Making Sense of Crimea

     To be honest, I don't have anything but the most elementary understanding of what is going on in Crimea. But maybe that's where most of the truth lies; because I don't believe that the Kremlin, the White House, or the Media is presenting an unbiased or accurate report of what is unfolding.  That seems pretty obvious when the back and forth between the Super Powers only creates a murky image wrought by political machinations.  Thanks to the BBC Europe offices, I will attempt to provide a very basic view of why Crimea is such an important news story.

     On a purely historic level, one can get a pretty good picture of an underlying source of conflict.  Crimea is a region in the far south of Ukraine, and is situated as a peninsula on Ukraine's Black Sea coast.  The country of Ukraine came into existence in 1991, with the breakup of the old Soviet Union.  Within, Ukraine's population of 44.6 million people, Crimea is home to somewhere around 2.3 million people; a majority of whom identify themselves as ethnic Russians and speak Russian.  This region voted heavily for the recently deposed President Viktor Yanukovych, and in fact, many of them believe he was the victim of a coup (probably fostered by the West) after he refused to sign an association agreement with the European Union.  They think that this event gave the separatists in the Crimean parliament the opportunity to engender a vote for joining the Russian Federation and a referendum on secession from Ukraine.
     The demographics of the Ukrainian population lends some credence to this theory.  Ethnic Ukrainians make up 24% of the population in Crimea according to the 2001 census, compared with 58% Russians and 12% Tatars, who are Muslim and were once the majority before being deported in large numbers by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in 1944 for alleged collaboration with Nazi invaders in World War Two.  (The irony of that fact is that Stalin was, himself, the biggest collaborator with Nazi Germany and rivaled Hitler with his extermination of "undesirables" -- but that's rarely admitted in today's revisionist history lessons and an entirely different subject matter).
     Crimea's attachment to Russia goes back over 200 years, when it was annexed by the Mother Country in 1783.  Moscow held the dominant power over Crimea until they ceded it to Ukraine - then part of the Soviet Union - in 1954.  That has been a serious point of contention for the ethnic Russians in the region.  So, as you can see, there is certainly some evidence and an emerging picture of a region whose population is primarily Russian, speaks Russian, and considers themselves Russian; therefore viewing annexation by Russia as a good thing.
     What is not being made clear to the general population in the West, through their media outlets, is that Crimea is an autonomous republic within Ukraine, electing its own parliament, with a prime minister appointed with approval from Kiev.  So now those members of the Crimean parliament have appointed a pro-Moscow leader, Sergei Aksyonov, who wants Crimea to unite with Russia, and called for a referendum to be put before the voters.  They were asked to vote between two choices:  1) Are you in favor of re-uniting Crimea with Russia as a constituent part of the Russian Federation?  2)  Are you in favor of restoring the Constitution of the (autonomous) Republic of Crimea of 1992 and retaining the status of Crimea as part of Ukraine?  The results of the March 16th referendum were reported by election officials:  97% of voters had voted in favor of joining the Russian Federation; local media alleged voter fraud, while some feared that Russia was orchestrating violence in Eastern Ukraine as a pretext to invading those regions.
     The heads of government in Ukraine's capital of Kiev declared this referendum to be illegal (although in the Ukrainian constitution, Crimea is allowed local referendums).  The UN's Security Council attempt to pass a resolution that would make the referendum null and void was vetoed by Russia.  And now the West has declared that they will not recognize the results of the referendum.
     But does the West really have the right to condemn or control this turn of political events (especially if they had a hand in orchestrating it)?  Would the citizens of Wisconsin want Germany, for instance, telling them that their contested election of Scott Walker was invalid?  We experienced the same political battles between segments of the population as Crimea.
     I know that this is a rather simplistic view, and Wisconsin did not have troops amassed on their border, but it's never a good idea when we stick our noses in the business of other countries.  As for Russia's interpretation of the situation, their defence laws allow military action overseas to "protect Russian citizens" -- just as ours do.  Furthermore, President Vladimir Putin has defended Crimea's decision to stage the referendum as "based on international law".

