard him gladly).
3:8-13
Therefore.... Why? V. 1, the people refused to turn back to God; they refused correction; they refused to obey His word. The result is that they have nothing but destructive punishment in store for them. Though the thrust of Zephaniah's message is toward His people, the message of judgment includes every nation under the sun. God promises His wrath against sin, regardless of where it is found. However, He has a faithful remnant, to whom He promises protection, 2:3.
Habakkuk
In Habakkuk 1, the prophet looked around, and saw the total apostasy of God's people. He saw the total anti-god activities of the heathen, yet they seemed to be prospering. He asks, "What is the use of remaining faithful?"
In chapter 2, God tells him to write down what he has seen, for when the time is right, God will move against world-wide wickedness. The purpose of writing it down is so God's faithful people can read it and continue in the face of the total apostasy. The just must live by faith, and patiently wait for the appointed time when God will overturn evil.
Zephaniah says the same thing. The day is coming when God will gather all of the anti-Christ nations together in order to pour out upon them his indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy, 3:8.
V. 9 continues the promise: Then will I turn...
First: "Just wait, for I will judge all nations."
Second: "Watch as I judge them: The result will be their pride destroyed, their hardness of heart broken and then their conversion."
Third: "I will cause my people, Zion, to be exalted, v. 19". See Hebrews 12:22, 23.
Zephaniah continues at length to tell us that all of the Gentile (heathen) world will be converted as the result of His judgment. See also Isaiah 19:23-25. We are told by Zephaniah that a result of their conversion will be that the people of God will no longer be despised nor will they be a reproach to the nations, 3:8-20. Rather, the name of God's people will be a praise among all people of the earth.
Today:
We are seeing an unparallelled world-wide effort of the nations, leaders, not the people, to unite (under UN law):
"Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. So whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners to it." (Barack Obama 06/04/2009, Source: WhiteHouse.gov)
Every president since Reagan has called for an international one-world order. Obama, freely quoting from the Koran, carries the desire further, saying any nation that is preferred over another must fail. (http://www.newswithviews.com/baldwin/baldwin516.htm) Probably since Nimrod and his one-world effort has there not been such a world-wide effort to bring all the nations together with a common goal of rebellion against God. We must say with Habakkuk:
1:2 O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! 3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. 4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.
Moreover, all the anti-Christ efforts of the wicked seem to be succeeding, from the compromised religious leaders to the openly antichrist civil authorities.
As the one-world, anti-Christ crowd gains strength, many of those professing to be God's people are joining with them; that is, making compromises and deals so they can continue on in their "work for the Lord." Their uniting with the ungodly is so they can continue to "win souls," or "do the Lord's work." Yet when we consider Scripture, the compromise with Malcham will not be a pleasant accounting before the Lord God.
However, those who have compromised as well as those who are working to remove Biblical Christianity from society have forgotten that Psalm 2 is at work. Zephaniah gives us a glimpse of the Lord's actions which take place out of sight of man. 3:8 clearly reveals God's determination to gather all nations in judgment that have forgotten Him. Psalms 9:17, 50:22. He will pour upon them His indignation, fierce anger, and the devouring fire of his jealousy.
As we see the whole world uniting with a single purpose, to overthrow God, His Anointed and His Church, we see the purpose of God behind itthat he might overthrow them in His wrath. The result will be world-wide righteousness:
Isaiah 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
There are misguided "Christians" who may say, "But the goal of uniting the nations is peace. This is a godly goal." (I hear there are even Christians who voted for Obama! The curse of "Classical Education" among home educators?) But any attempt for peace apart from the Prince of Peace is anti-Christian effort. There can be no peace apart from the inner peace found in Christ.
Jeremiah 6:14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
When the people began to fear God's judgments, the false prophets comforted them by flatterings, showing that God would send peace and not war. (Geneva)
Self-control, brought about by the Holy Spirit, is the only thing which can bring peace. Any other kind of peace will have to be enforced from the outside. As long as there are sinful men in powerful places, that power will be used for sinful purposes.
Reportedly, Lenin stated: "Negotiations are just another tool of war to gain advantage over your enemy." Lenin's tool is very effective. (Was not Pearl Harbor bombed while the negotiators were at the bargaining table?)
