Are We Giving Up Spiritual Territory?

   

     I will admit that I do not have the latest figures, but what I have learned about the large amounts of U.S. land owned by foreign countries and corporations has alarmed me.  Did you know that, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), foreign investors hold an interest in 25.7 million acres of U.S. agricultural land?  And that figure is from December, 2011!  I can imagine that this USDA figure has climbed significantly in the nearly four years since it was released.
     A summary from the 2011 USDA report discloses the following:  Forest land accounted for 54 percent of all foreign held agricultural acreage, cropland for 19 percent, and pasture and other agricultural land for 27 percent. Foreign holdings of U.S. agricultural land were relatively steady from 2000 through 2006; between 2006 and 2007, there was a significant 3.6 million acre increase. Since 2008, there have been moderate increases each year ranging from 1.3 to 1.5 million acres. Between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011, there was an increase of 1,490,781 acres.
     The state of Texas has the largest amount of foreign held U.S. agricultural land with 2,894,563 acres.  Maine has the second largest amount of foreign held agricultural acres with 2,877,965.  Washington has the third largest amount of foreign held agricultural land with 1,671,102 acres, which is 7.6 percent of its privately held agricultural land!  Sixteen percent of Maine’s privately held agricultural land is held by foreign investors; this is approximately 11 percent of the reported foreign held agricultural land in the United States.  Remember, these figures are nearly four years old, and we know that with the state of our economy, millions more acres have likely been sold.  I do not think it is exaggerating to suggest that foreign holdings in this country are increasing at an alarming rate.
     How does it make you feel to know that when the Chinese purchased Smithfield Foods for $4.7 billion, they suddenly owned 460 large farms and became the top employer in dozens of communities all over the United States… or that Zhang Xin, CEO of Soho China , joined forces with the wealthy Safra family (of Banco Safra fame) of Brazil to buy a stake in the General Motors Building in New York City?  The New York Times reported last year that Dalian Wanda Group, another Chinese developer, is planning to build a greenfield luxury hotel in Manhattan.
     Writer Michael Snyder shared the following information in a 2013 article: "The Chinese have made trillions of dollars flooding our shores with super cheap products, and now they are using some of that money to buy land and property all over America.  For example, there is now a proposal to construct a multibillion dollar “China City” that would span approximately 600 acres in a remote area of New York state.  This “China City” (that is actually what it would be called) would be located on Yankee Lake in Sullivan County, New York.  The plans anticipate large numbers of Chinese businesses, plenty of homes for Chinese immigrants, a Chinese high school, a college, a casino and even a theme park.  And the first 600 acres is only for “phase one” of the plan.  Ultimately, the goal is for “China City” to cover more than 2,000 acres.  Those promoting this plan say that it will be a great way for New Yorkers to learn to appreciate Chinese culture.  So should we be concerned that the Chinese want to place a little slice of communist China right in the heart of New York state?"
     Then there are the reports of a recent outcry against California’s exports of water-rich products, like almonds and pistachios, to countries like China, in the midst of the state's historic drought.  Isn't that a poor use of domestic resources?  Is it really moral to enrich a Chinese corporation at the expense of U.S. citizens?  Is this a picture of the New Global Economy?

"The Worship of Mammon" by Evelyn de Morgan

     For me, as a Christian, these questions aren't simply a matter of political and economic consequences.  Yes, we have willingly sold our national heritage and agricultural lands to foreign investors, and I feel a certain sense of betrayal -- all in order to serve Mammon, the Biblical expression of greed and material wealth.  In fact, during the Middle Ages, Mammon was often personified as a deity, and sometimes included in the seven princes of Hell.
     So, perhaps you are beginning to see my concern, and a greater significance to this "giveaway".  This nation, land, and its people were originally appointed by God to glorify Him.  And now with foreign intrusion, we have been exposed to foreign gods, and all the spirits that come with them.  Did not our God tell us how he felt about allowing this encroachment upon His territory?  "If you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you.”  I don't know about you, but it couldn't be any plainer to me.
     How we've forgotten that He gave this land to us!  And we have no idea how it offends Him to share this territory with foreign gods and their influences.  Now the question becomes how long will it take to "perish" off this good land?  Looks like we're well on the way.

Jeremiah 5:19   And when the people ask, 'Why has the LORD our God done all this to us?' you will tell them, 'As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own.'

What Are We Afraid Of?

