4. January 2012 by PawBill.

Will 2012 be the year of the apocalypse?  Many have speculated that the Mayan calendar date of December 21, 2012 is civilization’s climatic doomsday. I have serious doubts about the December date but what do I know.  Maybe they had advanced knowledge of the American Presidential election or some Hollywood divorce tragedy. Who knows for sure?

In all seriousness, however, an anonymous source told me the Mayan stonemason that was chiseling the calendar simply ran out of room on his stone for additional years or perhaps his “religious” leader may have thought 2012 was far enough out in the future. Again, who knows for sure? For additional information, Google Mayan calendar at Wikipedia, if you have an interest in the “science” behind the calendar.

If you are really concerned about the end of time the answer can be found in the Biblical scriptures. Cataclysmic events are prophesied for the earth at the time of Jesus Christ’s second coming and again at the end of the millennium.  Biblical Christians already know where they will be spending eternity so doomsday events are not a worry. 

I do not know about the fate of non-Biblical Christians other than what  is written in the Bible; Bible prophesies reveal that they will be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire and there burn for eternity (Revelation 20:11-15). While many Christians and non-Christians are quick to accept the physical dimensions of life and the brazen words of humanist and the likes, they are also quick to dismiss the spiritual dimensions as just fables, not worthy of consideration, of weak old men and women.  It is too bad their shortsightedness will cost them their very soul and spirit for eternity.

Believe what you like and continue in your merriment as followers of those who seek the godless pleasures of life or step out in faith and believe what the Spirit of God will reveal to you if you will only believe and accept His grace and forgiveness.  Accept God’s Truth and the shackles of blindness will be removed from your eyes.  As Jesus said, “Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free,” John 8:32 NIV.

Once you have tasted the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control—Galatians 5:22 NIV) and truly understand the Holy Spirit’s revealing of the Word of God in your life (the Holy Bible), you’ll never look back to man’s humanistic, fleshly and immoral ways.

Let this New Year be a new beginning for you by accepting Jesus Christ as your friend and redeemer.  May God bless you and your loved ones in the days to come.

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

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Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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23. December 2011 by PawBill.

As a Biblical Christian, I joyfully celebrate the virgin birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ during the Christmas Season.  If you are a Christian it is my prayer for you that in the coming New Year your faith will be rekindled and that you will allow the Holy Spirit, by relinquishing your self-will to Him, to indwell you and to give you the ”…peace of God that transcends all understanding…,” Philippians 4:7 NIV.  If you have not found this peace it can be found through repentance, belief and faith in the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the cleansing of your sins and through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. 

If you are not a Christian and you have no sure hope for an afterlife then it is my prayer that you will answer the voice of God if He is calling you and accept His offer of grace, forgiveness and salvation. You may have never heard His voice, but it is there in the silent moments of your inner thoughts at those times when you have pondered on the meaning and purpose of your life.  Answer that calling by acceptance, repentance and faith in the person of Jesus Christ for it is written, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved,” Acts 4:12 NIV. Surrender to Jesus Christ and allow the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to work His miracle of redemption in you.

Whether or not you choose to say Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday, I believe, is not a scriptural command of Jesus Christ and only serves as a distraction perpetrated by an anti-christian spirit to restrain those who do not know Jesus Christ as a personal savior from seeking Him.  If Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior you know the Truth and you have been “set free” to live a spiritual life in Jesus Christ.  If Jesus Christ is not your Lord and Savior, you can worship whatever you like, i.e., a tree, money, immorality and etc., as your spirit belongs to Satan, the god of this world to unrepentant man.

There is a decision that must be made in everyone’s life—You must surrender to Jesus or you must surrender to Satan.  There are no other options!  Completely remove God, Jesus and the Holy Scriptures from history and consider what life on earth would have become.   It is unimaginable but that is what the ungodly desire for this world through their reliance upon the human nature of man. 

It is up to you.  What will be your choice?  Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday!  It is my prayer that it will simply be, “Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.”

