Current Blog...                Thoughts About Labor Day                 8/31/2025

       Have you ever wondered who comprises the various generations born since the middle of the last century? While not cut and dried, the following definitions are generally acceptable (with some variations).
       As outlined in USA Today:
  -Traditionalists - born before 1945 *(78 years old and up)
  -Baby Boomers - born 1946 to 1964 *(59 to 77 years old)
  -Gen X - born 1965 to 1980 *(43 to 58 years old)
  -Mellennials - born 1981 to 1996 *(27 to 42 years old)
  -Gen Z, Zellennials, Gen Next - born 1995 to 2012 *(11 to 28 years old)
  -Gen Alpha - born 2012 to 2023 *(0 years 11 years old)
  *Age groups as of 2023 shown in brackets

       The next question or two we might ask is, “What are the differences in thinking patterns among these groups?” and, “How does that affect people in their places of work?”
       In an article at HealthStream.com, the generations are compared in their approach to work, 

authority, and collaboration.
       “Baby boomers [age 59-77],” they explain, “tend to be driven . . . [they have had] an opportunity for a career and a university education, unlike their counterparts earlier in history.” The article describes women and minorities as degree holders, often in positions of authority, having a great respect for work. They frequently work overtime and if called in, a boomer is very likely to show up. For that reason, many managers tend to lean on them more heavily than other generations.
       In Comparison, “. . . a Generation X [age 43-58] employee is less likely to come in [for extra hours].” Their goal is to lead a balanced life. That’s because “. . . this group was the first generation whose 

parents both worked [long hours] outside of the home . . .” Such a lifestyle was a detriment to family 

relationships, leading to divorce in many cases. It is said that Gen Xers don’t want to be that person. They do have work ethics but balance is the key.
       “Millennials [age 27-42] are very determined when it comes to work.” They’re very expressive and “. . . need to have input, basically on everything in terms of their jobs . . .” which they don’t consider as 

impolite. They work well with others. “. . . they can multitask, more than anybody else and they are very tech savvy. These workers typically are tenacious and very optimistic about what they can achieve.”
       Then there’s the Gen Zs, sometimes called Generation Next. Again, they have great technological and creative skills but they have shorter attention spans and lack social skills. “. . . money is not as 

important to them . . . [and they want] flexible lifestyles that lets them do what they want.”
       Somewhere, smack in the middle of this mix is what’s referred to as “entitlement complex” and 

research has discovered that large amounts of young people are developing this syndrome according to Indy100.com. Dr Joshua Grubbs, who published research in the Psychological Bulletin said,
       "At extreme levels, entitlement is a toxic narcissistic trait, repeatedly exposing people to the risk of feeling frustrated, unhappy and disappointed with life. Often times, life, health, ageing and the social world don't treat us as well as we'd like. Confronting these limitations is especially threatening to an 

entitled person because it violates their worldview of self-superiority."
       The woke, socialistic minds of our culture promote this kind of thinking. First, everyone is offended by everything these days so any kind of confrontation or challenge about job performance is out the window. Second, competitiveness has been replaced by equity. (Equality of outcome [equity] means we all end up at the same place.) Instead of rewarding only top achievers, now everyone gets a prize 

regardless of performance. Across the board, entitlement equals equity and that takes away from 

any motive to work hard.

       As Christians, (and as human beings for that matter), we want to be the best we can be at everything we do. Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, Knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [and not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [real] reward. [The One Whom] you are actually serving [is] the Lord Christ (the Messiah),” (AMPC).
       At the same time, in all of our striving, we want to balance our lives with rest. God gave us the Sabbath to do just that. It’s not that we should observe the Sabbath as a religious effort. Rather, the Sabbath was created to serve us, (see mark 2:27).
       What does the Bible have to say about work? According to Crosswalk.com, we can know and 

understand that work is:
  1. Ordained by God (Genesis 1:28 & 2:15)
  2. Meant for a lifetime (Genesis 3:19)
  3. Not a punishment (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25)
  4. Has purpose to earn a living, bring satisfaction, and serve God
  5. Calls for obedience (Colossians 3:22)
  6. Should be done with excellence (Ephesians 6:6-7)
  7. Is honorable (1 Corinthians 10:31)
  8. Provides opportunity for witness (Matthew 5:16)
 
       So, as we approach this labor Day, let us celebrate the gift of work and all of the satisfaction and fulfillment it brings but let us also rest from all of our efforts and appreciate God’s divine order.

References:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2022/09/02/what-years-gen-x-millennials-baby-boomers-gen-z/10303085002/

       You may not have heard of Rene “Level” Martinez but he is very well known in Miami-Dade County. As a notorious gangster and drug runner he ran wild in the streets and considered gang members his family. He was a powerhouse; a force to be 

reckoned with. Would he ever find hope for his life and 

his future?
       In a self-produced documentary called The Warrior Level, Martinez tells how he frequented jail even as a juvenile and how he was almost killed on many occasions. For instance, at age fourteen, he and his buddies stole a car and went to a party. On the way home they got into a high speed chase with cops. During the 

pursuit they crashed into a car doing 100 miles per hour. The driver was killed and Martinez was given 

