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 A teacher of the Word of God is never responsible for what students done with what he teaches, his liability is limited to teach what he knows, the best that he knows. All who were in The Way We are responsible for that we learned there, we cannot make responsible to Dr. Wierwille, Martindale or Rivenbark. We are bless to see that many Ex Way, continue moving with God, putting into practice what  they have learned, we are saddened also to see others who do nothing, have not broken the past anchors. Bitterness hurts and does more damage to the vessel that contains that to the cause of bitterness. God told us that where two or more gathered in His name there is Him. Is so easy to be a Christian: you met in your house with your husband or wife, your children, share the doctrine of the Apostles, have communion, share the bread and pray together, if you invite a neighbor, you are a Minister of reconciliation and an Ambassador for Christ, you can give good account of your stewardship. When Christ returns, we will ask for account of our Ministry and our Embassy, are you going to say that we were not Ministers or ambassadors because Dr. Wierwille died?, or Martindale or Rivenbark treated us badly do, or not treated us as I expected?, or because I'm tired and old, with grandchildren?  You know that these are not the answers. We love you, The Cabrera’s, Venezuela.

Our recent community garage sale sent me to my attic to ask myself again "Why do I still have that?" I have always used garage sales to purge stuff I no longer need.

This year I saw something in the corner of my attic that I put together some 30 years ago. It was my Mal-Pak survival kit. Around 1982 we were led to believe the end of our country was near. There was going to be an inevitable collapse of everything. The best plan was to head to the wilderness and live off the land when (not if) things collapsed. This was before the internet and cell phones. The advice was to become expert at survival techniques, move out to some remote area and fend for yourself if not defend yourself. What's not shown in the picture are my gun and bullets.

It was a scary time, not because of the condition of our country. It was scary because of what we were being told was coming.

The months and years rolled by and so did everyday life. Nothing happened. In fact our country experienced great prosperity and economic growth unlike we have seen since. Meanwhile my Mal Pak collected dust in the attic.

Turns out the best advice would have been to invest in America and buy stocks of little known or smaller companies at the time like Wal Mart, McDonalds, Apple and Microsoft among dozens of others. (Glad I did later.) The more conspiratorial among us could have even hoarded gold and not done too bad.

I feel we are at another turning point in this great country and that good times are ahead. Though some may disagree and say to "head for the hills", I am looking forward to seeing what God will do for us in the next 30 years.

Good reasons to examine Romans

The first word in the book of Romans is the name of the

man God chose to verbally express Gods revealing of Himself

and His relationships with all who dwell on the earth which

live after the first coming of the Messiah the Lord Jesus

Christ.

It is important to understand that Paul did not invent

the concepts he was wisely chosen to communicate. These well

known verses tell us how the word of God on a whole entered

into our world.

2 Peter 1:20,21

2 Tim 3:16,17

Gal 1:10 - 12

Paul was a man of God. Romans 1:1 Continues to define

Paul as "a servant of Jesus Christ" Here lies the nature of

all true men of God. They will always be first and foremost

servants of Jesus Christ.

We are exhorted to imitate Pauls work of service:

1 Cor 11:1

The degree to which any individual person will serve

another is a simple matter of choice. We each chose who to

serve or not.

A vital question is : Will it be wise for me to serve

Jesus Christ or not ?

Personally I have been frightened by statements issued

under the Christian label stating, "You must give your whole

life to Jesus" This seems like a lot to ask ! In fact this

seems impossible to do. Just how is this accomplished ?

As discussed in the following chapters the book of Romans

will reveal the sensible explanation about becoming a servant

of Jesus Christ.

From Romans 1:1 we learn this service had become a way of

life for Paul. This decision to be a servant is a

prerequisite to attain an experiential based understanding

of the truths revealed in the chapters to come.

It is possible for any individual born of body and soul

to become a servant of Jesus Christ. It is not possible for

the whole of mankind to fulfill the work of Paul noted next in

the verse, In addition to being a servant of Jesus Christ

Paul was also called an apostle.