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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9. December 2011 by PawBill.

Can America Be Saved?

I see the starving children. I see the child prostitute. I see the plight of the American Negro.  I see America’s unemployed. I see America’s illiterate. I see the homeless. “I See, I See but I also hear the cries of the unborn as they are torn from their mother’s womb.”

But, what can I do?  I’m just one person among many that “see their faces and hear their cries” but do not know their names. Do they even have names? Someone should do something! But who is willing to help? Who can help?

I can’t help them.  I must provide for my own family.  It is not my fault. I work hard. What is mine is mine.  I did not cause their plight. Surely it is their fault.  Welfare will care for them if they can’t or won’t provide for themselves. I’ll close my eyes and ears and maybe they will go away.  Someone make them go away!

Wait, it will soon be Christmas day.  I know what I can do. I will give my spare change to the Salvation Army.  I will take a card from the church Christmas tree, and I will give a gift to the family named that has a Christmas need.  That’s what I’ll do.  Yes, I feel better now.  Even Jesus said, “You will always have the poor among you” John 12:8 NIV. What else can I do? We will always have the poor so why should I worry or care.

The Almighty Dollar cannot see people or their needs, but it is worshipped by those who have no other hope. “Look what I’ve earned,” say the influential and powerful; “Why should I share my reward.”  “If I only had money I could have the things I need,” say the poor, the downtrodden and the occupiers. “Why will the influential and powerful not share with us?”

Political parties offer solutions but America has no money. It has been thrown away and wasted. Maybe more can be printed. Perhaps the rich can pay more.  What’s another 5% to them?  The vast majority of people do not care about political parties, elections or the economy.  They just want jobs, more money, a hand out or their share.

Some are too busy watching mindless television to worry about political party antics or to plan for their future. Others work multiple jobs just to provide the bare necessities for their families but still do not have enough for the present much less the future.  Many know only what they are told and cast their lot with those whose promises are only flattering words that will never be fulfilled. There is ignorance in America.  There is also greed, jealousy, indifference, immorality and Godlessness.

Will there be anarchy and civil war between the “have’s” and the “have not’s?” Who are these people? Who sponsors or cares for them if they can’t or won’t care for themselves? Is anarchy and civil disobedience being promoted by the people’s government?  Can America be destroyed? What do the people want?  They don’t want God.  They don’t believe there is a God!  They don’t need a God! They only want their “rights,” their government’s provisions and their share.

What went wrong?  Did our Constitution fail us or did we fail ourselves? There must be blame.  Who will we blame?  We can’t blame ourselves.  Our forefathers warned of anarchy that would come when God was no longer welcomed in America.  Yes, America did ask God to leave.

For those who know how to be self sufficient, all will be well as anarchy plays out its hand.  For others, there will only be starvation and death at the hands of a government too big to care.  

There is no human answer.  The human spirit seeks only that which is right in their “own eyes.” The strong and intelligent will rule the weak just as it has always been.  It is clear to those who have discernment—God’s wisdom and knowledge found only in His Word and given only to those who believe—that humanity’s trust in materialistic gods is placed before the Almighty God.

The ancients knew of God but they were rebellious and chose not to obey God and keep His commandments. It is the same today.  There is no fear of God.  Life goes on and humans repeat the mistakes of their ancestors.

Is there hope?  Yes, there is hope but that hope can be found only in Jesus Christ.  Jesus promised to return one day and establish His kingdom on earth.   Will you be part of His kingdom? His kingdom is coming soon.

Does anyone care anymore? How about you? Do you “See” and “Hear” the cries of the lost and downtrodden souls in America? Do you even care?

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

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Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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24. November 2011 by PawBill.

Gobble! Gobble! Gobble!

Thanksgiving is my favorite time of the year.  Tons of good food, sweets and family gatherings all help me to maintain a healthy perspective on life and a hopeful future for my children and grandchildren.  The food I can control; what’s another couple of pounds on the old frame my conscience silently whispers, as I have that second serving of potato pie covered in whipped cream?

