Saturday, July 11, 2020

Parenting. Honor Your Father and Your Mother. If Anyone Does Not Provide for His Own. Update.

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Parenting
Parenting Advice
“Being a parent is a job full of challenges, large and small. Wouldn’t it be great to have a source of expert parenting advice? And especially in the biggest challenges, wouldn’t it be reassuring to have access to the best parenting advice of all?

Practical Tips for Positive Parenting

Parenting can be one of the most wonderful experiences—but it can also be frustrating. How can we increase the wonderful—and lower the frustration?
From planning and preparing for a baby’s arrival to first holding that precious new life in your arms—it is hard to put into words the feelings we have when starting a family!
Then begins the process of taking a little one who is dependent on you for every need and helping him or her develop into an independent, well-mannered and productive member of society.
It is a daunting task, and there are bound to be bumps along that path!
No matter where you are in your parenting “career”—from brand-new, first-time parent to experienced grandparent—virtually everyone feels at a loss from time to time while raising children. This section has been written for those times when a fresh perspective or the seasoned words of veteran parents can provide the insight you need.
The world is changing rapidly, but the basic needs of children, from infancy to young adulthood, remain the same. Meeting their physical, mental, social, emotional and spiritual needs are all as important today as ever.
The psalmist likened children to arrows in the quiver of an archer, stating that “happy is the man who has his quiver full of them” (Psalm 127:5 ). We invite you to explore the experiences and lessons in this section so your parenting experience can be more of the happy—and less of the frustrating!” More at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/relationships/parenting/
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Honor Your Father and Your Mother
“Why is the Fifth Commandment called the “first commandment with promise”?
Without the Fifth Commandment, society can (and will) collapse on itself. What makes honoring your father and mother such an integral part of human civilization?
In giving the 10 Commandments, God specifically highlights how keeping the Fifth Commandment benefits both you and all of society.
The first four commandments define how God wants us to show love for Him. This Fifth Commandment begins a series of six commandments that show us how to love other people—starting from our earliest years in the family.
In a way, the Fifth Commandment connects the two sections, since God reveals Himself as our loving Father. No father deserves honor as much as our Heavenly Father! Yet the Bible shows that humanity, and even those chosen to be God’s people, have often failed in showing that honor and respect to our Creator God.
God pointed out this much-too-common problem in Malachi 1:6: “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My reverence?”
This Fifth Commandment helps us see how learning respect and honor in the family setting helps prepare us to show honor to our ultimate Father.
The first commandment with promise
The Gospels record Jesus Christ repeating the Fifth Commandment several times, including Matthew 15:4 and 19:19.
The apostle Paul also reiterated the Fifth Commandment, emphasizing that it’s the “first commandment with promise: ‘that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth’” (Ephesians 6:2-3). Paul adds to this in Colossians 3:20: “Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.” All of God’s commandments are given for our benefit, but this one is especially highlighted by God for the blessings that it brings for the individual, the family and society in general.
Paul expands on this subject of family relationships with commands to both children and parents: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (verse 1). A smooth functioning society and happy relationships are based on respect and obedience to authority. It is much easier if we learn this early in life—without requiring the harsh taskmasters of boot camp, prison or being fired.
God wants us to learn to “honor all people” (1 Peter 2:17). We must submit to authority, “For there is no authority except from God” (Romans 13:1). This does not mean God condones repressive, heavy-handed leadership. He holds parents, teachers and other leaders to a stricter judgment (James 3:1).
Honor shouldn’t end when we leave home
Family is a lifetime commitment, reflecting the permanence of the family relationship we are called to in becoming children of God. As the apostle John wrote, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1).
Family is a lifetime commitment, reflecting the permanence of the family relationship we are called to in becoming children of God. God intends for us to continue to show respect and honor for our parents long after we leave home and perhaps even more as they age and may require support and care. Read more about honoring parents as adults in our article “How to Honor Your Parents as an Adult” and the blog post “Honor Our Mothers.”
Jesus Christ showed the hypocrisy of some who tried to get out of honoring and supporting their elderly parents:
“Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”—then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition” (Matthew 15:3-6).
God wants our honor to extend throughout our parents’ lives.
The vital parental role
The apostle Paul also commanded parents: “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). To the Colossians Paul added, “Lest they become discouraged” (Colossians 3:21). Parents must not shirk their teaching role, but must do it in a way that is encouraging and doesn’t provoke their children.
The “training and admonition of the Lord” is explained more fully in the book of Deuteronomy. God told parents: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7).
The parental role is a vital one, and it is challenging. It is worthy of respect.” From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/10-commandments/honor-fifth-commandment/?
For further study about applying the Fifth Commandment and strengthening our families today, see the helpful articles in the “Family: Keys to Building a Strong Family” and the “Practical Tips for Positive Parenting” sections.Are God's 10 Commandments Still Relevant Today?
For more about the rest of the 10 Commandments, read the article “What Are the 10 Commandments?”
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Daily Bible Verse Blog

