John 1:10-11

He came into the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him [did not know Him].

He came to that which belonged to Him [to His own—His domain, creation, things, world], and they who were His own did not receive Him and did not welcome Him.

    This Scripture makes me wonder something ... If He came into the world today, would we recognize Him?  Would we receive Him, especially as the Bible presents who He is?  Or would we try to make Him into someone who fits our description of who we want Him to be?  And isn't that ultimately why the Jews did not recognize Him as their Messiah?  He didn't fit their image of who a Savior should be.  

     Let's face it.  The world over has different definitions and understandings of who this Jesus of Nazareth was/is.  As Christians we believe that He is the Incarnate Son of God; God in the flesh... or at least, we should believe that, if we are to call ourselves Christians.  Yet, how many of you realize that some of our most popular versions of the Bible (NIV, Holman Christian Standard Bible, ESV) omit that important fact in 1 John 4:3?  The King James version reads "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of anti-Christ...".  Those other versions read, "But every spirit who does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist;".  (However, the Holman Bible does make reference to other manuscripts which include "is come in the flesh").  Do you see the difference?  That part about "coming in the flesh" sets him apart from other men; designates his Godship.

     We know that other religions recognize Him as a prophet or a revered teacher.  For example, Islam does not describe Jesus as the son of God, but as one of four major human messengers (out of many prophets) sent by God throughout history to guide mankind.  Furthermore, they do not believe that He was ever crucified or resurrected or that He ever atoned for the sins of mankind.  Instead, most Muslims believe that He was neither killed nor crucified, but that God made it appear so to his enemies.  Yet, they also believe that Jesus ascended bodily to heaven, is alive, and will return to the world (in the flesh) to defeat the Antichrist, once the world has become filled with sin, deception and injustice, and then live out the rest of his natural life.  You can see the differences in how each of these two major world religions view the Lord and His purpose in world redemption.  Without seeing Him as God Incarnate, He becomes just another historical figure to be dissected and molded to fit man's social and moral agendas.

     The other aspect of this passage is that the world was made through Jesus's hand; it is His domain, His creation; all things in the world are made by Him.  But we don't want to be in his debt; to be beholden to the rules of the One who created us.  Instead, we want Him to accept all of us and all of our various beliefs about who He is.  That is why we see the ecumenical movement on the rise ... we want Jesus to partner with us to meet the religious needs of the masses of the world.  We don't want to recognize the Truth about who He is; we want Him to become less offensive and more inclusive of all our human fantasies of what a god should be.  Oh, the arrogance of man to try to redefine the Son of God so that He is acceptable to all!

      But here is the Truth:  Jesus is the Lord of all (as their Creator and the only begotten Son of God Almighty).  He is no respecter of persons, and He shows no partiality or favoritism.  Although He did come to that "which belonged to Him and who were His own" (the Jewish people), they refused to recognize Him as their long awaited Messiah, and they rejected Him.  But God's purpose for the world was fulfilled:  Christ died for all humankind, so that whosoever will believe on Him will have life everlasting.

     I am fully aware that very soon He will come again and there will be those in the world who, once again, will refuse to welcome Him.  I have no doubt that they will recognize Him -- if not from knowledge of Him, then from the fear in their spirits, who will recognize Him as their Creator come to bring His judgment upon His creation.  I pray that those who do not yet know Him, will discern a stirring in their souls and spirit, and prepare to meet their Maker.  That may be an old-fashioned term for the act of dying, but for those of us who believe in Him, even unto death, it will be a glorious day when we receive Him!

   

I Never Cease To Be Amazed!