     There are growing warnings that Christians in America are in jeopardy of facing persecution by our increasingly Godless society.  The culture war is being presented as Christian versus Atheistic Society.  But I am sensing another threat to our Faith, and it is fellow Christians.
     Within the established Church, there appears to be two groups forming.  Let's define Group 1 as those who are seeking a bigger understanding of God's Word; not being content to rest on the teachings of the last five hundred years.  That is not to say that they negate or contradict these teachings; but to this group of Believers, knowing God's heart and relying on the Holy Spirit's illumination of the Word adds to the interpretations of revered and celebrated theologians.  That means trying to discern the origins of God's instructions to those who would believe in His Son as their Savior.
     I would suggest that Group 2 doesn't differ all that much from Group 1, other than the latter are content with the instruction they have received, and they are skeptical of anything or anyone that does not conform to the traditional forms of worship or the accepted doctrines of the modern day Church.  If it has not been taught by their pastor, or an "expert" in theology, then it has no credibility to them and they view it with suspicion and a certain degree of fear, I think.
     For the most part, both groups are respectful of each other, and aren't inclined to criticize each other's belief system.  In fact, I am happy to see that there is actually a Middle Group emerging out of Group 2 that is open-minded and eager to expand their vision and understanding to the point that they are embracing new concepts of God, based on deeper study of the Bible on their own.

     But I am seeing a growing number of editorial opinions that question the authenticity of Group 1's stance; and words such as "unbiblical rubbish" and "heretical cult" are creeping into the conversation.  That is a dangerous precedent!
     What I am seeing is that Group 1 is determined to get to know God and His precepts in the manner of the Church that Jesus commissioned.  Group 2 perceives that the transformation of the Church throughout the last 2000 years, as dictated by man, is the way we should be worshipping God.  While I do not advocate disharmony or division within the Body of Christ, I am becoming more concerned with the angry vocalization coming from Group 2.
      Somehow they feel God's Church is threatened by the study and increased knowledge of Biblical teaching on such subjects as spiritual warfare and intercessory prayer.  I do not understand the objections over these clearly Biblical injunctions!  Of the latter subject, there are at least 35 instances of Scripture that I could quote; among them  "... as you also join in helping us by prayer, so that many people may give thanks to God on our behalf for the gracious gift given to us through the help of many. "(2 Corinthians 1:11) ... "I post watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they should keep praying all day and all night. You who pray to the Lord, don't be silent!"  (Isaiah 62:6) ... "With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:18).
     What could be so threatening about the Church being a motivator of intercessory prayer?  Critics claim that it will result in "a new breed of trembling worship leaders who lead the way into the prophetic, groaning sounds of Holy Spirit-facilitated worship, which will make it normal to shake and fall to our faces as we cry Holy! The natural, logical sing-a-longs will be no more. We will have a hard time standing as God's Shekinah glory resides in His church. Worship teams will practice less and pray in the Spirit with tears in their eyes."  Ummm ... Why is that heretical?  Furthermore, those in Group 1 never claim that this should be the outcome of intercessory prayer.  They merely seek to follow God's commandments through His prophets more explicitly.
     But perhaps it is the subject of Spiritual Warfare that scares Group 2 more than anything else.  But how can they ignore Paul's warning that we fight not flesh and blood, but against forces and principalities, which are master spirits of the demonic realm and spirit forces of wickedness.  What makes the Church think that Ephesians 6:12 no longer applies to the Church or mankind, in general?  Does that even make sense?  Where have they been taught that God tells us we can ignore that teaching and it no longer applies in the 21st Century?
     Is that they fear their ability to fight such entities?  Is it because they don't know how Jesus instructed His apostles to teach the Church in such matters?  Scriptures such as "He who is in you, is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4)" and "Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7)" did not cease their significance in the First Century!
     The fact that Group 1 exists and is drawing closer to God and our Lord's teachings on such matters is quite encouraging to me.  It shows me that God is preparing His people to stand for Him in the ways that HE has commanded and instructed us.  It shows me that the Holy Spirit is drawing us away from empty methods that will not strengthen us for the spiritual battles to come.  We should be rejoicing as we gain new insight into the Bible and God as our Rock, Fortress, Shield, Stronghold and Deliverer.
     There are always extremists in any camp, but when I hear mainstream Christians denigrating a return to Biblical examples and principles -- by fellow Christians -- as "nauseating" and "heretical", it is cause for concern.  It's time to step out of our comfortable, dogmatic, and rigid theology and rediscover the shock and awe of the Glory of God.  It's a good thing!

Ephesians 6:10     "In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]."
   

"Rome, Final Days" Is Fitting Epitaph For Our Culture

     If you haven't heard by now, Fox News host Neil Cavuto is being ridiculed across every liberal and progressive website for his blunt comments on the transgenderization (if there is such a word) of Bruce Jenner.  Because it is the "hot" story in the latest news cycle, Cavuto was forced to comment on it, and when he shouted "What the hell is going on?", I can imagine that there were millions of Americans who agreed with him.  When a guest on his show stated, "It's just the era that we're living  in," Cavuto acerbically remarked, "Rome, final days" and signed off.