I was doing so well with my weight maintenance program this year.  I had even worked my way down to a pants size 34 earlier in the year.  After a New England cruise I’m back to a size 36. If I control myself I should be able to maintain a 36 since they are still a little loose. I’ll blame my weight gain on the convenience of my scale—size 34, 36 and 38 jeans that I keep inventoried on the closet shelf. 

The dark side of life tells the world that they have no control over the future of anything, including children and grandchildren. Listening to the news and watching television would make one want to accept and agree with the message of doom and gloom. Where Godlessness, sexual immorality, greed and corruption abound a hopeless and fatalistic view of life permeates every individual who does not have the light of this world, Jesus Christ, in their heart and soul.  

Those of us who grew up in an age of innocence and morality, (I may be stretching it here a little since our generation, the nineteen fifties era, allowed the country to become what it has become because of our silence.) can see what worldliness and materialism is doing to America in creating an “anything goes” society.  Many young people do not see what their future holds either for themselves or for their nation once God’s removal has been made complete and there is no longer a moral, Godly compass to guide them.

From a materialistic standpoint the message of hopefulness has credence, but from a spiritual standpoint the message is wrong.  Through God’s Son, Jesus Christ, you can be set free from materialistic and worldly views of life.  My children have chosen to serve the risen savior and to bring up their children and my grandchildren in the light of His promise of eternal life—a grandparents answered prayers.  There is still hope that a single individual’s return to God can lead others by their example and ultimately the nation to a return to its founder’s ideals and institutions.

It is my prayer for you and your family that Thanksgiving Day will be a day of celebration when you, as hopefully all of American, will pause to give thanks for being so blessed and fortunate to live in the greatest nation on earth.  It is also my prayer that you and your family, if you are not already doing so, my also come to serve the risen savior and in so doing inherit eternal life.

“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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” John 3:16-17 NIV.

May God bless you as He has blessed me and my family!

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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17. November 2011 by PawBill.

///The following is a rather lengthy “mini-sermon” for the professing Christians of the world, and an encouragement for “Christians” to become Biblical Christians. It is still not too late to rekindle your faith and love for Jesus Christ. Not all who profess to be Christians belong to Jesus.  Reaffirm you stance in Jesus and your faith. Take back your families, and resist the world, its lies and untruths.///

Professing Christians, Fruitcakes and Homosexuals

I woke up this morning feeling discouraged and defeated; discouraged that I failed in another attempt to bake my seasonal fruitcakes without incidence and defeated once again by my own inability to correctly follow a simple recipe. I am using a family recipe handed down from my father, but I have not been able to duplicate his cakes in either taste or appearance; his cakes were always perfect.

As I review my many cooking failures that have occurred over the past several years I believe it may be time to move on.  I should spare you some of the ugly details of my failures, but I cannot pass up another opportunity for self chastisement. For instance: One year I left out the sugar and when I realized my mistake I tried to add it at the last minute—a difficult undertaking once the cake was ready for the oven; another year I decided to soak my cakes in brandy. Too much brandy invited unwanted questions at the church Christmas social; another year I discovered bugs in my flour but too late to stop the baking process. I sifted all the little critters out, well most I suppose, before I mixed all the ingredients together. 

The only additional mistake I made was sharing this little “critter” tidbit of information with my wife. She shared it with the few people who normally like my cakes and now they avoid cake bake sales altogether. The list could go on; I have been trying to bake an award winning cake for eight or nine years but to no avail.  This may be my last year as I feel like giving up.

This year I thought I had the process down pat.  My first baking was almost perfect, but my next baking was severely undercooked.  I should have used longer tooth picks to test for an undercooked center.  My main mistake was in using different size baking pans and forgetting to adjust the oven baking temperature for larger pan sizes.  I suppose I can use the cake crumbs for an ice cream topping—five gallons of vanilla ice cream should be sufficient.  I could cast some blame on my six year old granddaughter but that would be unfair.  She liked tasting the fruit, measuring and mixing but even she did not like the finished product. I do not believe there will be a prize winning cake in my future.

