Month: July 2020

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CLARITY – 7-31-20 Aliens Should Not Be Surprised

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 7-31-20

Aliens Shouldn’t Be Surprised

What’s Happening: “You’d think a courtroom would be safe…you’d be thinking wrong! In an Associated Press article earlier today, U.S. citizen Tahir Naseem was reported to have been gunned down and killed in a Pakistani courtroom where he was being tried on what many consider archaic Islamic blasphemy laws. The U.S. State Department may have complained, but Mr. Naseem was just as dead. Why he was even in Pakistan was not clear…what was clear was that he was being accused of proclaiming himself as a prophet, something forbidden by Islamic law. Although there are scores on death row for violating blasphemy laws, no one has recently been put to death. Asia Bibi, famously found innocent of blasphemy after being held for eight years, flew to Canada recently to join her daughters amid death threats from local Islamic radicals. (https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-says-man-gunned-down-111652610.html). Quoting the article: ‘We are shocked, saddened, and outraged that American citizen Tahir Naseem was killed yesterday inside a Pakistani courtroom,” the State Department statement read.”

Knee-Jerk Response:  “I guess it doesn’t matter what country you are from!”

Biblical Response:  “Legally, no; you are to be governed by the laws of whatever country you are in…which is why ‘everyone’ wants to come to America. Being here means you get all our protections. Reminds me of a conversation between Pontius Pilate and Jeues where Pilate asked Him if He was a king? (John 18:33-37) We all play by the rules of whatever country we are in. Sometimes that’ Good News (1 Pet. 1:1), sometimes it’s not (Acts 7:6).”

“Peter and John learned this the hard way as they were forced to obey a higher law (read: Acts 4:1-33).”

“Christians?  Oh, we believe we are not from around here (Eph. 2:19; 1 Pet. 2:11). Still, being that the Lord saw fit to leave us in this world, we should not be surprised when the laws of this world sometimes are not in our favor. That doesn’t mean we souldn’t try to fashion our own laws to resemble the laws of our kingdom…just to not be surprised that they are different,”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray:  “Heavenly Father, help us to regard ourselves as the aliens we are…yet to try and conform this world to our perspective; in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Share as you like, just give credit appropriately. For buying any of Alan E. Sargent’s books or to subscribe or to comment on any of his CLARITY blogs, go to the following link: http://subdeo.com.’ If he’s not in Twitter/Facebook/Email jail, he also tweets/posts.

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CLARITY – 7-30-20 When Security Feels Insecure

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 7-30-20

When Security Feels Insecure

What’s Happening: “What was a trickle (four) Monday of Wisconsin Police Departments reneging on their commitments to provide additional security in Milwaukee at the DNC Convention later in August, had become a torrent (over 100) by Tuesday, especially when police learned of a local ban on the use of tear gas and pepper spray if protests turn violent. They were afraid this would lead to greater injury to police or the use of deadly force. No doubt, more will pull out and more will offer their services, but the mostly virtual convention will be affected (https://www.yahoo.com/news/police-departments-withdraw-security-agreements-203019541.html). Quoting from the USA TODAY article that appeared on the 28th: ‘Our concern is that in the event protests turn non-peaceful, such a policy would remove tools from officers that may otherwise be legal and justifiable to utilize in specific situations,’ said West Allis Deputy Chief Robert Fletcher in an email yesterday.”

Knee-Jerk Response:  “So, why should I care?”

