Starbucks To Brew Up A Political Storm

   

     At first, I thought this might be a fluffy kind of post, but on deeper reflection the subject really gets my gall.  Picture this ... You're in a hurry to get to your job, or an appointment ... or you just want to relax after a hard day by enjoying your favorite flavor of Starbucks coffee.  You place your order, and when the barista hands you your cup, there is a handwritten message on it that says, "Race Together".
     As you ponder the implications of this personally written note, your server attempts to engage you in a conversation on the oh-so-pleasant-and-agreeable topic of race relations.  Unless you have formed a close bond with your local Starbucks barista, how are you going to feel when a veritable stranger asks your opinion of the Ferguson, Missouri fiasco?  What's more, how are you going to respond, as those around you wait breathlessly for your answer?  And finally, what exactly is the progressive corporation Starbucks hoping to accomplish with this latest social survey?
     Are you finding this as offensive, insulting, and invasive as I am?  I say "offensive", because I don't need some character from Starbucks issuing me a challenge on race relations in a room full of strangers.  I'm thinking it's "insulting" because they obviously think I need to be reminded that we have a race relations problem in this country.  "Invasive" comes to mind as I contemplate that this is a serious subject in which I have personal and intimate opinions that I don't want to share with just anyone; there needs to be an atmosphere of mutual trust.  That's not going to be the case with someone I just met for the first time that day and who is handing me a Tall Skinny Mocha Latte.
     But, yet, this scenario is exactly what Starbucks is launching as their latest gimmick in their "social justice" campaign.  As Breitbart.com reported earlier this week, Starbucks has published a full page ad in the New York Times — a stark, black, page with a tiny caption “Shall We Overcome?” in the middle, and the words “RaceTogether” with the company logo, on the bottom right. The ad, along with a similar one in USA Today, is part of an initiative launched this week by the coffee store chain to stimulate conversation and debate about the race in America by getting employees to engage with customers about the perennially hot button subject.
     Granted, the servers are not required to engage with customers, but I'm pretty sure that most of their employees are more than eager to ruffle a few feathers in favor of the corporate strategy.  Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz maintains that he is not trying to cause friction between his company and the general public, saying "It it is so vitally important to the country, and that the United States is so much better than what the current state of race relations portray it to be".  But remember, this is the guy whose opinions on same-sex marriage, abortion, gun control, and the Bible fall on the far left side of the spectrum.  So do you think he really has any interest in hearing conservative opinions on any of these topics, let alone race relations?
     What happens if someone consents to a conversation with the barista and agrees that race relations were a flash point at Ferguson, but goes on to point out that race turned out not to be the real issue in the death of Michael Brown; it was the actions of Michael Brown, himself.  Or how will the barista respond to the customer's question, "Do you think race relations have been politicized in this country"?  Is that the kind of conversation that Starbucks is looking for?  Or is it all one-sided, and this is just another publicity stunt to taunt the public with the corporation's progressive agenda?
     I don't know about you, but I am paying for a warm and cozy experience ... I don't need -- or want -- to be bombarded with social commentary.  According to their own mission statement, here is what Starbucks is all about:
•  Creating a culture of warmth and belonging, where everyone is welcome.
•  Acting with courage, challenging the status quo and finding new ways to grow our company and each other.
•  Being present, connecting with transparency, dignity and respect.
•  Delivering our very best in all we do, holding ourselves accountable for results.
•  We are performance driven, through the lens of humanity.
     I guess what really bothers me, is that I know good and well that this company is not interested in the "free flow" of ideas, or in having mutually respectful dialogue.  This is just a not-so-subtle way of driving the public discussion in their pre-determined direction.
     So, let me just give them a piece of unsolicited advice... all I want from them is the warm, welcoming atmosphere and a good cup of coffee; a place to escape the politicization of our society.  I don't need them to "be present" or "to connect".  I can go to a political rally for that.  As far as their performance, all I want them to do is deliver the best cup of coffee they can; that's what I'm paying for.  And I'm willing to bet that this latest social campaign gets dropped before the next buttery caramel sauce can sink to the bottom of a macchiato.

Titus 3:9    "But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless."

Israel: What Does The Future Hold?

     Yesterday morning, as I awoke, I was keenly aware that the nation of Israel was deciding on its next leader.  And just as in the days of old, the decision they would make would have important consequences.

Samuel anoints Saul

     For most of its early history, the nation of Israel was led by judges and prophets. The prophets relayed the word of God, while the judges counseled the people in times of peace, and led them to battle in times of war.  Then in the year 880 BC, after 400 years of being led by prophets and judges, the people approached the Prophet Samuel, desiring a king “like all the other nations.”   Although God was disappointed in their lack of faith in relying on Him to reign over them, He nevertheless allowed Samuel to anoint Saul as Israel's first king.  We know the rest of the story ... Saul fell out of favor with God for disobeying His command to wipe out all the inhabitants of the Nephilim tribes in the Promised Land.  God then anoints David, a young shepherd, as King over Israel.  It is through his line that the true King of Israel, Jesus Christ, would be born.  God is Sovereign in all that He does and allows to happen.
     And that is what I am telling myself this morning, as it appears that Benjamin Netanyahu has been re-elected as the Prime Minister of Israel.  The choices couldn't have been any more stark, or any more grave.  Netanyahu had vowed that there will be no more concessions to terrorists while on his watch.  His primary opponent based his election promises on Socialism and Negotiations; both of which would have been injurious to Israel and the rest of the world.  They've been there before, and it did not work in their favor.
     In fact, the Bible records the consequences of Israel splitting their nation in two after the death of King Solomon in 796 B.C.   The unified nation of Israel had been strong and able to hold its own against the nations that surrounded them.  But the division came as a result of tribal discord and political unrest.  This left the once strong, unified nation a weak, divided nation; and it fell prey to the re-emerging empires of Egypt, Assyria and later, Babylon.  The peoples of the Northern Kingdom, Israel; and the Southern Kingdom, Judah, were carried off into captivity and scattered across the world.
     Now, after 2,000 years, they have returned to their homeland, and even recaptured Jerusalem, the City of David, where the Lord will one day sit upon His earthly throne.  But political unrest and discord have once again settled upon the land of Israel.  The nations of the world have sought concessions of "land for peace", while continuing to plan Israel's total destruction.

