“We do not believe any group of men adequate enough or wise enough to operate without scrutiny or without criticism. We know that the only way to avoid error is to detect it, that the only way to detect it is to be free to inquire. We know that in secrecy error undetected will flourish and subvert.” –J. Robert Oppenheimer
This very special 5:5 Darkness to Light SUNDAY
open thread is VERY OPEN – a place for everybody
to post whatever they feel they would like
to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the MAGA world.
Say what you want, comment on what other people said,
comment on people’s comments.
Keep it civil. Treehouse rules, but expect lots of QAnon.
Trump calls to the stage Rabbi Goldstein, who lost two fingers protecting his synagogue from an anti-Semitic gunman who rampaged through his house of worship last week. The Rabbi just took the stage & stunned the audience. This Rabbi's words need to be heard. Wow. Please share: pic.twitter.com/IGw6NHJPwZ
“…the way we react to DARKNESS is with LIGHT…” — Rabbi Goldstein
Calling Out the Mockingbird Media
Yes, he did say that!
How can it be possible that James Woods (and many others), a strong but responsible Conservative Voice, is banned from Twitter? Social Media & Fake News Media, together with their partner, the Democrat Party, have no idea the problems they are causing for themselves. VERY UNFAIR!
When will the Radical Left Wing Media apologize to me for knowingly getting the Russia Collusion Delusion story so wrong? The real story is about to happen! Why is @nytimes, @washingtonpost, @CNN, @MSNBC allowed to be on Twitter & Facebook. Much of what they do is FAKE NEWS!
President Trump took action today to give Americans more opportunities to work in high-paying cybersecurity jobs and secure America's critical cyber infrastructure. https://t.co/Vp01mwU4YX
Thursday the President signed his Executive Order on America’s Cybersecurity Workforce. There are some interesting/innovative directions being worked on. Some here will be wanting to pay attention to this NICE Framework and how it will be utilized towards improving our cyber security posture as a nation.
American Meddling in the Americas, Really?
Just when your mind has been blown a thousand times by how many non-notable players have been effectively serving the darkness, the back story on Venezuela points right back to American mainstream politicians.
https://twitter.com/40_head/status/1123368239558381568
https://twitter.com/40_head/status/1123368243316396033
Those tweets are just a small sample from a very long thread. I recommend you take the time to read it all if you have the time. Thank God the Patriots have a 40,000 sky-high view and laser focus on taking down that which enslaves our world today.
I am continuing to monitor the situation in Venezuela very closely. The United States stands with the People of Venezuela and their Freedom! pic.twitter.com/rtGfjQjc1u
So many times when we read of the outrageous things certain individuals or groups have done to the harm of others or to threaten all that is good or right, our impulse is hate, anger and the desire to take strong action, to come to grips with “flesh and blood.”
The apostle Paul writes to the Ephesians a reminder that the evil we see is a manifestation of evil we can’t see, and we are to come to grips, in prayer, in that dimension, with the Lord’s strength, wisdom and power.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
We are also informed that the “flesh and blood” people that are manifesting the desires of the evil one on the earth have a problem. They are blind. Again, the strategy is prayer.
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
And so it has been the practice of millions of Christians around the world to take 30 days each year–during the period set for special times of spiritual seeking and devotion by islamists–to pray to have the eyes of their heart enlightened and to turn to the true freedom found in the forgiveness of their sins and a real hope for eternal life in Christ.
This is what spiritual offensive moves look like. Taking on the source of the problem.
Come on up on the deck; get comfy and enjoy the view:
This Saving the Republic Saturday Open Thread is VERY OPEN – a place for everybody to post whatever they feel they would like to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the MAGA world.
Free Speech is practiced here at the Q Tree. In fact, our host Wolfmoon encourages us to use it…and Enjoy it. “Use it or lose it”, he tells us.
But please keep it civil. Discussion of Q is not only allowed but encouraged. Imagine that! We can talk about Q here and not get banned.
Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here in the January 1st open thread. Let’s not give the odious Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven that Wolf has created for us.
Remember – your greatest gift to President Trump is FIVE WORDS:
I AM PRAYING FOR YOU.
Wheatie’s Rules:
No food fights.
No running with scissors.
If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.
…………………………………………………
For your listening enjoyment, I offer this composition from Thomas Bergersen of TSFH, titled ‘Empire of Angels’:
Visual descriptions for our dear Zoe, and for anyone else who may find them helpful: Top Image: Is a fantasy scene featuring two gigantic trees on either side of a canyon, with a winding river at the bottom. There are two figures in swings, hanging from a large section of tree-growth that spans like a bridge across the canyon. Rivulets of water are streaming out from underneath one of the huge trees, cascading down the canyon wall.
In the distance, what looks like an early morning haze covers the landscape, with the golden glow of sun coming up. There is another giant tree in the distance, beside what appears to be a castle. Smaller trees and dense vegetation cover the surrounding hills. Second Image: Is a stone pathway leading up to an arched double doorway. The doors are set into what looks like bark at the base of a giant tree trunk. The doors have intricate carving and some small blue glowing lights, embedded in the carved design. In the foreground, the path begins under a tunnel-like growth of trees and dense vegetation…then opens up into rays of light shining down onto the path at the doorway. Third Image: Is a covered deck overlooking treetops and an expanse of large tree-covered hills. It is a comfy looking open room with sunlight streaming in. There is a green couch across from a metal wood-burning heater. Large bark-covered branches support the ceiling. It is a sunny view, with a lingering haze between some of the hills. Fourth Image: Is President Trump walking up to the Marine One helicopter. He is saluting the Marine who is standing at attention beside the chopper stairs, saluting his President. The President is wearing his long dark topcoat.
This FOUR AND THIRTY THURSDAY [editorial note – yeah, it’s actually TUESDAY – LOL – and so it goes….] open thread is VERY OPEN – a place for everybody to post whatever they feel they would like to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the MAGA world.
You can say what you want, comment on what other people said, and so on.
Free Speech is practiced here. ENJOY IT. Use it or lose it.
Keep it SOMEWHAT civil. They tried to FORCE fake Orwellian civility on us. In response, we CHOOSE true civility to defend our precious FREEDOM from THEM.
Our rules began with the civility of the Old Treehouse, later to become the Wolverinian Empire, and one might say that we have RESTORED THE OLD REPUBLIC – the early high-interaction model of the Treehouse – except of course that Q discussion is not only allowed but encouraged, and speech is considerably freer in other ways. Please feel free to argue and disagree with the board owner, as nicely as possible.
Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here in the January 1st open thread. Let’s not give the odious Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven.
Remember to KEEP PRESIDENT TRUMP IN PRAYER.
WE ARE PRAYING FOR HIM
Always keep our movement’s larger purpose in mind – RESTORATION!!!
Our movement
Is about replacing
A failed
And CORRUPT
Political establishment
With a new government controlled
By you, the American People.
Candidate Donald J. Trump
Also consider Wheatie’s Rules:
No food fights.
No running with scissors.
If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.
Beware of more CONTROLLED OPPOSITION coming back, and bringing “Charlottesville” to a town near you. They are going to FEED GARBAGE to Sleepy Joe.
Yeah, it’s just bullshit, but the entire DNC-CIA media is behind it.
I really despise the LIES of the Obamanazis and their white identity propaganda spawn – the FOILS of the commies to gain power, or to force the racists on us. Just like the evil communist KPD – their predecessors – did in Germany.
WICKED.
A POX on all these racists, PROG and ANTIPROG.
Martin Luther King, Jr. says they’re all wrong.
If it comes down to it, it is better to be with HIM than with THEM.
W
I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF, BUT I WILL NOT ACCEPT THE RACISM OF THE PROGRESSIVE COMMUNIST DEMOCRATS, NOR WILL I ACCEPT THE MIRROR IMAGE RACISM OF THEIR CREATION, THESE BOGUS WHITE SUPREMACISTS WITH WHICH THE GLOBALIST PROGRESSIVES SMEAR GOOD, PATRIOTIC AMERICANS.
