I Beg To Differ

     On Wednesday, the First Lady altered our national history.  Is she just mis-informed, or was this a deliberate political move?  I'll let you draw your own conclusions.  But while speaking to 50 newly naturalized American citizens in Washington, D.C., she told them this:  “It’s amazing that just a few feet from here where I’m standing are the signatures of the 56 Founders who put their names on a Declaration that changed the course of history,” she said, referring to the Declaration of Independence. “And like the 50 of you, none of them were born American – they became American.”
     Umm, I respectfully disagree.  Let's have a little history lesson, shall we?  The "Founders" to which she is referring are known more politely as our Founding Fathers.  They embodied a wide range of service to our country.  The Founding Fathers of the United States of America were political leaders and statesmen who participated in the American Revolution by signing the United States Declaration of Independence, taking part in the American Revolutionary War, and establishing the United States Constitution.
     Furthermore, the phrase "Founding Fathers," applied to "an American statesman of the Revolutionary period, especially a member of the American Constitutional Convention of 1787", and has been in use since at least 1894.  A more generalized use of "founding fathers" has been in place since at least 1886.  But none less than our government's archives list the birthplaces of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, and only 7 were not native Americans.
     I can hear the naysayers proclaiming that the United States of America did not come into existence until July 4, 1776, when the thirteen British colonies declared their independence from Great Britain. Therefore, our Founding Fathers considered themselves British citizens, not Americans.  I strongly disagree.
     While they might have been subjects of the British empire, due to the colonization practices of Great Britain, their nationality was specifically, and genuinely, American.  Just as the citizens of the British colony West Indies, saw themselves as West Indians; and citizens of the colony of Australia, saw themselves as Australian; the citizens of the North American colonies saw themselves as Americans.  Indeed, the term "America" had been applied to this land for at least a couple of centuries before the Declaration of Independence.

     Note this map, which is the first one to use the name "America", and which is displayed in the U.S. Library of Congress.  It was created by German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller in 1507, and is the first document to show a separate Western Hemisphere and label the Pacific Ocean as its own body of water.  Before he drew the document, Waldseemüller had pored over notes from explorers Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci, as well as other unknown Portuguese and Spanish sources.  It is true that the German cartographer did not always use the name "America" in subsequent maps.  But the evidence is there that as far as geography was concerned, America existed before it was a British colony.
     But at the heart of my disagreement with the First Lady is the question of whether or not the Founding Fathers were naturally Americans.  Just read their words yourselves:

•  "The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves" -- George Washington
•  "The cement of this union is the heart-blood of every American."  -- Thomas Jefferson
•  "Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all! By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall."  -- John Dickinson, Delegate to the Continental Congress

    They obviously identified themselves as Americans! And overwhelmingly, they were born in America, which would make them Americans by virtue of their birthplace.  But I honestly believe that being an American is more than being born in this particular country.  That has been proven by our long, and proud, history of immigrants coming to our shores, seeking to be Americans.  "American" is a concept, a state of mind, it's a condition of the heart.  On that we can agree.
     But I draw the line when she tries to portray the Founding Fathers as “Americans-by-choice”, just like the newly declared citizens.  “Immigration is at the heart of how we developed as a nation,” she said.  There's just one tiny fact she has misrepresented, the Founding Fathers did not immigrate from a foreign nation.  Many times they were the second and third generation of families born into the land.  And she is ignoring the fact that the 50 new Americans she stood before had become legal citizens, making them true Americans-by-choice.
     I will not argue that immigration has been a hallmark of this country and our American heritage has benefitted from the infusion of those who seek to embrace our spirit.  But to distort the history of our Founding Fathers cannot stand unchallenged.  I will leave it to a 20th Century American to explain what was at the heart of those American Founding Fathers and everyone who proudly claims the title:
     "When an American says that he loves his country, he means not only that he loves the New England hills, the prairies glistening in the sun, the wide and rising plains, the great mountains, and the sea.  He means that he loves an inner air, an inner light in which freedom lives and in which a man can draw the breath of self-respect ... America is much more than a geographical fact.  It is a political and moral fact - the first community in which men set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human equality."  -- Adlai Stevenson

Proverbs 22:1-2   "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all."

