Posted in faith, mind, reality tv

Famous for being famous, some live unreal life on reality tv

Posted on by elizabethprata
I like reality tv cooking competitions. I don’t watch cooking shows, because I don’t really want to improve my cooking. I need to, but since I live alone, I can easily silence the critic. What I like about these kind of competitions is that I enjoy watching how people behave. The various competitions on other channels incite behavior that is too lustful or vicious. But on a cooking contest on Food Network, you have to be somewhat appealing anyway, if you are to get your own cooking show or have people buy your cookbook, or eat in your restaurant.
For some years now I’ve been watching Masterchef and Next Food Network Star and Chopped. I like that there is no swearing and very little of the worst parts of the culture (though it is creeping in now with many chefs praising their same-sex partner, or seeing the plethora of tattoos…).

But even in these innocuous shows there has been a recent and precipitous downward slide. I noticed this most starkly on the show that premiered this week, “The Next Food Network Star.” (TNFNS). It is season nine of this venerable competition. The premise is, the multi-week competition is a vetting process to unearth raw talent, and the last one standing gets their own show on the network. Who doesn’t like the story of the starlet sitting at a stool at the local drugstore in Hollywood and being discovered? Who doesn’t like the notion overall of discovering treasure? Of turning over a geode to discover the gem inside?

The thought that someone like me could find fulfillment in their dream of sharing their talent with the world is one that is universally shared, I think. The vetting process of TNFNS is one that transforms the roughness of the person into a talent that will yield something worthwhile- good food and time well spent with a nice person (on tv).

I was disappointed this week when the show premiered to see that there was a contestant that had already appeared on Chopped. Danushka Lysek. This seemed somehow…cheating. Then in researching further, I found out that MOST of the contestants on TNFNS had already appeared in other cooking shows, reality competitions, and/or television shows on other networks.

  • Chris Hodgson was on the Great Food Truck Race.
  • Viet Pham was on Extreme Chef.
  • Stacy Poon-Kinney was on Restaurant Impossible.
  • Connie “Lovely” Jackson was on season 6 of Gordon Ramsay’s H-ll’s Kitchen.
  • Russell Jackson was on Iron Chef America.
  • Nikki Dinki is a food blogger and youtuber but has appeared on The Sopranos as Bibi in the episode Johnny Cakes.
  • Rodney Henry was on Paula Deen, Down Home with the Neelys, Throwdown with Bobby Flay and Chopped.
  • Danushka Lysek, was on 24-Hour Restaurant Battle, Chopped, The Bachelor, Models Edition Fear Factor VH1’s Supergroup, Fear Factor and now on TNFNS. (source & source)

So the upshot is, 66% of the contestants have had time on television, and 58% of them on previous cooking reality shows on the same network. Ugh. This is not seeking raw talent for a new show, it is recycling, regifting, and reusing. By any stretch of the imagination, this is bait & switch.

Let’s take a look at the contestant named Danushka, though. The fakery of reality tv is not my main point. It is this: for a large section of the population, the unreal life as presented on reality tv HAS BECOME their life.

Danushka has flitted from show to show, making a life career out of being on tv for the no good reason other than she wants to be on tv. A permanent dweller on reality TV, as it were.

Wikipedia explains this penchant, it is the phenomenon of being famous for being famous, epitomized in the model and celebrity Paris Hilton. “Critics also suggest that Hilton epitomizes the title of famous for being famous; she is an example of the modern phenomenon of the “celebutante”, the celebrity who rises to fame not because of their talent or work but because of their inherited wealth and controversial lifestyle.”

Was there such a thing as a celbutante in eras past? I believe not.

The term ‘celebutante‘ is also explained, “Famous for being famous, or famous for nothing, in popular culture terminology, refers to someone who attains celebrity status for no particular identifiable reason such as acting, music, writing, politics, or modeling, or who achieves fame through association with a true celebrity. The term is a pejorative, suggesting that the individual has no particular talents or abilities. It was coined by historian and social theorist Daniel J. Boorstin. In his book, he defined the celebrity as “a person who is known for his well-knownness”. He further argued that the graphic revolution in journalism and other forms of communication had severed fame from greatness, and that this severance hastened the decay of fame into mere notoriety. “

You’re great, (Lincoln), you’re famous, (Coco Chanel), you’re notorious, (Charles Manson), you’re celebutante (Kim Kardashian). Decay was a good term to use in the decline of whom we exalt in culture. It is actually not just a slide into decline, but is a see-saw, with today’s version of celebrity disappearing from life into into the gaping maw of reality tv.

I’ve said many times on the blog that the media in general and the news media in particular is front and center on the war for your mind. It is the theatre of ideas, and what is presented to us is absorbed into our mind, and it transforms the mind. When we repeatedly see an idea presented as truth, we begin to believe it. If you doubt this process, just think back to Genesis 3 in the garden, and satan’s persistence in introducing poisonous ideas into the mind of Eve. It’s like for many people, reality tv is more real than life, and for some of those, constantly being ON reality tv IS their life. And if they are not, they are thinking about it. They have lost their grip on reality.

