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Writing Update 5

Posted in Biosphere, Labyrinth, Mind Master Chronicles, News, Puppet on a String, Thoughts of the Day, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 22, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Writing Update 5

I’ve decided to do a fourth go over on Biosphere. I’ve decided to make this a pattern for all of my future books. I intend to do five Word pages on days I edit my books. Then, I will do four rounds. It just doesn’t feel like I’ve been thorough enough otherwise. Then, I plan to do the formatting and the cover. My new goal is to have the book up for pre-order in April. The release date goal is set for Monday, April 29th. I figure around May is a good time to release a new book. I think this will give me enough time to get everything to my liking and build up some anticipation for my release as well.

Meanwhile, I’ve decided to set my baseline price for most of my eBooks to $2.99 instead of $3.99. I know it’s hard to find money in the budget for books these days. Labyrinth will still be set to free for most retailers. Biosphere will be $2.99. Of course, I also intend to participate in the Smashwords Store sales when they come up. As far as I know, they’re still having one in July.

I’ve also changed the category of my book series The Mind Master Chronicles from juvenile fiction to regular fiction. I did this because the first two books … Labyrinth and Puppet on a String … could probably fit either category, but the third book, that’s in the editing process, and the fourth and fifth book, which are being written, lean more toward adult fiction. In other words, they are on the edge of adult and really edgy and dark juvenile fiction. But since people tend to view juvenile as a subcategory of children’s books, and I don’t see these as children’s books I decided to move them to adult fiction. Still, since there aren’t any sex scenes in the book, right now I’m not inclined toward the 18 warning / recommendation for the Mind Master Chronicles. I just don’t want people to blindly give books three through five to a five-year-old because they’re listed in the children’s section. And it really didn’t make sense to me to have books in the same series in different categories. Hopefully, this change won’t be too confusing for people.

I want to thank the people who have read my books. It’s probably easier to get books for free at the library. But I think it’s still hard to break into the library system if you’re an independent writer rather than a traditionally published one. So, I appreciate the effort people have made to read my books, even though I don’t have as much access to readers as I could have.

I realized recently how important readers are. They are rare gems to be treasured. It’s really gratifying for a writer when someone actually identifies with your work. Ideally, it truly is a symbiotic relationship where everyone benefits and is made happier as a result.

So, I will continue to make my books as affordable and accessible as possible. And you readers keep up the good work. I am convinced your efforts are appreciated by the authors whose books you read!

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Jeremiah 51 Bible chapter

Posted in Bible quotes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on January 11, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Jeremiah 51

Thus saith the LORD; “Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against Me, a destroying wind;

“And will send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about.

“Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his brigandine: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host.

“Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and they that are thrust through in her streets.”

For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the LORD of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.

Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance; He will render unto her a recompence.

Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD’s hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.

We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.

The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.

Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for His device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of His temple.

Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchman, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which He spake against the inhabitants of Babylon.

O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness.

The LORD of hosts hath sworn by Himself, saying, “Surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillers; and they shall lift up a shout against thee.”

He hath made the earth by His power, He hath established the world by His wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by His understanding.

When He uttereth His voice, there is a multitude of waters [Or, noise] in the heavens; and He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth: He maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of His treasures.

Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.

They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

The portion of Jacob is not like them; for He is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of His inheritance: the LORD of hosts is His name.

“Thou art My battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;

“And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider;

“With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid;

“I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers.

“And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight,” saith the LORD.

“Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain,” saith the LORD, “which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out Mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.

“And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever,” saith the LORD.

Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillers.

Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the Medes, the captains thereof, and all the rulers thereof, and all the land of his dominion.

And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant.

The mighty men of Babylon have forborn to fight, they have remained in their holds: their might hath failed; they became as women: they have burned her dwellingplaces; her bars are broken.

One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one end,

And that the passages are stopped, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted.

For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; “The daughter of Babylon is like a threshingfloor, it is time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come.”

Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out.

The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitant of Zion say; and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say.

Therefore thus saith the LORD; “Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry.

“And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.

“They shall roar together like lions: they shall yell as lions’ whelps.

“In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake,” saith the LORD.

“I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats.

“How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!

“The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof.

“Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby.

“And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up: and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall.

“My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD.

“And lest [Or, let not] your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumour that shall be heard in the land; a rumour shall both come one year, and after that in another year shall come a rumour, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.

“Therefore, behold, the days come, that I will do judgment upon the graven images of Babylon: and her whole land shall be confounded, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.

“Then the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for Babylon: for the spoilers shall come unto her from the north,” saith the LORD.

As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth.

Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the LORD afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.

We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD’s house.

“Wherefore, behold, the days come,” saith the LORD, “that I will do judgment upon her graven images: and through all her land the wounded shall groan.

“Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from Me shall spoilers come unto her,” saith the LORD.

A sound of a cry cometh from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans:

Because the LORD hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered:

Because the spoiler is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, every one of their bows is broken: for the LORD God of recompences shall surely requite.

“And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake,” saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; “The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the people shall labour in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary.”

The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And this Seraiah was a quiet prince.

So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, even all these words that are written against Babylon.

And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words;

Then shalt thou say, O LORD, Thou hast spoken against this place, to cut it off, that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever.

And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates:

And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 51: 1-64).

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Writing Update #4

Posted in News, Thoughts of the Day, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 17, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Writing Update #4

I just got through my second editing run of Biosphere. I did five Word pages a day on days I worked. I admit, some days it was rough. I had to get used to the process again. It got easier toward the end. I’m going to read it through again. I’m not sure what pace I can set for the next round, but I think I’ve made good progress so far.

Meanwhile, my first three books are enrolled in the Smashwords End of Year Sale between December 15 & January 1:

Free E-book! Labyrinth (Mind Master Chronicles — Book 1) Jennifer Alice Chandler

Twelve-year-old Aronade plays a lot of games, but they aren’t games of her own design. These games have been crafted by a man who goes by the name, “The Instructor.” He creates these mind games called scenarios in order to teach Aronade “lessons” about how the world truly operates. But when Aronade discovers a nearly drowned teenage boy from the outside world at the complex, she soon discovers that the Instructor’s games may not be so harmless after all. In fact, they may be deadly.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1353449

Puppet on a String (Mind Master Chronicles — Book 2) Jennifer Alice Chandler Sale price $0.99 Sixteen-year-old Aronade’s life has changed dramatically. She was taken from the compound and placed in a private school for the elite, a group of people genetically altered to increase their longevity. She is still reeling from the knowledge she is a carrier of a disease that could kill the elite. Her benefactor, a man who goes by the moniker of the Instructor, is using her as leverage to stop the elite from wiping out the rest of humanity. Only it has become clear that the Instructor cares little for anything but the game he’s playing. And if Aronade has to be sacrificed in order to win that game, so be it.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1386746

Break the Leg to Bend the Knee Jennifer Alice Chandler Sale price $0.99

After the world that she knew falls apart, a woman named Genevieve seeks refuge at a local hospital. It is in the course of her duties as a doctor’s assistant that Genevieve first encounters the Guild, a militant organization of formidable men. Her encounter is in the form of an enigmatic man named Roan Phillips. If Roan were typical of the Guild, the only thing Genevieve would have to worry about is losing her heart. But unfortunately, it turns out another man, the sadistic Gregory, is far more typical of the Guild. And because of him, Genevieve is at high risk of losing her life.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1415973

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Jeremiah 50 Bible chapter

Posted in Bible quotes, tagged , , , , , , , , , on December 7, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Jeremiah 50

The word that the LORD spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.

“Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, ‘Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.’

“For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast.

“In those days, and in that time,” saith the LORD, “the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God.

“They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.

“My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.

“All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, ‘We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.’

“Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks.

“For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves an array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man [Or, destroyer]; none shall return in vain.

“And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied,” saith the LORD.

“Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of Mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls [Or, neigh as steeds];

“Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

“Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.

“Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the LORD.

“Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.

“Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.

“Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.

“Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; ‘Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.

“‘And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon Mount Ephraim and Gilead.

“‘In those days, and in that time,’ saith the LORD, ‘the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.’

“Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod [Or, visitation]: waste and utterly destroy after them,” saith the LORD, “and do according to all that I have commanded thee.

“A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction.

“How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!

“I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD.”

The LORD hath opened His armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of His indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans.

Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses: cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left.

Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.

The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of His temple.

“Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.

“Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day,” saith the LORD.

“Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud,” saith the Lord GOD of hosts: “for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee.

“And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him.”

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; “The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go.

“Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is His name: He shall throughly plead their cause, that He may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.

“The sword is upon the Chaldeans,” saith the LORD, “and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men.

“A sword is upon the liars [Or, chief stays]; and they shall dote: a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed.

“A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed.

“A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols.

“Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.

“As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof,” saith the LORD; “so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.

“Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

“They shall hold the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride  upon horses, every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.

“The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail.

“Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like Me? and who will appoint Me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before Me?”

Therefore hear ye the counsel of the LORD, that He hath taken against Babylon; and His purposes, that He hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely He shall make their habitation desolate with them.

At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations (Jeremiah 50: 1-46).

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Philippians 4 Bible chapter

Posted in Bible quotes, tagged , , , , , , , , , on December 7, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Philippians 4

Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest [Or, venerable], whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished [Or, is revived] again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

But I have all [Or, I have received all], and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.

