An Updated Look At How Far We've Come Towards "The Days of Noah"

Every once in awhile I like to see which of my 2466 posts throughout the life of this blog are drawing attention. I was surprised that within the last week or so, an article I wrote on August 1, 2014 has drawn an inordinate amount of scrutiny. The post was titled How Much Longer? (As It Was In The Days of Noah). I am actually amazed to see how relevant it still is today, and just how much further down the road to Jesus's return we've traveled in the last nine years.

So, I think there is benefit in revisiting the truth that the Holy Spirit counseled me to write that day. And I want to share the new observations that must be added to those previous reflections. As the Bible says in Isaiah 28:9-10, To whom will He teach knowledge, and to whom will He explain the message? ... For it is precept upon precept, line upon line; here a little, there a little. We must be wise and vigilant in listening for the clues He reveals to those willing to trust His voice. Here is what I was discerning in 2014 ... I hope you can recall what we were witnessing then, and begin to discern what I'm saying about our current situation in the addendum to this post....

August 1, 2014. OK, this post should put me squarely in the "crazy camp", but I just have to be honest ... There are days I wake up and wonder, "How much longer can this world survive?"  And, what will our lives be like when everything is torn asunder?  You see, for the last several years, PLW --(stands for Peace-Loving Warrior, the meaning of my husband's name) -- and I have been blessed with the time and the spiritual desire to dissect the Bible and discern its message for us in these times.  The world is groaning and the time is near ...

It's not just the political world with its scandals and corruption; nor the endless wars that seem to reach into every corner of the globe ... they are not simply "rumors of wars" anymore. People are killed and tortured, having their heads cut off; and much of it in the name of religious ideology. Planes full of innocent people are bombed out of the sky, and women and children are used as human shields in an attempt to drive a whole nation of people "into the sea". 

But I'm also aware that the lust for oil is at the heart of many of these conflicts. If you dig deep enough under the propaganda, you will usually find a trail that links you directly to a massive oil reserve.  This includes all the pseudo-scientific data on global warming (or is it cooling these days?); there is always someone, or a group of "someones", who have become millionaires by peddling their brand of "caring for the globe".  In the meantime, nations send thousands of their young men to die -- not really for patriotic and sovereign reasons, but as a strategic move on the chess board of oil consumption.

It's not just mankind that is in turmoil. The very earth is threatened. We have huge sinkholes appearing all over the globe; the latest in the spotlight is at a place in Siberia called "the end of the world". Then there are the scientists at NASA who are warning about powerful coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the sun that could potentially destroy earth. And even "Mother Nature" seems to be a little confused; weather events happen out of season, and the violence of storms seems to be mounting. There is a growing concern over the New Madrid fault line in our nation's heartland, as well as the heating up of the earth's core at Yellowstone National Park. And let's not forget that the "Ring of Fire" is showing signs of activity. This an area where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur in the basin of the Pacific Ocean, and could potentially affect the Pacific rim of several continents.

Where am I going with all this doom and gloom?  Let me start by saying that this wasn't the original design for mankind OR the planet.  Everything God created was originally good.  You don't have to be a Believer to comprehend this fact, because those with even the simplest understanding of the Scriptures know that things were perfect here on planet Earth until Satan infiltrated the Garden and set into motion a war for all ages.  I just don't think that Christians fully understand how that war has been waged.

Let me attempt to explain my thoughts ... When Satan tempted Eve to disobey God, the judgment was swift and prophetic by the Creator of the Universe:  "I will put enmity (hostility, friction, hate) between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her Offspring." That statement has been misunderstood by centuries of Christians and Church leaders.

Satan has known God's plan from the beginning [in the Garden]: to dwell among His creation in personal relationship. And it has been the Devil's desire to disrupt that relationship at all costs. He knew God would eventually have to send His Son to redeem us from the ways that he, Satan, would introduce.  If he could disrupt the genealogy and eventual birth of God's perfect Offspring with his own corrupt line, then the world and its inhabitants would worship him, Satan.  That's where Genesis 6:1-4 comes in. The fallen angels, who followed Satan, came to earth and corrupted the daughters of men, introducing the unholy DNA into the human line.  They are the "giants" (or in the Hebrew, Nephilim) we see in verse 4.  But God protected a line of men from his destruction of mankind (Noah and his descendants), and through their line, He sent His perfect Son to reclaim us.  But Satan has not forsaken his plan, and that's why Jesus says in Matthew 24:37, "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man."

Just as God proclaimed back in Genesis, there has been an all-out war throughout time between God's children and Satan's children.  It is now at the boiling point, and it affects all of God's creation; from mankind, to the ecological and geophysical systems, to the stars in the heavens.  Satan's plan to deceive mankind and infect them with a corrupted gene pool has been known by every civilization throughout history.  Genesis records the Giants in the land of Canaan, while Babylonian, Greek and Roman mythology refer to the "Titans" and the "Olympians", who were "children of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaia (Earth)."

Early petroglyphs show ancient societies bowing down to "star people" or "star men", and the mythologies of our American Indians celebrate long-ago stories of visitations by hybrid entities.  Today, we hear stories of "alien abductions" and unbelievable stories by women of having their eggs removed and harvested.  These kinds of scenarios have become popular in our entertainment culture; think of the movies E.T. and Close Encounters of A Third Kind, and the new TV show, Extant, starring Halle Berry as a woman astronaut who comes back from space impregnated by an alien.

Do you think all of this -- from the Genesis 6 story, to Greek and Roman hybrid gods, to centuries-old drawings on cave walls, to sci-fi entertainment -- is just the product of over-active imaginations?  Do you think they are just myths and legends that have managed to maintain a common theme for thousands of years?  Or could Jesus have been giving us a hint of what was to come, when He said "As in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man"?

 It is my humble opinion that secular humanity and lukewarm Christians who reject the theory of the impregnation of human women by fallen angels, are willingly buying into the Satanic deception that is presented on the History Channel's Ancient Aliens.  On this hugely popular show, they actually present the hypothesis that aliens will show up one day, claiming to be our creators. And they will have only our best interests at heart; they will rescue us from the wars and destructions of earthly humans.  All we have to do is become one with them ... Isn't that the same thing that Genesis 6:1-4 tells us?  There was a huge deception of the human race then, and there's another one coming soon, using the same lie that Satan has perpetuated from the beginning.  And God told us as much ... that there would be enmity between man's offspring and Satan's!

You see, there truly is hostility between those of us who are born again into the Spirit of life that is Jesus Christ, and those who fall for Satan's Deception.  The Second Coming of Jesus is Satan's final downfall and defeat.  He is going to do everything he can in the short time he has remaining to convince humanity that we want to become one with him... up to and including taking his Mark. 

I know I have laid out a long and complex theory, but I am so worried that there will be Christians who will be tempted to believe Satan's temptations.  After all, Adam and Eve knew God intimately; they walked in the Garden with Him --- and they still fell for the lies!  Please don't dismiss this theory because you have not heard it in the sanctuary of your mainstream Church.  Satan has managed to control the revelation of Scripture, and the soft-sell Gospel of Prosperity and Grace comes nowhere near warning us of what time it is on the Prophetic clock.  Do your own research!  I do not expect you to take my word for it.  Read the books of Daniel, Revelation, Jude and the Book of Enoch, which is referenced in the Book of Jude, and which was found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.  There's a reason this book has been revealed for this time!

Finally, I would point you to all the excitement and research in the area of transhumanism.  At the center of this new technology are experiments with genetic manipulation.  Isn't that just another name for what happened in Genesis 6?  The game plan hasn't changed... it's as old as the Creation.  I just want you to be ready to stand against the lies of the Enemy.

June 20, 2023.  It appears to me that very little has changed since 2014. If anything, all that I wrote about then has accelerated to new heights of disquiet and discernment in my spirit. Perhaps others are beginning to see the signs as well, and that is why they are searching the internet on this subject, which turned up my nearly decades-old post. As I re-read it, I clearly heard from the Holy Spirit as He pointed out all the ways the Enemy is advancing his growing deception among mankind.

My first thought is that the political scandals and corruption in the world have not abated; and in fact have accelerated, along with the lies instigated against the world's peoples. Furthermore, the powers that be don't even try to hide their sins. Good has become evil, and Evil has become good. Trust in the media no longer exists, and it's becoming really hard to know what to believe. If you don't have faith in Jesus, I'm not sure how you navigate in this world.

