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


July 24, 2015

An American Mother's Testimony

     The tragic death of Kate Steinle by an illegal immigrant in the sanctuary city of San Francisco, coupled with Presidential Candidate Donald Trump's spotlight on our undefended southern border, has FINALLY forced the U.S. Congress to listen to the American people about the illegal alien problem in this country.  But for Laura Wilkerson, it is nearly 5 years too late.
     Mrs. Wilkerson was one of several Americans who testified of family member's murders by illegal immigrants who have been protected by this administration's immigration policy.  Testifying during a Congressional hearing, which was called “Oversight of the Administration’s Misdirected Immigration Enforcement Policies: Examining the Impact on Public Safety and Honoring the Victims,” Mrs. Wilkerson recalled how executive amnesty for illegal minors cost her the life of her son, Joshua, who was 18 at the time of his death.  On November 16, 2010, near Houston, TX, Joshua was beaten, strangled, and tortured until he died. He was tied up, thrown in a field, and set on fire.
     To be honest, it is hard to listen to Laura Wilkerson's testimony about her son's murder ... I would be unable to recite the details of his death in the same cool, collected manner that she exhibits.  In the background you can see a man, whom I suspect is Joshua's father, break down as she calmly reads the autopsy report: "This body is received in a grey body bag. There’s a tag on his toe that bears the name, Joshua Wilkerson. This is a white male weighing a hundred pounds. He is tied up with braided rope — 13 loops around his neck in a slipknot. It goes behind his back through his back belt loop. It goes to his hands and his feet, behind his body. He has multiple fractures in his face and nasal cavity. His throat and his voicebox are crushed. He was kicked so hard in the stomach that it sent his spleen into his spine, and sliced it in two… The medical examiner said it was torture.  This body has significant skin loss on his buttocks, his abdomen, his penis, his hands, and his face. He has one stick of gum and a tardy slip in his pocket."
     Then her testimony confronts the Congressional panel with a reality they cannot avoid:  "This was our family’s 9/11 terrorist attack by a foreign invader, whether you want to recognize it or whether you do not," Wilkerson said. "This government continues to fail, or even recognize, that we have an issue. Americans are dying daily at the hands of criminals that we don’t even know are here."
     She then goes on to explain that her son's murderer, Hermilio Moralez, qualified as a "Dream Kid", our government's idealized picture of innocent immigrant children who were brought to this country without their permission, but who have lived here for more than five years, adapted to American life, and "belong here".  But on the witness stand during the trial for Joshua's murder, Hermilio kept muttering how it was "in his country" as the reason why he killed Joshua.  Furthermore, he was not some underprivileged immigrant kid; his parents had provided him with martial arts training and he had attained the rank of black belt.  In a 2010 article, shortly after Joshua's murder, it was revealed that Moralez lied about killing Joshua in self-defense, and as he "led police to where he burned Joshua's body, he tried to grab a cop's gun."
     I know that we cannot paint every immigrant child with the evil brush of Hermilio Moralez's actions, but that is just the point ... we do not know where these kids are coming from, or what criminal background they have been raised in, and who they really are.  So, how does it make sense that they are exempt from immigration law?  And because the Dream Act hasn't quite given cover to all the immigrants coming in, we are now asked to accept sanctuary cities, where law enforcement cannot even question their status or ask for proof of citizenship!
Joshua Wilkerson
     Perhaps the saddest part of Mrs. Wilkerson's testimony was the effect this murder has had on her surviving children, especially Joshua's older brother, who was serving in the military at the time of the murder.  "Joshua’s older brother returned from the battlefield fighting to defend our country, only to find no one was defending his younger brother"... just as no one was defending 21-year-old Grant Ronnebeck, who was killed by an illegal immigrant for a pack of cigarettes as he worked the early morning hours at a convenience store in Mesa, AZ ... or 66-year-old Denny McCann, of Chicago, IL who was struck by a hit-and-run driver, and drug underneath the car for several blocks; the car was driven by an illegal immigrant with a blood alcohol level four times the legal limit ... or Sheriff's Deputy Danny Paul Oliver of Sacramento, CA, who was shot point-blank in the forehead by a twice-deported illegal alien from Mexico during a routine traffic stop.
     The testimonies of these American families, along with the family of the latest victim, Katie Steinle, must be heard.  These are Americans who are not being protected by their own country!  Instead, for whatever agenda is being pursued, illegal immigrants -- many of them with criminal histories, or at least with a different cultural standard about following laws -- are allowed to live here without any kind of supervision or expectation of being lawful citizens.  At this point, unless we can be assured that Americans are going to be protected from the anarchy and criminality of illegal immigrants, we must take a stand so that no more families have to suffer the indescribable grief that the Wilkerson, Ronnebeck, McCann, Oliver, Steinle, and countless other American families have endured.
     I join Laura Wilkerson in her closing statement to the Congressional panel:  "You’re officially notified today there’s a problem. You can’t deny it any longer. You cannot stand by and ignore our families — our American families. You’re elected by Americans, not any other country ... Your silence speaks volumes. You’re either for Americans, or you’re not ... I want you to know that our family is broken, forever. We are forever broken. I don’t want the sympathy. I want you to do  something about it. Every one of you sitting here is in a position to do something. Just throw your hat into the ring for Americans. Quit sitting silent because it’s going to help you get a vote. Throw your hat in the ring and take care of American families."
     The last thing I want to say is this:  The Bible tells us to be compassionate and merciful towards the "sojourner" or alien to our land.  But we are also called to obey the governments instituted by God's hand.  There will be those who argue that our immigration laws are unjust and unfair.  But the Bible does not give one permission to violate a law just because it is perceived as unjust.  I recognize that the vast majority of immigrants throughout our country's history have come here for a better life, but I also believe that it is not Biblical to violate a law to achieve a “good.” The solution to unfair immigration law is not to ignore the law, or subvert it -- it is to work through lawful means to change it.  Our current immigration policy -- or lack thereof -- is not solving the problem, and is causing great harm to legal, lawful Americans.  How many more tragic stories such as that of Joshua Wilkerson and the other victims is it going to take before this nation stops the madness?

For more of Laura Wilkerson's testimony and the story of her son, Joshua, please click here.  

1 Peter 2:13-16    "Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.  Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God."
   

July 23, 2015

Look How Far We've Come!

