Daily Archives: September 21, 2025

Assassin Nation: The MSM’s Cover-Up

Clearly, the Leftmedia has downplayed or ignored the obvious left-wing radicalization of the assassin….And they’ve taken up the cause of Kimmel to deflect our attention from Charlie Kirk. It won’t work. But this willful neglect and this dumbing-down of the citizenry does matter. Why? Because, as Founder John Adams warned us long ago, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

(Douglas Andrews – The Patriot Post) The Left’s penchant for political violence is no secret. It’s well documented. And yet the mainstream media can’t seem to report on it.

We can start with the general and the historical — there’s the Democrat-founded Klan, of course, and the anarchists and the commies and the assorted presidential assassins, and the ‘60s radicals like the Weathermen and the Black Panthers. More recently, we have the Trump 45 inauguration rioters, and the black bloc hordes of antifa, and the “mostly peaceful” Summer of Rage rioters. As for victims, we have the countless anonymous Trump supporters who’ve been assaulted for the offense of wearing a red cap or a Trump shirt, and the anonymous Tesla owners who became enemies of the Left when Elon Musk decided to support Donald Trump. View article →

A Tragic National Harbinger :: By Bill Wilson

The tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk has revealed much about the state of our nation.

Yes, Kirk was a public figure, but also a husband, father, and fellow citizen. His death should have inspired sympathy, even from critics of his politics. Instead, thousands took to social media to mock, ridicule, and celebrate his murder.

That so many would cheer the death of a man simply because of his beliefs is a sobering reminder of how far society has fallen from even the most basic standards of decency. Scripture warns that when people do what is right in their own eyes, the result is corruption, chaos, and grief. Sadly, we are living in that reality. This single event is no doubt a national harbinger of a country at a crossroads.

The sheer number of celebratory posts was staggering. From cheer coaches to school board members, from employees at companies to ordinary citizens, many proudly displayed their joy that a man had been assassinated for his beliefs. Videos and memes were shared openly, mocking Kirk’s wife and family.

Social media, once intended to connect communities, has become a tool for hate and destruction. What used to be whispered in dark corners is now shouted from digital rooftops without shame. The willingness of thousands to revel in another’s murder shows not only the hardness of hearts, but also the presence of a darker, more sinister cultural current rising within our nation.

This is more than mere political division. It is evidence of an evil spirit growing in the culture, one that despises God, family, and truth. And when a record of these disgraceful comments is compiled—such as the website gathering public posts of those who mocked Kirk—mainstream outlets like Wired rush to condemn the collectors as “right-wing extremists.” Think about that: the outrage is not over people rejoicing at an assassination, but that their words are being preserved as evidence. Fortunately, those who engaged in such vile mockery are already facing consequences, with several being fired or suspended from their jobs.

Liberals decry this as an attack on free speech, yet they ignore the accountability that comes with exercising that freedom. They overlook that they celebrate a murder that silenced the free speech of a fellow citizen.

Freedom of speech is not freedom from consequences. Every word carries weight. With rights come responsibilities, with responsibilities come accountability, and with accountability come consequences. Those who mock the dead, especially one’s husband, father, and fellow citizen, should not be surprised when their words cost them. The deeper tragedy, however, is not in the firings or suspensions. It is that our society has reached such a place where political animus overrides human decency.

Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil.”

Let us stand in solidarity with what is right and good in the sight of God, and hold accountability against the tide of darkness trying to overtake us.

Sources:

Breitbart (School Board Member): https://www.breitbart.com/education/2025/09/14/photos-queer-queen-toledo-school-board-member-compares-charlie-kirks-widow-erika-to-handmaids-tale/

Posted in The Daily Jot

 

The post A Tragic National Harbinger :: By Bill Wilson appeared first on Rapture Ready.

Source: A Tragic National Harbinger :: By Bill Wilson

In-Depth: The United Nations Vs The God Of The Universe | Harbingers Daily » Feed by Robert Gottselig

Robert Gottselig

Let’s be honest, the United Nations is nothing more than the United nothing. Last week at the UN, a shameful declaration for a two-state solution was endorsed.

Of course, the United States voted no. “Make no mistake,” the US told the General Assembly, “this resolution is a gift to Hamas.” Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Dannon rightfully stated that “the only beneficiary is Hamas.”

“When terrorists are the ones cheering, you are not advancing peace; you are advancing terror,” Dannon underscored.

Let me get this straight… Out of the 193 members in the United Nations General Assembly, 142 countries—including Canada—voted in favor of this declaration.

Only now have they condemned Hamas. What in the world took this assembly so long to recognize the demonic, horrific atrocities of October 7th, 2023? That alone is despicable. Now, they want to reward Hamas and the Palestinians with a two-state solution.

Here’s a news flash: the Palestinians are not interested in a two-state solution. Their mantra, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” means no Israel. If you want to talk about a genocide, there you have it. They dream of Israel’s eradication, they chant it daily, and they teach it to their children.

