From Out Of The Past A Blessing And A Burden ... Dominie Bush And Evangelist Al Lacy

After many years, I am in communication with a former member of the church I founded and pastored nearly 30 years, Temple Baptist Church,  now changed to North Florida Baptist Church in Tallahassee, FL. Her name is Dominie Bush and she was saved at Temple during a Revival meeting under the preaching of Evangelist Al Lacy. Dominie works for Challenger magazine, a real Christian witness outlet to thousands, which published Dominie's own testimony of her salvation, which I am sharing with you below. I hadn't thought of Brother Lacy in years and decided to send Dominie's testimony to him as an encouragement to an old preacher. I Googled his name and discovered Dominie had already let him know God had used him in her salvation. But, I also learned that Al is now under care for Alzheimers which saddens me but motivated me to ask your prayers for this great man of God. I might also mention that Mack Evans who came to do the music each time Al was with us for revival, passed away several years ago. Many of you knew both Dominie and Brother Al. Pray for them both and subscribe to Challenger, its free, at P.O.Box 750759 - Petaluma, CA 94975-0759 or by email to lit@ccmusa.org  - RB

I add this 5 hours after publishing this post. Brother Lacy passed away about 2 and a half hours ago. RB

Religious But Lost

By Dominie Soo Bush

I appeared to be a Christian. I was born into a Christian home and attended church faithfully. I was baptized when I was 12. I made straight A’s and was active in school organizations. I could quote many Bible passages. As a college student at U.C.L.A. in 1968, I became involved in campus Christian groups. I later attended a Bible college and served as a missionary. I then began teaching in a Christian school and played the piano for various churches. However, there was one problem—I had never truly placed my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior.

How could this be?

When I was growing up, I thought that sins were things like drinking, dancing, smoking and playing cards. I didn’t know anything about having a loving, personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. When I was a 16-year-old college freshman, I heard the words “God loves you” for the first time while attending InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and Campus Crusade for Christ meetings. This idea was unusual and refreshing to me, because I had always thought of God as a stern taskmaster in the sky with a big stick, ready to hit me if I did anything wrong. Many of my college friends seemed to have a close, warm relationship with God, and when I was around them, I felt like an outsider. I was with God’s family, but not part of His family.

After college, I discussed my feelings that something was missing in my spiritual experience with two Christians whom I respected. They assured me that I was a good person and just needed assurance of my salvation. Their answer didn’t satisfy me. I had a lot of Bible knowledge and “deeper life” teachings, but I also had sins in my life which people couldn’t see, particularly unforgiveness toward people who had wronged me. I had no joy in hearing of the salvation of others. You could say that my Christian experience was “all in my head.”

Years passed. I pursued my career and was active in church life, but my spiritual life remained the same. But at age 36, something happened that changed my life completely. It happened on May 11, 1988, while I was attending a revival service at Temple Baptist Church in Tallahassee, FL, where Evangelist Al Lacy was holding meetings. I sat in the back of the auditorium on the ground floor under the balcony. In front of me was a row of rough-looking men from the rescue mission that our church operated downtown. The evangelist spoke on “The Contrary Christ,” how Jesus had defied every law of nature. He was born of a virgin, He healed the sick, He walked on water, and He even ascended into Heaven, defying the law of gravity. I noticed that the men from the rescue mission were saying a lot of enthusiastic “Amens” and “Hallelujahs.” In my heart, I looked down on them because of their unkempt appearance, and some even had needle marks on their arms from long-term drug use. But I also observed their joy and obvious connection with God—something I did not have.

As we stood to sing the invitational hymn, the Holy Spirit suddenly and powerfully gripped my heart with the absolute conviction that I had never really accepted Jesus as my Savior. The conviction was so strong I could hardly breathe! I realized without Jesus I had no hope of eternal life. The thought went through my mind that if an explosion were to destroy the building we were sitting in, the men from the rescue mission would go to Heaven and I, “Miss Goody Two Shoes,” would go to Hell. My heart was so moved I began to cry. A lady counselor met with me, and we read Ephesians 2: 8 and 9 together. “For by GRACE are you saved THROUGH FAITH, and that not of yourselves, it is the GIFT OF GOD, NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.” These were verses I had learned as a child, yet I had never understood them until just then! For the first time, I realized that I could not get to Heaven on my own merits. I needed the Savior! Right there I made a “business transaction” with the Lord—I gave Him my sins, and He gave me His righteousness. What a great deal! As the old hymn states, “’Tis done, the great transaction’s done—I am my Lord’s and He is mine...Happy day, happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away!”

