Part 1 - Defying ISIS: The War On Christianity

    I recently read an important little book by Johnnie Moore, titled Defying ISIS.  Moore is a humanitarian who has written about his work with genocide victims in the Middle East, Bosnia and Rwanda and visited the world’s largest refugee camps.  Currently, he is sounding the alarm about Christian martyrs in Iraq and Syria who are faced with the barbarism of ISIS and the one option they have: convert or die.
     This little book impacted me like none other I've read in a long time.  In his own words, Moore says he "relates the stories of men, women, and children who have given everything for their faith, even their lives, and stories of those who, when facing inevitable death, lifted their eyes to their God in hope that good will eventually triumph over this evil."  He tells their stories "so that the world will have the opportunity to remember those who stared down the hell of ISIS with the love of Jesus."  Moore tells the stories of the deliberate eradication of Christians in the land where Christianity once dominated.
     There is the story of Mazen, a middle-aged man who lived in what was known as "Iraq's Christian capital", the city of Qaraqosh.  Moore relates that his once strong posture is now reduced to a humbled crouch as he recounts the horror of the morning ISIS arrived:  [It was] nine in the morning when a mortar landed on our house.  My son died.  My nephew was hit in the head.  My other son remains wounded, and our neighbor next door died... We fled, all of us ... My other son, Milad, died on the way.  I have another son who needs an operation; it costs $15,000.  Where would I get that?  We don't have a house or property or anything [anymore].
     Then there is the tragic story of Aida, a young mother of a beautiful three-year-old daughter, Christina.  They also lived in Quaraqosh, one of the oldest Christian communities in the world.  It was four in the morning when ISIS arrived in their town, shooting their guns in the air, and shouting, "God is great!"  Then they began shouting something else ... "CHRISTIANS! Leave before we behead you!"  Aida tells us what happened next:  The situation deteriorated  day-by-day, and after ten days they told us to convert to Islam, or leave.  We were under house arrest.  They took our gold and money and even our extra clothing.  
     ISIS piled them on a bus and dropped them outside of town, to flee or die.  But before they did, they yanked Christina out of her mother's arms, and threatened to kill the hysterical mother on the spot.  Aida said, We don't know why they took our daughter; she was the only child left in Quaraqosh.  We don't know what happened to her.  I'm always thinking about her.  I can't eat or sleep... I keep seeing her in my dreams.  Can you imagine?  Why isn't the world screaming about this inhuman barbarity?  Why aren't we Christians in the West more aware this is happening and interceding on behalf of our Christian brothers and sisters?
     There are the stories of the kidnapping, selling, and trading of children.  As if that is not enough, there are the excruciating stories of the execution of children!  Moore says that "the most conservative estimates put the number of executed children in Syria alone at more than 10,000... [ISIS] revels in the chance to inflict a particular type of horror into the hearts of those they hate.  They sincerely believe they are doing a justice by ridding the world of another generation of Christians, and so they massacre them with pure joy."  What if this was a European child?  An American child?  Why is the world silent?
     It is also the goal of those who promote the Islamic Caliphate to enslave Christian wives and abuse Christian daughters.  I think you know what that means.  We, in the West, are aware of human and sex trafficking (although we are loathe to admit it or confront it openly).  But a smuggled price list from a slave market was recently published by Iraqi News.  The document states that Christian and Yazidi girls are particularly targeted and priced according to age:  ages 1-9 cost $172; ages 10-20 cost $130; ages 20-30 cost $86; ages 30-40 cost $75; and ages 40-50 are sold for $43.  Below the prices on the document, bearing the official seal of the Islamic State of Iraq, it reads, "Customers are allowed to purchase only three items [slaves] with the exception of customers from Turkey, Syria, and Gulf countries.  Obey and follow the rules and laws of the Islamic State or be killed."
     The website, Breaking Israel News, reports that theologians of the Islamic State (ISIS) have issued what can only be described as exceptionally detailed rulings on when “owners” can have sex with female slaves captured by the jihadist group.  The report also added that rather than hiding their practice of slavery, ISIS takes great pride and has even established a department of “war spoils” to manage their slavery trade.
     It is hard enough to read of this horrific abuse against women when it is written in general terms and statistics.  It is another to hear the personal story of Mayat, a 17-year-old Yazidi girl who had been kidnapped and told of "rooms of horror" where "women are raped, often by different men and throughout the day... Often I wish they would beat me so hard I will die.  But they are cowards even in this.  None of them have the courage to end our suffering... even if I survive, I don't think I'll be able to remove this horror from my mind.  They have already killed my body.  They are now killing my soul."
     Then there is the story of Zena, a 20-year-old chemical engineering student in Mosul.  When ISIS came to town she had three strikes against her:  First, she was a Christian; Second, she was a woman; and Third, she was a woman with ambition.  When Johnnie Moore met her, she was wearing the same pajamas she was wearing the night ISIS arrived.  Zena told him that her sense of hope was destroyed when ISIS decimated their church and Christian community; it was an assault "on their security in a deep and personal way."
    But Zena was one of the lucky ones.  In the Syrian city of Al-Mayadin, a female dentist was captured and beheaded because she dared to treat both men and women.  Many others have been stoned to death and buried in shallow graves, or kidnapped and forcibly married to ISIS fighters.  Needless to say, all women are being forced to comply with a strict dress code, and are threatened with death if they refuse.
     One elderly man, when questioned by Moore about why he fled his hometown, replied, "I will tell you why I left my district.  I left it because they stormed our house barbarically at 2 a.m., harassing us, pointing their flashlights toward our women.  We didn't come from another country.  We are from an eastern society.  We are Iraqis and we are jealous of our honor.  So we left to avoid them because they already threatened to arrest our women.  They told my mother that they would arrest her if they couldn't find us."  So, he left to protect his mother, his wife, and his daughters.
     There are more stories than these... thousands of stories, and many of them much more savage and cruel.  And I wanted to let the voices of Johnnie Moore (who has seen these atrocities first-hand) and the victims speak for themselves.  I wanted to shake us western Christians out of our comfort zones to face the existence of this very real war on Christianity.  It is a war that will not be confined to the Middle East, and is designed to be waged worldwide.  We must wake up and determine that we will  not only intercede in prayer on behalf of our fellow Christians, but turn our attention, time, and resources to supporting them in their hour of need.
     I want to leave you at this part of the story, if you will, with the words of Sister Rose, a young nun from Mosul, Iraq, who has poured her life into the lives of Christian refugees as they have fled from city to city, and she among them.  Sister Rose told Johnnie Moore, "I lived in America.  Americans are wonderful people.  It's shocking to me that they are so silent in the face of our genocide.  Please help us.  Raise your voice for us.  Our children are dying.  In America you care for your pets so well, can you care for your Christians brothers and sisters who are suffering?"
     Can we?  On Monday's post, I will finish my report on the work of Johnnie Moore and why he thinks these stories should matter to you; how he thinks we defeat ISIS; and his unique perspective on Christianity in the heart of a Muslim Middle East.  It's time that the world awakes from its slumber, and it is especially time for us Christians.  The very existence of our faith in its birthplace in the Middle East, and our lives, here in the West, depend on it.