“Therefore Sheol has enlarged its throat and opened its mouth without measure; And Jerusalem’s splendor, her multitude, her din of revelry and the jubilant within her, descend into it.” (Isaiah 5:14)

This lure of television (or movies) is so palpable that it was spoofed in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory- the 1971 version. In that movie we get Mike Teavee, a boy who does nothing but watch television and thus, whose reality has been skewed by TV to the point that he always thinks he is on tv, and finally becomes a character who lives inside one, rather than a boy living in the world. And he’s happy about it.

The old black and white show, Twilight Zone, made a statement on this theme, too. It was in an episode called, “The 16-Millimeter Shrine”. In this episode, Ida Lupino played an aging, former movie star who lives and dreams in the past, constantly watching her old movies alone in her room. At the end, she walks into the movie, to forever dwell in the made-up world of film.

She dropped the scarf on celluloid but her manager found it on the floor in front of the screen as he watched her blow a kiss and turn to go up the stairs, forever to live in a made-up world.

Advertising executives, Political campaign managers, and Hollywood spend an inordinate amount of money to change your mind. Media has an incredible pull on the mind. For those who pooh-pooh that your behavior can change over time to be transformed to whatever reality it wishes to present, then why do they spend so much money attempting to do just that? We are influenced by what we see. According to an article in the American Psychological Association, “Vance Packard’s 1957 book, ‘The Hidden Persuaders,’ revealed how advertising agencies used psychologists and other behavioral scientists to probe deep into consumers’ minds and build advertising campaigns based on what they found there.”

I think ‘the hidden persuaders’ is a terrific title. It is very apt.

As a matter of fact, many ads are not simply to try and change your behavior from using one brand over another, but make covert and overt promises that if you use their brand you will become like the people they show you using it. “What’s really critical is to identify the beliefs ads should target, says Dr. Fishbein, PhD,” in an article looking at psychology and the bran and how it is manipulated in advertising.” [emphasis mine]

The cultural claim to your mind is big business and has been for over a century. “There are very many advertisements that do not pay. One man has roughly estimated that seventy-five per cent of all advertisements do not pay; yet the other twenty-five per cent pay so well that there is scarcely a business man who is willing to stand idly by and allow his competitors to do the advertising,” noted Walter D. Scott, Assistant Professor of Psychology in Northwestern University, in The Atlantic– in 1904. Fishbein continued,

“The struggle has been too fierce for any but the strongest. The inefficient advertisers are gradually being eliminated, and the survival of the fittest seems to be a law of advertising as it is of everything else that develops. The leaders of the profession feel that their work has grown till it is beyond their control and comprehension. They have been successful, and hardly know how it has all come about.”

He noted the influence of psychology upon advertising, even at that early date-

“The best thought of the advertising world finds expression in the advertising journals and in the addresses delivered by various experts at gatherings of professional advertisers. In 1895 in one of the leading advertising journals appeared the following editorial: “Probably when we are a little more enlightened, the advertisement writer, like the teacher, will study psychology. For, however diverse their occupations may at first sight appear, the advertisement writer and the teacher have one great object in common—to influence the human mind. The teacher has a scientific foundation for his work in that direction, but the advertisement writer is really also a psychologist. Human nature is a great factor in advertising success; and he who writes advertisements without reference to it is apt to find that he has reckoned without his host.”

The advertising of then has morphed into the Reality TV of today- advertising a better life, better people, an entirely new world that is yours for the taking…if you but walk into the TV (metaphorically speaking).

In the magazine Publicity in 1901, we read a quote, “But the future must needs be full of better methods than these to make advertising advance with the same rapidity as it has during the latter part of the last century. And this will come through a closer knowledge of the psychological composition of the mind. The so-called ‘students of human nature’ will then be called successful psychologists, and the successful advertisers will be likewise termed psychological advertisers. The mere mention of psychological terms, habit, self, conception, discrimination, association, memory, imagination and perception, reason, emotion, instinct and will, should create a flood of new thought that should appeal to every advanced consumer of advertising space.”

Source

“…habit, self, conception, discrimination, association, memory, imagination and perception, reason, emotion, instinct and will…” pretty much covers everything, doesn’t it? This sums up an identity. The reality TV of today is branding us with a new identity, and blurring the lines of what is real and what is not.

The culture (that is to say, satan) wants to grab your mind. Jesus, once He elects you, claims your mind also. It is all about the mind. The struggle is not against flesh, but is in the mind, for your identity and youru reality.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

The mind is the key to Christian life. Rewiring of the brain the mind is the key to Christian life, therefore its corruption in the believer is what satan seeks most.

