Category Archives: bad humor

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Sticks and Stones #2 “BLOOD BROTHERS”

“Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.” Mark 13:12

“For the son dishounerth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law:  A man’s enemies are the men born of his own house (a person’s own family)” Micah 7:6        

“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is  born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17                                                        

Fair to say these are some serious warnings of ye olde family unit making frequent appearances at  The Drama Ville Dinner Theater.

Recorded in the Bible it started at the beginning, Genesis chapter 4, and it started with Cain the firstborn of Adam and Eve and of course the older brother to Abel.

Cain became jealous and angry because God accepted Abel’s offering but not his, Cain had offered what he wanted to offer not what was acceptable as an offering, instead of heeding God’s warning to him, he let his anger simmer and steep until it hit the boiling point.                                            

Genesis 4:8 ” And Cain talked with Able his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in a field, that Cain rose up against Able and slew him.” 

He talked him into going into the field with him, with the intention of killing him the entire time. Again leading me to believe that Able, like Joseph just did not have a clue to this secret hatred was until it was too late.                                                                                           

We know the story of Joseph and how he was one of two sons bore to his father Jacob by his choice wife Rachel and he was half-brother to the ten bore by Leah, the wife that he had been tricked into marrying.

Now maybe the bad blood was a direct result of that and who truly knows the effect that all the strife and hatred between these sister wives had on the ten as they grew up, who knows the discussions they may have heard and who knows if their ultimate hatred for Joseph was born out of their own feelings of inadequacy because we do know Joseph was the favorite son.

But we also know that it was because Joseph was not anything like them,he was like his mother, he was gentle and mild, it was because he was pleasant to his father.                                                                

Maybe it was just the sowing of the tares with the wheat. I really don’t think Joseph understood that his brothers seriously hated him, I believe that in his innocent thinking and his young age that he just did not get it and when he shared his dream, satan then used that to push them over the edge, he was just a teen-aged boy sharing what in his eyes was the coolest dream ever, we know that his Dad rebuked him for this because being older, wiser he knew that the others hated him.        

Genesis 37:18: “And when they saw him afar off,even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.”

He did not have a clue, but after they had thrown him in a pit to drown (only there was no water in the well ) they sat around laughing and eating lunch and then changed their mind and sold him as a slave, he finally, painfully, understood. 

Selling Joseph forewarned of the entire Hebrew nation being enslaved to Egypt and many today live enslaved in emotional prisons built by the hands of their family members and built on their spiritual blood  The Bible really doesn’t detail Jesse thoughts toward David but we can read between the lines, he is young, writes poetry, plays music, the creative type, so he is given the job of watching over the flock.                                                                    

David was not even considered by his father when Samuel called for the sons to presented and that just about said it all. And we know when push come to shove and all the men of Israel was cowering down before Goliath, Davids true character started shining through:

1 Samuel 17:26,28: “And David spake to the men who stood by him, saying, What shall be done unto the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why comest thou down hither?and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thy heart; for thou hast come down that thou mayest see the battle”

Eliab’s entire personality revealed!

The oldest ones seem to have the biggest issues, the parable of the prodigal son even has this theme, the angry older brother. Always angry because they feel they did not get the attention they deserve. He was angry because he saw something in David that he knew he did not possess in himself, courage in the face of a giant.

He wanted to line David out and “put him in his place” in front of the other men as a show of bravado, he could still tell off little brother there.

Why are you here? Why were you born? Why do you have to be here anyway?

Sounds like some of the things many ears have heard. Who is watching your few sheep, just got to prove whatever the younger has watch over is not just quite as good or meaningful.

Now he has to let everyone know what he thinks about David with accusations of pride, (remember the accuser of the brethren, one of satan’s many name’s, well he loves nothing more than to accuse you through your brethren!) and of course he had to give a reason for good show.

And  I know  David put up with this on a regular basis, check out his answer: 1 Samuel 17:29; ” And David said,What have I now done? (what did I do now?) Is there not a cause?”

Breakdown, Cain was angry and jealous because of Abel’s offering being accepted by Father God. his only response for his action was “Am I my brother’s keeper?” In his eyes, his little brother was not his problem and when he was called on his deed, he only cared about saving his own neck.

God was with Joseph, Joseph named his firstborn son Ephraim, meaning “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction”  and giving us all hope in the fact that what is meant for harm God will use for good.

Joseph’s brother’s were angry and resentful over his relationship with their father.

But he forgave his brothers but the cosmic repercussion of it all still sent an entire race into slavery for over four hundred years.

We do see that David fared pretty well, one whom the whole group of the thought was no more than a singing pretty boy is still considered one of the most fierce warrior Kings to ever have existed and whatever became of his brother Eliab, I haven’t a clue, but David’s throne is forever established of God.

Goliath laughed at David, mocking him, mocking his size and asking did he come against him with sticks as if he were a dog, more or less, sticks were something to beat something else with, but in the giant’s eyes it was no match for him, but the stones, the stones could break him, because just as that stone guided by the hand of God himself took that giant to the ground enabling David to take off the laughing giant’s head with his own weapon, God is our rock and He always wins.

Maybe you have been or continue to go through these “family affairs”, but please hear me, just as with Cain and Joseph’s brothers, people can have far darker feelings toward us then we want to accept. It is hard to walk away from family member’s especially when subjected to the good old brainwashing like Eliab tried to use on David.

They will always blame you, they will always accuse you because Satan is the ultimate older brother, to the children of God, he was created first, we were created in God’s image, he is older than mankind and he is jealous and angry because you can have a relationship with the Father that is now lost to him forever.

