Fast Tracking Dystopia

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Via FOX News –

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. 

old bible

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. 

Evil Art

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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. 

evil art

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. 

evolution of man

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. 

sjogrenhourglass

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.  

1 Peter 5:8

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. . .

How the Sodomites Won

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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. Mohler portrait speaking 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.

Click to access What%20is%20the%20Hegelian%20Dialectic.pdf

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.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/049831_Lucifer_Fox_mainstream_media.html

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.

https://thevinevigil.com/gods-plan-of-salvation/

John Kerry Commits Public Blasphemy

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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. 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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! 

redeemd

Isaiah 43:25

I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

For the Lord’s Day – Under His Wings

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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.

Cushing died in 1902 but his songs live on.

http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1801-1900/william-o-cushing-sought-to-follow-christ-11630395.html

Psalm 91:4

 He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust:

His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

For the Lord’s Day – I’ll Go Where You Want Me To Go

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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.

Sankey, pp. 163-4

Music: Car­rie E. Roun­se­fell, 1894 (MI­DI, score). She wrote the tune for these words, for use in a re­viv­al meet­ing at the Bap­tist church in Lynn, Mass­a­chu­setts.      http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/g/igowhere.htm

Romans 12:10-11

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Friday Proverb – Sluggish Workers

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I’m sure we’ve all seen it – one or two people actually working – while the vast majority are standing or sitting around doing nothing.  While it has always been sinful human nature to be lazy – certainly the death of the famous Protestant Work Ethic has elevated sluggishness to a lifestyle – perhaps even an art form. 

Proverbs 10:26

 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes,

Bitter and burning – that is what the sluggard is to employers and those in authority.  And the taste of vinegar is long lasting and memorable – as is smoke in the eyes.  Never will the sluggard be looked on in any other way, than as a sluggard or potential sluggard. 

So is the sluggard to them that send him.

Do we really want the world to see believers that way?  Think about that word – sluggard.  Not at all a pleasant image to think about.   And it is also unpleasant to recognize,  that the sluggard does not only hurt himself and the image of the church – he leaves a slime trail. 

Which means that though the sluggard is being self indulgent, he really is leaving a sticky trap behind him for others to see where he’s been,  where he is going, and where to follow. . .

There are so many behaviors that qualify as sluggish, in the church, it would be impossible to list them all here.  We could fully embrace the Lord’s perfection, and even recognize such sins as adultery and gluttony as sluggishness.  For example, the lazy spouse will seek outside relationships, or even internet pornography, rather than working on their marriage.  A sluggish body will eat copious amounts of easily obtained foods, rather than prepare healthy foods to eat – because the preparation (planning, shopping, cooking) requires effort and – work. 

We are to blame for the situations we find ourselves in.  Bad decisions are one thing – and sluggishness is its evil twin.  Let us strive to put our best foot forward – and show to the sinful, fallen world, the radiance of a Holy Spirit filled life, and reflect outwards –  the Light of the Son. 

Friday Proverb – Wisdom is Everlasting

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proverbs

After a thorough examination of the immoralities connected to our flesh, we move to delve into the wonders of godly wisdom. 

Proverbs 8:1-5

8 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

A cynic would respond to this by saying they do not see or hear  wisdom anywhere.  They only see and hear the evil doings of men.  We would wonder then, at the hardness of the cynic’s heart.  The majesty of God and His natural world is available to anyone, anywhere.  To be oblivious to His work is to be lost. 

wisdom in the Word

6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

Godly wisdom can never be false – it is His truth out of our mouths and actions.  Godly wisdom will never be unruly, or ignorant.

rubies

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

sparrows

17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

Oh you prosperity preachers – shame!  The riches of the Lord are never material!!!!

Laodicean Church

Friday Proverb – The Wiles of a Harlot

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proverbs

Proverbs 7:1-5

7 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.

2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:

5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

harlot

6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,

7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,

8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,

9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:

10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

Although the dressings have changed – the behavior of people has not.  What Solomon advises his son, still applies today.  “The attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart,” could describe millions of immoral women in the world today.  They are everywhere now – so much to the point that a man, young or old, would have to put his eyes out to avoid seeing them! 

major loser

11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)

13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,

14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.

15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.

19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:

20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.

the eye

This immoral woman is married!  And even admits to the foolish fellow with the wandering eye that her husband has taken money with him and won’t be home. 

21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

O dear lord – how many are seduced by flattery?

caught by a harlot

22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;

23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.

