Prisoner at the bar

I don’t know if any of my readers has ever attended a court trial when a verdict of guilty was handed down, and the defendant was imprisoned? I haven’t, but have of course seen dramatizations on the TV. It occurred to me recently, how when that guilty verdict is handed down, no matter how many friends and relatives may be present in the courts and may have given great character references for the defendant, the person can be led away to court, not able to argue, object, or any wise other avert going to prison. It reminded me of how when we stand before God and He either judges us his friend or enemies, that the same is true. The verdict final and not up for debate. May we all see our hope of Heaven realized once we pass from here.

Come closer, come closer and listen…

My bud Jerry set this challenge in this blog post. of April 11. And never being one to shy away from a challenge, I took it up! One less chemical for my drowning under toxins body, sounded a good idea to me.

Now its been almost two weeks since I washed  my hair. (Used shampoo that is!) And I was sure it would go wrong,  i am the Queen of bad hair days! But, hey! Its working fine. My hair is soft, shiny and manageable.  I have oriental type hair, its very strong and wiry and has a mind of its own! (Good  job– it can think for both of us!) So, this seems to be working. Stay tooned, but so far, so good.

Now, gay on, I dares, ya! Take the shampoo challenge yourself.

the slavery of mammon

I’m very thankful, that for the first time in around 15 years, I am completely debt free.  This is a huge relief given my status of not being able to work, and now only having my disability benefits, having never worked, because of illness.  Since my father’s onset of his illness around 18 months ago, and his subsequent death about six months late,, it’s been a big burden that has weighed heavily. But thanks be to God, I am now completely debt free owing to the sale of my home.  I hadn’t realized until up against it financially how being in debt enslaves us in many ways. And it’s not a place I plan to ever have to be in again. .As if  you’re set free you wouldn’t want to return to being enslaved.  The sale of my home has made that possible. When I move to a disability adapted place I should also be paying only around half the rent I am currently paying, so, God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform. For reasons I won’t go into on my blog, this house and the mortgage and everything that went with it for years and years, was a source of resentment,  I felt tied to it unfairly  and if I had have known how things would change around two years after taking on the initial mortgage I never would have done.  Yet, property prices have increased since the twenty years when first buying this house, and the value of it now, God used to grant me some freedom, financially, and as a disabled individual, there are often expenses one wouldn’t otherwise have to fork out. So, I’m very thankful. And when I don’t seem to have a lot go right in life. ,I  thought I would share it with my blog readers.  As it’s a perfect example of God working all things to good, (Rom 8:28) even if at the time, it seems anything BUT, good.

God's judgments against nations

Immediately after the September 11 World Trade Centre disaster you could hear the funamentalists of America like falliwell and Roberts, blaming this judgement of God upon the sin of homosexuality.  Though a  heinous sin, I think its often alll too easy to strike against something we may personally object to on a deeper level, than a sin that we have all partaken in and increased in one degree or another. Its much easier to blame our neighbour, whose particular sin maybe something we have never been tempted into, than to look to ourselves as much as anyone else to see what could  have caused God’s hand to be so against a nation and so visibly so. Yet didn’t the prophet Isa. When speaking of God’s judgements, put himself on an equal par as any other sinner by saying he was a man of unclean lips? (Isa 6:5)  He didn’t just look to his neighbours to lay the blame for God’s judgment, he also saw reasons within himself as to why God may judge the land. 

The way ALL our nations in current times seem to profane the Sabbath would be as good a reason as any for God’s  hand being against I feel.  And which of us, at one time or another, has not , not kept the sabbath holy, has not sancitified it as much as we should have or could  have. Who of us doesn’t have someone elses blood on our  hands,  as well as Christ’s, for God making a judgement that we have helped in part to create?  Its quite noticable that Christians who celebrate x-mass have no problem giving the entire day to feasting and banquesting and partying and revelry. So why should it be so difficult to sancitfy the Sabbath–which costs us nothing extra in the way of finance, or other ways that celebrating the holy days invented by man does. It cost us nothing beyond raising our hearts to heaven.

