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


February 17, 2015

God, Evil and Supernatural Power

   
     There is so much rattling around in my head today!  The news media reports the diabolical beheadings of Coptic Christians in Egypt and the escalation of attacks on European Jews, and it appears as if there is no good news on earth, when it comes to our shared faith.  All we see is what is happening before our eyes -- or what we are allowed to see by those who control the media -- and we try to make sense of it according to our Western definition of civility, morality and justice.  Christians in the Middle East endure, suffer for the Faith, and pray for deliverance.
     Meanwhile, I receive an uplifting comment on yesterday's post from a reader who informs us that "Last night at church we had a pastor who has also been a missionary in Egypt tell us about the great number of Muslims who have been converting to Christianity. He said that we won't see this on Fox News -- but that it is huge. They are having visions and dreams and seeing Jesus.  [This is fulfillment of prophecy.]  He said that there are billboards [in the Middle East] that ask Has a white man appeared to you in a dream? Call --- --- ----.  He also said that the behavior of ISIS is also driving many Muslims to Christ."  The commenter then follows up his statement by reporting that Egyptian pastors have visited the church in recent months, confirming these conversions.
     I will admit that I find it curious that Jesus would appear as a white man, since He was a Jew of the tribe of Judah; most likely Middle Eastern in appearance.  But I am not privy to the knowledge of how He chooses to show Himself to others; and it doesn't really matter, does it?  My point is that I have also heard of these conversions through other missionary sources, and it validates what an awesome God we serve, and just how supernatural is this thing we call "faith".
     Those of us of the Western Church, and I think especially American Christians, fail to understand just how our God works through supernatural means.  Think about it ... we say that the Bible was supernaturally "breathed" into the spirits of men, who wrote it down for the ages.  But do we really know what that looks like?
     The Holy Book is full of supernatural accounts ... not only the appearance of our God, who lived among us as a perfect human being, but other angels appearing to mortal men; "Joshua's Long Day", when the sun actually stood still; Manna falling from heaven to feed the Israelites while they wandered the wilderness; God's appearance in pillars of fire by night, and a cloud by day; Mary's virgin birth; turning water into wine; the casting out of demons, miraculous healings, and the raising of the dead ... I could go on and on.
     But many in our Western culture do not believe these accounts to mean exactly what they say; they prefer to view them as allegories or parables, or worse yet, folk or fairy tales.  And, even those who believe the Bible to be true in every word  may not comprehend the full significance of these events.  As Americans, we do not seem to be able to look beyond the three dimensions of this finite world we've constructed for ourselves.  We cannot perceive of the multiple dimensions that the God of the Universe has created, nor of the manifestation of events or beings which can be attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature.  In other words, our Western minds tend to want to explain things by putting them in tight, little boxes that are constrained by Science and Logic.  But centuries of written accounts by ancient peoples have shown us that supernatural events have occurred throughout the history of man.
     I am merely concerned that American Christians face a difficult time in the near future, if they are unable (or unwilling) to suspend their restricted sense of reality.  We need to understand that the horrific things that are happening upon the earth are being controlled and manipulated in supernatural ways.  We need to open our minds to exactly what the Apostle Paul is saying in Ephesians 6:12 ... For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
     Do you get what he is telling us here?  This is not some ecclesiastical statement that is meant to sound lofty and exalt Paul as some super-Christian!  And the rulers and authorities he speaks of are not leaders of nations on this earth.  He is telling us in plain English what we are up against in this life ... powers and spiritual forces of evil that reside in heavenly realms!  That means supernatural agents of the Devil that aren't defined by the limitations of flesh and blood bodies.  They are able to move in and out of different dimensions; they are not limited by length or height or breadth or depth.  And they are not contained on this earth; they have access to another dimension that lies between our earth and the throne room of God.
     Remember that the Bible refers to three heavens; our sky and atmosphere is the first heaven (Genesis 1:14).  The second heaven is beyond our atmosphere and where the sun, moon and stars exist (Jeremiah 8:2).  This is also where spiritual warfare occurs (the spiritual forces of evil that Paul refers to in Ephesians 6:12), and where Daniel was told that the Archangel Michael was fighting the Prince of Persia (Daniel 10:13).  Satan is the Prince and Power of the Air in this second heaven, and he is allowed access to our realm.  The third heaven is the dwelling place of the Most High and the angels of God; it is the unique realm of God and the highest of heavens.
     So are Western Believers able to conceive of just how big that makes our God, and the territories in which we must exhibit our faith?  Can we grasp that the atrocities we are witnessing throughout the world against the Chosen People of God and Christians, ("the grafted-in ones"), is an extension of activity and spiritual forces beyond our earthly dimension; and that it is being conducted in a supernatural way?  There is more going on than what appears before our eyes, or that can be explained through rational or logical thought.  That's why we can make no earthly sense of what is happening -- because the force behind it is not of this earth!
     Just open you mind to this bigger concept ... What do you think the Biblical account of the Tower of Babel is really all about?  It was a tower built to reach that next dimension beyond earth; to tap into the power and spiritual forces that resided in that second heaven.  Mankind opened a gate to the next level of heavenly realms; tempted by the same spirit of evil that tried to convince Adam and Eve that they could gain knowledge to become like God.  A portal was opened and man gained access to that second heaven and the spiritual forces of evil -- Satan and his fallen angels.  What was the result?  "God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways" (Genesis 6:12).
     I am inclined to think that portals have been opened to that second heaven and man is once again attempting to "be like God" through his exploits in artificial intelligence, transhumanism, and microchipping of humans.  Once again, the opening of portals have also allowed the spiritual forces of evil to interact with Godless men, and victimize those who follow YHWH.  That is what we are seeing in the actions of ISIS and the growing persecution of Christians.  I believe we are entering a new age of martyrs.  And could it be also be why there is a fascination with the declassification of the Roswell files, and our growing obsession with Extraterrestrial Beings and the Ancient Aliens from outer space?  Do ancient drawings and archeological findings prove that these beings may have traveled between dimensions and heavenly realms thousands of years ago?
     The sightings of space ships, and tales of creatures from outer space who abduct humans have been on the rise in recent years.  They may all be speculative and unproven by our human standards.  But we cannot ignore the Apostle Paul's clear warnings; or the proliferation of evil acts against Believers; and especially the increase of dreams and visions of Jesus.  As Americans, Christian or not, we must come to terms with the fact that we are fighting supernatural forces and a supernatural enemy.  But I would highly recommend that you ask Jesus to supernaturally enter your heart and accept Him as your Savior.  Accept His Power that is in you, and receive His strength.  It's the only chance you have to conquer the Enemy among us.

