The Immigrant Experience: Yesterday and Today

     This is a topic that has been on my mind for several days, so I'm going to just jump in.  Immigration has been a hot button subject in our national conversation for some time, and is sure to be at the center of the Presidential election debates in the coming months.  For sure, it is quite controversial.  But immigration has been at the heart of the history of our great nation since the beginning, and has contributed immensely to our success. So I wanted to take a look at how and why our opinion of it today is so contentious.

     We often look back on our history of immigration through the lens of nostalgia and view it in a sentimental light ... We are all familiar with poet Emma Lazarus's invitation engraved on the Statue of Liberty:  “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”  Those words have inspired millions of people to make the dangerous journey to our shores.  I think it is important for us to recognize both the similarities and the differences in how immigration has impacted our nation.

     First the similarities:  The last great wave of immigrants to our country happened between the 1890s and 1920s and consisted primarily of Eastern Europeans.  Today's surge of immigration began in the 1960s and is still growing strong.  Most of these new immigrants hail from Mexico, and Central and South America.  Surprisingly, the percentage of foreign-born in the U.S. has not changed much in the last 100 years.  It was 13.6% in 1900 and 13% today. 

     Like the immigrants of the past, today's newcomers often enter the country with low skill levels, unable to speak English, and work at low-paying jobs and for long hours.  In both eras, the jobs often involved manual labor, or performing housekeeping duties and child-care for upwardly mobile Americans.  

     As in the past, today's immigrants usually live in ethnic neighborhoods, and due to their low economic level, multiple families may live together.  There are those today who will say that the immigrants of the past were viewed as "white", and more readily accepted.  But southern European Italian and eastern European Jew immigrants a century ago were not viewed as white in the same way that people with origins in northern and western Europe were; they were often called "mongrel" races.  They were discriminated against as inferior to natural-born Americans, as many are today. 

     Additionally, maintaining political, social, economic, and cultural ties to the home country is shared between the immigrant populations of yesterday and today.  Sending money back home and frequent trips to "the motherland" have been common for the last hundred years.

      While realizing that the immigrant experience is much the same today as it was a century ago, there are some stark contrasts in the effect that immigration has had upon our country.  First of all, in 1910, there were 13.5 million immigrants in the U.S. – in 2010, there were a whopping 40 million!  In the past, there were few restrictions on immigration, and most people entered the country legally and without any prohibitions.  Today, many arrive or remain without proper documents. Estimates for 2011: 11.5 million undocumented immigrants ... and that was before the mass influx of people coming from Latin America the last two years!

     One thing that we must understand when looking at the immigration "picture", is that 100 years ago, the population was about one fifth of what it is today.  And one cannot discount the words of Stephen Malanga, contributing editor to City Journal and a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute:  "... Since the mid-1960s, America has welcomed nearly 30 million legal immigrants and received perhaps another 15 million illegals, numbers unprecedented in our history. These immigrants have picked our fruit, cleaned our homes, cut our grass, worked in our factories, and washed our cars. But they have also crowded into our hospital emergency rooms, schools, and government-subsidized aid programs, sparking a fierce debate about their contributions to our society and the costs they impose on it."

     We also cannot ignore the fact that these new immigrants often have their own values, customs, ideas, and culture, which are often at odds with our own; and they have no desire to compromise or assimilate as in generations past.  Our modern economy, which relies heavily on skills in the technology sector, makes it difficult for them to succeed without the necessary skills.  This makes it difficult to climb the economic ladder, and they often rely on something that immigrants of other generations didn't have: a bloated U.S. welfare and social-services bureaucracy that has greatly amplified the cost of immigration.
     The immigrants of a century ago were Jewish tailors and seamstresses who helped create New York's garment industry, Italian stonemasons and bricklayers who helped build some of our greatest buildings, German merchants, shopkeepers, and artisans - who all brought important skills with them that fit easily into the American economy.  In fact, our economy was exploding, and these new workers, with their specialized skills, helped power our emerging economy.  

     The flood of immigrants we are experiencing today do not have those specialized skills, and at this time in our history, they are a mismatch with the state of our economy.  Even as we have made strides in welfare reform and had some success in weaning people off social programs, we are, at the same time, creating a new foreign-born underclass who become hopelessly dependent on government aid.  As famed free-market economist Milton Friedman puts it: "It's just obvious that you can't have free immigration and a welfare state."
     I would be remiss if I did not mention an element associated with today's immigration debate.  This is a statement made in a 1992 article by Richard de Uriarte in The Phoenix Gazatte:  "An interesting aspect of the balkanization of America is the often playing of the "race card" whenever the discussion of illegal immigration comes up. According to most Latino advocacy groups, just being against illegal immigration is racist. This attitude is best expressed by Alfredo Gutierrez, political consultant, "We call things racism just to get attention. We reduce complicated problems to racism, not because it is racism, but because it works."
     It is obvious that immigration is a complicated and emotional set of circumstances.  And as Christians, we are given clear instructions as to how we are to treat sojourners in our land.  It is one thing to help immigrants on an individual basis; quite another to meet the needs of 40,000,000.
     So, as you can see, I haven't offered any viable solutions to our immigration policy debate.  To be honest, I'm not sure there are any -- as long as we have a federal policy that encourages immigrants to flock to our overcrowded nation with the promise of free social programs in a waning economy.  In truth, we are still the light that shines as a beacon to the tired, poor, homeless, and tempest-tossed that yearn to breathe free -- it's just that the golden door is tarnished and the lamp is fading.

Thanks to Professor Nancy Foner, of Hunter College and Graduate Center, City University of New York for statistics on immigration.

