There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true. —Soren Kierkegaard. "…truth is true even if nobody believes it, and falsehood is false even if everybody believes it. That is why truth does not yield to opinion, fashion, numbers, office, or sincerity–it is simply true and that is the end of it" – Os Guinness, Time for Truth, pg.39. “He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God’s providence to lead him aright.” – Blaise Pascal. "There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily" – George Washington letter to Edmund Randolph — 1795. We live in a “post-truth” world. According to the dictionary, “post-truth” means, “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” Simply put, we now live in a culture that seems to value experience and emotion more than truth. Truth will never go away no matter how hard one might wish. Going beyond the MSM idealogical opinion/bias and their low information tabloid reality show news with a distractional superficial focus on entertainment, sensationalism, emotionalism and activist reporting – this blogs goal is to, in some small way, put a plug in the broken dam of truth and save as many as possible from the consequences—temporal and eternal. "The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it." – George Orwell “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” ― Soren Kierkegaard
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 New American Standard Bible 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
Spiritual Warfare is about TRUTH! – Pastor Patrick Hines Sermon #shorts #christianshorts #devil #Jesus
▶️Pastor Patrick Hines has recently had a brand new book published, called, “Earth’s Foundational History – Part 1: Genesis Chapters 1 Through 5.” (Paperback – May 4, 2023) https://cutt.ly/16RCeZ0
These two books are also available on Amazon. All proceeds go directly to Pastor Hines:
▶️Am I Right With God?: The Gospel, Justification, Saving Faith, Repentance, Assurance, & The New Birth https://cutt.ly/S6RCbuM
▶️Redrawing the Battle Lines: 23 Sermons on Critical Issues Facing the Church https://cutt.ly/m6RCTi0
We subscribe to the Westminster Standards as our doctrinal statement. It consists of the following documents:
The Westminster Confession of Faith The Westminster Larger Catechism The Westminster Shorter Catechism
We also believe that Christian Worship is to be regulated and defined by God’s Word, the Bible.
Our worship services are designed to please and honor the Triune God of the Bible. We place Scripture reading and the preaching of the word of God at the center of worship along with Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These are God’s gifts to His church and ought to always be at the center of Christian worship. We are a congregation that loves to sing God’s praises, recite His Word back to Him, and actively engage in hearing and learning from God’s Word.
We embrace and promote a comprehensive Christian world and life view.
There is no area of life which is not under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It is to God and His law which all people, including governments and civil rulers, will answer. The Word of God embraces and informs the way we view marriage, the family, children, education, politics, worship, law, government, war, the church, missions, evangelism, and worship. In the world today there is a battle of opposing worldviews. There are basically only two positions: God’s Word and man’s ideas. We stand positively for Biblical truth and negatively against man’s ideas which are opposed to Biblical truth.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only hope for mankind.
Because all men fall short of obeying God’s law, all men everywhere are in need of divine grace and salvation from God. This salvation is found only in the Lord Jesus Christ who died for sinners, was buried, rose again, and is alive today seated at God the Father’s right hand.
We Worship God Together as Families.
We offer nursery during the morning worship service for newborns and infants but encourage people to keep as many of their children as they can with them for morning worship. The audio of the service is in the nursery via speakers. There is also a crying room with a video screen and audio of the sermon. We offer Sunday school classes for all ages, but worship together as families. We do not offer “children’s” church.
All who profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and are members of an evangelical church are cordially invited to participate with us in the Lord’s Supper.
Richard Dawkins — who shows a religious fervor in promoting atheistic evolution — also shows an intense hostility to the Christian faith.
If you have any doubt, Dawkins said, “I am often accused of expressing contempt and despising religious people. I don’t despise religious people, I despise what they stand for.”
In other words, it’s not believers he has a problem with so much as the MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL itself.
This lines up exactly with Romans 8, where Paul said that the carnal mind “is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot” (ESV).
People like Dawkins hate God because they have sinful natures. Like all humans, they have a natural bent toward evil and rebellion against their Creator. It’s only when people’s wills are surrendered that their hearts can be changed by God’s grace.
And what are other problems with Dawkins’s teachings? We’ll discuss them another time.
Carl Kerby is the founder of Reasons for Hope and co-creator of the DeBunked apologetic video series. His radio feature, Fast Facts, is heard weekly on VCY America, Saturdays at 9:25 AM Central.
Bryson DeChambeau’s faith has been making headlines since he won the US Open on Sunday. The same is true for Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla after his team won the NBA Finals last night for an unprecedented eighteenth time. (If someone had to defeat my Dallas Mavericks, I’m glad it was him.)
However, other headlines in the world of public faith have been anything but positive.
Robert Morris is the senior pastor of Gateway Church in the Dallas area, one of the largest churches in the country. He now stands accused by a woman of sexually abusing her from when she was twelve years old until she was sixteen.
A statement posted to X by the church’s executive pastor said Morris “has been open and forthright about a moral failure he had over 35 years ago.” According to the statement, his restoration process was closely administered by church elders and included professional counseling. Morris also made a statement to the Christian Post after his church was asked about the allegations.
Dr. Tony Evans, the highly respected pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, also made headlines with his recent announcement that he was stepping down from his pastoral duties for a “healing and restoration” time.
He told his congregation, “The foundation of our ministry has always been our commitment to the Word of God as the absolute supreme standard of truth to which we are to conform our lives.” He added: “When we fall short of that standard due to sin, we are required to repent and restore our relationship with God. A number of years ago, I fell short of that standard. I am, therefore, required to apply the same biblical standard of repentance and restoration to myself that I have applied to others.”
Dr. Evans wrote: “While I have committed no crime, I did not use righteous judgment in my actions.” He is therefore submitting to a restoration process established by the church elders to afford him “a needed time of spiritual recovery and healing.”
“The church is full of hypocrites”
I have never met Robert Morris and do not know any more about the allegations against him than has been reported. I have been on a few platforms with Dr. Evans and introduced him once to an event in Dallas; however, as with Pastor Morris, I do not know any more about his recent announcement than has been reported.
Here’s what I do know: both issues, whatever they were, took place many years ago. And yet both are now in the news.
One reason is obvious: the past failures of Christian leaders can be relevant to their present ability and credibility to do ministry. In this sense, the media is doing its job by reporting the news so that those who might be affected by it can respond accordingly.
A second reason for such headlines is less redemptive: stories get published because media professionals know what people want to know. And we are drawn to stories about the failures of Christian leaders in part because we can use their failures to excuse our own. We feel justified in rejecting uncomfortable truth claims if their ambassadors do not live up to their message.
We say “the church is full of hypocrites” when we don’t want to go to church, even though our attendance would only add one more to the mix.
Private sin never stays private
None of this excuses Christian leaders from failing to live up to the standards they promote. In fact, the opposite is true.
We should remember that private sin never stays private and that the enemy will use our failings as publicly as he can to damage as many people as he can. If we think we’re “getting away” with sin, that’s probably because Satan is biding his time until revealing our sin can do even greater harm to the cause and body of Christ.
We can certainly confess our sins and be forgiven (1 John 1:9), but their consequences remain. We can and should ask others to forgive us (Ephesians 4:32), but forgiveness (in the sense of pardoning or choosing not to punish) is a gift we receive, while trust is a privilege we earn.
All this to say, the next time you face temptation, stop to consider the worst possible outcome this sin could produce. Then know that Satan intends at least this, if not far worse than you can imagine. Because he “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8), he is willing to offer apparent pleasure or gain only if he knows he can leverage it into far worse pain or loss.
How to “unify our inner lives”
The key is to live every moment of every day in the presence of Christ and for his glory.
A. W. Tozer wrote: “One of the greatest hindrances to internal peace that the Christian encounters is the common habit of dividing our lives into two areas—the sacred and the secular.” His solution to spiritual fragmentation is simple:
“The knowledge that we are all God’s, that he has received all and rejected nothing, will unify our inner lives and make everything sacred to us.”
Jesus could say of his relationship with his Father, “I always do the things that are pleasing to him” (John 8:29). Then he promised that we could do the same: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (vv. 31–32).
*Denison Forum does not necessarily endorse the views expressed in these stories.
Quote for the day:
“Do not seek to empty your cup as a way to avoid sin, but rather seek to fill it up with the Spirit of life, so there is no longer room for sin.” —John Owen
If you have been following this series, it should have become apparent to you that the aspects of unity, universality, belonging to the Lord, and community are important aspects of the body of Christ’s foundation. And these feed into the identity of the local church. As we venture toward unveiling the local church’s purpose, there is an important piece of the puzzle to look over. And this is understanding how the local church played a role in the New Testament.
One word characterizes the church: “Ekklesia”
The New Testament concept for the local church hinges on the facets of strong community and assembly. Millard Erickson informs that the Greek word, “ekklesia,” is often used to render qahal—the Old Testament word for assembly—and suggests that it “is our major source of understanding the New Testament concept for church.” There are two specific uses of ekklesia, and Kevin Jay Connor informs that the first is when it is “used in Scripture to refer to the nation of Israel and to the Christian community of believers.” That this term is used in reference to both Israel and believers demonstrates God’s fulfillment of his promise in the Old Testament (discussed in the previous article). Through Christ, believers from all nations are joined into one body..
A second use of ekklesia is when it is translated as “assembly” or “gathering.” This use directly applies to our understanding of the local church. And it confirms that the local church is characterized by an assembly or gathering of believers for worship.
Uses of ekklesia in the Gospels
In the Gospel books of the New Testament, we see both uses. The first is when it is used to refer to the Christian community of believers in Matt. 16:15-20. This passage could be designated as the inception of the church. In context, Jesus is questioning the disciples about his identity. After Peter correctly identifies him as “the Christ,” Jesus responds with this exclamation: “’And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Christ’s statement has produced many interpretations. One of them would be to understand “rock” as referring to Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ. In this case, it would be the confession of Jesus as the Savior of the world that ignites the church and builds it up.
While that makes sense to the Christian ear, a look at this sentence’s grammar in the original language tells a different story. Craig L. Blomberg remarks that “The play on words in the Greek between Peter’s name (Petros) makes sense only if Peter is the rock and if Jesus is about to explain the significance of this identification.” In other words, the sentence can only make sense if Jesus is talking about Peter when he says “the rock.”
In turn, Blomberg believes the sentence’s grammar suggests Jesus is simply promising “that he will establish a gathered community of his followers and help them to grow.” Not only does the Greek support this interpretation, but it would align with the Old Testament understanding of assembly. It seems then that Jesus is reiterating the integral aspect of community within God’s plan and predicting that nations would come to worship him together.
Additionally, the significance of community within this verse goes one step further. Connor points out that church is used in the singular and subsequently suggests that “There is but one Church and Christ Himself is the builder of and the Head of this Church.” All of Christ’s followers make up one body, and this body is connected by Christ. This passage is establishing the importance of the church’s unity.
The second use of ekklesia, to render an assembly or gathering, is found in Matt. 18:15-20. Contextually, the passage addresses church discipline. Edward W. Klink submits that verses 19 and 20 express “the conscious choice of identification with what is taking place” and affirm “that the Lord himself is overseeing—by means of authority and the Spirit’s guidance—the ministering activity of the church, specifically the shepherding (disciplinary) oversight of its people.” This is clearly speaking about a local congregation of believers, and Jesus’ words carry the expectation that local congregations will have leaders within their body.
But it also provides a glimpse into the extent of the local church’s involvement in the lives of its believers. As Klink assumes, discipline is a part of the local church’s role in shepherding its members. This can be boiled down to the church investing in the faith of its members and encouraging them in how to live it out.
Uses of ekklesia in other NT books
Beyond the gospels, we can find impressions of both uses of the word, ekklesia. As Jesus predicted, the church grew, and great expansion led to the apostles traveling to share the gospel and serve the body of Christ. One of these apostles was Paul, whose letters to Christians make up most of the New Testament.
In the first article of this series, it was shown that the Apostle Paul often spoke on the body of Christ or the entire group of Christians (this relates to the first use of ekklesia. These are not restricted to Paul though, as there are many instances where other NT writers address their audience as a part of the entire Christian body. One example is when Peter does this in 1 Pet. 2:9: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” This verse champions the necessity of unity, and such passages that speak to this should not be lost.
However, Erickson informs that a “local sense of the church is evidently intended in the vast majority of occurrences of the word ἐκκλησία within the New Testament. This makes sense, as local churches were the main audience of Paul’s letters. In fact, many of Paul’s letters were titled according to the local churches to which they were written, and they were intended to encourage local churches to spread the gospel and live for Jesus. The local church was clearly an important institution for New Testament writers to engage with.
Connecting the uses of ekklesia
In the New Testament, from the uses of ekklesia” the church is understood as the entire body of believers and the local assemblies of believers for worship and community. This has been a recurring theme as we’ve examined the nature of the church in this series.
However, the present emphasis is on discovering the purpose of the local church. It cannot be emphasized enough that each local church is not its own, and that it is a part of a larger body that depends on Jesus Christ as its head.
But the New Testament has designated the local church as a distinct mechanism in the Christian faith. Each local church formed the original audience of New Testament letters. Each church had an important role in the lives of its members. And each church served as a critical factor in the body of Christ advancing the gospel.
So how can our churches continue that legacy today? We’ll examine that question in greater depth in the next article but, for now, let’s start by remembering that none of our missionary endeavors, programs, or services will accomplish Christ’s goal unless Christ remains at the head of our community of faith. It can be tempting, at times, to think that we’re doing God a service when we work on his behalf when the truth is that it should be considered a privilege to join him in the work he’s been doing since the dawn of creation.
So, as we finish up for today, take a moment to ask God to help you understand how you see your role in his ekklesia. Do your actions and approach fit best with a Lord who is still actively involved in the mission of his church or one who is distant and removed from the community he started?
Only one of those approaches is biblical. Which is yours?
1 Kings 22:4-5 — Jehoshaphat made the right call to enquire of the LORD … but he should have done that first before pledging loyalty to the king of Israel.
1 Kings 22:11-12 — Interesting the number of people prophesying – not in the name of Baal, but in the name of the LORD. Even today we have false teachers such as the Heretic, the Charlatan, the Prophet, the Abuser, the Divider, the Tickler, and the Speculator.
1 Kings 22:18 — It’s interesting that Ahab’s name is only used once in this passage while he is alive. Poor Ahab … he seems so simple minded – wondering why Micaiah is being sarcastic with him or why the prophets never gave him good words. Proverbs 7:7 talks about the simple youths, devoid of understanding. Proverbs 22:3 and Proverbs 27:12 tell how the simple are punished by not foreseeing the evil. The real tragedy is that simpleness is curable through the testimony of the LORD (Psalm 19:7) and the words of the LORD (Psalm 119:130).
1 Kings 22:28 — Micaiah realizes God has a higher penalty for his transgressions than Ahab does. The danger is not being in prison with minimal rations – the danger is that a prophet who speaks presumptuously must be put to death. Imagine the discernment necessary – did this revelation come from the LORD God (for which I’m willing to risk my life on), or was this just something that came from bad pizza?
