Proverbs 20:10 Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD.
Micah 6:10-11 Can I forget any longer the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is accursed? Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales and with a bag of deceitful weights?
All currencies are not created equal. Values of currencies change. God is not a fan of currency manipulation. Imagine that, humanity outside of God’s economic laws…
The end result of currency changes can be dramatic. Michael explains the consequences of a rising dollar and what it means to global economics.
Understand the times we are in. Currently, soft commodities (grains such as barley and wheat) are relatively cheap. These times will not last forever. Make plans now while goods are inexpensive. Understand where we are going. Have a plan.
The dollar is rising causing Systemically Important Financial (SIFI) to Plummet.
Ezekiel 25:15-17 Thus says the Lord God, “Because the Philistines have acted in revenge and have taken vengeance with scorn of soul to destroy with everlasting enmity,” therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will stretch out My hand against the Philistines, even cut off the Cherethites and destroy the remnant of the seacoast. I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes; and they will know that I am the Lord when I lay My vengeance on them.”
Ancient Philistia or the Philistines are the people who occupied what is the modern day Gaza Strip. The reference to the Cherethites is thought to be a group of people from the island of Crete. Historically, they relocated to Philistia. At one time, the Cherethites were security for King David of Israel. The name in the Hebrew means “executioners”.
See video link below for analysis and geography.
June 20, 2018: Military activity is increasing in and around the Gaza Strip again. Israel has responded to a variety of arson tactics and missiles utilized by terrorists.
Per Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Hamas has fired 45 plus rockets and mortars into Israel. Targets include neighborhoods, private property, and schools. Civilians, not military installations, were targeted.
While Hamas aims rockets at Israeli civilians, the IDF strikes Hamas terror targets. This is terrorism versus defense Read more about this morning's events here: https://t.co/FvBnVV1xDFpic.twitter.com/d6IoIw6zpN
Israel responded with 3 waves of attacks on Hamas military targets.
Terrorist activity has continued for weeks from the Gaza Strip. Palestinians have attached explosives to different kinds of aerial devices which fly into Israel. The wind from the Mediterranean Sea blows the air born devices into Israel. As a result, fires have destroyed private property and crops.
The term “device” is used loosely. These “devices” include kites, birthday balloons, and condoms. Explosives are attached. In some cases, a metal mesh pouch will hold burning coal or soaked flammable rags. The wind driven “devices” are crudely constructed but effective.
“They are not toys, they are weapons that are intended to kill and inflict damage,” IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus.
In response to over 45 rockets launched by Hamas towards southern Israeli communities, the IDF targeted military objectives in the Gaza Strip belonging to Hamas pic.twitter.com/1UvzPK9JAm
A particular curiosity is the use of condoms. Where did they come from? The United Nations World Health Organization denies distributing condoms to the Palestinians… allegedly.
Palestinian prepares a condom & explosives for launch into Israel.
Israel has countered the “devices” from the Gaza Strip by utilizing drones. Israel is looking to stop helium deliveries to the Palestinian people. Warning shots are being fired at manufacturers of such “devices”.
“If someone shoots at your family, you shoot at him… if someone sends burning and exploding balloons, you shoot at him. It is so obvious that I find it hard to believe that I need to explain,” Education Minister Naftali Bennett.
Matthew 16:17-18 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it…”
ISIS continues to be removed from the land scape of the Middle East. This time in Manbij, Syria. ISIS previously used a site as a place to dump trash. Little did they know…
See video link for geography of site.
The location was a hiding place for ancient Christians. Archeologists think the site may have been an ancient church. The “hidden church” is believed to be from the 3rd or 4th century. The site is located 18 miles west of the Euphrates River. Christian symbols and writings were cut into the stone. Tunnels, places of worship, and escape routes were contained. Inscriptions were written in Greek.
“Greek was the common language of the Eastern Roman Empire, which explains why the New Testament is written in Greek during the Roman period,” John Wineland, Professor of History and Archaeology at Southeastern University.
A complete and thorough dig and study is not expected until later due to mines placed from the civil war in Syria. A possible second location may have been found as well.
These verses above hold much controversy. Ignore the divisiveness these arguments have brought. Read the text for yourself and understand. Jesus is talking to Peter. And He clarifies that He is talking to Peter. Jesus makes the point to use two different words.
Look at the two key nouns: Peter and rock. These are two distinctive terms in the Greek. They are not the same terms. They are distinctive in gender and definition.
Peter: Πέτρος/Petros, masculine in gender. It means: a detached stone or boulder; properly, a stone (pebble), such as a small rock found along a pathway.Peter, a Greek name meaning rock. Petros is small in stature.
Rock: πέτρα/petra, feminine in gender. It means: a mass of connected rock; solid or native rock, rising up through the earth; a huge mass of rock (a boulder), such as a projecting cliff. Petra is large in stature.
Definitions provided by Strong’s Concordance and HELPS Word Studies.
Photo: Fox News
The “rock” is connected together as the church is the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:26-27 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
“Petros” is isolated and individual. Peter is not a big deal in comparison to the corner stone of the church. “Petros” pales in size relative to the “rock” of the church.
Jesus predicted and promised His body and bride, the “church”.
This is the Greek word used for “church” in the New Testament writings. ἐκκλησία/ekklésia means: an assembly, congregation, church; the Church, the whole body of Christian believers.
Jesus says it Himself. “…I will build my church…” Jesus is the architect and builder of the church. Jesus takes possession. He declares the church belongs to Him, hence the possessive pronoun “my”.
Oh by the way …and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it…
Mark 4:39-41, NKJV “Then He (Jesus) arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it you have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, ‘Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
2 days ago I was driving along in my car with my mom at the hottest time of the day. It was 95 degrees. I have no AC in my car because it’s broken. So inside the car it was sweltering hot and I was getting sick and dizzy. I could have commanded my AC to work in Jesus name but I have had more success before commanding weather patterns (no joke! lol).
So I spoke to the weather and declared, “I want cool air to start coming in now, the temperature needs to drop 30 degrees, I want cloud coverage to give us shade, a cool breeze, and even a little rain to help cool things down.”
1 Kings 18:44-45a And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’”
And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain…
There was a cloud the size of a man’s hand and I put my hand up and turned it for measurement. Within 30 minutes, there was thick cloud coverage coming in all around the horizon. The next morning, I woke up and went for a walk. It was very early, dark still. No one in the complex where I live was awake yet but me. I spoke with God and then to a friend who operates in God’s glory. At the end of our conversation, while I was headed back to my apartment, darker rain clouds were rolling in and the temperatures had dropped. It began to sprinkle too. From the time I declared the weather to change, it took 16 hours for the temperature to drop 30 degrees, cloud coverage to cover the skies, rain to come, and cool breeze. Exactly what I declared and asked the Father.
That day was perfect like that all day. Exactly how I wanted it. Twice I received “flash flood” notices on my phone and I said, “no flash flooding”. No flash flood came. The skies just folded up and it stopped!
John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” -Jesus
We are to do greater works than these?! Wow! Let’s start doing them!
Psalm 127:3-5 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
Family is your first friends you will have. Family will be the lasting friendships you will have. I grew up with cousins my age that I did everything with & love getting to see my kids hanging out with their cousins. They are the ones that will have your back every day. I’m lucky enough to have a huge family on all sides I get to hang out with & call my best friends. Family is love!
Psalm 133:1 A song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 27:11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me.
Have a great Father’s Day and upcoming week my friends!!!
Genesis 6:8 But Noah found favor/grace in the eyes of the LORD.
This is the first mention of the word “grace” in the Bible. This is the Hebrew word chen. Sounds like “Cain”. Simply put, it is grace or favor. The word is found 69 times in the Old Testament.
God told Noah rain and a flood were coming. Noah was graced with the knowledge of rain and the idea of a flood. The earth had not seen rain prior to Noah.
Genesis 2:5-6 When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground…
God gave Noah instructions on how to build a boat.
Genesis 6:14-16 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks.
A flood is coming…
Genesis 6:17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.
God’s grace preserved humanity and life through the rain and the flood. Noah and his family lived to tell about it.
Genesis 8:16-17 “Go out from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh—birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth—that they may swarm on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.”
If God was not gracious to Noah, we would not be here. Today, in the 21st century, we are benefiting from God’s grace in countless ways.
God has been, is, and always will be gracious. The idea that God was not gracious in the Old Testament is absolute nonsense. If God was interested in crushing us like a bug the very moment we sinned, none of us would be here. The population of planet Earth would be zero. The fact we are drawing breath of air is an act of grace.
John 15:12-13 This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
Just thinking out loud…
The way a Soldier lives, while the rest of the world sleep soundly in their beds, in Safety. We sacrifice for their illusion of Safety.
I’m gonna answer the question I get alot.
“Were you scared in combat?”
Here’s my answer. Yes and No. Not in combat, but after the adrenaline has left the body and you’re sitting back in camp and you go over the moments of the battle, that’s when I felt fear… when you were so close to death.