For a non-believer, things are more dire, because satan already has your brain. (Romans 1:21, Ephesians 4:17). If they absorb enough of the culture, their brain begins to accept that this is what life is. And if they absorb even more, their heart wants what the brain “knows” is real life, and soon they become a recycled person bouncing from ‘reality’ show to ‘reality’ show, thinking that you’re really doing something with your life. An empty mind (devoid of the Holy Spirit) will be filled with the things of satan and will see life through his lens. It really IS all about the mind.

For the believer, remember,

–We capture every thought (2 Corinthians 10:5)
–We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16)
–And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
–Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 2:2)
“…to be made new in the attitude of your minds;” (Ephesians 4:23)

God is busy renewing the believers’ mind. He rewires it! He re-knits the synapses of our mind into His likeness, to be conformed to Him and away from the dark wiring of satan’s futility, but each time we allow something gross from the culture into it, we are untying the wires He knit together. Or at least polluting them so they work less efficiently.

It is so sad to see the pull of satan suck people into his vortex through the unreality of reality tv and other false media presentations. It is evident that some people live there permanently now. But that is what happens to the Gentiles who walk in futility of the mind. But the reality is Christ. (Colossians 2:17, Hebrews 11:1)

Posted in beast, false wonders, jesus, revelation

The image of the beast that speaks

Posted on by elizabethprata

“‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.” (Revelation 2:13)

“And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.” (Revelation 13:15)

At first, those two verses may not seem connected. And they may not be. But here is a bit of history, and then a speculation. You decide.

The Antipas that John spoke of via Jesus in Revelation 2, was the bishop of the church at Pergamum. Pergamum, now known as Bergama, was part of the Greek Empire. It is located in what is now Turkey, having been overcome in 1453 when the Ottomans swept in and absorbed Greece. The Ottoman Empire, AKA the Turkish Empire, retained Greece under its rule from 1453 until Greece declared independence in 1821.

The Revelation verse mentions the throne of satan, Antipas, and the martyrdom of Antipas. Because of the mention of Antipas, the common interpretation is that the place where satan dwells is Pergamum where Antipas was bishop.

This city was an important political center that influenced all of Asia Minor. Though the city itself was beautiful it was one of the darkest, creepiest cities of all- spiritually. The city was home to a plethora of  complex of pagan cults, including worship of Zeus, Athena, Dionysus and Asclepius, the healer, being of special importance. The people there were known as the “temple keepers of Asia.” The largest temple was the Temple of Zeus, and it is this temple that is thought to be the one Jesus was referring to in Revelation 2:12 when Jesus says that the people of Pergamum live in the place where satan has set his throne. If a ‘god’ has sat down, it indicates he feels comfortable enough to sit, that he is ‘at home.’

Antipas was the leader of the Christian church there, ordained by John and killed for the faith in around 92AD. Antipas’s death must have been very recent when John was inspired to write Revelation 2. This was during the reign of Domitian. Christians were heavily persecuted toward the end of Domitian’s reign (89-96).

In Pergamum, the tradition goes, Antipas had been very successful in casting out demons. So the priests in the city decided that Antipas was a threat to their way of life, and a threat to all the religions, and to the emperor. Tradition says that Antipas was given the opportunity to make a sacrifice to the emperor, but he refused. He was condemned to death. The common method of executing someone in that city was at the Temple of Zeus, one of the marvels of architecture of the day.

What they would do is put someone inside a huge brass, hollow bull, tie them up, and light a fire under the bull. The person inside would slowly roast. However, to add to the drama and mystique, the builders had designed the bull in such a way that made it seem to come alive. Author Rick Renner explains,

“They would take the victim, place him inside the bull, and they would tie him in such a way that his head would go into the head of the bull. Then they would light a huge fire under the bull, and as the fire heated the bronze, the person inside of the bull would slowly begin to roast to death. As the victim would begin to moan and to cry out in pain, his cries would echo through the pipes in the head of the bull so it seemed to make the bull come alive.”

Source

You can just imagine with the smoke and the fire, and the marble allowing for sounds to bounce off all the walls, how eerie it must have seemed to see this huge bull and listen to what sounded like moaning and crying emanating from it behind the smoke.

In Revelation 13 we read that there will be another image and that it will seem to have breath and to have come alive, and cause all to worship it. It is not so hard to imagine that this once again may be the method of making the bull seem alive. Though some have proposed that modern technology will have advanced to the point where the “image” spoken of in Revelation 13:15 will be a hologram, or a complex robot, or some such, it is not so hard for a man like the antichrist who will have been given power to cause false signs and wonders, to make a bull or other image seem alive. However, I am sure that it will be amazing, just as millions were overcome with mesmerizing sensuousness at Hitler’s speeches or Obama’s appearances, millions again will be swayed by flatteries and false miracles. Let’s take a look at the beast that can seem to speak in Revelation 13, even though Habakkuk 2:19 says,

“Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it.”

