Simplicity

First off, let’s face facts, we all need a savior. We’ve done nothing in our entire lives that qualifies any of us to inherit eternal life with unspeakable joy/bliss in the presence of the most holy and righteous eternal GOD…the creator of the universe and everything in it (and more)…period. Right? If any of us think we have, I’d love to know what it is you think you’ve done that qualifies you for such a valuable prize? Yeah, by our works, there is no way whatsoever we deserve much more than punishment/destruction. If we take the good we’ve done, and subtract all the crap (there’s a ton of it whether you know it or not), I suspect that any of us will have a deficit beyond what the USA does…and that’s substantial to say the least. So we all need some help if we are to have any chance of redemption. We are on the way to prison, or destruction, or worse! Who could possibly bail us out, pay our debt, and for that matter, why would they? Well, no typical human being would be able to pay our debt, that’s for sure. Very special arrangements would have to be made, but why would anyone bother? Now that’s a great question! Why would they? The answer to that is because they possess unimaginable mercy, love, generosity, forgiveness, and goodness! Yeah…it’s all those and much, much more. Remember, GOD IS LOVE! From the beginning HE devised and implemented a plan. Let’s prepare a sacrifice that is worth so much that this sacrifice alone can pay the outstanding debt for all the sin that has taken place. Guess who that sacrifice was? Yeah, that would be JESUS. Unlike the rest of us, He lived a sinless life…even though he was tempted just like the rest of us. Well, actually, I think He was tempted far more than any of us have been. Satan wanted Him to fail so badly, and tempted Him with tests and promises that you and I have NEVER had to deal with. Unlike the rest of us, Jesus stayed true to the will of His Father. He didn’t bend, He didn’t compromise, and He didn’t fail. Our lives hung in the balance. He chose US and the will of His Father over everything else. There’s only one thing you can do to fail. Reject it. Reject the grace and mercy and love of the only true GOD and the means by which HE accomplished this task…who is CHRIST JESUS THE LORD. He’s the free gift of eternal life with unspeakable joy for eternity! The only requirement? ACCEPT HIM!

Mark 14:65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him.

Mark 15:19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spat on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him.

Matthew 26:67-68 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?"

Luke 22:63-65 ¶ The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit you?"  And they said many other insulting things to him.

Luke 23:33-34 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.  Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

1 Peter 2:22-25 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."  When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.  He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.  For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Who are we to condemn anyone?

In Christianity, there’s this whole ‘condemn not’ thing. It’s there for a reason. We’ve all heard the old adage, if you haven’t walked a mile in their shoes, you are in no position to judge. Imo, this is a wise adage. Who knows what any of us would be if our initial circumstances would have been different? If you had been born into a different family, would you be the exact same person you are today? Of course you wouldn’t. Very likely, all of your influences would be different, and many of your experiences would be different as well. Because of our ignorance, we have to trust GOD’s judgment in these areas. If GOD chooses to forgive, are we in any position to argue that? Of course we aren’t. GOD knows all the circumstances, we don’t. Depending on our upbringing, it IS possible that we can discern (biblically) right from wrong. That doesn’t mean we can condemn anyone. Every one of us have sinned, even those of us that knew that what we were doing WAS sin. You’ve lied…right? Did you know that lying was wrong? Ever steal anything? Did you know that was wrong? The OT law is interesting. If you sinned in any area, you failed…you did not gain eternal life through the law if you failed in any area….period…end of story. It didn’t matter in what area you failed. You could only earn eternal life via the ‘law’ by never failing, never sinning. It was a win or lose proposition. Everyone lost. The law, itself, that offered eternal life, was the same law that put you to death. And then came CHRIST. HE put to death the law…and gave life. That life was in HIM…as HE was the only one that lived a sinless life. He created an ‘ark’ of sorts. By your own merits, you don’t qualify for eternal life. CHRIST qualified us. The only thing that we really have to do….ACCEPT THAT….ACCEPT HIM…ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST….ACCEPT GOD’S FREE GIFT. JUST HUMBLE YOURSELF ENOUGH TO ACCEPT GOD’S MERCY AND GRACE THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS. That’s it…that’s all you have to do. The rest is up to GOD.

How can you be sure?

Is there a way to tell if you are part of the great falling away?

Well, let’s ask a few questions and you be the judge.

Do you believe that in the beginning GOD, a spiritual being, designed and created the heavens and the earth?

Do you believe that there was a literal ‘garden of eden’, that there was a literal Adam and Eve, and that GOD literally created them?

Do you believe the story of Noah and the ark is literal, true, and not some sort of metaphor?

