"And A Child Shall Lead Them..."

    With all the evil and bad news in the world, it is time to share an inspirational story -- it's a short story, but one with deep significance.  And it involves the innocence and purity of heart that belongs to a child.  You may have already heard or read this account, and if so, read it again and start your week by basking in the glow of this child's example.

     Ava Faulk said her son Josiah Duncan, 5, wouldn't stop asking her questions when he spotted a disheveled man holding a bag with his bike outside the Waffle House restaurant in Prattville, Alabama.  When Faulk explained the man was homeless, little Josiah asked "What does that mean?" Faulk told Josiah that it meant he didn't have a home, to which her son responded, "Where is his house? Where is his family? Where does he keep his groceries?"
     But Josiah was most concerned that the stranger didn't have any food, and he begged his mother to buy the man a meal at the restaurant. The mother agreed, but when the man sat down at the restaurant and "nobody really waited on him", Josiah decided to take matters into his own hands.
     He "jumped up" and asked the man if he needed a menu, telling him "you can't order without one", Faulk said. When the man insisted he would be fine with a simple cheeseburger, Faulk made sure he knew he could have anything he wanted.  The mother remembers that, when he asked if he could have bacon, she told him "get as much bacon as you want".
     And before the man could dig in, Josiah said he wanted to "say the blessing with him", singing loud enough for the other 11 customers in the restaurant to hear... "God our Father, God our Father, we thank you, we thank you," he sang. "For our many blessings, for our many blessings, Amen, Amen."
     "The man cried. I cried. Everybody cried," Faulk admitted.  It's a moment the mother said she will never forget.  ""You never know who the angel on Earth is, and when the opportunity comes you should never walk away from it," she said.  "Watching my son touch the 11 people in that Waffle House tonight will be forever one of the greatest accomplishments as a parent I'll ever get to witness."  

     Here we have an image of the Good Samaritan, and the heart of Jesus's message to "love your neighbor as yourself" -- all rolled into the loving gesture of 5-year-old Josiah.  This child saw the need of a stranger and met it; without prejudice or preconceived ideas of the homeless man.  

     While we applaud Josiah's selfless act, let's not forget his mother, Ava.  Children watch and listen to their parents.  She obviously had practiced such caring and giving acts, herself.  Somewhere in his short lifespan, she had shown her child her own heart towards others, and it resulted in Josiah's curiosity about the homeless man.  

     But let's take it one step further ... how many other mother's would have hushed their child's inquisitiveness and walked right by the man?  Would you have invited him in to the restaurant to share your table with you and your young child?  Yes, this young mother deserves as much accolades as her precious son; for, one day in heaven, the Crown of Life will be bestowed on the heads of she and her child.  They have obviously partaken of the "living water" and the "bread of life" that are our Savior, Jesus Christ, and they offered them to a complete stranger.  Whether that homeless man was an angel or not, didn't matter.  They gave out of pure love for their fellow man.  God bless them!

Thank you to WSFA-TV, Montgomery, Alabama for the details on this inspirational story.

Proverbs 1:8-9    "Hear, my son, your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching; Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head and ornaments about your neck.…"

     

Romans 16:6 ... A Life Well-Lived

Greet Mary, who has worked so hard among you

    Today's Scripture might seem unexceptionable, but I chose it for a specific reason.  It has been a year-and-a-half since our little home church began the study of the Book of Romans; what I consider Paul's greatest work.  Throughout that time, we have reveled in Paul's systematic approach to the Gospel message.

     He showed us God’s redemptive plan for all mankind – both the Jews and the Gentiles – and showed us how a life of righteousness should be lived.  Most of all he showed us in Romans 3:24 the heart of his message:  We are [all] justified freely by God’s grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

     As I got to the last chapter of Romans I contemplated, for just a moment, that it might be anti-climatic.  After all, it appeared to be only a simple letter in which Paul thanked an assortment of people.  After the magnificence of the rest of the Book, would this have any significance to our small group of Believers?  How dare I shortchange the Bible!

     As I dived into who these people were, and why Paul felt moved to mention them, they came alive to me.  I'd like to share their stories with you...  

     First of all, there are 33 people named; 25 men and 8 women.  The first to be mentioned is Phoebe, a prominent businesswoman, who carried that letter all the way from Corinth to Rome … a distance of 616 miles!!!  

     Paul commends her as a faithful servant and a deacon[ess].  That does not mean that she held some governmental office in that church; (we sometimes read present-day meanings into these words).  It means that she had assumed a ministry on behalf of the church.  She represented them in some labor, and whether it was material, physical, or spiritual, she was very faithful in it.  There is strong evidence here that Phoebe was a teacher or an evangelist -- a laborer for the gospel with Paul.  We don’t know much else about her, but she was obviously important, and she is mentioned first.

     Next we meet Priscilla and Aquila, a famous husband-wife team.  Luke tells us they were Jews, tentmakers by trade, who were driven out of Rome by the decree of the Emperor Claudius.  They shared the trade of tent-making with Paul, and also ministered in the synagogue.  They were valuable teachers of the faith, and Priscilla's name is often mentioned before her husband's, indicating that she had the gift of teaching, rather than him.  But wherever they are mentioned in the Bible, there is a church in their home.

     Epaenetus was someone Paul would never forget … he was the first person Paul led to Christ when he journeyed to Asia.  We do not know what Epaenetus was doing in Rome, but he was cherished because he was the first to exercise faith in Asia.  

     Associated with him is Mary, whom Paul calls "Mary the worker", and who is featured in today's verse of Scripture.  We don't know anything else about her, except that she is one of the group of unknown women in the Gospels who had the gift of helps. She could not teach or preach or evangelize, but she could work, and she did. I would suppose that Mary had a heart for serving, and that is why Paul makes the effort to single her out.

     Paul then goes on to mention a series of friends and relatives -- all serving the Church in faithfulness.  There are Andronicus and Junia(s), relatives who came to Christ before Paul did; possibly through an encounter with Stephen.  Other mentioned relatives are Lucius, Jason and Sosipator.  

     Ampliatus and Narcissus are thought to have been slaves in a Roman household, as were Quartus and Tertius, to whom Paul dictated the letter to the Romans; while Tryphaena and Tryphosa, along with Herodian, were of the aristocratic class.  It is thought that Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas were perhaps a group of Greek businessmen who formed a group of faithful servants to the Church in Rome.  And we must not think of the "Church in Rome" as we do today.  It did not resemble the wealthy Vatican and Catholic Church of modern times, but consisted in various house churches as that conducted by four others mentioned in the 16th Chapter of Romans, Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas.  

