The Censorship of Christians

Ramblings from Retirement – The Censorship of Christians

By Retired Pastor Lee Hemen

December 13, 2022

In our cancel culture today, there are those who desire to censor anyone who disagrees with their perceived proclivity or progressive ideals. Socialism loves censorship, and it is the fuel that fans the flames of oppression. Christians should be on the forefront of opposing any censorship of speech. It is at the core of what we believe.

When Jesus stood before the religious and political leaders of his day, they hated him because of the message he brought. It would upset their political and spiritual power over the population they were supposed to be leading. They wanted to keep their positions. Many Jews when they “had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him.” (John 11:45 NIV84) Some of those who were concerned about what Jesus was teaching, went to the Pharisees, and told them what was happening. They were the “Karens” of their day. John relates that “Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. ‘What are we accomplishing?’ they asked. ‘Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.’ Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, ‘You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man dies for the people than that the whole nation perish.’” (John 11:47-50 NIV84) They wanted to shut Jesus up because if the gospel truth kept being told, people would believe the truth! You have to understand what was occurring here, Caiaphas, the highest authority for the Jews both spiritually and politically, had already offered money, a bribe, to anyone who would turn on Jesus. His response is the same shameful and horrendous thing politicians, liberal media, and socialist today believe that it is “better” to sacrifice any individual who stands in their way, than to give up their power and prestige.

We see the very same thing occurring with online platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube today. We find it in the political halls of our own nation and in the walls of progressive colleges, schools, and churches. Just as time after time the rulers, religious leaders, and other wanted to silence Jesus, we find Teacher Unions, political systems, online entities, and progressive politicians who desire to silence parents, oppress voters, and edit what you read or hear. We’ve learned that Twitter deliberately suppressed viewpoints on COVID, vaccines, and politics that those who ran Twitter did not agree with, even when they were factual! If you disagree with the latest views on climate, mutilating children, murdering the unborn, or a politician those in power agree with you are censored.

The Cambridge Dictionary is being criticized for altering the definitions of the words “man” and “woman” to include people who identify as a gender other than their biological sex. The definition of woman, which previously was based on actual biology, now states that a woman is “an adult who lives and identifies as female though they may have been said to have a different sex at birth.” Similarly, a man is now defined as “an adult who lives and identifies as male though they may have been said to have a different sex at birth.” This is a form of censorship because any viewpoint other than that put forward by those in power is branded as “hateful”. When President Joe Biden signs the Respect for Marriage Act this week, he’ll be flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris, first lady Jill Biden, and gay drag queen story hour performer Marti Cummings, according to an invite posted by Cummings. Within the law passed by Congress and signed by the President are portions that tacitly force Christians to support lifestyles they deem as perverted and against the word of God. (https://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/bill-donohue/why-invite-drag-queen-white-house)

According to a recent Gallop poll over one third of women nationwide are prolife, but you had better not express that verbally or you may lose your job. (https://www.dailysignal.com/2022/12/12/its-2022-the-left-still-thinks-women-cant-think-for-themselves/) Most parents, over 80%, do not agree with the progressive “woke” agenda being taught in schools, and yet Teacher Unions and public libraries are constantly pushing it down your children’s throats. A middle school teacher is just one of many examples, who mock parents that want a say in lessons about gender, sexuality, and sex ed. Says parents should trust teachers because they’re experts and parents aren’t (pic.twitter.com/uasDYA9UXS).

Ben Shapiro understands the rising problem when he writes that “The legal obliteration of the distinction between governmental and private activity was only one prong of the new societal remolding. The second was the philosophical obliteration of the distinction between immutable characteristics and behavior. The case can easily be made morally that people ought not be victims of discrimination based on their immutable characteristics, like race; rejecting moral disapproval of particular behavior, however, means destroying the basis for any moral system. Yet that is what the law does when it likens race to sexual orientation philosophically.