Romans 1:1a

Paul a servant of Jesus Christ Called to be an apostle

"Called" as used here is translated from the Greek word

"kleetos", it is used many times in the New Testament.

Jude 1:1 concludes with the word "kleetos"

Different people are called by God to assume different

roles in this life. God does the calling. It is each person

who decides how he or she will respond.

Jude 1:1

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James,

to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved

in Jesus Christ, and called.

Jude is addressing the whole church, all are sanctified

all are preserved, all are called. The church made up of

people who have answered Gods call to be servants of Jesus

Christ.

This word kleetos as used in this verse does not mean

labeled. As you or I would give a name to some object, like

a new born kitten we might start calling Bob. Yes, Bob the

cat, I rather like that. In these verses kleetos is more

like a calling to a position, or a calling to an action. As

coming from a loving God the idea included is that related

with the calling comes to the individual the ability to act

in this position or way of life with complete success.

2 Peter Chapter 1 speaks about the calling of God to all.

2 Peter 1:1

Simon Peter a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ to them

that have obtained like precious faith with us through the

righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

Peter like all called, was also a servant of Jesus

Christ. He also had the unique ministry of an apostle as did

Paul.

2 Peter 1:2,3

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge

of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord.

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things

that pertain unto life and Godliness through the knowledge of

him who hath called you to glory and virtue.

Two more things we all are called to are glory and

virtue. The one thing that never changes about the many

callings God makes to people is the simple fact that it is

the individuals job to respond to the calling. By the freedom

of their will people decide how to respond.

A calling can be ignored or received. This verse does not

really explain what glory is in a practical sense as we live

our lives. From here all we know is whatever glory is we are

called to it. Same goes for virtue. Other sections of

scripture help to expand our knowledge concerning the Glory

and virtue to which we are all called.

Glory in the bible takes on many forms. The Greek

equivalent is the word "doxa" which is used about 180

times in the New Testament alone. Sometimes it is used to

describe the physical presents of a spiritually originated

light.

Luke 2:8-10

A few verses following this same word doxa is used again but

in a different way.

Luke 2:11-14

Here doxa is directed to God. A Glory to the One who has

sent His angel to announce the birth of our Savior. Here

glory takes the form of praise and adulation, the recognition

of the great and wonderful supremacy and wisdom of God the

creator. The next appearance of doxa in Luke Chapter 2 uses

this word in a different way yet again.

Luke 2:25-32

Jesus Christ the man and Son of God is called "the glory

of thy people Israel". He is the manifestation of the glory

they may attain. Christ is foremost display of the manifested

power of God living in a man.

Many times the word Glory is used to refer to the powers

possessions which display the magnitude or greatness of the

one who has access to these things. Luke 12:27 is an example.

Luke 12:27

God from the beginning planned a glory for Jesus Christ.

God called his firstborn Son to enter into this glory. We

read about this in Luke.

Luke 24:25-27

In 2 Peter we learned that we also are called to a glory.

Lets us continue the search through the scriptures to uncover

the details about our calling to glory.

Psalm 84:11

1 Cor 2:7

1 Thes 2:10-12

2 Thes 2:13,14

We were called to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord

Jesus. This brings up some interesting questions. To what

degree can this glory be manifested in the day to day world

in which we live ? What do the people living this glory

produce ? The book of Romans becomes our valuable assistant

to answer these questions. The word doxa appears 16 times

spread through out the book of Romans, (each to be covered in

detail) overall we learn that the Christian believers are to

both seek the glory of God in their actions and to glorify

God in their words thus being servants of Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:4

