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


July 22, 2014

Anti-Semitism In Europe: Echoes Of The Past

     Yesterday, I wrote about the mounting persecution of Christians in the Middle East.  But Satan's hate for God knows no bounds, and the growing hostility for Jews in Europe should be cause for great alarm.
     An Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, reports "The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has contributed to growing tensions between France's Muslim and Jewish populations, both of which are the largest in Europe.  In the first three months of 2014 more Jews left France for Israel than at any other time since the Jewish state was created in 1948, with many citing rising anti-Semitism as a factor."
      Clashes with riot police and firebombs thrown at synagogues are becoming commonplace in the cities of France.  A 17-year-old Jewish girl was sprayed in the face with pepper spray by a man described as "having a Middle Eastern appearance."  The girl reported that her attacker shouted, "Dirty Jewess, inshallah you will die."  Inshallah means "if Allah wills it" in English.
     Demonstrations against the hostilities in Gaza have grown more incendiary, with calls to "slaughter the Jews" and "Death to the Jews".  No wonder Jews are leaving France in record numbers!  After all, their grandparents (if they lived through the Holocaust) are probably warning them that this is eerily familiar territory.
     But France is not the only country in Europe that is exhibiting anti-Semitism.  The newspaper, The Times of Israel, reports that "tens of thousands protested in London against Israel’s military operations in Gaza, denouncing Israel as a terrorist state and castigating British Prime Minister David Cameron for backing Israel’s right to self-defense against Hamas rocket fire."  One protestor was heard to shout "from the river to the sea", a reference to the elimination of Israel.
     But equally alarming are the protests -- many of which are violent -- that have sprung up worldwide, including Cairo, Istanbul, Cape Town, Berlin, New York and Washington.  Those who refuse to grant Israel the right to defend herself against the 1400 rockets fired by Hamas have escalated their rhetoric to new heights, calling for the genocide of the Jewish people.
     I know that this hatred has its roots in Satan's enmity towards God's "chosen people", but I simply cannot fathom the depth and breadth of this kind of hostility towards a people; any people.  I am simply incapable of hating those who hate me that much; even those who hate me because of my faith.  Yet, here we are again ... on the verge of an evil movement or philosophy or ideology -- call it what you want --- that threatens to once again come against a people whom the world decided were deserving of a land to call their own after 6,000,000 of them were exterminated.
     I don't know what God's plan is in all this; how, or if, or when He will defend the Jewish nation.  But I do know that He will be involved in the outcome.  Nothing happens without His authority.  But I pray that the world does not repeat its treatment of the Jews, and I pray that they will review history and see how God has protected His nation thus far.  And most of all, I wish the peoples of the world would read the Bible and see how this story plays out.  There is no question as to who wins!

Joel 3:17    "And Jerusalem shall be holy and strangers shall never again pass through it."




