Easy Accessibility to Guns Not the Problem

     President Obama believes easy accessibility to guns is partly to blame* in the deaths of innocent people. Yes, a gun was used so in that sense he was correct. But logic dictates that these statements are misleading people to think guns are the problem. I’ve checked enough stats online to see that they certainly have more guns per 100 people than other “developed” countries (88.8 to 45.7 Swit.), but Switzerland has more firearm homicides than the U.S. (72.2% Swit. to 67.5%) (some countries also have no stats on homicides)

     Easy accessibility to guns cannot be anymore to blame for deaths than knives, poison, bombs, and especially vehicles. {Perhaps they need to prioritize more stringent vehicle regulations since in 2013 motor vehicles killed 32,719 compared to 12,560 homicides by gun- 2014. For whatever reason I couldn’t find the same year…} A more concerning stat: suicide rates by gun are 6.7 compared to homicides at 3.55.

Accessibility to guns isn’t the problem--- we are!

And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Gn. 6:5

…the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth… Gn. 8:21

     I am a sinner too, but I would never think to drive a half hour to take one of the 7 handguns and 5 rifles with ammunition that I know of to go and shoot anyone--- for ANY reason. I respect the lives of others of all colours, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations… etc. God made every person that walks this earth and I believe since He wants them alive, I have no right to purposely destroy those lives OR treat them with any less love than He would.

Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Mt. 22:37-39

     Still, most North Americans can easily find many ways to kill others online or by tv shows using items in our houses or the nearest stores, but most choose not to do so. Does the fact of increasing gun crimes not indicate a far more systemic problem such as ungodly- anger, disrespect, arrogance, believing others have less value (sin) for ANY reason. These are some of the systemic problems we need to address in all ages.

     In the 80’s I used to get teased quite a bit but I never thought to kill those who teased me. And just as bad as those who kill are those who will not stand up for what is right and protect others. I heard of a teen who told fellow classmates she was going to shoot the girl who teased her, and the classmates followed and watched! Our society’s problems are farther reaching than accessibility to guns; taking them away without addressing the basic issues just means the weapon of choice will change. (There are many homicides in China by knives.)

Mr. President- taking away guns or making more stringent gun regulations will not change the way your country handles their problems. The evil in men’s hearts will still be there. Men need Jesus to transform their lives so they no longer have to live with sin ruling their bodies. Lord, how will we stand before you and justify our lack in standing for the truth?

*Obama’s words- in part:

We don't have all the facts, but we do know that once again, innocent people were killed in part because someone who wanted to inflict harm had no trouble getting their hand on a gun.

this type of mass violence does not happen in other advanced countries. It doesn't happen in other places with this kind of frequency. (Charlie Hebdo…) (1985- 329 dead in plane bombing- Vancouver)

Jehovah Rophi

     Healing is the process of making or becoming sound or healthy again. I didn’t have many health problems (that I knew of) growing up but looking back I think we were emotionally neglected. I got saved when I was 16 and the first evangelical church I went to believed in praying for healing- so I’ve seen healings with my own eyes. The Lord has used me to lay hands on people and they have been healed. Does God heal today? Absolutely- when He chooses.

     I have had physical, mental and emotional healings, and I think the greatest healings in my life have been mental and emotional. Before I bring them up, let me counter some incorrect notions about healing.

1. You can’t be healed without (enough) faith. Many with faith are not healed, and many without faith have been healed. It is God’s choice when our healing is completed. He is sovereign*, otherwise He is not omnipotent (all power Rv. 19:6)

2. If a person is not healed it is because they have sin in their lives- This one is soooo illogical. Everyone has sin in their lives, Christian or not. I’ve been healed and I’ve NEVER been sin free!

3. Maybe the person laying on hands didn’t do it right or pray right, or the person didn’t receive it right- It is not up to the human, but the Jehovah Rophi, the Lord who heals (Ex. 15:26).

4. I'm sick, disabled, diseased because God is punishing me- He could if He wanted to I guess, but what good and loving Father strikes his child with disease, disabilities and sickness? Usually we just allow our children to suffer the consequences of their own choices. (Cold because they didn’t wear their coat) And this sinful life contributes to many health problems.

For what father of you, if the son asks for bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a snake for a fish? Or if he shall ask for an egg, will he give him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? Lk. 11:11-13  Who is good? Who is evil?

5. God hates me, that's why He doesn't heal me-Why? For your sin?  For where your mind goes? For what you’ve done? For not obeying Him? For ignoring Him? see #2

6. God doesn’t heal today- Well, that makes me and all others who have been healed, liars or crazy. (Don’t forget, many claimed Jesus didn’t heal certain people when He walked the earth or that the devil worked through Him.) Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever. Hb. 13:8

I’ve been healed of many things, but here are only a few:

Healed of various fears. (1 example- perfection- here, here, and here)

Lungs healed. (here for my story)

Shattered heart from inability to have children healed. (here)

Broken heart from rejection by son healed. (here and here)

Believing  deep down I was stupid, ugly, unlovable- healed over time and by many huge, miraculous leaps

Why hasn’t God completely healed me yet? I don’t know, but if He wanted me to know He would tell me. Until then, I will move forward with God, believe for His ultimate healing here or in Heaven, and pray that no matter what happens, my life, this person I am, would bring Him glory. 

