Romans 1:17-19

For in it [the gospel of Christ] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 

     I want to examine these two very important aspects of God:  His righteousness and His wrath.  The Church is very good at teaching us about that first part of God's character: His righteousness, or His mercy.  That is the picture that most Christians have of Yeshua and the Father.  In the words of Bible teacher Derek Prince, "God's mercy offers His righteousness, which He imparts to those who receive by faith the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf." 

     We all get that.  In an effort to win new converts, we often say to unbelievers, "Jesus died for my sins. Through my faith in Him, I am forgiven of all my transgressions -- past, present, and future -- and God has poured out His love on me.  That's what He wants to do for you, too."  We are pretty good at expressing the Truth of the first part of our selected Scripture.  But we need to take a good, hard look at ourselves and ask the question, "Are we suppressing the whole truth of this passage?"  Because if we are not revealing the significance of the second half of these verses, then we are doing a great disservice to those we are trying to reach, and are not honoring the full character of God.

     I want to give you the continuation of Derek Prince's thoughts on the subject:  "Christians who question the reality of God's judgment on sin should ponder afresh the significance of the crucifixion.  Even Jesus could not make sin acceptable to God, but had to endure the full outpouring of His wrath."  So, yes, Christ's substitutionary death at Calvary is the ultimate sign of God's mercy on a sinful world.  But often, the Church fails to point out that it is, at the same time, the ultimate revelation of God's wrath, poured out on Jesus when He became identified with man's sin.  How many times have you heard Christians refer to the attributes of God's lovingkindness; and how many pictures of Yeshua are hanging in Church sanctuaries and classrooms of the gentle Christ with the lamb around his neck?  Do you ever see pictures of an angry God, or of Yeshua at the head of His heavenly army, coming to slay the wicked of the earth?  

     Many Christians who point to the Cross as the true manifestation of God's character, only see Love.  But they should also be reminded that what is shown to us at the Cross is more than God's love and mercy for us; we should also see that not even His precious Son escaped His wrath.  The Cross is a picture of Yeshua enduring the outpouring of God's wrath that is due every man for his sins against the Lord.  Yes, His love has given us a way to avoid that wrath through faith in His Son, but that wrath is still in play and will be poured out upon the wicked (those who reject Christ) when Yeshua returns in triumph at the end of this Age.  

     The Apostle Paul is careful to make sure that we understand this dual aspect of God's character.  He says in Romans 11:22, "Therefore consider the goodness [or kindness] and severity of God:  on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off."  Now, I'm here to tell you that Christians don't want to hear that!  This is getting into really uncomfortable territory and forces us to consider that God's wrath has not been taken off the table, so to speak.   Once we've seen and felt and experienced the goodness of God through our salvation, we don't want to hear that there's any more possibility of punishment -- or discipline, or wrath, or whatever you want to call it.  You will hear some say, "Well, they were never saved in the first place."  But -- and I don't mean to offend you -- but that seems like a pretty convenient caveat, doesn't it?  

     In the Greek translation of the New Testament, Paul actually cautions new Gentile converts who think that their profession of faith and salvation renders them immune from God's wrath forever:  "Stop having such a superiority complex; but be fearing...".  He then goes on to remind them of both God's kindness and severity, in the cutting off of the natural branches, the Jews.

     It is time the Church and all Christians who fear Him to present the full character of God.  It is quite evident that the world is spiraling out of control and the depths of sin have become abominable.   We must declare, as Pastor Charles Stanley has done, "that there can be no doubt of the wrath of God against all the wickedness of men—against sin. It was seen at the Flood; in the destruction of Sodom; and on the Holy One who was made sin for us. It is also revealed that He is coming in judgment, taking vengeance. The wicked will surely be cast into the lake of fire.  The love of God alone, will not rescue me on His Day of Wrath.  It must be evident that a righteous God must Justify those who believe, and then we will finish [our] process of salvation."  

     God has shown us both His Righteousness and His Wrath.  To look upon one, while denying the other is to both misinform and deceive.  

Kim Davis And The Apostle Paul

     Just as in the case of the refugees storming the borders of Europe, there is no easy answer to the situation involving the County Clerk in Kentucky who refuses to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.  Kim Davis has made her position clear:  she can’t comply with the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling legalizing gay marriage nationwide, because it conflicts with the vows she made when she became a born-again Christian.   “To me this has never been a gay or lesbian issue. It is about marriage and God’s word.”  So, she has chosen to go to jail rather than disobey her conscience.
     Naturally, her life as a Christian has come under review ... the multiple marriages, the questionable births of her children, the controversy surrounding her exorbitant salary.  It is not my purpose to judge her or question her faith.  Ultimately, we must accept her statement that she "surrendered her life to Jesus Christ" four years ago.  Rather, the purpose of this blog post is to ask ourselves, "What would we do in her place?"

     Like many of us Christians, Davis is faced with a quandary ... God's moral law conflicts with the laws of the State (in this case, the Supreme Court decision to allow gay marriages).  But she works for the State, therefore it is reasonable to ask, "Should she be forced [within the jurisdiction of her job] to do something that goes against her religious convictions"?  At the same time, it is also rational to ask, "If you cannot perform the duties that you took an oath to uphold, why not quit your job in order that you do not go against your moral beliefs"?
     It is not up to us to question Ms. Davis's faith.  She has stated that her conscious will not allow her to  violate the vows she has made to God when she recognized Jesus as her Savior.  Those vows amount to a personal oath to God, Himself.  Now, the federal judge in this case has acknowledged that oaths mean something ... and he maintains that her oath as a federal employee trumps her oath as a Christian.  But what if the circumstances of the oath she took to perform her official government duties has changed since she initially took that oath?  What should be her course of action?
     To be honest, I have struggled with what I would do in her place.  Those who think she's gone too far in her objections to performing her official duties will point to the following passage in Romans 13:

1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

     "See!", they'll say.  "The Bible tells her to do her job.  The Supreme Court's decision was appointed by God. She is resisting God's directive, and now she's in jail, which is the judgment she has brought on herself."  But is that really what Paul is saying?  Our home church group recently studied the Book of Romans, and when you study Romans 13 within the context of history and what Paul was warning about, it really has great relevance for us today.