     I just had the most interesting thing happen … a first for me, actually.  I rarely get crackpot comments on my blog posts, and to be honest, my number of comments-to-blog ratio is rather low.  I really get more personal comments on the private email address I provide in my profile, and have some great conversations with loyal readers.  Every once in awhile, though, there will be a topic that incites passionate responses -- usually when I venture into a controversial subject like Genesis 6, or the satanic influences in Freemasonry.  That's when I'm likely to be attacked by both friend and foe.  Thankfully, I am able to moderate my comments, and they have to be approved by me before being posted.
     But yesterday, I actually received a request to comment by someone who wanted to give their two cents worth on the topic of spiritual healing.  This person claimed that they had received spiritual help from a certain "Doctor" who specialized in casting spells to help resolve personal relationship issues.  This person proceeded to give her testimony how she hadn't believed in casting spells until the good doctor performed one on her behalf, and caused her husband who had committed adultery and left the family, to return home to her and their three kids.  She then gave a website and email address, so that my readers could contact the doctor themselves and receive his expertise.  (Of course, I refuse to give one iota of credence to this deception of the devil).
     I deleted the comment and at first dismissed it as some kind of quirky and deceived attempt to promote something not only unbiblical, but fraudulent.  Yes, I deleted it, but not before I wrote down the doctor's name to do my own research.  Imagine my surprise to find that this seemingly innocuous comment is really an attempt by the Enemy to invade this blog and lead people away from the spiritual healing message that God wants delivered.
     As it turns out, Charisma Magazine ran an article in June of 2015, titled When Spell Casters Invade Your Prayer Room.  This article tells of countless calls they receive at their online prayer room extolling the talents of "powerful spell casters" who have healed broken marriages, financial problems, and any manner of human troubles.  What Charisma determined is that these are actually witches attempting to advertise their services on Christian sites, hoping to reel in some unsuspecting and weak-minded believer.
     And before you think I am being too hard on my fellow Christians, I can tell you that there are plenty of people who profess to follow Christ, yet avail themselves of tarot card readings, palm readers, astrological charts, and psychics.  I know this because I know some of these people!  Now, they will tell you that they don't take it seriously; that it's all for fun, and God is first in their life.  But how different are they, really, from these commenters who are easily fooled by shysters, or are deliberately being commissioned by Satan to stop the knowledge of spiritual healing?  We must be aware!
     But why should we be surprised?  If the devil discerns that an area of ministry is derailing his plan, then why are we astonished that he sends his troops in to try to stop it?  What's really interesting is that the same day that I received this comment, my husband talked to our spiritual healing mentor, Barb, about some of the people God was sending to us.  He told her about the extreme bondage that people are in, due to the decisions their parents took to become involved in Freemasonry, and how just renouncing the oaths taken by a father can bring such freedom to a child mired in all the consequences of that sinful association.
     He told Barb about another woman who is nearly unrecognizable, she is so on fire to serve God!  She amazes herself at how distant she feels from the world, and how, for the first time in her life, she feels that this body is just an earthly vessel, and she has a purpose in serving the Living God.  What could be more wonderful than that?
     But here is the astonishing thing about Barb's phone call … she said when you begin to participate with Jesus and the Holy Spirit in healing people's spiritual wounds, get ready for Satan to send witches and his emissaries to try to block or hinder your ministry.  And I guess I just got my first one!
     But the truly inspiring message she gave us was that some of the people who God sends to us -- the ones who have seemed the most mired in unproductive, sinful, and misled lives -- are the ones that God will use to do His mightiest works!  They will go on to lead fruit-filled lives, spreading the Good News of their Freedom from bondage to Satan.
     In these times to come, it will not just be the righteous church-goers that have been called by His Name, but it just might be one who escaped tremendous slavery to sin by the Power of Jesus to heal their wounded spirits.  They truly have a story to tell!  And they will be the ones to heal others and bring forth the kingdom of God on earth.  And isn't that why we're here?

Luke 17:19    Jesus said to him, “Get up and go [on your way]. Your faith [your personal trust in Me and your confidence in God’s power] has restored you to health.”  

There Is Much To Be Learned

     You know, I just realized something ... God's revelations are not limited to our timeframe.  I have to admit that it can get frustrating to KNOW that God is revealing something to you that He wants all His people to understand, yet you are met with blank stares or looks of dismay because your message is so unconventional or atypical from the accepted belief.  Let me explain ...
     You're probably pretty tired of hearing that God thrust my husband and me into this ministry of spiritual healing; that everywhere we look, we encounter people who are in such dire need of being set free from the Enemy's attacks.  Yet when we present the idea to fellow Christians, I can see them default to a position of "but I'm saved, that doesn't apply to me."  They never seem to ask themselves why they are so miserable in their salvation... as if that is just an accepted part of their humanity; that we are all called to "suffer with Christ".

     Once again, I want to shout NO!  And I will reiterate what Christ, Himself, said:  that He came to set the captives free; to deliver those who are oppressed by the Enemy.  How many of you can say that Jesus is your Lord and Savior, yet there is not at least one area of your life in which you feel victimized, downtrodden, bruised, wounded, crushed, or broken down?  How many feel powerless to change these attacks upon your spirit?  Oh, how I wish I could convince you that you are not meant to  live in this manner!
     So, I know that I'm repeating myself, and I have no real credibility among the Body of Christ, other than my testimony of personally witnessing people who have been healed by the power of the Holy Spirit and the presence of Jesus.  But that doesn't seem to be enough ... sometimes my fellow Believers need to hear the same message from a pillar in the Christian community.  And you know what?  As long as they hear the message, it doesn't matter if it comes from me or not.
    And that is what I see happening in a small Bible study group that I am associated with.  Our group of Ladies decided to revisit a revised study by Beth Moore, an evangelist, author, and Bible teacher.  The title of the series is Breaking Free, and I was fairly squirming in my seat as we listened to the first video presentation.  I heard her say so many things that alluded to what I have tried to present to our home church group, and about which I have spoken to various Christian friends.  She made a specific point of stating that "the blessed people of God" can live under great oppression.  Guess what?  That translates into Christians!  Yes, we are blessed by God's grace and faith in Jesus, but it is the Father's desire that out of our salvation experiences, we will bear much fruit for His Kingdom -- while it is the Enemy's goal to make us live unproductive and barren lives -- to be fruitless and useless for the advancement of the Gospel; to be in bondage to the attacks of the devil and his demons.
     Now, Christians are accustomed to bandying about such words as bondage and strongholds, yet they rarely recognize that the words apply to them.  They seem to think that only non-believers could be trapped in bondage to sin, or be held captive in an enemy fortress that keeps them isolated from God's healing power.  They are also unaware that such oppression can come from their generational line, making it hard to recognize that the past sins of the fathers is affecting them.  How often do you just attribute your misery to "that's the way it is in our family"?
     So, you can understand how excited I was to hear Beth Moore teach the same understanding that God has revealed to me!  I don't know how far she will go with breaking free from Satan's oppression ... this revised study is already 7 years old, and it is 17 years after she wrote the initial teaching of Breaking Free.  A lot has changed in the world in the last 7 years.  The attacks of the Enemy have become more targeted, and I believe that God has pulled back the veil even more to show us that there are very real demonic spirits at the heart of our oppression.  I say that, because I have seen them!!!
      I must be prepared that this teaching will still be shy of what I would like to hear her say, but if her credibility opens up hearts and minds ... and those who have ears to hear, will hear ... then perhaps it will start some on the journey that God desires them to take.  But I hope they heard the heart of her message, and I hope they discerned two very important points she made ... 1) That we have been given Divine Power to demolish the strongholds in our lives (the Divinely-given power did not end with the Apostles) and 2)  Oftentimes the Church building becomes a shelter in which we can hide our strongholds and oppression.  As Moore pointed out, we can show up every Sunday with our Bible, sing our songs of worship, quote our favorite Scripture, and clothe ourselves in an appearance of right relationship with God.  But the real truth is that our spirits are full of anger, resentment, bitterness, self-rejection, pride, envy, self-loathing, feelings of abandonment, and any number of strongholds the Enemy has us in.  Christians who feel they are leading productive lives for God by being in Church every Sunday usually don't realize that Jesus did not ask us to be productive within the four walls of our Church building, but to bear much fruit for Him out in the world!
     We must be honest with ourselves as Christians.  If there is anything in our lives that is hindering us from coming into the fullness of what God has to offer us ... then we are in bondage!  That is not why Jesus came; not the state He desires us to be in; and it certainly is not why He conquered Death for us.  It is time for Christians to break free from all their chains and tell the world what that looks like and feels like!  Until then, we are going to continue to see Christian lives that look good from the outside, but are lacking the fullness of God on the inside, and thereby producing little fruit or hope in the world.  This revised study of Breaking Free may be a little dated, but its message is needed now more than ever!

