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JOE OLSON - Executive Director of Hope for Health Intl. - Retired, Wisconsin Rapids, WI (2025)

11/23/2025

Jeremiah 26:3 “If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.”

All of the words of Jesus given to Jeremiah, and all of the prophets, are for this one single outcome! Jesus wants all of His children to do the right thing, so He will not have to punish them. He wants them to live, and not die.

Every communication from Him is to bring us to Him and life! Sadly, the verse indicates that humans will not listen very often. Precious few will want to avoid sin, and follow righteousness.

We have always learned in this life, that choices have consequences. Jesus wants His children to get this, and to choose the consequences of life and love.

Evil ways have to be addressed, just like righteous ways. A cup of cold water for a child, or a “white” lie to our spouse. They all matter, whether we get it or not. Surely one bite of the apple would not be that bad. Really?

One look at a TV show, one visit to the theater, one cigarette, one drink, etc. Haven’t we all learned that there has never been a "one time" sin in our lives? One act of disobedience leads us to the next one. And it does not ever lead us to purity and righteousness, ever!

Sin takes us away from God, period. As we have learned earlier, the light of God’s presence is painful to us, and we want to hide from it. Amen? We want to douse it, or remove it, and ultimately kill it! So to survive, sin must be removed. Amen?

How much sin? Or how many, or how small? That would be one single bite. Amen? It is not the quantity, it is the quality.

Satan has always lied, telling us that we can “do” certain things, and be okay. We are finally figuring it out that it is not the act, but the attitude! Do we want purity, holiness, complete obedience, and faithfulness? Then we will never question what we “can” do, and still go to heaven.

And the incredible things is, if once you choose to be right and pure, and want to obey God completely, it gets easier to avoid sin! We only struggle, when we want both sides. But if you finally choose to be done with sin and self, it gets easier by the day. That doesn’t mean we won’t have to keep dying, it just means it gets easier to keep self under! Just like Paul, the fight never ends. But the fight gets less arduous over time. Every time we choose to die to self, it literally becomes a habit!

It becomes second nature to us, until we like Enoch, will walk straight into heaven! Not because we were so wonderful we finally did not want to avoid the light anymore. We were no longer hiding from Jesus, because we have learned to choose the right! There is no desire to sin, but a continual desire to listen and learn from our Lord!

Even our study verse gives us the hope and the freedom to choose to hearken. We want to learn, because we have decided to be on the side or right and purity! Those that don’t will either finally learn, or finally die. Either way, we will still deal with the light!

The light will warm us and encourage us and thrill us, or it will kill us. And Jesus keeps asking us, “why will ye die?” In other words, do you want sin that much, that you would prefer to die?

Jesus does not want us to die, but He is light! And the light will kill us if we hold on to sin or self. Amen?

I have made my choice and I am happy with the results. Every day it gets easier to let go of sin and self. Of course I still struggle, because self does not want to die. But it is less of a struggle, because the habit of dying to self, is almost normal to me now. Hallelujah!

“If so be” you will hearken to Jesus, all of those evil things that Jesus has to do to you, will be avoided! Those evil things will be given to others! All we have to do is to listen! And then choose correctly.

Jeremiah 26:3 “If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.”

~Joey Olson

11/22/2025

Jeremiah 26:2 “Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:”

Jeremiah was told by Jesus, to stand right in the middle of the courtyard of the temple, where all the worshipers come to worship God, from all over the country. He was to announce the words that he was given by Jesus, and not hold back any of them.

Now why was Jeremiah told to not diminish, or withhold or restrain any of those words? Why did Jesus tell him specifically to not try and soften or subdue the message? This is important for us to understand!

When we have been given light, we have to tell people this light. Amen? What happened to Jeremiah, when he started to tell the people the truth of what would be coming because of their wrong choices? Remember Pashur? He came and slapped Jeremiah in the face! Then he put Jeremiah in prison. And nobody in the congregation, said a word! Nobody stood up for Jeremiah, and nobody defended him. Jeremiah is in the dungeon, and in pain and humiliation. And all he did, was to obey His God!

Pay attention! In this world, and even in our own church, don’t expect kind treatment, when you follow God and His words! Amen? Why? Because the darkness hates the light. Period. Whether the darkness is in the world, the church, or your own family. When you bring light, you bring uncomfortableness to others who live in darkness. And that uncomfortableness causes people to react negatively, even violently. They want you, and your light, removed from them. First, they try to leave or hide. Then they hit or hurt. Finally, they imprison or kill you.