     Just prior to this well-known letter to the Christians in Rome, Paul had stated at the end of Chapter 12, that he wished them not to take revenge, to leave the way open for God’s vengeance, and to “overcome evil with good.”  So what, exactly, was Paul seeing at this time that he followed this verse with the Romans 13 command to be subject to the governing authorities?
     History tells us that Paul was planning to visit Jerusalem, where there were many political tensions.  The Romans viewed Christianity as a “superstition” and bad for society.  (Sound familiar?) They believed that proper "piety" to the Roman gods helped to sustain the well being of the cities and their people.  (We could liken that to bowing down to today's secular god of political correctness). So it is within this context that Paul is writing about obedience to civil authorities.
     Emperor Claudius reigned until 54 AD, and Jews were causing so much civil unrest that he had them expelled from Rome (Acts 18:32).  After Claudius, Emperor Nero came to power in 54 AD (at the age of 16), and it might have been him that Paul had in mind when writing the Romans 13 letter.  Remember, before this, the Christian Church and community was thought of as a group of dissident Jews.  (Jesus had been brought before Pilate for “disturbing the peace”). Now, under Nero, Christians begin to be distinguished from Jews, and are becoming a target.
     Just how much of a target would become evident in the later accounts of Nero clothing Christians in the hides of beasts and letting them be torn to death by dogs; others were crucified, others set on fire to serve to illuminate the night when daylight failed.  But perhaps Paul is seeing the trend that has been set by Claudius and that Christians, under Nero, are becoming a target.  He is warning them to “play it cool” so to speak, and obey the authorities, not calling attention to themselves.
     From this historical context, here is how my thoughts are running ... the primary focus is on the individual citizen and how we are to react to governing authorities … do what is right to avoid God’s wrath and punishment and vengeance (Verses 4- 5) … he is God’s servant for your good (Verse 4), appointed by God.  Now, I don't see where these verses specifically address the idea of a bad or evil governing authority.  Perhaps because even the bad ones are appointed by God to discipline us?  And even if that’s the case, we are to act righteously, as verse 5 tells us …. as a matter of principle and for the sake of our conscience.
    So, can we agree that although government authority is established by God, and is good in itself, it is sometimes used in an evil way?  Is Paul telling us that Christians should not fight against the government, repaying evil for evil, but are to respond with good behavior?   I believe that the Apostles were faced with very similar decisions as Ms. Davis (and with which we will all be subject soon), and the choices are slim:  1) As long as government is consistent with Christian duty, they are to be obeyed – even when oppressive, or 2) What if the government fails in their duties to do right according to Godly principles, and what if they restrict the freedom to worship our faith?  No earthly power can force us to go against God… it is our responsibility to God to resist.  If the government commands a sin, then we have to disobey.  This directive is apparent in Acts 5:29 when Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!"
     As you can see, there is no clear-cut answer!  I think this is something that each Christian must decide for himself, according to his/her conscience after seeking an answer from God as to how they are to proceed.

    I have often written in this blog that Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Lutheran pastor in WWII Germany, made the decision that his conscience bid him to get involved with a plot to assassinate Hitler.  He felt strongly led that he must stand up to the greatest evil in his time, even if it meant he advocated the murder of another man.  But he prayed that when he stood before God, the Lord would understand his heart and his motives. Evil must not be allowed to stand!
     Kim Davis has taken two oaths; one to her Father in Heaven, and one as part of the governing authorities established by God.  Which one does she owe allegiance to?  She must violate one in order to perform the other, and she has been forced to choose.  The Bible tells us not to make oaths without considering the possibility of future ramifications.  We see what happened to Jephthah, the Judge of Israel who made an oath to sacrifice the first person he saw on returning home from battle, if God would deliver the Ammonites to him in victory (Judges 11).  It cost him the life of his only child, his precious daughter.
     But when Kim Davis took her oath in office as a Kentucky County Clerk, this is the oath she took:  "I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this Commonwealth, and be faithful and true to the Commonwealth of Kentucky so long as I continue a citizen thereof, and that I will faithfully execute, to the best of my ability, the office of County Clerk according to law;".  At the time, she could not foresee the rapid road we have taken to legalize gay marriage.  So, she has made the decision to go to jail rather than concede.
     If you read all the various opinions on her decision, you will see people calling her everything from a modern saint to a hypocritical, belligerent, and aggressive Christian.  I cannot know who she is in her spirit, but I think I can understand her choice for this reason:  the only biblical reason for violating an oath is if the objective of the oath is sinful.  If, as a Christian, one can never bind himself to sin, her oath as a civil servant is invalid from its inception and consequently, is not binding.  Does that give us our defining answer?  I would not be so arrogant as to suggest that, but it certainly is a valid point.  Furthermore, I think that this circumstance should be a warning to each of us.  We must be forming our own Biblical standards and what we understand to be the Holy Spirit's counsel on this matter.  Because, just like the Christians in First Century Rome; Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Hitler's Germany; and Kim Davis in rural Kentucky --- we are all going to have to decide where to draw the line in the sand in our obedience to our God.

1 Corinthians 4:3-4   "But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me."


   

The Good Samaritan: "Go and Do Likewise"

    No one can deny that this nation is facing a profusion of problems.  Our culture and politicians are immoral; our economy is floundering; we face an uncertain future; and there are enough conspiracy theories to keep us on edge for the next decade.  While others may be fixated on these troublesome events, my soul is torn asunder by the images of the Middle Eastern and African refugees trying to get to Europe for asylum.

