SQUABBLING

 

CONTENTIOUS CONTINUOUS SQUABBLING

  2Corinthians [ESV] 5:11-21 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 

  Jude 1:3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 

  Last evening I viewed a prime example of grown men enmeshed in rude contentious continuous squabbling. After 30 minutes I’d heard enough and switched to a comparatively more sensible sci-fi survival drama.

  During the televised debacle my thoughts turned to what saints as God’s ambassadors of reconciliation example should be. Contending for the faith, never belligerently contentious regardless of what the manner of others may be.

  Please pray with me for the juvenile combatants and that in these chaotic times we emulate them not.

EBB4

TRUSTING JEHOVAH IN PROSPERITY AND PANDEMIC

 

TRUSTING JEHOVAH IN PROSPERITY AND PANDEMIC

2Chronicles [MKJV] 16:12 And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa was diseased in his feet, until his disease was very grievous. Yet in his disease he did not seek to Jehovah, but to the physicians. 

Asa     ā´sa (אסא, 'āṣā', “healer”; Ἀσά, Asá):

(1) A king of Judah, the third one after the separation of Judah and Israel. He was the son of Abijah and grandson of Rehoboam. Maacah, his mother, or rather grandmother, was daughter of Abishalom (Absalom) (1Ki_15:1). The first ten years of his reign were prosperous and peaceful (2Ch_14:1). He introduced many reforms, such as putting away the sodomites or male prostitutes, removing idols from holy places, breaking down altars, pillars and Asherim. He even deposed the “queen mother” because of her idolatrous practices, and of the image which she had made for Asherah (1Ki_15:12; 2Ch_14:3). Though the king himself, in the main, was a zealous reformer, his subjects did not always keep pace with him (1Ki_15:17). With an army of 580,000 he repelled an attack of Zerah, the Ethiopian, and routed him completely at Mareshah in the lowlands of Judah (2Ch_14:6). Directed and encouraged by Azariah the prophet, he carried on a great revival. Having restored the great altar of burnt offering in the temple, he assembled the people for a renewal of their covenant with Yahweh. On this occasion 700 oxen and 7,000 sheep were offered in sacrifice. For the next twenty years there was apparently great prosperity and peace throughout his kingdom, but in the thirty-sixth year of his reign, Judah was attacked by Baasha, king of Israel, at all times hostile to Judah (1Ki_15:32). Baasha continued to encroach and finally fortified Ramah as a frontier fortress. Asa, faint-hearted, instead of putting his entire trust in Yahweh, made an alliance with Ben-hadad, of Damascus. The Syrian king, in consideration of a large sum of money and much treasure from the temple at Jerusalem, consented to attack the northern portion of Baasha's territory. It was at this favorable moment that Asa captured Ramah, and with the vast building material collected there by Baasha, he built Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah (1Ki_15:16-22). This lack of faith in Yahweh was severely criticized by Hanani the prophet. Asa, instead of listening patiently to this prophet of God, was greatly offended and enraged and Hanani was put in prison (2Ch_16:1-10). Three years later, Asa was attacked by gout or some disease of the feet. Here again he is accused of lack of faith, for “he sought not to Yahweh, but to the physicians” (2Ch_16:12). Having ruled forty-one years, he died and was buried with great pomp in a tomb erected by himself in the city of David, i.e. Jerusalem. On the whole his reign was very successful, but it is sad to chronicle that as the years rolled on he became less and less faithful to Yahweh and His law. [from International Standard Bible Encyclopedia]

  In reading and studying God’s Word this morning I’m reminded how easy it is to trust Him in healthy prosperous times and yet risk moving away in ill winds.

EBB4

 

 

LEARNING IN DISCOMFORT

 

LEARNING IN DISCOMFOR

  I like to learn new things, trying to do so every day. I learned that replacing a thermostat in a contemporary vehicle (99’ Ford Explorer 4.0 V6) is not so simple as it was with past ones; a matter yesteryear of removing two bolts or capscrews, taking out the faulty thermostat, scraping away the old cardboard gasket, popping in a new set with a smear of just-to-be-safe sealer compound, replace the fitting and two bolts, top off the anti-freeze, and drive. Not so simple or quick these days as there is much to remove in modern jam-packed engine compartments before finally arriving at thermostat area. This was then followed by another class: My watching brother Rick Parks demonstrating going through one+ hour step by step process of seeking why the heater/defroster fan would not work. (Computerized, thereby eliminating the simplicity of replacing a manual switch or connector.)

  Both learning experiences had with them a level of discomfort, including the balmy 21 degree Nebraska day.

  This is not to complain, for the value of our time together in the “Fellowship of the Fan”, plus the educating was important to us and our Lord as we’re loving one another. (Jn.13:34-35;1Jn.3:17-18; 2Pet.1:5-8)

  And then after the sun had set and I was inside recovering normal body temperature, along came brother Bryan Poole, excitedly sharing recent blessings in his life, but also unintentionally uncomfortably reminding me of what a wretched codependent I once was.

  Later, drifting off to sleep with sinuses pouring akin to Smith Falls waiting for Claritin’s effectiveness I recalled how much more I learn in and with discomfort than at ease. With this in mind I look forward to the classroom in a brother’s attic; The Fellowship of Fiberglass, for who knows what the Lord may teach us there?  EBB4 (Friday, February 20, 2009)

UNDER HIS WINGS

 Psalm [GW] 91:2-6 I will say to the LORD, "You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust." He is the one who will rescue you from hunters' traps and from deadly plagues. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge. His truth is your shield and armor. You do not need to fear terrors of the night, arrows that fly during the day, plagues that roam the dark, epidemics that strike at noon.  