While I am kicking myself around I might as well tell you I am discouraged and feeling defeated by the state of the “Christian” church. I am not discouraged in the same way Elijah was discouraged when he was fleeing from Jezebel. Elijah thought, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty.  The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword.  I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”  Read the entire account of Elijah’s “pity party” in 1 Kings, chapter 19.

But, why does the Christian church not recognize the times?  Have Christians been blinded by their own selfish natures? Have they forsaken the God they worship?  They are no longer a witness of the goodness of God but are partakers of immorality and idolatry just as the worldly.  In fact, you cannot tell the difference in their lifestyles.

Most Christians can no longer separate Truth, what the Bible teaches, from untruth, what the world teaches.  Consider America’s media sources.  I go through periods where I have to tune out the media jocks of all stations and their “fair and balanced journalism.” They all have their own “dogma” that they proclaim as “truth.”  Those periods are growing closer and closer together as media sources have been drawn to sensationalism much like the news headlines you would see on the front page of the National Enquirer. How about you? Do you know when you are hearing the Truth?

When I say tune out I am not saying that I stop listening or reading any media source or sources, I am simply saying I become more selective in what I am willing to read, watch, hear or even discuss and the amount of time I have to devote to such activities. Otherwise, I could become totally insensitive or blatantly intolerant to the views of others—like most of our Democratic, Libertarian, and Republican politicians—who have been blinded to integrity and morality by their greed and grandiose narcissistic personalities they exhibit as they claim to represent their constituents. 

We all have our own source of truth that we have embraced and our lives bear witness to that truth.  My source of Truth is the Holy Bible.  I believe it is the inspired word of God and that if you read and study the Bible under the guidance of the Holy Spirit you will come to believe in the following Truths:

·         “Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Light and no one comes to God except through Him” (John 14:6). There is only one pathway to Jesus’ heaven and that is through Him!  What about your heaven?

·         Marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman. 

·         Pro-life should be the law of the land, not the murderous Pro-choice “method of birth control” practiced by those without a moral conscience for the life they carry.

·         The willful removal of God from America by the godless minority while the “Godly” majority sits idly by is hastening America’s moral decay.

·         Political Correctness is destroying freedom, not broadening freedom. 

·         Homosexuality is a lifestyle of sexual promiscuity and “unnatural affections.” Many homosexuals will not live in monogamous sexual relationships among “their own” but willingly, or purposely, choose to spread sexually transmitted diseases to the heterosexual population. The same can be said for people who abuse drugs and alcohol.

Christians should “Love sexually immoral people, but disapprove of their lifestyle.  Sexual immorality has been detrimental to the health of all people groups throughout the history of man. If you will not take God’s word for it at least consider the advice and warnings of communicable disease experts.  

Now, you may find my Truth intolerant, and you probably are calling me a bigot and a homophobic, but that is OK.  I am not trying to convert you to my way of thinking or religious belief.  Only the Holy Spirit can reveal to you the Truth of Jesus Christ and the Cross and only Jesus Christ can save you. You can believe whatever your source of truth reveals to you.  I will be tolerant of your views, but I will not compromise my views or merge my views with yours in an attempt to promote a harmony of spirits and a “let’s all get along since we all are in and of god.”  My Truth is a religion of peace, not violence or intolerance; what about yours?

Christian, temporarily put aside the latest “talking points” on economic and political issues of the day and focus on your “Christian morality” and the coming assault on Biblical Christianity—the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ, His Cross and His shed Blood on Calvary for the redemption of man; the Holy Bible as the inspired Word of God to man; and Jesus Christ as the only way to God.

