Seeing Adultery & Pornography in a New Way [2 Samuel 12:1-6]

As we study 2 Samuel 12:1-6, the aftermath of David's adultery with Bathsheba, we consider that sin and also pornography, a little differently. One commentator has labeled it 'theft'. Find out why. Join us as we study together. Here's the Youtube link: https://youtu.be/jukucXkzOO8

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Why we, like David, sometimes fail to recognize EVILl in us. (2 Samuel ...

These few verses at the end 2 Samuel chapter 11 give us a sold understanding of how we fail to recognize our sin as evil. And why doing so puts the true Christian into great turmoil. Join us for this deep look at David covering up after he got Bathsheba pregnant and had her husband killed. See it on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/fIHeJMtMIdo

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Adultery Followed By Murder. How Low Can One Get? Pretty Low. [2 Samue...

.This video on  @Digging for Scriptural Gems  takes a close look at how David tried to cover up his sin with Bathsheba -- it's not unlike what some wish they could do today? We can learn a lot of how to say 'no' to the Devil and 'yes' to God. Join us at: https://youtu.be/qMH5GtcWDD4 .

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God Gives You a Chance Right After the Affair. [2 Samuel 11:6-13]

One of the sins most devastating to an individual and to others is that of adultery. But there is a way to overcome and live victoriously afterwards. Join us as we study David's sin with Bathsheba, Part 2 from 2nd Samuel 11:6-13. You can join us on YouTube at https://youtu.be/OUtFTqW_DGo . Please "like" our video and also subscribe to our YouTube channel: Digging for Scriptural Gems.

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David & Bathsheba, Part I -- The Back Story (2 Samuel 11:1-5)

We've all heard what happened. It happens every day. But in didn't need to happen then and it doesn't need to happen now. Join us as we study the "Back Story" to the adultery between David and Bathsheba from 2nd Samuel 11:1-5, now on YouTube right here: https://youtu.be/WynwV_MLiLE

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God's Enemies Don't Give Up. We Need to Heed God's Warnings. (2 Samuel 1...

It all fits together. David stays home, Israel causes enemies to flee. David leads the army, enemies flee and armies destroyed. God is trying to say something to David. If he (or we) fail to heed God's warning, there's trouble ahead. Join us as we study 2nd Samuel 10:15-19. Watch it on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/otFgEzPhHgw

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Facing Your Enemies. What have you got? (2 Samuel 10:6-14)

David gets insulted. Fumes. But doesn't initiate revenge. Find out what happened as we study 2nd Samuel 10:6-14 together on YouTube. We learn there are two things we can count on when facing our enemies. Check us out here: https://youtu.be/efeOIXdMpLI

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Kindness is sometimes rejected. 2 Samuel 10:1-5

David again shows us his true character is one of kindness, but don't cross him once he has extended it to you. In this study of 2nd Samuel 10:1-5 we see how third parties can really get things wrong and cause a war. Join us for that on YouTube. Click here: https://youtu.be/nMqD4Jely3k

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Grace Begets Grace. Have you done your part? (2 Samuel 9:9-13)

As one studies the Word of God, one starts to realize how much the Hand of God went into its writing. You'll be amazed at the parallels between David's grace shown to Mephibosheth and God's grace shown to us. What remains for us to do is obvious. Join us on YouTube as we study 2nd Samuel 9:9-13. Click here: https://youtu.be/CU2OxK5hujE

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Keeping our promises; and taking care of the less fortunate. David shows...

In this short Bible study of 2 Samuel 9:1-8, we learn more about David's character and learn some great lessons about the keeping promises, and helping out others who feel hopeless. Join us on YouTube, then write to us, and share this video. Here's the link: https://youtu.be/nBaVNbhiC6U

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Reigning Well. David shows us how. And what we're missing today. (2 Sam...

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Two difficult topics: Receiving glory; and dealing with having unsaved loved on...

It takes a little extra work to bring these gems out of this passage, but I believe they're there -- some help in dealing with glory thrown upon us by men, and some thoughts on how to deal with depression that is caused by the fact that a loved one is not saved and couldn't care less. Join us as we study 2 Samuel 8:9-12 on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/3BgCGJ2JUFA

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He kills, takes prisoners, slays horses, and plunders. Yet God blesses. ...