As part of a new, long-term theme like the “VLWC” (Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy) series, I’m going to help people see long-term commie moves with a “Strategery” series. I love stealing this word, because the people in the Bush camp who adopted it as their version of “Deplorables” clearly had little understanding of the long-term strategy of the communists who manipulated them so readily.
Our “strategery” will put theirs to shame. And to think THEY opposed Trump. Ridiculous.
AND logic.
LONG-TERM thinking.
UNCERTAINTY as a way of life.
These things will slowly bring us into levels of understanding that makes the either/or, short-term-thinking, implication-as-fake-certainty FAKE NEWS absolutely useless. I repeat these ideas differently.
Life is not either/or, and getting you to think that way is a TRICK.
Life is not short-term. Getting you to see and respond to the short-term, by long-term thinkers, is a TRICK.
Life is uncertain. Getting you to NEED certainty when there is no certainty, is a TRICK.
We begin today’s lesson with a Q drop from yesterday.
Much of the Q movement is going to concentrate on what I regard as the chump change of this drop – the odd capitalization of every word, and the splitting of “household” into HouseHold. Trust me – our buddy Q has some awesome messages in there for the SB2 types. However, that is THEIR bag, not ours.
Happy hunting, cryptogram solvers.
WE, in contrast, are going to get all Bezmenov on this one.
Several parts of the article are highly relevant:
The subtitle:
Hannigan oversaw a more open approach at GCHQ after the Snowden revelations exposed mass surveillance by the agency
His sudden resignation – he informed staff just hours before making this decision public – prompted speculation that it might be related to British concerns over shared intelligence with the US in the wake of Donald Trump becoming president.
The key point here is that SNOWDEN had effects on GCHQ. ONE of those effects that led to MANY OTHERS was insertion of THIS GUY HANNIGAN.
Now – if you’re following along with Q, then you know Snowden was a CLOWN OP that had a strong intention to damage NSA. But THAT is not necessarily the only reason. And to think about WHY Snowden was manipulated into doing what he did, remember that commies will try to SOW ONCE and REAP MANY TIMES. See how the suppression of AND logic keeps us dumb? THEY think multiple outcomes. WE chase our tails on the idea of WHICH outcome.
We need to GET OVER the idea that SNOWDEN did what he did for ONE REASON.
We also need to GET OVER the idea that SNOWDEN was a short-term yield. AND we need to get over the idea that we know ALL of the reasons they did the Snowden operation.
Are you with me? Let’s move on.
Remember – this guy CAME IN and LEFT on controversy. Controversy is USEFUL to them.
Note that both the INSERTION and REMOVAL of this guy are a PATTERN of POKE and RESPONSE due to REVELATION and MEDIA MANIPULATION. The other side uses this all the time. This is an extremely important reason why FAKE NEWS works. Fake News helps to control both the REVELATION and the MANIPULATION.
SIDEBAR:
Khashoggi was a perfect example. CIA commies and their DNC media CREATED and then “revealed” a fake American, a fake journalist, and in many ways a fake victim, who had been manipulated into his own MURDER – one that they controlled in several hidden ways – and could then use primary blame-casting of the set-up Saudis to manipulate American foreign policy.
The problem with Khashoggi was that the PUBLIC and REAL JOURNALISM were able to reveal enough hidden truth that the whole operation’s SKETCHY NATURE became evident. It was clearly a MANIPULATION – and United States foreign policy does NOT deserve to change because of communist manipulations – even if they are OUR COMMUNISTS.
Back to Hannigan – particularly his INSERTION.
First of all, who is he?
Hannigan’s background was not initially in intelligence. Born in Gloucester in 1965 and brought up in Yorkshire, he had been a high-flying civil servant at the Northern Ireland Office, where he was head of communications and later political director. He was involved in the peace process, credited[note media manipulation – W] with coming up with the idea for a diamond-shaped table[rolling eyes hard -W] in order to get over objections by the opposing sides about seating arrangements.
