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etsop95

~ Perspectives on Bible, philosophy, and politics (sometimes)

etsop95

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Without God

25 Wednesday May 2022

Posted by Ron Thomas in Uncategorized

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congress, God, government, lost, men, money, satan

Without God in government, Congress makes laws with no intention of enforcing them. Without God, men and women in Congress live by their god (the $ bill). Without God, the communities are led by the forces of Satan. Without God being the center of the community, we are led into hedonism, which results in tragedies of great magnitude, but include smaller tragedies daily. Without men, husbands, fathers taking responsibility and leading their families in the Lord’s way children go awry. Without God, many women (mothers) have to go-it-alone.

Without God, we currently live in the United States with people living aimlessly, lost in a cold dark world. We are a lost nation arrogantly thinking that government is our “father” who knows best.

Tragedy in Texas

25 Wednesday May 2022

Posted by Ron Thomas in Uncategorized

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There are some things that are fairly easy to establish, such as there is no moral compass greater than that which has its origin in God. Without God, all moral actions are at the whims of the individual. #Thrasymachus (a character in Plato’s dialogue “Republic”) is the philosophy of today, which is “might makes right.”

How does that play into the tragedy of Texas? Only in this way: the solution of many is gun control, and whatever value there is in controlling access to guns, that is NEVER the problem, neither is it the solution.

The only solution is God, but our society has so long removed itself from God and that for which He stands, that His presence is in the tall grass and the effort to find Him is, well, not worth the effort. What is done in the meantime is to utilize the wicked wisdom of a society that does not even know where it’s going and “pray” to the demons of the world it will be a success (Jer. 10:23; 17:9).

“Finding” God is paramount to a civilized and safe community, and those who tell you otherwise are flat wrong, and have their own interests in view.

A Problem in Religious Communities

16 Monday May 2022

Posted by Ron Thomas in Uncategorized

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doubt, knowledge, presumption

“I know this is what the Lord wants. He placed this on my heart.”

Really? How do you know this is what the Lord wants?

“He placed it on my heart. Besides, this which I am thinking that is surely a good deed to be done for the community. Are you saying the Lord does not want this?”

I am saying nothing. I am only asking you how you know this is what the Lord wants. Did he reveal this to you in a dream, a vision, did He audibly speak to you, did you read it in the Bible?

“No, none of these things occurred.”

So then, how do you know? I guess we can conclude that what you think the Lord did is not something He actually did, but what you want to believe He did. In other words, you are not certain the Lord said this (“I know” corresponds to certainty).

In fact, all it really is, is your desire to accomplish something, and attribute it to the Lord. Since that is all this is, it is presumptuous for you or anyone to say, “I know the Lord did….”

There will be people like me who will demand evidence from you that Lord actually did say this or that. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world (1 John 4:1, ASV).

Love is

13 Friday May 2022

Posted by Ron Thomas in Uncategorized

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action, emotion, love

Love is an action, less an emotion (though not necessarily unconnected). Love always seeks that which is best for the other person, even if the other person does not see it or want it.

What is best for the other person can be drawn from two sources. This which originates in a person or that which originates in God. If the former, look and see where this has gotten us. We live in a society full of moral and emotional corruption. Those who criticize the latter fail to see what love truly is and refuse to see that the love of Gods is not the problem, only that people in their selfishness have corrupted God’s love for their own ends.

Love is frequently seen as an emotion that allows the other person to be who they are, and while this may be an aspect of love, it is not love. Would you allow a person to be who they are if they are destructive to self, or others?

Neither is love is an emotion that seeks to satisfy self in earthly pleasures, though it is frequently used in that context. That is nothing but hedonism, selfishness.

When you say, “I love you” – what is it you mean?

Two Philosophies – No Third Option

08 Sunday May 2022

Posted by Ron Thomas in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

God, man, philosophy

There are only two philosophies in life from which a person chooses to live and love. Those philosophies are either (1) of man or (2) not of man. There is no third option.