Any peace plan apart from Christ, the Prince of Peace WILL BEYOND ALL DOUBT result in more war and slavery:
James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
True peace is a fruit of the spirit. When that spirit is denied, then any peace is a lie.
Yes, we have world-wide, anti-christ laws, socialistic and communistic laws, and more are being enacted every day. Yet God's unchanging word assures us that they are leading to the wrath of God against those who do these things.
Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
As we see the whole world being turned over to the enemy and placed under a one-world, united social order that is against every vestige of the Christian God, let us labor to be part of the faithful remnant of His people.
Remember the promise of Zephaniah 2:1-3. As all the nations gather together in their efforts to overthrow God, we have a promise placed right in the midst of all of their effortGod promised, and still promises, to keep a faithful remnant. Money cannot hide them. Holes in the rocks cannot hide them. Military strength cannot hide them. The only thing which can preserve a faithful remnant in the day of His fierce anger against all nations is God Himself.
As the nations gather to overthrow God's people (much like what took place in the book of Esther), God will preserve His remnant. The one world, antichrist crowd can have Christian sniffing (like drug sniffing) dogs, yet God will preserve His faithful remnant. All of the kings' of this world combined efforts will be no better than was Jezebel's as God kept 7,000 faithful in Israel unto Himself. I Kings 19:18.
The wicked's effort against His people only happens because God permits it, and it is for His greater glory:
Psalms 76:10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
As the world unites against the Lord and His Christ, God is working to gather the nations that He might pour out His wrath upon them. He will break their pride, and He will fulfill 2:9.
Conclusion
Why did not the Puritan dream of a world-wide righteousness come to pass through the U.S.A.? Were they wrong in their hope? Zephaniah 3:8 implies that there were at least three things which yet had to take place when the Puritans sought to establish God's Kingdom here in America.
First, there had to be the establishment of all the nations of the world, the U.S.A. included.
Second, there had to be the world-wide revolt of all nations against God and His people. Again, America would have to be included.
Third, there has to be God's judgment and wrath against this world-wide revolt before righteousness can be exalted:
Isaiah 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
Therefore, the warfare against God's people must be world-wide and total because it is against God. The implication is that God's people must become a world-wide reproach, much like it is in China and other Communist nations today, before God's wrath is poured out upon the wicked. Yet through all of this, Zephaniah 2:9 says those who seek righteousness, the faithful remnant, will be preserved, exalted and given the possessions of those who rebelled against God's authority over them.
The call to God's faithful remnant of both Habakkuk and Zephaniah is quite significant. As we see the wicked overrunning the earth, we must not lose hope. We must patiently wait on the Lord, remain faithful in the work of the Lord in the face of total world-wide apostasy, and when His time is right, His fierce anger will be poured out against those who are in rebellion. Zephaniah 2:9 will be the result. It is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.
Isaiah
The whole chapter, 42, speaks of God's fury, wrath, and judgment against all of those who have turned from His law, v. 24. This message of judgment is especially for His people who have turned from His law, yet His words are for all of mankind. He will not give His glory to another, v. 8. (See Romans 1:21). Those who do give His glory to others, whether saved or unsaved, will be judged.
God will move in world-wide judgment against sin, even into the islands, v. 4. Those who turn from His law will face His wrath even though He has held His peace for a long time. vv. 14-15. His law will be exalted, v. 21.
As Isaiah presents God's tremendous pronouncement of total judgment against the lawless, we find an interesting statement, v. 3, A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth (Matthew 12:20).
In God's fierce anger and judgment against the law breaker, He will exalt His law. Isaiah 42:21. As He exalts His law, the people of the law will be not only protected but exalted also. His judgment against the world-wide wickedness and rebellion will not be as we think of a harvest, everything mowed down. Rather in this judgment the "bruised reed and the smoking flax" will not be harmed.
The person living in the law of God will be protected. The one seeking righteousness will be hid. No matter how bruised or weak he may be, if he is remaining faithful in the face of apostasy, the Son Himself will be his protection. His people will be protected as His world-wide judgment falls. Are we seeing the start of His world-wide and total judgment against unrighteousness?
