Even Mother's Day Has Become Politicized!

     Have you ever wondered why every important (and sometimes trivial or insignificant) topic in our national discourse becomes a matter for political debate?  How is it that our society has suddenly become obsessed with politicizing everything?  For the sake of our discussion, can we agree that by "politicizing" something we mean that we either attack or cast doubt on inappropriate facts ... or assign invalid evidence ... in order to achieve the targeted outcome for a specific agenda?
     A little less complicated way of saying it is that instead of discussing an issue independent of political opinions, or based on its own merit, we tend to tie that issue's significance to an ideological viewpoint.  And in order to win people to our side of the issue, it has become a kind of game of total warfare in which the other side must be obliterated.  Take something as benign as Mother's Day, for instance.
     You might be interested to know that History.com reports that celebrations of mothers and motherhood can be traced all the way back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honor of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele.  But the clearest modern precedent for Mother’s Day is the early Christian festival known as “Mothering Sunday.” Once a major tradition in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe, this celebration fell on the fourth Sunday in Lent and was originally seen as a time when the faithful would return to their “mother church”—the main church in the vicinity of their home—for a special service.
     As you can see, that tradition has evolved into a more secular observance here in America where children present their mothers with flowers and other tokens of appreciation for the sacrifices they made to care for those children.  Mother's Day became an official national holiday in America in 1914.  So how could this seemingly harmless holiday become politicized, you might ask.  After all, we all have mother's, right?  And how can we disagree over a day set aside to celebrate someone as identifiable as, well ... mothers?!
     Over 100 years ago,  Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 8, 1914 (38 Stat. 770), and designated the second Sunday in May each year as "Mother's Day".  Congress also requested the President to call for its appropriate observance.  Every year since then, each President has made an official "declaration" of the day.  If you want to see politicization in action, simply note the gradual change of tone and substance in the last few Presidential proclamations on Mother's Day, as noted in a World Net Daily article: 

     2014:  "For over a century, Americans have come together to celebrate our first friends and mentors, our inspirations and constant sources of strength. Our mothers are breadwinners, community leaders, and pillars of family. They pioneer scientific discoveries, serve with valor in our Armed Forces, and represent our Nation in the loftiest halls of Government. Whether biological, adoptive, or foster, they play a singular role in our lives. Because they so often put everything above themselves, on Mother's Day, we put our moms first...".
     2015:  "Each May, Americans dedicate a day to honor the remarkable women who strive and sacrifice all year to ensure ours is a Nation where all things are possible. Whether married or single, LGBT or straight, biological, adoptive, or foster, mothers are the bedrocks of our lives and the foundation of our society...".
     2016:  "On Mother’s Day, we celebrate those who are first to welcome us into the world.  Performing the most important work there is, mothers – biological, foster, or adoptive – are our first role models and earliest motivators. They balance enormous responsibilities and shape who we become as adults, their lessons guiding us through life... Regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status, mothers have always moved our nation forward and remained steadfast in their pursuit of a better and brighter future for their children...".
     Whoa, wait a minute!  I can definitely see the move towards our cultural acceptance of LGBT families in 2015, but did you catch the reference to gender identity in 2016?  Rather, did you catch the implication that regardless of gender identity, anyone can be identified as a mother?  Even the liberal-leaning dictionary app on my Mac computer identifies "mother" as "a woman in relation to a child or children to whom she has given birth."  And I even have to disagree with that definition.  I do not believe that you have to give birth to a child to be that child's mother.  To be a mother is a function of the God-given character traits of a woman; a genetically-determined characteristic to nurture and train a child.  I'm sorry, but because a man wishes to "identify" as a woman, does not make him a mother.  I know that may sound like a ridiculous proposition to you, but I promise you that it is a very real consideration to those who subscribe to the transgender movement.  And if you re-read the politicized Presidential proclamation you will find that as outlandish as my statement might sound, that is exactly what is being asserted ... that a man may self-identify as a mother.
     As you can see, those who have cultural or political agendas they wish to force on the populace will take every opportunity to make an argument personal, and present the opposite side as cold-hearted and unbending.  "By any means necessary" is the motto of those who wish to push everything from alternative sexual lifestyles to climate change to redistribution of wealth.  All's fair in love and war, after all -- and politics isn't about love.  Politics is a game, and you must play to win, and not give a damn how you achieve the victory.  Attack your opponent, and make it personal; cast doubt on the opposition's belief system; and connect the dots to your agenda and the desired outcome.  That's politicization in a nutshell, and Mother's Day just became the latest victim.

Titus 1:7-9   "For an overseer, as God’s administrator, must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not addicted to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it." 


     

Deuteronomy 33:29

Happy and blessed are you, O Israel;

Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord,

The Shield of your help,

And the Sword of your majesty!

Your enemies will cringe before you,

And you will tread on their high places 

[tramping down their idolatrous altars].

     These are the last words spoken by Moses in the Bible.  And as I contemplated them, I saw such a glorious picture of Jesus!  Although Moses is directing his monologue to the Israelites, we are the seed of Abraham, and his words apply to us, too.

     He is telling us that we, who are saved by the Lord -- saved from the wrath of God, and delivered from captivity of the Enemy -- are Happy and Blessed.  These last words are spoken by a man who was a mirror of the Lord to come; a man who had saved the Israelites from the wrath of God when they rebelled and worshipped the golden calf; a man who had delivered them from the bonds of slavery and captivity in Egypt; a man who stood at the entrance to the Promised Land and knew all that the Lord would do for His people in the future.

     And Moses gave us such an encouraging image of who that Lord was, is, and will be ... He gives us a picture of the Lord as our Shield and our Sword.  I hope that you see this as part of our spiritual armor that Paul cautions us to put on in Ephesians 6.  Moses tell us Jesus is the Shield of our help, and that help comes by way of our Faith; which is our trust and confidence in Jesus as our Savior, and the Faithfulness of our Lord to "quench the fiery darts of the Enemy [the wicked]". 

     You can imagine the scene ... the tribes of Israel are poised to enter the Promised Land, and I'm pretty sure that they still remembered the words of the spies that accompanied Joshua and Caleb ("we are as like grasshoppers to them"); you can understand that more than a few of them would have been frightened and scared to take this step.  But in the verses just prior to this one, Moses assures them that the eternal God is their refuge, and underneath (girding everything) are His everlasting arms.  

     It is the same for us today.  Jesus never leaves us nor forsakes us, and we have His almighty power to trust in, and to dwell in, for our safety.  He is our defensive shield that protects us from the assaults of Satan and his forces of wickedness.  But note that He is also our offensive weapon.  He is our Sword, and by the Word, we will defeat the Enemy!  He is in the Word, and the Word is the strongest weapon we have in our spiritual warfare.  When we say it out loud, it is effectively, Jesus fighting for us! And when the Word comes forth from our mouths, it is an expression of Him dwelling in us, and all the forces of evil will cringe at the spoken Word.  

    Jesus becomes our Shield and our Sword in our battle against the strongholds of our lives.  We, too, wait to enter the Promised Land, and Satan loves nothing more than to whisper the lies that he whispered to those frightened spies in ancient times .... your enemy is too big for you to defeat; don't trust in your God to deliver you and save you.  Stay here and be satisfied with what I am offering.

     Instead, Moses offers the hope that we can tread on those false altars; those strongholds that Satan has us holding on to, but in reality have a hold on us.  Because of the weapons of Faith (our Shield) and the Word (our Sword), we can trample those altars and beat them into dust at our feet.  How glorious for Moses to have seen that reality ... that we would be able to crush and stomp and grind the Enemy into submission under our feet!  No one else has that power over Satan except those who are saved by the Lord!  Who is like us?  No one!  Blessed and Happy, indeed!

