"The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it."
Jeremiah 18:7-10 NKJV
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Shocked at what you see above? Is the blood pressure raising a bit at the thought that anybody would ever suggest such a preposterous illustration, and a very crude one at that! Even as your emotions may be churning somewhat, please try to hold on for a bit and continue to explore this issue.
Very few persons are willing to honestly face what has been happening to our nation which finds itself in what pilots describe as a "graveyard spiral!" That's when a pilot has become disoriented and loses control of his aircraft with no hope of recovery. The result is a fatal crash! I once heard a heart-rending plea from a pilot who had little experience in flying by instruments. He ran into foul weather and in contact with some airport controllers made a frantic plea for help -- his last words on the tape, "Please help me!", were uttered just seconds before he crashed.
God's special revelation (the divinely inspired and authoritative holy Scriptures) is the only appropriate source of information to consult as to how we as a culture are handling our spiritual, moral, ethical, and social responsibilities. It begins first with each individual and ultimately moves to corporate responsibility involving groups of persons in different contexts such as government, church, business and corporation, education, etc. In essence God's revelation via the holy Scriptures enables us to fly through foul weather (the spiritual, moral, and ethical confusion that is presently engulfing the nations of this world) with confidence and to reach our eternal destination safely!
But things are not going well in a "paradise" known as the United States -- because of certain trends which took place particularly
in the last half of the 20th Century and getting worse in the 21st Century, we can observe that nails are being pounded into our republic's coffin! And it seems that not a few persons and groups are eager to get their hands on the hammer and help pound in one of those nails!
Each one is described and at the beginning after the "nail" is identified, there is a definition of the word used. Dictionary definitions are from Webster's New Universal Dictionary. An index is listed in case you want to go to one area before some of the others in the order in which they are listed. The links for each "nail" will take you directly to that location. And a return link at the end of the details under that nail will take you back to the index for further challenge as you look at another coffin nail 
Oh yes, just one more thing -- about that R.I.P. on the coffin -- note it does not mean "Rest in Peace" as is the common interpretation of those initials as they may appear on a tombstone, but rather it means "Rebel in Principle" which is the prevailing mood and spirit of our nation at the present time -- and there is no loud, clear, and consistent call by leadership and throughout the mass media that we need to repent and get ourselves right with a holy God before He brings judgment as He has done many times throughout the centuries of human history! --- cdh
INDEX:
Nail #1 = A Confounded Love
Nail #2 = A Conceding Church
Nail #3 = A Contradictory Government
Nail #4 = A Contagion of Idolatry
Nail #5 = Consigned Children
Nail #6 = A Conflagration of Immorality
Nail #7 = Contaminated Sabbaths
Nail #8 = Contrived Origins
Nails driven 2,000 years ago = Hope for Time and Eternity!
A Confounded Love
Confounded: confused, bewildered, detestable, abominable
United States culture provides growing evidence that it is fulfilling a prediction uttered about 2,000 years ago. That prediction indicated that in the latter times as the personal return of Jesus Christ to this planet gets closer there will be three very deadly loves manifested by a majority of the members of the human race. These will be love of self, love of money, and love of pleasures more than lovers of God!
Note 2 Timothy 3:1-5:
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Notes:
"lovers of themselves" from the Greek, philautos, which means, "fond of self, i.e. selfish:--lover of own self" [as given in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance]
"lovers of money" (or translated as "covetous" in the King James Version) from the Greek, philarguros, which means "fond of silver (money), i.e. avaricious:--covetous" [as given in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance]
"lovers of pleasure" from the Greek, philedonos, which means, "fond of pleasure, i.e. voluptuous:--lover of pleasure" [as given in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance]
"rather than lovers of God" from the Greek, philotheos, which means, "fond of God, i.e. pious:--lover of God" [as given in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance]
But because of a perverted and twisted "love" which centers on self, money, and pursuit of pleasures there are other very deadly characteristics which are noted by the apostle Paul such as boasting, being proud, blaspheming, rebelling against parental authority, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, refusing to forgive, slandering others, lacking in self-control, being brutal, despising what is good, being traitors, headstrong, and being haughty. Such negative characteristics are all the more shocking because it is said that these might have a "form of godliness" but they deny the power thereof! Have you ever heard persons in church circles, even at the level of pastor, church leader in a denominational hierarchy, or a theologian deny some aspect of the Person of Jesus Christ, His purpose for coming to earth, His literal resurrection, or His literal return to earth to rule it at some future point in time?
Bear in mind that such characteristics as detailed in 2 Timothy 3 will move to the forefront and dominate the human race as it races toward Armageddon and the climax of human history as we now know and experience it!
The exception to the above involves a small minority of persons who are often labeled in the most negative terms such as "religious zealot," "fanatic," "fundamentalist," "homophobic," "radical," very "narrow minded" etc.
These have tasted and personally experienced a love that
defies human description and understanding -- the love as referred to in John 3:16 of the holy Scriptures:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
These in a spirit of true repentance have made a conscious decision to receive Jesus Christ into their lives as Savior and Lord. They have come to understand that life is empty and meaningless without the abiding presence of Jesus Christ in daily life and practicing His summary of all commandments by loving God with one's total being (with all the heart, soul, and mind) and loving one's neighbor as one loves one's own self. (Matthew 22:36-40).
This special minority of persons also recognizes that God has a plan for His creation and that we are in the final stages of the "age of the Gospel" -- that is, the proclaiming of the message that only through Jesus Christ is forgiveness and reconciliation with a holy God possible. That is our primary mission -- to carry out the mandate as Jesus gave it prior to His going back to heaven -- the order has never been rescinded although among professing Christians there are those who deny the command, are indifferent to it, or take a compromising position that all religions in the world are equally valid! You'll see why there is chaos in the professing Christian church when you look at Nail #2 - A Conceding Church! But just to review how it really is so far as Christian responsibility, individual and collective, is concerned note the specifics of what Jesus said in Matthew 28:18-20:
Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
You'll notice Jesus did not say that in the process of carrying out this command if we should encounter people who are Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or some other "ism" in their faith we should keep our mouths shut and not disrupt them about His call to repent, forsake their sinful ways, believe on Him and obey Him the rest of their lives!
But the majority on the other hand, having rejected God's love offer, takes hammer in hand and zealously pounds in the nail of a confounded love (for self, money, and pleasure) into the nation's coffin!
Take me back to the Index
A Conceding Church
Concede: to assent, yield, permit or make concession - Syn. allow, surrender
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! -- Isaiah 5:20
Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. -- Jude vs. 3,4
Church groups abound in the USA under many identities. Some are large in number and others rather small. There are little country churches with very small congregations and large "mega churches" in metropolitan areas with multi million dollar budgets and a sizable pastoral staff ministering to thousands of members in a wide variety of ways. In between these extremes are churches of all sizes.
