A Parent's Philosophy of Profanity

I'm convinced that parents' tireless efforts to explain the various issues of life in this fallen world to our kids should earn us honorary doctorate degrees in philosophy. It will also earn us quite a bit of unfriending if we share those controversial philosophies on Facebook.  Since this blog is my journal and not about number of hits, I'll share a recent topic of discussion and my philosophical response which will surely offend plenty of you. Trigger Warning!

We discussed the origin and application of profanity in each language and culture. (FYI - I am married to a former sailor who, according to the colloquialism, should have heard sufficient applications of crude speech during his years of service to inform this discussion.) I have no idea how certain words became deemed as curse words. Why is one word meaning "feces" a cuss word while the word "feces" is deemed acceptable? Regardless of the origin, I have always felt disrespected when someone chooses to use such words around me. Is it my southern upbringing in the church, or should I reasonably be expected to feel offended by speech deemed vulgar in English?

Source: Wikipedia

Why do people use cuss words in the first place?  Is it for emphasis? Surely there are other words and punctuation marks that convey emphasis without resorting to a potty mouth!!!!

The following verse refers to swearing an oath, but it also seems applicable to curse words in general.

"But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation." (James 5:12)

If you are honest and have integrity, upright words should be authoritative enough. Swear words aren't necessary if you are a person of good character. Could it be that people use profanity because they lack personal credibility?

I have noticed that people also use cuss words when they have lost self-control. Obscene language is an obvious cue to get away from whoever is using it, for such a person is reckless, angry, out-of-control, and/or unsafe.

"But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth." (Colossians 3:8)

I've seen younger and/or immature people use swear words because they think it makes them sound grown-up, tough, or cool. What a foolish notion. Such words more often expose that person as a fool and possibly a wicked one at that.

"A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech..." (Proverbs 6:12)

"[The wicked man's] mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity." (Psalm 10:7)

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain." (Exodus 20:7)

If you want to be respected, by others, then be respectable in your thoughts, words, and deeds.

"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12)

"There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." (Proverbs 12:18)

There is so much pain and suffering in this world. Could we choose to honor one another with pure and uplifting speech?

"Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving." (Ephesians 5:4)

Every Child Needs a Mom and a Dad

I've seen headlines this week about another Catholic adoption agency shutting down because of new mandates requiring them to place children with same-sex couples. 

“Because Catholic Charities cannot simultaneously comply with state regulations and conform to the teaching of the Catholic Church on the nature of marriage, Catholic Charities will discontinue foster care and adoption services,” Catholic Charities of Buffalo said Aug. 23. - Catholic News Agency

This mandate is mind boggling to me, and it pains me to watch them hurt children for the sake of this LGBTQacdefh... agenda. No one has the right to adopt a child as if the child is some commodity that can be purchased. This should only be about what is best for the child, and there are plenty of well qualified husband/wife couples on long waiting lists ready to take in these orphans.

en.m.wikipedia.org

Even without all the scientific studies and the entire course of human history to prove how much children need both a father and a mother, it's obvious to anyone who has worked with or observed children in most any capacity. I see it every week in children's ministry at church. And it is especially apparent to anyone who has watched children grieve the loss of a parent or even observed a kid while one parent travels on business. I wish everyone could have seen my son's face last night when we stated the obvious but profound regarding his father's absence due to a business trip.

I asked him, "Is there anything I can do to fill in for your dad so as to cheer you up and help you not miss him so much?"

He replied, "No, Mom. I can't connect with you like I can with him. Sorry, but it's a guy thing."

He's right, and we in the church need to be looking for ways to support widows or single parents who are courageously raising children solo. I know we get so overwhelmed in our own parenting struggles, but his comment reminded me how much we need to look beyond ourselves to help provide the male/female influences other families are lacking, usually through no fault of their own. Coaches, youth pastors/volunteers, scout leaders, and other parents, your influence is powerful!

Love and Respect, Not Love or Respect

We talk a lot in Christian circles about husbands loving their wives and wives respecting their husbands, but it seems our culture has turned those two concepts into an either/or proposition instead of both/and. How can anyone truly love a woman without first respecting her? Anything called love that does not also include respect is usually either lust or pity, depending upon context, but it certainly isn't love.

[We could split hairs over the unconditional love of God for mankind. God is worthy of infinite respect, honor and praise while we, in relation to Him, deserve nothing but death. But I am referring here to men and women respecting each other as a way of respecting Father God who made each of us according to His perfect design.]

I appreciate that people are recognizing that girls who receive the love they need at home are not as likely to go looking for love in all the wrong places, but are we teaching our girls by word and example that they are worthy not only of affection but of respect? Are we training them to first respect themselves as uniquely designed, infinitely valuable, sacred human beings, created in the image of God for His perfect plans and purposes? Do they expect others to show them mutual respect, or are they only seeking any kind of attention that makes them feel loved temporarily? Are we teaching them that how they dress, how they speak, and how they behave can either command respect or repel it? Are we showing them the great value of their dignity, virtue, talents, intellect, and eternal soul, or are we teaching them that their outward bodies are what matter most and that they should use their bodies to draw unholy attention or to gain some sort of twisted notion of power over men?

