Tracking Humans: Technology Gone Awry

In the days we live in, tracking humans is now a reality. From the paroled convict released with an ankle tracking device, to the microchip inserted under the skin of our pets in case they are lost.

We will only see an increase in the capability of man to track and spy on his fellow man as we get closer to the Lord’s return. Let me be clear, I believe that the tracking of human beings will be used for evil purposes sometime in the future. At this present time tracking technology has it's good side such as the ability to locate children and pets which are lost or keeping track of an ex-con. If we could only be assured that there would always be limits imposed which would protect us against this technology going haywire and turning on us. We are told in the bible that in the last days, a man of sin will appear who will exude great power over the entire earth.

I believe the technology that made it possible to track human beings will be utilized by this man of sin we read about in the bible, the Antichrist.

2 Thessalonians 2:

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

In the United States, we have seen many laws passed that make it more “legal” to spy on American citizens. Warrant less wiretapping is only the latest of these laws that our president has sought to gain approval for.

First let me say that the ones who are yelling the loudest in favor of these tactics are control freaks who feel they are above those they spy on and track. They believe themselves to be superior to others. Those who are for this technology which is used to track people and spy on them see us as cattle that are to be herded in the direction of their choosing. There is not one thing Godly about that folks. It is downright scary.

Are you just a number?

In order to control people, you must know where they are and what they are doing. What would you do if in the future you could not gain access to the internet unless you were willing to scan your hand or eye before connecting? There is a real possibility that the services we all enjoy and have at our disposal today may not always be readily available to us unless we submit to the powers who seek to control us in this earth.

For the sake of fighting terrorism

We have seen many laws change and affect our freedoms since 9-11. These changes were all passed for the sake of the “war on terror”. Funny how our freedoms are slowly but surely diminishing, yet Osama Ben Laden has not been brought to justice or found since the attacks occurred. Have you ever wondered about that? I know I have.

Military Commissions Act of 2006 and overturning the Posse Comitatus Act

Many are not paying attention to the laws that are being overturned and changed. Some of these have been changed very recently. According to an excerpt in an article by Mike Whitney: “After passing the Military Commissions Act of 2006 (which allows the president the arrest whomever he chooses without charges) and overturning the Posse Comitatus Act (the president is now free to deploy the military within America against US citizens), the Bush administration is as ready as they can be. Apparently, they feel like they can manage the public shock and outrage with detention camps and water cannons”.1

These actions we are seeing come to pass have a purpose for those who will be in control in the last days. In the book of Revelation, we read that the Antichrist will cause all to receive a mark in their right hand or forehead and the person that refuses it will be unable to buy or sale anything in the last days:

16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

The technology that has made the mark of the beast possible started many years ago.

Taking a stand for God

What it all will come down to will be us taking a stand for God. It will be a test unlike any other that has faced mankind since time began and will be very similar to the test that Daniel was given when he was told to bow down to the statue Nebuchadnezzar had made. Because Daniel wouldn’t bow, he was thrown into the fiery furnace but God delivered him!

Health care and the tracking chip:

Health care is a large and looming problem for us all. It could be that in the future, we may be asked to take a chip under the skin for insurance or health purposes.

If you are a diabetic and must have insulin and other diabetes supplies, what would you do? Sure, we all think that if such a thing happened, we would make such a fuss that the Government would have to listen to us, but folks, they don’t have to listen to us. They don’t have to do anything. Our days of holding influence over what the Government decides to do are slowly ending. We should understand and see this from the current actions those in the Administration have taken the past four years.

Computers, Scanners, and Microchips and Radio Frequency Identification

We are told knowledge will increase in the last days, those days right before Jesus’ return. The book of Daniel points this out:

Daniel 12:4

4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Satan has always been behind the control of man. Many have the idea that God is controlling. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is true that some misguided Christians have attempted over the years to control their fellow man, but never God. God gives us free choice and does nothing to manipulate and control us. On the other hand, Satan, who is influencing many to do his bidding on this earth, is primarily all about the manipulation and control of God’s creation: Mankind.

A very informative interview with Liz McIntyre, author of "Spychips: How Major Corporations and Government Plan to Track your Every Move with RFID" can be found here.

Cell Phones and Technology Ridden Vehicles

Every cell phone carries within it a Geo positional Satellite. With this technology it is now possible to find people if they carry a cell phone. This is great if you are lost, but what if you do not want to be found? New vehicles come with this function as well. If you lock your keys in your car, you can call up a particular company and have them unlock it for you! Why in our present day, is it so important for our lives to be fraught with these satellite tracking devises? I know it is because we are living in the days that the Lord spoke of.

Human Microchip Implants

In 2004, Verichip got approval to market it’s device in the United States. Folks, time is slowly drawing to a close. The freedoms and peace we have enjoyed will not last forever. We need to be informed.

There are movements to fight the spreading use of human microchip implants. Once such website is “No verichip Inside Movement: We the people will not be chipped ”check them out.

1. http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_1411.shtml

Confused by Denominations? You’re not alone

What a powerful hold denominations have on some who claim them.
Which denominations believe in miracles and healings and are they correct to do so?
Which ones believe you must be baptized in order to be saved?
Which ones do not allow the use of musical instruments during worship?

If you are confused on these issues, you are not alone. I don’t hold to any denomination. I stick to the bible. I believe that everything we are to understand about ourselves, God, and our savior, his son Jesus Christ, can be understood by only taking up that book. God's word tends to bring us together while denominations have the tendency to divide us. This is no surprise, as they are tools of the flesh and not of the spirit. Denominations remind us that man got in the mix of God's holy word and suited it to satisfy himself. The rest is history.
Denomination - a group of religious congregations having its own organization and a distinctive faith.

A Baptist does not believe as the Pentecostal does. Charismatics are not Pentecostals although they share some similarities in their beliefs. Some denominations believe in healings and miracles. Others believe that these things were done away with the early apostles and prophets. The confusion is compounded when you realize that there are also a growing number of offshoots from many denominations. As if we didn't have enough confusion.

Think about all of the Christian denominations and the unique church doctrine they subscribe to. On the particular issue of healings and miracles and us continuing the works of Jesus, we can see by the following scripture what Jesus had to say on the issue of carrying on his works:

John 14:12-14

12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

The above portion of scripture proves that preaching, healings, casting out demons and miracles were not done away with. These and more were the works that Jesus did. They are still for today friends. These are only a few issues that separate us through denominationalism in the Christian church. Isn’t it something that all we must do is pick up our bibles to find out the answers when we have questions of what God expects of us?

I remember as a young teenager, visiting a church nearby my home. A person from the church I was visiting came up to me to shake my hand. This person asked me to come back and they would be pleased to have me attend their church regularly. I thanked them and casually mentioned that I had a home church. Their response was: Yes, but you’re not at our church. That said it all. This is what denominations do to people.

For the Christian, there is but one church and it is a spiritual one not contained within four walls. It is the body of Christ and it is made up of all those who have become Christ’s children through salvation offered to them by Jesus Christ. We all will choose to attend different places of worship, the buildings with four walls and made up of fellow Christians, and have our own style. Some of us want to remain silent in church and be left alone while others may express their faith by clapping or raising their hands. But these are minor issues that express our own uniqueness and personality, there is no right or wrong in them, so they make no difference. We are all God’s children when the rubber meets the road.

