Week Four, 2024

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth (Romans 1:18).

In this world of copy and fake, we often don’t know the truth. The media often publishes fake news. Brand name products are often knock-off brands with a fake name. Often the new products you purchase are “refurbished” broken ones. The president of Harvard University plagiarized her dissertations.

Were you trying to figure out what “authentic” even means? Either way, you weren’t alone: It’s Merriam-Webster’s word of the year for, an annual recognition given to a word that dominates searches and lookup volume on the dictionary’s website.

Authentic has a number of meanings including “not false or imitation,” a synonym of real and actual; and also “true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character.” Although clearly a desirable quality, authentic is hard to define and subject to debate—two reasons it sends many people to the dictionary.

And with the rise of artificial intelligence—and its impact on deepfake videos, actors’ contracts, academic honesty, and a vast number of other topics—the line between “real” and “fake” has become increasingly blurred. Even from some liberal pulpits we see and hear blurring of the authenticity of scripture.

The Bible is clear, inerrant and authentic. It has been a guideline for life through hundreds of years. Without it there would be no Western civilization.

Man’s greatest problems are not lack of knowledge but hardness of heart and the Bible solves them all. People reject God because they don’t want to be accountable. The unbeliever’s greatest problem is not intellectual, but spiritual.

Creation points to God’s existence, but it is through the Word that God has revealed how to be saved. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

As we read the morning paper and listen to the evening news, while we have to wonder what is true and what is false and what is authentic, we can read and follow the precepts of the Bible and know that every word is authentic and true.

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Many Christians fail to flourish and grow spiritually because they are not digging deeper into the Word and developing a closer, intimate relationship with the Lord. Superficial and surface Christianity will not produce flourishing disciples.

Bible passages remind us not to view “flourishing” from a superficial, materialistic perspective based on wealth, pleasure, possessions, or an opulent lifestyle. Flourishing spiritually goes deeper. And transcends this life. It involves our relationship with the Lord. Feeding the spirit. And meeting the needs of the soul. It has an eternal viewpoint.

It’s also worth noting that a group of palm trees form an oasis. Together they provide shade from the scorching sun. In a similar way, when we flourish together, we help each other. The fellowship of the faithful becomes a refreshing oasis in a desert of sorrow and sin. We help each other flourish.

Senior saints can still flourish. We can continue to bear fruit. We can still be productive. While age may take its toll on the body, and we may not be as energetic as in our younger years, our roots, firmly fixed in the faith, will not only sustain us, but allow us to prosper spiritually.

As we grow older, our role and position in the Kingdom may change, but our responsibility to be faithful remains the same. Stay connected to Christ. Be prayerful. Remain “in the house of the Lord.” Feed the soul through the Word. Find meaningful fellowship with other Christians. Find ways to flourish.

What about you? Are you sowing seeds for spiritual growth? Are you flourishing or floundering? The Preacherman

— o —

A new study at Ohio State University shows that people suffering from forms of depression or anxiety may help heal themselves by doing good deeds for others. Evolutionary psychologists would no doubt call this finding an example of the “survival of the fittest”: the more compassionate we are with others, the more we experience their compassion and the more likely we are to survive and flourish.

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Jesus is an astonishingly, wonderful giver of advice when needed. He is a mighty, great champion warrior. He is a strong, powerful God. He is perpetually eternal. He is our predecessor. He is our captain, commander and ruler. He brings us peace, security and safety. Rich Jensen

The impossibility of conceiving that this grand and wondrous universe, with dur conscious selves, arose through chance, seems to me the chief argument for the existence of God. Charles Darwin

The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life. William Morris

Worry was not uncommon in the days of Jesus here on earth and certainly that is no different today. People worry about things and those things can and do overwhelm us. Elbert Nasworthy

Many of the great achievements of the world were accomplished by tired and discouraged men who kept on working. Oscar Wilde

As long as I know the Lord is standing with me, I can face the trials of tomorrow and the uncertainties of the future. Dan Shock

If the Lord should come today, would you be ready to meet Him? Florida Marketplace Ministries

God will never abandon us. He is with us. Edgar Aponte

It always seems impossible until it’s done. Nelson Mandela

If you do not stand in faith, you will not be able to stand at all. In the midst of trials and danger rely on God alone. Edgar Aponte

Crisis and Threats reveal in whom or what we trust. Trust the Lord. Edgar Aponte

Know that God will never forsake His people, in Christ He is with us. Wait on the Lord. Edgar Aponte

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com.

Your feedback is welcome. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2024

January 13, 2024

Scripture Study:

—The well-known Danish philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard tells a wonderful parable that reads as follows: 

—“A wild duck was flying in the springtime northward across Europe. During the flight he came down in a Danish barnyard where there were tame ducks. He enjoyed some of their corn. He stayed for an hour, then for a day, then for a week, then for a month, and finally, because he relished the good food and the safety of the barnyard, he stayed all summer. But one autumn day when the flock of wild ducks were winging their way southward again, they passed over the barnyard, and their friend heard their cries. He was stirred with a strange thrill of joy and delight, and with a great flapping of wings he rose in the air to join his old comrades in their flight. But he found that his good food had made him so soft and heavy that he could rise no higher than the eaves of the barn. So he dropped back again to the barnyard, and said to himself, ‘Oh well, my life is safe here and the food is good.’ Every spring and autumn when he heard the wild ducks honking, his eyes would gleam for a moment and he would begin to flap his wings. But finally the day came when the wild ducks flew over him and uttered their cry, but he paid not the slightest attention to them.”