All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen (Philippians 4: 1-23).

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Jeremiah 49 Bible chapter

Posted in Bible quotes, tagged , , , , , , , , , on November 27, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Jeremiah 49

Concerning the Ammonites, thus saith the LORD; “Hath Israel no sons? hath he no heir? why then doth their king inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his cities?

“Therefore, behold, the days come,” saith the LORD, “that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs,” saith the LORD.

“Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges; for their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and his princes together.

“Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys, thy flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures, saying, ‘Who shall come unto me?’

“Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee,” saith the Lord GOD of hosts, “from all those that be about thee; and ye shall be driven out every man right forth; and none shall gather up him that wandereth.

“And afterward I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon,” saith the LORD.

Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts; “Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?

“Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I will visit him.

“If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough.

“But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he is not.

“Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in Me.”

For thus saith the LORD; “Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it.

“For I have sworn by Myself,” saith the LORD, “that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes”;

I have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent unto the heathen, saying, Gather ye together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle.

“For, lo, I will make thee small among the heathen, and despised among men.

“Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence,” saith the LORD.

“Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof.

“As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof,” saith the LORD, “no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it.

“Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like Me? and who will appoint Me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before Me?”

Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that He hath taken against Edom; and His purposes, that He hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely He shall make their habitations desolate with them.

The earth is moved at the noise of their fall, at the cry the noise thereof was heard in the Red Sea.

Behold, He shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread His wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.

Concerning Damascus. “Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.

“Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.

“How is the city of praise not left, the city of My joy!

“Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day,” saith the LORD of hosts.

“And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Ben-hadad.”

Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the LORD; “Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east.

“Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, ‘Fear is on every side.’

“Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor,” saith the LORD; “for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you.

“Arise, get you up unto the wealthy [Or, that is at ease] nation, that dwelleth without care,” saith the LORD, “which have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone.

“And their camels shall be booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter into all winds them that are in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof,” saith the LORD.

“And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, and a desolation for ever: there shall no man abide there, nor any son of man dwell in it.”

The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; ‘Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might.

“‘And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.

“‘For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even My fierce anger,’ saith the LORD; ‘and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them:

“‘And I will set My throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes,’ saith the LORD.

“‘But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam,’ ” saith the LORD (Jeremiah 49: 1-39).

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Jeremiah 48 Bible chapter

Posted in Bible quotes, tagged , , , , , , , , , on November 27, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Jeremiah 48

Against Moab thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; “Woe unto Nebo! for it is spoiled: Kiriathaim is confounded and taken: Misgab [Or, The high place] is confounded and dismayed.

“There shall be no more praise of Moab: in Heshbon they have devised evil against it; ‘come, and let us cut it off from being a nation.’ Also thou shalt be cut down, O Madmen; the sword shall pursue thee.

“A voice of crying shall be from Horonaim, ‘spoiling and great destruction.’

“Moab is destroyed; her little ones have caused a cry to be heard.

“For in the going up of Luhith continual weeping shall go up; for in the going down of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction.

“Flee, save your lives, and be like the heath in the wilderness.

“For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together.

“And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD hath spoken.

“Give wings unto Moab, that it may flee and get away: for the cities thereof shall be desolate, without any to dwell therein.

“Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully [Or, negligently], and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

“Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed.

“Therefore, behold, the days come,” saith the LORD, “that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles.

“And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Beth-el their confidence.

“How say ye, ‘We are mighty and strong men for the war’?

“Moab is spoiled, and gone up out of her cities, and his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter,” saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.

“The calamity of Moab is near to come, and his affliction hasteth fast.

“All ye that are about him, bemoan him; and all ye that know his name, say, ‘How is the strong staff broken, and the beautiful rod!’

“Thou daughter that dost inhabit Dibon, come down from thy glory, and sit in thirst; for the spoiler of Moab shall come upon thee, and he shall destroy thy strong holds.

“O inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way, and espy; ask him that fleeth, and her that escapeth, and say, ‘What is done?’

“Moab is confounded; for it is broken down: howl and cry; tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is spoiled,

“And judgment is come upon the plain country; upon Holon, and upon Jahazah, and upon Mephaath,

“And upon Dibon, and upon Nebo, and upon Beth-diblathaim,

“And upon Kiriathaim, and upon Beth-gamul, and upon Beth-meon,

“And upon Kerioth, and upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near.

“The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken,” saith the LORD.

“Make ye him drunken: for he magnified himself against the LORD: Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision.

“For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for joy.

“O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that maketh her nest in the sides of the hole’s mouth.

“We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart.

“I know his wrath,” saith the LORD; “but it shall not be so; his lies shall not so effect it.

“Therefore will I howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; Mine heart shall mourn for the men of Kir-heres.