WHO SECURES GOD'S SALVATION CONTRACT?

 

WHO SECURES THE SALVATION CONTRACT?

 

  God’s covenant promise of eternal salvation is absolute; believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved is plainly spelled out in Scripture. Not in the least to sound supportive of predestination, but because of security confusion on the part of some folks, I ask:

 

1. Does our trusting Him secure the salvation covenant?

 

2. Is God’s salvation agreement secured by our “hearing”?

 

3. Is eternal life secured by our ability to establish and keep faith?

 

4. Is salvation secured by a covenant between us and God?

 

5. Is salvation secured by a covenant between God and us?

 

  Believers’ security in guaranteed by none of the above. Salvation is secured by God on one side and God on the other. It is a covenant God made with Himself! (Heb.6:17-19) as Andrew Farley states, “We [believers] are the beneficiaries of a covenant we did not start and that we do not maintain or sustain. Therefore, God is the one Who makes certain that we continue in Him.” (2Tim.2:13; Heb.7:22, 25)

  As a believer we are secure. Knowing this and feeling so is also nice . . . relieving and empowering.

EBB4

REALIGNING OUR THINKING

 

REALIGNING OUR THINKING

 

Romans [MKJV] 12:1-3  I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. But set your mind to be right-minded, even as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. 

 

  Romans 12:1-3 is a core motivational portion of God’s Word for me.

  Not at all overbearing, but an ongoing joyful endeavor is the work of realigned thinking for me. Admittedly with ego at times a hindrance. Ego sometimes being in the form of comfortable beloved embedded tradition. Today I present two examples of my shift to Biblical right-mindedness. Both embraced and passed on in my early decades of church discipleship.

  “You cannot know you are really saved unless you can recount a time and place, just as in the ‘I do’ of marriage.” This being something I was taught and did teach even though dear Ann knew otherwise. She stating she and others rejoiced in blessed assurance though she couldn’t define by calendar or geography.

  A time and place stipulation are not required. Even the much touted “I do” example actually proves such specification false; for belief precedes public declaration. (The same true with Biblical baptism.)

  The second taught-believed-retaught by me religious doctrine was what is commonly referred to as the “sinners’ prayer”, a repeat-after-me plea and pledge.  For one thing it has only been in vogue about 200 years among evangelicals, it thought to have begun in tent revivals.

  Though some rest upon it and are born again, the intonation is not the magic catalyst unto God’s redemption and the “quickened life”. (Rom.3:24; Gal.3:13; 4:5; Ps.119:50, 93; 1Cor.15:36; Eph.2:1, 5; Col.2:13; 1Pet.3:18) For one thing it leans towards “I did it.” Contractual agreement.

  More on this later matter tomorrow.

  Until then, keep traveling God’s Way. (Jn.14:6)

EBB4

 

 

TO ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER

 

TO ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER

 

Philippians [MKJV] 2:1-5 If there is therefore any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tendernesses and mercies, then fulfill my joy, that you may be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.  Do not let each man look upon his own things, but each man also on the things of others. For let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 

 

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name.

Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.

It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.

That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.

On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. 'Really?' she heard whispered. 'I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!' and, 'I didn't know others liked me so much,' were most of the comments.

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.

Several years later, one of the students was killed in

Vietnam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature.

The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin.

As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. 'Were you Mark's math teacher?' he asked. She nodded: 'yes.' Then he said: 'Mark talked about you a lot.'

After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher.

'We want to show you something,' his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket 'They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.'

Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.

'Thank you so much for doing that,' Mark's mother said. 'As you can see, Mark treasured it.'

All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, 'I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home.'

Chuck's wife said, 'Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album.'

'I have mine too,' Marilyn said. 'It's in my diary'

Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. 'I carry this with me at all times,' Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: 'I think we all saved our lists'

That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be.

So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.

And One Way To Accomplish This Is: Forward this message on. If you do not send it, you will have, once again passed up the wonderful opportunity to do something nice and beautiful.

If you've received this, it is because someone cares for you and it means there is probably at least someone for whom you care.

If you're 'too busy' to take those few minutes right now to forward this message on, would this be the VERY first time you didn’t do that little thing that would make a difference in your relationships?

The more people that you send this to, the better you'll be at reaching out to those you care about.

Remember, you reap what you sow. What you put into the lives of others comes back into your own.

Joe Kosar

BASICS FOR BABES

 

ESSENTIAL BASICS FOR BEGINNERS

2Timothy ISV 2:1-2 As for you, my child, be strong by the grace that is in the Messiah Jesus. What you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.

   As followers of Christ, Christians, there are basic truths that we need to know . . . and then pass on to others. What, as His faithful child, do you pass on to others, especially to the John 1:12 new to the family of God? 

EBB4

THE EASTERN STAR

 

GotQuestions.org: What is the Eastern Star organization, and are they related to the Free Masons?

Please note – by this article, we are not claiming that all who are involved in Freemasonry or Eastern Star are cultists. What we are saying is this: Freemasonry/Eastern Star at its core is not a Christian organization. There are many Christians who have left Freemasonry after discovering what it is truly all about. Please visit Ex-Masons for Jesus for more information. Each person should pray for wisdom and discernment from the Lord as to whether to be involved with Freemasonry/Eastern Star.