Giants even bigger than Goliath can be born of these relationships,so see it for what it is. Please stay with me, next time I want to give a boatload of scripture, God’s word to help with these things and take the heads off some giants, we’ll start it with a little “Blood Transfusion”!

Φλογιζω/ NBJ 2015 Original post date: 11/12/2015

REVISITED 11/17//2021, I wanted to revisited several of these posts, as I had originally written them to address the topic dysfunctional and toxic relationships and the dread it can make of holidays approaching.I will be revisiting this series over the course of this week, but several are linked below, which link to the others in that particular series.

I do pray if you are wrestling with this dilemma that these posts will be not only a comfort, but an encouragement to you. Jesus is the Prince of Peace and peace is exactly what he wants for you, so have your joy in a relationship with him and do not allow yourself to be treated as less than the precious life that he created you to be. Φλογιζω NBJ/2021 Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

For more in this series, please check out these posts: Bad Blood, Sticks & Stones, Anger Danger, Strangle Hold                                                    

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Light scent…

  John 12:35,36: “Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. WHILE ye have light, BELIEVE in the light, THAT YE MAY BE THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT. These things spake Jesus, and departed and did hide himself from them.”  

 I love scented candles, and even more, I love a gift my sister gave me several years ago, a lighted wax warmer, you know it is basically a really pretty decorative pot that has a light bulb that heats scented wax, providing a beautiful aroma along with a gorgeous soft glow. 

It is as beautiful as a candle and much safer because it is electric rather than actual flame, but if the bulb gets loosened or the cord happens to get frayed, it can be more time-consuming to repair than just relighting a candle. But it is more than worth the effort to experience the result.

Sometimes we can be like the heated scented wax burners, you know our “bulbs” become loose and we flicker on and off and just can’t get that wax melted enough to produce a beautiful scent.

The word flicker is actually defined as this, “to UNPREDICTABLY  FLASH on and off at RANDOM” you never know whether it will give light or disappoint you with darkness.

If it were completely burned out, you would know to replace the bulb, but when it flashes at “will” burning brightly for a moment and suddenly reverting back to utter darkness it can be a problem with the lamp itself.

I think this happens sometimes with the Christian “lamps”,  the”lights of the kingdom” we have “problems” with OUR own connection.

Think about it, all we really are physical “outlets” if you will, for the greatest power source in the universe, and what power!

The power of the Spirit of the Living God, the power so great that it lights the world, the heavens, the sun, moon, and stars.

Imagine if we, each of us, would just obediently let that LIGHT shine, that light that he commanded should SHINE through us into the world. 

The Lord counsels us to our folly concerning many things in Isaiah chapter fifty-eight, but I want to use one verse in particular to prove out just HOW BRIGHTLY he wants our shine to be.

Isaiah 58:8-10: ” THEN shall THY LIGHT BREAK FORTH AS THE MORNING (SPLITTING darkness), and thine health (healing) shall spring forth speedily: and righteousness shall go before thee; The glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward (rear guard). 

Then thou shalt call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, HERE AM I, if thou take away from the midst of thee THE YOKE, the putting forth of the the finger (accusing one another) and speaking vanity (WICKEDNESS);

And IF thou draw out thy soul (offer help. extend a hand) to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; THEN  SHALL THY LIGHT RISE IN OBSCURITY, AND THY DARKNESS WILL BE AS NOON DAY.”

So you see ALL these good things we receive are a blessed result of allowing that LIGHT, light so bright that EVEN at it’s very darkest would be is STILL as bright as noon day.

And as we also note, the human, fleshy issues are “defective flaws” in our own lamps, NOT a problem with the main power source, so it is never a question of “just can’t get a prayer through” it is question of check our own lamp for weak spots in our “cords” because there is NO weakness coming from the source.

The biggest cause of becoming a dull, dimming, and flickering light and loss of “power” can be explained with Ecclesiastes 10:1: “Dead flies cause the ointment of apothecary (perfume) to send forth a STINKING savour (HORRID odor): SO DOTH A LITTLE FOLLY HIM THAT HATH A REPUTATION FOR WISDOM AND HONOUR.”

And what that means is this, for a person who IS known as a representative of the kingdom of Christ, and as a light and are respected FOR their wisdom and reputation for doing “the right thing”, honoring God and playing by the rules to suddenly switch seats and let the flesh have its way either with actions, or words, or downright willful sin, whatever the means, it becomes equivalent to having traded off a beautiful aroma for a rotting, maggot invested stench.

Notice the word LITTLE, it can happen fast and it can happen very easily.

And we have ALL said and done things in our Christian walk that we regret, or at least I know I have.

And it IS so imperative to admit when we have hurt another with our words or our actions and be quick to ask them for forgiveness and to make a sincere effort through prayer and fasting to overcome that issue within ourselves that is causing the problem.

For many it can be temper, pain, participating in inappropriate activities, even inappropriate jokes and movies because God sees our every move and hears our every word.

We can easily fall into that folly through something as simple as us “having a bad day” and running with that loaded emotional gun, keeping the anger and just waiting for “one more person to say one more word” before we lose it and unleash the venomous poison of our mouths and thoughts.

And it is those days that we have to seek the Lord all the more, because once the enemy gets “your dander up” he is not letting up until you take it to the Lord and let it go.

Again, not picking on anyone, been more than guilty enough myself of having days of “spirit versus flesh” and finding all too true that the “flesh is weak” and it that weakness becoming too strong in anger and self-will to even listen to the little voice that tells us to calm it down and get a grip. 

