Unruly behavior is one thing – unruly mouths are another. Using our mouths to glorify Him is wisdom, which only comes from Him.
Proverbs 10:13
In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found:
Any wisdom that comes forth from our mouths comes from Him. Having understanding is different than having knowledge. The depth of our understanding will be commensurate to our walk with Him. Many sheeple devote their energies to earning advanced degrees or to studying the evil antics of politicians. From a humanistic perspective, they could be identified as having great knowledge. Yet – they do not have understanding. No passage in Scripture expresses this difference better than the following:
Job 42:5-6
5 I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
In the forty-two chapters of the Book of Job, he makes an arduous journey from the mere knowledge of God – to the true understanding of God. When Job submits – he receives understanding.
but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
At its very essence – the above verse means exactly what it says . . . rejecting Jesus Christ demonstrates a complete void of understanding.
Is that a tired and trite old saying – “Hate the sin, love the sinner?” The ecumenical church movement has hijacked the Biblical definition of love, and morphed it into a mushy, weak-willed tolerance. Tolerance is not love! Oh you who say that God is Love, must also recognize that God is Truth – and His Truth can not lie. And His Truth will not allow us to lie to ourselves. We can dig into this even deeper. . .
Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirreth up strifes:
The infamous Westboro Baptist Church perfectly typifies this Proverb. Their hatred has consumed them, and causes people outside the faith to make assumptions about others who carry the name of Baptist. Hatred blinds us to the Truth – the Truth of the Gospel, which includes the truth of our own sin. Hatred causes families to fall apart, and continuous strife between people for every reason under the sun. If there is no forgiveness – there is hatred, resentment, bitterness, and misery. Often lasting a lifetime.
Do you have someone you hate? Perhaps you were abused or neglected, and have good reason. But the hatred and bitterness you hold for that person or people, will eat away inside you, causing internal strife – and stealing your inner peace.
but love covereth all sins.
Wow. Take a good long look at the above picture. That is an aged parent and adult child clasping hands. It isn’t always a parent that has hurt us – sometimes it’s a sibling, neighbor, employer, teacher, friend, spouse, religious leader, peers, coworker, some corrupt entity or other . . . no matter what the source – the resentment and hatred is the same. It could be something like a visceral hatred of the government – to the girl who made fun of you in 7th grade. Only when you let that go – and allow yourself to forgive (we’re not saying you will forget) and stop holding so tightly to the hatred that is sustaining you – can you experience the Perfect Love that covereth all sins.
You can’t do it on your own, pray to Him for help, and He will relieve you of that burden. Once you are relieved of that terrible canker eating away at you, you will feel the covering of that sin like a soothing blanket, and the terror and anguish and hatred of whoever or whatever was the recipient of that hatred (deserving or not) will fade away like yesterdays clouds on a sunny day.
It is His love, and His love alone, that makes this possible.
1 John 4:17-19
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love Him, because He first loved us.
1 Corinthians 13:7
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
If you do not forgive – your unforgiveness will grow and fester into hate.
Let His perfect love cast out that resentment, and feel the freedom of His perfect love. Love does not require you to become someone’s doormat – love frees you from hatred. Your view will change – and you will see the the person you hated – as a miserable sinner who needs salvation. Suddenly, things that seemed really important will diminish, and the Gospel and the sharing of it, will become what is most important to you.
Oh, the power of the tongue to commit good and evil! Wars have been waged over verbal missteps. Studies show that children parrot what their parents say -good or bad. Throughout Scripture, we are taught to speak with measure and care. The unsaved will judge the entire church and the Godhead by what just one Christian says! It is so important, that there are dozens and dozens of verses relating to what people say with their mouths, not just their actions.
Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life:
With our words we can encourage, comfort, teach, edify, and otherwise do great things through the Righteousness of Christ. We can ask Him to speak through us – to use us to glorify Him. The only righteousness the believer can possess is the Righteousness of Jesus Christ – it is His Holy Spirit working through us that allows our words to be a well of life. And done in His Spirit – our words can do the work we are here for. We can worship Him – and we can witness about Him. All with words. And at the Judgment Seat of Christ we will be rewarded for what we have done with words.
When we talk about the gospel to the unsaved – we are giving someone a lifeline – we are giving living water from the well of life – Jesus Christ!
The second half of this Proverb must be fairly important, because it is repeated twice in Proverbs 10.
but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
Once again we see that the wicked will not be able to speak to defend themselves. Right now – it seems that the wicked are in great power, and have control of the air waves, and all media. Scripture assures us that this will not last much longer. And these scorners and mockers of Jesus Christ will not be allowed to speak at the Great White Throne Judgment when the charges are made against them. No lawyers to speak for them, or juries to empathize with them. Jesus Christ is the Judge, and Jury.
Revelation 20:11-13
11 And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Please don’t delay getting right with the LORD. Now is the right time to find Him – not after you are dead. After this life is over – there is an eternity – and it is up to you to choose how you will spend it. That is the free- will given to man by God. We must choose Him. And we must come to Him by the way He specifies in His Word – the Bible. If you would like to talk to us about it – please email at:
Is it enough to worry only about our own sins? So many lovely Christians feel they should not ever judge, and allow people to work out their own misery. But where do we draw the line? Do we let someone drown in water? Do we let someone drown in sin? Is there any difference?
Proverbs 10:10
He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow:
In the true understanding of the 1611 KJV, “winketh with the eye,” quite literally means “turning a blind eye.” This is something that everyone is guilty of, including Christians. We need to speak up, not sit on our hands! Just the fact that Christians as a whole have been cowed into passivity in the past does not mean we need to let it continue. If you see something that is wrong – speak out! Yes – especially if it is in your church. . .
God has “turned a blind eye” intentionally to the world’s free-fall into utter depravity, but He will not always do so!
Acts 17:29-31
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.
but a prating fool shall fall.
We all know them, even at church. Give them a mic and they never want to let go. I am saying this as kindly as possible to my brothers and sisters – listening is a great gift that every believer should try to cultivate within themselves. Let’s not think about ourselves, but let us always have in mind the well-being of others. Many times, the well being of others involves listening to them with hearing, understanding and compassion. The less time we spend thinking and talking about ourselves, the more time we will have for others and even more importantly The LORD, and the more filled and empowered with the Holy Spirit we will be.
The title pretty much says it all, but on this blog we like to delve into the “deep things of God.” Most Christians make a cursory pass through the Book of Proverbs, especially the chapters consisting of scores of one verse axioms. Is that really how the Lord wants us to study His precious Word? No, it isn’t. We are admonished over and over again throughout the Bible that His Word is paramount to knowing and serving Him. Each Word. Not just the easy passages which “speak to your heart.”
Proverbs 10:9
He that walketh uprightly walketh surely:
Merriam Webster: upright – marked by strong moral rectitude <an upright citizen>
Marked by “strong moral rectitude?” That means it should be observable by others. No one should ever be able to say – “why would I want to be a Christian – you’re no better or different than anyone else!” The public failures of prominent Christians have done great damage to the furtherance of the Gospel. We have a great obligation – famous or not – to walk uprightly. Not only for our own safety and well-being; but for a walking testimony. Christians will be held to a higher standard because we are a target of the evil one. Do not let the lusts of this world spoil your testimony! Walk surely and safely on the narrow path – for your own sake, as well as the sakes of those watching you.
but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
Merriam Webster: pervert
a: to cause to turn aside or away from what is good or true or morally right :corrupt
b: to cause to turn aside or away from what is generally done or accepted :misdirect
This second part of the Proverb is interestingly phrased. How often the sinner thinks that he’s “getting away with it.” The idea of “secret sin” is a misnomer if there ever was one. It is sold to us as a “guilty pleasure,” and that you have a “right to indulge yourself.” One of the most over-used copouts of the porn addict is that “it’s not hurting anyone.” Prominent pastors caught in adultery never go into the affair with the idea that they will be found out!