My life was changed forever. I now belonged to Jesus! I was eager to tell others. I loved the Lord and wanted to obey Him in every area of my life. I now felt ready to serve the Lord.

I have learned that, unfortunately, there are many people like me. I can now understand the testimony of others—a youth pastor at my mother’s church, a prominent deacon, a seminary student, and a man in our church choir—who, after years of Christian service, have come to realize their state of unbelief. All were convicted by the Holy Spirit that they were depending on something other than Jesus for their salvation.

What I and others have learned is that Christian activity does not give eternal life. In a tract called “Counterfeit Christians” by Evangelist Luis Palau, the question is asked “What does it take to make someone a real Christian?” The reader is asked to check as many as they think apply:

Being born in America

Thinking positively

Living a good life

Going to church

Giving to others

Being baptized

Taking communion

Believing in God

Talking about Jesus Christ

Praying

Reading the Bible

Prior to becoming a true believer, I would have checked many items on the list. Luis Palau wrote, “The truth is that while many of the items are Christian activities, not one of them can make you a real Christian. . . . God wants you to know where you stand in His eyes. Don’t settle for counterfeit Christianity when you can have the real thing.” This is what I had for so many years—“counterfeit Christianity.”

Right there I made a “business transaction” with the Lord—I gave Him my sins, and He gave me His righteousness.

Being a true believer has not meant that my life is free of trouble. Satan will always bring attacks against God’s people. I have gone through much personal upheaval and disaster, but through these trials, I have learned to submit to Jesus as Lord of my life. I have found that there can be only one will in my life. This has required that I die to my own will so that Jesus can live His life through me. My prayer is always, “Not my will, but Your will be done.”

If a person is depending on anything other than the atoning blood of Jesus Christ to get to Heaven, he will not make it. The Holy Spirit can open a person’s eyes to their need of a Savior, just as He did with me—when I was religious but lost!

Suggestions For Dealing With An Enemy, And The Last Resort When All Else Fails

Every enemy is a mother's son and an eternal soul.

Sixty five years of ministry, have attracted a broad assortment of enemies across my path. I have made all the mistakes possible in dealing with people, and have paid the price for my ignorance. By this blog I hope to save you some of the lost time, energy, lost opportunities, and lost progress I experienced. Heated arguments, excessive anger, physical fights, lawsuits, and making enemies over minor disagreements are never beneficial to the winner or the loser.

1. Love your enemy enough to share your faith with him. That will either convert him, neutralize him, or bring his dislike for you to the surface, where it can be dealt with.  Jesus said "...Love your enemies...." Luke 6:27. It is not love which acquiesces to evil or compromises truth.

2. Do not mistake rudeness, insult or a presumptuous bad attitude with Christian boldness or commitment. Approach the non-Christian with respect, generosity and humility ... even if he is an enemy.... until that is no longer possible. "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." Rom.12:18

3. If you make enemies because of your Christian stand for our Lord, be patient, and wait on the Lord. He will either resolve the problem, give you an out, or neutralize the enemy. Just be sure its not your bad attitude that offends him.
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4. Few people will be your enemy because of your love for the Lord. It's when you live it, speak of it and take a stand for Him that will make enemies of people, but you can't help that. You are called to live your faith and be a witness for Christ regardless of the reaction of those around you. "... be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord...." 1 Cor.15:58.

5. Make no enemies intentionally; you will make enough of them unintentionally if you live your faith and are unashamed to share it. Stay out of other people's arguments. "He that ... meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears." Prov.26:17.

6. Never pick a fight with anyone intentionally... but do not flee in fear either.
"... in nothing terrified by your adversaries." Phil.1:28. You can't escape an angry dog by running. Pick up a stick and look him in the eye."...Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7.  If you live and speak as the Holy Spirit directs, the world will pick enough fights with you to consume your time and energy. David didn't pick the fight with that Philistine, Goliath. The Philistines picked that fight and God sent David to neutralize the situation.

7. Don't choose your enemies. If you walk with God and speak the truth, they will choose you and that is all the enemies you can afford. Stand on principle and trust God to convert them or eliminate them. Adjust all your dealings with them so that they are either drawn to Christ or you slowly end all contact with them. They will either change or wither on the vine. "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." John 15:18. 