Many times in the N.T. the phrase glory of God is used

to indicate "the manifested power of God". Gods spiritual

power, His glory, is being shown in this world in some

particular way. When we are reading the context of the

surrounding truths in the bible tell us how Gods glory is

being made known. Gods glory was shown in a specific way when

he raised Jesus from grave Gods glory is shown yet in other

ways when a member of the Church makes the decision to "walk

in newness of life". Therefore there are ways to show Gods

glory now. 1 Cor exhorts:

1 Cor 10:31b - do all to the glory of God.

Quite a challenge and an impossible feat without a

knowledge of Romans. In contrast to the glories we are called

to be proclaiming as we await the return of our Lord and

Savior Jesus Christ , the book of Romans progresses and we

learn of still another category of glory

Romans 8:18

Here it speaks of the glory "which shall be revealed in

us". This type of glory differs from the glory which is NOW

revealed by us ! Failing to realize this may lead to an

underestimation of the power in Gods calling to glory that

can be brought forth as part of our current life on earth.

One might limit the phrase "Called to glory" to always equal

"going to heaven" While at times the call to glory does refer

to the wonderful experiences to come with Christs return, a

careful study shows the fullness within the call to glory.

It is invigorating to realize the call to glory is

eternal. The benefits begin to appear to each one who answers

the call at the moment he responds by believing, then

continue unfold for all time.

2 Tim 2:10

The glory we are called unto certainly has many marvelous

individual attributes given in detail throughout the New

Testament. In addition to glory, virtue is another part of

Gods call to all mankind. Within virtue there exist many

positive aspects to explore.

2 Peter 1:2,3

Virtues are good qualities of every kind. To be in

harmony and alignment with Gods will we must desire to aspire

to be people who are actively living the good qualities as

defined in his word, the foundation for this way of life is

spelled out in Romans the book placed first in all texts

among the Church epistles.

Why is It first ? Because Romans is the starting point

for all Christian instruction. The most basic and necessary

concepts and truths about the Christian life are given in

Romans. It must be read and understood first to understand

the new covenant God has made with His people. Romans gives

to us the beginning of the revealing of the gospel. It is the

first of seven books in the bible addressed directly to the

Church of the body of Christ that came in to being on the

first Day of Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus Christ

about 2000 years ago. The next six church epistles,

Corinthians Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and

Thessalonians all build upon the bedrock truths established

in the book of Romans. We must be correct in the

interpretation of the book of Romans or we will be lost in

our search for truth a amiss in our attempts to live a Godly

life.

Before beginning the detailed study of the book of Romans

let us continue with the section of scripture in the Peters

second epistle as Peter continues to help us, revealing what

we need to do in light of Gods calling.

2 Peter 1,4-11

These verses contain a great deal of things for us to

carry out. Verse 10 focuses on the need to give diligence to

the end our calling becomes sure. To make our calling sure we

determine to live within the promises of the calling. This

requires action. We are not just reading about the written

definitions of glory or virtue we are experiencing the events

associated with the words. This obviously this is Gods will

in making his callings. God already has done His part and

here in 2 Peter it tells of the activities we must undertake

to see our calling manifest now.

One thing that might not be too obvious is this truth:

To do what it says in Peter we must know about what Paul

was inspired to write in Romans. Trying to live a Christian

life with out understanding the foundation Romans states is

impossible. Just as is building a skyscraper with no

foundation, lacking a firm base the edifice will topple in

the process of being built.

Verse 12 sheds some light about the kind of people this

letter was sent to originally. A key word is "remembrance".

Consider this, He says : I will not be negligent to put you

in remembrance of these things. What things ? All the things

spoken of since the opening of the epistle. His audience was

instructed. Peters message was a brief yet great stir up to

the converted. His audience was for the most part instructed

already in the knowledge found in the book of Romans, to be

they were the ones who could really comprehend was he was teaching.

2 Peter 1:12,13

Peter was given God inspired wisdom. He glorified God as

his life matured. He understood that Paul wrote at times by

way of divine revelation and in the close of the epistle of

2 Peter we find these words:

2 Peter 3:14-18

With this exhortation the detailed study of Romans moves on.

