Another story baby left in a hot car on a summer day how many children must die before we get enough Sense to know that Leaving babies in hot cars is deadly. 

Crime has gone up more than 30%, yet people crying defund the police.

Common Sense does not seem to be that common in today's world, and we have people suing fast-food restaurants for serving hot coffee. 

Do they not realize that typically coffee is hot?

Even if they make coffee at home, it will be hot. Where is Common Sense?

There are warning labels on hair dryers that say do not submerge them in the water. I do not know about you, but I know that electricity and water do not mix.

 Knives that come in boxes warn us that the blade is sharp. I do not know too many knives that are not sharp or razor blades that may not.

It appears that some people do not seem to understand that common Sense has taken a backseat to idiotic Behavior.

 You know this idiotic Behavior is also coming from elected leaders. This is real American.

 You got people that want to sue people for using the n-word. What is the N-word is no different from any other racial slur, be as a racial slur towards a white person, Asian person, Hispanic person, or Jewish person it is all racism. 

All racist comments should be treated equally, not just the n-word because it is based on a Black and white Society.

This nation is not just a nation made up of Black and white people.

This nation has lost its common sense and has taken a backseat to idiotic I do not get it; I believe that clear thinking has left the building.

Many have given up on clear thinking, perhaps because of fear of losing their power or jobs. 

if we dig deeper into the word of God word, we can learn from proverbs wisdom discretion is and what is needed most in the world.

That brings life and Grace if we will put what is clear thinking life of benefit, we need to focus on doing things that make sense and that start from the president down to all individuals. 

We all need just to practice clear thinking, and it would be beneficial to us all if we just focus on doing things that make sense and think before we speak it, and before we act, we need to make and use common Sense again. 

I pray that we can do that sooner than later.

In Proverbs 8:5 some translations speak of the need to develop "common sense," which other translations simply call "prudence" or "discretion." Common Sense is sound judgment in practical matters. Biblically, common Sense can be thought of as a combination of wisdom and discretion (Proverbs 3:21; 8:12–14). Wisdom knows what to do; discretion knows when and where to do it.

Common Sense is sound judgment in practical matters. In Proverbs 8:5 some translations speak of the need to develop "common sense," which other translations simply call "prudence" or "discretion." Biblically, common Sense can be thought of as a combination of wisdom and discretion (Proverbs 3:21; 8:12–14). Wisdom is knowing what to do; discretion is knowing when and where to do it.

Part of being a fool is having no common sense or being "void of understanding," as the KJV puts it (Proverbs 7:7; 24:30). 

The book of Proverbs proclaims the benefits of gaining wisdom and also shows the folly of being a fool (Proverbs 13:16; 16:22; 26:11). 

Proverbs 3:13–14 says, "Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold." Wisdom allows us to see life the way God does. When we seek God's perspective, we can make decisions based upon their eternal significance rather than selfish interest. 

When we choose to make decisions based on wisdom alone, we are exercising Common Sense.

The desire for instant gratification is the enemy of common Sense. Many people have become ensnared in trouble and heartache because they rejected a wise path and sought instead immediate satisfaction. 

Common Sense is often developed by learning from the consequences of such poor choices—the school o

Freedom as we know it is under attack, be it freedom of speech or Christian liberties and so much more.Please wake up American citizens. If up do not stand up for something, you will fall for anything.Take time to research your constitutional rights. Did you know that the 4th amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Through the Fourth Amendment, the Constitution protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. However, the Fourth Amendment is not a guarantee against all searches and seizures, but only those that are deemed unreasonable under the law. 

Or the 8th amendment protects against Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. I would encourage you to search the laws of each state and the constitutional laws as well; it is your choice, your freedom.

Webster’s dictionary defines freedom of speech as “the right to express facts and opinions subject only to reasonable limitations (as the power of the government to protect itself from a clear and present danger) guaranteed by the 1st and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution and similar provisions of some state constitutions.” According to this definition, freedom of speech is a right given to the citizens of the United States by law. In that sense, freedom of speech is not a biblical concept but a political one specific to a particular time and place in history.

The founders of the United States believed that humankind has certain “inalienable rights,” including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Thomas Jefferson spoke of these rights as having been endowed to man by his Creator; he called the right to liberty “inherent” and postulated that governments are instituted in order to allow man (the governed) to secure those rights and to pursue his rights freely.