Biblical Response:  “We should all be in favor of free speech (First Amendment) and we should all be in favor of everyone’s security…and they don’t have to be be mutually exclusive! It IS possible to voice an opinion AND for protests to not turn violent. Of course, this would mean that anarchists, rioters, and arsonists would have to stay home…and that’s unlikely to happen. ANTIFA and BLM have a tendency to hijack what would otherwise be peaceful protests…and the media is complicit…predictably. Violence gets better ratings than does non-violence. However, we must all do better. While we are encouraged to be passionate, we are also not to let passion rule (Eph. 4:26)” 

“Christians?  We believe in speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). Not my truth …or your truth…but THE truth. And we believe that the truth should be spoken in love and love is to be without ‘dissimulation’; (Rom. 12:9). Dissimulation is just a fancy word for ‘openly and without concealment’…no hidden agendas. Which, of course, might reveal an organization’s real intents…hmmmm…”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray:  “Heavenly Father, help us to be agents of peace and calm, not agents of stink-stirring or agitation; in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Share as you like, just give credit appropriately. For buying any of Alan E. Sargent’s books or to subscribe or to comment on any of his CLARITY blogs, go to the following link: http://subdeo.com.’ If he’s not in Twitter/Facebook/Email jail, he also tweets/posts.

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CLARITY – 7-29-20 Always Check Your Sources

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 7-29-20

Always Check Your Sources

What’s Happening: “After a FactCheck by USA TODAY yesterday, many who watched the social media post Sunday which seemed to support the claim that recent winds from Hurricane Hanna had toppled sections of the border wall in south Texas doubted. It now appears that places, dates and methods matter. Quoting from the original tweet (that has now been removed): ‘And so, ‘Hanna’ knocked down part of the border wall that is being built between the United States and Mexico,’ said the tweet’s caption, translated from Spanish to English. ‘For the fury of nature, there are no borders.’ Great copy, just not true; still, the Mexican tweeter got his 15 minutes

(https://www.yahoo.com/news/fact-check-hurricane-hanna-did-201459588.html). It’s easy to believe a video…especially if it supports a claim you want to be made. However, it does not make it true. And decisions made on false facts sometimes cause us to jump to wrong conclusions. Again, quoting from the article: ‘U.S. Customs and Border Protection is not aware of any border wall panels falling over due to Hurricane Hanna hitting the Rio Grande Valley Sector this past weekend,’ read a statement emailed to the Associated Press by agency spokesperson Roderick Kise. ‘The video circulating on social media appears to be from June 2020, when high winds caused several border wall panels that were pending additional anchoring to fall over at a construction site near Deming, New Mexico.’”

Knee-Jerk Response:  “‘Believe nothing of what you hear, and only half of what you see,’ huh?”

Biblical Response:  “Great quote (Edgar Allen Poe – 1845), and quite apropos. It seems everybody’s got an agenda…liberals point to a Trump promise God (presuming all hurricanes are ‘acts of God’) is obviously against…conservatives revel in its apparent falsehood…and the tweeter basks in his fame.”


“P.T. Barnum (the circus creator) once said: ‘There’s a sucker born every minute.’ We have to be careful to check our sources…and our motivations. We live in a confusing age (whether we should or not…or what the role of the media is…is a topic for another discussion). A healthy dose of skepticism is…well, HEALTHY!” 

“Christians?  We believe in true truth (in any other context, this may seem redundant). The kind of truth that is freeing (John 8:32). We also believe we are to do ‘WordChecking’…our Christian version of checking our sources (2 Tim. 3:16).”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray:  “Heavenly Father, help us to be patient enough to do the hard work of checking our sources before we jump to conclusions…and thanks for cleaning up our messes when we’re not; in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Share as you like, just give credit appropriately. For buying any of Alan E. Sargent’s books or to subscribe or to comment on any of his CLARITY blogs, go to the following link: http://subdeo.com.’ If he’s not in Twitter/Facebook/Email jail, he also tweets/posts.

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CLARITY – 7-28-20 Winners Teach History

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 7-28-20

Winners Teach History

What’s Happening: “In a news article that appeared yesterday (7/27/20) in Yahoo News 360, Senator Tom Cotton’s bill (R-AR), ‘Saving American History Act of 2020’ caused quite a furor and made public a discussion that is being had nationwide, asking and answering from different perspectives how Black history ought to be taught to our children in American schools. These differing answers ask the question and offer an answer as to who is primarily responsible for setting a child’s defaults on race thinking historically (https://www.yahoo.com/news/how-should-we-teach-black-history-in-school-150706031.html). Quaoting from the article: ‘American educators are grappling with how to address race in the wake of nationwide protests against the killings of Black Americans — an issue that also emerged following the civil rights movement.’”

