On second thought...you might be the one person who should slow down and read this thoroughly.
The LORD makes a promise to the proud in Ezekiel 17:24: "I the LORD bring down the tall tree and I exalt the low tree."
In the Bible, people are often compared to trees.
"The person who delights in the LORD will be like a tree planted by streams of water" (Psalm 1:3).When the LORD promises to "bring down the tall tree," He is repeating a theme that occurs throughout the Bible.
God promises to bring down the proud. He hates pride (Proverbs 6:16-19). The promise to bring down the proud person and to exalt the humble person is a promise that is repeated by the Messiah. Jesus said,
"For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled by the LORD, and those who humble themselves will be exalted by the LORD" (Luke 14:11).Let me show you an example from history how God strikes down the tall tree.
In 722 BC, a powerful and proud Assyrian king conquered northern Israel and other kingdoms. This Assyrian king wiped out Samaria, the capital of northern Israel. The king took captive the Hebrew men from northern Israel and brought them to Ninevah (capital of Assyria) as slaves. He then brought men from other nations into northern Israel and ordered them to take the Hebrew women as their wives.
The "half-breed" descendants of these marriages were the people called "Samaritans" by the Jews in Jesus' day. Jesus, born a Jew, did not follow the local custom of avoiding Samaritans. Humility never sees oneself as superior to others. Jesus went through Samaria rather than around it, and one of the classic stories of how Jesus heals wounded people is Jesus bringing real life to the Samaritan woman at the well.
But I digress.
The powerful king of Assyria ruled over an equally proud Assyrian people. Listen to what this proud king said of himself and his accomplishments.
“By the strength of my hand I have done this,Ancient Assyria reminds me of modern America.
and by my wisdom, because I have understanding.
I removed the boundaries of nations,
I plundered their treasures;
like a mighty one I subdued their kings.
As one reaches into a nest,
so my hand reached for the wealth of the nations;
as people gather abandoned eggs,
so I gathered all the countries;
not one flapped a wing,
or opened its mouth to chirp." (Isaiah 10:13-14).
Our land is filled with proud people and proud rulers. We boast of our economy and wealth. We brag about our sports teams and entertainment. We humbly serve no one but ourselves. We demand equal outcomes and in rage shake our fist at those who oppose us. Even demonstrations are filled with rage as tall trees bow to none and demand others bow to them.
We are a country of tall trees.
The LORD never changes. "I the LORD bring down the tall trees."
Listen to what the LORD did to the people of Assyria:
"The angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning--there were all the dead bodies" (II Kings 19:35).The LORD struck down the mighty and proud Assyrian people and their king.
When you were in Sunday School and read how "the angel of the LORD" came and struck down the Assyrians, you probably imagined some creature with two white wings holding a sword in his hand putting to death the Assyrians.
That's not how the LORD brought down the Assyrians.
The LORD used a disease.
In Isaiah 10 the proud Assyrian king flaunts his power to the proud Assyrian people. The LORD initially responds to the arrogant king by reminding him that the king and his proud people are in the LORD's hand and not the other way around. And then, true to His promise of "bringing down the tall tree," the LORD tells the Assyrian people how He will bring them down.
"Does the ax raise itself above the person who swings it,Ouch.
or the saw boast against the one who uses it?
As if a rod were to wield the person who lifts it up,
or a club brandish the one who is not wood!
Therefore, the Lord, the LORD Almighty,
will send a wasting disease upon his sturdy warriors...
and the remaining trees of his forests will be few."
Century before Christ, then surely He could send a wasting disease to humble the American people of the 21st Century after Christ.
185,000 people died in Assyria.
120,000 people have died in America so far.
After the plague, Assyria fell from power and was eventually conquered by Babylon in the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BC.
It's yet to be seen what will happen to America.
Objections:
1. Are you saying everyone who gets sick or dies of Covid-19 is guilty of personal pride?
Answer: No. Job experienced disease, economic collapse, and the death of all his sons and daughters, and yet he was a humble man. The evidence of his humility is in his statement after all the tragedies had occurred: "The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away, blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21). At the end of Job's life, the LORD exalted Job, fulfilling His promise to "exalt the humble" (Job 42:12)2. Is the LORD'S exaltation of the humble in this life or the next?
Answer: Sometimes this life, but always in the resurrection. Whether there is an exaltation of the humble in this life is the LORD'S prerogative, but the exaltation of the humble in the resurrection is the LORD's promise. After Jesus repeated the promise that the proud will be brought down and the lowly will be exalted, He said, "You will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous" (Luke 14:14). If our only concern is that the LORD exalts us in this life, the Apostle Paul gives to us a strong warning: "If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be more pitied than anyone" (I Corinthians 15:19).3. Is the LORD bringing down every tall tree a guaranteed promise?
Answer: Yes. This one fact alone should cause the proud person to tremble.
"Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.” —Psalm 96:9-10Your life is not in your hands. Trust the LORD. Humble yourself before Him and He will lift you up.
But if you keep thinking you're in control of your life and that you are the captain of this ship called life, then the LORD will eventually cut you down.
That's the lesson of Covid-19.