This current assault on Christianity is not new and is probably deserved given the current worldliness of professing Christian; (Unlike the Christian, Biblical Christians are standing and witnessing for their God. See above definition.).  It has been going on since Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection and will continue until Jesus’ Second Coming.  Nothing is really new, only the packaging and modern day terminology.  Heresies regarding Jesus Christ were from the beginning as man has sought to defend their concept of god, death and the afterlife. This assault has always been led by the spiritual forces of darkness— Satan and his hordes and the worldly they can easily capture with their tempting lies. The same forces are at work now and have blinded the “me” generation of Americans.

By refusing to believe in God, most Americans have become worldly participants in immorality and have allowed themselves to be captured by the spiritual forces of darkness, and they do not even realize it.  Look at the Occupy Wall Street anarchist;” they truly represent a “lost” generation who claim “rights” to the wages of others for which they themselves did not labor.

When parents voluntarily give up the teaching of morality to their children and the discussion of sexuality to the government or Hollywood, is it any wonder that early teen pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, disrespect for authority and ignorance of common morality standards have become acceptable social norms.  Laugh if you like at the humor of television programming that constantly offers a little bit more, and then a little bit more of sexual immorality.  Soon the traditional standards of Biblical morality will have quietly disappeared from the consciences of the majority of America’s households. 

Christian, do you want your children or grandchildren to grow up to be alcoholics, drug addicts, and included among the selfish and immoral scum of society? If so, just keep on keeping on in your silent denial in what I call “generational parental apathy.” It is a plague upon America’s traditional moral and religious family values that needs to be stopped. 

Twittering with God everyday helps guard my heart from Satan’s whispering temptations.  How about you?  Unless you have the Holy Spirit indwelling you, you are subject to the whims of your own desires and risk inviting demonic spirits to indwell you.  Ponder on America’s drug and alcohol use, divorce rate, pornography epidemic, sexually transmitted diseases (STD’), godliness, greed and corruption to name just a few examples of America’s current morality plight.  Can you not see the spiritual forces of darkness at work?

When will Christians stand and become Biblical Christians and defend morality and uphold the commandments of their God?  If not soon, America will become the Sodom and Gomorrah of the twenty-first century and will pay the ultimate price for her silence—loss of her children to immorality and godliness, loss of traditional family values that bond a nation and loss of love for her fellow man.

I will leave you to ponder on the following scriptural verse:

 “’In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.’ These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit” Jude 1:18-19 NIV.

“Professing Christian,” will you stand with God or will you stand with the world.  It is your choice. To do nothing is to stand with the world against God.

Let me think. Was it four or five eggs and two cups of sugar or four cups of sugar and one egg?

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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12. October 2011 by PawBill.

If you as a professing “Christian” have made a public statement of promise to follow Jesus, to live for Him and to serve Him, how well have you lived up to your commitment?  A few have gone all the way, “not turning back,” to become Biblical Christians; they have become sons of the living God—“…those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” Romans 8:14 NIV.  Many became “Christian” in name only, turning back from their promise; they now live in a deceived religious state, denying the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit and denying Jesus Christ.

How about it? Have you gone all the way with Jesus Christ by following the guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit you received at your confession of faith or have you turned back to your sinful nature with its lust and physical desires and you human nature’s rejection of God? 

It is not too late to return to Jesus; confess your sins and repent, and surrender your self-will to the Holy Spirit.  Become born again in a spiritual re-birth and be set free from all unrighteousness, bondage, slavery, worldliness, immorality and idolatry. That is my prayer for you today.

If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, do so today if you hear His calling. Begin your spiritual rebirth by knelling at His Cross and praying what is called “a sinners prayer” such as the one that follows:

Lord Jesus, I confess and repent of my sins, I accept your forgiveness and grace and I accept your salvation.  I believe that you came to redeem me, that you died on a cross for my sins and that you arose from death and the grave. I accept your promise to send the Holy Spirit to indwell me and to be my comforter and guide, and I surrender my self-will to you.  Come into my heart today.  Amen.

If you prayed this prayer in honesty, sincerity and belief, you are now a child of God; mature in Him by reading your Bible, joining a Bible believing church or study group, and follow Him in “believer’s baptism” as a symbol to others of your new life in Jesus Christ. 

