An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Daniel 7:2-8
2 Daniel spoke, saying, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea.
3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.
4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
5 “And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’
6 “After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.
7 “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.
8 I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.
Exodus 20:12
12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
Psalm 52:1-7
1 Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The goodness of God endures continually.
2 Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
3 You love evil more than good, Lying rather than speaking righteousness. Selah
4 You love all devouring words, You deceitful tongue.
5 God shall likewise destroy you forever; He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place, And uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
6 The righteous also shall see and fear, And shall laugh at him, saying,
7 “Here is the man who did not make God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness.”
Romans 1:20-31
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
Psalm 146
1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3 Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.
4 His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; In that very day his plans perish.
5 Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever,
7 Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.
8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord raises those who are bowed down; The Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.
10 The Lord shall reign forever — Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!
But What If YOU Are WRONG?
I can add nothing to J.D.’s commentary. The gentleman has surely nailed it!
Of Whom, Or What, Are They Afraid?
by J. D. Longstreet
You know, for people who profess not to believe in a god, or even in the existence of God, some of these non-religious people sure seem to be frightened of SOMETHING.
Hardly a week goes by that we do not see evidence of their near overwhelming fear.
In America, non-religious are free to, uh, do whatever it is they do instead of worshiping a deity. Apparently, that sort of lifestyle in not, well, very fulfilling. How else to explain their seeming need to interfere with the choice of other Americans to worship the deity of their choice.
Now, I know they use the excuse of being concerned over the lack, in many situations, of separation between church and state. But, in my opinion, that is simply a “cover.”
As I see it, atheists simply USE the so-called constitutional declaration that church and state should never meet, let alone come it contact.
Happy Passover!
Sunset April 6, 2012 – Nightfall April 13, 2012
Mark 11:1-10
1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples;
2 and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it.
3 And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.”
4 So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it.
5 But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?”
6 And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go.
7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it.
8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!”
Court Ordered Salvation?
Mother faces contempt, jail for baptizing children
A Shelby County mother faces contempt-of-court charges and possible jail time for baptizing her two children without the knowledge or consent of her ex-husband.
This week the Tennessee Court of Appeals said Lauren Jarrell must face a criminal contempt hearing for violating a court order that said major decisions regarding the religious upbringing of her two children should be made jointly with the children’s father.
Both parents are Christian. Emmett Blake Jarrell, the father, is a member of the United Methodist Church, and she’s a Presbyterian.
Are these people serious? Baptism IS a big deal, but honestly, I don’t see the difference between the Methodists and Presbyterians. I’ve been to both, and they are quite similar in ‘rituals’ and teachings. Depending on the church, they’re both pretty left in my opinion. But that’s not the issue.
The father, according to court records, thought the children should be baptized when they are older and better able to understand the significance of the baptismal ceremony. The couple, according to court records, had even consulted a minister when they were married because they couldn’t agree what age was best for the kids to be baptized. Records show the children will be 5 and 7 next month.
I was about a year the first time I was baptized. My dad was Lutheran, my mom was Presbyterian, and I was baptized in the Lutheran church. My understanding was that it didn’t matter where, it just mattered if anything happened to me begore I was old enough to understand the whole process, you know, like DIE, or some such, that I would have a slot in heaven. It made my parents feel better. Then, I was raised in the Presbyterian church. It started changing back when, and that pretty much put a stop to my church attendance. Of course, I was also going through “that stage”. 
I don’t suppose the father has considered that the mom was concerned about her kids souls? Yes, it’s a decision that the kids can make when they are older, but no one ever said you can’t be baptized more than once. I’ve done it 3 times. 
“Obviously she knew that the father did not want the children baptized at that age and she did that without telling him,” Memphis attorney Any Amundsen, who is not involved in the case, said of the mother. “She violated the court order.”
Where’s all the hoopla about ‘separation of church and state’, which doesn’t exist, but it’s always dragged out when anyone has the audacity to go against someone’s ‘wishes’. And let me ask this….if they are both REALLY Christians, why are they divorced? I know that sometimes, things happen and that 2 people can no longer live together as man and wife, but usually, it’s because at least one of them are NOT really Christian, and they are not following the teachings of Christ. Just sayin’.
