CRH/BSPM/BSPOPP AND CoyRH/SEATC Clerical 2024 Fall Holy Days NewsletterMAIN STUDY–AT THE END OF THE TRAILShalom alechem from the Hub City (or as I’ve recently grown to call it–my new Rome!!)!!! Here’s trusting that you and yours are found blessed, well, and whole in EVERY area of your life today as the seasons both outside as well as in our lives once again change and our thoughts once again turns homebound bound towards His holy throne and eternal Kingdom that shall never end and that will be the future home of those who truly love and trust Him.I still gawk in disbelief that it’s already been around six months already since I took the leap of faith by my chinny-chin-chin to formally move from the Malta of two years that I lived at south of Floydada to Lubbock to serve as my new official home city and international headquarters. It hasn’t been easy by any means–and there’s still plenty of struggles I face that are still present as challenges that must be overcome (marginal homelessness and transportation challenges and problems being among them). But considering where I was at this same time last year, I now overall find myself in a similar position to another spiritual traveler that the physician Luke describes this way in the last 20 or so verses of the Book of Acts:Paul Arrives at Rome11 It was three months after the shipwreck that we set sail on another ship that had wintered at the island—an Alexandrian ship with the twin gods[a] as its figurehead. 12 Our first stop was Syracuse,[b] where we stayed three days. 13 From there we sailed across to Rhegium.[c] A day later a south wind began blowing, so the following day we sailed up the coast to Puteoli. 14 There we found some believers,[d] who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.15 The brothers and sisters[e] in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum[f] on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns.[g] When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.16 When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier.Paul Preaches at Rome under Guard17 Three days after Paul’s arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them, “Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors. 18 The Romans tried me and wanted to release me, because they found no cause for the death sentence. 19 But when the Jewish leaders protested the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no desire to press charges against my own people. 20 I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could explain to you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel—the Messiah—has already come.”21 They replied, “We have had no letters from Judea or reports against you from anyone who has come here. 22 But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.”23 So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening. 24 Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe. 25 And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: “The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet,26 ‘Go and say to this people:When you hear what I say, you will not understand.When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.27 For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand,and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’[h]28 So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.”[i]30 For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense.[j] He welcomed all who visited him, 31 boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.It had been definitely a long journey for the Apostle Paul/Rav Shaul to finally get to the city gates of Rome–and not just in miles neither from his initial starting point in Jerusalem. Of course, his whole life up to that point from when he got struck blind on the road to Damascus and even the years right before that had basically been preparation for what now lied ahead for him in this new city. All you have to do is check out what he himself wrote to the church at Phillippi:Philippians 3:1-10 New Living TranslationThe Priceless Value of Knowing Christ 3 Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters,[a] rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.2 Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. 3 For we who worship by the Spirit of God[b] are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, 4 though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!5 I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.[c] For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death,…and also to the Believers at Corinth in his second epistle to them to get the full effect of how Paul/Shaul generally approached life up to that point in time…2 Corinthians 11 New Living TranslationPaul’s Many Trials 16 Again I say, don’t think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little. 17 Such boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool. 18 And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too. 19 After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools! 20 You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face. 21 I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” to do that!But whatever they dare to boast about—I’m talking like a fool again—I dare to boast about it, too. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.[c] 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?30 If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. 31 God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying. 32 When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me. 33 I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him.NOW this rockstar rabbi who was a disciple of the great Jewish sage Gamaliel and who would eventually become his Meshiach’s personal emissary to the Gentiles–THIS rabbi who went through so much as he approaches the Rome city limit sign finds THIS sight awaiting him at the city outskirts:Acts 28:11-15 New Living TranslationPaul Arrives at Rome 11 It was three months after the shipwreck that we set sail on another ship that had wintered at the island—an Alexandrian ship with the twin gods[a] as its figurehead. 