1 Kings 22:34 — At a venture, almost by chance … but we’ve seen before that chance is just a covering for Providence.
1 Kings 22:49 — Interesting that now Jehoshaphat finally realizes the danger of an alliance with Ahaziah.
Acts 13:30 — Yesterday we saw the theme verse of Acts; today we see the theme verse of the preaching in Acts.
Acts 13:34 — And for those wondering why David was brought up in a passage asking a simple question – now we know where he fits in.
Psalm 138:6 — Here’s a great study to undertake: the seeming contradictions of the Bible.
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:7)
Yes, the Lord will be with us in our holy war, but He demands of us that we strictly follow His rules. Our victories will very much depend upon our obeying Him with all our heart, throwing strength and courage into the actions of our faith. If we are halfhearted we cannot expect more than half a blessing.
We must obey the Lord with care and thoughtfulness. “Observe to do” is the phrase used, and it is full of meaning. This is referred to every part of the divine will; we must obey with universal readiness. Our rule of conduct is “according to all the law.” We may not pick and choose, but we must take the Lord’s commands as they come, one and all. In all this we must go on with exactness and constancy. Ours is to be a straightforward course which bends neither to the right nor to the left. We are not to err by being more rigid than the law, nor turn out of levity to a more See and easy way. With such obedience there will come spiritual prosperity. O Lord, help us to see if it be not even so! We shall not test Thy promise in vain.
In this world of tears, torments and trials, the believer can take great comfort in knowing that God is near the afflicted, the oppressed, the lowly, and the broken-hearted. He is not aloof or distant from them, but close to them. He seems to take special interest in them. There are many biblical passages that can be cited here on this. Just a few include these:
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalm 51:17)
The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. (Psalm 145:14)
The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:2-3)
Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted. (Isaiah 49:13)
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:3-4)
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; (Isaiah 61:1)
In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them. (Isaiah 63:9)
The great English preacher Charles Spurgeon knew all about suffering and hardship. Just as we can find plenty of biblical passages on this, so too, we can offer plenty of quotes by Spurgeon. Here are just a few:
“Do not despair, dear heart, but come to the Lord with all your jagged wounds, black bruises, and running sores. He alone can heal, and He delights to do it. It is our Lord’s office to bind up the brokenhearted, and He is gloriously at home in it.”
“Oh child of suffering, be patient. God has not passed you over in His providence. He who is the feeder of sparrows will also furnish you with what you need. Take up the arms of faith against a sea of trouble. There is one who cares for you. His eye is fixed on you, His heart beats with pity for your woe, and His omnipotent hand will bring you the needed help. The darkest cloud will scatter itself in showers of mercy. The blackest gloom will give place to the morning. He, if you are one of His family, will bind up your wounds and heal your broken heart.”
“Learn this lesson: not to trust Christ because you repent, but trust Christ to make you repent; not to come to Christ because you have a broken heart, but to come to Him that He may give you a broken heart; not to come to Him because you are fit to come, but to come to Him because you are unfit to come. Your fitness is your unfitness. Your qualification is your lack of qualification.”
Because Spurgeon had been through so many hard and difficult times, it is not surprising that he spoke about these matters often in his sermons, and some of the biblical passages I mentioned above he dwelt on at great length. Let me draw from two of his sermons on the broken-hearted.
In 1890 he discussed Psalm 147:3 in a sermon titled “Christ’s Hospital.” The entire sermon is worth reading, but let me offer some parts of it for you.
There are many sorts of broken hearts, and Christ is good at healing them all. I am not going to lower and narrow the application of my text. The patients of the great Physician are those whose hearts are broken through sorrow. Hearts are broken through disappointment. Hearts are broken by bereavement. Hearts are broken in ten thousand ways, for this is a heart-breaking world; and Christ is good at healing all manner of heart-breaks. I would encourage every person here, even though his heart-break may not be of a spiritual kind, to make an application to him who healeth the broken in heart. The text does not say “the spiritually broken in heart”, therefore I will not insert an adverb where there is none in the passage. Come hither, ye that are burdened, all ye that labour and are heavy laden; come hither, all ye that sorrow, be your sorrow what it may; come hither, all ye whose hearts are broken, be the heart-break what it may, for he healeth the broken in heart.
Still, there is a special brokenness of heart to which Christ gives the very earliest and tenderest attention. He heals those whose hearts are broken for sin. Christ heals the heart that is broken because of its sin; so that it grieves, laments, regrets, and bemoans itself, saying, “Woe is me that I have done this exceeding great evil, and brought ruin upon myself! Woe is me that I have dishonoured God, that I have cast myself away from his presence, that I have made myself liable to his everlasting wrath, and that even now his wrath abideth upon me!” If there is a man here whose heart is broken about his past life, he is the man to whom my text refers. Are you heart-broken because you have wasted forty, fifty, sixty years? Are you heart-broken at the remembrance that you have cursed the God who has blessed you, that you have denied the existence of him without whom you never would have been in existence yourself, that you have lived to train your family without godliness, without any respect to the Most High God at all? Has the Lord brought this home to you? Has he made you feel what a hideous thing it is to be blind to Christ, to refuse his love, to reject his blood, to live an enemy to your best Friend? Have you felt this? O my friend, I cannot reach across the gallery to give you my hand; but will you think that I am doing it, for I wish to do it? If there is a heart here broken on account of sin, I thank God for it, and praise the Lord that there is such a text as this: “He healeth the broken in heart.”
Christ also heals hearts that are broken from sin. When you and sin have quarrelled, never let the quarrel be made up again. You and sin were friends at one time; but now you hate sin, and you would be wholly rid of it if you could. You wish never to sin. You are anxious to be clear of the most darling sin that you ever indulged in, and you desire to be made pure as God is pure. Your heart is broken away from its old moorings. That which you once loved you now hate. That which you once hated you now at least desire to love. It is well. I am glad that you are here, for to you is the text sent, “He healeth the broken in heart.”…
If there is such a Physician as this, and we have broken hearts, it goes without saying that, first of all, we ought to resort to him. When people are told that they have an incurable disease, a malady that will soon bring them to their grave, they are much distressed; but if, somewhere or other, they hear that the disease may be cured after all, they say, “Where? Where?” Well, perhaps it is thousands of miles away; but they are willing to go, if they can. Or the medicine may be very unpleasant or very expensive; but if they find that they can be cured, they say, “I will have it.” If anyone came to their door, and said, “Here it is, it will heal you; and you can have it for nothing, and as much as ever you want of it;” there would be no difficulty in getting rid of any quantity of the medicine, so long as we found people sick. Now, if you have a broken heart to-night, you will be glad to have Christ. I had a broken heart once, and I went to him and he healed it; healed it in a moment, and made me sing for joy! Young men and women, I was about fifteen or sixteen when he healed me; I wish that you would go to him now, while you are yet young. The age of his patients does not matter. Are you younger than fifteen? Boys and girls may have broken hearts; and old men and old women may have broken hearts; but they may come to Jesus, and be healed. Let them come to him tonight, and seek to be healed.
And in 1874 he spoke on Isaiah 61:1 in his sermon, “Binding Up Broken Hearts.” Here are some parts of it:
Notice, also, that Christ is not sent to bring to broken hearts remedies that we are to apply. If a man has a bad wound, and there is an ointment that will heal his wound, he has to put it on, but suppose the wound is in some part that he cannot reach, he says, “Here is the ointment, but what is the good of it? How can I put it on?” He has broken his arm, and it is to be strapped up. “There is the strapping,” says he, “but how am I to strap my arm up? I need somebody to do it for me.”
I remember once being with an old sea captain who was in trouble of mind, and I was telling him of the promises of God and he said, “Yes, those promises are something like the great posts by the side of the river, to which you can moor your vessel. You have got a rope with a loop to it, but the job is to get it over the post. It will hold your vessel if you can, but,” said he, “I cannot get the loop over the post. There are the promises, but I cannot get a hold of them.”