The sin of pride even reaches the church

The problem with denominations is that there will always be those who hold firm to one and look down on the those who belong to other ones. This is sin my friends. It is the sin of pride and haughtiness and those who commit it have done much harm to the body and the cause of Christ.

As I mentioned before, denominations started when man thought to improve or correct some issues in the Christian church. This led to the flood of denominations we witness today. They have been increasing in number ever since.

The answer to the problems and the division that denominations create has always been the Word of God, the bible . To resolve our questions and differences, all we need to do is dig into the truths that it holds. But this is the problem you see because many won’t do this. They will believe the words of a man who preaches to them and neglect the words of the one who created them.

The Lord desires us to be united and not divided

John 17:11

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one, as we are.

Denominations divide rather than unite us

When we can all agree that the bible is truth, and is the final word on church issues, it is a major accomplishment.

When we can all strive to do the things and act in the way that God directs us to as laid out in the word, we are doing well.

When we can understand that not one denomination is above the other, in addition to the previous two cited we are at our best!

When we see the bible as God's final word and not what some man tells us, we will have arrived at the place in which none of these issues and divisions will pester us.

When God is in our lives and his spirit is within us, a change will take place in us and in time, others will recognize this change. This is known as “letting our light so shine” before others that they see Christ in our lives. This will then lead them to give God all the glory for these changes that are evident in us.

Matthew 5:16

The Words of Jesus: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Keep it simple

It is amazing the measures many Christian denominations go to in order to get people to darken their doors.

They will put on skits and dramas and have a visitor’s day.
Listen, when people get desperate enough because they are sick and tired of the way their life has gone, they will turn to God. This is a fact my friends. It happened to me and many people I know. It’s the same way for the drug addict as it is for the unsaved. Until they reach the end of their rope and get far enough down in the gutter, they will not listen. Until then, we need to know that all of our schemes and grand ideas to pull them in are not likely to come to much. When we repent of the sin which we ourselves have committed and pray for others fervently, we are doing more for them than all of our schemes and tactics ever could.

I believe that the reason why many don’t come to God is because they don’t need him enough yet. They still have much self confidence and self trust. This is the way of human nature. So don’t wear yourself out trying to figure them out. Don’t get mad at them. Most of them already know the bad direction their life is headed. Would Jesus get mad at them? Of course he wouldn’t. His anger was directed at the hypocritical Pharisees.

Denominations will always be around. But we would all do well to read John 17 and get the words of Jesus into our spirits so that they might hold more sway in us than any particular man-made creed of a denomination ever could.

1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.

8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

The Exposure of Ted Haggard

The following is a warning against hypocrisy:

Luke 12:

1 Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

These words of Jesus came to pass in the life of prominent and popular mega pastor, Ted Haggard recently. Along with this unveiling, we are once again reminded of the reason why we as Christians are to be humble and watch ourselves at all times: Because those who tend to ride their high horse long enough will ultimately fall off it. And this is what we now see in the life of Ted Haggard. He fell off his high horse. And what a mighty fall it was.

Here is an excerpt taken from an article I wrote last year: Swimming with Sharks: The Hypocritical Christian: It never ceases to amaze me how we overlook the sin inside of us that we should be focused on, yet we are all too ready to focus on another's sinful ways. Sometimes the sin that is within us appears to be small and insignificant, but in reality it can be a huge beast of a problem that must be conquered.

What is it in man that leads him in such a downward spiral from the highest heights to the lowest depths?

There are several things but primarily pride, selfishness and fear. He probably felt as though nobody could touch him, not even the male prostitute who accused him, Mike Jones.

What we know right now

The pastor has confessed to buying drugs (meth) more than once, as well as getting a massage from the person in question. But what Christian preacher would go to a known male prostitute to get a massage? Well, that is a can of worms that I will close back up for now. Here’s my take on everything for now: I feel that we will find out more in the near future, and this is why I am hesitant to write much on this news story at this time. In another week or so, we should know more, and I will do a follow up article at that time. One thing is clear; Haggard led a secret life that many people who knew him never witnessed, including his family.

Ted Haggard is a perfect example why you are not to follow or put your full trust in mega preachers or in any man period! They will let you down and disappoint you every time. We have had other prominent men of God who have done the same, remember Jimmy Swaggart? Too many of us have had our eyes averted from the one true God, yet we still have the wherewithal to place our trust and devotion in a man, even if that man is a man of God. And Haggard is a man. He is not above you or me.

Brought Low

Haggard needed to be humbled, this is a given. But what a price he has paid already and will continue to pay in the future. He has surely been brought low.

Now perhaps he will talk a little softer and stay off his high horse when preaching to others about the very things he neglects: morals, self control and self respect. Drugs and homosexuality are two issues he preached against. Due to his recent conduct, he now needs to be preached to regarding these things.

This world is being shaken

This world and the people in it are getting shaken up my friends. And the shaking has only begun. Those who are trusted to get the truth of the gospel out will be shaken as well. And remember, they will be judged more harshly because of the gifts they have been entrusted with. We are told this in the bible:

Luke 12:48

For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Warnings

Since I am writing this article from a Christian perspective, you may think I am somewhat biased. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have warned for years on mega churches and their ways. I have sounded the alarm long ago that many in the body of Christ were being swayed in a way which is not good.

Besides the gay prostitute and Haggard, did anyone else know what was going on? Yes. And I can tell you who knew, God knew. And because of this pastor’s stubbornness and refusal to repent and turn from his sins, they are now being broadcast to all of us. Had he turned from them earlier, most likely it wouldn’t have come to this. But the stubbornness of man will often bring to light things that we would have rather kept hidden. But Haggard evidently thought he could get by with what he was doing and keep it hidden. This is where the arrogance comes in my friends. Arrogance will take you further than you ever imagined possible and cost you more than you are able to pay.

Don’t put your trust in man

Don’t put your trust in me. Don’t put your trust in any man or woman on this earth. Put your trust in the one who made you and created the heavens and the earth. This way you won’t go wrong. When I was younger and Jimmy Swaggart had his downfall, I was shocked and saddened, but I didn’t let it knock me for a permanent loop. I realized then that man will fail you, yet God never will. Man is not above sin and debauchery, even those preachers and teachers of the gospel. But don’t judge all of them by a few bad ones. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. You might be asking yourself right about now, where are the true Christians? They are all around you, living their quiet lives and bringing joy, love and help to others just as Jesus told them to.
More on this topic will be available at a later date.

Politics as Usual and Election Day Overload

The irritating and non-stop candidate commercials I have endured for weeks are going to be over in a few short days. That is a good thing because my current unpleasantness has grown over the past three. Every time I am watching a program that interests me, I know that approaching commercial time will be filled with endless mud slinging and grand claims that those in the political arena are well known for. We are hearing a myriad of claims by those who want to get elected. But how many of those grand claims will come to fruition once these candidates get into office?

The bragging and mud slinging is at an all time high right now. I have to confess that I often laugh at the silliness of some of these commercials, many of them are very comical. I wonder who makes these things up. They remind me of being at a circus in which all of the clowns are being marched before us and we are being pressed upon to pick our favorite.

Such is the way of the world we live in that consists of men who make our rules and laws. These politicians make decisions that affect all of our lives. Yet they are far removed from what our lives are really all about.

How many of these politicians have to choose between eating and buying medication?

How many of them search under couch cushions to scrape up enough change to buy a few gallons of gas? Not one of them.