—It’s so easy to fall into a life of ease and forget the glories of flying high. For some of us this means having forgotten what it was like in the exciting months and years after we first got saved and now we’re merely on cruise control. For others this may mean that you’re overwhelmed by life, and you aren’t even trying any more to rise above your circumstances. You’ve grown complacent!

—You used to read your Bible every day—“I’ll start again tomorrow,” you say.

—You’re letting your children talk back more lately—“I’m just so tired to do anything about it right now! It’s been a really long day.”

—You find yourself watching things on television that you know you shouldn’t—“It doesn’t really affect me,” you try to convince yourself. “It goes in one ear and out the other.”

—Do you remember this verse? I’ve shared it before, but once again it stirs my heart. “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles [or even ducks]. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

—Look to the Lord. He can lift you from the barnyard.

—Daniel McCabe

Week Three, 2024

First and foremost, don’t let disappointment shake your belief in the goodness of God. Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. When disappointment strikes, hold tightly to your faith. Say, I am still confident (Hebrews 10:35).

It was an interesting and historical journey recently as we followed the trails of Lewis and Clark from Idaho to the Pacific. What a magnificent depiction of American history. The trials and difficulties were almost impossible to overcome for the team in search of a water route across America to the Pacific Ocean.

Many explorers were looking for the mouth of the Columbia from the Pacific and thought they had it, but it was not to be. Hence, it was a disappointment and named Cape Disappointment marking the disappointment of their expeditions.

I hiked through the woods to a beach on the Pacific and looking up, I saw the lighthouse that marks the cape. I stopped to snap a photo as I thought about the disappointments of life.

No matter our faith, God scatters disappointments through our life. But, for Christians, disappointments are God’s appointments, often to lead us to change our direction. I have had many and thank God for them.

I remember one in particular. As I was about to graduate from college, I received a full scholarship to receive a PhD. All I had to do was to take and pass a simple one hour test. It was given at another university. As I drove there, a few blocks away, a train was stalled blocking traffic. I was trapped. Finally, after running I arrived in the exam room thirty minutes late for the one-hour exam. My request to the proctor for extra time was summarily denied. I did not finish the exam and in the end, failed by one point. The scholarship was gone and I was disappointed.

I thank God to this day for that disappointment. It caused me to change directions and pursue other and better goals.

What does the Bible say about disappointments? “Be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never fail you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). When you have faith in God, your mind will “hold together” so efficiently that you can recover from any disappointment and with Him in your life, you always will.

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

A recent study concluded that the number, intensity, and length of conflicts worldwide is at its highest level since before the end of the Cold War. Remembering Jesus’ reference to “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6), it’s not hard to wonder how much longer the world can continue like this. Is this the beginning of the “end times.”

Medical debt has become a leading cause of personal bankruptcy, with an estimated $88 billion of that debt in collections nationwide, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Roughly 530,000 people reported falling into bankruptcy annually due partly to medical bills and time away from work, according to a 2019 study from the American Journal of Public Health.

▪ How does Moses make his coffee? Hebrews it.

▪ At what time of day did God create Adam? Just before Eve.

▪ How do we know whether Peter was a rich fisherman? By his net income.

▪ Why did God create man before woman? Because He didn’t want any advice on how to do it!

A living wage in Florida has been estimated to be $57,064 to cover all of your expenses if you are a single person. The average salary in Florida, at least according to ZipRecruiter, is $48,620, suggesting that the average salary is below the living wage to cover all of the expenses if you live in Florida.

In a Wall Street Journal article, Aaron Zitner reports that the values which helped define America’s national character for generations are receding in importance to Americans. A new survey reveals the following astonishing facts regarding the percentage of Americans who say these values are “very important” to them, comparing answers in 1998 to today:

▪ Religion: down from 62 percent to 39 percent

▪ Patriotism: down from 70 percent to 38 percent

▪ Having children: down from 59 percent to 30 percent

▪ Community involvement: down from a high of 62 percent to 27 percent

By contrast, the percentage who said money was “very important” to them rose from 31 percent to 43 percent. According to a pollster who worked on a previous survey measuring these attitudes, “These differences are so dramatic, it paints a new and surprising portrait of a changing America.”

May I ask you a question – when there is nothing you have to do, what do you think about? Maybe you think about owning your dream home, getting married, getting a new car, falling in love, your business success, your professional career, your reputation, hobbies, or achievements. Maybe you spend time thinking about what others are thinking? What do you think about when you don’t have to think about anything else? In your secret time? What do you do with your secret time?

Jesus says that whatever that is what you adore the most, that is what you hallow. The word hallow means “to treat it as sacred and as the ultimate.” It’s the ultimate thing in your life. Here’s the principle of ‘hallow’ from the Lord’s prayer – if the thing you adore is not God, then you’ll only pray when that thing is in jeopardy. The consistency of your prayer life will tell you who your god is.

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Have you ever looked back and realized that God was preparing you for something that you had no idea was coming your way?

Discipline is doing what you hate to do, but nonetheless doing it like you love it. Mike Tyson

A man who lacks purpose distracts himself with pleasure. Stay focused.

