The parable tells a story about a person who sows seed, and the seeds fell in four specified environments: the wayside, on rocky ground, among thorns, and in fertile soil. Jesus explains that the seed is the word of God, and the four soils represent those who hear the preaching of the word. In relating the parable to spiritual warfare, Jesus expressly states that Satan removes the word from the hearts of those who do not understand its meaning (at the wayside). Although Jesus does not describe the devil’s participation any further, I believe that the whole of scripture provides ample evidence that the devil is at work throughout the full story.

Relative to the spiritual warfare matrix, each axis of advance corresponds with one of the four enemy actions: light vs. darkness (Blind), life vs. destruction (Harass), truth vs. deception (Deceive), and love vs. division (Contain).

From a Christian perspective, spiritual warfare is the cosmic war of good versus evil:  its battles are fought daily between God and Satan; between the Christian Church and the world system ruled by our spiritual enemy; and between the Holy Spirit and the lusts of the carnal flesh within every human soul. The clear meanings of good and evil, as defined by God rather than man, are revealed within the verses of the Holy Bible and the life of Jesus Christ.  Scripture References

Billy Graham explained the reality of spiritual warfare in his book Angels:

We live in a perpetual battlefield …The wars among the nations on earth are mere popgun affairs compared to the fierceness of battle in the spiritual unseen world. This invisible spiritual conflict is waged around us incessantly and unremittingly. Where the Lord works, Satan’s forces hinder; where angel beings carry out divine directives, the devils rage. All this comes about because the powers of darkness press their counterattack to recapture the ground held for the glory of God…

Since the fall of Lucifer, that angel of light and son of the morning, there has been no respite in the bitter Battle of the Ages. Night and day Lucifer, the master craftsman of the devices of darkness, labors to thwart God’s plan of the ages. We can find inscribed on every page of human history the consequences of the evil brought to fruition by the powers of darkness with the devil in charge. Satan never yields an inch, nor does he ever pause in his opposition to the plan of God to redeem the “cosmos” from his control.

An overview of this spiritual battlefield can be seen in the Battle Tracking Matrix. Each square of the chart links to pages with additional Bible verses.

Alternative viewpoints in teaching Spiritual Warfare 

• Discipleship: This ministry emphasizes the process of Christian discipleship while we are being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ by the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit and the scriptures.
• Deliverance: Some Christian “deliverance ministries” choose to emphasize the end result with terms such as: generational curses; the use of authority in binding and loosing; and demonic oppression.
• Exorcism: Some Roman Catholic priests, as well as other ministries, place emphasis on demonic possession and the practice of exorcism.
• Strategic Level Spiritual Warfare: Peter Wagner explored the concepts of territorial spirits and the demonic hierarchy which Satan uses to rule the world system and oppose the plans and purposes of God. Practices such as spiritual mapping, and prayer walking are related to this teaching.
• For more related information: see the Wikipedia article.

Answers to some common allegations concerning the study of Spiritual Warfare

• Warmongering: The purpose of teaching spiritual warfare is not to promote or glorify war - neither in the spiritual nor in the human realm. Rather it is meant to minimize the horrors of an already ongoing war… by sounding the alert at the advance of the enemy, training soldiers to overcome that enemy, and protecting innocent refugees from abuse and destruction. The old soldier Douglas MacArthur said “The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war”, but he also warned future generations “In war, there is no substitute for victory”. Lasting peace is bought only by paying the price of vigilance to secure victory in the aftermath of war.
• Demonizing your adversary: We must remember that Christ’s enemies accused even Him of being demonic. The careful study of scripture delineates the demonic from the natural man rather than obscuring the line.  The Holy Bible clearly identifies who is the enemy and who is the friend of God. Jesus Christ taught His disciples how to love their human enemies while simultaneously resisting the works of the devil. Love does no harm to your neighbor. That said, when the enemy is in fact a demon… name calling doesn’t really hurt its feelings.
• Dualism: Satan is not equal to the Most High God. Dissecting a frog does not sully the image of the king. Studying the purposes, strategies and tactics of an enemy does not lead to a coup d’état. On the contrary, it helps ensure that the kingdom is not overthrown. While the soldier guards against the advance of the enemy, the country remains secure with liberty for all to serve the true king and to worship the only living God in peace. 

