Lyle's Blog

Jesus said, if you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father. We think of Christ as feeding the poor, healing the sick, forgiving sin of those willing to confess them; Jesus is Mr. Compassion. The American church has embraced this definition of God and his Christ and used it to exalt social justice to solid Christian doctrine. What we do not understand is kindness and compassion, empathy or whatever you want to call it is merely a product of the new birth in Christ. You become a new creature to the glory of the Father.

But Jesus had a sharp rebuke for Peter in Mathew 19: 23. Get behind me Satan is a chilling response to Peter. Jesus was offended that Peter considered the will of men instead of the will of God. Peter thought he knew God but quickly found out that he had only begun to brush the surface of that impossible desire to know the one who created all things.

Saul was the first king of Israel. He didn’t do what God told him to do. His desire was to have the adoration of the people for his great exploits. Keeping the spoils of war was important to his prestige. Popularity and the praise of men was essential to staying of the throne. When David came along and achieved greater victories, Saul became jealous and the very presence of David made him angry. Saul lived his life and served as king for his own glory.

When David became king he did very sinful things. The difference between Saul and David is simply this. When confronted with his sin Saul made excuses and wasn’t repentive. David was confronted and humbled himself. That’s why David is a man after God’s own heart. David is an example for us; we need to humble ourselves before God and stop thinking this bag of flesh that’s perishing has any value outside of grace.

Fat freedom. That’s where welfare has gotten us. My wife and I watched a TV program (till we couldn’t stand it) about an extremely overweight couple “struggling” to lose weight. They were under a doctor’s care and he bluntly told them the facts of life, it’s up to them to want to lose weight. He was much too kind.

They are pigs. Snort, snort, feed me! The husband had made some progress although I’ll have to say I couldn’t tell. She was just a blimp. He dutifully massaged her feet as she lay on the bed whimsical about how great it would be to weigh less. She just doesn’t know how.

My first thought is always, who’s supplying them with food? I doubt it’s family, although I would bet they’re all on the chubby list too. No, the only entity that can feed elephants is guess who, the government. On top of that, the government pays for doctors, food, housing, and everything these two leeches have. And where does the government get its money? Taxpayers.

I suppose it’s worth it. As a reward, we get to watch sloths on TV. My Favorite Sloth, now that would be a great title for the show. America is the one place where fat is fashionable.

Fat freedom is the last of the Bill of Rights they will take away. What happens then? Soylent Green. That’s the true Green New Deal.

Powell speaks, the market reacts. We rely on the FED to tell us if the economy is doing well. We are a well-managed population of idiots regardless of how well we are educated. We believe the words of criminal politicians and send our kids to schools that teach them to hate us for trying to survive let alone prosper.

History offers no hope of a decline in stupidity but rather a world willing to believe that our very existence must be questioned. I’ve educated myself to the point of frustration, knowing too much, not desiring any longer to open eyes that have become too tired to open.

But I would be remiss if I didn’t make the effort. Quit trying to save your life; you can’t save yourself, not anybody. So it’s something offered but it’s up to the individual to accept.

The gate is wide which leads to destruction, the gate leading to life is very narrow, and just a few find it. The words of Christ are sobering. Just a few; maybe that’s why I have so few friends. I’m not right about everything, just staying sober and refusing to get excited about the promises of men.

Christopher Wray is a mainstay of our corrupt government. His implying that Donald Trump was possibly hit by a piece of shrapnel is meant to demean the seriousness of the assassination. The almighty state will do everything to prevent the United States from returning to the Constitution.

Alex Jones proposed the powers-that- be would truck-bomb a black church to incite violence against Trump and therefore interfere with the election. The snakes with big promises will be out in full force, so likely she will win the presidency and the judgment on America will be complete.

The Big K is getting billions in free promotion as she is the one woman to break the glass ceiling. The only problem they have? What is a woman?

St. Mark 8: 14-21 The disciples had forgotten to take bread. Let’s look at why they took no provision except for one loaf of bread. Amongst thirteen men that was but a snack. The disciples had gotten used to Jesus providing for them. So this bread shortage was seemingly out of line with what they should already know, Jesus has this in the bag! But no, they were just babes crying for supper.

Jesus, after rebuking them for their unbelief, reminded them that he had miraculously fed the five thousand. Were they so used to miracles that they forgot who Christ was?

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness or neither shadow of turning. I think we take for granted God’s provision; we’ve experienced it but we’ve come to expect it. God, the Genie in the Bottle, keeping his promises through the goodness of Herod.

In verse 15 he charges them to beware of the leaven of Herod and the Pharisees. What’s that about? Pharisees were stalwart keepers of the laws given them by the old covenant. They didn’t and adamantly wouldn’t accept the new covenant in full which Christ brought to us. They were one of the “churches” of that era and much like today are very good at keeping people from salvation. And like today, if you wanted support from them, you would have to submit to the doctrines made by men.

Herod, why is he mentioned in the same breath as the Pharisees? I think it’s based on benefits and the power to deliver them. Governments keep you submissive by giving just enough benefits, whether real or imagined, to keep you from asking too many questions. Powerful, popular people divide their constituents, promoting an “us vs them” mentality.

Jesus came to save us from sin. Then what is sin? We could name a whole bunch of them, but we could reduce it to one: unbelief. Do we believe we are his bride and our whole goal is to get ready for that day when we are one with him? Are we saved from sin or saved to get benefits?

Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Is that what we must do, believe? The disciples were rebuked for what? Not believing, not remembering the goodness of God. How do you forget the feeding of 5000 people? How do we who enjoy the riches of Christ forget who he is when we’re down to one loaf of bread?

Do we remember why the cross was necessary; do we understand that we were, are, and remain tempted by sin till redemption day?

In America, we have churches with programs for feeding and housing the poor. We have our version of Herod, with a thousand times the resources, doing the same. We live in a day when most of our sustenance trickles down from Herod. Are we giving credit to God for what our government showers on us? When it comes to our daily Americanized life, do we really depend on God for anything?

We’ve let “Herod Behind the Curtain” bury us in unthinkable debt in its effort to take care of us. As the encroaching crisis develops and we draw closer to that great day, the church will shoulder the burden in an increasingly difficult world. But when the foundations are destroyed, what do the righteous do? Believe. Pray. Worship the One who redeemed you from this shiny, wicked world.