Ebola: It Affects More Than The Victim

    We all feel compassion for those who have been stricken with Ebola around the world.  And now that it has touched our homeland, it is apparent -- at least, to me -- that the effects are widespread.  Besides the personal toll, this frightening contagion impacts our lives across so many areas.

     First, let's consider the Economy.  Here are the facts: The stock market took a tumble last week, due in part to the news that the 132 passengers on a Frontier Airlines flight from Dulles International Airport to Dallas, TX may have been infected by Amber Vinson, the second nurse to contract Ebola from Patient Zero, Thomas Duncan.
     Members of Congress are openly considering travel bans; not only from Western African countries, but from within the United States, itself.  Just think how that will affect the airline industry!
     Then, there's this: according to The Hollywood Reporter, "When treating multiple Ebola patients at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, the staff couldn’t get pizza delivered, couriers refused to handle vials of blood from those patients, and the county threatened to shut off the hospital’s access to sewer lines over concerns about waste from patients."
     And according to my doctor friend, his fellow physicians in Dallas, who have offices adjacent to Texas Presbyterian Hospital, have empty waiting rooms -- patients are refusing to come anywhere near the facility.  And as he reminded me, "The expenses of running those offices aren't suspended; there is a direct impact on their bottom line."
     That piece of information is supported by a recent article in The Washington Post that reported that the playground at an infant and child day-care center near the Dallas Hospital was vacant -- parents are keeping their children home.  But, wouldn't you?
     All this to say, that despite health officials attempting to calm the rising anxiety of Americans by reminding us that "more people will die from the flu than from Ebola," there are some very real side effects from the few reported cases (so far).  First and foremost, there is the economic cost generated by the fear and anxiety associated with this disease.  We are seeing the initial repercussions in the stories related above.  I'm sure the airline industry hasn't forgotten the economic toll that the SARS epidemic took on Asian airlines in 2003 -- the cost was $6 billion!

     But, even if Ebola is stopped in its tracks today, we are already seeing the reverberation throughout different sectors of our economy.  How many of you have re-thought your travel plans?  What about sending your kids to school?  Two schools closed in Ohio last week, after the disclosure that a Middle School staff member may have traveled on the same plane -- though not the same Frontier Airlines flight -- as Amber Vinson.  A student and another teacher, both at different schools in Ohio, have been ordered to stay at home, due to possible exposure to the virus.
    Three schools have closed in Belton, TX, at the news that two students did travel on that same plane with Vinson.  In Fort Worth, TX, an elementary student is also reported to have flown on that same flight, and his family is being quarantined for 21 days.  I would be willing to bet that this presents a financial and economic hardship on all those concerned.  Parents will have to take off work to care for these children; and in the case of entire schools being closed, or whole families being quarantined, one has to ask how many salaries does that effect?  Does sick leave cover this event? And what if you don't have three weeks accrued?
    Then there is the Hospitality sector of the economy.  Do you feel safe going to restaurants?  What about the movies or the book store?  I want to make myself clear on this subject ... it is not time to panic, and I do not want to spread fear.  But I am appalled at the lack of command and authority exhibited by both our government officials and our top federal medical experts.  It goes without saying, that a unified plan to identify and control this disease would go a long ways towards instilling confidence in the American people.  It doesn't help to promote that trust when the top medical experts at the National Institute of Health and the CDC admit that their initial protocol for handling the disease was "inadequate."  I'm pretty sure that's little consolation to the two nurses that were infected.

     And, speaking of nurses, there is the psychological effect among our health care workers, who must be feeling their top government health agencies have failed them.  I have a very good friend who has been a nurse for the last 30-35 years.  I wanted her personal opinion of how she sees this disease playing out in our health care system.  Her first words were chilling... both from a professional and personal standpoint.  She was amazed at "how little she knows about it."  By that she means, forthcoming information from on high has been very limited.  She went on to explain that nurses, as health care providers are at the mercy of not only the CDC for issuing information, protocol and guidelines, but also their county health departments and their hospital administrators.  Every organization has their own agenda; and nurses, who are on the front lines, often get conflicting direction.
     She remembers past outbreaks of Tuberculosis and Legionnaire's Disease; and how quickly guidelines were administered, because the CDC had treatments in place for that.  She candidly admitted that this time, in Dallas, "The CDC dropped the ball.  With Ebola, there is a huge potential for contamination, and the CDC knows that.  They issued a statement saying 'When there is a known case, we [the CDC] are sending in a team.'  That was a bald-faced lie --- they didn't do it in Dallas!"
     I admit, that I think all these nurses have a servant's heart, and are incredibly brave and giving under these circumstances.  But they also have a very real dilemma.  I asked my friend what she will do if/when Ebola becomes an epidemic in this country.  She admitted that she has given this some serious thought.  In the nursing culture, there is tremendous pressure to show up to work, no matter what, because: 1) your patients need you, and 2) it causes a hardship on your fellow workers if you leave them short.  "At some point, you have to isolate the people who are sick.  There definitely needs to be a balance between protecting your patients and co-workers, and performing your duties as a nurse."  But she admitted that if this disease gets out of control, she will stay home.  Like other health care professionals that I know, if Ebola becomes "a mass killer", they feel a responsibility to try to help take care of their families, friends and neighbors, before the general public.

     But the effects of Ebola don't stop there.  Perhaps the most disturbing consequence is the politicization of this disease, which I find repugnant.  As an American citizen, I don't want to hear whining that the Republicans cut funding to the CDC, or patent blaming of the Obama Administration for their policies regarding this disease -- there's been enough mistakes by everybody who is responsible for safeguarding the public.  Somebody needs to take charge and figure out how this disease is transmitted (why can't they definitively tell us if it is airborne or not?); come up with a conclusive nationwide plan for treating it (leaving it to each state seems mutually incompatible); and develop consistent and binding policy to keep it from being imported into this country (remember the wide-open Southern border?).
     And the politics aren't limited to just this country's statesmen.  I, personally, don't care what the IMF or World Banks think ... and I'm not impressed with their "Isolate Ebola, not countries" slogan.  I'm convinced that the Elite have a very personal agenda.  The facts that 4,000 have died in West Africa and as many as 10,000 new cases a week are expected, tells me that we "little people" better look out for ourselves.
     As you can see, this Ebola outbreak has the potential to dominate many aspects of our existence.  Every American should be prepared to institute their own safety precautions and be cognizant of ways they can help prevent its spread.  The good news is that we seem to have some encouragement this week, as it appears that suspected victims are either Ebola-free, or are beginning to recover.  But I am not so confident that I am ready to let down my guard.  Until we get a consistent plan in place -- for ALL states, health care officials, and private citizens -- this disease is not defeated.  Stay alert!

