Pastors need to learn to explain WHY bad things happen to good people

I'M SO DISAPPOINTED IN PASTORS who don't know how to answer the question, "What do you tell people after a tragedy, when their faith is shaken to the core?" People don’t need silly, fluffy responses like, “Well, God loves us, and He’ll help us make it through this and make us stronger than ever” – or some such nonsense. That’s not an answer; that’s a cop-out by those who don’t know the answer to that question!

The answer to the above question - for those who KNOW the Bible - is simple:

We live in a fallen world where bad things happen! He allows all of us the free will to do as we wish, and sometimes someone else's "free will" to do evil, might impact us.

No one is guaranteed the next day. Therefore, it is up to each of us to get ourselves RIGHT with God while we can, because He offers us eternal life with Him, which - when it comes down to it - is ALL that matters.

God doesn't always deliver us from harm (as evidenced in the latest “school mass murder” on May 24, 2022, when He allowed a lunatic with an AR-15 in Uvalde, Texas, to exercise his “free will” and kill 21 innocents in a grade school). He chooses to save or not save whomever He wishes, for reasons known only to Himself - reasons we'll only discover when we are out of these filth "earth suits."

Does it hurt?  YES!  But, we can see throughout Scripture that He has given mankind free will, starting with Adam and Eve who CHOSE to sin and thus cause the entire human race to be born into a fallen world! It was the same free will that allowed Cain to kill Abel (Genesis 4) and Lot’s wife to commit certain suicide by “looking back” after she was warned NOT to (Genesis 19).

The fact that God allows that free will does NOT mean He doesn't love His people, because He DOES! But He also allows us to choose whom to follow - and myriads have chosen to follow the ways of haSatan, the Evil One ...straight into the pits of hell.

Too bad for them because Scripture ALSO tells us there WILL be a Judgment Day when God’s people will be avenged…. (See Isaiah 13:6,9; Jeremiah 46:10; Joel 1:15; 2:11; Amos 5:18; Obadiah 1:15 and Revelation 20:1-15.)

Some thoughts on our “eternal bodies”

I recently saw a comment posted by a Hebrew Roots teacher which suggested that “our incorruptible bodies will perpetually look like we did when we were 30 years old.” In my opinion, that is a very immature interpretation of Scripture (which does NOT support that idea at all), and reveals that many are still viewing the things of God through their limited, human mindsets.

First of all, Scripture doesn’t reveal “what our incorruptible bodies will look like”; and secondly, our appearance will be totally irrelevant! As eternal servants of YHWH, we surely weren’t meant to parade around as “young looking” sex symbols! Scripture tells us, we will be like the angels.

We’re not going to be sexual beings any longer with any superficial need to “look forever young” or “be beautiful.” The "beauty" we will exude is a HOLY beauty that we cannot begin to comprehend in our human form! It's got NOTHING to do with looking like a young, 30 year old human!

Matthew 22: 30. For in the resurrection of the dead, men do not marry women, nor are women given to husbands. Rather, they are as the Messengers of Elohim in Heaven. (AENT)

Our focus will be on ADONAI whose goal is to use His people to teach and preach the Kingdom of YHWH and show the people remaining on earth in those days, how to become holy/set apart, and prepare them to become holy and useful citizens in the olam ha-ba – the “world to come.” We get some strong hints that those who receive their incorruptible bodies are true servants of YHWH who will SHINE as did Moshe when he descended from the mountain after being in the Presence of YHWH:

Exodus 34:35 And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him. (CJB)

Please humor me as I share some common-sense, deep, BIBLICAL proofs here and there, designed to get you to ponder on how our “new bodies” won’t necessarily resemble our present “earth suits.” You’re free to agree or disagree with me - but please DO let me know if you think you see ANYTHING in the following passages that even remotely suggests that we will resemble ordinary, flesh-covered humans whose “incorruptible bodies will perpetually look like we did when we were 30 years old” – because I personally do NOT think so!

Let’s take a look the following passages that reveal that our "forever" bodies will somehow “shine”….

