A Modern Woman's Perspective On The Kingdom of God on Earth


Showing posts with label History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label History. Show all posts

November 11, 2023

"A Generation Which Ignores History Has No Past and No Future"


The title of this post is a quote by one of the most celebrated and prolific science-fiction writers of our time, Robert Heinlein. Here's what Wikipedia says about him: "Within the framework of his science-fiction stories, Heinlein repeatedly addressed certain social themes: the importance of individual liberty and self-reliance, the nature of sexual relationships, the obligation individuals owe to their societies, the influence of organized religion on culture and government, and the tendency of society to repress nonconformist thought". I agree with his line of reasoning. But to that theme, I would add the importance of knowing and understanding history.

I remember being in total shock after a conversation with a friend who has been a middle school teacher for many years. She was bemoaning the lack of funding for education, and then dropped the bombshell .... when forced to make cuts, her school had mandated the elimination of American history classes from the curriculum. That was in 2012, folks! At the time I thought that money was at the root of this disastrous decision. I was well aware of the 2001 No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation that tied student performance to federal funding. The states began evaluating schools through similar federal/state accountability systems that focused on reading and mathematics. Schools with student test scores that did not meet goals established under these systems risked losing federal funds and autonomy. The result was that administrators eliminated history from their curriculum entirely, or reduced it to as little as 30 minutes per week!

It didn't take me long to surmise the real purpose. Under the guise of funding issues, there was a deliberate effort to eliminate the importance of knowing the history of colonial America, the Revolutionary War, the expansion and industrialization of the 19th century, and the Civil War. Since these subjects were generally taught in the lower grades, the only comprehensive history lessons would take place in junior high and high school, where history is concentrated on 20th century history. This was the real agenda! These new educational standards gave the American education system the opportunity to ignore the portion of American history that taught American idealism and values. 

And here's how I experienced that up close and personal... I clearly remember sitting in my freshman history class at a big state university [in 1972], when the teaching assistant [translation: young graduate student] told our class of impressionable college freshmen that he could not, in good conscience, teach anything about American history before 1945 because America was "imperialistic" and "greedy". I remember thinking, "But I love American history; especially early American history". My naive and inexperienced mind couldn't recognize what I can now see as the Progressive mindset of that professor. I can also recall other tirades from his position of influence that broadcast his hatred for capitalism and American greatness. 

The seeds were planted all those years ago in fertile minds, and I'm sure some of those students, or their kids, went on to serve on Education Boards that ultimately set the course for the K-12 education system we see today. Stop for a minute, and just think how quickly [and stealthily] this anti-American mindset crept into the identity of American children. I want you to understand that I am not naive about the reality of who and what America was, and has become. My years of living and experience have taught me that America is far from perfect, and there have always been dishonest and unprincipled men throughout our history. But I also believe in the goodness of America and am proud of our ingenuity and our compassion for those around the world. The fact that amoral and evil men have taken advantage of those qualities, does not eliminate their truth. 

But taking away instruction in our history robs students of more than their past. It hinders their development of critical thinking when they are criticized and censured for a dissenting opinion. They aren't allowed [or encouraged] to develop analytical abilities to evaluate evidence, understand historical perspectives, or other discipline-specific skills, an opinion promoted by the American Historical Association. 

We are now seeing parents waking up to the over-reaching influence that School Boards and teachers are having on this generation of kids. By removing parental consent from the decision-making of what their children are taught, we have reaped an educational system that no longer represents the ideals of America. And removing our history was the first step in restructuring the heart of this nation. Think about it -- if they can deny our kids the historical perspective of how our country dealt with the ratification of the Constitution (through ballot propositions); the contentious Presidential election of 1860 (by offering candidates); the Boston Tea Party (with grassroots campaigns); or the fur trade (creating new employment opportunities) that swept the country and Europe, then they can persuade them to think and act along socialist, communist, and progressive lines. If they don't learn about the self-determination, enterprise and inventiveness of freedom-loving individuals that was so prized in the first two centuries of our nation's history, then they will fall right in line and become robots for the globalist agenda. 

"A generation that ignores history has no past and no future". We DO have a past and a history. The question is, will we continue to have a future? It's up to us to preserve it for the next generations and teach them, not only to value our unique history, but how to create a future that perpetuates all that is good about us. This battle has been going on for over two generations. And the battle is far from over. We have lost valuable ground in this nation, and I pray that restoration is in our future. 

#americanhistory #history #education #educationsystem #americaneducation #knowingourhistory #criticalthinking #antiamericansentiment #preservingourhistory #nochildleftbehind #historyclasses #progressivethinking #takingbackeducation

Deuteronomy 4:9    Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.         




September 27, 2022

The Danger In Our Children Forsaking Their History

 

In one of the first blog posts I wrote in 2012, I addressed the concern I had that the valuable life lessons of my generation [that I learned from the generations before me] were not being valued by the Millennial Generation and the generations following them. I wrote, "It is becoming more and more apparent to me that our children are no longer learning from us". 

Then this week, ten years later, I found myself in a conversation with a very dear friend about this very topic. I'm a number of years older than she is, but she has entered that season of life in which you begin thinking about the things you would like to bequeath to your children or grandchildren. But we both found ourselves agreeing that the younger generation has made it clear they aren't really interested in preserving anything as a memory of their ancestors. Photos, jewelry, art, furniture or anything sentimental or nostalgic hold no interest for them. Don't get me wrong .... this is not about worshiping or idolizing "stuff" or material possessions.

So, what is my point in calling your attention to this circumstance? I have a standard to live by because I was raised on the courage and the moral values of my ancestors. I am the keeper of valuable life lessons learned by my great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents, who learned from their parents who lived through the Civil War, two World Wars and a crippling depression. They learned how to survive, and knew how to persist through hard times. In me, they found a willing listener, who wanted to be able to follow in their footsteps if ever faced with the same life challenges. And what's more, the few things that have been passed down to me are reminders of those who not only contributed to my DNA, but they are visual symbols of the strength of mind and character that are my inheritance. I don't cherish them because they have material worth; they are a treasure due to who they represent.

But our younger generations don't seem to care about knowing where they came from; instead, they are willing to follow whatever the latest celebrity or media guru tells them they should feel, think or say. But it's not just social media that is steering our kids wrong. The very institution that we trust to educate and maintain acceptable standards for our children, has now decided that they are to have the primary jurisdiction over their lives. In 2012, I asked the question, "Have we handed over the responsibility of forming our children's identity to some nameless entity that knows better than we do?" Now, in 2022, it's very clear where that threat is coming from, and that there is a vigorous effort to remove not only our children's personal and national history, but any influence of past generations or parental authority or direction.    

In light of this alarming circumstance, if you asked the Millennials today to tell you what they've learned from their parents or grandparents, could they tell you? Are they even interested in learning from us and what was passed down to us as wisdom and knowledge? And most importantly, do they know that it is not all about them? That the rewards of this life come from working hard, helping others, and giving glory to our God? 

I know that I am a product of tough and remarkable people; people who lost spouses at a young age and had to provide for small children during the Depression when food and clothing were scarce. I come from people who survived outbreaks of virulent disease; lost their homes to fire; lost babies to tuberculosis, the leading cause of death in the U.S. at the turn of the 20th century; and left all their belongings behind as they hurriedly escaped from the "advancing Yankees". And I have the 1814 Family Bible that records the dates of their births, deaths, and marriages from that date forward. My question is, will anyone want this valuable reminder of the endurance and girt and mettle that came before me?