These twin attacks on traditional American society — vitiation of the distinction between private and public, and elimination of the distinction between innate characteristics and behavior — are predicates to tyranny. The new secular system sets up government as a new god, determining right and wrong and cramming it down on every subject. You will be forced to celebrate the behaviors of others; you will be treated as a bigot if you do not.”

What Twitter did, what the “woke” culture is doing, what the liberal media desire you to adhere to, what you are being forced to do as a believer, and what some politicians are doing to your free speech should concern you as a Christian.

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This article is copyrighted © 2022 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission

Ramblings from Retirement – Jesus and Freedom of Speech

Ramblings from Retirement – Jesus and Freedom of Speech
By Pastor (retired) Lee Hemen
April 14, 2022

My father would remind us that “Words mean things”, usually when my brother and I were in the midst of calling one another morons or some other teenage moniker. Words are important.

Many in today’s America have forgotten a fundamental right that is guaranteed by our Constitution: Freedom of speech. This is a core right that should be protected at all costs. You may not like or agree with what someone else says, writes, or films but you can turn it off, not read it, or respond to it. It is your freedom to do so. Lease we forget this is why Jesus was persecuted as he was. He openly proclaimed the truth of God which stood in stark contrast to the false narrative of the religious leaders of his day. Over and over, we hear Jesus telling his detractors, “You say” and then telling them the truth. Using his free speech eventually cost him his life.

In Matthew’s gospel we find a perfect example of this when Jesus tells these hypocritical religious leaders, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. (Matthew 7:1-6 NIV84)”

Sadly far too many think that if you make them feel bad about themselves, you are evil, horrible, and should not be allowed to speak or share freely. They immediately judge and want to muzzle anyone who might disagree with their particular perverted proclivity. We see it occurring on social media sights like Twitter, Facebook, TicTok, and others when they self-righteously silence anyone or anything they find disagreeable. Often they use terms like “hate speech” or “false information” and have made themselves the final arbitrators of what should be read or heard.

The Jewish leaders beat, mocked, and then drug Jesus before Roman authorities with a false narrative hoping Pilate would execute Jesus for them so that they could sit back and tell the crowds it was not their fault but Rome’s. They did not like what Jesus was telling the crowds that they had controlled with their corrupt faith. Then, interestingly when Jesus stands before the Roman authority, Pontius Pilate, Pilate asks him, “What is truth?” right after Jesus tells him what it is, that namely he had come “to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” Only freedom of speech can allow for the truth to be disseminated and thereby be understood. You cannot stifle the truth even if you have it nailed to a cross. Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31-32 NIV84)”

As believers in Christ we cannot allow the world to restrict our freedom of speech, to do so would allow the gospel to be silenced. This is why as a pastor I never felt threatened when I was confronted by false biblical teaching. For me it never made any sense. Freedom of speech does not just mean allowing the gospel to be freely shared. As a Christian never give up your freedom of speech, even if it means you have to listen others who seem offensive or ungodly. I believe the reason so many find the gospel offensive is because of the truth it contains. Only the truth will set them free and only if you can freely share it. Words do mean things so do not give up your right to free speech.

This article is copyrighted © 2022 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

Ramblings from Retirement – Coffee and Lilies

Ramblings from Retirement – Coffee and Lilies

By Pastor (retired) Lee Hemen

April 8, 2022

I’m sitting here with my cup of coffee looking out my dining room window. I need to go out and put more birdseed in the birdfeeders. However, I enjoy this time away from the news and concerns of the world. It is the simple things in life that should cause us to pause and enjoy the moment. I have always enjoyed a simple cup of coffee, black, nothing else, ever since I was a child. Yep, I learned the joy of coffee when I was about five or six years old from my mother. Now her coffee could grow hair on a bald dog. She learned how to boil it in a skillet and make it about the consistency of thick black mud. A peculator pot was a new-fangled invention that she began to begrudgingly use and later we convinced her to use a drip coffee maker – a necessity electrical appliance that was constantly on from sunup until bedtime in her house. Interestingly, she drank her cup-o-Joe with lots of cream and two to three teaspoons of sugar (replaced by artificial sweetener later in life). She lived to be 92 years old.