     Paul also mentions Rufus, whom historians believe to be the son of Simon of Cyrene, who helped our Lord carry His cross on the way to Calvary.  How many times do you think he asked his father to relate how that experience helped him to believe in our Lord?  And what a witness, he would have been for the Church! Also included are the names of Persis, Urbanus and Stachys, all noted as "fellow workers in Christ".

     Paul ends his letter by mentioning Timothy, his "beloved son in the Faith"; Gaius, who hosted a home church in Corinth; and Erastus, the city treasurer of Corinth, along with others I've already named; all helping him to do the Lord's work and encouraging the Church. 

     As you can see, we have slaves, prominent business people, and members of aristocratic families, proving that the Gospel message had infiltrated the ranks of Roman society and brought them all together as members of Christ’s body, the Church.  (What an excellent example that the Church is not the building; it's the people!)

     The point of this post is that we often skip over these names of people in the Bible.  But we should take note of their steady, tested commitment, and their faithfulness to the gospel.  We should be especially aware that they labored for the Gospel ... it was their life's work!  Today we Christians give in so easily to the world's philosophy of life -- live for your own pleasure, focus on retiring at the end of your life and discontinuing your work. The early Christians did not believe that!  They worked tirelessly their entire lives to spread the Gospel message.  Instead of skipping over these names, we should honor them for their selfless service to our Lord, and seek to imitate the example of Mary, "who has worked so hard among you".  

       

     

Forecast For Our Future?

    Modern culture has been enthralled with the dystopian writings of Aldous Huxley and George Orwell since their famous novels, Brave New World and 1984, appeared on the scene. Written in 1931 and 1949, respectively, both are tales of a world run by totalitarian governments, and where the life experience of the individual is limited and controlled.
     At the center of Brave New World is the World State, a unified government which administers the lives of every person on the planet.  There is no individuality or encouragement to succeed on your own.  Even human reproduction is controlled and embryos are raised artificially in "hatcheries and conditioning centers".  When born, every person is assigned to one of five social classes.  Children are educated with appropriate subconscious messages to mold the child's self-image to that appropriate for his class.  Critical thinking is discouraged, and books are banned.

     The experience of the individual can be summed up as follows:  Emotional, romantic relationships are obsolete; chastity and fidelity are cause for disapproval or mockery; and marriage, natural birth, parenthood, and pregnancy are considered too vulgar to be mentioned in polite conversation. Spiritual needs are met by mock religious services in which twelve people consume an hallucinogenic drug, called soma, and sing hymns. The ritual progresses through group hypnosis and climaxes in a sex orgy. The symbol worshiped is the "T", in homage to Henry Ford who had recently introduced mass-production of automobiles with the Model T.
     People enjoy perfect health and youthfulness until they die at age 60.  Death is not feared; the population is confident that everyone is happy, and since there are no families, there are no strong ties to mourn.  The vast majority of the population lives under the World State. In geographic areas not conducive to its system, "savages" are left to their own devices. These "savage reservations" are similar to reservations established for the Native American population during the colonization of North America.
     The rest of the novel delves into the dark story of how one of the "savages" longs to explore society among the World Controllers, only to discover that its comforts, technological wonders, and consumerism are poor substitutes for the individual freedom, human dignity and personal integrity that was part of his experience on "the reservation".  He then ostracizes himself from society and attempts to purify himself of "sin" (desire), which ultimately leads to a lonely ending.
     I've given you this synopsis of the popular novel to show how far we've come towards fulfilling this fantasy novel in the nearly 100 years since it was published.  And, ironically, as I've pointed out several times in the past -- Hollywood has a way of also showing us what our future holds.  So it should come as no surprise that one of the elites of Tinseltown will be bringing Brave New World into your living rooms very soon.
     That's right, the Syfy channel, and none other than Stephen Spielberg, are working together on a TV series adaptation of Brave New World.  Most people will just remember the novel for it's bizarre and, frankly, frightening depiction of the future of human society.  But like many "geniuses" in their fields (such as Nikolai Tesla), Aldous Huxley was interested in spiritual subjects such as parapsychology and philosophical mysticism, or the "extraordinary experiences and states of [the] mind."  Could his experiences with psychedelic drugs have opened him up to influences by spirits not of this world?  Is this where he received his vision of a Brave New World?  And was he simply forecasting Satan's plan for humankind, and now we will be shown in graphic detail on our TV screens just what lies in store for us?
     It will be interesting to see how Spielberg approaches the presentation of the World State, and such subjects as overpopulation, the effects of drugs, subliminal suggestion, and totalitarianism -- all themes within the original novel.  And it will be interesting to see how many unsuspecting TV watchers will be easily deceived; consumed with the entertainment value of the latest apocalyptic show, never realizing that they could be watching themselves in the very near future.

Revelation 17:13   "These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast."

The Danger of "Calling On Spirits"

    We, in the 21st Century, think that every new experience or invention under the sun began with us. We are the center of our own naive and narcissistic universe.  For instance, those who are on the fringes of dynamic experimentation with combining humans with computers, think they are the first to ever consider enhancing the human body with unnatural and extraordinary powers.  Need I remind them that such attempts have been made as far back as 3500 B.C., when the Watchers descended to earth to mate with human women and produced "mighty men"; giants endowed with super strength, height, and powers -- it's all there in Genesis, Chapter 6.
     Every generation must deal with the latest repetition of age-old practices that threaten to infiltrate and destroy the relationship between man and his Creator.  Throughout the ages, man has intuitively known that "something" exists beyond this earthly realm, and has been tempted to communicate with the spirit world.  In our youth, we were introduced to the Ouija Board, a board "game" in which one could supposedly summon spirits from "the other side", who would respond to questions by moving a pointer around the board.  Little did we know how dangerous that so-called "game" really was.

     Today's kids are now engaged in an equally dangerous pastime called "Charlie Charlie".  Never heard of it?  I suggest you educate yourselves, but there are some serious warnings concerning this seemingly innocent activity.  An article on the Patheos website, states, "A game that purports to invoke a Mexican demon – known as “Charlie, Charlie” and considered to be a simplified version of the Ouija board – has gone viral on social media among young people, prompting one exorcist to warn of its dangers.   The game, which has gained significant traction online in recent days, involves a pair of pencils or pens, a sheet of paper, and the invocation of a spirit named “Charlie.”  Scores of short video clips, posted mostly by teens, show players shrieking and running out of view when the pencil apparently moves on its own and points to a “yes” or a “no” after they say a phrase inviting the demon.  
     But Spanish exorcist Jose Antonio Fortea told ACI Prensa (the Catholic news agency serving the Church in Latin America) that the so-called #CharlieCharlieChallenge involves the very real, occult practice of “calling on spirits.”  In an interview May 27th, Father Fortea warned that “some spirits who are at the root of that practice will harass some of those who play the game.” Even though the priest thinks that players “won't be possessed” necessarily, the spirit that has been invoked “will stay around for a while ... resulting in other spirits beginning to enter into even more frequent communication.”
     I must tell you that such communication with spirits is not confined to children or teenagers.  My husband and I were contacted by a woman who we have been quite close to, who said she had a message for us from a "Spirit Master" who has appeared to her.  Supposedly he told her that she needed to convey to us some important information that he wished us to know about our future.  We politely and firmly declined her offer.
     This woman, who professes to be a strong Christian, described channeling spirits "with long white beards" who were her "spirit guides" to a closer connection with God.  When we refused to hear what they had to say, she tried to tell us anyway, and my husband had to tell her we did not want to hear one word of what she, or they, had to say.

     Folks, this is not just some old history that we read in ancient Scriptural passages.  People are just as interested in invoking spirits and messing around in the spirit world today as they were in the Bible.  And God's warning to us is as relevant as it was in Leviticus 19:31:  "Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them."
     The problem is that people who entertain contacting such mediums aren't aware that most modern channelers learn the art through the practice of Eastern meditation.  Meditation involves "emptying" or "clearing" one's mind in order to "receive messages from the spirit realm".  But what everyone should realize -- especially Christians -- is that we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, who will give us unity, light, and wisdom with our Savior and Father in Heaven.  Emptying our minds only presents the opportunity for a spirit imposter to enter our consciousness.  Remember, demon spirits have no problem telling some of the truth to hide their deception; and just because a spirit can tell the truth and acknowledge the authority of Jesus, doesn't mean it is a good spirit.
     All Christians must keep in mind that any prayers offered to anyone or anything other than God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit constitute prayers and/or worship to demons. It opens the way for evil spirits to have access to that place or person.  Our friend who is consulting with her "Ascended Master" has no idea that this spirit being is not from God.  She is as foolishly deceived as the youth who are following the social media trend of Charlie Charlie.
     The Bible speaks of the danger of ignorance, in God's people (My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge; Hosea 4:6) and how risky it is even to bring things God classes as abomination into our homes.  Unfortunately, our generation is so ignorant of God's Word that it has been quite simple for Satan to attack us.  Many unknowingly invite demonic attack by dabbling in such practices as wearing jewelry with occult symbolism and power; agreeing to explore the spirit world through a medium; or by playing seemingly harmless board games.  How easy it has been for Satan to blind an ignorant and foolish generation!
     The very fact that exorcism has become a popular subject in recent months, points to the rise of occultic practices and demonic activities.  There is a decrease in knowledge and diminished faith among the world's population; and combined with an increased curiosity and participation, by both young and old alike, in the occult through spirit contact, we can expect an extraordinary rise in demonic activity.  It is time we Christians wake up to the very real danger of calling on spirits.  This activity is not just an ancient practice; it is alive and well in the 21st Century, and it is a reality we can no longer ignore.

Isaiah 8:19    "And when the people [instead of putting their trust in God] shall say to you, Consult for direction mediums and wizards who chirp and mutter, should not a people seek and consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?"
   

When God Is Removed From War

     As I scanned the news stories across the Web, one particular headline caught my eye ... "Marine Court-Martialed For Refusing To Remove Bible Verse".  The absurdity of that statement made it obligatory that I click on the article.  And just as I suspected, the animosity against Christians in the military is growing out of all proportions to the alleged harm it is causing.

     Lance Corporal (LCpl) Monifa Sterling is accused of displaying a verse of Scripture on her computer -- written on a scrap of paper -- that the military has determined “could easily be seen as contrary to good order and discipline.”   The verse?  Isaiah 54:17:   “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.”  When Lance Corporal Sterling refused to remove the verse, she was found guilty of failing to go to her appointed place of duty, disrespect toward a superior commissioned officer, and four specifications of disobeying the lawful order of a noncommissioned officer.  After representing herself at trial, the Christian Marine was ultimately given a bad conduct discharge and a reduction in rank from lance corporal to private.  
     Both lower court and the appellate court ruled that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act did not apply to her case because displaying a Bible verse does not constitute religious exercise.  The Liberty Institute and former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement, also a law professor at Georgetown University, are now representing Sterling.
     First, let me say that this is not shocking to me in light of the fact that both God and our Constitution no longer merit any respect or consideration in how we run our national institutions.  This is apparent by the U.S. military policies that are being accelerated to allow the recruitment of as many illegal aliens as possible -- young men and women who have no emotional ties to America and no fundamental understanding of how our constitutional republic is supposed to function -- or the history of how faith in God played a huge part in the success of the military victories that established this nation.
     But Lance Corporal Sterling obviously knows the connection between God and military victories. The words she taped to her computer screen are part of a longer verse in Isaiah 54 that reads, No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD.

     I'd like to think that LCpl Sterling knows that she is upholding a long tradition of warriors who know the name of Jehovah Nissi ... The Lord Is My Banner.  I'd like to think that she knows that this is the name of God that Moses disclosed to Joshua before he went into battle against the Amalekites.  As long as Moses raised the staff (banner) of God, Joshua and the Israelite army were assured victory.  Perhaps LCpl Sterling understands that this battle was all about God.  Joshua, Moses, Aaron, Hur, and the Israelite armies were simply vessels God used, but the battle itself was orchestrated by God. Moses knew this and wanted to make certain the Israelites knew it and remembered it. Nothing that he or they did in the physical realm brought about victory. God’s presence and power took them into the battle and assured the victory when the battle was done.
     So what do the Marines and the Military Establishment find so darn offensive about Sterling believing that to be victorious in the military battles she will face, she cannot fight them in her own strength, but needs the Lord to go before her, just as He did with Joshua?  How is knowing that she needs the Lord in order to assure victory "contrary to good order and discipline"?  Or how can this understanding be seen as "divisive and contentious", which the Marines maintain?  As her Liberty Institute lawyer pointed out, “Our Marines are trained to deal with some of the most hostile people on the planet. I don’t think they are afraid of tiny words on a tiny piece of paper.”
     For now, Sterling's name has been tarnished with the bad conduct discharge, and she is currently out of a job.  But perhaps the Lord has a bigger purpose for her.  Perhaps He chose this battle for her in order to show that He will go before her and win the battle; that she is His human instrument, just as Joshua and his men were.
     I pray that the Lance Corporal will stand strong behind the banner of the Lord, and remain above the demands and accusations; being free from the crushing effects of this unjust sentence.  In the end, I hope she believes that she will be vindicated and triumph over her opposition.  The standing of every person of faith serving in the Armed Forces depends on it.  Without this victory in the Lord, God help our military and the defense of this nation.