In 2014, WWIII was whispered about. Today, it is loudly predicted and with certainty. In 2014, world governments lusted after oil. They still covet it, but now they've added the appetite for rare earth minerals to their duplicity. Here's what you need to know: Rare earth elements are essential for permanent magnets that are vital for wind turbines and Electronic Vehicle [EV] motors. Electricity networks need a huge amount of copper and aluminum, with copper being a cornerstone for all electricity-related technologies. It appears that the world leaders are hell-bent on moving away from their dependency on oil and gas, and are promoting what they call the "clean energy" of electricity, wind, and solar. It's all about advancing their climate agenda, folks. So, just as oil continues to be a harbinger for foreign wars, we can add the hunger for rare earth minerals to the list of elements that could provoke a global war.   

Just as in 2014, the volcanoes along the Pacific Rim are making themselves known again. And who can deny the weather abnormalities we are currently experiencing? I believe we are coming closer to the manifestation of Romans 8:19, For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.   

I hope that none of the afore-mentioned has caught you by surprise; I hope that you have eyes to see, and ears to hear. But even more, I hope that you have a Biblical worldview that can ascertain that all of this is about an eternal war between God's children and Satan's children. It is essential that we see the Genesis 6 incursion as the continuation of the war Satan started in the Garden of Eden. God declared that He would cause open hostility (enmity) between the seed of Satan and the Seed of mankind because of their disobedience. Satan would stop at nothing to corrupt the DNA in man [which our Creator has given us] in order to defeat the ultimate victory against him that Jesus will deliver on our behalf. 

In the Genesis accounts, Satan was cunning in tempting Eve, and zealous in using fallen angels to set forth his plans to seize Heaven from God's grasp, and claim for Himself the rights to create. In a sense, mankind never saw their fall coming; they were like lambs led to the slaughter. But today, it seems as if men have decidedly chosen to join forces with Satan in the war against God; knowingly embracing Evil to create pandemics [and the subsequent effects of treating them], AI gods, and ways to change the DNA of our children. 

In Genesis 6, Satan hoped to corrupt the gene pool by enticing the fallen angels to help create a race of Nephilim children that no longer were made in the image of God. If he could populate the earth with these hybrid beings, the perfect, Holy son of God could not be born through that bloodline. Today, we see Satan grow his involvement in genetic manipulation far beyond his accomplishments in 2014. As the scientists, and genetic and social engineers pursue transhumanism -- which is the belief or theory that the human race can evolve beyond its current physical and mental limitations, especially by means of science and technology -- we can see fruit of those labors in our current issues with Artificial Intelligence. Where is God in this?

We also have doctors, scientists and pharmaceutical companies promoting the gender dysphoria crisis that is corrupting the bodies of our children, so that they no longer resemble what God created ... God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them (Genesis 1:27). [NOTE: Be looking for my post called God Is Gathering the Millstones!].

Not much has changed since 2014, and the truth is nothing has changed since the Garden of Eden and man's creation. Satan has managed to always bring deception upon those in the human race who do not choose to belong to God. When Adam and Eve chose to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they opened the door for man to know, to understand, and to pursue Evil. It gave Satan the opportunity to whisper his lies and to lead mankind into temptation to sin and disobey their Creator. God did not tolerate the consequences of those sins, and His wrath had great consequences for mankind. Do not think that He will tolerate the depth of depravity that we see today. 

As I stated in 2014, the game plan hasn't changed. My question today, in 2023, is how close are we to the "no turning back" mile marker of history? We must be about doing the Father's work now, more than ever, -- just as Jesus did! Do not be silent in the face of all this Evil! Declare the Goodness of God, but do not forsake declaring His intolerance of Evil. We can still make a difference! Satan fears our power and authority ... join El Shaddai in revealing His Truth! Do not fall for the Enemy's Lies and Deception! 

Romans 2:5    But because of your callous stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are [deliberately] storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Choose Now Whom You Will Serve ... God of the Bible or Your AI god?

Need we remind ourselves of one of the primary and most important commandments of God almighty, El Shaddai? You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself any idol, or any likeness (form, manifestation) of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth [as an object to worship]. You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous (impassioned) God, demanding what is [rightfully and uniquely mine], visiting (avenging) the iniquity (sin, guilt) of the fathers on the children [that is, calling the children to account for the sins of their fathers], to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me...

In my last post, I talked about the consequences of the iniquity that results from a lack of trust in God. And that is what can happen to each of us, as individuals, when we lose sight of our Creator. But now, in these last days, I am seeing a threat that could exert ungodly influence on the masses, and potentially result in the extinction of mankind, or at the very least, corrupt the personal relationship with our Heavenly Father; the personal relationship that Jesus died to restore to all mankind. 

Frankly, I am shocked at just how rapidly this threat has risen. I'm talking about the dire warning that technology execs and creators are signaling ... warning that "we are creating a god". Notice that both these execs and the God of the Bible use a "little g" when referring to false dieties. Just read what Mo Gawdat, former chief executive of Google X had to say: he believes "that artificial general intelligence (AGI), the sort of all-powerful, sentient AI seen in science fiction like Skynet from The Terminator, is inevitable — and that once it's here, humanity may very well find itself staring down an apocalypse brought forth by godlike machines". 

In the article, Gawdat shared the revelation he received during tests with AI developers to check the dexterity of robot arms trying to pick up a small ball. After a period of slow progress, Gawdat said that one arm grabbed the ball and seemed to hold it up to the researchers in a gesture that, to him, seemed like it was showing off. "And I suddenly realized this is really scary," Gawdat said. "It completely froze me... The reality is," he added, "we're creating God." Now, I'm fully aware that his use of a "big G" for God, in this instance, is entirely misappropriated. No one can create God! He is I AM; he's always been. If Gawdat had said, "we're trying to replace God", I would probably agree with that.

So, while he among others, like Elon Musk, are warning that the advancements in AI technology are potential threats to the human race, there are others who have avidly and aggressively promoted divine attributes to Artificial Intelligence. In 2021, former Google executive Anthony Levandowski closed his artificial intelligence-focused church, called Way of the Future (WOTF). An article on The Verge, reported that Levandowski was interested in pursuing “the realization, acceptance, and worship of a Godhead based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), in preparation for the Singularity [and the betterment of society]". Although he closed his "church", it is not too hard to imagine that someone else will pursue that same goal. [NOTE: the Singularity is a hypothetical future where technology growth is out of control and irreversible. These intelligent and powerful technologies will radically and unpredictably transform our reality]. And included in that transformation is the merging of humans and computers; a being with both organic (God-made) and bio-mechatronic (inorganic) body parts.

That brings me to who, in my opinion, is one of the most dangerous men in this technology conversation, senior World Economic Forum (WEF) advisor Yuval Noah Harari. According to an article on Charismamag.com, Harari is "considered by many to be one of the most influential intellectuals in the world today". He is a best-selling author of over 45 million books on the future of science and technology. His opinions are valued by WEF founder and economist, Klaus Schwab, as well as icons like Barack Obama and Bill Gates. But it is his opinions on Creation, the sovereignty of God, and the truth of the Bible that is highly concerning to me. Let me just share a few of his statements:

"We don’t have to wait for Christ’s Second Coming to overcome death. A couple of geeks in the laboratory can do it if you give them enough time and money".

"God seems to be making a comeback, but this is a mirage. God is dead … it just takes awhile to get rid of the body".

"I don’t think life has any meaning. I know many civilizations and philosophies have based the meaning of life on death and what happens after death. But I think these are all fictional stories that people have invented throughout history. They are not the truth".

"You think about the Bible for example. So, in the first book of Genesis, what God does is to create animals and plants and humans. And we now want to gain these abilities ourselves… to manufacture animals and plants and humans. And even go beyond God! Even if you believe in the Bible, the only thing the God of the Bible managed to create is organic beings. He managed to create the cows, and the tomatoes, and the giraffes and the humans – all organic. Now we try to go beyond the God of the Bible and create inorganic life, a thing He never managed to do, according either to the Bible or to biology. For 4 billion years, all life was organic. Now we want to create inorganic life. Divinity is not far enough to describe what we are trying to do"! [NOTE: By "inorganic", he means machines!]

"I think one of the most interesting places today, from a religious perspective, is Silicon Valley. I bet that this is where the new religions of the 21st Century will be created; are being created. And these will be a kind of techno-religions; religions based on technology; religions that make all of the old promises possible of Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and so forth. They all promised happiness, and prosperity and justice, and even eternal life.  [We can know those promises] here on earth, with the help of technology; and not after we die, but now with the help of super human beings. And in a way, I would say we have already seen the first techno-religion in history, in previous centuries, and that was Socialism".