July 21, 2014

"Free Of Christians" Is The Goal

     Oh, how I hope that somehow this message will be heard in the souls of Christians world-wide.  Our brethren in Iraq need our intercessory prayer in this very hour!  Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako, who is the leader of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq, is responsible for some 500,000 believers.    
     SIDE NOTE:  The history of the Chaldean Church is quite fascinating.  Established in the first century, it has endured Persian rule and then the persecution by the pagan Roman Empire.  Once the Roman Empire adopted Christianity, the Church flourished and was a very active missionary force as it expanded into India, Tibet, China, Mongolia, and perhaps even Korea and the Philippines. This activity continued even after its Mesopotamian homeland was conquered by the Muslim Arabs. Indeed, the Church was nearly annihilated by the Mongol invasions of Tamerlane.  In the mid-1500s, the Chaldean Church sought a union with the Catholic Church in Rome.  Their overtures were accepted by Pope Julius III in 1553, creating the Chaldean Catholic Church now centered in Baghdad.  (From the Catholic Education Resource Center.)
    Breitbart.com and Christian Broadcasting Network are reporting that Patriarch Sako has issued an open letter and an appeal “to all who have a living conscience in Iraq and all the world.”  His letter to the world calls upon all those who have a voice and a concern for Iraq, and for "all protectors of the dignity of human beings and of religion" to take notice.
     But this ancient Church, and believing Christians, who can trace their Christian heritage for thousands of years, are now being threatened with their very existence.
     In his announcement, Patriarch Sako comments on the anxiety and disquiet in the land as the jihadist ISIS group proclaims its control of the city of Mosul, and the establishment of the Islamic Caliphate.  But more specifically, he writes of recent events:  ".... the announcement calling all Christians and clearly asking them to convert to Islam or to pay the jizyah (the tax all non-Muslims must pay while living in the land of Islam) – without specifying the exact amount. The only alternative is to abandon the city and their houses with only the clothes they are wearing, taking nothing else. Moreover, by Islamic law, upon their departure, their houses are no longer their properties but are instantly confiscated as property of the Islamic state."
     His next words strike a deep fear in my heart:  "In recent days, there has been written the letter ‘N’ in Arabic on the front wall of Christian homes, signifying ‘Nazara’ (Christian), and on the front wall of Shiite homes, the letter ‘R’ signifying ‘Rwafidh’ (Protestants or rejecters). We do not know what will happen in future days because in an Islamic state the Al-sharia, or Islamic code of law, is powerful and has been interpreted to require the issuance of new I.Ds for the population based on religious or sectarian affiliation."  Just as in the days of Hitler, God's people are being singled out for destruction, and religious affiliation is used as a weapon to deceive and separate.   Satan is using his same old playbook to wreak havoc upon mankind.
     CBN.com reports and confirms Patriarch Sako's letter: "According to MidEast Christian News, the ISIS rulers ordered hospitals to dismiss Christian doctors and female employees. The report says extremists also marked the houses of Christians as 'Property of the Islamic State'.  By the time the midday Saturday deadline imposed by the Islamic State expired, most Christians were gone.  Mosul, where Christianity has existed for nearly 2,000 years, was now virtually "free of Christians"."
     Unfortunately, my spirit tells me that Patriarch Sako's pleas to his radical Muslim countrymen to respect "the civilization, the cities, and the heritage" that they have built together, will fall on deaf ears.  The members and leadership of ISIS do not share his desire to "respect innocent and weaponless people of all nationalities, religions, and sects."  They have one goal in mind:  conquering Iraq for their brand of Islam, and destroying anyone that gets in their way.
     The hatred against Christians and Jews is mounting throughout the world.  We might possibly see the end of Christianity in this part of the Middle East.  But we should not be surprised.  In His Word, Jesus does more than imply that His followers may suffer persecution, he says they will persecute you.  (John 15:18-20).  And His revelation to the Apostle John encourages us to endure what is coming.  The persecution is most acute in foreign lands, but make no mistake --- we must prepare for it as well.  And we must remember that whatever the Enemy means to use for his evil, it will ultimately benefit God.
     So let's join Patriarch Sako and other ministers of the Word around the globe, who are all suffering persecution in the Name of Jesus.  Let us answer the desperate cry of the Christians in Iraq and Sri Lanka and the Sudan with our own prayers for their protection and strength in the face of unspeakable persecution.  We hear you!  And let us pray, that when it is our turn, we will view our suffering with joy, because through our solidarity in His love, we may endure our trials and see them as opportunities to glorify our Lord.

1 Peter 4:16    "If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name."

July 20, 2014

Hosea 4:6

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;


     This verse is a poignant criticism of ancient Israel by God's prophet, Hosea.  Yet the similarities between God's indictment against His people then, and what He would say to us today, are like looking in a mirror.  
     Israel had divided into the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern kingdom (Judah) and both had been enjoying a period of general prosperity when God instructed Hosea to begin prophesying.  Their borders had increased, and their armed forces had defeated their enemies.  But then signs of trouble began appearing on the horizon.  The northern kingdom turned from God and embraced idolatry; political turmoil ensued and they suffered several decades of declining power.  
     The mighty Assyrian Empire began flexing its muscles and looking westward.  They were able to take the northern kingdom of Israel into captivity and they never regained their power.  Meanwhile, the southern kingdom of Judah was also spiritually declining and was torn by political dissension.  History records that King Ahaz rejected the prophet Isaiah's offer of Divine protection and instead embarked on a pro-Assyrian policy of appeasement that facilitated the takeover of Judah and drained the nation's economic wealth.  Sound familiar?
     God is a jealous God, and just like these ancient kingdoms, He established this country as His nation and took delight in us when we adhered to His commandments and were loyal to Him.  But we turned away, just as they did, and began worshipping other idols.  Wealth, power, and self-interest became our little "g" gods, and we no longer desired our covenantal commitment to the Lord of our fathers.  
     And what's worse, those whom God had ordained to instruct us in His Holy Word -- our preachers and pastors -- began minimizing the strength and effectiveness of His commandments.  They began to  "bend the rules", so to speak.  They no longer emphasized the precise and accurate interpretation of God's religious and social standards as proclaimed in His covenant.  They taught and preached a more "tolerant" understanding, so as to pacify their critics and get along better with the increasingly rebellious population.  
     The end result is that God's people don't know Him or how big He is, because they haven't been properly instructed by the very men whom God entrusted them to.  And now we are reaping the consequences of this "lack of knowledge".  When God establishes a binding relationship, as He did at the founding of this nation, He demands and expects absolute loyalty.  That is His Holy character!  And we failed Him.
     During the 8th century B.C., God announced through Hosea, that He would use severe judgment to free His people from their spiritual stupor and get their attention.  Another of God's character traits is His Immutability; He never changes.  And we see today that He is using His judgment to wake us out of our own spiritual daze.  I don't know about you, but He has certainly got my attention!  
    He will entertain and tolerate no rivals for our affections.  We must turn from the path down which our own carnal desires and the improper teaching in our churches have led us.  While this judgment on our land may seem harsh and some of us don't personally deserve it, we know that God will allow nothing to ruin the relationship He has with those who love Him.  It is His desire that we will come to our senses; return to worshipping, glorifying and loving Him, so that we may avoid the "destruction" that this verse warns us about.  It is incumbent on each of us to pray that the people of this nation, our nation's leaders, and our churches will be restored to the covenantal relationship that God established.  That is His fervent desire, and should be ours, too! 
   