Daniel 12: 2 Many of those sleeping in the dust of the earth will awaken, some to everlasting life and some to everlasting shame and abhorrence. 3 But those who can discern will shine like the brightness of heaven’s dome, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. 4 “But you, Dani’el, keep these words secret, and seal up the book until the time of the end. Many will rush here and there as knowledge increases.” (CJB)

Matthew 13: 41. The Son of man will send his Messengers out, and they will pluck from His Kingdom all stumbling blocks and all workers of iniquity. 42. And they will cast them into the furnace of fire, and there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43. Then, the righteous will shine[1] like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. (AENT)

[1] See Isaiah 60:1 and Daniel 12:3

Matthew 17:1 And after six days, Y’shua led Keefa and Ya’akov and Yochanan his brother and took them up high alone. 2. And Y’shua was transformed before them and his face was bright like the sun, and his clothes became white like light. 3. And Moshe and Eliyahu appeared to them speaking with him. 4. And Keefa responded and said to Y’shua, “My Master. It is good for us that we are here. And if you desire, let us make you here three shelters, one for you and one for Moshe, and one for Eliyahu.

5. And while he was speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. And a voice came from the cloud saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am pleased. Listen to him.” 6. And when the disciples heard, they fell upon their faces and were very afraid.

7. And Y’shua approached them and touched them and said, Arise, do not be afraid. 8. And they lifted up their eyes and they did not see anyone except Y’shua alone. 9. And while they were descending from the mountain, Y’shua commanded them and said to them, Do not speak about this vision in the presence of anyone until the Son of man arises from the dead.[2]  (AENT)

[2] Psalms 16:10-11; Job 33:30.

1 John 3: 1. And you see how great is the love of the Father towards us, who has called us sons and made us (such). Therefore the world knows us not because it likewise does not know Him. 2. My beloved, now are we the sons of Elohim; and up to now it has not appeared what we are to be: but we know that when he will appear, we will be in his likeness and we will see him as he is. 3. And everyone that has this hope from him, purifies himself, as he is pure. (AENT)

Philippians 3: 20. But our concern is with heaven and from thence we expect our Life Giver, our Master, Y’shua the Mashiyach 21. who will change the body of our abasement, that it may have the likeness of the body of his glory according to his great power, whereby all things are made subject to him. (AENT)

Please pay close attention to the following passage:

1 Corinthians 15:35. But some one of you may say: How will the dead arise and with what body will they come forth? 36. Foolish man! The seed which you sow, is not resurrected unless it dies. 37. And that which you sow, you do not sow the body that is to be, but the naked kernel of wheat or barley, or of the other grains: 38. And Elohim gives it a body, according to His will; and to each of the grains its natural body.

39. And every body is not alike; for the body of a man is one thing, and that of a beast is another, and that of a bird is another, and that of a fish is another. 40. And there are bodies celestial, and bodies terrestrial; but the glory of the celestial (bodies) is one, and that of the terrestrial is another. 41. And the glory of the sun is one thing, and the glory of the moon is another, and the glory of the stars is another; and one star exceeds another star in glory.

42. So (it is) also with the resurrection of the dead. They are sown in corruption, they arise without corruption: 43. They are sown in dishonor, they arise in glory: they are sown in weakness, they arise in power: 44. is sown an animal body, it arises a spiritual body. For there is a body of the animal life, and there is a body of the spirit.

45. So also is it written: “Adam, the first man, became a living soul;” the second Adam (became) a resurrecting spirit. 46. And the spiritual was not first; but the animal, and then the spiritual. 47. The first man was of dust from the earth; the second man was Master YHWH from heaven.

48. As he was of the dust, so also those who are of the dust; and as was he who was from heaven, so also are the heavenly. 49. And as we have worn the likeness of him from the dust, so will we wear the likeness of him from heaven. 50. But this I say, my Brothers that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of Heaven: neither does corruption inherit incorruption.

51. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52. Suddenly, as in the twinkling of an eye, at the last shofar, when it will sound; and the dead will arise, without corruption; and we will be changed. 53. For this which is corruptible, is to put on incorruption; and that which dies, will put on immortality. 54. And when that which is corruptible, will put on incorruption, and that which dies, immortality; then will take place the Word that is written, “Death is absorbed in victory.” 55. Where is thy sting, O death? And where is thy victory, O Sheol?