If you prayed the sinner’s prayer above and accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior please email me and let me know of your decision.  All emails are confidential, and no response will be made to your email address unless one is requested by you.

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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12. October 2011 by PawBill.

You have heard it said and you have seen it written, “America (or for that matter, the world), is at a turning point.  To think about it in another way, “The turning points are actually divides of unalterable beliefs that span generational, political, social, educational, racial, sexual and religious perspectives—parent vs. child, young vs. old, Democrat vs. Republican, poor vs. rich, literate vs. illiterate, black vs. Caucasian, rich vs. poor, Christian vs. non-Christian, heterosexual vs. homosexual.

If there were perhaps just one divide, an easy solution might be found.  Unfortunately there are just too many divides for easy solutions. There is a solution and that solution can be found in the person of Jesus Christ.  However, most modern men have been deceived and find their source of life in materialism, government, and themselves.  The ancients suffered with the same dilemmas as today’s generation and their worlds were destroyed just as America will be destroyed because of the same moral decay that claimed the worlds of the ancients. 

I tuned across a radio station, WRFG the Progressive Voice, last evening looking for a Blue Grass Gospel station.  It was disheartening to hear the voices of well meaning people speaking as “lunatics of knowledge and understanding” knowing that those voices are lost in the Antichrist’s jaws of death.  Public Broadcasting stations are increasingly becoming the voices of everything anti-American. They speak as if God is on their side when in fact, their god is the god of this world (Satan) and they do not realize it.  Fools that they are they continually promote class warfare and all the “ISMs” of bondage and slavery.

Unless you claim the TRUTH of the Biblical Scriptures of the Holy Bible, not man’s understanding of his own personal thoughts about God, an eternity in hell will be your destination.  These are not my words or thoughts but are the Truths of the living God—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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12. October 2011 by PawBill.

It is easy for man to get caught up in name calling—my religion is greater than your religion, my body is prettier than your body, my politics is better than your politics and that type stuff.  It serves only as a distraction and causes division.  Let’s face it, man became wired for divisiveness when “Eve Bit into the Apple.”

It matters not whether you believe in the story of Adam and Eve, but at some time in the distant past man’s disposition for “doing good” or “doing evil” brought about a divide that has pitted man against man, man against nature and man against God.  You need only look to history and to man’s present day theatrics to see man’s true self and his outcome when left to his own humanistic, self-righteousness.

While our nation argues about meaningless, unimportant “stuff,” America’s economy, her Republic and her religious and moral values are gaining momentum circling in the “great white bowl” of polluted waste that will soon be flushed into a great gulf of tribulation and sorrow.  The direction of the world and its final disposition was written about thousands of years ago, but man refuses to believe the ancients and continues with his own self-righteous ways.

What about you?  Are you lost in the discussions of religious cults, Tea Parties, 99er’s and other mundane controversies you have no control over?  Take control of your life and get your house in order for who knows when the days of economic disaster may be upon you.

“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man” Proverbs 24:33-34 NIV.

As for the poor amongst us, they will survive as they always have.  As Jesus said, “The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want” Mark 14:7 NIV. Government and caring people have always provided temporary assistance to the homeless, downtrodden and victims of disasters. However, when “temporary needs” become “permanent rights” as they have in America and the poor minority becomes the poor majority that chooses to blame others rather than themselves for their own behavioral dependencies and bad judgments and decisions, disastrous societal consequences follow close behind.

There is a solution and that solution can be found in Jesus Christ. Come to Jesus today and find peace and love in His arms. He will change your life!

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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8. October 2011 by PawBill.

Surprisingly, spontaneous acts of kindness can still be found in everyday life despite the seemingly ugliness of the present generation of ungodliness that is permeating every element of American society; the “me first, I’m entitled,” generation as I like to call them.   This past Tuesday evening my wife and I experienced one of those acts while traveling on US Airways flight 1447 from New York to my home via an interconnecting flight through Charlotte, NC.

Most air travelers try to carry on as much luggage as they can to avoid the baggage charges that are now being collected by most airlines; in my case, the total came to eighty-five dollars for my flight.  For most business passengers it is also a matter of avoiding the baggage claim areas and the possibility of lost or damaged luggage; I only had one wheel broken on my three checked bags and fortunately no lost luggage.

I am going out on a limb here but it has been my observation that most women’s carryon luggage pushes the airlines maximum guidelines.  It is not unusual to see other passengers assisting women with the lifting and placing of their luggage in overhead compartments.  My wife is no exception when it comes to packing her carryon bag which she complains has more of my stuff than hers. I might agree with her so I never complain. 

Let me describe our experience on US Airlines flight 1447. Prior to boarding an announcement was made requesting passengers in rolls five and six to come forward and have their carryon luggage checked because there would be no overhear compartments available in their area. I should have expected that there might be a problem (who in their right mind would go forward), but I promptly forgot about the announcement assuming I would not be affected.

My wife and I were assigned to roll seven in section two.  When section two was called to board we proceeded with the “herd” that had already grouped around the doorway entrance.   Once onboard we found our seats but our carryon luggage could not be placed overhead above our assigned seats.  There was only room above roll sixteen—ten rolls further back.

I knew there would be a delay in our un-boarding, but we had an hour and a half until a connecting flight on the same carrier, and I assumed time would not be a factor. I was just glad I had checked my carryon in New York so I did not have to deal with two bags. Some men treat or refer to their wives as “old bag’s,” but that is another story for another occasion.  When we landed my assumed time frame had quickly diminished; there was now only forty-five minutes until our connecting flight. 

When the seat belt sign was turned off upon arrival at the gate, the herd stood throughout the plane and the process began.  All the overhead doors were opened and luggage was being removed. The aisles were crowded and time was beginning to tick away.

Quickly, a strategy plan was placed into action.  My wife would make her way off the plane and proceed to the terminal and once there verify the gate location of our connecting flight.  I in turn would work my way to roll sixteen and retrieve our luggage.  It was going to be a daunting process, and I had to be graceful and not belligerent because there were many others who were also trying to make connecting flights. I know because that was the small talk as people stood waiting for the plane’s door to be opened.

As a vacant spot became open I would move back a roll. I made my way slowly to the seating over the wings where the emergency exits were located and stood, apparently, looking “old and helpless” as other passengers were beginning to exit.  There was now no way to go back any further and I had six rolls to go.  I would have to wait.

As I stood patiently, a young gentleman standing at roll sixteen suddenly asked if the remaining bag in the overhead compartment was mine.  I said yes and without any further discussion he reached up and lifted the bag out of the compartment.  That’s when the team work began.  As he held the bag over his head, he passed the bag forward and one by one the passengers, both men and women, ahead of him took my bag and passed it forward over their heads until I was able to take it.  I stood amazed at the spontaneous teamwork involved.  I offered my thanks and proceeded to exit the plane.

As I passed a flight attendant that was witnessing the courtesy I remarked to him that the “spirit of helpfulness” was still alive. He remarked that maybe the Christmas spirit was starting earlier this year.  He must have been a Christian to say Christmas instead of Winter Holidays but again, that’s another story for another time.  

I have been on many flights but I have never witnessed the courtesy of the “passing of the bag” before.  Maybe the young gentleman had witnessed me helping two older ladies with their luggage as I made my way toward roll sixteen and decided to offer his assistance.  Or maybe, he was just a gentleman and his parents had taught him common courtesy. The book of Proverbs in the Holy Bible has a lot to say about man’s interactions with others and also about the raising of children.  It is a short read and you would enjoy not only its humor but its common sense advice.

There was a recent television commercial that portrayed spontaneous acts of courtesy as one courtesy led to another and to another.  It just goes to show that people will help other.  I do not remember who the sponsor of the advertisement was, but I remember the ad and what it was supposed to represent.   