He transferred to London where he became involved in a series of intelligence jobs, including defence and liaison with the US, before going on to GCHQ, where he worked for six months as part of the handover before taking control.
Guardian article
If this looks a lot like a typical unqualified or deceptively qualified OBAMA APPOINTEE, then yeah, you’re seeing it, too. This guy had no business being in charge of GCHQ. And yet he was. FUNNY, THAT.
FAKE REFORM is a very big thing with communists and OUR intelligence agencies.
So – let’s look at their FAKE REFORM at GCHQ. What did the commies REALLY DO?
At the time, GCHQ, in spite of many of its secrets spilled by Snowden, remained the most secretive of the three intelligence agencies: the others being MI6 and MI5. But Hannigan expanded the press team, invited more journalists to visit GCHQ and encouraged a stream of news stories aimed at bringing the agency into the public eye. [as if any of this is going to actually solve any problems. -W]
In his first week in office, he created controversy with a column published in the Financial Times accusing US technology companies of becoming “the command and control networks of choice” for terrorists.
In March last year, he softened his criticism in a speech to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, calling for a new relationship between the intelligence agencies and the tech companies, part of a campaign to try to secure the help of the companies in providing access to supposedly encrypted messages.
Guardian article
I could go on forever about this. Hannigan BEHAVED in the classic ways of a CLINTON or OBAMA appointee. Once you see that “saboteur” model in operation, you never forget it.
invites in reporters and other “low-grade spies” – this is extremely reminiscent of Hazel O’Leary in Energy. The left LOVES to get a diversity-based or other unqualified leftoid in at the top, who leverages a media-driven moral panic (“OH NOES! WE NEED OPEN!”) or moral manic (“OH, JOY, WE ARE ALL OPEN NOW!”) to WEAKEN security
immediately uses JOURNALISM to call for tech censorship using terrorism foil
immediately blame-casts to US tech companies on terror (which problem, ironically, NSA is watching), while US tech companies are simultaneously media-cast as VICTIMS of spying by the Snowden op, in order to WEAKEN the NSA. What are the commies trying to do here? What communists always try to do. Get a government function out of government, to some place they control. What the commies wanted to do was SHIFT the burden of fighting terror (which they control) from the NSA to SJWs in tech companies. (As if that would work!) Funny that those SJWs would censor the political enemies of the left. Such a coincidence.
note that Hannigan’s timeline MATCHES Obama’s post-Obamacare roll-out failure-excused calls for partnership with tech, that quickly turned into tech hiring of SJWs and massive censorship
BIG POINT – SNOWDEN softened up the tech companies to censorship pitch
So – are you beginning to see why they don’t want a serious inquiry of this Hannigan guy? GET HIM OUT while the getting is good. Just like the lady (NOT Lois Lerner) who was responsible for the IRS scandal. Just like Eric Holder getting out of Dodge.
Resignation or job-shifting before inquiry is STRAIGHT out of the Obama manual. They needed this Hannigan guy GONE pronto, as soon as Trump was elected.
And what, finally, was the BIGGEST point?
SNOWDEN LED TO INSERTION OF SOMEBODY AT GCHQ WHO WOULD PLAY BALL WITH OBAMA IN 2016, TO ELECT HILLARY CLINTON.
What are our big learning points here?
Snowden was a big op with MANY OUTCOMES (AND logic), had MANY BIG LATE EFFECTS (long-term thinking), and likely will have MANY MORE that we have not yet recognized (uncertainty).
Strategery. The commies may have it. But so do we.
This very special ORTHODOX EASTER SUNDAY
open thread is VERY OPEN – a place for everybody
to post whatever they feel they would like
to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the MAGA world.
Say what you want, comment on what other people said,
comment on people’s comments.
Keep it civil. Treehouse rules, but expect lots of QAnon.
