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A New Day
“The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.” ~ Lamentations 3:22-23
There is something significant about the start of a new day. The deck reshuffles. The cycle of life starts anew. We awaken to new opportunity.
Each day has its unique challenges and frustrations. But each new day is a fresh start, a chance to begin again. In a world so full of imperfection, new days are welcome occasions.
Each new day starts with beauty, with promise. The sunrise paints the sky as dawn ushers in another opportunity to live our best life.
The thing that is so beautiful about each morning is the consistency of God and His love for us. We do our best every day.
But many sunrises go unseen. We make mistakes. We fall short. And instead of making a fresh start, perhaps we despair. But God promises we can begin anew. His forgiveness is limitless.
What might be cause for shame and frustration has been redeemed for joy, peace and freedom. What is required is for us to request it, receive it, and embrace it.
Our hope is in the Lord. And although we may not make the best choices every day, He is there to steady us with His Grace and to motivate us with His Love. He is consistent every day. And every day he offers us a fresh opportunity to make new choices. Better choices. Redeeming choices.
The sunrise is a daily reminder that today is a day we can begin anew, and make choices rooted in the reality we can gain from seeing life from God’s perspective, the perspective of a new dawn.
_____________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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The Daily Article — April 29, 2024
~ Are campus protests a picture of our cultural future?
Nearly nine hundred protesters have been arrested on US campuses in recent days, about 275 of them on Saturday. Activists staged a large event outside the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner Saturday night, part of a wave of protests that has spread across the country and could continue through the summer at political conventions.
Columbia University became the epicenter of the movement due to its proximity to national media in New York and its status as an Ivy League institution. The campus is also home to a large Jewish student population, many of whom have faced harassment or attacks from protesters, fueling more media coverage and political scrutiny.
Columbia made more news when it banned a student protest leader who declared that “Zionists don’t deserve to live.” He said with regard to fighting a Zionist (someone such as myself who believes the Jews deserve a homeland in Israel), “I don’t fight to injure or for there to be a winner or a loser, I fight to kill.”
He added, “Be grateful that I’m not just going out and murdering Zionists.”
Tragically, that’s already been done.
In the new edition of Foreign Affairs, the Israeli historian Tom Segev offers a brilliant overview of the modern history of the nation. He begins:
"To Israelis, October 7, 2023, is the worst day in their country’s seventy-five-year history. Never before have so many of them been massacred and taken hostage on a single day. Thousands of heavily armed Hamas fighters managed to break through the Gaza Strip’s fortified border and into Israel, rampaging unimpeded for hours, destroying several villages and committing gruesome acts of brutality before Israeli forces could regain control."
Hamas leaders have vowed to repeat these attacks until Israel is destroyed. Consequently, Israel had no choice but to send the IDF into Gaza to destroy Hamas.
More than thirty-one thousand Palestinians have died since the Israel–Hamas war in Gaza began, a tragic fact that is a primary reason for pro-Palestinian protests across our country. In their rhetoric, Israel is completely at fault for these deaths.
However, American legal theory distinguishes between a “proximate” cause and an “actual” cause. The latter is the direct cause of an event, such as the car that runs a red light and crashes into your vehicle. The former is the event that caused the latter, such as the large truck that rams into a car, shoving it into the intersection so that it crashes into your car.
Hamas’s terrorist attack on October 7 is the uncontestable proximate cause of all that has happened since. If Hamas had not launched its invasion and then used Palestinian civilians as human shields, not a single casualty resulting from Israel’s response in Gaza would have been harmed. It is therefore also a fact that, as the Wall Street Journal recently noted, “Those who genuinely care about the Palestinians should hope for Hamas’s defeat.”
The US Army liberated the Dachau concentration camp on this day in 1945. With this sober fact as a historical backdrop, consider a letter written by the chairman of the World Holocaust Remembrance Center to the president of Columbia University. In it, Dani Dayan warns that the ongoing anti-Israel demonstrations at elite US colleges and universities are exactly what happened in Germany in the 1920s, just years before Nazis took over the country.
He therefore called on the president to “take a stand” as “thousands of Columbia faculty, staff, and students call for the elimination of the State of Israel and the abolition of Zionism.” He added: “Not a political stand. A moral stand. When it becomes crystal clear that abolishing the existence of the Jewish State is a prevalent ideology in Columbia, the president of the institution cannot remain silent.”
He then cited the Talmud’s teaching, “Silence is admission,” and reiterated, “Silence inevitably will be interpreted as tolerance or, even worse, consent.” He quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as saying that “the hottest place in hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.”
Dayan concluded his letter with a quote from Elie Wiesel, the Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace laureate who called indifference “the most insidious danger of all.”
If the faculty and students at America’s elite intellectual institutions cannot stand unequivocally against the genocide of the Jewish people, what does this say about our culture?
Has our “post-truth” society become so confused and corrupted that it cannot condemn the rape, murder, and mutilation of innocent civilians at the hand of terrorist invaders pledged to their annihilation?
If so, is Dani Dayan right in warning that we are on the road to an unthinkable and horrific future?
I believe these are truly precarious days for our nation. Let’s respond with the hope-filled reality that Jesus is “the Light of men” (John 1:4), now and always.
For today, let’s embrace and share this fact:
“The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” ~ John 1:5
It never will.
_______________
~ published by: Denison Ministries
https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/zionists-dont-deserve-to-live/
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The Trouble Tree
"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” ~ 1 Peter 5:7
The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farmhouse had just finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and now his ancient pickup truck refused to start.
While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands.
After opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles, and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss. Afterward, he walked me to my car. We passed the tree, and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.
"Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing for sure, troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning, I pick them up again."
"Funny thing is," he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick them up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."
_______________
~ published by: The Daily Encourager
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Gaining Better Vision
~ If you want to see clearly, ask God to help you see from His perspective.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:1-8
You may have seen videos on the internet of babies receiving their first pair of glasses. They fuss and fight a little as the frames are being put on, but almost instantly, they stop and stare. Things that were previously blobs of color suddenly have defined shapes. Their parents’ faces, once fuzzy, become clear. Their smiles tell you everything you need to know about the gift of vision.
In a similar way, clear spiritual sight is vital for believers, and it involves learning to see as the Lord sees. This requires a shift in our perspective, and today’s passage provides a practical blueprint for learning to discern with the eyes of Christ: “Do not judge” (v. 1). True understanding begins with an awareness of our sins so we can “take the log out” (v. 5) from our own eye and see ourselves and others for what we truly are — forgiven and beloved sons and daughters.
1 Samuel 16:7 tells us that God doesn’t see as man does. Seeing with the eyes of Christ means searching beyond surface appearances and asking the Spirit to help us look more deeply into the heart of things. Jesus truly saw people — He recognized their brokenness and compassionately sought their good. May we be willing to do the same. Learning to view others as God does is the joyous labor of a lifetime, and the rewards for doing so are great.
_______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/gaining-better-vision
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The Beauty of God’s Word
~ Sometimes all we need in the chaotic moments of life is a little time to hear from our Father.
Scripture Reading: Psalm 19:7-8
The world we live in is loud — even deafening at times. But the peace of God’s Word turns down the noise, offering tranquil truth and beauty in place of clamor.