8. Never underestimate an enemy and try not to overestimate him, but the first is the more prudent of the two. If you have to defend yourself, if it is verbal, let your friends do it for you if possible. If it is physical, break his arm kindly... and then tell him the error of his ways and how to be saved. If you are out numbered, follow Jesus' advice ,,, "...he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." Lk.22:36. 

9. Keep in mind that the great Apostle Paul was once the arch enemy of all Christians. He abused them, imprisoned them and even killed them, but after he was saved, he wrote half the books in the new Testament and established more churches than anyone I have ever heard of.  Your enemy may be such a person.
"Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him...." Joel 2:14.


10. On dealing with dangerous, unrepentant enemies of Christ, such as Elymas, Paul didn't witness unto him, he turned him over to God to blind him and render him helpless. "And (Paul) said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind ...."  Acts 13:10-11. In effect, Paul delivered this enemy of Christ unto the judgment of God. When the enemy is totally intransigent and radically anti-Christ, this kind of action is Give to them according to their deeds and according to the wickedness of their endeavors; give to them according to the work of their hands; render to them their deserts.sometimes necessary. On another occasion, In dealing with a rebellious, unrepentant, professing Christian, Paul advised the Corinthian Church to do a similar thing, but different in that in this case, the professing, but lost Christian was delivered into the hands of the Devil for fleshly destruction, that the man might be truly saved as a result. "To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." 1 Cor. 5:5. 

Sometimes the best thing that can happen to an enemy of justice is for that person to suffer the consequences of his actions. As David  prayed..."Give to them according to their deeds and according to the wickedness of their endeavors; give to them according to the work of their hands; render to them their deserts." Psm.28:4.


There is, in the Western World, a strange, perverted sense of the equal sanctity of all so called, "religions", so that the lost world and Liberal, leftist professing Christians consider all faiths, but one, as harmless friends and fellow religionists. This expresses itself, in America, as a peculiar sense of equal fairness to radical Muslims bent on killing Christians and Jews and all non-Muslims. "Fairness" is not what radical Muslim terrorists need. They need Jesus Christ as Savior. As long as they reject Christ, the lost world will continue to consider them "friends".
But Bible believing, born again Christians as the real enemy. If that seems strange, it is also commonly seen emanating from the White House, from Democrats, RINO Republicans, the secular Main Street Media and around the world. RB

Here is a clear summation of Islam's violent invasion of the Western, so called "Christian", world put out by 12 Tribes/Israel Video Network. If you think Israel is biased, the God of Abraham is also biased ... in favor of His people who are being brutalized and murdered.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/167607521?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0

Just One Single Thing Shines Above All Else Like The Sun In The Sky ... Jesus On The Cross For Sinners

Nothing else compares to God's Son on the cross for our sins.

There are ten thousand opinions in the hearts of men of the most desired, the most important things in this old world to love, hunger for and seek after. Many of them are worthy and honorable and important and many are lustful, greedy and dishonorable. But all the host of angels in heaven and doing God's service on earth sing out across the universe, in harmony with the sun, moon and star studded sky in exalting the single most glorious, ultimate expression of God's great love for the human race .... Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins. I myself have great affection for hundreds of God's Children I have known and served with, and dozens of wonderful gifts God has blessed me with, and the beautiful things around me He created, but far, far above them all is Jesus crucified on that old rugged cross for my sin. So I testify and confirm and give thanks to my Savior for what He did there for me, my family and my friends and I will glory in the cross. I will glory in the cross drenched in the blood of Jesus. I will glory in the cross.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk8Tw2h0YLc

Fred Good's Mind Altering Blowout On A Late Night Highway In A Rainstorm

Here is another Fred Good experience which helped make him the man he is.
May it motivate us all to consider the spiritual impact a kind word or action may have on the lives of those we encounter every day. Each and every one of them carry burdens and needs we cannot see. A kindness may be of more value than a fortune in gold. RB

A MIND ALTERING BLOWOUT

Recently I was asked about what motivated me to write my first book "The Success Factor". I couldn't remember anything that compelled me to focus my mind on the concept of giving . There is, however, something that happened many years ago that could have directed my though in the direction that led me to write a book that was read in countries around the World. Most of my life was spent in the wholesale beauty supply business with the main office in Tallahassee, Florida and a branch office and warehouse in Pensacola Florida .