a five percent chance of survival.
       After waking from a three week coma and being in a body cast and then a wheel chair, Rene did learn to walk again, but he did not learn the “life-lesson” God had put before him. He went right back into street life and gang life, stealing cars, pulling home invasions, and dealing in weapons and drugs.
       So where were his parents? Well Rene’s abusive dad was absent early on so Rene’s mother left him. Meanwhile, she was busy working and partying and practicing witchcraft as a religion. At five years of age, Rene remembers being chased around his apartment and stuck in the bathtub with the freshly cut off head of a goat; its blood was poured all over him. He said, “That’s the day I started seeing demons . . . [and] they haunted me my whole life . . . I don’t recall any happy childhood memories, straight up.”
       Rene’s mom was a wreck. When she could no longer provide for her child, they became homeless and lived in the back of a video store; Rene had to steal to eat. At one point, she attempted to take her own life, but Rene found her in time and called 911. In the documentary she states, “I wrote a letter to Jesus Christ saying that I had failed as a human being and I had failed as a mom . . . Jesus Christ touched me and made me whole again.”
       Rene’s mother was not aware of his gang involvement at first, but there in South Florida’s teenage war zone, Rene was gang initiated. She later said the terrible anger he carried was what created the monster he became, and ultimately a gang leader. He kept company with all sorts. Many of them ended up either serving decades in prison or just plain dead. Reflecting back, Rene said, “A lot of evil happened, a lot of people got shot, and a lot of people died . . . the devil was having a field day. None of my home boys are left from back in the day . . . probably like one or two . . . And that’s the life of a 

gangster, man. Straight up. Ain’t no future in it.”
       At about marker 1:11:45 in the film, Martinez begins to describe his redemption. He said, “I remember I was in the studio. I was doing gangster music . . . I was writing lyrics . . . I was writing all kinds of wickedness; there was a demon speaking to me. That night I had an encounter with Jesus Christ, man. He spoke to me, man, and He told me, ‘I spared you for such a time as this. Either you come to me now or I’m going to take my hedge of protection off of you and Satan’s gonna do what he gotta do with you.’
       “And right then and there I knew . . . countless times I got shot at. So much happened in my life. And when I heard His voice that day, I knew, man, it was time to surrender. I gave it all up right then and there. I got on my knees and started crying out to God, man. And it’s like God started to work on me . . .” Soon, Rene was water baptized and at the same time received the gift of the Holy Ghost so that he 

became “on fire” for the Lord.

       Ricky Skaggs is a Kentucky-born country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He primarily plays mandolin; however, he also plays fiddle, guitar, mandocaster and banjo. He is known world-wide and has been in the music business since he was seven years old; his career has spanned five decades.
       Ricky has known Jesus most of his life. In an article by Laura Erlanson at www.GodReports.com, it was reported that Ricky was saved when he was 13 and baptized at the age of 21. Like all of us, he had to learn how to grow in the Christian faith. A friend, at one point, offered him some valuable advice. He suggested he find a simpler version of the Bible to read, so Ricky switched from the King James version to the NIV. It made all the difference. God’s promises came alive and soon Ricky decided to rededicate his life to the Lord.
       Ricky Skaggs is very much a Christian-missions-minded person, and he uses his platform to lead people to Jesus, everywhere he goes. It is said that if you attend a Skaggs concert, you are going to hear the Gospel. That’s just the way it is and that attitude greatly shines through his mission statement posted on his website. Here it is, below. When you read it you will know that Ricky Skaggs is the “real deal”. He loves Jesus through and through and he wants you to walk in this very same hope, too!
       “A few years ago I was a country music artist on a secular record label. I had been sensing that the Lord was saying to me, "I want you to be where hurting people are, to be where people need to hear of My love." And I wanted to conduct business from a Christian perspective.
       It was at this point we decided to start our own family record company. We dedicated everything we did to the Lord—we wanted to give Him all the honor and glory.
       I cut my band from 15 musicians to 8. I got rid of a tractor-trailer and a bus. We didn't need a huge stage full of amps and drums and pianos and electric equipment to put on a show.
       In our family-run business we can go off the beaten path. We can go to the high schools. We can go to hospitals or to churches. We go anywhere that God wants to send us. Sometimes He uses us to sow seeds at a country fair or even at a casino. Some Christians may be embarrassed to be seen in a casino, but many people there need to hear the Word of God.
       Our bluegrass sound draws unbelievers, but when they get to our show, they hear the Gospel—whether it's the words in the song of the words I say between songs, somehow they will be confronted with the Gospel.

       In the beginning, the enemy was in my ear: "What kind of Christian are you to let people go? What happens if this doesn't work out? You won't be able to make a real living doing this."
       But God kept saying, "Trust Me".
       I found that feelings don't have anything to do with faith. Jesus probably didn't feel like going to the cross, but He knew that it was the right thing to do. For Him, obedience outweighed sacrifice. His obedience is an example for me to live by.”
     --Ricky Skaggs

References:
https://www.rickyskaggs.com/p/mission
http://godreports.com/2018/11/friend-of-country-music-star-ricky-skaggs-prophesied-inclusion-in-hall-of-fame/

       One by one Dennis remembered where the items came from and we returned to those houses where he confessed his deeds to the owners. At one front porch door he knocked and it opened just a small crack. An elderly lady peeked out. Dennis held in front of him a large framed picture he had taken, telling her how he had become a Christian and needed to return it to her, and ask for her forgiveness. The lady threw the door open, hugging his neck. She kissed him on the cheek and prayed with him. Dennis and I were both shocked but relieved. The picture had been a very important gift from her late husband.

