Off-Grid vs Smart Grid; Apparently, There Can Be Only One Winner

     Have you ever stopped to think about the paradox in the national conversation over Energy Consumption?  On the one hand you have Energy Magnates like Warren Buffet, whose Northern Powergrid Holdings Co. in the U.K., is working with Siemens AG (SIE) to test a so-called smart grid that has the ability to control when consumer appliances will be used in the home.  Don't believe me? It's all there in Bloomberg Business Week.
     I've tried to warn people that the new Smart Grid meters will work with the new Energy Star appliances to eventually monitor and regulate how much energy you use in your home.  Of course I got the cynical looks ... there she goes again with her crazy conspiracy theories.

     But here's how it works, and how they sell it:  the smart meters are simply gathering information on your energy usage and helping you to decide the best way to conserve.  Because we all know that the planet is in crisis and we need to discover new ways to curb our gluttonous consumption, right?  But, let's put it in plain English ... the smart meters are collecting data on our energy usage so they can test, and at some point in the near future, implement “a so-called smart grid that has the ability to control when consumer appliances will be used in the home.”
     If you already have a smart meter on your home, you may be enjoying the convenience of the utility company telling you the optimum times to use power; (that information comes from all the data collection, don't you know).  And if you don't have a smart meter yet ... don't worry, you soon will.  And I would be willing to bet that you have one and don't even know it.  Many friends swore to me that they didn't have one, but on closer inspection, discovered that one had been installed without their knowledge or consent.  And there are some people that still don't see the problem ... "Everything is being automated.  It just makes it easier for the utility company to read the meter from a satellite."  That's right; just keep drinking the koolaid.
     But would it surprise you to know that Bloomberg reports that "Buffett’s U.K.-based system goes a step further. It gives people a choice, allowing them to either use appliances themselves at optimum times, or to let the system decide that for them."  It's only one more step until that choice is no longer your own, but will be made by the utility.  Of course, this could have nothing to do with the fact that Warren Buffet has invested $15 billion in wind and solar power in the U.S. , and he's ready to double that amount ... could it?
     Think about it ... every time you turn on a light, set your thermostat to make your home a little cooler in the summer, or even flush the toilet, "they" are monitoring your usage.  By the way, did you know that talking thermostats exist, now?  I'm sure that some consumers welcome them and love being part of the "new trend".  But think of it this way (as outlined by Truthstream Media) .. "Combined with the smart grid however, it comes off more like the super computer HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey. You go to turn on your air conditioner and hear a calm voice say, “I’m afraid I can’t let you do that, Dave…".  Does that make you have second thoughts?  It should.
     The website, Inquisitr, reports that Texas and Florida are actively pursuing restriction of the off-grid, or "sustainable" lifestyle; going so far as to make it illegal.  Apparently, if you disconnect from the Smart Grid and try to live economically, simply, and relying on nature, you are defeating the Elite's plan.  So, let me get this straight ... if you use solar power, cook off a camp stove, and collect rain water, it is not seen as saving earth from the planet-destroying energy plants, but you are now viewed as a lawbreaker.

     But here's the opposite side of the coin.  It's supposed to be all about using natural resources and saving the planet, right?  But try going Off-grid and see how "the powers that be" like that!
     I'm trying to wrap my head around this whole paradox .... Warren Buffet and his billionaire friends are making billions off energy users by forcing their Smart Grid on us.  In Florida, it has been mandated that all homes must be connected to an energy grid.  Inquisitr revealed that North Carolina has not made it illegal yet to be off-grid, but "citizens can be evicted if they do not consume electricity, citing fears about candle fires." REALLY?!?
     But think about this, Buffet and his greedy cohorts also want to capture the monopoly on solar and wind power, too.  OK, now I get it!  It's really all about making money!!!  They can't have you using the wind and sun and rain that God made for us free of charge!  So, they not only want to control your use of electricity, they also want to restrict and control your use of our natural resources ... and they want to charge you in both instances! They get us coming and going; and it's all manipulated and controlled and about limiting our free choice.
     Tune in tomorrow, when I take this controversy one step further ... but you better tighten down your tin foil hats!  I will be connecting some dots that you haven't even considered!

Psalm 24:1   "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,"


     
 

Will Winter Storm Juno Be Another Judgment? Should We Be Surprised?

     As I have noted in the past, whenever we disrespect the nation of Israel, we have received terrific blows from the hand of God.  What do "the Perfect Storm", Hurricane Andrew, the Northridge Earthquake, the Texas Floods, Hurricane George, the 1999 "Super Tornado", and Hurricane Katrina all have in common?  Each of these events came after a deliberate action by the United States government against the nation of Israel.  For more details on the exact offenses, click here.

     So are we about to receive another judgment in the form of Winter Storm Juno?  And exactly why would it be justified?  It seems that the White House is once again at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, announcing that the President will refuse to meet with him when he visits the U.S. in March to address a joint session of Congress.  Now, that might seem like just a diplomatic faux pas to you, but the deliberate disrespect, contempt and scorn that our President holds for the nation of Israel has long been in evidence.  And this time it is coupled with what appears to be plans by our government to continue negotiations with Iran over their nuclear program; a program that Israel fears is aimed directly at them.  Is this a clear-cut case of sacrificing Israel's safety, in favor of forging ahead with a vague and ill-defined relationship with Iran -- a nation that has vowed to destroy our ally?
     It is impossible for us simple citizens to discern the motives behind this foreign policy; but it doesn't really matter what we think, does it?  It is more important how God views it; how He discerns the intentions of mens' hearts.  He has made it very clear that judgment will come against those who curse Israel.  What exactly does it mean that God will curse those who curse Israel?  In Biblical terms, it means God reveals His judgment (in some manner) against those who try to break or harm his covenant with the nation of Israel.  I would say that continuing to negotiate with Israel's enemy (Iran) puts God's chosen people in danger, and threatens to destroy their very existence.  I would say that could be considered as breaking the covenant in a most conclusive way.  Furthermore, insulting Israel's leader won't win us any favors in heaven, either.
     Will Juno prove to be the manner in which God passes judgment upon our nation?  It remains to be seen.  We may have an answer over the next 48-76 hours.  As I write this, the historic storm is making itself felt, and is being described as packing "a tidal wave of snow"; as a crippling blizzard.  Governors across the northeast are calling for states of emergency and travel bans, as massive power outages are expected, along with 2-4 inches of snow per hour and hurricane level winds.  Boston is expecting 30 inches of snow; and this storm is anticipated to effect nearly 60 million people!
     There are those who will claim that Juno is simply a freakish display of Mother Nature, or the result of our disregard for the planet.  If it matches its forecasted impact, and becomes a storm of historic proportions, then perhaps it is time to recognize that we've once again offended the apple of God's eye.  How much longer before His patience runs out and our final judgment comes due?