How can we know the true views of those who make such grand claims? If they get elected into office, they have accomplished what they set out to do. In the days we live in, people will generally say anything it takes to get elected. There are no limitations and the gloves are off when it comes to all things political.

Many do not vote

Many have no faith left in the political candidates whether they are Democrats, Republicans, or Independents. It makes no difference what they “say” to you about what they stand for. What do they do? Those who have been in office and are seeking re-election you can pretty much figure out and pin down by their record, but what of those newcomers? In my opinion, the newcomers are a lot better than the ones we've had because we cannot tolerate more time out of those who have almost succeeded in sinking our ship.

Good ole boys

Many who are in office got there by pulling the wool over the eyes of the American public by claiming to be a “Good Ole Boy”, they know that the common man will relate to this proclamation and that is why making it will ensure them the votes. But know that most of these people are appealing to you with their great words absent of substance.

In my last article right before the Presidential election, I mentioned that I did not agree with either candidate. Many may not understand nor agree with me but I have to vote my conscience and when the candidates are for this unjust war we are waging in Iraq, I will not join myself with them. We have to take a stand for things we believe in. The problem today in America is that we go with the flow. We follow those who are lacking discernment and wisdom. Why don’t we open up our bibles and dig into the truths it offers us so that we can gain these things?

The Common Man

The political world is made up of patting each other on the back and lobbyists gone wild. In the world of politics, with the exception of a very few, we see it is essentially made up of profit, power and prestige. What do these three qualities have to do with the common man who is working like a slave in order to take care of his family?, nothing whatsoever. How many of you have great power in this earth? Not many. How many of you are making vast profits and walk around with a great name? Not many. See how the world of politics is so very distant from the world which most of us know?

Everyone seems to want something from us and the world of politics is no exception.

The warped and wacky world of voting machines

I don’t trust a machine to take my vote. If there is no paper trail, I don’t trust my vote to be counted fairly. How many times have you went to the store or pharmacy and been told that their computers are down? There have been too many to count. Now imagine that our most important event in America, that of voting, is being controlled by computers. This is the reality that we now face in America my friends. It is foolishness in the extreme. The machines can be controlled in whichever way those who program them desire. Don’t think for a moment this is not possible. There will be a special on HBO soon that will address this issue. Days before the election, state officials have learned that California's most widely used electronic voting machines feature a button in back that can allow someone to vote multiple times . The yellow button places the machine in “manual” mode. People could vote repeatedly and nobody would know. This is only one vulnerability among many others in the wacky world of electronic voting.

To read more on the return to paper ballots, click here .

Leading a Simple Life

I lead a simple life. I recommend it to everyone. I start my day by making coffee. I seldom read newspapers because the occasional news programs on television seem adequate to me. The outdoors is more appealing to me than being closed up and surrounded by four walls. I feed my birds in the winter and have a dog and a cat that always seem to eat too much. I live in a modest home. I don’t see the point in owning a new vehicle. My car is reliable and relatively good on gas mileage, so I’m satisfied.

I like to garden and digging in the dirt gives me a peace that may seem strange to many. I have always been in awe over the way a tiny seed is planted, and a short time later, takes on an entirely new form. I attend church when I am able and don’t feel guilty when I can’t be there. If there are fellow church members who judge me on this, I don’t let it bother me. I know I don’t have control over their ideas. I pretty much try to keep my head down and live my own life. I don’t interfere in the lives of others but I try to help them when they let me know they need help. There are things in life that I fall short of. I neglect doing things and regret that I don’t have more hours in the day to get more accomplished, just as most do. My memory is not what it was when I was 18, but whose is? One of my shortcomings is impatience. In the days we live in, having patience with ourselves and others is big a virtue. I don’t get entangled with political issues, although I do like to watch C-Span occasionally. I do write about my nation of America because I feel pressed to do so.

Being contended in all things allows you to live a simple life

If you can live in a tent just as well as you can live in a mansion, you are contented.

If you can eat peanut butter for weeks when everyone else seems to be eating steak, you are contented.

If you can walk into a store and only look but not pull out that credit card, you are contented.

If you can walk around in old sneakers instead of having to have a new pair of shoes, you are contented.

If you can drive a beaten up $500.00 bargain from the corner car salesman just as easily as you can a Mercedes, you are contented.

If you can look at your neighbor’s house, the nicest home on the block and not feel jealousy and envy rise up in you, you are contented.
Philippians 4:11-13

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

A complicated life breeds stress

In order to live a life above that which we were never meant to live, we see something we feel we must own. When we get it, we must pay it off eventually because the majority of purchases we make these days are via plastic. In order to do this, we must work more. Along with this comes another shortage of time spent in rest or with our families. Do you have to have a newer automobile? No, of course you don’t. Would you like one? Most of us would. But in order to be able to lead a simple life you must make wise choices and not ones that satisfy the flesh and emotions. We can usually trace the complications and stresses in our lives back to choices we made. Those choices added complications, stress, and disorder to our previously ordered and simple lives. Sunday is meant for our rest. I didn’t use to take this seriously and so I would run around on a Sunday just as I did the other six days of the week. But I honestly believe that the Lord intended for us all to rest on Sunday. We might be shocked at how much better we would feel come Monday, our start of a new work week, if we would observe this day of rest.

Keeping up with the Jones’s

If you attempt to live similar to the way your friends or neighbors do, you will have many sorrows. What we have today in America is too many precious people running about, attempting to own a home, boat, second home, vacation homes, two cars, you get my meaning. They cannot seem to get enough of the things of this world. These people are not content. It takes money to get the things they feel they must have. And in the end, getting the money is what steals our time away from our families and those we love. So you would do yourself and those you love a huge favor by slowing down and choosing to live a simple life and being contented with those things you do have rather than being unsatisfied over the things you don’t.

Don’t get tangled up by the things of this world

We don’t have to get entangled and have our minds be clouded by the things of this world

Even though I do lead a simple life, there are still areas in my life I need to change for the better. This applies to all of us. The stress and everyday trials that make up our lives are bad enough without us making them worse by repeatedly making bad choices. If your life seems to be a complicated, jumbled up mess, you need to remember that we brought nothing into this life and it’s a sure thing that we will not be able to take anything with us when we exit this life. We can have peace of mind that comes from living a simple life. There is a place we can get to in which we have peace no matter what storm is raging outside of us. No matter what fears and surprises tomorrow may hold for us, we can know for sure that all will be alright. The calm that comes from knowing that no matter what you lack in your life, the true gem you hold is in knowing your savior, Jesus Christ and that he cares for you and is watching out for you. In closing, just remember that in order to live a simple life, you must gain contentment:

1 Timothy 6:

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Hebrews 13:5

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Our War in Iraq: Firestorm None Can Put Out

To get your own house in order should be the primary concern with every great nation that ever existed. America does not have their house in order by a long shot, yet they have went about in order to spread freedom and democracy in other nations. When I hear the phrase, Spreading democracy, I think to myself, “What kind of “freedom” did we bring to Iraq by way of torturing its citizens? By now most of us must realize that the only thing being spread very thick in Iraq is hatred.

We are told by those in charge in our Administration that some lives will be lost in the war on terror. However, the casualties of both our own military as well as the citizens in Iraq cannot be properly categorized as “some”. A majority of Iraqi citizens do not want us to be in their country. They continue to be very leery of our reasons for being there and who could blame them?

