We got a lot of problems in our nation right now. I don't think I need to go through the list because most of us in this country have an idea. Republicans blame democrats, democrats blame republicans, conservative v liberals, black/white/brown, men v women, You name it, there is a side and an opposite duking it out. Meanwhile there is the 400 pound gorilla sitting in the room. The Gorilla is sin.
Sin is something that for us humans comes natural. Lying, cheating, stealing, hating, blaming, accusing, slander, violence, bloodshed... it's there throughout our history as the human race. In the times we live in now, many sins are not only tolerated but even celebrated. There does not seem to be much holding back the sinfulness any longer. It goes on unabated and the sinners just puff their cigars and swig their brandy snifters all while chuckling their way to the bank enriching themselves with worldly lusts at the expense of others without even the slightest twinge of a guilty conscience.
Sin is a destructive force. It decays and rots things away. It leads to disease and war, famines and unrest. No good end comes to where sin reigns. Anger, hatred, suffering, poverty, and revolution are just some of the consequences that can be expected when sin has settled into a culture and permeates the fabric of a nation. It is characterized by self centeredness and self pleasure with a lack of caring about others.
I paint a grim picture, yes, but we are in grim times where we are witnessing what I have said and more. Our future looks even dimmer as the consequences of sin bury us ever deeper into chaos and anarchy. We are near the edge of collapse.
What we are seeing is a result of our choice as a people to walk away from Yahweh, the God of the Bible. We rose from a tiny little union of loosely confederated states to the greatest and richest nation in the history of the world based solely upon the principles of God found in scripture and extrapolated into the national culture. God honors those who honor him.
We have long ago left that path though, removing Bibles and prayer from the everyday teaching of our people. We took God and unceremoniously dumped him into the trash bins of our society and decided we in our greatness no longer needed His divine blessing or protection. We've spent the last 50 years removing every symbol of God from our town symbols and public places. The creator of the universe is relegated to a Sunday morning service in which many of the congregants don't even know God's ways much less desire to follow them.
While up until this point this seems like just one big rant, but it isn't. I am taking a brief look at the state of affairs as they are and considering how they might be fixed. There is only one way that I know of, and that is a revival. We as a people have to turn back from our wicked ways and commit ourselves to follow the Lord, and to do what he says to do.
It's funny how some people can't even stand to have the ten commandments in a courtroom, but if we would humble ourselves just a little and decide to follow them instead of trashing them, we would see a turnaround like no one has ever seen. Is it so bad to tell the truth? to honor parents? to not go after the neighbors wife? Isn't it best to have fair business dealings and not to cheat people?
I suppose in our sinful nature that might be too much to ask of any individual. We don't have to do this in our own strength though. God will help us. He will empower us to do what is right. He will give us a new heart that will desire to do what is good in the sight of Yahweh. We just have to acknowledge that we are screwed up, that sin controls us.
Once we come to that realization, we are then open to accept Gods fix for our sinful ways. God came down in flesh and dwelt among men. He lived a perfect life that we are unable to. He was beaten and killed; a punishment that we deserve for our wrongdoing. He took all of our guilt upon himself and offers to give us His righteousness in exchange so that we might be reconciled with our creator, Yahweh. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. If you love him, keep his commands. Love the Lord your God, and love your neighbor as yourself.
The reward is far more long lasting than just seeing the repair of an earthly nation, but it comes with an eternal reward of spending eternity with our creator in a perfect place where sin and corruption do not exist. There is no more pain, or sorrow. The streets are made of gold and the gates of fine jewels. A river of life runs through it. It is hard to even imagine such a place. No crimes, no hate, I don't know this for certain, but I don't even think there will be any dust bunnies collecting behind the sofa to have to clean up. lol.
The choice is yours. As for me... I choose the Lord.
Showing posts with label truth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label truth. Show all posts
2014/12/09
2014/11/14
Hype-eractive
In these days of information access, people who want your attention for whatever reason seem to always go to the extremes to get it. Fear mongering and over exaggeration have become the means of advertising by which they draw people in to watch their show or click their link. Often these hyped up headlines are used to deceive as well.
In a way, the internet has turned into this side show carnival with all of the callers out there trying to get you to stop at their booth and play thier game.... maybe you will win a prize. If you enter their tent, you just might see the most amazing freak you have ever seen. Go to the big top and see all the entertainment to excite and amaze you. You will be amazed by what you see.
A lot of these hype headlines are hooks to draw you in. See this little puppy. What he does next is amazing. then you waste 2 minutes of your life watching some dog play with a bird or something or other. Or in the political realm you might see something like, what Obama just did will make you mad. Then of course you have to click and find out what it is. Sometimes it is not even a story, but just a headline. Other times you find out, maybe after believing it, that it was a fake story put out by some sort of "satire" page. Yet other times it ends up being a propaganda piece trying to convince you of the evils of the other party. There is so much bull it is hard to tell where the grass is.
The problem with this sort of thing is that it makes people jaded. It all begins to look alike and people tune it out. Then when something comes along the really IS important, nobody believes it, nor are interested in it. They just think it as being more bologna.
Most people just buy their own brand of bologna. They believe what they want to believe and any evidence to the contrary is just denied offhand because they see it as just a different brand of bologna that they don't like. The left will never believe anything from Faux news, nor will those on the right accept an MSNBC description. It is all the hyped up and dishonest propaganda that makes people like this.
Similar things happen in my favorite genre of weather. News outlets put out scare tales of some impending doom coming from the next storm that never come to pass or live up to the hype. Then after a while, people just stop believing it. That can cost lives.
Perhaps it was the memes that began this whole thing. I remember when people first started using them. A picture with a little phrase on it seems to hold more sway on peoples thoughts than any television advertisement ever could. People pass them around like crazy in the social circles. It doesn't matter whether it is truth or not, just that it sends out the right messages and puts thoughts into peoples heads.
