From Gary... Listen and learn!!!

For those who are willing to hear- let them hear (now)!!!  America is changing, and NOT FOR THE BETTER!!!  Soon, very soon, our current way of life will become a distant memory.  And the culprits are our elected officials.  They have lied, tricked us time and again, but soon this country will fall under the overwhelming debt that financial trickery has brought us!!!  Our representatives are TRAITORS!!!  I wish there was another word for it but that is the truth!!! Consider the things mentioned in the topmost picture and accept them for what they are: The exhibition of evil overtaking good.  God is still blessing us- for the time being at least, but I fear that this will soon come to an end.  For me, the current situation is like the second of the two pictures in that God still allows a rainbow in the sky to demonstrate HIS FAITHFULNESS, but that rainbow is being brought lower and lower... and yet, in spite of all this, the words of the prophet Habakkuk echo in my mind....

Habakkuk, Chapter 1

  1 The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw.  2 Yahweh, how long will I cry, and you will not hear? I cry out to you “Violence!” and will you not save?  3 Why do you show me iniquity, and look at perversity? For destruction and violence are before me. There is strife, and contention rises up. 4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails; for the wicked surround the righteous; therefore justice comes out perverted. 

  5  “Look among the nations, watch, and wonder marvelously; for I am working a work in your days, which you will not believe though it is told you. ..."

Habakkuk, Chapter 2

 2  Yahweh answered me, “Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he who runs may read it.  3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hurries toward the end, and won’t prove false. Though it takes time, wait for it; because it will surely come. It won’t delay.  4 Behold, his soul is puffed up. It is not upright in him, but the righteous will live by his faith. 

20 But Yahweh is in his holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before him!” 

The God of Heaven works in ways that are beyond my understanding.  It is up to me to realize that 2:20 is true and that I must live by my faith.  However bad things may look (and the horizon is indeed a dark one) God is in control!!!  I don't know what other Americans will do, but I will pray every day for this country and that its citizens will remove the evil that is currently guiding America down a path of destruction.  An election is coming- one that I hope and pray will see the election of honest officials who will oust our current traitor of a president and undo the wrongs congress has perpetrated on this nation!!!!  May God bless America and in turn- MAY AMERICA BLESS GOD!!!!

ps. one more thing- the old saying is true- it really is always darkest before dawn!!!  Have faith in the power of Good over evil.  God will always win!!!!

From Gary... Bible Reading December 30

Bible Reading   

December 30

The World English Bible

Dec. 30

Zechariah 13, 14

Zec 13:1 "In that day there will be a spring opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.

Zec 13:2 It will come to pass in that day, says Yahweh of Armies, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they will be remembered no more. I will also cause the prophets and the spirit of impurity to pass out of the land.

Zec 13:3 It will happen that, when anyone still prophesies, then his father and his mother who bore him will tell him, 'You must die, because you speak lies in the name of Yahweh;' and his father and his mother who bore him will stab him when he prophesies.

Zec 13:4 It will happen in that day, that the prophets will each be ashamed of his vision, when he prophesies; neither will they wear a hairy mantle to deceive:

Zec 13:5 but he will say, 'I am no prophet, I am a tiller of the ground; for I have been made a bondservant from my youth.'

Zec 13:6 One will say to him, 'What are these wounds between your arms?' Then he will answer, 'Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.'

Zec 13:7 "Awake, sword, against my shepherd, and against the man who is close to me," says Yahweh of Armies. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; and I will turn my hand against the little ones.

Zec 13:8 It shall happen that in all the land," says Yahweh, "two parts in it will be cut off and die; but the third will be left in it.

Zec 13:9 I will bring the third part into the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will test them like gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will hear them. I will say, 'It is my people;' and they will say, 'Yahweh is my God.' "

Zec 14:1 Behold, a day of Yahweh comes, when your spoil will be divided in your midst.

Zec 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city will be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go out into captivity, and the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city.

Zec 14:3 Then Yahweh will go out and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

Zec 14:4 His feet will stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in two, from east to west, making a very great valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

Zec 14:5 You shall flee by the valley of my mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azel; yes, you shall flee, just like you fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Yahweh my God will come, and all the holy ones with you.

Zec 14:6 It will happen in that day, that there will not be light, cold, or frost.

Zec 14:7 It will be a unique day which is known to Yahweh; not day, and not night; but it will come to pass, that at evening time there will be light.

