"If you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness..." Isaiah 58: 10

What if the Bible's chronology is simply this:

Israel miraculously returns after 2000 years

Antichrist rises "behind the scenes"

Antichrist makes the 7-year "covenant of death" with Israel

Israel rebuilds temple during a time of false peace

Antichrist comes against God's Holy people

Antichrist sets up the Abomination of Desolation

Antichrist demands the world's worship (with help of false prophet)

Antichrist makes WAR against the Saints

Antichrist surrounds Jerusalem with his armies (on all the mountains of Israel)

Jesus sends fire from heaven to devour these armies

THE GREAT SIGNS OF THE DAY OF THE LORD! (Trumpet, Sun, Moon, Stars, Sky)

Jesus COMES BACK to defend Israel and redeem his Beloved Bride!

We meet Him in the AIR!!!!!

So if you find yourself still here when the Antichrist is demanding the world's worship and instating the Mark of Beast...DON'T CRY

Simply know that Tim Lahaye and others were a little off on their chronology.

Take heart HAVE TREMENDOUS HOPE!!! The Day of Our Lord's Appearing is in sight EVEN AT THE DOOR!!!!!

Pre-Wrath Rapture Study Here

According to the bible Jesus died for the sins of the WORLD and not just people that follow one religion or one specific idea. The bible even says it is not exclusive to those that believe. Amazing.

Now why would this God save the world, everyone, no matter what? If one were to understand the bible they would see that EVERYTHING is of God, "yet all is of God" and that God appointed a time for everything and exactly when everything would happened and he planned it all from the beginning. The bible tells us that "the steps of men are not of himself". yes, according to the bible all is according to the will of God.

So, does that explain it to you? If you still don't get it, then let me help. How can a God, a Father punish a son for things that he himself planned, and appointed to happen and that this Father as the "potter" made you "the clay" do? Of course he couldn't torture you in fire for doing exactly what he planned for you to do. This is why all men will be saved.

One would think that christians and others would be very happy with such a scripture but instead, Christians prefer to tell others, especially kids, that they better do like them or they will burn in hell fire. Maybe it is a control thing, I am not sure.
Why would God say he WILL SAVE ALL MEN? I will explain and you will find it to be simple. First, I will say that even when the bible makes it clear, Christian will deny the very word of the God they say they follow. If God said he sent his son to be the Savior of the World then I would guess he is not going to fail.

Lets repeat a few important scriptures before I explain why a God would save all men.
"Who will have all men to be saved, and to come into the knowledge of the truth" (I Tim. 2:4).
"To wit that God was in Christ, reconciling THE WORLD unto Himself, NOT imputing [reckoning] THEIR TRESPASSES [SINS] AGAINST THEM" (II Cor. 5:19).

"And He [Jesus-SAVIOUR] is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD" (I John 2:2)

It is important to note that the bible says ALL men, the WORLD and even the WHOLE WORLD. It didn’t say all sorts of men or part of men or a percentage of men. ALL….pretty simple.
Now, why would God save the world? Everyone? Let us look at scriptures again as it helps to understand. One needs to read all the scriptures in order to understand the entire teaching.

Read the next few scriptures and then I will explain:

"God is operating ALL in all" (I Cor. 12:6)

"Yet ALL is of God" (II Cor. 5:18)

“…shall there be evil [Heb: ra—‘bad, evil’] in a city, and the Lord has not done it? (Amos 3:6)

“O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself. It is not in man that walks to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23).

“Declaring the END from the BEGINNING…” (Isa. 46:10).

“For OF Him, and THROUGH Him, and TO Him, are ALL THINGS…” (Rom. 11:36).

“…Who works [‘operates’] ALL THINGS after the counsel of His own will” (Eph. 1:11).

[1] "To every thing there is a season [appointed time],and a time to every purpose [matter or event] under the heaven" (Ecc. 3:1).

"...for He has appointed a time for every matter, and for every work..." (The New Revised Standard Version).

Notice, even if Evil happens, it is OF GOD and according to HIS plan and the TIME HE appointed.

Now, those are just a few scriptures to explain my point. If EVERYTHING is of God, Planned By God, Appointed a time by God, Operated (to control the function) by God and Men’s steps are not of himself then clearly, NO FATHER or NO GOD would be JUST in punishing you or me for what he planned, did, caused!
Pretty simple.
Here is the problem, Christians are taught a specific believe and then they are trained to teach you the same thing. Most of them are scared into believing as children. Mom and Dad or other adults tell them if they do not believe like them, they will be tortured with fire by this God. IT IS NOT going to happen.
Next, Christian will bring up Hell Fire and the Second Death and yet they don’t understand those verses or even the book of Revelation. I will explain that later.

In Your Hands

I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.