      

Just A Few Cracks In The Moral Wall of America

     I recently ran across an article on a website called The Truth which outlined 100 Facts that have contributed to the moral collapse of America.  I'm not going to spell them all out for you; if you're interested in seeing the entire list, you can click here.
     But I would like to highlight just a few that I think we can all agree have led to the breakdown of our moral fabric, which in the end leaves us vulnerable to both physical and spiritual attack.  And I will admit that it is hard to think that this country, in which I have believed since I was a child, could ever be anything but the "beacon of freedom and an example of the best of humanity".  But all any of us have to do is look around us and we can see that our foundation of faith has been excoriated and criticized, which has led to moral compromise in order to gain ungodly acceptance.
     The truth is, we have been in the process of decay for a few decades now, and everything from our homes and family, to our forms of entertainment, to our government, to our military all show signs of degradation and degeneration.  We are simply in decline.  Here are a few of the things that have contributed to the cracks in our moral wall:
1.  Approximately one-third of the entire population of the United States (110 million people) currently has a sexually transmitted disease according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  It's kind of funny really ... Disease is defined as "a disorder of structure or function in a human...".  And when it is sexually transmitted, we need to ask ourselves where and how have we, as a society, so disrupted the normal function of sex that it is making us ill.  To think that 1 out of 3 people in the entire population (and that includes infants, children, and the elderly) is suffering from our corrupted sense of the purpose of sex, well ... it is heartbreaking.  We have demeaned and debased this beautiful joining of two people to something that is for personal gratification only; the idea of beauty and respect as being involved in sex is nearly obsolete.  And that is why we have fact #2.
2.  Every single year, there are 20 million new STD cases in America. Obviously, we are not doing a good job of curbing our sexual appetites, and there appears to be no reversing the trend.
3.  At this point, one out of every four teen girls in the U.S. has at least one sexually transmitted disease.  I guess there is no point in asking, "What happened to celibacy?"  I'm afraid that having sex in the teen years is a given these days.  That should make for some sleepless nights for every parent or grandparent of teenage girls.
4.  According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, there are 747,408 registered sex offenders in the United States.  I'm sorry, but that figure is almost a joke! The obvious question for me is, how many unregistered are there?  Because we all know that the sex trade is one of the most egregious businesses in this country, and there are millions of vulnerable women and children who are trafficked throughout this country.  And many innocent children are victimized by sexual predators and it is never reported!  I am totally convinced that Jesus had sexual abusers in mind when He warned against anyone who would cause a stumbling block to be placed before one of His "little ones"; that it would be better for him to have a millstone placed around his neck and drowned in the depth of the sea... I think He knows exactly what justice He is going to bestow on them, and it will be on behalf of every single child who has ever been harmed.  I look forward to that day!
5.  An astounding 30 percent of all Internet traffic now goes to adult websites.  This is the by-product of the breakdown of our moral fabric.  Not only has sex become less personal and less private, along with being less healthy, but now it is public and for sale.  And these websites fuel the appetites of perverts, predators and the promiscuous.  This is a fact that does not exactly support a strong moral foundation for a country.  And here's a fact that should thoroughly disgust you...
6.  It has been estimated that 89 percent of all pornography is produced in the United States.  Not quite acting like the "best of humanity" are we?
7.   America has the highest divorce rate in the world by a good margin.   Although sex is readily available in a variety of arenas, that fact doesn't exactly lead to the enhancement of good and godly marriages.  When you've been sold the lie that sex is impersonal and about erotica and self-gratification, then what can the sanctity of God's marriage covenant offer you?  Especially if you don't even know the One who created it?
8.  At this point, approximately one out of every three children in the United States lives in a home without a father.  The moral foundation of any land or country is the family.  When sex outside marriage becomes acceptable in a society, it is obvious that the dismantlement of the family will follow.  The Welfare System began that journey, and now we've re-defined not only what a family is, but even what constitutes gender.  Confusion, chaos, and catastrophe are the end results when "father" has no absolute meaning.
9.  Without strong families, our young people are constantly in search of an identity.  According to the FBI, there are now more than 1.4 million gang members involved in the 33,000 active criminal gangs in the United States.  That statistic can be coupled with drug use, crime, and murder -- none of which can be classified as hallmarks of a moral nation.  How could we have lost our way so terribly that gangs become the substitute for a loving and supportive family?  That crack in our moral wall is becoming more dangerous every day.
10.  The number of American babies killed by abortion each year is roughly equal to the number of U.S. military deaths that have occurred in all of the wars that the United States has ever been involved in combined.  Can you even fathom that number?  How can we even think of ourselves as a moral nation when that is our reality?  Once again, I remind you what Jesus had to say about those who harmed His "little ones".
11.  One very shocking study found that 86 percent of all abortions are done for the sake of convenience.  What does that say about how we feel about God, the Creator?  If we can so effortlessly and callously destroy what the Creator of the Universe created  -- just because it's not convenient for us -- then we have no system of values which we can extoll.  Which leads me to a fact that shows exactly how far from a rational and moral sense of values we really have...
12.  A Department of Homeland Security report that was released in January 2012 says that if you are “anti-abortion”, you are a potential terrorist.  I don't even know what to say about that fact!  How can upholding the holiness of life be considered terrorizing?  I can't get there, no matter how hard I try to twist rational theories.  The use of the word "terrorist" is intentional and purposeful; posed to promote an agenda of child sacrifice as old as the abominations in the Old Testament.  The indefensible use of that word is applied to one who wishes to preserve the sanctity of a fetus's life, yet it will not be used to describe someone who kills innocent victims because of their Christian faith. Explain that to me, if you can!
13.  According to one absolutely shocking study, 22 military veterans kill themselves in the United States every single day.  And we still call ourselves a moral nation?  These men and women have sacrificed more than any of us will ever know, and we do not show them the respect, nor give them the care they deserve.  They return home to face their demons alone, and that, my friends, is just plain wrong and immoral.
14.  America has the highest rate of illegal drug use on the entire planet.  It's because we are in so much pain.  Everyone from our military veterans, to our elderly, to our hyper-active children are given prescriptions for anti-depressants... legal drugs to numb the pain of their realities.  But those prescriptions are often abused, and if you're not on a legal pain-killer, then there are the street drugs like heroin, which has seen the number of addicts more than double since 2002.  Whether legal or illegal, it's obvious we are a drugged nation.
15.   Nearly 20% of all U.S. adults have no religious affiliation whatsoever.  Back in 1972, only 7% of all U.S. adults had no religious affiliation.  I believe this fact should measure Faith rather than religious affiliation.  Because without Faith in God, you see what we get ... all of the other 14 facts I have mentioned, AND the balance of the 100 facts mentioned in the article on The Truth website.
     These are just a few examples of the downward spiral in morality that is consuming our nation (and the world).  When 46% of Americans never think about whether they will go to Heaven or not, then it is pretty obvious that nearly half of this nation thinks there are no consequences for immoral behavior or a lack of moral values.  In fact, we're continuously being told that morality is relative; in other words there is no absolute right or wrong, therefore we should simply tolerate all behavior.
     Yet, I dare say that no one would tolerate a new father putting his 6-week-old daughter in a freezer to keep her from crying, right?  (This horrific scenario is from an actual news report).  But when there is no concern about what happens to you one second after you are clinically dead, then it's perfectly understandable that concepts like "right" or "wrong"; or "moral" and "immoral" will have no effect upon how we live our lives in the here and now.
     Just glancing over the 15 statistics I have listed gives us a pretty good idea as to the direction this country is headed... and it sure isn't towards holiness.  We have become a nation focused on self-gratification and self-indulgence.  It's all about us and enjoying the things that bring us pleasure and fulfillment.  And whether it is the pursuit of money, sex, fun, or self-glorification, it will never satisfy our physical needs or bring us spiritual satisfaction.  It just leads to more statistics like those above, and more moral failures.
     I have to admit that I barely recognize my country anymore, and I shudder to think what new statistics will be recorded in the coming years.  And the worse it gets, the more I feel pulled from this culture.  But that doesn't bother me, because I know there are others like me; people who still cling to the Good Book and try to live their lives by walking in the footprints of our Lord.  We live within our own set of statistics and could care less about whether our moral values are accepted as mainstream or not.  We answer to the God of the Universe, not to the Prince of this world; and we are not afraid to stand for our principles.  So read over this partial list of statistics, and determine whether you are willing to accept them as defining your life.  If not, then join me in walking that straight line that leads us through the narrow gate and look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.  We do not have to become a statistic when we live in the shadow of the Almighty.

