Setting goals for this new year, or not...

January 11, 2020 (December 31, 2021)

 

I found this post  that never got published, so here it is.

I read a book once, it was called 'the dark night of the soul' or something like that; it was written by an old monk hundreds of years ago, I think his name was St. John of the Cross.  In this book he described the process that his soul went through to get to what he called 'union with divine love'.  It was mainly a poem, written in stanzas, it was very cool.

I was thinking about that today, how God allows certain things and events to happen with the sole purpose of purifying my faith; I guess that is what I was tripping about in the last post, was it yesterday?  Maybe not. Very similar to what this old saint says in his book.  

As you can see I'm still thinking about it, mostly because I feel sick today.  You must get the impression that I complain a lot, but I really don't, I just like to talk about misery in general, just to make you realize how blessed you are if you are healthy, enjoy it while you can.

Life is very strange sometimes, isn't it?  I say this as a Christian man who believes that God is in control of all things (here he goes again with the sovereignty of God), and of course He is in control of all things in my life.  God can do whatever He pleases, that is a fact, the bible says so, in those words; He can do whatever He wants with me, He doesn't need my opinion, nor does He need to ask if I'm OK with it.  He just does what He does and there is nothing anyone on this earth can do to prevent Him from doing it.

Then the inevitable comes.  Just like king David, I start looking at those who could care less about God, He is not in their thoughts at all, they really don't care if He is real or not, they sin with impunity, or at least it looks that way; then there are others who know who He is, and even know what the bible says about their sin, but they still continue to sin the same way they have always sinned, and they don't care; what makes it worse in my mind is that they appear to have all the success of this world and everything goes their way, the only time they think about God is when something bad happens.

That is what I mean when I say this life is very strange, I bet you see it the same way.  Reality says otherwise, at least my reality does, and if the bible is true, then your reality is the same as mine, and your reality says otherwise too.

The Christian life is not strange at all, it is the real reality; it is salvation, regeneration, sanctification, glorification; life eternal in the presence of God the Almighty, a life without end in eternal bliss and union with God; that is the real reality for those who love God and have been called according to His purpose, which He will accomplish without our help.

Now imagine living a life where you deceive yourself without knowing that you are deceiving yourself; that sounds really strange, but that is the life of a person who has no idea who God really is; some people live this kind of life and they call themselves Christians; churches are filled with this kind of people on any given Sunday, they are everywhere, even if they do not go to church.

The self deceived are those who think that because they said a prayer they now have a ticket to paradise, or as they say in christianeese, fire insurance; they were led to believe that God wants them to be successful in this world and they are convinced that God is going to make them rich, or help them to accomplish all their goals; they think that they need to go to church because that appeases God and it is a brownie point for them, but they really don't go to church that often.  They usually have a list of things they should do to get God on their side so they can keep on climbing the ladder of their dreams.

Some of them even get involved in different ministries because they feel it is their duty to help out, it makes them feel better about themselves after they sin during the week, some of them have the Muslim mentality (the religious mentality I should say): your good deeds must be more in number than your bad deeds; they've got to make sure the balance is always tipped toward the good deeds side, it is the only way to prevent hell from happening to them, basically life is always about themselves and about what everyone else thinks about them.

There is more though, and I mean more deceived people.  The cause of their deception is the deceitfulness of sin itself, even more than their own flesh; these are the ones that are in even more danger (as if that is a possibility, which is not), they are the ones that can justify their sin at any cost; you probably know some of them, they even go to the same church you go to but sitting on the pews they look like they are at home.

These are the ones who read the bible and know what it says but they continue to live the same way they have always lived; in the surface it looks like they are godly, they keep the appearances very well but in the inside they are filled with judgment towards others, their behavior is always excusable on the basis of what others do, they're always irritated by other people's behavior but they are worse than the the people who irritate them in the first place.

