Musing - Can there be a Civil Society Without Marriage & Family?

 Hebraic Musing - Can there be a Civil Society Without Marriage & Family?

I contend that the rioters, looters and troublemakers tearing up our cities do not go home to their original father.  So this article in the Daily Signal “How American Civil Society Depends on Marriage, Family”* was “No surprise”!  But I was shocked at the underlying statistic.  “The number of children born outside of wedlock grew from just 5% in 1960 to 40% in 2019.”  And the percentage of women who are married dropped 30%!  In my Ministries to Men ever since I made Jesus my Lord, I have focused on the importance of the role of the father in the home. Young men and women look to the father for approval and acceptance. 

Growing up after WWII, I can hardly remember a family of single parents; it was unheard of.  The men in the neighborhood were all respected.  But now we see so many boys/children being raised by a single parent or in adopted parenting homes.  Where is the father figure for the child to learn respect and to gain their needed approval.  One answer is “gangs.”  Do BLM and Antifa fulfill that role? 

What does the Bible say about the role of the father?  BTW -“Father” appears over 900 times in the Bible! 

·         Hebrews 12:7 “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?” If there’s no father in the home, how can a lad understand this, or any other “father” references?

·         1 Timothy 5:1-2  “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.”  How could a typical young man experience that in a broken home?

·         1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God,…”  NIV

·         Matthew 19:19 “honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” And Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother,…”  Why is the father mentioned first?

·         Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church…”  How can this be exampled, taught or demonstrated in a broken home?

·         Colossians 3:21 “Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.”

According to the experts:

·         There is a direct link between the stability of a home and a child’s rate of success.

·         “There’s no such thing as parenting, there is mothering & there is fathering.  Children do best with both.”

·         Children raised in a single-parent home are at least twice as likely to live in poverty compared with children from a two-parent household. 

·         “Children born to cohabiting couples are almost twice as likely to see their parents break up, compared to children born to married couples, and there are other factors, such as lack of parental education.”  That’s now being compounded by multiple generations of broken, single-parent child-raising.

·         “Children raised by a mother and father are less likely to exhibit behavioral issues, such as aggression.”

On a positive note, I especially admire the true “Overcomers” – those who grew up without the Biblical family structure and have overcome the adversity of not being raised in a Biblical two-parent home.

Points to ponder

Without family, to whom do we belong?

Is today’s younger generation more likely to find “Acceptance”
and “Approval” in BLM, Antifa, gangs and similar fanatical groups?

Now you know why I have given out so many copies of my “Biblical Marriage” book!!!

♫  I'm so glad I'm a part Of the family of God. I've been washed in the fountain, Cleansed by His blood.
            Joint heirs with Jesus  As we travel this sod, For I'm part of the family, The family of God. ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          September 29, 2020  

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

*  Inspired & excerpted  - from the article in the Daily Signal by – Virginia Allen - 9/8/20

Musing - How Important is Small Group Fellowship for Men?

 Hebraic Musing - How Important is Small Group Fellowship for Men?

My Christian walk was supported for the first five years by a weekly group of 5-6 men who nurtured me patiently.  At 7:00 every Saturday AM we shared our Piety, Study and Apostolic Action.  To this day I relish opportunities to meet with Small Groups of men who allow me to share my life.  And to sew into their lives.

Paul described the role of men’s fellowshipping perfectly in 1 Thess. 2:8  “We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.” NIV   Paul not only shared the gospel of Jesus Christ but he also shared his life with them.  This was also exemplified in the life of Jesus who focused His ministry on 12 disciples, and an inner circle of three.  

This life-sharing is rare today.  Our society is fast-paced and information hungry so we keep a distance from one another through e-mail and voice-mail or answering machines.  Small groups have to break through these superficial, shallow relationships so Men can share face-to-face what is really going on in their lives.  
- Who can a man talk to about the troubles he is having with his teenage daughter?
- Who can he talk to about the emotional connectedness he feels for a gal at the office?
- Who can he talk to about the wounds of his past?
- Where can he go to share the joys of leading a co-worker to Christ?
- Where can he share his deepest fears as a man?

