Thoughts On This Veteran's Day ...

   

     As I contemplate the ongoing service of our nation's military veterans, I am nearly overcome with emotion.  This nation has been at war for over 14 years, and the continued dedication of most of our military personnel -- in the face of exhaustion, dismantlement, disrespect, and dishonor from the likes of the Veterans Administration -- amazes and astonishes me.
     We have fought in big wars under a Republican President (Afghanistan and Iraq), and small wars under a Democratic President (Libya and Yemen, for the obvious ones), and it has cost us nearly 7,000 lives and billions of dollars.   Unlike the last World War, there doesn't seem to be an end goal in sight, and the path to victory seems blurred.  Yet the men and women who fight in our armed forces remain steadfast and unwavering in their commitment to defend this nation from enemies foreign and domestic.  And in that, they share the legacy of all those who have come before them.
     Would it astound you to know that the total number of Americans killed in U.S. Wars is more than 1.1 million?  And that doesn't take into account the veterans who fought in the French & Indian War before this nation officially existed.  And would it further amaze you to know that America has been at war -- in one form or another -- for 222 out of its 239 years?  That's 93% of its existence!!  That leaves us with the fact that we have only been at peace for 21 years since the birth of this nation! (For a year-by-year timeline of America's major wars from 1776-2011, click here.)  Whether these statistics mirror the experience of all mankind is a subject for another day; today I want to focus on those who have served our nation in armed combat.
     Along with those facts come the statistics of our fallen veterans ... Nearly half a million died in our Civil War, and over 400,000 in World War II; and, as I mentioned, we have lost nearly 7,000 veterans in the Global War on Terror.  These are the statistics coming from the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
     As exemplified by the numbers, about 12% of the population served during WW II, resulting in the fact that most Americans were likely to know or be connected to someone in the military.  Today, less than 1% serve, and there is the danger that our society is suffering from a disconnect -- we are less likely to know what is going on, someone who has served, or what they have experienced.
     Gala True, a medical anthropologist and folklorist with the Department of Veterans Affairs and contributor to the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project, says, “So few have served, that it’s very easy for people to say that ‘I didn’t want these wars,’ but that doesn’t mean that we aren’t all part of this [experience of war]".  So that is one aspect that is different for this generation of veterans.
      Author James Fallows, of The Atlantic, writes, "When I was a kid in the ’50s and ’60s and then older in the ’70s, American pop culture reflected a country familiar enough with its military to make fun of it at times. You had shows like “Gomer Pyle,” or “Hogan’s Heroes,” or “”McHale’s Navy.”  You had works of art like “South Pacific” or novels like “Catch 22″ and even movies like “MASH.” {These films] respected the importance of the military and the important things it did that were heroic in the large scale, like World War II, but it was still made of real people with their real foibles.  But now we have started to have this artificially reverent view of the military that’s also distant and disengaged."
    There is another important distinction that separates this generation of Americans from those of the past.  During World War II, even if you didn't actively serve, you participated, through rationing, scrap drives, blood drives, and so on.  Everyone was connected to the war effort.  And everyone believed in our mission.
     Can we agree that this is no longer the case?  Or that it is becoming increasingly difficult to identify our mission?  There are those who will point to our astounding statistics of war since WW I -- the cost in treasure and lives -- and say that it points to our lust for war, and supports a 2014 International Gallup poll that America is the #1 threat to peace in the world.  I dispute that.  But I must admit that I no longer have a clear vision of our national leaders and their perspective or objectives concerning this nation's involvement in world conflicts.
     That being said, my support for our nation's veterans will never waver.  I am in awe of their continued sacrifice and willingness to put the safety and security of this nation before themselves and their families.  It is an unselfish act to step into the gap between their fellow countrymen and an enemy that desires to defeat us -- and it is both honorable and righteous.
     So I salute all this nation's veterans; from the first colonial farmer who grabbed his musket and joined the ragtag Continental Army, to the millions who have served over the last 239 years; from the 18-year-old recruit at boot camp to the elite fighting forces of our special operations units.  This salute is not about the morality of wars we have fought, or the policies of Presidents.  It is about the veterans.  They have served so that others might live their lives free.  Such service by an individual towards his fellow man deserves our absolute respect.  May God Bless you all for your sacrifice and your commitment to our nation.

Isaiah 6:8    And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."


   
   

Ready For Some Good News?

     With the sad state of the world, I know that I'm ready for a feel-good story, and I'm pretty sure you are, too.  It's not an earth-shattering, jump up and down, fist-pump-the-sky kind of story, but one of simple love and charity for our fellow man... the best kind.
    Tanya Prewitt-White, a sports and health psychology professor at Adler University, and her husband, Courtney White, who is the Physical Education department chair at Downer's Grove, were returning from the funeral of Courtney's grandmother.  They were taking the train home from Chicago O'Hare when they spied a homeless man sleeping in a wheelchair.
     “We were getting off at Irving Park, and I had grabbed some money to give him,” Prewitt-White, said.  “My husband had the same idea, so he already had money out to give him. I handed my additional money to my husband, and he just slipped it all into the gentleman’s bag, and we walked off.”
     “We were just trying to pay it forward,” she continued. “My husband and I talk about this all the time — about our own self-righteousness, about how it’s easier to become hardened and not make eye contact, or smile at people who appear homeless, because then you don’t have to look pain and suffering in the face. It’s definitely been a journey for the two of us.”