Maybe I'm out of line here and I would welcome comments and correction, but it just seems to me that a little more respect would go a long way in making this world a safer and healthier place.

Disclaimers

• We must be careful not to associate respect with position. With the fall of man, women began desiring the man's position of authority instead of accepting the equally valuable though uniquely different role appointed to her for the healthy functioning of the family. When we desire respect, let it not be out of a desire for position, authority, or power, but simply out of appreciation for the wonderful way God made each of us.
• I oppose all of the harmful nonsense that the progressive feminist movement is advocating which only serves to demean men, devalue women, and destroy both the family and society. This post has nothing to do with that movement whatsoever. Respect is never earned through quotas or coercion or by belittling men. Respect begins from within.

A letter to USA protestors and a warning to globalists (which includes the Pope)

Dear USA protestors and NFL national anthem kneelers,

If some distant relative wrongs someone you don't even know, and you find that offensive, would you disown your entire family, including your mother, who endured great suffering to bring you into the world and then continued to sacrifice her own needs and desires to nurture you instead, and your father, who risked his life on numerous occasions to protect you and toiled day and night for decades to provide for you? If not, then why would you forsake your country in which countless heroes have died for you, whose history includes some tainted tales but also tremendous good including great liberation not only for her own diverse people, but for oppressed people around the world? Is it wise to dishonor the flag and the national anthem simply because you disapprove of one small thing that doesn't even affect you when that same collective nation is a beacon of light, hope, and freedom for the entire world? Will you choose to forsake it all because you cannot forgive the one? 

"I don't know if the most effective way is to sit down during the national anthem with a country that's providing you freedom, providing you $16 million a year ... when there are black minorities that are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan for less than $20,000 a year."

(Quote by Alejandro Villanueva, a U.S. Army veteran, who was the lone Steeler on the field during national anthem)

Have you no gratitude for what your nation has given you while you give nothing but disrespect in return? Take your grievances to those personally responsible without dishonoring all that is good, right, and just. As my Granny liked to say, "Be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water." For what has been birthed in America is valuable beyond measure, and when grounded in God's word from which true freedom flows and established in faith as the founding fathers' intended, good will triumph over evil. Remove that foundation, and the tragic, wrongful actions of a few police officers could be the least of your concerns.

From a practical perspective, does anyone really think people are going to listen to NFL protests when the NFL is filled with criminals who have already accrued 32 arrests within the first 3 weeks?

• Assault and battery - 7
• Drugs - 6
• DUI - 5
• Domestic violence - 5
• Disorderly conduct - 4
• Resisting arrest - 2
• Gun violence - 1
• Traffic violation - 1
• Other - 1 (Source: Joseph Curl, Dailywire)

They aren't exactly the best spokespeople against acts of brutality, when they have a long history of violence themselves. Yet, some are foolish enough to let a few extremists use and abuse them at great personal cost without doing anything constructive to correct the grievance at all.

To the NFL players who took one knee,
Next time, kneel on both knees and thank God you are free.

Consider how the globalists who seek to destroy America so they can rule it benefit from your protests.  No one can control America, much less the entire world, until they tear down our foundations and the pillars that strengthen and uphold us.  Marriage, family, faith (or common, shared values which flow from Judeo-Christian precepts), liberty, and our law (the U.S. Constitution) are our bulwarks.  They take priority over the whims of the state, and they guide our votes.  The globalists must remove these foundations to gain power over us. Their hope is that your protests will remove statues, emblems, Biblical references, our flag, and our anthem from the public square, marketplace, and sports arenas, for these serve as reminders of our history, our heroes, our holy allegiance, and our purpose.  They expect the NFL controversy to be resolved by removing the anthem and the flag from these venues, just as they have already removed prayer.  With marriage and family under decades of assault, churches infiltrated with false doctrine and wolves in sheep clothing (paid by the DNC to deceive and divide the church from within), the next targets are patriotism, the flag, and the national anthem.  Ultimately, they seek to dismantle the Constitution and the rule of law which has been happening at an increasing rate since Roe V. Wade elevated the right to privacy (which was added through a constitutional amendment) over the basic right to life which our nation was founded to preserve.  The failure to render justice on the Clinton family for dozens of serious crimes over at least three decades which culminated in the Benghazi cover-up and then the handling of HRC's email scandal in which Comey listed numerous proven legal transgressions, deserving of lifetime in prison for anyone else, while failing to prosecute has removed respect or trust in the rule of law from society.