The Court of Appeals decision sides with the father, who had asked that his ex-wife be convicted of criminal contempt after discovering that she baptized the kids against his wishes.
A lower court has already found the mother in contempt of court. The appellate court decision overturned that decision and said criminal contempt proceedings are more appropriate because the mother can’t undo the baptisms.
Yeah…ok…so they were suppose to discuss the important issues, and yes, baptism is a very important issue, but honestly, it seems to me that the father is being petty. It doesn’t sound like his concern is for his kids, but getting back at his ex-wife for making a decision, I would assume, in the hopes that her children will be saved? It’s not the water that is the most important part of baptism, although, yes, it is meant to ‘wash away sin’, but it is symbolic. What is important is the cleansing of the soul, and that is a decision the kids will make as they get older.
Court records show that the mother argued that it was wrong for the lower court to find her in contempt it was tantamount to preferring the father’s religious views on baptism over hers.
But the Court of Appeals disagreed.
Why are the courts even involved? Does daddy have ties with the legal system? Just askin’.
“Mother is correct that courts `must maintain strict neutrality in cases involving religious disputes between divorced parents’ and they may not `prefer the religious views of one parent over another unless one parent’s religious beliefs and practices threaten the health and well-being of the child,” Judge Alan E. Highers wrote. “However, simply put, this is not a religious dispute.” Highers said the court is only being asked to determine whether the mother can be found in contempt for failing to follow the court order.
Well yeah…actually, it is a religious dispute. Obviously, I don’t know all the facts…just what I’m reading here, but it actually sounds like a power play. Mom is concerned for the kids’ salvation and dad got his knickers in a twist because he was left out. There’s a reason why he is the EX, meaning former, husband. I’m rather curious as to whether or not he’s a control freak. Just speculation on my part. And I do not understand why this was part of the divorce agreement to begin with. This is a very personal matter, and not one for the courts to decide.
Nashville attorney Helen Rogers says the courts ought to stay away from these kinds of decisions.
“How would a court decide between baptizing a Presbyterian and a Methodist or a Catholic,” Rogers asked. She wondered whether a court could step in and order the child of a Muslim and a Jew to attend a synagogue or a mosque. The problem, she said, is that the standard parenting plan in Tennessee orders many parents to mediation if they can’t jointly decide on major decisions involving religious upbringing. If they can’t agree even after mediation, she said, it ultimately means that a court has to decide.
Why does the state have ANY say on how or where a child should be brought up, or baptized? To me, that is a complete violation of personal liberty.. personal RELIGIOUS liberty!
“The bigger kind of global look at this is should religious decision-making be a private matter or should it be something that a court orders to begin with,” Rogers asked.
That would be a ‘definitely NOT!”
However, Amundsen said the courts are only following state law, which says the courts have to consider religious upbringing when it comes to parental decision making.
Both attorneys said it’s not unusual for parents to disagree on religious upbringing.
Why are the courts involved, at all, in ‘parental decision making’? Someone got their head screwed on wrong, and forgot that the parents have the final say in their kids’ upbringing?
If the mother is convicted, she could face up to 20 days in jail and a $100 fine.
She can’t undo the baptism, and daddy should pull his head out of his hinder, and let it drop. The kids are more important than him and his desires. Yeah, I understand he wanted to be involved, but shouldn’t the salvation of his children come before his wants? Seems to me, that’s what mom’s concern was when she took this action. Unless, of course, it was to get back at him for some reason, which has been known to happen on a regular basis. Women can be quite vindictive. Then again, so can men. There is no mention of whether or not the kids wanted to be baptized, and really, shouldn’t THAT be the first consideration, of both the parents, and (*gritting teeth*) the courts? Seems to me that neither the court or the dad are considering what would happen to the kids if mom spends 20 days in jail. As for the fine? Well, I’d be happy to take up a collection if it comes to that!
