A Message To All Homosexuals

A message to all homosexuals and those that support homosexuality.

I am a Christian

I do not hate homosexuals

I do not fear homosexuals

I love all of mankind in the spirit of love in which God commanded

Homosexuality is a sin. Sinners face God’s retribution. I love you and do not want to see you die. Mocking God and denying His will and Word leads to death. I do not want you to die. Turn, repent and live!

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

“Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.” (Ezekiel 18:23 & 30)

We are all sinners. The only path of redemption is through Jesus Christ and the word in which he is made manifest. Jesus being the brightness of God’s glory, and the express image of God’s person, and upholding all things by the word of his power. That word of God’s power is Christ our Savior.

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:26)

Works is God’s Word made manifest by us. If we have belief and faith in God, there will be an outward display of it. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, the light and the only life. Please accept Him and live!

Bill Hitchcock

A Note To News Journalist

Dear news journalist. For the most part, I don’t care what you think. If I wanted your thought, opinion, or agenda driven slant, then I would go to the Op/Ed’s or tune to a chat show.

What I do care about is your ability as a journalist to assimilate newsworthy information that is pertinent, requisite, truthful and verifiable. What I do care about is your capability to convey this information in a clear, concise, and comprehensive manner.

Do I expect you to be free of biases? Of course not. No one is. But I do expect your process for producing works of journalism to be pure, impartial, and free of prejudice. I do expect you to adhere to said process in every case, every time, without fail.

But if you must express your opinions, then please do so as works easily recognizable as such. Otherwise, if you inject personal preferences into your work, be it overtly or covertly, then you have left the realm of journalism and have entered into the world of propaganda.

Understand that if you do express your opinions as a journalist it will reveal your personal stripes to the public and you will forever be tainted in their eyes. Your journalistic integrity will never be the same. Your audience will be greatly divided between those of similar stripe who are adulate towards you, and all the rest, who will be quite splenetic.

The public has a degree of trust in what the journalist does. The public assumes that what you do is trustworthy. They will believe your work because they believe that you adhere to that higher standard involved in the journalistic process. This is why it is so crushing for the public to discover that some of their favorite journalist and news outlets are nothing short of being propagandist. You have broken a trust and the public feels lied to.

By the way, journalism is not about the journalist, journalism is about the process, the story and the public they serve. Unfortunately, too many in the media believe that they are the focal point of every story, the center of the journalistic universe. You are not. The story will happen and will be told whether you are involved with it or not.

The pitfall for those who believe that, “It’s all about me” is that at some point in time you start to believe your own propaganda. You start to believe what your adoring audience tells you about you. You start to believe that you are right, that you know best, that you are the expert, and in fact, that you yourself are the source and the insight to just about everything.

Brian Williams with NBC Nightly News is a prime example of believing your own propaganda. Williams fabricated stories, sourced himself as well as out and out lied to the public on air and to his employer behind the scenes. Even when caught in his on-going fabrications and fired by NBC, Williams stayed in his make believe, self-absorbed world by telling his employer, “Maybe I had a brain tumor.”

News organizations are not about news but about money. There is a very old saying in television news of, “If it bleeds, it leads”. What is reported, and how it is reported will determine viewership, which in turns generates revenue. 

A good example of this of recent has been the perpetual news casts of President Trump’s collusion with the Russians. Although it has been proven time and time again that this story is false, networks like MSNBC keep running the story. Networks have given it top priority, even over actual breaking news. Why? The Trump/Russian collusion story is a rating success. It doesn’t matter to some “journalist” and “news” outlets that it is false. The story attracts eyeballs, which translates into dollars. It also advances a particular political agenda that some organizations desire. In this case, journalism has become the prostitute for the pimping news organizations.

Unfortunately, this is the environment we are in today.

To all journalist, Please! Be a true journalist and not a commentator, editorialist or worse, a propagandist! Please don’t determine an outcome then proceed to find things to support that end. Let the story tell the story.

Journalism is to, “provide people with verified information” and is a, “systematic process – a discipline of verification – that journalists use to find not just the facts, but also the “truth about the facts.” Source: The American Press Institute.

It isn’t about you, the journalist. It is about adhering to the journalistic process, staying with the truth and always verifying the facts. It is about responsibility to the profession, the story and above all, it is about responsibility to the general public.

News journalism is not about the art of persuasion, altering public opinion, pushing an agenda or achieving a desired outcome. News journalism is about informing the public about the truth of a matter. It is as simple as that.