Isaiah 45:7

~~~

It is so easy to take credit for accomplishments or milestones in my life.  Yet it is You who formed the light and created darkness.  This morning I found myself accepting praise for something that was entirely Your doing.

My heart lesson tonight is to give You glory for all that happens.  You, Lord, do all that is good in my life and throughout my days.  I cheat myself out of a deeper faith when I take credit for wonders shaped by my Creator

From ONE-MINUTE PRAYERS to End Your Day

Blessed be the Lord
my strength
which teaches my hand to war

and my fingers to fight

My goodness and my fortress
My high tower
and my deliverer
My shield
and he in whom I trust
who subdueth my people under me

Lord, what is man
that thou takest knowledge of him
or the son of man,
that thou makest account of him
Man is like to vanity
His days are as shadows that passeth away

Bow thy heavens, O'Lord, and come down
Touch the mountains and they shall smoke
Cast forth lighting and scatter them
Shoot out thine arrows and destroy them
Send thine hand from above
Rid me and deliver me out of great waters

From the hand of strange children
who's mouth speaketh vanity
and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood

I will sing a new song unto the O'God
Opon a phsaltery and an instrument of ten strings
Will I sing Praises unto Thee.

It is he that giveth salvation unto Kings
Who delivereth David
His servant
From the hurtfull sword

Rid me and deliver me from the hand
of strange children
Who's mouth speaketh vanity
and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood

WalKnDude

*nofear*

Nasa punto ako ngayon ng aking buhay kung saan parang andami ng possibilities kung iisipin pero kung paano yun gagawin at makakamit yun ang indi ko pa nalilinawan..siguro nga ay kulang pa ako sa focus kung kaya't kadalasan ay nakakalagpas sa akin ang swerte..ayaw ko na rin namang mangako kasi kung sa magulang ko nga ay pumalpak ako paano pa kaya kung sarili ko pa mismo ang paasahin ko..minsan kapag matutulog na ako, iniisip ko kung ano kaya ang magiging kinabukasan ko..madami akong pangarap, madami akong ninanais marating..gusto ko
na kahit papaano ay may maipagmalaki naman ang pamilya ko nang dahil sa akin..gusto ko naman na guminhawa sila kahit konti lang..sila lang naman ang mahalaga sa akin, sila ang dahilan kung bakit ako nandirito..kaht na minsan parang gusto ko nang mawalan ng pag asa..pero naiisip ko kung paano naman sila..alam ko na kasakiman siguro na isipin ng isang anak ang mawala ng maaga para makatakas na sa mundong ito..isipin ko pa lang na umiiyak ang nanay ko at mawalan ng ulirat sa sobrang pangungulila ay nabubura na agad ang masamang isipin na ito sa utak ko..sadya nga siguro na dumarating sa buhay ng isang tao yung punto na kelangan mo munang huminto sa isang tabi at isipin kung kakanan ba, kakaliwa, babalik o dideretso? Kapag nakapili ka na kung ano ang gusto mong mangyari kelangan mo ng panindigan ito, kc ang buhay para din yang sugal may nananalo may natatalo..tanggapin mu kung ano ang nakamit mo kasi deserving ka sa bgay na yun..kung hindi man umayon iyon sa pinangarap mo marahil nagkulang ka rin o di kaya
di mo itinodo ang pagtaya..pero tulad din ng sugal, ang buhay may sapaw at draw...pag ginugol mo ang buhay sa pang gugulang at panlalamang ang karma nyan pang gugulang din may sapaw pa..Sino nga ba namang tao ang masasabi nating naging matagumpay sa buhay? Sa totoo lng para sa akin ay parang wala naman, wala maliban dun sa mga taong ang ginawa ay magpayaman at magpasikat, mga taong nagpilit maging tanyag at nagpakadalubhasa..pero kung tutuusin, tagumpay bng masasabi ang kanilang natamo gayong hindi nila na enjoy ang buhay nila sa mundo kasi kalahati nito ay nasayang dahil sa pagka-abala sa mga bagay na munti lng ang kabuluhan o wala talagang halaga..hindi rin naman natin sila masisi kasi nga yun ang kanilang pinili ang kanilang tinayaan..kaya ngayon heto nag-iisip pa rin ako kung saan tataya..kung anu ang tatahakin..Pero sa huli naisip ko rin. Kung puro pagtaya at pag sugal lang ang gagawin natin sa buhay ano kaya ang ating mrarating? Ah, basta! Ang mahalaga lang ngayon sa akin e yung maibgay ko ang pangangailangan ng pamilya ko, makakain ng 3 beses sa isang araw at matulog ng mahmbing sa gabi..basta indi ko na iisipin ang bukas..bahala na...bahala na si lord kasi siya lang naman talaga ang nakakaalam!

 

and after I had  made a post on their site, they unexpectedly started to spam me with their Newsletter..

Note the question mark TO BE FAIR TO ME FOR  this was not a statement of mine as you wrongfully had claimed now..

The Gospel that  they present is not the sole, whole, Full Gospel still.

There are seven names of God, given in the Scriptures. Each of the names point us to the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

• Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord will Provide (Gen. 22:13-14).
  
• Jehovah-Rapha: The Lord will Heal (Ex 15:26).
  
• Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord our Banner (Ex. 17:8-15).
  
• Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord our Peace (Jud. 6:22-24).
  
• Jehovah-Ra-ah: The Lord my Shepherd (Ps. 23:1).
  
• Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord my Righteousness (Jer. 23:6).
  
• Jehovah-Shammah: The Lord is There (Ezek. 48:35).

Each one of these names all these names of our God and Savior  Jesus Christ inludes his active  roles today, now as well

Now the full Gospel is properly defined simply defined as - Jesus Christ is Savior, Lord, the Messiah, the coming King, Healer, Deliverer, Baptizer in the Holy Ghost - Sanctifier, Provider, Protector -Banner, Shepherd, My righteousness, My peace, Is There,  the Helper of the poor people, and God himself.

Thanks for your reference, but I still now never got a picture really of what you believe in personally so far, which I find surprisingly, when I have put in writing easily what I believe in and why too.

(Acts 10:38 KJV)  How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

"Who will have all men to be saved, and to come into the KNOWLEDGE of the truth" (I Tim. 2:4).

Note: Christian will tell you that the word "will" is not translated correctly and that it should be the word "desires". Seems in their attempt to claim God will NOT save all men, they neglect other scriptures that say "my desires WILL be done". So, if the Almighty desires something to happen, you can bet it would happen.