I believe the story here happened in the early 1970's . I had spent the week in Pensacola, calling on beauty salons in and around that city. I was driving back to my home in Tallahassee late one night. It began to pour down rain as I approached the little town of Quincy, Florida, which is about 20 miles from Tallahassee. I drove through Quincy on highway 90 as the rain kept falling. About a mile out of Quincy "BAM" I had a blowout. I wondered just what to do with the pouring rain and me dressed in one of my best suits ... My thoughts were only for a moment because almost immediately a car stopped and parked behind me. A man got out, came to the back of my vehicle and asked me to open the trunk so he could get the spare and take off the blown out tire. I pressed the trunk button; he took out the spare, jacked up the rear and put on the tire, all accomplished in a pouring rain. After the man finished his work, he closed the trunk lid, knocked on the back, waved and was gone. I really did not get a good look at the individual who chose to help me ... without showing himself or staying for a thank you. This simple act of giving has remained in my memory all this time. At times I have wondered if this individual, who walked out into the pouring rain, fixed my problem, then did not stay to be recognized or thanked, was a human being or an angel. For

years after the blowout, as I traveled, I actually looked for the same type of problem so that I could give the same help as the Angelic person that helped me . Fred Good

Should Preachers Keep Silence About Moral Issues Though They Be Also Political?

Of what use is a watchman who sees danger and sounds no alarm?

"And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.... and he that departeth from evil makes himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment." Isa.59:14-15 
"Judgment" in this verse is the Hebrew word "mishpat" and means simply "Law and order" or "justice". The word "justice" means "rightness" and the word "equity" is plain "fairness". Isaiah, God's watchman on God's wall of protection, is describing a civilized society which has lost its spiritual compass and gone astray from its Creator God to lawlessness, unrighteousness, and  plain unfairness.  Their spiritual and political leaders had ceased to hold up the standards of God's word, truth and righteousness and their government began to violate the boundaries of truth and justice which error spread to the general population, their schools and their public and private institutions. So that their nation and people were becoming uncivilized, unspiritual, unjust, lawless and unfair. When this kind of spiritual or political deterioration and corruption begins, it is hard to stop until it slams into the neutralizing bottom ... of that pit. This is why preachers and Christians, though imperfect, must stand up and speak out against these revisionary changes at first notice and continue to do so loud and clear until a revival of truth is ignited .... beginning in the hearts of God's people. This has been the calling of God's preachers, God's watchmen, from the beginning.... God called no supermen or perfect watchmen to walk His walls, but as faulty as they might be, they are responsible to watch for the safety and welfare of the people against all invasion, intrusion and violation of the people.

Moses spoke up for truth, justice and rightness ..."Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen." Deut.27:19 (though Moses was imperfect himself, he had God's calling as a watchman)

David spoke up for God's word, truth and right ..."The God of Israel ... spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God." 2 Sam.23:3 (Yet David himself was imperfect, he was called of God, as a ruler, to be just)

King Solomon knew the ruin of evil and the power of rightness ...
"It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness." Prov.16:12 (Yet Solomon himself, a king, was not without fault... but he was God's watchman)

Isaiah did not hesitate to rebuke kings, Judges and Politicians ..."Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed." Isa.10:1 (though Isaiah himself was was not a perfect man, he was God's watchman)

Ezekiel pointed these words in the face of the politicians ..."Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD." 
Ezek.45:9 ("exactions are the act of forcefully extracting money from someone") Neither was Ezekiel without fault but he was a "watchman".

John the Baptist told King Herod his sinful taking of his sister-in-law to his bed was illegal and wicked and John lost his head for saying it.
"John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her." Matt.14:4 (Though John was not without fault, he was God's watchman and delivered God's message ... even to the King)

It is the responsibility of kings and other rulers to defend and administer justice, truth, and law and order equally and fairly. It is also the responsibility of preachers to be the watchmen on the wall and warn the people, kings, judges and politicians of the dangers of doing otherwise and pointing the way of truth, justice and God's word. "Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth." Psm.2:10 (Listen to God's people, God's preachers, God's watchmen on the national walls. Those walls are there for the people's protection. Protect the people but do not abuse them or overburden them)

Don't expect me to do less than these watchmen on the wall. I have a wall to walk and watch for injustice or invasion of the people's rights and sound the alarm when God's protective wall is breached. Though I too am far from perfect .... I am a watchman on the wall God assigned me. The first thing I was taught in Marine boot-camp was the General Orders of a sentry on guard duty. The first of those General Orders was "I will walk my post in a military manner keeping always on the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing." It is the sentry's sworn duty to protect, day or night, those within his area of responsibility and to sound the alarm if danger approaches. 