God's law will be magnified. It will be made honorable. The people of the covenant (Christ is the covenant, Isaiah 42:6, 49:8) who have remained faithful to the law of the covenant (Exodus 34:28), and have remained true to His authority over them (Zephaniah 1:5) will be exalted with the law no matter how few in number, (Zephaniah 2:9) when God breaks the pride of the law breakers (Zephaniah 2:10).
Do we feel like a bruised reed or a smoking flax (wick of a candle) in this day of total darkness? If so, Isaiah 42:3 (Matthew 12:20) is ours in the day of judgment which is upon us.
For the first time in history, are we seeing the gathering of all nations against His people? Technology is now available to trace every living being upon earth, and the wicked are moving quickly to accomplish that goal. However, victory has been promised for His people, whenever that day comes. Let us be faithful to the death if need be, as we stand against wickedness.
By faith, let us even REJOICE as we see the nations gathering together in their efforts. We do not rejoice because a supposed "rapture" is close at hand to remove us from the mess we have made. Rather, we rejoice because God's judgment is moving against those who refuse to glorify God as God. God has given to those who believe and trust His word the secret of protection in the terrible days ahead, and that secret is in Zephaniah 2:3.
Great days lie ahead for the faithful remnant, the poor and despised of this world. We may be living in the day prophesied of by Zephaniah 3:8-20, or the day may be a great ways away.
As the wicked cry out for the mountains to fall on then and hide them form the face of him that sitteth on the throne, we can rejoice and be glad, for we will know that our redemption draweth nigh. Revelation 6:16.
It was a busy morning, about 8:30 , when an elderly gentleman in his 80s arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am .
I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.
While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry.
The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health.
He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.
As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late.
He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. I was surprised, and asked him, And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'
He smiled as he patted my hand and said, She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.'
I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, That is the kind of love I want in my life.'
True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be. With all the jokes and fun that are in e_mails, sometimes there is one that comes along that has an important message. This one I thought I could share with you. The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have. I hope you share this with someone you care about. I just did. Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.
[Forwarded to me.]
By Richard Baxter, from The Encyclopedia of Christian Quotations
Direct. I. The first duty of husbands is to love their wives (and wives their husbands). Eph 5:25,28,29,33. A. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it. B. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies; he that loveth his wife, loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church. "Let every one of you in particular so love his wife, even as himself." See Gen 2:24
Some directions for maintaining love are as follows;
* Choose a good spouse in the first place. A spouse who is truly good and kind. Full of virtue and holiness to the Lord. * Don't marry till you are sure that you can love entirely. * Be not too hasty, but know beforehand all the imperfections which may tempt you to despise your future mate. * Remember that justice commands you to love one that has forsaken all the world for you. One who is contented to be the companion of your labors and sufferings, and be a sharer in all things with you, and that MUST be your companion until death. * Remember that women are ordinarily affectionate, passionate creature, and as they love much themselves, so they expect much love from you. * Remember that you are under God's command; and to deny marital love to your wives, is to deny a duty which God has urgently imposed on you. Obedience therefore should command your love. * Remember that you are one flesh; you have drawn her to forsake father and mother, and to cleave to you; * Take more notice of the good, that is in your wives, than of her faults. Let not the observation of their faults make you forget or overlook their virtues. * Don't magnify her imperfections until they drive you crazy. Excuse them as far as is right in the Lord. Consider the frailty of the sex. Consider also your own infirmities, and how much your wives must bear with you. * Don't stir up the evil of your spouse, but cause the best in them to be lived out. Overcome them with love; and then they will be loving to you, and consequently lovely. Love will cause love, as fire kindleth fire. A good husband is the best means to make a good and loving wife. * Live before them the life of a prudent, lowly, loving, meek, self-denying, patient, harmless, holy heavenly Christian.
Direct. II. Husbands and wives must live together. I Cor 7:2-5
Direct. III. Abhor not only adultery itself, but all that leads to unchasteness and the violation of your marriage-covenant. [Mat 5:31,32; 19:9; John 8:4-5, of adultery; Heb 13:4; Prov 22:14; Hos 4:2-3; Prov 2:17; I Cor 6:15, 19; Mal. 2:15; Prov 6:32, 35; Deu 23:2; Lev 21:9; 18:28; Num 25:9; Jer 5:7-9]
Direct. IV. Husband and wife must delight in the love and company, and loves of each other. When husband and wife take pleasure in each other, it unites them in duty, it helps them with ease to do their work, and bear their burdens; and is a major part of the comfort of marriage. [Prov 5:18,19]
Direct. V. It is your solemn duty to live in quietness and peace. To avoid every occasion of fierce anger and discord.