I’m a Combat Engineer (SAPPER). Today, I am gonna talk about experiences with IEDs. I’m sure you’ve heard the stories of fire fights from hundreds of soldiers before me. Though I could talk about the day I got baptized into combat, my first fire fight. I’ll talk about the battles I’ve had that were silent.
Just the sound of the wind, sand, and heart beating…
Well, as a Combat Engineer I would have to investigate any kind of IED that the regular soldiers came across while on patrol. On days like this, I would tell myself, “I must be fearless.”
I would tell myself, “If today was my day to buy the farm, at least I wouldn’t feel a thing, but see a bright light.”
From the explosion… First, I’d have to get myself in that mindset. Wipe the sweat and sand from my eyes due to that Iraqi heat and winds. Then, walk toward the IED. I would confirm that the item was an IED. The other soldiers would walk away from the IED to a safe distance. Now, it was just me and my new friend, this IED.
I’d take a second. Close my eyes. Take a deep breath and focus. I would brush the dirt off the suspected IED not knowing if someone was watching me. The one who set this IED was ready to dial their cell phone and detonate the device I was inspecting.
For those few minutes, to me felt like hours. If the IED was real… which at times they were fake. But I wouldn’t know until I inspected it. I’d rarely try to disarm them like you see in the movies. In real life, what I would do is place 1.25 pounds or more of C-4 next to the suspected IED.
When I set my own explosives, I started to move away slowly. When I was about 5 feet away, I hauled ass. I was hoping the person who placed it wouldn’t set off the IED while I was close enough to get injured. When I was far away, I would blow it up!
Once all went well, I’d make a joke of it. And laugh it off with the other soldiers. But after the missions were over and everything settled, I would think of these moments. What could have happened? What would my family think if something happened?
Christine is commissioned by the Missouri Supreme Court for the Trafficking Task Force.
“Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely. …He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf
The following is from The Same Kind of Human Seeing the Marginalized and Exploited Through Eyes of Grace, Christine “Clarity” McDonald
C.S. Lewis once wrote, “Love is something more stern and splendid than mere kindness.” Oftentimes as Christians we try expressing the love of Christ through kindness alone, but as Lewis stresses, kindness is but one attribute of love – it is not actually love itself. When we consider how we love others, what is our motive? Are we satisfied if we are just the seed planter? Are we satisfied if we are simply serving?
In the book of Luke we read, “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked” (Luke 6:35).
If this is how we are to treat our enemies, how should we treat those for whom we have compassion and want to see brought into His Kingdom?
Loving others is an act of obedience, but we cannot trick God. He alone sees our hearts. He knows if we are giving food to the hungry out of love, or if we are merely baiting the hungry so we can guilt them to repentance with our message… our message. God’s message is not one of trickery or condemnation, nor does it demand that broken people turn from their vices before crying out to Him. God alone can fill our empty spaces, cleanse us of our sins, and buff our rough places. He alone can draw us in.
The Lover of Our Souls draws us through compassion. He alone meets us where we are, wipes away our tears, and saves us. When we give to those who are in need, it should be the overflow of what we have been given, and it should be truly free. When we put a price or a demand on these actions, we are cheating the very ones who move His heart.
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ Matthew 25:40, NLT.
The question is, how, then, are we treating Christ?
Love your neighbor… ALL of ’em! -Christine “Clarity” McDonald
Everything God did in regards to creation was already done before He created the heavens and the earth in Genesis 1:1. The Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world. If the Lamb had already been slain before Jesus ever had a chance to be born through the womb of a woman, then so too was He also already raised from the dead, and so too was He also already glorified. All of that happened in eternity, outside of time and space. Same goes for us. It’s all already done.
Romans 8:29,30For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called he also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.
We are just playing out the movie. We can edit the film too and chop out the parts we don’t like and retake scenes that aren’t good. This is exactly what Jesus did on earth. He went about doing good and healed all who were oppressed by the devil.
Acts 10:38 …how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
Jesus also walked on water and changed weather patterns.
Mark 4:39 Then He (Jesus) arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. See also Matthew 8:26, Luke 8:24.
He operated in the glory of the Father, took authority over threatening situations and showed us how to do it. He wasn’t just showing off. He was teaching us how to operate in the glory He gave us from John 17:5,22,23 the same glory the Father gave Him, for the purpose of making us all one and so that we can know the Father loves us in the same way He loved Jesus.
John 17:5,22,23 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
Without Christ we can do nothing.
John 5:5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.
With Christ nothing is impossible.
Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Mark 4:39-41, NKJV “Then He (Jesus) arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it you have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, ‘Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
