Are You Worthy To Be A Citizen?

   

     I heard an ingenious idea the other day on talk radio.  The host was informing his audience that a Tennessee State Legislator has proposed a bill that would require all high school seniors in his state to pass a test proving that they know and understand U.S. history and the Constitution before they can graduate.  The test would be similar to the one that legal immigrants must pass to be granted citizenship, and the students would have to answer 60 out of 100 questions correctly to receive their diploma.
     Why not?  Don't you think it would bode well for our country if the next generation understood, not only the basics of how our government is to function, but the history of what we've done right and what we've done wrong to get to our present state?
     I have been shocked at the lack of knowledge of the American citizenry when it comes to our government and our history.  In fact, over the holidays, I engaged with several college students who all say that History is their least favorite subject.  Since it was my favorite, and I loved studying about the Middle Ages, the various world explorers, and our own American Revolution, I struggled to figure out what makes them uninterested in our historical events or the past.
     I think I have discovered the culprit --- it's our modern technology.  The advent of the cell phone and social media has captivated their interest in the "here and now".  They are only curious about discovering what is happening at this moment; or over the last 24-hour period at the longest.  Just look at the various apps they subscribe to .... InstaChat, Snap Chat .... they aren't called instant messaging applications for nothing.
     Technology has convinced people that the only important thing in their lives is what is happening now.  Anything that happened in the past has no relevance to them; it doesn't affect their self-absorbed lives, and they aren't interested in anything that breaks their preoccupation with their own emotions, interests, or situations.
     So, if I have correctly identified the reason why today's student isn't interested in History or Civics courses, would making them take this test before advancing towards their life goals make any difference?  I don't know, but I think it's worth a shot.  Because if a nation's native citizens cannot identify why they are governed the way they are; or they are unable to relate to the historical events that have shaped their present state, then they don't really know who they are.  And once a nation loses its identity, they are subject to becoming divided and disengaged; open to deception, exploitation, and subjugation.
      That's why newly naturalized citizens often make the best Americans.  They know how our government is to perform, and they understand (through our history) what has made this nation so appealing to immigrants for the past two and half centuries.  They are here because they know what this country stands for, what our history is, and they want to be a part of conserving the principles, ideals and dreams of what it means to be an American.
     So maybe it's time that the rest of us who claim the title of American (by the grace of God), be required to prove that we are worthy of the benefits of living in this great nation.  And maybe ... just maybe ... it would make us see where, and how far, off course we've come.
     Ready to answer some sample questions?  I've picked some random questions from among the 100 that are included in the Naturalization Test for U.S. Citizenship.  See how much you, your children and your grandchildren truly know about the United States of America.

1.    What is the Supreme Law of the Land?  
2.    The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
3.    What is an amendment?
4.    What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
5.    What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
6.    What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
7.    What is the “rule of law”?
       •  Everyone must follow the law.
       •  Leaders must obey the law.
       •  Government must obey the law.
       •  No one is above the law.
8.    What is the economic system in the United States?
       •  Capitalist economy
       •  Market economy
9.    How many U.S. Senators are there?
10.  We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
11.  Name your U.S. Representative.
12.  If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
13.  What is the highest court in the United States?
14.  How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
15.  Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
16.  There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
17.  What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
18.  What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
19.  What is one reason colonists came to America? 
20.  Why did the colonists fight the British?
21.  There were 13 original states. Name three. 
22.  When was the Constitution written? 
23.  The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers. 
24.  Who is "the Father of our Country"?
25.  What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
26.  Name one problem that led to the Civil War. 
27.  What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
28.  Who was President during World War I?
29.  Who did the United States fight in World War II?
30.  During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States? 
31.  What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
32.  Name one American Indian tribe.
33.  Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
34.  Name one U.S. territory.
35.  Name one state that borders Canada.
36.  Name one state that borders Mexico.
37.  Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
38.  What is the capital of the United States?
39.  When do we celebrate Independence Day?
40.   Name one branch of the government. 

     So, how did you do?  Try taking this sample test and then comparing your answers with those of your children or grandchildren.  Is there a discrepancy in knowledge?  If so, are they interested in knowing more about their country?  And, if not, does this concern you?
     I just can't help feeling that we have been so blessed to have been born in this nation; a country that hundreds of thousands have yearned to get to because they sensed that it was special and separate from any other land that has existed in history.  God had a purpose in establishing this nation, it is incumbent upon us to understand its exceptionalism, and to teach it to all our generations.  However, I'm afraid that we are losing that sense of extraordinary purpose and blessed opportunity that was our identifiable attribute.
     Like the old saying goes ... "Those who don't know history, are doomed to repeat it."  Even the Bible warns us that "As it was in the days of Noah...", and to "Remember Lot's wife."  We cannot afford to become indifferent or unmotivated in these times that carry great risk.  We must be knowledgable about who we are; because when we no longer aware of our past, or why we exist in God's eternal plan, then we are in danger of making destructive and devastating mistakes that could see us fade from history altogether.  And with no knowledge of our unique history, or how we are to govern ourselves, we'll never see it coming. 

If you would like to see the full list of questions on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services test for citizenship, click here.  

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

Ephesians 5:1-2

Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example],
 as well-beloved children [imitate their father].