       Matthew 5:3 says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit . . .” (NIV). At first glance this statement sounds like an oxymoron. How could these 

concepts coexist: the blessed and the poor? Let’s look at this same verse in the New Living translation: “God blesses those who are poor and 

realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”
       The crux of the matter is in the part that says, “and realize their need for Him . . .” For the person who thinks they have everything under control, such need does not apply. But sooner or later, everyone fails; everyone falters; everyone stumbles. And then there’s the after-life. None of us will escape that. Do we know where we’ll go? Are there any assurances or guarantees without knowing the Savior?
       A wise person studies these questions and does well when he finds that God has the answers. But it is usually brokenness that draws a person to the Lord. That’s because most of us are so stubbornly 

independent and self-sufficient in our ways.
       Former player for the NFL, Jack brewer, experienced these things in his life. His talent rose to 

amazing heights, even in high school. He was a star football player in his senior year, he continued to break records throughout his college career while earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and he went on to play pro football for the next few years with the Vikings, the Giants, the Eagles, and the Cardinals.
       All that success put Brewer’s Christian upbringing in the rear view mirror. During a Fox Nation 

interview, Brewer said that while he was raised in a religious home, his life wasn't always headed in that direction. "I grew up in a home where the Bible was the holy grail . . . God was always around . . . Like a lot of people, I didn't always live right . . . I've made mistakes, I've chased women, I went out and did wrong . . . and really had to find myself and humble myself and become broken before the Father . . . My journey was one where I had to use life experiences to bring me closer to Jesus Christ . . .”
       Then later, in 2017, Brewer found out that he had throat cancer. He must have wondered why this was happening to him. As he thought about it, he said, "I had throat cancer . . . that was God telling me that my voice wasn't being used for the right reasons." And he knew it was time to return to the Lord.
       As he began his recovery, he took his first steps on a new Christian path and began communicating with God from that day forward. He said, "One day I woke up and I realized, you can't really live a life if you're not communicating with God unless you're broken, and so I started taking that feeling of being broken and I started fasting for the first time, praying for the first time . . . And . . . the Holy Spirit took over me and my family and I'm on a journey now, and I'll never turn back."
       Sometimes brokenness is the only way; it’s an effective catalyst that can move us closer into a 

personal relationship with the Lord. From there we can find healing and restoration and then influence the people around us, sharing the Good News with everyone we meet. Brewer’s four children have also embraced a faith walk with Jesus. Brewer explained his home is now a “holy” one based around the Word of God. He explains, "We talk about God a lot in my house, and [I'm] just so blessed to be able to have children, who we can raise up in a holy home, around the Word particularly in this society today."

       Although now retired from football, Jack Brewer is using his business and teaching talents these days. He’s currently a Professor at the Fordham Gabelli School of Business as Program Director for the Athletes and Artist Executive MBA program. He just launched the Serving Institute in partnership with Liberty University offering a faith-based curriculum for private schools that will cover value-building, etiquette, grammar, sports, assessments, and interventions. He’s been fighting global poverty through the Jack Brewer Foundation since 2006. And he’s raised money for various causes and has gathered gifts for children at Christmas time.
       Most importantly, God has impressed this upon Jack Brewer. He explains, "God left me with a task of bringing souls to him, of speaking out and confessing his Word." That’s what all of us should be doing as we follow Christ.

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Brewer_(American_football)#Political_advocacy
https://www.foxnews.com/media/nfl-jack-brewer-opens-up-about-his-journey-to-finding-god
https://churchleaders.com/news/396349-jack-brewer-restore-god-discipline.html

       A popular Bible website called BibleGateway.com has over 150 Bible versions in 50 languages. But 

according to Adam Phillips at TheWitness.org, “The most commonly-cited number [of Bible versions] is more than 7,000 . . . However, this number is 

somewhat misleading, as it includes not only different translations of the Bible but also different editions of the same translation. For example, there are more than 1,000 different versions of the King James Bible alone . . . While there are many different versions of the Bible available today, the actual number of unique translations is much lower.”
       So, the question is: Why are there so many translations?
       To begin with, the Bible was written over a time span of 1500 years, on three different continents, by more than 40 authors. It was written in three languages: the Old testament was written in Hebrew and Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek.
       In the first century, Christianity spread through the Apostles and through St. Peter in the area of the Roman Empire. Later on, in order for the English speaking world to read the Bible, it was often 

translated by teams of scholars, (and sometimes by individuals).
       Fast forward several centuries, the first hand-written English-language Bible manuscripts were 

produced in the 1380’s AD by John Wycliffe, an Oxford professor, scholar, and theologian. According to EnglishBibleHistory.com, “One of Wycliffe’s followers, John Hus, actively promoted Wycliffe’s ideas: that people should be permitted to read the Bible in their own language, and they should oppose the tyranny of the Roman church that threatened anyone possessing a non-Latin Bible with execution. 

Hus was burned at the stake in 1415, with Wycliffe’s manuscript Bibles used as kindling for the fire.”
       Then Martin Luther came along, and in 1517, he carried his 95 Theses of Contention to the church at Wittenberg and nailed them to the door. It contained a list of issues of heretical theology and crimes against the Roman Catholic Church. Meanwhile, the Latin version of the Bible had already been printed on the newly invented printing press of the 1450s.
       The history site went on to explain, “. . . the Tyndale New Testament became the first printed edition of the scripture in the English language . . . They were burned as soon as the Bishop could confiscate them, but copies trickled through . . . The church declared it contained thousands of errors as they torched hundreds of New Testaments confiscated by the clergy, while in fact, they burned them 

because they could find no errors at all. One risked death by burning if caught in mere possession of Tyndale’s forbidden books.
       “Having God’s Word available to the public in the language of the common man, English, would have meant disaster to the church. No longer would they control access to the scriptures. If people were able to read the Bible in their own tongue, the church’s income and power would crumble.”
       When the prideful and sinful ambitions of men enter a situation, no good can come from it. But God knows all about it. And so do His true followers. There were many who sacrificed their lives in order to advance and help make available the Word of the living God.
       As mentioned, there are many versions of the Bible today. Some were translated in order to bring the style of language up to date. For example, the New International Version is easier to read than the 1611 King James Version with all the “thees and thous”.