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

   

The Need For Righteous Judges

   

 

     I wonder if most Americans understand the profound implications of the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.  There is no doubt that he was a lightning rod on the highest court in the land ... you either loved him, or hated him.  It all depended on which side of the political spectrum you fell.
     I have no doubt that his legacy will find him to have been a Justice which believed in an “originalist” and “textualist” theory of the Constitution.  In other words, Justice Scalia believed that judges should decide cases according to the “public meaning” of the words in the Constitution (or its Amendments) as understood by the American people in their state constitutional ratifying conventions.   He was even quoted as saying, "The only good Constitution is a dead Constitution", meaning that he didn't believe in the concept of a "living" or "evolving" document.  As Bruce Allen Murphy, a writer for The New York Times, stated, "For [Scalia], the Constitution was static, unchanging and enduring, and should only be changed by the voters through the amendment process."
     And that brings me to a comparison of our nation's current situation and the history of the Judges of Israel.  There is a whole book in the Bible devoted to the Judges of the nation of Israel, so that tells me it is a pretty important topic to God.  There is a 400-year gap in the history of the Bible that tells the story of the Judges.  This gap covers the time period between the conquest of Canaan and the establishment of the Hebrew monarchy.   Just before the conquest of Canaan, God had commanded Israel to completely destroy the inhabitants of the Land and to avoid serving other gods and adopting pagan customs (Deuteronomy 20:16-18).  Israel failed to accomplish this command and the people were given into captivity.  The Book of Joshua records the exploits, battles, and success of Joshua, and his obedience to God; and there followed a pattern of disobedience, repentance, deliverance, and more disobedience -- even though Joshua reminded them of all that God had done in blessing their nation.
     But the generations that came after Joshua did not remember the things that God had done for Israel.  They inherited the land, but chose to compromise and be influenced by those which God had commanded them to destroy.  They were infected with paganism which led them even further away from God and His blessings.  The sins of the father had taken root, and rebellion against God was the outcome. Even though God chose to discipline them at the hands of their enemies, He would not break covenant with them, and "raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them"  (Judges 2:16).
     I see that pattern in our own nation.  I believe in my heart and spirit that God established this nation for His glory.  But like the Israelites we have engaged in cycles of disobedience and repentance, only to be given reprieves by God's grace and mercy.  But we have grown up generations who have forgotten from Whom our blessings have flowed.  And that is why the Judges that God raised up for Israel impacted their history -- and the Judges we have been given by His Divine Hand are so important to the future of our country.  And it is quite apparent that there is going to be a huge battle over who will replace Justice Scalia.
     The balance of our current Supreme Court is in jeopardy.  The Justices appointed in my lifetime have tipped this nation towards Godlessness and apostasy; at least towards the abandonment of any consideration of God's will in the decisions regarding public prayer, abortion, and same-sex marriage, just to name a view.  The next Supreme Court Judge appointed to the bench will determine if the laws of this land honor God, or if they serve our human desires.  Will Judge Scalia's death mark the end of our Second Amendment rights? Will it mean the end of restraint on the Executive Branch?  How will his death affect the attacks on our free speech; freedom of religion; right to assemble?  And finally, does the death of Antonin Scalia herald the end of the Constitution, itself?
     Because you see, I strongly believe that our Supreme Court Judges are the ministers of God's will for this nation.  Remember that Romans 13:1 says that there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  Therefore, good Judges, who administer justice according to God's will, are under Divine direction; and bad ones, who disobey His will and commands, are under Divine restraint.   That being said, if there is no repentance by our nation, and we continue down the road of disobedience and rebellion towards Him, I believe that God will remove His hand of restraint, He will hand us over to our wicked ways, and we will get the Supreme Court Justice we deserve.
     As the historic theologian Matthew Henry wrote, The authority of God is to be submitted to, in those governors whom his providence [or will] places over us. But when justice is turned from what is right, no good can be expected. The evil actions of public persons [cause public harm].
     So, how will our leaders respond?  Will they appoint a Judge who will decide cases according to God's will and the Constitution?  Or will we get a Judge that is God's discipline upon a disobedient nation?  If that is the case, it is hard to imagine that our descent away from God will not be rapid and final.  Yet, if His remnant continues to pray and repent, we can hope that we have a few years left to return this nation to one that honors and glorifies our merciful Lord .... and that some brilliant young lawyer, who has been influenced by Judge Antonin Scalia's judicial opinions will emerge to replace another of our aging Supreme Court justices.  Only God knows His plan ... and we will have to trust in His justice and righteousness, and hope it pervades our land.

