Apply this Scripture to our time

Malachi 2:17

 ^“You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

God has been and still will be faithful to give us a warning about what is coming.  He sent the prophet Isaiah to proclaim this truth.  Isaiah 5:20,  ^“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”  The apostle Paul comes many generations later with this word in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”

I believe we are living in the generation the Bible is referring to. But, for the grace of God, I am that person.  As a younger man, I was such a person, all I had to do was look in the mirror, and I saw that man.  But God sent people into my life to teach me not to desire the empty promises of man, but to seek God.  I came to the Father with nothing but a sinful life of pride and arrogance and Jesus gave me life to the full. The Puritans often prayed this prayer and so do I.  It is a prayer of Assurance that begins like this; “Almighty God, I am loved with everlasting love, clothed in eternal righteousness, my peace flowing like a river, my joy and triumph unutterable, my soul lively with a knowledge of salvation, my sense of justification unclouded.” (Page 92 The Valley of Vision)

Have you spent time with your mirror, the one that looks into your soul, if not today can be your day to examine yourself, all it requires is a willing heart to be all that God has for you; it is all good?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Understanding what God hates

Malachi 2:10-16

“Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?  Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.  May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob any descendant of the man who does this, who brings an offering to the Lord of hosts!

 And this second thing you do. You cover the Lord's altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand.  But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.  Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

 A word to all men who are married or have a desire to marry someday, God is very serious about marriage!  The people of Israel were failing to keep or honor the covenant made to each other, and especially to their wives.  God calls it faithless, an abomination, and it reminds me of a time in my life when I was guilty of this judgment, but God sent many roadblocks to keep me from a divorce. 

I’ve often said men are slow when it comes to the ways of a woman, but we are often just ignorant of the ways of God.  If I had read this, if I had a teachable spirit, I would have been in fear of allowing even thoughts like this to enter my mind.  But I did not read this nor did I have a teachable spirit at that time of my life, and it was only the prayers of a faithful wife and many of the men and ladies who were followers of Christ that interceded to block the plans of the thief, the destroyer of men.

Now shall we look at the facts as given to us by A Barna Group report from “2008 claims that overall the divorce rate in the U.S. is 33 percent, but they also note that evangelical Christians are at 26 percent and Catholics are 28 percent? But Protestants, in general, are listed as 34 percent, which would make that group the same as everyone else assuming a statistical margin of error.” 

As I searched for the statistical information in the U.S.A., it gave me a lot of information about how to get a quick divorce, like in Texas you can write a check for $299, and get it done, but then the lawyers would not like that, would they? 

But back to men who claim to have placed their faith in Jesus Christ, do you understand God hates devorce?   What is Gods desire for you?  You will find the answer in Micah 6:8, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”  But He has also told you to love your wife, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. 

You will not obey His commandment unless you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, so do as instructed in 2 Corinthians 13:5, and examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith.  Test yourself.  If you pass the test, be quick to confess your sins and restore your marriage.  Seek out a man who loves Jesus and walks with Him and ask him to teach you the ways of God.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Do you fear God?

Malachi 2: 5-9

^“ My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name.  True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.  For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.  But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts, and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”

I often wonder if we understand the words we read, words like “covenant” what is its true meaning? It is more than a contract or agreement when it is with God. Have we not witnessed both broken often in our culture, such as marriages?  Yes, it is generally between God and a person like Abraham or David, but God also has made a covenant with nations like Israel.  The difference is when God enters into it He does not break the promises He has agreed to, and we have many examples of God as a promise keeper, one that should stand out is the covenant with Noah on never flooding the earth again, and God’s reminder to us is the rainbow.  That is a good one but the one that is top on my list is His promise to send a Messiah, and what a blessing Jesus the giver of life has been sent to a sinful world.

I want each of us to ponder on these words; ^“ It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. “  I have a healthy fear of God, He is holy, and as a follower of Christ, we are also commanded to be.  But when I examine my life, what do I find a man who often is not holy but sinful.  Please ask the Lord to open your eyes to 1 Peter 1:14-21, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”  And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.  He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

The question is, do you fear God, for He is not like you, He is pure, in all his ways, and His thoughts and methods are beyond understanding?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice 

Pastors & Priests - This warning is for you

December 22, 2018

Malachi 2:1-4

 “And now, you priests, this warning is for you.  If you do not listen, and if you do not resolve to honor my name,” says the Lord Almighty, “I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me. 

