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Hal must have wrote this specifically for "ME"... lol

By Hal Lindsey

When giving the signs of His return, Jesus listed something you may not have spent much time thinking about — offense. In Matthew 24:10 (NKJV), the Lord said, “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.”

There has never been a time when more people were more offended over more things than right now. Offense is everywhere in our day. People are offended by things both real and imagined; by words spoken and words unspoken. They are not only offended by your political affiliation, but even by the kind of car you drive. They are offended by names and by whole regions of the country. Most people today have a highly honed, well-developed sense of offense. And they keep it ever on alert, just in case.

Beware of this. Jesus said, offense is followed by betrayal and hatred. Those are happening, too.

Most of our society has been infected. We have made taking offense a sign of virtue, and we have shaped it into a fine art. It is one of the main things now taught in public schools, even though it harms both society as a whole and the individual children being taught. It infuses the music of our age, as well as other entertainments. Society reinforces it in the news media (left and right), in the home, and, yes, even in the church. What a sad thing!

The original language takes this verse even further. The word here translated offense comes from the Greek word, “skandalizo.” That’s where we get the English word “scandalize.” We are scandalized by the attitudes and behaviors of others. The root word has to do with trapping and ensnaring. Don’t be ensnared.

Please understand that there are times when people’s words or actions should shock, insult, or upset us. That’s normal, even healthy. But we should never live there. Neither should we be on the lookout for things in which to find offense. And we should never, ever try to find our self-esteem there. Increasing numbers of people try to bolster their own sense of self-worth by being scandalized by someone else. “They are mean, but I am good. They are not smart, but I have things figured out.”

We live in a time when to find something offensive about a political opponent, or a famous person, has become one of the most sought-after feelings. But that rush is not happiness, and it is not even in the vicinity of joy. It may give a moment of satisfaction to find that a wealthy or famous individual is, for instance, a terrible racist. It might even make a person feel briefly superior. But it will never bring lasting joy.

At other times, people use “offense” as an excuse. “I would have succeeded, but the world is not fair.” Nobody ever said the world was fair. Don’t let your offense at perceived unfairness fool you into not working hard. God wants you on His side. When you are on His side, forces will come against you, but He will help you become an overcomer. He wants us to be like the Apostle Paul in Acts 20:24-25. “But none of these things move me,” he said, “neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

The disease of finding offense in everything is a sign of the times. Jesus said it would be among the constellation of signs that His coming is near. So, don’t be discouraged when you see it. Instead of bringing discouragement, may it help all of us to realize that our work is great and our time short.

Also, remember that the disease of offense is highly contagious. Be careful not to let it infect you. God has much work left for you and me. We must avoid getting bogged down in offense.

By Hal Lindsey

In Japan, people scrambled to find shelter as a North Korean missile flew overhead. The nation issued a J-alert. Train service was suspended. Officials ordered residents in the northeastern part of the country to evacuate buildings and find bomb shelters. Both Japan and South Korea sit minutes away from almost all of North Korea’s large ballistic missile stockpile. But they’re not alone. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea also has intercontinental ballistic missiles that can reach most of the world, including the United States.

On October 4th, the Los Angeles Times ran an article with the headline, “North Korea’s latest missile test reminds the world of Asia’s powder keg.” The article said, “With the war in Ukraine and Russia’s threats to deploy tactical nuclear weapons, it was easy to lose sight of the rising danger North Korea poses.”

But with a threat like Russia, such an oversight is understandable. When the nation with the world’s largest stockpile of nuclear weapons, repeatedly threatens to use them, it’s hard not to put your focus there. It may feel good to see Ukraine’s success, but we also need to understand the danger their success creates. Putin’s army is falling apart. Men fearing the draft have been fleeing the country at an astounding rate.

An ever-growing number of Putin’s inner circle have met untimely deaths, suggesting that it’s dangerous even in private to question the Czar-like Putin. But on the battlefield, another kind of desperation has set in. It has become increasingly common to see white flags attached to Russian tanks, and Russian soldiers walking toward enemy lines with their hands raised.

Vladimir Putin is being deeply humiliated. That feels like justice, but it has created an almost unfathomable danger for every person in the world. The Daily Beast ran an October 4th article with the headline, “It’s Time to Brace for Putin’s Greatest Meltdown Yet.” They called him a “cornered animal,” and said, “The great unraveling of Russian President Vladimir Putin could be right around the corner. It won’t be pretty.”

As Russia’s leader is further weakened, he becomes more likely to lash out with the only thing Russia has that scares everyone else — his nukes. He’s looking for a way to stay in power, and maybe even to stay alive. It is a time of desperation, and that means anything is possible.