Judges 2:18   "Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for the Israelites, the Lord was with him and saved the people from the power of their enemies while the judge was still alive.  The Lord was moved to pity whenever they groaned because of those who were oppressing and afflicting them."

Matthew 28:18

Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, 

All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth 

has been given to Me.

     To be honest, I'm not quite sure where this post is going to take me.  I have this kernel of thought that keeps resurfacing in my spirit and I have determined that I'm supposed to write about it.  I just now got a physical manifestation from the Holy Spirit to continue, but for the life of me, I have no clear direction in mind.  And the Enemy is telling me that I am only going to offend and insult some of my fellow Christians, therefore I should just be quiet.  But that's not who God made me to be. So I am just going to begin and trust that the Spirit will guide my words.

     Since we are in the midst of an election season, and most of us are concerned about those will rule over us, the word AUTHORITY keeps pricking at the edges of my consciousness.  Who is, rightfully, to have authority over us?  To Whom, are we to submit our actions and thoughts to?  The Bible tells us to "Obey our leaders", and we understand that to mean not only our civil leaders (as Romans 13 instructs), but also our Church leaders.  In fact, the Bible gives us plenty of descriptions of how a church body is to be run.  Just check out 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, and Philippians 1:1.  Lots of good references for the structure of church authority.  And, we can all see how necessary this system is in order for the Body of Christ to be effective in its commission.  Otherwise it would be sheer chaos.

     But I also want to point out some verses that speak volumes to me.  Ephesians 4:11-14 says, And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 

     When I consider this passage with today's selected Scripture in which Christ proclaims that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him, I am troubled by the following thought ... Have we, as the Body of Christ, surrendered the Authority that is Christ's to men ... not only in civil and secular government, but in the Church?  If all Authority belongs to Christ, should His Word not be the standard by which we measure the acting out of our lives and faith?  I am thinking of the wedding photographers and the bakers who find themselves on the wrong side of the law for attempting to "measure to the stature of the fullness of Christ."

     I am also reminded of far too many pastors who have determined that it is their interpretation of Scripture, or their personal biases (for or against a ministry) that their flock must follow.  Scripture clearly says that Christ established apostles, prophets, evangelists shepherds (pastors) and teachers TO EQUIP the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD, to mature manhood, to the measure of the statue of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no LONGER BE CHILDREN, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by EVERY WIND OF DOCTRINE, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

     I have highlighted those terms that just jumped out so strongly to me.  I have sat in any number of churches in which pastors and teachers have seemed to forget that Jesus wants them to EQUIP the saints -- which means to prepare someone for a particular assignment or task.  Doesn't that indicate that perhaps that particular person might receive a Divine appointment or task in a particular area that needs filled in order to build up the Body?  That it might not be what the pastor has been gifted with or has been given knowledge of?  But if the pastor has truly received his own Divine calling, he should recognize that we can't all be the feet or hands or head of Christ's Body, but in His sovereignty, God just might have given a particular revelation to a member of his church.  As long as the Divine appointment is consistent with the Word of God, then does the pastor have the authority to deny its pursuit?  Isn't that putting his authority above God's? 

     PLEASE!  I do not want to be perceived as trying to diminish the authority of pastors or teachers.  Scripture is quite clear that they have been placed to shepherd God's flock.  But I am somewhat concerned when I hear people say that they sit under the authority of their pastor, or they must submit to their pastor or church council's authority... especially when there is a difference in opinion of Scriptural revelation.  ALL authority has been given to Christ, and it is His to ultimately grant or deny our mission for His kingdom.  That passage in Ephesians goes on to say that we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ.  I find it sad to think of how many of Christ's followers have been hindered from doing His work in the world because a pastor could not, or would not, submit to Christ's authority in the matter.

     If we are truly honest with ourselves, how many of our pastors are Biblically illiterate?  How many ask, “What does this text mean to you?” as opposed to, “What does this text mean?”  How many pastors exercise heavy-handed authority (albeit cloaked in a velvet glove) by cautioning their congregants to stay away from any teaching that doesn't fit their personal religious philosophy?  Wouldn't it be better to encourage Believers to test these teachings against Scripture and then to edify the Body if it is something that illuminates the Word, or discard it if it is un-Biblical?  Are we in danger of limiting our growth in Christ by remaining as children, afraid to venture outside the boundaries of the accepted doctrinal beliefs that exist within the church walls?  Christ is so much bigger than that!