I wrote a post about them in the past, about 7 or 8 years ago, they are the most sickening of all the self deceived; their excuse is always that they have been saved by grace so it really doesn't matter if they make any effort to change the things they know need changing; they think they "love" Jesus but they have no idea what loving Jesus really means, and if you tell them or mention obedience to the Lord, they tell you that you are very legalistic, impatient and judgmental.  You probably know exactly what I'm talking about; some pastors fall in this category, as weird as that sounds, and it makes me wonder how they became pastors to begin with.

Going back to the dark night of the soul, I think I'm going through the soul night of the dark, dislexically speaking; just as that sentence doesn't make any sense, my life seems to not make any sense right now; it is almost like I am suspended in time, watching the days go by, totally disconnected from reality; which makes me think about my own situation.  Do I love God?

Is that a question that goes through your mind sometimes?  Probably not.  But I do ask myself precisely that sporadically; do I really love God?  What does it mean to love God?  The answer is simple, from the lips of Jesus Himself: if you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Or to put it in question form, also from Jesus: why do you call me Lord and do not do what I tell you to do?

Is that simple really, if I love God, I will do what He says to do.  Of course this means to obey, which is really impossible without His help in the first place; no one can love God perfectly in this world, no man can obey God perfectly in this body made of decaying flesh; but the key to this puzzle is that it is not a puzzle, I shouldn't be puzzled that I'm puzzled, because it is the work of God in me that makes me love God.

Those that love God and are called according to His purpose, love God because they are called according to His purpose, so all things work together for good for them, even their disobedience.  That is a very good thing.

Of course, there are people who do not believe that God has anything to do with your obedience, they think that it is you who must obey without His help, it must come from your heart and your mind, very much like a good Arminian, or should I say 'a good Pelagian'? Are there any good Pelagians? 

You probably also know the type, these are the ones who come to the Bible with a set of 'teachings' and pre-conceived ideas, very much just like the Pharisees; they know what the Bible says and it says what they think it says, even if you show them the original meaning of the words in context of what those words say in context of what the book says, and so forth and so on.  Frustrating.

It's frustrating because they really don't want to reason with you, they have been taught how to "interpret" the Bible and you cannot be right in what you see, even if what you see falls into the same category of their reasoning.  Am I making any sense?  Probably not.

What I am saying is that the Bible clearly teaches that you and I are dead in trespasses and sins, that our minds are totally opposed to God's law and anything He says or wants; the book also says that we have been saved by grace through faith and that it is not of ourselves or anything we do or have done, our salvation is the gift of God so no one can boast about it.  This grace by which we have been saved includes the faith that is used as a tool that allows to see the beauty of Jesus' work, the "it is not of yourselves" refers to the grace and to the faith, it cannot be interpreted any other way, you check it out: 

Eph 2:8-10
(8)  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
(9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.
(10)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Here some will argue that faith is a natural thing with man since we all believe in all kinds of things, like having faith that a chair will sustain our bodies when we sit on it, or believing that there will be light after we flip the switch on the wall; but the faith that Paul is talking about here is the same faith that he says is the gift of God in those verses above.

 

So since I never finished this post back in the beginning of the year 2020, I am purposefully finishing it today, the last day of the year 2021, and at the same time I ask you this question:  do you love God?  Or better yet, do you think you love God?  Of course if you are a Christian, you will say that yes, you do love God; but before you do say it, think about where this love comes from if you have it.  According to Romans 8, your natural (carnal) mind cannot be subject to God's law (His word) so you cannot love Him with your natural mind, or in your natural state, do you see it?

Rom 8:7-8  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 

So if you cannot please God in your natural state, you cannot love Him, and according to Jesus the only thing that is required of me is to love God with all my soul, my mind, and my strength and to love my neighbor as myself, this is the greatest commandment you can keep and by keeping it you keep all the others.  Try that in the state you were before God gave you a new birth, and see if you can even think about it. 