What exactly was David's secret? He kills, takes prisoners, slays animals, plunders the dead -- and God keeps on blessing. This is indeed difficult for us to understand -- from our perspective. We have to see from God's blueprints, not ours. Join us as we study 2 Samuel 8:1-8 and also see how Scripture keeps its integrity through the ages. Here's the YouTube link: https://youtu.be/6dBRpAlf5vM

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Until we get this response right, we haven't arrived as a believer IMHO....

I really believe that unless we can respond as David did after getting a big NO from God, we are somehow missing out on a lot of joy and blessing. What do you think? Take a look and let us know. You can catch the Youtube short study right here: https://youtu.be/hvx692G8EsE

A close look at 2 Samuel 7:18-29

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2 Samuel 7:1-17, Part 2. Digging further into the Davidic Covenant.

In this study, we look at the various nuances in this Covenant that God gave to David and consider what it may mean for us as we serve Him. Join us on YouTube as we continue tour detailed digging for scriptural gems. Today's study can be found at: https://youtu.be/v_kF4KcIRqY

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Feeling Sorry for God? Didn't work out too well for David. (2 Samuel 7:...

David's heart was in the right place, but his timing and his reading of God's wishes were a little off. Sometimes we make the same mistake. There are ways to guard against that. Study 2 Samuel 7:1-17 here as we see about what God thinks of David's concern. for God's dwelling place. On YouTube at: https://youtu.be/uW26_fklVRg

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There Has To Be a Better Way: Christian Schools and LGBTQ

There Has To Be a Better Way: Christian Schools and LGBTQ 

One of the saddest articles that I have ever read concerning Christian Schools appeared on my laptap on August 22, 2022. It was published by nextgennews.org, a company dedicated to presenting news to youth. Based on a review of their site, I believe the co-founders lean considerably to the left. Their bias shows in just about every article.

In the interest of full disclosure, you should know that I am a heterosexual male senior and a Christian. Now journey with me as we dig deeper into the article.

For starters, you may want to read the article here: Christian School Bans LGBTQ students. But don’t forget to come back.

Let’s start with the site’s headline – Christian School Says LGBTQ Students ‘Will Be Asked to Leave Immediately’. Certainly meant to capture your attention and get your ire up. And it does, rightly so. It then goes on to say the school cites the book of Levticus in the Old Testament as its basis for doing so.

Then there is an email from the school’s Administrator sent at the beginning of the school year – school starts in mid-August in Valrico, Florida. The article states that the school lumps “being LGBTQ, or engaging in acts including ‘bestiality, incest, fornication, and pornography’ as ‘lifestyles.’” It seems the left would encourage you to believe otherwise. However, I would say that all of these are lifestyles, just as being heterosexual, vegetarian, yoga practicing, teetotaler, church attender, hunter, concealed weapon carrier, and serial killer are all lifestyles.  And depending on who you are and what you believe in, they may be good or bad lifestyles, especially if you don’t believe in absolutes.

In my mind, the problem in this situation arises when a school administration believes that identifying yourself as a member of the LGBTQ community automatically equates to, and assumes that, you are a practicing LGBTQ member when it comes to sexual relations. There are people who identify as such, but do not practice it. I can think of three categories. First, those who have not yet gone public with their identity; second those who have found value in a faith that prohibits such practice so they are willing to remain celibate; and third, and especially relevant in this instance, because they are way too young to have sexual relations. For heaven’s sake, we’re talking about a K-12 school.

In my opinion, the school is totally wrong in including self-identification as an LGBTQ member in the same group as being a practicing one. What if I were a student in your school who ‘identified’ as a total sinner – would that get me kicked out as well?  Though the great majority of people who commented on this article whole-heartedly support the decision of the school, I maintain that there is nothing in this action that is, in my view, Christ-like.

On a secondary matter, the article says the email indicated the school’s decision to refer to students by their biological genders on their birth certificates – something I totally agree with. The article is quick to point out that the National Institute of Health (NIH) defines ‘gender’ as a ‘social construct’ as opposed to one of two sexes: male and female. Not sure who died and gave them the authority to change definitions on us. I believe that both traditionally and scientifically, gender has always been based on one’s sex.  But hey…

The school’s website claims they want to provide “the best Christian education and training for ALL children, for God is not a respecter of persons.” Well, they got that part right. But I would point out to the school’s administration that they are to provide Christian Education and training to ALL children, not to “all CHRISTIAN children”.  They are failing to take advantage of their opportunities with their latest decision.