And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] 
as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us,
 a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] 

a sweet fragrance. -- Amplified Bible

     On Friday, PLW and I said good-bye to a dear friend who was truly a righteous man.  Do you know what that term means?  Do you know what it means to God?  It is more than "desiring to do the right thing".  In God's terminology, I believe that it means His standard of purity; the perfect consistency between His nature and His actions.  God is Holy, therefore He cannot tolerate sin, and His Righteousness (His standard of purity) demands Judgment. Only through Jesus can we obtain righteousness that is acceptable to God. It is Jesus’s purity that God sees in us.

     Because we are not holy and pure in God's sight, our righteousness comes through Jesus; it is the only way we can be found acceptable in His sight.  And Ephesians 5:1-2 tells us that by being imitators of God and His righteous Son, we, too, can offer a sweet fragrance to our Father in Heaven.

    My friend, Butch Keath, fits that description of being righteous.  That's not a term that I believe can be truthfully applied to very many people.  Sure, we all know "good" people, or "kind" people, or men who live exemplary lives.  But Butch truly lived out this Scripture.  He walked in love, esteeming and delighting in every person he met.  He was an imitator of God; a doer of the Word, not just a hearer.  

     The number of people who attended his funeral was a testament of how many people he had loved, and who loved him in return.  There were so many stories told of Butch's generosity in times of need; he selflessly gave of his time, energy and money -- if he heard that someone needed help, he quietly and without fanfare, worked behind the scenes to get it done.  He simply served, without asking for notice or anything in return.

     And, for many of those attending his funeral, it came as a surprise that he had quietly served his country as a Green Beret in Vietnam, and was the recipient of several medals; again offering a sweet fragrance of personal sacrifice, imitating His Lord.  He was an honorable man; seeking to see the good in people, and all the while mindful of living a life that pleased his God.  

     Often, when planning the funeral of a loved one, family will go to that person's Bible to see what was important to them, and what influenced their spiritual life.  Found in Butch's Bible, was a bookmark that read:  "Although people work very hard for money and fame, God views success as having a good reputation, moral character, and the spiritual devotion to obey Him."  Butch certainly lived out those qualities.  And I cannot help but think how much better this world would be if we all followed this recipe for success.  What a sweet fragrance would rise to God!

     

      

And The Light Shines In the Darkness ...

     Today's post is going to seem in start contrast to yesterday's, but it is actually the reason that I wrote about blessings yesterday.  The thoughts for this post actually came first, and I had to fight to overcome the pessimism that was engulfing me.  I'm going to be honest ... Ive been having a hard time writing lately.  I find myself questioning if I am still serving my Lord, or you, with this blog.  I want you to know that I listen for God's whisper as to what to write about; what is it that He wants us to hear at this time and this place in world history.  There are days it is disturbingly quiet; I can't seem to connect with Him and I can't hear His voice.
       Don't get me wrong; I still look for the blessings that I wrote about yesterday.  In fact, I need to consider them more than ever, because I am finding myself feeling uncharacteristically pessimistic at the beginning of this new year.  It doesn't seem like a time for false words of celebratory cheer, or for proclaiming the benefits of a fresh start and new beginnings.  Rather, from my Biblical worldview, this new year feels as if new gates and doors are being opened to a darker future.  And it feels as if a nefarious force is coming at us faster than we can comprehend.  Do you feel it, too?

     In just the past week, the stories from across our country threatened to overshadow the joy of Christmas celebrations; from a call to assassinate police officers, to the strange and exceedingly powerful weather conditions, to the looming flu epidemic that has seen children dying at an unprecedented rate.  The stories from around the globe are even more depressing: plunging oil prices threaten to destroy the world's economy and hasten a World War; the growing concern that ISIS will begin systematically attacking Europe and the U.S.; the open and horrific persecution of Christians; and the escalating hostility towards Israel are just a few concerns that keep me from thinking that 2015 will see any significant improvement over 2014.  (And why it is all the more important to refer to yesterday's post!)
     I know I shouldn't be surprised.  I know that I am to watch for the signs and times of my Lord's return.  And I know that I'm not the only one who thinks the clues that God has given us in His holy book are occurring before our very eyes.  My mind can contend with the societal adversities, the abrupt weather changes, and the diseases.  But when they are all combined with undisguised Evil, hatred of Christians, and a growing threat against Israel, then my soul informs me that these are extraordinary times.
     There is a growing collaboration among nations, and it is fueling a unified hatred of Israel.  After the UN Security Council failed this past week to approve a Palestinian resolution that would have called for Israel to withdraw from Palestinian territories by late 2017, the leader of Hamas was the keynote speaker at an annual government meeting in Turkey.  When Turkey, a member of NATO, and a once-important (and moderate) US ally, invites and embraces a terrorist organization leader's call to "liberate Jerusalem together", then it could represent an important "clue" in the Bible's prophecies.
     Consider these facts:  Prime Minister Erdogan has been steering Turkey away from Western influences, and towards stricter Islamic values.  With the help of the West, primarily the U.S., Turkey has built one of the largest armies in the Middle East.  The Prime Minister of Turkey joined in the Hamas-led shouts of ‘Allahu Akbar’ and their call for an invasion of Israel and the capture of Jerusalem.  Taken all together, could these events be the precursor that gives rise to Satan's drive for the control of the Temple Mount?  And does the fact that Harper Collins excluded Israel from an atlas scheduled to be delivered to Middle Eastern schools seem calculated and deliberate?  Apparently it was, as a company spokesman released this statement:  Including Israel would have been “unacceptable” to their customers in the Gulf and the amendment incorporated “local preferences”. It is obvious that the "preference" is for Israel to be non-existent!
     Then there is the fact that immigration rates in Israel are hitting all time records.  The numbers of Jews from France and the Ukraine have tripled; they are escaping growing anti-semitism and wars.  At the same time, emigration from Israel is on the decline.  The prophets of old predicted that God's people would be gathered from all the countries and brought to their homeland.
     Perhaps you do not see things as I do; that these events do not announce a move towards darker times.  I have honestly tried to disregard what my heart feels, because I know it can be deceitful and untrustworthy.  But this sense of coming trials and troubles refuses to be dismissed.  I find myself praying to be delivered from these dark thoughts and asking how I am to respond, and requesting words of encouragement to give you.  I wish I could tell you that the weight has been lifted from my  heart, mind, and soul; and that my mood is brighter and God spoke comforting words in my ear.  I wish I could ...

     And so I must rely on my faith.  For I know that I cannot succumb to this melancholy or these gloomy reflections.  I know that God has not given me a spirit of fear; that He who is in me, is greater than he who influences world affairs.  I know that I cannot stop the wars, the disease, and the cruelness of man against his brother.  But I do know that I, along with you, can reflect God's light into the darkest corners of this depraved world.  I am aware that each day is an opportunity to do something for someone else and lighten their load.  I can ask God to strengthen my faith, and I can exercise the power and authority given to me through the Holy Spirit to remove the whispers of the father of lies.
     The only sovereignty I will accept is the Divine Love of the One who created me for His good purpose.  And I will concentrate on fulfilling that goal for His glory.  I may not be able to look upon a new year in this decaying world with any sense of joy and jubilation, but with every breath I can do this ... I can cling to the Hope and Promise for the new beginning that will be my Lord's Kingdom on earth.  That will be a day worth celebrating!

Isaiah 60:1-2   "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you."
   

 

   
   

Count The Blessings

   

     At this time, it's customary to take a look back at the preceding year and note the highs and lows.  So what about 2014 do I find remarkable?  To be honest, there's not much nationally or globally to applaud.  We saw the emergence of more technology, a deadly epidemic, and the convergence of religious fanaticism and evil.  We saw the breakdown of society, moral values, and our system of law.  None of it signaled positive news for the good of mankind.
     No, I'd have to say that any "good will toward men" has come on the individual, personal level.  From that perspective, I have witnessed a growing hunger among (a remnant of) faithful people to know God more nearly and dearly.  It's like there is truly an "awakening" that the things of this world are fleeting; that what is important is to seek and know God more deeply -- to truly "get right" with Him.
     In 2014, I saw a lightbulb go on with regards to preparing for a more difficult future; again among a small, dedicated group of people.  More time was dedicated to getting into shape, self-defense training, and thinking how to survive any number of possible threats.  This last year was a time of "facing reality" and "getting in the game".
     In that sense, I find that all of 2014's problems and difficulties were really a blessing in disguise.  Here's why: we in America have lived in a bubble for so long, that we haven't had to face the realities that the majority of the rest of the world comes up against.  Safe and warm, snuggled up next to our latest technology companion, we haven't known the fear, hunger or turmoil of disrupted lives.  We find comfort and security in our money and our things, and perceive ourselves as indestructible.  America has yet to be subjected to an enemy that could invade our land, persecute us for our faith, or take our life at their will.  We have lived comfortable, prosperous, easy and secure lives.
     But in 2014 -- if we were smart -- we were shaken out of our fog of protected privilege by Ebola, beheadings, and the perversion of the rule of law.  You're probably thinking, "That's a good thing???"  Yes!  If it shakes us to our core and wipes the scales from our eyes, in order that we see what is coming upon the world, then it is a blessing, an advantage.  "But", you ask, "Would anyone really choose to remain clueless and oblivious to possible threats against them or their families?"  Sadly, the answer is yes.  Ignorance means you can continue to live a secluded, delusional life of perceived safety and prosperity.  But, if you are one of the fortunate ones who "woke up" in 2014, count your blessings.  Now make the most of it, and don't waste another minute.  Strengthen yourselves physically, morally and spiritually, and you will have a good foundation to weather 2015 and beyond.
     And you may find this strange, but PLW has a unique outlook on some of the sadness that we experienced in 2014.  It seems that we unexpectedly lost really good, kind, loving people this last year; either to a sudden illness, tragic accident, or through unforeseen circumstances.  The world seems an emptier and colder place without them.  But he strongly feels that God may be taking them out early, because they would not be able to withstand the ugliness that is coming.  This is not to say that they are weak; it is His grace that is sparing their gentle souls.  And for that, I can count my loss as their great blessing.
     For the rest of us who must live our lives in this confounding and bewildering world, our blessings will become more precious.  Moving from 2014 into 2015, we must look for them in relationships -- those we build and those we mend.  The blessings will come when we take our eyes off ourselves and gaze upon the sovereignty of a God who rules the universe.  Blessings will be found in efforts to serve God by serving others and making another's burden just a little lighter.  By encouraging each other, teaching each other, ministering to each other's needs, and most of all, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, we can reap the most out of this fallen world.  I wish you many blessings in the coming year; one filled with the Divine favor and protection of our Lord and Savior!

