Personal Reflections on Ferguson, One Year Later

     Yesterday, my sister texted me a photo of my nephew, a police officer in St. Louis County, Missouri; a photo that has appeared in countless newspapers.  He is standing with fellow officers in riot gear during a protest in Ferguson, Missouri on the one-year anniversary of the death of Michael Brown -- a death that has polarized that community and all of America.
     It is one thing to view that image as an American concerned over the racial violence that has spread across this nation; and quite another to view the steely gaze of a loved one who is standing for law and order, and putting his life on the line to protect the community and innocent citizens from further destruction.
     I guess I thought as long as I could not distinguish him from among the policemen whose images have become part of the disturbing montage of rioting and mayhem, I could pretend that he was safe and far removed from harm.  But there he was, his eyes and features clearly distinguishable through the glare of the lights on his helmet's safety shield.  He had often texted me not to worry, he wasn't assigned to that area and he was stationed in other parts of the metroplex.  But now I know that to be an effort to calm the fears of his anxious aunt.
     So now the turbulent and unstable state of race relations are up close and personal.  After a long year of turmoil and genuine efforts to change the conditions in Ferguson that led to this point, I am desperately looking for signs that positive change is happening.
     Admittedly, there has always been an uneasy relationship between the citizenry of neighborhoods like Ferguson (and nearby East St. Louis, close to where I spent much of my childhood) and the police, whose job often seemed to be about keeping the violence from spilling over into the surrounding middle class suburbs.  It is easy to blame the disparity between education and job opportunities among the races; all of which seemed to grow worse after the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibited discrimination in public places, provided for the integration of schools and other public facilities, and made employment discrimination illegal.
     It has been 51 years since this law was passed.  The Civil Rights Act was declared the most wide-ranging civil rights legislation since Reconstruction, nearly a century prior.  So what happened?  Why are we still seeing the imbalance in education, skills, and upward mobility in the black communities? Why is there still a perception that more crime is committed against blacks by white authority figures,  while statistics are ignored that suggest black on black crime is the primary cause of death among young blacks?  Why, as an article in The National Review points out, do we, as a nation not consider that "the disproportionate criminality among the black population is the reason that the police are deployed in much higher numbers in black neighborhoods, where they are trying to save innocent lives. There are thousands of law-abiding inner-city blacks who live by conventional values and who need protection from criminals. Only the police are willing to provide that protection."  Doesn't that indicate that "black lives matter" to them, too?

This photo of police officers in Trinity, TX went viral

     Are the police perfect?  Of course not!  And there will inevitably be incidents where bad cops prevail, but let me ask you this .... there are honorable black men who become police officers; is it the authority of the police department that is so despised, or just the particular skin color of the officer?  Why are we, in the 21st Century, still judging people by the color of their skin... and why is it this racial prejudice always one-sided?
     I am no social or cultural anthropologist, but it isn't hard for me to see the correlation between the signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the subsequent War on Poverty, that introduced the Job Corps and Head Start (both designed to help disadvantaged youth to combat poverty and raise their standard of living), and perhaps the most damaging and divisive legislation of my lifetime -- the Food Stamp Act of 1964.  Does is strike anyone else as antithetical that these two forms of legislation were signed back to back in 1964?
      Were these components of LBJ's dream of a "Great Society" merely empty promises, that were really designed to counter any forward advancement made by the Civil Rights Act?  I know that sounds cynical and conspiratorial, but it just seems odd that at the same time that the disadvantaged segment of our society were given the keys to economic and social equality, they were also given a ball and chain called "Welfare" that enticed them to avoid employment, and kept them indebted to the politicians who controlled those welfare checks.
     And it all leads to Ferguson, Missouri. As Breitbart.com reports, there have been some positive changes .... "The city has a new police chief, a new city manager and a new municipal judge — all blacks who replaced white leaders. All Ferguson officers [now] wear body cameras. The city council has new members, too, several of whom are black. And the business district that was at the center of last year’s sometimes-violent protests is slowly rebuilding."
     It appears that this proud community is engaging with those who govern them, and both sides are listening to each other.  Ferguson's leadership is now reflective of the demographics of the community.  At the time of the Brown shooting, just three of Ferguson’s 53 officers were black. The department now has five African-Americans among a total of 50 officers, including the newly appointed interim chief, and has four budgeted positions still to fill.  Nearby West Florissant Avenue, a scene of pillaging and destruction one year ago, is poised to get $37 million in upgrades. The improvement plan is expected to include bricked sidewalks, bicycle lanes, stylish lampposts and landscaping. Those are the positive signs of change and hope.
     But the prejudice and doubt among the community is harder to transform.  It's going to take more than millions of dollars of cosmetic changes to erase the mistrust.  The peaceful protests of Ferguson residents did not fall on deaf ears, and I pray that continued efforts to heal this damaged city will be successful.  It remains to be seen if outside agitators and those who stand to profit, both politically and socially, will fail in their efforts to make the race division permanent.
     One year later, some progress has been made -- and while the peace is holding, it is not guaranteed.  I pray that Ferguson can become a model for other cities who sincerely want to see improvement in race relations, and foster mutual respect between law enforcement and the community.  As a nation, it is imperative that we succeed in this mission.  And as a concerned aunt, I would like to be able to sleep better at night.

Romans 12:9-10    "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;"

Proverbs 4:20-22

My son, attend to My words; 

consent and submit to My sayings.

Let them not depart from your sight; 

keep them in the center of your heart.

For they are life to those who find them, 

healing and health to all their flesh.

     The Scripture for today's post was suggested by my husband, who is reading a little book by the late Derek Prince, noted Bible teacher and prophetic minister.  The title of the book is God's Medicine Bottle, and is the result of what Prince discovered about the healing power of God's Word during his own debilitating health crisis in the deserts of North Africa during WW II.