Leviticus 19:33-34    When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Ukraine: Multi-Levels of Persecution

      I rarely take note of it, but sometimes out of curiosity, I will decide to take a look at the native countries of my readers.  Through website analytics I am able to see from which countries readers originate.  The parameters run from who is reading that particular blog post now, or how many have read it today, during the week, the month, or the year; and finally, I am able to see which countries have read it the most during the lifetime of this website.  The numbers are often revealing.
     The readership is pretty evenly distributed, with the majority coming from the United States, of course.  But there is always a minority of readers from United Kingdom, France, Germany, India, China, Malaysia, Poland, and Russia.  But I was shocked that consistently coming in at Number Two was the eastern European country of Ukraine.  Whether daily or all-time, Ukraine's numbers far outran those of other nations.  I had no idea, and wondered what the connection might possibly be between this website and the people of Ukraine.  After a fair amount of research, I may have a glint of understanding.  It is a complex situation in Ukraine, and I would love to get some feedback from those who are living in this tense situation.
     In the meantime, the Christian world's attention is focused squarely on the Middle East and the persecution that is coming against Believers in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Sub-Saharan Africa.  The torture and beheadings at the hands of ISIS are broadcast day after day on American news sites.
     Far less known, but just as disturbing, are the persecutions of Christians in Ukraine.  Interestingly, politically disparate websites, such as NPR and The 700 Club, have both published reports that Evangelical Christians in Ukraine are under religious persecution by pro-Russian separatists.  (I must admit that there is conflicting information which states that while the persecution is real, nationalism and ethnicity have more to do with it than the anti-Christian aspect).  Indeed, persecution itself is defined as hostility based on race or political or religious beliefs.  Still, no less than The American Family News Network is also reporting anti-Christian violence in Ukraine.  Whatever the reasons, it is time the Western Church comes to the spiritual aid of our Ukrainian brethren.

    The history of Ukraine is fascinating!  A quick glance at Wikipedia's extensive file on the country reveals that "the territory of modern Ukraine has been inhabited since 32,000 BC. During the Middle Ages, the area was a key center of East Slavic culture, with the powerful state of Kievan Rus' forming the basis of Ukrainian identity. Following its fragmentation in the 13th century, the territory was contested, ruled and divided by a variety of powers, including Lithuania, Poland, the Ottoman Empire, Austro-Hungary, and Russia. A Cossack republic emerged and prospered during the 17th and 18th centuries, but Ukraine's territories remained divided until they were consolidated into a Soviet republic in the 20th century. It became independent in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union."  The dominant religion in the country is the Orthodox Church, the eastern branch of Christianity.
     According to the report by NPR, "Protestants from the separatist regions of eastern Ukraine say they are being persecuted by the Russian Orthodox Church. Many evangelicals have left because of a crackdown on religious freedom."  But from what I have read, it is my understanding that there is no real difference between the Orthodox Church in Ukraine and the Russian Orthodox Church, other than the ethnicity attached to it.  From the perspective of religious doctrine, they believe the same things.  The persecution is real, but nationalism appears to be the root cause.  (Again, I welcome the facts from those living in Ukraine).
     But we cannot ignore the anti-God influence of the old Soviet Communist regime, nor dismiss the first-hand reports coming from International Christian Concern (ICC), an organization that "acts as a bridge between believers in free countries and believers in persecuted countries."  Less than a year ago, a spokesman for ICC said, "Just this week (August, 2014), four ... volunteers with the Far East Broadcasting Company in Ukraine, which broadcasts the gospel across that country, were pulled from their building.  And it was discovered that they were Christians, that they were believers – and they were actually beaten to death for their Christian faith when it was found out that they were evangelical Christians."
     But this spokesman also reveals that "pro-Russian separatists are opposed to what they believe are immoral influences from the West and instead want fundamental Orthodox principles in Ukraine... They are suspicious of foreign or Western influences and they see evangelical Christians as a threat to the Orthodox faith," he explains. "That's one of the reasons why we've been seeing in the past few months evangelical Christians, Protestants, etcetera being targeted for violence and persecution."
     It may be difficult for us here in America to fully understand the intricacies of hate and violence that exists in the Ukraine/Russia conflict.  But there is one thing that can be agreed upon:  The war in eastern Ukraine has driven nearly a million people from their homes.  Regardless of whether the conflict is centered around ultranationalism or religious differences, the truth is that Believers in Jesus Christ are suffering and their persecution is real and personal.  We should pray for the plight of Christians and refugees in Ukraine... and all around the world.

1 Peter 4:16    "Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that Name."

Why Is It So Difficult For Us To See?

     I am constantly amazed at the ability of our culture to overlook or dismiss demonic activity in the evil acts of who we consider to be "ordinary citizens".  How else do you explain news stories such as the two that occurred within hours of each other last week?  There was the case of 30-year-old David Baril, who within a span of six hours, attacked four strangers in Manhattan with a claw hammer.