There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit. Ronald Reagan

Just having a desire to live a godly life is not enough. Dan Shock

Jesus was selective in picking His disciples, knowing the personality and ability of each. He did that because He knew how they would uniquely be able to produce fruit, i.e., make disciples. God does the same thing with you. Just think, the Sovereign Creator God of the universe chose you! He knew what unique abilities you could produce for Him. You’re the best possible agent for the best possible outcome of winning people to Christ. He thinks that much of you. So, if you don’t think you’re the best fruit for the intended outcome, remember Who chose you. Rich Jensen

Wisdom is the ability to see life from God’s perspective and to then act accordingly. Danny Akin

One person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety-nine who have only interests. John Stuart Mill

The highest of distinctions is service to others. King George VI

We all have those moments when we feel less. Right? Moments where we lack joy. Uncertain about what’s next. Always feeling like we’re looking in from the outside. We all do at times. And we try to move to a place of more, seeking a sense of renewed joy, with a clarity about tomorrow, and acceptance in the world around us. Or we don’t, and instead we continue to live a life marked by never having reached our full God-ordained potential. Scott Whitaker

One day we’ll pass through that veil called death and we will see the face of our Savior. Dan Shock

There is nothing like a dream to create the future. Victor Hugo

The Christian life calls for growth, change and spiritual development. The Preacher Man

You are only young once, but you can stay immature indefinitely. Ogden Nash.

___________________________

Your feedback is welcome. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2024

Week Two, 2024

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2).

We see it all around us. People conform their behavior to fit the culture of today. Conformity can be both good and bad. It can be good because it helps society to cooperate and function in an orderly way. But it can also be bad when conforming leads to bad outcomes and people stop thinking for themselves.

How does conformity occur today? The tendency to conform occurs in small groups and/or in society as a whole and may result from subtle unconscious influences or from direct and overt social pressure.

Conformity is the act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms, politics or being like-minded. People often choose to conform to society rather than to pursue personal desires – because it is often easier to follow the path others have made already, rather than forging a new one.

It comes in many ways:

▪ Peer Pressure: Teenagers engaging in risky behaviors because it’s deemed ‘cool’.

▪ Fashion Trends: People wearing a specific style of clothing because it’s currently popular in society.

▪ Corporate Culture: Employees adopting certain behaviors or attitudes to fit into the prevailing culture of their workplace or social groups.

The bottom line is that people in today’s world choose to adapt to the ways of the world when the Bible tells us to conform to the ways of the Word. Their identity becomes the identity of the world.

According to the Bible, Jesus is our identity, and He lives His life through us, so our chief purpose in this life is to be like Him. In our daily walk with Jesus, we learn from Him and His spirit is helping us do His will over our own will. Thus, we are becoming more like Jesus. This is what it means to be conformed to His image. How do we do that?

Romans 12:2 answers the question, ”How should we respond to God’s great mercy to us?” The answer is to become living, breathing sacrifices, using our lives up in service to God as an ongoing act of worship. That’s what makes sense. This is not a means to earn salvation, but the natural response we should have to being saved. To do this, we will need to break free from the me-first pattern of the world and have our minds changed in order to be able understand what God wants. Then we will know how to live. How will you conform your life?

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM EDGAR APONTE:

▪ You need to make a decision. Sometimes this decision will be difficult, and some people will even try to deceive you, but trust Jesus and obey His Word.

▪ There is only one door and one road that leads to eternal life, and that is Jesus. Trust and keep trusting Him!

▪ Beware of false teachers and do not be deceived by them. Exercise discernment!

▪ Our obedience to God’s Word shows that we are God’s children. Obey your good Heavenly Father!

▪ The wide gate is whatever pleases you.

▪ We do not follow the world, but rather do what the Bible says. That is the narrow gate. There is only one gate and one road to follow and that is Jesus. He is absolute and his way is narrow.

▪ There are not many ways. There is only one way and that is Jesus. No one comes to God, but through Jesus.

▪ Of the 27 books in the New Testament, 25 have warnings against false teachers.

▪ The greatest threat to the Christian church is not persecution, but rather false teaching.

▪ Obedience is evidence of salvation, but not a requirement.

▪ Only what Jesus did will save us.

▪ Trusting Jesus is not an intellectual opinion. It is the only option.

▪ Conviction without commitment is incomplete.

— o —

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. – Psalm 19:1-2 NLT

In our busy lives, all too often we miss them. In the normal day to day, we tend not to see them. But when we stop… take a breath… and really look, we see them everywhere. All around us are the fingerprints of God.

We see them when He paints the sky of the setting sun.

We see them in the explosiveness of the rising sun from darkest night.

We can see them in the mountain peaks and in the details of the smallest leaf.

We can see them on the ocean shore and in the details of the smallest shell.

We can see them when we can see forever on a starry starry night.

We can see them in the beauty of thunderclouds building in the distance or in lightning striking over the water during a late evening storm.

We can see those same fingerprints in the birth of a baby…

in the flight of a butterfly…

in eyes of a child…

in the life of a saint.

Truth is, God’s fingerprints are all around us and all over us. The Master Creator molded and made us and everything around us.

Let’s stop for a moment and breathe… and take off our worldly goggles and see the world around us. See the Lord’s creation. See the fingerprints of God.