     I don't know if you can commiserate with Derek Prince over human infirmities, but I certainly can.  It seems that recently, one of the ways that the dark forces of the spiritual world love to attack me is through various assaults on my physical body.  But we need healing not only from physical attacks, but from spiritual bombardment.  I am happy to say that I am learning to fight back by loosing those strongholds in my flesh, binding the particular spirits, and rebuking them in Jesus's name; in short, using the Authority given to me by Christ, along with the Power of the Holy Spirit to fight an effectual spiritual battle.  I have seen great success using this method, but I also find impressive wisdom in Mr. Prince's instruction for healing using the Word.

     This selected Scripture, in Proverbs, Chapter 4, actually serves as a prescription from God; to be taken just as ordered, with an infinite number of refills.  The first step in God's spiritual protocol is to attend to His words.  He is demanding our full attention -- not to be divided between Him and the distractions of this world.  If we are to heal, we must listen and pay strict attention to His words that He speaks to us in the Bible.  Hearing God is the key to Biblical healing.  And how do we hear, or attend, to God's words?  By starting with the Bible and staying tuned in!  You can only hear God while reading the Bible when your mind is diligently occupied with Him and His Word.  

     The second order of the prescription is to consent and submit to His sayings.  That indicates that we are to have an attitude of humility and teachability; surrendering ourselves, and both our physical flesh and spirits to the receiving of His Word in meekness.  If we come with our own preconceptions and our demands, then God's Work will not be able to teach you and heal you.

     The next instruction is to not let God's Word out of our sight.  We are to focus our spiritual eyesight so we get a sharp picture of what God wants to teach us.  We must be careful to let the Bible be our authority, and not get too caught up in endless commentaries and theological doctrines.  Don't look around at what the world says about God's Word; instead, focus on it alone and read the Bible as it is written, and take it as meaning what it says.

     The next instruction on how to take God's medicine is to keep His Word at the center of your heart.  When we pay strict attention to His Word, and hear His teaching through surrendering ourselves to His instruction, and focus on what He wants us to see in His Word, then that Word will arrive at the center of our soul and dwell in our heart.  And the last verse tells us why it is so important to guard our hearts... for that is where our healing will originate; healing is the very essence of life and health.  

     God's Word brings us life through hearing the Word, which leads to faith, which provides spiritual joy and fullness.  It also is the cure for our physical infirmities, providing us with the ability to heal infirmities, disease, or physical and mental weaknesses.  Just as we follow the doctor's orders when taking prescription medicine, we are to ingest God's Word; let it enter into our body and mind and spirit in order to start breaking down what is defeating us and begin to heal us wholly and completely.  The Word is truly God's medicine for what ails us.

Pro-Life vs Pro-Choice: It's Unequivocal!

     I doubt that anyone in America is unaware of the multiple videos concerning Planned Parenthood ... six, so far.  They have certainly stirred contentious debates across our nation as we are forced to consider the issues that lurk beyond abortion and "a woman's right to control her body".  Naturally, there are those who will fall sharply on either side of the argument -- they either see nothing wrong with what PP chooses to do with fetal tissue procured with the supposed permission of the "donor"; or they are appalled that the bodily parts of babies are viewed as a "fiscal by-product" of an organization that promotes itself as a champion of "maternal and child health services."
     Admittedly, any argument will result in a "faith versus viable medical research" conflict.  We, who view this "tissue" as a human baby do not approve of the method by which it is obtained.  So, yes, that means abortion is the underlying issue for us, which is an anathema to our faith.  I do not shy away from that position, nor do I apologize for it.

     Then there are those who see the retrieval of fetal tissue used in research and therapy as a benefit for the good of all mankind.   Vox.com actually expressed the disparity between the two sides in an insightful manner: "They don't believe a first-trimester fetus to be a living, feeling human being, and so they see the donation of fetal tissue for medical research to be an obvious, unalloyed good. Their critics oppose abortion — they believe abortion to be murder and fetal tissue research to be a form of desecration. Where you fall on the Planned Parenthood videos really reflects where you fall on the fundamental questions of abortion."  So true!
     And I admit that I have a problem with people who can somehow find some middle ground on this issue.  For instance, I am somewhat confused by the recent statements of Presidential candidate, Ben Carson.  In response to an inquiry regarding his own use of fetal tissue for research, The Washington Post reports the following response:  "You have to look at the intent," Carson said before beginning a campaign swing through New Hampshire. "To willfully ignore evidence that you have for some ideological reason is wrong. If you’re killing babies and taking the tissue, that’s a very different thing than taking a dead specimen and keeping a record of it... Bear this in mind about pathologists; regardless of what their ideology is, when they receive tissue, they prepare the tissue. They label it. They mark how it got there. Regardless of whether it’s from a fetus or someone who’s 150 years old, they bank them in tissue blocks. Other people doing comparative research need to have a basis. When pathologists receive specimen, their job is to prepare the specimen. They have no job opining on where the tissue came from."  
     Is anyone else bothered by that reasoning?  Am I mistaken, or is he willing to excuse the procedure (and overlook the moral aspects of it) because it supplies useful research data?  Maybe it's just me, but it seemed a bit callous to say that it is not their job to worry about where the tissue came from.  How can you say If you’re killing babies and taking the tissue, that’s a very different thing than taking a dead specimen and keeping a record of it --- when the dead specimen is the result of killing a baby!  One thing leads to the other!  You can't get that "dead specimen" unless you kill a baby!
     And there are always the emotional arguments.  The Blaze reports on the ridiculous position presented by Fox News's Geraldo Rivera, who favors such donations because they are necessary to advance medicine. “I want a cure for cancer. I want a cure for heart disease," he selfishly declares. He then goes on to self-righteously demand that our society needs "good abortions", which he defines as the following: "A good abortion is sitting in a clean place, where the woman’s health is protected! As opposed to a back alley! As opposed to a back alley where the woman dies with some butcher cutting her to pieces!"  What about the babies, Geraldo?  Do you care that some butcher is cutting them to pieces in the process?  How convenient to focus on the mother, but ignore the life that she is sacrificing.
     This topic is so divisive and poignant that one cannot compromise on one's position.  There is no middle ground.  And it deeply saddens me that those who are Pro-choice have been so deceived into making this a feminist issue, thereby rupturing one of the most instinctive relationships among the human race -- that of mother and child. Satan has successfully blinded women into rejecting one of their most blessed purposes for existence...giving life.
     So, is there anyway to reach the approximate 1.2 million American women who make that choice every year?  The Center for Medical Progress, the makers of the Planned Parenthood videos, have done their best to show the truth behind this "women's healthcare" issue.  God Bless them for their efforts!  And I would like to close out this blog post by sharing a video that you might just want to share yourself.  I ran across it at The Blaze, and was initially skeptical because I did not want to hear another "production" by Glenn Beck.  But I like this video precisely because it does not feature Beck, except in introducing the work of the producer of the video.  (If you want to skip the usual Beck monologue, start at the 1 minute 40 second mark).
     As the video states, "Every generation has its defining moment."  What we, as a nation, decide to do with the information we have received from the Kermit Gosnell trial and these Planned Parenthood videos will define us.  The greatest genocide the world has ever known is happening NOW ... and on our watch!  We have killed more babies in this national genocide than over 30 of the most horrific genocides in world history ... combined!  Watch the video to find out the one word by which future generations will judge us as monsters.  The act of abortion represents choices that must be made... and those who participate in abortion don't seem to be considering the baby's choice to life!