"I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence." Isa.62:6.

Approaching A Time Of Hardened Hearts When "No Man" Cares For Ought But Himself

A time of selfish lawlessness....

Yes, the world, and America too, has turned away from the one true God to follow false gods, do evil without guilt, undermine civilization, violate law and order and our Constitution, corrupt government, persecute Christians and make good evil and evil good. We are rapidly entering the biblical "last days" when hearts are hardened, minds corrupted, and appetites perverted. There have always been such individuals ... in every time and age since Cain killed Abel. But there is coming a time when "No Man" will care for anyone but himself, his feelings and his desires. We are nearing that time ....

When No Man cares for the needs and pain of others
I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. Psm.142:4.


When No Man listens or has regard for truth, justice and God's word
Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded... Prov.1:24.

When No Man remembers our founding fathers and national heroes
Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. Ecc.9:15.

When No Man feels guilty or repentant of his sins
I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man  repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? Jer.8:6.

When No Man feels responsible for law, order, justice and safety
They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart. Jer.12:11.

But even when No Man cares for others, for truth, for God's word, for Christian heritage, for law and order or feels guilty or repentant of his/her sins .... and when God's people are swept away by cruelty and injustice.... God still has a plan for them and for truth and justice too. He will come for us and deliver us "from the much worse evil to come" which the world is not "considering".

The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. Isa. 57:1.

Jesus Said In The Last Days There Shall Be Increasing "earthquakes"

"And as (Jesus) sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, an.d kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." Matt.24:3-8 
The word "divers" is the Greek "kata" meaning "down through, in and throughout" as used here. So Jesus added "earthquakes" to the end times signs of false prophets, wars, rumours of wars, national and international conflicts, groups of nations against other groups of nations, famines and world-wide rare diseases. These, He said, are only "the beginning" of tribulations. RB


This from The Guardian News
What lies below: Swarm of earthquakes 
detected beneath Mount St. Helens
Saturday 7 May 2016 by Alan Yuhas

A swarm of more than 130 earthquakes has been detected beneath Mount St Helens over the last eight weeks, according to the US Geological Survey.

Since March, the rate of such earthquakes under the Washington state volcano has been “steadily increasing”, the USGS reported. At its peak, nearly 40 earthquakes have been located per week.

Most of the quakes have occurred about one to four miles beneath the active volcano, and most have been extremely weak at magnitudes of 0.5 or less, the largest a 1.3-level quake.

The USGS said there have been many more earthquakes that have been too small to be felt at the surface or precisely located. A 0.7-level quake “would not be felt if you were standing on the surface above it”, the seismologists wrote.

They do though suggest the volcano is recharging its stores of magma, the scientists said. As the molten rock rises to fill the volcano’s magma chamber it presses against the colder rock around it, increasing stress. 

This push and pull creates quakes.

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5 Major Earthquakes In 48 Hours As A Seismologist Warns ‘Catastrophic Mega Earthquakes’ Are Coming

 By Michael Snyder, on April 14th, 2016

Why is the crust of the Earth shaking so violently all of a sudden?  Over the past 48 hours, there have been five major earthquakes globally, and one prominent seismologist has declared that “catastrophic mega earthquakes” could be on the way.  In fact, seismologist Roger Bilham of the University of Colorado has made headlines all over the world by warning that “current conditions might trigger at least four earthquakes greater than 8.0 in magnitude”.  If his projections are accurate, our planet could be on the precipice of a wave of natural disasters unlike anything that any of us have ever experienced before.

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Earthquakes Increasing In 2016

From The Express News

Scientists say there has been an above average number of significant earthquakes across south Asia and the Pacific since the start of the year.

The increased frequency has sparked fears of a repeat of the Nepal quake of 2015, when 8,000 people died, or even worse.

Roger Bilham, seismologist of University of Colorado, said: “The current conditions might trigger at least four earthquakes greater than 8.0 in magnitude.

“And if they delay, the strain accumulated during the centuries provokes more catastrophic mega earthquakes.”

