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Persecution

As I celebrate this Independence Day, I realize that the original colonies felt persecuted. Today, persecution exists in many manners and forms. No one has an exclusive right to claim persecution because it happens all over the world depending on who has the power. As Christians and United States citizens we have greater responsibility and accountability to address the injustices of our world. Happy Fourth of July! Remember how we got here and why!

Persecution

Persecution is hostility
Persecution is ill treatment
Persecution is unfair treatment
Persecution is abusive treatment
 
Any act of ill will
Can be persecution
Sometimes a bitter pill
No real solution
 
Majority or minority
Whatever color
No authority or absolute authority
Few dollars or bunch of dollars
 
Atheism or Christian
Does not matter
This is not fiction
Never ending chapter
 
People will hate
People will control
People will attack
People will kill
 
This is our story
Story of humanity
Journey of fury
And depravity
 
Christians are oppressed
In many ways
This is not a test
For it happens nowadays
 
Christians are called names
Christians are beaten
Christians are rejected
Christians are murdered
 
I live in the USA
Things are not like that here
Maybe not today
But listen and rehear
 
Bad News
2 Timothy 3:12  (ESV) 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
1 John 3:13  (ESV) 13 Do not be surprised, brothers,[a] that the world hates you.
 
Good News
1 Peter 3:14  (ESV) 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
Matthew 5:10 (ESV) 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 
But not in my United States
Not in my USA city
Not with my friends and mates
Not in my church committee
 
We are called by Christ
To be one body
Not cut and sliced
And not inferior or shoddy
 
One body as a whole
Caring for one another
Where I take a stroll
Or miles from my sister and brother
 
A Christian persecuted in Louisiana
A Christian persecuted in St Louis
A Christian persecuted in Facebook
A Christian persecuted in the World
 
All the same to our Lord
And it should be the same to us
We are on the same game board
Some castled in blissful snugness
 
Snugness from the action
Snugness from the abuses
Snugness from murderous fractions
Snugness from the bruises
 
The Bible is clear
We are part of the One
So shed a heartfelt tear
For our Savior the Son
 
Do not end now
Do not forget
Do not isolate
Do not think your set
 
Jesus wants us to love
He wants us to get along
Not be under the thumb of
Those strong and wrong
 
Many are harmed
Not just us Christian Saints
Remember the abused
And their complaints
 
Black lives of import
And they have a point
Not useless chatter
An ugly wart
 
Muslims matter too
China restricts their birth pace
This is more than a few
Millions lost without a trace
 
Women are left behind
Why does their paycheck lag
And the world is blind
Do you have to nag
 
Nagged to get your issues addressed
Nagged to listen and learn
Nagged to help and invest
Nagged to make it your turn
 
It is our turn to be accountable
To use our capabilities
To be countable
 
To end these hostilities
 
Christians have a call
To address conflicts
No matter how small
And no quick fix
 
God wants us to help
God wants us to intervene
God wants us to have compassion
God wants us to act
 
Act in many ways
Donate your time
Donate your money
Donate your prayers
 
God wants you to know
God loves everyone
Christians must acknowledge
We are under the same sun
 
Scriptures for One Body
Romans 12:4 (ESV) 4 For as in one body we have many members,[a] and the members do not all have the same function,
 
1 Corinthians 10:17(ESV) 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
 
1 Corinthians 12:12  (ESV) One Body with Many Members 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:13 (ESV) 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves[a] or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:14 (ESV) 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
Ephesians 2:16  (ESV) 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

When Do You Live

Human Being at 20 Weeks
When Do You Live
 
I do not know
When you live
You must tiptoe
The issue to survive
 
Survive abuse
Survive intolerance
Survive hatred
Survive injustice
 
Kill a baby
Whenever you want
Alive maybe
All so nonchalant
 
Womans rights are first
No exceptions
What can be worse
Than ignorant misconceptions
 
When does life begin
Christians believe at conception
Science has many spins
And fixed perceptions
 
Is life when DNA completes at 3 days
Is life when the heart beats at 24 days
Is life when brain waves are recorded at 43 days
Is life when a baby can live outside the womb at 140 days
 
Or is life when a woman decides
I can abort my unique child
And the world ultimately divides
The world goes crazy wild
 
One side says control my life
Damn human life
One side says save every life
Precious human life
 
Who is responsible for human health
Is it each 3.8 billion women on the globe
Or is it the elected commonwealth
Or some unelected justice in a black robe
 
Every human being is responsible for these losses
You can not hide behind a lack of knowledge
You can not hide behind your crosses
You must reasonably acknowledge
 
At 20 weeks it can live outside the womb
Start here and make the laws the same
Bring everyone who cares in the room
And quit the shame and blame game

Children of Man

Children of Man

Who is this man
Mortals of man
Mankind of man
People of man
 
Who is he
Who is she
Who is thee
Who is me
 
But children
Made in Gods image
And we are many million
In lifes scrimmage
 
People of color
People of race
People of religion
People of haste
 
Haste to blame one another
Haste to accuse one another
Haste to hate one another
Haste to destroy one another
 
Do we understand
Do we care
Do we walk hand in hand
Do we stand there
 
Stand there in dogma
Stand there in fairness
Stand there in belief
Stand there in bareness
 
Naked to face God
To seek His forgiveness
Knowing I am flawed
My sin of impulsiveness
 
Rushing about
Wanting it all
Waiting for a give out
Not waiting for the call
 
The call to accept
There is more to living
But I just slept
Instead of forgiving
 
Forgiving my self
Forgiving my family
Forgiving my friends
Forgiving my humanity
 
Is it too late
To be embraced
To enter the gate
And to taste
 
Taste the love
Taste the goodness
Taste the mercy
Taste the assurance
 
No it has not past
The final chance
So be quite fast
To enter the dance
 
Dance with Jesus
Dance with God
Dance with the Holy Spirit
Dance with Christs bride
 
The Bride of Christ
Gather in Christ
Body of Christ
The church is Christ
 
The church is your family
The church is your base
The church is no anomaly
The church is your place
 
Grow in the church
Disciple in the church
Serve in the church
Reconcile in the church
 
Not always pretty
Not always nice
What a pity
Take my advice
 
Better there
Then anywhere
A house of prayer
Jesus is near
 
Near to our hearts
Near to our thoughts
Near to our hurts
Near to our faults
 
Accept His presence
Accept His gift
Accept His peace
Accept His love
 
 
Notes
 
Proverbs 8:4 New International Version (NIV)
“To you, O people, I call out;
    I raise my voice to all mankind.
 
Proverbs 8:31 New International Version (NIV)
31 rejoicing in his whole world
    and delighting in mankind.
 
Proverbs 15:11 New International Version (NIV)
11 Death and Destruction[a] lie open before the Lord—
    how much more do human hearts!
 
Psalm 11:4 New International Version (NIV)
The Lord is in his holy temple;
    the Lord is on his heavenly throne.
He observes everyone on earth;
    his eyes examine them.
 
Psalm 12:8 New International Version (NIV)
who freely strut about
    when what is vile is honored by the human race.
 
Psalm 14:2 New International Version (NIV)
The Lord looks down from heaven
    on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,
    any who seek God.
 
Psalm 21:10 New International Version (NIV)
10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
    their posterity from mankind.
 
Psalm 33:13 New International Version (NIV)
13 From heaven the Lord looks down
    and sees all mankind;
 
Psalm 53:2 New International Version (NIV)
God looks down from heaven
    on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,
    any who seek God.
 
Psalm 57:4 New International Version (NIV)
I am in the midst of lions;
    I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    whose tongues are sharp swords.
 
Psalm 58[a]
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[b]
Do you rulers indeed speak justly?
    Do you judge people with equity?
 
Psalm 66:5 New International Version (NIV)
Come and see what God has done,
    his awesome deeds for mankind!
 
Psalm 89:47 New International Version (NIV)
47 Remember how fleeting is my life.
    For what futility you have created all humanity!
 
Psalm 90:3 New International Version (NIV)
You turn people back to dust,
    saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”
 
Psalm 107:8 (4 times in Psalm 107)  New International Version (NIV)
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
 
Psalm 115:16 New International Version (NIV)
16 The highest heavens belong to the Lord,
    but the earth he has given to mankind.
 
Psalm 145:12 New International Version (NIV)
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
 
Ecclesiastes 1:13 New International Version (NIV)
13 I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind!
 
Ecclesiastes 2:3 New International Version (NIV)
I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.
 
Ecclesiastes 3:10 New International Version (NIV)
10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.
 
Ecclesiastes 3:18 New International Version (NIV)
18 I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals.
 
Ecclesiastes 3:19 New International Version (NIV)
19 Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath[a]; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless.
 
Ecclesiastes 8:11 New International Version (NIV)
11 When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.
 
Ecclesiastes 9:3 New International Version (NIV)
This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead.
 
Ecclesiastes 9:12 New International Version (NIV)
12 Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come:
As fish are caught in a cruel net,
    or birds are taken in a snare,
so people are trapped by evil times
    that fall unexpectedly upon them.
 
Jeremiah 32:19 New International Version (NIV)
19 great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind; you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve.
 
Ezekiel 31:14 New International Version (NIV)
14 Therefore no other trees by the waters are ever to tower proudly on high, lifting their tops above the thick foliage. No other trees so well-watered are ever to reach such a height; they are all destined for death, for the earth below, among mortals who go down to the realm of the dead.
 
Daniel 2:38 New International Version (NIV)
38 in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.
 
Daniel 10:16 New International Version (NIV)
16 Then one who looked like a man[a] touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak.
 