Proverbs 4:14-15     "Don’t set foot on the path of the wicked;
don’t proceed in the way of evil ones.  Avoid it; don’t travel on it.  Turn away from it, and pass it by."

The Truth Behind Those May Day Clashes

   

     This last weekend, we witnessed the annual public homage to anarchy as expressed in May Day riots and protests.  Flares, bricks and Molotov cocktails were thrown at police in Seattle in an effort to communicate hatred for anti-capitalism, and passion for workers and immigrants.  Demonstrations were held across the country, from Los Angeles and San Francisco to New York, and towns and college campuses in between.
     But did you know that May Day protests and rallies were held world-wide?  France, Turkey, Russia, Great Britain, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Brazil all saw groups gather to protest everything from low wages, to the lack of jobs, to immigration problems, to failing government policies.  But the over-riding sentiment was a call for disorder due to the nonrecognition of authority.  I think one of the underlying themes of these current May Day demonstrations could best be summed up by a sign carried by one of the protestors:  "We Are Ungovernable."
     Before I tell you what I think is at the root of that belief, I'd like to share some of the interesting history behind the modern May Day observances.  There are some websites, like Jacobin, (whose theme is "Reason in Revolt") who pay tribute to their namesake.  The Jacobins were the most radical and ruthless of the political groups formed in the wake of the French Revolution.  Although they called themselves "Friends of Freedom and Equality", they colluded with the French politician, Robespierre, in what became known as the Reign of Terror in 1793-94.
     An article in Jacobin will tell you that "the first May Day was celebrated in 1886, with a general strike of 300,000 workers at 13,000 businesses across the United States. It was a tremendous show of force for the American labor movement, which was among the most militant in the world."  Here, we see the foundation of the various protests and clashes with police this past weekend.  But let me continue with some of their other views of May Day.  They urge modern protestors to rally "under the banners of anarchist and socialist organizations" ... and they believe that "when workers act together, they exercise tremendous power over their employers and over society as a whole. Working-class radicals [understand] the unique power of collective action, fighting to ensure that the aggression of employers is often met by a groundswell of workers’ resistance."
     Today, they advocate for May Day to be recognized as a day of solidarity with undocumented immigrants — a fitting reminder of May Day’s origins in the late 19th Century when successive waves of immigration brought millions of immigrants to the United States, and high unemployment and dehumanizing working conditions spawned a movement that saw native-born and immigrant workers standing together to defend their common interests.
     All that is the history behind what we saw this past Sunday.  But did you know that the significance of May 1st is much broader than what it means to the work force?  And that it is much older?  The website InfoPlease tells us that it's a celebration of Spring. It's a day of political protests. It's a neopagan festival, a saint's feast day, and a day for organized labor. In many countries, it is a national holiday.
     They go on to give us a white-washed version of some of these celebrations, such as May 1st as Beltane, a pagan Celtic feast full of rituals.  One of these traditions centered around Beltane cakes, which would be broken into several pieces, one of which was blackened. They would be drawn by celebrants at random; the person getting the unlucky blackened piece would face a mock execution.

     Then there is Walpurgisnacht, creatively portrayed in the Walt Disney movie Fantasia, during the "Night on Bald Mountain" segment, and to which I have devoted a post.  InfoPlease wants you to believe that this holiday is just a legend; one in which witches were said to meet with the Devil on the eve of May 1, on the Brocken peak. The night of April 30th became known as "Walpurgisnacht," and the annual meeting was dramatized by Goethe in Faust.  It's just a legend, they say; like a fairy tale .... albeit a terrifying one!
     And how can we forget that idyllic symbol of May Day, the Maypole?  The pretext of modern celebrations of May Day is that it honors ancient festivals of Spring and Fertility, in which a pole would be hung with greenery and ribbons, brightly painted, and decorated.  Dancers would then begin to braid the ribbons by weaving in and out among each other.  All in all, it is presented as an innocent celebration of Spring.
     I don't mean to burst your bubble, but from the picture of pagan festivals, and celebrations of Spring, down to workforce protests, there is a far more sinister element to this first day of May.  To begin with, that innocent vision of the Maypole?  It is actually an ancient symbol of fertility and also the Egyptian God and King Osiris' phallus.  (And don't forget that Osiris is simply another name for the spirit of Nimrod, who was the original man who resisted God's authority and led a rebellion at the Tower of Babel).

     The Maypole is a modern-day portable ancient phallic symbol that is meant to represent the male generative powers in the phallus, which is really just an idol or image of an erect penis. They have been worshiped for thousands of years as a reminder of the sacred act of sex and also represent the phallus of the kings who rule the world.  If you really want to take this piece of information to its full conclusion, then click here.
     What I really want you to see is the spiritual forces that are behind these festivals and movements.  And the modern slogan of "We Are Ungovernable" should tell you exactly who is at the head of these forces, and how he has managed to maintain that spirit of rebellion and anarchy throughout the centuries.  It is my strong belief that "legends" don't persist if there is not some truth to them,  or some force behind them, perpetuating and encouraging an underlying power to continue indefinitely.
     I find it rather interesting that this one day at the beginning of May has become synonymous down through the ages with mock sacrifice; with homage to the power of men; and with resistance and opposition to Authority.  Who does that remind you of?  The spirit of Nimrod might be at work to compel mankind to overthrow any governance over his life, but we must not lose sight of the fact that  Lucifer was the power behind Nimrod -- Lucifer, whom God called "the anointed Cherub"; the one whose position was to guard the very throne of God. His position was that of protecting the holiness of God. Satan had the highest of all positions, a position which he despised and lost.
     So it has been his mission ever since to convince men that we, too, should rebel against God.   He whispered in Nimrod's ear his own vow: "I will take over heaven, I will be God." That is Lucifer/Satan's sin and that was Nimrod's sin in erecting the Tower of Babel.  And now that spirit of rebellion is present in everyone who listens to that lie -- and there is even a day Satan has made one of his holy days --- May 1st. He does not want to be God's servant. He does not want to do what he was created to do. He wants to be served and there are millions who have chosen to do just that; serve him and worship him through the various festivals and protests. They have listened to his lies and chosen to follow him.  They may think they are "ungovernable", but one day soon, the One who will come to rule and reign will show them just how deceptive that lie is.

1 John 3:8    "The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed: to destroy the works of the devil."

From Boredom to The Beast

     Can you contemplate the possibility that with all the distractions we have in this Age of Technology, that we could actually find ourselves "bored" in our day-to-day lives?  By bored, I mean that we have become so over-stimulated by Facebook and all the other social media avenues, that if we are not constantly hooked up to it, then we feel we are missing something.  By bored, I mean that our brains are so aroused by the highly visible special effects in action movies, or the explicit and graphic sex scenes in R-rated movies and TV, that our normal everyday existence can seem unexciting and discouraging.