Anyway, sitting here I am reminded of the words of Jesus found in Matthew’s gospel where Jesus encourages people to focus on the simplicity of the things of God: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:27-33 NIV84)”

Far too many of us spend far too much time worrying about this or that or the other thing in life. We forget that what we worry about today will not matter next year or even within a few weeks. I confess, I am a worrier so I know of what I speak, but I’ve learned – with the help of my sweet wife and the patience of the Lord – to take time not to worry. To allow the Lord to handle whatever is bothering me for the day.

Around us the white trillium lily blooms about this time of the year. They are a beautiful flower and only last a few days, no less than a week, simple yet beautiful. As I sit here enjoying the simple things in life I am reminded of these flowers and the words of the Lord. Let their beauty and his words sooth your soul today. Grab a cup of coffee, tea, or something else you enjoy and go for a walk or sit out on your porch and enjoy the life the Lord has given right now. Remember, it’s all about the simple things like coffee and lilies.

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This article is copyrighted © 2022 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

Ramblings from Retirement – The Church, Jesus’ body in the World

Ramblings from Retirement – The Church, Jesus’ body in the World
By Pastor (retired) Lee Hemen
April 5, 2022

It is amazing to me that so many convoluted ideas have taken root in today’s Christianity. It makes me wonder if anyone, who calls them self a “Christian” truly takes the time to know what this means or if they ever read and study the Bible. Far too many churches have abandoned Bible Study, Sunday School, or whatever you want to call in favor of video symposiums or sermons in a second. And do not get me started on what people think and teach about the coming of Jesus. Most of it is founded on heretical teaching that has taken root like aggressive weeds in your lawn and has no basis in orthodox Christianity, the history of the church, or what the Bible actually says concerning the subject, anyway, this for another Rambling on another day.

Jesus established the church for a reason, and we see this when he asked his followers, “Who do the people say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Immediately Jesus declares, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matthew 16:13-18 NIV84)” Jesus continued to relate that his church would be in charge of administering his will on earth. Now contrary to what some have taught, Jesus did not establish a specific person to be his mouthpiece and ultimate representative here on earth until he returns. Rather, Jesus was speaking to the establishment of a body of believers to do his work and will here on earth until he returns, meaning his church, his body.

So, what I wanted to ramble on about today is the false notion that belonging to a local church or actually joining a church is not necessary for one’s faith walk. This is simply unadulterated bovine poo. If Jesus took the time to set up his church and remark that it was for administering what his teachings were about, then we should take this very seriously. In fact we find Jesus relating, “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. (Matthew 18:15-20 NIV84)”

Paul also knew the importance of the local church in teaching, encouraging, and developing believers, and he wrote, “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free–and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many… Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27 NIV84)” He was teaching about how spiritual gifts were to be used within the local church, but he is also referencing the fact that the local church is important. In another letter Paul would write, “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Ephesians 4:11-12 NIV84)”

The writer of Hebrews, knowing how important being in worship and being a member of a local church was, would state, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25 NIV84)” Paul would teach about and instruct pastors, elders, deacons, teachers, and others who are to make up the local church. So why would you as a believer in Jesus forsake a foundational teaching of being part of a local church? A burning log by itself soon becomes just smoldering charcoal and soon dies, but many logs make a strong fire, and it is the same with the church. So, today, if you have not actually joined a local church and become a responsible active member, shame on you. Go find a church and get involved, by doing so you will be part of Jesus’ body in the world until he returns.

This article is copyrighted © 2022 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

Ramblings from Retirement – Are You No Earthly Good?

Ramblings from Retirement – Are You No Earthly Good?

By Pastor (retired) Lee Hemen 

April 3, 2022

There’s an old saying that a Christian can be “so heavenly-minded you’re no earthly good”. It means that believers can be so focused on being holy, that they’ve lost sight of the world around them. Now this can be a good thing when it refers to one’s looking to Jesus as they live, but it can be bad if they’re so focused on the things of heaven that they forget about those around them that need Jesus.