Courtney White and his wife, Tanya Prewitt-White

     So, although the couple thought they were committing an anonymous act of charity, another passenger was so moved that he snapped a quick photo of them before they exited the train, and posted it on his Facebook page.  Jack Stankovic said, "I posted the picture because, at the time, everyone on the train was heads-down on their phones,” he told the Chicago Tribune. “We see so much negativity on a daily basis on social media. If we only took the time to look at our surroundings, we would see the positive things happening around us. We, as a society, talk about change, but rarely do we act on it. The picture symbolizes action.”  The last time I checked, his post had over 91,000 shares.  It seems as if people love to share the good news as much as they flock to the sensationalized.
     And to be honest, I think we're tired of all the explicit, lurid, shocking and scandalous news that pervades our media and social conscience.  I don't know about you but they leave me feeling contaminated, in a way; almost as if I am looking at the world through a dirty and soiled veil.  So, I find that the smiles I receive from strangers, in return to the ones I give, are the highlights of my day. A smile and a hello, while looking someone in the eye, can validate that they were worth your attention; especially since like Jack Stankovic said, we are increasingly becoming zombie-like, detached, and aloof as we stare at our electronic entrapments.
     It doesn't take much to change a person's entire outlook on life.  We all need to feel connected; that we matter, and that we are not alone and won't go unnoticed.  There is nothing that could make a human being feel more lonely or without worth.  And that's why Courtney White and his wife, Tanya, obeyed their spiritual prompting.  That simple act of kindness and charity shines forth as an example for us all.
     Although they did not do it for the attention it has garnered, their fellow passenger Jack Stankovic felt that their act should be honored.  And he recorded the reaction of the homeless man in the wheel chair -- because he woke him up to tell him.  “I didn’t want him to pull his water bottle out and drop [the money],” he said. “I stepped off and stood on the platform and watched through the window. He had this look on his face like, ‘Why?’ Confused why anyone would do that. You can’t put into words the feeling I had that day. It’s like everything was right in the world for a brief moment.”
     You're exactly right, Jack.  Things on earth were perfect for a moment; two people shared their heart and soul with another, and at that exact point of time there was peace and good will between men ... just as our Lord intended.

Thank you to The Blaze for this story, and I hope it blesses you and inspires you today to do your own small gesture of love towards another human being.

Luke 6:38    "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."


   

The President of Hollywood

     Sometimes there is an advantage to being connected to social media, because I think we all know that if you are paying attention, the Enemy is giving us plenty of clues as to how he operates.  So, that's why I am grateful to a young friend of mine who pointed me to a short YouTube video that she came across in her daily examination of the online culture.
     It's a quick little cartoon featuring the long-time cartoon characters Tom and Jerry.  In this little snippet, we see the cartoon cat and his mouse buddy auditioning for a TV show.  But the short, one minute video reveals a forbidding, though not surprising, truth... our title characters are allowed to see who the President of Hollywood is, and it is none other than Satan.  What is interesting is that the TV executives interviewing Tom and Jerry receive a phone call from the Hollywood President ... not from a regular phone on their desk, but from a pyramid-shaped instrument with the all-seeing eye that summons the demonic overlord of Hollywood.
     When he is summoned, he swirls around in a serpent-like pattern until he manifests into a simpler cartoon version of Chernabog, the Satanic Disney character from Fantasia that I referred to in this blog post.  There is also a longer version of the video (nearly 4 minutes), in which we are allowed to see just how the President of Hollywood uses his Illuminati underlings to maintain control of the entertainment industry.  When Tom and Jerry beat up the TV exec after realizing the contract they have signed is unethical and immoral, the stunned exec announces that maybe it's time to start developing moral, family-style entertainment -- at which point the Illuminati administrators destroy him and offer the prestige of the position, and the perks of beautiful women, to a more easily manipulated schmuck.
      I know this won't surprise you; anyone with any kind of discernment can see that the entertainment industry is serving the prince of this world.  And if you are disinclined to receive the hints of a cartoon, then it should be plain to you in the recent vitriolic display coming from Hollywood director Quentin Tarantino.  In his poisonous anti-cop rants, I wonder if Tarantino is not doing the bidding of his Illuminati handlers.  Because you see, it is not just that Satan's servants wish to control the entertainment industry; I believe they see it as a vehicle to bring about the complete destruction of our culture, society, and yes, even our country.

     Do you not find it interesting that Tarantino's sudden appearance on the culture stage, is aligned with the Black Lives Matter movement and its subordinate element, RiseUpOctober?  Would it surprise you to know that one event at which Tarantino was invited to voice his angry criticism of police was one organized by Carl Dix, one of the founding members of the Revolutionary Communist Party, a group that has held anti-police events in October for nearly two decades, and that openly advocates for an armed overthrow of the United States of America?  Do you think it is coincidental that these two have suddenly teamed up (seemingly out of nowhere) to promote an agenda caused to wreak havoc in our society?
     So what does all this mean?  Can we believe the not-so-subtle message of a cartoon video?  Should we take seriously the active participation of Hollywood in the conjuring of social discord and conflict?  Is Communism still a major threat to this country, and are we still suffering from an "anti-McCarthyism" backlash from the 1950's?  Is that why the media and politicians are hesitant to point out the connections between Mr. Dix and Revolutionary Communist Party chairman, Bob Avakian?
     It's all right there for the discerning and wise to see...  From the clever cartoon, to the schemes and conspiracies of duped filmmakers and revolutionaries.  They are all convenient tools for the devil to accomplish his goal of world domination.  But he is missing one little subplot from Tom and Jerry... that pyramid with the all-seeing eye that summoned the President of Hollywood is a false idol.  There is only One Being that is All-Knowing and All-Seeing, and the machinations of the Evil one cannot destroy God's Sovereignty or His Will.  Let them think that they are carrying out their sneaky little plan.  We already know the outcome, and the Day of the Lord is at hand.

Hebrews 4:13    "And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."

Isaiah 54:17

No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.

     The Bible has a lot to say about curses and blessings.  It's always interesting to me that Christians are anxious to discuss and learn about the blessings that can be bestowed upon us as Believers, but don't seem to be too knowledgeable on the subject of curses.  Granted, it is a complex issue, but I want to try to make it relevant to the world in which we live today.

     First of all, I guess we need to agree that there are actually two kinds of curses:  the one we would call "swearing"; or the use of curse words; and the second being an authoritative declaration, considered to possess an inherent power of carrying itself into effect.  We all know the Third Commandment, right?  "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain" is pretty self-explanatory.  We recognize the power of God in that statement.  The fact that He will not hold us guiltless, demonstrates that judgment will be pronounced.

     But what about the other kind of curse?  Does it have any power over us?  Our Scripture today certainly says, "No!"  Our "vindication" will be that God will clear us of any blame or suspicion, and prove that we were in the right --- but notice that this pronouncement is for the servants of the Lord.

     I see it this way... in this day and age, witchcraft and demonic activity is more out in the open than it has been at any other time in my lifetime.  But we need to rely on Scripture ... God does not allow His children to be cursed. God is sovereign. No one has the power to curse one whom God has decided to bless. God is the only One able to pronounce judgment.  Yet I believe that there are plenty of people who believe in casting spells and hexes and incantations against others.  And there are those who will testify that they work!

