Sad reflections after 2026 mid-term election

 My home state is Michigan back when it was conservative. Mom's people were successful farmers and dad's people included circuit court judges, a state representative and newspaper publishers. Full disclosure, the newspapers were typical small town newspapers later sold to a syndicate. Again, back in the good old conservative days of my youth and excellent public schools.j

After graduating from Michigan State University off to live and work in the Chicago area. Years later off to live and work in New Jersey. Next off to live and work in California. Finally off to live and work in Arizona, Arizona where I retired and hoped to finish out my time on earth.

Now Arizona is flashing blue and whatever states I have lived and worked in are blue. So where to next? Arizona is still the state that I dearly love so I will trust and wait on the Lord. Still I somewhat feel disoriented and very sad for children who may never know the freedom I was privileged to live.

Fallacies revisited

Back in 2012 I was taking an online course in Analytical Thinking with Koinonia-Institute studying fallacies. As I worked on a list of fallacies it grew and grew.

Fallacies of Relevance - Errors that Don't Address the Issues.

Appeal to Force/ Fear – “Arguing for a position on the basis that negative consequences will follow if a person does not accept the position. Accept this argument or I'll beat you up!”
Today's liberal, "Use my pronouns or I'll beat you up/ sue you/ get you fired" an example.

Argumentum ad Hominem – “An argument that says "reject whatever he says because he is a bad person:"
An example of that “bad rich person" would be the 2012 presidential election and the methodology of discrediting Governor Romney because of his wealth is a great example of the use Argumentum ad Hominem against the rich.

Consensus Gentium - Accept this because the majority of people believe this is true. This is similar to Appeal to Popularity. It is based on the notion that if the majority believe something is right, it must be right.”
In addition to the brainwashing of young childred is the brainwashing of millions during and after the C-19 plandemic.

Inappropriate Authorities

Straw Man - When a person misrepresents his opponent's position and then proceeds to refute that misrepresentation: The fallacy is that it doesn't refute what the opponent actually believes.
This fallacy is used online like a matra by a local citizen and is in part my inspiration for revisiting this list.

Red Herring - Accept this argument because the other subject is interesting, funny, witty, etc.: The fallacy is that this simply evades the question by changing the subject and then proceeds as if the point had been made.
Success has been demonized, tax the rich!

Nothing Buttery - "Argues that something is "nothing but" some aspect of it: This fallacy is that it reduces a many faceted question down to a single point."
The Marta here is that the “Rich don’t pay their fair share.

Bifurcation I False Dilemma - Bifurcation means to divide something into two parts: The fallacy of bifurcation occurs when someone asserts that there are only two options open to someone when in reality there are more than two.
Implied that either the rich pay their fair share and the schools, etc. get funded or the Rich don’t pay their fair share and these services don’t get funded.

Appeal to Emotion - "Attempting to persuade using emotion: The fallacy is obviously that you can't base truth on emotion."

Other Informal Fallacies

Apriorism – “A priori is starting with a conclusion: To start out with conclusions first (a priori) and then use them to decide whether to accept certain facts is the wrong way around."
So here the starting conclusion is that “The rich don’t pay enough.”

Dismissal – “Adopting an attitude of superiority and dismissing an argument by stating something like "I won't dignify that with an answer." The fallacy is that while sometimes effective politically, it does nothing to change or challenge the facts." Progressives/ liberals often seem to be looking down their noses at the crass capitalists.

Humor or Ridicule – “Using humor to ridicule or distract the audience's attention or to ridicule the person or the argument of another: The fallacy of course is that while humor and ridicule may draw a positive response from one's audience, it is not a substitute for reasoned analysis and argument.”
Too many political cartoons to count.

Meaningless Claim – “When a person makes claims that by their nature, are impossible to verify or refute: Meaningless claims occur because someone uses vague or ambiguous language.”
Try asking a lib what percent of someone's income is fair to tax. Rarely is a direct answer offered.

Oversimplification – “Treating a situation as if it contained only a few relevant factors, when in reality, it contains many. Part of the problem of oversimplification of a situation is that we deprive ourselves of important information necessary to fully understand it.”
More and more critical thinking and common sense seems to be in decline. An example of limiting the sunlight while promoting solar panels.

Poisoning the Well – “Laying down an insult and saying that it applies to anyone who would be so foolish as to disagree: The fallacy is that they arbitrarily label all evidence from a different position as unsound, but with no logical basis for doing so.”
Why is it whenever someone wants to either raise more taxes or impose a union demand that children are always the alleged recipient of the benefit? If for one minute you disagree, then obviously you hate all children.

Special Pleading - When a person expects his opponent to abide by a particular standard when he himself does not, i.e., a double standard: The fallacy is that both should be held to the same standards. 
In the United States we see this in politics where one party holds to a higher standard than the other party does. Israel is blamed by the UN if she defends herself while her enemies have free rein.

Is Miach 6:8 Often Misunderstood, if so why?

The invocation given at a recent town council meeting included a reference to Micah 6:8, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Excellent reminder for those in charge.