     But here's the other side of the coin:  Through a series of Declarations and Agreements in the 1990s, Russia clearly recognized the existing borders of Ukraine (which includes Crimea).  But now Russia has multiplied its military forces in Crimea without the consent of Ukraine. It has allegedly deployed them outside of agreed military infrastructure; taking control over key installations, such as airports, and have even gone as far as surrounding Ukrainian units.  Looks an awful lot like an act of aggression to me!
    So who is right?  Aren't the citizens of Crimea legally citizens of Ukraine, regardless of their Russian proclivities?  So isn't it Ukraine's responsibility to protect its citizens, and thereby making Russia's claim that it is "protecting Russian citizens" a reach?  Yes, Moscow claims that former President Yanukovych requested armed intervention during the recent riots in Kiev.  But since he was deposed by Ukraine's Parliament, he no longer legally represents the Ukrainian people and his request is invalid.  Conversely, the new Crimean regional authority, whose request for intervention was also cited by Russia, lacks the legal power to take such a step, since it is still a part of Ukraine.
     This is why the situation in Crimea is so dangerous.  Who is going to blink first?  If Russia can somehow instigate the government of Ukraine into making a move in response to Russian troops on their border, then they can use the excuse of defending their troops and ethnic kin as a reason to escalate.  Does anyone think that Ukraine can stand up against the might of the Russian military?  And do we want to take that same gamble by interfering in this regional and ethnic conflict?  Isn't this conflict essentially a civil war between Ukraine and Russia?  Look how well we have managed to engineer these kinds of struggles in Syria and Egypt!
     I guess my concern is that so many who know more than I do, are warning that we are sitting on the brink of another World War.  Will cooler heads prevail?  Or is this the hook that God puts into Gog's jaw that draws the world into Ezekiel's End Times prophecy?  We do not know the timing, but far be it from me to refute the possibility.  I only know that, ultimately, God is in control.  All I can do is pray, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done!"

Ezekiel 38:4   "and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army..."

Leviticus 6:37

There is one law of them [the offerings];

the priest who shall make atonement with it, his shall it be.

       To begin with, you might find it difficult to locate this passage using the Scriptural address I am using.  As I have told you, I have recently begun a deep, deep study of Scripture; starting in Genesis, with the intention of reading my Bible through again for about the 4th time -- but this time, not skimming over those difficult passages, or those that seemed monotonous and (I'm ashamed to say) meaningless to me, the modern-day Christian.

     I am using my Strong's Hebrew/Greek Concordance to look up the precise, historic meaning of words and not rely on my 21st-century Study Bible commentaries to explain what God wants me to know.  To that end, I have begun reading the Bible from the Greek translation, from what I consider to be trusted sources:  the Septuagint (for the OT), and Kenneth Wuest's expanded translation of the New Testament.  Wuest was a noted Christian New Testament Greek (Κοινή) scholar of the mid-Twentieth century.  

     So .... needless to say, it has taken me quite a few months to make my way through Genesis and Exodus to what (in my less ardent days) I considered the burdensome Leviticus.  I had always thought, "What did all these laws and commandments have to do with me?"  But this time I was determined to discover what God would have me know about these various offerings and sacrifices that He commanded His chosen people to follow -- and included in His Holy Bible for all the world to read. 

     It has been laborious, but I really wanted to know the significance of each offering and why it was important to God that the Jews obey them.  So, after weeks of flipping back and forth from my Strong's to the Septuagint, and comparing what I have found, while asking the Holy Spirit to enlighten me, this is what I have determined; this is my conjecture, so please do not take it as dogma -- do your own research.  But I am coming to believe that this is what God wants us to take away from each of the different sacrificial offerings:

SIN OFFERING:  It was made in acknowledgement of sins; admitting guilt.

BURNT OFFERING:  It was made in dedication to God and to His service.

MEAT (GRAIN) OFFERING:  It was offered in worship and acknowledgement of God's provision and the Jews' "daily bread".  The use of Frankincense was mandatory - it was expensive, and therefore a costly sacrifice to the person, and pleasing to God.  This offering pointed to a dependence on God and personal sacrifice.

PEACE OFFERING: This offering was made in acknowledgment of being made whole through the peace of knowing and experiencing God's forgiveness; signifies the peace that the sacrifice brings.

TRESPASS OFFERING:  This was a specialized Sin offering, made when someone had been denied what was due him; it required repayment and restitution of 20% more than the original loss.  

     It is important to note that each of these offerings required a Priest of the people to offer a blood sacrifice upon the altar dedicated to God.  It was ONLY through the blood that the people could expect forgiveness and reconciliation with God.  But why did God institute and require these elaborate ceremonies?  What was the purpose of centuries of obedience to these ancient customs?  Why does the Bible repeat the information on these offerings multiple times?

     Then it dawned on me [solely through the Holy Spirit, of course]!  All these ceremonies and offerings point to Christ!  Through these offerings, the Jews, through their centuries of repetition and practice; and we, Christians, through the repetitions of them in the Bible, should recognize our High Priest and His blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins.  

     Look back over the significance I have provided of each of the offerings -- do you see Him and our need to reconcile with God through Him?  He came because we have admittedly sinned.  He dedicated His earthly life to God and to His Father's service.  He is our "daily bread" and the costly, personal sacrifice that was pleasing to God.  We are made whole through accepting Him as the sacrifice for our sins, which brings peace to our souls.  And finally, He paid the 120% compensation that was due our Sovereign God on our behalf; for our depravity, sins, and the breaking of God's laws.

     Once I realized that these sacrificial offerings actually had value and meaning for me, I delighted in looking for Jesus in the verses ... and discovering Him!  Over and over again, at the end of each of these Biblical sacrificial ceremonies, I found the verse "and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he has committed, and it shall be forgiven him."  THESE OFFERINGS ALL POINTED TO JESUS'S WORK ON THE CROSS!  God gave these sacrificial ceremonies to the Jews so that they could recognize Jesus and His message when He came to them.  Sadly, they did not discern that He mirrored their own sacrifices, and in truth, came to be their Sacrifice, once and for all.  