12 Our first stop was Syracuse,[b] where we stayed three days. 13 From there we sailed across to Rhegium.[c] A day later a south wind began blowing, so the following day we sailed up the coast to Puteoli. 14 There we found some believers,[d] who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.15 The brothers and sisters[e] in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum[f] on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns.[g] When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.ESPECIALLY make sure that you note verse here:Acts 28:11-15 New Living Translation Paul Arrives at Rome 15 The brothers and sisters[e] in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum[f] on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns.[g] When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.Those of us who have been on long journeys away from home usually find a sense of excitement, relief, and pleasure in either getting to the final destination we planned to go to and/or seeing the most familiar landmarks of our hometown after being gone from home for a long time. Paul by the longings of the Holy Spirit/Ruach Ha’Kodesh had been anticipating getting to Rome. Now here he was to a place he had never been before. How now would his thoughts and reactions be after so long a journey? And what does that have to do with this year’s Fall Biblical Festivals?If there’s one thing that’s self-evident about this time of years, it is what this same Apostle wrote to the church at Thessalonica:1 Thessalonians 4 New Living TranslationAgain, the Apostle admonished us–The Hope of the Resurrection 13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died[f] so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.[g] 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died[h] will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.Again, the Apostle admonished us–18 So encourage each other with these words. BUT WHAT, pray tell, MIGHT THOSE WORDS BE? And how might he after getting this far to the end of this particular trail be thinking and wanting to write about to the rest of his brethren throughout the known world at that time? In my humble opinion and analysis, here’s a quick short list of things he probably had on his mind upon seeing the city lights of Rome for himself for the first time in his life:(1.) He probably didn’t have it too far from his mind about what all it took just to get here in the first place. All those times he had to constantly run for his life and leave trusted friends and brethren behind suddenly without notice…Oh–he sure didn’t forget those people who whipped his back real good with a cat-of-nine-tails those 40 lashes save one. Times in prison, times he went cold and hungry; persecuted constantly by just about everyone and everything he knew because he dared to believe that Jesus/Y’shua was the Messiah and unashamedly proclaimed Him without compromise to the entire world. I’m sure those things were still pretty fresh on his mind as he looked out in the distance to the dominating Rome city water tower and skyline ahead of him.(2.) He remembered all the people and places he had encountered along the way. You probably wouldn’t blame him if he were still a bit steamed and soreheaded and desperata\ely desiring to give certain people a piece of his mind. BUTINSTEAD you’d probably be just as amazed to find out how easily he probably forgave all of those people who in the past did him wrong, left the judgment and results to his God, and hopefully entreated his God to open their eyes to these wrongs, come to repentance, and be reconciled to God.(3.) But even as he thought about those who did him wrong, his thoughts also probably turned towards all the saints and believers he met and got to know in all the places he was blessed to travel to through the years. He probably thought of brethren he remembered such as that Lydia in Thyrtira who took him into her home and graciously spent times of sweet fellowship with him and his traveling colleagues or those Berean brethren who received what he preached, took the time to give him a fair hearing, and examine the Scriptures themselves to see if the things Paul/Shaul told them were truly so.He also most likely thought of his compatriots such as Apollos and maybe even Peter himself that were also doing the exact same things he was doing (and whom Paul even dared to call on the carpet a time or two when Peter got a little offbase theologically on something). He kept in mind other standup folks he knew such as Priscilla and Aquila and also thst guy Epiphroditus who bent over backwards for him to see that Paul while he was in prison got all that he needed thanks in part to the supplies the Believers in Phillippi arranged to send him. Coming to the end of this particular trail was probably for Paul/Shaul not just for his own sake, but also for the sake of his most valued friends and partners who make the necessary sacrifices to help Paul get to his eventual destination. (4.) He would probably remind us of a similar time coming down the road for all of us that he wrote the Thessalonians about13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died[f] so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.