Bill Hitchcock 

The Lord Loveth Judgment

“For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.” (Psalm 37:28)

Why would God love judgment? Is He a cruel God, looking for someone to punish? Quite the opposite, God is a loving, merciful God. He is our Father, but He is also our Refiner. Why?

“And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.” (Malachi 3:3).

God can not comingle with unrighteousness. We are unrighteous. This is why He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to be our mediator, our go between. Jesus said, “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). We need Jesus Christ to be righteousness for us. We can’t do it on our own. Jesus is our sin covering.

But why would God love judgment? First of all, we have to understand what judgment is. Don’t think in terms of a conventional courtroom where a judge determines your guilt and punishment. That’s Old Testament thinking. Think New Testament. Think Grace!

God’s judgment is an overlay. It is the righteous Father placed upon the unrighteous child. Whatever is revealed as inconsistent with Him, is sin. This is sin revealed and made known, which means now we have a choice. Free will allows us to either repent and confess our sins and choose God, or carry on, business as usual and choose this world.

God reveals our sin and gives us the opportunity to repent and choose Him for one reason, and that reason is to save us. It’s a wakeup call.

God made it crystal clear; “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” (Ezekiel 18:32).

God’s judgment is not for our punishment, it is for our survival. But, if we reject His judgment and commandments, then we reject righteousness, we reject Him, and in turn God, “will also reject thee” (Hosea 4:6).

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

We will never be 100% righteous while in our present condition. But we can choose salvation, life and righteousness by choosing God. We can choose Jesus Christ as our Savior, our sin covering. Jesus will make us presentable to our Father.

Bill Hitchcock

It’s All In The Wording!

One verse, two versions and two different meanings. Is one right and the other wrong?

Here is a great lesson and two fascinating messages when we take Philippians 4:6 and compare the 1599 Geneva Bible version (GNV) with the 1611 Kings James version (KJV)

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (KJV)

“Be nothing careful, but in all things let your requests be showed unto God in prayer and supplication with giving of thanks.” (GNV)

We are going to focus on the terms, “Be careful for nothing” and “Be nothing careful”. The word “careful” in both versions means anxious, troubled with cares, full of anxiety. It comes from the Greek root word, “merizo” meaning to divide, separate or cut into parts and pieces.

In the King James Version of “Be careful for nothing”, it means don’t let anything have a negative affect on you. In other words, you are fine, except when you are involved with a particular person, place or thing. Then you experience the worry and unease of anxiousness and anxiety.

The 1599 Geneva Bible Version of “Be nothing careful” means don’t BE anxious. It isn’t that you are experiencing anxiety or that it is within you. It is the fact that you have become it. You are that negative, destructive emotion.

There is a big difference between experiencing anxiousness and anxiety and becoming it, or, allowing a particular thing to affect you negatively as opposed to being in that state of that negative condition constantly.

The KJV addresses how you are in regards to something particular. The GNV addresses who you are and how you are with everything.

So which version should we adhere to, the 1599 Geneva Bible or the 1611 King James Bible? I suggest both, and then some! Often times, different versions of the Bible will shed different light on the same subject. It’s not that one version is incomplete or that another version is adding something that isn’t there. Sometimes a word, a phrase, a verse or a passage from the Bible is pretty deep or complex. Breaking things down into its simplest form, which is generally what a Bible translator does, can sometimes be a challenge.

Bible translations are the result of the hard work put forth by many Bible scholars, expositors, theologians and Pastors. In my opinion, the further back in time we go the more strict attention to literal, actual and factual translation is given. Maybe it’s because the truth will stand the test of time whereas unsubstantiated works of popularity, fad and convenience tend to fade.

It is always best to revert back to the language scripture was originally written in to better understand what the intended message is. But be careful, using a Lexicon or Concordance strictly as a Dictionary can be misleading, for in so doing will give no clarity as to context, expressions, idioms, and the like.

For example, in the 1950’s the expression “Cool Cat Daddy-O” was popular. If you went strictly by the dictionary to try to figure out what it meant, you would determine that it was a reference to a sub-temperature male feline, which of course, it isn’t. 

We have all heard that we need to study our Bibles. Unfortunately a lot of folks think that means to simply read and re-read it, gaining nothing more out of scripture other than a better memory of it through repetition.

Folks also tend to stick with a version of the Bible that is easiest for them to read. This path of least resistance does not grow you, it slows you.

I encourage all to get to the root of the language whenever possible. Read different versions of scripture. Examine the language through Lexicons, Concordances and commentaries. Read the great expositors like Matthew Henry, Charles Spurgeon, Albert Barnes, John Wesley, John Calvin and Adam Clarke.