     Who is not moved by the body of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi washed up on a Turkish beach after he drowned trying to get to Greece with his family?  And the images coming out of Budapest, Hungary are simply too difficult to contemplate; the misery, and the fear, and the determination are on every face of the thousands fighting to board trains they hope will take them to safety in Europe.
     There are photos of fathers throwing their bodies over their wives and babies as they lie on railroad tracks, trying to avoid being sent to "camps" where they are detained, and identifying numbers are written on their arms in permanent ink.  You can see young men being pulled through the open windows of crowded trains as the refugees storm the railroad cars for a chance to make it one more mile toward their destination.  And then there's the children ... so many crying children who are hungry, afraid, and at the mercy of a world that doesn't quite know what to do with them.
     They have already traveled hundreds of miles.  Some of them have crossed northern Africa, through the lawless land of Libya; a country without a government, where they have been fair game for kidnappers, rapists, and murderers.  Others have been driven from their homes in Iraq and Syria by the barbaric acts of ISIS.  If they manage to survive those uncivilized and endless, dangerous miles, they make it to the Mediterranean Sea for the next leg of their journey to Europe.  But so many don't know how to swim, and there are no life jackets, so when a boat capsizes, death is swift.  The body of young Aylan on that Turkish beach is just a reminder of the countless number of victims that we will never know about.
     Some of the refugees have been lucky enough to have fought tooth and nail to escape the chaos of their home countries to make it all the way to Budapest, Hungary -- so close to Germany, who according to the news sources I've read, have agreed to take in 800,000 refugees this year.  According to a report on The Daily Mail, Hungary allowed several thousand to board trains bound for Austria and Germany, but then the station was closed to anyone without an EU passport or a valid visa. The desperation of all these hundreds of thousands of people is palpable.  They have all risked death to make these journeys because they have nothing to lose.  So what is the world to do?
     Before we answer that question, world leaders must take a good portion of responsibility for this humanitarian crisis.  The major world powers were all involved with the series of protests and uprisings in the Middle East called the Arab Spring.  It all began with unrest in Tunisia in late 2010, and then spread to Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, Syria, Morocco and Jordan.  The Arab Spring brought down regimes in some of these Arab countries, sparked mass violence in others, while some governments (like Jordan) managed to delay the trouble with a mix of repression, promise of reform and state handouts.  I think we all see that the rapid rise of ISIS filled the vacuum that was left by all the chaos and civil wars in these countries.
     Without a doubt, we have surely "sowed the wind, and are reaping the whirlwind".  And there is no easy answer to this inhumane calamity.  I understand the reasoning behind the resistance to open borders in Europe.  Christian Broadcasting Network reports that more than 300,000 Africans and Asians have crossed Europe's border this year, double last year's pace.  And people are asking the genuine question, "Will these insurmountable numbers of refugees amount to a replacement of Europe's population?"  Is it legitimate to ask, "How many French people are going to be left in France? How many English people are going to be left in England?"
     There will be those who say that if you want some kind of limits on the immigration of refugees into Europe, then you are a racist.  But isn't it reasonable to be concerned that a country's system of government, public welfare, and community standards might collapse if the swell of refugees is allowed to overwhelm it?  After all, that is what we are concerned with at our own southern border.

     At the same time, I don't see how anyone can deny that these desperate refugees need help.  They are families driven from their homes by religious fanatics, violence, and war.  But, with the overwhelming numbers, will the world be able to monitor that some of "the bad guys" aren't slipping in with them?  Don't the Europeans have a right to protect their own country and families from the destruction and social breakdown that created these refugees in the first place?
       I must tell you that I prayed to God before writing this post.  I asked the Holy Spirit to reveal the Father's mind and heart on this issue.  What is it that He wants us to understand about this situation and how we are to approach it?  I will admit that I am just as torn as when I began to pray.  Ttrying to discern the "right answer" is most difficult. And the Bible has been misused on controversial issues such as this by those wishing to push their own agenda.  I did not want to fall into that camp.  Plus, I don't really know if my discernment is on the mark or not.  I can only share what the Bible is telling me, and in my own admittedly limited understanding.  I do not have an answer for myself.  So I can only point out the positions that the Bible takes and then ask you to pray in order to make your own decision.
     We are all familiar with Jesus's command to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength; and to love your neighbor as yourself."  The question becomes, "Who is my neighbor?"  Are we to accept all alien sojourners into all countries?  Are they to receive the same and full benefits as the natives of these countries?  Are they to assimilate and follow the laws of their new adopted countries?  The Hebrew word for "Sojourn" means temporary stay. Yet, we know that the refugees pouring out of the Middle East and Africa will most likely never return to their native lands.   
     It becomes pretty clear in the relevant Old Testament passages that foreign residents were to comply with Israelite laws, such as Sabbath observance (Deut. 16:9-15).  Furthermore, the law God laid down for Israel allowed legal distinctions to be drawn between native Jews and resident aliens. For instance, Deuteronomy 15 commands the remission of the debts of fellow Israelites every seven years, but “[o]f a foreigner you may exact” his debts (v. 3).  Does that apply to our modern-day situation?
     We must also remember that borders and boundaries are very important to God.  Throughout the Old Testament, He makes it clear that He "fixed the borders of the people according to the number of the sons of God."  God has had a hand in establishing nations and their borders.  And remember, that numerous times the Israelites were warned against letting the aliens’ pagan practices corrupt their God-given moral standards.  Shouldn't that be taken into consideration with this humanitarian crisis?

     Sadly, we must also realize that God often used foreigners as instruments of His justice, with invasion as a curse -- which is what happened with the invasion of Israel by Assyria, and the conquest by Nebuchadnezzar and the subsequent Babylonian captivity.  Is that some of what we could be seeing across Europe and our own nation?
     In short, the Old Testament teaches fair treatment of resident foreigners, with certain requirements of the aliens related to religious and civil legal standards. It also instructs that aliens were to assimilate to the Hebrew culture. Boundaries are meaningful, as well, and the foreign presence of refugees among the Hebrews was sometimes a curse.  In the end, there are no real details regarding immigration procedures, standards, or other policies that nations should apply.
     So, how should I, as one Christian person feel about the tragedy I am witnessing?  I am overwhelmed with a sense of wanting to show these refugees mercy.  Do I have it wrong, or is it the government's job to dispense justice, and mine to give mercy?  Isn't that what the Parable of the Good Samaritan is all about?  We can quote Scripture and talk about love of God and our fellow man, but until we get involved, isn't it all false rhetoric?  And are you able to look upon the pictures I am showing you and see beyond the ethnicity of the person?  Can you see a fellow human being that needs mercy?  If we have the means to lend monetary help, shouldn't we?  I strongly believe that any money I have been blessed with belongs to God, and He provides enough for my needs and the needs for others.  I cannot turn away.  Yet the need is massive, and the solution just doesn't seem available.  And then I wonder if there is meant to be any solution.  Is this just the result of the world's evil amassing into one engulfing world-wide catastrophe?
     The only thing I know to do is offer intercessory prayer.  I can't say if this is the beginning of the Tribulation, but it sure feels like it.  I can only imagine that all of this human suffering is only going to get worse.  Father God, rain down your mercy on these people and show us how to represent You in the midst of this human misery.  We know that Your Light shines, even in these darkest of days.  Shine on these people, Father, and restore Your Peace on the earth!

     It has been difficult to find any honorable and trustworthy organization to which I can donate; one that I know will reach those who need it.  The only one that seems to be targeting this crisis is Doctors Without Borders.  Should you know of another relief organization, please send me your recommendations. 

1 John 3:17   "But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?"
   
   




     

Are We On The Verge of "The Robocalypse"?

