If an idea is wrong and you say, "That's a wrong idea, and here's why..."--is that being "judgmental? (or intolerant? Or closed-minded? Or narrow-minded?) Or is that being wise in judging a wrong idea to be wrong?

Judging an idea is different than judging a person. And judging a person's actions is different than judging the person himself.

Everybody judges. And the people who claim to be the most non-judgmental, they are the most judgmental people of all--they judge all of the people who have an opinion. They judge them when they tell them that they're *wrong* for judging. They say that judging itself is wrong. But they immediately show themselves to be hypocrites, for they themselves are judging when they condemn others for judging!

Many people appeal to Jesus, who said,"Do not judge." But if you read the context, Jesus was referring to judging "hypocritically." Judging itself is not wrong. In fact, the Bible and Jesus Himself, advocate it: "Judge for yourselves what is right."

The whole idea of "do not judge" is wrongly employed by the political left (liberals) so that they can assume their immoral views to be correct, and squelch all critical and logical discussion on any given issue.

And a great problem is that the people who are appointed and paid to judge-Supreme Court Justices-they are making wrong judgments because they are swayed by the "non-judgmental" liberals--can you believe it?

In my experience, soldiers and medical personnel often have the greatest appreciation of life, because they know how fragile life is, and how quickly it can be gone, never to be gotten back.

Here are some things you can do right now if you don't feel the presence of God in your life:

(Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.)

1) Have you received Jesus into your heart?

Have you received the forgiveness of your sins and your permanent eternal life and the guarantee of Heaven after death, solely through simple faith in Jesus?

If not, you can do so right now simply by believing that He is true God and true man, that He died for your sins on the cross, that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day. If you have done this with God's help, then you are forever and irrevocably saved, you have eternal life, you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and you are unstoppably headed for Heaven.

2) Do you confess your sins to Jesus every day?

3) Do you pray continually, throughout every day? (The Bible says, "Pray continually.")

Do you bring all of your life--every area of it-- and all of your problems to Jesus?

Your feelings?

Your thoughts?

Your money?

Your relationships?

Your plans?

Your health?

Everything?

Do you put it all into His hands?

Is God *your* God?

4) Do you read the Bible daily and think about it deeply in your heart?

5) Do you will the will of God?

6) Do you put Jesus on the throne of your decision-making? Is Jesus on the throne of your life? Does He satisfy the longings of your soul?

Do you ask God for His blessings constantly? His peace, His purity, His blessings? (Ask and you shall receive.)

Is Jesus the first Person you turn to when you are in trouble?

7) Do you examine and purify your motivations before God? (The Bible says, examine your hearts before God.)

Do you sense His joy, freedom, peace and creativity in your life?

8) Are you constantly seeking the truth in every area of your life? (The truth will set you free.)

Are you telling others about your faith in Jesus? (If not, is it because you are not daily following Him?)

9) Do you believe that Jesus has made you a holy, righteous, blameless, sinless person, in Christ, purely by His grace, love and goodness? (even though in your life you still sin, and are not practically perfect yet)?
(The Bible says that Jesus is our righteousness.)

10) Are you often feeling the heat, pressure, trouble, attacks and resistance of Satan as you do God's will? If you have no enemies, spiritual or human, then you are not doing His will, you are not living in His truth, period. Satan, demons, and resistant unbelievers HATE God's truth, His ways, and His people. And they definitely hate Jesus, no matter how lovingly and peacefully He is presented. (Jesus said WOE unto a person when ALL speak well of him.)

Have you distanced yourself from close friendship from those who resist Jesus, hate Jesus, or are trying to tear down your faith or your life? (Soon all unbelievers will be in Hell. The Bible says that they are the *children of Satan*, as we all also used to be. Don't let them drag you down. No, this isn't being paranoid or cultish, this is biblical truth. The Bible says, "Evil company corrupts good habits".)

Do you guard your heart and life against evil influences? (He will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.)

11) Have you asked God to transform your mind and to purify your heart? (Be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds.)

12) Do you daily, and more often, ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit? (The Bible says "be filled with the Holy Spirit.")

13) Are you progressively conforming your life to His truth and His will, so far as you understand it?

14) Do you daily ask God to fill your heart and your life with His love, power, blessing and wisdom? (Ask and you will receive.)

15) Are you associating with, being built up by, being balanced and refined by, befriending, helping and supporting other believers? (church)

16) Do you listen to, (and sing along with), Christian music that builds up your faith and praises God? (God inhabits the praises of His people.)

17) Are you reading good Christian books and magazines written by men who are faithful to the Word of God?

If you start doing these things, progressively, in a few weeks, or months, or sooner, you will soon sense God's presence, blessing and guidance in your life.

God promises that you will find Him, when you seek Him: when you seek Him with all of your heart.

His words are true.

Amen.

The most important truths:

"...the Word (Jesus) was God..."

"...the Word (Jesus) became flesh..." >>John 1:1;14.

"He who believes in the Son (Jesus) *has* everlasting life;

and He who does not believe the Son (Jesus) shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." >>John 3:36.

For by *grace* you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the *gift* of God, *not* of works, lest anyone should boast. >>Ephesians 2:8,9.

Believe in Jesus: that He is God, that He died on the cross for all of your sins, that he physically rose from death on the third day--and you will be saved forever, and go to Heaven the minute you die.

***

Please check out my website (and blog links) at

www.GraceandTruth.Name