Satan's Same Old Tactics

     This week The Daily Mail published an article relating how two Dutch filmmakers recently conducted a social experiment in an effort to measure public reaction to — and obviously to excoriate — what they deem to be “shocking verses” in the Bible.  We've seen it before, but this time Satan's associates have taken it to a new level and produced a viral video that has garnered over 4 million views since it was released last weekend!  Therefore, that deserves a response.
     It is easy to see the dispute and friction that the filmmakers were seeking to cause.  The voiceover for the documentary film begins with this soliloquy:  "Muslims have been accused of following a religion that has no place in our Western culture ... This made us wonder — what about Christianity, a religion that has influenced our culture greatly?"

      See where it is going and what they hope to accomplish?  But it gets even better than this!  So the producers purchased a Bible and disguised it as a Koran before heading out and sharing select verses with passersby — scriptures that they said “are in great contrast with … western norms and values.”
     So, by now, if you are a Bible-believing Christian, you know that they headed straight for Leviticus to take some of the most harsh Scriptures out of context.  But they are not exactly genuine in providing their Scripture reference.  They begin with verse 15, citing:   if, instead, you reject My statutes, and if your soul rejects My ordinances,  (while conveniently leaving out the part of the verse that says, and in this way break My covenant),  and then skip all the way down to verse 29 to combine it with Scripture that says, You will eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters.
     Now, mind you, the interviewees think they are being read to out of the Koran.  So when they are asked what do you think the biggest difference would be between this Koranic verse and what the Bible tells us, common answers were that the Koran was "more aggressive", and the Bible was "more positive".  So imagine their shock and revulsion when they discover the verses are from the Bible!
     You might be wondering what exactly the filmmakers hoped to accomplish.  But you probably already have a good idea... Director Alexander Spoor said he carried out the experiment to put Christianity under the same scrutiny Islam has received since the Paris terror attacks last month.  First of all, to attempt to compare the Judeo-Christian faith (whose beginning was over 3500 years ago) with one of the youngest religions, Islam, (which is only 1400 years old) is a travesty; not to mention that radical Islamists deserve scrutiny for their particular violent and hate-filled actions.
     But as usual the Holy Scripture is distorted and taken out of context in an attempt to show that it is as equally violent as Islam, and that the God of the Bible seeks vengeance upon those who disobey Him.  But, of course, the filmmakers did not explain the historical context, and I'm pretty sure they do not even know it.  What they did not understand -- and did not explain to their interviewees -- was that God so loved the Jewish people that, in His sovereignty He blessed them beyond belief when they were in covenant with Him and obeyed Him; but when they presumptuously committed sin, and obstinately persisted in it, with no desire to confess and repent, then His curse was just as pronounced.  The part they left out (between verses 15 and 29) was that if they refused to turn back to God, He would destroy their places of idol worship; He would send the plague against them; He would break their pride in their own power; and He would send an enemy to besiege them, causing a severe famine... making them so hungry that they would eat the flesh of their sons and daughters.  
     First of all, to leave out 14 verses that explain exactly what God would do was wrong, but then to intimate that if they disobeyed Him, they would eat their sons and daughters is blasphemous and makes no sense, once you fill in the blanks and give them the full picture.
     Our God is such a Holy God that He demands obedience and exacts His Justice upon those who refuse to turn from their wicked ways.  When the Israelites followed His statutes, they lived in perfect peace and providence.  But He is a God who says what He means, and means what He says.  It's not as if they hadn't had ample warning, or many, many opportunities to resist the temptation of Satan.  Of course, the filmmakers didn't bother to explain any of this -- because they don't know our God!  They are just falling for the lies of Satan whose every desire is to diminish the Truth and the Blessings of living in relationship with God.
     Oh, and there were plenty of other verses that they corrupted and took out of context.  For instance, they stirred up quite a frenzy when they tried reciting the verse, 'I do not allow for a woman to teach. You will have to cut off her hand. Do not forgive her.'  First of all, the Scripture about not allowing a woman to teach comes from Timothy 2:12, and refers to a concern the Apostle Paul had about women becoming involved in false teaching and violent rituals.  (Please read my post on this this subject for the historical context and understanding.)
     Secondly, the filmmakers combined this admonition about women teachers with a portion of Deuteronomy 25:12, which tells us “If [two] men, a man and his countryman, are fighting and the wife of one approaches to rescue her husband from the man who is striking him, and she reaches out with her hand and grabs the aggressor’s genitals, 12 then you shall cut off her hand; you shall not show pity [for her].  It has absolutely no connection with 1 Timothy 2:12!
     These filmmakers should be ashamed of themselves!!  They have not only twisted and warped Scripture, but have totally misled the people they interviewed by providing biased and non-Scriptural references in order to falsely and negatively influence them against the Bible.
     I could give you many other examples, but you get the picture.  Our Adversary, the devil, knows his time is short, and he is pulling out all the stops to deceive and lead the people of the earth astray.  Sadly, the people on the street accepted their commentary as truth; they didn't even question it!  That's how easy it is for the Enemy to beguile and bewitch.  Once again, it is a simple picture of all who will perish for lack of knowledge.  Now is the time to strengthen your minds and hearts against the Deceiver and against those who do his bidding.  Stay in the Word and be able to defend it!

Colossians 2:8          "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ."




   

A New Reality and A New Kind of Doctor: Urban Battlefield Medic

     Amid the human and personal stories being revealed in the aftermath of the San Bernardino terrorist attack comes a rather intriguing one.  It is the story of Dr. Michael Neeki, a trauma physician and emergency room doctor at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) in Colton, California, where many of the victims of that tragedy were transported.

Dr. Neeki at a press conference for the
victims of the San Bernardino terrorist attack.

     But Dr. Neeki wears many hats.  He is the chief medical officer of San Bernardino County's probation department and also volunteers as a member of the Inland Valley SWAT team.  He is the only physician/medic on the team, and he trains alongside his fellow SWAT team members for just such a scenario as San Bernardino.  And he is uniquely qualified.
     He was born in Iran and drafted into the Iran/Iraq war at age 18.  He served his native country in war and believes this gives him valuable experience in treating victims of gun violence, or as he puts it, "[I am] mentally and tactically a little more experienced than the other physicians here."  But in 1988, he was forced to leave his homeland after suffering as a political prisoner because of his opposition to the increasingly radical and religious Iranian regime.  Twenty-seven years later, in his adopted homeland of America, he put those skills and mindset to work as he labored, not only to mend and heal, the victims of San Bernardino, but to protect them from the rampage.
     When the first calls went out, he grabbed his rifle and tactical equipment and headed for the "hot zone", where he could put his tactical training to good use, as well as utilizing the medical pack that he carries.  "You have to be ready to put in a tourniquet to avoid the bleeding, or quickly staple a wound in the field. Or use an Israeli bandage, which is a compression dressing. I also have a clotting factor you could put in a lesion."
     So now, as a member of the Rialto SWAT team, he is working to upgrade the medical assistance that his team members can deliver in the field.  He's certified to carry a gun and participates in the team's tactical drills.  His experience on the battlefield is increasingly valuable today because injuries such as those seen in the San Bernardino shootings have become more common. "So, we saw this rifle injury-type pattern, which rips and shreds apart organs in your body, tissues in the body, and vessels as they're going through."
     Sadly, this is becoming the reality that our emergency medicine doctors must face.  I fear that the attacks in California last week will not be the last.  Western civilization's enemy has made it clear that they wish to inflict as much carnage as they are able to, and that they are not limiting their attacks to Europe.  Therefore, because of his unique background and experience, Dr. Neeki now wants to expand the emergency medicine residency at ARMC to give young doctors the exposure they need to such mass casualties, and at the same time, elevate the skill levels of [SWAT] paramedic team members.
     Dr. Neeki envisions ARMC residents (and doctors throughout the country) playing roles in the developing field of tactical medicine by connecting with area SWAT teams.  He said it is important for SWAT team paramedics to have advanced training in wound care, airway management techniques, and procedures for spinal injuries.  Since these first responders are obviously the first on the scene, they are invaluable in providing immediate front-line medical care to the victims of such attacks.  Precious life-saving moments will not be lost waiting for ambulances to arrive to transport the wounded and injured.
     As much as we don't want to admit it, we must change the dynamic of how we will treat these urban mass casualty events.  It is likely that doctors will become part healer and part soldier; prepared to imitate battlefield medicine that their counterparts do in the war zones of Afghanistan and Iraq.  If like, Dr. Neeki, they actually have military experience, they can be trained to both defend the public and save lives.
     Training medical professionals to become soldiers will not sit well with every American.  But for Americans like Dr. Michael Neeki, who is now a U.S. citizen, being on-scene to treat the trauma from gunshot wounds in those first crucial seconds is one of the reasons he thinks doctors should be members of first-reponder units.  "I am here because I came for democracy," said Dr. Neeki.  "It's sad to see that you come miles from across the world, and to see something like that here... [But I want] to show ISIS what we are made of."
     We must face it -- Tactical medicine is the new reality, whether we like it or not.  And I believe it is a good thing that Iranian-Americans like Dr. Michael Neeki are willing to show us how to better save lives.  Yes, the worst of the Middle East was seen in that conference room in San Bernardino last week, but we also saw the best of those who have come to this country, seeking the freedom we have to offer, and with a desire to pay back this society and nation who have given them such great opportunities.   You see, blind hatred does not belong to just one ethnic group or nationality.  It is the hallmark of the Evil One, and can permeate any soul.  But our God can take someone out of that same cesspool of hatred and shape a heart committed to defending and healing his fellow man.
     The world is seeing a new reality -- one that has us all on edge.  But never dismiss the goodness and mercy of the Lord that shines through one man's actions.  That is showing what our God is made of!

Proverbs 24:11    Rescue those being taken off to death, and save those stumbling toward slaughter.

The Freedom To Celebrate Christmas

     Every year at this time, we begin to see atheist groups staging their protests over the placement of nativity scenes and Christmas-related displays on or near public/government property.  And this year is no different.  Once again, the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) has placed a sign in the Illinois State Capitol Building that makes their position clear.  It is plainly anti-God and "anti-religion", and the FFRF claims the nativity scene in the Capitol Rotunda is unconstitutional and against the Establishment Clause, which provides that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion...".  They want it known throughout the land that any form of religion at this time of year creates a hostile environment in our culture.
     Throughout the years that have led to this strategy against Christmas, it has been lost on our society that it is not so much the observance of the holiday that they resist, but the celebration of the birth of our Savior.  In essence, it is really an anti-Christ agenda.  Because, you see, if Santa Claus, or reindeer, or elves are present in the display, then no problem!  (And that is precisely why the nativity scene is allowed in the Capitol Building -- because it is accompanied by the Governor's "Holiday" tree).  But a manger with the Savior of the World displayed on its own ... then that is an endorsement [by the State] of religion, and excludes those citizens who do not agree that He should receive the government's seal of approval.
      It just goes to show you how mixed up this country has become.  I guess it shouldn't surprise me that the atheists, humanists, and secularists -- or whatever they want to call themselves -- are offended by the presence of the baby Jesus, yet have no problem with the celebration of Christmas ... as long as it is centered around the pagan roots of the holiday.  They will gladly consent to us celebrating a holiday that was hijacked from an early Roman festival; one in which the early Christian author Tertullian claimed,  "The pagan Romans clad their door posts with green and branching laurels.  In the Saturnalia [the festival worshipping their Sun God], presents come and go.  There are gifts and banquets … yet Christians should have no acquaintance with the festivals of the pagans." 
     I understand the origin of our Christmas traditions, and love the lights and decorated trees and the sentimentality of the holiday.  But for me, at this stage in my life, I choose to celebrate the real "holy" significance of the "day".   Each Christian must decide how they feel about the knowledge of the roots of Christmas for themselves, and how they will celebrate our Savior's birth; it is not something that should divide us.
     But I do find it curious that the FFRF is so anti-religion.  Because the definition of "religion" not only incorporates "the belief in a particular system of faith and worship of a supernatural power, esp. a personal God or gods", but also means "a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance."  Certainly, their perpetual hostility and aggression towards Christianity and our expressions of faith qualifies as a religion under that definition.  Don't you find it ironic that they are obsessed with denigrating our beliefs, while they promote their Winter Solstice?
     And while we're using the Constitution as a measuring stick ... they will uphold the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, yet conveniently ignore the second clause:   "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."  This is called the Free Exercise Clause, and it is time we start exercising it!
     The Free Exercise Clause guarantees a person the right to practice a religion and propagate it without government interference. This right is a liberty that cannot be deprived without Due Process of Law.  And as long as our religious practice does not pose a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of the public, it is permissible by law.  But somehow, I guess the FFRF and its adherents think that our belief in God and angels, heaven and hell, is somehow injurious to the general welfare of the public; that it somehow "hardens hearts and enslaves minds."
     I would submit to you that without Jehovah God and the knowledge of heaven and hell, they become their own gods and the ultimate rulers of their hearts and minds, thus becoming hardened and enslaved to their own selfish thoughts and desires.  And most of all, that little baby lying in the manger is a threat to them because we tell them that He is greater than themselves and He is Supreme and Sovereign... something that interferes with their personal profit and pleasure, and most certainly challenges their pride.
     One of the best explanations I've seen for this hostility towards faith and religion can be summed up by the following:  "There is an infinite number of actions, which though punishable by society, may be concealed from men, and which the magistrate cannot punish. In these cases men are restrained by the knowledge that nothing can be hidden from the eyes of a sovereign intelligent Being; that the soul never dies, that there is a state of future rewards and punishments; in fact that the most secret crimes will be punished. True religion then offers succors to the feeble, consolations to the unfortunate, and fills the wicked with dread ... But religion can be useful to man only when it is pure. The Constitution of the United States has, therefore, wisely provided that it should never be united with the state."  Well said, and on that point, I can agree!