Remember – your greatest gift to President Trump is FIVE WORDS: I AM PRAYING FOR YOU
He Is Risen!
Orthodoxy and Calendars
We are here to rejoice in solidarity with our Orthodox brothers and sisters as they celebrate the resurrection of our Savior today. But first, let’s spend a moment thinking about why calendars were so important that two of the oldest sects of Christianity are unable to pick the same date for Easter?
While the issue is somewhat complicated, it may be summarized in the two factors at work that cause this conflict in dates:
1) The issue of the calendar; and
2) the adherence by the Orthodox to the early practices of the Christian Church.
For the last week I’ve been pondering this. I’m not an expert on anything, but it seems that it has to do with the character of each stream of the faith. I’m thinking about that in the context of the God’s gifts to the Church.
And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, or building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,to the extent of the full stature of Christ… Ephesians 4:11-13
The early Fathers of the Church that stood their ground against every heresy. Those following in their footsteps would be expected to default to standing their ground against suggested changes to the traditions. This is a good thing. It could be seen as the role of the Prophet in the Church. I’m seeing the Orthodox church as more strongly inclined to resist change. (Of course, there could be geopolitical reasons too.)
But consider if they have been gifted to stand like the prophets of old. Those who were willing to stand by the truth–from God–against every attempt to change it no matter what. If this is true, it would not surprise us that traditional methods for determining where Resurrection Sunday falls on the Calendar each year continue to be strictly followed in the Orthodox tradition. Also, the reasoning makes a lot of sense. The resurrection necessarily follows AFTER the Passover which is the foreshadowing of the sacrifice of God’s own Son to redeem us all from sin and death.
Most divisions between Orthodox and Roman Catholic are not emphasized in our day, but the calendar issues are the ones that seem to create the most visible separation.
While I might be understanding of how the Gregorian calendar came about, I also have a great deal of respect for the Orthodox Christian’s devotion to tradition and honor for the early practices of the Christian Church.
Easter season is the most significant and sacred time of the Orthodox Church calendar. Orthodox Easter consists of a series of celebrations or movable feasts commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Observances of Eastern Orthodox Easter
In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the spiritual preparations begin with Great Lent, 40 days of self-examination and fasting (including Sundays), which starts on Clean Monday and culminates on Lazarus Saturday.
Clean Monday falls seven weeks before Easter Sunday. The term “Clean Monday” refers to cleansing from sinful attitudes through the Lenten fast. Lazarus Saturday occurs eight days before Easter Sunday and signifies the end of Great Lent.
Next comes Palm Sunday, one week before Easter, commemorating the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, followed by Holy Week, which ends on Easter Sunday, or Pascha.
Fasting continues throughout Holy Week. Many Orthodox churches observe a Paschal Vigil which ends just before midnight on Holy Saturday (or Great Saturday), the last day of Holy Week on the evening before Easter. Immediately following the vigil, Easter festivities begin with Paschal Matins, Paschal Hours, and the Paschal Divine Liturgy.
Paschal Matins is an early morning prayer service or part of an all-night prayer vigil. Paschal Hours is a brief, chanted prayer service, reflecting the joy of Easter. And Paschal Divine Liturgy is a communion or Eucharist service. These are the first celebrations of Christ’s resurrection and are considered the most important services of the ecclesiastical year.
After the Eucharist service, the fast is broken, and the feasting begins.
Orthodox Easter Traditions and Greetings
It is customary among Orthodox Christians to greet one another during the Easter season with the Paschal greeting. The salutation begins with the phrase, “Christ is Risen!” The response is “Truly; He is Risen!” The phrase “Christos Anesti” (Greek for “Christ is Risen”) is also the title of a traditional Orthodox Easter hymn sung during Easter services in celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection.
In the Orthodox tradition, eggs are a symbol of new life. Early Christians used eggs to symbolize the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the regeneration of believers. At Easter, eggs are dyed red to represent the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross for the redemption of all men.
