Coffee and Christ

     Thanks to the Christian Broadcasting Network for this upbeat story.  It's a great way to start off the week, and we can all use a little "good news", don't you think?

     

     Two churches nearly 1500 miles apart, have discovered a way to combine Christian Charity and Coffee.  The Woodlands Church, outside Houston, TX, was among many faithful churches who sent relief workers to Haiti after the country was devastated by the 2010 earthquakes.  But instead of concentrating their relief aid to the major cities, they went to work in the mountains of Haiti.
     "We were there and saw that there was coffee actually lying on the ground, coffee beans lying on the ground, just scattered. And we asked, 'Tell us about that? What's going on?,'" Chris Shook, co-pastor and director of missions at Woodlands Church, said. "And they said, 'Well, no one will buy our coffee. We have no one to sell it to.'"
     The remoteness of this particular village made it difficult for them to get their harvest to any kind of market.  The result was villagers who were starving; hadn't enough clothing; and their kids were going uneducated.  It didn't take long for the good Pastor to realize that they could help.
     Coffee is almost an obsession to many Americans.  Pastor Shook arranged for the village's coffee crop to be shipped to Miami, and then trucked to Houston.  Volunteers at the Church roast the coffee beans, package it, and sell it to the congregation, which "drinks it like crazy".  With over 18,000 church members, the built-in market for the Haitian coffee is now helping close to 8,000 Haitian family members.
     The Church pays the Haitian farmers three times more than other coffee dealers were offering them; and after it is sold, the profits are funneled back into medical clinics and feeding and teaching programs.
     Meanwhile, the National Community Church (NCC) in Washington, D.C. has a similar approach to help coffee farmers in Columbia, South America.  Their brand of coffee, called Redeeming Grounds Coffee, is grown in a guerrilla conflict zone notorious for kidnappings, car bombings, and assassinations.
     While on a mission trip to work with Columbian children, Church members met a local pastor who told them about farmers in a mountainous area who, after coming to faith, eradicated their cocaine fields and planted coffee in its place.  When they met the farmers, the coffee fields were ready to harvest, and a partnership was born.
     Church member Santiago Moncada said the coffee is not only sold in D.C., but on Redeeming Grounds Coffee's website.  "The response in the U.S. for this coffee has been great, so things are growing... And with just the few farmers we started with, we have already eradicated over 55 acres of cocaine fields.  That translates to about 1,700 kilos worth of cocaine off of the street, with a street value of over $80 million."  No wonder they call their coffee, "Redeeming Grounds"!
     How the profits from the business are spent, is determined by the coffee farmers, themselves.  But money is not the only benefit from this partnership.  Moncada said, "[People] are always curious to understand why it is that these farmers are planting coffee instead of cocaine, because of the reasonable assumption that cocaine farming is certainly much more lucrative. And that's when we get a chance to share the heart behind it.  We get a chance to share the testimony of these farmers and how coming to faith convicted them to make this change."
     Pastor Shook in Houston sees a similar benefit from his church's affiliation in Haiti.  "People see us coming back as a church, time after time, and doing things, not just to make us feel good, but [doing] things they actually need in their community.  We always say  'Christ plus caffeine really works because we can change the world twice as fast because we drink so much coffee.' "
     No one can deny the addictive capacity of coffee.  Just consider the explosion of major coffee chains, such as Starbucks, as well as the mom 'n pop coffee shop in every little town across the nation.  But when you combine it with the addictive power of the Word, you find it's a dependency you can embrace.
     Congratulations to these two representatives of God's Church for their industriousness and their ingenuity.  May God continue to bless their enterprises!

Psalm 34:8     "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!"

John 14:12 ... "You Will Do Even Greater Things Than These..."

 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone 

steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do 

the things that I do; and he will do even greater things 

than these, because I go to the Father.

     It is my sincere desire that you will see the Truth in this Scripture and what it is telling us in our day.  The context in which Jesus is speaking is the night before His death, when He partook of the Passover Seder with His disciples.  

     He has announced that one of them will betray Him, and that He will soon be leaving them.  He also foretells Peter's denial, which understandably upsets His followers.  They cannot conceive of the ministry without Him, and they want to know where He is going and how they are to follow Him.

     Christ comforts them by telling them that He is going away to prepare a place for them, and by now they should know who He is and believe that He and the Father are One.  At the very least, they should know Him by the works that He has done.  And then He gives them the astonishing news that is our Scripture today:  If anyone believes in Him, they will be able to continue His work, doing as He has done.  Better yet, they will do even GREATER things!

     Have you ever taken these words to heart?  What is Jesus saying?  If we are able to do the things that He did, don't you think we should be clear regarding what He is talking about?  What, exactly, are "the works" that He did?  

     First of all, Jesus's ministry on earth consisted of the following:  1)  He preached the Gospel.  2)  He healed the sick.  3)  He cast out demons.  4)  He made Disciples to spread the Gospel.  So here's my question ... Did Jesus say that after He was gone, they would only be able to do some of the things He did?  No!  In fact, we see the Disciples throughout the Book of Acts performing miracles of healing.  In Acts 3, Peter heals a man who has been lame his entire life.  In Acts 5, we read that the sick were brought to the apostles in the hope that even their shadow would pass over the sick and heal them.  In Acts 20, we find Paul resurrecting a man from the dead by simply putting his arms around him.  