Zec 14:8 It will happen in that day, that living waters will go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the eastern sea, and half of them toward the western sea; in summer and in winter will it be.

Zec 14:9 Yahweh will be King over all the earth. In that day Yahweh will be one, and his name one.

Zec 14:10 All the land will be made like the Arabah, from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; and she will be lifted up, and will dwell in her place, from Benjamin's gate to the place of the first gate, to the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananel to the king's winepresses.

Zec 14:11 Men will dwell therein, and there will be no more curse; but Jerusalem will dwell safely.

Zec 14:12 This will be the plague with which Yahweh will strike all the peoples who have warred against Jerusalem: their flesh will consume away while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will consume away in their sockets, and their tongue will consume away in their mouth.

Zec 14:13 It will happen in that day, that a great panic from Yahweh will be among them; and they will lay hold everyone on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand will rise up against the hand of his neighbor.

Zec 14:14 Judah also will fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered together: gold, and silver, and clothing, in great abundance.

Zec 14:15 So will be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the donkey, and of all the animals that will be in those camps, as that plague.

Zec 14:16 It will happen that everyone who is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, Yahweh of Armies, and to keep the feast of tents.

Zec 14:17 It will be, that whoever of all the families of the earth doesn't go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, Yahweh of Armies, on them there will be no rain.

Zec 14:18 If the family of Egypt doesn't go up, and doesn't come, neither will it rain on them. This will be the plague with which Yahweh will strike the nations that don't go up to keep the feast of tents.

Zec 14:19 This will be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations that don't go up to keep the feast of tents.

Zec 14:20 In that day there will be on the bells of the horses, "HOLY TO YAHWEH;" and the pots in Yahweh's house will be like the bowls before the altar.

Zec 14:21 Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to Yahweh of Armies; and all those who sacrifice will come and take of them, and cook in them. In that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of Yahweh of Armies.

Dec. 30

Revelation 21, 22

Rev 21:1 I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more.

Rev 21:2 I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband.

Rev 21:3 I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, "Behold, God's dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

Rev 21:4 He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away."

Rev 21:5 He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." He said, "Write, for these words of God are faithful and true."

Rev 21:6 He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life.

Rev 21:7 He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son.

Rev 21:8 But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

Rev 21:9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were loaded with the seven last plagues came, and he spoke with me, saying, "Come here. I will show you the wife, the Lamb's bride."

Rev 21:10 He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,

Rev 21:11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if it was a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

Rev 21:12 having a great and high wall; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.

Rev 21:13 On the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

Rev 21:14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.

Rev 21:15 He who spoke with me had for a measure, a golden reed, to measure the city, its gates, and its walls.

Rev 21:16 The city lies foursquare, and its length is as great as its breadth. He measured the city with the reed, Twelve thousand twelve stadia. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.

Rev 21:17 Its wall is one hundred forty-four cubits, by the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

Rev 21:18 The construction of its wall was jasper. The city was pure gold, like pure glass.

Rev 21:19 The foundations of the city's wall were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald;

Rev 21:20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, jacinth; and the twelfth, amethyst.

Rev 21:21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls. Each one of the gates was made of one pearl. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

Rev 21:22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple.

Rev 21:23 The city has no need for the sun, neither of the moon, to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.

Rev 21:24 The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.

Rev 21:25 Its gates will in no way be shut by day (for there will be no night there),

Rev 21:26 and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it so that they may enter.

Rev 21:27 There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Rev 22:1 He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,

Rev 22:2 in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Rev 22:3 There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants serve him.

Rev 22:4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

Rev 22:5 There will be no night, and they need no lamp light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.

Rev 22:6 He said to me, "These words are faithful and true. The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to show to his bondservants the things which must happen soon."

Rev 22:7 "Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."

Rev 22:8 Now I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who had shown me these things.

Rev 22:9 He said to me, "See you don't do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."

Rev 22:10 He said to me, "Don't seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.

Rev 22:11 He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still."

Rev 22:12 "Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work.

Rev 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Rev 22:14 Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.

Rev 22:15 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Rev 22:16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David; the Bright and Morning Star."

Rev 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" He who hears, let him say, "Come!" He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Rev 22:18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book.

Rev 22:19 If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.

Rev 22:20 He who testifies these things says, "Yes, I come quickly." Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus.

Rev 22:21 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen. 

