Sunday, September 30, 2018

Washington the Merciless

Here In America, Justice and Mercy
Seem to Be In Short Supply
by Pastor Paul J. Bern
To view this on my website, click here :-)



I did not bother watching the farce on TV this past week having to do with the US Judiciary Committee hearings on president Trump's nominee for the US Supreme Court. As my regular readers already know, I don't even subscribe to cable TV, nor do I have a satellite dish. I catch a little news, mostly local, on my old box TV that I'm still using. I guess I'll continue to use it until it dies of old age, which could be anytime now even though it still plays very well. The state of our federal government today is a lot like my old 20 inch Sony “Trinitron”. It still works okay, and from time to time it actually works quite well. But on stormy days, or if there are any low-flying aircraft close by, it interferes with my incoming signal. So it is with our current federal government, and our state governments are no better. During times like these, when the future of our country is at stake, interference with it in all the wrong forms is getting all the wrong results.


Don't get me wrong. Dr. Ford's testimony during the Judiciary Committee's hearings this week was compelling by all accounts. I don't care to get into the he-said-she-said debate regarding the allegations of sexual assault. As I wrote last week, all of these allegations past and present prove that the United States is a really corrupt and immoral country (thank you all for all those responses!). For anyone interested, you can find last week's message right here. But that's just what's on the surface. What lies underneath is pride, avarice, pole-vaulting ambition fueled by desires for revenge for past offenses – whether real or imagined – and what I would describe as a visceral and primal mind-set of competitiveness. Judge Kavenaugh was attacked mercilessly by his critics, together with their own agendas. But then again, so was Dr. Ford for much the same reasons. So what does all this prove? If nothing else, it proves we have become a country full of sex maniacs and alcoholics!


What was completely lacking throughout this past week's hearings was a sense of fairness, justice, and especially mercy. Everyone was in full attack mode from the time they all walked in the door and took their seats, like a predator stalks its prey. Yet if you asked any one of them whether they believed in Jesus or not, the overwhelming majority of them would say they did. OK, then here's a few quotes from our Lord and Savior regarding this week's happenings in Washington from Matthew chapter 5: “ 6) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7) Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Again in verses 9 - 10 he said, “ 9) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10) Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”


Based on what I've heard and read about this past week's confirmation hearings, there is little righteousness to be found these days in Washington, DC. Instead, we evidently have an entire city of people who are constantly jockeying for position inside the Beltway, the majority of whom are apparently engaged in all kinds of deviant sexual behavior. Instead of governing as they were elected to do, most (but not all) of these people are engaging in a bed-hopping contest with one another. Hearing and reading about all this fills me with dismay. Writing about it makes me ashamed of my country, and that's an uncomfortable place to be. As for myself, I long for the day when I am finished being filled with righteousness by the Lord as it says in verses 6 – 7. That righteousness that Jesus spoke of does not come by man's or women's efforts, no matter how great. It comes from a willingness to step aside, from within ourselves, and swallow our pride as we abdicate control over our destinies and surrender them to Jesus Christ. Jesus is the very personification of the righteousness we all seek.


Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” When women are sexually assaulted, it is done without mercy. When women and children are abused by the head of that household, it is similarly done without mercy, otherwise it can no longer be called abuse or assault. When the Constitutional rights of the American electorate are rapidly being evaporated, as it is currently happening throughout the land, it too is being done without mercy. But we as a faith-based Christian people (never mind denominational differences, or even whether you attend church or not) are charged with the responsibility of showing mercy, kindness, gentleness and sober judgment in order to set a good example for everyone else, especially the children. We are responsible for doing everything Jesus said to do, to the very best of our abilities, so help us God! Show mercy to your fellow man/woman during your lifetime here, and God will reward you. Show your fellow man/woman no mercy during this life, and when it is over, God won't show you any mercy, either!


9) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10) Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Do you want to spend your life fighting all the time? Or if you're like a few people, are you the type of person who becomes a cop or a soldier so they can legally shoot people? Don't they really enjoy putting those 'bad people' back in their place? Those are NOT peacemakers, people, they are predators! But if you promote yourselves as peaceful (excluding matters of self defense), loving, tender, compassionate, gentle and teachable, this is all we have to do to make our world a much better place. And, if you've ever been unfairly targeted for your Christianity, or for other matters that are spiritually important, or for taking a stand for something good or against something evil, rejoice and be glad, Jesus said. The prophets of old who came before you experienced the same kinds of persecution and rejection, so you're right in their league.


Allow me to serve up one more good quote about justice and mercy, this time from the prophet Zechariah. “ 8) And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: 9) “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. 10) Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’ 11) But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and covered their ears. 12) They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the Lord Almighty was very angry.” (Zech. 7: 8-12) We as a nation are, by and large, completely ignoring verses 9-10. My country that I've always loved and always will has nonetheless become a country devoid of any trace of justice, mercy and compassion, and the fault lies squarely with America's leadership.


