Is My Tree Saved?

June 15, 2022

I do not think that this tree in my yard has a soul, in case you may have thought that I had this opinion because of the title of this post.

This tree sits along side my driveway near to my home. Doesn’t it look dead? Sure looks dead to me. Let’s have a closer look:

That has a serious dead look to it. However, if you look closely you may be able to tell that it is only dead vines that cover the tree. Is the tree fine? I’m still not sure but a few years back this tree was covered with ivy. It looked pretty and the research I did said that it probably wouldn’t kill the tree. Eventually, the ivy got so high into the tree that one year it had very few leaves. My neighbor had given me some advise in case I decided upon serious intervention which I eventually thought was needed.

My neighbor told me that he had a tree covered in ivy and that he had decided to get rid of it. He took an ax to the large vines at the bottom of his tree and it killed the ivy the rest of the way up the tree and his tree was okay. Fortunately, I had inherited an enormous ax from my father and decided to give it a try on this tree. It would take a large ax as the vines had grown so large at the bottom of the tree as to resemble the size of small trees themselves.

About three years ago I chopped my way through the thick vines attempting to miss the tree as much as possible. What you see in the pictures above is the way it looks now. As if this tree didn’t have enough apparent challenges, this year tent caterpillars chose this tree to make dozens of nests high in the branches.

Photo Attributionhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/17659174874/in/photolist-sUtTsj-2ix68KM-L5UzKt-A7YTSX-4KPFDD-9EUJNX-c9uY4E-c9uYFA-mbzy3g-KG1T1-JacRS-KG1Mu-8umD2o-jZ2jFn-eh4vpt-8fihFz-2gHtKpP-HtmHK-gkLCL9-TmXxGn-ngMRMV-D3dFWw-82XDgo-2hWTGTZ-8mW3LD-4RRTsS-6wpVuL-84uFda-7WCzqc-Ja5fj-7be9D5-4J1BD-4XqLHy-nxveRy-7bajLz-KUVFE-esXHa-4Xmuq2-Jaagc-niDUmD-sK3k9b-4Xmu9t-4XqKud-tPatdY-Jaaq6-jRsWd-U6uXaQ-ochnYG-eD6eir-KVgC8

This is what the Eastern Tent Caterpillar “tent” looks like in the spring. They leave these tents to feast on the leaves of the trees before crawling to try and find a nice place to build a cocoon. They were everywhere this year. They liked crawling on the car tires particularly. Any leaves that this tree had were quickly gone because of thousands of the voracious little critters.

No leaves in April made me think that this tree may have little hope. A couple of months later, when the caterpillars were all gone, I looked up to see quite a surprise. Leaves were beginning to form on the tree and eventually got to the point to where it is today:

I saw an interview this morning that reminded me of this tree. It was the testimony of a young lady who seemed dead in many ways only to be awakened by the Holy Spirit of God. You can see the video here:

No, I do not believe that my tree has a soul but I do believe that this young woman and every human who has ever lived does have one. I am thankful for her story.

I hope that my tree lives. If it survives a few more years it may get to the point where even more of the dead vines fall off. It’s foliage looks better than it has in years.

I have no problem with people using the word “saved” when describing things with eternal ramifications. However, I did find this article interesting: “Saved: The Most Misunderstood Word in the Bible.”
What has happened and is happening to my tree reminded me of these verses from Hebrews 12:

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

I wish you a blessed day.

Chris Reimers


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The Wayward “Bride”

May 28, 2022

It has been a rough week. The insanity of this week has been met with a quiet, green, calm morning in the woods of Arkansas. The birds are chirping and someone is mowing their lawn. This is a difficult post to write on many levels but I’m going to give it my best shot, something I encouraged Christians to do in my last post.