Most of it really boils down to money. All those clicks and reads generate revenue for the things being promoted. Money is power. Power is control. Control is money. It is an endless circle, just as any carnival is, to separate you from your money... and control.
Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
In a way, the internet has turned into this side show carnival with all of the callers out there trying to get you to stop at their booth and play thier game.... maybe you will win a prize. If you enter their tent, you just might see the most amazing freak you have ever seen. Go to the big top and see all the entertainment to excite and amaze you. You will be amazed by what you see.
A lot of these hype headlines are hooks to draw you in. See this little puppy. What he does next is amazing. then you waste 2 minutes of your life watching some dog play with a bird or something or other. Or in the political realm you might see something like, what Obama just did will make you mad. Then of course you have to click and find out what it is. Sometimes it is not even a story, but just a headline. Other times you find out, maybe after believing it, that it was a fake story put out by some sort of "satire" page. Yet other times it ends up being a propaganda piece trying to convince you of the evils of the other party. There is so much bull it is hard to tell where the grass is.
The problem with this sort of thing is that it makes people jaded. It all begins to look alike and people tune it out. Then when something comes along the really IS important, nobody believes it, nor are interested in it. They just think it as being more bologna.
Most people just buy their own brand of bologna. They believe what they want to believe and any evidence to the contrary is just denied offhand because they see it as just a different brand of bologna that they don't like. The left will never believe anything from Faux news, nor will those on the right accept an MSNBC description. It is all the hyped up and dishonest propaganda that makes people like this.
Similar things happen in my favorite genre of weather. News outlets put out scare tales of some impending doom coming from the next storm that never come to pass or live up to the hype. Then after a while, people just stop believing it. That can cost lives.
Perhaps it was the memes that began this whole thing. I remember when people first started using them. A picture with a little phrase on it seems to hold more sway on peoples thoughts than any television advertisement ever could. People pass them around like crazy in the social circles. It doesn't matter whether it is truth or not, just that it sends out the right messages and puts thoughts into peoples heads.
Most of it really boils down to money. All those clicks and reads generate revenue for the things being promoted. Money is power. Power is control. Control is money. It is an endless circle, just as any carnival is, to separate you from your money... and control.
Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
2014/09/11
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.
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.
2014/07/18
Watches and Warnings
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX
328 PM MDT FRI JUL 18 2014
NMC035-182145-
/O.CON.KEPZ.SV.W.0065.000000T0000Z-140718T2145Z/
OTERO NM-
328 PM MDT FRI JUL 18 2014
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL OTERO
COUNTY UNTIL 345 PM MDT...
AT 322 PM MDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS REPORTED...PRODUCING
QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS
STORM WAS LOCATED 17 MILES EAST OF CLOUDCROFT...MOVING SOUTH AT 5
MPH. THE CORE OF THE STORM WAS PASSING JUST EAST OF MAYHILL.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SIXTEEN SPRINGS...
WEED...
SACRAMENTO...
MAYHILL...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM... PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR LARGE
HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
The above warning is an actual weather warning from the National weather service as I am typing this article. The national Weather Service puts out various types of weather related watches and warnings to help protect the public from the danger that are posed from severe weather events. They are intended to save lives of people in the area from the potential dangers of the incoming severe weather by informing them of the current and future location of the threat and the nature of the threat faced.
Having been involved in the world of weather for many years, I have seen people who continually ignore these watches and warnings. they don't take them seriously. They have become complacent because they have not experienced the worst of what they are being warned about. I've had people tell me in tornado warnings that they did not need to pay attention because the tornado never strikes where they are. just because it hasn't, does not mean that it won't this time. Just because it did not strike here, does not mean it did not strike there.
Other people actually get mad at the messengers. They complain about the weatherman, and about the weather service. They complain about how they are always wrong and never know what they are talking about. They then make claims that they think they know more than the weatherman and "prove it" by repeating old false wives tales and such. It never occurs to them to think that they really could be in harms way and that they really do need to take the watches and warnings seriously.
I've seen people who are in a panic at the last minute realizing that the storm is actually really heading toward them this time. Panic and confusion set in. They are unaware of what to do or where to go because they have never really paid attention to what they were being told in the watches and warnings that were put out to inform them. Some of them actually further endanger themselves by doing the exact opposite of what they should be doing.
This is exactly what happens with God and the Bible too. People of God go out and share the word in various ways, warning of various dangers facing people and the possible consequences of those dangers. They give notice of what one should do to avoid those dangers and be safe from them. They are words of life when facing death.
People do Gods messengers just like they do the weatherman. They make fun of them, laugh at them, disrespect their knowledge, and generally think they know better than anyone else. They come up with all kinds of reasoning to justify why they are right and the messenger of God wrong. They will arrogantly make false proclamations about the situation when in truth they know nothing about it.
Unbelievers are often lulled into a false sense of security. They think that because a particular warning has not come to pass that it isn't ever going to, or that it is even possible. This false sense of security causes them to become bolder and bolder in their disregard of the warnings provided in scripture. They will ignorantly put themselves further into harms way being totally oblivious to the dangers.
The weather service and the Christian can only put out the warnings, and pass along information to help people to survive. Neither can make people heed the warnings or do what it will take to stay alive. Neither are responsible for those who do not heed the warnings. The job has been done to sound the alarm. It is up to the individual to accept the warnings, and heed the advice. We all hope and pray that people will survive the storms in life and live, both in this life and the next.
Hurricane Andrew:
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX
328 PM MDT FRI JUL 18 2014
NMC035-182145-
/O.CON.KEPZ.SV.W.0065.000000T0000Z-140718T2145Z/
OTERO NM-
328 PM MDT FRI JUL 18 2014
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL OTERO
COUNTY UNTIL 345 PM MDT...
