Weaponized

Now that the internet has been weaponized by Russia…I’m in the beginning stages of signing off forever.  Hello TV again?   Well, that just depends on the integrity of that format.  If it becomes obviously compromised, I’m moving to the little house on the prairie minus commercials.  I’m quick on the mute button.

What I loved about the internet was the information it provided.  It was like having the encyclopedia Britannica (and much more) constantly updated and on hand at all times.  Now that that ‘encyclopedia’ has been corrupted beyond measure, and will be corrupted further without fail, I am looking elsewhere for facts.   Russia is one actor that has successfully undermined the accuracy of the internet in hopes of undermining democracy, in an attempt at destroying the USA and its allies.  Indeed, information warfare is as dangerous as anything relating to nuclear and should be defensively responded to in like fashion.  Whether you destroy a nation with lies and deception and manipulation, or with a nuclear bomb, that nation is still destroyed.  

Hopefully ,the alarm just went off.  Time to wake up and do what is necessary or be complicit in the fate of the world as we know it.  Can it be worse?  YES, a billion times worse.  Remember, the devil is a liar, and the author of lies (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yck7gb_qdDI ) .  

John 8:44… You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

How's that working for you?

I can’t count the times that I have wished that Paul or one of the other new testament writers would have spelled things out so clearly that there would never be any room for misunderstanding/misinterpretation.  I feel similarly about the creators of the constitution of the United States of America.  

We are living in an age in America where owning guns, any type of guns, no matter their deadly force, has taken on an almost religious status.  I’m certain that the creators of our constitution never intended that.  At the time of the writing of our constitution, we were a brand new country, and without proper organization could be vulnerable to attack.  At that time, our primary weapon would be hard-pressed to shoot one bullet every minute or two.  Hence, as a country, we needed a well regulated militia in every state to ensure our country was unified and safe.  We needed an adequate deterrent that showed the world that we couldn’t and wouldn’t be easily over-thrown by outside forces.  If you come after us, you do so at your own peril.  What some gun owners are forgetting is one thing…this type of deterrent needs to be WELL REGULATED.  You have to be able to work together seamlessly, even between states, otherwise you have chaos.  In reality, it seems the creators of our constitution explained it pretty well but some people MISS the obvious.  For instance, as a gun owner, are you meant to be part of a well regulated militia?   Are you part of the national guard?  Yeah…you probably aren’t.  You are much more likely to be an individual that loves your guns more than just about anything and has somehow made gun ownership part of your patriotic religion.  In case you haven’t noticed, at this point in time, we have a very well regulated/organized militia in every state, and a federal military that defines the very picture of deterrent. At the time, the creators of the constitution didn’t have the vision to know how advanced we would become when it related to weapons and their killing power.  My goodness, as we’ve mentioned, they were still using muskets!  The founding fathers just didn’t know the future.  Now people hang on words they don’t fully understand in the context they were given and then assign their own meaning to them.  Hence, in ignorance they think it’s their patriotic duty and right to buy the most devastating weapons that they can.   I’ll never believe that was our founding fathers vision.   If the founding fathers knew a time was coming when just one numbskull, one malcontent, could easily and legally purchase a weapon that could kill/wound a hundred innocent people in a moment or two, I’m most certain they would have edited whatever they were thinking of saying and said something far more limiting and defined.  Yeah, as a current/typical gun owner, are you part of a well regulated militia, or are you just someone that thinks owning the most devastating weapons on earth at this time is a fun hobby and confirms you as a patriot?

But what if some extremists out there are right?  What if it wasn't really about a militia at all?  What if the creators of the constitution, were, in actuality, so worried about their own integrity, as well as the integrity of any government official that followed, decided (under pressure - amendment) to allow the masses to be armed as a check on their own government's power?  What if they decided that allowing the masses to possess/accumulate weapons was the answer to governing the government?   Yeah, the only problem with that line of reasoning is that the constitution doesn't say that.

How’s that working for you? 

Betting on mercy...

Like Noah, I'm betting on mercy.  Unlike Noah, I'm celebrating it.  Keep up the mercy oh LORD.

What to choose?

When you tell your beloved 85 year old grandmother that they look great in their Easter outfit, that's one thing.  When you manage to rise to a high level in government and then you stand before a hundred or more cameras ready to broadcast your comments worldwide and you lie through your teeth, that's quite another thing entirely.  A whole lot of politicians stand on that precipice...a win today, but eternal destruction tomorrow?  What to choose?

Revelation 21:8..."But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

Are you watching?

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

Though nothing will stop the downward spiral,  Jesus told us to 'watch' so that we are not caught unaware.  Are you watching?

Step One..