     As the second video exposing Planned Parenthood's involvement with selling fetal body parts surfaces, we can already see the battle lines being drawn... or not, as the case may be.  While most Americans are horrified by the negotiations revealed in the two videos that have been released, did you happen to notice that most of the mainstream media actually ignored the scandal?
     The undercover video by the Center for Medical Progress was only covered on Fox News, while ABC's This Week, CBS's Face the Nation, CNN's State of the Union and NBC's Meet the Press all ignored the hot story on their Sunday morning political talk shows.  What does that tell you?  More than likely, they received instructions from their political masters to steer clear of this shameful news story.
     As Jeffrey Meyer, of NewsBusters, reported in his article, Brit Hume of Fox News actually hit the nail on the head when he said, "[the video] demonstrates a callousness toward the killing of a human life that is, I think, a product of the abortion culture and where it has taken us. That was true also of Gosnell to an even more revolting extent. And I think that's the problem. It raises a deeper moral question about where all this is taking us.”  (You will recall that Dr. Kermit Gosnell was an abortion physician convicted of murdering three infants who were born alive during attempted abortion procedures.)
     And I think Hume's question is so valid ... where is the abortion culture taking us?  Can you see that in the 42 years, since the Supreme Court decision made Roe v. Wade the law of the land, just how much we have devalued a human life?  Since 1973, when abortion became legal, there has been much effort to remove the stigma that a baby is actually being killed during the procedure.  As long as the abortion took place in the first trimester, the baby could be referred to as "tissue" or "cells".
     Then on the 20th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, President Bill Clinton wrote an Executive Order that removed restrictions on abortions, which allowed "fetal tissue research".  Of course, proponents and scientists cheered loudly as they proclaimed that fetal tissue held the possibility of benefiting patients with Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, Huntington's disease, spinal cord injuries and other conditions. But it also made fetal tissue a marketable commodity for research organizations, and we took another step away from the recognition that this tissue was once a baby.
     Now, here we are another twenty odd years later, and there are advocates for late-term abortions (up to 24 weeks), and we find that fetal body parts are actually being sold to the highest bidder.  We have slid so far down the ethical and decency ladder that I'm not sure we can ever recover moral ground.
     The medical director of the controversial organization Planned Parenthood is seen and heard on the second damning video discussing the use of "a less crunchy technique to get more specimens", and joking about bumping up prices because she "wants a Lamborghini".  The sense that this is a baby we are talking about is completely absent. How have we become so morally vacant?
     Planned Parenthood, of course, will once again say that the video is heavily edited, and that the procurement of fetal tissue is not against the law.  And there will be writers like Time Magazine's Alice Parks, who says in her article Why We Still Need Fetal Tissue Research, "The National Institutes of Health spent $76 million on fetal research in 2014, and fetal tissue has contributed to vaccines for polio, rubella and chicken pox. While recent efforts to transplant fetal tissue to treat conditions like Parkinson’s haven’t been as consistently successful, it’s still critical to scientific progress."  Excuse me ... do they want us to believe that polio, rubella, and chicken pox still require millions of dollars of research to eradicate?  I thought those diseases were controlled long ago.  And I ask you, how is it "progress" to diminish the existence of a baby to sellable body parts?
     Then there is Planned Parenthood’s president Cecile Richards, who defends Planned Parenthood's "donation programs" that are supported by "Women and families [who are] committed to life-saving research ... And [that] should be respected, not attacked."  I'm sorry, but the word "respect" is not one that I can attribute to anyone involved in this decision and this practice.
     But what do we do about the companies and organizations that contribute millions of dollars to Planned Parenthood; and who are complicit in the marketing of fetal tissue and body parts?  There are 41 corporations and organizations that directly contribute to the group.  Would you like to know who they are?  Some will surprise you; others won't.  They are, in alphabetical order: Adobe, American Cancer Society, American Express, AT&T, Avon, Bank of America, Bath & Body Works, Ben & Jerry’s, Clorox, Coca-Cola, Converse, Deutsche Bank, Dockers, Energizer, Expedia, ExxonMobil, Fannie Mae, Ford, Groupon, Intuit, Johnson & Johnson, La Senza, Levi Strauss, Liberty Mutual, Macy’s, March of Dimes, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, Nike, Oracle, PepsiCo, Pfizer, Progressive, Starbucks, Susan G. Komen, Tostitos, Unilever, United Way, Verizon, Wells Fargo, and Xerox.
      In light of the revelation that fetal tissue is also used as "flavor enhancers" in products by Pepsi and Starbuck's popular DoubleShot and Frappacino drinks, it makes you wonder what benefits the other corporations are receiving by supporting the evil deeds of Planned Parenthood.
     We may soon know, because the Center for Medical Progress has promised a new video each week as they produce new evidence and confessions from Planned Parenthood operatives.  No matter how much those who champion the organization applaud their efforts to advance medical research, no one should deny the callousness and the disregard for human life that is exhibited in these filmed exposés.
     The Spirit within me is crying out for justice for these innocent babies who have been reduced to "parts for dollars".  I can imagine them pleading before God in His throne room to defend them and exact His justice on their behalf; all 56 million-plus of them who have suffered this degradation.  Our moral decline is on full view before God and the world, and it's only going to get worse as more videos are released.  May our Lord have mercy on this nation!

To read more from the NewsBuster reports on this scandal, please click here and here.

Isaiah 26:21    "For behold, the Lord is coming out from His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain."
   


July 22, 2015

Why Did It Take So Long?


