Category: Christianity

Hegseth Holds Voluntary Christian Prayer and Worship Service at Pentagon, Dems Lose It

On By kingsjesterIn Christianity, PoliticsLeave a comment

As you have probably noticed by now, the Far Left Democrats of the Democrat Elite have had it out for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth since President Trump nominated him.

This past week, he did nothing to quench the fire of their hatred for him.

“In a move that pushes the boundaries of Constitutional prohibition against a state religion, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted an evangelical prayer service in the middle of the day at the Pentagon in which a pastor praised President Donald Trump as “sovereignly appointed.”

A program for the event called it the “Secretary of Defense Christian Prayer and Worship Service.” It was held at the Pentagon’s auditorium and was broadcast throughout the building on its internal cable network.

While Hegseth made an opening prayer, the majority of the service was run by the defense secretary’s personal pastor from a Tennessee church whose leaders have a documented history of advocating for male-led Christian authority over society.

Standing behind a podium bearing the logo of the Defense Department, Hegseth declared that “this is precisely where I need to be, exactly where we need to be as a nation, at this moment in prayer, on bended knee, recognizing the providence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” according to an audio recording of the event obtained by Military.com.

A video of the service was also posted online by the Defense Department.

Hegseth proceeded to add that the prayer service was voluntary but encouraged those in attendance to “let those you work with know about it.” (Courtesy Military. Com)

The slant that the writer of this article put on the actions of Secretary Hegseth and the resulting reaction of the Far Left Democrat Party is funny in a sad way and quite telling.

Christianity has had its place among our Best and Brightest since the birth of our nation.

In his Farewell Address, Former General and United States President George Washington recommended Christianity to the nation and anybody who was listening.

Heck, even hard charger U.S. General George S Patton was asked by reporter, after seeing a Bible on his desk, if he read the Bible. His reply was, “Yes, ma’am. Every goddamn day.”

During the last several years, as Democrats held power in Washington DC, they tried their best to eliminate any sign of Christianity from our Armed Forces.

That, in itself, was unconstitutional.

And now, they are coming back crying because for all their efforts, faith in the God of Abraham, His Son, and the Holy Spirit is starting to flourish as people realize that something wrong has happened to our nation.

The majority of Americans want what is best for our Sovereign Nation.

And, what’s best for America is not the worship of corruption, greed, the treatment of women as arm candy, and the tearing apart of the basic family unit into mockeries of the same.

A friend of mine posted on Facebook this morning that the military is starting to find that people who may enlist aren’t necessarily qualified because of a weakness of body and/or spirit.

That is in direct correlation to where leaders who worship totalitarian government and all the corruption that it brings in our daily lives have led us over the past several years.

In order for our country to survive, America must return to all the qualities that made us great.

Our very system of law is based on Judeo-Christian beliefs.

The corruption of that system of law through politicalization, both on the national and District levels has been eating at the soul of this nation even to the point of corrupting our entertainment to where singers idolized by the young are flashing Satanic signs, wearing Satanic jewelry, and “pretending to hold Satanic “worship” while they perform.

It’s even gotten to the point where a couple thought that they could buy off and radically change the over 100-year tradition of Country Music.

This Sunday morning, I pray for our nation to continue to have the strength of character to support and pray for our men and women who are laying their lives down for this nation and on this Memorial Day weekend, and always, to honor and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. 

May God guide our Sovereign Nation’s leadership, and may He bless all Americans who are finding and renewing their faithfulness in Him.

In Christ’s Name, I pray,

AMEN

Until He Comes,

KJ

He is Risen! Resurrection Day 2025

On By kingsjesterIn Christianity, PoliticsLeave a comment

This morning, as I lay in bed, The Lord had me thinking about Him. These thoughts were about what today, a day that Christians around the world celebrate as the day that Jesus Christ rose victorious from the grave, must have been like.

Pretend for a moment, that you are an average citizen living at the time of Christ…

[For the past three years, you have seen this charismatic young man speak about the love and mercy of God, and how His Grace and Forgiveness is freely given, IF…

And, there’s the catch…

According to this carpenter’s son from Nazareth, you have to confess your sins, and ask the Great I am, for forgiveness.

Whoa! Wait a minute. Who is this guy? A radical? Ask Yahweh for forgiveness?

And, what’s that he said? You will then have a personal relationship with His Father?

