Does God work miracles? Roughly a couple of billion globally say ‘yes’ in response to that question. Christmas itself commemorates the miracle of a virgin birth of a Savior. For over two billion souls globally, which includes the vast majority of Americans, that Savior – Jesus – was and remains a sign of contradiction.
The phrase “the Christ” comes from the Greek and it means “the Anointed one.” In Hebrew, “the Christ“ is “the Messiah.” References to numerous Hebrew Scriptures are cited by Biblical scholars. The late Archbishop Fulton Sheen used to say that over 120 Old Testament – i.e.: Hebrew Scriptures – were fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth. Even the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, the town’s name means “House of Bread,” fulfilled a prophecy foretold hundreds of years beforehand. As an example, Matthew 2:1-6 describes the birth of Jesus as the fulfillment of Micah’s prophecy at Micah 5:2, which in the New International Version reads: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2). “The name Ephrathah appears to mean Fruitful,” according to Abarim Publications, with Wikipedia saying similarly.
But how could a seemingly helpless baby – that had to be held, fed, and changed like any other human child – be the promised Savior of Israel and the world?
Emmanuel was the name given to the Messiah as the deliverer of Judah prophesied by Isaiah (Isa. 7:14, 8:8; see Matt. 1:23). Emmanuel means “God with us” or “God among us.” As the late radio legend Paul Harvey used to explain by way of a modern parable, by becoming one like us, Jesus was able to relate to us and we to him.
But the signs and wonders that Jesus worked, from changing water into wine, healing the sick, raising the dead, these were the ‘proofs,’ so to speak, of his dual nature as the God become man to stand in our place for the penalty of our sins. All of this wonder begins with the Christmas story, hits the triple climax of Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Christ’s ascension into heaven, with the promise that one day Jesus would return to judge the people of the world at the end of time.
In this context, comes the insight of Shakespeare, who quipped that all the world is but a stage, and the people are but players (actors) in it (As You Like It, Act-II, Scene-VII). “The meaning of this [Shakespearean] phrase is that this world is like a stage show, and all human beings are merely actors,” explains Literary Devices. Your life and that of others are real enough. But in the Christian worldview life is akin to a grand morality play; that is what William Shakespeare conveyed.
Rich or poor, as this life slips into eternity, you can’t take stuff with you…
We mortals have free will, a belief that Jews, Muslims, Christians, and numerous other religions agree upon. We each have the ability to choose between good and evil, right and wrong. Without that human ability to make a moral or ethical choice, there would be no need for a savior, because we mortals would never have ‘sinned’ in the first place to merit the need for salvation. Indeed, the very notion of secular laws is based on the a person’s ability to do what is legal and avoid what is illegal.
The debate over the nature and meaning of Jesus Christ, his life and deeds, has raged from his time to our own. As some of those involved in that debate or discussion over Jesus have framed it, Jesus is either Lord, Liar, Legend, or Lunatic. Informed believers can make the case that Jesus is Lord.
How did those shepherds that came to the stable to see the babe, Mary, and Joseph recognize Jesus as the promised one? It was due in good measure because an angel appeared and told them so!
“8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2:8-20, NIV per the Bible Gateway).
To grasp the significance, shepherds were perhaps the lowest level of society in those days. Jesus was made manifest not first to the wise men from the East, they came later. First, Jesus was announced by God’s angels to those shepherds keeping watch over the sheep in the fields. That is packed with meaning for those with the eyes to see. For instance, note that as soon as the angel said that the Savior was to be found “in the town of David,” the shepherds knew that it was Bethlehem where they would find their infant Savior. Centuries of prophecy and expectation was being fulfilled – first to the parents and Elizabeth before Christ’s birth, but then to the meekest and lowest of society. Shepherds were tough men. They were also pragmatic. Shepherds had to be able to clever and strong enough fight off wolves or other possible attackers of their sheep. Glory on high, indeed!