     But the Bible is very clear that if you belong to God, those spells will have no effect upon you.  But, here is the thing:  the number of people who are being deceived by Satan and his followers; those people who reject God and refuse to believe in His Saving Grace, is growing.  They have listened to the lies and believe in their own dark powers, as granted by the Evil One, himself.  So, they see some success in their casting of spells and dark magic against those who are not Believers, and they think that the one they serve is greater than the Christian God.

      Here is my warning to them:  Micah 5:12 very clearly says that God will destroy witchcraft and those who cast spells.  But I also have a warning for those "lukewarm" Christians and unbelievers.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:24 that "false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect."  So, we must be on guard to give no credence to those who claim that they have been given supernatural powers by any other than Yeshua.  Even then, if you are a Believer, you better be praying and using your Holy Spirit-led discernment to reveal God's Truth.  

     As we consider today's Scripture, I want to assure you that we need not be afraid of coming in contact with such people.  As Christians, we have been born again as a new person in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and we are in the constant presence of the Holy Spirit who lives within us and under whose protection we exist.  I will, however, concede that a curse upon an ancestor can affect you as a descendent in the generational line.  But it is important we realize that, if you are a Believer, that curse was covered by the blood of Jesus the moment you accepted Him as your Savior.  

     Remember that Romans 8:2 tells us, "For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death."  Any generational curse is certainly part of sin and death, and Christ has set you free.  When we apply God's Word and the Authority of Jesus combined with the Power of the Holy Spirit to our lives, nothing of Satan is allowed to transform us.  Just as our verse today says, "No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed...".

     Doesn't that give you such peace of mind?  It should!  So Christians who live in fear should see that there is no need to be afraid!  We know that “the one who is in you [Christ] is greater than the one [Satan] who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).  So are you living that Truth out in your daily life?  Are you living in God's Peace and in the knowledge that we have been set free?  The best way to avoid cursing, or those who curse us is to be obedient to God and walk in the ways of His Son.  That is the heritage of the servants of the Lord!

      

Disney And Its Demons

     Have you ever had the thought, or commented on, how much our childhoods as Baby Boomers were more cheerful and light-hearted and full of joyous memories?  We were entertained by seemingly harmless and innocent TV shows and movies -- things like I Love Lucy, Leave It To Beaver, Charlie Brown, Andy Griffith, Rocky and Bullwinkle, and who can forget gathering the family around the TV for Walt Disney on Sunday nights?
     There were none of the "heavier" kinds of kid's entertainment like today's Xiaolin Chronicles, Young Dracula, Transformers Prime Beast Hunters, Every Witch Way, and The Haunted Hathaways.  To be sure, the old trusted Disney franchise is still pumping out The Mickey Mouse Club, and Sesame Street is still around.  But, about that Disney franchise....
     We've all seen what the Disney studios have created in Miley Cyrus, and we tend to think that modern-day Disney no longer resembles the Disney of our youth.  That Disney is seen in our memories as harmless and nontoxic; definitely not dangerous or evil.  But let me share something with you that just may show how faulty that reasoning is.
     I recently discovered that Disney is planning a live-action adaptation from a segment of their 1940 animation masterpiece, Fantasia.  You may recall the recent movie Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie as the iconic witch from the Sleeping Beauty animated film, known as "The Mistress of All Evil".  Now, Disney is planning a 2016 release of the Fantasia segment titled "A Night On Bald Mountain", which Hollywood Reporter characterizes as a live-action film "centered on a dark winged creature who raised spirits from the dead. They dance, fly through the air and enjoy a night of mayhem until they fade away as the night ends and the sun begins to rise."  I'm sorry, but that is far too demure of a portrayal of this film.  (Click on the above link to see the Fantasia segment).

Chernabog

     When the original animated version of Fantasia hit theaters in 1940-41, this segment openly glorified Chernabog, a giant evil demon, who appears as the only main character in the "Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria" segment.  He has been praised as Disney's best representation of pure evil, and as animator Vladimir Tytla's greatest triumph. As a very "raw" representation of evil, he, in his original appearance, is not placed in the context of any real story, and he and his minions' actions are not committed in pursuit of any discernible goal other than general havoc–wreaking and tyranny on all... in other words, "to steal, kill, and destroy" (John 10:10).
     Chernabog is one of the most powerful villains Walt Disney has ever created because he is depicted as a ruthless monster, feared by all who encounter him.  Walt Disney, himself, said another name for Chernabog was Satan.  Many of his appearances also show him to be somewhat comedic, as seen in The Wonderful World of Disney, and House of Mouse.  But I promise you, he is anything but funny.  His power is shown to be incredibly demonic, being able to unleash hellish realms and spirits. While immensely dark, he has managed to become a trademark Disney villain.
     The reason that I am alerting you to the existence of this character and want you to focus on his re-emergence in this new animated film, is because I believe that there is real demonic power and forces behind such creations as this.  In fact, Thornton Hee, another Disney animator who worked on Fantasia, recalled wanting to ask Vladimir Tytla (the creator of the character Chernabog) about something, but when he entered the animator's room, he found it was in complete darkness save for the fluorescent light under Tytla's drawing, which lit his face in an eerie way as he worked. This unnerved Hee enough to compel him to leave without alerting Tytla to his presence at all.
     And Thornton Hee was not the only one frightened by this depiction of Chernabog.  At the time of its release in 1940, many parents criticized the film for frightening their children in the "Night on Bald Mountain" segment.  One film critic,  Dorothy Thompson of The New York Herald Tribune, wrote that she "left the theater in a condition bordering on nervous breakdown," because the film was a "remarkable nightmare."  And no wonder... when you read of Chernabog's descriptions on a website dedicated to his creation as an animated character, you read things like "Gigantic, slender, muscular, scary-looking face, black skin and horns, yellow glowing eyes, jagged fangs, giant black wings with purple undersides".  You read that his "occupation" is Demon Lord.  The things he likes are "Evil, darkness, war, chaos, night, fire, shadows, sins, hate, fear, despair, death".  And he dislikes "all that is good, and the light".
    And if you are interested in Disney trivia, you might find the following bits of information interesting in regards to this animated demon:

Yen Sid

•  The words in his name, "cherna" and "bog", mean "black" and "god" in Slavic languages (his animator, Vladimir Tytla was Ukrainian).
•  Chernabog was referred to as "Yen Sid" in the pencil tests for Fantasia. But "Yen Sid" was used as the name of Mickey's magic master in The Sorcerer's Apprentice scene in the film, and the animation of both characters were supervised by Tytla.  (Further evidence that Disney knew exactly what was being created in this film).
•  Chernabog is unusual in that he has no other purpose other than to be evil. He is not interested in conquest.  (Remember:  "Steal, kill, and destroy" -- he knows he can't win).
•  Walt Disney called Chernabog the devil himself.
     My point in recounting all this information is this: I do not believe that the inclusion of Chernabog in the original animated film, nor his appearances in the current Kingdom of Hearts video game series, or his new starring role in the forthcoming live-action film adaptation, is a coincidence.  It is my conjecture that people influenced by the demonic presence of Satan on this earth know exactly what they are doing.  It is no coincidence that several people I know have expressed harassment by a "dark entity", sometime in their life, that just happens to resemble this animated character.
     So what do you think is the purpose of re-introducing Chernabog to a new generation?  Could it be the same as Maleficient?  (See my thoughts on this film at this blog post). I firmly believe that children who are subjected to horror movies or TV shows -- everything from Fantasia, to Dark Shadows, to The Shining, to Halloween and Freddie Krueger, to the Twilight series -- are being not only influenced by the demonic realm, but are being subtly persuaded, if you will, to accept this as normal and nothing to fear -- sort of a "soft sell" approach to accepting the reality of Evil.  Except that there is nothing "soft" or "subtle" about Satan and his demons.  And, for what it's worth, even as an adult, to watch "A Night On Bald Mountain" is deeply disturbing to my spirit.  Guard your children!  Walt Disney and his funny little mouse buddy are not your friends!

Ephesians 5:11    "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them."

She Gets It!

    I came across a story on The Blaze that mirrored my experience of the last couple of days.  The story is of an American psychologist, named Dr. Bethany Haley Williams, who is also the founder of an organization called Exile International.  The mission of her organization is to restore rescued child soldiers, and children orphaned by war, to become leaders for peace through art therapy and holistic, rehabilitative care.

     In Central and East Africa, armed forces and rebels have abducted more than 100,000 children, and most of these children are left with deep, emotional scars because of the trauma they have been forced to endure, or tragically, to commit themselves.  The evil acts perpetrated against them have succeeded in making them prisoners of the very Evil that seeks to entrap us all.
     On a group trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in June 2008, Dr. Williams, encountered a darkness she had never seen before: child soldiers who asked her to be their mother, women who attempted to give over their children, stories of women sexually abused time and time again, and children so traumatized they showed no emotion.  Realizing that the evil she witnessed could only be countered by the power of Jesus's love, His redemption, and their ability to forgive, Dr. Williams was determined to look the darkness dead in the eye, and help heal these children.  She says her spiritual journey was "turned upside down."
     I can say the same thing after the last two days I spent training with Dr. Charles Kraft to help Christians who need deep, inner healing.  The methods I learned may be different than Dr. Williams's, but the result is the same... whether we are talking about an actual child in Africa, or our own "inner child", we all need to heal from the emotional scars that have damaged us.
     How many Christians do you know that want to get closer to Jesus, but just can't seem to get there?  They read their Bibles, they pray and attend church faithfully, but something is still missing.  That intimacy that the Bible talks about, and that they long for, just isn't there for them.  They often deal with feelings of anger, depression, or fear ... those very emotions they are told Christians should not feel because we are "new beings" in Christ.  They are often left feeling disappointed and wonder, "Where is the freedom and peace that Jesus promised me?"
     What I discovered under the tutelage of Dr. Kraft is that most problems are spiritual, resulting in emotional difficulties that keep us from the freedom and intimacy with Christ that we (and He) desire.  And I learned that deep-level healing is the answer.  What exactly is this deep-level healing?  It is a ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit that is aimed at bringing healing to the whole person:  spirit, body, mind, emotions, and will.  It is about hearts being set free.  And notice that I said in the power of the Holy Spirit.  It is not me healing the person, but Jesus's power through the Holy Spirit; and I can work with Him to help effect that power and healing.  He has given me the authority to work in the spiritual realm with Him and the Holy Spirit, and it is quite clear in Mark 13:34:  "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch."
     What I learned is a loving way to counsel people to identify the origin of those emotions and thoughts that block the freedom and intimacy that they so desperately seek.  By using visualization exercises, with Jesus present at every stage in your life, you can identify what the "triggers" are that keep you from experiencing intimacy and freedom.  I witnessed counseling sessions in which Dr. Kraft healed the deep, inner soul scars that Christians suffered from a feeling of unwantedness (that often times comes when conceived out of wedlock), miscarriages, sexual molestation, and many other open doors to spiritual harassment by the Enemy.
     Once memories reveal what is at the root of a Christian's sense of despondency, we can ask them, "Can you see Jesus there with you at that moment of crisis?"  If you are a faithful Christian, you know that God and Jesus are Omnipresent; they are everywhere -- so we know that He was there with them in their moment of despair.  Remember, He has not promised to keep us from all such bad experiences -- only to be with us in them.  So, when we experience Jesus in our memories, we know He was present in the actual events of the past, and we can give Him the crippling reactions [to that event] -- which are stored in our memories and have intruded on our peace.  Then we can experience His intense desire and power to heal us... to take those painful feelings and cast them away from you, as far as the East is from the West.