Even the Pope is now pushing for this one world government concept while flat out ignoring the entire Old and New Testaments.  The Old Testament history flatly condemns global power with the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11) account and Nebucadnezzar's dream (Daniel 2) of the statute depicting powerful civilizations, each of which must be toppled to save the earth from the destruction that ultimate power brings, and following throughout history. The New Testament repeatedly describes he end times judgment coming as the world tries to unite under one corrupt power.  Power corrupts, and ultimate power ultimately corrupts. In His mercy, God has repeatedly saved mankind by bringing down these corrupt superpowers. The only global leader who can and will rule us in perfect righteousness and love is the perfectly holy, all knowing, Lord God Almighty.  Only Christ can reign over us in perfect justice without oppressing His people. Only Christ reigns selflessly, sacrificially, with the greatest long term common good in mind.  Only He is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent.  He wants for nothing and needs nothing, for He is the owner, creator, and sustainer of all created beings and things.  Only He is perfectly good.  Any other power on earth who seeks ever increasing  power, even global power, is driven and possessed by evil, for such is the spirit of the antichrist.  Beware of globalism, hypocrisy, and false teaching.  Be students of God's truth. Reject the lies, false promises, and folly of this lost, dark, and dying world.  

Worldliness vs. Godliness

Worldliness says, "I am entitled to every desire I want, whenever I want it. If you don’t give it to me, impede my access to it, or resist tax payer funding of it, then you are offensive, oppressive, and worthy of public ridicule." Worldliness does not consider the long term consequences for oneself or others. Then when unwanted consequences occur, worldliness expects someone else to pay the price to remove, ignore, altar, or deny it. Worldliness never considers others, much less the greater common good. It expects the things and systems of this earth to gratify every need and want but never finds any lasting satisfaction, for our souls were made for God. Worldliness is utterly selfish and ultimately destructive. It's end is death. (Romans 6:23)


Godliness says, "I am spiritually dead, enslaved to sin, and entitled to nothing but death. I have no hope at all apart from Christ, but through Him, I am redeemed and made new. My desires are not for myself but for Christ's glory." Godliness clings to truth and loves unconditionally, seeking God's will, not one's own. Godliness loves and honors God's word, which always works for the greatest long term good. Godliness puts the interests of others before oneself. (Philippians 2:4). Godliness looks to the Creator, Sustainer, and Lord over ALL for every need and for lasting fulfillment and thereby finds lasting joy and ultimate satisfaction. (John 6:35) Godliness is utterly selfless and ultimately constructive, building up the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 14, Ephesians 4:29) for fruitful living here and for fellowship with God forever. The life, love, and power that flow from His godliness imparted to His adopted children will never ever end!

Godliness comes from the greater reality beyond this earthly life and is only possible through the work of Christ (1 Timothy 3:15, Ephesians 2:5-7).

Worldliness wars against godliness, BUT GOD....He has the victory. (Ephesians 2:1-10,1 Corinthians 15:57) We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)  See also Colossians 3:5-17 & Ephesians 2.

Do not be afraid of offending the worldly by standing for godliness. (Palm 56:11) If the worldly say, "You offend me", pray for them, for they are addicted to their own destructive desires. (Ephesians 2:3) Only fear offending Almighty God who is perfect in holiness, justice, mercy, and love and who is the source of all truth. So let whatever you do or say be filled with both unconditional love and truth.

"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10)

Hollywood Hypocrisy

Regarding the Emmy awards and the ensuing political banter about Trump & Spicer:

I could care less about the Emmys and have no desire to defend Trump or Sean Spicer, for lies and corrupt speech should never be normalized. However, for Hollywood to be calling them out with blistering insults is like ISIS killing one of their own members for stepping on an ant. Hollywood elites should consider that Trump is only a symptom of the disease they spread for big bucks. He is one of their own after all, yet they eat their own when their own chose a different political party, especially one that defends human life (from the womb to the tomb), liberty, human equality (vs. special privileges for special interests groups), the traditional family, and economic growth for all Americans.

I am greatly concerned by the way both Hollywood and the music industry (we thought Miley Cyrus and Beyonce were bad...but now a rap video features the demonic hanging of a child!) are leading the naive and unenlightened members of our society into the dark abyss of utter moral depravity, much like Sodom and Gomorrah. They are still losing their minds over a few stupid comments by Trump & Spicer but have no problem with director Roman Polanski sodomizing a child, Woody Allen molesting his own adopted daughter, or their own pornographic films (like 50 Shades of Grey) which glamorize physical, emotional, and sexual abuse or the movie coming out soon that normalizes pedophilia. They praise musicians and producers who sell lyrics and scripts that endorse rape, promiscuity, murder, drug abuse, and all sorts of violent, deviant behavior. They unclothe, use, and abuse desperate desperate young women in pornographic films, which is a crime in and of itself, but in so doing, they fuel wicked desires which drive pedophiles and rapists to commit more despicable deeds.

Where was their outrage over the Democratic politicians who committed sex crimes that make Trump's comments seem tame in comparison? Examples: Bill Clinton, Ed Murray, Anthony Weiner, Jacob Schwartz, Sen. Robert Menendez, Jeffrey Epstein, Scott Chamberlain.

Ashton Kutcher is one beautiful exception. He is using his wealth and influence to make a significant difference. His organization, Thorn, is successfully fighting sex trafficking.

As for the rest, if you have a problem with Trump, then stop attacking the symptom and start working to eliminate the root cause upon which you have amassed your own fame and fortune. Stop selling smut and glamorizing evil before pointing fingers at the milder, though still seemingly rotten, fruits of your own sowing. If you want to bring about positive change, use your resources to join Kutcher's humanitarian work. Instead of attacking Trump, how about directing all that passion and hatred toward bringing down backpage DOT com, a website linked to child prostitution and trafficking (which also happens to give large financial contributions to DNC politicians) or to financially supporting and promoting safe houses and counseling/rehabilitation centers for abused and battered women and children. Do something constructive instead of continually tearing our nation apart!