It can be bad in the life of a church or preacher that becomes so focused on knowledge or themselves that they become blinded to the needs of a hurting and sinful world around them. Jesus berated the spiritual teachers of his day because this was exactly what they were guilty of doing. Jesus really got into it with them, and he bluntly told them, ‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices–mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law–justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. (Matthew 23:23-28 NIV84)” Sounds kind of harsh, doesn’t it?

Jesus knew that being able to quote verbatim the Law of God, the words of the Prophets, particular passages or teachings meant absolutely nothing to the listener if the one quoting it could not relate it to those who were listening. The spiritual leadership of Jesus’ day had completely ignored the common folk, considered them rabble, and could only relate pithy words or the teachings of others. They prided themselves on their “knowledge of the things of God” while ignoring those who truly needed to hear and apply the teachings of God to their lives!

I’ve known fellow pastors and Christians who have done the very same thing. They know their Bibles inside and out, can quote any passage verbatim, and they can relate its standard “biblical” teaching but they cannot relate to those around them. To the very people who are dying to understand God and how to relate him to their lives! If the “unwashed” masses wanted to hear a commentary they could buy an app for their cell phone or go to Amazon and purchase one! What people need, to reiterate an old Christian song, is the Lord! Folks cannot relate to head knowledge like they can with real life experience. If you, dear brother or sister in the Lord, cannot get out of your knowledge zone and be relatable to the world around you with your faith, you are no earthly good!

As a young pastor I learned this lesson rather harshly when an older pastor friend of mine put me straight. I asked him what he thought of a sermon I had given that Sunday and his reply changed my life. He bluntly told me, “It was a good commentary, but had little life application.” I discovered that my listeners could relate and apply God’s teachings far better if I illustrated it with something they could actually relate to, real life! In fact, many commented afterwards how they remembered such and such story and how it had impacted them and how they were able to apply it to their Christian walk, than all of the passages and commentary had I regurgitated before!

It is time for believers to get real and share what Jesus means in a real way the world around them can understand. Don’t be so heavenly-minded that you’re no earthly good.

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This article is copyrighted © 2022 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

Ramblings from Retirement – Get Out There and Share Jesus!

Ramblings from Retirement – Get Out There and Share Jesus!

By Pastor (retired) Hemen

April 2, 2022

It is a beautiful day today and I am sitting here thinking about going for a bicycle ride. I like to get exercise by riding my bike and I’ve learned that I cannot simply think about it, I have to get up and go ride my bike. You know it is the same thing as far as witnessing to others about your faith. You can’t simply think about it, you have to get up and go out and do it. However, much of what we have been taught over the decades about witnessing is completely not found in Scripture. Let’s find out what I mean by this shall we?

Every gospel from Matthew to John talks about Jesus’ followers going into the world and telling others about Jesus and who he is. In fact, even the Book of Acts speaks to this issue as well.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV84)”

“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:15-16 NIV84)’”

“He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24:46-48 NIV84)’”

“Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. (John 20:21 NIV84)’”

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8 NIV84)”

Notice that Jesus’ followers are told to be witnesses but nowhere are they told to memorize a set number of Scripture passages and regurgitate them in a specific order to be his witnesses. Now do not get me wrong, if you are comfortable doing that then go ahead and do just that. However, this is not really how early believers witnessed, nor for that matter did most of Christians for the first thousand years or so of church history. What began to transpire is a reliance on a professional priesthood to regurgitate to the uneducated masses the Bible. People therefore began to put a lot of weight on the written word related to them rather than personal experience. Knowing the New Testament is very important for orthodoxy as far as Christianity is concerned. Far too many have taught and are teaching some pretty convoluted ideas about the Bible. Yet, I’m speaking about our witnessing.

When Jesus first sent out his twelve disciples onto Paul and others we see that they went out and simply declared who Jesus was and what he had done for them. This is what we should be doing as well. I like having others read passages and then tell me what they think it says about Jesus and their lives. However I’ve found that the best way to share my faith is to share what Jesus has done for me and what he can do for them, and not with preachy or churchy words. This is how the disciples shared, Paul, and others. So I encourage you to go and witness about Jesus, what he has and is doing for you, and how he can help others as well. Now get out there are share Jesus.

