Lyle's Blog

I have been blessed to have grown up in a family where sibling rivalry became a relic after childhood was over. Today I have two brothers and three sisters, all wonderful people who actually like me. If we’re called, we are there. Our well being is important to one another. We have different interests and aren’t close in that way but we are family and hold each other in high regard. Our parents somehow instilled in us that family was our most valuable asset and indeed it is. They prayed for us every day.

After meeting my wife and getting out in the world a little, I found few people that didn’t have warring family members. Understanding the reasons is almost impossible except to say that it is much the result of resentment over the real or perceived preferential position of one child over the other. Left unresolved, these feelings grow and a wall is erected and with the passing of time, it gets higher and higher.

I know people who haven’t spoken to their siblings in thirty years. Resentment and unforgiveness are a dirty habit that gets impossible to break. Any interaction between your brother or sister quickly escalates to the sore spots in your relationship. Many times it’s not worth the effort to attempt to reconcile. If you’re on the hated end rightfully or wrongly, it doesn’t matter. It’s not going to get better.

I’ve heard some stories from friends that are truly unbelievable. It wouldn’t be kind to share them here. From your own experience, you have plenty of examples to relate to. Things have always been this way since the fall of mankind. There’s nothing new under the sun.

Let’s travel back to Genesis chapter 37 for a moment. Joseph was a typical kid, saying whatever came into his head which made him sound like a braggart. His older siblings grew tired of his relentless “I’m special” attitude and decided to sell him into slavery which they did. The original plan was to kill him but giving him a life of a slave was deemed more satisfying retribution.

To hide their crime, they took the coat Jacob had made special for Joseph, dipped it in blood and gave it to Jacob claiming a wild beast had probably eaten Joseph. What kind of children would put their parents through such anguish? Joseph was a child (verse 30), What kind of brutes were these older siblings? Jacob would go to sleep every night with that horrible thought on his mind. He probably blamed himself for not taking better care of Joseph. Thank you, boys.

As God told Cain, sin is at the door waiting to claim its right to your actions. Somewhere between not speaking and murder, squabbling siblings settle their disputes.

We can’t make people love us. Maybe we’re not even that lovable. Maybe we’re self-centered, self-serving. Or maybe we’re the good one, the one who doesn’t deserve to be treated that way.

What Joseph’s brothers did was make Joseph humble; slavery has a way of doing that. So when Joseph answered Pharaoh concerning his dream, he said humbly, “it is not me; God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” No more reckless talk, just an answer to bring peace to the mind of Pharaoh.

If we could learn, from a young age, that a soft answer turneth away wrath, it just might solve a lot of problems. That’s what my parents had, a soft answer and encouraged us to do the same. Thank you, Mom and Dad. I wish you were here to hear those words in person.

`

The New World Order isn’t taking no for an answer. The elite in society have been planning hell for a long, long time. From Jekyll Island to now, the vision has been succeeding with truly amazing ease. The population is indeed pliable, remarkably inept. Few know what’s taking place and how they’ve been groomed for the end of the age.

Donald Trump became an obstacle. To continue the journey to serfdom, the “deep state” needed another president who was easily managed, manipulated if you will, willing to surrender the protections of free men one right at a time. The endless investigations from the Russian collusion hoax, a Ukraine phone call ending in impeachment with no crime, to now investigating his handling of the corona virus pandemic demonstrates how many straws they grab at in their pursuit to remove Trump and renew their progressive campaign.

The reaction to the pandemic illustrates how far the left will go to achieve Trump’s ouster. It is my suspicion that the Democratic Party and their minions are responsible for the pandemic and how we’ve responded to it. We’ve been duped. Yes it’s of Chinese origin but as desperate as the Democrats are, it would no surprise to me if they didn’t instigate this pandemic.

Crushing the economy is viewed as a sure fire way to rid themselves of Trump. Donald Trump has undone many years of wicked regulation. Their whole purpose all along has been to control us and getting us to believe it’s for our own good. We are believers aren’t we? “They” only want good for us don’t they?

9-11, we all became suspects, equals if you will, three years old to ninety-three, we’re probably criminals. Control. Fast forward to corona. Do we all need to be “vaccinated”? And if we don’t do it will we be punished? Maybe we won’t be allowed to fly, then medical care could be denied, and so the dominos fall and we find ourselves slaves in a land that decried slavery.

