Back from gone #4 Your inner feelings and actions

People with a different mindset than Christ Jesus

The spirit of a sound mind does not mean just going by what we or others think or feel is reasonable or expedient. In our world were there is still some freedom of speech we can hear lots of different opinions and we can see that certain groups would love to have the majority of people thinking and  handling as they. They are often those who prefer to listen only to their own heart and to take care of their selfish “I” first. they are not so much concerned about others, but see them more as people standing in the way. Certainly now with those refugees, people with an other culture not known to them, which makes them afraid of such people.

They prefer to lean upon their own understanding and are not so much interested in what Jehovah wants. Many of them even do not really believe in Him. Even when there may be many who proclaim to be a Christian, we should see that first of all their faith is not so much in Christ nor in God, and secondly they often do not live according to the teachings of Christ Jesus nor to the Laws of God.

Our own mind and a sound mind

Jesus did not his own will. Likewise we also should try to do the will of the Same One as Jesus did. As the son of man and the son of God, Jesus very well knew the Scriptures, taught from them, and followed the guidance given in them. He told the people around him that he could not do anything without his heavenly Father, Who is greater than him. (John 14:27-31; John 5:17-27) For Jesus it was clear Who was the One with a truly sound mind. when he was in difficulties he (Jeshua/Jesus Christ)turned to his heavenly Father (Jehovah God) and trusted in Him (Jehovah). Jesus also told those around him not to worship him but to worship his heavenly Father and to pray to this God of Abraham, Who is also the God of the Jews and the God of the Muslims.  Normally we all should have the same God of gods to trust and to worship and when facing difficulties or having to make some decision, we should need to turn to Him (Jehovah God). Allah, the Elohim Hashem Jehovah God as the Most High Adonai gave the world His Word. All who love God should go and look into that Word, the Bible, to see what God’s view is. Then we should base our decision on it. That is using the spirit of a sound mind.

God knowing the heart

Let us always remember that

 9 The heart is more treacherous* than anything else and is desperate.*+ Who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9.)

and that it is God Who knows the inside out of man.

10 I, Jehovah, am searching the heart,+ Examining the innermost thoughts,* To give to each one according to his ways, According to the fruitage of his works.+(Jeremiah 17:10 .)

3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,+  But Jehovah is the examiner of hearts.+ (Proverbs 17:3

2 All of a man’s ways seem right to him,+ But Jehovah examines the hearts.*+ (Proverbs 21:2 )

The God of Abraham, Who is also the God of Jesus knows the Heart of Jesus and our heart – Heart of Jesus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We can not hide anything from God. Therefore we should be very careful how we want to be seen by others and that we show them how we are really feeling and thinking. Too many people are afraid of what others would say. Not many are daring to say what they really think and how they really feel.

The way how we think about those coming to live in our regions is for God important. How we are willing to treat them is for God important. Our attitude towards this whole situation is important for God. In these circumstances it shall be that we show our true nature. Nothing shall stay hidden before God.

12 If you say, “But we did not know about this,” Does not the One who examines hearts* discern it?+ Yes, the One who watches you* will know And will repay each man according to his activity.+ (Proverbs 24:12)

Living and doing works according to your faith

Learning to make wise decisions and to carry them out does not come easily. When there is put pressure on you by others with a political agenda it can even become more difficult to stay on the right track.

Recall that the apostle Paul described mature people as

“those who through use have their perceptive powers trained to distinguish both right and wrong.”

The words “through use” and “trained” both imply making continuous and repeated effort, and that is what new ones need to do. (Read Hebrews 5:13, 14.)

We also should remember that we are bounded to living in this system of things were the way man sees it, mostly it shall not be the way God sees it, because mere man sees what appears to the eyes, but Jehovah sees into the heart.(1 Samuel 16:6, 7; 1 Kings 8:39; Proverbs 24:12; Acts 1:24)

We should know the God of our ancestors and serve Him with a complete * heart + and with a delightful * soul,* for Jehovah searches through all hearts and He has foreseen a purpose for us, going to establish the righteous. there may be many Christians who think they have to do no works any more once baptised, but they shall be surprised. When they do not live according to God’s Law they shall miss the opportunity to enter the Kingdom of God. Yes we are able to miss the boat. (1 Chronicles 28:9; Psalm 7:9; Jeremiah 17:10)

If you prefer to live according to the flesh and keep doing works of the flesh you may be sure there can arise more problems when you have to appear in front of Jesus when he comes back than the problems you will have to face know.