Face-to-face communication is critical to meaningful life-sharing; and this can best be done in a small group setting.  Small groups are a place to function as real Christians.  If and when I go to the “Men’s Monthly Breakfast” where there’s a large group of men there, where can I practice loving, forgiving, accepting and encouraging other men?  Leaders might brag about the size of their Monthly Breakfasts, and there can be purpose for them, but do the men also need to get connected to “one another”?

It is Biblical that men need to get together with other men and share their lives with one another.  The NIV Bible says together 386 times; one another 72 times; each other 107 times.  Just a few examples:

·         “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you,…”  (Romans 15:7)

·         “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”  (John 13:34–35)  

·         “Encourage one another and Build each other up…” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

·         “Carry each other’s burdens”  (Galatians 6:2)

·         “Confess your sins to each other and Pray for each other” ( James 5:16)

·         “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Eph.4:2)

·         “Instruct one another,,,”  (Romans 15:14)

Each of these commands can only be fulfilled face-to-face in a small group setting.  In a group of four to twelve men you can love one another, share deeply with one another, pray for one another, carry one another’s burden, accept others the way they are, and forgive others when wronged.

Points to ponder

Why do we men tend to avoid the personal sharing by going to large gatherings only?

Why do men avoid letting someone see who they really are?  Pride?  Shame?  Insecurity?

Given our hectic lives, it is hard to give “our precious time” to one another in a small group,
(BTW – Whose  time is it?)     BUT small groups grow men in Christ.

Do Pastors also need Small Group accountability?  (see “Need for small groups” below)

Are you in a small group that would hold you accountable?

♫  Getting to know you, Getting to know all about you.
            Getting to like you, Getting to hope you like me…♫  (from “The King & I”)

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      September 22, 2020  
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

* Inspired by and excerpted from “How to build a Life-Changing Men’s Ministry”, S.Sonderman. 2010.

Supplement - Need for small groups

In a famous survey of fallen leaders a few years ago, Howard Hendricks, professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, interviewed either over the phone or face-to-face some 242 Christian leaders forced to leave the ministry because of moral failure.  One of the questions he asked was if they were in an accountability group.  To everyone’s surprise, not a single one was.  These were good men, Godly men, Leaders who desired nothing but God’s best for them.  Yet they fell. I have come to define accountability as giving one or more men the freedom to help you order your private and public life.  A small group provides the context where tough questions can be asked week in and week out.

Musing – Are the “End-Times” Upon Us?

                                                   Hebraic Musing – Are the “End-Times” Upon Us?

What will be some Biblical precursors to Jesus' return?  Consider the following:

1.      Jesus gave us a hint.  “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matt.24:14  NIV   Does the whole world have access to the Gospel yet?

2.         And the pre-condition for Jesus’ statement was “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,” Matt.24:12  And today we have many people ignoring God, making up their own truths!

3.         Demonically inspired false religions and false prophets and teachers would proliferate. “… remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. … ‘In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.’” Jude 17-18   Wow!  Doesn’t that sound like today?

4.         The land of Israel represents another data point – “I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!' and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth…” Isa.43:5-6   Also Exek.37:1-4 re Dry Bones.

5.         In the end times there will be, "Wars and rumors of wars" Matt. 24:6.  And Ezekiel 38:1-6 predicts the invasion of Israel.  And the anti-Semitic nations in the Middle East are choosing sides and aligning!

6.         The world system is becoming increasingly god-less!  Revelation 13:8 says there will be one religion, worshipping the “beast”; one economy in vs 16-17; and one government in Rev.17:1-8.  What’s the motive behind the current pandemic and the movements dominating the news?

7.         We are in an era of serious theological apostasy, rebellion or revolt as predicted in 1 Tim.4:1”The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”   Preaching “feels good” sells, so many preachers and denominations no longer adhere to the Bible!

8.         Technology has now enabled cyber-currency and is de-personalizing us with contact tracking, surveillance technology and reducing our identity to imbedded chips.  A one world government and socialism can be enforced by influential leaders (gods with small “g”s).  Those events in Revelation are now feasible!!!