From Mark Copeland... The Great Mystery Of Godliness (1 Timothy 3:16)

                     "THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"

                 The Great Mystery Of Godliness (3:16)

INTRODUCTION

1. Paul wrote to Timothy regarding proper conduct "in the house of God"
   - 1 Tim 3:15
   a. Which is "the church of the living God"
   b. Which is "the pillar and ground of the truth"
   -- I.e., the church supports the truth that has been revealed through
      the apostles

2. The truth supported by the church is described as "the mystery of
   godliness" - 1Ti 3:16
   a. A mystery is described as "great"
   b. Its greatness is described as "without controversy"
   -- Evidently Paul sought to inspire proper conduct by reference to
      this "mystery"

[What is "The Great Mystery Of Godliness"?  Perhaps by understanding it,
we too will be inspired to proper conduct as members of the family of
God.  Toward that end, let's first examine...]

I. THE GREATNESS OF THE MYSTERY

   A. THE MEANING OF "MYSTERY"...
      1. The Grk. word is musterion, meaning "hidden thing, secret,
         mystery" - Thayer
      2. "In the NT it denotes, not the mysterious (as with the Eng.
         word), but that which, being outside the range of unassisted
         natural apprehension, can be made known only by Divine
         revelation, and is made known in a manner and at a time
         appointed by God, and to those only who are illumined by His
         Spirit." - Vine
      3. "In the ordinary sense a 'mystery' implies knowledge withheld;
         its Scriptural significance is truth revealed." - ibid.
      -- In the NT, it refers to that which had been hidden, but is now
         made known by Divine revelation

   B. THE REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY...
      1. What was hidden has now been made known through the apostles
         and prophets
         a. It could not be discovered by human wisdom alone - 1Co 2:
            7-10
         b. It required Spirit-filled men (apostles) to reveal them
            - 1Co 2:-16
         c. Written that we might understand - Ep 3:1-5
         d. That Gentiles might also be fellow heirs of God's promises
            - Ep 3:6-9
         e. Made known for the benefit of all nations - Ro 16:25-26
      2. What has been revealed still defies description at times
         a. It was beyond man's ability to foresee - Ro 11:33-36
         b. Some elements may be beyond full comprehension (e.g., God in
            the flesh, see below)
      -- Thus there are spiritual truths that God has revealed that we
         might know, though some may challenge our understanding

[The "mystery" now revealed pertains to "godliness" (1Ti 3:16).  "The
word 'godliness' means, properly, piety, reverence, or religiousness. It
is used here, however, for the gospel scheme, to wit, that which the
apostle proceeds to state." (Barnes)  As we continue, we note that it
centers around the coming of Jesus Christ...]

II. THE GREATNESS OF GODLINESS

   A. GOD IN THE FLESH...
      1. Jesus' coming was Deity in the flesh!
         a. Proclaimed in the prologues of John - Jn 1:1-5,14; 1Jn 1:
            1-4
         b. Proclaimed in the epistles of Paul - Php 2:5-6; Col 2:9
      2. Notice the name "Immanuel" (God with us)
         a. Foretold in Isaiah's prophecy - Isa 7:14; 9:6
         b. Explained in Matthew's gospel - Mt 1:22-23
      -- The coming of Jesus in the flesh was God working to reconcile
         man back to Himself; isn't that great? - 2Co 5:18-19

   B. JUSTIFIED IN THE SPIRIT...
      1. "Justified" - as used here, it means "to vindicate"
         a. Was Jesus vindicated in or by the Holy Spirit? (cf. NKJV,
            KJV, NIV, NASB)
         b. Or was He vindicated in His own spirit? (cf. ASV, NRSV)
      2. "in the Spirit" - shown to be the Son of God by the agency of
         the Holy Spirit (Barnes)
         a. E.g., the Spirit bore witness at Jesus' baptism - Mt 3:16;
            Jn 1:32-33
         b. E.g., Jesus cast out demons by the Spirit - Mt 12:28
         c. The Spirit continued to bear witness to Jesus through the
            signs and wonders given to the apostles - cf. Jn 15:26; 16:
            13-14; He 2:4; 1Jn 5:6
      3. "in (the) spirit" - vindicated as divine 'in His Spirit,' that
         is, in His higher nature; in contrast to 'in the flesh,' His
         visible human nature (JFB)
         a. E.g., His words manifested His higher being - Mt 7:29; Jn 7:46
         b. E.g., His works also - Jn 2:11; 3:2
         c. E.g., His Father's testimony as well - Mt 3:17; 17:5
         d. Ultimately, declared to be the Son of God by His
            resurrection - Ro 1:3-4
      -- Either way, Jesus was certainly vindicated as the Son of God!