"The Lord…is NOT WILLING that ANY should perish [eternally]…" (II Peter. 3:9).

If the Lord is NOT willing, then you can bet it will NOT happen. Or he is not all powerful.

"I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw ALL [Gk. "the" all] men unto me" (John 12:32).

Yes, scriptures tell us he will draw ALL men unto him. Not SOME men....ALL!!!

"For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified" (I Cor. 15:22).

Notice the key word...ALL!!!

"To wit that God was in Christ, reconciling THE WORLD unto Himself, NOT imputing THEIR TRESPASSES AGAINST THEM" (II Cor. 5:19)

"And He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for our’s only, but also for THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD" (I John 2:2).

"That in the name of Jesus every knee will bow, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean, and every tongue should be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father" (Phil. 2:10-11).
What happens if you confess Jesus Christ is Lord?....you are saved.

Those are but a few examples of the bible telling us that ALL men are saved.

The question on what I "want to do with my life" has surfaced again and GOD, I have a feeling, has been placing it on my conscience. Which is exactly what I have been asking in my prayers to him for. I have been really focused on efficiency in every part of my life as well.. I have been zoning down on how much I drink and eat and how much electricity and water I use. I have been writing things down like "when's the right time to wash your sheets and blankets" or "what temperature should it be for me to open my windows". Things are becoming more planned out in my life. I have attempted this several times but have failed every time. Over controlling the wrong things in my life and uncontrolling the right. Hopefully I don't fail this time.

Also I have a strong desire to write articles. Not like spur of the moment papers but looking up sources and putting it in my own words.  I have been rewriting almost everything I write so it sounds more fluid to read as well as to speak. No doubt I will rewrite this over and over again. Again I feel this is the LORD's annswer to my prayers to be more diligent in my work and have a passion for it. The idea of a podcast has also been floating around in my head.

On an off-beat subject I would like to ask in this entry if I can write a essay of sorts to my friend Zac about my beliefs surrounding 9/11. I know he won't look it up for himself but maybe he would consider it if I wrote it it to him.

Oh and I will post the other things, the papers up as well.

I sure pray this keeps up!

He taxes too much. If you vote for him you’ll be homeless. If you vote for the other one, your children will starve. But if you vote for the first guy, they’ll lose all their education and become stupid rejects, begging for day-old scraps behind the ghetto bakery. But the other guy will take your job. And the other one will tax your new raise so you actually come home with $5 less every week. One of them will date your mom. The other will shut down her nursing home. One will have dinner with terrorists at Arby’s while the other just sends him a check at Christmas, even though they don’t celebrate Christmas.

Here’s what I’m saying: There are bigger issues than whose face is on the front page. Every day 6000 kids are killed by mid-term or later abortion. They refuse to allow Bibles in schools, so Christian parents teach home school, allowing their children to learn math and moral values at the same time. While the schools are taking a massive dump when it comes to value and ethics and crime and teaching self-worth, the state of California just outlawed Christians from their God-given right to teach their own kids. Now they have to send them to the cesspool of a school that will teach anti-creation science, thereby infringing on the rights of students to practice their own religion freely (but don’t worry, they won’t attack Muslims, Buddhists, atheists, agnostics, pagans, wiccans, Scientologists, etc. Just the Christians.)

Let’s see, what else? Lets talk about gay marriage. I’m all for gays to have the right to choose their lifestyle- its their choice. (Just like my kids schooling used to be.) But I’m not for the whole gay-marriage thing. Sure, they can practice it, but that doesn’t really make it a marriage. I know, I know, they’ve redefined what “marriage” is, but it used to be a union before God between a man and a woman. Since most homosexuals don’t believe in or care for God, they can’t really have a union before Him that He will honor. But, what they hey, they ignored my right to practice my faith (only if it’s from the Christian Bible) by ignoring the 1^st amendment, why not ignore the other principals too.

So who is going to do what to help me out? Am I personally going to benefit from either party being elected? Maybe, but probably not. There aren’t a whole lot of things that are going to actually make a difference in the way I daily live my life. I could be wrong, but here’s how I look at it:

If one side is accused of overtaxing and the other of allowing abortions, I will sacrifice a couple bucks, even a couple hundred, per year to vote for the sanctity of life.

If one side is accused of sending jobs overseas and the other of limiting free speech, I’m probably going to have to go for free speech. There will always be a need for jobs on the US. They may not be the best, but we have too many people not to need a ton of jobs. We also have a lot of politicians going after free speech, even though the ones attacked are the churches and the right. Hmm.

If one side wants to build a thousand mile fence at the borders and the other wants to let gays marry, I will go for the fence. Those guys are great climbers and if they can get in through, over or under a military fence, then they deserve to stay. For those that can’t, they can still come here, but have to go through the legal process. Meanwhile, I stand up for what I believe regarding gay marriage. I’m not anti-gay, but I’m not pro-gay. I’m just ok-gay; they can do their thing, but I don’t want tax dollars going toward something I find immoral.