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

It's A New Year ... Expect New Changes

   

      I'm wondering if 2016 is going to fly by as fast as 2015 did; and if we are going to continue to see the rapid changes in our lives that we experienced last year.  If the docket of the Supreme Court is any indication, we could see further transformation and upheaval in our social fabric.  Here are the issues that will come before the Court:
     Abortion.  The state of Texas will find out if it can enforce two new regulations that could effect the availability of abortion among its population.  Texas would like to require that clinics use only doctors with admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, as well as require abortion facilities to match the standards of an outpatient surgical center.
     The Supreme Court must decide if these measures will protect the health of women — as state lawmakers assert — or hinder reproductive care “by drastically reducing access to safe and legal abortion” in large parts of Texas, as abortion-rights advocates contend.   It seems to me that these measures are simply trying to call into question the accountability (and the quality of services) of those doctors and clinics that wish to perform abortions.
     But, of course, we can expect to hear arguments that the measures violate the Constitutional "right" of a woman to end the life of her baby, and that "right" supersedes safety measures -- never mind the "rights" of the unborn child.
     Affirmative Action.  Once again, the State of Texas is in the spotlight regarding a controversial decision.  In December, the Court heard Fisher vs. University of Texas for a second time to decide whether the school’s admission policy is constitutional.  At the center of this court case is the question, Does the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment permit the consideration of race in undergraduate admissions decisions?  Abigail N. Fisher, a Caucasian female, applied for undergraduate admission to the University of Texas in 2008. Fisher was not in the top ten percent of her class (which guarantees admission by the University's application process), so she competed for admission with other non-top ten percent in-state applicants. The University of Texas denied Fisher's application.  Fisher then filed suit against the university, citing the aforementioned Equal Protection Clause.
     Fisher has appealed the District Court decision, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit; both of which found in favor of the university.  The Supreme Court found in favor of Ms. Fisher, holding that the lower courts did not conduct a sufficient strict scrutiny examination in this case.  So, now it appears as if the Supreme Court could finally decide if the Constitution and civil rights laws forbid schools and colleges from admitting students based on their race.
     Union Fees.  The High Court will hear a free-speech challenge to pro-union laws in more than 20 states that require all public employees pay a “fair share fee” to their union, even if they are opposed to the union and refuse to join.  This case will clearly show us if the Constitution still has any teeth in it.
     Voting Districts.  This case has clear and strong implications for the future reliability of our election process.  Currently, voters elect representatives to Congress, state legislatures and city councils in districts that are drawn to represent equal numbers of people.  Texas is challenging the fact that these "equal numbers" are not comprised of eligible voters.  At the present time, the system counts all people, including children, immigrants and prisoners.  Texas's appeal relies on the “one person, one vote” rule established in the 1960s. If the justices agree in the case of Evenwel vs. Abbott, the ruling could have a major effect in states such as California, Florida, New York and Illinois because they have large populations of immigrants.  I think it is evident how easily this system could be abused and corrupted.
     Contraceptives.  This year, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear its fourth case on The Affordable Care Act, and the second involving a religious-freedom challenge to a regulation that requires employers to include no-cost coverage for contraceptives in their health insurance policies.  At this time, churches are exempt from this requirement. Under a separate accommodation, religious nonprofits, such as Catholic charities or the University of Notre Dame, need not provide nor pay for the coverage, but they must notify the government of their religious objection.  But in a series of lawsuits, Catholic bishops and Protestant colleges contend that opening themselves up to government scrutiny of their religious objections could open the door to challenges that would force them to provide the contraceptives and make them complicit in what they consider sin.  In essence, they feel they should be afforded the same exemption as churches, or the accommodation needs to be strengthened in their favor.
     Immigration.  In The United States vs Texas, the Supreme Court has perhaps its most contentious case in this Presidential election year.  The outgoing Administration is pulling out all the stops in its effort to shield immigrants from deportation.  Under the President's latest immigration action,  as many as 5 million immigrants who have lived in the country illegally for at least five years, and have a child who is a citizen or legal resident, could come forward, qualify, and be offered work permits.  But a judge in Texas and the 5th Circuit Court in New Orleans, blocked that action as un-Constitutional because it was done without seeking approval from Congress.
     UPDATE:  Under the President's unilateral directive, the Department of Homeland Security published (on New Year's Eve) a 181-page rule which focused primarily on giving work-permits to foreign college-grads.  This not only puts foreigners in direct competition with American college graduates, who are already struggling to find jobs and pay off college tuition debt, but it calls into question new security concerns as it covers categories of immigration utilized by migrants from the Middle East and nearby regions.
     Undoubtedly, it will be extremely important that the Supreme Court agrees to hear the case of The United States vs Texas.  Until then, it looks as if the President is more than willing to test his power to change immigration policy without seeking approval from Congress.  If the justices turn down the appeal, Obama’s action(s) will likely remain on hold until he leaves office.  I'm sure that is exactly what he has planned.
     So as you can see, the very foundation of who and what this country will become is at stake in this coming year.  There is a lot on the line ... the freedoms for our unborn children, our rights to equal education and job opportunities, the entitlement to fair and honest elections, the right to be allowed to practice our faith as we see fit, and whether the checks and balances of our government will be upheld -- not to mention the very security of our homeland.
     And I do not know how we survive any of it without faith in the protection from our Lord.  Man, himself, is on a collision course with his own pride and self-centeredness.  It is up to those of us who know we have been called to a higher purpose to seek ways to impart the Kingdom of God into each of these circumstances, as well as the unexpected situations we will encounter.  The world is not greater than the power and authority we have in Jesus Christ.  The forecast for the future may look dismal... but we know we can change that, don't we?  Nothing is impossible with our God.  Let's live our lives as if we truly believe that!