     And by revealing these sacrifices to us Christians through Scripture, we should be reminded of all that His sacrifice requires: admission of our sins; dedication to serving God; costly, personal sacrifice in following Him --- and all that it offers: we can begin our journey towards wholeness in Him; and gratitude that He paid the price on our behalf, so that we might be reconciled with God.

     That brings me back to the verse I have chosen for today's post.  You will most likely find it listed as Leviticus 7:7 in your Bible.  I don't know why later Bible translations broke Chapter 6 where they did, but I prefer to consider this verse as a continuation of the purpose of Chapter 6, just as the Septuagint reads. 

     So, now, it is my hope that this verse will have a deeper, more personal message for you.... the priest that shall make atonement with it; his it shall be.... Just like all the rest of the Scripture in Leviticus, this points to Christ!  As our High Priest, who has made atonement for us, we belong to Him!  Does that bring you as much comfort as it does me?

     I challenge you to go back and read Leviticus.  Read it with new eyes and a new heart.  Look for Him in all those verses that used to bore you; let the Holy Spirit reveal Him in all His glory, and I promise you that you will begin to connect the dots and see what an awesome God we have!

     

     

The Climate Change Scam: Corruption and Cash

     An interesting article from the London offices of Breitbart.com caught my eye.  They are reporting that the American Physical Society (APS) has signaled a dramatic turnabout in its position on "climate change" by appointing three notorious climate skeptics to its panel on public affairs (POPA).
     The APS is no slouch when it comes to credentials -- it is the world's second largest organization of physicists, behind the German Physical Society.  In fact, the Society publishes more than a dozen scientific journals, organizes more than 20 science meetings each year, and bestows 10 very prestigious prizes and awards that recognize outstanding contributions and achievements in the field of Science.
     All this is to say that this "change in the wind" is actually quite stunning, considering that in 2007, the APS released this official statement on global warming:

•  Emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities are changing the atmosphere in ways that affect the Earth's climate. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide as well as methane, nitrous oxide and other gases. They are emitted from fossil fuel combustion and a range of industrial and agricultural processes.
•  The evidence is incontrovertible: Global warming is occurring.
•  If no mitigating actions are taken, significant disruptions in the Earth’s physical and ecological systems, social systems, security and human health are likely to occur. We must reduce emissions of greenhouse gases beginning now.
•  Because the complexity of the climate makes accurate prediction difficult, the APS urges an enhanced effort to understand the effects of human activity on the Earth’s climate, and to provide the technological options for meeting the climate challenge in the near and longer terms. The APS also urges governments, universities, national laboratories and its membership to support policies and actions that will reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
   

     Although this statement was objected to by 80 present and past members of the APS, their petition was rejected, and the position was reaffirmed with commentary offering further support of the reality of global warming.
     But we've seen holes in that argument; most notably with the leaked emails during the 2009 "Climategate" controversy, in which servers at the Climate Research Unit in England were hacked.  The saboteurs revealed emails which seemed to suggest that global warming was a scientific conspiracy, and they alleged that scientists manipulated climate data and attempted to suppress critics.
     Now, we have three very distinguished Professors who are shedding new light on what many of us have long suspected.  There is Professor Richard Lindzen, formerly Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Meteorology at Massachussetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a highly regarded physicist who once described climate change alarmism on The Larry King Show as "mainly just like little kids locking themselves in dark closets to see how much they can scare each other and themselves."
     The second panel member is John Christy, Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, who has written: "I'm sure the majority (but not all) of my IPCC colleagues cringe when I say this, but I see neither the developing catastrophe nor the smoking gun proving that human activity is to blame for most of the warming we see." (The IPCC is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a scientific intergovernmental body under the auspices of the United Nations, set up at the request of member governments.  You can imagine that they were none too happy with his comments!)
     But perhaps the most interesting addition to the APS panel is Judith Curry, Chair of the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Georgia Tech, a former Warmist (and still a self-described "luke warmer") who has infuriated many of her more extremist colleagues by defending skeptics and by testifying to the US House Subcommittee on the Environment that the uncertainties in forecasting climate science are much greater than the alarmists will admit.
     It will be interesting to see if the curtain is pulled back on the politics of global warming that we have been subjected to over the last decade or so.  Certainly, we saw cracks in that armor with the 2010 resignation from APS by Hal Lewis, an Emeritus Professor of Physics and former department chairman at the University of California, Santa Barbara.  After 67 years of membership in the APS, Lewis resigned, writing in a letter about the "corruption" from "the money flood" of government grants.
     Here is a summation of the good Professor's theory as to why so many esteemed scientists and institutions have succumbed to the lucrative scam:  "There are indeed trillions of dollars involved, to say nothing of the fame and glory (and frequent trips to exotic islands) that go with being a member of the club. Your own Physics Department (of which you are chairman) would lose millions a year if the global warming bubble burst."