Psalm 41:3-4    "The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health. As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!"
   

"What If You Gave A War & Nobody Tweeted?"

    That was the opening sentence in an article by writer Jeb Lund, of The Guardian.  He is responding to the rather nebulous name of the ill-defined war that now belongs to President Obama .. "Operation Inherent Resolve".  Doesn't exactly inspire one to seek victory, does it?  What exactly does it mean?  If you simply use dictionary definitions, it insinuates a "fundamental decision".  About what?  And how does it relate to the whole issue of defeating ISIS?  Whatever it is we're doing in the Middle East is about as confusing as the name of the mission!

    If you listen to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, he will tell you that the name means "we need to be able to be credible and sustainable over time in order to accomplish the mission that we've been given."  And that mission is?  "To eliminate the terrorist group ISIL," according to Dempsey.  So why the reluctance to call this a War? The enemy certainly has no problem declaring theirs is a war against us! 
     I will admit that naming wars is a political gimmick to employ support from the American people, who are ultimately funding the military missions.  But it also sends a message to the enemy, as well.  Names like Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom telegraphed to our enemy, not only what we saw as our mission, but just how serious we were in accomplishing it.  But what is Inherent Resolve supposed to convey?  
     It has been interesting to see the lack of attention that the American press have afforded the announcement of this name and our latest engagement.  Is it a ploy to get by the mid-term elections without ostensibly breaking previous campaign promises?  Is it to maintain a vague foreign policy with Muslim nations?  While the current administration may think being vague makes them exempt from specific and undue criticism, foreign press outlets aren't as compliant as our media.
     The Sydney Morning Herald, from Australia, called the name Operation Inherent Resolve "lame" and "blah".  And they're much less politically correct, as observed by this comment: "The Americans have become increasingly politicised with the names they use for their missions," says the Australia Defence Association's Neil James. "Since the Twin Towers came down, they wanted to demonstrate a point, that they weren't fighting Islam, only the extremists. Which is one of the reasons why the word crusade is never used."  They see through our guise ....

    Perhaps we should follow their method of naming wars; they use a computer program that throws out random names.  In their own words, "The Australian military doesn't go in for such frippery [as the Americans]", which is why their code name for their involvement in the war with ISIS is Operation Okra --- makes about as much sense as Inherent Resolve to me.  But the best part of the article was this piece of advice:  "The Herald respectfully suggests that the Australian Defence Force farms out the process to the public; crowd-sourcing the naming rights to the people who will ultimately pay for the war: Us."  Good advice!
     But it was writer Jeb Lund, of the UK's The Guardian (and the author of my blog title), who really got to the heart of what the world may think of our newly named war ... "The Operation’s nom de guerre basically offers synonyms for sounding determined. You could call it Operation Stubborn Intrinsic, Operation Stick-to-Itiveness, Operation Keep Doing It ... Basically, this is Operation More Of The Same But With A Proper Noun For It Now, So We Have To Use It."
     So, what good is "sounding determined", if you don't back it up?  Naming a military mission, or war, doesn't necessarily mean you have any intention of accomplishing anything.  What is the stated objective of Operation Inherent Resolve?  So far, we've heard from different sources, that it is to "degrade" or "to humiliate" or to "destroy" ISIS.  That's a pretty broad spectrum, don't you think?  Shouldn't we define our goal in more precise and cohesive terms?
     But perhaps that is the purpose of this ambiguous name.  By keeping the objectives and the goals speculative, it can become an indeterminate, endless war; in reality, it has been 13 years, and counting, from the beginning of this long series of "operations" and "missions" in the Middle East.  The Military-Industrial Complex is chugging right along ... after all, the War on Poverty is 50 years old, and there's no end in sight, so who's to say that Operation Inherent Resolve can't be just as effective? (Wink, Wink).

James 5:8   "You also must wait patiently, strengthening your resolve, because the coming of the Lord is near."
     
 

Psalm 119:74

Those who fear You shall see me and rejoice,

because I have hoped in Your Word.

     As we face these frightening times, it is my humble desire to be a source of hope for those who are fearful.  And I mean that word "fearful" in dual terms.  First, for those who "fear" our God in awe of His Sovereignty and His Power and His love for us, I want to bring my testimony of what He has shown me in His Word about these times.  I want to be available as a source of encouragement, and to show less experienced Believers who we are to be in the world.  I want to show them that we can be glad -- that we can rejoice -- even in the midst of our burdens and concerns over world events. 

     And for those who "fear" the Lord out of lack of knowledge of Him, I desperately want to introduce their Savior to them!  I want them to see me bold and confident; to witness my peace and contentment; and to notice that I am able to take control and responsibility --- all because God's Word has given me hope.  I want to make it perfectly clear to them that His Gospel Message is the reason that I do not fear, as they do.  And because of my testimony to this group of "fearful" people, I will take great delight in seeing them "rejoice".

     Like me, I'm sure you have run into both groups during these last few turbulent years.  It is incumbent upon us, as Christians, to minister to both.  Each new encounter affords us the opportunity to either renew the strength of a fellow sojourner, or to introduce expectation and desire for God to someone who doesn't know Him.  Either way, I want both to see the mercy and Truth of God in me.  And it may sound like a simple statement, but "hopeful men bring gladness with them."  