More problems coming into this world

The last few decades we have seen an increase of difficulties on different levels. the bible speaks about that increase which we should consider signs for a coming time where more people shall get against each other and religions shall fight against other religions.

We also shall come to see that not so many Christians are as tolerant as they should be. Being a Christian in certain regions could perhaps not always so easy but also not so difficult to get you uncomfortable. But we are told that it will change. It might well be that Jews, Christians but also Muslims shall come to face very difficult times where they shall be demanded to choose for a certain faith or for a certain action. The false teachers shall try to bring people to other thoughts and having them walk in line with those in power. Believers in God might face the most difficulties, because they could be brought to doubting their faith. For non-believers there shall be no god to look at or to blame.

The media are eager to focus on the many problems and people are easily falling in their trap. Focusing on our worries will not extend our life by even a fraction of a second, let alone improve it. Besides, things often do not turn out as we feared. One scholar put it this way:

“Worry about the future is wasted effort, and the future of reality is seldom as bad as the future of our fears.”

The fact that some countries for decades have been fighting terrorism in its many forms with only limited success gives credence to many fears. Today, people are afraid and terrified for those refugees and for fundamentalist ideas which are preached everywhere and for some Muslim youngsters who tell the world with joy that they are willing to fight for the good cause of their faith. At the same time people wonder how we are going to cope with all those people coming to live in our regions, needing a roof above their head and needing to be fed.

What is troubling most people is the uncertainty of life itself! Sudden death by accident or disaster may seem to lurk around every corner, ready to put an end to everything we hold dear. Such fear and anxiety, plus numerous personal conflicts and disappointments, have made our times precisely what the apostle Paul described:

“Know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, . . . having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness.” (2 Timothy 3:1-3.)

Critical times to come

Getting into times were there shall not only be more natural disasters, man shall be creating other disasters which make it very difficult for many people. There shall be so many ideas sounding in the world, so many calling the other a false one, that people shall get muddled and shall have many doubts, giving them the impression that they nowhere to go.

The God Who demands a perfect righteousness and wants that His Word shall be respected and that His creatures shall live according to His Law has had lots of patience with mankind, but to everything comes an end. He also warned man to get to know and see the signs of the coming change and the coming end.

The God Who is sovereign over all the universe, exists simultaneously everywhere all of the time, has unlimited power, wisdom, and knowledge, is not One Who wants His people fighting against other creatures. He is a perfectly loving, just, and merciful God. He has given everybody the opportunity to find ways to have a good life and to find a better life in the time to come. But before the sublime marvellous time for man, he shall be tested a last time in a big battle which shall not be so far away when we look at the given signs.

It is getting time that people shall come to see that the fruits of terrorism have not been freedom and happiness but, instead, death, misery, and ruin. This bad fruitage has filled the 20th century and is starting to overwhelm the 21st. Many would say that rather than the solution, terrorism is one of the problems. The injustice and hatred that lead to terrorism are not God His fault. Wise King Solomon once declared:

“The true God made mankind upright, but they themselves have sought out many plans.” (Ecclesiastes 7:29)

Human badness and demonic influence, not incompetence on the part of God, lie at the root of terrorism. (Ephesians 6:11, 12.)

God has the power to halt violent bloodshed. In Noah’s time “the earth became filled with violence.” (Genesis 6:11) God’s judgement was sudden and complete:

“[God] did not hold back from punishing an ancient world . . . when he brought a deluge upon a world of ungodly people.” (2 Peter 2:5.)

The Bible states a lesson we should learn from the Flood of Noah’s day:

“Jehovah knows how to deliver people of godly devotion out of trial, but to reserve unrighteous people for the day of judgement to be cut off.” (2 Peter 2:9)

God can distinguish between those who sincerely want a better life and those who make life miserable for others. He has set the latter apart for the “destruction of the ungodly men.” But for those desiring peace, he is preparing a new earth in which righteousness is to dwell. (2 Peter 3:7, 13.) Therefore let us be attentional and not fall in the trap those around us are putting in front of us and would love to see the world reacting aggressively against the refugees and against the Muslims.

Wordslounge

+

Preceding articles

Back from gone #1 Aim of ungodly people

Back from gone #2 Aim of godly people

Back from gone #3 Giving worries to God and believing in His promises

++

Additional reading

1. Profitable disasters
2. Good and bad things in this world
3. A risk taking society
4. Securing risks
5. Facing disaster fatigue
6. Dealing with worries in our lives
7. Reacting to Disasters
8. Signs of the Last Days
9. May we have doubts
10. Give your worries to God
11. Is God behind all suffering here on earth
12. God has not destined us for wrath
13. Is God behind all suffering here on earth
14. I Can’t Believe That … (2) God would allow children to suffer
15. Bad things no punishment from God
16. Some one or something to fear #6 Faith in the Most High
17. Seeing or not seeing and willingness to find God
18. Looking at three “I am” s
19. He who knows himself, is kind to others
20. Your struggles develop your strengths
21. National Natural Disaster and Bible Prophecy
22. We are ourselves responsible
23. If your difficulties are longstanding, try kneeling
24. Even in tough times remembering the blessings
25. In Defense of the truth
26. A Living Faith #4 Effort
27. Truth, doubt or blindness
28. Remember there’s a light in the next day
29. Creator and Blogger God 9 A Blog of a Book 3 Blog about Prophecy
30. God’s Plan, Purpose and teachings
31. Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #15 Exposition before the Creator
32. Signs of the Last Days
33. Preaching to an unbelieving world
34. I Only hope we find GOD again before it is too late !

+++

Further reading

1. How the Migrant Crisis is Tearing Europe Apart
2. Atheist Alliance International Struggle With Stats
3. Terrorism is not an ethnic trait – it’s a malady wrought by social, religious extremism
4. Rinos and Cinos
5. IFB Churches and Women
6. Fundamentalists and the “Stupid Sumbitch”
7. A House Divided: How Hatred Aimed At Any Group, Is an Assault On Us All
8. Stop Your Doing is Not the Gospel
9. When you feel like you are in a tough situation
10. I love the smell of rejection in the morning
11. Love without reservation
12. He is Faithful and Just
13. Learn To Enjoy The Journey Of Life
14. Napping my heart
15. Badness
16. Hidden scars
17. More than meets the eye
18. Repentance
19. Growing a more useful mindset than fear.
20. Why Don’t Moderate Muslims Denounce Terrorism?
21. Why do Christians Insist on Fighting?
22. “I” Speaks On To Me (3/4)
23. The Silence (3/5)
24. Bad Like Me
25. broken words for sale
26. What to say?
27. God, Help Me Not to Hate Those Who Hate
28. Trump: “‘Oh freedom of speech, freedom of speech.’ These are foolish people.”
29. The Frozen-Chosen Church?
30. The Price of Forgiveness?
31. Das Spiel mit der Angst
32. La Horca Moderna

Related articles

• Loving the Sinner
• A Perfect Inheritance
• Spiritual Growth
• “By the Power Invested in Me”
• Your Word for This Day: “God is a Giver!”
• Running Strong
• Exciting New Offertory Giving
• We stand together proudly
• Jesus Christ is not REAL to most Christians
• Jesus Christ: The Word of God

Back from gone #1 Aim of ungodly people

Aim of terrorists has changed

The world has seen clashes or periods of terrorism, small and big wars. In the late 1980’s, terrorism appeared to be on the decline. However, a new breed of terrorist has emerged. Today’s terrorist threat comes primarily from extremists who have established their own funding networks — through traffic in drugs, private business, independent wealth, charities, and local financial support. And they continue to be as ruthless as ever.

“Terrorism has changed,”

says Brad Roberts of the Institute for Defense Analyses.

“Traditional terrorists wanted political concessions. But now, some groups say their main aim is mass casualties. That makes biological weapons appealing.”

Is it difficult to obtain such weapons? The magazine Scientific American says:

“One can cultivate trillions of bacteria at relatively little risk to one’s self with gear no more sophisticated than a beer fermenter and a protein-based culture, a gas mask and a plastic overgarment.”

Once the germs are prepared, delivering them is relatively easy. Victims would not even know that a weapon had been set off until a day or two later. And by then it could be too late. therefore French president Hollande straight after the November 13 attacks in Paris demanded to enlarge the reserve of anti material for an Anthrax attack.

Skin reaction to anthrax

Anthrax is said to be a likely choice as a biological weapon. The disease gets its name from the Greek word for coal — a reference to the black scabs that typically form over sores that develop on the skin of those who come in contact with anthrax-infected livestock. Defence planners are more concerned about lung infections caused by breathing in anthrax spores. In humans, anthrax infection has a high mortality rate.

Why is anthrax such an effective biological weapon? The bacterium is easy to cultivate and is highly resistant. It would take several days before the victims would experience the first symptom, a flulike malaise and fatigue. A cough and mild chest discomfort follow. Then come severe respiratory distress, shock and, within hours, death.

The Staggering Cost

The tragic loss of human life is the most obvious result of terrorism. But there are broader implications. Terrorism can destroy or delay the peace process in trouble spots on the planet. It provokes, prolongs, or entrenches conflicts, and it accelerates the cycle of violence.

Terrorism can also have an impact on national economies. Governments have been forced to spend enormous amounts of time and resources to combat it. For example, in the United States alone, antiterrorism spending was budgeted at more than ten billion dollars for the year 2000.

Whether we notice it or not, terrorism affects us all. It influences the way we travel and the choices we make when we travel. It forces countries around the world to spend huge amounts of tax money to protect public figures, vital installations, and citizens.

So the question remains, Is there a lasting solution to the scourge of terrorism?

Why Terrorism?

Terrorism is systematic, premeditated, and calculated. The resulting toll in deaths and injuries is not the primary objective. Such carnage is a means to an end, part of the atmosphere of shock and fear that the terrorist wishes to create in order to undermine authority and gain a hearing for his specific cause. Consider some of the factors behind the violent acts of terrorists.

Hatred.

“Terrorism . . . is fueled by hatred,”

stated Louis J. Freeh, director of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“Those who harbour such hatred live in a world that is coloured by bigotry, shaded by conspiracy, and framed by ignorance.”

Oppression.

“To be sure, there are leaders of groups and countries whose irrational goals are the annihilation of other cultures,”

writes Stephen Bowman in his book When the Eagle Screams.

“But it is also clear that a great deal of terrorism is born of despair.”

Frustration.

“In many cases . . . the primary motivation for a terrorist is a genuine frustration with seemingly intractable political, social, and economic forces,”

observes the editor of the book Urban Terrorism.

Injustice.

“Terrorism is a symptom of a problem, not the actual cause,”

remarks Michael Shimoff in his paper “The Policy of Terrorism.” He continues:

“Our long-term goal should be to eliminate the underlying social and political causes of terrorism. . . . Paralleling our actions against terrorism, we must have equally vigorous efforts to enhance freedom, dignity, justice, and humanitarian values. Only when those vigorous efforts are effective, will we be able to dismantle our counter-terrorism and anti-terrorism operations.”

Long ago foretold and written down

Very long ago words were written down for in the future. Men of God had to write down signs people could come to see when the world would come in an other stadium of phase.

The causes and history of terrorism have proved the truth of the Biblical statement:

“Man has dominated man to his injury.” (Ecclesiastes 8:9)

The Bible even foretold the traits that have nurtured terrorism. It says:

“In the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, . . . having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride.” (2 Timothy 3:1-4.)

The reality is that human efforts to combat terrorism, no matter how sincerely motivated, cannot successfully deal with its causes. The Bible realistically observes:

“To earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.” (Jeremiah 10:23)

However, while the solution to the problem of terrorism is beyond human power, it certainly is not beyond God’s power.

The Solution

Those who have been wronged or oppressed and who feel frustrated can find comfort in the Bible’s sure promise:

“The upright are the ones that will reside in the earth, and the blameless are the ones that will be left over in it. As regards the wicked, they will be cut off from the very earth; and as for the treacherous, they will be torn away from it.” (Proverbs 2:21, 22.)

This promise of God will soon be fulfilled. His Ruler, the reigning King Jesus Christ, will see to that. A Bible prophecy says regarding Christ:

“He will not judge by any mere appearance to his eyes, nor reprove simply according to the thing heard by his ears. And with righteousness he must judge the lowly ones, and with uprightness he must give reproof in behalf of the meek ones of the earth.” (Isaiah 11:3, 4.)

Yes, God’s Son, Jesus Christ, will soon eliminate all injustice as well as those responsible for it. In God’s righteous new system, terrorism and violence of every kind will be things of the past. Then everyone on earth will live in security, free from fear of any harm. (Revelation 21:3, 4.)

+

Continues with: Back from gone #2 Aim of godly people

Part of this post can also be found in a Dutch posting / Een deel van deze tekst kan terug gevonden worden in een Nederlandstalige versie: 2015 het jaar dat ISIS duidelijk maakte dat het ook in Europa is – Vervolg 2

++

Additional reading

1. The Meaning of Paris
2. Paris Attack and Ranting
3. Spike In Anti-Muslim Attacks Casts Spotlight On Government Policies
4. Before you blame All Muslims for the terrorist attack in Paris
5. Problematic Or Patriotic? Two Ways To Talk About Muslims
6. Responses to Radical Muslims and Radical Christians
7. Don’t be Muslim
8. Solidarité: The Paris Attack and the Refugee Crisis
9. Father explaining Paris attack to young son
10. A husband’s heartbreaking tribute to his wife killed in the Paris attacks
11. Paris, in Retrospect
12. Are Christianity and Capitalism Compatible?
13. Subcutaneous power for humanity 5 Loneliness, Virtual and real friends
14. Autumn traditions for 2014 – 4 Blasphemy and ridiculing faith in God
15. Still Hope though Power generating long train of abuses
16. Of old and new ideas to sustain power and to feel good by loving to be connected and worship something
17. Christians at War? Christians using violence?
18. The Crusader Rifle
19. Paris Our Prayers Are With You: Victory Shall Be Yours!
20. Listening for the Language of Peace
21. What we don’t say about the refugee crisis?
22. Real progress leaves nobody behind
23. Swallowed in the Sea but belonging to earth
24. Thematically Unhinged.
25. Children of Men
26. Migration not something to fear

+++

Further related articles

1. Our world
2. The Mighty River Racism
3. Discrimination is learned; a child’s perspective
4. Of Terrorists and Mass Shooters
5. 2015 deadly mass shootings in the U.S. and abroad
6. Paris Attacks
7. Some thoughts on the Paris attacks
8. Paris Attackers – Who?
9. Fifty-Seven Paris Airport Employees Were on Terror Watch List
10. An Interview on the Paris Attacks
11. AP Interview: Iraqi envoy: Paris attack marks new global war
12. The Daily Toast: Weaken The Nation State, Breed More Extremism
13. The Pestilence of Rabid Nationalism
14. Paris terrorist attacks: Strange behavior of 2 women at Café Nostra
15. Paris Attacks shared through Periscope app updates
16. The Paris Attacks: A Response from Nabeel Qureshi
17. France Makes Major Shift Toward Fascism in Wake of Paris Terror Attacks
18. The Paris Attacks: Should France Rain Flowers?
19. How International Students Feel about the Paris Attacks
20. Study Abroad: Affected by November Paris Attacks?
21. New arrest in Paris attacks linked to apartment raid
22. New arrest in Paris attacks linked to apartment raid that killed suspected planner
23. A Culture Comes Together From Paris Attacks
24. U.S Marine Ken O’Keefe Exposes Paris Attacks Hoax – YouTube
25. Operation Gladio Reborn: The Paris Attacks Have Unleashed A New Wave Of Emergency Laws
26. Authorities Are Using Paris Attacks To Rush New Mass Surveillance Laws – The Vigilant Citizen
27. BBC Radio Appearance: Do Western tragedies receive uneven attention?
28. Ten thousand troops to flood Britain’s streets in fight against terrorism | Ben Glaze and Jack Blanchard – Mirror Online
29. Fear is a weapon of mass destruction
30. Catholic priest removed for comparing Paris victims to terrorists
31. Australia Passes New Law to Strip Jihadists of Citizenship
32. Paris cafe where 5 people died reopens 3 weeks after attacks
33. Lt Col Bill Maginnis: Paris is just the beginning if the West doesn’t take Mahdism seriously
34. New York sheriff urges gun owners to carry weapons in light of mass shootings
35. The Shooting At The Regional Center Touches Too Close To Home
36. Rhetoric Of Hate
37. Why we should try to understand violence
38. Should I love or should I hate
39. Head on a swivel with JP Sadek: Everything you are hearing is wrong
40. German Cabinet Approves Military Mission Against ISIS in Syria
41. Parliament votes to bomb ISIS in Syria
42. Peace Starts With You
43. The Courage it Takes to Feel
44. Words for November
45. Prayers for Peace
46. Airstrikes in Syria? Please don’t.
47. Why Christians should stand up for freedom of speech
48. Hypocritical Bias: More on the Syrian Refugees
49. Indywheels Covers EODM “I Love You All the Time”
50. Let Them In
51. Aftermath of the Paris attacks
52. The Karma of Terror
53.  Extremism in England — part 2
54. As a Muslim woman I was never fearful in Britain. But today I’m afraid | Masuma Rahim | Comment is free |
55. The Guardian
56. We Must Understand Why Some Muslims Turn Radical
57. The story of a radicalisation: ‘I was not thinking my thoughts. I was not myself’
58. CSIS Q/A: Where is LATAM in the fight against ISIL?
59. Several Killed in Mass Shooting Attack in California
60. 2 Mass Shootings in 1 Day Leave At Least 15 Dead, Dozens Injured
61. San Bernardino latest in series of U.S. mass shootings since 2012
62. The “Mass Shootings Map” Propaganda Should Convince You to Carry At All Times
63. Egalité and Fraternité are great, but we need to ask ourselves some very difficult questions about Liberté
64. Are All Lives Equal?
65. frustration
66. Calling the “embassy”
67. Enough is Enough- The cause of Suffering is not a Mystery
68. The Black on Black Crime and Police Brutality Connection
69. Alabama Police Framed Innocent African Americans For Decades
70. Je suis terrorist sympathiser
71. Republican Jesus: The Rise of Radical Christianity
72. When You Feel Like Giving Up
73. Profit in Peace
74. Thoughts about saints and suffering in the Last Days (Letter to Lighthouse Trails)
75. 7.5 magnitude earthquake strikes remote region of Peruvian jungle
76. Turkey pokes the Russian Bear The grand coalition against ISIS is growing to include Germany along with France, while
77. Turkey pokes the Russian Bear

+++

Related articles

• Poll: Vast Majority of Americans Reject Calls To Bring Syrian Refugees To U.S.
• Some Americans are a lot more worried about China than others
• 8 Offensive Images Used by the U.S. Government to Disparage the Black Ingenious People of the Philippines
• Pope tells Congress U.S. should reject hostility to immigrants
• Pope Francis leads his first mass in the U.S.
• Pope canonizes California 18th-century missionary Junipero Serra; no saint to Native Americans
• US Has 10 Million More Foreign-Born Residents Than Entire European Union
• Bill to Extend US Spending Authority Blocked in Senate
• By This Measure, The U.S. Has The 2nd Highest National Debt [INFOGRAPHIC]
• How to Become a U.S. Citizen