Numbers 6:24-26    "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace."
   
     
   

George Bailey vs. The Greedy Global Elites of the Federal Reserve

     My wonderful husband was the impetus for today's post.  He knows that It's A Wonderful Life is one of my all-time favorite movies.  First of all, I'm a huge Jimmy Stewart fan; and secondly, I love the theme of the movie -- namely that each one of our lives touches so many people; we don't even realize how the world would be different if we weren't in it.
     But as PLW was eager to show me, Frank Capra's brilliantly directed movie has an underlying theme that will have me watching it with new eyes and ears.  Let me explain ... First of all you need to know that Mr. Capra was an extremely patriotic American.  After leaving his native Italy at the age of five, and crossing the Atlantic with his family in the steerage section of a ship, he never forgot the lack of privacy nor the degradation.  And he always remembered his father's exclamation at the sight of the Statue of Liberty:  "Look at that! That's the greatest light since the star of Bethlehem! That's the light of freedom! Remember that. Freedom."
     His experiences as an immigrant, and the hard work it took him to achieve success in the film industry contributed to the themes of some of his most famous movies, including Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, Meet John Doe, and the subject of this post, It's A Wonderful Life.  All of his films stressed a deliberate reaffirmation of solid, moral American values, and his strong political views.
     As noted in Wikipedia, "Capra’s political beliefs coalesced in his films, which promoted and celebrated the spirit of American individualism. A conservative Republican, he had railed against Franklin Delano Roosevelt during his tenure as governor of New York State, and opposed his presidency during the years of the Depression. Capra stood against government intervention and assistance during the national economic crisis. A man that had come up the hard way, overcoming the disadvantages of an immigrant background, Capra saw no reason why others could not accomplish success through hard work and perseverance."
     One of the primary reasons that Capra disapproved of Roosevelt's Presidency was the collusion between the President and the Federal Reserve, and the effects upon the banking industry.  And this distrust appears as an underlying theme in It's A Wonderful Life.  Mr. Potter represents the Federal Reserve; both are greedy Elites who control the private banking industry and enslave the populace through fraud, fear, and their manipulation of loans and interest rates, leaving all the George Baileys of the world staring into the abyss of debt and financial ruin.  As a video on YouTube asks, "Do we live in a country that looks more like Pottersville than Bedford Falls?"
     In the movie, Mr. Potter took over the banks, guaranteeing them "sufficient funds to meet their needs"; and declares a bank holiday.  This by the way is similar to what Roosevelt did during the "banking holiday" of 1933.  (And it remains a constant threat during our ongoing crisis). It has definitely been the pattern during our country's history of financial difficulties.   During the financial panics in 1907, the Depression, and 2008, the Elites of the Federal Reserve were able to shut down competitors, and snap up assets at fire sale prices. (For instance, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) closed 465 failed banks from 2008 to 2012. In contrast, in the five years prior to 2008, only 10 banks failed.)  And you might be interested to know that the FDIC is a United States government corporation operating as an independent agency created by the Banking Act of 1933, considered a part of Roosevelt's New Deal.
     Another little piece of history comes from a quote by Charles Lindbergh, Sr., father of aviator Charles Lindberg, and a U.S. Congressman who voted against the Federal Reserve Act of 1913.  He accurately portrayed the Federal Reserve as "the strangest and most dangerous advantage ever placed in the hands of a special privilege class by any Government that ever existed.  The system is private, conducted for the sole purpose of obtaining the greatest possible profits from the use of other people's money."  Sounds like the manner in which Mr. Potter wanted to run the Building & Loan upon the death of Peter Bailey, George's father, doesn't it? He proves that the Federal Reserve does not have the same motivation to lend, as do the smaller, private banking institutions.  In fact, Mr. Potter spends the entire movie trying to put George Bailey out of business.
     Would it surprise you to know that there are currently only 6,891 banks in the U.S. -- the fewest since 1934, when the federal government started keeping records.  This figure is down from about 18,000 in the mid-1980's, because small banks are disappearing.  Between 1984 and 2011, more than 10,000 banks, holding assets of less than $100 million faded from the scene.  Nearly 17% failed, while the rest entered into mergers or consolidations.  As George Bailey says, "This town needs this measly institution, if only so people have somewhere to go without crawling to Potter."  In 2014, our choices are rapidly disappearing.  The Federal Reserve is eliminating their competition, just as Mr. Potter tried to do.