As I have said several times before in my writings, if another country invaded the United States and did to us what has been done to the citizens of Iraq, I would take up arms and fight with every fiber of my being against those invaders.

The War on Terror

Our being in Iraq has caused a firestorm of hate and killing that will not end until we leave. Those who decided to go in act oblivious to these things. What are the true reasons we went in and why are we still there? Some of these reasons I am sure we will never know. But I know that some have gotten wealthier than they were before we went in. Those corporations and oil producers will probably fair better and come out better in the end than anyone else. What sparked many people’s curiosity about all of these things is when we found out that there were plans sought by President Bush to go into Iraq eight months before 9/11 ever occurred.

What has happened since this invasion?

Our great military machine has been weakened in a major way. Don’t think for a moment that it hasn’t. We have not won this war in Iraq and we have suffered severe blows because we went in for the wrong reasons. This is not the fault of our military. As George Bush said recently, he takes full responsibility for what has went on. It makes me cringe when I think about what a staggering responsibility this truly is. Just think of all the blood that has been shed, the cries to God for vindication and help from the innocent. Yes, our President has a huge responsibility and he will have to answer for what his actions. Think about the many lives this war has claimed. It is staggering.

9/11 was Carte Blanche

The atrocities that were perpetrated on 9-11 seem to have given carte Blanche to those in our administration. What did we hear immediately after 9-11? Those who committed these atrocities would be found and brought to justice. The President promised us this when he spoke through the bullhorn at ground zero. Have those who perpetrated 9-11 been brought to justice? No, of course they haven’t. However, our military is being used to protect the oil fields in Iraq. Does this confuse you? It should my friends because it doesn’t make sense.

Our troops let the looters have their way when Baghdad was taken, yet the first order of business was protecting the oil ministry.

Have we learned anything about this war on terror yet?

We are told that we fight the terrorists over there so that we won’t have to fight them here. This is rubbish. We are going to have other attacks on our soil whether we have our troops in Iraq or not. You don’t invade a country which has not harmed you without suffering being doled out to you at a future date.

This is a warning I have given for some time. I believe that we in America will likely go through a war on our own soil because of what we have done in Iraq. Remember, you reap what you sow. Our own nation is in disorder, and we need to get our own house in order as such so who are we to go about nation building and nosing into other nation’s business?

As I have often said, this nation will be in such a mess come the next presidential election that I don’t believe we will recover from it. What is a new president going to do about this mess? I just don’t think it will happen. What has happened in the past six years can be equated to a raping and pillaging of our nation. Who are the rapists? They are a few radicals in our Administration, as well as those who tell them what to do.

I don’t claim to know why they have done what they have done to our country. But ask yourself this: Would someone who does such things to a nation love that nation? Of course the answer would be no. If you care for a nation, you don’t want to take steps that would weaken it in any way, let alone the depths that the United States has descended to.

We are in deep financial debt to other nations. There will come an accounting of that debt someday but we in America don’t like to think of such things. All I can say at this point is that we will only prolong the suffering of this nation if we choose to hide our head in the sand.

What can we do?
What I am doing is keeping my faith in the God of the bible. I am attempting to get out of debt. I owe bills and I am trying to get them paid off. I am learning to do without things I don’t have to have. I am not driving a fancy car or truck. I am trying to learn to be more self sufficient. I don’t see my government as my bail out. At one time I did not think on these things and now they are often on my mind and in my heart. Keep your faith in the God who is the creator of both the heaven and the earth. Pray for this nation as well as other nations. All people are important and have value in God’s eyes and we would do well to remember that truth.

Halloween: What does it mean to you?

For as long as I can remember, the Fall season always reminded me of apples, changing leaves, crisp air that drove out the long, hot summer, and Halloween.

I was always big on decorating for Halloween and when my children were young, I always took them trick-or-treating. Some nights were drizzly and wet and I admit, it was a chore to drive along, letting them out, getting them back in the car, while onward we drove to the next house. But looking back, I wouldn’t trade those days and I will always remember them. It was worth all of the soggy costumes, messy makeup, and ripped candy bags. The joy it brought the kids couldn’t have been more than the joy it seemed to bring those homeowners who greeted them with a bowl full of goodies. When I was a kid, growing up in the 70’s and 80’s, Halloween was not regarded as an evil holiday. It was generally viewed as a “fun” holiday. I am a Christian in case you were wondering. When I was a teen and still trick or treating, I was regularly attending church. The pastor and church members pretty much saw the issue of Halloween and what a Christian is to do on Halloween very differently as many in the church do today. There were no fall festivals to keep the members and their little children from participating in trick or treating because it was “evil”. A majority of the church members took their kids trick or treating without the slightest worry that they might be committing a sin by doing so. But times, they certainly do change. What we have in the past ten years is a bend towards viewing these Halloween activities as evil incarnate. Since I am not one to go with the flow, the following is my view on Halloween and the activities of Halloween:

On Halloween history:

Just because some did evil and had twisted views regarding October 31 long ago does not mean that I hold their views. I am not somehow flung back to the past and joined with those who held twisted and evil thoughts concerning the day October 31. The question of whether one is to decorate, participate in harmless activities that have to do with the holiday, just as other issues in life, is an issue of the heart. Did you know that the Christmas tree has pagan roots? Even though it does, if you are a Christian, you don’t share those pagan beliefs about the tree do you? I know that I don’t. And that is why I do put up a Christmas tree. When I think about the origin of the Christmas tree, I don’t care what some people BEGAN using a tree on Christmas for long ago in the past, they are not me. The same applies for Halloween. I don’t share the beliefs that the pagans held. Their twisted beliefs mean nothing to me and my life in the year 2006. They were deceived. Instead of seeing a pumpkin, they saw a damned soul? Well, that is their problem. That is what spiritual ignorance will get you. When I see a pumpkin, I see a fruit that the Lord made and allowed us to enjoy. The same goes for the bat. The bat is associated with Halloween and to some it may be associated with evil in some way, but I don’t associate it in the same way as they do. The Lord made the bat and they are creatures to me. That’s all they are.

Trick or Treating will always be to me what it was when I was a child. A day in which you dress the kids up in silly garb and take them around to collect treats. It brings those who greet them at the door much joy and really makes the kids happy. Going to a Halloween carnival is fun and is not something that is evil unless perhaps it is to you personally. And in that case, you should not do it. If some of the activities we associate Halloween with such as going to a Halloween carnival or trick or treating or carving a pumpkin is evil to you, ask yourself why you view them as evil. Why would cutting up a pumpkin and putting a candle in it be evil? If the answer is because some druids or Celtics did it to ward off evil souls or some such nonsense, then you have to ask yourself if you hold their same view. If you do, I feel sorry for you, you are just as deceived as they were then. If you don’t, then grab the pumpkin, carving utensils and get after it!

If Halloween is a stumbling block to you, then don’t do anything on that day. But please, don’t think others are evil if they choose to participate in some of the activities pertaining to Halloween.

A day is just a day. It is what we make it and not what those who lived it long ago made it. They and their beliefs should hold no sway over those of us who have been made alive in Christ! We are free from the traditions of man. What matters? The heart and our motivations in everything we do.