      We also have many examples of the casting out of demons.  In Acts 8, Philip is in Samaria, preaching Christ.  And demons began pouring out of the listeners as they believed in Philip's preaching of the Gospel message.  Mark 6 reports of the Apostles preaching across the countryside of the need for men to repent of their sins, "and they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them."  Acts 19 even records that the mere touch of Paul's handkerchiefs and aprons resulted in "diseases departing from them, and the evil spirits went out of them."
     To the detriment of Christ's Church, I have often heard the statement, "That authority and those powers were given to the Twelve Apostles.  They were not given to us."  I disagree.  If you will recall, Jesus sends 70 disciples out into "every city and place".  What are their marching orders:  "Heal the sick, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you" (Luke 10:9), and "I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy..." (Luke 10:19).
     These 70 people were not among the Twelve Apostles.  They were nameless, faceless followers of Christ; just like us.  They were to heal the sick and announce that the Kingdom of God was near them in the actual presence of Jesus.  We are to do the same -- use the power that we have been given and announce that the Kingdom of God resides in us, and is available to all who will hear the message of the Gospel.  Granted, I believe we have been given a measure of the authority that the Apostles had.  But as we prove our trustworthiness, he will give us more authority to accomplish things in His name.
     And that leads me to the important point that it is by the authority of Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to do greater things than He.  The ability to cast out demons and heal the sick is by no means due to us.  Remember the story of the demoniac son in Matthew 17:14-21?  A man approaches Jesus and asks for mercy upon his son, who is tormented by demons.  The man had brought his son to the Disciples, but they could not cast out the demons.  In a moment of frustration, Jesus calls them a "faithless and perverse generation", and proceeds to "rebuke the demon, who departed out of [the child]."
     When the disciples come to Jesus and ask why they were unable to cast out the demons, Jesus tells them "Because of your unbelief ... this kind only goes out by prayer and fasting" (Matthew 17:20-21).    We don't get much explanation beyond this, but it seems reasonable to me that Jesus is saying, You guys were depending only on yourself. Where was the prayer? Where was your sense that the power was God's, through you?  
     So unbelief is a very important issue as to whether God's authority and power are going to be released in my life.  I believe that we have absolute authority through Christ, but the measure of my power is relative.  Whether we are able to defeat demonic forces in ourselves or others relies on the power we exercise.  If that power is compromised by unbelief, fear, rebellion, pride or other sinful emotions, then our authority may be undermined.
     Then there is the fact that Christians today will say that Jesus despaired of those who required signs and wonders in order to believe (John 4:48), and that He would not desire us to cast out demons or heal the sick in order to "prove" the validity of the Kingdom of God.  But we must be careful to consider the context in which He said this.  The demand for these "signs and wonders" in Galilee contrasted with the ready reception (in prior verses) which the Samaritans had given by simply hearing His word.
     So, Christ recognizes that some people will need to see signs and wonders to bolster their weak faith before they can grasp any recognition of the blessings of the Kingdom.  Paul confirms this in 1 Corinthians 1:22 -- and, being a Jew, he knows firsthand, that "Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom."  That being said, Christ does not condemn those who need signs, because He knows that these "works of signs and miracles" may lead some to true faith.  But I think we can see how He compares those who need signs with those who don't, when He says to Thomas, "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."
     As followers of Christ -- in fact, the Church is His body, and the fullness of Him is to be in each one of us -- we should be aligning our lives to release that authority and power into the world, while proclaiming "the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe; according to the working of His mighty power."   (Ephesians 1:20).  And what is that power?  It is the power that raised Christ from the dead!  As fellow heirs of the Kingdom of Christ, the authority of God that's in Jesus Christ is shared with us.
     When Jesus Christ left us on earth He said (I'm paraphrasing), "All authority's been given to me, and now I'm commissioning you. You go out, and you make disciples just as I did. All that I did and all that I taught you, you do the exact same things. You teach others the exact same ways."  Jesus did all that as fully man, using the authority and power that was given to Him by God, the Father.  Why are we afraid to do the same?  It is clear to me that we are instructed to continue on.  Jesus modeled the life we are to live for the Kingdom.
     The bottom line is that I want to follow His example and be used by God to help others be set free, to come into the kingdom, and experience the power of God.  This is not about me thinking that I can become what's called a "deliverance minister".  I have no calling on my life to do so; although, clearly, there are people who do.  I simply want to come into the fullness of who I am in Christ, and to exercise the power and authority from God over my own spirit and body.  Then I will be able to witness to others of the power and authority of Christ that is in me; the power and authority which is in all those who belong to the Kingdom of God.
     SIDE NOTE:  For those who will say that Christians cannot become "possessed" by demonic spirits, I want to make myself clear.  We, as humans, are made up of spirit, body, and mind.  Certainly, if we have received salvation in Christ Jesus, our spirits are sealed and belong to God.  But, our bodies and our minds can be afflicted by demons in order to take our eyes off our commission.  How many Christians do you know that are plagued by pornography, fits of anger, depression?  How many suffer from chronic and debilitating illnesses?  I believe that if Christians were aware of the power and authority they have to rebuke the demons that are attacking them, they could overcome many of their personal sins and problems.  Obviously, those who are indwelt with legions of demons should seek deliverance from a Christian who has received the calling and training.
     CONCLUSION:  The Westernized Church of Jesus Christ must come to the fulfillment of our Commission.  Can we agree that our mission includes doing the works that Jesus did?  And can we also agree that today's Scripture (John 14:12) records Jesus promising that not only will we do the very works that He did, but that we'll do greater works than He?  If we are going to go about fulfilling the Great Commission and doing greater works than our Lord, then we are going to need a greater authority and power than ourselves.  God knew that, and that's why He gave it to us.  We have that power right here, right now.  It's the same power that raised Jesus from the dead!  It's time we used it for His Kingdom!

Do You Doubt My Authority?