If the philosophy one chooses to live and love by is of man, then his (her) course of life will be directed by his best judgment as life unfolds. When one gets to the end of life, there is a strong desire to believe the life lived was of great value to those surrounding the one who chose this course of action. Not only that, but there is also a desire to believe at the point of death, there is a resting place that corresponds to rest in peace.

Yet, in the world of the unseen, this can’t be known.

There is another philosophy of life from which to choose. That philosophy chosen is not of man. If it is not of man, then what is its source? There are only two options here also. It is of God or not God. There is not third option.

God, however, revealed Himself to man to give clarity to the fact (truth) there is a realm of the unseen, an unseen realm that only God can know anything about.

If one chooses to live by this philosophy, the life lived on earth is radically changed, it is no longer of this world. Things thought, said, and done are from the source of this philosophy. “I am the way, the truth, and the Life. No man goes to the Father but by me” Jesus said.

Those who live by this philosophy can know whether their desired rest in peace is true or not, something that is not possible, that does not exist with those who choose the philosophy originating in man.

More than that. Those who have chosen this philosophy of life belonging to God want others to have what they have.  

Now that is love.

Mothers and Mothers-in-Law

06 Friday May 2022

Posted by Ron Thomas in Uncategorized

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Mother's Day

There seems to be light-hearted remarks about mothers-in-law among some, but my experience has not been able to relate with that. No doubt, some mothers fit negative stereotypes, and then when they become mothers-in-law….

I am also sure many mothers have heard these remarks and might even have gone an extra mile to make sure they are not guilty of being anything like the punching-bag fodder. When you think of your mother-in-law, what comes to mind? Whatever comes to mind, before her mother-in-law status, she was the only mother to your spouse.

As I was thinking about a bulletin article for this Mother’s Day, I looked at Mark 1:29-31, and Jesus’ healing Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever. The emphasis in these 3 verses is on what Jesus did, not on Peter’s mother-in-law, except to say that she was sick with a fever and after being healed, she got up and served them. There is nothing in this reading about any time-separation between her being healed and when she had begun to serve, only that she served them. Was she compelled? Not hardly! This was who she was, so let us think about the women in our families, about who they are.

As I was thinking about this, I thought I would jot down some things that come to my mind when I think of a mother. First, in the Lord’s eyes, He brought her forth from man, thus equal to him in all respects. Her equality was not a matter of doing what he did but serving effectively in the role the Almighty gave her, as he served effectively in the role the Almighty gave him.

Second, in the Lord’s eyes, she is the primary mover of the world. Think about it. While the husband/father leads the family, she cares for the children, and she raises them to be what they should in an adult society. Sadly, many females reject this role because they have bought the lies of Satan, thinking they can have a career and play a significant role in the lives of their children after they pick them up from the baby-sitter. Third, there is no tenderness like there is in a mother. Just ask the husband. Better, yet, as I reflect on my own upbringing, when I got in trouble, it was to mom I went. I knew she could soften the blow-back I would get from dad, and when our girls were at home, this is exactly the role my wife played as well. She did this because she was better at being a buffer than I and she effectively took care of the situation with the right amount of discipline.

Fourth, little boys are taught how to respect women when they learn it from their mother. They learn it from the father, of course, but the learning that comes from a mother is of a different quality. Fifth, who is better at dealing with the issues a little girl experiences than a mother who was once there. I laugh at myself when I think of this now, but I remember saying to our daughters several times, this is what you need to do, so just do it. I was not much on empathy, just buckle down and get it done (learned this from my dad). Don’t ask questions.

Perhaps that works best for boys, maybe some girls, but in my many years, not most girls.

Sixth, in a family with a mother and father, there is balance. Whatever strengths one has, the other enhances it. Whatever failings one has, the other makes up the difference. This is a family after God’s pattern. We don’t want to minimize the contributions of our fathers, but on this Mother’s Day, we want to accentuate a mover and shaker in our family and in this world. There is nothing like a mother (to me). RT

Politics?

