James Ussher's Annals Of The World
"A Remembrance, and as always, a purpose."
Statement of Faith
I am a ‘will of the reasonable creature guy’; I chose to believe that Jesus died for me, and personally expressed to Him, almost daily (even moment by moment - yep a 'Classical Arminian', an easy answer to a tough question, unless one ignores history and Biblical context, and the fact that God will not reduce himself to running a lottery system),
I believe my infant Baptism was the beginning of my journey, not the end, and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit saves us, and that water Baptism is just a Church rite (however useful),
I believe if anyone says "I need to confess something else", they are grieving God's Spirit, my spirit, the church's spirit, and the spirit of the Mission to the world,
I believe in His second coming to rescue His own,
I believe in a 6020 or so year old universe, and of course the foundational truth for any ultimate success, a literal 6 day creation,
I believe Rev. 20 is about the first 1000 years of the ‘Resurrected Church’ (and second 1000 really …),
I believe Matthew 16:15-18 is about Peter's confession of Christ being the Rock, and not Peter,
I believe St. Patrick was part of the Church of first 1000 years, and not part of any developing -ism-.
I believe the Reformation was about the Church having too many isms (time for another Reform),
I believe if we looked at the Bible in its historical context, we would not have so many divisive -isms-,
I believe Daniel’s 70 Weeks has been historically fulfilled (Nehemiah to Agrippa I, 3 ½, 3 ½ desolation of Jerusalem to 70 AD),
I believe it was 430 years from the Promise (to Abraham) until the giving of the Law (Gal 3:17 - Israel's association with Egypt),
I believe Jesus lived 36 years (3 yr. verse: Luke 4:15 – 4 BC? History off by 3 years.),
I believe the early Church was successfully politically and socially involved as was some later Churches,
I believe the Kingdom is now, like I need to go to Tire Kingdom to replace my car's rear tires,
I believe the Old Testaments Saints who arose with Jesus (Matthew 27:51-53) were the 'cloud' that Jesus ascended into (Acts 1:9-11), and the 'cloud' before the throne in Daniel 7:13, and the 'cloud' that returns with Jesus 2nd coming (Mt. 27:51-53 and Rev 7, 12000 each tribe that witnessed),
and I believe that the Magi were there on the 1st Christmas Eve (yipes).
Other than these, I get along with just about everybody.
My -ism-: 'Real-ism'. God's Word (originally oral or progressively written down) has always been sufficient to provide peace and security for God's People across many generations. Sure we are imperfect, but how much trouble is caused by a lack of contextual agreement, starting with an accurate historical understanding, or those who dismiss it to support their -ism-? And this starting with the first 5 verses of the Bible.
And maybe the most sinister and destructive -ism- is the one that says I cannot choose my own fate. Ironically, I have to surrender my will to their -ism- (and their depravity - got enough of my own), instead of Christ (and His righteousness). And to be honest, if any grace is easy believeism, it is limited grace. And along with cheap grace, they both destroy initiative in impacting the world we live in.
Finally, if grace is not cooperative, then everything is meaningless, and nothing works. Of course, if one wants to live and die with '666', go for it.
See other Menu Pages for documentation on these beliefs.
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PS. Of course, Catholic means Universal Church.
What is going on, and how did we get here?
I just heard that a prolife group wants to buy an expensive property next to an abortion clinic. An 'in your face' alternative. Playing for a costly tie?
Our last prolife US President was a 'law and order guy' and he (and the mission) was trashed for executing justice on a world class murderer in an attempt to stabilize a 'terrorized' area of the world (a lot more today - here and abroad, even I-95).
Do we need a redefinition of 'prolife'?
Today, the US Supreme Court has one less 'prolifer'. The last eight or ten years could have even added two. How about God fearing leadership.
'Giveaways' or 'personal responsibility that honors God, not only here, but in the rest of the nations?' How dumb is today's view?
When I hear Classical Music I think of the arts, science, technology, even Ussher's work, etc. that came out the post Reformation period. God inspired His People to accomplish 'great things'.
And much like the early Christians who overcame Rome, it was inspired by extreme persecution. Why do we always have to wait until the 'roof falls in'? Worldliness?
2nd Chronicles 20 records an event in Jehoshaphat's reign that relates how we deal with a powerful enemy approaching. Jehoshaphat, with Godly counsel from a priest, calls for a congregational meeting, complete with prayer and supplication and Psalms singing. Okay so far.
Then the assembled army 'goes out' to meet the enemy with the assurance that God is with them. Of course the enemy is defeated by God before they get there.