[I. Directions showing the great necessity of avoiding dissension.]
*The duty of your marriage-union requires unity. Can you not agree with your own flesh? * Division with your spouse will pain and and upset your whole life. * Just as you do not wish to hurt your own self and are quick to care for your own wounds; so you should take notice of any break in the peace of your marriage and quickly seek to heal it. * Fighting chills love, fighting makes your spouse undesirable to you in your mind. Wounding is separating; to be tied together through marital bonds while your hearts are estranged is to be tormented. To be inwardly adversaries, while outwardly husband and wife turns your home and delight into a prison. * Dissension between the husband and the wife disrupts the whole family life; they are like oxen unequally yoked, no work can be accomplished for all the striving with one another. * It greatly makes you unfit for the worship of God; you are not able to pray together nor to discuss heavenly things together, nor can you be mutual helpers to each other's souls. * Dissension makes it impossible to manage your family properly. * Your dissension makes it impossible to manage your family properly. * Your dissension will expose you to the malice of Satan, and give him advantage for many, many temptations.
[II. Directions for avoiding dissensions.]
* Keep alive your love for one another. Love your spouse dearly and fervently. Love will suppress wrath; you cannot be bitter over little things with someone you dearly love; much less will you descend to harsh words, aloofness, or any form of abuse. * Both husband and wife must mortify their pride and strong self-centered feelings. These are the feelings which cause intolerance and insensitivity. You must pray and labor for a humble, meek, and quiet spirit. A proud heart is troubled and provoked by every word that seems to assault your self-esteem. * Do not forget that you are both diseased persons, full of infirmities; and therefore expect the fruit of those infirmities in each other; and do not act surprised about it, as if you had never known of it before. Decide to be patient with one another; remembering that you took one another as sinful, frail, imperfect persons, and not as angels, or as blameless and perfect. * Remember still that you are one flesh; and therefore be no more offended with the words or failings of each other, than your would be if they were your own. Be angry with your wife for her faults no more than you are angry with yourself for your own. Have such anger and displeasure against a fault, as will work to heal it; but not such as will cause festering and aggravation of the diseased part. This will turn anger into compassion, and will cause you to administer care for the cure. * Agree together beforehand, that when one of you is sinfully angry and upset the other shall silently and gently bear it until you have come to your sanity. * Have an eye to the future and remember that you must live together until death, and must be the companions of each other's loves, and the comfort of each other=s loves, and then you will see how absurd it is for you to disagree and upset each other. * As far as you are able, avoid all occasions of wrath and quarreling, about the matters of your families. * If you are so angry that you cannot calm yourself at least control your tongue and do not speak hurtful and taunting words, talking it out hotly fans the fire, and increases the flame; (Do not ventilate your anger as you only feed your fleshly vengeance) Be silent, and you will much sooner return to your serenity and peace. * Let the calm and rational spouse speak carefully and compellingly reason with the other (unless it be with a person so insolent as will make things worse). Usually a few sober, grave admonitions will prove as water to the boiling pot. Say to your angry wife or husband, "You know this should not be between us; love must put it to rest, and it must be repented of. God does not approve of it, and we shall not approve of it when this heat is over." This frame of mind is contrary to a praying frame, and this language contrary to praying language; we must pray together; let us do nothing contrary to prayer now: sweet water and bitter come not from one spring, etc. Some calm and condescending words of reason, may stop the torrent, and revive the reason which passion had overcome. * When you have sinfully acted towards your spouse confess to one another; and ask for forgiveness of each other, and join in prayer to God for pardon; and this will act as a preventative in you the next time: you will surely be ashamed to do that which you have confessed and asked forgiveness for of God and man.
Direct. VI. One of the most important duties of a husband to his wife and a wife to her husband is to carefully, skillfully, and diligently help each other in the knowledge of worship and obedience of God that they might be saved and grow in their Christian Life.
* This is not love, when you neglect each other's soul. Do you believe that you have immortal souls, and an endless life of joy or misery to live? Then you must know that your great concern and business is, to care for those souls, and for the endless life. Therefore if your love does not help one another in this which is your main concern, it is of little worth, and of little use. Every thing in this world is as valuable as it is useful. A useless or unprofitable love is a worthless love. It is a trifling, or a childish, or a beastly love, which helps you but in trifling, childish, or beastly things. Do you love your wife, and will leave her in the power of Satan, or will not help to save her soul? What! love her, and yet let her go to hell? And rather let her be damned than you will be at the pains to endeavor her salvation? Never say you love them, if you will not labor for their salvation. What then shall we say of them that do not only deny their help, but are hinderers of the holiness and salvation of each other! [I Kings 11:4, Acts 5:2, Job 2:9]. And yet (the Lord have mercy on the poor miserable world!) how common a thing is this among us! If the wife be ignorant and ungodly, she will do her worst to make or keep her husband in the same state as she is herself; and if God put any holy inclinations into his heart, she will be like water to the fire, to quench it or to keep it subdued; and if he will not be as sinful and miserable as herself, he shall have little rest. And if God open the eyes of the wife of a bad man, and show her the necessity of a holy life, and she resolves to obey the Lord, and save her soul, what an enemy and tyrant will her husband be to her (if God does not restrain him); so that the devil himself will do no more to prevent the saving of their souls than ungodly husbands and wives do against each other. * Consider also that you are not living up to the design of marriage, if you are not helping each other's souls. * Consider also, if you neglect each others souls, what enemies you are to one another, and how you are preparing for your everlasting sorrows; when you should be preparing for your joyful meeting in heaven, you are laying up for yourselves everlasting horror. Therefore without a moment's hesitation determine to live together as heirs of heaven, and to be a helper to one others souls. To assist you in this holy pursuit I will give you these following directions, which if you will faithfully practice, may make you to be special blessings to each other.
Direct. VII. Before you can help to save each other's souls you must be sure of your own. You must have a deep and living understanding of the great eternal matters of which you are required to speak to others about. If you have no compassion for your own soul and will sell it for a moment of ease and pleasure, surely then you have no compassion for your spouses soul.
Direct. VIII. Take every opportunity which your nearness provides to be speaking seriously to each other about the matters of God, and your salvation. (30) Discussing those things of this world no more than required. And then talk together of the state and duty of your souls towards God, and of your hopes of heaven as those that take these for their greatest business. And don't speak lightly, or irreverently, or in a rude and disputing manner; but with gravity and sobriety, as those that are discussing the most important things in the whole world. [Mark 8:36]
Direct. IX. When either husband or wife is speaking seriously about holy things, let the other be careful to cherish, and not to extinguish the conversation.
Direct. X. Watch over the hearts and lives of one another, judging the condition of each other's souls, and the strength or weakness of each other's sins and graces and the failing of each other's lives, so that you may be able to apply to one another the most suitable help.
Direct. XI. Do not flatter one another from a foolish love. Neither meanly criticize one another. Do all in true, Godly love. Some are so blinded to the faults of husband, wife or child that they do not see the sin and wickedness in them. They are deluded concerning their eternal souls. This is the same as it is with self-loving sinners and their own souls, willfully deceiving themselves to their damnation. This flattering of yourselves or others, is but the devil's charm to keep you from effectual repentance and salvation. On the other hand, some cannot speak to one another of their faults, without such bitterness or contempt, which will cause them to refuse the medicine that could save them. If the everyday warnings you make to strangers must all be offered in love, much more between the husband and wife.
Direct. XII. Keep up your love to one another, do not grow distant. For if you do, you will despise each other's counsels and reproofs.
Direct. XIII. Do not discourage your spouse from instructing you by refusing to receive and learn from their corrections.
Direct. IVX. Help each other by reading together the most convicting, cutting, life-giving books. The ones most spiritual. Do not waste your time on light, weak, milk toast ministries and books. Make friendships together with the holiest persons. This is not neglecting your duty to one another, but that all the helps working together may be the more effectual.
Direct. XV. Don't conceal the state of your souls, nor hide your faults from one another. You are as one flesh, and should have one heart: and as it is dangerous for a man to be ignorant of his own soul so it is very hurtful to husband or wife to be ignorant of one another, in those areas where they have need of help.