How can that be? This is the Great I am. This is the Deity of Vengeance who destroyed those escaped slaves from Egypt for throwing a party, while Moses was up on a mountain, and building and worshiping a Golden Calf.

And, remember what happened to King Nebuchadnezzar? Daniel interpreted a dream for him, explaining that his kingdom would be ruled over by Gentiles until God sent His King. Ol’ Nebby got mad, because he couldn’t rule over the Israelites and over the whole world unless God allowed him to do so. He forgot that, and became very proud. He tried to make the people think that he was very wonderful, and that they should worship him. He didn’t trust God as some of the kings of the Israelites did, but had the very foolish idea that he could be a wise and wonderful king without any help from God.

So, what do you suppose occurred?

Why, the King had another dream, and when he found out what it meant it was really terrible. In this dream God told him that he would lose his mind and would go out in the field and eat grass just like the cattle for seven years. And Nebuchadnezzar actually did this, too. Can you imagine a mighty king, as he thought himself to be, crawling around on the ground eating grass? The Bible tells us that his hair grew long and coarse and looked like bird feathers, and his fingernails became like the claws of animals.

Finally, though, Nebuchadnezzar’s reason returned to him, and when he found out what he had done he was very much ashamed of himself.

However, he learned by this experience that he was not as wise and powerful as he had thought. Learning this, he gave praise to God for allowing him to be the ruler.

This is the God that some carpenter’s son from Nazareth has been telling us that we can have a personal relationship with?

Strange indeed.

Finally, one of His disciples betrayed Him and gave Him up to the Romans, who crucified Him.

I noticed that while He was hanging there the guards and some of the townspeople there were mocking Jesus, telling Him that if He was the Son of God, to ”jump down off of that cross”. Meanwhile, some of the centurions were casting lots over His robe.

All except this one centurion, who was just watching Him, as if he was waiting for something to happen…]

And, then came the Glorious Morning…
[Wow. It’s really been amazing around here since they crucified Jesus. Did you feel that earthquake? The veil of the temple was torn in half! And did you hear? A bunch of people that had died years ago, were seen walking around the city! But that’s not all. Don’t tell me you haven’t heard?

Listen to this: He has risen! He arose from the dead and was seen by several people. It’s true! I know it sounds unbelievable. I can scarcely take it in myself. Mary Magdalene and Mary, James and Salome’s mother, went to the tomb to perform the anointing of His body and it wasn’t there! On top of that, there was this young guy there, dressed in a white robe. They said he must have been 9 feet tall. He said, “You are seeking Jesus of Nazareth. Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here. See the place where you laid him.” So they went and told the disciples. But you know how Peter is. He just had to go run up there and see for himself.

Jesus even approached two of them on the road to Emmaus. They didn’t recognize him. He even broke bread with them that night. They realized who He was and He disappeared! They ran to tell the disciples and as they were telling them, Jesus appeared right in front of them! They were all starting to panic. Jesus said, “Peace to you.” But they couldn’t believe it was him, especially Thomas. So he had him touch him in the hole in his hand where they drove the nail and where the spear pierced his side.

Jesus ate with them and performed other signs and miracles in front of them and they understood scripture as never before. He also came to them at the Sea of Tiberius. Peter took the disciples fishing and they weren’t catching anything. Jesus told them from the bank to cast the net down on the right side. They did, and they could hardly bring it in the boat! When they got back to land, Jesus already had a fire going and some fish and bread ready to eat. He asked Peter three times if he loved Him, and each time He told him “Feed my sheep’. Hey, isn’t that the same number of times Peter Denied Him?

Anyway, He taught them many things before He left. They watched as He was taken straight up into heaven. Can you imagine?

The disciples are making plans now to go out and starting spreading the Good News about Jesus’ Resurrection. They are talking about going out in pairs. Man. Nothing is ever going to be the same again.]

The despair being felt by the average citizens of Rome, at the time, is not unlike the situation which we, as average Americans, find ourselves in today.

We, too, are still struggling in the darkness before the dawn.