For some 2,000 years, then and down through the ages to our own time, there have been wonderous signs and miracles. But God is not Aladdin’s mythical lamp. One does not just say a few magic words, perform certain gestures (i.e.: rubbing the lamp) to get a ‘wish fulfilled.’ With an all seeing and all wise God, since ancient times part of the wisdom of believers was summed up in the Latin phrase, “Ora et Labora.” Prayer and work. Work like it all depends on you, pray like it all depends on God. God gives miracles like the virgin birth, feeding the thousands, or raising the dead to life, when He knows they are needed. To respect man’s free will, there has to be room for doubt. Part of the genius of the Gospels is that skepticism is found on nearly every page. The apostles were not a bunch of praying holy men before Jesus called them. A tax collector, tough fishermen, and the one who betrayed Jesus was the educated fellow able to sinfully rationalize his behavior, Judas.
How does that relate to the headline topics? What does that have to do with our own troubled times in America or around the world?
Plenty.
The Ongoing Battle between Good and Evil
In every era of history, there is a battle between the forces of good and those who godlessly follow sinful desires for their own selfish glory. Pride is the ‘first’ sin, because it supplants God with the idolatry of self – elevating a mere man or woman’s whim – to replace the stated will of an Almighty, Wise and Loving God. God gave Moses Ten Commandments. Jesus summed those up those ten commands into two, without diminishing the Ten. Those two? Love God, Love your Neighbor as yourself. Or put differently, treat others as you would have them treat you. Never before or since were there a wiser set of laws by which humans could know right from wrong.
Much to the dismay of Marxists or communists who want to say otherwise, Jesus was no socialist preaching a forced redistribution of wealth.
Nor did Jesus didn’t preach creating a big government that was to try (and routinely fail) to properly organize the lives of humans. To be clear, Jesus was not a politician. He declined the offer of both the Devil and his followers to become a human king. Nor was he a mere philosopher – as noble as that profession, when done properly – can be. Jesus did what he said, and said what he did. Some obtained miracles, others did not. But both kinds of people followed him, because Jesus was totally authentic, authoritative, loving, and humble. True humility is not a denial of our dignity. But rather, humility is to not make more or less of ourselves than we are in God’s eyes.
Let’s briefly note too that Jesus – the adult – was no milquetoast. He formed a cord of rope into a kind of whip to drive the moneychangers from His Father’s House. Perfect love does not cancel out true justice.
It is difficult if not impossible to understand our era without recognizing that Marxists, Socialists, and Communists and others who believe in Big Government are on the move and are on the rise. To take from someone what they worked for and forcibly give it to another violates God’s commandments. That alone is reason enough to reject the beliefs of those who follow those big government ISMs. Yet that is near the heart of socialism/communism/facism/big government mindsets. As those who have lived under socialist or communist societies know, the incentive of people to do their best vanishes in a system that punishes productivity by taking the fruits of someone’s labors and giving it to someone who didn’t work for it. In Cuba, Venezuela or Russia you can find people that can tell you that from first-hand experience.
That is why only the Big Lie and deception can get people to buy into such a system. Promises are made that sound grand but aren’t or can’t be kept. Often electric figures deliver the message, because it is an act akin to a con game. It doesn’t matter if the con or ‘confidence’ artist is a mere fraudster or a politician. The deeds are still evil. Just because someone abuses the power of government to do under the guise of ‘law’ what a mere person can not do absent that ‘law’ speaks much. Thinkers past and present have made that point many times.
God does not normally do that which a woman or man can do for themselves. Genesis says that God made man ‘in his own image and likeness.’ We are to some degree able to become co-creators with God. That is why woman and man can give birth to new life, a power ‘like unto God’s’ because God saw fit to give that gift to humanity. A woman, man, or even a child can also ‘create,’ do or make something in the wide range of human experiences. In that sense, we are like unto God, but are still subordinate to Him.
There is not time to go through all of the various temptations that people face, but perhaps among the more common ones include lust, greed, lying (deception), and pride.
The American Way was to establish a government that did not seek or try to do everything for the people. There are many reasons for that posture, including because it is not possible for government to give what it does not have. Government can only give what it first takes. Too many schools fail to teach the basics some of us learned by junior high school.
Because any government tends to waste, it is also routinely inefficient. There is a significant difference between a good charity – in terms of how much of the donations get to the intended beneficiaries, and what percentage gets eaten by overhead; vs. how much is lost by ‘government charity.’ For example, in 2013 during the Obama-Biden Administration, the Washington Post reported that “Despite progress in reducing improper payments, federal agencies continue to lose billions annually to waste, fraud and abuse. The federal government lost $261 billion…” Other groups set that estimated number higher.