Deuteronomy 30:19   "This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live."
   

Heaven and Hell; Good and Evil

     I often struggle with hearing what God wants me to write about, and today was no different.  There was so much news in the headlines ... the "apocalyptic" explosion in China; the fragile world economy; the devastation to the Animas River by the EPA; the continuing horror that is Planned Parenthood; the threat of violence around the world; and on and on.
     But, for some reason, my mind kept coming back to the question, "What do people believe about Heaven and Hell?  How do they define Good and Evil?"  I finally decided that perhaps God wants us to consider where we stand on these issues, and why.  So I'm just going to let my thoughts take me where He wants to go...
     I would venture to say that most people have an easier time imagining that there is a heaven, than they do that hell exists.  That only seems natural, doesn't it?  After all, the idea of a positive, happy place is much more appealing than one of pain and torment.  But first one has to decide if they believe that there is something beyond this earthly existence; that our life, or existence, so to speak, doesn't stop when we take our last breath and are no longer present in this world.

     I did a little bit of surfing the web to see if I could get a picture of the different opinions expressed by a cross-section of people.  As you would imagine, those who have faith in God have no problem with accepting that life goes on after we have crossed the threshold of physical death.  On the opposite end of the spectrum are those who refuse to consider the possibility, either out of ignorance or arrogance.
     I found it interesting that there are people who have actually decided that life does exist after death, but are unable to attribute that notion to God; seeing that as too "religious" and "convenient".  Instead, they look upon our lives here on earth from a "cosmic" perspective; we are all energy that simply recycles itself in both spiritual and physical form.  For me, that seems like a "convenient" way to sidestep any real search for evidence of a Creator or Higher Being.
     Obviously, in order to accept the themes of heaven and hell, one must at least consider the Bible.  True, there were religions and cultures before the Bible was written that alluded to the same concepts, but to modern-day man, the terms are most often associated with faith in Jesus Christ -- which as it turns out, can be a huge stumbling block for many people (just as the Bible said He would be)!
     Satan has done such a good job of projecting doubt on the veracity of Scripture that it is not difficult for people to simply cast Jesus as a man, a great teacher and prophet; or to deny the existence of evil as being just "negative energy".  When those limitations are put in place, then it is easy to dismiss that heaven and hell really exist.  You can see this confused logic in some of the following answers from a question posed on Ask Yahoo:  Does Heaven or Hell really exist?
•  "Science has never attempted to define, classify, measure, qualify or quantify either Heaven or Hell. Each exist solely if you believe they do."
•  "Religion is nothing more than superstition with a collection basket. Why would an almighty God have to ask for money when Gods before him like Zeus and Apollo never asked for a dime?"
•  "I don't really think that there is a heaven or a hell. But I think that your consciousness never dies when you die. Your...spirit per se, is left behind while your body rots. And that energy is used to create new life. It is kind of like reincarnation, but it is more like recycling a mind and consciousness."
•  "There is no science to confirm or deny the existence of either. Nor is there any evidence for santa, easter bunny, zeus, odin, etc.  If you want to believe in these things fine, but realize that they are, indeed, fabrications of your mind."
•  "Physically? No. You don't pass through heaven when you go into space, and you don't fall into hell when you drill into the earth. On a mental plane or extra dimension somewhere, maybe."
•  "Most likely not, which is good, because it doesn't matter anyways."
     It is obvious from these answers that these people have been deluded into thinking that their existence in this world is all about them.  They've never looked beyond themselves to see if there is a greater purpose for the existence of mankind.  Notice that each answer is centered around the narrow confines of their own opinions.... they are in effect saying, "It's up to you if they exist or not; you have the power to decide."  However, there were one or two who answered from a deeper line of reasoning:
•  "There are non-fiction books by people who claim to have experienced one or the other (or both) that says they do exist, but I'm not too sure. Nothing yet really convinces me."
•  "It's a question that can only be answered by those who have died and gone to either place -- therefore we don't know. It's like that old myth I've heard that states if you die in your dream you die for real. Does that seem plausible??  If there was truly a God or Satan, wouldn't God have destroyed this world with so much evil in it? And if there was an all powerful Satan, the whole world would be inherently evil.  And if there is a kind, loving God, why do so many people say they're "God Fearing" -- if God loves us, why should we fear him??"
     Now, these people represent the all-too-common trait of those who need proof of some sort.  They are searching for answers, but can't grasp the concept of faith.  And it is quite obvious that they are willing to read non-fiction books, but won't even consider cracking open the Bible.  Because, if they did, they would discover the eternal battle between God and Satan for the souls of men.  They would realize that God has given us an innate sense of right and wrong, and the free will to choose good over evil.  We are made in His image and He desires us to choose Him!  What purpose is there in our lives if God is a god that just allows evil to exist and then destroys it?
     Again, there is truly a "cosmic" sense to this battle, to use a popular term.  Because, surely these doubters do not deny that there are evil people in the world.  The murder and rape statistics, the sexual abuse of children, and the over 161,000,000 people killed in wars in the 20th and 21st centuries (so far) prove that bad things happen to good people.  Yet, there are literally millions of compassionate acts between individuals every minute of every day around the world -- therefore, proving that the world is not inherently evil.
     Surely they can see the supernatural battle that exists between the Spirit of a merciful God and the spiritual tactics of one who is God's "cosmic" adversary.  The evidence of both good and evil is undeniably and physically manifested before our eyes.  As for "fearing God", once again this shows a lack of Biblical understanding.  (And I find it ironic that those without faith in God and the truthfulness of the Bible would dare to try to define Biblical terms from a secular standard.  Doesn't that go against "scientific" guidelines)?  But I digress... as anyone who understands Faith with a capital "F" knows, the meaning of the word fear, in this case, points to a reverence or awe of our God.  This reverence comes from knowing that He is our Creator, He has determined the number of our days on this earth, and that He has the power to determine where we will spend the rest of the eternity He has made.
     Without personal knowledge of God and His Son, I doubt that you could ever convince anyone of the existence of heaven or hell.  They are the consequences of either belief or unbelief, just as our abilities to be either good or evil derive from belief or doubt in a Sovereign, Omniscient God.  It is not a matter of physical proof, but of complete trust, confidence, and spiritual intuition in One whose very breath indwells us.
    We are all familiar with the comparison that inevitably surfaces at some point in this argument ...  if those who refute the existence of heaven and hell are correct -- and the screen just fades to black, so to speak, when we die -- then it won't really matter to either one of us.  But if I am correct, and we are all assigned to heaven or hell, then there is an eternal consequence for their refusal to acknowledge the existence of either.  It is hard for me to leave the argument there; how do we impress upon people the eternal, everlasting, permanent consequences of them seeking an answer to this significant question?
     I may not be able to prove that heaven or hell exists; or what defines good and evil, but I know this... I am more than blood and tissue; more than biological matter.  This earthen vessel houses a spirit that longs to return to its original home.  And these few years that I occupy this space on earth are not all there is.... and that is great, glorious, and merciful Good News!