Dr. Wierwille's STS and Tape of the Month teachings are on the Internet Archive website.  There are also some of Bishop Pillai's, too.  A number of the teachings are from the Advanced Class.  Great stuff!  The URL is: http://archive.org/search.php?query=subject%3A%22Victor%20Paul%20Wierwille%22

This webpage has links to literals according to usage of Romans - Thessalonians; Timothy, Titus & Philemon.  There are pdf links to the literals are at the bottom of each book explanation page.  There are also Way Corps newsletters and info about Bishop Pillai, George Lamsa, EW Bullinger, etc.  The URL is: https://sites.google.com/site/vpwierwille/

The School of the Prophets paper can be found here: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxwcm9waGV0c3NjaG9vbHxneDoyODY3ZDAxM2ZiMjk0Y2Jh

Many of us already are well aware of the truth of the above title, BUT many around us are not.  It was one of the first lies introduced by Satan, and continues to blind so many.  I suggest you take the time to read this article on this truth, that we are ALL dead UNTIL the Resurrection:

http://www.inthebeginning.org/kingdom/ramey/lifepromisedintroduction.pdf

Another truth we must be aware of is, that the timing for this Resurrection is essential to understand.  Many of the religious systems of this world continue to teach that the followers of Jesus Christ will not be impacted by the end time events, and will not experience any tribulation.  May be "nice" to "think" that that is the truth, BUT it is not what the scriptures declare.  Firstly, why would we be exempt from tribulation, when tribulation, and persecution, is clearly depicted in scripture (and history) for virtually all who have stood for the truth of the gospel?  All we have to do is read Revelation 11 to see the timing of Christ's coming to establish His earthly coming kingdom. 

Revelation 11:15 is A KEY VERSE. 

¹⁵ Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “ The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”

Please read the events leading up to the 7th trumpet,(the previous 6 trumpets have already happened).  The scriptures clearly depict the first 3 1/2 years of the tribulation being a time before Christs return and the resurrection and gathering together.  The second 3 1/2 years (Great Tribulation) happens after a 1,000 year period (this depicting the time span when Satan is bound up).  Many refer to the "Millennium reign of Jesus Christ", yet the scriptures do not, they make it clear it is not limited to 1,000 years (His reign continues into "the ages of the ages").  So those teaching we get sucked up into heaven for a 7 year period, thereby missing any tribulation are teaching "another gospel". Galatians 1:9. 
This is a Chart which shows some of the events, and the scriptural backing for the timing of these events.

http://www.inthebeginning.org/kingdom/ramey/overviewchart.pdf

http://www.thelivingtruthfellowship.org/tltf/TET_Seminar.html

THE END TIMES VIDEO NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER!

Please ask yourself how many times you have been disappointed or let down when you’ve heard John Lynn teach the Bible? Then ask yourself how often you were edified, if not electrified? If the answer to the second question dwarfs the answer to the first, ya gotta hear his latest: The End Times, subtitled “Good News—We Win!”

This electrifying and enlightening video teaching (eight segments totaling 5:20) begins with an overview of The Administrations in Scripture and concludes with an exposition of every verse in 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Using a gorgeous 5’ x 9’ overview of Genesis through Revelation (“From There to Eternity”), John Lynn powerfully sets forth God’s Truth about what lies ahead for Christians, and the world.

Understanding what parts of the Bible are written TO WHOM: (1) Jews, (2) Non-Jews (“Gentiles”/”Greeks”), (3) Christians—past, present, and future, is the greatest key to making sense of the Bible, and is indispensable to you maximizing your spiritual potential and living a fruitful Christian life.

John shows exactly what the Word written to Christians says about the Rapture of the Church preceding the Tribulation and Christ’s Millennial Kingdom, and focuses on our unique calling in this “Administration of the Secret” (Eph. 3:9). His teaching on the Administrations is expansive, eye opening, and extremely entertaining, and his exposition of Paul’s epistles to the Thessalonians is loaded with both biblical and practical insight.