Christian Spiritual Warfare is NOT:

• Islamic Jihad, or Holy War: Christianity does not threaten the non-believer with beheading by the sword if they will not convert. Nor with any other form of terrorism, or military campaign against a nation, or all “infidels”  in general. Note: Christians should NOT equate all Muslims as terrorists.
• Militarization of the Church: No uniforms, goose stepping formations, rifles, grenades, tanks, or bomb vests. No destruction of the enemy by means of fire and maneuver with human weapons. See: Spiritual Weapons
• Christianization of the military: I was in the US Army for twenty years, and I testify that I was never once pressured by my chain of command to practice my faith. Occasionally just the opposite. This country does not send our troops into battle singing hymns or promising absolution. In today’s military there are indeed “atheists in foxholes”, but they often begin to have doubts about their lack of  faith. Because when you are called to endure the hell of war, to recall nightly the scenes and smells of the battlefield, and to face the responsibility of putting the lives of young soldiers on the line… you tend to seek the face of God and the counsel of the chaplain.

Second, I have posted the first draft of a spanish translation of the spiritual warfare matrix: Guerra Espiritual .

Please let me know if you find any errors in the translation from American English.

Scripture References:

There are 5 scripture references to the mark of the beast which will be forcibly inscribed on the forehead or the right hand in the tribulation period: Revelation 13:16-18; 14:8-12; 16:1-3; 19:19-21 and 20:3-5.

Possibly, this man who cut off his own hand reacted to these Bible verses and irrationally incorporated Jesus’ saying “…if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you…” recorded in Matthew 5:29-30 & 18:7-9, and Mark 9:42-48.

Errors in Biblical Interpretation and Application: 

I don’t know if the man in Idaho who cut off his hand was mentally ill or not. But he misconstrued scripture in his desperation. 

The mark of the beast:

Note: I acknowledge there are differences of opinion concerning the timeline of the events in Revelation. I will not cover them all in this article. From the pre-tribulation, pre-millennial Second Coming of Christ doctrinal view… there is no Beast on the world scene today unless you and I have missed the Rapture. Regardless:

• the mark will be a brand on the forehead or the right hand. What would this man have done if the mark were on his forehead?
• the mark will be forced on everyone alive… the consequences of refusing the mark will be decapitation. You wouldn’t have to do it yourself.
• the mark will be mandatory for buying and selling… conducting all commerce.
• the mark will be co-requisite with worship of the Beast.

Cutting off hands, etc…

As a conservative Christian, I do believe in the literal interpretation of scripture… but only in context to the individual passage and the full Bible.

The Bible verses concerning the mark of the beast should be taken word for word… not loosely interpreted to apply to everything from barcodes to tattoos, birthmarks, national ID cards, credit cards, microchip bio-implants, and whatever else one may imagine…

That said, I do not believe Jesus’saying “…if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you…” should be applied literally:

• If Jesus had intended to be taken literally, there would be examples given among his Apostles. Peter, for instance, would have had to cut out his own tongue. Every other time Peter opened his mouth he got into trouble or offended somebody.
• The full record of the gospels… people came to Jesus to be healed, not to be disfigured. The blind had their eyesight restored, rather than the other way around.
• Jesus healed even his enemies: Luke 22:47-53.
• There is no biblical account of any follower of Christ literally applying this teaching.

This saying of Jesus should be taken figuratively:

• Jesus often spoke in terms of physical reality when talking about spiritual realities, concepts, and ideas. All of the parables, etc…
• If it were sensible to go to the extreme of even amputating a limb, or plucking out your eyes, in order to enter into the kingdom of God then surely giving up ones’s favorite argument against God, or repenting of sin, would be an even better idea… and easier to do.
• Jesus taught that it is impossible for man to save himself by self-improvement or reform. Matthew 19:16-26.
• Jesus taught that gaining the cumulative wealth of the entire world is not worth losing your own soul. Mark 8:35-37.

If you wish to follow Jesus… do not cut off parts of your body! Just change your mind! Repent of your sin. Stopping putting your faith in the things of this world… believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Then one doesn’t have to worry about ever bearing the mark of the beast, unless I’m wrong about the Rapture in which case we just might be in danger of getting beheaded soon for lack of it!