I think you've read enough to get an idea of where this guy is coming from. And as a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, what he is saying is offensive and alarming. But none is more controversial than his opinion that the Bible needs to be re-written "to correct" the wrong ideas it has presented for centuries. We know that Johannes Gutenberg invented the first printing press and printed a copy of the Bible in the 15th Century. But according to Harari, "it [the printing press] had no ideas of its own about the Bible: Is it good? Is it bad? How to interpret this? How to interpret that? AI can create new ideas [from its opinions]; [it] can even write a new Bible,” Harari declares. “Throughout history, religions dreamt about having a book written by a superhuman intelligence, by a non-human entity". Oh, really? Can you provide some evidence of that, please? 

Are you as aggrieved as I am that this pompous proponent of AI dares to compare human's ability to create with the creativity of the God of the Universe? I am strongly discerning that we are on the precipice of what Scripture prophesies... Because of this God will send upon them a misleading influence, [an activity of error and deception] so they will believe the lie, in order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe the truth [about their sin, and the need for salvation through Christ], but instead took pleasure in unrighteousness. Now is the time to fortify ourselves for the battle that is coming. We must become clear about what we believe and why, so that we can discern the difference between the delusion God is bringing and the immutable Truth of His Word that we carry in our hearts. 

And again, the Bible tells us that My people perish for lack of knowledge. But it is incumbent upon all us Christians that we make it clear to all within our sphere of influence that the Word is speaking of knowledge as God's Truth, not man's. Mr. Harari is full of knowledge. But his foundation comes from the deception and deceit of the Father of Lies. We must not only stand on the principles of God's Truth, but must be willing to stand against the lies, and correct the false teachings, data, and information that will most assuredly be fomented by artificial intelligence and the humans who unleash AI upon the world. Trust in the Lord to fight for us and protect us as we continue to preach the Word; the unerring, perfect and unimpeachable Word of God to those who love Him and follow His commandments. 

Romans 1:21-23    For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 

My Testimony: "Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me"!

If you're of a certain age, you might remember that comedy hour of country songs and humor, called HeeHaw. The title of today's blog comes from one of their theme songs sung by residents of Kornfield Kounty, lamenting the sad state of their lives. "Gloom, Despair, and Agony" was a comedic poke at the imaginary problems of simple country folk. But more and more, it's becoming the theme song for the lives of millions of Americans, as they face an uncertain future filled with fear, anxiety, and worry.

Let me begin by saying that, as a believer in Jesus Christ, I have had to overcome my own struggles with these three spiritual adversaries and the havoc they can cause in pursuing a contented and prosperous life. It didn't matter that I knew all the Scriptures that told me that Jesus had not given me a spirit of fear, or that the Bible tells us we will endure sorrows and sufferings so that we might follow in the steps of our Savior, overcoming as He did. They did not defeat the thoughts that continued to repeat themselves over and over, keeping me in a state of instability and what the Bible calls "an unsound mind".

It wasn't until I was 40 years old, and spending some time caring for my father after his multiple bypass surgery that I understood the "spiritual mechanics" of my inability to find peace and a deeper measure of faith. As I laid in my bed, I could hear my father moaning in anxiety and worry over his health and the absence of my mother, who had passed away a few years before. At a very minimal level, I began to see where my own fears and worry about the future had originated. I was able to see his pattern throughout my childhood, and into adulthood, of worrying about finances and the unforeseen battles of life. I was just like my dad! 

But I also realized that I had accepted Christ as my Savior and Deliverer, while he had not. And I recognized that other members of our family -- aunts, uncles, and cousins -- also struggled with worry and anxiety, brought on by fear. Some were believers, some were not; but I didn't want to be like them! It would be years until I understood the Biblical concept of iniquity. And it was through my pursuit of a more intimate relationship with Jesus that I would hear the voice of my Heavenly Father which changed the course of my life. I can also look back now, and see the narrow path He led me and my husband on; a path He had carefully laid out since the foundations of the world. 

Ever since we made the decision, early in our marriage, that my husband would follow the unconventional path of a professional artist, using the talents we acknowledged came from God, Mark never doubted or worried. Even during the years of "paying his dues" and building his career -- the years of wondering if we could pay our monthly bills -- he always [simply and  resolutely] trusted God for everything. Me, not so much! I was still struggling with the trifecta of my old adversaries: worry, anxiety, and fear. It wasn't until I found myself in what I call my "seven years in the wilderness", that I submitted to God and asked Him to help me trust Him. These were the years where I found myself isolated on 129 acres, about 90 miles west of San Antonio. Without the distractions of our lives in Austin and Houston, I was faced with lots of time for meditation and contemplation. They were the years when our struggles were the most difficult, and the years my fears were the most prominent, yet they were the years that I made the most forward progress in my faith.

As I said, I had had enough of living in the shadow of the spirit of fear, and I knew my constant worrying had to be getting tiresome to my husband, although he always patiently pointed me towards trusting Jesus. Then one day, I had this profound thought. It wasn't the audible voice of the Lord, but what I had begun to recognize as His thoughts that He revealed to my mind. I heard, "If you will be faithful to Me, I will be faithful to you". Wow! What a promise! Did I have enough faith to trust Him to fulfill that vow? Could I finally let go of my earthly father's voice in my head telling me that I had to work hard to control my finances; that it was all up to me?

I'm not going to tell you that it was easy. There were many times in the ensuing years that the Enemy tried to shake my confidence in Jesus and the Father; times of struggle, wondering where the next art sale would come from to pay the looming bills. And you know what? Every time God delivered on His promise! With each divine testimony He gave me, I was learning to trust Him and not succumb to the doubt and unbelief that the devil so desperately wanted me to pick back up. I was building a history of trust with God! Even to this day, the one who got thrown out of Heaven tries to convince me that I can't trust the One who has so faithfully provided all that I need in this life.

And as I trusted God for my earthly essentials, He showed me that my husband and I could be trusted to receive greater revelations of His sovereignty in the world. And He anointed us with a ministry that has allowed us to share how He overcame our own wounds and insecurities. Because we became yoked together in trusting Him to guide us to the purpose for which we were created, we are able to see the ways that the Enemy disrupts the lives of others and builds obstacles to the discovery of their purposes for His Kingdom here on earth. One of the biggest is that iniquity in family lines that I mentioned was so prominent in my own. And I want to give you a quick synopsis on its effects, so you can break it off yourself and your family.

I want to point out both Exodus 20:5-6 and Deuteronomy 5:9-10. [Whenever God confirms His commandments again, we know this is an important precept that He wants us to get!]. They both read: You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those [generations] who love Me and keep My commandments. It is important that the body of Christ understands this spiritual principle. INIQUITY is when a sin [as in my family's case; worry and not trusting God], moves beyond a one-time occurrence, which can be confessed and repented for, and it ends. When that sin then moves into open rebellion [knowing it's a sin, but it is continued to be practiced], and is still not confessed and repented and stopped -- then it becomes embedded in the actual DNA of the family line. 

You can apply any sin to iniquity ... think of families who will say, "we're just a family of alcoholics'. Substitute any sin in that sentence -- adultery, molestation, pornography, pedophilia, lying, greed -- you get the picture. And interestingly enough, it will go three or four generations, until a righteous member of the family declares, "It stops with me"! In my case, I was the third generation, and recognized the sin of worry and stopped it. But I see it in some of my nieces and nephews, the fourth generation, because my siblings are still blinded to the iniquity in our family bloodline. And if it doesn't get stopped, it will continue unimpeded.

So, I want to summarize my testimony and speak my heart ... Don't let "Gloom, Despair, and Agony" become your theme song. Yes, the world is exhibiting lots of reasons to give in to these corresponding spirits of worry, anxiety, and fear. But if nothing else, I hope you heard how I overcame them with the help of the Lord. If, like me, you have become tired of living in a constant state of instability and not trusting the Lord, submit to Him; surrender and tell Him you are ready to be faithful to Him, choosing to believe [even in the midst of your doubt and unbelief] that He will be faithful to you. 

Take it from me, you CAN TRUST HIM! Never forget that Jesus tells us, "In Me, you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world". And that word tribulation encompasses all your trials; all your struggles, all the injustices perpetrated against you; anything that you worry about or are tempted by. And you "may" have the peace you long for -- it's up to you. But will you trust Him to be faithful to you? Start building that trust today, as you take the first step in being faithful to Him. It will change your life and set you on the path you are destined for!