Bottom line, I can’t do anything about the politicians. But, then again, I will probably never have to answer to them. I will, however, have to answer to God. I will stand before Him and be able to say that I voted for the things and the principles that are on His side, His Law, and His eternal purpose. I will say that I stood up for hundreds of thousands of innocent children and supported their right to life. I will say that I voted against the activity that led to His destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, the activities that He calls an abomination. I will be able to say that I stood up for His Word, His teaching, for the right to exhibit by faith, to speak freely the gospel. I will say, “Jesus, I stood up for you.”

What do you stand for?

Mark is a young, associate preacher at Bethel Baptist Church in Canyon. The Good Lord has answered many of Mark's prayers by giving him the chance to preach to his congregation for 36 minutes each Sunday night.

When Mark preaches, he doesn't shout and his hands are rarely still, but he does deliver a very strong message that comes across loud and clear. He also mixes humor with Scripture to keep all eyes and ears alert while he preaches. Mark said that sometimes it seems like a lot of baggage, but he takes it to the cross and knows everything will be okay. Mark has never been to seminary school but preaches because he loves it so much.

Mark England's other passion is football. He absolutely loves to play the game, the camaraderie and the friends he's made on the team. He has had two major knee surgeries that he has overcome. Injuries like his would have ended most players careers. Mark willed himself through tenacity and hard work to stay on the team and earn himself a starting point on the offensive line.

Most people that meet Mark think he is a full grown man in kid's body. He is very mature for his age and it shows every time he opens his mouth. Mark accepted Christ when he was just 11-years-old. He said it changed his life at that very moment. And at the age of 13, he was asked if he wanted to preach is first Sunday night sermon.

Mark knew he needed to be in front of people, so he said yes. His first sermon lasted just 4 1/2 minutes. He said he was so nervous as he preached on "Fleeing from God." Since then, Mark has preached so many sermons he can't count them. He also has his own website www.markenglandministries.com.. Mark believes the Lord is moving him to do this. He says the Holy Spirit takes over and it's awesome. He truly loves it.

Wow, so young to be so inspirational to so many. It's a very touching story of such a young man who knows what he wants, and isn't afraid to go after it.

God was kind to me this day and I “stumbled” upon another man taking a Sabbath and decided to read what he wrote.

Psalm 92:1 A Psalm, a Song for the Sabbath day. It is good to give thanks to the LORD And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;

2 To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning And Your faithfulness by night,

3 With the ten-stringed lute and with the harp, With resounding music upon the lyre.

4 For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.

5 How great are Your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep.

6 A senseless man has no knowledge, Nor does a stupid man understand this:

7 That when the wicked sprouted up like grass And all who did iniquity flourished, It was only that they might be destroyed forevermore. 8 But You, O LORD, are on high forever.

9 For, behold, Your enemies, O LORD, For, behold, Your enemies will perish; All who do iniquity will be scattered.

10 But You have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; I have been anointed with fresh oil.

11 And my eye has looked exultantly upon my foes, My ears hear of the evildoers who rise up against me.

12 The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

13 Planted in the house of the LORD, They will flourish in the courts of our God.

14 They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green,

15 To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

Some Sabbath reflections.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, the most High God. My problem is often that when I am caught having eyes of flesh rather than faith, I don’t know for what to thank Him. To recognize, however, that He is full of lovingkindness in the morning and faithfulness at night gives me volumes to declare.  Seriously, do I have NOTHING for which to thank Him?  That's crazy (I wish I knew a word stronger than crazy).

His works are like Him, they are good. Here’s where stumbling is easy – is it all good, O Lord? Sleepless markets that go lower than we’ve seen before – good? Iraq arming with nuclear weapons – good? Slippery political candidates of all kinds – good? A house that just won’t sell – good? Your thoughts are very deep.

To misunderstand His works makes me like a stupid man, a fool. I’m caught and rightly labeled.

To long for the green grass of ease or comfort or security more than all else, makes me an enemy of God. This is what happens to me when I fail to give thanks. And I fail to give thanks when I don't rest.  Weariness makes thankfulness next to impossible, right? When I believe that God should act as I have or how I think He should and He does not, I become His enemy. I fail to see and I fail to thank. How can it be that having been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ I can be His enemy? Never finally His enemy, but like a right fullback on the soccer field who won’t listen to the captain’s instructions, I buck His agenda. How stupid (I need to be benched).

Holding fast to God in all times puts me in the path of His blessing: anointing, victory, righteousness. I get to see and know His progress in kingdom expansion. I get to be exalted with His chosen ones. I will watch the downfall of wicked and the expiration of those who hate Him; those who hate me.  I've seen these things and they surpass low oil prices, lemme tell you.

For those who will cling to Him, who will give thanks to Him, they will be men and women of mission. Who doesn’t want to “flourish”?! I've spoken to many who want to "make a difference" in life with their lives.  No doubt.  Who flourishes?  The righteous.  Not the influential or the powerful (unless they are righteous).  That's a level playing field that no one but God can create.  So I need Christ to make me righteous and then I need to work to produce it (James 1:20). I want to bear fruit in all ages, want to be engaged at all times – active as a blooming tree in the Garden of God. This will cost me, though. I have to stay planted in His garden and I’ve never really thought of that. How often do I uproot myself in my thinking? Do I pursue other agendas for other reasons?