     Basically, the more we are entertained, or stimulated, or engaged in sharing our every waking moment, the more we need of whatever triggers a sense of excitement in our lives.  In other words, we don't want to tolerate the average; we want more of the sensational.  That's why people are bored at their jobs ... sitting in meetings, or writing reports becomes intolerable and tedious.  Listening to a professor lecture, or studying for exams becomes monotonous and uninspiring.  Changing diapers, doing laundry, or preparing meals for your family becomes repetitive and mind-numbing.  We have become so accustomed to the instant gratification of our technology, and so reliant on it to take us outside our normal existence, that we cannot appreciate our "real" life.
     Dr. Sandi Mann, Senior Lecturer at the School of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, writes, "Our attention spans are now thought to be less than that of a goldfish (eight seconds). We are hard-wired to seek novelty, which produces a hit of dopamine, that feel-good chemical, in our brains. As soon as a new stimulus is noticed, however, it is no longer new, and after a while it bores us. To get that same pleasurable dopamine hit we seek fresh sources of distraction ... Does any of this matter? Research suggests that chronic boredom is responsible for a profusion of negative outcomes such as overeating, gambling, truancy, antisocial behaviour, drug use, accidents, risk taking and much more. We need less, not more, stimulation and novelty."
     Of course, all of these negative side effects of boredom are alarming, especially when they result in keeping us from reaching our full potential.  But let me tell you about another side effect that secular psychologists like Dr. Mann may not consider. As a member of the pre-Millennial generations, it is pretty easy for us to see the consequences of our rapidly increasing technology -- in effect, we can measure it from a "before and after" perspective.  It is easier for me to see the negative ramifications of too much technology in my life because I have reference points ... I remember what it was like to actually engage in a face-to-face conversation, or at least telephone conversations with friends or loved ones.  So when I find myself avoiding that personal interaction in favor of non-verbal phone texts, I can recognize that I need to disengage from technology and make that human connection.
     Or, I can remember when the entertainment I chose to watch was more wholesome and respectful of human relationships and the family, so when I see something in a movie or TV show that transcends those older moral values, I can recognize that it is probably not something that I need to expose myself to.  But the Millennial generation has only known the continuous, highly suggestive version of the most creative minds in the technology and entertainment industries.  And here is the area in which I am most concerned ... when those two businesses combined forces, this generation of kids and young adults have been inundated with a steady diet of ever-increasing supernatural concepts.  They receive it in their video games, in online movies, in their music, on TV, and even in books (if they can take the time to read one).
     Harry Potter books, to Katy Perry's songs, to The Twilight movie series, to The History Channel, to The Terminator, Transformers, Aliens, Star Wars and Star Trek; all of which have spanned a couple of generations in successful movie franchises.  There is even a video game called Supernatural!  Our kids have been shown so much of the supernatural in movies, books, and music that they want to see a demonstration of it in their everyday lives.  It's become such a part of their psychological makeup that they instinctively know it is real, but it's never talked about.

     Think about it ... witches, and aliens, and demons abound in all those sources of entertainment that I just mentioned.  The Supernatural has been featured in everything from the
     Their parents don't know how to explain it; the Church can't address it, because it has nearly lost the supernatural sense of its own Bible and the God it serves.  So, out of boredom, or restlessness, or dissatisfaction, or just the sense that life has become too slow and dull, they begin looking for further stimulation, and sadly it often leads to the dark side.  I'm afraid that we have failed to recognize this in our youth.
     It can be something as evident as a young man or woman, who was raised in the Church, and begins to question the validity of God, and ask all the questions that are natural in our human frailty ... Why would God let a young child die tragically? Or, Is there really life after death?  But sadly, technology is expanding those questions and doubt.  They now begin to think thoughts such as This God I've been told about all my life is too restrictive, and following Him is not very exciting.  The internet is showing me that I can astral project and actually leave my body and experience supernatural trips.  I want to experience what's beyond this realm NOW! Maybe there's more out there than what God is offering me here. 
     During a trip to minister to our wounded warriors at The Fisher House at Fort Sam Houston, one of the chaplains shared with our ministry group that he was having a difficult time getting the young soldiers in the Army to attend Bible study classes he taught.  When he questioned a few of them, they said that Christianity was too boring; they preferred attending classes taught by the Wiccans or the Muslims because they were more exciting and stimulated their imagination.  We have gone so wrong in the Church by refusing to recognize, embrace, and teach that the Bible is a supernatural book about our Supernatural God!
     But the Enemy has not been so shy.  He has taken advantage of our reticence and twisted the supernatural aspects of our faith, and exploited it for his own benefit.  So our kids instinctively know that the supernatural exists, but they've only been shown the dark side's version, and with the help of technology, they have been convinced that this version is not simply the only version of the supernatural, but it is more real and true for their lives than the staid and conservative paradigm of their parent's theology.
     Those of us who see clearly what the Lord wants us to know for this time and age, are aware that the supernatural is about to collide with this realm.  And it is imperative that we strengthen our younger generations with the Truth of just what a Supernatural God we serve.  We cannot let the boredom that this generation perceives be used to lead them away from the most exhilarating and intoxicating and enthralling relationship they will ever have, this side of Heaven.  We cannot refuse to see the supernatural in our Bible and we must share the truth that Jesus constantly interacted with the natural realm supernaturally.  We can to, through the power of the Holy Spirit!  And that's anything but boring!

Acts 9:11-12    "God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them."

Jeremiah 7:9-10

Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, and then do you come and stand before me in this house, which is called by My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—only to go on doing all these abominations?

     Jeremiah is my favorite prophet in the Old Testament; perhaps because I can feel his angst and frustration over the continued disobedience of his stiff-necked fellow Jews.  He spent 40 years delivering the messages of God to his countrymen, only to be despised and persecuted.  Although he frequently expressed his anger, he never lost his compassion or desire that the inhabitants of Judah would surrender to God's will in order to escape the coming calamity.  

     In today's featured Scripture, we actually hear from Jehovah God, Himself.  He is angry -- not only because Judah continues to follow after other gods and their religions, but because they have the audacity to think that they are still "delivered" from their sin because they regularly attend services in the Lord's Temple!  Does that sound familiar?

     And God doesn't hold back with His accusations.  He accuses them of stealing, and murdering, and committing adultery -- all sins, not only against the covenant they have sworn to with Him, but sins they have enacted against their neighbors and countrymen.  They have boldly committed them with no thoughts of repenting or amending their ways. 

     He then accuses them of swearing falsely, which in that region of the world, and in that time in history, was an offense that all nations abhorred.  To make an oath, and then break it, or lie under that oath, was not only a legal crime, but an immoral act of the highest degree.  Sadly, today oaths are no longer valued as the solemn promise, invoking a divine witness, in which they were once regarded.  A pledge, or word of honor, is easily dismissed and rarely kept.

     And then YHWH condemns them for making offerings to Baal (who Matthew Henry called "a dunghill-deity") and going after other gods they don't even know.  Basically, God is asking the people of Judah, "Will you exchange a God that you know, and whose power and goodness and mercy have been bestowed on you for over 13 centuries, for gods who are strangers to you and whose ability and willingness to help you is an unknown"???  Again, I ask you does that sound familiar?  

     How quickly have we seen the people of this nation (Believers and unbelievers alike!) be willing to accept the dictates of satanists, pagans, and humanists which run roughshod over the laws of this land; laws which originated in Biblical statutes and commands?  How many communities and courts are now Sharia-compliant?  What I think far too many people fail to realize is that these movements have real spiritual power behind them -- they are real spiritual "gods" that we, as a nation, have surrendered to in our attempts to compromise with the world.