     In the film, Frank Capra shows us what can happen to society when there is no longer healthy competition (in the person of George Bailey) to counter the Big Banks; when there are no longer Credit Unions or Savings and Loan companies.  Vice runs rampant, the people are angry and distrustful, and the law becomes corrupt.  Everyone is a renter; no one has a stake in their community.    George Bailey's small Building & Loan is a champion for private ownership of property, and is the antidote to Pottersville (the Federal Reserve's vise grip on finances).  George rightfully asks the Board of Directors, who must decide between Potter's management of the Building & Loan or his leadership ... "Doesn't it make them better citizens and better customers?"  In other words, shouldn't we be encouraging the citizenry to become financially successful, with the opportunity to grow their own wealth?
      But like Mr. Potter, the global Elite don't want to share the wealth; they want to control our level of success, and they are able to do it through vehicles like the Global Carbon tax, or the various trade agreements fostered by the United Nations.  They would not be moved, anymore than Potter was, by George Bailey's passionate plea for the average citizen who does "most of the working and paying and living and dying in the community." George disputes the image that Potter has of the average working citizen as "cattle".  Yet, that is exactly how the Elite see us.
     And if someone like George dares to stand up to them, then they are simply bought off, as Potter attempts to do with George, offering him a high-paying job, expense accounts, trips to Europe, and the ability to buy his wife nice things.  The sad thing is, if George had succumbed to the temptation, the $20,000 per year salary would have been subject to the manipulations of Potter.  As Congressman Lindbergh pointed out,   "They [the Federal Reserve] know in advance when to create panics to their advantage.  They also know when to stop panic.  Inflation and deflation work equally well for them when they control finance."  It's likely that Mr. Potter was more interested in destroying George than he was in growing his ability to accumulate wealth and status.
     And look at what the Federal Reserve has done to our abilities to increase our wealth.  Through inflation, the dollar has lost 90% of its value since It's A Wonderful Life was made in 1947, until 2013.  This deliberate control by the Fed makes it nearly impossible for anyone to gain wealth through hard work and saving.  But is that what we really want our lives to be about?
     That's why I love this movie so much!  Because in the end, we see that all of Potter's wealth and control of finances leaves him cold and embittered.  It's the George Bailey's of the world that are truly rich.  George realizes that his family and friendships, and the honest relationships he has made through his life's work are what really counts.
     And I love to think that perhaps Frank Capra was hinting at some future audit of the Federal Reserve in the final scene as George welcomes the Bank Examiner to complete his own audit.  And we must not dismiss the role that prayer played in turning George's life around.  It was the prayers of his wife and children, his mother and family, his friends, and his business associates that stopped Mr. Potter's evil schemes.  You see, God hates prolonged and unjust treatment, and tyrannical control by immoral men.  I know that It's A Wonderful Life is only a movie, and a sentimental one, at that.  But there are some foundational truths in the way it ended.  I believe that our prayers as a nation can effect the end of the stronghold of the Federal Reserve.  God is stronger than any cabal of global elite, and He is Sovereign over the affairs of men.  Maybe there's a reason that It's A Wonderful Life remains at the top of the film industry's all-time movie lists.  Isn't it time that we look to God and return to the values that George Bailey and his "old Building and Loan" represent?

For a concise comparison between Frank Capra's "It's A Wonderful Life" and the Federal Reserve, please take a look at the YouTube video, titled "It's A Wonderful Lie -- 100 Years of the Federal Reserve."

Proverbs 22:16    "Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty."



   
   
   

"Unbroken": A Life of Redeeming Faith

     I was one of the millions of people who eagerly awaited the release of the movie Unbroken.  Having read the novel by Laura Hillenbrand of the heroic life of WWII prisoner of war, Louie Zamperini, I was looking forward to seeing his powerful journey portrayed on screen-- from misfit kid, to Olympic track athlete, to tortured prisoner of war, to tormented husband, to at last finding peace and solace in his salvation through Jesus Christ.

Louie (Left) in a Japanese POW concentration camp

     The world needs inspirational movies like Louie's story.  If you've read the book, Unbroken, then you know what I am talking about.  It was a difficult book for me to read.  The sheer depravity and evil that Louie suffered at the hands of "The Bird" in the Japanese concentration camps was hard to digest.  Ms. Hillenbrand was able to capture the pain, and the wretchedness, and the sheer sadism that the prisoners experienced; with Louie, for some reason, becoming the main target of that hellish existence for two terrible years.
     It was hard for me to even contemplate that one man could inflict such torment upon another.  And it gave me a clearer understanding of why my father, a WWII veteran, who served in the Pacific, had a lifelong contempt for the Japanese.  I am not condoning his attitude or feelings, but I'm sure that the memories of hearing the stories firsthand from returning prisoners was something that was hard for him to let go.  It takes the redeeming act of Christ in one's life to overcome the effects of such evil, and that's how Louie was ultimately able to survive.
     His complete rescue did not come immediately upon his return home.  For a time, he endured alcoholism and marriage troubles.  Then on one fateful night, he attended one of a young Billy Graham's first revival meetings, and there he found the saving grace and love of God.  He was able to finally let go of the anger, the hatred, and the burden of his rage against his Japanese captors.  He was able to forgive them, and even personally made a trip to Japan to meet them face to face.  Only "The Bird" refused to see him.  At the end of the book, I was in tears for Louie -- for the agony and the pain that he had endured at the hands of a madman; for the camaraderie and loyalty that helped him and his fellow prisoners endure; for the faith that he found and which he shared for the rest of his life.
      It was this last phase of his life that was all but virtually ignored in the movie, Unbroken, directed by Angelina Jolie.  I applaud the actor who played Louie.  He mirrored the Louie that I imagined while reading the book; his character was reckless, feisty, determined, stubborn, and unbeatable.  The scenes in the concentration camps were realistic and haunting.  Louie's unbroken spirit came through loud and clear.  But I wanted more of him; I wanted the "whole" Louie to be exposed.  What's more, I wanted the audiences across the country to receive the real reason Louie was "unbroken".