This has been the case from the very beginning! Adam and Eve sinned, and immediately tried to hide from Jesus. Amen? Jesus and His light bothered them.

Sinners do whatever they have to do, to get that light away from themselves! That light is painful and convicting. It reveals your ugliness and selfishness. You can see your defects, and make changes or you can douse the light! No light, no revealing of our sins.

But here is Jeremiah, with new light again! Light that will show the people their sins and selfishness. And Jeremiah knows how they will react to him, amen? Who wants to get hit, or hurt or hated? So the regular response from that kind of reaction, is to kind of “soften” the message. Maybe use different words, or fewer ones.

This is a brand new chapter from Jeremiah. The last chapter did not go well for him, amen? The less he speaks, the better! What would we do, if we were him?

Silence, is golden! Until God gives you new light. And then He says to not diminish one word of this light! Now you have two options: offend man or offend God. Tell the truth or tell a lie. Obey or disobey.

Well, we already know what Jeremiah’s choice was, because the chapter is longer. He decided to obey God, no matter the consequences.

Are we supposed to learn anything from this verse and chapter? To speak up and tell the truth, in spite of the ramifications? What will be the “chapters” in our lives? Short ones, cause we chose to go along to get along? Or longer ones, cause we decided to follow God like Jeremiah did?

Go to church and tell the truth, and get removed. Or go to church and remain silent.

What will your “chapter” be?

Jeremiah 26:2 “Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:”

~Joey Olson

11/21/2025

Jeremiah 26:1 “In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying,”

Chapter 25 began in the “fourth” year of Jehoiakim, during the first year of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. This new chapter 26 starts with the “beginning” reign of Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim’s reign lasted for 11 years. Jeremiah chapter 28, starts with the reign of Zedekiah.

Both chapters 26 and 27 of Jeremiah start with the “beginning” of the reign of Jehoiakim. So it appears that Jeremiah was regaling the history of the Jews and his interaction with them, during this period of Jehoiakim’s reign.

This new chapter 26, begins with Jeremiah saying that the words of the LORD came to him. These were not his words, and he wanted everyone to know that this was not a message from his mouth but the mouth of God! These words that Jeremiah has been pronouncing, are literally prophetic. These were forecasting future events.

All of the terrible experiences in chapter 25, the droughts and famines, plagues and wars, and captivity to Babylon, all happened exactly like Jeremiah prophesied. Because they were not Jeremiah’s words, they were God’s words! Amen?

These events in Jeremiah 25 happened because of the Jew’s choices. Now here in chapter 26, Jeremiah points this out. All of these evils that you are dealing with, want to know why? I’ll explain this to you.

And he begins to remind them of their past communications from God though him. It is not my words, Jeremiah says. God came to me, and gave me His words! Things are working out exactly like I told you, because God knew the future already!

None of these words were threats or warnings, but realities. The people need to understand this truth. And we also today, need to grasp this as well. All of God’s prophets have been used by Him, to let us know what is coming. To ignore, to deny, to refuse, does not change anything! Future, is future. Period.

When a wife tells her husband that he is driving down the wrong road, and the husband ignores her, does the outcome change? Of course not! Denying that reality does not change anything. Except that the husband finally figures out that his wife knew it. Amen? So he says in his heart, “Why didn’t I listen to her? She knew I was going the wrong way. Now I am lost, and I have to go back. To the point where my wife said to go the other way! What is wrong with me?"

The Jews are suffering, dying, and enslaved now. They were lost and now they have to go back to where Jeremiah told them to go. Jeremiah starts in our new chapter 26, reminding the people of the directions he gave to them when they were “driving” their car! And the first point is that those “directions” were not from him or their wife. It was from God Almighty!

Please get this truth. God’s prophets, are not using their own words or thoughts or ideas or directions! To ignore those words, is to be lost. Pay close attention!

Every book from Ellen White, is not “from” Ellen White! The quicker we understand this, the sooner we will be on the right road! To ignore, or deny, is completely futile. Worse than futile, it is taking us away from where we actually want to go. Amen? Hopefully this new chapter 26 of Jeremiah, will help us figure this out.

Hopefully, we are paying close attention now. It is not Jeremiah, it is God speaking to us. We are driving our car, and He is giving us directions right now. Do we want to be saved, or want to be lost?