How do the wiles of harlot entrap men now?  How about internet porn?  “Adult” entertainment?  Television?  Cheer leaders?  Office flirtations?  Beaches? Malls? Magazines?  Just walking down the street?  Church????  Is there any escape? 

church, flag and bible

24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.

26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

The LORD will always provide you with a way out of temptation.  The best thing to do is avoid it – entirely.  If you can not  look without lusting – DO NOT LOOK!!!!  Even if you have to throw out your television!  Avert your eyes, and your heart will be safer.  I know this is easier said than done, but it can be done. 

1 Thessalonians 5:23

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Friday Proverb – More Warnings Against Adultery

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proverbs

Proverbs 6:20-35

20 My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

Instruction from godly parents is to be integral to the young Christian.  Holding tightly to such counsel, will be a boon to resisting the world, the flesh, and the devil!

major loser

23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

26 For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adultress will hunt for the precious life.

Often people blame the man in instances of adultery.  Certainly – in cases where the female is underage, he is 100% responsible.  But – in the sin of two adults – both are responsible.  Women who pursue married men are considered whores in the Bible.  Not long ago in our culture – women who did such things were called home-wreckers.  Now they are glorified in the media,  and money is thrown at them for their evil doings.

the eye

27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

The Proverb summarizes in the next six verse, by comparing adultery to stealing bread.  If one steals because he is starving, it is more easily forgiven.  If one steals when one has plenty – it is deserving of revenge.

30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

Why is fidelity in marriage stressed over and over again in the Bible?  Because the marriage between one man and one women is God ordained, and is intended to picture the relationship between Christ and His church. 

rapture23

Isaiah 61:10

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Friday Proverb – Seven Deadly Sins

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Last Friday, we studied that falsehood  can ruin our lives.  The next passage of Proverbs is so dramatic and intense, that it has received the Hollywood treatment, being featured in a movie, a television series, and  a four part mini-series. 

These six things doth the lord hate;  yea, seven are an abomination unto him.  

abomination = a person or thing that is disgusting; an action that is vicious, vile, etc.; intense loathing

Sin is a very, very, serious offense against God. 

A proud look

 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

a lying tongue

A lying tongue

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and hands that shed innocent blood.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

the wrong path

feet that be swift in running to mischief.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

a false witness that speaketh lies.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

and he that soweth discord among the brethren. 

Proverbs 6:16-19

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

All sin is wicked in God’s sight.  Humans tend to “categorize” sin by making relative comparisons.  In man’s eyes, lying is not as serious of a sin as murder is – but this famous Proverb proves that lying is an abomination to The LORD.  Even the “smallest” sin will keep a person out of heaven.  That means, even our “little white lies,” and gossiping had to be placed on Jesus Christ at Calvary.  We all need to embrace God’s perspective of sin, and completely eliminate man’s perspective. 

God treats all sin very seriously.

Friday Proverb – Warning Against Falsehood

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Last week the lesson from the Word was a cautionary against idleness.  Today, another warning – against falsehood – which is the sin most Christians overlook within themselves, while being quick to point it out in others. 

scheming

Proverbs 6:12-13

King James Version (KJV)

12 A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.

froward = habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition

13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;

gossiping

A direct gaze, without averting the eyes has long been considered a way of detecting honesty in a person.  The Proverb is saying here that  darting eyes, excessive blinking, and rapid hand gestures are all indicative of a dishonest person. 

14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

Truly – this must be the greatest trouble in the Body of Christ.  It is tragic that so many false converts are within the fold – but it is a fact that must be faced.  How could anyone professing the Name of Christ be “devising mischief continually?”  The LORD sees everything – and those that do these things will not go unpunished.

15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

While we may sometimes wonder how evil people seem to prosper – (how do they get away with it?) we can see from this Proverb that the judgement for these offenses will come as a shock to the unrepentant – and without a cure. 

calamity

2 Chronicles 36:16

King James Version (KJV)

But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.

Hints for Home Schoolers – The Rest of the Day

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The third installment will address the third part of the day. By dividing your day into small but defined segments – you will feel less overwhelmed, and have a series of small successes each day! And really, each small success is a huge triumph, when you consider that you are doing a woman’s most important work – raising Godly children for His honor and glory.

swans

Now that free time is over, if you have older children – they will still be working in required subjects. Various state laws sometimes require that home schools be in session for the same amount of hours that public schools are. Most home schoolers find a way to comply, without chaining their teens and preteens to a desk all day. My kids were in a self directed program for middle and high school, which only required my supervision, not direct teaching.