My thanks go out to the men and women on flight 1447 that passed our luggage over their heads down the aisle that day.  My wife and I arrived at the gate of our connecting flight just as they started the boarding process with no time to spare.  On the connecting flight I was able to place my carryon bag in the overhead compartment directly above our seats.  But this time, it did not matter because there would not be a need to hurry once we reached our final destination.

May your days be blessed as mine continue to be.

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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18. September 2011 by PawBill.

The shed blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross for the forgiveness of sin sounds, apparently, as foolish to twenty-first century man as it did to the men of the first century.  Nearly two thousand years ago the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians that the cross was foolishness to those who were perishing.  “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing…Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” 1^st Corinthians 1:18-25 NIV.  What do you think?  Is a belief in Jesus Christ foolishness or the key to Eternal Life?

Non readers and casual readers of the Holy Bible and this includes most who call themselves Christians, haven’t a clue as to the wisdom and knowledge that is available to those who truly believe and spend time in prayer and in the Word.  It is indeed the Truth that can set man free. As Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” John 8:32 NIV.  The spiritual indwelling of the Holy Spirit will teach and instruct you in your walk with Jesus Christ by revealing wisdom and knowledge from the Holy Bible, the infallible WORD of God.  Why do many “Christians” not read their Bibles daily, weekly or for that matter, anytime?  After all, the Bible is the road map to heaven and eternal life.

In perilous times of trouble or need people will cry out to the God of the Bible or to the gods of their world. Some will cry out in anguish and despair blaming God (The God of the Bible) or gods (gods of other religions) for all their troubles; some will cry out to God or gods for miraculous healing; some will cry out to God or gods in desperation for help and resolve.  However, only the few that have actually become sons of the living God will be heard; their cries will be answered by the only God who can hear and answer their prayer.  That’s correct. There is only one God who can hear the cries and prayers of man and that God is the God of the Bible—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  God is the only one who answers prayers and promises “never to leave or forsake” those who accept Him in faith and belief. Wouldn’t you like to know that God personally? “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” Hebrews 13:5 NIV.

In too many cases the tragedy of answered or unanswered prayers is that after the “crisis” has passed, the God who answers prayers is once again returned to His heaven and declared by man’s natural self as a “persona non grata” until the next crisis or need. Man can be such an arrogant fool and creature of self inflicted stupidity when he allows his natural feelings to rule in his life.

Remember these words, “…without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” Hebrews 11:6 NIV.  If “Christians” in America truly had faith and believed and did not practice immorality and worldliness, there would be paradise on earth. What a pity even “Christians” will not believe in the indwelling Holy Spirit! 

I have often wondered how any “Christian” can read the first chapter of the book of Romans, found in the New Testament of the Bible, and not become convicted of their ignorance.  It is understandable that the non-believer may not understand but there is no excuse for the lack of understanding on the part of “professing believers.”  Many of you will not understand and that is expected because you have been blinded to the insight the Apostle Paul was trying to convey.

For those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the peace of God that surpasses all understanding is theirs. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:4-7 NIV.  Do you have God’s peace?  If not, it is there for you if you will only confess, repent and believe.

I found God’s peace when I confessed and accepted His Grace and His Salvation.  I surrendered my self-will and allowed the Holy Spirit to indwell my body, soul and spirit.  I am not perfect but I seek perfection in my daily walk knowing that one day I will see Jesus face-to-face.   I can testify to His miraculous powers that have worked in my life and through my various blogs I am trying to share my journey (my message and the message of the Gospel) in life and faith with those who are true seekers of Truth and everlasting life. God’s powers are real and they are powerful, and they are there for anyone who will call upon the name of Jesus Christ. “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved…” Joel 2:32 NIV.

Listen to the foolishness of the world or listen to the voice of God.  It is your choice. Choose wisely for your final destination—heaven or hell—depends upon your making the correct decision.

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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