The Fourth Beast in Daniel's Vision

Source:  www.neverthirsty.org

World history makes it easy to see to see which kingdoms the first 3 beasts were referencing in . Daniel's prophetic vision of the 4 beasts (Daniel 7). The first beast, which was like a lion with eagle's wings, was Babylon. The second beast, which was like a bear, was Persia. The third beast, which was like leopard except it had four heads, was Greece. The fourth refers to the Roman Empire, and most theologians agree that it also refers to the end time civilization (modern times). Interestingly, this fourth beast is not described by natural, animal forms. It's entirely different. The Hebrew word used to describe it is shainah, which means "changed, altered, different". (Source:  Book of Mysteries, Day 114, by Jonathan Cahn). It has iron teeth and bronze claws. That description sounds like a machine, so it always made me think of the industrial revolution, the technology boom, and nuclear weapons which have characterized modern times and the march toward the last days. But Jonathan Cahn describes it in broader terms. 

"End-time civilization will be based on the natural, not the unnatural. It will exists against nature. It will be of an altered or transmuted nature, a civilization at war with creation, with nature and with the order of God......those who live in the end times must resist a civilization that wars against the order of creation and uphold the Word of the Eternal."

This emphasis on changing the natural into the unnatural makes me think of GMOs, environmental toxins, synthetic hormones, the use of chemotherapy type drugs to treat cancer instead of the plants God made which have the capacity to kill the actual cancer stem cells (which chemo and radiation cannot do) while boosting the immune system instead of attacking it, possibly the vaccine industry's overreach, and big pharma companies that tend to create something unnatural that attempts to mimic what is natural (because they can't patent nature...the big money is only available by patenting what is unnatural even though our bodies are only designed to process what is natural...so the side effects are always worse with manmade drugs).

But what about the whole LGBTQ movement? Is that a highly organized war against God's natural order with the goal of normalizing the unnatural, even exalting it over what is natural?

What do you think of Cahn's interpretation?

Examining our own hearts in light of continued racism, hatred, and violance

As hatred, violence, division, and accusations mount (according to plan), perhaps we should first honestly examine our own hearts in light of God's truth before reacting in unhealthy, destructive, volatile ways, fueled by the heightened and irrational emotions evoked by the media's false narratives, angry attacks, distortions, exaggerations, and outright lies. I have written in second person to engage others, but only after asking myself each of the questions below.
_________________________________________________

"Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses." (Proverbs 10:21)

• Is your heart consumed with hatred or with love? 
• Are you praying for God's love to touch and redeem your enemy, or are you praying for him to suffer?

_________________________________________________

 "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives..." (James 4:3)

• Do you really expect God to hear your prayers if you pray outside of his will....wishing harm on others instead of good, simply because the media or some well-funded radical group told you that you should hate them? 

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” (Psalm 66:18)

Note:  Regarding iniquity refers to deliberate, habitual, unrepentant sin.  It is placing one's desire to sin over their desire for God.  We all fall short, and God's grace is not dependent upon our works, but a truly repentant heart that receives the grace and redemption of God will hate one's sin and ask for God's help to overcome it instead of shaking one's fist at God and insisting He can't have that area of their life.  Such defiance is rejecting the Lord, not receiving Him.

_________________________________________________

2 "For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,
speaking against me with lying tongues.
3 They encircle me with words of hate,
and attack me without cause.
4 In return for my love they accuse me,
but I give myself to prayer.
5 So they reward me evil for good,
and hatred for my love." (Psalm 109:2)

• Are you slandering and attacking others without cause? Whether or not you agree with them is irrelevant. If they have offended you, then that is your problem, not theirs, for we are each individually responsible for how we respond to the words and actions of another. No one has the power to offend us unless we willingly give it to him. 
• How has the subject of your ire legitimately and truthfully (media narratives do not count because they are often unreliable) harmed you to warrant your attacks? 
• Are you returning evil for good or good for evil? 
• Are you seeking vengeance or trusting in the Lord's justice and goodness?

"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'" (Romans 12:19)

_________________________________________________

"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." (Romans 13: 1-2)

• Are you mad at God for allowing Trump to be elected? 
• Or are you a Republican upset over the fact that your state elected a DNC pawn as it's governor?
• Do you really think God makes mistakes? 
• Are you suggesting that you know better than the omniscient One who made you and who is the source of wisdom and truth? (John 14:6, Proverbs 2:6) 
• Are you subjecting yourselves to the authorities God has established or rebelling against them out of selfishness and without Biblical mandate?

"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2: 1-4)

• Are you praying for your leaders and seeking peace with your brethren, or do you wish injury and shame upon him?

