Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Through the weekly and daily devotionals you can be constantly encouraged in your great role of parenting, the highest career in the nation. You can also stay updated on what's happening with the Above Rubies ministry.

The vision for Meat for Men — UNCOMPROMISING MANHOOD blog is to encourage husbands, fathers and single men in Biblical manhood.

GOD'S ORIGINAL MANDATE c) FAMILY TREES

FamTreesIn Genesis 1:11-12 we read how God created the vegetation on the earth, including all the many varieties of trees and "God saw that it was good."
 
Who would want to live in a treeless world? Just imagine no peach trees, no apple trees, no pear trees or any exotic fruit trees. We agree with God that it is good. But we have a problem with family trees who have been created in the likeness and image of God. How is it that we agree with God about the fruitfulness of natural trees and yet have no revelation on the eternal worth of family trees? To me, that seems insane!
 
Family trees are fascinating. One could easily become absorbed in the history of our predecessors. Recently, Nancy and I visited CASTLE CAMPBELL in Scotland, originally owned by Colin Campbell, my namesake (we have visited this castle numerous times). I have always loved castles. Their grandeur, largeness, and strength intrigue me. I find myself contemplating the wealth, dignity, pride, and creativity that belonged to my ancestors of that era. I guess it must still be in the DNA.
 
Most of us do not have to look very far back into the history of our families to find that many of our forbears had large families compared to today’s 1.9 member families in the USA. It used to be 2.3 back in 1960. It was 7.0 in the 1800s! We are certainly degenerating. What with wars, vehicle fatalities, infertility, alternative lifestyles that produce no children, cancer, heart failures, and other diseases that cause death, the west is on the verge of self-destruction.
 
We are told that within the next 40-50 years, much of Europe will cease to be the Europe we have known. It will instead be an Islamic Europe. The average number of children per family is 1.3 in European countries, well below the minimum replacement of 2.1. Most of Europe is beyond hope of reversing the huge demographic and cultural change that is already taking place.
 
USA, along with all western nations faces major cultural demographic challenges. We are fast becoming the oldest population in our history with insufficient young people to boost our economy. The youth are saddled with insurmountable national debt.
 
Jesus states in Luke 18:8, "Nevertheless when the Son of man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?" When it comes to creating family trees as mandated in Genesis 1:26-28 and Genesis 9:1-7, we have to ask, Where is our faith?"
 
Be encouraged.
 
Colin Campbell
 
 
Photo: Custom Celtic Family Trees
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GOD'S ORIGINAL MANDATE b) CONTINUING TODAY . . . THE MULTIPLICATION OF GOD'S LIKENESS AND IMAGE IN THE EARTH IT'S NO LAUGHING MATTER!

GodsMandateB2Every blessing that God gives to us is always for our own good, otherwise it would not be a blessing. The big question we must ask ourselves, and be honest about it, is why do we 21st century Christians accept gratefully from God all other blessings, and yet for whatever reasons, refuse the blessing of children God would bless us with if only we would receive them?
 
We have our excuses and reasons, but will any of them be left standing when the great search light of Gold's truth examines them? Most of our excuses for not receiving the blessings of children stem from a humanistic and worldly mindset, generated from the unregenerate wisdom of man who does not consider God's wisdom worth paying any attention to.
 
The small family syndrome appeals to the scripturally illiterate on this subject who generate fears of over-population and dwindling world natural resources. All these fears are propagated through the education system, media, and sad to say, now through the deceived church!
 
The devil laughs and heaven weeps as we modern day Christians seek to disregard, limit, and destroy future children through whatever means possible, i.e. contraception, sterilization, and abortion.
 
It is true that some evangelical churches stand up against abortion, but many churches and even individuals within evangelical church even accept abortion as an accepted way of life, or should we say, way of death.
 
Many Christians laugh the laugh of unbelief when the truth of embracing children is mentioned, but be assured, God is not laughing!
 
Be encouraged.
 
Colin Campbell
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GOD'S ORIGINAL MANDATE b) THE MULTIPLICATION OF GOD'S LIKENESS AND IMAGE IN THE EARTH

GodsMandatebIs this a No. 1 problem or a No. 1 blessing?
 
Genesis 1:28 says, "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth . . . " The first thing we notice is that fruitfulness and multiplication is directly connected to the first blessing God ever gave to man. This is important to note because it points to the significance of that blessing. All other blessings that man receives from God are subsequent to this first blessing.
 