56. Now the sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is Torah.[3] 57. But thanks be to Elohim that gives us the victory, through our Master Y’shua the Mashiyach. 58. Wherefore, my Brothers and my beloved, be steadfast, and not weak willed; but be at all times generous in the work of Master YHWH; seeing you know that your labor is not in vain in Master YHWH. (AENT)

[3] When Torah is diminished, the knowledge of sin is diminished; when Torah is increased the knowledge of sin is increased. The strength of sin is Torah, because it is Torah which makes it clear or plain what sin is; Torah explains sin and clarifies it. The sting of death is brought on by sin; the strength of sin is elucidated in Torah.

Last, but not least, please also read all of Romans 8. Please let me know what you think of the above, as I believe these passages serve to prove that we will definitely "look different" - and NOT appear as ordinary humans once we receive our “new” bodies upon Yeshua’s return.  

The importance of “context”….

JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF “CONTEXT”:

Acts 4: 11. This is the stone that you builders have rejected, and has become the head of the corner[1] 12. And there is not salvation by another man[2] for there is not another name under heaven which is given to men by which it is proper to have life!”[3] (AENT)

[1] Psalm 118:22

[2] In other words, no other human can claim the title of Mashiyach, and only the true Mashiyach can assume the name of YHWH in Whom there is total power. The only man who was pierced with the Spirit of YHWH inside him (Zechariah 12:10) is the one who was conceived by the Ruach haKodesh. Without these vital qualifications other candidates must not be considered. The ONE Name under heaven is YHWH; Y’shua’s name points to YHWH.

Not only did the Greek-based religion choose to replace the authority of the Name of YHWH with that of “the son”; but it also imparted a division within deity and coined a Grecianized name, thereby making void the Word of YHWH, and the office of Mashiyach that is sealed according to the Name of YHWH.

[3]   “Life-Giver” in Aramaic is rendered as “Savior” in English. John 5:26 reveals that the Father YHWH gives life from His Qnoma (occurrence of His one nature) to the Son, who is Mashiyach. Y’shua in turn, gives that Life to those who are drawn to him. Y’shua would be powerless to give Eternal Life without His Father YHWH first providing it to him, but it still falls to the Son and no other man to pass that gift on to the rest of us.

Y’shua decries the Pharisees on this issue, pointing out that according to Scripture, Life comes from Mashiyach, but they won’t come to him as haMashiyach for that Life! This is a radically different perspective from those who call on “the name of Jesus” as a substitute for this YHWH-ordained precious gift of salvation because, without One, the other cannot perform his function.

“Abortion” is once again making headlines….

WITH THE ABORTION DEBATES IN THE NEWS AGAIN, let's discuss what the Bible says:

While the Bible doesn't mention "abortion" per se, take a look at these passages:

EXODUS 21:22 “If people are fighting with each other and happen to hurt a pregnant woman so badly that her unborn child dies, then, even if no other harm follows, he must be fined. He must pay the amount set by the woman’s husband and confirmed by judges. 23 But if any harm follows, then you are to give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound and bruise for bruise. (CJB)

Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Job 31:15 Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?

PSALM 139:13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Genesis 9:5 I will certainly demand an accounting for the blood of your lives: I will demand it from every animal and from every human being. I will demand from every human being an accounting for the life of his fellow human being. 6 Whoever sheds human blood, by a human being will his own blood be shed; for God made human beings in his image."

I don't know about you, but to me, it's clear that "life" - according to ADONAI Himself - begins at conception. (If something is not "alive," it wouldn't grow into a full-fledged human....)

SO, I AM PLEADING WITH EVERYONE WHO IS CONSIDERING ABORTION: Instead of choosing the hideous practice of abortion (which literally tears a fetus to shreds), PLEASE consider bringing your baby to full term and giving it away to someone who truly wants a child....

A thorough examination into Yeshua’s Mission on Earth

IN A NUTSHELL: He came to proclaim the Kingdom of YHWH and do everything his Father commanded. He taught Torah and tore down the fences of man's legalism … and then he died to allow his DIVINE blood to symbolically cover the doorposts of the hearts and minds of all those who believe, repent and turn from their carnal ways, so that they might receive ETERNAL LIFE!

Yeshua, the “Lamb of God” (John 1:29 and 36) was and is still the "Word" of YHWH (John 1:1,14); an “extension" of the Father, the "arm of YHWH" (Isaiah 53:1); sent to teach YHWH's people about the Kingdom (Luke 4:43 and 8:1; Acts 24:14 and 28:23).

However, to REALLY KNOW who Yeshua is/was, and what he did and why he did it, we MUST FIRST understand that, from the beginning, after the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden, one’s salvation always required a blood sacrifice (substitution or redemption of one nephesh/soul for another).