If Anyone Does Not Provide for His Own

1 Timothy 5:8
“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
The Bible teaches us to love everyone, but the religion of the Bible is a practical religion that gives us priorities and starting places. God gives us family as a support structure and a workshop for human relations.
Showing love must start at home and with our nearest relatives. If we can’t love and fulfill our responsibilities toward our own family whose needs we know, how can we show love for those we don’t know? Paul pronounced those Christians who did not care for their family members as worse than the unbelievers, since many unbelievers take better care of their families than that.
Jesus Christ mentioned an example of people trying to get out of caring for their own parents by claiming to dedicate the money to God instead (Mark 7:9-13). This tradition, called Corban, “was evidently a pious-sounding evasion of the requirement of honoring one’s parents by supporting them financially” (The Nelson Study Bible, note on Mark 7:11-13). Jesus said it was rejecting “the commandment of God” (verse 9).”  For more about the commandments of God, including the Fifth Commandment about honoring parents, see our section on “The 10 Commandments.”        From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/if-anyone-does-not-provide-for-his-own/?
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Update.
Like most folk now that the country, or at least my part of it, has almost shut down again, there isn’t much going on, not even the air conditioning!  It was off for 2 days and 2 nights.
On the Friday, I had called the emergency number for the apartment office and the answering service relayed my message so the apartment manager called me to tell me that she had left a message for the AC guy.  So I didn’t dare leave. I hardly even dared take a shower because you can’t hear the doorbell in there. If I had know that he wasn’t coming, I would have gone somewhere, a motel or something.  My family had already left on their trip and knew nothing about it, so I was on my own as usual.  I waited and waited, but by Sunday midday, I knew that I had to do something. 
My neighbor drove me to Lowes in College Station to buy a window unit.  I was feeling weak, and didn’t want to drive myself.  Before I left, I turned the system off, and then realized that IF the AC guy came, he would need it on.  After the 50 mile round trip to get the window unit, when I walked in I immediately knew that the AC was cooling again.  Before we left, my neighbor had banged on the old rusty outside unit, so we don’t know if the compressor was stuck, or if it had frozen up, or if it was a dodgy on/off switch on the thermostat.  The AC man had not been there, he didn’t show up until Monday and couldn’t find out what was wrong with it.
The new computer arrived, and it is fast.  I spent a few days getting it sorted out with the programs that I use, but I can’t get it to be friends with Open Live Writer, so I have to do this on my laptop.
On Thursday, I ventured back to College Station Lowes by myself and exchanged the AC. The one I had picked up on Sunday was the wrong one anyway, so I got the right one.  I will keep it it case the old central AC goes out again.  I really dislike driving to College Station, it is a fast 75mph road, and you know ‘they’ are going faster than that.  What would happen if they had a blow-out at those speeds?
I also went to a super Walmart, and to PetSmart. We don’t have either one of those in Navasota. No, my cat isn’t back home, but I needed new filters for my kitty water fountain. I looked at an older cat for adoption, but resisted because he is a biter! My thin skin would leak!  I went to visit my daughter and took a cauliflower crust pizza for us to eat.  I thought it was good, so did her father-in-law.
As usual, on Friday morning, my church neighbor and I studied the Bible study book. New health rules, so we couldn’t go to the church service, or even the Zoom Bible study at the church. We wanted to keep up with our studies even though we knew that we wouldn’t be going to the church Bible study on the Sabbath the next day.