Ephesians 1:19    "And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength,"


   

   

February 16, 2015

The Jews: Targeted Again

     When will the world admit that European Jews are the object of extermination?  Again, within a month, Islamic terrorism has claimed the lives of innocent Jews; this time in Denmark at a cafe and outside a synagogue in Copenhagen.  And it's beginning to sound like a lame excuse to lay the blame on "lone wolf" jihadists.  What is Europe's fear in being honest about the widespread ideology that has targeted those of Jewish descent across the continent?  By ignoring the blatant hatred of the Jewish people, do heads of state think they can mollify the terrorists and diminish the number of attacks?  And how long is the world going to tolerate such an inaccurate theory?  The fact is, anti-semitism is on the rise and it is no longer limited to just words against the Jews.
     Would it surprise you to know that rather than face terrorism charges, Danish jihadis who return to the European country from Syria are offered rehabilitation?  And would you find it astonishing to know that more Danes travelled to Syria last year, per head of population, than any other European country except from Belgium?
Flowers line the street outside the Copenhagen synagogue.
     Do you agree that these are random attacks, and it is merely coincidental that Jews are the victims?  Or do you agree with the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, who says, "Again, Jews were murdered on European soil just because they were Jews?"
     So, let's say we agree with the less offensive first assumption -- that it's all just a sad coincidence; that Jews are dead due to the "random" and irrational attacks of a few lone gunmen.  What is Europe doing to make sure another Jew does not become another arbitrary statistic?
     I will admit that Europe has a checkered past in regards to their estimation of the Jews over the last 100-plus years.  For instance, from the beginning of the Twentieth Century, Europe has been suspicious of the dominance in the world economic (or banking) system of Jews like the Rothschild family.  There have long been implications of the control of worldwide financial activity, fanning the flames of World Wars, and an agenda to destroy the power and influence of the Christian Church -- all for the sake of world dominance.  These theories are not without substantial merit.  But is this reason enough to warrant a century of suspicion and hatred of ALL Jews?  Satan has been successful in infiltrating the Jewish line, but as the Bible tells us, God always retains a faithful remnant unto Himself.
     Thus, the 20th Century saw the deaths of millions of innocent Jews in the pogroms (massacres) of Russia and the Holocaust in Nazi Germany.  Now, in the 21st Century, instead of being embraced as part of the European trend towards multi-ethnic and multi-faith communities, the Jews are isolated and segregated, just as they were prior to WWII.
     The truth is, the establishment of their own nation in their historic homeland -- to which millions of Jews have returned since the Holocaust -- did nothing to assuage the hatred or the hostility towards the Jewish people.  If anything, it intensified the enmity.  The creation of the nation of Israel somehow gave cause to label all European Jews as "Zionist Imperialists".  The continued economic crises in 21st Century Europe have given rise to the old associations of Jews and financial control/exploitation; the same bias that ignited Nazi Germany.  Together, with the rise of the Muslim population in Europe, who view the Jews from the 21st Century perspective of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, you have a two-pronged attack against European Jews.  It becomes apparent that both anti-semitism and anti-Zionism fuel the perception of Jews in modern Europe.
     So will Europe be able to stem the tide of Jewish murders and persecution?  Or is this just a precursor to Isaiah's 2700-year-old prophecy that God would draw His people back to their homeland from the north, south, east and west.  Jesus, Himself, in speaking to the Jews, promises wars and rumors of wars; and that "you will be hated (despised) by everyone because [you bear] My name and for its sake."  Remember, that Jesus was a descendant of the tribe of Judah by his lineage, and He very clearly states in this passage that Jews will be persecuted and despised.  But Jesus also gives a quick little prophecy about a fig tree that "puts forth its buds and comes out in leaf".  Is He prophesying the re-emergence of the nation of Israel?  Is this a reconstitution of ancient Israel, growing and putting out shoots after a period of dormancy?
      And what does the Lord's statement mean in the following verse, when He says that when you see this happening, know that the Kingdom of God is at hand?  Could it be that this is just a Cosmic Chess Match, as submitted by author L.A. Marzulli, and the persecution of the Jews today is just an ongoing effort by Satan to try to stay one move ahead of God's plan to redeem the world through His Son, the Jewish Messiah?  If so, the words of Prime Minister Netanyahu would seem prophetic in themselves:  "This wave of attacks is expected to continue, as well as murderous anti-Semitic attacks. Jews deserve security in every country, but we say to our Jewish brothers and sisters, Israel is your home."
     At this time, Denmark and Europe seem to want to categorize the latest murders as an attack on the freedom of expression and free speech.  Satan has been clever in deceiving the world into falling for a false narrative.  But those of us who see clearly know that we are edging closer to the precipice.  The chess match is coming to a close, and neither player is willing to resign from the game or allow it to conclude with a draw.  But here's the deal:  we know Who the winner is; we know which King will run out of plays and be captured and thrown into the abyss.  You see, a Kingdom is the place where the King resides, and the Prince of this world will soon abdicate his position of power and the Kingdom of God will truly reign on the earth!  And the world will despair of how they treated the House of Judah.  Europe and the world ... take notice!

Click here for a report on the Copenhagen, Denmark shootings as reported by the U.K.'s Daily Mail.