The Palestinians are never going to be satisfied with pre-1967 borders. They already had those borders from 1948 to 1967. Syria occupied the Golan Heights, Jordan occupied the so-called “West Bank”—Judea and Samaria, which is Israel’s heartland—and Egypt occupied the Gaza Strip. There was no talk about creating a “Palestinian state” between 1948 and 1967. And yet, in 1964, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was created. What were they going to liberate if they already possessed pre-1667 borders?

What the world is demanding Israel return to is not going to do any good. The Palestinians want the entirety of Israel—not two states living side by side.

This whole idea of a “long lost land called Palestine” that had its own unique culture, people, and government is a lie. The name “Palestine” came into effect in 135 AD when the Roman Emperor Hadrian, enraged by the second uprising by the Jewish people against Roman authorities, renamed the land “Provincia Syria Palestina.”

Everyone living there was known as Palestinians—the Jewish people included. In fact, the Arabs never wanted to be called “Palestinians” until Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the PLO, came on the scene. All of a sudden, the narrative changed, and he rewrote history.

Our foolish world leaders, the media, and everyone else who hate Israel buy the lie—and it’s shameful.

In the past, Israel has welcomed a two-state solution, bending over backwards to make peace with the Palestinians. Her enemies, on the other hand, would rather push her into the sea than see the land divided. The Palestinians teach their children every day to hate Israel and the Jewish people—in their school textbooks, in their mosques, in their marketplaces, and in their media. They are corrupting the minds of the youth to think that Israel has stolen “Palestinian land.” Nothing could be further from the truth. They encourage their young people to be martyrs and to kill Jews. When they do kill Jews, they brazenly receive compensation from the Palestinian Authority’s “Pay for Slay” program to look after their families. It’s despicable and disgusting.

The world is not sympathetic to the Jewish people. Despite the massacre of Israelis on October 7th, they want to reward Hamas and the Palestinians with a two-state solution.

Furthermore, the Palestinians and Arabs rejected a two-state solution on at least four occasions—1937, 1947, 2000, and 2008. If that’s not enough to show the world that the Palestinians aren’t interested in two states, look at 2005. Israel turned over the entirety of the Gaza Strip, free of all Jews, to make peace. Ariel Sharon, the Israeli Prime Minister at the time, said, “Let’s make peace.” How did that turn out? The “test run” failed. Forty thousand rockets rained down, and the most horrific atrocities imaginable were committed against Israel. It didn’t work out well then, and it would by no means work out well in the future.

Yet the United Nations pressures Israel while ignoring these facts. They should be called the United Nothing because, really, they are good for nothing.

The United Nations issued more resolutions against Israel than any other country combined. The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has had 103 condemnatory resolutions against Israel, 38 against Russia, 37 against Syria, and only 15 against Iran. The UN General Assembly has had 154 condemnatory resolutions against Israel, 24 against Russia, 20 against Syria, and only 8 against Iran. That says it all.

When it comes to the United Nations Security Council, Amir Tsarfati posted a chart showing that since October 2023, over 60 meetings have been held on Gaza, while a staggering 215.9 million people in other countries face hunger emergencies. But let’s blame Israel!

Tsarfati is right when he says, “No Jews, no news.” Sadly, this is the world we are living in.

So why are these countries voting in favor of this disgraceful declaration? Because they refuse to look to God’s word! World leaders are hellbent on casting resolutions against Israel, and they have no idea what they are doing.

It’s antisemitic. Plain and simple.

Wake up, world! You are bringing God’s judgment upon you and your countries. In Genesis 12:3, God simply says that He will bless those who bless the Jewish people and He will curse those who curse them. Contrary to statements by Tucker Carlson, this includes the modern state of Israel!

Genesis 12:1-3 reads, “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

That promise, amongst the other six promises that we find there in this Abrahamic covenant, is sealed by God himself in Genesis 15. Abraham is in a deep sleep, and God ratifies this unconditional and everlasting covenant. Israel’s name is on the title, and nobody’s going to change that.

I’m not saying you have to agree with the Israeli government. I am saying that God has promised the land of Israel to the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Period. If you don’t like that, take that up with the God of this universe!

If you are going against Israel, God’s chosen people, while dividing the land He swore to them as an everlasting possession, you are heading for severe judgment. In Joel 3:2, God, referring to the Tribulation period, says, “I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.”

All nations, all means all!

When Israel’s enemies of the past conquered the land, they never sat at a drawing table and said, “Let’s divide the land.” They kept it for themselves. Only in our day are they dividing up the land.

If leaders want peace and prosperity, they need to stand with Israel.

The sad reality is that the nations will continue to be united against Israel. It is only going to intensify in the coming years and culminate at the second coming of Christ. In fact, there is also going to be a demonic plan in the Tribulation period to finally destroy the Jewish people altogether. It will come from a leader called the Antichrist, who is possessed by Satan.

Satan hates the Jewish people because one day they are going to call upon their Messiah, and He will return. Jesus’ return spells Satan’s doom. In the book of Revelation, we read that Satan will be cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years and then eventually into the lake of fire for all eternity. He knows that. If he can prevent the Jewish people from calling upon the name of the Messiah, he can’t be judged. That’s the crux of the matter. That’s the crux of antisemitism. It is satanic in origin.

