TGIF
It didn’t take long.
Less than 48 hours after Russia invaded Ukraine, people were posting on Facebook that videos of the war zone were fakes.
Those who had recently become experts in virology and epidemiology just as swiftly became experts in geopolitical affairs…as certain of government deceptions in the current situation as in the last.
How wise the internet has made us!
The prophesy wonks quickly took note of the (financial) opportunity in front of them and Gog and Magog have returned to my feeds with all the sobriety of Tom and Jerry.
Putin would make a good anti-Christ unless you are a Trump fan, in which case he’s just another of God’s men for the times.
We can’t agree on anything.
If we didn’t have enough problems, the charismatic prophets have begun to speak.
In former days God spoke through an ass…now these prophets speak out their own.
Naturally, they state that the war in Ukraine is really about American politics…because nothing brings in the cash like that scenario and in any case,God only cares about Americans really anyway.
Some day, the prophecy pundits will be accidentally right, but probably not today.
If He were to come today, He would find his people at each others throats …only taking a break to attack other people He died for…and thinking it all righteous.
The liars and profiteers have taken center stage and they will not give it up.
Perhaps the great delusion is thinking any of us are righteous in our own merit…which leads to unending and varied delusions.
I’m worried about me, but I have a column to write…
We better hope Gog and Magog stay home until we clean up our own mess…we don’t really want Jesus to see what we did to the house.
Make your own application…
I had to undergo an attitude adjustment today that took about an hour or two to complete before I saw this person through the eyes of Christ, as opposed to through my own stained and foggy lens.
Application indeed.
By the way Michael, this is a beautifully written TGIF.
Thank you, my friend…
We had prophecy conferences in my first fundamentalist church. Every time the price of gas changed, Jesus was coming! I thought it was a little strange, especially given the applicable verses about only the Father knowing (I still believe that).
I wish the videos were fake.
Fake?!! What the hell is the matter with these people?
Are these the same folks who claim the holocaust never happened?
Oh, and I guess Russia never forcefully annexed Crimea from Ukraine 8 years ago. Yep…fake.
Grrrrrr…
prophets and prophesy updates are two of the things I miss the least when it comes to irregular church attendance. The fact that they keep circulating through the biosphere with some regularity keeps me paces away. Is it sinful to wish for a pox on their house?
When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?
Good question, JD, good question
What we have now, and have had for quite a while, is demonstrations of evil. Power hungry, God denying evil. The Church – IMO – goes out in the middle of the seven years of the tribulation period. God has His reasons, but the only thing I can think of is we are to be faithful witnesses of His plan of Redemption….
(I said I’d quit posting, but)
God keep the Phoenix peeps….
This was posted on FB “My list of reasons I am am not panicking with what’s going on in the world—Jesus”
These kind of reductionist comments that just infuriated me. People are dying. If He’s in control, then I kinda wish he’d let someone else be in charge cause he ain’t doing that good a job.
Why God allows this kind of crap to go unchecked is what always challenges my faith. If get furious with god it because of atrocities like this.
I don’t even want to pray—seems pointless
Yes,I’m ranting
I’ve been sick with the flu for a solid week. Had my first meal in 6 days today, melon and yogurt.
May explain my bad mood. But felt safe to post my thoughts here
Officerhoppy,
That kind of thoughtless, faux piety makes me gag as well.
What you’re asking for is the kingdom to come in its fullness…even though the Scriptures are clear that God isn’t going to run the world His way until He comes back.
Jesus was clear that this is the sort of world we would live in until He returns.
While I wish that God would cause worms to eat Putin, it’s not going to go down that way.
All this terror should cause us to yearn for the kingdom to come…and participate in bringing it in.
I also realize that this is not a satisfactory answer for many…I’ve been on the phone and online for days with folks asking where God is in this mess…and all the other messes.
He is with the suffering…and somehow using it all to bring about that day when the kingdom does come in it’s fullness.
How do we pray…if all this suffering is part of the plan?
We pray for peace , we pray for wisdom, we pray for our leaders…and we pray that our faith in Gods goodness does not fail in the face of it all.
That’s about all I’ve got…
I needed to hear all that
Officerhoppy,
I needed to write it…because unlike some of our holier brethren, this stuff scares the s… out of me.
I’m tired…first the fires, then Covid, now this war.
Lord, come quickly…if it’s in the plan…
Michael,
I’m very concerned about the Ukraine (I teach a few first generation Ukrainians and Russians in my school). But, while the crisis in Europe is unfolding everyone seems to have forgotten about:
-The atrocities committed by Ethiopia in their own Tigray province (killings, rapes, food blockades)
-7 coups and coup attempts in Africa over the past 18 months, some of legitimately elected governments.
-Venezuela is worse than ever.
-Cubas is practically in lockdown.
And it goes on…
The world is a mess (which has been mentioned in several of the comments). But we seem to focus a lot on one European country, and forget about the rest of the world that is equally suffering, if not worse. I find that concerning.
Linn,
None of those other situations are going to draw us into a nuclear war…and that threat overcomes all other concerns.
Not trying to be “pollyanna” about things y’all…I am grieved at a soul level to such a degree that I never thought possible. I do not understand it all and while I can’t see what the Lord is doing, I know He is at work…at work in the persecuted, the oppressed, the marginalized, the weak, the fearful and those of us who feel deeply all of these things for both our brothers and sisters in Christ and our brothers and sisters in Adam (humanity).
I have never prayed, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven!” to the degree that I have been praying that since a few weeks before the pandemic hit. One morning, very early (2ish am) the Lord woke me and as I spent time quietly before Him, I had a very real sense that something bad worldwide was coming. Please don’t take this wrong, I am not a prophet or seer and those who claim to be turn me off quickly…but it was unmistakable and I believe it was the Lord and the events from the last couple of years have born it out. I have spent time praying and seeking mostly feeling as though I am in the dark and having to trust.
With all of that said, as I read through some of the comments I was reminded of the words of our Lord and I thought I would share them…I hope that they bring comfort, strength and a decision to persevere in the midst of the knowledge of the atrocities committed by man upon man.
“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom will rise against kingdom and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of birth pains. Then they will deliver you up to tribulations and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my names sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will increase the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24: 6-13
May we all stir ourselves up to love and good works to the degree that we can and rely on Jesus to fill us up where we can’t.
I think sometimes the best and most appropriate thing we can do is to wait and weep with Him in silence.
Sorry for the long post…grace, peace and love to y’all!