To read more on Halloween, click the following links:

Halloween and the Christian, Pt 1

Halloween and the Christian, Pt 2

Halloween and the Christian, Pt 3

Blast Off – Rush Limbaugh’s Mouth Once Again on The Run

I was appalled by Limbaugh’s latest. My thinking now is that perhaps the man suffers from a mental disorder or perhaps has no shame and no compassion for anyone. I certainly hope that he is not back on drugs again. On his October 23 radio show, Limbaugh stated that Fox is "moving all around and shaking" and declared: "And it's purely an act".

Whatever possessed Limbaugh to make this accusation? I have no clue, I don't even want to venture a guess. I only know that his radio listeners should sit up and take notice as to who they are so fervently following and giving their ear to. His blatantly false accusations toward Michael J. Fox left me outraged and saddened. Compassion is the very essence of Christianity. I suppose that Mr. Limbaugh either doesn't know this or he doesn't care. Those who have this disease face a struggle everyday that many of us will never know.

If you have nobody in your life who suffers from Parkinson’s, you have no idea what it takes for for them to just live life. Getting up in the morning and facing another day is not an easy task for those who suffer from Parkinson’s disease because there is no, “springing up out of bed” as there is for those of us who are not stricken with it. Trying to control tremors which you really have no control over becomes monotonous and tiring.

Michael J. Fox has met these struggles head on from the get go. Those who suffer with this disease do not want our pity, they only want to live life. These are very courageous people. They are an inspiration to me and forever will be in my thoughts and prayers. My view of Michael J. Fox has not diminished over the years since we’ve found out about his disease. I don’t see him as less than what he was since he has been diagnosed. I think I see him as more.

Anyone can blast off at the mouth such as Limbaugh has, but not everyone can live life with such courage when facing a mountain in life such as Michael J. Fox has since his diagnosis. Mr. Fox is a rare and precious person. I hope and pray that this would all die down.

That is until Limbaugh targets his next victim, and starts that mouth of his on a collision course again.

To visit Michael J. Fox's Website on Parkinson's Disease, click here .

The Origin of Evil in this World

A healthy conscience and a spirit which gains faith, strength, and direction from the truth of God will keep you from doing things that harm others. We are astounded by news reports of a mother or father killing their own child. Where do these horrible acts originate from? What could drive one to murder their child? The origin of such an act comes from Satan himself.

The following are Jesus words taken from the Gospel of John 8:

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

The above scripture lets us know that both murderous acts and lies originate from Satan himself.

Satan became filled with pride. He was all consumed with "self" as the below scriptures reveal:

Isaiah 14:12-16

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

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.

15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

Evil in the World
We get caught up in all of the mental illness we see and are told about that is prevalent in today’s society. There is an overabundance of those suffering from various mental and personality disorders. But let me tell you, there is not so much mental illness going on as there is plain old evil that is being poured out upon many innocent bystanders, the victims of those without conscience. And the reason why this evil is so prevalent today? Many more today are walking around with consciences that have been seared and they feel no guilt whatsoever over the evil they do. To them, they are just being themselves! They don’t concern themselves with how others may feel about their selfish actions. They lack empathy and don’t feel compassion for their fellow man. They have no concern over what their selfish acts will bring upon the innocent. These people are raising children that follow in their parent's footsteps.

The God of this world has blinded the minds of many

2 Corinthians 4:3&4

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Satan is still the god of this world. If this were not true we would not have the natural disasters, murders, greed, and all of the other sad occurrences that make up our everyday lives and brings much sadness and despair to all of us. These things that bring untold grief and pain and suffering to humanity today were initiated when Adam and Eve turned aside from obeying God and listened to the serpent in the Garden of Eden. This is when the fall of mankind first started. Ever since that time, Satan has been the God of this world. Remember what Jesus said about the prince of this world?

John 14:30

Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

Satan will be the God of this world until Jesus Christ returns. Remember when Satan offered all of the kingdoms and glory of the world to Jesus when they were both on the mountain? Those kingdoms, along with the glory of them were surely Satan’s to offer.

Matthew 4:8-11

8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Satan needs people to work through

Satan works through people just as God works through people. The only difference is that when God works through people, he brings goodness and wholeness to their lives. When Satan works through people, he brings chaos and grief to their lives.Those who don’t believe that there is a literal devil need to wake up. They need to open their eyes and open their hearts and recognize the damage being done by the ever increasing numbers of those who suffer from a lack of conscience. People open themselves up to Satan when they turn away from God. One thing is certain, you will do the works of your father. Is your father the God of the bible or is your father the God of this world?

John 8:44-45

Listen to Jesus words to the Pharisees:

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

Just as walking with God for years and becoming closer to him makes one more like him, walking with the devil for years and becoming closer to him will make one more like him as well. This is what it all comes down to. Have you been born again of the spirit? Have you committed your life to the God of the bible or the waster of this world, Satan himself? Who rules and reigns over you? Do you listen and strive to do the works of the Lord by loving and helping your fellow man? Do you listen and strive to do anything that feels good to you because you have no conscience and your primary concern is that of self?

The darkness that has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe

We are told in the bible that evil actions come from an evil heart.

Matthew 15:19&20:

19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

We read in the bible that giving our hearts to the Lord changes them. This is so true. Our hearts before we are born again are only concerned with the selfish desires we have. This selfish nature is the sin nature that has been passed down to all who are born into this earth. This is the reason why Jesus proclaimed, “Ye must be born again ”. The second birth is one of a spiritual nature and not of the physical. Our Spirits are made alive in Christ. This happens when we give our hearts and lives to Christ and it is called being born again. Our hearts once we are born again are changed. God takes out our heart of stone and selfishness and places within us a new heart of love and concern for others. This is what being a Christian is about. It is not about paying tithes, being in church every time the doors open, volunteering until we drop in things concerning a church or denomination. These things are totally irrelevant. And if our hearts are not in the right place, if there is no love, all other things are useless:

1 Corinthians 13

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.

Television: Turn off that Tube

Sometimes I feel like unplugging my television set. Increasingly ridiculous commercials, lost in a sea of reality shows, it makes me want to unplug from that chattering box permanently. In fact, around two months ago, I decided to leave the set off all day. The silence did wonders for me.

Television for Americans is a way of life. We switch our sets on when we get up in the morning without thinking about it. Some of us leave our sets on overnight.

What would we do without television?

We would have to do other things with our spare time instead of tuning into the tube and tuning out of our real world. We might have to communicate with that neighbor we never talk to. Or we might have more time to do work outside or inside our home. We might spend more time talking with our children or spouse. I believe we would be shocked at what we could get accomplished if we disconnected from the tube once in a while.

We have people who are so taken with television that they sit like zombies absorbing every word and vision they see on the tube. This is the very essence of turning it on and tuning everything else out.

I believe our culture is obsessed with television. I remember as a girl visiting my grandmother. Here's what her day consisted of: Making breakfast, doing yard-work, feeding the livestock, cleaning house, preparing three square meals a day. You get the idea. She hardly ever watched television. Her main program of choice was the news at 5:00 p.m. Had she been even a third as obsessed and addicted to television as most of us are today, she couldn't have possibly been as productive as she was.

Commercialism and Consumerism

Television, it is believed, was created to inform and entertain us. But I am convinced that the television serves a dual purpose. And the ones who profit most from those of us who are T.V obsessed are those who profit from consumerism. We seem to see more commercial time than ever before. Big business cannot hope for a better money maker than that of commercial air time. This is the dream of those who want to sell their products and services. We see an item or service via commercial and many of us speed out the same day to purchase it. We believe we must acquire these things we see advertised. Most of the time, we tire of the product we just “had to have”, the same week we get it.