Joel 3:2    “I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.” 

Why This 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz Is So Important

   

     As you know, my Biblical worldview often sees significance in events that the secular world does not grasp.  Tomorrow will mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz by Soviet troops.  The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum notes the following:  "On January 27, 1945, the Soviet army entered Auschwitz and liberated more than 7,000 remaining prisoners, who were mostly ill and dying. It is estimated that at minimum 1.3 million people were deported to Auschwitz between 1940 and 1945; of these, at least 1.1 million were murdered."
     This fact alone, makes the anniversary noteworthy.  However, there is something I would like to point out to you; something that adds an extra dimension of meaning to this date.  It is the number 70.    Why should the number of this year's anniversary carry so much weight?  Because it is important to God.  Consider the following:
•  Seventy has a sacred meaning in the Bible that is made up of the factors of two perfect numbers, seven (representing perfection) and ten (representing completeness and God's law). As such, it symbolizes perfect spiritual order carried out with all power. It can also represent a period of judgment.
•  70 elders were appointed by Moses (Numbers 11:16). After reading the covenant God gave him to read to the people, Moses took 70 elders, along with Aaron and his sons, up Mount Sinai to have a special meal with God himself (Exodus 24:9 - 11)!
•  Ancient Israel spent a total number of 70 years in captivity in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:10).
•  Seventy is also specially connected with Jerusalem. The city kept 70 years of Sabbaths while Judah was in Babylonian captivity (Jeremiah 25:11). Seventy sevens (490 years) were determined upon Jerusalem for it to complete its transgressions, to make an end for sins and for everlasting righteousness to enter into it (Daniel 9:24).
•  Israel in Egypt had its beginnings with Joseph rising in power in Pharaoh's court and Jacob migrating his entire household into the land. A total of 70 Israelites started a nation WITHIN another nation that would grow to more than two million by the Exodus.
•  Seventy disciples were sent out by Christ on a 'training mission' to preach the gospel to the surrounding area (Luke 10).
•  The prophet Ezekiel was taken by God, in a vision, to Jerusalem to be shown 70 elders of Israel defiling themselves by offering incense to their idols (see Ezekiel 8).
     That should be enough proof that this 70th anniversary of the liberation of the infamous death camp is important.  It should also be apparent that Auschwitz has become a symbol of the Evil perpetuated against God's chosen people, the nation of Israel.  Add to these facts, that this is a "Shemitah" year on the Jewish Calendar.  According to Chabad.org, "As soon as the Jews settled in the Holy Land, they began to count and observe seven-year cycles. Every cycle would culminate in a Sabbatical year, known as Shemitah,  meaning literally: “to release.” "  The year following the destruction of the second Holy Temple was the first year of a seven-year Sabbatical cycle.  Counting forward, we find that September 25, 2014 through September 13, 2015 is a Shemitah year.

     So what was to be released?  1)  There was to be a release from all debts.  2)  There was a release of the land; to allow it to lie fallow and free from being farmed.  3) The abstention of their agricultural duties released the Israelites to refocus on spiritual matters -- to collectively take a breather and spend more time studying Scripture and growing their faith in God.
     The Shemitah year is still honored in modern Israel among the faithful.  They believe that 70 years, as described in the Scriptures, is a period to fulfill historic prophecies and punishments.  It will be a turning point in the history of the ancient nation of Israel.  The last witnesses of the atrocities at Auschwitz are dying, and making this particular anniversary, and year, a turning point from the “vision” to exterminate the Jews by the Nazis, to what has become a new goal to exterminate Israel by radical Islam today.  It is remarkable to note that the Caliphate has risen to power exactly 70 years after the Nazi regime and the Holocaust were ended.  Do you think that's a coincidence?
     But we have also seen a turning point in the Body of Christ.  The rise of the Church in Asia is a paradigm shift of dimensions not seen in almost 2,000 years ... not since the Apostle Paul established the churches in Asia Minor (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea).  Do you think that the fact that the largest number of believing Christians is found in Asia (rather than the West), and that the ancient Asian Churches are given warnings before Jesus returns has any significance?
     In addition the Messianic remnant in the restored nation of Israel is slowly and surely developing and maturing. This spiritual restoration of Israel is also a paradigm shift of prophetic importance not seen since the first century.  Both the warnings to the Asian Churches and the Messianic remnant are prophesied in the Book of Revelation.  If the Shemitah year is truly a period to fulfill historic prophecies and punishments, and God uses 70 years to carry out His perfect spiritual order with all power, then it seems possible that God may align world events in the coming year for His purposes.  If so, it is more important than ever, that we refocus our spiritual lives and get things in order with our Maker.  Just read what God revealed to His prophet Daniel about the importance of the number 70 and what would occur on a Shemitah year.  I believe that God's prophetic words speak throughout the past, present and future.  This prophecy was fulfilled in Daniel's time.  Is it also a prophecy for us?