Hearts Set Free

     And it is ALWAYS the power of Jesus through the operating of the Holy Spirit in that moment that heals the person.  For most people, picturing Jesus there with them during the hurts of their lives, and handing off the paralyzing emotions, and then being able to visualize Him hugging them and feeling that intimacy, is enough to free them into a more satisfying spiritual life.
     But there are some with such devastating experiences that demons have slipped in and are subconsciously controlling the Christian's mind, will, or emotions.  But that does not stop the healing!  We simply declare the authority given to us by Christ to free the captives, and employ the power of the Holy Spirit to identify them and command them to leave.  The deliverances I witnessed were done in such a loving, calm manner by Dr. Kraft, and it was truly empowering to realize that we do not need to fear demons; they may hinder a person's peace, but they can't take away the person's salvation.  Sadly, the Church has forgotten that we have been commissioned by Jesus to bring freedom to all mankind.  He told us that we would do what He had done, and even greater things (John 14:12).  But we forget that Luke 4:18 describes what He came to do, and that freedom He wishes to give us:  to announce release (pardon, forgiveness) to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed (downtrodden, bruised, crushed by tragedy).
     I want to be very clear that what I described in this healing process has been over-simplified.  Much time is taken to get to know the hurting Christian, and to identify the underlying issues (or demons) that are blocking their freedom and intimacy.  Healing that "inner child" requires a careful, attentive, and thorough effort to free the adult Christian.  The important thing to remember is that there are multitudes of Christians who need to be set free, and Jesus is waiting for us to get involved and agree to work with Him and the Holy Spirit in completing our commission.
     Who wouldn't want to partner with Jesus, and to experience working with Him?  We get to share in the blessings He brings to our fellow Christians through us.  We get to see forgiveness, gratitude, and new joy, steeped in peace and love. It doesn't take any special spiritual gifts; after all, Jesus worked with ungifted disciples.  It just takes a willingness to obey His command and experience a closeness with Him that you have never had before.
     And I have to agree with Dr. Williams, when she says, "I see redemption at its deepest level. It is not of this world.  And, I believe, it is only the beginning."  She's right!  This kind of healing is not of this world!  These past two days, I have experienced a new reality in my relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  I now know that Jesus is not some far off, distant God!  He truly is right here beside me, and I can do all things through Him with the power of the Holy Spirit.  And most of all, I can see and feel and personally experience the freedom of my fellow Christians as they receive the Peace that surpasses all understanding.  And that only comes from allowing Jesus to heal you.  We are simply His instruments to achieve that Peace.  And we receive something as well, for being willing to trust His Word and engage with Him.  As Barbara Bucklin, one of the facilitators of Dr. Kraft's ministry said, "Nothing is a bigger faith-builder than to know your authority."  Amen to that!

For more information on Dr. Charles Kraft and his deeper inner healing ministry, please visit www.heartssetfree.org.

Galatians 5:1    "It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed]."
       

Oprah's Path To Destruction

     I guess it was around 2005 or so that I quit watching the highly popular Oprah Winfrey daily TV show.  I admired her philanthropic efforts and her work in providing education for girls in Africa, among other things.  But the afternoon she said that there were many ways to God, I quit watching.  And I mourned the millions of women who would follow her down that false spiritual path... simply because Oprah said it was OK.
     In the past, she has insisted that she is a Christian with statements like this:  “I am not talking about religion. I am a Christian. That is my faith. I'm not asking you to be a Christian. If you want to be one I can show you how. But it is not required. I have respect for all faiths. All faiths. But what I'm talking about is not faith or religion. I'm talking about spirituality" ...  and then there is this: "My favorite Bible verse—because I am Christian—is Acts 17:28. It says, ‘In God I live and move and have my being’,” Winfrey said. “And you want to know why I'm so successful? Because I knew that at 4 years-old … I wouldn't be who I am today without a spiritual consciousness, without spiritual values and ultimately without spiritual love."
     But that's just it... since 2005, and now with her new Discovery Channel, seven-night special, called Belief, Oprah is making it all about "spirituality."  In fact, the promo for the new series has this to say about her new venture:  Seven billion people, searching for connection, redemption, meaning. Oprah Winfrey presents the seven-night event, "Belief," a groundbreaking television event exploring humankind's ongoing search to connect with something greater than ourselves.  Journeying to the far reaches of the world, and to places cameras have rarely been, “Belief” searches the origins of diverse faiths and the heart of what really matters. From the epic to the intimate, webbed throughout each hour are stories of people on spiritual journeys, taking them to sacred spaces. 
     All that probably sounds good to today's culture .... but where is JESUS mentioned?  If you call yourself a Christian, shouldn't you be talking about faith in Jesus... and not just spirituality?  (Take another look at her first statement).  And why isn't she saying (in her second statement) "I wouldn't be who I am today without JESUS," instead of "I wouldn't be who I am today without a spiritual consciousness, without spiritual values and ultimately without spiritual love"?
     Seems to me that's a whole lot of New Age drivel, and there are a lot of false gods out there who offer their spiritual wares and diverse ways to "sacred spaces".  I just don't trust any of them!  I wholeheartedly agree with Jennifer LeClaire, a writer for Charisma News, who wrote, "No, Oprah is not celebrating Jesus. She's taking people on a "spiritual" journey that includes many faiths and challenging them to ask the question: What do you believe? As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord Jesus Christ, thank you."  And as Jennifer points out in her piece, Franklin Graham gets it right, too.  "A personal relationship with Almighty God through His Son Jesus Christ is the only thing that can fill the void in the human heart," Graham said. "This is not a matter of opinion--Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.' One way, one Savior, no exceptions."
     Did you get that, Oprah?  No exceptions!  And while I am having this conversation with Oprah in my head, I would like to give her a warning.  Oprah, I know you have helped thousands of people less fortunate than you, and no doubt many of them might have considered seeking a relationship with God and Jesus because of your humanitarian efforts.  But, dear, all those good deeds will mean nothing when you stand before Jesus's Judgment Seat and He asks you if you pointed them to Him.  Because, believe me, He will know that your message was not the narrow path that led to Life, but that you offered entrance into "spirituality" through the wide gate that led to their destruction.
     Back in 2012, when she launched the OWN channel, the publicity department for the Black Christian News Network (BCNN) had this to say: “Now we know that some people are going to doubt Oprah's profession of faith in Christ and some are going to say negative things about this because she has different people of different faiths on her show and so forth. But before you Pharisees say all of that, please understand that OWN is not a Christian network. It is a network for all people. OWN is Oprah's business, and we as Christians know what that is like when you're doing business in a secular world. So Oprah's business side is going to be different, but it does not take anything away from her faith in Christ... We believe that Oprah's true ‘next chapter’ is to finish her life leading millions to the Christ that saved her,” BCNN wrote. “We want to encourage all Christians to pray for Oprah as she grows in her faith in Christ.”
     Well, here we are at that next chapter, and it is her new TV show, Belief.  I'm sorry, but how can there by growth in her faith, when she still will not credit Jesus for her success, or exalt Him as the only way to God?  Until that happens, all the talk about spirituality and honoring different faiths will fall on my deaf ears.  And, somehow, I don't think Jesus is going to like the fact that her "business side" is willing to compromise and make concessions for other faiths.
     When asked to define what spirituality is to her, Oprah said, "[It] is living life with an open heart, through love, and allowing yourself to align with the values of tolerance, acceptance, of harmony, of cooperation and reverence for life. She said she believes there is a divine thread that connects spiritually to something greater than ourselves."  All of that sounds man-driven to me; nothing Holy or sanctified.  If only she would realize that He alone is worthy of all her enthusiasm about searching for something greater than herself.  Only then will she discover what true Belief is.