2 Chronicles 16:9    For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth so that He may support those whose heart is completely His...

 

   

Perilous Times Call For Plain-Spoken Truth and Persistent Perseverance

 It has become unquestionably clear to me that Evil has pervaded our culture in every sphere of our existence. What does that look like? It can be encapsulated in 2 Timothy 3:1-8 ... "But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]. 2 For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, 3 [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them. 6 For among them are those who worm their way into homes and captivate morally weak and spiritually-dwarfed women weighed down by [the burden of their] sins, easily swayed by various impulses, 7 always learning and listening to anybody who will teach them, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres [the court magicians of Egypt] opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, unqualified and worthless [as teachers] in regard to the faith". 

I hope you didn't skip over this familiar and important passage of the Bible. Paul knows he is facing his impending death, and he writes to Timothy, a "baby Christian" to encourage him to stand strong in his faith; to endure in the face of everything the Enemy will throw at him to confound and confute his faith. Paul goes on to describe all the characteristics of people who are lovers of self, rather than lovers of God. And make no mistake ... within that vast group of sinners, the Church is not found innocent. Now read that passage again with intention. Increasingly, we can see that "difficult days that will be hard to bear" are upon us. We see the arrogance and greed extend from our government at the highest levels to the corporate titans to the scammers who take advantage of the vulnerable on the internet. We see the actions of those who are "devoid of natural human affection" as the numbers of innocent people who are killed or injured in our cities rises to alarming statistics. We see immorality intensify to obscene, blasphemous, and debased levels -- children sold for sexual pleasure; the government [through our education system] seeking to claim our children for themselves and lead them into a debauched culture of men claiming to be women, and women denying their role in creation; thereby stealing and corrupting the innocence of childhood.

But, lest there any of us who claim security in our faith, we need to understand that Paul doesn't hold the Church guiltless either. And I want to make myself clear -- I do not disparage all members of the Church! I understand that it is the institution of the Church that has not lived up to the commission Jesus called His followers to. I am fully aware that individual followers are committed to being devout and obedient servants of His Kingdom here on earth. It is not up to me [or anyone else] to judge their hearts or measure the worth of their faith. That, Jesus will do at the Judgment Seat. But each of us can judge the fruit of the institution, and those who walk in religion, seeking to control and dictate belief systems through misleading and false teachings, or deceptive, man-made doctrine. Following Jesus is easy; we have His Word to guide us, and it is the Holy Spirit who counsels and reveals God's will for the faithful. The institutionalized Church, if not careful, can switch the focus of Jesus's teachings from His truth to their own interpretation, resulting in people losing sight of Him as they seek to please the leadership and themselves.     

A man I greatly admire, Victor Marx, recently posted a meme that stated, "Too many Christians want a seat at the table that Jesus would have flipped over". "The table" he is talking about is the seat of power and reputation/recognition that the Church has become for far too many who claim their faith in Jesus. The Lord flipped the tables of the moneychangers in the Temple because they were profiting off the poor; requiring inflated payment for the poor to have access to the sacrificial animals and entry into the House of His Father. The Temple was to be open and available to all; it is the Father's will that all have access to His love and to His Presence.

But is it really any different today? I have personally seen the 10 Ways the Enemy Has Infiltrated the Church, from a powerful article written by Evangelist Chuck Lawless. I have seen 1) Rivalry in the Church, 2) Immaturity among believers, 3) Tolerating sin in the congregation, 4) Believers turning on believers, 5) Sexual immorality in the church, 6) Misuse of Christian liberty [to condemn others], 7) Idolatry in the church, 8) Competition over spiritual gifts, 9) Unwillingness to forgive a repentant believer, and 10) False teaching in the church. I do not point these out from a superior attitude -- it is always my heart for God to purify anything He finds unholy in my heart. My intention is to call ourselves to account for the ways we might be limiting access to God for anyone seeking Him. 

I mean, are we really glorifying our Lord if we are fighting over ministry turf; allowing internal strife between members; tolerating sexual sin; promoting someone or a ministry above our holy God [worshiping the gods of our heart]; competing over whose spiritual gift is greater; being unwilling to forgive a repentant brother or sister in Christ; or being unable to discern a false teaching from the grace of Jesus to allow for a difference of opinion that doesn't contradict the Gospel and the Father's will? 

For instance, does it really matter if we baptize in the Name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit -- or we simply baptize in the Name of Jesus? Isn't that make Baptism into a religious ritual rather than a pronouncement of our allegiance to Heaven? Didn't Jesus say He and the Father are One, and if we've seen Him, we've seen the Father? Isn't the purpose of declaring a name is that you know who you are declaring your spiritual allegiance to -- the Light or the dark side? Jesus allowed His followers to eat from the wheat fields on the Sabbath, breaking a strict religious rule. When He declared that “The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath”, He is proclaiming that He exercises authority over the Sabbath. He also exercises authority over baptism, and if we choose to be baptized, He knows the condition of our heart, and that we understand the significance of this action. He never desired that our faith be difficult, once we choose to believe. Why do we make it so?

Finally, I think there can be no disagreement that we are seeing the brutality of mankind on the earth. And when the Rule of Law is no longer operating, then the message the masses receive is that there are no rules; or the rules are made to be broken; or it's ok to make your own rules and just do what makes you feel good about yourself -- none of which were ever taught by the Creator and Redeemer of all mankind. Therefore those men [and women] will come to despise the One who made the rules to guide us all to a peaceful and harmonious life. And they will deny His power and authority to guide their lives because it comes in conflict with their own self-interests. 

It is evident from the threats of war, famine, disease/plagues, and persecution from those who love power and those who hate God, that we are indeed in perilous times. Is the glorious return of our Lord imminent, or will He give us a reprieve by some miracle of His mercy and grace? No one can say for sure, but this I do know ... it is time to receive HIS TRUTH, not the truth of the world, and most certainly time to discern if you are hearing the truth in your place of worship. It is not time "to tolerate unsound doctrine and inaccurate instruction [that does not challenge them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold." It is perilous enough that you need to know what you believe and why! Don't rely on another's faith -- own your own. And remember what Jesus said to His disciples in those ancient times ... Listen carefully, I have told you in advance. So go and find out what HE said because His words "will not pass away". For it is most assuredly the time to determine that we will stand in persistent perseverance. And He will stand with us! Praise Him, above all Names, for He is worthy to be praised! 

Luke 21:28    Now when these things begin to occur, stand tall and lift up your heads [in joy], because [suffering ends as] your redemption is drawing near.”

Is Computer-Generated Reality Designed To Usher In A Post-Christian World?

I know the title of today's blog reads like apocalyptic science fiction, and even seems a bit over-dramatic. But all the warning signs are there, and when you have the creators of some of the most advanced Artificial Intelligence systems openly admitting that this technology could pose "a profound risk to society and humanity".... well, it's time to pay attention. 

First, let me say that I am not an expert on technology nor AI, and to be honest, I am not a fan of the increasing role it all plays in our lives. I've long thought that the "powers that be" have hinted at the reality of our future through movies like "The Terminator" and "War Games". And now the top industry leaders in AI have issued an open letter in which they are seeking "to reduce the risk AI poses to push humanity to extinction", comparing AI's influence to global pandemics and nuclear war. 

Furthermore, these leaders have expressed their concerns that artificial general intelligence (AGI) is not far away. This is the concept that AI can learn to accomplish any intellectual task that any human or animal can do -- and do it faster. Additionally, they define AGI as an autonomous system that surpasses human capabilities. [For now, at least, they are applying that characteristic to economically valuable tasks]. But did you catch that AGI would become autonomous? That means it will be able to act independently of its human handlers, and/or have the freedom to do so. And if that's not enough to make you concerned, consider that Geoffrey Hinton, a cognitive psychologist and computer scientist, also known as the "Godfather of AI", recently announced his departure from Google [where he worked on neural networks - used for solving AI problems] because he noted that "I'm just a scientist who suddenly realized these things are getting smarter than us". 

Soooo, how does this all connect to a post-Christian world? Follow me as I try to show you what is a possible scenario. To begin, we need to go back to 1961 and the Presidency of Dwight David Eisenhower. We are all familiar with Ike's warning about the military/industrial complex, which essentially warned the American populace that [the complex] would need to fund itself by endless wars. That prediction has been proven true. But he also gave a lesser known warning, in which he said, "we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy itself could become the captive of a scientific-technological elite". He was an eye witness to government taking more and more control of science funding, and he believed that as politicians funded more of it, academia was going to self-select those who believed in big government. And that leads to corporations controlling academic science by controlling politicians. We have certainly seen this theory born out in the last few years of the pandemic crisis.