[g] 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died[h] will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.He might also like to remind us that this life is not all there is. Just like Paul finally getting to Rome, he’ll probably tell you that there will be a time where we’ll also soon be going to a place that we all have never been before–but that will very much also feel like our final true home and destination. And when we finally get to THAT place, we’ll never have the desire ever again to leave, stray, or wander away …because at that time for us, there will NEVER truly be ANY place like THAT Home.(5.) Then Paul/Shaul would recommend that in the meantime while we wait for that opportunity to go to that final place, we first consider the advice he would have given to these same believers in Rome that he wrote to before he got here:Romans 12 New Living TranslationA Living Sacrifice to God 12 And so, dear brothers and sisters,[a] I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.[b] 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.3 Because of the privilege and authority[c] God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.[d] 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection,[e] and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.[f] 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! 17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,“I will take revenge; I will pay them back,”[g] says the Lord.20 Instead,“If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”[h]21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.And then with a wistful smile and twinkle in his eye, he’d probably tell us–”And if you do these things, you will do well in pleasing the Master and in doing all the things He said and commanded us to do before He left us.”(6.) It would be at this juncture that Paul’s traveling companion and official physician Luke might jump in and remind us of something interesting about the way he specifically ended his account of the book of the Acts of the Apostles. “Have you noticed something about the way the Lord had me to END that book?” He’d especially try to point out with his finger the LAST two verses of Chapter 28:0 For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense.[j] He welcomed all who visited him, 31 boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.We’d then clearly see for ourselves one big thing about the particular story about Paul/Shaul and the other Apostles. The book of Acts is written in such a way where there is NO CLEAR-CUT DEFINITIVE ENDING! IN FACT–the story STILL continues WITH ALL OF US…i.e.--the story hasn’t quite finished for us yet. After all of this, I think Paul/Shaul once he met the Roman brethren and entered the city gates for himself wouldn’t say that it was actually the END of his current journey–but only the BEGINNING! Then he’d probably turn around and say to us as he now officially starts his “contending in Rome” era–”Thank you, Lord, that You FINALLY got me here to this place. It’s definitely been worth every mile of the trip. Now, it’s showtime–time for me to get busy and get down to business and to work!”Just like it wasn’t the end of Paul’s story getting to Rome, so it is with our story pertaining to us. While we all await His final Glorious Appearing, let’s all remember during this Fall Feast season that His final overall redemption story for all mankind wil not for now en WITHOUT US involved in some way within it. Let us do our part while we still have time and opportunity to do so to make His Name famous in everything we do. That way, we’ll have no regrets when He finally lets us arrive in that place we’ve never been before…but that will serve as our final Ultimate Home and destination for the most ultimate of wedding suppertimes.Then as Paul gives us one last look before we part ways with him for now so that he can finally get settled here in Rome, he’d one more time reemphasize the following final reminder from our state department of highways:The Hope of the Resurrection13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died[f] so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.[g] 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died[h] will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.May THAT day AND place come speedily–even in our own days…Wishing you all the best to you and yours during this special Fall Festival season in THAT Matchless Name of Him who is now helping me contend in my new Rome….Coy RHSPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:(1.) I’d especially like to ask those led to do so to join me in appropriate intercession and prayer not only for Israel and its people in its current state of war against both Hamas and Hesbollah, but also in particular those in East TN/western NC affected by the foods that were the result of Hurricane Helena. One of my cousins just happens to live in the Asheville area in a town that’s about seven miles north of Asheville proper. When I texted him immediately upon hearing about those floods, he told me that he himself was fine personally save for losing some of the back treeline around his property–but that there were a number of his neighbors and people trapped in their homes and still waiting for water, power, and cell service to come back on. He told me that overall the scene out that way was sheer devastation. I urge people that wish to help in the disaster relief efforts due to road closures still prevalent right now to consider monetary contributions to such organizations such as Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Blessing, and Kenneth copeland Ministries who are usually very active in various relief efforts as these as you might be led to do so.