Leviticus 17:11 makes that abundantly clear: "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have assigned it to you for making expiation for your lives upon the altar; it is the blood, as life, that effects expiation." (See also Numbers 15:22-30.)

The possibility of the substitution of an animal at the Temple is gone; it has been replaced by your acceptance of the fact that the Messiah died for you; thus, redeeming you, and giving you a chance to receive eternal life.

It is also important to understand that the lambs for the original Passover were NOT “sacrificed” and were NOT a “sin sacrifice.” They were “substitutes” … their blood on the doorposts, in exchange for the life of the people who chose to follow YHWH and His Divine Rules (Torah), Those lambs were NOT taken to the temple; they were taken into people’s homes for four days and then slaughtered so that their blood could be smeared on the doorposts of the homes to ensure that the Angel of Death would “pass over” them (Exodus 12:1-13).

Similarly, Messiah Yeshua - YHWH’s “Lamb” - wasn’t “sacrificed,” either. No one “sacrificed” him. “The world” KILLED him, and he allowed it because he KNEW who he was and what he had to do: He was YHWH’s human (yet also Divine) Messiah and “Son,” sent to teach and preach the Torah, and then to die as a “substitute” for everyone who was willing to believe that YHWH had sent him to shed his blood in exchange for their lives. Those who accept YHWH/Yeshua (as we see throughout the entire Bible), are expected to repent and turn from their sins and start living a holy/set apart life that is pleasing unto YHWH.

In other words, his divine blood symbolically covered the doorposts of our hearts and minds, offering us the choice to receive ETERNAL LIFE! HALLELUYAH!

(Contrary to the false theology of the anti-Yeshua teachers, what Yeshua did does NOT go against Torah rules! YHWH’s priests were always expected to carry the burden of His people. See Exodus 28:36-38; Leviticus 6:25-27; Leviticus 10:16-17; and all of Numbers 18.)

Another thing that is important to understand is that Yeshua was sent by the Father NOT to do his own will, but the Father's … to do everything YHWH ordered him to do!  (Yet, myriads, for some reason, believe he came to replace the Father and abolish Torah …).

Deuteronomy 18: 15 "ADONAI will raise up for you a prophet like me from among yourselves, from your own kinsmen. You are to pay attention to him, 16 just as when you were assembled at Horev and requested ADONAI your God, 'Don't let me hear the voice of ADONAI my God any more, or let me see this great fire ever again; if I do, I will die!' 17 On that occasion ADONAI said to me, 'They are right in what they are saying. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kinsmen. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I order him. (CJB)

Yeshua himself said He came to do HIS FATHER's will; not his own!

John 6: 35. Y'shua said to them, I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will not hunger. And whoever believes in me will not ever thirst. 36. But I have said to you that you have seen me, and you do not believe. 37. All who my Father has given to me will come, and whoever comes not to me I will cast outside! 38. For I came down from heaven,[1] not to do my will, but to do the will of Him who sent me. 39. And this is His will, that of Him who sent me, that all that He has given to me I do not lose even one. 40. For this is the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him, will have life that is eternal. And I will raise him up on the last day. (AENT)

[1] As in the context of Miltha (the Word) or the "Manifestation" or the "Will of" YHWH coming down from heaven to do the Will of YHWH upon earth; his Spirit is of YHWH but his nephesh (soul) and body are human and temporal. (This reveals that Yeshua was NOT in charge; HIS FATHER WAS!)

Knowing the above, you can surely better understand “who” Yeshua was and what he came to accomplish on earth.

John 12: 44. But Y'shua cried out and said, He who believes in me, it is not in me he does believe, but in Him who sent me. [1] 45. And he who sees me sees Him who sent me! 46. I have come as the light into this world that all who believe in me might not remain in the darkness! 47. And he who hears my words, yet does not keep them, I do not judge him, for I have not come to judge the world but to give life[2] to the world.

48. He who rejects me and does not receive my words, there is something that judges him. The word that I have spoken, it will judge him on the last day. 49. For I have not spoken from my soul, but the Father who sent me. He gave a Commandment to me what I should say and what I should speak. 50. And I know that His commands are eternal life. [3] Therefore, these things that I speak just as my Father told me, thus I speak.[4] (AENT)

[1] Y'shua does not bring a new Faith, but reveals the original Faith of YHWH the Father.