Take a hermeneutical approach to studying the Bible, which is a science and a method for proper interpretation.

But always remember. The Bible is the best source for biblical interpretation. It is the ultimate truth.

Studying and understanding the Bible is more than just a good thing. It is our responsibility.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Bill Hitchcock

Everything Is Permissible

"If God does not exist, everything is permissible." - Fyodor Dostoevsky

Morality comes from God. If not, then “morality” is either an opinion of man, or a lust justified by his intellect. Either way, this “morality” is man centered and not God centered so therefore most fallible.

God’s moral code was made simple in the Ten Commandments. It was a revelation to man, for until then he only had his intellect and passions as a guide. The Ten Commandments was God’s standard for man to live up to. First perceived as a physical restriction, then realized as spiritual guidance.

The greatest lesson learned by man about the Ten Commandments is that man can’t adhere to them for, as Jesus said, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).

Man will fall and fail. But recognizing this advances us forward to where God wants us to be, past a set of rules to follow and the physical realm and unto the spiritual. God wants us in a covenant relationship with Him, one in spirit and in truth, a relationship of love, trust and our dependence in Him. Our morality is made manifest through Him and not by paying attention to a set of rules.

In short, we become, rather than adhere.

“And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.” (Genesis 17:7)

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7).

We head towards what our heart and head focuses on. If it is God and His will then we will be on the path of righteousness and salvation. If it is our own wishes and desires then we will be on the path of sin, unrighteousness and damnation.

“See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it."

"But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it."

"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” (Deuteronomy 30: 15-20)

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

Bill Hitchcock

America, It Is Time To Return To God

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance” (Psalm 33:12).

Not just any “God” but Jehovah: "the existing One" the proper name for the one true God. The God that lead the pilgrim’s on the Mayflower, equipped with their belief and faith in Him and armed with their Bibles, braving an unknown, yet terrifying sea to the new land. This was by no means some fortuitous event, but the hand of God, bringing a chosen generation to found a new nation, under His purview.

“We cannot read the history of our rise and development as a nation without reckoning with the place the Bible has occupied in shaping the advances of the Republic.  Where we have been the truest and most consistent in obeying its precepts, we have attained the greatest measure of contentment and prosperity” (Franklin Roosevelt, 32nd President).

“We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained” (George Washington, 1rst President).

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord”! A nation that is blessed is much more than one of favor and benefit. It is a happy and joyful people.  America has been blessed because it kept God in sight, His word on their heart and stayed in the way of righteousness.

“America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scripture” (Woodrow Wilson, 28^th President).

Righteousness or “right-ness” is the practice of the truth. “For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth” (Psalm 33:4).

The benefits of righteousness are both spiritual and material. But when a nation deviates from God and righteousness and makes benefit its priority then sin has dominion. Lusts are unleashed and the nation starts to deteriorate.

“Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him” (Isaiah 3:10-11).

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).

“When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked” (Proverbs 11:10-11).

Notice the above verses how righteousness effects not just the people, but the government of the people. God and government should be inseparable, if that government is to serve its people properly, and to stay healthy and functional. 

“Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee” (Psalm 33:18-22).

What applies to a single person also applies to an entire nation. Faith, belief, hope and trust in God is the only way for America to be blessed.

"If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under" (Ronald Reagan, 40th President).

“Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” (Psalm 45:7).

God doesn’t love, love. He loves righteousness. But man is carnal. He loves, love and uses it as his covering. But love not born of righteousness is wickedness, and God hates that.

Righteousness is God’s nature, His character, His being. God’s love is a result of His righteousness, not the cause of it.

“God is love” (1 John 4:16), which is true. But God is love because “The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works” (Psalm 145:17)

Righteousness begets love. Unrighteousness begets hate.

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2)

1.“Brethren”, immediately we know that this message is for those in the family of God and no one else. It is intended for the children of God, the brothers and sisters here on earth having to deal with the problems while on this planet. This is the brethren of Jesus that are bound together by love and for love of each other.

Paul began his epistles to the various people with a greeting directed specifically towards the elect, the children of God. Here are a few examples.

“unto the churches of Galatia” (Galatians 1:2)

“To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:7)

“to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 1:1)

“to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons” (Philippians 1:1)

“To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse” (Colossians 1:2)

It must be understood that not everything in the Bible is intended for everyone. Those who have chosen to remain outside of the sphere of God, those who choose to remain in this world will remain outside of the universe of our Lord.