11. Attend to any remaining subjects after lunch. For us, this was time for history, science and supplemental subjects like health, art and music.

12. Depending on how many kids you have – this could take 1 – 2 hours altogether, with very short breaks.

13. By around 2:30, even the older kids should be finished with everything except what we term as “seatwork.”

14. We would all have a light snack between 2:30 – 3:00.

15. From 3:00 – 5:00 is complete free time. Even for mom. Time to sew, garden, play piano, or – take a nap! Many times we all hit the family room with our afghans and snoozed for varying lengths of time, depending on age. Sometimes a teenager needs a nap more than a toddler! And – because dinner was always in the crock pot, this was very, very stress reducing.

16. Twice a week, during the afternoon free time period, was an outing. One was a necessary grocery shopping trip. The other was for a weekly field trip. This consisted of driving to the library, or park. We varied parks, so there was plenty of free diversion. Even in winter, we loaded sleds into the vehicle and spent a lot of time outdoors.

17. By this time – everyone is ravenous – and the wonderful smell coming from the crock pot is enough to send up a cheer from everyone!

18. After dinner and clean-up, is what I like to call “quiet time.” Quiet playing, reading and studying. Teenagers will have a lot of written work to satisfy diploma requirements. Immediately after dinner was the best time to finish copious amounts of high school work. This is not the time for younger children to be screaming and running around the house. It would be a very good time however, for reading library books, or watching videos. I have very strong objections to exposing kids of any age to television as it is now. There are many options – such as DVDs from the library, or something like Netflix, which gives you complete control.

19. Younger ones gets baths around 7:00 – 8:00. Then, I don’t know about yours – but mine always had to run around after baths! Every night. (usually wanting to be chased ) And, of course, a bed-time snack.

20. After everything settles down, I make dinner in the crock pot for the next day, and put it in the fridge to start in the morning.

Yes, bread machine. Another home school helper extraordinaire. Saves tons of money, especially if you want your family to have pure food. And yes, I load this up at the same time as the crock pot, and set the delay timer. You can not imagine how easy it is to get your family dressed, washed-up, and to the breakfast table when there is the aroma of hot cinnamon raisin bread calling to them.

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Proverbs 31:28

A Lamp in the Dark

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Wonderful history of how the Lord preserved His Word for us.  Longish video, can be watched in segments.  Many have seen this movie, including the Jesuits, who produced their own “expose” of this in- depth and reverent telling of the saga.  Highly recommended.  Worth watching again and again. 

Click “watch on youtube” to watch this documentary!

Psalm 119:159-160

159 Consider how I love Thy precepts: quicken me, O Lord, according to Thy lovingkindness.

160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of Thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

Video – The Real Historical Patrick

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Uploaded to youbtube by ChristianVoice Editor

Please visit Richard Bennet’s website here – http://bereanbeacon.org/en/

posted by sage

Video – Journey to the Edge of Creation: The Milky Way and Beyond

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Please enjoy this full screen with your family!

Uploaded to youtube by ages777

Psalm 33:6

 By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.

Rock Music is Satanic

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!!! strong caution – adult viewing only !!!

 Rock and jazz beats have no place in the worship of our Creator.   Any move to place electric instruments and/or drums in your church indicates that your church has already been compromised.  Run – don’t walk – out of that church.

syncopation

In syncopation, the beat that is normally weak, is heavily stressed. It is also known as the “back-beat” in pop and rock music. It causes the left brain (emotional) to respond, and causes the heart to attempt to match the back-beat.

More on this later. . .

Christian Theater – Prior Claim

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Wonderful Moody Science video, beautiful cinematography, completely reverent.  Enjoy full screen!

Isaiah 37:16

O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, Thou art the God, even Thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: Thou hast made heaven and earth.

Christian Theater – The Hiding Place

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Please enjoy this wonderful true story, about two Dutch Christian sisters, Corrie and Betsy Ten Boom, placed  in a Nazi concentration camp for helping Jews escape during World War II.   One word – incredible. 

sage

Counting Down…..the Last Days…..

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It’s hard to not see that we are living in very unique times. When has there ever been such globalization and convergence of disasters and societal, monetary and political maneuverings? This doesn’t take any of us who are students of and believers of God’s word. We have been watching for this time in history. Pastor […]

Counting Down…..the Last Days…..