     So, it is not surprising that he has been called everything from "transphobic" to "vile and hateful" to "disgusting and unprofessional".  But just because his opinion doesn't agree with the minority view of the loud and vocal transgender and Hollywood crowds, doesn't mean his comment doesn't have merit in its own right.

     In a fitting article titled, Top Ten Reasons Ancient Rome Was A Pervert's Paradise, we find out that the Roman Emperors were ... well ... a little preoccupied with aberrant sexual behavior.  Nero, for example, had his favorite boy castrated and attempted to turn him into a woman. Caligula made his horse a senator, converted the palace into a brothel and pimped out his sisters; while Elagabalus spent more time cruising Rome’s red light district dressed in drag than anything else.  And it is this latter Roman Emperor that most closely resembles the transformation of Mr. Jenner and the trajectory of our modern culture.  

     The Reddit website, which is essentially an online bulletin board system where the community generates answers to questions, has an interesting opinion on Elagabalus.  Admittedly, this description must be accepted with a certain cynicism; but if even a small percentage of it is true, I think you will see why it lends some credibility to Mr. Cavuto's perspective.

Emperor Elagabalus

     Elagabalus was born in 203 AD, and died before his 19th birthday, in 222 AD. Ancient historian Cassius Dio wrote numerous books on the history of Rome, and the 80th book of his chronicles was written in about 229 AD, and makes for some interesting reading.  According to Cassius Dio, Elgabalus may have been one of the first transgender world leaders.  Here are just some of the passages:

     "My Lord Emperor, Hail!" he bent his neck so as to assume a ravishing feminine pose, and turning his eyes upon him with a melting gaze, answered without any hesitation: "Call me not Lord, for I am a Lady." -- Dio Cassius 80:16

     These passages suggest Elgabalus had gender dysphoria and desired to have Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) and facial hair removal:  "He carried his lewdness to such a point that he asked the physicians to contrive a woman's vagina in his body by means of an incision, promising them large sums for doing so."-- Dio Cassius 80:16

     "He had planned, indeed, to cut off his genitals altogether, but that desire was prompted solely by his effeminacy". -- Dio Cassius 80:11

     "Once, indeed, he shaved his chin and held a festival to mark the event; but after that he had the hairs plucked out, so as to look more like a woman."-- Dio Cassius 80:14

     Although Elgabalus successively married five women, he remained childless; ultimately marrying a male partner.  The "husband" of this "woman" was Hierocles, a Carian slave ". -- Dio Cassius 80:15.

     Now, those of the transgender persuasion, and those of the liberal and progressive communities who applaud the rights and freedom of Bruce Jenner to become the woman he desires to be, can hail this era as valid, and honest, and liberating all they want.  It still does not erase that such practices, along with slave sex (regardless of gender or age); lewd and graphic public pornography; sex-obsessed and X-rated literature; pederasty (man-boy sexual perversion); and mass infanticide (babies born from all that sex were simply discarded on the dung-heaps -- an extreme form of abortion) all contributed to the downfall of ancient Rome.  

     Whether you think that God played a part in it or not; you cannot deny that this was the picture of Rome in her final days.  And I find it extremely interesting that the Godless of today attempt to "normalize" this behavior and lifestyle by pointing out that it was acceptable in ancient Rome.  They say it is just us "phobic" Christians who are exhibiting an irrational response.  But, "acceptable" to whom?  Those who practiced it?  Does that really give it credibility?  Isn't that like saying those involved in ritual child sacrifices accept this practice among their tight little group, so that makes it normal for society?

     Can they at least admit that "the decline of the Roman Empire" happened; characterized, in part, by the debasement of its emperors and wealthy elite, and their obsessive self-gratification?  The emperors may have called themselves Christian, following in the footsteps of the pseudo-Believer Constantine, but they surrendered to the oldest temptation in Satan's playbook ... sex.  

     So, what does all this have to do with Bruce Jenner and Neil Cavuto's bold sentencing of our culture?  It just proves that the story of the downfall of both men, and nations, is as old as history.  Nothing has really changed, and the outcome (without God) will be the same.  "Rome, Final Days" ... it really says it all.

Romans 1:24       "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves..."

     

Is Your Calling Clear?