Famous pervert, Oscar Wilde, gave the practice of “secret sin,” the literary treatment in his classic – The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Wilde and his friends knew the effects of the libertine, perverted lifestyle only too well. In this fantasy novel, the beautiful Dorian Gray makes a deal with the evil one, which would cause all the excesses of his licentious activities to only appear on his portrait – not his own face or body. The catch to this was, that the more his sins were hidden, the more perverted he became, even offending his libertine friends. It has long been a trick of Satan to sell the bills of goods, without revealing the “side effects.” Those most deeply immersed in a sinful lifestyle, are usually the last to know how their choices have caught up with them. There is no hiding it – the Proverb says – “his ways shall be known!”
If you are struggling with an addiction, please realize that it is rooted in sin. And sin is sin is sin. Calling it something else does not change what it is. Face up to it, and call on the Lord Jesus Christ to free you from that bondage. Bondage to sin and perversion is not freedom, even though at the outset – it may seem very freeing to be released from moral constraints. But it is not freedom at all – rather – it is the worst kind of bondage to a very harsh taskmaster known as the Father of Lies. And he does not love you or care whether you live or die. But Jesus Christ loves you so much that He died for all the terrible things you’ve done – so that you can live forever and spend eternity with Him.
My story is not as extraordinary as some of the testimonials we like to hear about. But to me, it is extraordinary to the point that I can barely describe it.
I will start with a short summary of my childhood. My parents were decent parents, not happy, not unhappy. My mother was Lutheran, and my father was Catholic. They made an arrangement regarding how our religious lives would be balanced. The children would attend Catholic School, and attend Lutheran church on Sundays. My mother calculated that to be a good compromise. Neither of my parents were saved at that time.
I will state in the most diplomatic terms that I can – that my ten years of Catholic school (I graduated two years early) were nothing short of hellacious. Ten years of physical and psychological abuse. From hitting us with books, to putting small children into garbage cans and throwing garbage on them. . .
I believe that from before I could even articulate my thoughts – I was aware of God. Even while very young, I was fascinated by nature. Even a leaf impressed me. I’ve always been aware of an intense love for Jesus within me – to the point that my family made fun of me. The irreconcilable teachings between evolutionary science classes and religion Bible stories disturbed me to the point I was challenging the teachers at the age of eight, because it was so contradictory. At my school, we were required to attend chapel every morning, and confession once weekly. During one session, while on my knees at the age of twelve, I told the priest how unhappy I was, and that I wasn’t getting anything out of church or religion classes. He responded that “Faith is an empty shell. You can get nothing out of it unless you put something into it.” So-o-o frustrating.
Years went by, with me feeling more and more unhappy about life in general. I was heavily involved with the performing arts, and had the nagging sensation that something was terribly wrong with it all. My mother had been fairly miserable and self absorbed most of the time. She also had a terrible 35 year smoking habit that she had tried every method known to man .. . Smoke Enders, hypnotism, medical doctors. . . Then one day, when I was 18 years old, my mother’s hair dresser led her to Christ. She came home a different person – and the very visible miracle was her instant deliverance from her addiction to cigarettes. Very impressive to me.
Two years passed, while I lived my life, and watched my mother try to lead all of us to Christ. Her witnessing was rather more like nagging! But the fact was incontrovertible. She was changed! I started reading her Bible – from the back. I don’t know why I started with Revelation, but it spoke to me. I had always known I was a sinner. It was so easy – I held the Bible, closed my eyes, and asked the Lord Jesus to come into my heart and save me from myself. I told Him I didn’t want to live like I was living – pursuing the world. I told Him I wanted peace. I told Him I wanted Him.
I felt like a ten ton weight came off of me right then. It was so incredible, but I actually felt it lifted off! Right at that moment! I spent the entire weekend crying as one sin after another came up into my awareness, as the Holy Spirit convicted me, for me to confess.
I didn’t become the Bible thumper that I am overnight. That was a gradual development! And, by the mercy of God, my very stubborn father got saved two years after I did, and devoted the next thirty years of his life to studying the Word.
Dear Lord, make us worthy vessels like unto Thee.
If you would like to know this kind of peace – it can be yours today. There are four steps to true conversion. If one of them is missing, it will not be complete.
FIRST, admit that you are a sinner – just like me.
Romans 3:10
As it is written. There is none righteous, no, not one.
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
SECOND, realize that you can’t save yourself.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.
THIRD, believe, and turn (repent) towards Jesus Christ, believing in your heart of hearts that He can deliver you – Jesus Christ – God’s only begotten Son Who died for your sins.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 5:8
But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
FOURTH, call upon Jesus for salvation. Ask Him!
Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Won’t you please, take a moment, right now, and pray for God to forgive you of your sins,
There is no dirt that the Blood of Christ can not wash clean.
Titus 3:3-6
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour. . .
Not since ancient times, has immorality been elevated and revered in such a widespread fashion. Day after day, we are deluged with the advance of the gay agenda. Those who love the Lord and His Perfect Word can now identify with Lot – we are now the minority living among them . . .
2 Peter 2
2 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
Walmart offers benefits to same sex partners –
(USA Today) In what the largest U.S. gay rights group calls a “historic move,” Walmart told employees Monday that it would extend its health and other benefits to “domestic partners” of employees, including partners of the same sex.
The largest U.S. employer made the announcement quietly in a postcard it sent to employees that listed five other changes in benefits, including a new vision plan.
Research by the Human Rights Campaign shows 62% of Fortune 500 companies already offer domestic partner benefits. But the Supreme Court’s June decision overturning part of a federal law that denied federal benefits to legally married same-sex partners has heightened attention on same-sex benefits.
And just today, the IRS has announced tax benefits to married gay couples –
“Today’s ruling provides certainty and clear, coherent tax filing guidance for all legally married same-sex couples nationwide. It provides access to benefits, responsibilities and protections under federal tax law that all Americans deserve,” Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said in a written statement.
Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin said that, because of today’s ruling, “committed and loving gay and lesbian married couples will now be treated equally under our nation’s federal tax laws, regardless of what state they call home.”
He added, “These families finally have access to crucial tax benefits and protections previously denied to them under the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act.”
Now you see the results of 100 years of progressive education, with each generation becoming more and more liberal, and farther and farther from God. The term “Laodicea,” is derived from the words “laity,” and “dice,” which can mean either justice or vengeance, or both, as the case may be. This is the spirit which is dominating the world, and has been for the latter part of the past century.
At no time in history, has mankind been more obsessed with the rights, or rule of people. Feminists, unions, homosexuals, minorities – and the United Nations “Rights of the Child.”
Our founders believed that our rights came from God. This is an absolute spiritual truth. “Individual rights” is an ideology. The absence of the moral principles found in the Bible, and the selflessness which comes as a result of God’s teachings, has caused our country to become pagan, with everyone clamoring for their rights. This is just how anti-Christ will be able to achieve power. As in the time of Judges, the people will only be concerned with their due – and will demand a king.
Let’s think about what characterizes American life now:
pornography
venereal disease
increase in technology which leads to
affluence
abortion
illegitimate children
occultism
corporate crime
increase in violent crime
homosexuality
materialism
At one time the American church was the treasury for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. From 1700-1900, during our nation’s founding, the dominant church spirit was the Philadelphia Church. Great universities were founded on the Scriptures – Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth, Princeton. Harvard College was founded to train pastors! The president of Yale College, in 1795, said “The Bible is the Word of God.” It was the age of missions, and the First and Second Great Awakenings – in England and America.
Before 1950 – gambling was considered a vice, and pornography and promiscuity were considered disgraceful.
All of these developments point to the soon return of Jesus Christ. If you are not “right” with the Lord, there is no time like the present. Get right with God. Humble yourself. Repent and turn towards your Savior. Stop comparing yourself to others, and compare yourself to Him.
Maybe you don’t think you’re such a bad person, after all – you never did those things. That’s called self justification. Do you think self justification will cover you? It won’t. Only the Blood of Jesus Christ will cover you. He is the only justification available to us. Your good works won’t mean diddly squat. Good deeds do not erase bad ones.
Ask Him now, please Lord Jesus, Please. I am prideful, and I’ve hurt people. I’ve lied, and I’ve stolen. I lust, and I covet. I used Your Name in vain. Forgive me and save me Lord Jesus. Forgive me for even thinking the way I do. I know that I can’t save myself and I want to be free from this terrible burden I’m carrying. Please save me Lord Jesus. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I want to be a new creation in You.
If you already know the Lord Jesus, and have received Him as your Savior,
consider rededicating your life to Him right now. We are in a time of tremendous Spiritual battle now. Won’t you cast aside all the vain imaginations and lusts that can plague and weigh you down with the sinful world and its trappings, and prevent you from living fully for Him?
1 John 2:15-16
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
…and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Tim. 3: 16-17
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In the original Greek, the word inspiration, means – breathed. Inspiration of God – quite literally means – God breathed.
While here on earth, in His human form, Jesus Himself said:
The Scripture cannot be broken. John10:35
O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: And beginning in Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Luke 24: 25;27
These are the Words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me. Luke 24:44
There has been a concerted effort since the Garden of Eden, to diminish and obfuscate the Word of God. Various claims – such as – “Yea, hath God said?”;or – “it is only inspired in the original monographs;” or – “replacement theology” {replacing the word Israel in the New Testament every time it appears, with the word church} Now – a gender neutral “Bible.”
Such devices have brought the church to such an apostate level – it is barely able to testify of Him any longer – let alone hold back the tide of evil.
Yet, despite Satan’s best efforts – we still have the Word of God. And will always have it, because He promised that His Word would never perish.
President George Washington: “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”
President Abraham Lincoln: “I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man.”
Click “Watch on YouTube” to hear this classic hymn!
Alas! and did my Savior bleed And did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head For sinners such as I? [originally, For such a worm as I?]
Refrain
At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight, And now I am happy all the day!
Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine— And bathed in its own blood— While the firm mark of wrath divine, His Soul in anguish stood.
Was it for crimes that I had done He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! grace unknown! And love beyond degree!
Well might the sun in darkness hide And shut his glories in, When Christ, the mighty Maker died, For man the creature’s sin.
Thus might I hide my blushing face While His dear cross appears, Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, And melt my eyes to tears.
But drops of grief can ne’er repay The debt of love I owe: Here, Lord, I give my self away ’Tis all that I can do.
Issac Watts [1707]
From his birth his father would read the Word of God to him and pray for him. His father was a godly preacher and a Nonconformist to the Church of England. His father was sent to prison twice because of his convictions. His family were Dissenters or Non- conformists. The Dissenters were Protestants who did not think that the Church of England had separated enough from the doctrines of the Roman Catholics and refused to conform to the Church of England.
Isaac was born in 1674 and was the oldest of nine children. At the age of eleven his father addressed a letter to all of his children encouraging them to “frequently to read the Scriptures – get your hearts to delight in them – above all books and writings account the Bible the best and read it most – lay up the truth of it in your hearts”.
Isaac Watts was saved at the age of fifteen and by the age of sixteen he had mastered Latin, Greek, Hebrew and French. When Isaac was about twenty he became dissatisfied with the singing of the Nonconformist Congregation. At that time it was viewed as sinful to sing songs that were not taken from the Scriptures the majority of which were Psalms or metrical Psalters. His major complaint was the quality of the writing, his father challenged him if he did not like what was being sung to do something better. Over the next two years, from the age of Twenty until he was Twenty two, he wrote the majority of his hymns. He was greatly criticized by both the Roman Catholics and the nonconformist who called his hymns “uninspired” because they were not direct quotations from Scripture. His reply to this was “…if we can pray to God in sentences that we have made up ourselves (instead of confining ourselves to the Our Father and other prayers taken directly from the Scriptures), then surely we can sing to God in sentences that we have made up ourselves”.
Isaac Watts wrote Alas and Did My Saviour Bleed in 1707, it originally had six stanzas and no refrain. The original tune as intended by Isaac Watts is not known, but in 1800 Hugh Wilson began using his original music composition entitled Martyrdom. In 1885 Ralph F. Hudson added the refrain and the tune that we know use and know as “At The Cross”.
It is interesting to note before we explore the doctrinal content of Alas and Did My Saviour Bleed, the in the Fall of 1850 at the age of thirty, Fanny J. Crosby went to the altar at the Thirtieth Street Methodist Church in New York City. She had been to the altar twice before by had not received the peace she sought. While at the altar the congregation was singing the hymn “Alas and Did My Saviour Bleed”, according to her own testimony and in her own words she says: “…it seemed to me that the light must indeed come then or never; and so I arose and went to the altar alone. After a prayer was offered, they began to sing the grand old consecration hymn, ‘Alas, and did my Saviour bleed, And did my Sovereign die?’ And when they reached the third line of the fourth stanza, ‘Here Lord, I give myself away,’ my very soul was flooded with a celestial light. I sprang to my feet, shouting ‘hallelujah,’ and then for the first time I realized that I had been trying to hold the world in one hand and the Lord in the other.”
Isaac Watts was a brilliant young man and because of his intellectual acumen and proclivity to study he was encouraged by his friends and a prominent Southampton physician to go to one of the Universities, at their expense, in hopes that he would eventually be ordained into the Church of England. Because of his background and being raised as a Dissenting Nonconformist, he refused and rather chose a nonconformist academy. He started preaching at the age of twenty-four and pastored his became pastor of a well-know independent congregation in 1702, he died on November 25, 1748.
The doctrinal content of “Alas and Did My Saviour Bleed” could be examined from a plethora of Christian Theology, Justification, Propitiation, Christology, Anthropology, Harmitiology, Soteriology just to name a few, for all of these are contained within the lines of this hymn. We will however, briefly explore the doctrine of propitiation as found in the lines of “Alas and Did My Saviour Bleed”.
If you are a regular reader of these Friday Proverb studies, you will be well grounded in the fact that true wisdom only comes from God. Intelligence is not to be confused with wisdom! Your IQ is largely a combination of genes, whereas Godly wisdom is a gift from our Creator.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Today’s Proverb demonstrates the stark contrast between the wise and foolish.
Proverbs 10:8
The wise in heart will receive commandments:
How much do you love the Word of God? Do you put it aside for sports, soap operas, or other worldly pursuits? How do you feel about Bible Doctrine? Do you find it wearying? Or edifying? Do you think you know all there is to know about Bible doctrine? Or do you feel you could spend your whole lifetime studying the Word and still never know it all? This discussion brings to my mind a rather infamous intellectual, who is completely devoid of wisdom:
This man, Bill O’ Reilly, claimed on numerous occasions that the Bible, especially the Old Testament, is a collection of allegories. How on earth would he know that? While no one could argue that he is indeed intelligent – he is completely bereft of wisdom, because he is completely bereft of the Holy Spirit. He can not understand doctrine because he does not know the Teacher. Nor can he receive doctrine – because he is not even in the classroom with the students of the Word. And, like many others outside the household of faith – he creates his own doctrine!
but a prating fool shall fall.
Millions upon millions of sheeple mistakenly believe that today is “Good Friday,” or the day that our Lord was crucified. Why do they believe that? Because they took the word of a powerful, organized religion – the Roman Catholic Church – over the Word of God. Rather than searching and studying the Scriptures for themselves – they let the Vatican do it for them. Virtually all organized religions now believe this teaching of the corrupt Roman church. We even follow their calendar!
Whenever we receive our doctrine from something other than the Bible – we are fools.
It is endlessly fascinating to me, just how specific the Word of God is on virtually every subject. Most thinking people are aware on some level of the basic human desire to be remembered after passing on. Some call it a legacy – some want their name in the history books – some want a nice eulogy at their funeral. However it is expressed – it seems to exist in all people on some level – and that is why it is addressed in the Bible.
What is notable about the Bible and Its treatment of this subject, is that It is only concerned with God’s memory of our legacies. Not things made with human hands, such as plaques, memorials, headstones, charitable trusts, art work etc. . .
Do you know that to God – there are only two kinds of people? Sheep and goats, or saved and unsaved. That’s right – not good, bad, hard working, lazy, selfish, charitable or greedy – it makes no difference. You are either justified and sanctified by the Blood of Christ or you are not.
Proverbs 10:7
The memory of the just is blessed:
Think about that – if you repent and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior He has promised that He will not remember your sins, because God will only see His righteousness – and we achieve justification through Him.