Knee-Jerk Response:  “Who cares what’s being taught? Folks are going to believe what they’re going to believe!”

Biblical Response:  “I care! And so does anyone who has learned that kids aren’t’ just the ‘hope of the future’…they ARE the future…like it or not! In a sense, you’re right…people are going to believe what they believe…but people believe what they’ve been taught. As it says in Proverbs 23:7: 

‘For as he thinks within himself, so he is….’ (NASU)”

“Who’s the primary teacher of a version of history? Traditionally, the winner. Truth only has the power to set free (John 8:32) if it’s the factual truth, not the winner’s (or anybody else with an agenda) version. Some history we should be proud of…some history, we should be ashamed of…but it should all be taught. And parents have the primary responsibility before God (Prov. 22:6).” 

“Christians?  Are we the sole arbiters of the truth? Hardly!  Our flawed natures make us poor judges of anything (Is, 53:6). Still, as a repository of His light (Matt. 5:14), we are called to what, without the aid of His Holy Spirit, is impossible. Thankfully, with that aid it is certain! (Luke 24:49: Acts 1:8; john16:12-13).”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray:  “Heavenly Father, help us to pursue, with all Your power, a truthful-to-the-facts rendering of history; in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Share as you like, just give credit appropriately. For buying any of Alan E. Sargent’s books or to subscribe or to comment on any of his CLARITY blogs, go to the following link: http://subdeo.com.’ If he’s not in Twitter/Facebook/Email jail, he also tweets/posts.

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CLARITY – 7-27-20 Is Evil Necessary?

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 7-27-20

Is Evil Necessary?

What’s Happening: “Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) got in hot water yesterday by calling slavery a necessary  evil….of course, as he quickly explained in Twitter, he was only quoting the Founders. The actual quote, by political activist at the time was by Thomas Paine (not a founding Father): ‘Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil.’ Sen. Cotton was being interviewed by the Arkansas Gazette regarding how kids in schools are to be taught, Quoting the Huffington Post article, Sen. Cotton said: ‘“We have to study the history of slavery and its role and impact on the development of our country because otherwise we can’t understand our country,’ Cotton also noted that the ‘union was built in a way, as Lincoln said, to put slavery on the course to its ultimate extinction’ (https://www.yahoo.com/news/tom-cotton-interview-slavery-necessary-evil-042323619.html). With political correctness, peaceful protest that end in looting and arson, and anarchy in autonomous zones in many cities, there is little hope for a civil discourse.” 

Knee-Jerk Response:  “More like civil war, I’d say!”

Biblical Response:  “May cooler heads prevail. The furor was bloody 160 years ago (1861-5 – The American Civil War), but not even finally settled 60 years ago (The Civil Rights Acts of 1964). How will we survive these terribly turbulent times? 1) By lowering the volume (the agitators fear that only by escalating the volume do they get heard), 2) By only dealing in facts (John 8:32) 3) With love and patience (Gal. 5:22). And there seems to be a shortage, just now.” 

“Christians? We believe that truth stands the test of time, and lies are soon exposed (Prov. 12:19). We all need to be understanding and make reasonable accommodations. I love Trey Goudy’s quote: ‘I’ve never been black a day in my life.’ To that I might add ’…or a slave.”By the way, the first notable slavery mentioned in the Bible is when the Egyptians (black) enslaved the Jews in the land of Goshen (Exodus).