But let's take it a step further and consider the possibility that government-controlled science could lead to that scientific-technological elite that strives to rule through social authoritarianism. How could this happen? Well, we are seeing signs of that concept when we examine some of the functions of society. Consider how we've seen changes in the way our society is preserving order [or not]; in how we are managing education; handling the economy; and the importance of how our society is communicating to ensure the continuity of the culture for future generations. Communication is a basic and fundamental necessity for an individual and society/culture to survive. 

Changing the intention of language and its meanings can affect how a society continues to exist. The explosion of the internet and computer language/coding has changed how we communicate in the 21st Century. Face-to-face conversation is slowly disappearing, as we let computers do our talking for us. And without that interpersonal connection, there is no relationship, and humans were created for relationship. What we end up with is "gas-lighting tactics" in which the populace is deliberately and systematically fed false information to mislead them and cause them to question their perception of what's real and what's not. Computers are increasingly used to manipulate us with false and created language to direct and manipulate society towards a desired result, and potentially an artificial reality. 

All this is possible through the ridiculously fast rate at which computers can now converse with the human population. Enter the latest invention, the ChatBot, which in its latest version is being called "a reasonable [yet still incomplete] version of an AGI System" -- the autonomous system that can act independently of humans. That's why the Godfather of AI is quoted as saying, "Once AI can improve itself, which may not be more than a few years away, and could in fact already be here now, we have no way of knowing what the AI will do or how we can control it .... it will have the capability to act in the virtual world through its electronic connections, and in the physical world through robot bodies". 

Can you see that none of this is the design of our Creator? Artificial Intelligence can certainly lead to an Artificial Reality in which the human race is convinced that a) God is not real, therefore b) God does not exist. Furthermore, we will have no need of moral guidelines or the necessity of forgiveness because humans could potentially no longer be made [fully] in the image of God. As we see AI technology rapidly emerging in the field of biomedical research and health care, we face a very real danger of losing our spiritual connection with our Father in Heaven. 

What I believe we are seeing is the evolution of the Eternal War between God and Satan for control of the human race. For years medical scientists have studied the human genome to better understand how our DNA is coded.  In 2021 Science Daily reported that a scientific team "found that a neural network system trained on high-resolution maps of protein-DNA interactions could uncover subtle DNA sequence patterns throughout the genome and provide a deeper understanding of how these sequences are organized to regulate genes". That was in 2021. And now the leaders in the AI industry are warning that these computers are beginning to have the capability to act independently in gathering this artificial general information. What's to keep them from decoding human DNA and changing the code so that we no longer have the DNA God gave us?

That's why God destroyed the human race with the Flood. Man's DNA became corrupted with Fallen Angel DNA, and God would not tolerate it. He hasn't changed, and He won't tolerate it now! Satan has never given up on destroying us because of his envy and resentment of mankind, who are favored by the Creator. He lost his position in Heaven when he thought he could usurp the throne in the heavenly Kingdom of God. He has sought ways to defeat us through Sin and Death. But God sent His Son to redeem us, and now we have the promise of Eternal Life through our faith in Jesus as our Savior. 

But that isn't the end of God's grace towards us. Jesus also came to earth with the purpose of giving us His power and authority so we could be restored to our original purpose, to have dominion over the earth and rule it like God rules Heaven. Satan recognizes that through that divine power and authority, extended to us, we have the ability to take back territory from his earthly kingdom of darkness. But if Satan can use AI to change us at the very core of our earthly body -- our DNA -- then he has successfully corrupted God's creation, and we will see the emergence of AI 'gods". That's why computer generated reality is artificial, false, and designed to keep us separated from our true identity... the beloved children of God. 

It is time that we recognize the difference between the constructive use of technology and its potential for the destruction of the human race. This Eternal War with Satan pits his envy and resentment against our gratitude and responsibility as the redeemed children of God. So far, the devil has been able to deceive mankind in going down this technological road in order to usurp our power and authority, and to rid himself of his spiritual and mortal enemy. We need to listen to the experts who are warning us to pull the plug on the advancement of AI. We need to return to the key elements of our human existence and our God-given reality. We've gone too far already.

Colossians 2:8   See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ.

 

 

   

Has America Committed Suicide? Will God Save Us From Ourselves?

I'm sure you're familiar with the comparisons made between the Fall of the Roman Empire and the current path our once great nation has embarked upon. If you have any interest in the subject, it's not hard to see how they align, and it's important to look at this phenomenon from both a historical perspective as well as a Biblical one. 

First, I want to share the finer points of an excellent article by Evan Andrews at history.com. Titled, 8 Reasons Why Rome Fell, Mr. Andrews gives a succinct theory as to the catalysts that brought about the decline of one of the greatest military, political, and social powers in history.  And it's like reading a modern commentary on the woes of our nation. Here are the reasons he sites and a short comparison with our state of affairs:

1. ROME: Invasions by Barbarian tribes. US: Invasion by refugees from foreign nations. For several decades, the nomadic Germanic people groups known as Goths encroached and eventually overran the Roman Empire's borders, with a Goth king finally sacking the city of Rome, leaving the Empire under constant threat of invasion. Today, we are seeing thousands of people from various nations streaming across our southern border, unhindered and actually encouraged. Eventually the Roman Empire was overthrown and never recovered. What does our future hold?

2. ROME: Economic Troubles and Over-Reliance on Slave Labor. US: Ditto & More. For Rome, constant wars and overspending led to a severe financial crisis. This resulted in oppressive taxation and inflation, creating a widening gap between the wealthy and poor. Additionally, the Empire suffered from a labor deficiency. Commercial and agricultural production was in decline, and the empire began to lose its grip on Europe. Do I need to say more? From the 4th-5th Century to the 21st, it's like looking in the mirror! Our national debt is $31,462,154,854,903! That's $31 trillion in round numbers. Inflation is hovering around 5%, which is higher than the long-term average of 3.28%, and rumored to skyrocket by 2024. No one wants to work anymore, choosing to receive free money from the government's Welfare State. Then there's the fact that we don't make our own goods in this country anymore and our farmers are unable to afford to grow their crops, leading to a reduced food supply. 

3. ROME: The Rise of the Eastern Empire. US: The Rise of the Eastern Empire. For the Roman Empire, it was the Eastern half of the Empire, the Greek-speaking Byzantine provinces, that grew wealthy, as the Western Roman provinces faced their economic crises. The Empire became divided over military and economic issues, which contributed to its downfall. For us, here in the US, the Eastern Empire of China has become our nemesis and thorn in our side. They own a lot of our debt, and we have outsourced most of our domestic production and commerce to them, causing major decline across our economic board.

4. ROME: Overexpansion and Military Overspending. US: Can you say Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, and Military Interventions Across the Globe?  At one time, the Roman Empire stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Euphrates River. That led to a logistical nightmare and inability to fund their military operations, and the eventual destruction of its infrastructure. In our case, former President Dwight Eisenhower warned about the emerging power of the Military-Industrial Complex and its drain upon the nation's resources. Since 2000, we have waged wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and spent untold millions (maybe trillions) on American intervention in Yemen, Pakistan, Somalia, Libya, Uganda, Niger,  Syria, and now Ukraine, with many of these operations ongoing. Enough said about this topic.

5. ROME: Government Corruption and Instability. US: Again, these are the same reasons for our decline. Mr. Andrews cites "ineffective and inconsistent leadership" as a prime factor in the Roman Empire's slide. The political rot in their Senate failed to control the disintegration, and the Empire suffered from a long and tumultuous Civil War. Today, all one has to do is watch the nightly news (if you can find a credible source) to see the same weak and inept governing body [on all levels]. The corruption is so widespread that trust in our leaders is at an all-time low and the split among our countrymen has never been so deep since our own Civil War. Lord, I pray that You will intervene and bring us Godly leaders! Right now the despair among the people is palpable.

6. ROME: The Arrival of the Huns and the Barbarian Tribes. US: The Arrival of South and Central Americans, and Covert Agents.  The Roman Empire suffered from a mass migration across their borders caused by the invasion of Europe by the Huns. The Goths were also allowed to migrate into the Empire, but eventually became dangerous enemies because of their mistreatment. A flimsy peace treaty with the migrants dissolved and the weight of the new occupants helped collapse the Empire. In our case, we have seen the unsustainable influx of humanity crossing our borders, with evidence that they are not all seeking the blessings of this country, but seek to do us harm. We have yet to see the consequences of this human flood, but it's clear that we cannot support such numbers.

7. ROME: Christianity and the Loss of Traditional Values. US: The Loss of Both Christian and Traditional Values.  Many authors of history have pointed the finger at the spread of Christianity as a factor in the decline of the Roman Empire, blaming Popes and other church leaders for infiltrating politics to the detriment of the Empire. Others say any influence in this area by Christianity pales in comparison to the military, economic, and administrative factors. There's no question that the immoral, perverted, and cruel practices of Emperors like Caligula, Nero, and Elagabalus represent anything but traditional values. But the reputation of this nation in the last 50 years won't be looked upon with any degree of moral excellence. We have killed the unborn, sold children into sexual slavery, and allowed violence to go unchecked. And in our instance, it has been the deterioration of the Christian faith [as our foundation] that has led to our loss of traditional and moral values.

8. ROME: Weakening of the Roman Legions. US: Weakening of our own Military.  The once proud Roman legions could no longer field the number of soldiers they needed to maintain their power, so they hired foreign mercenaries, many of whom turned on the Empire out of disloyalty and contributed to its defeat on the battlefield. We are now seeing the undermining of our own military; the woke agenda has infiltrated, and decisions are made at the top by men who have never been on a battlefield, so there is no identification with the soldier in the field. Plus financing has been stripped from the Military budget, and we are threatened with substandard equipment as we watch our enemies grow stronger. 

Now that we see the similarities of what happened to the Roman Empire and where it seems we are headed, can we take another step forward to remember and understand that the "Dark Ages" were ushered in by the collapse of the Roman Empire? Social advancement in the sciences, philosophy, and economic growth seemed to come to a standstill. Additionally, the people lived steeped in fear and superstitions about life and authority. A collapse of a society will do that!  

So, by now, I'm sure you see the alarming trajectory we are on if we continue to follow the path of the Roman Empire. Is there time -- and do we have enough national desire -- to change course? It is to Rome's credit that during the years it flourished, it was precisely due to its strong commitment to strict family values. It was characterized by its lack of divorce during that period in its history. But it was when the Emperors and Senators became lax in encouraging these values -- and the marriage covenant gave way to promiscuity and perversion -- that the decline began to form. 

So where do our societal values put us on the timeline of social decline? If we are honest with ourselves, we are careening towards an unsavory end. We can't condone sexual abuse and exploitation of our children for the perverse sexual gratification of the ungodly, and expect that the God of the Universe is going to let that continue. He will not overlook the mistreatment of our children, whether through abortion or sexual perversion. Let me remind you of Jesus's words in Matthew 18:6: If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in Me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 

So, do we have the fortitude and courage to stop this suicidal track we are on? Read Revelation 18 and see if you don't agree that we fit the description of Babylon in the End Times. For the sake of our future and very existence, it is time to make a decision whether to save ourselves or give in to those who seek our destruction for their own earthly and temporary satisfaction. God will hold us accountable for seeing the decline and doing nothing about turning to Him with repentance and action. He is always willing to deliver us IF we do it His way. I don't know about you, but I don't want to experience another historical Dark Ages, nor do I wish to see the nation of my birth destroyed by its own hand.

Of course, we Christians all know the dream Nebuchadnezzar had of a statue that represents the world's empires. And we know the ancient Roman Empire is no more, but the Bible tells us it will be revitalized, ruled by a conglomeration of kings until the Anti-Christ defeats them all, establishing his own false religion and setting himself upon his version of the throne of God. But the Bible makes it very clear that "a stone [which] was cut out without [human] hands, struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them". It is time to turn from our evil ways and warn every man, woman, and child that the eternal kingdom of God, the Messianic kingdom, is about to extend over all the earth, and those who reject Jesus, the Messiah, the Stone, will be crushed. Lord Jesus, we believers are living stones, ready to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable and pleasing to God through our eternal faith in You! Save us from ourselves, Lord!

Psalm 118:22-23   The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone. This is from the Lord and is His doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.  

   

God's Calling Us To Decide: Commitment vs Compromise?

It seems that Thomas Paine's historical quote becomes more appropriate with each passing day. These are the times that try men's souls ... we, like Christians of the past, are facing a critical turning point in our faith. The Enemy is challenging every proclaimed Believer to stand firm in our commitment to follow the Lord. Notice I'm not talking about commitment in other facets of our lives, such as to our spouse, our families, our job, or even to our church. I'm talking about the kind of commitment that puts Jesus above everything and everyone else in our lives -- and that includes ourselves. 

Jesus promised that we would have trials in this life, and I believe we are just at the beginning of what will become supernatural tests of our faith. After all, the Bible tells us this will happen, and I'm always amazed at believers who try to circumvent this truth with modern theology that somehow we can avoid the affliction/suffering if we just worship more or work for a revival. Mind you, both worship and revival are desirable outpourings of our faith, but in facing the consequences of our compromises in the last half century, God needs our commitment to start doing things His way ... to follow Him all the way, all the time. 

What exactly does committing one's life to God look like? Some common understandings for the word commitment are responsibility to, obligation to, duty, dedication, allegiance, faithfulness, and fidelity. But here's the tough truth: giving God the commitment that He desires and demands is costly. Our commitment to Him must replace and override our commitment and loyalty to anything else -- causes, jobs, or family. And that means those relationships and connections can come to an end. If we are presented with an either/or decision, we must choose to follow Jesus and leave all else behind. Can you honestly say you would do this? If not, then we do not qualify to be His disciples.

If we are to fulfill our purpose on this earth, it is imperative that we understand there are tough trials headed our way; our endurance will be tested. And Jesus didn't pull any punches when describing the cost of being His disciple: If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. Jesus showed us what that looks like: selflessness, service, sacrifice, and total self-denial. We must be willing to sacrifice everything of this life for the privilege of following His example, even unto death. The question of our lives is Am I prepared to do this?

OR, in order to maintain the life I love, will I choose to make concessions and adjustments to His commands? I'm not saying that all compromise is bad or wrong. There are certain instances when God prefers we keep the peace and remain in harmony rather than cause undue strife and conflict. But when it comes to His holy and righteous commands, there can be no compromise. We have seen the consequences when Christians have relinquished their commitment to God [in favor of compromise] in the areas of abortion and marriage, for instance; and have turned a blind eye to child trafficking, child pornography, corruption in government, and immorality throughout our society. 

We may try to fool ourselves by saying, "I don't partake in any of those sinful activities", or if we do, we convince ourselves that God will forgive us because we still have Jesus. But that is not acceptable to our Holy God. It's okay to compromise on whether your Church uses wine or grape juice during Communion; or what charity you and your family decide to support. But when it comes to the Lordship and Authority of Christ in your life; or your moral convictions or rightly representing the Word of God, there can be no concessions or compromise -- no matter what it costs you! We must not only know and speak God's Biblical truth and commandments, we must walk them out and do them. A committed and real relationship with God demands that we obey Him in all things; that we look neither to the left nor the right -- compromise is never an option! 

I'm afraid, my fellow believers, that we have come to an apex in our country, in the world, and in our personal lives. If we take an honest look at our current state of affairs, it is quite evident that compromise has infiltrated our commitment. And the instability of our future reflects that. The impending trials we face are a result of our failure to give Christ sole authority over every decision made. We must return to true and uncompromising commitment to follow Christ, no matter the pain or cost. We must unerringly trust Him, fix our nature upon Him, and preserve His Holy principles and commandments. 

We cannot avoid the trials and, yes, tribulations that are coming -- Jesus, Himself, said we will experience them. But if we hold fast to our commitment to Him, He will help us through them. When we commit our whole life [heart, body, mind, soul and spirit] to Him, we receive His strength to endure and we will be empowered to serve Him in the midst of all things. So, will you agree with me to no longer suffer compromise in our areas of influence, but rather to commit to representing our Savior in all we do and say -- to surrender by trusting Him to be our sole authority in all matters and to be our moral compass in all our ways? "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments". That requires commitment, and there is no room for compromise. 

Psalm 119:9-16     How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word. With my whole heart I seek You; let me not wander from Your commandments! I have stored up Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me Your statutes! With my lips I declare all the rules of Your mouth. In the way of Your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways. I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

 

The Biblical Message of Memorial Day (2023)

On Monday, the nation will be remembering those who have been willing to make the ultimate sacrifice so that we, the people of the United States, could continue to live in peace and prosperity. It should be a very sobering day, and one that should be commemorated down through our generations. My own father served in WW II, and I have had the privilege to serve those who have served us through a ministry at one of the Fisher Houses at Fort Sam Houston. 