     Our witness of hope in the Word can mean the difference between eternal salvation and everlasting damnation... it is that important for every person we come in contact with!  When I can tell others that my hope is a product of my embracing the Word, and that it has seen me through troubles, temptations and trials -- and that it has never disappointed me -- then I have given them reason to rejoice.  Don't be afraid to tell people of your struggles, as well as your triumphs.  They need to see that God is present in everything!

     I want them to know that I am always careful to please Him, and always mindful of offending Him.  And the way to do both is presented in the Bible.  His Word offers the hope and the knowledge and the grace to follow God's commandments.  It's all there ... my reason to rejoice, as well as theirs. Therefore, I must always be vigilant to present that hope, and guard against the despair and negativity of the Enemy.  I must always put on the whole armor of God -- displaying the Righteousness of Christ, the Truth of the One True God, the Peace of the Gospel Message, the grace of Salvation, the confidence in my Faith, and the Power of His Word.  

     When anyone sees me, I want them to share in my experience; to want what I have.  I am God's representative and I welcome all who "fear" Him to take this journey with me ... let's delight and rejoice in the Lord!

America ... Who Have We Become?

     I wake up each morning wondering if I will still recognize my country.  It is sometimes overwhelming to read and hear what has happened overnight.  One day it is that Pastors in Houston, Texas are being threatened with subpoenas to turn over their sermons; auspiciously to probe for political content -- which by the way, is a clear violation of Freedom of Speech.
     The next morning, I read that Jerusalem Online is reporting that during a TV interview in France, our President remarked that since 1.5% of the entire U.S. population is Muslim (and which accounts for only 0.3% of the world's Muslim population), we should now be considered "one of the biggest Muslim nations."  Other than a smattering of alternative media sites, this surprising declaration is all but ignored.
     On other days, I try to wrap my head around why we would quarantine whole families, and shut down schools, because someone took a flight on a plane that an Ebola patient had previously flown on -- yet do nothing to stop flights from Ground Zero in West Africa, where the disease is originating and raging.
     Here in Texas, we hear daily of the mounting kidnappings, deaths, and cartel invasions along our southern border with Mexico; yet, we are excoriated for calling for border closures.  We Americans used to feel safe and secure in this country; that we could trust our elected representatives to put America first.  Now, we are more worried about protecting "fledgling democracies in West Africa"; illegal immigrants who are "only seeking political asylum"; and everything and everybody who opposes Judeo-Christian values.
     I just wonder how heart-broken Billy Graham must have been to say that, "America is just as wicked as Sodom and Gomorrah."  At 95 years of age, Reverend Graham has seen the ebb and flow of America's fortunes. He knows, better than most, that this nation is being swept along on a flood of immorality, greed, and pride.  He would be justified, at his age, in giving up on us -- we used to be the light of the world; now that beacon is covered in the filth of corruption and depravity.

The right of freedom being a gift
from God, it is not in the power
of man to alienate this gift and 
voluntarily become a slave.

--Samuel Adams

    Yet, Dr. Graham reminds us that this nation was founded by men who believed in prayer, and the Power that established this nation can resurrect it, if we will return to Him and pray for forgiveness.  He firmly believes that this downward tide of history can be "turned by prayer".  Where are the other leaders of this nation, like him?  "Leader" doesn't have to mean powerful men in government, or famous televangelists; it can be anyone who is willing to step up and show the way towards a better future for this country.  Each one of us can play that part!  Have we become a nation so lazy and disconnected that we've lost our way?  We are on the verge of letting our inheritance slip away, and no one is aware of it!
     Will future generations wonder why we were ever called "Sweet Land of Liberty"?  Will your grandchildren and great-grandchildren ever experience the individual freedoms that we were born with?  Lest we forget, no other nation in the history of the world allowed their citizens to make choices independent of a ruler/governing class.  We Americans have enjoyed rights not held by citizens down through the ages.  We have the right to say what we want (as long as it doesn't harm another), to worship as we choose, to assemble in peaceful protest, to live where we want, and to work at whatever craft we desire -- all privileges that we take for granted.  And, because of our complacency, these rights and individual freedoms are eroding.  Our descendants may scarcely recognize them.
     Our Founders believed that our freedom as a Sovereign Nation rested on our Individual Freedoms as citizens.  They are wholly dependent on each other.  The soul purpose of the "fundamental changes" that, we as a nation have accepted, were to revise and revamp who we are as a country and a people.  And that goal has almost been reached.  All of our political posturing and social arguments will not turn this ship; the tide is too strong.
     So, the question becomes ... will we follow Dr. Graham's advice and turn to prayer?  Because, I can promise you that this is the only hope we have.  It is too late to return to our origins by the ballot box, social protest, or democratic overhaul; it is incontrovertible that we have wasted the legacy of our forefathers.  But there is one thing we need to understand ... God established this nation, and through His Sovereignty, He can allow it to be destroyed.  However, that judgment can be stayed -- if we will humble ourselves, seek His Face ... and pray!  

Psalm 33:12   "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!"
   
   
     

The New Chimera: Ebola & Genetically Engineered Vaccines

   

     As I sat yesterday afternoon, watching Congress's House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations grill the top federal health professionals on our Ebola crisis, my Biblical worldview helped me to quickly see through the subterfuge.  Doctors and officials from the foremost government agencies all appeared -- the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); Homeland Security; Texas Health Resources; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and the National Institute of Health (NIH) -- supposedly to answer the cares and concerns of our elected representatives.  Naturally, we would hope that these politicians truly represented the interests of the American people.
    If you just listened to the hearing through the lens of "how to better protect Americans", you might think that these bureaucratic organizations are centered on limiting the spread of Ebola.  You would have heard lots of talk about travel restrictions, travel bans, and quarantines.  But if you listened closer, as one who "has ears to hear", you would have picked up on the testimony of Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is the head of the National Institute of Health.
    He referred to the NIH's Phase I early-stage human clinical trials of an Ebola vaccine on healthy volunteers at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.  (Does it bother you that the military is always the guinea pig?  But, I digress).  The NIHs own press release revealed that "the investigational vaccine is based on a recombinant type of chimpanzee “cold” virus, called chimp adenovirus type 3 (ChAd3)."  Exactly what does this mean, and how does it relate to "The Days of Noah"?
     First of all, if you have been a reader of my blog, then you know that I have a different slant on Chapter 6, verse 4, of Genesis.  For your enlightenment, here is a quick synopsis: I believe this controversial passage of Scripture happened just as the Bible records, and tells us of Satan's attempt to pollute the human genome into something that no longer resembled "the image of God".  The Scripture reads, "In those days, giants lived on the earth and also afterward, when divine beings and human daughters had sexual relations and gave birth to children (the Nephilim). These were the ancient heroes, famous men."  From this verse, it is my discernment that the ancient heroes were what we consider the mythological demigods, such as the Titans and the Olympians; and included such superstars as Zeus, Apollo, Cronus, Atlas and Prometheus.  They were genetically part Fallen Angel, and part human.

