Is it "once" or "If"?

    Many Christians believe the Bible teaches assurance of salvation.  My pastor claims to be one of those.  He is always expounding that Christianity is a "know-so" religion and if you have doubts about your salvation you are lost.  But he also says that one must "get right in order to live right in order to die right',  a philosophy that seems to teach salvation by works rather than faith.  Our church has lost a few members because he confuses people about what he believes.  Do we or do we not have assurance of our salvation.
  The pastor says he does not believe in "Once saved always saved" but believes that "if saved always saved".  I think such statements only adds confusion and doubt.   I prefer the "once saved" version of that statement.  Christ only died once.  If one could lose their salvation Christ would have to be crucified as many times as a person lost their salvation.  Christ only died once because that is all that is necessary.   To use the phrase "If saved' begins a statement of assurance of salvation with a statement of doubt.  "if saved" sounds like anything but a sure thing.  It smacks of grace plus something else.  We are saved by grace, through faith, and that not of ourselves.  Grace is not conditional.  It is something given to another when it is totally undeserved.  All one has to do to receive it is to be willing to receive it. 
   I know why my pastor says if instead of once.  So many people claim to be saved that do not live for Christ that "being saved" has almost become synonymous with "I go to church or have been to church and I buy into the belief that Jesus Christ is a real person and did good things."   But saying "if"  instead of :"only" doesn't make one more saved  but it does add confusion. 

Nineteen people were feared dead and as many as 24 others wounded after an attack by a knife-wielding man at a facility for the disabled in Japan early on

I suppose the anti-knife lobby will want to enact ginsu knife laws to determine who can have access to knives. ,

From an article entitled "Relationship rules you should break"

"Think getting down too soon is a deal breaker? It might be time to think again, says Greer. "If you feel good about the person, are really attracted to them, and you feel safe with them, it's OK to go ahead and sleep with them," she says. "On the flip side, you can also wait until past the third date." In other words, wait until you're ready, whenever that may be. View our complete list of the best white dress looks from the red carpet."

   Honestly, having sex at all before marriage should be a hard and fast rule.  Anything else cheapens relationships and reduces the chances of fidelity during marriage.  Oh, don't believe in marriage?  Well, that should be an attitude you change.

It's a battle

For years I was able to control my diabetes with a proper diet but eventually I went on metformin.  A few years ago I went on insulin for 3 months but was able to come off it and go with just metformin again.  But after a year my doctor added glipizide to my regimen  but after a couple of years I had to go back on insulin.  The first time I used insulin I gained 33 pounds and never did lose any one it so when I had to go back on insulin again I was afraid of gaining weight.

  So far I've managed to lose 9 pounds (It's been a bout two months now).  Yesterday I suffered my first bout with low blood sugar and it felt horrible.  Last night I gave into my urge for an unhealthy snack (six wheat crackers, a spoonful of peanut butter and a spoonful of jelly).  Yea, it was a nasty tasting snack and my blood sugar reading was way to high as a result. 

  Eating so as to not spike ones blood sugar or let it drop too quickly and all the while controlling ones weight is extremely difficult, especially since taking insulin makes one feel hungry all the time.  I'm not talking about just wanting something to eat but "feeling like your stomach is sucked up against your backbone" hungry. 

Cringe worthy news

    Soon Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee for President of the United States of America.  I haven't always voted Republican but I have never voted for a Democrat who was elected and this year I guarantee I won't be voting Democratic.  What I am most afraid of this year is that either Hilary Clinton or Donald Trump will be elected.  I suppose once the conventions are over and the candidates officially selected we can bill this election as the Lady versus the Tramp.   I suppose the only way out of this mess is the Rapture and if you don't believe in that you still have time to change your mind. 