July 19, 2014

A Tale of Two Soldiers

   
     I've gone too long without commenting on the status of Marine  Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi.  It has now been 100+ days that he has been imprisoned in a Mexican jail for making a wrong turn at the Mexican border and declaring his mistake and possession of firearms.  The weapons are legal in the United States but not Mexico, and he was detained when he inadvertently crossed over the boundary in late March.  I have been to the Mexican border and believe me, it can be quite confusing; and once you have committed yourself to the "entry lane" into Mexico, concrete barriers prohibit any change of direction or return.
     Sgt. Tahmooressi is a decorated Marine who suffers from PTSD after two tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.  He has received very little attention from our administration; in fact their response has been, "We need to let the Mexican justice system take its course."  Meanwhile, another soldier, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, has been paraded before the world for his release from Taliban captivity.  There were major White House announcements about "the returning P.O.W." and news conferences in the Rose Garden.  Yet the subject of Sgt. Tahmooressi is avoided in White House press briefings as if he is of no consequence.
     For whatever reason, the left-leaning media wants to portray Tahmooressi as less than honest in his story, and point to the somewhat dicey approach of his first Mexican lawyer as proof that he has something to hide.  Yet where are they when it comes to questioning Bergdahl's story?  There are more than enough members of his platoon that will testify to his hatred of America and his abandonment of his post.  But his questionable relationship with the Taliban is inadequately examined.  And now he has a nice little desk job at an Army post in Texas.
     In the meantime, Sgt. Tahmooressi's mother, Jill, has waged a one-woman campaign to bring her son home.  She presented a petition to the White House, with the prerequisite signatures, demanding the release of her son.  Still no official response.  Why was Bergdahl's release worth five high-ranking Taliban leaders, yet according to this administration, Tahmooressi's imprisonment is "a private matter", and all John Kerry can muster is a weak statement that "we have raised the issue"?  Jill Tahmooressi's response?  "I find that offensive. That, in fact, infuriates me! My son is more than an ‘issue.’ Andrew [and his health] is a grave, urgent, serious concern. The fact that the president has totally ignored him is so offensive and wrong. This situation is urgent! He is a decorated military hero who screened positive for PTSD in San Diego in March and requires treatment.”
     World Net Daily reported that in an interview from his Mexican jail cell, Tahmooressi confirmed that the U.S. State Department has not contacted him, nor has he been able to talk with them.  One has to wonder  -- What is the ulterior motive behind how differently these two soldiers have been treated?  How can the White House boast about the return of Bergdahl, and that "we never leave anyone behind"?  Aren't we doing just that with Sgt. Tahmooressi?  
     Our country has paid an extremely high price for the return of an alleged deserter and Taliban sympathizer.  What is our government willing to pay for the return of an honorable and decorated war hero?  Perhaps that's where the real story lies, and how our military is undervalued and disrespected.
     Sgt. Tahmooressi told World Net Daily that he trusts God for his future – but he’d also like an answer from his Commander-in-Chief.  That's the least he deserves.  He also asks for our prayers and our vigilance on his behalf; that we keep his captivity before the public, the media, and the White House.  And that's the least we can do.  May God strengthen Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi in his hour of need.

Joshua 22:3    "You have not forsaken your brothers these many days, down to this day, but have been careful to keep the charge of the Lord your God."