For more information on Religion and the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, click here.  

Joshua 24:15    "And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

The Legacy of Pearl Harbor

     Seventy-four years ago this morning, at 7:55 a.m., the first modern attack against our nation took place.  As President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, the Japanese attack on the naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii would "live in infamy."  There are very few survivors left, but their memories of that frightening day are being kept alive by their children; themselves on the far side of middle age.  "What happened was so unfathomable — and not to downplay anything that goes on today — but can you imagine seeing the pilots' eyes and everyone running around to grab their rifles, man their guns and fight back?" said James Laud Sr., Indiana chairman of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors.

      That attack resulted in 2,400 deaths and 1,000 wounded at the Hawaii base, and pushed the United States into World War II.  The survivors of the local Indiana chapter have all died, said Laud, but they have left it to their children to carry forward their message of "Remember Pearl Harbor — Keep America Alert."  That was the legacy that they wanted to leave their children and succeeding generations -- so that this nation would never again be caught unawares of an impending attack, or suffer such devastating losses.
     We were able to do that for almost 60 years -- until September 11, 2001.  That was 14 years ago, and the number of Pearl Harbor survivors was far greater than it is today.  In fact, my father, a WW11 veteran was 76 years old on 9/11 and I know how that horrific day affected him.  But for those who actually experienced the sight of the red circles (on the Japanese planes) and the dropping of bombs, it was a particularly distressing day.
     One of the youngest survivors of the attack, Machinist Mate 2nd Class Raymond Joseph Crane, enlisted in the Navy at the age of 15, after convincing his mother to sign his enlistment papers.  The dentist who examined him saw he didn't even have his molars yet!
     Crane was stationed aboard the USS Maryland, and although the ship was present on Battleship Row that fateful day, it was only slightly damaged by the Japanese bombs, and Crane came home to the heartland to live his life and raise a family.  However, his daughter reports that he had a strong reaction to the attacks on 9/11.  "First of all, dad couldn't believe it happened. He couldn't believe the country failed to be on alert. He was very disturbed somebody was able to invade our country that way."
     That became the central focus of the Pearl Harbor survivors, and now their children... to keep this nation alert and vigilant.  Both Pearl Harbor and 9/11 have defined us as a nation.  Both were unwarranted and surprise attacks that devastated our country and set us on the path to war.  And in both these acts of aggression, the primary goal was expansion .... for Japan, expansion of their imperial empire; for al Qaeda, an expansion of their holy war against those they saw as supporting attacks against Muslims. In the ensuing 14 years, that goal has grown to incorporate various jihadi groups across the globe; all intent on subjugating the infidels.  In recent weeks and days, we have seen increasingly brazen attacks across Europe, and now on our West Coast (although I will maintain that the attack on Fort Hood, the Washington Navy Yard shooting, the Boston Marathon bombing, and many others all fall under this heading).
     From December 7, 1941 to December 2, 2015 all of our enemies have had one thing in common... the determination to weaken the resolve and the will of the American People.  It didn't happen.  We answered the call in 1941, and again after 9/11.  Sadly, like the Pearl Harbor survivors, I am concerned that efforts have been made to downplay those aspirations and lull us into passivity -- if not outright denial -- that we face a real enemy.
     Seventy-four years ago, the patriots of this nation rose to the occasion and swore that they would educate succeeding generations to stay watchful and observant; to quickly notice potentially dangerous circumstances.  Now, we are being told that we are reactionaries, racists, or bigots; that we must be tolerant and accepting of foreign ideologies.  It's time to resist the false narrative and to be honest and unwavering in our vigilance.  It's time to reclaim our heritage.  And it's time to honor the legacy of those brave Pearl Harbor survivors.  May God bless their service to our nation!

1 Corinthians 16:13    "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong."
   
   

Hebrews 12:15

Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God 

and that no root of bitterness springs up, 

causing trouble and by it, defiling many.

     After the events of this week, this verse is especially important to consider.  As men and women of Christ, we are part flesh and part spirit.  As such, it is natural for our fleshly nature to harbor anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness towards those who perpetrated such heinous evil upon innocent victims.   