   C. SEEN BY ANGELS...
      1. Angels who previously marveled at what was to come
         a. The suffering and glory of Christ foretold by OT prophets
            - 1Pe 1:10-12
         b. Which the angels desired to look into - 1Pe 1:12b
      2. When Jesus came, angels saw and ministered unto Him
         a. After His temptation by the devil in the wilderness of Judea
            - Mt 4:11
         b. During His agony in the garden of Gethsemane - Lk 22:43
      -- The angels also attended His ascension, and will accompany His
         return! - Ac 1:9-11; 2Th 1:7

   D. PREACHED AMONG THE GENTILES...
      1. This was the purpose of the Great Commission - Mt 28:19; Mk 16:15
         a. Fulfillment began with the conversion of Cornelius - Ac 11:
            15-18
         b. It was the ministry Jesus gave to Paul - 2Ti 1:11
      2. This is an important element of the "mystery" now revealed
         a. That Gentiles should be fellow heirs, partakers of the
            promise - Ep 3:3-6; cf. 2:11-22
         b. Paul felt blessed to preach to the Gentiles - Ep 3:7-9
      -- The grace of preaching the riches of Christ to Gentiles
         continues to this day!

   E. BELIEVED ON IN THE WORLD...
      1. Not all believed, but many did
         a. Some of His own people did not receive Him - Jn 1:11
         b. Many of His own people did - Ac 2:41-42; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7
         c. Where some did not, many Gentiles did - Ac 13:43-49
      2. Why is it so great that Jesus was believed on in the world?
         a. Because the gospel is foolishness to many people -  1Co 1:18
         b. Because to many, Christ crucified is a stumbling block
            - 1Co 1:23
      -- Even today, countless multitudes believe in Jesus around the
         world - amazing!

   F. RECEIVED UP IN GLORY...
      1. His ascension foretold in prophecy
         a. Prophets spoke of the glories to follow His suffering - 

            1 Pe 1:10-11; Lk 24:25-26
         b. One such prophesy is the vision of Daniel - Dan 7:13-14
      2. His ascension and glory that followed described in the NT
         a. Jesus ascended and was received up into heaven - Ac 1:9-11;
            Mk 16:19
         b. He sat down at the right hand of God, with all authority
            - Mk 16:19; Ep 1:20-23
      -- Thus Jesus received the answer to His prayer - cf. Jn 17:1,4-5

CONCLUSION

1. This mystery of godliness does not end with Jesus being received in
   glory...
   a. For He will one day come again in glory! - Mt 16:27
   b. Those raised with Christ will appear with Him in glory! - Col 3:
      1-4; 2Th 1:9-10
   -- Have you been raised with Christ in baptism? - cf. Col 2:12

2. From beginning to end, the mystery of godliness is great...!
   a. The Divine intervention into the world of sinful men
   b. The Divine grace offered through such intervention
   -- Are you letting the revealed "mystery" motivate proper conduct?
      - cf. 1Ti 3:15

Receive the grace of God in such a way as to conduct yourself properly
in the family of God while waiting for the Lord's coming in glory...!
- cf. Tit 2:11-14

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

 

From Jim McGuiggan... BOOZE, BOOZE, BOOZE

BOOZE, BOOZE, BOOZE

The booze industry use to issue warnings to “binge” drinkers; they addressed the “Jekkyl and Hyde” women that “binge” drink. This is another one of the buzzwords. The booze problem is always laid at the feet of someone else—never the booze industry that makes the stuff that “binge” drinkers are made of. You understand that they’re not talking about the girls and fellows who stagger home quietly several times a week, usually over the weekend, drunk but not troublesome. They’re happy with such people so long as they don’t hurt the booze business’ reputation. No, they’re talking about those that stagger home drunk and on the way create problems, beat the blood out of one another in the street, lie in the gutter or smash up things and abuse or neglect whoever is at home.

[“Binge” language is no longer popular with the booze industry. It’s a bit too crass and, in addition, they’re assaulting some of their best customers. Besides, that kind of talk only generates images that the booze industry wants to keep out of the public eye.]