     Mr. Baril was no stranger to assault, having eight prior arrests, including an assault on a police officer, and jumping a counter at a fast food restaurant to launch an attack.  After making eye contact with a young woman on a park bench, Baril took a silver hammer out of his bag and struck her, according to police.  In the most recent attacks last week, he approached a 20-year-old man in Herald Square, yelling profanities at the man before hitting him with the hammer, and then running off.
     According to the local NBC affiliate in New York City, police believe Baril has been living in parks and subways since he voluntarily left a mental health facility, and frequented the area near Union Square, where he allegedly began his recent spree of assaults against the innocent victims.
     So, as a society, we look upon this disturbed man with pity, fear, confusion, indifference, and yes, probably even disgust.  But have we considered that he is just the modern-day version of the Gadarene madman pictured in Matthew, Mark and Luke?  Think about it.  The Biblical madman is described as isolated and crazed; fierce and savage; as raising a cry from the depths of his throat.  In fact, Matthew mentions that there were two demoniacs, while Mark and Luke choose to mention just one of them.  But the fact remains that both the historical madman, and the modern one, are suffering from some kind of spiritual affliction.
     In Jesus's day, they said he had "an unclean spirit".  The people of that day understood that a person could be controlled by, or afflicted by, a Satanically-influenced spirit ... a demon.  Today we use labels like paranoid, schizophrenic, co-dependent, dysfunctional... probably because we are so removed from the Biblical implications and don't want to consider anything that smacks of "God-related". But those terms are only different words for "unclean spirit".
    Now consider the story, happening just hours apart from the incidents in Manhattan.  This time it is  happening across the country in California, where a knife-wielding woman stole an ambulance, and then crashed head-on into a semi-truck, killing herself and the big rig driver.  "There were no brakes, there was no swerving, nothing," said one witness.  So, anyone think this is just a normal occurrence, or a case of someone having a bad day?  Of course not!  There was obviously something terribly wrong going on inside that woman.  And I have seen no follow-up information regarding this strange and tragic accident.  Probably because very few want to consider the possibility that this woman was afflicted with demons.
    Why are we so afraid in Western culture to examine this possibility?  Doesn't it make sense that if it happened and was acknowledged in the Bible, that it could be just as real today?  Can anyone justify any reason that conditions could have changed in the last 2,000 years that would explain away the possibility of demon-plagued individuals?
     I know there will be those who say that Christians cannot be demon-possessed.  That word "possessed" is a troublesome word.  Here's my understanding ... we are made up of soul, spirit, and physical body.  True, once we have received Christ as our Savior, our spirit is sealed by the Holy Spirit, and if we are obedient, we will be unable to be enticed by demonic spirits.  But our soul consists of our mind, emotions and will.  And obviously, our body is the physical temple of God.  There are many instances in the Bible of both soul and body being affected by "unclean spirits".
     King Saul, after rebelling against the LORD, was troubled by an evil spirit.  There are several passages in the Bible that tell the story:  Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him.  And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. (1 Samuel 16:14-15).  Could it be any clearer?  The Holy Spirit departed from Saul, and God allowed a harmful spirit -- an unclean spirit -- to torment Saul.  So you can see that while the Spirit of God will not share residence with a demon, it can depart if we are willful and disobedient; leaving us open for demonic affliction.
     Can you see that the mind of a man or woman could be afflicted or influenced by "unclean spirits" or demons?  I would not hesitate to conjecture that the minds of both the man in Manhattan and the woman in California were heavily controlled by demonic spirits -- nor the minds of the Aurora, CO theatre madman, or the Sandy Hook killer.  Furthermore, I can also give credence to the idea that our bodies can be impacted by spirits that wish to influence us and affect our relationship with our Creator.  The origins of alcoholism and drug dependency might easily be traced to demonic spirits attacking both our minds and bodies.

     There are many instances in the Bible of demon-oppressed people being delivered from their afflictions:  the mute man in Matthew 9; the mute and blind man in Matthew 12;  the boy in Matthew 17 who was healed after the demon plaguing him was cast out;  the demon-oppressed daughter of the Gentile woman in Mark 7; the demon-possessed man in the synagogue in Luke 4;  and perhaps one of the most famous of them all in Luke 22:  Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.  The other clear instance of Satanic influence is found in Matthew 23:   But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”  Christ recognized that even Peter could be influenced by Satan!
     So again, I ask, isn't it time that we in the 21st century come to terms with the fact that since the Garden of Eden, Satan has attempted to influence, afflict, and oppress mankind by attacking the minds, souls, and spirits of men?  But here is the condition by which this occurs ... Satan and his evil host can do nothing the Lord does not allow them to do.  Can we know and understand God's purpose in each and every instance?  No, and that makes it hard to figure out why we are seeing so many cases of evil and unexplained savagery in the actions of men.  But just because we can't understand it, there is no reason to discount the thousands of years that demonic influence has been at the center of such behavior -- nor to consider that God has a reason to allow it.  The one thing we can count on is that He is in control, and it will ultimately glorify Him.  In the meantime, it is paramount that we clearly see what we are dealing with, and remain obedient and in relationship with the Lord.  The Bible has shown us that as our society continues to abandon God, He will allow that vacuum to be filled by the Prince of this world.  While He will ultimately be glorified in all things, I can think of much better ways I'd like to see Him exalted.  We must repent and turn towards Him!

1 Timothy 4:1   "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,"

Is Typhoid The New Ebola?

     A new study, which appeared in Nature Genetics, reports that an antibiotic-resistant strain of typhoid has begun to spread throughout eastern and southern Africa.  This report is fueling fear that typhoid may be quickly reaching epidemic levels.  The new strain, called H58, is a symptomatic bacterial infection, exasperated by unsanitary food and water.