I have no problem with the school calling “’humanism, materialism, secularism, and New Age’ philosophies ‘godless’” as the article points out. Sometimes the truth hurts.  But again, the intention here is to incite those readers who feel attached to one or more of those “isms” by pointing out that a Christian school is calling them ‘godless’ – yet in truth, they are just that.

While the article points out that the school says no one is admitted whose parents and their church are not in full support of their purposes and policies, one wonders whether the actual written and communicated policy to exclude students who identify as LGBTQ was in place from the start or is something new.

So what should the school have done? To answer that question, let’s first ask why we even bother to have so-called Christian schools.

As a former teacher, and currently a parent and grandparent, I believe the answer boils down to this – and this school’s stated principle as we quoted it above and repeat it here is not far off -- to provide “the best Christian education and training for ALL children, for God is not a respecter of persons.” This school, and and all other such schools, should stick to that rather than try to control a young child’s sexual identification, given all the media hype, social platform clips, and lifestyle examples of people they and their parents love to watch on screen. Any educator should know better.

Secondly, the policy should be re-written immediately to better reflect reality, and more importantly, a Christ-like New Testament attitude, rather than a Mosaic Levitical Law. Let me provide an illustration here.  Let’s assume, as I personally believe, that both the New Testament and the Old Testament agree that stealing is wrong and a sin. Without getting into the belief of ‘relativists’ we should be able to agree on that.  Now let us suppose that a teenager has this deep desire and urge to steal from her parents, sell the goods, and buy whatever she wants with the money. But doesn’t.  Does a Christian parent (or any parent for that matter, but especially a Christian one) ban her from the house and/or report her to the police?  Of course not. The urge to commit an act is not and should not be punishable if the act was never committed. Furthermore, even if she did steal from her parents and got caught, they would have an opportunity for further training and instruction, and there’s a chance she would never do it again.  If she continued to repeat the behavior, then they would have no recourse but to do just that – ban her and/or report.  Probably the best thing they could do for her at that point.

The school in this case, should explain why it believes certain actual behaviors are not in accordance with a lifestyle that God would condone. It should at the same time admit that the forces of society today are such that they would easily cause young people to feel they want to be, or believe they are, in the LBGTQ community. At that stage they should be willing to listen without condemning. They should offer the help that the student needs to deal with their feelings, with the understanding that any actual known practice of LGBTQ sexual activity cannot be accepted at the school.

There are more questions I would ask the school administration.  For example, what if a grade six student identified as an LGBTQ member, was banned, went to another school, and as she got older started practicing her lifestyle, and then in grade 11 or 12, she denounced it and asked to come back – would you allow her back?  I hope so.

Here’s another question…  How many of these students that you expel for simply identifying as LGBTQ do you think you will win over as true Christians once you’ve kicked them out?  I venture to say ‘zero to none’.  Or what about the family in which one of the parents is not a Christian but agrees to send the student to a Christian school to satisfy the other parent who is? How many of them do you think that your policy would help bring into the Kingdom?  Or do you even care?

Let me close with this thought.  I know that one argument could be that this is the “slippery slope” – knowing kids and especially teenagers – “if we allow these self-identifying LGBTQers in our school, they will influence so many other children.” Let me tell you, if you think that your policy will stop that, you’re dreaming in technicolor.  I submit to you that your actions will influence them more towards that lifestyle, than their friends who believe they want it. And what of children that you are causing to have to hide their sexuality feelings and confusion? What kind of damage does your policy cause for these young people when you should have a heart to help them?

In summary, I can’t see any “Jesus” in your position.

·      Ken B. Godevenos, August 22, 2022, Murrells Inlet, S.C.

·      I would appreciate your comments and thoughts.

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Have you ever been mocked for your faith? 2 Samuel 6:16-23

Many in the world have been mocked for their faith and worship over the years. A good number have been mocked by their spouses. Certainly some kings have been mocked like that. David was one of them. Join us as we study 2 Samuel 6:16-23 and try to get some insights into how we might respond. Catch it here on Youtube: https://youtu.be/W-gtVmIbksI

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To Dance or Not To Dance. It's Your Feet. But will you let someone else ...

This short passage gives rise to a number of interesting issues, not the least of which is 'dancing as part of worship' -- yes or no? You decide. I'd appreciate your views. Write to us after you see the video studying 2nd Samuel 6:12-15. Check us out on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/FYudrCSujyA

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Was December 1940 a Harbinger of What Awaits Us in the 2020's?

photo: gardeningknowhow.com

Was December 1940 a Harbinger of What Awaits Us in the 2020’s?

