Saturday, December 21, 2024

God’s Love and Ours. 1 John 4.

God’s Love and Ours.

7) Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8) Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9) This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10) This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11) Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12) No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

True Hope Is Only Found In One Place.

Why is there hope for all who believe in Jesus?

Martin Davie  15 December 2024.

(Photo: Getty/iStock)

As far as the secular world is concerned, we are now definitely in the Christmas season, but for Christians who still follow the Church's traditional liturgical calendar we are still in the season of Advent. The term 'advent' means 'coming' and from the sixth century onwards Christians have observed Advent in the weeks leading up to Christmas not only as a time when they prepare to celebrate the coming of Christ in humility at Christmas, but also as a time when they look forward to the coming of Christ in glory at the end of time to bring about the resurrection of the dead, the final judgement, and the new heaven and earth promised in Revelation 21-22.

Since New Testament times Christians have looked forward in hope to Christ's coming in glory, but many people today, including many Christians, are unsure about the nature of this hope. 

The first thing to note is that the Christian's hope is not simply a hope that there is life after physical death in this world. Now, orthodox Christians do believe in what is known as the 'general resurrection.' That is to say, they believe in the truth of the words spoken by Jesus in John 5:25-29:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself, and has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment."

If we look carefully at these words, we see that all the dead will be raised by Jesus at the end of time. However, this is not something to which everyone can look forward to in hope. This is because 'those who have done evil' (which in John means those who have refused to put their faith in Jesus and live accordingly) will face the 'resurrection of judgement.' In other words, they will be judged by Jesus and condemned to everlasting damnation. This will be a form of life after death, but it is not one that any rational person would desire.

As JI Packer explains, in describing the fate of the damned:

"Jesus uses His own solemn imagery – 'Gehenna' (hell in Mark 9:47 and then other gospel texts), the valley outside Jerusalem where rubbish was burned; the 'worm' that 'dieth not' (Mark 9:48), an image, it seems for the endless dissolution of the personality by a condemning conscience; 'fire' for the agonising awareness of God's displeasure; 'outer darkness' for knowledge of the loss, not merely of God, but of all good, and everything that made life seem worth living; 'gnashing of teeth' for self-condemnation and self-loathing. These things are, no doubt, unimaginably dreadful, though those who have been convicted of sin know a little of their nature. But they are not arbitrary inflictions; they represent, rather, a conscious growing into the state in which one has chosen to be. The unbeliever has preferred to be by himself, without God, defying God, having God against him, and he shall have his choice."

To put it simply, according to Jesus and the Christian tradition following Jesus, the damned will experience eternally the life that they have chosen for themselves, and it will be dreadful.

However, in John 5 Jesus also tells us that those 'who have done good' (that is, those who have put their faith in Jesus and lived accordingly) will receive the 'resurrection of life.' According to the New Testament, this means they will experience eternally a new and infinitely better kind of life which it describes in terms of 'glory'. As Paul explains to the Christians in Corinth, the 'slight momentary affliction ' which they have to undergo in this life will lead to 'an eternal weight of glory beyond comparison' (2 Corinthians 4:17).

The first thing to note is that the Christian's hope is not simply a hope that there is life after physical death in this world. Now, orthodox Christians do believe in what is known as the 'general resurrection.' That is to say, they believe in the truth of the words spoken by Jesus in John 5:25-29:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself, and has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment."

If we look carefully at these words, we see that all the dead will be raised by Jesus at the end of time. However, this is not something to which everyone can look forward to in hope. This is because 'those who have done evil' (which in John means those who have refused to put their faith in Jesus and live accordingly) will face the 'resurrection of judgement.' In other words, they will be judged by Jesus and condemned to everlasting damnation. This will be a form of life after death, but it is not one that any rational person would desire.

Sigh!

Bible removed from Texas school district due to law banning 'sexually explicit' content.

Parent calls it 'absurd' to throw out 'Good Book with bad books'.

Bible on a school desk in a classroom.Bible on a school desk in a classroom. | Getty Images

The head of a Texas school district says the Bible had to be removed from school libraries because of a new state law prohibiting explicit books. 

Canyon Independent School District Superintendent Darryl Flusche announced in an email leaked earlier this week that under House Bill 900, which was passed by the Texas Legislature in 2023 protecting schools from sexually explicit or vulgar content, the Holy Bible is unsuitable due to "sexually explicit material."