AT 322 PM MDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS REPORTED...PRODUCING
QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS
STORM WAS LOCATED 17 MILES EAST OF CLOUDCROFT...MOVING SOUTH AT 5
MPH. THE CORE OF THE STORM WAS PASSING JUST EAST OF MAYHILL.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SIXTEEN SPRINGS...
WEED...
SACRAMENTO...
MAYHILL...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM... PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR LARGE
HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
The above warning is an actual weather warning from the National weather service as I am typing this article. The national Weather Service puts out various types of weather related watches and warnings to help protect the public from the danger that are posed from severe weather events. They are intended to save lives of people in the area from the potential dangers of the incoming severe weather by informing them of the current and future location of the threat and the nature of the threat faced.
Having been involved in the world of weather for many years, I have seen people who continually ignore these watches and warnings. they don't take them seriously. They have become complacent because they have not experienced the worst of what they are being warned about. I've had people tell me in tornado warnings that they did not need to pay attention because the tornado never strikes where they are. just because it hasn't, does not mean that it won't this time. Just because it did not strike here, does not mean it did not strike there.
Other people actually get mad at the messengers. They complain about the weatherman, and about the weather service. They complain about how they are always wrong and never know what they are talking about. They then make claims that they think they know more than the weatherman and "prove it" by repeating old false wives tales and such. It never occurs to them to think that they really could be in harms way and that they really do need to take the watches and warnings seriously.
I've seen people who are in a panic at the last minute realizing that the storm is actually really heading toward them this time. Panic and confusion set in. They are unaware of what to do or where to go because they have never really paid attention to what they were being told in the watches and warnings that were put out to inform them. Some of them actually further endanger themselves by doing the exact opposite of what they should be doing.
This is exactly what happens with God and the Bible too. People of God go out and share the word in various ways, warning of various dangers facing people and the possible consequences of those dangers. They give notice of what one should do to avoid those dangers and be safe from them. They are words of life when facing death.
People do Gods messengers just like they do the weatherman. They make fun of them, laugh at them, disrespect their knowledge, and generally think they know better than anyone else. They come up with all kinds of reasoning to justify why they are right and the messenger of God wrong. They will arrogantly make false proclamations about the situation when in truth they know nothing about it.
Unbelievers are often lulled into a false sense of security. They think that because a particular warning has not come to pass that it isn't ever going to, or that it is even possible. This false sense of security causes them to become bolder and bolder in their disregard of the warnings provided in scripture. They will ignorantly put themselves further into harms way being totally oblivious to the dangers.
The weather service and the Christian can only put out the warnings, and pass along information to help people to survive. Neither can make people heed the warnings or do what it will take to stay alive. Neither are responsible for those who do not heed the warnings. The job has been done to sound the alarm. It is up to the individual to accept the warnings, and heed the advice. We all hope and pray that people will survive the storms in life and live, both in this life and the next.
Hurricane Andrew:
2014/06/22
I Heard A Word
A long awaited vacation had arrived and I was ready. It was my plan to kind of right the ship and straighten some things out with my free time. I had kind of slipped into some old habits that I had tried to change so I figured this time would be good to get back into the ways I wanted to go. At least, that was the plan.
One thing that I am passionate about is weather photography and videography. I can't seem to let a good storm slip by, but I had little inklings in my head to stay at home instead of traveling out. This was going to be difficult since severe weather was in the forecast for the whole week. I wanted to go out badly, but that inner voice kept saying no. I watched as online people I know were out catching once in a lifetime twin violent tornadoes, and knew that I could have been there. But, I had just had the feeling not to.
After a couple days of watching this, and the threat being closer to home, I decided to go out. I still had the inner voice saying no, but I just kind of half ignored it and figured on a short tentative trip. I would just drive a few hours, see some storms and be home in the wee hours of the next morning.
One thing about storm chasing is that you get a lot of time to think... at least I do since I chase alone. I sometimes spend that time thinking or talking out loud to God. That is what I started out doing as I drove off. The main thing I kept thinking is that I want to hear from God, and hear directly and clearly from Him. I would like to hear His voice clearly and distinctly without any doubt about whether I was just thinking to myself. I truly want to know God better.
As the day wore on I just kept on driving. I kept trying to listen for God, but was not really hearing Him. my mind would wander about a little, but I really did spend a bit of time trying to listen, almost pleading to hear from Him. It really was not anything specific I wanted to hear, just a burning desire to hear, to have a closer relationship with my creator. I often long and ache for that. I want to be told what I should be doing. I suppose I was having an ecclesiastical moment where I was looking at life and all of its vanity. I want meaning, purpose and direction.
After about 4 or 5 hours I found myself half way across the next state and it was closer to get to the storms than to return home. Tornadoes were starting to drop and I might have a chance to make it before dark; so I kept driving. I was too late and too dark to see tornadoes but was treated to a fantastic light show and was around 2 tornadic storms. I was still getting the feeling that I should have stayed home though.
The next day the forecast was the same so I decided to stick around. A friend offered to feed the cat, so I seemed to have the green light. It was going to be a great day of storm chasing, or so I thought. In reality it turned out to be one of the most frustrating chase days I have ever been on.
In the morning the car battery died. My fault really, but I did get a jump rather quickly. I took a nap around noon parked in this church parking lot only to wake up with the car full of biting flies. It took hours to finally get most of them out of the car. I did not notice the moths, but I am still getting them out of the car 3 days later. I thought I only had one, but I believe I am up to 4 now.
The next thing that happened was the forecast changed some and pushed the threat further away, but I decided as ling as I was there; so I started heading out. I was using the map to plot a course, but the map could not tell me what was in store. I was following the highway and entered a town. Next thing I knew I was on detours and surrounded by water and sandbags on all sides. A dam had broken and a levee gave way and the entire town had been flooded... well, the parts that were not sandbagged. I could not cross the river there... or in fact hardly anywhere. I had to backtrack 30 miles before I found a way across the river.