Signs and Symbols We Ignore At Our Own Peril

     For those of you who are accustomed to wearing a tin foil hat, well, you might want to screw it on extra tight today.  In the shadows of my mind, I have been trying to figure out what the Powers of Darkness are trying to show us in recent world and cultural events.  I am not one to believe in happenstance or coincidence; my Biblical worldview supersedes "accidents in the universe."
     So when God tells me in Amos 3:7 that He "will do nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets", I am confident in that promise.  After all, He has always warned the world of coming judgments.  He warned Noah before the Flood; He warned Abraham and Lot before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah; He warned Joseph of the 7-year famine, Moses of the 10 plagues in Egypt, and His chosen people of their coming captivities.  And ultimately, Jesus warns us of what the Last Days will be like.
     I also happen to believe, as taught by Bible scholars, that God, in His righteous character, demands the same standard from Satan.  If He has given the Devil power over this earth until His Son comes to wage the final judgment, then the Devil must follow the same rules -- he can do nothing without revealing His secrets to the world.  And that brings me to my theme for the day.
     Through his servants, the Powerful Elite, Satan and his occult have an allegiance to their symbols of power that they use to show they are in control of this earth.  They use them to hint at their plans, and unfortunately, we have become quite seduced by these occult signs and symbols.  In fact, I am going to show you perhaps the most unlikely pairing of symbols that point towards a delusion that Satan will use to lull us into submission.  My thoughts have been confirmed by a very detailed and informative article in Before It's News.  I would urge you to read it to get the full impact of this post.
     The first is not so hidden, if you are familiar with ancient mythology.  It involves the very current situation in Iraq.  I must admit that I did not see the deception at first.  In recent days, we have all been focused on the advance of the Islamic jihadist group ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria).  I, in fact, wrote that this was their official name, although I also saw references to them being called ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, which in Arabic is al-Sham, meaning eastern Syria).  So why would the western world begin calling them by the name ISIS?
     The most probable reason is that ISIS is well known in Greco-Roman mythology, and something easily recognized by Western minds.  (Read this for a more in-depth understanding of the impact of this figure). She was worshipped as the ideal mother and wife as well as the patroness of nature and magic (make that sorcery).  Isis is also known as protector of the dead and goddess of children.  In the typical form of her myth, she married her brother, Osiris, and she conceived Horus with him.  Isis became known as the Mother Goddess, and Osiris was known as the Dark Father.  In Biblical terms, she is known as "the whore of Babylon".
     Isis was instrumental in the resurrection of Osiris when he was murdered by his brother, Set.  Using her magical skills, she restored his body to life after having gathered the body parts that had been strewn about the earth by Set.  There were 14 body parts strewn over the earth, but Isis could only find 13.  Of course, you can guess which part she did not find.  That missing body part became a symbol of power evidenced in the phallic-shaped obelisks found throughout the ancient and modern world.  This symbol of power was known as the "dged", pronounced as "jed".
     (A little side note:  There soon became a secret sect of the Dark Father known as dgedi, or "jedi".  Is it a coincidence that in the movie Star Wars, the symbol of the Dark Father and his death became Darth Vader?  Darth = Darkness and Death; Vader is Father in Dutch and German.  Is it also by chance that Darth Vader was a fallen Jedi Knight?)
     So exactly how does this ancient Isis connect to the jihadist group ISIS?  Can you conceive that in their conquests, they are attempting to pick up the pieces and restore back to life the modern Islamic Caliphate?  But the coincidences don't stop there.  At the death of Mohammed in 632 AD, a man by the name of Abu Bakr was installed as the first ‘khalifat rasul Allah’ (successor of the Prophet of God), or caliph of the Muslim religion.  According to the article in Before It's News, Abu Bakr suppressed tribal uprisings and brought central Arabia under Muslim control, after which he directed Arab armies into Iraq and Syria initiating the Muslim crusades.  Is it surprising to you that the current leader of ISIS's name is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi?  So, 1432 years later we have a man by the same name leading Iraqis and Syrians in a new Muslim conquest.  The intent of this modern ISIS is to reclaim the capital of Iraq that sits so near to the ancient city of Babylon.  Could this be Satan using the power of names and symbols to proclaim his intent that Babylon the Whore should rise again?
     But remember, I promised you a dual picture of Isis in the world and our culture.  This symbolic representation may appear to be benign, but do not let your guard down.  Throughout the centuries the mythology of ISIS has captured the imagination of the world.  She appeared in nearly all civilizations and was known by her other notorious names ... Athena, Venus, Diana.  But, we in the Western culture, have done our share to feed and fortify her myth.

     Take for instance, the current movie, Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie.  This is a modern reincarnation of Isis (note the horns), and is a re-do of the old Disney movie, Sleeping Beauty.  When I saw it at the age of 5, I was terrified by the evil sorceress, Maleficent.  But in this modern adaptation, the demonic Maleficent, who was once pure evil, has now morphed into a sympathetic Earth goddess (played by Jolie); cursing, yet protecting, her surrogate daughter, the sleeping beauty Aurora.
     A review, in The Olympian, puts forth a compelling argument that by endowing the horned Maleficent with motherly love, Disney seems to have embraced darkness in order to align themselves against those who claim to represent the “Light”.  And the choice of Angelina Jolie to play the sympathetic villain makes it easier for those who are inclined to be deceived to fall prey to the duplicity.  This picture of Isis, as the character Maleficent, begs our concern and compassion.
     But we must not be fooled!  The consistency and harmony between the ancient myth of Isis, and the current embodiments of her nature, are simply the method by which Satan must show us his sinister plans.  God demands it, and he must comply.  The question is this: will we see these symbols and signs, and note the coincidences for what they are  -- warnings of Satan's power and his demonic plans?  Or will we sink further into our illusions and fantasies?  The saga of Isis has survived as long as Satan has had power upon the earth.  And she lives on today, in both reality and our imagination.  It seems as if Satan is upping the ante, doesn't it?

2 Peter 1:16      "For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty."

Feeling The Heat: A Personal Experience

     I have not spent too much time lately writing posts on getting physically prepared.  Part of the reason is that there are many sites who do that better than I do and can provide you with professional instruction.  Another reason is I figure if you are reading this blog, then you are already there mentally, and don't need to have your philosophy confirmed.
     But I wanted to relate to you a situation that has been experienced by my family of late.  PLW's parents are in their early 70's.   They have come a long way when it comes to understanding what is going on in the world and their physical state of preparedness.  They have overcome their initial skepticism and most of their normalcy biases.  They have grown leaps and bounds in their spiritual growth and they clearly see the time on the prophetical clock.  Yet the realities of their age and physical limitations must be taken into account.
     From the beginning of our own enlightenment to our changing world, we have discussed with our family the implications of various scenarios and occurrences.  Like all of us, my in-laws had to overcome the debilitating fears that came with considering the repercussions of civil unrest, horrific weather events, and terrorist activities, including an EMP.  We have done what we could to limit the discomforts that will be inherent with any of these circumstances.