Numbers of charities and church-connected service programs return 80, 90, or higher percentages to the intended cause’s beneficiaries. By contrast, some have said that certain federal programs get only about 40 percent of the money allocated to its intended cause. Every year for decades, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) has published its Pig Book, which reflects how just waste, fraud, and abuse alone could save hundreds of billions of dollars. Using nonpartisan and bipartisan sources, in October 2020, CAGW estimated that specific changes could save $444.3 billion in on year, or over $4 trillion dollars in a decade. But year after year, the waste, abuse, and fraud continues. That noted, since “CAGW’s inception in 1984, implementation of the group’s recommendations has helped to save taxpayers more than $1.9 trillion.” It would be worse in Washington D.C. without such independent watchdogs as CAGW.
With those thoughts in mind, the wisdom of America’s founders shines brighter. The founders made no provision for federal charities or benefits. While not all of the founding fathers where strictly speaking Christians, most of the founders were believers. Inspired by God’s word, they knew that neighbors and people of faith helping each other was the best method. No government intervention to do good was needed. The family, friends, and churches for centuries provided for the needs of others. In the pre-Christian Jewish era, Hebrew Scriptures made it plain that providing for the poor – for example, by allowing them to gather the grain left behind at harvest time – was a faith community, not governmental, function.
The American Constitution established a government with strict limits. Ours is a republic, a nation of laws, that has some democratic features to it. But those democratic features are tempered by Constitutional law. As our homeschooled teenage son learned years ago, the Constitution limits and defines the power of the government.
It is often inaccurate, regardless of who says it, to call America a ‘democracy.’ The founders of our nation considered and rejected a pure democracy because it could and often did degenerate into mob rule. In a pure democracy, the majority can oppress the minority. By contrast, in a republic, the rule of law is supreme and is supposed to apply to all equally. That supreme law is supposed to protect life, liberty, and property. By protecting life, liberty, and property each woman or man is free to pursue their own ambitions in a manner that serves others. Because only by giving good service can a business, professional, or tradesmen hope to advance or flourish. That is why ‘free enterprise’ is a better term than capitalism to describe the American Way.
Those notions are quite in keeping with Biblical ideals for Christians and Jews, and for that matter are often supported by numerous Muslim and other beliefs too.
Put differently, the founders – often inspired by God’s word and by the example of centuries of human history and philosophy – rejected socialist types of thinking and embraced a free enterprise notion of the rights of the individual and family.
Strictly speaking, God said He did not want man to have kings and rulers. 1st Samuel 6b-7 (NIV) says the people asked the prophet Samuel for a ruler: “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.”
Hundreds of years later, Jesus rejected the opportunity to be made the king of the people. In John Chapter 6 (NIV), “14After the people saw the sign Jesus performed [feeding the multitudes], they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.” Jesus’ mission was not political. It was spiritual. That noted, Jesus’ teaching and example can and should inspire all prudent political leaders.
Before and since the time of the prophet Samuel, God has ‘raised up’ leaders for ‘His people.’ Jesus said he did not come to abolish the law or the prophets, but rather to fulfill them. Jesus taught and lived a law of love, which fulfilled God’s will perfectly. We see Gospel examples of Jesus serving others, but we also see examples where Jesus allowed others to serve him too.
Jesus was born into a family, which has been described as the most ideal social unit in human history. Yet families have at various times been denounced by socialists, including by the self-proclaimed Marxist led Black Lives Matter nonprofit. A BLM website page proclaimed that “We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement, by supporting each other as extended families and ‘villages’ that collectively care for one another, especially our children, to the degree that mothers, parents, and children are comfortable.” Following much attention to that troubling statement, on 9.22.2020 the Daily Mail reported that BLM removed a page that mentions disrupting the ‘nuclear family.’
Indeed, Black Lives Matter (BLM) leaders promoted several anti-Christian notions. That comes straight from certain Marxist, Socialist and Communist beliefs. Above and below are two of numerous possible examples of troubling truths about BLM’s leaders.