     I join with the millions of Americans who grew frustrated with the slow response of Congress and the White House to lowering their flags to half-staff after the murder of four Marines and one Navy Sailor in Chattanooga last week.  Yesterday morning, Congress finally issued the proclamation to lower the flag at the US Capitol; and shortly before noon the White House followed suit -- five long days after the murders of these military servants!
     I find it disturbing that within hours of the Navy Yard killings, the Boston Marathon murders, and the Newtown shooting, all federal flags were ordered to half-staff.  So what was so different about this tragedy?  Why did it take days to issue what should have been an immediate response? Oh, yeah, it meant that our government would be honoring our military with the respect and mourning period that they deserved.  I mean, for crying out loud, the White House ordered the flag lowered for Whitney Houston!  I recognize that she was talented, but what has she given the country in comparison to the service of these honorable men?
      What has happened to the sensitivities and diplomacy of this nation?  The White House, which is supposed to be "The People's House", didn't have any trouble lighting up in the rainbow colors of the LGBT community after their Supreme Court win.  And the Empire State Building, which is symbolic of American individualism and the free-enterprise system, lights up in green to celebrate the end of the Islamic "holy" month of Ramadan -- just hours after the murder of the four Marines by a devout Muslim who texted a friend a verse from the Koran which included, "Whosoever shows enmity to a friend of Mine, then I have declared war against him."
     It would have gone a long way towards telegraphing honor and sympathy for our armed services if the White House had lit up in the red, white, and blue; or the Empire State Building had shown some discretion instead of honoring the faith of a killer.  Did they stop to think how this would offend the families of the dead, or would add to the frustration of the American people ... or didn't either of them care?  Somehow, this fact has been overlooked: that Ramadan is the most violent month of the year in the Islamic world, because Ramadan is the month in which Muslims renew their devotion to Allah, and violent jihad is a supreme act of devotion to Allah.  Does anyone need to be reminded of the massive numbers of heinous beheadings, massacres, and shootings that happened during this "holy" month of this proclaimed religion of peace ... including the deaths of these American soldiers on our home soil???
     But as disappointed and disheartened as I've been over the lack of respect shown these fallen heroes, I have been proud of the response of the American people themselves.  Governors of individual states followed Tennessee's lead and began lowering their flags at half-staff; choosing to act on their own in showing their respect and consideration for the families.  And I have to admit that I teared up a few times as the stories began appearing across the media spectrum of individual citizens showing up outside recruitment centers to exercise their Second Amendment rights and guard our unarmed military personnel.  The military's current policy of unarmed personnel on military installations must change!
     Time and again, across the country, Americans chose to take a stand and protect those who protect us.  Their locations may have varied, but their cause was the same throughout the land:  "Too many people have died for our freedoms.  I’ve never been in the military.  I never served as law enforcement, but I certainly am grateful for those men and women who have died in the past to secure those freedoms" (Virginia).  "To think [that] the people who are supposed to protect and serve us are unable to protect themselves ... So if we, the citizens, who carry legal permits, are able to help protect them, then that's what we're gonna do"  (Georgia).  "We're the third line of defense; the military, then law enforcement and then we, the people.  I just can't sit back and not let these guys be protected... If it takes the citizens to come together to arm these types of establishments, then we'll do so until the government steps up" (New Hampshire).  In Wayne County, Ohio, sheriff's deputies stood watch outside recruitment centers -- on their own time.  "We're here today on our own time. This isn't something that we are being compensated for, [we are here] simply as a way to show support for our service men."
     Let's quit pretending.  Our government does not respect or honor our military.  The VA Hospital debacle (which has still not been remedied) proves that point.  The continued budget cuts and downgrading of our military defense options paints a clear picture.  The ranks of the military are being confounded with policies that promote homosexuality and transgenderism, while denouncing any display or action of Christian faith.  Just like the culture, God is being removed from the military, and the results will be devastating.
     We can all try to put a happy face on this situation, but we know better.  It is up to each of us to bolster and support our military; to show them that there are millions of us who honor their personal sacrifice and their commitment to the Constitution and the ideals of this nation (what little is left of both).  We all know that the call has gone out across the terrorist social media outlets to attack our soldiers and military installations.  We must demand that our elected representatives take this threat seriously and allow our service men and women to protect themselves.  With each act of murder in the homeland, our enemy gets stronger and bolder.  The American people no longer accept delays and excuses from those who are supposed to "faithfully execute" their offices, and with "true faith and allegiance" defend the Constitution ... the enemy has breached the wall and our protectors are under attack.  Be the leaders you were elected to be!

1 Peter 2:19     "For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly."  

   

July 21, 2015

As Go The Universities, So Goes The Culture

     I know by the comments that I receive on my blog posts, that my audience consists largely of "seasoned" men and women; mostly Christian in faith.  We have all lived enough years to have seen the dramatic changes in our country and culture.  And if you are like me, you have a healthy concern over where the future generations will take this nation, once founded on Biblical faith and principles.
     We all recognize that our system of higher education (through our universities) is where the dissemination of ideas occurs, and most often influences the thinking processes of our young adults, which in turn directs the culture.
     I have recently become fascinated with an organization called Ratio Christi (Latin for the "Reason of Christ"), which is a global movement that equips university students and faculty to give historical, philosophical, and scientific reasons for following Jesus Christ.  In other words, as in the movie God's Not Dead, Ratio Christi uses Christian apologetics to engage the university culture in sincere and respectful discussion in order to advance the gospel, rather than retreat from it in the overall societal culture.
     Ratio Christi is planting student-led apologetics clubs at universities around the world.  Students, engaged in the battle for the mind, learn to defend God's existence, the reliability of the Bible, and the fact of Christ’s resurrection. Their motto is "We seek a Renaissance of Christian Thinking in the University."
     If you're like me, your initial thought was probably, "Good luck with that!"  But Ratio Christi is approaching their mission in a unique manner.  Noting that Christian ministries on college campuses are a diminishing reality, and often bear no fruit, Ratio Christi emphasizes engaging professors as well as students.  Rather than shying away from the Christian perspective on campuses, the organization partners with speakers that have academic reputations to sufficiently impress secular professors.  This allows their Christian worldview to compete with the worldview of non-Christian professors in an academic setting, and in a way that the secular professors can identify with.
     Ratio Christi's student-led apologetics clubs are led by students who have had the tenacity to do the necessary research in order to defend their faith.  In turn, this determination gives them the opportunity to help others; those who have felt ill-equipped to deal with the secular tidal wave on campus.
     Of course, it is to be expected that Ratio Christi's clubs are not welcomed with open arms.  Like many other Christian ministries across the country, they have been de-recognized and kicked off some campuses.  But they continue to meet privately, because they feel they can still have an impact on campus --- they don't need the university "stamp of approval" to influence the campus culture.
     Ratio Christi is convinced that if they can teach college students how to defend the faith (with reasonable arguments) against the objections of their professors, they can reach those in the classroom, and possibly influence that particular course of study for the next 30 years.  Naturally, there will be those die-hard atheist professors who will never allow the free and reasonable discourse of faith in their classroom, but if free thinking is truly the hallmark of our universities, perhaps this approach stands a chance of influencing the educational culture.
     In the end, maybe us older folks can learn something from these students.  Maybe it's time we become schooled in apologetics ourselves ... become not only engaged, but equipped to defend the faith.  The university setting is just a microcosm of our society.  Therefore, these students are engaged in meaningful discussions with Muslim students who want to discuss their faith.  Ratio Christi students know the importance of being settled in the truth of Christianity so that they can rationally defend our faith, instead of being carried away by the wind of opinion.  They have been schooled in the fact that faith and reason are not mutually exclusive.  I applaud this generation of Christians who recognize that now is the time to run towards the culture, instead of retreat in meek submission.  And it is truly humbling to read the testimonials of these students who are seriously committed to defending the knowledge of God.  When you see all the college campuses that are represented, it provides such hope and joy.  May the Holy Spirit empower them with supernatural influence!