     But we must take these holy words to heart, and realize that if we are truly seeking to live a righteous life by the example of Christ, then we must do what He did, and forgive our enemies.  It is only when we can do this, that we are able to be healed from the pain and sorrow wrought by such evil.  

    By no means, am I attempting to diminish that pain and suffering.  Not only are some of the victims still suffering from their injuries, but the souls of the families and the entire nation have been damaged.  And it is not just the physical wounds that need to be healed, it is the wounds to our hearts, minds and spirits.  It is unfathomable how these two human beings could harbor such hate towards their fellow man.  But we must not return hate for hate --- or, as our Scripture says, allow a root of bitterness to spring up.

     We must rely on the grace of God.  We must be diligent in our efforts to not fall short of that unmerited gift of grace which He has bestowed upon us.  We know that Grace means "favor, blessing, or kindness", but when it is extended by God it has a much more powerful purpose than when we show grace to each other.  When the word is used in connection with God, "Grace" is God choosing to bless us, rather than curse us, as our sin deserves. It is His benevolence to the undeserving.

    I think we can all agree that the sins of the murderers in San Bernardino should result in God cursing them.  But that is not our call to make.  After all, doesn't His Word say that He will have mercy on whom He has mercy, and compassion on whom He has compassion (Romans 9:15)?  If God forgives us our sins, then who are we to harbor unforgiveness towards others?  Does it not imply that we think ourselves above and apart from God, if we set our own rules? 

     It goes without saying that our souls (our minds, hearts, will, and emotions) need healing after this last week.  We are reeling, but unforgiveness will block God's forgiveness [towards us] from operating in our own lives. Our inner healing requires that we are able to receive God's forgiveness.  If we are unable to forgive, it will put us into the hands of tormenting spirits. This is the last thing we need when we're seeking healing for our souls! As if that isn't enough, unforgiveness also puts a person in spiritual darkness and separation from God, and defiles us spiritually.  All this is the "trouble" and the "defilement" that our verse speaks of today.  

     Being separated from God puts us in a spiritually dark place; a place without that personal connection or relationship with God that makes our life in this host body bearable.  That is what we know as "Trouble".  And the Greek interpretation of that word "trouble" (ochleo) means "being troubled, molested, vexed by evil spirits".  When that happens, our souls and spirits are "defiled"; or polluted and contaminated; unable to be in reconciliation and relationship with God.  

     When we allow those spirits of "trouble" into our lives -- spirits of anger, bitterness, revenge -- only the power of the Holy Spirit can deliver us and heal us.  Forgiving others opens the door for the healing power of the Holy Spirit to come into our lives.  And that is a true picture of the grace of God!

Really!? "Prayer-Shaming" Is Where We Want To Go After This Tragedy?

     I find it incredibly sad that one of the hallmarks of the terrorist tragedy in San Bernardino will be the coining of a new media term, known as prayer-shaming.  It seemed that in less than 24 hours after the massacre, the anti-God crowd couldn't wait to spread their venom against those who turned to the only One who could offer solace in such a time of senseless evil.

     The attempts by the media and the empty souls who tweeted their disrespect for the faithful was truly disgusting.  Yes, they will try to say it is a reaction to what they saw as "posturing" by politicians and presidential candidates; an attempt to garner votes by taking advantage of a tragic situation in order to promote themselves.  And, yet, it is most likely true that if those same politicians had come out screaming for more gun control as their response to San Bernardino (and thus endearing themselves to the anti-gun audience), then they would have been hailed as compassionate and caring.

     But anytime FAITH comes to the forefront, then it must be dismissed as hollow or foolish behavior; and those of us who cling to it should be made to feel ashamed for its inadequacy.  In other words, they look to man to solve the evil intentions of the wicked, and the fact that we Christians turn to the Sovereign God of the Universe for comfort and strength is nothing more than empty expressions.

     But don't take my word for it.  Let the cover of the New York Daily News tell you itself:  GOD ISN'T FIXING THIS! it screams, followed by the subtitle, which says, "As latest batch of innocent Americans are left lying in pools of blood, cowards who could truly end gun scourge continue to hide behind meaningless platitudes."

      The backlash came after Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Paul Ryan and others tweeted that their "thoughts and prayers" were with the victims of the terrorist attack.  Immediately, they were castigated for accepting campaign donations from the National Rifle Association, while tweeting their intentions to pray in the aftermath of the tragedy.  (Funny, but I don't see any hypocrisy in that at all.  The former is a decision made as a citizen of this world; the latter, is a spiritual response as a member of the Family of God).  

     And ironically, it doesn't seem to bother them that the White House tweeted its thoughts and prayers to the victims of the Paris attacks.  So, I have to ask... is it really the idea of prayer that offends them, or just that prayer was the first response of people, rather than demanding stricter gun control?  

     I also noticed that the White House did not tweet any such offering of "thoughts and prayers" to the victims of San Bernardino, but rather tweeted an interview with CBS News, in which the President said "our hearts" go out to the victims and families....".  That's a pretty big difference, to me.  Offering my heart does not extend the same power [to the victims] as appealing to God to heal broken hearts and the consequences of evil men.
     For me, the real tragedy is what was described by Charisma News:  "Led by a rabid media, the headlines were no longer about the victims and their grieving families—but about leaders who dared to do what the frightened people inside the killing ground asked: pray."  Who can forget the text that one of the victims sent to her father during the slaughter:  "Shooting at my work ... People shot. In the office waiting for cops. Pray for us."  Those in the midst of those terrifying moments knew what would help them the most ... prayer.  They knew that the Lord God Almighty hears the prayers of His children, and they knew nothing was impossible with Him.  They knew they could expect almighty and supernatural results from prayers sent heavenward.

     You've heard it over and over.... Guns don't kill people.  People kill people.  And it is a spiritual sickness that pervades the minds and hearts of men that drives them to such murderous acts.  But those without a spiritual connection to God will never understand that, and so, they continue to blame "tools of violence", rather than the "spirit of violence" that pervade men's souls.