     Today my husband and I will be celebrating the last Sabbath of the Passover with a faithful group of Believers.  We will be presenting a historical view of the Exodus, and reading the Bible's account of the first Passover and its past, present, and future significance, both to practicing Jews and faithful Christians.  I say, "we", because I want to comment on a divisive issue within the Church and among some denominations.  I will be presenting a lesson prior to our Passover meal, while my husband will lead our group through a more formal ceremony of eating and prayer.  Together, we will lead our worship and observance.
     I understand that to some, the fact that a woman has a leading role in such religious ceremonies, is troublesome.  Those who object will most likely refer to 1 Timothy 2:11-12:  A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.  Because men were part of our gathering, some would find my role objectionable.
     By the way, this is the only verse within the entire Bible that I can find that speaks to a woman not having the authority to teach men.  So, without a confirming witness, I decided to take a deeper look at this conflict and see within what context the Apostle Paul made this statement.
     As always, I find that our English translations of the Bible leave something to be desired when comparing them to the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts.  Such is the case with the central word in the argument against women leading men in instruction ... it's the word, authority.  It seems that a study of Paul’s letters shows that he regularly used a form of the Greek word “exousia” when referring to the use of authority in the church.  But in this particular verse, Paul used the word "authentein".  This unusual Greek verb is found only once in scripture and rarely in extrabiblical texts, where it is usually associated with aggression.  Authentein is translated as “domineer” in the Latin Vulgate and New English Bible and as “usurp authority” in the Geneva and King James Bibles.

     So if Paul used the word exousia when talking about the use of authority in the church in 1st and 2nd Corinthians, Colossians, 2nd Thessalonians, and Romans; why would he choose to use authentein to refer to the same thing in 1 Timothy?  Could he have been referring to something else?
      This is where the context of this passage is so important!  In the case of 1 Timothy, Paul was writing a personal letter instructing Timothy about how to deal with heresy being spread by false teachers in Ephesus. This is spelled out at the beginning of the letter: "As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies…".
      On the surface, there are a few things to consider when correlating this warning with the suggestion that Paul meant women had no authority in the church.  1)  Could it be that most of the teachers of false doctrine in Ephesus were men, and that women might have had little training in theology; making them subject to repeating these false doctrines?  It would seem to me that Paul might have been warning the Ephesians that any interest in these false doctrines by women might become dangerous to the Church.  If that is the case, then this warning in 1 Timothy is specific to that church in Ephesus, at that time -- not meant to be a permanent restriction on all women for all time.
     2)  Keeping the context of this letter and these verses in view, remember that Paul was writing to the Church in Ephesus; a city known for its worship of goddesses, as well as heretical Gnostic teachings.  Some of the Gnostic texts of the time sometimes described Eve as Adam’s teacher. She is also depicted as superior to Adam, as preceding him, and as giving life to him in some way (part of the goddess obsession).  His admonition that women should not assume authority over a man might have been in answer to these Gnostic teachings.  (The Gnostic teachings on Eve could be what Paul is referring to in 1 Timothy 2:13-14 when he pointedly explains that Adam is the superior one, not Eve.  Reading these verses out of context to what was going on in Ephesus gives a completely different meaning).
     3)  Then there is the contradiction between other examples of Paul's writings where he provides instructions for women praying and prophesying in church (1 Corinthians).  When Paul mentions the spiritual gifts, he does not state that women are restricted from receiving any of the leadership gifts.  And it is interesting to note that he takes special care to record commendations to a number of women serving in leadership positions (Romans 16).  Can we agree that Paul is generally supportive of women’s participation, which contradicts the idea that women must be silent?
     But I keep coming back to that word authentein.  The mystery of why Paul used that particular word instead of his more common use of exousia drove me to dig deeper.  Why did he include this passage about women and authority in a letter that began by warning against false doctrines and myths?  As expected, the uncertainty of 1 Timothy 2:11-12, has resulted in much historical study of the times.

The goddess Cybele and her consort, Attis

     It seems that in Timothy’s time and locale, the goddess Cybele (called Artemis by the Greeks) was worshipped through violent rituals against men that symbolized the murder/suicide of a false god named Attis.  In his letter to Timothy, Paul repeatedly warns against false doctrines, mythology and extreme forms of self-denial (1 Timothy 1:3-7, 4:1-5, 6:20-21), even referring to the false teaching and related practices as “demonic”.  The violent act symbolizing the death of Attis was indeed an extreme form of self-denial.  Male priests of Cybele and Attis renounced all sexual feeling, irrevocably, through ritual castration.
     When the 5th Century Christian theologian Jerome translated 1 Timothy for the Latin translation of the Bible, he forever changed the meaning of our contested verses.  Let me explain.  He translated the key verb authentein as "to exercise authority", and rendered it more in terms of “having dominion over” or “dominating” a man.  Prior to Jerome's translation, the word more commonly referred to the instigation or commission of an act of violence, suicide or murder.  In the Greek Septuagint, for example, a noun form of the word (authentas) refers to those who engaged in ritual violence in the worship of a false god.
      Are you starting to see the connection between Paul's initial warning against false doctrines and false gods or myths, and the more accurate interpretation of giving his prohibition against women teaching or instigating ritual violence against men?  It's all in the context of what was going on in Ephesus!  The nature of Paul’s concerns, the most common meanings of the verb “authentein,” and the religious and cultural context in which these verses were written are all lost in Jerome’s Latin translation of 1 Timothy 2:12-15.  Subsequent translations into German and English followed Jerome's misleading example.  Concerns about women becoming involved in false teaching and violent rituals were replaced with warnings against leadership and teaching roles for women in the Church.  It seems very possible that Paul's true counsel was lost in translation!
     I recognize that this new understanding I have projected is only a theory; and I also discern that it will likely not change the 1600 years of bias against women as having a place in the Church's ministry as teachers.  (Note that I said "teachers", not pastors -- this is NOT an argument for women Pastors or Preachers).  Believe me, I am no feminist looking to usurp the leadership of men -- I am simply trying to put forth the argument that the Lord has bestowed the spiritual gifts of teaching and prophesying and wisdom upon women as well as men.  Why would any man deny himself the benefit of learning from a woman whom the Lord had blessed?  Certainly, Priscilla played a major role in furthering Apollo's education on the full gospel of Jesus (Acts 18).  Again, it's ironic that in a time when women could not be legal witnesses, Jesus Christ chose women as the first witnesses of his resurrection.  We can still be witnesses of His glory today, to all who will listen.