Why Does This Matter Now? The Impact of Masked Ungodly Socialist and Communist Beliefs
Arguably because much of the mainstream media failed to properly show the public at large the connections between socialist/communist ideologies and radical groups such as BLM, Antifa, or others, millions had little or no clue as to the true nature of their beliefs. Then, it must be recalled that BLM and other leftist activist groups promoted support for the Biden-Harris ticket. A summer of violence that often-included Antifa, BLM, and other groups. These radical groups may put on a veneer of ‘good,’ but they do and teach things that are clearly contrary to God’s Law.
The Communist Party USA (CPUSA), for instance, officially supported Biden for president. In fairness, the CPUSA did not think Biden ideal, but thought him a better option than re-electing President Donald J. Trump and Mike Pence.
Biden has denied that he is a socialist. But Trevor Loudon and others, often years before the 2020 election, revealed the various documented connections.
The Biden family connection to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) interests is a troubling reality that best-selling investigative author Peter Schweitzer and others have documented.
Among the featured articles for the week below is the one about “Magyar Szabadság Kör – Christmas Reflections on Faith, Family, Flag, Friendship and Freedom.” What began as a message to a relatively small circle was expanded to include the feedback from several, including those who experienced and learned the true meaning of Communist rule. See that on MHLivingNews.
A record 75 million Americans voted to re-elect President Trump and VP Pence. It was a record vote. Tens of millions of people of faith vote for President Trump, but not because he is some super saint. Nor has he claimed to be one. Nor is it because the President in his speeches invoked God’s name. That is not uncommon to have politicians refer to God. Even some pro-socialists or communists have hypocritically done that. So, why did those millions then and now so strongly support President Trump?
His policies were arguably more closely aligned with God’s stated values. They were more in alignment with traditional American values. King David and Solomon were among the leaders of ancient Israel that fell into serious sin, but were still beloved of God.
Perhaps one of President Trump’s most inspiring moments was during his walk from the White House last summer to stand in front of that church, where he simply raised the Bible up for the cameras to see. Instead of a speech, the president elevated God’s Word. Some decried that as theatrics, but others were strongly inspired.
America stands at the precipice of a big tech, big media, big billionaire (think Wall Street) takeover, as third party research revealed that those same forces routinely provided funding to Black Lives Matter and Antifa.
Those same forces of big tech, big media, big pharma, big billionaire businesses have often forged profitable ties with Communist China. Third party research reflects the ties between the Wuhan Coronavirus and several of those same people.
There is a push to ignore the troubling and voluminous claims of voter fraud and other irregularities that emerged from the 2020 election. Much of the media – including Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, and others – have declared Obama-era VP Joe Biden to be the president-elect. There are holdouts. Among them? The Epoch Times, their NTD affiliate, One America News Network (OAN or OANN), and several conservative or more moderate media platforms.
This informational video below was published to YouTube just days before the November 3, 2020 election. The video above and the one below both sheds light on what is about to occur on January 6, 2021.
Despite ‘mountains’ of evidence, about 1,000 affidavits, videos, and technical evidence all supporting the claims of fraud or other problematic events, many think it is now ‘over. Before pressing ahead, let’s mention that the updated 36 page Navarro Report summary linked here summarizes the evidence, which is important for reasons that will be shown below.
Is There Something Lawful That Can Be Done to #StopTheSteal?
In a word, yes.
While the election is over, and the Electoral College votes having been ‘certified,’ others pointing to the U.S. Constitution and the 12th Amendment say “Not so fast.” They explain that because there are 7 states in dispute, with two slates of electors – there is an opportunity on January 6th, 2021.
A joint session of Congress to strip Joe Biden of electoral votes that the evidence indicates he did not rightful earn.
The infographic that will follow the graphic below summarizes some key points that give cause for hope for tens of millions who want to preserve America’s Constitutional Republic and who reject socialism, Marxism and communism.
For those among the 75 million (+?) who voted for and still want President Trump and VP Pence for “four more years,” this next infographic is an important summary of a how-to make that desire a reality, legally. It is also useful for the estimated 17 percent of Biden voters who per a study by the Media Research Center (MRC) shown above say they would do it differently now. Per MRC, those Biden-Harris – had they known about certain Biden family scandals – say they would not have voted for the Biden-Harris ticket if suppressed and obscured reports by the mainstream media and/or by so-called big tech censorship had not occurred. Similarly, for those who for whatever reason didn’t vote, but now want to show support for President Trump and VP Pence, this infographic is also a useful way to get involved and make a difference to defend the American Constitutional Republic.