Considering people’s widespread fascination with the “End Times” and the great number of “prophetic” ministries in Christendom, this seminar is a must for those who want to know that they know how The Best Book ends and everlasting life begins, and what to do in the meantime. Despite its clarity in Scripture, this information has been hidden from the vast majority of Christians throughout the centuries. John’s humor helps to make this video a joy to watch. You’ll love it!

Get your DVD copy today for only $39, or three for $99, and then encourage everyone you can to get a copy and share it with others. You could do it in a weekend and have folks eat and share together between sessions.

To order online, go to our Online Store at the following link:
http://www.store.tltf.org/THE-END-TIMES-TLTF-TET.htm

Or make out a check/money order to The Living Truth Fellowship (or TLTF), and mail it to: 7399 N. Shadeland Ave., Ste. 252, Indianapolis IN 46256. Add $5 for S & H.

This past week, Lisa and I listened to and gave the OK on the final song that Lisa recorded in 2011.  The actual recording was done on December 30 and we received the final mix last week.  That puts the final touches on last year’s work and we are now beginning to plan for another great year of recording for 2012.  Eventually each of these songs will be sent out through the Song of the Week distribution. 

At the time I am writing this, Lisa has recorded over 70 songs.  This includes her four publicly released albums.  Of these songs, she has written all but two.  In looking over the list of songs that were completed in 2011, the oldest was written in about 1974.  The most recent was written in November 2011.  As we look at recording plans for 2012 it should be much the same.  Right now I think we will be getting well over 20 additional songs done and maybe more.  Once we have everything recorded at least once, there are some songs that we will consider re-recording.  Lisa has some in mind from previous releases that she would like to record again.  Additionally, there are some of the earlier 2011 songs that we may record again since we went through several equipment changes  through the year.  Our engineer was getting to know us and making some upgrades to the gear as appropriate.  For those of you who like all of the recording gear detail, you can visit www.euphonicstudio.us.   In addition to the recording blog, there is a section on the Euphonic Studio gear updates in a dropdown on the right hand side of the screen.

Currently we have no plans to make a new CD or any release like that.  All of the changes in the music distribution industry have led us to the conclusion that it would be too much time, effort and resources used for too little return.  We have (for better or for worse) decided to use the Song of the Week as the distribution method for Lisa’s songs.  For those of you on the distribution list, you can know that patient waiting means that you will eventually have them all.

One additional thing that we have thought about for 2012 is making a few trips out of Iowa if there are fellowships that would be blessed with what Lisa and I can provide.  We don’t do that too often as we really like being home.  It’s pretty hard to pry us out of here but if it would be a blessing then we would consider it.

On 12/21/11, John Lynn was the featured guest on In Your Face, a Christian radio talk show hosted by Rob Ekno. The one-hour show originates in Los Angeles, and the station says it is heard by about 300K people in more than 100 countries. At this link you can hear it without commercials: http://www.thelivingtruthfellowship.org/tltf/Radio_Show.html

God bless you, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

It is assumed liberals own art.  I disagree with the highest protest possible.  Who is more artistic?  The painter of the gentle country scene with the rustic farm buildings, or the artisan who's toil and labor provided the beauty expressed in the painting? Who was the better artist?  Van Gogh, or the simple gardener?  We loved the first shots of the earth from space, and that ladies and gentlemen is the triumph of conservative poetry and art.

The conservative poet might just as easily fix a tractor as inspire the heart.  They are the true poets of the people.  Their poetry is the life of reality, not fiction, nor fantasy, hyperbole, or what if.  Their beat is the rhythm of industry, of progress, of real beats measured in real time.

