The Mark of the Cross: A Sign of Victory

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

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

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

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

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

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

What Constitutes A Traitor These Days?

     According to Webster's Dictionary, a traitor is: a person who is not loyal to his or her own country, friends, etc. : a person who betrays a country or group of people by helping or supporting an enemy.  Pretty serious accusation, wouldn't you say?  And treason, what is it's definition?  Again, according to Webster's, it is "the crime of trying to overthrow your country's government or of helping your country's enemies during war".

     I bring up these definitions because that is what The New York Daily News has called Senator Tom Cotton in, what I consider, is a libelous front page editorial.  It appears that Mr. Cotton, who spearheaded a group of 46 fellow Republican Senators, took his job seriously as a representative of the people of this great nation, and wrote a letter to the leaders of Iran, informing them of just how our Constitutional system works when it comes to ratifying any treaties -- in case they were thinking of pulling any end-around play in gaining U.S. approval for their nuclear proliferation.
      What is it about Tom Cotton's letter that has the political world in such an uproar?  First of all, I don't think it is actually his letter that is the problem.  After all, in essence, all he did was paraphrase Article II of the Constitution, by informing the Iranian regime that any deal cut with the President without Congressional approval would be subject to alterations by Congress and revocable by future presidents.  And for that, his actions are labeled "bordering on treason" by a former Democratic politician.  But does that simple letter meet the qualifications for the definition of treason?  It hardly appears to be an attempt to "overthrow the government", or of "helping our country's enemies during war".
     Like I said, the letter and its contents aren't the problem.  I believe the real problem is Tom Cotton, himself.  You see, Mr. Cotton is representative of a new breed of elected Congressmen who actually have the credentials, and the experience, to back their positions.  Mr. Cotton is the youngest member of the Senate and a graduate of Harvard and Harvard Law School.  But it is his military demeanor and record that I think offends the political establishment the most.  He served as an infantry officer in the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq in 2006, arguably one of the bloodiest periods of the war. 
      Like many of his military counterparts, he has returned home from serving his country on the battlefield, and has answered the call to serve in the Halls of Congress.  From my perspective, who better to lend their voice to the ongoing debate over our interventionist policies in foreign wars?  For me, whether he is a hawk or dove isn't the issue -- I would rather have someone involved in developing our country's policies , who has "walked the walk", than all the career politicians who are there because they can "talk the talk" better than the next guy, or have a bigger campaign chest.
      No, I believe the Establishment in D.C. is none too fond of the likes of Tom Cotton, who after facing our enemies on the front lines of war-torn Iraq, is none too intimidated by our domestic enemies, who would defeat us through diplomatic channels.  In fact, I don't think the Establishment knows how to deal with Tom Cotton, who is known for his discipline, and his fearless defense of his principles.  While at Harvard, he wrote a 92-page thesis on the Federalist Papers, showing his keen interest in how government works.  After the attacks on 9-11, he joined the Army and spent almost five years on active duty, including as a platoon leader on combat patrols in Baghdad.  He is also known for his unwillingness to compromise, even if it means going against party lines.  (You've got to admire him for that!)  And because of his bold and defiant schooling of the Iranian leadership, there is now an attempt to invoke the obscure Logan Act to censure him.
     What is the Logan Act?  Enacted in 1799, the Logan Act is a United States federal law that forbids unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments. It was intended to prohibit such negotiations after Pennsylvania state legislator Dr. George Logan traveled to Paris to enter into discussions with the French during a period of severe tensions between our two governments.  His actions were labeled "semi-negotiations", and although his efforts appeared to result in a positive avoidance of all-out war, it angered his political rivals who sought "to curb the temerity and impudence of individuals affecting to interfere in public affairs between France and the United States."  Sounds like the Logan Act was the result of political jealousy and was meant as a slap on the wrist of a political upstart.  Nothing has changed in American politics.
     The use of the Logan Act for political punishment is nothing new.  In 1803 the Act was procured against a private citizen who wrote a letter to a newspaper, advocating a separate U.S. nation in the west that would ally with France.  The subsequent purchase of the Louisiana Territory caused the separatism issue to disappear.  In 1941, it was suggested that the Logan Act could apply to former President Herbert Hoover because of his negotiations with European nations over sending food relief.   In 1975, Senators John Sparkman and George McGovern were accused of violating the Logan Act when they traveled to Cuba and met with officials there.  In 1984, Jesse Jackson traveled to Cuba and Nicaragua to negotiate for the exchange of political prisoners.  Again, the Logan Act was dusted off and implied.
      And I'm sure you all remember the little political trip that Nancy Pelosi took in 2007.  Representative Steve King introduced legislation that would prohibit then-Speaker of the House Pelosi from drawing on Federal funds to travel to foreign states which the U.S. deems to sponsor terrorism. King claimed that Pelosi's dialogue with the Syrian government violated the Logan Act. The amendment was not adopted, of course.
     So, does all this sound like political grand-standing?  Yes!  Political sour grapes?  Absolutely!  Senator Cotton and 46 other Senators did not violate the Logan Act.  There were no "negotiations"; just stated facts about the Constitution.  And to insinuate that he is a traitor to his country, or could be dangerously close to committing treason is absurd.  I, for one, am impressed with his forthrightness, his loyalty to the Constitution and his country, and his unflinching attitude in defending the American people from what he thinks is dangerous policy.
     I think we can actually go back to the original intention of the Logan Act ... "to curb the temerity and impudence" of men like Tom Cotton.  How dare he stand up for the American people and the United States!  May the courage he displayed in the midst of war carry him through the battles he will face in the belly of the beast that is Washington, D.C.  And may he remain steadfast in his determination to defeat those who would defeat us; and avoid the failure of being compromised as so many before him have done.  We, the American people, watch and wait for someone to defend us.

Proverbs 13:6   "Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked."

 
     

The Devil Is Loose In The World!

     I don't care if you are a Bible-believing Christian or not, how could anyone look at what is going on in the world and not recognize the influence of our greatest Enemy?  I'm not talking about your run-of-the-mill negative news stories about corruption, immorality, or greed.  That is the natural state of man's self-centeredness and sinful nature.  And don't get me wrong; I'm not trying to condone compromise in those areas.  No, I'm talking about the in-your-face examples that Satan and his demons are working overtime as they realize their time is short.

     Just consider these headlines -- all in one day -- on one news site!  The first is a story of two Alabama teenagers who face cruelty charges after they were accused of beheading three puppies with a machete and posting video on social media.  Does that sound like the actions of your average "rebellious" teens?  Who does such a cruel act and then gloats by making sure as many people as possible can witness such a barbaric act?  The Bible is full of sacrifices to demonic gods and false idols, and movies like Ouija, often tempt immature minds to seek the occult.  I have no idea what influenced these teens, but it is not of this world.
     The next article featured students in New York who engaged in a racially-charged brawl, using baseball bats and brass knuckles to attack each other, following a lunchroom dispute the day before.  Apparently, the school had contacted parents about the lunchroom altercation, warning them that it might escalate into violence outside of the school's jurisdiction.  Sure enough, the next day the violence erupted; students were injured, and expulsions resulted.  What happened to the ability of school's to be pro-active, rather than reactive?  Is it just accepted these days that racial tension is the norm, and violence cannot be prohibited?  Of course, the attitudes and preconceptions of our kids are modeled after what they see from leadership in their homes, communities, and the nation.  And, oh, how Satan loves to influence leadership and take advantage of personal character flaws.
     Perhaps one of the most hideous and confusing news stories was that of a neighborhood grandmother in Chicago -- a woman described as polite, compassionate, and generous -- who stuffed a sock into the mouth of her 7-month-old granddaughter, before striking her on the head several times, and cutting her throat with a power saw.  This is blatant demonic possession and influence!  What kind of sane person does this?  This is not the normal activity of a human being!  Only a person who hears the voice of Satan could ever commit such heinous deeds.  We may never know what set this woman on this path towards death, but I can guarantee you that it originated in the spiritual realm.
     But the news site wasn't limited only to stories within our own country.  And increasingly, around the world, we are seeing demonic activity centered around the abuse of children.  In Cairo, Egypt, a 12-year-old student was beaten to death, suffering head injuries and a brain hemorrhage, because he failed to do his homework!  Throughout the world, children are subjected to the sex slave trade; girls are kidnapped and forced into marriage by Islamic religious fanatics; and young boys are twisted into becoming ruthless killers and hate-filled ideologues, participating in brutal murders -- such as the story of the baby-faced executioner who looks to be no older than 12, and appears to kill an Israeli Arab who confesses to being a Mossad spy in the latest stomach-turning video released by ISIS.
     Like I said at the beginning of this essay, all of these stories appeared in one day on the same news site.  I cannot stress enough that we, as people -- and especially as Christians! -- need to be aware of the spiritually demonic influences that abound in the world today.  Satan knows his time is short; the Lord will not put up with such sin and unrighteousness and evil for much longer.  So spiritual warfare is in full swing, and the evidence is everywhere.  We can see it in the emotional and physical manifestations of the devil's hatred for God and mankind; we see it in the bitterness, the growing occultic activity, the absolutely inhuman actions of cruelty, and the general immorality and rebellion of civilized people.

     BUT, here's the caveat!  Don't let the overwhelming evidence of Satan's presence in the world dishearten you!  Nothing happens in this realm that God does not control.  Satan, being the narcissistic, self-glorifying entity that he is, thinks he is making great strides in accomplishing his purposes.  What he doesn't know is that God will use every one of his evil deeds for His own good purposes.  Just think about it ... the devil thought he had scored a victory by instituting Judas's betrayal, which led to the death of our Savior.  But God used that event to showcase His Supremacy and Sovereignty in the most spectacular and miraculous restoration of our Lord!
     It is our duty as followers of the risen Lord to be aware that the battle goes on -- that Satan will not give up trying to win the world until Jesus defeats him once and for all.  So be mindful of the schemes and strategies of your Enemy; of his program to overwhelm you with his spiritual power.  It is real and it exists!  While we have the weapons to recognize it and fight it, we must be aware and prepared to face it!

Psalm 44:5    "Through You we will push down our enemies; through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, nor shall my sword save me. But You have saved us from our enemies, and have put to shame those who hated us. In God we boast all day long, and praise Your name forever."
     