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), of Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God fame, recorded 70 resolutions over a span of a few months in 1722 - 1723. Resolutions 1 through 21 were written in one sitting in New Haven in 1722, and he added to the list through August of 1723. He then read them again each week of his life.

Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat Him by his grace to enable me to keep these resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ’s sake.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.

3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don’t hinder.

12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.

14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.

15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.

16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.

19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.

21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.

22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.

23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God’s glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.

24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.

27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.

30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.

31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.

32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, “A faithful man who can find?” may not be partly fulfilled in me.

33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec.26, 1722.

34. Resolved, in narration’s never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.

35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.

36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec.22, and 26, 1722.

38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord’s Day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.

39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.

40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.

41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.

42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1723.

43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12. Jan.12, 1723.

44- Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan.12, 1723.

45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan.12, and 13, 1723.

46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family.

47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5, 1723.

48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.

49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.

50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.

51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved, to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.

55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.

56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13, 1723.

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May 27, and July 13, 1723.

59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July 2, and July 13, 1723.

60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.

61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723.

62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; “knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.” June 25 and July 13, 1723.

63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan.14, and July 3, 1723.

64. Resolved, when I find those “groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those “breakings of soul for the longing it hath,” of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear’, of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton’s 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug. 10, 1723.

66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.

68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.

70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak. Aug. 17, 1723

Keep in mind that Jonathan was twenty when he wrote the above resolutions. If you, or I, find fault with any of them, remember the life he lived and the impact he had upon the world for the cause of Christ. We could only hope to do as well.

 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.  2 Timothy 2:3 -4

Stephen Macasil of biblicalthought.com has done an excellent job of laying the foundation of a formal study of Christian soldiering. His stated goal is “to establish the subject of Stratiotology as a bona-fide area of systematic theology.”

For further reading see:

• biblicalthought.com » Stratiotology - Introduction
• Part 2 - Implications of the Doctrine
• Part 3 - What it is not
• Part 4 - Stratiotology and Malakosis 

Stephen will also be publishing a book in 2008. You can see a promotional video at: Stratiotology: Christian Soldier

In Proverbs, Wisdom is ultimately exemplified by and fulfilled in the life Jesus Christ.

But in the first several chapters of the book, wisdom is also personified as a woman. See Proverbs 1:20-33; 3:13-19; 4:1-8; 7:4; and Chapter 8 . Folly is also figuratively seen as the “strange woman” in Proverbs 2:16-19; Chapter 5; 6:24-35 and 7:5-27. (Note: The figurative does not lessen the warnings against committing actual adultery, fornication and idolatry.) Imagine if you will a father talking to his adolescent son about the choice between wisdom and folly in the context of his hormonal-driven favorite topic of discussion: women. This is Solomon after all!

The contrast between these two women culminates in this chapter… just prior to the beginning of the long tapestry of individual proverbial sayings collected in chapters 10 - 31.

The lady Wisdom in verses 1-12; the harlot Folly in verses 13 - 18.

The Location: the high places of the city - vs. 3 & 14. Wisdom is at the ”highest”; Folly is close by.

For where God built a church, there the Devil would also build a chapel. — Martin Luther (1483 - 1546) Table Talk

More about the devil.

The Audience: the simple who are searching for understanding - vs. 4 & 16

The Invitation: let him turn in here, come to me - vs. 4 & 16

The Enticement: bread - vs. 5 & 17.  Teachings, doctrine, or philosophy: See also Matthew 16:5-12 and John 6:26- 58.

Wisdom also offers mingled wine. (Mark 2:21-22) Folly also offers stolen waters, in secrecy and privacy, as a pleasant substitution for living waters. (John 7:37-38) Examine the source.

The Consequence: life or death - vs. 6 & 18. Examine the fruit.

 Choose one. Choose wisely.

Lady Wisdom points the way thru the right door: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” (v.10) So keep reading, studying, and meditating on the rest of Proverbs, and all of God’s word!

‘He refused to leave Baghdad, even after the day last year when masked Sunni gunmen forced him and eight co-workers to line up against a wall and said, “Say your prayers.” An Assyrian Christian, Rayid Albert closed his eyes and prayed to Jesus as the killers opened fire. He alone survived, shot seven times. But a month ago a note was left at his front door, warning, “You have three choices: change your religion, leave or pay the jeziya“—a tax on Christians levied by ancient Islamic rulers. It was signed “The Islamic Emirate of Iraq,” a Qaeda pseudonym.’