In an email to concerned parents, Flusche stated the full text of the Bible had been removed because it was categorized under this mandate, even though portions of the Bible remain available in the district's libraries. Freedom Post.
Read more:
https://mail.aol.com/d/compose/4774327251

Peace. I Am Never Alone.

Birdie.




 

Blessings To All My Readers This Christmas.


 

Well Done, Nigel. YOU Shamed The CPS Into This Righteous Prosecution!

Nigel Farage says brothers charged over Manchester Airport attack video 'long overdue'.

Two men were charged today with assaulting police officers.

By Hannah Kane, News Editor, Jon King, News Reporter
12:39, Fri, Dec 20, 2024.
Reform UK Press Conference
Nigel Farage said Reform pressure lead to the charges (Image: Getty)

Reform UK has said the charging of two men after a disturbance at Manchester Airport is “long overdue”.

After the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) charged two men with assaulting police and said no officers would face charges, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and deputy leader Richard Tice said: "Today’s charges against two men for assaulting police officers at Manchester Airport have been long overdue."

They claimed: "It’s obvious the CPS have only charged the attackers today because of the pressure applied by Reform UK MPs."

The pair said they expect a parallel investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to "exonerate" the police officers, adding: "Nothing less will be acceptable."

Footage of a fracas went viral in July and prompted protests after it appeared to show a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer kicking and stamping on the head of a man as he lay on the floor.

The altercation in the airport's Terminal Two is alleged to have happened after an earlier confrontation between passengers on a Qatar Airways flight which arrived at 7.20pm on July 23. Express

An Important Question:

 If Whitelock had been executed after his first murder - would he have been able to deprive Wendy of her life?

The answer is a resounding, 100% NO!

Convicted killer who battered neighbour to death jailed for rest of his life.

20 December 2024 at 3:40 pm

A convicted double killer will die in prison after being jailed for the rest of his life for murdering his neighbour whom he savagely attacked following his release.Brian Whitelock, 57, assaulted neighbour Wendy Buckney, 71, with a kitchen knife, a broken table leg and wooden shelving during a sustained assault in her own home.The bloodstained and naked pensioner was discovered in the living room of her home in Clydach, near Swansea, on August 23 2022. She had also been sexually assaulted.                                          AOL.                                                                                                  Blogger: since the abolition of capital punishment, hundreds of second murders have been committed when so-called 'lifers' were released from prison. Only a tiny fraction of killers face a whole of life tariff locked up.                                                                     Interestingly, the people who shout the loudest about so-called 'innocent people being executed' allegedly proving that there should be no death penalty - show zero concern for ladies like Wendy.                                     The executions of: Hanratty, Evans and Bentley are thrown into our faces as if 'such mistakes' are beyond the pale. Odd that mistakes: on roads, in hospitals,  and in factories which lead to death do not bring calls for: bans on cars, closing the NHS and shutting down workplaces.                                                             Hanratty? - I was one of the first people in the UK to learn of his established guilt at a meeting of JPs in Sheffield. Indeed, I met one of the team who found conclusive DNA evidence from Hanratty. Silence from those who had used this 'miscarriage of justice' to help abolish the life-saving death penalty in the UK.                  As for Evans, read this book below by the son of of one of the two people most responsible for his 'after death pardon'. It is wholly conclusive that Evans was guilty! What is more, the dishonest practices of Ludovic Kennedy and Eddowes (Senior) in pretending that Evans was innocent were profoundly immoral, indeed, nothing less than criminal!                          

Two Killers Of Rillington Place Hardcover – 23 Jun. 1994

by John Eddowes (Author)
3.9  3.9 out of 5 stars    (21)
See all formats and editions
John Reginald Halliday Christie was already the murderer of at least two victims when Timothy John Evans, much younger and on the edge of idiocy, came to live with his wife at 10 Rillington Place. Christie is supposed to have framed Evans over the killing of his wife and baby daughter, and was even the principal Crown witness against Evans. Refuting claims that Evans was innocent of the crimes for which he was hanged but years later granted a free pardon, this book sets out to show that it was in fact Evans who killed both his wife and child, and then tried to blame Christie, who at that time had the bodies of two women buried in his garden. The book also argues that Beryl Evans was not even present at 10 Rillington Place when Christie was supposed to have been strangling her there; that, to accept Evans as innocent, we should have to believe in far greater improbabilities and absurdities than the presence of two stranglers in one house; that Evans tried to kill his wife more than once, just before the murder itself; that evidence showing Evans to be guilty was available at the time; and that commentators both then and since have altered the evidence to proclaim Evans's innocence.                                                                                                                                                As for Bentley, he was 100% guilty in law by dint of 'joint enterprise'. He was also morally guilty having bought the bullets for the gun that killed the police officer. There was, however, a scandal here - and that was that his 16 year old partner was deemed to be 'too young to hang' - even though he was demonstrably old enough to kill.                                                                                                                                                                         The fourth case which aided the abolition of the death penalty was as absurd as any of the above. Ruth Ellis - who had butchered her lover in the street by shooting him dead - apparently should not have hanged in 1955 because: a) She was female and b) She was pretty.                              I am guessing that not too many feminists would have been happy with this kind of specious argument.

Voice.

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Dear Leslie
 
 
For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. Psalm 62:1.
 


Please help Christians who suffer oppression and violence for their faith in Jesus today.

 

If you have already given to this appeal, thank you so much for your generosity and kindness. But if you haven’t had a chance to give yet - and would like to do so - please use the button below to send your gift securely online today.


As you gear up to celebrate another Christmas with family and friends, will you help Christians who are living under oppression and the threat of violence?

Pastor Mikhail (pictured above with his wife Svetlana) still remembers well the last service he led in his church – because it was stormed by armed soldiers.

Around 200 Christians were worshipping in the Melitopol Baptist Church in southeastern Ukraine when twenty or so fully armed, masked and helmeted Russian soldiers entered, locked the doors and began arresting people.

‘They blocked people in the sanctuary and started taking fingerprints and checking documents and taking photos of everyone. They blocked our internet and arrested the pastors and deacons. People were interrogated in the church office.’

Pastor Mikhail was arrested and interrogated separately, for several hours. His home was searched and computers and church records taken. He and his wife were then given two days to leave the city. ‘We felt they would kill us if we didn’t leave,’ he said.

Could you send a gift of £30 or more to Release International to help us support Christians around the world like Mikhail and his family who suffer oppression and the threat of violence for their faith in Christ?

 
Yes, I will help
Mikhail said he and other church leaders had realised the threat, having been previously arrested and questioned for praying in the city square. ‘All summer they had tried to scare us or blackmail us,’ he said. Fearing further arrests and violent treatment, Mikhail and his wife Svitlana had already sent their four children to a safer part of Ukraine by the time their church building was raided.

Mikhail and his family now live in Western Ukraine, in the home of Christian friends. Many of his former church members have also left Melitopol – some even fleeing to other countries. He has since sought to provide them with some pastoral care. ‘We have tried to make contact with them and to pray with them online,’ said Mikhail. Some have remained in the city.

The church, built by Ukrainians early in the 20th Century, has now been annexed by the Russians. Its cross has been removed and it has been turned into a regional Ministry of Culture office. Mikhail’s great hope is that one day he will be able to return to Melitopol and conduct services in the building again.

Although the causes of wars can be complex, our concern is always for brothers and sisters in Christ who suffer for their faith and gospel witness. Our partners working in Ukraine have been providing trauma relief for pastors caught up in the current conflict. They also support Christian leaders in Ukraine who are continuing to engage in evangelistic, pastoral and humanitarian work. Could you make a gift at this time to support us in our work?

A gift of £30, £50, £100, £250 – or any amount you can give – can make a real difference for Christians, not just in Ukraine but in other parts of the world where they face on-going oppression and the threat of violence, simply for their faithfulness to Christ and the gospel.
Yes, I will help
Mikhail remains strong in his faith, despite all he has seen and been through. ‘God has allowed these things to happen, but he is in control,’ he said.

But on-going oppression can be wearying, even for the strongest of Christian souls. That is why we are asking you to consider making a gift at this time to support those who suffer because of their faith.
 
Thank you so much for your concern for persecuted Christians around the world. Every gift you give enables us to support our partners in all the vital work they do to show God’s love to those who suffer for him.

May God bless you in the coming Advent and Christmas season.




Paul Robinson
CEO, Release International

Friday, December 20, 2024

Keith's Songs Certainly Contain A Great Deal More Substance Than Many of The Rather More Lightweight Christian Songs on Offer Today.

Keith Getty urges worship artists to prioritize depth over trends, talks power of Christmas hymns.

