Maryam Revisited: God Speaks Through A Child

     It has been a year since ISIS declared the Caliphate and the world began to see just what that meant.  In February of this year, I brought you the story of Maryam, a young Iraqi Christian girl, forced to flee her home near Mosul as ISIS instituted its apocalyptic persecution of Christians.  As just one of millions of refugees, it would have been easy for the world to ignore her plight... except that there was something special about Maryam.  As part of a group of refugee children interviewed by a Christian Broadcasting Network reporter, the world was stunned by her unfaltering faith as she declared that she had no desire to retaliate against ISIS for destroying her world ... "I won't do anything to them," Myriam asserted. "I will only ask God to forgive them."

     It was apparent as you watched that video that this child was filled with the Spirit of God.  (Maryam's portion of the interview begins at the 1 minute, 4 second mark).  There was a peace in her eyes.  And in the midst of such upheaval and violence, she possessed a serenity that could only come from Heaven.  At the time, I was left wondering how we American Christians would react if faced with sudden removal from our homes and unprecedented persecution.
     Now, just a mere six months later, although we are not experiencing the level of violence that is being perpetuated against Middle Eastern Christians, we are certainly seeing an abandonment and an excoriation of true Christian values in our culture ... and sadly, in the Church!  The rhetoric from anti-West extremists, and ISIS, itself, is more pronounced and specifically directed towards us; and it seems inevitable that our foreign policy will enable those who hate us the most to have the means to plunge the world into the chaos and destruction that mark the End Times.  So, how is your faith holding up?  Are you able to forgive those who wish us harm? Are you fearful?  Can you say that you possess the peace and confidence exhibited by this young Christian refugee?
     I was thrilled to find that CBN has released a new video after catching up with young Maryam, who along with her family, lives in a small, two bedroom trailer in a community of displaced Christians in Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan in northern Iraq.  Now 11, she is better able to elucidate on her ability to forgive those who hate her.  "In the Bible, Jesus said to us, 'Don't be afraid, I am with you.' And also, He said forgive others no matter who they are [who] hate you. You have to forgive them," she said. "Jesus is my Father, and He is my Creator. I have no one else better than Him. When ISIS drove us out of our home, His hand was on us and He saved us."

     Maryam said she cherishes the Bible because it is God's love story to humanity.  "The only story in the Bible is the story of the resurrection of Christ Jesus the Lord because through that story, we can have hope."  She says that prayer is an important part of her life.  She doesn't pray for a bigger or nicer home, or more things.  "When I pray, I pray that God might help us to go back home. And also that the peace of God might come all over Iraq and also, may God forgive ISIS."
     It is an interpreter's voice you hear as she speaks in her native language, but you don't need to understand the words she speaks to apprehend where her message comes from ... it's in her eyes and the force of her voice.  "The words I am speaking to you are not coming from a random place. They come from the Holy Spirit," she insisted. "The Holy Spirit gave me these words to tell you."
     Furthermore, she has words of advice for us here in America.  They are aimed at American children, but are words we all need to hear.  Maryam advised Christian children in the United States and elsewhere to love God and share their faith with friends.  "They don't need to be frightened and also, things that happen in their lives, they should learn from us and our lives," she said.  "This should not be to get something or to get glory for ourselves," she continued. "It is for the sake of God, because God lives and we want to do everything for the glory of God and also for exalting God in our lives."
     I can't help but feel as if I've been schooled by a messenger sent straight from God through a child who has the faith of a true disciple of Jesus.  The message is simple and fundamental; no embellishment and no distortion -- just the pure essence of the Word.  And that Word is not coming from some flashy, million-dollar, mega church that seats 5,000; or accompanied by a rock band and showy rhetoric -- but from a small trailer in a crowded refugee camp in the midst of horrendous Christian persecution.  Do we need any further proof that God speaks into the darkness of the world?
     As I view the lukewarm status of the American Church, I am humbled by this child's faith.  We call ourselves Christians -- but are we living our lives for the glory of God?  Are all of our actions and our words for the purpose of exalting God?  I pray that we do not face the tests of this child and her family, or those who have already been martyred.  But if it is God's will, I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide me as He has Maryam... to speak the Gospel Message into the world and convey the peace that comes with such abundant faith.  Thank you, Maryam.  Once again, you have shown us the power of the love of God.  May He continue to use you to profess the Gospel, and may He bless you and keep you and your family safe.

Colossians 3:16   "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."




   

When God Is Removed From War

     As I scanned the news stories across the Web, one particular headline caught my eye ... "Marine Court-Martialed For Refusing To Remove Bible Verse".  The absurdity of that statement made it obligatory that I click on the article.  And just as I suspected, the animosity against Christians in the military is growing out of all proportions to the alleged harm it is causing.

     Lance Corporal (LCpl) Monifa Sterling is accused of displaying a verse of Scripture on her computer -- written on a scrap of paper -- that the military has determined “could easily be seen as contrary to good order and discipline.”   The verse?  Isaiah 54:17:   “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.”  When Lance Corporal Sterling refused to remove the verse, she was found guilty of failing to go to her appointed place of duty, disrespect toward a superior commissioned officer, and four specifications of disobeying the lawful order of a noncommissioned officer.  After representing herself at trial, the Christian Marine was ultimately given a bad conduct discharge and a reduction in rank from lance corporal to private.  
     Both lower court and the appellate court ruled that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act did not apply to her case because displaying a Bible verse does not constitute religious exercise.  The Liberty Institute and former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement, also a law professor at Georgetown University, are now representing Sterling.
     First, let me say that this is not shocking to me in light of the fact that both God and our Constitution no longer merit any respect or consideration in how we run our national institutions.  This is apparent by the U.S. military policies that are being accelerated to allow the recruitment of as many illegal aliens as possible -- young men and women who have no emotional ties to America and no fundamental understanding of how our constitutional republic is supposed to function -- or the history of how faith in God played a huge part in the success of the military victories that established this nation.
     But Lance Corporal Sterling obviously knows the connection between God and military victories. The words she taped to her computer screen are part of a longer verse in Isaiah 54 that reads, No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD.

