Saturday, January 16, 2021

What’s Behind the Storming of the U.S. Capitol? Repentance: What Does Repent Mean? Fruits Worthy of Repentance. All the Curses. Update. SNOW!

.

What’s Behind the Storming of the U.S. Capitol?

“The takeover of the U.S. Capitol has joined the ranks of some of the darkest days in American history. What’s behind America’s increasingly violent divisions?

On Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, a mob overwhelmed the police guarding the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., where Congress was meeting to confirm the votes of the Electoral College. The horde forced their way in and took over much of the building. The lawmakers were quickly evacuated to a safe location.

Windows were broken, offices ransacked and government property stolen before order was restored. Four deaths were reported among the crowd, including a woman shot trying to force her way into an area where lawmakers were sheltering. A policeman later died of injuries he received grappling with an attacker.

This is the first time the Capitol has been successfully assaulted since British redcoats burned it in 1814 (during the War of 1812).

The shockwaves of this event rapidly rippled around the world. America’s friends look on aghast at our shame and wonder whether our mounting confusion signals their own to come. America’s enemies rub their hands with glee as they plot to take advantage of our distraction, disarray and disunity. Nondemocratic nations quickly jumped on the violence as evidence that American-style republicanism does not work.

What does this mean for the United States? How did we come to this humiliating place? Where will things go from here?”

Continue Reading. From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/blog/whats-behind-the-storming-of-the-u.s-capitol/?

_______

Repentance: What Does Repent Mean?

“A major message of the Bible is a call to repent and change. This isn’t popular, but it’s vitally necessary. What is repentance? Why does God require it?

According to the apostle Paul, God “now commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30 ).

Repentance is not a popular subject in most of the religious community. Seldom is a modern-day religious audience exhorted to repent.

Yet Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, vigorously preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” and told his audience to “bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Matthew 3:2, 8). Soon after John’s martyrdom, Jesus Christ continued the same theme by preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).

Within weeks following Jesus’ crucifixion, the New Testament Church was founded. Peter’s inspired words to an audience of thousands of devout Jews were, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

What does repentance mean? Is it required for salvation? How important is this subject to you? Read more about what the Bible says about repentance in the related articles.” From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/change/repentance/

_______

Fruits Worthy of Repentance

Matthew 3:8

“Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance.”

John the Baptist’s message was, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2). Surprisingly, this call to change became popular, and people from Jerusalem and all Judea came to be baptized by him.

But when some hypocritical religious leaders came to be baptized, John sensed they weren’t interested in really repenting—really changing. He clearly told them that just being a descendant of Abraham wasn’t enough. They would be judged by their own actions. They needed actions to produce fruits to prove they really were sorry and desired to change.

John described some of these fruits in Luke 3:10-14. They included giving to those in need, not cheating or intimidating people and being content. Those doing wrong should stop doing wrong to show they were serious about changing.

For more about what it means to repent, see our section on “Repentance.”

_______

All the Curses

2 Chronicles 34:24

“Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah.’”

After the terrible, evil reigns of King Manasseh and King Amon, Judah was far from God. Young King Josiah sought to reverse course and sent men to repair the temple. There they found a long-lost copy of the Book of the Law, likely the five books written by Moses.

Josiah heard the words of the book, including the curses God warned would befall those who disobeyed Him (see Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28, for example). Josiah tore his clothes as a sign of repentance and sent men to inquire of God about what would happen. God sent His answer through Huldah, one of four prophetesses mentioned in the Old Testament.

God confirmed that calamity would surely come because the people of Judah had “forsaken” Him (2 Chronicles 34:24-25). But because Josiah’s “heart was tender” toward God and because he “humbled” himself before his Creator, God delayed the punishment until after his death (verse 27). Josiah’s example of repentance and turning to God represents the response God wants when He warns us of the curses that disobedience brings.

Josiah diligently tried to reform his nation, but his reforms were short-lived, and soon Judah was again rebelling and breaking God’s laws. The curses did come, and Judah went into captivity to Babylon.

For more about how to follow Josiah’s good example in turning to God, see the section on “Repentance.”” From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/all-the-curses/?

_______

Update.

On Sunday, the 10th we had snow! Very unusual for this part of TX. The next day my neighbor had to go to Huntsville, TX, but they had a bad tire, so we went in my van.  I had just had it serviced, and it should have been good to go. 

Fortunately, we made one stop before we got on the freeway and I noticed steam coming out from under the hood.  The radiator cap was loose and it had lost all my antifreeze.  We had that fixed and then it was very careful driving with slush on each side of the lanes.  Of course, that didn’t stop a few silly sods from passing us and racing down the wet roads!  At least we were able to shop at a decent grocery store and get a few things that are not available in this little town.

Even after this surgery on my left eye, I am still blinded by bright lights and sunlight.  The other eye is scheduled for the 28th.  Surely they will find out what is wrong soon?

On Friday we three studied the Sabbath School literature, and then Sherry and I went to the church the next day.

No comments: