Peace, Prosperity, and the Gospel

Today I listened to a sermon by Pastor Martyn Lloyd-Jones—The Destruction of the World.

The summary from the MLJ website states:

A Sermon on Matthew 24:3-14
Signs of the End of the Age As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (ESV)

The Christian Gospel : is it relevant today? why the Gospel will never ‘change’ the world; saved from the coming destruction.

In the sermon, Pastor MLJ says that humankind believes philosophers, scientists, and evolutionists and thinks it can build a perfect world. But the humankind is in rebellion to G-D, and has been since the perfect Garden was tainted by wanting to be like G-D.

Pastor MLJ goes on to say that a misunderstanding of the Gospel has even led preachers to think Yeshua meant for us to build a perfect Earth. But the Gospel has been preached for two thousand years and we are at war, we suffer calamities, famine, and plague. Yeshua foretold those things. The Gospel offered eternal salvation to those called by G-D.

Will there ever be peace and prosperity? Yes. Yeshua will return. And will bring judgement and peace; judgement will be for those in rebellion, peace for those who’ve overcome the world, been born again into a new person in Yeshua Messiah.

With this plague that has come, let us look only to our Master, our King, our Savior—Yeshua. Philosophy won’t save us. Science won’t save us. Evolution won’t save us. Yeshua is The Way, The Truth, The Life.


Priestly Blessing
Priestly Blessing

Crosses on Lawns. . . Looks like KKK is active reports Newsweek

According to this article in the Christian Post, Faith Over Fear, Newsweek reported comments by twitter users referring to a picture a person posted of a lite cross in his yard as being a KKK-style burning cross.

Today’s media is filled with poorly educated “reporters,” in my opinion. So That Figures.

But worse, the first comment on the CP article made by one Frances Bookheim said,

“It looks like the KKK is alive and well.”

Really! Do people simply not read before responding?

Anyway, if you don’t read the article on the CP, it’s about folks planting crosses in their yards as part of a campaign of Faith Over Fear. . . which is the headline of the CP article.


Priestly Blessing
Priestly Blessing

Do Not Keep Silent

My uncle, Ivor, was born in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, South Wales. Tenby is a walled city. I am told the English built it for a place to live, and walled it to keep the fierce Celts out. It still has walls, and several gates that are just wide enough to allow cars and small trucks to come and go.

Another walled city, more widely known, is Jerusalem. In Biblical times, it was sealed off hoping to prevent intrusion. The Old City of Jerusalem still has walls. The walls have come down. The walls have been rebuilt. More than once.

Many of the Psalms tell us that G-D is our refuge, our shelter. The walls we erect to protect us work only if we abide in G-D, if He is our G-D. It doesn’t take long for our walls to be vulnerable if we refuse to put G-D first.

A Song. A Psalm of Asaph.
1 O God, do not keep silence;
do not hold your peace or be still, O God!

2 For behold, your enemies make an uproar;
those who hate you have raised their heads.

Here Asapf cries for G-D’s assistance when a multi-nation force is about to come against Israel. When the army went out to fight against the foe, it found G-D had already been there, had taken care of the enemy.

When I think about our modern enemies, and our modern walls we erect, I immediately think of the distractions offered by the”world” to keep me from G-D,  and the walls I create around my heart to keep the “world” out. The wall around my heart can be too solid, and it hardens me. It can be too porous and let’s the in the World’s virus. The Spirit of our L-RD balances my heart’s walls when I look to Him. And to Him alone.


Irish Blessing
(Found on Pinterest at
http://www.catholicprayercards.org/catalog/item/4235164/8619893.htm)

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Between the Seasons

My wife, a northerner originally and unaccustomed to the South, often complained that Georgia doesn’t have the four seasons she likes. We do have four seasons; they are just not well defined. Some years if you blinked you’d miss the transition between Winter and Summer, and between Summer and Winter, for instance. This year its one of those between-the-season times that’s lingered a bit. So it’s warmish days and cool nights.

In the morning we can work in the yard without being either too hot or too cold. Just Right! Like Goldie Locks. In the afternoon we can sit on the deck, in full sun, and feel comfortable, wearing light shirts. We can roll up our sleeves and generate a bit of vitamin “D.” Between the seasons is great, here in Georgia.

However, this morning I awoke and the house wasn’t warm enough to heat, but still a bit chilly.

“Oh, I really hate to admit it. I’m very bothered that I think this way.

“I think—gasp!—I’d actually enjoy a nice warm robe,” I said. “Arg!”

I thought about it for a moment.

“And maybe in the evening I’d wear a cardigan.”

Perhaps it’s my old age suddenly swooping down upon me. Perhaps it’s simply because CostCo allowed me into the store during its senior-only hours. I wasn’t asked for an ID, either. Ok, despite my declaration that my hair remains its golden blonde, I suppose it’s grey (buy only greyish).

Often my dad had worn a cardigan in the evening and early in the morning. I just never thought of myself as a cardigan person.

I guess as old age approaches, one begins to feel the chill. The Bible says so for at least one person.

“Now King David was old and advanced in years. And although they covered him with clothes, he could not get warm.” (1 Kings 1:1)


Have a Great Weekend! Let us together rejoice in the L-RD; Let us together praise His Holy Name!

Priestly Blessing
Priestly Blessing

Coronavirus causing Americans to pray

Coronavirus causing Americans to pray, says an article in the Christian Post (CP).

“While the new coronavirus pandemic has resulted in many churches closing their doors in the name of social distancing, a new survey of more than 11,000 U.S. adults shows that the disease has also inspired more than half of them to pray.”

There has been a cry, for many years, for America to humble itself and pray. I suppose those cries are a reference to 2 Chronicles 7:14 in which G-D says, “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

“In times of crisis, humans have a tendency to turn to religion for stress relief and explanation. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic is no exception,” wrote Bentzen [quoted in the article on CP]. “I document that Google searches on prayer has skyrocketed during the month of March 2020 when the COVID-19 went global.” [fyi: I disagree on March as SARS-COV-2 going global; it went when it left China in January 2020, maybe earlier.]

Wyoming Sunset

Prayer—seems to me Pastor Martyn Lloyd-Jones, who was quite firm in his definition of whom G-D would hear, would point out the part that says “who are called by my Name.” That means that an ecumenical gathering for “prayer” would not be heard. Likewise, calls for “all Americans to pray.” He’d point out that there must be humility involved, that those praying must the face of G-D, and the person praying must “turn for [his or her] wicked ways. Then, and only then, will G-D “hear from Heaven and forgive. . . and heal . . .”

“Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,” Asaf cried out to our L-RD (Psalm 80). Asapf knew to who he prayed. He didn’t pray to a higher power. He prayed to the Master of the Universe. He knew the Name of the L-RD. He was known by name, too. “You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth,” he continued. Asapf exalted the King of Glory, and calls to Him to shine forth His Glory.

Restore us, O G-D;
let Your face shine, that we may be saved!

This is the refrain of Asaf’s song to our L-RD. Like so many Psalm, they are model prayers. Yeshua prayed from the Psalms. Of course—He instilled their words into those hearts of the Psalmists, chiefly King David, a man after G-D’s own heart.

Asaph wasn’t afraid to ask the hard questions, either. No, not the “Why me?” question. Asaph prayed on behalf of his people when he cried out: “O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in full measure. You make us an object of contention for our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves.”

In these days of fear and near panic, we should pray. Pray for lost souls throughout the world. For we, the called of G-D know that our G-D can save us from calamity, and even if He were to chose not to for His purpose, we are spiritual, and will eternally, always be in the loving arms of our L-RD Yeshua.


Earlier today I enjoyed reading Paid in Full posted at from a spark to a flame: fan into flame the gift of faith. Check it out, perhaps you will too.


Priestly Blessing
Priestly Blessing