Peace on Earth - the Divine Reality of the Christmas Story.

Who do you think Jesus really was? A humanitarian? A philanthropist? A social activist? A jazzed up carpenter? (Thanks to Allistiar Begg for putting it that way.)

Christmas cards are abound with the phrase Peace on Earth. What do you think that means?

Luke 2:13 says:

"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Now, I am no bible scholar, that is for sure, but I am saved, born-again into Christ. I was not always that way. It took a very long time for me to come to that place, so it is out of experience that I feel qualified to make this explanation about what Peace means.

We are all sinners...all...you've heard me say that before on this blog. Not a one of us isn't a sinner. The 10 Commandments, I'm sure you have read them. Have you not ever broken one of those? If you are like other people you will immediately say, "Well, I've never killed anyone." You have, you know, when you think murderous thoughts about someone; your wife or husband, your mother-in-law, your boss, that snooty department secretary, the guy who cut you off on your commute to work, or, lately, those right-wingers like me who don't want anything to do with ObamaCare.

A few years ago my own mother told me she never told a lie in her life. "You just lied right there, Mom," I told her. There are no perfect people. Not even me...heh. But I've got something she doesn't. Forgiveness.

How does this tie in with Peace on Earth, you ask. God came to earth in the form of man, peace was born in that child. He was perfect in every way, and he went through all of our trials and struggles while he was here. By his own choice, he suffered being beaten beyond recognition and then nailed on a cross. At that moment he took on all the sins of the world, yours and mine, just so that we could be reconciled to God. All God has ever wanted is to have a relationship with us.

The good news is this: when you accept it and ask Jesus to come into your life you can experience Peace, the peace of Jesus, told by those angels, is brought into your heart. When you are in right relationship with God, you then live in the Kingdom of God, which is here now for those who believe.

You need to hear the story of Christ, whoever you are. Don't balk at it. There is only one way to get to the Peace on Earth that the peaceniks talk about. Accept Jesus, tell the Good News to Jews and Gentiles alike, and when the whole world knows then Jesus will return and begin the next phase with a new earth and a new heaven.

Don't take my word for it. Ask Him yourself. He will answer you. If you need some help with that, let me know.

Merry Christmas, friends. I pray God's blessing upon you.

Baby Jesus, poster child for census?

Someone wrote to me this morning wanting to know if I'd seen the new poster by the Census Bureau with Jesus on it. Nope, I hadn't but just a few clicks later I found this article from the Washington Post. I'm not a fan of the Census in the form that it is taking now. Remember, dear readers, that you are only obliged by law to answer the most basic questions. 

Funny, isn't it, how they yammer about the Separation of Church and State when it suits their cause. 

Under God: Baby Jesus, poster child for census? 

In those days a decree went out from the U.S. Census Bureau that all Americans should be accounted for, but some were fearful or conflicted about such an accounting, and so Jesus, Mary and Joseph were called upon to provide comfort and encouragement -- on a poster.

Effective or offensive?
The poster was based on a story in Luke's gospel that says Joseph and pregnant Mary journeyed from Galilee to Bethlehem to take part in a census decreed by Roman Emperor Augustus. There is no other record of that particular census ever taking place, but the story explains why Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem, the city of David.
The poster was created by the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (not by the Census Bureau), which sent it to more than 7,000 churches to inform Hispanics about the census and encourage them to participate, regardless of their legal status. Some find it comforting.
The posters "are being well received by the congregations that we're working with, and they're reminding people of the Gospel story of how Jesus was born," Arturo Vargas, executive director of NALEO's educational fund, told Post reporters Carol Morello and Ed O'Keefe.
Others find it "blasphemous."
"The Bible establishes clearly that we are not supposed to use the name or God or Jesus in vain for any other purposes than worshiping," said Rev. Miguel Rivera, chairman of the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders.
Rivera's group is encouraging Latinos to boycott the 2010 Census in order to pressure on Congress to reform immigration laws.
Fear of immigration, or immigration reform, seems to be a much larger issue than fear of the census. Rivera's group might want to consider making their own poster, using another gospel birth narrative.
A story in Matthew's gospel says that after Jesus was born, an angel of the Lord told Joseph to take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt, because King Herod was out to kill Jesus. According to the story, the family lived in Egypt for several years until Herod died.
"Joseph, Mary and Jesus were undocumented immigrants," the poster might say. "Don't be afraid."

Cradle to Grave

I was listening to a bible study this morning and the pastor explained, "Jesus was born into a borrowed cradle, the manger, and was buried, after he was crucified on the cross, in a borrowed tomb." It really hit me but I wasn't sure of the significance.