  The Order of the Eastern Star (OES) is a secret society that is similar to that of the Masons. Both organizations work in concert, and many people belong to both groups. These organizations are shrouded in mystery and intrigue. Many believe Matthew 2:2 to be the guiding verse of the Order: “We have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him” (KJV).
  The Order of the Eastern Star maintains that it is not a secret society. The group calls itself the largest worldwide fraternal organization. More than 500,000 men and women are members of the OES. The OES officially began in the mid-1800s in the United States. Dr. Rob Morris, the Poet Laureate of Masonry, organized the first Grand Chapter of the Order. Morris developed the rituals and creeds of the Order supposedly based on his belief in God and biblical stories. The OES began as a group for women who were related to the male Masons but now admits both genders as official members.
  According to Eastern Star’s official website, the purposes of the organization are “Charitable, Educational, Fraternal and Scientific.” The Order supposedly promotes moral values and personal goodness, building “an Order which is truly dedicated to charity, truth and loving kindness.”
  The purposes of the OES seem honorable at first glance, even biblically based. Why, then, is there so much secrecy? Jesus’ earthly ministry was very public. He did not shroud His purpose in mystery; He was open and honest with everyone regarding His teachings and lifestyle. He did not create a secret code word or handshake for a select few. He made Himself and His grace available for all, and still does (John 3:16).
  The Order has several specific requirements that individuals must meet before they can be “adopted” into the OES family. Male candidates must be Masons, and women candidates must be related to a Mason in some way before they will be considered. Also, a candidate must have a belief in a “Supreme Being.” The official website says, “Members of all religions may belong to the Order of the Eastern Star. We only require a belief in a Supreme Being.” In contrast to this nebulous belief system, the Bible presents Jesus as the exclusive Savior and Lord. Acts 4:12 says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
  There is a common belief that the Order of the Eastern Star is a Christian-based organization that simply observes traditions and rituals that support fraternal and historic bonds. However, the OES teaches some things that are at odds with biblical Christianity. Besides denying the exclusive nature of Christ’s salvation, the OES teaches that man is essentially good and places a heavy emphasis on good works and community service as a means of earning a relationship with the Supreme Being. Also, the group is cloaked in mystery and mysticism. First John 1:5 says, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” There is no confusion or darkness in God; therefore, as His followers, we should disengage from sources of worldly darkness, mysteries, confusion, and compromise.
  Many people join groups such as the Eastern Star and the Masons innocently, for reasons such as family tradition or a desire to make friends or belong to a community group. Those who join for such reasons may not have given much thought to the works-based theology of Eastern Star. The Bible commands us to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

  Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” A society that is “secret” and ambiguous in regard to its theology is not analogous with God’s Word, which is the embodiment of light and truth. A Christian should not be a member of any secret society or organization that has any connection with Freemasonry, and that includes Eastern Star.
  Again, for more information, we strongly recommend Ex-Masons for Jesus.

Recommended Resource: The Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge by Ankerberg & Weldon

WASTED TIME

 

WASTED TIME    Proverbs 6:4-11

  These verses don’t come right and say, “Never be late.” But to me they bring to mind the people that say they can never be on time. When we are late for appointments, for church, etc., we are wasting God-given precious time and being rude to other people by making them wait for us. I have an old autograph album in which my mother wrote: “Lost yesterday, sometime between sunrise and sunset, Two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward is offered for they are gone forever.”

  We need to be diligent in investing God-given precious time wisely!

Leslie Nivens (12/12/1928-3/1/2020)

PS. Something to think about while impatiently standing watching your seconds tick away on the microwave timer. EBB4

DROOPING WITH ANTHROPOCENTRISM

 

DROOPING WITH ANTHROPOCENTICISM

  Matthew 18:1-4; 23:10-12 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. … Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

  Acts 11:25-26 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

  Galatians [MKJV] 5:22-26 … the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control; against such things there is no law. But those belonging to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become glory-seeking, provoking one another, envying one another.

  Ephesians [MKJV] 5:8-9 … you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),

Anthropocentric [an-thruh-poh-sen-trik], adjective

1. regarding the human being as the central fact of the universe.

2. assuming human beings to be the final aim and end of the universe.

3. viewing and interpreting everything in terms of human experience and values.

  For many, all or much of personal identity has to do with prideful things: race, family, genealogy, culture, ability, achievements, wealth, intelligence, prowess, toughness, possessions (may possessively  include spouse and children), knowledge, education, stature, looks, position, talents, neighborhood, dwelling(s), et al. 

  When our being is based in pride, our common practice is investing considerable time and effort in said identity’s maintenance and increase. When we trust God and His Way (Jn.14:6) and leave prideful identification, in its place we gain that which is truly fine, the fruit of the Spirit; “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control . . . all goodness and righteousness and truth.”; the blessed state of usefulness of moral excellence in character and obvious demeanor.

  Having lost old identity basis that was our trusted motivator for so many years we may droop without the anthropocentric incentive. Or, clinging to our old way for being, we simply shift our pride to Christian works; thereby stumbling to and fro in confusion as we incur God’s resistance. (James 4:1-10) This should not be and will not be if we live in our new John 1:12; 2Corinthians 5:17-20 identity.

