The Rest of the Facts Regarding Government Surveillance

Really good video which explains the history of government intrusion into private affairs and the need of personal protection rights as provided in the U.S. Constitution...and the truth about what really goes on while you weren't looking. Anyway, Stefan Molyneux is a secularist, so his conclusions about all of this is different from my own, however the historical facts regarding all of this is good to know.

This video is slightly dated, 2013 and focuses on what was going on with "whistleblower/leaker" Edward Snowden, however the facts are still relevant to what is happening today. I might add that I do not see this, or anything else that the government does wrong, as a reason to plot a mass revolution. I just see this as a thing we need to keep in mind when we want to believe that the government has our best interests in mind. It doesn't. Therefore wanting to put our faith in government... that of our U.S. government, or any other world government, is never wise. I am thankful I have a much better place to put my trust.

Watch Therefore

This week some strange events have been taking place on the west coast that have resulted in Los Angeles International Airport diverting it's flight paths. Please I hope you realize that it is no small thing for an airport to have to alter it's operations this way, so we should pay attention to this "small matter".

I'll link to an ABC news article which mentions this odd occurrence:

http://abc7.com/news/secret-military-operations-to-divert-lax-planes-for-a-week/1072890/

Whether this leads to all out war with the Asia and Russia is up to the Lord, certainly, however it needs to be said that we must keep on the watch, be diligent to watch and pray as Jesus cautions us to do.

Matthew 24:42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.(KJV)

 Matthew 26:41  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (KJV)

As my husband always reminds me: "No man knows the day nor the hour..." (Matthew 24:36) and indeed every generation since the time of Jesus thought they would see the return of Christ...and indeed every generation WILL see the returning of Jesus because those who have gone "to sleep" will not precede those who are still alive at the time of the Lord's returning:

 1Thessalonians 4:15  For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. (ESV)

So we all are correct in maintaining that vigilance, and would be wise to "watch and pray" that we will be strong in the Lord's strength to endure what is yet to come. I personally believe Jesus is coming within my lifetime, but whether He does or not is truly up to Him. I believe that before He comes things will have gotten so bad that MANY will have given up on His returning, and that times will get much, much darker...as the saying goes, it is always darkest just before the dawn. Mary, the sister of Lazarus thought Jesus came too late, and was sorrowful that He did not come in time to save her brother...was He really too late? It certainly appeared so, but as often is the case, what appears to be a certain thing to our human understanding often is not what really is going on. That is why we need to remain in prayer while we see things going from bad to worse, and not give in to the temptation to give up on what Jesus said to us. Remain vigilant. Keep speaking the truth in love. Watch for His appearing....and of course, always, rejoice in the salvation of our Lord and Savior, our Redeemer, our God Jesus Christ, Lord of all.

Fruit

Today I needed to walk down into town (2 blocks) and decided to walk a bit further...it's a gorgeous day! The sun is out, and there is just enough breeze, not too hot, not too cold, just right!

On the way I decided to see if someone was home, for a nice surprise visit)... I saw....

...an apple tree full of apples!...

...many apples had already fallen to the ground! :(

How can I refuse such a generous offer???

...and they are so delicious too!

I picked them from the tree, not from the ground....I hate waste but not enough to chance picking up bad fruit.

The apple situation got me thinking about Eve in the garden of Eden, and I know, I know, it probably wasn't an apple...(how many other traditions are probably all wrong?)...still...I pondered, the tree, the forbidden fruit, the snake, the beautiful garden, what a tragic loss....and yet, the Lord in His goodness provided a means of recovering what was lost....!!! Yet so many would rather have their forbidden fruit of seeing it their own way, rotten fruit, what a waste!

Genesis 3:8-14 (KJV) And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.   

And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him,

 Where art thou?   

And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.   

And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 

 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.  

 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? 

And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.   

And the LORD God said unto the serpent, 

Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life...

 They both knew they had done wrong, their guilt caused them to hide from the Lord, and then pass on their guilt to their companions when confronted with it. We still do the same today, even blaming the Lord for our guilt, saying like Paul said we would: "Why did you make us this way, it isn't our fault because you, God, made us to be this way". 

Romans 9:20 (KJV) Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

 And yet the Lord doesn't argue the point with us, though clearly we are wrong. 

Whether it was an apple, or a banana, or an apricot, is not the point...we often look at things in such a manner that we miss the entire lesson that is there for us. No matter what excuses we may come up with to excuse our sin, it is still sin, and there are consequences, and God by His grace and mercy will save some (many?) forgiving sin by His blood shed on a cross, a most cruel punishment, so that we might live forever with Him.