STUDIES FROM BRETHREN IN CHRIST

12/1/2019 ~ Presidential Quotes 28

♔   PresidentialQuotesPM28.mp3 (34m 53s)   PresidentialQuotesAboutGod28.pptx Darkness tears pages away from life. Without moral leadership, assassins lurk on every corner. John F. Kennedy (1961-1963) “This nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened ... It ought to to be possible, in short, for every American to enjoy the privileges of being American without regard to his race or his color.” ... thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness ... ~ 1st Timothy 2:1-4 “I'm 43 years old and I'm the healthiest candidate for the Presidency of the United States. You've travelled with me enough to know that I'm not going to die in office.” “To exclude from positions of trust and command all those below the age of 44 would have kept Jefferson from writing the Declaration of Independence, Washington from commanding the Continental Army, Madison from fathering the Constitution, Hamilton from serving as secretary of the treasury, Clay from being elected speaker of the House and Christopher Columbus from discovering America.” “The Jewish people, ever since David slew Goliath, have never considered youth as a barrier to leadership.” “I think it is appropriate that we pay tribute to this great constitutional principle which is enshrined in the First Amendment of the Constitution: the principle of religious independence, of religious liberty, of religious freedom.” “But I think it is also important that we pay tribute and acknowledge another great principle, and that is the principle of religious conviction. Religious freedom has no significance unless it is accompanied by conviction.” Now faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen. ... ~ Hebrews 11:1-3 “I believe the American people are more concerned with a man's views and abilities than with the church to which he belongs. I believe the founding fathers meant it when they provided in Article VI of the Constitution that there should be no religious test for public office. And I believe that the American people mean to adhere to those principles today.” “Whatever one's religion in his private life may be, for the officeholder, nothing takes precedence over his oath to uphold the Constitution and all its parts - including the First Amendment and the strict separation of church and state.” “I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute - where no Catholic prelate would tell the president (should he be Catholic) how to act. I do not speak for my church on public matters - and the church does not speak for me.” “We do not want an official state church. If ninety-nine percent of the population were Catholics, I would still be opposed to it. I do not want civil power combined with religious power. I want to make it clear that I am committed as a matter of deep personal conviction to separation.” “I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jewish; where no public official either requests or accepts instructions on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches or any other ecclesiastical source; where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials; and where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all.” Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! ~ Psalms 133:1 "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." ~ Matthew 7:12 He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace. ~ Proverbs 11:12 God’s will is clearly Announced Bondservants of God:        ● Honor all people        ● Love the brotherhood        ● Fear God        ● Honor the King ... as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. ... ~ 1st Peter 2:15-17 For blessings His ways must be applied  Be of One Mind ↓       ● Having compassion       ● Love as brothers       ● Be tenderhearted       ● Be courteous       ● Not returning evil for evil            ⮡  or reviling for reviling   → But on the contrary blessing   ... be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil ... ~ 1st Peter 3:8-9 “Finally, I believe in an America where religious intolerance will someday end; where all men and all churches are treated as equal; where every man has the same right to attend or not attend the church of his choice; where there is no Catholic vote, no anti-Catholic vote, no bloc voting of any kind; and where Catholics, Protestants and Jews, at both the lay and pastoral level, will refrain from those attitudes of disdain and division which have so often marred their works in the past, and promote instead the American ideal of brotherhood.” Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. ~ 1st John 3:15 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. ~ 1st John 4:21 A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. ~ Proverbs 17:17 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. ~ Proverbs 18:24 “Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.” Many religious zealots hate other religious doctrines contrary to one’s own personal beliefs. Condemning others is contrary to the instructions of God. It is God alone who reserves the right of final judgment. ... when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. ~ 1st Peter 2:11-12 “The greater our knowledge increases the more our ignorance unfolds.” "... my voice is to the sons of men. O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart. ..." ~ Proverbs 8:4-6 “War and hunger and ignorance and despair know no religious barriers.” ... having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, ... ~ Ephesians 4:18-19 The godless have no sense of truth   ● Understanding darkened   ● Alienated from the life of God   ● Ignorance that is in them   ● Blindness of their heart   ● Past feeling   ● Given to lewdness                   ⮡   Uncleanness with greediness   It is the godless that plague all mankind past true sense of eternal caring. Above all the Bible is a book, and expression, of truth for souls to know. “A nation that is afraid to let its people judge truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.” Without fear of God, no conclusive outcome for good is possible.   PresidentialQuotesPM28.5.mp3 (34m 53s) “Don’t pray for an easy life, pray to be a stronger man.” And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." ~ Luke 17:5 ... after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. ~ 1st Peter 5:10 Success can be had with steady focus After you have suffered a while:      ● Perfect → Submission      ● Establish → Steadfast      ● Strengthen → Knowledge      ● Settle you → Wisdom “Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.” ... not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy ... ~ 1st Peter 1:13-16 “With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking his blessing and his help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.” “I know there is a God - I see the storm coming and I see his hand in it - if he has a place then I am ready - we see the hand.” “We in this country, in this generation, are by destiny rather than choice the watchmen on the walls of world freedom. We ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility, that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint, and that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of peace on earth, good will toward men. That must always be our goal, and the righteousness of our cause must always underlie our strength. For as was written long ago: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” ... Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. ~ Psalms 127:1 “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” “It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war.” “Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal.” The Lord has created His nursery for a soul’s return Our basic common link is we:     ● All inhabit this small planet     ● All breathe the same air     ● All cherish our children's future       ● Are all mortal “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” ... law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. ... ~ James 1:25-26 “The guiding principle of this Nation has been, is now, and ever shall be IN GOD WE TRUST.” ... humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, ... ~ 1st Peter 5:6-9 “Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.” “We can say with some assurance that, although children may be the victims of fate, they will not be the victims of our neglect.” “I think when we talk about corporal punishment, and we have to think about our own children, and we are rather reluctant, it seems to me, to have other people administering punishment to our own children, because we are reluctant, it puts a special obligation on us to maintain order and to send children out from our homes who accept the idea of discipline. So I would not be for corporal punishment in the school, but I would be for very strong discipline at home so we don't place an unfair burden on our teachers.” Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. ... ~ Proverbs 23:13-14 The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. ~ Proverbs 29:15 “A revolution is coming – a revolution which will be peaceful if we are wise enough; compassionate if we care enough; successful if we are fortunate enough – but a revolution which is coming whether we will it or not. We can affect its character; we cannot alter its inevitability.” “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.” “The world was not meant to be a prison in which man awaits his execution.” ... not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly ... ~ Romans 12:10-12 Noble characteristics remain timeless   Serving the Lord be:     ● Kindly affectionate / brotherly love       ● In honor giving preference                             ⮡  to one another     ● Not lagging in diligence     ● Fervent in spirit     ● Rejoicing in hope     ● Patient in tribulation     ● Continuing steadfastly in prayer “There can be no progress if people have no faith in tomorrow.” “We can have faith in the future only if we have faith in ourselves.” Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law. ~ Proverbs 29:18 “Forbidden fruit tastes sweet, but its aftertaste is bitter.” Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel. ~ Proverbs 20:17 “A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers.” "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." ~ Luke 22:19 “If anyone is crazy enough to want to kill a president of the United States, he can do it. All he must be prepared to do is give his life for the president's.” How is it that rights are extended to those reckless without morals? Absent of any decent scruples delving into such corrupt offensiveness, yet still they are extended mercy in the face of their heinous acts and lack of remorse. Cop killers and rapists declaring innocence in a justice system gone mad condemned in its’ own unethical insanity, the colors of truth can have many shades, and what fades from God’s ways is not the brightest of responses. There is little glory in loneliness where evil dwells, and separation from God can drive the most miserable of feelings, leading to the brink of permanent ruin, if lost in bitter ungratefulness. We are all at the bottom of our hearts alone. Truly in times of widespread desperation and confusion, wisdom hides where few listen. Without individual faith, in an unjust world, angers and jealousies can divide the people and devour the children. Come is His call. To rise to all that is better His light must shine ● God created all the colors of His creation ● Noble achievements of man serve timelessly ● Constitutional freedoms do not include morality ● No moral test is required to achieve public office ● Separation of brothers is to the grief of God ● A friend can weigh in better than a brother ● Tolerating evil has always defeated greater glory ● Forced beliefs plague all that is heartfully clear ● Life has commonalities in cherishing family & friends ● Life is meant to be lived, not regretted or despised ● Where there is no faith only futility lingers ● All thieves eventually carry piercing anchors ● Murder is the core of hate Life carries hearts viewed by His patience Darkness has no trace of what is right.