Anytime we devolve into a bunch of high-rolling wannabe aristocrats that verbally abuses one another just because they get to be on TV, I would say we as an American people have sunk to a new low. Yes, I stand against those who sexually assault or otherwise abuse innocent people, but I'm also absolutely against one nation waging warfare against another. Most of all as far as this week's message is concerned, I'm also against those who lie under oath on international television, as well as those congressional representatives sitting on the Judiciary Committee in Washington who abuse their authority for profit. I vehemently stand against men who abuse women, as well as the other way around.


But there are plenty of good things that we can all stand for. Justice, mercy, fairness, the absence of bias in our decision making, and the possession of much empathy and compassion towards others regardless of who they are, where they come from or what color their skin is – it is these things that are required of us by our Maker. Because, you see, that's precisely what He put us here for. It is our purpose for living. The very reason for our existence is to take care of one another, just as God is taking good care of each and every one of us as I write these words. God has made us wonderfully and with utmost perfection! He puts the breath in our lungs, he has put the blood in our veins, and he causes the heart to pump all 5 quarts of it with the greatest of vigor. That way we will never lack the energy or ability to care for one another. That's what Jesus meant when he said, “A new commandment I now give you: Love one another.” (John 13: 34)


Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor....” See that, all you “patriots” and “conservatives”? Don't pick on widows, orphans, foreigners or the poor! God is serious about this – leave 'em alone!! Suppose the United States sustained a nuclear attack – who would do this is a matter of mere speculation, but what if we had to leave the country to save our own lives and that of our families? Wouldn't we expect a little justice, fairness and (above all) mercy instead of being greeted as unwelcome guests if we were to become refugees in, say, Canada or Mexico? Of course we would! And being treated with hatred and contempt wouldn't make any of us feel very good, now would it? “Love thy neighbor as thyself”, that's what Jesus taught, isn't it? OK, so all you immigrant haters and so-called “patriots” or “white nationalists”, what do you think God will say to you when it comes your time to stand before him? Think about that for a minute. You'd better!!


“ 11) But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and covered their ears. 12) They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the Lord Almighty was very angry.” If God was so angry back in Zechariah's time because the people lacked compassion and simply did whatever they wanted, what do you think God would say to America's leaders, and those who voted them into office, today? I'll tell you what I know for sure, it won't sound pretty.

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

This week's ongoing Bible study will be part 3 of Acts chapter 13

The Apostle Paul Concludes His Message
[Acts chapter 13, verses 32-41]
For a website view, click here :-)



As we left off last week in our ongoing studies of the writings of the apostle Luke, the apostle Paul was delivering his first message at the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch, a city in what is now central Turkey. Paul's first sermon was of great effect, convincing many Jews and Gentiles alike that the Lord Jesus had been, and always will be, the risen Son of God. This week as we move on to part 3 of Acts chapter 13, Paul is about to wrap up his message for that Sabbath morning. So let's take up where we left off last week, beginning at verse 32.


32) 'We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors 33) he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: ‘You are my son; today I have become your father.’ 34) God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said, ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’ 35) So it is also stated elsewhere: ‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’ 36) Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. 37) But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. 38) Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39) Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. 40) Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: 41) ‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’” (Acts 13, verses 32-41)


Paul's statement in verses 32 and 33 were prophetic in nature. That is, they proclaimed the Word of God and made it applicable to that present situation. In this case, Paul was preaching about the resurrection of Jesus Christ as he showed how his resurrection had been prophesied previously. God's promise to the ancestors of those in the congregation was spelled out in Isaiah 53: 4-7, and I quote, “4) Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5) But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6) We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7) He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” This passage of scripture was exactly what Paul was talking about.


As you all can clearly see from the above passage of scripture, the prophet Isaiah was foretelling the crucifixion of Christ. He then ties that into Psalm 2: 7, “You are my son; today I have become your father.” Though the world rejected Christ's message and then executed him, Paul is proclaiming the absolute truth of the Gospel to the entire congregation, both Jew and Gentile, something that had been unthinkable to himself and the congregation, owing to Paul's prior reputation as a merciless persecutor of the faithful. The day Christ was crucified, and his subsequent resurrection on the morning of the third day afterwards, cemented his status forever as the Savior of humankind. “God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said, ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’ “ This is a reference to Saul, Israel's first king, anointing David as a young soldier in 1st Samuel chapter 16 (starting at verse 1, for those who want to look that up).


36) Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. 37) But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.” When King David's life was at an end, he was buried and his body decayed in the ground just like everyone else's. That includes other religious leaders of the past such as Buddha and Mohammad. Christ is the sole exception to this unpleasant fact of life and the reason for our faith! “I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.” There it is in a nutshell, people, Christianity summarized in 2 little sentences. Everybody has a problem with sin, which is simply defined as deliberate disobedience to God, or of refusal to believe in His existence or in Christ. Sin separates us from God our creator, rendering us unable to enter into eternal life with him when our bodies wear out and die. I would compare this to something like a broken-down car that cannot be repaired, or for which no parts are available. Just as there is nothing that can be done for a broken down old car or truck, so God can do nothing with human souls who refuse to serve their Maker.