Let’s stop for a moment and praise Him for His imagination and creativity.

Praise Him for being the Great Creator. And thank Him for the reminders that are the Fingerprints of God. Marty Stubblefield

— o —

In my life time, we have seen marriage redefined. Over 63 million babies murdered by abortionist since 1973. Deviant sexual behavior not only tolerated, but legalized and celebrated. Drag queens performing shows for elementary school students. Gender confusion with men thinking they are women and women deciding to be men. And too many religious leaders either remaining silent on the moral and spiritual issues of the day or even denying the percepts and principles of Biblical morality.

Our age is characterized by the summary statement of the period of the Judges when the writer said, “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judg. 21:25). The Preacher Man

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

A negative mind will never give you a positive life. Snoopy

Remember just because you went to college doesn’t make you any smarter than anyone else. Common sense doesn’t come with a degree.

Being hardened by sin, you find yourself doing things that you once swore you would never do. Dan Shock

The more you practice the art of thankfulness, the more you have to be thankful for.

In these changing times, we need to be anchored to the unchanging Christ. Norman Vincent Peale

When confronted with the truth, cowards and sinners will change the subject and pretend to not hear the truth. Don’t change the subject on me. Dwight Short

In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives. John F. Kennedy

If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share. W. Clement Stone

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. William Arthur Ward

We should certainly count our blessings, but we should also make our blessings count. Neal A. Maxwell

Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now. A.W. Tozer

The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings. Henry Ward Beecher

Careful for nothing, prayerful for everything, thankful for anything. Dwight L. Moody

No change of circumstances can repair a defect of character. Ralph Waldo Emerson

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2024

Week One, 2024

We should look to our eternal promises as a means to endure through trials while entrusting our souls to our faithful Creator (1 Peter 4:19).

We begin a new year, like we begin every new year, not knowing what lies ahead. We make resolutions, most of which will be broken by the end of the first month. Columnists, politicians, and prognosticators will predict what lies ahead and by year end, most will be proven wrong.

So, I am going to make my prediction. The question is what will be the most major, and significant events of the coming year. My answer will be the Bible and not in the way we would like to see. We will see it in the classroom, in the news media, on television and at the ballot box. In this coming year, the Bible will be on trial.

The Bible stands up to critical scrutiny and academic investigation. It shows itself to be a trustworthy record of historical events and God’s dealing with man. It is an all-inclusive promise to sinners of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. It is the world’s most important book. Without it, there would be no Western civilization.

It is an eyewitness account of historical events of such magnitude that they have literally shaped the world in which we live. Without this book the Western world and a good deal of the Eastern world would be completely different today than if the events of this book had never occurred.

The Bible is the only foundation to build our lives on. We are called not to just listen to the Word, but to do the Word. To listen only and not practice is dangerous. Casual Christianity may make you look good here, but won’t help you at the judgment. Someday we will see ourselves.

It is our foundation. Only the Bible and commitment to Christ will hold us when the storms of life arrive. Activism can be a coverup when we focus on what we do rather than who we do it for. The greatest storm will be the final judgment. The foundation is Jesus. He is the solid rock.

Yet, in today’s contemporary society, the Bible and all it stands for is hated by the liberals and woks who want nothing to do with Christianity. For many years people have ignored the Bible and gone their own ways, but now the Bible is under outright attack. We are at war.

I never thought I would see such disrespect of God’s Word as I do today. I have witnessed flagrant attacks on the Scriptures in which people challenge the intent of the Word. I have heard people claim that Jesus did not mean what He said and then proceeded to explain what He was actually saying. What is shocking is that many “celebrity” pastors/teachers, and evangelists are leading the charge away from the integrity of God’s Word. Yes, some of the attacks are coming from within with many denominations slipping down the slippery liberal slope. Nearly eight thousand United Methodist churches have left the denomination because of the wandering away from Biblical inerrancy.

The main reason people speak out against the Bible is because the Bible speaks out against their Lifestyle!

As Christ followers, we need to speak up and shout out for the Christian lifestyle. Be ready for war for it is coming and it is coming fast. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

In 2024, be ready to fight for the holiness of the Bible.

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

In 2024, we are called to…

– Love the Lord your God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength

– Love our neighbor as yourself

– Take up our cross and follow Him

– Go therefore and make disciples, teaching and baptizing them

– Love as you have been loved

– Forgive as you have been forgiven

– Do the work of Him who has sent you as long as it is day. For night is coming when no one can work

Marty Stubblefield

— o —

In Biblical times, Christianity was new, and believers were trying to understand what it meant to be a Christian. Many had come from religions which allowed them to act in evil ways to satisfy whatever idol they worshipped.

In addition to that, they had false teachers to deal with whose motivation was their own individual gain. To combat false teaching, the Apostle Paul wrote letters to various churches for their correction.

Even though we have the full Bible today, we also can get caught up in false teachings. Things like, “If you are a Christian, you will lead a trouble-free life”, or “You will get monetary blessings beyond your imagination”. They always sound enticing and play to your natural desires. However, they also become our idols, just like immortality, impurity, passion, evil desire and greed.

Listen to Paul who further says that only One is worthy of our worship, and that is Jesus Christ. Read the Word of God daily so you will recognize false teachings and reject them.