Definition of Wayward:

“Difficult to control or predict because of unusual or perverse behavior”

Definition of Bride (as used in this post):

The Church Is the Bride of Christ (click HERE for more detail)

Notice the quotes around the word “Bride” in the title above. The reason for the quotes is that every week brings more news of serious trouble in places where people who call themselves Christians congregate. The “Church” is in eternal trouble. The Church is not. Thankfully, there is a remnant of people who act and believe like people who have been touched by the Holy Spirit.

If the problem weren’t so huge, it wouldn’t be so sad. But the problem is huge. To try and cover the topic comprehensively would take many volumes, so I will explain small events that happened to me this week, events that symbolize much more serious issues.

I was censored by “brothers” twice this week. Silenced. Attempting to help two online acquaintances to understand concerns I had, one minor and one major, my posts were completely removed as if they had never existed. No effort was given to even explain why my attempts could be mistaken. In the scheme of things, I know what I experienced is nothing. I’m sure you’ve heard of the “straw that broke the camel’s back.” Being censored along with other things I’m planning to mention here, kind of had that effect.

I will start with the minor censoring. A blogger that I have followed for some time called all members of all Christian denominations “dung.” Although I have come to the place where I question any church or pastor’s basic theology before I even invest time in trying to learn something from them, I believe that there are true believers in many denominations. I took exception to this blogger calling the Bride “dung.” Our four-comment-back-and-forth was erased and a following post appeared on his blog with the heading: “Persecuted for living godly in Christ scripture-comfort.” Three scriptures about suffering persecution for Christ followed.

Being silenced by someone who considers himself righteous startled me a bit. That he may have considered my little critique persecution is only possible mud on the cake.

The more serious censor happened on Facebook. A friend from college who became a pastor posted this on his Facebook page:

“Joy is that kind of happiness that doesn’t depend on what happens.”

Sounds wise and innocent enough. And then I looked at who said this. The quote is from David-Steindl-Rast. I had never heard of the guy so I looked him up. David-Steindl Rast is a 95-year-old American Catholic Benedictine Monk. It didn’t take long to see that this monk was just another version of Thomas Merton whom my friend had also quoted in the past along with other mystics. I felt that this former Lutheran pastor’s friends should know a bit about this mystic so I shared one of his many faulty (a much too kind word) quotes and suggested that my friend might quote Martin Luther occasionally. I was silenced, the comment removed as if it had never been there. Remaining was this from an allowed commenter:

“It’s a gift of God and a fruit of the Spirit within!”

Deterred but wanting to give it one more try, I looked at post a few below the one from the mystic. All it said was:

“SPIRITUAL RECOVERY RECONDITIONING
Repeat to yourself throughout the day:
Psychotic with God’s Spirit
I am psyched for Him and others“

After looking up the word “psychotic,” I found it was a word “relating to, denoting, or affected with a psychosis”

Psychosis definition:

“a severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with eternal reality”

I thought it only right to share this definition with my friend and those he is influencing. I suppose I should have known that I would be erased again.

Looking at more of the “SPIRITUAL RECOVERY RECONDITIONING” statements, some of them seemed tame enough.

But, the sad question went through my mind, “Is my friend lost?”

And there was this video this week:

In our world today, there is a chance that this is a fake video. As far as my research can go at this time, it is real. If it is not real, the reality of exact things like this that continue to come to light in churches is appalling.

I read Ezekiel 23 this week. It describes the sins of Samaria and Jerusalem, the people who were supposed to be closest to God. And it describes what will happen to them because they have consistently and continually done abominable things.

And then there are the words of Jesus when referring to others who were supposed to be closest to God:

“You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, express any good things? For the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart.”

The heartbreaking theological and sexual waywardness of the “bride” very recently had another largely reported sex scandal hit the news. You can read about it HERE.