For a more comprehensive look at the ancient Gnostic teachings, false doctrines, and translation errors that contributed to our confused understanding of 1 Timothy 2, please click here.  My thanks to Bob Edwards for his outstanding research and commentary.

Acts 2:17-18    And it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels] and your young men shall see visions (divinely granted appearances), and your old men shall dream [divinely suggested] dreams. Yes, and on My menservants also, and on My maidservants, in those days I will pour out of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels and predicting future events pertaining especially to God’s kingdom].


   
   
   

What's Missing?

     If you are like me, you eye each new announced candidacy for the President of the United States with suspicion.  The latest self-proclaimed "Savior" of our nation is Kentucky Senator Rand Paul.  There was a time when all that he promised in his announcement speech would have resonated with me ...  He's for a government restrained by the Constitution.  He wants to eliminate the national debt that "threatens not just our economy, but our security".  He employed all the buzz words that used to ignite my patriotic soul ... privacy, opportunity, liberty, justice, and freedom.
     He was bold in his willingness to actually name our foreign enemy as radical Islam; and he is a proponent of a national defense that is "unparalleled, undefeatable, and unencumbered by overseas nation-building" (there's a nod to his Libertarian base).  I am in total agreement with him when he says it angers him "to see mobs burning our flag and chanting 'Death to America' in countries that receive millions of dollars in foreign aid."
     As a patriotic American, I find no fault in any of these statements.  I believe his stance on all these positions to be in alignment with my own.   But the positions that are important to me as a Christian stand above my nationalistic leanings.  I don't know -- maybe it's because I am so ready to be in God's system rather than this world's system ... [but since I am stuck here in the world], there are "issues" that are more important than the success of our economy or national defense.  And, on these positions, I heard nothing from the good Senator.

     At the top of that list, I would like to know what his opinions would be, as President, on such issues as the Sanctity of Life; my freedom to worship my God; the preservation of the Biblical model of marriage and family; how he views the Nation of Israel; and it would have been nice to hear any kind of statement about his personal faith.  The answers to those questions will go a long way in determining if he is the man I wish to govern my nation.  Yet, he was silent on all these issues.  And perhaps, worse still, he is already dodging questions in the media on how he would regard exceptions to abortions.  All the "rah-rah America" speeches in the world amount to nothing if I do not know the man's heart on issues that matter to God.
     In case you can't tell, I am longing more for my heavenly home, and becoming more cynical about this temporary residence on earth.  I see the hand-writing on the wall ... this Age of humanity is declining at a furious pace.  On one hand, we are racing to annihilate each other.  On the other hand, we are recklessly and rapidly seeking to become immortal by integrating what God made in His image with machines.  How can a political election really have any saving grace for us?
     You see, for all the patriotic fervor that we will experience during the next two years, we Americans would be better off to concentrate on where we will spend our eternal citizenship.  Remember, if we call ourselves Christians, we are not of this world.  The problem is that our patriotism can become a pseudo-religion, and takes our eyes off God and our real role on this earth ... to bring others out of this world system and into relationship with Christ.
     Yes, we must live in this world -- but not be "of the world".  And, yes, there will be a man elected to lead our nation in the fall of 2016.  Whether he will be a man that is pleasing to God, remains to be seen.  But I am discovering that my zeal as an American is being replaced with a passion to live my life as a citizen of the Kingdom of God.  Don't get me wrong -- I am still patriotic; I love my country. But in these days, I am more inclined to be a loyal-to-the-death defender of God's traditions and values.  And that is what I would love to see mirrored in my nation's leaders.

John 17:15-17     "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."
   
   

Soldier Suicides, Scientology & Shifty Politics

   