We need to understand that fruitfulness and multiplication of God's likeness and image is indeed a high priority with God, to the point that He made it His No. 1 blessing (and very first blessing to man).
 
We 21st contrary Christians need to have our eyes opened to this truth because in these days, not only do we fail to see fruitfulness as a No. 1 blessing from God, but many see it as a No. 1 problem. God would not have made this His first original mandate if it was not a priority to Him. The truth is that whatever is a high priority to God should also be a high priority to us who profess to be His followers.
 
On this point, the mainstream 21st century church is pro-choice rather than pro-life! Fruitfulness and multiplication of God's image is a take it or leave it attitude. We are not in sync with God.
 
Take note further. God is not blessing us primarily with the fruitfulness and multiplication of OUR IMAGE, although He lets us have the joys of family resemblance. God wants His likeness multiplied in the earth. So should we, for the world needs His image much more than it needs ours.
 
Be encouraged in the truth,
 
Colin Campbell
 
 
 
 
CatherinesStudioArt sold by Etsy
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GOD’S ORIGINAL MANDATE (Continuing point a)

OrigMandateBefore the fall in the Garden of Eden, it is possible that Adam and Eve had an open channel, unhindered by sin, to reveal the true likeness and image of God. I cannot help but imagine what a magnificent couple they must have been. I wonder whether there was some type of glory covering their bodies because after the fall they knew that they were naked and felt a desperate need to cover themselves.
 
The next reference to God's original mandate regarding HIS likeness and image is found in Genesis 9:1-7. Verse 6 says: "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood by shed: for in the image of God made he man." One would think that following the fall, when the glory of God's image was lost to man (apart from redemption through the blood of Christ) that God would have given up on man ever regaining His likeness and image.
 
Capital punishment is introduced upon those who murder their fellow man because God had not given up on His likeness being restored to man. This passage of Scripture underlines that an attack on man resulting in death is an attack upon the likeness and image of God which Satan seeks to destroy. God's image is sacred to God and likewise should also be to us. This is why contraception, sterilization, and abortion are an attack on the likeness and image of God.
 
The Scriptures teach us that through Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, who is called The Last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45-49) that we are completely restored by virtue of our faith in His finished work at the cross. God even brings something greater out of what He restores than what it was before the fall. Originally, Adam could not have known how to manifest God's likeness and image in mercy, forgiveness, grace, and reconciliation until he experienced it personally. Before the fall there was no opportunity for man to demonstrate mercy and forgiveness for there was no sin to forgive. How amazing is the grace of God.
 
Be encouraged.
 
Colin
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WHAT’S YOUR THEORY?

PrayWithoutCeasingSome thoughts from Michael Barnett:
 
WHAT’S YOUR THEORY?
 
"PRAY WITHOUT CEASING" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
 
Suppose, in theory, there was a church of around 300 that read this verse and, because they took God seriously, they established a system where one family was appointed one hour of the day to pray that the lost world would be reached; and that every hour of 24 was filled by one if not more families—it's doable.
 
Suppose in theory that this continued seven days a week.
 
Suppose in theory that this church decided that "without ceasing" meant what it said, admitted to its impossibility, yet prayed for wisdom on how to fulfill it instead of making it mean what they wanted it to mean.
 
Suppose in theory that this prayer meeting continued for 100 years.
 
What do you think the world would look like?
 
Two days from today, August 13, 1727—296 years ago, this theory was a reality. The church was not anything worth bragging about. They couldn't even get along with each other. It was ultimately the children of that little group who prayed for unity with the nobleman of the property, Count Niklaus Von Zinzendorf.
 
The Spirit of God came down so mightily upon the congregation of Herrnhut that to this day, the Moravian Church celebrates "Moravian Pentecost." The people unified, and many surrendered to ministry...some even selling themselves into slavery for the sake of the gospel. But it began with a prayer meeting that lasted for 100 years.
 
Around the dates of this prayer meeting, here's what the world looked like:
 
England was saved from self-destruction under the direction of John and Charles Wesley.
 
America experienced two Great Awakenings.
 
“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” was preached.
 
EVERY soul in Rochester, NY would be saved.
 
The Welsh Revival would ensue.
 
The world would hear of D.L. Moody, R.A. Torrey, and H.A. Ironside.
 
Prayer meetings that would affect two continents for Christ would take place ON WALLSTREET of all places!
 
In theory . . .
 
What would the world look like if ONE CHURCH took 1 Thessalonians 5:17 seriously?
 
I don't know about you, but my theory estimates in the BILLIONS in souls turning to Jesus.
 
What's your theory?
 
Michael Barnett: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
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BIBLICAL FATHERHOOD--THE GREATEST NEED OF THE WORLD

BibFatherhood1. GOD'S ORIGINAL MANDATE
 
I believe that one of the greatest needs of this world is true biblical fatherhood. There are good fathers throughout the different nations of this world who love their children and work hard to provide for their needs as much as possible. For such men, the world is indebted. They reveal fatherhood because God has put this instinct in every man. Yet fatherhood without understanding a true biblical base falls far short of what the world really needs for fatherhood.
 
It would be wise for us to remember that God is a Father, the originator and prototype of all true fatherhood. Therefore for men to be the best fathers possible, we must above all else, turn to the Father of all fathers and learn from Him--for our children's sake and for the sake of the generations to come.
 
A true biblical father is a man who seeks to have a vision for God's original mandate. The original mandate was given by God to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden before the fall.
 
Genesis 1:26-28 says: "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion . . . So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion . . .
 
a) GOD'S IMAGE AND LIKENESS IS SACRED
 
The first thing we notice In this original mandate is that man was created for the express purpose of the manifestation of the likeness and image of God. It is important to note that God's likeness and image was not mentioned for the purpose of creating any other species in all the myriad of creations in heaven or in earth. This to me is amazing and it makes man's creation very special, and in a very real sense, sacred.
 
God, in His sovereignty, has honored and blessed mankind with the privilege of bearing and multiplying His likeness and image. This means that man in His creative potential is designed to reveal all of who God is--His love, His peace, His holiness, His mercy, His faithfulness, His power and the list is never ending. It is no wonder that the devil's mindset is to destroy man from the face of the earth for in doing so he potentially destroys God's likeness and image.
 
I will keep posting on this subject.
 
Be encouraged.
 
Colin
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STAND UP AGAINST EVIL

EPH611"If we do not stand up against evil, we are supporting it."
` Colin Campbell

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GOD CANNOT LIE!

Spurgeon"If all my senses were to contradict God, I would deny every one of them and sooner believe myself to be out of my right mind than believe that God could lie!"
~ Charles H. Spurgeon
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FATHER/SON RETREAT THIS IS GOING TO BE AMAZING!

FatherSonCampSome of the fathers on our Hilltop Fellowship here in Primm Springs invite you to join them for an adventurous weekend of learning new things and opportunities to bond to your sons in the great wilderness of the Hilltop land.
Check out this website and register:
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COMING UP NEXT WEEKEND

ColinNancyScotlandNancy and I returned from Scotland last night, one day late as our flight was canceled for a day. We are now on our way to the Above Rubies Family Retreat in Panama City, Florida.
 
Next weekend we will be speaking at the Above Rubies FAMILY RETREAT in Missouri. There's still room for you to come to be blessed and encouraged and enjoy great fellowship. Bring the whole family.
 
AUGUST 18 – 20, MISSOURI
ABOVE RUBIES FAMILY RETREAT AT LOVE AND PURITY CAMPUS
5027 Wayne 380 Lot 10, Patterson, MO 63956
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
Blessings,
 
Colin and Nancy Campbell
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HIDE GOD’S WORD IN YOUR HEART

WordHiddenHeartPsalm 119:11: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

Fathers, we must teach our children what it means to hide God’s Word in their hearts. I believe it is one thing to have God’s Word in your memory, or even your mind (intellect), but it is another thing to hide God’s Word in your heart. You know when God’s Word is hidden in your heart because it becomes your strong conviction, and it affects your deepest feelings.

You know when God’s Word is hidden in your heart because it produces change in your life. You receive understanding and revelation, and it comes alive to you. It also produces the fear of the Lord so that you will not want to displease God in any way.

The way to get God’s Word into your heart is to pray it in for it is a divine happening. Ask God to put it in the hiding place of your heart where the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches will not be able to snatch it away.

How shallow our preaching is when it does not come from our hearts. How shallow our Christian testimony is if it does not come from our heart. Our husbandry and fatherhood should also come from our hearts (Malachi 4:4-6).

To read God’s Word is good,
to study it is better,
but to hide it in your heart is best.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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MAKE GOD’S WORD ALIVE TO YOUR CHILDREN

GodsWordAliveNehemiah 8:8: “They read in the book of the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”

Fathers, we must not only read the God’s Word daily to our children but seek to break it open to them.

Luke 24:30-32 tells the wonderful story of the disciples who, unknowingly, walked with Jesus to Emmaus, “And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and broke, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

It is important that we daily read the Scriptures to our families. It is even more important to “break the bread,” “open the Scriptures,” and “rightly divide the Word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

It takes more than reading the Scriptures to feed the inner man. As we each have an “outer man” that can see, hear, touch, smell, and taste; so we also have an inner man that can also see, hear, touch, smell, and taste. The inner man is often malnourished and starved! Yet, the inner man is far more important to feed than the outer man.

Paul prayed for the Ephesians that God “would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit IN THE INNER MAN (Ephesians 3:16).

Fathers, when you read God’s Word to your children ask them questions, ask them to finish quoting a Scripture you are reading, ask them to explain what they think it means, illustrate the Word by giving daily examples. Make the Word “alive” to them. Encourage their participation so they don’t sit in their seat bored.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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THE CORE OF OUR BEING

InwardPartsPsalm 51:6 says, “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.”

Men, have we purchased the truth when we have only given mental ascent to it? It is possible to consider truth, debate truth, reason truth, and even preach truth, yet still not buy it. Buying truth is much more than mere mental exercise. We must embrace it into the very core of our being.

Truth only changes us when it is received into the inward parts; otherwise it remains a shallow intellectual exercise. It is possible to dress up on the outside to appear religious and yet have next to no change on the inside. This is a dangerous state, for we not only fool others, but ourselves. But God is not fooled.

When truth enters the depths of our being motives will change, the self-nature will be crucified and Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life will reign. Christ will only reign when He sits on the throne in the depths of our hearts. When we receive Christ into our hearts, we must also receive His truth for they are inseparable.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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ASK QUESTIONS, THE BEST WAY TO TEACH

13d6b34281ffaffe61796cb21457d9b6It is obvious when we read Deuteronomy 6:7-9 that God wants our children to be constantly confronted with the truth of His Word in every aspect of life. There is no separation of church and state here.

Let’s read it again in Deuteronomy 6:7-9: “And thou shalt teach them DILIGENTLY unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

Verse 2 says, “Keep all his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.”

Each father must be involved in applying and teaching God’s Word in a generational sense. While it is a good thing to personally acquaint yourself with truth, you also have the responsibility before God to apply these truths to your children, and their children!

My wife and I find the meal able an excellent opportunity to make this happen. I believe we must not “drag our feet,” but enthusiastically make it interesting by giving the sense of the Word and asking questions.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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A FRIEND OF GOD AND A FRIEND OF TRUTH

FriendGodTruthWe read Proverbs 23:23 in my last post. What does it mean to “buy the truth”? The Hebrew for “buy” is qanah and means “to erect, create, purchase, procure.” We buy the truth when we desire it for why would we buy something we do not desire?

Men, it is important for us to create a desire for truth in our children. It stands for reason that fathers must set the highest example possible as men of truth because God has given to children an innate desire to emulate their parents. It is of utmost importance for us fathers to capitalize on this blessing.

What a blessing it must have been for Isaac when God first introduced himself as the God of His Father, Abraham (Genesis 26:24). Isaac had indeed been blessed by having a father who was a friend of God, and being a friend of God, automatically made him a friend of truth.

Sad to say, many a young man would not want God to say to them that He was the God of their father because their father was too mean, too tough, or had run off with another woman. It was by example that Isaac developed a desire to meet the God of his father who had blessed his father and would now bless him.

Remember, fathers, that truth needs to be coupled with grace, or truth can be too severe. Jesus was “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Let’s be like Jesus.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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WORTH EVERY SACRIFICE

BuyTruthProverbs 23:23 says: “Buy the truth and sell it not.”

Men, we must be wise when we instruct our families about liberty and freedom that we do not put the cart before the horse, as the old saying goes. We can be so taken up with liberty that we fail to put sufficient emphasis on that which goes before it, THE TRUTH. It is the truth that makes us free (John 8:32).

What a revelation it is when we realize that the greatest heritage we can buy for our children is truth. God will only bless that which is built upon the truth. It may be costly to purchase the truth for our families. Homeschool requires personal sacrifice. Sharing the Scriptures and praying together morning and evening comes with the cost of changing one’s schedule and priorities in order to make it work. T

he truth is indeed “the pearl of great price” (Matthew 13:46). It is worth the sale or sacrifice of everything else to get it for your family, for in purchasing the truth you get Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! One expositor says, “This pearl is worth everything, and everything is what it will take to obtain it.”