GOD’s way is THE way.  I’m not at all sorry that we don’t get a vote. :-)  GOD is love.  GOD is light, and there in no darkness in HIM.  Any vote we might offer would be degradation.  As anyone that knows scripture would tell you, we (humans) have all fallen short of HIS glory.  There are no human beings that are truly righteous, no not one.  Our righteousness is like filthy rags (self serving).  And then here comes JESUS!  The FATHER designates Him as the way, the truth, and the life.  What does that mean?  For one, He is the only way to get to the FATHER, to access the FATHER, and ultimately, to get to heaven.  Why?, because, in HIS perfect wisdom, the FATHER said so...period, end of story.  That Bible tells us that whoever has the Son has the FATHER also.  Whoever doesn’t have the Son, though, doesn’t have the FATHER either.  Hence, the Son is essential to salvation.  Why?  Because the FATHER said so, period, end of story.  Heard of humility?  Yeah, what that means is YOU and I don’t get to decide how it works (thank GOD!).  GOD alone does.  Are you willing to humble yourself before GOD and accept HIS way of doing things?  After all, HE is love and light and has no darkness in HIM, and HE is the one in charge of how things work (thank you GOD!).  There is really only one way to eternal life…ie…JESUS.  Still, it’s your choice.  Live eternally in heaven with unspeakable joy, or throw yourself off the cliff and into the lake of fire because you’d rather rebel than be humble before the creator of the universe?  If after GOD has given you a lifetime or more of infinite opportunities to choose life, and instead, you choose death, isn’t that on your own head?  You chose death.  GOD offered you life in Jesus.  

Come one, Come all

Sometimes, I think I’ve outlived my usefulness.  A doctor once told me that if a man lives long enough, he WILL get prostate cancer.  Not might…WILL.  The point being, at least to my mind, is that when you can no longer be a participant in reproducing a healthy human being, on a natural level at least, your mission here on earth is diminished greatly.  After all, reproduction seems to be central to the purpose of life (one of GOD’s earliest commandments…be fruitful and multiply).   Hence, it’s no surprise that at about the same time that your prostate may start giving you trouble, or you start to experience hot flashes, it’s pretty likely that you aren’t far from being on blood pressure and cholesterol meds as well (if you aren’t already).  Though these, and a myriad of other drugs may buy you some time, the question becomes ‘is that time really worth buying’, and is ‘buying’ time in any way GOD’s will, or for that matter, biblical?  I’ve found nothing positive biblically supporting increasing life span beyond the natural scheme of things.  If, though, you have children, an extended close-knit family, or some great friends, your personal answer could be “it is absolutely, positively worthwhile”.  If you think that, why you think that, is the big question.  Is it because you have an over-inflated sense of your own self-value, or is it because you have a ton of unconditional love to give that you think could/would make a measureable difference in the world, or is it just for fun?  Is your motive all about giving love, is it all about giving of your time and substance because of that love?   If that is the case, you might be on the right track.  If it’s anything else, I’m not so sure.  

If communication was, in any way, at least somewhat fruitful in a measurable way in this world, then it would be worthwhile to be here from the standpoint of bringing people to Christ.  Quite frankly, though, I’m not convinced the numbers would support that hypothesis.  I’ve, personally, concluded that GOD doesn’t need me in any way whatsoever.  Hence, I don’t know why I’m here in this world as far as me making a difference.  Hence, I must be here to learn something like everyone else.  How deflating.  Will ‘any’ flawed human being make any measurable difference in the big scheme of things?   If so, I have no doubt that GOD will be the one worthy of credit, and HE could have used a donkey instead of me or you.  

Yeah…it seems obvious that humility is surely a huge component of what this life is all about.  Satan, full of himself, rebelled and was cast out of heaven along with his minions.  Humans also didn’t accept GOD’s dictate(s), rebelled, and were cast out of Eden.  When will either get back in, if at all?  Yeah…most likely, when they have a change of heart about their self importance and take on the mantle of humility and submission. What does that mean?  Accepting GOD as your authority, and, subsequently, HIS provision.  Yes, you need GOD and HIS help, and that help is all wrapped up in JESUS CHRIST.  HE’s the gift of GOD.  You will never be redeemed by your own merits.  On the other hand, the merits of JESUS will redeem you if you accept it, accept HIM.  The question becomes, are you too proud to accept the gift of life that is found in JESUS CHRIST, and in JESUS CHRIST alone?  

Yes, JESUS is the answer.  You can't even get to the FATHER, get to heaven, without going through JESUS.  The Father made JESUS the way, the truth, and the life.  You aren't any of those things.  JESUS alone was appointed that status.  Yeah...it takes humility to accept that, too.  You willing?  You there yet?  Have you seen the light?  If so, choose life, choose GOD’s provision…choose JESUS CHRIST.  HE’s the anointed one. Yeah…that means you and I aren’t.  One of the great things about JESUS is that HE’s just like HIS dad…full of grace, mercy and forgiveness.  Come one…come all.  I believe HIS arms are wide open.