  Once we were an unregenerate human being; God’s creation but not His John 1:12 child. After trusting Lord Jesus Christ, we are family, Christian being, “a follower of Christ”, redeemed, a being in and by Him. It is our Christian being that should and will motivate us if we so allow; “We don't look for things that can be seen but for things that can't be seen. Things that can be seen are only temporary. But things that can't be seen last forever. … So from now on we don't think of anyone from a human point of view. If we did think of Christ from a human point of view, we don't anymore. Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.” (GW 2Cor.4:18; 5:16-17)

  Droop not. 

EBB4

 

REVERSE ENGINEERING

 

REVERSE ENGINEERING

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed? [Also note 2Cor.6:14]

  Being exposed to engineers, their mindset and methods, was an educational part of my employment. Reverse engineering, though not on my treasured original list of hermeneutic educational principles, was later added as a means of studying God’s Word and its healthy application.

  In the previous DT I wrote of the distinction between forgiveness and reconciliation. Forgiveness preceding hoped for reconciliation. Forgiveness not spontaneously assuredly producing reconciliation. Reconciliation separately afterward requiring Amos 3:3 agreed upon exercise.

  Today I emphasize the primary practice of Amos 3:3, doing so very much reducing instances necessitating forgiveness.

EBB4

HOPING FOR REUNION?

 

HOPING FOR REUNION?

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?  

  Once upon a time I naively thought forgiveness naturally resulted in reconciliation. It doesn’t, for they are two distinctly different matters. Forgiveness given by a person does not automatically reconcile the forgiver and the recipient(s) of forgiveness. The offender(s) may even reject forgiveness and deliberately widen the gulf.

  I was reminded of this while reading yet another book* on anger this week. I’ve condensed some of the helpful points.

·         Forgiveness may be given. Reconciliation requires at least two people.

·         Forgiveness is extended in one direction. Reconciliation involves reciprocal response.

·         Forgiveness is deciding to release. Reconciliation is the work to rejoin.

·         Forgiveness involves repentance. Reconciliation also involves thought and behavioral change.

·         Forgiveness is a free gift. Reconciliation requires acceptance.

·         Forgiveness initiates trust. Reconciliation requires collegiality.

·         Forgiveness is given. Reconciliation is earned.

·         Forgiveness is unconditional. Reconciliation is conditional.

  An additional applicable cautionary note: Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. (Pr.22:24-25)

EBB4

*ANGER, Facing the Fire within, by June Hunt

UNREALISTIC EXPECTATION

 

UNREALISTIC EXPECTATION

… Love is always patient; love is always kind; love is never envious or arrogant with pride. Nor is she conceited, and she is never rude; she never thinks just of herself or ever gets annoyed. She never is resentful; is never glad with sin; she's always glad to side with truth, and pleased that truth will win. She bears up under everything; believes the best in all; there is no limit to her hope, and never will she fall…. [ISV 1Cor. 13]

  Having forgiven and then expecting, demanding, waiting for apology, replacement and restoration that may never come is a serious mistake. It is unrealistic to attach anticipation of the person or group we have forgiven to reciprocate in kind. As a matter of past experience, such expectation unrequited may leave us with residual aggravation grounded in resentment; baggage that hinders our pilgrim journey.

  Let’s beware unrealistic expectations. Let’s permit love to prevail.

EBB4

 

A 150 YEAR YOUNG IDENTITY

Leviticus [MKJV] 18:20-24 And you shall not lie carnally with your neighbor's wife, to defile yourself with her. … You shall not lie with mankind as with womankind. It is abomination to God. And you shall not lie with any animal to defile yourself with it. And a woman shall not stand before an animal to lie down to it. It is a perversion. Do not defile yourselves in any of these things. For in all these the nations are defiled, which I cast out before you.

  Though I most certainly am, I don’t go around broadcasting myself as “I’m heterosexual.” So why do so many homosexuals identify themselves by their libido? Especially since, though homosexual acts were practiced prior to, until about 150 years ago there was no “gay” identity. Until then homosexual acts were just one of the listed sexual acts. And now they are publicly billboarding themselves.

  It is listed and defined in Scripture as an abomination to God, not as a personal identity.

  The natural conclusion to this knowledge being God doesn’t make homosexuals, no more than he makes Democrats .or Republicans, Baptists or Anglicans, racists or lovers, or _________.

EBB4

HIT THE MARK

 

HIT THE MARK

Philippians 3:13-14

  Have you ever thrown darts or shot arrows at a target? You may fall short and not hit the bullseye, but with continuing practice eventually you’ll come closer and closer to the goal. It’s the same with serving the Lord. We make mistakes, we err, we fall short of what Christ would have us to be, but we keep studying His Word, praying and practicing with the “mark” ever in sight.

Leslie Nivens (12/12/1928-3/1/2020)

MINDFULNESS

 

MINDFULNESS

 

  A few days ago a church and several individuals posted on Facebook a statement supporting and promoting “Christian mindfulness.” I don’t know if this is the one church’s position or if it’s being promoted by the denomination? I do definitely know that the practice is neither Christian or mindful. To clarify further I’m sharing topical essay provided by GotQuestions.org. EBB4

+++

 "What is mindfulness? Should a Christian be involved in mindfulness?"

