Jim and Diane, WALK AND TALK, May 12, 2024, HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY; Kittens; Rheinhardt Camps; Preparing for Persecution

*** Our Kittens
*** Reinhardt Camps + Auschwitz - TRANSIT CAMPS EAST
*** Religious/Medical Exemption for the Killshot to keep your job
*** What if you got the exemption if you renounced your faith!!!
*** PREPARING FOR PERSECUTION - 1 Peter 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
*** Suffering/Persecuted for righteousness sake:
http://livingwordrec.ca/archive/blessed-are-those-persecuted-for-righteousness-sake/
Quoting Jesus, Peter says that those who suffer for righteousness' sake will be blessed (1 Peter 3:14). Doing good in the context of injustice is the way of Jesus. By refusing to retaliate towards his accusers, Jesus brings us into the presence of God (1 Peter 3:18). Suffering under evil but being raised in power is the new default worldview for followers of Jesus (1 Peter 4:1). We will be at odds and even persecuted by the people we live alongside (1 Peter 4:4). But the Gospel says even if we die, we will be raised (1 Peter 4:6). Heb 12:2 - Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Mt 5:10-12 - Notice that Jesus doesn't just say, “Blessed are you when you are persecuted” – he narrows it down and says specifically, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake.” This is important. You can be “persecuted” for all sorts of things, sometimes even unjustly. Even Christians get this one wrong an awful lot of the time. We can use our faith to justify all sorts of things we shouldn't do and then scream “Persecution!!!” when other people hassle us for it.
Acts 5:25-33 - Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. 26Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. 27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. 33When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.