Go from idolatry to Christ. Rich Jensen

— o —

Cambridge Dictionary declared “hallucinate” as its word of the year for 2023. The reason has to do with artificial intelligence (AI), which “hallucinates” (also known as confabulating) when its tools produce false information. The dictionary’s publishing manager noted, The fact that AI can ‘hallucinate’ reminds us that humans still need to bring their critical thinking to the use of these tools.

— o —

Your 2024 guide:

be strong and courageous

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

The bigger the “why,” the easier the “how”. Jim Rohn

Stand firm and strong in what you know and believe. Elbert Nasworthy

Pay less attention to what men say. Just watch what they do. Dale Carnegie

God speaks to us through His Holy Spirit.

In these changing times, we need to be anchored to the unchanging Christ. Dan Shock

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. – 2 Chronicles 7:14

It is God who saves, but we are asked to participate in the process. Have confidence in God.

After people get saved, they need attention from the body of Christ. We are to work with and through the local church.

Why should anyone hear the Gospel twice, before everyone has heard it once. Oswald J. Smith

The fastest growing evangelical church is in Iran.

If it costs you your peace, it is too expensive. Paulo Coelho

You can’t create chaos in the lives of others and expect peace to come to yours. No matter what they did or how you feel, causing hurt to others will never bring healing to you. Morgan Richard Oliver

When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. Henry Ford

Unbelief can keep you from enjoying the rich, full life that God wants you to experience in Christ. Dan Shock

I didn’t get old on purpose, it just happened. If you are lucky, it could happen to you. Andy Rooney.

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2024

Week Fifty-Two, 2023

They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:10)

It was some time after Jesus was born that the three kings of the Orient bearing gifts traveled from afar. The gifts, which the three men carried, were fit for a King. Equivalent to today’s prices, a pound of frankincense was worth $500 a pound, and a pound of myrrh was $4,000. Gold is symbolic of Christ’s deity as King, frankincense represents His purity as Priest of God, and myrrh is suggestive of His anointed work as a Prophet and of His death.

Gold in the Bible is symbolic of God. It represents the most precious of metals and is extremely rare in its purest form. The intrinsic value of gold has been established since ancient times and gold was used to honor kings. Frankincense is an aromatic, clear resin obtained from trees in northern India and Arabia. Myrrh was a spice used for medicine, cosmetics, and anointing oil. It was mixed into the oil that was used to anoint prophets for the divinely appointed work of revealing God and communicating His will and words to His people.

wise men

At Christmas time we give gifts to one another as we celebrate God’s indescribable gift of Jesus (2 Cor. 9:15). We make a Christmas list, we plan, we shop, and we present those gifts of love to one another as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Hopefully by now, most of your Christmas shopping is done.

But what about Jesus? What are you giving Him this Christmas?

God tells us specifically what He wants for Christmas – He wants us to present our very lives back to Him as a generous, sacrificial present.

Consider how you would feel if you had a birthday party to celebrate your life, but rather than presenting birthday gifts to you, your family and friends only exchanged them with one another?

As you give presents to those on your Christmas list, let me ask you, What are you giving Jesus for Christmas? Maybe you’re wondering what the Creator of the World could possibly want as a present. Here’s what the Bible says, “Therefore, my brothers, in view of God’s mercy, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.” Romans 12:1

What does Jesus want for Christmas? YOU.

Merry Christmas to all from John and Beverley Grant.

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Oh, Little Town No More

Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, is set to remove Christmas decorations as a gesture of solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, reported the Jerusalem Post.

City officials, through social media channels and official spokespeople, announced the decision to dismantle Christmas decorations that had adorned the city’s neighborhoods for several years. The move is described as a tribute to the martyrs and an expression of support for the people in Gaza who have been affected by the conflict.

“Bethlehem Municipality crews announced the dismantling of Christmas decorations installed several years ago in the city’s neighborhoods and removing all festive appearances in honor of the martyrs and in solidarity with our people in Gaza,” the city posted on Facebook, according to the New York Post.

A spokesperson for the city elaborated on the decision in a statement to The Telegraph.

“The reason is the general situation in Palestine; people are not really into any celebration, they are sad, angry and upset; our people in Gaza are being massacred and killed in cold blood,” the spokesperson said.

“Therefore, it is not appropriate at all to have such festivities while there is a massacre happening in Gaza and attacks in the West Bank.”

Despite Bethlehem’s significance to Christians and its status as a destination for religious tourism during the Advent season, the city has a predominantly Muslim population.

Over the years, the Christian community in Bethlehem has experienced a steady decline, with Christians constituting over 80% of the local population in 1950, but now making up around 10% in a Muslim-dominated region. Factors contributing to this decline include persecution, religious harassment, and low birth rates among the Christian population.

The Christian exodus is not confined to Bethlehem, as reported by The Times. Christians in the West Bank, in general, have faced challenges leading to a decline in their numbers. Presently, approximately 185,000 Christians reside in Israel, constituting just under 2% of the population, according to Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics.

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Be fair and gracious in your judgments, always rejecting religious or moral hypocrisy, but without compromising the truth. Edgar Aponte

There is no such thing as a little freedom. Either you are all free, or you are not free. Walter Cronkite

Invest your life in the lives of others. Edgar Aponte

Think Deeply. Think Gently. Love much and often and be kind.