_________________________________________________

"31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4: 25-32)

"6Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3: 5-17)

• Are you verifying statements before repeating them in slander?
• Are you ready to forgive, or are you storing up resentment?
• Are you choosing to be thankful or bitter?
• Do you view all people, regardless of social class, race, or gender as your brother or sister, worthy of respect, acknowledging that you are nothing without Christ and no better than anyone else?
• Do you strive to obey God in all things, asking Him to help you when you fall short, ever grateful for His mercy and grace?
• Are you opening your entire life, every decision, word, thought, action, and heart's desire to Him so that He can redeem and transform you? Alternatively, do you only obey Him when it is politically correct or convenient? 
• Is He Lord over your life or do you think you have authority over Him and are thus better able judge what is right and wrong, just and unjust? 
• Do you insist that you know better than God does with regard to His word, omitting the parts you find uncomfortable and clinging only to those that fit your narrative and make you feel good? 
• Is your life consistent with the knowledge that we will never experience freedom from sin, lasting joy, or peace until we become so uncomfortable with the reality of our sin that we choose God over our unholy lusts and humbly repent? Until He is Lord over all, He is not your Lord at all.
• Do you do all things to honor Christ or to exalt yourself?
• Are you a peacemaker? Do you put the interests of others before your own? (Philippians 2:4)
• Do you acknowledge that Christ is the only one who can unite us all and give us peace? Is He your only hope and heart's desire, or are you still trusting in earthly powers and fleeting carnal enticements?

Corrupted Churches and Seminaries vs. Monsanto Corporation

The hip pastors pouring out of corrupted seminaries (like Duke Theological Seminary which is now doing more damage to the true church with their pretense and heresy than those who openly confess their hatred of God) who teach a politically correct but distorted version of God's word with the hope of drawing the masses remind me of Monsanto Corporation.

Monsanto Corporation

 In the name of feeding the masses (BTW: Hunger is a more of a distribution problem than a supply problem with over 50% of the food supply currently being thrown away), Monsanto has corrupted the seeds of the most basic food staples, such that it's nearly impossible to find non-GMO peanuts, corn, soy, wheat, etc. Our bodies were not designed to process GMO foods, so while food should nourish and heal us, GMO foods are causing sickness and even death, especially as they grow in degree of saturation across the food supply. 

Similarly, our hearts and souls can ONLY be nourished, purified, and completely healed by the true word of God. Man-made distortions of God's truth will only make us spiritually ill. This on-point post by John MacArthur provides an excellent analysis of this compromised evangelism in light of the Scriptures, specifically in reference to the Parable of the Sower and the Seed.

The Parable of the Sower and Bad Evangelism
https://www.gty.org/library/blog/B170809

Key quotes from the post by John MacArthur that got an amen from me include:

• "But you cannot manufacture converts by changing the message or stylizing the messenger"

• "The preacher who thinks designer jeans will make his message more palatable is akin to a farmer investing in a designer seed bag so that the soil will be more receptive to his seeds."

• "One of the primary refrains about evangelism today is that the church needs to update the methods without altering the message. But if we’re not faithfully preaching the truth about man’s sinfulness, God’s grace and mercy, the sinner’s need for repentance and faith, and the completed work of Christ, we’re not protecting and preserving the gospel message."

Men vs. Women

Men vs. Women

I'm sure the article entitled, "Are Men Better than Women at Chess? Probably" offended a lot of people.  Pop culture and progressive feminism (not to be confused with classical feminism which accomplished a lot of wonderful, much needed reforms for women) would say that all women should protest, riot, and viciously express their disdain for such a politically incorrect statement.

As a woman who graduated at the top of her class in engineering school and who gets giddy over all things math, logic, and strategy related, I am not the LEAST BIT OFFENDED by this article or it's headline. I thought I would post that here, so Google will have a record of it as they police our thoughts .(This comment is a sarcastic reference to Google's decision to fire someone for writing a brilliant memo with sound reasoning and scientific proof because some snowflakes could not accept the truth and threw temper tantrums about it.  Google caved to their bratty children, just as expected, and fired the man unjustly and illegally while providing yet another example of the liberal hypocrisy of liberal tolerance, when liberals are the most intolerant of all, especially with regard to different viewpoints that are so easily justified whereas their talking points make no sense at all).

I also much prefer having women compete against women athletically and consider it to be sheer insanity to allow transgendered men to compete against women in events created for women only. We are each unique and there are plenty of women who can beat other men in these venues, but in general, when you consider the collective data, men have a biological advantage in both chess and most athletics, and that FACT doesn't discriminate against me or bother me AT ALL. I'm thankful for it because these differences drive the complementary nature of the genders for healthy families and societies in general.

 ¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized byone Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (1 Corinthians 12-13)

There are PLENTY of things women can do better than men and in which they have their own advantage, so when you look at all those differences collectively, it evens out. (Of course, our value has nothing to do with our performance, anyway!) No one is more valuable than another (although the socialistic government gods would like to be the judge of that), but we do need each other

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27)

Women seeking validation by trying to convince the world that they can do everything a man can do but better have missed the whole point. They will never receive the validation they are seeking that way, but they will wear themselves out trying.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. (Romans 12:3)

Furthermore, by disrespecting the unique gifting of men, women will only cause men to stop doing what they are called and especially equipped to do. That places all the responsibility on women alone, and the U.S. statistics on the number of fatherless homes and the outcomes for children and society as a result provide plenty of alarming evidence of where that leads. Let's learn to celebrate our differences and work together in a complementary way to build synergy for healthy homes and communities.