     But last Friday they got to face what it would be like in the heat of South Texas should we ever experience a grid-down event.  The compressor on their air-conditioning unit went out as we faced a weekend of upper-90 temperatures in hot, humid, South Texas.  Now, you may think this is no big deal; after all their unit was under warranty.  Just contact your carrier and get a new one installed, right?  But that doesn't happen so quickly in small town Texas; especially on a Friday afternoon before the weekend.  It turns out that it would be at least 4 days until a new compressor could be shipped from a major city.  They were facing days of unrelenting heat and humidity.
     Having them stay with us was the obvious solution, but our guest bedroom is at the top of steep stairs, and neither is able to handle stairs well.  We could accommodate them with air mattresses on the floor, but both have physical limitations that prevent them getting up and down that easily.  We suggested that they get a hotel room until the installation was completed, but they insisted on "toughing it out".  I think they wanted to prove to themselves (and us) that they were prepared to undergo similar conditions in the event of a national emergency.  And I was proud of their "can-do" spirit and their resiliency ... for the first day or so.  They took it as a personal challenge and it was good for them to know that they were stronger than they thought.
     But when you are not in great shape or the best of health, and you are in your 70s, there comes a time when it's OK to throw in the towel.  We convinced them to treat themselves to a cool hotel room for Father's Day, and perhaps to consider a second night until the compressor could be delivered.  They acquiesced to one cool night, but returned to the stifling heat in their home the next day.  During the latest phone check-in, PLW could tell that the heat was taking its toll on them, both physically and  emotionally.  Their attempt to stick it out, while admirable, could result in adverse health issues for one or both of them, making the situation far worse than it is.  He finally convinced them that a portable air conditioning unit that would cool off 450 SF was enough to isolate and cool their master bedroom, giving them some respite, and us some peace of mind.  He helped them make the purchase and is installing it as I write.
     I am relating this incident to you as a cautionary reminder --- it is one thing to plan in your head what you will do, and have to endure, should an emergency occur.  It is quite another to actually live it.   Yes, my in-laws still have electricity, so this portable A/C unit is a viable option for this particular scenario.  But should we experience a grid-down event, a generator would be able to run this portable unit and provide them some much needed relief.
     Most importantly, it showed us that the elderly will pay a heavy price when the conveniences of our modern world come to a halt.  Energy-zapping heat, spine-chilling cold temps, and other harmful weather conditions will affect them more than the average population.  And that is just weather-related problems.  Throw a society in chaos into the mix, and they will be at even more of a disadvantage.   So let this innocent little disruption to normal life give you pause.  If you have elderly family, friends or neighbors, please keep in mind that they will need your help and encouragement when times get tough.  You can not game every situation, but this should show you that the possibility of even the simplest inconvenience deserves some planning in advance.

Exodus 20:12    "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you."
   

A New Awakening?

     Yesterday was a heavy day for me.  Monday's usually are.  It is the day I return to the mundane tasks of my life in this world system.  I am just coming off a spiritual high of spending the Saturday Sabbath in rest and rejuvenation.  I allow myself that day, plus Sunday, to let go of headlines and emails and endless texts; of household chores and business duties, so that PLW and I can spend quiet time in our Bible studies and going wherever the Spirit takes us in our endless quest to learn more in the Word.  And it often involves a much-coveted afternoon nap or escaping into a historical novel.  But it all adds up to an appreciated respite from the weight of world events.
     Then Monday arrived.  Yesterday meant it was bill-paying time, which always brings me back to the reality of living in the world.  And then I tried wrapping my head around the Biblical world view that was presented to me.  It seems that there is not a place on earth that is not on the brink of catastrophe.  Whether it is the slaughter of Christians throughout Iraq and Kenya, or the ongoing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, the wholesale sell-off of America's land to Chinese interests, the increase in solar flares, meteor activity, volcanos heating up, the strength of our currency cooling down --- it all adds up to a tension in the universe.