      I want to end by saying that there are many pastors who lovingly and Scripturally shepherd their flocks; who know that Christ's revelation has not been limited to a denomination's doctrine -- or to their limited understanding.  They know that there is diversity in the Body of Christ and in the giving of the gifts of the Holy Spirit ... and it is all for the Glory of God!  Those are the pastors who give their flock the freedom to receive their Divine appointments and their unique callings.  They will remind their flock that the only person we are to bow down to, and who is to reign over us, is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I know this will make many uncomfortable, and I would be labeled a dissenter and accused of causing division in the Church, but I would deny that.  Those of us who are Saved by Jesus Christ should be of one heart and one mind; we should be following the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit-filled Church is shepherded by a pastor whose role is to help train and counsel Christians in the [whole] doctrine of the Bible, focusing on strengthening and developing [all] those in the church to go out in the world and do God's work.  That authority comes from Jesus, and it is a holy and awesome calling.  Let us pray for the strengthening and wisdom of our pastors.  We are living in Times in which I strongly believe Jesus, in the Authority given to Him by the Father, will call His chosen out of their safe positions within the Church to minister in what may seem new and strange and powerful ways.  And we need the pastors and Body of Christ to see with unblinded eyes that this is necessary to save the Lost.  The battle lines are being drawn and the Enemy is pulling out all the stops.  Let us not hinder the Authority and Power of Christ to use us to defeat the devil!! 

     

Your Local Elections Matter!

     It was a packed house.  The line was out the door and it was standing room only.  The people had come to hear and to be heard.  And unlike past years, I wanted to be a part of it.  The occasion was a Meet The Candidates forum for local elections, and in three of our most important offices.  Men running for District Judge, District Attorney and County Sheriff came to present their qualifications and why they deserved our vote.
     Before you dismiss this post as uninteresting and boring, let me tell you why I wanted to share my experience.  As do many of you, I believe this year's election cycle is the most important one in my lifetime, and if all the dire predictions and prophecies we are hearing turn out to be true, it may very well be the last election we ever participate in.  So, this subject matters!
     You could feel the anticipation in that room, and I wondered how many people felt the same as I did ... knowing that these particular offices will profoundly affect our lives in the near future.  I might have been inclined to dismiss the candidates for District Judge, until one of them pointed out that District Judges have more power over our lives than any other elected office.  They have the ability, by law, to take your property, send you to jail, take your children away from you, grant you a divorce,  and have jurisdiction over many other civil matters in a citizen's life.  How they view the law, and your rights, will have far-reaching consequences if this country slides further towards government tyranny.  Just ask the ranchers in Texas's 13th District, who are fighting the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) over property rights.  The question of property rights is destined to become a hot-button issue, as the UN is getting increasingly involved in this area.

     The office of District Attorney was the second of the anticipated forums, and the candidates ran the gamut in personality and positions.  They were allowed to each speak for three minutes and then answer a few selected pre-written questions from the audience.  The first candidate came off as an egotistical, hotshot lawyer who wanted everyone to know that he would be hardline against any offenders of the law... "if you break the law, I will prosecute you" ... period.  The second candidate just seemed to be the lackey for the current DA in our county, who is leaving the office (amid rumors of injustice surrounding some of his practices) ... so he suffered from the guilty-by-association factor. The third candidate was so laid-back and low key that I wondered how much energy he really had for the job, because the duties of a District Attorney will have a sweeping effect on the lives of the citizens of our county.  The DA prosecutes felony criminal cases, works with law enforcement in investigating criminal cases, presents cases to the grand jury, represents victims of violence in our county.  With the increase in drug trafficking and illegal aliens streaming into Texas from our southern border, we need to know that our District Attorney has the safety of our citizens at heart.
      I was all ready to vote in the straw poll for the hotshot lawyer-type over the sycophant or the too-relaxed lawyer until it came to how they answered one question.... A District Attorney in Houston recently filed felony charges against the filmmakers involved in the Planned Parenthood films because they forged fake California drivers licenses, which is tampering with a governmental record. Would you have charged them with a felony?  Both the hotshot lawyer and the lackey both smugly announced, "If you do something illegal, I'm prosecuting you ... period."  Then the third candidate calmly and succinctly announced, "No, I would not have charged them with a felony.  You have to have some common sense in administering the law, and it was obvious that what they were trying to do outweighed the infraction."  I know for a fact, that I wasn't the only one who changed my vote after that answer!  Then I realized why I suddenly liked this guy ... he was like Peter Falk as Columbo.  He might look harmless and innocuous, but he's the guy you want on the job!
      Lastly, came the most important race in my mind ... the election of our next County Sheriff.  Those of you who have been reading this blog since the beginning may recall a post I wrote about Sheriff Richard Mack.  He was the County Sheriff who defied the Clinton Administration and the Federal Government in regards to requiring sheriffs to conduct lengthy background checks on every potential purchaser of a handgun in their county.  Sheriff Mack fought that law all the way to the Supreme Court ... and won!
     I heard him speak nearly four years ago and what he said has made a lasting impact on me.  He said that our county sheriff's are among the most important elected officials in our lives; they are bound by their oath to the Constitution (that each took upon taking office) to stand between us and an over-reaching federal government.  In the intervening years since I heard him speak that is becoming increasingly clear.  So, I wrote my question down on a 3 x 5 card and turned it in ... As our County Sheriff, how would you protect us, the people, from the tyranny of the federal government?  Only one candidate answered to my satisfaction.  He exclaimed, "Boy, am I glad that question was asked!"  And then he proceeded to quote the 10th Amendment and how he would uphold it to his utmost.  One other candidate nonchalantly hinted that he agreed with Candidate #1, but seemed to indicate that he had the popular vote and the election in the bag.  But I liked the guy with fire in his belly; the candidate who seemed to be the grassroots candidate, and would be a "sheriff of, and for, the people", so to speak.
     After the forum finished, and this Candidate came in a distant second to the popular guy, I noticed that many in the crowd approached my selection for Sheriff, and were drawn to his enthusiasm for the office.  I told him I was the one who had asked the question on the 10th Amendment and I liked his answer.  He gripped my hand with determination, stared me boldly in the eye, and declared, "I will stand for you!"  And that is why my friend (and neighbor) and I are going to try to set up a meeting to introduce him to as many people in our sphere of influence that we can.
     It's time to get involved in local elections!  Yes, this nation is being rightfully and deservedly judged by our God.  We know that and see it clearly.  But, the Bible also tells us in 1 Timothy 2:1-4, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."
     So, for those of my fellow Christians who think these elections don't matter, I submit to you that they do.  And it is very clear to me what our obligations are ... We pray and intercede on behalf of those who would have authority over us, and then we vote.  So, I hope you will take the time to go to your Town Hall meetings or your Candidate Forums and listen to what they have to say.  Are they Godly men?  Do they still believe in the Constitution?  We have a duty and a precious right to vote.  Let's pray and take it seriously.