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”   (Genesis 2:18)

Jealousy, Mob Violence, Ignorant Ones Following the Herd

I was struck this morning by how familiar the events described in Acts 17 seem today in our age of community organizers, social media, political corruption & power grabbing, Soros funding, and mob violence. Now if only we could be bold, obedient, and Spirit filled in presenting the Gospel with clarity as Paul was.

"What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

Selected verses from Acts 17 are quoted below to illustrate this point, with caps added for emphasis and comments in brackets.

5 But the Jews were JEALOUS, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, THEY FORMED A MOB, set the city in an UPROAR and ATTACKED the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, SHOUTING [false accusations].... 8 And the people and the city authorities were DISTURBED when they heard these things....

13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, AGITATING AND STIRRING UP THE CROWDS....

18 Some of the Epicurean (very emotional, worldly pleasure seekers) and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this BABBLER wish to say?” [If you try to reason logically today using more than Twitter's maximum character limit, you are labeled a "babbler".]
19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus [a place for discussing philosophical ideas which would be alot like digital "news" and social media today]...

21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in NOTHING except telling or hearing something new.

30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some MOCKED. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.”

Only the gospel of Christ can free us from folly, ignorance, hatred, and despair. So why do so many Americans insist that we keep it from the public square?

3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  (Titus 3:3-7, ESV)

The Only Way to Truly Satisfy Social Justice Warriors

Do all these people who are crying out for equality, world peace, open borders, equal outcomes, distribution of wealth, and one unified global government realize that what they are truly longing for is Heaven? None of those things are fully possible unless sin is absent and resources are limitless.

God initially gave us Heaven on earth, but Adam and Eve were not content with perfection under the authority of God, so they chose to disobey God, tempted by that which promised to make them like God.  God's punishment on man included painful toil. Provisions would no longer come easily, and never again would there be sufficient resources readily available for everyone (Matthew 26:11). Since Adam and Eve sought to dominate instead of assimilate, they were deported from paradise, and a cherubim with a flaming sword was set up as a type of border patrol, blocking the way to the tree of life, with the strictest vetting protocol. (Genesis 1-3)

Under Nimrod, mankind tried to set up another global utopia at a plain in Shinar where they cried, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:4) Knowing the wicked corruption that the lust for power brings and the folly of misguided worship, God confused their languages and scattered them into different nations and cultures so that no one man or government body would rule the whole earth.  God established the different nations for our protection and for the greater good (Acts 17:26-17).

God loves the nations.  He established clear boundaries for the nations and gives specific commands for protecting them (which do involve some massive walls), and for preserving their unique identities. (2 Chronicles 14:6-7)  He gives instructions regarding who to include or exclude (Deuteronomy 23:3, Exodus 23: 32-33).  He teaches families and nations to look out for their own first (1 Timothy 5:8, Deuteronomy 15:11,  Romans 12:13), but he also commands us to also show love and hospitality to sojourners (Leviticus 19:34, Leviticus 23:22, Leviticus 25:35, Deuteronomy 10:19, Deuteronomy 14:29,  Deuteronomy 24:19-21, Deuteronomy 26:12-13, Matthew 25:35-40, Romans 12:13, Hebrews 13:1), with the understanding that those who stay should assimilate into the culture, adhering to the laws of the land (Deuteronomy 31:12-13, Leviticus 18:26).  

(For more information on how the Bible instructs us on issues of immigration, reference Danny Carroll's article found here.)

While God loves all the nations, He established Israel to be a light to the nations, sent Christ to be the Light of the world (and the fulfillment of Israel's calling), and commissioned the church to take the Gospel of Christ to the furthest corners of the earth.  His Gospel is for all the nations.  However, God does not support globalism established by man for the glory of man, for as we have seen throughout world history with the rise and fall of kings and nations, ultimate power ultimately corrupts.  Only God possesses that power, deserves that honor, and can rule with perfect righteousness, but mankind rejected His authority.

By His goodness and grace, God set His redemptive plan in motion when He cursed the serpent at the fall as described in Genesis 3:15. The seed of the woman, Christ Jesus, would crush Satan's head and strike his heel. God planned from the beginning to restore all that was lost and to reestablish all He intended for His creation (see Isaiah 11:9, Isaiah 25, Matthew 5-7, Revelation 7, 21-22).  God is the One who will bring about this new kingdom, not man, for only God is perfect in holiness and justice, infinite in wisdom and love, limitless, omniscient, omnipotent, and eternally good.

So please consider, social justice warriors, that while we should all strive to make the world a better place and while God uniquely called us to be wise and faithful stewards over the earth (Genesis 1), what your heart truly desires is His everlasting kingdom (Ecclesiastes 3:11).  No amount of good works, activism, or passionate protests will get you to that perfect place your heart desires.  The narrow way to Heaven (Matthew 7:13-15) is found by trusting in Jesus's redemptive work on the cross and by believing that He is God's son who bore all our sins in our place.  Jesus is the only way to Heaven. 