Psalm 19:7-8 is a reminder that Scripture provides us with wisdom and clarity by:
1. Restoring the Soul.
God’s Word has everything our wounded and weary souls need. When life’s struggles wear us down, it brings restoration by providing comfort, hope, and renewal.
2. Making Wise the Simple.
The insight and guidance contained in Scripture surpass worldly knowledge. God’s wisdom is not exclusive to the educated or elite, but is offered to anyone willing to receive it.
3. Rejoicing the Heart.
The precepts of the Lord are right, reminding us of our identity and purpose in Christ. This brings lasting joy in a world filled with temporary pleasures.
4. Enlightening the Eyes.
The commandment of the Lord is pure and teaches us spiritual truths. When we seek God’s guidance in His Word, we gain clarity and perspective, which help us navigate through confusion and darkness.
God’s Word is truly a precious and beautiful gift — it is a source of strength and a light for our path.
_______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-beauty-of-god-s-word
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In a World of Quick, Slow Is Good
~ Let's give others — and ourselves — time to learn and grow.
Scripture Reference: Ephesians 4:11-16
Have you ever gotten into the far left lane on the highway so you can move just a little faster — only to have the cars in front of you slow down? Then you’re stuck between a divider wall on your left and even slower traffic on your right, feeling frustrated and annoyed.
Sometimes we want to treat our spiritual growth like that — jumping into that fast lane to “beat” everyone else to the goal and reach our destination sooner. We think that by reading a specific book or praying a certain way, we’ll grow more quickly and get to the next thing. But then the trials of life come, and without a strong foundation — one that’s built over time and with diligence — we quickly become overwhelmed and disillusioned.
In a world of quick, remember that slow growth is a good thing.
Consider today’s passage, where Paul describes believers as children who must “grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ” (v. 15). We don’t expect children to do everything like adults. It takes time for them to develop the strength, coordination, and intelligence required for “adult” tasks. When we become Christians, the process is similar. No one becomes a fully mature believer overnight — nor does God expect us to.
So, let’s be patient with ourselves, take the time required to “grow up,” and celebrate when we see progress in ourselves.
_______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/in-a-world-of-quick-slow-is-good
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Maturity in Christ Jesus
"Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ."
"Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every kind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."
~ Ephesians 4:11-16 (NLT)
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Insights from Job Part Five: Closing Arguments
~ One of the earliest stories in human history, The Book of Job is a foundational exploration of what it means to be human, how to relate to an Almighty God, and how to navigate the challenging (sometimes tragic) circumstances of daily life. This is the fifth of a seven part series that explores insights from The Book of Job and how to apply them to what we decide today.
Scripture Verses:
"Listen closely to what I am about to say. Hear me out. I have prepared my case; I will be proved innocent." ~ Job 13:17-18
When difficult circumstances find their way into our lives, we often react the way Job has in these verses. We petition for a trial. If God could just hear our case. If he would listen to our perspective on the matter…
It’s a tempting course. Our perspective on justice is inevitably biased and we are very likely to begin with the case already decided in our favor. We believe if we could just explain our situation to God, he would surely change things.
But God does not need more of our perspective. We need more of His. Even if our evidence makes a certain amount of sense, as it does with Job, the Lord understands what is going on at a deeper level than we do. He eventually tells Job as much in the verbal perspective-overhaul that closes the book.
A secret to living above our circumstances is to understand that God knows where we are coming from. He understands. He knows what we think and what we want even better than we do.
The circumstances of life are not accusations. They are simply the arena in which we must make our choices.
Job’s circumstances are tough. Really tough. So are many of ours. Like Job, we cannot wish away circumstances. And demanding our own verdict won’t work out the way we hope.
But we can always know that our Creator is present with us to teach and guide us through every circumstance. It is natural to seek comfortable circumstances, but the Eternal Judge offers us a better deal: we can seek our comfort in Him.
________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net/devotional/part-five-closing-arguments/
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Behold God’s Beautiful Creation
~ All of nature declares the majesty of the Almighty.
Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:1-31
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth with intention and precision. He spoke galaxies into existence, formed mountains and valleys, filled the seas with life, and adorned the earth with things of various colors and shapes. He surveyed His creation, declaring it to be “very good” (Genesis 1:31).
Beholding the wonders of creation allows us to catch a glimpse of divine artistry. The vibrant hues of a sunset, the delicate intricacy of a butterfly’s wings, and the grandeur of mountain ranges — all bear witness to the God’s endless wisdom and creativity.
Getting caught up in the mundane moments of life can make it easy to overlook the beauty around us. But when we slow down enough to take in God’s creation, it’s hard not to be filled with awe and gratitude. Each sunrise, chirping bird, and rustling leaf speaks of the Creator’s love for us. God’s declaration that His creation is “very good” reminds us of the inherent worth of all He has made, including us.
Pause for a moment to step outside and behold the beauty of God’s creation. Whether you look at a single blade of grass or the expanse of the sky, remember it all reflects the goodness of our Creator, who made every bit of it with love.
_______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/behold-god-s-beautiful-creation
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Mankind Spoke into Existence
"Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”
"So God created man in His own image;
"He created him in the image of God;
He created them male and female."
"God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.”
"God also said, “Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This food will be for you, for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth — everything having the breath of life in it. I have given every green plant for food.”
"And it was so.”
"God saw all that He had made, and it was very good."
______________
~ Genesis 1:26-31
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Bigfootbud, I appreciate the link to the information concerning the apparent “ground-breaking” new cancer fighting technology. I removed your message from this board, as well as, the other boards that I moderate due to the fact of it being 1. Spam - as the same message was posted on 3+ boards, and 2. The manner in which the message was worded lent itself to being a stock promotion - which would also be considered “Off-Topic”. Pray that you understand the reasons for removing your post. God bless!
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Joy in the Holy Spirit
~ Abiding with our Lord brings gifts that money can't buy.
Scripture Reading: Romans 14:13-17
In today’s passage, the apostle Paul writes, “[Do not] put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s or sister’s way … For if because of food your brother or sister is hurt, you are no longer walking in accordance with love” (vv. 13, 15). God’s kingdom isn’t about what we eat or drink — or any other “rule” we think we must follow. Rather, it’s about the transformative work of the Holy Spirit within us.
When we align with God’s righteousness, seeking His ways and His will, joy blossoms. The Holy Spirit, our Comforter and Guide, brings it to life within us. He reminds us of God’s love, assures us of our salvation, and empowers us to live in harmony with those around us. This is not some superficial or temporary happiness; it’s the fruit of the Spirit dwelling in us (Galatians 5:22-23) and transcends our circumstances.
Take a moment to reflect on the joy that comes from knowing God and seeking Him. This profound sense of stability and strength cannot be bought or manufactured — it flows from our connection to the Source of all joy and is a taste of the eternal pleasures that await us in God’s presence (Psalm 16:11).
_______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/joy-in-the-holy-spirit
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Fear in The Valley
“This is My command — be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” ~ Joshua 1:9
Fear is one of the long-term landlords in the valley of life. Actually, fear owns a little property in all three terrains. But it is the largest landowner in life’s valleys. The trials and tribulations of life are where we are most likely to experience fear.
Fear is arguably the strongest human emotion. Fear sometimes motivates us to avoid and sometimes to do. Fear is the emotion that demands action.
Like every circumstance, we should view an environment that elicits fear as an opportunity. Some of the greatest traits of humanity – courage, perseverance, and sacrifice - are impossible without fear. We overcome fear not by eliminating it but by persevering in spite of it.