To be happy you must let go of what’s gone and be grateful of what remains, while looking forward to what is coming next.

Awareness of ignorance is the beginning of wisdom. Socrates

Anxiety never solved a problem, never dried a tear, never lifted a burden, never removed an obstacle. It never made bad things good or good things better. James Merritt

It’s the emotion of having fears of an unknown or anticipated future that disrupts the possibility of peace, rest and joy in the present.

The secret of getting ahead is getting started. Mark Twain

Israel is the only nation on earth that inhabits the same land, bears the same name, speaks the same language, and worships the same God that it did 3,000 years ago. Charles Krauthammer.

A godly woman doesn’t need to be test driven like car, because a godly man knows who built her. She’s quality.

Opportunity doesn’t need appointments, you have to be ready when it arrives.

Water is the most essential element of life, because without water you can’t make coffee. Peanuts

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2023

Series–Stories from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Upon entering this church, the traditional site of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, you’ll see a large mosaic on the back wall of the entryway with three distinct scenes.

—The right scene: The removal of Jesus’ body from the cross—notice the skull directly beneath the cross, for many believe that Adam, the first man, was buried under the hill of Golgotha at the very spot where Jesus was crucified. Also can you make out the two angels hovering above the two outside crosses? They’re hard to see in this picture, but they are holding handkerchiefs and evidently crying! What is the man dressed in green doing at the feet of Jesus?

—The middle scene: The anointing of Jesus’ body—notice the angels hovering above his body. What color garments does the Bible say they were wearing and how many were actually there? What do you think is in the vase and basket in the foreground?

—The left scene: The burial of Jesus’ body—who do you think are the four people carrying the body of Jesus? The woman with the red head scarf and blue skirt, the gray-headed man with the beard, the dark-headed man to his right and the man in green holding Jesus’ feet?

—What do you think?  

—Daniel McCabe

Week Fifty-One, 2023

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him (Colossians 1:16).

As a child and then a young boy, I went to church, Bible school, camp and all sorts of other church activities. In school, the day started with prayer and we studied the Biblical story of creation. I learned it the way it was. Then, I was off to college and heard the other side of the story about millions of years of evolution. I came from a blob of protoplasm and evolved over millions of years. I became confused. Which way is it?

Then more recently, I toured some of the national parks, like the Grand Canyon, Zion and Brice. All I heard from the guides was millions of years of everything. I began to really question which way is it. So, I decided to study science and draw my own conclusions.

I got a balanced scientific book that presented the facts and as I read the true facts, I became truly convinced that I am a creationist, not just because the Bible says it, but because the facts prove it. I concluded that it takes more faith to be an evolutionist than to be a creationist.

Look at the facts. If there were millions of years of evolution, one would expect billions of transitional fossils and living forms. There are none. This one fact alone should convince most rational people that evolution is a false doctrine.

Geological landforms and sedimentary features found throughout the world confirm catastrophic upheaval and global flood, not uniformitarianism. There are no transitional anywhere in the fossil record. Fossils like fish and fauna show instantaneous burial with decay to the elements that would otherwise occur over time.

People today have been so well indoctrinated with the idea of evolution and an ancient earth by secular teachers or professors in public schools and universities and are never exposed to the substantial evidence for a young earth and the many fatally flawed assumptions and gaps and failures in evolutionary doctrine.

The Bible speaks of people being corrupted in their thinking by turning their backs on God (Romans 1:18) and so spiritually blind that they cannot see the obvious (Acts 28:25-27). Creation has not been disproved by science, but has simply been rejected or ignored in favor of false assumptions and poor science. They are a product of a secular naturalistic educational system.

One reason for rejection in institutions of higher learning that are replete with secularist, humanistic, atheistic who are afraid of being admonished or ridiculed if they even suggested that one should examine creationism. Why? Because to do so they would have to recognize that there is a creator.

Look at the facts. Examine the “science” of creationism and remember the flood that changed it all by the hand of God.

What does the Bible say about the flood? Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; men and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds of the air were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark. The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days. And the earth and all the creatures within it were never the same again.

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

God’s Will for Our Lives

– To love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength

– To love your neighbor as yourself

– To flee evil

– To be joyful and give thanks in all circumstances

– To praise Him and worship Him

– To dwell on all that is good and pure and true

– To go therefore and make disciples

– To daily put on the full armor of God

– To daily take up your cross and follow Him

– To pray continually

— o —

Disneyland is announcing its first official Pride Night for this June. There will be a parade with Mickey Mouse and other characters “dressed in special attire,” dance parties, and special dining and merchandise. Participants are encouraged to “proudly display your true colors and be your unique and fabulous self.”

This is not to be confused with Gay Days, which will run at Disney World and other Orlando-area venues from May 31 through June 4. Or with the Disneyland Paris Pride event on June 17. Or with the Disney Pride Collection of merchandise.

I wonder when they will announce the Christian night?

— o —

George Washington stated in his 1796 “Farewell Address”: “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” In a letter to the Massachusetts Militia on October 11, 1798, John Adams agreed: “Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

— o —

As of this writing, nearly thirteen million babies have lost their lives to abortion so far this year. This number is equivalent to the populations of West Virginia, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Maine, Montana, Rhode Island, Delaware, South Dakota, North Dakota, Alaska, Vermont, and Wyoming—combined. In the US, nearly 20 percent of all pregnancies end in abortion.