Too easy. We’ve made it too easy for them. Look up, redemption is drawing near. Exciting times. The pandemic demonstrates that we are indeed ready for a one world leader. And to think the Bible tells us what’s going to happen and most are too busy to be concerned.

The following is an exact copy of a comment made to an article Mark Steyn had written. Steyn is a Canadian living in New Hampshire and the comment came from a Canadian about the dire straights this corona virus coupled with government idiocy has put Canada in a perilous state. Nothing added, nothing subtracted. I could rephrase it and claim it as my own but that would dishonor the truly brilliant observation that this man reports.

I could offer no better description of what this tyrannical take down of the economy means to us. Their actions are destroying what took decades to build. We are fools if we let them continue.

Dennis • Apr 16, 2020 at 17:36

Sorry for the length but it’s short for the subject.

Mark;

As a Canadian living in N.H, are you concerned about the lack of serious attention being given the shrinking and dying Canadian economy under PM Trudeau’s watch. It appears that most Canadians that voted for him are watching their economy sink into the abyss with little or no concern. Meanwhile, President Trump who is diligently and boldly trying to save the U.S. economy, is still being portrayed in the Can. media (via sources from the U.S.) as a buffoon and an uncouth imbecile.

You wrote about the NY subway system but here are some facts about Vancouver’s Translink. (Note I know Vancouver does not invoke joyful memories for you (ie HRC) but you still have a few supporters in the general area)

An April 14th “Translink” news release stated the transit system has; “…been shedding $75 million per month because of a massive drop in ridership. There are going to be dramatic changes that will affect all aspects of our transit system, and there will be some elements of our transit system that will no longer exist.” TransLink chair Coté said it’s facing insolvency as early as June without assistance. (So much for green travel in the future.) All buses, Sea buses, Skytrain and WC Express train cars have most seats closed off for “distancing” but the available seats are mostly empty anyway.

3 days ago, Mayor Kennedy in a moment of honesty warned his loyal supporters that the city was on the verge of insolvency due to lost revenues and begged the province for $millions in emergency funding. NDP Premier Horgan said he understood but it’s the same all across the province so cut more services and lay off more workers. (I know you agree on that) The mayor was later convinced to back track on the insolvency alarm but is still begging for Emerg money and still cutting.

The non-profit, non gov’t funded, popular Vancouver Aquarium tourist attraction, is losing $3.2 million a month in “visitor experience revenues” and has laid off 350 employees (60%) “Without at least $1 million a month to offset the cost of just caring for 70,000 animals, the Vancouver Aquarium will be underwater and permanently closed by the summer.” (Not my pun) These are only a few examples that are likely typical of the rest of Canada but economics is still not a pressing concern for the corrupt media.

Justin is doling out borrowed cash like PDJT to small businesses but economic recovery talks will likely be a subject for the distant future. How many businesses will be left to restart?

Thanks Dennis. America and the rest of the world are suffering from the same reliance we have on the ability of government to solve all our problems, an example of the blind leading the blind. We’re heading for the ditch if this madness continues.

Common sense and logic allows one to have a more prescient view of reality. However in a world where people aren’t even sure of what gender they are, leading us down the path to hell is a piece of cake. My hope is that the remnant who believe in freedom of thought and expression will (with God’s help) rise up and wrestle the reigns of power from godless fools.

Pray. It works. So even with the haters maneuvering us into the drop zone of their choosing, our God may just fly the plane in another direction.

This virus exposes who we really are and drives us to decide who we choose to serve and trust. As for me and my house………………………

We watched a documentary about twin women with savant syndrome. Their memory skills were truly amazing. Recalling what you had for dinners on a particular day ten years ago is beyond words. I would propose that Adam and Eve were perfect and had minds that were the perfect computers they were meant to be. Sin changed our minds.

Many things about life seem baffling and contradict our worldview. From a Christian point of view. Autistic and others of limited intellectual abilities are off-putting. Why? Because of the judgment of God. These people are incapable of responsible, rational thought. If so, then how can God hold them accountable for what they don’t know?

The twin girls grew up watching game shows and being Dick Clark was master of ceremonies on some, they developed a “worship” of Dick Clark. Their mother was a cruel alcoholic, they were bullied and belittled by other children; television became their distraction and Dick Clark became their idol, or as they phrased it, their savior.