     While taking a little day journey earlier this week, I was struck by this billboard along Interstate 35 in the heart of Texas.  Like most alert Americans, I am aware of the massive amounts of prescription drugs that our returning vets are receiving via the Military hospitals and the VA.  Through my service to wounded soldiers at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, I had heard multiple comments about the amount of drugs and the length of time they were prescribed for the patients.  In fact, more than one soldier told me he just stopped taking them, because "they messed with my head too much."
      So, besides being tuned in to the potential problem with over-medication of our soldiers, I also wondered exactly who the organization was that was sponsoring these billboards.  Apparently they are appearing around the country near major military installations, such as Fort Hood in Texas and Fort Bragg in North Caroline, among others.  So I decided to do a little research.  At the bottom of the billboard, it says that the ad campaign is "sponsored by the Citizens Commission On Human Rights."  The website for CCHR says that they are a "Watchdog investigating and exposing psychiatric human rights violations."
     Digging a little deeper, it didn't take long to uncover the alleged identity of this group.  According to an article at Examiner.com, CCHR "has been described by critics as a Scientology front group that campaigns against Big Pharma, psychiatry and psychiatrists."  If you remember a few years back, the most famous Scientologist, Tom Cruise, got into a heated debate with actress Brooke Shields over medication she took to help alleviate symptoms caused by her postpartum depression.
     Scientology insists that mental illness is not a medical disease and that the use of psychiatric medication is a destructive and fraudulent practice. The organization goes so far as to link psychiatry or psychiatrists to school shootings, eugenics, and terrorism.
     I admit that I have some conflict over the various positions taken on this subject.  I am not a fan of the cult-like religion called Scientology.  Yet, I cannot dispute CCHR's claims that "in early 2013, the official website of the United States Department of Defense announced the startling statistic that the number of military suicides in 2012 had far exceeded the total of those killed in battle—an average of nearly one a day. A month later came an even more sobering statistic from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: veteran suicide was running at 22 a day—about 8000 a year."  And then there are those confirming statements I heard directly from soldiers saying that "too many drugs are being prescribed."
     And perhaps the most disturbing fallout of how we are treating returning veterans with PTSD, is evidenced in this 2014 story from International Business Times:  When former U.S. Army Specialist Kyle Wesolowski returned from Iraq in December 2010 following a brutal yearlong deployment, psychiatrists at the Fort Hood army post in Texas gave him “a cocktail of seven different drugs” for his anxiety, depression and other war-related mental health issues.
     More than three years later, Wesolowski has come to an uncomfortable conclusion about the unintended consequences of ingesting those medications: They made him homicidal.
     While desperately struggling to taper off the drugs without an exit strategy from his military doctors, Wesolowski contemplated murdering a young woman he met in a bar near the base. “When she talked to me, I put on a fake smile and tried to be nice,” Wesolowski said, though in reality he recalled hating her for being happy and carefree, and now says that due to the side effects of his drug cocktail, he felt violent urges. “I began to fantasize about killing her,” he said.
     At this point, I think it is highly appropriate to ask, What are we doing to our soldiers?!?  Why are so many psychotropic drugs being prescribed, often in conjunction with other drugs that produce violent side effects?  Is it possible that, as some experts in the field suggest, "Congress is lobbied heavily by Big Pharma" ... and "Soon after the start of the second Gulf War, we saw a sea change in the prescribing of these [psychotropic] drugs to our troops. This cannot be accounted for by anything other than military decisions at the very top that were certainly influenced by the pharmaceutical industry, which markets from the top down, then the drugs flow to millions."
     Certainly, this seems to be verified by an Austin American-Stateman report which found that drug purchases by the Department of Defense ballooned by more than 123 percent, from $3 billion in 2002 to $6.8 billion in 2011, which outpaced by nearly double the overall increase in reported pharmaceutical sales in the U.S!
     While I was astounded (but not surprised) by the amount of drugs being prescribed, I was floored to read another article that reported the Pentagon funded nearly 2/3 of a million dollars to a Scientology De-Tox program to help soldiers get off the drugs.  But at what cost?  The program claims to flush out the accumulations of toxins stored in body fat by flushing out the toxins and excreting them from the skin using high/toxic doses of Niacin and other vitamin regimes.  Plus it is my understanding that soldiers enrolled in this program are subjected to Scientology's famous "auditing sessions", which attempt to tear people down in order to build them back up.  Not only am I leery of this cultic organization on religious grounds, but is that really a safe mechanism for soldiers who are dealing with PTSD?
     So, I'm left feeling that our soldiers are being victimized from all sides!  Who is really looking after their welfare and that of their families?  It simply appears as if the DOD, Military Hospitals, Big Pharma and Scientology all have their own agendas, and the suffering soldier's needs are at the bottom of the list.  As a government and a nation, we should be ashamed!  Who will stand up for them?  Please pray that this insanity will stop!

Psalms 34:18   "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Recommendation: Growing Your Food Supply When Times Are Tough

   

      If you've been paying attention, then you've seen the headlines regarding the worst drought in California in 500 years.  It doesn't take a crystal ball to predict that this will have a severe impact on the food supply in this nation.  Since California produces approximately 3/4 of all vegetables, nuts and fruits grown in the US, you can imagine that many products will be either extremely expensive, or even unavailable.
     We can expect to see a shortage of many food items that we take for granted:  celery, olives, apricots, lettuce, tomatoes, plums, prunes, figs, cantaloupe, strawberries and spinach.  And let's not forget what the California drought will do to the vineyards and the wine industry.  And did you know that California is the largest producer of dairy in our nation, with 1.75 million dairy cows? The lack of water will devastate these industries and most certainly effect the cost of food, as well as the supply, in our own country and the world for years to come.
     But it's not only crops that are feeling the lack of water -- you may have seen the scattered reporting of hundreds of California residents waiting in extremely long lines for hours, just to get a gallon or two of drinking water.  When the situation is that bad, we better sit up and take notice.
     But it is not only California that is feeling the effects of drought.  Parts of Texas and Oklahoma are feeling the drought as if they were reliving the Dust Bowl era during the 1930s.  All of this is taking a toll on the nation's agriculture and economy.  And, I'm sure it won't surprise you to know that we can expect the government to step in and try to regulate water sources on private property and control the consumption of water.  Like the Gold Rush in our past history, there is now a rush to buy up water rights ... which makes the purchase of the following book all that more important.
     The Resilient Gardener:  Food Production and Self-Reliance In Uncertain Times is a must-have for your resource library.  The author, Scientist/gardener Carol Deppe, offers a book beyond your garden-variety cookbook (sorry for the pun!), and offers principles regarding sustainable agriculture, health, nutrition, along with detailed information about growing and using five key crops: potatoes, corn, beans, squash, and eggs.
     I think we all realize that our climate is changing and weird weather patterns appear to be in our future.  I don't need a book that gives me pretty pictures of organic recipes -- I need to know how to grow necessary foods in order to survive in the midst of unfavorable seasons and adverse growing conditions.  Among the corresponding topics, this book teaches you how to:
•  Garden in an era of unpredictable weather and climate change.
•  Grow, store, and cook different varieties of potatoes and save your own potato seed,
•  Make whole-grain, corn-based breads and cakes using the author’s original gluten-free recipes involving no other grains, artificial binders, or dairy products.
•  Keep a home laying flock of ducks or chickens; integrate them with your gardening, and grow most of their feed.
     The marketing for this book describes it's impact this way:  "Resilience here is broadly conceived and encompasses a full range of problems, from personal hard times such as injuries, family crises, financial problems, health problems, and special dietary needs (gluten intolerance, food allergies, carbohydrate sensitivity, and a need for weight control) to serious regional and global disasters and climate change. It is a supremely optimistic as well as realistic book about how resilient gardeners and their vegetable gardens can flourish even in challenging times and help their communities to survive and thrive through everything that comes their way."  Sounds like it is a gardening book written specifically for these times.
     Some of the critics of the book have noted that it is written with a bent towards homesteading, sustainable living, and basic nutrition.  But if times continue to get tougher, this is exactly the book you will want.  Remember, when faced with difficult times, one of the keys to survival will be your resiliency ... your ability to be strong, flexible, hardy, and able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.  The Resilient Gardener helps you grow the crops that will provide the calories you need to stay alive.
     DISCLAIMER:  Don't think that everything she writes will pertain to you, or your climate, or your growing conditions.  The author lives in the Pacific Northwest, and what works for her, may not work for you.  You should buy this book for the tips and techniques, and use it to create a blue print for your own self reliant food system.  It's time to get creative, use your brain, and get out ahead of the curve on your food supply.  Don't wait until you're in panic mode due to the extended drought, unexpected weather conditions in your area, or social upheaval.  Prepare now!