Direct. XVI. Avoid as much as possible different opinions in religion.
Direct. XVII. If different religious understandings come between you, be sure that you manage it with holiness, humility, love, and peace, and not with carnality, pride, uncharitableness, or contention.
Direct. XVIII. Do not either blindly indulge each other's faults nor be too critical of each others state, allowing Satan to alienate your affections from one another.
Direct. XIII. If you are married to one that is an ungodly person, yet keep up all the love which is due for the relations sake.
Direct. XIV. Join together in frequent and fervent prayer. Prayer forces the mind into sobriety, and moves the heart with the presence and majesty of God. Pray also for each other when you are in secret, that God may do that work which you most desire, upon each other's hearts.
Direct. XV. Lastly, help each other by an exemplary life. Be yourself, what you desire your husband or wife should be; excel in meekness, and humility, and charity, and dutifulness, and diligence, and self-denial, and patience.
Direct. XVI. Another important duty in marriage is, to help in the health and comfort of each other's bodies. Not to pamper each other's flesh, or cherish the vices of pride, or sloth, or gluttony, or the sensual pleasures in each other; but to increase the health and vigor of the body making it fit for the service of the soul and God.
* In health, you must be careful to provide for each other (not so much pleasing as) wholesome food, and to keep each other from that which is hurtful to your health; warning each other from the dangers of gluttony and idleness, the two great murderers of mankind. * Also in sickness, you are to be caring of each other; and not to spare any costs of pains, by which the health of each other may be restored, or your souls confirmed, and comforts cherished.
Direct. XVII. Another duty of husbands and wives is, to be helpful to each other in their worldly business and estates. Not for worldly mind; but in obedience to God, who will have them labor, as well as pray, for their daily bread, and has determined that in the sweat of their brows they shall eat their bread; and that six days they shall labor and do all that they have to do; and that he that will not work must not eat.
Direct. XVIII. Also you must be careful to guard the honor of one another. You must not divulge, but conceal, the failings of each other; the reputation of each other must be as dear to you as your own. It is a sinful and unfaithful practice of many, both husbands and wives, who among their friends are discussing the faults of each other, which they are required in tenderness to cover up. MANY peevish persons will aggravate all the faults of their spouse behind their backs.
Direct. XIX. It is your marriage duty to assist one another in the education of your children.
Direct. XX. It is your marriage duty to assist each other in charity.
Direct. XXI. Lastly, it is a great duty of husbands and wives, to help and comfort one other in preparing for a safe and happy death.
* In the time of health, you must often and seriously remind each other of the time when death will make the separation; and live together daily as those that are still expecting the parting hour: Reprove everything in one another, which would be an unwelcome memory at death. If you see each other dull and slow in heavenliness, or living in vanity, worldliness, or sloth as if you had forgotten that you must shortly die, stir up one another to do all without delay which the approach of such a day requires. * And when death is at hand, oh then what abundance of tenderness, and seriousness, and skill and diligence, is needful for one, that hath the last office of love to perform, to the departing soul of so near a friends! Oh then what need will there be of your most wise, and faithful, and diligent help! They that are utterly unprepared and unfit to die themselves can do little to prepare of help another. But they that live together as the heirs of heaven, and converse on earth as fellow travelers to the land of promise, may help and encourage the souls of one another, and joyfully part at death, as expecting quickly to meet again in life eternal.
Richard Baxter (12 November 1615 - 8 December 1691) was an English Puritan church leader, theologian and controversialist, called by Dean Stanley "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen"
Big Brother legislation could mean prosecution, fines up to $1 million
By Chelsea Schilling, WorldNetDaily, March 16, 2009
Some small farms and organic food growers could be placed under direct supervision of the federal government under new legislation making its way through Congress.
Food Safety Modernization Act
House Resolution 875, or the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009, was introduced by Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., in February. DeLauro's husband, Stanley Greenburg, works for Monsanto the world's leading producer of herbicides and genetically engineered seed.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=92002
Psalms 64 tells us that the wicked who are in authority are taking counsel together, whetting their swords, bending their bows, and shooting at those who are trying to do right. They encourage themselves in their evil matters, and lay snares for whoever they can snare.