There should never be a Christian standing against Israel. If so, they need to have a long talk with the God of this universe. True believers love the things God loves. God loves Israel and the Jewish people.

In Zechariah 12, God says that He will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. Think about that for a moment. In Matthew 25, when Jesus returns, He is going to judge the nations for how they treated His brothers—the Jewish people. That’s how much Jesus loves them. If you hate Israel, you should let that sink in.


Robert Gottselig is the Director of The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry Canada, the host of ‘In News Surrounding Israel’ and Cruizin’ For Zion, and a Contributor to Harbinger’s Daily.

Source: In-Depth: The United Nations Vs The God Of The Universe

Watch Charlie Kirk Memorial Live: Join Mourners from Across the Globe to Honor His Life and Legacy-Broadcast Begins at 1:00 ET, Program at 2:00 ET | The Gateway Pundit

Thousands of people will gather today to honor the life of Charlie Kirk in what Steve Bannon described as the first state funeral of the MAGA movement. Coverage is set to begin at beginning at 1:00 PM ET with the program scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM EST.

In addition to the 100,000+ Americans expected to come together to honor Charlie’s tremendous life and legacy, speakers from the highest levels of the US government, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, will honor Charlie and share his impact on the very fabric of the nation.

Charlie’s widow, Erika, who was recently named Turning Point’s new CEO, will also deliver remarks.

The website FightforCharlie shared details of the memorial.

STATE FARM STADIUM
1 CARDINALS DRIVE, GLENDALE, ARIZONA 85305

DOORS: 8 AM | PROGRAM: 11 AM
DRESS CODE: Sunday Best- Red, White, or Blue
PARKING: Parking will be free, PLEASE carpool if able
NO BAG POLICY IN EFFECT: Guests arriving with bags, even clear bags, will NOT be permitted entry. You will be required to return the bag to your vehicle and rejoin the line from the end.

This event is first come, first served based on stadium capacity.
Indoor overflow will be available next door at the Desert Diamond Arena.

Please be advised that enhanced security measures are in place, which may result in longer wait times than usual. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

In lieu of flowers, we kindly invite you to honor Charlie’s legacy by supporting us at tpusa.com. If you do have any material items, please do not bring them to State Farm Stadium. Instead, they may be delivered to Turning Point USA Headquarters.

You can watch the entire event at Right Side Broadcasting, which shared, “Turning Point USA and Turning Point Action will host a historic event, Building a Legacy: Remembering Charlie Kirk, on Sunday morning, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.”

“The event will honor the extraordinary life and impact of Charlie Kirk, Founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, who inspired millions of young people in America, and indeed around the world, to embrace the values of freedom, faith, and family.
The event will bring together students, supporters, and national leaders from all across the country, including special guest and Charlie’s friend, President Donald Trump, to celebrate Charlie’s legacy and continue the fight for the principles he championed.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller are also expected to speak.

Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump Jr. will also deliver remarks.

Watch live beginning at 1:00 PM ET

Or on YouTube:

The post Watch Charlie Kirk Memorial Live: Join Mourners from Across the Globe to Honor His Life and Legacy-Broadcast Begins at 1:00 ET, Program at 2:00 ET appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

China cracks down on pastors’ online activities, bans evangelizing youth

 China has instituted numerous regulations prohibiting religious content online, including teaching Bible lessons to children and forming youth groups.

Source: China cracks down on pastors’ online activities, bans evangelizing youth

WATCH LIVE: Charlie Kirk’s memorial service at State Farm Stadium

Charlie Kirk, conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, a well-known nonprofit organization, was tragically assassinated on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. Thousands of people are expected to attend memorial services for Kirk today at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. #foxnews #news #us #fox #charliekirk

Source: WATCH LIVE: Charlie Kirk’s memorial service at State Farm Stadium

Another Week Of Madness: The Left’s Reaction To Kirk’s Assassination | ZeroHedge

The assassination of Charlie Kirk has revealed troubling truths about America’s political divide.

On the right, Christians have responded with prayer, vigils, and church services. There was no rioting, no burning of private businesses or government buildings after Kirk’s murder. This stands in sharp contrast to how Democrats respond to pivotal events (remember the nationwide BLM riots of 2020).

Meanwhile, on the left, Kirk’s death was celebrated because assassination culture has been normalized by a party that smears opponents as “Nazis” and “Fascists,” while its armed revolutionary groups spread propaganda that it’s acceptable to kill such people.

These sharply different responses have not gone unnoticed, and many Americans now recognize that Democrats have not just lost the plot … they are actively driving political violence.

Instead of burning down mom-and-pop shops and rioting in response, the reaction from conservatives is one of building an even stronger movement than ever before.

Benny Johnson outlined a series of events in the aftermath of the Kirk assassination, pointing to multiple incidents showing that political violence in America is emanating from the left. The problem has grown so severe that it may have even become a national security risk. President Trump said last week that his team will be cracking down on leftist groups sowing chaos and may even label the Antifa movement as a terrorist organization.

