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SaveCalifornia.com Blog//
Archives for the ‘Meaning’ Category
Sunday, April 5, 2015, 2:15 pm | Randy Thomasson

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most important events in history. It ranks right up there with the Creation and Jesus’ death on the Cross. And the Resurrection should give great confidence to true believers.
Consider that when Jesus died on the Cross in 30 A.D. to provide one-of-a-kind substitutionary atonement for believers’ sins, His disciples were afraid, sad, and scattered. They didn’t understand. Yet upon seeing the overwhelming evidence of Jesus’ amazing, physical resurrection, they became confident, glad, and united.
For Jesus’ resurrection confirmed that He was the God-Man, who had the ability to identify with (thus take the place of) sinful humans. And it convincingly demonstrated that He, as the One Who had created all things (John 1:3), had divine authority to forgive sins past, present, and future for all who confess and repent of their sins, ask for and receive Jesus’ forgiveness, and submit to Him as the new King of their lives.
Upon seeing that Jesus has resurrected Himself, just as He said He would, the formerly scared, hopeless, and defeated disciples were transformed in their minds, hearts, and souls. They now knew their identity and purpose. They now knew the meaning of life. And they knew the source of joy. And get this — they were willing to not only die for Jesus, but to live for Him and to suffer for Him as they produced great fruit, saw many lives changed, and turned their culture upside down.
Similarly, every believer today, who sincerely entrusts himself or herself to Jesus, should be glad and hopeful, not morose and hopeless. If you, like His disciples, will gaze at the resurrected Jesus, you’ll not only realize He is Who He said He was, and how much He loves you, but you’ll discover your exciting and fulfilling Reason for being, living, and working!
Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence. Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
Luke 24:36-44 NKJV
Tags: Randy Thomasson, SaveAmerica.com, SaveCalifornia.com Posted in Christmas, Culture, Life, Meaning, SaveCalifornia.com | Comments Off on Let Jesus’ resurrection give you confidence
Friday, February 20, 2015, 12:50 pm | Randy Thomasson

I saw this car in a parking lot and just had to take a picture. The bumper sticker “Love God / Love People” can and should be the singular goal of people who claim (like on the cap behind the window) that “Christ is King.”
The older I get, the more I question my motivations. Am I here on earth to serve myself, or to serve my Maker and His created people?
For if my self-satisfaction relies on my own comfort and pleasure, isn’t this the very definition of selfish? And if my values are merely “traditional” and not my heart beating hard with love, how quickly my values can be ignored under pressure or diminish over time.
Think about. Every baby is born selfish. This is why each one of us must teach ourselves God’s principle of love, unless it was drummed into our heads by wise parents (which is exceptional).
I’ve tried to define love Biblically as “giving God’s goodness.” One of my favorite Bible commentators, Adam Clarke, who was a protégé of John Welsey, defined love as simply “pleasing God” (how different from the love definitions of Hollywood, the world, and our own flesh!).
What’s more, I’m remembering that “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) means a God-approved truth with a God-approved motive. And I remind myself that my act of love for others is not dependent on people recognizing it as love or even their reaction to my love. Most of all, I’m holding fast to the reality that God defines Truth, but I decide whether to love with the right motive followed by the right action.
So if, like me, you find yourself deficient in love, just sincerely confess and repent of it before God. Then you’ll bear fruit in life and get good things done because your mind is refocused to love people on God’s terms. Don’t think it’s too hard, because you were created for this!
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’’’
Matthew 22:37-39 NKJV
The love of our neighbor springs from the love of God as its source; is found in the love of God as its principle, pattern, and end; and the love of God is found in the love of our neighbor, as its effect, representation, and infallible mark. …This is the religion of Jesus! How happy would Society be, were these two plain, rational precepts properly observed! Love Me, and love thy Fellows! Be unutterably happy in me, and be in perfect peace, unanimity, and love, among yourselves. Great fountain and dispenser of love! fill thy creation with this sacred principle, for his sake who died for the salvation of mankind!
“Prince of Commentators” Adam Clarke on Matthew 22:39
Tags: Randy Thomasson, SaveAmerica.com, SaveCalifornia.com Posted in Meaning, Morality | Comments Off on Ask yourself — is Love my main motive?
Friday, November 7, 2014, 3:35 pm | Randy Thomasson

No matter what happens in the government, courts, culture, or elections, don’t despair!
Each day, SaveCalifornia.com knows our purpose — on every issue, to stand tall and true for all that is good and right in God’s sight, and to help others do their part alongside us – no matter the opposition or the outcome.
If you’re a pro-family citizen, this is part of your purpose too. Because shining the light of Truth is what we are each called to do.
But if you’re discouraged about the just-concluded election, here’s some good news to lift you up. Please keep looking up and be responsible to love God and love people alongside SaveCalifornia.com, so that together we will persevere and bear more fruit in the days to come.
Here are 3 current events and 2 timeless truths to give you hope:
1. Supreme Court likely to take up marriage licenses and states’ rights
This week’s pro-real-marriage, pro-states-rights ruling from a federal appeals court in Ohio makes it highly likely that the U.S. Supreme Court will take this and other cases to resolve the legal conflict. This could result in the upholding of state constitutional amendments reserving marriage licenses for one man and one woman, including California’s Proposition 8. Read more
2. Supreme Court will hear new ObamaCare challenge
Today’s good news means hope to roll back tyranny. The nation’s high court will take up four separate lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of a key aspect of ObamaCare. At specific issue is whether it is legal for the federal government to create a state-based “exchange” instead of abiding by the law which specifies only states themselves may establish these “exchanges.” Read more
3. California Democrats denied supermajority
Although the Republican leadership seems to eschew moral and social issues now, on Election Day we saw the net increase of three Republican seats in the Assembly and 1 more seat in the state Senate, which means Republicans have stopped the Democrats from regaining a 2/3rds supermajority that could directly raise taxes on families. Read more
4. Union members don’t have to support immoral candidates
If you’re disgusted with government unions and private unions supporting immoral candidates and issues, the most important things pro-family union members can do is resign from the union and stop believing the lie that union membership is a condition of employment. Find out how
5. If you feel like a loser, change your mind to that of a winner
Teddy Roosevelt was a sickly child who probably felt like a loser. But due to the leadership and challenge of his father, young Theodore, Jr. build up his body and became one of the most energetic public and moral men in the modern history. Read about his transformation
My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.
James 1:2-4 NET Bible
Tags: Randy Thomasson, SaveAmerica.com, SaveCalifornia.com Posted in Good Government, Marriage, Meaning, Prop. 8, Republicans, Taxes | Comments Off on 5 reasons to have practical hope
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