[2] Y'shua proclaims that he came to give life, then he declares that his father's Commands are eternal life! The Father's "Commands" are instruction in righteousness; this is Torah which contains Commandments, Judgments, Testimony and Witness regarding the Kingdom of Elohim. Those who enter into Covenant with Mashiyach are entering into Covenant with his Father YHWH; therefore, it is evil - an outright lie - to teach that Torah is done away with and replaced by a new theology!

[3] The Commands of YHWH bring eternal life. YHWH's "Commands" refers to all of His Commandments; these are one and the same as every Word that proceeds out of the Mouth of Elohim. These are not Commands only between Y'shua and his Father but they are universal for all souls who will enter into the Malchut Elohim.

[4] Y'shua speaks the Word of YHWH, not his own words; therefore, he conveys the revelation of YHWH according to the Ruach haKodesh without the baggage of man's religious tradition. Religion has a propensity to reinvent or interpret the Word of YHWH to make it "acceptable" to man's standards; whereas Mashiyach came not to please men, but to honor and bring Glory to his Father.

As you can see after reading the above, Yeshua did NOT come to abolish Torah! Check out chapters such as Isaiah 42 which gives us a glimpse into His Messiah (Mashiach in Hebrew). The entire Bible teems with the full prophetic assurance that Yeshua would NEVER, EVER have annulled Torah!

He MAGNIFIED Torah and wrote it upon the hearts and imaginations of his people. He carried out (fulfilled) the prophecies regarding Mashiach, making them happen! He performed Torah, which was his duty and obligation as Mashiach; otherwise, he could not have qualified to be Mashiach ben Yoseph!

In closing let’s examine and TRULY PONDER the following powerful passages that give us a huge glimpse into the mind of Mashiach Yeshua:

Matthew 5:17 . Do not think that I have come to loosen the Torah or the Prophets. I have not come to loosen but to fulfill them through proper interpretation.[1] 18. For truly I say to you that until heaven and earth pass away not one Yodh or one stroke will pass from Torah until everything happens.[2] 19. All who loosen, therefore, from one (of) these small commandments and teach thus to the sons of man, will be called little in the Kingdom of Heaven, but all who do and teach this will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20. For I say to you that unless your righteousness exceeds more than that of the scribes and the Pharisees,[3] you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. (AENT)

[1] “Fulfill” means to carry out or to bring to realization, to perform or do, as in a person’s duty; or to obey or follow the Commandments, as in satisfying the Commandments by obeying them, Isaiah 42:21 “YHWH is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake; He will magnify Torah, and make him (it) honorable.

[2] Isaiah 40:12-25; 2 Samuel 23:1-5; Deuteronomy 30:11-20.)

[3] Y’shua would certainly not mention “the Pharisees” in this context, except that they walked in a degree of righteousness. Most ancient and modern Pharisees (Orthodox) have disciplined and righteous lifestyles; therefore, Y’shua is stating the difference. As the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit) writes Torah upon the hearts of his followers, they will surpass the righteousness of the Pharisees who elevate tradition rather than Torah.

Those without Torah have no righteousness, and they are certainly not “borrowing” any from Mashiach’s righteousness while they continue in sin, regardless of what their theologians have to say. Mashiach imparts his righteousness to those who follow him, and keep Torah. Through Yeshua, YHWH is raising up a Set Apart people who keep HIS Commandments, rather than making up their own religious traditions.

Matthew 19: ¹⁶ A man approached Yeshua and said, “Rabbi, what good thing should I do in order to have eternal life?” He said to him, ¹⁷ “Why are you asking me about good? There is One who is good! But if you want to obtain eternal life, observe the mitzvot.” (CJB)

John 14: ¹⁵ “If you love me, you will keep my commands; ¹⁶ and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another comforting Counselor like me, the Spirit of Truth, to be with you forever. (CJB)

Revelation 14: ¹² This is when perseverance is needed on the part of God’s people, those who observe his commands and exercise Yeshua’s faithfulness. (CJB)

Revelation 22: ¹⁴ How blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they have the right to eat from the Tree of Life and go through the gates into the city! ¹⁵ Outside are the homosexuals, those involved with the occult and with drugs, the sexually immoral, murderers, idol-worshippers, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. ¹⁶ “I, Yeshua, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the Messianic communities. I am the Root and Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star. ¹⁷ The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’ Let anyone who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let anyone who is thirsty come — let anyone who wishes, take the water of life free of charge.” (CJB)

Do you cringe whenever you hear the English language being decimated?

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU ALL, BUT I CRINGE whenever I hear folks today butchering the English language. I mean, it's bad enough that the word "like" is over-used ad nauseum; and grammar, in general, has become lax to the point of ridiculous. But it really, really grates me to hear people inserting extra syllables into ordinary words, and/or dropping letters altogether.

Examples: Sixteen has become "sixtee-an"; mean has become "mee-an"; and didn't has become "did-ennt"; etc. And people (especially women) love to drop letters, as does the female anchor on the show, America This Morning, who pronounces "Putin" as "Poo-in"... I guess that would be okay if you're twelve or thirtee-an, but that silliness should be out of your system by the time you're old enough to become a professional journalist!

And don't even get me started on the declaratory sentences that sound like questions because the speaker increased their intonation as if what they were saying was a yes-no question. For instance, WHY would the statement, "I'm leaving the house in a few minutes to do some grocery shopping," be spoken as if it's a question? "I'm leaving the house in a few minutes to do some grocery shopping?"

AAARGH! Are you telling me or ASKING me whether you're leaving the house? Sheesh! Snap out of it! (And yes, I know, English teachers go crazy when you start your sentences with a preposition. I adopted that bad habit a LONG time ago! So, sue me!)

Maybe I'm just growing old and cantankerous, I don't know. Or perhaps I just have "an old soul," because, in all honesty, language-botching has always bugged me. Back in "my day" (the Vietnam Era and the "hippie generation" where Timothy Leary suggested we all "turn on, tune in, drop out") it always galled me to pieces to hear the crazy slang of the day, or watch the goofy behavior of people my age.

I remember, while I was a young soldier stationed at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, we had some pot-smoking macho white guys who, during their off-duty time would walk around like gorillas with a "hitch in their get-along"; arms dangling loosely at their sides, palms facing backward, knuckles practically dragging the ground, clearly believing themselves to "look hip" and sound impressive by talking like a bunch of illiterate Troglodytes.

"Hey, baby, like, what's happenin'? I really dig you. Wanna scoot over to my pad and drop a dime?"

(As much as I hate to admit it, I was stupid enough to marry one of those buffoons, because he had me convinced he was the smartest person on the planet, and that I was extremely blessed to even be in his presence. The reality was that he was dumber than a bag of hammers, kept getting busted down in rank, and ultimately ended up in prison for killing someone while high on Heroin. Trust me, I had learned my lesson, because experience often IS the best teacher!)

Anyway, then there were the black "cool" guys who couldn't pass other black guys without engaging in ridiculously long "dapping" rituals just to say "how ya doin'?" (Dapping - look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls - LOL!) It was truly hilarious to watch the endless "dapping" going on in the chow lines on a daily basis.

Also, way back when, people would use terms like, “cool, far out, funky, groovy, outta sight, stoned, stoked and bummed out.” They referred to guys as “cats” and girls as “chicks” or “foxes”; and policemen were known as “fuzz” and "pigs." Back then, we didn’t “have fun”; we “had a gas.” People who were known to “do drugs” were referred to as “freaks.” Those who didn’t were called “squares” or “downers.”

Obviously, yours truly was considered a “downer” on many fronts. Still am, I guess because I'm filled with much discernment and common sense. But honestly, it’s not because I’m trying to be “mee-an”; and I sure hope I “did-ennt” upset anyone with my little rant!

Realizing that times and people do change, and that nothing stays the same, I have to admit that I am sad to see that much of the western world has not only been falling apart, but has also been busy reverting back to "as the days of Noah were" (Matthew 24:37-39); spawning myriad self-centered, loud-mouthed armchair experts on everything, who respect nothing and no one; and who no longer wish to work for living.

Ironically, those traits actually started “in my day” with the likes of the "beatniks." "drop-outs" and "hippies" who thought they were the smartest, coolest beings on the planet...

THANK GOD FOR UNANSWERED PRAYERS!

You’ve surely all noticed that YHWH doesn’t answer our every prayer as we would like, and that sometimes, the answer is a resounding “NO!”