Romans 2:6-8   "He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, He will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury."

 

Look What We've Set In Motion!

     I guess I shouldn't have been surprised.  It has been less than two months since the Supreme Court's historical decision striking down traditional marriage and conferring the Biblical state of matrimony upon basically everyone, regardless of sex.  In less than two months, the State has begun exerting its power over those who wish to preserve the religious liberty heretofore guaranteed them by the First Amendment.
     We have seen County Clerks forced to choose between their job and their faith when they decline to issue marriage licenses based on their religious convictions.  We have seen the growing threat against the tax status of Churches who have stated they will refuse to conduct same-sex marriages. There is also the threat against military chaplains who will not disavow the Bible's teachings on marriage. And now there is the case of a prison chaplain who was told he could either sign a state-mandated document promising to never tell inmates that homosexuality is “sinful” or else the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice would revoke his credentials.
     Saying that "it broke his heart", Chaplain David Wells could not comply with the demand and saw his volunteer credentials as an ordained minister revoked – ending 13 years of ministry to underage inmates at the Warren County Regional Juvenile Detention Center.  Those years of ministry included many counseling sessions with youth who were sexually abused both inside and outside the justice system.  Having been abused as a child, Wells was uniquely qualified to help young men deal with the horrors of incarceration and the sexual abuse that often accompanied it.
     “I sat across the table from a 16-year-old boy who was weeping and broken over the life he was in,” Wells said. “He had been abused as a child and turned to alcohol and drugs to cope. He wanted to know if there was any hope for him.... I was able to look at him and tell him the saving power of Jesus Christ that delivered me – [and] could deliver him,” he said.  He was able to counsel the young man, that is, as long as he did not refer to Biblical opinions on homosexuality, which would understandably be part of any conversation about prison rape or sexual abuse within the walls of the juvenile institution.
     I confess that it was difficult for me to find any solid statistics on the rate of sexual abuse in prison.  There were allusions to it, but often no hard numbers.  And if there were, they seemed incredibly low to me ... one claiming only 140,000 assaults in the entire U.S. justice system, and less than 1500 among juveniles.  Yet the personal testimony in the link above makes it clear that the cases are grossly underestimated.  And that makes Chaplain Wells's dismissal even more tragic.
      So, essentially, what we have is this monumental Supreme Court decision that will affect so much more than an individual's right to call themselves "married".  It has the potential to remove all Christian influence from our cultural conversation.  There is now no absolute moral code.  The Supreme Court has essentially ruled that individuals have civil rights based on their sexual behavior, whatever that might be.  For now, that has been expanded to mean two men, or two women.  We are already seeing challenges to that.
     A man in Montana plans to sue after being denied a marriage license to wed a second wife.  And can you really say that you do not foresee someone who wants to marry his pet, which constitutes what the Bible calls Bestiality?  And what about a personal robot?  Think that's preposterous?  Just read this article that presents all the arguments we can expect to hear in the near future.