     Once again, Charisma News did an outstanding job of compiling clear, logical and convincing thoughts on this subject: "...hate is what drives men to slaughter innocent people—not guns. And the government can't make us safer until it recognizes that the problem isn't the instruments of violence, but the environment of it."  They further quote The Federalist's Mollie Hemmingway, who wrote:   "[They] are only diminishing the Christian faith so that they can exercise their own religion: big government. [Progressives] explain that the god of good government would have been able to take care of us if only we'd given it sufficient power to do so. In this case, that power is gun control... Government — if made to have sufficient size, scope, and proper management over the affairs of man—will fix, or at least seriously mitigate, the problem of evil in the world. They tend to believe that man can be perfected, and perfected through government action. These almost cartoonish denunciations of prayer we saw yesterday, combined with the implicit praises of government action, are best understood as a sort of primitive religious reaction to the problem that growth of the state still hasn't fixed the problem of evil in the world."    

     And we, the Faithful, know it never will.  That is why it is more important than ever that we continue to pray!  That's why thousands gathered at a stadium in San Bernardino, and in churches around the nation --- to pray for those who were senselessly killed and for those who grieve; to declare to the wicked rulers and principalities in the spiritual realm that the city of San Bernardino does not belong to them; to proclaim that we are active in the spiritual war against our nation; and to state our profound belief that God will give Justice to His elect, who cry to Him day and night.  Finally, we claim victory in the Name of Jesus!  And no amount of "shaming" will keep us from praying at all times in the Spirit, and with all prayer and supplication!

James 5:16    "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

     

Do Not Let Him 'Steal, Kill and Destroy'

    The purpose of my blog post today is two-fold ... First, from the perspective of the world's view, to simply comment on my initial thoughts about what happened in California on Wednesday.  Secondly, as always, I can't help but view events such as this from my Biblical worldview, and I am seeing how it is effecting our American men.

     Like you, I am reeling from the terrorist shooting in San Bernardino.  While politicians, Federal law enforcement, and the media tiptoe around the motive behind the killing spree, I believe the American people are less hesitant to see the connections between what happened on that day and radical Islam.
     Perhaps our Western mindset and our over-reliance on political correctness wishes to see workplace violence instead of admitting that a radical, fundamentalist ideology is alive and growing in the midst of our heartland.  But are we really expected to deny the aspect of premeditation in the presence of body armor, pipe bombs, and a home that was an alleged IED factory set to be detonated by remote-control cars?  And what about the trips to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in the recent past?  It will be interesting to see if the authorities release the internet history of the suspects and be willing to be transparent in connecting the dots.  (Even now, the media is leaking that they searched ISIS propaganda websites).
     Then there is the quote from the father of the prime suspect (Syed Farook) who said he hadn't seen his son in some time:  “He was very religious. He would go to work, come back, go to pray, come back. He’s Muslim.”  I found it interesting to read an article by Walid Shoebat, a former jihadist who converted to Christianity.  He said it is difficult for the Western mind to read "the signs" of a terrorist; something that he is all too familiar with.  Therefore, he is not surprised that American officials and law enforcement are hesitant to label San Bernardino as the site of a terrorist attack.
     But he also states that it will be difficult for our security services and law enforcement to thwart Lone Wolf attacks like what was executed on Wednesday.  "[This] will soon be realized in the West... ISIS now is heavily promoting this [Lone Wolf] agenda on social media.  A lone wolf is not only a very ordinary person living in the community as a member, they also behave like them in that they do not have any unusual activity or act suspicious. They are encouraged to cover up any sign of religious affiliation and are encouraged not to pray or become a member in a mosque, or keep a low-profile in the mosque. They do not belong to any form of criminal or neurotic gang. They are away from the eyes of observers as being a member of a terrorist organization. These [people]are perfect for ISIS."  Shoebat goes on to say that U.S. terrorism task forces have moved from drug busting into terror busting, and now must think like a Muslim terrorist and know Islam inside and out.... something that is very difficult for our Western minds to fathom.
     So, there you have the physical world's perspective.  But what about the spiritual component?  As I consider the men of faith in my life, I see the struggle they wage with how they are to react to this tragedy on our home turf.  I can only imagine how this affects young men like my nephew, who until now, have been able to immerse themselves in their college careers, with little or no need to make them concerned about a public and active shooter.  This event is different than the various school shootings he would be aware of, in that these perpetrators are other than a mentally ill person who reacts to some psychological trigger.  These shooters will most likely make the younger generation conscious that there are people who have deliberate evil intentions to steal their peace, kill innocent victims, and destroy how we Americans live our lives. That "age of innocence" has been marred, and the trusting faith that America is immune to such terrorist acts will now be tested.
     I have also seen good friends struggle with how our God expects them to respond if and when they are faced with such an attack.  I can see them agonizing over a scenario in which their wife or child is a potential victim and if it's OK with God if they kill in defense of their family.  That is a long-going and controversial debate among Christians.  I asked my husband, whose first and middle name literally means "Peace-Loving Warrior" (PLW) how he views that debate and exactly what his name means to him; how does he see his obedience to God in light of that contradictory name?
     Here is what he told me ... an oft-quoted line from the Bible is John 10:10:   The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].   He says we need to read that in the context of the entire Tenth Chapter of the Book of John, which is known as The Parable of the Good Shepherd.  Jesus is telling us that He is the Good Shepherd; the provider and the protector of the sheep who know His voice and recognize His call.  Jesus reveals that He is the Door that leads to eternal life and anyone who enters through Him will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security).
     But interestingly enough, Jesus also references "the thief who comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy."  In the parable of the Good Shepherd, that thief is represented by a wolf.  So, as PLW explained how he views his name, and how he thinks God expects men to obey, he said, "All of society are sheep; and as men, we are either the sheepdog, or we're the wolf.  As the sheepdog, we are expected to protect those sheep who are helpless.  But God expects us to not become so reactionary that we cross the line and become the wolf."
     PLW's sentiment is very similar to that expressed by Dave Grossman, a former psychology professor at West Point, and a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army, who wrote a fascinating book titled On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society.  Grossman has this to say about the sheep/sheepdog/wolf dynamic:  “Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident. Then there are the wolves, who feed on the sheep without mercy.  The moment you forget or pretend this is not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety in denial. Then there are sheepdogs. Sheepdogs live to protect the flock and confront the wolf. The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, cannot and will not ever harm the sheep.”
     So, PLW is simply saying, that as a Christian man, he has to walk that fine line between fulfilling his duty as a sheepdog, without disobeying God's command to never become the wolf.  As for his name ... Peace-Loving Warrior ... he feels he has two options:  God's first option is for him to be peaceful, but if that doesn't work, and the wolf is hell-bent on stealing, killing and destroying, then he will go into Warrior mode.  He admits that the peace part of him is harder, and he can only accomplish that through his relationship with Jesus.  But PLW is quick to assert that he does not believe Jesus was a pacifist, and he won't be, either.  He also points out that the Warrior side of himself does not prohibit him from praying for those lone wolves and their salvation; but if they come to kill him or his family, they can expect to be resisted.  He says that it is hard to find that line;  where to be passive --- until it's time not to be.  He just has to rely on the Holy Spirit to tell him where that line is.
     But as it pertains to the shooting in San Bernardino on Wednesday, my husband says his biggest fear is that, as a nation, we are being conditioned and desensitized; that we are becoming accustomed to a shooting every few days or weeks, so that (as the Bible says), "because of the increase of wickedness, the hearts of men grow cold" (Matthew 24:12).  Remember that Jesus makes this statement in response to a question from the Disciples about when He would return and what would be the signs of the end of the Age.
     So, are we seeing a fulfillment of End-Times prophecy that men's hearts will grow cold because of the proliferation of evil on the earth?  Are the Lone Wolves of the Jihadist movement demonstrating
the Enemy's desire to steal, kill, and destroy?  And how will the men of Christ respond?  There is no doubt that those who killed on Wednesday were hell-bent on harvesting death and destruction, no matter what the "official" cause turns out to be.  But I would also like to point out that no amount of gun control laws would have stopped that carnage.  California has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation.  But more importantly, those murderers are hell-bound because they were spiritually destitute, and did not know my God.
     Today my thoughts are with those families who lost loved ones, and my prayers are for the strength and endurance and courage of the American people to repent of our sins and turn to the One who can protect us and help us to repel this evil.  Do not let our hearts be troubled; neither let them grow cold.