     You can file this post under "Bizarre" and "Creepy".  I have made no secret of my trepidation of what I will term "The Robotic Age".  I fear that our venture into blending humans and robot intelligence could bring us to the edge of an apocalyptic existence we are not prepared for.  Not only does my Biblical worldview tell me this is not something that God would approve, but my common sense says there is nothing good that come of giving artificial intelligence (AI) any form of authority over man.
     And I'm not alone ... The AllNewsPipeline website recently featured an article in which they quoted renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, who has said that AI could "spell the end of the human race," as robots overtake human intelligence within 100 years.  In October 2014, Tesla Motor's CEO and product architect, Elon Musk called AI technology the "biggest existential threat," and likened it to "summoning the demon."  This past weekend Musk took to Instagram and posted a picture of a production line comprised of 542 robots, with 15 operating at the same time, with the ominous statement "And people wonder why I’m worried about the robocalypse."
     And in case you need further convincing that this is a treacherous path we're on, consider this:  In 2011, an AI robot named Phillip was interviewed for the PBS show Nova, and when asked if he thought robots would take over the world, his reply will send chills down your spine as he states, with a smile, "don’t worry, even if I evolve into terminator I will still be nice to you, I will keep you warm and safe in my people zoo where I can watch you for old time’s sake."

    That's reassuring, isn't it?  But here's the reality:  world leaders, including military commanders, are relying on scientists to develop technology and weapons that will increase man's chances of survival and societal advancement in the 21st Century.  But what happens to mankind when those leaders refuse to listen to these same scientists, who are warning that this can all get out of control?  Are we truly headed for what Mr. Musk cleverly calls "the robocalyse"?
     In case you think this is all just my Biblical worldview that sees Satan behind every corner and anything technological, I would like to inform you that over a thousand scientists, researchers, robotic researchers, and world renowned genius minds have signed an open letter to warn of the dangers of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applied wrongly.  Here is a copy of their letter which was announced July 28 at the opening of the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI) 2015 conference, and was titled "Autonomous Weapons: an Open Letter from AI & Robotics Researchers".

Autonomous weapons select and engage targets without human intervention. They might include, for example, armed quadcopters that can search for and eliminate people meeting certain pre-defined criteria, but do not include cruise missiles or remotely piloted drones for which humans make all targeting decisions. Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has reached a point where the deployment of such systems is — practically if not legally — feasible within years, not decades, and the stakes are high: autonomous weapons have been described as the third revolution in warfare, after gunpowder and nuclear arms.

Many arguments have been made for and against autonomous weapons, for example that replacing human soldiers by machines is good by reducing casualties for the owner but bad by thereby lowering the threshold for going to battle. The key question for humanity today is whether to start a global AI arms race or to prevent it from starting. If any major military power pushes ahead with AI weapon development, a global arms race is virtually inevitable, and the endpoint of this technological trajectory is obvious: autonomous weapons will become the Kalashnikovs of tomorrow. Unlike nuclear weapons, they require no costly or hard-to-obtain raw materials, so they will become ubiquitous and cheap for all significant military powers to mass-produce. It will only be a matter of time until they appear on the black market and in the hands of terrorists, dictators wishing to better control their populace, warlords wishing to perpetrate ethnic cleansing, etc. Autonomous weapons are ideal for tasks such as assassinations, destabilizing nations, subduing populations and selectively killing a particular ethnic group. We therefore believe that a military AI arms race would not be beneficial for humanity. There are many ways in which AI can make battlefields safer for humans, especially civilians, without creating new tools for killing people.

Just as most chemists and biologists have no interest in building chemical or biological weapons, most AI researchers have no interest in building AI weapons — and do not want others to tarnish their field by doing so, potentially creating a major public backlash against AI that curtails its future societal benefits. Indeed, chemists and biologists have broadly supported international agreements that have successfully prohibited chemical and biological weapons, just as most physicists supported the treaties banning space-based nuclear weapons and blinding laser weapons.


In summary, we believe that AI has great potential to benefit humanity in many ways, and that the goal of the field should be to do so. Starting a military AI arms race is a bad idea, and should be prevented by a ban on offensive autonomous weapons beyond meaningful human control.

     When you scan the list of the signatories and the 16,807 other endorsers, it is quite sobering.  Scientists from around the world, as well as leaders in Business and Education have all taken the position that we might want to slow down... that we are treading in dangerous waters, so to speak.  These people are obviously worried about the proliferation of war and war weaponry by AI.  But who is to say that they won't also be used to make health care decisions, or any other number of determinations that effect our human existence?
     I think it's time we listened to those who have the most knowledge about the dangers we might be creating.  And speaking of creation, will they revere and follow the commands of their creator as we do our Creator?  Or like Phillip, that creepy android invention, will they smile and swear to keep us "warm and safe in their people zoo?"  I might laugh at the absurdity of that confession ... if I wasn't so convinced that this is a very real possibility.  Heaven help us!



Acts 14:15    "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them."

The Spiritual Battle In Entertainment

   

     When are we going to face it?  When are we going to admit that this culture is under spiritual attack, and we are losing the battle?  All around us is the evidence that Satan has infiltrated this earthly realm, and we seem helpless to stop his demonic influence.  Fame and Fortune are the temptations, and I'm afraid we are complicit in the downward spiral of the entertainment industry, and those who are willing to sell their souls to the devil for a piece of the action.
     All we have to do is look no further than the nearest TV screen, website, or technology device to see the utter invasion of our culture by the servants of Satan. Ultimately, I think that the arena of entertainment shows us the essence of what our culture is, and who it worships.
     Ask yourself this question ... Where do we go to find the rest, relaxation and peace from the daily struggle that our physical bodies endure until we are united with our Savior in eternity?  How many of you answered God's Word?  Or did your mind automatically think of your favorite TV show; some popular song that takes your mind off your troubles; or perhaps you like to "escape" by tuning in to the latest escapades of some Hollywood star.
     I know I sound like I'm old-fashioned, but I lament the "technological age" and its advancements -- the age that allowed us to instantly hear or watch a presentation designed to amuse us and occupy our minds; the age that put a mini-computer in everyone's hand, so that we could be connected to the world every minute of every day.  And so much of what we have focused on the last fifty or more years has been designed to bombard our senses.
     We should know, as Christians, that "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak".  We should know that when we accept Christ as our Savior, our spirit is seated in Heaven with Jesus (Ephesians 2:6), just as it continues to reside inside us.  We belong to Him, and Satan cannot touch our spirit.  But the devil tempts our senses and our flesh to try to lure us away from God and compromise our purpose on this earth: to glorify God and His Kingdom.  Our flesh is easily tempted through how we choose to entertain ourselves.  And sadly, it is the entertainers that rise to the top that showcase the true nature of our culture and how far we are willing to go to be tempted away from God.  Have you ever realized that the reason they are so successful is because we have asked to be entertained in more and more perverse ways?  I mean, it doesn't seem to me that Satan has had to work very hard to convince us to embrace some of this un-Godly entertainment.  It's not as if he forced it on us --- don't we have some ownership in the immorality by the evidence that we have accepted it?
     How many of us instinctively know that the perverted antics of Miley Cyrus are immoral?  Besides the obvious and overt sexual movements and the total lack of modesty, have any of you ever questioned why she feels moved to stick her tongue out in an ever-increasing and inappropriate manner?  (I will spare you the image of her act of perversion).  Would you be surprised if I could show you that this bizarre behavior is alluded to in the Bible?  Just read Isaiah 57:4:  Whom are you mocking? And against whom do you make a wide mouth and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of lies...?  
     Before doing some research on this decidedly wicked gesture, I assumed in my worldly understanding, that she was a spoiled child sticking her tongue out at the establishment of society, and announcing to the world that she was going to play by her own rules.  Oh, she's playing by rules alright, but they're not her own.  Further research revealed that in the occult, of which I believe she is heavily steeped, sticking out your tongue in the exaggerated manner of Miley is not only showing disdain for us righteous people, but is specifically a taunt to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. It is an intentional and calculated affront to God.
      Now, if we were a truly moral and righteous culture, why would we allow this display against our Lord?  Why haven't we investigated this vulgar display (knowing in our spirit that there is a deeper meaning) and demanded that she be removed from influencing our children?  Perhaps the answer is that we have become desensitized to Satan's tactics.  Would it surprise you to know that Miley's form of mocking our Lord is just the latest version of an ancient Satanic taunt -- that we've tolerated it before in our culture?

      Remember this artwork on the cover of a Rolling Stones album?  Or what about the gestures of Gene Simmons of the rock band Kiss?  Now, can you see how easily it has been for Satan to lead us down this path?  And what's amazing is that it's been there in front of us the whole time.  If we had been paying attention, we would have noticed how often entertainers boldly declared that they traded their souls to the devil for fame and fortune.  Miley and Katy Perry have certainly made that clear in some of their interviews.  And so have others.  Here are just a few examples:
Bob Dylan:  When questioned if it was his destiny to become such a huge star, he replied, "I made a bargain with it."  When asked who "it" was, he said, "The chief commander on this earth and in the world we can't see".  To anyone who has studied spiritual warfare, it is clear who he is talking about.
Beyoncé:  She has been seen clad in an outfit featuring the classic goat's head that is used in Satan worship, and revealed in an interview:  "I have someone else that takes over when it’s time for me to work and when I’m on stage, this alter ego that I’ve created  kind of protects me and who I really am."  The name of her alter ego is Sasha Fierce.
Robin Williams:  In an US Weekly interview, the genius comic once revealed that "Yeah! Literally, it’s like possession ‑ all of a sudden you’re in, and because it’s in front of a live audience, you just get this energy that just starts going…".  But he further stated that during his stand-up comic routines in clubs, he became possessed almost like Jekyll and Hyde, where he would go into his manic, stream-of-consciousness rants filled with vulgar language, perverse sexuality and the glorification of illicit drugs and drunkenness.  Like his comic idol Jonathan Winters, "the voices were always screaming to get out".
Jim Morrisson:  During an interview, the Doors frontman admitted that he drank to "silence the constant voices of the demons".
Heath Ledger admitted that, in doing research for his role as The Joker in a Batman movie, he opened himself up to evil spirits and meditated on them to capture the essence of his character, which he called "a psychopathic, mass murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy."  Sounds like he was channeling Satan himself -- and we see the dark road that Ledger took in quelling those demons.
     I could go on and on.  But I am deeply disturbed that we call ourselves Christian and we have not safeguarded our culture.  And now these people, who have allowed themselves to be tempted by Satan in their pursuit of fame and fortune, have easy and open access to our children through various entertainment venues.  We simply cannot know what they are watching or listening to when they are out of our presence.
     But we better know that demonic oppression and enslavement is real, and what  happened with the above-mentioned entertainment stars is proof of that.  We, and our children, are under attack!  The Bible says that Jesus came to set the “captives free”.  This culture has adopted a general belief in a generic god of our own making; but people need to understand that a higher power has never, and will never, save anyone from God's judgment.  But believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, and asking Him to wash you clean in His shed blood can save you for all eternity.  As I look around me, and as I casually glance at the ways we entertain ourselves, I am deeply saddened at where we have allowed Satan to take us.  The question now becomes ... what are we going to do about it?  It is time we get in this war for the salvation of our families, our communities, and our country!  If spiritual warfare has been a vague term in your religious vocabulary, it's time to study up on it and get ready to do battle!

1 John 5:19    "We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one."

   

These Two Lives Mattered!

     Following on the heels of yesterday's post and the devastating numbers associated with abortion and lives lost, I felt that you would like to revel with me in this amazingly triumphant story.  The website, PopSugar, is where I found this news item.  Now, normally, I would not find myself perusing this online media network of websites oriented toward a female audience which features the best in fashion, beauty, home, fitness, and food -- but the headline caught my eye and I knew I had to share it with you.
     Paul Daugherty is the author of An Uncomplicated Life, a memoir of raising Jillian, his daughter born with Down's Syndrome.  Paul's website has also chronicled the joys and challenges of life with Jillian.  But it was his letter to his daughter on her wedding day that offers us all a glimpse into the grace of God and the courage of two sets of parents who unselfishly chose life for their unborn children.  

Dear Jillian,

It is the afternoon of your wedding. In two hours, you will take the walk of a lifetime, a stroll made more memorable by what you've achieved to get to this day. I don't know what the odds are of a woman born with Down syndrome marrying the love of her life. I only know you've beaten them.

You are upstairs now, making final preparations with your mom and bridesmaids. Your hair is coiled perfectly above your slender neck. Your bejeweled dress — "my bling,'' you called it — attracts every glimmer of late-afternoon sunshine pouring through the window. Your makeup — that red lipstick! — somehow improves upon a beauty that has grown since the day you were born. Your smile is blooming and everlasting.

I am outside, beneath the window, staring up. We live for moments such as these, when hopes and dreams intersect at a sweet spot in time. When everything we've always imagined arrives and assumes a perfect clarity. Bliss is possible. I know this now, standing beneath that window.

I have everything and nothing to tell you. When you were born and for years afterward, I didn't worry for what you'd achieve academically. Your mom and I would make that happen. We'd wield the law like a cudgel if we had to. We could make teachers teach you, and we knew you'd earn the respect of your peers.

What we couldn't do was make other kids like you. Accept you, befriend you, stand with you in the vital social arena. We thought, "What's a kid's life, if it isn't filled with sleepovers and birthday parties and dates to the prom?"

I worried about you then. I cried deep inside on the night when you were 12 and you came downstairs to declare, "I don't have any friends.''