Remember, that God instructed Joshua to leave 12 stones on the shore of the Jordan River [after the Israelites had crossed over] as a memorial for future generations to be reminded about their journey and the deliverance they received from God. If our subsequent generations lose the history of our own journeys, and that of our nation, they will be doomed to repeat the mistakes and errors that were made. And if they abandon the desire to know about us and those that came before us, they will lose their unique identities and any opportunities to draw from the vast knowledge base that could teach them how to endure and overcome the difficult future we are facing. I'm afraid our culture is lulling them into complacency, contentment, and a willingness to relinquish the narrative of their ancestors as no longer relevant. 

As my friend and I finished our conversation, we both lamented the very real possibility that this generation will never receive the benefits of hearing [or knowing] about the trials and acts of resiliency and fortitude that led from their ancestors to their own existence. In 2012, I urged readers to teach their children to embrace that rich inheritance. Today, I'm not sure the children want to be taught. I applaud those parents who are engaged in taking back our education system and I pray that they they will institute their own re-education plan of teaching family history and the responsibility [and yes, obligation] to remember and honor those who came before us. 

Now, I'll leave you with my last thought ... Like those 12 stones on the side of the Jordan River, the chronicles of families should never be forgotten. I'm afraid our children and children's children are going to need visible and lasting reminders of what once was. 

#millennialsandhistory #familyhistory #rememberinghistory #forsakinghistory

Deuteronomy 32:7   Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.

 

July 26, 2022

What Was Prophesied Is Now Upon Us! (Part Two)



I have enjoyed my reflections on how God has brought me through seasons of sharing His thoughts on different subjects. During the 11 years of this blog, He has instructed me to warn readers about what was coming against our nation in the physical, while always pointing back to Him. Then He transitioned me to showing what was happening in the spiritual realms against us, and why we need to understand and participate in spiritual warfare. Then He moved me into revealing why we need to see and enter the Kingdom of God and how our status as Kingdom ambassadors interfaces with what is going on in the world, and how we are to impact lives for Him. Now, it is like He is bringing me full circle; bringing me back to warning that the things He first pointed out to me are coming to fruition, and we need to employ everything He has revealed up to this moment to make sure we are seeing His will done on earth. So, let me take us back to a couple of posts that were forewarnings of our current existence ...

God Made A Farmer (February 8, 2013) ... (This post was written over 9 years ago, but it could as easily be about current events). This is what I wrote then: "If you are not aware of the plight of our farmers in this nation, then you've probably had your head buried in your iPad too long. According to an article from The Guardian, we are faced with a significant problem: our grain reserves are at an all-time historic low, due to the drought of 2012 and its continuation into this year. So what effect will that have on our food production and world famine? 

Lester Brown, president of the Earth Policy Centre in Washington, D.C., and one of the world's "leading environmentalists", says that extreme heat and drought in the U.S. will have consequences for the world's hungry.  "We are entering a new era of rising food prices and spreading hunger. Food supplies are tightening everywhere and land is becoming the most sought-after commodity as the world shifts from an age of food abundance to one of scarcity," says Brown. "The geopolitics of food is fast overshadowing the geopolitics of oil."  He warns that the global food supply system could collapse at any point, leaving hundreds of millions more people hungry, sparking widespread riots and bringing down governments.  According to Brown, the Middle East and Africa are especially vulnerable.  

But here's the caveat to this report:  it is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, known economic globalists, as well as climate theorists.  Furthermore, Gates believes one of the solutions to world hunger is through the genetic modification of foods (think of his unpalatable "impossible meat" in 2022), and he has invested not only in companies such as Monsanto, who have engineered genetically modified (GM) foods, but also invested in agriculture in Africa.  Whether true humanitarianism or something more dangerous is behind his interest and his money, you can guarantee that the world's agriculture will be affected.  These kinds of reports and the genetically modified food technology do not bode well for the American farmer OR the American consumer. 

Neither does the sale of domestic farmland to institutional and foreign investors.  Farmland is an attractive "hedge" for investors looking to put their money into commodities that are safer than the stock market.  And countries such as China, with its exploding population and economy are eying the U.S. exports of corn, soybeans, and wheat.  And according to writer Steve Shenk, "the United States, like a short-sighted trust fund baby, is selling off their financial future along with their source of food for a quick grab of cash today."  Shenk goes on to report, "Foreign ownership of farmland is almost double what it was twenty years ago. In fact since 2004, foreign ownership of American soil has grown by almost thirty percent."  Kind of makes me a little nervous about who is protecting our domestic food supply!"

That was then ... this is now: China's American agricultural land holdings have increased over tenfold in the last decade, and at the beginning of 2020, investments from China held $2 billion of American agricultural land. Add to that the massive drought in this country and the sentiment amongst the current Administration that paying farmers to leave their land fallow is a solution to the "climate crisis", and you have the perfect storm for famine in this country and the world, since we are a major exporter of food to the world.

I ended that 2013 post with this comment: "There will be many who say this is a lot of fuss about nothing.  But are you willing to trust your food supply to the likes of Bill Gates or China? Do you have plans if the price of food suddenly sky-rockets? What about Heirloom seeds to grow your own food? This is something to think about, people! Drought and weather conditions are unpredictable, and so apparently is the world's food supply. Don't take your "daily bread" for granted!"

God is once again highlighting this situation and it is much more dire than it was 9 years ago. I pray that you have prepared accordingly, and that God provides for you and your family.

The U.S. Economy & The Price of Oil: Could The Fix Be In? (November 29, 2014) ... At the time, America was enjoying low gas prices and our supply was growing faster than the demand for gasoline. U.S. car manufacturers were building more fuel-efficient cars, which created less demand for gas, which directly effected the bottom line of oil companies. Although foreign markets, like China and India, were developing a market for increased supplies of gas and oil, there was not a huge desire for exporting our oil.

In my post, I went on to discuss the purpose of OPEC to monitor the oil market and decide collectively to raise or lower oil production in order to maintain stable prices and supply. I had questions about who was lurking in the background, influencing the decision-making.  At the time, OPEC members were primarily from the oil-rich Middle East, with Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia being among the founding members. 

Today, Russia is part of what is known as Opec Plus (Opec +), an informal alliance of non-Opec nations exporting oil. My understanding is that they are producing far less than they pledged. And since there is a huge push in our government for climate control by ending America's use of conventional energy (coal, oil, and natural gas), our oil production has plummeted, while our gas prices have risen astronomically, and we are begging oil from Middle Eastern potentates.

I find it fascinating that God showed me this in 2014, and here is what He prompted me to write: "The American economy is nosediving, and we may not have an oil industry to continue the masquerade. And who would love to see that scenario take place more than Russia? Through our sanctions, we have attempted to compromise their economy.  So, through their alliance with oil-rich Iran, this would be an opportunity to reciprocate. What better way to ensure their leadership in the world's oil supply, while striking a blow to our own status, and more importantly, our economy?"

The rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the NATO fiasco, and the rapidly diminishing reputation of the US are all contributing to the effects of oil shortages in our nation which has enough oil in the ground to fuel our economy for decades -- nearly 2.2 trillion barrels of known oil shale deposits -- the largest in the world, according to the Bureau of Land Management. Yet our store shelves lie bare because of the cost of fuel to truck food and supplies across the country.

The statement I made in 2014 still stands ... "I am no expert on the petroleum industry. And I know these are all fractured thoughts and ideas, but when my spider senses are tingling like they are now, I have to give voice to what my instincts are telling me. Things are not as they seem, and something tells me that the puppet masters are  working their strings and the game is rigged. Is our house of cards about to come tumbling down?"

These issues that I have revisited are still at the forefront of our issues as a nation, and will have great influence on the future of our beloved nation. God revealed them over a decade ago, and yet we seem to have gone further down the rabbit hole. But our answers don't lie in government policies. They are spiritual in nature, and if we don't wake up to that fact and begin battling on that level, well .... all the kings horses and all the kings men won't be able to put us back together again. 