The ultimate fate for those who refuse to believe, and there are a lot of them out there, is spelled out by Paul in verse 41, where he quotes from Habakkuk 1: 5: “Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.” There are those individuals who are going to be bound and determined to go their own way in life, thinking only of themselves. They stubbornly refuse to listen to anyone, they can't be taught anything, and their anthem is the old song from the 1960's, “I did it my way”. Jesus prophesied about these people when he said to the Twelve and the others with them, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matt. 7: 13-14) Jesus truly is going to perform some works “that you would never believe, even if someone told you.” Meaning, even if Jesus himself came and personally told a scoffer of his truths, they still wouldn't believe it. And so I give you all a solemn warning – the eternal life that you expect after your demise will not be forthcoming if you do not believe in the risen Christ. That fact bears some very careful though over the course of this coming week. And next week we'll conclude our study of Acts thirteen.


Monday, September 24, 2018

Free book excerpt #30 from Author Rev. Paul J. Bern

Coming this November from faith-based nonfiction author Rev. Paul J. Bern: "The Middle and Working Class Manifesto Fourth Edition"

Just in time for the November elections, this is the book that makes Bernie Sanders look like child's play.This is sure to fan the flames of discontent that are roaring across America's political landscape. (first edition cover shown, there will be a new cover for this latest edition)



Fall of An Empire Part One: The American Police State



Having spent the first three chapters of this book laying out in complete detail how the US middle class is gradually being liquidated by the rich, the powerful and the politically well-connected, I will use the next three chapters to describe how the obliteration of the American middle and working classes are being enforced, why this pattern of the criminal abuse of power and authority is unsustainable, and what the end result will be if working Americans from all professions do not unite, organize and challenge this abusive ownership and authority. Although much has already been written about these topics by the 'fake news' media, an equal amount has been disseminated by alternative news sources regarding the gradual erosion of the Constitutional rights of every citizen that was carefully spelled out by the founding fathers of our great country during the founding of the United States of America during the latter part of the eighteenth century.



There can be no doubt that the Constitutional rights of every citizen have been and continue to be compromised by the passage of laws such as the Patriot Act and others like it, as well as other proposed unconstitutional actions such as certain proposed gun control legislation. After all, a disarmed US public is a powerless citizenry that would be in the rifle sights of every abusive authoritarian in (and out of) American government including elements of law enforcement, the military and national guard, and countless civilian “contractors”. I will begin by citing examples gleaned from the Internet of just how out of control law enforcement has become in this country, having been given powers of arrest, search and seizure formerly restricted to a military occupation during a declaration of martial law.



For example, on Friday April 25th, 2008, three New York City police officers were cleared by a New York court after admittedly gunning down an unarmed man and his relative, killing one and wounding another. Allow me to quote from a recently-posted news article:



"NEW YORK (Reuters) - Three New York City police officers were found not guilty of all charges on Friday in the shooting death of an unarmed black man killed in a hail of 50 bullets on his wedding day. A New York state judge cleared two officers of manslaughter and other charges and a third of 2nd degree murder after they shot the unarmed victim, along with two friends, after a bachelor party at a strip club in November 2006. After the verdict, loud sobs were heard in the courtroom. Outside, about 200 demonstrators angrily yelled at television cameras. 'They're murderers, criminals, and they are going to rot in hell where they belong,' one man shouted." The article goes on to bear witness to the outrage of the local community and to quote the judge as brushing off responsibility for this social injustice.
"The case has generated outrage in New York's black community, and police prepared for potential unrest with the announcement of the verdict. However, officials said they did not expect violence because numerous demonstrations against the perceived police brutality had remained peaceful. The detectives, Mike Oliver, Marc Cooper and Gescard Isnora, waived their right to a jury trial and decided to have the judge decide guilt or innocence. The defense lawyers said jurors in the borough of Queens were likely to be biased against the policemen due to the intense media coverage the case has generated. State Supreme Court Judge Arthur Cooperman said the charges could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. 'Questions of carelessness and incompetence must be left to other forums,' Cooperman said." The article then concludes by exposing the doubtful verdict as one that puts up a wall between those who are sworn to the public safety profession and those whom the system is supposed to be protecting.”



This was a couple years, more in some cases, than what occurred with Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, and the police lawlessness in Ferguson, Mo several years after that. Since then things have gotten progressively worse, and law-abiding citizens don't know who to me more afraid of – the crooks or the police! It looks like we had all better be on the lookout against this sort of thing, or other unarmed Americans might be the next innocents to be slaughtered. Those who are sworn to protect and to serve have instead become those who are sworn to harass and to intimidate. Can a police state be far behind if this kind of behavior by law enforcement officers is allowed to continue? In another related article having to do with collisions between civilians and police, it would appear that the Constitutionally guaranteed right to protection from unreasonable search and seizure is being ignored and unenforced in certain incidents such as the one I am about to describe.