Was London in flames on the Lord’s Day? And was the profanation of that day one of those great sins that brought that dreadful judgment of fire upon Lonon, that hath turned that glorious city into a ruinous heap? Oh that all that have been sufferers by that lamentable fire, and all others also, would make it their business, their work, their heaven, to sanctify the Sabbath and to keep it holy all their days, that the Lord may be no more provoked to lay London more desolate than it is laid this day. Let it be enough that this day of the Lord hath been so greatly profaned by si nful omissions and by sinful commissions by the immorality and debauchery, and by sinful wantonness, filthiness, uncleanness, rioting, glottony, drunkness, rioting, revelling and chambering that multitudes were given up to before the Lord appeared against them in that flaming fire that hath laid our renowned city in ashes. Let it be enough that the Lord has been more dishonoured and blashphemed, that Christ hath been more reproached and despised and refused, and that the Spirit hath been more vexed, grieved and provoked and quenched on the Lord’s Day that all the other days of the week. Let it be enough that on this day of the Lord, many have been a-playing when they should have been a-praying; and that many hath been a-sporting when they should have been a-mourning for the afflictions of Joseph, Amos vi. 6; and that many have been a-courting of their mistresses when they should have been a-waiting on their ordinances; and that many  have been sitting at their doors, when they should have been instructing of theier families and that many have been a-walking in the fields when they should have been a-sighing and expostulating with God in their closets; and that many  have made that day of common labour which God hath made to be a special day of rest from sin, from the world and from their particular callings. Oh that men who have paid so dear for profaning of Sabbaths would now bend all their force, strength, power, and might to sanctify those Sabbaths thst yet they may enjoy on this side of eternity! &c. [Thomas Brooks]

 

God's judgments against nations

Immediately after the September 11 World Trade Centre disaster you could hear the funamentalists of America like falliwell and Roberts, blaming this judgement of God upon the sin of homosexuality.  Though a  heinous sin, I think its often alll too easy to strike against something we may personally object to on a deeper level, than a sin that we have all partaken in and increased in one degree or another. Its much easier to blame our neighbour, whose particular sin maybe something we have never been tempted into, than to look to ourselves as much as anyone else to see what could  have caused God’s hand to be so against a nation and so visibly so. Yet didn’t the prophet Isa. When speaking of God’s judgements, put himself on an equal par as any other sinner by saying he was a man of unclean lips? (Isa 6:5)  He didn’t just look to his neighbours to lay the blame for God’s judgment, he also saw reasons within himself as to why God may judge the land. 

The way ALL our nations in current times seem to profane the Sabbath would be as good a reason as any for God’s  hand being against I feel.  And which of us, at one time or another, has not , not kept the sabbath holy, has not sancitified it as much as we should have or could  have. Who of us doesn’t have someone elses blood on our  hands,  as well as Christ’s, for God making a judgement that we have helped in part to create?  Its quite noticable that Christians who celebrate x-mass have no problem giving the entire day to feasting and banquesting and partying and revelry. So why should it be so difficult to sancitfy the Sabbath–which costs us nothing extra in the way of finance, or other ways that celebrating the holy days invented by man does. It cost us nothing beyond raising our hearts to heaven.

Was London in flames on the Lord’s Day? And was the profanation of that day one of those great sins that brought that dreadful judgment of fire upon Lonon, that hath turned that glorious city into a ruinous heap? Oh that all that have been sufferers by that lamentable fire, and all others also, would make it their business, their work, their heaven, to sanctify the Sabbath and to keep it holy all their days, that the Lord may be no more provoked to lay London more desolate than it is laid this day. Let it be enough that this day of the Lord hath been so greatly profaned by si nful omissions and by sinful commissions by the immorality and debauchery, and by sinful wantonness, filthiness, uncleanness, rioting, glottony, drunkness, rioting, revelling and chambering that multitudes were given up to before the Lord appeared against them in that flaming fire that hath laid our renowned city in ashes. Let it be enough that the Lord has been more dishonoured and blashphemed, that Christ hath been more reproached and despised and refused, and that the Spirit hath been more vexed, grieved and provoked and quenched on the Lord’s Day that all the other days of the week. Let it be enough that on this day of the Lord, many have been a-playing when they should have been a-praying; and that many hath been a-sporting when they should have been a-mourning for the afflictions of Joseph, Amos vi. 6; and that many have been a-courting of their mistresses when they should have been a-waiting on their ordinances; and that many  have been sitting at their doors, when they should have been instructing of theier families and that many have been a-walking in the fields when they should have been a-sighing and expostulating with God in their closets; and that many  have made that day of common labour which God hath made to be a special day of rest from sin, from the world and from their particular callings. Oh that men who have paid so dear for profaning of Sabbaths would now bend all their force, strength, power, and might to sanctify those Sabbaths thst yet they may enjoy on this side of eternity! &c. [Thomas Brooks]