As for the beast that can seem to speak, “Now this is amazing. This powerful Antichrist, this world leader is established as the focus of world worship and the false prophet is given somehow the power to give him breath in the very form of that image so that the image can speak. Please notice the word is breath here, it’s not life, it’s not zoe, it’s not bios, the two Greek words for life. It’s pneuma. And I believe what you have here is the presence of the appearance of some kind of phenomena that looks like life but not bios and not zoe, not life. Some would like to say that this image comes to life, but I don’t see that. Satan cannot give life. [Strong’s definition of pneuma, ‘a movement of air (gentle) blast; of the wind].” (source)

The spirit of antichrist is now in the world, as Apostle John wrote in 1 John 4:3, “and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.” This spirit is one that hates God and seeks to stop the mouths of the people who proclaim the wondrous name of Jesus.

All the former antichrists have tried to stop the Christians; Antiochus IV, Emperor Titus, Nero, Domitian, Hitler…they were pictures and types of antichrists, which will lead to the final antichrist, the Beast. The persecution is coming, I mean the global persecution against Jews and Christians described in Revelation 12. But the Bride will not be here to experience it. For those who have already died a faithful death like Antipas, and for those who will die a faithful death in the Tribulation, refer back to the verse in Revelation 2…

“and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you”

…a personal commendation from Jesus! What a treasure! Those who die martyr’s death will receive a crown, the crown of life,

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10).

The best part is that soon, the beast who will be allowed to speak, and I am talking of the Beast who speaks flatteries and causes deception (Daniel 11:32), will have his day and then he will speak no more. After the Tribulation he will be tormented forever in the Lake of Fire,

“And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.” (Revelation 19:20).

He will speak no more!

Jesus speaks forever!

” LORD, Your word is forever; it is firmly fixed in heaven.” (Psalm 119:89, Holman)

Posted in death by beasts, salvation

Killer bees sting man to death in Texas

Posted on by elizabethprata

I read of a man who was killed by a vicious swarm of killer bees. Whenever someone dies, and whenever they die in an unusual way, I always think, ‘were they saved? are they in heaven with Jesus now? Or in hell?’ It is somewhat macabre way to be, I admit, but I also think that as we grow into Christ-likeness day by day we become increasingly concerned with souls. We worry about eternal destinations, and are wont to feel the burden of eternity more and more acutely not only for ourselves but for others too.

Then if the way they died was unusual, I think about their last moments. No one expects to wake up any particular morning and think that in a few hours they will be dead, unless they are in seriously late stage 4 cancer or something. No one thinks that this is the day that death will come for you. And if we do think about death, it is usually only in the usual ways and only if death is immediately near- there is a report of a tornado, there is slippery ice ahead, there is gunfire down the road…

Did Tsunami guy standing on the beach on Christmas Day expect to be overcome by the entire ocean? (2004)
Did Steve Irwin expect a stingray to pierce his heart with his stinger-barb? (2006)
Did Surinder Singh Bajwa, the Deputy Mayor of Delhi, India, expect to die after falling from his building’s terrace while trying to fight off attacking Rhesus macaque monkeys? (2007)
Did Taylor Mitchell, a Canadian folk singer, expect to be attacked and killed by three coyotes, the only recorded adult person to have been killed by this species? (2009)
Did Larry Goodwin of Moody, Texas expect to die running from 40,000 killer bees and over 1000 stings which were covering every inch of his body?

“A Texas man was stung to death after he drove his tractor into a pile of wood that concealed a hive of 40,000 “killer bees,” authorities and family members said Sunday. Every inch of exposed skin was covered with stings on the body of Larry Goodwin, 62, of Moody, Texas, family members told NBC station KCEN of Waco. Goodwin died Saturday when the Africanized honeybees swarmed him after his tractor struck a pile of wood that included an abandoned chicken coop where the bees had built their hive. The hive encompassed 22 honeycombs harboring an estimated 40,000 bees.”

Even if you know death is coming you really don’t know at which second it will arrive. And for the hale and healthy, like Mr Goodwin, it was just another day on his tractor, doin’ stuff. Death isn’t expected, nor invited.

But Jesus says that we have to be ready at any moment.

“There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1-5)

In those short verses, Jesus said it twice. Repent or perish. That does not mean that the repentant never die, just that wen they do they acquire eternal life in the presence of Jesus. That the unrepentant can meet their eternal destiny- destruction in hell at any moment.

In the article there was something interesting reported after the news of poor Mr Goodwin’s death was announced. The article states,

“Africanized honeybees — a highly aggressive hybrid of the Western and African honeybees — spread fear in the U.S. long before they arrived in the country from Central America about 15 years ago, fueled by alarming reports of their tactic of swarming their prey in the thousands and earning them the nickname “killer bees.” While federal figures indicate that fewer than a dozen people have been killed by the bees in the U.S., they are anecdotally believed to be proliferating rapidly. Just 2½ months ago, on March 15, emergency crews were called out after thousands of the bees swarmed inside a family’s home in Wichita Falls, Texas Allen Miller, a bee – removal specialist who cleared the giant hive Saturday in Moody, told KCEN that he’s run into at least five cases of Africanized hives in the past month — more than he usually sees all year.”