The ultimatums aren’t new even if they are news worthy today. The jihadists were practicing the same doctrines for hundreds of years prior to the Crusades. Our Jewish friend Debbie Schlussel, albeit with a very sharp tongue,  calls Islam the “Religion of Eradicating Christianity” while she is valiantly trying to educate the western world as to the dangers of the modern, militant variant of Islamic jihad. Thanks Debbie.

For more news about Christians who are suffering persecution and martyrdom see Christian Persecution Information.

Bible verses: see Proverbs 17 KJV @ Battle Focused ; Proverbs 17 @ Bible Gateway

17:1 Our culture worships success and is willing to sacrifice anything and everyone to achieve it. We praise the ability to handle stress, 7-day work weeks, and late nights at the office… while pitying the families shattered by it and mourning those poor souls who die an early death because of it. Don’t make a living. Get a life!

17:2 We owe our employees more than a meager paycheck when they are productive. God’s word teaches that they deserve a generous share of the wealth they generate and an equal share of the status and the privilege enjoyed by the family of the employer.

17:3 The tribulations of verse 1 are self-made and should be avoided. However, that does not mean that our lives should be totally carefree without any stress. God uses the very worst days of our lives, whether cooked up by hell itself or in the kitchen of our own foolishness, to lead us towards the right path, to refine us, and to mold us into His image.

17:7 I wish we could all remember this at election time. It isn’t the eloquence of the speech, nor the smoothness of the presentation, but rather the character of the person that counts. It is also helpful to remember who God calls a “fool” rather than who the opposing political party mocks as one.

17:9 God sought Adam and Eve in the garden as they hid, naked and ashamed in their disobedience, and then He covered them. He sent His own Son to seek lost sheep and to not only cover us but to cleanse us from our sin. Oh, How He Loves US! And oh, how He treasures our love in return!

17:11;20 Revolution is sometimes a good thing. Thomas Jefferson said so! I am exceedingly grateful to his kind. But… often if not usually, so called revolutionaries are nothing more than rebels without a cause. The only thing they really value is the sound of their own voice. To tell everyone else how everything is wrong… until they get in power.

17:12 Any real wisdom found in these words of mine on this page, on this web site, or tumbling from my lips somewhere doesn’t come from me. I often feel that someone should be running down the street in front of me screaming “Robert’s coming!” as loudly as they would of a marauding bear. Ever feel the same?

17:14 How often do we go out of our way to have a knock-down, drag-out bloody fight? Not counting those of us who paid to do so, or who really enjoy a night in jail. Probably, not often if ever. On the other hand, how often do we bring up a small issue for discussion that we absolutely know is going to cause an argument? Don’t.

17:15;26 That said… “abomination” is an ugly word these days. Most people who don’t read the Bible think it is only used in sentences relating to homosexuality. Not! This verse deals with justice: it is equally wrong to condemn the just as to justify the wicked. How does that apply to the controversial issues of the day?

17:17 “A friend loves at all times…” How does this apply to loyalty when everyone wants their head delivered on a platter? When the friend is wrong/guilty? When they’re in political office? The preacher who got caught? The friend or family member who just came “out”? Or, your fundamentalist, evangelical Christian co-worker?

17:18 Do I ever do something when I know beforehand that doing so is going to get me into trouble? With the spouse, the boss, the government or the media? Do I then flash my credentials or otherwise flaunt my position to justify my wrongdoing? The Apostle Paul wrote that we shouldn’t exercise our liberty at the expense of others.

17:22 Have you taken your medicine today? Or, are you so dry that everything shrivels up and blows away when you walk by?

17:27-28 Now you tell me!!! I’m the quiet, shy type! It’s hard to get a word out of me. Honest! Oh, just stop it already.

Add your insights, answers, questions, etc in the comments. May God bless you today!

So in the name of “equality” we are supposed to abandon the ideals of democracy. I believe this constitutes sufficient evidence that the political left only cares about “every vote counts” when it suits their moral agenda. If you don’t agree with their viewpoint… you can’t vote and you don’t count.