     As we see the moral collapse of our nation, and the forward advance of experimentation towards a God-less immortality, there couldn't be a greater difference between Christians and secularists.  And there are many who bemoan this fact.  I, on the other hand, choose to look at our dissimilarities with the prevailing culture as an advantage.
     I don't want there to be any doubt about where I stand on the traditional marriage issue, abortion, sexual perversion, the occult, or any other non-biblical position of our modern culture.  I have no interest in compromising or "accepting" what society has deemed "tolerable".  That does not mean that I do not love my fellow man; it simply means that I will not discredit or dishonor my Savior by condoning or remaining silent on such actions.  You see, for me, it is all about Him!

     Now, I know that we, in the world, tend to make it all about us and we all want to be liked and approved by others.  But it is not my fellow man's approval I want, so much as it is my Creator's.  Why must I accept the votes of the Supreme Court as determining my opinion on same-sex marriage?    And just because the majority of the population views abortion as "a woman's right" to govern her own body, why must I go along with murdering an unborn child and support this abhorrent practice?  Furthermore, what makes this particular cycle of humanity think they have been given the wisdom to rewrite thousands of years of Biblical teachings? Why am I wrong if I choose to question their "newly-enlightened" philosophies, or labeled "out of touch" and "archaic", if I refuse to adopt a more "open-minded" practice of my faith?
     I am really getting tired of accommodating this unbiblical culture!  The message of "The Church" is ineffectual and, dare I say it .... cowardly!  Yes, we are called to love and pray for the lost; but we are also instructed to boldly declare the fate of those who reject the Gospel message.  Why are we trying so hard to save our reputations and our material lives, when the lives of so many will be eternally lost because we don't want to call attention to ourselves?  Why is the Church so comfortable in ministering to themselves inside their four walls, and so afraid of following the apostolic model of dangerous living?
     The Church community is all up in arms over the recent Pew poll that reports 72% of Americans felt that religion was losing "influence" in American life.  It's because "religion" is not what we've been called to share! We have been given an awesome assignment ... to reveal our personal testimonies as to how faith in Jesus Christ has delivered us from an eternity in hell.  Those aren't very pretty words are they?  I'm sure they won't fill big majestic church buildings, such as the one in Houston; nor are they the words that people have been taught represent the Christian faith.  But they are part of the message we are to spread; they are the "perishing part" of that familiar Scripture we use to show the people that God "so loved the world that He sent His only Son, that whosoever should believe on Him, should not perish, but have eternal life."  Yes, God loved the world ... but how have we come to ignore the part that not believing in Jesus (and I mean the full-blown Gospel message... the crucifixion, the burial, and the resurrection!) leads to eternal damnation?!?!
     Why have we limited the full implications of our Lord's teachings?  Why do Christians today believe in Cessationism (that the instructions by Jesus to the disciples to teach, heal, and cast out demons ended with them), and why are they ignorant of the power and authority that Jesus wants us to use to accomplish the same things?  Is it just because they haven't been taught them by a pastor or preacher?  Whose word is greater -- a mortal man's or the Lord's in His Word?  Who can give us greater understanding and revelation -- a mortal man or the Holy Spirit?  Why do we put greater trust in what "the Church" has (or has not) taught us, than in what our Lord has spoken Himself?
     Our understanding of God must come from the Bible -- and not from our denominational doctrine, or a favorite pastor/teacher's leanings; and especially not from what the culture tells us about Him.  I know I have quoted Dietrich Bonhoeffer too many times for some of you, but as I reread his biography by Eric Metaxas, it is speaking more clearly and louder with each passing day.  This was a man who stood in opposition to the prevailing anti-Biblical culture in Nazi Germany.  Unlike many of the German Christians, he refused to accommodate or adjust his faith -- or the Word -- so that he might fit more comfortably into society.  He used those ominous times to point the way, ever more boldly, to the Bible and the Cross.  He never lost sight of his reason for being alive at that time in history, and he took every opportunity to stand apart from those who would compromise.  Like the lives of the apostles before him, he was obedient to God's call on his life.  Let us, too, complete our tasks in glorifying Him!

My calling is quite clear to me.  What God will make of it I do not know ... I must follow the path.  Perhaps it will not be such a long one. (Philippians 1:23).  But it is a fine thing to have realized my calling ... I believe its nobility will become plain to us only in coming times and events.  If only we can hold out.

Do not try to make the Bible relevant.  Its relevance is axiomatic (self-evident; unquestionable) ... Do not defend God's Word, but testify to it ... Trust to the Word.
                                                                                                                --- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

1 Corinthians 1:17   "For Christ (the Messiah) sent me out not to baptize but [to evangelize by] preaching the glad tidings (the Gospel), and that not with verbal eloquence, lest the cross of Christ should be deprived of force and emptied of its power and rendered vain (fruitless, void of value, and of no effect)."

"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."