     Typhoid fever affects between 20 million and 30 million people around the globe each year, and symptoms include a high, sustained fever, weakness, stomach pains, headache and loss of appetite.  As many as 20% of patients can die from the disease.  The evolving consensus from medical officials is that the unprecedented wave of cases (leading to their theory of a possible epidemic) is due to the lack of vaccinations for typhoid.  Vanessa Wong, a microbiologist at the University of Cambridge in England is quoted as saying,  "Instead, antibiotics are commonly used as a preventive measure. As a consequence, there is a rise in antibiotic resistance to many pathogens and in particular a resurgence of multidrug-resistant typhoid has been observed in some areas, including parts of Africa."
     While Typhoid fever is not as life-threatening as Ebola, one has to be concerned about the push for vaccinations.  True, we have heard the horrific historical stories of typhoid deaths -- in 430 BC, it is speculated that typhoid was the cause for the deaths of one-third of the population of Athens, Greece. Some historians believe the English colony of Jamestown, Virginia, died out from typhoid. Typhoid fever killed more than 6000 settlers between 1607 and 1624.  During the American Civil War, 81,360 Union soldiers died of typhoid or dysentery; and the Spanish-American War exposed our military to typhoid fever overseas.  I am in no way diminishing the dangers or effects of typhoid, but I am always skeptical when a disease is quickly labeled as an "epidemic", followed by a rush to vaccinate.
     As I researched this latest outbreak of typhoid, I was mildly surprised to see that similar "epidemic" headlines were posted in 2010 and 2012.  Yet, do you recall hearing any major alarms?  And each of the current reports all read the same ... " uncovered evidence of an unreported recent wave of transmission of H58 in sub-Saharan Africa".  Nothing more, nothing less.  Forgive me ... but if officials were truly convinced that we were facing a "plague" of typhoid, wouldn't we be seeing more panic and real faces on the news?
     I can't help but recall this exposé by A. True Ott, PhD, ND (Naturopathic Doctor).  In the article, Dr. Ott told the story of a Watchdog Group in Kansas City, Missouri who successfully brought suit against the Missouri Chapter of John D. Rockefeller's fledgling American Medical Assoication (AMA).  The Jackson Medical Society was specifically named in the suit.  A portion of the article reads as follows:
     "In the Fall of 1921, the health of the city was unusually good, but slow for the doctors. So the Jackson Medical Society met and resolved to make an epidemic in the city. According to the minutes of this meeting: 'MOTION WAS MADE AND SECONDED, THAT A RECOMMENDATION BE MADE BY THE COMMITTEE, TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH, THAT AN EPIDEMIC OF SMALLPOX BE DECLARED IN THE CITY. (Investigation later revealed that there was NO SIGN OF AN EPIDEMIC at the time, in the city, or anywhere in the state or region!)
     'It was moved and seconded that a day be set aside, termed VACCINATION DAY, on which physicians would be stationed at ALL SCHOOLS, clinics, public buildings and hospitals to vaccinate "free of charge". (Vaccinations are never "free". The taxpayers are always forced to pay for every one of the "free" vaccines.)
     "IT IS FURTHER RECOMMENDED THAT WIDE PUBLICITY BE GIVEN, STATING THAT VACCINATION IS A PREVENTIVE OF SMALLPOX, AND URGING THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY OF VACCINATION FOR EVERY MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD IN THE CITY."
     The Protective Bureau proved in court that there WAS NO EPIDEMIC before the vaccinations!! The court records show that the Medical Society manufactured vast amounts of posters, fliers, newspaper stories and ads featuring horrific and lurid pictures of diseased children covered with massive smallpox sores and open wounds. Some pictures actually showed children's corpses covered with the same ugly sores. The PANIC-DRIVEN message was clear --- VACCINATE EVERYONE, or face a deadly public disease. There was a "sweeping epidemic" in the city; the disease was "highly contagious" and would "strike anyone who was not vaccinated" was the bill of goods sold! (Does this sound at all familiar today ­94 years later??)
     I know that some people will just label this kind of exposure as conspiratorial.  They are simply unable to conceive that humankind could exploit each other in such a way.  But we must never forget that when money is involved, and the Elite feel threatened, nothing is too inexcusable.
     Doesn't it make you want to take a closer look at the increase in cases of polio from the polio vaccinations? Or the global outbreak of HIV and AIDS?  And what about the soldiers who developed "Gulf War Syndrome" after being injected with an experimental vaccine.  Now we face "designer viruses", and "duplex vaccines" are the answer!
     I didn't mean to get on my soapbox and go so far down the rabbit hole.  But history has shown me that we need to be cautious when buying into warnings on the latest "epidemic".  Will typhoid fever prove to be a real health hazard -- or is it just another orchestrated disease to be used by the powerful and wealthy for social engineering.  You can never be too careful....

IF you would like to read more about Dr. Ott's postulation, and review the evidence for his article, please click here.

Exodus 23:25    "You shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you."

Romans 11:26 ... The Double Meaning of Salvation

And so all Israel will be saved.

     Such a simple statement by the Apostle Paul, yet one that has caused much controversy and debate through the centuries.  In Romans, perhaps my favorite book of the Bible, Paul lays out God's redemptive plan for mankind; and how, in His sovereignty, He allowed the Jews to be blinded so that the Gentiles could receive the Gospel Message.  However, in Chapter 11, Paul wants it clearly understood that once the fullness of the Gentiles has been realized, that God's Chosen People would once again operate in their full power and character, and enter into their full purpose as ordained by God ... and so all Israel will be saved.

     As the Gentile Church, we have struggled with just what that looks like.  For those who reject this possibility, and who believe in Replacement Theology (that "the Church" has replaced Israel/the Jews as God's Chosen People), they refuse to even consider the meaning of Paul's statement.  For those of us Christians who revere the Jews as a people through whom the Messiah of the World has come. and will return, we see a couple of possible meanings.

     First, is Paul saying that "ALL" means every person in the nation of Israel will be saved at Christ's return?  Or is it possible that "ALL" refers to all believing Jews; those who accept Yeshua as their Savior?  No one can say for sure.