     Yet how many Americans got up yesterday morning, and it was business as usual?  How many were totally oblivious to the alarming news reports, or the condition of their country, let alone the world?  I'm afraid that too many are buried in their phones or iPads; checking in on their Facebook page as they stand in line to feed their double pump caffeine fix.  Wouldn't it be nice to just live in a digital/caffeine fueled haze, unconscious and unconcerned about all the circumstances that could have a lasting effect on your life or your family?  That may sound like a gross exaggeration and an over-simplification, but I know far too many people who fit that description, and are setting themselves up for both a huge shock and a grand deception.
     For those of us who have been fortunate enough to receive the prompting of the Holy Spirit, we must cope with the reality of what we see, as well as endeavor to reach our sleeping associates.  And while I oftentimes get frustrated with the reluctance of others to clear their minds and become observant, I am also encouraged by the growing numbers of those who are awakening from their slumber.  In fact, I was listening to a podcast yesterday from an enlightened Christian author, and he was taking phone calls from the public.
     Call after call was a testimony by fellow Christians who had, sometime during the period of 2009-2010, developed a deep hunger to know more about the Jewish roots of their faith, while coming to the conclusion that their Church was not meeting their needs.  (PLW and I now realize that we are a member of this family of faith). These were spontaneous calls that began feeding on each other, and every caller was eager to share his/her experience.  Where once they had felt they were alone in this unconventional desire, they were finding out that others had been receiving the same yearning and determination to grow their faith outside the norms of the American church experience.
     For all of us, that new and unorthodox thirst for more Biblical knowledge gave us an awareness to see national and worldly events from a Biblical perspective, and an even greater calling to share this outlook with others.  I am speaking for everyone who fits this description, and I think I can safely say that, at first, we were considered radical, and perhaps even border-line heretical by mainstream Christians.  Non-believers just thought we were some kind of Christian conspiracy nuts.  But the Holy Spirit would not let go of us!  As we persevered in presenting our Biblical evidence -- (hopefully) with respect for those who were not at the same place we were -- we began to see individuals receive their own anointing, as if the scales were instantly removed from their eyes.  Instead of feeling like we were in a wilderness of our own making, we began to see a growing family of revived disciples.
     Until hearing that podcast yesterday, I had no idea that our experience has been repeated in such vast numbers throughout the country.  Could this be a Third Great Awakening?  Could this be the answer of the prayers of the faithful in this Land?  I confess that I am reluctant to label anything so personal by a name associated with traditional Church and national history.  The First Great Awakening in America was the result of powerful preaching that gave listeners a sense of deep personal revelation of their need of salvation by Jesus Christ.  The Second Great Awakening reached out to the unchurched, and resulted in the enrollment of millions of new members in existing evangelical denominations and led to the formation of new denominations.
     This Awakening, if indeed it be so, is not the result of powerful preaching from our churches' pulpits for the redemption of men's souls.  And while the evangelical movement is good at resulting in mega-churches with millions of new members, it remains focused on itself while the members' eyes are cast inward instead of up towards their Deliverer.  No, if this is a true Awakening, it will be different from the others.  The modern Church will not play a central role; indeed, it is falling away from its mission.  It is aiding and abetting a spiritual blindness that will not serve Christians well.  This Awakening is a direct hit on the hearts of Believers by the Holy Spirit Himself!  We are seeing the layers of the mysteries of the Bible being peeled back; we understand the Word like never before, and we are growing in numbers!  
     If you do not know the saving power of Jesus Christ, then you may think this post is not for you.  But I am here to tell you that there is no better time to get to know Him.  World events are falling in line with ancient Biblical prophecies and I don't want anyone to be caught unaware and unprotected.  The same Holy Spirit that speaks into my heart, will answer your call... anywhere, anytime.  I just urge you to please not go back to sleep!  This life is just a blip on the radar screen--don't lay eternity on the line for the empty promises this world offers.

Romans 13:11    "Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed."
   

To Hell With Them!

     This post will be highly controversial, but hard to ignore.  My only purpose is to expose the evil-doers, not to paint a broad brush of denunciation over any religious entity.  God will be the Judge.  That being said, I know that there is good in the world, and that "the light goes on shining in the dark; it is not overcome by the dark."  But there are times that it seems the darkness is so unnatural and wicked that it is difficult to see how the Light can penetrate the Evil.
     Such is the case in the growing evidence coming out of the Irish convent child murders.  Why even take a look at this vileness?  The darkness must be exposed to the Light; if it is kept in the shadows, it continues to thrive and grow.

     News reports have been telling us for days now that the bones of nearly 800 children were found in a Roman Catholic Nun septic tank.  At first, it was my understanding that this was a result of the stigma of illegitimacy, and that the dead babies were thought to have been secretly buried beside a home for single mothers and their children in County Galway, Ireland, over a period of 36 years.  That fact alone is enough to declare the perpetrators worthy of God's wrath.
     But Before It's News website is now reporting that the facts of this situation are far more demonic. The Irish Garda police force has revealed that marks on the bones of the children reveal that they were "ritually" murdered.  Forensic experts have confirmed the decapitation and dismemberment of babies in the mass grave resembled the usual signs of ritualistic killings.  Who in this world could do that to a baby?  The answer is, "They are not of this world."  Five judges of the International Common Law Court of Justice (ICLCJ) in Brussels viewed forensic evidence that appeared to link the children’s deaths to the global elite Ninth Circle Satanic Child Sacrifice Cult network.
      Apparently this group is well known to international courts.  Since March the ICLCJ International Court has been prosecuting members of the Ninth Circle Satanic Child Sacrifice Cult network for child trafficking, pedophilia and murder that are possibly linked to 34 child mass grave sites discovered in Ireland, Canada and Spain.  The child mass grave sites were on properties mainly owned by the Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church, United Church of Canada and Irish and Canadian governments. The Canadian 32 child mass grave sites have been refused excavation by the Catholic Church, Canadian government and Crown of England even though children’s remains have been uncovered and examined since 2008 by licensed archeologists including one from the Smithsonian Institute.  These are not low-level child predators ... and these are very serious accusations!
     In the last month over 20 witnesses from nine different countries have named members of the Ninth Circle Satanic Child Sacrifice Cult network as their perpetrators. Global elites under indictment included European royalty and prominent church and government officials in England, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Ireland, Canada and the US.  I am not only horrified, but in utter shock!  If I had not read it myself, I would not believe it.  And if you have the heart to click on the link I have provided above, you will find the names, titles, and heinous deeds of these evil individuals.  But I warn you, you will be shocked at what has been alleged.

     I am not writing about this to indict the Catholic Church, but to expose the alleged evil that has been inflicted upon innocent children.  It is nothing new.  Throughout history child sacrifice has been a popular method of Satan to enslave people to his ungodly system.  The Bible records that ancient Israel fell prey to the lure of child sacrifice when they worshipped the idol Molech.   The Daily Mail reports that after decades of historians denying that the Carthaginians sacrificed their children as described in Greek accounts, a new study claims to have found ‘overwhelming’ evidence that the ancient civilization really did carry out this bloodthirsty practice.  Like the Aztecs, the Maya performed child sacrifice in specific circumstances, most commonly as foundation dedications for temples and other structures, or on the ascension of a new king.
     But as we can see, child sacrifice is not something that was confined to ancient history.  While I hate the murder of babies through the act of abortion, I am literally sick at my stomach to think that there are those members of the Elite that worship at the altar of child sacrifice.  But what do the international courts hope to accomplish?  I certainly wish them the power to indict and punish the guilty, but I also know that Satan's power is strong in these days and he will not be defeated until our Lord descends from Heaven to put all His enemies under His feet.
     And in That Day, I look forward to the casting into the fiery depths of hell those who have taken part in causing harm to these innocent children.  I'm sorry, but I do not have it in me to ask God for mercy on their souls.  I'm not even sure that God's Light can reach the depths of this darkness.  But I refuse to leave my mind there ... I choose to focus on the truth that these children will be avenged and in God's sovereign way.  God Bless the children!