Luke 21:28-32     "Now when these things begin to occur, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption (deliverance) is drawing near. And He told them a parable: Look at the fig tree and all the trees; When they put forth their buds and come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and perceive and know that summer is already near.  Even so, when you see these things taking place, understand and know that the kingdom of God is at hand.  Truly I tell you, this generation those living at that definite period of time) will not perish and pass away until all has taken place."




February 15, 2015

1 Samuel 28:14

He said to her [the witch of Endor], "In what form is he?" 
And she said, "An old man comes up, covered with a mantle".  And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and made obeisance.


     The purpose of today's post is a little different than in past Sundays; I want to show you how we in the Western world can sometimes miss the meaning of Scipture ... but first a little background. Saul has lost his favor with God, and is desperately trying to cling to his throne as King of Israel.  He has chased after David in hopes of defeating and killing his rival.  In the meantime, the prophet Samuel has died, and along with him Saul's connection to the Lord.  The fading king attempts to seek the Lord's direction, but God no longer answers him, "neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets" (1 Samuel 28:4).
     The mention of Urim, refers us to the elements on the breastplate of judgment worn by Aaron, as Chief Priest (Exodus 28).  Urim was the Light of God, and Thummin was the Perfection of God.  Together they evoked the Divine Counsel of God.  When Aaron consulted God about a matter before the people, God would make Himself known to Aaron.  As 1 Samuel 28:4 tells us, God did not extend advice to Saul because he no longer had the Light (Urim) of God shining on him and could not call upon the Divine Counsel of God.  
     Saul is deprived of God's counsel and that of Samuel, the prophet.  So, what does he do?  He asks his servants to find him the Witch of Endor, a medium who could summon spirits.  He disguises himself and goes to see her.  And who does he want her to call up? Samuel, his trusted prophet and advisor.  The witch calls up the spirit, and she apparently recognizes Samuel, and then realizes that it is King Saul who has deceived her; the very king who had "cut off" the mediums and wizards from the land.  She fears for her life, but Saul assures her she will not be punished, and then asks the witch to describe Samuel.  We have now arrived at our selected verse and the object of this post.
     What are we to make of this verse and those that surround it in Scripture?  Could it really be Samuel, God's prophet that has "come up"; that has appeared as a "ghost" or "spirit"?  For hundreds of years many in the Christian Church have understood this passage to indicate that it was not Samuel who actually appeared, but a demonic spirit.  This is due to our Western mindset and our interpretation of the Bible from a Western context. 
     In that vein, here is how the Modern Church interprets this series of events in 1 Samuel, Chapter 28 .... God permitted the devil to put on the shape of Samuel.  Saul, who no longer received the love of God's Truth, was given up to a strong delusion and a lie.  The Church will say, "Why did he not realize that Samuel, a man of God, would not have come up out of the earth, but would rather have come down from heaven?  Therefore this has to be an evil spirit!  But instead of humbling himself and repenting before God, Saul seeks the spirits of the dead and the devil; so God gave him over to deception.  The spirit also reveals that because the Lord has departed from Saul, God will hand him over to death the next day at the hand of the Philistines.  
     Now, I would like to offer another interpretation of this event.  For the last few years, I have grown into a different understanding of the Bible than that of the mainstream Church.  Our Bible speaks to all believers and followers of Jesus Christ, but God breathed the inspiration for His Book into the minds and hearts of Hebrew and Greek men.  The Bible must be interpreted from a Middle Eastern viewpoint... it is a Middle Eastern book.  Therefore, we have to look through Hebrew eyes to gain clear understanding of God's intentions.
     So, here is how the nation of Israel and Hebrews would interpret this Scripture .... The spirit who appears to Saul is actually the real Samuel, who has been residing down in Sheol since his death.  This is where all the dead resided at that time because, remember, Jesus has not yet come, been crucified, and descended into Sheoul to take the captives with Him to heaven (See Ephesians 4:8-10, and Psalm 68:18).  Before Christ's ascension, the spirits of all the dead were waiting in Abraham's bosom (Sheol) to be redeemed.  Christ did that as explained in 1 Peter 3:18-20.
     Furthermore, when the spirit of Samuel predicts Saul's death the next day, the Hebrew mind discerns that the spirit could only have known that information if God had sent him.  God would not send an evil spirit with His information; therefore this spirit who claims to be Samuel is actually God's prophet.  Also, the Hebrew mind knows that this could not be an evil spirit sent by the devil, because Satan does not have access to God's plans.  He is limited in his knowledge of God's strategy, and would not be able to correctly predict Saul's death.  
     But the Western Church was too uncomfortable with the idea of Sheol, or the underworld of the dead, and they had to explain this appearance of Samuel as an act of an evil spirit.  But if you let Scripture say what it really says, you can see the Truth right there on the page. 
     I can't tell you how blessed I have been to re-read my Bible from the context of a Hebraic and Middle Eastern context.  It has opened up my understanding to new heights.  Passages that have been confusing and cloudy, and didn't make sense to my Western mind, suddenly come alive in the light of a Hebrew perception.  Praise God, for His unceasing revelation of Himself through His Word!

February 14, 2015

Warning: Your Child's Education Is Under Attack!