In this verse, there is actually an embedded choice of whom or what to fear. Do we want our actions to be prioritized by fear of our circumstances? If we “tremble” or are “dismayed” we will likely also despair. We might surrender. But if our greater fear is disappointing God, missing out on the blessing He promises for our obedience, then the fear of the Lord can power us over fearful circumstances.
Scripture states plainly that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (see Proverbs 9:10). Placing our fear of God above all other fears leads to the obedience of courage. God calls us to be faith superheroes that run toward, rather than away from the pitched battles of life. Living faithfully will bring conflict with the world. God calls us to courage in Him. Because He is with us, wherever we go.
________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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Insights from Job Part Four: Job’s Choices
"Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything." ~ Job 1:22
No matter how bad things get for Job, there is one thing Satan cannot take away. His choices. Health and circumstances decline, to tragic degrees. But Job still exercises his ability to choose. No matter how bad it gets, he keeps deciding.
Satan’s bet is basically this: if circumstances get bad enough, either Job will make radically different choices that mirror his circumstances or forget he has choices and flow with the tide of tragedy.
Job’s friends try to lead him to this conclusion. The common sense of worldly wisdom would lead him there.
But Job makes another decision. He chooses faith in God. He chooses to trust his Creator. His circumstances don’t determine his decisions. Importantly, neither do his decisions determine his circumstances. Job’s choices transcend his circumstances. And this is the magic of obedience to God. It is bigger than the events, the arenas in which we decide. It doesn’t play by their rules.
We each have the same opportunity as Job. We cannot control circumstances by our decisions, but we can choose our perspective. And we can make decisions out of a place of trust.
Circumstances are a necessary setting for life to play out. But each day is about the choices we make in the drama we call “life.” Nothing is more important than the choices before us. And nothing in life negates those choices and their cosmic implications. The only way we lose our choice is by forfeit, which is in itself a choice.
_______________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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What's Really Important...
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowlege Him, and He will direct your paths.” ~ Proverbs 3:5-6
I recently heard from a man in his fifties. He said, "I've learned that the challenge of life is to find out what's important and to disregard everything else."
Not bad advice! It's really a shame to think about wasting your life on cotton candy, soda pop, television, and accumulating stuff while doing without what's really important. But so many folks actually live this way, totally missing out on the important things of life.
Missing the point can happen to dedicated and religious people, too. Jesus came down awfully hard on the people who spent a lot of time worrying about how to tithe tiny bits of spices but never bothered about the greater matters of the law: justice, mercy, love, and faith (Matthew 23:23).
I guess the question is, have you learned what really counts? Do you know how to disregard the other stuff?
God's Word is a pretty good guide in that search. So is seeking after the heart and wisdom of God! Only God can help us find the path to what's truly important!
________________
~ by Dr. Paul Faulkner
https://www.heartlight.org
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Refined Passions
“Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” ~ 2 Timothy 2:22
The world has a clever scheme. It feeds the lusts of the flesh. A flaming arrow of the enemy. The goal is to lure us like moths to a flame. The Bible’s recommended response is "flee".
The trap is a scheme of half-truths and superficial substitutes for our true longings. It is a scheme of short cuts. Like Satan offered Jesus. "Bow down and worship me and I will give you the kingdoms of the earth. Why wait and suffer when you can have it now?"
The flesh sells the idea that we can gain great profits without making investments. We can eat our seed corn and still have a harvest. Jesus knew better. He separated from Satan and followed the road of obedience - a road that led to the true fulfillment of His destiny as the King.
The path of Jesus is the way of life. Paul urges us to flee lusts and pursue righteousness. The Lord calls us to put away superficial attempts to feed our deepest passions. Instead, we are to do the hard work of chasing righteousness.
When we exercise the difficult decision to walk in the obedience of faith, our reward is peace, love and the fruits of righteousness. And the seed of this great blessing begins with fleeing.
_______________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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The Actor
"I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me, 15 as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep.” ~ John 10:14-15
There was once a Shakespearean actor who was known everywhere for his one-man shows of readings and recitations from the classics. He would always end his performance with a dramatic reading of Psalm 23.
Each night, without exception, as the actor began his recitation -- "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want"... the crowd would listen attentively. Then, at the conclusion of the Psalm, they would rise in thunderous applause in appreciation of the actor's incredible ability to bring the verse to life.
But one night, just before the actor was to offer his customary recital of Psalm 23, a young man from the audience spoke up, "Sir, do you mind if tonight I recite Psalm 23?". The actor was quite taken back by this unusual request, but he allowed the young man to come forward and stand front and center on the stage to recite the Psalm, knowing that the ability of this unskilled youth would be no match for his own talent.
With a soft voice, the young man began to recite the words of the Psalm. When he was finished, there was no applause. There was no standing ovation as on other nights. All that could be heard was the sound of weeping. The audience had been so moved by the young man's recitation that every eye was full of tears.
Amazed by what he had heard, the actor said to the youth, "I don't understand. I have been performing Psalm 23 for years. I have a lifetime of experience and training - but I have never been able to move an audience as you have tonight. Tell me, what is your secret?"
The young man quietly replied, "Well sir, you might know the Psalm... but I know the Shepherd."
________________
~ published by: The Daily Encourager
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The ostracization of Christians is picking up steam...
15 State Officials Warn Bank Of America About 'De-Banking' Of Christians:
A group of 15 financial officials from 13 states sent a notice to Bank of America, raising concerns about the institution’s “de-banking” of Christians.
“We write to express our concerns over Bank of America’s troubling track record of politicized de-banking. Bank of America’s de-banking policies and practices threaten the company’s financial health, its reputation with customers, our nation’s economy, and the civil liberties of everyday Americans,” the officials wrote in an April 18 letter to Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan.
“We are especially troubled by Bank of America’s track record of discriminating against religious ministries. Notable examples include Memphis-based charity Indigenous Advance Ministries, the Timothy Two Project, and Christian author and speaker Lance Wallnau.”
In April 2023, Bank of America shut down the account of Indigenous Advance Ministries, which partners with groups in the African nation of Uganda to provide care and education for orphaned and at-risk children. The bank closed accounts of a Memphis church which donated to the organization.
Bank of America provided “vague reasons” for the closure of these accounts, claiming the organization’s activities exceeded the institution’s “risk tolerance” and that it no longer wanted to serve its “business type.”
“Months later — after being confronted by an international media organization — the bank then claimed that it closed the accounts because the for-profit business engaged in ‘debt collection.’ Neither Indigenous Advance Ministries nor the church collect debts, nor was the bank able to point to any policy prohibiting account holders from engaging in such activities,” the letter said.
“In other words that rationale was a ruse, and even if legitimate, would only apply to one of the closed accounts.”
In 2020, the bank closed the account of Timothy Two Project International, which trains pastors in more than 65 nations. In a letter to the group, the bank claimed the closure was due to Timothy Two operating “a business type we have chosen not to service.”
The financial institution also froze the accounts of author Mr. Wallnau, alleging he was suspected of money laundering. However, the bank failed to provide any evidence supporting such accusations.
While the bank eventually unfroze the account, they required Mr. Wallnau to answer a series of invasive questions.
“This pattern of religious de-banking strongly suggests that systemic drivers of religious and political bias may be at work within Bank of America,” the letter said.