We are so weak and feeble that the Lord Jesus has not merely come to bring the ointment, but He has come “to bind up the brokenhearted.” I think that one of the grandest passages in the whole Word of God is Psalm 147:3-4, “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.” Does it not seem to be a great stoop from marshalling the stars to bending down over poor broken hearts, and closing up their wounds? Yet God delights as much in displaying His grace as in displaying His power.
So you see, dear broken-hearted ones, that Jesus Christ has come to bind up the broken in heart, that is, to bring to you the consolations of His grace, and to apply them to you, and for this purpose we read, in the verse in which our text is found, that “the Spirit of the Lord GOD” is upon Him because it is the Spirit of God who applies the Word to the heart, and therefore the Spirit is put upon the Lord Jesus Christ so that when He speaks, the Word may be with power.
So, dear friends, we have a Savior sent, upon whom the Spirit of God has been poured out, and who therefore, speaks effectually—not to ears that are closed, for He opens the ears and conveys the truth through the ear right into the soul, and so makes us know the blessing and power of it….
Further, some hearts are broken through severe bereavements. “Ah!” says one, “I shall never be able to look up again, for I have lost the husband whom I loved with all my heart, and my dear child is gone too.” “Ah!” says another, “the darling of my heart has been taken from me, all my earthly hopes have been buried beneath the sod. I shall never rejoice any more.” Will you not? There is One who heals just such broken hearts as yours, for He once wept at a graveside, and comforted the mourners there, and He will let you see that even your bereavement shall be for your good. Whoever they may have been whom you have lost, the Lord is teaching you that these losses are meant to bring you nearer to Himself, that you may find all your heart’s love centered upon the only One who deserves to have it all.
Yes quite right. Thank God that he is the great healer and the divine comforter.
In Christ, we are loved by God with an everlasting, never-failing love, because everything worthy of love in Christ is everlasting and never-failing. The thing that many people seek and never find has found us: true love, “with which [God] has blessed us in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:6). Our “in Christ” identity is also formed by this declaration: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). Without this reality, life is but an extended stint on death row before the inevitable judgment. It’s being in Christ that alone frees us from the prison of sin, death, and hell. When Christ stepped out of the grave, He took us with Him. Our sins are forgiven, our debt is paid, and our guilt is removed.
In Christ. This tiny two-word phrase contains all the comfort, security, peace, and hope that a Christian could ever need. It is the key that unlocks the New Testament’s teaching on the blessings and benefits of salvation. Once you start looking for it, you will find it all over the place—“in Christ” (or its variations, such as “in him” and “in the Lord”) occurs more than 150 times in the New Testament. It is the Apostle Paul’s favorite way of describing our redeemed status, and if you’ll allow it to, it’s a phrase that will shape your identity.
By “identity” I mean the way that you see yourself and how you live in light of it. Of course, the most important thing isn’t how we see ourselves but how God sees us. In fact, the Christian’s aim is to conform his perspective to God’s. We want to share God’s view in all things, including what He has to say about our personal identity. In an individualistic age such as our own, this is becoming increasingly difficult. In recent decades, the world is suggesting subjective and plastic answers to those big questions in life, such as “Who am I?” and “What am I here for?” But in response to the modern and muddled “I identify as” way of thinking, we must assert a definitive “my identity is” mindset informed by the Scriptures.
Here is where our two-word phrase comes into play. The Scriptures attest, over and over, that God views or considers the believer as being “in Christ.” When we understand, believe, and live out what God says is true of us in Christ, we will find objective, unshakable answers to those big questions in life. We will find a true, pure, and satisfying identity—one that isn’t found in us at all, actually, but is found in the person of Christ Jesus.
Union with Christ
Before we unpack exactly what it is that is true of us in Christ, we should ask how it is true of us. How can God view us through the lens of the person and work of Christ? How can Christ’s accomplishments be credited to us? The answer is found in our union with Christ, a mysterious work of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:32). As the Apostle John writes, “By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit” (1 John 4:13). The Westminster Shorter Catechism explains that the Holy Spirit applies “to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling” (Q&A 30, emphasis added). It’s a profound reality: through Spirit-wrought faith, all that is true of Christ—even Christ Himself—comes to us. We are so united to Christ that there is actually a mutual indwelling: He in us and we in Him.
John Calvin, in his comments on Ephesians 3:17 (“that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith”), made this jubilant observation:
What a remarkable commendation is here bestowed on faith, that, by means of it, the Son of God becomes our own, and “makes his abode with us!” By faith we not only acknowledge that Christ suffered and rose from the dead on our account, but accepting the offers which he makes of himself, we possess and enjoy him as our Savior!
The Christian actually possesses Christ and all His benefits. To be united to Christ, therefore, is the sum and substance of our salvation.
Although this union is mysterious, we should stress that it is not speculative or merely intellectual and cognitive. It is actual and vital. Believers live in Christ the way a fish lives in water or a bird in the air—we have no life apart from being in Christ (Col. 3:4). Admittedly, our union might not feel as natural as that. At times, the Christ in whom we live and move and have our being feels distant. Our objective union in Him is not met with an equally fervent communion with Him. When that happens, we search for meaning and build identities on things other than Christ: career, fame, sexual expression, our children—all things that will leave us empty if we try to find ultimate meaning in them. To quote Calvin again: “Our whole salvation and all its parts are comprehended in Christ. We should therefore take care not to derive the least portion of it from anywhere else.”
An “In Christ” Identity
This means that for a lasting identity, we need to return to the sufficiency of our Savior, basking in the truth that all He is He is for His people. There is nothing that I need that I don’t have in Christ.
US and Saudi Arabia seek to implement security pact ahead of US election in November The United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are reportedly in the final stage of securing an American-Saudi defense pact ahead of the upcoming U.S. election in November. If implemented, the U.S. would be required to defend Saudi Arabia if it were under attack and would become the first Arab state to sign such a strategic alliance with the United States.
Far-right gains in Europe: Good for the Jews? Far-right parties made dramatic gains in the June 9 European parliamentary elections. Israel supporters celebrated, anticipating the exit of some of the worst purveyors of anti-Israel hatred. Even so, European Jewish Association (EJA) chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin advises caution. …“the rise of far-right parties is something that requires all of us to be really careful; to analyze very carefully the situation.”
‘Nasrallah realizes the IDF can kill him’: Hezbollah leadership shaken after Israeli elimination Approximately 250 rockets were launched on Wednesday towards northern Israel, … These launches come after the assassination of senior Hezbollah official Sami Taleb Abdullah, whose rank was equivalent to a brigadier general … He is the highest-ranking Hezbollah commander to have been killed so far in the war. … the IDF precisely assassinated Taleb using a fighter jet. … Hezbollah Secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah realizes that the IDF has the ability to kill him whenever it wants, and I believe this worries him quite a bit.
Key Democrats approve sale of F-15s to Israel Two key Democratic holdouts in the House and Senate have signed off on a major arms sale to Israel, including 50 F-15 fighter jets worth more than $18 billion, after facing intense pressure from the Biden administration and pro-Israel advocates to allow the transaction to move forward,
Defeating Hamas is only the beginning of the solution I wish we could say that the Palestinians were “hijacked” by Hamas and the people themselves actually seek peace and prosperity, but the facts show the opposite: – The latest poll from days ago shows that 67% of the Palestinians SUPPORT the October 7th massacre. That’s why Abbas has avoided any further elections. He’d lose and he knows it. I’m not aware of even ONE case of a Gaza resident that actively opposed this violence.