     I'd like to think that LCpl Sterling knows that she is upholding a long tradition of warriors who know the name of Jehovah Nissi ... The Lord Is My Banner.  I'd like to think that she knows that this is the name of God that Moses disclosed to Joshua before he went into battle against the Amalekites.  As long as Moses raised the staff (banner) of God, Joshua and the Israelite army were assured victory.  Perhaps LCpl Sterling understands that this battle was all about God.  Joshua, Moses, Aaron, Hur, and the Israelite armies were simply vessels God used, but the battle itself was orchestrated by God. Moses knew this and wanted to make certain the Israelites knew it and remembered it. Nothing that he or they did in the physical realm brought about victory. God’s presence and power took them into the battle and assured the victory when the battle was done.
     So what do the Marines and the Military Establishment find so darn offensive about Sterling believing that to be victorious in the military battles she will face, she cannot fight them in her own strength, but needs the Lord to go before her, just as He did with Joshua?  How is knowing that she needs the Lord in order to assure victory "contrary to good order and discipline"?  Or how can this understanding be seen as "divisive and contentious", which the Marines maintain?  As her Liberty Institute lawyer pointed out, “Our Marines are trained to deal with some of the most hostile people on the planet. I don’t think they are afraid of tiny words on a tiny piece of paper.”
     For now, Sterling's name has been tarnished with the bad conduct discharge, and she is currently out of a job.  But perhaps the Lord has a bigger purpose for her.  Perhaps He chose this battle for her in order to show that He will go before her and win the battle; that she is His human instrument, just as Joshua and his men were.
     I pray that the Lance Corporal will stand strong behind the banner of the Lord, and remain above the demands and accusations; being free from the crushing effects of this unjust sentence.  In the end, I hope she believes that she will be vindicated and triumph over her opposition.  The standing of every person of faith serving in the Armed Forces depends on it.  Without this victory in the Lord, God help our military and the defense of this nation.

Isaiah 50:8    "He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me!"

The Mark of the Cross: A Sign of Victory

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Faith Of A Child

     I want to share the inspiring story of a little Iraqi Christian girl, whose name is Myriam.  She and her family were among 400 Christian families who fled before the onslaught of ISIS in her home country.  She now resides in a half-built mall in the Kurdish capital of Erbil, in northern Iraq.
     The Christian Post reports her story as she is interviewed by a correspondent from SAT-7, a Christian satellite television network broadcasting in Arabic, Persian, and Turkish across 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, along with 50 countries in Europe.  She was among a handful of children specifically questioned about how she felt having to flee her home.  The program will air on SAT-7 KIDS, which aims to make Christian programming available to an entire generation of Arab children, and is seen by an estimated 9.25 million viewers on a regular basis.  That is an amazing fact that I was unaware of, and which gives me great hope.  But it was the light in Myriam's eyes that touched my heart.
     It is Myriam's astounding faith that comes across on the video.  (Please take the time to watch this; it is only 3-minutes long.)  As the reporter asks what she misses most about the life she left behind, she responds, "We used to have a house and were entertained, where as here we are not.  But thank God. God provides for us."

     The reporter was a bit perplexed by Myriam's comment and asked what she meant by "God provides for us."  She explained, "God loves us and wouldn't let ISIS kill us."  The reporter followed up by asking Myriam what she would do if she ever had the opportunity to retaliate for ISIS' onslaught of her hometown.  "I won't do anything to them," Myriam asserted. "I will only ask God to forgive them."  It is obvious by looking into her eyes, that she is wise beyond her years.  But what obedience to our Lord!  She truly knows her Scripture and God's command to love our enemies.  And what a follower of Christ, who asked God to forgive His enemies, "for they know not what they do".
     After the interview, the reporter thanked Myriam for her time. Then, Miriam replied, thanking him for his sympathy.  "You felt for me," she said. "I had some feelings and I wanted people to know how I feel."  I dare you to watch the video and not be moved by the ending, as the children are heard singing, "My love for my glorious Savior will increase with each new day. A new life, a happy day, the day I reunite with the Lord."
     As I listened to Myriam speak about her life on the run from ISIS and her unwavering faith in God, I was most impressed with her emphatic "Yes!" to the question if she could really forgive ISIS.  I couldn't help thinking, Could we American Christians be so obedient?  Does the Body of Christ in America have as close a relationship with God as these Iraqi Christian children?  Do we comprehend the gravity of this statement by Christ: "Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."?
     I have to tell you that I am extremely blessed to be a part of a small group of people who have been willing to step outside their comfort zones to seek a greater understanding of the God we serve.  For the past 4 years, our group has grown in our faith, as we have struggled to understand God's Truth through the study of the Books of Revelation, Daniel, and now Romans.  It is hard to put into words, but I have seen people's lives change as the Bible has come alive for them, and their spirits have soared with the intimacy they have encountered with God.  They have let their minds see past the traditions of men, allowed their hearts to be opened beyond the words of men, and searched their Bibles for the promises of Christ and their God.
     I have seen them go through stages that are similar to the grief process... beginning with anger at the misconceptions and flawed teachings of their particular Church; followed by a realization that they have been lax in reading their Bible and seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance; and finally, I have witnessed a newfound hunger for a righteous relationship with God, as well as a conviction that through personal and diligent study of God's Word, they are closer to knowing Him than ever before.
     On the other hand, I can't tell you how many Christians I know who just can't let go of their denominational doctrine, or who are scared (or too pre-occupied with things of this world) to look at something they are unfamiliar with.  And that's what worries me about the ability of the Body of Christ to withstand the physical persecution and the spiritual warfare that the Bible tells us is coming.    How many of the Body are truly prepared for persecution?  For spiritual warfare?  How many Christians can recite Paul's warning in Ephesians 6 that we are not wrestling with flesh and blood, but against spiritual powers and forces of wickedness; yet do not discern that we are empowered through our union with Him to fight them?  They know the call to put on the whole armor of God, yet they aren't "ready" to pursue greater knowledge of who or what they will be fighting!
     Revelation 19:7-9 tells us that the marriage supper of the Lamb is about to take place, and His bride has made herself ready.  But how many of those who count themselves the Bride are truly "ready"?  How many can say that they earnestly study what the Bible says about preparing ourselves?  Or do they rely on what their man-made doctrines have taught them, and refuse to look at the unexplored Word of God?
     I confess that I am far from satisfied with the state of my spiritual character, or the state of my readiness.  I want to divest myself of all my prideful assumptions and the false instruction that I have heard, read or seen; and I want to plead the power in the blood of Christ over my life.  I don't want man's interpretation of the Word; I want to discern the clear and loud voice of the Holy Spirit.  I want the simple, emphatic, unconditional, and unyielding faith of young Myriam.  I want to receive the kingdom of God like a child.