Psalm 37:37    "Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace."

     

2015: A Very Spiritual Year

   

     As I reviewed my posts over the last year and took a look back over the top news stories, it became quite clear that in 2015, spiritual matters were front and center.  Whether it was Winter Storm Juno that began the year with a tidal wave of snow and crippling blizzards, or the way we are ending 2015 with a raging storm named Goliath, one has to wonder if these mega-weather events are part of the geo-engineering phenomena or judgments from God. (I find the choice of names curious -- a goddess of war and fertility; and a nephilim giant, a descendant of the union between fallen angels and human women.  Nothing in this world is done by accident, so I am left wondering the significance of these selected names).
     The major news headlines definitely speak of the ongoing battle between the spiritual realm and the world in which we live.  Just let your soul feel what comes to light as I recall these events:  the rise of ISIS ... Charlie Hebdo ... the Charleston, NC church shooting ... Paris concert hall shooting ... San Bernardino ... the European refugee crisis ... the Iran nuclear deal ... the racial tension and division in Ferguson, Chicago, and Cleveland ... the Planned Parenthood scandal ... gay marriage and transgenderism ...
     Do you see it?  These are a random selection of the top news stories of 2015, yet I assert that each of them is the result of direct influence from what the Apostle Paul refers to as "[the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, [and] the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere."  It is becoming apparent to me, at least, that these forces are causing an increase in man's natural sin state and contributing to a reprobate mind that has led to all the bloodshed, violence, racial hatred, moral decay and unprincipled deception that we see all around us.
     It is apparent as we see a connection forming between Science and Sin in the development of transhumanism; in the expansion of forced vaccinations; and in the evolution of CERN, who appears to be trying to recreate a "Tower of Babel" scenario and unlock the gate to Heaven.
     And I certainly think we are seeing the implications of the Beast System talked about in the Bible. From the overwhelming amount of data collection, to chip implantation, to companies being run out of business because of their faith, to climate and gun control agendas, to Agenda 21 and 2030, to Global Government in the form of Strong Cities and Sanctuary Cities -- they all lead to oppression and the dehumanization of mankind. And it will all be orchestrated through the Deception, Division, Diversion, and Discouragement of Satan and his servants.
     And caught in the cross-hairs will be the followers of Christ.  This year has seen an unprecedented increase in persecutions against Christians; from Niger in Western Africa to the Christian communities in Iraq and Syria, they are being martyred for their faith -- and willingly sacrificing their lives to torture, rape, crucifixions, and beheadings, rather than deny their allegiance to Jesus.  To think that we Christians in the West will be spared (or deserve to be!) is not Biblical.  This is the year that has shown us that we better know where we stand with God.
     Which brings me to the topic of the Church.  We have seen the Body of Christ struggle this year with fulfilling its commission.  And I have to ask if it is remaining true to the commandments of God.  Each Christian must answer for himself if his Church represents the Biblical principals laid down by God and if they have answered His mandate, which is to let the Holy Spirit guide the Church into affecting everything around it -- from their city, to their country, to their continent, to the rest of the world.  Sadly, I have come to the conclusion that most churches in this nation, at least, rarely affect anyone or anything outside their church building, if that.  And that is why I have seen a growing remnant of God's people being called out of the confinement of those four walls to listen to and follow the "dunamis" power of the Holy Spirit, which comes by the authority of Christ and strengthens us and gives us the ability to continue His work in the world.
     Which brings me to my final conclusion regarding this year.  As I perused each of my 359 posts for the year, I noticed a decidedly common thread amongst them.  This past year I felt my faith more intensely than ever before.  The worry and anxiety over world events and comparisons with Biblical prophecies sent me into intense periods of testing.  But with this reflection and introspection, I came out on the other side, with my faith strengthened and with a more dynamic relationship with the Holy Spirit.  I have personally witnessed His power this year and how He works with Jesus to heal us and free us of our bondage to the Enemy.  That has resulted in a bolder and more daring faith; one that has released me from the "comfort zone" of my Western Christian experience.  And I am discerning that this is where I will need to be in order to persevere and grow in 2016.
     I'm pretty sure that many of you have taken this same journey as I during the last year.  And it is exciting to be expanding my boundaries and territory for the Kingdom of God.  Whatever the next year brings, I am grateful for the news, both good and bad, from this past 12 months.  We have learned much about ourselves and the power of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  It will keep us steadfast in our faith as we go forward together; strengthening and encouraging each other for whatever this world throws at us.  So long, 2015 -- we are revived and ready for 2016!

