Let me tell you, my tongue is getting very sore from biting it.

More and more, I am finding that I need to walk out of rooms, on the subject of vaccines, masks, racism, homosexuality, etc...

I am actually not afraid to speak my mind, but many times I am finding out it is better to remain silent in many family situations where to open my mouth will cause fights and division.

I am at present, sitting on my back deck after doing just that.
My niece, who is not a believer but respects us, because of how we live, is visiting.
She was going off on people that have not been vaccinated that can be vaccinated. Then she started talking about her mother in law, whose husband (her son) has just finished fixing up her basement sweet to rent. Apparently she had some renters lined up, but that fell through when she found out they were lesbians. My niece was rolling her eyes as she said this and added, "I am going to assume that she is racist too."

Now there is no love lost between her mother- in law and me; we have our issues. However, as you can well imagine, I had to leave the room lest I caused a a family squabble. My wife also, did not comment and let our niece's comments slide.

I was recently advised by a pastor friend, that I should not remain quiet when such things are brought up. However, my experience tells me that sometimes it is better to say nothing with some people.

End of rant.

I prayed last night (half the night) about Daniel 8 and the 2,300 evenings and mornings.

Then, it hit me. Here is my explanation.

That is, in Daniel 8:14 the 2,300 evenings and mornings is tied to the creation story as that language just stands out like a sore thumb (evenings and mornings).

So I now believe this is referring to the days from creation to the fall of man. It also there talks about the seed of woman crushing the serpent’s head—the little horn of Daniel (which comes out in Jesus’ day from the 4th beast the Roman Empire).

Daniel 8:10 it talks also about the stars being cast down from heaven which is also a theme in Revelation chapter 12 (Rev 12:4).

This chapter (ch 12 of Revelation) is also loaded with images of the seed of woman and the protection of believers from the serpent (the little horn) for a time, times and half a time. We see this in Daniel 7 and Daniel 12.

Some here might have heard about the Pastor in Edmonton Alberta Canada, who spent 35 days in jail for violating the Alberta Health Act. Pastor James Coate’s trial has started and a friend of mine sent me information on day one of the trial.
The first part are comments made by my friend.

Pastor James Coates Trial Report Day 1

This is the key argument a church needs to make in court, but sadly its a doctrine that isn’t believed by many today and that has consequences when their are social gathering restrictions. "Pastor Coates explained in great detail the Church’s Theological Statement, WHICH calls on the congregation as a whole to gather together in worship (“corporate worship”) in person and as one body of Christ.” -together as one body-


POSTED ON: MAY 3, 2021
The Crown prosecutor has sought and obtained a Court Order to withhold video-taping of the Court proceedings of the Alberta Government vs Pastor James Coates from the public, and to anonymize the name of the Crown Prosecutor. The Crown called its only witness, Janine Hanrahan, the Alberta Health Services (AHS) bureaucrat who inspected the church over many Sundays from November 2020 through to February 2021. Ms. Hanrahan told the Court she saw sanitization supplies, and congregants who did not wear masks. She said people in the Church were videotaping the RCMP on December 13, when they came with her to the Church during service. The AHS inspector reported she saw people talking to each other in the lobby.
Ms Hanrahan stated she went to the church balcony to count how many people were in the sanctuary, and video-recorded church members singing in worship. She further testified that Grace Life Elders told her and the RCMP it is an offence under the Criminal Code to disrupt a church service.
Lawyer Leighton Grey represents Pastor Coates and Grace Life Church, and cross-examined Ms. Hanrahan, asking the AHS bureaucrat why she took RCMP officers with her to the church. Notes from an RCMP officer indicate that Ms. Hanrahan told police that she feared being harmed by going to the church, but admitted on the stand that she did not have concerns that someone from church would harm her. Ms. Hanrahan then said that bringing the RCMP was because of media attention.
Grey: you’ve described some of these activities as risky (people singing re: asymptomatic spread of covid-19). Were you told by your employers (AHS) that singing was a risky behavior?
Ms. Hanrahan: yes
Mr. Grey: You took that as face value?
Ms. Hanrahan: the science made sense to me
Mr. Grey: you said something odd in your notes. You said clapping/cheering for RCMP at GL could lead to covid spread.
Ms. Hanrahan: yes
Mr. Grey: did AHS tell you that?
Ms. Hanrahan: no
Mr. Grey: so that’s your own theory?
Ms. Hanrahan: yes
Mr. Grey: did you read that in any studies?
Ms. Hanrahan: no
In other words, Ms. Hanrahan simply believes whatever AHS tells her.
It was expected the Crown would call at least one RCMP officer, but none were called.