Matthew 21:16      And they said to Him, Do You hear what these are saying? And Jesus replied to them, "Yes; have you never read, Out of the mouths of babes and unweaned infants You have made (provided) perfect praise?"
   
   

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

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

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

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

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

How Much Longer? (As It Was In the Days of Noah)

     OK, this post should put me squarely in the "crazy camp", but I just have to be honest ... There are days I wake up and wonder, "How much longer can this world survive?"  And, what will our lives be like when everything is torn asunder?  You see, for the last several years, PLW and I have been blessed with the time and the spiritual desire to dissect the Bible and discern its message for us in these times.  The world is groaning and the time is near ...
     It's not just the political world with its scandals and corruption; nor the endless wars that seem to reach into every corner of the globe ... they are not simply "rumors of wars" anymore.  People are killed and tortured, having their heads cut off; and much of it in the name of religious ideology.  Planes full of innocent people are bombed out of the sky, and women and children are used as human shields in an attempt to drive a whole nation of people "into the sea".
     But I'm also aware that the lust for oil is at the heart of many of these conflicts.  If you dig deep enough under the propaganda, you will usually find a trail that links you directly to a massive oil reserve.  This includes all the pseudo-scientific data on global warming (or is it cooling these days?); there is always someone, or a group of "someones", who have become millionaires by peddling their brand of "caring for the globe".  In the meantime, nations send thousands of their young men to die -- not really for patriotic and sovereign reasons, but as a strategic move on the chess board of oil consumption.

     It's not just mankind that is in turmoil.  The very earth is threatened.  We have huge sinkholes appearing all over the globe; the latest in the spotlight is at a place in Siberia called "the end of the world".   Then there are the scientists at NASA who are warning about powerful coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the sun that could potentially destroy earth.  And even "Mother Nature" seems to be a little confused; weather events happen out of season, and the violence of storms seems to be mounting.  There is a growing concern over the New Madrid fault line in our nation's heartland, as well as the heating up of the earth's core at Yellowstone National Park.  And let's not forget that the "Ring of Fire" is showing signs of activity.  This an area where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur in the basin of the Pacific Ocean, and could potentially affect the Pacific rim of several continents.
     Where am I going with all this doom and gloom?  Let me start by saying that this wasn't the original design for mankind OR the planet.  Everything God created was originally good.  You don't have to be a Believer to comprehend this fact, because those with even the simplest understanding of the Scriptures know that things were perfect here on planet Earth until Satan infiltrated the Garden and set into motion a war for all ages.  I just don't think that Christians fully understand how that war has been waged.
     Let me attempt to explain my thoughts ... When Satan tempted Eve to disobey God, the judgment was swift and prophetic by the Creator of the Universe:  "I will put enmity (hostility, friction, hate) between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her Offspring."   That statement has been misunderstood by centuries of Christians and Church leaders.

     Satan has known God's plan from the beginning: to dwell among His creation in personal relationship.  And it has been the Devil's desire to disrupt that relationship at all costs.  He knew God would eventually have to send His Son to redeem us from the ways that he, Satan, would introduce.  If he could disrupt the genealogy and eventual birth of God's perfect Offspring with his own corrupt line, then the world and its inhabitants would worship him, Satan.  That's where Genesis 6:1-4 comes in.  The fallen angels, who followed Satan, came to earth and corrupted the daughters of men, introducing the unholy DNA into the human line.  They are the "giants" (or in the Hebrew, Nephilim) we see in verse 4.  But God protected a line of men from his destruction of mankind (Noah and his descendants), and through their line, He sent His perfect Son to reclaim us.  But Satan has not forsaken his plan, and that's why Jesus says in Matthew 24:37, "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man."
     Just as God proclaimed back in Genesis, there has been an all-out war throughout time between God's children and Satan's children.  It is now at the boiling point, and it affects all of God's creation; from mankind, to the ecological and geophysical systems, to the stars in the heavens.  Satan's plan to deceive mankind and infect them with a corrupted gene pool has been known by every civilization throughout history.  Genesis records the Giants in the land of Canaan, while Babylonian, Greek and Roman mythology refer to the "Titans" and the "Olympians", who were "children of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaia (Earth)."
     Early petroglyphs show ancient societies bowing down to "star people" or "star men", and the mythologies of our American Indians celebrate long-ago stories of visitations by hybrid entities.  Today, we hear stories of "alien abductions" and unbelievable stories by women of having their eggs removed and harvested.  These kinds of scenarios have become popular in our entertainment culture; think of the movies E.T. and Close Encounters of A Third Kind, and the new TV show, Extant, starring Halle Berry as a woman astronaut who comes back from space impregnated by an alien.
     Do you think all of this -- from the Genesis 6 story, to Greek and Roman hybrid gods, to centuries-old drawings on cave walls, to sci-fi entertainment -- is just the product of over-active imaginations?  Do you think they are just myths and legends that have managed to maintain a common theme for thousands of years?  Or could Jesus have been giving us a hint of what was to come, when He said "As in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man"?
     It is my humble opinion that secular humanity and lukewarm Christians who reject the theory of the impregnation of human women by fallen angels, are willingly buying into the Satanic deception that is presented on the History Channel's Ancient Aliens.  On this hugely popular show, they actually present the hypothesis that aliens will show up one day, claiming to be our creators. And they will have only our best interests at heart; they will rescue us from the wars and destructions of earthly humans.  All we have to do is become one with them ... Isn't that the same thing that Genesis 6:1-4 tells us?  There was a huge deception of the human race then, and there's another one coming soon, using the same lie that Satan has perpetuated from the beginning.  And God told us as much ... that there would be enmity between man's offspring and Satan's!
     You see, there truly is hostility between those of us who are born again into the Spirit of life that is Jesus Christ, and those who fall for Satan's Deception.  The Second Coming of Jesus is Satan's final downfall and defeat.  He is going to do everything he can in the short time he has remaining to convince humanity that we want to become one with him... up to and including taking his Mark.
     I know I have laid out a long and complex theory, but I am so worried that there will be Christians who will be tempted to believe Satan's temptations.  After all, Adam and Eve knew God intimately; they walked in the Garden with Him --- and they still fell for the lies!  Please don't dismiss this theory because you have not heard it in the sanctuary of your mainstream Church.  Satan has managed to control the revelation of Scripture, and the soft-sell Gospel of Prosperity and Grace comes nowhere near warning us of what time it is on the Prophetic clock.  Do your own research!  I do not expect you to take my word for it.  Read the books of Daniel, Revelation, Jude and the Book of Enoch, which is referenced in the Book of Jude, and which was found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.  There's a reason this book has been revealed for this time!
     Finally, I would point you to all the excitement and research in the area of transhumanism.  At the center of this new technology are experiments with genetic manipulation.  Isn't that just another name for what happened in Genesis 6?  The game plan hasn't changed... it's as old as the Creation.  I just want you to be ready to stand against the lies of the Enemy.