To see the full illustrated 36 page Navarro Report 2.0, click the link here.
Is there a bottom line for believers during this Christmas season?
Yes. Believers hold to the ideals that people are accountable for action and inaction. For those who believe that the election was ‘stolen’ by means of various alleged illicit and fraudulent methods on behalf of Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris (CA-D), the simple act of contacting lawmakers to insist on election justice is common sense.
The videos above and below shed light from a Democratic perspective on purported pro-Biden election fraud.
Millions are praying for a miracle that saves America from drifting further down the path to socialism and communism. Those prayers should continue. But in “ora et labora” fashion, those prayers should be joined by making the effort to contact lawmakers as shown in the infographic above. Then, sharing this summarized information makes sense too. Some may feel called to participate in #JerichoMarch or #Stop theSteal rallies. The links to those websites provides more information about what may be taking place in your state.
We the People can bring the heat to make enough members of Congress see the light before and on January 6th.
Christmas is so important, like Easter, it is a season, not just a single day’s event. During this Christmastime, it is wise to peer into the Gospel and Biblical lessons that tell us that there is a season for every type of good effort: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” Ecclesiastes 3:1, per Bible Hub.
President Trump said that his only special interest is that of the American people.
President Trump called out time and again, in 2016-2020 those political forces that sought to subvert the will and rights of everyday Americans.
In a nation that is struggling to keep the Republic, believers and those with the understanding of what is right and wrong must hang together, or surely we will hang separately.
For those who wonder why this matters to affordable housing professionals, once again, this obvious reminder. If our very way of life is undermined by ‘stealing’ an election, what could be more important than to make lawmakers feel the heat, so that they see the light and do what’s right before and on January 6, 2021?
Don’t miss today’s postscript that follow the headlines for the week.
With no further adieu, let us now turn to the headlines from the reports for the week that was from 12.20 to 12.27.2020
What’s New on MHLivingNews
What’s New from Washington, D.C. from MHARR
The Latest on the Masthead
What’s New on the Daily Business News on MHProNews
Saturday 12.26.2020
Friday 12.25.2020
Thursday 12.24.2020
Wednesday 12.23.2020
Tuesday 12.22.2020
Monday 12.21.2020
Sunday 12.20.2020
Postscript
Unlike even 20 years ago, today there is a robust ‘alternative media’ that provides legitimate news and views sites that present various conservative, constitutional, Christian, Jewish, etc.
The video below was uploaded prior to the 2020 election, which makes their treatment of the topic all the more interesting.
The video that follows ties John Locke’s thoughts historically into those of the Founding Fathers.
Millions who followed president Trump closely and understand the disconnects between various claims by pro-socialist voices and the often starkly differing realities. For instance, the Green New Deal is based on notions that are routinely in conflict with both good science, authentic history, and even common sense.
The videos and links above and that follow are useful for those who may need a refresher as well as for those may not be fully versed on certain important issues.
Watch and share these videos and linked reports to help others see that the truth is rationale, not some ‘conspiracy theory.’
Our hope, efforts, and prayers are to pass along the blessings of liberty to the next generation.
Our Christmas gift and prayer to you to shed the light and love that alone drives out darkness.
Our thanks to you, our sources, and sponsors for making and keeping us the runaway number one source for authentic “News through the lens of manufactured homes and factory-built housing” © where “We Provide, You Decide.” © ## (Affordable housing, manufactured homes, reports, fact-checks, analysis, and commentary. Third-party images or content are provided under fair use guidelines for media.) (See Related Reports, further below. Text/image boxes often are hot-linked to other reports that can be access by clicking on them.)
By L.A. “Tony” Kovach – for MHProNews.com.
Tony earned a journalism scholarship and earned numerous awards in history and in manufactured housing.
For example, he earned the prestigious Lottinville Award in history from the University of Oklahoma, where he studied history and business management. He’s a managing member and co-founder of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC, the parent company to MHProNews, and MHLivingNews.com.
This article reflects the LLC’s and/or the writer’s position, and may or may not reflect the views of sponsors or supporters.
Connect on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach
Related References:
The text/image boxes below are linked to other reports, which can be accessed by clicking on them.
“Mob Rules” – 2020 and Manufactured Housing Updates; plus, Sunday Weekly Headlines in Review