“Because of you I will rebuke your descendants; I will smear on your faces the dung from your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it.  And you will know that I have sent you this warning so that my covenant with Levi may continue,” says the Lord Almighty.”

If you are a Priest or a pastor this message is directed to you, not those who you are called to be a shepherd too.  2 Timothy is instructions for every follower of Christ, and yet many pastors and priest do not meet the requirement.  “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”Note: Are not all of us called to share the good news of the gospel, and to help the unresourced and the needed.  It matters not the hat we wear at work, boss, sales, doctor, etc., we are all called to minister.

What follows is not man’s requirements but God’s for one who desires to be an overseer of his church.  It is found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.  Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.  He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?  He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.  Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.”

I had more than one person ask why not a woman pastor, and my reply is she does not fulfill God’s requirement?  I do not know how a woman can be the husband of one wife, but it does not stop there, the apostle Paul gives us this insight or instruction in 1 Timothy 2:12, ^“I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.”  It has not one thing to do with their ability, my wife has often shared what she has learned from Ann Graham Lott, and she is a very gifted teacher, but the role of pastor puts them in authority over a man.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Profaning the name of God

Malachi 1:11-14

 ^“My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.

“But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled,’ and, ‘Its food is contemptible.’  And you say, ‘What a burden!’ and you sniff at it contemptuously,” says the Lord Almighty.

“When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?” says the Lord. “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the Lord Almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations.”

God is saying this to them and you and me, this thought should stay fixed in your mind, and come alive in your heart, that 47 of the 55 verses in Malachi, is God speaking.  But in saying that 2 Timothy 3:16-17, came into my thinker,  ^“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God ^a may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Often, we the readers of Scripture do not ask the right question of the Spirit of God as we read.  The question we should always ask is this past, present, or future, what God is informing the people and the priest has not happened yet.  If you visit the book of Matthew 8:10-12, you will see Jesus speaking many years later around 460 B.C.  A Roman Centurion comes to Jesus asking for Him to heal his servant, and Jesus agrees to go with him to his home.  Where this gets interesting; the Centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.”  Jesus replies, ^“ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.  I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.  But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

The question and the answer will not change; the question is who are you putting your faith in, self or God?  The way to know the answer is what controls your thought life, how do you use your time, and how do you use the money God has blessed you with?  When you search your heart, it will become clear if the sacrifices that you bring to the Lord are blemished.  Never forget these words from God; “For I am a great king,” says the Lord Almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

What a Wonderful Day

April 21, 2019

What a Wonderful Day

Two holidays that are very special to me, and I will share with you what they are and why.  Thanksgiving, for to me it is about family, Jan and I so enjoy spending time and giving the Lord thanks for how He has blessed us.  And the greatest gift, His Son Jesus Christ, for without Him we would not have the peace and joy or the assurance of His presence, now and forever.

The other is Easter, and the reality of Jesus God’s only Son setting us free from the punishment of sin in each of our lives.  I’m sure you have heard that He has risen, and indeed He has, but it so much higher than that, death could not hold Him.  You do understand; no one took His life, and He gave His life for all who would desire to be free from the control of sin and evil.  Both Jan and I made that choice to follow Jesus, so have our daughter and son-in-law and both grandsons, and so many of you that are receiving this message have also, and we give praise to Jesus!

On this day we are reminded that Jesus gave us a heads-up on what was coming after He left to go to the Father, look at John 16:33.  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  And what about John 14:18-21,  “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹ Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.²⁰ In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.²¹ Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

So this is my favorite Day, the victory was won, Jesus overcame death, the grave, and sin was defeated, and all who will begin by faith putting their trust in Him will have victory over all the above and receive God’s grace.

Now I’m sure not against celebrating the birth of our Lord, but for me it is a day that has been kidnaped by the world, and often HO-Ho is honored and greed, and materialism takes the place of the birth of my Lord.  Most of the holidays are tied to materialism.  I have had men tell me that if I forget Valentines Day I better be dying and in the hospital.  My dear friend, Carroll Ray Jr. taught me about the power of giving a sussie, not sure there is such a word.  But a sussie is a gift that is not expected, and not on a particular day.  It is saying, I was thinking about you, and how knowing you blessed my life.  I so enjoy giving those kinds of gifts, no matter what you call it.  And that is why I love Easter because the Father gave the greatest gift that was ever presented with you in mind.

From the Back Porch,

 Bob Rice

Disrespect, over the many generations.