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

A man’s character may be learned from the adjectives which he habitually uses in conversation. Mark Twain

Life is like a piano. What you get out of it depends on how you play it. Tom Lehrer

Every moment is a golden one for him who has the vision to recognize it as such. Henry Miller

Never trouble another for what you can do for yourself. Thomas A. Edison

If you are limiting your Christian life to a service on Sunday morning, then you are not a Christian. Edgar Aponte

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike. John Muir

When going through trials, we often feel alone. We think nobody sees or understands. But God knows. Dan Shock

There are some things that money just cannot buy, like manners, morals and integrity.

A beautiful face will age, and a perfect body will change but a beautiful soul will always be a beautiful soul.

Enjoy the little things in life because one day you will look back and realize that they were the big things.

When you love what you have, you have everything you need.

The world is changed by your example, not your opinion.

God is still writing your story. Quit trying to steal the pen.

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2023

Series–Stories from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

—Inside this church that marks the traditional site of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ there is a small underground room cut out of the surrounding rock that most visitors shuffle in and out of without any knowledge of the exciting discovery said to have been made there in 326 A.D. by Helena, the mother of Constantine, the first Christian emperor of Rome. What did Helena find? The cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified!

—The discovery of the cross sent waves of joy throughout the Christian world, giving rise to the sale of its fragments as relics while prompting others to question the legitimacy of Helena’s discovery. John Calvin once quipped, for example, that all the extant fragments of the cross, if collected, could fill a large ship. The church countered that the blood of Christ, having dripped upon the cross during Jesus’ crucifixion, gave to the cross a material indestructibility so that it could be divided indefinitely without diminishment much like the well-known miracle of the loaves and fishes, and thus the Feast of the Finding of the Cross became an annual celebration for the Roman Catholic Church until 1960 when it was abruptly omitted from the church calendar.

—Some believe that the custodians of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher still possess a fragment of the cross that is on display in a quiet room near the front entrance of the church. Others simply shrug their shoulders in doubt or shake their heads in disbelief. For me it has never been about proving the authenticity of cross fragments, Jesus’ burial shroud, or even the exact spot on the hill of Golgotha where Jesus was crucified. If authenticated, those things would certainly confirm the historicity of the Bible or add a wave of awe to my own worship of Jesus, but it really comes down to one’s personal relationship with him, and for me the words of the hymn writer put it best, “I need no other argument. I need no other plea. It is enough that Jesus died and that He died for me.”

—Daniel McCabe

Series–Stories from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

The True Cross, part 8

—Inside this church that marks the traditional site of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ there is a small underground room cut out of the surrounding rock that most visitors shuffle in and out of without any knowledge of the exciting discovery said to have been made there in 326 A.D. by Helena, the mother of Constantine, the first Christian emperor of Rome. What did Helena find? The cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified!

—The discovery of the cross sent waves of joy throughout the Christian world, giving rise to the sale of its fragments as relics while prompting others to question the legitimacy of Helena’s discovery. John Calvin once quipped, for example, that all the extant fragments of the cross, if collected, could fill a large ship. The church countered that the blood of Christ, having dripped upon the cross during Jesus’ crucifixion, gave to the cross a material indestructibility so that it could be divided indefinitely without diminishment much like the well-known miracle of the loaves and fishes, and thus the Feast of the Finding of the Cross became an annual celebration for the Roman Catholic Church until 1960 when it was abruptly omitted from the church calendar.

—Some believe that the custodians of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher still possess a fragment of the cross that is on display in a quiet room near the front entrance of the church. Others simply shrug their shoulders in doubt or shake their heads in disbelief. For me it has never been about proving the authenticity of cross fragments, Jesus’ burial shroud, or even the exact spot on the hill of Golgotha where Jesus was crucified. If authenticated, those things would certainly confirm the historicity of the Bible or add a wave of awe to my own worship of Jesus, but it really comes down to one’s personal relationship with him, and for me the words of the hymn writer put it best, “I need no other argument. I need no other plea. It is enough that Jesus died and that He died for me.”

—Daniel McCabe

Life in the Land:

Series–Stories from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

The True Cross, part 8

—Inside this church that marks the traditional site of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ there is a small underground room cut out of the surrounding rock that most visitors shuffle in and out of without any knowledge of the exciting discovery said to have been made there in 326 A.D. by Helena, the mother of Constantine, the first Christian emperor of Rome. What did Helena find? The cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified!

—The discovery of the cross sent waves of joy throughout the Christian world, giving rise to the sale of its fragments as relics while prompting others to question the legitimacy of Helena’s discovery. John Calvin once quipped, for example, that all the extant fragments of the cross, if collected, could fill a large ship. The church countered that the blood of Christ, having dripped upon the cross during Jesus’ crucifixion, gave to the cross a material indestructibility so that it could be divided indefinitely without diminishment much like the well-known miracle of the loaves and fishes, and thus the Feast of the Finding of the Cross became an annual celebration for the Roman Catholic Church until 1960 when it was abruptly omitted from the church calendar.