Do you believe that the very beginning of wisdom is the fear of GOD?

Do you believe that Jonah was literally swallowed by a whale and lived to tell about it?

Do you believe that Jesus was literally born of the virgin Mary?

Do you believe Jesus was crucified, died, “that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”?

Do you believe that there is no way to the Father except through Jesus? That Jesus IS the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him? That there is salvation in no other name under heaven?

Do you believe in the literal being ‘satan’?

Do you still believe that homosexuality is morally wrong?

Do you believe that in a Christian marriage, the man is still the designated head of the family and that the wife is to be in submission to her husband, that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man?

Do you still believe that women are not to teach or have authority in the ‘church’?

This is a rudimentary list, but if you answer NO to any of these fundamental questions, then, indeed, you may well be part of, or ‘positioned’ to be part of the great falling away.  imo, if you undermine any clear teaching in scripture, you [potentially] undermine them all.  What do you think?

…and there you have it?

To serve in the US Military:

Eligibility rules can be a little confusing. There are different rules for enlisting and for officer programs. 
Enlisting: Enlisted members do the hands-on work of the military. They need at least a high school degree (a GED may or may not suffice). 
Officer: Officers are the managers of the military. Most officer programs require a college degree at minimum, and are very competitive. Many officers have master's or higher degrees.
Before you visit your local recruiter, be sure you meet the minimum qualifications for serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Some qualifications are required by all five services:

· You must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien.

· You must be at least 17 years old (17-year old applicants require parental consent).

· You must (with very few exceptions) have a high school diploma.

· You must pass a physical medical exam.

For each branch, there are slightly different enlistment requirements:

To join the...	You must:
Air Force	· Be between the ages of 17-27. * · Have no more than two dependents. · Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude test. (Minimum AFQT Score: 50)
Army	· Be between the ages of 17-34. * · Have no more than two dependents. · Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude test. (Minimum AFQT Score: 31)
Coast Guard	· Be between the ages of 17- 39* · Have no more than two dependents. · Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test. (Minimum AFQT Score: 45) · Have a willingness to serve on or around the water.
Marines	· Meet exacting physical, mental, and moral standards. · Be between the ages of 17-29. * · Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test. (Minimum AFQT Score: 32) · Women are eligible to enlist in all occupational exception of combat arms specialties: infantry, tank and amphibian tractor crew members.
Navy	· Be between the ages of 17-34. * · Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test. (Minimum AFQT Score: 50) · Women are eligible to enlist in all occupational fields, with the exception of serving in the Navy Seals or on submarines.

To work at the Post Office:

Age Requirement
18 years at the time of appointment or 16 years with a high school diploma.

Citizenship
Employees must be a United States citizen, a lawful permanent resident alien (i.e., possession of a “green card”), a citizen of American Samoa or any other territory owing permanent allegiance to the United States. Individuals solely granted asylum status, refugee status or conditional permanent resident status are not eligible for Postal Service employment.

Basic competency in English

Selective Service
Males born after 12/ 31/ 59 must be registered with the Selective Service System.

Employment History
Applicants must provide the names of their current employer and all previous employers for the 10-year period immediately preceding the date of application or to their 16th birthday, whichever is most recent.

Military Service
Military service is treated as prior employment. Veterans must indicate service and submit Copy 4 of the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.

Criminal Conviction History
A local criminal check is required prior to employment. A more extensive criminal history check is completed at employment.

Drug Screen
A qualification for postal employment is to be drug free, and is determined through a urinalysis drug screen.

Medical Assessment
A medical assessment is conducted to determine medical suitability for a specific position. It provides the selecting official with information about an applicant's ability to perform the functions of a particular job.

Safe Driving Record
A safe driving record is required for employees who drive at work (i. e., city carriers, motor vehicle operators, etc.).

To work for the FBI:

To become an FBI Special Agent you must be a U.S. citizen or a citizen of the Northern Mariana Islands. You must be at least 23 years of age to apply and have not reached 37 years of age upon your appointment as a Special Agent. Age waivers may be granted to preference eligible veterans who have surpassed their 37th birthday. You must possess a four-year degree from a college or university accredited by one of the regional or national institutional associations recognized by the United States Secretary of Education. You must have at least three years of professional work experience. You must also possess a valid driver's license and be completely available for assignment anywhere in the FBI's jurisdiction.

All applicants for the Special Agent position must first qualify under one of five Special Agent Entry Programs. These programs include:

• Accounting
• Computer Science/Information Technology
• Language
• Law
• Diversified

More details about Special Agent Entry Programs.