History and Idolatry: Where Will It End?

     Officials at the United Nation's are calling it a "war crime" ... the world's archeologists and historians are mourning the loss of world heritage sites.  And it's all because ISIS is set on a path of destruction.  The furor is over the recent demolition of ancient historical sites in the Middle East.

     It began last summer when the radical terrorists destroyed the tomb of the prophet Jonah in the ancient city of Nineveh, near Mosul.  It has continued with the latest attacks in the Assyrian city of Nimrud in northern Iraq, destroying the 3,000 year-old winged statues placed at the gates of the Palace of Ashurnasirpal.  (If you know your Biblical history, this city was named for Nimrod, the king who rebelled against God and was responsible for the building of the tower of Babel).
     Over this last weekend, ISIS began the destruction of the 2,000-year-old city of Hatra, where a temple to the Shamash sun god still stands more than 1,750 years after the Sassanian empire razed the Mesopotamian city.   ISIS were also seen carrying away ancient artifacts.  And in the last few days, they have set their sites on Khorsabad, the ancient capital of Assyria built by King Sargon II shortly after he came to power in 721 B.C., and abandoned after his death in 705 B.C.  It features a 24-meter thick wall with a stone foundation and seven gates.  Shortly after the unexpected death of Sargon in battle, the capital was shifted a short distance south to Nineveh.  The sculptured stone slabs that once lined the palace walls are now displayed in museums in Baghdad, Paris, London and Chicago.

     So what is the significance of these ancient cities to the religious fighters, ISIS?  The official reasoning for all the destruction of these ancient sites is the militant group's plan to rid its territory of symbols they say promote idolatry.  In early 2015, they announced their intention to destroy many ancient artifacts, because they are graven images or are otherwise un-islamic, and they have destroyed thousands of books and manuscripts in Mosul's libraries.
     In February 2015, ISIL destroyed Akkadian monuments in the Mosul Museum, and then came the attack on Nimrud, as they bulldozed its archeological site on the basis that they were blasphemous -- which one attacker filmed declaring, "These ruins that are behind me, they are idols and statues that people in the past used to worship instead of Allah. The Prophet Muhammed took down idols with his bare hands when he went into Mecca. We were ordered by our prophet to take down idols and destroy them, and the companions of the prophet did this after this time, when they conquered countries.”
     The first thing that comes to mind is the similar contempt that Christianity has for idolatry.  YHWH commanded the Israelites to worship only Him, and when they failed (as they did so many times when they turned to idol worship), it was God's wrath that was poured out on men and nations. And this where I see the difference.  Throughout the history of Christianity, it was God who destroyed the idols.  Here are just a few examples:
Ezekiel 30:13:  This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "'I will destroy the idols and put an end to the images in Memphis. No longer will there be a prince in Egypt, and I will spread fear throughout the land.
Micah 5:13:  [And in that day, says the Lord]:  I will destroy your idols and your sacred stones from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands.
Zephaniah 2:11: The Lord will be awesome to them, for He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth;
      What one must recognize is that man builds the idols, but it is the power of God who destroys them.  Just as when the prophet Elijah defeats the prophets of Baal, it is the power of God that gives him the victory.  What I am seeing in Iraq, is ISIS determined to promote a fiercely purist interpretation of Sunni Islam, in defiance of Iraq's majority Shi'ite Muslims.  Is it really about honoring their god, or is it about rejecting the religious shrines of their sectarian rival, and the holy sites shared by Christians and Jews in the area? It appears as if they want to wipe any trace of other religious influences from Iraq in their goal of establishing the Islamic Caliphate.  What better way than to destroy ancient artifacts that bear witness to the diversity of faiths throughout history?
     But here's my question ... if they are trying to establish a fundamentalist identity and erase the historical proof of other religions, what is to stop them from distributing their destruction to other "shrines" in Israel, Europe, and the West?  Haven't they declared that the Caliphate will dominate the world?  Will they be the ones to try and institute a One World Religion?  It's obvious that is what they desire.
     I also find it ironic that our Bible predicts the destruction of Babylon and her idolatrous ways at the end of days.  The connections between radical Islam; the destruction of ancient idols and shrines in Nineveh, Nimrud, Hatra, and Khoursabad; and the mention of Babylon, which was begun by Nimrod cannot be denied.  Is this just the beginning of God's judgment upon the earth for the centuries of idolatrous worship of foreign gods?  Will ISIS clear the way for the Anti-Christ to reveal himself, by using their religion to establish himself --- and then when they have served their usefulness, he destroys them, and declares himself God?
     I don't know what it all means, but it sure seems as if it's all connected.  History is being destroyed before our very eyes, and I have to wonder, when and where will it end?  I feel God's hand in it, and the only thing I know for sure is, that whatever happens, He will be glorified.  All the shrines and false idols and false religions will not hinder Him!

Isaiah 45:20   "Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save."


   
   

Where Are We Headed?