So, another so just for redundancy, whatever makes us think we can set any goals for the new year?  How about setting just one goal for this year, ok let's make it easier, just two goals for this year, love God with all you heart, mind and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself.  Shall be easy, right?

Have a nice new year brothers and sisters, we are all closer to being with Jesus than ever before.

http://makariotes.blogspot.com

Trump's last speech...

 Just in case you missed it and since you can't find it at the White House website anymore:

The White House

THE PRESIDENT: My fellow Americans: Four years ago, we launched a great national effort to rebuild our country, to renew its spirit, and to restore the allegiance of this government to its citizens. In short, we embarked on a mission to make America great again — for all Americans.

As I conclude my term as the 45th President of the United States, I stand before you truly proud of what we have achieved together. We did what we came here to do — and so much more.

This week, we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous. We extend our best wishes, and we also want them to have luck — a very important word.

I’d like to begin by thanking just a few of the amazing people who made our remarkable journey possible.

First, let me express my overwhelming gratitude for the love and support of our spectacular First Lady, Melania. Let me also share my deepest appreciation to my daughter Ivanka, my son-in-law Jared, and to Barron, Don, Eric, Tiffany, and Lara. You fill my world with light and with joy.

I also want to thank Vice President Mike Pence, his wonderful wife Karen, and the entire Pence family.

Thank you as well to my Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows; the dedicated members of the White House Staff and the Cabinet; and all the incredible people across our administration who poured out their heart and soul to fight for America.

I also want to take a moment to thank a truly exceptional group of people: the United States Secret Service. My family and I will forever be in your debt. My profound gratitude as well to everyone in the White House Military Office, the teams of Marine One and Air Force One, every member of the Armed Forces, and state and local law enforcement all across our country.

Most of all, I want to thank the American people. To serve as your President has been an honor beyond description. Thank you for this extraordinary privilege. And that’s what it is — a great privilege and a great honor.

We must never forget that while Americans will always have our disagreements, we are a nation of incredible, decent, faithful, and peace-loving citizens who all want our country to thrive and flourish and be very, very successful and good. We are a truly magnificent nation.

All Americans were horrified by the assault on our Capitol. Political violence is an attack on everything we cherish as Americans. It can never be tolerated.

Now more than ever, we must unify around our shared values and rise above the partisan rancor, and forge our common destiny.

Four years ago, I came to Washington as the only true outsider ever to win the presidency. I had not spent my career as a politician, but as a builder looking at open skylines and imagining infinite possibilities. I ran for President because I knew there were towering new summits for America just waiting to be scaled. I knew the potential for our nation was boundless as long as we put America first.

So I left behind my former life and stepped into a very difficult arena, but an arena nevertheless, with all sorts of potential if properly done. America had given me so much, and I wanted to give something back.

Together with millions of hardworking patriots across this land, we built the greatest political movement in the history of our country. We also built the greatest economy in the history of the world. It was about “America First” because we all wanted to make America great again. We restored the principle that a nation exists to serve its citizens. Our agenda was not about right or left, it wasn’t about Republican or Democrat, but about the good of a nation, and that means the whole nation.

With the support and prayers of the American people, we achieved more than anyone thought possible. Nobody thought we could even come close.

We passed the largest package of tax cuts and reforms in American history. We slashed more job-killing regulations than any administration had ever done before. We fixed our broken trade deals, withdrew from the horrible Trans-Pacific Partnership and the impossible Paris Climate Accord, renegotiated the one-sided South Korea deal, and we replaced NAFTA with the groundbreaking USMCA — that’s Mexico and Canada — a deal that’s worked out very, very well.

Also, and very importantly, we imposed historic and monumental tariffs on China; made a great new deal with China. But before the ink was even dry, we and the whole world got hit with the China virus. Our trade relationship was rapidly changing, billions and billions of dollars were pouring into the U.S., but the virus forced us to go in a different direction.

The whole world suffered, but America outperformed other countries economically because of our incredible economy and the economy that we built. Without the foundations and footings, it wouldn’t have worked out this way. We wouldn’t have some of the best numbers we’ve ever had.