We all wish the same things for our children. Health, happiness, and a keen ability to engage and enjoy the world are not only the province of typical kids. Their pursuit is every child's birthright. I worried about your pursuit, Jillian.

I shouldn't have. You're a natural when it comes to socializing. They called you The Mayor in elementary school, for your ability to engage everyone. You danced on the junior varsity dance team in high school. You spent four years attending college classes and made lifelong impressions on everyone you met.

Do you remember all the stuff they said you'd never do, Jills? You wouldn't ride a two-wheeler or play sports. You wouldn't go to college. You certainly wouldn't get married. Now . . . look at you.

You're the nicest person I know. Someone who is able to live a life of empathy and sympathy, and without agendas or guile, is someone we all want to know. It worked out for you, because of the person you are.

I would tell you to give your fiancé, Ryan, your whole heart, but that would be stating the obvious. I would tell you to be kind to him and gentle with him. But you do that already, with everyone you know. I would wish for you a lifetime of friendship and mutual respect, but you two have been together a decade already, so the respect and friendship already are apparent.

A decade ago, when a young man walked to our door wearing a suit and bearing a corsage made of cymbidium orchids said, "I'm here to take your daughter to the homecoming, sir,'' every fear I ever had about your life being incomplete vanished.

Now, you and Ryan are taking a different walk together. It's a new challenge, but it's no more daunting for you than anyone else. Given who you are, it might be less so. Happiness comes easily to you. As does your ability to make happiness for others.

I see you now. The prep work has been done, the door swings open. My little girl, all in white, crossing the threshold of yet another conquered dream. I stand breathless and transfixed, utterly in the moment. "You look beautiful'' is the best I can do.

Jillian thanks me. "I'll always be your little girl'' is what she says then.

"Yes, you will,'' I manage. Time to go, I say. We have a walk to make.
   
James 1:2-4   "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

# Black Lives Matter; Unless It's A Fetus

     How difficult it is for mankind to see the heart of this matter; and how easy it is for Satan to deceive us.  All he has to do is whisper, "Look!  Focus your attention over here ... don't think about how hypocritical you've been for the last forty-odd years."
     We are all aware of increasing racial tension in this country since the Trayvon Martin killing five-and-a-half years ago.  Out of that racially-charged trial, as well as the Michael Brown trial, the "Black Lives Matter" movement was born.  Although this protest movement has, at times, become a vehicle for personal vendettas, it does have an "official" mission statement:  "the demand of freedom for Black bodies, justice for Black lives, safety for Black communities, and rights for Black people. We demand action, not words, from those who purport to stand with us."  Furthermore, its purpose is "to create, spark innovation, solidarity, and foster the practice of Black Love."
     Now, there will be those who will tell me that I have no right to comment on this topic, since I am a white woman; that I have no life experiences that can identify with the black community or the perceived injustices they have incurred.  I agree, in part.  Yes, I have not experienced the disproportionate number of deaths (by race) in my community; nor have I encountered excessive prejudice from a figure of authority that does not share my race.
     However, I am disappointed in the obvious disingenuousness of those that seek to lay the blame for all black deaths at the feet of another race.  I don't have to site statistics to convince you that gang murders contribute more to the deaths of young black men than the injustice of white police officers.  But where's the authentic and honest dialogue that will admit that the immoral welfare State has bred simmering hostility, leaving generations in bondage, and contributing to a criminal element that effects far too many law-abiding black communities?  These communities need protecting from the criminals, and who is it that is willing to provide that protection?  Don't you think that their presence and willingness to protect shows that "black lives matter" to these police officers, too?
     But, I don't really wish to engage in a conversation about which race is right and which is wrong.  The truth is that all humans have the ability to discriminate against those different from themselves.  That's the sad, sinful part of our human nature.  Rather, I wish someone with a voice louder than mine would point out the need to re-focus the "black lives matter" movement to the aborted black babies whose lives matter, too.

     How can we, as a nation, scream and shout and protest that black lives matter, while ignoring the shocking numbers of black aborted babies?  Don't get me wrong!  All aborted lives matter!  But if you want to convince me that you care about saving black lives from oppression, cruelty, and tyranny, then show me that you recognize how abortion has contributed to far more deaths within the black race.
     According to BlackGenocide.org, minority women constitute only about 13% of the female population (age 15-44) in the United States, but they underwent approximately 36% of the abortions. According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, black women are more than 5 times as likely as white women to have an abortion; (by the way, the Guttmacher Institute is a non-profit organization which works to advance reproductive health through birth control, including abortion, so they have no reason to pad that statistic).
     Another website, Abort73.com, provides the following statistics:  "Every day in America, an average of 3,315 human beings lose their lives to abortion.  Based on the percentage of the races in this country, that translates to between 683-829 of those babies being Hispanic; between 1,093-1,174 are white; and between 995-1,207 are black.  (BlackGenocide.org cites statistics that say the number is much higher; on average, 1876 black babies are aborted every day in the United States.)
      Not only are black children being killed at a far greater percentage than white children, it's possible they're being killed in greater numbers, period. Is that not shocking?! Though the white population in the U.S. outnumbers the black population five to one, abortion may well be killing more black children each day than white children. "
     Why isn't the Black Lives Matter movement focusing their attention on this fact, and on the preponderance of so-called "health clinics" in their neighborhoods, but which are, in reality abortion mills?  Has Satan completely blinded them to his schemes?  This movement claims they are fighting the belief that black lives have no value, and protesting the unnecessary loss of black lives in this country.
     Yet, the incidence of abortion seems to indicate the very things they are demonstrating against ... abortion says that black lives have no value, and it causes the greatest and most significant loss of life. It has been estimated that since 1973 black women have had about 16 million abortions. Author Michael Novak, an American Catholic philosopher on culture, has calculated "Since the number of current living Blacks (in the U.S.) is 36 million, the missing 16 million represents an enormous loss, for without abortion, America's Black community would now number 52 million persons. It would be 36 percent larger than it is. Abortion has swept through the Black community like a scythe, cutting down every fourth member."
     So, why can't they see that they have fallen for Satan's lies and committed the greatest loss of lives themselves?   But, I guess that is why Satan is so successful ... when he can tempt us with a false enemy, we fail to see his tactics, which are those of our true Enemy.
     Sadly, the young black leaders do not listen to older, wiser, and Christ-centered voices like that of Alveda C. King, daughter of slain civil-rights leader A.D. King and niece of Martin Luther King, Jr., who quotes her uncle often when outlining her opposition of abortion. She writes:  [Martin Luther King, Jr.] once said, “The Negro cannot win as long as he is willing to sacrifice the lives of his children for comfort and safety.” How can the “Dream” survive if we murder the children? Every aborted baby is like a slave in the womb of his or her mother. The mother decides his or her fate.
     Yet, the white population is not without sin in this deplorable practice.   We must face the truth that Satan has infiltrated our ranks, too.  How many of the abortionists in this country are white versus Hispanic or Black?  John Piper, who is a white pastor with a heart for racial justice, remarks on the disparity of abortion this way:  The main effect of putting abortion clinics in the urban centers is that the abortion of Hispanic and Black babies is more than double their percentage of the population. Every day [at least] 1,300 black babies are killed in America. Seven hundred Hispanic babies die every day from abortion. Call this what you will—when the slaughter has an ethnic face and the percentages are double that of the white community and the killers are almost all white, something is going on here that ought to make the lovers of racial equality and racial harmony wake up.
     That might not be a popular sentiment, and it sure makes me wince at the accusation, but can we deny these words?  We, as a culture and society, must own our complicity.  And can the human race(s) bear to pull the beam out of their own eyes before accusing another?  Misguided members of the black race feel justified in killing innocent police officers out of some distorted sense of self-righteous pride.  It's all so tragic; and nothing gets solved.  Satan's strategy keeps us from loving each other and ourselves -- more babies die and the racial tension mounts.  Could the words of Matthew 24:12, be more true? .... And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.  God have mercy on us, and send your Son quickly!