Isaiah 50:8    "He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me!"

The War At Home

     The title of today's post is the motto of an organization whose goal is to end the suicides of our returning military veterans.  On Memorial Day, the nation honored those who died in military service to their country.  We focused on those who died as a result of combat in foreign lands, and we mourned all the loss of life on the battlefields of our nation's history.
     But there is a battle here at home that is claiming an alarming number of veteran's lives, and it's time we, the American people, go to war against it.  Every single day 22 veterans commit suicide here in our homeland.  Let me repeat that ... every single day 22 veterans commit suicide here at home.  Mission22, a website committed to bringing attention to this horrific statistic puts that number in perspective for us ...  "That’s two starting football squads a day. A commercial airliner every three weeks.  A 9/11 every four-and-a-half months. To put this into scale, 14 years of conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in approximately 6,000 U.S. combat deaths.  In that same period of time, [for] the next 14 years, an estimated 112,000 military men and women will die by suicide. Which means that, in some twisted way, coming home from war is more dangerous than leaving to fight in one."
     We've all heard of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), both major contributing factors to the suicide rates among veterans.  And you will notice the word that is common to both conditions ... TRAUMA.  Sometimes I think that we dismiss the significance of this word and what it means in conjunction with the service of our military.
     The word "trauma" is defined as shock, upheaval, distress, stress, strain, pain, anguish, suffering, upset, agony, misery, sorrow, grief, heartache, heartbreak, torture; ordeal, trial, tribulation, trouble, worry, anxiety; nightmare, hell, hellishness; war-weariness.  After 14 years of non-stop war, any (or all) of these emotions are the daily companions of our returning veterans.  The problem is that they are invisible scars, and family members are often unaware of the depth and toll that war has taken on their loved one; and they are in the dark as to how to help.
     Also, it is a deplorable fact that the Veteran's Hospitals, the Pentagon, and Congress, itself, has not seen to the physical and psychological needs of our returning vets.  At a Congressional hearing last year, then commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, Admiral William McRaven described just how important it is that we win this battle for the lives of our veterans:  "There is a lot of angst. There's a lot of pressure out there. My soldiers have been fighting now for 12, 13 years in hard combat. Hard combat; and anybody that has spent any time in this war has been changed by it. It's that simple... The welfare of these brave service members and their families is critical to our command’s readiness and our ability to accomplish the mission. It is also a moral imperative...  It is about the readiness of my force," he said. "At the end of the day, we'll find the right weapon...But I'll tell you, if we don't have a force that's resilient, that is healthy, that can do the job, none of that equipment is going to matter."
     While I appreciate Admiral McRaven's perspective and the need for a prepared military force to wage war, it is imperative that the American people now find some way to repay the sacrifice that our veterans's and their families have made for us by making sure that the hopelessness that leads to suicide is eliminated from the veteran experience.
     How do we win this war on the home front?  I admit that I'm at a loss; but perhaps we can start by admitting it; talking about it so the numbers don't stay in the shadow.  Then demand from our elected officials that they do more than hand out medicine bottles full of anti-depressants and pills that numb the senses.  We need to listen to our vets, provide them with outlets for expressing their torment, and remove the stigma of asking for help.
     I applaud and promote organizations that encourage the civilian public to partner with veterans who are helping veterans.  Organizations such as Stop Soldier Suicide and Real Warriors are just two of the groups attempting to make a difference.  And now it is time the American public does its share of carrying the burden, by partnering with these groups and volunteering or donating money.  There have been far too many of our veterans who survived the horrors of war, only to come home to face an enemy they couldn't defeat.  Let's show them that we support them and care about them, and above else, that they aren't alone in this battle.  They gave so much so we could live our lives well; let's do all we can to give them back their lives.

2 Corinthians 1:8   "For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself." 
   


   
     

And Then The Floods Came

     It is news across the nation that Texas has received so much rain that parts of our great state are now out of the years-long drought we have been experiencing.  Our tank, which has been dry for the last 4 years, is overflowing and trees which have been thirsty for rain water during the drought are being uprooted and falling because they have been sitting in water for too long.
     The whole state is due more rain this week, and the word that ranchers and homeowners fear more than "Drought" is now going to become a reality ... "Flooding".   The Blanco River in Central Texas crested at 43 feet, a rise of over 31 feet since late Saturday night. That 31-foot surge in the river level included a rise of 17 feet in just 30 minutes!  It has resulted in massive flooding and loss of life ... entire families were swept away and the number of missing is rising.  There are not words to describe the heartbreak we are experiencing in Texas.