We also unlocked our energy resources and became the world’s number-one producer of oil and natural gas by far. Powered by these policies, we built the greatest economy in the history of the world. We reignited America’s job creation and achieved record-low unemployment for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, women — almost everyone.

Incomes soared, wages boomed, the American Dream was restored, and millions were lifted from poverty in just a few short years. It was a miracle. The stock market set one record after another, with 148 stock market highs during this short period of time, and boosted the retirements and pensions of hardworking citizens all across our nation. 401(k)s are at a level they’ve never been at before. We’ve never seen numbers like we’ve seen, and that’s before the pandemic and after the pandemic.

We rebuilt the American manufacturing base, opened up thousands of new factories, and brought back the beautiful phrase: “Made in the USA.”

To make life better for working families, we doubled the child tax credit and signed the largest-ever expansion of funding for childcare and development. We joined with the private sector to secure commitments to train more than 16 million American workers for the jobs of tomorrow.

When our nation was hit with the terrible pandemic, we produced not one, but two vaccines with record-breaking speed, and more will quickly follow. They said it couldn’t be done but we did it. They call it a “medical miracle,” and that’s what they’re calling it right now: a “medical miracle.”

Another administration would have taken 3, 4, 5, maybe even up to 10 years to develop a vaccine. We did in nine months.

We grieve for every life lost, and we pledge in their memory to wipe out this horrible pandemic once and for all.

When the virus took its brutal toll on the world’s economy, we launched the fastest economic recovery our country has ever seen. We passed nearly $4 trillion in economic relief, saved or supported over 50 million jobs, and slashed the unemployment rate in half. These are numbers that our country has never seen before.

We created choice and transparency in healthcare, stood up to big pharma in so many ways, but especially in our effort to get favored-nations clauses added, which will give us the lowest prescription drug prices anywhere in the world.

We passed VA Choice, VA Accountability, Right to Try, and landmark criminal justice reform.

We confirmed three new justices of the United States Supreme Court. We appointed nearly 300 federal judges to interpret our Constitution as written.

For years, the American people pleaded with Washington to finally secure the nation’s borders. I am pleased to say we answered that plea and achieved the most secure border in U.S. history. We have given our brave border agents and heroic ICE officers the tools they need to do their jobs better than they have ever done before, and to enforce our laws and keep America safe.

We proudly leave the next administration with the strongest and most robust border security measures ever put into place. This includes historic agreements with Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, along with more than 450 miles of powerful new wall.

We restored American strength at home and American leadership abroad. The world respects us again. Please don’t lose that respect.

We reclaimed our sovereignty by standing up for America at the United Nations and withdrawing from the one-sided global deals that never served our interests. And NATO countries are now paying hundreds of billions of dollars more than when I arrived just a few years ago. It was very unfair. We were paying the cost for the world. Now the world is helping us.

And perhaps most importantly of all, with nearly $3 trillion, we fully rebuilt the American military — all made in the USA. We launched the first new branch of the United States Armed Forces in 75 years: the Space Force. And last spring, I stood at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and watched as American astronauts returned to space on American rockets for the first time in many, many years.

We revitalized our alliances and rallied the nations of the world to stand up to China like never before.

We obliterated the ISIS caliphate and ended the wretched life of its founder and leader, al Baghdadi. We stood up to the oppressive Iranian regime and killed the world’s top terrorist, Iranian butcher Qasem Soleimani.

We recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

As a result of our bold diplomacy and principled realism, we achieved a series of historic peace deals in the Middle East. Nobody believed it could happen. The Abraham Accords opened the doors to a future of peace and harmony, not violence and bloodshed. It is the dawn of a new Middle East, and we are bringing our soldiers home.

I am especially proud to be the first President in decades who has started no new wars.