     You see, if the fraudulent scheme begins to unravel, there are some very influential and powerful people who stand to lose a lot.  Take for instance Al Gore, who has made billions off the myth of global warming, and stands to make more by pushing legislation such as Cap and Trade.  While money is at the root of this false notion, there are a couple of other components that we can't ignore ... power and control.  We need to be asking ourselves this question: Who stands to gain from the "Green Energy" industry and the inevitable global wealth redistribution?  
     Perhaps with this realignment within the American Physical Society, we can at least begin the process of dispelling the fake science.  With any luck, we will be able to shed light on the extent of the false information and get back to reality.  I, for one, would be happy to never have to hear Al Gore make any more ridiculous statements, such as this:  “We ought to approach this challenge [of global warming] with a sense of profound joy and gratitude: that we are the generation about which, a thousand years from now, philharmonic orchestras and poets and singers will celebrate by saying, they were the ones that found it within themselves to solve this crisis and lay the basis for a bright and optimistic human future.”
     From my perspective, all that Al and his cronies have accomplished is bankrupt green energy companies that the American taxpayer has financed; more regulations that control our lives; and lining their own pockets.... And the planet is still here.

Genesis 8:22    "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease."

     

Prayer Needed For One Of Our Own

     When I received the prompting to begin writing this blog, the purpose was two-fold: to let those who found their way to this site know they were not alone in their apprehensions about the world; and to glorify our Sovereign God, who sustains us in these times of trouble.

     It has been my extreme blessing to have come to know many of you; whether through your continuous comments on my posts, or your decision to contact me on a more personal level through the email link on the site.  It has been my privilege to get to know you intimately; some of you by real names, others by pseudonyms -- either way, there has been a connection made that is real and genuine.  And you are all indeed true friends.  But there is one person who has come to represent you all, because God made it possible for us to meet in person, and to exhibit His will that we are all one in relation to each other and His body.  By arranging our union, He sealed us all together.
     From the beginning, the Green-Eyed Jinn confirmed that this blog was meant to be; that God had a purpose for it.  His erudite comments added to the substance of my words, and his loyalty and encouragement made me want to write my best.  He was the first among many of you that have become  active in contributing to the message that this blog is meant to convey.  And he joins a special group of you that have shown me God's presence in our correspondence.
     So I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when he "just happened" to be visiting my part of the country on a work assignment.  My husband and I agreed to travel the two hours to have dinner with him, and it was at that first meeting that I realized that all of you are not just "virtual", computer-generated contacts, but real flesh and blood.  And we are making real relationships, and getting beyond mere formalities.  We know each other, we care about each other, and there are real connections being made.  And it is no coincidence that we have found each other.
     And now one of our "family" needs us to pray for him.  Joe (that's his real name) emailed me several weeks ago with some serious concerns about his wife, Debbie's health.  She had unexplained pain in her back that was debilitating and increasing to the point that they sought a medical opinion.  Through a series of tests, they thought they were dealing with one form of cancer, only to be told the tests were wrong and new tests would be needed.  There was a ray of hope that perhaps it wasn't as serious as they thought.
     But a few days ago I received an email from Joe that broke my heart.  The latest news from the oncologist was about as bad as it could be.  I won't go into the details, because I don't want to betray Joe's confidence, but suffice it say that he is overcome with worry.  He confided that "normal" no longer exists in their household.  He is carrying a huge burden in caring for his wife and sheltering three children from the pain of the diagnosis.  He asked me for continued prayers for his wife, but also revealed that he needs them, too.  His words, "I am devastated", tell it all.
     So that's why I am turning to you.  Joe asked me to pray for his family and I promised him that not only would I be praying, but that I would call upon all who believe in the power of our Lord to heal to join me.  I have reached out to my local Prayer Warriors, who I know will be faithful to my request.  But I will admit that I have felt inadequate in my words of comfort to Joe.
     Today, I found myself awake in the early hours before dawn; tossing and turning with Joe and Debbie on my mind and searching for ways to reassure them.  I asked God to help me find the words; to show me how I am to lift them up.  That's when the Holy Spirit said, "Take this to my Body", and I knew that all of you were the ones who could help Joe shoulder this burden.
     At times I have been overwhelmed with the number of readers of my simple blog.  And I have been astounded at the places you call home.  Just this week, you have logged in from China, Ukraine, France, Canada, Germany, Iran, the United Kingdom, Poland and Indonesia.  And at this very moment, you are reading this post from Austria, Australia and Romania.  I am not egotistical enough to think it is because of my own abilities that you have found your way to this site.  But, in my spirit, I know that it is God using this blog for His will and purpose and to glorify Himself.
     So I truly believe that if you read this blog, we are all one in the Body of Christ; we are a family of Believers.  I want to make good on my promise to Joe that he and his family will be lifted up in prayer; so will you join me, from every corner of God's world, in praying for a miracle for Debbie?  It doesn't matter that you don't have all the details, or know their last names.  God will know on whose behalf we are all interceding.  Let's astound the doctors with a miraculous healing, and show Joe that he is not alone.  And that, after all, will accomplish everything this blog is meant to be and fulfill His purpose for it.  God Bless you all!

