A Quiet Reminder

I was thinking about several things while driving down the road, and I saw a car with the license plate: JUDE21.

Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Jude 2:1

I needed to hear this. Perhaps others do too.

aion

Do you feel it? Yes, I know you do. Cast upon the winds of change, we are gathered here at this jagged precipice in time. All that we have known and all our ways of knowing end here. Let us collect ourselves, clasp hands, and breath deeply in these last few minutes of life that is familiar and comfortable; before we tumble into what no one has ever known or dreamed of before.

This was prophesied, we say; but the scroll that tasted as sweet as honey in our mouths has caused our stomachs to sour. That which made us curious from afar is now palpable, frightening, and starkly surreal. The darkness ahead is not like any night we have ever lived through. It is heavy with evil and no earthly light survives there. Yet, there is no where to turn and forward is the only way.

The day is coming and indeed, is almost here when man's rule will be fully put down. It is chaos and madness but also, the Master's plan. This dark day of man's fullness of himself is the day that will also bring his ruin. It is this ruin, this humbling, this laying low, that is the precursor of returning mankind to his rightful place. Man and woman humbled before God and made obedient instruments through the finished work of God's Son. The full revelation of Jesus Christ.

Child of God, you in whom Jesus dwells, do not be afraid of the dark. Though there be no earthly light to guide your way, the Light that is Jesus still burns within you to light you along the Way that is also Jesus. He in you and you in Him, your safety, your secure home, in whatever comes in the days, and months, and years ahead. He is also your Life and its quality is eternal. It can't be taken from you, not even by those who might destroy your body. Nothing can befall us that God does not allow and even when we can't understand, we rest in His glory. We are secure in His glory.

Do not fear what the world fears. Do not treasure what it treasures. Live in the moment and give thanks for the blessings you have today. Give all of your sorrows to Jesus quickly, that they might not become too much to bear. In your sadness and mourning, don't look down but keep looking up, and watching. Our redemption is very near.

Forgotten Tales

The people who speak the kindest to animals are always the ones who are trying to eat them.

Tom and Angela managed to find the treasure soon after they entered the dragon's cave. Angela grabbed a couple of coins from the pile, but Tom quickly grabbed the large ingots of gold.
"What if the dragon returns?" Asked Angela. "You won't be able to make a good exit if you are weighed down by all of that!" But Tom filled his pockets with treasure.
The dragon soon returned and discovered some of the treasure was missing. Moments later, Angela and Tom saw the dragon running after them.
"Drop the treasure or the dragon will eat you, and then you won't be able to enjoy anything!" Yelled Angela.
"Well ... I think that somehow I'll be okay." Said Tom, as he began climbing the tree. Angela started climbing a tree also.
Tom was not able to climb the tree very quickly. "Drop the treasure!" Angela shouted. "You're going to be eaten!" The dragon was already beginning to climb up the tree.
Suddenly, a large brick of gold slipped out of Tom's pocket and fell down through the branches. It struck the dragon's head at such speed that dragon fell all the way down and stopped moving.
Angela and Tom climbed down the tree. Tom picked up the fallen brick of gold and continued down the path back home. He learned his treasure was highly valuable and was able to buy many things that he liked. Angela learned that her coin was made of bronze and threw it into the river.

Barbs and jest do not a secure footing make.

How tragic that during the French Revolution it was the very committee responsible for public safety that took it upon itself to send ordinary citizens to the guiliteen for mere trifles.

The theologian laughed and said, "Is that all? I have a thousand verses to refute such a measley temptation." And he recited a thousand verses word-perfect from one to a thousand. Then he said to the unclean spirit, "You see what I have accomplished? Christ responded to tempation with a single verse and I have provided a thousand verses. How I have surpassed him!" Of course, the verses meant nothing to him personally, and the unclean spirit never left.

Blessed are those whom God fashions as examples of life.

The girls surrounded the boy. "I heard you were color blind."
"Yes, it is as you say." Said the boy.
"So how can you enjoy the colors of the rainbow?" Asked one girl.
"Or see the beauty of the sunset?" Asked another girl.
"Or ever manage to dress yourself?" Asked a third girl, snickering.
"I have been spared from the vain life of doting on appearances. Everything for me is in black and white. The things I see are important to me or they are nothing."
The girls laughed at him, but years later one of the girls recounted the incident and became terrified.