     Yesterday, our capital city, Austin, experienced rain and floods that rival the historic Memorial Day Flood of 1981.  Having experienced that one, I watched the new coverage of flooded streets and heard the reports from family and friends, and it was like I was reliving a nightmare.
     Also, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began notifying homeowners in the small southeast Texas town of Cuero that the Guadalupe River is expected to rise to over 40 feet by Thursday morning.  The flood stage is set at 24 feet, with moderate flooding at 33 feet, so you can imagine the devastation that is expected in the next 48-72 hours.  We have friends and family that live in Cuero, so this situation is also personal for me.
     The Red Cross is already implementing shelter in the school gymnasium for those who will be impacted by the flood waters, and people are voluntarily evacuating their homes.  It is times like this that you hope the community comes together to serve each other and lighten the burdens of fellow human beings.  A good friend told me that that is what happened during the "flood of 1998", which was the previous milestone for the town of Cuero.  At the time, the citizens had no warning and little time to get themselves and their belongings to safety.  But what a difference 17 years makes.
     Now with technology, people began receiving messages on their phones, directly from FEMA, of what was coming, and giving them at least 48 hours to pack up and move to higher ground.  Red Cross and community volunteers were pre-warned, so the organization to provide shelter should be better coordinated and implemented.  People flocked to the local grocery store for food, water, bug spray and batteries.  Valuables are being relocated and decisions being made as to what is important to save, should the worst happen.
     It is at this time that priorities become crystal clear in your mind... all the material "things" that we humans collect and covet are suddenly unimportant.  The only things you really need are a method to protect yourself and your family,  important papers to prove ownership of your property, a few photos to maintain your ties to the past, enough clothes and food to sustain a few days or a couple of weeks until you can start the cleanup, and your Bible to give you hope.  Everything else is replaceable.
     The last time that Cuero, Texas flooded martial law and curfews were invoked due to the unexpected flooding and the chaos that comes with devastation.  It will be interesting to see if that measure is needed across Texas, as more and more towns are affected by the raging flood waters that are rolling downstream.  If deemed necessary, how will it be instituted and received, given the difference in today's political climate?  Will the diverse races come together in mutual support, or will the turmoil (both real and perceived) that is fueled by the internet serve to separate and divide communities?
     Now, more than ever, is the time for all of us to see beyond the color of our skin, and become the family of man.  It is hard for me to reconcile that Evil would take advantage of such a miserable situation, yet that is exactly the vulnerability that comes with such catastrophes.  No one is sure exactly how much damage to expect in the coming days, but right now the sky is clear and the rain has stopped.  Please pray with me for the deliverance of Texas from the destructive flood waters and any social upheaval that the Enemy perpetuates.  Let's pray that the stories coming out of this situation will glorify our Lord and restore the concept of "neighbor", as our state pulls together for the betterment of all.

Psalm 29:10-11    "The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!"

   

Duty, Honor, Country

     Today is the official celebration of Memorial Day, the day that our country honors those men and women who have died in the service of our country.  It is also a day that we honor all veterans who have selflessly contributed to the safety and protection of our nation.
     The Bible is full of stories of warriors ... Samson, David and Joshua are memorialized as valiant protectors of their people.  And from Isaac Davis, the first officer to be killed in the American Revolutionary War to Nathan Chapman, the first American soldier to be killed in combat in the war in Afghanistan, this nation has seen no shortage of men and women who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the ideals this country stands for.
     As the daughter of a Navy veteran from the Greatest Generation of WWII, I have always been proud of our U.S. military.  As I grew older, I can remember the first time that the undeserved criticism was launched against our Vietnam Veterans.  So, on this celebrated day, I would like to tell you the story of one special soldier from that era.

     You may be unfamiliar with his name and his story, and this post might appear a little longer than usual.  But I promise you it will be worth your while to learn about him.  His name is Roy Benavidez, and he received the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Ronald Reagan in 1981.  Roy's story is not only remarkable for what he accomplished on the battlefield, but for what he accomplished in his life.
     He was born in South Texas, near where I live today; the son of a sharecropper who was orphaned at the age of 10, and who only received a 7th grade education.  But this is no sad story of missed opportunities and potential.  It is a miraculous story of perseverance and commitment that would serve him in unforgettable circumstances.  When President Reagan reflected on his heroism in battle, he remarked, "If this was a movie script, they would never believe it."
     But I want you to hear the story of Master Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez, and read the official recognition from President Ronald Reagan:  The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of the Congress the Medal of Honor to Master Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez, United States Army, Retired for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.  (Here is the story of his gallantry and bravery):

On May 2, 1968, Master Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant) Roy P. Benavidez distinguished himself by a series of daring and extremely valorous actions while assigned to Detachment B-56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of May 2, 1968, a 12-man Special Forces Reconnaissance Team was inserted by helicopters in a dense jungle area west of Loc Ninh, Vietnam to gather intelligence information about confirmed large-scale enemy activity. This area was controlled and routinely patrolled by the North Vietnamese Army. After a short period of time on the ground, the team met heavy enemy resistance, and requested emergency extraction. Three helicopters attempted extraction, but were unable to land due to intense enemy small arms and antiaircraft fire. Sergeant Benavidez was at the Forward Operating Base in Loc Ninh monitoring the operation by radio when these helicopters returned to off-load wounded crew members and to assess aircraft damage. Sergeant Benavidez voluntarily boarded a returning aircraft to assist in another extraction attempt. Realizing that all the team members were either dead or wounded and unable to move to the pickup zone, he directed the aircraft to a nearby clearing where he jumped from the hovering helicopter, and ran approximately 75 meters under withering small arms fire to the crippled team. Prior to reaching the team's position, he was wounded in his right leg, face, and head. Despite these painful injuries, he took charge, repositioning the team members and directing their fire to facilitate the landing of an extraction aircraft, and the loading of wounded and dead team members. He then threw smoke cannisters to direct the aircraft to the team's position. Despite his severe wounds and under intense enemy fire, he carried and dragged half of the wounded team members to the awaiting aircraft. He then provided protective fire by running alongside the aircraft as it moved to pick up the remaining team members. As the enemy's fire intensified, he hurried to recover the body and the classified documents on the dead team leader. When he reached the team leader's body, Sergeant Benavidez was severely wounded by small arms fire in the abdomen and grenade fragments in his back. At nearly the same moment, the aircraft pilot was mortally wounded, and his helicopter crashed. Although in extremely critical condition due to his multiple wounds, Sergeant Benavidez secured the classified documents and made his way back to the wreckage, where he aided the wounded out of the overturned aircraft, and gathered the stunned survivors into a defensive perimeter. Under increasing enemy automatic weapons and grenade fire, he moved around the perimeter distributing water and ammunition to his weary men, reinstilling in them a will to live and fight. Facing a build-up of enemy opposition with a beleagured team, Sergeant Benavidez mustered his strength, and began calling in tactical air strikes and directing the fire from supporting gunships, to suppress the enemy's fire and so permit another extraction attempt. He was wounded again in his thigh by small arms fire while administering first aid to a wounded team member just before another extraction helicopter was able to land. His indomitable spirit kept him going as he began to ferry his comrades to the craft. On his second trip with the wounded, he was clubbed from behind by an enemy soldier. In the ensuing hand-to-hand combat, he sustained additional wounds to his head and arms before killing his adversary. He then continued under devastating fire to carry the wounded to the helicopter. Upon reaching the aircraft, he spotted and killed two enemy soldiers who were rushing the craft from an angle that prevented the aircraft door gunner from firing upon them. With little strength remaining, he made one last trip to the perimeter to ensure that all classified material had been collected or destroyed, and to bring in the remaining wounded. Only then, in extremely serious condition from numerous wounds and loss of blood, did he allow himself to be pulled into the extraction aircraft. Sergeant Benavidez' gallant choice to join voluntarily his comrades who were in critical straits, to expose himself constantly to withering enemy fire, and his refusal to be stopped despite numerous severe wounds, saved the lives of at least eight men. His fearless personal leadership, tenacious devotion to duty, and extremely valorous actions in the face of overwhelming odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflect the utmost credit on him and the United States Army.