Much of this left-wing chaos stems from dark-money-funded NGOs operating the permanent protest industrial complex, amplified by leftist politicians and corporate media.

The left is fueling what some have dubbed “civil terrorism,” constantly branding conservatives as “fascists,” “Nazis,” and “racists,” effectively creating target profiles for armed, unhinged leftist groups – or for lone-wolf actors like the furry-obsessed man in a relationship with a transgender who has been charged with Kirk’s political assassination.

At the highest levels!

Johnson pointed out that all this chaos unfolded in just one week from leftist activists:

  • Democrat pedophile George Zinn distracts law enforcement falsely claiming to be Charlie’s shooter, helping the assassin get away, charged criminally
  • Bomb was planted on a Fox News vehicle by two Democrat voters, criminal and terrorism charges
  • Massive Charlie Kirk memorial vandalized and destroyed in Arizona, criminal charges
  • DNC super-donor shoots up the ABC affiliate building in Sacramento, criminal charges
  • Jimmy Kimmel Show suspended for lying about left wing terrorism
  • Thousands upon thousands of leftist losing their jobs for celebrating Kirk’s death
  • A Texas Tech student assaulted a Charlie Kirk supporter, expulsion and criminal charges
  • A Texas State student mocked Charlie’s death and threatened TPUSA students, expulsion
  • 58 House Democrats vote AGAINST disavowing political violence
  • Brett Kavanaugh’s left-wing political assassin comes out as trans
  • A bomb threat at RFK Jr’s house, criminal charges

Tell me this is a ‘both-sides’ issue. No. Political violence in America is driven entirely by Left-wing violence committed by Democrats. It is a national epidemic, driven by the media and those in power who actively celebrate violence as a political tool. It’s only getting worse,” Johnson said.

Johnson added, “Law enforcement and Republican politicians need to get very, very serious about this. Now.”

What must not be lost here is that Democrats have normalized assassination culture. A decade of calling conservatives “fascists” and “nazis” has effectively created a master kill list of political enemies, fed to the far-left fringes in America that are now openly “planning for war against fascists.”

Does this sound familiar? 

And wow.

. . .

Source: Another Week Of Madness: The Left’s Reaction To Kirk’s Assassination

How to watch the Charlie Kirk memorial service | FOX Business

Fox News Media will provide extensive live programming across multiple platforms for the public memorial service honoring Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on Sunday.

Coverage begins on Fox News Channel at 2 p.m. ET with live reporting from inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. “Saturday in America” host Kayleigh McEnany and “Fox & Friends” co-host Lawrence Jones will anchor, joined by senior White House correspondent and “The Sunday Briefing” co-anchor Jacqui Heinrich.

Leading up to the service, “Fox & Friends Weekend” will air a special edition from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET, with Rachel Campos-Duffy, Charlie Hurt and Griff Jenkins reporting live outside the stadium. At 10 a.m. ET, Maria Bartiromo will anchor “Sunday Morning Futures” outside the venue.

Fox News Digital will offer comprehensive online coverage on FoxNews.com and the Fox News mobile app, featuring interviews, local perspectives, live blogging and digital updates.

LIVE UPDATES: MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR CHARLIE KIRK

Fox News Audio will also deliver live, long-form coverage of the service on Fox News Radio stations nationwide, with streaming available via FoxNewsRadio.com and the Fox News app.

CHARLIE KIRK’S MEMORIAL: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE EVENT IN ARIZONA

The service, “Remembering Charlie Kirk,” will take place Sunday, Sept. 21, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. It will begin at 2 p.m. ET, 11 a.m. local time.

CHARLIE KIRK FUNERAL RECEIVES HIGHEST SECURITY DESIGNATION FROM FEDERAL OFFICIALS AMID REPORTS OF THREATS

TRUMP, VANCE, OTHER PROMINENT POLITICAL FIGURES TO SPEAK AT SUNDAY STADIUM EVENT HONORING CHARLIE KIRK

President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are among those scheduled to deliver remarks at the service honoring Kirk, who was assassinated on Sept. 10 during an event on the campus of Utah Valley University.

Other speakers slated to speak include Kirk’s wife and new Turning Point CEO Erika Kirk, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump Jr., White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Director of the Presidential Personnel Office Sergio Gor.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the memorial for the conservative activist. State Farm Stadium, home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, seats 63,400 but can expand to 73,000 for “mega-events,” according to its website.

Fox News’ Marc Tamasco contributed to this report.

Source: How to watch the Charlie Kirk memorial service

September 21 Morning Verse of the Day

      11       And the angel of Yahweh said to her further, 
     “Behold, you are with child, 
     And you will bear a son; 
     And you shall call his name Ishmael, 
     Because Yahweh has heard your affliction. 
           12       “And he will be a wild donkey of a man, 
     His hand will be against everyone, 
     And everyone’s hand will be against him; 
     And he will dwell bin the face of all his brothers.” 

Legacy Standard Bible (Ge 16:11–12). (2022). Three Sixteen Publishing.


16:11–12. Then the Angel of Yahweh said to her:

‘Behold, you are with child,
And you will give birth to a son.
And you will call his name Ishmael,
Because Yahweh has heard of your affliction.
And he will be a wild ass of a man,
His hand will be against everyone,
And everyone’s hand against him.
And he will live in defiance of all his brothers.’

The Angel tells Hagar to name the child ‘Ishmael’, which literally means in Hebrew, ‘God hears.’ An explanation for the name immediately follows in the text: it is to commemorate the fact that ‘Yahweh has heard of your affliction’, and he has acted on it. The word for ‘affliction’ is the same one used in verses 6 and 9 regarding Sarai’s treatment of Hagar.
Ishmael will be a ‘wild ass’ of a man. That term can also denote a ‘wild colt’.89 Either way, it is figurative for Ishmael (and his descendants) being wild and free (cf. Job 39:5–6). The prophecy also indicates that there will be great animosity between Ishmael and everyone else, in particular, his brothers. Translations render the final line in various ways, such as he will live ‘to the east’ of his brothers, or ‘in front of’ them. Such translations ignore the context of hostility. The phrase can have a hostile sense itself, such as in Nahum 2:1 (2:2 in Hebrew).

Currid, J. D. (n.d.). A Study Commentary on Genesis: Genesis 1:1–25:18 (Vol. 1, pp. 306–307). Evangelical Press.


  1. The name Ishmael signifies, God will hear. Psm. 10:17–31:22.
  2. The Hebrew reads, “a wild-ass man.” Unrenewed nature is always thus. Job 11:12. See this promise concerning Ishmael fulfilled. Gen. 25:18. The wild Arabs, which are descendants of Ishmael, preserve the same character to this day.

Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: Genesis–Numbers (Vol. 1, pp. 65–66). Logos Bible Software.


16:11 The name Ishmael uses the divine name El and means “God hears.”
16:12 This is something of a mixed blessing as is Isaac’s to Esau (27:39, 40). Wild man suggests that Ishmael and his descendants would be unsettled, ever on the move. His hand … against suggests that his descendants would often be at war. Still this people would endure. They would dwell in the presence of all his brethren. This has indeed been the case, for Ishmael’s descendants are the Arab peoples who populate most of the Middle East today. Very few of the peoples of the OT world have survived to our own day. For example, all ten nations of 15:19–21 have ceased to exist. But two peoples survive: Israel, the Jewish people, descended from Isaac; and the Arabs, descended from Ishmael (17:19–22).

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 33). T. Nelson Publishers.


16:11 call his name Ishmael. With her son’s name meaning “God hears,” Hagar the servant could not ever forget how God had heard her cry of affliction.
16:12 a wild donkey of a man. The untameable desert onager (wild donkey) best described the fiercely aggressive and independent nature Ishmael would exhibit, along with his Arabic descendants.

MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Ge 16:11–12). Thomas Nelson Publishers.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2025 | PENTECOST PROPER 20


On the same date: St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

         Old Testament       Amos 8:4–7
         Psalm       Psalm 113
         Epistle       1 Timothy 2:1–15
         Gospel       Luke 16:1–15

Index of Readings

OLD TESTAMENT
Amos 8:4–7
4 Hear this, you who trample the needy, even to cause the humble of the land to cease,
5 saying,
“When will the new moon pass over,
So that we may sell grain,
And the sabbath, that we may open the wheat market,
To make the bushel smaller and the shekel bigger,
And to cheat with a deceptive balance,
6 So as to buy the poor for money
And the needy for a pair of sandals,
And that we may sell the refuse of the wheat?”

7 Yahweh has sworn by the lofty pride of Jacob, 
     “Indeed, I will never forget any of their works. 

PSALM
Psalm 113

PSALM 113

1 Praise Yah! 
     Praise, O slaves of Yahweh, 
     Praise the name of Yahweh. 
     2 May the name of Yahweh be blessed 
     From now until forever. 
     3 From the rising of the sun to its setting 
     The name of Yahweh is to be praised. 
     4 Yahweh is high above all nations; 
     His glory is above the heavens. 

5 Who is like Yahweh our God, 
     The One who sits on high, 
     6 The One who brings Himself low to see 
     The things in heaven and on the earth? 
     7 Who raises the poor from the dust 
     And lifts high the needy from the ash heap, 
     8 To make them sit with nobles, 
     With the nobles of His people. 
     9 He makes the barren woman of the house sit 
     As a glad mother of children. 
     Praise Yah! 

EPISTLE
1 Timothy 2:1–15

1 First of all, then, I exhort that petitions and prayers, requests and thanksgivings, be made for all men, 
2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 
3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth. 
5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 
6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the witness for this proper time. 
7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 
8 Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. 

9 Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, with modesty and self-restraint, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly clothing, 
10 but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women professing godliness. 
11 A woman must learn in quietness, in all submission. 
12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. 
13 For it was Adam who was first formed, and then Eve. 
14 And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into trespass. 
15 But she will be saved through the bearing of children, if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with self-restraint. 

GOSPEL
Luke 16:1–15

1 Now He was also saying to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a steward, and this steward was 1reported to him as squandering his possessions. 
2 “And he called for him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an accounting of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’ 
3 “And the steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my 1master is taking the stewardship away from me? I am not strong enough to dig; I am ashamed to beg. 
4 ‘I know what I shall do, so that when I am removed from the stewardship people will 1take me into their homes.’ 
5 “And he summoned each one of his 1master’s debtors, and he began saying to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 
6 “And he said, ‘One hundred 1baths of oil.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 
7 “Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ And he said, ‘One hundred 1kors of wheat.’ He *said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 
8 “And his 1master praised the unrighteous steward because he had acted shrewdly, for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own 2kind than the sons of light. 
9 “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves from the 1wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will 2take you into the eternal dwellings. 
10 “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much, and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. 
11 “Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous 1wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? 
12 “And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? 
13 “No 1servant can 2serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot 3serve God and 4wealth.” 
14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him. 
15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves 1in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts, for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable 2in the sight of God. 

ON THE SAME DATE | FEAST
ST. MATTHEW, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST
YEARS ABC
On the same date: Proper 20

         Old Testament       Ezekiel 2:8–3:11
         Psalm       Psalm 119:33–40
         Epistle       Ephesians 4:7–16
         Gospel       Matthew 9:9–13

Index of Readings

OLD TESTAMENT
Ezekiel 2:8–3:11
8 “Now as for you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.”
9 Then I looked, and behold, a hand was sent forth to me; and behold, a scroll was in it.
10 Then He spread it out before me, and it was written on the front and back, and written on it were lamentations, sighing, and woe.

CHAPTER 3

1 Then He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” 
2 So I opened my mouth, and He fed me this scroll. 
3 And He said to me, “Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you.” Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth. 
4 Then He said to me, “Son of man, go now, come to the house of Israel, and you shall speak with My words to them. 
5 “For you are not being sent to a people of unintelligible lips or a difficult tongue, but to the house of Israel, 
6 nor to many peoples of unintelligible lips or a difficult tongue, whose words you cannot understand. But I have sent you to them who should listen to you; 
7 yet the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, since they are not willing to listen to Me. Surely the whole house of Israel is stubborn with a strong forehead and stiff heart. 
8 “Behold, I have made your face as strong as their faces and your forehead as strong as their foreheads. 
9 “Like diamond stronger than flint I have made your forehead. Do not be afraid of them or be dismayed before them, though they are a rebellious house.” 
10 Moreover, He said to me, “Son of man, take into your heart all My words which I will speak to you and listen with your ears. 
11 “And go now, come to the exiles, to the sons of your people, and you shall speak to them and say to them, whether they listen or whether they refuse, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh.’” 

PSALM
Psalm 119:33–40

33 Instruct me, O Yahweh, in the way of Your statutes, 
     That I may observe it to the end. 
     34 Cause me to understand, that I may observe Your law 
     And keep it with all my heart. 
     35 Cause me to walk in the path of Your commandments, 
     For I delight in it. 
     36 Cause my heart to incline to Your testimonies 
     And not to dishonest gain. 
     37 Cause my eyes to turn away from looking at worthlessness, 
     And revive me in Your ways. 
     38 Cause Your word to be established for Your slave, 
     As that which produces fear for You. 
     39 Cause my reproach which I dread to pass away, 
     For Your judgments are good. 
     40 Behold, I long for Your precepts; 
     Revive me in Your righteousness. 

EPISTLE
Ephesians 4:7–16
7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
8 Therefore it says,
“WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH,
HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES,
And HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.”
9 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)
11 And He Himself gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ,
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ,
14 so that we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming,
15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is Christ,
16 from whom the whole body, being joined and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the properly measured working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

GOSPEL
Matthew 9:9–13

9 And as Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax office; and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he stood up and followed Him. 
10 Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. 
11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” 
12 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 
13 “But go and learn 1what this means: ‘I DESIRE 2COMPASSION, 3AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” 

Lutheran Service Book Three Year Lectionary. (2009). Concordia Publishing House.

WEEK 39 | BEING THANKFUL FOR THAT WHICH COVERS ALL INIQUITIES

ROMANS 3:10-20

As it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one. Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving, the poison of asps is under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery are in their paths, and the path of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

FATHER, Your Word proves that the entire world is guilty before You.
If left to ourselves, we would perish, as we deserve.
We are fallen human beings,
and we therefore could never achieve righteousness through the law.
What the law does teach us is how how vile sin is,
how hopelessly in bondage to evil we are,
and how miserably worthy of judgment our sins have made us.

Holy God, we understand Your hatred for sin.
The law clearly manifests Your holy nature,
leaving us stripped, barren, and guilty
so we can only run to You for mercy.
But Your Word bids us come boldly,
and it reveals You to be a God of boundless compassion
and unfathomable grace
who eagerly forgives all penitent, believing sinners.

Having been forgiven, we come before You now in prayer to adore You.
First we want to confess
that although we are free from condemnation, we are still sinful.
We know that even our sins of thought,
evil desires, and other secret sins
are not hidden from Your face, but are fully seen
by Your all-penetrating omniscience.
We utterly abhor and renounce those evils.

Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity?
What compassion You have had on us
in treading all our iniquities under foot
and casting them into the depths of the sea!
We thank You, Lord, that the blood of Jesus Christ
continually, faithfully, and justly cleanses us from our sins.
Multiply Your grace in our lives.
Restrain our feet from evil;
keep our lips from speaking falsely,
and enable us to obey Your Word.
Set us free from slavery to corruption
into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

We know, Lord, that You have begun a good work in us
and are faithfully continuing that work,
which You will complete when we see our Lord Jesus face-to-face.
We eagerly await that day.
Even so, Lord, come quickly!

Make us sensitive to the approach of sin and temptation.
Increase our loathing of all that is evil.
Heighten the godly fear that restrains our fleshly tendencies.
Overwhelm our hearts with the purifying power
of Your Word and Your Spirit.
Fill us with compassion.
Perfect Your love in us.
Arouse in us a thirst for holiness.
Kindle a passion to serve You.
And lift us to higher worship.

May the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts
be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who loved us and gave Himself for us, we pray—
knowing that You hear
and are always gracious to answer us. Amen.

MacArthur, J. (2014). A Year of Prayer: Growing Closer to God Week After Week (pp. 183–185). Harvest House Publishers.

WEEK 39 | Walking in Truth

THEME

God is holy and unchanging (Ex 3:1–15). We trust him unreservedly. We walk in truth (Ps 26:1–8) as we take up our crosses, follow Christ (Mt 16:21–28), love one another and repay evil with good (Rom 12:9–21).

OPENING PRAYER: Proper 17

O God, whose ways are all mercy and truth, carry on your gracious work, and bestow, by your benefits, what human frailty cannot attain; that they who attend upon the heavenly mysteries may be grounded in perfect faith, and shine forth conspicuous by the purity of their souls; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Leonine Sacramentary

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Exodus 3:1–15

REFLECTIONS FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

God Is the Only Cause of Existence. EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA: Everything that has ever existed or now exists derives its being from the One, the only existent and preexistent being, who also said, “I am the existent.” … As the only being and the eternal being, he is himself the cause of existence to all those to whom he has imparted existence from himself by his will and his power and gives existence to all things and their powers and forms, richly and ungrudgingly from himself. Proof of the Gospel 4.1.

To Be Is Most Characteristic of God. HILARY OF POITIERS: It is known that there is nothing more characteristic of God than to be, because that itself which is does not belong to those things which will one day end or to those which had a beginning. But that which combines eternity with the power of unending happiness could never not have been, nor is it possible that one day it will not be, because what is divine is not liable to destruction, nor does it have a beginning. And since the eternity of God will not be untrue to itself in anything, he has revealed to us in a fitting manner this fact alone, that he is, in order to render testimony to his everlasting eternity. On the Trinity 1.5.

Existence and Goodness Derive from God. AUGUSTINE: He is the first and greatest existence, who is utterly unchangeable and who could say most perfectly, “I am who I am, and you shall say to them, He who is has sent me to you.” On Christian Teaching 1.32.35.

PSALM OF RESPONSE: Psalm 26:1–8

NEW TESTAMENT READING: Romans 12:9–21

REFLECTIONS FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

Let Love Be Genuine; Hate What Is Evil. ORIGEN: I think that any love without God is artificial and not genuine. For God, the Creator of the soul, filled it with the feeling of love, along with the other virtues, so that it might love God and the things which God wants. But if the soul loves something other than God and what God wants, this love is said to be artificial and invented. And if someone loves his neighbor but does not warn him when he sees him going astray or correct him, such is only a pretense of love. Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans.

Hold Fast to What Is Good. CHRYSOSTOM: If you have love, you will not notice the loss of your money, the labor of your body, the toil of your words, your trouble or your ministering, but you will bear everything courageously. Homilies on Romans 21.

Christ Died for the Ungodly. ORIGEN: It happens that we hate things we ought not to, just as we love things we ought not to. We are ordered to love our brothers, not to hate them. If you think that someone is ungodly, remember that “Christ died for the ungodly.” And if you think that because your brother is a sinner you do not have to love him, remember that “Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners.” But if he is righteous, then he is much more worthy of love, for “God loves the righteous.” Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans.

Feeling Compassion. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul wants us to be penetrated with the warmth of friendship. This is why he goes on to say that we are not merely to bless but that we are to feel compassion for their pains and sufferings whenever we happen to see them fall into trouble. Homilies on Romans 22.

God Resists the Proud. AMBROSIASTER: To be haughty is pride, which is how the devil fell.… Solomon says that “God resists the proud.” Put pride aside and make other people’s cares your own so that you might be acceptable to God. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.

Never Avenge Yourselves. AMBROSIASTER: Paul warns us to avoid anger, especially because so often anger is the chief cause of sin. Someone who is motivated by wrath will demand more than the cause of the sin merits or will put himself out to do more harm while seeking revenge.… In the end he will destroy someone when he could have corrected and restored him instead. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.

Interior Freedom. THEODORET OF CYR: Revenge is mean-spirited. True victory is returning good for evil. Interpretation of the Letter to the Romans.

GOSPEL READING: Matthew 16:21–28

REFLECTIONS FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

Get Behind Me, Satan! CHRYSOSTOM: Therefore, the rest being troubled and in perplexity, Peter again in his ardor alone ventures to discuss these things. And he does not discuss them openly but only when he had taken him aside. Having separated himself from the rest of the disciples, he says, “God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” What is happening here? The very one who had obtained a revelation, who had been blessed, has now so soon fallen away, so as now to fear the passion of the Lord, and thereby his faith has been overthrown. It is remarkable that Peter, who had not yet been fully instructed in the course of revelation, should come up with these responses. The larger picture had not yet been revealed to Peter, and he was confused and overwhelmed. Peter had learned that Christ is the Son of God. But he had not learned of the mystery of the cross and the resurrection.… Do you see how correct Jesus was in forbidding them not to declare his identity publicly? For if it so confounded the disciples, who were being made aware of it, who knows what the response of others might have been. The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 54.5–6.

The Disciples’ Human Weakness. CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Since the disciples had not yet received power from on high, it was perhaps not unnatural that they should fall occasionally into human weaknesses and, thinking something of this sort, say “How shall someone deny himself? Or how can someone, by losing his own life, save it?” Fragment 195.

CLOSING PRAYER

God’s might to uphold me
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s hosts to save me. Patrick

Oden, T. C., & Crosby, C., eds. (2007). Ancient Christian Devotional: A Year of Weekly Readings: Lectionary Cycle A (pp. 199–203). IVP Books.

09.20.25 EChurch@Wartburg NT Wright Answers: Will the resurrection be for all, or just for believers? | The Wartburg Watch

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

For Guidance link

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being:
We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit,
that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you,
but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

For Our Human Family link

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son:
Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts;
break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love;
and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth;
that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

For the Poor and the Neglected link

Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget:
the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them.
Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit and to turn their sorrow into joy.
Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Benediction link

May the God of peace
Who raised Christ from the dead
Strengthen your inner being for every good work
And may the blessing of God Almighty
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Rest upon you and dwell within you
This day and evermore.
Amen

Source: 09.20.25 EChurch@Wartburg NT Wright Answers: Will the resurrection be for all, or just for believers?

A Biblical Theology of Enemies and Antithesis – Pastor Patrick Hines Sermon 1 John 3:11-12, Gen 3:15

A Biblical Theology of Enemies and Antithesis – Pastor Patrick Hines Sermon 1 John 3:11-12, Gen 3:15

[1John 3:11-12 NASB20] 11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we are to love one another; 12 not as Cain, [who] was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And for what reason did he murder him? Because his [own] deeds were evil, but his brother’s were righteous.

[Genesis 3:15 NASB20] 15 And I will make enemies Of you and the woman, And of your offspring and her Descendant; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise Him on the heel.”

[Mark10:29-30 NASB20] 29 Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, 30 but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.

Source: A Biblical Theology of Enemies and Antithesis – Pastor Patrick Hines Sermon 1 John 3:11-12, Gen 3:15

Heaven as a Restoration of Earth | EPM

In this clip from a conversation with Jay Rudolph on The Plumb Line Radio Show, Randy says the New Heaven and New Earth will be a restoration of God’s original intent for the Present Earth, a kind of global Eden.

Source: Heaven as a Restoration of Earth

Heaven from a Biblical Perspective – Part 2: The Plumb Line Radio Show | EPM

In the second half of this conversation with Jay Rudolph on The Plumb Line Radio Show, Randy expands on a biblical perspective of Heaven.

Source: Heaven from a Biblical Perspective – Part 2: The Plumb Line Radio Show

What About Purgatory? | EPM

In this clip from a conversation with Jay Rudolph on The Plumb Line Radio Show, Randy explains why he does not believe purgatory is a biblical concept.

Source: What About Purgatory?

Present Heaven and the New Earth | EPM

In this clip from a conversation with Jay Rudolph on The Plumb Line Radio Show, Randy addresses the parable of Lazarus going to Abraham’s bosom, the place called Paradise. Randy points out that God is not depicted there, but His people are. God’s people could not be in His presence because the Resurrection had not happened yet. God is going to bring the Present Heaven to the New Earth and relocate His people to the New Earth.

Source: Present Heaven and the New Earth

Our Resurrection Bodies | EPM

In this clip from a conversation with Jay Rudolph on The Plumb Line Radio Show, Randy talks about our resurrection bodies in reference to 1 Corinthians 15. He explains that we will have our resurrection bodies on the New Earth after the resurrection, but not in the Present Heaven.

Source: Our Resurrection Bodies

What Part of Us Will Go to Heaven? | EPM

In this clip from a conversation with Jay Rudolph on The Plumb Line Radio Show, Randy says God made us to be not just spiritual but also physical beings, and He promises the eventual physical resurrection of our bodies.

Source: What Part of Us Will Go to Heaven?