Churches, whether independent or part of a denomination, usually wear some kind of label in addition to a name. They may be liberal, conservative, evangelical, moderate, orthodox, fundamental, Bible-believing, or some other term applied in an effort to let the world know how they are "oriented" theologically!
An interesting but shocking survey took place a few years ago as conducted by the Barna research group. It involved Protestant pastors and the determination that only 51 % of that group holds to a Biblical world view! The Biblical world view as posed in the questions asked of the pastors involved:
- the fact that absolute moral truth exists
- this absolute moral truth is based upon the Bible
- 6 core beliefs make up a Biblical world view:
- the accuracy of Biblical teaching
- the sinless nature of Jesus
- the literal existence of Satan
- the omnipotence and omniscience of God
- salvation by grace alone
- personal responsibility to evangelize
It was also noted that of the 320,000 churches in our republic, more than 42,000 are Southern Baptist and more than 35,000 are United Methodist. This translates into the fact that about 1/4 of all Protestant churches are identified with these two denominations.
But among the pastors in these two groups the Southern Baptists had the highest percentage of pastors with a Biblical world view at 71 % while the United Methodists were the lowest among seven segments evaluated at 27 %!
Recent decades have witnessed a growing concession on the part of the church at large.
The beginning of the problem was when garbage theology was imported from the European continent in the latter years of the 19th Century and beginning of the 20th Century.
The seed of skepticism was sown which viewed the Scriptures as not totally trustworthy in what was recorded. As time marched on certain basic doctrines in Christianity began to be questioned so that now it is not all that unusual to observe and hear in church circles that:
miracles recorded in Scripture didn't really take place
Jesus wasn't really born of a virgin and Joseph was His biological father or someone else was, but it really doesn't matter
Jesus' death on the cross was not really a sacrifice for the sins of the entire human race
Jesus didn't really come back from the dead -- it's the "spirit" of what He did that inspires us in our faith
Jesus isn't really going to come back to earth again as some fanatics teach
Jesus never condemned sodomy and lesbianism and taught that we should love and respect one another, therefore sodomy and lesbianism as practiced by same-sex "couples" in a "committed relationship" are just as valid as a heterosexual marriage -- this means the rejecting of sexual boundaries and guidelines as established by God and the acceptance of human defined sexual standards whatever that may involve
all religions in the world are on an equal level -- one is just as legitimate as any other because all are seeking divine "light" -- Christianity is but one of many options when it comes to religious choice. There are growing efforts to get all religious expressions under one "umbrella" -- to conceive and birth a global religion with the philosophy being that if we become united religiously, then we will finally have peace and prosperity all over the world!
In recent years a number of church groups have become plagued with organized caucuses which exist for the purpose of persuading the entire membership of the denomination with which they identify that sodomy and lesbianism are every bit as normal as heterosexuality, and that marriage between 2 sodomites or 2 lesbians ought to be accepted as being as natural and normal as marriage between a male and female.
A very strategic and powerful tactic being employed is the "dialog" in which the will to resist on the part of those who hold to God's revealed standards on sexual expression and experience is gradually broken down -- simply another in a series of destructive concessions taking place within church circles as another nail is driven into the coffin of the USA!
The "dialog" tactic is used quite effectively in another
way -- that is to have various representatives of religious "faiths" sit down together at
the table and discuss their positions. This way we all come to a better understanding of
those who are different from us in religious experience and we will be brought to see that
Christianity is just one of the selections one can choose from the broad menu of religion
in this world -- sort of like a super buffet with its many food items in which you select
that which is appealing to you while your neighbor selects something different -- no one
item is superior to any other. And so it is with the ultimate outcome of Christians in
"dialog" with other religious expressions -- we respect one another and avoid being
"narrow-minded" with a conviction such as Jesus Christ being the only way of salvation,
hope and becoming a future resident in His eternal Kingdom forever!
Due to the broad path upon which religious groups (with the
exception of Biblical Christianity) are now traveling, there is no lack in persons willing to
take the hammer and pound the "Conceding Church" nail into the coffin of the U.S.A. with a
great burst of fervor! After all, we are ALL God's children are we not? You might want to
ponder a bit on Jesus' remarks in John 8:44 as directed to certain persons and John's statements
in his letter in 1 John 3 regarding who are children of whom before answering that question!
Take me back to the Index
A Contradictory Government
Contradictory: inconsistent or mutually inconsistent, opposite, contrary -- Syn. adverse, alien, incompatible, repugnant
Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city! She has not obeyed His voice, she has not received correction; she has not trusted in the LORD, she has not drawn near to her God. Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave not a bone till morning. Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. --- Zephaniah 3:1-4
A tragic evolution has taken place from the time our republic was founded and established to the quagmire in which it now finds
itself in the opening decades of the 21st Century!
There was a time in which statesmanship was prominent in the earlier decades as leaders truly sought to implement legislation and standards which would benefit the citizens and contribute to a sane, sensible, and morally healthy culture. Seeking plush salaries and lavish perk benefits for themselves was not on their personal or corporate agendas.
But times did change and petty party politics developed with elected officials giving more time and attention to what they could personally gain for themselves while holding office.
Another extremely negative practice begin to grow with the speed of a deadly melanoma -- it became more important to do what would enhance and strengthen the influence of the party rather than taking action and putting in place legislation which would benefit the citizens at large. More often than not the strategy often was "Look at what the (insert name) party has done for the citizens -- look at how much better life is now because of what (insert name again) has done for you. Think of how much worse life would be for you if (insert name of the "bad guy" party) had been in control of the government!" Present day political campaigns make a morally sensitive citizen sick to the stomach, not only with the claims, but even worse, the amount of money spent (poured down the rat hole) in trying to convince us how they are the "Saviors" of the USA!
For years we have witnessed the following:
a government out of control in its spending practices with a national debt that is in excess of 22.83 trillion dollars (as of October 16,2019!) and still growing! Do you know what happens when you stretch a rubber band beyond its limits? Someone wisely observed a long time ago, "Crime would not pay if the government ran it!"
elected officials continually devising ways to increase taxes at all levels -- we are fast approaching the point where it will take the average citizen nearly 6 months to pay ALL taxes -- federal, state, local, and those mysterious "hidden" taxes before he can put wages into his pocket and call them truly his own to spend as he so chooses. There was a time when it was not that way and a person did NOT have to work so long a calendar period in order to pay all tax obligations -- so what happened? To whom should the finger of condemnation be pointed? We all know the answer to that, don't we?
elected officials continually increasing their own salaries and perk benefits to a level far beyond the imagination of the average citizen whom they claim they "represent" -- if you really want a wild ride, check into what just the "retirement" benefits are without considering all the other luxuries! If ALL the details of what elected officials have voted for themselves by way of salaries and "perks" were widely published and broadcasted, we might well have an updated version of the Boston Tea Party -- only we would not be throwing bales of tea into the harbor but elected officials, especially at the state and federal levels, into that harbor instead!