Paul gives a good example of those “without” in his first letter to the Corinthians.

“But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” (1 Corinthians 5:11-13)

2. “If a man be overtaken in a fault”. This is so important. This describes how a Christian sins. If a brother or sister in the Lord is surprised or literally overtaken by a fault. It is a lapse, a re-lapse into sin or past life; a deviation from the way, the truth and into darkness.

Every Christian will have these moments when it’s as if the brain and heart just stopped working and we allow the devil who is like a roaring lion that looks to devour us all, we allow him to catch up and get us. This is not premeditated or intentional sin. Every Christian can and will trip over some stumbling block(s) in their life.

3. “ye which are spiritual”. This is oh so dangerous. There are many people out there that claim to be, “spiritual”. The real question these folks need to be asked is “what spirit are you talking about?” People who are filled with the Holy Spirit do not go around saying they are spiritual. Only those who are lost and confused are “spiritual”. It is usually those who feel the need and have a void that feels this way. That emptiness of soul and feeling the loss of spirit is what is being interpreted as “spiritual”.

But in this case, “ye which are spiritual” is a reference to the children of God that are Holy Ghost/Holy Spirit filled. The children of God are “filled”, they have no spiritual void. What they feel is the power, direction and motivation of the Holy Spirit which is their guide in the path of life.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3)

What are these, “spiritual blessings” that come from the Holy Spirit that Paul talks about?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.(Galatians 5:22-23). These “fruits” are just some of the Christian tools and armaments we use in loving our neighbor and battling evil.

4. “Restore such an one in the spirit of meekness”. If a brother or sister sins, if they have a lapse of some kind, we as Spirit filled children of God are to come to their aid. We are to comfort them in love and joy and restore this person to their whole self. We are to do this in the spirit of meekness.

We must be very careful of pride and ego. These are some of man’s greatest enemies that can creep into any situation. Spiritual pride and a Christian ego are horrible sins that every child of God will experience. Pride and ego are some of the best and most favorite tools of the devil. Imagine the joy it brings the devil to have someone think them self better or superior spiritually to other people. Entire religions have been built on pride, ego and a hierarchical church. It is destructive and self serving, the opposite of the basic tenets of Christianity.

Meekness is a disposition, an attitude and a state of being. Unfortunately many have misinterpreted meekness to mean passive and submissive. Oh, no! It’s quite the opposite. Meekness is restrained power. It is humility and a perspective that allows us to understand that we truly are brothers and sisters, equals with no superiority other than God himself.

5. “Considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted”. This shows how equal we truly are. Here the Apostle Paul is warning the Galatians to be careful. While you assist someone in their fall make sure that you do not slip as well. Temptation is best described as a fight. We are constantly tempted; we are constantly battling, constantly struggling against sin and the devil. If we do not lean on and trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior implicitly then we will slip and fall.

6. “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ”. The law of Christ, what fulfills all of the laws is one thing and that’s love. “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Galatians 5:14)

When a scribe asked Jesus, “Which is the first commandment of all?”, Jesus responded, “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31).

Love out of a pure heart, helping our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ with their burdens and heaviness of life; being there for them when they stumble and fall. To be of Christ means we are to be Christ like. Humbleness, meekness, love and the desire to help restore someone from their temporary lapse, that’s what this message is about. If we don’t help then a temporary stumble could become a permanent fall.

Bill Hitchcock

The Key to Everything is Patience

"The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it" (Arnold Glasgow).

Patience! The key to everything is patience according to the American businessman and humorist Arnold Glasgow.

When hated by men for Christ’s sake Jesus said, “In your patience possess ye your souls” (Luke 21:19).

Patience! Our very souls are dependent upon it.

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus” (Romans 15:4-5)

Patience! From scripture, of God for our learning, hope and comfort so we all can be of the mind of Christ!

But what is patience? It is more than just letting time go by, patience is interactive. It is encountering and weathering a situation. Patience is endurance. 

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:22)

“Hypomenō” is the Greek word the King James Version Bible uses for both patience and endure. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon gives brilliant and more appropriate descriptive of what is meant: “Remain, abide. Not recede or flee. To cleave faithfully to God. Bear bravely and calmly.”

Patience and endurance are attributes and armament meant to protect us from times of trial, tribulation and temptation.

A trial is a proving or a testing of us. Tribulation is pressure, or more precisely, a pressing as in a wine press. And temptation is an enticement given to dissuade or persuade us from our salvation.

God allows the adversity, but he also always supplies the tools to outlast and overcome them.  Not only does patience allow us to grow and strengthen in Him, but is how we shed and discard the sin attached to us. Through patience comes experience which produces hope and faith. No one likes cold feet but we are all going to have to walk on the ice to cross the frozen stream of adversity. God enables us to patiently endure. The experience deepens our trust and faith in Him, deepening our bond and love.

Bill Hitchcock

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

“Faith is the substance”, it is the foundation, our sub-floor in which we place our hopes on. Our “hopes” are the complete trust and confidence in our salvation through Jesus Christ.

Our faith is made evident by the manifestation of our inward convictions. “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28) by our faith in Jesus Christ. We become our convictions and act in concert with those beliefs.

Our faith in the salvation of Jesus Christ is brought to life when we live our convictions.

Bill Hitchcock

“For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried” (Psalm 66:10)

God tests us, He tries us, He does so as silver is tried-By fire. It is fire so hot we melt. We lose our form, we lose our shape we lose our identity. This trial by fire is obviously painful. But only in this state are we malleable, only in this condition can our stiff necks, hard hearts and thick skulls be softened reshaped into something useful and of God, not of man. But most importantly, when we are heated and tried to the melting point, to a pain beyond our own abilities, do we find our impurities. It is this slag, this dross, that let’s go of us, that comes out of us only when we are in the fire.

“All the saints must go to the proving house; God had one Son without sin, but he never had a son without trial. Why ought we to complain if we are subjected to the rule which is common to all the family, and from which so much benefit has flowed to them? The Lord himself proves us, who then shall raise a question as to the wisdom and the love which are displayed in the operation?” (Charles Spurgeon)

Ours tears of anguish are due to pain. It is the pain we just can’t take any longer. That’s the fire that produces the dross. This is the place we need to be. But how long, O’ Lord, for how long?

Asaph sang, “Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah” (Psalm 77:7-9)

Have you ever felt like Asaph?

This is not a process we do alone. If we do, then we will surely melt and cool down and retain all of the nasty by-products about our lives. Except now, we can add bitterness and hatred to our growing dross. If we do not recognize that God does what is best for us and that we are to lean on him at all times, if we treat the fire as punishment and not for what it is, refinement, then we will grow in malice and be consumed in hatred over God and the process.

Rejoice over the temptation. It is a fight for you and your life. It is a fight for survival and a fight for improvement.

“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

Bill Hitchcock

Under the Sun

“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9-11)

Under the sun, here on earth, in this life; it is temporary, it is temporal.

Above the sun, in spirit, in truth and righteousness, with God, in perpetuity. Above; where past, present and future collide into a never ending now. All things beautiful, all things known.

Above and beyond the sun is our home, where there will be no need for the sun or its light, nor of the moon’s brilliance, for the glory of God will lighten us, and the Lamb will be the light thereof. (Revelation 21:23).

Above the sun where God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes; “and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

Bill Hitchcock

A Few Thoughts About Jerusalem, Peace and the 6 Day War

“Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together” (Psalm 122:3)

Jerusalem is the City of David, the City of God. The name Jerusalem is composed of two words. “Jeru”, which means to teach and “Salem”, meaning to be in a covenant of peace, to be at peace.

The Psalmist tells us that Jerusalem is a city that is “compact together”. The word “compact” comes from the word, “chabar” meaning to unite, bind together.

The City of God is bound together by peace. It is the City that unites us in felicity, tranquility and, contentment. It teaches peace because it is peace. It was within the walls of Jerusalem that Jesus Christ said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you” (John 14:27).

For 19 years Jerusalem was a divided city between the Jews of Israel and the Arab countries of Egypt, Jordan and Syria. There was no peace and plenty of turmoil.  In 1967 it all came to head when the Arab countries attacked. Against all odds, Israel and Jerusalem emerged the victor. Incredibly the war lasted only 6 days.

The City of peace will always be “compact together”. It is the City of God, the City of Peace and no man can change that.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” (Psalm 122:6).

Praying, Not Rebelling, For Those In Authority

(First published June 11, 2014)

The Bible is replete with how governors and those in authority should act and be. It gives a frame work in which to operate a Godly and righteous government and nation. If any nation expects the blessings of the Lord then they should follow His precepts and commandments. This is not an order of servitude but a way of life, a way of happiness, and the way of truth. God wants us to succeed, and most of all, He wants us to live.

The Apostle Paul in his first epistle to Timothy addresses the issue of how those in power and control of a people should act. The end result for those leaders who do follow God’s way is peace, quiet, honesty and Godliness. That sounds like what the United States was founded to be!