Our American Culture has been crumbling before our very eyes, as sin, depravity, and personal irresponsibility have been lauded by “the smartest people in the room” as normal, and values to be embraced…a Golden Calf to be worshiped by those who have turned their backs of the Almighty, because He will not give them the worldly gratification they seek…and because they erroneously believe that they are smarter than God, and can interpret and ignore God’s Holy Word in order to ignore and to rewrite to make it mean whatever they want to, in order to assuage their own consciousness, in an attempt to stifle that “Still Small Voice” within them, Who is reminding them of their sin and the consequences of it.

For the past several years, our Sovereign Nation and the rest of the world have been fighting enemies foreign and domestic, even within our own government, along with a Chinese Coronavirus, a combination of challenges which have claimed thousands of deaths in our country and the loss of jobs for millions of Americans.

Today, as we watch as out-of-control judges and political ideologues attempt to take away our American Freedom, we all need to remember the words of President Ronald Reagan:

We are never defeated unless we give up on God.

Fellow Americans….my message to you on this Resurrection Day 2025 is

DO NOT GIVE UP ON GOD. DO NOT GIVE UP ON THE FOUNDING FATHERS’ HOPE, WHICH BECAME AMERICA.

As the old country Preacher’s wife always told him when she took away his plate after supper,

Hold on to your fork, Hon. Dessert is on it’s way.

The final chapter of the amazing story of our Blessed Land has not been written yet. It is up to each and every one of us to write it, strengthened by the Grace of God.

Until He Comes,

KJ

“For God so loved the word, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John

He is risen indeed!

Thoughts For a Palm Sunday: What Would Jesus See If He Rode Into Washington?

On By kingsjesterIn Christianity, PoliticsLeave a comment

As I sit here on Palm Sunday morning, I was wondering what Jesus would see if he came into Washington, DC riding on a donkey.

I believe that Christ would see a country divided thanks to the views of two political parties.

What I mean by that is he would see one political party who is trying to bting our country back from a spiraling collapse by trying to reemphasize America’s place as a world leader while strengthening our country domestically and attempting to bring back the traditional American faith and values which made our country strong to begin with.

The other political party and their followers are advocating a cradle-to-grave totalitarian government in which 50% or more of taxpayers’ income would be relegated for use by the state to appease those they deem worthy of Americans’ money.

On this side, he would see a political party trying to rewrite the Bible as a book advocating sin, “non-traditional families”, and “fighting fascism”, while the advocates of this political ideology don’t have a clue as to what fascism is

People have taken the word of God and thrown away salvation through repentance by proclaiming that Jesus would accept people’s sin.

Yes, He loves us all, but he hates sin.

And that’s enough of my preaching for today.

The government viewpoint, which those out of power at this moment, are espousing can be seen in their fight against the elimination of financial corruption in our government.

You can also see what they really believe in their fight against Israel and their support of those who would destroy her and her people ,

The Israelis are proclaimed by God to be his people in Genesis 12: 1-3.

The bottom line is, unless this country can find its way back to embracing what is right and stop embracing what isn’t, this country could very well eventually be assigned to the Dustbin of History.

As a brother-in-Christ always tells me, it’s not politicians who are going to save this country.

It’s God.

Hosanna!

Until He Comes,,,Again,

KJ

The Frisco Track Meet Murder and a Divided America

On By kingsjesterIn Christianity, PoliticsLeave a comment

During a high school track meet this past Wednesday in Frisco, TX, a member of a track team sat down in the middle of an opposing squad’s tent at a track meet.

He was asked to leave by a member of the other team.

The young men wound up “bowing up” to one another.

Then, the young man who sat in that tent for the purpose of intimidation, reached into his bag, produced a knife and stabbed the other young man in the chest who challenged him for being there, killing him.

That teenager died in the arms of his identical twin.

Can you imagine the grief of that family?

Back in the mid 1970s in Memphis, TN, forced busing was in place within the city school system.

Sure, there were some rough patches, and some parents pulled their kids out,  enrolling them in private schools.

However, an amazing thing happened by the Grace of God.

Students of different races learned how to get along with one another and found out that they had more in common than they thought.

I know. I was there.

We are living in a dystopian society in which violence among this current generation seems to be the answer to winning an argument.

Just this past week, an obviously distraught woman beat the snot out of a pro-life activist simply because she could not win an argument with her.

I believe that a lot of this evidence of a Fallen World is not only the result of moving away from the Word of God, it’s also the results of a failed Great Society, and, as we say in the south, a lack of home training.