(2,) Here's a friendly reminder from your state department of highways that you can still get your copies of all four of our current releases available through BSPOPP such as “Walking From Lockney to Jerusalem”, “A Message from Siberia”, “sowing In Tears”, and “A’Wise and A’Foolish In Canaan’s Land”. Keep in mind that a portion of the proceeds of the sales of all BSPOPP books after basic expenses are paid goes to help various restorative justice ministries stay financially strong and prepared for futrure ministry. You can get more detailed information on all of our current BSPOP releases at https://coyrhseatcbspm.wixsite.com/walking and also access our Amazon pages through our good friends at texashighplainswriters.com through their “member Books page tab. On the member books page, just simply click on to the picture there of “Walking From Lockney To Jerusalem” to jump immediately to all of our BSPOP book Amazon pages. (And please don’t dforget to consider patronizing some of our distinguished West Texas author colleagues while you’re there on the Texas High Plains Writers site…)(3.) We leave for you two different special Sukkot gifts this time…the first is actually a new song the Lord just happened to get me to write just now about our featured topic of today’s MAIN STUDY. The second is our latest photo just for you courtesy of the good folks at Circle J photography here in lubbock who we happened to recently encounter at the West Texas Small Business Summit that was held here in Lubbock just a few weeks ago. Enjoy and have a great Fall Holy Day season!!!AT THE END OF THE TRAIL Lyrics(Music:) Think Southern Gospel–along the lines of the the style of Jason Crabb and the Crabb Family) (Start the song a cappella on the first verse, then add instrumentation as you go along…)(Verse 1:) It’s been a long hard journey From Jerusalem to here I can’t believe I finally made it After all these many years The Lord so many years ago Said to me loud and clear This was the place I needed to go to To finish my race of years…(Chorus 1:) At the end of the trail In a place they once called Rome Is now where I find myself No longer wanting to roam As the city lights are calling me And summon me towards His throne To a place that I’ve never been But they say is just like home…(Verse 2:) To all the ones who caused me trouble And persecutions galore I say, “Father, please forgive them– They know not what they’ve done…” And for all my friends and partners Who helped me along the way It’s for their sake I got here And by his grace one thing seems clear…(Chorus 2:) At the end of the trail In a place they once called Rome The trials and tests I suffered Are now just memories It’s only by His grace that I survived And by His love He saw me through As I come closer finally Towards a place I might call home…(Bridge:) The city limits sign And the city lights all beckon me I throw down all my burdens And hug my loved ones so dear…(Chorus 3:) At the end of the trail In a place I’ve never been The shooting wars all are over I’m finally safely in His den It’s a feeling I’ve never had Since I don’t know when Here at the end of my trail In a place I now call home.{Final Ending:] It’s here I will finish my course And at this point I’ll stay At what is now the end of my trail At this place I now call home.(Repeat last two lines–then end by singing lines–”Lord, I’m home…I’m finally home…I’m home….I’m finally home…”)© October 3, 2024; music and lyrics originally written by Coy Reece Holley and property of Broken and Shattered Promises Online Publishing and Productions. All rights reserved.
AND NOW ON TO OUR MAIN STUDY…
MAIN STUDY—WHO ARE WE ELECTING—A PRESIDENT, THE MESSIAH, OR BOTH?
How I first came to the realization of this need of this particular topic to be this session’s MAIN STUDY came about originally in a couple of ways—one, observation of how our political primaries on both sides of the aisle have shaped up in recent months; and two, the weird desire and thought to encapsulate a summation of this political climate in a unique version of Chris Rice’s “What If Cartoons Got Saved?” (Why, I’m not exactly sure—except that it seems to be a good way to laugh at the seeming insanity and obsession of it all…See the following lyrics and see whether or not this might resonate with you…)
I was thinkin' the other day
"What if cartoons got saved?
They'd start singing praise
In a whole new way"
Yeah, I was thinkin' the other day
"What if cartoons got saved?
They'd start singing praise
In a whole new way", Yeah yeah
Fred and Wilma Flintstone
Sing, "Yabba dabba do yah"
Scooby Doo and Shaggy
"Scooby dooby doo yah"
And the Jetsons' dog named Astro
"Rough rough roo yah"
'Cause, I was thinkin' the other day
"What if cartoons got saved?
They'd start singing praise
In a whole new way", Yeah yeah yeah
....
RICE, CHRISTOPHER M.
Published by
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Makes you wonder how you could apply this to what’s going on politically right now, eh?
But before I get into the red meat of this topic, I must needfully introduce you to what has been my own political background through the years. When I was in college (and then for a few years afterwards), due to my pre-split Worldwide Church of God beliefs about not serving on juries, etc.—I dared not even think about going near a voting booth for any sort of important local, state, or national race. After the WCG split, though (strangely enough), politics became one of the big things that changed for me. (FYI—this was during the years of the 1st Bush and then subsequent Clinton Administrations….)
My personal political leanings afterwards tended to lean more to the GOP and the conservative views of political commentators such as Rush Limbaugh. This was usually in part to all the rodeos I have had to go through for many years (and, in some ways, STILL DO) being forced to depend on various forms of government and even corporate bureaucratic assistance in order to literally survive hand-to-mouth when income from work wasn’t usually enough to sustain me personally.