    And then there is the abhorrent organization NAMBLA (North American Man/Boy Love Association) which was founded in 1978 and whose aim is to overturn statutory rape laws and force the reduction of “age of consent” laws that require a child to be of a certain age (which varies by state) before they can agree to sexual intercourse.  (Please know that, in general, the LGBT community is just as appalled by this organization and disassociates themselves from NAMBLA).
     I can remember Dr. Laura warning of this organization 20 years ago, and she was nearly laughed off the airwaves for even suggesting that this group existed, or that they promoted and "celebrated the dignity inherent in the natural love of boys."  That's called Pedophilia by any other name.  Yet how long before their individual civil rights will be upheld by the Supreme Court?  If it is the law of the land that one's civil rights cannot be denied on the basis of sexual behavior, what limitations have been put in place?  None that I can see.
     While I truly believe that our lost society will eventually embrace all these aberrations, as eccentric as they seem, I also have profound confidence in the power of the Holy Spirit to enable those of us who believe in the Word of God to resist these societal changes that fundamentally contradict our faith.  But we must expect pushback and resistance.  Indeed, because we have been silent too long, and have tried too hard to be accommodating and "politically correct", we are now paying the price that comes with compromise, and it will result in social conflict.
     But we must not draw back or shrink from our commission to speak God's commandments into the world.  We understand, like Chaplain Wells, that our Christian influence will be limited by the State.  But God will anoint us with powerful testimonies that will overcome the barriers erected by men.  Like the mighty Apostles of old, we will come back from apparent defeat.  We will not be intimidated; and the strength and boldness that comes from the indwelling Spirit will be evident to all.  So, while the future is unforeseeable, we can be sure of one thing ... the Lord will tolerate only so much transgression before He sets things aright.  And with possibilities such as the aforementioned, we certainly seem to be nearing that limit...

2 Chronicles 16:9    "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars."

The Spirit of Jezebel & The Empire State Building

   

     Just when I think this nation can't turn any further away from YHWH, I see the disturbing image of the Hindu goddess Kali projected on the Empire State Building... and it's supposedly all in the name of art and projecting the human race's need to avoid our coming extinction.
     Here's how the subterfuge is presented:  Filmmaker Louie Psihoyos announces that he wishes to initiate an artistic presentation called Projecting Change, which projected pictures of endangered creatures onto the NYC skyline.  Meant to spark awareness of massive wildlife extinction, and to draw attention to the alarming rate at which species are dying, images such as that of the now famous Cecil the lion, and hundreds of other nameless endangered animals were showcased on the Empire State Building.
     Of course projecting images on New York City's most iconic building is bound to make a statement.  But I can think of many other causes that could have used the publicity to garner support and sympathy .... oh, say the fact that 22 of our military veterans die each day from suicide, for instance; or the innocent Christian girls in the Middle East who have been kidnapped as sex slaves for the barbarians called ISIS; or, how about the innocent fetuses sold for body parts by Planned Parenthood?
     But apparently this filmmaker felt that Mother Nature deserved the public's attention more, so he drafted artist Andrew Jones to design the last image to deface... uh, I mean appear on the Empire State Building.  It was the fierce portrait of Kali, who is the Hindu Goddess of Time, Change, Power and Destruction.  She was presented as an avatar "to fight the dangers of pollution and extinction."  In reality she was presented to the world as an idol; her name means black, time, death, lord of death; and she is known as the “Black One”, or the “Dark One”.
     I ask you, how is this any different from the other false goddesses that have turned mankind away from the worship of the true God?  In an astute 2009 blog I found a comprehensive study of the stable of "mother goddesses" who all have the same spirit of destruction and dominance.  I have written of this phenomenon across cultures in the past, but this article gives an excellent summation.  Historian César Vidal is quoted as saying, "The mother goddess received different names and external appearances, but, in substance, she was always the same. In Egypt, she was called Isis. In Crete, she was represented as a mother who made friendly contact with snakes. In Greece she was known as Demeter, and in Rome she was worshiped as Cybele, the Magna Mater (Great Mother), a mother goddess of Phrygian origin. There is practically no ancient culture that did not worship this type of deity."  So, it looks as if we just falling right in line.
     But perhaps one of the most important architects of this false worship was Jezebel, the pagan Queen of Israel.  When the Phoenician princess Jezebel married Ahab, the king of Israel, she influenced him to fully establish Baal worship in his realm.  You see, in Phoenicia, Baalism included the worship of Molech with fiery sacrifices of children and the worship of Astarte, the Phoenician Ishtar, Queen of Heaven.  Jezebel caused altars to be erected to this idol in every part of Israel; and at one time four hundred priests attended the worship of Ishtar/Ashteroth.  She had such a powerful control over Ahab, that he built a temple to Baal, and the Bible records that he sinned against God more than any other king.  But here's the result of that idolatrous relationship:  The nation of Israel became so entangled with the Queen of Heaven/Mother Goddess worship that YHWH judged them by sending them into captivity by the hand of the Assyrians, and the nation of Israel was scattered to the ends of the earth.  2 Kings 17 tells us that the Israelites turned away from worshipping God, built false idols, worshipped Ashteroth, killed their children, served Baal, practiced witchcraft, and sinned greatly against God.  For all that, "the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah alone."
     So, how are we any different?  How do you think God views the Hindu Goddess Kali being projected as worthy of worship by our nation?  Because that is what we are doing when we admire and honor her; when we pay homage to her and magnify her as worthy of our adulation?  And aren't Kali's other name descriptions reminiscent of the spirit of Jezebel?  I mean, didn't Jezebel bring Change and Power and Destruction upon the nation of Israel?  And by her appearance on the Empire State Building, is Kali saying, "Now is my Time"?
     You may think this is all just my fanciful, over-exaggerated imagination.  But I have found that the themes throughout the Bible are not limited to ancient times.  They have been repeated throughout the cycles of man's history.  But, we don't have to be influenced by this adulterous and deceiving generation.  Just reading the comments after some of the articles on this spectacle showed me how easily the world is fooled by those who will say that all religions are the same.
     But we know better.  We can stand our ground, denounce such unfaithfulness, and speak louder of the power of YHWH; the power to overcome and defeat all such false idols and the devastation that follows in the wake of their worship.  We will not surrender to this spirit of Jezebel or any of her fellow false goddesses.  Artists can paint their portraits across the skyline of NYC; but they will all disappear when the coming of the King of Kings is visible to the whole world.  It will soon be His time!