—Some believe that the custodians of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher still possess a fragment of the cross that is on display in a quiet room near the front entrance of the church. Others simply shrug their shoulders in doubt or shake their heads in disbelief. For me it has never been about proving the authenticity of cross fragments, Jesus’ burial shroud, or even the exact spot on the hill of Golgotha where Jesus was crucified. If authenticated, those things would certainly confirm the historicity of the Bible or add a wave of awe to my own worship of Jesus, but it really comes down to one’s personal relationship with him, and for me the words of the hymn writer put it best, “I need no other argument. I need no other plea. It is enough that Jesus died and that He died for me.”

—Daniel McCabe

Week Fifty, 2023

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. (1 Timothy 6:17-18).

His handshake was a firm grip, and he was neatly dressed in business casual. In all other respects he looked like anyone else as our eyes made contact. I enjoyed hearing his comments about generosity, as he, now advanced in age, shared his life story. He shared his sorrow over the recent death of his wife.

After a stint in the Air Force and then as electronic manufacturer representative, he told how he mortgaged his home in 1966 to open his stereo equipment store in St. Paul, Minnesota. His name is Richard Schulze. He opened a series of stores and re-named them Best Buy, now with 1138 Best Buy stores worldwide. His net worth is somewhere above three billion dollars, half of which he is giving to charities, in addition to all the millions he has already given away.

As I drove home from our meeting, I thought about shaking hands with a billionaire. His handshake was like any other. All of his money couldn’t have prevented or bring back the tragic cancer death of his wife. I thought of Proverbs 22:21, “The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all.”

I thought of the Peanuts quote: If you are satisfied with all that you have, you have all you need. There are some things that money cannot buy. Like manners, morals and integrity.

How do you feel satisfied with what you have?

That’s not always easy, but here are some things that have worked for me:

1. Count your blessings. …

2. Stop, and remind yourself. …

3. Stop, and consider why you want something. …

4. Take time to appreciate your life! …

5. Show people you appreciate them. …

6. Breathe, and smile. …

7. Learn to enjoy the simple things.

We live in a me, me, me and a more, more, more world. It’s all about power, prestige, position and pocketbook.

We need to take time to smell the roses. “Stop and smell the roses” is an idiom that means to relax; to take time out of one’s busy schedule to enjoy or appreciate the beauty of life.

My wife planted a rose garden beside our driveway. It blooms constantly and I placed a sign in it that says to “stop and smell the roses.” I see it every day as I drive out. It sets the pace and perspective for the day.

What is your pace and perspective for your day?

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

That guilty-pleasure donut you love will soon get a healthy makeover.

Known as partially hydrogenated oil, or PHO, one type of trans fat commonly found in commercial baked goods linked to heart disease and other health issues for years is about to be eliminated from the U.S. food supply.

How Did We Get Here? The long road of removing trans fats from the food supply is about to end. It started in 2015 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ruled that artificial trans fats were unsafe to eat. The agency gave the food industry three years to reformulate products and ensure an orderly transition in the marketplace. In August 2023, the agency issued a direct final rule, making the decision permanent and enforceable.

Starting Dec. 22, 2023, no products containing PHOs will be allowed on grocery store shelves. I feel healthier already.

— o —

If you made a list from the past week of the people you have criticized and the people you have encouraged, which list would be the longest? Edgar Aponte

— o —

A recent poll showed that 63 percent of Americans are very or somewhat pessimistic about “the moral and ethical standards in our country” while only 12 percent said they had “quite a lot” of confidence in the nation’s future.

— o —

Two million people fled America’s largest cities from 2020 to 2022, new research shows, signaling that a retreat from urban centers to suburbs, exurbs and smaller cities in the early months of the pandemic has hardened into an enduring and potentially worrisome trend.

— o —

One-third of Americans with credit card debt say no one else knows how much they owe, according to a new report. The nation’s credit card balance hovers around $1 trillion, and interest rates routinely top 20 percent. A typical American household now carries around $10,000 in card debt.

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

When God fights for you, you don’t need supersonic missiles. God does everything by His Word. Stephen Bernard

The longer you serve the Lord, the more you will realize that His rules and His plans are totally different than ours or the world’s ideas. Dwight Short

The church’s job is to not to conform Christ to men, but men to Christ. Dorothy Sayers

Do not compromise the truth! Edgar Aponte

It is one thing to know of God, and quite another thing to know God. Dan Shock

Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid. President Ronald Reagan

The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! (Psalm 34).

When we approach God in prayer, do we usually approach Him with a request for something or help with something; or do we ever approach Him with a desire to praise Him simply for who He is? Scott Whitaker

Do we glorify God with our passion? Or do we glorify ourselves if we glorify anything at all? Marty Stubblefield

Every day’s news brings more examples of our society’s rejection of biblical morality. But like a river that erodes the shoreline we can see and the underwater banks we cannot, the cultural currents of our day are undermining our democracy in ways that are less apparent, but no less foundational. Jim Denison

Nothing brings greater peace and confidence to your life than when you recognize the lordship of Jesus, surrender to His authority, and place your life in His hands. Not only does that decision bring you peace and confidence, it also brings you strength and endurance. Dan Shock

God’s aim looks like it is missing the mark because we are too short-sighted to see what He is aiming at. Oswald Chambers

If you are always worried about the bees, you’ll never get to taste the honey!

Any parent or doctor who sterilizes a child before they are a consenting adult should go to prison for life. Elon Musk

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2023