We have to let go of foolishness such as false pride and stubbornness, God HATES these attitudes and He will help us overcome them IF we are sincere and if we refuse that help we will be left with the “pride cometh before a fall” repair. 

The greatest tragedy is when others have looked for guidance and hope and that spoken “wisdom” in us and they see flesh and all the the same attitudes of the “world”, they then become discouraged, disheartened, and twice hard to be won to the Kingdom.

If the light they see is not constant, burning bright in good times and completely out in the bad, if they see the flickering, and wavering, what are they seeing any different from what they see in the world?

If the light seems to brighten and dim at will, randomly deciding what is shown in light and what undesirable behavior is to be hidden in the darkness Then does that light not run the risk of having the source of that light “hidden” from itself?

As Jesus “hid” himself from them after he had warned them to WALK in that light WHILE they had that light, and to BELIEVE in that light so that they would also be children of light, should we not also carefully consider his warning for our present day?

Our biggest issue with this in this present time is the “war with the world”, we have so caved into the thoughts and ideologies of this world that we have weakened our own beliefs of the Gospel to the point that even the “church” as a world body has lowered the standards that were never negotiable, to the point that scripture can be twisted to fit any “belief” desired whether or not that belief is of a sound Godly doctrine . 

If it is to change, we must change our own thinking.

We will only be responsible for our lives and by that same token WE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR LIVES!

We will have no recourse in telling the Lord one day that “everyone else was doing it to” or that “the church down the road taught…”

No, He gave us his word and his word we live by, He gave his Spirit to lead us and to guide and when we are continually walking in the flesh and sin, with no desire to repent or change and far worse, NOT EVEN seeing why we need to change.

We are to be lights and no one is going to find their way off a darkened path by using a lamp that has a burned out light bulb!

Today IS a NEW day, and God’s will, tomorrow will be a NEW day.

Let us all remember that each and every day and REMEMBER who we are called to be, lights offering up the fragrant scent of prayer and of praise to Him and letting all we do be done in hope of glorifying His name.

Ephesians 5:1,2,7-16: “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;  And walk in love, as Christ hath also loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to god for a sweet-smelling savour (a beautiful aroma). 

Be not ye therefore partakers with them  (darkness of sin of this world) For ye were sometimes (once) darkness, but NOW are ye LIGHT IN THE LORD: WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT:

( For the fruit of the Spirit IS in all goodness and righteousness and truth)

PROVING what IS ACCEPTABLE unto the Lord.

And have NO fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 

For it is a shame to even to SPEAK of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the LIGHT: for whatsoever doth make manifest IS LIGHT.” 

1 Thessalonians 5:5: “YE ARE ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT, AND CHILDREN OF THE DAY: We are NOT of the night, NOR of darkness.”

 Matthew 5: 14-16: “Ye ARE the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle (lamp), and put it under a bushel (basket) , but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto ALL that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

The choice is ours and it is time to make the right one, CHOOSE to be that light, even if you weren’t yesterday, or last month, or even last year, CHOOSE today to be that light for Him.

Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω Εξυπνιζω NB 2018

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“Taking up serpents…”

First off, I must admit that I have about three posts I need to write to explain my six-week hiatus and my name change ‘Splaining the name thing…. But I really have to do this today because I think it may be “on time” for some and I definitely don’t want to wait until it is too late to give maybe a little different prospective on a probably quite taboo and deadly subject ( in more ways than one) but nevertheless  a very real subject  inside some denominations of the Christian faith.

“Snake handling” or “taking up serpents” mainly associated with Pentecostal and Holiness churches, but I do want to STRESS the majority of churches in these groups do NOT practice this.

I have glimpsed television shows dealing with this and I stay far away from those shows and now there is a new video on social media that was filmed during just such a service in a neighboring state.

It worries me, it worries me for several reasons.

The clip I watched showed multiple people filming this so it is really hard to know just how broad an audience it will hit. I truly do not understand the need to film this because the subject is so hard for many to understand and I personally believe it would be far more beneficial filming and sharing a service of healing and miracles.

And seriously if one has the kind of faith to lift up a Copperhead or rattlesnake and not be bitten and die, they should have the kind of faith to believe the lame will walk, the deaf will hear, because the miraculous and the signs and wonders are for those who DO NOT BELIEVE, so that they will see and know that no power other than the power of a sovereign God could have brought forth these truly supernatural occurrences.

I fear most the door which is opened for those who do not understand to mock and ridicule and unknowingly endanger their souls in doing so, usually others will be dancing in the Spirit, or speaking in tongues and contrary to denominational arguments as to whether these manifestation are still active in our present day, the real danger lies in the fact that if those who have never read the book of Acts or know anything at all of the Bible or Jesus, and are not even laughing about the snakes, decides to mock the dancing, or some other aspect of a service, it endangers their souls, through something that they should have never viewed unless the were present.

Because we can be forgiven for ANYTHING EXCEPT mocking the Holy Spirit.

When we do not understand we have no way to gauge exactly what we are seeing other than our OWN human mind and for those who do not know Christ, this can be even more dangerous.

I for one believe in the sanctity of ALL life, and do not believe in hitting or killing and I know Jesus to be a beautiful GENTLE creator and I really feel sorry for the snakes which have to be terrified but I also know better than to bash their beliefs because they are worshiping God they way they understand it to be and they do this as an exercise in faith.

Just as a boxer might push themselves to new limits everyday while preparing for an upcoming match.

This is how they build their faith that God will protect them.

So for those who may not know, we’ll look at the verses and origins of this and I’ll give you my take on my personal thoughts,again those are mine, EVERYONE has their own relationship with the Lord, and that IS what we MUST be mindful of. Okay, where does this practice come from?

Have to get back to the garden for that one, most know the story of Adam, Eve, and the serpent that seduced her through her own desires for supposed “knowledge” right into absolute disobedience to God. And as God gave divine judgments against ALL three of them.

Genesis 3:14,15: “And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because THOU hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beats of the field; upon thy belly thou shalt go, and dust shall be thou eat all the days of thy life.

And I WILL PUT ENMITY (hostility) BETWEEN THEE AND THE WOMAN, AND BETWEEN THY SEED AND HER SEED; AND IT (he) SHALL BRUISE THY HEAD, AND THOU SHALT BRUISE HIS HEEL.”  

So the long-held hatred between humans and snakes can be easily explained and symbolically many older demonstrations hold this to a more drastic level than many of us do today, because as we understand it, all females suffer terribly during childbirth and I personally believe the serpent had legs at this time, but nevertheless we know snakes now can only move on their bellies, and are absolutely the most dreaded and hated among all creation.

This gives us the reason behind the symbolism of power to subdue them. Many other scriptures deal with the subject, but we’ll try to stick with the subject at hand.

So further proof of this, can be found in the fact that power over the serpent was one of the signs God gave Moses to show that his commission was truly divine.

 Exodus 4:1-5: “And Moses answered and said, But behold, they will NOT believe me, NOR hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath NOT appeared unto thee.

And the Lord said unto him, What is in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he (the Lord) said, Cast (throw) it down on the ground, and he cast it down it on the ground, AND IT BECAME A SERPENT: and Moses fled from before it. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail ( reach down and pick it up by the tail) And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and IT BECAME A ROD IN HIS HAND:

THAT THEY MAY BELIEVE THAT THE LORD GOD OF OUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB, HATH APPEARED UNTO THEE..” 

Exodus chapter seven also tells us of this same rod being turned again to the serpent which consumed the serpents of Pharaoh’s magicians. God sent mighty wonders through Moses that the Egyptians AND the Hebrews would know, see, and BELIEVE in the power of Jehovah God.

Again, Numbers chapter twenty-one tells us of people speaking AGAINST God and His servant, prompting God’s anger which he displayed by sending fiery serpents upon the people, when the people repented and came to Moses, God instructed to make a brass serpent and those bitten who be healed when the gazed upon it. 

We understand that to be the forerunner verse to John 3:14,15:“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

Now to bring it New Testament, when Jesus gave the great commission, he spoke also of the signs and wonders, those unexplained events that could only be explained by a very real belief in the power and glory of Almighty God.

Mark 16:15-18: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned (condemned).

And THESE SIGNS shall follow them that believe; IN MY NAME shall thy cast out devils (demons) ; they shall speak with new tongues;

THEY SHALL TAKE UP SERPENTS: AND IF THEY DRINK ANY DEADLY THING, IT SHALL NOT HURT THEM; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” 

I personally believe in miracles, I have seen miracles and there have been times I could not understand why something didn’t end with a miracle and then I remembered something, miracles ARE for a sign and only God dictates when that is required, as believers we are already told to “walk by faith” and that is His requirement.

The miracles, He sends as He wishes, not necessarily as we desire. although I believe in asking and asking!

So this is how I interrupt this, not saying I am right, not saying you have to agree, but saying PLEASE do not encourage others in something they do not understand because Paul also told us that we are babes we must have milk, not solid food.

Of course I paraphrased that, but it translates to this, we grow little by little in the things of God and trying to chew meat when we haven’t teeth will only choke us to death.  so taking up serpents, we are told we will tread upon them, in the sense of the demonic forces we deal with that are constantly  striking at our heels in hopes of making us stumble. Jesus gave us power through His name over those.

Now what if the enemy tries to kill you BEFORE your time and others are just knowing that you have done something to “deserve” it?

Acts 28:3-6: “And when Paul had gathered  a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, THERE CAME A VIPER OUT OF THE HEAT, AND FASTENED ON (sunk in his fangs and held onto) HIS HAND. 

And when the barbarians SAW the VENOMOUS BEAST HANG ONTO HIS HAND, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth him not to live. 

And HE SHOOK OFF THE BEAST (creature) INTO THE FIRE, AND FELT NO HARM.

Howbeit, thy looked (expected) WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SWOLLEN, OR FALLEN DEAD SUDDENLY: but  AFTER THEY HAD LOOKED A GREAT WHILE, AND SAW NO HARM COME TO HIM, THEY CHANGED THEIR MINDS…..”  

Deadly “poison” by accident, or by the devils assault, or by simple basic necessity:

Exodus 15:23-25: ” And when they came to Marah, they COULD NOT DRINK of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

And the people murmured against Moses, saying, WHAT SHALL WE DRINK? And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed (showed) him a tree, which he was to cast into the waters, AND THE WATERS WERE MADE SWEET…”   

2 Kings 2:19-22: “And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth ( it is a nice place as you see) but THE WATER IS NAUGHT (bad), and the ground is barren.

And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.

And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt therein, and said, THUS SAITH THE LORD, I HAVE HEALED THESE WATERS; THERE SHALL NOT BE FROM THENCE ANY MORE DEATH OR BARREN LAND.

SO THE WATERS WERE HEALED UNTO THIS DAY, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.”

2 Kings 4:38-41: “And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth (famine) in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, set on a great pot, and seethe pottage (soup) for the sons of the prophets.

And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered wild gourds, his lap full, ( as many as he could carry), and came and shred them INTO the pot of pottage: for they knew them not. So they poured out for the men to eat.

And it came to pass, AS THEY WERE EATING OF THE POTTAGE, THAT THEY CRIED OUT, AND SAID, O THOU MAN OF GOD, THERE IS DEATH IN THIS POT. And they could NOT eat thereof. 

But he (Elisha) said, THEN BRING MEAL. And he cats it into the pot: and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. AND THERE WAS NO HARM (nothing harmful) IN THE POT.”

I hope this may have helped understand these traditions and the importance of whether we ourselves embrace them or not, we should be truly careful of what we say about them.

Thanks for reading!

Love & Peace, GOOD TO BE BACK!

Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω NB 2018

 

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Laughing their way RIGHT INTO HELL….

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: FEAR GOD, and keep his commandments: for this IS the whole duty of man. For God shall bring EVERY work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good , or whether it be evil.” Ecclesiastes 12: 13,14

I am forever amazed at the entertainment industry and how far they will go for ratings and to make the almighty dollar, and the willingness to sell out anything and everything to further their careers, including THEIR OWN SOULS.

When I think I have seen it all, I discover that i was quite wrong.. I do not watch very many shows because most now are absolute filth and even if someone else is watching and there is “something” there it will present “itself”, I truly believe God allows this so it can “warned” of and I have even had people comment to me that had watched so & so and had NEVER heard anything like that before or noticed certain references mocking Christians and God.

There is list and no one needs them pointed out but I will and if you ARE watching any of these shows, you’d better think again. Of course SNL, South Park, and anything Bill Maher, Bill Nye, and the late George Carlin has touched is polluted filth, PERIOD.

The list could go and on and what is even more horrific is the cartoons and “teen” programs which are weaving in anti-God “jokes” and even point-blank blasphemy such as SEVERAL different references to “tongues” and actually mimicking and mocking that characters are “Christians” and I caught one that even had the audience chanting “HG” they were saying the name , I will NOT use it here for fear, but it is reference to ONE of the members of the HOLY TRINITY, chanting this while a skit member who was supposed to be an “old Christian” man RAN the aisle of the audience. The most horrify thought with this, the person who did that skit PROFESSES Christ.

Al Sharpton (whom I’m NOT even getting into!) doing a skit years ago, also on SNL as a “wise man” from the Nativity story and here is the deal, NO ONE mocks God and when all the “curse” started following the “Batman” trilogy, you know, Heath Ledger dying while doing the joker, ( I know the world argues that but I don’t write for the world, so…) and then as we know the horrific theater shootings related to the SAME character.

Just a case of mental illnesses? Think not, you can trace the beginning of this back to the first in the Trilogy when the “Batman” character mocks God. And it is in movie after movie, after movie.

These shows are fiction, the character are fictitious but GOD IS VERY REAL and He will not be mocked period and no one is going to tell him it is a joke or it is a job and when you have shows geared toward kids, they grow up thinking it is okay to mock God and Christians and WHEN CHRISTIANS LAUGH RIGHT ALONG SIDE THEM who is telling them otherwise?

HOW serious is this? How about serious enough to NEVER be forgiven? To speak against the Holy Ghost is UNFORGIVABLE. Jesus will FORGIVE us for ANYTHING, murder, stealing, adultery, ANY sin you can name BUT NOT SPEAKING AGAINST HIS SPIRIT.

 “He that is NOT with me IS AGAINST ME; and he that GATHERETH NOT with me; SCATTERETH abroad. Wherefore I SAY unto you, ALL MANNER OF SIN AND BLASPHEMY SHALL BE FORGIVEN UNTO MEN: BUT (except) THE BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST SHALL NOT BE FORGIVEN MEN.

And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man, IT SHALL BE FORGIVEN HIM: BUT WHOSOEVER SPEAKETH AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST, IT SHALL NOT BE FORGIVEN HIM, NEITHER IN THIS WORLD, NEITHER IN THE WORLD TO COME.”  Matthew 12:30-33

Jesus HIMSELF is telling us that if we are not gathering with Him we ARE SCATTERING, to hear these things and be aware of them and sit idly by while our God is being mocked and us either laughing or NOT saying anything and NOT letting others KNOW that this is wrong and not only is it wrong, IT CAN COST THEM THEIR VERY SOUL, makes us the worst kind of “scatterers” and He also tells us that a person may speak a word AGAINST Him and BE FORGIVEN but to speak AGAINST HIS HOLY GHOST WILL NEVER BE FORGIVEN NOT IN THIS WORLD OR THE NEXT.

So if you have NEVER thought about this or if you have NEVER been taught that it is wrong, I AM HERE TO TELL YOU, IT IS WRONG.

God IS HOLY, God WANTS us to have joy and laughter IS merry medicine but IN context. THERE IS NEVER, EVER AN EXCUSABLE REASON TO MAKE JOKES ABOUT GOD OR ANYTHING PERTAINING TO HIM OR HIS KINGDOM, OR HIS FOLLOWERS, EVER!

I am also shocked at the amount of “memes” that flood social media and most are supposed to be “Pentecostal” humor, and TRUE Pentecostal or any other denominations of God’s children could tell people sending these things out that is the devil and the devil only that finds this stuff humorous and ones who share it are LETTING satan use them to mock and ridicule their fellow-servants and it further SCATTERS the flock.

But DON’T take my word for it. TAKE THE WORD: ” HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD, ye children of Israel: for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, NOR THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD IN THE LAND. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out (BREAK ALL RESTRAINTS), and blood toucheth blood.

Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven;yea, the fishes of the sea shall also be taken away. YET NO MAN STRIVE (CONTEND), NOR REPROVE (reprimand) ANOTHER: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest. 

Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and THE PROPHET ALSO SHALL FALL (stumble) WITH THEE IN THE NIGHT,And I will destroy thy mother. MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE: because thou hast REJECTED knowledge, I WILL ALSO REJECT THEE, that thou shalt be no priest to me:….” Hosea 4:1-6(a)  

His people ARE being destroyed because of a lack of knowledge and we see quite clearly whose feet the blame for this will be laid at.

“The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth (takes) it to heart: and merciful men are taken away. none considering that the righteous are is taken away from the evil to come: He shall enter into peace, they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness (having God’s righteousness and salvation).

BUT DRAW HITHER (come close), ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore (harlot). Against WHOM do ye sport (RIDICULE) yourselves? Against WHOM make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression , a seed of falsehood.” Isaiah 57:1-4

We KNOW who they speak against and we also KNOW their end:

“But these SPEAK EVIL of THOSE THINGS WHICH THEY KNOW NOT: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in THOSE things THEY CORRUPT THEMSELVES.

WOE UNTO THEM! for they have gone the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam FOR REWARD (profit), and PERISHED IN THE GAINSAYING (rebellion) of Core.

These ARE spots (stains) in your feasts of charity, when the feast with YOU, feeding themselves WITHOUT FEAR: clouds they are WITHOUT WATER, carried about of winds; Trees WHOSE FRUIT WITHERETH (dries up) WITHOUT FRUIT, TWICE DEAD, plucked up by the roots;

RAGING waves of the sea, FOAMING OUT OF THEIR OWN SHAME; wandering stars, TO WHOM IS RESERVED THE BLACKNESS OF DARKNESS FOR EVER.

 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord COMETH with ten thousand of his saints. TO EXECUTE JUDGMENT ON ALL, and to convince (convict) ALL that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, AND OF ALL THEIR HARD SPEECHES (HARSH THINGS) WHICH UNGODLY SINNERS HAVE SPOKEN AGAINST HIM.

These are murmurers, complainers, WALKING AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS; and THEIR MOUTHS SPEAKETH GREAT SWELLING WORDS, HAVING MEN’S ADMIRATION BECAUSE OF ADVANTAGE. 

But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How they told you there should be (would be) MOCKERS IN THE LAST TIME (last days), who should (would) walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves (cause divisions), sensual (worldly) having NOT the Spirit.

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves, on your most holy faith, PRAYING IN THE HOLY GHOST. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

And of some HAVE COMPASSION making a difference (distinction). And others SAVE WITH FEAR, pulling them out of the fire: HATING EVEN THE GARMENT SPOTTED (DEFILED) BY THE FLESH.” Jude verses 10-23

Not going to be quit so funny… do your part and speak up every opportunity you are presented with, God will not be mocked and in hell the laughter will cease, your voice against this “entertainment” may be the voice that prevents someone from going there.

Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2017

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Sticks and Stones #2 “BLOOD BROTHERS”

“Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.” Mark 13:12

“For the son dishounerth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law:  A man’s enemies are the men born of his own house (a person’s own family)” Micah 7:6        

“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is  born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17                                                        

Fair to say these are some serious warnings of ye olde family unit making frequent appearances at  The Drama Ville Dinner Theater.

Recorded in the Bible it started at the beginning, Genesis chapter 4, and it started with Cain the firstborn of Adam and Eve and of course the older brother to Abel.

Cain became jealous and angry because God accepted Abel’s offering but not his, Cain had offered what he wanted to offer not what was acceptable as an offering, instead of heeding God’s warning to him, he let his anger simmer and steep until it hit the boiling point.                                            

Genesis 4:8 ” And Cain talked with Able his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in a field, that Cain rose up against Able and slew him.” 

He talked him into going into the field with him, with the intention of killing him the entire time. Again leading me to believe that Able, like Joseph just did not have a clue to this secret hatred was until it was too late.                                                                                           

We know the story of Joseph and how he was one of two sons bore to his father Jacob by his choice wife Rachel and he was half-brother to the ten bore by Leah, the wife that he had been tricked into marrying.

Now maybe the bad blood was a direct result of that and who truly knows the effect that all the strife and hatred between these sister wives had on the ten as they grew up, who knows the discussions they may have heard and who knows if their ultimate hatred for Joseph was born out of their own feelings of inadequacy because we do know Joseph was the favorite son.

But we also know that it was because Joseph was not anything like them,he was like his mother, he was gentle and mild, it was because he was pleasant to his father.                                                                

Maybe it was just the sowing of the tares with the wheat. I really don’t think Joseph understood that his brothers seriously hated him, I believe that in his innocent thinking and his young age that he just did not get it and when he shared his dream, satan then used that to push them over the edge, he was just a teen-aged boy sharing what in his eyes was the coolest dream ever, we know that his Dad rebuked him for this because being older, wiser he knew that the others hated him.        

Genesis 37:18: “And when they saw him afar off,even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.”

He did not have a clue, but after they had thrown him in a pit to drown (only there was no water in the well ) they sat around laughing and eating lunch and then changed their mind and sold him as a slave, he finally, painfully, understood. 