I can not speak for God. His Word does that and I am told in His Word that He is just and we can trust Him. I have no option but to trust God. It is He who created the universe. We are mere grains of sand questioning the power of the ocean. The ocean does as it pleases.

Most of us in the “Christian” community believe that little children are exempt from the judgment of God and there is some scripture to support such a view. Abortion is an atrocity and puts in a precarious position with God. Sixty plus million have been aborted since Roe v Wade. Are those sixty million assured a place in paradise? It would seem so. One could reckon it better to die as a child than to live life out as a sinner and risk eternity without God.

Mental retardation would be the same case, people who aren’t able to make “right” choices in life. Is God going to reckon these people acceptable in heaven? As we go down this rabbit hole we’ve got to maintain that knowledge of what we have been told in scripture.

Why did the man have the withered arm in the Bible? We are told it is to bring glory to God. When people are healed, they brink glory to God. Man is in a hopeless condition unless God intervenes and touches his life. We bring glory to God when we believe what He says and promises to do. We bring glory to Him when we testify of these things.

The savant twins claiming Dick Clark as their savior is no different than what we all do. If only a particular politician is elected, if only we can find the right life partner; if only this or that.

If only we accepted that there is no other name given among men by which we must be saved. If only we could understand the difference between the ocean and the sand.

God created everything. He breathed HIs breath into man. If we only knew how insignificant we are when compared to God, we would be humble and let the ocean wash us from our sins.

Jesus rose from the dead. Some believe that; most don’t. Churches worldwide are withering just like the fig tree that Jesus cursed. We have Easter egg hunts to keep the kids and their parents entertained. Easter is more about pretty than it is about hope. We should ask ourselves, is Easter egg-hunting sound doctrine for children like Santa Clause is for Christmas?

Both “holidays” are about giving. God gave his only begotten son. First, he put Jesus in a manger, helpless child; God protected him until it was time to give him again. The first giving meant that royalty was humbled to walk among wretched men. The second giving was to redeem those same men from damnation.

Damnation. There’s something we don’t talk about much. We Christians quote John 3:16, For God so loved the world He gave………………and continuing that Christ didn’t come into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved. Why wasn’t He condemning the world? Damnation, it was condemned already.

We like to think we understand God, maker of the universe, the giver of life, where all the bucks stop. No other name by which we must be saved; are we really that bad. Some of us are kinda good at least we seem so on the outside. But we are old wineskins; pouring the new wine in us is a waste because it just runs out. Somehow we don’t realize we are naked, blind, and bathed in a sinful world. We cloak ourselves in self-righteousness. Surely we haven’t done anything to deserve damnation!

If you haven’t read Romans chapter one lately, read it. Slowly. Chew every verse. Verse 21 tells us that while we knew God (Adam and Eve), we glorified Him not as God, neither were we thankful. And because of our vain imaginations (reasonings), we became fools and our hearts were darkened. In our “wisdom” we became fools by making the glory of an incorruptible God equal with the other gods we create. Just like Adam and Eve, our hearts are deceitfully wicked. We don’t understand that. The greatest deceiver isn’t embodied in anyone else; it is ourselves.

Back to Easter. Everything changed the day the stone was rolled away. After two thousand years, we preach the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We have now reached the time in church history where Christianity wants to become seeker-friendly. It seems we must find some feel-good thing to attract attendees. Programs, we got programs. Music, oh is the music good. Sermons (not too long) that just tickle the ears. That’s the American church. Not all but too many.

The church in China, India and elsewhere don’t celebrate like we do. Quietly, underground; there’s a price to pay for serving God. God paid a price for us; Jesus paid it all. What are we willing to deny ourselves to follow Christ. Carrying the cross wasn’t something Jesus wanted to do. Following Him requires the same commitment. It isn’t something we want to do. He tells us to count the cost. Following Him will cost you everything the world has to offer. But like when Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, we too can say no knowing that Satan has nothing to offer. We love Christ because while we were yet sinners, he died for us in our place to satisfy a debt we could not pay.

First Peter 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Jesus entered the tomb, the place of the dead; he conquered death and the grave. And now he wants to enter us, dead in our trespasses and sins and give us the privilege of being his brother and a child of God. Therein lies our hope in a hopeless world. Jesus lives and we shall live with Him! We have been raised from the dead.