“O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for thee with the weeping of Jazer: thy plants are gone over the sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer: the spoiler is fallen upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage.

“And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting.

“From the cry of Heshbon even unto Elealeh, and even unto Jahaz, have they uttered their voice, from Zoar even unto Horonaim, as an heifer of three years old: for the waters also of Nimrim shall be desolate.

“Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab,” saith the LORD, “him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods.

“Therefore Mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and Mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kir-heres: because the riches that he hath gotten are perished.

“For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands shall be cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth.

“There shall be lamentation generally upon all the housetops of Moab, and in the streets thereof: for I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein is no pleasure,” saith the LORD.

“They shall howl, saying, How is it broken down! how hath Moab turned the back with shame! so shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him.”

For thus saith the LORD; “Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab.

“Kerioth [Or, The cities] is taken, and the strong holds are surprised, and the mighty men’s hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.

“And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the LORD.

“Fear, and the pit, and the snare, shall be upon thee, O inhabitant of Moab,” saith the LORD.

“He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation,” saith the LORD.

“They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.

“Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives.

“Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days,” saith the LORD. Thus far is the judgment of Moab (Jeremiah 48: 1-47).

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Normalizing Sin

Posted in Thoughts of the Day, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 19, 2023| Leave a Comment »

To those who believe that God compromises with sin, you should really read through the Old Testament. The Old Testament, particularly the books written by the prophets, is filled with examples of human beings deciding God’s standards are too high. He then gives them the opportunity to repent and be saved from all kinds of misfortune. And though He is God and they are not, they refuse. They then end up being destroyed over and over again “by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.” (Jeremiah 14: 12)

The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

“Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear My words.”

Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

“O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter?” saith the LORD. “Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in Mine hand, O house of Israel.

“At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;

“If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

“And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;

“If it do evil in My sight, that it obey not My voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.

“Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus saith the LORD; “Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.” ’

“And they said, ‘There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.’ ” (Jeremiah 18: 1-12)

Many times the wicked, unrepentant leaders are removed from power as in the Babylonian captivity written about in Jeremiah. In Numbers 14, most of the people in a rebellious generation are not permitted to enter the Promised Land, but instead end up dying in the wilderness after forty years of wandering.

It becomes pretty obvious after a while that God is not a God of moral compromise. And yet, people continue to act as though He is. They continue to play the lesser of two evils game. As though someone else behaving worse than you do makes your behavior acceptable to God.

Saving souls is of chief importance to God, and you don’t save souls by allowing people to slide down into hell by a progressive series of moral compromises. And the biggest problem a society faces is in the normalizing of sin. Sin is always with us unfortunately. It’s in our fallen nature and has to be constantly battled against. Jesus provided us with the means to fight it, but it remains a struggle. But when a society normalizes sin — denies it exists, tries to hide the consequences of it — then there is no room for the necessary repentance. In the Old Testament, corrupted generations were replaced by ones who would listen to God. Now, in a society which normalizes sin, children are being taught there is no sin to repent of. Sin is taught to be good — that it’s who you are. The message is that to love sin is to love people. Yet, the sin actually becomes more important than the individual. They are even implying, when they aren’t bashing God for being mean, that God loves sin, which is far from the truth. As Jesus says in Matthew 5, “Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the Prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled.
“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5: 17-20)

At the end of the day, if you have a problem with your sin and the consequences of it, repent and gain forgiveness from God through His Messiah Jesus Christ. Don’t try to turn everyone else into the proverbial drunk just so you can continue to drink and feel good about yourself while doing it.

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Philippians 3 Bible chapter

Posted in Bible quotes, tagged , , , , , , , , , on November 19, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Philippians 3

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the Law, a Pharisee;

Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the Law, blameless.

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death;

If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself (Philippians 3: 1-21).

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Writing Update #3

Posted in Biosphere, Mind Master Chronicles, News, Thoughts of the Day, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 15, 2023| Leave a Comment »

The editing of Biosphere has been taking longer than I had hoped. Really, in retrospect, I had no idea how long it would take. Each book is different. For this book, I jumped around a lot between scenes, which unfortunately left a lot of scenes not linked together well. So, I’ve had to write the linking scenes to make smooth transitions between sections. I’ve finished my first run-through. I will probably have to go through it two more times to make sure it flows smoothly and is logically sound. This is going to take longer than expected to do well. So, probably the end of January would be the soonest it might be released. I wish I could know in advance how long things will take, but like I said there’s really no guide in place to writing books.

Meanwhile, I have finished the first drafts of the third book in the series with Biosphere in it, and the third book of the Mind Master Chronicles series. Currently, I’ve been writing Book 4 of the Mind Master Chronicles, Book 2 of the book in the series with Biosphere in it and my other standalone book.

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