Louie (on left), with Billy Graham

     Instead, what we got was a few sentences in white type, on a black screen at the end of the movie, that explained that Louie found God at a Billy Graham meeting and his faith lasted throughout the remainder of his life.  For the Director, Angelina Jolie, it was enough to "hint" at his faith.  "That is what we tried to get into the film. We wanted people to understand that it is not that you suddenly realize there is something beyond you in the world," Jolie told Christian Broadcasting Network.  "That man is not alone is something we wanted to say from early on in the raft to the prison camp, that there is this, whatever your faith, there is something there," she added. "And whether you choose to see it is your choice and when you come to it and when you feel it, it is there for you ... And so, it was very important to us that sometimes in the mother praying, sometimes in the sunrise, there is always what we would refer to as the light in the film," she said.
     But that does not do justice to Louie Zamperini, or to his faith.  What he believed in was not merely what one sees in the sunrise, or the providential appearance of food after tortuous days at sea on a raft.  Louie believed in what the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross did for him.  It allowed him to forgive his enemies; the forgiveness that was Christ's gift to him, he was now able to extend to those who had made his life hell.  In one interview on Youtube, Louie recounts how he fell to his knees at that Billy Graham revival, and asked God to forgive him for not keeping the promises he had made while on that life raft or in that concentration camp.  He asked Christ into his heart, and he said, within mere seconds he knew that he no longer craved alcohol; and that his anger and confusion over his captivity were all gone.  He was a new creation.
     That would have been a powerful testimony for the conclusion of Louie's life, yet it was decided not to include these years in the movie.  Why should I be surprised?  Hollywood would rather glorify the perversion of sex in a graphic preview of the movie Fifty Shades of Grey, than the grace and mercy that comes with accepting Jesus as your Savior.  And perhaps Hollywood is only able to see Louie as a hero when he overcomes sadistic physical enemies.  It is sad they don't see that overcoming spiritual enemies makes him a greater hero to those who need to hear his testimony.
     We know that Angelina Jolie was able to share the movie with Louie (on her laptop computer) in his hospital room before he died in July of this year.  We can only hope that he was able to share his faith with her, and that his story might impact her life, as it has everyone who has been touched by this brave and faithful man.  Rest in peace, Mr. Zamperini!  Your life is still reaching people for God's Kingdom.

You can also read Louie Zamperini's own account of his war years and the lessons his faith has taught him.  This book, titled "Don't Give Up, Don't Give In: Lessons from an Extraordinary Life", was delivered to the publisher just days before his death in July, 2014.  

1 Corinthians 10:13   "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

Oversharing vs. Overcoming

     It's not often that I find myself in complete agreement with a TV personality and commentator.  But I happened to catch a segment on CBS Sunday Morning, in which I thought, "This woman must have literally stepped into my mind.  Finally, someone has the nerve to go up against the sacred cow of social media.  She's my hero!"
     Radio host and personality, Faith Salie, presented a short, concise and accurate commentary on the word "Oversharing".  It was chosen by the Chambers Dictionary as its "Word of 2014."  You know how it is ... the self-designated guardians of the English language determine which word best represents the overall "sense" of a particular year.  Past winners have included "Chad", "Tweet", and "Unfriend".
     Ms. Salie is actually overjoyed that "Oversharing" was chosen, because she fears that otherwise, the younger generation may never have known what we older citizens recognize -- they are sharing "Too Much Information (TMI)" and overburdening us with the minutiae of their lives.  She goes on, in her commentary, to give us all the reasons that it is her biggest pet peeve:

     Chambers [Dictionary] defines "Oversharing" as being "unacceptably forthcoming with information about one's personal life."
     I recently conducted an unscientific survey of three teenagers -- who may or may not be related to me -- about the meaning of oversharing. My findings revealed nothing, which told me everything. Which is to say, those young folks were hard pressed to identify oversharing.
     They don't think it's weird when their friends Instagram photos of their new toenail polish, or tweet that they just saw a squirrel.
     It's beyond TMI -- oversharing is not just too much information; it's incessant sharing of non-information -- breaking news about your gluten-free diet complete with duck face selfies.
     We all want to feel special. To my knowledge, there are pretty much two ways to be interesting: One is to actually do interesting things, achieve the remarkable. The other way to be interesting is to be interested, curious about the world and about other people -- not relentlessly revelatory about yourself.
     And here is where Faith has won my heart!  She continues her rant:  As far as I can tell, both of these usually involve putting down your smartphone.  Hallelujah!  Someone else besides me thinks there is life beyond cell phones!  Sorry, I just had to throw my two cents worth in ... back to Faith:
     To be truly curious is to be humble, even discreet. ["Discreet," by the way, is a word. If you are under 20, please look it up.]
     Like all vices, oversharing has its consequences. Recent studies identify a malady called "text neck." The angle at which we ceaselessly check our smartphones creates a 60-lb. stress on our necks that can cause serious permanent damage. Also, someone might club you with your selfie stick.
     Not that I'm any good at it, but the beauty of meditation is that it liberates us from our own thoughts. Shouldn't we do the same favor for everyone else? Give them a break from our status updates?  And here is the genius conclusion that I want to shout from the rooftops:  By the way, everyone who thinks it is necessary, or cool, or that I might be interested in your every waking thought or deed ... you do know, don't you that Status updates don't actually give us status!
      Faith concluded her smart and savvy commentary with the following memory from times past:
Oversharing was around when I was a youngster.  It occurred in a thing called a diary, which was "a book" full of "paper" in which you wrote, using a "pen." You were the only one who saw it, and you overshared with yourself through more than 140 characters.