Jeremiah 26:1 “In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying,”

~Joey Olson

11/20/2025

Jeremiah 25:38 “He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.”

This is the ending of Jeremiah chapter 25.

It started out with a reminder of God telling His people that He was sending His prophets early in the morning, to warn and prepare and perfect His people! But they would not listen or learn. They rejected the light, God’s laws, and His life that He offered! As a result, the only way to reach them, was to make them suffer.

And not just His children, but everyone around His children too! Everybody was to look and learn, and make their own decisions. And of course, the devil brings his own messengers—false pastors and teachers, telling the people lies and deceptions!

Just like Adam and Eve, the people preferred to listen to the devil instead of God. They doubted God and thought He was hurting them, or not letting them have fun and happiness! The same typical lie that Lucifer started in heaven, and in Eden. And as usual, the people lost their covering, support, presence, and blessings from God! So the devil had free reign.

And he caused the people to sin more, and got more evil. To the point, that Jesus had to step in and stop the sins! He brings Jeremiah back again, to try and open the people eyes, before it is too late for them!

Many of them suffered and died. Many are going to Babylon. And here at the end of this chapter, Jesus is addressing the ones that Satan used, to bring the people to this terrible position and experience. The shepherds, and principle men, meaning the pastors and teachers!

The people with all of their suffering, are finally beginning to wake up. Now they are withholding their support and supply and respect. They finally see these leaches and cockroaches for what they truly are! Literally the agents of Satan!

And this last verse tells us, that these “lions” are forsaking their covert, or their lairs, or their “hidey-hole.” The land is desolate now, no one left to deceive and destroy.

Jesus uses the term “lion” to describe these evil pastors and teachers. But this is exactly what they are! They are the children of the great Deceiver, who is also described as a lion: 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

Jesus is revealing the truth as to what the devil and his minions are doing! And the people are starting to get it. These evil workers of sin and Satan, are being unmasked! So these lions, are checking out! Or in other words, forsaking his covert.

Their land is desolate, meaning there is no one to lie to or deceive! They have no power now, and they leave. Now they will be nothing but Walmart greeters. Because of the fierce anger of the oppressor! Jesus says, “enough is enough.” And when Jesus finally steps in, the lions leave and die.

A perfect and glorious ending to this chapter 25 of Jeremiah!

Jeremiah 25:38 “He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.”

~Joey Olson

11/19/2025

Jeremiah 25:37 “And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD.”

The pastors and false teachers have lost their pasture, or support in their lives, and now they are also losing their warm, comfortable homes! Those habitations will be “cut down” or cease to exist, or perish. In other words, they won’t have places to live anymore!

All of their efforts to lie and deceive and control their congregations, will be revealed for what they are, as self-serving, manipulative works to bless only themselves! And when this get apparent, the flock gets mad, and disgusted. They will withdraw all their interest and love and obedience to them. And these religious leaders are now on their own! No help, no pasture, no house and no congregation.

Back in the day, every Jew had to learn a trade. Simon was a tanner, Joseph a carpenter, Paul a tent maker, and several of the disciples were fishermen. Mathew was a government employee, and Luke was a physician. If they lost their ministering jobs, they could always fall back on their early training. But today a lot of pastors have nothing to fall back on. Amen?

Sounds like the unjust steward predicament: Luke 16:3 “Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.”

When Jesus takes away these unfaithful pastor’s support and homes, what will they do? Exactly what this unfaithful steward did: Luke 16:4-7 “I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.”

This unfaithful steward, created a plan! Instead of working faithfully, and doing the right thing, he lied and manipulated the balances! He basically stole His master’s money that was due him, to benefit himself! So who was this unfaithful steward working for? Himself, and his buddies!

The whole thought and concept here, is that liars will always lie. Cheaters will always cheat. Unfaithful people, whether it is pastors or teacher or leaders, will always be unfaithful! Drop them like a hot rock! Refuse to support, listen to, or obey those worthless workers. When they are reduced to Walmart greeters, maybe they will finally learn. Amen?

They can’t dig, and are too proud to beg. But notice that they do not want to change, and be truly productive and honest! Nope, they have spent a lifetime being unfaithful, that they will finally lose everything. This is the final outcome of anyone who is unfaithful and does not want to obey God and His words!

No food, no home, and no life:

Jeremiah 25:37 “And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD.”

