No Murmuring, No Complaining.
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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.
6. THE CHURCH continued.
In 2 Corinthians 3:2, 3 Paul tells the believers that they are an epistle (a letter of Christ), “known and read of all men,” How can we read the letter of Christ in one another if we don’t come together to see one another? How can people see the revelation of Christ in our lives if we are covered with a mask?
Paul continues the theme in 2 Corinthians 3:18: “But we all, with OPEN FACE (unveiled face) beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
The question is: how can we behold the glory of the Lord in one another’s faces (countenances) if we cover our faces with masks? We cover the glory of the Lord.
How can we be changed “into the same image of Christ” if we cannot see His glory in one another and if we cannot get close enough to one another to have strong eye contact and hear each other’s voices.
How can we encourage one another if we are not close enough to shake one another’s hands or give an encouraging embrace?
Social distancing is not consistent with New Testament church togetherness.
Cloth masks don’t keep out the virus. And plastic visors with a large gap all around are also a joke. They don’t stop the spread of the virus. Masks are definitely not healthy for us as we breathe back in the carbon dioxide we are breathing out. The medical profession is taking us for idiots.
The sanctifying presence of Christ in the church gathering should be the safest place to gather. Where is our faith? It seems to me that faith has been replaced by an epidemic of fear that is worse than the virus.
7. FAMILY LIFE
The family is also challenged by these lockdowns. Children were never meant to be cooped up inside day after day. Parents are struggling to pay their bills. Stress and anxiety are mounting in the homes. The breadwinner is locked up at home.
Children, who are the least affected by this virus, and virile young parents are not greatly affected unless they have other serious medical conditions.
The medical profession has turned the whole world into an isolation ward. It is ridiculous. Common sense has departed.
The economy of many countries is being destroyed and multitudes of families are suffering.
This is definitely a time for Christian families to pray and call upon the Lord for deliverance. We need to pray that God will push the fear back from our nations and that God’s people will enjoy quiet resting places.
Isaiah 32:18: “And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
Picture: This picture of a social distancing church is the opposite to New Testament Christianity.
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6. THE CHURCHChurches are being challenged, and in many cases, prohibited from gathering with more than 50 people, and that with social distancing.
Isn’t it crazy that multitudes can protest in the streets unmasked, and without social distancing, and destroy life and property and at the same time pastors are fined and threatened with imprisonment if they allow their churches to assemble together?
And yet church assemblies are forbidden to be hindered or stopped according to the US Constitution. Those that forbid church gatherings are to be imprisoned according to our Constitution.
We need to be daily reminded of our First Amendment:
“The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prevents the government from making laws which regulate an establishment of religion, prohibit the free exercise of religion, or abridge the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the right to peaceably assembly, or the right to petition the government for redress of grievances”
Title 18, U.S.C., Section 242 states:
“Whoever, under color of any law statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States, . . . shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both . . .”
And have you read this? It was the ruling of the United States Supreme Court shortly after the Civil War in Ex parte Millligan, 71 U.S. 2 (1866) which still stands to this day:
“Neither the legislature nor any executive or judicial officer may disregard the provisions of the Constitution in case of emergency . . .
Section 98: “Anyone who declares the suspension of constitutionally guaranteed rights (to freely travel, peacefully assemble, earn a living, freely worship etc.) and or attempts to enforce such suspension within 50 independent, sovereign, continental United States of America is making war against our Constitution, and therefore, we the people. They violate their constitutional oath and thus immediately forfeit their office and authority and their proclamations may be disregarded with impunity and that means anyone, even the governor and President.”
Thank God for pastors who are prepared to stand up for the truth. We must stand behind 81-year-old Dr. John McArthur (Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California) who refuses to bow to a leftist governor. He is now being fined $1,000.00 a day and possible jail but he will not compromise.
He states: “This is not the first time we as Christ’s church have stood for Truth. We will continue to stand firm for the Truth today like we have every prior day in our 63-year history and as the biblical New Testament Church has done for more than 2000 years . . . We stand firm to continue fulfilling our biblical mandate from Christ to proclaim the Gospel and assemble together, and I earnestly hope that our stance will encourage other pastors, churches, and the general public across America and the world to also stand firm for biblical Truth. Church is essential.”