Ezekiel 4:17   "I will do this that they may lack bread and water, and look at one another in dismay, and rot away because of their punishment."

The Real Power Behind "David's Sling"

     No matter which side the international community falls regarding the U.S./Iran "deal" on nuclear weapons, all can agree that Israel has a huge stake in the outcome.  It's always interesting to peruse the different media sites to try and determine how the "official spin" is being perceived.
     U.S. media outlets seem hesitant to declare it a victory for the U.S. (or the world), as all signs point to further stalling by Iran and continued development of their nuclear capabilities.  Furthermore, the U.S. seems to be more concerned with protecting Iran's "right" to nuclear expansion, than to the concerns of our ally, Israel, over overt Iranian threats to their homeland.
     Russia Today, (RT), a global multilingual television news network based in Moscow and funded by the Russian government, asserts that the recent testing of Israel's anti-ballistic missile system, called "David's Sling" is in reaction to the latest in the Iran nuclear talks.  This short-range ballistic missile defense system is designed to intercept medium range missiles from nearby Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon, home of the Shi'a Islamist militant group and political party, Hezbollah -- who, have sworn to annihilate Israel, and not surprisingly, hailed the news that Iran is closer to securing a nuclear bomb.
     Keeping in line with that sentiment, The Daily Star, a news outlet in Lebanon, declared that the preliminary success of "David's Sling" would not protect Israel "from the threat posed by Hezbollah’s ever-expanding and varied arsenal of missiles and rockets."  In fact, The Daily Star wrote that an assessment by the Israeli army released within the last week predicts that Israel could be hit by as many as 1,500 rockets a day in the next war, leaving hundreds dead and requiring mass evacuations.  They also predicted that "the success rate of Israel's 'Iron Dome' and 'David’s Sling' in knocking out Hezbollah’s rockets is largely irrelevant."  The substance of the article states that Hezbollah, and Israel's enemies, should have no problem evading "David's Sling."
     Perhaps all those who are willing to discount Israel's latest defense system should do a little historical research.  I'm sure you realize that it is no coincidence that Israel chose to name its anti-ballistic missile system after the choice of weapon of their legendary Shepherd King, David.  Israel's ancient enemy, the Philistines, also mocked the effectiveness of the original David's sling.  But those who oppose Israel in modern times should take heed of the outcome of the battle between the slight, young, boy and the giant named Goliath.  Interestingly enough, RT refers to Israel's latest anti-ballistic missile system as "unique, small, and agile", a description that could as easily be applied to David, as he engaged in his epic battle.
     Just as today, there seemed to be a huge discrepancy in the weapons the enemy combatants chose; and it looked as if David's sling was no match for the 9 foot giant, Goliath, whose protective armor weighed over 150 pounds, and who carried a spear that measured 26 feet!  But as those watching the ancient battle soon concluded, it was a mistake to underestimate David's sling or the power behind it.

     First of all, David's sling was a formidable weapon.  It has been argued by experts in ancient warfare that a good slinger hurled a stone as far and accurately as a good archer.  One Roman writer noted that opponents in leather armor were in far greater danger from sling missiles than arrows. Even if the stone did not penetrate the armor, it was capable of inflicting a fatal internal injury.
     Now consider that David, the shepherd boy, had ample practice slinging his stones at wolves, lions, and bears who attempted to attack his sheep.  He boasts to King Saul that he has killed any threat to his herd by this simple method.  Then consider that David probably wound up his sling with a circular arm motion, slinging around probably at six or seven revolutions per second.   Experts on ballistics have speculated that the stopping power of the rock fired from David's sling was roughly equal to the stopping power of a [.45 caliber] handgun.  It was an incredibly devastating weapon when applied to the center of Goliath's forehead!
     Of course, you realize that the real power behind David and his sling was the God of Israel.  David, representing the nation of Israel, declared that, with his sling, he would be delivered out of the hand of his enemies.  He prophesied that all would see that the battle was the Lord's, and that he, David, was supported by the hosts of heaven.
     If I was going to pick a name for a weapons system to protect Israel, none could be found more appropriate than "David's Sling".  Remember last summer's rocket attacks from the Palestinian militants, Hamas, against Israel?  Do you remember the miraculous interventions and divine miracles attributed to the Iron Dome defense system?  I think we can expect more such miracles for Israel, as God defends her from those who wish to destroy her.
     As I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, I also pray for the salvation of the Jews and that they make the connection between their Shepherd King David and his Holy descendant, their Messiah.  Let them call on His Name in their time of trouble, just as King David called on YHWH in his battles.  Let them recognize the source of their protection, and let the world take note of the power behind "David's Sling" ....

Psalm 27:3    Of David ... Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.

Is It A Good Idea that Tech Moguls Are Funding Longevity Research?