If you bring their reputation as sellers of poison into question they call you names, like “binger” or “Jekkyl & Hyde”. The most abused drug in the world—alcohol! The first thing the booze hits is your power to discriminate—but the booze-makers hold you responsible for not discriminating. Everybody is to be blamed for the havoc in society in general and in the home in particular—everybody, that is, except the booze industry! I’ve had more than one person tell me that the problem lay in those who couldn’t and wouldn’t control their booze intake. I had a woman tell me the same thing about marijuana. And why not—if booze is fine why isn’t marijuana? [This same lady argued in favor of the responsible use of cocaine.]

The booze people feverishly promote and sell the poison and the government spends multiplied millions of dollars trying to keep up with the social carnage.

In light of the statistics on planetary deaths, maiming, abuse, deprivation, crime, destruction of families, and whatever else that comes with booze, isn’t it almost laughable to still hear the serious announcements about passive smoking? Is it not astonishing that there’s a law against driving without a seat belt and no law against the sale of booze thatnecessitates laws for fear of mayhem on the roads? Do you know what keeps this from being humorous? It’s the tragedy that those in power are serious!

Though it’s true that the HIV = AIDS scam no longer grabs headlines and good sense is in some areas prevailing and needy people are being fed, given clean water, offered medical treatment that truly does help [antibiotics and such]—though all that’s true, governments are still pouring millions into paying for anti-viral meds that the pharmaceutical companies now have a phenomenally difficult time selling in America or in the West. 

No one anywhere has proved that the (alleged) HIV virus has a functional/physical link to any disease of any kind much less the “marker diseases” of what’s called AIDS. (The “marker” diseases are common medical problems that have been around long before AIDS was invented. If you die of TB but aren’t known to be HIV positive your death certificate has TB as the cause. If you’re known to have the HIV antibody and you die of TB the death certificate shows AIDS as the cause. Isn’t it marvelous?)  

Serious war is declared against the still [after thirty years of massively funded research] unproven HIV theory while the open and before-our-eyes truth about the booze industry’s product is grandly ignored. Worldwide, it’s involved in death, maiming, killings, child and spouse and parental abuse, the destruction of marriages, health problems, cost to society, police presence and court time—it’s involved in all that and more beyond calculation. It swallows up multiplied billions of dollars that could be used to create jobs, further medical research, fund housing construction, or whatever! 

“It pays taxes!” It pays taxes? That’s what the tobacco industry said! “It creates jobs!” That’s what the tobacco industry said! “Tobacco is physically linked with disease.” Yes, and booze is socially linked with more agony and death than tobacco ever was or could be. If tobacco has physically killed its thousands the booze industry socially [and otherwise] has killed its tens of millions.

Arrrrgggghhhhh!

Western governments spend millions of dollars urging drivers not even to take one drink because it’s too risky. It’s too risky because the drinker might drink more and maybe even go over the legal limit. Is that not revealing? Booze is a thief and a robber! Why is a legal limit set? Because booze is booze and it does what everyone knows it does.

Then the hypocritical booze industry promotes its drug with beautiful young women and handsome young men partying, deliriously happy. Then for a few seconds they add a tiny worded appeal, “Enjoy our product responsibly.”

The tobacco industry has felt the power of opposition but the booze industry bosses and stockholders? They must laugh all the way to the bank as they’re driven in their big Mercs or smile at their sizeable retirement money—they laugh at what they get away with. No smoking adverts on television but booze and great sex, booze and elegance, booze and “the great life”, booze and humor, booze and holding on to your dreams, booze and happy family life—all over the screen, day in and day out.

If society was peopled only with people as strong as Michael the Archangel or as pure as Mary the mother of Jesus or as uncompromising as Daniel who stared down the lions and Gentile kings—if the world was populated with that sort of people booze wouldn’t be a problem.

“I enjoy a beer [and I suppose a vodka or some such thing if he feels he needs something stiffer] when I choose,” one preaching type told me; “It’s a matter of drinking responsibly,” he said.

And the booze industry smiles at such a wise man—a wise Bible teacher who shapes his congregation.

If you think sexual predators groom children you need to remember that the booze industry does the very same thing with its fruit juices and pop drinks with low levels of alcohol in them. [“We’re teaching them to handle alcohol responsibly.” They’re always doing us favors.]