     Now, I know that not everyone will enjoy her witty sarcasm as I have.  In fact, it is not only the younger generation that I would direct to her commentary.  There are plenty of older, mature people who have somehow become hypnotized by the lure of technology and the "cool factor" of Facebooking, Tweeting, Instagramming, Instachatting, and whatever is the latest online app that has captured their attention.
     Sometimes I feel like I am the only one who sees how all this keeps us focused on ourselves; our eyes, our minds, and our actions are all centered around the next thing we can do, so that we can take a photo, and post it to all our social media sites, and watch how many people "like" us.  Does that sound pathetic to anyone else?
     The world seems obsessed with themselves!  And how can that be?  If they lifted their heads from their devices for just one day, wouldn't you think they would realize that the rest of the world seems to be spinning out of control?  That maybe, we need to figure out what the human race is doing wrong to reap such death, wars, starvation, and disease?  That maybe we need to recognize our need to be saved from ourselves?
     But as long as humanity continues to find solace in worshipping themselves, and craving acceptance from others, then the latest technology fad will provide the deliverance they seek -- a way to ignore the evil in the world, and escape any personal responsibility in perpetuating it or stopping it.  It's all about avoidance -- avoiding fear, avoiding accountability, avoiding moral decisions, and avoiding the consequences that will come at the end of this life.
     They will tell you they just want to "stay connected", and technology has allowed them to do that easier and faster.  I can't help but think that all this time spent updating their status on social media sites could have been better spent connecting with God -- that rather than "oversharing" their personal information with their fellow man, they could have been "overcoming" the barriers that keep them separated from their Savior.  His is the only acceptance we should be seeking.

Psalm 14:2    "The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God."

John 13:15

For I have given you an example, 

that you also should do just as I have done to you.

     Now that our celebration of Christ's birth has passed, how are we to observe the rest of His life?  In fact, how many of us view the remainder of his short time on this earth with the same reverence we give his Birth and Death?  Shouldn't we be just as interested in knowing the details of those years?  And if we count ourselves as His followers, how are we to live our lives?

     As we approach a New Year, perhaps this is a good time to take a fresh look at our Christian lives, and to discern if we are following His example, as His words in the featured Scripture instruct us to do.  To begin, Jesus gave us an example of how to live a life that is much different than the conventional way.  His values were different than the common man's in His time.  I then have to ask myself, "Are mine"?  Or do my principles and behavior mimic those of society?

     Jesus didn't value the things that the world esteemed ... in His day, it was large flocks of animals; positions of power and authority in the synagogues; wealth and material possessions.  He lived a simple life, first as a carpenter's son; and then when He embarked upon His mission for His Father, He lived a humble life, relinquishing material comforts in favor of trusting God for provision.  In truth, He did not love the things of this world. 

     Is it any different today?  Wealth, power and self-gratification are still primary motivators of most people.  If we are to follow His example, how many of us are willing to sacrifice the prestige of our careers; or the comfort of our material possessions?  Would you be willing to forego a distinguished academic career in favor of telling others about the Kingdom of God?  What about giving up your "me time", and the activities that you love -- those vacations, clubs and organizations that make you "feel good", and even that coveted position on the Church Board?  If we love the things that this world says are important, more than we are devoted to spending time to bringing others to the Messiah, then we are not following His example. 

     As we contemplate how He lived His life, we must recognize that He was willing to be rejected by the world.  That is a difficult example to follow -- especially since we all crave acceptance and love from others.  I think those of us who are members of the Body of Christ need to be particularly vigilant about how we represent Him; about how we present the example that we are to follow.  We must not become like the Pharisees who, while identifying with the common man, declared themselves experts on God's Word and His law.  They took pride in their religiosity; they knew the Scriptures well, but in their attempt to declare the authority of the Word, they added to it with oral traditions.  

      While I often comment on the lack of Bible knowledge among today's Believers, I want to make sure that we are all on the same page.  Yes, it is important to know what the Bible says and how God and Jesus instructed us to live our lives through their words.  But there are those who will never hear our words; no matter how many Scriptures we can recite.  So many more people will come to the Kingdom by how well we live those words!  The world must SEE us modeling His example, and then the Word has real meaning.  When they see us following His commandment to "love one another; as I have loved you ... By this all will know that you are My disciples...", then they will seek more knowledge of Him through the Word of the Bible.

     There is so much more about how Jesus lived His life that we should be practicing and imitating.  He healed the sick, cast out demons, and gave God the glory for all things in this life.  Do you know that we have been given the power and the authority to do all that He did?  While He was present on this earth He revealed to His followers the following truths:  1) He was preparing a place for us; that where He was going, we would go also.  2) That the Father was in Him; by believing in all Jesus did, we are seeing the works of the Father.  3)  Of all the works that Jesus did, through the Father, we would be able to do even greater works in His name.  4)  He would come to indwell us in the form of the Holy Spirit, who will teach us to remember all the things that Jesus commanded and taught.