Is Micah 6:8 misunderstood today or rather is it rejected as too simple? Does it eliminate man’s control through works?

What does God seek from us? Not extravagant animal sacrifices and certainly not human sacrifices most notably blood shed on the alter of abortion! Rather justice, mercy, and humility. A person not convicted by the Holy Spirit likely is incapable of righteousness.

The gospel is so very simple, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, “3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

Our salvation/ justification rests upon the substitutionary character of the death of Christ, Ephesians 2:8-9, “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.” Jesus was the propitiation for our sin, Isaiah 53:5, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

I’m reminded of the serpent in the garden, “Did God really say that.” Can it be this simple? No requirement for burnt offerings, for works? Satan would have us believe that we take part in our own salvation. Not so, it is a gift which seems to go against man’s pride in doing it his way.

Grace, not works, justifies us, however, good works tend to follow. As we work out our sanctification, we are to do justly, to love mercy and to walk by God. Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” As God’s creation, we are “that which has been made, a work, of the works of God as creator.” [Thayer]

"God hath already told you in his word, with what you ought to come before him. To do justly - To render to every one their due, superiors, equals, inferiors, to be equal to all, and oppress none, in body, goods or name; in all your dealings with men carry a chancery in your own beasts, and do according to equity. To love mercy - To be kind, merciful and compassionate to all, not using severity towards any. Walk humbly with thy God - Keep up a constant fellowship with God, by humble, holy faith.” [John Wesley Commentary]

Milk vs Meat for the Christian

 A few weeks ago Pastor talked about Milk vs Meat for the Christian, Milk for the baby Christian and Meat for the mature Christian. For me this subject hits close to home. More than a decade ago I started to intensely study the Bible with the Koinonia-Institute, an online Christian Think Tank. Here we examine the Bible verse by verse plus related verses. As the brilliance Dr. Chuck Missler oftentimes remarked, "The Bible is a hologram."

Under the unique teachings of Dr. Missler I more or less graduated from Milk to Meat. I was flexing my Christian Meat muscles and then I hit a dry spell. Marketing at Koinonia-Institute changes plus the passing of Dr. Messler, well I let my studies go.

My faith never faltered but was I drifting back to Milk? Was I regressing to need Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby:”

No, I'm still clinging to the Meat of the Word.

I felt like The Apostle Paul was talking to me through the centuries when he called the Hebrews immature, backward, untaught, and dull of hearing. Paul expected far more of the maturing/ mature believer who should not only seek the Meat of the Word, rather should teach the Word.

The Apostle Paul said it even more harshly, "Hebrews 5:11-14, “Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong Meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

I'm responsible to God in the sure knowledge of John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." The study of God's Word is a commitment I've made for the remainder of my earthly incarnation. After that I hope to hear from the Master Himself.

Ancestors who fought in the American Revolution.

End of file from my sister Mary's records. Mary provided lots of family information researched via books before the availability of Internet programs. I added her information and more to PAF decades ago.

I'm adding this to my Christian blog so the information doesn't get lost.

William Robbins is:

1.  First known American ancestor of this family per US,D2,31,VOL2, pg 731.

2.  William was included in the land grant given to soldiers who took part in the campaign against the Mipmuchhs near Webster in King Phillips War, 1675 per "The Robbins Family"  compiled by Frank Eggleston, Ann Arbor 1926-27. Located at Michigan State Library on Michigan Ave. 929.2 R63r.

3.  William was said to be of Scotch ancestry but not proven.

4.  A Williams of Reading was made freeman 18 Apr 1691.

Williams Robbins is the 7th great grandfather of Sally Jane Cooper.

The father of his wife Priscilla Gowing was Robert Gowing born 1618 Edinburg Scotland.

‐‐---Clark Robbins:

MISC: FOUGHT IN REV WAR

      IGI 13,121 745031/0

batch: 7450361 sheet: none call: 002947

Samuel Burley

1. FOUGHT IN REV. WAR DAR Patriot Index, Washington 1966, located at Michigan State Library, Lansing, MI 973.344 D23d:

Samual Burley (Burleigh) b. 9-22-1745 d. 4-9-1825 m. Rachel Roberts Pvt. Ct.

2. Record of Services of Connecticut Men in the I. War of Revolution II. War of 1812 III. Mexican War Compiled by authority of the General Assembly Hartford 1889:  Under list of ther men who marched from the Connecticut towns "for the relief of Boston in the Lexington Alarm" April 1773:

FROM THE TOWN OF UNION:

Samual Burley -- no. of days 6

Jacob Burley -- no. of days 6


2. HELP REFERENCE 213362


!BATCH #: 7450311 NO SHEET CALL NUMBER #: 002898 FOR BIRTH OF SAMUAL AND HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS

BATCH #:7207012 CALL NUMBER #:820264 FOR MARRIAGE

4. See family bio ref in father's notes for additional children, also added to PAF file.  Samual and Rachel Roberts had 13 childredn.  Samual was a farmer at Union, moved to Monson 1797.