Use my life as You wish oh Lord…

*supreme authority, control, and power over all that has happened, is happening, and will happen in the future

But our God is in Heaven; He has done whatever He has pleased. Ps. 115:3

A man's heart plans his way, but Jehovah directs his steps. Pr. 16:9

And said, O Jehovah, the God of our Fathers, are You not God in Heaven? And do You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? And is there power and might in Your hand, so that none is able to withstand You? 2Ch. 20:6

He who sits on the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in; who brings the rulers to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth as vanity. Is. 40:22,23

Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, This is the Word of Jehovah to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says Jehovah of Hosts. Zc. 4:6

Now You See Me

     This movie came out in 2013. I had no interest to see it then or months later when my children wanted me to watch it. ‘Magic’ and I don’t mix. Eventually I did watch and enjoy the movie- it is different. I watched it a second time remembering most of the story, except for who was orchestrating the whole thing. Hopefully you understand my synopsis.

(Many spoilers ahead so do not read on if you don’t want to know before you watch it.)

     Cue in one FBI man and Interpol woman, the 4 horsemen (illusionists), one rich man pay rolling the illusionists, and one ‘magic’ debunker. Four illusionists of sketchy and criminal pasts are lured into working together on a high-tec illusion. In front of an audience they rob a bank, but no one can figure out how since they were on a different continent. It seems every one is so focused on the details they are not looking at the whole picture. FBI seeks help from debunker.

     FBI seems set in his ways while Interpol is willing to look open minded. The horsemen do another show where they rob rich and give his ill gained money to people in the audience in a rather interesting way. FBI/ Interpol believe a 5^th horseman is orchestrating the crimes. Let’s call him Leader. FBI/ Interpol are seen as incompetent. Rich is mostly broke but ‘hires’ debunker to shred the horsemen on tv.

     One horseman dies. Papers are found directing FBI/ Interpol to a safe containing millions. Room where safe was supposed to be is empty but safe is found in outbound truck. Safe is followed to find 3 horsemen left. Safe is full of balloons, not money. Money is found in debunker’s car and he is put in jail. Horsemen get away, connect with the fourth and Leader is revealed to them, someone who seemed unlikely.

     Now, what’s this to do with God, you ask? There are parallels (albeit loose) to life and God. Christians are like the horsemen (criminals/ sinners redeemed for a new purpose) working for someone (Leader) they only think they comprehend but who is the only One that truly knows the whole plan (isn’t that like God?) from beginning to end.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins… Ep. 1:7

declaring the end from the beginning, and from the past things which were not done, saying, My purpose shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure; Is. 46:10

The investigators/ skeptics (who think they are smarter than the horsemen & Leader) are those who try to solve a mystery that is beyond them while believing it is possible to understand/ solve all using logic or science. Others, blinded by the world’s pleasures, are just out there enjoying the excitement of the world’s illusions, okay to being blind to the truth.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways My ways, says Jehovah. Is. 55:8

For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him?... 1Cr. 2:16

Because, knowing God, they did not glorify Him as God, neither were thankful. But they became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools Rm. 1:21,22

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God 1Cr. 3:19

In the end, Leader’s plan is fulfilled to the letter and he is revealed to those who serve him much like God is revealed to us (when born again) before the world sees Him (when He comes again) and before ALL will see His every plan fulfilled.

Behold, He comes with the clouds, and every eye will see Him Rv. 1:7

For truly I say to you, Till the heaven and the earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall in any way pass from the Law until all is fulfilled. Mt. 5:18

There are many purposes in a man's heart, but the counsel of Jehovah shall stand. Pr. 19:21

Jehovah of Hosts has sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so it shall come to pass; and as I have purposed, it shall stand; Is. 14:24

     I guess my question to me is: am I seeing God as He is, or are my biases, perspective, previous assumptions, and earlier learning interfering with God being revealed to me in the truth according to His Word? In other words, am I neglecting to see Him as He truly is… as Lord and Master of ALL the universe, whose plan and purpose cannot be stopped until all is fulfilled- including my part in it? He sees the beginning and the end of the plan. I only see what He allows me to see, and that is enough to know what I ought to be doing to follow His plan. 

     You are sovereign Lord, and I bow to Your wisdom as He who made the plans from the beginning to eternity. Help me to follow Your will full of faith and without hesitation as well as discern that which is right and wrong so that I may always distinguish between Your voice and others. Lead me and guide me every step of the way in which You want me to go. I choose to follow You!