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       The writers at GotQuestions.com explain basic methods used: “Some Bible versions translate as 

literally (word-for-word) as possible, commonly known as formal equivalence. Some Bible versions 

translate less literally, in more of a thought-for-thought method, commonly known as dynamic 

equivalence. All of the different English Bible versions are at different points of the formal equivalence vs. dynamic equivalence spectrum.”
       Learning a biblical story would be easier with a thought-for-thought version, like the New Living Translation. But if one were seeking deeper study of a passage, the New American Standard Bible might be better.
       This latter website goes on to say: “The advantage of formal equivalence is that it minimizes the translator inserting his/her own interpretations into the passages. The disadvantage of formal 

equivalence is that it often produces a translation so woodenly literal that it is not easily readable/

understandable.
       “The advantage of dynamic equivalence is that it usually produces a more readable/understandable Bible version. The disadvantage of dynamic equivalence is that it sometimes results in “this is what I think it means” instead of “this is what it says.”
       “Neither method is right or wrong. The best Bible version is likely produced through a balance of the two methodologies.”
       Which Bible version do you read?

References:
https://thewitness.org/how-many-bibles-are-there/
https://greatsite.com/english-bible-history/
https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-versions.html

       According to Wikipedia, Peter Derek Vaughan Prince (1915 – 2003) was a Bible teacher whose daily radio program, Derek Prince Legacy Radio, continues to be broadcast around the world in several languages. He was born in India to British parents and was a scholar of Greek and Latin. At university, he described himself as an atheist but while serving with the British army in World War II, he began studying the Bible and 

became a Christian.
      Prince has written 30 books and has an active website now maintained by his organization. In honor of Father’s Day, we feature excerpts from one of his books, below, entitled Husbands and Fathers, written three years before he died:

       “Marriage is a covenant . . . between a man and woman, made before God. For both men and women, therefore, unfaithfulness to the marriage commitment is breaking a covenant. That is why adultery is much more serious a sin than fornication. Fornication-immorality between two unmarried persons-is sin, but it does not break a covenant. Adultery, however, is immorality that does break a covenant. That is what makes it so much more serious a sin.
       “In Ephesians 5:22-31, Paul says that the marriage relationship between a man and his wife is a type, or picture, of the relationship between Christ and His Church . . . Only when they are willing to make this covenant commitment can they begin to discover the true nature of marriage. Couples not willing to fulfill this condition can experience the legal and physical aspects of marriage, but its true nature remains closed to them . . .
       “We need to remember, too, that marriage is not merely a social contract on the human level. Originally and primarily marriage is a biblical concept.
       “Adam did not think up marriage. He did not even know he needed a wife. Marriage originated in the mind of God. All the rules for it, as well as its end purpose, were established by Him. God's purpose for marriage is unity between the partners. But the Bible makes it clear that there is only one basis for true unity between human beings . . . It is covenant . . .
       “At the beginning of human history God committed to Adam, ([the] first husband), a specific responsibility: to tend and keep the Garden of Eden, (see Genesis 2:15) . . . [the] basic meaning is "to guard" or "protect."
       “Adam failed . . . not in what he did but in what he did not do . . .

“The New Testament suggests six main responsibilities:
       1. Love Your Wife, 2. Receive Input [from your] wife to speak her mind freely 3. Make Decisions, 4. Initiate Action, 5. Nourish and Cherish, 6. Give Praise [to her].
       [Furthermore], “God created the universe as a Father. He left His Father imprint on every aspect of creation. The intimate, personal relationship between the Father and His Son existed before creation ever began.
       “Jesus was sent by the Father to accomplish two purposes . . . The negative purpose was to pay the penalty for our sins, that we might be forgiven and reconciled to God. The positive purpose was to reveal God as our Father and to make us members of His family.

“The Benefits of Knowing the Father:
     1. Identity. (Both Scripture and psychology agree that a person cannot fully answer the question "Who am I?" without knowing who his or her father is.)
     2. Self-Worth. (1 John 3:1: ‘See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are,’ NASB.) Once we really comprehend that we are the children of God, that God loves us intimately and personally, that He is interested in us, that He is never too busy for us and that He desires a direct and personal relationship with us, then we discover our self-worth.
     3. Awareness of a Home in Heaven. Ever since I was saved, I believed that if I continued faithful to the Lord, I would go to heaven when I died.
     4. Total Security. What do we view as the origin of the universe? A big bang? . . . You will be a different person the moment you grasp the fact that behind all life is the Fatherhood of God.
     5. Motivation for Service. In Philippians 2:3, Paul warns us as servants of the Lord: ‘Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit. . . .’ (NKJV). The fact is, the more we aim at personal success, the less secure we become. We are threatened continually by the possibility that someone else may build [something] bigger . . . As for me, I have found my perfect pattern in Jesus, who said, ‘. . . The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him,’ (John 8:29; NKJV). I am motivated less and less by personal ambition. I have discovered a sweeter, purer motive: simply to please my Father.

       “Where Are the Spiritual Fathers? What [is] the reason for success? Offering some kind of spiritual fatherhood . . . ‘It doesn't make sense to put a live chick under a dead hen!’
       “Christianity or Churchianity? Churchianity produces church members; Christianity produces disciples.
       [Jesus said], “‘Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple,’ (Luke 14:25-27; NASB). This passage makes a pointed contrast between two kinds of people: the great multitudes, and the single individual . . . who "[comes] after Me."
       “Churchianity is satisfied with great multitudes. Christianity focuses primarily on each individual who comes after Jesus. It is concerned to produce not fellow travelers but committed followers.”
       [What better example of being a husband and a father could there be?]

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Prince
Prince, Derek, (2000). Husbands and Fathers: Rediscover the Creator's Purpose for Men (Chosen Books).

       Though some today wonder if using the word “wretch” is a bit overly dramatic, there was a man to whom the word fit perfectly. His mother taught him Bible in his early years but she died of tuberculosis when he was seven. From then on, John Newton was raised in the deplorable image of his 

father, a Captain in the Merchant Navy.

       When John was eleven, he went on his first sea voyage with his Dad but he lost that first job 

because of rebelliousness, which continued for many years. During his teen years he was forced into the Royal Navy but he rebelled there also and became a deserter. He was caught, put into irons and flogged. He was then discharged to a slave-trader ship.

       He left the sea for an office job in 1755, and held Bible studies in his Liverpool home. He was greatly influenced by the teachings of the Wesleys and George Whitefield. He also became increasingly 

disgusted with the slave trade and his role in it. He quit the field altogether and was ordained into the Anglican ministry. He then took a parish in 1764 in Olney, Buckinghamshire. Three years later, poet William Cowper moved to Olney. Cowper, a skilled poet who experienced bouts of depression became a lay helper in the small congregation.

       In 1769, John began a weekly evening prayer service; he wrote a hymn to go with a popular melody for each service. John challenged Cowper to do the same, which he did until falling seriously ill in 1773. John later combined 280 of his own hymns with 68 of Cowper's into the popular Olney Hymns, including such songs as Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds, O For a Closer Walk With God, and There Is a Fountain Filled With Blood.

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       John Newton’s life was miraculously saved by Jesus and he dedicated himself to the Lord. To help end the practice of slave-trading which he regretted being a part of, Newton wrote “it is a business at which my heart now shudders."
       He became increasingly feeble near the end of his life. Some suggested he should retire. He replied, "What? Retire? I cannot stop. Shall the old African slave trader be silent?” This was one wretch that God truly saved. The truth is, we all fall short of the glory of God. Have you received Him into your heart and life? If not, do it today!

References:
https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/pastorsandpreachers/john-newton.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Newton

Billy Graham spoke these words Mar 23, 2008. The following is an adaptation.

      “Jesus Christ died on an old rugged cross for our salvation. Among all the emblems of the world, the cross is admired with awe and wonder. But we do not worship that cross; we worship the living Christ.
       “The history of the cross goes back long before Christ came. It was the Romans who used it on a massive scale to execute people. The victim was fastened to the cross by cords, or his hands were nailed, and he was left to die. Even with the heat of the sun, the pull of the body and the torture the victim had endured prior to his crucifixion, it sometimes took a week to die on a cross. It was one of the most terrible, painful ways to die.
       “Christians started to use the cross as a symbol of Christianity. And every time the Gospel is proclaimed, those who hear the message and receive Christ as Savior come to faith by way of the cross.
       “Think of the cross for a moment, and of Christ's suffering. Those nails through His hands and feet were driven by you and me. We all had a part in the death of Christ because of our sins.
       “In that terrible time of the agony, a shadow came between God the Father and God the Son. You see, God is a holy and righteous and pure. He cannot even look upon evil or sin. And in that instant, He could not look upon His Son.
       “Christ had never known sin, never told a lie, and never had an evil thought, but all of the filth and dirt from your life and mine descended on Him. None of us will ever understand the mystery of that moment. It was God's great love for each of us that allowed His Son to take that suffering.
       “You and I have sinned against God. We have broken His laws. God told Adam that if he broke God's law, he would surely die (Genesis 2:17). He sinned anyway. We have all deliberately rebelled against God. But God would not be just and righteous and holy, if He came along and patted us on the back and said, "You're forgiven." We either had to die for our own sins, or somebody who was qualified, had to die for us. That Person was Jesus Christ, and He volunteered to die in our place.
       “God had given Jesus an assignment, and in the Gospel of John, Jesus said, "I have finished the work which You have given Me to do," (John 17:4). We wonder why He didn't feed everybody and heal everybody. He could have done it. He healed some people and fed some who were hungry, and He did that out of compassion. But His real work was the cross; there He was dealing with eternity.

       “Your body will go to the grave one day, but your soul--the part of you that lives forever--will live on. Where will you spend eternity? Heaven or hell? That will be decided by what you do about the cross, because from the cross, Christ is asking you to repent of your sin and receive Him as your Lord and Savior. Let your life be a changed one, through Christ!
       “Do you know Christ? Do you know the forgiveness of the cross and the power of Christ's resurrection? Are you forgiven? Have you received new life? I am asking you to make your commitment to Christ today. God will help you, if you are willing.”
       To learn more, please visit our page: “How to become a Christian”. 

Here’s the link: https://kathyveer.com/become-a-christian

References:
Adapted from: http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word/6281

       When we think of big-time drug dealers, we 

usually picture messed up, stringy haired, young 

people. But now, meet Alice Johnson. She was raised in a Christian home with parents that spent their lives helping others. So we’d want to ask, “Why is a nice lady like you doing stuff like that.” Yes, she DID know better.
      Something undoubtedly went wrong because Alice found herself being forced to marry when in her teens. She went on to have five children while living in poverty, yet managed to find a good job at 

Fed-Ex where she stayed for ten years. At the same time, she discovered gambling and through wrong associations she later became a “telephone mule” for a large cocaine-peddling outfit.
       They say it never rains; it pours. For Alice, things went from bad to worse. According to FaithWire writer/editor Tré Goins-Phillips who reported Miss Johnson’s story on CBN.com, she ended up losing her job, was in the middle of a divorce, her debts were multiplying, and she lost one of her sons. It was then that she fell into a drug-running scheme, handling phone calls, connecting drug dealers to each other.
       So, the fateful day came when she was caught and arrested. The judge heard her plea, knowing she was a first time offender. He heard her admit she was wrong, acknowledging the seriousness of her crime, yet according to the law, she was sentenced to life in prison. Even murderers--at times--do not receive a sentence as harsh as that. Alice felt like her life had come to an end but God wasn’t finished with her yet.
       Alice spent two decades behind bars but she remained productive, even though she had plenty to be angry about. She worked to get her GED and became a GED instructor. Next, she became an 

ordained minister after an amazing faith transformation. Then, she began to minister to her fellow

inmates and has carried on the work of a prison reform advocate since her release.
       Eventually, an unlikely person got involved in Alice’s situation. Kim Kardashian heard about Miss Johnson’s sentence and teamed up with none other than President Donald Trump who made the 

decision to not only commute her judgment but give her a full pardon (which expunged every trace of her crime that hindered her path).
       Trump announced, “. . . And she has been so outstanding and I’m so proud of you and we are giving Alice a full pardon. I just told her. We didn’t even discuss it . . . you were out there in the audience last night [at the Republican national Convention] and I asked the folks if you could bring Alice over and we’re going to give a full pardon; we’re going to do it right now; that means you have been fully 

pardoned; that’s the ultimate thing that can happen. That means you can do what ever you want in life and just keep doing the great job you’re doing . . .”
       That story came out in 2018. But there’s been an update. Many news outlets have been reporting Alice’s new position given by President Trump as Pardon Czar. Jordan Green at USA Today said, “On Feb. 20, [2025] Trump announced Johnson's appointment . . . Johnson is set to advise Trump on cases like her own where people convicted of nonviolent crimes were sentenced to life in prison . . . Johnson said she will step down from her position as CEO of her Memphis-based nonprofit, Taking Action For Good, which she founded upon her release. She has expressed confidence in the president's commitment towards this initiative. Johnson believes that advocating for those incarcerated is her purpose and intends to do her role without partisan or political influence.

       "I'm very, very excited to be placed in this role," Johnson said in an interview with The Arizona Republic. "I'm honored by the president that he would place his trust in me to carry out these duties for him, to help him fulfill his mission and his promise to the American people. He really is a president for all people, including those who are considered the least in the community, those who we don't see, who are incarcerated, and those who are seeking a second chance in life."
       When first pardoned in 2018, she stated, “[I’m] Free in body next to President Trump but free in mind next to Almighty God . . . I always remembered that God knew my name even in my darkest hour but I never thought a President would.”
       We all want to hear “well done” from time to time. It’s especially rewarding when it comes from the leader of the free world. It is eternally rewarding when God will say to His own one day, “ . . . Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord,” (Matthew 25:23; KJV).
       Thank you Lord, oh God of second chances!

       For years, many people scoffed at the idea that Noah’s Ark was actually a real thing. But clues have turned up over and over again pointing to a boat-like structure lying two miles from the Turkey-Iran border. It’s size and estimated date of origin provides some good evidence that this may be the original Noah’s ark. But, since the Bible is the inerrant word of God, we can wholly trust the story of the Great Flood, and how God saved Noah and his family in an ark from the rains that destroyed the world.
       Today, we bring you an exciting story about the Ark Encounter. The Ark Encounter is a Christian theme park that opened in 2016 and is located in Williamstown, Kentucky. It features a life-size Noah’s Ark that presents the history of the Bible in a family-friendly environment.
       The founder of Answers in Genesis, Ken Ham, heads the organization behind Ark Encounter. He was raised in a Christian home by a father who was unapologetic about his faith in the inerrant Word of God. Ken was blessed to have such an upbringing. Growing up in Australia, he was surrounded by a pagan culture where Christians are few. Ken’s father became Ken’s legacy. And that’s how Ken Ham became deeply involved in ministry; a ministry that has had great impact in our world.
       Ken encountered the teaching of evolution for the first time, in school, when he was thirteen. He went home to his father and said, “They’re teaching about ape men and evolution and millions of years. What’s the answer to all of this?” Ken’s dad said, “I don’t have answers to the millions of years or the ape men, but I know this: this is the Word of God, and when you start from the Word of God, you go there and you make sure you’re understanding it correctly, letting it speak to you, [through] the grammatical, historical, interpretive method . . . and if you’re sure of what Scripture is saying, and there’s still this contradiction or question out here, then you don’t question God’s Word, you question man’s word.”
       Ken Ham went on to form a Christian apologetics organization called Answers in Genesis. He also opened the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter. These are fantastic places to visit and wonderful for the whole family to explore.
       People have always had a curiosity about Noah’s ark. They have wondered, “What was the real Noah’s ark like? How many animals did the ark carry? Was there a global flood? Here are answers from the Ark Encounter website:
        “The Ark Encounter in Northern Kentucky is a life-sized reconstruction of Noah’s ark. was a massive ship, built at God’s command, that saved Noah, his family, and representatives of every kind of land-dependent, air-breathing animal from the global flood that took place over 4,300 years ago.
       “The ark was 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high (Genesis 6:14–16) and it housed the several thousand animals God brought to Noah. The global flood lasted about one year. The ark came to rest on the “mountains of Ararat” (Genesis 8:4), and Noah’s family, with all the animals that were saved from the flood, eventually spread throughout the world.