Keith GettyKeith Getty | Josh Newman, courtesy Getty Music

In an age when worship music trends come and go, modern hymnwriter Keith Getty is making a different appeal to artists and congregations alike: prioritize depth and scriptural soundness over popularity.

“With the year that we’ve had, what I want to say to my wife, kids and team is — let’s make sure our own walk is strong and admirable,” the “In Christ Alone” songwriter said. “Let’s humbly stay close to the Lord and stay close to our marriage and that kind of stuff. That’s the first thing. And after that, I want to say, ‘Let’s write the songs that will grow deep believers over the long haul. Let's not aim to be cool or trendy. Let's just aim to write beautifully and richly and well about the Lord and all that we do.’”

This philosophy underpins every aspect of Getty’s work, from modern hymns like “Christ Our Hope in Life and Death” to the annual “Sing! An Irish Christmas” tour. This year’s tour holds even greater meaning for Getty and his family, marking a year of milestones: his 50th birthday, 20 years of marriage with his wife, Kristyn, the 30th anniversary of the New Irish Orchestra and their 10th performance at Carnegie Hall.


Spiritual Warfare.

 https://www.christianpost.com/voices/why-i-started-studying-spiritual-warfare-domestic-abuse.html

Our Ever Present Help.


 

Walkies in Syria?

 https://www.christianpost.com/news/american-travis-timmerman-found-in-syria-was-on-pilgrimage.html

Algeria - Please Pray.

 

16 December 2024 – Algeria:

Pray for cancellation of the convictions of those who have been found guilty by local judges simply for practising their faith. Most of these cases are now with the Supreme Court of Algeria. Pray that this judicial body hears these appeals soon and finds in their favour. Release Int.

Jesus The Christ: 1 John 1 - 3.

The Incarnation of the Word of Life.

1) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2) The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3) We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 

Birdie.


 

Let Us Hope That Bowie Knew What He Was Doing If/When ...

 Did David Bowie attend Freddie Mercury's funeral?

Did David Bowie attend Freddie Mercury's funeral? - Quora
It has never been verified that Bowie was there. It was a small affair, only about 30-35 people in attendance. Bowie did perform at the tribute concert for Freddie, and at one time dropping to the floor and reciting the Lord's Prayer.20 May 2023.

Oh Dear, Keir.

labour corruption minister probe russian nuclear plant 

Read more:
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1990563/labour-corruption-minister-probe-russian-nuclear-plant

Not Before Time!

 

Neutral no more: Switzerland votes to ban Hezbollah.

Thursday, December 19, 2024

Nigeria.

Nigeria:

PRAYER ALERT: Nigerian Christians shot dead as more villages targeted.

With update from Pakistan

Nigeria flag

Nigeria Map 300x246

Two Christians were reportedly killed and others kidnapped, including a pastor, as militant Fulani herdsmen targeted villages in central Nigeria.

The herdsmen are understood to have attacked the communities on December 1 and the days leading up to it.

Please pray for all those affected by these incidents.

Barnabas Para was killed in Gwanje village, Akwanga county in Nasarawa state, on the first day of the month while he and neighbours sat in front of his house, said a local resident, Moses Bello.

‘At about 8pm I was resting in my house when I heard gunshots,’ Bello told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News (CDI-MSN) by telephone. ‘A neighbour ran into my house and said some armed herdsmen shot at them as they were in front of the house of our neighbour, Barnabas Para. When the attackers left, we went to the scene of the shooting and found Barnabas dead.’

The gunmen seized resident Okigwe Gajere but he escaped and managed to return home, Bello said.

That evening armed herdsmen killed a Christian and wounded another in Ntsakpe village, about 3km from Akwanga town along the Akwanga-Abuja highway, a resident identified only as ‘Francis’ said.

‘The gunmen attacked a neighbour’s house and killed a Christian by the name of Mr Sule,’ he said. Another Christian, Mr Zamani, was also shot and injured and is currently being treated in hospital.

In Goho village, a security aide to a former member of the National Assembly was reportedly shot dead in the kidnapping of Joseph Haruna Kigbu and his wife, also on December 1, as they were on their way to Jos, the Plateau state capital.

Three days earlier armed herdsmen attacked the predominantly Christian village of Ningo, kidnapping a pastor, Charles Joshua of Living Faith Church, and three other Christians, according to Bello. Release Int.

God’s Love and Ours. 1 John 4.

God’s Love and Ours. 7)  Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows G...