God strikes down the tall trees
42 comments:
Thank you, Wade, for another awesome post.
THERE IS ALREADY A PROVEN CURE FOR COVID 19 BEING USED.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDSDdwN2Xcg&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3Sbq_Yc8_Z38Goz8RI0zw8CjS0PWRCh8bSMEqrPiGgWwxl7CVEBdPXjoM
Dr. Richard Bramlett has identified an inexpensive, commonly available, anti-inflammatory drug, Budesonide, that has been used for asthma patients for decades which has cured every one of his COVID 19 patients with a few short, outpatient applications suing a nebulizer. It is the same method being used in Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and Iceland where there is virtually no COVID 19 deaths.
Just check out this video interview to see the credibility of the claims of this physician who has been working for the Governor of Texas since the outbreak began.
It is so convincing that I will insist that the doctor prescribe this treatment if anyone in our family contracts COVID and insist that it be administered as soon as any symptoms surface of test show "positive" for the virus. I will not take any vaccine that they eventually come up with saying that it is the cure.
Just passing on the word. Check it out.
By the way, the husband of the lady who made us aware of this VDO almost died from COVID 19 recently but was able to survive after ICU care. She only received this information following their family's episode.
Another note relative to this doctor is that in the VDO is a boldly professing Christian and he attributes his awareness for this treatment for his patients as being an answer to his prayer asking for God's help.
Very interesting information, RB.
Thank you.
RB,
First, it was hydroxychloroquine you were pushing, and now this.
For starters, there is POTENTIAL in that these stereoids would mitigate any cytokine storms caused by COVID-19 (But that is nowhere the majority of infections. So I am not saying it is useless, but we need the clinical trials to confirm it. There has been NO randomized control trial so far anywhere on this.
Second, the drug used in Japan was ciclesonide (but the sample size was TINY (3 people)).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7161498/
Why don't we wait for randomized clinical trials shall we before you do your victory lap and you crash and burn again like you did with hydroxychloroquine?
Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) has gone full circle and is now back in favor. The study out of Henry Ford Medical Center in Detroit shows a significant improvement in survival in ill patients given Plaquenil. The drug dexamethasone, a common steroid has also shows benefit. Dexamethasone is now on the official treatment guideline for COVID 19 based on a randomized control trial that showed that relatively low dose dex decreased the risk of death from severe COVID 19 by about 30% in the RECOVERY trial. Now, please note that it's use is recommended even though it has not yet been published in a peer reviewed clinical journal, but that is the way the science and medicine are rolling these days. I am not going to be at all surprised if the recommendations change in 6-8 weeks, but given the current data that has been released, the low cost, the availability and the biological plausibility -- many doctors are now using dex in critically ill COVID patients.
Now, for anyone paying attention, early on in this pandemic physicians were told NOT to use steroids because they would increase death, and, of course, plaquenil was bad possibly because of the company that it was keeping (sarcasm there.....).
Since dexamethasone is a systemic steroid, and plumicort is an inhaled steroid, if one believes that infection first occurs in the respiratory system, it is not a huge leap of faith to think that that inhaled steroids might have benefit, especially early on in the course of disease. (I am discussing scientific faith, not religious faith there, but in these odd times, it all gets mixed together.) For any intervention, there is a risk/benefit equation, but until one has a clinical trial, it makes a lot of sense to use inhaled steroids. Unfortunately, the video from Dr. Bramlett is observational, and his claims re: the use of inhaled steroids by the Taiwanese and Japanese is not easily confirmed. However, as opposed to the use of high dollar drugs in short supply, the use of inhaled steroids, with the data from dexamethasone in the RECOVERY trial begins to make a lot of sense.
I tell you why we don't "wait for your endless trials and constant delays at providing remedies, CM. Some of us recognize this entire pandemic sensationalism as just that and you and those advocates that continually oppose alternatives to those system "scientists" and say first one thing and then contradict themselves with the opposite and never offer anything that improves the situation have no credibility whatsoever.
The recent two week report of Corona Virus cases in the world has the US at about 20,000 per day with the next highest being Russia with about 8,000, and then the next highest behind them is minuscule. Of course it is likely due to the higher number of tests done in the US in comparison but media gurus use such fodder to fuel their panic propaganda for twisted political agendas. It is so absurd to propose that the US is the most unhealthy nation in the world with the worse COVID 19 situation of all others but that is exactly how your leftist sources are promoting it.
Of course you could, and likely would, accuse me as being dangerous and jeopardizing lives by pointing out that this is a huge political sham. But you and those taking your position are doing that exactly that (jeopardizing lives) by outright rejection of legitimate alternative proposals, like hydroxychloroquine and now Budesonide, both of which offer favorable results with extremely little side effects and have been used for decades.
Celeste mentions, "Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) has gone full circle and is now back in favor."
The reality is that it was never condemned for its actually being used and failing. That drug which has commonly been used safely for decades, and so many other propositions offered by the very tainted politico-scientist players was condemned due to it being associated with a suggestion by an opposing political side. But their position was then reversed due to its legitimate credibility as an alternative treatment. Same goes for use of masks, social distancing and so many other proposals from that source that shift with the winds of the propaganda leftist media and politically biased movement. The politico-scientist community has been virtually useless throughout this entire sad episode for any positive purpose.
Here we now have a credible doctor with credentials qualifying him to serve as a key source for the health information in Texas who has proven the validity of this treatment in his own practice an", Fauci, and all of those supporting the left political agenda continue to condemn and downplay viable remedies for this absurd situation we're in.
The twisted political motive does not even begin to address the tremendously powerful pharmaceutical industry with trillions of dollars at play. Watch out for whatever bogus flu vaccine they eventually invent (BUT not until AFTER the November election)and then try to force upon the American public.
One more telling sign that this is primarily a bogus, exaggerated, orchestrated panic being pursued for entirely political purposes is that IF, the Democratic Party won the November election, the COVID 19 issue would disappear instantaneously. (In the same way as the fabricated "Y2K" fiasco disappeared on January 1, 2000, with NO question as to why hundreds of nations that took no precaution for that prophetic disaster never had any problems.)
So play your Armageddon fiddle and see how many suckers you can get to follow your enchanting tune, but hopefully there will be some who can resist and continue to provide real answers, like this Dr. Bramlett.
"He has showed strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their
hearts."
(from the Holy Gospel of St. Luke 1:51)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93pcPLnLBXk
RB Kuter,
First of all normalize testing to population and normalize positives to population. Basic math 101.
Yes we have higher cases due to testing but what you fail to mention is that the positivity rate is going up as well. In simple English this means the disease is spreading. Here is a basic example to illustrate what is occurring:
Week # of Tests # Positive % Positive
1 1000 100 10%
2 2000 250 12.5%
That is what is happening. Here is a link:
https://www.covidexitstrategy.org/
Look at the 4th table down and look at the last column for the various states.
But you and your allies in the White House conveniently ignore that fact. But then I expect as much from someone without a STEM background. Take a course in statistical quality control and acceptance sampling while you are at it.
Wade,
It seems comments have ‘highjacked’ your post on how COVID-19 is cured rather than what you said was the cause of the virus which was Ezekiel 17:24: “I the Lord who cuts down the tall tree…”
And you said: “That’s the reason of Covid-19. God strikes down the tall trees.”
I’ll give an example in fun about God striking down the tall trees:
My granddaughter works at a restaurant. The only ones that have the virus is the manager and assistant manager.
https://www.army.mil/article/210420/worldwide_flu_outbreak_killed_45000_american_soldiers_during_world_war_i
Wade, were these 45,000 ‘tall trees’?
I don't think Wade was implying that those that die of disease are the tall trees. (Reference back to Job, etc.). To have an influenza pandemic in the middle of war would seem to insult on injury, but perhaps, that pandemic was to "wake up people."
I do know that I am hitting my wall on this thing. This week, I have talked to multiple people about their anxiety. Because I frequently interact with "high risk" individuals, I wear a mask, I wash my hands, I socially distance but when I went to business appointment for myself and the front desk person told me that I didn't have to mask, I JOYFULLY threw the thing in my purse.
I care, I do. I can not read people wearing masks. I am tired of trying to communicate with people in masks. Is our pride the thought that we can avoid this virus? Now, the TEA has come out saying the children over age 10 have to wear masks in school. My business recently went from masks when person facing to masks at all times. That is a HUGE difference. I am profoundly exhausted at the end of the day, can't breath (my nasal mucosa is doing it's own reactivity to wearing a mask all day -- and it is the mask, doesn't happen on my days off). I can not fathom being a child and tolerating it. If I can not communicate well with people seeing eyes only, what is this going to do to children????? Of course, many children are already going off the rails because of all the enforced disruptions in their lives. Is that OK? And lets not forget the other end of the spectrum: our elderly. To "protect" them, we have denied elderly in nursing homes the comfort of friends and family. Despite that, the virus has entered those facilities and wrecked its havoc. Yes, it probably entered through trips to the hospital or the unwitting infection of an asymptomatic employee. Why then, do we continue to deny the elderly the comfort of family and friends?
Back to children: Does this virus cause significant harm in children? Rarely. In general, the young have mild infections with very rare severe complications like death or the systemic inflammatory syndrome. So, we are asking all children 10 and older in TX to mask in school to protect the teachers and their parents/grandparents that they will interact with when they go home. Is placing that burden, with the likely anxiety that it will create in children, the difficulty that children will have read emotions, etc., etc. appropriate? I don't have the answer, but something in my heart tells me repeatedly that we are doing this wrong.
Daily, I pray to God to protect me as he sees fit. I pray to God to let me be an agent of His love. I often (not daily) ask for God to protect our nation, but I do wonder if this virus is a wake up call in ways that we are too blind to see.
the virus ? What good, if any, can God bring out of this tragedy?
maybe we ALL needed 'a time out' to think about who we really are as human persons?
Did we forget too much of what is dear to the heart of our God when we hurried to take innocent babies away from the arms of desperate women seeking asylum?