2 Chronicles 33:6    "And he burned his children as an offering [to his god] in the Valley of Ben-hinnom [son of Hinnom], and practiced soothsaying, augury, and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and wizards. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking Him to anger."

Ephesians 5:14-16

Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, 

and Christ shall shine upon you and give you light.   

Look carefully then how you walk! 

Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, 

not as the unwise and witless, 

but as wise, sensible, intelligent people,

 Making the very most of the time, because the days are evil.

     This is an admonition by the Apostle Paul to the First Century Church.  Having been delivered out of the darkness that was theirs when they did not know the saving grace of Christ's atonement, they now walk in the Light of the Truth that has been revealed to them.  Paul is telling them that they are slipping into a slumber when it comes to their faith.  Instead of being vibrant and active and participating in the riches of their faith, they are in danger of just coasting through the experience as if sleep-walking.  But aren't we in jeopardy of doing the same thing?

     I cannot tell you of the number of people I know who are experiencing exactly what these verses are describing.  Just in the last week, two people whom I know to be God-fearing Christians have awakened to new revelations that they have been "sleeping" through their faith.  On the very day of Pentecost a dear friend approached me weeping because "something was happening" to her.  She was feeling the Holy Spirit working on her heart as she expressed the realization that she might be in the wrong church.  She was sensing that God wanted to reveal more to her than she was receiving in the comfortable, undemanding confines of the church she had long attended.  She had awakened to the power of the Holy Spirit in her, and she's ready to make the most of her time, and not waste the opportunity to know her Lord more intimately.

     And then there is the man who has been able to recognize that he needs more instruction from the Word, and has sought out classes and churches that will provide him with more than the Laodicean model of "lukewarm" Christianity that is so common today.  He thought he had found it until PLW pointed him to some deeper studies, that when compared to Scripture, showed him that he was missing out on so much of the Lord's Truth.  He shared how disheartened he felt:  "I've been sitting in Sunday School classes all these years and not learning a thing!  I don't know if a church exists that will instruct me for these times."

     The good thing is that both of these people desire to live their lives "purposefully, worthily, and accurately", just as Paul prescribes.  They will seek the Lord with all their hearts, minds and souls and He will give them what they need.  They are both ready to step outside their comfort zones and search for Him, wherever the path might take them.  I am thrilled for them!

     I also know people who are waking up from a different kind of sleep.  They are feeling the first promptings of the Holy Spirit upon their lives.  They are recognizing what today's Scripture is telling us ... the days are evil.  I so want them to know the peace and comfort that comes from recognizing their sinful ways, making the decision to turn from them, and accepting the gift of eternal life that Christ provides.  There is a hunger there for more than this life offers; something is telling them that there is a different way than what the world proposes.   They may not yet stand in the Light, but they want to step out of the darkness and are beginning their walk towards the beckoning rays.  I pray that, through me, they will see God's shining glory.  In the meantime, I will look carefully at how I walk, and make the most of this time.  I don't want to sleep a minute!!  

Take Nothing For Granted

     In the wake of yesterday's post and disturbing world news, I must turn my mind away from the things out of my control and think upon the parts of my life that need to be brought into clearer focus.  I am sitting here staring at the mounds of fresh tomatoes that I will be canning later today.  I swear, they are bigger, plumper and juicier than they have been in seasons past.  Nothing else in my garden has flourished like these tomatoes, and it dawns on me that I am blessed that we have had enough rain to bring in this bountiful harvest.
     My thoughts turn to how my feet and back will hurt after I've finished canning the dozens of quarts of spaghetti sauce, stewed tomatoes and salsa; and then just as quickly I turn to how grateful I am that I have them --- that the drought didn't claim them, or bugs, or critters crawling under the garden fence.  I could just as easily have nothing to can for next winter's larder.  I vow not to take these "fruit of the vine" for granted again.

     And just the other day, I waved to PLW as he drove off to deliver a commissioned painting to a loyal client.  Normally, I accompany him and we turn our trip into a time of shared conversation and exploring our thoughts on various subjects.  But today he was going by himself.  He had not cleared the gate before I was struck with the fact that he was going to be driving two hours each way on narrow country roads, dominated by massive 18-wheelers and trucks, which are our constant companions due to the natural gas boom here in Texas.  I was momentarily gripped with a spirit of fear!  Then I had to get on my knees and pray for an army of angels to surround him and bring him home safely.  I knew he was now in God's hands, but I vowed never to take his safety for granted again.
     We also had the privilege of spending a couple of days with a young woman whom we have known since she was born, and with whom we are extremely close.  Bailey is about to embark on her college career and came for one last visit and a few days of R & R.  What a joy to talk to her about her plans and her views about her teenage culture.  She has amazing parents and a good, strong moral foundation to guide her.  She shared with us her doubts and her hopes and her dreams.  She asked our advice and listened when we offered it.  We explained that we knew this was a new stage of her life, and there would most likely be a period of separation from us for awhile as she explores new avenues and determines her life's path.  She assured us that she would remain in touch and come see us, but you see, she doesn't have the advantage of looking back, as we do.  We know how it will be because we've been there.  We told her she would gravitate back to us, but we wanted her to always know we were there for her and that we loved her.
     I thought about all the times during her childhood that I didn't take into consideration that this day would come.  I made a point to relish each moment we spent together and to thank God that we had the opportunity to have her in our life.  All of our relationships should never be taken for granted!
     Then as I crawled into bed last night, I was eager to continue the brand new historical fiction novel I had bought ... the thicker the book, the better.  I allowed my mind to escape the view of this world that I face every day, and to enjoy the saga of Welsh and Russian and American families during World War 1.  History is one of my favorite things to study and I was conscious of the stress flowing out of my body, and the comfort of my own bed.  For one small moment, I could forget all the worries of the day and relish the simple pleasure of reading a book.  And then the thought popped into my head .... how these simple things were blessings that so many in the world did not have.  I have a bed and a home to call my own.  Books are a luxury to many in the world, as is the ability to read.  I have electricity by which to read far into the night, if I so desire.  And my mind is still strong and eager to learn... a scenario that I know will fade with time.  Right then and there, I vowed to never take the simple things in my life for granted, and to take notice of them and give thanks.
     Finally, I cannot finish this assessment without speaking about our little "home church" group's celebration of Pentecost last Sunday.  As we studied what Scripture reveals to us about this Holy Day, each person contemplated the significance of our gathering.  It is a time when we celebrate the Power of the Holy Spirit and God's institution of the Church Age.  We all marveled that this supernatural Power indwells each of us, just as we lamented how little we recognize it and implement it.  We have been given power to tread on serpents and scorpions, to heal, and to witness to all the world.  In fact, Jesus tells us in John 14, that we will be able to do greater works than He did, because when He went to the Father, He sent us the Power of the Holy Spirit.  Wow!  I am ashamed that I do not honor this heavenly power within me; that I take it for granted and do not call upon it to help me glorify my Lord.
     This week has been a humbling period in my life.  I can see that the world is tumbling towards the fulfillment of God's Plan for all mankind.  But for the moment, I am focused on the tremendous blessings I have.  They are not spectacular by the world's standards, but they have made me rich in the benefits I have received from each of them ... nourishment, deep love for my husband, the joy of watching a precious child grow, the simple pleasure of holding a book in my hand, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Good News to all mankind.  Who could ask for more?

1 Corinthians 2:9-10   "But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God."

Evil Is On the March

    As I write this, it is the afternoon of June 12th, 2014 and I am experiencing an overwhelming sense of futility and sadness as I reflect on the news coming out of Iraq.  The Daily Mail out of Britain has an in-depth article on the collapse of the city of Mosul. Combine that with the more recent fall of Tikrit, and the imminent assault on Baghdad, and it is quite clear that the war in Iraq is not over. While the photos show the heartbreak of families fleeing the brutal insurgency of a new terrorist group, ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), I cannot help but think about the tremendous cost in lives and treasure.
     Reuters has reported that the U.S. war in Iraq has cost $1.7 trillion with an additional $490 billion in benefits owed to war veterans; these are expenses that could grow to more than $6 trillion over the next four decades counting interest.  But worth more than these overwhelming figures is the cost in human lives.  A total of 4,486 U.S. soldiers were killed in Iraq between 2003 and 2012.  University researchers in the U.S., Canada and Baghdad, along with the Iraqi Ministry of Health, have estimated that nearly half a million people in the country of Iraq have died since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.  These figures cover not only violent deaths, but other avoidable deaths linked to the invasion, insurgencies and subsequent social breakdown.
     So what happens now?  As trite as it sounds, only the Lord knows.  ISIS is not a name I was familiar with, but preliminary research has shown that they are so brutal, that even Al-Queda shuns them.  One headline announced the depth of their evil cruelty .... Marauding ISIS Militia Beheading Their Way to Baghdad.  What makes this group so frightening (and why Al-Queda has distanced themselves) is that these beheadings, crucifixions, and assassinations have been carried out against rival jihadist groups.  This all comes as the leader of this brutal group continues to attract hardline Islamic fighters from around the world.  Reports say that ISIS has in excess of 10,000 fighting men in its ranks. Many of its fighters are thought to be radicalized Western Muslims who have poured in from Europe and North America to join the fighting in Syria and elsewhere in the middle East.