Even liberties can become sinful—Romans 14:13-23 and 1 Corinthians 8:11-13, for example [to be reflected on theologically as well as exegetically].

In addition, there never was in the Bible anything like the modern booze industry with its high-powered booze. It’s a damnable plague and feeds on the vulnerable. 

And it isn't enough to be able to quote scripture to support a practice. The Pharisees did that in Matthew to justify their abuse of women and Americans and other nations did that in support of slavery when they quoted Peter and Paul.

To read scriptures to justify what we want to do or to act on "liberties" that support an industry with such a horrendous record as the booze industry has is no wise thing.

If we’re free to drink it then we're free to share it. If we're free to share it we're free to sell it. If we're free to sell it then we're free to own bars and distilleries. Would that be “responsible”?

Paul, the apostle of the free Spirit [F.F. Bruce called him that]! No one spoke more about freedom—yes? But in light of the love of Jesus Christ did he seem to be free? In 1 Corinthians 9 and in 2 Corinthians 5:14 he said he lived his life the way he did because “the love of Christ leaves me no choice” [NEB]. He said one died for all that they that live might no longer live unto themselves but unto Him that died for them and rose again.

I don’t know how to work all that out in daily living and it might well be that in some ways I don’t want to know. If that’s the case I need forgiveness—and I certainly do because my own life is an ongoing struggle with sin.

Still I think it’s true: the booze industry is against everything a disciple of the Lord Jesus is for and for everything a follower of Jesus Christ is against.

Iris Murdoch and Stanley Hauerwas are right; before ethics is a way of doing things it is a way of seeing things. It isn’t that we choose different things from the same world—we see different worlds. “We can only act,” said Hauerwas, “within the world we can envision and we can envision the world rightly only as we are trained to see.”

Could Jesus give the nod of approval to the booze industry and quote texts to say his Holy Father gave it to us to gladden our hearts? I don’t think so!

He who fought all that enslaves people would surely fight such a business; a business that has shaped society and has been shaped by our sinful human society, and even as we watch it helps to destroy the peace and joy and health and usefulness of multiplied millions of our fellow-humans.

I simply can’t see the Church’s approval of the booze industry—tacit or otherwise—as giving the Lord Jesus pleasure or furthering his kingdom purpose. 

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Ben Fronczek.... The Epistle of James Part 2 Do you need Wisdom?

The Epistle of James  Part 2

Do you need Wisdom?

By: Ben Fronczek

This past week I thought about James and his brothers and sister growing up with Jesus; who was their big brother. I could not help but wonder what that was like. Imagine growing up with a sibling who was perfectly sinless, someone who never did anything wrong or evil. What would that have been like?

In scripture we read over and over that Jesus was without sin. He never, ever, ever sinned.

In 2 Cor. 5:21 we read,   

“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God”

And in 1 John 3:5 it says, 

“And in Him there is no sin” (NKJV)

In 1 Peter 2:21-23 it says 

“Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

Never once did Jesus lie, take anything that did not belong to Him, gossip, cheat, lust, retaliate, or do anything else wrong. While growing up with Him, His brothers and sister must have thought He was the ultimate ‘goodie two shoes’.

He was tempted throughout those years, but He was wise enough not to act on those temptations. 

In Hebrews 4:15 it says, 

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin” That was Jesus!

I know that Jesus was the Son of God, but He was still a man, and if push came to shove His brothers and sisters probably admired how good, honest, mature and wise their big brother was as they grew up. At times He may have even seemed too wise and mature for his age.

Even at that age of 12 we read that people were amazed at His understanding. 

In Luke 2:41-47 it says, 

“Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.42 When He was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom.(By this time Jesus could have had 5 or 6 brothers and sisters)  43 After the Feast was over, while His parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.  

Thinking He was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find Him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for Him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers. 48 When His parents saw Him, they were astonished.”

Now this boy was the one who James, and Jude, and Simon, and Joseph, and all his sisters grew up with. I can’t help but think that when they had a problem, they would turn to Him for advice.

So when James wrote about needing good advice or needing wisdom, he probably wrote with his brother Jesus in mind.  In all those years he spent growing up with Jesus and observing Him, James must have learned something from Him.