Psalm 97:10    "You who love the LORD, hate evil; He protects the souls of His godly ones (believers), He rescues them from the hand of the wicked."


 
   

Look How Far We've Come!

     I'm sure you are all familiar with the circulated email campaigns that pop up in our Inboxes from time to time.  Most of the ones I get are either political or religious, and some come quite close to resembling chain letters.   You know the ones .... If you love Jesus, then pass it on.  And just yesterday I received one from a dear family friend, that at first glance, I planned to scan quickly and move on.
     Yes, it was dated and had made the rounds before, but as I read it, I realized it deserved a second look, and an update, if you will.  It is a true story, and verified by Snopes.  (If they are willing to give credibility to a faith-based story, then you know it actually happened, right?)
     Here are the facts:  The following is a statement that was read over the PA system at the football game at Roane County High School, Kingston, Tennessee by school Principal Jody McLoud, on September 1, 2000.  I thought it would be interesting to compare the state of the country at that time (in how far we had drifted from God) to the position we find ourselves in today, some 15 years later.  Principal McLoud's statement from 2000 appears in black, and my current comments appear in red...

     McCloud:  It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games to say a prayer and play the National Anthem to honor God and Country.  Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law.
     Just ask Bremerton, Washington High School Football Coach Joe Kennedy, who was placed on paid leave in October 2015, after he refused to stop praying after football games.  The disciplinary action by the School District meant Coach Kennedy could not even be on the sidelines.  But that didn't stop him from attending the game as a fan, sitting in the bleachers.  
     As students and players approached Kennedy in support, members of the Seattle chapter of the Satanic Temple clad in ritual black robes attended the game to show their support of the School District's decision.
     McCloud:  As I understand the law at this time [2000], I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it an alternate lifestyle, and if someone is offended, that's OK.
     On Friday, June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court ruled to legalize same-sex marriage.  In the opening paragraph of Justice Kennedy’s majority opinion, the court proclaims “The Constitution promises liberty to all within its reach, a liberty that includes certain specific rights that allow persons, within a lawful realm, to define and express their identity.” (Emphasis added.)  
     The court's recognition that individuals be permitted to self-determine—to define and express themselves—has unmistakable extension to rights for the transgender community.  In turn, this ruling now means that you may be forced to share restrooms with persons of the opposite sex who are still "searching" for what identity they want to express!
     McCloud:  I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity by dispensing condoms and calling it safe sex. If someone is offended, that's OK.
     Safe rooms are now becoming commonplace on school campuses.  These are zones where the newly designated LGBTQ students (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning) can gather in welcoming, inclusive spaces so that all people are empowered to reach their full potential.  I have been told by students that this often translates to rooms set aside for make-out sessions.  
McCloud:  I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a viable means of birth control. If someone is offended, it's no problem.
     Now the promoter of selling baby body parts, Planned Parenthood, has instituted the Peer Education Program, which provides semester-long training on high school campuses.  Peer Educators perform service projects to teach their fellow students about "healthy relationships, teen violence, body image, and sexuality, reproductive health, and more."  I don't know about you, but I don't want an organization that fails to admit they are murdering babies and then selling their body parts for profit, to be teaching any teenager in my family about their body image, sexuality, reproductive health ... and I certainly want to know what the "more" is that they have to offer.
     McCloud:  I can designate a school day as Earth Day and involve students in activities to religiously worship and praise the goddess, Mother Earth, and call it ecology.  I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depict people with strong, traditional, Christian convictions as simple-minded and ignorant and call it enlightenment.  However, if anyone uses this facility to honor God and ask Him to bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, Federal Case Law is violated.
     All one has to do is take a look at the suggested accommodations that the University of Missouri proposes for religious celebrations on campus, and you will see that every attempt is being made to diminish the Christian God.  You will find celebrations for major religious holidays for Wiccans, Pagans, Hindus, Islam, Jews, Druids and Buddhists outnumbering those for Christians.  
     In addition, in September 2015, students at a Tennessee public school were instructed to transcribe the Shahada, one of the Five Pillars of Faith in Islam, and write “Allah is the only god.”  This after an entire unit on Christianity was skipped.  Could the agenda be more clear?

