ROMANS 13

Submission to the Authorities
1.
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
2.
Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
3.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
4.
For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
5.
Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.
6.
For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing.
7.
Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
8.
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
9.
For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
10.
Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11.
And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
12.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13.
Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
14.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

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Is socialism better than democracy?

How about communism?

I'd like to hear your comments pertaining to this on what your hold is on this chapter?

My Own Prison Revealed

A prison is a place of forcible restraint or confinement. A place used to control behavior. Punishment for the unruly law breakers. It can consist of torture or some consider it as total torture. Others also consider their wrong doing justified no matter what and any wrong doing back to them is torture.
Any way the fact is were all held in our own prison to some degree. Well your probably saying what do you mean? I'm saying for example your a smoker and you can't quit smoking. Somehow something is holding you in bondage. Is it because your weak and don't have the strength to quit on your own? Or is it that something you can't see is holding your own strength back from quiting. The same example can be used in any circumstance, jealously, lust, sexual addictions, alcohol, ect. ect. You get the jest of things.
What I'm saying here is any time you let any wrong behavior control you your in some form of bondage held in your own prison. And the more you let these wrong doings control you the longer your sentence will be. None of us down here are free of any prison sentence during our trial of life. In fact it is our time we spend in our own prison that were supposed to learn from our wrongdoing. Then upon our release we can go back to contributing to society in a Godly manner.
The apostle Paul had so many prison experiences that he called himself a "prisoner of the Lord" When Paul and Silas were cast into the Roman prison at Philippi they were miraculously freed when they started to praise God. The reason is because they refused to submit to the enemy in return they were set free and the same example can be used today in the way we live our lives.
John 8:34 and on says this.
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

So my friends bondage is a prison sentence.

Meekness

Some see meekness as a form of weakness but in fact it has nothing to do with weakness at all. Weakness is due to negative circumstances, such as lack of strength or lack of courage. But meekness is due to a person's conscious choice. It is strength and courage under control, coupled by kindness. An attitude of humility toward God and gentleness toward people and recognizing that God is in control.
This is a word that you don't hear much anymore and yet a lot of people out there don't even know what it means. So here you have it and now you'll now be able to practice meekness where ever your journey may bring you.
And in the end my friend " Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth"

Weathered

I lie awake on a long dark night
I can't seem to tame my mind
Slings and arrows are killin' me inside
Maybe I can't accept the life that's mine
No, maybe I can't accept the life that's mine
Simple livin' is my desperate cry
Been tradin' love with indifference
An', yeah, it suits me just fine
I try to hold on but I'm calloused to the bone
Maybe that's why I feel alone, yeah
Maybe that's why I feel so alone
'Cause me, I'm rusted and weathered
Barely holdin' together
I'm covered with skin that peels
And it just won't heal
I am rusted and weathered
Barely holdin' together
I'm covered with skin that peels
And it just won't heal
No, it just won't heal, no, no, no
The sun shines and I can't avoid the light
I think I'm holdin' on to life too tight
Ashes to ashes and dust to dust
Sometimes I feel like givin' up, yeah
I said, sometimes I feel like givin' up
'Cause me, I'm rusted and weathered
Barely holdin' together
I'm covered with skin that peels
And it just won't heal
I am rusted and weathered
Barely holdin' together
I'm covered with skin that peels
And it just won't heal
It just won't heal, no
The day reminds me of you
The night hides your truth
The earth is a voice
Speaking to you
Take all this pride
And leave it behind
'Cause one day it ends
One day we die
Believe what you will
That is your right
But I choose to win
I choose to fight, to fight
'Cause me I'm rusted and weathered
Barely holdin' together
I'm covered with skin that peels
And it just won't heal
I am rusted and weathered
Barely holdin' together
I'm covered with skin that peels
And It just won't
Covered with skin that peels
And it just won't
Covered with skin that peels
And it just won't heal

Goats And The Sheep

I can remember all the way back as far as kindergarten when certain kids in class were being mean to each other. Things like not wanting to share, I'm not your friend anymore or even stealing ect. ect. Then into first grade kids were starting to develop who they were and what they wanted to be and that sort of thing. But by second or third grade it was being popular, pretty or cool which in turn developes the "no count kids" or "outcasts " if you weren't selected to be in their kind of group. Of course you had to be invited into a group or start your own group. You know how it is because little has changed since then. Then started the age of the so called "pretty people" or "do you know who I am types" which pushed the "no counts" back even further into society to this very day.