     Just look at how "the Church" in America has changed in just the last few years!  Obviously, each church follows it's own doctrine and bylaws, but look how many have changed God's definition of "marriage" to mean something He did not institute.  How many churches are willing to declare that other gods are on equal footing with YHWH?  That they are all the same?  How many churches have wittingly (or unintentionally) allowed members of Freemasonry to control their churches, or excused the immoral actions of their shepherds?  How could we have so easily abandoned the rock-solid principles of our Father for the transient promises of acceptance by lowering our standards?

     And then comes the most critical (and heart-breaking for me) assessment by God ... the audacity that these people had to come stand before Him in His Temple, which was His place of dwelling and called by His Holy Name, and to say, "But there's nothing to worry about ... we're the Chosen People; we will always be delivered from the consequences of our sins, and we can just continue to do these offensive things, as long as we follow our rituals."  I know that it is an elaboration of what the Word says, but it is the essence of it.

     And how is that any different from what we do today in His House?  Oh, yes, we tell ourselves that by going to church every Sunday, carrying our Bibles to the service, dropping some money in the offering plate, serving on the committees, and proudly displaying our Christian crosses that we are displaying [to God] our worthiness to be "delivered" or "saved".  But how many sin again, or begin to compromise with the world, within hours of displaying our "devotion to the Lord"? 

     Do we not think that God's House is a holy place?  Has it become a refuge and shelter for unholy people who practice unchristian lifestyles under the banner of the Christian name?  Nothing has changed since God made this declaration in Jeremiah's time... people of faith in the One True God still fall prey to temptations by other gods; they still steal, murder, commit adultery, and lie; and they still enter God's House thinking they can fool Him.  But His discerning eye is as sharp now as it was then.  We cannot deceive Him with dishonest devotion ... and He is just as angry about it now as He was then.  But how many of us will consider the consequences of Judah's actions, and that our future holds the same ill promise of destruction and calamity, if we do not amend our ways?  I pray that His remnant, which is growing stronger by the day, can effect real change across this land.  If not, we stand to suffer from the same harsh lessons that awaited Judah.

  

Don't Let Your Guard Down!

     What are you most concerned about these days?  If you listen to the media it should be all politics, all the time.  Every website, news program, and talk radio time-slot is consumed with this year's national elections.  I understand that our nation is standing at a precipice, and who becomes the next leader of the United States could well determine whether we continue in a position of power, or fade from history.  (By the way, the origin of that word precipice, is from late 16th Century Latin and denotes "a headlong fall" ... not very encouraging, is it?)
     I guess I'm asking because I'm starting to see people becoming more myopic; focused too narrowly on one thing or another that they hope will "fix" our nation and put us back on the path to greatness.  For some, that is hoping that a particular candidate will make good on their campaign promises and turn this big ship around.  For others, it is a big rally in the stock market, because their portfolio or bank balance is the barometer of their future security.  Still others know that these are not real solutions for what ails us, and they either turtle up and refuse to even think about the scary possibilities of the future, let alone take any steps to prepare for a different existence -- or they refuse to even entertain the thought that anything, or anyone, could defeat the mighty United States of America.
      And whether you are a person of faith or not, it seems to me as if we are all hoping, against hope, that we can escape what our very spirits and souls are telling us is imminent.  I am not trying to panic anyone or be a doomsday prophet.  I guess I am simply a realist.  As a Christian, I am secure in my eternal destiny; but I also know that this does not exempt me from having to face some very alarming situations in the present.  Recent events in Europe have shown us that our Western civilization is under physical attack.   Russian fighter planes are buzzing our Naval fleet in the Baltic Sea; coming within 30 feet of the ships' decks.  North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, ordered the country's nuclear weapons to be made ready for use at a moment's notice.  I think we can all agree that these are very real threats to not only our nation, but the world!  Yes, as individuals, there is very little we can do about the decisions made by world leaders.  But that doesn't mean we ignore them or fail to consider the consequences of such actions and how they might affect us and our families.
     These are examples of actions readily seen by the public eye.  What about covert activities being conducted outside the scope of public scrutiny?  Are you prepared for, or do you even think about, actions that could stealthily endanger you or your community?  Are you paying attention?  Or are you too focused on the big picture being orchestrated for you; or perhaps just the opposite, are you deliberately putting your blinders on and pretending everything is status quo?
     I suggest that we all get real, and begin paying close attention to what is going on around us, and here's the perfect reason why.... I am going to relate to you a very concerning situation that has come to my attention through a friend of my husband's who lives out-of-state.  I am not going to reveal any names or cities, because I want you to look at what I'm about to tell you with clear-sightedness; as if this could be any city in the country.  And believe me it could.
     This friend is the father of a daughter who attends an affluent private Christian school in a major city in the U.S.  Like any devoted father, he wanted to be involved in a meaningful way with the administration of his daughter's school.  Being a licensed firearms instructor, it was natural for him to become involved on the Security Committee at the school.  As the newest member, he wanted to become familiar with the team that had been hired to provide security for the school and its students.  (I am assuming that because the school is private and in an affluent neighborhood, they can afford to hire security teams, where public schools and perhaps less wealthy schools would not have this opportunity).

Wall of grief in Beslan

     You can imagine the concern that this father felt when he discovered that the private security team hired to protect his daughter's school was dubious, and the owner of the security firm raised some suspicions.  Now, before anyone accuses me of being bigoted or conspiratorial, I would remind you that this is a Christian school in an affluent American suburb.  If you can tell me that this would not raise a huge red flag for you, then I would like to remind you of the 2004 Beslan school siege (or massacre, as it was known in Russia), in which 1,100 people were taken hostage (777 of which were children), and 385 died.  It is the opinion of many security officials (and special forces operators) that Beslan was "the dress rehearsal" for more planned takeovers of schools.  If they are concerned, shouldn't we be?
     Why do I think that this friend and father has a right to be concerned?  Because our children are our most precious possessions, and the quickest way to bring this nation to its knees, and to rip our souls asunder, is to attack our kids.  Enemy terrorists only have to look at the response of our nation at any school shooting that takes place.  It rips the heart out of this country.
     In 2014, author William Forstchen wrote a book titled Day of Wrath, in which he painted an exceptionally vivid picture of this very scenario.  I read it and wrote a post about it, knowing full well that what Mr. Forstchen wrote as a fictional warning was very timely and necessary.  And if you think my friend is over-reacting about his daughter's security team, then I invite you to read the book (and the nearly 1200 customer reviews) and then tell me how you would feel if it was your daughter at that school.
     Believe me, I pray that the security team at this Christian school proves to be above-board, a team of consummate professionals, and everyone feels they are the right choice.  But God help us if the red flag that has been raised turns out to be valid.  All I'm saying is that we are living in times that are unprecedented and dangerous.  Our future in this world is precarious, and we cannot afford to be blindsided because we are letting down our guard.  Stay focused, tune in, and pay attention to what's going on around you.  Don't be afraid to ask questions and to demand answers.  And above all else, don't stop praying for God's Mercy on us!

1 Thessalonians 5:6     "So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober."


         

Are We Really Free To Express Our Faith?