Those who have gone before us [and paid the price] should never be forgotten. I hope that everyone honors Memorial Day for what it really is: a day to remember and commemorate the people and events of our history.  And in context of the Bible, the meaning of the Hebrew word for memorial is actually “to remember.”  And God makes it very clear that He feels memorials serve a valuable purpose: to remind us of all He has done for us. 

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Joshua 4:1-24.  The Lord was finally delivering His People into their inheritance, and had appointed Joshua to lead the tribes of Israel across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Joshua was given very specific directions ... have the priests carry the Ark of the Covenant ahead of the people into the Jordan, and God would stop the flow of the river (which always overflowed its banks during this harvest time). The priests were to stop on this dry ground, in the midst of the Jordan, while the people of Israel passed to the opposite shore.

Then the Lord instructed Joshua to send one man from each of the 12 tribes of Israel to where the priests were standing, and to gather a rock from the riverbed. They were to bring them back to where the people were lodging on the west bank.  The purpose for these 12 stones was very important to God: "Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever."

This very visible memorial would be a reminder to all future generations that the Lord of all the earth had delivered them out of the land of Egypt and into the Land that had been promised to their ancestor, Abraham.  The memorial of stones would cause each succeeding generation to ask of their meaning, and then be reminded of all that the Lord of all the earth had done for them.  It would be a lasting reminder and memorial forever of the goodness of God.

 

But I love it that Joshua, himself, also erected a memorial in the middle of the Jordan, where the feet of the priests stood in the dry riverbed.  Perhaps he wanted to offer a personal memorial to God, separate from the corporate one that would be erected on the west bank of the Jordan.  But I think there is a much more consequential meaning to Joshua's actions. We must take note that once the priests continued with the Ark of the Covenant and set their feet upon dry ground on the opposite bank, the waters of the Jordan were released and this memorial was buried under the raging waters, never to be seen by anyone. Is there significance to this memorial, as well?

 

Perhaps we can glean some meaning from the waters of the Jordan as being symbolic of judgment, just as the waters of The Flood condemned all corrupted flesh in Genesis 6; and the waters of the Red Sea buried the Egyptians; and Jonah was buried under the waters during his own judgment.  Then there is Hosea 5:6, when God says, "I will pour out my wrath on them like water".

 

 If this is interpretation is a possibility, what is the difference between the two memorials?  Why is one established in the Promised Land, and one is buried under the Jordan River?  If water is judgment, then it makes sense to me that the memorial on the west bank is a picture of being saved from the waters of Judgment.  The Ark of the LORD, which typologically points to Christ, stood in the midst of the Jordan, holding back the waters and allowing the stones to be brought up and erected on the shore as a memorial and sign of God's Deliverance.

 

But the other memorial of stones was covered by the Jordan. They cannot be a sign of deliverance because they cannot be seen. Those stones are a warning! It was Joshua alone (whose name means YHWH is Salvation) who did the work of setting up the twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan.  It is not only Joshua's name that points to Jesus, but his actions. Jesus is the judge of the living and the dead. Those 12 stones are a warning about death and judgment! If people do not repent and trust in Jesus, they remain in the miry clay of a river— and that river will overflow in judgment at death.

 

Those 12 stones represent the unredeemed, who have rejected Jesus and are buried in death by the righteous judgment of God… “and they are there to this day”.  But here is the really sad part... they will never be seen or inquired about. They were quickly forgotten and there would be no evidence of them for the rest of eternity.

 

As we celebrate this Memorial Day established by our nation, it is my prayer that we would share our own memories of what the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ has done in our individual lives. Don't let the unsaved think they are safe on whatever dry ground they are standing upon. Tell them how they can be saved from the waters of judgment. Tell them how, through the work of Jesus in saving and sanctifying them, they can be a memorial stone of remembrance of God’s goodness and saving grace.  Let this Memorial Day mark a new remembrance of the work of the Lord in our nation. 

 

Now, in the patriotic sense of this holiday, I am dedicating this post and blog to the memory of Captain John Hardy, USAF, a pilot who was shot down over North Vietnam. At the age of 16, I wore an MIA bracelet bearing his name, and I wore it for years. It wasn't until around the year 2000, that I discovered that there was a website where you could find out the status of MIA/POW soldiers in the VietNam War, that I learned of his fate. Throughout the years, I had always prayed for him, and hoped he had made it home. I was devastated to find out that he died in the jungles of that far-off country.  I never knew him, but he was more than a name on a silver bracelet.  In the year 2004, I had the opportunity to visit the VietNam War Memorial in Washington D.C., and the impact of that long black marble wall with all those names on it was overwhelming.  I have a pencil rub of his name, and I keep it in the Bible my grandmother gave me, and I will honor his memory for the rest of my life. Here is his official status as listed on THE WALL, a website devoted to those who gave their lives in that war:  

 

Captain John Charles Hardy, USAF

Length of service 8 years

His tour began on Jan 15, 1968

Casualty was on Apr 3, 1968

In NORTH VIETNAM

Hostile, died while missing, FIXED WING - CREW

AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND

Body was recovered

 

Psalm 116:15     Precious [and of great consequence] in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones [so He watches over them].

 

 

 

  

Let Your Spirit Hear: There Is A Way That Leads to Destruction!

There is so much on my mind these days, and so many promptings in my spirit to share, so I've been trying to organize it all in a cohesive manner that will make logical sense to the Christian mind. First of all, let me say that I take the whole counsel of God into consideration, and that includes the entire Bible and its history, teachings, and revelations. But I also highly value my spiritual relationship with God, the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. There are many, many times I hear from them independently of the Word [although I always test what I hear with the truth of the Word]. So, as you can imagine, I often hear differently than my fellow Christians, and it doesn't always coincide with what our 21st Century Christian culture might believe.

Lately, my spirit has been experiencing a heightened sense of forewarning, and I am being drawn to the Bible's prophecies of what leads to destruction among the world's population; especially those who profess faith in the Most High God. This is not meant to be a doomsday post, but rather cautionary advice to pay attention to what has led to destruction among God's people in the past. Remember, He never lowers His standards for righteousness, and what warrants His judgment is still the same. So, let me share just a couple of observations that my spirit is discerning in the here and now...

We have an identity crisis in this nation and it has led to confusion about who we are in Jesus Christ. The author of the confusion is Satan, and it is his job to rob us of our identity so that we never discover who Jesus made us to be or our purpose here on earth. The Greek word for confusion means instability, a disturbance, a state of disorder; and we see that in the huge controversy over transgenderism that is permeating our national conscience. But this confusion is at a deeper level than just how one identifies his or her biological gender. It is a deliberate attempt by our Enemy to change the way you think about yourself, and about the Creator who made you.

If your thinking is corrupted by lies that lead to confusion, you can be in danger of misunderstanding or misinterpreting God's Word, thereby finding yourself outside the will of God and His approval. And if the results of your wrong thinking are unpleasant or devastating, then how long before you no longer believe in His Word [as Truth] and discard it altogether in favor of a sinful and immoral path? It can lead to anger against God and outright rebellion, which can leave you unstable and vulnerable to Satan's agenda, which is to make you a willing participant in his schemes to discredit the authority and power of Jesus Christ in our lives. And what is especially sad to me is that people will lay at the feet of Jesus what Satan has done. Too often Jesus or God is blamed for the free will choices we make because we become confused by the lies of Satan. We must never lose sight of this Biblical truth, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, is a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour. Don't let Confusion lead you on a path to destruction!

My spirit has also become sensitive to the increase in wickedness in our nation. We Christians always hold Sodom and Gomorrah up as the epitome of sexual wickedness and evil. But, haven't we surpassed even their sinful standard? In the Scripture, the men of Sodom begged Abraham's nephew, Lot, to turn his angelic visitors over to them that "we might know them [intimately]". Sadly, we have eclipsed even that unholiness, and now traffic in the sexual perversion against our own children and the children of sojourners in our country [whether legal or illegal]. Sex trafficking and pornography have become a big business in our nation and we are exporting it to the world. God brought severe judgment against Sodom and Gomorrah for far less. Do we really think we deserve less for sanctifying this evil at the altar of Satan in our own midst? How can we call ourselves a Christian nation, if it continues to flourish? Turning a blind eye to it because it is all cloaked in Satan's  darkness doesn't give us an excuse. And singing our worship songs in our sanctuaries every Sunday does not eradicate this abomination from our nation's soul. We must all seek the face of the Lord for what part we can play in setting the captives free. Don't let apathy or indifference lead us on a path to destruction!

