Living Thankfully

Living Thankfully by Dr. D. James Kennedy “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6–7 A secular author was researching the subject of gratitude. As he did, he examined two large dictionaries of modern psychology and could find no mention of the terms “gratitude,” “thankfulness,” or “giving of thanks.” He then scanned the card catalog of a large university library containing hundreds of thousands of volumes. Through his search, he found not one single card giving any reference to the terms “gratitude” or “thankfulness.” Indeed, as one humorist put it, “If you’re looking for gratitude, you’d better look in the dictionary. That’s the only place you’re going to find it.” If someone looked into your heart today, would that person find thankfulness and gratitude? Someone once said that thankfulness is the least of the virtues and ingratitude the worst of the vices. We consider gratitude an easy virtue to attain, yet so few people distinguish themselves by their thankfulness. Meanwhile, in the first chapter of Romans, Paul, in cataloging the descent of humankind into the mire of depravity, begins by saying that “although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful” (Romans 1:21, emphasis mine). He then describes humanity’s fall into all sorts of base immorality. The slide from godliness into wickedness begins with ingratitude. Shakespeare once said, “How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child!” But the Bible repeatedly calls upon us to remember our blessings and express gratitude. It says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:2). What blessings can you thank God for today? Beginning now, cultivate a grateful heart. Make it a regular practice to thank the Lord for who He is and for all He has done for you.

Your Joy

YOUR JOY IS NOT FOUND IN YOUR SITUATION BUT IN YOUR SAVIOR.

Psalm Two

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 7I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 10Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

How Vivek Ramaswamy Became a Billionaire

How Vivek Ramaswamy Became A Billionaire The whip-smart Republican made a pile of money in finance and biotech, enough to turn himself into one of the richest thirty-somethings in America. By John Hyatt, Forbes Staff Standing in a packed New Hampshire restaurant, Vivek Ramaswamy, the fresh-faced Republican shaking up the 2024 presidential race, is making a case for unifying a bitterly divided nation. The secret, he insists, is as American as apple pie: capitalism. “Democrats and Republicans alike, we tend to be more proud of a country when we’re all making more money in that country,” he tells 100 or so diners enjoying turkey sandwiches and diet Cokes. “We don’t have to flog ourselves for capitalism. Stop apologizing for capitalism. We should embrace capitalism.” Ramaswamy certainly has. At 38 years old, the biotech investor and “anti-woke” warrior is worth more than $950 million. His net worth was over $1 billion about a week ago, making him one of the 20 youngest billionaires in the country, before a downturn in the market pulled him just under the billion-dollar threshold, according to Forbes’ calculations. Still, he appears to be the second-wealthiest person competing in the Republican presidential primary, behind only Donald Trump (whose net worth Forbes last pegged at $2.5 billion). Ramawamy’s fortune stems from a drug-development company named Roivant Sciences, which went public in 2021. Its stock is up nearly 40% this year, boosting the value of Ramaswamy’s 10% stake to roughly $600 million. Since founding the company nine years ago, he has sucked over $260 million out of Roivant in the form of salary, bonuses and capital gains. He diversified those proceeds into a pretty standard investment portfolio, roughly 60% stocks and 40% bonds. But he also added some flavor, with a dash of Bitcoin and Ethereum, some shares of YouTube competitor Rumble and a stake in crypto payments firm MoonPay. Then there are his political interests. In 2021, Ramaswamy stepped down as CEO of Roivant and got into politics, authoring a book called “Woke, Inc.,” which criticized corporate America’s growing focus on social justice issues and the ESG (environmental, social and governance) movement taking over Wall Street. A year later, he founded an “anti-woke” index fund provider—think BlackRock, without all the talk about saving the world—named Strive Asset Management. Investors recently valued Strive at a lofty $300 million or so, according to two individuals familiar with the financing, implying that Ramaswamy’s stake is worth well over $100 million. It’s a lot of money to make in a little amount of time. The son of Indian immigrants—Ramaswamy’s father an engineer and patent attorney, his mother a psychiatrist—he attended Harvard, where he studied biology and cofounded StudentBusinesses.com, a website for student founders to pitch professional investors. A private charity reportedly bought the company in 2009 for an undisclosed sum. After graduating, Ramaswamy joined the hedge fund QVT, where he specialized in pharmaceutical investments. He earned $7 million in the first seven years of his career and made partner by 28. Around the same time, he met his now-wife, Apoorva, a throat surgeon. While continuing to work, he also managed to get a degree from America’s most prestigious law school, Yale. Ramaswamy left his job at QVT at 29 and, with the hedge fund backing him, started an investment holding company named Roivant Sciences. His thesis: Pharma giants had plenty of abandoned drugs that could be worth a fortune if someone focused on them. One year after founding the company, one of Roivant’s spinoffs, named Axovant, went public at a $2.2 billion valuation. Its prized asset: a much-hyped Alzheimer’s drug candidate, Intepirdine, which Ramaswamy had purchased for just $5 million. The year that Axovant joined the New York Stock Exchange, Ramaswamy reported more than $38 million of income, most of it from capital gains, on his tax return. Intepirdine turned out to be a disappointment, failing a clinical trial two years later. The company rebranded as Sio Gene Therapies in 2020 and is now worth about $30 million. But Ramaswamy had other drugs, too. In 2020, Japanese pharma giant Sumitomo Dainippon paid $3 billion to acquire five of them, as well as a 10% stake in Roivant. Ramaswamy got his second big windfall that year, reporting $176 million of income on his tax return, including $174.5 million in capital gains. Flush with cash, Ramaswamy stepped down from his company in January 2021, citing his “increasing public engagement” in a note to shareholders. He published his book seven months later and started the “anti-woke” asset management firm, Strive, around the same time. “We stand for this movement that we call ‘excellence capitalism,’ as a counterpart to stakeholder capitalism,” Ramaswamy explained on the Trillions podcast. “What excellence capitalism says is, focus exclusively on delivering excellent products and services to your customers, above all other agendas, including political and social agendas. And that’s different from stakeholder capitalism, which says you’re supposed to take into account 12 or 20 stakeholders at the same time.” A lineup of serious investors bankrolled Strive. Mega-donor Peter Thiel, who backed other “anti-woke” ventures like Rumble, put in some money. So did hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman, who has invested heavily in the pharmaceutical industry and connected with Ramaswamy playing tennis. Joe Lonsdale, the 40-year-old cofounder of Palantir, chipped in, too. Despite all his money and connections, Ramaswamy looks pretty comfortable doing meet-and-greet politicking in New Hampshire. It helps, he says, that he doesn’t live like a tycoon. “I don’t think we have lived a lifestyle that is radically removed from the one we grew up in.” He owns two Ohio homes worth a combined $2.5 million, less than the real estate portfolios of far-less-wealthy candidates, including Nikki Haley, Francis Suarez, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Joe Biden. “We don’t have giant vacation homes,” Ramaswamy says. “We see five of our neighbors’ backyards. We have good relationships with our neighbors.” The exception, he concedes, is private air travel. He owns stakes in three private jets, which allows him to hop-scotch across the country and still make it back home to spend time with his wife and two young children in Ohio. “If we could buy time, we would buy time,” he says. “And that’s the only thing private aviation buys us. Time with family.” Voters seem to recognize that Ramaswamy inhabits a different stratosphere. In Milford, an older woman thanked him for visiting “us cow-town people” in New Hampshire. “Oh c’mon,” the billionaire presidential candidate responded, looking a little embarrassed. “I’m one of you.” He’s not, of course. Which is part of the appeal.

Psalm One

Psalm One Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water that bring forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous, for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