     At the same time, all the mythological creatures that we think of as folk tales or legend -- hybrid creatures, known as Chimeras, appeared as minotaurs, satyrs or centaurs, among others -- and are the result of the same kind of genetic manipulation.  We think of them as myths, but every culture contains ancient stories of them, and their images have been seen on countless archeological findings.  This kind of Fallen Angel-technology has been known since the "days of Noah", and the knowledge is once again  being revived.
    So, how am I making the connection between a disputed Bible verse and today's crisis with Ebola? To see the relationship, one must consider Jesus's warning to us before His death and resurrection.  When asked by His disciples when He would return, He answered, "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah...".  In the days of Noah, God saw how wicked man had become and how the inclination of the thoughts of the human heart had become evil. Obviously, Jesus knew this kind of evil behavior would occur again.
     I contend that this Ebola event, just as "in the days of Noah", could be an example for such wickedness.  Consider this: As stated, the NIH's investigational vaccine is based on a recombinant chimpanzee virus.  It is my understanding that recombinant DNA is "DNA molecules that are extracted from different sources and chemically joined together; for example DNA comprising an animal gene may be recombined with DNA from a bacterium", producing a new genetic combination -- in this case, Ebola.
    Could Satan, through the auspices of modern medicine and a world health crisis, once again be attempting to manipulate our gene pool; to change the genetic material of the world's population so that we no longer resemble the human beings that God made?

    During the Congressional hearings, it was hard not to perceive the excitement with which Dr. Fauci of the NIH talked about the Phase I experiment.  "If we don't contain [Ebola}, we may well need a vaccine."  And when you listened to the fumbling answers from Dr. Thomas Frieden, of the CDC, one has to wonder if they really want to contain Ebola.  He couldn't explain how the CDC could advise Nurse Amber Vinson that it was safe to travel by air, when they knew she had been in direct contact with Thomas Duncan.  And do his previous days' comments about "protecting fledgling democracies" belie the real purpose behind our health professionals' treatment of Ebola in this country?  Doesn't make sense, does it? Unless.....
    Unless you listened to the later testimony by Dr. Fauci, who made reference to Canada's NewLink Genetics Corporation, which is working on the vaccine that both the World Health Organization and the Department of Defense applaud as "one of the most advanced in the world."  NewLink describes the vaccine as containing "a combination of a gene from the Ebola virus and other materials, including the Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), which is a non-human pathogen, but does not contain the actual Ebola virus."  Furthermore, officials claim that "there is no reason to quarantine any of the test subjects during the trial."
    So let me ask you this:  health officials have expressed their uncertainty about how this deadly virus is spreading, right?  What could be the possible motive for not quarantining subjects during a trial of this vaccine? Could it be that they are anticipating a pandemic?  And wouldn't that necessitate a mandate that everyone must take the vaccine?  How convenient for moving Satan's plan forward!
     Perhaps a partial answer can be found in Dr. Fauci's subsequent testimony.  He was quick to sing the praises of the possible vaccine.  "Contracts need to move forward as quickly as possible... We need to expand production and get rapid approval from the FDA ... The ultimate goal is to expand into Africa; if successful after Phase I, we will expand into larger trials in West Africa."
     Of course, that all sounds like good humanitarian policy, until you consider that there are other Biblical prophecies that come into play ... the death of 1/4 of the world's population ... pestilence and plague ... and who is to say that Satan can't work on multiple levels?  And one cannot ignore the Apostle Paul's warning against the evil deeds of men and their use of "sorcery".  It is important to understand that, in the Greek, this word is rendered pharmakeia, (where our word, pharmaceuticals comes from) and Strong's Concordance has established that it means, "the use of drugs, whether simple or potent, generally accompanied by incantations and appeals to occult powers."  The word's primary reference was to drugs, and to those who employed them for whatever reason (in this case: for godless purposes).

     I guess I just can't reconcile the contradictory statements by these influential health officials.  On one hand, Dr. Frieden, of the CDC, proclaimed that there is no need to worry; that Ebola has very little likelihood of spreading to the general population; and that they are quite capable of controlling it.  On the other hand, Dr. Fauci, of the NIH, called for government funding to rapidly advance the production of a vaccine, in preparation for the possibility of "a raging epidemic."  Keep us docile and discourage vigilance ... while planning for mass vaccinations ... and with a drug that introduces non-human genes into our bodies.  As a Christian, that just doesn't work for me.

     So, in summarizing, I know that there will be those who do not see this situation as I do.  I respect our differences of opinion, but I would hope that you would pray and ask for guidance when it comes time to make a decision about taking an Ebola vaccine.  You don't have to be a Believer to see that things are just not adding up.
     But I have to ask, Is there a possibility that we actually possess a "God gene", as molecular geneticist Dean Hamer claims?  Indeed, Paul tells the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 15:39) that "Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another...".  So when he says just a few verses later, "flesh and blood cannot [become partakers of eternal salvation and] inherit or share in the kingdom of God;", he is telling us that at some point, if we combine our DNA with a different kind of flesh, God will no longer recognize us as worthy of salvation.  And didn't Satan show us "in the days of Noah", that it is his game plan to pollute or corrupt that perfect DNA to claim us as his own?
     Which brings me to my final thought of the day ... and you better put your tin foil hat on for this one!  Why was it determined that Nurse #1 (Nina Pham), who had received plasma from Christian doctor Kent Brantley and was in "good and stable" condition, should be transferred to an isolation chamber at Dr. Fauci's NHI facility?  At the Congressional hearing, Dr. Fauci said that he would personally monitor Ms. Pham, and that she would receive "state of the art" care.  My question is this: She seems to be recovering from Ebola on her own (with the help of Dr. Brantley's plasma); will she now be subjected to the genetically engineered vaccine?  And will her body become the battle ground between God and Satan's DNA?  Sounds crazy, right?  But if Genesis 6:4 can happen, who's to say .....?