But the day shall come when God shall shoot at them. They will fall into the pit they digged for the righteous. Proverbs 26:27, 28:10, Ecclesiastes 10:8, &c.
Psalms 64:10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.
The righteous can rejoice when the Lord strikes down the workers of evil.
Has not the dangerous food been coming from Mexico and China? Why is there no mention of protection from overseas food producers? The intent is obvious, and the intent is not to "protect" the American consumer. The intent is total control over the population here.
Resolution Specifies That It Cannot Be Used in Reparations Cases
By Krissah Thompson, Washington Post Staff Writer, June 19, 2009
The Senate unanimously passed a resolution yesterday apologizing for slavery, making way for a joint congressional resolution and the latest attempt by the federal government to take responsibility for 2 1/2 centuries of slavery. ...
Comment: The South never owned a slave ship, never bought Africans in Africa to make slaves of them, never profited from the sale of free men into slavery. The South bought men who had already been made slaves by the big money from the North. The Emancipation Proclamation did not free the slaves in the North, but it destroyed the economy of the South. Why has no one pointed out that Gen. Sherman himself was a slave owner? Did he free his slaves with the Proclamation. ("Truths of History," Old South Institute Press, Harrisonburg VA.)
If any "reparation" is owed, it is owed by the ones in the North who made money from purchasing free men in Africa and selling them as slaves to the South. The winner always writes the history, which is seldom the truth.
Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
A recent poll showed that a majority of evangelical Christians are in favor of torture, and that support for torture is higher among evangelical Christians than among any other segment of our society.
Is support for torture a requirement of our Christian faith and our conservative political convictions? Apparently a lot of Christians do not take seriously the words of Christ in His Sermon on the Mount: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12)
The arguments for torture usually boil down to "Let us do evil, that good may come." This thinking was condemned by the Apostle Paul in Romans 3:8: "And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? Whose damnation is just."
For me to say that torture is wrong would probably not carry much weight with anyone, so let us hear what some of America's greatest leaders have had to say on the subject:
"Should any American soldier be so base and infamous as to injure any Canadian or Indian, in his person or property, I do most earnestly enjoin you to bring him to such severe and exemplary punishment as the enormity of the crime may require. Should it extend to death itself it will not be disproportional to its guilt at such a time and in such a cause. . . . While we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious of violating the rights of conscience in others, ever considering that God alone is the judge of the hearts of men, and to Him only in this case, they are answerable." -General George Washington, instructions to General Benedict Arnold, 1775.
"Military necessity does not admit of cruelty - that is, the infliction of suffering for the sake of suffering or for revenge, nor of maiming or wounding except in fight, nor of torture to extort confessions." General Orders 100, "Instruction for the Government of the Armies of the United States in the Field" signed by President Abraham Lincoln on April 24, 1863.
"The United States participated actively and effectively in the negotiation of the Convention. It marks a significant step in the development during this century of international measures against torture and other inhuman treatment or punishment. Ratification of the Convention by the United States will clearly express United States opposition to torture, an abhorrent practice unfortunately still prevalent in the world today." - Signing statement ratifying the UN Convention on Torture, by President Ronald Reagan, 1984.
"The United States is committed to the world wide elimination of torture and we are leading this fight by example." - President George W. Bush, June 26, 2003.
"On United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the United States reaffirms its commitment to the worldwide elimination of torture. Freedom from torture is an inalienable human right, and we are committed to building a world where human rights are respected and protected by the rule of law... . Many have been detained, arrested, thrown in prison, and subjected to torture by regimes that fail to understand that their habits of control will not serve them well in the long-term." - President George W. Bush, June 26, 2005.
"Use of torture is not only illegal but also it is a poor technique that yields unreliable results, may damage subsequent collection efforts, and can induce the source to say what he thinks the HUMINT collector wants to hear. Use of torture can also have many possible negative consequences at national and international levels." - U.S. Army field manual on interrogation, 2006.
"Information obtained under duress is incredibly unreliable, which is why it is not admissible in a court of law.... [Torture] is illegal in the United States and illegal under Geneva Conventions. Simulated drowning, or water boarding, was not considered an exception to these laws when it was used by the Japanese against US soldiers in World War II. In fact, we hanged Japanese officers for war crimes in 1945 for water boarding. Its status as torture has already been decided by our own courts under this precedent. To look the other way now, when Americans do it, is the very definition of hypocrisy." - Ron Paul, Republican congressman and candidate for President, May 26, 2009.