Daniel 9:24   "Seventy weeks [of years, or 490 years] are decreed upon your people and upon your holy city [Jerusalem], to finish and put an end to transgression, to seal up and make full the measure of sin, to purge away and make expiation and reconciliation for sin, to bring in everlasting righteousness (permanent moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) to seal up vision and prophecy and prophet, and to anoint a Holy of Holies."

2 Samuel 6:7

And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; 
and God smote him there for touching the ark, 
and he died there by the ark of God.

     Have you always wondered why this event happened?  I know I have.  And I've always had so many questions, and the answers I've received have always left me unfulfilled.  What exactly was it that Uzzah did that was so offensive to God that He killed him?  Wasn't he simply trying to keep the Ark from falling off of the cart when one of the oxen stumbled?

     I've always felt in my spirit that this passage in 2 Samuel had meaning for those of us who worship Yahweh.  And since my Bible study time had brought me to this chapter in the Bible, I was determined to finally answer those questions, and discover the deeper understanding I was meant to discern.

     The Biblical critiques of this particular verse have differed as to why the Ark became unsettled.  Some think the oxen stumbled; some think they kicked against the goad (prod) that Uzzah used to drive them; or that they became stuck in the mire.  Ultimately, it doesn't matter what caused the unbalanced state of the Ark; it is the result that concerns us.

     For whatever reason, the Ark began to fall off the cart, and Uzzah reached out to set it right.  There is no evidence that he did that with anything but good intentions.  The Ark had been absent from the lives of the Israelites, for many years; having been captured by the Philistines.  It hasn't even been mentioned for 30 Chapters!  After Saul is killed and David defeats the Philistines, he asks for the Ark to accompany him to his own city.  He wishes to return it to its former prominence, and place it as the foundation of his governance of the nation of Israel.  

     From the evidence presented to us in the Bible, David presents his plan to the nation, and all the nobility and gentry, the elders and officers of Israel agreed, and the number was 30,000.  What an honor it must have been for Uzzah to accompany the Ark and be responsible for guiding it to the City of David!  So what happened that would occasion God to "smite" him? 

     As I dug for the answer(s), it took me back in Scripture to the 7th Chapter of the Book of Numbers.  God gave His instructions to Moses about how the various divisions of the tribe of Levi were to conduct their service to the Lord in caring for the holy and sacred items of the Tabernacle.  Two wagons and four oxen were given to the sons of Gershon for their duties;  and four wagons and eight oxen were given to the sons of Merari to carry out their responsibilities.  But in Numbers 7:9, it says "But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were assigned the care of the sanctuary and the holy things which had to be carried on their shoulders."  

     Further more, Exodus 25:13-15 tells us that the Levites were instructed to "make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, And put the poles through the rings on the ark’s sides, by which to carry it.  The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be removed from it [that the ark be not touched]."  Here's the first hint as to why this event was so offensive to God.  The Ark of the Covenant was to be carried on poles, not on a cart.  The second indicator is that members of the Kohathite branch of the Levites were to do the carrying; and it was a duty of priests, and Uzzah was not a priest.  Moreover, Numbers 4:15 tells us, "When it is time to break camp, the clan of Kohath shall come to carry the sacred objects only after Aaron and his sons have finished covering them and all their equipment. The Kohath clan must not touch the sacred objects, or they will die. These are the responsibilities of the Kohath clan whenever the Tent is moved."

     The Ark of the Covenant held perhaps the most sacred of the holy objects, "the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant." (Hebrews 9:4).  It was truly sacred and holy in God's eyes.  And I suspect that He set such strict rules for its maintenance and care, and how it was to be transported -- along with the severe punishment of death should these rules be ignored -- to impress upon the Israelites that He was to be absolutely obeyed in this matter.  

     So what are the lessons for us in this tragic story?  There will be many, both Christian and unbelievers, who will declare that God acted too severely.  But might it be a reminder to us that what God declares holy, we should consider with reverence and holy fear?  Moreover, God never changes; so, if this is a crime of mishandling the symbols of His covenant with the nation of Israel, how might He consider our carelessness and permissiveness in disobeying His covenant with us?

     One of my favorite theologians is Matthew Henry, and here is his take on how God might perceive our transgressions:  "If the ark was so sacred, and not to be touched irreverently, what is the blood of the covenant?"  Just look at what Hebrews 10:29 says:  What, then, of those who despise the Son of God? who treat as a cheap thing the blood of God's covenant which purified them from sin? who insult the Spirit of grace? Just think how much worse is the punishment they will deserve!

    How much more important to God is His Son, than the Ark of the Covenant?  What God sacrificed for us will not be disrespected without major repercussions!  We would do well to listen to God's Word and His warning, or pay the consequences.

A Few Of My Favorite (Survivalist) Things

    It's been awhile since I addressed the Prepper side of my life.  Although I put my faith and trust in God's will for me, I also take notice of things in this world that add to the quality of said life.  So, I wanted to make mention of a few things that have come to my attention ....

A Time To Endure is the second book in author Kyle Pratt's Strengthen What Remains series.  It catches us up on the life of Major Caden Westmore, after he manages to escape the nuclear attack on Washington D.C. and other major American cities.  When we last left Caden (in the first book, Through Many Fires), he had made it back to his hometown in the Pacific Northwest, reconnected with his parents on the family farm, and established command of the local armory.  He battled through civil unrest, working through the conflict between the military and local law enforcement, and contemplated how his town, family, and country would navigate the post-attack years.  Caden wonders how it will all play out, and what effects it will have on his family.  Would some sense of law and order return; what about a Constitutional government?  Would America ever be the same, or was it destined to be divided into factions, fighting each other and foreign countries ready to take advantage of the chaos?