     The following is the conclusion of Principal McCloud's statement over the PA system, and the response of the crowd at the football game:
     McCloud:  This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical.  Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone except God and His Commandments.  Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules that they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical. I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression.
     For this reason, I shall render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and refrain from praying at this time. However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank God, and ask Him in the name of Jesus to bless this event, please feel free to do so. As far as I know, that's not against the law — yet.
     AND ... one by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another, and began to pray. They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed at the concession stand.  And they prayed in the announcer's box. The only place they didn't pray was in the Supreme Court of the United States of America — the seat of "justice" in the one nation under God.

     As you can see, by the year 2000, the effects of the 1962 Supreme Court decision (Engel v. Vitale) that removed prayer from schools, had done its damage.  But now, 15 years later, we see that the campaign to remove God from our schools has bled over into removing Him from every facet of our lives and society.  We see pagan culture and religion on the rise; we see alternative and ungodly lifestyles promoted; and we see the murder of God's creation promoted as a "right", and by which the evil organization that propagates it can make a profit.  
     But although the advancement of Evil against the profession of faith in the One True God seems to be winning, we must not lose sight of His remnant --- those who stand with Coach Joe Kennedy; or those parents who protest the teaching of Islam to their children in a public school; or the individual actions that each of us take every day to honor and glorify our Lord.... He ALWAYS has a remnant!
     The Supreme Court, and the lower courts of this land, may execute their rulings against God, but we of the Faith (and the Remnant) know that the True Seat of Justice lies with Him in Heaven, and there will be a reckoning for these unholy statutes.  Until then, we must strengthen our faith, support each other, and like Joe Kennedy, decide for ourselves what our limits are for rendering unto Caesar...

Psalm 119:89-91     "Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; You established the earth, and it endures. Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve You."  

     
     

What's In A Name?

     While I'm watching the leaders of the world put on their spectacle called "The Global Warming Summit", I want to take a little side trip to a topic that grabbed my attention over my break.  Even though the President states that climate change offers a threat equal to, or greater, than Islamic terrorism, have you begun to notice that he and a few of the media are beginning to use the term "Daesh" (pronounced variously as DIE-ESH or DASH) to refer to ISIS?  My first thought was, "Isn't it enough that we play this little word game between ISIS and ISIL?  Now we have to add a new name to the discussion?"
     Then I decided there had to be a specific reason that this name play is being propagated, so what is the theory and reasoning behind our President, the Prime Minister of Australia, and the various heads of Europe using it?  I found several articles -- all from the Western world -- which basically explained it this way:  Just as ISIS is short for "Islamic State in Iraq and Syria," or "Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham," which is an old Arabic term for the area, and ISIL translates to “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant,” DAESH is supposedly an Arabic acronym for “al-Dawla al-Islamiya fi al-Iraq wa al-Sham”, which is what they call themselves.  It can sometimes be spelled DAIISH, Da'esh or Daech, a popular French version.  Confused yet?  (Personally, I don't quite see where you get the letters D-A-E-S-H from that Arabic phrase).  You will also read in the Western media that the reason DAESH hates being called DAESH is because it’s similar to the verb Daes, which means “one who crushes something underfoot".   It also sounds similar to Dahes, or “one who sows discord.”

     Another explanation for the use of DAESH in the West is that, depending on how it is conjugated in Arabic, it can be an insult.  It can mean anything from ‘to trample down and crush’ to ‘a bigot who imposes his view on others' -- not exactly the high opinion that the Islamic Caliphate holds of itself.
    You can see why it's easy to attribute those meanings to the new name of the Middle Eastern threat... they make sense to our Western minds.  But then I happened upon an article by Alice Guthrie, an actual Arabic translator.  She attempts to school us, here in the West, about the real reason this new name is being used.
     Guthrie says that not only are these explanations wrong, but the same misinformation is being shared across the Western media -- sometimes word for word -- and it simply doesn't make sense.  To be sure, the acronym of ISIS can be seen in the term “al-Dawla al-Islamiya fi al-Iraq wa al-Sham” (Dawla = State; Islamiya = Islamic; Iraq = Iraq (naturally); and al-Sham = Damascus/Syria).  So, we can see where the word "ISIS" comes from; and can see the connection between DAESH and the Arabic verb Daes (meaning "one who crushes something underfoot"), but why would the self-proclaimed Caliphate give a darn what the Western world calls them?  Why are Leaders and media in the West so determined to add another acronym to their description?
     I'll ask the same question Alice Guthrie presents:  Why are the people it describes in such a fury about it? I will let Alice answer her own question:  "Because they hear it, quite rightly, as a challenge to their legitimacy: a dismissal of their aspirations to define Islamic practice, to be 'a state for all Muslims’ and – crucially – as a refusal to acknowledge and address them as such. They want to be addressed as exactly what they claim to be, by people so in awe of them that they use the pompous, long and delusional name created by the group, not some funny-sounding made-up word. And here is the very simple key point that has been overlooked in all the English-speaking press coverage I’ve seen: in Arabic, acronyms are not anything like as widely used as they are in English, and so Arabic-speaking people are not as used to hearing them as those of us in the West are. Thus, the creation and use of a title that stands out as a nonsensical, newly-coined word for an organization like this one is inherently funny, disrespectful, and ultimately threatening of the organization’s status."
     Guthrie goes on to explain that we must not dismiss the power of social media in the use of DAESH, as well.  The use of this word is part of a multi-pronged, diverse range of efforts by Arabs and Muslims to reject the terrorists’ linguistic posturing, their pseudo-classical use of Arabic, their claims to Quranic authority and an absolute foundation in sacred scripture, as reflected in their pompous name.
     So while the use of satire in the East is part of the proliferation of the use of DAESH to describe the self-appointed Caliphate, there is another aspect that the West tends to miss.  First of all, both the shape of the word and the combination of letters in it are suggestive of words from al-jahaliyya, the pre-Islamic Dark Ages or ‘age of ignorance’ that – as well as being a time rich in poetry and narrative heritage – has huge connotations of hideous barbarity in the popular Arab imagination, being the realm of jinns and monsters and evil spirits and marauding freaks.
     Another  equally important point is another reason why the new acronym is insulting: it’s an obviously fictitious name, for an obviously fictional concept. Once again, the Caliphate movement's claim to legitimacy as a state, and it's right to rule, is being rejected as nonsense, reflected in a fabricated nonsense name for them.
     So the real reason that the name DAESH insults the Caliphate is not just that the name makes them sound little, silly, and powerless, but that it implies they are monsters, and that they are made-up.  So can you see the frustration and confusion that surrounds the use of this new acronym?  The proper use of it in the Arab-speaking world is designed to insult and de-legitimize the terrorist organization.  But none of that is explained here in the West, and there is no sense of the intended mockery and derision.  So why even use it?  If we, the American and Western audience, don't fully understand the purpose of its use, doesn't the term DAESH tend to add more mystery and authority to these evil men?
     Ultimately, I guess the question becomes this:  will the application of the term in the West serve to damage their cause as much as it will in the Middle East?  I don't claim to know the answer to that, but I thought you should have a little more information about the terminology than we have received to date.  So, what is in a name?  In this case, it doesn't change a thing whether you call the Islamic terrorists ISIS, ISIL, or DAESH.... but, now, if you choose to call them by the latest moniker, you'll know WHY.

Ecclesiastes 7:1    "A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth."

What Do You Think -- Concealed Carry On College Campuses?

     With yet another incident of violence with a gun -- this time in Colorado at a Planned Parenthood facility -- the topic of concealed carry on college campuses came up around our Thanksgiving dinner table.  Our niece, who attends a state university here in Texas, is now allowed to carry concealed in classrooms, and is interested in getting her concealed license.  But she still needs training before we feel she would be competent enough to exercise that right.
     My cousin's son, who is going to college here in Texas as an out-of-state student on a football scholarship is being trained in how to properly and safely handle firearms by my husband, but has to navigate not only his school's rules on concealed carry, but determine if a Texas ID would be enough to qualify for the concealed license.

     I imagine that there were many conversations like this across the country this holiday, as other states such as Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Oregon, Utah and Wisconsin are among the growing number of states that widely permit concealed carry weapons on their campuses.  According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, there are another 23 states who allow colleges and universities to decide for themselves whether to allow guns on campus.
     For me, it is a no-brainer --- with stipulations.  I strongly disagree with the current line of reasoning employed on most college campuses (and public schools, in general).  They have policies that call for a school lockdown; for students to remain in place, behind closed doors and away from windows, and to wait for someone to come rescue them.  So, how did that work for those students at Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook Elementary, or Umpqua Community College in Oregon?  The truth of the matter is this, those are the worst of the tragic school shootings in our history, but they are by no means the only instances.
     The earliest known United States shooting to happen on school property was the Pontiac's Rebellion school massacre on July 26, 1764, where three men entered the schoolhouse near present-day Greencastle, Pennsylvania, shot and killed schoolmaster Enoch Brown, and killed ten children (reports vary). Only one child survived.  And you can go to Wikipedia and get a list of school shootings dating back to 1840.  My point is this:  Any shooting at a school is tragic, but when you consider sending a young adult, whom you love, off to college in today's social climate, it is imperative that you give them the best chance of survival should, God forbid, a shooting occur on their campus.
     I'm sorry, but telling them to close the door to their classroom, hide behind a desk, and wait to be rescued is making them sitting ducks.  But, I also strongly believe that professional training should be a required condition for receiving a concealed carry permit on campus.  A firearm in the hands of an inexperienced student is not what I would want, should an active shooter situation arise on campus.  But all I have to do is remember the 2004 Beslan school siege in Russia to know that firearms in the hands of trained students would be an effective deterrent to such a tragedy.  In case, you've forgotten that devastating event, a group of armed Islamic terrorists stormed a school and captured over 1,100 people as hostages (including 777 children).  The three-day siege ended with the death of at least 385 people.
     I have read numerous accounts of that horrendous ordeal and what took place through those three days of hell.  And I will also tell you that I have heard that this scenario is among the worst fears of our special operations military personnel.  But what if some of those teachers in Russia had been properly trained to protect and defend those students?  Think there might have been a different outcome?  And do you really think that this scenario could never happen here on our native soil?  Wouldn't you want your child to have the ability to defend him or herself and stop such a tragedy from happening?
     I know this is a highly emotional and controversial subject.  But I also think students are more aware than ever that they are vulnerable and potential targets.  For those unfamiliar with the responsible handling of firearms, fear of the unknown is often a concern.  If students are allowed to carry, and a threat takes place, will you know the good guys versus the bad guys?  And I've heard the argument, "We should just install metal detectors or establish 'safe zones' for those who don't want to participate and where firearms would not be allowed."  So, where's the first place you would head if you were an active shooter?
     Obviously, everyone needs to come to terms with how they feel about this subject.  And you need to know the laws and restrictions of your state and college campus... because they do vary.  But I strongly believe that it is a discussion we need to have, both across our nation, and in our homes.  The most precious commodity we have is our children, and in the days in which we live, it is apparent that we need to give them every opportunity to thrive and survive.  I, for one, want to equip my loved ones with the ability and training (and lots of prayer) to become all that God intends for them to be.

Luke 11:21    "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe;"