In Jefferson's mind, the liberty and consent of the governed were imperative for governments to be efficient and beneficial. Under that umbrella of privilege falls freedom of speech.

The idea that the Creator has endowed us with the right to liberty is debatable, but God indeed created man with a free will. Adam and Eve had the liberty to partake of any fruit in the garden (except one), and they even had the liberty to disobey. God created man to serve Him, to know Him, and to enjoy Him forever in eternity, so liberty within the bounds of righteousness is certainly a biblical ideal. Christians believe that serving God and enjoying a relationship with Him is the ultimate liberty. The ultimate freedom is found in belonging to Christ (Galatians 5:1; 2 Corinthians 3:17). Sin brings bondage (Romans 7:14), but the one who belongs to Christ is spiritually free (Romans 8:2).

But does that spiritual freedom from sin entail political freedom of speech? Perhaps not directly, but speaking the truth in love is a biblical mandate (Ephesians 4:15). Therefore, any government law that guarantees citizens the right to speak the truth aligns with godly principles. By the same token, any law that suppresses a person’s right to speak truth is working against God’s command. Freedom of speech does not guarantee that truth is told, of course, but it does permit it to be told. In the final analysis, there is no conflict between biblical principles and the civic principle of freedom of speech.The Bible states emphatically in Galatians 5:1 that believers are free in Christ: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1).

Before Jesus died on a cross, God’s people lived under a detailed system of laws that served as a moral compass to guide their lives. The Law, while powerless to grant salvation or produce true freedom, nevertheless pointed the way to Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:19–24). Through His sacrificial death, Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law, setting believers free from the law of sin and death. God’s laws are now written in our hearts through the Spirit of God, and we are free to foll

STRESS THE SILENT KILLER

 

We are going into the third year of this pandemic, and this has been a very stressful time. Many of us had to deal mentally and financially with many hardships, and we have our political leaders invoking fear of this pandemic. I have been highly stressed doing this pandemic coping with my medical issues, and just dealing with the health and welfare of my family stress is also known as the silent killer.

 

Stress is a reaction of the body due to any change leading to physical, mental, or emotional tension. It may arise from any occurrence that leads to frustrations, anger, and nervousness. The body's reaction to these feelings is stress.

Stress may bring a positive or negative effect, depending on how it is handled. Stress response may be beneficial in protecting the body. However, stress has harmful effects, becoming a severe chronic condition if not well managed.

I honestly believe that our political leaders have placed a lot of stress upon the American people. I read that Colorado has one of the highest suicide rates in the nation among adolescents ages 11 through 18, which is pretty horrifying. In a lot of this came from not having social interaction with their peers.

It had been said that the COVID-19 pandemic increased its suicide depression anxiety in many other health issues that were not COVID related. I'm sure that perhaps this number went down, at least according to the CDC. I am not sure because numbers can be manipulated just as numbers have been conducted about the number of COVID deaths, including the alleged number of people hospitalized.

We even had one of the Supreme Court Justice make a false statement about the impact COVID-19 had on children, and this is the highest in America; what type of an example it's being set here.

Well, at least the Supreme Court struck down the vaccine mandate coodles. Thank you for doing this.

We all make mistakes, and perhaps this was just an honest mistake. I genuinely don't know because the media doesn't always get it right.

With some much false news, incorrect news, or whatever terminology you want to use, this can lead to a lot of stress within our American system. I think that's why I try not to watch the news.

I wonder whether our leaders realize the stress they have placed upon the American people who elected them. Let's see what God's word says about stress.

Question: "What does the Bible say about stress?"

 

Answer: The dictionary defines stress as "physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension." Some stress is necessary and even reasonable—such as the physical strain we put on our muscles to make them stronger. But when we talk about "stress," we usually refer to excessive or damaging mental or emotional strain or tension. While "stress" is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, Scripture does speak to things such as anxiety, worry, and trouble—things we often associate with stress—and gives us clear answers on how we should deal with them.

 

Everyone suffers from stress at one time or another. How we naturally deal with it depends in large part on who we are. For some, emotional stress causes physical illness. Others might become hyper-productive. On the other hand, some people under stress shut down mentally and emotionally. And, of course, there are a variety of other responses. Stress is a common human experience, particularly in a world where the demands for our time and attention seem to be unending. Our jobs, health, family, friends, and even ministry activities can overwhelm us. The ultimate solution to stress is to surrender our lives to God and seek His wisdom regarding priorities as well as His enabling to do the things to which He calls us. He always gives enough, so we need not be defeated by stress.