Israelis vote in what could be the
election of their lifetimes

    I believe the future of the nation of Israel hung in the balance yesterday during the nation's elections.  Depending on who won, Israel would either determine victory over her enemies -- or assure her own eventual extermination.  At the crux of the issues facing Israel is the Palestinian state.  As Breitbart.com points out, "The 'two-state solution' for peace—which is the only platform largely supported by the international community—has shown to be a complete failure in securing peace for both Israel and the Palestinian people.  With the signing of the 1993 Oslo Accords, Israel became the first country to give Palestinians self-governing land. In 2005, Israel forcibly removed all Jews from the Gaza Strip in exchange for hopes of an elusive peace. In both instances, and other “land for peace” endeavors, the result has always been the same: the creation of hostile Palestinian entities that have chosen to seek Israel’s destruction through militant conquest and delegitimization practices."
     In ancient history, the nation of Israel had to live in fear of being conquered by Egypt, Assyria and Babylon.  Today, they are surrounded by state sponsors of terror like Iran and the emerging Caliphate of ISIS.  We saw what happened nearly 2600 years ago when they did not strengthen themselves from within -- their weakened state left them vulnerable to oppressive regimes.  Today, the same holds true; only the stakes are higher.  If Israel weakens their position, making further concessions or withdrawals, they won't just be scattered across the world -- they could very well be totally decimated by a nuclear Iran, or Iran's proxies.
     Voter turnout in Israel was relatively high, showing that the people are aware of the gravity of this election.  (Of course, we cannot ignore the fact that busloads of Arab voters were transported in -- seems as if voter fraud knows no national boundaries).  But ultimately, with the apparent victory of Benjamin Netanyahu, -- who has declared there will be no Palestinian State as long as he is in office -- the nation has secured (for now) the unconditional, eternal covenant that YHWH made with their ancestor Abraham -- to be restored to, and possess, the land He gave them.  Let's pray that they have elected the best man; one who will honor that sacred covenant.  And let them remember that they are not to be like "all the other nations".  It is prophesied by the Apostle Paul that Israel will one day come into its full purpose of world leadership.  Is Netanyahu the man who will fulfill that prophesy?  Only God knows the "big picture" ... but when the final victory is declared, we will have a pretty good idea of where their immediate future lies.

Jeremiah 23:1-4    "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord. Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord."

Ignore God's Calendar At Your Own Risk!

     How do you think you would live your life if you didn't have a calendar? Would you miss important dates and appointments?  Just how would you live your life differently? Would the passing of time matter; or how would you keep track of forecasts, predictions, and forewarnings?  On a very simple level, think of it this way ... without a calendar, how would a farmer know when it was the proper timing to plant his crops? Or, if a doctor tells you that you only have a few months to live, how would you keep track of time, and how would you spend those remaining days?

     Well, since the world was created, man has turned to the heavens to track time and to prognosticate about his future.  But in these days of such advanced technology, we are looking down at our computers or our phones ... and I fear that it may jeopardize our survival.  We would do well to listen to such learned men as Jonathan Cahn, author of “The Harbinger” and “The Mystery of the Shemitah,”; both books that point us to God's signs and signals for the future of man.

     This year, 2015, is remarkable for heavenly portents of God's design for this world.  They have not gone unnoticed by secular man; but their weightier significance is lost on the uneducated.  So let me attempt to enlighten you, and I think you will find that what I am about to disclose is -- at the very least -- fascinating.  And you just might find that the implications are astounding!

     You might have heard meteorologists and weather forecasters predicting a solar eclipse on March 20th, just a few days away.  There has also been much talk about the "Blood Red Moon" events of 2014-15.  Since I see all things through a Biblical worldview, it shouldn't surprise you if I point out that these events and dates coincide with a Biblical calendar instituted by God.  After all, He tells us in Genesis 1:14 that He created the lights in the heavens "[to mark] seasons, days, and years".  These "lights" include the sun, moon, and stars.

     So, taking the next step ... what do I mean by Biblical calendar events?  Do I mean to say that God has established certain days and holidays that can be tracked in the heavenly skies and on an earthly calendar?  Absolutely!  Of course, man in the form of Julius Caesar and Pope Gregory XIII had to go and mess with the Jewish lunar calendar, as established by God.  So if we are to understand the exact dates we are about to discuss, then it is important to keep to the Jewish Calendar.

      Now, it is also important for us to realize that the Hebrew people have counted and observed 7-year cycles in their agricultural labors, as mandated by the Torah for the Land of Israel -- and they still observe this 7-year cycle in contemporary Judaism.  The 7th year in the 7-year cycle is called a Sabbatical year (God rested on the 7th day, the Sabbath), or a Shemitah year.  The Hebrews were to let the land rest, and were promised bountiful harvests if they followed this commandment.  They were "to release" the land from its activity, as well as releasing their brethren from their debts.  It was to be a year of freedom and relying on God.  

     Furthermore, there was a certain perfection of the Sabbath Year legislation. It provided for a double portion of rest every 50th year. Each 49th year would be a Sabbath Year (7 x 7), followed by a Jubilee Year in the 50th, so that for two consecutive years the people would be bound to restore the land, restore personal and economic freedom, and depend on God.  Land reverted back to its original owner, and slaves were set free.  It was to be a time of liberation and celebration!

     So why should all this be of interest to us?  Well, it turns out that there are a tetrad of Blood Red Moons in 2014-15, PLUS this event coincides with the beginning of the “Shemitah” as well as a “Jubilee Year”.  That's right!  There is a convergence of all these God-ordained events within the time-frame of one year!  The current Shemitah Year began on September 25, 2014, and runs to September 13, 2015.  And let's not forget the Blood Moons and the upcoming Solar Eclipse.  

     In the Jewish tradition, a Lunar Eclipse has forecast a bad omen for the Jewish People or the Land of Israel.  A Blood Moon has meant that a sword (or judgment) was coming.  A Solar Eclipse has pointed to a bad omen for the world.  So, if we are to give any of this credence, we should be able to point to incidents in history in which these events have occurred and in which these predictions actually happened, right?

     Consider these interesting facts, and partial list of events:  

•  Four TOTAL lunar eclipses occurred on the Jewish Passover and Feast of Tabernacles in 162 - 163 AD, coinciding with the worst persecution of Jews… and Christians in the history of the Roman Empire. Within 3 years the Antonine Plague killed eight million people, a third of the population. 

•  Four TOTAL lunar eclipses occurred on the Jewish Passover and Yom Kippur Holidays in 842 - 843 AD. Shortly after the eclipses the Vatican church in Rome was attacked and looted by an Islamic invasion from Africa.

•  Four TOTAL lunar eclipses occurred on the Jewish Passover and the Feast of Trumpets Holidays in 1493 – 1494. Only months after King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain ordered all Jewish people to leave the country (after about 200 AD, Spain became and remained a second Jewish homeland for well over a millennia. So deeply woven into the fabric of Spain are the Jews that neither history can be fully studied without considering the influence of the other).

     And if you're thinking that this is all just coincidence, and nothing has happened in recent history, take a look at this event:

•  Fouyr TOTAL lunar eclipses occurred during the 1948-49 time period (one year) of the founding of the modern nation of Israel.