Dick Cheney and the sensationalist radio entertainers, with their crusade for torture, are out of step with the historical position of our nation in opposition to torture. The torture crusade is one bandwagon that Christians should not get on board with or be identified with in any way, shape or form.
By Thomas Williamson, 3131 S. Archer Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60608
Dear Pastor Need,
While going through and sorting out the massive amount of Christian material that we have built up here during the almost twenty seven years of our Christian walk, on Saturday evening last several copies of your most excellent booklet "The OTHER jesus - THE GOSPEL PERVERTED" literally felt down into my hands.
I have no idea of when we got it or where we got it from and have no recollection of having previously read it, but I can assure you that it is a real answer to prayer as this problem, although by the grace of God, not applicable to my own situation is very much a problem with other members of our family, particularly in the case of our daughter and her husband. Incidentally she uses the ACE program for home schooling her children and your booklet confirmed the reservations I have always had about it.
It has been very obvious from early on in our Christian life that a very large number of those professing to be Christians and "born again" were very definitely not so, but it was only when I read your booklet that I came to realise the why of this and the subtleness of the work of the enemy in this regard and I am now writing to you in the hope that you may have additional material along these lines, be it written or on audio tapes, CDs etc., that we could order from you.
If with your permission I can make copies of your booklet this will save on the very expensive postage to Ireland, and I will send you monetary provision to enable you to continue publishing it in the U.S. The only reason that I am not doing so now is that there is no date on the copies we have and I have no idea of the address I have got from the inside back page is still current. Incidentally on the back page there is an oversticker with the name The Biblical Examiner, TBE Library, PO Box 81, Bentonville VA 22610 and their web site address as http://www.biblicalexaminer.org, which means nothing to me but may mean something to you.
Enclosed please find $5.00. just to go towards the cost of postage of a reply to this letter to us here in Ireland.
Not surprisingly, particularly in view of the teaching in your booklet, the Christian scene here is anything but good. Most of the people involved, would be like ourselves, former Roman Catholics with absolutely no knowledge of God's Word and very little desire to study it, preferring to follow the Billy Graham's el al of this world, regardless of what they are teaching. Many of them would also be into watching the so called Christian programs on TV via various satellites and while we do not have that we know enough about it to know that is not where you will find the Word of God taught.
We have two fellowships in this town, neither of which we could in conscience go to. The largest would be an Assemble of God one with their very own "prophet" in attendance. However God is good and we now get a copy of their newsletter, brought out by a young woman whom we have known for many years and whom God has given us a very great love for and through this I can get some solid teaching into her hands and indirectly the hands of some of the other writers in this newsletter and trust that God may use it to open their spiritual eyes to the real truth of their situation. Last month they had a review of a book singing the praises of Smith Wigglesworth, which I can refute with an article from the extensive stock of material, a lot of it warning in nature, which God has graciously put into our hands down through the years. This is the kind of work He has given us to do and it is awesome the way He has supplied all this material down through the years.
Every now and again I am tempted to get rid of a lot if it but again and again the Holy Spirit puts a check on me and with this opening I can now see why. The other group here in town is "Oneness" offshoot of a cult which is based in the North of Ireland. They, the base in the North of Ireland, teach all kinds of weird stuff like soul sleep etc., but I doubt that the people running the group here are fully aware of what they are involved in. In the case of both groups, there would we be but for the great grace of God, and we hope and pray that the day will come that their eyes will be opened to their every spiritual need and we believe that it may well be that your little booklet may play a big part in this. To God be the glory.
We are of course surrounded by Roman Catholics, be they friends, neighbours or relatives and most would not have any desire to know about God's way of salvation, but we continue to sow seeds and trust Him to bring them to fruitition in His time and way. We live on the very south east tip of Ireland. Humanly speaking a beautiful area, with the sea on both the east and south coast of the county. Please remember us and all our unsaved people in prayer should it be the leading of God for you to do so and may He continue to guide and very greatly bless you and all in Linden Baptist Church.
Most sincerely in Christ Jesus, Our Lord. Dan O'Donovan. Wexford Town, Ireland.