   

     I don't know if you can identify, but there are days that it just seems too much ... too much to cope with; too much to look at; and too much to bear.  I never would have imagined that I would see such public displays of barbarity-- crucifixions, beheadings, mass murders -- as I have seen coming from religious fanatics in the Middle East.  Nor could I have imagined people losing their businesses because of their religious faith in this country; or the very image of who we are as a country turned upside down.  Everything from our ability to make a living, to feeling free to express our faith, to our right to speak out against injustices is now at stake.
     I read ridiculous stories of women losing their gym memberships because of violating a "no judgment policy" for complaining of having to share a restroom with a transgender man.  Then there are all the really serious stories of the breakdown in ethics, morality, and human dignity -- and it is happening in all spheres of our existence; from our governing bodies, to our schools, to our personal lives.  It's as if there are no longer any rules; anything goes, as long as you don't get caught! And tolerance is the byword of the culture -- unless you disagree with their agenda.
     Open up any newspaper, magazine, or website and you are inundated with nightmarish stories.  We, as a society, are so hungry for good, wholesome news, that any act of kindness or compassion becomes a viral success on the internet -- millions of hits by people who need to know that the human race is still capable of showing charity to another human being.
     Have you tried having a serious conversation about the state of the world with anyone lately?  I get remarks like, "Oh, I just don't know what the big deal is ... why should we care about that?"  Sometimes I even get the statement, "Nothing has really changed in the world ... it's been like this for centuries; everything will turn out alright."  Don't you just want to shout, "No, it's not the same ... and if we don't stop where the world is headed, everything WON'T be alright!!!"
     I just wish I could make people realize that there are pivot points in the history of mankind.  Things happen that either propel societies and civilizations to new and greater heights of creativity that benefit man; and which include empathy and mercy towards each other --- OR events occur that stifle and suppress the innovation and resourcefulness of men, which in turn seems to result in plunging humankind to the very depths of indifference and cruelty.  Which era do you think we are in today?
     There will be people who will tell us that we are making too much of things ... that we are evolving as a society and culture; we are more inclusive and less intolerant; and we are entering a new cycle of vision and enterprise in "the computer age".
     Unfortunately, I see far too much negative impact from our so-called "evolution"; much more than any positive effect.  It's true that in the recent past, the Industrial Revolution brought mind-blowing conveniences to mankind; inventions that relieved hard, menial work and raised the quality of living for millions world-wide.  But the natural evolution of that period in history has led to the Technology Revolution, and I honestly fear what we are evolving towards.
     A company in Sweden has micro-chipped its employees for the sake of convenience (so they say); and Ray Kurzweil, the famous futurist and Director of Engineering at Google predicts that 2045 is the magic year in which we will be uploading our entire minds to computers.  That says nothing of plans to place computers/robots in the role of your doctor and pharmacist; your lawyer; store clerks; soldiers (that terrifies me!); and babysitters.  This stuff is no longer part of science fiction stories or conspiracy theories ... major developers like Foster-Miller, who has designed the MAARS (Modular Advanced Armed Robotic) system for use in Iraq; and Google who has plans to introduce automated cars, both point towards a future where computers replace people.  As of 2013, it was estimated that 1.2 million industrial robots were working worldwide — that's one robot for every 5,000 people, according to Marshall Brain, founder of How Stuff Works and author of Robotic Nation.
     But, it's not just technology that is streaming us towards a future that lacks the human imprint.  Even our interactions, the structure of our families, and our faith all point to a decrease in the human element.  Interpersonal feedback -- whether between two friends, or between citizen and government -- is no longer done face to face.  It's all done through a text or email.  What's more, the culture is driving us towards a new definition of "family"; one that is often-times created in a laboratory, because it can't be done naturally by humans.  And then there is our faith.  It has been mythologized, stripped of its historic authenticity, and reduced to an "as-needed" basis -- our lives are all about self-worship.  The commandments to "love your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength; and your neighbor as yourself" just don't apply to our self-centered world.
     So, how much longer can this ol' world continue on the path we are on today?  Do you think that the barbarity of ISIS will just go away?  Do you think that Technology will advance the human state?  Do you think that we will just wake up one morning, and the world will have returned to a desire for moral absolutes and personal freedom to live our lives as we choose?
     Think about it ... it's all about control, don't you think? Mankind has mandated climate control, population control, and gun control.  The sense of "true freedom" is slipping through our fingers.  And not only that, we are losing the sense of what it means to be an individual, a unique creation, and to be respected for our differences.  Maybe the history of mankind has always been this volatile and tenuous.  But this is what the deterioration of man's humanity feels like to me ... in my lifetime.  I know that God is ultimately in control, and believe me, that is what sustains me.  I remain focused on Him, and my strength is renewed daily in the knowledge of Him.  He is my comfort on the days when it is all too much.
   
Proverbs 14:12     "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."

The Modern Era of Christian Martyrs

     If you are interested in the history of the Christian faith, then you are no doubt familiar with Foxe's Book of Martyrs.  Published early in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, (1563) and only five years after the death of the Roman Catholic Queen Mary I, Foxe's Acts and Monuments of these Latter and Perillous Days, Touching Matters of the Church (this was the original title) was an affirmation of the English Reformation in a period of religious conflict between Catholics and the Church of England.

