From The Bible To Congress!

One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse someone of a crime, the two people involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time. The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against a fellow Israelite, then do to the false witness as that witness intended to do to the other party. You must purge the evil from among you. The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. Deuteronomy 19:15-20 NIV

Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse. A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will not go free. Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.The poor are shunned by all their relatives— how much more do their friends avoid them! Though the poor pursue them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found. The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper. A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish. Proverbs 19:1, 5-9 NIV

For all those who say–they love The Lord and obey His Word–we cannot ignore the fact that much of our constitutional laws are based upon the foundations presented in The Word.

Today’s blog is dedicated to those in Congress–those elected to serve the needs of all Americans and not just a few; those elected to make wise decisions for all Americans and not just a segment of America–not vengeful ones. It is the people–Americans who vote–who determine who the lawmakers are in great expectation that the laws will be just and equitable for all Americans. We, the American people who put you into office, also have the right to recall each every person who is not fulfilling the oath taken to serve the needs of Americans.

“I,  do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.” (Oath of Office)

“The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”
— U.S. Constitution, Article VI, clause 3

Since I have never chosen to run for a public office, I cannot claim to have any knowledge or experience in the process, but as an ordained minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I can claim and affirm knowledge of God’s and His intent for all people living in harmony and peace and do so–every time I write a blog or a book–testifying of His Goodness.

As a community activist for over 40 years, I also know that corruption runs rampant in public offices because people–mere flawed human beings–are not perfect. However, being a “mere flawed human being–is an understatement when describing the current PE–Trump’s history–lack of any public service or altruistic conduct for any length of time is appalling in light of his current rant against Representative John Lewis.

Quite frankly, his lack of judgment and decency regarding the democratic process should disqualify him from ever holding a public office and he is certainly not “the legitimate president of the United States of America” with his ties and affinity to Russia. His ties are yet to be determined by your standards, but it would appear that with his son bragging about the amount of money pouring into the Trump Organization and the Dworkin Report, you have the two witnesses that settle that matter. We know from Trump’s own lips–(though with his propensity to lie one never knows what is truth), that he admires a murdering dictator, has developed an affinity to re-model our democracy to align with fascism, and thinks that Putin will be our friend.

I’m not sure what the vetting process is or should be, but it is obvious that a psych evaluation is needed before 1/20/17 and preferably by a reputable psychologist who has no personal ties with him. The “medical letter” Trump has already presented as proof of his medical history–on the surface is a joke and so is the doctor who wrote it–as a long time friend.

I would not have thought that members of Congress–both in the House and in the Senate–would have tied themselves to such a despicable person as Trump–who by the way will never be respected by me or many others. He has not earned respect and every time he opens his mouth–he digs deeper into the hole of total ignominy (disgrace; dishonor; public contempt). With public contempt and that should include yours–he will never be in a position to govern America when he cannot “govern himself.”

Trump lacks impulse control and self-discipline; he’s a pathological liar and sensationalism entertainer who cannot separate reality from his alternate universe. His personality disorders are leading him into making a mockery of the entire process of taking the office of President of the United States. His involvement–and I’m just as sure he was involved with the rigged election perpetuated by Russian hackers as the reports proclaim–either with knowledge and we know with approval from all he said during the campaign–should be grounds for his immediate removal from the position.

In fact, since it appears from every thing that has surfaced that he won the election by unfair and unethical process laced with corruption–the 2016 Election should be nullified and a federal election scheduled as soon as possible.

I’ve dedicated this blog to you–Congress–in the hope that your conscience will be your guide and that you will uphold your oath of office to preserve and protect the rights of all Americans as prescribed by our Constitution. Trump will not keep an oath–and he has proven that by all he owes money–with a signed contract–and he has shown total disdain for all we–those who love America–hold dear.

I pray you will hear The Lord speak to your hearts and you will obey to please Him, not me.