No One Has Seen This

“No one has seen this”: Hurricane Idalia could be an “unprecedented event” Hurricane Idalia strengthened into a powerful Category 4 storm early this morning and is expected to make landfall soon on the Big Bend region of Florida’s Gulf Coast. A local sheriff’s office warned, “There is great potential for death and catastrophic destruction.” The National Weather Service predicts the storm will “likely be an unprecedented event” for the area, noting that no major hurricanes have struck this region in recorded history and adding, “When you try to compare this storm to others, DON’T. No one has seen this.” In the face of disaster, it is human nature to turn instinctively to God. In Oscar Thompson’s classic book on evangelism, he identifies seven “concentric circles of concern” in order: self / family / relatives / friends / neighbors and associates / acquaintances / those unknown to us. I suspect the intensity of our intercession for those in the path of the hurricane aligns with these circles. We do the same when shootings, wildfires, or other tragedies occur. Here’s the larger question: In the face of suffering, why pray to God at all? Why do we turn to God? Atheists often point to innocent suffering as a prime reason for their rejection of God’s existence. If God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving, how can he allow hurricanes and other disasters? While this is a subject for another day (see my website paper and books such as Wrestling With God), I’d like to point their question in a related direction: Since suffering is such a universal experience, why is faith in God such a universal response? Why haven’t we learned what atheism (very much a minority position in America and the world) claims to know? An evolutionary answer could be that calling on God in the face of suffering is a survival move akin to seeking a club with which to defend ourselves against a predator. But why turn to a Person we cannot see, one whose existence (nor nonexistence) we cannot prove? Sigmund Freud claimed in his book Totem and Taboo that “God is nothing other than an exalted father.” From many years of pastoral experience, I agree that many people relate to their heavenly Father in the context of their relationship with their earthly father. But how does Freud know that God is “nothing” but an exalted father? And I would add this: What if the impulse of turning to our Father for help in the face of suffering is part of his design for us? Why should we turn to Christ? The Bible states, “There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). Commenting on this text, St. Ambrose (AD 339–397) said of Jesus: “He is the only one who will redeem man, surpassing kinsfolk in duty, because he sheds his own blood for strangers, whereas a brother cannot do this for a brother.” He was right: I could not legally be executed in my brother’s place, no matter how much I might want to do s Ambrose then asked, “But why is only this man the redeemer? Because no one can equal him in goodness, insofar as he lays down his life for his own servants; no one can equal him in innocence, for all are under the yoke of sin, all lie under Adam’s fall. Alone he is chosen as redeemer since he cannot be affected by the ancient sin.” St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407) added: “Countless men sought to eradicate the very name of the Crucified, but that name flourished and grew even mightier. Its enemies lost out and perished; the living who waged a war on a dead man proved helpless.” The hymnwriter John Kent called Jesus God of God, ere time began, Light of Light, o earth descending, Man, revealing God to man. As St. Irenaeus noted: he became one of us that we might be one with him. Why must we turn to Christ? One last question: Why must we have faith in Christ to experience fully his help in facing the storms of life? If he loves us unconditionally, why doesn’t he meet our needs whether we trust them to him or not? James explained that “the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:3–4). Oswald Chambers commented on this text: “Faith must be tested, because it can be turned into a personal possession only through conflict. . . . The test will either prove that your faith is right, or it will kill it.” As a result, he encouraged us to “believe steadfastly on him and all you come against will develop your faith.” Billy Graham added: “Trials will either make you turn away from God, or they will drive you toward him. When we choose the latter, James says, our faith will grow stronger—and we will be better equipped to meet the next challenge that comes our way.” Scripture records that in a time of warfare “the men of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the Lᴏʀᴅ, the God of their fathers” (2 Chronicles 13:18). We are assured that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Consequently, “It is better to take refuge in the Lᴏʀᴅ than to trust in man” (Psalm 118:8), for “blessed is he who trusts in the Lᴏʀᴅ” (Proverbs 16:20). I am therefore praying fervently today for my family members and everyone else in the path of Hurricane Idalia, asking God to be their “refuge” from the storm and their “strength” in facing it. I am asking him to redeem this unfolding tragedy for his glory and their good. I am asking him to empower churches and others who will care for those affected by the storm. And I am thanking him for the God-given impulse to turn to him, accepting his invitation to “taste and see that the Lᴏʀᴅ is good!” (Psalm 34:8).

Psalm 28: 9-10

To Rear a Child by Dr. D. James Kennedy “Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts? For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept. Line upon line, line upon line, here a little there a little.” Isaiah 28:9-10 If you’re a parent or hope to be one someday, then you’ve probably already considered how you’ll raise your children. Allow me, if you would, to put my oar in the water and give you a few thoughts about godly parenting. When we first look at our newborn children, we are full of hopes and dreams for them and their future. To guide our children toward reaching their potential, we can rely on promises and principles from God’s Word. Biblical parenting boils down to two main things: We must train our children in God’s Word and discipline them according to God’s principles. “Training our children” means teaching them line by line, precept by precept, a little bit here, a little bit there about the things of God. A father must fulfill his role as spiritual head of his household, teaching his family the things of God: “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). This includes teaching the Ten Commandments, the gospel of Christ, the importance of memorizing Scripture, and how to pray. And because our lives speak louder than our words, we must teach by both precept and example. Disciplining our children must be done in love, not anger. We shouldn’t raise our voices. We should listen to our children and refrain from disciplining them until we hear all the facts. We should set explicit and reasonable boundaries, enforce them consistently, and make it clear that Mom and Dad will always have the final say. We should encourage good behavior by offering positive rewards. A father once paid his son to read certain books and write book reports on them. When in college, the son often expressed gratitude to his father, because his knowledge of those books put him far ahead of his classmates. This father’s initiative helped the son reach his potential. Parenting is tough but worth every effort we make. As we train our children in God’s ways, we can feel confident that our children will reach their full, God-given potential. Today, pray for your children. Ask God to help them grow in Him. And ask Him to give you the wisdom you need to train them in the way they should go.

Psalm 34:18

"The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." Psalm 34:18

Good Night

GOD bless you as you snuggle in your bed. May all your dreams be sweet.

Mortality

Mortality by Dr. Jim Denison Idalia strengthened to hurricane force early this morning and is expected to hit Florida’s Gulf Coast tomorrow as a powerful Category 3 hurricane. Evacuations have begun, schools have closed, and hospitals are suspending services ahead of the onslaught. As a reminder of the tragedy that could be unfolding, Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast on this day in 2005, killing more than 1,800 people and becoming the costliest natural disaster in US history. Here’s another example of our mortality: Elton John is recuperating at home in southern France after a fall and overnight hospital stay. The news follows the death of television icon Bob Barker last Saturday at the age of ninety-nine, one of numerous celebrities who have died in 2023. The victims of the shooting in Jacksonville last Saturday could have been any of us. They could be any of us today. God’s word is clear: “No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death” (Ecclesiastes 8:8).

Hope

Hope by Dr. D. James Kennedy “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope …” 1 Peter 1:3 What’s your outlook on the future? Do you view the future with hope for great things or with despair? Two thousand years ago, Cicero said, “Where there is life, there is hope.” These words ring true to a certain extent. When we struggle against all sorts of odds, even if we face imminent death, as long as we have life, we have hope. However, for many people, the following statement seems more relevant: Where there is not hope, there is not life—nothing but darkness, despair, and death. When we lose hope, we lose all of our joy. Just imagine facing any one of many difficult trials—betrayal, loss of a job, death of a loved one—without having any hope. Without hope, we have no foundation to stand on when the going gets rough. We also lose the meaning of life when hope slips away. When we have no hope, nothing has purpose. Under these conditions, the everyday struggles of life become burdens too heavy to bear and too difficult to endure. But we need not lose hope. Because of Christ’s resurrection, we have great hope for our future. We don’t just hope for something that is to come; we find our hope in something that has already taken place. The Resurrection, a documented fact in history, is a solid, unmovable rock, and everyone who hopes in it has great joy. Christ has vanquished death and Hell. We have the hope of going to Heaven to spend eternity with Him. And even in this life, Christ has promised never to forsake us. Christ gives us hope. If you’re feeling a little low on hope today, ask Jesus to give you some. Remember that He has secured your future, and in that truth you can have great hope for today and every day.

Faith's Ultimate Test

We commend Abraham's faith as evidenced here but we must remember that the Author of Life does NOT instruct us to kill. If we hear voices telling us to slay someone, we need to fall on our knees and ask the LORD to deliver us from the deception of the one who "comes to steal, kill and destroy." Faith’s Ultimate Test by Dr. D. James Kennedy “And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.” Genesis 22:10 Do you face a test of faith today? Is God calling you to leap into the unknown, into uncertain, perhaps even treacherous waters? If so, maybe Abraham’s story will inspire you. God’s familiar voice rang out, “Abraham.” And Abraham responded, “Here I am, [Lord].” The Lord gave Abraham instructions: “Take now your son … and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering …” Perhaps no more painful words have ever been heard. All of Abraham’s joy disappeared in a flash. However, Abraham did not question; he simply obeyed. First thing the next morning, he prepared for the journey to the mountains. No questions, just obedience. For three long days he walked with Isaac at his side, Isaac who knew nothing of his father’s mission. Only God and Abraham knew what lay at the end of this journey. Silently, Abraham and Isaac climbed to the top of Mount Moriah. Once there, father and son erected an altar together. Then Abraham bound his son and, summoning all of his strength, laid Isaac upon the altar. With his heart about to break, Abraham lifted the knife above Isaac’s chest. As Abraham began to plunge the knife downward, he again heard that familiar voice, “Abraham, Abraham … Do not lay your hand on the lad.” God intervened and provided a ram in Isaac’s place. God didn’t want Abraham to sacrifice his son. God wanted obedience. Through this incident, God tested Abraham’s faith. He wanted to know which would win out: a father’s love for his child or his obedience to his God. When we truly have faith in God, we will trust Him and do whatever He asks of us. Abraham was a man of tremendous faith—he trusted God with his son’s life, believing that God could raise the dead (Hebrews 11:17–19). Faith trusts that whatever God commands must be done, and what God has promised He will perform in His own time. So, back to you and your test of faith. Ask God to show you clearly what He wants you to do. And when He does, follow Him without question or dispute. He can (and did) raise the dead; He can surely work good through your obedience.