 

God's judgments against nations

Immediately after the September 11 World Trade Centre disaster you could hear the funamentalists of America like falliwell and Roberts, blaming this judgement of God upon the sin of homosexuality.  Though a  heinous sin, I think its often alll too easy to strike against something we may personally object to on a deeper level, than a sin that we have all partaken in and increased in one degree or another. Its much easier to blame our neighbour, whose particular sin maybe something we have never been tempted into, than to look to ourselves as much as anyone else to see what could  have caused God’s hand to be so against a nation and so visibly so. Yet didn’t the prophet Isa. When speaking of God’s judgements, put himself on an equal par as any other sinner by saying he was a man of unclean lips? (Isa 6:5)  He didn’t just look to his neighbours to lay the blame for God’s judgment, he also saw reasons within himself as to why God may judge the land. 

The way ALL our nations in current times seem to profane the Sabbath would be as good a reason as any for God’s  hand being against I feel.  And which of us, at one time or another, has not , not kept the sabbath holy, has not sancitified it as much as we should have or could  have. Who of us doesn’t have someone elses blood on our  hands,  as well as Christ’s, for God making a judgement that we have helped in part to create?  Its quite noticable that Christians who celebrate x-mass have no problem giving the entire day to feasting and banquesting and partying and revelry. So why should it be so difficult to sancitfy the Sabbath–which costs us nothing extra in the way of finance, or other ways that celebrating the holy days invented by man does. It cost us nothing beyond raising our hearts to heaven.

Was London in flames on the Lord’s Day? And was the profanation of that day one of those great sins that brought that dreadful judgment of fire upon Lonon, that hath turned that glorious city into a ruinous heap? Oh that all that have been sufferers by that lamentable fire, and all others also, would make it their business, their work, their heaven, to sanctify the Sabbath and to keep it holy all their days, that the Lord may be no more provoked to lay London more desolate than it is laid this day. Let it be enough that this day of the Lord hath been so greatly profaned by si nful omissions and by sinful commissions by the immorality and debauchery, and by sinful wantonness, filthiness, uncleanness, rioting, glottony, drunkness, rioting, revelling and chambering that multitudes were given up to before the Lord appeared against them in that flaming fire that hath laid our renowned city in ashes. Let it be enough that the Lord has been more dishonoured and blashphemed, that Christ hath been more reproached and despised and refused, and that the Spirit hath been more vexed, grieved and provoked and quenched on the Lord’s Day that all the other days of the week. Let it be enough that on this day of the Lord, many have been a-playing when they should have been a-praying; and that many hath been a-sporting when they should have been a-mourning for the afflictions of Joseph, Amos vi. 6; and that many have been a-courting of their mistresses when they should have been a-waiting on their ordinances; and that many  have been sitting at their doors, when they should have been instructing of theier families and that many have been a-walking in the fields when they should have been a-sighing and expostulating with God in their closets; and that many  have made that day of common labour which God hath made to be a special day of rest from sin, from the world and from their particular callings. Oh that men who have paid so dear for profaning of Sabbaths would now bend all their force, strength, power, and might to sanctify those Sabbaths thst yet they may enjoy on this side of eternity! &c. [Thomas Brooks]

 