     President Reagan then finished reading the citation, and turned to speak to MSG Benavidez:  "Sergeant Benavidez, a nation grateful to you, and to all your comrades living and dead, awards you its highest symbol of gratitude for service above and beyond the call of duty, the Congressional Medal of Honor."

     But it is the words of the man himself, that best exemplify the duty and commitment that our U.S. military feels towards their comrades.  Here is a speech given by MSG Benavidez, himself, in 1991:

     I come from a little town called Cuero, Texas.  After the death of my mother and father at an early age, my brother and I were adopted by an aunt and uncle, and we moved to El Campo, TX, about an hour and a half southwest of Houston.  I was raised there, and went to school there.  I worked at odd jobs there; I shined shoes, sold newspapers, picked cotton.  And like a fool, I dropped out of school and ran away from home.  I’m not proud of that.
     I needed to learn a skill.  I needed an education.  My adopted father would tell me, “Son, an education and a diploma are the keys to success. Bad habits and bad company will ruin you.”
     I was too old to go back to school, and didn’t want to return there, so I joined the Texas National Guard.  And I liked what I saw in men in uniform.  I qualified to join the regular Army, and was accepted, where I heard about Airborne.  I heard about that extra pay you get for jumping out of airplanes (audience laughter), so I qualified to go to jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia, but the durn recruiters never told me what the training was like.  For every mistake you make, you do push-ups.  And I can honestly tell you, ladies and gentlemen, that I’m one of the guys who helped put Georgia into South Carolina, doing push-ups.
     Well, I finished my training and got assigned to a well-known unit at Fort Bragg, NC, 82nd Airborne Division.  After awhile, I heard about the Special Forces … you know them as the Green Berets.  I qualified.  We in the Special Forces are trained to operate deep behind enemy lines, living on little or no support at all.  We were trained in 5 specialties; I am trained in three.  I’m trained in Operations and Intelligence, where I learned oceanography, meteorology, photography; I’m an interrogator and I’m a linguist.  I’m trained in light and heavy weapons, and cross-trained schematics.
     I’ve been all over the world:  the Far East, Europe, South and Central America, and two tours in Viet Nam.  I was assigned to Berlin, and I declared one time that I was the only Hispanic American who could speak German with a southern accent…
     In 1965, I was sent to Viet Nam as an advisor to a Vietnamese infantry unit.  After a short period of time there, I stepped on a mine.  I woke up in the Philippine Islands.  I was paralyzed from the waist down.  I was declared to never walk again.  I was transferred to Fort Sam Houston in Texas.  The doctors were initiating my medical discharge papers, but at night, I would slip out of bed and crawl to a wall, using my elbows and my chin.  My back would be killing me and I would be crying, but I’d get to the wall and set myself against the wall, and I’d back myself up against the wall and I’d stand there.  Like Kaw-Liga, the Indian.  I’d stand there and move my toes, right and left, right and left – every single chance I got.  I wanted to walk; I wanted to go back to Viet Nam because of what the news media was saying about us; that our presence wasn’t needed there; and they were burning the flag.  And I saw a lot of other patients coming back, with limbs missing … I wanted to go back; I was determined.  Because I remembered what I was taught in jump school.  That old Master Sergeant would tell me, “Benavidez, quitters never win; and winners never quit.  What are you?” … I’d say, “I’m a winner.”
     And I remembered my Special Forces training and one of the training missions I was on.  I remember that my leader would tell me, “Face [it].  Determination.  Determination and Positive Attitude will carry you further than Ability.  You can do it, Benavidez…   You can do it.”  I never forgot those words.

     So there I was.  At night, I’d slip out of bed; the nurses would catch me sometimes and chew me out.  They would give me a sleeping pill to put me asleep.  They would tell the doctors in the morning.  But I was determined to walk.

     Nine months later, here comes my medical discharge papers.  And I told the doctor, “Doctor, look what I can do.”  He said, “Sergeant, I’m sorry.  Even if you can stand up, you’ll never be able to walk.”  I jumped out of bed, and I stood up right before him; my back was aching, I was crying, and I moved just a little bit.  The doctor said, “Benavidez, if you walk out of this room, I’ll tear your papers up.”  I walked out of that ward… I walked out with a limp and went back to Fort Bragg, NC and began running five or ten miles a day; doing 50 to 100 push-ups; and I made three parachute jumps in one day.  I was physically and mentally ready to go back to Viet Nam.  

     My orders were to go to Central America as an Advisor, but as a non-commissioned officer and knowing some of the good officers in the right places (he said with a smile), my orders were diverted, and I went back to Viet Nam in 1968.

     In the latter part of April, my buddy and I began to gather intelligence information behind enemy lines.  After two days on the ground, my buddy was shot in the eye, the back, and the legs.  Our mission was complete, but I didn’t want to leave my buddy behind.  I called for an extraction helicopter to come and get us out.  They dropped a McGuire line … nothing more than a rope … and we hooked on.  As they lifted us up, those two ropes began twisting and rubbing (nylon ropes will burn).  As we ascended above the canopy of the jungle, those ropes were completely entwined and burning.  As we got close to the helicopter, the soldier sitting in the safety seat saw that those ropes were burning, and lowered himself outside that helicopter and separated those ropes.  That’s Dedication … I will never forget that man.  The enemy was still firing at us, but they never shot us.  

     We landed at a safe spot, and my buddy was taken to the hospital, where he expired a short time later.  I was in another staging area, waiting for assignment, when I heard on the radio something like a popcorn machine.  Then I heard a voice … “Get us outta here!  Get us outta here!  Come get us quick!  ASAP!”  

     I asked the radio operator, “Who are those [guys]?”  He said, “I don’t know.  They haven’t given us a call sign.”  Then I saw some helicopter pilots running to the flight line; scrambling.  I ran right behind them.  We saw a helicopter coming in, and the door gunner was slumped over his weapon.  When the helicopter landed, I unstrapped the door gunner… Michael Craig, 19 years old.  I cradled him in my arms, and his last words were, “My God, my mother and father.”  