9.         The religion of Islam is growing rapidly and being promoted all around the world.  Ishmael’s role was predicted in Gen.16:12 “He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”  They promote a goal of exterminating both Jews and Christians.  BTW – Going to church is not what it used to be!!!

10.     There is to be a major outpouring of the Holy Spirit just before the rapture of the church  “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions…., I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders …before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the survivors whom the LORD calls.” Joel 2:28-32 ♫  Come Holy Spirit, I need you. Come sweet Spirit, I pray. Come in your strength and your power. Come in your own gentle way. ♫

Christianity in America and Europe is declining, but in much of the rest of the world Christianity is growing exponentially. As the world battles COVID-19, it may ignite one more great revival of Christianity—and this may become the West's final visitation of the Holy Spirit, before Christ's return.* 

Points to ponder

What is the “Beast” we will be told to bow to?

Has the Gospel been preached to the whole world yet? 
How about your neighbor?

What is our role in the “West’s Final Revival?

♫ When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more, … 
            When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there. ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                   September 15, 2020  

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

* inspired by and excerpted from Alex Mcfarland’s Apr.13, 2020- -“10 Signs We May Be Near the End of History” 

Musing – Is America Being Deliberately De-Christianized?

 

Hebraic Musing – Is America Being Deliberately De-Christianized?

First published March 2019 (B.C., Before Covid 19)  Over a year ago the attack was already clear!)

We are seeing cases of attacks on the Christian religion and foundation of our nation.  Todd Starnes’ book “God Less America”* was written in the middle of Barack Obama’s second term; and the author names names! 

Where are the attacks coming from?   Hint – Quote from Barack Obama speaking to Turkey “We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation.” (p.3)  And note that Turkey once was a Christian nation, but clearly is no longer.  Relevant history:  Turkey, Syria, Iran & Iraq were once Christian strongholds; but the few Christians there today face severe persecution.  Europe seems to have passed the “tipping point”.  Could it be that Islam is being preached and practiced in America as a peaceful, tolerant religion, until it reaches a “tipping point”?

B.O. professed to be a Christian, but meanwhile he told the NY Times the Muslim call to prayer was “one of the prettiest sounds on Earth.”  And in about 2007 he also claimed “…religious Americans care only about issues like abortion, gay marriage, school prayer and intelligent design”  And he encouraged divisiveness when he said on CBS News “But somehow, somewhere along the way, faith stopped being used to bring us together and faith started being used to drive us apart.”(p.7)

The “Swamp” now has entrails into the IRS, FBI, CIA, Justice System, Courtrooms, and Countless examples!  Just one classic example – IRS attacks on Christian organizations with audits and 501c3 application delays.

In 2013 American Pastor Saeed Abedini was convicted by Iran and imprisoned.  The administration did nothing to facilitate his release despite many dealings with Iran.  (Interesting, he was released Jan.16, 2016)

Militant LGBTQ movements are supported by infiltration into our Justice system and the military’s “Social Experiment.” (Prophetically I just received a text warning about a movie/play to be released called “Corpus Christi” depicting Jesus and the Apostles as gay men living in modern-day Texas. [Wikipedia])

  This is doubly interesting since the Quran and Arab nations have severe penalties for such behavior.  As America goes that route, will it be easier for Arab nations to view America as worthy of Jihad?

“One member of the military was written up for having his Bible out, while a Muslim was allowed to publicly display his prayer rug”  (p.258)    The FBI was purging its anti-terrorism documents of any material deemed “offensive” to Muslims. (p.163)   Children’s textbooks are being made Islam friendly; to get their hearts!?!?

What should we do?  What can we do?  We need to stand up, and speak out, and trust the LORD.   “When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. BUT if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself.” Ezek. 33:8-9 NIV   And a Feb.27 FOX news report on Christian persecution concluded with “When will we realize that the threat of religious persecution isn’t as “far away from home” as we may think? We need to take a stand and be vocal proponents of our rights, starting today.”