I could tell you a bunch of personal thoughts about whether or not former Senator and Secretary Clinton (as in our former First Lady—NOT the former President) and her husband should NEVER, EVER be allowed again to even be within a thousand miles of the White House. But why bore you with that when I actually had a Sukkot/Feast of Tabernacles experience in Hot Springs, AR that more succinctly wraps up my personal views of our former First Couple. (FYI—please note that I must say all of the following very reluctantly and with clinched teeth in deference and respect to their previous offices and NOT necessarily in reference to the particular individuals involved…)
The situation was like this—the very last day of my first trip to the city of Hot Springs, I realized that I didn’t have enough pictures of the sights of Hot Springs that were taken during the course of my trip up to that point in time. (Keep in mind, also (for those of you who weren’t born before Y2K) that this was in the era BEFORE digital cameras came into being and you actually had to pay to get film developed FROM your camera such as Polaroids.) So I got the idea to take one last ride on the city trolley in an attempt to get the final pictures I needed before it was time to get on the Greyhound bus back home.
One of the stops actually happened to actually be our former President’s boyhood home. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of actually taking the pictures of that boyhood home WHILE the trolley was still in motion. The results after I got the film developed from the trip said it all—just like the former President’s administration, the pictures of that home—sad to say—were COMPLETELY and SORELY out of focus!
As to my current views to the state of the GOP primary races between Messrs. Trump, Cruz, and Kasich, two separate pictures on that speak to my mind right now. Although I will admit that during the recent TX primary I personally voted for Sen. Cruz [mainly for two reasons—one, others I would have preferred to vote for dropped out of the race before I could even get a chance to vote for them; and second, ONLY because of Cruz’s home state ties to here (this in spite of my personal concern of the Senator’s very limited record showing me what grade school teachers would probably call his inability to work well, play, and get along with others is extremely suspect to me)…]—I personally regard our currently remaining GOP candidates as basically a bunch of stupid Neanderthals too narrowly focused on constantly clubbing each other in the head and declaring to themselves and the rest of the world their abject stupidity in believing that they’re much more of a big “HE-MAN” than the other guys—and in equally trying to prove that myth unnecessarily at the expense of the others.
Ergo comes the second personal picture of the current GOP race—the recent views I’m now stating that UNTIL cooler heads FINALLY prevail in the race and the Neanderthals stop clubbing each other in the head and giving each other unnecessary headaches in the process (plus the fact that they forgot about Someone Else bigger than all of them combined that they still might need to beat in November)---
As of now, I publically declare my personal views about the current GOP race (believe it or not) are now exactly about the same as those about the Rapture! Just like I now after hard experience have declared myself to be PAN-TRIB (although secretly leaning pre-trib, of course), I now ALSO declare myself to the PAN-GOP PRIMARY—which means, of course, I’m going to wait on how it all pans out BEFORE I go out and formally endorse ANY candidate personally. (Anyone wishing to join my new PAN-GOP PRIMARY cause can stop by GOPPANOUT.fake OR call me at (855) GOP-PANOUTFAKE…LOL…) (Not necessarily endorsed by BSPM, BSPOP, etc…of course….)
But seriously—what has really concerned me lately are things I’ve heard in some of our pulpits—especially about particular candidates that have amounted to holy war over things that shouldn’t necessarily be. For example, recently in one of those pulpits I personally had a chance to hear a message from, I sadly heard what amounted to be absolute viotriol about the frontrunners in both primary races in contrast to almost seeming worship of the merits of another candidate (despite the fact that other brethren in the Lord may have already lined themselves up with one of the frontrunning candidates because of their feeling politically that their chances for winning the election might be better in Nov.).
It sadly keeps looking like the ONLY person some folks will ever be satisfied with to be our next President has to either be the equivalent of the Muslim Madhi OR Jesus/Y’shua Himself. That person’s GOT to meet every jot, line, and tittle of what they believe—or, bleep forbid, we’ll stay home and NOT vote for anyone AT ALL in November! AND YET—we in the Church bawl and squawl to our God to “…send us more Godly Christian leaders NOW!!” Reminds me of what God told His Chosen People about their desire for a kind…it probably WASN’T what He preferred to do in the first place—but in their reprobate minds and out of His permissive will, He let them have what they wanted regardless—and the children of Israel suffered horribly afterwards as a result.