God's judgments against nations

Immediately after the September 11 World Trade Centre disaster you could hear the funamentalists of America like falliwell and Roberts, blaming this judgement of God upon the sin of homosexuality.  Though a  heinous sin, I think its often alll too easy to strike against something we may personally object to on a deeper level, than a sin that we have all partaken in and increased in one degree or another. Its much easier to blame our neighbour, whose particular sin maybe something we have never been tempted into, than to look to ourselves as much as anyone else to see what could  have caused God’s hand to be so against a nation and so visibly so. Yet didn’t the prophet Isa. When speaking of God’s judgements, put himself on an equal par as any other sinner by saying he was a man of unclean lips? (Isa 6:5)  He didn’t just look to his neighbours to lay the blame for God’s judgment, he also saw reasons within himself as to why God may judge the land. 

The way ALL our nations in current times seem to profane the Sabbath would be as good a reason as any for God’s  hand being against I feel.  And which of us, at one time or another, has not , not kept the sabbath holy, has not sancitified it as much as we should have or could  have. Who of us doesn’t have someone elses blood on our  hands,  as well as Christ’s, for God making a judgement that we have helped in part to create?  Its quite noticable that Christians who celebrate x-mass have no problem giving the entire day to feasting and banquesting and partying and revelry. So why should it be so difficult to sancitfy the Sabbath–which costs us nothing extra in the way of finance, or other ways that celebrating the holy days invented by man does. It cost us nothing beyond raising our hearts to heaven.

Was London in flames on the Lord’s Day? And was the profanation of that day one of those great sins that brought that dreadful judgment of fire upon Lonon, that hath turned that glorious city into a ruinous heap? Oh that all that have been sufferers by that lamentable fire, and all others also, would make it their business, their work, their heaven, to sanctify the Sabbath and to keep it holy all their days, that the Lord may be no more provoked to lay London more desolate than it is laid this day. Let it be enough that this day of the Lord hath been so greatly profaned by si nful omissions and by sinful commissions by the immorality and debauchery, and by sinful wantonness, filthiness, uncleanness, rioting, glottony, drunkness, rioting, revelling and chambering that multitudes were given up to before the Lord appeared against them in that flaming fire that hath laid our renowned city in ashes. Let it be enough that the Lord has been more dishonoured and blashphemed, that Christ hath been more reproached and despised and refused, and that the Spirit hath been more vexed, grieved and provoked and quenched on the Lord’s Day that all the other days of the week. Let it be enough that on this day of the Lord, many have been a-playing when they should have been a-praying; and that many hath been a-sporting when they should have been a-mourning for the afflictions of Joseph, Amos vi. 6; and that many have been a-courting of their mistresses when they should have been a-waiting on their ordinances; and that many  have been sitting at their doors, when they should have been instructing of theier families and that many have been a-walking in the fields when they should have been a-sighing and expostulating with God in their closets; and that many  have made that day of common labour which God hath made to be a special day of rest from sin, from the world and from their particular callings. Oh that men who have paid so dear for profaning of Sabbaths would now bend all their force, strength, power, and might to sanctify those Sabbaths thst yet they may enjoy on this side of eternity! &c. [Thomas Brooks]

 

We are not amused

The Queen of England, apparently, is frustrated and exasperated by P.M. Tony Blair’s time in office.  How does she think the rest of us poor suckers feel?

We are not amused!

Testimony of James Mitchell

Covenanter Martyr, when awaiting execution:

Now if the Lord in His wise and over-ruling providence, bring me to the close of my pilgrimage, to the full enjoyment of my long looked for and desired happiness, let him take his own way in time in bringing me to it. And in the mean time, O thou my soul, sing thou this song, spring up o well of thy happiness and salvation, of thy eternal hope and consolation, and whilst thou are burdened with this  clog of clay and tabernacle dig thou deep in it by faith, hope and charity and with all the instruments that God hath given me; dig in it by precepts and promises; dig carefully and dig continually; until thou come to the source of the head and the fountain Himself from whence the water of life floweth; dig unto thou come unto the assembly of the first-born, where this song is most suitably sung to the praise and glory of the rich grace and mercy of the fountain of life and so forth.