Gazans’ Rage Against Hamas is Boiling Over The New York Times published a front-page article this week based on interviews with nearly a dozen Gaza residents who blame Hamas for initiating the conflict and bringing death and destruction upon them. The sentiment that Hamas is prioritizing its self-serving objectives over the welfare of ordinary Gazans is widespread.
Jerusalem will not commit to ending war until hostages released Hamas has broken past deals too many times to be trusted, said a senior Israeli official. Jerusalem will not commit to ending the war in Gaza until Hamas releases all of the hostages held by the terrorist group, according to a senior Israeli official.
US envoy meets Netanyahu & Gallant as IDF eliminates Hezbollah operative after 2 quiet days on northern border senior advisor to President Joe Biden, Amos Hochstein, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday in a push to find a diplomatic solution to the situation on Israel’s northern border. While Hezbollah sharply escalated its attacks over the past weeks, this Sunday and Monday saw relative quiet along the tense border, as the terror group didn’t claim any attacks in the last 48 hours after averaging over 10 attacks against Israeli targets over the past months.
Netanyahu dissolves War Cabinet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced to his ministers who participated in the Security Cabinet session on Sunday that he has decided to dissolve the War Cabinet and to hold the relevant discussions in the broader Security Cabinet instead. However, those close to the Prime Minister predict that he will hold consultations with a smaller forum, similar to the War Cabinet, while decisions will be made in the Security Cabinet. By doing this, Netanyahu absolved himself of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s demands to join the War Cabinet after the National Unity Party left the government.
Northeast and Midwest prepare for dangerously hot temperatures and heat dome Things are about to heat up in much of the U.S. — dangerously hot temperatures are forecast for the Midwest and Northeast this week, prompting health officials to urge people to make plans now to stay safe A heat wave was already driving up temperatures in many Southern states over the weekend.
Summer snow in Montana, NWS issues rare June Winter Storm Watch An unexpected cold front is bringing a wintry mix to Montana just as summer approaches. With a Winter Storm Watch in effect, heavy snow is expected in the high elevations of the Rockies, disrupting travel and creating hazardous conditions.
Extremely heavy rains hit Abidjan, causing deadly floods, Ivory Coast Severe flooding hit Ivory Coast’s largest city, Abidjan, after heavy rains triggered devastating floods and landslides on Thursday, June 13, 2024. The floods caused widespread disruption, claiming the lives of at least 8 people, injuring at least 18, and overwhelming the city’s infrastructure. Unconfirmed reports on Monday, June 17, mention as many as 61 fatalities.
Record-breaking heat wave forecast from Midwest to Northeast, U.S. NWS Weather Prediction Center (WPC) is forecasting record-breaking heat to expand from the Midwest and Great Lakes to the Northeast this week, potentially lingering through early next week. The duration of this heat wave is notable and potentially the longest experienced in decades for some locations.
The Masses Are Being Deceived… We Must Speak Up And Share Biblical Truth …the comments section fills with accusations that Christians must be “closet gays” because of how much they “obsess” over LGBTQ. Now, of course, that’s not the case—we’re not obsessed (honestly, there are many, many things we’d rather talk about!), but we do speak to this issue often because, well, the culture is obsessed with it!
Sharia Police and Hatred of Jews: How Primary Schools are Becoming Islamized The Austrian government advocates for mandatory democracy and ethics education to counter radical influences but fails to address that these influences are rooted in authentic Islamic teachings, a reality often sanitized by Western governments and media, thereby endangering non-Muslims.
“Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. What is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?” —James Madison (1788)
ON THIS DAY in 1812, the United States declared war on Great Britain again, commencing the War of 1812. Though the U.S. had won its independence decades earlier, the British were impressing American sailors into service in their navy along with interfering with trade and other bullying behaviors. Over the course of three years, the two nations fought to a draw, which was really a victory for the young American nation.
Douglas Andrews, Thomas Gallatin, & Jordan Candler
Immigration
Biden issues another incentive for illegals: Joe Biden’s handlers have stepped up their efforts to weaponize our borders and weaken the fabric of our nation. The latest example of this is a sweeping new “protection” against deportation for immigrant spouses of American citizens. Biden’s DHS, which is still being run by impeached Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, will implement the policy to allow immigrants “to apply for lawful permanent resident status, including the non-citizen spouses and children of lawful U.S. permanent residents or citizens.” As Fox News reports, “The White House said it expected the policy to offer protection [read: amnesty] to about half a million American families, which would include roughly 50,000 under the age of 21 who are married to or children of a U.S. citizen.” The order would also give additional preferences to Barack Obama’s so-called Dreamers. Asked if the new policy would apply to illegals in addition to those who obeyed our laws, a White House flack dodged the question, saying that the rules would apply to “individuals who are, eligible under existing U.S law to be able to adjust their status.” Thus, yet another Biden diktat serves as yet another incentive for gate-crashers to flout our nation’s immigration laws.
Migrant suspect in sex assault of 13-year-old girl in NYC park now in NYPD custody (NY Post)
Administration official admits that unaccompanied minors crossing border aren’t checked for criminal records (National Review)
Illegal immigrant “gotaways” near two million under Biden admin (Daily Caller)
“War” on Drugs
A dopey pardon policy: Given that Maryland abuts Washington, DC, and is therefore one of the bluest states in the union, it stands to reason that it’s also one of the dope-smokingest. And sure enough, Democrat Governor Wes Moore pardoned more than 175,000 dope-smoking Marylanders in one of the nation’s most sweeping drug-policy rollbacks. The AP reports, “Though the pardons will not result in anyone being released from incarceration — and nor will they result in having past convictions automatically expunged from a person’s background check — advocates praised the move as a way of removing barriers to housing, employment, or educational opportunities based on convictions for conduct that is no longer illegal.” Fair enough, to the extent that misdemeanor pot convictions are keeping folks from landing jobs or finding housing. “I’m ecstatic,” said Moore, “that we have a real opportunity with what I’m signing to right a lot of historical wrongs. If you want to be able to create inclusive economic growth, it means you have to start removing these barriers that continue to disproportionately sit on communities of color.” We’re not sure what Moore means by “historical wrongs.” The conduct was illegal at the time, and the law applied to all citizens regardless of skin color.
Anti-Semitism
Ford Foundation sends millions to anti-Semites: In response to Hamas’s October 7 terrorist attack, the Ford Foundation, led by President Darren Walker, announced that it would be sending money for “immediate humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza and the Middle East.” Walker announced that the foundation’s “resources will go to partners in the region to provide life-saving support and other essential needs to the affected Palestinian civilians in Gaza.” While he observed the “tragic events” that had occurred in Israel, Walker didn’t name the perpetrators of the terrorism: Hamas. The reason for this oversight seems to be the fact that much of the foundation’s “humanitarian” funding has subsequently gone to support anti-Semitic organizations. The irony is that Walker has personally decried Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford as “one of the twentieth century’s most virulent American antisemites” and called for “all of us engaged in building a fairer, more just America ought to embrace our responsibility to speak out about this ancient strain of inequality — this category of caste — exactly as we call out racism, sexism, ableism, and homophobia.” However, since 2015, the foundation has given over $6 million to two anti-Semitic pro-Palestinian organizations that effectively justify terrorism against Israel as the Palestinians’ “right of self-defense.”