Come on, folks—can we cut out all of these unnecessary jihads over trifling things such as what one candidate said something bad about another candidate at an earlier debate and start getting our focus back on those things HE might want us to think on in the first place? Maybe He might have a few overall points that can get all of us as believers in Him back to the common ground of the Cross and at the same time do our part to make this nation in His sight. Answer the following questions to yourself and think REAL HARD about the meaning…
QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT:
-
When our Savior found Himself in situations where the crowds he ministered to wanted to set Him up as a PHYSICAL king, did he encourage this stirring in them—or was His usual desire and impulse to run and get away from Dodge as fast as possible? [(Ex.) John chapter 6…]
-
When as a part of the overall Scriptural prophetic plan He finally allowed Himself to hear the shouts of a king from the crowd (whether misguided or not), was EVERYONE in Israel totally enthusiastic about it—or were there actually groups working in outright opposition against Him? [(Ex.) John 12:12 and following…]
-
And about that tide of popular opinion after His triumphal entry in Jerusalem—was He able to sustain that favorable tide of public opinion—or did the crowd eventually turn against Him?
-
If He was just originally a humble carpenter from a little town called Nazareth, why were the religious leaders and even the Roman government so scared about over Him? Why in the world did He make such a big bleeping fuss on their radar screen for?
-
As far as the parallels our Savior has to the actual story of Pesach—when we actually call Him “the Lamb of God”, how long was a Pesach-designated lamb allowed to live afterwards before it was finally killed? Was it carefully and constantly inspected for a certain period of time for blemished or anything that would disqualify it from being a worthy sacrifice? [(Ex.) Exodus 12:1-11]
-
It’s stated at times in the Gospels that even his disciples didn’t fully understand why He even came to earth in the first place until AFTER he ascended back to His Father in heaven? WHAT above all else did they FINALLY begin to understand about His First Coming?
Maybe it’s good to ask ourselves questions like these from time to time and remind ourselves of some important stuff we apparently forgot about on our way to the Forum. We need a good occasional swift kick in the pants to remind ourselves WHY He probably felt it necessary to come here onto this terra firma. My overall consensus and safe assumption would probably be that it was NOT to get the nomination of ANY political party for President or to even (more appropriately for that particular historical time) become some sort of physical king (at least NOT YET at that place in history).
It was probably INSTEAD involving something bigger and of far more importance—our individual desperate need for salvation from in and its far-more gut wrenching consequences. THAT’S something that neither Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, nor ANY other presidential candidate can realistically do within their paygrade. ONLY the King of Kings, the Suffering Servant, and Ultimate Lamb of God can even take care of much more vital issues to each of us individually than what is on a particular party’s platform.
So during the remainder of this particular election and Spring Holy Days season, we would probably do well to consider just exactly WHO we are trying to elect—the next President of the United States OR the Messiah/Savior of your soul and life. If you’re looking for Mr. Trump to be your financial savior you need to pay off your debts, car, etc., I wouldn’t necessarily keep waiting on a check from him to come across your mailbox. Neither would I expect Secretary Clinton to serve as your babysitter for your next date night or expect Gov. Kasich, Sen. Sanders, or Sen. Cruz to be available when you might personally need them to help you out in the areas of auto mechanics, plumbing, or lawn maintainance. BUT we should ALWAYS expect the very Captain of our salvation who Himself served as our Pesach Lamb to be RIGHT THERE when we call upon His Name and need Him most.
Does that necessarily mean that we should avoid our civic responsibilities within reason in ways that do not otherwise compromise our faith? ABSOLUTELY NOT…after all, even the Apostle Paul did talk some about submission to authorities. And when you DO have the opportunity to be involved in the political process (whether small or great), it would be pennywise and poundfoolish NOT to be obedient to do what He would have you to do as far as working within our current political system in concerned.
What I feel He IS asking me to remind you about is that it’s NOT ALL there is. There will be a time somewhere down the road where democratic processes will be obsolete because of the FINAL establishment of His Kingdom upon this earth. I think that He wants to remind you of the most important things you should ALWAYS keep in mind whether you’re heading to the ballot box or going about your daily routine:
Psalm 20:6-8 (NIV)
6 Now this I know:
The Lord gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.