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray:  “Heavenly Father, help us to remember that the evil the devil intended for our destruction, You have turned to our blessing (Jn 10:10); in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Share as you like, just give credit appropriately. For buying any of Alan E. Sargent’s books or to subscribe or to comment on any of his CLARITY blogs, go to the following link: http://subdeo.com.’ If he’sa not in Twitter/Facebook/Email jail, he also tweets/posts.

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CLARITY – 7-22-20 Non-Violent?! Have You Read The Q’ran?!

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 7-22-20

Non-Violent?! Have You Read The Quran?!

What’s Happening: “In a speech to an online summit forum hosted by the Emgage Action group an attempt to galvanize the American Muslim behind Biden was clearly made: ‘I want to earn your vote not just because he’s [Trump’s] not worthy of being president,’ Biden told participants, ‘I want to work in partnership with you, make sure your voices are included in the decision-making process as we work to rebuild our nation.’ Recent notoriety by the media in favor of the likes of Rep. Ilhan Omar and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes (AOC), both prominent women Muslims in the House of Representatives, has made their endorsement a gem to be sought…there is some argument as to whether their endorsement is an asset or an albatross (https://news.yahoo.com/biden-snags-support-prominent-muslim-172907124.html). Quoting from the Associated Press article: ‘I’ll continue to champion the rights of Palestinians and Israelis to have a state of their own as I have for decades, each of them a state of their own,’ Biden said. No doubt he will address Trump’s pullout of the Iranian Nuclear Deal and the ban on majority Muslim immigration.” 

Knee-Jerk Response:  “Ilhan and AOC…you can’t ask for more non-violent example Muslims than them!”

Biblical Response:  “Oh, really? We’ll forget their anti-Jewish remarks…and as for the Muslim Holy book, the Q’ran, let’s not forget the oft-quoted sword verses (Quran 2:191, Quran 4:96, Quran 5:7, Quran 9:5, Quran 49:9, etc. – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_in_the_Quran#Sword_verses). These are used to justify violence against us (infidels).” 

“Christians? We believe that ALL men are in an equally condemned condition (Is. 53:6; Rom. 3:26), Muslims, Hindus, CHRINOs (CHristians In Name Only), etc. Apart from Christ’s sacrifice, none are worthy…thankfully, none are worthless. How valuable are we in God’s eyes? Read John 3:16.”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray:  “Heavenly Father, help us to treat all equally. After all, we all come from the human race (Acts 17:26); in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Share as you like, just give credit appropriately. For buying any of Alan E. Sargent’s books or to subscribe or to comment on any of his CLARITY blogs, go to the following link: http://subdeo.com.’ If he’s not in Twitter/Facebook/Email jail, he also tweets/posts.

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CLARITY – 7-21-20 It Started Out Peacefully

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 7-21-20

It Started Out Peacefully

What’s Happening: “What began last Friday as a peaceful (though un-permitted) protest march on Grant Park, in Chicago, the cite of previous violence against the statue of George Washington, devolved into an organized mob-action that saw 49 of Chicago’s cops injured, 18 of them going to area hospitals. Chicago Police Superintendent David Bown, told reporters that his officers will wear full protective equipment in the future…that many of the injuries came when what was to be a non-violent event became anything but…projectiles and sharpened PVC pipe were the cause of some of those injuries. ‘I want to point out that we’ve had multiple protests at the statue prior to this event that were all peaceful, and we respected everyone’s First Amendment right to protest peacefully, but this was not — what you’re seeing here is obviously an ambush on police officers,’ Police Commander O’Shea said. ‘They had multiple, multiple restocking of items to throw at the police — weapons, basically.’ (https://www.yahoo.com/news/chicago-police-attacks-officers-protest-005900537.html). Quoting from the Chicago Tribune article that appeared yesterday:  ‘If the statue was successfully toppled, likely members in that mob would have been seriously injured or killed by the toppling of that statue’ Brown said. ‘This cannot stand. We cannot be a city that thinks mob action of a crowd is acceptable behavior.’” 