Supreme Court says police may search even if arrest invalid
By PETE YOST, Associated Press Writer



WASHINGTON - "The Supreme Court affirmed (back in 2009 – PB) that police have the power to conduct searches and seize evidence, even when done during an arrest that turns out to have violated state law. The unanimous decision comes in a case from Portsmouth, Va., where city detectives seized crack cocaine from a motorist after arresting him for a traffic ticket offense. David Lee Moore was pulled over for driving on a suspended license. The violation is a minor crime in Virginia and calls for police to issue a court summons and let the driver go. Instead, city detectives arrested Moore and prosecutors say that drugs taken from him in a subsequent search can be used against him as evidence."
“The article goes on to describe the specifics of the Supreme Court decision, with the deciding opinion written by judge Antonin Scalia, and then concludes by reporting that Moore was convicted on a drug charge and sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison. The Virginia Supreme Court ruled that police should have released Moore and could not lawfully conduct a search. State law, said the Virginia Supreme Court, restricted officers to issuing a ticket in exchange for a promise to appear later in court. Virginia courts dismissed the indictment against Moore. Moore argued that the Fourth Amendment permits a search only following a lawful state arrest."


From the looks of things, only a revised, simplified and updated US Constitution, one that would be produced by a new 21st Century Constitutional Convention, will fix problems like this. After all, should that motorist have had crack cocaine on him when he was pulled over? Of course not, and I do not condone what he did. But, should he have gotten three and a half years in prison for this offense? Clearly the sentence was out of proportion to the crime committed. Under a new Constitutional government, one that would ultimately replace the current federal bureaucracy, long-term treatment would be mandated by law rather than incarceration. When we do the math together, we find that treatment is always easier than incarceration, and the recidivism rate is lower as well.



Here are a few more recent victims of our militarized police departments:
  • Cheryl Lynn Noel, a mom who was shot by police for picking up her legally registered handgun. She went for her gun to defend herself after a SWAT team in the middle of the night, broke into her Baltimore, MD home. Police stormed her house that night because they claim to have found marijuana seeds in the family's trashcan.
  • Rev. Acelyne Williams, 75 of Boston, died of a heart attack as a SWAT team broke into his home. Police actually had the wrong address.
  • 92 year old Kathryn Johnston who was so fearful that she never left her home and would only open her door after friends who placed her groceries on the front porch had left, was killed by an Atlanta SWAT team last year. An erroneous tip from an informant was enough for the Atlanta Police Department to invade her home. Police have since admitted to lying to obtain a search warrant and to planting drugs in her home after killing her...


SWAT teams were designed to deal with very violent individuals who represent a clear and present threat to the public. However, they are now being used to execute warrants on non-violent offenders and even those who have no prior criminal history at all. Turning our neighborhood cops into shock troops will do nothing but erode public confidence in the police and endanger the lives of innocent Americans. Recently, Boston´s police commissioner William Fitchet announced that the department´s Street Crimes Unit will begin wearing military-style black uniforms, to instill a sense of "fear." At last week´s city council meeting, police Sgt. John Delaney told council members that the black uniforms would send the message that officers were serious. Did someone declare martial law?

You have just read the first few pages of chapter 4 of my upcoming release, now just weeks away. This latest edition will be available in hard or soft cover, and as digital or audio editions. Visit my new author landing page at https://www.authorrevpauljbern.com 

 

Sunday, September 23, 2018

America's epidemic of sexual assault and immorality

The Epidemic of Sexual Immorality and Assault:
the Symptoms of a Sick Society
by Pastor Paul J. Bern
For a website view, click here :-)



This past week I have found myself being bombarded by the media with stories of women being sexually assaulted by men, and many of these men have been prominent individuals. The hearings in Washington, DC for judge Brent Kavenaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court is only the tip of this sordid and distasteful iceberg. Whether you believe the lady professor making the charges or not, there are plenty of other allegations against a lot of other people that have already been made. It's looking to me like women everywhere have gotten to the point where they are simply done and over with being victimized by men again and again. Moreover, let's be honest and truthful about sexual assault – this is nothing new or recent at all. Men forcing themselves on women (and visa versa), or intimidating them into compliance to their demands for sex, has been going on for as far back as we can remember, and likely further back than that.


What does the Bible have to say about sexually immoral people? Not only does the Bible have much to say about this topic, I will also give some modern-day examples to tie all this together. The first quote that seems most relevant to me comes from 1st Corinthians chapter 6, verse 18: “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.” Not to mention that it can also get you into legal trouble, and legal problems have this annoying habit of being very, very expensive. Just ask Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstien, or former New York congressman Anthony Wiener, to name just three out of many more.


Further along in that same book of the Bible, it says in chapter 10 verse 8, “We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did — and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.” This is a reference to a time when a portion of the recently-freed Israelite's, who had been slaves in Egypt for 400 years, were slain for having a grossly immoral pagan sexual ritual festival while still wandering in the desert. In one day God struck down 23,000 of them in a single day (see Exodus chapter 32 for the full context of that story). Now you know how strongly God feels about sexual sin. Hopefully it will make you think twice before doing that again. But hold that thought, because I'll have still more reasons that I will reveal after I give you all another Bible quote or two.


The apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the 1st century Ephesian church, “3) But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4) Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5) For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person — such a person is an idolater — has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6) Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7) Therefore do not be partners with them.” (Ephesians 5, verses 3-7) Based on these words, I would say the majority of men and women who are currently elected to office, as well as those who are appointed such as judges and cabinet members, would have to resign, up to and including President Trump.