Psalm 103:11-13
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.
but the name of the wicked shall rot.
No matter how famous, no matter how much charity, no matter how many good works – the promise for the wicked unrepentant is that every idle deed and word is remembered – none of the record of their world famous deeds will stand – none of their riches – not even a bowling trophy! The only thing, the only thing that matters is that you trust in Him today without delay!
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power;
As wickedness grows apace in this world, believers sometimes wonder longingly when the LORD will call them home. The Word of God is implicitly clear – He is keeping track – and He will hold all accountable.
Proverbs 10:6
Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
It is extremely important to understand the meaning of the word “just” in the first section of this Proverb. Who are the just? Those who seek after righteousness through saving faith in God’s Christ! No one can be just on their own – because no one can obtain their own righteousness. And Who is our Head? Jesus Christ of course!
1 Corinthians 11:3
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
It is evident in this Proverb that blessings come to us only through Jesus Christ – Who is both our Head and our Righteousness. And what blessings they are! Pardon from sin, limitless peace, rest for our souls, every sanctifying grace, adoption, eternal life. . . need I say more? What joy! What bliss! What a Savior!
The second part of this Proverb is sad indeed. We see the wicked prospering in the world, and it “vexes our souls,” as it should! But look closely at that verse – and you will see it says something far more than most think it does. “Violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.” Picture this, because this is what the Word is saying – the unrepentant will NOT be able to answer when the charges are brought against them at the Great White Throne Judgment! Their mouths will be “covered with violence.” There will be no pleading or bargaining involved, such as the courts of law hold today. No negotiating – no reduced sentences – no parole. . .no purgatory!
If you belong to an organized religion or cult, or are an atheist or agnostic – please think carefully about this Proverb – because it tells the future in one short sentence. Think about a trial – where you are not even allowed to speak – and every idle word, deed, and thought you ever had is exposed and read aloud for all to hear. You will have no defense – because your mouth will be covered.
Do not think this is some cruel fate – you have had ample time to repent, and the Lord is not willing that any should perish. Now is the time – not next year, or in a couple of years after you get done “living your life.” The time is never going to get better than right this minute. Turn to Jesus Christ, your Creator and Savior, please do it now because you may not get the chance later.
Luke 12:16-21
16 And He spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
The ease with which food can be procured in this country, gives us a false sense of security. The entitlement syndrome has left the populace with the idea that they are owed something. Food, clothing, shelter, education – all are deemed “rights” by a sinful and lazy flock of sheeple. The evil shepherd of our nation, is placed in judgment over us – as we demand more and more – the evil shepherd promises more and more. And leads the lazy sheeple to slaughter.
Proverbs 10:5
He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
You need not be involved in agriculture to make a life application out of this particular Proverb. Allow me to give a personal example of how I use it it, and have ignored, it to my great discomfort.
Living in the Great Lakes area guarantees mercurial weather. Thanks to John Coleman, we have the blessings of the Weather Channel, and are able to chart the weather for more than one day. In times past, when looking at the weather, there might have been in winter time, a one or two day window biweekly, where the weather was more amenable to driving (ergo – safer and less stressful.) Did I wisely take advantage of this window? I am ashamed to say that I did not always do so – and found my family on several occasions having to go without some things for days before it was safe to drive again. Shameful and lazy!
When we have plenty, we tend to take it for granted – just as the ancient Hebrews did . . .
Deuteronomy 6:10-15
10 And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which He sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,
11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
12 Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
13 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve Him, and shalt swear by His name.
14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;
15 (For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.
If you think about it honestly – do you really thing about where your water is coming from? How about your clothing? Do you thank God for every bite of food that goes into your mouth – or do you wish you had something better? How about your shelter? Clothing? Do you take care of and give thanks for what you have? Can you do better at working for the comfort and safety of your loved ones? This could even be applied to shoveling the snow off the roof, sidewalk or driveway – before the ice storm! Or if you live in an arid region – putting out the rain barrels before the rainy season! You’d be surprised how many people put off these things when it is the best time to do them – because of electronic distractions/addictions – like TV, internet, and telephone.
Silly Symphony The Grasshopper And The Ants HD (1934)
The Laodicean church mood of today, promulgates the notion that “God loves me no matter what I do.” While that is a true statement, it is incomplete. Just like our earthly fathers when faced with rebellion, He loves us as children, but hates what we do.
Bible believers are commanded in many places in the Word to do their best. Today’s Proverb follows this theme:
Proverbs 10:4
4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
Living in the greater Detroit Metro area, we are treated to the frequent teacher’s strikes that occur every few years in that crumbling, once great city.
I am forced to wonder why so many of them are overweight, so much to the point that they are wider than the poster boards they brandish!
It is sinful human nature to gravitate towards pleasure and away from pain and discomfort.
This Proverb applies to all of us – from home maker, to bottom rung corporate employee, to the head of a massive organization. We do not work for money – we work to honor the God we serve!
Homemakers – do you have laundry and dishes piled up? Are you allowing food to go to waste? Are you shopping with care and thrift? If not – then you are dealing with a slack hand.
Hourly worker – are you frittering away time when you could be getting things done? Do you spend time thinking about how the managers aren’t working as hard as you are? Do you help yourself to things at your place of work because everyone else does it? Then you are dealing with a slack hand.
CEO – do you spend hours at the golf course now that you’ve “made it?” Do you take advantage of tax exemptions to make your life more cushy with “business expenses” that aren’t really business expenses? Do you take advantage of underlings? Then you are dealing with a slack hand.
Remember brothers and sisters, we are concerned with treasures in heaven – not here on earth! If you are feeling unappreciated, underpaid, and overwhelmed in your sphere of labor, whether in the home or in a factory – so what! So what if you are unappreciated by your boss. If you work with a diligent hand – you are appreciated by Someone much more powerful than your boss, ( or kids or spouse for that matter.)
Please see the studies on the Rewards of Crowns on our apologetics page to see where and how, you, beloveds, will be truly rewarded for your diligence.
Even if you are working in a situation (very likely) that does not allow you to speak about your faith – your life can be a witness!
1 Peter 2:11-17
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
So many Christians can not see past this fleshly world, and only focus on the “rewards” in this life, despite the overabundance of teachings in the New Testament stressing just the opposite.
Our LORD has forever been concerned with the condition and future of our souls. All men (not animals!) are born with a soul that lives forever. Forever is a long, long time. It is the choice we make in this temporal, fleshly life that determines where the soul will spend eternity. If you think we just came through an interminable, desolate winter – imagine eternity without any Light.
Proverbs 10:3
The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish:
but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, if you do not know the wonderful knowledge of peace and hope that only He can give, please, right now, ask Him to be your Savior. Tell Him that you know you are a sinner, and that you know that you can not save yourself. Look at those pictures above? Which one do you want? Eternity forever alone, forever desolate and miserable? Or eternity in the Light with your Creator? Many people worry about leaving a legacy, wanting their names to be remembered in history – notice that the incredibly rich man in the following Parable is nameless. . .
Luke 16:19-25
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham:
but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him,
If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though One rose from the dead.
Some would look at this illustration and think it belongs to another, “less civilized” era. Mankind has not changed, just the dressings have. There are more that will deceive and take advantage of others, than there are that won’t. We all need to be very circumspect in this matter. Even pocketing extra change mistakenly given to you by a cashier constitutes as a “treasure of wickedness.” There may be some people who seem to be “getting away with it,” but they will be judged. Perhaps not in this life, but definitely in the next.
but righteousness delivereth from death.
Not deliverance physical death, perhaps, but deliverance from eternal death in the Lake of Fire – yes. Only those who have admitted their sinfulness, and turned towards Jesus Christ and asked Him into their hearts are considered righteous. In God’s eyes there are only two kinds of people in the world – sheep and goats – or – saved and unsaved.
Matthew 25:31-33
31 When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory:
32 And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
Chapters 10-15 of Proverbs consist entirely of comparisons made between the wise and the foolish. The Lord Who made us, understands how our minds work. We always crave comparisons. It is part of our very nature. Over the next weeks as we look at these comparisons, we should examine ourselves and question honestly – which category do we fall in – wise or foolish?
Proverbs 10:1
The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father:
but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
The pride a man can have in his son is to be expected. Every man wants to make himself over, except “better.” When the son grows up pleasing his father with his behavior and choices, the father’s heart is gladdened in a way that most women have trouble understanding.
At the same time, when a son does things that she deems to be immoral and/or destructive to himself and others, it is a heaviness on the mother’s heart that most men would have trouble understanding. Fathers can usually forgive their son’s moral lapses more easily than mothers can. For her, this child of her body is laying boulders of pressing, hurtful weight. Historically, women have been dependent on their sons, especially in the case of widowhood, which was not an unusual situation.
We can think of the greatest Son who ever lived, Who, in the last few moments of His earthly life, had compassion on His mother, and appointed His most beloved disciple to care for her. He was the wisest Son of all . . .
John 19:25-27
25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith He to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
Are you a wise son? Or are you a foolish son? As an adult – any rifts you have with your parents are not worth nurturing. Not in the bigger picture of eternal life. Do the wise thing – and gladden your father’s heart, and relieve your mother’s .
Today’s Proverb is short and heavy hitting. Last week, Wisdom was inviting us in – this week – Wisdom’s polar opposite opens her door and beckons – she is . . .
FOOLISHNESS
Proverbs 9:13-17
13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:
(Nowadays – this woman can beckon from cyberspace)
16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
17Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
Secret? Her claim is ludicrous.
(does anyone seriously think they can hide sin from The LORD?)
Last week, the lesson for us was that godly wisdom is eternal riches – unlike the fading riches of this world. Today – we learn to listen to wisdom’s call. . .
Proverbs 9:1-12
Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Here, wisdom is likened to a home maker, whose house is well kept, and furnished with comforts of food and drink. Hardly anyone can deny the appeal of a well laid table. In vs. 4 – wisdom pleads with “the simple,” to come and eat and drink their fill of the riches of godly wisdom. Wisdom finishes by adjuring the simple ones to forsake foolishness, and LIVE in wisdom.
The Proverb goes on to give an example for living in godly wisdom. I can’t help but think of the recent debate between Bill Nye and Ken Ham in regards to this Proverb. See if you agree with me!
7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
It is unfortunate, but true, that the only thing that was accomplished by that entertaining debate – was funding. Bill Nye is a scorner – he proved that in his ridicule of the Bible. God would call Mr. Nye a fool – yet the world loves him. Scorners are not to be rebuked! If you just look at the eyes of those two men – the difference between the flint hard glare of Mr. Nye and the tender expression of Mr. Ham’s is a good indication of the condition of the heart. Scorners have hearts of stone.
Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Ken Ham will be blessed by God for his tenacious defense of the Gospel. Was he shamed? In the eyes of the fallen world – yes. Bill Nye will receive the world’s accolades.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
Bible believing Christians understand that the marriage between one man and one woman was ordained by God, and that it is holy and undefiled. It is the only union of human beings capable of bearing fruit – the blessings of children. Please consider very carefully the sodomite’s obsession with the part of the body designed for eliminating garbage and waste – the dead parts.
Here is the fruit of the sodomite culture of death:
Homosexuals Throw Human Excrement At Christians, And Wipe Their Anuses With Pages Of The Bible
When up to a thousand conservative Christian parents in Germany were protesting against a new pro-homosexual “sexual diversity” curriculum in their schools, homosexuals charged at them and thew human excrement at the Christians. They also ripped pages of the Bible, wiped their anuses with the pages, crumpled them up and threw them at the Christians.
According to the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians:
They were spit at, eggs were thrown, and little bags with feces or color. Cables of loud speakers were torn out …Pages were ripped out of the bible and used to wipe backsides, then formed into a ball and thrown at the parents. …Christians were deeply hurt in this process. At least one banner was snatched and destroyed in front of the eyes of the parents. Marshals were target[ed] with pepper sprays. Shouting by counter-demonstrator[s] made the planned public speaking partly impossible.
The police, instead of bringing order, came and took the side of the sodomites, telling the Christian protesters to leave. As the organizers stated:
Police urged the organizers to dissolve the rally, in order ‘to avoid escalation.
This is why we support the current law in Russia in regards to homosexual propaganda. The sodomites must be suppressed in order to prevent their agenda from spreading and taking root in any component of civilized. This is why God gave us this law:
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. (Leviticus 20:13)
But since the Divine Law has been replaced by the dictates of politicians whose souls are seized by the devil, these sodomites “fill the land with violence and continually arouse” the anger of God (Ezekiel 8:17)
St. Peter described governors as “them that are sent by him [God] for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. (1 Peter 2:14) Evildoers would include sodomites, since St. Peter’s moral code would have been from the Divine Law.
In the words of St. Paul when he addressed the sodomites in his Epistle to the Romans:
Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:32)
The sodomites know they do evil, and we as Christians know that the Divine Law must be imposed upon them, or else they will “continue to do these very things”.
While I find much of Martin Luther’s writings to be heretical, I doubt he would approve of this. Sweden, once a rock solid bastion of Lutheranism, has gone so far as to take the title of the most progressive nation on earth . . .
Swedish office building tests implanted RFID microchips in workers
Workers at a new high-technology office building in central Stockholm are doing away with their old ID cards on lanyards, and can now open doors with the swipe of a hand — thanks to a microchip implanted in the body.
The radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips are about 12 mm long and injected with a syringe.
“It’s an identification tool that can communicate with objects around you,” said Patrick Mesterton, CEO of the building, Epicenter Office.
“You can open doors using your chip. You can do secure printing from our printers with the chip, but you can also communicate with your mobile phone, by sending your business card to individuals that you meet,” he said.
Mesterton thinks some of the future uses for implanted chips will be any application that currently requires a pin code, a key or a card, such as payments.
“I think also for health-care reasons … you can sort of communicate with your doctor and you get can data on what you eat and what your physical status is,” Mesterton said.
“You have your own identification code and you’re sending that to something else which you have to grant access to. So there’s no one else that can sort of follow you on your ID, so to say. It’s you who decides who gets access to that ID,” he said.
The implant program is voluntary for the workers in the office complex.
“It felt pretty scary, but at the same time it felt very modern, very 2015,” said Lin Kowalska shortly after she had a microchip implanted in her hand.
Congressional Republicans are trying to thwart a new federal housing rule they claim would allow Washington to play a heavy-handed role in trying to remake upscale neighborhoods as racially and economically diverse “utopias.”
The forthcoming regulations, expected to be formally proposed later this month, would leverage grant money to try and bring more affordable options into these neighborhoods. It would require local jurisdictions to report on their progress; they’d risk federal housing money if they don’t.
But while the Department of Housing and Urban Development program essentially aims for more integration and equality, critics see a meddling federal government.
“[The rule] tells us how we can live, where we go to school, how we will vote, what this utopian type of neighborhood should look like,” charged Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., who sponsored an amendment to the House HUD spending bill Wednesday, blocking any future funding for the new rule. The spending bill was passed in the House with the amendment.
“These rules want to manipulate the way American neighborhoods look,” he told FoxNews.com in an interview.
HUD officials and proponents of the new rule say it would do nothing but clarify — even simplify — current obligations under The Fair Housing Act of 1968.
More on this…
How Obama plans to diversify wealthy neighborhoods
Right now, local and state housing authorities must have plans showing they are “affirmatively furthering fair housing.” In other words, making sure their communities offer affordable housing opportunities in all neighborhoods, not just the poor ones, and do not discriminate based on color, religion, sex, or national origin. Affordable housing is generally defined as housing that costs no more than a third of a family’s monthly income.
The new rule would require jurisdictions to file a full assessment every five years that not only addresses the affordable housing landscape, but patterns in poverty and minority concentrations, as well as “community access” to transportation, good schools and jobs.
In addition to the assessments, the new requirements include an action plan obligating the jurisdiction to “identify the primary determinants influencing fair housing conditions, prioritize addressing these conditions, and set one or more goals for mitigating or addressing their determinants.” For its part, HUD would be sharing demographic data that local officials need to pull this together, while offering guidance and technical assistance.