And so James writes 

“5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”  1:5-8

I am sure that in all the years he lived with Him, Jesus probably never made fun of him or any of his siblings when it came to them needing help or advice. And I can’t help but believe that when Jesus Himself needed an extra measure of help, advice or more wisdom, James and the rest of the family saw Who He turned to; and of course that was His Father in Heaven. I’m sure Jesus came across as stable, and sure of Himself, not doubting what God’s will was.

And so James and his other brother and sisters had someone strong to look up to and show them how to get thru this life when they weren’t quite sure how to do it; and that was to turn to God and sincerely ask Him for help and believe that He would give them the help and wisdom they needed.

James probably saw others who talked the talk, those who seem so religious and pious, but because of their lack of faith and doubts they would seem like waves or a small boat being tossed about every time a strong wind blew. So James tells those who seek God’s help and wisdom that they MUST believe and not doubt.

Life is full of choices and we make decisions every day. Someone once said, “The decisions that we make – make us!” I believe this to be a true statement. As I look back on my own life – the decisions that I have made have had an immense impact on my life. So have yours. The quality and direction of your life has been determined by the decisions you have made. Some of them you feel good about. Some of them you regret. It’s important to make the wisest decisions possible.

As humans, we can all make mistakes. We wait too long. We pay too much. We say the wrong thing. We open our mouths and insert our foot. All of us do stupid things. But the wise man learns from the mistakes he makes. I hope and pray that we all learn from what James says here; that there is a place to go and someone to turn to if we want to become wiser.

Maybe today you unsure about something. Maybe it’s your life, your direction, maybe you don’t know how to help or advise another. I believe that James is giving us the same advice he learned from His brother Jesus when he was unsure and needed help. He instructs us to turn to God and ask Him for the wisdom we need. James wrote that God is generous when it come giving us this kind of help.

But there are some conditions; we must ask, and we must believe.

We need to believe in God.

We need to believe in His willing us to help us.

We need to believe enough to open ourselves up to His wisdom.

And believe enough to act on such wisdom.

If you really don’t believe, and waver back and forth between listening to God and/or doing what you or your friend think is right, verse 7 says that such a person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Yea that’s right; many times we think we want God’s help and He puts the answers right out in front of our face in one way or another; either in His Word, thru good advice from a Christian friend, or in a sermon we read or listen to. He may even put a thought in your conscious, but we don’t listen because we are stubborn, or the advise is not what we want to hear.  No wonder we get so confused.

James tells us ask and believe!  So don’t act like someone who is wishy-washy, double-minded or unstable.

Where do you need wisdom right now? What’s the big decision in your life? Is it a career decision? Is it about retirement decision? Are you thinking about making a large purchase, making an investment, or helping someone financially, how to serve Jesus better, or even how to start a special ministry for our Lord.

God is there to give you wisdom – if you just ask Him in faith, and believe. 

Proverbs 2:6 makes a promise and says,  

”For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

Do you believe that?

If the Lord gives wisdom we need to ask Him for it. We need to pray to Him for it. We need to ask Him to give us some.

Here we read that God wants to give you wisdom. He is eager to give it to you. He is ready to give you wisdom. He wants to give you the best things He can – but you need to ask. You need to accept His counsel and believe.

I want to talk to you right now about the greatest decision you can make in your entire life. The greatest decision you’ll ever make in this life is this: Are you going to follow God or not? Am I going to live for myself or am I going to live my life for God and listen to Him, and follow His advise the best I can?

Let me tell you, following God is the only thing that will produce stability in your life. Following God is how you can live in peace with Him and yourself. Here is how you do that – ask Him now to guide you and direct you through life – and to give you wisdom in the decisions that you need to make.

And you may say, “Well Ben I’ve been doing that. I have been praying and praying and asking God about a certain situation but I still don’t know what to do”  The question I have for you is this, ‘Have you been listening for God’s response? Or are you listening with your ears and eyes closed?’

God has not only provides us with His word which provides us with His will on so many matters. His Spirit has also entered those of us who are Christians, and is described as a Helper, a teacher. We not only have His word and the Holy Spirit, and the avenue of prayer, we also have other Christians that we can talk to. Maybe God has provided you with an answer to your dilemma, but maybe it not the answers you want to hear, and so you are in a standoff.

And if that is the case, it may not be that we need to pray for more wisdom, instead it may be more of a matter of humbling our self and learning to accept the answers or direction which God has provided and are right before us.

For more lessons click on the following 

link:http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566