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There are dozens of other recent articles on the subject which are similar to these. RB

Positive Thinking Is Neither Focusing On Sweetness Nor Denial Of Negative Truths

Truth Is Always Positive At Its Root And In Its Fruit...Always! Jesus made some very comforting and positive promises to all of His disciples which included believers of all generations. One of those wonderful promises was to comfort, encourage and reassure us in our fears, sufferings and death. This positive promise is in John 14:1-3 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." What a wonderful promise. It is a positive promise of help from God, from Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. It is a positive assurance of our eternal future with Him in heaven. When Jesus encouraged His disciples to overcome their "troubles" by "believing" in God's ability to help them through their trials and ultimately into the very presence of God, that was "positive thinking". And when He promised them He was going away to "prepare a place for them and then return to Earth and take them to heaven", that was positive thinking. Though positive thinking is always positive, the subject of the thinking may include some very frightening facts of truth. And truth, whether encouraging or frightening, is far more important than pacification, conciliation, appeasement or compromise. These things may purchase temporary physical peace, but seldom, if ever, result in truth. It is the truth which purchases freedom and secures spiritual peace."And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32. An example of that kind of positive thinking is found in Jesus' teaching His disciples about the positive aspects of the last days and the hardships which would accompany those end-times prophecies. The content of Jesus' words may seem negative but these are also positive promises ... positive thinking. Things are going to get better after they get worse is positive thinking for believers. Matthew 24:1   And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.   Matthew 24:2   And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. Positive!  Matthew 24:3   And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?  Those signs, though negative in nature were positive as indications of the return of Christ, the resurrection and rapture of the disciples. That is positive thinking. Jesus answered the question with five important facts .... First "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." Matt.24:4-5 Jesus was not thinking negatively but positively. Second "And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." Matt.24:6-8 These "sorrows" may seem negative, but they are positive. Third "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another." Matt.24:9-10.  Yes this "affliction" is horrible but true and yes, positive. Fourth "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." Matt.24:11. Negative for those "deceived", but true and positive for true believers. Fifth "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." Matt.24:12. "Iniquity" is negative; "cold love" is negative, but the love of God in the hearts of Christians lives on and on, and that is positive. I can't cover all of the other end-times prophecies here, but they continue down to what we know as "The Blessed Hope". the return of Jesus Christ to gather His true believers unto Himself. "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Matt.24:30-31.  That, my friends is "Positive Thinking" for true believers in Christ ... and unbelievers who will hear the truth of it. And only negative to unbelievers who will not hear. RB

On Leaving The Negative Past As You Enter A Positive Future

Even Jews see a spark of light in the Old Testament which is a flame in the New Testament. Many Jews who are still in darkness see that spark of light in their Old Testament which records a Creator and a chosen people and foretells them of a coming Messiah (Christ). Nature and creation itself is another spark of light which illuminates the doubtful mind to the reality of God and His anointed one, Jesus Christ. Your faith is not in vain if that spark guides you to Jesus who said, "...I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." Jn.8:12. 

If your self-will is to turn away from that spark of light and go back to darkness, down the old road, the "broad way" of old habits, old ways, then go back, for that is where your heart is and you will never be satisfied with the new way, which is a narrow way, the way of the cross, the Jesus way. But if you will go forward, up the new way of life which is narrow but light, the Jesus way, then don't even look back, as Lot's wife did at Sodom. For you would never again be satisfied with your old loves, old habits and that old way of thinking, speaking acting and being. Choose ye this day... which way. 

Even non-Christian Jews who believe in Jehovah God and the Old Testament, which tells of a coming Messiah, have more light than unrepentant souls who have no light at all and have rejected the God of the Bible ... both Old and New Testaments. Though they may worship some false god or embrace some form of religion, the "light" they claim as truth ... is darkness. Jesus said "... If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" Matt.6:23. Yes, unsaved Jews who believe in the Old Testament, but not in Jesus as their Messiah, are also in darkness. But their belief in Jehovah God and His Old Testament are a spark of light which soon, in the coming Tribulation, will turn them to see Christ as their prophesied Messiah and their faith will be complete. That time shall one day arrive as prophesied here ....

Zechariah 12:10   And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him (Jesus), as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. RB

Here is an example, of that spark of light, Jews vaguely see, "through a glass darkly", in the Old Testament.

This Way Or That

From American Alliance Of Jews And Christians

By Rabbi Daniel Lapin

And the Lord said to Abram, "Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you.  