1 John 3:8    "The person who practices sin belongs to the devil, because the devil has been sinning since the beginning. God’s Son appeared for this purpose: to destroy the works of the devil."

The Unbelievers In the Church

     This post is likely to be condemned by many.  But I cannot sit idly by and not comment on the latest controversy within the Church.  To that end, one of the benefits of where the Lord has placed me at this time in my life, is that I have the liberty and time to do a lot of studying and research.  It has not been until the last few years that I have taken advantage of this opportunity; and I owe my newfound dedication to the desire that He has instilled in my heart.  I now have a hunger to know more about Him; to see more clearly how I, as a Believer, am to view this world; and to discern how I am to consider the changes coming in the modern Church.
     Please know that I do not claim any unique revelations.  My thoughts and opinions are my own.  That being said, I enjoy listening to various "Watchmen", whom I believe have had sincere callings on their lives.  When I consider any of their commentaries, I compare them to Scripture, and then let the Holy Spirit guide my thoughts to align with God's.

     I am telling you all this as a preface to what I think is a disturbing trend among American Christians.  When I see a major U.S. denomination openly disregard the teachings of Scripture, I must agree with the Watchman, Pastor David Lankford, who boldly calls them "Unbelievers".  If you haven't guessed by now, I am talking about the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s official embrace of same-sex marriage at its General Assembly meeting last week.  The decision was made to allow clergy to marry gay couples in states where same-sex unions are legal, and the resolution has been met with approval by both gay rights activists and Church pastors alike.
     The executive director of a gay rights organization in Iowa stated, “More and more, we are seeing people of faith embrace the freedom to marry. And so, it only makes sense that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — one of the largest Christian groups in the nation — makes this important step toward equality.”  Then there was this statement by the pastor of Memorial Presbyterian Church in Bay City, Michigan, "God loves everybody.  There’s got to be someone out there that someone can fall in love with, and if they happen to be of the same sex, that’s God’s will as well.”  While his state doesn’t permit same-sex marriage, he said that his church is prepared to offer gay matrimonies if and when the time comes.
     First of all, this is not an issue of "loving our fellow man", and I will deny any charges of enmity or bigotry.  For me, it is all about honoring God's Word.  So, here is where I must agree with Pastor Lankford.  I can almost guarantee that each member of those Presbyterian congregations consider themselves "people of faith" and "Believers".  But here is my heartfelt question:  How can you call yourself a Believer, if by your words and your actions, you do not believe God's Word?  As His Church, shouldn't you seek to know what He says about the institution of marriage?  And if you are a believer of His Word, then you know that you cannot please both Him and the World.
     I will tell you that if you google "the biblical definition of marriage", you will find numerous links to sites that declare "there is no specific details or directions about marriage".  Other sites will say "The Bible's definition of marriage can be confusing and contradictory".  There's even a site written by a Jewish rabbi which states, "The Bible does not give any single, clear definition of marriage."  But I must ask them all this question:  Are you searching the Scriptures for how God established His ordained union, or are you cherry-picking Scripture to echo the culture and make yourselves more relevant?
     You see, if I am going to call myself a "Believer", then I hold myself to the standard of believing what God has told me in the Book of Genesis.  Specifically, in Genesis chapter 2, God declares it is not good for Adam (the first man) to live alone. All the animals are there, but none of them are a suitable partner for Adam. God, therefore, in a special act of creation, makes a woman. Just a few verses later, the woman is called “his wife” (Genesis 2:25). Eden was the scene of the first marriage, ordained by God Himself. The author of Genesis then records the standard by which all future marriages are defined: “A man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).
     This passage of Scripture gives several points for understanding God’s design for marriage. First, marriage involves a man and a woman. The Hebrew word for “wife” is gender-specific; it cannot mean anything other than “a woman.” There is no passage in Scripture that mentions a marriage involving anything other than a man and a woman. It is impossible for a family to form or human reproduction to take place asexually. Since God ordained sex to only take place between a married couple, it follows that God’s design is for the family unit to be formed when a man and woman come together in a sexual relationship and have children.
     So, no matter how much "the faithful" in the modern Church want to honor love between people, no matter their sex, and proclaim that it is "God's will" that they should be married, they can only do that if they do not believe God's Word.  That would make them an "Unbeliever", even if they consider themselves Christian.  I know that sounds harsh and condemning, but it is really a simple matter of semantics.  If you are a Believer, you are a devotee of God, who reveals Himself and His higher authority through His Word.  You believe (trust and accept) His Word -- every word!  That does not mean that we get to reinterpret His Word to reflect our human feelings and desires, no matter how "loving" they may seem.  The very need to reinterpret the Bible shows that one disbelieves what has been revealed.  Therefore, I guess it should come as no surprise that the world desires to change what God has instituted in order to satisfy their human desires.
     But it saddens me to see the Church following the culture, rather than leading it.  In so doing, they (seem to me) to have lost their purpose ... to preach the Gospel to all people that the lost may be saved and that the righteous might be encouraged and edified.  Perhaps they no longer believe this either.

Romans 8:7    "For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot."





   

Is This The American Way?