Even pagan ancient Egypt offered that grace of asylum to the Holy Family . . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIcyRWlJHHY
Christiane: Good? Many may turn to Jesus, in desperation or in fear, in the face of the Coronavirus. Where a family member contract it, a family maty be brought together. And if my feeble mind can figure out a couple such things,. how many can God think of?
There's also God's statement: All things work together for good, for them who love the Lord (Romans 8:28). And even at that, we don't know how to pray, or what to pray for, but the Holy Ghost intercedes for us (See Romans 8:26-27).
"Pride" must be the root of all sin. It does seem that God hates "pride" more than anything. That's a scary thing to consider, because I know I am often guilty of "pride" that displays itself in being opinionated, critical of others, etc. At the same time, I know it is a treacherous path to take, being prideful, so I do seek forgiveness and ask for God's strength and protection to help me guard against it.
I think this matter of "pride vs humility" is something that we all struggle with. I know that to assume a leadership position increases our susceptibility to "pride" due to leadership requiring one to accept a level of accountability and responsibility for those being led that is easily abused by becoming prideful and self-serving.
For God-fearing leaders, that fear of serving in a leadership position with an attitude of "pride" actually can inhibit the leader from being bold and courageous in a manner that is required for them to be obedient in carrying out the tough assignments that God gives them. We see that in the prophets all the time. I believe that this fear of being "prideful" can often lead to a leader being weak and their compromising the word of God for the sake of portraying humility.
This no doubt plays into the reason we seldom hear sermons on sin, hell, immorality, and atrocities taking place in the society that surrounds us that we know is abhorred by God. Rather than risk being charged with being "prideful, judgmental", etc., leaders become complacent, avoiding controversial positions so as to appear to accept the status of our decadent situation.
So the "salt" loses its savor, the "light" dims, sanctification is diminished, being different due to being identified with God's righteousness is less distinctive all at a time when our society desperately needs those bold, outspoken, courageous leaders of God to stand tall, bold, and uncompromising.
I definitely am thankful for Wade's portrayal of our situation and totally agree that God uses crisis and seemingly insurmountable obstacles to humble us and lead us to recognize that He is always our only hope. So I don't mean to undermine the focus of his message. But discerning the level of boldness in leadership as it competes with Godly humility seems to always be a challenge.
humility makes room for others in this world;
the greatest 'leadership' will always be one of the most humble of service, a service that is self-giving and not needing to be 'recognized' and 'applauded' or 'rewarded', but is instead a gift of 'self' freely given for the sake of others, that they, too, may live and be well
Hello BOB CLEVELAND,
yes, I think we 'only see through a glass darkly' and as to the 'mind' and 'heart' of God, there is a saying: "si comprehendis, non est Deus" (if you think you've got God all figured out; then it's not God you've been considering)
It is a given in my Church that Jesus Christ is the best 'revelation' we have of 'Who God Is' and since in two thousand years, we've only begun to attempt to live as He has taught us to live, our witness seems pale against the darkness;
but sometimes, that 'witness' grows brighter especially when the hard times come to all of us and we begin to notice 'the important things' again and leave aside our frantic prodigal pursuits in exchange for a return to the wholeness found in the simplicity of Christ.
I look to see signs of healing during this 'time out' we have been given to endure. Even the summer skies are more clear and blue as though the Earth itself was saying 'thank you' for our cessation from frantic 'busyness, as many retreat 'to the peace of wild things, as Wendell Berry would say. :)
So we may resist and not recognize how it is that God 'leads us beside the still waters' for a change to heal, but I suspect that for many a soul, that is exactly what is going on.
But for a time-out, we might not have had a chance to catch our breath (literally) and pause and pray and even to be thankful for what good God may bring out of 'the trouble' that now seems to universally have affected mankind. Can we shelter in the Peace of Christ for a while and rest?
Thanks for responding, as your comments are always valued by me for their wisdom.
Bob,
You quoted: “All things work together for good, for them who love the Lord.” (Romans 8:28)
I have a problem with that being true. That would mean everyone that loves the Lord would NOT get the virus; etc. That was written by Paul who said several things that are debatable such as:
“Women should learn quietly and submissively. I do not let women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly. For God made Adam first, and afterward he made Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result. But women will be saved through childbearing, assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty.” (1 Timothy 2:11-13 NLT)
I don’t recall John 3:16 saying anything about women must have children.
Rex: Whether you agree with God when He says all things work together for good doesn't change the fact that God said it. And God says what He means, and means what He says.
We must not forget the full healing power of the Paschal mysteries of Our Lord, the Giver of Life, Who took our wounded humanity to Himself in the Incarnation in order that we might, in Him, be made whole.
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
(from the Holy Gospel of St. Luke 19:10)
'in dying, we are born to eternal life'
The ultimate healing is victory over illness and death and leads us into eternal life. "Behold, I make all things new," (Revelation 21:3-5).
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/Christ_Pantocrator_mosaic_from_Hagia_Sophia_2744_x_2900_pixels_3.1_MB.jpg
Rex Ray, we're friends so I figure we can speak straightforwardly with one another without damaging our relationship. I mean, I still like you even if you intended to insinuate that I was "hi-jacking" the train of comments on Wade's post when you mentioned, "It seems comments have ‘hi-jacked’ your post on how COVID-19 is cured". I do sometimes hi-jack the stream of comments with dialogue not related to the subject matter of his posts. Wonder if anyone else does too?
Anyway, that's not what I wanted to ask you about. It seems you are not a great "Paul" fan. Do you think that when he speaks to some issues in ways in which you do not agree that it undermines his writings as being considered as "the inspired Word of God"?
Do you consider all of the teachings in Paul's letters to the churches and relative to the immense amount of doctrinal teachings given within them to not be the inspired Word of God? If you do agree with some of his teachings as being credible doctrinal truths from God, how do you differentiate?
For instance, when Paul pens, "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose", do you discount that as not being from the mouth of God because you don't understand how that could be the case?
Or when Paul gives Timothy counsel regarding how he should regard women saying things like, "Women should learn quietly and submissively.", do you discount that as portraying God's view on that matter by considering it to be coming from a male chauvinist perspective?
I'm not saying you are wrong, I'm just trying to get a handle on how you put things from the Bible together.
RB,
I ‘hi-jack’ Wade’s post probably too often. :) To start with Paul is my biggest fan in the Bible except Jesus. It’s James, I have a problem with:
“...you will be judged by the law…There will be no mercy to those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.” (James 2:13 NLT)
The way I see the Bible all written truth is God’s inspired word, anything that’s not true is from man’s views. God inspired man to write, but he did not hold their hands.
They wrote with their minds, and misconception that Jesus was coming back in their lifetime. That’s why Paul said, “…I wish everyone was single…it’s better to stay unmarried…” (1 Corinthians 7:7-8 NLT)
Paul wrote from memory: “I thank God I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius…Oh yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas, but I don’t remember baptizing anyone else.” (1 Corinthians 14-16 NLT) He also forgot when he appealed to Caesar. (But that’s a long story.)
Hello REX RAY and Mr. KUTER,
since you both are being civil (thank you for this) to each other now
AND
you both are fond of St.Paul,
I thought you both might want to look at this that shows some of the actual places where St. Paul traveled. I hope you enjoy it (and keep peace with one another):)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qUW7IxapdU
Thanks for that, Christiane. One day maybe I will get to actually visit those places!
Rex Ray said, " the Bible all written truth is God’s inspired word, anything that’s not true is from man’s views".
May be some typ-o error but I "think" you are saying that the truth in the Bible is God's inspired word, but anything that is not the truth is from man's views. Is that accurate?
RB,
Yes, that’s accurate. You said it better than I did.
RB,
The Bible records ‘good’ men lying such as Moses telling the people three times it was their fault why he couldn’t go to the Promise Land in Deuteronomy NLT:
“And the Lord was also angry with me because of you. He said to me, “You will never enter the Promise Land!” (1:37)
“But the Lord was also angry with me because of you…” (3:26)
“But the Lord was very angry with me because of you…” (4:21)
We know Moses lied because God told him three times why he couldn’t go to the Promise Land in Numbers NLT:
“The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!” (20:12)
“…because the two of you rebelled against my instruction…” (20:24)
“After you have seen it, you will die as Aaron your brother did, for you both rebelled against my instruction in the wilderness of Zin…you failed to demonstrate my holiness to them…” (27:13-14)
Rex Ray,
Guess we better stop this hi-jacking of Wade's blog! GOTCHA!
RB,
I’ll bet Wade had rather hear ‘hi-jacking’ than hearing disagreeing comments against his post that says in my opinion that God is cutting ‘tall trees’ (America) because of our sin.
I believe COVID-19 is NOT God-made, but man-made by a lab experiment gone wrong in China.
GOTCHA BACK! :)
RB,
I believe Wade is doing to America what my Dad said to me when I had a pinched nerve in my back and couldn’t walk.
“What sin have you done that God is punishing you!
Celeste--you do realize when you joyfully threw your mask in your purse, you immediately risked the lives of all the other people in that business, right? I am sorry your nasal mucosa does not like the mask.But sorry as I am that you get stuffy wearing a mask, I would have to avoid you like the plague in person. You see, I am old and I have damaged lungs from previous pneumonia. I posit that your stuffy nose is not worth my death.
You say you have or are hitting the wall. That you cannot read people well with the mask. May I remind you when my father was called up in WW2 it was FOR THE DURATION. He stayed at his task in the hell hole that was Peleliu, and on Leyte, for AS LONG AS IT TOOK to do his part in making sure you could be free in our nation today.
I have hit the wall myself. I am so OVER people who find their discomfort with masks worth the deaths of others. I am so over people stating that since children die less often than older adults, we should allow the virus pool to grow exponentially among them. Does that mean the decision has been made all of us senior citizens are not worth saving? I am so over hearing that children must attend brick and mortar school because otherwise they face abuse, starvation, and lack of education. That thinking risks the life of my daughter, a middle aged school teacher, and my grandchild. What about holding parents responsible to feed and care for their children? Tens of thousands of students have done quite well with online school for decades now, and with home school. Why should others die to make sure those parents can be derelict in their duties? I am so over people with mild covid symptoms calling 911 instead of their dr to arrange a test, putting my paramedic child at risk. I am so over ANYONE who has the low despicable moral fiber that they do not mask in
In short, I honor all those including pastors and politicians who put the welfare of the sickest (like my former neighbor and her child with cystic fibrosis), the oldest, and the most at risk before their own inconvenience and discomfort. I will remember them when I vote, attend church in the future, etc.