(Genesis 12:1)

Ancient Jewish wisdom points out that the logical order seems reversed.  Ordinarily, people on a long trip walk out of their front door, leaving their homes.  Then they leave the city, and finally they leave their country.  In this case however, the Torah is emphasizing how Abraham utterly separated himself from all the influences of his previous life. First he abandoned the values of his land.  This was hard enough but it was still easier than leaving the cultural identification of his birthplace.  The hardest challenge still lay ahead.  Now he had to leave the traditions of his father's house. In order to make the most of the grand adventure which lay ahead, he had to turn himself into a blank slate, open to all that the Lord would reveal.  To do this, he rid himself of all prior negative influences on his life.

And Abram went, as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him, and Abram was seventy five years old when he left Haran. 

(Genesis 12:4)

To his credit, Lot, Abraham's nephew, accompanied his uncle.  With one big difference.  Lot did not undergo the cleansing process of eliminating all earlier marks on his soul.

When the time came for Lot and Abraham to part ways, Abraham remained true to his course and continued walking before God.  Lot, however, found himself seduced by the sordid city of Sodom.

Here are another two people related to one another who must part:

And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each woman to her mother's house...And they raised their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth cleaved to her...And she said, "Lo, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her gods; return after your sister- in-law"...And Ruth said, "Do not entreat me to leave you, to return from following you, for wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people and your God my God.  

(Ruth 1:8-16)

In the same way we asked what difference between Abraham and Lot made the former cling to God while Sodom seduced the latter, we now ask what distinguished Ruth from Orpah? Orpah left her mother-in-law and became the grandmother of Goliath.  Ruth clung to Naomi and became the grandmother of King David.

Ancient Jewish wisdom points out that when the two girls married her sons, Ruth totally abandoned her idolatrous upbringing while Orpah was more ambivalent.  How do we know this?  

Naomi's words reveal the truth.  She didn't merely say to Ruth, "your sister-in-law has returned to her people."  She revealingly added "...and to her gods."  That's right, Orpah never abandoned her idols when she began her new life as a wife. Ruth did.

Before embarking on his new life, Abraham left all the negative traits of his life till that point.  Before embarking on her new life, Ruth abandoned her idolatrous past.  Abraham and Ruth succeeded spectacularly in their new lives, while Lot and Orpah failed.  We are being taught an important lesson.  

Whenever embarking on an odyssey with the potential of serious life transformation, first rid yourself of old destructive habits.  King David put it quite succinctly:

Shun evil and do good...

(Psalms 34:15)  

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My Comment:
Shunning evil and doing good is commendable, but where is Jesus, Messiah (Christ) in all of this? He is there, in all of these Old Testament verses, visiting Lot at his home in wicked Sodom. Also descending from Ruth and Boaz the great great grandparents of Jesus' mother, Mary. Jews see the spark but not quite the light. Those who do are called "Completed Jews" or Christians. RB

"What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?"

Matthew 24:3   And as (Jesus) sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us ... what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?  

Matthew 24:4   And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 

Matthew 24:5   For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 

Matthew 24:6   And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 

Matthew 24:7   For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 

Matthew 24:8   All these are the beginning of sorrows. 

Matthew 24:9   Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 

Matthew 24:10   And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 

Matthew 24:11   And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 

Matthew 24:12   And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 

Kate Smith Sings "God Bless America" The Story Behind The Song

A Very Special Piece of History

Frank Sinatra considered Kate Smith the best singer of her time, and said that when he and a million other guys first heard her sing "God Bless America" on the radio, they all pretended to have dust in their eyes as they wiped away a tear or two.

Here are the facts... The link at the bottom will take you to a video showing the very first public singing of "GOD BLESS AMERICA". But before you watch it, you should also know the story behind the first public showing of the song.

The time was 1940. America was still in a terrible economic depression. Hitler was taking over Europe and Americans were afraid we'd have to go to war. It was a time of hardship and worry for most Americans.

This was the era just before TV, when radio shows were HUGE, and American families sat around their radios in the evenings, listening to their favorite entertainers, and no entertainer of that era was bigger than Kate Smith.

Kate was also large; plus size, as we now say, and the popular phrase still used today is in deference to her, "It ain't over till the fat lady sings".

Kate Smith might not have made it big in the age of TV, but with her voice coming over the radio, she was the biggest star of her time.