     I asked the pilot, “Who are the people on the ground?”  He said, “Hey, it’s that non-commissioned officer that saved your life the other day.  Remember?”  I said, “Leroy Wright”.  Leroy always got picked for top-secret assignments … it was an instant reaction.  I saw a bag of medical supplies, picked it up and went over to my helicopter … and they told me, “You can’t go in there; it’s too hot.”  Little did I know that I was going to spend six hours in hell.  

You heard [President Reagan] read the citation of how I earned the Congressional Medal of Honor.  But he didn’t tell you all that I went through when I engaged in the hand-to-hand combat.  I was hit in the mouth with the butt of the weapon; my jaws were locked.  After my last return to the helicopter, when I was boarded on … I was holding my intestines in my hand.  

     We lifted up.  The helicopter was overloaded; blood was flowing on both sides of the helicopter.  When we landed at our staging area, and started unloading and identifying the dead bodies, they found that I had loaded three dead enemy soldiers in that helicopter … I didn’t want to leave anybody behind (to audience laughter and applause).  My mission was to recover the classified material, and anybody [who] had it – he was on the helicopter.  

     They laid the enemy soldiers on the side, and since I look kind of oriental, they laid me alongside them.  They were inserting the dead into body bags, and I can remember my feet being lifted into a body bag and the sound of that zipper coming up, and I was thinking, “Oh, my God, No! No!”  

     My eyes were shut because I had blood all over my face, which had dried.  And I couldn’t talk because my jaws were locked.  One of my buddies was jumping up and down, doing the Mexican hat dance, and shouting, “That’s Roy!  That’s Roy Benavidez!”  And the doctor said, “I’m sorry, there’s nothing I can do for him.”  And that zipper kept coming up!

     I was trying to wiggle around in my own blood, and finally, Jerry made that doctor feel for my heartbeat.  When I felt that hand on my chest, I made the luckiest shot I ever made in my life … I spit in that doctor’s face.  So the doctor said, “I think he’ll make it.”

     I was cleaned up, and put on the helicopter; alongside one of my buddies that I had saved.  We got airborne, and I just said, “Hold on buddy; just hold on.  We’re going to get some medical attention.”  And his grip tightened up on me … and then he let go.

     I said, “Oh, God, why do you put me through this test?  Why?  You have me get these men out, and save that material, and now You take them away from me.  Why?”  And I was crying and moving around so much that the co-pilot thought I was gasping for air.  So he gets out of his seat and grabs his bayonet and is going to do a tracheotomy on me, and I’m about to kick him out of the helicopter … that was just too much for one day!

     We landed at the hospital, and I was wheeled into the operating room.  As I was being lifted to the operating table, I saw this nurse on her hands and knees crying; yelling and asking God, “Why do you do this to these men?  Why?”  I turned just a little bit to my left, and I saw on the other operating table a man who had both legs and both arms missing.  I passed out.  

     I woke up in a ward.  One of my buddies was laying next to me who was so bandaged up, we couldn’t talk.  We used to wiggle our toes to make sure we were still alive.  After a short while, my buddy was transferred from there, and I thought he had died.  I was transferred to Japan. In the medevac plane that I was flying in, we lost two men.  And I remember this nurse kept yelling at me, “Benavidez, you’re not going to die on me.  I’m going to pinch you every time you close your eyes.”

     When I got to Japan and they rolled me into the operating room, the doctor looked at me, and said, “What in the world happened to you?”  I had red and blue spots all over me, and I told him, “That lady kept pinching me up there”.  

     I went back to Fort Sam Houston and I stayed in that hospital for almost a year. I continued with my career and then I was awarded the Congressional Medal.  I was dedicating myself to come and speak to schools and to civic groups; to help anyone that I could help.  My life was spared for a reason, and I hope it has been for a good reason.

     A lot of people call me a hero.  I appreciate that title.  But the real heroes are the ones who gave their lives for this country.  The real heroes are our wives and our mothers.   Above all, the real heroes are the ones who are laying in those hospital beds, disabled for life...

     You know, there is a saying among us veterans … For those who have fought for it, life has a special flavor that the protected will never know.  You have never lived, until you’ve almost died.   And it is us veterans who pray for peace most of all, especially the wounded, because we have to suffer the wounds of war.

     I’m asked hundreds of times, “Would you do it over again?”  (Long pause) … In my 25 years in the military, I feel like I’ve been overpaid for the service to my country.  There will never be enough paper to print the money, or enough gold in Fort Knox, for me to have to keep from doing what I did.  I’m proud to be an American, and even prouder that I’ve been given the privilege to wear the Green Beret.  I live by the motto of Duty, Honor, Country… God Bless America.

     Roy Benavidez died in 1998.  Yes, he was a hero who performed his duties beyond human imagination.  But everyday, in this country, men and women put on the uniform and go to work for this nation.  They may not all serve in far off locations, and their stories may not be as momentous as the one you read today.  But each of them is a hero in my eyes; a person who believes in something greater than themselves and who is willing to put others first.  That is what people do who share honorable qualities.  That is fulfilling the commandment of our Lord to love others as we love ourselves.

     I cannot finish this post without praying that the forces, both physical and spiritual, who are working to defile the nobility and integrity of our military will be unsuccessful.  This nation has a long history of admiration and support for those who protect us, and may it never be disrupted or corrupted.  And thank you to all veterans -- past, present, and future -- who continue to believe in Duty, Honor, and Country.  May God bless you!

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

Captain John Charles Hardy, USAF

Length of service 8 years

His tour began on Jan 15, 1968

Casualty was on Apr 3, 1968

In , NORTH VIETNAM

Hostile, died while missing, FIXED WING - CREW

AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND

Body was recovered

Ecclesiastes 3:8     "a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace."

  

     

2 Chronicles 24:20

"Because you have forsaken the Lord, 

He has also forsaken you."

       As I've told you before, I am reading the Bible (again) from Genesis to Revelation; only this time it is with a much deeper yearning and a more discerning heart for God's message to me, a repentant sinner.  I am on the tail end of the Books of 1 and 2 Kings/1 and 2 Chronicles, and I'm sure you will understand when I say that it takes some serious study to keep all the kings and their deeds separate. 

