Introduction
I have been called by many titles. Some good, some bad, some I will never post. For a good idea of what I’m talking about go to this website (www.perryzone.com) and look under “About”. I will not repeat “About”. I have expressed many opinions when writing my blogs and papers for this website. Much of what I say can be backed up by Scripture. Some not. Most of those that are not backed up by Scripture express my opinions only. They are not written to represent right or wrong or prejudice or racism of any kind. They are simply opinions. We all have opinions and, they should not be judged as fitting into any predetermined classification such as Democratic, Republican, Christian, Protestant, Pagan, or socially acceptable (or not) category. Below I list several points of view and opinions that may be new or that have been previously depicted. They are here for your edification and enjoyment. So, enjoy. It’s just me. Just Lee.
Your Favorite Scripture
I have a favorite Scripture. I’ve read the Bible a lot along with many other books and one Scripture seems to stand out above the others. It explains my hunger for my Lord and His Word. I find joy, peace, and purpose when I read it. I didn’t go looking for it. Others move me also. But, this one stands out and I have latched out to it as my own. Has this ever happened to you? Listen to your inner self when you are reading the Bible and see what jumps out. It’s fun when you have a Scripture you can keep going back to it as a source of understanding and purpose.
I think you all know mine. I mention it at the end of every paper I write. It has been the source of my commitment to Christ, my ministry to Him, and my witness to others. Here it is:
“Thy Words were found, and I did eat them, and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16) ESV
Do You Belong to Christ
As a Christian, these are things we think we know: we can trust Him, He will not leave us, He only means good for us, He will not lead us astray, and if we do what He says we will be better off and, the list goes on. Here is where the “rubber meets the road”. We must do as He says! Back up those things we think we believe with action. This is also called Faith. Abandonment to Him takes faith. Surrender of all things to Him takes faith. Are we faithful and true as He is faithful and true? Exactly what do we believe? Exactly whom do we trust? Is it still ourselves? Do we lack faith because of “sin doubt and unforgiveness and more” or, because of the unanswered prayers? So you’re sick and God hasn’t answered your prayer right away. Get over it! Abandonment and Surrender means endurance and change. A change from what the world told you to what we know through Christ. You must change from a worldly system of control which is self-control, to a God controlled life.
If you enter into this relationship of Abandonment and Submission by saying, “I hope this works”, that is a good thing. If you belong to Christ there is always hope. Hope and have Faith. He will accomplish what He started.
The Bible
I love to read fantasy, science fiction, and books of international intrigue like Tom Clancy. But the Holy Bible is by far the greatest book I have ever read. I’ve read it many times from cover to cover and continue to read it discovering fantastic revelations that “blow my mind”. Unlike fiction or nonfiction, in which the writers often pen what they regard as “poetic licensee”, the Bible continuously reveals truths. Every time I read it, it is like reading a new book. It keeps on giving into my life and not just this life but my eternal life.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35) ESV
My Home
My wife and I live in a home. It has four walls that protect us. It has many furnishings that assist us throughout our life. It also has had many occupants through the years. These are my children. I am the Father. I also have another house. It’s called The United States. It doesn’t have any walls. It needs them. I am not protected by invaders from the outside. They are robbing my home of all its furnishings: safety, provisions, freedoms, and God-given rights including freedom of religion, speech, the right to bear arms, and the pursuit of happiness. My wife and I preside over our home. We care for it and all the belongings within. Our other home is presided over by our other father called the President, an office we all respect and hold up to high standards.
My Fathers
I have many fathers. My Father in Heaven, my biological father, and my President, mentioned above, who is the Father of my United States home. My biological father was great, a patriot and sergeant in WWII. Even though ill from service to his country he along with my mother provided protection, strength, and guidance to our home and family. He was my father from conception. My current Father who is the President of our home called the United States is not a good father. He does not protect his family as my biological father did. Neither does he protect the young and their education nor does he protect the elderly. He steals from the elderly and their social security when he needs money. He does not repair the breaches or build walls but would rather service his desires not protect his children “we the people”. He is not strong but weak. He is not the father of all “we the people”. He certainly is not the President (father) of the unborn. He wants to terminate the unborn and even some that are newly born. He needs replacing. Our prayer is that we get a Father who will protect his children, make them strong again, repair the breaches, and, allow prosperity to flow back to “we the people” his children.