1 Kings 21:25    "There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited."

Think Agenda 21 Abuses Our Freedoms? Take A Look At Agenda 2030!

     Thanks to the website, End of the American Dream, for providing the following exciting news (wink, wink).  Next month, the Pope is traveling to New York City to kick off a conference at the United Nations in which "The 2030 Agenda" will be presented to the world.

     We are all familiar with the "sustainable" aspects of the UN's Agenda 21, whose stated goal was to protect the environment in the form of a  "comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations of the United Nations system, governments and major groups, in every area in which humans impact the environment.”  This was conveniently encapsulated under a comprehensive objective called "climate change".

     Now, of course, it was also stated that such plans were non-binding, and voluntary, but someone forgot to tell the governments of the world (including ours) who have been trying to implement restrictions on the world's human population through Agenda 21 since its inception in 1992.  

     Under the guise of providing adequate shelter for all; promoting sustainable land-use planning and management; promoting sustainable energy and transport systems in human settlements; and other supposed moral objectives to care for the world's underprivileged, it is really all about terminating our private property rights in favor of confiscation and controlling the world's population and food supply... all voluntary, of course.

     But this new global initiative is being billed as "a new Universal Agenda for humanity".  In addition to addressing climate change, it also sets ambitious goals for areas such as economics, health, energy, education, agriculture, gender equality and a whole host of other issues.... in other words, the globalists want to usher in the One World Government that controls every aspect of our lives.  Think I'm kidding?  Here is a portion of the preamble of Agenda 2030:

     This Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. It also seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom. We recognize that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.

     All countries and all stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership, will implement this plan. We are resolved to free the human race from the tyranny of poverty and want, and to heal and secure our planet. We are determined to take the bold and transformative steps which are urgently needed to shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path. As we embark on this collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind.

     The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets which we are announcing today demonstrate the scale and ambition of this new universal Agenda. They seek to build on the Millennium Development Goals and complete what these did not achieve. They seek to realize the human rights of all and to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. They are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental.

     I don't know about you, but this sounds awfully forceful and authoritative to me.  When you read the 17 core goals of the Agenda, they sound utopian and idealistic ... things such as "End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture", and ... "Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all", or ... "Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels", and one more ... "Reduce inequality within and among countries."  Notice that the word "sustainable" is evident in nearly all of  them, while there is no mention of individual rights or how they are going to get individual landowners to cooperate. And this new agenda gives no perception that is voluntary, does it?

     You see individual liberty and freedom aren't really conducive to a "global initiative".  You can't have people doing what they want if you plan on controlling every aspect of their lives.  After all, it's "bad for the planet."  And you might be interested to know that one of the goals of the sustainable development globalists is to push the human population into giant “megacities” and to allow nature to recapture much of what has already been settled by humanity.  See where this is going?  They can't have people living in rural areas growing their own food, and living sustainable lives on their own!  They must be controlled!

     So no matter how the Pope or other world leaders try to soft sell the idea to us, we mustn't be fooled.  This is just the next phase of mankind's steady march towards a new world order and the sudden and powerful deception of the Anti-Christ.  But those of us who put our faith in Jesus Christ and are covered by His blood need not fear.  Our eternal freedom cannot be taken from us and we shall never disown or renounce our Savior.  The only thing that we need to sustain us is our Lord's Grace... and it will be sufficient.

To read more about Agenda 2030, and this new universal initiative for humanity, click here.

Psalm 2:1-3     Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 

Ready For This? Sex With Angels

      What I'm about to talk about will seem over the top, hard to believe, and frankly, unworthy of discussion among Christians.  But apparently it is a taboo subject that is far more common than one might expect, and is as old as man himself.
     I don't know how to begin any other way but just to dive in ... I had been hearing preposterous stories of Hollywood stars giving glowing reports of sex with "heavenly angels".  Thinking it was some kind of publicity stunt, I blew it off.  Then I began hearing deliverance ministers talking about the horror stories of people who had first welcomed such visitations, but soon began to dread the attacks which were destroying their lives.
     It all seemed like headlines from the latest supermarket tabloids... but these people believed it happened to them and were able to graphically describe the occasions.  Such is the case with actress Lucy Liu in an interview she did with US magazine:  "I was sleeping on my futon on the floor, and some sort of spirit came down from God knows where and made love to me. It was sheer bliss. I felt everything. I climaxed. And then he floated away. It was almost like what might have happened to Mary. That’s how it felt. Something came down and touched me, and now it watches over me." I am appalled at the inference that what happened to Ms. Liu can be prepared to the Holy Spirit, but how convenient of the devil to try to counterfeit this ideal.
     And, of course, there was the concern over the lyrics in Katy Perry's song, E.T.:  "You’re so hypnotizing. Could you be the devil, could you be an angel? Your touch magnetizing. Feels like I am floating. Leaves my body glowing. They say be afraid. You’re not like the others futuristic lover. Different DNA. They don’t understand you. You’re from a whole other world. A different dimension. You opened my eyes. I’m ready to go. Lead me into the light."
     What is so disturbing to me is that both of these accounts are being accepted in pop culture as something popular; something positive; something "spiritual" that watches over them and leads them to the light.... something to be envied and sought after.  Those of us who are aware of the increase in spiritual warfare are all too mindful that this is a seductive attack by the dark side.  But is it new to this generation?
     We just have to go back a few decades to see it occurring in the supposedly innocent song lyrics of Roy Orbison's Mystery Girl:  "Darkness falls and she will take me by the hand, Take me to some twilight land. Where all but love is grey. Where I can't find my way. Without her as my guide...Night falls I'm cast beneath her spell. Daylight comes our heaven turns to hell. Am I left to burn and burn eternally....She's a mystery to me. She's a Mystery Girl. She's a Mystery Girl... In the night of love words tangled in her hair. Words soon to disappear. A love so sharp it cut like a switchblade to my heart; words tearing me apart. She tears again my bleeding heart. I want to run she's pulling me apart. Fallen angel cries, And I just melt away. She's a mystery to me; She's a Mystery Girl."
     Did you catch that reference to a fallen angel?  Kind of view this song a little differently now, don't you?  It's a pretty explicit rendering of the power of these spiritual entities who initially bring experiences of lustful pleasure, but eventually cause their "heaven to turn to hell".  And in case you are still not buying this evil experience, there is actually a definition of what is happening.  It is called Spectrophilia, and is defined as "sexual attraction to ghosts or sexual arousal from images in mirrors, also the phenomenon of sexual encounters between ghosts and humans."  One element that is usually a big part of the experience is the rape of both men and women, usually while they are sleeping... that sounds like what happened in Roy Orbison's song.