Back in the day, black, white, or purple, high school athletes would not have pulled the stunt that young man pulled by sitting in the tent of the opposition at a track meet, much less pull a knife out and stab the opposing runner when he was asked to leave.

Yeah, back in the day, a couple of punches would have gotten thrown, but the coaches would have grabbed the young men, separating them, and “reading them the Riot Act.”

Then, they would have made the young men shake hands.

It is very obvious that American Society has been corrupted by an accent on political ideology and culture that, while being claimed by those pushing it as something that would bring us together, has actually separated Americans further apart than ever.

While I agree with a good friend who says that only God can fix what’s going on in this country, I do believe that Americans need to start taking responsibility for their children and for their own words and actions.

To put this in the words of athletic competition, the time for political and cultural showboating is over. It’s time to lace up our cleats and get on the starting line to run the race that God created us for.

Until He Comes,

KJ

Are Americans Turning Back to God? If so, why?

On By kingsjesterIn Christianity, PoliticsLeave a comment

I was watching Fox and Friends this morning when a Catholic priest said that the turning away from God that has been happening in America has slowed down now, and people seem to be turning toward him.

In the past couple of decades, Christian Americans have watched as our people have turned away from God.

Although there was still a silent majority who believed in God, the vocal minority stepped forward and start proclaiming that wrong was right, morality was unnecessary, ethics were situational, and Satan wasn’t such a bad guy after all.

Sexual perversion and Satan worship became accepted as Hollywood trends and fashion statements. And, the traditional roles of men and women and the raising and building of a family and their effect on society have become viewed as passe when in fact they have always been the backbone of America.

So, why are people starting to turn toward the One who created them?

As one of my brothers in Christ reminds me all the time, it’s not politicians who are going to get us out of all of this.

It is God.

Politicians come and go.

Total power corrupts totally, as we have seen in recent days.

American have been struggling in their day-to-day lives for quite a while now trying to make ends meet.

Who do you think they turn to in these situations?

Family can help sometimes, but a lot of times nowadays, they are in the same situation that those seeking help are in.

Politicians come and go, but God is eternal.

When we take the step of repentance of our sins and start relying on God, he listens to our prayers and gets us through.

As we try to turn the corner in our country and make America great again, as President Trump showed in having a prayer before his cabinet meeting, faith in God is the Cornerstone of our progress.

Until He Comes,

KJ

Why Trump’s “Anti-Christian Task Force” is Necessary

On By kingsjesterIn Christianity, PoliticsLeave a comment

(Courtesy apnews.com 2/6/2025) “President Donald Trump said Thursday that he wants to root out “anti-Christian bias” in the U.S., announcing that he was forming a task force led by Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate the “targeting” of Christians.

Speaking at a pair of events in Washington surrounding the the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump said the task force would be directed to “immediately halt all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government, including at the DOJ, which was absolutely terrible, the IRS, the FBI — terrible — and other agencies.”

Trump said Bondi would also work to “fully prosecute anti-Christian violence and vandalism in our society and to move heaven and earth to defend the rights of Christians and religious believers nationwide.”

Hours after the two events, Trump signed an executive order directing the new task force to identify unlawful policies, practices, or conduct by all executive departments and agencies, and recommend any additional presidential or legislative action.”

Is there a need for this task force that the 47th President has formed to fight against anti-Christian bias?

I believe that there is.

Even now, as President Trump’s popularity is at the highest point of any American president in this point in their tenure, there are still signs that there are plenty of useful idiots in our country who are either purposefully obtuse or blissfully ignorant concerning the moral decay and fiscal destruction being caused by the Cultural Marxism that has spread throughout our once Sovereign Nation.

It troubles me to no end that, even though I know, in my heart of hearts, that there are plenty of average Americans who are just as upset over the dilapidated moral and fiscal condition of “the shining city on a hill” as I am, as demonstrated by President Trump’s victory in November, there are times when I feel like the little Dutch boy, with his finger in the dike, desperately trying to hold back the flood waters, which are about to destroy everything in its path.

I know that civilizations come and go. I am a student of history, and I have read about the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Their incredibly advanced governmental, military, and architectural legacy was eclipsed by situational ethics, immorality. and governmental corruption, caused by enemies foreign and domestic.

Sound familiar?

While I believe that the man who brought America back from the brink once as President can be at least partially successful in doing that again, it will take more than a politician to restore this nation.