Psalm 2:1    "Why do the nations assemble with commotion [uproar and confusion of voices], and why do the people imagine (meditate upon and devise) an empty scheme?"


July 21, 2022

What Was Prophesied Is Now Upon Us! (Part One)


There are days when the Lord tells me to reflect upon how far we've come; to take a look at what the Holy Spirit was prompting me to write in the recent past, in the hope that I can see what He is showing me now. This December will mark the 11th year that I have been obedient to write this blog because He asked me to encourage people who were beginning to discern that this country was going down a different path than the one we assumed would always be there.

There were many times that I didn't want to share what I received, because the conscience of the American people was not ready to accept it. I knew I would be labeled a "conspiracy nut", a heretic, or worse. But God was showing me through His Spirit, and what I instinctively discerned [in my spirit] from world events, that I needed to alert those with "ears to hear, and eyes to see." 

It's been 11 long years of trying to do that through this blog. There were seasons of great numbers of people from all over the world who responded to what God revealed through my words. I was amazed that someone in China or Ukraine was hearing from God as I was, and that we were united in our desire to share God's promptings so that more people could come to the Saving Grace of Christ. I was blessed to be in community with some very wise men who had the ear of Americans who were "waking up", and through their blogs, podcasts, and books, were getting God's message out. 

So, all of this to say that I listened to God and have gone back to those early posts (many of which I had forgotten I even wrote) to see what He wants to show me in this day. Here are just some of the admonitions He highlighted then...

Facing The Monster (December 22, 2011) ... This post appeared just 11 days after I launched this website, and included short reviews of two books that were brought to my attention. They weren't for the weak-hearted, and helped me grasp the severity of our national situation, and gave me an opportunity to see what the future might look like.  Enemies, Foreign and Domestic shares a possible scenario in which the Government sets up a down-and-out war veteran as a sniper responsible for a mass shooting in a football stadium --- creating a smokescreen for the purpose of eliminating the Second Amendment gun rights of the citizenry. After reading this book I realized how quickly our rights and freedoms could be seized by a tyrannical government, and how important it is to develop a mindset that clearly sees the fallout from that scenario. And the most surprising element of the book? The hero is a WOMAN! 

One Second After is a sobering account of what it looks like if a rogue nation detonated an EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) over the continental U.S.  Anything electronic would be instantly rendered useless.  Think about it.....what would society be like without computers, phones, cars, medical equipment, refrigeration?  Answer---in a single moment, we would be thrown into the Dark Ages.  And how many people would be able to navigate that scenario?  How do you think the entitlement crowd will react?  They have been told they deserve all that's been given them, so do you think it's realistic to expect them to not just take it now?  And what about the evil elements of society?  How would you maintain law and order?  And what if you, or a loved one, needed medication to survive?  What does that scenario look like when life-saving medicines are no longer available, or there is no way to store them?

Both of those books are still very relevant for today's world. I ended that post with a challenge to face the monster; just as I would challenge anyone today ... both of these frightening scenarios offer us a chance to be prepared, primed and ready to guide our families and others to safe ground. In 2011, the plots of these books only existed in the imaginations of the authors. Still think so?

The Devil At Work: Human Sex Trafficking (May 10, 2013) ... I used this post to reveal the ugly truth of Sex Trafficking in America. At the time, it was not at the forefront of our national dialogue, although it was a billion dollar, international business hidden in plain sight and covered up by those in power. I wrote of "the long record of this kind of abuse by members of the diplomatic corps and employees of international organizations in Washington... but is it a monstrous problem right here at home. And what every parent needs to know is this: the computer and social media are valuable tools for those looking to exploit your children." 

This sounds like such a simple and benign description these days, knowing how prevalent this problem is in our nation today. I stand by the questions I posed in that 9-year-old post: "I struggle to make sense of this shameful and brutal treatment of our fellow human beings.  Have we lost all sense of our moral compass?  What has happened to our integrity?  Are we no longer able to determine what is right or wrong?  And what about our responsibility to respect other people?  And finally, those who traffic in the human sex trade cannot possibly have any compassion for their victims. This amounts to nothing less than slavery .... an institution that has been abhorred in this country for over a century and a half.  Yet, even in this supposedly enlightened generation, there are people who willingly contribute to this degradation of the human race; and worst of all, their consciences don't seem to bother them as they exploit their prey for the almighty dollar." Sadly, we have only gone further down this road to hell. My questions are still relevant, but the powers-that-be don't even give them a second thought. And God's heart continues to break, as His anger grows.

The Southern Border: What You're Not Hearing (September 10, 2014)... In this post, I shared an up-close and personal view of just how bad it was on the Texas border 8 years ago.  Never mind what you might have heard the talking heads or the White House Press Corps say at the time ... listen to the first-hand account of someone who was living the reality: Rusty is a lifelong rancher along the border of Texas and Mexico. He describes how the Mexican drug cartels are using death threats, assault, and attempted murder to drive ranchers and their families off of their land... "The only thing we [the American public] hear about is women and kids… and when they make huge drug busts, that’s what we hear about.  We don’t hear about the gang-bangers coming across, we don’t hear about the terrorists coming across.  We don’t hear about the violence going down on the border.  I had a rancher call me last week, and begging for help on 15,000 acres.  He had been moved off his ranch because he doesn’t feel safe with his family there.  He’s been shot at and threatened.  We don’t hear that [on the news]."

Perhaps the most frightening information coming from this interview was Rusty's account of the child abductions, sex-slave, and prostitution threats:  "They steal kids. Literally, they steal kids. Depending on how good looking they are, they’re gonna start at $35,000 to $45,000 dollars per kid. Blond haired, blue eyed little boy, little girl, is anywhere from $50,000 to $75,000 dollars, depending on how old they are. The older they are, particularly for girls, the more the price goes up. There’s been some girls that have been missing here, for five years from Brownsville, they were stolen when they were thirteen. One of them was found in a whorehouse in Mexico City. Her parents bought her out [from the cartels]– they bought her out for a million-five."

That was then! Multiply that by 100 and you might get a hint at what is happening today on the border! When God showed me this in 2014, I did not believe that it could get any worse. But the media still is not covering it adequately and so much of the country does not believe it is happening. I was challenged by an old college friend who refused to believe this was nothing but political propaganda, and asked me how did I know any of this was real. My answer: Me and my neighbors are living it!

These are just a few of the stories that God brought to light and prompted me to write about nearly a decade ago. At the time, I was castigated by many commenters for false witness, but I clearly heard in my spirit to warn Christians [who might find my blog and actually read it] to stand up and be counted for! This was a season of writing where God revealed the coming evil in hope that knowledge would bring power to the spirits of His children to resist evil forces that were rising up in our country. As you can clearly discern, the evil has only grown. I invite you to tune in for the next post that will show you where God took me next and what He requested be made known. I pray that we pay attention to revelations of the past while we still have time to repent and be redeemed in our present. 

Jeremiah 11:18   Then the Lord gave me knowledge [of their plot], and I knew it; So, You [O Lord] revealed their deeds to me. 


 


May 22, 2022

A Letter To The Next Generation

 

My husband and I had a conversation this morning about what the future looks like and how concerned we are for the next generation -- on so many levels. We feel blessed to have lived in this country and to have experienced the height of prosperity and innovation that few citizens of the world have known. We are old enough that we have heard what "hard living" looks like from our grandparents who experienced the Great Depression and an attack on our homeland. We can at least understand that the "American Dream" [that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their version of success by working hard] is under threat, and that we can no longer take for granted that it will exist for the coming generations. We are also well aware that the Founder's idea of the "American Experiment" is on the verge of collapse; an experiment that believed a nation of people could govern themselves without need of a ruling or privileged class; that we are born with unalienable rights that are not granted by a government, but inherently endowed within each being by a divine Creator.

Are these ideas that the Millennial Generation and Generation Z comprehend? Do they understand how important it is that they know these historical concepts and why they are significant in defining their freedoms and future? Sadly, I would suggest that being the recipients of modern technology, many have been seduced into measuring the boundaries of opportunity and success by whatever the social media giants have told them is acceptable. Their ignorance of world history is setting them up to become slaves to a system that will crush any idea of innovation, individuality, originality, or "blazing your own path" -- all characterizations of the American spirit. Generation Alpha (born in the early to mid-2010s) will be our last chance to retain this distinct persona. But being the tech-savvy children born to Millennials, they have been subject to our corrupt educational system who has done everything in its power to destroy the unprecedented American identity. And it is to these latter generations that I wish to address a letter of counsel and admonition...

To The Next Generation(s):

I hope you are able to consider my words as more than the ramblings of what you most likely consider "an old woman". I understand that tendency; I, too, used to think that those of previous generations were outdated, irrelevant, and unsophisticated in the ways of "the modern world". But I have had the opportunity, as I have advanced in years, to understand that what they imparted to me was worth more than I ever imagined it could be. Because they taught me values and skills that we are in desperate need of in this "modern" world -- values such as personal responsibility, moral obligation, character, and faith. And I learned skills that I thought were "old-fashioned", but I now perceive will be virtually life-saving as we enter an alarming phase of our national and world experience -- skills such as knowing how to grow food, how to preserve food, how to light a fire, basic first aid, how to sew and repair clothes, how to repair machinery, how to read a map or compass. 

You may think that none of this applies to you... you don't need to know how to do any of these outdated practices, because all you have to do is pick up your cell phone and there's a YouTube video that will instruct you how to do it; and that's only if you are unable to hire someone to do it for you. But, sadly, you need to know that you are only one EMP, solar flare, or grid-down scenario away from being stripped of the advantages of that mini-computer in your hand. All the benefits of modern technology will be gone in an instant. Imagine how you would fare if you were suddenly living in the 19th Century, because that's what it will be like.

And have you considered how foreign oppression might affect your life? If you haven't, you should. All the efforts of the global elite to put the governing powers of individual nations into the hands of international organizations has resulted in the loss of national sovereignty. There is a growing trend towards globalization as a means to dismantle and control independent self-government. That's a wordy way of saying that the freedoms you have enjoyed and taken for granted are slowly dwindling away. And while you, the younger generation, boast of being more accepting of diversity, globalization actually threatens cultural diversity by drowning out some cultures, local economies, and discouraging development of culture-specific ideas. Globalization affects trade throughout the world, and in seeking lower production costs in order to be competitive in the global market-place, companies are reducing labor staff or replacing them altogether with robots, so that job insecurity is a real worry among your generation. And then there is the very real issue of cyber security. The internet has been a wonderful invention for all kinds of reasons, but it has also increased the threat of identity theft. Our lives are subject to interference and intrusion by uncontrolled entities. 

I know that you may be thinking that I don't know what I'm talking about, but there is one axiom that I hope you hear, if you don't consider anything else I've said, and it is this: "Those who don't learn from history, are doomed to repeat it". As hard as it may be for you to comprehend, you are no smarter or more creative or better capable of leading than any generation since the creation of the world. Why? Because human nature is what it is. From the Garden forward, generations of human beings have chosen [out of their own free will] to abandon the knowledge of God and gratitude for what He has done for us, His creation. When that happens, we look only to ourselves for our preservation and prosperity. Each generation is willing to criticize the one before it for its failings, but they don't learn from those mistakes. Instead, every generation, out of pride and self-importance seeks to increase their power, status, and wealth over the previous one, without the benefit of counsel and guidance from God.  When that is the path generations take, the history of the world has shown us that humans will devour each other in endless patterns of prosperity and war. 

So, I hope you will take a good hard look at the state of this nation and the world at this date in time; in your generation. Take the time to study history and note the differences between times of peace and prosperity, and times of war and destruction. Learn from the mistakes of my generation and all the ones that have come before. What does your generation plan to do to change the directory of the patterns of history? It is clear to me that the world is approaching a climactic event that can either redeem it or destroy it. Are you ready? Do you know the One who can determine that outcome? That is the most important and consequential decision you can make for your future. You must decide where your hope lies, because your future, and the existence of future generations depends on it.

Deuteronomy 32:7  Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.


 

July 12, 2021

Inquiring Minds Want To Know...

I've always loved the study of history, both in the modern age and ancient Biblical history. I've got an inquisitive mind and am not likely to accept a tradition or ritual simply because the masses are willing to believe whatever explanations are given to them. And I have been guilty of spending hours and days chasing down meanings of words and the cultural context of ideas and philosophies. In the past week, here are two that have kept me occupied ...

I'm always fascinated when new terminology seems to take the Body of Christ by storm. All of a sudden, it will seem as if a word or phrase comes into vogue and it becomes the latest buzzword in Christian circles. It may be a term that has been around for awhile, but it is as if it suddenly has a light shined on it, and its popularity soars. Such a word (to me, at least) is kairos. If my understanding is correct, this word (in Biblical terms) refers to "an appointed time"; ostensibly by God. It represents the right season or a fitting opportunity. 

Crosswalk.com gives an excellent example of how the Body of Christ would understand this word in Scripture. For example, in Luke 1:20, Zechariah didn’t believe the news when God’s angel revealed Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, would give birth to a prophet, so the angel told Zechariah he would not be able to speak until this miracle did indeed happen. As the angel said, “And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time” (Luke 1:20). The original Greek used here was kairon, a version of kairos, translated by scholars into English as the “appointed time [or season].” Further in the article, it is explained that kairos is also seen as "the time seen from the divine side." 

I have also heard it referenced many times that this season we are in, the season of birth pangs leading up to the Day of the Lord, is a kairos time -- fixed [in time] by Him, and to be used for His purposes. We may not know the day or the hour of these specific God-ordained times, but we should be sensitive and discerning of them; knowing that they are favorable opportunities given to us [by God], and recognizing that they are given to us to share God's will and His glory.

So, I found it interesting when Crosswalk referred to seeing kairos "from the divine side". Of course the word divine recalls a meaning of "godlike". But, did you know that there is a significance to the word kairos that is not Biblical? Did you know that Kairos was celebrated as a god in Greek mythology?  According to several websites I researched, he was usually considered the minor son of Zeus, and half-sibling to Hermes. The website, Greek Gods and Goddesses, says that Kairos was the Greek god of opportunity, and was in fact, considered a spirit. He personified the favorable moment which comes and passes quickly.

I also found it interesting that in front of the ancient stadium at Olympia there were two altars, one dedicated to Hermes and the other one to Kairos. The stadium was a holy place to the ancient Greeks, where all the sports activities were dedicated to the god, Zeus. Kairos was seen in the intelligence of Athena, in the love of Eros and even in the wine of Dionysus. Later, in the genealogy of the gods, he seems to be associated with all of them, as a manifestation of a specific moment. Now, I do not point out the association of a false god in the Greek pantheon as a way to discredit our Christian notion of a kairos moment; and I do not mean to suggest that the connection equates our Most High God with the worship of false gods. I merely wanted to show you that we in the 21st Century are not always the innovator of our theology. Nor do we always have a full understanding of the context of our belief system.

And speaking of theology, that idea is also evident in the second terminology that I found myself researching with a heart to know more about its origins. It is commonplace among Christians today, during the sacred ritual of baptism to have it spoken over them, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost". Yet, when the Holy Spirit falls on the 120 or so disciples of Jesus at Pentecost, the multitudes of Jews who were there for Passover, heard them telling of the mighty works of God in their own languages. They asked Peter and the apostles, "What shall we do?" Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Why would the Bible record Jesus giving His disciples one instruction in Matthew 28:19, and then record Peter, who had received that instruction from Jesus, giving a different command in Acts 2:38? 

Once again, we, in the 21st Century, should not assume that our "formula" is necessarily correct just because we are supposedly an advanced society. I know the differences in these two Scriptures has been a stumbling block within the Body of Christ and caused needless conflict. We can get a historical perspective by understanding the following ... we need to recognize that our Bibles have been translated and re-translated many times. That doesn't mean I am saying the Bible is corrupt. I acknowledge that the Spirit of God will always give us correct revelation and interpretation of God's Word. But it is also true that Satan has influenced men to try to change the understanding of Scripture and it is up to us to search out the truth of what God wants revealed. That being said, in reality, both of the baptism Scriptures can be seen as correct when looked through the lens of historical and spiritual perspective.

Let's look at how the historical and the spiritual intersect. Baptism was nothing new to those participants at Pentecost. It had long been a purification ritual for pagan conversions into Judaism. It was seen and practiced as a cleansing water-washing initiation by different sects of Judaism, by John the Baptist, and by rabbis, who all baptized their disciples. But when Jesus gave His Disciples the Great Commission in Matthew 28, He was distinguishing His baptism from all others, declaring that it was to be conducted with the full authority of God in Heaven, and in all the fullness of Him (as Father, Son and Holy Spirit). It was spoken by Jesus as a command that would bind all nations under the fullness of the Godhead. When Peter was given the opportunity to instruct the multitude gathered in Jerusalem for Passover, his assignment was to bring these Jewish people to and understanding [of], and submission [to] Jesus, the Messiah. Jesus came to the nation of Israel. To expect them to understand that He had ultimately come for "all the nations" would have lost them and impeded the process of their coming to Christ as the Messiah.

So, in theory, both expressions are correct. Jesus is both the Messiah that Israel has been waiting for, and the fullness of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in one person that has come to the nations. It is appropriate to baptize someone in either name or names. I am a woman, a wife, and a sister. But I'm not three separate persons. All those "names" identify me as the one person named Pam. They represent different parts of my identity and character. So it is with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit being identified as the ONE, true God. I don't really get worked up over which is the correct usage for a baptism.

But there is another concept I want you to consider. In the First Century Church, Messianic Jews were a significant portion of the "Body of Believers". They accepted Jesus as the Messiah and followed His ways. But as he always does, Satan seeks to cause conflict and division among God's people. That came to a climax in the 4th Century when the Emperor Constantine, who hated the Jews, sought to drive them from Christianity. Knowing their religion was monotheistic (in contrast with the polytheistic nations who worshiped multiple gods), Constantine changed the baptism tradition so that people were baptized in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, rather than in the name of Jesus. He caused confusion by instituting the religious concept of the Trinity (intimating that Christians worshiped three Gods instead of the one God, YHWH, of Judaism).

I bring these two ideas to you in the hope that you can appreciate how important it is that our spirits be at one with the Holy Spirit; seeking His guidance for the context and the culture of Scripture. In the end, neither of these two ideas I've presented should change anyone's faith. But I have found that a fuller knowledge of history and the Bible can enhance our opportunities to witness to someone who doesn't know Jesus, or who doubts in the importance of faith in Him. As Christians, we must be able to defend our faith and be prepared to answer the sometimes unanswerable questions to bring someone into the Kingdom of God. So do not embrace skepticism, but seek Godly knowledge and wisdom. You just may be the instrument God uses to give eternal life to someone.

2 Timothy 4:2    Preach the Word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
 

December 22, 2020

Why It's Important To Teach Your Children To Remember Their History

For the past couple of days, I have been listening for the Holy Spirit to guide me about what I am to bring to you in this post. And I'm always surprised as that thought pops into my head when I least expect it. I was driving the back roads of our rural South Texas, and I instantly recognized the Spirit's prompting. And I became convicted of the importance of my assignment. Interestingly, it echoes His counsel from as far back as what I was prompted to write in 2012 and 2017. Apparently, the Lord has deemed that this concept is extremely important for us to grasp at this time. So I will be obedient to His prompting....

I know that many [if not most] of you reading this post are in the midst of preparing to celebrate Christmas. And I'm pretty sure that this year, the Christian holiday is viewed through a different lens. There will not be many families who have not suffered a loss in 2020 due to Covid-19. Whether it is loss of a family member, or the loss of a job, or the soul-impacting loss of hope, it may be difficult to focus on the "peace and good will towards men" message of our Savior's birth. Through what has most likely been a painful and/or confusing process, each of us has had to come to a place in our spirit and our heart where we have determined how we are going to live in the changing dynamics of our world. 

So, I would like to share what Moses spoke to the Israelites as they faced a daunting and frightening future, while preparing to enter the Promised Land: "But watch out! Be very careful never to forget what you have seen God doing for you. May His miracles have a deep and permanent effect upon your lives! Tell your children and your grandchildren about the glorious miracles He did. Tell them especially about the day you stood before the Lord at Mount Horeb, and He told me, ‘Summon the people before Me and I will instruct them, so that they will learn always to reverence Me, and so that they can teach My laws to their children" (Deuteronomy 4:9-10).

I believe that as we Baby Boomers come to terms with the possible scenarios of 2021 and beyond, our youngest adult generation, Generation Y.1 (a subset of the "Millennial Generation, and aged 24-29), are struggling the most with how to navigate the minefield that is our future. And I believe we, along with the generation that followed us [Generation X] have done them a disservice. Let me explain... In February 2012, just two months after I began writing this blog, I wrote this: "It is becoming more and more apparent to me that our children are no longer learning from us.  When I was growing up, I can remember listening to the stories of my grandmothers, and loving to hear the history of my parents." 

You see, I heard my ancestor's personal testimonies of poverty during the Depression; the sudden loss of a young husband and the need to provide for 5 small children by taking in laundry and doing sewing repairs; the loss of 3 infant babies to "consumption", and many more stories of personal devestation. My father told me tales of his grandmother, who remembered traveling as a young girl in a covered wagon to escape Tennessee and the "advancing Yankees".  They dug up the silverware from it's burial place, and left it all behind to start anew. And I knew his own story of signing up for the Navy at 17 (with his parents' permission) after Pearl Harbor, and fighting in the Pacific as a turret gunner in a low-level strafer and bomber (Ventura PV-1). And I have a permanent record [written down by my 94-year-old aunt) of what kind of man my grandfather I never knew was; his principles and the high esteem in which others regarded him.

My point in recounting all this?  I have a standard to live by because I was raised on the memories of the courage and the moral values of my ancestors. I wanted to learn everything I could from those who came before me. I wanted to learn from their experiences. I wanted to feel that I could be as brave and determined as they were in the face of adverse circumstances. And I have a feeling that, very soon, I am going to have the opportunity to prove myself worthy of their legacies.  

But perhaps, among my most valuable possession is the family Bible, which dates back to 1814.  In it are recorded the births, marriages and deaths of the long line of people that leads to me. It is a reminder that life in this world can be harsh, and it shows me that my existence is not all about me. And that brings me back to my concern for our youngest generations. They don't seem to care about knowing where they came from; instead, they are willing to follow whatever the latest celebrity or media guru tells them they should feel, think or say. And I'm afraid our couple of generations of prosperity have brought an expectation by Generation Y.1 that "Easy Street" is not only their right, but that it will continue unabated.

If you asked them to tell you what they've learned from their parents or grandparents, could they tell you?   Have we handed over the responsibility of forming our children's identity to some nameless entity that knows better than we do?  And most importantly, do they know that it is not all about them?  That the rewards of this life come from working hard, helping others, overcoming adversity, and giving all the glory to our God?

And it is precisely because we've been such a prosperous nation post-World War II, that the American mindset became all about giving our children everything it was possible to give them. We made it all about them, as we left the memories of our family histories behind. The Enemy convinced us that we didn't want them to suffer lack, or discouragement, or difficulties, and we lost sight of the tremendous value of sharing [and experiencing] those very aspects of life. That's why God spends so much time in His Word reminding us to remember! It is through our shared and deliberately remembered history that we are able to see our role in our present conflicts. When we forget our history, we forget that we possess, within our DNA, the memories of how to overcome the obstacles, oppression, and struggles the devil puts in our way. When we lose those memories, we don't really know we are or who we came from, or what our present role is to be. And more importantly, we lose whose we are. 

God admonished Moses to remind the Israelites to remember all He had done for them; the miracles of their survival through horrendous persecution. Have we taught our children and grandchildren of all the ways God has seen us through our own trials and tribulations, or shared the stories of their grandparents or great-grandparents? Or have we chosen to shelter them from anything that makes them feel uncomfortable or that might be too difficult for them to handle? If so, then finding their way through our uncertain future is going to be difficult for them. But it's not too late! It's time to become deliberate and attentive to remembering! Teach your young children the stories in the Bible of God's people overcoming their obstacles, and then relate it to your own family history. And we must begin to amend the lack of "remembering" that we didn't teach our young Millennial adults. It's time they begin to understand that what they've "learned" from technology and social media does not compare to the power of God's works in their family histories. 

Each of us has a story to tell --- and that story helps define our morals, our value systems, and our successes in life. By the Grace of God, I owe whatever strength of mind and character I have to the examples that were passed down to me.  What are we passing down to the next generation? PLEASE take the time to tell your children and grandchildren about overcoming difficulties; and teach them how to think for themselves. They have inherited a rich history of resiliency and fortitude. That is the American legacy. Teach them to embrace it. They are going to need it!

Psalm 78:2-4   A parable and a proverb are hidden in what I say—an intriguing riddle from the past. We’ve heard true stories from our fathers about our rich heritage. We will continue to tell our children and not hide from the rising generation the great marvels of our God—His miracles and power that have brought us all this far.

August 25, 2020

"Share What You Have Learned" - Part One

     This past weekend, Mark and I gave a 6-hour teaching to a group of about 60 Christians, titled Freemasonry, The New World Order, and the Anti-Christ spirit". It was the result of a five-year search for God's Truth concerning Satan's attacks on our nation and the world. In addition, through our Inner Healing Ministry, we have also discerned how these often hidden and unidentified spiritual structures have affected the lives of so many people. The Lord had been prompting us to "share what you have learned" for some time, so we set about preparing this extensive presentation to a group of interested Christians.

     The first thing we made clear was that our presentation would challenge each one of them, whether they were new on their journey or a seasoned veteran. As we have continued our research through the years and tried to present it to our fellow Believers, we have discovered that we Christians tend to live in a Christian "bubble" so to speak; a mindset that mirrors that of our secular neighbors -- a sort of "religious normalcy bias". Our faith has been rooted in this theological idea that Jesus is our Savior in everything, and nothing bad can happen to us. And, secondly, we are Americans and nothing as bad as what happened in the Bible is going to happen to us, simply because it hasn't happened yet. I'm sure the Israelites and their status as God's favored nation lulled them into the same false security, too.

     So, the first thing we needed to establish was some Biblical concepts for why we are standing on the wall warning them of things that could be coming. The chaos that ensued in the ancient nation of Israel, and that we are seeing on the streets of our country today, is the result of generational iniquity that has continued in family [and national] bloodlines. Iniquity happens when sin is not confessed and repented and progresses to outright rebellion, which then becomes so twisted and perverted that behavioral patterns and mindsets take hold in our DNA and genes so that wicked behaviors are passed down in our bloodlines. Baal and Molech worship, asherah poles, and groves and high places are examples of the iniquity that ran in the bloodlines of the ancient Israelite kings, who then introduced it to the inhabitants of the tribes of Israel. 

 

     In our history and culture, the brotherhood of Freemasonry has been at the foundation of our national government since its inception. The dome of our national capitol building in Washington, D.C. is painted with a scene called "The Apotheosis of George Washington". The word apotheosis means "the elevation of someone to divine status; deification". Now, since the time I was old enough to read, I have loved the story of the founding of our nation. I was a serious student of American history and the Revolutionary War. I have always believed that freedom and independence flow through the veins of everyone who calls themselves "American". I have been proud to call myself an American and a patriot [and still am]. Don't get me wrong, I still believe that, culturally, this is a Christian nation. BUT, when I discovered that this painting by Constantino Brumidi pictured George Washington as the god of America sitting in the heavens, attended to by the Roman goddesses Columbia [also known as Liberty or Freedom] and Minerva, along with the gods Mercury and Vulcan, my spirit knew this vision of America was not what God had in mind for our nation.

     By the way, Washington was the Worshipful Master of the Freemason Grand Lodge of Maryland. Furthermore, a banner waves over Washington's head with the national motto "E Pluribus Unum"; out of many, one. And our money is printed with the slogan, "Novus Ordo Seclorum"; New order of the Ages. So, was America founded on one of Freemasonry's hidden agendas, a One World Government? Is that why Washington is quoted as saying, "The United States was, and is, the great Masonic experiment?" Was it a coincidence that the artist of the Apotheosis was a 33rd degree Mason, a protégé of Guiseppi Mazzini, also a 33rd degree Mason and the Italian founder of the Mafia, another secret organization? Or that Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Morse [inventor of the telegraph system], and Robert Fulton [inventor of the first steamboat and steam warship] are all 33rd degree Masons and pictured in the painting with Minerva, the goddess of "crafts" and wisdom? And why does the Great Seal of the United States eerily resemble the seal of the Connecticut Freemasons?

     And if you need a refresher on exactly why I am singling out the Freemason aspect of our Founding Fathers, let me refer you to a 3-part series I wrote on the subject, beginning here. For the purpose of this blog post, I need you to understand that I do not judge the hearts of men who decide to join this secretive organization. That is for the Lord to determine. But I can clearly discern that the oaths, curses and rituals they perform mock the Lord, as well as break the commandments He has given us not to do them. Any secret organization that takes oaths to false gods such as Abaddon, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, On and Osiris, Horus, Thor and Odin, Allah and Lucifer and whose members have been in our government since the beginning and thrive in our current Congress, should make us get on our knees and pray, and then stand up and fight in our God-given power and authority.

     Any secret organization that curses its members for revealing its hidden agenda by releasing the spirit of Python to squeeze the spiritual life out of them; or curses against their bodies, including their throat, vocal cords, nasal passages, heart, chest, or lungs, and engenders a spirit of fear or suicide, is diabolical and wicked. Any secret society that has rituals that include falling into a coffin, drinking from a human skull, taking off the wedding ring and putting on the lodge ring, and combining blood and sex rituals is evil and not of the Lord. 

     I do not dispute that good Christian men are Freemasons. But they are blinded to its nefarious spiritual roots the minute they put that blindfold [called a hoodwink] on at their initiation ceremony. They are introduced to the Business and Charity image of the Lodge and convinced that the words spoken and the rituals enacted are innocent and harmless. They are anything but that to our Lord! I believe that many of the members are incognizant of exactly who and what they are connecting themselves to, and what spirits they are giving legal rights to. 

     Since the Garden of Eden, Satan has been crafty and cunning in all his ways, and he has been able to weave false theology, the occult, and witchcraft into secret societies and organizations that seek to rule the world with him. What I have touched on today is just a small picture of how insidious are his ways. He has been able to weave his web into the fabric of our nation without the masses even being aware of it. In the next post, we will step back and get a broader picture of how this web intersects with the higher levels of Satan's entourage who are even now planning on taking over the world. As Christians, we stand in the way, with the potential to defeat them -- IF we will stand and fight and occupy until the Lord returns. Join me next time as we take a step back and see the Enemy's ultimate plan.

Ephesians 5:11-12      Do not participate in the worthless and unproductive deeds of darkness, but instead expose them [by exemplifying personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character]; for it is disgraceful even to mention the things that such people practice in secret.

    

July 18, 2016

Connecting More Dots

     Chaotic events in the world are beginning to happen at breakneck speed; like contractions during a birth.  Dallas ... Nice, France ... Turkey ... Baton Rouge ... all in less than two weeks.  And we are facing the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this week; God help us!  I fear that the New Living Translation of Matthew 24:8 is playing out: "But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come."  
     Saturday evening into Sunday morning I wrote the following post and think it is important enough to still run it this morning.  But I wanted all to know that I am not impervious to the tragedy that happened in Baton Rouge yesterday.  Sadly, it is a continuation of the rage that I believe is being orchestrated against all of us in the country, regardless of our race.  It is spiritual in nature, and regrettably, there are far too many people with hearts of stone who are only willing to listen to the devil's lies, and those of his collaborators.  If you know nothing else to do, just get on your knees and pray.  (Click here for my suggestion, if you're not sure how to pray). Ask the Creator of all men to change the hearts of wicked men.   Recognize Him as Jehovah Nissi, our banner or battle standard.  He is our forward Guard and our rear Guard.  As long as we are under his banner, our victory is always assured.  If we ever depart from it, our defeat is a certainty.  
     We need to face it --- this Christian life is a picture of warfare.  Just as in ancient battles, we are to obey every command of our King, and run to His banner, which is the Cross, when the fight becomes too much for our flesh.  But we also need to realize that the battle is won in the spiritual realm, and we are to put on our full armor of God and get to the battlefront!  No matter what the news says today, or tomorrow, next week, or next year ... trust in our Lord and Savior!  These birth pangs will soon give way to His justice and righteousness.  We are in the heat of the battle at the moment, and we need to keep drinking the Living Water that is Christ!

     Over the weekend, as I followed the events in Turkey, I couldn't help but discern that God gave me a huge download of knowledge that connected more dots in the evolution of His cosmic chess match with the devil.  I'm still trying to fit all the pieces together, so I hope you'll be patient with me, as I try to write this down as fast as I'm receiving it.  Hopefully, it will make some sense to you, or one of you can expand on what I'm presenting.
     My journey over the last few days began with receiving a book that my Spiritual Warfare mentor suggested I read, called Rulers of Evil, by F. Tupper Saussy.  At the expense of offending faithful Catholics, I must recommend this book as a fascinating book of the history of the Catholic Church and its influence on the world empires, as well as the founding of America.  Moreover, the author gives an intriguing account of the history of Biblical knowledge and how it interacts with the Roman Catholic papacy.  PLEASE, I am not recommending this book under the pretense of Catholic-bashing!  I am a lover of history and the author is able take a vast amount of historical information and present it in a chronological and coherent manner.  I had barely begun reading (page 24 to be exact) when I saw a link between what happened in history to what is unfolding in Turkey and here in the United States.  Let me start with the historical impetus for my "aha" moment....
     As a student of history, I have been aware that the reading of the Bible was largely limited to Kings and Church leaders until the invention of the Guttenberg Press made it accessible to the masses.  The control and domination by these rulers could be undermined if the general population ever learned that they had direct access to the Bible and God's Word.  (That's an over-simplification of all the intrigue that surrounds the maintaining of power among history's ruling class, but it gives you a general view of how things work).
     As I was reading this fascinating book, it was inevitable that the conflict between Martin Luther and the Catholic Church would surface.  In case you're unfamiliar with the background of this story, Luther was a Catholic monk who defied the edict of the Archbishop of Mainz against unauthorized Bible reading, and began reading the first edition of the Greek New Testament, printed by Renaissance theologian Desiderius Erasmus.  That led to Luther's explosive document, Ninety-five Theses Upon Indulgences, which he promptly nailed to the door of the castle church of Wittenburg. (The historic idea of Indulgences was centered upon a grant by the pope of the remission of punishment in purgatory that was still due for sins, even after absolution. The unrestricted sale of indulgences by pardoners was a widespread abuse during the later Middle Ages ... as an example, for the payment of four ducats, one could be forgiven for murdering one's father; or Sorcery was pardoned for six ducats --- you get the picture).  You can see how the ability for the common man to begin reading and understanding the Truth within the pages of the Bible could seriously erode the authority of those who claimed divine power.
     But it was more than these familiar historical facts that I was seeing; I suddenly saw the collusion between Pope Clement VII, Niccolo Machiavelli, the inventor of modern political science, and Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, Chancellor of England. These men determined that the printing press could now be used to their advantage --- they, themselves, could produce literature that would ultimately confuse, diminish, and marginalize the influence of the Bible. Cardinal Wolsey characterized this project as putting "learning against learning".  (Remember that phrase, because it is going to come back into focus as I connect the dots to what happened this weekend).  The result of this vast amount of printed material was the famed Medici Library-- which opposed the Bible's teaching that man could have eternal life simply by believing in Christ's death and resurrection on our behalf, in favor of Gnostic teachings that man could achieve eternal life by doing good works (Christ-centered learning versus man-centered learning).  So extensive was this Library's philosophical influence, that many scholars today consider it the cradle of Western civilization.
     Martin Luther, discerning that this learning against learning philosophy was the future of Christianity, prophetically wrote in 1520, "Though our children live in the midst of a Christian world, they faint and perish in misery because they lack the Gospel in which we should be training and exercising them all the time.  I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount [my emphasis].  Schools will become wide-open gates of hell if they do not diligently engrave the Holy Scriptures on young hearts.  Every institution where men are not increasingly occupied with the Word of God must become corrupt".  (While I also have huge problems with Luther's later opinions regarding the Jewish people, he hit a home run with this school of thought).
     So, now let me make a huge leap, by connecting this dot with one from this weekend.  As I awoke Saturday morning, I was curious to see what had happened in Turkey overnight.  As I often do, I took a look at what foreign news outlets were reporting; often finding them less restrained in their communication of facts.  The UK's Daily Mail was showing astonishing pictures of the citizens who backed President Erdogan confronting and attacking the members of the Turkish military who had dared to try to overthrow the President.  One particular sentence jumped out at me:  "Erdogan has blamed his old scapegoat, Fethullah Gulen for orchestrating the uprising. Muslim cleric Gulen, the president's rival who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, as the head of a billion dollar religious movement, has often been blamed for political unrest in Turkey."
     If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you might recognize the name of Fethullah Gulen.  I wrote posts here (2013) and here (earlier in 2016), regarding this imam's influence in our American educational system.  Yes, you read that correctly ... Trained as an imam, Fethullah Gulen gained notice in Turkey some 50 years ago, promoting a philosophy that blended a mystical form of Islam with staunch advocacy of democracy, education, science and interfaith dialogue.  Erdogan has long accused Gulen of plotting to overthrow the "officially secular government" from a gated 26-acre compound in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains, which has a population of about 1,100. The President of Turkey is now asking for Gulen's extradition, but Secretary of State John Kerry says our government is unlikely to comply.
     Why should the internal politics and history of political rivalry in Turkey be of particular interest to us here in the United States?  Because, as I have made mention in past blog posts, Fethullah Gulen and his Gulen Movement (his liberal Islamic transnational religious and social movement) runs the largest charter school network in our nation - the list is at 146 to be exact, with sad to say, 45 schools in my state of Texas!  How could this be, you ask?  Well, he is very clever ... the name of these influential schools go by different names in each of the states.  In Texas, they are the Harmony Science Academy; in Ohio, the Horizon Science Academy; in California, the Magnolia Science Academy ... you see what he's doing, right?  Appealing to the ever-competitive nature of the American psyche, he promotes his schools as academies of higher learning to help Americans excel in math and science; so that students will get a higher level of education than they do at public schools.  And it is a multi-billion dollar business!
     And students get a higher "level" of learning alright!  While the schools are not overtly teaching Islamic philosophy and religion, I contend that Fethullah Gulen's influence is predicated on eliminating and destroying Christianity's influence among our nation's youth.  That's where the dots are connected!  Remember Luther's concern over learning against learning?  Well, we are seeing it in action before our very eyes, and we are blinded.  I say that because Gulen's influence has not only infiltrated our education system, but his tentacles reach into banks, newspapers, universities, charities, research institutes, and the halls of Congress, where according to an article by Ariel Cohen, and a USA TODAY investigation, over 200 trips for congressmen and congressional staff have been sponsored by Gülenist entities.
     All this being said, I have to admit that I sometimes feel like I'm shouting in the wilderness.  I have written several posts now on this man, and pointed to others who have done extensive research on him, and now the name of Fethullah Gulen pops up once again in the attempted coup in Turkey.  If you're tired of me harping on this subject, I apologize, but the chance that I would receive this fascinating book, and read of the anti-Bible reference to learning against learning, at the exact moment that an influential Islamic businessman (deeply ensconced in our educational system) is suggested as influencing the attempted downfall of a sovereign nation ... well, I could not ignore it.
     I will leave you by repeating the words of Martin Luther ...  I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount.  Schools will become wide-open gates of hell if they do not diligently engrave the Holy Scriptures on young hearts.  Do you think that the mega-success of the Gulen Schools shows us that man-centered learning is surpassing Christ-centered learning in our culture?  And what happens when the Word of God is eliminated entirely, in favor of Islamic-flavored curriculum?  The fingerprints of satan have been on the knowledge of man from the beginning, and this is just another of his strategies.  We must be diligent in our discernment, and continue to connect the dots!

Colossians 2:8    "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."






July 6, 2016

Are We Ripe For An End Times Revival?

     This past weekend our nation celebrated 240 years of existence.  Depending on who you asked, we celebrated Liberty, Freedom, and a nation founded on Christian principles, OR ... we are entering a new era where America's past is disparaged and our nation's true heritage is one based on genocide, imperialism, slavery, inequality and oppression.
     To be honest with you, I'm beginning to think that our true nature lies somewhere in the middle ... we must take off the rose-colored glasses and see our founding in its true light of conflicting philosophies of government and religion, as well as acknowledging that we are not the total monsters of greed, military power, and self-serving authoritarian rule that anti-Americans would paint us.  We have done a lot of good in the world!
     But 240 years is a relatively small period of time in the history of the world, and all those opinions are primarily from a secular viewpoint.  But if we were to take a good hard look in the mirror, and give ourselves an honest appraisal -- as of today, this very minute -- well, it's looking kind of bleak.  The rule of law seems to be whatever the powers-that-be say it is; violence and depravity seem to reign supreme in the top news stories; our society wants tolerance for all kinds of unnatural behavior and opinions, yet any display of Christian values is degraded and ridiculed.  Without a doubt, we fit the description of the End Times in 2 Timothy, Chapter 4:  we don't want to have anything to do with sound teaching or accurate instruction; we will only tolerate those who will teach us what feeds our own passions; and we will turn completely away from listening to the Truth so we can chase after myths and lies that feed our fleshly appetites.
     So, how do you think we shape up spiritually after these 240 years, and where do we stand today when compared to nations throughout history?  How do we think God will deal with us?  Obviously, I am speaking to Christians; unbelievers could care less about what my LORD has to say about us.  In fact, a recent commenter on this blog wrote to inform me that, "[the Bible is] something that was made up to keep control of the ppl threw the church and scare ppl into submission saying that if u do anything wrong u are going to hell and only select ppl will go to the pearly gates and walk beside god in which I beleave that is bull shit there is no heaven nor hell when u die u become part of the universe not is some enchanted kingdom that all u religous fanatics beleave what it seems like to me is that u are in a fairy tell world I beleave in god but not how u ppl be leave".  I sincerely apologize for subjecting you to this highly ungrammatical run-on sentence from a delusional non-believer, but I just want you to get an idea of just how far off the track some of our fellow citizens have fallen.
     But, are we really that different from the ancient nations of the Bible who lost their way?  Like them we have compromised our values, followed after false gods, established idols for profane worship, and became remiss and negligent in overcoming the temptations and whispers of the Enemy.  The Bible is full of passages that relate God's justifiable discipline and chastisement for abandoning His covenant.  Both the nations of Israel and Judah experienced the firm hand of God, as did specific cities (Sodom and Gomorrah) and individual people (Saul, Moses, David, and Solomon, to just name a few).  However, we must remember that the purpose of chastising is not to destroy, but to lead to repentance, and to restore God’s blessing.
     We have seen this purpose in the Old Testament in the life of Jacob, a deceiver and liar; in the life of the Old Testament giant of prayer, Samuel, who interceded for the nation of Israel during their time of idolatrous worship; and in the life experiences of Elijah as he battles Baal worship and persecution by King Ahab and his wicked queen, Jezebel.  The Bible records several instances of restoration, renewal, and revival during the reigns of King Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah -- times when the public worship of YHWH was recognized and re-established.  And of course, the greatest revival of worship of God was the birth of the Church in the New Testament.  As the late Evangelist David Wilkerson describes this time period: "There were signs, wonders, and miracles. The dead were raised.  Fearless evangelists went everywhere preaching the Word.  Jails could not hold them.  Storms could not drown them. When their possessions were seized, they continued to rejoice. When they were stoned, hanged, burned or crucified, they went out singing and praising God.  It was a triumphant church, unafraid of Satan, irreverent toward idols, unmoved by plagues or persecution.  It was a blood-washed church, living and dying in victory."
     That was then.  Where are we now?  Can we hope to ever achieve that same status again, especially in America?  I don't know about you, but I feel that the clock is nearing that midnight hour, and I'm wondering if the Body of Christ will make a last-minute turn back towards true worship of our God -- or when the clock strikes midnight and the trumpet is sounded, will the Church be the fat, happy, prosperous, compromising, all-inclusive, self-serving, inward-looking, unfruitful monstrosity it is beginning to resemble?
     Or can the prayers of the faithful remnant, the True Body of Christ, move our LORD to intercede on our behalf, restoring and reviving us to meet the coming persecution with power, mighty prayer, and praise?  Can our unclean hands and impure hearts be cleansed in His blood so that the fire of the Holy Spirit will sweep across this land and burn away the dross (the garbage and junk) from our souls, leading this nation to a revival of righteousness?  Does God have it in His Character and Nature to allow one more great Revival before He gives Jesus the green light to exact Judgment upon the world?
     Let's just say I believe in those same miracles that occurred at the birth of the New Testament Church. I know that God desires that all men be saved, and I know that His remnant on the earth, at this very moment, are powerful prayer warriors who are deluging Heaven with prayers of repentance and petitions for Grace and Mercy upon the faithful.  I believe that God is going to cleanse, heal, and embrace His Bride, and give the Church true leaders, children after His own heart.  I believe that what God spoke to the House of Israel, through the prophet Ezekiel, can be said to us today:  "And I will sanctify My great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which you have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God. When I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes."
     So I believe that God can institute another great revival within His Church and within America; that the remnant who comprise the true Body of Christ will be sanctified in the Lord before the eyes of the wicked heathen ... and they will know that He is the Lord God.  In our 240 years of existence this nation has experienced revivals that have transformed us mightily.  May we all partner with Jesus for the next one.  It will be the key to whether we survive history.

Psalm 85:6    "Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?"