Matthew 7:22-23   "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

What Is The State Of Our Military?

     I took a good look at a recent survey of our U.S. Military by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C.  The highlights of their 2016 Index of U.S. Military Strength revealed some interesting ratings.
     For instance they ranked U.S. Military Power as "marginal", with the Army rating a "weak" score. Considering that the Army is the largest branch of our Armed Forces, that should make us sit up and take notice.
     And if that's not enough to make you uneasy, here is how they rated Threats to U.S. Vital Interests:   Iran and the Middle East received an "Elevated" ranking; Russia, China, and terrorism associated with Afghanistan/Pakistan received a rating of "High"; and North Korea was rated as "Severe".  It should not be surprising that the Heritage Foundation found these nations to be particularly aggressive during 2015, and they expect that the rapid modernization and expansion of their offensive military capabilities will make these especially worrisome continuing into 2016.  Russia's swift and vigorous involvement in the Middle East is evidence that these predictions are most likely on the mark.
     And which of us have any faith in the so-called pact with Iran over their nuclear proliferation?  Does anyone really believe that they intend to honor any treaty they have made?  They have said as much; that they will continue on the path towards nuclear weapons development and the annihilation of Israel.

     So all this makes the Heritage Foundation's assessment of U.S. Military Power more relevant.  I want you to read, word-for-word, their evaluation .... "Finally, we assessed the military power of the United States in three areas: capability, capacity, and readiness. These three areas of assessment are central to the overarching questions of whether the U.S. has a sufficient quantity of appropriately modern military power and whether military units are able to conduct military operations on demand and effectively.
     The common theme across the services and the United States’ nuclear enterprise is one of force degradation resulting from many years of underinvestment, poor execution of modernization programs, and the negative effects of budget sequestration (cuts in funding) on readiness and capacity. While the military has been heavily engaged in operations, primarily in the Middle East but elsewhere as well, since September 11, 2001, experience is both ephemeral and context-sensitive. Valuable combat experience is lost over time as the servicemembers who individually gained experience leave the force, and it maintains direct relevance only for future operations of a similar type. Thus, though the current Joint Force is experienced in some types of operations, it is still aged and shrinking in its capacity for operations."
     The Army is "weak" because of a drop in the number of combat-ready troops.  The Navy's fleet is diminished and struggling to meet operational demands.  The index score for the Air Force dropped from "strong" to "marginal", due to a degradation in capability and readiness.  The fighting competence of the Marines is superb, but it is hampered by aging equipment; troubled replacement programs for its key ground vehicles (particularly its amphibious personnel carriers); and a shrinking force.  (That's why it is so difficult to see ISIS driving around the Middle East in our abandoned military trucks and equipment).  Perhaps the most alarming finding of the Heritage Foundation's survey was the greater need to modernize U.S. nuclear capabilities, particularly with regard to aging delivery systems. Continued reliance on legacy systems such as the B-52 will eventually diminish the effectiveness of the nuclear enterprise of our military and lead to the deterioration of our nation’s ability to deter a nuclear attack.
     The overall picture that the Heritage Foundation painted was one of a U.S. military force capable of meeting the demands of a single major regional conflict, while also managing various "presence" and "engagement" activities.  BUT, they also concluded that our military would be very hard-pressed to do more than that, and certainly would be ill-equipped to handle two nearly simultaneous major regional incidents.
     The bottom line is this:  The consistent decline in funding and the consequent shrinking of our armed forces have placed it under significant pressure.  Essential maintenance of equipment continues to be deferred; fewer units (mostly the Navy’s platforms and the Special Operations Forces community) are being cycled through operational deployments more often, and for longer periods; and old equipment is being extended while programmed replacements are problematic.
     Let's face it.  Add all these factors together, and we have a U.S. military that is "marginally" able to meet the demands of defending America’s vital national interests.  So what does this say about the Military-Industrial Complex?  Either they have been gutted by the decimation of funding for our forces; or the corruption is so extensive throughout the Government and Pentagon, that pockets are being lined while the lives of our combat troops are ignored and exploited.  Either way, the common defense of the nation seems to have collapsed, or even been deliberately sacrificed.
     At times like this, I always wonder what the intention was at the founding of our nation.  How would the Founders have viewed the state in which we find our military and national defense?  Consider what James Madison had to say:  "In time of actual war, great discretionary powers are constantly given to the Executive Magistrate. Constant apprehension of War, has the same tendency to render the head too large for the body. A standing military force, with an overgrown Executive will not long be safe companions to liberty. The means of defence against foreign danger, have been always the instruments of tyranny at home. Among the Romans it was a standing maxim to excite a war, whenever a revolt was apprehended. Throughout all Europe, the armies kept up under the pretext of defending, have enslaved the people ... Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few. In war, too, the discretionary power of the Executive is extended; its influence in dealing out offices, honors, and emoluments is multiplied: and all the means of seducing the minds, are added to those of subduing the force, of the people. The same malignant aspect in republicanism may be traced in the inequality of fortunes, and the opportunities of fraud, growing out of a state of war, and in the degeneracy of manners and of morals, engendered by both. No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare."
     So where does this leave us?  Certainly, war seems to have been the ever-present companion of man for the last century.  But even in the Old Testament, war was prominent, and often seen as "holy"; often declared by God.  And we are all familiar with the Scripture in Ecclesiastes that says "there is a time for war, and a time for peace."  Ever since St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) formulated the theory of the Just War, it seems that man has rationalized his way into ever-increasing states of war.  To be honest, I don't have a crystal ball to see where our decline in military strength and capability leads us.  Will the next Presidential election change the direction we are headed?  Or is it too late?  Has our weakness been exploited past the time of no return?  Only God sees the future.  All I know is that I long for His Peace and the absence of all the Evil I see.  But I also know that there has to be one final War on Earth before the Prince of Peace comes to reign.  Perhaps we are seeing the world line up, and build up, towards that final conflagration?