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This article is copyrighted © 2022 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

Ramblings from Retirement – Meditating on God’s Word

Ramblings from Retirement – Meditating on God’s Word

By Pastor (Retired) Lee Hemen

April 1, 2022

I was thinking about a notion that I have heard my entire Christian life, namely that we are better believers if we hide God’s Work in our hearts by memorizing it perfectly. Mainly this teaching comes from the words of the Psalmist who wrote, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you (Psalms 119:11 NIV84).” Except this is total balderdash. Now do not get me wrong because if you want to memorize the Bible verse by verse, go ahead and do so. It might be good for you to do so but this isn’t what the Psalmist meant. In fact, nowhere in the pages of our Bibles did the original authors want you to be able to quote a specific passage at any given time in order to be a better Believer in God. Certainly they encourage us to know the words of the Lord but what did they really mean?

First and foremost we often forget in our haste to impose certain spiritual concepts that we often fail to truly understand why we say what we do or think what we do about those “truths”. People in the Old Testament did not have books they carried around, let alone memorized them word for word in order to be a better Hebrew. Often times, in fact, when they would quote what we consider Scripture they would state a concept or what they felt it or certain teachers or Prophets meant. Then they would discuss these concepts sometimes for days! When the notion of writing things down on scrolls came about, they began to diligently write down what different teachers thought. This is why even Jesus used the terminology, “You have heard it said” when he quoted or taught a godly truth. Often, he and other writers of the New Testament would not quote precisely word for word Scripture passages. Why? Because it did not matter to them to get it perfect, the truth or concept was more important than the wording. Notice that in Psalm 119:11 people often forget the verse before that states: “I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.” The writer was answering the question he posed: “How can a young man keep his way pure?” (v. 9a) He knew it was “By living according to your word.” (v. 9b) Notice he does not say it is by memorizing verbatim new translations of the Bible.

What the Psalmist meant is that he “hid”, thought about, considered, and pondered the Godly truths he knew to be true in his life and practiced them daily. He learned the commands of God and lived by them. The Old Testament Law no longer holds the New Testament believer in prison to this strict adherence, but rather we are to walk by faith in Jesus Christ. Don’t believe me, Jesus said the Law and the Prophets was completed in him as he went to the cross, and Paul wrote about it effectively in his letters to the Romans and Galatians as did the writer of the Book of Hebrews. What the Law was powerless to do, Jesus did.

Finally, notice that the Psalmist also goes on to write: “Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. (Psalms 119:12-16 NIV84)” And there it is, he asks God to teach him how to live, he thinks about God’s truths that were given to Moses, and tries his best to live by them. Hiding them meant he meditated on them daily and applied them to his life.

I am not saying you should not read your Bibles or even memorize certain passages, especially if it helps you to think about the Lord in your life. But do not use it as a means to try and gain some kind of perfection, ability, or certainty that in doing so you are a far better person than those who do not do so. Most of us would be far better off by learning, meditating on, and applying the godly truths we find in the pages of our Bibles than learning word for word a multitude of passages we never apply.

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This article is copyrighted © 2022 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

Ramblings from Retirement – No Starfleet Future Awaits Humanity

Ramblings from Retirement – No Starfleet Future Awaits Humanity
By Pastor (Retired) Lee Hemen
March 28, 2022

I’ve been watching the latest installments of “Picard” on Paramount+ and have just gotten a huge dose of Hollyweird’s notion of what it thinks of the world at large and mankind in general. Picard and his crewmates have to go back in time to the year 2024 to fix the timeline. While there Picard meets up with the character Guinan, an alien being that lives a long time and is affected by time. Anyway, she is saddened by what she is witnessing here on earth and is getting ready to bug out when Picard enlists her help. She sees humanity’s hatred, pettiness, and greed but nowhere is the real reason given: Mainly mankind’s sinful nature.