Now we know how David felt when he wrote “Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me.” Ps 69:4  NIV

Did Jesus see America’s end-time future when he said this?   “All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.” Matt 25:32-33

Points to ponder

How did Barack Obama get elected for a second term?
Why didn’t Americans realized the Judeo-Christian foundations were already crumbling?

Does the U.S. Constitution really say “separation of church and state”?

What’s changed in the last year and a half?

♫ Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,  With the cross of Jesus going on before!
     Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; Forward into battle, see his banner go!. ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          September 8, 2020 (originally published March 12, 2019)  

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

* Excerpts from “God Less America”, 2014 Todd Starnes “Real stories from Front Lines of the Attack on Traditional Values”

Musing –Can God be Good when we have a World of Suffering?

 Hebraic Musing –Can God be Good when we have a World of Suffering?

How is it that the world is full of death and suffering and at the same time the Bible says God called His creation “good”?   “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good….” Genesis 1: 31  NIV   But how can one believe that God or His creation is “good”  if they have no background knowledge of the Bible or Christianity?  They might not have grown up in a Christian home, never attended church, and/or were indoctrinated in the theory of evolution through their education system?  And they were probably taught against Christianity by parents and/or teachers.  So when a Christian meets this person and tells them that God of infinite love made the world and He cares for us, that non-Christian is listening, but thinking…:

·         I don’t see any God of love.  All I see are children suffering and dying.

·         I see people killing and stealing.  Disease and death seem to be everywhere.

·         If your God does exist, He must be a sadistic ogre.

The problem is that this non-Christian only sees and knows this fallen world.  When that person is told about the God of creation, he/she blames God for the horrible world we live in.  Without an understanding of Genesis and the “fall”, they can’t comprehend that there can be a God of love, much less that He called it “good”!

This is also a problem for some Christians!  When a loved one dies or tragedy strikes, they understandably ask God why these things happen.  Unfortunately many also blame God and are angry at Him because they don’t understand the reason for the existence of death and suffering.  Why is that?  Many Christians have been indoctrinated to believe that God’s creation took millions/billions of years, and that death, disease, and suffering are a part of this creative process.  But this is not the God of the Bible.  Remember that Genesis 1: 31 said God created everything “very good.”   If we look for it, we’ll see a remnant of beauty from the original creation; however we deal with the groaning, horrible world we have around us, for now.  But this world is what we human beings in essence have asked for!

What occurred in the universe as a result of Adam’s fall into sin?  At the time of the Fall God gave Adam a choice – choose God and His absolutes, or choose autonomy (man makes his own rules).  Adam (just like us rebellious creatures) chose to try life without God.  We inherently don’t want God’s rules; we want to determine truth for ourselves.  So God, as a righteous Judge, gave us what we wanted (and deserved).  He withdraws some of His power so as to not uphold the world in a perfect state.  Look what happened, everything is running down and falling apart.  We are experiencing just a taste of the judgment of what life would be like without God.  So this mess is really our fault!

God is so merciful to us. Even though we have a predisposition to want life without God because of our Adamic nature, our Creator has given us only a taste of what life without God would be like.  He still upholds many things so we can live in this world.  If God were to withdraw even more of the His power things would become much worse.  Remember, God raises up kings and destroys kingdoms (Dan.2:21) and the more God removes His restraining influence from the nations the more we would see the horrible sinful nature of man expressed in evil deeds.  We already see examples of this before our very eyes in the UK, Western Europe, Australia and even in America.  These nations were foundationally Christian and were originally governed with God-based moral laws.  

What happened?  Romans 1: 25 states “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.”  This aptly describes the evolutionary worldview.   It’s also an apt description of compromised Christians who deny God by going along with teachings of evolution.  Paul describes those who do not acknowledge God as -  unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness, gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless…. Rom.1:28-32  WOW!

Points to ponder   or   RSVP

What would this world and our life be like without God?

In how many ways do we try to be god, instead of simply listening and obeying God?  WWJD

 “Return, O faithless sons, I will heal your faithlessness.” Jer. 3: 22 NASB

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                     September 1, 2020
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”