The thing is, it doesn't stop with President Trump, either. To me at least, judge Cavenaugh is not the problem, but he is a glaring symptom of a much wider problem. For example, according to an older survey done around the early 2,000's or so by Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family, 45% of Christian men and about 30% of Christian women were addicted to pornography. Here in 2018, over 60% of men and 50% of Christian women are addicted to porn. So what is the percentage of non-Christian, atheist or agnostic men and women who are addicted to porn? Surprisingly – at least to me – it's very much the same, with almost no difference at all in the percentage rate between the two groups. Based on this information, I would say Christianity as a whole has some serious soul-searching to do, and that's actually an understatement of the problem.


But now, allow me to present some more recent statistics, this time from none other than the Centers for Disease Control, which is only 10 miles or so from where I live. When it comes to the personal ads and online dating sites that are pervasive on the Web and in social media, 4 out of every 10 people with personal ads on dating sites or social media has a sexually transmittable disease. That's frighteningly close to half, which is why I stay off the dating sites! I'm in my 60's and single myself, having tried marriage twice before with awful results that I do not care to repeat. But here's where these stats get a bit crazy. Out of the group of 40% on the dating sites and hook-up apps who have STD's, fully 80% – eight out of ten – don't bother to tell their new partners. To make matters worse, they are having unprotected sex, like playing Russian roulette with your body! If this looks to you like some evil people are willfully spreading STD's, you are absolutely right. So, sexual promiscuity and bad behavior are not limited to those at the pinnacles of power and influence. In short, everybody's doing it. Moreover, anyone who thinks that sexual assaults don't take place on dating apps is either astonishingly naive or incredibly stupid.


The United States of America is infested with rampant sexual immorality! Make no mistake about it, God is not impressed in the slightest by America's wild behavior. It's up to us to turn this big problem around, and to deal with it appropriately with even-handed justice to those who have committed acts subject to criminal prosecution. The harshest prosecution should be reserved for those who kill or do bodily harm, who engage in forcible sex, and for those who engage in sex with underage girls and boys. After all, if God can kill 23,000 Israelite's all in one day, or if he can destroy Sodom and Gomorrah in a matter of minutes together with all their inhabitants for their rampant immorality, how much more quickly can God destroy an individual who sins continuously today? He can do it at the speed of a bolt of lightening, and Jesus said as much himself during his ministry here on Earth. Protect yourselves from a lot of anguish and aggravation. Stay single until you're ready to marry. Why worry about whether you'll be lonesome or not when you have Jesus already there with you? When Jesus is all you have, he's all you will ever need.

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

This week's ongoing Bible study will be part 2 of Acts chapter 13

The Apostle Paul Delivers His First Message
[Acts chapter 13, verses 16-31]
For a website view, click here :-)



Last week when we left off at verse 15 in part one of our ongoing study of the Book of Acts, the apostle Paul and Barnabas were together in Pisidian Antioch in the synagogue there. After the customary reading of the Law, or books of Moses, the morning sermon usually reserved for the appointed high priest of the day was going to be delivered by Paul instead. As the apostle Paul stepped into his role as guest speaker, the power of the Holy Spirit fell upon him, and he delivered a morning sermon with such anointing and one so compelling that every single person in attendance who had not yet heard the Word of God through his only Son Jesus did so and was saved by Christ's salvation! So let's take a good look at what Paul had to say, that we might come away with a chunk of that same anointing!


16) Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelite's and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! 17) The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country; 18) for about forty years he endured their conduct in the wilderness; 19) and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance. 20) All this took about 450 years. After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21) Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22) After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ 23) From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. 24) Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. 25) As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’” (Acts 13, verses 16-25)


Notice the first thing Paul said? “Fellow Israelite's and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors...”. Paul was a Jewish man like Jesus was. But he addressed his Jewish brethren and the non-Jews present as equals, something that was previously unheard of and which since has been largely forgotten. To this day, the majority of Jews and Christians have little to do with each other. All the Jews and Muslims do is shoot at one another and kill each other. Humankind has yet to learn to live in peace with one another, and as the planet's population increases, the necessity of learning to do so increases proportionately. Meaning, as the earth gets more crowded, the lack of any peaceful coexistence will ultimately lead to our extinction.


“...he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country; for about forty years he endured their conduct in the wilderness...” Paul was referring to the time when the nation of Israel were slaves in Egypt before Moses, with some Divine intervention, persuaded Pharaoh to “let my people go”. God tolerated their disobedience after their escape, but they stayed in the desert until that entire generation had died out. Only then were their descendants allowed to cross into the land God had given them. “(H)e overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance.” The events Paul was describing here can be found mainly in the Book of Joshua in the Old Testament.


So, we can all see now that Paul was building his case for the salvation of humanity by the shed blood of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God. So Paul gives his audience some background before he traces the lineage of our Lord and Savior in verses 21 and 22: “....the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'” ’The people of ancient Israel asked for a king, and yet it was God who had led them out of Egypt and it was God who had just given them the land on which they were living, land they had conquered with nothing more than light infantry, as it is chronicled in the Book of Joshua. So God gave them Saul, but he later became so corrupt God had to remove him from power. And David son of Jesse took Saul's place after being anointed by Samuel (see 1st Samuel 16, verses 1-13).


From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised.” (For a detailed view of the ancestry and lineage of Christ Jesus, read Matthew chapter 1, verses 1-17, it's all right there in black and white.) He is descended from David, the son of Jesse, and this lineage is traceable all the way back to Abraham, and ultimately to Adam. The coming of Jesus was heralded by John the Baptist, as verses 24 and 25 are explained by the apostle Luke, the author of the Book of Acts. “Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’”


If nothing else, we can derive from John the Baptist the life lesson of never overestimating oneself, and of knowing one's limitations. He probably could have gotten by with claiming he himself was the Messiah, and he could easily have gotten rich doing so. But John the Baptist knew that when the real Jesus arrived, he was the one who would baptize Messiah with water. So he dared not try to replace him even if he could have for the short term. Let this be a lesson in the power of humility and personal integrity that should be taken to heart by any persons who desire positions of leadership. Never overstate or overestimate yourself, and never try to be somebody you're not. Because if you do either, they will come around and bite you and there will be no stopping that when it occurs! But rather John the Baptist stated publicly that he wasn't even worthy to untie Jesus' sandals. If John the Baptist was unworthy, how much more unworthy are we? Or have we forgotten our place in the universe, that we are God's creations and by extension his subjects? God is in charge and we are not. Period, end of story. And now let's move on to part two of this week's study.


26) “'Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. 27) The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28) Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29) When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. 30) But God raised him from the dead, 31) and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.'” (Acts 13, verses 26-31)


As the apostle Paul continues with what amounted to his first sermon, he reminds his audience once again of the unity and equality between Jews and Gentiles in verse 26. “... it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.” Here Paul reminds them of their obligation to share the new salvation they had found in order to win as many souls as possible for the Lord, either through leadership by example or conversion from another faith, usually Judaism. “27) The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28) Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed.” Do not underestimate the power those last 2 verses had on Paul's audience. Here before them all was a reformed executioner of Christ-followers, an ex-member of the Sanhedrin, and he was transformed before their eyes into one of Christianity's most powerful proponents. Paul's conversion was a very vivid and public one, and he endured a lot of personal hardship because of it.


29) When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. 30) But God raised him from the dead, 31) and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.'” As Paul concludes this, the greater portion of what he had to say that memorable morning, he brings everyone in the room to the central fact of the Christian faith, that of the resurrection of Christ in verse 30. Plus, Paul reminds them of the numerous public and private appearances of Jesus after he had risen, presenting Jesus' resurrection as the proverbial icing on the cake to their faith and salvation. And, like Paul, Barnabas and the others present, they were all “his witnesses to our people”. So your assignments for the next week or so are to follow the example of Paul and the other 12 apostles, all of whom were still alive at the time these things occurred. Next week when we return, we'll move on to part 3 of Acts chapter 13 as Paul concludes his message.

Sunday, September 16, 2018

The Preservation of Peace in Syria is Not An Option

The Disastrous Consequences of
a U.S. Military Attack on Syria
by Pastor Paul J. Bern
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Lately I have been seeing or hearing the Trump administration telling the world that the use of chemical weapons in Syria by the Assad government must be answered by other worse weapons, even though the results of satellite surveillance has not proven this allegation – just as the Bush administration refused to wait for the 2013 UN report by the inspectors who had been looking for WMD in Iraq. Secretary of State John Kerry claimed back in 2013 that the UN inspectors “can’t tell us anything that we don’t already know.” President Trump has said that any U.S. attack on the Assad government will be as punishment, not regime change. The strike will be “limited” — but tell that to the civilians who will inevitably die when military attacks take place. President Bush and his advisers either didn’t know or didn’t care about the probable consequences of their decision to invade and occupy Iraq in March of 2003:

  • Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and over 4,000 Americans dead;
  • Millions of Iraqis and Americans wounded physically and psychologically;
  • Legions of young men of the region now experienced in warfare and for hire moving from Iraq to Libya to Syria;
  • And, the Iraqi “democratic” government unable to control the whirlwind of sectarian violence that now is killing hundreds each week.
  • Although the U.S. invaded and occupied Afghanistan under a different rationale, I also want to acknowledge and empathize with the Afghan citizens who have been killed or wounded in the U.S. war in Afghanistan.

President Trump has not spelled out the possible consequences of a military attack on Syria, but U.S. military leaders are warning about the risks. In a letter to the Senate Armed Services committee, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey wrote last month said, “As we weigh our options, we should be able to conclude with some confidence that use of force will move us toward the intended outcome. Once we take action, we should be prepared for what comes next. Deeper involvement is hard to avoid.”