1 Peter 3:15-16   "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame."

July 20, 2015

The Iran Deal Is As Good As Done

    You knew it before it was even public record, didn't you?  All the signs were there.  There was no real backbone in the spines of the Americans sitting at the negotiating table with Iran.  And the smile on Iranian President Rouhani revealed how easily they had achieved their aims of moving forward on his nation's capabilities to develop a nuclear bomb.
     For the life of me, I am trying to figure out exactly why this was a good deal for me and the American people.  From my distinctively simple analysis, it would appear that Iran got the OK to proceed with their nuclear plans, while we received no real assurances that we or our ally Israel will not be the recipient of that advancement.  It's kind of hard to feel safe and secure when it looks as if all of Tehran is dancing in the street and shouting "Death to America."  It also does not reassure me when Reuters reports that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says "the nuclear deal with world powers did not signal any wider shift in Iran's relationship with Washington or its policies in the Middle East ... We have repeatedly said we don't negotiate with the U.S. on regional or international affairs; not even on bilateral issues. There are some exceptions like the nuclear program that we negotiated with the Americans to serve our interests."
     Did you notice what I chose to italicize in that last sentence?  What exactly do you think is at the heart of those "interests" in the mind of the religious leader of The Islamic Republic which, by the way, is considered the preeminent state sponsor of terrorism in the world by the U.S. State Department?  As a religious leader, he probably views the events in the Middle East as part of an ongoing religious war; the Shi'ites versus the Sunnis.
     So it should come as no surprise that he says, "We will never stop supporting our friends in the region and the people of Palestine, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Bahrain and Lebanon. Even after this deal our policy towards the arrogant U.S. will not change."  What I find interesting in this comment is that Iran is primarily Shia, while Palestine is Sunni.  Yemen and Lebanon appear to be about evenly dispersed between the two Muslim factions.  Syria looks to be mostly Sunni, and Bahrain is mostly Shia.  The conflict in Iraq is focused on the sectarian divide between the majority of Iraq's Muslims, who are Shia, and the Isis militants, who are Sunni.  So why would Khamenei call both warring factions of his faith his "friends"?
     Once again from my limited understanding, I think it all goes back to the old axiom that we are all familiar with:  The enemy of my enemy is my friend.  Iran is willing to form a coalition with its traditional enemies in order to defeat its arch enemies in the region, Saudi Arabia and Israel.  And who is the biggest ally of these two Middle Eastern outcasts?  Why us, "The Great Satan", of course!  This is how, in 2011, Mohsen M. Milani, a Professor of Politics and Chair of the Department of Government and International Affairs at the University of South Florida in Tampa, explained the situation between Iran and Saudi Arabia:  "Iran and Saudi Arabia are neither natural allies nor natural enemies but natural rivals who have long competed as major oil producers and self-proclaimed defenders of Shia and Sunni Islam, respectively. Until the Iranian revolution in 1979, their rivalry was managed and controlled by the United States, with whom they were both strategic allies. But after the Shah was overthrown, Saudi Arabia’s leadership became frightened by the Ayatollah Khomenei’s denunciation of the Saudi monarchy as antithetical to Islam and his ambition to export the revolution to the Arab world. Saudi Arabia remained an ally of the United States; Iran became an implacable foe. Thereafter, the rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia became defined by the new U.S. strategy - ally with Saudi Arabia to offset Iran."
     That has been our traditional approach to the Middle East situation.  But this new deal with Iran surely has to make not only Saudi Arabia nervous, but must especially heighten the protective instincts of Israel.  And can you blame them?  As part of the deal we negotiated alongside the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council—(China, France, Russia, UK, U.S.—plus Germany), and the European Union, Iran will be relieved of the economic sanctions that served to keep their nuclear program in check.
     In addition, Iran will soon be able to buy conventional arms because the arms embargo against them has been relaxed.   Iranian groups and individuals from terrorist-designated countries are now free to travel and do business around the world.  The Iranian nuclear program is also protected from sabotage by outside parties—meaning, pretty obviously, Israel.
     Those who support this deal will tell us that if some kind of deal had not been struck, putting at least these weak time restraints on Iran, then they would have proceeded, unabated, and headlong towards a nuclear bomb and certain war in the region.  If that happened, then the U.S. would necessarily have to strike, causing Russia to most likely side with Iran and the possible onset of Armageddon.
     I agree that it seems as if there was a no-win solution for the West.  But how does this agreement leave our ally, Israel?  At best, it is a huge gamble!  Does anyone really trust Iran to stick to, what seems to me, short timelines?  And now they are free to support and supply the other Middle East nations who hate Israel!  Haven't we laid out their path to the nuclear bomb?  And, as writer Jeffrey Goldberg has pointed out, "[haven't we] signaled to Iran’s leaders that they have a right—a previously unknown right in the vast catalogue of rights accorded to sovereign states—to enrich uranium, which is quite a thing to signal to a country designated by the United States as a committed and energetic sponsor of terror?"
     In the end, I do not have the knowledge to figure out how this debacle will end -- only God knows.  But from this vantage point, it seems as if we have done more to "lose the dogs of war" than we have to maintain the peace of the region.  All I know is that this deal is likely to result in "wars and rumors of wars; nation rising against nation."  And what will the U.S. Congress do?  Sadly, Congress, will only be able to express approval or disapproval (with an up or down vote), and the president will have the ability to move forward by vetoing any resolution of disapproval. And it is next to impossible for those who disapprove of this deal to get the 13 votes they would need to override a veto.
     However, with all that being said, the one thing I know for sure is that the God of Israel will not leave her defenseless.  Let men do what they will, our Sovereign God will work His plan for their national redemption.  Praise the Lord!

Malachi 3:6       For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
   

July 19, 2015

1 Corinthians 16:8-9

But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, because a wide door for effective ministry has opened for me — yet many oppose me.


     This particular Scripture appealed to me this week because of both its worldly and spiritual implications.  In these two simple verses. Paul is speaking to the Church at Corinth about the opportunities he has received to do great work for the Kingdom of God in Ephesus... the chance to do effective ministry, and he doesn't want to waste or lose the moment.  Yet, he admits that there are many adversaries, or opponents working against him.
     What we need to understand is that Paul desired to go to Ephesus, the greatest city of Asia Minor, long before he actually went there.  In fact, we read in the 16th chapter of Acts, that the Holy Spirit prevented Paul from entering the province of Asia during his second missionary journey.  At the time, Ephesus was a vital and booming commercial city and the capital of the Roman province of Asia (it would be located in modern Turkey today).  It was the home of the famous temple for the fertility goddess Diana, which was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.  There was a vibrant business centered around making and selling idols associated with the Temple, as well as all sorts of superstitious religious practices, temple prostitution, and emperor worship.  
     So, when in God's own timing, Paul had the opportunity to preach and teach in Ephesus, he wasn't going to let that door close on him.  And he was quite successful in his ministry and outreach; not only in Ephesus, but in the rest of the province of Asia -- so much so, that when so many people in Ephesus turned to Christ and renounced their pagan ways, some of the craftsmen in the city started a riot because he threatened their livelihood.  So, it is important to understand that although Paul was seeing tremendous results from his Holy Spirit-filled teaching, Ephesus was still a pagan, superstitious, spiritually dark city.  Yes, there were men of the world who didn't much like his success, but you can bet that there were spiritual entities that were none too happy with how he was affecting their "business" as well!
     And that brings me to my personal testimony about why these two verses struck a chord with me this week.  I have shared before that I am part of a small, faithful ecclesia of people dedicated to studying the Word and growing in their knowledge of God and His Kingdom here on earth.  We have committed ourselves to tackling the tough books of the Bible.  These are the books that the modern Church tends to avoid because they are too difficult to understand -- or let's be honest; they are simply too scary to contemplate.  We have spent years together as a group, and have grown so much in our faith, and borne much fruit, through our studies of the Book of Revelation, Daniel, and Romans. We didn't shy away from the tough passages, and researched the Hebrew and Greek translations in order to discover what these Scriptures had to say to us modern-day Christians.  Now, we are beginning the study of the Book of Acts; or as I like to call it, The Book of the Continuous Work of our Ascended Savior Through the Apostles.  
     You see, I believe all the Bible is a supernatural Book, and as such, is full of examples of the supernatural power of our God being transferred to men through the Holy Spirit.  That is what the Book of Acts is about!  We will be studying the Authority and the Power of God that was first displayed in the miraculous acts of healing and casting out of demons that our Lord performed.  The opening chapter of Acts finds the resurrected Savior telling the apostles to prepare to do the same miracles through God's supernatural power that will soon be coming upon them. These supernatural acts will enhance the spread of the Gospel message.
     And, as I have stated before, I believe that this Authority and Power did not end with the Apostles.  We, too, are filled with that same Holy Spirit and can receive those same spiritual gifts that allowed them to teach, and preach, and heal, and deliver.  And that's where the words of 1 Corinthians 16:9 have special meaning to me.
     Just as Paul began receiving opposition when he was doing God's Kingdom work, so our little group can expect that we will receive resistance.  There will be those in this world who do not agree that we have the same spiritual authority and power that the apostles had; and that's fine.  We will continue to study and let God's Word dictate our position.  Man's objection doesn't bother me.  But it is the antagonism coming from the spiritual world that we are already beginning to face, and we are only on the first chapter of Acts!  
     As I shared recently in a post, nearly half of our home church has suffered the loss of a beloved pet in the last month from sudden or mysterious circumstances.  This may be hard to digest, but last week my husband suffered a physical injury after being slammed to the ground by an unseen entity that he felt on his back.  He didn't understand why, until the Lord revealed in a dream that we are under attack because we are studying how to claim our authority and power from God.  And now, one of our members -- a vibrant and knowledgable woman of faith -- is under an oppressive attack of severe depression.  The email I received from her about why she wouldn't be attending our gathering didn't even sound like her.  It contained the words of a defeated, insecure, and beaten down woman who was listening to what a demonic spirit was telling her.  It is obvious the spiritual world wants to take her out of the game and reduce her influence.
     You see, as a group we have begun an informative study that will result in an effective ministry as we learn how to fight and defeat those who oppose us in the spiritual realm --- and they are not happy about it.  We can expect to be tormented and harassed as we shake off the cobwebs from inspired Scripture.  If the demonic realm can scare us off this study, we will be unproductive and fruitless Christians.  We will still have our salvation, but we will not be reaching our full potential for the kingdom of God ... and that's just what they want.  
     But I know our faithful group.  We will persist and endure and grow and become effective ministers in this, the 21st century version of a pagan, superstitious and spiritually dark world.  And I fully expect to be inspired and encouraged and motivated as we follow the Apostles through their acts of obedience to God. We recognize that we are nothing, but through His Authority and Power we can do great things in His Name, and nothing can defeat us!
     
     

July 18, 2015

What Constitutes A "Link"?