Malachi 3:5   "Then I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers..."
   

Rethinking My Prepper Mindset

     The last couple of weeks, my thoughts keep returning to how quickly our world could change if we are confronted with a crisis situation.  The appearance of Ebola and the beheadings within our country have certainly got my attention.  These are two new "threats" that I just didn't think we would ever have to confront.  And it's got me thinking ...
      If you are like me, a few years back you faced "The Monster" and adopted a whole new perspective on the importance of preparing for the worst.  You read One Second After and How To Survive The End Of The World As We Know It.  We set about working out a plan, and making our plans work.

"The Book of Eli"

     We left our normalcy bias and gladly accepted the mantle of "Prepper".  We prided ourselves on being "awake" and "aware".  We have trained our minds and bodies to think differently and perform new tasks that will ensure our survival in adverse circumstances.  We have convinced ourselves that we will not be blind to potential threats; we will see it coming and be ready for anything that threatens our families.  We even take comfort in surrounding ourselves with "like-minded people" who share our mindset and survival skills.
    We might even consider ourselves more spiritually equipped than our Christian friends, who repeatedly reprimand us for "not trusting God to deliver us."  We tell ourselves that God gave us a brain to use while we occupy this planet, and being prepared does not mean you plan on abdicating your service to Him; and we might even personally believe that all our preparation plans and stockpiles might not even be for us, but will benefit someone else -- perhaps an unbeliever who may come to know God through our actions.  In effect, we are pretty satisfied with our Prepper status ... and that is what concerns me.
    This disquiet in my soul has come about because of a conversation my husband and I had with a new acquaintance the other day.  You know how it is ... we all do this "song-and-dance" to discover where a new contact fits within the spectrum of Awareness.  And once they pass the test, then both parties compare and contrast philosophies and beliefs.
     This new friend conceded that he had embraced the need to get prepared physically at the beginning of this nation's financial crisis in 2008.  He had carefully thought out all the possible scenarios we could face and had been financially able to complete an exhaustive and comprehensive plan to secure the safety of his family.  He had combined his resources with others who had similar attitudes and opinions, and they agreed to meet any future challenge together.

     But then I noticed a hesitancy; I could tell there was something that he was struggling with.  He admitted that he and his group of Prepper friends had a major fundamental difference in their thinking.  He is coming to terms with how he should handle hungry or ill strangers who come knocking on their gate for food or medical assistance.  It is important to him, as a Christian, how he responds to those in need.  His friends do not agree.  That will be a serious conflict for any group who have joined  together.
     But this is not a new concern among survivalists.  This conversation has been going on for years.  But something has changed ... or maybe I should say, we have changed.  In my Biblical worldview, events do not happen outside of the control of God.  Everything is in His timing and for His purpose.  I do not have the counsel of God, and ultimately my opinion counts for nothing, but I can't help wondering if perhaps God is taking His time with the events we have all been anticipating so that He could separate those who are His, and grow us towards greater service in bringing in His harvest?  And this question makes me take a look at the bigger picture.
     As time has progressed, we have all retreated somewhat from our initial level of enthusiasm and drive.  Six years of slow deterioration, with no extreme event, has deprived us of our "edge".  I might even be willing to say we have become comfortable in our state of awareness/preparedness ... and that's a contradictory concept!  The very nature of becoming a Prepper is not to be comfortable ... whether in the physical or spiritual aspect.  Our mindset must always be on expanding knowledge to save our lives; it's just that now, in the case of our new friend, his Prepper Mindset (and ours) is centered more on Spiritual lives, rather than Physical.
     When I look back over the last six years, I can see a shift in my thinking and my focus.  I still want to make sure that my larder is full, and I have plenty of medical supplies on hand.  I still want to be physically ready to defend myself, and am less wasteful and more innovative in taking care of our needs... I still fit the "Prepper" description.  There are still things that we have not crossed off of our physical "to-do" list, but I am less concerned with worldly strategies, and more preoccupied with heavenly pursuits.  I'm thinking more about God, and less about myself.
     Those initial fears have been replaced with a calmness; not that I have grown complacent towards the affairs of my country or the world --- it's just that I am viewing the part I am to play differently.  It's not so much about saving my life here on earth, but of saving souls for eternity.  All our stuff, training, and new skills will serve me and my family well while we are here; but I am now preparing for a much greater event -- and I won't even need a bug-out bag!

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

Ebola On Our Minds

     To say that we Texans are keeping a sharp eye on Ebola is to trivialize the seriousness of this killer virus.  With the news that a second nurse in Dallas, who cared for expired patient Thomas Duncan, has now tested positive for the disease, the Lone Star State is on high alert.  Because both nurses followed all the prescribed protocols, were wearing protective hazmat suits -- and still contracted the illness -- it is only natural that we are left wondering just how safe we are.
     In fact, according to an article by Bryan Preston, even though both the nurses and the Dallas hospital claim that official CDC protocol was followed, "the Centers for Disease Control, though, claims that there was some breach of protocol, only, it doesn’t know what that breach may have been or when it may have happened. The CDC appears to be falling back on bureaucrat-speak to explain something that, so far, it cannot."  That's reassuring, isn't it?
    So, you can understand that it is not at all uncommon for me to be involved in casual conversations that turn to speculation over how long it will be until we begin wearing N95 face masks in public.  I have dear friends who will be flying to Washington D.C. this week, and who are understandably concerned; not only about flying in a closed-air-system plane, but of the report that Ebola had been "ruled out" in a recent D.C. patient.  Can that report be trusted, given the mistakes made in Dallas with Mr. Duncan, and the CDC's inability to explain the latest case?
     Then there is the fact that these friends will be meeting with a group of us for a Bible study just a few short days after their return.  If they are somehow exposed, what is the possibility that others in the group could become infected?  After all, I am still not convinced of the CDC's announcement that Ebola is not airborne, nor am I exactly sure of the incubation period of the disease... it all seems so "vague".  And, I'm not entirely convinced that it is not deliberate.  But one thing is becoming clear to us here in Texas  -- just how quickly this could become unmanageable.
     And did you know that there are only four hospitals in the U.S. that are designated to handle Ebola cases?  They are Montana, Nebraska, Georgia and Maryland; obviously not Texas.  Yet, we now have the potential for an outbreak here.  So, what is the plan?  Is there one?
     I have to admit that I do not understand why we are not limiting flights from West Africa.  Furthermore, the screening procedures put into place at 5 major airports don't give me a lot of confidence.  Having a high fever and flight plans originating in West Africa will get you pulled out of line and subjected to further screening --- but neither of these tests would have called attention to Mr.  Duncan.  He was not exhibiting fever, and he lied about which country he had entered from.  And what would keep a potential Ebola victim from deliberately flying into a different airport, now that we have announced where they would be screened?  With over 150 passengers per day from Ebola-stricken countries, it is only a matter of time before someone sneaks through the cracks again.
     At this point, you might be thinking that I have given in to my fears; and it would be easy to do so.  But we Texans are not made that way.  True, it is evident to me that we are not prepared to prevent more cases of Ebola.  There are simply too many possible failure points, and too little known about the transmission and control of the disease.  But we Texans are not known to panic, and do not want to do so irresponsibly.  At the same time, it is foolish to act as though there is no danger.  For me, it is a matter of trusting God to deliver me from this pestilence.  There is nothing that He cannot conquer.  If this disease should touch me or someone I love, it is because it is His will.  In the meantime, I and my fellow Texans, will remain cautious and suspicious of "official" claims, and do what Texans have always done ... stepped up and boldly faced our obstacles.  I have faith that, together with God, we will defeat this plague.  Our health ... and yours ... depends on it!

2 Timothy 1:7   "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
   
     

Our Loss of Economic Freedoms Echoes The Reasons We Fought the American Revolution

   

     Freedom and Free Enterprise ... they go hand-in-hand.  So when the Cato Institute released its 2014 Annual Report on the Economic Freedom of the World, it was bad news for the U.S. -- we didn't even finish in the Top Ten! And, yes, the Cato Institute is, by its own definition, "a public policy research organization — a think tank – dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets and peace."  Those who will want to dispute its findings will do so on a partisan political basis, but the facts don't lie ... we are losing our economic freedoms; the very ones that preempted the founding of this nation.
     Breitbart.com, in their article on this Annual Report, informs us that "as recently as 2000, the US ranked 2nd in the world, in terms of boasting a free economy. The US's declining ranking will lower future economic growth."  That is something that should concern every American; and not just for the impact on our wallets! It has as much to do with the "freedom" part of the report, as it does the "economic".  And here's why:  The Cato Institute measures 5 broad factors in scoring each country's economic index ... 1. Size of government; 2. Legal structure and security of property rights; 3. Access to sound money; 4. Freedom to trade internationally and; 5. Regulation of Credit, Labor and Business.
     In case these considerations sound familiar, they are listed in our Declaration of Independence as reasons for our grievances against Great Britain, and became aligned with the eventual causes for our Revolution and the founding of a new nation.  But, today, are these causes even recognized as crucial to the American experience?  Have we lost the sense of who we are in the midst of a bloated government and a sea of entitlements?  Do we not see that the encroachment on our personal liberties, along with excessive regulations and the intrusion of the U.N. in our domestic affairs does not fit who the United States was designed to be?
     In case it has been a while since you had an accurate history lesson about our nation, let me remind you of what the Founders meant in the Declaration of Independence; that we "are all endowed by our Creator ... with Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."  Those three principles are the bedrock of America's development -- no matter how they have been maligned.
     The meanings of "Life" and "Liberty" haven't changed much in 230+ years.  But it is important that we understand what was meant by "The Pursuit of Happiness".  To early Americans this phrase was known to represent the individual right of every free citizen to own property and pursue a living.  That was "Happiness", and Americans knew it was ours, by the grace of God.  Today, the American Dream still resonates around owning your own home and being able to receive fair wages for an honest day's work.  However, we've pretty much discarded the part about God being responsible for our blessings.  I'm absolutely convinced that has played a part in our failing economic condition.
     By including that phrase in the Declaration to the British Monarch, the Founders hoped that we would keep inviolate, not only our responsibilities to preserve the Constitutional Republic, but preserve our enduring hunger for personal rights and liberties that guaranteed not only a man's right to  personal property, but that resulted in competitive and fair enterprise.  This country was not founded on the beliefs of "community property" or "state-regulated commerce."  And that's what was at the center of our complaints against King George III.
     The list of "Oppressions" and "Grievances" by Thomas Jefferson and his Committeemen sound eerily familiar... the stalling and refusal to pass laws left the colonists "exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within".  The King established "a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance" -- sounds like the IRS to me.  Furthermore, it was pointed out, King George "combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation."  And as it pertained to their Economic Freedoms, it was pointed out that the tyrant king was "cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world [and] imposing Taxes on us without our Consent."  Does this make you think of U.S. trade practices that hurt our economy, and the Supreme Court decision that rendered the Affordable Care Act a tax?
     But perhaps more than any other principle, it was the Rule of Law that the Colonists cherished the most.  And the Cato Institute's Annual Report sheds an unflattering light on just how much we have neglected that standard.  Per the report, "Protection of persons and their rightfully acquired property is a central element of economic freedom and a civil society. Indeed, it is the most important function of government. The key ingredients of a legal system consistent with economic freedom are rule of law, security of property rights, an independent and unbiased judiciary, and impartial and effective enforcement of the law."
     Breitbart.com summarizes it well:  "The increased use of eminent domain to transfer property to powerful political interests, the ramifications of the wars on terrorism and drugs, and the violation of the property rights of bondholders in the auto-bailout case have weakened the tradition of strong adherence to the rule of law in United States... The rule of law has long been the foundation of America's economic prosperity and liberty. The US ranking in this area has plummeted to a terrible 36th place in the world. This, combined with increased regulation is stifling US economic growth."  Quoting the Annual Report, the website observes, "[t]o a large degree, the United States has experienced a significant move away from rule of law and toward a highly regulated, politicized, and heavily policed state."
     So where do we go from here?  Needless to say we do not score well in the five categories for economic freedoms.  The size of our government is clearly prohibitive, and it is obvious we don't have access to sound money.  And as long as we continue to over-regulate Commerce and ignore the rule of law and property rights of individuals, our economic future will continue to slide.  Just as the Founders determined, when there is weakness in the Rule of Law, and an improper appropriation of property rights, economic freedoms will be inhibited.  It's time that Americans reacquaint themselves with trustworthy American principles.  It won't be a quick fix, or an easy one; but one that  is necessary if we are to regain our standing in the world... then, as now, our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor depend on it.