Saturday, July 4, 2020

July 4 Reflections, What's Ahead for America? July 4th, Independence Day and the Meaning of Liberty. Update.

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July 4 Reflections  What's Ahead for America?

July 4 Reflections: What's Ahead for America?Photos.com

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

These words, some of the most famous in the English language, are found in the Declaration of Independence of what would become the United States of America, adopted on July 4, 1776—a pivotal point in human history. As I write this on the evening of July 4, 2011, I can hear the thunder of fireworks exploding in the distance as Americans celebrate the nation’s 235th birthday.

Notice a truth that is self-evident in the words above: The men who wrote and signed this famous declaration believed that “all men are created” and that they have a Creator. The Declaration also refers to “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” and to “the Supreme Judge of the world.” Obviously God was very much in their thinking at that pivotal time.

What would the nation’s Founding Fathers think if they could see their nation today?

They would obviously be profoundly impressed at the material wealth and prosperity of the country. Our houses, highways, cities and communications would astound them. Our standing as the world’s lone superpower would amaze them. The sheer size of the country—“from sea to shining sea”—would astonish them.

But many other things would shock them, and clearly not in any positive way.

What would they think of the fact that we murder more than a million helpless, innocent, unborn children every year through abortion?

What would they think of the shocking plagues of immorality, adultery, sexually transmitted diseases, drug and alcohol abuse, divorce, sexual perversions, violence and crime that rot our nation?

What would they think of the staggering amount of debt run up by our governments—currently totaling more than half a million dollars per U.S. household—with no realistic way to pay it off?

Why is this nation, so strong for so long, now facing problems seemingly at every turn? Why does it seem that things have suddenly gone so wrong in so many ways all at once?

Thomas Jefferson, primary author of the Declaration of Independence and later the third President of the United States, wrote this warning: “Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.”

Jefferson knew enough about history to know that a nation that forgets God will reap the consequences of rejecting our Creator—a lesson the United States is increasingly learning the hard way.

Another famous American President, Abraham Lincoln, said: “We have forgotten God . . . We have become . . . too proud to pray to the God that made us. It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.”

What did these men know that we don’t? One thing they understood is the eternal truth of Proverbs 14:34: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”

They understood that ultimately a nation’s strength is only as strong as its faith in and obedience to its Creator. And they warned of exactly what we are seeing today. May we have the wisdom and heart to heed their warnings!:  From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/blogs/july-4-reflections-whats-ahead-for-america

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July 4th - Independence Day and the Meaning of Liberty

“America’s Declaration of Independence continues to inspire hopes of liberty. What is the source of real freedom and liberty?

Transcript of YouTube: https://youtu.be/9fzxsTGrdyY

[Steve Myers] “It’s the 4th of July. What comes to your mind when you think of the 4th? Many things probably do - things like freedom, liberty, picnics…

[Darris McNeely] Absolutely, watermelon.

[Steve Myers] What about fireworks? All those things I think come to mind when you think of the 4th.

[Darris McNeely] Well, the July 4th holiday in the United States is a day that commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence. And it was not only a declaration of independence for the United States, but it really was the signing of a document that means - meant a great deal to the entire world. For a hundred years after the signing of the Declaration, more than 200 nations and peoples signed similar declarations declaring their independence from whatever form of tyranny and oppression that they were under. The document that Thomas Jefferson penned inspired a whole generation and continues to motivate us today. Probably the most quoted phrase is where it says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, but among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”  Inspiring words really rooted and founded in Scripture.