Where are all the rest of the pastors in this nation who will stop compromising and stand true to God and his Word? It seems that compromise and fear have become worse viruses than the covid.
Christians are meant to be a together people. There is so much written in God’s Word relating to the congregation of His people.
Hebrews 10:24, 25 says: “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.”
Virtual meetings and online meetings are good, but not a substitute for the real thing because there is no “one anothering.”
There is no togethering.
There is no considering one another.
There is no provoking one another to love and good works.
There is no blessing one another.
There is no fellowshipping with one another.
There is no hospitality together.
There is no serving one another.
There is no sharing with another.
You can only do these things as you get together.
How can we “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” if we are not gathering together (Galatians 6.2)?
More to come.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
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We are certainly living in challenging times, aren’t we? It seems like nearly everything in this great country is being challenged. I would like to share with your seven different areas where we are currently being challenged.
1. POLITICALLY
What will happen to this country if Joe Biden/Kamala Harris, with their pro-abortion, pro-homosexuality, $3 trillion tax plan, New Green Deal, universal background checks, no borders, slashing the defense budget, and communist plans, win the White House in these coming elections? And the elections are less than three months away. May Almighty God have mercy upon us.
2. LAWLESSNESS
Our great cities are being challenged with wild, lawless, destructive anarchists screaming out obscenities as they smash and loot innocent people’s properties and businesses. And mayors and governors stand back and watch the destruction of their own cities. It’s time to be on our knees, crying out to God.
3. ECONOMICALLY
Our economy which was so strong a few months ago is being challenged by the lockdown, mask-waring, social distancing, and strangle-holding mayors, governors, and government officials. Plus the trillions of dollars in stimulus packages to help those who wait for jobs and businesses to return to normal.
4. HEALTH FEARS
We are challenged with the COVID-19 health crisis which has injected enormous fear into the general population. People are subjected to fear-mongering by leftist politicians, governors, mayors, and also physicians who want to make the most of this pandemic to bring about a change in government.
5. LYING OFFICIALS
We are being challenged by health officials who are flat out lying to us about the importance of masks. And now Dr. Farci is recommending goggles as well! Has he gone crazy?
In some states they mandate masks to be worn as soon as you leave your home. How is it that intelligent people don’t check the size of the virus and compare it to the size of the pores in the various cloth masks.
Dr. Simone Gold, MD., FABEM., JD., states: “The pore size of cloth face coverings range from 20 – 100 microns. The COVID virus is 200 – 1000 x smaller than that, at 0.1 microns. Putting a chain link fence will not keep out a mosquito.”
The general public are being lied to. We are dumbed down by leftists and wealthy people like Bill Gates who wants to control the earth’s population. They found a way to release a rogue virus in China snd get the whole world to wear stupid non-effective masks so the will be so sick of the crazy things they will gladly dispose of them for the coming vaccine! His biometric, trackable vaccine may contain possible life shortening substances. Bill Gates is currently being challenged in court for deaths in Africa and other countries because his vaccines.
The good thing is that challenges are not the end all. Challenges are to be overcome. Let’s not sit down and become victims to what is happening. Let's walk in our freedoms give to us in the Constitution. Let's walk in obedience to God's Word.
Let’s rise up in positivity and inspire hope and faith in everyone we meet. Let’s get down on our knees daily to pray before our mighty God that He will bare His mighty right arm and deliver us.
More tomorrow.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
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...do you spend reading God's Word each day?
This is not a time to live life as usual. If you are not praying every day with your family, will you begin to do this? Pray for one another. Pray for this nation. Pray for our President. Pray for revival. Be committed.
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Who has a troop of romping youth
About his parlor floor?
Who nightly hears a round of cheers
When he is at the door?
Who is attacked on every side
By eager little hands
That reach to tug his grizzled mug?
The wealth of earth commands.
Who knows the joys of girls and boys,
His lads and lasses too,
Who’s bounced upon and pounced upon
When his day’s work is through?
Whose trousers know the gentle tug
Of some glad little tot,
The baby of his crew of love
Is wealthier than a lot.
Oh be he poor and sore distressed
And weary with the fight,
If with a whoop his healthy troop
Run welcoming at night,
And kisses greet him at the end
Of all his toiling grim,
With what is best in life he’s blessed
And rich men envy him!
~Unknown
Painting: Madison Gregory Fine Art
Amos Sundquist who was at our Above Rubies Family Camp last weekend gave the above poem to me. He has recited it for years.
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Marriage as ordained by God the Father is one man & one woman. He made No Exceptions to that decree.
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Do you want to freely worship God in this “land of the free”?
Click to sign to sign this petition:
https://
Also churches and their pastors can sign this petition at PeaceablyGather.com
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Before we say a word against our fellowman, we should ask ourselves these two great and important questions:
1. Do I have fervent love for this brother or sister in Christ, or even outside of Christ?
2. Will the things I say prove that I have fervent love for this person?
Romans 5:8: "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6 tells us that "in due time Christ died for the ungodly."
It is our responsibility as parents to teach by example what it means to lay down our lives for one another (1 John 3:16). To slay one another with our words is definitely not laying down our lives for them.
In our marriages and family lives we should use our mouths to build up, encourage, and honor one another. We begin in the home before we can demonstrate to the outside world.
At the cross, Jesus did not cry out to His Father in Heaven, "Father, look how much they hate me. Look how much they have beaten me. Look how much they have spoken against me. Look how much they spit on me. Look at how much shame they have heaped upon me by nailing me to this horrible cross." No!
He did not say, "Father destroy them for they deserve the deepest hell." No! Oh no!
Instead, He cried out: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).
What amazing love and grace that teaches us who have gladly received such love and forgiveness to say nothing less than Jesus did to those with whom we disagree or who have hurtfully wronged us.
If our love is not fervent enough to cover (refuse to look upon) a multitude of sins against us by anyone-be it husband, wife, children, friends, or enemies-can we admit that we need to earnestly seek God for a revival of this fervent love to fill our hearts and souls right now?
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
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Last post I shared about fervent love mentioned in 1 Peter 4:7-9.
We must first exercise this fervent (hot) love must in our marriages and families. It would be hypocritical to demonstrate fervent love toward friends and associates and yet fail to live a life of fervent love to those who are closest to us. Sadly, this is often the case with many Christian marriages and families.
All too often, children see their parents putting on a façade to strangers or people outside their immediate family. The children must often think, “if only these people knew how bad and unliving it is at home.”
Marriage, home, and family are obviously, and without doubt, the first place we should display fervent love. It is those who are closest to us who really know us and know how true and fervent our love really is.
1 Peter 4:8 says: “Love shall cover the multitude of sins.” Fervent love is the antidote to bitter debate, slander, criticism, tale-bearing, and gossip. The old maxim says: “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.”
It is only fervent love that covers a multitude of sins. Some may argue the point concerning the subject of “covering a multitude sins.” They think they are doing right by telling the world about the sins, weaknesses, and failures of others. They even enjoy doing it for it makes them appear more righteous than those they are running down or whose reputation they are destroying.
To be honest, I think it should give us great pain to talk against people we should be loving. It can be appropriate to seek godly counsel from church leadership if you are concerned that innocent people are being hurt or could be hurt. In some cases, it is appropriate to stand up and say something if it is not with the intention of spreading gossip, hatred, or malice.
You may need to execute the biblical premise of Matthew 18:15-20. Very often matters can be cleaned up by going to the accused first and hearing their side of the accusation.
We should never say something bad about someone behind their backs that we have not already spoken to them face to face. When Jesus went to the cross, He did not to go condemn, criticize, judge, or slander the world. He went to the cross to save the world. We can never take John 3:16, 17 for granted: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
Jesus was the greatest example of fervent love “covering a multitude of sins.” His blood covers more than a multitude of sins for it covers all of the sins of the world from Adam to the end of time.
More to come on this subject next post.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
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Serve God with all your heart, mind, strength, and soul!
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