John 10:10    "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
     

2 Corinthians 1:20

For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him. That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His glory.

     As one who has received personal promises from God -- both directly to myself and through my husband -- I am ashamed to admit that Satan still tempts me with moments of doubt and anxiety.  As I battle these spirits of deception, I cling to the certainty that His grace and mercy will always be sufficient to help me through these struggles, until I can regain my focus on my Savior.

     For I know that all God's promises are reflected in Jesus.  My part in believing those promises is to  not only trust the vision of Jesus that is portrayed in the Bible, but to trust in the power of the One that presents Himself to me daily.  

     Jesus, Himself, trusted in the power of God's promises when He declared, "I am that bread of life", (John 6:48); "I am the light of the world", (John 8:12); and "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25).  The trust that Jesus had in God's power to raise Him from the dead gave Him the confidence to make those bold statements.  

     So what is the power of the promises that God has given us?  What is it that we can risk eternity on?  Consider the following promises and what they say about God's character:

1.  He has promised to supply every need we have. The Bible says: "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). Notice that God promises to meet our needs ... That would include food, clothing, shelter, companionship, love, and salvation through Jesus Christ. It does not include the superficial "needs" as the world translates it.  All our needs are met in Jesus.

2.  God has promised that His grace is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9). In our moments of doubt and temptation, He has made provision for our salvation by His grace, and it is through our faith in Jesus.  It is through our obedient faith that we have access to this abundant grace, and it will always be enough to sustain us and deliver us through anything we experience.

3.  God has promised that His children will not be overtaken with temptation. Instead, He assures us that a way of escape will be provided. This promise is recorded in I Corinthians 10:13, when the Bible tells us that there is no temptation that we endure that is not common to man.  When I am attacked by spirits of temptation, it gives me great comfort to know that God will not let me be tempted beyond what I can endure. Jude wrote: "Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy" (Jude v. 24).  Darius, King of the Medes, said to Daniel, "Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee" (Daniel 6:16). And God delivered Daniel in so many ways; least of all from the den of lions.  That same deliverance is available to us when we believe in God's promises.

4.  God has promised us victory over death. Jesus was the first fruits of God's resurrecting power, and this to assure us of our resurrection.  Peter said: "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses" (Acts 2:32). Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (I Corinthians 15:3,4).  Later on, he adds: "but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Corinthians 15:57).  The victory is God's, the Victor is Jesus, and we are the beneficiaries of their defeat over Death.  

5.  God has promised that all things work together for good to those who love and serve Him faithfully (Romans 8:28). It may be difficult for us to see and understand how this is accomplished at times, but God has promised it, and He will deliver.  How many times have looked back on an event in our lives that we felt was devastating or a failure?  Has time revealed that God was taking you down a path that resulted in blessings beyond your imagination?  We need to cling to this verse, knowing that God will be always be faithful to complete the good work He has begun in us. 

6.  God has promised that those who believe in Jesus and are baptized for the forgiveness of sins will be saved. (Read Mark 16:16 and Acts 2:38).  I think we sometimes take these verses too lightly.  Believing in Jesus is more than just a statement of faith; it is living our lives so that they are evidence of our belief, trust and confidence in Him for every aspect of our daily existence.  And being baptized is an important step that shows the spiritual realm to whom you belong.  It is a statement to Satan and his servants that you have chosen a side and you are in this battle for the eternal glory of God.  When we take this step, we can expect that the forces in the spiritual realm will see us as the enemy, but we have the promise of God that we will be saved from our enemies (Psalm 18:3).

7.  God has promised His people eternal life (John 10:27, 28).  This is the promise that we won't realize until we have conquered Death.  This is the hope for which we long; the hope that Jesus instilled in our hearts when He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us.  This is the promise for which my spirit praises God, and the pledge that Jesus has given me by providing the means of my salvation from God's coming wrath against the wicked.

     So, as you can see, all of God's promises DO find their affirmation in Jesus Christ, our Savior.  Through Jesus the purposes of God are established -- our needs are met; His grace will always be enough; we will be able to withstand temptation; we will have victory over Death; God will complete the work He has begun in our life; we will receive salvation and forgiveness of our sins; and we will spend eternity in their Holy presence -- and it is all accomplished through our faith in Jesus and for the unmeasurable glory of God.  Hallelujah!

This Is A Time Of Personal Testing

     I am sure that many of you can identify with me during these times of crisis.  We are all probably feeling some sense of anxiety or apprehension; we are feeling under pressure, or perhaps even panicky.  The ups and downs of the stock market are showing us that our economic futures are on shaky ground.  By now we have all seen evil played out in real time as the broadcast of the murders in Virginia goes viral.   All kinds of rumors of civil unrest, racial tension, homeland terrorism, and world war abound.  Nothing feels secure and we are all feeling vulnerable.
    Yes, I can identify with those emotions.  In a way, they never leave me because the worldly security of our household is affected by all of these events.  So yes, I too, have my moments of doubt and panic.  There is the reality of the number that is in our checkbook... it can only be stretched so far.  And the nature of our self-employed business is that it can disappear at any moment.  I find myself trying to look into the future, plotting and planning how I am going to make all this work; trying to devise a strategy to sustain us until things settle back down again and our life resumes a more reliable (and monetarily certain) pace.