Gazans angry that Hamas held hostages above ground (National Review)
Seinfeld shows how to shut down a heckler: Jerry Seinfeld is no conservative, but it’s clear that he’s been mugged one too many times by reality. Indeed, comedy itself has been mugged repeatedly by leftist snowflakes, to the point where many comedians have been rendered utterly unfunny. But not Seinfeld. During a recent performance in Australia, he showed his fellow comics how to shut down a heckler — in this case, one of the Jew-hating pro-Hamas variety. Without hesitating, he went straight to mockery: “We have a genius, ladies and gentlemen. He solved the Middle East. He solved it,” adding, “It’s the Jewish comedians, that’s who we have to get. They’re the ones doing everything. … Tomorrow we will read in the paper: Middle East 100 percent solved thanks to man at the Qudos Arena stopping Jew comedian. They stopped him, and everyone in the Middle East went, ‘Oh my God, let’s just get along. We can’t do that.’” Take a look. And to you aspiring comedians out there: Take notes.
Race
Google’s racist reroute: Google’s Big Tech colossus gives us plenty of “free” and fascinating goodies, so long as we’re willing to compromise our liberty-based conservative principles — and, in at least one instance, our safety as well. As Ali Partovi, the CEO of startup accelerator NEO, points out, “If you’ve wondered why Google Maps doesn’t offer ‘most scenic walking route’ (a top user request), apparently it’s because they want to help fix income inequality by sending you through low-income neighborhoods.” There are, of course, good types of discrimination and bad types. The good types, like choosing not to pull on a tiger’s tail and steering clear of crime-ridden neighborhoods, are what keep us alive and well. The bad types, like judging people purely based on the color of their skin, are what foster racial harm and resentment. Leftist do-gooders, though, often throw others’ caution to the wind in the furtherance of social justice. For example, some guy named Kasey argues that “inadvertently diverting foot traffic from low-income streets to high-income streets takes revenue and potentially tax dollars from already struggling communities and funnels it instead to richer communities.” We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: Google is evil.
Chicago reparations task force: Chicago Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson’s poll numbers are sinking as violent crime continues to plague the city, and residents, particularly the city’s black residents, have become increasingly outraged over the growing number of migrants being dumped in their neighborhoods. So, in an effort to deflect from his failures and his policy decisions that served to exacerbate both these problems, Johnson, who is black, decided to play the race card. On Monday, to much fanfare, Johnson announced his creation of a reparations task force ahead of the Juneteenth celebration. Citing the city’s history of “systemic racism and injustices that have been inflicted on our communities,” Johnson asserted that his reparations task force “will unlock the doors of prosperity to fully flow through the neighborhoods that have been disinvested in for decades.” He added, “We must never forget our goal to make sure reparations become a reality for Black residents of this city.” Johnson’s task force grift will cost Chicago taxpayers some $500,000, money that could be spent on other things, such as more policing in low-income neighborhoods, since 71 people were shot, nine of whom died, in the city over the past weekend.
Rainbow Mafia
Biden’s infamous White House trans influencer accused of sexual assaults: Rosa Montoya, the gender-bending male who went topless during Joe Biden’s Pride celebration at the White House last year, has been accused of sexually assaulting at least five people. One individual, a woman who has undergone several gender-mutilating surgeries in an effort to appear like a man, accused Montoya of repeatedly sexually abusing her over a year-long period. The individual said that after the assaults, she “attempted to end my life on more than one occasion due to how depressed I was from the trauma.” She also shared emails that were purportedly from Montoya in which he appears to admit to the sexual abuse. “I broke your trust and violated you,” he said, and “I’m sorry I forced myself on you.” The individual also claims that there are at least four other victims of Montoya’s abuse. Given his publicly sexually lewd behavior at the White House, these allegations are not shocking.
Top cancer charity apologizes for using word “cervix” instead of trans-friendly “front hole” (Daily Mail)
American Spirit
Morgan Freeman excoriates Black History Month again: Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman is not a fan of Black History Month. Back in a 2005 interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes,” Freeman famously called Black History Month “ridiculous” as he explained, “I don’t want a black history month. Black history is American history.” In a recently published interview with Variety, Freeman again weighed in on Black History Month, stating, “I detest it. The mere idea of it. You are going to give me the shortest month in a year? And you are going to celebrate ‘my’ history?! This whole idea makes my teeth itch. It’s not right.” He added, “My history is American history. It’s the one thing in this world I am interested in beyond making money, having a good time, and getting enough sleep.” We need a lot more Morgan Freemans and a lot fewer race-hustlers.
Misc.
White House finally declares Biden won’t commute Hunter’s sentence even if he gets prison time (NY Post)
Secret Service confirms agent was robbed at gunpoint during Biden’s California trip (Scripps News)
Obesity will cost U.S. up to $9.1 trillion in medical costs over next decade, House GOP warns (Washington Examiner)
Judge backs off from threat to punish journalist over Covenant School reporting (Daily Wire)
Tennessee governor OKs bill allowing death penalty for child rape convictions (AP)
Humor: White House claims terrible economy is just a deepfake (Babylon Bee)
Rachel Morin’s killing is the direct result of Joe Biden’s facilitated invasion.
Emmy Griffin
On August 5, 2023, a mother of five named Rachel Morin disappeared while hiking on the popular Ma and Pa trail in Bel Air, Maryland. Her body was discovered in a culvert on August 6. She had been sexually assaulted and murdered. Her alleged killer is a Salvadorian gang member who entered the U.S. illegally as early as February 2023. He also sought asylum in Canada before being turned away by the Canadians.
Reports are that the illegal immigrant brutalized women in his wake. He fled his home country after murdering a woman there. In California in March 2023, he assaulted a nine-year-old girl and her mother during a home invasion, an assault that produced DNA linking him to Morin’s murder in Maryland. Morin may not have even been his last victim as he forged his way through the U.S. interior.
Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler gave an impassioned speech about the senselessness of this murder during a press conference. “We are 1,800 miles from the southern border here in Harford County,” he said. “This is the second woman in our county to be killed by illegal suspects. In both cases, they are suspects from El Salvador with ties to criminal gangs. [This] should not be happening. Victor Hernandez did not come here to make a better life for himself or for his family; he came here to escape a crime he committed in El Salvador.”
Sheriff Gahler is absolutely correct. Morin’s murder is the direct result of Biden’s facilitated invasion. Her blood is on his hands. Her children are without their mother because of the actions of this monster that Biden allowed in.
Morin’s is by no means the first death at the hands of an illegal immigrant. In Martinsburg, West Virginia, another Salvadorian gang member killed an American woman, and police found her body burning. This murderer had already done 22 years in an El Salvador prison and had a rap sheet a mile long.
And who can forget Laken Riley, the college student murdered by an illegal? Her alleged killer was a Venezuelan who entered the country illegally in September 2022. He played Biden’s “catch and release” border policy like a fiddle.
Biden sort of acknowledged Laken during his State of the Union address (he called her “Lincoln” after being heckled into attempting to say her name), but it was all in service to a cynical political ploy — trying to pin his own bad border decision on Republicans.
We know Laken Riley’s name and now Rachel Morin’s. But how many countless others go unremarked by the national news? How many other American mothers, daughters, fathers, and sons are dead because Biden turned a blind eye to the needs of the American people in an attempt to garner future Democrat voters via the southern border pipeline?
If we had a national database of illegal immigrant crime like our Mark Alexander has been calling for since 2022, we would know the answer. Frankly, the reason that one isn’t being set up is because it paints a pretty ugly picture for Democrats. It would expose the fact that other countries are emptying their prisons and mental institutions and foisting them on the U.S. It would even demonstrate once and for all that not all illegals are here for a better life.
It’s also not just murder; remember, tens of thousands of Americans die every year from fentanyl overdoses — a drug trafficked across Biden’s open border.
It’s poor consolation to all the American families grieving because their loved ones were assaulted and/or murdered by individuals who had no right to be in this country in the first place. Even one victim is one too many.