   

     What do you think of when you read this headline: "Tech Titans' Latest Project: Defy Death"?  Do you have any concerns when you read the following paragraph?  "[The tech titans] who founded Google, Facebook, eBay, Napster and Netscape are using their billions to rewrite the nation’s science agenda and transform biomedical research. Their objective is to use the tools of technology — the chips, software programs, algorithms and big data they used in creating an information revolution — to understand and upgrade what they consider to be the most complicated piece of machinery in existence: the human body."
     These are at the center of an article written by Ariana Eunjung Cha for The Washington Post.  All I could think of was the consequences of Adam and Eve eating the tempting fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden ... God knew the next temptation would be to "take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever", so man was banished from the Garden.  (Genesis 3:22-24).  In fact, God knew that man's ego would impel him to seek eternal life on his own; and in order to keep that from happening, God went so far as to set up mighty angels and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life!  Obviously, God does not want us to enter this realm!
     Yet, because of our pride, here we have the Wealthy and the Elite doing just that!  They are as deluded as Adam and Eve -- thinking that they can somehow equal the efforts of God -- become "like" God, which is the same temptation Satan has used since the Garden.  You would think man would get the picture!
     But savvy entrepreneurs like Peter Thiel (Ebay) and Larry Page (co-founder of Google), along with brilliant computer scientists and molecular biologists, are attempting to "rebuild, regenerate and reprogram patients’ organs, limbs, cells and DNA", which they surmise will "enable people to live longer and better."  These millionaire businessmen are essentially funding attempts to usurp God's tree of life.  They want to figure out ways to reprogram the DNA you were born with, and how to digitize your brain so it can live long after your body has died ... thereby creating a virtual you that can then be downloaded into any organism or created entity.
     This scenario was even promulgated on a recent episode of the TV Show, The Blacklist.  The plot of the episode titled, "The Longevity Initiative", can be summarized as follows: "a private company called the Longevity Initiative, dedicated to unlocking the key to human immortality, is funded by tech billionaire Roger Hobbs. Recently discovered bodies in the back of a produce truck were not mutilated, but experimented on; clearly the Longevity Initiative has entered the human-trial phase."  This is supposedly a made-up story for TV, but can you believe it?!?!  The entertainment industry is even aware of what is going on in the name of advancing the human condition!
     So, while the real-life men of our Technology Revolution have accomplished tremendous things in their lives, and are probably considered among the most intelligent and talented of our generation, I find myself amused and saddened at their lack of understanding about this existence we call "life".  Consider this statement by Larry Ellison, CEO of the software company, Oracle:  "Death has never made any sense to me ... How can a person be there and then just vanish, just not be there?  Death makes me angry ... Premature death even angrier."  As evidenced by this statement, these "geniuses" look at the world as if they control it; as if there is nothing bigger than themselves.

     You may consider statements like these as just the musings of selfish men who have more money than they know what to do with.  But as pointed out in the Washington Post article, two-thirds of scientific and medical research is now funded by private industry; a growing share by billionaires accountable to no one and impatient with the pace of innovation.  What this means is that a large portion of the research into defying death and creating immortal life is unregulated and can potentially open a Pandora's box of research in stem cells, neuroscience, genetically modified organisms and viruses -- all of which, if handled in the wrong way or with a malevolent objective, could create a not-so-Brave, but Scary New World.
     I believe that we should be concerned about these wealthy entrepreneurs and "philanthropists" who combine their own sense of self-preservation with the means to direct and command controversial research into prolonging man's lifespan.  We should especially be troubled when they come from the computer and internet fields, and when they look at the health-care system through their technological eyes and see the “data of billions of people,” collected through blood tests, online profiles, food purchases and fitness trackers.   They are quoted as saying, "When that data can be accessed and mined and utilized for good in an instantaneous manner ... that would be shattering in a positive way for the system as we know it."  But for whose good will this data be used; and by whose standard is it positive?  Are we in essence the guinea pigs for their self-funded and self-serving research?  I think we know the answer to that question.
      And suppose they are right -- that the research they are funding results in cures for diseases that have plagued man.  Will only the wealthy, who have funded the research, receive the cures?  And if they are truly selfless humanitarians, how do they suggest that the planet sustain all these people who will certainly strain our natural resources?  Does anyone else think that they are playing God?
      For me, the bottom line of this curiosity to defy death lies in the following paradox:  these wealthy tech magnates are trying to claim the power of something they don't even believe in -- trying to become like God; someone whom they can't even agree exists!  Their money is their god and they think they can do a better job than the real God of the Universe.  Sadly, they are just the latest in a long line of humans that have been deceived by the father of lies.  Just as Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden for their folly, so, too will modern man be defeated in this latest effort to "out-God"  God, Himself.

Proverbs 14:16    "A wise man suspects danger and cautiously avoids evil, but the fool bears himself insolently and is [presumptuously] confident."
      

   

John 12:23-25

Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls 

to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. 

But if it dies, it produces many seeds.  

The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man 

who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."

     As the Christian Church celebrates Easter in the year 2015, it is appropriate to contemplate this verse today.  It is important that we recognize what Jesus meant when He said "the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified."  He knew, without a doubt, that His Father's plan was being put into motion.  He knew that the Jews were about to reject Him, which would open the door for the Gentile nations to know Him.  And it would be by the eventual Gentile Church that He would be magnified, and His glory would abound.  

     God knew the exact day and the exact hour that He would accomplish the redemption of man through the death of His Son.  And Jesus is accepting of His mission and speaks of its approach with honor and a sense of triumph.  

     His analogy of the kernel of wheat is an obvious picture of His redeeming grace.  God, the Father, has made Him the seed and the root of His people.  But for that seed to multiply, He must die.  The seed must be buried in the ground before it can sprout and produce fruit.  And so it was with our Savior.

     The multitude of saved souls that have sprung from that one seed speaks of His glory and power.  For a couple thousand years the Church has grown and replenished itself with faithful saints who have clung to the root of the faith, Jesus Christ, Himself.  His legacy is one of Glory and Praise.