The Rapture of the Church revisited 2025

It seemed to me that recently there's been less talk about the Rature of the Church. However, with our bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities and the great offensive of Israel against Iran perhaps it's time to revisit the coming Rapture of the Church.

The three major viewpoints of the rapture of the Church are Pre-Tribulation, Mid-Tribulation and Post-Tribulation.

Call it the Rapture, The Harpazo or the Blessed Hope it will be when Jesus calls His Church home. A wonderful day, an unusual doctrine with a scriptural bases.

1 Thessalonians 4:17, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught (G726) up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

G726 - harpazō - From a derivative of G138; to seize (in various applications): - catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).

Pre-Tribulation Rapture is Jesus coming for His Church before the start of the seven year tribulation and this view is in accordance with “The Doctrine of Imminency.” We can expect Jesus at any moment; there is nothing more required for the Rapture of the Church to occur. 

The Jewish Wedding is analogous to what will happen in the lead up to the rapture. Jesus, the bridegroom, ascended into his father's house to prepare a place for his bride, the Church, just as was done in biblical time. Just as the bride was to be ready as the bridegroom could come at any time, the Church should eagerly anticipate the coming of Jesus for his Church. A recent video, "Before the Wrath" deals with this.

A Mid-Tribulation Rapture embraces the belief that the Church will be caught at the midpoint of the seven year tribulation before the start of the final three and half years known as the time of Jacob’s troubles.

A post-Tribulation rapture point of view claims that the church will go through the seven year Tribulation. We would meet ourselves in the clouds as Jesus calls us to him as He descended to earth.  We would be going up and coming down at the same time.  seems rather convolted so no, the Church will not go through the Tribulation!

Both the mid- trib rapture and a post-trip rapture point of view deny “The Doctrine of Imminency”.

While there are several Scriptures that imply that the Church will be removed prior to the Tribulation there is that bothersome Revelation 12:5-6, “She gave birth to a son who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her child was snatched away from the dragon and was caught up to God and to his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place to care for her for 1,260 days.”

The woman is Israel fleeing after the desecration of the Temple and the breaking midpoint of the seven year year covenant and the start of Jacob’s troubles. The Son of the woman/Israel is Jesus and if His ascension to the Father represents the Church, could this be a mid-trib rapture?

Regardless of my question concerning Revelation 12:5-6, I am still of the belief that the rapture of the church will take place before the start of the seven year tribulation. That said, Christians are being imprisoned, tortured and murdered in many parts of the world.

Although we have been relatively safe since 9/11, we live under the growing threat of jihadists within our country and the indoctrination of our youth. New York City may elect an outspoken believer in Islam as more violence is voted into office. Many students on campuses are turning against Israel and supporting their enemies.

With all this we, the Church, are still here. We've gone through three presidential elections. 

2016 ushered in the Warrior Jehu. Like Jehu President Trump tore down some strongholds.

2020 brought in Biden who followed Isaiah 5:20...
The Rapture seemed so close.

2024 and a return of the Warrior Jehu...
King Cyrus? Or is the fulfillment of Psalm 83 happening? Leading to unwalled villages... a subject for another time. 

Does 2 Timothy 3:16 apply to all scripture revisited?

Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, (G2315) and is profitable (G5624) for doctrine, (G1319) for reproof, (G1650) for correction, (G1882) for instruction (G3809) in righteousness: (G1343).

Doctrine: What's right
Reproof: What's not right
Correction: How to get it right
Instruction: How to stay right

In my opiniom 2 Timothy 3:16 is not applicable to all scripture, rather it is in most cases. To me 2 Peter 1 an example of its applicability and deals mostly with “Instruction.”

2 Peter 1:1, “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:”
Doctrine

2 Peter 1:2, “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,”
Instruction

2 Peter 1:3, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”
Instruction

2 Peter 1:4, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
Correction/ Instruction

2 Peter 1:5, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;”
Instruction

2 Peter 1:6, “And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;”
Instruction

2 Peter 1:7, “And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.“
Instruction

2 Peter 1:8, “For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Reproof

2 Peter 1:9, “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”
Reproof

2 Peter 1:10, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”
Instruction

2 Peter 1:11, “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Instruction

2 Peter 1:12, “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.”
Correction/ Instruction

G2315 - From G2316 and a presumed derivative of G4154; divinely breathed in: - given by inspiration of God.

G5624 - From a form of G3786; helpful or serviceable, that is, advantageous: - profit (-able).

G1319 - From G1320; instruction (the function or the information): - doctrine, learning, teaching.

G1650 - From G1651; proof, conviction: - evidence, reproof.

G1882 - From a compound of G1909 and G461; a straightening up again, that is, (figuratively) rectification (reformation): - correction.

G3809 - From G3811; tutorage, that is, education or training; by implication disciplinary correction: - chastening, chastisement, instruction, nurture.

G1343 - From G1342; equity (of character or act); specifically (Christian) justification: - righteousness.