06 Friday May 2022

Posted by Ron Thomas in Uncategorized

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From the Lord’s vantage point (the only one that matters), there is no peace for the wicked (Isa. 48.22). Wicked is defined, not by political persuasions, but the holy will of the Lord. We have our persuasions, but do we have the Lord? John 3:3-5; 14:6

#BidenHarris #Trump #Conservatives #Liberals

Looking at an Owl

25 Monday Apr 2022

Posted by Ron Thomas in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

idolatry, Janelle Monáe

Pride and ambition can get anyone and everyone in trouble. When people ascribe to another “The voice of a god and not of a man”, the best thing to do is quickly dismiss the sentiment, ask the Lord to forgive any acceptance of it, and correct those who attributed the sentiment to you. It is made much worse when one ascribes the sentiment to oneself.

A young and not so very smart lady (Janelle Monáe), corrupted by Satan’s ploy with a religious and secularist philosophy, spoke with no wisdom (zt all) when she said,

“I’m nonbinary, so I just don’t see myself as a woman, solely,” they said. “I feel all of my energy. I feel like god is so much bigger than the ‘he’ or the ‘she.’ And if I am from God, I am everything. I am everything.

King Herod (Acts 12) looked at an owl and knew instantly the Lord has just cast a vote against him, and in about a week he died from a violent illness (Josephus: Antiquities; 17.6.8; 19.8.2).

It’s a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Misfiring

22 Friday Apr 2022

Posted by Ron Thomas in Uncategorized

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Tags

philosophy, sin

People want a god that serves the flesh, is visible to the eyes, and deifies himself. The essence of misfiring is to dethrone God and enthrone oneself. A battle always lost. #parlerphilosophy

Her Godliness

20 Wednesday Apr 2022

Posted by Ron Thomas in Uncategorized

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big naturals, clothing, godliness, modest

What is modesty? I saw an online article wherein a female at her birthday party had the attention of others regarding her breasts. It was shameful. Yet, in a society that tries to moralize in accordance with secularism, the shame was turned around on those who spoke against such images, saying that her “big naturals” (term used in the article) are not her fault.

When I worked in the south stands of Ohio Stadium in the Fall of 2021, in the early months of the football season, many young females wanted to be seen in their skimpy outfits, and I suspect they would have cried foul and loud if any advancements would have been made toward them by those of the opposite sex. It was shameful! This is associated perfectly with spiritual and moral immaturity.

What is modesty? To begin, we must accept the fact that someone must define the term. There are two options or sources of definitions. First, there is that which comes from God. Second, there is that which comes from man. There is no third option.

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines it “propriety in dress, speech, or conduct”, which is an okay definition, but what does propriety mean? Again, from the same source, it means “conformity to what is socially acceptable in conduct or speech.” Therein lies the problem. When society defines what is acceptable, then modesty, like morality, is fluid, always changing.

How does the Lord define it? The word “modest” is used only once in the New Testament in the American Standard and King James Versions (1 Tim. 2:9). In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array (KJV). The word “modesty” (ESV) is used twice in the New Testament (1 Cor. 12:23 and 1 Tim 2:9). The word modest comes from a Greek word (kosmios) that means orderly, well-arranged, decent (Vine’s 3:79). Like the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, the meaning of this is understood relatively well, but the difference between the two is this: man’s definition and application is always changing, the Lord’s is not.

What does the Lord want? Regarding godly women, this is what He wants. Women are to dress themselves in clothing that is well-arranged, decent; she is to do this with the Lord being the One she wants to please; she is not interested in pleasing herself or those who look at her. That is not to say (not even close) that she can’t dress in a way that presents her in the best light, but it is to say that if she wants to be seen because of that which the Lord gave her, Satan will be abundantly happy!

There is no hard-fast rule on what is modest in regard to clothing, but there is a hard-fast rule of life concerning how the Christian is to approach life. That is, she is to approach life with a godly attitude, a way of thinking that brings glory to Him who saved her. Let her husband see her the way she wants to be seen, let others accentuate the quality of her godliness in all respects, even in how she dresses. RT

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