The Crown then made an Application to prevent the Justice Centre lawyers from calling evidence for the purposes of demonstrating that the government had violated six different Charter rights and freedoms. The Crown said three of these were hopeless, and that we should not be permitted to call evidence in support of the defence position that the Charter had been violated.

Judge Robert Shaigec ruled against the Crown, saying that it has to be very clear that no Charter right breach could possibly be found, and that the rule is to permit evidence and argument regarding alleged Charter breaches. He completely denied the Crown’s application, saying all of Pastor Coates’ alleged Charter rights violation arguments are fair game, and the defence can present evidence of them.

Ms. Hanrahan confirmed that she received no additional training at all from AHS once the pandemic hit. She has been provided with no scientific data or even a basic understanding of the risk of contagion. She testified that she simply follows what she is told by AHS because it is “the law.” She also testified that she does not trust any other sources of information besides AHS. She further admitted that her calculations concerning the total capacity of the church were based upon assumptions, and therefore could be wrong.

After a break for lunch, Justice Centre lead counsel Leighton Grey called Pastor Coates to the stand. For over an hour, Pastor Coates testified as to his birth in Ontario, and how he came to be a Pastor. He detailed how the restrictions violate his rights and those of his congregation. Pastor Coates explained in great detail the Church’s Theological Statement, which calls on the congregation as a whole to gather together in worship (“corporate worship”) in person and as one body of Christ.

Pastor Coates also notes the congregation is “commanded to sing” as a critical means of expressing their “worship” and “love”. Pastor Coates describes that the Church sacrificed many of their additional programs due to Covid, to focus all of their attention in the last year on meeting once a week for Sunday Service, which was essential and something that could not be compromised.”

Virtual services would alter what worshiping is, and would constitute a major interference in their specific beliefs, he testified. He described that some congregants were forced to choose between keeping their jobs or their church life.

Crown counsel then cross-examined Pastor Coates, who demonstrated impressive knowledge of facts and science in relation to Covid and lockdowns. At the end of the court hearing, the Crown opposed the Justice Centre application to enter the transcript of the 16 February bail hearing that led to Pastor’s detention. The basis for her objections were irrelevance, and the fact that she was the Crown who sought to remand Pastor. This point will be argued fully tomorrow, but Judge Shaigec made it somewhat clear that he is inclined to admit the transcript unless she can persuade him not to do so.

https://rumble.com/vgbrut-cult-of-covid-vs.-grace-life-church.html
If you are interested in seeing Day 2 of the trail, you can at: https://www.jccf.ca/day-2-pastor-coates-trial-update/

Tom

Consider Jesus– in His Atoning Blood

"The blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from every sin." 1 John 1:7

The blood of Jesus is everything. It is the central doctrine of our faith, the present and eternal life of our souls. There is no pardon, no salvation, no heaven but by blood--the blood of the Lord Jesus. Were we to relinquish every other revealed truth, and concentrate upon this one our supreme and lasting study, resolving all our knowledge of the Bible into an 'experimental and personal acquaintance' with ATONING BLOOD--as, like a purple thread, it runs from Genesis to Revelation, it would not be a too exaggerated view of this vital and momentous subject. The blood is everything to us--it is everything to God. He provided it, is satisfied with it, beholds it, and when He sees it on the soul, that soul becomes a living and a lovely soul in His sight. May our meditation on atoning blood exalt our views of its dignity, increase in us its power, and endear to our hearts the preciousness of Him who shed it!