The Increase of Big Pharmaceutical Commercialism
There are so many of these pharmaceutical giants that have splashed their commercials on our screens encouraging consumers to “ask their doctors” about prescribing for them a particular drug. These drug companies that pay for commercial advertising are already making a killing financially off of their drugs. This advertising that you and I are getting progressively disgusted over just makes them more rich. In these days we now live, there is a pill for everything. Less is always better. Remember that goes for medication as well. If you don't have to take it, then you are probably better off without it.
I have tried to post a link or two on the Ambien and Vioxx lawsuits and backlash but am not able to. Don't ask me why, but every link I try to put up identifies them as invalid.

The News Media

The news media molds and shapes our beliefs and thought processes. Don't think for a moment that they don't serve that purpose. Watch CNN or FOX NEWS for an hour and then tell me that you are not influenced by what they put out there.

The news media was created to influence us and not merely to REPORT the NEWS.

We must all take care that we are not influenced in the wrong direction. People that work for the news media are paid big dollars to say what they are told. Money seems to make the world go around and the news media is no exception. The view they wish us to hold will first be blasted over our television screens. Those who don't believe this must wake up and face facts.

The majority of our news media is biased. Those who claim to be, “fair and balanced” are anything but. They are not balanced, and they do surely have a slant, especially FOX NEWS. And this slant can be noticed so easily it is ridiculous. Just because a particular news agency claims to be fair doesn’t mean anything. We hear those words, and most of the time that is all they are, empty words.

They control what we will hear and see. Do you think that you are getting all the facts and all of the news reports that are vital to you and yours by tuning into the mainstream news? Don’t be this naive. There are news stories that you will never hear from our mainstream media. If you want to find out all the news that is pertinent to you, don’t choose the mainstream media. You must go online to get it.

The news media attempts to mold and shape our viewpoint. What is the vehicle they use to get this accomplished? Our television sets.

If you want to have a sweet reprieve from the chatter you continually get from that box sitting in your living room, I encourage you to switch it off and enjoy the sweet silence that you may have forgotten was possible.

What is a Christian?

A Christian is one who follows Christ, agrees with what he taught, and who chooses to live in the way he reveals in his word, the bible. They are “in” Christ. The Holy Spirit comes into their lives and influences them and teaches them through the word of God all things pertaining to them concerning Jesus Christ and the things of this life and the next. Jesus told the disciples before leaving this earth about the comforter that would come and would abide with them forever and teach them all things: John 14:

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Jesus also said that this comforter would testify of him:

John 15:26

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

He said that he would not leave them comfort less. The Holy Spirit now lives and works through the believers and followers of Christ. The Christian yields himself or herself to the encouragement and urgings of the Holy Spirit. A Christian lives by faith in the word of God. They have a childlike faith, the type of faith a small child has in their parents. Jesus himself told us that unless we were to become as little children, we would not enter the kingdom of heaven:

Matthew 18:3

And said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Do some Christians believe they are better than others?
Yes. There are in fact many Christians who have a high and mighty attitude and feel as though they are better than those who are unsaved and other Christians. This attitude is not one they should have. This is in direct opposition to everything that Christ taught. We are taught in the bible that we are not to have respect of persons.

James 2:8&9

8 If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:

9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

Unfortunately, many Christians don’t live out this admonishment we were given by the Lord. There are many hypocritical Christians that would do well to examine themselves and stop picking apart every little area of other’s lives.

How is a Christian to live?
A Christian is to be content with food and clothing.

1 Timothy 6:

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

They don’t have to have anything more than these things. In the current days we live, it is sometimes hard to keep this admonishment, but we still must do so nonetheless.

We are not to concern ourselves with the finer things of life.

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Our focus is not to be on money or prosperity either. There are many prosperity teachers who have been led astray because of their love and fondness of money:

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

We are given warning from Jesus about making money an idol in our hearts:

Matthew 6:24

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Is a Christian supposed to push their beliefs upon others?

No, they are not. A Christian is to live their life in such a way that their true love and concern for others and their faith in God catches the attention of those they are around and because of this, others who are unsaved want to have what those Christians possess. If there is love in the life of those who profess to be Christians, others will recognize it easy enough. If there is a Christian who professes, yet the love and compassion for others in their life is non existent, this will be recognizable as well.

What makes a Christian different from others?

Christians do not live for themselves. They live their lives with concern and compassion for others along with a strong faith in Jesus Christ. Just as Christ said he had come to serve others and to be a servant, we who are Christians hold the same view. And Jesus told us the importance of this when he said:

John 13:34 & 35

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

This is the main difference my friends. A Christian will be known by his love for others and concern for others.

Do Christians sin?

Yes Christians sin. A Christian is not immune from sin. Christians do sin but the difference is that we who have grown in our relationship with god and have pressed on toward the deeper things spiritually speaking have adopted humbleness and subjection toward god so that when we do sin, we repent and learn from our sins. We realize our weakness and god’s strength. We see our lack and his abundance. Those who are not saved don’t feel that they need to repent for their sins. This is the major difference in Christians who sin and those who sin who are not born again. What are Christians to do when they sin?
1 John 2:1

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

We learn that our stubbornness cannot gain us anything and will take us toward a dead end road very quickly. Humbleness is a key in the life of a Christian and is one that is sorely lacking in the lives of many who profess to be Christians.

Life in the Pressure Cooker

Many times in my life I’ve felt as if I was at the end of my rope spiritually, mentally and physically. Trials and troubles we all face in life are overwhelming. Living life under these circumstances can seem as though we're trapped in a pressure cooker. More often than not, I didn’t have a person to talk to about my problems, so in desperation I turned to the only thing I had at that time, the word of God – The Bible.

Sometimes after maybe only fifteen minutes of taking in the truths from God’s word, I felt much better in my spirit and mind. The unrelenting pressure and worry over my previous trial I had faced then seemed to fade away. Peace came in and replaced uncertainty and fear. I don’t take antidepressants, but when really tough times in life have come knocking on my door, I think of the word of God as the best antidepressant there is.

In fact, only this morning I was feeling a little down and once again I reached for the truth. That was a few hours ago, now I am sitting at my desk, my previous anxieties and cares are now gone from me and I am writing to you!

What happens when we turn to the truth in our trying times of life?

When we are facing tough times, we are blindsided with the things in our life at present and the things of this earth. But when we turn to and take up God’s truth, his word, our attention is then shifted toward the words of the one who created us. We get too wrapped up in our problems and trials and struggles in this life and this gets our minds off of what is the most important aspect of our life. The most important aspect is our eternal and unending spirits and not the temporary situations or circumstances of our life at present. These situations in our life that get us down are only temporary. But when we are not spending any of our time with the truth of God’s words we are blindsided and little things have much more leeway to become major things to us and usually always do.

His spirit bears witness with our spirits

We join ourselves with the Lord when we choose to read of him and his ways which are written of in the bible. We learn about ourselves when we read his truth. We are saying, “I am turning to you Lord, because I cannot find my way out of these troubles I am going through”. There is very little truth to be found in this earth. There is in fact no truth that we can cling to when we are being tossed to and fro from the hits we all experience in life. The one place we can find truth and peace is in the Word of God. There are things temporary (this includes all things that pertain to the life we live on this earth) and there are things eternal (this includes all things that pertain to the life we will live in heaven). After we exit this life, we will spend eternity in either heaven or hell. We are told in the scriptures that Jesus has already paid for our sins. We could not pay for them. Dear friends, this in itself is something to get so excited over! We have always have struggles and trials in this life. There will always be something that has us by the tail and that will attempt to make us stumble and knock us for a loop. But thanks to God that we have his word and a relationship with him if we want it and those two things will always be enough to get us out of any jam and bad situation we face in life!