What are your Sabbath reflections?

I believe in God the Father - maker of heaven and earth
And in Jesus Christ His only Son
I believe in the virgin birth
I believe in the Man of Sorrows bruised for iniquities
I believe in the Lamb who was
crucified and hung between two thieves

I believe in the resurrection on the
third and glorious day
And I believe in the empty tomb and the
stone that the angel rolled away
He descended and set the captives free
And now He sits at God's right hand
and prepares a place for me

(Chorus)
This is my creed - the witness I have heard
The faith that has endured
This truth is assured
Through the darkest ages past
Though persecuted, it will last
And I will hold steadfast to this creed

I believe He sent His Spirit to comfort and to reveal
To lead us into the truth and light, to baptize and to seal
I believe that He will come back the way He went away
And receive us all unto Himself, but no man knows the day

I believe He is the Judge of all men, small and great
The resurrected souls of men receive from Him their fate
Some to death and some to life, some to their reward
Some to sing eternal praise forever to our Lord

I Thessalonians 4:13-14 says: "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep."** Those who are "asleep" are meant to be those who are physically dead. 

My hope is only in Christ. I only trust Him to resurrect me from the dead when I die just as He was resurrected from the dead by the Father when He died on the cross and was buried in the tomb.

**The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001 (electronic ed.). Good News Publishers: Wheaton.

One bit of good news from all of this is that I have re-acquainted with some of my closest friends from the last 25 years. Many of them I've not spoken to in over 10 years, I'm ashamed to say. Everette brought us back together and I plan to stay in touch with them.

A final note - Everette was an organ donor. Because he was so young, some of his organs were very strong and will end up helping many people. God is redemptive meaning He brings good from bad situations.

-Mark (grieving my own sin but recognizing that I'm forgiven in Christ because Jesus is Lord)

Sirach 1:9-18

(9)  The fear of the Lord is glory and exultation, and gladness and a crown of rejoicing.
(10)  The fear of the Lord delights the heart, and gives gladness and joy and long life.

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:27 NKJV)

From the very beginning of this passage, Sirach sets out to tell us of the joys of Fear, something that is rarely taught today. We speak not of fright or worry, but of a reverence for God and the things of God. Tyndale, in his translation, often used the word Reverence instead of fear, as that word brings to mind not of an angry God, but one that is to be respected and loved.

(10a) Fear of the Lord is a gift from the Lord, for he also establishes paths for love.

(11)  With him who fears the Lord it will go well at the end; on the day of his death he will be blessed.

We can find in Proverbs a parallel of thought for this section of Sirach.

The fear of the LORD prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened. (Proverbs 10:27 NKJV)

(12)  Wisdom's beginning is to fear the Lord, and she is joined to the faithful in the womb.

Sirach echoes the Psalmist in 111.10, which reads,

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever. (Psalms 111:10 NKJV)

Solomon in his Proverbs tells us,

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.  (Proverbs 1:7 NKJV)

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  (Proverbs 9:10 NKJV)

Returning to Sirach, we read,

(13)  She made among men an eternal foundation, and among their descendants she will be trusted.

This eternal foundation is the Church

(14)  To fear the Lord is wisdom's full measure; she satisfies men with her fruits;
(15)  she fills their whole house with desirable goods, and their storehouses with her produce.
(16)  The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom, making peace and perfect health to flourish.

(16a) And both are gifts of God for peace, and boasting creates space for those that love him.

(17)  He saw her and apportioned her; he rained down knowledge and discerning comprehension, and he exalted the glory of those who held her fast.

The Italicized words above are given in several Greek recensions. With the use of this Greek text, it changes the pronouns, and thus the meaning of the verse. He, of course, if the Lord God (see 16a) who gives Wisdom to those that would hold fast to it. Without the addition of the first clause of v17, we would have Wisdom who does these things, and perhaps, then, more than an emanation from the Father.

This verse alone does nothing to solidify the Emanatist (Economic/Oneness) view nor the Trinitarian, however, it must be recognized that God the Father is the source of the procession of Wisdom.

(18)  To fear the Lord is the root of wisdom, and her branches are long life.

(18a) The fear of the Lord repels sins, and when it endures, it will turn away all wrath.

Again, we turn to Solomon.

In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity;  And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil. (Proverbs 16:6 NKJV)

This is more than a table grace, as far as I'm concerned. This is a prayer that we need to have in our hearts and on our lips, pretty much at all times and in all places and in all circumstances.

Jesus be with us. Teach us, by the way we treat you, in our hospitality for your presence in our lives, how to treat others, how to welcome the stranger, how to see all the people in our lives as gifts.

Bless the gifts that come to us from Christ's love, God's bounty, and the Spirit's generosity.
Bless our use of these gifts for the sake of people in need.

Guide us to see and know our place in the world in faith and that our giftedness through our baptismal waters does send us into the world, in peace, to love and serve our Lord.

"Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed."

(For Preventing The Children of Poor or Unrighteous People in the United States From Being A Burden to Their Christian and Wealthy Brethren and Country, and Instead Making Them Beneficial to the Public)