Knee-Jerk Response:  “So don’t move to Chicago, right?”

Biblical Response:  “Probably not a wise move…besides, area property values have bound to have declined. Nope, sounds dangerous to me, too. I guess it’s what happens when emotion rules (Eph. 4:26-32). Note the scripture doesn’t condemn emotion … just allowing it to take over your actions. Of course, it’s hard to be controlled by the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22), if the Spirit is just another part of the Godhead…in which you don’t believe, anyway.” 

“Christians? We believe that Man must be ruled by a new nature (Eph. 4:24); that if he isn’t, he will default to his old nature which has been corrupted by sin :

‘For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. (Rom. 7:5-6 NASU)”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray:  “Heavenly Father, help us to make right choices every day, defaulting to our new nature, not to our old; in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Share as you like, just give credit appropriately. For buying any of Alan E. Sargent’s books or to subscribe or to comment on any of his CLARITY blogs, go to the following link: http://subdeo.com.’ If he’s not in Twitter/Facebook/Email jail, he also tweets/posts.

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CLARITY -7-19-20 No Such Thing

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 7-19-20

No Such Thing

What’s Happening: “In a Business Insider article that appeared today, there is some support for renewed stimulus checks…also some interest in job bonuses for those who sign up for a new job or to get their old job back… even for a lesser-amount stimulus (like $200 and $400 instead of the current $600)…but if something isn’t done, the checks will end at the end of July. The rub? Democrats want it; Republicans don’t. Democrats warn we are not through the economic repercussions of the pandemic, Republicans want to know where the money’s coming from (many have enjoyed money from state and federal stimulus programs that have exceeded what they were getting from their previous paychecks – the nationwide average is $978). Of course, our deficit spending has skyrocketed, but that gets little attention now (https://www.yahoo.com/news/weekly-600-unemployment-bonus-millions-183700864.html). ‘I think we’re going to seriously look at whether we want to do more direct money to stimulate the economy,’ Mnuchin said while testifying before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. He didn’t offer specifics on amounts.”

Knee-Jerk Response:  “t’s like a recent ad I heard… ‘it’s free money.’”

Biblical Response:  “NOT! There’s no such thing! Just because tax revenues are huge (larger than any of us can reasonably dream), doesn’t mean they are limitless! Just because we empower legislators to make financial decisions for us, doesn’t mean we voted the right people in office…just that we have to abide by their decisions! You mean we have to be fiscally responsible? Yep…or bear the consequences…actually, our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will bear them. Scary thought…but no less true. Borrowing is not a recommended activity…at least not in scripture (Rom. 13:8).” 

“Christians? We believe in fiscal responsibility; that that is how servants and the served are determined (Prov. 22:7). Maybe we wish things were different, but reality has a way of prevailing.”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray:  “Heavenly Father, help us to act fiscally responsible, making short-term sacrifices for long-term benefits…not the other way around; in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Share as you like, just give credit appropriately. For buying any of Alan E. Sargent’s books or to subscribe or to comment on any of his CLARITY blogs, go to the following link: http://subdeo.com.’ If he’s not in Twitter/Facebook/Email jail, he also tweets/posts.

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CLARITY – 7-18-20 The More the Sacrifice

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 7-18-20

The More the Sacrifice

What’s Happening: “The latest in a string of ‘sacred’ memorials and statues desecrated: the beheading of Jesus in a Catholic Church, in the Courtyard of the Good Shepherd Church of West Kendall, Florida. Many were upset with the sacrilege; like Mary Ross Agosta, spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Miami (https://www.yahoo.com/news/jesus-statue-beheaded-catholic-church-181414001.html). . Of course, this wasn’t the actual mass execution by beheading on tape of the 21 kidnapped Coptic Christians by ISIS in 2015 (https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/02/15/386498231/isis-video-purports-to-show-mass-beheading-of-coptic-christians). One might argue that Jesus’ actual execution  by the Romans two thousand years ago didn’t work out so well for them, either (not only does ISIS no longer have a caliphate, Rome is now the capital city of the Roman Catholic Church). The Church thrives under persecution (ask the 300 Million in house-churches in China today). Quoting from the Associated Press article that appeared yesterday: ‘The statue’s head was found on the ground just before 8 a.m. on Wednesday,’Agosta said. ‘This is not something you can trip over and say, Oh, sorry, Someone did this intentionally.’”

Knee-Jerk Response:  “Where’s it all going to end?”

Biblical Response:  “In a revival…it always does. Although they often call them awakenings, that’s exactly where this is headed. Sure, it may take awhile. We don’t have the advantage of a Christian consensus today (which, if I have anything to say about it, that’s where we’re headed…just keep watching!) Maybe we’ll be deemed ‘essential’ before this is over.”

“Still, we should not be surprised (John 15:18). Persecution is a given (John 15:20). We should report it…even resist it…but it should also be our ‘Red Badge of Courage.’ The first attendees at the the first canonical council (Nicea – 325) gained admission by showing the marks of ownership of Jesus Christ on their bodies (read: scars).” 

“Christians? We believe that the denomination of love is sacrifice (John 15:13). The more the sacrifice, the greater the love.”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray:  “Heavenly Father, help us demonstrate our resolve, our love, by our sacrifice…there is no defense for that; in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Share as you like, just give credit appropriately. For buying any of Alan E. Sargent’s books or to subscribe or to comment on any of his CLARITY blogs, go to the following link: http://subdeo.com.’ If he’s not in Twitter/Facebook/Email jail, he also tweets/posts.

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CLARITY

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 7-17-20

It’s Not There

What’s Happening: “In a story that appeared yesterday, it was revealed that the town council of Asheville, North Carolina, approved unanimously (7-0) that reparations be paid to black residents. While not mandating a monetary and individual payment, the council’s verbage did include increased opportunity and the leveling of the playing field. The council did allow time for comments which meant that the session went late into the night, but those comments made urging reparations exceeded those against (https://www.yahoo.com/news/historic-move-north-carolina-city-125936878.html). Quoting the USA Today article: ‘‘Hundreds of years of Black blood spilled that basically fills the cup we drink from today,’ said Councilman Keith Young, one of two African-American members of the body and the measure’s chief proponent.’”

Knee-Jerk Response:  “I guess blacks should be happy everywhere.”

Biblical Response:  Maybe…but the question is: ‘Should they be? Does this spell the end of what some term ‘systemic racism?’ Is there a danger of having the sense that now things have been made right when the problem still exists? I love the Living Bible’s rendering of Jeremiah 6:14:

‘You can’t heal a wound by saying it’s not there! Yet the priests and prophets give assurances of peace when all is war.’ (Jer. 6:14  LB)”

“We must be careful NOT to ‘call those things that are  as though they weren’t.’ That is not the meaning of Romans 4:17. For too long folks have glossed over racism as aberrant behavior or people just reacting to a specific circumstance, when the ingrained treatment of people of a different color is trained in, often by well-meaning parents, who were trained by their parents, who were trained by their parents…etc. We’ve got to break the cycle…it’s got to end somewhere!” 

“Christians? We believe that all Man is equal…equally in need of a Savior! Sin is the great equalizer (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). Regardless of color, we are all part of the human race (Acts 17:26), and we all bleed red. And just saying it’s not there doesn’t make racism disappear. What was trained in must be trained out. It didn’t happen overnight and won’t be solved overnight…give it time.”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray:  “Heavenly Father, help us to walk in another’s shoes, as much as possible, before we begin to judge; in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Share as you like, just give credit appropriately. For buying any of Alan E. Sargent’s books or to subscribe or to comment on any of his CLARITY blogs, go to the following link: http://subdeo.com.’ If he’s not in Twitter/Facebook/Email jail, he also tweets/posts.