A short rabbit trail to make a point:

I enjoy growing tomatoes in the heat and humidity of the summers in Arkansas. While checking a few of the plants the other day, I found 5 eggs on one of the tomato leaves. Whatever had laid the eggs hadn’t even bothered to hide them. They were on top of the leaf and easy to see. Their golden color made them glisten in the sun. They were some of the most eye-catching eggs I had ever seen. At the same time, they had to be destroyed because what hatched from them would begin to feast on and destroy parts of the plant and even the entire plant if let go long enough. They were easy to crush.
I went to the next plant and found the same thing except this time the critter that laid the same type of eggs tried to hide them on the underside of a leaf, which is where one usually finds them. They had been harder to find but just as easy to crush. I moved to the next plant. On the underside of one of its leaves were a completely different type of egg. They were very small and white, more numerous, and very hard and difficult to crush. This little experience made me think of how things have gone so wrong in so many churches.

It starts with things that should be easily noticed, an obviously false doctrine, an ignored blatant sexual sin, a feel good “gospel” that avoids any type of real repentance. These things begin to morph into things that are more hidden but they are still things that could be addressed and dealt with in the proper manner. If not addressed the problems increase and become almost impossible to deal with. Finally, a church finds itself content with its issues but lost, like the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America to name one. I don’t understand how anyone who remotely understands the Bible can be a leader in that denomination.

So…where do we go from here? I don’t know but some of my friends are hoping for a revival. It is a good hope that I think has a very slim chance of happening because of how far things have fallen. I do know one thing. I will continue to look in the mirror and reflect on the holiness of God and how far the guy I’m seeing in the mirror is from that. And I will remember to thank God for each day and for friends who will correct me when I go astray.

Chris Reimers

Related video I saw after publishing this post:

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Christianity, Politics, and Religion

May 19, 2022


“Two things I don’t talk about are politics and religion.” I don’t know how many times I’ve heard this and I don’t know how many times I’ve wondered if anyone could get through a week without talking about something in either area. If they can, they are much more creative than I. This post was born from recent reading in Jeremiah, Wikipedia sources on Christians who hold certain conspiracy theories, and thoughts about the current war in the Ukraine.

My thoughts concerning the title of this article continue to change as life rolls along but I want to share with you where I am right now. Just how does a Christian view the contrasting effects of politics and their beliefs about God in their daily lives? It is a question that could fill an entire book but I’ll attempt to make it short and sweet here using only a few realities in our world.

The first reality is the war in Ukraine. If a Christian wants to hold a position or opinion about a war, they should do what anyone else would do, and that’s to attempt to find out the facts. One would think that, with all of the communication we have these days, this would be an easy task. It is not always the case. Propaganda abounds as each side tries to make its case. In Ukraine’s case, a country has invaded another country and has killed innocent civilians who had no interest in politics except that they wanted to live a free and undisturbed life. Their country has been torn apart by bombs sent by a leader with odd ambitions and have been dropped by those who are willing to follow his orders.

As a Christian, I look at the words of a godly prophet who preceded Jeremiah who said:

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.

Anyone can make the situation in Ukraine as complicated as they wish but, in light of this Bible passage, a Christian’s support for justice for the innocent is warranted.

A definition of “politics” can easily be found online:

“the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power.”

It is obvious to me that justice must play a role in a definition like the one above. Thus, Christians need to be involved in certain aspects of politics.
Jesus was very clear about the civic duty of paying one’s taxes. He was not saying that all having government powers are righteous or just. He knew the book of Jeremiah well, having inspired it, where we find these words against Babylon, no question a political entity, written at the height of its power:


“cut it off, so that there will be nothing dwelling in it, whether man or beast, but it will be a perpetual desolation.”


Jesus knew that the picture of Babylon above would eventually be a reality and, from reading Jeremiah 51, it is obvious that the ruins of Babylon are a result of rebellion against God and His people, a second reality.

God’s people rebelled against Him so he allowed a political solution to help them learn a lesson; Nebuchadnezzar would grow strong and take Israel into captivity. Eventually, the evil in the Babylonian empire would cause them to be destroyed to the degree seen in the photo here at the top. It is a picture of God’s justice. The sovereignty of God is at play here but that is a deep subject for another day.