Selling Joseph forewarned of the entire Hebrew nation being enslaved to Egypt and many today live enslaved in emotional prisons built by the hands of their family members and built on their spiritual blood  The Bible really doesn’t detail Jesse thoughts toward David but we can read between the lines, he is young, writes poetry, plays music, the creative type, so he is given the job of watching over the flock.                                                                    

David was not even considered by his father when Samuel called for the sons to presented and that just about said it all. And we know when push come to shove and all the men of Israel was cowering down before Goliath, Davids true character started shining through:

1 Samuel 17:26,28: “And David spake to the men who stood by him, saying, What shall be done unto the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why comest thou down hither?and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thy heart; for thou hast come down that thou mayest see the battle”

Eliab’s entire personality revealed!

The oldest ones seem to have the biggest issues, the parable of the prodigal son even has this theme, the angry older brother. Always angry because they feel they did not get the attention they deserve. He was angry because he saw something in David that he knew he did not possess in himself, courage in the face of a giant.

He wanted to line David out and “put him in his place” in front of the other men as a show of bravado, he could still tell off little brother there.

Why are you here? Why were you born? Why do you have to be here anyway?

Sounds like some of the things many ears have heard. Who is watching your few sheep, just got to prove whatever the younger has watch over is not just quite as good or meaningful.

Now he has to let everyone know what he thinks about David with accusations of pride, (remember the accuser of the brethren, one of satan’s many name’s, well he loves nothing more than to accuse you through your brethren!) and of course he had to give a reason for good show.

And  I know  David put up with this on a regular basis, check out his answer: 1 Samuel 17:29; ” And David said,What have I now done? (what did I do now?) Is there not a cause?”

Breakdown, Cain was angry and jealous because of Abel’s offering being accepted by Father God. his only response for his action was “Am I my brother’s keeper?” In his eyes, his little brother was not his problem and when he was called on his deed, he only cared about saving his own neck.

God was with Joseph, Joseph named his firstborn son Ephraim, meaning “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction”  and giving us all hope in the fact that what is meant for harm God will use for good.

Joseph’s brother’s were angry and resentful over his relationship with their father.

But he forgave his brothers but the cosmic repercussion of it all still sent an entire race into slavery for over four hundred years.

We do see that David fared pretty well, one whom the whole group of the thought was no more than a singing pretty boy is still considered one of the most fierce warrior Kings to ever have existed and whatever became of his brother Eliab, I haven’t a clue, but David’s throne is forever established of God.

Goliath laughed at David, mocking him, mocking his size and asking did he come against him with sticks as if he were a dog, more or less, sticks were something to beat something else with, but in the giant’s eyes it was no match for him, but the stones, the stones could break him, because just as that stone guided by the hand of God himself took that giant to the ground enabling David to take off the laughing giant’s head with his own weapon, God is our rock and He always wins.

Maybe you have been or continue to go through these “family affairs”, but please hear me, just as with Cain and Joseph’s brothers, people can have far darker feelings toward us then we want to accept. It is hard to walk away from family member’s especially when subjected to the good old brainwashing like Eliab tried to use on David.

They will always blame you, they will always accuse you because Satan is the ultimate older brother, to the children of God, he was created first, we were created in God’s image, he is older than mankind and he is jealous and angry because you can have a relationship with the Father that is now lost to him forever.

Giants even bigger than Goliath can be born of these relationships,so see it for what it is. Please stay with me, next time I want to give a boatload of scripture, God’s word to help with these things and take the heads off some giants, we’ll start it with a little “Blood Transfusion”!

Φλογιζω/ NBJ 2015 Original post date: 11/12/2015

REVISITED 11/17//2021, I wanted to revisited several of these posts, as I had originally written them to address the topic dysfunctional and toxic relationships and the dread it can make of holidays approaching.I will be revisiting this series over the course of this week, but several are linked below, which link to the others in that particular series.

I do pray if you are wrestling with this dilemma that these posts will be not only a comfort, but an encouragement to you. Jesus is the Prince of Peace and peace is exactly what he wants for you, so have your joy in a relationship with him and do not allow yourself to be treated as less than the precious life that he created you to be. Φλογιζω NBJ/2021 Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

For more in this series, please check out these posts: Bad Blood, Sticks & Stones, Anger Danger, Strangle Hold                                                    

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"EN GARDE !!!"

“Aha Peasant, EN GARDE!” the command shouted for one of several reasons, maybe a random sword welding D’Artagan wannabe has just pounced out from behind an innocent looking bush and challenged you to a duel or maybe your being gently warned to be on your guard.
I am taking for granted that you who are reading this are nowhere near any bushes so we’ll go with the latter.
I’ve been noticing something for a long time now and it is not the easiest subject to bring up but it needs addressed.
Churches and Christians as a whole have become a wee lax in the area of respect to the Holiness.
This is not aimed at any one person and if we go to church together, please, please, don’t think that!
Movies, and the media have for a long while made fun of us and of God.
The onslaught of the white bottomed candy coats with their ever-increasing need to market Jesus as the cool, hip, and never offended by what YOU may do God of  ALL YOUR FLESHLY DESIRES have produced an array of off colored jokes, and Christianity related acronyms that seem to find their way printed on everything that makes one wonder are they referring to a Deity or are they selling laundry detergent.
Tacky, questionable off-color jokes and even more tasteless greeting cards with everything from the Ark to Wise Men.
Little animal and snowmen, and anything else you can imagine Nativity figurines now widely available.
(Still pretty sure he was born as a man!)
In it all, what bothers me most is the jokes about Pentecostals and the never-ending parade of “Cool Jesus” picture posts and “religious” memes and the never-ending saga of share to be blessed with twenty thousand dollars.
Again I am not being harpy, I have struggled with trying to tell people who maybe they really need to THINK about WHAT THEY ARE SAYING AND WHAT THEY ARE LAUGHING ABOUT and I have to keep MYSELF on guard.
My Mother told me that she prays especially for forgiveness for sins that she may never have realized that she committed.
Because as she said, something we may not even think is a problem could be absolutely vile to God, and that is true.
We have accepted all this and you can share to be blessed, but share your time, your heart, or an uplifting thought or scripture.
God is Holy, The Holy Ghost the most Holy of Holiness and think about it, Moses was commanded to take his shoes off because THE VERY GROUND was sacred, if one wrong move was made toward the Ark someone was going to die, dishonor the Sabbath, someone was going to die and on and on through the Bible and falling at feet of the Lord out of absolute respect and awe of His majesty.
We have let it sneak in slowly and it has to be dealt with before it defiles our temples and alienates our minds to the true Gospel.
Jesus is not groovy, He’s not your hip buddy.
He is Holy and is to be only addressed with adoration and consummate respect.
 He is our friend and our Savior but we have to not let that line blur and if we want cool and hip we might need to look up Michael Buble because God doesn’t play that.
Again I do not believe it is intentional, I think it has come through by the world seeping in on us, because we have let down our guard.
See it for what it is and who is behind it and get the rollers under and put it out of your life and walk away from those who try to drag it back to you.
EPHESIANS 5:4: “Neither filthiness, nor FOOLISH TALKING, nor JESTING (coarse jesting, crude or off-color jokes) ARE NOT CONVENIENT (do not become Christian conduct or Christ like behavior) But rather give thanks.“
I personally believe God has a fabulous sense of humor and “laughter is merry medicine”, but it has to be in the right context, instead of pleasing the flesh with bad humor use that same voice to give him honor and praise.


PHILIPPIANS 4:7 :And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, SHALL KEEP (GUARD) YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.”
His peace will keep your hearts and mind alert to these insidious little cracks in the flesh but you must stay aware of them.
So EN GARDE! And I am totally not hiding behind a bush!
Φλογίζω/All rights reserved/ NBJ 2015

 


by

“EN GARDE !!!”

“Aha Peasant, EN GARDE!” the command shouted for one of several reasons, maybe a random sword welding D’Artagan wannabe has just pounced out from behind an innocent looking bush and challenged you to a duel or maybe your being gently warned to be on your guard.
I am taking for granted that you who are reading this are nowhere near any bushes so we’ll go with the latter.
I’ve been noticing something for a long time now and it is not the easiest subject to bring up but it needs addressed.
Churches and Christians as a whole have become a wee lax in the area of respect to the Holiness.
This is not aimed at any one person and if we go to church together, please, please, don’t think that!
Movies, and the media have for a long while made fun of us and of God.
The onslaught of the white bottomed candy coats with their ever-increasing need to market Jesus as the cool, hip, and never offended by what YOU may do God of  ALL YOUR FLESHLY DESIRES have produced an array of off colored jokes, and Christianity related acronyms that seem to find their way printed on everything that makes one wonder are they referring to a Deity or are they selling laundry detergent.
Tacky, questionable off-color jokes and even more tasteless greeting cards with everything from the Ark to Wise Men.
Little animal and snowmen, and anything else you can imagine Nativity figurines now widely available.
(Still pretty sure he was born as a man!)
In it all, what bothers me most is the jokes about Pentecostals and the never-ending parade of “Cool Jesus” picture posts and “religious” memes and the never-ending saga of share to be blessed with twenty thousand dollars.
Again I am not being harpy, I have struggled with trying to tell people who maybe they really need to THINK about WHAT THEY ARE SAYING AND WHAT THEY ARE LAUGHING ABOUT and I have to keep MYSELF on guard.
My Mother told me that she prays especially for forgiveness for sins that she may never have realized that she committed.
Because as she said, something we may not even think is a problem could be absolutely vile to God, and that is true.
We have accepted all this and you can share to be blessed, but share your time, your heart, or an uplifting thought or scripture.
God is Holy, The Holy Ghost the most Holy of Holiness and think about it, Moses was commanded to take his shoes off because THE VERY GROUND was sacred, if one wrong move was made toward the Ark someone was going to die, dishonor the Sabbath, someone was going to die and on and on through the Bible and falling at feet of the Lord out of absolute respect and awe of His majesty.
We have let it sneak in slowly and it has to be dealt with before it defiles our temples and alienates our minds to the true Gospel.
Jesus is not groovy, He’s not your hip buddy.
He is Holy and is to be only addressed with adoration and consummate respect.
 He is our friend and our Savior but we have to not let that line blur and if we want cool and hip we might need to look up Michael Buble because God doesn’t play that.
Again I do not believe it is intentional, I think it has come through by the world seeping in on us, because we have let down our guard.
See it for what it is and who is behind it and get the rollers under and put it out of your life and walk away from those who try to drag it back to you.
EPHESIANS 5:4: “Neither filthiness, nor FOOLISH TALKING, nor JESTING (coarse jesting, crude or off-color jokes) ARE NOT CONVENIENT (do not become Christian conduct or Christ like behavior) But rather give thanks.“
I personally believe God has a fabulous sense of humor and “laughter is merry medicine”, but it has to be in the right context, instead of pleasing the flesh with bad humor use that same voice to give him honor and praise.


PHILIPPIANS 4:7 :And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, SHALL KEEP (GUARD) YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.”
His peace will keep your hearts and mind alert to these insidious little cracks in the flesh but you must stay aware of them.
So EN GARDE! And I am totally not hiding behind a bush!
Φλογίζω/All rights reserved/ NBJ 2015