Deuteronomy 4:25-26
25 “When you beget children and grandchildren and have grown old in the land, and act corruptly and make a carved image in the form of anything, and do evil in the sight of the Lord your God to provoke Him to anger,
26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you will soon utterly perish from the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess; you will not prolong your days in it, but will be utterly destroyed.
The Senior Version
92 YEAR OLD PREACHER
While watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a church in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age. After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down, he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gait to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak….
“When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50-odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials.. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me… the only thing that would comfort was this verse……..
“Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
we are weak but He is strong…..
Yes, Jesus loves me…
The Bible tells me so.”
The old pastor stated, “I always noticed that it was the adults who chose the children’s hymn ‘Jesus Loves Me’ (for the children of course) during a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they knew it the best.”
“Here for you now is a Senior version of Jesus Loves Me”:
JESUS LOVES ME
Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.
(CHORUS)
YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I’ll go
On through life, let come what may,
He’ll be there to lead the way.
(CHORUS)
When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song..
Telling me in words so clear,
“Have no fear, for I am near.”
(CHORUS)
When my work on earth is done,
And life’s victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I’ll understand His love.
(CHORUS)
I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love Him every day.
(CHORUS)
Shared by Jerry.
An Appropriate Quote
I came across a rather interesting quote this morning:
Where God has his church the Devil will have his chapel.
I was curious as to where the quote came from, so I whipped out my trusty Bing search engine and found the origin is apparently disputed. It’s either a Spanish ‘proverb’, or a Danish one. Either way, it is an extremely accurate statement.
In today’s churches, we find the devil doing his work on a regular basis, and the pastor and church members apparently are bowing down to him. What is that work? Well, I guess you could call it…. Political Correctness! You see, when a church becomes PC, they are leaving the teachings of the Bible, and moving towards the teachings of man. Man is not divine, no matter what he/she would like to believe.
Now, I don’t much care how you live your life. That’s your business, but don’t bring your PC BS into my church. Well, to say I don’t care isn’t exactly true, I do care. I would rather people find the Truth, and live their lives with the Truth, and find the joy and love that is available to them, but that is their choice.
We all fall short, me especially, but I don’t want my life opened up to the evil that pervades so many churches, and our society in general. There is right, and there is wrong. There are absolute truths. If people, especially those who stand behind a pulpit, refuse to see that, then I feel bad for those who sit in the pews week after week. They are being lied to.
Acts 4:13-21
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16 saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”
18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done.
Who Is Doing The Hating?
‘Gay hate list’: Farah, Perkins, Colson, more
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has created an enemies list of 36 commentators – including pastors, authors, radio talk-show hosts, pro-family activists and researchers – in an effort to limit the effectiveness of their media outreach.
Hmmm… Anyone who holds a view different from this group is on a ‘hate list’? I don’t hold the same view. I know a lot of folks who don’t, but none of our names are on said ‘list’.
The formulation of the list is the work of GLAAD’s “Commentator Accountability Project” that aims to “educate the media about the extreme rhetoric of over three dozen activists who are often given a platform to speak in opposition to LGBT people and the issues that affect their lives.”
What do they consider ‘extreme rhetoric’? I know several people on that ‘list’ who base their views on the Bible, pretty much like I do. Is God’s Word ‘rhetoric’? I’m not aware that any of these people hate. I’m not familiar with all those on the list, but those I am familiar with have never said anything about hating, at least not to my knowledge. I don’t hate. Too much work, and that’s not what I’m instructed to do.
“Hate is not an expert opinion,” said GLAAD’s Herndon Graddick. “In most cases, news outlets invite reputable experts to speak on the subject at hand, but when talking about LGBT issues, open hostility and anti-LGBT bias seems to be all the credibility required. This project holds these so-called ‘pundits’ accountable for the extreme anti-LGBT rhetoric they continue to spread.”
So, if someone is invited to speak with an opposing view, based on their Biblical faith, it’s considered hostile and biased? Well, looks to me like the same could be said for this organization. They appear to be openly hostile and biased towards anyone who holds a view in opposition to the GLAAD agenda.