Remember that your ultimate trust, hope, and confidence should never be in the rise, fall, or fortunes of a particular political leader or candidate for office. You might be better served instead to keep your sights solely and entirely focused on Him. Or, to say it better this way via a chorus of an old Imperials song…
No, it won't be old Buddha who’s sitting on the throne
And it won't be old Mohammed who’s callin' us home
And it won't be Hare' Krishna who plays that trumpet tune
And we're goin' to see the Son--NOT Reverend Moon.
(Oh—I’ve just gotta do this…I can’t resist….one more time on this chorus…)
Oh, it won’t be Hillary Clinton that’s sitting on the throne
Donald Trump won’t be at his tower to call us all Home
And it won’t be Bernie Sanders who sings that socialist tune…
The Messiah WON’T be Cruz—NOR Kasich, too!
----------------------------------------------------------
Some final thoughts before I leave you once again until the next edition....Remember that it’s folks like YOU who have joined in the area of prayer, financial provision, and other ways that have made these Divine connections and opportunities possible. My tip of the hat personally goes out to each one of you for playing YOUR part in helping these ministry efforts go a little further down the road than it has been. I only simply ask that you not only continue to do so even more and more, but that each of you out there reading these things that’s interested in keeping these efforts going and being of some assistance to myself and these particular ministry efforts consider doing the following:
-
AGAIN ONE MORE TIME--BUY, BUY, BUY any one and/or ALL of the books I now have available on Amazon! That’s an IMMEDIATE way you can be of some help to me not only in the area of my own personal finances, but in also even helping me begin to reach some of the goals I have for this future ministry including such things as:
-
Formal filing of all form necessary for eventual formal incorporation and granting of IRS 501(c)(3) status of what would be called “Broken and Shattered Promises Ministries”
-
I also already have plans in the works once more financial and/or other resources become available to me to see that special edition copies of all of my new books would be sent and made available FREE of charge to various prison ministries and prison chaplains, domestic violence and/or sexual assault facilities and/or organizations, correctional officers and other law enforcement officials, families of offenders and/or ex-offenders, and victims of violent crime.
For too long, most of the Church and universal Body of Christ has given short shrift to those who have been affected by the criminal justice system here in Texas (or worse--done absolutely NOTHING at all while Rome burns). Through personal experience, I have seen in many ways that in the eyes of those affected by crime, the Church has a TON more work to do than it realizes. I say that very soon, though--if I have anything to do with this thing (as He gives me the grace, ability, and resources to do so), this will NO longer be the case...at least as far as things here in the immediate Plainview/Hale County area might be eventually concerned! Even if it’s ONLY a teaspoon full amount that can be done on my end initially, it’ll at least in my eyes be better than doing nothing at all.
-
And that, my friends, is where you can come in and participate...FIRST, seek the Lord and see what He might have you to do in regards to these things. If He doesn’t say anything, don’t sweat it. I am confident as always that if He has kept me from stumbling as I’ve walked for Him up to this point...then He’s more than able to provide all that I may need to continue to go the rest of the way that He may need me to go. But if He does point something that He wants you to be obedient to do (whether through intercession and/or something else), then I simply ask that you do what He says for you to do...and let me know once you do find out as well so that I can help you plug in and find a way to get involved.
-
One final prayer request for me personally as you’re led to participate on this—The best way that I can sum up the true desperation cry I’m shouting aloud to Him this Pesach and Spring Holy Day season can be best summed up by the very words of King David in Psalm 142 (with SPECIAL emphasis on the FINAL two verses)…
Psalm 142[a]
A maskil[b] of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer.
1 I cry aloud to the Lord;
I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.
2 I pour out before him my complaint;
before him I tell my trouble.
3 When my spirit grows faint within me,
it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
people have hidden a snare for me.
4 Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
no one cares for my life.
5 I cry to you, Lord;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”
6 Listen to my cry,
for I am in desperate need;
rescue me from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong for me.
7 Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me.
Have a great Pesach, Spring Holy Days, and election season—and see ya’ll when the Neanderthals stop fighting each other with their clubs!
In the very Name of the One True APPOINTED AND NOT POPULARLY ELECTED Lamb of God and Savior of the World,
Coy Reece Holley
Broken and Shattered Promises Online Publishing AND Broken and Shattered Promises Ministries