   
     Once again our nation mourns the death of innocent citizens at the hands of someone with a radicalized agenda.  This time it seems as if our military was specifically targeted in Chattanooga, TN.  Yet, early statements by the FBI, which is investigating the attack, has stated that so far they had not established a link with terrorism.  Can someone explain that to me, please?  Because my understanding of a link is that it means there is some kind of connection, or an association, or a relationship between two things or situations or people; where one thing affects the other.
     So how is there not a "link" between the killer and terrorism in the wake of warnings that ISIS is calling for attacks against military personnel and installations?  And isn't there a link when the murderer blogs that life is a test "designed to separate the inhabitants of Paradise from the inhabitants of Hellfire"?  And, finally, isn't it reasonable to establish that there is some kind of connection when the Islamic State organization has publicly tweeted that we "American dogs will see wonders in Chattanooga"?
     I mean, look how little time it took the authorities to link the Charleston killer to the Confederate flag and label him a "domestic terrorist" motivated by his racist hate.  If the Charleston killer can be accused of being inspired by the "ideology of the Confederate South", why is it not reasonable to consider that the Chattanooga killer could have been "inspired" by the ideology of radical Islamists? If that is an acceptable explanation for the deaths in Charleston, how are the deaths in Chattanooga any different?  Until those who are elected to protect the nation are willing to face the truth of who our enemy is, then we are left defenseless against future attacks.  How can we defeat an enemy we are not willing to name?
     Already, there are hints of other possible "motives".  One profile of the killer paints him as a victim of "Islamophobia"; that somehow he was made keenly sensitive to the unfair slights against his religion and had become a victim of America's irrational fear of the Islamic faith.  These reports are now citing his sister's claim that she had faced discrimination and harassment at their high school because she wore a hijab.  She argues that "There’s this misconception that Islam is a violent religion. Muslims are actually peaceful."  Yes, some Muslims are peaceful.  But how can she deny that the Muslims and followers of Islam that have dominated the headlines over the last year with their endless beheadings and reign of terror are peaceful?  There has to be some honesty in this debate, and the truth is that many Muslims have radicalized their faith and are terrorists.  When you dance in the streets and call for "death to America", you are not peaceful.  Just because ALL Muslims have not taken the terrorist route, doesn't mean you can say NONE of them have!
     I find it so hypocritical that anytime an extremist Christian (and yes, extremists exist in all faiths) commits some abhorrent crime, the media and politicians are quick to rush to the microphone and point out how flawed, intolerant, hate-filled, and evil Christianity is.  But the only adjective that they want to apply to Islam is "peaceful".  When Islamic nations are labeled as "state sponsors of terror", then isn't it rational and logical to consider a "link" between these murderers and terrorism?
     As of yesterday afternoon, the narrative (at least on the ground in Tennessee) appeared to be changing.   Bill Killian, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, announced that, along with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, the "active shooter situation will continue to be investigated as a terrorist act, until the evidence proves otherwise.  We will let the facts take us where they lead us."  I pray they will be allowed to do just that, and that the truth will be shared with the American public.  That being said, I'm a little concerned that there is a verbal shell game being played.   I was a little puzzled with the attempts of the investigating team to mollify the public by insinuating a generic meaning to the word "terrorism", while warning that we not get "hung up" on getting specific as to what type of terrorism it is.  Is this the beginning of politically correct speech about the term "terrorism"?
     All we know for sure is that the investigation of this tragic situation is just beginning to unfold.  But as an American who emphatically supports our military personnel, I am heartbroken and weary of seeing our soldiers restricted from defending themselves by "gun-free zones".  How many Fort Hoods, and Washington Navy Yards, and Marine Recruitment Centers is it going to take before our military members are allowed to defend themselves?  It is unconscionable that they are made to act like sitting ducks!  As long as this insane policy continues, people will die.  Let there be an end to this madness and let the truth be declared!

Psalm 5:6    "You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man."
     

July 17, 2015

Let Me Make Myself Perfectly Clear ...

At first, this post might seem designed specifically for Christian Believers, but I think it is an important topic for secular readers, as well.  We all need to understand each other and our different opinions concerning the land of Israel.   

    This subject has been on my mind for some time, and I don't really have a long explanation of my position, but it is something that I think needs to be clarified.  Whenever I write about my Biblical view of Israel and my interpretation of their role in these End Times, I am often called a "Zionist Christian" and I am often typecast with labels like "your pro-Feast, Jewish flair" .... whatever that means.  So perhaps it is time to just give readers a short explanation of where I stand on Israel and how I view her.
     First of all, when I speak about Israel, most times I am referring to the land according to my Biblical worldview.  I see the nation of Israel as that land promised to God's Chosen People in the Bible.  And I recognize that there is a distinction between the future restoration of that land, and the existence of the current state of Israel.  I know that Jesus will not return again until God turns the focus of His saving mercies on Israel again, and Israel responds to God through Jesus Christ.  That hasn't yet happened in a national sense.
     In fact, there is not much about the modern state of Israel that coincides with the Biblical Israel.  And that's where the confusion over "Zionism" comes in.  Let me explain this term from my Biblical perspective first.  From an initial understanding of the word "Zion" in the Bible, it is synonymous with city of God, and it is a place that God loves.  (Psalm 87:2-3).  Zion is Jerusalem. Mount Zion is the high hill on which David built a citadel.  After King David's conquest of the ancient city, he built his royal palace there, and Zion/Jerusalem became the seat of power in Israel’s ancient kingdom.  When his son, Solomon, built the Lord's temple in Jerusalem, the word Zion expanded to include the temple area, what we call the Temple Mount today.
     As Biblical time marched on, Zion grew figuratively to mean Israel as the people of God in the Old Testament.   In the New Testament, Zion refers to God’s spiritual kingdom.  I admit it is confusing and covers a wide scope of understanding.
     And to make matters even more complicated, the word Zion and Zionist have taken on negative connotations among a wide variety of people.  There are those who see the reestablishment of a Jewish homeland as illegitimate.  And there are obviously those who do not know the history of the Bible, or what it says about the Jews and their ancestral land, and why it is so important to them.  For centuries the Jews had been exiled around the world from the land that God promised them, and there was a collective desire to return and resettle their ancestral lands and to revitalize and cultivate their native Hebrew culture.  They longed to return to the Biblical Zion.
     But after the atrocities of the Holocaust and with the establishment of the Jewish state in 1948, this love of Zion became a nationalistic and political movement, rather than a religious or cultural identity.  Zionism, today, continues primarily to advocate on behalf of Israel and address threats to its continued existence and security.  It has little to do with God's view of Zion.
     Let me be clear in explaining my sensitive position, and please read the next couple of paragraphs before you pass judgment ... the state of Israel, as it exists today in the Middle East, does not represent the Israel that will say, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord."  They are largely a secular and political state, with no religious connection to Yeshua, their Messiah at all.  They are true political Zionists.  However, the population also includes a sizable number of religious Orthodox Jews who remain blinded to their future, and most probably view themselves as Zionists from a historical, Old Testament perspective.
     This Israel has a long way to go to return to their Scriptural identity. They are still in rebellion and refuse to recognize their Creator and Messiah.  Tel Aviv has declared itself the "gay capital of the world", as proclaimed by this Israeli citizen:  "Israel isn’t a regressive Taliban state based on ancient scriptures. It is a modern, democratic and progressive society built on democratic values. The people of Israel have chosen to have a free, secular, democratic and pluralistic society whether gays are not only tolerated, but where gay culture is celebrated."  Does this sound like the Biblical Zion?
     Now, having said all this, when I look at modern Israel, I am focused on the small, but growing numbers of Messianic Jews who see the real reason they are "back in the land", and who recognize their calling and purpose.  When I say I love and support Israel, I am looking beyond the nationalistic, political reality of the current state of Israel and seeing them as God sees them... His beloved Zion; I see the devoted Jews who have surrendered their lives to their Savior Messiah and are faithfully awaiting His return.
     So, for you Christians who believe in Replacement Theology and accuse me of supporting a Zionist state, you need to understand that I do not share your doctrine.  I do not believe that the Church (and especially not the Western Church!) has replaced Israel as God's chosen people.  I read Romans 11 and do not try to corrupt it.  I accept it word for word ... Gods gifts and His call are irrevocable [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.] ... And so all Israel will be saved. As it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will banish ungodliness from Jacob. And this will be My covenant (My agreement) with them when I shall take away their sins.
     And for the secularists and atheists who discount the Word of God, I will agree with you that the Zionist State of Israel is not perfect.  I do not blindly uphold it as the Israel of the Bible.  But you need to understand that it is not yet that Biblical nation of Israel with whom God established a covenant .... but one day it will be.  And it is the future Israel that I pray for and long to see come out of its rebellion and recognize its Messiah.  I have close friends who are the beginning of that true Biblical remnant in Israel, and they allow me to see the hope and the promise of Israel's restoration.
     I do not expect this post to change anyone's mind, and it probably won't even help those who disagree with me to understand my position better.  So, let me take one final stab at it ... I love Israel through a Biblical lens; I pray for her to come out of her rebellion and reclaim the covenant of her  ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I long to see her restored to the fullness of her power in God; restored to her true character; and her purpose restored in leading the world to Yeshua.  For all this, I make no apologies.

Isaiah 51:16     And I have put my words in your mouth and covered you in the shadow of my hand, establishing the heavens and laying the foundations of the earth, and saying to Zion, ‘You are my people.’






July 16, 2015

The Price of Evil

     I'm sorry if the photo enclosed in this post offends you, but I see no purpose in hiding the full impact of what this story reveals.  We've been hiding the extent of evil in our land too long!    

      I know that the foremost news on everyone's mind is the proposed "Iran deal", and I will have something to say about that in the coming days.  But today my heart is deeply saddened by the revelations from an undercover investigation of Planned Parenthood.  Breitbart.com has done an outstanding job on their extensive reporting on Planned Parenthood's sale of "intact fetal organs" harvested from abortions.
     Take a moment and grasp the full implications of that statement.  There is actually a market for body parts of babies murdered during partial-birth abortions.  Think that is too strong of a statement? Just watch this video released by the Center for Medical Progress, the undercover organization that broke this story.  In it, you will see and hear Planned Parenthood’s Senior Director of Medical Services, Dr. Deborah Nucatola, discuss the aborted fetal parts which are harvested at their clinics (hearts, lungs, livers, lower extremities).  She also discloses the price range for such tissue, while admitting that both Planned Parenthood and the facilities purchasing the aborted fetal parts don't want to be perceived as selling and buying aborted babies.  Too late for that!
     She then goes on to discuss how the abortion procedures are conducted in order to cause the least damage to what she refers to as "the specimens".  Her exact words are, "So then you're just kind of cognizant where you put your graspers; you try to intentionally go above and below the thorax, so that, you know, we've been very good at getting heart, lung, liver, because we know that, so I'm not gonna crush that part... I'm gonna basically crush below, I'm gonna crush above, and I'm gonna see if I can get it all intact."  She then goes on to discuss how dilation effects the delivery of the calvarium (that's the baby's head), and how the goal of the last step of the procedure is to "evacuate an intact calvarium at the end".
     First, let me say, that it is disgusting to watch this monster feed her face and drink wine as she dispassionately describes the harvesting of God's creation for body parts.  Next, perhaps it helps her to sleep at night to refer to the clinical description of a precious baby's head as "the calvarium", but it does nothing to alleviate her evil intent.  She even seems to hint that although the Federal Partial Birth Abortion Ban is law, it can be circumvented because it is subject to interpretation, such as ... "If I say on day one, I do not intend to do this, what ultimately happens doesn't matter."  That's a perfect example of the moral relativism that is bringing about our national downfall.
     Unbelievably, she goes on to answer the question asked by the undercover reporter (posing as a buyer of fetal tissue):  "What did you procure during your procedures yesterday at the clinic?" She reveals that she calmly looked at her case-load and knew from the list that the buyers had presented what they were looking for, so she plans her day accordingly.
     Of course, Planned Parenthood has come out strongly denouncing the video, claiming it has been heavily edited, is taken out of context, is misleading, and blah, blah, blah.  And interestingly enough, PP has their affiliates across the country contract directly for the sale of body parts, so if the affiliate is exposed, they can take the fall for the parent organization.  Maybe it was the wine, but I couldn't believe how forthcoming she was with information; admitting that the ideal scenario would be to "find all the people who are doing this [buying fetal body parts] and present them with a menu." I can just imagine what that menu would look like .... a check-off list of how many hearts, livers, and lungs the procurement partner needs and by what date.  It's like a horror movie!  Only it is the reality of our world today.
     If you have been a faithful reader of this blog from the beginning then you will recall my May, 2012 post on the diabolical doctrines and beliefs of Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger.  Hailed as a heroine, I marvel at the ignorance of today's ardent feminists who don't have a clue as to her true philosophies.  Her motives had nothing to do with liberating women or women’s rights, she was a eugenicist — someone who believed that through abortion, birth control, and forced sterilization society could “assist the [human] race in the elimination of the unfit.”  Many of her philosophies were at the heart of Hitler's extermination plan for the Jews.
     In a paper titled, Birth Control and Racial Betterment, Sanger made this comment, "We who advocate Birth Control, on the other hand, lay all our emphasis upon stopping not only the reproduction of the unfit but upon stopping all reproduction when there is not economic means of providing proper care for those who are born in health. The eugenist also believes that a woman should bear as many healthy children as possible as a duty to the state. We hold that the world is already over-populated. Eugenists imply or insist that a woman’s first duty is to the state; we contend that her duty to herself is her duty to the state."  Still think she was a champion of women's individual rights?
     Regardless of how loud and angry Planned Parenthood becomes in denying this damning video, it is plain for all to see that they foresee a future in which fetal body parts are harvested to supply a thriving new financial market.  And if you can somehow overcome the shock and distaste of what they're doing, you have to ask yourself, "Who is buying these parts and what are they using them for?"  There are all kinds of scenarios (and hold on to your tin foil hats for these) .... this article will tell you they are being used as "flavor enhancers" in our food!  Is it possible that Transhumanists are in the market for fetal stem cells and organs to advance the branch of their frankenstein science called Rejuvenation?  And, if you are a Christian who views these days as the Biblical End Times, then whose to say that these fetal body parts aren't being using in demonic practices and sacrifices in the world of the occult?
     The bottom line is this:  the very fact that this video exists is proof that partial birth abortion is not only endorsed by Planned Parenthood, but they see it as a marketable ancillary of their hellish organization.  And Dr. Deborah Nucatola talks on camera about the future of this new market as if it is the natural evolution of Planned Parenthood's agenda.  It is sometimes too difficult to look upon the sins of modern mankind.  I cannot think of a better reason for our Lord and Savior to leave His domain in Heaven and come forth to exact His Judgment.  Lord, do not allow one more precious baby to be sacrificed in this wicked generation!