After qualifying for one of the five Entry Programs, applicants will be prioritized in the hiring process based upon certain Critical Skills for which the FBI is recruiting. The FBI is currently recruiting for Special Agent candidates with one or more of the following Critical Skills:

• Accounting
• Finance
• Computer Science/Information Technology Expertise
• Engineering Expertise
• Foreign Language(s) Proficiency
• Intelligence Experience
• Law Experience
• Law Enforcement/Investigative Experience
• Military Experience
• Physical Sciences (e.g., physics, chemistry, biology, etc.) Expertise
• Diversified Experience

Candidates with these Critical Skills are essential to address our increasingly complex responsibilities. As such, candidates with one or more of these skills will be prioritized in the hiring process.

More details about Special Agent Critical Skills

All candidates that meet the Entry Program and Critical Skill requirements must also:

• meet the Special Agent Physical Requirements
• and pass the FBI Background Investigation.

To serve as a US Congressman:

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

To serve as a US Senator:

No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.

To serve as the US President:

No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States.

Conclusion:

And there you have it. Ever wonder why the USA has been having issues since 1776? Well, if you read the complete post, you now may have a clue. The ‘qualifications’ needed to be in the highest government offices have equated to skills relating to how to win popularity contests. You don’t need a degree. You don’t have to know how to spell. You don’t have to know the times tables. You don’t have to know squat about the constitution, law, economics, government, etc. You don’t have to pass a ‘wisdom’ or ‘knowledge’ test of any kind. All you have to know is how to appeal to a majority of other citizens. What exactly can you expect if that is the ‘primary’ qualification to being electable?

It might be time for a constitutional addendum. Some sort of a degree in law, economics, business, and government as an additional requirement sounds like a good starting point. What do you think?

Just do it!

Mark 12:30...And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Some people are offended by this 'command'.  They think...who does this so-called god think he is to command that people love him?  Well, HE's prophetic for one.  HE knows who HE is, who you are, and ultimately, what will be.  I truly believe that when you meet GOD, you will automatically do what Mark documents, and not out of obligation.  You will love GOD because of HIS goodness and love.  In HIS presence, at long last, you will KNOW that GOD is GOOD beyond description.  You will know that GOD is priceless.  You WILL worship HIM, but not out of obligation.  David speaks of how GOD's love is better than life.  Moses saw the 'glory' of GOD and immediately fell down and worshiped.  Guess what?  Yeah...HE's that AWESOME.  BELIEVE IT.

Psalms 63:3…Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.

Exodus 33:18-19…Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory." And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

Exodus 34:6-8…And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."
Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshipped.

Romans 14:1…It is written: "‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘Every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’"

Think Possible.

When I was 13 or 14 years old, I had an interesting experience.

One day I was standing by the side of the road in my home town. About a half a block up the road from me there was this boy that was a couple of years my junior. For whatever reason, he called me a name or two of some sort and then took off running toward his house. His house was a block or so away. I took off after him. Now you have to understand something, though I was a very athletic young man, I was by no means a speed demon. I was only average in the speed department. That is, except for this particular day at that particular time. I noticed immediately while I was running that something was different. I was gliding along and it didn’t seem to be taking any effort at all. It was like I caught him while he was standing still, though he was running as fast as he could. In seconds I was on top of him and as he glanced back to see how far away I was, he was shocked to find me right there! He collapsed onto the pavement and looked up at me as I stood over him and said…I HAD NO IDEA YOU WERE THAT FAST!! I just laughed and walked away and he got up and went home. I never forgot that day. I never ran that fast and that effortlessly ever again in my life. The only thing I can conclude is that GOD momentarily gave me super speed because he had plans for that young man. Maybe he was teaching him a valuable lesson about humility or something? He taught me something, too, though. He taught me that with the power of the LORD upon him, it would be no problem for Elijah to outrun Ahab’s chariot. Indeed, nothing is impossible for GOD.

Luke 1:37…For nothing is impossible with God.

Luke 18:27…Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

Jeremiah 32:17…"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”

Jeremiah 32:27…"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”

Once upon a time…

Once upon a time things were pretty good. Then along comes a spider, and sits down beside her, and convinces her that things could be even better….that she could have even more. Of course the spider was lying. In actuality, the spider was bent on destroying her and all that was good. I think the spider coined the phrase…the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Sadly, the spider manages to deceive the girl by appealing to her flesh, her greed, her vanity, her pride, her visceral qualities. She falls for it and convinces those around her of the same. They, too, forfeit what is good.

In one way or another, this is still going on today.