The Apostle Paul related that the only fix for mankind’s problem of sin was the righteousness found in Jesus Christ. He writes, “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:22-23 NIV84)” Paul knew that mankind’s problem was their sin nature, something atheistic Hollyweird refuses to acknowledge. They, like many in our world do today, think that if we just learn to be kind enough, nicer, or more empathetic then all of our problems will just disappear. What they fail to see, are blinded to, is the fact that their own sinfulness is the problem. Kind, nice, empathetic people are still at their core sinners. All have sinned and all are sinners. We are sinners by our own nature and by our own choice. We are all born in sin and we chose to sin. This is why Paul would later declare, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NIV84)”

If you desire a world of peace, niceness, and empathy then you need a world that trust in Jesus Christ and not in humanity. Jesus told his followers, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. (John 14:1 NIV84)” In fact he bluntly tells those who refused to believe in him: “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins. (John 8:24 NIV84)”

Human transformation does not come from us willing it to be so but rather through our faith and trust in the One who can do it, Jesus. There is no future where mankind will ever be nice enough, kind enough, or empathetic enough to solve its sin problem, only Jesus can. There is no Starfleet future waiting for us but only more of humanity’s sinfulness until we are willing to submit to Jesus who can solve our sin problem.
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This article is copyrighted © 2022 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

Ramblings from Retirement – You’re gonna die!

Ramblings from Retirement – You’re gonna die
By Retried Pastor Lee Hemen
August 24, 2021

There are several quotes, memes, and statements floating around online and on TV that I have come to utterly hate and therefore disregard because they have become meaningless. They are: “We’re all in this together” and “If we can save even one life…” Both have become “pithyisms” – a new term that defines a statement that is made that means nothing but sounds pity. Politicians use them all the time to sound intelligent and to skirt the truth.

First of all we are not all in this together because we do not know one another, we do not mingle in the same groups with one another, and most of you have absolutely no vested interest in who I am or what I do, except you are kind enough to read or listen to my ramblings. I know it is supposed to make us feel like we are part of a community, a family, or all in the same leaky boat but frankly we are not all in this together. Can we be supportive of a concerted effort to try and make a difference? Sure, but that’s about it. Being in this together means to me that you are willing and able to invest your time, talent, and money to help me personally, encourage me individually, and walk along side of me daily. You can’t do that if you do not even know me. In fact, like my Daddy used to say, “Talk is cheap and empathy means nothing without commitment.” (By the way did you know that all the scrap metal collecting during WWII had little to no impact on the War Effort but it was enforced to make Americans feel good about their selves?)

Now that brings me to my last meme that I have come to dislike because of its overuse: “If we can save even one life…” Now think about that for a moment. Frankly there are few people in my circle who can actually save anyone’s life, including mine, and I am not talking about spirituality here at all. This statement takes on a self importance that is scientifically impossible to prove and smacks of arrogance. We do a lot of things in this day and age that have absolutely nothing to do with reality but certainly makes one feel better about oneself.

I read a statement, article, by someone the other day where they felt angered over what they called “supposed Christians” who did not care enough about others to wear a mask. The whole thrust of the argument was to make others feel guilty over something that none of us has any actual control over: someone else’s death – unless I am armed with a gun and going to shoot them. Then they quoted Scripture to make their argument seem more spiritually inclined than those ignorant and selfish believers who do not like wearing a mask and dared write about it. You see if we are so horrible as not to wear a mask and thereby place others at risk, because “if we can save even one life” should we even call ourselves “Christian” by not wearing a mask or heaven forbid encourage others not to do so? If we as believers do not wear a mask are we not guilty of being a stumbling block to others? I say, “Hogwash!” By this convoluted logic we should never ever do or say anything because it might somehow cause someone somewhere to die!

