David Oakes

Husband, father, grandfather, follower of Jesus, lover of God, retired financial advisor/wealth manager, hunter, conservative. Don’t lie to me.

[David Oakes @Gr8fulDavid94]

@RealShahriqKhan I need your help learning about Islam so I can reach my neighbor, who is my friend. Here’s my thought:

someone asked if I believe in Christianity….

My answer.

Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father. He created the world. He died for me and rose and ascended to Heaven and is about to return. Then every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is LORD, to the Father’s glory. And I will be one of billions of His creations who will bow willingly, gratefully, lovingly.

Unfortunately, some will be forced to bow and confess, and will be banished to the eternity they have chosen for themselves, a life without God. Except the one who is in charge there will be a super powerful spiritual being who absolutely hates them and will do everything he can to keep them miserable. I can’t even imagine what life without God could be like. And that hell isn’t even intended for human beings. It was just for demons.

Many people think Christianity is a list of rules to avoid God’s punishment. I think that’s what Islam is based on. But the Gospel is about God pursuing us to win our hearts. We have to choose or He doesn’t get our hearts. And eternity is going to be the result of our choice. Life with God or life without God. And people who choose life without God don’t recognize what eternity with Lucifer, the most powerful being God created, who chose life without God, will be like.

Yes I’m a Christian! I want life WITH God forever. It’s the core of who I am! Nothing could be better than intimacy with God, in His physical presence forever.

…So how to discuss that Islam is about following rules to avoid punishment. To discuss the need for grace. That sin must be atoned for. Help, please. I’ve enroll in your school, but haven’t started yet.

[David Oakes @Gr8fulDavid94]

When I read the Word for the purpose of hearing what God is saying to me, I like to read out of my Lectio Bible. It’s the NIV , but it has no chapter or verse divisions. It reads like it was written, like anything is written - to be read & understood.

Today I continued reading Isaiah. Chapter 40 begins a long section of God describing Himself. (Lectio has the chapter and verse references at the bottom of each page). This section runs through chapter 55, and that’s where I’m reading now. I want to know God better, and where could I get better information than what He says?!

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God” is how this section begins. “ Speak tenderly to Jerusalem….” That’s my Papa! “The glory of the LORD will be revealed…. You who bring good news to Zion…say…’Here is your God!’…To whom will you compare me?…The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary…He gives strength to the weary….”

My Papa comforts and speaks tenderly to me, and He is Almighty God who brings me strength. He is so lovely!

[David Oakes @Gr8fulDavid94]

@1True_American_ Remote?

[David Oakes @Gr8fulDavid94]

Today

There is something unusual in Isaiah 28. It’s a passage of God expressing judgment on Israel, which is not so unusual. There are many passages of judgment in the Bible. In fact, as a young man, my vision of God the Father was a distant judge who knew every sin of mine, impossible to please. And here is what verses 19-22 say.

“”As often as it comes it will carry you away; morning after morning, by day and by night, it will sweep through.” The understanding of this message will bring sheer terror. The bed is too short to stretch out on, the blanket too narrow to wrap around you. The Lord will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim, he will rouse himself as in the Valley of Gibeon— to do his work, his strange work, and perform his task, his alien task. Now stop your mocking, or your chains will become heavier; the Lord, the Lord Almighty, has told me of the destruction decreed against the whole land.”
Isaiah 28:19-22 NIV

“…to do his STRANGE WORK, and perform his task, his ALIEN TASK.”

I think this is the only time “strange and alien” are used to describe something God does. I checked all the other translations I could find. They all use this language: strange, alien, unusual, disturbing, unnatural, foreign, unwonted, mysterious, but strange and alien are by far the most common.

So what would be his “unstrange or unalien” task? When God describes Himself to Moses on the mountain when He gave Israel His laws (Exodus 34), this is how He describes Himself:

“Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin….””
Exodus 34:5-7a NIV

“Compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin” are the words used dozens of times to describe God and praise Him throughout the Bible. And this description was first given while the Israelites were making a golden calf to worship after God had miraculously delivered them from the most powerful nation on the earth! And it’s God, speaking about Himself. He should know!

This is His unstrange, unalien, natural work. And there are hundreds of passages of His love spelled out for us. Will God judge my sin? Yes! In fact, He has already, when Jesus died on the cross. So today I’m observing God being gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin in my life and in this world today.

[David Oakes @Gr8fulDavid94]

WSJ article just published online:
“How ICE Is Weaponizing Social Media Against Its Critics”

[David Oakes @Gr8fulDavid94]

@Doc_aka_Rich @DangerousThinkg Got it! Agreed. Islam is one of the evil one’s most effective tools for keeping people from Christ. I feel so sorry for them. I’ve tried turning their attention to the real Jesus, but the lies they believe stop that.

[David Oakes @Gr8fulDavid94]

My friend, John Fischer, recorded a song called “Beggar,” and one of the lines describes me very well.

“I’m not one who’s got it all in place, telling you what you should do. No, I’m just one old hungry beggar, showing you where I found food.”

[David Oakes @Gr8fulDavid94]

@Doc_aka_Rich @DangerousThinkg Could you restate that please? I’m not sure I understand what you mean.

[David Oakes @Gr8fulDavid94]

@EmilySm43 No

[David Oakes @Gr8fulDavid94]

@FloraLuzz_ Yes. It’s not a news program, but they still get federal benefits for supposedly being an objective news program.

[David Oakes @Gr8fulDavid94]

@AntiWokeMemes RUN!

[David Oakes @Gr8fulDavid94]

@1True_American_ I think it’s generally about changing us. And sometimes to change His mind.

[David Oakes @Gr8fulDavid94]

@its_The_Dr Yes please

[David Oakes @Gr8fulDavid94]

@NothingReaLx 54

[David Oakes @Gr8fulDavid94]

@lilyavsq 🇺🇸

[David Oakes @Gr8fulDavid94]

@JohnHansel77066 Happy Birthday Emily! May today be the first day of your most blessed year yet!!

[David Oakes @Gr8fulDavid94]

@RealShahriqKhan I’m in DFW, go to Woodcreek Church in Richardson.

[David Oakes @Gr8fulDavid94]

@indygrl A cheeseburger at McDonalds

[David Oakes @Gr8fulDavid94]

@AntiWokeMemes Read it. It’s a very eye-opening read. Makes me wonder how anyone who read it with a rational questioning mind could believe any of it. It’s amazing. Allah is presented as a cold distant judge. No provision for love, grace, forgiveness. All about judgment. You should read it!

[David Oakes @Gr8fulDavid94]

@AntiWokeMemes Of course. When is it too early to talk about our Creator who loves us so much?!