July 18, 2014

The Hegelian Dialectic & The Border Crisis

     I've got the beginnings of a picture forming in my mind, and I'm trying to fit all the puzzle pieces together.  It starts with the concept of the Hegelian Dialectic. If you're unfamiliar with this terminology, I'll try to explain it as simply as I can.  Named after Georg Hegel, an eighteenth-century philosopher, this theory has long been adopted by governments and ruling classes to manipulate their citizens into preconceived plans of action.
     I have seen it explained in this format:  PROBLEM-REACTION-SOLUTION.  Look at this way; say a government has a Policy A that it wants to institute.  But they know that there is no way the majority of their citizens will ever accept or approve that policy.  So, they keep their plans under wraps: and instead the government creates Problem B, which is SO BIG (think terrorist event, mass shooting, killer virus) that it is covered night and day on every news outlet in the nation.  The news coverage manipulates and molds society's reaction and creates such disorder in the populace, that they clamor for the government to solve this manufactured problem, which ... surprise, surprise ... just happens to be Policy A that has been kept in the closet and can now be brought forth, and which is happily accepted by the deceived populace.
     Smarter people than me have attributed these major events to the Hegelian Dialectic:  WWI and WWII were manufactured by the bankers to bring them more power, and to establish the League of Nations, the United Nations, and the European Union.  In general, all the modern wars -- the Cold War, the Vietnam War, the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, the War on Terror, the War on Drugs, etc.  -- have all been designed to increase defense spending, higher debt, and more poverty; and the world's elite bankers just keep getting richer.  And don't forget such manufactured events as the Energy Crisis, the Climate Crisis, and every nation's Economic Crisis ... all created from a preconceived agenda.
    So now that you should have a clearer picture of how the Hegelian Dialectic works, how does it fit in with the crisis on our southern border?  Remember, there has to be an agenda that the American people would never agree to in the beginning.  One possible plan is this: the elite in our government (that includes both parties) are all about power, and there are millions of illegal immigrants in this country that potentially represent a huge voting bloc that would guarantee that power.  However, the elite have been unable to sell the idea of complete Amnesty, no matter how hard they've tried.
     So what if they create the problem of thousands of homeless, immigrant children on the border and continuously cover the "humanitarian crisis" on the news?  Add to that the fears of rampant disease and possible terrorist infiltration.  Then create some further chaos by shipping busloads of these illegal immigrants to cities across the country.  Is that a big enough PROBLEM for you?
     Who could deny that they are getting the REACTION they want?  They need chaos, conflict, and hostility to grow if they are going to offer the SOLUTION that will satisfy the masses, but which is really what they wanted to accomplish in the first place.  The big question is this: what is the true agenda they are trying to accomplish, and how far are they willing to go?  Is it really a vast, new voting bloc to ensure power for the next several generations?  Or is it something even more threatening, such as instigating such turmoil and upheaval that our present system of government will need to be reconstructed?
     Just in case you think that my tin foil hat is screwed on a little too tight, I would like to point you to an article on SHTFPlan.com back in January of this year, and ask you the following questions:  Why in January of 2014 --- six months ago --- was FEMA seeking contractors who could supply medical biohazard disposal capabilities and 40 yard dumpsters to 1,000 tent hospitals across the United States; all required on 24-48 hour notice?  Why in October of 2013 -- nine months ago -- was the CDC soliciting 31,000 doses of pediatric flu vaccine?  During that same time period, FEMA requested over 100,000 winter and summer shirts and pants, tarps, and pre-fabricated housing units.
     There were all kinds of theories among the conspiratorial crowd, but perhaps the PROBLEM just had not come into view yet.  Perhaps what we saw in January was the pre-arrangement for the PROBLEM they were planning.  Could the Hegelian Dialectic be in play as we face this border crisis?  Can we, the people, avoid playing into the hands of the Elite? Can we solve this PROBLEM on our own, thereby defeating their pre-designed agenda?
     Honestly, they've been pretty successful so far ... it would take a miracle to defeat their plans.  But,  I just happen to believe in miracles and the power and authority of my God.  I cannot answer if He will foil the evil schemes in this spiritual war; I can only pray that He will guide us in His purpose and His will.  That's the best SOLUTION we've got.

Zechariah 8:17    "Don’t plan evil for each other. Don’t adore swearing falsely, for all of these are things that I hate, says the Lord."

July 17, 2014

A "Game-Changer" or An "Eliminator"?