But here’s the rub. If cities and counties don’t comply, it could put millions of dollars in annual federal block grants at risk, which critics say is how Washington can bully governments to do their bidding.
“This is nothing new,” countered Debby Goldberg, vice president at the National Fair Housing Alliance, who supports the rule. “It’s a planning tool. They leave it up to the jurisdictions to make their own decisions. HUD is not dictating what the answers must be, that’s up to the locality.”
HUD Secretary Julian Castro argued this in a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee June 11, when Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, asked him directly if HUD would be actively telling localities how to remake their maps. “I know as a [former] mayor you wouldn’t want the federal government to come in and tell you what to do with your zoning and your rules,” she charged.
Castro said: “This is not about changing zoning laws, planning laws or anything like that.” He called the new requirements a “tool” for local communities to do what they already are obligated to do better.
“I wish I had this tool when I was mayor,” said Castro, who was mayor of San Antonio, Texas before he was appointed secretary of HUD in 2014. “We want to ensure that local communities have the tools to assess the landscape of housing in their area, where the investments are, where the affordable housing opportunities are,” he said.
But Gosar is concerned that the feds would force local officials to plot out significant changes to their communities, as a requirement for grant money.
In order to get the money, he said, “you have to give them the plan and ask for a sign-off. These rules are put into place to manipulate the way America looks.”
Critics point to the case of Westchester County, N.Y., which has been locked in a battle with HUD since it settled in a lawsuit brought by the nonprofit Anti-Discrimination Center over the county’s lack of affordable housing units. The 2009 settlement, which HUD helped broker with the Justice Department, mandated the affluent county spend $50 million of its own money to build units, most of which would be in predominantly white neighborhoods. The county and HUD have been arguing ever since over compliance, with Westchester claiming HUD has been changing the rules along the way. As a result, HUD has repeatedly withheld annual funding from the county.
But Goldberg said this is the way it works — jurisdictions aren’t forced to comply with the law, but they won’t get federal grants if they don’t. “The law says if you are getting funds you have to show that you are affirmatively furthering fair housing,” she said, noting it was designed that way to better the quality of life for all Americans, not just the ones who can afford to live in affluent neighborhoods. Segregation by race and poverty traps families in dead-end, often unhealthy circumstances, Goldberg added.
“We know that the more inclusive the neighborhoods are, the more robust your economy, the better the schools are, the jobs.”
This should be directed at the local level, not from Washington, Gosar said. He has introduced a stand-alone bill that would block the rule from reaching fruition. For now, it is up to the Senate if it wants to carve it out of their own HUD spending bill.
“Once again,” he said, “it’s an overreach on our liberties to live and work and move to wherever we want.”
Just think about what takes place while you are worrying about paying your mortgage or if your sons and daughters will be sent to fight a no-win war. . . the liberals are busy at work leveling the playing field. There is a lot more to this story than appears on the surface. It is only a small piece of the total effort to eliminate the middle class. Stir your memories and look for commonality:
Common core dumbed- down education mandate
Pope and other religious leaders pushing for ecumenism
Climate change treated as a mandate
Sweden and Denmark move to eliminate cash
Terms like multi-lateralism and sustainability have become formulaic catch phrases to massage sheeple into the one world system
Biblical standards marginalized and excoriated
Merging of services, government agencies, and blurring of boundaries
There is no profit in belaboring this idea. Those who wish to be aware, are already aware. Those who are content to sit and passively accept the take over, are welcome to it. The blame for this, lies squarely in the pulpits of churches whose shepherds have herded their flocks straight into the New World Order. I have heard with my own ears, more than one pastor who proudly proclaims he will not preach on prophecy – because it is too controversial. Well, that is dropping the ball in a big way, especially since the Bible itself, is at a bare minimum – 40% prophecy. That means in conservative terms, you are missing almost half of the Bible. Is that OK with you? If Rick Warren is America’s pastor – we are in serious trouble – right now.
The Vine Vigil urges everyone to get out of their Cotton Candy churches, and find a fundamental, King James only church. Do you truly want to be sitting in a luke-warm, Laodicean church when the Lord calls us home? How will you answer the Lord about why you stayed in that worldly church? Your pastor should be speaking out about things going on in the world. If he isn’t – he is a weak coward and not following the pattern for shepherding which is Divinely recorded for us in the New Testament. I found my church by making phone calls, and visiting. It is definitely not the church that is closest for me to drive to, but it is by far the church that is closet to my Bible.
When I was in Catholic school decades ago, I was given religion class in one room (not Bible study!) and then science class in another room. All through my education, some form of Haeckel’s Embyro’s made their appearance in text books and wall charts.
I remember this one vividly, due to the argument I got into with the nun who was teaching this blasphemy to us. Replying to my objection that these drawings made no sense – she said it was just something we had to accept, even if our Bible stories said that God created the earth and everything in it in six days.
If you are of African descent, you should find this particularly offensive. This image was in my father’s high school science book. It is yet more of Haeckel’s artistic interpretations.
Here is another one. These images have been presented in school books for over 100 years! If you think they no longer are – think again. Here is a link to an excellent article, documenting the exact textbooks that still contain this garbage. You will be shocked.
Excerpt from article. . .
Textbook VIII. Michael Padilla et al., Focus on Life Science: California Edition (Prentice Hall, 2001), pg. 372:
Analysis:(1) The text uses a graphic which is essentially a colorized adaptation of Haeckel’s original drawings, and it obscures the differences between early embryos just as much as Haeckel did.
All I can say is that the editors and publishers of these materials must be demonic, to knowingly indoctrinate our children in this way. Educators are fully aware that imagery such as this becomes a permanent part of a person’s psyche, and are not easily dislodged. As the old saying goes – “what has been seen, can not be unseen.”
The same effort is being made to form young people’s world view to accept every morally aberrant behavior known to man. What is being done is conditioning, and it is done with incessant fervor.
In this article by Al Mohler [president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary] he covers how the Hegelian Dialectic [though not identifying it as such] has effectively been used to disarm and deflate the Christians and Conservatives in America [and throughout the world] so that a battle was won without a shot ever being fired.
Thursday • June 3, 2004
After the Ball–Why the Homosexual Movement Has Won
The spectacular success of the homosexual movement stands as one of the most fascinating phenomena of our time. In less than two decades, homosexuality has moved from “the love that dares not speak its name,” to the center of America’s public life. The homosexual agenda has advanced even more quickly than its most ardent proponents had expected, and social change of this magnitude demands some explanation.
A partial explanation of the homosexual movement’s success can be traced to the 1989 publication of After the Ball: How America Will Conquer Its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the 90s. Published with little fanfare, this book became the authoritative public relations manual for the homosexual agenda, and its authors presented the book as a distillation of public relations advice for the homosexual community. A look back at its pages is an occasion for understanding just how successful their plan was.
Authors Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen combined psychiatric and public relations expertise in devising their strategy. Kirk, a researcher in neuropsychiatry, and Madsen, a public relations consultant, argued that homosexuals must change their presentation to the heterosexual community if real success was to be made.
Conceiving their book as a “gay manifesto for the 1990s,” the authors called for homosexuals to repackage themselves as mainstream citizens demanding equal treatment, rather than as a promiscuous sexual minority seeking greater opportunity and influence.
Writing just as the AIDS crisis hit its greatest momentum, the authors saw the disease as an opportunity to change the public mind. “As cynical as it may seem, AIDS gives us a chance, however brief, to establish ourselves as a victimized minority legitimately deserving of America’s special protection and care,” they wrote.
Give them credit: they really did understand the operation of the public mind. Kirk and Madsen called for homosexuals to talk incessantly about homosexuality in public. “Open, frank talk makes gayness seem less furtive, alien, and sinful; more above board,” they asserted. “Constant talk builds the impression that public opinion is at least divided on the subject, and that a sizeable bloc–the most modern, up-to-date citizens–accept or even practice homosexuality.”