Psalm 116:1-2    "I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live."

We Are Playing God

     BreakingDeception.com has revealed that scientific work being conducted at Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, has now successfully created living tissue, using 3-D printers.  They may be "inspired", but I fear it is not by anything with which I wish to be associated.
     Scientists will tell you it's all for the good of mankind; that one day surgeons might feed detailed CT scans of human body parts into a 3-D printer, manipulate them with design software, and produce healthy replacements for diseased or injured tissues or organs.  But it is this statement that scares me to death:  Their work represents a significant advance toward producing living medical models upon which drugs could be tested for safety and effectiveness.  And what's to keep them from engineering complete humans, instead of just "replacement parts"?
     Does anyone else think this sounds as if we are playing God?  As if we are mimicking God's creation?  The article lays out how this living tissue is constructed:  The scientific team produces three “bio-inks” that are laid down by separate printer heads. One ink contains extracellular matrix, a complex mixture of water, proteins and carbohydrates that connects individual cells together to form tissues. Another contains extracellular matrix and living cells. A third used to make the vessels unusually melts as it cools so that researchers could chill the sample and suck out the ink to leave behind hollow tubes.  The team then "seeds" the hollow tubes with endothelial cells, which grow into blood-vessel lining.  Sounds like manipulation of God's unique creation to me!
     This sounds eerily like what Satan promised Eve in the garden ... just take a bite out of this apple and you can know what God knows!  Why should mankind be limited to the whims of its Creator when it can re-create itself?!?
     Because does anyone sincerely believe that man, in all his egotistical self-absorption, will not exploit  this new invention to make himself more perfect and eliminate the eventual decay of the body?  And in doing so, will this not eliminate his desire for, and his need for, God?
     It seems to me that we have forgotten that we were created to glorify God; made in His image and for His pleasure.  He didn't create us because He needed us.  And He didn't create us to be equal to Him.  And that is my concern about the advancement of this technology.  If man can make himself physically perfect by grafting in new tissue and body parts, so that there is no possibility of dying, he can live forever.  That leads us to this question: Why would he ever have the need to know His original Creator?
     I realize that everything is under God's control, and perhaps it will be His will that this technology can serve mankind without corrupting his soul.  But I also know that the Enemy will use everything in his power to convince us that this technology will make us equal in power, intelligence, and perfection to God.  That will not happen; God will not allow it.  So, I just feel as if we are playing with fire, and I wonder if we have the discernment (or the desire) to know when we've gone too far.  None of us want to suffer illness or die, but I want nothing to do with science that will deny me eternal life God's way.

Deuteronomy 4:35      "To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides Him."
   

Blasphemy Unbridled!