James 1:25   "But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."

   

End Times Theology Wars & How Satan Will Use Our Religion Against Us

     We are all aware of the persecution of Christians in Iraq, Iran, Syria, Africa, and other parts of the world.  And we are seeing the effects of discrimination and oppression against Christian principles within our society and culture.  But there is one source of hostility against Christians that is the most shameful and despicable of all ... that of other Christians.
     In his most insightful book, Blood on the Altar, Tom Horn and other discerning writers lay out a convincing argument that there will be, in the End Times, a royal battle between the True Church and the False Church.  Just as Jesus was bold in showing the Pharisees that strict religious adherence to the Law did not produce righteousness before YVHV, so was the Apostle Paul fearless as he debated with Hellenized Jews over the declarations of the true and living God.  In fact, all the Apostles ran into opposition when teaching and preaching the newfound Gospel Message.  Therefore, we, too, should be bold and unafraid to present true Apostolic teachings.

      And here is where the crux of the issue lies.  Personally, my life has not always been a productive one for God's Kingdom, nor have I approached His Word with a scholarly and intense desire to know Him in every way He has revealed Himself.  I confess that this grieves me.  But in recent years, I have been moved towards greater understandings and deeper revelations of what His Word has to tell us.  That has resulted in a different path, and a new, and sometimes different comprehension of the Bible -- one that does not always set well with Christians who are satisfied with their current understanding; or Believers who are comfortable with their level of knowledge and  have no desire to seek greater illumination.  Please, this is not an indictment against them; I am simply stating that God is working differently in me.
     But when I want to take the bold step of sharing bigger concepts, and a bigger God, with the American Church, I have been met with much resistance and hostility.  I think we can all agree that there is much strife within the Church's denominations over "the right dividing of God's Truth." The Baptists think they are accurately representing what the Apostles taught and preached.  But so do the Presbyterians ... and the Lutherans ... and the Catholics.  So how did we get to so many different doctrines and creeds and religious ideologies?  They can't differ so much, and all be right!
     So it is, that as I have endeavored to express the wondrous and awe-inspiring depth of the Bible, that I have encountered more opposition than I would have expected.  In my eagerness to share how the Septuagint and the Greek translation of the New Testament, along with studies of the Hebrew Old Testament and the writings of the Early Church Fathers have expanded my understanding of Genesis, Chapter 6, I have been astounded at the vitriolic comments from fellow Christians.  When I have tried to relate my skepticism of tattoos to ancient Biblical warnings, the acrimony from my Brothers and Sisters in Christ was, let's just say, less than loving.  And every time that I have attempted to equate Israel's right to the Land, according to the Bible, some of the harshest critics have been self-proclaimed Believers of the Word.

      I have been called a heretic, a fool, grossly manipulative, a false teacher, and even a tart (Not sure why that's appropriate) ... And all by fellow Christians.  And for what purpose?  Was it to gently rebuke me because they disagreed?  Was it done out of a humble and sincere heart to correct my stumbling thoughts?  Or was it to punish, embarrass and disparage me?  Could they support their own arguments, or was it simply that my new discoveries upset conventional theology?
     SIDE NOTE: We need to understand the difference between "Religion" and "Theology".  It is almost impossible to agree upon a definition of Religion, but for the sake of this essay, my understanding is that Religion is a system of faith, based upon doctrines and a set of beliefs held by the Church.  The word "Theology" comes from two Greek words -- "Theos" meaning God, and "Logia" meaning "a subject of study".  Therefore, as a person who is digging deep into God's Word to learn what He has to say about Himself, I am a "studier of God".  That is to say, I am reading, investigating and reflecting upon His Word in a personal effort to gain more knowledge of Him.
     Yet, when I attempt to share and encourage dialogue with my fellow Christians, I encounter harsh condemnation for daring to suggest something different from accepted doctrine.  Isn't that what Jesus, and later, the Apostles, experienced when they endeavored to introduce a greater understanding of God?  Shouldn't it be important to us to be diligent in how we interpret His Word?  As Christians, isn't it incumbent upon us to protect and fortify the Bible from the culture?  Have we forgotten that James 4:4 warns us that "friendship with the world means enmity with God?", or do we not rightfully discern the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares?
    Have we stopped to ask ourselves, "Am I understanding God's Word as He intended me to, or am I relying on others (my Pastor, my Denomination, Christian "personalities") to interpret it for me?"  As Christians, shouldn't we want to know as much about God as we can, so that we can glorify Him through our love and obedience?  So, why is there so much animosity and bitterness when I want to illuminate His Word?
     The "haters" can hypothesize that I am interpreting Scripture wrongly or falsely; yet what I find is that they don't show me where Scripture disputes my findings; it is more likely that my opinion is in opposition to their traditional doctrine.  In this day and age, our culture is trying to denigrate our Faith for its "intolerance" and "bigotry" -- and much of that criticism is coming from within the Church, itself!  Try, as my husband and I did, to defend Scripture, as it is written, to proponents of a sect of Christianity who call themselves the Emerging Church.  We were told we were part of "the old paradigm", and Christianity was changing!  How can the so-called Church be so misguided?  Scripture clearly says, Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever!
     But I must be completely honest; there have been many comments on my afore-mentioned theological theories that were kind and supportive; they encouraged me to continue in my dauntless pursuit of knowledge about this Awesome God we serve.  And that gives me hope that the Body of Christ is willing to hear the Truth as God teaches it through the Bible.  It heartens me that there are those who understand my unwillingness to compromise His Truth with the spirit of this world or our culture.
      We must stand on the Authority of the Bible -- and every word of the Bible; all of it -- not on man's or the Church's accommodating doctrine.  I realize that there is much of God's Wisdom and Counsel that we will never know or understand.  However, I believe He is revealing to this generation what we need to know for these times; but we must earnestly seek Him and reverently study His Word.  And His Word foretells false teachers and false prophets; Satan has done a great job establishing his counterfeit church.  And Christ also forecasts a prosperous and comfortable Church that has everything it needs, yet is apathetic, superficial, and lukewarm.  THAT Church does not want to hear any new revelations that upset their conventional and traditional theology.  THAT Church will become increasingly like the culture it attempts to placate and imitate, and more hostile to brethren who promote God's Truth.  What is now vitriolic hostility may soon become "justified" retribution.  And that, my fellow Christians, is not what Christ intended for His Church!