Malachi 1: 6-10

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? Says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’  By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord's table may be despised.  When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? Says the Lord of hosts.  And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? Says the Lord of hosts.  Oh that there was one among you who would shut the     doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand.”

When I read a direct word from my God, who is proclaimed in the verses above, I marvel that God has allowed this kind of disrespect, over the many generations.   Many of you have no respect for your dad, who you can see, and many dads have done great harm to their children, but your Father in heaven has always loved you beyond your understanding.  So God asks the question,

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear?

It is easy to attend church and check off we did it, and when the priest or preacher teaches from the Scripture and shares the message from the Lord, you say in your mind, that is what they are trained to say and dismiss the Word of God.  Is that honoring your Father?  When the Holy Spirit prompts you to change your direction and doing so will cost you time and money, do you listen and obey?   God is not like you, or me, can you imagine speaking the universe into being, or creating everything that is?  And yet we who often do not obey a Holy God or His Spirit who lives in us, and are we so foolish as to think God is blessed to have children like us?  Once more I must remind you to “examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.”  These are not my words but are taken from 2 Corinthians 13:5.  The apostle Paul does not stop there he goes on to say; Test yourselves!  Or do you not realize this about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless you fail to meet the test.” 

I was never ready for a test, never studied and it showed up on my test, deficient grades and unhappy teachers and parents.  None of my so-called friends care that I did not review, but God cares wants you to keep taking the test, keep searching your heart to see what your heart desires.  Do you give God the best or are you like the people of Malachi’s day, you bring an offering to God of His blessings that is not equal to the grace you have received.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Malachi Introduction

December 19, 2018

Malachi Introduction

 “Malachi is the last prophetic message from God before the close of the Old Testament period (although non-prophetic books such as Ezra – Nehemiah and Chronicles may have been written later.)  This small book captures the nature of God and our relationship and responsibility to Him and to others in the covenant community.”

“Nothing is known about the author except his name.  The book emphasizes the message rather than the messenger; God is the speaker in about 47 of the 55 verses.”  (Taken from HCSB Holman Christian Standard Bible, pages 1587-1588)

We just finished the book of Proverbs, and I desire to be a wise man and not a fool.  And in keeping with that thought, when God speaks a wise person should be all ears asking the Holy Spirit to open their eyes to the truth.  Our desire should be to seek the truth, and since Jesus tells us He is the Truth, the way and the light, should one not seek Him?

Malachi 1: 1-5

The Oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi:  “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob's brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.”   If Edom says, “We are shattered, but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.’”   Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!”

Malachi, tells us in verse one that these messages are from God, so let’s ask the Holy Spirit to enlarge our minds and hearts to gain knowledge and insight to serve others with the good news of God and His only Son, Jesus the Christ.

Malachi is only the deliveryman of the message to Israel and to you and me, but one should be careful to be thankful for the message.  Often, we miss the mark praising the messenger and not the sender of the message.  Often, we find it baffling that Israel did not grasp the fullness of God’s love for them, in that they are the chosen nation out of all the people and countries of this world. 

When God talks about the brothers Jacob and Esau, it is clear that He chooses Jacob over Esau the one who was willing to give up His birthright for a bowl of soup.  God did not choose to enter into a covenant relationship with Esau, and out of Esau came the Edomites who were known for being prideful, greedy, and violent.  We know that God allowed them to be destroyed, but never Israel even though Israel was captured and enslaved, but God always has kept His covenant relationship with Jacob and Israel, and has had to bring disaster because they have chased after gods that could not hear or see.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice 

An Excellent Wife

Proverbs 31:10-31

I believe these are key verses from the above, I would hope my two grandsons read this and choose such a lady. “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.  The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.  She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.    She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.  Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.  She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.   She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:  “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”   Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.”

We live in a culture that Agur talks about in Proverbs 30:16, the Leech’s daughter, who does not meet the requirements of the woman who fears the Lord in Proverbs 31:10-31.  So a man who desires a godly woman is to be a Micah 6:8 man, who wishes to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God, he must follow the teachings of the Scriptures.  2 Corinthians 6:14-17 gives this insight, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. “Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,”

But this is the real question, is your walk with Christ such that a lady that is described in Proverbs 31:10-31, would desire you?  Are you asking the Lord to give you such a lady?  You will find many charming and beautiful, but they have no fear of God, that is not the lady a Micah 6:8, Man wants to date and marry.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A Wise Mother

Proverbs 31: 1-9

“The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:  What are you doing, my son?  What are you doing, son of my womb?  What are you doing, son of my vows?  Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.  It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.  Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.   Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.   Open your mouth, judge righteously and defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Who is King Lemuel, this we do know he was not a king of Israel he must have been a foreign king.  And he was blessed to have a wise mother who instructed him in righteousness.  It may be that she heard about other kings like Nebuchadnezzar or King Ahasuerus in the book of Esther.  He played the fool often getting drunk and making all kinds of judgments that cost him his Queen and almost the slaughter of the people of Israel.

It was not uncommon in King Lemuel’s time for kings to get drunk or be full of themselves as was Herod the tetrarch who had John the Baptist beheaded.  Nor is it today, we now have a sitting President that seems to put his foot in his mouth often, but no one gives thanks that he is not a drinker of adult beverages.  It is my belief and observation that many on both sides of the aisle have been against him before he became our President.  If you are a follower of Christ, our President does not need your judgment but your earnest prayers.

Now I believe she warns him of both adultery and multiple wives, as we know they often paid King Solomon to go against the commands of God.  She also warned him about strong drink and reminded him that his responsibility was to protect the oppressed. This Proverb should not be taken lightly!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Christians should never be a Product of Strife

Proverbs 30: 32-33

“If you play the fool and exalt yourself, or if you plan evil, clap your hand over your mouth!  For as churning cream produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.”

It is almost 1:00 in the morning and I am following the instructions in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”  Today, I had plans, after finishing my quiet time I set out to go and get bids on my 2014 350 ES Lexus, I did say they were my plans.  But that was not what happened on Hwy 35, going about 55 miles an hour a car stopped in front of me and by the time I saw it and hit my brakes I also hit the car.  I was taken to the hospital and checked out, and I’m very sore but alive. 

My plans were not evil, but I had not talked with the Father about them, and once more I set out on my own to do my will.  I say that only to share how blessed I am that no one in either car was hurt bad.  I also know that my flesh longs to be exalted and I have often said as a salesperson I did more to be noticed and getting praise was almost as important as money.  That is called flesh in the Scripture and it is not pleasing to our Father.  When I see that I’m looking for the praise of men and not seeking the things of God, I run to Jesus and ask for His help.  I have to do that often!

But that is not what got my attention in these verses, we the people of God act as if this place called earth is our home, and often it is people who go by the name Christian that are stirring up anger which produces strife.  Is that what Jesus commands us to do? 

So first things first, each of us who go by His name must “Examine ourselves, to see whether we are in the faith.”  Are you, am I walking in the Spirit or allowing the flesh to have rule over us?  What fruits are you producing, love, joy, and peace, or anger and strife?  Are you studying the Scriptures to learn obedience? It’s easy to fool those at church for a while but God is not fooled, and you and I reap what we sow.  The test is elementary, you are in Christ, or you are not, and you know the answer.  For many years I was a poser but it all changed when I understood that my good or bad works were not what counted, and I bow my knee to Jesus and ask for His forgiveness and to come into my evil heart and take over. 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Good Lessons from History

 

Proverbs 30: 21-23

 “The earth trembles under three things; it cannot bear up under four: a servant when he becomes king, a fool when he is stuffed with food, an unloved woman when she marries, and a servant girl when she ousts her queen.”

We have seen this Scripture played out in our history in Venezuela’s latest President.  “Maduro grew up in a family of moderate means in Caracas, where his father was engaged in leftist politics and the labor movement. His early interest in left-wing politics led Maduro to pursue training as an organizer in Cuba rather than a university education. While working as a bus driver in Caracas, he became a representative in the transit workers union and rose through its ranks. When Chávez, then an army officer, was imprisoned in 1992 after leading an unsuccessful coup attempt, Maduro and his future wife, Cilia Flores, then a young lawyer, campaigned for Chávez’s release, which came in 1994.”  First, you had a leftist Chavez, who began to destroy Venezuela’s economy from one of the best in South & Central America to this; “The Venezuelan crisis is summed up in a recent report by the IMF as "one of the worst in the world" in the last 50 years.”  When you choose a community organizer, who is a left wing and in this case a bus driver with training from radicals who hate freedom and believes that socialism works, you have a problem.

What lessons should a free people learn from history, for the same thing has happened often in the past, in France many years ago, Germany with Hitler, and now in Venezuela, and there is a significant movement in the United States of America to socialism?  So many are ignorant of the truth, Jesus makes a bold statement, in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  You may call that an absolute, it is not up for debate, but for all who are seeking after truth, you will find it in Jesus Christ.