1 Timothy 2:1-6

1) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

How wonderful is that? To start off with a prayer for other people! Not only does prayer work but shows where our heart and spirit should be. First and foremost, we cannot be a nation of me first.  President Kennedy expressed it this way:

“My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." - John F. Kennedy

Lead off with prayer first for other people. This is the type of sacrifice of praise, the fruit of the lips that God wants us to offer up. We want to build a nation with prayer and supplication for other people are their well being.

2) For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

We are to pray for those in authority that have rule over us. Every official who has been put into position of authority and lordship over us is God appointed. In so being we should offer them the respect as a God appointee. And it can be extremely difficult to pray for an official especially when they act ungodly. But that is what we are to do. Nothing can stop the power of prayer. So instead of us rebelling against a higher authority we should gather together in prayer, in one accord and pray for their guidance and deliverance.

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation” (Romans 13:1-2).

John Calvin the 16^th century theologian and leader in the Christian Reform had very strong words about Christians and their hate for those in authority.

“For kings He expressly mentions kings and other magistrates because, more than all others, they might be hated by Christians. All the magistrates who existed at that time were so many sworn enemies of Christ; and therefore this thought might occur to them, that they ought not to pray for those who devoted all their power and all their wealth to fight against the kingdom of Christ, the extension of which is above all things desirable. The apostle meets this difficulty, and expressly enjoins Christians to pray for them also. And, indeed, the depravity of men is not a reason why God’s ordinance should not be loved. Accordingly, seeing that God appointed magistrates and princes for the preservation of mankind, however much they fall short of the divine appointment, still we must not on that account cease to love what belongs to God, and to desire that it may remain in force. That is the reason why believers, in whatever country they live, must not only obey the laws and the government of magistrates, but likewise in their prayers supplicate God for their salvation” (John Calvin)

Do not misinterpret what any of this is saying. Nowhere in scripture does it advocate being passive, or heaven forbid, to allow a government to take over the people and become oppressive. Scripture does tell us that those in authority are God appointed and that we should pray for them, so that we, “may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty”.

It doesn’t say goodliness but Godliness. Good will get you killed but God will save.

The United States of America was founded by Christians on Christian principles. Our founders knew the Bible. They also knew man. That’s why a system of checks and balances was instituted in our government that would assure no evil ruler for too long. Term limits were designed as a method of ousting those “ungodly rulers”.

3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Why? Because we are following God’s commandment. God knows who is in authority and what they are capable of. And if the ruler gets off track God knows that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availth much! (James 5:16).

If the nation prays, then the nation is going to God. It has faith and belief in God. That nation is dependent upon God. Imagine the power and influence of an entire nation empowered by God. Do you think a little ol’ president or a senator or a governor could withstand that?

Only those who truly believe and have faith and trust in God will “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  Prayer is the acid test of value.

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn” (Proverbs 29:2). The “authority” spoken of here is of God.

4) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

This has been the struggle dating back to when Jesus was walking on this earth as a man. Pontius Pilate, the governor of the land and head of the military looked Jesus Christ straight in the eye and asked, “What is truth?” (John 18:38).

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

“Separation of church and state” is the cry today. Government does not want truth. It does not want Jesus so therefore we as a nation cannot, “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty”. In God’s system of checks and balances He has it so designed that we as a people are to pray. We are not to rebel against who God has appointed.

We have a marvelous example of honoring God’s appointed and not rebelling against them with David. King Saul was unjustly pursuing David in an attempt to kill him. On several occasions David and his men had the opportunity to strike back and kill Saul. But David knew that Saul had been anointed by God to rule.

“And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless? David said furthermore, As the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go” (1 Samuel 26:9-11).

5&6) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (Ephesians 4:4-7)

The issue is not the king or president. The issue is what is our relationship with God? Have we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior? Are we a righteous nation? Are we praying to God for guidance? Are we dependent on Him?

“When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked” (Proverbs 11:10-11).

“Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord” (Psalms 144:15).

Scriptural ignorance or heresy coming out of the Pope’s mouth.

“God cannot be God without man?” What?? Pope Francis made that comment (and others) at the Vatican this past Wednesday (6/7/17).