Nevertheless, not all talk about homosexuality is helpful. “And when we say talk about homosexuality, we mean just that. In the early stages of the campaign, the public should not be shocked and repelled by premature exposure to homosexual behavior itself. Instead, the imagery of sex per se should be downplayed, and the issue of gay rights reduced, as far as possible, to an abstract social question.”
Portraying homosexuals as victims was essential to their strategy. Offering several principles for tactical advance in their cause, the authors called upon homosexuals to “portray gays as victims of circumstance and depression, not as aggressive challengers.” This would be necessary, they argued, because “gays must be portrayed as victims in need of protection so that straights will be inclined by reflex to adopt the role of protector.”
Such a strategy could, they asserted, lead to something like a “conversion” of the public mind on the question of homosexuality. “The purpose of victim imagery is to make straights feel very uncomfortable; that is, to jam with shame the self-righteous pride that would ordinarily accompany and reward their antigay belligerence, and to lay groundwork for the process of conversion by helping straights identify with gays and sympathize with their underdog status.”
Obviously, this would mean marginalizing some members of the homosexual community. Kirk and Madsen were bold to advise a mainstreaming of the homosexual image. “In practical terms, this means that cocky mustachioed leather-men, drag queens, and bull dykes would not appear in gay commercials and other public presentations. Conventional young people, middle-age women, and older folks of all races would be featured, not to mention the parents and straight friends of gays.” Furthermore, “It cannot go without saying, incidentally, that groups on the farthest margins of acceptability, such as NAMBLA [North American Man-Boy Love Association], must play no part at all in such a campaign. Suspected child molesters will never look like victims.”
What about the origin of sexual orientation? The success of the homosexual movement can be largely traced to the very idea of “orientation” itself. More precisely, homosexuals advanced their cause by arguing that they were born that way. Madsen and Kirk offer this as candid public relations advice. “We argue that, for all practical purposes, gays should be considered to have been born gay–even though sexual orientation, for most humans, seems to be the product of a complex interaction between innate predispositions and environmental factors during childhood and early adolescence.” Alas, “To suggest in public that homosexuality might be chosen is to open the can of worms labeled ‘moral choices and sin’ and give the religious intransigents a stick to beat us with. Straights must be taught that it is as natural for some persons to be homosexual as it is for others to be heterosexual: wickedness and seduction have nothing to do with it.”
There can be no doubt that Christianity represents the greatest obstacle to the normalization of homosexual behavior. It cannot be otherwise, because of the clear biblical teachings concerning the inherent sinfulness of homosexuality in all forms, and the normativity of heterosexual marriage. In order to counter this obstacle, Kirk and Madsen advised gays to “use talk to muddy the moral waters, that is, to undercut the rationalizations that ‘justify’ religious bigotry and to jam some of its psychic rewards.” How can this be done? “This entails publicizing support by moderate churches and raising serious theological objections to conservative biblical teachings. It also means exposing the inconsistency and hatred underlying antigay doctrines.”
Conservative churches, defined by the authors as “homohating” are portrayed as “antiquated backwaters, badly out of step with the times and with the latest findings of psychology.”
A quick review of the last 15 years demonstrates the incredible effectiveness of this public relations advice. The agenda set out by Kirk and Madsen led to nothing less than social transformation. By portraying themselves as mainstream Americans seeking nothing but liberty and self-fulfillment, homosexuals redefined the moral equation. Issues of right and wrong were isolated as outdated, repressive, and culturally embarrassing. Instead, the assertion of “rights” became the hallmark of the public relations strategy.
Other principles offered by the authors included making gays look good by identifying strategic historical figures as being hidden homosexuals, and, on the other hand, making “victimizers” look bad in the public eye. Kirk and Madsen suggested isolating conservative Christians by presenting them as “hysterical backwoods preachers, drooling with hate to a degree that looks both comical and deranged.” They offered a concrete example of how this strategy could be used on television and in print. “For example, for several seconds an unctuous beady-eyed Southern preacher is shown pounding the pulpit in rage against ‘those perverted, abominable creatures.’” While his tirade continues over the soundtrack, the picture switches to heart-rending photos of badly beaten persons, or of gays who look decent, harmless, and likeable; and then we cut back to the poisonous face of the preacher. The contrast speaks for itself. The effect is devastating.”
Public relations is now a major part of the American economy, with hundreds of millions of dollars poured into advertising strategies and image enhancement programs. Observers of the public relations world must look back with slack-jawed amazement at the phenomenal success of the approach undertaken by homosexuals over the last two decades. The advice offered by Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen is nothing less than a manifesto for moral revolution. A look back at this strategy indicates just how self-consciously the homosexual movement advanced its cause by following this plan.
Those who oppose the normalization of homosexuality have indeed been presented as backwoods, antiquated, and dangerous people, while those advancing the cause are presented as forces for light, progress, and acceptance. Conservative Christians have indeed been presented as proponents of hatred rather than as individuals driven by biblical conviction. The unprecedented success of this public relations strategy helps to explain why America has accepted everything from homosexual characters and plotlines in prime-time entertainment to the lack of outrage in response to same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.
At least we know what we are up against. Biblical Christians must continue to talk about right and wrong even when the larger world dismisses morality as an outdated concept. We must maintain marriage as a non-negotiable norm–a union of a man and a woman–even when the courts redefine marriage by fiat. At the same time, we must take into account the transformation of the American mind that is now so devastatingly evident to all who have eyes to see.
The real tragedy of After the Ball is that the great result of this is not a party, but the complete rejection of the very moral foundations which made this society possible. In order to address the most fundamental problems, we must understand the shape of the American mind. Looking back at After the Ball after fifteen years, it all comes into frightening focus.
Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr. serves as president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary – the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention and one of the largest seminaries in the world.
If you own and watch television, you have been subjected to the Dialectic. If you read a newspaper, internet, listen to radio, or have attended government grade schools and institutes of higher learning, [sarc] you have been subjected to the Dialectic. In most large corporations, hirelings are indoctrinated with the Dialectic. In “seeker-friendly” churches and “Purpose Driven” churches, the Dialectic takes precedence over the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Hegelian dialectic is the framework for guiding our thoughts and actions into conflicts that lead us to a predetermined solution. If we do not understand how the Hegelian dialectic shapes our perceptions of the world, then we do not know how we are helping to implement the vision. When we remain locked into dialectical thinking, we cannot see out of the box.
Make no mistake about it – the Dialectic is diabolical. And so is its instigator. His methods have NEVER changed, and the progression of sin is always the same.
Belief in a lie
Pride
Rebellion
The evil one still lies today, and people listen to him and turn from the truth.
2 Corinthians 11:3
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
We never rebel against God unless we first believe a lie. And it is usually a lie about ourselves. Once we believe a lie about ourselves, pride takes over, and rebellion against God and His authority ensue.
“Everybody’s doing it!”
“It feels good to do it!”
“Life is so unfair!”
“I know more than my {parents, boss, teacher, pastor…}!”
“Those values/music/Bibles are so old fashioned!”
“I am more beautiful/attractive than _____!”
“I am more talented than ______!”
The doctrine of Satan is ridiculed by the world. He is portrayed as wearing a red suit, smelling of brimstone, and even holding a pitchfork! That is not how the Word of God describes him. In 2 Corinthians 11:14, he is called an”angel of light.” And in 4:4, he is called the “god of this world.” Ephesians 2:2 he is the “prince of the power of the air.” Well – this new FOX television series is proof enough of that! And the following linked article should quell any doubts about the true purpose of the FOX networks – including the news branch.
(NaturalNews) The more subtle side of satanism in Hollywood entertainment is now a thing of the past, as primetime television airs blatantly evil shows like the upcoming Fox drama Lucifer, which glorifies the goings about of the “lord of hell” after he fictitiously leaves the lake of fire and retires to Los Angeles.
The premise behind the absurd drama, which is set to release in 2016, centers around so-called “Lucifer Morningstar” and his new life as the owner of Lux, an upscale nightclub located in the City of Angels.
A trailer for the show portrays Lucifer as a handsome, British-accented, well-to-do ladykiller full of charm and wit.
This is the image most people, and especially Roman Catholics, are familiar with. 100% repellent. Sometimes on the cute side, as a “little devil,” other times menacing and hideous.