     Although never considered an impartial account of the Protestant Reformation, the book was nevertheless a testimony of Christian martyrdom, and has survived over four centuries to represent the  unmitigated faith of Christians in the face of persecution and death.  The stories of the martyrs begin with the Apostles Peter and Paul; the former who was crucified upside down because he felt he was unworthy to be crucified as His Lord; and the latter who was beheaded on the orders of the Emperor Nero.  We read of the deaths of all the early apostles and disciples (except for John, who nevertheless survived being thrown into a cauldron of burning oil); all were either crucified, stoned, or beheaded.
     The book details the deaths of other Christian martyrs over the next millennia and a half, and it underwent several editions; the latest being the British Academy's funding for a new critical edition in 1984, completed by 2007.  And although the historiography of Foxe's Book of Martyrs is quite valuable, have you ever wondered if such venerated Christian martyrdom is a thing only encountered in the ancient past?  If so, consider this fact:  The ancient nation of Iraq was home to 1.5 million Christians just 10 years ago.  Their number is now under 150,000.
     With that astonishing reality in view, I invite you to read a book by author Tom Doyle, titled Killing Christians: Living the Faith Where Its Not Safe To Believe.  Jim Denison, of ChristianHeadlines.com wrote a meaningful tribute to his friends, Tom and JoAnn Doyle, who are longtime missionaries to the Middle East.  According to the article, Tom's book, Dreams and Visions: Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World?, tells the incredible story of Muslims worldwide who are meeting Jesus in miraculous ways, including visions and dreams.  As a result of such miracles, more Muslims have come to Christ in the last 15 years than in the previous 15 centuries.
     But now, Tom has written a new book, titled Killing Christians, in which he tells the other side of the story ... the incredible stories of Christians who are willing to die for their faith in the face of unprecedented persecution in the modern world.  Here are just a few examples of their stories:  A believer smuggles Bibles into Somalia by hiding beneath decaying corpses in coffins.  A Christian in Syria, speaking to an underground church, says of their shared faith, "This will cost us our lives.  We will die for this."  He and his friends have already purchased a plot of ground in which to be buried when they are martyred.
     In Baghdad, a Muslim comes to Christ through the kindness of an American soldier who shared his faith and gave him a Bible.  A Christian in Saudi Arabia struggles to understand why her friend Mina was martyred while she was miraculously spared.  She concludes: "Too often, even Christians forget that our faith is not primarily for this life.  It is for the life to come.  We who are still here are the ones who have been left behind.  Our real life has not even begun, but for martyrs like Mina, it has."
     We Western Christians often fail to recognize that Christianity originated in the Middle East amid such persecution.  As a recent CNN article pointed out, "Christianity was born in Bethlehem, in what's now the West Bank. It took root among people like the Assyrians, who flourished in ancient Mesopotamia. It soon found a home in places like modern-day Turkey, Iraq, modern-day Iran, and Syria."  That persecution is as real today as it was when our faith was first founded; and threatens to extinguish it just the same.

     While martyrdom for Western Christians is not even on our radar, we must accept its reality in the rest of the world, and the very real possibility that we will soon face our own crisis of faith.  Although the growth of the Church has leveled off in the West, it is exploding elsewhere in the world; and all amidst the extraordinary stories of Christian martyrdom at the hands of hate-filled extremists like ISIS and Boko Haram.  Rapes, beheadings, and kidnappings are all being carried out against Believers in the Middle East, and a new generation of martyrs is being documented.
     As author Boyle concludes, "Jesus' message of love and reconciliation thrives in a climate where hostility, danger, and martyrdom are present.  Persecution and the spread of the gospel are as inseparable as identical twins...".  So we don't need to read the historical accounts of martyrs such as those found in The Book of Martyrs.  If we need inspiration to strengthen our faith, we have to go no further than the stories of modern martyrs in the Middle East.  Their blood mingles with the blood of the ancient martyrs, as they cry out, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?" Let us add our prayers to their cry, and call on the Lord to return for the sake of us all!

1 Peter 4:16    "But don’t be ashamed if you suffer as one who belongs to Christ. Rather, honor God as you bear Christ’s name. Give honor to God."

Revelation 4:10

"the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne..."

Art by Matt Philleo

     This Scripture is taken from a description the Apostle John gives of a vision he had in Heaven.  In the vision he is seeing the very throne room of Heaven, and upon the throne sits the Lord Almighty (Omnipotent), "Who was, and Who is, and Who is to come".  What a wonderful picture of the dual character of both Father and Son!  

     What I love about Scripture is the depth of the Word!  There are several underlying lessons within this short verse.  The immediate understanding of this particular passage is the image of the 24 elders bowing to the throne and casting their crowns before the throne ... or literally at Jesus's feet.  Although scholars have come up with various interpretations as to who these 24 elders are, to me it is clear that they represent the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 Apostles.  Together they form the Church of Jesus Christ.

     If you have done a serious study of Romans 11, you will find the Apostle Paul laying out God's concise plan for bringing both the Jewish faith and the Christian faith together to form His unified Body.  This body of elders in the throne room of God are truly the fathers of our faith!  And no one can dispute their right to wear crowns.  

     Before I go any further it is important that we understand the context with which this use of "crowns" is used.  The Greek word translated “crown” is stephanos (the source for the name Stephen the martyr) and means “a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor generally.” Used during the ancient Greek games, it referred to a wreath or garland of leaves placed on a victor’s head as a reward for winning an athletic contest. As such, this word is used figuratively in the New Testament of the rewards of heaven God promises those who are faithful.

     In fact, the Apostle Paul uses the allegory of "running the race" and "winning the prize" many times throughout his epistles.  And 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, he echoes this ancient idea of a wreath, or crown, being placed on a victor's head:  Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.  Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

     None of us can dispute that these 24 elders -- these faithful men of the Lord's Church -- deserve their crowns.  They are the royalty of our faith and their crowns certainly symbolize the honor due them.  But what about us?  Did you know that we, too, will receive crowns?  

     I know it is difficult for some Christians to accept this concept.  They view the seeking of crown's as a Christian seeking rewards for works.  But that is never expressed in the Bible.  Paul is very specific in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 ... we should want to receive the prize of faithfulness; there is no pride involved in our desire to be faithful.  He explicitly tells us, "Run so you may obtain it[the prize; the crown]!

     In fact, the Bible names the crowns that are ours for running the race and being faithful:

1.  The Imperishable Crown:  As previously shown, in 1 Corinthians 9:25, Paul says:  Every athlete exercises self-control in all things.  They do it (run) to receive a perishable wreath (crown), but we an imperishable.

2.  The Crown of Rejoicing:  (1 Thessalonians 2:19) “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?

3.  The Crown of Righteousness:  (2 Timothy 4:8) “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

4.  The Crown of Glory:  (1 Peter 5:4) “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”

5.  The Crown of Life:  (Revelation 2:10) “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

     It should be apparent in reading these passages that the crowns we receive are not from our works, but come because of our faithfulness to Christ, and through His intercession for us.  It is Christ in us who enables us to run the race and claim the prize.  Therefore, please do not shy away from seeking your crowns!  They are priceless and a worthy inheritance for a life lived in grace, perseverance and faith.

     Finally, the last image we get from Revelation 4:10 is that of the casting crowns before the throne; of effectively casting them at Jesus's feet.  I believe that this image expresses what we will feel when we are standing before Him.  Whatever crowns we have won because of our faithfulness here on earth will seem insignificant in the reality that we are standing before the King!  Just as the elders did, we will bow in humble and adoring worship at his feet, and offer our crowns to Him.  Only He is worthy of all honor and glory!  And regardless of how we lived out our faith on earth, or how many crowns we deserved, those priceless crowns will seem such a small offering; but it will be the best gift we can give Him.  He will bestow the garland of victory upon our heads, but they are His for the keeping ... He is the true Victor in our race, and eternal life with Him is the prize!

     

Cyberbullying: The Evil Behind The Internet

     I have long railed against the impersonal and self-centered aspects of the Internet ... Facebook, Tweeting, InstaGram, and all the other self-aggrandizing forms of self-promotion.  With the ability to avoid face-to-face contact, the internet has led a whole generation of young people into a world where they feel powerful through their words, but without having to accept the responsibility of harming another.
     Well, that's about to change for some college boys who decided to attack the wrong young woman.  They weren't counting on crossing paths with her dad ... her famous dad, who knows a thing or two about squaring off against opponents ......  Here's the story:

     Baseball legend Curt Schilling penned a scathing column Sunday targeting a group of individuals who sent sexually derogatory tweets to his daughter over the weekend.  It started when Schilling tweeted a simple congratulatory message to his 17-year-old daughter Gabby for getting accepted into college.  Moments later, Schilling and Gabby’s Twitter accounts were flooded with vulgar, sexually-explicit messages.  Not one to let these kinds of things go unanswered, Schilling wrote the following answer to his daughter's bullies on his blog:

    If you are a dad this is something you well know already, if you are a dad with a daughter this is likely to get your blood going. If you are a boy, or young man, or husband, and you haven’t experienced children yet, or haven’t had a daughter, it’s next to impossible for you to understand.
     My daughter, my one and only daughter, has worked her a** off playing sports the past 9-10 years. She’s loved it, and I’ve loved being able to both watch, and coach along the way.  Last week we were told she’d been accepted to college and will begin playing softball there next year.  Clearly, an incredibly proud day.
     And [then] tweets with the word rape, bloody underwear and pretty much every other vulgar and defiling word you could likely fathom began to follow. Now let me emphasize again. I was a jock my whole life. I played sports my whole life. Baseball since I was 5 until I retired at 41. I know clubhouses. I lived in a dorm. I get it. Guys will be guys. Guys will say dumb crap, often. But I can’t ever remember, drunk, in a clubhouse, with best friends, with anyone, ever speaking like this to someone…
     My daughter comes to me beyond upset. She didn’t do anything, she never said anything, yet she’s now receiving personal messages with guys saying things to her, well let’s just say I can’t repeat and I’m getting beyond angry thinking about it. Her boyfriend, a wicked good hockey player who has a fighting streak I absolutely love is going out of his mind to be let off his leash but unlike the athletes tweeting this stuff he understands the potential consequences of his actions and knows the time and place will hopefully come when he can make it right on his own terms.
     These boys have yet to understand one of life’s most important lessons. In the real world you get held accountable for the things you say and if you are not careful that can mean some different things...
     This is a generation of kids who have grown up behind the monitor and keyboard. The real world has consequences when you do and say things about others. We’re at a point now where you better be sure who you’re going after.