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       “Why did God tell Noah to build the ark? The Bible explains, ‘Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.’ (Genesis 6: 11-13; ESV).
       “Ever since Adam's sin, the world had grown increasingly more rebellious. Because of the corruption and violence, God said he would destroy man and all land-dwelling, air-breathing animals on the earth. But Noah found favor with God (Genesis 6:8), so God had mercy on mankind by saving righteous Noah and his family from the impending judgment upon the earth.”
       There’s so much to see at Ark Encounter. Besides tours, they offer classes, camps, home school materials, VBS showcases, daily activities depending on the season of year, events for women’s groups, men’s groups, conferences, Gospel music weekends, and so much more. It’s a place that’s truly “bigger than imagination”. It would be well worth it to plan a trip there and see the Bible come alive in a very unique way.

References:
https://arkencounter.com/noahs-ark/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ark_Encounter
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Ham
http://biblegeekgonewild.com/2014/03/04/ken-ham-shares-his-testimony/
(Published 2012)
https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/travel-stories/how-archaeologists-hunting-noahs-ark-made-incredible-discovery-at-boatshaped-mound-dating-back-to-biblical-times/news-story/96504e902c6e68dfe51bbc83a35496e5

       In the beginning, God first created light, (Genesis 1:3). It was a major part of His grand design and it’s a window on the universe. The light of the sun also warms the earth and the people upon it, it makes things grow, and it enhances the artistry of everything around us.
       Light not only illuminates all we see with our eyes, but God’s light of truth illuminates our minds and our hearts because He, Himself is light. “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all,” (1 John 1:5, ESV).
       Man in his natural state is dead in his sins but when a person becomes a born-again Christian, his spiritual eyes are opened. “And you [He made alive when you] were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of your transgressions and sins,” (Ephesians 2:1). It is then that a radical transformation occurs. “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (II Corinthians 5:17; TLB).
       A Christian grows in his faith by meditating on God’s word. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path,” (Psalm 119:105; KJV). With God’s word lighting the way, we can be sure-footed about our steps through life. And if we stumble, we always have the Lord at our side to help us back up. Even in the tough times, He is always there to lead and to guide us by the light of His truths.
       We all grow at a different pace but at some point, we become ready to share the light we have been walking in. The Bible calls us children of light: “For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night,” (I Thessalonians 5:5; NLT). We must radiate that light just like a lamp on a stand. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven,” (Matthew 5:14-16; NKJV).
       The secret to applying this Scripture to your life is found in a key part of this passage: “. . . that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven,” (Vs 16b).
       God’s light will shine through you and me as we care for one another, as we exercise forgiveness, and as we encourage each other, loving our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus said, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these,” (Mark 12:30, 31; NKJV).
       In this life, though we only see and understand in part, there is a new world coming where darkness will be ruled out once and for all. “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known,” (I Corinthians 13:12; KJV).

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       As Christians we have so much to look forward to. Isaiah prophesied, “No longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor will the moon give you light for brightness; But you will have the Lord as an everlasting light, And your God as your glory,” (Isaiah 60:19; NASB).
       Many years ago, Isaiah saw into the far distant future to a time when John the revelator was 

describing the new Jerusalem. Its walls were made of precious stones, its gates were housed with pearls, and its streets were made of gold that shone like glass. “But I saw no temple in it [the city], for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light,” (Revelation 21:22, 23; NKJV).
       The Bible is filled with many word-pictures of God as light. The majesty of His splendor will be 

awesome to behold. But for now, as we live out our days here on earth, it’s good to know that we can experience a little bit of His power and glory as He pours Himself out upon us. And because we accept Him as our Savior, He then comes to live inside of us. Do you know Him? Visit: https://kathyveer.com/become-a-christian.
 
References:
https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-light/
https://www.thepottershouse.org/daylight-saving-time-and-how-light-illuminates-the-bible/

       Actor, producer, and director, Denzel Washington has been making mainstream headlines lately. He has taken a major step of faith: he was recently baptized (at 69 years old) and received his Minister’s license through the Church of God in Christ, New York.
       Jesse T. Jackson at ChurchLeaders.com reports that before the baptism, Bishop William Armstead asked Washington if he believes in Jesus Christ and if he will obey his commandments. Washington responded in the affirmative to both questions.
       Denzel said, “In one week I turn 70 . . . It took a while but I'm here . . . If [God] can do this for me, there’s nothing He can’t do for you. The sky literally is the limit,” reports Tamantha Ryan at PageSix News (MSN).
       Washington has made about 50 movies in his 40 plus year career. He has received three Golden Globe Awards, one Tony, two Academy Awards and so much more. In 2020, The New York Times ranked him as the greatest actor of the 21st century.
       Born and raised in New York, he was the son of an ordained Pentecostal Preacher; his mother--a true woman of faith--owned a beauty shop. She was the greatest influence in Denzel’s life, and they remain close to this day.
       Even though Denzel grew up in a Christian home, there were problems. The devil attacks everyone on this planet, especially believers. Denzel was definitely influenced by the wrong kinds of people in life. To add to his trials and tribulations, his parents divorced. He explained to Maya Khamala at GoalCast.com, “"My parents were like night and day . . . She's urban, raised in Harlem. My father was just this spirit-filled man until the day he died, a country boy raised on a farm in Virginia . . . They say opposites attract but my parents grew apart. I was 14 when they divorced."
       It was a challenging time, and it further undermined Denzel’s ability to follow God and succeed in His ways. So, it was then that his mother wisely placed him in a private prep school: Oakland Military Academy in New Windsor, New York. Denzel believed that decision changed his life. It ultimately prevented him from going to prison like many of his friends had done.
       In an interview by Dotson Rader at Parade.com, Denzel--at the age of 20--said, “I’ve felt the hand of God on my life, no doubt about it. I remember sitting in my mother’s beauty parlor in Mount Vernon, N.Y., on March 27, 1975, and in the mirror I kept seeing this woman looking at me . . . I was doing so bad in school, and this woman said, ‘Somebody give me a piece of stationery! I’m having a prophecy!’ I still have that piece of paper. ‘You’re going to speak to millions of people,’ she said to me. ‘You’re going to do great things!’ And I thought, ‘Yeah, right. When’s that going to start? On Monday? I’m flunking out of school.’ . . . Later on, I asked my mother, ‘Who was that woman?’ She said, ‘It’s Ruth Green, one of the elder sisters in the church, who’s been known to have the gift of prophecy.’ . . . That fall I started acting.”
       People who know Denzel Washington know that he is a devout Christian and doesn’t apologize for it. But he admitted, “. . . I accepted it, I definitely experienced it, but I wasn’t ready to live it . . .”