The conservative poet before concern for the endangered species worked with state and federal governments to set aside vast tracts of land for wildlife with a self-imposed tax at their bequest, called the duck stamp.  Duck hunters since the 1930's have puirchased and given to state and federal governments wet lands that if put together would equal the size of Mass.  They made the fire breaks of the forest and trails to aid in fighting forest fires.  They put the wind breaks on the prairies and with the greatest foresight provided innumerable acres of lakes.  They have been the true watchmen of not only the land, but of wildlife.  The wild turkey, was once almost extinct, now they are so plentiful, they threaten other species of wildlife, and the effort was put forth by a small minority with their own money.  When I was 14 you could not shoot a Canadian Honker.  Now they are a menace.  A beautifu menace.  There are more snow geese on the planet now than when Columbus discovered America.  They have not only a fall seasopn, but a spring season, and the limit is 20, because of over-population.  American forestry plants more trees than are harvested each year.

The poetry of the conservative might be a blueprint for a home, a theorum for better food production, or a better way to reach natural resources.  Or it just might be Francis Scott Key who during the bombardment was inspired to write; "OH SAY CAN YOU SEE."  The commander of the fort requested the largest flag that could be found.  It had to made, and it had the desired effect.  The bombardment to that point in history was  the greatest that had ever been made.  Work is love made visible, and this art, this poetry should be a commuinication of the life we lead, not only in the of what is said, but content.  Words communicate ideas, art highlights it with emotion, and if your ethics are in line, it will be a health conversation.

No matter the vocation of the conservative poet, he or she understands the need for a vibrant economic outcome.  He or she understands that economy is the engine of a civil society, and without a robust economy, every intent to do well is but a fairy tale.

The idea of a conservative poet is not a political aspiration, nor leaning, but an ideal of a person towards himself, and the community in which he or she lives.  It reached its height in the days of the pioneers, when individualism was bound to the sense of neighbor.  In trials the neighbors worked together, in peace the growth of the individual flourished.

Well, this year’s election day is over and I, for one, am glad about that. Even though it was not an election as significant as the 2010 mid-terms or the 2012 “Big One”, it is still pretty remarkable to see the process for change in this country. It certainly is far to be preferred over what we seen in some other places in this world in recent times! Locally, we had some hotly contested races which in part meant that our phone rang about every 10 minutes with pollsters, political names, research organizations that were all interested in what we think, who we support and various other topics. With all of this behind us now, we can begin to focus on the First in The Nation Iowa Caucuses.

The date for the caucus this year is January 3, 2012. Apparently the Iowa Republican Party was pretty confident that Iowa voters were not going to be distracted by any of our state’s college football teams having to participate in a BCS Bowl. But that is a topic for a different essay. Whenever the Republican candidates can get away from the every other day televised debate schedule, many of them are taking the time to stump across Iowa making promises about what they will do if and when. I have to say I much prefer stopping into the local coffee shop and meeting someone in the running to be the “leader of the free world” as opposed to seeing them criticize each other and the “Current Occupant” on television. At the very least I still end up with a good cup of coffee!

All of this reminds me of something I read years ago. It was a book written by a man who spent several years at the top levels in the administration of a U.S. President. In the book he made a remarkable confession; how for years he had worked with everything he had within himself to do the things in government that he believed would make people’s lives better. Yet, for all that time and all that effort, he could not point to one person whose life had actually changed for the better as a result of those policies.

How thankful I am to our heavenly Father for His sending Jesus Christ to do in us and for us what no man can do for and by himself. From the standpoint of the Word of God, the real change for the better that is available now is the new birth and the transformation that comes by the renewing of the mind. A change for the best in the future comes with the return of Christ for the Church when we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is.

As Christians with the ministry of reconciliation, we have the joy to serve something to people that will really make a difference in their lives when we preach Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God.

When my 19 year old daughter explains to people what her religious beliefs are, she tells them that she is FREE!!!  I love this explanation because it is absolutely true and to the point!  We are free from sin.  We are free from judgment.  We are free from guilt.  We are free from death.  We are free from the Law.  We are free from..... fill in the blank! 