[Steve Myers] It is found in Scripture. In fact, it’s not just an American condition. This is a human condition. It’s something that we as human beings, we all long for. And of course that was identified as an important part of God’s plan. God’s plan talks about liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17 it says, “Now the Lord is the spirit and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” And so God’s plan is wrapped around this concept of liberty and what it truly means to have spiritual liberty.

[Darris McNeely] And so, when we look at a document like this, when we observe a day like July 4th in the United States and other nations have their own periods and reflections on liberty as well. It is really from Scripture that we should gain our ultimate understanding of where freedom and liberty comes. But a document like this, signed by a group of people in July 1776, did begin something that continues to burn bright today. July 4, 1776 - a day that started a great movement and a great idea, the United States of America, freedom and liberty for all peoples, hopefully, and always in the Kingdom of God.”  From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/july-4th-independence-day-and-the-meaning-of-liberty

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The 4th of July and the Bible

“Though the Fourth of July is celebrated as America’s founding, our true heritage goes back further than 1776. Was America’s independence prophesied in the Bible?

The Fourth of July in ProphecyOn July 4, the United States celebrates its 244th anniversary.

The Fourth of July holiday celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which declared the American colonists’ independence from Great Britain. Though this was when the founders declared their intention to break away from Great Britain, that independence wasn’t fully realized until after the bloody seven-year Revolutionary War. 

On Sept. 3, 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed, officially ending the American Revolution. In that treaty, Great Britain recognized the United States as a free, sovereign and independent nation. Historians continue to debate how a ragtag group of colonists with no national government could defeat a global empire and the world’s most powerful army. On paper, it was certainly a war Britain should have won, and there are many reasons the American victory over the British Army was miraculous.

Is there a reason to believe God’s providence was at work in history?

Victory did not settle America’s fate.  The United States of America as we know it was not created spontaneously when Britain signed the Treaty of Paris or when the last British soldiers left New York in November 1783. The greatest challenge that faced the newly independent states was creating a functioning union that would bind the states into one nation.

The states’ becoming one unified nation was not at all a given early in its history. One of the greatest controversies after the Treaty of Paris was this issue: Would America become a collection of individual, sovereign states loosely tied together as a confederation, or would the individual states be unified as a nation—bound together by a powerful national government that would allow it to act as a single nation?

That issue took years to settle. If it were not for a series of miracles and compromises, the United States could have easily become a confederation of sovereign states (similar to today’s European Union)—or even fragmented into separate nations across the various regions of the American landmass. Imagine North America looking like Africa, Europe or South America—a continent containing several independent nation-states. That outcome could have happened.

From Articles to Constitution

The first attempt at a functioning union of the states was the Articles of Confederation. The United States operated under this document for eight years (1781-1789). It formed a very loose confederation between the states, led by a Continental Congress that had little power. Each individual state retained its own sovereignty and was not required to submit to the national government. Under the Articles of Confederation, there was no national executive office (president), no national currency (each state printed its own), and no national taxation. The national Congress had no power to govern commerce between the states or require the states to abide by treaties made with foreign governments. Throughout those eight years, the Articles of Confederation proved to be unworkable.

Failure at the Philadelphia convention could have resulted in a regional fracturing of America—preventing one union from coming into existence.A growing number of American thinkers began to promote a different form of governance called federalism. This called for a stronger national government with an executive branch and a clearer delineation of powers between the states and national government. Those who supported this stronger union were called Federalists, and those who opposed it came to be known as Anti-Federalists. (History buffs can dive deeper into the arguments of both sides by reading the Federalist Papers and the Anti-Federalist Papers.)

It wasn’t until 1787 that the controversy began to be settled. Because of the inefficiencies of the Articles of Confederation (made obvious by the infamous Shays’ Rebellion), the states agreed to send delegates to Philadelphia to discuss making improvements to the Articles of Confederation.