 

One common cause of stress is financial. We stress over money because we never seem to feel that we have enough. We worry about being able to pay all our bills, many living paychecks to paycheck. Or we become consu

“For patients who screen positive for suicide ideation and deny or minimize suicide risk or decline treatment, obtain corroborating information by requesting the patient's permission to contact

friends, family, or outpatient treatment providers. If the patient declines consent, HIPAA permits a clinician to make these contacts without the patient's permission when the clinician believes the

patient may be a danger to self or others.” Sentinel Event Alert, The Joint Commission, Issue 56, February 24, 2016

Many Colorado professionals have the legal authority to place mental health “holds” on the citizens of Colorado. This deprivation of one’s freedom is nothing less than the equivalent of an arrest.

You can call it whatever you want, but the right of hospital room emergency rooms, for example, to take someone into custody on a 72-hour “hold” can be, and is being abused in Colorado.

The procedure leading to the seizure is very loose, ill-defined, and dangerous.

 

 

Galatians 6:2 states, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (emphasis added). What exactly is the law of Christ, and how is it fulfilled by carrying each other’s burdens? While the law of Christ is also mentioned in 1 Corinthians 9:21, the Bible nowhere specifically defines what precisely is the law of Christ. However, most Bible teachers understand the law of Christ to be what Christ stated were the greatest commandments in Mark 12:28–31, “‘Which commandment is the most important of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” The second is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’”

 

 

 

The law of Christ, then, is to love God with all of our being and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. In Mark 12:32–33, the scribe who asked Jesus the question responds with, “To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” In this, Jesus and the scribe agreed that those two commands are the core of the entire Old Testament Law. All of the Old Testament Law can be placed in the category of “loving God” or “loving your neighbor.”

 

Various New Testament scriptures state that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament Law, bringing it to completion and conclusion (Romans 10:4; Galatians 3:23–25; Ephesians 2:15). In place of the Old Testament Law, Christians are to obey the law of Christ. Rather than trying to remember the over 600 individual commandments in the Old Testament Law, Christians are simply to focus on loving God and loving others. If Christians would truly and wholeheartedly obey those two commands, we would be fulfilling everything that God requires of us.

 

Christ freed us from the bondage of the hundreds of commands in the Old Testament Law and instead calls on us to love. First John 4:7–8 declares, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” First John 5:3 continues, “This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome.”

 

Some use the fact that we are not under the Old Testament Law as an excuse to sin. The apostle Paul addresses this very issue in Romans. “What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!” (Romans 6:15). For the follower of Christ, the avoidance of sin is to be accomplished out of love for God and love for others. Love is to be our motivation. When we recognize the value of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf, our response is to be love, gratitude, and obedience. When we understand the sacrifice Jesus made for us and others, our response

Are we heading to totalitarianism? you decide....

After the election of Joe Biden, why put yourself through the misery of reading and watching what was about to unfold — and indeed has unfolded;

A Political Pandemic

You cannot live in denial of what surrounds you. You cannot ignore what has been occurring these past days, nor erase the four years leading up to them. You cannot ignore what seems surreal but is all too real: the social strife unlike any other period of conflict in American history. A political pandemic toward totalitarian socialism spreading at a rapid pace. A rejection of the constitution of individual liberty to the point we hear this refrain daily:  “This is not the country I knew and loved.” quote by: Matt Walsh Editor & CEO OPINION

Is this not discrimination/also a form of racism? Promoted by an elected official, Biden administration guidance prioritizes race in administering COVID drugs. Biden: “For the unvaccinated, you can expect a winter of death “is a sad comment to make to the American people. Biden Orders Shots for Millions, Calling Unvaccinated a Threat. So now the American people are a threat because they exercise their rights, come on in China and Russia.

Biden admin trying to 'workaround Congress,' Ohio AG claims after Supreme Court session on vaccine mandates Attorney General Dave Yost, who is vaccinated, urged everyone to get the vaccine, "But that doesn’t mean OSHA can mandate them."

  Twice as many military members died from suicide July-Sept than from coronavirus since pandemics start 163 service members committed suicide in Q3 2021   but yet being forced out for not getting a covid shot. You decided

the unjust or prejudicial treatment of distinct categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex.

"Victims of nonracial people of color discrimination now many are victims of covid shot discrimination

Types of Discrimination

Age Discrimination

Disability Discrimination

Sexual Orientation

Status as a Parent

Religious Discrimination

National Origin

Pregnancy

Sexual Harassment

Race, Color, and Sex

Reprisal / Retaliation

covid treatment based on one's race

 

What is totalitarianism?

 

Totalitarianism is a political system in which the state holds total authority over the society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life. Totalitarianism is characterized by a dictator or one-party rule, censorship of media, intimidation of the populace, propaganda in media and education, secret police forces, prohibition of all criticism of the government, and the repression of freedom of religion. Examples of totalitarian regimes are Germany under the Nazis, the Soviet Union under Stalin, China under Mao Zedong, and North Korea since 1948.

 

Historically, Christianity has flourished under totalitarian regimes. The book of Acts recounts the persecution of the Christians under Roman rule—including Nero's reign—and the resulting spread of the gospel. After the stoning of Stephen, believers were forced to flee from those who wanted to put them to death. "On that day, a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria" (Acts 8:1). It appears from Acts 9:31 that this persecution backfired and worked toward the further spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Christian’s today is no less persecuted in some parts of the world where totalitarianism rules. Citing a Pew Research survey, Bishop John McAreavey, chair of the Council for Justice and Peace of the Irish Catholic Bishop's Conference, stated that Christian persecution is being gravely underestimated, as "Christianity is now the world's most oppressed religious group, with persecution against them reported in 110 countries" (The Christian Post, May 19, 2015). According to the International Society for Human Rights, a non-religious organization, 80 percent of all acts of religious discrimination in the world today are directed a

Self-hatred, to varying degrees, is not uncommon, but hating oneself is not what God would have for us. The world would tell us that the solution to self-hatred is self-love. It offers various ways to conjure up this love and acceptance for self. While some are healthy practices, none are permanent solutions that speak to the depths of the needs of our souls. The Bible, on the other hand, tells us that the solution to self-hatred is having an accurate view of God and of oneself in light of who God is.

First, let’s understand what causes self-hatred. Some may arrive at self-hatred because they consider themselves losers who lack certain talents or resources (intelligence, personal connections, money, and influence). Anyone who accepts the idealized standards of beauty, success, and power as portrayed in the mass media—and fails to live up to those standards—may arrive at the unreasonable conclusion that he or she is not worthy of love and begin to sink into self-hatred. People may hate themselves because of the things they have done in their pasts, or they might hate themselves because of things with which they are currently struggling, like addiction or unhealthy relationships. In short, self-hatred results from not living up to standards either we or others have set for acceptability. In our recognition that we cannot be perfect, we may descend into self-hatred.

Biblically speaking, we know we are sinners who are separated from God (Romans 3:23; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1–5). There is a standard that we will have failed to live up to and will never be able to live up to on our own (Romans 3:20). Apart from God, we are without hope. But this is not cause to hate ourselves. Rather, it is cause to turn to God and to rely on His grace. He has made a way of salvation! God created humanity in His image (Genesis 1:27). He loves us, and we reflect Him. Though sin marred this image, God did not abandon us. Instead, He sent His Son, Jesus, who, though remaining fully God, took on human flesh. Jesus lived a perfect life. He then died to pay the penalty for our sin, and He rose again to prove His victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:3–7; Romans 5:6–11; Philippians 2:5–11). All who put their faith in Him are saved (John 3:16–18; Romans 10:9). This is cause for great rejoicing! When we become a redeemed child of God, there is no reason to hate ourselves.

If you have not been reconciled with God and brought into personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ, that is the first step in overcoming self-hatred. But we know that even those who have trusted Jesus as their Savior can struggle with hatred of self. What is the solution for that? Having a biblical view of who God is and who you are. Romans 12:1–2 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Committing our lives to God in action and thought—having a renewed and transformed mind and living our lives for God—is how we overcome self-hatred.

What are some of the things the Bible says about who God is? God is holy, just, gracious, merciful, and compassionate (1 Peter 1:16; Psalm 103:8–12; Hebrews 6:10; Colossians 3:25; Nehemiah 9:31). He is the Creator, all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present. God is unchanging (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:5). God’s ways are above ours, and His Word accomplishes what He intends (Isaiah 55:8–11). God’s promises are true. God is love, and He loves you (1 John 4:7–10). Self-hatred is simply not compatible with this truth.

It has been quipped that “God made you on purpose and for a purpose.” Your life has meaning. God gives us many instructions in His Word about His will for our lives and how we are to live. Things l

Willie is using an AI voice to continue this podcast because it is long.

 

We live in a mean old world got politicians that advocate racism. We have talk show hosts that continue to add fuel to the fire of racism.

We have our military that is being destroyed from higher up being forced out because they refused to take a COVID vaccine shot that is incredibly sad at how our defense is being weakened by leaders.

we live in a mean, mean old world yes, meanness it is all around us be it in elementary schools, high schools’ colleges an as well within the political world.

instead of our politicians coming together, they act like little children at play, very infantile, very childish. Instead of them trying to pull this nation together, this nation it is divided it has started from the top down.I will continue to pray for my nation, but this is the will of God. 

No, I am not going to preteen that I am not against same-sex attraction, racism I am against anti-American groups, I am against prejudice, I am against child trafficking, yes, I am against a lot of. I will continue to pray then this world will wake up.

 God would like all men to come to him through his loving son Jesus Christ. We must repent, and God knows America, this nation needs to repent and surrender unto Christ.We live in a mean old world as a Christian.

 I am going to stand firm in my faith, I am not afraid I am not ashamed of the gospel I am not ashamed to profess Christ as my Lord and savior. I am going to stand firm I am going to be steadfast and be unmovable now what does this mean.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV). This verse concludes a chapter that details the future resurrection of our earthly bodies. Paul encouraged the Corinthian church to remain faithful to everything he had taught them. 

When we see the word therefore in Scripture, we should always back up to see why it is there: what is the "therefore" there for? The word usually indicates a summation of what was previously stated. In this case, Paul addresses those who had fallen away from his original teaching on the resurrection. They were embracing heresy and introducing destructive ideas contrary to the gospel. That is what is going on in this world right here in now.

Paul restates the truth of Jesus' death for sin and bodily resurrection and then exhorts them to remain firm in that teaching. And we as Christians need to stand firm in a Christian in the teaching of Christ.

Yes, we live in a mean old world it is no doubt about that. And I am not going to lie Satan is using uh leaders as his minions to destroy America.

to be steadfast and unmovable is to be spiritually grounded. A steadfast person knows what he believes and cannot be "tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching" (Ephesians 4:14) and what is going on right now in America will I be taught being taught that bad is good and being right is wrong.

An unmovable person can hear false teaching, engage doubters, and defend truth without it shaking his own faith. In his other epistle to Corinth, Paul expresses his concern for this church: "I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3)I do believe we as American citizens we're being led astray from the word of God.

Even believers who had been personally taught by the apostle Paul were victims of deception. How much more vulnerable are we in today's society.So yes, I am going to stand firm in my face I am going to main steadfast unmovable, and I am going to continue two live in God's word then I am going to continue dig deeper and deeper into God's word.

To remain steadfast and unmovable we must know the Word of God. Second Timothy 2:15 says, "Be diligent to present yourself app

Don't do as I do but do as I say do that sound familiar, we are living in troubled times; however, we still must hold to our faith in God. We still have leaders that are flat-out hypocritical people walking around without mask to Florida ex-presidents party in without mask at a birthday party.

The list goes on elected leaders put fear into the hearts of the American people in 2021 by using covid as the tool to place this fear.

I would like to share the following scripture from Isaiah 41:10; “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.”

Did you know that the bible tells us to not fear 365 different times? That is once for every day of the year! God makes it clear in scriptures like Isaiah 41:10 that he wants us to choose faith over fear every single day of our lives. He wants us to trust that He will provide for our every need.

You might ask, how do I have faith? I believe that faith is when we choose to stand on the promises of God even when we begin to feel insecurity or doubt. I believe that faith is like a muscle, and every time you choose to believe the word of God, it is an opportunity to exercise that muscle.

Sometimes God allows situations to arise in our lives that force us to trust him. Such as what we have been dealing with over the past 2 years now going into the 3rd year. Yes, we are faced with a difficult decision or circumstance as we welcome a new year, I want to encourage you to stand firm in your faith and trust in God.