     But let me add another voice into this conversation.  I am blessed to be involved with an organization of Messianic Jews in the nation of Israel, whose purpose is to spread the Gospel among the myriad of groups that reside in Israel ... they serve the secular, the Orthodox, Arab Christians, and anyone who will hear their message of Yeshua's love.  They have pointed out to me that this particular verse of Scripture has an entirely different perspective to Israelis.  Let me explain...

     You are probably familiar with the concept that the name of Yeshua -- Jesus -- bears the meaning of the word Y'shuah, or salvation.  The concept of salvation in Scriptures has a two-fold meaning:  one military, the other spiritual.  Both are true.  The Hebrew prophets tended to emphasize the military, national, intervention of God to save the nation from destruction.  And on the other hand, the early Messianic apostles of Yeshua tended to emphasize the eternal, spiritual, forgiveness of God to save us from sin and death.

     But we Western Christians need to understand that the number of Israelis who believe in Yeshua as the Messiah and their Savior is a very small number.  When you try to dialogue with a secular Israeli or an Orthodox member of the Jewish faith, the question "Are you saved?" has virtually no meaning in Hebrew.  The national military aspects of salvation have become more relevant in recent generations as Israel finds itself back in the Land and threatened with destruction by Jihadist groups on all sides.  

     In addition, there has been a gradual change in the meaning of Passover since Israel has become a nation.  During all the years of exile, it was primarily a religious ceremony, with symbolic remembrance of the past.  Now Passover is a national holiday, celebrated by religious and non-religious at the same time.  Some see the holiday as national, some as religious, some as both.

     It should be remembered that God established the holiday of Passover as an "appointed time".  It is to remember the death and resurrection of Yeshua that also occurred during Passover.  As the years go by, people are asking more and more questions about the symbolism, nationalism and messianism connected with Passover, and there is -- little by little -- more interest in trying to understand Messianic Jews by Israeli society as a whole.  In addition, as worldwide Islamic Jihad and anti-Israel sentiments grow, the meaning of the Passover as God's military intervention to save the people of Israel will also take on greater significance.  

      So, can you see the two different aspects of "salvation" coming together in these last days before the coming of Yeshua?  Can you picture the knowledge of Yeshua growing, and the urgency of a divine military intervention for Israel growing, as well?  All of the prophecies concerning the Second Coming of Yeshua point to both a spiritual revival and a military intervention.  "All Israel will be saved" has meanings in both the spiritual and military contexts.  

     As my Messianic friends in Israel point out, a spiritual revival in the Land will go hand in hand with crying out to the Lord for deliverance from military destruction.  Yeshua and the angels in heaven will descend to save Israel from military attack at the same time that He will bring eternal spiritual salvation.  The attack of the nations, the revival in Israel, and the divine "military" intervention will all come to a climax at the same time.  As always, Scripture is the fullness of God's Word.  Blessed is the Lord!

Dear God: Please Forgive Us and Restore Us!

   

     As I consider my posts over the last weeks and months, I realize that they all point to a less than rosy state of world affairs.  The prospects for improving our present situation and the outlooks for a brighter future are just not on the radar screen.  And I freely admit that I am preoccupied with God's response to the mess we've created; but I make no apologies.  My spirit is simply on heightened alert, and with good reason.
     First of all, consider that we humans have decided that God has made mistakes in creating some of us, and we are denying the specific gender to which He assigned us.  As simple as it sounds, one can change their gender by simply declaring it.  Jane now becomes Jack; Bob should be allowed to share a restroom with gender-defined women because he "feels" like a girl; and Jamie is neither gender because, um, (it) has decided to remain uncommitted.
     To top it all off, there is a new designation added to the titles we give ourselves.  There are the gender-specific Miss, Mr. and now Mx, for those who identify as binary (meaning having an overlap of genders, having two or more genders, having no gender, or moving between genders).  I kid you not!  There are actually terms such as polygender, pangender, and trigender!  Is it any wonder that God is disappointed in us?
     Next, we have somehow allowed our children to be taught that there is no absolute moral right and wrong.  Conservative radio talk show host and author, Dennis Prager, recently wrote that our children have come to believe that every valid value of human conduct is an opinion -- even extending that idea to the most evil of behaviors.  For instance, he cites the following as an example:  Since the Nazis thought killing Jews was right, there is no way to know for sure whether it was wrong; it's the Nazis' opinion, against that of the Jews and anyone else who objects.  What matters is how you feel.
     How will God view our failed efforts to maintain His values and standards?  If every action can be summed up as "an opinion", then there is no guideline for good and evil; for moral or immoral.  Everything becomes subject to personal perspectives.  And we are seeing that now in the growing friction between society and law enforcement.
     Perhaps the biggest indicator of how God must be scrutinizing us is the recent Pew research results that atheists and agnostics are growing in America, while those who call themselves Christian or "religious" are declining.  From the first days of this country, the Bible has guided how we lived as a civil society, how we governed ourselves, and our we conducted our individual lives and those of our families.  Not any more.  We may call ourselves "a Christian nation", but our actions convey our true nature.
     God is being driven out of our government, our military, and our schools.  We worship the false idols of immorality (celebrities) and we persecute righteousness (Christian businesses who stand for biblical marriage).  Those who sit in churches across our land cheat on their spouses, are addicted to pornography, and covet their neighbors wealth.  Are we even studying the Word of God anymore, to see how HE says we should live our lives?
     To be honest, it is becoming difficult to find anything to celebrate in this sinful world!  I find that I am increasingly insulating myself from the influences that are not God-pleasing.  I am blessed to have a small group of faithful Believers with whom I can worship my Lord.  I am over-joyed to share this life with a man who is as passionate about God as I am, and who loves to share the Gospel Message with new seekers that the Father brings our way.  I am less concerned about the latest headlines, or with being "socially relevant", or increasing my storehouse; and find that I am preparing in a new way ... for the spiritual battles that are ahead.
     But at the end of the day, as I am on my knees, I pause to reflect on just how far we, as a nation, have veered off that narrow path.  We used to know that faith in Jesus Christ was the source of our life, our treasure, and our success in this world.  Now we look to ourselves, or to other men.  We have worshipped at the altar of our own desires, and look where it has taken us.  Our only chance of survival and escape from God's justice is to ask for forgiveness and restoration.  Will this nation humble itself... or will God humble us?