 Romans 15:4    "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

Prophecy In The Headlines

     As we approach the New Year, I can't help but feel that we are all going to witness a new reality in world history.  As you know, while I have to live "in this world", I try not to be "of this world".  That means that I always have one eye on what world events seem to be showing me in relation to Biblical prophecy.  Those who cannot understand this perspective, will simply blow me off as failing to see the rational and logical reality of their man-centered viewpoint.

     That is why so many people are caught up in politics and social movements as the answers to the world's problems.  They do not understand the spiritual connections to all the chaos and war in the Middle East, the increasing fanaticism and violence caused by terrorists, or the attempts to intensify racial and cultural division within our society.  Even if they were able to identify them as the strategy of our Enemy to extend his power and bondage over the human race, it is difficult for them to see specific illustrations in the Bible that correspond to current events.  That is part of the devil's attempts to cast doubt upon God's Truth.
     But there were two specific headlines that jumped out at me over the last day or two.  Both articles appeared on Walid Shoebat's website.  He is a Palestinian American who converted to Christianity from Islam. Shoebat stated he used to be a Palestinian Liberation Organization terrorist in a CNN television interview.  While he is a controversial subject to those who want to discount his message, his Middle Eastern background provides a perspective that we in the West do not have.  So when he runs what are, essentially, two back-to-back articles this week with headlines that say, Erdogan Has Just Been Declared The Leader Of The Entire Muslim World, Muslims Are Already Calling Him God; and the equally interesting By Peace They Will Deceive Many: Agreement With Turkey ‘Close’, Says Israeli Foreign Ministry Head, then I sit up and pay attention.
     Are these forecasting the possible fulfillment of Biblical prophecy?  I am not qualified to make that declaration.  But as a Christian, I am aware of what my Bible tells me will occur as the world approaches the End of Days.  The Old Testament prophet Daniel tells us that there will be a king who rises out of a confederation to "depose kings and raise up others", and "The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place."  
     Then the New Testament apostle Paul tells us that there will be a Man of Lawlessness, "Who opposes and exalts himself so proudly and insolently against and over all that is called God or that is worshiped, [even to his actually] taking his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming that he himself is God."   So, we have two divinely-inspired men, born over 600 years apart who verify each other's visions and prophecies.  Add to that the recent developments in Turkey and the growing power of President Erdogan, who is setting up his own system of government, and it should certainly give us pause.
     Consider the recent statement by Erdogan's "fatwah-giver" Hayrettin Karaman (remember a fatwah is "a ruling on a point of Islamic law given by a recognized authority", which in this case is Erdogan, himself):

“During the debate on the presidential system, here is what everyone must do so while taking into account the direction of the world’s national interest and the future of the country and not focus on the party or a particular person. What this [presidential system] looks like is the Islamic caliphate system in terms of its mechanism. In this system the people choose the leader,  the Prince, and then all will pledge the Bay’ah [allegiance] and then the chosen  president appoints the high government bureaucracy...".

     We must take into account, President Erdogan's recent declaration, in which he proclaimed, "I am a leader of a political movement."  That may sound rather vague and benign to the Western ear, but it has profound implications in the Muslim world.  As the Turkish website Today's Zaman reports, "In calling himself “leader of a political movement,” Erdoğan is reaching out to a wide spectrum of people, one that stretches from moderate conservatism to radical Islam. He is using rhetoric that taps into the rich history and political traditions linked to Islam. The controversial theories of political Islam show us what we need to grasp from the phrase “leader of a political movement... According to the general theory of political Islam, the relationship between those who lead and those who are led is based upon a “contract of allegiance.” Those who are led declare, via their representatives, that they will obey their leader, thus surrendering all of their political rights -- unconditionally -- to said leader. And so the contract draws up the parameters for both sides: The leader will lead justly, while those who are led will be obedient. In the meantime, within the traditions of political Islam, those who use their power in this way are called “caliphs.” And a caliphate is, for leaders who rely upon religious references in the Islamic world, the name of the system that they will inevitably turn towards."
     Granted, there have been many leaders throughout history who have appeared to resemble this man of lawlessness.  But when Erdogan and his party suffered a major setback earlier this year when they lost their majority hold on the parliament, many predicted his disappearance from the pages of history.  But Daniel 11 prophecies that the Man of Lawlessness will "come up and become strong with a small number of people."  And Erdogan has done just that, managing to defeat three other major parties within his government to exert the power he now professes.
     Furthermore, Erdogan matches the Biblical prophet Habakkuk's description of the Man of Lawlessness (or dare I say, Antichrist) as “the Proud Man” who “enlarged his desires as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all peoples” (2:5). Erdogan is definately a “proud man” who desires to “gather unto him all nations” in his neo-Ottoman Caliphate dream to unite the Muslim world. He denies Father and Son (1 John 2:22) and “does not honor the God of his fathers” as Turkey at one point in time was Christian.  The December 27th article on Shoebat.com provides many more Biblical similarities that are due your examination and deliberation.  They are hard to dismiss.
     Add to this Shoebat's report that Dore Gold, Director-General of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, gave a rare interview to a Saudi website, in which he stated that an agreement with Turkey on normalization of ties was close.  “Some points have already been finalized and others are still being discussed, but things are on track.”  Gold added that “the interests of Turkey and Israel at this time are finding a lot of common ground due to regional events. Things are headed in a positive direction towards a solution to satisfy the desires of both parties, but there is still no date for a final agreement to be reached.”  Is this the seven-year "covenant", about which Daniel prophesied?  In full disclosure, the Erdogan government's official comment is, "while progress was made in talks, no agreement has been reached."
     And to be completely honest, I want to be very careful about reading too much into these news stories.  I do not want to get caught up in "predicting" the future or claiming to know God's timeline.  But I also discern that I am to be "awake" and prepared to minister to both unbelievers and lukewarm Christians, should God determine that our generation will be blessed to see the appearance of the Antichrist and the return of our Savior.  I am to know the signs and the seasons and be prepared to preach the gospel message at all times.
     So, whether 2016 will see these two stories accelerate these Last Days, or not, remains to be seen.  I have long felt a "tension" in my spirit regarding Turkey, and see clear reason to keep my spiritual antennae up when it comes to their activities.  They always seem to be in the background of front page headlines, and I believe there is more going on there than we are allowed to see.
     But, I want to encourage you not to become anxious or worried about potential prophetic fulfillments.  God will make it clear to our spirits when the Day of the Lord is at hand.  Let us remain steadfast in Him, declaring our allegiance to the One True God, and employing our full armor against the deception and strategies of the Enemy.  Then the headlines won't matter; we will be one step ahead of the dark forces, and one step closer to our reward.  And that's what truly counts.
   
2 Thessalonians 2:11     "Therefore God sends upon them a misleading influence, a working of error and a strong delusion to make them believe what is false..."

It's Time To Revisit This Subject ...

     It has been awhile since I have entered into the conversation on the Second Amendment, or as those who wish to distract from our Constitutional rights like to call to call it… gun control.  No matter what you hear from the talking heads, the American public is not ready to relinquish their rights or privilege to defend themselves with firearms.
     In fact The Daily Beast posted an article citing a New York Times/CBS poll in which it was found that the number of Americans supporting stricter gun control in general has slipped 7 points in just two months.  It doesn’t take a genius to figure that the terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino have people scared.  They clearly see that those who wish to kill us are armed and trained to take as many innocent lives as possible.
     Waiting helplessly and defenseless for first responders to show up leads to certain loss of life.  The question becomes, What are your odds? Will you be one of the lucky ones who survives?  There is no way to answer that, because without the means to defend yourself, your chances are going to be random.  The only way to raise those odds is to be as prepared and trained as the enemy.  And it is becoming clearer to more Americans that limiting firearms from potential victims will not save more lives.

     But what you may not know, is that the number of women who identify as “first time gun owners” has steadily risen over the last few years.  I was one, myself, just a few short years ago, and my personal experience is that many of my female friends (and friends of friends) are overcoming their reticence and yes … fear of firearms … to take responsibility for their own protection and that of their families.
     Once they are introduced to professional training, they realize that we are not all “gun nuts”; that we take our training seriously, and our goal is to be both proficient and safe with a firearm; and it is for one primary reason – to defend ourselves when we fear for our lives.  They are often surprised to hear us say that we hope we never have to use our firearm.  But if we feel that our life is in danger, we want to be able to stop the threat before it is carried out.
     And they are equally surprised to find out that we spend as much time training how to be safe with our firearm as we do being accurate with it.  Training in both these areas keeps unnecessary injuries and deaths at a minimum.  In other words, responsible gun owners are not a threat to the general populace; do not present an increased danger to society; and just might be able to prevent the tragic loss of lives we have recently witnessed.  If just one person at the office Christmas party had been carrying for self-defense, and been adequately trained for an active shooter scenario, the terrorists might have been stopped from killing 14 people.  If just one of those lives had been saved, wouldn’t it have been worth it?
     And I’m sure you have noticed my repetitive use of the word “trained” in this post.  I, personally, would like to see legislation requiring mandatory training before the issuance of Concealed Carry permits.  In my mind, that would not only influence the attitude of those who are skittish about the general population carrying firearms, but would go a long way towards forming the proper mindset of a responsible gun-owner.
     The bottom line for me is this… it is apparent that the terrorist threat to this nation, and the world, is only going to increase.  As trite as it sounds … the Bible tells me so.  And that’s good enough for me.  God wants me to trust in Him, and I do for my salvation and my eternal life.  But I know there is a god of this world who is intent on killing and destroying as much of mankind as he can; and especially Christians.  So I will use the brain He gave me, and the rights upon which this country was founded, to defend myself and do it as an informed, trained, and reliable firearms owner.  I will take my stand against Evil because I know that self-preservation and the need to persevere are both a gift, and a duty, from my God.  None of us can deny that evil exists; and while God wishes us to love our fellow man and hold fast to that which is good, He has also made us responsible for those in our care.  That means husbands and fathers are to protect their wives and families; mothers, their children; and all of us, the innocent and defenseless.
     Unfortunately, the ungodly and the wicked are running rampant under the influence of the enemy of God.  While I pray for protection, I also know that I must be prepared to defend myself.  Sadly, that’s just the reality of the world in which we live.

Psalm 94:16     "Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?"

Turn Your Attention To Israel

     We've had a couple of days in which we could legitimately turn our focus away from the world and its events in order to concentrate on our faith and families.  But it is a testament to the times in which we live that less than 24 hours after Christmas Day, the leader of ISIS declares that the Holy Land of Israel will become a graveyard to the Jews.