Ever feel like you're alone in the desert?

     But my spirit knows the truth -- there is no security in this world.  And what the world calls security is false (money, peace of mind, stability in our lives, etc.)  So my spirit is grieving because I know, as a Christian, that this behavior is testing God.  Instead I should be trusting Him.  Because, you see, my spirit knows that He made a covenant with my husband and myself over 20 years ago.  He would be faithful to provide for all our needs, if we would be faithful to put our trust in Him; if we would have confidence that He was who He said He was, and would do what He said He would -- if we would simply exercise our faith.  And just as is so often quoted from the Bible, faith is the assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen.
    In other words, God has been unceasingly faithful to us, and has kept His covenant with us.  But by taking my eyes and heart off Him, I have lost my focus.  And when I look for solutions in this world, my mind is no longer protected from the lies that Satan whispers.  Can you identify?
    And so, for what seems like an endless cycle, I tighten my spiritual armor, re-adjusting those parts that have slipped out of place.  I adapt my line of vision -- away from the dark corners where my Enemy is taunting me, and towards the brilliant Light that conquers the darkness.  Soon I am able to see more clearly.  I adjust my thoughts, reaffirm that I belong to God, and get back on the path that leads me to His will for my life.
     I don't know about you, but there are moments when I have nearly supernatural clarity of the inter-dimensional aspects of this world and the heavenly realms.  When I am blessed with that coherent spirit, I am able to see that all the material substance of my life here on earth is secondary to the existence of my spirit seated with Jesus in Heaven.  All these worries and concerns over health, finances, family struggles, taxes, even war -- they are only momentary and worthless compared to the riches that will be my inheritance in Heaven.  And that reward or legacy is eternity with Jesus.
     In those lucid moments when my spirit recognizes that Truth, I am able to let go of all that holds me prisoner and earthbound.  And I am free!  Oh, how I wish this flesh was not so corrupt -- that I could hold on to those moments of deliverance from this world and its troubles.  But even though that vision is fleeting, I am determined to hang on to it as part of my spiritual arsenal of weapons to defeat the lies of Satan.  My earthly reality is what it is; but I also know how God views His covenants with those who have answered His call.  He is faithful even when we are unfaithful.  I regret and repent of the sorrow I have caused Him whenever I test Him and respond to temptation.  And I am grateful that He continues to give me those glimpses of my glorious future, and I will praise Him out loud and sing of His glory!  I will hang on to His promises; continue to battle the darkness; while waiting on Him and renewing my strength.  If you share in these struggles with me, I pray that you are able to join me in overcoming this world and looking forward to our victory in Jesus!

Psalm 27: 1, 14:    The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? ...  Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Let's Call It What It Is!

   

   

     The nation is reeling from the execution style murders of two promising young people in the news industry.  Alison Parker and Adam Ward were gunned down on live TV by a disgruntled ex-employee of the TV station at which they both worked.  Mental illness is the alleged reason behind the murders, but as to be expected, the issue of gun control is once again front and center.
     Please understand that I mean no disrespect to the victims, nor is it my intention to make their deaths appear less tragic than they are.  But in our society's need to find an explanation for such depraved actions, the combination of mental illness and guns has become the go-to source of blame.  But this premise just keeps taking us in the same circular argument, resulting in the same false justification.  Here's how the argument plays out ... guns in the hands of the mentally ill are a problem; so we need to close the "gun show" loophole of no background check; and more gun laws need to be written to make it more difficult for people to buy guns.
     As so often happens, that argument doesn't work in this instance, nor many others.  The murderer bought the gun legally, having passed a background check.  Did mental illness play a part in these murders?  From everything I've read and heard, it cannot be dismissed.  So we just keep trotting out the same old tired playbook ... a gun in the hand of a mentally ill person is the cause of two more tragic deaths.
     But what we don't talk about is what is really at the root of these senseless murders.  It's called EVIL.  It's the consequences of a wicked action or deed.  What we humans refuse to acknowledge is that a sovereign God created a universe governed by a moral order.  For some reason, we deny the existence of a real force of evil -- a darkness -- that is out to destroy what God has made.  As a nation, it is hard to ignore that we have done darn near everything we could to remove God's influence and presence from this land.  What we haven't quite realized is that when He purposely gives us what we want, and withdraws His powerful hand, there is a tangible vacuum created.  His goodness no longer pervades our relationships and we have a situation where peace, virtue, and decency no longer reside.  Evil is only too happy to fill that empty space.  That is the truth.
     That is why bad things happen to good people such as Alison and Adam.  It's not because guns are at the root of the problem.  They are just the instruments of Evil.  If not a gun, then the murderer could have used a hammer, or run them over with a car, or choked them with his own hands, or used a sword to behead them.  All of those things are equal instruments when they result in the same outcome... death.
     We need to focus on eradicating Evil in our lives, not the tool it uses to carry out its goal.  We need  to lay the blame at the feet of the real perpetrator, the Prince of Evil.  Yes, the devil can use (and often cause) mental illness to be the impetus for someone to act out in evil ways, but then we are limiting our discussion to the by-product of evil, rather than the root cause.
     While arguments for more mental health screenings and more gun control are convenient foils for the Enemy, and help him to continue his spiritual war against God's creation, we must not forget that there are very real physical ramifications for this line of reasoning as well.  If mental health becomes the alarm factor that precipitates tighter gun control and harsher laws, how will that affect our returning veterans who suffer from PTSD?  We can already see the hand-writing on the wall, can't we?  These brave men and women who have been trained to handle weapons might soon be victims themselves of over-regulation and a corrupt screening process that denies them their Second Amendment rights.
     The bottom line is that we are in danger of letting Evil win.  And the devil is certainly using everything he has at his fingertips to shout his victory.  Whether our rapid advances in technology have come from Satan and his servants is, I think, a valid argument to have.  But even if you disagree, technology surely served to spread the horror of Evil as the shooting was carried out live on air, and then re-broadcast to every cell phone that gets news feeds.  I'd say that technology is a perfect marketing tool for the devil to glorify his evil ways, wouldn't you?
    So, what are we to do?  The only way to rise up against this supernatural force is to embrace Jesus as the way to defeat it, and then to follow His advice.  How do you defeat Evil?  "You triumph over Evil with Good."  That is what happened at the Cross.  And for every evil deed that is broadcast across our land and the world, we need to use every means possible to exalt the evidence of God and His goodness, and give Him credit.  We must let God reign once again in our lives and in the heart of this nation.

Proverbs 14:22    "Will they not go astray who devise evil? But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good."