The government worker set down his paper work and whispered to his coworker, "I mourn over the fact that my European ancestors spent their time going into the forest to worship dark gods. These gods promised the world, but all they did was laugh among each other at their oppression over the desperate people who came to them for crops and children."
The other government work paused and asked, "What were the names of those dark gods?"
The other man replied, "I don't know. If I had a guess, I would say Signs and Assurances."

Living In The U.S.S.A. (United Socialist States of America)

Today, I am sad for my country. She has been betrayed by immoral men in high places, even by those who have sworn, on the Bible, to protect her. These men have sworn with their hand on what is only a book to them to protect a country through a governmental system that was designed for a moral people. America's greatness has always been in the goodness of her people. America has ceased to be good and America has ceased to be great. We are falling according to our own immorality as decadence and greed seem set to consume us.

Our capitalist financial system is systematically being socialized in the name of protecting us from a crisis that was induced by two socialistic lending entities within our government. They are, of course, Fannie Mae and Freddi Mac. The condition of these two government entities, developed as a means to help people who can't afford their own home to own them, is a prophecy of what our own country will look like when our treasonous leaders are done with the new 'protections' they are enacting in the name of protecting the American taxpayer. Socialism is not natural to the human spirit; even though its altruism is attractive to many, it does not deliver what it promises for it is a haven for corrupt bureaucrats. Socialism will choke down and kill the entrepreneurial spirit of America. That very spirit by which much of the world has also grown rich. It will also kill the remarkable charity that has long set America apart from other nations and those poor and struggling nations will no longer have America to petition when they are in crisis.

I am watching my dreams for retirement vanish before my eyes as the Dow plunges; but that is not the full measure of my sadness. As I watch these, not only immoral but also amoral, men spend astronomical amounts of money that we do not have and much of which is being borrowed from China, I see the American people being sold into bondage. Many generations into the future will be carrying this unprecedented tax burden. Our leaders have put us in the position of being beholden to a country that despises us. We are being auctioned off in the name of world economic soundness and our freedom is being sacrificed for the new world government that is beginning to emerge and become visible. Our destiny as a people is being decided by special counsels and treaties that are outside of our own legislative control. The voice of the people, that was ignored a few weeks ago in the implementing of this bill that will forever change our free-market system, will soon no longer be heard. In my lifetime, I have seen us go from a democracy within a republic to a democracy that is now fading into the socialized democracy of Europe. It is my opinion, that this mild recession has been creshendoed purposely into this imminent crisis for the very purpose of melding the United States into this new world order of not only a globalized economy but also a globalized government.

Today, the Bush administration is discussing how to buy stock in banks or even how to buy banks outright. It is not a far leap for any Christian student of the Bible to make the connection of also having to receive some sort of biometric tattoo to be able to access bank accounts that are controlled by the government. It is easy for those in Christ to respond to what is happening with fear but God does not give us a spirit of fear. Fear is what the enemy uses to hold people in bondage and in Christ, we are no longer in bondage to our sin or to the fear that accompanies suffering by the sin of others. When we fear God, the enemy has no hold over us.

Dear fellow Christians, do not fear that which the world fears. Do not give the government and the corrupt men and women who are presently wielding the governmental power over us the power to make us weak in spirit. Trust in God and abide in Him and He will make us fearless and enable us to endure and emerge victorious over all that the enemy has set in place to destroy us. Cling to Jesus and trust Him to guide us one day at a time. Even if we are in deep mourning for our country that was blessed by God for so many years, we will not be brought down with her for we have joy in Jesus that nothing can take from us that will keep us from being crushed with sorrow. We must pray continuously without ceasing, holding up to God those remaining good men and women who love God and also serve our country. Also pray for the salvation of corrupt leaders and the cleansing of their evil hearts. Pray that our nation would turn back to the God Who has blessed us for so long. Pray that we would turn from our sin even to the point of the slaughter of innocent babies through abortion coming to a halt not through legislation but through the changed hearts of the people. Today is the day of Atonement for the Jews. Let us also, as Christians grafted into Israel through faith in Christ Jesus, take our sins to God that we might be cleansed and function as light and salt in this very dark time. Pray for a spirit of repentance to sweep across our country that God might have mercy upon us and heal our land. Pray to end abortion and pray for the peace of Israel.

The Cobbler on Rosenborgade

[Scene i. A young Horatio (perhaps six years old) enters the palace. Two soldiers stand alert while a servant, Hans, sits at a table.]