Above all, we have reasserted the sacred idea that, in America, the government answers to the people. Our guiding light, our North Star, our unwavering conviction has been that we are here to serve the noble everyday citizens of America. Our allegiance is not to the special interests, corporations, or global entities; it’s to our children, our citizens, and to our nation itself.

As President, my top priority, my constant concern, has always been the best interests of American workers and American families. I did not seek the easiest course; by far, it was actually the most difficult. I did not seek the path that would get the least criticism. I took on the tough battles, the hardest fights, the most difficult choices because that’s what you elected me to do. Your needs were my first and last unyielding focus.

This, I hope, will be our greatest legacy: Together, we put the American people back in charge of our country. We restored self-government. We restored the idea that in America no one is forgotten, because everyone matters and everyone has a voice. We fought for the principle that every citizen is entitled to equal dignity, equal treatment, and equal rights because we are all made equal by God. Everyone is entitled to be treated with respect, to have their voice heard, and to have their government listen. You are loyal to your country, and my administration was always loyal to you.

We worked to build a country in which every citizen could find a great job and support their wonderful families. We fought for the communities where every American could be safe and schools where every child could learn. We promoted a culture where our laws would be upheld, our heroes honored, our history preserved, and law-abiding citizens are never taken for granted. Americans should take tremendous satisfaction in all that we have achieved together. It’s incredible.

Now, as I leave the White House, I have been reflecting on the dangers that threaten the priceless inheritance we all share. As the world’s most powerful nation, America faces constant threats and challenges from abroad. But the greatest danger we face is a loss of confidence in ourselves, a loss of confidence in our national greatness. A nation is only as strong as its spirit. We are only as dynamic as our pride. We are only as vibrant as the faith that beats in the hearts of our people.

No nation can long thrive that loses faith in its own values, history, and heroes, for these are the very sources of our unity and our vitality.

What has always allowed America to prevail and triumph over the great challenges of the past has been an unyielding and unashamed conviction in the nobility of our country and its unique purpose in history. We must never lose this conviction. We must never forsake our belief in America.

The key to national greatness lies in sustaining and instilling our shared national identity. That means focusing on what we have in common: the heritage that we all share.

At the center of this heritage is also a robust belief in free expression, free speech, and open debate. Only if we forget who we are, and how we got here, could we ever allow political censorship and blacklisting to take place in America. It’s not even thinkable. Shutting down free and open debate violates our core values and most enduring traditions.
In America, we don’t insist on absolute conformity or enforce rigid orthodoxies and punitive speech codes. We just don’t do that. America is not a timid nation of tame souls who need to be sheltered and protected from those with whom we disagree. That’s not who we are. It will never be who we are.

For nearly 250 years, in the face of every challenge, Americans have always summoned our unmatched courage, confidence, and fierce independence. These are the miraculous traits that once led millions of everyday citizens to set out across a wild continent and carve out a new life in the great West. It was the same profound love of our God-given freedom that willed our soldiers into battle and our astronauts into space.

As I think back on the past four years, one image rises in my mind above all others. Whenever I traveled all along the motorcade route, there were thousands and thousands of people. They came out with their families so that they could stand as we passed, and proudly wave our great American flag. It never failed to deeply move me. I knew that they did not just come out to show their support of me; they came out to show me their support and love for our country.

This is a republic of proud citizens who are united by our common conviction that America is the greatest nation in all of history. We are, and must always be, a land of hope, of light, and of glory to all the world. This is the precious inheritance that we must safeguard at every single turn.

For the past four years, I have worked to do just that. From a great hall of Muslim leaders in Riyadh to a great square of Polish people in Warsaw; from the floor of the Korean Assembly to the podium at the United Nations General Assembly; and from the Forbidden City in Beijing to the shadow of Mount Rushmore, I fought for you, I fought for your family, I fought for our country. Above all, I fought for America and all it stands for — and that is safe, strong, proud, and free.