Eastern Orthodox Easter Foods
Greek Orthodox Christians traditionally break the Lenten fast after the midnight Resurrection Service. Customary foods are a lamb and Tsoureki Paschalino, a sweet Easter dessert bread.
Serbian Orthodox families traditionally begin the feasting after Easter Sunday services. They enjoy appetizers of smoked meats and cheeses, boiled eggs and red wine. The meal consists of chicken noodle or lamb vegetable soup followed by spit-roasted lamb.
Holy Saturday is a day of strict fasting for Russian Orthodox Christians, while families stay busy making preparations for the Easter meal. Usually, the Lenten fast is broken after the midnight mass with traditional Paskha Easter bread cake.
This Thunberg Threatler Youth (a.k.a. SHILLDREN) Thursday open thread is VERY OPEN – a place for everybody to post whatever they feel they would like to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the MAGA world.
SHILLDREN ARE NOW A THING.
You can say what you want, comment on what other people said, and so on.
Free Speech is practiced here. ENJOY IT. Use it or lose it.
Keep it SOMEWHAT civil. They tried to FORCE fake Orwellian civility on us. In response, we CHOOSE true civility to defend our precious FREEDOM from THEM.
Our rules began with the civility of the Old Treehouse, later to become the Wolverinian Empire, and one might say that we have RESTORED THE OLD REPUBLIC – the early high-interaction model of the Treehouse – except of course that Q discussion is not only allowed but encouraged, and speech is considerably freer in other ways. Please feel free to argue and disagree with the board owner, as nicely as possible.
Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here in the January 1st open thread. Let’s not give the odious Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven.
Remember to KEEP PRESIDENT TRUMP IN PRAYER.
WE ARE PRAYING FOR HIM
U.S. President Donald Trump prays during the National Prayer Breakfast event in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 2, 2017. Photo courtesy of Retuers/Carlos Barria
Great points – thank you. I was used as an child "ecology shill" back in the 60's – we actually have Earth Day (Lenin's bday, but ignore that) because us kids lobbied for it for our teachers. Same thing, different issue. They USED us, just like they're using these kids.
This very special SPECTACULAR SUNDAY
open thread is VERY OPEN – a place for everybody
to post whatever they feel they would like
to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the MAGA world.
Say what you want, comment on what other people said,
comment on people’s comments.
Keep it civil. Treehouse rules, but expect lots of QAnon.
Remember – your greatest gift to President Trump is FIVE WORDS: I AM PRAYING FOR YOU
Spectacular Sunday
On this one day let this sink in…
1-2 Friends, let me go over the Message with you one final time— this Message that I proclaimed and that you made your own; this Message on which you took your stand and by which your life has been saved. (I’m assuming, now, that your belief was the real thing and not a passing fancy, that you’re in this for good and holding fast.)
3-9 The first thing I did was place before you what was placed so emphatically before me: that the Messiah died for our sins, exactly as Scripture tells it; that he was buried; that he was raised from death on the third day, again exactly as Scripture says; that he presented himself alive to Peter, then to his closest followers, and later to more than five hundred of his followers all at the same time, most of them still around (although a few have since died); that he then spent time with James and the rest of those he commissioned to represent him; and that he finally presented himself alive to me. It was fitting that I bring up the rear. I don’t deserve to be included in that inner circle, as you well know, having spent all those early years trying my best to stamp God’s church right out of existence.
10-11 But because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am. And I’m not about to let his grace go to waste.Haven’t I worked hard trying to do more than any of the others? Even then, my work didn’t amount to all that much. It was God giving me the work to do, God giving me the energy to do it. So whether you heard it from me or from those others, it’s all the same: We spoke God’s truth and you entrusted your lives. 12-15 Now, let me ask you something profound yet troubling. If you became believers because you trusted the proclamation that Christ is alive, risen from the dead, how can you let people say that there is no such thing as a resurrection? If there’s no resurrection, there’s no living Christ.And face it—if there’s no resurrection for Christ, everything we’ve told you is smoke and mirrors, and everything you’ve staked your life on is smoke and mirrors. Not only that, but we would be guilty of telling a string of barefaced lies about God, all these affidavits we passed on to you verifying that God raised up Christ—sheer fabrications, if there’s no resurrection. 16-20 If corpses can’t be raised, then Christ wasn’t, because he was indeed dead. And if Christ weren’t raised, then all you’re doing is wandering about in the dark, as lost as ever. It’s even worse for those who died hoping in Christ and resurrection, because they’re already in their graves. If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for a few short years, we’re a pretty sorry lot. But the truth is that Christ has been raised up, the first in a long legacy of those who are going to leave the cemeteries.