Speaking from a pre-written speech, the Pope at his Wednesday general audience said the following, (as released by the Vatican’s press office):

“Dear brothers and sisters, we are never alone. We may be distant, hostile, we may even profess ourselves to be “without God”. But the Gospel of Jesus Christ shows us that God cannot stay without us: He will never be a God “without man”; it is He Who cannot stay without us, and this is a great mystery! God cannot be God without man: the great mystery is this! And this certainty is the wellspring of our hope”, which we find conserved in all the invocations of Our Father. When we are in need of help, Jesus does not tell us to resign ourselves and close ourselves up, but instead to turn to the Father and to ask Him trustfully. All our needs, from the most evident and everyday, such as food, health and work, up to those such as being forgiven and kept from temptation, are not the reflection of our solitude: there is instead a Father who always looks upon us with love, and Who certainly does not abandon us.”

The theological world is going through all sorts of mental gymnastics to either defend or denounce the Pope with his above comments.

“He will never be a God “without man”. OK, I maybe the Pope is trying to assure all that God will never leave us or forsake us.

“it is He Who cannot stay without us”. And now the Pope starts to lose everyone. God does not need man. Man needs God.

“God cannot be God without man”. What? Did the Pope just say that God “needs” man?

God was God for the infinity before man’s creation. God is God now. And God will be God for infinity forward. God is perfect, He is the Supreme Being. Mankind has never had, nor currently has, and will never have, any effect on the status or perfection of God. This is why He is perfect! There is no fixing or improving to be done with perfection!

The Pope is correct when he says this is a “great mystery” because giving the Pope the benefit of the doubt, at best, no one knows what you are talking about. It’s a mystery! At worst, it is either scriptural ignorance or heresy coming out of your mouth.

God will never give us anything we can’t handle! NOT!

God will never give us anything we can’t handle! We’ve all heard it. Most of us have probably said it. Many assume that it comes from the Bible. It doesn’t. It isn’t scripturally based and in fact, works in opposition to what the word of God actually teaches.

So, am I saying that God can and will gives us problems too big for our own capacities? Problems that me, myself and I cannot solve, cure, fix or rectify? The answer put bluntly is, Yes!

John Calvin, the 16th century theologian and a primary figure of the Christian reformation explains how God gives us more then we can bear in his commentary found in Zechariah 1:3.

“We must further bear in mind, that, according to the common usage of Scripture, whenever God exhorts us to repentance, he does not regard what our capacity is, but demands what is justly his right. Hence the Papists adopt what is absurd when they deduce the power of free-will from the command or exhortation to repent: God, they say, would not have commanded what is not in our power to do. It is a foolish and most puerile (childishly silly and trivial) mode of reasoning; for if everything which God requires were in our power, the grace of the Holy Spirit would be superfluous; it would not only be as they say a waiting-mind, but it would be wholly unnecessary; but if men need the aid of the Spirit, it follows that they cannot do what God requires of them. But it seems strange that God should bid men to do more than what they can. It seems so indeed, I allow, when we form our judgment according to the common perception of the flesh; but when we understand these truths — that the law works wrath — that it increases sin — that it was given that transgression might be made more evident, then the false notion — that God requires nothing but what men can perform, comes to nothing. But it is enough for us to know, that God in exhorting us to repentance requires nothing but what nature dictates ought to be done by us. Since it is so, however short we are in the performance, it is not right to charge God with too much strictness, that he demands what is beyond our power.”

Calvin speaks a great truth that must be understood when he said, “…for if everything which God requires were in our power, the grace of the Holy Spirit would be superfluous”. People need the aid of the Holy Spirit! Underline and stress the word need!

But also notice John Calvin says that when it comes to repentance God does not “regard what our capacity is”. We as people will not remain in an environment that has no challenges. We as Christians do not have a “safe place” which exempts us from overwhelming troubles. Yes, God just might pour a gallon of troubles into our pint size life. Remember Job?

Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Putting it plainly, God does give us things that are bigger than ourselves and beyond our capabilities so that we will come to him, to lean on him and to depend on him. Proverbs 3 makes it clear.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” (Proverbs 3:5-7)

The Apostle Paul gives us an example of this.

“For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us” (2 Corinthians 1:8-10).

The moral of the story in the above passage is, “that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God”.

The misconception that God will never give you anything you can’t handle is most likely derived from a passage in 1 Corinthians.

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

First of all, Paul is saying that we face no trial or adversity that hasn’t already been faced by others. But as we are faithful to God by entrusting all to him, even our very lives, He, God is also faithful to us. God said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Hebrews 13:5-6).

It is important to notice in the passage from 1 Corinthians 10:13 that it is God who makes, “a way to escape”. It isn’t our own doings. We as humans are limited. God is not human therefore limitless.

Jesus said, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Man is limited. Our adversities, if anything will highlight and showcase our shortcomings and show our need for repentance. We cannot make it through this life to the next on our own. God will give us things that go beyond our own capacities. Why would we need God if we could handle everything ourselves?

Man is absolutely dependent upon God.

The Sin of Church and Religion

This begins a two part series discussing the sin of religion, church and its leaders. This article focuses on religion and the church. Tomorrow’s article focuses on ministers, preachers and pastors.

Pride is not only about self, it can be about religion too. Every religion has pride in itself and in its word to the exclusion of God and His word. A religion has formulated some doctrine, some code, some belief or standard that it follows. Or as Merriam Webster dictionary puts it religion is an, “organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods”.

The fallacy is that these organized systems of beliefs and ceremonies invariably come from man, are of his creation, and not from God. People are taught church and religion and are not taught God, the Bible, Christ and Him crucified.

Why is this? This is a sin, a heinous sin. And an adherent to that faith will consider his faith as “the” faith to the exclusion of all other religions and to the exclusion of the Bible itself! That’s pride, and it also has nothing to do with God and his word.

Think about it. Who was the greatest detractor of Jesus Christ? It was the church and religion. The prideful Jewish leaders, the Pharisee, Sadducees, church elders and scribes were the ones who sought to kill and destroy Jesus and His word.

“And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.” Luke 6:7

It was the religious elite that accused Jesus of being demon possessed.

“And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.” Mark 3:22

The church and religion were blind to Jesus and the power of God.

“And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he (Jesus) taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders, And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?” Luke 20:1-2

The church sent religious leaders to dispute the Son of God speaking the word of God.

“And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.” Mark 12:13

We find that the church and religion were people pleasers and depended upon the government to exercise church will.

“And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them. And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.” Luke 20:19-20

“And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.” Mark 11:18

It is very important to stress that it was the church and religion that wanted to “destroy” Jesus Christ. Jesus and His word had reached the people and the church was afraid of losing its adherents, of losing its power and control and of losing its revenue stream.

The epitome of man’s religion and the church clashing with the will and way of God happened in the land of Gennesaret.

“Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” Matthew 15:1-3

The, “tradition of the elders” was nothing more than church and religion. The religious leaders were asking Jesus why he didn’t follow their church doctrine.

Even the head of the government and the military understood the situation. He knew that the pride of the church and religion was the motivating cause in their attempt to eliminate Christ and the word of God.

“But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.” Mark 15:9-10

Nothing has changed.

There is a simple test for all of this; the Bible! Compare church doctrine to the Bible. Compare a religion to the Bible. Eliminate inconsistencies.

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21

The conflict between religion and the church with Jesus Christ is a conflict between the devil and God.

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

The church and religion attempted to destroy and kill Christ. They succeeded in crucifying Him, but that was all part of the game plan from the start.

But here is the point; what has changed? How does church and religion compare to Jesus Christ and God’s word as in the Bible? Not church doctrine. Not some religious precept. What does the word of God say?

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17

“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” 1 Corinthians 11:31-32

Judgment is nothing more than overlaying God’s attributes and characteristics upon us. Anything inconsistent with that overlay is a sin and must be eliminated.

Don’t worship a church or a religion or its leaders. Worship God! Believe only in His words and not some manmade version of it.

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27

Tomorrow we pick back up on the subject but shift the focus towards church leaders.

Emotions are a transferable spirit. What you possess you also convey. So ask yourself this, “Am I contaminating or curing the people around me?” - Bill Hitchcock

"But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit." - 1 Corinthians 6:17

Fear Of Climate Change?

Do you live in fear of the consequences of climate change? Do you believe in God? Do you believe in the Bible?  If so, please read Psalm 46. It is only 11 verses long. It’ll take 30 seconds. If that is too much then just read the first 3 verses. Don’t be ruled by fear, but rather by God. He is our comfort, joy and refuge. There are additional truths from the Bible about the world, seasons, natural disasters and climate listed afterwards. I hope you read them.

Psalm 46

1) God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2) Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3) Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

4) There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

5) God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

6) The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

7) The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

8) Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

9) He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

10) Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

11) The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

The Psalmist continues to assure us of God’s magnificence and power over the elements with Psalm 93.

1) The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

2) Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.

3) The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.

4) The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

5) Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.

In Psalm 74 we see that God has control of the day, the night, and the seasons.

16) The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.

17) Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.

And finally, in the first book of Moses we discover that we actually have nothing to worry about. All we have to do is trust, believe and rely on God.

Genesis 8:22

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.