     I've had enough!  I've suffered long enough through Bill Maher's intolerable and arrogant tirades against those of us who believe in conservative values and religious morality.  But now he's crossed a line that I didn't think he could even stoop to.  The Washington Post quoted Mr. Maher -- by the way, why is he labeled "Comedian" Bill Maher?  There is nothing the least bit witty or funny about the man -- in a despicable and profane diatribe against my God.  I cannot let it go unanswered.
     It all centers around the story of Noah's Ark and the upcoming movie of the same name, starring Russell Crowe.  First of all, this self-important little man deems to call this country "Stupid, when 60% of the adults living in it think the Noah's Ark story is literally true."  He then manages to insult the three major religions in the world (Christianity, Judaism and Islam) in one sentence.  I'm sure he's proud of himself!
     He then proceeds to educate his audience that we are four centuries past the "Scientific Revolution", (and after the advent of his god Capernicus), and humans, through science, realized that they can get a real answer to almost every question about our world, like "Where does the Sun go at night?" Maybe a better question, Bill, would be this ... Can you explain how the Sun has followed the same route day in and day out, through the centuries ... and yes, far longer than before your precious Scientific Revolution?
    He smiles his evil little smile as he tells the camera that not only is the Noah story "childish" and "made up" and "silly", but that it is immoral.  And here is where he utters the words that he will one day soon regret ... "It is a story about a psychotic mass murderer who gets away with it, and his name is  God.  Genesis says God was so angry with himself for screwing up when he made mankind so flawed (picture Maher making a screwed up face and growling "Rrrrr") that he sent the flood to kill everyone ... everyone ... men, women, children, babies!  What kind of tyrant punishes everyone just to get back at the few he's mad at?"  [I could think of a few that run our government, can't you?]
     But back to Bill's irreverent rant, and this is difficult for me to even repeat, but I will not protect him from taking responsibility for his profanity:  "Hey, God, you're kind of a (expletive) when you're in a movie with Russell Crowe and you're the one with anger issues."  The audience thinks that's just hilarious.
     He goes on:  "You know, Conservatives are always going on about how Americans are losing their values and their morality, well maybe it’s because you worship a guy who drowns babies."  [Of course, he finds no problem with Liberals who kill babies in the womb; and they can't even blame it on being angry -- it's just an inconvenience.]
     His next brilliant statement:  "And then its God's genius plan to repopulate the world with a new crop of (expletives) who pissed him off the first time.  And then he kills millions more!  Why are we getting our morals out of this book?  Why do people follow any of it?"  
     And then he thought he'd be culturally relevant and mention the Lenten season:  “I’m reminded as we’ve just started lent, that Conservatives are always complaining about too much restraining regulation and how they love freedom, but they’re the religious ones who voluntarily invent restrictions for themselves.  Jews wear black wool on a hot summer day; Mormons can't drink hot chocolate on a cold winter night ... isn't life hard enough without making rules up to (expletive) with yourselves?  Don't we have enough rules and (expletives) to kiss, without making up new ones?"
     It was painful to sit through the five minutes of the video and watch and hear this soulless man vilify my God and spew such hateful language.  It's painful because this man's sick humor is tolerated and even applauded by millions who do not have a clue Whom they are offending.  And they do not understand that they can denigrate this story as silly and fabricated all they want, but it was people just like them that received the judgment of the Flood.  I imagine that those who were wiped from the face of the earth were just as smug and complacent as Bill Maher and his devotees; enjoying living without all those "moral rules" that Bill thinks are too restrictive.
     But Mr. Maher should take into account that Genesis is not the only place in the Bible that Noah's story is referenced.  Because you see, we Christians believe there is ....gasp ... a Son of God!  And He tells us in Matthew 24:38-39:  "For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.…".
     So, Mr. Comedian, you might not understand why I choose to get my morals out of the Bible or why I try to follow all of it, but I don't expect you to.  As long as you are your own little "g" god, there is no hope that you will comprehend how, or why, I have come to the understanding that I need a Savior to keep from becoming like you.  As different as we are, we share one thing in common ... there will be a day when each of our bodies will die, and we will each have to stand before the One you have blasphemed with such foul and disgusting names.  When it is your turn to stand before the One that created you, I have a feeling you won't be getting many laughs from that audience!  So go ahead and get them now, while you can; because unless you change your heart, [where you're going] is going to be a real tough crowd.

Hebrews 10:29    "How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?"

As The Internet Goes, So Goes Our Freedom

   
     I'm more than a little perplexed over our government giving up its authority over the internet.  Perhaps I view it from a typical Western perspective ... the nation that was founded on the unique principle of individual freedoms seems the best qualified to oversee the technical management of the world wide web; especially since we are the ones who invented it.
     Granted, our reputation for freedom and privacy has become a little tarnished lately -- Edward Snowden's revelations about U.S. surveillance techniques have contributed to that.  We may no longer be the nation that our Founders envisioned, but I don't think that I want to see a "global entity" in charge of domain addresses and content.  For the moment, there is a free exchange of ideas and opinions, and one can almost always find the truth because it is still available on the net if you are discerning and vigilant.
     But what happens when China, Russia, Iran, or dozens of other countries gain more control?  By the way, these very nations are already pushing for more authority over the Internet through the International Telecommunications Union, a United Nations agency.  China, Russia, Iran and the United Nations ... now that's a combination that conjures up a vision of freedom, doesn't it?  I'm sure individuals will be allowed to speak freely and openly, right?  And I'm positive that the leaders of these authoritarian countries will gladly allow criticism of their regimes, and there's no need to worry about domains being shut down or voices being silenced.
     Which leads me to this thought ... Is it just me, or does the world seem to have gone mad?  Malaysian airliners disappear amid a wide array of conspiracy theories that can't be dismissed outright.  Voices in Russia and the U.S. trade taunting threats of nuclear annihilation, against a backdrop of political machinations in which we don't know who is to blame.  Advocates for Transhumanism promise eternal life as a cyborg, and genetic modification is the new "miracle cure".  The world's economy is teetering on collapse and we seem to be one "event" away from a total cataclysm.  Parents are discovering that they no longer have control over their children's health care, education or discipline; your children are the property of the State.  And last, but not least, the truth about God is being removed from everything -- from our military to our national discourse, and sadly, even in our churches.
     But do you know how I can even make these statements?  Because there is a free dissemination of information on the internet!  As broken as our governmental system is, do you think we would know about the genocides in Rwanda and Darfur, if it were not for the internet?  Would we be able to continue to uncover what happened in Benghazi without the internet?  Would we know how Iran's nuclear program is growing, or the increasing threats against Israel?  Would we know about the growing assaults on our First and Second Amendment rights without the internet?  And without the web, would we have the opportunity to research what's really in the Bill - whether it's before or after Nancy Pelosi has signed it?  
     You see, no matter how much of the information on the net is compromised or propagandized, the truth is out there, and it's free and limitless.  Once the Global authorities get there hands on regulating it, or some dictator decides to assume control, you can bet that they will not allow an unrestricted flow of information to be available to the masses.
     Perhaps this circumstance is simply one more nail in the coffin of mankind's right to speak, act, or think as he wants; the power of self-determination and free will that God granted us.  While the U.S. government assures us they will watch the transfer of power "carefully", do any of us think we will ever see the innovation. the explosive growth of commerce, or the free flow and diversity of ideas that have been the essence of this internet age?  It will be interesting to see how this plays out, and who lines up as the winners and losers.  Don't count on it being us.

Proverbs 4:7    "The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight."

What's In The Air That We Breathe?

     I just spent the entire weekend getting my vegetable garden and my flower beds planted.  And I have to tell you that I'm more than a little concerned about how healthy my harvest will be this year... especially after reading this headline on Truthstream Media:  Gov't Study:  75% of Air and Rain Samples Tested Positive For Monsanto's RoundUp.
     You read that correctly.  According to the article, a study conducted by the US Geological Survey comparing figures for air and rain samples from 1995 and 2007 in Mississippi concluded that 75% of all 2007 samples tested positive for glyphosate — the active ingredient in Monsanto’s best-selling herbicide Roundup.

    And according to another article on the Global Research website, "Consequences [of glyphosate] are most of the diseases and conditions associated with a Western diet, which include gastrointestinal disorders, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression, autism, infertility, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease."  Of course, Monsanto and others in the industry assert that glyphosate is nearly nontoxic to mammals, and therefore it is not a problem if glyphosate is ingested in food sources.  But while there are short-term studies involving rodents that have shown no apparent toxicity, studies involving life-long exposure in rodents have demonstrated liver and kidney dysfunction and a greatly increased risk of cancer, with shortened lifespan.  So, if given a choice, do you really want to take that chance?
     But that's the problem -- we don't have a choice!  Apparently this toxic chemical is in the very air that we breathe, and the rain that nurtures our food supply.  Does anybody want to take a guess as to how this is happening?  Think it has anything to do with all the reported sightings of chemtrails?  Or the conspiracy theories that the military's HAARP program (High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program) actually has the capabilities to control weather, and therefore, the rain?
     At the moment, how this potentially toxic chemical is falling from the sky doesn't concern me as much as how do I protect my health and the food I eat?  I know I can't control the distribution of glyphosate, but can I limit my exposure and keep my organic food from being tainted?  And I don't know if there is any connection, but I have witnessed an unprecedented number of bronchitis cases this crazy winter -- and all among healthy individuals who have not experienced this respiratory problem in the last decade.  Maybe it has something to do with 80 degree temps one day and in the 30s less than 24 hours later; but that brings us back to ... is this weather natural?  Is anything natural anymore?!?
     My husband and I try really hard to stay away from processed foods, and have spent a lot of time teaching ourselves how to garden, how to dehydrate food, and how to pressure can the produce that our garden yields.  I love the idea that we aren't eating all the additives that are included in food off the grocery store shelf.  But now we have to wonder ... rainwater is always preferable to hand watering our garden; but do we need to worry that what has always been considered "pure" is now contaminated?
     And have you noticed that there seems to be an epidemic of "gluten intolerance" and celiac disease among the population?  I used to be a skeptic, thinking that the food industry had to develop the latest fad disease so they could create a new market for "gluten-free" products.  But guess what a recent study by Anthony Samsel (a retired science consultant) and Stephanie Seneff (a research scientist at MIT) revealed?
     Their study showed that both gluten intolerance and celiac disease are on the rise as a result of ... you guessed it ... glyphosate.  They point out that this rise in celiac disease parallels the increase in the use of Roundup, and the effects of glyphosate are those listed for celiac disease... namely nausea, diarrhea, skin rashes, macrocytic anemia and depression.  "We propose that glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide, Roundup®, is the most important causal factor in this epidemic."
     So, even if we have the time and the space to grow our own organic gardens, and can avoid the GMO food being sold over the counter, we are still being assailed on all sides by unnatural chemicals that affect our food supply.  How can we escape it when air, rain and soil samples prove otherwise?
     I can't help but sense how displeased God is at evil men messing with His creation.  When they begin intentionally polluting what He has made pure and perfect, then Judgment cannot be far behind.  So, I will leave that up to Him and try to protect His ground that I plant, and be thankful for the natural bounty I receive from His sun and rain.  And I will pray that I harvest only life-giving nourishment.

1 Corinthians 3:7     "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth."
     

Matthew 5:3

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, 

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

     How many times have you heard this familiar Scripture?  Have you ever contemplated --- I mean really meditated on what Jesus was telling those who surrounded him on the Mount of Olives?  I can tell you that in all my years in Church, I never had it adequately explained to me.  It was always condensed to a simple interpretation; something like this:  "God blesses the humble and opposes the proud."  But in these last few years, as God, through the Holy Spirit, has been responding to my desire to know more of Him, I have grown in my understanding of this most important verse.