And the last spiritual issue that I want to discuss today (there will be more in the coming days) is that of how we each discern the implications of a Rapture event. As I have grown in my faith and understanding of God's heart, my position on the Rapture has grown, as well. And my thoughts on how we should live our lives as we await a Rapture (whenever you think it will occur) can be best defined by a comment from my good friend and disciple of Jesus, Steve Harmon, on his Facebook page. In his latest post, Steve wrote: "If you want to believe in the [Pre-Tribulation] rapture, that's fine. Just don't live it". By that he explained that it can produce a quitting and escape mentality in the Believer that the demonic just salivates over, because it results in Christians who sit around, doing nothing and waiting for Jesus to take them to Heaven. It doesn't produce fruit for the Kingdom and teaches Christians to just wait til the time Jesus comes down to take them away from this evil world. So believe in this particular theory, if that is where you feel led; just don't live it. 

I'm in total agreement with Steve, and with a little different addendum to my position. I believe that the Pre-Trib rapture theology doesn't prepare the Body of Christ for the work that Jesus will need us to do when the persecution of the Tribulation begins and we're still here. He will need us to witness and encourage those who are still lost. Remember, the Father desires that no one perish. So, I think we need to be here to make sure that every last person we can influence has the opportunity to hear the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. Also, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 tells us, Let no one in any way deceive or entrap you, for that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first [that is, the great rebellion, the abandonment of the faith by professed Christians], and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction [the Antichrist, the one who is destined to be destroyed], who opposes and exalts himself [so proudly and so insolently] above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he [actually enters and] takes his seat in the temple of God, publicly proclaiming that he himself is God.

None of that has happened yet -- although I do not deny that all signs point to the possibility that we are fast approaching these events. But I believe that there will be an important assignment for the remnant of Jesus's true believers, and we will be needed to encourage those who fall away from their faith when they realize that the Man of Lawlessness is here and destroying mankind, and they were not raptured out of here. Just think of the fear and despair and hopelessness that will sweep through the Christian community! There will need to be a faithful remnant to help restore their faith and reveal the Sovereign purpose and power of God in those tumultuous times. We must not let fear and despair leave us surrendered to evil, nor lead us to a path of our own destruction!

In summary, I refuse to be convicted of negativity or not recognizing the hope and possibilities of miracles that are ours in the Lord. I write out of love and the desire to empower my fellow believers to identify the false hope and deception that come with the promises of deliverance from any suffering or times of trouble and sorrow. I believe that we are not subject to God's wrath, which will occur on the Day of the Lord, when Jesus returns to wipe out the evil on the earth. And I also believe that when we will seek Him with all of our heart, we will be given the power to overcome the waves of destruction coming against  us, and we will be hidden in Him and protected. He will know us as His own, and He will be in the midst of the conflagration with us. 

Yes, I believe there is a path that leads to destruction, and the choice belongs to all mankind; to individuals and to nations. While we may find ourselves surrounded by the wickedness, we do not lose sight of the One who has defeated death for our sake. I refuse to take the path that leads to destruction, and I choose the narrow gate that leads to redemption and my eternal home in the House of the Lord. All Glory belongs to the King of the Universe!

#endtimes #rapturetheology #pretribulationrapture #confusionofthedevil #identityinjesus

1 Thessalonians 5:14.    We [earnestly] urge you, believers, admonish those who are out of line [the undisciplined, the unruly, the disorderly], encourage the timid [who lack spiritual courage], help the [spiritually] weak, be very patient with everyone. 

Thank You, Jesus! I Have Found Favor With My Lord!

If you're like me, you have been on a journey to grow in your relationship with God. For years, I did not know or understand all that encompassed - what it felt like, looked like, or how to experience it in its fullness. Oh, I knew that I believed in Jesus Christ as my Savior, and He died for my sins, delivering me from Death into an Eternal Life in Heaven. But I wanted more; I wanted the intimacy and to KNOW Him!

I had often heard in Church about the men and women whom God favored and I intuitively knew that their relationship with Him was something special. But how did you define "favor", and what made God single them out for His favor? When I did an etymological study on the word "favor" in the Bible, I was overwhelmed with its implications. It is most heavily used in the historical books of the Old Testament (from Genesis through Samuel), and is best exemplified by the Hebrew words, chén, chánan, châçad. 

The first time we read of God's favor is in Genesis 6:8 ... But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. In this instance, the word implies God's grace towards Noah, and according to the meaning of the word cháchan, it is especially seen [in this instance] to be God's deliverance from Noah's enemies and the surrounding evils in his day. Further connotation of the word implies that God extends this favor in His own sovereign way and will, to whomever He chooses. We certainly know from the previous verses in Genesis 6 that the Fallen angels colluded with the wickedness of man on the earth until only evil was evident in their hearts. God was greatly grieved in His heart and was determined to blot both man and animals from the face of the earth.

And then we have that verse ... But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. It is important to recognize that out of all the humans on the earth in that wicked time, God CHOSE Noah to establish a covenant to renew the earth and bless mankind through his descendants. God extended His lovingkindness to Noah based on Noah's characteristics of strength, steadfastness, and love -- God could trust him to be loyal and reliable in their relationship and to be faithful to the covenant. Therefore Noah could be counted on to live a sanctified life within, and in response, to that covenant.

But Noah wasn't the only one who was chosen to receive God's favor. His eight-times great-grandson, Abraham, studied at Noah's feet and recognized the voice of the Lord when He called him out of the land of Ur and promised to bless all the families of the earth through him. [NOTE: there is a rich history of Abram's relationship with the Lord in the Book of Jasher. It fills in all the historical gaps of the Genesis account]. Just like his ancestor [Noah], Abraham displays the strength, steadfastness, fidelity, and love of the Lord that leads to God making covenant with him, and declaring, For I have CHOSEN him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has promised him. 

There are others in the Bible worth noting who received the favor of the Lord ... the prophet Samuel: Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man. Interestingly enough, a similar description appears in Luke concerning Jesus: And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. The Bible records that after his removal to Babylon, God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials. Jospeh found favor during his captivity in the land of Egypt: But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. Throughout Moses's struggles with the people of Israel, how he must have found comfort in the Lord's words to him: you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name. And there was King David, the apple of God's eye, of whom it is written, So it was until the days of David, who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.

This by no means completes the list of those favored by God ... there was Enoch and Elijah, of course; Lot; Sarah; Isaac; the Israelites escaping from Egypt; Joshua, Rahab, the prostitute; Gideon, Barak, the Disciples, and all those who have been martyred for their faith. So, what can we take away from their lives -- what can we do to gain the favor of the Lord? I believe that what all these heroes of the Bible have in common are those characteristics that are mentioned in the Hebrew definition of "favor". God chose them because He knew they would be steadfast in their faith; had strength of character to see their calling through; loved Him without any doubt or hesitancy; were loyal and devoted servants; and would put obedience to their covenant with Him before all else. They understood that His favor was stronger and more enduring than man's. What's more, God's favor is ultimately beyond the covenant He makes with His chosen, because it will not be abandoned even when the human partner is unfaithful and must be disciplined. Moses and David are prime examples. 

In recent years, I have come to recognize that God has granted His merciful and gracious favor upon me and my husband. I have shared our testimony many times and the vision that my husband received of being sanctified unto the Lord; with a unique calling that has brought us into covenant with Him. I do not claim to be counted among the aforementioned heroes, but I know that my Lord trusts us to be strong, reliable, obedient and dedicated to sharing the Good News of what He has done in our lives and the lives of others through us. All the Glory belongs to Him, and we are grateful for the protection He provides us as we serve Him. And I will tell you the spiritual attacks are getting stronger, in both body and spirit. But nothing in this world compares to knowing that He will protect us from our enemies and the surrounding evil that seeks to stop us from completing our purpose and assignment.

I want to leave you with this thought ... my husband and I are no more special than anyone else. We have made ourselves available and willing to serve God's Kingdom, no matter the cost. We do not seek the favor of men, but rather the acceptance and delight of the Lord as His righteous servants. You, too, can know the favor of the Lord! You can become His chosen in this hour of the world's need! There are no promises that His favor will come without struggles or sorrow. But the rewards are so much greater! All you have to do is ask Him to use you. Then listen for the invitation and just say, YES! 

#favorofgod #godsfavor #whatdoesgodsfavorlooklike

Psalm 84:11     For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.