Joel 1:12 New International Version (NIV)
12 The vine is dried up
    and the fig tree is withered;
the pomegranate, the palm and the apple[a] tree—
    all the trees of the field—are dried up.
Surely the people’s joy
    is withered away.
 
Micah 5:7 New International Version (NIV)
The remnant of Jacob will be
    in the midst of many peoples
like dew from the Lord,
    like showers on the grass,
which do not wait for anyone
    or depend on man.
 
Mark 3:28 New International Version (NIV)
28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter,

Marriage

Marriage


You must believe
To care for the truth
And perceive
God from our youth


The Bible is true
The Bible is correct
The Bible is glue
The Bible is perfect


If you do not believe in God
Or in the truth of the Bible
This poem is a wad
Of foolish trifle


So stop here
Do not read another verse
You will not hear
The truth of the universe


To be unyoked
To ugly darkness
You will be provoked
By its starkness


But not by Gods light
Which shines on us all
Bright as Gods image
We do get the call


To share in Gods plan
Told in the Bibles first book
Genesis is where it began
Let us take a look


Man should not be alone
No helper found fit
God made women almost a clone
One flesh closely knit


God made an equal member
Two is better than one
Let us remember
Ecclesiastes is how it is spun


Gods plan is guy and gal
And he did not want us by ourselves
And they say we shall
Put all emotions on the shelf


On the shelf of love
On the shelf of encouragement
On the shelf of self sacrifice
On the shelf of commitment


God knew the world was fallen
And the world was hard
Most would fall in
You need to stand guard


Horrible things occur
To Gods creation
We must concur
It does not fit Gods narration


A narration of obedience
A narration of contentment
A narration of joy
A narration of peace


Why can we not stand up
To the evil in the world
The devils evil cup
As the devils world whirls


Whirls around us
Challenging our loyalties
Creating lots of fuss
Stealing our royalties


Royalties of forgiveness
Royalties of life
Royalties of heaven
Royalties of God


To challenge the evil miscarriages
God gave us each other
Man and female in marriages
Christians as a sister and a brother


A sister and brother
A brother and brother
A sister and sister
A brother and sister


To protect one another
To encourage one another
To carry one another
To help one another


In this fallen place
It is a mighty wonder
There is Gods grace
We can fall under


We sin immensely
In many ways
Most intensely
Setting God ablaze


Same sex marriage, divorce
Lies, gossip, small talk
Which ones to enforce
It is all a crock


They are all sin
Hated by God
We cannot win
We are all frauds


God knew
God gave us a rope
God came through
God gave us hope


We are not done
God sent Jesus to die
He sent his son
To ransom and buy


Our sinful mouths
Our sinful eyes
Our sinful trespasses
Our sinful lives


Just believe
Jesus is Lord
God rose Jesus
From the dead


It is not tough
Just repent
Call the devils bluff
A life changing event


A new journey
A new body
A new understanding
A new standing


Not easy
Never is
Can get sleazy
Do not fizz


You have made it
To Gods mysteries
You do not need your wit
Just Holy Spirit victories


Victories in choices
Victories in prayer
Victories in service
Victories in churches


Celebrate today
A new life view
This is the way
For me and you


Notes:


Belief
Acts:22-31 English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul Addresses the Areopagus 22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,[a] 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’;[b] as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’[c] 29 Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”


2 Peter 1:20-21 English Standard Version (ESV)
20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.


Unyoked
2 Corinthians 6:14 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Temple of the Living God 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?


God’s Image


Genesis 1:26-27 English Standard Version (ESV)
26 Then God said, “Let us make man[a] in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.


God’s Plan


Genesis 2:18-24 English Standard Version (ESV)
18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for[a] him.” 19 Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed[b] every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam[c] there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made[d] into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said,
“This at last is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man.”[e]
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.


Why two is better than one


Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 English Standard Version (ESV)
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.


Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Romans 15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
Galatians 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Hebrews 13:1-2 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
Romans 12:5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Corinthians 12:14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part.
Corinthians 12:20-21 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”


Warnings for being alone


Proverbs 18:1 English Standard Version (ESV)
18 Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.


Psalm 72:12 English Standard Version (ESV)
12 For he delivers the needy when he calls,
the poor and him who has no helper.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Genesis 4:7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.
Romans 7:21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.


Single is possible under the right conditions


1 Corinthians 7:8-9 English Standard Version (ESV)
8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.


Marriage
Ephesians 5:22-33 English Standard Version (ESV)
Wives and Husbands
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.[a] 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.


Why does marriages fail?


Sin and pride in this world


Are divorces what God wants?


Hebrews 13:4 English Standard Version (ESV)
4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
Mark 10 English Standard Version (ESV)


Teaching About Divorce


Mark 10:1-10 And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.
2 And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” 5 And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife,[a] 8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
10 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”