Today we face a similar situation. But we seem to be doing everything but 'going out', after the meeting? Oh we might invite others to Sunday meeting, etc., but to be honest, I had to find Jehoshaphat's story on my own, not to mention many other His'tories. Godly counsel?
I was born 11/1944 (a pre baby boomer), raised and mentored by WWII folks. A Joshua and Caleb generation. A people raised in hardship, but up to the task.
In grade school we had a 10 Commandments Plaque in the hallway. In high school we started our day with the Lords Prayer. Of course the last year we had monkeys to man charts on the wall. Need I say more?
October 1962, my first full time job, happy as a lark, waiting for my first Friday pay (cash). Everyone is concerned about the Cuban Missile Crisis. Will I get my first pay? Yes, Russia backs off, Kennedy is called a hero, and I get my $37.50.
Later I find out the Russians agreed to leave if we get our Missiles out of Turkey. Russia is made to look bad and hello 'cold'er war'.
11/22/63, I am taking an IQ test for a 16 year job. Timed test, I finish, recheck... Finally I walkout and building is empty. I have been left behind? No, JFK is assassinated. Left behind.
9/11/65 drafted to assist with Vietnam, worse run war ever (and LBJ’s Great Society Forever Giveaway Program). Many left behind in a lost effort.
7/1/75 My Spiritual Birthday: starting reading the Bible (no footnotes, no papal pictures, Catholic or Protestant), from the Beginning, here and there, until the Gospels, and my encounter with Jesus and my surrender of my will to His. Over the years He has taught me to 'take pride in what I do for Him, and not who I am' (the Devil's downfall and those who follow him). Of course the hard part has been a consistent 'confession of Christ' and of course 'taking pride in what I do, and not in who I am.
7/1/81, got my 30 year job. Ground floor of PC revolution, Reagan revolution, and B Graham and DJ Kennedy's spiritual revolution. My salvation and no lark is happier!
04/20/99 (Columbine Day) diagnosed with lymphatic cancer. A great Jewish doctor cures me (or God, depending on who you ask).
Shortly thereafter, I get an advanced copy of Ussher's Annals on my desk, and like an old boss, selling what we don't have, dumps a manual on my desk, and I hear, 'what are you going to do with this'? Am I a happy lark? You bet. When I am rejected for this work, am I happy? Why me Lord?
Nixon makes treaties and Reagan 'brings down the wall' and both Bushes negotiate a temporary stability in the Middle East (undermined from the beginning and ultimately squandered). "Fix it there, or it comes here".
A 3rd competent Bush could not get a hearing, thanks to low information voters (foreign, imported, domestic, pagan, and otherwise). A lot of folks ‘beat the bushes’, or ‘flail at men they don’t understand’. It is all about responsible behavior.
After the first World Trade Center bombing, a bad king said: 'let police handle it', or 'we have too many Cruise Missiles in stock'. The next good king was saddled with a broken system when 9/11/01 occurred, and got blamed for it, and all that followed...
Well anyway, eventually: Hello friendship, business and space partners, religious freedom for Russian Christians (Chinese too, even here).
Today, well since 2006 (irresponsible Congress ... President voted in - what Constitution and responsible behavior?), we have our military on alert in Asia, and our Missiles backing up the Europeans at the new 'imMaginot Line', near Russia, the Middle East aflame again, and terrorism and immorality everywhere, and of course world courts that decide that The 10 Commandments are the 10 Rights of man to break them.
The jury is still out on the 2016 Presidential Election. My gut feel: “we voted out of anger”. We should have looked at “who is a good diplomat, and respects the 10 Commandments”.
Good leadership is essential. Good King/Bad King. Bad Kings have to humiliate others (and the Truth) to elevate themselves. Then we get a Good King and bash them for resuming tough choices. And I have a corrected take on that 60's favorite 'When will they ever learn?' 'They' means 'we'. If 'we' don't care, why should 'they'.
What do we say to that 'great cloud of witnesses'? And who is the 'last generation'?
Being retired, I watch and listen. I sense the world is really worried and confused. A perfect time for "Good News".
They might be listening. Need more happy larks.
Not paid for by a Super PAC. But, 'pray' is approved by the 7 Churches.
Credits: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and then Doctors Ray Dillard and Richard Gaffin of Westminster Seminary, Philadelphia, who in the early 80s as pulpit supply, in the Jewish Community Center in Trenton, NJ, who started my journey down the Historical Road.
And of course James Ussher.
And most of all Jesus of Nazareth. The choice we all have to make,