  Mindfulness is a term used to describe a meditative state in which people direct their attention inward to become more self-aware. Mindfulness is self-examination of one’s thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, and emotions with no judgment of their being right or wrong. The goal of meditative mindfulness is to identify thoughts and feelings about a particular issue, to live in the moment, and to accept oneself completely. When this goal has been reached, the person is said to have entered a state of mindfulness.
  Mindfulness is rooted in Buddhism, as promoters of mindfulness readily admit, although it is often adapted for secular purposes. The ideology behind mindfulness is to achieve stillness and balance of the mind.
  Man’s efforts to calm the mind and rid the life of stressors—through mindfulness or other New Age techniques—are an attempt to manufacture peace. From a biblical perspective, we know that only Jesus gives the peace that can exist in all circumstances (John 14:27; Philippians 4:7). No human can control emotions or thoughts on his or her own because we are born slaves to a sinful nature (Romans 6:17–23). Only through the power of the Holy Spirit who sets our minds free to think truthfully can we know true peace. If we want to practice being more aware or insightful, there are much better options than mindfulness techniques, such as Bible study and prayers for insight.
  When Christians think biblically, they see things defined through the lens of Scripture. The word mindful, which means “attentive,” is not describing anything inherently wrong. Christians can be mindful of Christ by taking every thought captive for Christ and renewing their minds with the truth (2 Corinthians 10:5; Romans 12:2). But mindfulness, as promoted in psychology and used as a meditation technique, is not biblical.

WAR

 

 

WHY WAR?

2016

 

  “Why war?” is plainly answered in Scripture: it is because of the base nature of man wanting his way, wanting more. Sound familiar? It should, for dissatisfaction with harmony, wanting more was core issue in the original sinning Eve and Adam. (Gen.3:1-6) And, as with all hostilities of small or large scope, there was and still is always terrible casualty -- the price of war. (Gen.3:7-24)

  David, warrior king, cried out about the wasted cruel futility or war. (2Sam.1:25-27)

  Sometimes war involves crime most personal. (2Sam.11:1-27)

  Jesus spoke about war. (Mt.24:6-8; Mk.13:6-8)

  James, in chapter 4, plainly explains the reason for war; and that we make serious error when going to war against God.

  In KJV “war” is mentioned 225 times in 220 verses; “battle” 170 in 163 verses.

  “peace” is mentioned in one context or another 429 times in 400 verses.

  Which will make for the more profitable word study? Why war, or why peace? 

  If not in denial or clouded with emotionalism, the answer to “Why war?” is easily comprehended.

  But “Why peace?” requires considerable study and difficulty in application. A consequence of original sin leaving man with base ego-centric nature it is easier to strike with countenance, body language, tongue, pen, or arms than to be a blessed peacemaker.

  Knowing my bent, I choose “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.” (ASV Phil.4:7), saying with Paul “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers [and sisters], I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.” (Phil.3:12-16)

EBB4

+++

War, why does God Allow It? Today, 9/9/20, I’ve adapted the following condensed essay from a tract by Good News Publishers taken from the writings of Dr. David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981). He was a  Welsh Protestant minister and medical doctor who was influential in the British evangelical movement. For almost 30 years, he was the minister of Westminster Chapel in London.

 

  Why does God allow war? I pondered this issue prior to trusting Jesus and then studying his Word. In the wake of 9/11 and the daily threat of terror, this question has become disturbingly urgent, first on a national level but also in recent events in our lives. War was never what we wanted or expected, especially for our children; not at all part of sensible plans. Yet in a sense it’s odd that we’re surprised by war. Every generation has experienced war. We now experience wars howbeit geographically remotely unless our loved ones are in uniform on the fields of battle. The scourge of war is not abnormal, though we wish it were. (Mt.24:6-7)

  God’s Word tells that Jehovah rules over all kingdoms. (2Chr.20:6) Having this power, why does he allow something so gruesome and devastating?

  Prior to WWII and the Holocaust, Martin Lloyd-Jones grappled with this question. Through study of God’s Word he concluded that “the ultimate cause of war is lust and desire; the restlessness that is part of us as the result of sin.” As is all terrorism, vandalism, murder, lying, hate, resentment, et al. (Jam.4:1-2) War is the large scale extension of sin. God allows it as a reminder of the horrors of sin and a wakeup call for repentance; the need for forgiveness and life with peace and justice in His service. (Eccl.12:9-14; Rom.12:13)

  Lloyd-Jones said that the question to be asked is not “Why does God allow war?” but rather “Why does God not allow the world to destroy itself entirely in its iniquity and sin? Why does He in His restraining grace set a limit to evil and to sin, and a boundary beyond which they cannot pass?” [Note Job 1:6-12] God’s patience with this sinful world is amazing! How wondrous is His love! He sent His beloved only begotten Son, Jesus, to live and die so that in trusting him we are redeemed. Would we see this without the awful realities of life? Without it would Job come to conclude that “though He slay me, yet will I trust Him”? (Job 13:15)

  Isn’t our more important question “Am I learning the lessons and living a life of repentance?” As we face terrorism and the possibility of WWIII bringing personal suffering and tragedy, are we remembering that beginning with Adam God allows the sinfulness of mankind to run its natural course? And that he graciously provides deliverance to anyone that believes? (Jn.3:18) Doing so we then gain “the mind of Christ” (1Cor.2:16; Phil.2:5) giving us the insight that the Apostle Paul explains, that life in Christ, though here with pain and sorrow prepares us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. (2Cor.4:17)

  Trust Jesus and become John 1:12 family His, gaining His peace now, and one day living forever with death no more. (Jn.14:27; 16:33; Rev.21:4)

EBB4

+++

WAR WITHOUT END

Friday, May 19, 2017

 

  This past week I thoughtfully reviewed Ken Burns PBS documentary THE WAR. It presented photos, commentary, and testimonies on WWII. I was reminded of life then. Three outstanding actual personal memories are 1.) Unlike today’s detached attitude among many, our country was totally enmeshed in the war effort. 2.) My and other childhood friends’ elation in 1945 when the war ended. 3.) My naiveté thinking it was the end of war.