That same day, October 4, 2022, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said it was purchasing $290 million worth of the drug Nplate, used “to save lives following radiological and nuclear emergencies.” Think about that. The United States is now stockpiling antiradiation drugs. What brought that on? One guess. Russia.

Vladimir Putin, a man who seems to be in poor health and showing increased mental instability, controls the world’s largest arsenal of nuclear weapons — larger even than that of the United States. In a televised September speech to the Russian people, Putin said he was not bluffing when he warned that he might use nuclear weapons against the West. He told them the very existence of Russia is now at stake in Ukraine. Since he said that, Russia’s strategic position in Ukraine has only grown more dire.

“Perilous times” have come, just as the Bible said they would. Stay close to the Lord in prayer and Bible reading. We must not despair, but walk in faith — getting the Gospel out in every way we can, for as long as we can.

That's disappointing Marty. There's much in Matthew 24 that I actually thought you would relate to...

The last couplet triggered a line I saw somewhere

The problem with arguing with half wits and fools is that they take you down to their level and clobber you with their dogged persistence

played with it some....

I once begged God for proof!
Reasoning dispute...

I have even accused God
Of making me a fraud...

I once told God, I'm angry!
Felt embittered speaking frankly...

I once asked God how and why?
When such evidence fills my eyes...

All these one way conversations
Without any explanations
As yet unanswered questions

I don't question God, Tony.

I don't have access to God.

Nor do I assume him/her to be the voice in my mind.

My question was for you,an earthling. Still waiting on an answer. Patiently waiting.

Point1...you are incorrect. I dont question God. I dont even know for certain that there is a God to question. I question earthlings who tell me that they are certain about God.

Point2...agreed

Point3...the voice in my mind is me.

Point4...Yes I am an earthling. If you are going to set up these threads and preach to me, you should speak with me and answer questions about your sermons.

Just admit it Marty... YOU ARE AN ALIEN!

OK, here's my confession...

https://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/935340.html

The above link is a thread started by JLS more than 10yrs ago; Have you read it? I have... In fact, it impressed me. It showed me that folks on this site were quite capable and willing to have open, honest, and polite conversation about Christianity and faith. It's the reason I had absolutely no apprehensions about starting this thread...

So, my question; Is it just me? Do I somehow invite adversarial and insulting scrutiny because of my faith? Or, has there been a recent and unreasonable social rejection of all things Christian?

If you believe my POV is irrelevant, then just tell us your story. Go ahead brother, preach the finer points of life according to Marty.... I'll wait.

At least quit trying to hold me accountable for your lack of faith... Since, I believe, we will be judged equally...

Our Founding Fathers were keenly aware about the risks of governing solely by majority rule, which is why they gave us a constitutional republic laden with checks and balances.

"If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions." James Madison

The wisdom of �auxiliary precautions� has been grasped since antiquity. Plato, for example, critiqued radical democracy for putting excessive emphasis on freedom and thus opening itself up to injustice and eventual collapse. Unrestrained freedom, he argued, leads people to overindulge their appetites and act on foolish impulses. Such a state quickly deteriorates into anarchy and mob rule, ultimately betraying the common good. Eventually, this pervasive injustice can open the way for despotism. As we�ve learned from the outcome of the French Revolution, what began as a democratic Enlightenment project to fulfill the �rights of man� and achieve total equality and freedom... culminated in the �common folk� beheading King Louis XVI and vicious mob rule.

Thankfully, our framers were wiser than their French counterparts were. Drawing upon history from ancient Greece and Rome, John Adams warned posterity to �Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself.�

Compatriot Benjamin Franklin likewise admonished: �Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!� Thomas Jefferson agreed: �A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.�

Due to these well-grounded fears, our Founders prudently crafted a government that combined elements of monarchy (the presidency), aristocracy (the Senate), and democracy (the House), while further dividing power between state and federal governments (federalism). As good government requires checks and balances against the excesses of each type of government�and against human nature itself�they devised a selection process for the president to moderate the passions of the voting populace (the Electoral College). Make no mistake: our government was designed to be a constitutional representative republic with a democratic election process.

Seems to me... the Democrats tend to revel in their own willful ignorance since children aren't taught any of this in public schools anymore.