     You may have heard the recent news story about the lay preacher, Dr. Eric Walsh.  If not, let me clue you in.  Dr. Walsh was offered a job as a district health director for the Georgia Department of Public Health.  Before he could even show up for his first day of work, DPH officers and other government workers began investigating his religious activities.  You see, Dr. Walsh is not only a physician, but a lay preacher for the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

     So, even though, by law, Dr. Walsh's religious beliefs are no grounds by which he is to be considered eligible for employment, "DPH officers and other employees spent hours reviewing these [beliefs] and other of Dr. Walsh’s sermons and other public addresses available online; analyzing and taking notes on his religious beliefs and viewpoints on social, cultural and other matters of public concern as expressed in his sermons and other public addresses."  Then barely a week later, DPH announced it had rescinded the job offer that Dr. Walsh had already accepted.
     According to the Fox News Opinion site, there were members of the Georgia Department of Public Health that do not share Dr. Walsh's Biblical worldview, and they used their power to punish him.  Perhaps they were heavily influenced by The Health Initiative, an Atlanta-based group committed to LGBT health issues, and strongly opposed to Walsh’s hiring.  So opposed, in fact, that they told The Georgia Voice, an LGBT-oriented bi-weekly newspaper based in Atlanta, Georgia, "Dr. Walsh’s public displays of anti-gay propaganda and religious rhetoric will become symbols of the department and will further isolate an already vulnerable population. We believe this hire is detrimental to the well-being of our community, as well as to the effectiveness of the Department to conduct meaningful outreach to LGBT Georgians."
     So what exactly was the "anti-gay propaganda and religious rhetoric" that the good doctor was spewing?  Well, Dr. Walsh preached sermons upholding the biblical stance on marriage (a union between one man and one woman), and other topics such as creationism, health, sexuality, world religions, science, and what the Bible says about homosexuality.  So, basically, he was fired -- before he ever started! -- because of something he preached in a sermon.  (NOTE:  The Georgia DPH has now released a statement saying, "During the background check process, DPH learned Dr. Walsh failed to disclose outside employment to his previous public health employer, which also was in violation of California law."  If that was the reason for his termination, then why all investigation into his sermons, and why the statement from The Health Initiative?  I'm not buying it!)
     But this wasn't the first time Dr. Walsh was discriminated against.  The website, Saved To Serve, reported that it all started when Dr. Walsh was invited to be the keynote speaker for a commencement at Pasadena City College in California. LGBT activists and students vehemently protested and Walsh backed out. Not satisfied with the cancellation, the LGBT community and its sympathizers wanted to further damage him emotionally and professionally which resulted in his resignation as director of Pasadena’s public health department. And then the hate followed him all the way across the country to Georgia.
     All this controversy brings me to what I think is a natural question ... Does Religious Freedom really exist in this country?  Or can one small group of the population control the nation's social conscious and launch what amounts to a legally-accepted act of discrimination against people of faith?  You see, the LGBT community in the Atlanta, Georgia region is only an estimated 4.2% of metro Atlanta's population.  Yet, they are able to work in cooperation with government agencies like the Department of Public Health, and corporate giants like Disney, Apple, Time Warner, Intel, and the NFL to coerce Christians from preaching their beliefs in their churches, and can actually effect opportunities of employment.
     One can see these same groups pressuring Georgia Governor Nathan Deal to veto the state's House Bill 757, which would have protected religious freedoms, and would have amended current law "relating to marriage generally, so as to provide that religious officials shall not be required to perform marriage ceremonies in violation of their legal right to free exercise of religion."  The Governor was quoted as saying, “Our people work side by side without regard to the color of our skin, or the religion we adhere to. We are working to make life better for our families and our communities. That is the character of Georgia. I intend to do my part to keep it that way. For that reason, I will veto HB 757.”  Well, Governor, can you show me where the good state of Georgia is willing to work side by side with those of Faith?  Are they to be silenced when they express their views of what they want for their families and communities?
     I have stated it over and over, and sadly, I feel it is necessary to do so again... I do not wish to force my religious views about sexuality or marriage upon another.   While I may not agree with the homosexual lifestyle (based on my faith), that same faith does not require that I force my opinion on another.  That is a decision that I am perfectly willing to let every individual choose for themselves.  I am not called to be another's conscience.  I do not want to control how you live your life.  (Those of my friends who are gay, can attest to the fact that their relationships do not interfere with our friendships). BUT, at the same time I expect to be allowed to live my life in the freedom of my faith, and that includes attending a church that teaches a Biblical perspective on marriage and creationism, for example.  Just as the LGBT community wants to be free to live their lives according to their belief system, I would ask that they offer me the same courtesy.  Allow me to choose for myself, the lifestyle I want to live; do not limit my voice in the public square, just as you want to have yours heard.  And, most of all, let the laws of the land protect my rights, as well as yours!
     It is becoming more and more apparent that we cannot count on the Constitution or our lawmakers to protect our religious liberties.  As long as churches and religious organizations tie themselves to the government's 501(c)3 shackles, it will allow the government, whenever it chooses, to control what is preached, taught, or done to a great extent within those institutions.  And we must admit that government is increasingly bowing down to the pressures of our culture.  Let's face it ... we are being judged ... and condemned ... by those who wish to silence our voice, even if it is done within the confines of the Lord's House.  The sad thing, for me, is that like any social or cultural force, it is the radical branch that wants to force their agenda.  
     So, right now, we are seeing professionals like Dr. Eric Walsh being fired for their religious beliefs.  Seems to me that we are not too far away from what the Bible tells us will be the result of standing for our faith.  Read about it in the Book of Revelation.  It starts out with threats; then we will be prosecuted, fined, and jailed.  And then it's only a step or two until we are being prohibited from buying or selling, and then ultimately killed for refusing to renounce our faith.  Those with no faith in the God of the Bible will say that is a ridiculous statement.  But can you look at what happened to Dr. Eric Walsh, and see that we are more clearly on that destructive path; more so than on a path towards mutual acceptance and tolerance?  How did we get here, so far and so fast?  The Enemy obviously knows his time is short, and we can take consolation in knowing that our Victory is on the horizon.

Revelation 2:10    "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."
     

Satan and Politics: A New Revolution?

     If you are like me, this whole political cycle is becoming tedious.  I do not happen to believe that we can change the direction of this country -- or the world, for that matter -- with a political solution. I believe our problems are much bigger than the contested Republican convention that is predicted; or the scandal over Hillary's emails, Benghazi, and the threats to national security.  I have huge doubts about the ability of any newly-elected President to turn around our failing economy, our immigrant/border problem, or the encroachment upon our national sovereignty by any foreign powers or global institution.  I think our problems are the result of our spiritual deterioration; our rebellion and rejection of God; and the doors we have opened to Satanic influence in our homes, our culture, and our churches.  In short, watching Fox News or CNN to get the latest political update seems like I'm watching a carefully scripted mockery of the delusion that we have any say in the future of this nation.
     That bit of pessimism aside, my always alert husband discovered an article he thought worthy of our discussion.  I read it, at first, with a sense of sad amusement -- that people could be so deceived as to actually be a follower of such nonsense -- but that was soon replaced with the very real sense that there are people who are hopelessly lost, and convenient tools of the dark side of this world.  Let me explain....
     This all may seem laughable, and unrealistic, but keep in mind that Satan seeks to enter all facets of our lives, and politics is a very impressionable and powerful subculture of our society.  And we have a generation of dissatisfied, alienated, and discontented youth who, like every generation before them, think that they have the solution for the "perfect revolution" to change the world.  It's just that in this time of history, the Enemy has done away with subtle and muted messages, and is openly identifying himself as an alternative choice -- even in politics.