     First of all, what has become known as The Sermon on the Mount, or The Olivet Discourse, was in all likelihood, a time of instruction from Jesus to His disciples.  And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated, His disciples came to Him... It is thought that Jesus moved away from the multitudes, up on the mountain, in order to teach His disciples.  And it was normal for a rabbi or teacher to be seated when he instructed his students.  The crowds simply followed Him and gathered round as He taught the disciples.

    Now, we get to the meat of our Scripture ... Blessed are the poor in spirit ... At the center of Man's sinful nature is the desire to possess "things".  In fact, the human heart longs to possess all the things we think will make us rich by the world's standards.  Remember all the parables Jesus told about possessing wealth?  Remember the Rich Young Ruler who asked what he needed to do to obtain eternal life?  Jesus told him to sell all his goods and he would have treasure in heaven.

     Then there was the Rich Fool who was so preoccupied with storing up his wealth; accumulating more and building bigger barns to store it, that he got lax in restoring his soul.  The lesson was clear:  he may have been rich in worldly terms, but he was poor in heavenly terms.

     In essence, this simple verse of Matthew 5:3 is turning man's human understanding on its ear!  Jesus is turning their understanding of what constitutes wealth inside out!  For theirs is the kingdom of heaven ... He is teaching His disciples, and telling the multitudes who have come to hear His wisdom, that real treasure is not measured by earthly benchmarks, which are fleeting and meaningless when you die; but true treasure is measured by your spiritual possessions and is forever eternal.  How much richer than all the billionaires on earth, are we, who possess the knowledge of a Faithful, Merciful and Loving Father?  Without the knowledge of God, those billionaires have everything their hearts desire ... yet they possess nothing.  

     I may be poor (in the world's eyes), possessing nothing but spiritual blessings.  But what my heart covets cannot be bought here on earth.  It was paid for on the Cross, and one day, I will receive the treasure I long for --- to worship at the throne of my Living Savior!

     

Has This Nation Lost Its Virtue?

     VIRTUE .... such an old-fashioned word.  My online dictionary defines it as: a quality considered morally good or desirable in a person.  I think we can all accept that a "virtuous" person is one who has the power and ability to be a morally upright human being; one who seeks to do the right thing in conformity to a standard.  But the real question is, do we still desire this human characteristic in our country?  And why might it be important to a nation?
     Well, I can tell you that nearly a quarter of a century ago, Virtue was deemed the very foundation of our country.  Read what our Founding Fathers had to say about it:
• George Washington:  "Human rights can only be assured among a virtuous people.  The general government... can never be in danger of degenerating into a monarchy, an oligarch, an aristocracy, or any despotic or oppressive form [of government] as long as there is any virtue in the body of the people."
• Ben Franklin:  "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.  As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters."
• John Adams:  "The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our people in a greater measure than they have it now, they may change their rulers and the forms of government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty.  They will only exchange tyrants and tyrannies."

     So by these standards, what do you think?  Do we show evidence of being "a virtuous people"?  Do our schools speak of Virtue in the classroom, and do our Churches praise it from the pulpit?  Sadly, I believe that this word has nearly vanished from our national lexicon.  And if we no longer speak of Virtue, then it's pretty safe to assume that it is on the wane in our culture.  To that point, is there a knowledge today of the distinct difference between right and wrong ... or is it all relative?  And by whose standards do we judge something virtuous, or right?
     Because I can tell you, if your standard is God's, there is no question if something falls outside the bounds of "rightness"; His standard has been the same since the beginning of time.  But if you are judging according to man's standards in today's world, then what is "right" depends on who is making the most noise; who can play "the victim"; who is in power; who can control the media; or any other number of manipulative strategies.  Without agreement on what Virtue is, then the definition is subject to great distortion.
     When a nation cannot agree on moral absolutes, then it will suffer the turmoil and upheaval that our Founding Fathers predicted ... loss of human and individual rights; a loss of freedoms and true liberty.  Without a virtuous people, they forecast an oppressive form of government; a desire for a welfare state; and tyrants instead of champions of the people.
     John Adams said we need to inspire "into" our nation's people, the love of Virtue.  We should be clamoring for it; indeed, demanding it!  I, for one, am tired of the viciousness of our leaders -- towards each other and this nation's citizens.  I am sick of the corruption -- and the excuses for its existence.  I am angry at seeing the commandments of my God attacked and reviled -- and the lovers of evil ways defended.  I know in my heart, that Washington, Franklin and Adams were correct in anticipating our demise if we don't return to our Judeo-Christian roots!
     It's not that I'm advocating the exclusion of other faiths that promote the active pursuit of moral and spiritual goodness -- you can't have too much true spiritual Virtue!  I'm just saying that there is a direct correlation between the purposeful elimination of the influence of the God of the Bible's standards and our national decline.  We could stand a little old-fashioned Virtue, wouldn't you say?

My thanks to Marvin J.Rosenthal, Executive Director of Zion's Hope, for the inspiration for this post.

Proverbs 14:34     "Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people."