     ISIS is being led by a shadowy figure known as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.  You can imagine my alarm when I heard retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Ralph Peters compare Osama bin Laden to John the Baptist, as the forerunner to this al-Baghdadi.  Are we looking at the emergence of an archetype of the Islamic Savior known as the Mahdi? Will he be able to unite the jihadists around the world and bring on another holocaust of God's people?  He has certainly manifested himself as a brutal power in a very rapid manner, and one cannot help but look back at history at the other representatives of Evil who appeared in similar circumstances.
     The news agencies spell out the danger that threatens to engulf the entire globe.  Reuters says, "Sunni rebels from an al Qaeda splinter group overran the Iraqi city of Tikrit on Wednesday and closed in on the biggest oil refinery in the country, making further gains in their rapid military advance against the Shi'ite-led government in Baghdad."  Over half a million people fled the city of Mosul in the wake of that conquest.  And for those of us who see the headlines from a biblical perspective, we cannot dismiss the words of a police captain who fled the city of Tikrit, "We are fighting devils and not ordinary people".
     But I have to tell you that I think there is even more Biblical significance to what is happening.  The Christian Science Monitor reports that "It's well known that Mosul has been a target for ISIS... the city is the capital of northern Nineveh Province."  Now where have we heard that name Nineveh before?  Genesis 10:11 records that none other than Nimrod built the city of Nineveh.  And if you don't know who Nimrod is, well just suffice it to say that the root meaning of Nimrod in the Hebrew language is "the rebel".   And it is very possible that “Nimrod” may not be the name of an actual man, but is more likely a derisive term of a type, or a representative, of a system that is epitomized in rebellion against the Creator, the one true God.  We can identify his "type" throughout history in the personages of Antiochus Epiphanes, Gengis Khan, Stalin, and Hitler, amongst many others.
     It is also important that the city of Nineveh and the city of Babylon are closely tied together as Nimrod's power bases.  And would it surprise you to know that the ruins of ancient Babylon sit just 53 miles south of modern-day Baghdad?  There are those who will scoff at my implications, but the fact that the conquest of Iraq is happening so quickly in the wake of the more than $14 billion we spent in training Iraqi forces to defend themselves, cannot be easily dismissed.  I cannot disregard the ancient prophecy in Jeremiah 51:7-8:  "Babylon has been a golden cup in the hand of the LORD, intoxicating all the earth. The nations have drunk of her wine; Therefore the nations are going mad. Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken...".  This corresponds with the End Times prophecy in Revelation 18:10 that foretells the fall of Babylon in one hour.  For the skeptics that will tell me Baghdad is not Babylon, I would say, the spirit of ancient prophecies rest upon this land, as well as future pronouncements regarding the End Times.  We would do well to pray for our deliverance from the consequences.
     And to those of you who do not see these world events through the lens of the Bible, I must tell you that I cannot see them otherwise.  It is my hope that the urgency of what is being reported would cause you to check out my assumptions; to examine the Bible yourself to see if it bears witness to what I suggest.  These events could have immediate effect upon all our lives through the takeover of strategic oil fields in Iraq, along with the possibility that any number of the North America jihadists lining up with ISIS might hold U.S. passports.  At the very least your comfortable American life might be headed for some serious and far-reaching changes.  But at the heart of my post is the hope that you will recognize that, most importantly, it is your eternal life that is in jeopardy.  Evil is obviously sweeping the Middle East, and why would it stop its campaign for world dominance at the borders of Iraq?  Now is the time to make preparations for your soul.

I Thessalonians 5:3    While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.


     
   
   

Are We That Far Behind?

     If, as Americans, we were honest with ourselves, I think we would find that as we have attempted to become more "tolerant", the overall repercussions have been a disintegration and deterioration of the fabric of our society.  Does that mean that a bigoted, exclusive and insensitive people is preferred?  Absolutely not!  But there needs to be a balance between respecting our differences and allowing the destruction of our culture in the name of "acceptance".

     I am saying all this because of a disturbing trend that is taking place in Britain, and which has the possibility of becoming a problem for us, too.  I found it very interesting when CBN News reported that "the British government has announced that schools will be required to teach British values."  Why make that distinction and what brought this on?  Apparently, this new policy came about in the wake of news that Islamists took over several schools in the United Kingdom. This alleged plot to turn British faith-based schools into Muslim training academies has been dubbed "Operation Trojan Horse."
     British Islamic expert George Igler is quoted as saying, "Individuals with a religious motivation have taken public money and basically created madrases; basically created religiously motivated schools that promote intolerance, and this in some cases is a criminal enterprise."  The school policy  decision comes at a time when Britain was already in an uproar over the explosion of Muslim halal food in the nation's food supply, and after revelations that several predominantly Muslim sex gangs around Britain were using English girls as sex slaves.
     Another aspect of this development is that Britain is the only Western country with a functioning network of Sharia tribunals and councils.  There are over 100 Sharia courts in Britain, and they are dealing with marriages, divorce, even with criminal matters. They're also marrying children!
     In Birmingham, England, with its large Muslim population, authorities say Islamists were turning schools into centers of extremism.  And in one school the Muslim call to prayer was broadcast across the school playground, and non-Muslim teachers were forced out.