Exodus 15:3    "The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name."

     

Sexual Liberty vs Religious Liberty

      Today is a momentous day in Houston, Texas.  It looks as if the fourth largest city in the country is going to be "Ground Zero" in the non-discrimination wars between the religious faithful and the cultural liberals.  Today, the good citizens of Houston go to the polls to vote.  And a diverse coalition of pastors in the Houston area have joined forces to try to defeat an ordinance proposed by Houston's lesbian mayor, who seeks to protect people from discrimination based on characteristics such as sex, race, age, marital status, sexual orientation and gender identity.  

     All that sounds good; no one should endorse discrimination -- especially Christians, right?  But you have to look beyond the surface language to discern the deeper implications of such a law.  True, the proposed law would make it illegal to be biased or prejudiced against anyone based on those characteristics.  It is a law designed to protect gay and transgender people.  But what about protecting the religious beliefs of Christians?    

     On the surface, many people see it as the "bathroom issue"... business owners oppose the ordinance because of its language on gender identity. It would permit men and women to use whatever public bathroom they choose.  As one business owner explained, "[The law] imposes criminal fines and penalties on me, the business owner, if I don't allow a person of one gender to go into the other person's bathroom."  Would you want your adolescent daughter to be forced to share a public bathroom with a man who "identifies" as a woman?  

     The proposed ordinance is already affecting the practices of many businesses in the Houston area. Photographers and bakers know they are at risk of violating the law, and suffering the legal consequences, should they not want to bake a wedding cake or take wedding photos, based on their religious beliefs.  So, many are altering their business model and vacating the wedding market.  

     It's important to remember that in May 2014, the Houston City Council originally approved the ordinance.  A coalition of evangelical pastors then organized a signature drive to place the measure on the ballot. After the mayor rejected their signatures, the pastors sued the city, prompting the mayor to subpoena five pastors' sermons.  We know the underlying threat there... the loss of their 501(c)3 status.  The Texas Supreme Court eventually sided with the pastors and agreed to put the issue before the voters.  I'm sure you would not be surprised to know that national and local LGBT activists have raised close to $3 million to persuade voters to approve the ordinance.  And they say there is no political agenda....

     But, for once, the Faithful who still adhere to Biblical primacy are standing their ground.  And it is not just white, protestant evangelicals that oppose the ordinance.  Pastor Hernan Castaño is the director of Hispanic church development for the Houston Area Pastors Council. He is also the Houston director of the Rivers of Oil Bible Institute, and the founding pastor of the Iglesias Rios De Aceite located in Houston.  Castaño was born in Columbia and migrated with his parents to America when he was five months old.  He feels that history is repeating itself for him and his congregation, many of whom immigrated from countries known for oppressive regimes.  "The dream of coming to America, of being an American citizen and having a business and the freedom to make your choices, of religious freedom -- it's truly in danger," he said.  "And people see this as a repetition of what happened in their countries, when it all started, and they are concerned and they're praying."

     The baker and the photographer have the same concerns.  Baker Jesus Guerrero manages a Houston bakery and said the proposed ordinance would collide with his Christian beliefs.  "If we don't feel comfortable doing something, we shouldn't be forced to make a wedding cake ... I want to have my freedom of choice to do what is Biblical and that is eroding away."

     Historically, Houston's registered voters don't turn out to vote on local issues, but the stakes surrounding this one may just change their minds.  So it will be interesting to see what happens at the polls today, and if Houston will remain the last major city in the country without a non-discrimination law.  The LGBT agenda has been successful in passing over 200 such ordinances across the country -- providing protection for sexual minorities, while quietly stripping away protections for people of faith.  One thing is for certain; Houston is a battleground and "Ground Zero" for the fight between sexual liberty and religious liberty.  May God's Will be done!

Galatians 5:1   "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

    

     

The Gift Of Freedom

     How do I write about what I experienced over the weekend?  How do I impart the words of knowledge and freedom that I received, with both gratification and glory to God for His revelation, and without offending His Church and the Body of Christ?  That's a very difficult tightrope to walk.
     But, I guess the message I am getting from the Holy Spirit is this:  "Just tell the truth."  So here goes... You know that God seems to be leading me and my husband on a path towards accepting our position on the battlefield of Spiritual Warfare.  So, this past weekend, we had the privilege to attend a 2-day conference taught by Dr. Charles Kraft, a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary for 40 years.  The title of the conference was "Defeating Dark Angels", but the central topic of the meeting was based less on the sensational-sounding aspects of that title, and more on the Scripture-affirming concept of inner healing to help deliver defeated Christians as they battle their demons.
     There is no way in a single post that I can elucidate all the insight and understanding that my spirit was given during the intense instruction.  So I will try to give you the points that opened my eyes, my mind, and my heart to the truth of who I am meant to be as a follower of Jesus.
     Let me start by saying that Dr. Kraft is unlike what the secular world -- and for the most part, the Church -- views as a "Deliverance Minister."  He is a soft-spoken, gentle man, who never raises his voice.  He does not employ any of the histrionics of the so-called "healers" or "exorcists" that characterize the modern perception of evangelists who cast out demons -- there is no melodrama, theatrics, or artificial showmanship; no Benny Hinn, here.  There is no writhing on the floor, no yelling, and no dramatic vomiting. As he reiterated many times throughout the conference, "If the healing is not loving, it's not from Jesus."
     To begin with, he makes it very clear that there are two levels of demons we encounter in our spiritual warfare.  The "ground level" troops are the fallen angels that we call demons or evil spirits; those who envy us our bodies, and who look for someone to inhabit.  The "cosmic level" demons are those we encounter in Ephesians 6:12-- the principalities, powers and rulers that command the ground troops.  They have different personalities, are destructive to the peace that Jesus has promised His followers, and they differ in power and wickedness.  All that sounds like we're waging a losing battle, doesn't it?  Sadly, many Christians are living their lives in defeat, rather than through the victory that is ours in Christ.