Deuteronomy 1:13   "Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads."

Our Youth, The Socialist Message, and The Bible

     I have wanted to write about this topic for some time now, but I wanted to make sure that I would be Biblically sound in my assertions.  If you are paying attention to the platforms of the political candidates for President, then you are aware that Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders is an unlikely favorite of the young voters, especially those who will be voting for the first time in 2016.
     I say "unlikely", because unlike the last couple of elections in which "young" and "hip" were the enticements to vote, Mr. Sanders is 74 years old, and doesn't appear to be technologically savvy, fashionable, possess exciting energy, or any of the other things that would draw young voters like moths to a flame.  Yet, he appears to have become the Millennial Generation's new champion.  Why?
     I would assert that these young, emerging voters are in love with an idea they think is tailor-made for their generation ... Socialism.  Sadly, they do not know the historical significance of what that system has done in the world, nor do they realize how it will actually impact them.  They only know that it promises to unburden them from an alarming financial future.
     It is actually a good thing that college students and young voters are getting engaged in the political process.  We need the next generation to care about how our country is governed.  I know that there are many of my fellow Christians who believe that the political process will not save us from the rightful judgment that is coming upon this nation -- and I totally agree with that premise -- but until the moment that I see Jesus coming on the clouds, we have to continue to live within this world system, and to abandon all efforts to try and make it as pleasing to God as we can, goes against what I believe God wants from us.
     But all that aside, what is it that Bernie offers the Millennials that has them so excited?  First, of course, there is his promise of a free public college education.  But there other issues that has them flocking to his side:  promises of a $15 minimum wage; equal pay for equal work; health care as a right; promises that he will fix America's roads and bridges; reverse climate change; expand social security; and eliminate the "too big to fail" boondoggles that have affected the American economy.  All these issues are important to the future of these young voters.  And they all lead to Socialism, which is a word that has no relevance to these Millennials.
     They equate Socialism with compassion and fairness and equality.  As Robert Knight on Barbwire.com writes, "For the past several decades, government public schools and nearly all colleges have touted socialism’s principles of redistribution, racialism and class envy, while declining to connect the dots between socialism and tyranny, examples of which abound."  Bernie Sanders presents a sort of "moral prestige" to Socialism that appeals to the emotions of young voters, who just want to correct the injustices of the generation before them.  We can all identify with that, if we are honest with ourselves.
     But what Bernie does not disclose to these voters is the symbiosis between Socialism and Communism, and the historical facts that cannot be denied ... that there has been the extermination of tens of millions of people under socialist regimes such as Stalin in Russia, Mao Zedong in China, and the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.  It always starts the same way ... a promise of redistribution of wealth and resources from the "haves" to the "have nots", and quickly spirals into loss of personal property, massive taxation, and ultimately coercion, tyranny, and death to millions to support "the State".  Because, we all know, that there is no way that the State can afford to provide for all those people, and so they must be eliminated.
     Sadly, Socialism even perverts the Biblical notion of charity.  It takes the Scripture presented in Acts, Chapters 2-5, and turns it into a twisted rationale for empowering the State.   It distorts the teaching of Acts to suggest that early Believers sold all their property and possessions and shared it with everyone, especially those in need.  There are those Socialists who will insist that this is a clear indication that the Bible advocates for redistribution of wealth.  It does not!
     A more careful examination of Scripture (and in context of the entire passage) notes that the believers continued to live and meet in their own homes, while engaging in periodic acts of charity as the needs arose.  So they clearly did not sell all their property or possessions.   In fact, Acts 4:34-35 says, From time to time, those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, which implies to me that the charity was voluntary, and they were generous with what they owned, donating when they could, out of the largesse of their households.
     I found an interesting article on a website called Institute For Faith Works & Economics, which pointed out that " this early sharing was voluntary, without state coercion, and did not necessitate that believers give up their rights to private property ... While this type of generous giving is a permanent norm, the particular situation in Acts 2-4 seems to have been a temporary response to a particular need [or situation]."
     I can understand the temptation that Socialism presents to this younger generation.  They are facing a dismal economic future.  Let's face it, the world is facing a dismal economic future.  And the danger is that Socialism is an old idea being touted as a new solution.  These young voters will not look to the distant past to see how Socialism leads to Communism, nor will they see the implications that are outlined by Robert Knight in his excellent article:  "In recent years, soft totalitarianism (confiscatory taxation and effective seizure of the media and private companies) has characterized socialist-led regimes in South America such as Venezuela, Argentina and Brazil, where once-vibrant economies are floundering. In Europe, “democratic socialism” has weakened many nations, leaving them open to an invasion by millions of Muslim immigrants, some of whom openly advocate turning the former center of Christendom into a trophy of the Caliphate."
     Our youth is blinded by a natural, and very real, fear for their future.  And they are attracted to the empty promises of hope, financial aid, and a fair and equitable "system".  But it is the same old temptation of the Enemy, and I'm afraid that this time it will usher in the Biblical End Times "Beast System".  We must pray for the wisdom to impart to our children and grandchildren; to speak God's Truth into their lives.  It is the only thing that will overcome the world's lies and deception.