By the time I was in eighth grade I experienced a suicide. A girl I knew was ridiculed everyday she went to school. Teased, harassed, and tormented, she felt the urge to no longer live and took her own life with a 22 rifle because of cruel, selfish, self seeking kids who thought it was fun to tease and beat up on kids. I can't even imagine what her parents felt but I'm sure it was a devastating heart crushing blow to their lives forever knowing how cruel kids tormented their only daughter and child into suicide.

Ok I'll make my point....This is still happening today not only in the schools but in our churches. Are not we supposed to bring comfort to one another in our church? Some people still want to play " I'm from Hollywood he he he" Or "my daddy owns a car lot" or what ever... If your not sure of this kind of behavior from your kids, find out. And if you are doing this yourself stop doing it now! I challenge you to reach out your hand to these so called "no counts" and show them compassion no matter what. Make them feel special and do what Jesus calls us to do. He's counting on us.

I'll end by saying this. I was talking to this lady at church and she told me her daughter didn't want to come to Sunday School anymore because of this type of behavior was happening to her. So she didn't make her come. Then when she came home from church her daughter asked her if anybody asked about her at church today. The day will come for all of us when the sheep and the goats will be divided folks...

Death and the Intermediate State

Death is decisive for destiny and the Bible does not teach that after death there is another possibility of salvation for the lost. After death, both the godly and the ungodly reap what they sowed in this world.
For Christians the final terror of physical death is abolished. Jesus, the risen Savior, Himself passed through a terrible death, enduring the anger of God. He takes us from God's anger, and He lives to help us as we leave this world for the place He has prepared in the next. As Christians we know that our forthcoming death is an appointment to meet with our Savior. Paul could say " For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Paul long to depart and to be with Christ, knowing that is far better.
To leave this world without Christ. In itself death is an enemy. I know a lot of non believers who are terrified of dying because of there unbelief and not willing to trust Christ.
At death the souls of believers are made perfect in holiness and enter into the worshiping life of heaven. In a word they are glorified. Knowing that to be "away from the body" is to be "at home with the Lord"
I believe that is true without a doubt in my mind. I can tell you that I had a cousin that passed away from lung cancer a while back. Her daughter told me that in her final minutes of her life barely breathing and gasping for air she she awoke from her state that she was in and said to her daughter "Josie how do I do it" and her daughter says "you reach out mom and take Jesus by the hand." Then her mother said with a peace that surpasses all understanding, "oh ok" she then reached out her arm and departed into the kingdom. I know the devil will tell you not to believe this but I also know the Lord is telling you that it's true.

Bullets

Walking around I hear the sound of the earth seeking relief..
I'm trying to find a reason to live..
But the mindless clutter my path..
Oh these thorns in my side..
oh these thorns in my side..
I know I have something free,
I have something so alive.
I think they shoot 'cause they want it,
I think they shoot 'cause they want it....
I THINK THEY SHOOT 'CAUSE THEY WANT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I feel forces all around me,
Come on raise your head!
Those who hide behind the shadows,
Live with all that's dead!
LOOK AT ME!!
LOOK AT ME!!!
LOOK AT ME!!!
At least look at me when you shoot a bullet through my head!
Through my head!
Through my head!
In my lifetime when I'm disgraced!
By Jealousy and lies!
I laugh aloud 'cause my life
Has gotten inside someone else's mind!
LOOK AT ME!!
LOOK AT ME!!
LOOK AT ME!!!
At least look at me when you shoot a bullet through my head!!
Through my head!!
Through my head!!!!.........................................................................{"aaaahh!!"}
Hey!
All I want is what's real!
Something I touch and can feel!
I'll hold it close and never let it go!
Said "Why . . . why do we live this life?
With all this hate inside?
"I'll give it away 'cause I don't want it no more!
Please.. help me find a place!
Somewhere far away, yes I'll go and you'll never see me again!!
LOOK AT ME!!!!
LOOK AT ME!!!!
At least look at me when you shoot a bullet through my head!!!
Through my head!!
Through my Head!!
LOOK AT ME!!!!
LOOK AT ME!!!
At least look at me when you shoot a bullet through my head!!!!...................
2x{"LOOK AT ME!!!"}