Mark 7:6-9     Jesus replied, 'You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.' For you ignore God's law and substitute your own tradition.' Then He said, 'You skillfully sidestep God's law in order to hold on to your own tradition.'
     

Daniel 7:14

And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

     This Sunday finds us in the midst of The Feast of Tabernacles.  In the Old Testament, God ordained this 7-day Feast to celebrate the ingathering of the Fall harvest.  As we have been discussing during these holy fall Festivals, they are dress rehearsals for Christ's Second Coming.  Just as the ancient Israelites celebrated the wheat harvest, Believers will be celebrating the Ingathering or Spiritual Harvest of those who belong to Christ.  This will happen when Christ sets up His reign in the Millennial Kingdom, which is, as one website described it, " that joyous, utopian time of peace and fulfillment that has always been the hope and focus of true Christians."

     Since the Feast of Tabernacles was historically the time of the wheat harvest, and we know the spiritual fulfillment of it in the Future, this brings so much more understanding to Jesus's Parable of the Wheat and Tares.  Can you discern what He means when He says, "Let both [wheat and tares] grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."

     The Old Testament significance of this Feast has great meaning.  This feast lasted for eight days, and Numbers 29 gives a lengthy description of the animal sacrifices and the grain and drink offerings that are to be made.  It required a pilgrimage to Jerusalem where there was to be a daily sacrificial offering.  This was Israel’s Thanksgiving feast, so to speak, in which they acknowledged the Fall harvest and God’s provision for them.

     This Feast was also held in remembrance of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and their subsequent wandering in the wilderness for forty years.  It is recognition of when God appeared in pillars of smoke and fire, and dwelt (tabernacled) with them.  During this time Israel lived in tents and worshiped at the Tabernacle, which was also a big tent. Throughout their history, to remember this time, the Jews built small tabernacles or booths with walls of plaited branches and thatched roofs as God instructed in Leviticus 23:42: You shall dwell in booths (shelters) for seven days.  All native Israelites shall dwell in booths.  Today, faithful Jews (and a growing number of obedient Christians) still construct temporary shelters to honor God dwelling with us.

     Today, the Feast of Tabernacles is a Festival/Feast of joy as we anticipate Yeshua’s return to “Tabernacle” among His people and rule and reign for a thousand years.  According to Scripture, during this time one of Yeshua’s first orders of business is to throw the “anti-christ” and his “false prophet” into the lake of fire, and bind up Satan at the bottom of the abyss for the thousand years.  For the first time in thousands of years, the world will be free of satanic influence, and seek to follow God's ways and statutes.  

     The "Living Water of Salvation", the "Sustaining Bread of Life", and the "Light of the World" will be present with His people.  The Seven Days of the Feast represent that joyous time.  There is an 8th day that concludes the Feast of Tabernacles, known as the "Great Day" or "Day of Rest".  This day may represent what happens at the conclusion of the 1,000 year Millennium.  Satan will be released from the abyss and destroyed in battled.  This will usher in the time of the new beginning – when this present Heaven and Earth will pass away, and the New Jerusalem descends from Heaven.  

     So how can we, as modern-day Christians, honor God in this solemn Feast?  We can build temporary shelters, gather with friends and family and celebrate His "tabernacling" with us.  Tell the accounts of the ancient Israelites who wandered the desert for 40 years and how the LORD YHVH’s Glory shone in the Temple and how He looked after them and provided water out of the rock, gave them manna (bread) from heaven, and caused their shoes and clothes not to wear out. He dwelt with them as a pillar of fire by night and a cloud of smoke by day.  Remember and share how He has provided and resided with you during your personal covenant with Him.

     It is a time to remind ourselves that He is our protector and provider even when it may sometimes

feel like our time in the wilderness. May we endure these times without grumbling and complaining but instead be full of thanksgiving and praise knowing that our God is greater and can get us through any and every situation we may face. And just like the ancient Israelites, one day this wilderness experience will be over.
     As we Christians join our Jewish brethren and begin to celebrate God’s appointed Times, we will have a deeper appreciation of AND anticipation of the return of God’s Only Begotten Son.  A remnant of physical Israel will recognize their Messiah and inherit the blessings God intended for them, and Christian believers will inherit their rewards for faithfully running the race.  Until then, we are all looking forward to Christ's fulfillment of the Fall Feasts.  Not much longer ….