     Well, in this second book, the title aptly describes what Caden's life is all about ... enduring.  His focus is also widening.  There is a provincial government with a dictatorial president, all too eager to cut a deal with the Chinese to carve up America.  Caden finds himself stretched thin -- between trying to restore law and order within his community; dealing with American soldiers fighting each other and the civilian population; and confronting the increasing problem of gangs like MS 13, who have begun to infiltrate his community.
     On the personal side, Caden is determined to search for his brother, Peter, who was a law enforcement officer on duty when the nuclear bomb hit Seattle.  We are also introduced to Zach Brennon, a hard-luck kid who Caden takes under his wing.  Zach knows the ways of the woods, and finds himself caught in the middle of a war between the Mexican gang, the military and civilian authorities.
     Kyle Pratt weaves his plot effortlessly, giving us plenty to think about in the process.  Furthermore, his tale is a cut above the spate of survivalist novels that have become a popular form of literature these days.  If you're looking for a quick read that (I believe) accurately depicts what our future might look like, then I recommend you look into this engaging series.

Valley Food Storage.  If you're like me, the supply of canned goods you began storing at the first hint of a national crisis have long been outdated.  And the choices of freeze-dried foods have left your palate wanting more; besides the fact that preservatives were often the first ingredient listed on the packaging.  But, I'm happy to report that the owners of Valley Food Storage were kind enough to send me a sample package of their White Bean & Lime Chili, and I was pleasantly surprised at, not only the flavor, but the consistency of the finished product, and the healthy ingredients.

     You know how most freeze-dried food lacks quality flavor or seasoning?  Well, this product is about as close as I've seen to home-cooked food, right off the stove.  The ingredients read like a recipe out of your favorite cookbook:  Great White Northern Beans, pinto beans, large sliced onions, sea salt, garlic, red and green bell peppers, cumin seed, chicken broth, black pepper, lime juice, cilantro, jalapeño pepper, and cayenne pepper.   Only the Xanthium gum and Citric Acid tell you it has been prepared for a long shelf life --- the company claims up to 25 years!  Plus it is Gluten Free!!
     Valley Food Storage's selections are a little more exotic, with names like Irish Pub Cheddar Potato Soup, Mango Habanero Chili, and Sweet and Sour Asian Rice.  If they taste anything like the sample I tried, you won't mind eating survivalist food.  And I imagine that adding rice or meat to any of the selections would enhance the dining experience.  Price-wise, they are in line with other products in the marketplace.  Try a sampling or two, and see what you think.  I think you'll agree they're a cut above the rest.

FiberFix. After seeing this product on Shark Tank, my husband had an occasion to use it in his art studio.  One of the legs of his favorite chairs broke one day, and he was on the verge of discarding it, when he remembered this product.  After what turned out to be an easy application, the chair is as sturdy as new!  And that got him to thinking .... this would be a great thing to have when the SHTF.  Just think of all the uses ... tools could be repaired; it could provide a barrier for busted water pipes; it's a heat wrap for up to 850 degrees.

     Let's face it ... all kinds of implements and materials will become more valuable when it is TEOTWAWKI-time.  We won't be throwing anything away, and any means by which we can repair broken items could literally be a life-saver.  Just think of all the possibilities .... tent poles, shovels, ax handles, furniture ... the list is endless.
     The product is comprised of a special waterproof resin, and has the added benefit of being heat, cold, and impact resistant.  Which got PLW to thinking .... since it appears to be made like a fiberglass cast, and must be soaked in water before applying, he wondered if it couldn't be used in an emergency to help form a cast for a broken arm or leg.  Of course, it would need to be investigated further to make sure there were no side-effects from accidental contact with your skin.  But, from all appearances, this product is ideal for any number of survival applications.  You can even buy it in a combo pack of various sizes.  It is advertised as 100 times the strength of duct tape, and I have a feeing it will become a staple among Prepper inventories.

     So, there you have it ... just a few things to add to your Survival storehouse.  I am happy to recommend all three, having used and approved them all in our household.  You can never have enough options, can you?  It's a good idea to educate yourself on how to endure until the day our Savior returns, and you never know when you might be able to use them in your service to others.
Give them a try!

Ezekiel 38:7   "Be ready and keep ready, you and all your hosts that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them."

Judgment Is Inevitable!