There are always two sides to a coin. Jesus was very clear on paying taxes but he was silent when asked to defend himself, a third reality. From a human standpoint, it seems that Jesus had every right to defend himself against false accusations of any political nature (which are hard to separate from accusations of a personal nature if one reads the definition of politics above). But, he didn’t. I would submit that we should generally defend ourselves from false accusations because they do neither us nor our accusers any good. In Jesus’ case, his silence was the best thing for all involved including all of humanity. It displays how God’s position as King of King and Lord of Lords is cemented forever. The reason for his silence is explained in Hebrews 2:

“But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.“

Thus, God’s pronouncement that:
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts”
is true.

The Christian must accept that his/her understanding is limited so his/her wisdom regarding politics and religion and how they should interrelate is limited as well. At the same time, the Christian makes an effort to understand and make the best decisions he/she can in light of God’s Word.

Christians, or anyone else for that matter, will never figure out complete justice in politics or religion. In the end, complete justice will be decided by God. It is something we should ponder seriously but we should never put ourselves in the eventual role of God.

Just go out there and do the best you can, asking for the help of God, of course.

God’s blessings…

Chris Reimers

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Easter and Freedom

April 17, 2022

It is Easter 2022. So much of the world finds itself in chains on this day. There is the dark country of North Korea where there is “no freedom of speech, no freedom of religion, and widespread malnutrition.”1 There is Myanmar where one Christian states: “Every day I hear gunshots and grenades. The sound comes only one bus stop away from my house.”2 There is China which “is setting up a vast surveillance system that tracks every single one of its 1.4 billion citizens.”3 And, of course, on this Easter, many are thinking of the Ukraine where 4.1 million of its citizens have fled to save themselves and their children from the onslaught of Russian bombs.4

There are many other examples of places in our world where freedom is not allowed this Easter.5,6

Very soon after man began walking this Earth the oppression and outright murder of others has been the news of the day. Soon after this evil behavior started God stepped in and had a plan for the freedom of mankind. The plan goes back millennia and can be found in Genesis 3:15. It is the first forecast that a Savior would be sent into the world to save mankind from its bondage.

One doesn’t have to look far to find the bondage in our world. In my country, the United States, people are in bondage to sex, drugs, material wealth, power, wanting things that others have, and the list goes on and on. The plan of God to release people from bondage to these things is the reason for Easter. Most of the world knows the story of Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection days later. Unfortunately, many do not believe the story and do not understand the promise of freedom given for those who come to faith in the only One who can save the world from bondage.

For those who do believe and understand the story, true freedom is a process in the soul of becoming more like the Jesus. The only way anyone can know who Jesus is and was is found in the Bible.
The Bible simply states that all men are in bondage to sin and that the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus. Easter is God’s answer to man’s bondage. Jesus Christ took the punishment that we deserved for our sins (bondage) when he died on the cross. His resurrection made the promise of freedom a reality for all who believe in Jesus as their Lord.

In 2022, when so much of the world is in chains, there is a great promise. It is a promise of freedom and peace. It is not a freedom or peace that the world can give. It is a peace in the heart and soul. Before Jesus was crucified, he told His disciples:

“Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.”7

Even Jesus’ disciples didn’t understand His words at the time. As time went by they came to understand and experience the words that Jesus spoke. His disciples were sinful, just like every man. Eventually they understood just what Jesus had done for them. There was nothing they could give to repay God for his sacrifice. No amount of wealth or attempts at perfection or great works could save them. This is what makes Jesus different from all of the other “saviors” the world has to offer. The followers of Jesus trusted His promises and lived by faith. They were still sinful men but as they lived they grew to be more like their Savior. They prayed a lot. We can do the same thing today and ask God to help us with our struggles.