Lord, speak to the hearts of every person in a public office and especially those who proclaim to have a relationship with You. Remind them of Your Word and the obligation they have to defend the rights of the poor and needy, to judge all matters fairly and equally, and to uphold the oath they swore in Your name. Move upon them to set all wrongs right before lives are lost and wars declared. In Jesus’ name we pray and thank You, Amen!

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On The Journey–Beth

How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.

With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!

Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.

Blessed are You, O LORD!
Teach me Your statutes.

With my lips I have declared
All the judgments of Your mouth.

I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.

I will meditate on Your precepts,
And contemplate Your ways.

I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word. Psalm 119:9-16 NKJV

The question that was asked so long ago, should still be asked and answered in the same manner. How can people cleanse themselves (free themselves from sin)? By living according to The Word! The Psalmist is pleading with God–Don’t let me go astray–help me to stay on the right path.

And then there are the declarations–He has hidden the Word in His heart so he won’t sin against God. Have we hidden the word in our hearts? Have we read it enough that we remember? Have we studied enough to understand it? Do we allow God’s Word to be our guide in everything we do?

Do we love to hear the testimonies of those who have experienced God in their lives? I mean real testimonies of God’s miraculous intervention, like the woman with the issue of blood, being saved from a horrendous situation, or just being kept–in our right minds. Do we love to hear those testimonies? Better yet–do we have a testimony? Coming into the knowledge of Jesus Christ should be a testimony for everyone who is claims to be saved and has chosen Him to be the light of their lives.

Do we declare–with our own lips–God’s goodness or are we content to share the testimony of others because we are ashamed of who we are? Do we proclaim God’s Word in its entirety–the blessings and the curses–or do we simply sugarcoat The Word in order not to offend others when we need to correct them?

When was the last time we told God, “I am so happy to know Your Word and to know that it is Your Word that will keep me safe from harm?” Are blessed by knowing God’s Word or do some feel inhibited or intimidated by God’s Word?

Have we reached a place yet–on our journey in life–that we can say, “I will meditate upon Your Ways O God, I will always consider what You have said before I do anything or say anything to anyone else.  I will be happy and favored to study Your Word and I will share each revelation You give with others so we might have peace in the land?”

For knowing God’s Word and living His Word (by everyone) will surely bring peace upon the earth since knowing Him, loving Him, means loving all. And how can we cause harm to those we say we love?

With all of the chaos and violence and killing everywhere we turn, we know that people have not yet learned Love–they have not hidden His Word in their hearts and they are certainly not living it. Perhaps, it is because we have not taken the time to meditate upon His Word and allow His Word to become deeply embedded in our souls and spirit.

If we allow Holy Spirit to guide us in all we do–after having meditated and studied The Word–He will keep us on the path of life that God has designed for us. If we don’t study and meditate upon The Word in order to receive revelation knowledge–Holy Spirit won’t be able to get through to us for we have not anchored The Word in our hearts.

Think about these things, calmly and meditate upon God’s Word without distraction or interruption and see what He is able to show you.

 

True Witnesses Have Relationship With God!

“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.” (Isaiah 43:10 NIV)

There is no one group–who have professed to be the only witnesses–whom God loves more than any other who believe Him because of those things that others have revealed through His Word and His love. When God spoke through the prophets in “that day” they knew exactly what He meant. God showed up and showed out–confusing every group of people who worshipped gods they made with their own hands. What He wanted them to understand is that He, the God of creation, was before any of the gods people erected from the materials that God created.

I’ve addressed this before, but I fail to understand how anyone could give “power” to inanimate objects created by hands of men and think that object is more powerful than the One who created the materials by which it was created.

Our God–in all of His awesomeness-has no beginning or end. Before time was–He was and after time ends, He will be and for now–He isl Unfortunately for some–they have not figured it out yet.