Truth is, we need to thank God for that, because He knows what is best for His children – whether we like it, or not. More often than not, we NEVER discover the reason for His “NO!” answer; but when we do, it can literally send us reeling….

Matter of fact, I’m still, to this day, awe-stricken over the discovery in the year 2000, exactly WHY Abba had refused my years-long prayers to return the “love of my youth” to me! I mean, after every breakup (and there were lots), I had literally, off and on, begged for the return of my high-school sweetheart, David, for approximately 20 years!

I was madly in love with David when I was 17. David was my everything. I would have walked off a cliff for David. He was my best friend on earth, so kind, loving and understanding - and he knew all my deepest, darkest secrets. I had even confided to him that my adoptive father had been sexually abusing me since the age of 9 (something that angered David to the point of wanting to murder my father).

I remember freaking out, because I had a hard time convincing David to keep my secret...and there was NO doubt in my mind that “Dad” would have killed both of us! My adoptive father was evil personified. He was a psycho with a violent temper who had absolutely no reservation about physically hurting humans or animals. (Matter of fact, just before I turned 14, he had sent me to the hospital with internal injuries when I worked up the courage one night to threaten to tell the cops on him when he came creeping into my bedroom...)

David ultimately relented and promised to take me far away from it all after high school. But when he joined the Air Force, he was immediately sent to Korea, where he fell in love with, and married a Korean woman, and we never saw each other again.

Heartbroken beyond belief, I decided to “snap out of it,” and forge my own destiny. So, after high school, I joined the Army and started my own career, while at the same time, attending night classes at local colleges wherever I was stationed for the next 22 years….

I did my fair share of “dating” and even marrying (my first husband was a major Heroin addict who ultimately killed a friend of his while high on Heroin). When I divorced him, I contacted David’s mother, only to discover that David was still happily married and had two little daughters. I had secretly hoped that his marriage would have failed by now, and that he would find me, and we could ride off into the sunset together. Matter of fact, I PRAYED that would happen!

But, back then I didn’t know that YHWH hates divorce (Malachi 2:16), and so I prayed off and on over the years (after every break-up with all the “broken” guys I used to attract) for God to bring my David back to me. He had been a rock for me, and I didn’t understand why he had been able to simply find another woman to marry!

Anyway, my prayers all seemed to have fallen on deaf ears and sometimes I wondered if there really was “a God” because if there was, He surely KNEW that David was the love of my life!

But He never answered that prayer.

And then in the year 2000, I finally found out why: Turns out the “love of my life” was – like my adoptive father – a raving pedophile, who was serving a 20-year prison sentence for getting his 12-year-old daughter pregnant. (By then, I had had access to the Internet and had found David’s parents (with whom I had kept in contact off and on throughout the years) to let them know I had FINALLY found happiness with a man named Bill Welker…)

Well, to coin a hackneyed phrase, ya coulda knocked me over with a feather! I NEVER, in my wildest dreams, expected my David to be able to do something like that! How COULD he have done that, when he used to date me - someone whose life had been ruined because of sexual abuse? It was absolutely inconceivable and incomprehensible!

After the phone call ended, all I could think was, “Oh, THANK GOD! Thank GOD! Thank YOU, Father, for NOT answering my prayers!” Had David married me, it would have been MY daughter he would have sexually abused - and I know I WOULD have killed him and ended up in prison for murder…

I can’t recall any other “unanswered prayers,” but today, as a mature believer, I am wise enough to understand and accept whatever God’s Will is in my life. Our Heavenly Father KNOWS what we need and don’t need, and that’s ALL that really matters. Halleluyah!

James 4: 3. You ask, and do not receive because you ask wickedly, that you may feed your lusts. 4. You adulterers, don’t you know that the love of the world is hatred towards Elohim? He therefore who chooses to be a lover of this world is the enemy of Elohim. 5. Or do you think that the Scripture has vainly said: The spirit dwelling in us lusts with envy? 6. But our Master (Y’shua) has given us more grace. Therefore he said: Master YHWH brings low the arrogant, and gives grace to the humble.

7. Subject yourselves therefore to Elohim; and stand firm against the Accuser and he will flee from you. 8. Draw near to Elohim and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners: sanctify your hearts, you who are divided in mind. 9. Humble yourselves and mourn: let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into grief. 10. Humble yourselves before Master YHWH and He will exalt you. (AENT)