elected officials catering to highly paid professional lobbyists. Lobbying at all government levels should be totally outlawed and banned, with very high fines and mandatory prison sentences for violations! Lobbying is basically a very selfish enterprise with one prevailing attitude -- "The group I represent is the one that is most important and deserving of the meat on the bone -- all others can have the bone after we get our meat!" Lobbyists with powerful connections and representing groups or corporations are able to influence the votes of elected officials who are supposed to have the interest and well being of ALL citizens at heart but often do not -- it's the interest of that special group or corporation that matters most. Scandals time after time have erupted in connection with this godless practice and it is likely that it is only the tip of the iceberg due to the fact that huge amounts of money have passed under the desk from one pocket into another undetected. The peddling of influence which will financially benefit certain persons continues to be very big business in the the nation's capitol as well as in 50 state capitols!
one of the greatest acts of "legalized piracy" on the part of elected officials is a thing called "inheritance tax." A couple works hard all their lives and has managed to accumulate some material possessions. Most of our citizens, with the exception of most politicians, agree that ALL those assets, whatever those may encompass, should be passed on to persons or charitable organizations of their choosing -- that is, 100 per cent of those assets should be disposed of as determined by the owners. BUT somewhere along the way hypocrite politicians saw fit to say in effect, "When you die, we want a hefty slice of your pie!" And so this very unjust thing, "legalized piracy," was spawned in a number of reprobate minds and eventually established as "law" (term used very loosely). It can be very frustrating when one learns details of the salaries, "perks," health benefits, and retirement benefits of elected officials and then to think how these are the people who have refused to put the axe to ALL inheritance taxes so that an inheritance may be passed on in its entirety to designated persons without the government getting its slimy fingers on a percentage of it! But there is good news in the midst of this constant abuse of power and the tendency to financially bleed the citizens with excessive and unjust taxes -- one of these days God is going to step in and level the playing field in this world -- a time that the majority, including elected officials, will not welcome. In fact, their response is seen in the last few verses of Revelation 6:12-17:
I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
elected offiicals have permitted the mass destruction of millions of persons to take place in a republic which in its founding documents stresses that all persons should have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness! The executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the federal government are doing absolutely nothing to stop the mass hemorraging of human life in the United States. In fact the judicial branch of our government started the disaster over 3 decades ago!
The evidence is overwhelming -- elected officials and their appointees are making their own unique contribution by taking hammer in hand and enthusiastically pounding a nail in the coffin of our republic!
Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, have fellowship with You? They gather together against the life of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood. -- Psalm 94:20,21
Take me back to the Index
A Contagion of Idolatry
Contagion: the spreading of an emotion, idea, custom, etc. from person to person until many are affected; a bad influence that tends to spread; corruption
How easy it is to identify idols of cultures which existed a long time ago. They were carved out of wood, chipped out of stone, cast from some kind of metal, or molded and shaped from a lump of clay. They were of a wide variety when it came to size and shape -- most had one thing in common -- they were extremely ugly and grotesque! A lot would have been more than qualified to have their images placed beside the word "ugly" in a dictionary to graphically illustrate what being ugly is all about! In spite of being very unattractive the idols were zealously worshipped with the requirements involving some kind of offerings or sacrifices. The sacrifices involved animals or children. Idol worship had a common pattern -- there was a descent toward more violent and immoral behavior in the "worship" experience. Sexual immorality with temple prostitutes, male and female, was one aspect of practicing idolatry among heathen peoples. The ultimate worship experience in addition to sexual immorality was human sacrifice -- one heathen god by the name of Molech was worshipped by throwing infants or young children alive into a raging fire in an act of worship. You see, Molech was the kind of deity who became angry very easily -- in order to appease this deity you had to sacrifice children. Was it a well thought out procedure? Get pregnant in an immoral sexual act during a "worship" experience and then a few months later, throw the offspring into a fire in another act of "worship!"
Of course we sophisticated citizens of the 21st Century don't hesitate to express our indignation and criticism at such ignorance -- we know better, do we not -- OR do we?
In recent decades the residents of the U.S.A. have demonstrated a perverted ability for fashioning idols which do not take on a visible appearance as did those of ancient cultures. If you choose to examine some or all of these unique gods and goddesses which have a very strong hold on our culture, there will be a link by which you can return to this area, or you can also use the reverse feature on your web browser to come back here.
Identities of the U.S.A. brand of deities are:
While there will be large numbers which will deny that we have a major problem when it comes to the issue of whether human devised
gods & goddesses dominate our nation at all levels, the shocking fact is that the living God, Who created a mighty universe by spoken command and Who loved us humans
so much that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to be the perfect remedy for our sin problem, is ignored by millions of U.S. citizens. Worse yet, they not
only ignore Him but they defy Him by intentional disobedience to His standards for a sane, sensible, stable, serene and secure way of life! Polls have shown that we cannot get even 50 per cent of our population into a place of worship on Sunday mornings! It is obvious that since God does not have any priority in the lives of millions of U.S. citizens, then those lives are dominated by alien deities!
Will the time come, and possibly sooner than we would want to admit, when Almighty God will respond to our frantic pleas as He did centuries ago to another people who had permitted a massive deadly infatuation with false deities to take place -- here is what God said to them as they desperately sought Him through the avenue of prayer in a time of national crisis:
"Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backslidings will reprove you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing that you have forsaken the LORD your God, and the fear of Me is not in you," says the Lord GOD of hosts……As the thief is ashamed when he is found out, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they and their kings and their princes, and their priests and their prophets,
Saying to a tree, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.' For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they will say, 'Arise and save us.'
But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble; for according to the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah. Why will you plead with Me? You all have transgressed against Me," says the LORD. --- Jeremiah 2:19, 27-29
How about sleeping on that tonight? Sweet dreams!
Take me back to the Index
Consigned Children
Consign: to give, send or set over; to transfer or deliver, as, at death the body is consigned to the grave
The republic of the United States has likely set an unmatched record unlike any other nation of people in human history. This is due to the fact that our founding documents stress the principle that all persons should have the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!" Not all cultures have had such a foundation at the beginning nor such privileges which are a direct result of the same.
We are also a nation that emphasizes fair justice for all persons and we are quick to express outrage when persons become the victims of injustice, with one horrendous exception. That exception involves our long standing practice as a culture to consign thousands of unborn children to a state of mutilation and murder in their mother's wombs each week of the year! Note the present tally by the counter which automatically records this devastating loss 1 by 1 every few seconds around the clock!
Unborn Babies Brutally
Mutilated and Murdered
since Roe vs. Wade
January 1973
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Watch this for 60 to 90 seconds
and see what happens!