If I was a deranged protective dad I could have been face to face with any of these people in less than 4 hours. I know every one of their names, their parents, where they go to school, what they do, what team they are on, their positions, stats, all of it. I had to do almost nothing to get ANY of that information because it is all public. 
     What part of talking about a young woman, my daughter or not, makes you even consider the possibility that this is either funny or makes you tough?
     .... The ignorance and pathetic lack of morals or of any integrity is astounding.  These aren’t thugs, tough guys or bad a**es; these aren’t kids who’ve had it rough; they aren’t homeless or orphans; these are pretty much ALL white, affluent, college attending children, and I mean children.
     A mistake is tweeting once and saying “damn, I’m an idiot” and taking it down. These guys? They’re making conscious choices to cyberbully an amazing and beautiful young woman on the internet, that none of them know by the way, because they don’t like her dad or they somehow think saying words you can teach a 5 year old is tough? Cool? Bad a**? Something I am missing? My right hand to God I promise all of you that tweeted this stuff, the friends around you saying “dude that’s hilarious” and “OMG that’s awesome”? Those people? Inside they’re actually thinking “what an a**#$!Q” and “holy crap what a piece of trash”, no matter what they say to your face.
     Ladies? If any of these guys is your boyfriend you’re in for a real rude awakening.   Lastly? Not one of these gutless clowns would even think of saying a word of ANY of this in person. 

Curt

     Now, the rest of the story is that both men were identified by name; one lost his job as a ticket seller at Yankee Stadium over the incident.  The other, a college student, was suspended from school and denounced by his fraternity.  Was this enough to teach them, or anyone else of the "internet generation", a lesson?  Probably not.  You see, our kids have grown up in a cyber world, where nothing seems for real, and they think they are anonymous.  Therefore, the consequences of their actions are never realized.  They don't have to face the person on the other side of the computer screen.  As a result, they are in danger of never developing compassion for their fellow humans.  They don't see the tears, or the shame or humiliation.  They aren't aware of the hurt that is generated from their cruel and ugly remarks.
     When a society is no longer able to perceive the condition of being human, or to sympathize with another human being, then you will see more and more cases like this ... a pack of rabid wolves scouring the internet for their next victim to devour.  Kudos to Curt Schilling for reversing the tables, and pulling the masks off these bullies.  I just wish there were more like him to come to the rescue!

Ephesians 4:29    "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
     
   

The Devil Unleashed ... Again!

     Who is really behind the decision to re-release Adolph Hitler's spurious publication, Mein Kampf? And who would possibly think that it is a good idea to re-introduce a book to a new generation that is on the brink of world war; a book that was the genesis for an ideology that resulted in over 6,000,000 deaths in concentration camps across Europe?

     Here are the purported facts, as written in an article at The New York Post ... The copyright for the 1924 Nazi tome is now held by the state of Bavaria in Germany, but will expire at the end of 2015.  In January of 2016, Germany’s Institute for Contemporary History will publish a new, heavily annotated version of the Führer’s “My Struggle” autobiography.   

     The Institute's Deputy Director was quoted as saying, "I understand some immediately feel uncomfortable when a book that played such a dramatic role is made available again to the public ... On the other hand, I think that this is also a useful way of communicating historical education and enlightenment — a publication with the appropriate comments, exactly to prevent these traumatic events from ever happening again."

     Here's my visceral reaction: Uncomfortable doesn't even come close to describing how I feel about this book being released to the public.  And to say that it might be "useful to communicate historical education and enlightenment" is simply beyond belief!  I could understand wanting to communicate the diabolical actions of the Nazi regime and "enlighten" the world some 70 years later as to the crimes and wickedness that emanated from Germany under Hitler's dictatorship.  If that is truly your goal, wouldn't it best be served by releasing the millions of photos of Holocaust victims, or publishing a book by the remaining survivors of the inhuman atrocities perpetuated on Jews, Gypsies, Homosexuals, and "Undesirables"?  Is reprinting "the Bible of National Socialism" really the best way to convey Hitler's demonic influence over the nation of Germany?  And who will be making the comments, and from what perspective will they be "appropriate"?
     I'm sure I don't need to remind you that Neo-Nazism is on the rise, not only in Germany, but across Europe.  Furthermore, the concept of Nationalism is once again gaining popularity -- the very instrument Hitler used to gain power.  In fact, the modern devotees of Hitler's neo-Nazi, racist ideology have embraced Mein Kampf  for some time now.  So why give them a greater opportunity to revive the heinous movement?
      I tend to agree with Levi Salomon, a spokesman for the Jewish Forum for Democracy and Against Anti-Semitism, who said, "I am absolutely against the publication of ‘Mein Kampf,’ even with annotations. Can you annotate the devil? Can you annotate a person like Hitler?  This book is outside of human logic."
     For those who would say that we need to remember the evil in order to reject it and spurn it, I would say this:  Yes, we should never forget it, because to do so dishonors the victims.  But there is a fine line between remembering in order to strengthen those who survived the horrors; and to remind us of how important it is to never let this happen again.  But, there is something that is potentially alarming about this new publication.  The original book was 700 pages long; the reprint will be 2,000 pages long, containing criticisms and analysis.  This does not sound like a condemnation to me.  Whenever you open the door for "academics" to theorize and comment, you take the chance that Mein Kampf can be spun and re-invented to represent a "softer" side of National Socialism and anti-Semitism.  That is not to mention that it will be, effectively, a guidebook to the theories that led to the Holocaust.
     Remember, that before the Holocaust, the modern world had no picture of what such evil looked like.  In fact, when Mein Kampf  was first published, the Western nations dismissed it and ignored it.  That was a mistake.  But to promote it now -- and that is what I think will be the ultimate result -- is also a mistake.  There are too many factions around the world that are embracing the Nazi's ideological theories, and I fear that this book could be useful towards furthering their goals.
     Make no mistake!  It has always been Satan's plan to destroy God's chosen people; he tried to pollute the DNA of the Israelites to keep Jesus from being born; he tried to eliminate the Jewish race through the designs of Hitler, his emissary, during the Holocaust -- and he came so close that perhaps a second release of Mein Kampf  can finish the job.
     Hitler's political theories of "Masters" and "Slaves", "False Religions", and his resultant goal of annihilating the Jewish race should not, and cannot, be unleashed upon the world.  Can the nations not see that if we open that Pandora's Box again, that we will not be able to close it?  Surely sanity will reign and the devil will not be unleashed once again upon the world!