Kate was also patriotic. It hurt her to see Americans so depressed and afraid of what the next day would bring. She had hope for America, and faith in her fellow Americans. She wanted to do something to cheer them up, so she  went to the famous American song-writer, Irving Berlin (who also wrote "White  Christmas") and asked him to write a song that would  make Americans feel good again about their country. When she described what she was looking for, he said he had just the song for her. He went to his files and found a song that he had written, but never published, 22 years before - way back in 1917. He gave it to her and she worked on it with her studio orchestra. She and Irving Berlin were not sure how the song would be received by the public, but both agreed they would not take any profits from God Bless America. Any profits would go to the Boy Scouts of America. Over the years, the Boy Scouts have received millions of dollars in royalties from this song.

This video starts out with Kate Smith coming into the radio studio with the orchestra and an audience. She introduces the new song for the very first time, and starts singing. After the first couple verses, with her voice in the background still singing, scenes are shown from the 1940 movie, "You're In the Army Now." At the 4:20 mark of the video you see a young actor in the movie, sitting in an office, reading a paper; it's Ronald Reagan.

To this day, God Bless America stirs our patriotic feelings and pride in our country.  Back in 1940, when Kate Smith went looking for a song to raise the spirits of her fellow Americans, I doubt whether she realized just how successful the results would be for her fellow Americans during those years of hardship and worry..... And for many generations of Americans to follow.

Now that you know the story of the song, I hope you'll enjoy it. Many people don't know there's a lead in to the song since it usually starts with”God Bless America ....." So here's the entire song as originally sung.....  APPRECIATE and ENJOY!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/TnQDW-NMaRs?rel=0

The "Falling Away" Having Swept Across Europe Is Now Plaguing America

God's word tells us that the rise of the Anti-Christ, as ruler of the New World Order, for seven years of Tribulation, will be preceded by a "falling away" of "professing" believers in Christ. The falling away will end with the Rapture when Christ comes, in the air, and receives his true believers into heaven. Then the seven years of Tribulation will be followed by the second phase of Christ's  Second Coming to establish His 1000 year Millennial Kingdom on earth. The "falling away", in the U.S., began slowly, at first, during my generation and has steadily picked up speed and has now reached rapid descent into the abyss of unbelief. The Next page on God's calendar reveals "that man of sin, the son of perdition" who passes himself off as the Son of God, Jesus Christ, Messiah. He is, however, the Anti-Christ, Satan's counterfeit of Christ. Here is pertinent scripture pointing like the finger of God at these unfolding events. See, at the bottom, the latest Pew Poll of developing unbelief in America.

"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." 2 Thess. 2:1-4

The United States has been the strongest last bastion of Christian believers in the world. Russia has long gone the way of the world and Europe is more recently gone the same route. Now, in these last years, our own country is following suite ... in unbelief..... "falling away" from the faith of the Apostles and our Founding Fathers.

From Newsmax

Number of Americans 

'Certain' About God 

Falls to 63 Percent

The proportion of Americans who say they are "absolutely certain" God exists has dropped sharply from 71 percent to less than two thirds, the Pew Research Center said Tuesday.

The share of US adults who say they believe in God declined from 92 to 89 percent over the same period, from 2007 to 2014, but is still remarkably high compared to other developed countries.

The percentage of Americans who say they pray every day, attend regular services and consider religion very important have also clocked small, but significant declines, the research center said.

The vast majority of Americans, 77 percent of adults, continue to identify with some religious faith, but a growing number are unaffiliated to a particular group, the study found.

Younger Americans are also less religious than their elders. For example, four in 10 of the youngest Millennials say they pray every day, compared to six in 10 Baby Boomers. 

The survey also showed that nearly all major religious groups have become significantly more accepting of homosexuality in recent years -- even evangelicals and Mormons who traditionally have expressed strong opposition to same-sex relationships. 

Changing attitudes about homosexuality are linked to wider acceptance among the younger generation than older adults. 

The study also showed that the religiously unaffiliated -- the majority of whom still believe in God -- are now more numerous among Democrats and Democratic-leaning adults than Catholics, evangelicals and Protestants. 

The religiously unaffiliated are growing less quickly within the Republican party, where they are outnumbered by evangelicals, Catholics and mainstream Protestants, Pew said.

The poll was carried out among a representative group of 35,071 adults interviewed by telephone from June to September 2014 and has a margin of error of 0.6 percentage points, Pew said.

_______________________

My Comment"

There has never been a time when following Jesus was more difficult or more important than right now, in America.

Joshua declared, during difficult times, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15.