NOTE: Unfortunately the counter which provided updated information on number of unborn children murdered in the United States is no
longer functioning. For a variety of statistics on intentional homicides involving unborn children in the United States along with some numbers on a world wide level,
go to United States & World Wide Murders of Unborn Children
Just to help you see how unmerciful and brutal this is, take a look at only two of the millions of victims of the United States' version of "holocaust" since January of 1973! It's pretty hard to distinguish these individuals -- you see, a guy in a white coat who claims to be a "doctor" (term used very loosely in this case) kind of messed them up a bit! Anyone out there want to speculate what our Creator's reaction is to this, and what the "white coated" guy is going to say when he stands before the God of this universe -- an appointment he will keep right on schedule?
For the benefit of those who insist on using the impersonal word "fetus" when referring to the unborn, you'll have to take that issue up with God Himself since He explicitly refers to the unborn as persons and never so much as hints as to anything less than that. The fact that God not only identifies the unborn as persons but declares that their identity as persons exists before those individuals are conceived in their mothers' wombs!
Consider God's statement made to the prophet Jeremiah:
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; and
I ordained you a prophet to the nations." --- Jeremiah 1:5
Also note the confession of the Psalmist about God's plan and purpose for a human being:
For You have formed my inward parts; You have covered me in my mother's womb. I will
praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and
skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being
yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as
yet there were none of them. --- Psalm 139:13-16
However, such statements have no meaning whatsoever to those who harden their hearts and stop their ears from seriously listening
to what God has to say about human life and its purpose. And so the slaughter of the innocents continues until God makes His specific and shocking response to our
national policy of destroying thousands of unborn children per month throughout the year! Flawed and fatal human reasoning will continue to "legitimize" the destruction of the unborn -- get the unregenerate human mind in high gear and it can produce a plethora of reasons why thousands of unborn children ought not to be born into this world each week just as flawed Nazi logic stated that Jews and a host of other undesirables should not live in the WW II era!
The greatest tragedy is the silence of far too many church leaders on the issue of the U.S. "holocaust." They may spout off on a number of other issues but on the matter of mutilating and murdering unborn children in the womb you have to search for a while to find one -- there are a few but in some denominations the leaders are obviously afflicted with lockjaw when it comes to protesting the unrelenting murders of the unborn.
A prime example would be the bishops of the United Methodist Church. This group never lacks in speaking about issues and a number of years ago they launched a program which was dubbed the Bishops' Initiative for Children -- publicity on this reached a new high -- all churches and pastors were told in no uncertain terms that all had to pitch in and do something for children -- this ranged from various forms of deprivation to a need for a good education and protection from abuse -- just all kinds of things in regard to the needs of children. BUT never once in all these pronouncements (and there must have been a ton of them) was there even a feeble peep out of the mouths of the bishops about the destruction of the unborn and the urgent need to stop abortion on demand!
Personal letters are sent to the bishops on a regular basis and at the bottom of the letter is the poster that you will see at the end of this area below which shows an aborted baby with the caption, "This moral wrong should never be a constitutional right."
A letter was sent to Bishop Thomas Bickerton and members of his cabinet in the Western PA Annual Conference concerning the very detailed "Strategic Plan" which was adopted at the June 2006 session of the conference at Grove City College in Grove City PA. Since the plan at one point called for advocacy on behalf of victims of injustice, I asked the bishop and the superintendents whether they would speak out on behalf of the unborn victims of injustice -- brutally mutilating and murdering an unborn child is a criminal act of injustice, is it not? The copy of the letter is at the bottom of this area -- you can view it by clicking on Letter to Bishop Bickerton and His Cabinet by cdh ……… there is a return link at the bottom of the letter which will bring you back to this exact location.
There was absolutely no response at any time from the bishop nor from any of the superintendents on this matter of seeking justice for
unborn victims of a medical "procedure" called abortion! You know, as a number put it -- it is just the removal of some tissue and blood from the
pregnant female!
The tragedy of "silence" on part of UM Church leadership is seen across the whole denomination as
bishops and DS's have chosen to be tight lipped when it comes to addressing the issue of the murdering
of unborn children by the thousands each week in the "land of the free and the home of the brave!"
Take a look at United Methodist Bishops and Murdered Unborn Children!
At this point in time there are any number of persons willing to take hold of the hammer and vigorously pound the nail of "consigned children" into the U.S.A. coffin -- not just the secular minded ones, but some leaders and members of churches in the 50 states which make up this country as well!
Take me back to the Index
A Conflagration of Immorality
Conflagrate: to burn together and to burn up utterly; to consume
Persons of all ages in our culture in great numbers have subscribed to and actively practice a deadly sexual philosophy which is best translated in the words, "Sex is fun with anyone or more than one anyone at any time and anywhere we make it happen!"
The boundaries of human sexuality as established by the Creator of the heavens and the earth have long been rejected by a majority. As God spelled it out long ago for the health and well being of the human race, the expression and experiencing of human sexuality was strictly limited to a male and female within the sacred covenant of marriage!
The discipline of keeping the sexual cravings under control in obedience to God often was ignored -- let the hormones rage and find some way of sexual gratification as soon as possible! One does not read very far in the book of Genesis in the Bible to see that God's moral law as applied to human sexuality was rejected with even the well known patriarchs having more than one wife and having children by female servants in the household! With no exception, this "arrangement" always resulted in some kind of conflict and eventual heartache! The most notorious example of this disregard for God's standards of sexual immorality is seen in the life of King Solomon, who in his early years was regarded as the wisest of all men and greatly blessed by God. But in the later years it is reported that he had 700 wives and 300 concubines -- literally the latter were sexual "toys" to be enjoyed at the slightest whim of their "owner!"
Move from those ancient times to the 21st Century in a world swarming with a population in excess of 6 billion inhabitants. Sex has become big business and the above quoted statement in the opening paragraph is actually international in scope!
During the decades of the 20th Century in the United States there was a constant "chipping away" at what was considered basic sexual moral standards of decency -- that is, there was a belief shared by quite a number of persons that sexual intimacy was to be reserved for marriage -- that fornication, adultery, and homosexuality were morally wrong. Such activities did take place in private, but nobody advertised the fact that they indulged in such behavior nor did they publicly encourage others to participate in the same! But as time rolled on there was the trend to become more bold in questioning "traditional" sexual standards.
It was during the last half of the 20th Century when sexual immorality came into "full" bloom with all its resulting bitter fruits. The entertainment industry seemed to pave the way with big name "stars" flaunting their immoral sexual antics. In one issue Life Magazine gave considerable space with pictures of high profile entertainment personalities who had conceived children out of wedlock -- no, I'm not kidding on this one -- it was like a neon sign flashing on and off which said, "We can go to bed with anybody and if we make a baby in the process, so what? We'll set our own moral standards and resent anyone who tries to tell us we are doing wrong!"