     I bring this to your attention because if you think it can't happen here, think again!  Todd Starnes, at Fox News, reported that parents at a Wichita, Kansas elementary school were shocked to discover a giant wall display inside the building promoting the five pillars of Islam.  The exhibit was part of a religion component being taught at Minneha Core Knowledge Magnet School.  School officials said the study of Islam is part of their “Core Knowledge” magnet curriculum, and if you've been reading my blog for awhile, I don't have to point out that anytime you see the word "Core" in a school curriculum, you better be looking for Common Core, the federally funded education curriculum -- which includes many studies on the religion of Islam, by the way.  Supposedly, the "Core Knowledge" purpose is not to explore the matters of theology, but to understand the place of religion and religious ideas in history.  But that begs the obvious question ... If the purpose was not to teach theology, why was the school teaching the five pillars of Islam?
     Then there's the issue of the Sharia courts.  According to an article in The Washington Times, Islam’s sharia law is insinuating itself into our courtrooms, schools, prisons and every other aspect of society. The lever often used is one of discrimination against the precepts of shariah, while Christian and Jewish customs and laws remain.  In a 2011 report, the Center for Security Policy found 50 “significant” published appellate court cases where sharia law entered a U.S. court’s decision making.  Among those cases are the following:
•  The Muslim Students’ Association and the Muslim Accommodations Task Force has convinced at least 17 universities to have foot baths built or under construction, including Boston University, George Washington University and Temple University, and at least nine universities have prayer rooms for “Muslim students only,” including Stanford, Emory and the University of Virginia, according to USA Today.
•  Illinois’ Skokie School Districts replaced Veteran’s Day with Eid ul Adha, a major Muslim holiday, in 2013.
•  In Ohio, a Muslim death row inmate, Abdul Awkal, has filed a federal lawsuit arguing the prison system’s failure to provide halal meals is a restraint on his religious freedoms. His on-going case already succeeded in having pork removed from the prison system’s menu.
     In each of these cases, intimidation and threats of lawsuits forced U.S. laws and customs to give way to sharia law.  In the face of this pressure, we must admit the facts as the British have now figured out, and as Omar Ahmad, co-founder/Board Chairman of Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), in 1998 said publicly, “Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth.”
     Is it too late for Britain?  Michael Gove, British secretary of state for education, told parliament that British schools must be put under new leadership, and taken in a fresh, new direction.  "And we will put the promotion of British values at the heart of what every school has to deliver for children."
     Will America learn from Britain's failing "tolerance" policy?  Will we listen to the wise words of our Founding Fathers, who themselves confronted the differences between the two religions?  John Adams wrote a 4-page letter after he and Thomas Jefferson met with the emissary of the Islamic potentates of Tripoli to Britain, regarding the Barbary Pirates’ demands for tribute.  In the letter he made this observation:  "We took the liberty to make some inquiries concerning the grounds of their pretentions to make war upon nations who had done them no injury, and observed that we considered all mankind as our friends who had done us no wrong, nor had given us any provocation.  The Ambassador answered us that it was founded on the laws of their prophet, that it was written in their Qur’an, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Muslim who should be slain in battle was sure to go to Paradise."
     Just as the foundational principles of our Christian faith have not changed in a couple of thousand years, neither have those of the Islamic faith.  The threat to Great Britain is real and it has progressed to the point that they must push back or risk losing their culture.  So, I ask the question presented by this post ... Are we that far behind?  I have listed only a couple of examples of where we have "bowed down" to the tenets of Islam and forsaken our own laws, traditions and faith.  Do we really think if we show a good faith gesture of tolerance that we will still be allowed to honor and glorify our God?  It is time we pull our heads out of both the clouds and the sand, and stare the truth in the face.  If we don't want to follow in Britain's footsteps, then we better decide to know what Islam really is and how we are going to protect our own values.  Our schools and our courts are already under attack.  We better pay close attention!

1 Corinthians 8:5-6    "For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist."









   

The Mind of Our Military Is At Risk!

     In the wake of the VA Hospital scandal, it's not as if our soldiers don't have enough to worry about when it comes to their medical treatment.  Now The End Begins website recently printed an article that will have you scurrying for the biggest tin-foil hat you can find.  They report that "under the guise of treating the all-covering diagnosis of PTSD, the Obama administration has instructed the Pentagon to begin the process of microchipping the brains of soldiers. Watch for diagnosis of PTSD to increase 1000% past the current all-time high to justify mass microchipping."
     Wow!  Did the hair just stand up on the back of your neck?  But we shouldn't be surprised.  After all, I'm sure you knew that Obamacare made plenty of provision for “implantable devices”, and not just for pacemakers.  You knew that, right?  Remember, we have been hearing about RFID chips for some time now, and how they will "streamline" all of our outdated processes.  We can keep better track of our kids while they are at school; help monitor our elderly to make sure they are taking their medications properly; heck, we are even considering microchipping our bank accounts in our hands, so that just a swipe across that scanner will take care of business.
     Why would we object?  Don't we already microchip our pets?  Now, Defense One, a site that offers breaking news and analysis about defense, foreign policy and national security, reports that the Pentagon is developing a new, innovative brain chip to treat PTSD in soldiers and veterans that could bring sweeping new changes to the way depression and anxiety is treated for millions of Americans.  With $12 million (and the potential for $26 million more if benchmarks are met), the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, wants to reach deep into your brain’s soft tissue to record, predict and possibly treat anxiety, depression and other maladies of mood and mind.   Does anyone else see the vast possibilities for misuse of such a device?  And who wants the government being able to "treat" your brain?
     There will always be those who are looking for the "magic pill", or in this case, the magic cybernetic electrode that implants into the brain.  They make it all sound so .... brilliant.  “DARPA is looking for ways to characterize which regions come into play for different conditions – measured from brain networks down to the single neuron level – and develop therapeutic devices that can record activity, deliver targeted stimulation, and most importantly, automatically adjust therapy as the brain itself changes,” DARPA program manager Justin Sanchez said.
     That's my point!  They are changing the brain!  We have already seen how certain mind-altering drugs can influence aberrant behavior.  Now the government wants to "deliver targeted stimulation"?  Do you trust that it will be only for the good of the patient?  This is the kind of stuff evil scientists come up with to gain mind-control over their subjects!  And I can't help but remember the effects of electric shock therapy on a beloved aunt who suffered from depression and anxiety.  How is this any different?  "Targeted" and "electric stimulation" is the same, no matter what name you call it!
     Here's another thought ... in the end, there is something that is manifestly wrong with trying to control the brain.  For a long time now, scientists have tried to discover if there is a "God spot" hidden deep within the brain; an area where we identify with the One who created us, and where we recognize His worth.  The research has revealed that a belief in God is deeply embedded in the human brain, which is programmed for religious experiences.  And according to a study by the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, "Religious belief and behavior are a hallmark of human life, with no accepted animal equivalent, and found in all cultures."
     Soooo, if you were say, Satan, and you wanted to eradicate any concept or thought of God, wouldn't it be to your benefit to introduce through your ever-expanding technological advances, a method by which you could cut open the skull and put one or more wires deep inside and turn off that neuron receptacle?  Or at least "adjust" it?  And think of the implications of an entire military with microchips that can be "targeted", "stimulated", or simply shut down?
     We are treading on dangerous ground here!  I just pray that our military personnel are wise enough to resist the manipulation and false promises they are about to receive.  This is Scary Science at its best, and the Devil at his most diabolical.

Colossians 2:8    "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."