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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DAILY MANNA FROM HEAVEN

ContinueWordEven as the children of Israel feasted on “all the lamb” (Exodus 12:9-10), so we must feast on "all the truth,” to the point that the truth becomes us! In this way we become, in a sense, a living embodiment of the truth to our families. Truth always begets liberty and freedom. Therefore, our wives and families will live in an environment of truth and all its ensuing benefits.

Jesus said, “If ye CONTINUE in my word, then are ye my DISCIPLES INDEED” (John 8:31-32). Sadly, many fathers are far too casual about continuing in the Word of Christ, both for themselves and to their families.

Acts 2:42: “And they CONTINUED steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

Acts 2:46: “And they, CONTINUING daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singles of heart.”

A sermon at church once a week is not sufficient to keep us spiritually healthy. This would amount to a starvation diet to our physical bodies, and we could not survive such treatment. It would be physical abuse to our children to deprive them of three square meals each day.

Isn’t it spiritual abuse to deprive them of daily food from God’s Word? And do we regard the physical more important than the spiritual?  I think so. We deserve to be questioned and challenged for we deny our families the privilege of becoming “DISCIPLES INDEED.” To be “disciples indeed” can only happen through the daily continuance of feeding on the manna of heaven.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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FIGHT FOR TRUTH

Fight For TruthJohn 8:31-32: “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
 
We are privileged to live in a nation that has more freedoms than most other nations. However, these freedoms are being seriously threatened and many have already been taken away. Many of our founding fathers were well educated in the Scriptures by God-fearing parents and for this reason we have founding documents that provide liberty and freedom for all.
 
Sadly today, most Christian parents know very little of God’s truth. Truth is the foundation of freedom, but it is only comprehended truth that sets us free. If parents are not familiar with truth, the children will be less familiar.
 
Children today know all about the latest movies, music, sports and electronic devices. They know what their public school teachers teach them and yet they know precious little of the only truth that is able to set them free.
 
Truth has been fought for in the past and must be fought for again. Yet, it’s hard to fight for something you know little about. Men, above all things, get acquainted with the truth, for your family’s sake and the nation!
 
Be encouraged.
 
Colin Campbell
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GENEROUS SERVINGS OF TRUTH

GenServings“Truth falls in the street and equity cannot enter” (Isaiah 59:14).

The reason why truth falls in the streets is because it falls in the home first! Christian homes are meant to be cradles of truth,
fountains of truth,
gateways of truth,
bastions of truth,
and seminaries of truth.

Bibles should not be left on shelves gathering dust. When a child leaves a Christian home to begin their life in the world, they should not need to go to a Bible college. They should have received their Bible college training each day of their life.

All meal tables in ALL Christian homes should be dedicated to feasting on truth as well as nourishing physical bodies. It is of absolute necessity that fathers become truth lovers and truth embracers or our civilization is doomed.

Many of our streets have become very dangerous places in which to walk. Our public schools have become dangerous places to send our children. Why? Because the truth has been thrown out! Public education has not produced equity in our streets.

We fathers must take our stand for home education with GENEROUS SERVINGS OF TRUTH.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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WE MUST DOUBLE OUR EFFORTS

e735933f5f5848383d25da6b26daa974Isaiah 59:14, 15 is a picture of our nation today: “And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment"
 
Much of our justice system has become liberal and godless. We have thrown the Bible out of our state education and our halls of leadership as well. Millions of our sons and daughters are now being taught that homosexuality is acceptable, promiscuity is normal, abortion is your choice, and now transgenderism is being promoted. The world has turned upside down!
 
When we remove the Bible, we remove the truth.
 
When we remove the truth, we accept a lie.
 
The sad part about this is that fathers have failed to read the Bible on a daily basis to their families. The only antidote for a lie is the truth and it’s only in God’s Word that truth is revealed.
 
Because the moral situation is so corrupt, we must double our every effort to rectify this epidemic of falsehood. We must take back the moral ground, father by father, family by family. To rally the nation to resist evil, what we need more godly fathers who will daily open up the Word of God to their children.
 
Be encouraged.
 
Colin Campbell
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Above Rubies Address

AboveRubies
Email Nancy

PO Box 681687
Franklin, TN 37068-1687

Phone : 931-729-9861
Office Hrs 9am - 5pm, M - F, CTZ