The Church, Today
I am very disappointed the the Church today. It is week. It feeds the “easy life”. It often teaches half truths seeking its self-interests. This is not true of all Churches but true of some. Mario Murillo, one of my admirers in the Church, recently said he would no longer chase after the lukewarm but would only seek out those who hunger for truth. He will no longer waste his time with those who only seek the easy road. Why? Because time is short and many hunger for the real truth.
Compromise
Today you have Good and Evil. Evil can only be defined by Sin. There is nothing in between. There is no compromise with darkness. If you compromise you sin and choose death. Why would anyone want to do this? There are several answers: pride, sin is the easier road, it feels good, defending another sin, making yourself feel important (no humility here), not wanting to offend another by speaking the truth, fear, being embarrassed by telling the truth, and the list goes on. We often have this notion that God will wink at little sins saying, “I understand don’t worry”. Understand that sin is an absolute and it can not be softened in any way. (Click here for my paper on Authority, Absolutism and Woke)
Misconceptions
I will only mention one that everyone talks about. There are so many out there. To see my paper on Misconception click here. The one I want to talk about here surrounds abortion rights. This is a heavy topic among politicians and constituents alike. The media talks about the rights of women over their bodies. I have seen it represented in the media as “conception rights”. It is not a conception right. No one is against the right to conceive. What it should be called is termination rights. This presents a real truth. Pro-choice representatives are looking for the right to terminate the lives of children not to have them.
Why Do We Argue
It seems reasonable to say that we argue because we feel we are right and they are wrong. But there’s much more to it than that. People do not want to be told they are wrong, that they failed, or that they are in sin. Only a few followed John the Baptist when he said “You must repent”. People become offended and do not want to accept the truth. This is often followed by reverse accusation. “But you said this and you did that and you are more wrong than I am”. From there an argument grows and continues and everyone loses. Hurt feelings enter in and people stop speaking to one another. It is especially sad when this happens in families. More often than not an argument stemming from sin is followed by misinformation. Then everyone is accused of lying. This is the work of the devil. Everyone needs to step back and recognize the source of the conflict. If we sin we must recognize it as sin (not often as easy as it sounds), acknowledge the sin, and repent. There is no other answer. There will always be a quilt followed by shame. This is a good thing. It is God’s way of telling us we are walking in the wrong direction. Here is where we reap what we sow and we must overcome.
Pride
We are not here to judge sin. Sin has already been judged on the Cross. We are here to expose sin and to speak against it as John the Baptist did. We can indeed point out pride even as Jesus did when speaking to the Pharisees.
“Everything they do is done for show and to be noticed by others. They want to be seen as holy, so they wear oversized prayer boxes on their arms and foreheads with Scriptures inside and wear extra-long tassels on their outer garments.” (Matthew 23:5) TPT
“But you are to be different from that… Remember this: If you have a lofty opinion of yourself and seek to be honored, you will be humbled. But if you have a modest opinion of yourself and choose to humble yourself, you will be honored.” (Matthew 23:8, 12) TPT
The bottom line is this: Without repentance, many will go to hell. The world says we are judging. We are not judging. The world has already been judged. We must expose sin but we seldom do. Preachers are often afraid to expose sin because they may lose members, and, if they lose members they will lose popularity and income. Fear enters into the picture and we are found lacking. We know better. Fear is never an option. In the end, only Faith will win.
All of the above examples, actions, and statements come from pride. Sin comes from pride and pride comes from sin. Buck up! Get it together! You will pass through this life only once. You have all the instructions and help you need. Never follow the ways of the world, others, or the crowd. There is only one Way – the Way of the Cross. From my paper on Pride. To read click here.
Conclusion
I believe I should continue writing. With this paper, I have exceeded 100 posts on my website. I do not want to continue expressing my opinion as this post may suggest. I want to express God’s opinion, or better yet God’s Way. I don’t think God has opinions He only expresses truth. Hopefully, my opinion expresses God’s truth. That is certainly my intent. If I should slip I would hope that you, the reader, will help set me straight. That is what those who are “in Christ” should do. Love one another and be able to talk to one another and correct one another if needed, without being offended. Please note that this website provides for comments. You only need to register, sign up to comment, and receive other posts by email if you desire.
Enough Said
“Thy Words were found, and I did eat them, and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16)