On the way I decided I might as well document some of the flooding. I stopped at on flooded out crossing and was taking pictures of the creek that was now a lake when I heard this cracking sound. Yep, someone was out shooting. I began looking around and then saw a splash and heard a crack again. Then I saw two old folks in their back yard shooting. I doubt they knew they were shooting in my direction, so I high tailed it out of there.
The floods and the dilly dallying cost me a chance at more tornadoes. I finally made it to the area just after dark and the storms were dying. I started heading back. I was watching the lightning from tornadic storms about 40 miles to my NE as I drove down the highway when I believe God spoke to me. No it was not audible as I had asked, but it was unmistakeable and a clear thought in my head and feeling in my heart that goes right along with scripture. I could almost feel my spirit leap at the thought and I had to write it down right away.
"If you put as much effort into serving Me as you do pursuing your hobby, amazing things will happen."
I know that to be so true. If only I got as excited about going to fellowship with other believers like I do when I know storms are going to fire up. If only I so anticipated seeing or hearing my favorite preachers TV or radio show as I do about watching shows on the weather. If only I got as jacked up about reading the word as I do about reading the weather forecasts. If only I was as urgent in alerting others of their spiritual dangers as much as I am about warning them about dangerous weather. My life would be completely changed.
What are you really passionate about?
One thing that I am passionate about is weather photography and videography. I can't seem to let a good storm slip by, but I had little inklings in my head to stay at home instead of traveling out. This was going to be difficult since severe weather was in the forecast for the whole week. I wanted to go out badly, but that inner voice kept saying no. I watched as online people I know were out catching once in a lifetime twin violent tornadoes, and knew that I could have been there. But, I had just had the feeling not to.
After a couple days of watching this, and the threat being closer to home, I decided to go out. I still had the inner voice saying no, but I just kind of half ignored it and figured on a short tentative trip. I would just drive a few hours, see some storms and be home in the wee hours of the next morning.
One thing about storm chasing is that you get a lot of time to think... at least I do since I chase alone. I sometimes spend that time thinking or talking out loud to God. That is what I started out doing as I drove off. The main thing I kept thinking is that I want to hear from God, and hear directly and clearly from Him. I would like to hear His voice clearly and distinctly without any doubt about whether I was just thinking to myself. I truly want to know God better.
As the day wore on I just kept on driving. I kept trying to listen for God, but was not really hearing Him. my mind would wander about a little, but I really did spend a bit of time trying to listen, almost pleading to hear from Him. It really was not anything specific I wanted to hear, just a burning desire to hear, to have a closer relationship with my creator. I often long and ache for that. I want to be told what I should be doing. I suppose I was having an ecclesiastical moment where I was looking at life and all of its vanity. I want meaning, purpose and direction.
After about 4 or 5 hours I found myself half way across the next state and it was closer to get to the storms than to return home. Tornadoes were starting to drop and I might have a chance to make it before dark; so I kept driving. I was too late and too dark to see tornadoes but was treated to a fantastic light show and was around 2 tornadic storms. I was still getting the feeling that I should have stayed home though.
The next day the forecast was the same so I decided to stick around. A friend offered to feed the cat, so I seemed to have the green light. It was going to be a great day of storm chasing, or so I thought. In reality it turned out to be one of the most frustrating chase days I have ever been on.
In the morning the car battery died. My fault really, but I did get a jump rather quickly. I took a nap around noon parked in this church parking lot only to wake up with the car full of biting flies. It took hours to finally get most of them out of the car. I did not notice the moths, but I am still getting them out of the car 3 days later. I thought I only had one, but I believe I am up to 4 now.
The next thing that happened was the forecast changed some and pushed the threat further away, but I decided as ling as I was there; so I started heading out. I was using the map to plot a course, but the map could not tell me what was in store. I was following the highway and entered a town. Next thing I knew I was on detours and surrounded by water and sandbags on all sides. A dam had broken and a levee gave way and the entire town had been flooded... well, the parts that were not sandbagged. I could not cross the river there... or in fact hardly anywhere. I had to backtrack 30 miles before I found a way across the river.
On the way I decided I might as well document some of the flooding. I stopped at on flooded out crossing and was taking pictures of the creek that was now a lake when I heard this cracking sound. Yep, someone was out shooting. I began looking around and then saw a splash and heard a crack again. Then I saw two old folks in their back yard shooting. I doubt they knew they were shooting in my direction, so I high tailed it out of there.
The floods and the dilly dallying cost me a chance at more tornadoes. I finally made it to the area just after dark and the storms were dying. I started heading back. I was watching the lightning from tornadic storms about 40 miles to my NE as I drove down the highway when I believe God spoke to me. No it was not audible as I had asked, but it was unmistakeable and a clear thought in my head and feeling in my heart that goes right along with scripture. I could almost feel my spirit leap at the thought and I had to write it down right away.
"If you put as much effort into serving Me as you do pursuing your hobby, amazing things will happen."
I know that to be so true. If only I got as excited about going to fellowship with other believers like I do when I know storms are going to fire up. If only I so anticipated seeing or hearing my favorite preachers TV or radio show as I do about watching shows on the weather. If only I got as jacked up about reading the word as I do about reading the weather forecasts. If only I was as urgent in alerting others of their spiritual dangers as much as I am about warning them about dangerous weather. My life would be completely changed.
What are you really passionate about?
2014/03/22
Presenting Truth
Proverbs 27:6
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
As believers in Jesus, we are commanded to be as truthful as we know how to be. Never are we told to lie about anything. In a truthfulness, being that blatantly honest does not necessarily win you any accolades or rewards. In many cases, the truth being told is reviled and scorned, and you, the messenger, end up being at the end of a scathing attack. The truth is not something everyone wants to hear.
People generally become most offended when the truth presented bumps up against the way they see things. When a truth is presented that contradicts their own view, it puts them in a position where they have to admit that they may be wrong. We humans tend to have a lot of pride, and are not willing to concede the possibility of being wrong.
It may very well be that the truth being told will go up against where another has put all their hope and trust. The truth is not just offending pride in this case, but is rattling the very foundations of what another is holding on to for dear life. The truth threatens to tear down their entire view of the world and destroy all that they were putting their trust in. And if it was an only hope, the person is afraid that there is nothing else left to hold on to, that all hope will be lost.
In either case (or any I missed), truth brings out a negative response from the one who is offended with it. It triggers a fight or flight response as a defense mechanism. Often times both occurs. A person confronted by a truth they do not wish to hear will fight the idea, and try to ruin the credibility of the messenger. They will try to deflect this truth and make it about the messenger. They may just dismiss it altogether so as not to have to deal with it.
I think this issue can be summed up well when we look at the 5 stages of grief. The 5 stages of grief are commonly accepted as follows:
1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance
When a person is first confronted with a truth that contradicts them, they will go into denial, and then anger rather quickly. They don't like the truth. they don't want to hear that truth. They are offended by that truth. They will lash out against it. This is where most of the conversation ends. People usually end the conversations at this point. They will say something like, well, we will just have to agree to disagree.
The bargaining stage is something that may or may not occur later on. They may take to heart the truth that has been told, or they may just go back to denial and move on. This is where the Holy Spirit is at work. As someone wrestles with truth in their mind and heart, they are no longer wresting with the messenger, but the message. They have begun dealing with the truth. They might slip back and forth with more denial and anger, or slip ahead into depression, but that is part of the bargaining.
The depression stage is where one gives up the struggle. They are not angry any more, they can't deny the truth, and they can no longer negotiate or argue it away. They know what the truth is. They are now there. At this point they either shut it all of and go back to permanent denial, or they move on and accept the truth, embrace it, and go with it.
In the end, this is what truth does to us. Whether it is the truth about our mortality, which is where these stages were coined after, our salvation, or whether it is some other truth we are confronted with. As messengers of truth, believers are often dealing with the front lines, or the first stages in the above process. Sometimes we are put in a position with friends or relatives where we can be involved in assisting with the other stages. As ministers of God, sometimes we are brought in during the bargaining and depression stages to assist in moving on to acceptance.
In the end, truth is what matters. We can't shy away from speaking the truth. We can't be afraid of receiving the wrath of others for sharing truth. We are servants of the Most High God, and it is He who is doing the work, through the messengers, and in the lives of those who hear truth. We are to just be obedient servants and speak the truth in as much as we are given it, and to do so in as loving a way as we know how. It is not easy, but obedience is always rewarded in some fashion.
Acts 26:25
But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
As believers in Jesus, we are commanded to be as truthful as we know how to be. Never are we told to lie about anything. In a truthfulness, being that blatantly honest does not necessarily win you any accolades or rewards. In many cases, the truth being told is reviled and scorned, and you, the messenger, end up being at the end of a scathing attack. The truth is not something everyone wants to hear.
People generally become most offended when the truth presented bumps up against the way they see things. When a truth is presented that contradicts their own view, it puts them in a position where they have to admit that they may be wrong. We humans tend to have a lot of pride, and are not willing to concede the possibility of being wrong.
It may very well be that the truth being told will go up against where another has put all their hope and trust. The truth is not just offending pride in this case, but is rattling the very foundations of what another is holding on to for dear life. The truth threatens to tear down their entire view of the world and destroy all that they were putting their trust in. And if it was an only hope, the person is afraid that there is nothing else left to hold on to, that all hope will be lost.
In either case (or any I missed), truth brings out a negative response from the one who is offended with it. It triggers a fight or flight response as a defense mechanism. Often times both occurs. A person confronted by a truth they do not wish to hear will fight the idea, and try to ruin the credibility of the messenger. They will try to deflect this truth and make it about the messenger. They may just dismiss it altogether so as not to have to deal with it.
I think this issue can be summed up well when we look at the 5 stages of grief. The 5 stages of grief are commonly accepted as follows:
1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance
When a person is first confronted with a truth that contradicts them, they will go into denial, and then anger rather quickly. They don't like the truth. they don't want to hear that truth. They are offended by that truth. They will lash out against it. This is where most of the conversation ends. People usually end the conversations at this point. They will say something like, well, we will just have to agree to disagree.
The bargaining stage is something that may or may not occur later on. They may take to heart the truth that has been told, or they may just go back to denial and move on. This is where the Holy Spirit is at work. As someone wrestles with truth in their mind and heart, they are no longer wresting with the messenger, but the message. They have begun dealing with the truth. They might slip back and forth with more denial and anger, or slip ahead into depression, but that is part of the bargaining.
The depression stage is where one gives up the struggle. They are not angry any more, they can't deny the truth, and they can no longer negotiate or argue it away. They know what the truth is. They are now there. At this point they either shut it all of and go back to permanent denial, or they move on and accept the truth, embrace it, and go with it.
In the end, this is what truth does to us. Whether it is the truth about our mortality, which is where these stages were coined after, our salvation, or whether it is some other truth we are confronted with. As messengers of truth, believers are often dealing with the front lines, or the first stages in the above process. Sometimes we are put in a position with friends or relatives where we can be involved in assisting with the other stages. As ministers of God, sometimes we are brought in during the bargaining and depression stages to assist in moving on to acceptance.
In the end, truth is what matters. We can't shy away from speaking the truth. We can't be afraid of receiving the wrath of others for sharing truth. We are servants of the Most High God, and it is He who is doing the work, through the messengers, and in the lives of those who hear truth. We are to just be obedient servants and speak the truth in as much as we are given it, and to do so in as loving a way as we know how. It is not easy, but obedience is always rewarded in some fashion.
Acts 26:25
But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
2014/03/13
Dear Diary
I was walking along, minding my own business, when all of a sudden something caught my eye that seemed out of place. Indeed it was something that was out of place. It was some sort of binder that had gotten left behind by someone. Forgetting that I had been minding my own business I began investigating the object.
The outside was covered with doodles and band names and such. There were little flowers and puppy dogs and the like drawn randomly around. It seemed pretty obvious that this belonged to a teenage girl. Upon holding the item, it appeared to be extra heavy to one side. Feeling around it seemed like a small book size. I was thinking maybe something like an ipad; something of value. I probably needed to find if there was some sort of lost and found nearby, or some sort of official place for this to go. Curiosity got the best of me though and I thought I had better look inside to confirm my suspicions and see if there was any sort of identification that would reconnect this lost item with its owner.
I unzipped the zipper and opened up the binder thing. Sitting there staring at me was a little red book with silver edged pages titled with big bold letters.... My Life.
Ok, so what would you do? Of course I totally abandon the "minding my own business" and opened up the book and found myself reading the diary of a teenage girl. For some reason I felt a little giddy about the possible entertainment I might come across. Stories of puppy love? Perhaps a little juicy gossip about a cheerleader? Or how boring the history teacher was? That is not what I found.
On the first page I opened to, I began reading about a friend of this girl... how she had been bullied by others in the school... how she had committed suicide because of the bullying. I began reading about the pain and confusion of this girl trying to figure out why bullies could be so mean to drive someone to kill themselves. I read of the loneliness and emptiness this girl felt by her friends absence, and the anger at those who could not leave her friend alone.
I closed the book. I could not read any more. I cursed myself for having let my curiosity get the best of me, and cursed the bullies who could cause so much hurt to others. I said a silent prayer for the girl who wrote out her feelings there, never expecting that anyone besides herself would ever read those words.
It hit me hard too because I could relate to this story. I was once a victim of bullies, and their relentless attacks. It ruined my middle school years all the way until late my sophomore year. I hated going to school to have to face it every day. No one seemed to understand. No one was there to support me. Day after day, the jokes, the pranks, the physical abuse.... I did not think it would ever end. That is where that girl was who committed suicide.
I wish for her that someone had known. If there had been someone who would have helped her through, helped her to feel loved, helped her to feel she was not alone. Did her parents know? Or did they just seem to pile on top of it? Did her friends know? Or did they just seem dismissive? Did anyone try to share the love of Christ with her? For me those were all no's as I went through my own private hell. She could not take it anymore and snapped, ending her life. I snapped too, but lashed out on the bully.
We need to watch out for others. We never know what a person is going through. We will never know if a kind word or gesture in a given moment could be a life saver. We never know if showing and sharing the love of Jesus might at a moment be preventing another suicide. If you see bullying say something. Don't be afraid to step up and defend the person being bullied. It is never cool to call people names, or belittle them, or abuse them in any way. It is evil.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Love others in the same way Christ loved us, putting them first, and ourselves last.
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, only that which will lift others up.
Don't be selfish. If someone has a need, meet it if you can. If they are hungry, feed them. Thirsty? Give them a drink. Need clothes? give and share.
Love is patient, kind. It is not jealous. It does not boast of self, or brag. It does not act badly, nor is it selfish. It is not easily provoked. Love thinks no evil nor has fun in doing wrong, but instead rejoices in truth. It bears all, believes all, hopes all, endures all. Love never fails.
Those are all scriptures and are bully beaters. Do good to those who use and abuse you. Let God take your vengeance, for it is His. Pray for the bullies.
How is that possible? You don't know what they have done to me? Maybe not, but there is one who does. His name is Jesus. He was bullied, beaten, abused, mocked, made fun of, and chased away. And He was God. He could have at any time called down legions of angels to stop others. He did not though. He still loved those who hated him without a cause. Jesus had done no wrong to anyone, but was hated so much he was put to death. He did this to save you. He knows just what you are going through. Believe on Him and you will be saved. Trust in Him and He will enable you, through His spirit, to be able to be obedient to loving your enemies and doing good to those who persecute you. And you have His promise that you will never be alone for He will never leave you nor forsake you.
The outside was covered with doodles and band names and such. There were little flowers and puppy dogs and the like drawn randomly around. It seemed pretty obvious that this belonged to a teenage girl. Upon holding the item, it appeared to be extra heavy to one side. Feeling around it seemed like a small book size. I was thinking maybe something like an ipad; something of value. I probably needed to find if there was some sort of lost and found nearby, or some sort of official place for this to go. Curiosity got the best of me though and I thought I had better look inside to confirm my suspicions and see if there was any sort of identification that would reconnect this lost item with its owner.
I unzipped the zipper and opened up the binder thing. Sitting there staring at me was a little red book with silver edged pages titled with big bold letters.... My Life.
Ok, so what would you do? Of course I totally abandon the "minding my own business" and opened up the book and found myself reading the diary of a teenage girl. For some reason I felt a little giddy about the possible entertainment I might come across. Stories of puppy love? Perhaps a little juicy gossip about a cheerleader? Or how boring the history teacher was? That is not what I found.
On the first page I opened to, I began reading about a friend of this girl... how she had been bullied by others in the school... how she had committed suicide because of the bullying. I began reading about the pain and confusion of this girl trying to figure out why bullies could be so mean to drive someone to kill themselves. I read of the loneliness and emptiness this girl felt by her friends absence, and the anger at those who could not leave her friend alone.
I closed the book. I could not read any more. I cursed myself for having let my curiosity get the best of me, and cursed the bullies who could cause so much hurt to others. I said a silent prayer for the girl who wrote out her feelings there, never expecting that anyone besides herself would ever read those words.
It hit me hard too because I could relate to this story. I was once a victim of bullies, and their relentless attacks. It ruined my middle school years all the way until late my sophomore year. I hated going to school to have to face it every day. No one seemed to understand. No one was there to support me. Day after day, the jokes, the pranks, the physical abuse.... I did not think it would ever end. That is where that girl was who committed suicide.
I wish for her that someone had known. If there had been someone who would have helped her through, helped her to feel loved, helped her to feel she was not alone. Did her parents know? Or did they just seem to pile on top of it? Did her friends know? Or did they just seem dismissive? Did anyone try to share the love of Christ with her? For me those were all no's as I went through my own private hell. She could not take it anymore and snapped, ending her life. I snapped too, but lashed out on the bully.
We need to watch out for others. We never know what a person is going through. We will never know if a kind word or gesture in a given moment could be a life saver. We never know if showing and sharing the love of Jesus might at a moment be preventing another suicide. If you see bullying say something. Don't be afraid to step up and defend the person being bullied. It is never cool to call people names, or belittle them, or abuse them in any way. It is evil.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Love others in the same way Christ loved us, putting them first, and ourselves last.
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, only that which will lift others up.
Don't be selfish. If someone has a need, meet it if you can. If they are hungry, feed them. Thirsty? Give them a drink. Need clothes? give and share.
Love is patient, kind. It is not jealous. It does not boast of self, or brag. It does not act badly, nor is it selfish. It is not easily provoked. Love thinks no evil nor has fun in doing wrong, but instead rejoices in truth. It bears all, believes all, hopes all, endures all. Love never fails.
Those are all scriptures and are bully beaters. Do good to those who use and abuse you. Let God take your vengeance, for it is His. Pray for the bullies.
How is that possible? You don't know what they have done to me? Maybe not, but there is one who does. His name is Jesus. He was bullied, beaten, abused, mocked, made fun of, and chased away. And He was God. He could have at any time called down legions of angels to stop others. He did not though. He still loved those who hated him without a cause. Jesus had done no wrong to anyone, but was hated so much he was put to death. He did this to save you. He knows just what you are going through. Believe on Him and you will be saved. Trust in Him and He will enable you, through His spirit, to be able to be obedient to loving your enemies and doing good to those who persecute you. And you have His promise that you will never be alone for He will never leave you nor forsake you.
2014/02/19
Does the Church have it Backwards?
Colossians 2: 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Most of the time when people use this verse, they are generally making the case that we are no longer under the law, that the law has been done away with, and that we therefore no longer have to be obedient to what God has said through the law. But, is this what the passage is really saying?
I propose that it may be saying just the opposite of what most people use it for. It may just be saying to let no man judge you for KEEPING the Sabbath and FOLLOWING the dietary commands, or using the Jewish calendar to denote holy days and keeping them. Some of the biggest debates in Christendom surround the idea that we need to be obedient to the whole Bible.
Many Christians today have been taught that they no longer have to do what the bible says to do because certain parts of the Bible have been done away with. Is this so? Christians often use the previous verses to substantiate their claims.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
The argument is that the OT laws
were blotted out. The truth is, what was
blotted out was the penalty for violation of Gods commands. Jesus himself said, Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
That fulfilling was His substitutionary death in our stead. In no way were any of Gods commands declared
null and void.
this easy believism and grace without responsibility is what has watered down the churches message. It has destroyed the witness of Christians. Rather than being separated from the world through obedience to God, the church has become part of the world, nearly indistinguishable from unbelievers. The rates of sin within the church are just as high, if not higher, than outside.
There is no more fear of Yahweh in believers any longer. The salt has lost its savor and is being trodden under foot. Every vestige of our heritage as Christians is being removed from society. Over the last 50 years God has been removed from nearly every institution. Where have the Christians been?
Believers! It is time to repent and return unto the way of the Lord. Time is short and the harvest is ripe. Turn away from the lie of grace as a license and do as thou wilt churchianity. It is time to submit yourself to do what God has commanded you to do. We serve a might God, not the other way around. God is not our magic genie to make us feel all warm and fuzzy and give us the things we want. We are His servants who are to do as HE commands of us. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2014/02/01
Be Prepared
This blog is going to be rather short and to the point. Folks, be prepared.
I went to the store this week just before a potential snowstorm. I went at the last minute, even as the first flakes began falling. I got off work at midnight and went to my local wal-mart to be sure i had some cat food so I would not run out and have the cat mad at me. This is what I found.
This was just a simple snow storm. People ravaged the store of supplies. What happens if it is a far more serious crises. Are you prepared for empty store shelves that won't be stocked any time soon? I was shocked to see this in the midwest, a place known for snow storms. It is like everyone panicked. In a REAL national or regional emergency, this is what will happen. There is no more than a 3 day supply of food connected to grocery stores. If transport is cut off, there will be problems. Be prepared. Learn how to garden, forage naturally, hunt, fish. Learn how not to be dependent on what a society provides. Learn to be self sufficient, and in the right ways. There will be enough marauding bands of starving people willing to take from others.
I went to the store this week just before a potential snowstorm. I went at the last minute, even as the first flakes began falling. I got off work at midnight and went to my local wal-mart to be sure i had some cat food so I would not run out and have the cat mad at me. This is what I found.
This was just a simple snow storm. People ravaged the store of supplies. What happens if it is a far more serious crises. Are you prepared for empty store shelves that won't be stocked any time soon? I was shocked to see this in the midwest, a place known for snow storms. It is like everyone panicked. In a REAL national or regional emergency, this is what will happen. There is no more than a 3 day supply of food connected to grocery stores. If transport is cut off, there will be problems. Be prepared. Learn how to garden, forage naturally, hunt, fish. Learn how not to be dependent on what a society provides. Learn to be self sufficient, and in the right ways. There will be enough marauding bands of starving people willing to take from others.
2014/01/16
The Devils Deception
I Peter 5: 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Nowadays you don’t hear a lot of sermons about the devil or what he is up to. I don’t really hear a lot of discussion about him either. I think it is important to be reminded sometimes that we have an enemy out there; an enemy who wants to destroy us. Many of us are not even engaged in the battle, unaware of what is going on. Let’s take a look at what he is up to.
In Isaiah 14 it is written of the devil, 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. That closing phrase holds the key to most of what the devil is up to. He wants to be like the Most High. He is a counterfeiter, a knock off brand, trying to duplicate the original.
He has two intentions, either to take you with him into the pit, or if you are saved, to make you as ineffectual as possible. It is the latter that I intend to deal with. The Devil want to strip you of your power, your authority, and your protection. He wants you to not believe what is true, and fall for a lie. He wants to keep you off your knees, out of the word, and in denial of what God has promised for us.
The most likely place you would find the devil and his demons is probably not where you would expect. They don’t need to spend time down at the local tavern, or brothel. He already has those people and they are no threat to him. The most likely place to find him is at the church. He might be behind the pulpit or in the leadership of the church making sure the message is all gobbledygook. He’ll take what god has said and promised and pervert it. In doing so He knows that not only will he fool those who fall for the perversion, but also get those who are not to then reject what God offers because they think it is perversion.
For example, the devil has taken a perfectly legitimate gift of tongues and perverted it into a bunch of over-emotional diarrhea of the mouth gibberish that looks to the outsider like a scene from a loony bin. The real gift of tongues is found in Acts 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. This is quite different than the crazy babbling we hear in some circles today. Yes, I know I am stepping on some toes here. This topic often gets into heated discussions. But the devil likes that too when he can get Christians acting hateful toward one another instead of loving as Christ said. Some people, because of the perversion, deny the gift of tongues even operates today.
And this is how the devil operates; a point by point copycat perversion of everything God has set in place. Healings is another. We see ministers slapping people around on stage and people falling out and flopping around like a fish out of water. This isn’t healing. This is perversion. Because of this perversion, many don’t even believe in divine healing. Another tool stolen away from us. More arguments and divisions among Christians.
Dreams, prophecies, prosperity, and other doctrines that have been twisted and perverted by the evil angels of light sent only to deceive and divide the family of God. Any more you get attacked by other Christians if you say you believe even the true biblical gifts. It is even to the point where people don’t even think God communicates to us any longer. How ineffectual can we get when we even deny the voice of the Father? Satan has his people out there doing evil deeds claiming “God told them” it was ok. It has become so common and widespread that when someone does really hear from God, they are not believed. They might not even believe it if it happened to themselves, they have become so gunshy because of the perversion.
And of course there is the word. If the devil can pervert and distort the word, he can destroy the standard by which we measure all things. If he can get us to doubt its authenticity, or authority; question what it says or just plain not believe what it says, he can manipulate us into perversion. Every year there seems to be some new translation coming out, each one more removed from the original text and meaning. Some of the newer translations have verses that use words that change the meaning of the verse 180 degrees. If he can make us think the word is unreliable, than anything goes after that.
If we can be made to believe that God no longer communicates with us, what is the point of prayer? Disrupting the communication between God and man, getting them to believe a lie, dividing the body, isolating the individual, then going in to devour them as a ravenous and roaring lion; this is the plan of the devil.
2014/01/15
Did God just Say That? Part 2
In my previous blog, I related to you how God had spoken to me and shown me a little favor by providing me nice parking and quick checkout in an otherwise very busy shopping time. I seem to have gotten some blowback on this testimony from some in the Christian community. There are those who feel that God does not speak to people in this day and age. They argue that God no longer speaks to man, but only speaks through the Bible. In support of their claim, they use Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Do these verses say anything about how God communicates with man? Yes, in some ways it does. It tells us about prophets who were spoken to in different ways. Does it say this ended? No. It only says that in these last days God spoke to us by Jesus. Some people take that to mean the end times last days, but there is no real reason to think that. Paul is simply stating that in these last days, meaning the time they were in, not about any future time, or of the end times.
The first verse speaks to how God spoke through men in various ways pointing to the cross of Jesus. Once Jesus came along, He completed and fulfilled what the prophets spoke of. After that people spoke back to the cross, and also forward to Jesus’ return in glory. How many prophecies did Jesus fulfill that were spoken of by the prophets? Too many to be just a coincidence, that is for sure. Also in ways that could not have been intentionally fulfilled either. People today still talk about unfulfilled prophecies; so to say prophecy is dead and over with is obviously wrong.
The entire context of Hebrews first 2 chapters was showing the excellence and superiority of Christ and the necessity to believe based upon the Old testament prophecies that are fulfilled in Jesus. Then it slides into warnings against doubt and unbelief in chapter 3, then back to Christ’s superiority up into chapter 8, where the new covenant is shown to be superior to the old. It closes with exhortations to faith and holiness in the closing chapters 11-13. The book of Hebrews is about glory to Jesus. Nowhere is it saying that God stopped talking to men in various ways.
We can go to the book of Acts chapter 2 and see that God speaking through people in various ways was not dead or done away with, but was alive and well after Jesus’ day. 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The writer of First John advises us to, "…test the spirits to see whether they be of God." (I John 4:1). The test is truth. God is the God of truth—all kinds of truth. This was also the test for a prophet. If what the prophet said was true, or came to pass as said, then He was truly a prophet. Jer. 28:9. "The
prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to
pass, [then] shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent
him." The fact that what I was told
ahead of time came to pass as said passes the biblical standard. It was truth.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)