Here's a comment I made on a past thread.
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The problem I see is that the Christian ideals of the American founders and forefathers that define freedom in the American Constitution have been rejected and forgotten in favor of a more tangible and self serving ideology. The American forefathers could not predict how the entrepreneurial habit of placing a price upon all that God had provided freely would ultimately and proudly enslave the entire planet in the name of capitalism and profit. Trump is and always has been a very savvy American businessman� but he�s not a �Globalist Socialist�. Trump does not want to sacrifice American sovereignty for the sake of global economics and consolidation of powers. Trump is a proud individualist who understands the balance of powers within a highly competitive free and global marketplace. The problem with liberals is, they keep pushing the limits till there�s no sense of right or wrong. Then the conservatives have to put things back in order while the liberals deny accountability. I miss the days when folks would debate the difference between democrats and republicans... Back when it was hard to tell the difference because both upheld the Constitution...My point is that the argument between liberals and conservatives wasn�t always a Democrat vs Republican issue, but those lines have definitely been drawn today. The irony is that our forefathers penned our Constitution and put our government�s checks and balances in place in order to counter precisely what�s happening now. You see, the only way to "reform" America is to destroy the constitution and the Christian ideals that it defends. I tell you the truth, most immigrants that go through the process of entering this country "legally" are now more American than most indigenous liberals... by virtue of the fact that they are taught the definition of "Representative Constitutional Republic" and sworn to defend the same. What�s truly at the heart of all political debate is morality. What�s always at stake is who's going to possess the power and authority to either enforce it, or simply acknowledge and defend it. "Climate Change" is really a common sense example if you think about it. How many laws already exist to stop big industry from polluting the planet? Why do we need a new faction of world government and new laws to enforce the laws that already exist? What we�re up against is an old foe disguised as democracy. The "progressive liberals" only want power, authority and complete control.... just like all Socialists/Communists do. In order to gain that kind of authority the first thing they have to do is get rid of religion....... and guns.... and try to convince you that "it�s for your own good" because "you�re helpless and don�t know any better". The Obamas, Clintons, Gores and the rest want to JOIN THE EU! The reason Trump wants to bring business back home, make America "self sufficient" again, and get out of this world trade/deficit scenario is because... WE CAN... and we are the only thing stopping the federal reserve, the UN, and the EU from implementing a world wide currency! The reason the Democrats hate Trump so much is because they know if he's allowed to "drain the swamp" then HE WILL BALANCE THE BUDGET! He's ALREADY bringing our troops and businesses back home. The democrats can�t allow Trump to do his job because it would ultimately mean the end of theirs. Socialist equals Globalist in today�s debt driven economy/society, and the Progressive Socialist Democrats would rather join the EU than see America thrive in a free market. Make no mistake, this is not just a war of "political ideologies". The progressives want to rule globally with one bank and one currency... DEBT! Think about it... we�re already numbered and already in debt from the day we�re born, the Socialist Democrats are just trying to maintain "status quo". Some people sadly believe that governance is all about profit and economic influence... that is very self serving and short sighted. There aren�t enough resources on the face of this planet to cover the $190 trillion of global debt we�re in. Don�t you see? Our greed and profit driven ideologies have outgrown the tangible reality of life. Debt is all �The Powers That Be� have left to cling to, and many of them already entertain concepts like �Mass Chemical Sterilization� and �Child Permits� based upon working class. Why? Because 1% of the population owns 50% of the world�s wealth and 30% of the population owns 97% of the world�s wealth. However, no one knows better than �They� that the ever increasing debt is unsustainable because their profits are based upon �projected interest�, but the population is outgrowing their resources. Socialists/Communists have always advanced the idea that a singular world government should own and control the entire world�s resources, thereby maintaining authority over the population. I fear that America is the only true bastion of freedom left in the world, but even so� if debt driven greed is not brought to heel, then soon it won�t matter if you�re a Democrat or Republican.
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Freedom and morality are not separate issues! Compulsory acceptance of the fact that everyone is different is a consequence of freedom; We don't all have to be the same to agree upon it. However, competitive animosity tends to distract us from that agreement... In fact, emotional investment in competition will take precedence. To me, there seems to be a premeditated turning away from the natural concept of commonality that our Creator intended. How can we possibly come together in agreement if there is no moral standard? How will we ever see "eye to eye" when what drives the competition is an opposition to any Christian moral standard?

Love does not conquer all... truth does, and you can't have one without the other.

""Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.""

John Adams

Question for you...Would you be pleased if this conflict escalated into "Armageddon?"
(Can be answered with yes or no)

Of course not, but I would be relived. The wait would finally be over... "Wars and rumors of wars" (nation against nation) are just signs of the times, it's peace talks with Israel that you have to watch for. Just consider, what will be the political atmosphere in the region if Russia DOES take Ukraine?

Ha! You know what's funny Marty?
YOU keep accusing me of having all the answers...

Putin has gotten real comfy with Iran and China. Tell me Marty, what do you think is on THEIR minds?

I just read an article where scientists claim an asteroid 65 million years ago caused a giant tidal wave that killed the dinosaurs. It's an evolution-based article.

The article basically described Genesis 6-8. Just without the "asteroid". I was astounded.

I'm typing on my phone and don't know how to cut and paste links on this dumb thing. Just Google it.
It's not a religious article.

Have you heard the most recent dispute over carbon dating? Google that!