“The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation should more accurately be called the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Criticism,” said Farah. “These people actually believe that if you have a different viewpoint and a different value system from them you are a hate-filled, bigoted monster. Here’s a group that claims in its own name that it is ‘against defamation,’ but actively defames those with whom it has disagreements. Not one example of hateful or defamatory language is offered as evidence against any of those listed in this report.”
Looking at the site linked above, I saw no evidence, no specific comments attributed to any of those on the target list, which leads me to believe that those men and women speak the truth that was shared in the Bible. Apparently, gay activists don’t like God’s rules, so anyone who shares those rules is ‘hateful’. I’m real sorry they feel that way. I’d like for them to know the love I have grown to feel from my Savior, but no one can make someone accept love, especially if they are so filled with hatred for those who disagree. Pretty much sums up the left as a whole, don’t ya think?
McCullough, a nationally syndicated radio host and one of the 36 commentators, said it is ironic that GLAAD’s goal of “shutting people’s voices down … will somehow make their arguments more sound.”
He said, “I’ve never appeared as someone who claimed to even represent much less serve as an ‘expert’ on the private lives of the LGBT community. … When I am asked to speak on a public forum it is as a person who speaks with and interacts with millions of people daily through a media company that myself and actor Stephen Baldwin began four years ago. Because we have a platform that engages people in conversation about these things and every other cultural issue imaginable we have a good idea of how OUR constituents think.”
I’ve never heard, or read, anything from Kevin McCullough that would indicate he harbors any hatred for these people. Their lifestyle is contrary to everything that we are taught by God’s rules, in both the Old and New Testament. It doesn’t mean we hate them, as people, we just are not allowed to accept their lifestyle as ‘natural’. It’s not hate, it’s disapproval due to our belief in God’s Word.
“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.”
Kirk Cameron Receives More Backlash Rather Than Support From Fellow Celebs
Kirk Cameron might have been applauded by Piers Morgan for his statement against homosexuality and gay marriage, but the “Growing Pains” star didn’t seem to get more support from fellow celebrities than he has already had. Instead, he received more criticisms including the ones from his co-stars.
Kirk’s on-screen sister Tracey Gold was quick to declare which side she’s on by tweeting, “I am a strong supporter of the #LGBT Community, and I believe in equal rights for all.” Alan Thicke, who plays his on-screen father, was also against him, “I’m getting him some new books. The Old Testament simply can’t be expected to explain everything.”
It’s really sad when has beens have to show their ignorance. Note to Thicke: Try reading the New Testament, you might be surprised at what you find in it. Jesus came to fulfill the law…said law being given to Moses and a number of other prophets. Real prophets, not the phony one that some people try to pass off as being a spokesman for a non god. The law is quite specific. People might not like it, or might make fun of those who believe the Word of God, like those who are dissing Mr Cameron, but ya know what? It’s apparent to me that this young man’s faith is strong enough to let such criticisms to roll of his back.
John 15
21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.
Obviously, those who throwing such comments about Mr Cameron’s faith do no know the One who sent Him. They might want to do a little more research before tossing out such foolish comments.
John 3
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
1 Corinthians 6
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
I dunno….seems pretty cut and dry to me! It’s not my job to judge. Judgement belongs to Someone a LOT higher in authority than I am. I don’t hate anymore. Not fond of liberals because of the damage they have done to our country, but I don’t actually hate them. I feel rather sorry for them. They must be extremely unhappy people. However, it is our job to ‘rebuke’.
Proverbs 28
23 He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward Than he who flatters with the tongue.
Luke 17
3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
2 Timothy 4
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
So, understand, that when someone like Kirk Cameron, or even a nobody like me, says this is God’s law, it’s not said with malice, but with love. Those who speak out against His law will suffer more than even I can imagine. No, I’m not judging, nor is Mr Cameron. We are trying our best to follow God’s laws. It’s not always easy, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