Now I get it, a few hours later. Cradle to Grave. The Lord wants to take care of us, you and me, from cradle to grave. So does the government, but, snort, who is more prepared to do that and do that right? For me, that is easy...the Lord, owner of the universe, the one who knew you before the foundation of the world. Has he written your name in the Book of Life? I know mine is there. He has told me, personally, "I've got you in the palm of my hand" and I believe it.

Here we are at Christmas, at a very ugly point of time in the history of the country, indeed, in the world. The significance of Christmas has been lost through the ages. Understand this: God became Man in order to fufill the Law, more than the 10 commandments as the Jews had some 500 laws. He came as Jesus so that we, sons of Man, could be reconciled to him, returned to him, so that he could be our God and we, his people.

I hope you will take these things into your hearts and ponder them. In these coming times, the safest place to be will be under the protection of the Lord, Jesus the Christ, the savior.

Gay Marriage Passes the Senate in Vermont

Same-sex marriage vote worries Vt. politicians.

It should!!!!

MONTPELIER — He's a freshman Democrat from a conservative district, forced to take a position he worries could cost him his seat.

She's a former Republican lawmaker who knows too well his dilemma: Nine years ago, she voted "yea" to civil unions, and it cost her her job.

With votes on gay marriage under way at the Statehouse, state Sen. Matthew Choate and former Rep. Marion Milne offer perspectives that illustrate the dilemma confronting 180 Vermont legislators.

Vote "yes" and you're a hero to the gay and lesbian lobby, a pariah to those who believe government shouldn't tamper with a social institution. Vote "no" and you're seen as a bigot by some, a champion by others.

A same-sex marriage bill moved a step closer to becoming law Monday, with the state Senate passing it in a 26-4 vote. The House takes up the issue Tuesday, with a vote scheduled for Friday. Gov. Jim Douglas, who opposes the bill, hasn't said whether he will veto it if the Legislature passes it. [Read the rest here.]

If you give them an inch, they will take a mile. Like this recent article from New Hampshire.

State House Dome: Transgender rights in 'bathroom bill'

REPUBLICANS call it the "bathroom bill."

Democrats call it a non-discrimination bill.

In either case, House Bill 415 is stirring up interest, e-mails and phone calls from as far away as Boston, according to its sponsor, Rep. Ed Butler.

Butler filed the bill to close what he sees as a loophole in state law that allows discrimination against transsexuals. The bill adds to a host of laws -- which bar discrimination on the basis of sex, age, race, creed, color, sexual orientation or religion -- the words "gender identity" or "gender expression." [Read the rest here]

I will actively work towards unseating the Senators who voted Yea on this bill... and there are some in the list that I like. For the record, homosexuality is an abomination to the Lord. No need to argue with me about that. Ask yourself the question; Where will you spend eternity? It is an answer that you need to have before you go another day.

The picture on this post is of Sodom and Gomorrah. That is where we are heading.

May I be bold? Let me tell you a truth.

[I'm going to take a break from reporting about NAIS for a little while. It is more important at this point to give you, dear reader, the tools with which you can be saved from the coming struggles. - Hen]

The truth is this: Jesus is real. Now, if you are an unbeliever you are going to take exception to that truth and you may even get angry and think me "one of those...a bible thumper", though you will be wrong.

I was not brought up believing in Jesus, no. It was in 1996 that I took heed of God's call to me. In retrospect, I can see that He was calling me my whole life. It took me 46 years to pay attention. In these twelve years I have ample evidence that Jesus is real and that is what I want to share with you.

The Bible is the owners manual for living on earth. We are all sinners, everyone of us. My own sin is ever before me, can't get away from it even though I'd like it if I didn't sin. I'm sure God would, too, but really it is impossible to not be a sinner. That is why Jesus was crucified, a perfect man made imperfect, to atone for the sins off all of us, every person since the beginning until the end. You might think that is unreasonable, but you must remember that God's ways are different (and higher) than our ways, so our own logic and understanding cannot puzzle that out on our own.

Of course, the world is telling a different story, as it has always told a different story. That story is 180 degrees opposite of the truth.

God loves YOU desperately, desperately...deeply, madly, truly. He wants to give you everything He has in mind for you. Why do you resist getting gifts from the maker of the universe? Since God made the universe and knows all the stars by name, He is where everything your heart desires is to be found. Why not look to Him?

Oh, I understand your unbelief, I really do. Ask yourself what have you got to lose by just trying? You have more to lose by not trying, that's for sure. And don't let your pride (that's for you, Pop) stand in the way. Don't be stiff-necked because you don't understand what is at stake; being separated from God for all of eternity.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)

The truth, again, is that God wants you to return to Him, He has a plan for your life, a much better life than you could ever get on your own, and Jesus is real!

Ready for the challenge? Say this prayer. You have absolutely nothing to lose by trying it and everything to gain.


"Father, my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."

Come on back and tell me what happens after you say it.

Shalom!