     Interestingly, Dr. Kraft wrote that although most Christians recognize that much of the New Testament was written by the Apostle Paul to the new Christian Churches, they fail to acknowledge that 80% of Paul's Epistles tell us of Jesus's Power, and about 20% talk about the Love of Jesus.  The average Christian knows about Love, Faith, and Redemption, but they are weak on Spiritual Warfare and the Power and Authority of Jesus that He transferred to us.
     As a missionary in Nigeria, Dr. Kraft asked the people he had come to serve in Jesus's Name, "What is your biggest problem?"  Their answer?  "Evil spirits."  I think it should be clear that we are all made in the image of God (as spirit beings), so why would we be any different?  Oh, yeah... the prosperity, the level of comfort, and our ability to hide from our demons through the means of entertainment, addictions, and a myriad of other distractions.  So, in the end, we continue to ignore the attacks and continue in our bondage, while focusing on loving Jesus.  We base our Christian Worldview on the 20% of Paul's writings that talk about Love, and turn a blind eye to the 80% that tell us He has given us Power in His Name to be free of all the oppression, pain, and spiritual domination.
    The first step towards this freedom is to make two major changes in this worldview towards accepting our role in Spiritual Warfare:  1) Believe there are demons, and 2) Be able to effectively use our conferred Power and Authority (in His Name) to deal with these dark angels (demons) and to "set the captives free".  It was an eye-opener to me, when Dr. Kraft pointed out that there are three things that are most important to Christians:  Salvation, Freedom, and Habits.  We've got the first one down; we understand the origin and process of Salvation pretty well.  And we've gotten real good at the last one; our habits are entrenched in our Sunday attendance and all the ceremonies and traditions of our denominations.  As Dr. Kraft expressed so well, "Our churches are full of people wonderfully saved, but they're not free."
     We seem to have lost sight of the fact that Jesus obviously took Satan and his demons seriously.  And, even more importantly, He expects us to take demons seriously and to use His power to get rid of them.  That is very evident in the Scripture that instructs us on His Great Commission:  Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20).
     I have pointed out this Scripture in the past, but now I have an even greater understanding of it.  Jesus passed on to His disciples all of His power.  He set aside His God Power, and never once used it on earth.  He only acted as a human being, using the power of the Holy Spirit.  He intends for us to do the same!  We modern-day disciples of Christ are no different than the famous Disciples of the Gospels.  We are to see ourselves as Jesus sees us.  He tells them to go and make disciples of all the nations (and disciples is who we are); to baptize; and to "teach them to observe (or do) everything that I have commanded you."   Down through the centuries, each succeeding generation of disciples concentrated on evangelizing and baptizing, but failed to teach how to defeat demons using the power of the Holy Spirit.

     But the one thing I want you to get from this abbreviated summary of the conference is this: There is no deliverance from our demons without inner healing first.  As a visual person, it helped me a lot to picture Dr. Kraft's illustration on what that looks like... "Where you have garbage, you have rats.  If you just get rid of the rats, and don't get rid of the garbage, the rats will come back.  But if you get rid of the garbage first, [the cycle] of the rats gets weakened, and it is usually easy to kick them out.  The rats, if they are there, are always the secondary problem, not the primary one."
     So his model of "Deliverance" is to accomplish the inner healing of the Christian first, then see if there are any demons present.  In other words, the "garbage" could be a number of things resulting in unresolved pain and hurt in one's life.  It could be broken relationships, areas of unconfessed sin, involvement in the occult, or sexual or physical abuse in your past --- anything else that gives the Enemy a "legal right" to influence you, either from the outside or the inside.
     When we deal with the "garbage" and get healed from that -- through getting in touch with how Jesus sees us; this Jesus whom we know as our loving Savior who created us, chose and planned us from before God made the world -- then the demons lose their hold on us, and we can often kick them out of our lives without a fight.
     But now comes the part that is difficult for me.  How do I express my frustration with the Church for their inability to see this dynamic?  How do I make my fellow Christians and members of the Body of Christ understand that if Jesus instructed us to be taught on how to use His Power and Authority through the Holy Spirit to defeat Satan and his demons -- yet we don't recognize that authority, or refuse to consider it -- then I humbly see that as irresponsible on our part, as His disciples.  This Power and Authority is available to all who follow Jesus, and is meant to be a means to offer Freedom to those held captive by Satan.  I will agree that certain people of faith seem to have a "knack" or "gifting", if you will, to "take the ball and run" with the power and authority.  But as Dr. Kraft so wisely counseled us, "Obedience precedes gifting."  If we will only be obedient to Jesus's command of John 14:12, (We will do the works He did, and do even greater things), I believe we will find that our ability to engage in His Power and Authority, through the Holy Spirit, will come in greater measure.
     We should not be afraid of our Commission, and we should not shirk our responsibility to follow our Savior's commands.  As 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control]."  THAT, my fellow Christians is living in true Freedom!  And THAT is why Jesus performed the will of His Father on the Cross... to give us the ability to use the same Authority from our Father, and the Power of the Holy Spirit to not only live a free life ourselves, but to help set other captive Christians free.
     You see, "Deliverance" doesn't have to be a violent, theatrical show of God's Power and Authority.  It can be just like Jesus showed us ... loving; practiced by any Christian; and it leads to healing, not just deliverance.
     But ultimately, the choice to practice His Power and Authority is still ours.  I agree with Dr. Kraft... God will not violate our Free Will.  He will not force the use of His authority upon us, nor will He change our free will.  But He can change the circumstances that result from our free will when, in the Name of Jesus, we take authority over demon spirits and break their power in Jesus's Name and through the Holy Spirit.
     The final thought I want to leave you with is this ... Deliverance is not a science; it is a journey of faith.  Jesus has given us tools to empower ourselves in our spiritual warfare, and they do just that... empower us; but they don't fix us.  We are in a spiritual war, and no war is won in a single battle.  Throughout our journey through life, we will engage in many battles, and growing into a mature faith is our goal.  But God has a goal, too.  He always wraps His Power in His Love, with the goal of setting people free.  My prayer is that His people will learn to use that Power and Authority to heal themselves and others from the attacks of the Enemy, and to free those whom Satan has in captivity from "the sins that entangle us."  It's time for all Christians to begin that journey of healing towards true Freedom.

I have been given a great blessing to be able to spend the next two days in training with Dr. Kraft, as I learn how to use my Authority from Jesus and the Power of the Holy Spirit to help Christians achieve inner healing and deliverance.  So, if I am a little late in posting any of your comments, you will understand.  I hope to be able to bring you even greater understanding of the amazing God we serve.

Psalm 32:8    "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you [who are willing to learn] with My eye upon you."