Thomas Gallatin: Biden’s Migrant Job Market — A new report finds that the vast majority of new jobs during Joe Biden’s presidency have gone to noncitizens.
Douglas Andrews: Are We Ready to Draft Our Women? — Requiring American women to be registered with the selective service is an idea that’s both awful and unnecessary.
Michael Swartz: Say ‘Goodbye’ to the Petrodollar — For half a century, the U.S. enjoyed a special status among the world’s energy consumers. That’s no longer the case.
Reader Comments
Editor’s Note: Each week we receive hundreds of comments and correspondences — and we read every one of them. Click here for a few thought-provoking comments about specific articles. The views expressed therein don’t necessarily reflect those of The Patriot Post.
The Crushing Reality of Federal Debt — Our government is now so deep in debt that taxpayers must spend a trillion dollars a year just on interest.
Why Young Women Are More Woke — Eric Kaufmann and Dr. Peterson discuss the current definition of “woke” and why young women tend to align themselves with this ideology.
“You know, my, my, my son says, you ought to have a, uh, you know, we all have, uh, various short-term descriptions for your jobs, for what you’re accomplished. You should say, ‘Joe jobs.’” —Joe Biden
Gaslighting
“These right-wing critics of the president have a credibility problem. … Instead of talking about the president’s performance in office — and what I mean by that is his legislative wins, what he’s been able to do for the American people across the country — we’re seeing these deepfakes, these manipulated videos. And it is, again, done in bad faith.” —White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre
Praetorian Guard
“There’s a growing and insidious trend in right-wing media … to take highly misleading and selectively edited videos of President Biden … and use those videos to spread messages virally to cast doubt on President Biden’s fitness for office.” —MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace
“Even critics were saying that [Biden] did a strong job, very good job representing the United States.” —MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough regarding the G7 summit
For the Record
“The media that decries misinformation is now insisting unedited videos of Joe Biden are edited.” —Erick Erickson
“Biden’s White House has redefined ‘deep fake’ to mean any video that shows Biden being lost and confused.” —Tim Young
“Americans think President Biden is mentally unfit because he is, clearly, mentally unfit for the office.” —Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Demagogue
“Today, we remember the nine beautiful souls of Mother Emanuel AME who lost their lives on June 17, 2015. [T]he word of God was pierced by bullets in hate and rage…” —Joe Biden (“But Joe Biden never, EVER mentions the NINETEEN THOUSAND+ black souls murdered by other black people since then. Hmmm. Guess those black lives did NOT matter.” —Mark Alexander)
With Friends Like These…
“I will not attend [Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress]. … I’m not going to sit in a one-way lecture. … How he treated President Obama, he should not expect reciprocity.” —Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA)
The BIG Lies
“Zero. That was monthly inflation in May. There’s more to do still, but this is welcome progress.” —Joe Biden
“No administration has done more for Black America than the Biden-Harris administration.” —Biden campaign communications director Michael Tyler
“This MAGA [Supreme] Court is going off the deep end, aligning itself more and more with the most extreme elements of the hard-Right.” —Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Re: The Left
“Martha Ann Alito had a life before she met her husband, and every feminist out there suggesting that she is simply his proxy with a vagina is a hypocritical disgrace.” —Christine Flowers
“Those claiming that the Hunter Biden conviction proves our justice system has not been weaponized … couldn’t be more wrong. … His paltry case got to trial despite the many efforts — some successful — by the Garland Justice Department to scuttle the entire investigation against him and to insulate any complicity by his father, who is Trump’s political rival for the presidency.” —Hans von Spakovsky
Food for Thought
“Maybe the best thing coming out of Ukraine is that it is exposing the sad state of our industrial base when it comes to making weapons that will be needed in the next war that is just over the horizon.” —Gary Bauer
And Last…
“I detest [Black History Month]. … This whole idea makes my teeth itch. It’s not right. My history is American history.” —actor Morgan Freeman
During his “My Take,” Tuesday, “Varney & Co.” host Stuart Varney called out the White House for spinning Biden’s problems, arguing that twisting reality about theborder, inflation, and crime is politics, but denying the president is in mental decline puts the nation’s security at risk.
STUART VARNEY:It’s a pattern at the White House. When things go wrong, deny reality.
As Fox cameras showed the world that migrants were streaming into our country, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, “Biden has done more to secure the border than anybody else.”
Karin Jean-Pierre suggested the tape had been manipulated, or was a cheap fake. Wrong.
It’s not fake. No manipulative editing. Just look at the tape.
You can spin inflation, the border and all the rest. That’s politics.
But when you spin the mental decline of the president when you essentially deny there’s anything wrong, you are risking the security of the country and the integrity of our leadership.
Security because the unqualifiedKamala Harrisis waiting in the wings.
As Israel says it has destroyed half of the Hamas fighting forces in Gaza, it’s dealing with Hezbollah after its massive rocket attacks – but the Biden Administration is urging it to trust diplomacy and not to strike back so hard it causes a major war, but a reserve Israeli officer tells CBN News the earlier Israel attacks, the better chance it has to win a war; report: Israel knew about the Hamas plan to strike before October 7th; with several thousand Israeli soldiers wounded since the beginning of the Gaza war – but a special visitor, Christian speaker Nick Vujicic, recently encouraged them not to let their injuries ruin their lives; why the US Surgeon General is calling for warning labels for kids on social media; why some voters are supporting the independent Presidential candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr over Donald Trump and Joe Biden; and Michele Holbrook talks to CBN’s “Healthy Living” about her rare disease which has led to her having 100 tumors, and how she relies on God’s strength to help her.
“In Christ, there is nothing that we could ever do for our Father to disown us. The acceptance that we receive from the Creator and Sustainer of the universe should overshadow the acceptance that we try to achieve from other people whose opinion does not truly matter….”
(Justin Myko Agpangan – By Grace Alone) We long to be accepted. Sadly, we look for acceptance in the wrong places. Usually, we look for acceptance from our families, our workmates, and our friends….
If we make the acceptance from the people in our lives as something that we derive our value from then we would be distressed every time people do not affirm us. It could be a snare that would make us please people rather than God.
So, what do we when the desire to be accepted sets in?View article →
Democrat insiders have blown the whistle on a secret plan to replace feeble Joe Biden if he falters in his initial debate with Trump or if his poll ratings continue to decline, the Daily Mail first reported.
The Gateway Pundit previously reported that Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna says she is “hearing on Capitol Hill” that Joe Biden will ”likely” be replaced as the Democratic presidential nominee by November.
Luna discussed the matter during an appearance on Thursday’s episode of Jesse Watters Primetime.
The congresswoman told Watters, “A lot of people realize that Joe Biden’s likely not going to be the nominee, which is from what we’re hearing on Capitol Hill, Jesse. You know, Representative Kiley had reported that Kamala Harris is actually eyeing a run for California governor because of it.”
There have long been rumors and rumblings that California Gov. Gavin Newsom will replace Biden, but he has maintained that is not his plan.
“So you are hearing also in DC that Joe Biden isn’t going to be the Democrat nominee?” Watters asked.
“Correct,” Luna replied.
“It appears that our colleagues are trying to put guardrails on a 2024 presidential election with President Trump,” Luna said. “And also what you’re seeing is, according to our polling, you know, Jesse, as well as I do, that they’ve been trying to really paint Republicans as anti-woman, and they’re trying to push an abortion, crisis right now with the election. And I don’t think that that’s the case.”
Luna continued, “A lot of the American people know that really. This is a state rights decision. And so I think that they know that they’re losing. It’s very evident at this point.”
Now, it appears that there may be a secret plot brewing within the Democratic Party to replace Joe Biden. The plan is allegedly being orchestrated by influential figures, including former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
According to Democratic bigwig, Obama campaign guru David Axelrod, the Biden team scheduled one of the earliest presidential debates in history (June 27 on CNN) to prove to naysayers that Joe’s not going anywhere.
But the gambit carries tremendous risk.
While an efficient debate performance by Biden could help rally Democrats behind him – a significant misstep would only stoke more replacement chatter.
Former Clinton advisor and polling expert Mark Penn suggested the CNN debate will be Biden’s last chance to reassure voters he’s fit for the job.
Now DailyMail.com has learned that if Joe stumbles in that first face-off with Trump or if his polling numbers keep falling, it’ll take a united front of the liberal grandees to make Joe throw in the towel.
‘The only people who could force him out would be Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer,’ one Democratic strategist told DailyMail.com. ‘It would have to be the four of them collectively.’
And the process would be high risk.
However, there is another potential complication. Biden could stubbornly refuse to step down and continue his campaign until Election Day.
If Biden refuses to step down, it would put the Democratic Party in a difficult position. They would have to contend not only with a stubborn incumbent but also with potential backlash from progressives if Kamala Harris is passed over for the nomination.
“That person would not be Vice President Kamala Harris, according to sources, who observed that Harris has already had to fend off a push to replace her on the ticket,” Daily Mail reported.
“Strategists theorize that Democrats would have to hold a public event to symbolically transfer power to the new candidate. Biden, Obama, Clinton, Schumer, and Pelosi would publicly introduce and endorse the anointed nominee,” the news outlet added.
Today’s 20-min top headline news brief includes:
[2:03] -President Joe and Jill Biden host an event at the White House marking the 12th Anniversary of DACA.
[2:57] -NEWSMAX’s James Rosen presses KJP on Biden’s mental acuity. [NEWSMAX Breaking]
[8:14] – Ric Grenell: “Joe Biden thinks he can deny he is freezing.” [Newsline]
[9:58] -AZ Senate candidate Kari Lake thinks Puppet master Obama is pulling Biden’s strings. [Newsline]
[13:52] -Nevada GOP Senate candidate Sam Brown: “Trump endorsement resonates with those hurt by Biden’s policies.” [Wake Up America]
[16:28] -Boeing CEO facing questions about putting profits before safety.
[17:25] -Greg Kelly wonders why haven’t we heard from any of the Trump jurors. [Greg Kelly Reports]
Whenever I am out speaking and take questions, there is one question I can assume will be asked. Aren’t you concerned about the possibility we will soon have a central bank digital currency? Financial leaders in other countries are calling for the implementation of these CBDCs, and concerned Americans wonder if they are coming to this country.
My first response is to mention that I have written about CBDCs, which is usually followed by an encouragement to do it again. Hence, this commentary. My second response it to point to the upcoming election. President Biden signed an executive order encouraging the Federal Reserve to study the feasibility of digital currency. Former President Trump is on record opposing CBDCs.
Why should we be concerned? With CBDCs, every transaction could be tracked by the government. The government and the federal reserve would know even more about you, your family, your clients, and your charities. Although some critics fear we would lose our privacy, I fear a greater issue.
CBDCs would make it easier for governments to freeze financial resources. The Canadian government prevented the protesting truckers from accessing their bank accounts, but that would be made much easier with CBDCs. And CBDCs can be programmed. This could be used to prohibit people from buying certain goods or at least place a limit on how much they might purchase.
Proponents believe CBDCs would give central banks a new opportunity for monetary policy. It would be easier, they say, to undertake “helicopter drops of money.” But they also add that it would be possible to implement negative interest rates by shrinking balances in CBDC accounts. That is bureaucratic speak for taking money out of your account.
In many ways, this election will determine the future of CBDCs.
‘Fox & Friends First’ co-host Todd Piro discusses Biden’s mental acuity, arguing the president hasn’t been forced to ‘face the music’ during his whole political career.
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., discusses how the White House is claiming that certain unflattering videos of President Biden are ‘cheap fakes’ on ‘The Ingraham …
During a press conference, DEI White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre lashed out at conservative media outlets for circulating what she described as “cheap fake videos” of Joe Biden looking old, feeble, and senile.
The video is the third one from last week that shows Biden either being frozen or wandering.
The Hollywood Reporter’s Chris Gardner posted a video that went viral of Biden briefly applauding the crowd. He then stood frozen until Obama grabbed him by the wrist and led him offstage with a hand on his back.
“That’s a wrap on record-setting Democratic fundraiser for Joe Biden’s reelection campaign (netting $28M),” Gardner wrote. “Former President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden offer final waves to Peacock Theater crowd as Obama then grabs Biden’s hand to lead him offstage following 40-minute conversation with Jimmy Kimmel.”
WATCH:
That’s a wrap on record-setting Democratic fundraiser for Joe Biden’s reelection campaign (netting $28M). Former President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden offer final waves to Peacock Theater crowd as Obama then grabs Biden’s hand to lead him offstage following 40-minute… pic.twitter.com/xbE2jf3jdz
White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates defended Biden on Sunday in comments that attacked the New York Post and other conservative websites for its reporting on the incident.
“Fresh off being fact checked by at least 6 mainstream outlets for lying about @POTUS with cheap fakes, Rupert Murdoch’s sad little super pac, the New York Post, is back to disrespecting it’s readers & itself once again. Their ethical standards could deal with a little unfreezing,” he wrote.
“By pretending the President taking in an applauding crowd for a few seconds is somehow wrong, all they’re really admitting is – once again – is they can’t take on the leadership that’s fueling the strongest economic growth in the world & bringing violent crime to a 50 year low.”
By pretending the President taking in an applauding crowd for a few seconds is somehow wrong, all they’re really admitting is – once again – is they can’t take on the leadership that’s fueling the strongest economic growth in the world & bringing violent crime to a 50 year low.
DNC puppet influencer Harry Sisson stepped up to defend Biden, asserting that the controversial video was manipulated. However, his defense included a video clip that was noticeably edited and conveniently panned out just as Joe Biden appeared to freeze.
“MAGA IS LYING AGAIN The new lie is that Biden had to be “led off stage” by Obama and that he “froze” but that is COMPLETELY FALSE! This video shows what actually happened and is not some selectively edited garbage. The lies don’t stop from MAGA,” he wrote.
“Republicans do stuff like this because they know they have nothing to run on. Trump’s entire campaign right now is “Joe Biden is mean to me” and then they spread garbage like this. It’s a shame Republicans can’t run on their own records and have to do stuff like this,” he added.
Republicans do stuff like this because they know they have nothing to run on. Trump’s entire campaign right now is “Joe Biden is mean to me” and then they spread garbage like this. It’s a shame Republicans can’t run on their own records and have to do stuff like this.
In a recent press conference, White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed her frustration over the growing trend of “edited videos” designed to make the President appear frail or mentally confused.
“I think you all have called this the cheap fakes video, and that’s exactly what they are. They are cheap fakes video. They are done in bad faith. And some of your news organizations have been very clear, have stressed that the right-wing critiques of the President have a credibility problem because the fact checkers have repeatedly caught them pushing misinformation, disinformation. And so we see this, and this is something coming from your part of the world, calling them cheap fakes and misinformation,” Pierre said.
WATCH:
GASLIGHTING: The White House is pretending that the daily videos of Biden acting confused and mentally incompetent is actually Russian disinformation. Literally, every single day Biden reveals just how unfit he is for the office he holds… pic.twitter.com/i0H2a6vhUJ
“In Christ, there is nothing that we could ever do for our Father to disown us. The acceptance that we receive from the Creator and Sustainer of the universe should overshadow the acceptance that we try to achieve from other people whose opinion does not truly matter….” 
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