This very special TURNING POINT FRIDAY
open thread is VERY OPEN – a place for everybody
to post whatever they feel they would like
to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the MAGA world.
Say what you want, comment on what other people said,
comment on people’s comments.
Keep it civil. Treehouse rules, but expect lots of QAnon.
Remember – your greatest gift to President Trump is FIVE WORDS: I AM PRAYING FOR YOU
God bless our President, Donald J Trump
Turning Point Friday
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,” — 1 Corinthians 15:3
For Christians, Good Friday is a crucial day of the year because it celebrates what we believe to be the most momentous weekend in the history of the world. Ever since Jesus died and was raised, Christians have proclaimed the cross and resurrection of Jesus to be the decisive turning point for all creation. Paul considered it to be “of first importance” that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was raised to life on the third day, all in accordance with what God had promised all along in the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3).
On Good Friday we remember the day Jesus willingly suffered and died by crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins (1 John 1:10). It is followed by Easter, the glorious celebration of the day Jesus was raised from the dead, heralding his victory over sin and death and pointing ahead to a future resurrection for all who are united to him by faith (Romans 6:5).
Still, why call the day of Jesus’ death “Good Friday” instead of “Bad Friday” or something similar? Some Christian traditions do take this approach: in German, for example, the day is called Karfreitag, or “Sorrowful Friday.” In English, in fact, the origin of the term “Good” is debated: some believe it developed from an older name, “God’s Friday.” Regardless of the origin, the name Good Friday is entirely appropriate because the suffering and death of Jesus, as terrible as it was, marked the dramatic culmination of God’s plan to save his people from their sins.
In order for the good news of the gospel to have meaning for us, we first have to understand the bad news of our condition as sinful people under condemnation. The good news of deliverance only makes sense once we see how we are enslaved. Another way of saying this is that it is important to understand and distinguish between law and gospel in Scripture. We need the law first to show us how hopeless our condition is; then the gospel of Jesus’ grace comes and brings us relief and salvation.
In the same way, Good Friday is “good” because as terrible as that day was, it had to happen for us to receive the joy of Easter. The wrath of God against sin had to be poured out on Jesus, the perfect sacrificial substitute, in order for forgiveness and salvation to be poured out to the nations. Without that awful day of suffering, sorrow, and shed blood at the cross, God could not be both “just and the justifier” of those who trust in Jesus (Romans 3:26). Paradoxically, the day that seemed to be the greatest triumph of evil was actually the deathblow in God’s gloriously good plan to redeem the world from bondage.
The cross is where we see the convergence of great suffering and God’s forgiveness. Psalms 85:10 sings of a day when “righteousness and peace” will “kiss each other.” The cross of Jesus is where that occurred, where God’s demands, his righteousness, coincided with his mercy. We receive divine forgiveness, mercy, and peace because Jesus willingly took our divine punishment, the result of God’s righteousness against sin. “For the joy set before him” (Hebrews 12:2) Jesus endured the cross on Good Friday, knowing it led to his resurrection, our salvation, and the beginning of God’s reign of righteousness and peace.
Good Friday marks the day when wrath and mercy met at the cross. That’s why Good Friday is so dark and so Good.
This very special WYSIWYG THURSDAY
open thread is VERY OPEN – a place for everybody
to post whatever they feel they would like
to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the MAGA world.
Say what you want, comment on what other people said,
comment on people’s comments.
