Scripture:  Zephaniah 1:1-17  (NLT)

The Lord gave this message to Zephaniah when Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah. Zephaniah was the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah.

Coming Judgment against Judah

“I will sweep away everything
      from the face of the earth,” says the Lord.
“I will sweep away people and animals alike.
      I will sweep away the birds of the sky and the fish in the sea.
   I will reduce the wicked to heaps of rubble,
      and I will wipe humanity from the face of the earth,” says the Lord.
 “I will crush Judah and Jerusalem with my fist
      and destroy every last trace of their Baal worship.
   I will put an end to all the idolatrous priests,
      so that even the memory of them will disappear.
 For they go up to their roofs
      and bow down to the sun, moon, and stars.
   They claim to follow the Lord,
      but then they worship Molech, too.
 And I will destroy those who used to worship me
      but now no longer do.
   They no longer ask for the Lord’s guidance
      or seek my blessings.”

 Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign Lord,
      for the awesome day of the Lord’s judgment is near.
   The Lord has prepared his people for a great slaughter
      and has chosen their executioners.
 “On that day of judgment,”
      says the Lord,
   “I will punish the leaders and princes of Judah
      and all those following pagan customs.
 Yes, I will punish those who participate in pagan worship ceremonies,
      and those who fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.

 “On that day,” says the Lord,
      “a cry of alarm will come from the Fish Gate
   and echo throughout the New Quarter of the city.
      And a great crash will sound from the hills.
 Wail in sorrow, all you who live in the market area,
      for all the merchants and traders will be destroyed.

 “I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners
      to punish those who sit complacent in their sins.
   They think the Lord will do nothing to them,
      either good or bad.
 So their property will be plundered,
      their homes will be ransacked.
   They will build new homes
      but never live in them.
   They will plant vineyards
      but never drink wine from them.

 “That terrible day of the Lord is near.
      Swiftly it comes—
   a day of bitter tears,
      a day when even strong men will cry out.
 It will be a day when the Lord’s anger is poured out—
      a day of terrible distress and anguish,
   a day of ruin and desolation,
      a day of darkness and gloom,
   a day of clouds and blackness,
      a day of trumpet calls and battle cries.
   Down go the walled cities
      and the strongest battlements!

 “Because you have sinned against the Lord,
      I will make you grope around like the blind.
   Your blood will be poured into the dust,
      and your bodies will lie rotting on the ground.”

comment:  and to even think that people have been afraid of ole dummy.  they don't know anything, yet.  but it is on the way, praise god.  we have been fishing, for years.  and there has been some very delectable bait, at times.  one might even say that it could be considered as the "Fish Gate;" noahhite web site.

and unless things are enthusiastically, wholeheartedly, altruistically, and humbly pursued, IN ORDER, the above scriptures apply to you, and me, should i veer off the established path.  god does not have favorites.

the best test, today might be, however we are treating our neighbor is how we are treating ourselves.

are we willing to try to find god's love, etc., or are we trying to deceive our neighbor?  god cannot be deceived.  he is truth.  so, if you are deceived, all you can do is try to deceive others.

that applies to press, media, politicians, POLLSTERS, pundits, all "experts in their false religion (s)."

Prayer:  heavenly father, we praise and worship you, in truth, in order to be able to stay the SUGGESTED course.