Isaiah 13:11    "And I, the Lord, will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their guilt and iniquity; I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible and the boasting of the violent and ruthless."

The Height Of Hypocrisy In The Heart Of Babylon

     Let's study the meaning of a couple of words, shall we?  First of all ... hypocrisy.  The dictionary defines it as "the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense".  Now, let's look at the word spa.  It is defined as "a mineral spring considered to have health-giving properties", or "a commercial establishment offering health and beauty treatments".
     So, I think you will understand why I titled this post as I did when I reveal that a new chemical abortion clinic, calling itself a “posh spa,” launched a daring advertising campaign in the District of Columbia this week.  With brazen billboards that sport headlines such as, “Abortion, yeah we do that,” it is obvious that they wish to portray abortion as a common and trendy practice.

    Not only does this organized campaign offend me -- it disgusts me!  The focus of an abortion clinic is the death of a living fetus; there is nothing healthy, or life-sustaining, or beautiful about it.  Women do not go there to receive treatment to enhance themselves, or improve the quality or appearance of their physical bodies.  They go there for exactly the opposite reason -- to remove a vital and living part of themselves; an unborn person that relies on them to protect and nurture their life.
      And to assert that abortion is popular, stigma-free, and no more problematic than any other procedure is not only misleading, but morally repugnant.  It doesn't change my opinion when informed that clients are welcomed with hot tea and comfy robes in the clinic, which features wood floors, plush upholstery and natural wood tones, so it resembles a high-end salon or spa.  Nor can this clinic sell me on their approach of creating a "brand" of abortion clinic that is “fresh, modern, clean, and caring."  They can call it the Ritz-Carlton for all I care.  They are not selling wellness; they are selling death!
     But it shouldn't surprise us that the abortion issue is adopting the method of other unbiblical positions.  In an effort to de-stigmatize the procedure, this "Spa" approach is attracting a passionate new crop of young activists to the movement.  Women are going door-to-door in conservative neighborhoods to talk about their abortion experiences in the hope of changing minds.  New online projects even solicit personal testimonials, including from women who have no regrets about terminating their pregnancies.  Telling personal stories echoes a strategy successfully employed by the gay rights movement, helping it change public opinion by coaxing people to come out of the closet to their friends, neighbors and colleagues.
     Perhaps feminine poet Katha Pollitt expresses this new generation of abortion apologists best, when she says, “We need to talk about ending a pregnancy as a common, even normal, event in the reproductive lives of women,” Pollitt writes, adding that the decision to abort can be “just as moral as the decision to have a child — indeed, sometimes more moral” because “part of caring for children is knowing when it’s not a good idea to bring them into the world.”

     But what Ms. Pollitt doesn't understand is that there is a Higher Authority over that unborn child than her own.  The Creator God of the Universe -- who created her, as well as her child -- has a legal entitlement to demand that we respect what He has created.  And He has made His opinion well-known.  In Leviticus 20:2-5, He states,  “Say to the Israelites: 'Any Israelite or any foreigner residing in Israel who sacrifices any of his children to Molek is to be put to death.' "  Got it?  It is an act that the God who created you, has declared is worthy of death.  How many women in this country alone, have fallen on their knees and repented of this decision?
     And just because this luxurious, posh abortion clinic only administers pharmaceutical abortions, does not lessen their responsibilities towards those unborn fetuses.  And I do not buy their argument that if I oppose abortion, "it’s not going to affect [me] if a clinic wraps its patients in cotton robes instead of paper ones.".  Excuse me, but it does affect me, because the Bible says God causes the rain to fall on both the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45).  So all of us in this nation are exposed to suffer the penalty of God's punishment for the nearly 56,000,000 aborted babies since 1973.
     This latest attempt to "soften" the image of abortion clinics does nothing to appease the followers of Christ who honor all life.  No amount of persuasion or false facade can transform this offense against our Maker.  May God have mercy on the innocents who have been slain in this rebellious generation.

Thanks to articles in The Washington Post and Breitbart.com for the details on this clinic.  And to see a 30-second advertising spot on their efforts to de-stigmatize abortion, click here.

Isaiah 44:2   "Thus says the Lord, Who made you and formed you from the womb...."

God Is Everywhere

     It's always interesting to see the reaction of people when they ask where my husband and I go to Church.  They never quite know how to respond when I say, "We are following the First Century Church model... we meet regularly with a group of faithful Christians whose purpose is to follow Christ through the teachings of the Bible.  We worship God according to His Word and seek greater understanding of His will for our lives.  We seek to know more of Him so that we might share with the unsaved and help usher them into His kingdom."
     I'm usually met with a blank stare, or an uncomfortable smile.  That wasn't the answer they were expecting ... or wanted.  I suppose it would have been a more pleasant exchange if I had claimed a particular denomination, or affirmed my attendance at an "established" branch of the Church.  But here is what I wish everyone who doesn't understand my choice to comprehend ... I have spent the last twenty-five years of my life as a Christian in the "accepted" form of the Christian Church.  Whether attending a mega-church or a small community church in the many Texas cities in which I've lived, God has pushed me towards this basic and foundational way to worship Him.
   