Britain was not succumbing to the pressure of Hitler’s insistence that she surrender. As a result, Germany’s Minister of Propaganda and Popular Culture, Joseph Goebbels decided to take whatever action necessary to fight anything that threatened to undermine Germany’s public morality. How the two were related is not certain.

Nevertheless, he gave strict orders. No strippers were to perform in rural areas, small towns, or in front of soldiers. Masters of ceremonies at cabarets and night clubs were forbidden to introduce any acts which made political wisecracks or used lewd erotic jokes in their performances.

But his biggest target was the celebration of Weihnachten, or as we know it, Christmas. Erik Larson in his book The Splendid and the Vile (2020) writes this:

Goebbels also brooded about Christmas. Germans loved Christmas – Weihnachten – more than any other holiday. They sold Christmas trees on every corner, sang carols, danced, and drank to excess. He warned his lieutenants against the creation of “a sentimental Christmas atmosphere” and condemned the “blubbing and mourning” that Christian holidays induced. It was “unsoldierly and un-German,” he said, and must not be allowed to extend through the whole period of Advent. “This must be confined exclusively to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day,” he told the group. And even then, he said, Christmas was to be framed in the context of the war.  “A sloppy Christmas tree atmosphere lasting several weeks is out of tune with the militant mood of the German people.”

Those sentiments and orders could certainly come from extreme leftist and atheist groups, and the politicians who support them in the United States today, if they had the power to do so… Or if they had the guts. My fear is they have the guts without the authority but haven’t found it prudent to do so just yet.  As far as Canada goes, our man in Ottawa could easily already be thinking like this. He would present it as “an action we must take for the good of the majority of intelligent Canadians”.  In other words: these Christians, who are a drag on progressive society, need to be controlled.

Our governments started whittling away at our freedom a few years back when they invented the Covid-19 Pandemic. They liked the psychedelic effect of the power that doing so gave them. They’re now addicted, and like all druggies, they want to increase the doses of what they’re taking. No matter how you cut the cake, we’re not far from orders akin to Goebbels’ coming our way.

But wait, there are still more similarities between Goebbels and our leaders in Washington and Ottawa. Right after writing the paragraph above, Larson writes the following:

At his own home, however, Goebbels found himself increasingly mired, not unhappily, in preparations for the holiday. He and his wife, Magda, had six children . . .. The children were excited, as was Magda, “who thinks about nothing but Christmas,” Goebbels wrote [in his personal diary].

Diary, December 11: “A lot of work with the Christmas parcels and gifts. I have to distribute them to the 120,000 soldiers and flak gunners in Berlin alone. But I enjoy it. And then the host of personal commitments. These are increasing from year to year.”

December 13: “Choose Christmas gifts! Make Christmas arrangements along with Magda. The children are sweet.”

. . . [Larson continues] He [Goebbels] authorized Christmas bonuses for his colleagues. “They must have some sort of compensation for all their work and their ceaseless dedication.”

Many of us who follow what our politicians say and compare it to what they actually do or what they want of us versus what they impose on themselves, will recognize Goebbels as a master hypocrite not unlike the leaders of many of our western countries today.  Just look at their cries for climate change policies while they run up thousands and thousands of miles in private jet flying.  Or look at the calls for tightening our belts and accepting some suffering while they give themselves and their colleagues annual increases, and in the case of Canada, large performance bonuses when hardly any of their target goals were met.

Hypocrisy in leadership was alive and well and living in Berlin and elsewhere during WW2.  Today, some eight plus decades later, we see it has spread and grown like the Kudzu Vine that ate the U.S. south.

As conservatives and Christians resist the wishes of the left and the woke, we will see an increase of attempts to tighten the screws of human freedom and at the same time grow the gap between the privilege of the few elites and the rest of the world. This happened in the 1940’s and it is happening now. But we first must recognize it and admit it is indeed happening to us right here and now.

And then, we must not give up.  We must fight to the bitter end in whatever way we can, as difficult as that may be. We can each do it alone, even if it kills us.  But banded together, they cannot ignore us all, or kill us all. After all, who will polish their boots?

n  Ken B. Godevenos, August 15, 2022, Murrells Inlet, S.C.

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