   

     I have a couple of questions today ... Who gets to decide which "agenda" a nation should conform to?  And what qualifies that agenda to become the standard by which all must obey?  These issues are on my mind in the wake of HGTV canceling a new program featuring brothers, who just happen to be up front about their faith.
     The twin brothers, Jason and David Benham, saw their show, "Flip It Forward", cancelled before it was ever aired.  The reason?  A blog post by Right Wing Watch, a subsidiary of Norman Lear's liberal progressive advocacy group, People for The American Way, purported to reveal the brothers' anti-homosexual, anti-abortion, anti-Muslim views.  The fact is, when someone who does not share the Christian faith attempts to comment on its standards of behavior, they often misrepresent them and distort them.
      Of course, when David Benham writes the following in The Christian Post, those who do not understand the Gospel Message will only see hate.  He wrote:

In the Leviticus passage, it says that death is the consequence for homosexual sin. This is how detestable this type of sin is to God. However, Jesus came and took the consequences of this sin upon Himself on the cross. Homosexual sin is covered by the blood of Jesus, the same way stealing is. The only difference today is that homosexual sin carries with it an agenda, other sins do not. Homosexuality demands acceptance, and the blood of Jesus cannot forgive sins that are no longer sins. The blood of Jesus cleanses sin. 

     Now, you and I know what he meant by this discourse.  He does not state that he hates homosexuals.  He says that God has pronounced a particularly stark sentence on this specific sin ... BUT the sin of homosexuality, like all sins, is covered by the atoning blood of Christ.  However, in today's world, this particular sin has become different than other sins that are forgiven.  There is a power behind it that attempts to influence or force a program of action ... that is the "agenda" that Benham speaks about.  This force, which is carried out by various organizations, such as Right Wing Watch, demands that this sin not only be accepted, but promoted; in effect to be declared a non-sin.
     The Benham brothers have now become the latest in a select group of Believers who dare to stand boldly for the life to which God calls us all.  I am impressed with how they have handled this situation; saying that they can choose to love others (including homosexuals and Muslims), while still adhering to God's standards and principles.  In fact, they hold no grudge against the HGTV network, who knew of the brother's faith and opinions on this topic and others, equally as controversial.  "We don't feel wronged at all. This isn't HG versus us, or us against the gay community. This is an agenda, and we're getting to witness it right now," Jason Benham said.  "Our comments have never been aimed at gays, but at an agenda that says you can't stand by your beliefs.  It's only going to get worse because [of the  agenda] that wants to silence the beliefs that we have."
     Are they outspoken about their opinions on issues that God finds offensive?  Yes!  They have not shied away from protesting in front of abortion clinics, declaring that "87 percent of Americans are Christians and yet we have abortion on demand; we have no-fault divorce; we have pornography and perversion; we have a homosexuality and its agenda that is attacking the nation; we have adultery; we have all of the things; we even have allowed demonic ideologies to take our universities and our public school systems while the church sits silent and just builds big churches. We are so complacent, we are so apathetic and we are very hypocritical in the church, that’s why the Bible says judgment begins in the house of God."   By definition of the Liberal Left, these comments are labeled extremist.  But if you call yourself a Christian, who can truthfully deny them?!
     So now, there is a demand that the Benham brothers be silenced because a certain segment of the population doesn't agree with them.  Does that conform with the mission statement of People for the American Way?  In part, their "Vision" on their website states thus:
•  People For the American Way is dedicated to making the promise of America real for every American: Equality. Freedom of speech. Freedom of religion. The right to seek justice in a court of law. The right to cast a vote that counts. The American Way.  (Except if your Christian values are in contrast with what we determine is "real".)
•  Our vision is a vibrantly diverse democratic society in which everyone is treated equally under the law, given the freedom and opportunity to pursue their dreams, and encouraged to participate in our nation’s civic and political life. Our America respects diversity, nurtures creativity and combats hatred and bigotry.  (Unless we disagree with your belief system; then we will subject you to our own brand of hatred and bigotry, and deny you the freedom to pursue your dreams).
     Go to their website and you will get a clear picture of what their "vision" is ... to promote the Progressive agenda, by any means available; and that includes bullying TV networks to silence anyone who voices Christian values.  Unfortunately, Jason and David Benham did not have the following of Duck Dynasty --- their show was cancelled before it ever aired!  But as they proclaimed shortly after the call from HGTV, "If we have to lose our show because of our faith, so be it."  Sorry, Progressives ... no hate speech, no condemnation; nothing but the willingness to continue to promote the Love of Jesus Christ.  You can try to take away our livelihoods, silence our voices, and paint us as extremists.  But we will continue to pray for you and seek to conform ourselves to the image of Christ.  That is the American Way I envision, and that is the only agenda that will truly change men's hearts.

Ephesians 4:17-18     "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;"

   

SCOTUS Leaves Christians Defenseless

   

     By refusing to hear the case of a New Mexico photographer who declined a job to commemorate the same-sex union of two lesbians, the Supreme Court of the United States, in effect, is forcing Christians to go against their religious convictions, and to do it against their will.
     The photographer was accused of violating New Mexico's "sexual orientation" law which mandates that there can be no denial of service based on discrimination by those offering their services to the public. Here are the facts, as reported by World Net Daily:  In 2006, Elaine Huguenin received an email from a woman, Vanessa Willock, asking if she would be “open to helping us celebrate our day,” a “commitment ceremony” between her and her same-sex partner.  When Elaine and her husband, Jonathan, politely declined because the ceremony was at odds with their beliefs, Willock found another photographer, for less money.  But that did not stop her from filing a complaint with the New Mexico Human Rights Commission, demanding the Huguenins be punished.  And that is the primary objective ... to punish.
    The Huguenins said they would “gladly serve gays and lesbians” by taking portraits. But photographing same-sex marriages or commitment ceremonies would “require them to create expression conveying messages that conflict with their religious beliefs,” according to their petition to the Supreme Court.
     OK, I feel like a broken record whenever I try to discuss my convictions on this subject.  It's really very simple for me.  While my religious beliefs do not condone the redefinition of the word "marriage" to become anything other than the Biblical meaning, I would not tell another person how to conduct their lives.  It is their choice.  But it is equally my choice to not be coerced into approving their choice.  Doesn't it seem as if the New Mexico law is doing just that?
     Let me just put it into terms that apply to me.  I am a writer.  I am also a Christian who honors my God's commandments to the best of my abilities.  There are certain actions that He has made clear to me that He does not approve of, and of which He would not want me to write in an approving manner.  I am guilty of some of them; therefore I am not comfortable passing judgment on others who may commit different acts that offend Him.  I can only change me and my heart, with His help.
     But my religious beliefs and consciousness regarding an issue like same-sex marriage are the same beliefs that would not permit me to write and glorify someone's actions who is a murderer, an adulterer, a gossiper, a slanderer, an abuser of his/her parents, a God-hater, a greedy embezzler, a liar, and so forth.  Before those of you who disagree with me, go all Duck Dynasty on me .... I am not equating same-sex marriage with the act of murder.  I am just trying to make the point that the Bible is my standard for a broad spectrum of activities.  That doesn't mean that I think no one should be allowed to write about them; I simply choose to let someone else do that honor, should they so desire.
     But forcing me, as a Christian, to say that I approve of what Jeffrey Dahmer or Bernie Madoff did is no different than forcing a Christian photographer or baker to use their artistic expression in approval of same-sex marriage.  No one is saying that you can't have your wedding cake or your commitment photographs; in fact, in every single case brought before the courts, the couples have been able to find someone who is happy to supply the service.  Just don't force someone who chooses to abide by their religious convictions to do something against their faith and their will.
     Yet by declining to even consider the case, the Supreme Court of our land is, in effect, condoning the decisions of the lower courts.  And it doesn't stop there!  I could hardly believe it when I read that one of the New Mexico State Supreme Court justices said that being ordered to compromise one’s beliefs is simply the “price of citizenship.”  As a group, the New Mexico justices released this statement, in part:  At its heart, this case teaches that at some point in our lives all of us must compromise, if only a little, to accommodate the contrasting values of others. A multicultural, pluralistic society, one of our nation’s strengths, demands no less. The Huguenins are free to think, to say, to believe, as they wish; they may pray to the God of their choice and follow those commandments in their personal lives wherever they lead... In the smaller, more focused world of the marketplace, of commerce, of public accommodation, the Huguenins have to channel their conduct, not their beliefs, so as to leave space for other Americans who believe something different. That compromise is part of the glue that holds us together as a nation, the tolerance that lubricates the varied moving parts of us as a people. That sense of respect we owe others, whether or not we believe as they do, illuminates this country, setting it apart from the discord that afflicts much of the rest of the world. In short, I would say to the Huguenins, with the utmost respect: it is the price of citizenship."
     In short, Elaine and Jonathan Huguenin must compromise, show tolerance and respect for others who are different than they.  But because they are Christians, they cannot expect the same treatment.  They, apparently are not worthy of tolerance or respect; and anyone who disagrees with their religious beliefs does not have to compromise.  And exactly why doesn't Vanessa Willock have to compromise to accommodate the contrasting values of Elaine and Jonathan?  Where is Vanessa's respect for someone who believes differently than she does?  Where is the outrage over the "social injustice" perpetrated against the Huguenins?  But remember, it is not about justice; it is all about punishing.
     I am afraid this is just the beginning of the legal persecution of Christians.  When Judge Tim L. Garcia of the New Mexico Court of Appeals says that states can require Christians to violate their faith to do business; and the United States Supreme Court does nothing to protect our rights to practice our faith as commanded, then where does it all lead?  If we are Bible-believing Christians, we know good and well where we're headed.  It's not going to get any easier from here on out.  We must make up our minds to continue and persevere in our faith.  As our Lord told us, there's a price to be paid to follow Him.  You have a choice ... compromise or stand firm.  What will you do?

Revelation 14:12     "Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus."

Behold A Pale Horse: America Aflame

     It's been over a year and a half since I reviewed an outstanding DVD entitled Behold A Pale Horse, America's Last Chance, which presented an accurate picture of the dangerous path America was on; a path that veered far from her original course, and one that threatened to be her undoing.

     Nothing has changed in the direction of that course.  If anything, the speed towards destruction has accelerated.  So Heartland Pictures and producer Chuck Untersee have upped the ante, so to speak, and re-edited the original version of this fine movie, adding new and powerful testimonies in the hopes of being able to distribute the new film in nationwide theaters.  

     I was privileged to receive a copy of Behold A Pale Horse, America Aflame to review.  Like its predecessor, America Aflame is hard-hitting and often-times a bitter pill to swallow.  This intense new film opens with a riveting interview with Randy Weaver, who was caught in the deadly confrontation with U.S. federal agents at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, in 1992, in which his 14-year-old son and wife were killed.  It sets the pace for the rest of the film, which chronicles just how much our government is at odds with its citizens.

     Like the first film, I was greatly impressed with the appearance of retired Lt. General Jerry Boykin.  As one of the original members of Delta Force, Boykin served as the Commanding officer during Black Hawk Down and as Commander of the Green Berets.  He also served in the CIA and Deputy Under-Secretary of the Department of Intelligence.  The man has some bragging rights.  But he simply describes himself as "not a Republican or Democrat; but a Conservative and a Christian."  

     So when he speaks, I take notice.  And he certainly got my attention when he said, "America is under judgment.  The Republic is in distress; listen to her cry.  What we are witnessing is spiritual warfare."  He went on to say that what we are seeing is patterns consistent with countries that move towards Marxism.  He then gave the example of nationalizing sectors of the economy; which is what we did with the bailouts of the banking industry.  Then you see a commitment to redistribute the wealth, which is in a nutshell, what the Affordable Care Act is.  This is followed by a discrediting of the opposition and those who would stand up against such policies.

     Lt. General Boykin pointed out that this attempt to harm the reputation of those who disagree has already begun.  "The Department of Homeland Security issued a proclamation to all law enforcement -- federal, state and local -- that future threats to America would come from right-wing Christian groups, Second Amendment groups, pro-life groups, and returning veterans."  He then looks the camera square in the eye, and proclaims, "I'm all four!"  

     Boykin then points out that the next step in the Marxist model is to censor the Pastors.  We've seen a wave of hate crimes legislation that is designed to make it more difficult for pastors to stand up in the pulpit and talk about moral social issues.  And we have already seen efforts to control gun ownership, through the UN Small Arms Treaty.  "They will say it is designed to focus on military weapons.  Do you trust that assessment?", he asks.  As if to underscore his argument, the film presents silent statistics that tell the real story:  

20th Century Gun Control

Soviet Union (1929) - 20 Million Dissidents Exterminated

Turkey (1915) - 1.5 Million Armenians Exterminated

Germany (1938) - 13 Million Jews/Others Exterminated

China (1935) - 20 Million Dissidents Exterminated

Uganda (1970) - 300,000 Christians Exterminated

Cambodia (1975) - 1 million Dissidents Exterminated

     Add it up.  That is 56 million people murdered after their guns were confiscated by tyrannical governments.  I don't need to say more ... but the film does.  It goes on to introduce such Patriots as Dan Fisher, the leader of the modern-day Black Robe Regiment.  Citing the American Revolution's group of the same name, Dan Fisher saw a present need and filled it.  "Today the church is silent; we have lost sight of our spiritual heritage." Through corrupt politicians like LBJ, we the people, have allowed our government to pass legislation in order to silence the church; to slip into the tax code a restriction that any non-profit organization could not speak out in favor of, or against a candidate.

     Likewise the 1960 secularists twisted Thomas Jefferson's words into the popular "separation of church and state" mantra -- which appears in neither the Bible or the Constitution!  What he did say is as follows:  in a private letter written to a group of Baptists, Jefferson stated there was a wall between government and religion to keep the State from interfering with the affairs of the Church.  The implication was exactly the opposite of what the secularists claim ... the Church is to be protected from an overbearing State -- not the other way around!

     Indeed, the Russian dictator Lenin knew that religion was the opium of the people, and Joseph Stalin once stated, "America is like a healthy body; it's resistance 3-fold:  Patriotism, Morality and its Spiritual Life.  If we can undermine these areas, she will collapse from within."  It would appear as if the objectives of Mr. Stalin have been met; the last two have been successfully impaired, and the first is hanging on by a thread.

     As radio host and pastor, Chuck Baldwin says in the film, "The Church must stand in righteous indignation for the Truth or America is finished."  His thoughts are echoed by famed rock guitarist and Patriot, Ted Nugent:  "Our life is a gift from God and we have the right to defend it.  It is our moral, intellectual and spiritual responsibility to defend it from evil-doers."  

     This fine film goes on to touch on all the issues that contributed to our national decline:  Agenda 21, NAFTA, the Federal Reserve System, Globalization, reducing world population, medical control, National ID and RFID technology, secret societies, the One World Government, False Flags, and the de-evaluation of the Dollar.  This film covers it all and backs it all up with the opinions of knowledgeable experts that aren't afraid to state the truth.  

     And the truth is that we have gone from a nation of merchants, craftsman, entrepreneurs, inventors, manufacturers, and skilled workers to a nation of sales clerks, cashiers, stock persons, and home health aides.  The truth is that America was exceptional because we were built on the foundation of the Law of Nature and Nature's God; but we have now made government our God.  The truth is that there are now one-half the number of ranches that existed in this country 20 years ago; and it is the design of Agenda 21 that every county and state boundary will be extinguished.

     So, I can't say enough about this film.  The only suggestion that I could offer is that the run-time might be a tad too long to keep the full interest of a theater audience.  But the information and motivating commentary provided by the host of authors, legislators, constitutional scholars, military leaders, and pastors will inspire and encourage you to fight for our country, as she deserves. 

     I think that we all can identify with Randy Weaver's simple observation:  "I've always loved this country and still do; but we're in deep, deep trouble."  We may not have experienced the devastation that the Weaver family has sustained; but his dedication to his country, even now, should inspire each of us to do our part.  I hope that this film finds its way into theaters and informs and excites the American people to fight for our future.

Pslm 94:16    "Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?"

New Armenian Genocide Is A Sign of Times To Come

     I have a very good friend who is proud of her Armenian ancestry.  Although she is the second generation born and raised in America, she grew up knowing of her grandparents and extended family's struggle during what is known as the "Great Crime" by those who experienced the genocide of the Armenian people in their native homeland, now known as Turkey.
    Although denied by successive regimes in Turkey, the Armenian genocide has been documented by eyewitnesses, photographic evidence, and survivors.  Just Google "Armenian Genocide" and click on Images; does that look like it didn't exist?  Most historians agree that it was a deliberate and calculated genocide:

Christian Armenian girls crucified in 1916

More than one million Armenians perished as the result of execution, starvation, disease, the harsh environment, and physical abuse.  A people who lived in eastern Turkey for nearly 3,000 years [more than double the amount of time the invading Islamic Turks had occupied Anatolia, now known as “Turkey”] lost its homeland and was profoundly decimated in the first large-scale genocide of the twentieth century.  At the beginning of 1915 there were some two million Armenians within Turkey; today there are fewer than 60,000….  Despite the vast amount of evidence that points to the historical reality of the Armenian Genocide --- eyewitness accounts, official archives, photographic evidence, the reports of diplomats, and the testimony of survivors --- denial of the Armenian Genocide by successive regimes in Turkey has gone on from 1915 to the present.

     Now, according to The Christian Post, under the leadership of Prime Minister Erdogan, Turkey is once again aiding and abetting the displacement and death of Armenian Christians.  Just a few weeks ago, as reported by Raymond Ibrahim, "In the early morning hours of March 21st, al-Qaeda linked Islamic jihadis crossed into Syrian territory from the Turkish border and launched a jihad on the Christian/Armenian town of Kessab. Among other things, "Snipers targeted the civilian population and launched mortar attacks on the town and the surrounding villages." Reportedly eighty people were killed.  Eyewitnesses say the jihadis crossed the Turkish border into Syria, "openly passing through Turkish military barracks. According to Turkish media reports, the attackers carried their injured back to Turkey for treatment in the town of Yayladagi."
     The jihadis later made a video touring the devastated town. No translation is needed, as the main phrase shouted throughout is Islam's triumphant war cry, "Allahu Akbar" (or, according to Sen. John McCain's translation, "thank God").
     The significance of this latest transgression against the Armenian people, and the role Turkey plays in it, should not be lost on the world.  In a written statement, the International branch of the Armenian National Committee had this to say:

Armenian Christian in the village of Kessab

For months, we have warned the international community of the imminent threat posed by extremist foreign fighters against the Christian minority population in Syria. These vicious and unprompted attacks against the Armenian-populated town and villages of Kessab are the latest examples of this violence, actively encouraged by neighboring Turkey. We call upon all states with any influence in the Syrian conflict to use all available means to stop these attacks against the peaceful civilian population of Kessab, to allow them to return to their homes in safety and security. In the last one hundred years, this is the third time that the Armenians are being forced to leave Kessab and in all three cases, Turkey is the aggressor or on the side of the aggressors.

     While the Armenian population is at the center of this massacre, it should not be ignored that Christians are the focal point of these attacks as well.  This is not only a Turkish-Armenian campaign of death, but a Muslim-Christian.  Decades and centuries may pass by, but the battle remains the same.  In the 1915-1918 Genocide, Armenians were crucified along with Assyrians and Greeks -- their Christian faith being the common denominator.
     Just as then, Christian persecution is reaching alarming rates.  Ibrahim reports that Turks taunt their crucified Armenian victims by saying things like “Now let your Christ come and help you.”  Just last January, an 85-year-old Christian Armenian woman was repeatedly stabbed to death in her apartment, and a crucifix carved onto her naked corpse.   Another elderly Armenian woman was punched in the head and, after collapsing to the floor, repeatedly kicked by a masked man.   According to the report, “the attack marks the fifth in the past two months against elderly Armenian women,” one of whom lost an eye.  Elsewhere, pastors of church congregations with as little as 20 people are targeted for killing and spat upon in the streets.  A 12-year-old Christian boy was beaten by his teacher and harassed by students for wearing a cross around his neck, and three Christians were “satanically tortured” before having their throats slit for publishing Bibles.
     Yet the world remains silent, and denial is the mantra.  From Indonesia in the east to Morocco in the west, from Central Asia in the north, to sub-Sahara Africa—Christians are being persecuted, killed, raped, enslaved, tortured and dislocated.  It's only a matter of time, my friends.  It's a battle as old as Isaac and Ishmael, and it's been raging since that very day.
     If you think that the fate of these Christians has no bearing upon you; that somehow you are safe and protected here in the "Land of Opportunity", I would caution you to not be so naive.  We are the plum; the prize.  No other Christians on the face of the earth are as despised as we are by the Enemy.  I would urge you "to put on the complete armor of God" (His Truth, His Righteousness, His Peace, Your Salvation, Your Faith, and the Power of God's Word); to pray earnestly; to be alert on behalf of your fellow Christians, and to be fearless and confident in your defense of our faith.  The Storm is gaining momentum around the world, and I feel that it is approaching us.  Stand firm and hold your ground ... for His Sake!

Matthew 5:11-12      "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
   

Hold On To Your Hats For This One: Satan Wants To Come To Oklahoma!

     When I first contemplated writing this post, PLW told me, "Don't get too fringe-y; you don't want to scare 'em".  But when I see something as blatant and in-your-face as I'm about to show you, my response has to be, "But they need to know."  So hang on to your hats (tin foil and otherwise)!
     As preposterous as it sounds, what I'm about to tell you is surely a sign of the times ... the End Times, that is.  Even if you're not a Christian, you must confess the existence of Good vs Evil, right? And in case your local MSM affiliate isn't reporting this story, I think you should know that a New York-based Satanic Temple formally submitted its application to erect a 7-foot-tall statue of Satan that it wants to put at the Oklahoma state Capitol, in response to a Ten Commandments monument which was placed there in 2012.
     You might be asking why the New York Satanists don't just mind their own business and keep their occult monuments on the East Coast.  Why inflict their evil designs upon the good folks of Oklahoma?  But, as a Christian, I already know the answer to that question:  Satan is in a cosmic chess match with God, and he just made his next move.

     This artist's rendering depicts the statue, which features Baphomet, a goat-headed figure with horns, wings and a long beard; said to be used as a symbol of the occult.  That's putting it mildly -- the Baphomet has been adopted as the official symbol of the Church of Satan; in other words, Satan himself.  In the rendering, Satan is sitting in a pentagram-adorned throne with smiling children next to him.
     It's important that you know the true significance of the pentagram.  Now, there are those easily deceived folks who will tell you that the pentagram is a symbol of a star encased in a circle, always with 5 points (one pointing upward), each having its own meaning. The upward point of the star is representative of the spirit. The other four points all represent an element; earth, air, fire, and water. All these things contibutite to life and are a part of each of us.  They will then naively (or not!) inform you that to wear a pentagram necklace or other form of jewelry, is to say you feel the connection with the elements and respect the earth.  Like I said ... they are easily deceived.
     As Wikipedia reveals, the pentagram has been the object of various symbolisms:  In medieval Christian tradition, the pentagram could represent the five wounds of Jesus. In the Renaissance it came to be associated with magic and occultism, and is also found as a magic symbol in the folklore of early modern Germany (Drudenfuss). In modern use, it is sometimes used as representing the Seal of Solomon, and it has religious significance in various new religious movements (including certain forms of Neopaganism) as well as in occultism.
     My understanding is that each of the five points of the star represents the five "I Will's" of Satan that are listed in Isaiah 14:  1)  I will ascend into heaven, 2) I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;  3) I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north;  4) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, and 5) I will be like the Most High.  Kind of makes sense why the Church of Satan would adopt this symbol right?
     But to add to the absurdity (not to mention the blasphemy) of their plan to build this monument, the Satanic Temple group released a statement which said, in part, that the statue "will have a functional purpose as a chair where people of all ages may sit on the lap of Satan for inspiration and contemplation."  Furthermore, on its website, the Satanic Temple claims "Satan stands as the ultimate icon for the selfless revolt against tyranny, free & rational inquiry, and the responsible pursuit of happiness."
     Lest you think that this whole premise is so ridiculous as to be dismissed, I wrote this post as a warning that Satanic belief systems are becoming more socially tolerated in this country.  In fact, The Truth Wins website recently reported that while Islam is the fastest growing major religion in the U.S., Wicca is growing at an even faster pace.  In fact, according to Wikipedia, Wicca experienced an average annual growth rate of 143 percent in the United States between 1990 and 2001.  I have personally heard from chaplains during my Wounded Warrior service that they are alarmed at the popularity of Wicca in the military.
     So, while this whole idea of such an offensive statue being erected at a State Capitol might seem laughable, I think it would serve us to take it seriously ... very seriously.  While Oklahoma lawmakers have rejected the notion thus far, saying Satanists should not be given the same treatment as Christians,
only time will tell how this move on the cosmic chess board plays out.  I do not think it absurd to think that Christianity will continue to decline, nor that monuments like this actually do begin to be erected across the land.  When a nation removes God from its foundation -- from the classroom, the government, the military, and the family -- then what do we expect to be left with?
     Our God made it pretty plain how He feels about us replacing Him ... "“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me...".  There's your air, earth and water; He will soon show us His fire!

1 Corinthians 10:20-21     "No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons."