13 Years Later

It is September 11th, 2014.  It has been 13 years since terrorists made a strike on our soil using airplanes to take out the World Trade Center, hit the pentagon, and a third plane that may have been heading to the white house thwarted by hero citizens who gave their lives.  Over 3.000 Americans killed in cold blood. 


Where are we at 13 years later?  Have we defeated the enemy?  Not really.  Have we pulled together as a nation?  not really.  Have we turned to God as a nation?  Definitely not.  We are more divided than ever.  We have moved further away from God.  Our freedoms have been systematically removed.  Our government has grown larger and more intrusive.  Our police forces have become branches of the military.  We have made criminals of those who grow natural food, and legalized those who genetically alter our food so they can use poisons that destroy the environment.  We have criminalized self reliance and created millions of dependents on government.  Our jobs have been outsourced to the point where we expect people to make a living flipping burgers or standing at a wal mart checkout.  We tell people they can't collect rainwater, but let corporations steal water from drought stricken citizens.  We have accumulated more debt in the last 13 years than in the entire history of the nation.


There is so much more that I could mention that 13 years and 1 day ago would have been completely outrageous, unheard of, and would never have been believed if they were told these things would happen in the USA.  We've come to accept being searched at airports and events, having our phones tapped, our information stolen and sold, being told what we can eat or drink, even what kind of light bulbs we have to use.  We've had our healthcare and insurance taken over by government.  Our banks bought out by government.  Corporate welfare and bailouts for the super rich that has sold us common folks into perpetual slavery.  The most sickening part is that we are told that all of this is for our own good, and for our own safety. 


Is this the kind of world that so many of us have fought for?  Is this the kind of ideology that we are trying to tell others that they should be like?  What kind of upside down world has it become when the likes of China and Russia have warned us about the terrible outcome in store if we continue down the path we have been heading.  Our leadership thinks the more dangerous enemy is their political foes and uses the full power of government to go after US citizens, while we take weak motions and tokens against the real threats of Islamic terror that has been doing nothing but growing steadily since 9/11. 


Instead of repenting and turning our ways back to God and His ways upon which this nation was founded, we have stood defiant against God, pushing him further and further away from public life.  Instead of promoting the Bible and making admonition of teaching its principles, we have practically criminalized it and penalize those who do read it.  Instead of defending the rights of people to worship God as they see fit, Christians are often faced with rules and regulations that limit their ability to live their faith, and in many cases the full force of government is used to attempt to make the Christian go against what they believe and to support things that are an abomination.


We have a government that tells Christian people that they cannot feed the hungry, help the homeless, speak the word in places, pray at certain places.  Our schools won't allow Christian prayers, but will accommodate Muslim prayers.  They take our history and change it to remove our Christian founding.  They teach as science, unproven theories that are without God, but will not allow competing science that supports creation. 


A spirit of lawlessness have come over the people.  We see rioting in the streets with looting and vandalism, random attacks on people, the knockout game, pouring feces on autistic kids.  We have seen the growth of greed to the point where making the dollar is taking precedent over the safety of the people.  They alter our food, steal our water rights, poison our ground, stuff our foods with chemical alternatives all the while ignoring the vast increase in cancers and heart diseases, Alzheimers and autism. 


It seems to me that on 9/11/2001, it was just the beginning of judgment upon us.  Not so much the God is going out of his way to punish us, but that He is allowing us to walk further away from His protection and allowing us to suffer the consequences of our actions.  Does He really need to dole out punishment when we are doing such an effective job of screwing ourselves up?  When the bottom does finally fall out, it won't be Gods doing, but our own fault for acting so foolishly and disregarding His ways. 


I think we are past the point of avoiding some of the horrible consequences that are awaiting us.  It may be that only such harsh consequences will make us turn back to the Lord.  When the debt load collapses the economy, there will be famine, starvation, riots, gangs and militias fighting for control of small territories.  This will be followed by drought and disease.  Outside forces will seize upon our collapse and invade.  It is a natural progression of consequences that can be seen through history.  There is nothing about us that makes us immune.  If and only if we return to God right now, might we get through what is about to occur.

I Want to Hear from God

I want to hear from God.  Not that I don’t hear from God in some ways, but lately I REALLY want to HEAR from God.  I want something special.  I’d like to hear an audible voice, or some direct sign that He is near.  Is that wrong?  I mean, I know that it is a wicked and adulteress generation that seeketh after a sign; but, it’s not like I want a sign to prove he is there so much.  I believe God is there.  I’ve experienced his love, seen His power, had answers to prayers in the past.  I don’t doubt he could do it again.  Maybe it’s like; I just want a hug from him or something.


Maybe it is just that I have been feeling a little distant from Him.  I don’t have that warm fuzzy goin on.  I wonder sometimes if it is my sin that is keeping us separated.  It’s possible.  I’m not a perfect person.  Sometimes I think that perhaps it is national.  I mean, we as a nation have not been doing things that are pleasing to him and it could be that He is turning His back from us.  Is that it?  I know I don’t spend as much time in formal prayer as I should.  Maybe I need more time in the word?  I don’t know.


It’s not like he isn’t working in my life.  Others tell me how my writings seem inspired, or that my actions show a godly person.  I don’t really want the praise for if anything good comes out of me; it is the Lord and not I that do it.  Still, I just feel empty and alone sometimes.    I want some reassurance that I am on the right path.  I need to know I am loved.


Sometimes thoughts run through my head that concern me.  I worry if maybe I am doing something wrong and missing the boat.  I get concerned that maybe I have upset Him for some reason.   Don’t feel worthy at times.  Am I alone on this or do other Christians feel this way at times?  I’d just like to hear Him say, it’s ok son.  I know I could do better, or more.  
 

I know he is still there.  I know that He is still working on me and in my life.  I know His promises are good and sure.  Sometimes I can feel Him when I am studying or writing.  I know the Holy Spirit is working in me when verses pop into my head at appropriate times, or when I react rightly.  Still, I fall short though.  I fail.  It bothers me.  I want to hear those words, well done though good and faithful servant.  I’d just like to hear that I am on my way.  
 

Maybe it is just that my hunger and thirst for righteousness is rising.  I have a strong desire to do what is right.  I am yearning to seek His face.  I purpose to change those things that need to be fixed.  Maybe it is just the difficulty in wanting something so badly but yet having to wait for it that brings about those other feelings.  I want my mind to be continually renewed, my heart to be continually refreshed, my hunger filled, and my thirst quenched.  I desire to see more, do more, be more.  I want to hear from Him, directly. Is that ok?

The Number of The Beast

I thought this was a fascinating insight into the book of revelation that I had not heard before.  take a few minutes to listen. 

The Weather and Spiritual Truth

Mathew 16:1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

² He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
³ And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

In the bible, weather is sometimes used as a tool for teaching truths.   People in Biblical times were far more agrarian people, farmers, shepherds, and such.  As such they were very in tune with the weather and what they see in the weather as related to future events.  Jesus here uses something most everyone could identify with in the weather to relate to a spiritual matter.

In Luke 8 we have the story of Jesus and his disciples crossing the sea, with Jesus sleeping, when a storm arose.  Again the conditions of the weather were used to tell us something of a spiritual matter.  The storm was so bad that the disciples were afraid of death.  In the story we get two great truths, one about faith, and one about the power of the Lord over the conditions of the weather.

In Mathew 7 we are told about two houses and what happens to them when a storm hits.  One stands and the other falls based on where the houses were built.  It is yet another example of the Bible using weather as a teaching tool to tell us about spiritual truths.

In the old testament we don’t find as much parabolic teachings concerning the weather, but there is much to be said about the power of God concerning His control of the weather.  Here are a few examples:

Psalms 135:7

He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.

Psalms 147:8
Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains

But there are some examples of weather being used to explain spiritual truths:
 
Proverbs 26:1
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

There are many other verses that use the weather as spiritual examples for us.  It is not surprising though for we are told in Psalms 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.  When we learn about weather, we can also be learning about the Lord. 

New Years Signs

Some interesting revelations have come to my attention recently that I think might mean something, but what exactly I do not know.  Yesterday there was a combination of the new moon and barley in Israel being “aviv” or fully ripened.  This combination denotes the new Jewish year and sets forth dates for the Jewish holidays.  This in itself is not unusual as it is the way they do this apparently.  One thing I do know is that God works on a timeline that is in synch with His chosen nation, Israel and that major events over time in the history of Israel nearly always occur on the Holy days.

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: (Gen 1:14)  When we look up into the heavens, everything there is placed for a reason and has meaning and purpose.  This is much misunderstood today as we seem to have lost a lot of that knowledge, but in ancient days, it was the positions of the stars that let people know what season it was.  They used the stars for navigation.  They also looked to the stars for anomalies to let them know if something important was happening.  The birth of Jesus was declared by a star.

This year, along with the new moon and the aviv grain marking the new Jewish year, we have a very unusual sight in the heavens, the comet Panstarrs.  It was in plain view alongside the new moon.  If we go back to what Genesis says, we can come to the conclusion that such an unusual event is a marker for something that is happening or about to happen on the world stage concerning Israel.  I don’t have enough knowledge at this time to try and say what that is, but certainly I can say that it has significance.

On the same day that this all was occurring, we suddenly find ourselves with a new Pope.  I don’t believe in coincidences and find that there could be some significance to the timing of all of this, in light of what I was just talking about.  The sudden retirement of the precious pope was a surprise to many and was the first time in over 600 years that a pope resigned.  The circumstances that led to the previous’ pope sudden retirement are not exactly clear, but it was a shocker that it occurred and set the stage for the timing of the election of the new pope on precisely the exact day we have the Jewish new year arriving on the new moon and having the comet in the same sky and location. 

Also on the same day, Something that went relatively unnoticed, but could have large implications on faith in the United states, The Obama administration appoints a new person to head the Faith-based office, the office responsible for outreach to religious organizations: Melissa Rogers will be the new director of the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.  Mr. Obama signed an executive order codifying many of the proposals, most of which clarified the ground rules for religious organizations seeking government aid for social services, late in 2010.  I would have to do some research into what those were, but suffice it to say that this appointment could have a profound impact on Christians going forward. 

To say the least, on this day, the Jewish New year, we are seeing significant changes that will be effecting Christians and Jews alike in the foreseeable future, both in the US and throughout the world. Keep an eye on things going forward, for we know that something is happening of unusual importance in spiritual and earthly matters going forward from here.  By the time they are under way, most people will have no clue that this was seen in the signs of the heavens when the groundwork was being laid.