     If someone else is satisfied worshipping our God in the Church building they attend, then I am glad that it feeds them.  I am just left hungry and still wanting more.  You see, I have the luxury of being able to spend multiple hours each week studying my Bible, and I have learned more about who my God is and what He desires of me than I have ever learned in established churches.  Listening to canned sermons, or the musings of a man who tries to relate God to the culture by including one Bible verse per week into his 20-minute speech, have left me joyless and uninspired.
     The God I meet in my Bible studies, and with Whom our little assembly communes, demands repentance and righteousness from His followers.  Yet I have rarely heard the call for either from the pulpit.  Rarely is there even a mention of hell and the eternal consequences of our sinful nature.
     Neither do I hear any teaching on the power and authority we have in Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit to conduct spiritual warfare in His Name -- even though our Lord clearly tells us in Scripture that He has given us such.  Yet I cannot tell you the number of people I have met who openly declare they have been battling demonic spirits.  Isn't it the directive of the Church and the pastors of Jesus's flock to help educate His people and equip them to battle Satan and his demons?  Why is it that our little ekklesia knows more about the full armor of God than any major church I've come in contact with?
     I also would like to ask, why are those who shepherd the flocks in the church buildings so afraid of the Biblical concept of prophecy?  It is an important part of the Bible and God sent His prophets to instruct us and warn us.  Why do they not preach the whole counsel of God?  Again, I cannot explain how much I've grown in my relationship with the Triune God through our home church's studies of the Book of Revelation and Daniel.  They have led me to even deeper studies and connections that I've never seen before, and I am continually amazed at the Sovereignty of the God I serve.  It has sent me in search of greater understanding of who the Bride of Christ is, who will attend the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, the Hebrew roots of my faith and the Lord's Feasts, as well as the rewards and crowns that will be part of the Millennial Kingdom.
     Finally, as it relates to this time in history ... how many people are sitting in church buildings either afraid of what they see coming on the world, or blissfully ignorant that the time on this world's clock is winding down?  Are either group being prepared to stand for Christ in the hour when "men's hearts will fail them for fear?"  I will admit that it was not easy for our faithful group of Followers to face what the Bible was revealing to us; but through the last few years, we have strengthened our faith (and each other) as we continue to trust in the Word of God and the ultimate deliverance it promises.  Our fellowship finds us sharing in the joy and wisdom we have acquired by worshipping God as the First Century Believers did ... people who met in their homes with an earnest desire to serve their Savior as He had taught; those who learned at the feet of those who walked with Christ; and those who wanted to separate themselves from the world and study the Prophets and the Law and the fulfillment of both in Jesus Christ ... so they could teach others.
     If you have paid close attention to my explanation, you may have noticed some words and concepts that stood out ... seeking greater understanding; hungry for more; educating and equipping for spiritual battle; amazement at the Sovereignty of God; strengthening our faith; sharing joy and wisdom through our fellowship.  These are among the blessings that I have received from listening to, and following, the guidance of the Holy Spirit to worship God in this historical way.
     So, I hope that those who have dismissed my worship as "failing to assemble together", will see that it is Biblical, rewarding, and bringing me closer to God than ever before.  And our homes are always open to those who wish to join us....

Matthew 18:20    "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

Acts 2:42:     "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."
   

Now THIS Is Profitable For Teaching!

     Every once in awhile there is a bright spot in our culture; a moment that lets us know that God's remnant is still living and active in speaking Him into the world.  And, occasionally, that voice comes from the heart of a generally godless segment of our society -- and it is like rain falling on parched ground.