  Exactly when I woke up to the untruth of point 3 I don’t know, but I do know that I saw and finally accepted the truth when I read Jesus’ words recorded by Matthew and Mark. (24:6; 13:7) Prideful partisanship apart from godly love is in mankind’s nature ever since the first rebellion!

  Then yesterday I read the following essay provided by the Colson Center as part of Wilberforce recognition.

 

The attempts to create a master Aryan race are not the stuff of science fiction or history books anymore.  By John Stonestreet with Roberto Rivera

  I’m going to tell you a story about an attempt to build a strong nation by breeding better babies. These babies “would be superior in quality, intelligence, looks, and other aspects.” They would be taller and fairer in complexion that their peers. These babies hold the key, we are told, to national greatness.

  Now you’re probably thinking the story comes from the Third Reich or maybe a science fiction novel. But you’d be wrong. This story is not from 1930s Germany nor is it the stuff of dystopian novels. It’s from contemporary India.

  A group in India, Arogya Bharati, which means “Indian Wholeness” in Sanskrit, is working with couples to produce, in its words, “customized” babies. It hopes to “have [produced] thousands of such babies by 2020.” Its long-term goal is to build a strong India through these children.

What’s required to produce such a child? “Three months of [purification] for parents, intercourse at a time decided by planetary configurations, complete abstinence after the baby is conceived, and procedural and dietary regulations.”

  The pay-off? According to the head of Arogya Bharati, “extremely bright,” “fair-complexioned,” and “tall” babies born to less-bright, dark, and short parents.

  As this suggests, the groups methods aren’t rooted in modern genetics. Instead, they’re indebted to a combination of Indian folk medicine, astrology, and Hindu beliefs.

  Yet it would be unwise to discount the seriousness of what’s taking place here. When one commenter said that the group’s project was “straight out of the Nazi playbook,” it wasn’t hyperbole. While the two groups’ methods may have differed, their goals were the same: strengthening the nation by promoting racial purity.

  In fact, the groups share more than just a common goal; they share a central idea–the Aryan. While the Nazi myth of the Aryan is well-known, what’s not as well-known is that “Hindutva,” the Hindu nationalist ideology of groups like Arogya Bharati and its parent movement, the RSS, also has the idea of the Aryan at the center of its national myth.

  Unlike the Nazis, who believed that the Aryans were from what’s now the border between Kashmir and Afghanistan in the Himalayas, Hindu nationalists insist that the Aryans were from northern Indian.

Despite this disagreement, the RSS expressed admiration for Nazi efforts to promote racial purity. In 1938, its Supreme Leader said that Germany “has shown how well-nigh impossible it is for races and cultures, having differences going to the root, to be assimilated into one united whole.” He called it “a good lesson for us in [India] to learn and profit by.”

  It’s a lesson his ideological successors are now trying to put into practice, not in birthing clinics but in the curtailment of religious freedom across India, which, in recent years, has become an increasingly hostile place for Christians, as well as Muslims.

  And I’d be remiss if I left you with the impression that this quest for “customized” babies was only limited to religious fanatics and Nazis. The (un)holy grail of modern genetics is to, as some have put it, “shape our own evolution.” While proponents of this quest would howl in protest if they heard me say it, this, too, is a quest for a kind of racial purity.

  While their definition of “race” is infinitely more generous than the people in India, never mind the Nazis, it’s still an endeavor that has no place for the weak, no matter how the planets align.

Source: the Colson Center

 

  War, slavery, racism, eugenics, and countless other wickedness are still with us. Though we may hinder we cannot heal the big picture. We can, and should, present the cure as we faithfully continue as God’s Matthew 5:9 blessed peacemakers and 2Corinthians 5:14-21 diplomats in family, friendship, neighborhood, town, village, crossroads, to one and all in our personal world.

EBB4

 

+++

 

GETTING ON WITH THE WAR IN PEACE

 

1Timothy 1:18-19 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; 19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

2Timothy 2:1-4 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

 

  Please reread today’s title and note that I didn’t say “Getting On With The War For Peace”.

  Fact: We are ever at combat since the gaining the “knowledge of good and evil”. (Gen.2:7-17)

  Indeed we are tasked to be peacemakers, and promised blessedness therein. (Mt.5:9) (This blessing including qualification for increased responsibility. J )

  As Christian soldier, we are not called to flowery paths of ease, though bent in that direction; a path of personal provision that when taken in self-determination removes us far from our blessed enlistment.

  We, as God’s children, submissively participating or not, are at war! Without said submissiveness to our Commandant, we fight war on 3 fronts.

  As God’s warrior, there are several questions we must repeatedly drill: Am I truly willing to drink the cup from which Christ drank, to be baptized as He was baptized? (Mt.20:22; 26:39) Am I living in personal peace with God, self and others, or am I unable to fight the good fight because of involvement in diversionary skirmishing? (1Cor.1:5-13; James 4:1-17) Have I by foolish choice or cowardice positioned myself in the line of battle with the enemy surrounding, the enemy within and in conflict with the Commander? (James 4:6)

  Answering in order with God, the absolute source of consecrated assurance, He will then fill us with joy and inner peace through our trusting faith in Him as Commander; then, and only then in peace can we serve for peace as soldiers by and in the power of His Holy Spirit! (Rom.15:13) 

EBB4

 

PS to all of the above: As you can see, in 85 years of observing I ‘ve often thought about war. It was not until I at 27 trusted Jesus that I enjoyed the peace He alone provides. John 14:27; 16:33. EBB4

 

 

 

GODLY PEOPLE

 

A GODLY WOMAN

Proverbs [CEV] 27:17 Just as iron sharpens iron, friends sharpen the minds of each other.

  Kaitlan is one of my young friends. Our fellowship all started a few years ago with a question about a book she held. Actually, I see her as befriending me. And as unintended consequences go, our relationship is mutually beneficial in the manner of Proverbs 27:17; Spiritually most of all.

  We contribute to and delight in each others’ maturation . . . most often without specific deliberate intent. Cases-in-point are when Kaitlan expresses a recent point of arrival in her life. Read on. Be blessed. Grow thereby.

“There is a BIG difference between a Christian guy, and a Man of God. A christian guy might say he loves you, but a man of God will love God more than you. A christian guy might text you Bible verses, or have a tattoo of them, but a man of God will live out those verses and have them written on his heart. A christian guy might go to church, but a man of God will see that his highest calling is to give Christ glory. A christian guy might "accidentally" compromise your virtue, but a man of God will protect it above all else. A christian guy might be super attractive, but a man of God will have a beautiful heart, regardless of his looks. A christian guy might take you out, but a man of God will hold you up before God in his prayers.” 

EBB4

GOD'S PLANS

 

GotQuestions.org: "Does God have a plan for me?"

  Many of God’s plans are detailed throughout the Bible. He has plans for nations, for people groups, and for individuals. Isaiah 46:10–11 summarizes what God wants us to know about His plans: “My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.” It’s one thing to recognize that God has an overarching plan for the world; it is quite another to acknowledge that God has a specific life plan for each person.
  Many places in Scripture indicate that God does have a specific plan for each human being. It starts before we are conceived. The Lord told Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). God’s plan was not reactive, a response to Jeremiah’s conception. It was preemptive, implying that God specially formed this male child to accomplish His plan. David underscores this truth: “You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13). Unborn children are not accidents. They are being formed by their Creator for His purposes. That is one reason abortion is wrong. We have no right to disrespect God’s plan and violate God’s workmanship by killing a child He is in the process of forming.
  God’s plan for every human being is that each one comes to know Him and accept His offer of salvation (2 Peter 3:9). He created us for fellowship with Him, and, when we reject the reconciliation He offers, we live at cross purposes with His plan for us. Beyond salvation, God also designed good works for each of us according to our gifts, strengths, and opportunities (Ephesians 2:10). He orchestrated the location and time into which each of us is born (Acts 27:6; Psalm 139:16). If He knows the number of hairs on our heads, then He knows us better than we know ourselves (Luke 12:7). He knows the gifts, talents, strengths, and weaknesses He gave us, and He knows how we could best use them to make an eternal impact. He gives us opportunities to store up treasure in heaven so that, for all eternity, we can enjoy His reward (Mark 9:41; Matthew 10:41–42).
  God’s plan for each person is generally stated in Micah 6:8: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” His plan is for relationship over duties. When we walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16, 25), enjoying a loving relationship with the Lord, our actions indicate that closeness. Pleasing Him is our delight. His plan unfolds naturally as we grow in faith, mature in knowledge, and practice obedience with all we understand. As we obey His general plan for His children, we discover His uniquely designed plan for us individually.
  We know God’s plan for those who know Him includes reaching others with the good news of salvation (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 5:20). His plan is for His children to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). He wants us to grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18). He wants us to love other Christians the way He loves us (John 13:34). As we follow His Word, we will discover our own spiritual gifts and abilities that specially suit us to serve Him in unique ways (2 Corinthians 12:4–11). God’s plan unfolds in our lives as we use all we have for His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).
  We often become impatient in wondering what God’s plan is for our lives. But it is not as complicated as we make it out to be. God’s plan for us is revealed a little at a time as we follow Him, and His plan may look different in different seasons of life. A young woman may ask God to direct her to His plan and believes college is part of that plan. But halfway through college, she falls ill and must spend the next two years in a convalescent home. Is she now out of God’s plan? Not if her heart is set to obey Him. In that convalescent home, she meets a young man who becomes her husband. They both love the Lord and desire to serve Him and believe that His plan for them is the mission field. They begin preparation, but halfway through the training, she becomes pregnant with a high-risk pregnancy. Did they miss God’s plan? Has the Lord abandoned them? Not at all. Because of their experience caring for a child with special needs, they are able to minister to other families with similar needs. Their mission field looks much different from the one they had envisioned, but it is God’s plan for them. They are able to look back and see His hand in every turn along the way.
  God’s plan is rarely a straight shot to a visible goal. His plan requires of us a journey, illustrated so well in Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress, and that journey may be filled with detours, sudden stops, and confusing turns. But if our hearts are set to obey Him in all that we know to do, then we will be in the center of His will every step of the way.

 

PS. I agree with all of the above. However, we as individuals and/or groups choose to live or not live according to God’s plan(s). We are not puppets, nor does God or Satan treat us as such. Beginning with Adam and Eve we see this throughout Scripture. We see it here and now in our own lives. Refusing to live in joyful compliance does not however alter His overarching plans. Esther chapter 4 is an example. She having the choice of being the one “for such a time as this”, or not.  Consider the nation of Israel. Peter is an example of this. The Apostle Paul’s life exemplified this truth. And what of 2Chronicles 7:14? A large example of this is 2Peter 3:9 plainly stating God’s loving plan. He being “not willing that any should perish” but individuals do. (This verse also destroys the incorrect interpretation of predestination.) EBB4

THE MANDELA EFFECT

 

GotQuestions.org: "What is the Mandela Effect?"

  The Mandela Effect is the phenomenon of people’s collective misremembering of specific facts or events. It is what happens when someone has a clear “memory” of something that never actually happened. The Mandela Effect is often linked to bizarre conspiracy theories involving parallel universes, colliding alternate realities, and time travel. One tenet of these theories is that history is actually being changed, which explains why we remember something but history doesn’t record it. Others go so far as to say changes are being made in the Holy Scriptures, too.
  The term Mandela Effect was coined by Fiona Broome, a writer and paranormal consultant, in 2010. Ms. Broome explains the Mandela Effect on her website: “Many of us—mostly total strangers—remember the exact same events with the exact same details. However, our memories are different from what’s in the history books, newspaper archives, and so on.” The term is a reference to South African leader Nelson Mandela. It seems that a group of people had a false memory of Nelson Mandela dying in prison in the 1980s (he actually died in December 2013). Conspiracy theorists hypothesize that, whenever a significant number of people share a similar false memory, then the event is related to “alternate history” or “parallel realities.” In the case of Mandela, the theorists would say he did die in the 1980s (in one universe), and he did die in 2013 (in another universe). People have memories of both because they’ve been “sliding” back and forth between the two realities without knowing it. As ridiculous as these theories may sound, Ms. Broome has gained a solid following online, writing articles and books and giving speeches on related subjects.
  The Mandela Effect and its resulting conspiracy theory gained traction when boxing legend Muhammad Ali died in June of 2016 at age 74. Many people said they remembered his having died several years earlier. There are other examples of the Mandela Effect, such as the belief that Hurricane Katrina did not strike the Gulf Coast in August 2005 but rather four months earlier.
  Another common example of the Mandela Effect involves the “Tank Man”—the iconic image of a young man blocking a tank at Tiananmen Square in China in 1989. Many people today claim the protester who stood in front of the tanks was run over by the tanks. They say they were taught this in school, read it in their textbooks, watched the footage, and can still visualize it perfectly according to their memory. In reality, the man was never run over.

Here are some other, less dramatic examples of the Mandela Effect:

– Most of us remember the evil queen in Disney’s version of Snow White saying, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” In reality, the queen says, “Magic mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?”

– The imperative “Play it again, Sam” is never spoken in the classic film Casablanca, although that movie “quote” is a familiar one in most people’s minds.

– In The Empire Strikes Back, Darth Vader doesn’t say, “Luke, I am your father,” as many of us recall. Actually, he says, “No, I am your father.”

– The Statue of Liberty is not and never has been on Ellis Island.

  Psychiatrists have offered an explanation for the Mandela Effect—the misinformation effect. Citing a 30-year study on the malleability of the memory, an article in the scientific journal Learning and Memory attributes what others call the Mandela Effect to “the impairment in memory for the past that arises after exposure to misleading information” (Loftus, E. F. “Planting Misinformation in the Human Mind: A 30-year Investigation of the Malleability of Memory.” Learning and Memory. 2005; 12:361–366). If you haven’t paid close attention to something, the details of it can become blurred in your mind at the suggestion of others. In some cases, the misinformation can actually overwrite your original memory, especially if it’s presented in a way that makes it seem more plausible.
  In examining the Mandela Effect, we must remember that information passed on by others, whether it’s seen, read, or heard, isn’t always factual. If we are exposed to intrusive or contradictory information over time, our memories can change or become distorted. Repeat a lie often enough, and people will believe it. This “misinformation effect” is one reason why courtroom workers try to preserve the integrity of a witness’s testimony and seek jurors who are not influenced by outside reports and speculation.
  Instances of the Mandela Effect are proof that humans spread misinformation and that we all have faulty memories. The Mandela Effect has nothing to do with a multiverse or parallel realities. The truth is that some people would rather believe the entire universe to be flawed than admit themselves at fault.
  We live in an age of “fake news” as incorrect information is widely circulated and shared by unsuspecting (or maybe not-so-innocent) people. Of course, being human, we will at times inadvertently misperceive, misread, misinterpret, or misunderstand things. We need discernment and true biblical wisdom to inhibit the effects of the daily bombardment of distortions and half-truths. Followers of Jesus are to be “wise as serpents” (Matthew 10:16).
  Remarkably enough, there are some who cite the Mandela Effect theory to claim that changes are being made to the Bible. For example, many people will think they recognize the statement “The lion will lie down with the lamb” as being from Scripture, but it’s not. Isaiah 11:6 actually says, “The wolf will live with the lamb, / the leopard will lie down with the goat, / the calf and the lion and the yearling together.” Some claim that the Bible used to describe the lion lying down with the lamb, but someone changed it—either that, or we slipped into an alternate universe. A better explanation is that people don’t know the Bible as well as they think they do and they have allowed artwork and other people’s misquotations to color their memories. There is no reason to believe the Bible is being altered by a nefarious time-traveler or that we are slipping between parallel realities.
  Christians should dispense with the far-fetched theories based on the Mandela Effect along with anything else that “promote[s] controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith” (1 Timothy 1:4).