If Circumstances were Different, Would Any of Us be Different?
Days are coming when this question will be relevant to many. Let’s follow the lie and then the truth laid out by the author below.
Lie: If circumstances makes us who we are, then we are a victim of our circumstances. If a victim, then we are not really responsible. In other words, we simply cannot help the way we are.
However in reality, God says we are responsible for our actions regardless of the circumstances. It is not the failures of others, but for our own responses and lives that is our responsibility.
Truth: our circumstances merely reveal what we are.
Truth: if we are not content within our present circumstances, we are not likely to be happy in any other set of circumstances.
Truth: we can trust a wise, loving, sovereign God to control every circumstance of our lives.
Truth: “Joy, peace, and stability come from believing that every circumstance that touch’s our lives has first been filtered through His fingers of love and is part of a great, eternal plan that He is working out in this world and in our lives.”
Lies Women Believe (and I would add…and Men also believe)
and the Truth that Sets Them Free by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Lie #36
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Section 4 of the Flag Code states:
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag: “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”, should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute.”
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag is a formal promise of loyalty to the United States of America. It should be recited in English to have its full meaning. On July 4, Independence Day, with all the flag waving, parades and fireworks, let us remember our promise of loyalty to the United States of America, and to honor those brave souls, living and dead, that preserve this privilege to us and future generations.
Truth and Consequences…
TRUTH, what a novel concept it is! I grew up in an era when truth was always expected from authority figures like judges, doctors, teachers, and preachers to mention a few. It was never to be something that was rare but had common place in leadership both in home and in the government. When a leader spoke, their word was good. Many times, a man’s word was his bond.
Truth is defined as whatever is in accordance with fact or reality. Then why are there so many ‘truths’ about the same subject? Could it be that one ‘truth’ is really a fabrication to hide a lie instead? When did the truth become a lie? When did up become down, down become up, left became right and right became left? Obviously, something is being hidden from our attention!
I have come to realize that truth, in certain circles and environments, has had its definition altered and falsehoods have been upheld as truth instead. Have you come to that same conclusion yet?
Telling the truth to someone has some consequences built into it. I even find that I self-censor what I say and write; asking myself whether it will be accepted or not. Yes, I still care a little of what some folks I know might think of me. We all do. But the time of caring what others think about us versus speaking the truth is quickly disappearing because time grows shorter by the day and something big is coming.
Consequences are something that happens because of something you do such as tell a fact, reality, or a truth. Consequences can be positive or negative. If positive, they will reinforce your behavior and make it more likely to happen again. If negative, the opposite is likely in that a negative response will try to reinforce behavior to prevent it (the truth) from ever being shared again (i.e., like telling the truth or facts about something that is against or stands in conflicts with the official narrative on the topic). If you want to start something, then go against the official narrative of the government. Panic sets in very quickly.
If most people believe “X” then “X” must be true. Ask yourself, if that correct? Your mind can be asleep and unaware of any truth. Always remember that truth is right in front of us. The question is whether we are willing to set aside our blinders and to look at it; asking ourselves the serious questions.
Perhaps Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson has the best illustration on this subject. So is hiding my mind from the truth really the best option? Best to you in your search.
Lies or Mis-spoken…
Today, it seems that we are in a world where one group hates to be accused of lying and will only admit to misspeaking on a matter. Until recently, I had never heard the word ‘misspoke’ used and it took awhile for me to understand that they were admitting to lying without saying so. The expression of having ‘misspoken’ has hit its highest use in 2020-2021 along with ‘assertive’ but the word ‘assertion’ has hit its lowest use point in the same time period.
Let’s start with defining what a lie is. It is an assertion (a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief) that is believed to be false or known to be false by the speaker, typically used with the purpose of deceiving someone or a group of people.
Lying is not a new development. People have been lying to each other for thousands of years and is common to all races in all languages. You might find yourself agreeing with David when he said that “…all men are liars.” Psalm 116:11. Lies originate with the devil because we are told that “he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44.
The whole world today lies asleep in wickedness, the Bible indicates. To speak the truth is to wake people up. Many people are very comfortable as they are, not wanting to deal or think about uncomfortable truths about their lives, their choices, their job responsibilities, their government’s decisions, their vote, their doctors, or even their church’s doctrines. We find that even the devil is concerned about people being awakened. Where are you?
Know that if you are going to stand for the truth today, then you will be denouncing evil just as our Lord Jesus Christ did. When you do so consider that there may be some antagonism; hostility, opposition, friction in relationships, discord between brothers or sisters, and bad feelings with one’s neighbors; not always, but a possibility.
Where can you find the truth to get started? Jesus insisted that His words are truth. So start with carefully and consistently reading His word in the Bible. Ask God to reveal His truth to you for what you need for the day. Blessings.
The American Creed – lest we forget…
Sometimes we seem to forget our longing for freedom. We are born with this longing, but the pressures of the day-to-day routines cloud our thoughts and take up our time.
A man named Dean Alfange wrote the following short statement during the 1950s. He was born to two ethic Greek parents in Constantinople. They all moved to New York in 1902, where he was raised in Utica, NY. He served in the army during WWI and later in several political positions for both political parties. He wrote about what it meant to him to be an American.
“I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon. I seek to develop whatever talents God gave me—not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any earthly master nor bend to any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say – ‘This, with God’s help, I have done.’ All this is what it means to be an American.”
Bill Wyler
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