     First of all, it is important to glean that 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings give a political history of Israel and Judah, while 1 and 2 Chronicles present a religious history of the Davidic dynasty of Judah.  While it is easy to think that it all runs together and the narrative regarding the various kings reads the same, nothing could be further from the truth.  After Solomon died and the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah came into existence, there are stark differences in the two kingdom's attitudes toward worship, the way they ran their governments, and how their rulership affected the people they served.

     There were 19 Kings that ruled the northern kingdom of Israel, beginning with Jeroboam, an Ephraimite, to Hoshea, the last king of Israel, before it was captured by Assyria.  The history of the nation of Israel, and its subsequent kings can be summed up in 2 Kings 17:22-23 ...  For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them; Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day. 

     As hard as it is to believe, there was not one of the 19 kings of the Kingdom of Israel that was not wicked.  As you read their histories in the Bible, it is noted of each of them, "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin."  It is important that we know exactly what those sins of Jeroboam were, so great were they that they infected the entire history of the nation of Israel.  

     Here's what he did:  1) He urged the people to turn from worshipping at God's Temple in Jerusalem to temples he established in the kingdom of Israel;  2)  He made two golden calves and called them "gods", leading his people to worship false gods and idols;  3)  He established shrines to these false gods;  4)  He appointed priests that were not from the tribe of Levi as God had commanded; and 5)  He proclaimed his own feast day, and made sacrifices to false gods on unholy altars, using priests not sanctified by God.

     To a Holy God who had made a covenant with the Israelites in return for them obeying His statues and commandments for all their generations, this was obvious rebellion.  The consequences are stated in the chosen Scripture for today ... Because you have forsaken the Lord, He has also forsaken you.

     The consequences were profound.  Jeroboam had been given the great commandment to reign over the 10 tribes of Israel.  But his idolatry and apostasy caused him not only the life of his son, but would result in the scattering of the 10 tribes of Israel unto this day.  

     The nation of Judah shares in the sins of Israel with their own kings who embraced idolatry and apostasy -- with a striking difference.  From Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, to Zedekiah, there were actually eight good kings who walked in the ways of the Lord.  From King Asa, who was a righteous man, and who "took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made" -- to good King Josiah who restored the Torah to the Jews, which resulted in the reinstitution of Covenant between God and His people, the restoration of Passover, and reforms in how the people of Judah worshipped the Lord.

     But God is a Holy and Righteous God, and the sins of the rest of the kings of Judah, and the people, outweighed the attempts to keep them obedient to the Lord's commandments and statutes.  Time and again, the kings of Judah were tempted to follow after false gods, and the Lord would send a word by his prophets and raise up a good king to return the people of Judah to His ways.  But God, by His Sovereign plan, tolerated only so much, and as it says in 2 Chronicles 36:16, "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people; till there was no remedy."  King Nebuchadnezzar and captivity in Babylon was their punishment.

     What will be ours?  For surely, we have sinned against God as greatly as the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.  Our God is the same God they worshipped, and we know that God is consistent in His commandments and His justice.  History has shown us that the northern kingdom of Israel was so rebellious and disobedient that God scattered them.  The kingdom of Judah was the only tribe with whom God kept His covenant because they humbled themselves and repented.  However, they did not escape discipline and were often weakened before their enemies and exiled.  So how will our history be written?  Will we remain rebellious and break our covenant with the God of our fathers?  Or will we humble ourselves and repent and turn back toward the Lord?  

     The one thing we need to realize is that those scattered tribes of Israel have not been forgotten by God.  He will soon send His Son back to earth to redeem them.  All Israel will be saved.  The question remains ... what about the other nations of the world, including us?     

     

Scientists and Sin: What They Don't Understand

   

     In light of yesterday's post, I just want to point out the obvious.  Now that the futurists and scientists are gleefully clapping their hands over the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a powerful possibility for the human race, they are contemplating a new reality and philosophical question ... what if AI decides to turn on its creators; and can it be pre-programmed to make moral and ethical decisions?  Will it be responsible for its actions?
     Hmmm, don't those considerations sound, well, distinctly "human"?  Is the Intelligentsia unknowingly coming into conflict with what we Christians innately know as flaws in our human nature ... Sin?  Could it be that even if they are able to create a "being" that is as much computer as it is human, they cannot escape the inevitable sins that serve to endanger the existence of not only the created robots, but their human creators, as well?
     Secularists and Scientists and Skeptics, through medicine and philosophy, have tried to cure humanity of the pesky reality called "sin" for several generations now.  Moral relativism and Atheism have done their best to convince society that God is unnecessary, and we are capable of managing ourselves and plotting our own future.  Just in the last 100 years, we have had two World Wars, countless regional conflicts, and at least 7 attempted genocides resulting in nearly 18,000,000 deaths  (Armenians in Turkey; Stalin's forced famine; the Japanese atrocities at Nanking; the Nazi Holocaust; Pol Pot in Cambodia; Rwanda; and Bosnia-Herzegovina) ... so how has that worked for us?  Do they really think if they create drones that can decide for themselves when to pull the trigger, that it will result in a better outcome?  Or that they can avoid that annoying certainty called "death" by developing ways to isolate our brains from our decaying bodies?  If they only knew how disdainfully their Creator looks upon their schemes.
     There is no better description of the vanity of man and the depravity of human nature, than that described by David in the Bible:  The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord?  (Psalm 1-4).
     Yet, it is amazing to me how safe and secure these small "c" creators feel in their godless world.  They do not see their wickedness, their folly, or the danger they are in.  They are what the Bible calls "workers of iniquity".  As the noted theologian Matthew Henry describes them:  "they design it, they practice it, and take as much pleasure in it as ever any man did in his business."  They refuse to acknowledge the role God plays in His Universe, and their view of themselves as superior in the knowledge of what the future holds, only serves to showcase their blind and selfish motivations, as well as their utter foolishness. They mock God and they have no idea of the eternal danger in which they have placed their souls.
     But wait ... they aren't interested in "souls", are they?  After all, they are trying to redesign human existence and remove the "spirit" component from the human mind/body/spirit bond, which was made in God's image.  Yet, they will one day learn that those who refuse to fear God will reap the rewards of their folly.  They, who refused to admit His existence; who saw themselves above His Righteous Judgment and Sovereignty, and felt capable of creating their own eternity, will stand in awe and abject terror at what their pride has cost them.  Oh, they will experience eternity, alright -- it just won't be where, or when, or how they convinced themselves it would be.

Proverbs 17:24    "The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth."