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


Showing posts with label God's Creation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's Creation. Show all posts

July 12, 2024

The AI Conflict: Is Anything Genuine and Real Anymore?


I will admit that this subject is a personal affront to me and presents an interesting dilemma. At the moment, AI is a given in our world. The technological world has exploded with possibilities now that Artificial Intelligence has come upon the scene. Computer systems are now capable of doing things that once only humans could perform. While, for many this represents advancement for the human race, it sincerely comes into conflict with my human understanding of authenticity -- as well as the convictions of my faith. Let me try to explain how those two concepts converge in my life.

Authenticity coincides with several things to me: being original; being your true self; being genuine and honest. My faith informs what my true self is: a human being created in the image of God; designed by Him to be original with all the gifts and talents that are unique only to me. Therefore my "true self" cannot exist apart from my God. But that reality comes with a moral obligation ... to represent Him with honesty and integrity. In other words, to live our lives according to His moral principles and values. And for me, that comes into stark contrast when considering the choices and options that AI presents for humans.  

Take for instance, in the world of art. I think it is undisputed that art can touch the human soul and spirit. Have you ever looked upon a beautiful piece of art and been brought to tears? Or have it take your breath away? I have personally experienced it myself, and witnessed this phenomenon in other people, as we have looked upon art and marveled at the talent God has given the artist. When that moment occurs, I believe that we are ultimately connecting to God. We are moved by what the artist creates from the gift he has been given by the Great Creator. And that connection between art and God is made clear in Ephesians 2:10 ... "For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above -- spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works which God prepared [for us] beforehand, so that we would walk in them."

This is just one example at the heart of my conflict with AI. Which is why my spirit is offended when I see countless people on Social Media exclaiming over the astounding beauty of a painting or photo that is obviously generated by Artificial Intelligence. It's "Artificial"! It's not real; it's not original; and it's not honest. I'm even seeing Facebook posts extolling the brilliance of a Claude Monet work of art, with its heightened values of color -- and it's not even a Monet painting! And I'm even more highly offended when I see an artist present his work as an "original" painting, when I know that parts of it have been generated by AI to present what the artist has decided is "authentic". I have witnessed what graphic artists can do by reducing an image to its core form or impression, and then substituting backgrounds and adding additional elements to come up with a final image that is manufactured. We see it all the time in the advertising campaigns that deluge our TV and computer screens.

And now I'm seeing legitimate artists doing the same thing. They might paint a subject sitting in a chair, and then take that image to the computer and ask AI to add a background of a garden setting, enhancing all the colors of the flowers, and then paint the rest of their painting to match that fabricated depiction. And the world exclaims over his talent and what a masterful painter he is. Yes, it is beautiful ... but it is manufactured, not created! It's not genuine, nor was it created from his innate, inborn, God-given talent. For me, to present a piece of art as your own, when it is produced with the help of a computer system lacks integrity and character. 

But maybe that's just me. Maybe the world has lost touch with what it means to be authentic and real. And maybe we've lost touch with our moral values. When the lines become blurred between what is truly "created" and what is formulated or constructed, then how do we know what is "real"? Which brings up another profound concern for me... at the rate that AI is progressing, how easy will it be to create and edit a video of a false Jesus coming on the clouds that can be distributed and screened worldwide? Will the human race be able to tell the difference between what's real and what is counterfeit?

That's the problem as we careen towards a future where we are giving computer generated programs the ability to start taking over the human thought and creative process. Are we going to start handing over our identity as image-bearers of Christ to a machine? Because we know they don't have that "God spark" of original creativity in them ... right? When we start abdicating our role as the true creator of ideas, art, products, and social conscience and become just the manager of what AI creates, then we are dangerously close to becoming insignificant in God's plan for mankind.

If we continue to rely more and more on AI's integration into our lives and society, then are we removing our reliance on our connection to God and the Holy Spirit to guide our morals, ethics, and standards of behavior? Will we begin to lose the nucleus of our identity? Do we really want human and machine creativity to merge and become one? Seems to me that will interfere with hearing and seeing what the Father is instructing us to do, which formed the foundation of Jesus's ministry, and should do the same for us. 

Which brings me to an interesting article I read by Igor Tarasenko, titled Rethinking Authenticity in the AI Revolution, in which he said, "It's about the essence of creation -- is it the origin, the journey, or the impact that matters?" And can we keep those separate? Can we glorify God while keeping a check on what's really important in this life -- that the number of hits on our social media content pales in comparison to the journey we are on towards Christ-likeness? All of which brings me back to the importance of our honesty, integrity, ethical and moral compass, and our true self. How important will that be to our future generations who are being raised in this quagmire between machine and man? Are the boundaries being erased? Will they even care about being genuine and authentic; or recognize why they were created and by Whom? 

The Bible talks about the importance of authenticity to God, you know. Check out Benjamin Reinke's blog on 50 Bible Verses about Authenticity.  As he says in the first one he cites, Psalm 51:6 "reflects the profound value placed on inner truth and authenticity in the sight of God: Behold, You desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place."  Does AI desire the same of us, or teach us wisdom? Another aspect that he points to is the courage to be authentic. Can we be loyal to our Creator and brave enough to stand for His "program" in the world? Lord, I pray that there are enough of us who will be true to who You've created us to be so that we show the world, who is enamored with the tech gods, that Your Sovereignty still reigns in the hearts of men, called according to Your will.  

Proverbs 11:3    The integrity and moral courage of the upright will guide them, but the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them. 

April 5, 2024

What You Don't Know About April 8th -- And Need To!


It goes without saying that the world has gone crazy over April 8th! Unless you've been like Rip Van Winkle, and just woken from a long nap, you likely are aware of the event that has captured the interest of people around the planet. A new moon phase will bring about a total solar eclipse on the 8th of this month. This unique event will be visible in Mexico, 14 states in the U.S., and Canada. 

It is not only a celebrated celestial event, but has significance to many other interested groups. Everyone from scientists to pagans and witches are fascinated by the possibilities of tapping into the energy of the sun and moon during this time when they are perfectly aligned. For instance, many pagans, Wiccans, and Druids view April 8, 2024 as a time of supercharged energy that can be harnessed to bring about transformation in the world. (See link). The question remains, will that transformation be for good or evil?

That same question applies to the work of CERN, the European Organization of Nuclear Research, which operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. By this description, most of humanity would dismiss CERN and what it's all about. But ask Google, "What is CERN trying to do"? and this is the answer you get ... "What is CERN's mission? At CERN, our work helps to uncover what the universe is made of and how it works. We do this by providing a unique range of particle accelerator facilities to researchers, to advance the boundaries of human knowledge". Other less scientific-sounding explanations have pointed to their plan to develop the "God particle" that resulted in giving life to the universe, all in the hopes of becoming like God; discovering His knowledge of the creation so they can control it. In my view, it's just another "Tower of Babel" attempt by men.

But that's not all! In this post, I'm going to share some engrossing information provided by Pastor Jim Staley, founder and director of Passion for Truth Ministries. I highly recommend you watch his short video on all the information I will be presenting today. It will demonstrate all the implications that April 8th has for us and the world. To begin with, Pastor Staley points out that, on April 8th, CERN is going to be starting up their Large Hadron Collider, looking for the God particle, on the same day that NASA is launching rockets into the eclipse. But here's the interesting part of that -- NASA is naming their mission after an Egyptian serpent god. And did you know that April 8th is also the day that billions of cicadas are supposed to come out of the ground, covering a large portion of the U.S.; the first time we've seen that event since 1803? Also, there are plans for red heifers to be sacrificed in Israel for the first time in thousands of years, fulfilling ancient prophecies. All of this, and more, all happening on the same day?? Coincidence, or does it all [taken together] point to the Bible's prophecies for these End Times?

So, let's back up a moment and consider exactly what CERN's Hadron Collider does. It is a 17 mile long tube, sitting 300 feet underground that is designed to send particles in opposite directions at the speed of light, with the purpose of causing an explosion. Why? If they can reach their objective, they hope they can discover exactly what the "anti-matter" is; the particle that is holding matter together, and ultimately, what is holding the universe together. In other words ... the "God particle". What's the problem with that, you might ask? For starters, the process of colliding particles has the potential to cause a "black hole" in the fabric of the universe. So, the next question is, "What is a black hole"? The scientific explanation is that it is a region of spacetime [time and space continuum] where gravity is so strong that nothing, including light and other electromagnetic waves, is capable of possessing enough energy to escape it. Think of it as being "sucked in". In addition, it can potentially deform objects that come too close to it before being "swallowed up".       

Of course, critics of this concern will say we don't know that for sure, so there's no reason for worry. But CERN hasn't accomplished their task ... yet ... so there's reason to be cautious. But even more disconcerting than these exercises with the Hadron Collider is the spiritual implications of CERN itself. This organization was founded on September 29th, 1954, which just happened to be on the Feast of Trumpets which, [according to God's calendar], foreshadows "the blowing of the trumpet in Zion", sounding the alarm that the Day of the Lord and His Judgment is near (Joel 2:1). Kings were inaugurated on that day as well, foreshadowing that on some future Feast of Trumpets, Jesus will be coming as King to set up His Kingdom on earth. 

CERN is anything but a Godly-oriented organization. There is so much about it that points to God's enemies. To begin with it is situated in Switzerland in a region called Saint Denis Pouilly. In the time of Rome, it was called Apolliacum, and the town and a temple were dedicated to Apollyon. This name has great significance in the Bible. Revelation 9:11 tells us "They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon". In Hebrew, Abaddon means "place of destruction"; in Greek, Apollyon means "The Destroyer". What's also interesting is that Hinduism also has a god of destruction known as "the Destroyer", named Shiva. And guess what statue sits at the entrance of CERN, welcoming all who come to this "scientific laboratory"? You guessed it ... a statue of Shiva! And the plaque from the Indian government, that sits at the feet of Shiva, extols [in part] "the process of Creation and Cataclysm [that] is not just linked to the beginning and end of life in the universe, but to the particles of the whole Creation". By the way, the word cataclysm is defined as "a large-scale and violent event in the natural world".  Starting to get the picture? 

Furthermore, Sergio Bertolucci, Director of Research and Scientific Computing at CERN is quoted as saying this, "Something may come through dimensional doors at LHC [Large Hadron Collider]. And out of this door might come something, or we might send something through it". First of all, why are they consumed with "ripping open" the curtain of the universe? And secondly, what exactly is the "it" they might invite in -- or send out -- into the universe? Let's go back to Revelation 9 and read verses 1-3 ... "Then the fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star [angelic being] that had fallen from heaven to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit [abyss] was given to him. He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke like the smoke of a great furnace flowed out of the pit; and the sun and the atmosphere were darkened by the smoke from the pit. Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power to hurt was given to them, like the power which the earth's scorpions have". Sounds an awful lot like there's a possibility that CERN's "scientific experiments" could open a portal into the second heaven, giving the demonic realm access to earth and its inhabitants. 

BUT the CERN event is not the only thing that is happening on April 8th, and I want to touch on these other significant occurrences. On the same day as the eclipse, NASA is launching three rockets into the solar eclipse for research purposes. The disturbing part of this event is that the mission is named after Apep, the Egyptian god of destruction, chaos, and darkness, who "swallows up" his archenemy, Ra, the Egyptian sun god. Coincidence, or not?

Also, on that day, the world may get a glimpse of the rare "horned" comet, known as the Devil's Comet, which orbits the Sun once every 71.2 years. The last time we had a comet that appeared the same time as two solar eclipses that formed an X over the United States was in 1811. Three months later was the largest earthquake in the history of the U.S.; an earthquake so large that it caused the Mississippi River to flow backwards and the Liberty Bell to ring on the East Coast! And it occurred along the New Madrid fault line, which scientists have been saying for years is way overdue for a repeat performance. And guess where X marks the spot this time for the eclipses to intersect? You guessed it! Are we going to see another catastrophic earthquake at New Madrid?? I pray not, because my family lives very near the fault line.

As if all this is not enough, on April 8, 1904, Alistair Crowley, [a satanic cult leader] sought to breach the second spiritual realm, and claims he was contacted by the Egyptian god, Horus, to write down his [Horus's] Book of the Law, in which humanity would leave behind the tyranny of the Abrahamic religions and enter into a New Eon of "greater consciousness" and "self-actualization" characterized by "their own specific magick [occult] formula". The moral code of this new "Book of the Law" was Do as thy wilt. In other words, everyone can make up their own morality code and do whatever they want; there is no need for God's absolute moral law -- we will all have our own, defined by ourselves. If that is true -- if Crowley was able to break through the space and time continuum to contact a demon -- then what CERN is trying to accomplish could potentially unleash the same kind of contravention into our world.

And let's not forget the news that sometime near April 8th, the first time in over 200 years -- not since Thomas Jefferson was President -- two breeds of Cicadas are coming up out of the ground in the billions, covering a large swath of the U.S., EXACTLY at the intersection point of the two solar eclipses! Sounds kind of like the locusts from Revelation 9, doesn't it? 

Then there's the Biblical prophecy concerning the Red Heifer, that points to the reinstitution of the Temple sacrifices. In the Book of Numbers, burning the ashes of a red heifer is a mandatory (and lasting) act for beginning the temple offering to God, and the ashes are a key element in a biblically mandated purification ritual. Since there is currently no Temple in Jerusalem, the Jews have been looking forward [for centuries] of being back in their homeland and to the building of a Third Temple. And of course, because of the bloodshed on the Temple Mount for the last couple of millennia, the Mount itself must be cleansed before the Temple can be built. That presents a bit of a problem, as I'm sure you can discern, with the Muslim religion claiming that the Temple Mount belongs to them.

But there are actually red heifers in Israel waiting to be sacrificed. The government of Israel has given the Temple Institute [in Israel] permission for these red heifers to be sacrificed. Of course, there is no Temple yet. And the threat of violence from the Arabs and Muslims if the Temple Mount is used for daily sacrifices anywhere near their mosque or the Dome of the Rock has the Israeli government rethinking their permission. So, the heifers are now being held in Shiloh. You might be thinking that this is all part of the Jewish Torah, but as Christians, we must remember that Daniel prophesied that the AntiChrist would interrupt [and cease] the daily sacrifices in the End Times, so for that to happen, there must be sacrifices, right? 

While it looks like the building of a Third Temple is off the table, there is an interesting possibility that must be considered. The Book of Judges tells us the first temple of the Israelites was actually a tabernacle in Shiloh. So a tabernacle could be built much quicker than a Temple, and built in Shiloh [where the heifers are being kept] and the religious Jews could begin their daily sacrifices pretty quickly. 

The truth is, we just don't know how all this is going to play out, but no one can deny that there are a lot of prophetic and spiritual dynamics surrounding April 8th. I can certainly see aspects of the Bible's prophesied judgments within the predictions surrounding these events. And I can see the opportunities for Satan to exploit mankind's arrogance to "become like God" and the very real possibilities of destruction to the design of our planet and the universe. And we have testimonies of how the earth has responded in history to similar alignments of such events... earthquakes abounded!

So while it is anticipated that millions will flock to destinations along the path that the eclipses can be seen, I think I will stay at home and contemplate the Bible prophecies that may play a part on this compelling day. And I will be praying that just like at the Tower of Babel, God will confuse the machinations of men who scheme to "reach into the heavens" (Genesis 11:4); and He will scatter them abroad from there over the surface of the entire earth (verse 8), and they will stop trying to build something to alter His Creation. I will be praying for the earth to rest in peace, and the tremors, shaking and convulsions to be quieted. I will pray that the earth will not erupt in billions of cicadas in order to damage and destroy the crops in the "bread basket" of our nation. And I will be praying that God's will and timing be done regarding the sacrifices of the red heifers in Israel. 

In the power and authority given to me by Christ, I declare that the ancient gods of evil -- the "Destroyers" -- must bow down to Yeshua, yielding all their illegitimate and unsanctioned power, as they are sent to wherever the Lord wants them to go. And finally, I pray that the fabric [framework and structure] of the universe remains intact and just as our Lord created it, protecting us from the demonic realm and all who intend to do us harm. We praise You, Jesus, for the perfect world and universe, created by You; and we repent for our rebellion against all things made by Your Hand. Forgive us and Save us! Amen!

Genesis 11:6   ... This is only the beginning of what they will do [in rebellion against Me], and now no evil thing they imagine they can do will be impossible for them.            

   

December 11, 2023

The Earth Is Mourning Because of Our Sin ... Are You Listening?


I have long been fascinated with the verses of Scripture that speak of the earth as if it was alive -- because I believe it is, and it is warning us of what God has spoken about our connection to the land. Sadly, I think Christians have forgotten [if they ever knew] about the sacred duty and connection between man and the land. 

We read in Genesis 1 that God created the earth and everything in it -- vegetation and plants [yielding seed and bearing fruit]; waters swarming with living creatures, and the birds of the air; livestock, creeping things, and beasts of the earth -- and God saw that it was all good. Next, He created man in His image and gave him dominion over all the earth. And then God planted man in the Garden of Eden "to work it and tend it". So, from the beginning, there has been a connection and a relationship between man and the earth. 

And we find out in Genesis 4 that this relationship has profound consequences for both man and the land. Adam and Eve, through their disobedience to God's commandment [over how they were to tend the Garden and the sacred trees], cause the land to be cursed, and the earth manifested the judgment of God due to their sin. We must recognize that there is a very real cause-and-effect when man sins, and because of the earth's sensitivity to that sin, the earth rebels against man, and becomes an instrument of God's judgment.

NOTE: This post is not about all the "green movements" or the "climate change agenda" that have risen along political lines. Those philosophies are predicated on men who see themselves in a God-like role of protecting the earth from mankind's mishandling. The truth is they do not know the Creator God, nor do they acknowledge that it is mankind's sin that is the source of the land's defilement. Their cause is based on human greed and power. 

What I want us to realize is that we need to take notice of what the land is trying to tell us. And yes, I do mean to suggest that the earth is not only sentient, but intelligent. And I base this position -- not in agreement with the aforementioned secular earth worshippers -- but on the Word of God. Let me give you just a few examples: 

Job 12:7-8 ...  But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you.

Psalm 119:1-2 ...  The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And the expanse [of heaven] is declaring the work of His hands. Day after day pours forth speech, And night after night reveals knowledge. 

Psalm 55:12 [when Israel was set free from Egyptian captivity] ...  For you will go out [from exile] with joy and be led forth [by the Lord Himself] with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 

Having been created by the living God, all His creation possesses life, too. And because of that connection and sentient intelligence between man and the land [both created for that relationship], the land also mourns when man sins, because there is a direct connection between the two -- i.e., there is an effect upon the land because of man and his sin. Read what the Word of God says:

Hosea 4:1-3 ...  Hear the word of the Lord, O children of Israel, for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Therefore the land mournsand all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are taken away.

Jeremiah 12:4 ... How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field wither? For the evil of those who dwell in it the beasts and the birds are swept away, because they said, “He will not see our latter end.”

Deuteronomy 11:12 tells us that God cares for the land He created ... "The eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year". And the land declares evidence of the continuation of man's sins in the earth. In fact, Jesus, tells us in Matthew 24:7 that the increase of sin and lawlessness will initiate "signs" or manifestations of how much God grieves the level of sin that will amass in the world before His Son's return... "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places". 

The rebellion of men [wars] will rise to a level that affects the whole earth, and it will result in consequences for the land [famine and earthquakes]. Just in the month of September 2023, earthquakes were experienced in Afghanistan, Nepal, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Slovakia, Argentia, Australia, Iran, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Fiji, and Chili. Currently, Iceland is awaiting a massive volcanic eruption, and CBS News reported that on November 15, 2023, the country experienced 800 earthquakes overnight, with the residents calling it "apocalyptic". And let us not forget that the volcanic activity in Yellowstone Park is overdue for an apocalypse of its own, while the New Madrid Fault line in the Midwest is also overdue for a massive earthquake.

But there are Biblical warnings that perhaps we are less aware of, but portend some serious consequences if we do not repent of our sins and seek God, asking for His merciful forgiveness. Consider God's judgment for the severing of the connection/relationship that sin brings between man and the land...

Leviticus 18:27-28 ...  (for the people of the land, who were before you, did all of these abominations, so that the land became unclean), lest the land vomit you out when you make it unclean, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.  

Leviticus 18:25 ... and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.

Leviticus 10:22 ... You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my rules and do them, that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out.

You may think this applies only to the Old Testament Israelites, but read the following:

Romans 8:22 ... For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

Revelation 3:16 ... So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

NOTE: The act of being "vomited out" means to be "rejected from", "displaced", "thrown out"; in other words, to be dispossessed. The Bible makes it clear in Leviticus that God judged those who caused the land to become unclean because of their sins -- whether it be idolatry, immorality, the shedding of innocent blood, or broken covenants. And the judgment He brought against them was the loss of their land; they were removed and another nation occupied the land. 

Don't think that this won't happen to us! God is the same God who holds to the same statues and commandments as He did then! Our greed and idolatry, sexual perversion, shedding of the innocent blood of our babies, and our own broken covenants will result in the earth "groaning" -- and God hears it! And because we have not been zealous to follow the ways of the Lord, we have produced generations of sin, transgressions, and iniquity that have defiled the land to the point that Jesus is ready to vomit us out of His mouth! You can see the nations circling us, waiting to inhabit our land should Jesus decide the cup of our sin is full. 

But there is good news! The land can be healed, cleansed and made whole again! But time is running out... The land is waiting for us to rise up in our true identities as the righteous sons and daughters of God. The earth longs to be set free from the corruption of the land caused by our generations who have chosen to be in agreement with the Deceiver, rather than with the Holy God who created us and all He gave us to tend. The warnings have been there all along, written in His Word for all to see and obey. We have no more excuses to ignore them; the decay in our nation and the world is obvious and increasing. The effects on the earth are plainly discerned, and we are on the verge of being "vomited out". But we can be set free from our own bondage and also set the creation free from its corruption and defilement. We can do this! It starts in my life, and I bow down before my God and humble myself, declaring my sins and disobedience, and my shame in all the ways I have defiled my life, which in turn has defiled the land. Lord God, I seek Your Face and Your Forgiveness! Restore me and all Your Creation. Bring us back to life! I ask this in the Holy Name of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen!

#GodsCreation; #ManandSin; #DefilementoftheEarth #theearthcriesout #Godsjudgment #GodsSovereignty #theearthgroans #    

Romans 8:19-22.      For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.