     I hate that I am at the point of questioning every "good" report or research discovery that comes from the latest health/government/university study.  Now, claims that the heinous disease of Alzheimer's will be the new beneficiary of ground-breaking research once again leaves me wondering if we are being helped or hindered.
     Scientists and researchers from no less than the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization; Dr Simon Ridley, head of science at the charity Alzheimer's Research UK; US researchers at Harvard Medical School; and scientists at Columbia University are all supporting their findings that simple and regular eye tests could be used to identify Alzheimer's disease at a very early stage.
     In fact, the health editor at The Telegraph, writes that "early trials of two different techniques show that a key biomarker for the disease can be identified in the retina and lens of the eye.  Both methods were able to distinguish between healthy volunteers and those likely to be suffering from Alzheimer's patients with a high level of accuracy."  She goes on to say that, "Experts said the findings could be a “game changer” in treatment of the condition."  (I'm not real thrilled with that word "likely".  Are you?)
     And here's where my cynical little mind goes to work .... a US company called Cognoptix, Inc is involved in this research and supplied an ointment that provided a promising biomarker for the detection of beta amyloid proteins responsible for the formation of plaques in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.  The co-founders of this company just happen to be the two doctors who identified the biomarkers, and I'm assuming, developed the ointment.  Furthermore, the Cognoptix, Inc. website says "Cognoptix is currently developing combined optical scanning devices and diagnostic agents based on these discoveries for clinical, commercial and academic research use. The company is actively forming and seeking new strategic alliances with pharma partners and academic institutes, while preparing its diagnostic platform for clinical use."  (My emphasis).
     Maybe I'm just a tad bit too suspicious, but a couple of red flags just popped up!  There have been quite a few indications that Big Pharma and Obamacare are willing bedfellows; among them the connections between Liz Fowler (the architect of the Affordable Care Act) and the nation’s largest health insurance provider Well Point.  She has also lent her considerable insider Washington influence and power to pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson.
     What would keep Big Pharma, and companies like Cognoptix, Inc and the government from colluding to identify potential Alzheimer's victims, and subsequently a) denying them health care coverage, or b) passing their names on to possible "death panels"?
     Shaun Frost, the Australian scientist/researcher who led the study, said, ""We envision this technology potentially as an initial screen that could complement what is currently used: brain PET imaging, MRI imaging, and clinical tests.  If further research shows that our initial findings are correct, it could potentially be delivered as part of an individual's regular eye check-up."  So now your eye exam can be used to add you to another "list".
     Having watched family members suffer from this awful disease, I welcome any medical advancements that would help to identify and treat this illness.  But even Cognoptix, Inc. admits that diagnosing the disease is a challenge and, to my knowledge, there has been no scientific or medical breakthrough for curing it.  So, it seems to me that the positive aspect of this latest study is that it offers the opportunity for early detection, and hopefully, would encompass attempts to slow down the progress of the disease.
     I guess the negative aspects depend on whether you trust the government, the health insurance companies and Big Pharma, who stand to make a lot of money on the application of any ointments or medical procedures.
     Like I said at the beginning of this post, skepticism has become the bane of my existence when it comes to any health procedure that the academics claim will "help" me.  I wish I could feel that their concern for humanity trumped their "strategic alliances" and greed for the Pharma dollar.

Psalm 101:3    "I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me."
   