The lack of worldly freedoms that people face in North Korea, Myanmar, China, and the Ukraine can be offset by a freedom that much of the world does not understand. Christians in those countries bleed and feel pain just like everyone else but they have the promises in God’s Word. God’s promises bring comfort in times of great trial.

A Christian life is full of ups and downs. We fail and find ourselves back in bondage until we remember, once again, the freedom that God has to offer us. We ask God for forgiveness and His mercy is constant. As life goes by, we find ourselves becoming a little bit more like Jesus. It is a humbling experience. Then, the next moment we can be like Peter who denied that he knew Jesus. We regret our actions and return to God, once again, remembering the words of Psalm 103:

“Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

6 The Lord performs righteous deeds
And judgments for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the sons of Israel.
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
14 For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.”

May God grant you a freedom that only He can give on this Easter day.

Chris Reimers



1 https://www.bushcenter.org/catalyst/freedom/kirkpatrick-freedom-north-korea.html
2 https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/myanmar/
3 https://www.businessinsider.com/how-china-is-watching-its-citizens-in-a-modern-surveillance-state-2018-4
4 https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220401_46/
5 https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-countries-most-lacking-in-freedom.html
6 https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/
7 John 14:27

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How One Woman Changed Her World

March 31, 2022

Anne Hillyard was a kind and generous woman. She lived during the Victorian era in England and loved many needy children of the time. She was the widow of an Anglican clergyman and when her husband died she was already self-sufficient and looking for some good way to invest funds that she possessed. It seems that “Mrs. Hillyard had asked a friend to recommend some totally reliable public figure to whom she could entrust her considerable fortune to be used for orphans. The man, though not a particular admirer of the prominent Baptist preacher, nonetheless immediately replied, “Spurgeon.” 1 He was, of course, referring to Charles Haddon Spurgeon whose “remarkable ministry in London would last 38 years.” 2

Anne Hillyard was “An ‘ordinary’ woman (with) an extraordinary legacy.” One article calls her “a woman the world knows little about, but who became a catalyst of change for thousands of lives.” 3 “Born as Anne Field, in Warwickshire, she waited until she was 38 to marry. Her husband, Reverend John William Hillyard, was the Curate of an Anglican Church at Ingestre in Staffordshire. He died just one year after their 1841 marriage.” 4

“In 1855, (a decade before Anne met Spurgeon) Charles travelled to meet George Müller, the founder of a famous orphanage in Bristol. At the conclusion of a worship service, Müller invited Spurgeon to say a few words, but he declined because he had ‘been crying all the while.’

“I never heard such a sermon in my life as I saw there.” —Spurgeon (after visiting Mueller’s orphanage) 5,6

More than a decade later, this experience would help bring Anne and Charles together to provide a place where young orphans could learn and grow.

It was a “widely held misconception” that Anne received a large sum of money from her husband’s estate. In fact, she had an inheritance from an uncle before she got married. 7 In 1866, Charles Spurgeon challenged his large congregation stating that we “should be doing more the Lord in this Great city.” 8 Soon afterward, Anne sent a letter to Spurgeon expressing her desire to use her money to “establish… an orphanage for the training and educating of orphan boys.” 9

When Spurgeon and one of his deacons, William Higgs, “called at her modest home they feared that there had been some mistake.” 10 The home she lived in did not appear like the residence of someone who had large amounts of money to give to others. After the meeting, “Anne joined Spurgeon and a group of friends to establish the Stockwell Orphanage. Before its construction, she sold some of her household belongings, even the family silverware, to provide sanctuary to the first four orphan boys.” 11

A month later two and a half acres of land was purchased not far from Spurgeon’s church. On September 9, 1867 the first stones of some of the buildings were laid by Charles, Anne, and two others. 12 Four thousand were in attendance that day. 13 At the opening ceremony of the Orphanage, Spurgeon said of Anne: “When Mrs. Hillyard’s munificent contribution was first announced in the newspapers, people said it had been given by a duchess, but I said no, it is given by a princess—one of the blood imperial—a daughter of the King of kings. She has given it in the most unostentatious manner, desiring that her name should not be known, and I and my friends have dragged her into the light today contrary to her wishes.” 14