If you would like to read the full complement of Breitbart's exposé on Planned Parenthood and Margaret Sanger, please click on the links to each. 

Nahum 1:3,6   "The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty ... Who can stand before His indignation? Who can endure the heat of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by Him." 

July 15, 2015

Stop the Historical Revisionism

     I have watched with fascination over the past couple of weeks the frenzy that has erupted over removing monuments associated with the Civil War.  It began with an outcry over the Confederate flag, and quickly spread to statues and sculptures of Confederate generals that dot college campuses and public squares across the land.  But dissent has not been limited to the national protest against the pro-slavery South; it has grown to include our Founding Fathers and anyone who is associated with slavery, period.
     As I've said before, I cannot fathom any rational human being approving of slavery or the slave trade today.  But we must be careful when it comes to erasing our history.  Because a practice was culturally accepted does not make it right, and yes, it should have been condemned as immoral and repugnant.  But to expunge it from the national conscience (and everything and everyone associated with it), only serves to whitewash and misinterpret its historical value.
      The latest monument to be subjected to scrutiny is what is known as the Stone Mountain carvings. It is the largest bas relief sculpture in the world.  The Confederate Memorial Carving depicts three Confederate leaders of the Civil War, President Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson (and their favorite horses, "Blackjack", "Traveller", and "Little Sorrel", respectively). The entire carved surface measures 3 acres, about the size of two and a quarter football fields.
     But now the NAACP has suggested that the historical depiction might be sand-blasted off the face of the mountain, in an effort to either bury America’s past or remove it from the history books altogether.  But the efforts of this and other politically correct police are not stopping with the seditious South.  There is even talk of removing Presidents Jefferson and Washington from Mount Rushmore because they owned slaves; of renaming the capitol of the U.S.; and wiping every reference to these historical figures from every courthouse, federal building, and memorial in the nation.
     But we must ask ourselves why the headlong rush and fanaticism in accomplishing this goal?  Is it simply because of a tragic shooting in Charleston?  Or is there a larger agenda being met, and the powers that be can't lose this opportunity to rewrite history?
     I found an interesting reference to a phenomenon known as "negationism" on Wikipedia:  Negationism, also known as historical revisionism, is conducted to influence a target's ideology or politics for a particular purpose. Revisionists understand Plato's dictum that, "those who tell the stories also hold the power".   James M. McPherson, former president of the American Historical Association, wrote that some would want revisionist history understood as, "a consciously falsified or distorted interpretation of the past to serve partisan or ideological purposes in the present".  Broadly understood, there are two motivations behind revisionist history: the ability to control ideological influence and to control political influence.
    Either motive will do; it all comes down to power, as Plato prophesied.  But in the case of our nation's Founders, or the Civil War and its generals and heroes, we have current history books full of their exploits.  We also have courthouses and monuments and street names -- all reminders that these men existed and are part of our national identity.  But what if you wanted to eliminate that part of your identity; label it evil and dishonorable?  And by so doing, alienate and marginalize a portion of the populace in order to supplant their influence?
     "They" are not interested in civil discourse.  No, it is time to strike swiftly and totally.  Disparage the reputations and memories of that part of our history and a new alliance can be formed; one that will bring power and prestige and prominence, with an emphasis on power.
      It should come as no surprise.  Down through the ages, ancient kings and monarchs covered up or destroyed monuments and records of previous rulers. For instance, this pattern of expunging earlier historical evidence can be repeatedly seen in Egyptian monuments and historical records.  Case in point: after the Hyksos rulers were expelled from Egypt, the Egyptians erased the records of that humiliating period so thoroughly that some of the names and the order of the Hyksos kings remain uncertain.
     And so, it looks as if history is repeating itself.   We must also take into account that once we begin modifying history, it only takes one generation to permanently change the past.  Once all mention is removed from the school textbooks, and all evidence is wiped clean from our collective consciences, as far as contemporary archives prove, it all never existed.
     How far will this attempt to revise and rewrite history go?  It remains to be seen.  But if we stand a chance of preserving our history -- both the good and sorrowful parts of it -- then we better take a stand immediately.  It is obvious there are those who wish to erase the significance and importance of the South from our national experience.  If this happens, then we can expect further eradication of anything that expresses our individualism, our self-expression, and our freedoms.
     Our nation's past is a reminder of how far we've come; and it is strewn with litter and scars.  But it defines us as a people.  When we change our history or erase it, we lose a piece of our authentic self, and that is truly tragic.
     I want to leave you with this quote by author Marcia Lynn McClure:  "Scars are but evidence of life ... Evidence of choices to be learned from ... evidence of wounds ... wounds inflicted of mistakes ... wounds we choose to allow the healing of.  We likewise choose to see them, that we may not make the same mistakes again."  I can't think of a better reason to leave our history alone.

Job 8:8-10    "For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out. For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow. Will they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their understanding?"