It is such a sad affair, at the beginning of this 21st century, to travel within the city and its surrounding urban districts and find oneself assaulted by the vast numbers of homeless, especially the rapidly increasingly number of women—homeless or not—with their children and swollen bellies. At least two in five children live below the poverty line, and with the absolutely necessary wage depressions placed upon the middle class, leading to further growth among the poor, along with the corresponding taxation, which I wholeheartedly agree that the government is most correct in applying (far be if for me to question the wisdom of the policies our most astute leaders see wisest to institute). And of course we must reward our most successful citizens with permanent tax cuts and not help those who cannot help themselves. After all, it’s a well-known fact that those who have absolutely nothing can most certainly pull themselves up from nothing using nothing.

Even within the schools, whose moral duties are to protect our young before they reach the age of taking on adult responsibilities, I have seen horrifying signs of the young bearing their own young. And the numbers of poor continue to surge among them, growing numbers of unaccompanied, wild youth, no matter how hard we try to instill morally true messages and admonish them to honor their parents! Why, just a few years ago the number of homeless youth ranging the country was swelling in numbers of over 300,000 a year! I cannot convey the staggering consequences put upon this country from these numbers of uneducated, unprepared children—fleeing, I am told, alleged conditions such as sexual and physical abuse, economic instability and merely leaving parents who simply did not care, of which I am sure these incorrigible youth must be deliberately committing perjury.

I have taken on the task of questioning many of these poor, pregnant and/or already mothers and unknowing fathers at tender teen ages. It seems that many, despite our excellent education exhorting abstinence only and quite wisely keeping from these indiscrete youth the knowledge of preventing pregnancy in order to uphold the sanctity of marriage, gave in to their lust despite the consequences and the numerous admonitions given and disciplinary measures taken by their parents and preachers. In keeping with our country’s policy that our children are best kept ignorant of the sordid processes behind the making of babies and be raised to see procreation in the service of God and matrimony, I most certainly cannot declare myself in favor of changing this course as it is indeed in keeping with the best values of Christianity and morality itself. And I do understand that in order to maintain the purity and sanctity of life that we hold so dear we cannot teach these poor young women about birth control or ever allow them access to it or, heaven forbid, abortion. Yet faced with the prodigious numbers mounting here that they do not have in ungodly, socialist Europe, I have spent many years as the tragedies compound, bending my mind to various solutions.

And so now, I find myself in a position of offering a proposal that would be palatable and acceptable within our Godly commitments to protect the unborn souls and yet not allow the born offspring to become a burden upon those families that either cannot care for them or those that do not deserve them nor the society that must not provide medical care, jobs, social programs, counseling, or other unchristian help to those who have disobeyed God and country in this matter.

Something must obviously be done to intervene at an early age to keep these children from growing up to be the homeless and miscreants burdening our society or repeating the mistakes of their mothers of having children outside marriage (it is a fact that this is indeed a typical pattern). Now I have studied and thought long and hard before staking a claim on a possible solution, and I want to make sure that my critics understand that I have nothing to gain from my proposal. Since I am now a retired teacher, I would not be profiting in smaller class sizes that would be created nor could I benefit since I am not married and so given my Christian upbringing would never have a child out of wedlock to try and make a few dollars from my proposal. I do understand that my proposal will not help things immediately, but we are in need of long-term preventive measures, given that we cannot allow a continually growing population of poor old people past their working prime to burden those among us who pay their our way, and this will indeed solve such nagging concerns from occurring in the future.

Since our country is so beholden to the rich for their patronage of our goods, as well as the powerful corporations that have built such wondrous empires upon our own and other soils, my suggestion is basically for them to take up the gauntlet of this cause to save our country and to increase the wealth of those who truly deserve it. I am now going on knowledge acquired by others that the tender flesh of young babies is of the highest quality in taste and protein (J. Swift). I therefore submit that those approximate 1.3 million abortions now being performed per year that will most thankfully and assuredly come to a halt through the efforts of our Evangelical brother Alito upon the Supreme Court bench, and the other thousands of children born from lust and the inability to abstain from disgusting carnal pursuits may now lend a noble hand to the continuation of this country and bring just punishment upon their thoughtless, criminal parents as is befitting a just God. I submit that these babies, after having been breast fed for a year, be sold to the finest restaurant chains and meat companies in the United States to become as fine a delicacy as caviar: home grown, cured, packaged, and dressed all by US businesses for consumption by those in our society so deserving through their wealth and Christian living (such wealth seen as a reward from heaven for their service to the Lord) and by any others our most illustrious leaders see fit to provide this cuisine to.

Surely, in this way, we may stimulate the economy (which we all know so dreadfully needs it) without encroaching upon the just wealth or our richest citizens and corporations; rid ourselves of the pestilence of the poor, unwed, homeless, criminal, immoral elements: shower further favor upon the elite; punish the unrighteous; and cleanse this country of its sins in the eyes of the Lord and so make our peace with the Almighty before He decides to totally destroy us as He has most recently showed in the rash of floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes He has been sending of late as warnings to our shore to mend our unholy ways.

Certainly there will be critics of this proposed action, but I am most amenable to other solutions if anyone can think of something that will take care of as many facets of the problem as this proposal does; in that instance, I will most wholeheartedly lend them my mind and ear. Until then, though, I feel we must urgently move forward and adopt this proposal to stem the tide that is overwhelming society. I can only call attention again to the numbers I have already given that have grown further in the last few years to point out that something needs be done at once (and let us not forget the burgeoning prison population—with the highest per capita incarceration rate of any country in the world—that that is another blight upon our sacred society).

Now, I must admit that I owe my solution to a greater mind than my own, a man who first thought of this more than one hundred years ago, and so I must rest on his laurels: chaplain Swift. And so, you see, I cannot even claim honor or recognition for my proposal, only for putting it forth once again in these trying times. I just must thank the Lord for giving us such a brilliant mind as chaplain Swift’s.

Amen

By riki mathews, The Trickster

I hope this letter finds you well. I write to ask your pardon, lady; I have done something that may unintentionally have caused you great offense. My only defense is that of good intentions.

A few days past, I was forced to make a trip into Ironforge; I had need of an auction house and to speak to the master alchemist. As I spurred on the ancient ram I'd had the misfortune to rent - what a stubborn beast! - I happened to spy a familiar form encased in shadow in the corner of the Forlorn Cavern.

I thought I would come over to say hello to you, but then I saw you were with someone. I recalled the face from my brief moments in your mind, though I could have guessed who it was by merely looking at you. It is here I ask your forgiveness - I stayed where I was for a while, merely observing. I am fascinated by human interaction, especially interaction between your open self and your priest's phlegmatic demeanor. He is a handsome sort, with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Lady, but you share that burden - even your aura seemed faint to my eyes. I suppose, however, that if you love him as I suspect you do, that is of little consequence. 

I would merely counsel against desperation, if you will allow me to do so - this man would not thank you for it. I am, of course, merely an observer - but he holds himself strong and proud, though his eyes are soft when he looks at you. If I may be so impudent as to offer an opinion, he cares for you, but you are his Achilles heel. Love is a wonderful thing, most of the time - you will have to teach this priest about that, lady. 

Please be safe, in the meantime - something very big may occur soon, if we are not careful. The shadows have spoken to me. I will continue to read the portents and keep you informed. 

Again, I beg forgiveness for my unintentional prying; if anything you and the gentleman discussed was private, I hereby swear myself to never-ending secrecy. 

Yours most sincerely - Lord

If you are a thoughtless, careless man about your soul, you will take no interest in the subject of this tract. Faith and assurance are mere names and words to you: they are neither land, nor money, nor horses, nor dress, nor meat, nor drink: like Gallio, you care not for them. Alas, poor soul! I mourn over you. The day will come when you will think differently.

Reader, if you really desire to go to heaven, and to go there in the Bible way you will find the subject of this tract of the deepest importance. Believe me, your own comfort in religion, and your peace of conscience, depend exceedingly on understanding the matter about which I am going to speak. I say then, that faith in Christ, and a full assurance of being saved by Christ, are two distinct things.

A man may have saving faith in Christ, and yet never enjoy an assured hope, like the Apostle Paul. To believe, and have a glimmering hope of acceptance, is one thing; to have joy and peace in our believing, and abound in hope, is quite another. All God's children have faith: not all have assurance. I think this ought never to be forgotten.

I know some great and good men have held a different opinion: I believe that many excellent ministers do not allow the distinction I have stated; but I desire to call no man master. I dread as much as anyone the idea of healing the wounds of conscience slightly; but I should think any other view than that I have given a most uncomfortable gospel to preach, and one very likely to keep souls back a long time from the gate of life.

I would not desire to make one contrite heart sad that God has not made sad, or to discourage one fainting child of God, or to give a soul the impression that you have no part or lot in Christ, except you feel assurance. I do not shrink from saying, that by grace a man may have sufficient faith to flee to Christ, really to lay hold on Him, really to trust in Him, really to be a child of God, really to be saved; and yet to his last day be never free from much anxiety, doubt, and fear.

"A letter," says an old writer, "may be written which is not sealed; so grace may be written in the heart, yet the Spirit may not set the seal of assurance to it."

A child may be born heir to a great fortune, and yet never be aware of his riches, live childish, die childish, and never know the greatness of his possessions.

And so also a man may be a babe in Christ's family; think as a babe, speak as a babe, and, though saved, never enjoy a lively hope, or know the full privileges of his inheritance.

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ a man must have, beyond all question, if he is to be saved. I know no other way of access to the Father: I see no intimation of mercy excepting through Christ. A man must feel his sins and lost estate, must come to Jesus for pardon and salvation, must rest his hope on Him and on Him alone. But if he only have faith to do this, however weak and feeble that faith may be, I will engage, from Scripture warrants, he shall not miss heaven. Never, never let us curtail the freeness of the glorious gospel, or clip its fair proportions. Never let us make the gate more strait, and the way more narrow, than pride or love of sin have made it already. The Lord Jesus is very pitiful and of tender mercy. He does not regard the quantity of faith, but the quality He does not measure its degree, but its truth. He will not break any bruised reed, nor quench any smoking flax. He will never let it be said that any perished at the foot of the cross. "Him that cometh unto Me," He says, "I will in no wise cast out" (John vi. 37). 1

Yes, reader! though a man's faith be no bigger than a grain of mustard seed, if it only brings him to Christ, and enables him to touch the hem of His garment, he shall be saved: saved as surely as the oldest saint in paradise; saved as completely and eternally as Peter, or John, or Paul. There are degrees in our sanctification: in our justification there are none. What is written is written, and shall never fail: "Whosoever believeth on Him," not whosoever has a strong and mighty faith, "Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed" (Rom. x. 11).

But all this time, I would have you take notice, the poor soul may have no full assurance of his pardon and acceptance with God. He may be troubled with fear upon fear, and doubt upon doubt. He may have many a question and many an anxiety, many a struggle, and many a misgiving, clouds and darkness, storm and tempest to the very end.

I will engage, I repeat, that bare simple faith in Christ shall save a man, though he may never attain to assurance; but I will not engage it shall bring him to heaven, with strong and abounding consolations. I will engage it shall land him safe in harbour, but I will not engage he shall enter that harbour under full sail, confident and rejoicing. I shall not be surprised if he reaches his desired haven weather-beaten and tempest-tossed, scarcely realising his own safety till he opens his eyes in glory.

Reader, I believe it is of great importance to keep in view this distinction between faith and assurance. It explains things which an inquirer in religion some times finds it hard to understand.

Faith, let us remember, is the root, and assurance is the flower. Doubtless you can never have the flower without the root; but it is no less certain you may have the root and not the flower.

Faith is that poor trembling woman who came behind Jesus in the press and touched the hem of His garment (Mark v. 25). Assurance is Stephen standing calmly in the midst of his murderers, and saying, "I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God" (Acts vii. 56). Faith is the penitent thief crying, "Lord, remember me" (Luke xxiii. 42). Assurance is Job sitting in the dust, covered with sores, and saying, "I know that my Redeemer liveth" (Job xix. 25). "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" (Job xiii. 13).

Faith is Peter's drowning cry as he began to sink: "Lord, save me!" (Matt. xiv. 30). Assurance is the same Peter declaring before the Council, in after times, "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts iv. 11,12).

Faith is the anxious, trembling voice: "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief" (Mark ix. 24). Assurance is the confident challenge: "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? Who is he that condemneth?" (Rom. viii. 33, 34).

Faith is Saul praying in the house of Judas at Damascus, sorrowful, blind, and alone (Acts ix. 11). Assurance is Paul, the aged prisoner, looking calmly into the grave, and saying, "I know Whom I have believed," "There is laid up for me a crown" (2 Tim. i. 12; iv. 8).

Faith is life. How great the blessing! Who can tell the gulf between life and death? And yet life may be weak, sickly, unhealthy, painful, trying, anxious, worn, burdensome, joyless, and smileless to the very end.

Assurance is more than life. It is health, strength, power, vigour, activity, energy, manliness, and beauty.

Reader, it is not a question of saved or not saved that lies before us, but of privilege or no privilege, it is not a question of peace or no peace, but of great peace or little peace, it is not a question between the wanderers of this world and the school of Christ, it is one that belongs only to the school, it is between the first form and the last.

He that has faith does well. Happy should I be if I thought all readers of this tract had it. Blessed, thrice blessed are they that believe: they are safe; they are washed; they are justified. They are beyond the power of hell. Satan, with all his malice, shall never pluck them out of Christ's hands. But he that has assurance does far better, sees more, feels more, knows more, enjoys more, has more days like those spoken of in Deuteronomy, even "the days of heaven upon the earth" (Deut. xi. 21). 2

Reader, whoever you may be, I exhort you never to be satisfied with anything short of a full assurance of your own salvation. With faith, no doubt, you must begin, with simple, child-like faith: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." But from faith go on to assurance. Rest not till you can say, "I know Whom I have believed."

Believe me, believe me, assurance is worth the seeking. You forsake your own mercies when you rest content without it. The things I speak are for your peace. It is good to be sure in earthly things; how much better is it to be sure in heavenly things!

Make it then your daily prayer that you may have an increase of faith. According to your faith will be your peace. Cultivate that blessed root more, and sooner or later, by God's blessing, you may hope to have the flower. You may not perhaps attain to full assurance at once: it is good sometimes to be kept waiting; we do not value things that we get without trouble. But though it tarry, wait for it. Seek on, and expect to find.

FOOTNOTES:

1 "He that believeth on Jesus shall never be confounded. Never was any; neither shall you, if you believe. It was a great word of faith spoken by a dying man, who had been converted in a singular way, betwixt his condemnation and execution: his last words were these, spoken with a mighty shout 'Never man perished with his face towards Jesus Christ.'"  Traill.

2 "The greatest thing that we can desire, next to the glory of God, is our own salvation; and the sweetest thing we can desire is the assurance of our salvation. In this life we cannot get higher than to be assured of that which in the next life is to be enjoyed. All saints shall enjoy a heaven when they leave this earth: some saints enjoy a heaven while they are here on earth." Joseph Carlyle. 1658.