The blood of Jesus is DIVINE. It is the blood of God's Son, the God-man Christ Jesus. In this consists its sovereign virtue. The Divine nature of Christ rendered His obedience and death an offering and a sacrifice to God of a sweet-smelling savor.

The blood of Jesus is ATONING. It was shed for sin, it has made to Divine justice a full satisfaction for sin, it puts away sin. Is sin your burden, O my soul? Is it for your sins you do moan and weep, and are cast down? Behold, the sin-atoning blood of Jesus; believe, and weep no more. Here is that before which not a sin can stand.

The blood of Jesus is CLEANSING. It "cleanses us." Oh, this is what you do so deeply need, my soul! Sin-forgiving, guilt-removing, heart-cleansing, conscience-purifying blood. All this is the blood of Jesus to you. Wash in it, and you shall be whiter than snow. "He that is washed is clean, every whit." And mark the tense of the wonderful words on which this meditation is based--it is the present tense. The blood "cleanses." It has cleansed, it will cleanse, but, as touching our daily walk as believers in Jesus, we have to do with its present cleansing. In our Christian travel through a sinful world the feet are apt to slide, prone to wander, and are constantly contracting fresh defilement, needing the daily washing in the blood. What a sweet thought, O my soul! that the fountain is open, and the blood cleanses, even now cleanses us, from all sin.

The blood of Jesus SPEAKS. "The blood of Christ that speaks." Oh, what a voice has the blood of Jesus! What sweetness and majesty, what gentleness and power! It speaks, and the troubled conscience is at rest; it speaks, and the broken heart is healed; it speaks, and the tormenting doubt is hushed; it speaks, and the trembling fear is quelled. It speaks, also, within the veil. The voice of Jesus' blood is heard in glory, sweeter and louder than the voices of all the minstrels round about the throne. My soul, the voice of Jesus' blood pleads louder for you in heaven, than all your sins can plead against you on earth.

It is sprinkled blood--that is, APPLIED blood. Therefore it is called, "the blood of sprinkling." The blood of Jesus practically will not avail us unless applied to the conscience, just as the blood of the Paschal lamb had availed nothing to the Israelite, when the first-born of Egypt was slain, had it not been sprinkled upon his house. And so God said, "When I SEE the BLOOD, I will pass over you." O my soul! look well to this. Why is it that you are so doubting and fearful? Why are you not walking in a full sense of your pardon and acceptance in JESUS–basking in the sunshine of a present and assured salvation? Is it not because you are stopping short of the applied blood? Oh, come to the blood, the blood of sprinkling! Keep no guilt upon your conscience, no anguish for uncleansed sin in your heart; but wash daily in the precious blood of Christ, which cleanses from ALL sin.

This month's article was the introduction to a sermon preached by Archibald G. Brown on November 5th, 1871, at Stepney Green Tabernacle, England. Who was Archibald, you ask... he was a Calvinistic Baptist minister; a student, friend, and associate of Charles Spurgeon; and from 1908 to 1911, pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, the church earlier pastored by Spurgeon. He died in 1922. So, what is so important about this sermon that it has been chosen as an Article of the Month? As with many 'old' sermons and lectures, they seem to retain their relevance far beyond the time they were first given. Such is the case here. The "landmarks" are two in number; Doctrine and Life and each subdivided into particulars. The details of the parts are not included in this article, but you can find the entire sermon online if you are so inclined, which I would hope you will be after reading Mr. Brown's introductory remarks.

You can read the article now by clicking here: Old Landmarks.

Or, for later reading, visit The Highway website and click on the "Article of the Month" logo. There you will find this month's article and all past Articles of the Month.

In His service and grace,