      In a video released on Saturday, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi directly threatened the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem, saying, "The Jews thought we forgot Palestine and that they had distracted us from it ... Not at all, Jews. We did not forget Palestine for a moment. With the help of Allah, we will not forget it … The pioneers of the jihadist fighters will surround you on a day that you think is distant and we know is close. We are getting closer every day."
     His message is in response to increased opposition from the US-backed alliance of Syrian Kurds and Arab rebel groups, and other coalition forces.  Russia has also stepped up its bombing of ISIS infrastructure and positions from its Khmeimim airbase in Latakia since late Fall, at the request of the Syrian authorities.  Yet it is difficult for us here in the US and the West to understand the complexities of this battle in the Middle East against Evil.
     An article on The Guardian website puts it all in perspective:  "The fundamental issue is that ISIS is an enemy of the enemies of many Arabs – Iran and Assad, whom Tehran has backed to the hilt since the Syrian crisis began in 2011.  So far the Saudis still fear Iran in the long term more than they fear Daesh (the Arab term for ISIS)... Everyone says they are against ISIS, but it is no one’s top priority. It is not yet the organizing principle of politics in this region."
     And so, al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, feels safe in boasting "that God will grant victory to those who worship him, and hear the good news that our state is doing well. The more intense the war against it, the purer it becomes and the tougher it gets."  He also feels confident in calling on Saudi citizens - the second biggest contributor to ISIS ranks - to "rise up" against their government as he dimissed the kingdom's newly formed Muslim coalition against the caliphate.  "If the Islamic coalition against ISIS were truly Islamic, it would declare that it was cutting ties with its Jewish and crusader masters and that its goal was to kill the Jews and liberate Palestine," he said on the released tape.
     To be honest with you, it is difficult for me to understand -- or even to believe -- what we are told through various sources.  Who is on which side?  Are the coalition forces really working together, or are they each trying to benefit their own political agendas?  How do the various factions of the Islamic faith play out in relationship to ISIS and their goals?  Is any nation in the Middle East really concerned about stopping ISIS's aggression against the West?  I think we all have these questions, and more, and nothing seems to be getting solved; ISIS seems to be getting more aggressive and the involvement of nations like Russia, Syria, Iran, and Turkey have clear Biblical implications -- for those of us to whom that matters.
     Therefore, this latest diatribe against Israel and recent warnings from a branch of ISIS in Damascus, Syria that "We will enter Al-Aqsa mosque as conquerors and our car bombs will strike the ramparts of the Jews." has me seriously considering the Bible's prophecy in Zechariah 14, that "I (God) will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped."  (This certainly fits the mode of operation employed by ISIS). You see, it is not just ISIS, or Iran, or Hezbollah, or Hamas, who think that Israel unjustly occupies the Land.  Throughout the Bible, nations have sought to remove Israel and the tribe of Judah from the land appointed to them by YHWH.
     And the final book of the Bible, Revelation, tells us that Jesus (Yeshua), the Messiah, is returning to save Israel from the final nations and armies of this world who will, once again, accuse her of stealing the Land.  But, according to the Bible, the "right side" to be on is "Israel's side" in this coming battle.   Because Yeshua is returning to not only judge the world, but to judge Israel, as well -- just as God has judged and disciplined them throughout their history.  But we must never forget that the remnant of Israel is much beloved by God and it is Jesus who will save the children of Israel and destroy her enemies.
     From my limited perspective, it certainly looks as if events are pointing towards Israel standing alone.  And that fits what the Bible has forecast, too.  So, as we watch the world rushing towards the fulfilling of the Bible's prophecies, we can almost see it unfolding before our eyes.  There are the rumors that Israel is seeking new relations with Turkey and to restore diplomatic ties.  I have even read articles from the UK that purport some kind of secret "peace deal" between Israel and Hamas, brokered by former Prime Minister Tony Blair.  All of it hints at Daniel's prophecy of a seven-year peace treaty during which time the Anti-Christ will be revealed.
     None of us, and least of all me, can predict when and if we are on the precipice of fulfillment of these prophecies.  But our discernment is telling us that the time is near; that we need to be right with God, and we need to pray for Israel.  For just like we Christians, Her only hope is in God, Jesus (Yeshua), the Messiah.  Evil is marching towards Her and the Day of the Lord is at hand.

 Isaiah 34:16     "Seek out of the book of the Lord and read: not one of these [details of prophecy] shall fail, none shall want and lack her mate [in fulfillment]. For the mouth [of the Lord] has commanded, and His Spirit has gathered them."

Revelation 12:17

Then the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went and made war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

     "Remnant" ... this word has become a vital part of my spiritual experience over the last few weeks and months.  It is an idea that I have "head knowledge" about from my study of the Bible.  But lately, my heart and spirit have become increasingly conscious of its viability in these days.  

     One of the  "official" definitions of the Remnant Church is that it is "a visible, historical, organized body characterized by obedience to the commandments of God and the possession of a unique end-time gospel proclamation."  And of course, there is the added element that it is "that which remains of an original body or substance."  So, to me, the Remnant Church is represented by those Christians today who remain steadfastly obedient to God's commands in the face of a growing apostasy within the Church; those Faithful who have not fallen for the lies of Satan, and who are unwilling to compromise with the culture or a "new paradigm" of Church doctrine, even when opposed by those professing the same faith.

     The Scripture in Revelation 12:17 tells us that Satan is angry with God's Last Day remnant and wages war against them.  The woman in the verse represents Israel, God's chosen people, and the remnant of her seed in the Last Days will be the Gentile Church (not the Jews) who remains obedient to God and can testify to the Truth of Jesus Christ.  We have personal knowledge of God's forgiveness and mercy; of His grace in offering us salvation through Yeshua.  And we are not afraid to tell the world about it -- with no compromise, no concessions, and no modifications.  And we are a threat to Satan and his war against mankind.  In fact, we are also a threat against the rest of the Church.

     I heard a podcast this last week from Dr. Michael Lake, Chancellor and Senior Professor of Theology/Ministry and Senior Professor at Biblical Life College and Seminary.  He said that it is his understanding that for every 10 Christians who remain in the Church, two to three are leaving because God is preparing them to be the Remnant.  They have been shaken at the very foundations of their faith, and have been moved by the Spirit to earnestly study the prophetic Word of God and to be guided by it.  They examine the authenticity and veracity of what the Church is teaching, and have a unique discernment that comes from answering the call to stand for God's Truth in these days when it is so easily abandoned.  

     It has been amazing to me how many people, within the last year, who have revealed to me that they no longer feel fulfilled by religion and are sensing a call to a greater understanding of God and His plan for His Church; an understanding that seems to be beyond the ability or willingness of the established Church to seek out.  And the common word that each of these people use to describe themselves is "remnant".  This perception does not come from belonging to common denominations, or even from common religious backgrounds.  It is as if each has been singled out from among the masses of faithful; and each experience is individual and unique, testifying of the Holy Spirit's power to call those God has chosen.

     Not everyone is receiving the same mission or calling; we just have a sense that we were born for this time, and God has a particular purpose for each of us whom He has called to His service.  But we all share, in our spirits, the knowledge that it is our time to reveal the testimony of Jesus, our Lord; of the authority He has given us through the power of the Holy Spirit to bear witness in these days of questioning and dishonor towards the One True God.  And it has been the blessing of each person to respond in obedience and faith and utter amazement -- that's how I feel; that God could use one such as I to speak of His Glory and Majesty in these Last Days.  I pray that each of you will respond to His Truth and prepare yourself for the coming war against the saints; against God's remnant.  I promise you that there is no greater calling.

Do Not Be Downhearted!

   

     Traditionally, it seems that the day after Christmas is one in which many people feel depressed and discouraged.  All the shiny distractions under the tree never "fix" the broken parts of us, and somehow we think that "the miracle" of Christmas passed us by.  For one day, we are able to shut out the noise of the world, with all its violence, corruptness, and ugliness.  And then somehow, we are surprised when the day following Christmas, when we rip the wrapping paper off the world, it still looks the same.  But I'm here to tell you that our culture looks at it all wrong.
     This day -- the day "after" -- should be a day of joy and hope; a day in which we are aware of the Love and Mercy of the God who created us.  For those in this nation (and the world) who reject the idea of a Creator who would sacrifice Himself to reconcile with us, it must surely seem as if we Believers are running after magical and imaginary beings; or legendary myths that have failed to produce any Good News for over 2,000 years.
     And a similar thought process might actually occur in millions of lukewarm Christians whose faith  is based on tangible results in their lives.  I wish I could tell each person who is feeling discouraged or disheartened today that there is reason to be encouraged.  That the baby born in Bethlehem 2,015 years ago brought Light into this dark world, and each day brings us closer to residing in His presence.  And all you have to do is look around for the small signs and miracles that tell us His birth was for real, and He came to heal us, to deliver us, and to redeem us.
     Sometimes those signs intrude upon our reality in the form of restored relationships, bodies, and events unexplained in the natural world.  Broken marriages are mended; lives are cured of cancer; and if God so desires, some of us are blessed with supernatural occurrences that verify His presence.  And sometimes, a simple story will speak to our spirits and we know that our hope remains alive.
     Such is this story that was reported just a few weeks ago, right after the Thanksgiving holiday.  I repeat it today as a symbol of the hope that can be yours, even in these moments when we are experiencing the let-down "blues" after Christmas.
     Let's set the stage:  At the Holy Child Jesus Church in the Richmond Hills neighborhood of Queens, New York, the custodian, Jose Moran, arranged the empty manger at the front of the church.  It faced the pews, the crèche still empty of all the animals and statues of the Christmas story. Then he went to lunch.

     When he returned, he heard the cries of a baby, and found a newborn baby boy, just hours old and full term with his umbilical cord still intact, and laying in the manger.  He was wrapped in a towel, and the church's videotape showed a woman laying him in the empty cradle just minutes before.  Now, we could get all wrapped up in the legal significance of this event -- that New York has so-called "safe haven laws" to allow parents to anonymously leave unwanted infants, without fear of prosecution, at sites like hospitals or firehouses. Churches are included in the places covered by the law, but the parent must alert someone to the child’s presence, or leave the child in the care of someone at the location. Neither happened in this case.  But is that what we should focus on?
     Or should we bask in the knowledge that the congregation in this "melting pot" neighborhood has embraced this child and enveloped him in love; that thousands of letters have flooded the church with expressions of caring and offerings to adopt him.  Just as God chose not to abandon us to our sins and a life apart from Him, this child was not abandoned, but rather placed in the midst of God's House, where the love of God's people would surround him.
     This story will soon fade away from the spotlight, but what it symbolizes should remain as a testimony of God's love -- that He came as an innocent child to bear our iniquities and to show us the Father's love and desire to restore our broken relationship with Him.  Whether it is the birth of the Christ Child in Bethlehem, or an unknown baby boy born in Queens, New York, love is evident in the world.  And that love exists because of the One True God who created us in His image.  And the message that I want you to take away today is that this Love will prevail.  There is no need to be sad, or down in the dumps.  You can gaze upon the world and be repulsed ... or you can fix your heart and spirit upon the everlasting Hope that is yours in faith.  What will you choose?

Romans 15:13     "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises."

What Is The True Meaning of Christmas?

     Today, millions of Christians around the world will look upon this day as a celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I do not intend to get into a lengthy discussion of whether or not December 25th is the actual day of Jesus's birth; or even try to persuade anyone of the pagan roots of this holiday and its establishment by the Roman Catholic Church.  There is enough evidence and historical documentation of this fact that I believe it is each Christian's duty to be a good Berean and study the Word for themselves, and then make up their own mind as to how (and when) they are to acknowledge the birth of our Lord.

     Today, I choose to remember what Scripture tells me the day of the Lord's birth means... no matter what day it actually was.  I choose to cling to the words of the angel of the Lord, who said, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings (news) of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."  Note that the great joy shall be; it is a future event -- the day when that baby in the manger would die on the cross for our sins; that is the day that He would become our Savior, paying the price for our transgressions.
     And then an angel with a multitude of the heavenly host praised God, saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."  So, for me, today is the day that I honor God for coming in the flesh, and setting His plan in motion to restore my relationship with Him.  Even the shepherds, after finding Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus, returned to whence they had come, "glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them".
     I sometimes wonder if we get so caught up in the emotion of an innocent baby being born, that we forget the purpose of that baby was to die for us.  He was born to be exalted at His death, which points to our salvation and resurrection... that is a radical, but true statement, and makes His birth even more astounding.  And yes, the facts of His birth are extraordinary and incredible: born of a virgin; conceived by the Holy Spirit; the supernatural gift of a loving God to His broken children.
     The birth of this Savior was prophesied for centuries; foretold in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New.  Today we celebrate God's appearance on earth as an innocent baby, and the expression of His love, mercy, righteousness, holiness, compassion, and glory -- all present in the Christ child in that Bethlehem manger.  May you know the joy and the hope that His birth signifies, and may we soon sing praises of His glorious return!  On this day, may you know and experience the Peace of God and His Good (and Perfect) Will towards all men.

Isaiah 9:6     For to us a Child shall be born, 
                        to us a Son shall be given;
                        And the government shall be upon His shoulder,
                        And His name shall be called Wonderful
                        Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
                        Prince of Peace.                     

The "War on Christmas": The Truth, The Reality, & The Confusion

     It certainly seems to me that with each passing year, the "war on Christmas" gains steam and the religious and spiritual sense of Christmas diminishes a little more.  Actually, in our early history as a nation, Christmas was celebrated in a far less extravagant manner than it is today... some people might choose to go to a church service, but more often than not, it was an understated family affair, and the idea of piles of gifts under a Christmas tree was more the result of some smart marketing, than any Biblical significance.

      It was actually the upper classes who had the money and time to create specific holiday traditions that caught the idea of entrepreneurs and canny businessmen.  Clement Clarke Moore’s poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” written for his family’s entertainment in 1823, was soon endlessly reprinted each season in newspapers. In the years after the Civil War, Thomas Nast created a full narrative (and image) of the life of Santa Clause through his vivid engravings for Harper’s Weekly magazine.  In 1870, when Godey’s Lady’s Book, the most widely read magazine in the nation at the time, published an image of a family gathered around a small tree set atop a table, the idea of a Christmas tree soared in popularity, and a new industry was born.
     It wasn't long before F.W. Woolworth -- who had already pioneered a successful business model based on fixed prices and 10 cent inventory -- quickly saw the commercial possibilities in importing Christmas ornaments from Germany where, he reported, they were “made by the very poorest class.” It's not hard to see that this romantic sentimentalism, combined with the advent of Christmas lights, Christmas cards, and an unlimited supply of creative Christmas decorations, contributed to many vibrant commercial opportunities.
     Today we have seen the huge success of these opportunities in our new tradition of Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the entire retail industry.  In fact, in recent years, it has contributed greatly to the success or failure of our domestic economy.  Sadly, it is this very Christmas "market" and the consumer economy it sustains that has come to embody "the spirit of Christmas."  So much so, in fact, that political movements like Black Lives Matter think that by disrupting Christmas shopping at the Mall of America in Minnesota, they can gain more traction for their social crusade.  (Little do they know, that they are just pawns of the behind-the-scenes players whose goal is to cause disorder and havoc for their own benefit -- but, I digress).

     I actually found it interesting to peruse an atheist website to get their take on the growing friction over the Christmas holiday.  Consider this comment by one such unbeliever when posed with the question, Why has Christmas become less "secular" in the last decade or two?  Here is his answer:  "Of course all of us atheists are fully aware that Christmas is a secularized holiday, but it seems that the culture at large has now resorted to this idea that it's specifically "Christian" and therefore inappropriate in public contexts, even when it's just the secular elements being involved. You have stories like this councilwoman, who resigns because tree lighting is renamed to add the word "Christmas", and the university diversity office condemns holding Christmas parties because they are non-inclusive, and so on.
   This has the effect of turning any mention of "Christmas" into a religious or political statement... I love Christmas, and I don't want to be associated with Christianity or the right-wing just because I happen to refer to the holiday itself.  Europe doesn't seem to have this problem... why do we?  Is it because of PC attitudes, or because of the right-wing?"
     Don't you find it hilarious, that atheists actually hate the non-religious people in the public arena complaining about possible religious ties to Christmas, because they think it actually calls more attention to the religious connotations of the holiday?  What they are really saying is, "when you make an issue of Christmas displays and greetings being too religious, then you are ruining it for me, because I actually like Christmas, and now I'm somehow politically aligned with right-wing Christian nuts!"
     Another atheist commentator felt he needed to make sure everyone was aware that, in the past, Christmas was this thing everyone celebrated, but it was always a Christian holiday.  But, now that we have become more ... ahem, enlightened ... we realize that it's not OK to ignore all the other religions in our diverse population, and it's time the Christians get over claiming the holiday for themselves.  He, of course, is in favor of the all-inclusive "Happy Holidays" because it incorporates all the minority religious holidays.
     He goes on to say, "In all this, of course, the true meaning of Christmas has been lost. The reason for the season is obviously commercialism. Christmas is your cue to go out and buy! You used to get big corporate-sponsored Christmas decorations and pageants and such. Originally, this was inoffensive because non-Christians just shut up about it and enjoyed the Christian holiday, but now the Christmas (or Christian) stuff is done at the risk of alienating a significant part of the consumer base... Is there a War on Christmas from the left? Not really. It's just general social progress, resisted by the Culture Warriors."  For the life of me, I'm not sure how or why we Christians are now referred to as the "Culture Warriors".  Doesn't make sense to me ... but then again, very little in this world makes sense to me anymore.
     So, there you have it.  We Christians, who are being marginalized in what the rest of society likes to call "social progress", are just supposed to accept that we no longer have proprietary or exclusive rights to Christmas.  Granted, I see very little of the Bible in our commercialization of Christmas; but any attempt to remove Christ from the public forum offends me -- even if I do have some issues with what we Christians celebrate as the "true meaning of Christmas."  But, you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see my perspective on that loaded statement.  Until then, let us agree on the cause for celebration on any day of the year ... that God so loved us that He sent His only begotten Son to die for us.

Thanks to the websites, Bloomberg View and Reddit, for their contributions to the history of the commercialization of Christmas and the atheist viewpoint of this religious holiday.

John 1:9    "There it was—the true Light [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] which, coming into the world, enlightens everyone."