America at the moment is in my less than humble opinion like a nation of two year olds, stomping their feet and crying and screaming because they are not getting their collective way. I believe our Lord is likely to allow the disease to ravage us just as long as we continue in this sinful state of rebellion, which is as the sin of witchcraft.
None of us are pleased with all these changes. I have not been in a building other than my own property since mid March and will not be again until the pandemic ends, we get a good vaccine, or at least my area begins wearing masks when in public and social distancing. I'm not pleased with that and find it extremely frustrating at times. But I am blessed with instacart despite being very rural, with good food sources to access on line for shipping, with meds that come in the mail, with zoom SS and online church, with neighbors who visit while outdoors and a good 30 feet apart, with family who does google meetings with us, with fresh garden veggies, and most of all with a Savior Who loves me.
Is it really asking too much to expect others to also make changes? The sooner we break the chain of transmission (which is different than who gets sick) the sooner ALL OF US can get back to our normal lives.
linda
REX RAY
God allows bad things to happen, but He does not create 'evil', no. And He can bring good out of difficulties in ways we can't foresee.
our lack of compassion for the pain of the littles who were taken away from their mothers at the border indicated a greater 'sickness' in our national spirit than any 'covid-19' virus;
so we were already 'sick' and we stood by and failed to stand up for those littles who were innocents and who suffered because of our national policy of 'parental separation' conducted under the guidance of Steven Miller. . . .
I think this 'virus' AT LEAST brings us down to the point where we can once again have feelings for those who suffer who are innocents,
because apparently there is no place in our country that is NOT afflicted by this scourge in some way,
and we know now that which we failed to be sensitive to before the virus came: that we were 'blessed' with God's abundance in our land, and yet we 'permitted' the worst treatment of infants and toddlers and little children in substandard 'facilities', we who had so much did this knowingly, even going into court to 'justify' the neglect of providing even basic sanitary needs for the littles.
So maybe God had mercy on us by permitting this virus to 'awaken' us to what suffering can do to innocent lives?
There was a writer, Flannery O'Connor, who wrote these words:
"GO AND WARN THE CHILDREN OF GOD OF THE TERRIBLE SPEED OF MERCY"
so, we know
so we know
could it be that our 'awakening' to our own suffering will help us to remember that it is inhumane to consciously will the suffering of innocents and not to stand up and speak out for them when we KNOW it is happening? I don't know this, but I think it might be true, that sometimes 'mercy' comes in ways we did not expect, and that we were saved from our own blindness to suffering through that strange 'mercy' that awakened us to the reality of what suffering feels like in our own lives. (?)
REX RAY,
Here is the whole quote from that author, Flannery O'Connor, in context:
"“He felt his hunger no longer as a pain but as a tide. He felt it rising in himself through time and darkness, rising through the centuries, and he knew that it rose in a line of men whose lives were chosen to sustain it, who would wander in the world, strangers from that violent country where the silence is never broken except to shout the truth. He felt it building from the blood of Abel to his own, rising and spreading in the night, a red-gold tree of fire ascended as if it would consume the darkness in one tremendous burst of flame. The boy’s breath went out to meet it. He knew that this was the fire that had encircled Daniel, that had raised Elijah from the earth, that had spoken to Moses and would in the instant speak to him. He threw himself to the ground and with his face against the dirt of the grave, he heard the command. GO WARN THE CHILDREN OF GOD OF THE TERRIBLE SPEED OF MERCY. The words were as silent as seed opening one at a time in his blood.”"
Flannery O'Connor 'The Violent Bear it Away'
Wade,
Have you heard this?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/supreme-court-says-nearly-half-of-oklahoma-is-an-indian-reservation-whats-next/2020/07/10/8c2aba02-c2e7-11ea-b4f6-cb39cd8940fb_story.html
“A landmark decision by the Supreme Court, which ruled in 5-4 vote that much of eastern Oklahoma remains part of an Indian reservation. The state has no criminal jurisdiction over the land — home to nearly 775,000 people and portions of its second-largest city, Tulsa — because Congress never formally dissolved the reservation’s boundaries when Oklahoma became a state in 1907…
The Supreme Court’s historic ruling reverberated through the state Friday — with government officials, legal experts and activists saying that the case will have complicated legal ramifications in tribal disputes for decades to come.
Experts said that Native Americans arrested for major crimes on Indian land belonging to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation must now be prosecuted federally, and dozens of convicted criminals may seek to overturn their convictions…
“I don’t think people in Tulsa woke up today thinking they live on an Indian reservation, but eventually, they could become concerned that position could be made,” Bartlett said. “It’s very worrisome.”
Rex Ray, enjoy your comments and you do present the age-old dilemma about the reason for evil, "Did that tower fall on those guys for their sin or their parents'?"