Through the use of the Dialectic, here is the Satan of today. Attractive, charming, and even – moral. Someone that you might be interested in getting to know. He’s not evil – he’s edgy! What could be more appealing? In the same way Satan has been repackaged for today’s fleshly crowd, so has the Bible, the preachers, and the church of today – Laodicea.
Revelation 3:13-15
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
We truly are living in the last days. Do you see where this all leads? First the idea is introduced into popular culture for conditioning of the masses. Does anyone recall the ridiculous “Uncle Arthur” on the 60’s Tv show – “Bewitched?”
He was the penultimate funny “gay guy.” He wore a neck scarf and had homosexual affectations, yet he was appealing because he was so funny. The TV consumer, lets down their guard and the Dialectic has done its job. Now, we are faced with the worst perversions known to mankind being “normalized” into our society. Decades of “funny gay guys” leads to not so funny sodomites parading their sin down the streets of our cities.
I’m not laughing now – are you? I hope you can see how the Dialectic progresses, and how we got to where we are now.
Like a chameleon, John Kerry, our Secretary of State, has now interpreted Scripture – first for a Muslim audience at the State Department’s “Iftar” dinner, where he said:
“For many of us, respect for God’s creation in almost every scripture really demands and translates into a duty to protect and sustain God’s first creation,” said Kerry. “Our response to climate change ought to be rooted in a fundamental sense of shared stewardship of the earth that emerges from that tradition.”
Mr. Kerry/Kohen – when you say “God” – to whom are you referring? Allah is not YHWH! Allah=Baal. And you dare to place the Word of God – the Holy Bible, on the same footing as the Koran?
And for the pseudo Christians at the State Department’s Office of Faith-Based Community Initiatives (code for Agenda 21) he offered this meandering tripe:
“I’m convinced that all of you will agree,” said Kerry, “that one of the toughest challenges that we face in terms of global diplomacy and relationships around the world between peoples nowadays, from sectarian strife to the challenges of many intractable, frozen conflicts, to the challenges of simply understanding people–one people to another–or even monumental challenges like the sectarian strife that we see tearing countries and regions apart, as well as the enormous challenges of things like global climate change, which really is a challenge to our responsibilities as the guardians–safe guarders of God’s creation.”
If you’re old enough to remember when fear of Communism was the proferred method of intimidating and controlling the masses, you should be able to recognize the latest instruments of “correction.” Since the Berlin wall came down in 1989, the PTB were forced to come up with an all new mechanism for mastery. Or is it new?
Now the yoke of “climate control,” is placed on our proverbial necks, headed up by luminaries from every Christian denomination – http://christiansandclimate.org/signatories/and I suggest to you – that it is not different – Communism and Climate Control are ideologically the same. Ingenious, really, but considering who (his name starts with L.) is behind it, one could hardly be surprised. It truly is the perfect crime – wherein the victims (us) are led to believe that the perpetrators are doing us a favor, through the wholesale destruction of industrialization and capitalism under the glossy, plumped-up image of saving the environment. Lovely.
Guess who is public enemy #1 now? Humanity. In the view of the elites, the useless eaters are destroying their beautiful world. How Mr. Kerry must tingle inside when he speaks of caring for “God’s creation.” In his view, God only created trees and oceans, etc. God did not create the unborn that are being sacrificed on the altar of Baal as I write this.
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If you are feeling anxious about things that are happening in the world today, the Lord wants you to know, that all these things are a sign of His soon return. Those that have trusted their futures to Him, do not have any of those kinds of worries, because He has promised them a better, brighter future. A future where there is no war, poverty, or strife.
Jesus said, “I tell you. . .except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3,5 Repentance is an act of deep sorrow for one’s sins, of turning from your sin – towards Jesus.
From your heart, call out to Him. Tell him – “I know I’m a sinner. Please, please forgive me. I believe, Jesus, that You took all the punishment for everything I’ve done, everything. I believe that You died for me. Please, Jesus, please come into my heart. I thank You and praise You for this wonderful gift of salvation. Thank You. Amen.”
The words themselves are not a magical formula. If you are truly repentant, and with all sincerity, from the bottom of your soul, you desire Jesus, God will save you today!
Under His wings I am safely abiding, Though the night deepens and tempests are wild, Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me, He has redeemed me, and I am His child.
Refrain
Under His wings, under His wings, Who from His love can sever? Under His wings my soul shall abide, Safely abide forever.
Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow! How the heart yearningly turns to His rest! Often when earth has no balm for my healing, There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.
Refrain
Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment! There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er; Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me, Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.
Refrain
If $100,000 was your whole life savings, would you give every penny of it to someone in need? William O. Cushing did something like that. In the nineteenth century, when $1,000 was a lot of money, he gave his entire life savings to pay for the education of a blind girl.
That is not what he is remembered for, however. His fame is as a hymnwriter. One of his earliest hymns was the song, “When He Cometh,” which compared Christians to jewels whom Christ would gather when he came. Other notable hymns were written after he had experienced great grief and loss. But that is getting ahead of the story.
William Orcutt Cushing was born in Hingham, Massachusetts on this date, December 31, 1823. His parents raised him as a Universalist, but by reading the Bible for himself as a teenager, he became an orthodox believer. At eighteen he was convinced the Lord wanted him to become a minister and he trained for it.
His first pastorate was at Searsburg, New York. There he met and married Rena Proper in 1854 (which was also the year he wrote “When He Cometh”). After that he served in Auburn, Brooklyn, Buffalo and Sparta, New York. With the decline of his wife’s health, William returned with her to Searsburg where she died in 1870.
After that, “creeping paralysis” stole his voice and prevented him from preaching any longer. He pleaded with the Lord to allow him to continue to serve in some capacity.
His prayer was granted. He wrote over 300 hymns. Some of these are still beloved by the church. “Follow on” was written in 1878 to a tune by Robert Lowry. “Follow, follow, I will follow Jesus; anywhere, everywhere…” it promises. “Under His Wings,” printed and sung by Ira Sankey, sprang out of Cushing’s personal suffering and was suggested by Psalm 17:8, “Hide me under the shadow of your wings.” Another of his famous hymns “Ring the Bells of Heaven” was written before his deep troubles had descended upon him. Composer George F. Root had sent him the tune. Cushing felt it needed joyful words and mused on it all day before the words came to him.
In keeping with the theme of service and stewardship from the Friday Proverb and Bible Study, this hymn is dedicated to surrendering our wills to the service and glory of our Savior.
It may not be on the mountain’s height, or over the stormy sea; It may not be at the battle’s front my Lord will have need of me; But if by a still, small voice He calls to paths I do not know, I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in Yours, I’ll go where You want me to go.
Refrain
I’ll go where You want me to go, dear Lord, O’er mountain, or plain, or sea; I’ll say what You want me to say, dear Lord, I’ll be what You want me to be.
Perhaps today there are loving words which Jesus would have me speak; There may be now, in the paths of sin, some wand’rer whom I should seek. O Savior, if You will be my Guide, though dark and rugged the way, My voice shall echo the message sweet, I’ll say what You want me to say.
Refrain
There’s surely somewhere a lowly place in earth’s harvest fields so wide, Where I may labor through life’s short day for Jesus, the Crucified. So, trusting my all unto Your care, I know You always love me! I’ll do Your will with a heart sincere, I’ll be what You want me to be.
Refrain
Words: Mary Brown, in Our Best Endeavor (Silver Burdett & Company: 1892) (verse 1), and Charles E. Prior (verses 2-3). The original title was “Go Stand and Speak,” with music by Prior.
This well-known missionary and consecration hymn was adopted by a class of over a hundred missionary nurses at the Battle Creek (Michigan) Sanitarium as their class hymn. Every Sunday afternoon they would gather for a social meeting and always sing [it]…In this class were students from nearly every State of the Union, from Australia, South Africa, South America, Bulgaria, Armenia, and nearly all the European countries. At the close of the course they agreed that after they had parted and gone to their different fields, they would sing this hymn every Sunday as they had done during their happy class-days.
Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr. serves as president of 
The Vine Vigil 