Gal 5:1  Stand in your liberation!  If you are a Jew who was bound to the Law, you are liberated from it! 

 Rom 6:18a  If you were in bondage to sin, you are liberated from it!  Sin hath no more dominion over you!  (Rom 6 & 7.)

 Rom 8:28-39  No accusations accepted here!  No condemnation .  It is prohibited.  It is not a part of the package.  The Christ has justified us from our sins and also our identification with Adam in sin.

 2 Cor 5:19  God does not deal with us according to our iniquities.  Why should you?

Is it just too good to be true?

1 Cor 15:3  Christ died for our sins

 Gal 1:3-4  Jesus Christ gave himself for our sins

 Col 1:14  We have our redemption, the forgiveness of sins

 Heb 1:3  Jesus purged us of sins

 Heb 2:17  He made payment for the sins of the people

 Heb 7:25  You are saved to the uttermost!

 Heb 9:26-28  Put away sin by the sacrifice of himself

 Heb 10:12-14  You are perfected forever!  You can’t get any better than you already are!  It’s as good as it gets!  Live it with joy!  Remember who you really are!

 Heb 12:1-2  Live your freedom from sin.  Don’t let yourself be weighted down by it.  Look unto Jesus, who is the Christ and what he has accomplished for you in liberating you from your sin and Adam’s.  We are free at last!

 HIS PILGRIMAGE

Give me my scallop-shell of quiet,

My staff of faith to walk upon,

My scrip of joy, immortal diet,

My bottle of salvation,

My gown of glory, hope's true gage;

And thus I'll take my pilgrimage.

Blood must be my body's balmer;

No other balm will there be given;

Wilst my soul, like quiet palmer,

Travelleth towards the land of heaven;

Over the silver mountains,

Where spring the nectar fountains:

There I will kiss the bowels of bliss;

And drink mine everlasting fill

Upon every milken hill.

My soul will be a-dry before;

But, after, it will thirst no more,

Then by that happy blissful day,

More peaceful pilgrims I shall see,

They have cast off their rags of clay,

And walk apparelled fresh like me.

I'll take them first

To quench their thirst

And taste of nectar suckets,

At those clear well

Where sweetness dwells,

Drawn up by Saints in crystal buckets.

And when our bottles and all we

Are filled with immortality,

Then the blessed path we'll travel,

Strowed with rubies thick as gravel;

Ceilings of diamonds, saphire floors,

High walls of coral and pearly bowers,

From thence to heavens bribeless hall,

Where no corrupted voices brawl;

No conscience molten into gold,

No forged accuser bought or sold,

No cause deferred, no vain-spent journey,

For there Christ is the king's Attorney,

Who pleads for all without degrees,

For he hath angels, but no fees.

And when the grand twelve-million jury

Of our sins with direful fury,

Against our souls black verdict give,

Christ pleads his death, and then we live.

Be thou my speaker, taintless pleader,

Unblotted lawyer, true proceeder!

Thou givest salvation even for alms;

Not with a bribed lawyers palms.

And this is my plea.

To him that made the heaven, earth, and sea,

That since my flesh must die so soon,

And want a head to dine at noon,

Just at the stroke, when my veins start and spread,

Set on my soul an everlasting head!

Then I am ready, like a palmer fit,

To tread those blest paths which before I srit.

Of death and judgment, heaven and hell,

Who oft doth think, must needs die well

Joe,

How are you doing?  Are you still roofing? If so I have a job you may be interested in. Thanks and you may contact me at pdean8@cox .net

Thx Philip Dean

          On a number of occasions, our current U.S. president, Barack Obama, in his push for “social justice” has declared, “It’s like the Bible says, ‘I am my brother’s keeper.’” Really?