~Joey Olson

11/19/2025

Jeremiah 25:36 “A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture.”

Jesus points out that these unfaithful pastors and teachers will indeed cry, because they have no one to deceive anymore. The people have suffered, died, or been enslaved. And the lying pastors who still survived, have been revealed for what they always were—evil men who were using, and taking, and destroying God’s heritage!

It was never for the church or its members, but for themselves. Amen? They said only what the people wanted to hear, so they would get paid or profit in one way or another. They did not love the people, and certainly did not love God and His words! They were leaches, sucking up the life from the congregation.

All they did was to feed themselves and supply themselves, at the expense of God’s own people. They were users, and wolves in sheep’s clothing! Jesus warned us from these type of people: Matthew 7:15,16 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”

What were the “fruits” of these false pastors and teachers? Did the church get more pure and holy, or more worldly and selfish? Did the congregation get convicted to stop sinning, or feel like they were okay? Did these pastors and teachers bring messages that burned in your heart, and made you want to study and learn more so you would strive to improve and be cleansed? Or did those sermons make you smile and feel good? What were the fruits?

When things got bad in your life, were these pastors right there to encourage and support and pray with you? When you asked questions, did they answer you with intelligent and spiritual answers, or just laughed and joked, like there was no real truth? Did they want to be your buddy, or your guide to heaven?

Did their words come across like the prophets of old, or the snake in the tree in the garden of Eden? Was sin and selfishness evil in their eyes?

Can you keep doing your own evil ways and still go to heaven? What does the “fruit” say, or reveal to us? Wolves, or warners, warning you to quit sinning or you will die?

Once you see the fruit, once you are suffering and dying, these pastors are seen as the truly are! And then, they are crying and howling! The church members will turn from them and hate them. No more support and respect and interest in them anymore.

Jesus, like our verse says, “spoiled” these pastor’s pastures. They can’t “feed” on the people anymore! Once the members see the truth, they will go elsewhere and will send their support somewhere else. They see these pastors as users and will not allow them to do that to them now. So what do these unfaithful workers do? Cry. Cry and howl.

The jig is up. They are exposed for what they truly are. Now what do they do? Change, repent, improve? Nope. Just whine, and feel sorry for themselves. They spent a lifetime making others take care of them! They have no idea, or even interest in doing the right things. They have not improved themselves or their congregations, and now they are lost. Like lambs, with no pasture.

Jesus was telling us the truth, for the ones who want to listen and learn:

Jeremiah 25:36 “A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture.”

~Joey Olson

11/17/2025

Jeremiah 25:35 “And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.”

Satan has been lying, from the angels in heaven, down to each one of us on this earth. He says we can reject God and His laws and live! This lie has been repeated to these pastors and religious teachers and leaders. They think that they will survive the terrible results of their disobedience, and their own lies to the congregation. Jesus simply tells them, no they will not.

There is no way no escape His retribution of rejecting His light and life! Every sin, every word, every thought, is all written down and cataloged in His book. And they will meet every act and action!

Jesus has offered His own life, to pay for every evil and selfish thing they have ever done. All they had to do, is to repent and come to Him, and want to be changed! But they liked their power and prestige and positions. So they refused to be changed, they refused to be converted. And they tried to get the church members, to do the same.

They simply repeated the exact same lie that Satan said to them. Rinse and repeat.

Then the church members were listening to their pastors, and God’s prophets, and they too have to decide who they want to hear and accept. They have had the exact same truth, that each one of us have had. Obey and live, disobey and die. None of this has ever changed. Amen? The truth can never change, because Jesus IS the truth: Malachi 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

No matter what the pastors, the preachers, the teachers, and Satan tell us, the truth will always be the truth. We are reading the truth from Jesus through His prophet.

These false pastors and teachers, will not escape their punishment. Did that come to pass? Did any of them survive? Are there any evil angels, still living in heaven? So there will not be any disobedient people on this earth who will go to heaven.

Only the obedient and the pure, will inherit eternity: Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” If anybody is impure, or unholy, they won’t be in heaven where God is. No matter what the pastor says, sinners won’t make it! And the pastors won’t make it either:

Jeremiah 25:35 “And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.”

~Joey Olson

11/16/2025

Jeremiah 25:34 “Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.”

Once all the people have rejected the light and words of Jesus and He backs off and lets them have their ways, the evil comes.