“Eventually a row of several individual homes, all connected as one continuous building, were erected. Each two-story home housed fourteen orphans and was sponsored by various donors. A dining hall, infirmary, large gymnasium and even a swimming pool were constructed as part of the expansive complex. Eventually, a corresponding row of homes were built for orphan girls. The area between the two sets of orphan houses was a grass-covered playing field, edged with flowers and shrubs. 250 boys and 250 girls at a time were housed and received a well-rounded education at the orphan complex.” 15,16

“Mrs. Hillyard lived for some years to rejoice in the good work which she had so successfully initiated, and her last words as she died on January 13, 1880, were, “My boys! My boys!” 17,18

Charles Spurgeon died in 1892.

Long after Anne and Charles went to be with the Lord the work they started continued:

“When the Second World War had been announced in 1939, the children living at Stockwell orphanage had to be evacuated. The majority of the children were moved to St. David’s in Reigate, Surrey, where the children occupied themselves by looking after the animals there.

“In 1951 the home in Birchington, Kent, was opened and became the new children’s home. By 1953, all of the children were relocated there. It remained open until 1979, when children were sent to smaller homes or foster families.” 19

The ministry still exists and is now called Spurgeon’s Children’s Charity. 20

Anne’s deep devotion to God and His kingdom helped many orphans receive a good education and learn about the truths of God and the love of Jesus.

Picture of Stockwell Orphanage
Picture of the entrance to the Stockwell Orphanage (Scroll down)
STOCKWELL ORPHANAGE: QUADRANGLE AND BUILDINGS
Pictures of Stockwell including the swimming pool

——————————

This post was inspired by Pastor Jim Lee (also known as SlimJim) of The Domain for Truth blog. Pastor Jim put up a post about a devotional that states how “Children need to learn the doctrine of the Cross.” Based on a sermon, it is written by Charles Spurgeon in a style that I enjoy. I have yet to find a preacher who can use the English language as well as Charles Spurgeon did. You can see Pastor Jim’s post HERE and you can get a free copy of the Spurgeon booklet HERE.

I made a comment on his blog and he suggested that my comment was a draft for a post. So, I elaborated a bit on the comment and here is a post relating to my comment.

Chris Reimers

——————————

1 https://vancechristie.com/2018/09/20/a-god-directed-orphan-ministry-charles-spurgeon/
2 https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/blog-entries/who-is-charles-haddon-spurgeon/
3 https://www.baptist.org.uk/Articles/543181/An_ordinary_woman.aspx
4 Ibid.
5 https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/blog-entries/spurgeons-orphanage-how-one-woman-changed-the-world/
6 https://spurgeons.org/the-ordinary-christian-woman-who-left-an-extraordinary-legacy-of-love/
7 https://www.baptist.org.uk/Articles/543181/An_ordinary_woman.aspx
8 https://theaquilareport.com/a-god-directed-orphan-ministry-charles-spurgeon/
9 Ibid.
10 http://www.romans45.org/spurgeon/misc/bio12.htm
11 https://www.baptist.org.uk/Articles/543181/An_ordinary_woman.aspx
12 http://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/Spurgeon/
13 https://books.google.com/books?id=VuczOWOn64wC&pg=PA57&lpg=PA57&dq=On+September+9,+1867+the+first+stones+of+some+of+the+buildings&source=bl&ots=wKYOv1Mz6t&sig=ACfU3U0ZjsjZRec4_-F1qkoJJ8NNZQ5ZUQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi398mlju_2AhWXG80KHRw0AroQ6AF6BAg1EAM#v=onepage&q=On%20September%209%2C%201867%20the%20first%20stones%20of%20some%20of%20the%20buildings&f=false
14 https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/blog-entries/spurgeons-orphanage-how-one-woman-changed-the-world/
15 https://vancechristie.com/2018/09/20/a-god-directed-orphan-ministry-charles-spurgeon/
16 https://boroughphotos.org/lambeth/charles-haddon-spurgeon/
17 http://www.reformedreader.org/rbb/spurgeon/fullerton/bioch12.htm
18 https://spurgeons.org/the-ordinary-christian-woman-who-left-an-extraordinary-legacy-of-love/
19 https://spurgeons.org/about-us/our-heritage/
20 https://spurgeons.org/about-us/