Ecclesiastes 12:14    "For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil."


       

"Birth Tourism" vs Illegal Immigration: What's The Difference?

   

     Does anyone else see the irony in the latest actions of the Department of Homeland Security?  Earlier this week DHS made a big show of sweeping raids on organizations that allegedly enable foreign women to pay to obtain U.S. visas under false pretenses; all for the intention of giving birth, so their child automatically receives U.S. citizenship.
     Follow me in my thought processes ... First of all, let's be clear -- it is not technically illegal to come to the U.S. to give birth.  (The ethical or moral entitlement to that right is up for debate).  The problem that DHS has is that the visas were allegedly obtained "under false pretenses", right?  NPR reports that Claude Arnold is the lead investigator for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He says the agency is looking at three organizations that advertise online to wealthy Chinese women who may want to give birth in the U.S.
     "[The organizations] facilitate their travel," said Arnold. "They make arrangements for lodgings here, their medical care, etc. So that [their clients] can have children born here as United States citizens."  In affidavits filed for search warrants, federal authorities said that the businesses charged women up to $60,000 for coaching, facilitating travel to the U.S., lodging, hospital expenses, even nanny support.  Did you note the careful wording?  These women are being "coached" to lie in order to enter the U.S. to receive citizenship for their children.
     Now consider a report by a Rio Grande Valley TV station in Texas, plus this investigative article on The Blaze ... Border patrol agents along the Texas border have been finding alleged "cheat sheets" being used by apprehended illegal immigrants attempting to stay in the country and avoid deportation.  Supposedly, the "rehearsed answers" are common among a large majority of the illegals and are supplied by the human traffickers who charge from $5,000 to $8,000 to ensure passage into the country.
     Here are a couple of examples of the answers to questions by U.S. authorities:
Why did you abandon your country?
•  Because of poverty and misery.
•  You’re in fear of your government and afraid to live in your country.
•  You’re afraid of extortion from Maras [MS-13 gang].
Do you have family in the United States?  Where does your father live?
•  I don't know him, or even his name.
     The bottom line is that many who cross the border use the “credible fear” claim, saying they are afraid to return home, and knowing that they will obtain a notice to appear in immigration court to appeal to stay in the country.  And you guessed it ... they never show for the court date.
     This is just one more example of a conflated plan to send a message to immigrants that the border is wide open.  In fact, the incredible surge of immigrants over the last two years or so, appears to be from a perception that there was a ‘new’ U.S. ‘law’ that grants a ‘free pass’ or permit (referred to as “permisos”) being issued by the U.S. government to female adult other-than-Mexicans traveling with minors and unaccompanied children.
     And why wouldn't they think that, given this statement by Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson:  "Almost all agree that a child who crossed the border illegally with their parents, or in search of a father or a better life, was not making an adult choice to break our laws, and should be treated differently than adult violators of the law."  This is a direct quote attributed to Secretary Johnson in a story about a new two-year extension of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy published by Diario El Mundo in El Salvador.  (As reported by the website Hot Air in 2014).
     But let me ask you this ... isn't the very perception put forth by the Secretary of the DHS illegal?  How is the "coaching" on how to answer Border Patrol agents any different than the "coaching" that the "birth tourism" moms received?  And weren't the influx of immigrant children lured here under "false pretenses"? Furthermore, the "birth tourism" industry allegedly promises medical care, lodging and other amenities.  What about illegal immigrants receiving drivers licenses, Medicaid, and other free entitlements --- all paid by American taxpayers!
     So, I guess I'm just a little confused ... Why is it such a transgression against U.S. law for the wealthy "Birth tourism moms"; and their actions are labeled "illegal"; yet the DHS turns a blind eye towards thousands of immigrant children who cross the Southern border illegally; and they are granted amnesty?  Does it feel like a shell game to anyone else?

Proverbs 10:9    "Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out."