Black lives Matter

Black Lives Matter.  Of course they do.  I know slavery existed.  I know it was wrong.  I know some people are not going to accept full integration of everyone into their world.  The most segregated institution in America is church, which should be the one place that all races could come together in love and understanding.  There is a problem.
  But how can we, as a people, come together when some use exclusionary terms for their organization?  Negro College Fund, Black Caucus, NAACP, Miss Black America, Black Lives Matter.  While claiming to want equability, these organizations have chosen names   that are exclusionary and are portraying an image or idea that is the opposite of what they claim to want.  We cannot bring unity by choosing to be divisive. 
  America+ isn't a melting pot.  When things are melted together that form a new substance that is a blend of all.  It seems as if blacks and whites come from two totally different worlds.   Blacks and whites have been educated together for 50 years now yet they don't even talk alike.  
  We are all people and our basic needs and wants are the same.  In any good negotiantion the two sides get together and agree on what they agree on and then limit their discussion to the areas they disagree one.  First of all, the two races have to agree that they are all Americans.  That will go a long way to solving the problems.

Dallas

     What happened in Dallas is tragic but all murders are tragic.  I understand why some white policemen are quicker to shoot a black suspect that a white one.  There is a lot of animosity and mistrust between the races.  When integration happened fifty years ago it was hoped by many that by going to school together blacks and whites would learn to respect each other, that eventually all neighborhoods would be mixed neighborhoods, and we would come to view each other as fellow Americans but it is obvious that the tension between the races is just as strong today as it was 50 years ago. 
  Back when CB radios were popular among motorists it became obvious that people don't know how to handle problems.  Disagreements quickly developed into arguments and name calling and the usual results were two angry people and unresolved problems.  Forty years later when people have differences of opinion on the internet many times it results in name calling and two angry people.  If we go into a discussion with the attitude that I'm right and the other person is wrong and it is my job to convince the other person of this fact then we are always going to have disagreements that decay into name calling and angry people. 
   Yea, there are lots of things I don't understand about black people.  I don't understand do-rags, and the cocky way of walking, and the slang they use or why many talk so loud.  I don't understand why s's are dropped off words that need them and added to words that don't.  And what is this doe that they keep opening and closing?  I am beginning to think it is a door but they never say so.  I'm sure there are lots of things that blacks don't understand about whites to. 
   When a person dresses different, walks different, talks different, and acts different, a person tends to be cautious around that person.  I don't care how white a person is, if that person has a face full of tattoos and wears punk clothes I'm going to be leery of them.  Same goes if they are big strong biker types, or little skinny goth creatures.  And what is with the saucers in the ear lope thing.  Gross me out. 
  All that being said, the nicest people I encounter  are young black males.    They are respectful and helpful and always a surprise but not because that are black men but because in todays day and age   rudeness is expected along with selfishness and one is always taken back by random acts of kindness and by that I don't mean paying for someone lunch as a person gets recognition for that but just common everyday courtesies that are not common anymore. 
    If a person presents themselves to the world as a descent, trust worthy individual then they will be accepted but it the impression they give is of a ghetto gansta or a piece of redneck white trailer trash then don't expect me to be anything but cautious around you. 
  As far as the police are concerned, they are jerks to everyone so don't feel privileged.  I've been handcuffed several times and even carted off to jail once and didn't even come close to breaking a law.  A sergeant with the High Point police stole $20.00 from me and a couple of Greensboro cops accused me of being a drug addict and refused to give me the assistance I needed and desired.  One has to remember that people get angry when stopped by the police so much of the interaction police have with people are with antagonistic people.  It's would make anyone leery of a person's intentions when all you receive from most folks is bad attitude. 
   I've been stopped several times when I should not have been but I always remain calm and cooperative.  The police appreciate it.  I keep my insurance and registration papers in a little folder that  is easy to get to without having to open a glove box or search for.  I stay still until the cops approaches, and I keep him informed if I have to reach for anything.  Even when I know the cop is wrong, I'm never show any emotion because I know I will have my day in court if it comes to that. 
  What I want you to take away from this article is that if you want to fit into my world then act like you fit into my world.  If you don't then don't be shocked or angry because I treat you different.  And most importantly,  if you are respectful, understanding, and cooperative with the police then all should go well and end well. 
  When you see things different from another, find the things you and they can agree on and listen as they explain to you the things that you disagree on.  Maybe you will learn to be accepting of their point of view, maybe, you will learn to understand there thought process better and maybe you will still be on opposite sides.  But if you treated them with respect maybe they will learn to be more understanding and tolerant of you.