July 16, 2014

The Border Crisis & The Reconquista

     The #1 story in the U.S. news cycle is the crisis on our southern border.  It is not only a story of thousands of illegal immigrants being allowed to enter the country, but it is also a narrative concerning the spread of disease, the imminent danger to our homeland from terrorists, and the will of the people being ignored.  The Border Patrol agents are reporting (and contracting) communicable diseases that threaten all of America, as busloads of people are delivered throughout the country.  And author Dave Hodges describes the biggest threat, when he says, "Some of the people crossing our border are violent gangsters posing as children. And some of the people are terrorists posing as immigrants."
     But could it also be a not-so-subtle plot to encourage "The Reconquista?"  In case you are unfamiliar with this term, in Spanish it means "the reconquest", and was popularized by contemporary Mexican writers Carlos Fuentes and Elena Poniatowska to describe the increased demographic and cultural presence of Mexicans in the Southwestern United States.  And it has taken on even more significance since becoming the battle cry for La Raza and its student/university arm MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán).
     In legal terms, La Raza is "the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization (community organizers?) in the United States, and works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans."  In its more radical, cultural application, it has repeatedly called for the seizure of several states (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah and Colorado) and make them into an independent country called Atzlan (which is the legendary ancestral home of the Aztec, one of the main cultural groups who later adopted the identity of Mexica, and who are closely associated with modern Mexico).
     This seizure of a portion of the Southwest United States, and the establishment of Aztlan is at the heart of "The Reconquista".  (It also served as the storyline for the second book in Matthew Bracken's popular trilogy, Domestic Enemies: The Reconquista.)  But it is the mission statement of MEChA that gives us the clearest picture of this ideology as outlined in their Spiritual Plan for Atzlan:  “In the spirit of a new people that is conscious not only of its proud historical heritage but also of the brutal gringo invasion of our territories, we, the Chicano inhabitants and civilizers of the northern land of Aztlan from whence came our forefathers, reclaiming the land of their birth and consecrating the determination of our people of the sun, declare that the call of our blood is our power, our responsibility, and our inevitable destiny. … Aztlan belongs to those who plant the seeds, water the fields, and gather the crops and not to the foreign Europeans. … We are a bronze people with a bronze culture. Before the world, before all of North America, before all our brothers in the bronze continent, we are a nation, we are a union of free pueblos, we are Aztlan. For La Raza todo. Fuera de La Raza nada. Chicano is our identity; it defines who we are as people. It rejects the notion that we…should assimilate into the Anglo-American melting pot…Aztlan was the legendary homeland of the Aztecas … It became synonymous with the vast territories of the Southwest, brutally stolen from a Mexican people marginalized and betrayed by the hostile custodians of the Manifest Destiny.” (Statement on University of Oregon MEChA Website, Jan. 3, 2006).  
     Eight years later, they must be seeing the glimmer of hope that their plan is coming to fruition.  And it is time to sit up and take notice when you hear statements, such as this, from Miguel Perez of Cal State-Northridge's MEChA "The ultimate ideology is the liberation of Aztlan. Communism would be closest [to it]. Once Aztlan is established, ethnic cleansing would commence: Non-Chicanos would have to be expelled -- opposition groups would be quashed because you have to keep power."
     And just how would this power be perpetuated?  First of all, you need to know that La Raza is extremely well-funded through American tax dollars.  In one year (2005), La Raza received $15.2 million in federal grants. Of this $15.2 million, $8 million came from the U.S. Department of Education.  It has even been rumored that some of this money goes to get-out-the-vote efforts (There's the community organizer aspect, again).  Combine this information with the fact that our President openly supported La Raza during his 2008 Presidential campaign, and reports that the recently stalled Senate Bill 744 supplied a secret $300 million dollar slush fund which was earmarked for La Raza, and you begin to wonder if there isn't some under-handed collusion going on.
     And before anyone accuses me of being racist or anti-immigration, I acknowledge how much the Hispanic population contributes to this nation, and I welcome any person of any nationality or color into this country who is willing to abide by our laws and desires to become part of our American family.  But the erasure of national borders and the "reconquering" of our nation is not something that I can recognize or concede.  And when I see groups become radicalized for the purpose of furthering distance and discontent between American citizens, then I become concerned about their motives.  It is becoming more and more obvious that this border crisis is being manufactured for increasingly suspect purposes.   Keep an eye on this situation and keep looking behind the curtain.

Proverbs 19:21    "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."


July 15, 2014

Israel & Hamas: History, Propaganda & The Truth

   
     The world's media machines are working overtime to get "their truth" out about the crisis in the Gaza Strip.  Amid the recent rocket launches between the militant Palestinian group Hamas and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), both sides of these attacks are scrambling to put forth their side to justify their actions.
      For instance, the Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG) is an independent research and media organization based in Montreal, Canada, and it is their website's position that Israel’s present assault on Gaza is a continuation of their policy of incremental genocide against the occupied Palestinian people.  According to GlobalResearch the reasons for the increase in military action can be best expressed by the question "What came first?  The chicken or the egg?"
     Although the current hostilities seem to have been compelled by the kidnappings and killings of three Israeli schoolboys, and then the retaliatory killings of two Palestinian youths, GlobalResearch wants you to consider that the 3 Israeli youths murders were "perhaps in reprisal for killings of Palestinian children" during a long history of Israeli "oppressive occupation."  That's one way to spin it.
     The historical truth concerning this hotbed of violence is this: Palestine has always been situated at a strategic location between Egypt, Syria and Arabia, and it is the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity.  The Palestinian region has a long and tumultuous history as a crossroads for religion, culture, commerce, and politics. The region has been controlled by numerous different peoples, including Ancient Egyptians, Canaanites, Israelites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, the Sunni Arab Caliphates, the Shia Fatimid Caliphate, Crusaders, Ayyubids, Mameluks, Ottomans, the British and now, modern Israelis and Palestinians.
     Boundaries of the region have changed throughout history, due to agreements between nations after various wars, and were last defined in modern times by a French-British boundary agreement (1920) and the League of Nations mandate in 1922.  Today, the region comprises the State of Israel and Palestinian territories in which the State of Palestine was declared.
     So, in reality, nothing is new.... this territory has long been in dispute and its ownership has often been determined by the victors of war.  Today's conflicts can trace their roots to the aftermath of Hitler's diabolical Holocaust, and the birth of Zionism.   Of course, to many,  Zionism has become the trademark "dirty word" for any attempt by Israel to defend itself.
     Originally, this term was understood as a movement for the re-establishment and (now) the development and protection of a Jewish nation in what is now Israel.   In short, it is the rebirth and renewal in the Jewish homeland established for them by Jehovah God.  In today's understanding, Zionism is often seen, by its critics, to mean it as a colonialist or racist ideology that led to the denial of rights, dispossession and expulsion of the "indigenous population of Palestine".
     Those who claim that the Palestinians are innocent refugees in their own land, will side with the group Hamas, which was founded in 1987, when several Palestinians were killed in a traffic accident involving an Israeli driver, and the events that followed—a Palestinian uprising against Israel's West Bank and Gaza occupation—led to the founding of Hamas as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood movement.   It has since developed a militant military wing, devoted to the elimination of Israel as a state.  It is this group, who has been blamed for the initial killing of the three Israeli youths.
     When Israel responded with the deaths of the Palestinian youths, the rocket exchange began.  Pro-Palestinian media will accuse Israel of killing innocent Palestinian citizens, including women and children.  GlobalResearch will tell you that "Harmless and aimless rockets fired from Gaza are the Palestinians’ only way to fight back", and that Israel's aggression and military blockade are reason enough to fire upon Israel.  "Enjoying freedom of movement and peace are basic rights of all people, but if Palestinians can’t enjoy that right then neither should the Israelis."
     On the other side, WorldNetDaily will tell you that the Israeli military has aborted planned missions that would have eliminated 14 of the top senior terrorists in the Gaza Strip because it would have taken too high a toll on the civilian population.  An IDF spokesperson is quoted as saying that Hamas rulers "have been using civilians as human shields and hiding command centers and rocket silos in apartments, hospitals and mosques."  If true, the high fatality rate of children and innocent Palestinians lays squarely on their shoulders.
     Currently, it appears that the media senses the escalation of violence and rhetoric against the nation of Israel, and is climbing on the bandwagon to declare Israel at fault.  Peace negotiations through the tepid efforts of the U.S. are designed to provide no solutions.  As throughout its history, Israel will need to rely on their God to protect and deliver her.  Yet, much about the Jewish state mirrors our rebellion against the God of Israel.  Are they going to receive God's purifying discipline, just as we are experiencing?  And are we seeing all the nations lining up against Israel as in Ezekiel 38 and Psalm 83?
     I can't answer these questions, nor can I see a way for this standoff to be peaceably and successfully refereed.  The one thing I know for sure ... the enemies of Israel are the enemies of God. Nations and individuals need to think very carefully before they align themselves with those who God would judge guilty of cursing Israel.  No amount of propaganda can change His mind.  History has proven that this was once Israel's ancient homeland, and the Bible declares that it will remain so.  That is the Truth of the entire dilemma.

Zechariah 2:8    "The Lord of heavenly forces proclaims concerning the nations plundering you: Those who strike you strike the pupil of my eye."

July 14, 2014

I Can Take It!

   
     When I began this blog nearly two-and-a-half years ago, it was in response to a prompting that I needed to use my modest gift of writing to open a dialogue among us normal, average Americans.  I have never claimed to be an expert on anything, but I have also never been content to sit on the sidelines and let others form my opinions for me.  At the same time, I did not request or require that anyone agree with me.  I just felt that there had to be lots of people like me that were waking up to new and chilling prospects, with a desire to make others more aware.
     All I knew, at the time that I started writing, was that things seemed very wrong in the country that I loved so much.  It also became apparent that things were getting off track in my church, too.  I found myself no longer satisfied with "following the crowd" and was filled with a deep need to not only get to know my God better, but to discover what He would have us know about these times we live in.
     I undertook this project, knowing that not everyone would be interested in the same topics as I was, and most certainly, not everyone would share my faith, which is at the heart of this blog.  But I knew that it was something that I was supposed to do; that somehow it would become part of the purpose that God had intended for my life.
     There have been days that I'm sure I bored you to tears.  And I know there have been days some of you were saying, "Enough with the 'Biblical worldview' and your conservative, Christian values!"  Some friends have asked, "How do you do it everyday?"  I'm not sure if they are asking how I find the time, or if they are really wondering why I think what I have to say is important enough that anyone would read it everyday.  Believe me, there are days when I wonder all that myself!  But it's not that I value my own opinion so much, as it is that God keeps giving me affirmations that it's not time to quit.
     On the days when I am so mind-numbing weary, or feel that there's nothing He wants me to impart or that you might possibly find interesting, I will receive a comment in which someone reaches out and lets me know that God has used me to speak to them.  How can I stop writing when I receive a comment that says, "I was really feeling fearful (or depressed or hopeless) today, and your words were exactly what I needed.  I no longer feel alone in my feelings and I know that God is in control!"  You should just know that they aren't my words.  I am just His instrument and we are encouraging each other, as He strengthens us.
     Two-and-a-half years is a long time to stay focused and listen for God's promptings.  Sometimes He has whispered to talk to you about what is going on in world events; making it increasingly clear that rebellion against Him and persecution of His followers is on the rise.  Other times He urges me to talk about the decline of our culture, our society and our morality.  That's always good for a negative comment or two from the godless who misquote the Bible and attempt to enlighten me about what Jesus was really teaching.  Lately, God has pushed me to reveal the deeper understandings of His Word; beliefs that were accepted by early Christians who had the benefit of first or second-hand accounts of Jesus and the apostles teachings --- beliefs that have been modified, altered, revised, and even eliminated in the last two thousand years by organized religion and men who sought to distort the Truth.
     I can't tell you why God has chosen this time in my life to reveal this deeper comprehension that was concealed for years by the various churches I have attended.  But I can tell you that He has removed me from mainstream Christianity, and while many fellow Christians think PLW and I have wandered too far off the reservation, we are no longer satisfied with conforming to the traditional and comfortable "box" they live in.   We can agree and support each other on the basis of our faith, but I want more of what God is offering me, and less of the lukewarm and conventional instruction from the Church.
     All that being said, I am grateful for this opportunity to share my thoughts and my opinions.  As I promised myself at the beginning of this adventure, I will go where God leads me; all the while knowing that my writing will not be accepted or applauded by everyone.  That is not my goal.  In fact, as my readership has expanded, I am receiving more negative and critical comments -- some of them are so hateful and despicable that I choose to delete them; they offer nothing to the discourse.  I have been accused of being a hater, crazy, a religious zealot, a right-wing nut, and biblically bizarre.  It's a small price to pay for being allowed to present my message of God around the world.
     How much longer He will inspire this blog, I do not know.  I apologize in advance for those days when I can't hear His voice very clear; you will know it by the quality of my words.  But this much I do know ... this blog exists to glorify my God and as a means to encourage all His children in these difficult times.  And I will do it to the best of my God-given abilities until He whispers, "It's time to stop."  Until then, thank you for being a part of this journey with me, and together we will continue to follow His lead.

Isaiah 30:21      And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,”  ....

July 13, 2014

1 John 3:8b

The reason the Son of God was made visible was to undo
(destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works of the devil.


     I've been focused a lot lately on the spiritual warfare that is becoming more evident throughout the world.  Satan and his servants know that his time is short, and he must increase the pressure on all of mankind if he stands a chance of winning the battle here on earth.  He has already lost it in heaven, as Scripture tells us in Revelation 12:7-9:  Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels went forth to battle with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought.  But they were defeated, and there was no room found for them in heaven any longer.  And the huge dragon was cast down and out—that age-old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, he who is the seducer (deceiver) of all humanity the world over; he was forced out and down to the earth, and his angels were flung out along with him.
     They were flung to earth, where today we battle and struggle against Satan's rulers and authorities, who use spiritual powers to tempt men to follow him, rather than God.  Whether you realize it or not, or will admit it or not, we are at war with these spiritual forces.  But there is good news!  The war has already been won!  First of all, the devil was dealt a blow (and a loss) when he was cast from heaven.  Secondly, he failed at his temptations of Christ, and continually had to submit to Jesus's Power and Authority when he came against Him.  And Colossians 2:15 says, "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."  So what might have looked like a victory for Satan when Jesus was crucified, was just another loss; this time at the Cross!
    The real significance of our featured Scripture is the ultimate and final losses that the devil will suffer -- first, at the Second Coming of Christ, when he is bound and cast into the bottomless pit for 1,000 years.  But upon his release, he once again deceives mankind, tempting them into thinking they can defeat Christ and His heavenly army.  But the final elimination of Satan and his evil spiritual forces takes place when he is cast into the lake of fire for all eternity.  
     So while we are still present here on earth, and if we are followers of Christ, then we should expect that we will be participants in this war between spiritual powers.  BUT, we must always keep in mind that the battle is not ours to win.  We need to be like David, who in his battle with Goliath, knew that he could not win in his own strength.  He announced that he was going into battle in the name of God Almighty, and that the battle was the Lord's to win!  (1 Samuel 17) 
     Just like Goliath, the devil is powerful, and so are his followers.  By ourselves, we are no match for the devil.  But part of Christ's mission here on earth was to show us that we are not on our own.  We can actually take on the battle, knowing that God and His Son go before us!  
     But when you find yourself under spiritual attack (physical illness, doubts and fears, depression, and attacks by other men, are just a sample of the warfare implemented by the devil) the best thing you can do is what Jesus taught us ... to pray that we are not "led into temptation, but delivered from evil".  And the power to win that battle comes from the Lord.  It is God's Power that was made visible in His Son that works in us, and through us, to deliver us from every attack by the Enemy.  His Power will be there for us today, tomorrow, and for eternity, so we need not fear the Spiritual War!