God is promising us in his word that He will reward our faith.  I want to challenge you to think about the areas of your life where God is asking you to take a step of faith and trust him.

Wake up, America. Let us be not afraid and reclaim our American spirit. We had Marine Corps has kicked out 206 troops for refusing to get COVID vaccine: At least 95% of active-duty soldiers have had the shot and DOJ has 'ignored' 3,247 requests for religious accommodation so a soldier no longer has religious rights what they may have believed to be their rights under the constitution Relationship to statutory or constitutional rights.

The order must not conflict with the statutory or constitutional rights of the person receiving the order. Only lawful orders must be followed. This is what the Manual for Courts-Martial says about the lawfulness of orders: discharging these military personnel is weakened or military defense. Some of the nation's soldiers facing discharge claim they are being crushed by President Joe Biden's vaccine mandate and say it's pushing out the military's best and brightest even if they are given an honorable discharge, they are still being forced out.

 You got people talking about following the science but not doing it themselves. Fauci Can't Use Science to Excuse His Missteps. science is defined as "the observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena." Science is a method that humankind can use to better understand the natural universe. It is a search for knowledge through observation. Advances in science demonstrate the reach of human logic and imagination. However, a Christian's belief in science should never be like our belief in God. 

A Christian can have faith in God and respect for science, as long as we remember which is perfect and which is not. I'm not trying to belittle anyone I'm praying that believers and non-believers wake up to this fear that has been created.

 Yes, covid is real, but we need not live in fear or be forced to do something that goes against God or our beliefs. Controlling people do not have anyone's best interest in mind except their own (see Philippians 2:3). They are concerned primarily with pleasing themselves.

Many of the Old Testament kings were controlling people. They had power, and they u

We need God and Jesus back into this Nation whether you believe it or not

The final week of 2021! 

As we enter the year of 2022, it seems almost unbelievable that we will soon be entering the third year of the Global Pandemic.  It would be great to just move beyond it, but it seems it's still a reality that we must face.

We have often said that we don't know what tomorrow holds, but we DO know who holds tomorrow!  Jesus Christ!

Just look at the headline’s political violence, mass shooting, family member killing, hypocrisy among high-ranking leaders, Critics slam 'hypocrite' Biden for claiming 'no federal solution' to pandemic after vow to 'shut down' COVID.

A quick note.

The shootings never stopped during the coronavirus pandemic, they just became less public, researchers say.

Here is an incomplete list of shootings with multiple victims in 2021. It leaves out many more but offers a small glimpse of the gun violence the country has already suffered this year. People kill people with guns.

 

Nov. 30: Clayton County, Ga., and Oakland County, Mich.

Four people were killed after a gunman opened fire at Oxford High School in suburban Detroit, Mich., in what became the deadliest shooting on school property in the United States this year.

 

Hours later, a police officer and two women were shot and killed during a domestic violence episode in the metropolitan Atlanta area, the police said. The shooter was also killed.

 

 

Nov. 28: Lancaster, Calif.

A 29-year-old father was accused of fatally shooting his four children — ages 1, 2, 7 and 11 — and his mother-in-law inside the family’s home. He was arrested and charged with five counts of murder and three counts of assault on a child causing death.

 

Nov. 14: Tucson, Ariz.

Four people — two sets of brothers, related as cousins — were killed when a party ended in gunshots. No one has been charged in the deaths.

 

Oct. 20: Farwell, Mich.

The police said a woman fatally shot her father, sister and two others inside of a home. The woman’s car contained a journal that included a list of other people she intended to kill, the police said.

 

Sept. 25: Athens, Tenn.

A man and a woman were charged with killing four people inside of a home. The police said there had been a dispute about parenting a 10-month-old child.

 

Sept. 12: St. Paul, Minn.

Four people were found dead in an abandoned car in a Dunn County, Wis., cornfield after being shot in St. Paul, Minn., the police said. They did not say how they knew the victims were shot in the city.

 

Sept. 5: Houston, Tex.

A man shot four people, including a 10-year-old and a 12-year-old, before fatally shooting himself days later. The other victims were the gunman’s mother and stepfather.

 

Sept. 5: Lakeland, Fla.

A former Marine sharpshooter fatally shot four people, including an infant, in two homes and fired at officers before he was arrested. Investigators did not know what started the rampage.

 

 

July 25: Wasco, Calif.

A 41-year-old man armed with an assault rifle and a handgun killed four people, including a police officer, after taking hostages inside a home. The gunman was fatally shot by a police officer.

 

July 20: Jacksonville, Tex.

Three men were arrested in the fatal shootings of four people in the town about 125 miles southeast of Dallas. The police said they believed it was planned as a robbery, and that one of the men who were arrested had a relationship with one of the victims.

 

June 15: Chicago

Two gunmen broke into a home in the Englewood neighborhood in the South Side of Chicago and shot eight people, killing five of them. Seven of the people were shot in the head, the police said.

 

May 26: San Jose, Calif.

 

People gather near a railyard in San Jose, Calif., after eight people were killed.

People gather near a railyard in San Jose, Calif., after eight people were killed.Credit...Noah Berger/Associated Press

Nine people were killed in a shooting at a rail yard in San Jose, Calif., the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Of

Question: "What was the star of Bethlehem?"

Answer: The star of Bethlehem is associated with the birth of Christ and the visit of the magi (wise men) as recorded in Matthew 2:1–12. The text implies the star of Bethlehem appeared only to the magi in the East (most likely the area of Persia, or modern-day Iran). There is no biblical record of anyone else observing the star of Bethlehem.

The magi in the East saw something in the heavens—the star of Bethlehem—that alerted them to the fact that the Jewish Messiah was born. The magi do not call the star of Bethlehem by that name; in Matthew 2:2 they refer to it as being “his star,” since it was a sign to them that a king was born. The star prompted the magi to travel to Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. This would be the logical place to start looking for the birth of the King of the Jews for someone who did not know of Micah’s prophecy about Bethlehem.

In Jerusalem, the Magi visited King Herod and were told that the new king they were looking for would be born in Bethlehem, not in Jerusalem (Matthew 2:5). The wise men left Herod’s palace, and the star of Bethlehem appeared to them once again. In fact, the star “went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed” (verses 9–10). The star of Bethlehem, apparently mobile, led the magi to the precise place where they could find Jesus.

Modern portrayals of the Christmas nativity scene usually show the wise men visiting Jesus on the night of His birth. That is likely not what truly occurred. King Herod discovered from the magi the “exact time” the star of Bethlehem had first appeared to them (Matthew 2:7), and he later ordered all male children two years old and under in Bethlehem to be killed (verse 16). Herod obviously thought the star of Bethlehem had first appeared when Christ was born; if he was right, then Jesus could have been up to two years old when the star of Bethlehem later guided the magi through the streets of Bethlehem. The Greek word translated “young child” in Matthew 2:9 can mean anything from a newborn infant to a toddler.

So, the magi may have first observed the star of Bethlehem the night of Jesus’ birth, or they may have first seen it up to two years beforehand. Either way, they found Jesus still in Bethlehem when they arrived. Joseph and Mary almost surely stayed in Bethlehem until Mary could travel again. In fact, they probably stayed there for the 40 days necessary to complete Mary’s purification. From Bethlehem, they could easily make the five-mile trip to Jerusalem for the sacrifice for Mary’s purification (Luke 2:22). The fact that the magi came to a “house” (Matthew 2:11) rather than the stable makes sense because Joseph naturally would have moved his family to a more protected place as soon as possible—the morning after Jesus was born, in all probability.

After seeing the star of Bethlehem, the magi traveled to Jerusalem to look for the Messiah. The question arises, how would Persian magi know about the Jewish Messiah? Undoubtedly, they would have been exposed to the writings of the Jewish prophet Daniel, who had been the chief of the court seers in Persia. Daniel 9:24–27 is a prophecy that gives a timeline for the birth of the Messiah. Also, they may have been aware of the words of the pagan prophet Balaam (who was from the town of Pethor on the Euphrates River near Persia) in Numbers 24:17. Balaam’s prophecy specifically mentions “a star” and “a scepter” rising out of Jacob.

What exactly was the star of Bethlehem? The Greek word translated “star” in the text is the word aster, which is the normal word for a star or celestial body. The word is used 24 times in the New Testament, and most of the time it refers to a celestial body. It can be used to denote angels, as in Revelation 12:4, where aster seems to refer to the fallen angels who followed Satan’s rebellion. Basic rules of biblical interpretation state that we should take the