     I don't care how they attempt to explain it away, but there is no excuse for the House of Representatives dropping a debate this week on a bill that would criminalize virtually all late-term abortions. What is there to debate? The murder of a baby is taking place!
     And all the legislators that campaigned on pro-life issues just bowed to pressure.  What happened to all the promises that a Republican Congress was going to change things in America? But nothing is going to change until we make God the foundation of this country!
      But, back to this legislation on late-term abortions ... Initially, during the legislative process, objections were made over a measure that would limit exemptions for victims of rape or incest to only those who had previously reported those incidents to authorities.  Contentious lawmakers argued that this would put undue pressure on women who might feel shame, or fear retaliation, if they report such assaults.
     Republican Representative Renee Ellmers of North Carolina was one who objected against the bill's reporting requirement.  As reported by the Associated Press, she said, "The issue becomes, we're questioning the woman's word.  We have to be compassionate to women when they're in a crisis situation."  Don't you think that the fetus is in a crisis situation?  What about compassion for the baby?
     Perhaps less passionate observers would give the benefit of the doubt to legislators.  Maybe they just don't know what happens during a late-term abortion.  I'm sorry, but I'm not inclined to give them a pass.  If I can investigate what is involved during this heinous procedure, AND  we are all sending them to D.C. to act on our behalf, then they better do their job!  It doesn't take but a minute to find out the facts about late-term abortions.  In fact, the website OperationRescue.org offers an article that spells it out quite succinctly....  (WARNING:  What you are about to read is extremely upsetting, and quite honestly, is beyond comprehension that anyone could perform this procedure!)
     The procedure was pioneered by late-term abortionist George Tiller.  The Induction abortion takes 3-4 days to complete. On the first day the woman is given an ultrasound to determine the gestational age of her baby. Then, with the aid of the ultrasound to guide the abortionist, a lethal dose of the heart medication Digoxin is injected into the baby’s heart or into the amniotic fluid directly through the woman’s abdomen. (Potassium chloride is infrequently substituted for Digoxin.) Digoxin gives the baby a fatal heart attack. This is an off-label application of the drug, which was originally developed and approved as a treatment for heart disease. In some cases, the injection can be made vaginally instead of through the abdomen.
     Now, the late Dr. Tiller claimed that this caused no pain to the fetus.  Try telling that to anyone who has experienced a massive heart attack.  Fear and pain go hand in hand with this event.  So, taking the issue of pain out of the equation, there still remains this question .... why make a point of killing the baby in the womb? The answer is simple --- TO AVOID A LIVE BIRTH!  This prevents a myriad of problems for the abortionists, including running afoul of state and federal laws protecting the life of the baby after a live birth, even if the birth is the result of an abortion. 
     But the use of Digoxin is just the beginning of the process.  Remember, it takes 3-4 days to complete a late-term abortion.  After the Digoxin injection, the woman’s cervix is packed with laminaria, thin tampon-like sticks made of seaweed that expand the cervix gradually over the next day. The drug Misoprostol is also administered vaginally to “ripen” the cervix for the upcoming delivery of the dead baby.  Misoprostol stimulates uterine contractions which are unpredictable and sometimes violent.  After the first day’s injection and cervical preparation, the patient is sent home or to a local hotel where she will remain unmonitored until her appointment at the clinic the following day.
     On Day 2 of the procedure, the woman is repacked with larger laminaria sticks and given additional Misoprostol to prepare the woman for labor. The Misoprostol may be administered both vaginally or bucally (between the cheek and jaw), depending on whether delivery is expected on Day 3 or 4. If the woman is undergoing a later, 4 day process, she will return on Day 3 for additional laminaria and Misoprostol. Each day until delivery, she is sent back to her hotel where she remains unmonitored, even though active labor had begun or was in progress.
     On the final day of the abortion, the woman is given the drug Oxytocin, which induces or augments contractions and the onset of labor. Women then are placed in a room where they endure the final stage of labor process. When it is determined that the labor has progressed to the point where the baby is about to be delivered, each woman is usually taken into a room with a toilet and told to lean on the nurse and push the baby into the toilet.  (And did you know that there are abortionists that will agree to perform this violent act as late as 35 weeks!?)
     Now, are the members of the House of Representatives going to tell us that they are unaware that this is what takes place during a late-term abortion?  Or that we should be more concerned about a woman's "right to choose", or her shame?  The shame sits squarely on their shoulders for refusing to debate this bill on the House floor!
     Can there be any doubt as to why our nation is in such decline?  The lack of morality within our halls of Congress is disgusting and regrettable.  Are they going to tell me that they can't distinguish between right and wrong, or good and bad behavior?  And I don't want to hear that this is a "religious" argument and has no place in the making of our laws.  Let me give you a couple of quotes by those who were there at the founding of this nation, and clearly saw the importance of faith in governing the nation's citizens:
John Quincy Adams: "The highest glory of the American Revolution was this; it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity."  
Abigail Adams:  A patriot without religion in my estimation is as great a paradox as an honest Man without the fear of God. Is it possible that he whom no moral obligations binds, can have any real Good Will towards Men? Can he be a patriot who, by an openly vicious conduct, is undermining the very bonds of Society? ... The Scriptures tell us "righteousness exalteth a Nation."
James Madison:  We have staked the future of American civilization upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."
     So, I ask you .... does there seem to be ANY bond between the principles of our civil government and the principles of our God?  And if there is no morality among our governing bodies, then how can they serve our best interests?  And it certainly seems that by ignoring this important legislation, we are breaking the Sixth Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Murder.
     Abigail Adams got it right.  By continuing to allow late-term abortions, those who have been given governing authority by God (Romans 13) are undermining the very bonds of our Society.  And if "righteousness exalts a nation", we are doomed to destruction.  So, let me close with one more quote from the One who really matters ....  "When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe."  (Exodus 21:22-25).
     We are not to impose the punishment ourselves ... the punishment is God's right, and He will exact it!  The punishment will be extended not only towards the individuals who conduct the procedures, but to the civil legislators who condone it, and the nation's peoples who do not rise up against it.  And I am inclined to believe we deserve it .....

Isaiah 49:1    "Listen to me, O isles and coastlands, and hearken, you peoples from afar. The Lord has called me from the womb; from the body of my mother He has named my name."


   

The End of Days: Connecting the Dots

     Third World countries have long suffered from epidemics, unexplained diseases, and poor health conditions.  But the peasants of Central America, India and Sri Lanka have been suffering from a mysterious and rare type of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that until recently, was perplexing to both doctors and scientists.   According to a recent AP report by Margie Mason, the disease has killed up to 20,000 people over the past 20 years and sickened another 70,000 to 400,000.  Over the last two years, more and more evidence is pointing to toxic heavy metals; like the kind found in the pesticides that peasant farmers use to kill the weeds in their fields.
     In 2013, the Center for Public Integrity reported that the Council of Health Ministers of Central America was successful in adopting a declaration that formally recognized the disease.  Interestingly enough, in 2011 the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention played a part in defeating such a move by El Salvador to declare the disease a top priority in Central and South America.  Now, why do you suppose that would be?  Let me give you a hint .... our old friend, Monsanto.

     Of course, the CDC tried to say the risk factors for the disease came from heart disease, cancer and diabetes.  Never mind, that according to Truth-Out.org, CKD "is now the second leading cause of mortality among men in El Salvador. This small, densely populated Central American country now has the highest overall mortality rate from kidney disease in the world. Neighboring Honduras and Nicaragua also have extremely high rates of kidney disease mortality. In El Salvador and Nicaragua, more men are dying from CKD than from HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and leukemia combined. In one patch of rural Nicaragua, so many men have died that the community is called "The Island of the Widows" ".
      And never mind that two chemicals in particular have come into the crosshairs of investigators in both El Salvador and Sri Lanka: one, a common herbicide used to control weeds, and glyphosate, which is the active ingredient in the world’s most popular herbicide, Roundup.  And, you guessed it ... Roundup is a product developed by Monsanto.
     Of course, Monsanto's website claims that glyphosate is safe to use, claiming:  Glyphosate binds tightly to most types of soil so it is not available for uptake by roots of nearby plants. It works by disrupting a plant enzyme involved in the production of amino acids that are essential to plant growth. The enzyme, EPSP synthase, is not present in humans or animals, contributing to the low risk to human health from the use of glyphosate according to label directions.
     But it all seems to be sleight of hand to me.  See if you can follow the progression here .... In 1994, Roundup -- including the ingredient glyphosate -- is named one of the "Top 10 Products That Changed the Face of Agriculture".   Then, in 1996, the first "Roundup resistant" GMO crop of soybeans was introduced by Monsanto; which resulted in the emergence of the first glyphosate resistant weeds.  So what does Monsanto do?  They develop seeds, including soy, corn, canola, alfalfa, cotton, sugar beets and sorghum, that are glyphosate resistant.

      And wouldn't you know it?   As of 2009, Monsanto's glyphosate Roundup products, which include its GMO seeds, represented about half of Monsanto's yearly revenue.  Now, let me see if I have this correct ... Monsanto's glyphosate-resistant seeds are engineered to allow the farmer to drench his fields in the herbicide to kill off all of the weeds.  But if the glyphosate-infused herbicide enters the groundwater and soil, thereby causing the kidney disease among the peasant farmers, isn't Monsanto accountable?
     Do you want to hear something even more despicable?  Our government has been pressuring El Salvador to buy GMO seeds from Monsanto rather than indigenous seeds from their own farmers!  They have even threatened to withhold almost $300 million in aid unless El Salvador purchases Monsanto's GMO seeds. However, the GMO seeds are more expensive, and they are not adapted to the Salvadoran climate or soil.
     There are those who will say, "Maybe the US government is unaware of the connection between glyphosate, Monsanto and the killer kidney disease.  Or maybe it's simple greed that puts Monsanto's profits above the health and lives of poor farmers."  But I'm afraid it could be something even more sinister.  As the Minister of Health for El Salvador explained, "This is a disease of poor people [who work in the fields]."  And I have long felt that a goal of the world's Elite is to control the population of the poor -- to the point of complete eradication.  And that brings us directly to one the Elitist of the Elite, Bill Gates.
     As the website Natural Society points out, "Bill Gates believes the density of the population in poor areas is too big, and with his depopulation plans he can ‘solve’ that problem. Consider his huge buyout of Monsanto stock – he owns millions of shares of Monsanto and Cargill stock, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation keep scooping it up. He owns more than $23 million worth, or 500,000 Monsanto shares."  All you have to do is connect the dots.
     The Bible tells us that the End Times will see disease and plagues, as well as the hearts of men growing cold.  When you consider the massive wealth that is behind the GMO movement and the population control agenda, it doesn't leave much doubt as to what the plan is.  We are David fighting Goliath.  El Salvador's Health Minister pretty much laid it on the line .... “Ah, Monsanto!” she said, a look of consternation crossing her face.  “They are the ones that will be fighting us.”

1 Timothy 6:9   "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction."
     

Beware of "The Daniel Plan"

     I've not been shy about voicing my opinion of various programs and strategies that today's Church incorporates to fill the seats in their mega-sanctuaries.  Why is it so important to make the Church parallel the world?  Aren't we supposed to separate ourselves from the world and offer them something they can only get through faith in the Lord?
     In this vein, I want to share a flagrant attempt to minister to the flesh of mankind, instead of to their spirits.  Expressing the common theme of weight loss that is often associated with the advent of each New Year, I ran across a warning about a tempting series being led by Rick Warren, the controversial evangelical preacher.  Apparently, the program has been around for a few years, and is still publicized on the Saddleback Church website.  It promotes fasting as a means to a healthier lifestyle, as well as a technique to obtain direction from God in your life.  Titled Daniel Plan: 40 Days To a Healthier Life, it is purported to be based on the Biblical concept of fasting.

     In the Bible, God's people often combine fasting with their prayers in order to stir up their zeal and renew their dedication and commitment to Him.  Fasting, in the Biblical sense, is meant to get our minds focused on our need for God, and to draw nearer to Him.  But in developing this plan for weight loss and dedication to the Lord, Rick Warren has obtained the services of three doctors with questionable credentials, when it comes to the Christian Church.  And you should know that the subtitle for The Daniel Plan is Merging Faith and Functional Medicine.  We will find out exactly what that means as I introduce you to the so-called medical experts.
     Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Daniel Amen and Dr. Mehmet Oz  where the key contributors to the Daniel Plan, and all have strong ties to either the New Age movement, or non-Christian faiths.  Dr. Hyman is a practicing Buddhist and he has studied the correlation between living a long life and the ancient Indo-Tibetan practices of meditation and training the mind.  You can check out his philosophy on this article he wrote, How the Dalai Lama Can Help You Live To 120.  
     Dr. Amen allegedly promotes a non-Christian form of meditation known as Kirtan Kriya, which is a 12-minute meditation exercise involving chanting that has its origins in Kundalini yoga.  What is this particular form of yoga?  Kundalini yoga is a type of yoga that attempts to arouse and raise the kundalini, believed to be Shakti or "creative divine energy" which supposedly sleeps in the form of a coiled snake at the base of the spine. It employs pranayama or breathing exercises, visualization, asanas (body poses) and mudras (hand positions) along with chanting and meditation to awaken and then raise the kundalini.  This gets into the promises of  "awakening the third eye", and "gaining the knowledge of God" -- very dangerous ground!
     Next, is Dr. Mehmet Oz, who rose to fame with the help of Oprah Winfrey, who featured him on her show.  Dr. Oz and his endorsement of alternative health remedies recently came under fire during a Senate subcommittee hearing on weight loss scams.  But it may be even more important to recognize that he is a practicing Muslim of Turkish-American descent, who, along with his wife, is a follower of Emmanuel Swedenborg, a cult leader who died in 1772. Swedenborg was a Swedish Protestant fundamentalist who turned to spiritualism later in his life and became a famous trance medium. He claims to have turned to the occult after receiving a vision of Jesus in which the Lord asked him to abandon his profession as a scientist and devote himself to theology.
     What do all three of these physicians have in common?  A belief in some form of meditation or mysticism.  And Rick Warren is bringing them into the Church?!?!  By loosely tying their secular and religious philosophies to the Biblical principles of "fasting and prayer", it is my opinion that Warren is guilty of false teaching and leading the Church astray.  And the carrot he is dangling before his flock?  The one thing that his church members seem to want more than a true and authentic relationship with their Creator ... to lose weight!  But I'm afraid that their involvement with what is deceptively called "contemplative prayer" could actually be the devil's instrument.
     After reading a personal account of someone who attended an inaugural launch of the program at Rick Warren's Saddleback Church, there are so many buzz-words that set off my spiritual alarm system ... references to the Egyptian pyramids and how "man can do anything he puts his mind to"; healing "communities" that will "live sustainably" and "change the world"; and "Spiritual connection" in the nonphysical realm through meditation.  I just want to categorize this heresy as a combination between Agenda 21 and the Occult.
     To make matters worse, apparently the three doctors introduced themselves as a Jew, a Christian, and a Muslim; and announced that they were "all the same" underneath the skin.  Sounds kind of like an ecumenical and One-World Religion sales pitch to me.
     But there is one thing that I want you to take away from this blog post today (and do your own follow-up research; especially if this program is being offered in your church).  The Daniel Plan is just one tentacle of what is called Emergence Christianity (which morphed out of the Emerging Church movement).  And one of the most dangerous tenets of The Daniel Plan is called Contemplative Spirituality, which according to the Lighthouse Trails Research Project, is "A belief system that uses ancient mystical practices to induce altered states of consciousness (the silence), and is rooted in mysticism and the occult; but is often wrapped in Christian terminology. The premise of contemplative spirituality is pantheistic (God is all) and panentheistic (God is in all)."
     When proponents, like Rick Warren, attempt to liken the Biblical concepts of "fasting and prayer" to Contemplative Spirituality, they are teaching false doctrine.  One of the methods of the "Mind Science" that the three good doctors are promoting has, as its goal, to empty and free the mind and empower oneself.  But there is danger in emptying one's mind and opening it to "commune with the divine".  Satan's demons love nothing more than an empty mind in which to take up habitation.
     Nowhere in the Bible are we taught to pray and fast in order to empty our minds.  We are not to seek a supernatural "experience", but to focus on the Word of God.  Indeed, we are to fill our minds with "those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable." (Philippians 4:8) .... and the only One who fits that description is Jesus Christ.
     So don't be fooled if your Church is offering a community-based, spiritual "experience" that uses the "meditative" aspects of prayer and fasting to lose weight.  I mean, just read back over that last sentence ... does it sound like anything Jesus would have proposed?  Isn't He our model on how to live a Christian life?  Run as fast as you can from The Daniel Plan -- and your church, for that matter, if they are promoting this heretical and dangerous program.  Have nothing to do with any "spiritual tradition" that is practiced by other faiths.  Any ritual, or practice, or belief system that suggests you can draw closer to God and does not exalt Jesus Christ, is clearly false.  The only way to commune with God is through His Son.  Beware of the wolves that lead their sheep to slaughter!

If you are interested in a more comprehensive study of the Daniel Plan, I would highly suggest that you read this article by Justin Edwards.  

Psalm 19:14   "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength and my redeemer."
   

You Can't Take Our Heroes Away From Us!

     Well, that didn't take long!  Nearly as soon as the news broke that the movie American Sniper was breaking all kinds of box office records, the haters in Hollywood came unglued.  Michael Moore and Seth Rogen couldn't wait to denigrate the memory of Navy Seal, Chris Kyle.  I wonder if they've even seen the movie.  But, as evidenced by the 10,000+ comments to their disrespectful tirades, the public doesn't give a damn what they think.  
     It is quite apparent that the Haters, and others like them, do not understand why millions like myself, who saw the film, sat in reverent silence as the final minutes on screen showed the motorcade carrying his body for burial at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.  I don't think they can even imagine why thousands of people lined the 200-mile route along Interstate 35, during a cold, rainy day, to pay tribute to a man who stood for the American values of God, Country, and Family.

Paying tribute to a hero 

     And I guess there's our explanation why they hate the success that this movie is enjoying ... they hate everything that Chris Kyle held dear.  They hate God; they certainly hate the America that we love and that Chris Kyle fought to protect; and they hate the family values that teach love and respect for all three principles.
     How it must gall them to see a movie like American Sniper be liked, admired, and supported by so many people!  But their hate has so blinded them, that they can't see past it.  They can't see that the movie stands for so much more than the politics of the Iraq War or the reputation of Chris Kyle as "the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history."  I think I can speak for most who stood in endless lines throughout this past weekend to see the movie .... this film captures not only the heart and soul of a patriotic American, but the tremendous toll that our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have taken upon our military and their families.  And we need to recognize that!  Perhaps better than any other vehicle, American Sniper puts American civilians in the shoes of a combat service member.  We see -- and feel -- what our government has asked our military to do, supposedly on our behalf.  (I applaud the movie for keeping the storyline focused on the impact on Chris Kyle and his family, rather than bringing the Military-Industrial Complex into the picture).  And I hope that the film will start dissolving the psychological and emotional barriers that have occurred between members of the military and the civilian public.
      I read a very well-written review by an Iraq War veteran, Paul Rieckhoff, who is CEO and founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).  In his article, Mr. Rieckhoff stated, "The film exposes the incomparable distance we’ve created (and irresponsibly allowed to grow) in this country between what is now essentially a warrior class and everyone else. It’s tearing open a shameful national boil of a discussion that’s been bubbling below our collective skin for far too long. And with that, it performs an exceptionally important public service in a way only film can."
     Of course, Mr. Rieckhoff views this distance from the warrior class, and seems to view the civilian class as disconnected and disinterested.  I will agree that this is true of some people.  And I understand that it is only natural for those who have experienced the horrors of this war to sequester themselves among fellow warriors.  We cannot possibly understand what they have witnessed and endured.  And any attempt on our part to connect with them has been difficult; from our inability to share their experience, to their reluctance to include us.  That conversation couldn't even take place between Chris and Taya Kyle!  It would be impossible between the Military and the American Public.  Yet, I wish there could be a way for our warriors to understand that so much of the public wanted that conversation; wanted to be able to express our support and our pride, but it was never encouraged, often awkward, and there seemed no way to bridge the divide.
     American Sniper has shown the public the way that war looks, sounds, tastes, smells, and feels ... and it is truly haunting.  It is haunting because of the raw pain Chris Kyle experienced on his way to becoming a legend and a national hero; haunting because this embattled man's job was to take lives in order to save lives; haunting because he felt he hadn't done enough to ensure that more warrior's came home; and haunting because he was on the path to discovering a new purpose, and recovering his joy for life.    

     Hollywood can try to distort his legacy all they want, but we Texans are very proud of our heroes; of men like Chris Kyle and Marcus Luttrell who stand up for old-fashioned and politically incorrect values.  I have had the opportunity to meet Mr. Luttrell and Chris Kyle's parents.  How can one ever express to them what it means to you as an American citizen to know that men like them are willing to take a stand against Evil?  How do you say "thank you" and let them know you will never forget their sacrifice, nor take their service for granted?  Perhaps American Sniper can be the beginning of this much-needed conversation.  The Iraq War has divided much of America.   Maybe this film will be the beginning of reconciliation between those who fought and those who always believed in them.

Psalm 144:1    "Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle—"


   
   

Mark 12:30

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart..."

    How many times have we read this familiar Scripture?  We know it is important, (along with loving God with all our soul, mind, and strength) because the premise is repeated throughout the Bible; and three of the four Apostles quote it directly in their epistles.  

     In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, each of the writers presents the narrative of the Pharisees testing Jesus about the commandments.  In each of these Gospel renditions, Jesus teaches that loving God is the greatest (and primary) commandment, and out of that will come the second commandment: to love others as we love ourselves.  

     But Mark's gospel provides a richness and a depth that goes beyond the other two.  First of all, he quotes Jesus as saying further, "There is none other commandment greater than these."  And this is why I chose this particular Scripture today.  You see, I am writing this because I need to explore if I am loving God with all my heart.

     At this particular season in my spiritual life, I am questioning if I am really loving God as He commands.  I desperately want my heart to be consumed with love for Him!  I have no doubts about my desire to seek Him, my longing to know more of Him, or my wish to glorify Him and tell the world about His saving Grace.  But there are times that I wonder if I love Him as much as He is worthy of being loved.  

     It is easy to say we love God, isn't it?  But what should that feel like?  I can tell you what it feels like to love my husband, because there is no love of another person that compares to it.  But the love of my God is to be greater than that; I am to love Him with ALL my heart, or as some Bible translations say, with my WHOLE heart.  

     I honestly believe that loving God in this way should bring me to my knees in the magnitude of it, and that it should illicit tears of joy and awe --- not in a conspicuous fashion as to boast of it, but in the secrecy of my private moments with Him.  After all, the heart is the center of our powerful emotions and desires.  What affects our lives (our affections) are borne here, and impacts how we conduct our lives.  It is in our human nature to cling to whatever we have affection for.  Shouldn't God be at the top of that list?  I confess that, too often, He is in the background when He should be center stage.

    Which leads us to another well-known Scripture:  "For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.” (Matthew 6:21).  Intellectually, I know that God is my treasure.  And I know that my heart loves what I treasure.  But is God my Supreme treasure?  Is He my all-consuming Treasure?  If He was, shouldn't I feel it, and know it?  Am I not loving Him enough; as completely as He ought to be?  

      I have searched for answers to my dilemma, both within Scripture and in notable commentaries, and they all seem to portray loving God with all your heart as including a decision to pursue Him; to studying the Bible and what it says about the glory of who Jesus is and what He has done; that this will grow a love for Him in your heart.  I actively do these things, but I sometimes wonder if I have somehow stifled the growth of my love through the distractions of this world.  I want to know what it feels like to devote all my heart to Him.  

     I know this sounds like I am on a never-ending circular debate, and perhaps the scribe in the following verses of Mark 12 is the key to my answer.  Apart from his fellow Pharisees, the scribe seeks Jesus to tell him that he recognizes the Truth of the commandment.  Furthermore, he states that he knows that loving God with all our heart, understanding, soul and strength (and loving our neighbor as ourselves) pleases God more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices that Israel has to offer.  Jesus's answer validates the scribe's understanding and He tells him "Thou art not far from the kingdom of God."  

     Jesus is encouraging him to continue in furthering his understanding and knowledge of what pleases God -- he is told he's "not far" from the kingdom of grace and glory.  Perhaps loving God with all my heart is a process; a journey.  Maybe it's not about static emotion and feeling, as much as it is about a continual pursuing of Him.  Perhaps my heart cannot be wholly consumed with love for Him until I have reached the full capacity of the discoveries of Himself that God will deposit in my heart.  Just maybe, by seeking ever-greater time and intimacy with Him; of being conscious of how I express my love of Him to other people, I can make pleasing Him the focus of my heart, my mind, and the works of my soul.  And I have a feeling my heart will swell with the joy of loving Him in all my ways!