Sure enough, other news articles report the same.

KLAS-Las Vegas reports a Sharp Increase in Killer Bee Activity This Year
“The pest services technician destroyed the solid two-foot long swarm within minutes. It was the first of several killer bee extractions he did Thursday, and that’s compared to two a week last year. … If you ever discover a swarm or a hive, Villena warns not to make any loud noises or sudden movements that could trigger an attack. “Regular bees will chase you 50 yards. (Killer) bees will chase you at least a half a mile,” he said.”

This month an 88-year-old man in Las Vegas was chased and stung by killer bees. An Arizona hiker was found hanging dead by his ropes, after coming upon a hive he did not initially notice. This article says that killer bee attacks are on the rise but deaths from them are rare, but it was written before Mr Goodwin was killed a few weeks after the article appeared.

This next article is from a newspaper located in southeast Texas.

Experts say Africanized bee colonies ‘all stirred up’
Gary Maley, owner of Advanced Pest Control in Harlingen, said he’s had five calls in the last six days to remove bee hives, after receiving no calls in the last four months. Two of the hives he removed were Africanized bee colonies, but none of these calls involved bee attacks. “I don’t know what’s going on,” he said. “The bee population’s down, but something’s got ‘em all stirred up right now. They’re not pollinating that much because there’s not that many flowers because of the drought, so I’m not really sure what.””

Killer bees were first introduced in Brazil in 1956, as queens from Tanzania and South Africa were brought to Brazil and tested. In 1957, 26 queens escaped. They spread north 100-200 miles per year. They made it to south Texas by 1990.

1990: Southern Texas
1993: Arizona
1995: California
2005: Florida

Africanized honeybees now are reported in over half of Florida counties (as of 2011)

100,000 ‘killer’ bees attack Florida park rangers
“Two park rangers in Tampa, Fla. were hospitalized after unwittingly disturbing a hive of what appear to be Africanized “killer” bees. David Zeledon and Rodney Pugh, were using a front-end loader to clear debris near the entrance of Picnic Island Park near Port Tampa. As they turned over a used truck tire, as many as 100,000 bees swarmed into their vehicle. The men fled, but not before getting stung almost 100 times.”

As horrible as it was, more deaths like Mr Goodwin’s will occur during the Tribulation when fourth seal is opened. I mean death by beasts.

“When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.” (Revelation 6:7-8)

A quarter of the earth’s population will die, and a quarter of them by beast (shudder).

Are you ready for death to come to your home? You are if you know Jesus. You know Jesus as friend and not enemy if you are aware you are a sinner, have repented of your sins by asking Him to forgive them, and that He is resurrected King and Lord who died for your sins, taking upon Himself the wrath of God that you deserved. John Piper said,

“What’s the Gospel?

What’s the gospel? I’ll put it in a sentence.

The Gospel is the news that Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, died for our sins and rose again, eternally triumphant over all his enemies, so that there is now no condemnation for those who believe, but only everlasting joy.

That’s the gospel.”

There is more here from the 6-min audio by John Piper.

Praise Jesus that even if our last moments are terrible like Mr Goodwin’s, that we know that in a few further moments we will be entering glory forever with the wonderful Savior. I pray YOU are ready any day for death to arrive, and that it is only a portal to the eternal life in glory you will share with Him.

More about salvation here

Posted in Uncategorized

"Where are you, Adam?"

Posted on by elizabethprata

When Adam was created, he was perfect. He was fully man, a human, created in the image of God. He had perfect communion with God, perfect knowledge of God, enjoyed perfect fellowship with God, was sinless, and lived on a perfect earth.

 Paradise, Lucas Cranach the Elder: 1536

I can imagine the conversations Adam had with God as they walked in the cool of the day. In his sinless state Adam probably sought God in addition to walking with Him. God always draws close to the righteous and the righteous seek God. (Matthew 6:33, Isaiah 58:2, James 4:8). Just imagine the fellowship and intimacy as Adam, in his clear, diamond-like intellectual, non-sin stained mind, sought knowledge of God and was able to receive it, fully! And the more He learned of God the more Adam loved Him and the more Adam loved Him the more Adam brought glory to God.

But then Adam sinned. Sin entered His mind. When sin enters we become blinded, lost, and darkened in mind (Ephesians 4:18). It is then impossible to seek righteousness, the spiritual become lost to him (1 Corinthians 2:14). (Sculpture, “Adam and Eve expelled from Paradise” by Auguste Rodin)

We see this after the Fall, when the first thing God said to Adam was “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). This was not a location question. God knows everything. He knew where Adam was. He was asking because Adam didn’t know where he was. Adam was lost, blinded, and stumbling around in the spiritual dark.

This is evidenced by the fact that Adam’s answer was, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” (Genesis 3:10). The natural man is in the flesh and Adam’s answer was not a spiritual answer but a fleshly one. “I was naked.” No more spiritual conversations with God in the cool of the day, no response like, “I am overwhelmed by Your glory and might and deemed it necessary to hide myself from you because I sinned.” Rather a fleshly, child-like clumsy answer. This is because “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

As a matter of fact, the moment Adam heard God coming, he fled. Adam went the opposite direction and

hid from God. Indeed, that is what all sinners do, because they are afraid, naked, opened to God who sees all and so they hide in the dark to conceal their sins. Adam couldn’t go to God and say, “Help me Father, I’ve sinned and I need to get back to right relationship with You!” This is because no man seeks after God. No one understands. (Romans 3:11). It’s why Adam hid. (“Adam and Eve”, George Frederick Watts c.1865)

You see that it was God who took the initiative to seek Adam. He covered Adam in garments, (Genesis 3:21), later to be turned into garments of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10) after the work of Jesus on the cross (Revelation 3:5).

I praise God that he seeks us while we are still sinners, that He clothes us to cover our shame, and that He comforts us with His presence and friendship. Most of all He gives us His grace, Himself, and eternal life in righteous robes. We can finally answer Him, “Where am I? I am right here, with you, O Glorious God.”

Posted in foxe's book of martyrs, martyr

Sunday Martyr Moment: Paul

Posted on by elizabethprata

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. According to this summary from Christian Book Summaries,

Writing in the mid-1500s, John Foxe was living in the midst of intense religious persecution at the hands of the dominant Roman Catholic Church. In graphic detail, he offers accounts of Christians being martyred for their belief in Jesus Christ, describing how God gave them extraordinary courage and stamina to endure unthinkable torture.

From the same link, the book’s purpose was fourfold:

  • Showcase the courage of true believers who have willingly taken a stand for Jesus Christ throughout the ages, even if it meant death,
  • Demonstrate the grace of God in the lives of those martyred for their faith,
  • Expose the ruthlessness of religious and political leaders as they sought to suppress those with differing beliefs,
  • Celebrate the courage of those who risked their lives to translate the Bible into the common language of the people.
Paul

The Apostle Paul was imprisoned in Rome in AD 61. and there wrote his prison Epistles: Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. His imprisonment ended approximately three years later during the year that Rome burned, which was in May AD 64. (See Acts 28:30). During his brief freedom, Paul may have visited western and eastern Europe and Asia Minor- he also wrote the first Epistle to Timothy and his Epistle to Titus.

At first, Nero was blamed for setting fire to Rome, so to direct the blame away from himself, he blamed the Christians. As a result, a fierce persecution broke out against them. During it, Paul was arrested and put back into prison in Rome. While in prison this second time he wrote his second letter to Timothy. It was his last.

Not long after, he was judged guilty of crimes against the Emperor and condemned to death. He was taken to the execution block and beheaded. It was AD 66, just four years before Jerusalem fell.

The Martyrdom of Paul – Tintoretto, c.1556
Posted in demon possession, demonic influence, pope

Did Gabriele Amorth really exorcise 160,000 demons?

Posted on by elizabethprata

The Catholic Church has a premier exorcist. And he is swamped. Eighty-eight year old Gabriele Amorth has been busy, busy, busy casting out demons from people, and wants pope Francis to start training up the younger priests because he doesn’t see any let-up any time soon. There are so many demons, and they are so persistent.

Top exorcist claims to have ridden the world of 160,000 demons

“The Catholic Church’s top exorcist, who claims to have sent 160,000 demons back to h-ell says he wants Pope Francis to allow all priests to start performing the ritual to deal with a rising demand for exorcisms from the faithful.”

“An 84-page update of exorcism rites compiled in 1614 and drawn up in 1998 stipulates how Catholic priests trained as exorcists should operate. According to the guidelines established by the church, they have to follow a ritual known as “De exorcismis et supplicationibus quibusdam,” or “Of exorcisms and certain supplications.””

What is wrong with this picture? Is Jesus still on the cross? No. He is risen. (Matthew 28:6).

Let’s look at his assertion that he has exorcised all those demons. First, understand that the Catholic Church is a false religion and its adherents have no access to heaven and are not friends of Jesus. They are actually friends of satan, being unregenerated and without the Holy Spirit.

Secondly, we understand that there is demonic activity in the world today. We know the devil prowls about the earth, seeking someone he may devour. (2 Peter 2:4, Job 1:7, Job 2:2). Are his demons with him also? Yes. Demons exist, and they are active on earth, in the air, and in heaven. (2 Corinthians 11:14-15, Ephesians 2:2, Ephesians 6:12).

Third, let’s take a look at where the demons are. Mr Amorth says that he is sending them “back to hell.”

Are they in hell? Well, some are.

“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; ” (2 Peter 2:4)

“And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day” (Jude 1:6)

“And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss.” (Luke 8:31)

“And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” (Mark 1:27)

So some fallen angels (demons) are roaming around with satan, possessing people and influencing kings and ministers of the Gospel and doing what they do. Other demons are not on earth. They are held in chains in the abyss, a place typically interpreted to be a pit under hell. The bible says they are to be held there until a time when they shall be released on His Day, and in future event Revelation 9:2-3 we see this happen.