     Such was the case when Academy-Award winning actor Denzel Washington gave the commencement address to the graduates of Dillard University, a private, historically black liberal arts college in New Orleans.  He promised a short speech, with three very simple recommendations.  His first words of advice were succinct and to the point:  "Number one," he said slowly and resolutely.  "Put. God. First!"  No better counsel was ever given to a college graduate.
     “Put God first in everything you do,” Washington continued to loud cheers. “Everything I have is by the grace of God. Understand that. It’s a gift.”  Bravo!  That's exactly what this entitlement generation needs to here.  Furthermore, he shared that he got off to a rocky start in his college career, nearly flunking out, until one day a woman in his mother's beauty parlor prophesied that God had a plan for him, and he would one day "travel the world and speak to millions of people."  He went on to state that throughout his long and successful career,  “the most important thing that stayed with me [since that moment] is that I’ve been protected, I’ve been directed, I’ve been corrected. I’ve kept God in my life and it’s kept me humble.”
     Hopefully those graduating seniors heard the subtle message ... It's not all about YOU!  If God is at the center of their lives, then they will reap both the challenges and the rewards of a life lived according to His purpose and will.  It won't be easy, but if they heard one thing from the accomplished actor, I hope it was this:  "I didn’t always stick with Him, but He’s always stuck with me.”
     Advice Number Two: Washington encouraged the students to take chances: "fail big and dream big".  He continued:  "Dreams without goals are just dreams, and if one doesn't have goals, then those dreams just ultimately fuel disappointment.  In order to achieve these goals, you must apply discipline and consistency.  Working hard is what successful people do."
     "In this text, tweet, twerk world you've grown up in, remember this ... just because you're doing a lot more (and here he imitated the motions of furious texting), it doesn't mean you're getting a lot more done.  Don't confuse movement with progress."  He cautioned that it is a big world out there; a mean world, and it can be scary.  But they should pursue what they are passionate about.  "Don't be afraid to go outside the box, or think outside the box... and continue to strive for your goals."
     Advice Number Three:  "You'll never see a U-Haul behind a hearse.  You can't take it with you... and it's not how much you have.  It's what you do with what you have.  We all have different gifts that we can utilize to achieve success.  But the most selfish thing in this world you can do is help someone else.  Why is that selfish?  Because of the gratification and goodness that comes to you ... there's nothing better than that.  That's where the joy is!  That's where the success is!"  At the end of their lives, it's how they lived that counts, not what things they amassed.
     As he concluded his short speech (only 10 minutes long), he closed with this advice:  “I pray that you put your slippers way under your bed tonight, so that when you wake up in the morning you have to get on your knees to reach them ... And while you’re down there, say thank you. Thank you for grace, thank you for mercy, thank you for understanding, thank you for wisdom, thank you for parents, thank you for love, thank you for kindness, thank you for humility, thank you for peace, thank you for prosperity. Say thank you in advance for what’s already yours.  True desire in the heart for anything good is God’s proof to you, sent beforehand, to indicate that it’s yours already."  He repeated that last statement to get across his point ... whatever itch or desire they had to do something good was God's proof that He had put it in their heart, and it was their's to claim.  He further admonished them to work hard to get it, and "when you get it, reach back and pull someone else up ... each one, teach one."
     Wow!  This man gets it!  He just combined several Scriptural passages of hope all into one simple address ... and finished it up with the advice to say, "Thank You!"  In his wise words, we hear familiar teachings from the Bible ...  God knows the plans He has for your future, and the hope He wants to give you; if you trust in the Lord with all your heart, He will direct your path; those who love God will find that all things work together for good and God's purpose [which He knows beforehand]; Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
     With a simple testimony of the role God has played in his life, and the admonition to be grateful for the gifts they've received, Denzel Washington managed to give those graduating seniors a recipe for success.  “Don’t just aspire to make a living,” he concluded -- emphasizing each word with emotion -- “aspire to make a difference.”  If they follow that advice, they will be prosperous in the things that matter in this world, while at the same time, storing up great treasures in heaven.  I can't think of any better words of wisdom for this generation.

Deuteronomy 32:2-3     "My message shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the light rain upon the tender grass, and as the showers upon the herb. For I will proclaim the name [and presence] of the Lord. Concede and ascribe greatness to our God."

The Effects of Lawlessness

Slain Police Officers (left to right) Liquori Tate, Benjamin Deen, and Brian Moore  

     A few days ago, New York City Police Officer Brian Moore was laid to rest, with thousands attending his funeral.  Officer Moore, who was only 25, was shot in the head while on patrol.  A couple of nights ago, Police Officers Benjamin Deen, 34, and Liquori Tate, 24, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, were shot and killed during a routine traffic stop.  And last Friday, the Attorney General of the United States announced that the Justice Department will be investigating the methods of the Baltimore Police Department.
     Citing police/community relations as "one of the most challenging issues of our time," Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced that if it is determined that violations are found, the investigation will result in a "court-enforceable agreement" to change the practices of the Baltimore Police Department.  In addition to investigating any possible violations of duty by police officers, why doesn't the Attorney General consider investigating what makes people commit the crimes that result in murdered cops?  The Justice Department says it wants to look into any patterns of unconstitutional actions by police departments across the country.  But I have real concerns about the Feds swooping in every time there is a high profile case and the public demands it.  Is that how we fix the problem?  And is there even an attempt to identify what is at the core of these problems? If there is a crisis in relations between the police and the community, why are we only looking at the police part of that equation?
     I will agree that if the police are over-reaching their authority, then they must be reined in.  We cannot tolerate law enforcement that oppresses or represses our constitutional rights.  But can we go too far in restraining them, and end up impeding law and order?  It is my real fear that there is a movement to vilify the police (with prejudice), as well as unspoken permission given by politicians and community leaders to attack them in retaliation for perceived injustices.  We must remember that Police hold a special place in the criminal justice system. Not only do the activities of law enforcement officers affect the operations of the entire criminal justice system, but police are said to be the “gate keepers” of the system and a lawful society.  They are the guardians of a civilized society; and they are what stands between us and the consequences of lawlessness.
     There is already talk that police officers may become less willing or slower to serve their communities and uphold the law.  Can you really blame them?  Every thug or criminal sees the trend ... there's a crackdown on cops and they [the criminals] are not being held responsible or accountable for their actions.  And it's all playing into Satan's hand.  If we hamstring the cops -- if they hold back and don't feel confident in doing their job, then you can count on more crime and chaos in the world.  Satan is licking his chops at the prospects!
     I have three nephews -- all brothers -- who are law enforcement officers.  And I can tell you that their motives are pure.  They do it out of a sense of serving the public, as do the majority of those who keep the peace, and protect lives and property.  They know that there is good and evil in this world, and they choose to confront evil, so we don't have to.
     What happened to respect for law enforcement and authority?  And don't tell me that all the fault lies with the police.  Without question, the crime in our society is unprecedented.  Men refuse to follow God's laws or the government God has put in place.  They want to make their own laws and follow their own rules.  The law exists because there are bad people; and so there is a need for those who will uphold the law to keep our communities from falling into disorder, anarchy, and frankly... from going straight to hell.
     We are on a very slippery slope in this nation.  Will we uphold the rule of law and support those who provide a protective wall between us and evil?  Or will we tip the scales towards Satan and allow the Lawless One to score a victory for those who follow him?

1 Timothy 1:9    "We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,"