Now, as I prepare to hand power over to a new administration at noon on Wednesday, I want you to know that the movement we started is only just beginning. There’s never been anything like it. The belief that a nation must serve its citizens will not dwindle but instead only grow stronger by the day.

As long as the American people hold in their hearts deep and devoted love of country, then there is nothing that this nation cannot achieve. Our communities will flourish. Our people will be prosperous. Our traditions will be cherished. Our faith will be strong. And our future will be brighter than ever before.

I go from this majestic place with a loyal and joyful heart, an optimistic spirit, and a supreme confidence that for our country and for our children, the best is yet to come.

Thank you, and farewell. God bless you. God bless the United States of America.

END

 

 

http://makariotes.blogspot.com

No fear...

Yesterday was my brother Leo's birthday, he would have turned 62 years old; which made me realize that I am getting old, again. Time waits for no one, they say, and I think it is true; time keeps moving on like a raging river coming down from the mountains, my whole existence is nothing but a spec of dust caught in its current.  That is how I feel sometimes, very insignificant.

I miss my brothers, specially the ones who are gone; I wish I could see them and talk to them.  Leonardo always made me laugh, Carlos always made me feel loved; I got blessed with an awesome family, and I am very grateful for that.  God is very good to me.

Of course I have no idea why I am writing this, it is always the same thing when I write, I just feel the urge to do it and I have no idea what I am going to say, at the end it usually works out; I hope that it blesses you when you read it.

Last night I opened my bible to the book of psalms, psalm 103 to be precise, and I got blessed to read it again, it is a beautiful psalm, one of my favorite chapters of scripture for sure.  I have memorized almost half of it, it is worth the effort, and it is a real blessing to be able to meditate upon it.  What David says in it is just amazing, here it is so you can see:

 Psa 103
(1)  A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
(2)  Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;
(3)  Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases;
(4)  Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
(5)  Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
(6)  The LORD performs righteous deeds And judgments for all who are oppressed.
(7)  He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel.
(8)  The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
(9)  He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.
(10)  He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
(11)  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
(12)  As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
(13)  Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
(14)  For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.
(15)  As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
(16)  When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, And its place acknowledges it no longer.
(17)  But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children,
(18)  To those who keep His covenant And remember His precepts to do them.
(19)  The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all.
(20)  Bless the LORD, you His angels, Mighty in strength, who perform His word, Obeying the voice of His word!
(21)  Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You who serve Him, doing His will.
(22)  Bless the LORD, all you works of His, In all places of His dominion; Bless the LORD, O my soul!

It sounds like David is reminding his soul of what it has apparently forgotten; but it can never really forget it since his experience has been one of amazing grace and mercy, very similar to yours and mine but maybe ours in a lesser degree since we have never been kings or queens...

 Indeed, God forgives all my iniquities and heals all my diseases (eventually I will feel no pain and experience no sorrow, eventually I will cry no more), He has redeemed my life from the pit of destruction and has crowned me with lovingkindness and compassion, He has removed my transgressions from me as far as the east is from the west for He knows I fear Him; He knows my frame and remembers that I am dust.  His sovereignty reigns over all, even over those who hate Him.

As for me, my days are like grass, as a flower I flourished and the wind is passing over me, soon I will be no more and my place will acknowledge me no longer; but what will never change is the lovingkindness of my God, it will be from everlasting to everlasting, His righteousness even to my children's children.  That alone is enough reason to praise Him. Is it not?

What do you think about ! when you think about death?  Is it the passage from one life to another?  Is it waking up from a dream, or a nightmare?  Is there any fear that you missed something?  Do you have any regrets?  I think about all those questions and always come to the same conclusion, I don't really care much, I just want to experience real holiness, real bliss.  I will, someday.

Death was conquered by Jesus, the bible says; oh death where is your sting?  Paul asked.  It has no dominion over me; that is great news!  There is no fear in love, and I fear not because He loved me first.

I will go on trying to rejoice, and reading what David says about my God, you should try it too.

Have a nice day.

http://makariotes.blogspot.com