       Denzel certainly has struggled with that “walk of faith” that Christians experience. He confessed giving his life to Christ on three separate occasions. When Denzel was close to 60 years old, his mother encouraged him by telling him he would do good by a lot of people, but he had to do good the right way. Denzel said, “I don’t drink anymore. I don’t do any of those things . . . I’m all about the message to the degree that I know it, and I’m unashamed and unafraid to share it.”
       Washington has continued to grow in his walk with God. Like all of us, he has stumbled and fallen, but he has also gotten back up and has kept on fighting the good fight.
       The Bible says, “Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil]; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and [for which] you made the good confession [of faith] in the presence of many witnesses,” (1 Timothy 6:12; AMP).
       When I meet Jesus on that glorious, awesome day, I want Him to say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Isn’t that what you want, too? Then put God first.

References:
https://churchleaders.com/news/502924-movie-icon-denzel-washington-gets-baptized-and-receives-his-minister-license.html
https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/celebrities/denzel-washington-gets-baptized-and-becomes-a-minister-after-saying-religion-is-not-fashionable-in-hollywood/ar-AA1wkvoA
https://www.goalcast.com/2020/09/10/denzel-washington-father-broken-relationship-mother-lessons/
https://web.archive.org/web/20060411214059/http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/1999/edition_12-12-1999/Denzel_Washington
https://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/idolchatter/2020/07/denzel-washington-on-coming-to-christ-i-was-filled-with-the-holy-ghost-and-it-scared-me.html [Jun 30, 2020]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denzel_Washington

     This would be a good place to end the story, but there’s one more twist that shows just how amazing God is. Jonathan returned with his “shofar” (horn) to this same spot, years later after he had been in ministry. He found the same rock where he was saved and celebrated that decision as he spent time with the Lord. Later, he was telling his congregants about it, and they informed him that this particular spot had been dedicated to Satan and was a meeting place for witches. The rock was their altar! Suddenly, Jonathan remembered some graffiti he saw there that said, “No Jew shall enter these sacred grounds.” Jonathan said, “For 2000 years, you [Satan] haven’t wanted Jews to come to Jesus, (because he knows when that happens, that’s it for him) . . . Too late Satan. It’s

      There’s been a lot of “buzz” lately about an independent film, 

released July 4th of this year called Sound of Freedom. It is based on a true story and was created and produced to expose the evils of sex-trafficking, going on in this country and around the world
  The film depicts the incredible true story of former federal government agent, Tim Ballard, turned vigilante who quits his job and 

embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue hundreds of children from sex traffickers.
       In a CBN interview, Tim Ballard explains, “Nobody was talking about human-trafficking and I was telling people these stories of things I was coming across and no one believed me. And it was like, ‘These are real kids.’
       “And really it was my wife on this . . . she grabbed me by the 

collar and said, ‘I will not let you jeopardize my salvation.’ [the 

actress during this scene said, ‘You quit your job and you go and rescue those kids.’] . . . I really put it into perspective: why are we here on this earth?
       “And then we jumped in and the operation--as the movie depicts--was extremely successful . . . it was actually bigger than Sound of Freedom was able to show.
       The star, Jim Caviezel, (the actor who played Jesus in The Passion of the Christ), explains, “It is the fastest growing international crime network that the world has ever seen. It has already passed the 

illegal arms trade and soon it’s going to pass the drug trade.”
       The horrors of what is happening to these children and adults alike can hardly be grasped. The website, Human Trafficking Research states that individuals are exploited “. . . through threat or use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, and/or deception . . . and include the practices of forced labor, debt bondage, domestic servitude, forced marriage, sex trafficking, child sex trafficking, and the recruitment and use of child soldiers . . .”
       There are also reports about people being used for organ harvesting, adrenochrome collection through torturous fear tactics, and medical experimentation. But of course there is push back among the elites who say such ideas are no ore than conspiracy theories. Even so, many are talking about these issues and more of these operations are coming to light each day in spite of the “woke”.
       And just to show how “woke” our society has become, Wikipedia reports that, “Sound of Freedom was completed in 2018 and a distribution deal was made with 20th Century Fox. However, that studio was purchased by the Walt Disney Company, which shelved the film. The filmmakers reportedly spent years trying to get the distribution rights back from Disney and take it to theaters.
       “[Producer] Verástegui approached Angel Studios with the release rights. Angel presented the film to an online group of 100,000 investors in its past projects called the Angel Guild, which gave it a "yes" vote within days. On March 30, 2023, Variety reported that Angel Studios had acquired the worldwide distribution rights . . . On May 12, it received a release date of July 4, 2023.”