The United States of America has been one of the most noble undertakings in the history of mankind.

Our Founding Fathers came here to escape religious persecution. Not to get away from religion, as both the Far Left Democrat Elite and their useful idiots attempt to claim as truth.

John Adams, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and Second President of the United States, said..

“It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue.

…We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. . . . Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Benjamin Franklin, signer of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, said…

“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.

I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that “except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing governments by human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.

I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service.”

Thomas Jefferson, signer of the Declaration of Independence and Third President of the United States, said…

“Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give the earth itself and all it contains rather than do an immoral act. And never suppose that in any possible situation, or under any circumstances, it is best for you to do a dishonorable thing, however slightly so it may appear to you. Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you, and act accordingly. Encourage all your virtuous dispositions, and exercise them whenever an opportunity arises, being assured that they will gain strength by exercise, as a limb of the body does, and that exercise will make them habitual. From the practice of the purest virtue, you may be assured you will derive the most sublime comforts in every moment of life, and in the moment of death.”

So, how did we get to where we are?

Today, the majority of Americans still believe that Jesus Christ is their personal Savior. You wouldn’t know that fact from exposure to o Media, nor from witnessing the anti-Christian actions of the previous Administration, the popular music industry, and the heathens in Hollywood.

The problem, though, is the fact that man is a fallen creature. There was only one Perfect Man. We all fall short of the Glory of God.

The other problem is the fact that we seem to still be experiencing the great Falling Away as was foretold in scripture in which men and women come to churches have “their ears tickled” while being reinforced in their belief in their own righteousness based on the accepted mores of popular culture instead of growing as a Christian through exposure to the Word of God.

There will be no escape for America from this downward spiral we find ourselves in, without Revival in the Land.

Just as addicts, going through the 12-step program, are told to reach out for spiritual help, so should we, as a sovereign nation, bought with the sweat and blood of our fallen, who fought for an ideal much greater than themselves, so that this Blessed Land, UNDER GOD, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, should not perish from the face of God’s green Earth, seek the help of the God of our Fathers, to reclaim The Promise that is America.

That is why this task force is important.

With all the things that this nation has gone through and continues to go through, it is time to turn our faces toward the One Who Made Us and Who Gave Us this Sovereign Nation.

“Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.” – Ronald Reagan

Until He Comes,

KJ

Christmas Day 2024: “One Solitary Life” Made All The Difference

On By kingsjesterIn Christianity, PoliticsLeave a comment

“Tis the season for Christmas movies.

From the Hallmark romance movies to Bill Murray’s “Scrooged” to “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”, there are movies to be found on television for everyone’s taste. However, there is none quite like Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life”, the Holiday Classic starring Jimmy Stewart.

In the movie, Stewart plays the role of George Bailey, an average man whom, through a series of circumstances, finds himself living a life which he had never really envisioned himself leading. When dire circumstances arise, he contemplates killing himself, only to be stopped by an angel named Clarence, who shows him what his hometown would be like if he had never been born.

After viewing the difference which he had made in his sphere of influence, Stewart prays to the Lord to return him back to his family and his life.

The movie ends happily, with all the people whom he had helped over the years coming to his aid in his moment of crisis.

The last time I watched this movie, I had not seen it in quite a while and I found myself with tears in my eyes at the end of it.

It was then that I realized that God puts us where He wants us to be.

It is up to us to navigate around the pitfalls of life caused by our own Free Will by using the Gift of Discernment which we have been blessed with and by listening to that Still Small Voice which resides within each and every one of us.

Each and every one of us can make a difference within our own sphere of influence.

However, there remains only One who walked this Earth in human form who is still making a difference and whose birth we celebrate today.

Many stories have been written about Him.

On this Christmas Day, please allow me to present to you one of the best and the gentleman who wrote it.

Dr. James Allan Francis was born in Nova Scotia, Canada. He became a pastor at age twenty-one and served in ministry for the remainder of his life. His first pastorate was in New York City at the Riverside Baptist Church, and after serving in other varied pastorates in the East, he came to Los Angeles in 1914.

Though he had a busy life as a pastor, Francis was able to publish a handful of books: Drops from a Living Fountain (1895), Christ’s Mould of Prayer (1924), and Christ is All And Other Sermons (1928). His publications are full of passionate encouragement for Christians to know their Lord, to rely on him, and to follow his example.