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Comedy, Tragedy, and Hope

March 16, 2022

The past three hours I have searched the internet for something funny to share with you. Maybe a little bit of laughter could lighten the load caused by the news on the television each night lately.

Videos of Charlie Chaplin popped up first. I looked at parts of those and they were good, but nothing seemed to make me laugh. Then there was Buster Keaton. I was sure his deadpan face and antics would put a smile on my face. It was entertaining but didn’t seem as funny as the last time I saw it.

Compilations of funny clips of comedians and others were too long to share.

I looked back at old clips of David Letterman throwing stuff off of five story buildings. The randomness of odd things exploding on the pavement after a long fall could be very funny back in the day. I remember that watermelons hitting the concrete looked a lot like fireworks in the sky.

One of our two family cats is comical at times. It can be hilarious when she contorts herself to get comfortable, even for a dog guy. But today she is still wandering around outside and probably won’t be napping for a while.

Then I remembered Bob Nelson. I laughed so hard once that I fell on the floor when he did a bit on Jacques Cousteau. I couldn’t find a clip of that, but the video above made me laugh.

I’m sure that many people are trying to find a way to block out the fact that bombs are being dropped on people in the Ukraine.  I don’t blame them.  Its not good to have to think of war so much.  The people in the Ukraine don’t have that luxury.

Maybe you have heard of the story that I just read this morning.  It is about a King who wanted another man’s vineyard so badly that he couldn’t eat.  The king tried to buy it from the man, but it was the man’s inheritance and he wouldn’t part with it.  The King’s evil wife questioned her husband’s behavior and saw to it that the owner of the vineyard was deviously killed so that her husband could have it.

If you want to know the “end” of the evil king and his evil wife, you can find it prophesied in 1 Kings 21.

Justice will be served to all who perform such atrocities.  It is a theme repeated many times in the Bible. All will reap what they have sown. Thank God these words are balanced by the grace of God throughout the scriptures for those who turn from their ungodly ways.

There are times when laughter doesn’t come easy.  This is one of those times.  Despite this truth, hope is always easy to find.  First Peter is one place to find it:

“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. (1:13)”

Please pray for the Ukrainian and Russian people who are trapped in a seemingly hopeless situation.

Chris Reimers

Bob Nelson used to use profanity in his comedy until he was told by Red Skelton that he was using poison to try to make people laugh.  Bob Nelson doesn’t use bad words in his comedy these days.  He is a Christian man now who has recently been through difficult times.  Still, he talks about how God has helped him.

This bit was requested by a Wings reader and I am happy to post it here:



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Thoughts on the “insurrection” of Jan. 6, 2021

January 21, 2022

Now that over a year has passed since the events of January 6, 2021, it is easier to assess what really happened that day. I was not there so any opinion about the subject comes from a variety of sources over a year’s time.

I’ve decided that I really don’t know if “insurrection” is the correct word. According to Merriam-Webster, an insurrection is : “a usually violent attempt to take control of a government.” There was some violence that day but little compared to insurrections I’ve heard of in the past where attempts to take control of a government were made. Anyone who stormed the capitol building that day who thought they would be taking over the government of the U.S. was sorely misled.