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

In His word, God gives us a glimpse of this new heaven that awaits all who believe. How glorious it will be!

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ² I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” ⁵ He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
⁶ He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. ⁷ Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. ⁸ But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death....

...It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. ¹² It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. ¹³ There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. ¹⁴ The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. ¹⁵ The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. ¹⁶ The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. ¹⁷ The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits^[thick. ¹⁸ The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. ¹⁹ The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, ²⁰ the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.²¹ The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.
²² I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. ²³ The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. ²⁴ The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. ²⁵ On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. ²⁶ The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. ²⁷ Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.  (Revelation 21: 1-8, 11-26)

Eden Restored

22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ³ No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. ⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.  (Revelation 22:1-5)

⁹ After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9-10)

‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat.
¹⁷ For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (Revelation 7: 16-17)

 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.  (Luke 13:29)

The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tear from all faces;
he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth.
The Lord has spoken.

⁹ In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God;
    we trusted in him, and he saved us.
This is the Lord, we trusted in him;
    let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”

¹⁰ The hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain;
    but Moab will be trampled in their landas straw is trampled down in the manure.
¹¹ They will stretch out their hands in it,
    as swimmers stretch out their hands to swim.
God will bring down their pride despite the cleverness of their hands.
¹² He will bring down your high fortified wallsand lay them low;
he will bring them down to the ground, to the very dust.  (Isaiah 25:8-12)

The real reason Americans are so angry and divided and what to do about it

Extreme polarization, disunity, anger, rioting, violence and overall civil unrest have escalated in America at an alarming rate over the past decade.  The information age and the rapid rise of social media networks have contributed to these negative trends by increasing the dissemination of information and by facilitating the erosion of credibility among information producers.  Anyone can present himself as an expert and spread false information, "fake news", or misleading opinions without accountability.

Media producers profit more by publishing sensational stories with click-bait titles than they do by publishing thoughtful insights and verified facts.  Smart phones and social media saturate users with so much information 24/7 that few have the time or patience to read media that is more than 500 words or that requires in-depth thought, so the media is mostly dumbed-down to emotional sound bites that make consumers FEEL intense emotions without having to think much at all.  Opinions and talking points are virtually absorbed by osmosis, and once those opinions are established, social media intensifies those opinions through algorithms that feed consumers only what reinforces those opinions. This confirmation bias closes minds and hearts to differing perspectives. This refusal to consider or evaluate opposing opinions has turned some of America's most elite universities, where the marketplace of ideas once fueled innovative thought and mutual understanding, into censorship zones where only the most liberal philosophies are permitted a voice. Polarization is a natural outcome of a refusal to expose oneself to opposing viewpoints.  Since no persuasive arguments or thoughtful defenses are needed to support a common opinion in such censored environments, any attempt by an outsider to engage in meaningful dialogue or respectful debate is immediately shut down by resorting to name calling ("hater", "bigot", "sexist", or any combination of vulgar expletives) or by simply disengaging.  Those who refuse to conform to this herd mentality have been persecuted, whether by exclusion, fines, bullying, or violence. 

Social media has also removed the filter that face-to-face interactions provide, emboldening users to say online what they would never say in person. Sociologists consider social media to be a primary contributor to the problems of isolation, depression, low self-esteem, and the inability of many Millennials and heavy media users to develop meaningful face-to-face relationships with others. Strong interpersonal relationships are the glue that unites a society, so the less we relate to one another in real life, the less peace and unity we will experience overall.

These tensions have especially intensified since the rise of Black Lives Matter which encouraged the killing of police officers simply because of their profession.  Then when Hillary did not win the election as expected, the rioting began again, especially among entitled young people who do not know how to handle disappointment because their hovering parents never let them fail, and their teachers and coaches gave every kid an award or a trophy.  The media certainly paints a grim picture of the current state of the nation with angry, violent, grieving, hysterical Americans acting as though the world has ended.

With sincere concern for the emotionally distraught, I must point out that none of us, regardless of political or religious affiliation, should ever overreact to anything the media presents as emotionally charged click bait, especially when it is void of accurate facts or specifics.  The angrier and more emotional Americans become, the more the media profits. Some media outlets have been caught flat out lying to perpetuate the negative emotions that are so profitable for them.