     I have been shouting from the rooftops for nearly two years now that there is a threat to our national education system in the form of academic standards known as Common Core.  I know that the difficult economic issues in our country have us all scrambling to make ends meet, but I implore parents to take the time and pay attention to the homework being foisted upon your children.
     One father in Seminole County, Florida, was dismayed to find a text message on his 10th-grade son's phone from his History teacher, in which the teacher sent "a reminder to complete his prayer rug assignment and study an assigned packet on Islam."  Now, this assignment was part of a class on World History, so you might think that it is appropriate to present information on Islam, the world's second largest religion with a following of over one billion people—one-fifth of humanity.
      But how do you feel when you discover that the pages in that same history book that provided instruction on Christianity and Judaism had been removed?  How do you feel about the fact that the study of the Five Pillars of Islam was mandatory in that class?  The father also claimed that students were told to “recite this prayer as the first Pillar of Islam, off of the board at the teacher’s instruction.”
     I do not have a problem with students in high school studying the impact of different religions on the events in world history.  After all, religion has played a huge part in all the major wars throughout time.  But when it becomes part of a high school curriculum to involve the students in the practices of one religion and in reciting the tenets of one religion -- to the exclusion of other major religions -- then that becomes a matter of indoctrination, in my book.
     However, if parents are unaware of what's being included in their children's assignments -- and what is being ignored or purposely excluded -- that indoctrination and propagandizing is tantamount to re-education of our children.  But that's not how the Executive Director of Seminole County High School Administration, Dr. Michael Blasewitz, sees it:  "... the Pillars of Islam are benchmarks (a standard, criteria) in the state curriculum", and "If anything, [the curriculum] is a little imbalanced toward Christianity and Judaism."
     If that statement doesn't show you the direction in which our kids' education is going, consider this statement by the Florida branch of the Council on American-Islamic Affairs (CAIR):  "In a diverse society, young people should be taught about a wide variety of beliefs, cultures and faiths, and particularly about a faith practiced by millions of Americans and more than one fifth of the world's population.  Denying all students access to vital information based on the biased political or religious agenda of Islam phobic groups or a handful of misinformed parents does a disservice to our school system, our state and our nation. History is not kind to those who censor information or ban books."
     So, where's the "wide variety", when entire sections on Christianity and Judaism are removed from school textbooks?  Why don't they talk about the Christian-phobic groups?  And I don't know if that last statement was a veiled threat or not, but suffice it to say that they have set their sights on changing our education system and influencing our kids -- and much of their activity is done through the auspices of Common Core, and without parents' knowledge or consent.  You must get involved in your children's education!
     And lest you think that there is not a war on Christianity in our nation's schools, a high school in Nassau County, Florida (Florida seems to be ground zero for the attack on our schools) was warned about a student who, selected to read the morning announcements over the loudspeaker system, chose to end his recitation with "God bless America, keep us safe."
     This time it is a Humanist/Atheist organization that is complaining "that allowing the statement favors 'God-belief' and 'validates a theistic worldview' that alienates atheists and non-believers."  Why aren't they complaining about the "theistic worldview" being presented in 10th-grade World History classes in Seminole County?  Does anybody else see a glaring bias against the Christian faith?
     I can't help but believe that both the atheists and CAIR do not want students in World History classes -- or any classes -- to understand that the United States was founded by Christian believers, and became a haven for religious freedom for all faiths... that would not suit either of their agendas.  Dr. Blazewitz may promote Islam as a benchmark of his curriculum, but I will declare Christianity as the bedrock of this nation.  And, parents, if you want your children to have any chance of enjoying the America you grew up in, you better start getting yourself elected to school boards and supervising your child's education.
      I will leave you with these thoughts from Benjamin Rush, known as SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE; SURGEON GENERAL OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY; RATIFIER OF THE U. S. CONSTITUTION; “FATHER OF AMERICAN MEDICINE”; TREASURER OF THE U. S. MINT; “FATHER OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION”: "The great enemy of the salvation of man, in my opinion, never invented a more effective means of limiting Christianity from the world than by persuading mankind that it was improper to read the Bible at schools."

Click here for WFTV's report on the Seminole County, Florida Common Core curriculum. 

Click here for interview with concerned father of Florida student.  

Click here for story on atheist's protest over "God Bless America".

2 Timothy 3:16-17   "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."


February 13, 2015

What Happened To America's Pride?

     The word "PRIDE" is defined as "a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired; the consciousness of one's own dignity."  In this sense, "pride" is a good thing; it insinuates a common theme of respect, esteem, and worthiness.
     Do you remember when our country and countrymen used to be proud of who we were; that our traditions and institutions were worthy of honor and respect?  When what we stood for, and our appearance, mattered?
     Maybe I'm just too old, but I remember store owners sweeping out front of their entrances; streets and roadways clean of litter; and community parks and byways mowed and manicured.  I remember when it was a matter of pride to be selected to raise and lower the flag in the school courtyard; when people dressed up to worship in God's House; and when immorality was not tolerated in our public officials.
     I don't know about where you live, but gang graffiti is written across every bridge overpass and on the sides of every train car.  Unsightly litter is strewn everywhere; the streets of my little rural town have potholes you could swim in; and the right-of-ways have weeds and grass growing to your knees.
     Even big metropolitan cities are pictures of "urban decay"... both spiritual and physical.  Flags in front of Federal buildings are often faded, tattered and torn.  The trendy, popular mega-churches are filled with worshippers dressed in t-shirts and flip-flops; or they look as if they just threw on last night's party clothes.  And the immorality that is tolerated!  It seems that moral standards and principles of behavior no longer apply --- from the pastors of our Churches; to the administrators of our Schools; to the bureaucrats elected to represent us and oversee justice in the land.
     I know that there are those who would say those are old-fashioned and intolerant opinions.  That we have "progressed" to a more open and permissive society; one that allows for "relativity" and "diversity" in our shared communities.  They would tell us that we have evolved from a White, Protestant culture to a multi-colored, multi-cultured society; therefore, there is no longer a set of absolute standards or the need (or desire) for a universal pattern to follow.  
     I agree that we have been enriched from the ever-changing dynamics of the American population.  I believe that God designed this nation to be the melting pot of all those He created; that the blessings of this nation have grown as we adopted the noble and worthy attributes of all those who found their way to our shores.  I believe all that ... as long as we continue to build on, and maintain, the original foundation of this national venture; to take pride in mutual ownership, so to speak.
     It seems that "America", itself,  has gotten lost in the national dialogue.  Those who celebrate the idea of a "Progressive America" are so consumed with allowing for our cultural differences, that the common denominator of who and where we have fallen on the timeline of history is no longer on our national conscience.  Pride has taken a back seat to affirmation... every cultural nuance must be given equal status and support, with no consideration to what binds us together.  Where are the "widely admired qualities" of what it means to live in America?  Or, in other words, do we even possess a common standard in which we can view each other as fellow Americans?  Are we invested in our joint occupation of this blessed land?
     I'm afraid I don't see it anymore.  Faith has become a lightening rod.  We can't even agree on the definition of Marriage or Family.  The Constitution used to guarantee us certain freedoms and rights, but even that venerable document has become a wedge between us.
     The way I see it, throughout our history Pride has been the glue in the fabric of this nation's consciousness.  Each new cultural group, through struggle and perseverance, melded into the formation that is America.  They brought the best of their values and principles to the composition of this nation, and the fabric was made stronger in a renewed covenant as Americans.  But with the deterioration of Pride in identifying oneself as American, the fabric has begun to fray and disintegrate.
      I began this post talking about how the outward appearance of Pride in America is disappearing.  However, I think that is just a manifestation of the lack of internal pride in who we are as a nation and a people.  "Relative standards" cannot bind a people together; they can only serve to separate and divide.

1 Corinthians 1:10    "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment."
   

February 12, 2015

First, The Bees. Now, the Butterflies!

     
     In the past, you might have read my post on the disappearance of Bees and the effect it will have on our ecosystem.  Now, it seems that the Monarch Butterfly is also in danger of becoming a victim of our old friend, Monsanto and its product, Roundup.  
     I will confess that we here in Texas have suffered from the massive swarms of Monarchs as they migrate to Mexico each winter.  We would literally drive into what seemed like walls of Monarchs that not only impaired your vision, but left your vehicle covered in hundreds of dead butterflies.  Not so much, anymore.  The last couple of winters have seen a significant decline in the migration, and the beautiful butterflies are becoming a rarity in these parts.
     In fact, in an article by The Washington Post, it is reported that "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service summed it up in just one grim statistic: Since 1990, about 970 million [Monarch butterflies] have vanished."  The cause?  It can be traced to the eradication of milkweed, their primary food source and habitat.  This plant is the only upon which they lay eggs and their larvae feed.  Why is the milkweed being destroyed?  According to PNAS, (the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences), "In the US Corn Belt, a recent doubling in commodity prices has created incentives for landowners to convert grassland to corn and soybean cropping."   
     As Newsweek Magazine was careful to point out, "the cultivation of 1 million new acres of land in recent years -- driven by higher corn and soybean prices -- has destroyed milkweed crops, and greatly hurt monarchs."  Add to this, "the introduction of genetically-modified crops like Roundup-ready corn and soybeans that are resistant to traditional herbicides, [which means] farmers have begun to spray more and more Roundup—the Monsanto-made chemical—over wider and wider areas", further destroying the natural habitat of Monarchs ... the milkweed plant.
     Oh, what a wicked web that Monsanto is weaving!  By developing food products that are unnatural (GMOs), and spraying them with poisonous herbicides (containing Glyphosate), they are destroying anything natural and organic, including various species of insects and their habitats.
     But it is not just the push for more and more GMO food products that have endangered the Monarch population.  The Clean Energy Act of 2007, frequently referred to as the ethanol mandate, changed how we fueled our cars and it became evident that there would be an increase in the demand for, and price of corn.  That, along with the over-development of our cities and municipalities, has nearly guaranteed the destruction of the Monarch's natural habitat.
     So, why should we care about the possible extinction of the Monarch butterfly?  Butterfly-Conservation.org will give you a long list of reasons that these beautifies are important to save; including their aesthetic value, their educational value, and their scientific value.  I prefer to consider them as a creation of God, which means they play a part in the interwoven pattern of life that He constructed on this planet.  Besides the fact that they, along with their cousins the moth, are an important element of the food chain and are prey for birds, bats and other insectivorous animals, they provide a touch of delicate beauty in this ugly world.  For that alone they are worthy of being conserved.
     But let's not forget the bigger picture ... elements of our existence are being modified, destroyed and poisoned before our very eyes.  How natural is it for bees and butterflies to disappear?  And what makes us think that the Elite will find us indispensable or necessary to the cycle of life on this planet?  It seems to me that no regard is being given to the natural order of things or to God's creation.  Our food supply is being manipulated and controlled, while our ability to adapt to (or deflect) orchestrated change to our own life cycle is lessened.   How long, like the butterflies and the bees, until our numbers start to decline?

 Psalm 24:1    "The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;"
     

February 11, 2015

The Grammy's: Was Anybody Fooled?

     I recorded the annual Grammy extravaganza, honoring (supposedly) the best in the music industry.  I was well aware of the satanic symbology in past years and wanted to see how far they were willing to go this time to influence the culture and our youth.  I was only able to stomach the presentation because we must be knowledgeable of how cunning the Enemy is, if we are going to defeat him.
     The music industry is a multi-billion dollar enterprise, and wields extreme influence over the youth of our nation.  Do you pay attention to the music that your children listen to?  You should.  It has been a very lucrative and fertile ground in which Satan has been able to place his emissaries.  And prime time spectaculars like the Grammys give him an opportunity to showcase his satanic message to millions of vulnerable minds.
     I have to say the 2015 Grammys was a strange mix of "in your face" and "false piety".  I'll save you the need to watch it for yourselves, and give you the highlights, so you will be enlightened as to the tactics of the Luciferian occult.  The two-hour production began with a performance by the aging hard rock band AC/DC singing their hit "Highway to Hell" -- complete with a backdrop of burning flames and audience members sporting illuminated devil horns.  I'd say that accomplished exactly what the occultists behind this awards show intended.
     Also singing during the curious mix of old and new, was the band ELO, singing "Evil Woman", which was quite apropos, with respect to the much anticipated appearance of the (also) aging Madonna.  Just in case you missed the hidden occultic theme, Madonna made sure you couldn't avoid who was really being celebrated on the stage.  She surrounded herself with a cast of male dancers, all displaying Baphomet horns and bejeweled masks, as they danced around their priestess.  Madonna made sure that the goat-god, who is the symbol of the Church of Satan was impressed upon our minds -- down to the point that they offer her up to their Master and she ascends into the sky.
     So, I figured this was how it was going to play out ... an entire night of blatantly and aggressively saluting the devil.  But then the show seemed to shift gears, as if making the statement, "We've showed you who we bow down to; now we want you to know that we worship just like you... we're not all that different."
     Both BeyoncĂ© and Katy Perry, the princesses of the Illuminati, appeared in virginal white gowns, on all white stage sets.  BeyoncĂ© sang "Precious Lord, Take My Hand", dressed as a bride with an all-male choir behind her in a robotic posture, hands raised.  Katy Perry, appeared in a demure, high-necked outfit and sang "By the Grace of God".  For a moment, one might wonder if these women raised in God's Church have returned to their pre-Illuminati Christian roots.  But don't be fooled! Whether their performances were meant as a mockery of the True Faith, or to deceive the shallow into believing they honored YHWH -- remember it was a production!
     Billy Hallowell, the Faith Editor of The Blaze, reports that "Perry, who was once a Christian singer and whose parents are pastors, publicly renounced her faith, telling Marie Claire in a 2013 interview that she’s no longer Christian and doesn’t believe in heaven, hell or “an old man sitting on a throne.” Perry did say that she believes in a higher power — a paradigm that holds her accountable."
     Based on her earlier confession that she "sold her soul to the devil" to make it in the Music Industry -- and her 2015 Super Bowl performance, in which she took the stage riding on a robotic beast -- we can guess what higher power she pays allegiance to.
      Marie Claire also reported that Perry gets her connection to spirituality through the writings of Eckhart Tolle, an author known for his popular books about metaphysics and spirituality. She also practices transcendental meditation, a form of mantra meditation.  In case you are unfamiliar with who Eckhart Tolle is, he was made famous as Oprah Winfrey's guru-like spiritualist, who makes such narcissistic statements as this:  "To know yourself as the Being underneath the thinker, the stillness underneath the mental noise, the love and joy underneath the pain, is freedom, salvation, enlightenment."  In other words he spreads a false gospel of self-worship.  Unfortunately talented artists in the music industry have traded any real chance at salvation for the lure of fame, wealth and power that the Illuminati promises in exchange for worshipping their Master and god of sin.
     But any Christ-centered observer wasn't fooled by the veil of piety that attempted to deceive the audience into a benign judgment of the show.  The more obvious performances left no doubt who was being worshipped, while singing old Christian hymns or new homages to the grace of God doesn't mean YHWH is their God.  There are others who are far more educated than I about the symbology that was beamed into millions of homes across our country.  I simply want to warn you not to dismiss the tremendous impact that music today has upon our younger generations, and guard against the blatant blasphemy that is being presented to them in the name of popular music.
   
1 Timothy 6:9-10    "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

February 10, 2015

The Reason We Might Be Left Behind

     I cannot lay claim to this concept.  It was suggested to me by PLW, who heard it on a podcast by Daniel Duval, a righteous man who teaches the Truth through his radio program.   It makes a lot of sense to me, and I thought I would pass it on to you for your consideration.
     It seems to me that much of the Church is awakening to the thought that the Pre-Tribulation Rapture doctrine might not be in God's playbook.  I confess to a non-denominational approach to the Bible, so I'm not sure which branches of the Christian Church have, or have not, adopted this teaching, and it doesn't really matter -- the point of this essay is not to criticize, but to examine the reasonableness of this argument.
     DISCLAIMER:  I do not claim to be an expert on this subject, or to know God's thoughts, or to be privy to His counsel.  I don't believe anyone can say for certainty, based on Scripture, when this event will happen.  In fact, I have been part of various Bible study groups where Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib, Pre-Wrath, and Post-Trib Rapture positions have each been successfully defended using Scripture.  Only God Knows!
     So I am not going to present a detailed thesis on the emotional and historical reasons for holding the Pre-Tribulation position.  I have done that in a post titled, The Tribulation: A Sensitive Subject.  This time, I want to approach the subject from a different perspective; taking all emotion out of it.
     For starters, I would suggest that all Believers would prefer to be taken out of this world before the Great Tribulation descends upon mankind; before the earth and all its inhabitants become the recipient of God's wrath.  That's a very rational desire.
     But try to look at the timing of the Rapture from God's perspective.  The one thing we can all agree upon, and which is verified without a doubt in Scripture, is that there will be a time of great distress, tribulation, and persecution on the earth before Jesus returns, right?  And we know that God desires that "none should perish", correct?  The final part of this equation is the fact that "the saints" will be raptured -- whenever that event might occur.  So who and what constitutes "a saint"?
     The word “saint” comes from the Greek word hagios, which means “consecrated to God, holy, sacred, pious."  According to Ephesians 4:12, the ministry, or work, of the saints is to "build up the body of Christ", which I take to mean encourage, grow, or strengthen.  So, can we agree that those raptured will be God's "A-Team", so to speak?  Those who have lived a life in service to Him and His Son.
     Now, let me see if I can paint a picture of the End Times scenario .... the world has become increasingly wicked, and the influence of the Devil has grown to great proportions.  Satan has his counterfeit political system (embodied by the Anti-Christ and his Beast administration); his substitute economic system (Mark of the Beast); and his false religious system (run by the False Prophet).  All of these systems will be persecuting everyone who does not bow down to the false god, Satan himself.
     But, let's go back to one of the foundational principles of God's character ... he desires that none should perish.  Why would he take his A-Team out of the game, just as the competition for souls is at a fever pitch?
      And you need to understand this VERY IMPORTANT POINT:  I do not believe that the Western Church today is aware that we are in a Spiritual War.  We look at the horrific actions of ISIS, the conflict in the Middle East, and our own national crises, and we think we are fighting against evil men of the world.  But we are fighting a SPIRITUAL WAR, and when we are faced with the Tribulation, God's "A-Team" will be trained in spiritual warfare.  They will know how to rebuke a demon; they will know how to stand against the powers of the air; they will understand the Enemy in all his facets.
     If they are taken out of this world at the beginning of the Tribulation, how do those left behind have any chance of resisting the Anti-Christ?  With a lack of God's saints and representatives, wouldn't all men perish?  Doesn't it seem more logical that God would want his "A-Team" to be in the thick of the spiritual battle -- in full "ministry mode" to help plant the seeds of salvation for every one of His creations?
     Doesn't it make sense that we will be at our most valuable to God's Kingdom during that time of Tribulation?  Won't our willingness to endure and to suffer for Christ, if necessary, be the greatest testimony to convince an unbeliever to resist the devil and accept God's gracious gift of salvation?
     As I said at the beginning of this post, I do not proclaim to know the time of the Rapture, but I feel safe in asserting that our service to God, His Church, and His Kingdom will never be more valuable than during the Tribulation.  God wants as many to accept Salvation as will.  At what point He will achieve His "full number of Gentiles", I cannot say.  But whenever that happens, He will pull His people out of the earth, because "we are not appointed to suffer wrath" (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
     So, in conclusion, let me say this ... no man knows God's timetable or His strategy.  Is it a specific number of saved that must be reached?  Will it coincide with one of the Lord's Feast days?  No man can tell; certainly not me.  But this I do know ... It will be a joyous day; a day that will be the culmination of living a faithful and obedient life unto the Lord; the first day of all eternal days, in which we will live with the Lord.  Any suffering, persecution, or tribulation will be worth it!

1 Thessalonians 1:10   "when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed."


February 9, 2015

The Vaccine Debate and The Hegelian Dialectic

     It seems that the Vaccine Debate has become the next Hegelian Dialectic being forced upon us.  I have talked about this "Marxist process of change" before, but in case you are not familiar with this term, let me explain it.  Let's say those in power want to accomplish some goal; we'll call it A, but they know that the populace would never go for it.  So they create scenario B that drives the public into a panic.  They then have solution C (which is actually A) waiting in the wings to help solve B.  But what the populace doesn't realize is this: they've been played.  The whole sequence of events was staged and planned to achieve the original goal.
     Confused?  Let me give you a little demonstration of this theory ... say some malevolent government wanted to institute martial law, but the people of the nation are generally lovers of freedom, and the officials know the people will not easily surrender their rights.  So agents within the government create a situation (say something like Ferguson, Missouri), that spills over into nationwide violence and chaos.  Widespread looting occurs, cities burn, innocent citizens are targeted by angry mobs, and the nation's economy becomes seriously affected.  Those same freedom-loving citizens start to think that perhaps a temporary period of martial law is needed to get things back to normal.  They beg the government to do something, anything, to solve the problem... and guess what?  The original goal is achieved; but it ain't temporary!

     Now carry that premise over into the curiously revived debate on Vaccines.  I say "curiously" because, doesn't it seem like this issue came out of nowhere?  Like overnight?  There has been an ongoing discussion and controversy over vaccines for quite some time.  Frankly, it is my impression that doctors are divided over the necessity of so many vaccines on the market today.  Plus I am not convinced that there is not a link between childhood vaccines and autism.
     According to the Autism Science Foundation,  "In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network reported that approximately 1 in 68 children in the United States has an Autism Spectrum Disorder. This new estimate is roughly 30 percent higher than previous estimates reported in 2012, of 1 in 88 children. In the 1980’s autism prevalence was reported as 1 in 10,000. In the nineties, prevalence was 1 in 2500 and later 1 in 1000."  Now this organization is careful to say that a decade ago, research seemed to show that vaccines were a likely cause of autism, but they have changed their stance to reflect that recent research has discounted that theory.
     Then there is The Autism Society, which says "There is no known single cause for autism spectrum disorder, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function... Research indicates other factors besides the genetic component are contributing to the rise in increasing occurrence of autism – for example, environmental toxins (e.g., heavy metals such as mercury), which are more prevalent than in the past."
     Now, I am not a doctor nor a scientist; and I have no way to prove which of the above theories is the correct one.  But I cannot dismiss the countless stories of normal, healthy infants suddenly developing autism after receiving a conglomeration of vaccines during a well-child checkup.  I have heard too many stories like this one:  My neighbor, and good friend, experienced a frightening situation when her infant son went into a seizure-like state after receiving a vaccine shot.  I can understand why she, like many mothers I know, do not get their children vaccinated.  And there lies "the rub" for our government, and why there is a need for the latest Hegelian strategy.
     You see, I don't want to engage in a conversation about the pros and cons of vaccinations -- although that is a worthy discussion to have.  (Please read this well-documented report on measles in the pre-vaccination era versus today.)  No, I'm more concerned in what that discussion seems to be leading towards.  There is a near hysteria over the recent measles outbreak in California, with parents concerned that unvaccinated children who get the measles could spread the virus exponentially, causing an epidemic of children who might "suffer the serious complications of measles, such as deafness and brain damage or even death" (as one CNN news report disclosed).
      As the alarm over the 155 cases of measles in 16 states (which started at Disneyland in December) is trending as a major "measles outbreak", I am more alarmed over what I see as a collaboration between the media and government to hint at "forced" vaccinations.  When you have Megan Kelly, one of the out-front news anchors of Fox News saying she "is not opposed to Big Brother getting involved when it comes to child vaccinations", I think that is a deliberate and planned warning to the American people.
     First of all, explain to me why 155 cases in about 2 months is cause for such hand-wringing?  The Center for Disease Control, itself, reported 27,672 measles cases reported in 1990, and 75,290 reported cases in 1971.  True, they acknowledged that failure to vaccinate children at the appropriate age was the major factor in these numbers; but they also related that there was an increase of measles in Central and South American countries, and that black and Hispanic children are less likely to be age-appropriately vaccinated than are white children.
     So, it seems to me that it's not really the number of measles cases that is the cause for all the hysteria; could perhaps the recent measles cases just be a convenient excuse to push the vaccine agenda?  Let's see, what recent events have occurred in our country that would have introduced a large population of unvaccinated children of Hispanic origin into the midst of our otherwise healthy population?  Could there be any connection between our open, porous borders and the sudden push for vaccinations for all children?
     And if you want to follow that trail down the rabbit hole, you better screw on your tin foil hat ... because I have some very important questions that everyone must answer for themselves.  Do you trust the CDC and do you trust all the additives in today's vaccines?  Do you believe that the Elite of the world are interested in population control?  If so, why, and how could they implement a widespread reduction of the world's population?  Is there any connection between the growing GMO food supply and the combinations of vaccines that children now receive?  And, finally, do you think the U.S. government should mandate vaccinations for all children?  Consider Megan Kelly's response (whom I would certainly include in the ranks of the Elite) when asked if she opposed mandatory vaccinations for children.  She clearly stated her objective:  "No".
     Now, let's go back to the question I asked at the beginning of this essay ... Doesn't it seem like the heated debate on this issue came out of nowhere?  Is it possible that mandatory vaccinations (for whatever reason -- good or bad) are the goal?  And in order to sell the American people on yet another loss of the freedom to live their lives as they choose, a "false measles epidemic" is incited to cause widespread panic and a demand from frantic parents to protect their children from those immoral parents who choose not to vaccinate?
     I know it all sounds crazy and Machiavellian; and it is difficult to think that anyone could engineer such devious plans for the world's population.  But the Haves will use any means necessary to retain control over the Have Nots.  It's just too bad that we have to question the motives behind everything these days.

Galatians 4:17:   "They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them."

February 8, 2015

Judges 6:24

So Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, 
and called it Jehovah-Shalom.  
To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.


     This simple verse is an excellent example of the richness of the Bible.  There is so much information to be gained from digging deep into the significance of this brief verse, yet how many of us have read over it without giving it any further thought?  It is incumbent upon each of us to build an understanding of the Bible -- line upon line, and precept upon precept.  That is why it is important to know the history of Gideon up to this point, why it was important to him to build an altar to the Lord, and why he named it as he did. 
      I love the history of the Bible!  The story of Gideon is one of God using the least prominent among us to accomplish great things for His kingdom.  At this point in the story, we need to understand that Israel is under judgment by God for "doing evil in His sight" (Judges 6:1), and were "delivered into the hand of Midian seven years".  (Israel had a history of worshipping the false idols of surrounding pagan cultures.)  For seven years they suffered under the Midianite oppression; their crops destroyed, they were "greatly impoverished" (Judges 6:6)
      The story of Gideon begins in verse 11, and if we read forward to our selected verse , we get the "big picture" of why Gideon is led to build the altar we see here. (Judges 6:11-14).
      Gideon was "the least in his father's house" and a "thresher of wheat" when he was called by God to lead Israel in the battle against the formidable Midianites.  It is not hard to understand why Gideon challenged the "angel of the Lord" to give him a sign -- after all, he was not a warrior or trained in battle.  (It is paramount that we recognize this angel as not a created angel, but the Son of God himself, the eternal Word, the Lord of the angels.)
    But then Gideon asks the angel to tarry while he brings him some refreshment under the oak tree ... the meat of a kid, unleavened bread, and broth.  But instead of eating it, the angel tells Gideon to place the meat and unleavened bread upon a rock, and to pour the broth over it.  He then touches the end of his staff to the items on the rock, bringing fire out of the rock and consuming them as a sacrifice.  As the well-respected theologian Matthew Henry expounds, "[the angel] turned the meat into an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto himself, showing hereby that he was not a man who needed meat, but the Son of God who was to be served and honoured by sacrifice, and who in the fulness of time was to make himself a sacrifice."
      Then, as verse 21, tells us, the angel of the Lord immediately vanishes.  Gideon is then consumed with fright, crying out "O Lord GOD!" because he realizes he has seen God face-to-face, and "no man can see him face-to-face and live" (Exodus 33:20).  But the Lord calms him and sends Gideon His peace, as He assures him that he will not die.  And in remembrance of this vision that would set him on his path to becoming a Hero of Faith, Gideon builds an altar to the Lord, naming it after Him, Jehovah-Shalom ... The Lord is peace.  He builds it in Ophrah of the Abiezrites (a city of Manasseh; Abiezer being a descendant of Manasseh).   It might also interest you to know that Oprah is the place of Gideon's birth, his home after his ascension to power, and the place of his burial in the family sepulchre).  
     But there is another reason that I believe Gideon builds the altar in Ophrah.  In Judges 6:25, the very next verse after the one featured today, we see that Gideon is instructed to destroy the altar of Baal that resides in his father's house.  Joash, Gideon's father -- an Israelite -- is worshipping Baal!!!  He symbolizes the very reason that Israel has been under God's judgment.  Gideon is faithful and destroys the altar, showing Israel that their God is superior over all other gods.  He has purified his fathers house and is ready to go on and lead the Israelites in battle against their opponent, Midian.
      Gideon's subsequent experience at being called out of obscurity to lead the Israelite army against the Midianites is a clear example to us -- it shows that when the situation is desperate, we will most likely encounter fear, and long for the peace of God.  Gideon experienced that peace from God's Son, Himself, and to honor Him, builds an altar and names it after Him.  In this single act, Gideon is worshipping God in total submission, dependance and reliance.  You can imagine that he has no idea how he is to defeat the Midianite army, but he has just encountered the "Peace of God" who has assured him of victory.
     Because Gideon relied on the Lord to lead him into battle, and remained faithful all his days, becoming a righteous judge over Israel (Judges 6:23), he has the distinguished honor of being listed in Hebrews, Chapter 11, among the Hall of Fame of Faith.  
     Oh, how I pray that when the desperate times come in our future, that I will have the faith to rely on Jehovah-Shalom ... that I will submit to Him in total dependence and reliance, knowing that my victory abides in Him.  In the midst of fear, chaos, and attacks by the Enemy, I will know that the Lord, who is Peace, will be with me.