2 Corinthians 8:13-14    "For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness."




     

It's A New Season ...

     I hope you will understand what I'm about to say.  When I began writing this blog over four years ago, I never dreamed that it would be as fulfilling and as rewarding as it has been.  I felt a calling to write each day to people like me -- people just like you -- who were awakening to a new reality in our country and a new realization that we better get closer to God and know exactly what His Word was telling us.  It was time to awake from our slumber, and to awake our family and friends to what was going on in the world, in the Church, and in the spiritual realm.  In short, God was calling us to establish His kingdom in the true sense of those words, and it meant we had to rethink our positions, our purpose, and our faith.  It has been a full-time job, and at times an all-consuming task.

     And don't worry, I am not discontinuing Salvation and Survival, but I am going to begin cutting back to writing three or four times a week, rather than all seven days.  I know that this will mean I will lose the attention of some of you, but it has never been about the number of readers for me.  In fact, I believe that the Holy Spirit has worked in the lives of those who have found their way to this blog; that He led you to this site.  It has always been about listening to the Holy Spirit for me, too, and now I'm hearing that I am spreading myself too thin.
    You see, in my heart I have been driven by the desire to "seek first the Kingdom of God", and I felt that writing this blog was serving my Lord by being a clearinghouse of His ideas, and a place where others who were being drawn out of the world to be God's true remnant could come and feel a kinship with us.  I still feel that is true.  But God has shown me that I am to serve His Kingdom in other ways, too.  For instance, our Home Church group has grown spiritually and closer to God as the months and years have passed.  Yet, I feel that my contribution to this group is less than it could and should be.
     And, you all know that God has shown my husband and myself the need to study and understand spiritual healing, and that ministry has literally exploded in the last several months; the Lord has brought people to us in person and through this blog who need to experience the Power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit as They heal the deep spiritual wounds of their lives.  Yet, I often feel there is not enough time to devote to this important calling.
     Then there is my own personal time with the Lord.  My Bible study is not what it has been, nor what I would like it to be.  And I sometimes feel as if there is not enough hours in the day to give to Him what He deserves.  All of these areas of serving the Lord and His Kingdom have been my deepest desire, but I have begun to feel that I have not been at my best in any of them.
     Finally, and certainly not the least, I cannot ignore the fact that I feel I have let my husband down … not only in the area of my assistance with his business, but in our personal time together.  I have noticed that I have become obsessed with having blogs written for every single day of the week, and the time demand has sometimes limited the relaxed manner in which we used to enjoy our blessed way of life -- the lifestyle that the Lord had originally led us to, and in which He has so generously and consistently provided for us.  And I know in my spirit that this is not what the Lord wants…. and this is definitely not what I want.  Next to my salvation, my husband is the greatest blessing this side of Heaven and he would never ask me to sacrifice any part of serving the Lord.  In fact, he has been my biggest cheerleader.  Now, I need to spend more time being with him, as well as more time simply enjoying our life together.  I have come to understand the importance of my covenantal relationship with God, but I have made a covenant with my husband, too, and not only does God want me to honor that, as well, but my heart longs to do just that.  
      The Bible says For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  I have become quite aware that I was spending a lot of time pursuing the righteousness part of life, but I have begun to miss the part about peace and joy.  I firmly believe that when I have everything in balance again, that my soul, spirit and life will once again be in harmony with God's plan for my life.
     So, you will hear from me a little less often, but I promise you that God has not whispered that it's time to leave this assignment.  I am just as dedicated to expressing His voice, through my words, as ever before.  It is as simple as this: My work for the Lord has grown, and now I must run my race just a little different than before.  I hope … no, I know … you will understand.

1 Timothy 1:12       "I thank Him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He judged me faithful, appointing me to His service;"

1 Peter 4:8

Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins

 [forgives and disregards the offenses of others].

     The Apostle Peter is speaking to followers of Christ about what he thinks they will be experiencing in the End Times.  Remember, Christ had told them He would be returning soon and the Believers of that time thought the End of Days and Christ's return was imminent.  

     This is one of those verses that almost everyone likes to tell you what it means to them.  Today, I'm going to take a little different approach and tell you what it's not.  It's not unusual for secularists and cultists to distort the Word of God for their own purposes, but today there are even so-called Christians who are twisting this Scripture to satisfy their own carnal desires and their eagerness to compromise, or fit in, with the world.  

     In fact, the human race has gotten so far off track from the context in which Peter was writing, that whenever a Bible-based Christian points out that fornication or homosexuality or abortion is a sin, there are always those (even Church-going Christians) who rush to proclaim, "Love covers over a multitude of sins."  They will argue that the Bible never specifically forbids such sin, and anyway, God is all about Love.  He judges the heart, and sent us Son as His ambassador of Love; He doesn't want us to be judged by a bunch of rules.  Boy, that argument has Satan's deception written all over it!

     You see, we can't just pluck this one verse out of the short chapter of 1 Peter 4; we must look at it within the context of the chapter's entirety.  In the first part of Chapter 4, Peter is equipping Believers to follow Christ; to resolve to live for God's will, just as our Lord did.  And Peter plainly says that we will "give an account to the One who stands ready to judge the living and the dead."

     Notice that Peter is talking to those who are following Christ, and instructing not only the individual Believer, but the body of Believers, and we are to live a life in relation to each other that is pleasing to God.  The fact that Peter is not advocating for turning a blind eye to obvious sin is evident  just a few verses before this one.  In verse 3, he reminds them that they have all spent enough time in doing what the pagans did, "carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, orgies, etc.".  To think that he would then advise us to just love each other and look the other way when God's commandments are broken, is simply absurd.  

     What Peter is really saying here, is that as human beings, we will annoy and irritate each other in a vast range of offensive ways.  But as fellow Believers, we should love each other as Christ loves us; willing to look past our imperfections and our fleshly nature which was born out of sin.  Notice that the Amplified version of 1 Peter 4:8 says love "forgives and disregards the offenses of others."  Obviously, this refers to overlooking (with love) the minor issues we face in each other, but not ignoring the abominable sins that God forbids.  

     I think it is reasonable to assume that Peter is concerned with how the Christian community is to survive in the midst of persecution, scoffers, and satanic deception.  We have all seen the hypocrisy and jealousy that can destroy a Church family, and it is quite rational to think that Peter is cautioning against those kinds of behavior that can tear our Christian fellowship apart.  Just as then, we should treat fellow Believers with patience and love, tolerating our imperfections.  But it saddens me that, even within the body of Christ, this particular verse is being taken out of context, twisted, and used to pervert God's Word in order to lower His standards and compromise with the world.  We must adhere to the true meaning and contextual relationship of His Holy Word, or we will surely be led astray in these End Times.

It's About More than the Game

    Tomorrow is a big day in America.  Whether you are a die-hard sports fan or not, chances are you will be watching the Super Bowl.  In fact, it is estimated that over 117,000,000 people will watch the game between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos in the comfort of their homes, while another 100,000,000 people are expected to descend on the San Francisco Bay area to attend or celebrate the milestone that is Super Bowl 50.
     And there's enough hoopla to surround this game to make it spectacular --- will Peyton Manning go out on top, or will Cam Newton's youth and extraordinary talent carry the day?  Both are worthy of discussion, but today I want to focus on a player that won't be on the field tomorrow.
     Charles "Peanut" Tillman is the veteran Carolina Panthers cornerback who suffered a series of injuries to his ACL during the season.  A full tear of the ligament means that he will be cheering on his teammates from the sidelines.  Although his career as an outstanding football player has brought much-deserved recognition, I think it is his heart as a man that merits further acknowledgment.
     In 2014, Tillman was awarded the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, which is given annually by the National Football League honoring a player's volunteer and charity work, as well as his excellence on the field.  But this is a man that has made his life about more than football.  To begin with, he is an author.  He wrote The Middle School Rules of Charles "Peanut" Tillman to help kids, like himself, overcome the traumas of childhood.  With his father serving in the United States Army, Tillman attended 11 different schools domestically and internationally, and the book features the defining childhood stories of a young, well-traveled boy nicknamed “Peanut,” who had to deal with racism, adapt to constant relocation, and endure the divorce of his parents.
     Reviews of the book were consistently glowing ...  "appeals to the young sports fan with a book that goes beyond player statistics and gets to the heart of what makes them great!" ... A teacher writes, "I have often had students share dreams of becoming professional athletes. The life lessons in this book demonstrate that achieving that goal takes hard work and perseverance. Talent in and of itself are not enough; it takes character."
     But author and football star aren't the only hats Tillman wears.  After his daughter was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and received a heart transplant, Tillman and his wife, Jackie, established the Cornerstone Foundation, which enriches the lives of chronically and critically ill children by providing them and their families with access to iPads, notebook computers, DVD players, portable Play Station game systems, and other electronic handheld games, to pass the time during recovery and treatment.  (For a list of the various programs the Cornerstone Foundation oversees, click here. )
     As if that is not enough, Tillman recently announced that he would raffle off an all-expenses paid trip to tomorrow's big Super Bowl game.  Proceeds from the raffle will benefit yet another of his charities, the Tiana Fund, which provides assistance to economically at-risk persons or families-in-need in the Chicago area.  This program aims to strengthen their ability to care for themselves, enhance their stability and security, and improve their quality of life or their ability to contribute to the community.
     As you can see, Charles "Peanut" Tillman has been inspired by his faith and family.  He has persevered and carved out a lasting legacy for himself, both on and off the field.  So, while he may not be playing tomorrow, and he won't be spotlighted during or after the game, he has left a mark on those whose lives he has directly touched.  He is a fine example for both the game of football and the human race.  And that makes him a champion to me, no matter the outcome of the game.

Luke 12:48   "And everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from him to whom much has been committed, more will they ask of him."