Standards in the movie and TV industries began to descend to a gutter level in quality of entertainment. Sexual themes with increased nudity began to increase. Legal challenges were usually to no avail because large numbers saw and interpreted the First Amendment as granting the right to present anything publicly even if it had a worse stench to it than one of our Pennsylvania white tail deer which had been hit on one of our roads and the carcass remained by the roadside for days in 85 and 90 degree temperatures in the summertime!
As the floodgates of defiance of God's standards regarding sexual behavior and human relationships opened without restraint in the final decades of the 20th Century the broad and well traveled road to disaster has been lined with warning signs which shout out:
a pandemic spread of pornography in films and "literature" in "adult" stores, on the internet, and through cable TV systems -- the advantage being that persons of all ages could access this stuff in the privacy of their homes. And don't forget, we have the First Amendment which guarantees companies the "right" to produce and distribute it and we consumers have the "right" to purchase it and view it for our pleasure!
One does not have to intentionally seek a pornographic site on the internet to revel in a sexual subject of some kind -- articles and web sites are practically endless and again, access is possible for the very young as well as the very old! One internet browser service along with news information, weather, shopping, sports, travel, maps, etc. has a department on "love" which is broken down into categories -- one is called "confession" in which people are encouraged to write in and share intimate details of their sexual encounters!
the stress on providing our young in schools with something called "sex education" -- seems the majority say we ought not to make an issue of abstinence from sexual intimacy before marriage -- that we "educate" the little tykes about sexuality so that they have "safe sex" since they will do it anyway! Big question which the "experts" struggle intensely to answer is -- "Just who has contributed to this sex-saturated atmosphere in this country which practically pushes our young into bed and have sexual relations with either a person of the opposite sex, or someone of the same sex -- it really doesn't matter since in "sex education" it is not uncommon to have the young told that homosexuality and lesbianism are just as normal as heterosexuality -- and further, each individual must determine his/her own value system and make the decision as to when it is "appropriate" to become "sexually active!"
the music industry with a large number of "stars" producing lyrics accompanied by sounds that give the impression that this concoction was hatched in the jungle in the middle of the Amazon. The message in this "music?" Often a sexual theme with a wide appeal to the young. But it must also be pointed out that the lyrics of a lot of what parades under the banner of "country western" music are more than a tad suggestive when it comes to human sexuality!
a number of legitimate magazines often highlight articles on human sexuality -- it's a gimmick that helps to sell more issues if there is something about sex within its pages. As one passes through the check out counter at a super market there are often blaring headlines about celebrities and their antics -- somehow it seems so appealing to read of some actor or actress and their fouled up life, including whom they have been having an affair with while married to someone else!
with the increased flaunting of sexual immorality through mass media avenues it seemed only a matter of time (and it was) until couples began to publicly engage in what is now commonly referred to as simply "living together" -- a program such as "Judge Judy" is literally filled with details of screwed up lives of young people who entered into a "live in" arrangement and then things went very sour! Part of the mess created in such fiascoes was not only making a baby or two, but financial chaos with the judge attempting to sort it out and who is responsible for what! The common thread in these debacles is anger, resentment, and pure hatred expressed by a couple who used to think it was the greatest and most exciting thing to "live together," share their "love," and make up their own rules for life!
Pastors began to have to deal with a fornicating couple when they decided that maybe they would try the marriage route and in submitting information to the pastor, it was noted that the couple contemplating marriage had the same postal address and phone number -- most pastors, the writer of this commentary included, quickly came to a "judgmental conclusion" -- that the couple was not sleeping in separate bedrooms!
Statistics are not pleasant to face on this issue -- divorce rate overall is now running at about 50 per cent -- that is, for every 2 marriages taking place, there is one divorce! But for those who have decided to see what it is like to "live together" before marriage for a time, and then decide to finally enter into the marriage covenant, the divorce rate is even higher -- so this sloppy sexual philosophy of "trying it before you buy it" doesn't seem to have an impressive record over the long haul! And so we fornicate for a time, and then decide to try to put a bit of dignity to our "relationship" by getting married, and a bit later decide the grass is indeed greener on the other side of the fence, so a "no fault' divorce is the fast way out!
What doesn't grab the headlines as often as some subject related to human sexuality is the paying of the piper for decades of sexual shenanigans. The Center for Disease Control has all the shocking facts about the STD harvest which has taken place after the "seeds" of massive sexual immorality have been sown!
STD's (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) are rampant throughout our republic. All ages are being impacted. An alarming discovery is the fact that STD's in some form are hitting the very young due to the fact that the young are engaging in sexual activity and the age level is creeping down as time passes! But little wonder -- our kids are exposed to sex related material, images, and information from the time they learn to walk and talk -- and you know what happens, don't you? Monkey see -- monkey do!
STD's are numerous and affect people differently -- some can be cured over time with medical treatment, but then some cannot be cured. In those cases, TV ads give great assistance in informing a person so infected of what drugs are available and to be careful to practice "safe sex!" This, however, does not apply to the disease spread by means of sexual activity in which those so infected are under a death sentence. Strange, is it not, that science is scrambling to find a real "cure" for AIDS so that individuals can indulge in sexual immorality and not worry about becoming a victim of a deadly virus, rather than repenting of their morally abominable lifestyles and seeking the mercy, forgiveness, and healing which is offered by God through His Son, Jesus Christ?
A recent release of some stats out of the Center for Disease Control provided this shock -- 1 in 4 teen-aged girls (13 through 19) have a STD! But even, worse -- some have more than one STD! That just takes in the teens -- what do you have after they reach age 20 and beyond? Do you want to go to sleep tonight thinking about the ramifications of that situation?
At the present moment there is absolutely no evidence that the toboggan of sexual immorality is slowing down even a particle -- rather, as the days pass it is clearly picking up speed down a steep slope toward sure and certain disaster! And why this expectation? Because at the present time there are hands of all ages demonstrating by their sexual interests and behavior practices that they want a chance to get hold of the hammer and pound the "Conflagration of Immorality" nail quickly into the coffin of the USA!
Take me back to the Index
Contaminated Sabbaths
Contaminate: to defile; to make impure, unclean; to corrupt; to pollute; to sully; to tarnish; to taint
And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
"Moreover they have done this to Me: they have defiled My sanctuary on the same day and profaned My Sabbaths. For after they had slain their children for their idols, on the same day they came into My sanctuary to profane it; and indeed thus they have done in the midst of My house."
Genesis 2:2,3; Ezekiel 23:38,39 NKJV
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There is one day of the week which is in desperate need for a name change. That is the first day of the week which is commonly referred to as Sunday. To be more appropriate in U.S. culture the name should be changed to Funday! Long gone are the days in which Sunday was observed in our republic by large numbers as a day of worship and rest.
