"It's hard, when you're up to your armpits in alligators, to remember you came here to drain the swamp." President Ronald Reagan
Monday, February 28, 2022
Psalms, Chapter Twelve
3The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
4Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
6The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
8The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.
Philemon, Chapter Two
Philemon, Chapter Two
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to [a]the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon’s Love and Faith
4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in [b]you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we [c]have great [d]joy and [e]consolation in your love, because the [f]hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
The Plea for Onesimus
8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ— 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 11 who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.
Biden's Primary Goal
Biden's Primary Goal
Joe Biden is absolutely committed to punishing Russian President Vladimir Putin for his aggression in Ukraine. You can’t turn on the TV without some clip of the silver haired, senile embodiment of deception and ineptitude insisting he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make the butcher of Moscow pay for his evil actions. Biden actually imposed sanctions but In reality, he didn’t do anything that makes a difference.
Putin’s power comes from oil and gas. It stands to reason that if you’re trying to punish him, hitting him in the wallet is the most effective way to do it. So why would Biden specifically exempt what is the best, most effective, and only significant way to hurt Putin? Honestly, there is no good answer.
On Thursday, Joe Biden told the world, “As we respond, my administration is using the tools, every tool at our disposal to protect American families and businesses from rising prices at the gas pump. You know we’re taking active steps to bring down the cost, and American oil and gas company should not – should not – exploit this moment to hike their prices to raise profits. Also, in our sanctions package we specifically designed allow energy payments to continue. We are closely monitoring energy supplies for any disruption, we’ve been coordinating with major oil producing and consuming countries toward our common interest to secure global energy supplies. We are actively working with countries around the world to elevate collective release from the strategic petroleum reserves of major energy consuming countries. And the United States release additional barrels of oil as conditions warrant.”
This quote to gives the sheer magnitude of Biden’s fecklessness clarity. He’s a wildly unpopular President, due in large part to his inflationary policies and spending. He’s attempting to look like a powerful, important leader of the free world, but knows polling has him less popular than a sharp stick in the eye.
Biden has such little faith in the American people, that he’s letting a tyrant continue to sell that which helps keep him in power to avoid the risk of his poll numbers dropping even more.
“To be clear, our sanctions are not designed to cause any disruption to the current flow of energy from Russia to the world,” said Deputy National Security Advisor Daleep Singh Thursday.
Then what is their point?
How can Biden say two diametrically opposing things publicly and get away with it? Because truth matters nothing to him. As always, he is playing the game to secure goals that are what they have always been – Biden’s priority is Joe Biden. He’s never cared about anything but himself, his whole career.
Boasting in God's Presence?
Boasting in God’s Presence? by Dr. D. James Kennedy
"...not of works, so that no one should boast." Ephesians 2:9
Many people mistakenly think they can work their way to heaven by being good. Centuries ago, a simple farmer from England indirectly laid this myth to rest. He was an old and very godly plowman and was acquainted with a young English curate who had recently started a ministry in England.
Though the plowman had no formal education, he had been educated by the Spirit of God and the Word of God. One day, in one of their many conversations, while they were talking about the greatest hindrance to spiritual attainment and growth, the curate said that he believed the greatest hindrance to spiritual attainment was the unwillingness to surrender one’s sinful self.
Sounds reasonable, but the plowman said, “No, I think not. I think the greatest hindrance to the advancement in the spiritual faith is the unwillingness to surrender one’s righteous self.”
It is a long way from, “I am proud to stand before God and tell how I have lived my life for the betterment of mankind,” to “God have mercy upon me, a sinner.”
Sunday, February 27, 2022
PRAYER REQUEST
PRAYER REQUEST
I am asking you today to join with Ukrainian Christians across the country to pray for a peaceful end to this conflict in their nation - please join us.
A month ago, a pastor received a Scripture, which he shared in a sermon in his church. “See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright — but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness…» (Habakkuk 2:4).
In Russian translation it sounds like this: «...an arrogant soul cannot calm down, but a righteous person should be live by his faith».
We know the second half of the verse very well, but often forget that the words "the righteous shall live by his faith" were God's promise to the prophet in the face of imminent war and foreign occupation.
Did you know that Ukraine has the highest percentage of evangelical Christians in the former USSR and in continental Europe today?
Ukraine has the largest concentration of evangelical churches in Eastern Europe. And a lot of missionaries from Ukraine are today serving in different countries.
So I know for sure - God’s eye is on Ukraine.
So, please pray for Ukraine. Please pray also for our outreach work here. We are here to serve our people in this time of crisis.
May God continue to be praised in Ukraine and may His Church be an agent of peace around the world -- always!
Philemon, Chapter One
Philemon, Chapter One
Paul a prisoner of Iesus Christ, & Timothie our brother vnto Philemon our dearely beloued, and fellow labourer,
2And to our beloued Apphia, and Archippus our fellow Souldier, and to the Church in thy house.
3Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Iesus Christ.
4I thanke my God, making mention of thee alwayes in my prayers,
5Hearing of thy loue, and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Iesus, and toward all Saints:
6That the communication of thy faith may become effectuall by the acknowledging of euery good thing, which is in you in Christ Iesus.
7For wee haue great ioy and consolation in thy loue, because the bowels of the Saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
8Wherefore, though I might bee much bolde in Christ to enioyne thee that which is conuenient;
9Yet for loues sake I rather beseech thee, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Iesus Christ.
10I beseech thee for my sonne Onesimus, whome I haue begotten in my bonds,
11Which in time past was to thee vnprofitable: but now profitable to thee and to me:
12Whom I haue sent againe: thou therfore receiue him, that is mine owne bowels.
13Whome I would haue reteined with mee, that in thy stead hee might haue ministred vnto me in the bonds of the Gospel.
14But without thy minde would I doe nothing, that thy benefite should not bee as it were of necessitie, but willingly.
15For perhaps hee therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receiue him for euer:
16Not now as a seruant, but aboue a seruant, a brother beloued, specially to mee, but how much more vnto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
17If thou count mee therefore a partner, receiue him as my selfe.
18If hee hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account.
19I Paul haue written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I doe not say to thee how thou owest vnto me, euen thine owne selfe besides:
20Yea, brother, let mee haue ioy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowles in the Lord.
21Hauing confidence in thy obedience, I wrote vnto thee, knowing that thou wilt also doe more then I say.
22But withall prepare mee also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be giuen vnto you.
23There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Iesus:
24Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow labourers.
25The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a seruant.
Psalms, Chapter Ten
Psalms, Chapter Ten
Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
3For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
6He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
7His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
10He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
11He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
12Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
13Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
15Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
16The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.
18To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
Saturday, February 26, 2022
Titus, Chapter Three
Titus, Chapter Three
3 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.
Final Remarks
12 As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. 13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. 14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.
15 Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all.
Psalms, Chapter Nine
Psalms, Chapter Nine
I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.
3 When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.
4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.
5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
6 O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.
7 But the Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
9 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
11 Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.
12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
13 Have mercy upon me, O Lord; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:
14 That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.
15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.
16 The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.
17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.
19 Arise, O Lord; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.
20 Put them in fear, O Lord: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.
Ketanji Brown Jackson
Biden is nominating Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the US Supreme Court. His announcement today fulfills a campaign promise to pick the first Black woman for the nation's highest court. Brown Jackson, 51, is currently a judge for the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
A problematic but historic nomination
I have written previously that Mr. Biden's campaign pledge to nominate a Black woman to the Court, while an effective political strategy, brings a demographic dimension to the Court that our founders did not intend. They created a representative democracy with three branches: a president elected by all the people, a Congress composed of members elected by their constituents (senators by their states and representatives by their districts), and a Supreme Court composed of unelected justices.
These justices are intended to hold the laws created by Congress and the actions of the president accountable to the Constitution as it was written and intended to be interpreted. As such, the justices are not intended to make laws, but rather to evaluate them by constitutional standards.
As a result, applying a demographic filter to a nominee—whatever that filter might be—brings a representative dimension to the Court that the founders did not intend.
Having said this, I do not want to miss the opportunity to note the significance of the president's announcement. Judge Brown Jackson, if confirmed by the Senate, would be the first Black woman ever to serve on our nation's highest court. As was the case when the first Black man ascended to the court, and the first woman, and the first Hispanic woman, this is an historic moment.
It demonstrates our nation's continued commitment to fulfill our creedal declaration that "all men are created equal." And it expresses the biblical doctrine of the sanctity of all people, whatever their gender or ethnicity.
We are each created by God in his image: "male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:27). We are each loved fully and unconditionally by the God who is love (1 John 4:8). As St. Augustine noted, God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.
And we are each welcomed into the family of God: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). A Black woman on our nation's highest court, whatever the political calculus that led to her nomination, sends a strong signal for the biblical values of equality and inclusion.
"She is an amazing person"
Judge Brown Jackson was a high school debate champion who went on to graduate from Harvard Law, where she was an editor on the Harvard Law Review. She's been a federal judge for nine years and was appointed last year by President Biden to the US Court of Appeals for the DC Court sometimes called the nation's "second-highest court" and a "waiting bench" for likely Supreme Court nominees.
She met her husband, Dr. Patrick J. Jackson, while both were students at Harvard. He is a surgeon at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. They have two daughters—one a senior in high school and the other in college.
She is related by marriage to Paul D. Ryan, the former Speaker of the House and Republican vice-presidential candidate. At her 2012 confirmation hearing to serve as a district court judge in the US capital, Mr. Ryan testified in her support, calling her "clearly qualified" and "an amazing person."
"Our politics may differ, but my praise for Ketanji's intellect, for her character, for her integrity, it is unequivocal," he said. "She is an amazing person, and I favorably recommend your consideration."
"I do believe in religious liberty"
Outlets are currently publishing articles with more information on Judge Brown Jackson's background and judicial positions. My concluding focus in this Special Edition is on her faith and the implications of her nomination for religious issues in American life.
I was unable to find much information online about her faith or religious commitments, though I expect to see more reporting on this question in the days to come. I did learn that she served as an advisory school board member for the Montrose Christian School in Rockville, Maryland, in 2010 and 2011. This is significant because the school, a ministry of the Montrose Baptist Church, has a statement of beliefs that defines marriage as "the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime" and that opposes "all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography."
However, when asked about her board service during her confirmation hearing for the DC Court, she stated that she did "not necessarily agree" with all the statements of the many boards on which she has served. She added regarding the school's statement, "I was not aware of that."
She did state, "I do believe in religious liberty," calling it a "foundational tenet of our entire government." She was confirmed on June 14, 2021, by a 53–44 vote. Republicans Susan Collins, Lindsey Graham, and Lisa Murkowski joined all Democrats in voting for her.
How to pray for Judge Brown Jackson
If confirmed, Judge Brown Jackson would replace Justice Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court, widely viewed as one of the three "liberal" justices. As a result, given her wide support among liberals, she would likely preserve the Court's current six-to-three "conservative vs. liberal" balance.
As we face enormous challenges to religious liberty in our day, the Court could well issue rulings in the coming years that would affect every Christian and every American. The so-called Equality Act, if it were passed by Congress and signed by the president, is one example of legislation that would almost certainly be reviewed ultimately by the Court.
In our calling to pray "for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions" (1 Timothy 2:1–2), it is incumbent upon Christ-followers to pray for Judge Brown Jackson and for the senators who will consider her nomination. Let's pray that:
- She would know Christ personally and make him known publicly.
- She and our senators would use her confirmation hearings to advance civility and unity in our nation.
- If confirmed, she would consistently support "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" and thus would be an advocate for life from conception to natural death and for religious liberty.
As we pray for Judge Brown Jackson, let's ask God to help us utilize our positions of influence for his glory as well. Nine Americans serve on our nation's highest court, but one King rules the universe.
Paul prayed, "To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever" (1 Timothy 1:17).
Will you make his prayer your own and then seek to answer it with your life today?
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