“One objective indicator of such a problem is the bank’s egregiously low score on the Viewpoint Diversity Score Business Index, the premier benchmark for measuring corporate respect for free speech and religious freedom. Bank of America scored a meager 8 percent out of a possible 100 percent.”
The letter pointed out that Bank of America’s vague terms of service allow them to deny services for political or religious views. For instance, the company’s policy says it can refuse services to clients deemed to “promote intolerance … or hate.”
This policy can be weaponized by the bank against clients who express certain views, which are protected by the First Amendment, the officials wrote.
“Bank of America funds and partners with anti-free speech organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and the Center for American Progress while preventing employees from giving to faith-based groups in their employee gift match program.”
Bank of America, being the second largest bank in the nation and a recipient of a host of government subsidies, is obligated to ensure equal access to marketplace for all Americans and “not play politics,” officials wrote.
The letter was written by officials from Alabama, Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Utah.
They demanded that the institution implement certain recommendations, including eliminating “existing viewpoint discriminatory terms” governing customers, updating its terms of service to include a commitment to not discriminate on the basis of religion or politics, and taking part in a survey to assess how the bank’s policies impact the civil liberties of its customers.
The Epoch Times reached out to the bank for comment.
De-banking of Conservatives:
The issue of de-banking conservatives has been a hot topic in recent years. A November 2022 statement signed by 60 financial professionals alleged that banks like JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Capital One, and Morgan Stanley were engaged in political or religious discrimination.
“JP Morgan Chase refused to process payments for a GOP-aligned organization,” it said.
In addition, the bank “shuttered the National Committee for Religious Freedom’s account without explanation, demanding that the nonprofit disclose its donors and provide a list of the political candidates it intends to support as a condition of resuming service.”
Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley refused to do business with organizations that raised “significant human rights, environmental, health, and safety or social responsibility issues.”
Similarly, credit behemoth Visa mandated that merchants do not use its services in any manner deemed “hateful.”
“What these vague, unspecified terms mean in practice is subject to the arbitrary interpretation of each of your companies, or any one of thousands of employees charged with enforcing them,” the statement said.
“Policies like these place customers and clients at risk of being ‘debanked’ simply because a company employee disagrees with their point of view on any number of contentious social issues.”
Meanwhile, states are taking action to end financial discrimination against conservatives by the banking industry.
Iowa earlier this year introduced Senate Study Bill 3094, which bans financial institutions from discriminating against customers using a “social credit score.”
The bill defines “social credit score” as any evaluation of a person’s “speech, religious exercise, association, expression, or conduct protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.”
If a financial institution is found violating the law, the attorney general can bring a civil action against the institution. A court can order the institution to pay damages, restitution, or other compensation.
In February, State Rep. Jason Zachary (R-Tenn.) introduced a similar bill in Tennessee. “This legislation prohibits the 20 largest banks in our country from denying financial services to any Tennessean based on political speech, religious belief, or a social credit score,” he said at a state House Banking and Consumer Affairs Committee hearing.
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/15-state-officials-warn-bank-america-about-de-banking-christians
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Amen and Amen brother plugger!
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The Mountain Mirage
“The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.” – Proverbs 15:19
One of the greatest dangers on the mountaintop is the temptation toward complacency. We long for the heights because we imagine a certain comfort there, an ease. We falsely believe reaching the mountains means we won’t have to struggle, or even work.
Laziness is not the anecdote to turmoil. The belief that apathy is any sort of cure is as false as it is rampant in the modern world.
The Lord does not promise us comfortable circumstances. He promises to be our comfort. The difference is massive. Apathy is a fool’s goal. Meaning requires work and sacrifice and struggle. And since God wants the best for us, He does not desire for us to sit on a throne and sleep.
This is the danger of the mountaintop and the danger of living under the circumstances. When we believe an improved circumstance will bring us happiness, we will be disappointed. “More” is the pot at the end of the rainbow - you can chase it but you will never find it.
The God of comfort is with us throughout all terrains. He is not here to ease the circumstance or deliver us into apathy. He is there to be our comfort and provide the transformational peace of His Presence in every circumstance.
______________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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Speaking Agape
“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” ~ John 13: 34-35
In the early 60s, Brother Andrew, a man from Holland, smuggled a load of Bibles in his VW across the Romanian border and past communist guards. He checked into a hotel and began praying that God would lead him to the right Christian groups - the ones who could best use his copies of the Scriptures.
That weekend Andrew walked up to the hotel clerk and asked where he might find a church. The clerk looked at him a little strangely and answered, "We don't have many of those you know. Besides you couldn't understand the language." "Didn't you know?" Andrew replied, "Christians speak a kind of universal language." "Oh, what's that?", asked the clerk. "It's called Agape." The clerk had never heard of it, but Andrew assured him. "It's the most beautiful language in the world."
Andrew was able to locate several church groups in the area and managed to arrange a meeting with the president and secretary of a certain denomination. Unfortunately, although both Andrew and these men knew several European languages, they found they had none in common. So there they sat staring at each other across the room.
Andrew had traveled thousands of dangerous miles with his precious cargo but there seemed no way of telling whether these men were genuine Christian brothers or government informants.
Finally, he spotted a Romanian Bible on a desk in the office. Andrew reached into his pocket and pulled out a Dutch Bible. He turned to 1 Corinthians 16:20 and held the Bible out, pointing to the name of the book, which they could recognize. Instantly their faces lit up.
They quickly found the same chapter and verse in their Romanian Bibles and read: "All the brothers here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss."
The men beamed back at Andrew. Then one of them looked throughout his Bible and found Proverbs 25:25. Andrew found the verse and read: "Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land." These men spent half an hour conversing and sharing - just through the words of Scripture. They were so happy in this fellowship that crossed all cultural boundaries that they laughed until tears came to their eyes. Andrew knew he had found his brothers. When he showed them his load of Bibles, the Romanians were overwhelmed and embraced him again and again.
That evening at the hotel, the clerk approached Andrew and remarked, "Say, I looked up 'agape' in the dictionary. There's no language by that name. That's just a Greek word for love." Andrew replied, "That's it. I was speaking in it all afternoon."
_______________
~ published by: The Daily Encourager
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The ostracization of Christians is picking up steam...
15 State Officials Warn Bank Of America About 'De-Banking' Of Christians:
A group of 15 financial officials from 13 states sent a notice to Bank of America, raising concerns about the institution’s “de-banking” of Christians.
“We write to express our concerns over Bank of America’s troubling track record of politicized de-banking. Bank of America’s de-banking policies and practices threaten the company’s financial health, its reputation with customers, our nation’s economy, and the civil liberties of everyday Americans,” the officials wrote in an April 18 letter to Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan.
“We are especially troubled by Bank of America’s track record of discriminating against religious ministries. Notable examples include Memphis-based charity Indigenous Advance Ministries, the Timothy Two Project, and Christian author and speaker Lance Wallnau.”
In April 2023, Bank of America shut down the account of Indigenous Advance Ministries, which partners with groups in the African nation of Uganda to provide care and education for orphaned and at-risk children. The bank closed accounts of a Memphis church which donated to the organization.
Bank of America provided “vague reasons” for the closure of these accounts, claiming the organization’s activities exceeded the institution’s “risk tolerance” and that it no longer wanted to serve its “business type.”
“Months later — after being confronted by an international media organization — the bank then claimed that it closed the accounts because the for-profit business engaged in ‘debt collection.’ Neither Indigenous Advance Ministries nor the church collect debts, nor was the bank able to point to any policy prohibiting account holders from engaging in such activities,” the letter said.
“In other words that rationale was a ruse, and even if legitimate, would only apply to one of the closed accounts.”
In 2020, the bank closed the account of Timothy Two Project International, which trains pastors in more than 65 nations. In a letter to the group, the bank claimed the closure was due to Timothy Two operating “a business type we have chosen not to service.”
The financial institution also froze the accounts of author Mr. Wallnau, alleging he was suspected of money laundering. However, the bank failed to provide any evidence supporting such accusations.
While the bank eventually unfroze the account, they required Mr. Wallnau to answer a series of invasive questions.
“This pattern of religious de-banking strongly suggests that systemic drivers of religious and political bias may be at work within Bank of America,” the letter said.
“One objective indicator of such a problem is the bank’s egregiously low score on the Viewpoint Diversity Score Business Index, the premier benchmark for measuring corporate respect for free speech and religious freedom. Bank of America scored a meager 8 percent out of a possible 100 percent.”
The letter pointed out that Bank of America’s vague terms of service allow them to deny services for political or religious views. For instance, the company’s policy says it can refuse services to clients deemed to “promote intolerance … or hate.”
This policy can be weaponized by the bank against clients who express certain views, which are protected by the First Amendment, the officials wrote.
“Bank of America funds and partners with anti-free speech organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and the Center for American Progress while preventing employees from giving to faith-based groups in their employee gift match program.”
Bank of America, being the second largest bank in the nation and a recipient of a host of government subsidies, is obligated to ensure equal access to marketplace for all Americans and “not play politics,” officials wrote.
The letter was written by officials from Alabama, Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Utah.
They demanded that the institution implement certain recommendations, including eliminating “existing viewpoint discriminatory terms” governing customers, updating its terms of service to include a commitment to not discriminate on the basis of religion or politics, and taking part in a survey to assess how the bank’s policies impact the civil liberties of its customers.
The Epoch Times reached out to the bank for comment.
De-banking of Conservatives:
The issue of de-banking conservatives has been a hot topic in recent years. A November 2022 statement signed by 60 financial professionals alleged that banks like JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Capital One, and Morgan Stanley were engaged in political or religious discrimination.
“JP Morgan Chase refused to process payments for a GOP-aligned organization,” it said.
In addition, the bank “shuttered the National Committee for Religious Freedom’s account without explanation, demanding that the nonprofit disclose its donors and provide a list of the political candidates it intends to support as a condition of resuming service.”
Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley refused to do business with organizations that raised “significant human rights, environmental, health, and safety or social responsibility issues.”
Similarly, credit behemoth Visa mandated that merchants do not use its services in any manner deemed “hateful.”
“What these vague, unspecified terms mean in practice is subject to the arbitrary interpretation of each of your companies, or any one of thousands of employees charged with enforcing them,” the statement said.
“Policies like these place customers and clients at risk of being ‘debanked’ simply because a company employee disagrees with their point of view on any number of contentious social issues.”
Meanwhile, states are taking action to end financial discrimination against conservatives by the banking industry.
Iowa earlier this year introduced Senate Study Bill 3094, which bans financial institutions from discriminating against customers using a “social credit score.”
The bill defines “social credit score” as any evaluation of a person’s “speech, religious exercise, association, expression, or conduct protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.”
If a financial institution is found violating the law, the attorney general can bring a civil action against the institution. A court can order the institution to pay damages, restitution, or other compensation.
In February, State Rep. Jason Zachary (R-Tenn.) introduced a similar bill in Tennessee. “This legislation prohibits the 20 largest banks in our country from denying financial services to any Tennessean based on political speech, religious belief, or a social credit score,” he said at a state House Banking and Consumer Affairs Committee hearing.
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/15-state-officials-warn-bank-america-about-de-banking-christians
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Insights from Job Part Three: Adversity
"You speak as a foolish person speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept only good from God and not adversity?” Throughout all this Job did not sin in what he said." ~ Job 2:10
Life is full of adversity. We lose loved ones, get fired from jobs, suffer miscarriages, and experience rejection. The story of Job is famous in part because of the extremity of the main character’s adversity. It is this very thing that makes Job so relatable. And it is Job’s response that makes the story inspirational.
Adversities are a constant ingredient of life. We would prefer to have only easy situations, perfect settings, and good circumstances. But the fall of man has made it so that this existence, in some way or another, is going to be like Job’s.
There are times when it feels like we are brimming with adversity. When we “can’t find a win”. Life is tough. Being human is not for the faint of heart.
Just as we relate to Job’s situation, we have an opportunity to replicate his response.
Job “accepts” adversity as an opportunity to trust God. He did not go looking for adversity. But he acknowledges the reality of it and the choice he has in its midst. And he chose to live righteously.
Nothing about adversity is easy. We cannot completely avoid it. We cannot control it. What we can do is follow the example of Job and not let adversity define us. Not allow it to lead us into sin. We can see it as an opportunity for worship. A chance to trust. An invitation to be an example. A catalyst to know God by faith.
________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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Thank You Father
Dear God:
I want to thank You for what You have already done.
I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards; I am thanking You right now.
I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I am thanking You right now.
I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me; I am thanking You right now.
I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears; I am thanking You right now.
I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves; I am going to thank You right now.
I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet; I am going to thank You right now.
I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job; I am going to thank You right now.
I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief; I am going to thank You right now.
I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed; I am thanking You right now.
I am thanking You because I am alive.
I am thanking You because I made it through the day's difficulties.
I am thanking You because I have walked around the obstacles.
I am thanking You because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.
I'm thanking You Father, because You haven't given up on me.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” ~ Philippians 4:13
__________________
~ published by: The Daily Encourager
To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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God Has Time for You
~ Just as God is never too busy for us, we need to slow down enough to give others the gift our time.
Scripture Reading: Mark 10:46-52
Time is precious. It’s a tremendously valuable gift that we can give to others. And Jesus showed us how to manage our time well. One important way He demonstrated His love for mankind was by being available.
The Lord had much to accomplish in His few years of earthly ministry. But wherever He went, He was sensitive to the needs of the people around Him and reached out in love to help.
In this month’s Bible study, we saw that shortly before going to the cross, Jesus stopped to help a poor blind beggar — a “nobody” in the eyes of society. Although the redemption of mankind was vitally important, the Lord cared enough about the suffering of one person to stop and do what He could to provide relief.
If Jesus stopped on the way to the cross in order to help someone, will He not also stop and listen when you call out to Him in your distress? He is never too busy to listen to one of His beloved children.
We are stewards of all that God gives us, including our time.
How can you, like Jesus, reach out in love today and give someone the gift of your availability?
_______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/god-has-time-for-you
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Track Layer
“For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” ~ Ephesians 2:10
We have a race marked out for us. A journey prepared beforehand to which we've been called. An adventure that's been laid upon us, a path for good works. We have a job to do, a special assignment.
In the adventure of life, Jesus is the tracklayer. He lays out the path. He guides us through the twists and the turns. He fires the starter's pistol to get us out of the blocks and run the race. He is also the judge that pulls the tape to let us know we’ve finished.