     These principles and Truths are our inheritance and legacy from the Prince of Peace.  Do we recognize that?  Do we follow His example?  Or are we so awe-struck by His miraculous birth and sacrificial death, that we lose the significance of the rest of His life?  Think how much more we can offer the world on His behalf!  A life lived by following the example of Christ's entire life; one that is a full, vibrant, healing, bountiful, and separate life from the one lived by the world ... one that this very same world needs to see in each of us, every single day.  

      

     

In Honor Of Heroes

     The world needs heroes right now.  And today is an important anniversary for some great national heroes.  It was 70 years ago today that the legendary Battle of Bastogne ended.  Fought from December 20th - 27th, 1944, it was part of the historic Battle of the Bulge.
     I just finished re-watching the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers.  I am always overcome with emotion and pride that this group of average American men (some barely more than boys) endured the hell of war in a courageous battle against Evil.  While I believe all wars are fought with ulterior motives of Power and Financial Gain, this may be one in which there is no question that Satan was at the helm.
     At this particular time during WWII, Easy Company, part of the 101st Airborne Division, were tasked with holding the line at Bastogne against superior German artillery fire.  They accomplished their mission without winter clothing and with limited rations and ammunition.  I think, of the 10 episodes of the globally successful miniseries, the one titled "Bastogne" was the hardest to watch.
     But it wasn't hard to get attached to the characters in Band of Brothers.  They became an extraordinary group of battle-hardened veterans.  The men of Easy Company began as part of an experimental airborne regiment created in 1942 at Camp Toccoa, Georgia. Easy Company missions were to involve being parachuted from C-47 transport airplanes over hostile territory (Wikipedia).  They accomplished that directive as part of Operation Overlord, on D-Day.
     As one follows them through their battles in the Netherlands, the ill-fated Operation Market Garden, and on into Belgium, you cannot help but mourn the loss of each soldier.  They are no longer simply names, but real people with real stories of what war was like at close range.  As miserable and wretched as the miniseries portrayed those days and nights in the Ardennes forest near Bastogne, I doubt that it comes close to what those men actually experienced.
    But let me share a bit of the history from one man who was there, Colonel Edward Shames:  "[On the evening of December 17, 1944] we ended up in a 10-ton open tractor-trailer truck without a top, freezing our tails off. We had no ammo, no good clothing, and ended up in a place that we had no idea where it was. Some of the men even had no weapons, unbelievable, but very true. We thought we were cold that night, but we did not know that ride would become a Sunday excursion compared to what we were to experience later that month.
     When we offloaded the trucks that morning, I do not believe there was a single man that had the foggiest notion as to where we were. It was cold as hell, and very foggy. We saw hordes of our soldiers running towards us down the middle of the road, and watched them throw their weapons and equipment to the ground. They were yelling, Don't go up there! The Germans are going to kill everyone! Run as fast as you can! They are coming, run! These were American soldiers, both officers and men. I repeat, both officers and men. I was never more ashamed of my countrymen than at that moment, before or since. I will never forget that sight as long as I live.
     One good thing came about in those moments; we were able to retrieve some equipment, clothing, and ammo from what was being discarded, and there was a ton of it scattered all over the area. This material was being thrown away to lighten the load of these people, these hysterical people, so they could run faster. I refused to call them soldiers. As I recall, it was fairly early in the morning, and very foggy. You could hardly see more than 100 feet in front of you, if that. It was cold as hell, as I said before, and the enemy was very close; we felt it in our bones."
     The Facebook page for Easy Company, 506th Paratroopers Infantry Regiment of the 101at Airborne Division, gives this account:  Bastogne was to become the key to the battle. Control of its network of roads and railway systems was a critical and highly sought after military objective by both the Americans and the Germans. By the dreadful night of the 20th of December, the 101st Airborne found themselves completely surrounded at the besieged town of Bastogne along with the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion and elements of the 10th Armored Division. The 101st would form a defensive perimeter by digging foxholes into the hard and cold snow around the outskirts of the Bastogne forested area. The 101st held their position and beat back the determined and repeated attacks by overwhelming German forces. The "Battered Bastards of Bastogne" would hold the line.
     As we focus on the birth of our Savior, it is hard to reconcile that innocent child with the horrendous headlines proclaiming Evil around the world.  And this event of 70 years ago in a far-off war may seem like just a footnote in history.  But it is precisely because of the reasons those brave men found themselves in that frozen hell, that He came -- to bring Light to a dark world.  But the world refuses to embrace Him.  So just as the world witnessed the wickedness of the Holocaust, we are now observers of the heinous persecutions against Christians, Jews, and other innocents by a murderous horde of barbarians.  The peace that came after the "War that was to end all wars" only lasted 70 years.  Our hope now lies in the faith that our Savior will return to end this Evil for all time.  Until that happens, we can look upon the remarkable bravery of a small band of men who stood against the evil of their time, and did their part to stand in the gap.  We can celebrate the extraordinary actions of ordinary men, and honor their memory.  I honor the lives of the 18 surviving members of Easy Company, and the memories of their fallen brothers, on this, their 70th anniversary of "holding the line".  We salute you!

Proverbs 27:17    "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."