     But the last sentence of these verses drives us toward a sober thought; especially in these days in which we are living.  We can see that this world is getting more difficult for Christ's followers.  To remain faithful to our King and Savior is not popular, nor is it aligned with our changing societal laws and regulations.  At this moment, Christians are having to make choices between following Christ or their livelihoods.  Right now, we are only looking at fines and public ridicule.  Are we prepared to face the life-threatening situations that our fellow Christians are experiencing in the Middle East and Africa?  

     In this telling Scripture, just prior to His own death, Christ is telling us that this life -- in this world -- is not worth preserving.  In fact, I can't tell you how many of my fellow Christians, who have been "on the wall" the last few years, have told me that they despise this world and are ready to go Home. It sickens our hearts and spirits to see that the world values its idols, and its money, and its selfish desires more than it esteems the Savior of mankind.  We, his faithful followers, long for eternal life with Him, and hate that we are bound by our flesh in this world. 

     As the Church celebrates our Lord's resurrection today, let us keep in mind that we should not only focus on glorifying Him and the Father for their gift of salvation, but that we should ready ourselves to follow in His steps in every way  -- even unto death.  We may be vilified in this world, but we will be raised to a glorious eternal life that overshadows anything we coveted in this shallow life.  

     Just as each kernel of wheat is singularly sown to yield a bountiful harvest, I give thanks for what was sown in my heart, and look forward to being part of the Heavenly Harvest!

Is This Another Warning?

      If you will recall, back in July of 2012, I wrote a post titled America and Israel: Destinies Intertwined, in which I highlighted natural and political disasters that have come upon our land after our nation's leaders negotiated deals that harmed Israel.  As that post chronicled, we have suffered major hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, and economic woes after pressuring Israel to give up land for a Palestinian state.
     Now, here we are negotiating with Iran; the biggest proponent of state-sponsored terrorism against Israel. Even if you are shy about giving full credence to Wikipedia you cannot ignore their description of Iran:  "Since the declaration of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979, the government of Iran has been accused by the USA of funding, providing equipment, weapons, training and giving sanctuary to terrorists."  Our own State Department has called them "an active state sponsor of terrorism"; and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called them "a kind of central banker for terrorism ... through Hezbollah in the Middle East."  And need I remind you that Hezbollah is desperately trying to perfect their missile delivery systems to destroy Israel.
     Now, here we are in the Spring of 2015.  The United States is desperate to claim victory in a battle of the wills with Iran over their nuclear program.  Deadlines have been pushed back, with Iran stalling for more time to gain their objective ... a nuclear bomb to deploy against Israel.  And we seem to be doing everything we can to accommodate them.
     So, it came as no surprise to me that just hours before our nation announced that "we have achieved the framework for that deal", there is a 4.0 magnitude earthquake along a portion of the New Madrid Fault.  Was this a warning sign from God, indicating that He is ready to judge us with the mega-disaster that has been predicted for years now?  Is He telling us not to finalize this deal with Iran; a deal that will certainly put Israel in the crosshairs of a nuclear bomb?

     In case you are unfamiliar with the New Madrid Fault, it is a MAJOR seismic zone and a prolific source of intraplate earthquakes (earthquakes within a tectonic plate) in the southern and midwestern United States, stretching to the southwest from New Madrid, Missouri.
     There have been recorded earthquakes along the New Madrid Fault Line since 1699, when a French missionary reported the ground shaking.  The strongest earthquakes (in the 7.0 - 8.0 magnitude range) were felt in the early 1800s, when the fault created temporary waterfalls on the Mississippi River, created a wave that propagated upstream, and earthquakes were felt as far away as New York City and Boston, where ground motion caused church bells to ring.  A series of aftershocks were felt for several years, up to 1817.  Then in 1843 and 1985, the area experienced earthquakes of 6.0 and 6.6, respectively.
     The biggest earthquake in the modern era was a 5.4 in 1968, and the effects were felt in 23 states.  Only minor rumblings have been felt in the last 47 years .... until Wednesday night, just hours before the proud announcement of an Iran "semi-deal".  Why all the concern over a relatively minor 4.0 earthquake?  Because, for starters, the reports by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimates damage and injuries in St. Louis from a 7.6 magnitude New Madrid earthquake to be $2.8 billion, 260 deaths and 1,060 serious injuries.  The 1812 earthquake resulted in about 3.5 million acres damaged or destroyed by landslides, fissures, sandblows, lateral spreads, subsidence, submergence and uplift. And remember that this area of our country is prime agricultural and cattle land, and a major earthquake would certainly affect our food production.
      Then there is the report by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources that says earthquakes in this region shake and damage an area approximately 20 times larger than earthquakes in California and most other active seismic areas.  They also state that the New Madrid Seismic Zone appears to be about 30 years overdue for a magnitude 6.3 quake, and about 75% of the estimated recurrence time for a magnitude 7.6 earthquake has elapsed since the last quake of this size occurred in 1812.
     When you realize that our other national foreign policy decisions which adversely affected Israel corresponded with the 1991 "Perfect Storm"; Hurricane Andrew; the Northridge, CA earthquake; the 1998 Texas floods; the 1999 Super Tornado; and Hurricane Katrina; then you can imagine that a massive New Madrid earthquake will fit the bill as an appropriate judgment against our latest negotiations with Iran.
     The central United States experienced a 4.0 earthquake at the announcement that "a framework" had been negotiated.  Don't you think God is trying to give us a warning not to complete these negotiations with the devil?  I do not believe this is "mere coincidence" and I greatly fear the loss of life and property, and what a major earthquake in this area will do to our economy.  But more than that I fear the retribution that will be rightly ours should this nation enable Iran to carry out its threats against Israel.  Pray that our leaders will have a change of heart and bless Israel, rather than curse her!

Isaiah 14:11-12, concerning Israel:   "Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all."