Along the way we have jobs to do. People to touch. Stewardship to embrace. Responsibilities to discharge. Service to render.
The only way we even begin to fulfill this divine calling is because we are given the strength to perform great deeds by God’s grace. This is what we were made to do. He's already prepared the way. What remains is for us to choose to follow the path he has forged.
How do we know we are walking in the path God prepared?
Certainly not by our circumstances - that's just terrain. We walk in Jesus’ way when we engage with whatever circumstances we have with faithfulness. When we walk in obedience to the chances we've been given.
Let's not look for opportunity to serve. Let's serve with the opportunities we have. That's our divine occupation.
________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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The Truth About Salvation
"Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” And they shared the Word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household." ~ Acts 16:30-32
Do you ever wonder if faith in Jesus is really the only way to be saved?
Satan is a crafty liar who will twist God’s Word to cause confusion. In order to steer people away from following Christ, he tries to create the impression that eventually everyone will make it to heaven. But that is not what Scripture teaches.
The truth is, we can choose to reject the salvation that Jesus Christ freely offers. John’s gospel tells us:
“For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.” ~ John 3:17-18
The Word of God clearly states that whoever believes in Jesus will be saved:
"For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." ~ John 3:16
The Bible also stresses that we make this choice during our earthly life — there will be no further opportunities once we die.
So, if you would like to be sure of your salvation, you can do so by inviting Jesus to be your personal Savior. God, who wants you to spend eternity with Him, offers compelling reasons to make this all-important decision:
“The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but those that refuse to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on them.” ~ John 3:36
There are no more chances to place faith in the Savior after death. The free gift of salvation is available only in this life — and only through Jesus:
"Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." ~ John 14:6
Receive Him now, and you will never have to wonder what awaits you in eternity.
_______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
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Likewise my friend - I am also looking forward to the rapture! I am also happy that the Lord has tarried this long though, as it gives more time for the lost souls to repent. As the Lord points out in 2 Peter 3:9 - “He does not wish for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance”.
Have a blessed Sunday!
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The Daily Article — April 19, 2024
Israel conducted a strike in Iran early this morning in what appears to be its first military response to Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel last weekend.
Fars news agency, which is affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that explosions were heard in the city of Isfahan in central Iran near an air force base. Iranian state TV also reported that several drones were shot down by air defenses in the city.
The limited scale of the attack and Iran’s muted response both seem to signal a successful effort by diplomats working to avert all-out war after Iran’s drone and missile attack on Israel last Saturday. Tehran is playing down the incident and indicates it has no plans to respond. In fact, they referred to the incident as an attack by “infiltrators” rather than by Israel, obviating the need for retaliation.
According to Israeli officials, their leaders came close to ordering widespread strikes in Iran on the night Iran attacked. However, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to American President Joe Biden, and because the damage was limited, the war cabinet postponed a decision.
Rather than launching a response that would intensify the conflict with Iran, Israel chose a limited action aimed at military targets. Its response was reportedly intended to show Iran that Israel can strike within its borders, but without provoking a larger escalation. In turn, Iranian state-run media sought to minimize the incident, airing footage of an otherwise peaceful Isfahan morning.
“As long as Iran continues to deny the attack and deflect attention from it and no further hits are seen, there is space for both sides to climb down the escalation ladder for now,” according to Sanam Vakil, the director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House.
We can be grateful that leaders in Israel and Iran have apparently chosen the path of de-escalation, since an all-out war between their nations would affect the world in a number of dire ways:
• Oil supplies would be threatened, sending oil prices skyward and damaging the global economy.
• A conflict could trigger a sell-off in the global stock market, with oil-based sectors such as automobiles, transportation, and aviation taking the greatest hit.
• Such a war would likely bring Hezbollah more fully into the conflict, threatening all of Israel with its rocket and missile systems and formidable ground forces.
• And Iran could develop nuclear weapons, a step it has avoided thus far through fear of military escalation with Israel and the US.
However, we should not interpret the motives of Iranian and Israeli leaders so altruistically.
In his perceptive book "Why Politics Fails", Oxford professor Ben Ansell writes:
"The basic model underlying political economy is that everyone is selfish, or at the very least self-interested. You have a set of things that you want, and you’ll do your utmost to get them. Self-interest is everywhere. It explains why we do what we do. And why we should expect others to do that as well."
This is why, as British Prime Minister Henry John Temple stated in the mid-1800s:
“Nations do not have permanent friends or enemies, only interests.”
His sentiment was echoed most famously by former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, but it applies to all nations across all of history:
"Leaders in democracies are elected to advance the interests of the people they serve. However, it is in their self-interest to do so effectively enough to be reelected. Leaders in autocracies typically act to their personal benefit. In both cases, if we can determine what is in their self-interest, we can typically predict their behavior."
It is in Israel’s self-interest not to escalate conflict directly with Iran while it confronts the existential threat of Hamas in Gaza along with Hezbollah on its northern border, militias in Syria and Iraq, jihadists in the West Bank, and the Houthis in Yemen. It is in Iran’s self-interest to wage its war with Israel through proxies rather than in ways that directly endanger its military and economy.
Thus, the long-running “shadow war” between the two nations has apparently returned to its previous status quo — at least for now.
How to discover if you are a servant:
There is only one way to escape the “will to power” by which we strive to be our own god (Genesis 3:5), and that is to experience the transformation by which God’s Spirit remakes us in the image of God’s Son so that we manifest the character of the God who “is” love (1 John 4:8). The “fruit” of this Spirit in our lives is “love,” translating the Greek agape, which refers to the unconditional, self-sacrificial commitment to put the other person first (Galatians 5:22).
When we submit our lives every day to the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), He enables us to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). He empowers us to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). With His help, we can break the cycle of retribution by forgiving as we have been forgiven and loving as we are loved.
Today’s news highlights the binary choice I discussed yesterday: to treat people as instrumentally valuable to the degree that they are means to our ends, or to treat them as intrinsically valuable as sacred bearers of the imago Dei (Genesis 1:27).
The former perpetuates the wars between nations and conflicts between people that have blighted humanity across our history. The latter is the path to God’s best for ourselves and our world as we emulate the One who “came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
To discover if you are truly a servant, see how you respond the next time someone treats you like one.
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~ published by: Denison Ministries
https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/israel-retaliates-against-iran/
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Insights from Job Part Two: The Arena of Circumstance
"You clothed me with skin and flesh, and wove me together with bones and tendons." ~ Job 10:11
Many scholars believe Job is the most ancient of Biblical texts. If this is true, the story of Job serves as a kind of preface to the rest of the text. It sets the stage, as it were, for creation and the prophets and the nation of Israel and the life/death/resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It seems a poetic possibility. Because Job addresses some fundamentally tough questions:
• Why does God allow bad things to happen?
• Why do the innocent suffer?
• What benefit is there in all this for humanity?
When reading the book of Job, it is hard not to feel a cringe of familiarity when Satan is allowed to play a part in the circumstances. His allowance to alter Job’s settings feels very close to home.
Perhaps the reason for all of this is that God wants to communicate in this preface that the battle for humanity will play out in the arena of circumstance. Satan and his dominions will be there, including the inclinations of the flesh. So will the Spirit. And the mysterious Creator of all things. But central casting in the drama is humanity. And the drama’s tension is this question: “What choices will they make?”
It is a question as relevant for us as it was for Job. The world has been created. The board has been set and the players are in position. What choices will we make in the midst of the arena, in the world of opportunity set before us?
_______________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net/devotional/part-two-the-arena-of-circumstance/
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Soil Matters
~ Are you ready to hear from God?
Scripture Reading: Matthew 13:1-9
When teaching the crowds, the Lord often used parables, which were hard to understand in the moment. Yet now that we have the full revelation of God, these short stories serve as wonderful examples of what it means to live a life of faith.
One parable Jesus told was about a farmer planting seeds that fell in different places: on a path, in shallow soil, among thorns, and on fertile ground. He ended the story with, “The ones who have ears, let them hear” (Matthew 13:9). Afterward, the disciples asked Jesus why He chose to teach this way, and He explained that not everyone was willing to hear spiritual truth. But He told the Twelve, “Blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear” (Matthew 13:16). As believers, we are blessed in the same way.
However, learning how to listen to (and act upon) what we hear from the Lord takes time and practice; it’s not a process one can rush through. The fertile soil that Jesus mentions in verse 8 is a heart prepared to hear and respond to His Word (Matthew 13:23). By spending time in prayer and scriptural meditation, we can “rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us” (Hebrews 12:1). In that way, we can become even better, more attuned listeners.
What is one thing you can do today to prepare your heart to receive God’s Word?
________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/soil-matters
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The Charles Stanley Institute
What is the Charles Stanley Institute?
The Charles Stanley Institute is the disciple-training arm of In Touch Ministries. It exists to provide believers with sound biblical instruction so they can know God, learn to listen to Him, walk with Him, take hold of all for which He created them, and live the abundant Christian life.
Did Dr. Stanley know about the Charles Stanley Institute?
Yes. Before he went home to the Lord, Dr. Stanley expressed his desire for In Touch Ministries to continue broadcasting his messages and keep making disciples worldwide. As he and the current president and CEO of In Touch, Phillip Bowen, prayed, God gave them the idea for the Charles Stanley Institute to carry on the mission. Dr. Stanley even took part in choosing key team members — people he trusted to teach the Word of God as he would.
Who will teach at the Charles Stanley Institute?
The Charles Stanley Institute is based on Dr. Stanley’s teachings, and in each class, you’ll begin with his messages. However, there will also be new materials that align with his teachings — such as instructional videos, Bible studies, and leader guides. Those resources are authored by people who worked closely with Dr. Stanley for decades, including individuals he specially chose for the team. You may see some new presenters on the videos but be assured that everyone on the team works together to obey God, align with His Word, and stay true to Dr. Stanley’s legacy. This team is dedicated to Dr. Stanley’s heart and vision for the future of the ministry.
What is the relationship between the Charles Stanley Institute and In Touch Ministries?
The Charles Stanley Institute is a ministry initiative developed by In Touch Ministries to fulfill its mission to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and strengthen the local church.
Is there an actual physical Charles Stanley Institute? If so, may I visit?
Currently, a classroom training site is in development at the In Touch Ministries headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and will be available in the near future. However, we are currently unable to accommodate students.
Is the Charles Stanley Institute accredited or recognized by any educational authorities?
Currently, the Charles Stanley Institute is not accredited, but we’re working on it.
_______________
The Charles Stanley Institute is a series of free online courses that will assist you in the development of strengthening your relationship with the Lord. Check out the short video and additional information from the following link:
https://charlesstanleyinstitute.org/
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This message ties back to that “thorn in our flesh", "that so easily ensnares us”. Those small “one-offs” that hide in that tiny corner of our hearts that I believe we all struggle with as we walk through this dark world that is not our home. But, praise be to God - we don’t walk it alone, and the Holy Spirit is our constant companion helping us to shine the Light of Christ in and through us - even as we struggle at times to fight-off the “messenger of satan”. Have a most blessed weekend!
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Seeing Through God's Eyes
"They mourned, wept, and fasted until the evening for those who died by the sword — for Saul, his son Jonathan, the Lord’s people, and the house of Israel." ~ 2 Samuel 1:12
How would you respond if you heard something bad happened to someone who had been trying to cut off your head for several years?
King Saul had been seeking to kill David for many years before Saul was thrust into battle against the Amalekites. In this final battle, a sword killed Saul. When the news reached David, instead of rejoicing that his enemy was no longer a problem for him, he responded in a totally different manner. He mourned. Imagine that; he mourned for the one who sought to kill him.
This is a sign of one who can look past an individual who is the source of pain and consider how God views him. God looks on that individual and sees his needs and knows why he responds the way he does. When we begin to see people as God does, we'll no longer look at them as enemies, but as souls in need of grace. This is how Jesus could give of His life for us. He saw our great need, not what we did to Him.
When someone wrongs you, do you seek to retaliate, or do you pray to understand the need behind the offender's actions?
For several years a person was a source of constant pain and retaliation toward me. There was nothing I could do to change it. God allowed me to go beyond the person's actions to understand what was the source of his need. When I gained that understanding, God gave me a picture of this person inside a prison cell and in bondage. This bondage made him respond to life in this way. I was able to pray for him and genuinely love him in spite of the fact that he persecuted me. This is the kind of love Jesus wants us to have when He tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who spitefully use us.
I believe God does a special work of grace in those who go beyond the realm of normal response to persecution. He brings us to a level of grace we never thought possible. Describing how God worked in Joseph's life, Francis Frangipane reveals what happens when we tap into this grace:
"God made him fruitful in the very things that afflicted him. In the land of your affliction, in your battle, is the place where God will make you fruitful. Consider, even now, the area of greatest affliction in your life. In that area, God will make you fruitful in such a way that your heart will be fully satisfied, and God's heart fully glorified. God has not promised to keep us from valleys and sufferings, but to make us fruitful in them." [Francis Frangipane, Place of Immunity (Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Arrow Publications, 1996), 93]
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~ by Os HIllman (TGIF - Today God Is First)
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The Daily Article — April 18, 2024
The comedian and abortion advocate Bill Maher made headlines this week when he admitted that abortion “kind of is” murder. Then he stated, “I’m just okay with that. I am. I mean there’s eight billion people in the world. I’m sorry, we won’t miss you. That’s my position on it.”
Maher’s honesty exposes the deepest fault line in American culture. It is not between Democrats and Republicans, or between believers and secularists, or between any other two commonly identified demographics. It is between those who consider life to be inherently sacred and those who consider it to be an instrumental means to other ends.
The latter would likely not describe their position as I have. But as I’ll explain today, this is in fact how they view their fellow humans, with implications that touch every dimension of our existence from conception to death.
There is no more urgent battle for the minds of Americans than this.
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On April 1, an Israeli military strike on a building adjacent to the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, killed senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leaders responsible for Iran’s terrorist activities against Israel in Lebanon and Syria. This is how wars are typically fought — by one nation’s military against its opponent’s military.
In response, Iran targeted not a few military leaders but the nation they serve.
Hamas terrorizes civilians as well, both Palestinian and Israeli. They stole a billion dollars intended for aid to Palestinian civilians and used it to build military tunnels that shelter no Palestinian civilians. Then they attacked Israel in a way they knew would provoke a response by the IDF but took no steps to protect the civilians they supposedly serve or even to warn them.
According to the independent Lancet Commission, Hamas’s actions on October 7 “constitute crimes against humanity including genocide.” By contrast, according to America’s defense secretary, the US has seen no evidence that Israel has committed genocide in its response.
Israel does not seek to kill Arabs; in fact, 20 percent of its nation is comprised of Arab civilians. But Hamas seeks the “annihilation” of the Jews, whom they consider to be “apes and pigs” (Qur’an 5:60). The difference between the two is simple:
If Hamas were to lay down its weapons, not another Palestinian civilian would be endangered. If the IDF were to lay down its weapons, every Israeli civilian would be endangered.
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This choice between human life as intrinsically or instrumentally valuable touches every aspect of our society.
The view of human life as only instrumentally valuable is what enables Hamas and Iran to murder Jews as a means of advancing their version of Islam. It is what empowers racists, enslavers, pornographers, adulterers, sex traffickers, and abortion and euthanasia providers.
In fact, this issue goes to the very heart of our democratic experiment.
There is a reason America’s Founders embraced the declaration that “all men are created equal” at the risk of their lives. They knew the alternative: a class-driven society in which monarchs and despots rule their subjects. This is precisely what they sought independence from as they birthed what Abraham Lincoln would later call “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
This is a binary choice: our leaders serve us as their co-equals, or we serve them as our superiors.
If we no longer believe that our governmental institutions can be trusted to serve us, that our votes count and our elected officials will do what we elect them to do, and that our courts will administer justice fairly to all citizens, our democracy is imperiled.
Sharing our faith through our works and words is vital to the future of our nation. The “will to power,” the drive to be our own god (Genesis 3:5), lives within each fallen soul. It takes the transforming work of the Spirit in a life given to Christ to birth in us that unconditional love for others which is so vital to our consensual democracy (Galatians 5:22).
Stated succinctly: “We love because God first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
When we experience life as God’s Beloved, we are empowered to love as we are loved. We see every person we meet as someone for whom our Savior died. We know that they will spend eternity either with our Father in His paradise or separated from Him in hell.
David Jeremiah was right: “If we understand what lies ahead for those who do not know Christ, there will be a sense of urgency in our witness.”
The key is simple but transforming: when we yield our lives to God’s Spirit today (Ephesians 5:18-21), He will manifest the character of Christ through us (Romans 8:29). Our words will be anointed and empowered by Him (Luke 12:12). And we will be “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:11).
The great Scottish revivalist Duncan Campbell observed:
“It is the signature of the Holy Ghost upon our work and witness that makes all the difference.”
How obvious is His “signature” in your life today?
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~ published by: Denison Ministries
https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/bill-maher-says-abortion-kind-of-is-murder/
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An Impactful Prayer
~ We know our requests align with God's will when they come directly from Scripture.
Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:1-14
Today’s passage includes a life-changing prayer, written by Paul to the believers at Colossae. Here’s what makes this prayer so powerful: Every request is in agreement with God’s will.
In verse 9, Paul asked that the Colossians be filled with knowledge of what the Father desires from His children. The way this happens is by spending time with God — talking with Him, reading His Word, and seeking His will. It includes His general purposes for all believers — such as loving Him and people (Luke 10:27) — as well as His specific plan for each one of us (Ephesians 2:10).
Paul knew that to apply what we learn, we need insight and clarity, which come from the Holy Spirit (John 16:13). So he asked God to give the believers at Colossae spiritual wisdom and understanding. But this is also a request we can make for those who don’t yet know Christ. After all, it’s not God’s desire for any to perish (2 Peter 3:9), and people need spiritual understanding in order to come to faith.
Our heavenly Father has promised that those who pray in agreement with His purposes will receive what they ask. Therefore, it is important to start by discovering what His plans are. Try incorporating scriptural prayers — like the one from today’s passage — into your conversations with the Lord.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/an-impactful-prayer
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A Season of Hope
“Through Him [Christ Jesus] we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” ~ Romans 5:2-5
The roller coaster is a ride of anticipation. Hope boils as we wait in long, winding lines for the adventure of a two-minute ride. Once we’re on the coaster, it starts with the slow ascent, the track clicking along the way. From the moment it reaches the apex and plummets down until the end of the ride, it is all about hope. The surprise joy of the next turn.
The same is true for our “two-minute ride” on this earth. Our lives are brief. James calls it a “wisp of vapor”. Along the way, the twists and turns can be terrifying. The waits can be excruciating. The joys overwhelming.
No matter what is happening to us, it is shaping us for the next season. The next turn. The next rise or dip. It is preparing us for the next chapter. For our existence is eternal. And that eternity is shaped by what we do during this “wisp of vapor”, our two-minute ride on Earth.
Somewhat ironically, this perspective of hope is the best way to enjoy our present. Life is infused with anticipation. Things are not just randomly happening to us. There is a story at play. The track is connected. Someway. Somehow. Living in the moment requires the paradox of hoping for what is to come. Such is the nature of imperfection.
Perspective is our opportunity to harness anticipation, to see beyond ourselves, and to be filled with that most important of human qualities – hope. Life is hard and sometimes the dips can be painful. Sometimes the speed freezes us. And sometimes the joy comes bursting out. All of it is life. All of it is a call to true perspective.
All of it is hope.
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~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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Megaphones for Christ
~ There are countless reasons — and countless ways — to praise God and share Him with others.
Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Picture this: You’re at a professional football game. There are thousands of people in the stands, all cheering as if their shouts are actually willing their team to victory. Now think about your faith. How many believers do you know who put that same passion and intensity into their relationship with Jesus?
In his letter to the church at Thessalonica, the apostle Paul rejoiced in the young congregation’s passion for telling the world about Christ. Because the city was a busy seaport, he knew that the church there had the ear of the whole world. Travelers would hear the gospel and then take it back to their own communities.
By saying that the word of the Lord had “sounded forth” from the church (1 Thessalonians 1:8), Paul painted a powerful word picture. In Greek, this verb refers to a sound that projects like a trumpet blast or thunder. So, Paul was praising the Thessalonians for being living megaphones proclaiming Christ.
As followers of Jesus, we have the responsibility of sharing who He is and what He has done. Shout it from the rooftops! Fill entire stadiums with the thunder of your praise! Don’t just show the people around you who your favorite sports team is. Make sure they know who your Savior is, too.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/megaphones-for-christ
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Taking Courage
“When they saw Him [Jesus] walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw Him and were terrified. Immediately He spoke with them and said, “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” ~ Mark 6:49-50
One of the interesting things about this story is that Jesus gives the disciples the recipe for courage. We gain courage by knowing God and choosing to trust Him.
A lot of times we think of courage as the absence of discomfort. But it is really about choosing whom to trust in the midst of discomfort.
The disciples originally think Jesus is a ghost. It is night time and there is a figure wading across the water. They’ve constructed myths and narratives to explain what they are seeing.
We do the same thing. We are sure when trouble arrives that we are done for. The end has come. We are sure there is no coming back from this circumstance. We are so ready to be afraid. So ready to give up. So ready to adopt the false perspectives that are clanging around this world.
Jesus offers another way. He invites the disciples to “take” courage. How? By knowing the truth. By trusting. We get our courage from the presence of Jesus. He is extending it to us; it is something only possible through a trust in who He is, an extension of knowing "The Truth".
The preceding verses say that Jesus intended to walk by them to the other side of the lake. But He stops and gets in the boat to comfort His disciples. In the most startling of circumstances, His presence is the source of our courage.
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~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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