Eventually, the delegates decided that the convention would become a constitutional convention, with the goal of designing an entirely new system of governance based on the principles of federalism. The challenge was whether or not the delegates could agree on a constitution that all states (large and small, north and south) would ratify. The stakes were high. Failure at the Philadelphia convention could have resulted in a regional fracturing of America—preventing one union from coming into existence.

Again, this outcome was not only possible, but was highly likely given the political atmosphere of early America.

A new Constitution

But, in about four months, the delegates were able to produce a new Constitution for the United States of America. It would bind the states into a strengthened union led by a national government with more powers. This was achieved through savvy politics, political compromise and intentionally not addressing one of the most divisive issues of the time—slavery.

James Madison

James Madison was one of the principle authors of the Federalist Papers and U.S. Constitution. 

After the Constitutional Convention finally had a finished document, the next order of business was convincing the individual states to ratify the proposed Constitution. The document itself stipulated that it needed to be ratified by at least nine states before it could go into effect. The challenge was getting large states like Virginia and New York to vote for ratification because, as large and powerful states, they had the most to lose in surrendering more authority to a national government. The Constitution could have theoretically been passed without all states ratifying it, but that would have ultimately left the land divided.

But all states eventually did ratify the Constitution. The whole process was completed (for the original 13 states) when Rhode Island finally ratified the new Constitution in 1790. With all 13 original states joining the union under the new Constitution, America was set on course to develop as one unified nation—eventually spanning from the Atlantic to the Pacific. But maintaining the union was not without its hardships—it took many more compromises and a bloody four-year Civil War to settle the issue of slavery once and for all.

The United States in prophecy

Okay, you may be asking, why is all this history important?

Did you realize that the United States’ breaking from Great Britain to become a nation was a fulfillment of a prophecy made over 3,600 years ago? As we explain in our article “How the Blessings of Abraham Came to the United States,” certain physical blessings were promised to Abraham. These blessings were passed down to his son Isaac, then to Isaac’s son Jacob and finally to Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.

Jacob, in a very specific prophecy, declared that Ephraim would become a “multitude of nations” and Manasseh would become a single great nation (Genesis 48:19). Genesis 49:1 reveals that these promises were to be fulfilled in “the last days”—in other words, the modern era (from our historical viewpoint).

The promise of a “multitude of nations” was fulfilled by the British people—who became an empire and later a commonwealth of nations. Today Ephraim’s promises are primarily fulfilled in the nations of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa (as well as other smaller nations that are part of the Commonwealth).

Americans would do well to consider the life of their original founding father—the patriarch Abraham—and recall his life of faithful obedience to God.   Manasseh’s promise of being a single great nation was fulfilled in the United States of America.

As Americans celebrate the Fourth of July, they would do well to consider that the Declaration of Independence from Britain was necessary in order to fulfill the Genesis 48:19 promise. For the prophecy to be fulfilled, America had to be independent from Britain and had to unite into a unified single nation. The entire history of the development and ratification of the U.S. Constitution was essential for that prophecy to be fulfilled. This understanding helps us to see God’s providential hand in history (Isaiah 46:10).

This Fourth of July comes at a troubled time in this nation’s history. It comes as we are dealing with a persistent global pandemic and increased racial tensions and unrest. This nation seems to be increasingly more divided on a host of issues that many fear could tear it apart. Now is a time when America could greatly benefit from returning to its spiritual roots. Those roots go back much further than the days of Washington, Jefferson, Adams and Franklin.

Americans would do well to consider the life of their original founding father—the patriarch Abraham—and recall his life of faithful obedience to God, as described in chapters 12-25 of Genesis. In his life, we can find insight into our nation’s troubles today. He was a man who had his flaws and made mistakes, but grew from them and faithfully relied on God. You can learn more about him in our article “The Faith of Abraham.”

Originally posted on July 4, 2017; Updated on July 3, 2020.” From:  https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/blog/the-fourth-of-july-in-prophecy/?

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Update.

These posts about Independence Day are a history lesson for me.  Being British, we didn’t learn as much about it as the American kids do.

With the new surge in Corona cases, we have ordered to wear masks most everywhere.  This has some people wondering who can dictate to them and order them around.  Me, not so…  “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”  Luke 20:25 and Mark 12:17.  I assume that our TX governor has studied this, and knows what is best for us.  Just like wearing our seat belts, it is to be safe, “Just in Case”.  But they are stifling hot in this over 90° weather.

Finally, I was tired of my slow computer and ordered another desktop. It is a refurbished Dell High Performance Business one, with 16 GB Ram, and i7, so we will see how it does.  It has a 60 day return, so that should give it a good try.  I don’t know how I will get along with Windows 10 Pro, because I am used to Windows 7 and 8 Home!

Still no word as to when my cat can come home.  Now that we have found out that he is a young cat, he might be better off if I let him be adopted to a permanent family.  Then I could try to find and care for, an older, or special needs cat, an unwanted one, to give it a taste of a loving home.

My church neighbor and I had our Bible study on Thursday because I was making another trip to College Station on Friday to the HEB store for groceries that we can’t get here in this little Brookshire's in Navasota.  But this time I rode with one of the other tenants here at the senior apartments, and he didn’t scare me driving that 75mph highway like some folks do.

But when I got home I found out that my AC wasn’t blowing cold!  It is over 90° in the apartment.  I reported it and here it is, a day later, and the 4th. of July, and still hot in here.  Doesn’t the AC man realize when he got into the Heat and AC business, that it is like buying a milk cow… there are no days off.  So I am still waiting to see if the AC man is coming here today.

Saturday, June 27, 2020

What Is Juneteenth All About? Breast Cancer Facts. All Who Are in the Graves Will Hear His Voice. The Father Raises the Dead. Update.

What Is Juneteenth All About?

by Kevin Epps

“You may have heard of Juneteenth, but what is it about? It’s not listed on most calendars, but most states in the U.S. recognize it. What can we learn from it?

“Juneteenth,” a combination of “June” and “nineteenth,” celebrates the freeing of the last remaining slaves in the United States on June 19, 1865. (It is also sometimes called “Freedom Day” or “Jubilee Day.”) It was on that day that slaves in Texas were finally given their freedom.

Technically, the process started two years earlier with President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, but for the enslaved people of the South, it really began only after the Confederacy was defeated earlier in 1865.

This proclamation was delivered by Union General Gordon Granger:

“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves and the connection heretofore existing between them, becomes that between employer and hired labor.”   

Absolute equality

Perhaps the most significant part of the proclamation was the words “absolute equality”—not improved equality. Though it wasn’t realized at that time, these were the right words. From God’s perspective, race relations are about equality, not just improved rights.   More at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/blog/what-is-juneteenth-all-about/?

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Breast Cancer Facts

“No money, no races, no ribbons, just breast cancer facts.

Before Breast Cancer Awareness month is upon us, I feel that it is important to help you better understand how to prevent this cancer, and quite possibly other cancers as well. The University of Virginia Health System has just published that an unhealthy gut causes breast cancer to become much more invasive and spread more quickly to other parts of the body (1). Mind you, this occurs after a breast cancer diagnosis. Let’s talk about preventing breast cancer based on real scientific data and give you a better picture of the role of healthy intestines in the prevention process. What we swallow ends up defining the health of our intestines. So, medications, food and drinks become our intestines!  Let’s take it from there, because these references are from some of our most respected medical sources.

• Use of antibiotics is associated with increased risk of incident and fatal breast cancer. JAMA. 2004; 291(7):827-35

• Compared to women who don’t drink at all, women who have three alcoholic drinks per week have a 15%higher risk of breast cancer (2).

• A high carbohydrate and starch diet increases the risk of breast cancer. Eating sweets and starches causes a rapid rise in the body’s blood sugar levels, which in turn cues the production of insulin and triggers a biological process that ultimately can influence carcinogenesis by causing cells to proliferate.

No one increases their exposure to breast cancer with one round of antibiotics, one glass of wine, or one baked potato. When we think of carbohydrates we think of grains, and yes, even “whole grains” are sometimes contaminated with fungal poisons called “mycotoxins.” Mycotoxins do increase our risk of and do cause human cancer. It should surprise no one then, that our major exposures to these mycotoxins come from cigarette smoking, alcohol and antibiotics. Each expose us to mycotoxins. Armed with this information, I hope you consider appropriate lifestyle changes that might really have you sleeping more comfortably knowing that your cancer risks can be diminished.”  From: https://knowthecause.com/breast-cancer-facts/?

Related Articles:   Why Antibiotics Should be the Last Line of Defense

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All Who Are in the Graves Will Hear His Voice

John 5:28-29

“Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”

Jesus Christ’s statement supports the biblical teaching of the need for a resurrection of the dead. Nowhere does the Bible teach that immediately at death we either go to heaven or hell. Instead it talks about those who are dead waiting in their graves for a future resurrection when they will be brought back to life to receive their judgment.

When all the passages about the resurrection of the dead are put together, it becomes clear that there is more than one resurrection described in the Bible. The resurrection of Jesus Christ to spirit life was the precursor of all other resurrections into God’s family. Then Revelation 20:5 talks about a “first resurrection” of the saints when Jesus Christ returns to begin a thousand years of peace (verse 4). The saints will become immortal in this “resurrection of life.”

Then the “rest of the dead” will not be raised until “the thousand years [are] finished” (verse 5). In this second resurrection to physical life, people come before the judgment seat of God (verses 11-12). The Greek word translated “condemnation” in the New King James Version of John 5:29 is krisis, which means “the process of investigation, the act of distinguishing and separating” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, 1985, “condemn, condemnation”).

In this time of judgment, all will be declared guilty of sin (Romans 3:23), but God will ensure that everyone has a full and complete chance to repent and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). God’s Holy Spirit will be offered to those who repent (Ezekiel 37:14) to prepare them for eternal life in God’s family.

The Bible has much more about resurrections, but it is seldom taught in churches today. Read what the Bible says in our section on “Life After Death” and our booklet The Last Enemy: What Really Happens After Death? From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/all-who-are-in-the-graves-will-hear-his-voice/?

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The Father Raises the Dead

John 5:21

“For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.”

Jesus Christ explained that He had been given the same power His Father had—the power to bring a dead person back to life, and the power to give immortal life to mortal human beings! In fact, the following verse shows that the Father had delegated all judgment to Jesus Christ (verse 22).

We can be very thankful to have Jesus as our judge. He lived a physical life, understands our temptations and knows our weaknesses, and He was willing to give His life to pay for our sins. He is a merciful judge who greatly “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

Read more about the resurrections in our section on “Life After Death.” From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/the-father-raises-the-dead/?

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Update.

My helper and I did some more work moving my items out of the large storage unit with the heavy lift-up garage door into the smaller storage with a regular house type door.  Oh, it is so much easier, I can go over there and sort stuff out by myself.  But on Friday he suddenly dropped it on me that he couldn’t work for me on Monday and Tuesday mornings because he had a two day job in Anderson, so we had to get the storage unit empty right then, because the end of the month is on Tuesday.  We made it, but it will take some sorting to get it organized.

A trip to College Station to the doctor for a check-up, and all is well, thank goodness.  My daughter had met me so we had a nice lunch together.  While I was there I looked for a TV stand with drawers and found one at the Goodwill.

My cat is still in Conroe at my vet tech SPCA friend’s home, he had a little problem with his neutering surgery healing like it should.  But apparently he is a lot younger than what I was told.  I really wanted an old cat, one that no one would want.

On Friday, once again my church neighbor and I went over the Bible study ready for the Bible study at the church on the Sabbath the next day.  Once again it was on Zoom, and the sermon was a live video of a campmeeting because our pastor had to do a funeral today.