To those tempted to hysteria, consider how much your heart and blood pressure, your doctors, and everyone around you would thank you if would simply ignore the exaggerated claims until you have the facts and can understand the full context.  Just as wise parents ignore their toddlers when they throw temper tantrums for no reason, those in authority will discount all whining and protesting done in ignorance.  Truly, unjustified anger serves no constructive purpose, but if left unchecked, can easily turn into bitterness that grows to destroy the one who harbors it.  (Ecclesiastes 7:9,  Proverbs 16:32, Ephesians 4:26-31, James 1:19-20, , Colossians 3:8, James 4:1-2)

"Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;  do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land." (Psalm 37:8-9)

The Biblical account of Jacob and Esau points out how quickly anger, even if sparked by legitimate injustice, can grow into hatred that morphs into psychopathic behavior.  Esau went from anger to hatred to plotting to murder his brother in a very short time period. (Genesis 27:41)  Esau is not unlike many Americans.  Ever since Trump's inauguration, the news has been filled with examples of angry insults, violent protests, Madonna's desire to bomb the White House, individual threats to assassinate Trump, over 12,000 tweets calling for Trump's assassination, and an extremely profane speech at a Black Lives Matter protest calling for killings across the White House and beyond.  The anger in America is out of control, and it is completely unjustified.  When have any of these angry protestors had personal interactions with Trump in which Trump hurt them in such a way as to justify the death sentence?  Esau could at least point out that Jacob had tricked him out of his birthright and out of his father's blessing, yet God's complete disapproval of Esau's hatred is clear, for the Hebrew word used to describe Esau's hatred of Jacob is the same root word from which the name Satan is derived.

When we are personally angry and frustrated or when our nation is filled with hostility and division, we must stop reacting emotionally and start thinking critically.  We must carefully consider not only what is true in any situation (instead of what the media wants us to believe), but even more importantly, we need to identify the true source for our anger.  We can probably all agree that the technological age and the rise of social media have made the tensions worse, but most would place the blame on the person at whom their hatred is directed.  Republicans blamed Obama. Obama blamed Bush. Black Lives Matter blamed police officers of any color.   Now the blame for so much division and instability in America is being collectively placed on Trump and his supporters.

While the loudest protestors insist that Trump is the source of their angst, God's word offers a different answer.

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. (James 4:1-2a)

People are angry because they did not get what they expected or wanted.  Entitled people do not know how to handle disappointment. They believe all the negative media published to incite fear and cannot bring themselves to accept any other scenario than the one they demand or to hope that their worst fears will not be realized. When Obama was elected, conservatives wrestled with the same feelings of disappointment, fear, and despair for the same reason. They did not get what they wanted, but they had to accept the truth for what it is and move forward with faith in God and without fear of man.

Our refusal to let go of bitterness, fear, and resentment is also rooted within ourselves.  Fear is the absence of faith. We will never be at peace as long as we refuse to trust in the sovereignty and goodness of God.

"I am deeply persuaded that the primary reason we complain, grumble, and accuse is because the sovereignty of God doesn’t rule in our heart."  - Paul David Tripp

In a devotional entitled, "The Sovereignty of Words" (read it here), Paul David Tripp describes the pure, edifying, peaceful speech that flows out of a heart steadfastly ruled by God's sovereignty, no matter what trials may come. I have quoted a portion from Tripp's post below.

"When people frustrate us, when our plans are thwarted, and when suffering enters our door, our lips dispense words laced with anger, bitterness, envy, doubt, confusion, and fear. All of these emotions are given room to grow when there is a void of rich understanding and belief in the sovereignty of God.

We have forgotten that God’s dominion is an eternal dominion and he does as he pleases (Daniel 4:34-35). We don’t remind ourselves that his judgements are unsearchable and his ways inscrutable (Romans 11:33). We have neglected to meditate on the truths that God rules over the specific details of our lives for his glory and our good (Acts 17:26-27, Ephesians 1:4-6, 20-22 and many more)."

Entitlement thinking says, "You owe me.  Give me what I deserve."  God's word, on the other hand, teaches us that none of us is righteous (Romans 3: 9-20), and what we truly deserve is death (Romans 6:23).

Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Grace is getting what we do not deserve.  Jesus died to save us from the eternal death we deserve and to give us what we could never earn or merit on our own (forgiveness, purification, a personal relationship with Him, and eternal life with Him in Heaven).  Through Christ's death on our behalf on the cross, He offers both mercy and grace to all who will believe and put their trust in Him as Lord over their lives. 

²⁰ When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. ²¹ What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! ²² But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 6:20-23).

Entitlement thinking leaves no room for grace, so let us humble ourselves before the Lord, acknowledging how much we have fallen short of His perfect standard.  (Romans 3: 9-20)

 "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." (Romans 12:3)

Fear leaves no room for hope, joy, or peace. Replace fear with faith and love.  (Deuteronomy 1:21, Deuteronomy 3:2, Deuteronomy 3:22, Deuteronomy 10:12, Deuteronomy 20:3, Joshua 8:1, Joshua 10:8, Judges 6:23, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 91:5, Psalm 46:2, Proverbs 19:23, Isaiah 41:10-14, Isaiah 43:5, Isaiah 44:8, Isaiah 54:14, Isaiah 57:11, 1 John 4:18, and more... 

"The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" 
(Psalm 118:6)

Deception leaves no room for truth or peace.  So let us throw off our old ways of thinking and think Biblically with a sound mind and an earnest desire for God's whole truth and perfect wisdom.

Instead of harboring bitterness, we must forgive as Christ forgives His followers.

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14-15) 

Ephesians 4 provides great instructions on how to curb our anger and fear in such uncertain times, but it requires a willingness and a commitment to growing in maturity and unity.

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

⁷ But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it....

^...11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work....

^...22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. ²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ²⁶ “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold. ²⁸ Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."