Here is the truth: If you have friends or family members that you are around constantly who have health concerns, then you should wear a mask but to say I might be causing the death of someone because I do not or I write about it? Wow, that is arrogance. Frankly I wear a mask around those who are elderly or medically venerable but I write and encourage personal freedom and not mandates, even by well-intentioned others. It’s called being a nanny. Years ago I actually knew a young man who would not go on a retreat or do anything extra in his life because he feared that by doing so he was misusing his time, talent, and treasure and someone somewhere in the world might starve!

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that “man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27 NIV). At some point we will all die. In fact “No one knows what is coming– who can tell him what will happen after him? (Ecclesiastes 10:14 NIV)” We simply cannot say with any certainty when we will die or why? And to try to lay the blame on someone else because they did not wear a mask is wrongheaded. This virus will never go away because it is a COVID virus just like the flu or common cold. SARS and other COVID viruses that we have come into contact with are still with us to some varying degree to this day and people die from them all of the time! (Why haven’t you been wearing a mask all along when you knew that people could die from the common cold or flu?) Masks cannot protect anyone from getting the virus but they can help to a very small degree from you possibly maybe giving it to someone else. (This is not my opinion but viral science and backed by years of study on the use of masks and the cloth mask or paper surgical mask you are encouraged to use is about as helpful as a kitchen towel.)

We are all gonna die sometime and should we be helpful, kind, and courteous to others around us? Sure, but do not try to make me feel fuzzy or guilty with your stupid memes.

This article is copyrighted © 2021 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

Ramblings from Retirement – Do Not Fear

Ramblings from Retirement – Do Not Fear
By Retired Pastor Lee Hemen
August 13, 2021

Are you fearful? Are you afraid? Some people like being scared or the feeling of fear. They will even do things in life to make themselves feel fear. Like bungee jumping from high places, climbing cliffs without any pinions or tie downs, or skydiving. Some will go to horror movies but then there are also those who keep themselves in a constant state of fear simply because they do not trust themselves, others, or Jesus to keep them. This is truly sad.

Today is Friday the 13th and some folks are fearful of the date; kind of silly, if you ask me, but they are. Perhaps it is because they would rather live in a state of fear rather than peace. The news brings in to our lives a constant barrage of tragedy, horrors, and dismal happenings. My advice is to turn the news off and go read your Bible or listen to some good music. The world is full of fear and will not change until we go to our eternal rest or Jesus comes again.

In Matthew’s Gospel he relates that Jesus taught the crowds: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:28-31 NIV” It is a familiar piece of Scripture but helps to remind us that as believers we should never be afraid.

Now the crowds listening to Jesus that day had a lot to fear a whole lot more than we do in our day and age. We live longer, enjoy a better lifestyle, and have comforts they never could dream of and yet we live in fear. Why? I know that fear is more than a state of mind but it is also a personal choice. I am reminded of a young woman who was horrendously raped and she was asked years later how she got through it and her reply was enlightening, she replied, “I simply choose to not live in fear.” Now I know it can be easier said than done for some of us but today and right now you can choose to not live in fear but peace.

If we have Jesus we have everything we need to face the terrors of the world around us and find the peace that surpasses all understanding, like Paul wrote about. Yet many of us must enjoy living in a state of fear rather than peace and we allow ourselves to wallow in the muck and mire of fear. If God knows when a small sparrow falls to the earth don’t you think that he cares for those he died for so much more? I do. And believe me I know what it means to number the few remaining hairs I have on my head! Yet God knows them all and me personally.

I well remember years ago arguing with someone that God was indeed a personal God and knows us completely. He denied that any being that was that powerful could know him intimately yet after giving his heart to Christ he now fully understands what this means. And you can as well. Perhaps you have resisted trusting him enough with your life that you remain fearful or you simply think that he could not love you that much to be concerned about you? Rest assured he does and will if you let him do so.

Over and over Jesus was constantly reminding his disciples to not be afraid, that he was with them. In fact some of his last words spoken to them are that he is with them to the very end of the age, meaning forever. Therefore do not fear, trust Jesus, and trust him to know you and to comfort you in your fear right now during this moment. Do not fear.

This article is copyrighted © 2021 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.