Genesis

Genesis by Dr. D. James Kennedy “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 When you look at our world and see both the bad and the good, do you ever wonder how our society has gotten to this point? Do you ever ask yourself, “How did it all begin?” God has answered that question for us, and to find it, we need look no further than the book of Genesis. Genesis explains the beginning of all things: the universe, humankind, marriage, evil, language, government, culture, nations, religions, chosen people. Genesis puts the rest of the Bible in context; without it, we couldn’t possibly understand the entirety of God’s Word. For this very reason, many have attacked Genesis. Ken Ham, a creationist and a defender of Genesis, has created a vivid, descriptive picture of these attacks. One of Ham’s cartoons shows two castles, each built upon a foundation. The castles have walls, turrets, towers, and flags. One castle is named “Christianity”; the other, “Humanism.” On the wall of each castle stands a man with a cannon. The Christian fires his bombs at the flags flying over the humanism castle, flags labeled “gambling,” “homosexuality,” “divorce,” and “abortion.” But the humanist has his cannon aimed downward and blasts at the foundation of the Christian castle. This foundation is labeled “Genesis.” As depicted in this cartoon, the world wages its war against the Genesis accounts of our beginnings, hoping that as it pokes holes in Genesis, all of Christianity will crumble. To carry this illustration a little further, the Christian, who shoots only at the flags, would do better if he aimed his cannon at the foundation of the humanism castle. This foundation is labeled “evolution.” To join in the fight, to uphold our own foundation, we need to understand that evolution and the Bible are totally incompatible. Evolutionists are atheists. They have stated in their own words that if the God of Genesis existed, He would not allow them to sin. With that premise, evolutionists can only believe that everything came into being by chance. But we know differently because God has revealed to us how everything began. By doing so, He has given us the ability to understand the rest of His Word and the world we live in. Today as you observe what happens around you, thank God for showing you how it all began.

Smile for Today

Your smile for today: Why are they called, "manhours"? Because if a woman did it, it would take 20 minutes.

Psalm 100

PSALM 100 A Psalm of praise. 1Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2Serve the LORD with gladness: Come before his presence with singing. 3Know ye that the LORD he is God: It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; And his truth endureth to all generations.

Quote from George Whetstone

“What is this world? A net to snare the soul.” George Whetstone

The Things of the World

The Things of the World by Dr. D. James Kennedy “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world— the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15-17 “Eat, drink, and be merry,” says the world, “for tomorrow we die.” Well, the world is half right: Tomorrow we die. Suppose you were to die tomorrow. How would your obituary read? Consider it for a moment … Having considered your potential obituary, answer this question: How much of that obituary pertains to God’s kingdom? Only one life and soon ’tis past; Only what’s done for Christ will last. How many obituaries are written in sand about the things of sand. Sadly, worldliness— the love of the things of this world—has rendered many professing Christians ineffective. The Bible speaks plainly about the dangers of a worldly heart. “Adulterers and adulteresses!” says James, “do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” (James 4:4). The world hates God, and those who befriend the world become God’s enemies. Worldliness makes people focus on outward, rather than inward things. By having this focus, people ignore God’s kingdom within them, and Satan gains prime opportunities to drag their souls into the pit for eternity. The Bible gives us the key to overcoming worldliness. It boils down to what we set our hearts on. “Set your mind [or affections] on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). If we allow Christ to reign in our hearts, then we will dwell on the spiritual world and not on the world around us. Today ask God to search your heart for any worldly ways that separate you from Him. Confess those areas to God, and ask Him to forgive you. Then ask Him to show you how you can set your mind and heart on “things above.”

Effectual Calling

Effectual Calling by Dr. D. James Kennedy “… whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” Romans 8:30 Have you ever called to someone—maybe your child playing in the yard or a friend you see across a room—and that person didn’t respond to your call? While people may not respond to us for a variety of reasons, God never has this problem. He is sovereign. The ones He calls always come to Him. In theological circles, this truth is known as the doctrine of “effectual calling.” (“Effectual” means “producing results.”) From the beginning of the world, God chose the ones who would be His, and He presently goes about calling His chosen to Him. God calls His chosen people in two ways: outwardly and inwardly. The outward call comes from God’s Word, the inward call comes from the Holy Spirit, and the two interact to draw us to God. When we hear the Word of God preached, the Holy Spirit works in our hearts so that we’ll respond to it. (The doctrine of effectual calling is also “irresistible grace” because the Holy Spirit calls us so lovingly and powerfully we can’t possibly resist Him.) A person whom God has not chosen gets only the outward call. Such a person hears the Word but cannot respond to it because the Holy Spirit hasn’t worked in his or her heart. Some people believe that God gives only an outward call, that they hear God’s Word and have the power to accept or reject it. But this cannot be true because it would mean God doesn’t have enough power to choose whom He wants. His call would not be effectual. It would also mean that people wouldn’t need God to choose them because they would be all-powerful. But we know this is not true. Until God chooses us, we’re dead in sin with our minds darkened and unable to understand or choose spiritual things. None of us deserves God’s choosing. In His infinite mercy, He chose us according to His good pleasure. The fact that the Lord wanted to choose any of us and that He sent Jesus to seek us is an awesome mystery. He revealed it so that none of us would boast of our salvation. Do you hear God’s call? Be sure to respond today.

Update

Update Below is the update about Christine. She went into surgery at 8am yesterday. The surgery continued until 1:40am today: 17 hours, 40 minutes. Sincere and heartfelt thanks to all of you who have prayed and are praying for her. As you can see by the following report, she still needs prayer but the LORD is with her and is delivering her from this affliction. The gynecological surgeon said the following: First, the great news—they were able to remove ALL of the cancer, getting her to their goal of “R0” or no Residual Cancer. She also received a HIPEC (direct application of chemo to address and kill any remaining microscopic cancer not visible to the human eye). Getting to R0 was the chief aim of the surgery making this surgery very successful. That is great news. The bad news is that they had to resect her colon and give her an ileostomy—a temporary means of collecting waste until the colon resection heals. She will have the ileostomy for about 6 weeks, then come back for two hour surgery to remove it. This will not be enjoyable but thank God it will be temporary. Now we begin the long journey of recovering from this invasive surgery. She will be here recovering for about two weeks before we go home. Thank you for your prayers—the Lord is with us.

Trump and Tucker Show

Trump and Tucker Show Was Perfect Counterprogramming to Fox News' GOP Debate; Garners Huge Audience Victoria Taft (Aug 24, 2023) "The 46-minute conversation amassed more than 172 million views so far, with about 75 million views coming in just the first 20 minutes..." Donald Trump and Tucker Carlson won the GOP debate on Wednesday night. The former president chose to dip out of the first GOP primary and, in an attempt to suck the oxygen from the news cycle, teamed up with the deposed Fox News host to dish up some sweet revenge. Oh, did they! (Screengrab image) Trump chose to opt out of the Milwaukee debate featuring the likes of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, tech mogul Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, and Senator Tim Scott. According to the RealClearPolitics average, Trump is up by 41.1% over his fellow Republicans nationally, which, at this point, is a meaningless number. However, for PR purposes, it is very eye-catching. His RCP lead in Iowa, a meaningful number even at this early stage, is still a whopping 26%. Trump opted not to engage with a large group of opponents who would have spent their time attacking him. That wouldn't help him, obviously. Everything Trump says now is being recorded and filed, and will be used against him in multiple courts of law. The interview was reportedly conducted two days ago at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster and timed to air on X, formerly known as Twitter, for exactly five minutes before the GOP debate began. During the lead-up to the debate, Carlson's camp released a Trump sizzle reel, suggesting the two would discuss whether Trump fears for his life, political vitriol, election cheating, and even whether Trump thought sex pervert Jeffrey Epstein killed himself. Fox News sidelined cable news' number one talent in late April, after the inexplicable court settlement with Dominion Voting Systems. The network tried to suffocate Carlson's remaining influence at the network by removing the people who worked on his show. Now, according to Tucker Carlson biographer Chadwick Moore, whose book "Tucker" I'll be reviewing in the coming days for PJ Media, Tucker is treated as Voldemort at Fox News. He is the man who shall not be named (although I note that Brit Hume was able to mention Carlson before the debate). But here's the dumber part: Fox News employees are ordered not to use any news generated by their still-on-the-payroll colleague. Worse, Carlson has scooped his old network multiple times, including the Devon Archer interview and now scoring a sit-down with Trump on the night before he turns himself in in Fulton County, Georgia, where he's been charged with leading a conspiracy to win an election. Trump told Carlson that cable news is way down in the ratings and said, "Fox is way down...and the good-old days are long ago. I will say this, it could come back but .... We'll get better ratings on this crazy forum you're using than—probably—the debate, the competition (Fox News)." The most impactful moments of the 46-minute interview were when Trump was given free rein to talk about Joe Biden. Trump said, "I think [Biden's] the most corrupt president we've ever had. And he also has the distinction of being the most incompetent." He also said that he believes Biden is "compromised because China knows so much about him. They know where the money comes from. They know where it is, who paid it—they probably paid it." He mentioned the University of Pennsylvania Biden Center receiving Chinese money. "He is in many ways the Manchurian candidate," Trump said. "He is the Manchurian candidate and he's afraid to tell Russia to get out of Cuba. He's afraid to tell China to get out of Cuba." Biden's failing health and the prospect of Kamala Harris being the nominee prompted Trump to say, "Her moments are almost as bad as his." On Biden, he said, "You watch him and it looks like he's walking on toothpicks–he's so stiff.

Ramaswamy's Hindu Faith

Vivek Ramaswamy Leans Into His Hindu Faith to Court Christian Voters The Republican candidate for president makes a pitch that the faiths have much in common, but for many religious conservatives, the difference is a hurdle. Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was raised by Indian immigrants and is a practicing Hindu. By Ruth Graham Bristol Smith, a manager at a McDonald’s in Maryville, Tenn., came across Vivek Ramaswamy’s name this spring, shortly after Mr. Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur, announced he was running for president. Mr. Smith was intrigued. He liked the way Mr. Ramaswamy “stands up against the wokeness” and his plan to send the military to the southern border to combat drug cartels. He respected Mr. Ramaswamy’s acumen as a businessman worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Then Mr. Smith, 25, searched for Mr. Ramaswamy’s faith. Mr. Smith is an evangelical Christian who recently started a small church that meets at his parents’ house. “I looked up his religion and saw he’s Hindu,” he recalled. “I was going to vote for him until that came up.” What the country needs is to be “put back under God,” as Mr. Smith sees it, and he doesn’t want to take a chance on someone who is not a Christian. At that point, he said, “I got back on President Trump’s train.” Mr. Ramaswamy, 37, was raised by Indian immigrants and is a practicing Hindu. That poses a dilemma for some of the conservative Christian voters who make up a significant share of the Republican primary electorate and are accustomed to evaluating candidates not just on their policy proposals but also on their biographies and personal beliefs, including religious faith. For many conservative voters, a candidate’s faith is a signifier of his or her values, lifestyle, loyalties and priorities as a leader. It’s the Sunday-morning version of the classic question of which candidate you would most enjoy having a beer with: Who would fit in at your church? “It’s another hurdle people need to cross to go to him,” Bob Vander Plaats, an influential evangelical leader in Iowa, said of Mr. Ramaswamy. Mr. Ramaswamy stood for a prayer at the Veterans Freedom Center during a morning pancake breakfast in Dubuque, Iowa. Mr. Vander Plaats recently had Mr. Ramaswamy’s family over for Sunday supper at his house, where the meal opened with a prayer and the reading of a passage from the Bible. He came away impressed with Mr. Ramaswamy and said that his message aligned with the priorities of many evangelical voters. He mentioned Mr. Ramaswamy’s list of 10 core “truths,” the first of which is: “God is real.” (The second: “There are two genders.”) “I think he’s really connecting with the audiences in Iowa,” said Mr. Vander Plaats, who has not endorsed a candidate. “He welcomes the deeper questions.” Mr. Ramaswamy is polling under 5 percent in most recent national polls. Mr. Ramaswamy’s approach has been to confront the issue directly and argue that he has more in common with observant Christians than they might think. “I’m not Christian. I was not raised in a Christian household,” he told Mr. Vander Plaats in June in front of a small audience at the headquarters of his organization, the Family Leader. “But we do share the same Christian values that this nation was founded on.” In an interview in late June, after leaving a meeting with a few dozen pastors in New Hampshire, Mr. Ramaswamy said his faith taught him that Jesus was “a son of God, absolutely.” (That “a” is a sharp distinction from the central Christian belief that Jesus is the son of God. Hinduism is a fluid and expansive tradition, and many believers embrace scores of deities, with some seeing Jesus as one teacher or god.) Although he is not a Christian, Mr. Ramaswamy pointed out, he speaks openly about why belief in God matters and why rising secularism in America is bad for the country, and about values like marital fidelity, duty, religious liberty and self-sacrifice. “I don’t have a quick pitch to say, ‘No, no, that doesn’t matter,’” he said of the theological differences between Hinduism and Christianity. “It’s that I understand exactly why that would matter to you.” At campaign stops, Mr. Ramaswamy refers to Bible stories, including the crucifixion of Jesus, and quotes Thomas Aquinas. He frequently mentions his experience attending a “Christian school” in Cincinnati (St. Xavier High School, a Catholic school). And he contrasts “religions like ours,” which have stood the test of time, with the competing worldviews of “wokeism, climatism, transgenderism, gender ideology, Covidism,” as he put it to an audience in New Hampshire. A man in a cowboy hat stands with a microphone surrounded by several other men. Mr. Ramaswamy’s campaign has disseminated clips of an Iowa pastor comparing him to the biblical figure of King David, and of his lengthy answer to a New Hampshire man who asked about his “spiritual beliefs” at a town hall. In Iowa, a woman pressed her hand to Mr. Ramaswamy’s chest and blessed him in the name of Jesus Christ. “Amen,” Mr. Ramaswamy said as she concluded her prayer. If Mr. Ramaswamy comes to have a chance with evangelical primary voters in the crowded Republican field, it will be thanks in part to forces beyond his campaign. Many conservative voters for whom a shared faith might have once been a litmus test now say they are looking not for a “pastor-in-chief” but for someone who shares their political and cultural goals, and who will fight on their behalf. “Theology matters, but the culture has changed. America has changed,” said David Brody, the chief political analyst for the Christian Broadcasting Network, who has interviewed Mr. Ramaswamy. The biggest objective now, Mr. Brody said, is combating “cultural Marxism” and correcting the course of “a country He contrasted evangelical priorities in next year’s Iowa caucuses with those in 2008 and 2012, when Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum won on the strength of their conservative Christian bona fides. “The lazy narrative that he’s Hindu so he can’t appeal to evangelicals, I don’t buy it at all,” Mr. Brody said. In recent years, theological lines have blurred as political divides have hardened. Few churches split these days over old debates like the exact timing of the end times or the role of free will in salvation. About half of American Protestants now say they prefer to attend a church with people who share their political views, according to polling from Lifeway Research. Mr. Ramaswamy’s emphasis on his belief in one God has a long history for Hindus in the United States, especially those speaking to white Christian audiences, said Michael Altman, a professor of religious studies at the University of Alabama. Swami Vivekananda, who represented Hinduism at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1893, took pains to depict his faith as monotheistic, in contrast to the stereotypes of its followers as “heathen” polytheists. Although the faith has many deities, they are generally subordinate to one ultimate “reality.” Many Hindus and scholars say its theology is too complex to be described as either wholly monotheistic or wholly polytheistic. “The polytheism hurdle is the first thing that has to be addressed” for many American Christian audiences, Mr. Altman said. He sees Mr. Ramaswamy’s pitch against “wokeism” as a way to counter stereotypes associating Hinduism with hippies, yoga and vegetarianism. Some evangelical observers say it was former President Donald J. Trump who opened up a new lane for Republican candidates who were not necessarily people that voters would expect to sit next to in church on Sunday morning. Many evangelical voters embraced the crude, thrice-married casino magnate not because he was one of them but because they believed he would fight in the public square on their behalf. Most Indian Americans, including Hindus, are Democrats. But some conservatives see an opening with a population that prioritizes family life, marriage and education. As president, Mr. Trump hosted Diwali celebrations at the White House, and in April the Republican National Committee announced a new Republican Hindu and Indian American Coalition. Prime minister Narendra Modi of India is a popular figure among a rising cohort of right-wing Indian Americans, attracting a crowd of 50,000 when he appeared with Mr. Trump in Houston in 2019. Mr. Ramaswamy spoke last year at a gala organized by the right-wing U.S. group HinduPACT, which is aligned with Mr. Modi’s style of nationalism. Nikki Haley, another Indian American contender in the 2024 primary, has similarly emphasized her background as the daughter of immigrants. But although Ms. Haley was raised Sikh, she converted to Christianity and now attends a large Methodist church in South Carolina. Bobby Jindal, a Louisiana Republican who ran for president in 2016, was raised Hindu but has described himself as an “evangelical Catholic.” One of the temple’s priests officiated his wedding in New York City in 2015. He and his wife and their two young sons attend temple on holidays and to mark special occasions, including the younger son’s first birthday in early July, his wife, Dr. Apoorva Ramaswamy, said. Dr. Ramaswamy, who has publicly discussed the family’s faith on the campaign trail, said there were more similarities among committed believers across traditions than between serious and nominal adherents within the same faith. “The fact that we are believers, that we have that sense of humility, that we raise our children with true respect and fear and love of God — that’s so much more unifying than the name of the God people pray to,” Dr. Ramaswamy said. The question for her husband’s campaign is whether enough Christian voters will agree. Ken Bosse, the pastor of New Life Church in Raymond, N.H., described himself as “an extreme follower of Jesus Christ” who would prefer to have a Christian in the White House, all things considered. But he would be open to the right candidate who is not a Christian, noting that “we have had some professing Christians in that position who didn’t follow biblical principles.” Mr. Bosse invited Mr. Ramaswamy to deliver a brief speech at his church on a Sunday morning in April. He liked the candidate’s emphasis on reclaiming a positive American identity, he said, and on his story as a self-made millionaire who is the child of immigrants.

Pray for Christine

Please pray for Christine, a daughter of the Living GOD, who will undergo 13 hours of surgery today. May HE deliver her from every semblance of affliction. JESUS is, "the same yesterday, today, and forever," so we can ask, expecting that as HE healed those on the dusty roads of Galilee, HE will heal those for whom we pray today.

Psalm 57: 2, 3

Psalm 57: 2, 3 I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. 3 He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me. God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.

Lessons from a Caterpillar

Lessons from a Caterpillar By Dr. D. James Kennedy “I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 Have you ever considered the amazing lessons that nature, one of God’s greatest preachers, offers us? We learn friendliness from the dog. We learn diligence from the ant. And we learn about new birth from the caterpillar. Caterpillars do not lead very exciting lives. In fact, you might even pity them. They never travel very far, and when they do travel, they must exert a tremendous amount of effort to get anywhere. And since they grovel in the dirt, they don’t see much of the world. Although this existence doesn’t sound appealing to us, it’s the only existence to which caterpillars are accustomed. Have you ever heard the story of the two caterpillars who laboriously made their way across the muddy earth, when one of them looked up and spied a butterfly fluttering by? As this caterpillar watched the butterfly dipping and flitting about, picked up by the breeze and carried off into the ethereal blue, he turned to his companion in the mud and said, “You’d never get me up in one of those things!” While we may think it crazy that a mud-groveling caterpillar would never want to become a beautiful, soaring butterfly, the unbelieving world seems to have the same view when it comes to that mysterious doctrine of the “new birth.” Why believe in a faith based on such a preposterous notion? But the only kind of Christian that exists is a born-again Christian, whether Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, or any other denomination. The doctrine of regeneration—the necessity of the new birth—has existed since the beginning of Christianity, and if we want to spend eternity in Heaven with Jesus, we must fulfill it. Spiritually speaking, are you a caterpillar or a butterfly? Have you been born again? If not, I urge you to be so today, by repenting of your sins and asking Jesus Christ into your life as your Lord and Savior.

Psalm 19

Psalm 19 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.my strength, and my redeemer.

Good for Evil

Good for Evil by Dr. D. James Kennedy “… bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 Remember the last time someone wronged you? Maybe a friend betrayed a confidence. Or perhaps someone attacked your character or lied to you or…well, any one of thousands of scenarios. Whatever the offense, how did you respond? In matters of good and evil, our responses can take one of four directions. First of all, some people return evil for good. This is the Devil’s way of doing things. We see this attitude demonstrated by criminals and by cruel and tyrannical governments. You offer these people your best, and they hurt you in return. Then some people return evil for evil. These people aren’t devil-like; they’re beast-like. Animals, especially wild animals, generally react this way. If you step on a snake’s tail, you can soon expect to find its fangs in your ankle. Others return good for good. This isn’t devilish or beastly; it is a natural human response, the response of an unregenerate person. We don’t find this hard to accept. In fact, when we do good to others, we expect good in return. But the fourth response, returning good for evil, makes us halt in our tracks. Jesus says, “But I tell you not to resist an evil person.” He then gives some illustrations of this: If someone takes away your coat, let that person have your cloak also; if someone borrows from you, do not turn away; and if anyone compels you to go a mile, go two. If we were to put such a response into practice, we’d see God do tremendous things through us. Jesus, in His great love and compassion, has told us how to respond to others, especially those who hurt us. But we can’t respond this way on our own; it’s not part of our human nature. Instead, we must turn to Christ Himself, who returned ultimate evil with ultimate good. Christ went into the very depths of ruin and Hell for our evilness, and in His goodness He suffered for us and conquered evil for all time. Only through Christ can we gain the ability and the desire to go the second mile, to turn the other cheek. Has someone done you wrong recently? How can you return good for evil today?

On Giving and Receiving

On Giving and Receiving by Dr. D. James Kennedy “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” 2 Corinthians 9:6 When you have an opportunity to give away money, what’s your attitude? Do you give generously, with a happy heart? The Bible tells us that God loves a cheerful giver. It also says that we shouldn’t give grudgingly or from compulsion. But many people do just that. They look on their giving not as sowing but as throwing, such as the man who put a dollar in the offering plate and afterward sang with all his might, “When we asunder part, it gives us inward pain.” Do you have a similar attitude toward giving away your money? God honors those who give generously. A man named William decided to give ten percent of his income to the Lord. As he grew more wealthy, he increased his giving to twenty percent of his income, then to fifty percent. Eventually he gave away one hundred percent of his income. Who was this man? William Colgate. Of the millions of people today who brush their teeth with Colgate toothpaste, very few know that this man succeeded because he obeyed the law of sowing. Other successful men followed this principle, too, such as Mr. Heinz of Heinz Ketchup and Mr. Kraft of Kraft Foods. Although we might not have as much wealth as those gentlemen, we still need to obediently and faithfully give tithes to the church and offerings to those in need. Often we have good intentions but fail to come through when we have opportunities to give. But we can trust that when we give, God will give back to us abundantly. He has promised that He will do that very thing. Years ago I tested God’s promise by increasing my giving as I had the opportunity. I now give back one hundred percent of my salary to the church. In every one of those years as I increased my giving, God increased my income and opened the windows of Heaven. I ended up with more money than I would have had if I had held on tightly to every penny. Let me make it clear: God doesn’t need our money. He doesn’t command us to give because He needs it. He commands us to give because we need to trust God’s provision. Money is nothing to God except an index to our souls. Our giving shows how much we trust God to provide for us. Do you believe that God will take care of all your needs? If so, then give what you can expectantly and gladly, believing in God’s generosity and faithfulness. Remember, no one could ever outgive God.

Tragedy or Triumph?

Tragedy or Triumph? by Dr. D. James Kennedy “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21 If you knew that you were going to die today, how would you feel until the moment arrived? Death can be either the most frightening or the most delightful prospect to an individual. How a person feels about death depends totally on his or her relationship with the Lord. Consider how one man changed his perspective on facing “the king of terrors” as his relationship with Jesus Christ changed. John Wesley was an unbeliever and a clergyman all at the same time, at least in the early part of his ministry. He knew all the facts about Christianity, but he hadn’t developed an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. During this time of unrecognized spiritual confusion, Wesley was sailing on a ship bound for England when a great storm overwhelmed the vessel, ripping its sails to shreds and threatening to destroy the masts. Wesley was terrified. As the wind howled in the darkness of that night, Wesley felt certain he’d soon face his Maker. He knew that he was getting ready to leap into the darkness of death, and he didn’t know where he would land. Suddenly, over the howling of the winds, Wesley heard the sound of singing. He looked to see where it came from, and he saw three men holding onto the other side of the ship, singing praises to God. Wesley staggered over to these men and shouted against the wind, “How can you sing? You are going to die this very hour!” To his astonishment they replied, “If the ship goes down, then we go up to meet the Lord!” “How can they know that?” thought Wesley. Only later, in London, would he discover their secret—the secret of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. Dying means totally different things to the saved and the unsaved. At death, the unbeliever is ripped from the arms of the world and cast into the fires of Hell. But the Christian leaves this world to rest eternally in the everlasting arms of Jesus, who has made our entrance into Heaven possible by His death. What’s your attitude toward death? If you feel fear, you needn’t. You can trust your life to Jesus Christ, accepting His free gift of grace, your passage to Heaven when this life ends. And as you receive that gift, you can experience the joyful anticipation of an even greater life to come when this life ceases.

A Noble Origin and Destiny

A Noble Origin and Destiny by Dr. D. James Kennedy “But one testified in a certain place, saying: ‘What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor, and set him over the works of Your hands.’” Hebrews 2:6-7 How you view humanity has a great impact on how you treat people. So what do we make of the fact that humans have killed more of their own in the twentieth century than in any of the previous centuries? What does this tell us about the way we view ourselves? I believe we can attribute the rise in the rate at which humankind kills its own to the rise in the number of people who believe in evolution. People no longer believe that humans are just a little lower than the angels; instead, we’re just a little more advanced than the apes. Bertrand Russell, an evolutionist and author of the book Why I Am Not a Christian, said, “We started somewhere, we don’t know where; we are here, we don’t know why; we are going to some great oblivion, we know not whither.” The evolutionary view of humans, taught in so many of our schools today, has led many young people into hopelessness. By contrast, we Christians have a high view of humankind because the Bible has definite answers to life’s basic questions, answers that give us hope. Where did I come from? I came from the heart and mind of the Omnipotent and omniscient God, who made me in His image. Who am I? I am a child of the King, a prince/princess of the royal realm. Why am I here? I am here to serve and glorify the Almighty and to enjoy Him forever. How should I live? I should live according to the commandments which He has given me in His Word, commandments designed for my good and advancement. Where am I going? I am going to a Paradise far beyond my comprehension: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Today thank God for your divine origin and for the hope it gives. Treat those around you as the divinely created beings they are. Remember, each one (including you) is a little lower than angels.

Master or Genie?

Master or Genie? by Dr. D. James Kennedy “… Jesus Christ is Lord …” Philippians 2:11 Is Jesus the Lord and master of your life, or is He but a genie in a bottle, there to answer your every beck and call? In some quarters of today’s Church we find a sort of theology that says one may accept Jesus as Savior and reject Him as Lord. This is heresy. People who believe this come into “faith” still hanging onto their plans, their goals, their agenda. They receive Christ as a genie in a “theological bottle” that they call forth through prayer. People like this miss the full meaning of Christianity. To believe in Christ means to accept Him as Lord and master of our lives. Napoleon in his latter days at St. Helena said, “Across a chasm of eighteen hundred years, Christ makes a demand which is above all others difficult to satisfy. He asks for that which a philosopher may often seek at the hands of his friends, or a father of his children, or a bride of her spouse. He asks for the human heart, for his very own, exclusively his. Wonderful! In defiance of time and space, the soul of man with all its powers becomes an annexation to the Empire of Christ.” George Matheson describes the human personality as a palace of many chambers. In this palace is the room of memory where Calvary may have the central place. There’s a sunny chamber of affections where we may love Christ fondly. There’s a lofty chamber of imagination where we plan the great things we’ll someday do for God. But above all, there’s the throne room of the human will. When we invite Christ into our hearts, we must allow Him to reign on the throne of our will. And as we do, suddenly a corridor opens and connects all the other chambers, for when Christ controls our will, He controls all else. Have you surrendered the throne of your will to the King? If you haven’t, do so today. Allow Christ to reign in your heart, guiding every decision you make. Then watch as He opens to you a life beyond your wildest dreams.

Proverbs 18:24

A man who has friends [a]must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

The Test of a True Friend

The Test of a True Friend by Dr. D. James Kennedy “A man who has friends must himself be friendly …” Proverbs 18:24 Think for a moment of the best friend you’ve ever had. What made that person such a great friend? What was it about that person that made you want to reciprocate friendship? Good friends are hard to come by in our mobile, “rootless” society. With so much to do and so little time, many of us don’t invest what it takes to develop true friendships, instead settling for temporary “acquaintanceships.” But in doing so, we miss out on the richness that deep, abiding, and significant friendships bring to our lives. Do you wish for more from your present relationships? To foster devotion, we must give of ourselves. This isn’t easy for most of us, but if we do it, we experience tremendous rewards. Every person who has ever engaged in a truly selfless friendship has found that in giving, personal horizons expand. These people discover that true happiness is found, not in comfort, but in sacrifice. We in America balk at any type of sacrifice, avoiding anything that might result in the slightest discomfort. But the Bible says of Jesus that “for the joy that was set before Him He endured the cross despising the shame.” Because of Christ’s love for us, He endured the ultimate sacrifice. And when someone acts as a true friend in that way, we want to respond in kind, and we don’t experience it as a burden but as a joy. A little girl walked down the street carrying a boy much too big for her to bear. An old man stopped and asked the little girl if the boy was too heavy for her, and she replied, “He’s not heavy; he’s my brother!” Is there a friend or a potentially new friend whom you can carry today? How can you give of yourself to someone who really needs you, someone you can care for with great joy in your heart? For as you give of yourself out of love—without complaint or irritation—you’ll discover genuine friendship.

I Wonder...

I wonder who has been indicted more, Al Capone or Donald Trump.

A Unique Religion

CHRISTIANITY, the only belief system in all of human history that makes everybody equal. No matter your race, no matter your gender, no matter your financial status, no matter your ability or your ladk of ability, if you have JESUS in your heart, you are saved, born again, YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD.

Education

Education by Dr. D. James Kennedy “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart; you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:6–7 Who has the primary responsibility for the education of our young? The state? Local schools? Principals and administrators? Teachers? The Bible tells us that parents have the primary responsibility for teaching their children how to survive and succeed in life. Unfortunately, in today’s anti-family milieu, a growing number of the social elite think that the state should regulate what children learn. It wasn’t always this way. When the Pilgrims and Puritans came to America, they placed a high priority on education. In 1647, not long after their arrival, the Puritans passed the “Old Deluder Satan Act,” the first law in the English colonies to require education. The law’s title refers to the Devil, who gets his foothold into people’s lives by distracting them from learning Scripture. But in the early nineteenth century, Horace Mann, who did not believe in Christ’s deity, established the modern public education system in order to take control from the Church, where virtually all the education had taken place, and put it into the hands of the state. Eventually, the schools became almost entirely secularized, and real learning has plummeted as revealed again and again in countless standardized tests. Often what public schools teach contradicts what parents want their children to learn. This is tragic because in the long run, God holds parents responsible for their children’s education. We as a Church need to support the young families in our midst to provide and support educational alternatives for them such as Christian schools or home schools. We need to lobby and vote for ballot measures that support parents’ rights to determine what their children will learn in school. We must do all we can to help parents rear their children in the knowledge of God.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus by Dr. D. James Kennedy “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” Matthew 14:30, niv Have you ever faced a storm in your life, one so big that you thought you’d never see the light of day again? Maybe you face one even now, and you feel threatened and dismayed by the waves crashing around you. Peter knew exactly how you feel. After a long, hard day of ministry, Christ had sent his disciples to sail across the Sea of Galilee while He climbed a mountain alone to commune with His Father. The disciples’ crossing was anything but smooth. The winds had whipped the sea into a frenzy, and the disciples struggled to control their boat. Unable to make headway, the disciples feared for their lives. Then, in the last watch of the night, Jesus came to them—walking on the water. When the disciples saw Jesus coming toward them, they were terrified. They thought they had seen a ghost, and they cried aloud. But Jesus said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Peter responded, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Jesus replied, “Come.” As Peter began to walk on the surface of the water, he focused his sights on Jesus. Step after step, he walked on top of the water. But, as the sea continued to churn around him, Peter looked at the water and began to sink. He cried out in terror, “Lord, save me!” So Jesus reached out His hand and rescued him, saying, “You of little faith.” As long as Peter kept his eyes trained on his Lord, he had safe passage in the midst of a raging storm. But when he focused on the churning waters, he lost sight of Jesus and lost his footing, too. As you face storms in your life, don’t look at the waves crashing around you. Instead, keep your eyes focused on Jesus. He can steady and sustain you through any storm. Look at Him and walk toward Him—He’ll give you safe passage through the raging seas.

How Much Do You Pray?

How much do YOU pray? "Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God." (Luke 6:12)

Once and for All

Once and for All by Dr. D. James Kennedy “So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many …” Hebrews 9:28 Have you ever experienced the joy of giving someone a gift with no strings attached, no expectation of thanks, no anticipation of reciprocation? Then you have a small taste of Christ’s joy in providing salvation for us. And yet we find it so hard to accept this gift at face value. We seem to want to add to it just for good measure. But we have nothing to add. Jesus’ sacrifice was perfect, atoning for all sins forever. He has paid our debt in full. I recall once reading of a master wood craftsman who spent months constructing a beautiful coffee table for his friend. He carved all manner of intricate designs around the side of the table and applied seventeen coats to the surface, a Parisian finish, until it glistened. You could see your face in it as if it were a mirror. The craftsman brought the table wrapped in a soft cloth to his friend, unveiled it, and said, “Voilà. There it is—the long-anticipated gift.” Though the table was indeed a thing of consummate beauty, the craftsman’s friend said, “Oh, I…I think it is just magnificent, but I couldn’t simply accept it as a gift. You have done all the work. Surely I must do my part.” With that the friend picked up a piece of sandpaper and started to sand the top of the table. The master craftsman grabbed his friend’s wrist and said, “Stop that. You’ll ruin it all. It is finished.” So it is with the great redemption wrought by Christ. Just before He gave up His spirit, Christ said, “It is finished.” Done. Complete. We can add nothing; indeed, we in our sinfulness have nothing to offer. But nothing is needed. Christ’s sacrifice is perfect. Christ suffered infinitely upon the cross and paid an infinite price—in full. The only “sacrifice” we can now give to the Lord is a sacrifice of praise for what He has done. So, if you haven’t already, accept the gift. Stop trying to earn it; just take it from Christ with a heart full of gratitude.

Americans Believe

Americans Believe Far more Americans believe in angels than believe in hell. Nearly 70 percent of Americans believe in the existence of angels, according to a recent Associated Press-NORC survey. The same percentage believe in Heaven, though even more (72 percent) believe in the power of prayer. However, only 58 percent believe in hell, and even fewer (56 percent) believe in the existence of the devil. It’s understandable why most would prefer such a “cafeteria-style” religion, but ignoring reality makes truth no less real. Why should we trust GOD'S truth over our own perceptions? May you be encouraged to read the Bible, GOD'S "love letter" to you, because it will help you to see and to understand the eternal truth that your Heavenly FATHER wants you to know. JESUS referred to HIMSELF as, "the WAY, the TRUTH, the LIFE." HE said that "no man comes to the FATHER but through Me." You believe in Heaven. You want Heaven to be your eternal home where you will dwell eternally with your LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. Let the Bible lead you to the path that will lead you to your eternal home in Heaven.

Integrity

Integrity by Dr. D. James Kennedy “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” Matthew 5:37 A little boy was once asked in Sunday school to define the noun “lie.” In response, the boy said, “A lie is an abomination to the Lord and a very present help in time of trouble.” We may laugh at this child’s perspective, and yet doesn’t it hit a little close to home? Have you found yourself justifying a lie here and there? Many of us do. But we need to avoid compromising the truth. We need to cultivate truthfulness in our lives for several reasons. First, as Charles Hodges says, truthfulness is the very substratum of deity. By that definition, a being who would lie couldn’t be God but merely a false god or lying idols of the heathen. Truthfulness is the very essence of God’s character. If God lied, we could have no confidence in Him whatsoever. Second, truthfulness is essential to God’s purpose for humankind. We can never reach God’s full potential for us if we lie. The Scripture tells us that our goal is to become like God and Jesus Christ. Therefore, we must become like Him who cannot lie under any circumstances. Third, lying destroys the fabric of society. Social harmony depends on a certain amount of trust based on truthfulness. How can there be any trust among us when we justify telling lies? Can you truthfully say that honesty and integrity are qualities in your life? We need to remember that we will stand before God and be held accountable for every idle word. Therefore, in the words of the psalmist, “Keep your tongue from evil.” Let’s pray that our truthfulness as Christians will shine like a beacon in a world steeped in darkness and lies.

Psalm 19

Psalm 19 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Tragedy on Maui

Tragedy on Maui by Dr. Jim Denison Hawaiians jumped into the ocean to escape “apocalyptic” wildfires “Everything is gone, every single one of our family homes. The entire Lahaina Town and the entire subdivision of Lahaina—gone.” This is how Jordan Saribay described the wildfires that engulfed his hometown on the island of Maui this week. People were diving into the sea to escape the inferno; one resident called the scene “apocalyptic.” This tragedy is especially painful for my wife and me since we were privileged to visit Maui in June. We spent an entire day in Lahaina, one of the most scenic and historic places we’ve ever been. Once the royal capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom, the town became a whaling village in the mid-nineteenth century. Herman Melville was one of the sailors who docked there. The village is on the National Register of Historic Places, with fifty-five acres set aside as historic districts. Maui’s oldest living banyan tree spreads across an entire park, just one of the town’s amazing sites. Now Hawaiian Gov. Josh Green estimates that “upwards of 1,700 buildings” were destroyed by the wildfires. The death toll stood at fifty-five as of last night as firefighting efforts are continuing. The full extent of the devastation may not be known for weeks or months, but it is clear that Lahaina is gone. As Saribay fled what “looked like a war zone,” he wondered what would be left to go back to. “Just praying that a miracle happens,” he said.

Quote from William Shakespeare

"To thine own self be true, and it shall follow as the night the day that thou cannot then be false to any man." Shakespeare

On Receiving an Inheritance

On Receiving an Inheritance by Dr. D. James Kennedy “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.” Ephesians 1:11 Has someone ever included you in his or her will? If so, you might have a small inkling of what it means to be included in the will and testament of God. When God’s will and testament are read, we shall receive glorious things beyond even our wildest imagination. No one in the world could possibly have the slightest conception of the full wonders that God has provided for those who love Him. As Christ’s heirs we receive deliverance from death and the promise of eternal life. He vows to meet all our needs from His abundance, and He works all things together for our good. And one day He will take us to live with Him in Paradise. Don’t you wonder what Paradise will be like? We’ve seen countless wonders God has created on this earth—how much more splendid will Heaven be? What will it be like when there is no more pain, sorrow, or separation? In this life, many people endure great pain. Many suffer sorrow and heartache over loved ones. Others feel depressed. Yet others are separated from those whom they love. But in Heaven we’ll have no more separation, sickness, heartache, loss, pain, or death. The things of this earth will have passed away. Our release from these things is part of the inheritance God has prepared for His children. How can you and I receive this inheritance? Paul tells us: “In him we were also chosen… that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation” (Ephesians 1:11–13, niv). Put your faith in Jesus, and He will reserve this inheritance for you.

Prayer for Maui

Father God, we ask for Your grace to fall upon all those who are now in harm's way on the Island of Maui. May each one flee quickly to safety. We ask You to send rain to put out these horrific fires. We ask for souls to be saved, in Your Name, Abba/Jesus, we pray, amen and amen!

Fire on Maui

Fire on Maui At Least 36 are Dead in Raging Fires on Hawaiian Island of Maui, Hundreds of Homes Burned, Historic Lahaina Destroyed Stephen Little Pastor Greg Laurie's church is starting a relief fund, and partnering with Samaritan's Purse to help the people of Maui recover. [CBN News] At least 36 people have been killed and dozens more injured by wildfires that are sweeping the Hawaiian island of Maui, devastating homes and businesses. (Screengrab image) Mass evacuations [have been] underway as thousands of tourists and residents race to escape the fires that are destroying one of the most beautiful and historic areas of Hawaii. One helicopter pilot described the scene from the air saying, "There [are] hundreds of homes burned down to the ground. The entire area of Front Street, the whole historic area is gone, burned to the ground, the harbor." Multiple fires began flaring up Tuesday and quickly spread swallowing up beautiful landscapes and centuries-old buildings. Hundreds of homes and businesses are damaged or destroyed. In Lahaina, once the capital of the native Hawaiian kingdom, homes dating back to the 1700s are reportedly gone. The fast-moving flames are causing panic and a fight for survival. A charter boat crew member said, "I was the last one to get off the dock when the firestorm came through the banyan tree and took everything with it. And I just ran out to the beach and ran south. So I just helped everybody I could along the way." The Coast Guard rescued more than a dozen people who jumped into the ocean to escape the fire. Firefighters are working around the clock, but the winds and dry conditions are feeding the fires. (Screengrab image) Southern California Pastor Greg Laurie leads a congregation on Maui. Just weeks ago CBN News went with Laurie on his most recent visit. Today, he's posting some videos on social media of that trip and the devastation that has occurred since. "Here's a video that we shot recently when we were over there and I'm riding a Vespa down Front Street and now, you can see how beautiful it is... look at these images of what it looks like when the fires raged through this city and burned down most of the structures in it." Pastor Laurie also announced the church is starting a relief fund to help the people recover.

Christ in You

Christ in You by Dr. D. James Kennedy “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27 Do you ever get involved in a good mystery story, intrigued by the twists and turns, trying to figure it out until, in the final scene, you discover whodunit? God’s Word contains many mysteries, and God’s mysteries are greater than any other mysteries in the world. No one, not even the cleverest detective, can solve them. We can only discover the truth when God, the great revealer, chooses to make it known. God has revealed one great mystery to us, a mystery which had previously lain hidden for centuries: Christ in us, our hope of glory. This is the great secret of Christianity. Christ doesn’t just go before us as a leader; beside us as an encourager; behind us as a teacher, pointing the way we should go; or above us as a counselor to whom we turn in times of need. He is all of that, but—far, far more—He is Christ within us as the regenerator, the transformer, the sanctifier, and the strengthener who provides all we ever need. When the ever-living Christ with His supernatural, wonder-working power comes into the heart of the most hardened sinner, He transforms that sinner into a new person. We must all have Christ in us. Only those who allow Christ to reign in their hearts will enter Paradise. Some have called inviting Christ into our hearts “being born again.” With that truth, we have these options: “Born once, die twice; born twice, die once.” If you have been born twice— once physically and then spiritually—you will die only once. You will be spared the second death, and instead you will pass from this life directly into the presence of God’s glory. And eternity with Christ is another great mystery—one that only Christians will know.

Death of JESUS

Scientific Death of Jesus For the next 60 seconds, set aside whatever you're doing and take this opportunity! L At the age of 33, Jesus was condemned to death. At the time, crucifixion was the "worst" death. Only the worst criminals were condemned to be crucified. Yet it was even more dreadful for Jesus. Unlike other criminals condemned to death by crucifixion, Jesus was to be nailed to the cross by His hands and feet.Each nail was 6 to 8 inches long. The nails were driven into His wrist, not into His palms as is commonly portrayed. There's a tendon in the wrist that extends to the shoulder. The Roman guards knew that when the nails were being hammered into the wrist, that tendon would tear and break, forcing Jesus to use His back muscles to support Himself so that He could breathe. Both of His feet were nailed together. Thus He was forced to support Himself on the single nail that impaled His feet to the cross. Jesus could not support Himself with His legs because of the pain so He was forced to alternate between arching His back then using His legs just to continue to breathe. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the suffering, the courage. Jesus endured this reality for over 3 hours. Yes, over 3 hours! Can you imagine this kind of suffering? A few minutes before He died, Jesus stopped bleeding. He was simply pouring water from his wounds. From common images we see wounds to His hands and feet and even the spear wound to His side... But do we realize His wounds were actually made in his body. A hammer driving large nails through the wrist, the feet overlapped and an even larger nail hammered through the arches, then a Roman guard piercing His side with a spear. But before the nails and the spear, Jesus was whipped and beaten. The whipping was so severe that it tore the flesh from His body. The beating so horrific that His face was torn and his beard ripped from His face. The crown of thorns cut deeply into His scalp. Most men would not have survived this torture. He had no more blood to bleed out, only water poured from His wounds. The human adult body contains about 3.5 liters (just less than a gallon) of blood.) Jesus poured out all 3.5 liters of his blood; He had three nails hammered into His members; a crown of thorns on His head and, beyond that, a Roman soldier who stabbed a spear into His chest. All these without mentioning the humiliation He suffered after carrying His own cross for almost 2 kilometers, while the crowd spat in his face and threw stones. (The cross was almost 30 kg of weight, only for its higher part, where His hands were nailed). Jesus had to endure this experience, to open the gates of Heaven, so that you and I can have free access to God, so our sins could be "washed" away -- all of them, with no exception! Don't ignore this "unspeakable gift" (II Corinthians 9:15). JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU! It is easy to pass jokes or foolish photos by e-mail, but when it comes to God, sometimes you feel ashamed to forward to others because you are worried of what they may think about you. God has plans for you, show all your friends what He experienced to save you. If you are not ashamed to do this, please, follow Jesus' instructions. He said (Matthew 10:32 & 33): "Everyone therefore who acknowledges Me before others, I also will acknowledge him before My Father in heaven; but whosoever denies Me before others, I will deny before My Father in heaven.

Psalm 91

Psalm 91 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Required By Law

Required by Law by Bill Wilson One of the biggest secrets about a major news story in recent weeks is being kept by the Secret Service. After all, the Secret Service is by law required to protect the President. It seems that one of the duties of the Secret Service under Joe Biden is to protect him and his son Hunter’s problems with cocaine. Yes, there is no proof that the cocaine found at the White House was Joe’s or Hunter’s. There is, however, a whole lot of speculation about who had access to the area where the cocaine was stored, when they had access, and who else was involved with the incident. The Secret Service is essentially saying, “we don’t know nothing about no cocaine in the White House.” This doesn’t meet the straight face test. But nobody is laughing unless it’s the Biden family who really knows the truth. And the Secret Service knows the truth, too, but nobody is telling it. In fact, the Heritage Foundation filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking the list of those who had access to the area where the coke was found. The Secret Service responded. No go. In a July 25 letter, the Department of Homeland Security, Freedom of Information Act Program Communications Center Freedom of Information Act Officer, Office of Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs Kevin L Tyrrell declined to provide the requested FOIA information. With all the agency layers it takes to make a simple request, it’s a wonder any information can be had. But I digress. Tyrrell wrote: “As your request seeks records reflecting visitors or related information concerning the Office of the President, please be advised that these records are not Secret Service agency records subject to the FOIA. Rather, these records are governed by the Presidential Records Act, 44 U.S.C. 2201 et seq., and remain under the exclusive legal custody and control of the White House.” Well now, that kind of clears up the whole custody of public information that is being withheld from the public by none other than Joe Biden’s White House. It’s only a year away from an election, give or take a few months. Probably, this information will be found in a top secret clearance box behind Joe’s cob-webbed corvette sometime after the election. On July 13th, just ten days after the cocaine was found at the White House, the Secret Service ended its investigation into the matter “due to a lack of physical evidence.” The FBI, Secret Service, and who knows who else found no fingerprints. No DNA found. No video surveillance footage. No access records. Kind of hard to believe when these people can identify every face in the crowd of thousands for the January 6 investigation. They can arrest somebody after January 6 and hold them without due process for years, but can’t find who slipped a bag of coke into a White House locker. What would Joe say, “C’mon man!” Proverbs 6:17-18 says these things the Lord hates: “A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief…” The mischief here seems to lie totally with the Bidens.

The Sin of Human Trafficking

The Sin of Human Trafficking by Bill Wilson With the movie “Sound of Freedom” amplifying the horrors of human trafficking, Americans are faced with a huge dilemma: America is among the worst nations partaking in human trafficking, including sex trafficking on minor children, and now there is no excuse to look the other way. It is time to hold the federal government accountable to proliferating this sin upon children and conveying it unto a nation where good and moral people are repulsed by it. Joe Biden’s open border policy is massively contributing to human trafficking while at the same time hiding behind rhetoric that supports ending human trafficking. Actions, in this case, speak louder than words. Our government is complicit. A July 14 Epoch Times story revealed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) removed sections of its website relating to child sex trafficking and how US minors, yes kids right here in the US, were being recruited and exploited in the commercial sex industry. Epoch Times reported: “The updated version of the webpage completely erased all three sections, which were added during President Donald Trump's tenure on May 28, 2020, to counsel Americans about tactics that are being used by pimps and human traffickers targeting vulnerable children and luring them into prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation using psychological manipulation.” The site was updated without fanfare in mid-May. Think about that—three years after the Trump Administration had posted it. In a July 11 Twitter post, Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) stated: "The DOJ specifically deleted a section that implicated the Biden Administration's open-border policies in correlation to the sex trafficking of children. The deleted portion read, "One form of sex trafficking involved the cross-border transportation of children. In these situations, traffickers recruit and transfer children across international borders in order to sexually exploit them in another country…DOJ's blatant move to distance Joe Biden's harmful policies from the global crime of sex trafficking should be no surprise to any of us who have seen the blatant sexualization and abuse of children this administration is comfortable with promoting.” Customs and Border Protection data indicates that some 345,000 minors have come across the US border unaccompanied since Biden took office. Couple this with the over-the-top obsession of this Administration and many of its supporters to allow the LGBTQ+ community to continue confusing and recruiting children in government schools, and this Administration is no less than perverse. Christ said in Luke 17:2, “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” We are not ignorant of the sins of human trafficking and child sexual predation supported by this government. Let us pray and act. A millstone would indeed be better for these policy perverts than allowing this abomination to continue before our very eyes.

Humility

Humility Greatness Drifting! Let Us Remember and Give Thanks by Dr. D. James Kennedy “By pride comes only contention, but with the well-advised is wisdom.” Proverbs 13:10 When you think of humble people, what images come to your mind? What characteristics and attitudes contribute to humility? We often hold misconceptions about humility. Some people believe they can gain humility only when they deny the talents they possess. But that’s not humility; it’s foolishness. When we deny our abilities, we deny the goodness and grace of God, the giver of every good and perfect gift. Rather, humility comes from a proper perspective about our God-given gifts and talents. We can admit that we have talents, abilities, and intelligence and still remain humble as long as we acknowledge we’ve received them all from God. Therefore, we don’t take the glory but instead give thanks to God who is the source of our talents and abilities. We also thank Him for our accomplishments. We shouldn’t say, “I can’t brag about the talents I’ve received, but just look at what I’ve done with them.” Again, we acknowledge that God works through us and that without Him we can do nothing. Foster humility in your life today. Thank God for giving you abilities and for accomplishing His work in and through you. May you give glory to God as you use your gifts and talents for Him today.

Because HE First Loved Me

Because HE First Loved Me by Bill Wilson In 1860, Anna B. Warner wrote the song “Jesus Loves Me.” Many of us grew up with this song in Sunday School because it tells us as children that “Jesus loves me. This I know, for the Bible tells me so.” There are five verses. As kids, we probably didn’t sing all five, but the last verse goes like this: “Jesus loves me! He will stay Close beside me all the way; Thou hast bled and died for me, I will henceforth live for Thee.” Also, in the 1800’s, Hymnist Fanny Crosby wrote a similarly-themed hymn “Because He First Loved Me,” saying, “I love my blessed Savior because He first loved me.” These songs have a far deeper meaning that goes back to the time of Moses teaching the Israelites about God’s love and how to experience it. In Deuteronomy 7:12, Moses says, “And because you listen to these rules and keep and do them, the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the love that he swore to your father’s.” The traditional Jewish interpretation of this verse is, “because you will listen...” as in, “and it shall be that your heel is ready to take a step, you will listen to your heart.” This is the step of faith, as you walk with God, you will come to know that love—and love Him in return. Listening and responding, is the point. If the people listen to God’s word and are obedient to it, then the blessings of God will be abundant. The more we walk with the LORD God, and hear His ways, the closer we will be drawn to Him. Moses reminded them how the LORD had kept them all the years in the wilderness, and did this so that they would look to Him for their needs. And now the Promised Land laid before them, and the LORD would continue to care for them as He had in the desert. The blessedness came from walking by faith, Moses warned the people not to forget the LORD by ignoring His commandments. If they forgot their deliverance and turned away trusting in their own ingenuity, God promised they would soon perish from the land. Moses reminded the people of God’s forgiveness, exhorting them to “circumcise” their hearts--that is to remove their hard heartedness. Open hearts toward the love of God compels us to love Him in return. The book of Deuteronomy mentions the word love over twenty times, mostly dealing with God’s love for us as His people. Let us recall Christ telling the lawyer in Matthew 22:37 what is the most important commandment: “to love the LORD your God, with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Jesus is reaffirming the Jewish Shema, commanding us to also love the Lord God in response to His love. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love him, because he first loved us.” Let us learn to walk with God, with Christ, learning His ways and His love for us that we might Love the LORD our God with all our heart, our mind and strength. By this, we might also love our neighbor as ourself, showing the light of Christ to all.

Isaiah 42:13

"The Lord shall go forth like a mighty man; He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war. He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His enemies." (Isaiah 42:13)

Trump Calls on Supreme Court

Trump Calls on Supreme Court to ‘Intercede’ in Legal Battles Former President Donald Trump took to Truth Social Friday morning to call on the Supreme Court of the United States to step in amid a barrage of legal battles the GOP frontrunner for 2024 is currently engaged with. “It is Election Interference, & the Supreme Court must intercede. MAGA!” he wrote, using the acronym for his catchphrase, “Make America Great Again.” On Thursday, Mr. Trump was arraigned in the nation’s capital, pleading not guilty to four counts: criminal conspiracy to defraud the United States, to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding—the Jan. 6 certification of the electoral vote—and conspiracy against the rights of citizens. On Aug. 28, U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan is expected to set a trial date. In the documents case, the presiding judge set a trial for May 2024. It appears Mr. Trump expects the cases to be appealed all the way to the Supreme Court. Many have pointed out that these charges came as Mr. Trump gained approval in his campaign for reelection, and as Joe Biden and his son face investigations of their own. Mr. Smith was appointed special counsel by the Department of Justice just three days after Mr. Trump officially announced his intention to run last November. Mr. Trump’s team has repeatedly decried the legal action from the states as “election interference,” asking why none of these charges appeared before his announcement to run. - Holy King, we pray for justice for President Trump. When we look at the issue of documents that Joe Biden, Mike Pence, Bill Clinton and several others all have in their personal possession, legally or not, it is incomprehensible why only President Trump is being charged. Father, when we look at the enormous amount of unrighteous acts that have taken place against so many January 6th citizens who went to petition the government for redress of their grievances while peaceably assembled, it feels like justice has departed our judicial system. We pray for President Trump who is receiving the tip of the spear of vengeance from those who believe the election was legitimate. Father, we petition You to bring an overwhelming tidal wave of truth, justice and righteousness upon these matters, washing, cleansing and purifying all that is unholy and untrue in our nation, in Jesus name. - "Therefore I have not sinned against you, but you wronged me by fighting against me. May the Lord, the Judge, render judgment this day between the children of Israel and the people of Ammon."' (Judges 11:27)