     There will be those who say this is all part of ancient mythology; folk lore that has existed for centuries.  Among the more famous stories of such sexual encounters with spirits are Gilgamesh (a post flood god-human hybrid (demigod) that had sex with a goddess (supernatural female entity). The result was Gilgamesh being born 2/3 god and 1/3 human);  Achilles and Hercules (both products of supernatural sexual encounters that result in god-human hybrids or demigods); Merlin, who according to legend, was a cambion, which is part demon and part human. Often times that fact is left out of the King Arthur story; and of course the Bible's accounting of the Nephilim in Genesis 6, who were the sons of fallen angels and human women.
     So, if you still want to dismiss all this as mythology or folklore, ask yourself this question:  Is it a coincidence that the idea of sex with the supernatural exists all throughout history, regardless of politics, religion, or economic status? And can you dismiss that in Luke 17 Jesus says that the Last Days will be like the days of Lot?  Yes, He says that people "ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built"... but what else did they do?  Seek to have sex with the angels that came to Lot's house.  Although those angels were sent from God, man's appetite for "angel sex" has not abated, and Satan is only too happy to oblige.
     Why do I find it necessary to bring this situation to your attention?  Because our kids are being sucked into an occult entertainment world that celebrates such liaisons... besides Katy Perry's music and Lucy Liu's glowing report, they are inundated with the likes of True Blood on TV, and the Twilight movie series, where human girls fall in love with vampires.  It's just one more repetition of Satan's ancient practice of drawing us away from our Savior and into his clutches.  I'm sure there is so much more than I am even aware of; especially in video games, animation, and play-acting diversions, such as Dungeons and Dragons.  
     We must quit thinking that our civilization is too advanced to fall for the deceptions that the ancient cultures embraced, and realize that we are just as vulnerable.  We give Satan an open invitation and legal right to visit these dark entities upon us.  And please be aware that there is no age limit upon those whom the devil tempts ... Guard yourself and your children!

Please take the time to read this informative article which provided much of the background for this blog post.

James 1:13-14     Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

Mark 1:8

 I have baptized you with water, 

but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

     We are all familiar with the Scripture that recounts the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist.  We know that John preached repentance for the forgiveness of sins, and that baptism represented the release of sins from off our flesh and our rebirth as a new person in God.  But how many of us fully understand the difference between water baptism and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

     I am saddened that today's Church no longer seems to emphasize these two important gifts of faith, or their differences.  I have endeavored to educate myself on this topic and would like to share what I have learned.  I do not intend my opinion to be the conclusive teaching on the matter, but I hope you will realize how important it is for us to understand and seek both these gifts from God.

     I assume that everyone is mostly familiar with water baptism; it is an outward action taken by a Believer to declare his/her allegiance to God; both a profession of faith in Jesus to the people of this world, and is viewed as a physical declaration of loyalty to God by the spiritual world.

     Baptism of the Holy Spirit is an action taken by God to indwell a Believer; an eternal association with the Holy Spirit; we are bound to Him.  He enables us to continue the Lord’s work; He is the agent through which we receive the power and authority from God.  We receive divine inspiration to share the doctrine and teachings of Christ. It is a God-mandated, spiritual commission from God, with real evidence and tangible benefits. 

     Can you see the difference?  While water baptism is an important part of a Believer's process of coming to God, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a serious undertaking for the Believer.  We must arrive at a sanctified place in our lives; a place where we have confessed every known sin and fully cleansed ourselves of any desires to live in the flesh.  It is not something done lightly, nor is it automatically granted.  In fact, the evidence of having received this holy Baptism can be quite different for different people.

     Some people have a spontaneous reaction ... they speak in tongues (a private prayer language between them and God).  And I know that there will be those who say this gift is no longer present in the lives of modern Believers, but I know people to whom this has happened.  Others receive some sort of manifestation; some kind of physical response … they may cry, or feel a swelling in their soul,  or feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in some physical manner.  Still others may have absolutely nothing happen -- and it appears that this is what usually happens; there is no clear manifestation at the moment that one is baptized into the Holy Spirit.

     However, there will be evidences and benefits of this sacred baptism as the Believer begins to live out his eternal association with the Holy Spirit.  Some of these confirmations are as follows:  People find that they have a deeper personal relationship with God, and a real hunger for the Word.  You will find that you have "an anointing" for whatever purpose God has called you to in His Kingdom.  For example, if God calls you to be a doctor, then you will have His supernatural power operating through you so you can then become a great doctor, not just an average doctor.  

     You start seeing things in Scripture and in your life more clearly; the Holy Spirit is truly your "Helper", which is one of His titles.  You may feel as if you are hearing more clearly from God; knowing how He wants you to proceed in matters regarding His Kingdom-- your energy levels and your intelligence levels seem to increase exponentially.  

     And those goose bumps you habitually get?  Or the chill that runs down your spine when you are praying for an answer or contemplating how God wants you to respond or think about a situation?  Those are manifestations that the Holy Spirit is communicating God's will in your life.  

     These are just some of the benefits and evidences that you have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.  For the longest time I felt that it had to be some momentous occurrence, some earth-shattering event -- and for some people it is!  But not everyone will share the same experience.  As you grow in your faith, and progress through your salvation experience you will grow to recognize the Holy Spirit's presence in your life.  You will hunger to do the Lord's work and to share what He has done in you.  You will know that you have been given a commission from God, and you will see your path clearly.  It is truly a gift from God that can effect your life and the world!  

     

For What It's Worth ... My Debate Analysis

   

     As I stated on Thursday, I don't really expect the 2016 Presidential election to miraculously change the trajectory of this nation.  I think the writing is on the wall... the global elite are inching us closer to the One World Government prophesied in the Bible, and the sovereignty of our country is being swallowed up in multilateral treaties, detrimental trade agreements, and conciliatory weapons deals with terrorist States.  We are too far in debt, morally bankrupt, and willing to sell even our own land to foreign interests just to make a buck.  I'm not sure that one man, or woman, can make a difference at this point.
     Yet I was one of the 24,000,000 people who tuned in to the Republican Primary Debate, perhaps hoping that I would see some sign from God that He's changed His mind about letting us reap the rewards of our sinful ways... not that we don't deserve whatever is in our future.  However, I didn't receive any heavenly vision, and none of the men on the stage threw down a staff that turned into a serpent and exclaimed "Follow Me!"; but I did make some interesting observations:
•  Let's start with the elephant in the room ... Donald Trump.  It seemed quite apparent from the opening salvo, that the Fox News moderators had their marching orders:  attack Trump.  They tried to make him look divisive by pointing out that if he runs as a Third Party candidate, it will most likely split the vote, and hand the victory to the Democratic Party.  The intent was clear ... marginalize him.
     In an attempt to point out his perceived arrogance and, possibly, to alienate the female vote, Megyn Kelly did a pretty good job of showing off her own ego and conceit.  It was apparent that she dislikes Trump, and by repeating some of his alleged name-calling of women, she came off as unprofessional and vitriolic.  I wonder who gave her that assignment?
     But in the end, the Donald gave a good show -- and it was just that, a show.  He gave no substantial solutions to America's problems, and no definitive answers to how he would run the country.  The rhetoric was eloquent and forceful, but I never heard how he would accomplish his lofty goals. Unfortunately, by the results of the exit polls, there are still millions of Americans who are enamored with his politically incorrect attacks against the Washington establishment.  I would at least hope that if these people are planning on voting, they will take a little more time to consider that he's merely tapping in to the frustration in the country, and look beyond the sound bite to see if there is any substance to him.  It's hard for me not to wonder if somehow he's figured out how to profit from all this showmanship.  And I'm still not convinced he's not the fox in the hen house (if you know what I mean).
•  I found it interesting who was asked repeated questions, and who must have been chomping at the bit, wondering if they were going to be allowed to take an active part in this debate.  One such candidate was Ben Carson, and I found him refreshing and a decidedly non-Washington contender.  He would obviously need some schooling on the duties of the President, but he kind of reminds me of the citizen-servant in that old Jimmy Stewart movie, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington.  He is suggestive of the original intention of our Founders that normal citizens would get involved in serving in our government for selfless reasons; not to enrich themselves.
     I was extremely impressed with his heartfelt closing statement; that he would "pick up the baton of freedom, because freedom is not free, and we must fight for it every day. Every one of us must fight for it, because we’re fighting for our children and the next generation."
•  I liked Ted Cruz's ideas, but not his delivery.  The endless pauses drove me crazy ... too coached, and too unnatural.  I've read that he was the best debater in law school, and that's what I felt I was watching -- a debate team competition.  Just talk to me, Ted ... let go of your "debate mode" and have a conversation with me.
•  Rand Paul seemed to have a "small man complex", pouncing on the other candidates (especially Chris Christie, who was just too much of a politician).  We get it, Rand.  You want us to see you as "a different kind of Republican" -- the one who will not cower from standing tall for the American people; which is something the Republican Party has lacked throughout the last 8 years.  But it came across a little too caustic.
•  Jeb Bush seemed dazed and confused; doesn't have the killer instinct of his big brother.
•  John Kasich shows promise and held his own; Mike Huckabee was a smooth talker (the consummate politician); sailed through any real scrutiny of his endorsement of Common Core; and Scott Walker handled the land mines laid out for him on his former position on abortion without missing a step.
•  Marco Rubio was the pleasant surprise of the night for me.  Always articulate, he looked like a statesman; like someone who would be proud of representing this country, and someone I could be proud of.  He still remembers what it was like to live paycheck to paycheck, and to owe massive student loans; yet he's been a quick learner of how to deal with Washington politics.  The real question remains... is he for real?  Can he resist the pressure that will (or has been) put on him to "play ball" with the puppet masters?
      Of all the candidates who invoked God that night, his remarks touched me the most. Not that I felt the others were insincere, but Rubio acknowledged that this nation has been extraordinarily blessed.  And you could hear the emotion in his voice when he said, "[we need to] pass a law in this country that says all human life at every stage of its development is worthy of protection.  In fact, I think that law already exists. It is called the Constitution of the United States... And let me go further. I believe that every single human being is entitled to the protection of our laws, whether they can vote or not. Whether they can speak or not. Whether they can hire a lawyer or not. Whether they have a birth certificate or not. And I think future generations will look back at this history of our country and call us barbarians for murdering millions of babies who we never gave them a chance to live."
     There was so much more to this debate that I haven't even mentioned.... immigration, the economy, our veterans and the VA, the tax code; over-regulation and small business, just to name a few.  There wasn't a real loser in the bunch, as far as being able to present a confident and impassioned strength.  The field was strong and they're ready for the opposition.  It was almost enough to give me hope that we still stand a chance with the right man in office.  It was almost enough to make me think this election still matters and that the process will be fair and honest.... almost.  There is a lot that can happen in the next 15 months, and only God knows what the outcome will be.  I just pray He will be merciful.

Psalm 33:12     "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen as His heritage!"