There are those who think that mere men–who have changed the intent of God’s Word to suit their own beliefs–have the only connection with God. This is why when they observe Communion (a sacrament observed by many churches), they only serve the elders with others looking on them. How ridiculous is that? Did they not read and understand that Communion is an event in which all partake? And with all of the flawed logic and theology presented by them which constantly changes, they proclaim they are His true witnesses.

So, who is a true witness? Anyone who in relationship with God, understanding the intent of His Word and does not attempt to use The Word to manipulate people, is a true witness of God. We who know and understand that God is not a respecter of people–we are all the same–we know how He does things and we also know and understand His thoughts are far above our thoughts. We understood the need for Him to come down to earth in the likeness of flesh to reconcile mankind back to Himself and was called Jesus, who upon returning to Heaven, provided us with power through His Spirit–Holy Spirit who dwells upon the inside of all true Believers and Witnesses of the One True God.

If Holy Spirit does not dwell within, how can one say they are “true witnesses” of the Living God who will not tolerate any mocking Him by manipulating others. This particular group states (I say this from personal experience from conversations with their “elders”) that their corporate group in New York is led by Holy Spirit, but Holy Spirit is not available to anyone else so they must do what they are mandated to do within their publications.

The devil is a liar! Holy Spirit is available to all who desire Him in their lives and does not discriminate, nor encourage alienation of family members or any other who choose not to believe their foolishness. And now they promote themselves as believers of Jesus when not too long ago, they denied He was the Son of God.

Know God for yourself–Know God’s Word for yourself–and know when the devil rises us to deceive and manipulate those who are gullible enough to promote false doctrine. If you know Him because of relationship with Him, you are a true witness of He who created all things and without Him–nothing was created.

True Witnesses!

“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.”(Isaiah 43:10 NIV)

How is it that people make things–either themselves or buy what others have made–and worship them? If the things are made by man’s hand, how do we give them more power and honor than the one who made them? If then, we are worshipping things, can we be a true witness for what God does?

A true witness does not prevaricate, does not manipulate truth, does not quibble truth (nitpicking it selectively)–they will only speak about those events they actually see or participate in with others. If we Believe The Word, then we can be true witnesses for all God has said when we have hidden the Word in our hearts and have participated in the works of spreading the Gospel.

Do we understand that The God who has no form or origin, no beginning or end is truly The God of Heaven, all Creation and without Him, nothing was ever created; He is not “a god” as others say? Have we fine-tuned our relationship with Him so we know when we hear Him and will not listen to the lies of who speak against Him or oppose Him? Do we know that everything He did for His chosen, He will continue to do until He returns to take us to be with Him?

If we are going to be true witnesses of who He is, we must learn to model our behavior after Him. We should do what He does, according to what He has said. We love, we teach, we admonish and correct, and we forgive and move on. We know not everyone will hear us and that’s their choice; our job is to share the Gospel, not make people believe since we have no authority or ability to make anyone do anything.

We are told by Jesus if others will not hear us to shake the dust off our feet and keep going. In other words–keep it moving–we don’t have time to waste on those who are determined to allow Satan to rule their lives. We pray for them that they will see a need to turn to God, but we cannot make them. We allow them their choice and leave them to their consequences!

God has always allowed people to make choices–and what we actively and consciously do is a choice. He allowed Adam and Eve to make choices and left them to their consequences. He allowed Herod, and all the leaders of Egypt to make their choices and live with their consequences. He is the same God, using the same strategy to get us to Believe Him. He used the prophets and miracles and He’s yet using prophets and miracles and most of us are–miracles--we survived situations that should have killed us, but we are yet here–to testify of His goodness–as true witnesses!

True witnesses understand and believe everything The Word has said because they hear God speaking through Holy Spirit, confirming His Word and directing us in all things. All who believe Him (not man or men), and can act on His behalf are His true witnesses that will bring others into knowledge of Him.

Who Will Be Your Witness?

“Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son.” (I John 5:9,10 NLT)

If we had to stand trial today and provide evidence that we are who we say we are in Christ, what would be a judge’s final ruling?