As independence from the British crown had been won and
our republic began to establish itself there was not only a general consensus of the need
to depend upon God but also to give recognition to God's existence and express worship and
gratitude. The first day of the week was widely acknowledged to be the day when labors
ceased, families attended worship services, and the remainder of the day was a time of
rest and relaxation. There were churches which conducted services on Sunday evening, so
that for a number of families, there were actually 2 services on Sunday which were attended. Quite a number of churches also had Sunday School on Sunday morning either before or after the worship service.
In the small country church that my family attended as my sister and I were growing up we had a Sunday School attendance of about 130 on average which consisted of whole families from small children to adults in the sunset years of life. Worship service followed with most all of the families remaining for the worship time.
In that same area which was located in Clarion County in northwestern Pennsylvania were a number of towns and villages. On Sunday everything literally shut down so far as business was concerned. It was very quiet on main street in Clarion, the county seat, on a Sunday afternoon in contrast to the Saturday night before which was not only a busy time for shopping but also a social time where a lot of visiting took place. But Sunday was considered the Lord's Day and you didn't transact business on Sunday!
But then times began to change -- one area in which the cracks began to appear was in regard to entertainment. Clarion had 2 movie theaters and someone suggested we ought to have the movie houses open on Sunday. It was very controversial, but eventually the people who wanted to cancel the "blue laws" which kept the theaters closed on Sunday prevailed and so you were able to go to see a movie on Sunday -- no harm done, right? After all, we're still "relaxing" as we watch our movie on Sunday night.
However, as time moved on the whole country underwent a change in regard to Sunday and its special significance as a day of worship and rest. More and more business activity began to take place. Sporting events began to be held on Sunday. And of course all kind of "recreational" possibilities erupted. Pastors began to witness a mass exodus come summertime as families got into camping, boating, hiking, partying, etc on the weekends!
One big phenomenon which has taken place in recent years is the "tailgate" parties prior to NFL games. Pastors, you know that you can't expect people in church on Sunday when the big game is scheduled for the afternoon and we have to get our food packed up and do some partying before the game -- never mind the bad weather, we're dedicated to our team. Yea, we can't make it to church if a raindrop or a snow flake is falling, and certainly we can't be expected to go to church if the sun is shining -- then it's too nice and we have the lawn to mow on Sunday morning! Or during late spring into early fall, those nice Sundays are perfect for golf outings too!
Retailers do a brisk business on Sundays, especially during holiday times. In fact, it is not unusual to see ads being run that advertise very special bargains to be had at about 10 or 11 AM on Sunday morning -- a cut in prices which is not available at any other time!
Latest statistics are not encouraging concerning the United States shift over time from having respect and reverence for the day of worship and refraining from business activity as well as unnecessary labors to that of a Sunday which is now wide open in terms of labor, business, leisure, and entertainment. We cannot get half the citizens of our republic into a place of worship on a Sunday morning in spite of the widespread slogans such as "God Bless America!" and "Pray for our troops!" which blanket the country from one end to the other -- and once in a while someone will throw in the very erroneous statement, "This is a Christian nation!"
The point here is not to debate the issue of which is the "proper" day of worship, since there are those who choose to worship on Saturday, nor the objections some would raise about the Jewish "law" and the fact that we are not under that system but in the context of Christianity, we are under "grace." What has been obviously forgotten for some time is the fact that "grace" has been horribly abused and nowhere is it to be interpreted to be a "license" to do anything we want to do when we want to do it and thumb our nose at God in the process! The evidence is overwhelming that this is precisely what has happened for a number of decades.
The basic principle as revealed by God in the process of the creation is simpler than we would want to accept. God "labored" for six days and brought the universe into existence with all the factors involved in its functioning. We are told that God rested the seventh day and sanctified it. Seems we have missed the whole point of this event.
There is a cycle involved here -- that seventh day is to be unlike the six in which one is involved in all kind of activities, including our "labors." But the next day after that is to be different -- first, and foremost -- the day is not to be a time of concentration on self and pursuit of selfish pleasures -- but rather, concentration upon God! It is a time to express worship and thanksgiving, not only privately but publicly as well. The thinking person can go for quite a time in coming up with reasons as to why God is not only to be acknowledged but to be worshipped due to His being our source of life and existence and the One Who provides daily benefit and blessing. Most important of all, this God has provided the one and only cure for our personal fatal disease, which is sin! That remedy has been provided in His Son, Jesus Christ. Ought He not to be worshipped and should we not give constant praise, not just in a private setting, but in a public one as well for His love and sacrifice for us?
But there is another benefit to taking that "break" -- one day out of seven, the most important being the public acknowledgement and worship of Almighty God. That benefit is the "recreation" which takes place in body, mind, and spirit -- one is "renewed" and prepared to deal with the next six days of many activities. Filling stations in the old days did a number of things -- when you pulled in to fill up the gas tank, attendants would clean the wind shield and check the oil -- if you needed air in the tires, they would bring the pressure up to specifications, and if you needed the radiator level brought up, they would do that. The "break" from traveling prepared the vehicle for the next stretch of travel. God in His wisdom set up an arrangement where we take a critical "break" from six days of work and various activities -- the seventh day is a time of renewal for body, mind, and spirit as we worship our God, give thanks, and take some rest and constructive relaxation!
What the majority in our culture experiences is not "recreation" but rather "wreck-reation!" It is non stop activity with God booted on to the sidelines -- oh, we'll call upon Him in an emergency -- you know, He becomes our 911 number, but until then, He can sit on the bench like a 4th string quarterback and keep His mouth shut because we have a heap of living to do -- after we run all week long, the seventh day (Sunday) is our time to "relax" and have fun -- we won't spoil it by something called church and worship!
So in the process of running literally for seven days a week and refusing to give proper attention to God and the day He designed for us in which to worship and take rest, we dash headlong toward a state of self destruction! As the tensions build and health begins to deteriorate, we try to compensate by taking pills, laying on a psychiatrist's couch, or get involved in new areas of "recreation" for an elusive thing called "fulfillment!"
But it's not just personal self destruction of an individual which takes place when the "sabbath" is contaminated and defiled, but it becomes a collective disaster as well. At this point in time it seems like we are keeping the republic afloat in spite of a few "spasms" here and there, but the politicians will get things worked out -- after all, the government can resolve all our problems and meet our needs all the way from the womb to the tomb, right? Yea, sure!
Judgment came upon the ancient Israelites for many reasons, one being the defilement of the Sabbath. They no longer respected the day nor spent it in the way which God had ordered.
As in so many of our national sins and abominations, we shall find out we cannot violate the principle of Sabbath as our Creator designed it and escape without any repercussions -- the "law" of sowing and reaping applies in this area also!