The Cares of this Life

We will all be concerned at some level with the cares of this life. There is no getting around this. We live in the earth and it just makes sense that our concern would be over the things that make up our life here. But Jesus gave all of us a warning when he spoke of the Parable of the Sower:

Luke 8:11

11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

So when the cares and concerns of this life become so abundant and overwhelming that they choke out the word of God, then we see that we bring no fruit to perfection. Jesus never said that problems and cares in our life would not come. He only said that we are not to allow those cares and concerns become such that they produce unfruitfulness in us. When we are choked with the pleasures and cares of life we will bring no fruit to perfection.

We are not to become entangled with the affairs and cares of this life.

2 Timothy 2:4

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him (God) who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

We are also given a warning from Jesus about his return that is very important:

Luke 21:34

33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

The cares of this life have the potential to weaken us in every way imaginable. We can be weakened in our spirits, minds and bodies. This is why we are given the above warnings from scripture. But we don’t have to let the concerns and cares of this life choke out and overwhelm the truth that God has planted in our hearts. God’s word is eternal and will never pass away. His words are not changeable as is our situations and circumstances in this life. The one sure thing we can depend on and always turn to are his words. They will fill you with peace and tranquility when you are in the midst of the spiritual, mental or physical storms of life.

Sickness, Healing and Christianity

I hope none of you believe that Christians do not get sick and suffer health problems. I bring this up because back in the days when I would occasionally watch Christian television, a well known preacher was bragging that he had not been sick in many years. I’m not saying his claim wasn’t true, I'm saying that I was stunned by this proclamation. And what was it supposed to mean by him making such a claim? I don’t know. All I know is that I get sick probably just as much as anyone else does. Does this mean I am not living right? Does it mean that God is using sickness as a chastisement for me? No, I don't believe any of these things.

Sickness happens to all of us who live in this earth. This earth is full of sick people, various bugs, chemicals and numerous other hazards that find their way into our systems from time to time. We are not living in a perfect earth, we’re not even close to it. Once Adam and Eve sinned, there was no more perfection to this earth. We are not going to live forever on this earth. We are all going to live forever in either heaven or hell, but we won't spend eternity on this earth. Our lives here will be touched at times with both good and bad health. And if we have more healthy days than sick days, this in itself is another reason to thank God.

Faith Healers

I am well aware of the faith healers who hold services for those who desire to be healed from all manner of disease. I believe some people have been healed while attending these meetings. Did the faith healers heal these sick people? No, it is always the Lord who heals, this is done through our faith and his spirit. Knowing that God meets you and listens to your prayers and pleas for help no matter where you are is very important. You can be healed in your kitchen or in a church meeting. The main thing to know is your surroundings doesn't matter, because God is everywhere, he is omnipotent.

My own experience with healing

I have been healed before by calling out to God when I was alone, in my own home. God heard my plea and healed me when I was at my most desperate, and I had finally had enough and decided to cry out to him. There were no mega preachers holding service at 10,000 seat auditoriums when I was healed. There were no thunderbolts or grand revelations when I was healed. It was a simple “healing”. And I was thankful for it.

Paul's Thorn In The Flesh

There have been other times when I, like Paul the Apostle cried out to God to "take this thing from me" as he did his thorn in the flesh. But it was not done. Did I lose faith in God because of this? Did I doubt that God is who he says he is because I did not get healed? No, not for a moment.

Many believe that Paul's "thorn in the flesh" was a disease. The bible clues us in to the fact that this thorn in Paul's flesh was allowed because of his abundance of revelations : 2 Corinthians 7-10

Paul speaking: 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted (puffed up with pride) above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

A Word About Doctors and Medicine

I know there are some Christians who frown on the sick taking medicine or visiting the doctor. I believe that God gives the doctors to us for our benefit. I am thankful for doctors and their knowledge. Doctors and medicine are things to be thankful for and I view them both as a gift from God.

Why me Lord?

Like many of you who have struggled, I have asked God before, “Why is this happening to me”? What I failed to understand is that sickness and disease happens to ALL of us in this earth, whether we are saved or unsaved. It’s just like the scripture from the bible:

Matthew 5:4 and 5 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.

Diseases and plagues will only get worse as time marches on. It is indeed one of the signs of the end times, the time just before Jesus Christ’s return. Here is some of the scripture to which I am referring:

Matthew 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

Our bodies, though they are marvelously put together by God, are nonetheless fragile when it comes to harmful pestilence and other strong bugs that we are introduced to. The long list of diseases that we are subjected to are numerous. We need to understand that while this is innescapable, God is still with us. And he hears us when we are at our most desperate. Do not beat yourself up and listen to silly so-called men of God who tell you that you are not healed because your faith wasn't present or strong enough. Many times I KNOW I have had faith, yet I did not get well when I prayed.

Why are some healed while others are not?

When I don't know the answer to something, I say so. If anyone has the answer to this question, please email me at once. I am open to discussion. The fact is, there are questions that all of us have that will only be answered when we get our chance to ask them of our creator. There is one thing I can tell you concerning this, it is not always that our faith falters. Our lack of faith is not always the reason we don’t get healed. I know this because it’s happened with me and with others I know. I suppose if we got EVERY prayer answered that we requested, we perhaps wouldn't need God as much as we should. We wouldn’t tend to lean on him in tough and dark times, would we? This is the way of human nature, when we have things go our way and don’t go through trials, tribulations and yes, even sicknesses, we get puffed up with pride and the next thing you know, we don’t acknowledge God our Savior as we did previously. How changeable human nature is. It has always been this way and will remain so until we are in God’s presence.

God's Concern For Us

God is concerned for our wellbeing and doesn't want us to be sick. But as I stated before, we have our habitation in this fallen earth and because of that, we are subjected to illness. I have often thought that God's concern for us when we are sick is similar to our concern when our own child is sick, only God cares much more for us than we could ever care for our own.

Sickness reminds us that we are not God and that we are but flesh, made of dust, yet carrying around the very spirit of God in earthen vessels.

The Nation Whose God is the Lord

Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.

We are told all through the bible that the nation which keeps the Lord as their God is blessed. We can then say that the nation who does not keep the Lord as their God will live under a curse and will not be blessed. In America there has always been much talk of “freedom”, but the fact is that in America, more and more of us are becoming slaves to sin.

As I have stated before in my writings, I believe that judgment is at the door of America. Why would this happen? Let’s review:

What rules and runs America?

Who or what can we say holds sway over America? Money

Money is America’s Lord at present.

We see this at every turn. In the media we are reminded of it every day. There are many Americans who have still not bowed the knee to the love of money, however, a great majority have. The corporations are only concerned with one primary issue, that of profit. At one time in our past, those who made decisions in big business were just as concerned with the people who worked for them. Not anymore. Now they will lay off people so they can make the portfolio of their shareholders look more profitable. The bottom line is profit at all cost. And the ones who suffer are the American workers.

The love of money is still the root of all evil.