There is no excuse for anyone not allowed access by the appropriate officials to be on the capitol grounds that day. There is no excuse for the bashing in of windows and lawlessness towards law enforcement. It is my opinion that anyone who entered the building that day should be severely fined, if not jailed. Fair fines should even be handed out to anyone who passed what had been a place the public was not allowed that day. I have seen the videos of the actual events and I don’t think 30 arrests is nearly sufficient.

I also hope that security has been beefed up so that if anyone tries anything like this again, the attempt will not be near as “successful.” I would be shocked if some training hasn’t been done and if those protecting our lawmakers didn’t have better means to stop such an event. I’m sure that those unfriendly to our nation have taken note, incredulously, of the ability of some to get past the Capitol security.
It is true that the vast majority of people who went to hear President Trump speak that day went home peacefully. I respect their right to gather and protest an election that they thought had been stolen. At the same time there is no excuse for the actions of a few thousand who thought they would take the law into their own hands and break things and threaten government officials that day.

It is surprising that the group that did storm the Capitol got as far as they did. One breach of the Capitol Building is too much. Several breaches were successful to varying degrees. Several foreign sources that I talked to were shocked that such an event was possible.
You can click HERE to see photos of the event that day. Of course, there are several videos you can watch on YouTube from different points of view.

I understand that the ability of our government officials to discuss disagreements in a civil manner is at an all time low. It is a reflection of the American peoples’ similar disability. Name calling and events like the one on Jan. 6th get us nowhere.

In ending, I must add (as usual) that I think the problems we have in America stem from a spiritual deficiency. I ran into a delivery man the other day who told me that the real answer to our problems can be found at the foot of a cross. I couldn’t agree more. Let us ask God for wisdom and discernment in working with our fellow citizens.

Chris Reimers

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Christmas Blessings from the Reimers Family 2021

December 24, 2021
Written by Kim Reimers (to enlarge open application menu and go to 150%)

6 Comments | Bible Prophecy, Commentary, Helps, Love of God, Words that Uplift | Permalink
Posted by Chris

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

December 17, 2021

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” Perhaps many Christians are yearning for the second fulfillment of these words in the year of 2021. It is an old song with roots that go back centuries. It has quite a history. Yet, the words echo many of the thoughts of believers worldwide in our day. Part of the song has a somber tone which denotes a request of God throughout the ages:

“Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight.”

But then there are these words:

“Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, Shall come to thee, O Israel.”

It is the promise hinted at back after man had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God in the book of Genesis (3:15). He was to come the first time to ransom mankind from its fallen nature. It is what we think of this time of year. He will come a second time to right all wrongs and usher in eternity.

The Text of the Hymn

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Adonai, Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Perhaps no other group can take this old Latin text and create a Southern U.S. version of this song as well as The Petersons.

And here is the more traditional version:

May God cause your heart to be thankful for the fulfilled promise spoken of in this song and to long for the second coming of our Emmanuel.

Chris Reimers

6 Comments | Commentary, Israel, theology, Words that Uplift, worship | Tagged: , , | Permalink
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So…The Democrats want the IRS to have a new army of agents

December 14, 2021

https://fb.watch/9UCNR8qHhf/

Why can’t I find this video anywhere else besides Facebook? There is a good reason the American people do not trust their government. I rarely post articles like this but these Senators are obviously being contacted by concerned citizens that are sickened by the size of the Government and intrusion into personal lives.
The fact that inflation is at the highest rate in 40 years means that we can’t just cavalierly continue squeezing the American public and future generations.
I have always thought that our financial problems are just a consequence of our spiritual problems.
They are having another debt limit vote today. Sometimes I think many of our “leaders” are determined to break us. Is it intentional? I don’t know but some think that the American people have no limit of resources to fund a government larger than we already have. I have news for those people…they are living in a different world than I.
CR

21 Comments | BIG GOVERNMENT, Commentary, News | Tagged: , | Permalink
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