And although O Lord, thou should send me in the back track in tenure of my life to seek my souls comfort and encouragement from them, yet I have no cause to complain of hard dealing from thy hand. Seeing it is thy ordinary way with some of thy people. (Psalm 42:6) Oh God my soul is cast down in me from the land of Jordan and so forth. Yay though last he brought me to the banqueting house.

And seeing I hath not preferred or fought after my own things, but for thy honour and glory, the good liberty and safety of thy church and people—although it be now misconstructed by many, yet I  hope that thou Lord will make my light to break forth as the morning, and my righteousness as the noon day, and that shame and darkness shall cover all who are enemies to my righteous cause; for thou O Lord, art the shield of my head, and sword of my excellency, and my enemies shall be found liars and shall be subdued.

Suicide is painless?

That was the name of the theme song from the M.A.S.H movie way back when as I recall.

Suicide is painless? I think many folks who take the option to end their life believe that. That they are bound to find happines and relief in the next life.  Almost every unbeliever I know, thinks they will go to heaven upon dying, because they have lived a "good" life. (as in not harming others.)  Every unbeliever is an Arminian that way.  Which should say much to any Arminians reading this post!

But people say suicide is the cowards way out, the easy option, a selfish thing to do.  In some respects they are right.  Though I doubt its ever an easy decision for someone to do it.  (I’m not just talking about someone making a vague attempt as a cry for help but someone who actually does it.)  Most unsuccessful attempts at suicide are not serious attempts to end their lives.   But I think the selfish aspect depends largely on the person.  Who they leave behind to grieve and pine for them,  (and perhaps feel guilty because they took their own lives and their loved ones think it must have been their fault for not noticing how distressed they were.).  But I don’t think its as selfish an act, as those who "fake" their own suicides. People who leave there clothes on a shore, and disappear, for the world to assume they have drowned themselves or some other similar scenario. There is no body,  (which will always give the loves ones a sense of not having closure) but while thier loved ones are weeping, and hurting, and pining for the loss, and struggling with the guilt, the person they are weeping and pining for is very much alive and kicking, and maybe having a ball for having thrown away their old identity and life and the things that bound them.

Many people believe a Christian cannot commit suicide.  I don’t agree with that at all, and think only pride would lead us to think so.  Yes, its against the core of  the Christian faith, its a final act so they can never repent of it. But God gave grace for all of our sins. Past, present and future.  If life and circumstances piled up against you, till you had just had enough, because you could find no rest and/or relief in the present life and you were totally worn down by it, it could happen to you just as easily as any other genuine believer.  Satan loves to tempt us, suicide is no different. Any of us can be overtaken when in the midst of emotional torment, in a way we think will ease the pain that life has come to hold for us. Because we have a heavenly home the temptation may be even greater than for an unbeliever who remains doubtful or dreads death in other circumstances.    Suicide is not a Christian act, it never can be.  But, it is a thing that a Christian can succumb to, as well as anyone else.  Its not the type of legacy a Christian should leave behind.  But maybe, just maybe,  you are the person who has no one to leave a legacy to. No loved ones who rely and need or want you, so in those circumstnaces it seems even more tempting. As if you die, you will not be hurting anyone you leave behind.   I am not endorsing suicide,  but, I am sick to death of prideful attitudes that think "It could never happen to me." or "I would never do that." As  I have thought the same about certain things in the past, and  then went onto do exactly the things I loathe.   Suicide is painless?  No, not in the norm. It will cause harm to those left behind, and sin against God first and foremost, and deny him in ones final moments, if you don’t have loved ones that’s not the case of course.  But, no suicide is not painless.  But the devil loves to tempt our weak spots, and Christians are no different to anyone else in that respect, perhaps particularly if in a bad place and they don’t know how to get up for very long.  He is the great destroyer,  and will use any means he can to destroy us and our souls.  Whether at the final call someone who has commited suicide is now in Heaven, only God can know in advance.   But  if they had not taken that route, while they lived there was hope that they would get saving faith, and one day would see eternal glory for sure.  It will always plant doubt and uncertainty in folks left behind who knew the person.   Suicide is sinful, but it certainly ain’t painless!