          I can read in the Bible that as believers we are to be kind and compassionate and forgiving one toward another, esteeming others better than ourselves. We are to weep with them that weep and rejoice with them that rejoice. The Apostle Paul commended certain churches for giving unto his necessity. Jesus spoke of feeding the poor and giving drink to the thirsty (though I hardly think he had a gargantuan government program in mind to do so). We are to pray for one another and take care to not offend the weak. There are many things we are told to do in our relations with one another, but where does this “brothers keeper” phraseology come from and what does it mean?

Galatians tells us to bear one another’s burdens.

Galatians 6: 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

But the record goes on to say that every man shall bear his own burden.

Galatians 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

          [The answer to this apparent conflict lies partly in the fact that there are two different Greek words translated “burden" in these verses. The burden of verse 5 is one that can be borne. The Greek word is used of the lading of a ship. The Greek word for “burden" in verse 2 is related to a word that means depth, or the deep. The mind picture is of a burden that would cause a ship to sink into the deep.]

          We are each to bear our own burden, but if something comes up that we can’t handle, then other believers should help. “Brother’s keeper,” however, would seem to indicate involvement beyond this.

          What does “brother’s keeper” mean? A zookeeper cares for the inhabitants of the zoo. He provides for all their needs, bringing them food and water and providing a suitable habitat. He also regulates their activities. He keeps them from harming one another or the zoo visitors. He also determines when the males and females are to be brought together for breeding. He controls nearly every aspect of their lives. If this is along the lines of what our president has in mind by “brother’s keeper,” I would like to opt out. I don’t want anyone else to be my keeper, and I don’t want the responsibility of being anyone else’s keeper. Still, if that’s what the Bible says, I’ll do it; but does it?

          The term, “brother’s keeper” appears only once in the Bible. It is in Cain’s sarcastic response to God when God confronted him regarding the whereabouts of his brother (whom Cain had just killed).

Genesis 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

          If President Obama had known the context of the only occurrence in the Bible of “brother’s keeper”, he surely would not have used the term in his speeches. And the record is NOT an admonition to be “my brother’s keeper”. That any one given individual would not know the context of the only occurrence in the Bible of “brother’s keeper” is understandable, even if that person happens to be the president of The United States of America. Claiming, however that the Bible tells each of us to be his brother’s keeper is an unconscionable and ignorant attempt to use the Scriptures to promote one’s own agenda.

          Perhaps even more deplorable was the response (or lack of it) from his listeners. He had plenty of speechwriters, advisers, and aids who would not have wanted the president to appear ignorant. They would surely have corrected him after the first time he made the statement had they known any better themselves. Apparently, none did. There were perhaps those in the news media who caught the error but did not want to mention it and present the president in a negative light. There were plenty of others in the media, however, (primarily in talk radio) who would have relished the opportunity had they known any better themselves. Apparently, none did. How many hundreds or thousands of people didn’t know any better or did and let it slide? Unfortunately, this says something about the times in which we live here in the USA.

OCCUPY

They are occupying Wall Street,

But I wonder, do they have a job on Main Street?

They are against the Corporate profit,

But how many Corporate patents do they use?

When they twitter, and black berry, and whine without end?

And how unrighteous is that Starbucks 5 dollar coffee cup?

They are calling for fairness, but not ambition.

The condemn the rich, but they excuse the lazy poor.

They say we should not have bailed out the banks.

But who, OH, Who was it that signed the trillion dollar check?

Was it Democrat, and Obama, and Biden and friends?

And now they set the stage to do it again.

Its too bad they do not occupy diligence,

Diligence is never hungry or broke.

Had they occupied wisdom

The right thing would have been done.

The only place they have occupied, is the seat of the fool

The scornful, the lazy slothful, all in the name of fairness.

They really only want to suckle, as a suckling baby pig,

On the wonderful government teat.

They care not the burden they have heaped on this land.

They only want to suckle and suckle is where they stand.

The debt is now 47 grand for every woman child and man.

15 trillion, but onward the little piglets go.