•  Four TOTAL lunar eclipses occurred on the Jewish Passover and Feast of Tabernacle in 1967 - 1968 coinciding with the 6 Day War when Israel recaptured Jerusalem. 

     So, you might be asking, "What does this have to do with me, here in the U.S.?"  Well, here is what has happened on the last two Shemitah years, which occurred in 2001 and 2008 ... 

•  Shemitah year 2001:  America was attacked,  killing nearly three thousand people on 9/11 and this sad day became America's new day of… discredit and humiliation!

•  Shemitah year 2008:  America experienced a stock market crash on September 29 when the market fell 777 points in one day. It was the greatest one-day decline in the history of Wall Street.

     Author Jonathan Cahn is quick to point out that these events are synonymous with the 29th day of Elul on the Jewish calendar (which corresponds to our August-September).  The two biggest single-day stock market crashes in U.S. history occurred on the 29th of Elul -- Sept. 17, 2001 and Sept. 29, 2008.  In the 2008 crash, the Dow fell 777.7 points on the news that the House of Representatives voted down a $700 billion bailout deal.  (Perhaps you've heard that the number "7" has special meaning in a Biblical context ... divine completeness).  Kind of eerie, huh?   

     Now, if you're good at math, you've already figured out that the next Shemitah year is this year, 2015.  And this time, the 29th of Elul will occur on September 13, 2015.  Should we be looking for another catastrophic event to occur?  Don't put it past God, says Mr. Cahn.  "I see a similar phenomenon playing out in America.  [One can trace] the first signs of judgment to 1973, a Shemitah year, following the removal of prayer from public schools in the 1960s and then the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. That started a downhill spiral, with each judgment getting more pronounced, including the stock-market crashes of 1980 and 1987, followed by terror attacks and a market crash in September 2001, then another financial collapse seven years later in September 2008. The present Shemitah year started Sept. 25, 2014, and is now halfway to its climax in September 2015."  

     Is anyone willing to bet that we've changed course enough as a nation to avoid further judgment?  Combine all these occurrences with the Blood Moons and the Solar Eclipse, and it looks like a possible recipe for some sort of cataclysm or catastrophe.  

     Admittedly, if you have no interest in the Bible or God's sovereignty, or just think this is all serendipity at its finest, then you are not going to give this any credence.  That is certainly your prerogative. But there is enough evidence for me to keep a watchful eye on the heavens and to be cognizant of what day it is.  Might it not be wise for you to at least consider what the centuries have disclosed?

For more information about the Blood Moons, click here.  If you would like to know about Jonathan Cahn's warning to America, please click here.

Luke 21:36   "Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen..."

     

Is CERN Recreating the Tower of Babel?

     Are you ready for a mind-blowing topic?  If you are reading this blog post today, then we can determine that the world has not been sucked into a dark vortex, or atomized into more than a trillion particles.  If you are wondering why I would make that astounding statement, it is because yesterday, March 15, 2015, CERN was set to restart its Large Hadron Collider (LHC) for its second 3-year run.  This event would have seen the world's most powerful particle accelerator double its collisional energy.  (As of this morning, I can find no news reports or evidence that they went through with their plan.  I guess we will have to wait and see if they make some kind of big splashy announcement).  But I plan to show you how, once again, Man is trying to "become like God".  And we know what happens every time we try to break into that barrier that separates us from the throne room of God, right?

A portal, or star gate, or wormhole;
Is this what Nimrod had in mind?

     To begin with, if you are like myself, and you are not really sure what CERN is, or what it does, all we really have to go on is information that they disseminate about themselves on their own website.  In the course of describing their mission, CERN maintains that they are an organization of European physicists and engineers who are "probing the fundamental structure of the universe. They use the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments to study the basic constituents of matter – the fundamental particles. The particles are made to collide together at close to the speed of light. The process gives the physicists clues about how the particles interact, and provides insights into the fundamental laws of nature."
     The pursuit of discovering how matter is created began in 1954.  In the past 61 years, the scientists at CERN have developed many accelerators whose purposes include sending a beam through 732 kilometres of solid rock to a project in Italy; boosting negative hydrogen ions to high energies, which will become the source of proton beams for the Large Hadron Collider in 2018;  and conducting all kinds of experiments with "super colliders", which boost beams of particles to high energies before the beams are made to collide with each other or with stationary targets.  Detectors then observe and record the results of these collisions.  One has to ask him or herself, just why do we need this information?  Read on.
     Oh, yeah, one of the scientists involved with CERN -- Dr. Peter Higgs -- is responsible for discovering the "Higgs boson", a particle that gives mass to other particles, and is otherwise known as the "God particle".  And that brings me to the crux of my discussion today.  I readily admit that I am no scientist, and physics was not my favorite subject in school.  But anytime that man determines to explain away the Sovereignty of God in creating the world by dismissing it as a simple matter of "a particle that gives mass to other particles", then I have a problem, and I sense the hair on the back of my neck begin to rise.
     Furthermore, when these same men begin "colliding" these particles at extremely high energies, supposedly for the purpose of discovering how the universe works, then I also smell a rat.  In fact, CERN's own website brushes off the extremely dangerous work of these super colliders by posing these questions:  "What is the universe made of? How did it start?"  They then want us to buy into their seemingly altruistic mission by assuring us that "Physicists at CERN are seeking answers, using some of the world's most powerful particle accelerators."
     In reality, what these scientists are doing is smashing protons which are moving at 99.999999% of the speed of light into each other in order to recreate the conditions a fraction of a second after the Big Bang.  However, there are many far wiser than I who think that what these scientists are really trying to accomplish is far more sinister -- they are trying to open a wormhole.
     In case you are unaware of this term, a wormhole is a theoretical passage through space-time that could create shortcuts for long journeys across the universe. Wormholes are predicted by the theory of general relativity. But be wary: wormholes bring with them the dangers of sudden collapse, high radiation and dangerous contact with "exotic matter".  Our knowledge of the existence of wormholes is a result of the research of physicists Albert Einstein and Nathan Rosen, who used the theory of general relativity to propose the existence of "bridges" (which became known as "wormholes") through space-time.

     Still with me? So exactly why would these scientists at CERN want to create a wormhole?  Could they possibly be trying to recreate the mission of a Sumerian king named Nimrod, who ruled over 4300 years ago from Babylon, and thought he could build a tower (actually a gate) to heaven?  And what did God do?  He destroyed the tower and scattered the peoples across the earth, causing them to lose their common language, and reducing them to strange tongues (babble) so they couldn't understand each other and collectively conspire against Him.
     In so doing, Nimrod became known by many different names ... Baal, Gilgamesh, Orion, Adonis, Apollo, and in Egypt as Osiris, the god of resurrection.  In fact, inside the ancient Greek god Sety’s temple at Abydos, in the Osiris Chapel, is the magnificent depiction of Osiris as a pillar or tower.  The Egyptians called this Osiris pillar the Ta-Wer or ‘bond between heaven and earth’.  This sure seems to mimic the Biblical story of the Tower of Babel, doesn't it?  Think it is just coincidence or some ancient fable?
     But what does that have to do with CERN and its mysterious. and potentially dangerous, experiments?  Does it make you nervous at all that scientists are messing with the universe, and attempting to open a hole -- or portal -- to the unknown?  Is this what Nimrod was trying to do?  If you are a student of the Bible then you know that there are levels of "heaven", and the "dark forces of the spiritual world" live in the second heaven.  Remember Ephesians 6:12, in which the apostle Paul tells us, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places"?  Could these be the "exotic matter" that we have the potential to come in contact with through wormholes?
     Was Nimrod trying to gain access to that next realm and enlist the spiritual forces of evil in his quest to conquer God?  Did he think that opening a portal, or gate, to this next realm that these forces could "come through", so to speak, and strengthen his position, as well as increase his knowledge of how to overpower and become like God?
     The prophet Daniel mentions such beings as "Watchers", or holy ones, who report to God and make decrees on behalf of God.  But Watchers were also mentioned in pseudepigraphal books, such as Enoch and Jubilees, which were popular and influential in the First Century, and ranked alongside the Torah, Psalms and Isaiah in importance to Jews.  These apocryphal books were also alluded to by Peter and Jude in the New Testament, giving them at least historical credibility.  In these instances, "Watchers" were among a superior class of angels, some of whom fell from heaven, led astray by Satan.  In the 7th and 18th chapters of the Book of Enoch, some of the Watchers who fall are imprisoned in the 2nd heaven, and others are cast to earth where they take human women (Enoch 7:3, 18:4) who bear giant offspring (the Nephilim of Genesis 6).
     Again, I ask:  Was Nimrod trying to open the gate to this 2nd heaven?  And what was his goal ... to slay God and take over the throne?  If you read the historical text of the Book of Jasher, you will find this about Nimrod and the building of the Tower of Babel:  "And the Lord knew their thoughts, and it came to pass when they were building they cast the arrows toward the heavens, and all the arrows fell upon them filled with blood, and when they saw them they said to each other, Surely we have slain all those that are in heaven."
     Or was Nimrod trying to create these "wormholes" to allow the Watchers to enter our realm, enlisting their aid in order to gain their knowledge of heaven and help him (Nimrod) attain his goal?  And zooming into the 21st Century, is it possible that these CERN Scientists have already opened portals with their discovery of the so-called "God particle"?  I could certainly entertain that concept as I witness the increasing amount of Evil present on the Earth.  They may not be using arrows to create a portal to the next heaven, as Nimrod did, but wouldn't their powerful beams of atomic matter serve the same purpose?
     In order to fully dissect all the implications of CERN and their experiments, it would take me days of singular posts.  I'm not sure I could ever adequately cover all the connections and significance to our future.  Suffice it to say, that my spirit discerns something more than just scientific advancement for the future of mankind.

     The sculpture of the ancient Hindu goddess Shiva (coming through a portal) at the entrance to the CERN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland does nothing to allay my discomfort.  Shiva is the third god in the Hindu triumvirate. The triumvirate consists of three gods who are responsible for the creation, upkeep and destruction of the world. The other two gods are Brahma and Vishnu. Brahma is the creator of the universe while Vishnu is the preserver of it.  So that leaves Shiva as ... you guessed it ... responsible for the destruction of the world.  Still think CERN is all about scientific experiments?
     And it doesn't help to qualm my fears when I hear famed scientists such as Stephen Hawking sounding the alarm bells; it seems somehow prophetic when he warns that the "God Particle" could destroy the universe.  Other well-respected scientists warn that CERN's Super Collider is so powerful it could produce particles of dark matter, the mysterious stuff whose gravity holds the galaxies together.  They warn that there is a possibility of a cataclysmic event in which CERN creates a black hole that swallows the earth ... their words, not mine.
     I certainly am not qualified to make any kind of prophetic statement or even guess as to where this all leads.  I only know that it seems that once again, instead of worshipping the Sovereignty and Supremacy of God, Man thinks he can become equal to God, or ... heaven forbid ... become greater than the Creator of the Universe, Himself.  That only leads to inevitable judgment, devastation and God's justifiable wrath.  Have we become as arrogant and rebellious as Nimrod that we are about to repeat ancient history?  God have mercy on us!

If you are interested in reading more about CERN and its connections to the Tower of Babel, click here and here. 

Hebrews 11:3   "By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible."

Matthew 16:18

And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros—a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra—a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the [infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it].

     I have deliberately used the Amplified Bible's version of this Scripture today.  I have found that I often prefer this version because the Amplified Bible (AMP) attempts to take both word meaning and context into account to accurately translate the original text from one language into another.  We have lost so much in the translations from Hebrew to Greek to Latin to English; sometimes the chosen English word just doesn't do the Scripture justice.  

     As one of my favorite websites, Bible Gateway, explains it ... "The AMP is based on the American Standard Version of 1901, Rudolph Kittel’s Biblia Hebraica, the Greek text of Westcott and Hort, and the 23rd edition of the Nestle Greek New Testament as well as the best Hebrew and Greek lexicons available at the time. Cognate languages, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and other Greek works were also consulted. The Septuagint and other versions were compared for interpretation of textual differences. In completing the Amplified Bible, translators made a determined effort to keep, as far as possible, the familiar wording of the earlier versions, and especially the feeling of the ancient Book."  I think you can see that this Bible version has gone to exhaustive lengths to preserve the original meaning of Scripture.  And we certainly need to know the context and the understanding of the First Century when trying to comprehend what our Lord is telling us here.

     First of all, we need to understand where Jesus and His disciples are standing when he declares this oft-repeated verse to Peter.  The chapter of Matthew 16 takes place in Caesarea Philippi, which was an ancient Roman city located at the southwestern base of Mount Hermon, adjacent to a spring, grotto, and related shrines dedicated to the head of the Greek gods, Zeus, and his son, Pan.  

     In the Old Testament, this region was known as Bashan.  You might recognize that word in the context of "Og of Bashan", a giant king mentioned in Joshua, Chapter 12, who was defeated by both Moses and Joshua.  Og was a descendant of the Nephilim, the offspring of the union between Fallen Angels and human women; which is noted in the controversial (yet true) passage of Genesis 6:1-4.  Even more amazing is that Mount Hermon was the exact location where the Fallen Angels descended to corrupt humankind.

     This area would have made Peter and his fellow disciples very uneasy.  They knew they were standing on ground that the Nephilim had inhabited, and in Jewish theology, the spirits of these dead warrior-kings were demons.  They believed that this area, with its connection to Fallen Angels and temples dedicated to Zeus and Baal worship, was the entryway to the underworld -- the gates of Sheol, which simply means “the place of the dead” or “the place of departed souls/spirits.”  (The New Testament Greek equivalent is Hades, or in English, Hell).  In this case, with its history involving Fallen Angels, it was an area of evil departed spirits, or demons.

     Therefore, Peter clearly understood what Jesus was saying -- that when He referred to "the rock" on which He would build His Church, He did not mean either Peter or Himself.  Peter and the other Disciples knew Jesus was talking about the very rock on which they were standing -- the foot of Mount Hermon, the demonic headquarters of the Old Testament and the Greek world.

     Perhaps you have believed the comparatively recent explanation that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" describes the Church defending itself against an assault by Evil.  But the word "against" does not appear in the original Greek translation.  Try getting a sense of the phrase without that word ... "the gates of hell will not withstand it."

     See the difference?  What Jesus is really saying is that the Church is the aggressor!  Our Lord was declaring war against Evil and Death.  Jesus declared His plan to start His Church on that very spot -- on the top of the gates of hell -- and He would crush both Evil and Death, and bury them!  He was declaring Victory over the demonic spirits and their rulers!  

     By proclaiming Peter as like a large rock, He was telling him that he need not be afraid of the power of Sheol; the power of Jesus's Church was a huge rock and would smash the rocks upon which the gates of hell rested.  Knowing the area in which they stood, you can imagine what a powerful affirmation that was for Peter!

     As you can see the true understanding of this Scripture is a bit more dramatic than we have assumed in the past.  It is not about the Church defending itself against an onslaught of evil, but about Jesus intending His Church to take the fight to the Enemy.  This understanding is so much more profound and insightful!  I think you will agree with me that anytime we can grow our knowledge of Scripture, we are blessed and enlightened.

     

     

     

The Mark of the Cross: A Sign of Victory

     Talk of the "Mark of the Beast" is a growing subject these days.  You don't have to be a Bible-believing Christian to be aware of its significance; every secularist who watches the parade of world events on the nightly news, and every video-gamer who enters the virtual world, is exposed to the ramifications of Evil's influence upon mankind.  And for centuries there has been controversy over exactly what this "mark" will look like and how it will be administered.
     But did you know that there is also historical evidence of a "Mark of the Cross"?  Christians have long been cognizant of the "seal of God" that is forecast as appearing on the foreheads of Believers in the Book of Revelation.  It has been understood throughout the centuries of Christianity that this is a spiritual seal; a sign that one belongs to God and one that only the spiritual realm can see.  I am in perfect agreement with that.
     But a recent news story by Walid Shoebat, the outspoken former member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, and radicalized Muslim turned Christian, reveals that the sacred sign of the Cross has long been utilized in both spiritual and real-world war scenarios.  In fact, through the spiritual power of the Cross, the physical manifestation of the symbol has long conquered evil, "transitioning into a temporal war in which the darkness is combated through arms" and human warfare.

Iraqi Christian forces march during their graduation
ceremony in the northwestern town of Fishkhabur

      That is why I found it extremely interesting to hear his report about "Iraq’s first Christian-only brigade of regular forces [recently graduated] to help retake the community’s towns and villages from the Islamic State group while they put the mark of God — the Holy Cross — on their foreheads, before marching to battle against ISIS. Christians are reviving a biblical custom from Ezekiel’s time in which God demanded to mark the foreheads of the followers of the true God (explained later)."
     It seems that in the wake of the decimation of Christian communities in ancient Iraq, Christian fighters have stepped forward to declare their faith and their intention of invoking God's power and protection in reclaiming their country from the evil that is ISIS.  In so doing, they are adopting the historical practice of applying the "Mark of the Cross" to their foreheads.
     So, I ask you to consider the questions that Mr. Shoebat poses:  Is the implementation of this Mark meant to be a spiritual mark or is it intended to be literal as a physical mark that is visible by the naked eye? In other words, is the Christian marked only with a spiritual mark, or is he also required to have a physical mark, or even both? Or is it possible that this whole issue is simpler than we all think; is it unusual, after all, for two opposite sides -- the followers of Christ on the one side and the followers of Antichrist on the other -- to express their allegiance to their god by displaying physical marks that are visible to everyone; either for Christ, or for Antichrist, to show the world which side they are on?

     I'd like you to consider the following examples from Biblical history ... First, we have the physical marking of the blood on the doorposts of the Israelites as they prepared to make their Exodus from Egypt.  The shape of that blood [which would repel the Angel of Death] was in the shape of a Cross.  Again, as Walid Shoebat points out, "When the Israelites fought in a battle in the 17th chapter of Exodus, Moses prayed for God’s help. However, Moses prayers were only heard when he prayed with his hands extended making a cross or a “T” shape similar to the form of Christ when He was crucified.  Moses who was an Old Testament prefigurement, or type of Christ, demonstrated (probably unknowingly) the symbol by which the Israelites (and us) would be saved."
     Then, there is the account in the 8th chapter of Ezekiel when the Lord transports his spirit to Jerusalem to see the wickedness and pagan rights taking place in His Temple.  Scripture records what Ezekiel saw in his vision:  "Then He brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the Lord’s house; and behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz [a Babylonian god, who was supposed to die annually and subsequently be resurrected] .... And He brought me to the inner court of the Lord’s house; and behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the bronze altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, and they were bowing themselves toward the east and worshipping the sun ...".
     In the 9th Chapter of Ezekiel we see what the Lord instructs the prophet to do about these abominations:  "And [the Lord] called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s ink bottle at his side.  And the Lord said to him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in the midst of it.  And to the others He said in my hearing, Follow [the man with the ink bottle] through the city and smite; let not your eye spare, neither have any pity."
     This was obviously a physical mark that was inked upon the foreheads of faithful men to distinguish them from those that were evil.  This same mark was boldly displayed during the Crusades, when Christian soldiers fought the Muslims.  "They had the cross engraved onto their chests and their shields so as to signify the mystical lifting of their crosses within the heart and the spirit."  [It is not my purpose to uphold all that was done during the Crusades in the name of Christ, but to simply point out that the mark of the Cross was physically present during this religious warfare).

     And so it is today.  I think we would all agree that the attempt to establish an Islamic Caliphate in the Middle East is, at its center, a religious war.  But it is also a spiritual war; the forces of evil are active in influencing the atrocities of ISIS, and they wear their allegiance on their foreheads in the form of headbands that read:  “There is no god but God, Muhammad is the messenger of God.”
     But now there is a small brigade of 600 Assyrian Christian warriors who have declared their loyalty to the true God YHWH, and proudly display their Mark of the Cross as they strive for victory.  May all the powers and forces in the spiritual realm take notice that Jehovah Nissi (The Lord is My Banner), not only leads, but is in the midst of this battle, and His power is mighty to conquer.  God’s presence and power will take these brave fighters into the battle and assure their victory when the battle is done.  Just as we are called upon to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we must pray for the Iraqi Christians who are on the front lines of this spiritual and physical war!

2 Chronicles 20:17   "You shall not need to fight in this battle; take your positions, stand still, and see the deliverance of the Lord [Who is] with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Fear not nor be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you."

What Constitutes A Traitor These Days?

     According to Webster's Dictionary, a traitor is: a person who is not loyal to his or her own country, friends, etc. : a person who betrays a country or group of people by helping or supporting an enemy.  Pretty serious accusation, wouldn't you say?  And treason, what is it's definition?  Again, according to Webster's, it is "the crime of trying to overthrow your country's government or of helping your country's enemies during war".

     I bring up these definitions because that is what The New York Daily News has called Senator Tom Cotton in, what I consider, is a libelous front page editorial.  It appears that Mr. Cotton, who spearheaded a group of 46 fellow Republican Senators, took his job seriously as a representative of the people of this great nation, and wrote a letter to the leaders of Iran, informing them of just how our Constitutional system works when it comes to ratifying any treaties -- in case they were thinking of pulling any end-around play in gaining U.S. approval for their nuclear proliferation.
      What is it about Tom Cotton's letter that has the political world in such an uproar?  First of all, I don't think it is actually his letter that is the problem.  After all, in essence, all he did was paraphrase Article II of the Constitution, by informing the Iranian regime that any deal cut with the President without Congressional approval would be subject to alterations by Congress and revocable by future presidents.  And for that, his actions are labeled "bordering on treason" by a former Democratic politician.  But does that simple letter meet the qualifications for the definition of treason?  It hardly appears to be an attempt to "overthrow the government", or of "helping our country's enemies during war".
     Like I said, the letter and its contents aren't the problem.  I believe the real problem is Tom Cotton, himself.  You see, Mr. Cotton is representative of a new breed of elected Congressmen who actually have the credentials, and the experience, to back their positions.  Mr. Cotton is the youngest member of the Senate and a graduate of Harvard and Harvard Law School.  But it is his military demeanor and record that I think offends the political establishment the most.  He served as an infantry officer in the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq in 2006, arguably one of the bloodiest periods of the war. 
      Like many of his military counterparts, he has returned home from serving his country on the battlefield, and has answered the call to serve in the Halls of Congress.  From my perspective, who better to lend their voice to the ongoing debate over our interventionist policies in foreign wars?  For me, whether he is a hawk or dove isn't the issue -- I would rather have someone involved in developing our country's policies , who has "walked the walk", than all the career politicians who are there because they can "talk the talk" better than the next guy, or have a bigger campaign chest.
      No, I believe the Establishment in D.C. is none too fond of the likes of Tom Cotton, who after facing our enemies on the front lines of war-torn Iraq, is none too intimidated by our domestic enemies, who would defeat us through diplomatic channels.  In fact, I don't think the Establishment knows how to deal with Tom Cotton, who is known for his discipline, and his fearless defense of his principles.  While at Harvard, he wrote a 92-page thesis on the Federalist Papers, showing his keen interest in how government works.  After the attacks on 9-11, he joined the Army and spent almost five years on active duty, including as a platoon leader on combat patrols in Baghdad.  He is also known for his unwillingness to compromise, even if it means going against party lines.  (You've got to admire him for that!)  And because of his bold and defiant schooling of the Iranian leadership, there is now an attempt to invoke the obscure Logan Act to censure him.
     What is the Logan Act?  Enacted in 1799, the Logan Act is a United States federal law that forbids unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments. It was intended to prohibit such negotiations after Pennsylvania state legislator Dr. George Logan traveled to Paris to enter into discussions with the French during a period of severe tensions between our two governments.  His actions were labeled "semi-negotiations", and although his efforts appeared to result in a positive avoidance of all-out war, it angered his political rivals who sought "to curb the temerity and impudence of individuals affecting to interfere in public affairs between France and the United States."  Sounds like the Logan Act was the result of political jealousy and was meant as a slap on the wrist of a political upstart.  Nothing has changed in American politics.
     The use of the Logan Act for political punishment is nothing new.  In 1803 the Act was procured against a private citizen who wrote a letter to a newspaper, advocating a separate U.S. nation in the west that would ally with France.  The subsequent purchase of the Louisiana Territory caused the separatism issue to disappear.  In 1941, it was suggested that the Logan Act could apply to former President Herbert Hoover because of his negotiations with European nations over sending food relief.   In 1975, Senators John Sparkman and George McGovern were accused of violating the Logan Act when they traveled to Cuba and met with officials there.  In 1984, Jesse Jackson traveled to Cuba and Nicaragua to negotiate for the exchange of political prisoners.  Again, the Logan Act was dusted off and implied.
      And I'm sure you all remember the little political trip that Nancy Pelosi took in 2007.  Representative Steve King introduced legislation that would prohibit then-Speaker of the House Pelosi from drawing on Federal funds to travel to foreign states which the U.S. deems to sponsor terrorism. King claimed that Pelosi's dialogue with the Syrian government violated the Logan Act. The amendment was not adopted, of course.
     So, does all this sound like political grand-standing?  Yes!  Political sour grapes?  Absolutely!  Senator Cotton and 46 other Senators did not violate the Logan Act.  There were no "negotiations"; just stated facts about the Constitution.  And to insinuate that he is a traitor to his country, or could be dangerously close to committing treason is absurd.  I, for one, am impressed with his forthrightness, his loyalty to the Constitution and his country, and his unflinching attitude in defending the American people from what he thinks is dangerous policy.
     I think we can actually go back to the original intention of the Logan Act ... "to curb the temerity and impudence" of men like Tom Cotton.  How dare he stand up for the American people and the United States!  May the courage he displayed in the midst of war carry him through the battles he will face in the belly of the beast that is Washington, D.C.  And may he remain steadfast in his determination to defeat those who would defeat us; and avoid the failure of being compromised as so many before him have done.  We, the American people, watch and wait for someone to defend us.

Proverbs 13:6   "Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked."

 
     

The Devil Is Loose In The World!

     I don't care if you are a Bible-believing Christian or not, how could anyone look at what is going on in the world and not recognize the influence of our greatest Enemy?  I'm not talking about your run-of-the-mill negative news stories about corruption, immorality, or greed.  That is the natural state of man's self-centeredness and sinful nature.  And don't get me wrong; I'm not trying to condone compromise in those areas.  No, I'm talking about the in-your-face examples that Satan and his demons are working overtime as they realize their time is short.

     Just consider these headlines -- all in one day -- on one news site!  The first is a story of two Alabama teenagers who face cruelty charges after they were accused of beheading three puppies with a machete and posting video on social media.  Does that sound like the actions of your average "rebellious" teens?  Who does such a cruel act and then gloats by making sure as many people as possible can witness such a barbaric act?  The Bible is full of sacrifices to demonic gods and false idols, and movies like Ouija, often tempt immature minds to seek the occult.  I have no idea what influenced these teens, but it is not of this world.
     The next article featured students in New York who engaged in a racially-charged brawl, using baseball bats and brass knuckles to attack each other, following a lunchroom dispute the day before.  Apparently, the school had contacted parents about the lunchroom altercation, warning them that it might escalate into violence outside of the school's jurisdiction.  Sure enough, the next day the violence erupted; students were injured, and expulsions resulted.  What happened to the ability of school's to be pro-active, rather than reactive?  Is it just accepted these days that racial tension is the norm, and violence cannot be prohibited?  Of course, the attitudes and preconceptions of our kids are modeled after what they see from leadership in their homes, communities, and the nation.  And, oh, how Satan loves to influence leadership and take advantage of personal character flaws.
     Perhaps one of the most hideous and confusing news stories was that of a neighborhood grandmother in Chicago -- a woman described as polite, compassionate, and generous -- who stuffed a sock into the mouth of her 7-month-old granddaughter, before striking her on the head several times, and cutting her throat with a power saw.  This is blatant demonic possession and influence!  What kind of sane person does this?  This is not the normal activity of a human being!  Only a person who hears the voice of Satan could ever commit such heinous deeds.  We may never know what set this woman on this path towards death, but I can guarantee you that it originated in the spiritual realm.
     But the news site wasn't limited only to stories within our own country.  And increasingly, around the world, we are seeing demonic activity centered around the abuse of children.  In Cairo, Egypt, a 12-year-old student was beaten to death, suffering head injuries and a brain hemorrhage, because he failed to do his homework!  Throughout the world, children are subjected to the sex slave trade; girls are kidnapped and forced into marriage by Islamic religious fanatics; and young boys are twisted into becoming ruthless killers and hate-filled ideologues, participating in brutal murders -- such as the story of the baby-faced executioner who looks to be no older than 12, and appears to kill an Israeli Arab who confesses to being a Mossad spy in the latest stomach-turning video released by ISIS.
     Like I said at the beginning of this essay, all of these stories appeared in one day on the same news site.  I cannot stress enough that we, as people -- and especially as Christians! -- need to be aware of the spiritually demonic influences that abound in the world today.  Satan knows his time is short; the Lord will not put up with such sin and unrighteousness and evil for much longer.  So spiritual warfare is in full swing, and the evidence is everywhere.  We can see it in the emotional and physical manifestations of the devil's hatred for God and mankind; we see it in the bitterness, the growing occultic activity, the absolutely inhuman actions of cruelty, and the general immorality and rebellion of civilized people.

     BUT, here's the caveat!  Don't let the overwhelming evidence of Satan's presence in the world dishearten you!  Nothing happens in this realm that God does not control.  Satan, being the narcissistic, self-glorifying entity that he is, thinks he is making great strides in accomplishing his purposes.  What he doesn't know is that God will use every one of his evil deeds for His own good purposes.  Just think about it ... the devil thought he had scored a victory by instituting Judas's betrayal, which led to the death of our Savior.  But God used that event to showcase His Supremacy and Sovereignty in the most spectacular and miraculous restoration of our Lord!
     It is our duty as followers of the risen Lord to be aware that the battle goes on -- that Satan will not give up trying to win the world until Jesus defeats him once and for all.  So be mindful of the schemes and strategies of your Enemy; of his program to overwhelm you with his spiritual power.  It is real and it exists!  While we have the weapons to recognize it and fight it, we must be aware and prepared to face it!

Psalm 44:5    "Through You we will push down our enemies; through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, nor shall my sword save me. But You have saved us from our enemies, and have put to shame those who hated us. In God we boast all day long, and praise Your name forever."
     

History and Idolatry: Where Will It End?

     Officials at the United Nation's are calling it a "war crime" ... the world's archeologists and historians are mourning the loss of world heritage sites.  And it's all because ISIS is set on a path of destruction.  The furor is over the recent demolition of ancient historical sites in the Middle East.

     It began last summer when the radical terrorists destroyed the tomb of the prophet Jonah in the ancient city of Nineveh, near Mosul.  It has continued with the latest attacks in the Assyrian city of Nimrud in northern Iraq, destroying the 3,000 year-old winged statues placed at the gates of the Palace of Ashurnasirpal.  (If you know your Biblical history, this city was named for Nimrod, the king who rebelled against God and was responsible for the building of the tower of Babel).
     Over this last weekend, ISIS began the destruction of the 2,000-year-old city of Hatra, where a temple to the Shamash sun god still stands more than 1,750 years after the Sassanian empire razed the Mesopotamian city.   ISIS were also seen carrying away ancient artifacts.  And in the last few days, they have set their sites on Khorsabad, the ancient capital of Assyria built by King Sargon II shortly after he came to power in 721 B.C., and abandoned after his death in 705 B.C.  It features a 24-meter thick wall with a stone foundation and seven gates.  Shortly after the unexpected death of Sargon in battle, the capital was shifted a short distance south to Nineveh.  The sculptured stone slabs that once lined the palace walls are now displayed in museums in Baghdad, Paris, London and Chicago.

     So what is the significance of these ancient cities to the religious fighters, ISIS?  The official reasoning for all the destruction of these ancient sites is the militant group's plan to rid its territory of symbols they say promote idolatry.  In early 2015, they announced their intention to destroy many ancient artifacts, because they are graven images or are otherwise un-islamic, and they have destroyed thousands of books and manuscripts in Mosul's libraries.
     In February 2015, ISIL destroyed Akkadian monuments in the Mosul Museum, and then came the attack on Nimrud, as they bulldozed its archeological site on the basis that they were blasphemous -- which one attacker filmed declaring, "These ruins that are behind me, they are idols and statues that people in the past used to worship instead of Allah. The Prophet Muhammed took down idols with his bare hands when he went into Mecca. We were ordered by our prophet to take down idols and destroy them, and the companions of the prophet did this after this time, when they conquered countries.”
     The first thing that comes to mind is the similar contempt that Christianity has for idolatry.  YHWH commanded the Israelites to worship only Him, and when they failed (as they did so many times when they turned to idol worship), it was God's wrath that was poured out on men and nations. And this where I see the difference.  Throughout the history of Christianity, it was God who destroyed the idols.  Here are just a few examples:
Ezekiel 30:13:  This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "'I will destroy the idols and put an end to the images in Memphis. No longer will there be a prince in Egypt, and I will spread fear throughout the land.
Micah 5:13:  [And in that day, says the Lord]:  I will destroy your idols and your sacred stones from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands.
Zephaniah 2:11: The Lord will be awesome to them, for He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth;
      What one must recognize is that man builds the idols, but it is the power of God who destroys them.  Just as when the prophet Elijah defeats the prophets of Baal, it is the power of God that gives him the victory.  What I am seeing in Iraq, is ISIS determined to promote a fiercely purist interpretation of Sunni Islam, in defiance of Iraq's majority Shi'ite Muslims.  Is it really about honoring their god, or is it about rejecting the religious shrines of their sectarian rival, and the holy sites shared by Christians and Jews in the area? It appears as if they want to wipe any trace of other religious influences from Iraq in their goal of establishing the Islamic Caliphate.  What better way than to destroy ancient artifacts that bear witness to the diversity of faiths throughout history?
     But here's my question ... if they are trying to establish a fundamentalist identity and erase the historical proof of other religions, what is to stop them from distributing their destruction to other "shrines" in Israel, Europe, and the West?  Haven't they declared that the Caliphate will dominate the world?  Will they be the ones to try and institute a One World Religion?  It's obvious that is what they desire.
     I also find it ironic that our Bible predicts the destruction of Babylon and her idolatrous ways at the end of days.  The connections between radical Islam; the destruction of ancient idols and shrines in Nineveh, Nimrud, Hatra, and Khoursabad; and the mention of Babylon, which was begun by Nimrod cannot be denied.  Is this just the beginning of God's judgment upon the earth for the centuries of idolatrous worship of foreign gods?  Will ISIS clear the way for the Anti-Christ to reveal himself, by using their religion to establish himself --- and then when they have served their usefulness, he destroys them, and declares himself God?
     I don't know what it all means, but it sure seems as if it's all connected.  History is being destroyed before our very eyes, and I have to wonder, when and where will it end?  I feel God's hand in it, and the only thing I know for sure is, that whatever happens, He will be glorified.  All the shrines and false idols and false religions will not hinder Him!

Isaiah 45:20   "Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save."


   
   

Where Are We Headed?

   

     I don't know if you can identify, but there are days that it just seems too much ... too much to cope with; too much to look at; and too much to bear.  I never would have imagined that I would see such public displays of barbarity-- crucifixions, beheadings, mass murders -- as I have seen coming from religious fanatics in the Middle East.  Nor could I have imagined people losing their businesses because of their religious faith in this country; or the very image of who we are as a country turned upside down.  Everything from our ability to make a living, to feeling free to express our faith, to our right to speak out against injustices is now at stake.
     I read ridiculous stories of women losing their gym memberships because of violating a "no judgment policy" for complaining of having to share a restroom with a transgender man.  Then there are all the really serious stories of the breakdown in ethics, morality, and human dignity -- and it is happening in all spheres of our existence; from our governing bodies, to our schools, to our personal lives.  It's as if there are no longer any rules; anything goes, as long as you don't get caught! And tolerance is the byword of the culture -- unless you disagree with their agenda.
     Open up any newspaper, magazine, or website and you are inundated with nightmarish stories.  We, as a society, are so hungry for good, wholesome news, that any act of kindness or compassion becomes a viral success on the internet -- millions of hits by people who need to know that the human race is still capable of showing charity to another human being.
     Have you tried having a serious conversation about the state of the world with anyone lately?  I get remarks like, "Oh, I just don't know what the big deal is ... why should we care about that?"  Sometimes I even get the statement, "Nothing has really changed in the world ... it's been like this for centuries; everything will turn out alright."  Don't you just want to shout, "No, it's not the same ... and if we don't stop where the world is headed, everything WON'T be alright!!!"
     I just wish I could make people realize that there are pivot points in the history of mankind.  Things happen that either propel societies and civilizations to new and greater heights of creativity that benefit man; and which include empathy and mercy towards each other --- OR events occur that stifle and suppress the innovation and resourcefulness of men, which in turn seems to result in plunging humankind to the very depths of indifference and cruelty.  Which era do you think we are in today?
     There will be people who will tell us that we are making too much of things ... that we are evolving as a society and culture; we are more inclusive and less intolerant; and we are entering a new cycle of vision and enterprise in "the computer age".
     Unfortunately, I see far too much negative impact from our so-called "evolution"; much more than any positive effect.  It's true that in the recent past, the Industrial Revolution brought mind-blowing conveniences to mankind; inventions that relieved hard, menial work and raised the quality of living for millions world-wide.  But the natural evolution of that period in history has led to the Technology Revolution, and I honestly fear what we are evolving towards.
     A company in Sweden has micro-chipped its employees for the sake of convenience (so they say); and Ray Kurzweil, the famous futurist and Director of Engineering at Google predicts that 2045 is the magic year in which we will be uploading our entire minds to computers.  That says nothing of plans to place computers/robots in the role of your doctor and pharmacist; your lawyer; store clerks; soldiers (that terrifies me!); and babysitters.  This stuff is no longer part of science fiction stories or conspiracy theories ... major developers like Foster-Miller, who has designed the MAARS (Modular Advanced Armed Robotic) system for use in Iraq; and Google who has plans to introduce automated cars, both point towards a future where computers replace people.  As of 2013, it was estimated that 1.2 million industrial robots were working worldwide — that's one robot for every 5,000 people, according to Marshall Brain, founder of How Stuff Works and author of Robotic Nation.
     But, it's not just technology that is streaming us towards a future that lacks the human imprint.  Even our interactions, the structure of our families, and our faith all point to a decrease in the human element.  Interpersonal feedback -- whether between two friends, or between citizen and government -- is no longer done face to face.  It's all done through a text or email.  What's more, the culture is driving us towards a new definition of "family"; one that is often-times created in a laboratory, because it can't be done naturally by humans.  And then there is our faith.  It has been mythologized, stripped of its historic authenticity, and reduced to an "as-needed" basis -- our lives are all about self-worship.  The commandments to "love your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength; and your neighbor as yourself" just don't apply to our self-centered world.
     So, how much longer can this ol' world continue on the path we are on today?  Do you think that the barbarity of ISIS will just go away?  Do you think that Technology will advance the human state?  Do you think that we will just wake up one morning, and the world will have returned to a desire for moral absolutes and personal freedom to live our lives as we choose?
     Think about it ... it's all about control, don't you think? Mankind has mandated climate control, population control, and gun control.  The sense of "true freedom" is slipping through our fingers.  And not only that, we are losing the sense of what it means to be an individual, a unique creation, and to be respected for our differences.  Maybe the history of mankind has always been this volatile and tenuous.  But this is what the deterioration of man's humanity feels like to me ... in my lifetime.  I know that God is ultimately in control, and believe me, that is what sustains me.  I remain focused on Him, and my strength is renewed daily in the knowledge of Him.  He is my comfort on the days when it is all too much.
   
Proverbs 14:12     "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."