The Satanic Temple performs a satanic ritual at
the Michigan State Capitol in December 2015

     So, you may be familiar with the organization known as The Satanic Temple.  They have made their presence known by demanding the same religious rights and privileges afforded to Christianity.  You may recall their campaigns to create satanic coloring books for distribution in schools in Florida and Colorado; bids to erect satanic “nativity scenes” on government property in Florida, Michigan and Indiana; offering prayers to Satan at a high school football game in Seattle; and demanding that a monument to the Ten Commandments at the Oklahoma State Capitol be accompanied by a monument to Baphomet (a goat-headed idol associated with witches' sabbaths).
     I've always assumed that they saw themselves as an alternative "religion".  But you should know that the foundation of their "movement" is political, and they have stated as such on their website:  "The Satanic Temple (TST) facilitates the communication and mobilization of politically aware Satanists, secularists, and advocates for individual liberty."  It is obvious they aim to make their presence known in politics!
     Their latest attempt to influence the political culture in this country came at South by Southwest (SXSW), an annual set of film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences that take place in mid-March in Austin, Texas.  This event started out as a forum for talented, new, and independent artists, and as far as I'm concerned, has attracted far too many of the "fringe" and "bizarre" types.  But they open the venue to anyone, so what better place for The Satanic Temple to present a unique political message to the masses.
     First, you need to know that the TST political campaign involves the 2016 movie, "The Witch", a tale of a Puritan family turning on each other as they attempt to root out the supernatural evil plaguing their farm.  The film won the award for best director at the Sundance Film Festival – and even frightened horror master Stephen King, which is quite a feat, and enough to keep me from ever seeing it.  But the important fact, here, is that The Satanic Temple combined forces with A24 Studios, to promote a four-city tour called The Sabbat Cycle, which consisted of screenings of the film followed by politically driven satanic rituals.  I kid you not!  The stated goal of The Sabbat Cycle was to inspire a “satanic revolution.”  That got your attention, didn't it?
     Revolutions have always been about rebelling against the status quo, and who better than Satan, the first leader of an organized rebellion, to represent a burgeoning political movement?  But I think you should know exactly what The Sabbat Cycle is all about.  Obviously, it is meant to denigrate the Sabbath, a holy day as designated by God.  But in satanism it is also a supposed annual midnight meeting of witches with the Devil.  If you dare, you can click on this link to the website, but if you would rather skip the disgusting photos, then I can clue you in on their purpose and plan.  Here is the official mission statement:  "Inspired by the film The Witch, The Satanic Temple crossed the nation February 2016 to present a four-part cycle of interactive performances to reify the witch (to make something abstract more concrete or real) - and herald a new Satanic American era. A study of the pathology of religious hysteria, The Witch provides a glimpse into a dark period of our collective history, a  puritanical worldview turned parasitic.  Despite the mythology, supernatural forces do not inspire an attraction to the left hand path, rather it is the unnatural pressures of theocracy that ultimately produce a Satanic breakthrough. This is a timely film.  Nearly four-hundred years after the first execution of an American "witch," many in our nation still call for the establishment of an American theocracy and a return to the puritanical delusions of old.   In the face of relentless persecution, of unjust authority treading on our private, intellectual and sexual lives, we, the outsiders, the freethinking, and the godless have found ourselves strengthened.  We act now to righteously assert our American freedoms, for the edification of our communities and the future of the private citizen.  The Sabbat Cycle mirrors phases of "becoming" in the personal road to Satanism and is an invitation to join us in the Satanic Revolution."
     And to become part of this satanic political revolution, they apparently feel it is necessary to perform a satanic ritual.  You can read the full description, as provided by a reporter who decided to witness it for himself.  But here's the shortened version:  After viewing the film, the participants adjourned to a nearby bar where the entire area was adorned in black-and-white American flags, just like the ones that everybody in the room received as they entered. As all of this went down, a sermon played over loudspeakers, as a Christian minister described what Satan wanted from his followers—"Satan wants you to do what you want to do," a point that apparently both sides of the Jesus/Satan divide can agree on—while what the reporter described as "a punishing ambient soundscape provided by British electronic music weirdos Consumer Electronics" droned in the background.

     Then the head priestess or witch, whose name, believe it or not, is Jex Blackmore, came out from behind her black shroud and gave her own sermon.   "Who taught you to be ashamed?" and declaring that "satanism is the rational assertion of aggressive individualism." A naked couple, who were part of the show, got hoods draped over their heads, then removed them to chug down containers full of wine (supposed to represent blood). People in the crowd rushed to the front of the stage.  The priestess culminated her sermon by declaring, "We do not seek followers, we are seeking collaborators—individuals for a satanic alliance!" Then she instructed those collaborators to place their black-and-white flags outside of crisis pregnancy centers and the Texas governor's mansion. She ended the sermon by shouting "Hail Satan!" and raising her fist into the devil-horn sign, which the majority of the crowd of a hundred or so fired back, chanting "Hail Satan!" along with her, over and over again.
     Now, this might seem like an absurd exhibition, but we must never assume that it was nonproductive.  Anytime anyone praises Satan, or glorifies him, or honors him with worship, you can bet that our Enemy will take advantage of it and push his agenda.  He will use these willing dupes to present himself as a legitimate alternative to the religion of Christianity, as well as a genuine and different choice in the political arena.  But we must not forget that it is always a counterfeit option.  It is a false promise.
     Ms. Blackmore embraces her position as witch/political activist with relish. She sees the collaboration with the film, The Witch, as an opportunity to get more people involved and hasten their political revolution. She, along with the organization she represents (The Satanic Temple) want to challenge the popular belief that America is a “Christian nation.”  Seems like there are a lot of people in politics that hold that same belief system.  Can groups like TST and their occultic entourage change the landscape of our political consciousness?
     Are you willing to bet that they can't?  We have to face the fact that our culture and the nation's underlying foundation of the Christian Church has certainly changed in the last decade.  And Millennials now outnumber us Baby Boomers.  They don't see the big picture the way we do.  And if their picture doesn't include the reflection of God in their lives, their homes, our society, or our government, then they are inevitably ripe for deception and a counterculture that TST offers them.  We saw it happen in the 60s, when the youth of this nation forged new ideas of free sex, while protesting against the government, affluence, war, and any and all authority.
     Authority ... isn't that what Satan rebelled against, too?  God's Authority?  And now the youth of this nation openly hail God's Adversary by name.  But now that rebellion is moving from the religious sphere into the political arena, where the Bible tells us that Satan is ruler of this world.  Up to now, he has been able to work in relative obscurity -- most people are unaware that he is actually called the Prince of this world.  But now it appears as though he is coming out of the shadows and into full view amidst the corrupt, criminal, and immoral political landscape.  He should feel right at home.  And  now,  he's ready to get in the race.  Most of our spiritually protective walls have been torn down, and we already see the evidence of him winning court battles in Florida, Oklahoma, Colorado, Michigan, and Indiana.  When satanic rituals are allowed to be held in public, and are directed toward members of our government, then I fear that we have sealed our doom.  We are witnessing an unholy pact, and God help us!

Romans 1:32    "Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them."


   
   

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

 "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."

     This is a powerful piece of Scripture!  And I wish every Christian would fully embrace the comprehensive message that the Apostle Paul is trying to tell us in this passage.  I've always thought of it as a companion to his message on the "full armor of God" in Ephesians.  But I am continually surprised at the number of my fellow Christians who apply his instruction on a limited basis.

     In Ephesians, Paul tells us that we do not fight against flesh and blood.  In other words, our enemies are not human like us, but are "cosmic" and "spiritual forces".  He even gives us the rank and serial number, so to speak, of Satan's army... rulers, authorities, powers, forces.  He tells us who we are fighting, and then tells us how to protect ourselves, and with what armor ... fasten on the belt of God's Truth (who He is, and who you are in Him); put on the breastplate of righteousness; put on the sandals of the gospel of peace; take up the shield of faith in all circumstances, and the helmet of salvation, along with the sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God).  He then instructs us to pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

     First of all, there are many Christians who do not understand that we are to put on the armor and all those components because WE ARE AT WAR!  Somehow, they think that putting on the armor is simply part of our daily walk with God.  But why would Paul use imagery of war and a battle, if he just wanted us to know God's Truth, be righteous, live a peaceful life, be faithful, accept our salvation, and read the Word?  The picture of putting on armor means you are going to be going to war, and are engaged in a fight.  He even tells us who the enemies are in the preceding verse!  But somehow some Christians ignore the first part of his message, and refuse to see the obvious... that we have very real spiritual enemies and there is a battle that needs to be waged -- why else put on armor?

     Then there are Christians who will get to Level One by admitting that they can see the implications of a spiritual battle, but cling to the part of the verse that says "pray at all times... with all prayer and supplication", as if that is the only thing we can do.  Please don't misunderstand!  I am not diminishing the power of prayer, but as Paul tells us in the Scripture I have selected for today, there are weapons of warfare that we need to employ.  Notice the plural of that word?  Prayer is important; it is vital in our battle plan, but it is not the only weapon we have at our disposal!

    I want to reiterate ...  in Ephesians, Paul tells us that our enemies are not flesh; but in 2 Corinthians, he tells us that our weapons are not of the flesh.  I think it is important to understand that he is trying to tell us that our human efforts are not enough to fight the spiritual enemies that Satan will send against us.  Notice that he says we "do not wage war according to the flesh".  Also note that he isn't as specific in 2 Corinthians, as to what those weapons are.  Let me share with you what the Lord has shown me.

     First of all, I believe today's passage shows us that we must be ACTIVE in using our weapons, in order to be effective.  Each of the weapons I am about to suggest involves us being active, and taking a stand; using a specific weapon to overcome the activity and influence of Satan and his army.

      The first weapon that I believe can be especially effective is PRAISE.  The devil hates to hear people praising God.  When we speak praise out loud, it releases the presence of God in our lives, and a divine connection (and protection) is initiated that the devil cannot penetrate.  Michael Fackerell, a Christian missionary to Romania, has explained the power of praise as a weapon, better than anyone I've ever heard.  He says, "Many of our problems would be solved if we could only get Satan and his demons to SHUT UP. They operate by injecting suggestions into our minds which seem plausible, but are rooted in unbelief and rebellion towards God. The suggestions come as if they were our own thoughts, when they are not at all! We lose battles when we believe and trust these demonic suggestions. These suggestions, thoughts and imaginations work to sow discouragement, confusion, fear, doubt and unbelief in our minds. PRAISE – be it spoken or sung to music, however, works to SILENCE the enemy. Perfect praise led by God’s Holy Spirit will completely silence the enemy."

     Please note that he has shown us how to be active in using the weapon of Praise, and how it brings us into partnership with the Holy Spirit.  That is the "divine power" to break strongholds, that Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians!

     A second weapon we have at our disposal is the Word of God.  We can see that this is the same weapon Paul says is part of our spiritual armor in Ephesians 6.  And it is the only piece of armor that requires action on our part; the only offensive piece of armor.  Everything else is defensive.  Once again, we see that actively speaking the Word of God out loud is a weapon that will overcome and defeat the Enemy.  He cannot stand against the Word!

     The next weapon that is active and effective against the devil is the Blood of Jesus.  We all sin, and by His blood, we are all cleansed, when we accept Him as our Savior, repent, ask for forgiveness and begin to walk out our salvation.  We must never listen to the lies of Satan, and let him condemn us by our sin.  We must actively apply the Blood of Jesus as a weapon in order to cover us and restore us to a place of acceptance with God, and peace with ourselves.  Remember that Revelation 12:13 says the saints "overcame the devil by the blood of the lamb".... This is a powerful weapon in our arsenal!

     Now we come to the weapon that Christians are most familiar with -- and oftentimes limit themselves to... Prayer.  We must prevail in prayer, keep praying, and believe in the power of prayer.  But prayer is not simply our request made known to God... it is so much more!  We can actually, in prayer, boldly enter God's throne room (in our spirit) and petition Him for help in a particular need (Hebrews 4:16).  The Bible has a lot to say about prayer, but perhaps we should pay particular attention to how Jesus told us to pray:  to acknowledge that our Father is in heaven, and His name is holy.  He also asked us to pray "that His kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven...".  In other words, when we pray, we want to ask that our desires and our circumstances, here on earth, be brought into alignment with God in Heaven.  

     We know that God only wants what is best for us, and that if we are in dire straits here on earth, it is because the devil is being successful in attacking us through our sinful nature.  If we have anything that is separating us from God ... whether it be unforgiveness, unbelief, anger, bitterness, envy, self-rejection, or any of a myriad of weapons the devil can use against us ... then we are not in alignment with Heaven, and that's not how God wants us to live.  So we have to fight the devil with effective prayer; with the kind of prayer that destroys the stranglehold that the devil can get on us, so that our lives are out of kilter with God's kingdom in Heaven.

     Another powerful weapon is our Testimony.  Again, when we share our testimony of how God has delivered us from our bondage, and broken the chains of slavery that bound us to the devil, then that is an active word that the spiritual realm hears, and it is a very real strike against the forces of the Enemy.  You are taking an active part in the battle to win souls to Christ, which removes a target from the spiritual battlefield.  You may very well have snatched a victory out of the hands of the devil, and struck a blow for the glory of God!

     I can not over-emphasize the power of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Remember, this is a spiritual battle we are engaged in, and God, through His Holy Spirit, has given us gifts to help defeat our Enemy -- whether it be a Discernment of Spirits (to identify what kind of spirit or stronghold Satan is using to attack a person); a Word of Knowledge or Wisdom (a direct revelation from God);  the gift of Faith (in which the Christian receives a supernaturally strong and bold faith for a particular work God wants to do. This faith is far beyond the normal faith level of that person); a gift of Miracles (and yes, I DO believe that God still performs miracles today.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever -- and He has given us the authority and power, through the Holy Spirit, to do the things Jesus did).  If He performed miracles in the past, He performs them today, and we can expect them tomorrow.  Any of these gifts are powerful weapons in the hands of Christians who fully comprehend the spiritual battle that we must fight.

     The Name of Jesus is also a potent and essential weapon as we fight in the spiritual dimension.   Jesus gave the 72 disciples He sent out into the world t(o spread the Good News) the most powerful weapon He could ... His Name.  They reported back to Him in Luke 10:17, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”  In every instance in which Jesus interacted with the demonic influences on earth, they knew who He was, and they feared Him.  They also were subject to His every command.  And they still are!  When we encounter demonic activity in our lives, we can declare that it be bound, it stop, and it be cast away from us, In the Name of Jesus!  But here's an important addendum... we have to Believe it can be so!  Without Faith on the power of His Name, then Satan can just send a spirit of unbelief to sabotage our weapon.  It is imperative that we believe what the Bible tells us, if we are going to be victorious in our spiritual battles!

     The last weapon I want to point out is the weapon of Fasting.  It is more than just doing without food to cleanse and detoxify our bodies.  Fasting creates a hunger in our soul to be brought into line with God's will.  We can use Jesus as our role model.  Fasting precipitated His showdown with demonic power.  Jesus fasted in the wilderness (in those days he ate nothing), and Satan came at the end of it to test Him.  By speaking the Word in the face of great pressure, Jesus defeated Satan and was qualified to move in the power of the Holy Spirit as a MAN. That is the purpose of fasting as one of our spiritual weapons -- to prepare us to move in the power of the Holy Spirit, not our own.

     So, I hope I have shown you that we have an array of spiritual weapons in our war against the Prince of this world.  Prayer is a powerful one, but we should not rely on it as the only weapon in our arsenal; and we need to specifically realize that prayer in our own power is far less effective than when we utilize our other weapons to strategize and win victories over God's Enemy.  When we only pray in our flesh, we miss out on so much of the divine power available to us through our other spiritual weapons of warfare.  Remember, in our Scripture today, Paul tells us that our Weapons (plural) "have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."  Are you willing to trust in his advice, and rely on the Word?