Now if Mr Amorth says that he is sending these “back to hell” that means two things. It means that the word of God is weak and God is not sovereign, because we have some escapees that God Himself put there. It also means Mr Amorth has an equal power to Jesus because he is claiming authority over demons and can send them to hell just as Jesus did.

A final point is that if Mr Amorth is casting out demons from “the faithful” as he states, that it means a Christian can be demon-possessed. It means that demons have somehow broken the seal of the indwelling Holy Spirit God gave us (2 Corinthians 1:22) and overcame the blood of Jesus to be able to get inside us. (Left, Sons of Sceva, by Johann Christoph Weigel, 1695)

Of course, these things can’t be true. First, the demons who Jesus sent to the abyss are still there. They won’t be escaping until God tells the angel to open the shaft and they fly out in Revelation 9. Second, the Holy Spirit dwells inside us (Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19) and it is not possible that the demons would dwell in there too. The other demons that are roaming around aren’t possessing “the faithful” Christians, they are possessing non-Christians.

I mentioned first that the Catholic religion is false and its members who adhere to its doctrines do not have the Holy Spirit. So if a Catholic “faithful” is possessed it means they are not saved.

Yesterday another demons and Catholics story was published. It involves the Pope.

Man Pope Prayed Over Still ‘Possessed’
Edward Pentin’s Perspective: A 43-year-old Mexican father of two, who claims to be possessed by demons — and whom Pope Francis prayed over earlier this month in what some witnesses likened to a public exorcism — insists that he still has demons inside him. Identified only as Angel V., the man told Spanish-language newspaper El Mundo that he had undergone some 30 exorcisms by 10 exorcists, including the renowned Roman exorcist Rev. Gabriel Amorth, who all tried unsuccessfully to free him from his affliction. The interview was reported in the Italian daily La Stampa. “I still have the demons inside me, they have not gone away,” the man said, noting that he felt much better after the Pope prayed over him. El Mundo reported that the man is able to walk. He was in a wheelchair when he met Pope Francis on May 19 at the conclusion of Mass on Pentecost Sunday.

Pastor and Author Dan Phillips wittily commented,  “So much for the doctrine of once poped always poped.”

Another story about this possessed man is here.

If an unsaved pope or priest tries to cast out satan, it is like the time when the Pharisees said that Jesus cast out demons by the power of satan. Satan cannot cast out satan. The Sons of Sceva tried.

“Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took on them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the LORD Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you? …” (Acts 19:13-15; also Matthew 12:25-27a).

The possessed man rose up and beat the Sons of Sceva out of their clothes! (Acts 19:16).

To paraphrase using today’s example, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you, Pope Francis and Gabriele Amorth?”

What of today’s Christian casting out demons? Can a Christian cast out a demon?  GotQuestions says,

“Interestingly, there seems to be a shift in the latter part of the New Testament regarding demonic warfare. The teaching portions of the New Testament (Romans through Jude) refer to demonic activity, yet do not discuss the actions of casting them out, nor are believers exhorted to do so. We are told to put on the armor to stand against them (Ephesians 6:10-18). We are told to resist the devil (James 4:7), be careful of him (1 Peter 5:8), and not give him room in our lives (Ephesians 4:27). However, we are not told how to cast him or his demons out of others, or that we should even consider doing so.”

What of binding and loosing satan? Does a Christian have the power to do that today? No.

“Jesus had power over demons. The Apostles had power over demons, but that’s where it ended. And that’s why the Sons of Sceva said in the book of Acts, ‘Jesus we know and Paul we know, but who are you?’ when some erstwhile Jews tried to exercise power over demons. We don’t tell satan what to do. We resist him by resisting his field of temptation. By resisting his influence. By resisting the power that he has unleashed in the world around us, which finds its way into our flesh and solicits sin. You resist the devil by being strong in the Lord and strong in His word, that’s how you overcome him.” (source)

If Mr Amorth has had any ‘success’ in casting out a demon it is because the demon wanted to go. And if it wants to come back, it will.

Return of an Unclean Spirit
“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.” (Matthew 12:43-45)

Additionally, an unsaved person may have decided to reform, morally. Maybe they were in prison and decided not to do any more crimes when they were released. Maybe an adulterer decided to stop fooling around. Maybe a person joined a church and is pressured to ‘do good’. A person can clean up their act, to a degree. Then a demon will leave.

But nature abhors a vacuum, and if they do not allow Jesus in to their empty heart, their moral transformation will end. It may be after a short amount of time or a long time, but their final state will be worse than the first. The demon will come back, likely bringing a lot of his friends with him.

But what of Mr Amorth’s ‘success’ all these long years in casting out demons? I am sure he would say to you that he has seen and heard many things in his work that convinces him he is a true exorcist. Satan can appear by deception to have been exorcised, because it is obvious from the bible that false apostles appear to exorcise. The Pharisees made reference to that when the charged Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub. (Matthew 12:25-27a). Jesus will shockingly tell the false ones on His day that though they performed exorcisms, they never knew Jesus.

“Not every one who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.'” (Matthew 7:21-23, emphasis mine)

Christians can be oppressed. That is, satan has power that he has unleashed in the world around us, which finds its way into our flesh and solicits sin. But possessed? No.

A believer was in the kingdom of satan but when Jesus saves them, they now dwell in the kingdom of God. They are a possession of Jesus, not of satan any longer. We are His purchased possession! (Ephesians 1:14).

“who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:14)

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Further reading:

Is it possible for a Christian to be demon-possessed?

Can a Christian today perform an exorcism?

How to know if you are a real Christian?

A Believer’s Assurance: A Practical Guide to Victory over Doubt

Posted in a city upon a hill, kentucky

Focus on the Family/CitizenLink- What Once Was Ordinary" Student prayer at Graduation

Posted on by elizabethprata

Beautiful!

Article here for those who can’t watch video

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16)

Posted in bible, God, holy, salvation

We are to be holy because He is holy

Posted on by elizabethprata

Last night at Wednesday night bible study, we were approaching 1 Peter 1:10 toward the end of the lesson: (“Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully”)

and the next section in 1 Peter 1 is titled “Called to be holy.” In vv. 10, & 13-21, it reminded me of the study I’m personally doing in Zechariah. This blog entry is about sharing my thoughts of the parallels between 1 Peter 1:1-21 and Zechariah 3. Chapter 3 in Zechariah is a tremendous passage in a tremendous book that really stopped me in my tracks this week.

Perhaps the reference Peter makes to the prophets of old prophesying about the grace of God can be seen in view here in Zech 3:1-5. Let’s see.

“Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. 2The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” 3Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. 4The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.” 5Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by.”

My understanding is that Joshua the High Priest here is a picture of all Israel, called to be a holy (priestly) people before God and a light to the Gentiles. Now, I don’t want to spiritualize this passage or make it be about the Church. In this vision, God was giving direct comfort and an explicit message to Israel, but there is a wider view that I think I as a NT believer after the cross can safely take in seeing the character of satan in this scenes and the character of God, because those things don’t change.

In looking at the nature of the uncleanliness of Israel in their sin … the words used here refer to their uncleanness as human waste of the filthiest kind. That is what “Joshua”/Israel was covered in. That is how God looks at sin. This is always instructive to see. Sin is not just ugly, but it is the worst sort of pollution.

The thought of standing before God in my own waste is a jarring enough picture. Satan is right to accuse Israel, they were filthy. They were idolatrous, blasphemous, and sinning upon sin. How does that old adage go? “when satan talks to us he lies but when he talks to God he tells the truth”. He is truthfully pointing out the sin staining Israel.

Satan accuses us New Testament believers also, including me. (Rev 12:10). I can imagine him standing next to Jesus saying, “Did you see that? She is filthy with sin!” Ow!

But the wondrous part is when I read in Zechariah that the LORD rebuked satan for pointing it out and making the accusation!! He reminds satan that He has pulled Israel out of the fire (and us too, after the cross, 1 John 2:1). How great is His mercy that despite our filth, He loves His chosen people (and by extension, us)! It is a tremendous, tremendous scene.

And then His mercy deepens by His decision to place clean garments on Israel. They truly are a people close to His heart aren’t they! And His Holy, Merciful nature is that He also put clean garments on us when we become justified. Perhaps I can say that as Peter says in verse 7, the faith that is “more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire” is this garment of salvation! The clean garments he places on us, and it is an amazing thing. Faith in His word He’ll cleanse us of our sin and have it remain so, forever, despite satan’s accusations.

As Zechariah closes out the section saying that the LORD ordered that a clean turban be put on the High Priest’s head, we read in Exodus 28:36 that the turban had an engraving on it that said “HOLY TO THE LORD”.

Replacing Israel’s filth stained garments, and after the cross, replacing the Church age believer’s filth stained garments, is to me the most incredible act in the entire universe. Is this what the angels think also, and is why they long to look into such things? (1 Peter 1:12). I dare to speculate perhaps so.

As we read further in the 1 Peter 1 chapter, the upcoming verses 13-15, the call of Peter for us to be holy is contrasted by this scene in Zechariah of the grace and mercy of God, who cleans His children of our own excrement, calls us holy, and gives us the garments to prove it so. Though the scene in Zechariah is discrete to Israel, I can use that picture to extend it through the cross to understand that He rebukes my accuser, cleans me of my filth, places on my head His name, and ordains over me the call to be Holy. We are to be holy because He is holy (Lev 11:44).

Understanding where I came from and what God has done for me through Jesus, and seeing the scene described so graphically in Zechariah helps me want to adhere fervently to the call of Peter to be holy for His sake- and not mine.

God is so great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!