HORATIO:
Good morrow, sirs. My father has directed me to this court.

HANS:
Indeed, young master, the queen has been expecting you.

HORATIO: [To himself]
What matter is this that I have the Queen's attention?
Here is a fine moment to be counted her son's friend ...

HANS:
This way please, young master.

GERTRUDE: [elated]
Ah, young Horatio! Thank you for coming this fine morning.

HORATIO:
Thank you for the invitation, my lady.

GERTRUDE:
Horatio, a certain matter has come to my attention,
The avenue of my son's career as well the welfare of
Your majesty, my son, and, yes, your own benefit also
Are presently compromised by details I have neither
Interest nor the patience to explain.
I have arranged for you to meet my young son in the market
At the stroke of the third hour, where you must,
For the goodwill of all at hand,
Guide my son to the cobbler on Rosenborgade
Where he is to meet his servant Yorrick.

HORATIO:
I would be delighted your majesty. I will leave at once.



[Scene ii. The Market. Young prince Hamlet is escorted by the servant Anders]

ANDERS:
Is there no shop you wish to inquire upon, then?

HAMLET:
How I wish there was a shop that inquired on me.

ANDERS:
Perhaps the prince would care to see the animals?

HAMLET:
Are you refering to these animals
Who wander from sight to sight
Whose business is the business of
Sights, and smells, and fancies?
Or did you mean the animals at the animal shop here?
Look! My noble peer, Horatio!

[Horatio approaches from the opposite side of the stage]

HORATIO:
Greetings, my friend.
Anders, may I ask for your leave?
I will see to it that the prince is safe.
A company of this size is no place for villainy ...

[Anders leaves]

HAMLET:
Or rather the only place to find it.
Horatio, why are you of such a face?

HORATIO:
You have guessed already?
May my loyalty to the Danes stop me
From withholding secrets from the prince!

HAMLET:
Come, my friend, why do you disclaim yourself thus?
Formalities are not necessary between allies.
Whatever could be the urgency?
Has my own blood conspired against me?

HORATIO:
How uncanny you are to name my burden.
Your mother has instructed me to escort the prince
To the cobbler on Rosenborgade.
Of her designs I was unable to learn,
And sensed she herself was in preference
To forget them altogether.
Her words and mein were fitting
Of a doctor who wishes to explain medicine
While watching the path of a near gadfly.
Surely she has no fancy to end your life,
But her tone was of those with ruse and hatchery.
Why do you sigh? Have you discovered her plan?

HAMLET:
Methinks Queen Gertrude would be better served
In carrying out her office.

HORATIO:
Her office as Queen or as Mother?

HAMLET:
Neither, her office as Gertrude -
The only one to have no interest
in taking up the matter at hand.

HORATIO:
I have offered my burden, now please to me yours.

HAMLET:
Confined minotaurs hath more liberty
than the prince of the Danes.
You were fair to present your account.
I will conceal it even to myself.

HORATIO:
How could a person perform such a task?
Is there a man who can know
That he is no longer aware of a matter?

HAMLET:
All men, and I fear I with them.
Tis' a subject too sorrowful to speak much of.
As to the nature of this plot
I can stomach to be more forthcoming.
My mother has forgotten of my obedience to her
And has laden me with further hardship.

HORATIO:
She wishes you to be a priest?
Are you to study public policy?

HAMLET:
Were I to take up orders it would be my salvation.
As for the court and lawyery, I wish little.
My mother's concern is toward a lesser topic.
Of my garb she is loosely tolerant,
But my preference in shoes hath summoned her wrath.

HORATIO:
Your shoes? Is that the matter at hand?
If you respected my frank warning before,
Please excuse it once again.
Your shoes are a crime against the living,
And if you do not find a new pair
The dead will take note of them.

HAMLET:
Is there no sound to interrupt the gibes
And guffaws I have withstood all morrow?

HORATIO:
My apologies to you, sir. I meant no evil.
Were they given to you in endearment?

HAMLET:
Yes, I selected them myself.

HORATIO:
I prefer your company, though there is little
More than your peculiarity that draws me to it.

HAMLET:
What do you know of peculiarity?

HORATIO:
Here we reach our destination.
Remember the secret I have placed in your hands.

HAMLET:
I will, but not as closely as the burden on my shoulders.
May everything be well with you, my friend.
Whatever tragedy life affords me I hope that you remain unharmed.

HORATIO:
May the will of the prince endure all things!

[Horatio exits]