Who would we call to be our witnesses to support our claim to being a follower of Jesus Christ?

Do we even have any witnesses who could testify on our behalf?

Would we have to find “false witnesses” or would our witnesses tell the truth?

We can lie to ourselves and act like we are “all that” when in fact, we haven’t reached a point in our lives where we truly believe we are who we say we are. If we did, the world would be a much better place for if we are truly His, we would know how to change the course of events without violence and hatred and bigotry and know how to encourage all to live according to God’s Word, not in opposition of it.

Who will be your witness and can you call them to testify with confidence or will you quake as they speak?

If we truly think about how others perceive us and are willing to look self–in the face–and dare to make whatever changes are necessary, we would have no need to fear what any witness would say about our relationship with Christ.

Something to think about. We can fool ourselves and others, but we cannot fool God! He knows–everything about us!

God vs Idols!

“Present your case,” says the LORD. “Set forth your arguments,” says Jacob’s King.  “Tell us, you idols, what is going to happen…”(Isaiah 41:21,22 NIV).

For just a moment, imagine we are spectators in the court of life and we hear Isaiah speaking for God to the lost–those who have turned their backs on Him.  In earlier verses, God has already declared what He will do–make the barren places come alive with growth, provide for the poor and the needy, so they will know that it is Him who is their provider.  And now, it is time for the people to explain what their idol gods will do.

The case being made here is that any idol (anything we worship over God) can do very little on its own.  No statute, no beads, no job, no car, no amount of wealth (anything we make with our own hands or a facsimile thereof) can operate on its own and will do nothing to benefit mankind. The children of Israel had been warned time and again about what would happen to them if they put their trust in man.  I can imagine–when put to the test and if they had been smart–they would have immediately destroyed all the idols–the gods they worshipped in the hills or sacrificed children upon–would no longer exist and they would have benefitted from God’s mercy and love.

But what did they do?  They ignored the warnings–the reminders of what God had done in the past for them and the prophecy of what He would do in the future.  In fact, they detested what God had to say so much that they later sawed Isaiah in half–thinking that would stop God from talking.

God has always and will always have someone willing to speak on His behalf.  He will never be silenced and as He has proven in the past, if we will not speak for Him, He’ll use an animal or have the rocks cry out in praise of Him.  For whom will you be a witness of today?  God or the idols?  I refuse to have use an animal or stones to speak when I have a tongue and a voice that I can raise loud and long in praise of Him, who has done all things marvelously well, on my behalf.  Glory to God!  Hallelujah!

Celebrating Resurrection!

After Jesus was laid in a borrowed tomb, history was made and a prophecy fulfilled.

(Luke 24: 1-53 for reference) On the third day, He was not found in the tomb and indeed, the disciples who had walked with Him for three years, did not recognize Him when He approached, talked to them, or taught all the scriptures that related to Him. It wasn’t until they invited Him to have dinner with them that they recognized Him for who He is, when He blessed the food. But then, He disappeared. They sat among themselves discussing what had just happened. One said, “Didn’t our hearts burn within when He talked with us along the way and when He opened up the scriptures to us?” Later, He told them that they were to preach repentance and the remission of sin to all nations. Soon after giving these instructions, the disciples saw Him carried into heaven. They were went their way, praising and blessing God!

He arose–just like He said He would; He is sitting at the right hand of the Father–just like He said He would. Now the questions are: have we risen from the depths of our sin, repented from them and received forgiveness? Are we preaching repentance and the remission of sin? Do we feel that the grace–the unmerited favor we received was only for us? Are our hearts burning within with the knowledge we have of Him and His love towards us?  Will we go our way, praising and blessing God?

Let us rise to the occasion and become the witnesses that He wanted us to be–let us preach the gospel of Jesus Christ (repentance, forgiveness and love) and stand on God’s Word so that He will celebrate our resurrection when He returns.

Have a joyous Resurrection Sunday Celebration! Hallelujah!