Is there a possibility that our nation might once again, through very drastic changes, reverence and respect Sunday as the day in which the majority of citizens will make their way to a place of worship, acknowledge dependence upon God through His Son, Jesus Christ, give worship and thanksgiving to Him, truly relax, and be renewed to face the next six days out in the world? No evidence at the present time would suggest it is remotely close to that and you know what that means don't you? Millions take the hammer and robustly pound the "Contaminated Sabbaths" nail into the coffin of the U.S.A!
The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; in the net which they hid, their own foot is caught. The LORD is known by the judgment He executes; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Selah. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. -- Psalm 9:15-17
Take me back to the Index
Contrived Origins
Contrive: to devise; to plan; to scheme; to invent; to design; Syn. devise, scheme, plot
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth....Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
Genesis 1:1, 26-28; John 1:10 NKJV
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One of the most deadly deceptions ever to penetrate our culture with devastating results which cannot be measured is the teaching that we humans have evolved from a lower life form.
This doctrine which amounts to nothing less than contrived origins is not only widely taught in our nation's institutions of learning, but accepted by many without question.
It has often been referred to as the "theory of evolution" but there are those in the field of teaching which attempt to present this farce of the first magnitude as though it were fact! And there have been desperate attempts to say it is "fact" by appealing to opinions of "scientists" who have stated that "evidence" points in the direction of evolution as the best explanation as to how life got started.
Conflict has become quite intense in recent years with law suits taking place over the issue of the teaching of evolutionary theory versus the teaching of creation in public school systems.
Christians who accept God's revelation (and explanation) as to how things got started have but one beginning point -- there was God and nothing else! It was the actions of God Who brought things into existence where nothing before had existed. "Let there be…" and following the command, something now existed. The crowning work of God's creative acts was the making of a human being, and that human endowed with the capacity to know and relate in a positive way to the Creator.
Those under the influence of evolutionary doctrine start with something -- it wriggles -- it grows and expands by cell multiplication -- as it gets bigger, it becomes a bit more complex -- and you can give it all the time you want -- it's nothing to toss around thousands and millions of years for this great thing to happen! And what is this great thing -- why, didn't you know? At the end of the wriggling, the crawling, the creeping, the hunchback walk over eons of time, we end up with human beings! And we're still on the upward swing -- utopia lies straight ahead! Yes, as the evolutionary process runs its course we will eventually have a heaven on earth -- it may take a few more million years, but hang on, we'll get there!
As mentioned, the conflict between these views of origins is often intense with neither side yielding any ground. Along the way in this fight over how things got going a long time ago there have been individuals who have tried to create a kind of "marriage" between these views by suggesting that God was working through the evolutionary process -- that is, God is the Creator -- it's just that it took Him a long, long, long time to get His work done -- and of course, the way the evolutionists tell it, we're still moving onward and upward in this adventure of developing into something greater and better than we are now -- so that means, God isn't done with the "process" yet! As pointed out elsewhere on this web site, the attempt to "wed" God to evolution is about as impressive and effective as making a team out of an ox and a jackass -- it really isn't very workable!
Certainly one benefit of forcing the teaching (and acceptance) of evolutionary theory which seems to be quite acceptable to the majority is the fact that you really don't need God in the evolutionary scheme of things, and when you have no God you also have no accountability when it comes to how your value system is put together. It's pretty much a matter of setting up your own rules -- our social structure tries to keep order by the establishing of some "laws" -- but, mainly, with God out of the picture, then we are rid of what some people have referred to as a "crutch" when it comes to religion!
But once you begin to recognize that there is a mighty God Who brought this universe into existence and that He has focused His attention and His love upon human beings, then the ball is in your side of the court of life and you have to make a decision as to what you are going to do with it. There are some options:
you can ignore the ball, which many try to do, and say to yourself, that at some later moment in life you will give some attention to God and what He has to say about things.
you can face the ball, grab it, hold on to it and say that you'll have to think about this matter of what God may be expecting of you and what the extent of your obligation toward God might be.
you can act responsibly and take the action necessary to get the ball back to the other side of the court -- which amounts to this -- God has fully disclosed Himself starting with the mighty acts of creation and throughout the history of the human race, He has acted, interacted, and reacted with the greatest demonstration of love to which the world will ever be exposed. Responsible action means the honest admission of sinfulness, and the confession of committing sins, the seeking of God's forgiveness, and the receiving of Jesus Christ into one's life as Savior and Lord. Thus begins a life that is no longer lived for self centered pursuit of material gain and pleasures, but rather a seeking to fulfill God's calling and purpose for one's life!
With less than half our population able to attend worship services on Sunday, and many professing Christians admitting they spend very little time in Bible reading and engaging in the discipline of prayer, is it any wonder that our culture is ravaged due to masses being persuaded that our great, great, (add a whole page of "greats" here if you wish) grandparents originally wriggled in a pool of slime a long time ago! We have yet to witness the full harvest of the "contrived origins" seed which has been sown over many decades!
An interesting little anecdote circulated recently which has a bit of bearing on this subject:
It seems that somehow a "scientist" arranged to have a face to face meeting with God. He was quick to tell God that because of our great strides in science and technology we really had no need of God because we now are able to duplicate all the acts of creation which were credited to God at the beginning. God quickly responded by saying, "Prove it!"
Upon hearing the challenge the "scientist" knelt down to scoop up a pile of dirt with his hand. Immediately God interrupted the "scientist" and said, "Oh no you don't -- go get your own dirt!" Those few who believe God's record of what really happened when things got started have nothing more to say than, "We rest our case!"
Take a look around and notice that there is no lack of individuals of most any age willing to grab the hammer and pound the "Contrived Origins" nail into the coffin of the U.S.A. with great enthusiasm!
Take me back to the Index
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He also did evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD. And he also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear an oath by God; but he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD God of Israel. Moreover all the leaders of the priests and the people transgressed more and more, according to all the abominations of the nations, and defiled the house of the LORD which He had consecrated in Jerusalem. And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy. Therefore He brought against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, on the aged or the weak; He gave them all into his hand. And all the articles from the house of God, great and small, the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king and of his leaders, all these he took to Babylon. Then they burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious possessions.
2 Chronicles 36:11-19 NKJV
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A Post Script:
The subject above is extremely unpleasant to say the least and there will be a lot of negative responses to it -- even among the professing Christian community there is a tendency to deny the real possibility of divine judgment as it pertains to the republic of the United States -- to face that possibility is to also do some soul searching at the same time and to be open to the fact that God's call may involve our "sounding the warning trumpet!"
We need to also remember and speak when there is opportunity to do so, that as the coffin nails as described above are being driven into the country's coffin, there were some nails driven about 2,000 years ago which enable us to face an uncertain future with a solid degree of hope and optimism. Those nails were driven into the body of Jesus Christ and impaled Him on a Roman cross. But this was no mere Roman execution -- the clear revelation God has given is that He loved the human race so much He gave His only begotten Son that whoever comes, repents of all sin, and believes on Jesus as Savior and Lord will be forgiven and possess eternal life along with the expectation of being a citizen of His Kingdom forever! (Note this assurance as given in the Gospel of John in the New Testament Scriptures).
If you are uncertain as to how you stand at the present time with God, Who knew you before your were conceived in your mother's womb and Who had great plans for you in mind before you were born, perhaps it would be well to review the experience of how to become a Christian and what is involved in living the life. Go to:
How to Become A Christian
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Take me back to the Index
Further reference related to some of the "coffin nails" mentioned above:
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A Conceding Church
A Contradictory Government
A Contagion of Idolatry
Consigned Children
A Conflagration of Immorality
A Significant Selah Moment!
O LORD, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? even cry out to You, "Violence!"
And You will not save. Why do You show me iniquity, and cause me to see trouble? For
plundering and violence are before me; there is strife, and contention arises. Therefore
the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous;
therefore perverse judgment proceeds.
Habakkuk 1:2-2 (NKJV)
Millions of unborn children have been intentionally murdered all over
the world over time and the United States has contributed tens of millions
to the total - see latest tally at Number of Abortions
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness....
It is time for You to act, O LORD, for they have regarded Your law as void. Therefore I
love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold! Therefore all Your precepts
concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way.
Romans 1:18; Psalm 119:126-128 NKJV
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July 15, 2006
Some updating - March 2020
Further updating - May 2020
Further updating - May 2022
Further updating - August 3, 2023
Clayton D. Harriger
Elder in Full Connection
Western PA Annual Conference
The United Methodist Church
and former pastor (Nov 1999 - Nov 2019) of
Gipsy Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Gipsy, PA
AND registered voter, Cambria Co. PA
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Wait a minute -- in the letter below cdh mentions about that resolution being 88 pages long -- he was in error on that. In fact all the material about the RS-801 Strategic Plan for the W. PA Annual Conference was only 44 pages. When he became aware of this, he did respond by first, admitting he was in error on this and said he falsely assumed 88 pages were the number when he observed a page or two only having one number at the bottom, but he hadn't looked at every page to see if there were numbers on the back side too. But then, as usual, he had to comment further -- according to cdh, when you start to wade through United Methodist legislative matters, the pages can easily seem to be at least 2 or 3 times as long as they actually are anyhow! Now then, on to that letter.........
A Letter to a United Methodist Bishop
and His Cabinet Members in Western PA
Issue: Speaking up on behalf of the
unborn victims of injustice!
Friday, June 02, 2006
TO: Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton and Members of the Cabinet, W PA Annual Conference:
The Rev's La Mar Carlson, Charles Fowler, Patricia S. Harbison, Robert W. Higginbotham, Jr., Richard D. Markle, William Meekins, Jr., Dr. Martha M. Orphe, Donald Scandrol, Sharon L. Schwab, Frank M. Sherman, James L. Tubbs, Dean Ziegler
Dear Bishop Bickerton and Cabinet Members:
I received the 88 page RS-801 - Proposed Annual Conference Strategic Plan and spent a considerable amount of time attempting to sift through it. A first impression which came to me was Paul's statement to the Corinthians about their minds being "corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." But that is not what this letter is about -- the "simplicity in Christ" matter is for another time and place.
Under Goal 4 it is stated, "Increase local church involvement in mission, justice and outreach ministry, locally, regionally, nationally and globally." Point C under Goal 4 reads, "Advocate for those who suffer injustice and work to change unjust systems, including injustice in our own church community."
In light of the stated goal and its sub point C, the question is this -- will you who are leaders get specific on this matter of injustice and go on public record advocating justice for the unborn victims of the United States' unique version of "Holocaust?" To date we have brutally mutilated and murdered nearly 46.5 million unborn children since 1973, and under the leadership of President Bush, over 4.2 unborn children have been exterminated since March 19, 2003, the date in which the Bush administration initiated a war against Iraq, insisting that we needed to liberate the Iraqi people from the brutality and cruelty of Saddam Hussein. Most accurate figures of the number of victims of Saddam's brutality number about 1 million! Ever hear an old saying that goes something like this -- "The pot calling the kettle black?"
There is obviously a vast chasm between our view of the unborn and God's view of the unborn whom He identifies even before conception takes place, His claim to involvement in the formation of the unborn in the womb, and His clear revelation that He has a special purpose for each unborn person after birth takes place. Our culture, with little serious objection, chooses to ignore what God has revealed about unborn persons by relegating them to merely a status of some tissue and blood, an impersonal identification such as "fetus," and a convenient disposable commodity which stands on the same level as unwanted garbage standing in 90 degree summertime temperatures! This approach could be expected by secular carnal minded people, including elected officials and judges, but when it invades the ranks of a group of persons who claim to follow Jesus Christ and they either go along with the rationale for destroying the unborn, or choose to remain tongue tied when it comes to protesting, then we are in far bigger trouble as a nation than we can begin to imagine!
There is at times lamenting over the loss of membership in the UMC -- has it ever dawned on our leadership which raises this issue continually that the UMC would have a larger membership if millions of unborn children had not been destroyed over a 33 1/2 year period? At least some of those millions would have become members of the UMC and who knows what contribution they would have made, IF they had been permitted to live.
Actually we are no better than the President and the U.S. Congress at addressing this grave injustice in a republic which prides itself on the fact that all persons should have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness! Only with the politicians it's an issue of economics and their pitiful whining over the financial "crisis" involving Social Security. Again, our brand of "Holocaust" has wiped out millions, the older ones of which would be paying millions of dollars into Social Security monthly but for the fact that millions of females decided at some point to contract some character in a white coat to be prosecutor, judge, jury, and executioner of their unborn children.
So, I ask you again -- shall we boldly identify and work to change as quickly as possible an unjust system which callously and coldly sanctions the destruction of thousands of unborn children every week of the year in our republic?
As tragic as the loss of millions of unborn children has been over past decades, that tragedy pales into a state of insignificance compared to what will happen when God makes His direct response to our massive "shedding of innocent blood" just as He has done to cultures of the past which took a very low view of human life and its special significance. They didn't get away with it and neither shall we, and anyone who thinks it through will come to the conclusion that he or she definitely will not want to be found within the boundaries of the U.S.A. when that response comes. A good summary of a culture unraveling at the seams and refusing to repent of its sins and abominations (including "shedding of innocent blood") is found in 2 Chronicles 36:11ff.
Still contending at www.crrange.com
Clayton D. Harriger, Elder in full connection, W. PA Annual Conference
cc: Mrs. Nancy Denardo, Lay Leader of W. PA Annual Conference
OK, take me back to where I was!
The Money god!