BUT I do see God's judgment upon evil nations, people, and individuals while still on earth, prior to their dying and going to hell. Can't see how one could read the Bible and not see that. Christiane correctly points out that "God allows bad things to happen, but He does not create 'evil'".
If anyone acknowledges that God "blesses" the righteous it should be evident that those who are wicked, unrighteous, evil, experience the fruits of that behavior. Psalms 1 along with so many other Biblical passages affirm this God-based system.
No person or nation is perfect, but a person and an entire people or nation has a heart, or soul, in terms of the spirit, character of that person or people. When a person, nation, openly defies God, snub their noses at His reality, His heart for good, and the standard for righteousness He represents, they will indeed suffer the consequences.
I wonder why you would say that the United States has been blessed these past 200+ years? Certainly we have had our wickedness and rotten aspects, like slavery, apartheid, etc. But surely you would say that this country has been "blessed" by God, or do you believe that it has always endured under the most adverse circumstances until it has reached its current level of power and prosperity due to its own devices?
That's a sincere question. I would be very interested in hearing your thoughts regarding it.
CHRISTIANE,
Birds and fish like worms, but fish worry their worm may have a hook. And so, it is if America has open borders.
Here’s a Dear Abby story: “Heartbreak awaits sons when dad is released from prison”
His wife wrote Abby that her husband sexually abused one of his nieces, and was sent to prison for six years. Their two teenage boys look forward to having a life with their father when he’s released.
She wrote she’d always been honest with her boys but asked Abby if she should tell them when their father is released, he’ll be deported to Mexico.
CHRISTIANE, to hint that the virus is God’s way to awaken us because of our border rules is over the top.
Hello REX RAY,
I appreciate your viewpoint,
but I was commenting specifically about the great cruelty shown to babies, toddlers, and small children who are INNOCENT of any wrong-doing,
and no, in my own thinking, I cannot accept that the program designed to treat them poorly is in anyway associated with maintaining healthy borders.
They suffered.
Many of us, including people of faith, 'looked away' and did and said nothing.
If we cannot protect our own borders without being humane to innocents, then we were already very 'sick' before there ever was a virus. So, in a way I can agree with you, that the establishment of honorable policies to protect our borders is essential to our country's well-being. I can find no honor or decency in Steven Miller's 'parental separation' policy for the present Administration, no.
Those littles were mis-treated. Badly. It was and remains the most immoral act of our time as Americans. It was done knowingly by a few, who tried to keep it quiet. But once it was 'out there' in the news, our country still did not rise to save the little ones from their suffering.
No doubt in my mind you have a good heart and I wonder if you would have sided with the government's lawyer OR with the judges in this case:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzZwca4rEWc
We may have to disagree on this one, but I still appreciate and agree that our citizens ALL want protected borders. I'm for doing this honorably.
RB,
You ask a hard question. I believe one reason America is great is most people with influence believe in the song, “God Bless America”.
Of course, it’s larger than most countries, and has an abundance of natural resources such as oil and coal.
The climate is good for growing food products. Many lakes are used to produce electricity.
Most people believe in working for a living, and as JFK said, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”
Rex Ray, you answer correctly in the sense of the values and character of Americans resulting in its prosperity. The tenacity and drive of Americans of course result in the likelihood of development. But where does that character originate?
You also correctly refer to the value of the natural resources we have access to. They are indeed tremendous, but that has NO value if not used and administered with the integrity and character of the leaders of the nation.
Living in Zambia I was amazed at the tremendous natural wealth of that country and the continent of Africa. Yet while living in Zambia it was ruled by a dictator who had been in power over 20 years. He had destroyed what had been a gem of Africa when the white Southern Rhodesians had ruled and the dictator, Kenneth Kaunda, had utterly destroyed the entire infrastructure of the nation under socialism and corrupt leadership. He was an agnostic with a "humanism" ideology consistent with this socialist/Marxist concepts.
Just prior to our transfer from that nation, the people rose up and elected a leader who was a strong, outspoken, follower of Jesus Christ who was sold out on the concept of capitalism. His first act as President was to lead the nation in prayer thanking God for the new opportunity and asking for God's help. There was an immediate turn-around the the dependency-attitude of the people and a recovery began.
So in terms of a nation's prosperity being dependent upon its natural resources, that is definitely not a given. We only need to look at almost all African nations and Venezuela and Cuba to see that. The failures of those nations is not a reflection upon the race and ethnicity of the people by any means. But it is dependent upon where they are led.
This nation has its flaws, but it has "In God We Trust" on its currency and "God" embedded in its Constitution, its Pledge and its legal system. The support and partnering with the nation of Israel is ALL about that country being identified as a favored nation by God and our recognition of the spiritual infrastructure of ourselves originating from its loins. Until recent times, it was a given that if a politician did not acknowledge our dependency upon God they were pretty much disqualified; hence, the tradition at the close of every speech, even though often spoken insincerely, "And may God bless America!".
I'm rather surprised, Rex Ray, that you do not advocate this nation being the top in the world as being the result of it having identified itself as a "nation under God"/dependent upon God's favor, and unapologetic-ally (until recent decades)claiming that it is a "Christian" nation.
I know your heart for the Lord and you value His blessings and recognize our obligation to serve and obey Him as our Lord. So know that it is not my intent to question the strength of your personal faith.
But more and more in this nation are attributing the unique goodness, values, and moral (?) fiber of this nation as coming from "themselves" in an arrogant, prideful manner that alienates God from the mix. It portrays a growing tendency toward having a "humanistic" ideology instead of recognizing that all of our greatness as a nation is due to the grace of God given "due to our humility and submission toward Him and our acknowledgement of our dependency upon Him" throughout our history.
We are losing that attitude and I am in total agreement with Wade, God will indeed hold us accountable and not only at the final judgement. We are indeed a big tree begging to be cut down because we are rotting from the core. Every bad tree is cut down and burned in the fire.
Wade,
CM put this comment on your 6-18-20 post. I think he accidently put it there instead of here. I’ll take the liberty to put it on this post.
CM said...
McGirt v. Oklahoma, one of the most fascinating (and under-explored) cases of the term was decided today.
Justice Gorsuch wrote for a five-justice majority that, for purposes of the Major Crimes Act, much of eastern Oklahoma is still "Indiana country," and therefore the state lacks the jurisdiction to criminally prosecute members of Native American tribes for offenses covered by the Major Crimes Act.
Here is how Gorsuch began his opinion:
"On the far end of the Trail of Tears was a promise. Forced to leave their ancestral lands in Georgia and Alabama, the Creek Nation received assurances that their new lands in
the West would be secure forever. In exchange for ceding "all their land, East of the Mississippi river," the U. S. government agreed by treaty that "[t]he Creek country west of the Mississippi shall be solemnly guaranteed to the Creek Indians." Treaty with the Creeks, Arts. I, XIV, Mar. 24, 1832, 7 Stat. 366, 368 (1832 Treaty). Both parties settled on boundary lines for a new and "permanent home to the whole Creek nation," located in what is now Oklahoma. Treaty with the Creeks, preamble, Feb. 14, 1833, 7 Stat. 418 (1833 Treaty). The government further promised that "[no] State or Territory [shall] ever have a right to pass laws for the government of such Indians, but they shall be allowed to govern themselves." 1832 Treaty, Art. XIV, 7 Stat. 368.
Today we are asked whether the land these treaties promised remains an Indian reservation for purposes of federal criminal law. Because Congress has not said otherwise, we hold the government to its word." Thu Jul 09, 01:00:00 PM 2020
RB,
If “Every bad tree is cut down and burned in the fire” how come the fastest growing religion in the world is Islam?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growth_of_religion#:~:text=Studies%20in%20the%2021st%20century,major%20religion%20in%20the%20world.
RB,
Jesus said, “…The highway to hell is broad, and the gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” (Matthew 12-14 NLT)
True words, Rex Ray.
In regards to burning down the bad trees, it seems to me that evil has a season of running rampant blissfully, frolicking in its quagmire of stink and refuse, but it eventually ends badly.
I believe that the "curse" from God, or consequences for defying Him, come as the result of His simply turning His face away and allowing those bent on rebellion to experience the fruits of their foolish ways. The same goes for nations, or societies, as well as individuals.
Romans 13:10
It’s been two years ago yesterday when an Easter Monday storm felled trees all over our neighborhood. One large tree, a hundred year old one, fell and landed on three of our cars. It fell precisely between our shed and our newly sided house, leaving only a scratch. I awoke from sleep moments BEFORE I heard the sound of the tree falling.
Trees stand out to me. There used to be a great tree on a hill overlooking the entrance to my street. I loved looking at it, seeing it’s beauty as it changed colors in the seasons. I thought it was often like a great watchman, knowing that it wasn’t truly, but it seemed symbolic of that, the way it perched high over the entrance to our street, which literally means “Church Stall (Pew).” One early morning, I heard a sound that woke me. Sure enough, the great tree had fallen. I was saddened. After that, the Great Recession hit us hard. Coincidence…..but I see symbolism in such things.
I’ve had MANY dreams of trees before Covid hit: 1) I dreamed of standing with my kids at the bottom of a hill and three GREAT trees fell all around us. We were find. 2) I dreamed of eating with my kids at a picnic table, and trees were falling all around us (I set a table in the presence of your enemies….) 3) I dreamed of walking through a great forest of pines, and they were bending over to meet the ground; 4) Lastly, I tell this one because I believe it reveals God’s intent/will: I dreamt of looking at a development in the distance. As I watched, a bulldozer was knocking over trees in that development. I yelled, “NO!” and started a run to get there to stop the bulldozer from wiping out the trees. When I got there, I look around and saw that the bulldozer was actually creating something (a place) that would be better than it was before, so I turned around and headed back, but it was very difficult to get back. At times, I had to crawl.
That’s a lot to do with falling/bending trees! Trees, in Scripture, represent leaders. (Think of king Nebuchadnezzar‘s dream of the tree cut to a stump). Thanks for this post. It really makes me ponder.
May God’s will be DONE in America and the world. BTW, I see a young generation turning to God in amazing ways.
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