All of the warring and killing and taking, is now come upon them. And who are the ones who are “howling?” The shepherds, meaning the pastors and religious leaders and teachers! They will make anguished cries and wallow in the ashes, indicating their complete repentance and sorrow, for their leading the people the wrong way. They were the “principles” of the flock, the leaders and guides of the lambs of God! And now, the days of their own slaughter are at hand. They too will suffer for these bad choices in their lives.

Their dispersions, or scattering, will be accomplished. They will be sent as slaves to whomever and wherever as God decides. Their positions and power and prestige, are all gone now. They will fall like a piece of delicate fine china! Broken to pieces, never to be used or repaired or even cared about. They will be thrown away and gone. Nothing but refuse and worthless garbage.

This is the final end of these leaders of God’s church! They will be obliterated, and forgotten. Nothing but a waste and a loss. They have spent their lives rejecting the truth. They thought that the people would love them and listen to them and make them their leaders. Only to find out that God decides who is the leader, and who is garbage!

They are finally figuring it out, that they were fighting against God.And their only response to this revelation, is howling! They repent now, but it is too late. Amen? How many people will go through this exact same experience? Rejecting the light and the truth, teaching and telling others, whether it is friends or family members or neighbors, that it is not important to follow God. By their words and actions and attitudes, we see that God is irrelevant to them. But one day soon, they will find out exactly how important God and His words were. Amen? And what will be their response? Howling, and repentance. And just like these evil teachers, it will be too late for them. They will be slaughtered, scattered and scraped. Tossed away, like a broken dish. Good for nothing, and sent to the trash heap.

What a waste of time and talents! When they could have been wonderful leaders and teachers. Amen? Supporters and helpers of the flock, whether it was the church, or their own family and friends! But they would not allow themselves to be taught, and changed and perfected by God. They insisted on doing things their own way, and taught others the same!

Unfortunately, they will make others lose their own lives too. All of them, straight to the dump. Imagine the howling and anguish, and sorrow! But all for naught now.

If only they would have read, and listened, and learned! They did not have to go this way, amen? Jesus tried to warn them, and used His true prophets and preachers and teachers to give them the light! But they refused and rejected, and returned to their own selfish and sinful ways. So their only option, is to suffer and die:

Jeremiah 25:34 “Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.”

~Joey Olson

11/14/2025

Jeremiah 25:33 “And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.”

Jesus tells these nations that they too will be destroyed and removed, just like the Jews will be! In other words, it does not matter who you are or who you proclaim to be, or what power or fame or location you might have, you will all die. The only way to live is if you obey. Period.

Jesus gives life and talents, and time. What we do with them will influence our futures. No matter what you created, or built, or amassed, or if you were kind or thoughtful and selfless. You could give your body to be burned, but if you don’t love, your life is worthless: 1 Corinthians 13:3 “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”

Are we getting the concept here? It does not matter how big or strong or powerful, or even good and kind you might be, none of that will help you. Only obedience will save you! Jesus calls obedience, "love!" John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

Paul tells us that without love, we are nothing. Obedience to the words of our Creator, will create an everlasting life! Disobedience will be death, and no one will ever bury or mourn you. You will rot and be fertilizer eventually.

No punishment, just reality. If you want to live, love God! Loving God causes you to obey His words. Not obeying Him causes death. Not too hard to figure out, is it?

This also helps clarify who will be going to heaven, and who will not be there. “Good” people will not be in heaven, nor self-denying people. Kind and thoughtful people, considerate and caring people, supportive or empathetic people, none of them will be in heaven! Only people, who obeyed God and His words. Period.

Jesus is teaching everyone, who will listen and learn! Look at Adam and Eve, look a the Jews, look at all these nations. Who buried them? They all died, and ended up being fertilizer! And no one mourned them, because they made their own choices!

Pay attention! No one will cry for you if you insisted on not living! Everyone has had the same opportunities and choices, amen? If you die, it is on you!

When Adam and Eve and the Jews and these other nations obeyed, they lived! Not physically, but spiritually. Who cares about physicality, if you will eventually live forever? For crying out loud, obey! Those are my words. Or if you prefer Jesus’ words: Ezekiel 33:11 “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”

Being disobedient and unloving means “evil ways.” Turn from those wrong choices, and live! You already know the other option:

Jeremiah 25:33 “And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.”

~Joey Olson

JOE OLSON - Executive Director of Hope for Health Intl. - Retired

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