Francis’ most famous words, now known as “One Solitary Life,” originated as part of a sermon that he delivered on July 11, 1926 to the Baptist Young People’s Union at a Los Angeles Convention. A friend transcribed the message titled “Arise, Sir Knight,” and Dr. Francis published it that same year in a collection called The Real Jesus and Other Sermons.

Today, we celebrate the birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ.

As you spend today with your family and friends, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our nation and those who are away from home, protecting you and me.

Please allow me to close with one of my favorite Christmas songs, featuring a remarkable performance by the man who wrote it, Mark Lowry.

God bless us, everyone.

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village as the child of a peasant woman.

He grew up in another obscure village.

He worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty and then for three years was an itinerant preacher.

He never wrote a book.

He never held an office.

He never owned a home.

He never had a family.

He never went to college.

He never put his foot inside a big city.

He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where he was born.

He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness.

He had no credentials but himself.

He had nothing to do with this world except the naked power of his divine manhood.

While still a young man the tide of popular opinion turned against him.

His friends ran away.

One of them denied him.

Another betrayed him.

He was turned over to his enemies.

He went through the mockery of a trial.

He was nailed upon the cross between two thieves.

His executioners gambled for the only piece of property he had on earth while he was dying, and that was his coat.

When he was dead, he was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone and today he is the center of the human race and the leader of the column of progress.

I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that were ever built, and all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon the earth as powerfully as has this one solitary life.

Until He Comes,

KJ

From The Innkeeper’s Point of View

On By kingsjesterIn ChristianityLeave a comment

Luke 2: 1-7 (ASV):
1 Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.
2 This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;
5 to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child.
6 And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

I remember it like it was yesterday. Caesar Augustus had come up with the bright idea that a census should be taken of the whole Roman Empire, in order to more effectively tax the stew out of all of us.

It especially hurt small businessmen like me. You see, I’m nothing but a lowly innkeeper, barely keeping my head above water, working 16 hour days. Oy! I could continue to gripe, but who would listen?

Anyway, like I said, Caesar decreed that everyone should get themselves registered for the Census. In terms of business, that actually turned out to be a good thing.

I was about to lock up for the night, when a young man and woman came to the door.

He was a strong,rugged-looking young man. I think he was a carpenter. She was a beautiful, pregnant little thing. Bless her heart, she looked like she would deliver at any moment.

Their names were Joseph and Mary.

My inn was packed, for once, and I had no rooms available. But, some part of my heart told me that I just couldn’t send them away.

So I offered them my stable, which would at least offer some protection from the elements.

What happened that night was wondrous.

Men are still talking about it to this day.

A precious little baby boy was born that night, and the most miraculous things happened. People said that animals actually spoke!

And, the local shepherds said that angels came to them and told them about this baby.

They sang His praises and told the shepherds that they needed to come to my stable to see and worship that little baby.

Three wise men, sent by Herod, showed up later, bearing gifts for that special infant.

They were overcome by that little one and decided that they would not report back to Herod, but, instead, would return to their homes.

It was quite a remarkable time. As the years went by, I heard stories about that child.

They named Him Jesus.

He grew in knowledge and stature. At 12, his parents lost Him. They found Him in the synagogue, teaching the old men that should have been teaching Him!

Can you imagine?

He grew up working beside His father in his carpentry business and when He was 30, I heard that He was baptized by that wild man, John The Baptist.

According to witnesses, the heavens parted, and they heard the voice of God saying:

This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.

For three years, He traveled with a group of twelve disciples, performing miracles, preaching and teaching about God’s love and His plan for mankind.


And, now I’ve heard that just yesterday, they nailed Him to a cross, executing Him as they would a common criminal.

So sad.

But, you know, there is a still, small voice inside of me that’s telling me that His story is not over, yet.

I truly hope that you enjoyed this post today. I originally wrote the preceding story 14 years ago today in honor of this special night.


Tonight, we celebrate the birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ. In closing, I want to share two videos with you. The first is a video entitled, “That’s my King!”, as read by Dr. S.M. Lockridge. The second video is a song that I’ve had the privilege of singing in choirs many times, “The Hallelujah Chorus”, which has become a favorite of Believers everywhere.

Merry Christmas to you and yours! And may God bless us, everyone!



Until He Comes,


KJ

Thanksgiving 2024: For Our Past and the Right to Determine Our Future, Americans Should Give Thanks

On By kingsjesterIn Christianity, PoliticsLeave a comment

Thanksgiving Day.

Simply saying the words to myself brings back a flood of precious memories…memories of Thanksgivings past, as a child, surrounded by aunts, uncles, cousins, my sisters, and my Mother and Daddy…smells of sage dressing and oven-roasted turkey…followed by the feeling of having an over-stuffed stomach…all topped by the sounds of laughter and the sight of my aunts and uncles, all members of America’s Greatest Generation, being led in a penny-ante poker game after the Thanksgiving meal by my Daddy, the finest man I have ever known…all of them enjoying each other’s company as they reveled in the wonderful completeness of being a family.

Regardless of what the idiots on the Far Left are saying, it is not about sharing a bunch of Talking Points about President-elect Trump being “Hitler” and the 80 million Americans who voted for him being “uninformed and ignorant”.

Thanksgiving is a uniquely American Holiday…as unique as the nation which celebrates it.

In 1621, a small group of Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared a feast celebrating the autumn harvest. This is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies.

However, Thanksgiving is much more than this.

Thanksgiving is a day when Americans thank their Creator for the blessings they have received during the year, while holding hope and expectation in their hearts for the blessings yet to come.

The Father of Our Country expressed his thankfulness concerning God and America, when he announced this holiday in 1789:

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor – and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be – That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks – for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation – for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war –for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed – for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions – to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually – to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed – to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord – To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and Us – and generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789. – United States President George Washington.

On November 15, 1985, in the first year of his second term, President Ronald Reagan issued the following proclamation…

Although the time and date of the first American thanksgiving observance may be uncertain, there is no question but that this treasured custom derives from our Judeo-Christian heritage. “Unto Three, O God, do we give thanks,” the Psalmist sang, praising God not only for the “wondrous works” of His creation, but for loving guidance and deliverance from dangers.

A band of settlers arriving in Maine in 1607 held a service of thanks for their safe journey, and twelve years later settlers in Virginia set aside a day of thanksgiving for their survival. In 1621 Governor William Bradford created the most famous of all such observances at Plymouth Colony when a bounteous harvest prompted him to proclaim a special day “to render thanksgiving to the Almighty God for all His blessings.” The Spaniards in California and the Dutch in New Amsterdam also held services to give public thanks to God.

In 1777, during our War of Independence, the Continental Congress set aside a day for thanksgiving and praise for our victory at the battle of Saratoga. It was the first time all the colonies took part in such an event on the same day. The following year, upon news that France was coming to our aid, George Washington at Valley Forge prescribed a special day of thanksgiving. Later, as our first President, he responded to a Congressional petition by declaring Thursday, November 26, 1789, the first Thanksgiving Day of the United States of America.

Although there were many state and national thanksgiving days proclaimed in the ensuing years, it was the tireless crusade of one woman, Sarah Josepha Hale, that finally led to the establishment of this beautiful feast as an annual nationwide observance. Her editorials so touched the heart of Abraham Lincoln that in 1863 – even in the midst of the civil War – he enjoined his countrymen to be mindful of their many blessings, cautioning them not to forget “the source from which they come,” that they are “the gracious gifts of the Most High God…” Who ought to be thanked “with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.”

It is in that spirit that I now invite all Americans to take part again in this beautiful tradition with its roots deep in our history and deeper still in our hearts. We manifest our gratitude to God for the many blessings he has showered upon our land and upon its people.

In this season of Thanksgiving we are grateful for our abundant harvests and the productivity of our industries; for the discoveries of our laboratories; for the researches of our scientists and scholars; for the achievements of our artists, musicians, writers, clergy, teachers, physicians, businessmen, engineers, public servants, farmers, mechanics, artisans, and workers of every sort whose honest toil of mind and body in a free land rewards them and their families and enriches our entire Nation.

Let us thank God for our families, friends, and neighbors, and for the joy of this very festival we celebrate in His name. Let every house of worship in the land and every home and every heart be filled with the spirit of gratitude and praise and love on this Thanksgiving Day.

On this Thanksgiving Day 2024, I’m thankful for average Americans who are still making a difference: “Average Americans” who still love God and country and stand on principle with their feet planted on a Solid Rock, and not on shifting sands.

The “Average American”, the 9 to 5′er, working himself into the grave to try to provide for his family.

It was this same “Average American”, who fired the shot heard around the world and began the War for American Independence, who stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day in World War II, who waded through rice paddies in Vietnam, and who swallowed sand in Desert Storm and Desert Shield.

The same “Average American” who, as a New York City Policeman or Fireman, ran up the stairs of the World Trade Center on 9/11/01, instead of running down them.

The same “Average American”, who simply wants things to be easier in this life for his children and grandchildren, than he had it.

It is this same “Average American”, who takes family and friends in, when they are in the midst of a life-altering tragedy.

The same “Average American”, who volunteers on a soup line or at a Senior Citizens Home, or, who begins a successful business in his basement.

They are the reason we remain, in spite of all that has befallen us as a nation, the Greatest Country on the Face of the Earth, despite those who tried to “radically change” our Constitutional Republic” and take away our right as Americans to live and raise our children and grandchildren as we see fit.

And, most importantly, I am thankful for the One who gave us this country and endowed us with certain “inalienable rights” is the Rock upon which America was built.

Thank you, God, for giving us another chance to make this Sovereign Nation great again.

And, for that, we can all be thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Until He Comes,

KJ

A Pope, a Country, a World, a Falling Away

On By kingsjesterIn Christianity, Politics2 Comments

“In a line that may once again stir reaction in more traditional Catholic quarters, Pope Francis on Friday wrapped up a three-day visit to Singapore, a country with large pockets of at least five different faiths, that “all religions are a path to God.”

“They are like different languages in order to arrive at God, but God is God for all,” the pope said, who had set aside his prepared text and spoke largely off the cuff. “Since God is God for all, then we are all children of God.”

The pontiff made his remarks during a interreligious meeting with young people held at a Catholic junior college, just prior to departing Singapore for his return flight to Rome.” (Courtesy cruznow.com)

When the leader of the Catholic Church said this, the ears of Christians all over the world perked up. I know mine certainly did. You see, in Sunday School, Christians are taught (at least they used to be taught) that the Bible is the Living Word of God.

That being said, I can remember one of the first verses that I was taught was the following…

6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” – John 14:6

Now, I may be slow, but shouldn’t the leader of the largest Christian denomination in the world be following the teachings of the Son of God?

This current Pope has been known to take positions that are less than biblically-based in the past. So, this is nothing new.

However, what the Pontiff said struck me as being the main reason that the civilized world is beginning to crumble around us.

Both Europe and America are in danger of losing their entire cultures to an influx of migrants from other countries and other faiths.

While the Bible tells us to love one another as God has first loved us, it did not say to accept and adopt things that were not of the Christian faith whether they be be sexual practices or other religions.

All paths do not lead to the God of Abraham.

“THE BODY OF MUHAMMAD lies enshrined behind gold mesh and black curtains at the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina, Saudi Arabia. The remains of Confucius are buried in a cemetery in Qufu, Shandong Province, China. And, after Buddha’s body was cremated, his relics were placed in various monuments, like the Temple of the Tooth in Sri Lanka, where his followers may visit his “right tooth relic.”

In sharp contrast, there is little to show for Jesus’ burial place. Like hotels whose claim to fame is that an important person once slept there, two different sites in Jerusalem claim to be the place Jesus’ body lay during the three days before His resurrection. But Jesus had no need of a permanent tomb; He needed only to borrow one for a few days. The angel set the record straight: “He is not here; He is risen.” (Courtesy weslyan.org)

Have you ever wondered why those who look at traditional American faith and values as passe are attacking average Americans as being Christian Nationalists?

It’s because they know that Americans have a Heritage of Faith, which began with the Christian faith of our Founding Fathers.

It’s as simple and profound as that.

America was not built on shifting sands. Our Sovereign Nation was built on The Solid Rock.

As long as you come in here legally and pledge to be a good American citizen, Christian Americans will gladly help you become a part of the American Fabric.

However, a house divided against itself can not stand.

In order for America to survive, we must return to the faith of our Founding Fathers.

And, as far as Pope Francis is concerned, just like each one of us, he will have to answer to a Sovereign God….the One he is supposed to be serving.

Until He Comes,

Kj