With money, we feel as though we can do all things. If we are sad, going shopping is often the remedy. If our neighbors have something we envy, we feel we must have what they have. If we have a chance to take a high paying job, yet we know that staying home with our children is the right and noble thing to do, many of us choose that great career instead. Life is made up of choices and sadly, there have been seriously bad choices made by many in our current culture as a result of simple selfishness.

What happens to Nations whose God is not the Lord?

They fall and are taken captive. That nation may get what they want for a time. But there will be a day of reckoning. The Lord God is the one who made this earth. He also made the men and women who inhabit it. When mankind cares more about the money in his wallet than he does the God who created him, that day of reckoning will come quickly and strike suddenly. As that Nation’s sin intensifies, their discernment grows weaker and weaker. The discernment of the people fades gradually until there is none left. They turn dumb and deaf. They cannot see spiritually and cannot discern between truth and lies. This is a sad picture, but one I must get across to everyone nonetheless.

Is God Angry at America?

Yes, I believe that he is. Here are a few reasons why he may be:

The American Christian Church – I have written for years about the charlatans who make up a large number of our Christian leaders and teachers in the United States. To read more on this issue click here and here .These people are making a profit and living the high life. They talk about feeding the hungry and caring for the poor and yet they have five expensive cars parked in their garages that are the size of most of our homes! They put out pleas on their websites and in writing for the money to buy a state of the art airplane for their ministry. They cannot fly in an ordinary plane I suppose. Where do these desires for the best in life come from? They don’t come from Jesus Christ. They are carnal desires that these preachers are controlled by. We are pressed to flip on our televisions and find a simple preaching of the gospel. Instead, we are bombarded with prosperity teachers who tell us that Jesus was rich and we can be too. The early Christians suffered lack and hardship. We are told about this in the book of Hebrews. They lived in caves for crying out loud! Yet none of these particular truths are brought up in the prosperity pushers sermons.

The greed and selfishness of many – We have parents who are not parents to their children at all. These parents are so lost they behave like children themselves. We have politicians who do not keep their word on key issues that got them elected. They use words to gain control of an office and then do nothing they promised. We have a majority of citizens whose key thought is how they can get and stay ahead. They are looking out for number one, and this means themselves, period. You cannot worship God and money. Jesus told us this when he was on this earth and the same still holds true for these days we live in. Do you worship your comfort and your fat wallet? Or do you worship God in heaven more than money? If your God is money, God is angry with you. Make no mistake.

We have forgotten God and we refuse to repent of our sins – We are told over and over in the scriptures that we are to REPENT of our sins. God is angry for one thing because we REFUSE to do this. We simply are bullheaded and will not do it! We are told the consequences in the scripture if we fail to heed his admonishment: Chastisement comes to us from God and is beneficial to those of us who learn from it and repent. But to those who refuse to learn of it, they will remain stubborn and remain in their sins. There is much more woe ahead for these people. They care more for themselves and their stubborn pride will cost them so much more than they ever bargained for. When you refuse to choose God as your Lord, you are choosing self and the devil. Satan is all about self and those who are his care more about themselves than anything else.

All nations that forget God will be turned into hell

Psalms 9:17

The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

If we forget God, we cease to exist for long. We may go about our lives and do alright for a time. But the one who made us longs for us to acknowledge him. He has kept his hand of divine protection over these United States for a long time. I believe we have stopped being thankful for that protection he has provided to us.

The Last Days and the Man of Sin: Part 2

As the days grow darker and people grow more deceived, there will come a day in which this deception will ultimately prove to be the end of many. The Antichrist will appear on the world scene and men will listen to him. They will have ceased to think or have concern over what prophecy in the bible has shown about him. They will have rejected the light of the world, Jesus Christ. Because of this, they will be totally opened up to the deception that this wicked one offers. The following is what we read in the book of Thessalonians about the rampant deception in the upcoming days:

2 Thessalonians 2:

8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

This Antichrist will hold the answers to all of mankind's problems. And what problems am I referring to?

The Antichrist: Problem Solver

In the last days, there will be a money problem. Money has become the God of many even now. There will be a money problem in the last days on a grand scale. The answer to this problem will come through the Antichrist. Where will man’s concern be in the last days?

His concern will primarily be with money, food, and comfort. The comfort and care of their bodies will be of utmost concern to mankind during these days. What single thing makes or breaks power in the world today? The movement of money and all things monetary is what holds sway in every way. In the last days, the world’s financial situation will falter. The markets of the world will go through a vast change and hardship. I cannot tell what specific hardship that will prove to be, I only know that there will be one. With this in mind, we know that it will not only be the issue of Israel that the Antichrist will settle. He will also settle the issue of money and all things monetary.

Supply of the Earth’s Resources

In addition to monetary problems in the last days, there will be problems and hindrances with supply of natural resources.

One of these supply issues will involve oil. Another supply issue will be water. I feel that these will be major issues. There will be shortages of both and the deceiver that will come, the Antichrist, will offer a solution to solve these most important issues. What would you do or give in order to have gasoline to make it back and forth to work? What would you do or give in order to have a fresh supply of drinking water or a loaf of bread to feed your hungry family? Sure, we may all say that we would not bow the knee to anyone or anything to get these things we need to survive and that we would gladly give our lives in order to stay true to our Lord Jesus Christ, but will we really choose him over our own comfort and very life? Our professions seem to remind me of Peter’s profession that he would never deny Christ. What happened? Peter did end up denying him three times.

;It will be in times like these on the world stage that the Antichrist will come into view. He will come when there is much trouble and tribulation on the world scene. When man needs a problem solver and a savior, he will offer them one by offering them himself and his solutions to this world in crisis. Keep in mind that these men and women have rejected the true messiah, Jesus Christ. This Antichrist will appear to have the answers to mankind’s problems. He will surely come up with an answer to the problems facing the Palestinians and the Israelis, but he will also come up with a novel answer for our shortages of oil and our perplexing monetary issues also. We are told in the book of Revelation that there will be issued a “mark” and that all who buy and sell will have to have this mark.

Revelation 13:16 &17

16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

The Antichrist will come up with this scheme. There will never be a time greater than these days in which man must make the most important of decisions he will ever have to face. Will he bow the knee to the system of the Antichrist? Will he stay true to the God of the bible? This reminds me of the bible scripture:

Joel 3:14

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

The Antichrist: The Foolish Shepherd

Satan came to Christ and tempted him on the mountain. He told Jesus that all of the kingdoms of the world would he give to him if he would just bow down and worship him. In much this same way, the Antichrist will appear to the men and women who are left on this earth at that time and offer them security, comfort and everything they desire if they will only bow down and worship him. But this Antichrist will appeal to men's fleshly needs and desires. He will offer them food, just as Satan tempted Christ to turn the stone into bread. What did Christ say? Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Remember, bread is going to be hard to come by in the last days. Wide-spread famine is going to be unleashed upon this entire world when one the four horsemen of the apocalypse ride. So what will this Antichrist really be saying? I will give you bread if you will worship me. If you do not, your bread will be stopped. And how will mankind in those days worship this man of sin? They will worship him by receiving his MARK in the right hand or forehead. Through worshipping him, you essentially will be marked as his. This mark of the beast isn't just a physical mark. It is also a spiritual mark. By receiving it, you will be allowing yourself to be joined with the Antichrist, just as a man and woman are joined together in marriage.