Keep it civil. Treehouse rules, but expect lots of QAnon.
Remember – your greatest gift to President Trump is FIVE WORDS: I AM PRAYING FOR YOU
WYSIWYG
(What You See Is What You Get)
Ok, I’m a mystic at heart and I love the liturgy of the church, but this story is just begging to be told. If you want to think more about Maundy Thursday, please try here and here.
A long time ago, a musician named Larry Norman had his world rocked so much that he spent his music royalties starting a halfway house and buying clothes and food for people that he shared the gospel with on and around Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. He longed to see other musicians of his day find a better life too. (see video)
He was a WYSIWYG kind of a guy.
During the 60’s a whole lot of young people explored what they thought was freedom only to discover heartbreak, disease and disillusionment. The Sex, Drugs, Rock N’ Roll lifestyle was NOT a WYSIWYG kind of life.
Some believe that it was as mothers and grandmothers raised up a cry to God for their wayward children, that He sent an answer in the form of something called The Jesus Movement. God did not cause these wild flower children to suddenly long for suits, ties, and church pews. Instead they filled streets and beaches with their own expressions of faith.
They hated hypocrisy with a passion. They wanted to be WYSIWYG people. And these are the kind of people most of us are drawn to. If you ask anyone why they love President Donald J Trump, they are likely to say something about his WYSIWYG style of living.
The salt of the earth people can recognize and want to be around other salt of the earth people. Like attracts like. Or something like that.
The Jesus Movement wasn’t the first innovative move of God birthed out of Los Angeles. The Azuza Street Revival exploded out of prayer meetings in 1906 and had an impact world-wide. We would be wise to keep our eye on California. It may birth some things that appear to be diabolically inspired, but God was there first and He will have the last word.
Just short of two decades ago I happened upon this old gravelly voice guy from New York and instantly knew he was of the WYSIWYG breed. I didn’t care if he seemed over-the-top intense or that when he got going he started to rock like those guys with top-hats and long black beards at the wailing wall in Jerusalem. Back then he was just beginning to get a vision for a movement of young people fasting and praying for a new Jesus Movement to come and fill the earth. Just recently he’s shifted gears, but he’s still got his passion to see this come to pass.
Some of you will have the time and inclination to watch the following video, please do. It’s rare to see a man at his age still burning with real passion. For the rest of us, I’ve queued the video to 37:43 where he is telling about dreaming of the impossibility of turning America back to God, and then he was given encouragement to believe it was possible.
If you are able to watch just those few minutes, you may get the jist of his WYSIWYG reality. (The dwarves reference is to Lord of the Rings when Bilbo’s comfortable life is interrupted and an adventure begins.)
Here is a guy that “saw” something bigger than himself and he chose to believe it was possible. And he may just live to see it come to pass. And so we have the second meaning for WYSISYG. Will our vision dictate to some degree what we will get? Our VSG Lion of a President does this all the time.He gives us vision for a #MAGA future and is using his vision to lead us into it! What are you seeing? Where will it take you?
Think*3
This very special Worthy Is The Lamb WEDNESDAY
open thread is VERY OPEN – a place for everybody
to post whatever they feel they would like
to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the MAGA world.
Say what you want, comment on what other people said,
comment on people’s comments.
Keep it civil. Treehouse rules, but expect lots of QAnon.
1 Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals.2 And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?”3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.
4 Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it.5 But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth.7 He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne.8 And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.9 And they sang a new song with these words:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it.
For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders.12 And they sang in a mighty chorus:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”
13 And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang:
“Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.”
14 And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.
And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.
And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made.
Socialism– Communism offers nothing to compare with the majesty of this scene depicted in Revelation chapter 5. This moment has been revisited by believers in the liturgy of the church for millennia. For the faithful, anything less is a cheap substitute.
Perhaps this is why in totalitarian countries all of the color, majesty and joy of life is squeezed out by the oppressive burdens of living in fear and deprivation. Let us war against this by celebrating the creation and the created beauty it has inspired.
Think*3