General James Mattis, who is the retired head of the U.S. Central Command and Trump's Secretary of State, said last month at a security conference that the United States has “no moral obligation to do the impossible” in Syria. “If Americans take ownership of this, this is going to be a full-throated, very, very serious war.” As U.S. warships gather off the shores of Lebanon to launch Tomahawk Cruise missiles at targets in Syria, we can make some educated guesses of what the “unintended consequences” could be:

  • Syrian anti-aircraft batteries will fire their rockets at incoming U.S. missiles.
  • Many Syrians on the ground will die and both the U.S. and Syrian governments will say the deaths are the fault of the other.
  • The U.S. Embassy in Damascus will be attacked and burned, as may other U.S. Embassies and businesses in the Middle East.
  • Syria might also launch rockets toward the U.S. ally in the region —Israel.
  • Israel would launch bombing missions on Syria as it has three times in the past two years and perhaps take the opportunity to launch an attack on Syria’s strongest ally in the region, Iran.
  • Iran, a country with a population of 80 million, has the largest military in the region untouched by war in the past 25 years. Iran might retaliate with missiles aimed toward Israel and toward nearby U.S. military bases in Afghanistan, Turkey, Bahrain and Qatar.
  • Iran could block the Straits of Hormuz and impede the transport of oil out of the Persian Gulf.
  • At this time of crisis, it is worth remembering another time, 35 years ago in October, 1983 when U.S. warships bombarded Lebanon, the country located next to Syria. Within weeks, the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by a massive truck bomb that killed 241 American servicemen: 220 Marines, 18 sailors and three soldiers. The truck driver- suicide bomber was an Iranian national named Ismail Ascari, whose truck contained explosives that were the equivalent of 21,000 pounds of TNT. Two minutes later a second suicide bomber drove a truck filled with explosives into the French military compound in Beirut killing 58 French paratroopers.

The U.S. and French military were in Lebanon as a part of a Multi-National force after the PLO left Lebanon following the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, ostensibly to create a 40 km buffer zone between the PLO and Syrian forces in Lebanon and Israel. The Israeli invasion was tacitly approved by the U.S., and the U.S. provided overt military support to Israel in the form of arms and material.
Colonel Timothy J. Geraghty, the commander of the U.S. 24th Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU) deployed as peacekeepers in Beirut, said that the American and the French headquarters were targeted primarily because of "who we were and what we represented…” American support removed any lingering doubts of our neutrality, and I stated to my staff at the time that we were going to pay in blood for this decision.”

Some of the circumstances around the incidents in Lebanon in 1983 and now 35 years later in Syria are familiar. U.S. intelligence agencies were aware of potential trouble but did not report the problems in sufficient time for actions to be taken. Former President Obama said at the time that the U.S. had intercepted signals indicating the Syrian government was moving equipment into place for an attack, but the U.S. did not warn the Syrian government that the U.S. knew what was happening and did not bother warning civilians that a chemical attack was imminent.

On August 31, 2013, 13 former officials of the U.S. government, including Pentagon Papers whistle-blower Dan Ellsberg, retired CIA analyst Ray McGovern, retired US Army Colonel Larry Wilkerson and former Chief of Staff for Secretary of State Colin Powell, wrote an open letter to General Martin Dempsey, then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, asking him to resign rather than follow an illegal order to attack Syria. “We refer to your acknowledgment.... that a decision to use force is not one that any of us takes lightly. It is no less than an act of war.... It appears that the President may order such an act of war without proper Congressional authorization. Seasoned veteran intelligence and military professionals solemnly sworn to support and defend the Constitution of the United States have long been aware that it is one’s duty to never obey an illegal order. If such were given, the honorable thing would be to resign, rather than be complicit.”

Those words were written five years ago, and the situation in Syria continues to escalate. As I write this, the Syrian government under Bashar Al-Assad has largely prevailed against the various parties of militants, some of whom are backed by the US. and still others by Iran. Syria and Iran are allied with Russia, with the ever-present potential for a clash between Russian and American military forces. A disquieting thought, to say the least. But it was Jesus himself who said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the 'sons of God'.” The flip side of that coin is that those who wage war are cursed. Meaning, if America doesn't cease and desist from her warlike ways, a military disaster will surely befall her. America's violence, killing and destruction overseas will come home to roost. Just let that sink in for a minute, and I'll see you all next week.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

This week's ongoing Bible study will be part 1 of Acts chapter 13

Barnabas and Saul Embark On Their First Missionary Trip
[Acts chapter 13, verses 1-15]
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Last week as we closed out chapter 12, we chronicled the apostle Peter's miraculous escape from prison, which continues to prove that just because something is legal does not necessarily make it right. Had Peter stayed and been 'obedient', it would have cost him his life, but God was unwilling to allow any such thing to occur. He was not martyred until many years later because the Lord had so much for him to do, and Peter was made by God specifically for those tasks. This week as we move on to part 1 of chapter 13, in our ongoing studies of the writings of the apostle Luke, we find ourselves moving on from Antioch. Antioch was an ancient Greek city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. Its ruins lie near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey. In this week's study, we first move on to Cyprus, and later to Pisidian Antioch, another city named Antioch in an entirely different part of what is modern Turkey today. So let's all get started at verse one.



1) Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2) While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3) So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. 4) The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5) When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.” (Acts 13, verses 1-5)



The church at Antioch from that time period was the very same church who hid Peter from the pursuing authorities. Unlike some churches today, the early church at ancient Antioch was very actively practicing their faith, particularly when they found themselves compelled to obey unjust laws such as the criminalizing of Christianity. They faced these challenges to their faith together as a cohesive unit by fasting and prayer. Instead of begging others for money to meet their needs and expenses, they prayed to God, fasting as a show of unity and sincerity, and waited patiently for His reply. At some point during their prayers, the Lord replied, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. In modern terminology, Barnabas and Saul were being sent on a mission.



In the following verse we have yet another example of how the early Church leadership physically laid their hands upon each other as they prayed for one another. “So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.” Now Seleucia was a coastal fishing town about 3 day's walk southwest from ancient Antioch. So evidently Barnabas and Saul had set out for the coast to embark on a journey in a similar way that we would head to the nearest airport today. What strikes me the most is they were unconcerned with where they were going or how they would get there. All Barnabas and Saul knew is they were going on a fishing expedition, and they were going to be fishing for souls.



When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.” For those who may not know, Salamis is the capital of Cyprus. So now we can see that Barnabas and Saul had decided, undoubtedly after some additional prayer just between themselves and the Lord, to get the first boat out of Seleucia, which happened to be Cyprus bound. So onward to Cyprus they went. Notice they didn't 'wait on the Lord', otherwise the Lord would have been waiting on them! So upon their arrival Barnabas and Saul began proclaiming the Word of God through Christ Jesus in all the synagogues. And John, also called Mark and the author of the Gospel of Mark, was there working right along side them as they ministered to all who would embrace Jesus as Lord. And now let's move on to part 2, beginning at verse 6.



6) They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7) who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8) But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 9) Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10) “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11) Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12) When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.” (Acts 13, verses 6-12)



Paphos is a seaport on the west side of Cyprus, the opposite side of the island from where Salamis is located. Upon arriving there, Barnabas and Saul encounter Bar-Jesus, which means 'son of Jesus', whose given name is Elymas, which meant 'sorcerer' in the local dialect. Elymas' 'day job' was that of an attendant to Sergius Paulus, a Roman governor of that era. I guess you could say sorcery was Elymas'/Bar-Jesus' side hustle of sorts. And what a hustle it was! Bar-Jesus was a Jewish sorcerer – which is like calling someone a 'Catholic sorcerer' or a 'Pentecostal sorcerer' – and the name “bar” means “son of” in Hebrew. So Elymas was calling himself a “son of Jesus” when in fact we are not sons and daughters of Christ but rather brothers and sisters in God's kingdom. Elymas' very name was raw blasphemy to the risen Lord. In the very next verse we see the converted Saul make known the full extent of his own conversion as he puts Elymas back down in his place.



Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?” So here we have Saul – who for the first time is being called Paul – so filled with the Holy Spirit that he is telling “Bar-Jesus” everything there is to know about him in only two sentences! Remember, this is the same person who oversaw the stoning death of St. Steven back in Acts chapter 7, which we studied some months ago. So Saul has gone from being an executioner of Christians to being Paul, a warrior for Christ so filled with the Spirit that he can have people struck blind at will! What a contrast the Holy Spirit can create, and what a difference in the hearts of every true believer! If Jesus can do this for a reformed murderer, imagine what He can do for you!



Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.” During the three and a half years of Jesus' ministry, he healed the blind and infirm on a daily basis. However, we also see that Divine Healing can run both ways, as the apostle Paul demonstrated in verse 11 when he struck Elymas blind through the power of the Spirit of the Lord. This Power of the Spirit was also demonstrated back in chapter 5 of the Book of Acts in much the same way when the apostle Peter had Ananias and Sapphira struck down and killed for trying to deceive the Holy Spirit. As we saw in verse 14, the proconsul (governor) of Cyprus was converted to the faith with power and yet with gentleness that are always present with the presence of the Holy Spirit. And now let's conclude this week's lesson starting at verse 13.



13) From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. 14) From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. 15) After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, 'Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.'” (Acts 13, verses 13-15)




Pamphylia was a Roman coastal province in what is now southern Turkey. It lies directly across the Mediterranean from Cyprus near the northeast corner of that great body of water. Perga was the capital of that province in those days, so that's why the three of them went there. From that point, John left on still another ship to return to Jerusalem, presumably at the prompting of the Holy Spirit and with the encouragement of Barnabas and Paul. From there they went north to Pisidian Antioch, a distance of roughly 120 miles, give or take, into what would be central Turkey today. This was in the Roman province of Galatia, which eventually was chronicled into the Book of Galatians in the New Testament. Today Turkey is largely a Muslim country, so I don't know whether any of the Galatian churches are still in existence or not.




Notice in verse 14, we have another repetition of the same pattern we see time after time throughout the Bible. Upon their arrival, the first thing Barnabas and Saul did was to proceed directly to the first synagogue they saw, and they walked right in like they owned the place. Because actually, they represented the One who owns it all. We would all do well to carry ourselves the same way. After the main part of the service was concluded, “the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, 'Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.'” It is at this point that the apostle Paul, formerly known as Saul prior to being 'born again', stands up to deliver his first public message about the salvation of Christ. So be sure and come back next week, when we move on to part 2 of Acts chapter 13.