Do not lose sight of the Truth, because someone who claims to be a follower of Christ acts in a manner other than what Christ has taught, even a follower of Christ can walk in the flesh and not obey the Spirit of God.  Today I had to confess to the Father that I said and thought many things about others but the only problem was they had not yet met Jesus Christ.  Yes, as my pastor often says we are a mess, but this I know the ground is level at the Cross.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A man with a young woman

Proverbs 30: 18-19

“There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand:  the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a young woman.”

Have you given thought to the eagle as it soars through the sky, it has the ability to fly higher and faster than any bird because of the way our great Creator Jesus Christ designed it?  It is also a bird of prey that often steals its food from other animals.  They live close to the water, so fish are a big part of their diet, and the female is larger than the male.   Now I'm not too fond of snakes; someone said a good snake is a dead one, and that is not correct, it's one that does not come on my property.  I’m assuming that Agur is watching a snake on a rock, something I’ve not done, nor have an interest in.

I have never spent time on a ship on the high seas, but I bet Agur would be blown away at the size of ships today, we would refer to those of his time as boats.  They also had sailboats, and it would have been something to see in the open waters of a high sea.

Have you experienced a man with a young woman?  How many of us have had experience and in my case dated more adolescent girls.  When I met Jan, I was around four years six months older, and she was smart, good-looking, very quiet and also cleaver.  I recall early in our dating she told me the following; “you will have to chase me till I catch you” I had no clue what she was saying until she had me in her net.  Yes, Agur, the way of a man with a young woman is something to watch.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

"Give! Give!’ they cry"

Proverbs 30: 15-16

“The leech has two daughters.  ‘Give! Give!’ they cry.   There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’ the grave, the barren womb, land, which is never satisfied with water, and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!”

I find it of interest that an exploiter of others (a leech) has two parasite daughters, who model their parents.  We do not know if it is both parents or just mom or maybe dad, but they have learned how to be a bloodsucker just like them.  Once more a lesson from the Scriptures, you always reap what you sow.

But Agur has not finished for as you recall these are the sayings of Agur and he tells us that like the leech’s two daughters, these three things are never satisfied and four that never say, enough.  First, he mentions the grave, and so l look to the Bible to see what we can learn about the grave.  The prophet Habakkuk tells us this vision awaits an appointed time, in Habakkuk 2:4-5, “See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness^[a]—indeed, wine betrays him; he is arrogant and never at rest. Because he is as greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied, he gathers to himself all the nations and takes captive all the peoples.”  He may be talking about the Babylonians but because he waits for an appointed time could it not be the one Jesus calls the thief?  This we can be sure of the followers of Christ must live by faith.  In that you are reading this you still can choose the path of the arrogant, that leads to eternal death or by the faith God will give you, you can repent of your sins, and choose eternal life with Jesus Christ.

If you have ever known a couple that wanted children and was not able to have them, you understand they are willing to do almost anything to have a child.  If you live in a dry area of land you know how quick the rain is gone and the waterhole dries up, and the grass turns brown.

This year we watched fire kill and destroy, it leaves little behind, and we have watched it burn thousands of acres of land and forest and homes and leave little behind.  All of these examples have this in common; they take and destroy the lives of others.  If you do not believe me, just marry one of the leech’s daughters, and see if you're not living in a hell on earth.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Who behind Society opposition to God?

Proverbs 30:11-14

“There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.  There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth.  There are those—how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift!  There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind.”

There are those who are controlled by the one Jesus called the thief, and these are Jesus words; “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”  (John 10:10)  Our Society is opposed to God, and throughout history we have seen how that turns out, and it is not what I would choose, but it is the culture we live in. 

It is my opinion that many of the things our society calls sickness, is direct from the thief and that is just one of his many names, such as Satan, the devil, the deceiver, to only mention a few.  I believe history is coming to a climax, not because of Global warming or pollution but a Holy God is sending His Son, His only Son, Jesus Christ back to earth for His Church to be taken out.  I am not one of these fools that set a time or a date, for only God knows that date.  But if you would look to Scripture and study, you would be watching the Eastern Sky for Jesus soon return.

The Scripture tells us that the devil and his angels know their time is short and they are trying to take you with them to eternal damnation.  You will find that in Revelations 12:12, “Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath because he knows that his time is short!”

So this is where we are and Psalms 2:1-3, gives this insight; “Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.”

I believe a warning to the wise is sufficient, and Proverbs 1:7, gives insight; “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice