In terms of millions of copies sold.
–The Quran is not on the list. (not surprised)
–Twilight Saga is. (surprised)
–The runaway winner, the Holy Bible, once again shows that the bible is unique in its historical reliability. (Yay for the Holy Spirit)
Now the question is, you probably own a bible. Do you read it?
I’m not catching the military or diplomatic benefit here… On the one hand, we are engaged in joint games with Russia, on our soil.
Russian paratroopers to ‘seize’ US facility on our soil in elaborate war games
“According to reports, the U.S. and Russian military will be engaging in an anti-terrorism exercise that will involve Russian paratroopers using U.S. weapons to “take and hold” the main facilities of the CIA and Denver International Airport in Colorado and the National Security Agency in Utah. … Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Colonel Alexander Kucherenko publically announced this 24-21 May “anti-terror drill” this Friday past noting that this will be the first time Russian airborne forces have held exercises with the US airborne forces on US territory. Colonel Kucherenko stated, “According to the exercise scenario, soldiers of the two countries will hold a tactical airborne operation, including the reconnaissance of imaginary terrorists’ camp and a raid. After the operation, a helicopter will evacuate the soldiers.” He further added that Russian airborne troops would be training with US special service weapons in these drills in Fort Carson, Colorado.”
On the other hand, Russian top officials said they will bomb our NATO troops if plans for a missile defense shield move forward in Eastern Europe…
Russia says it could pre-emptively strike missile shield
“Russia’s top military officer has threatened to carry out a pre-emptive strike on U.S.-led NATO missile defense facilities in Eastern Europe if Washington goes ahead with its controversial plan to build a missile shield.”
Well, isn’t that special. Let’s take a look at Russia in recent political history and then in biblical prophecy.
Remember, Russia was the Mother Bear anchor for the old Soviet Union of Socialist Republics, or USSR. “The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics” (also known as the USSR or Soviet Union for short) consisted of Russia and surrounding countries that today make up Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. The USSR was founded in 1922, five years after the Russian Revolution overthrew the monarchy of the czar, and was dissolved in late 1991.” (source)
The book Petrostate: Putin, Power, and the New Russia summarizes the recent history of that ancient state this way-
“In the aftermath of the financial collapse of August 1998, it looked as if Russia’s day as a superpower had come and gone. That it should recover and reassert itself after less than a decade is nothing short of an economic and political miracle. Based on extensive research, including several interviews with Vladimir Putin, this revealing book chronicles Russia’s dramatic reemergence on the world stage, illuminating the key reason for its rebirth: the use of its ever-expanding energy wealth to reassert its traditional great power ambitions. … The book provides an informative overview of oil in Russia, traces Vladimir Putin’s determined effort to reign in the upstart oil oligarchs who had risen to power in the post-Soviet era … Goldman shows how Russia paid off its international debt and has gone on to accumulate the world’s third largest holdings of foreign currency reserves–all by becoming the world’s largest producer of petroleum and the world’s second largest exporter.”
It IS an economic and political miracle, one that Christians see has God’s fingerprints all over it. Nations rise and fall, they don’t usually rise again, and if they do, like the Roman Empire, there’s a 2000 year gap between iterations. The Olmec civilization fell. Babylon fell. The United Kingdom Empire fell. The Tang dynasty fell. The Anasazi civilization fell and then vanished. So a decade between Russia’s rise to fall to rise again is amazing. Downright miraculous.
Prophetically, Russia plays a major part in upcoming history. Ezekiel 38-39 describes Russia as a strong aggressor with a focus on taking a spoil and plunder. It is one of the main confederates in a dreadful alliance that attacks Israel in the last days. Ezekiel 38 opens with God talking to Gog through Prophet Ezekiel. Gog will get an evil thought to come against Israel like a cloud, her and all her confederates, to take plunder and spoil. They will attack the peaceful and unsuspecting people who dwell in safety in unwalled villages. God allows the attack so that He can show Himself Holy to the world and He protects Israel in so doing.
Look at the geography here. I couldn’t even include all of Russia because it is so big the nation labels become unreadable. And Russia’s allies the “-stans” are both east of the Caspian sea and west of it. And in between there and Israel are the Arab states. All these territories and nations attack Israel in the last 7 years. Israel is so tiny on the map you can’t even see it. God is so amazing to protect her, making her an immovable rock!
“And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth are gathered together against it.” (Zechariah 12:3)
Russia it is believed, is the nation mentioned as the one “from the far north”, who will “…come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land.” (Ezekiel 38:15-16).
It has been speculated that the spoil Russia comes to take is oil. And indeed, Israel has discovered great riches and reserves of natural gas and oil that is easily accessible and quickly converted to usable fuel. One thing that has been historically consistent with Russia is her ambitions. They have always been large, and in this era her ambitions rest on gas and oil. It is one reason the nation is so protective of itself and sees the installation of NATO missiles in Eastern Europe, especially Kaliningrad, which is Russia’s close neighborhood as something they do not want to happen.
Yet we are going to do wargames with Russia. It sure is a crazy world, with shifting alliances and sudden moves, threats, wars and rumors of wars. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but we know what will happen soon, the bible tells of the Isaiah 17 prophecy where Damascus and larger Syria are destroyed, where Israel’s near neighbors are decimated, (Psalm 83), where Ezekiel prophesies the destruction of the alliance of Russia, Iran, Turkey/Armenia, Libya, Sudan etc. by God Himself. We know the last book in the bible, Revelation, speaks of battles of the Kings of the South and of the East marching against Israel. All this and much more is prophesied. And being promises of God, they will not fail.
“Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.” (1 Kings 8:56)
And Russia will be right in the center of these, some of His last promises. God is great, His plans never fail. I am amazed how He uses nations and events to bring to pass His will. After a startling fall and seeming defeat on the world stage, Russia is back, the bear is awakening from her short slumber and beginning to growl her intentions across the pages of prophecy.
“And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.” (Psalms 89:5)
Here are some animal stories that are in the news. I don’t know the prophetic indication, nor even the thread that connects them other than they are weird animal stories, and they interested me. They made me think of the following:
I’ve written about the dolphin die-of in Peru before. Now Peru has another die-off.
Peru explores pelican deaths
“Authorities in Peru are investigating the death of over 538 pelicans, along with other birds, on the northern coast of the country, the Peruvian ministry of production said Sunday.The new environmental investigation comes on the heels of an incident earlier in April when 877 dolphins washed up dead on the same stretch of coast.It was not immediately clear if the deaths were connected.The birds appear to have died on the beach, and more tests are needed to determine the cause of death, the ministry of production said.”
Coast Guard official Cesar Villanueva in Lambayeque said Sunday he has never seen so many dying pelicans on the beach in 25 years on the job. What a shame! How hard it is to be part of the generation to witness the death throes of the dying world. But in Him there is life! Soon our eyes will be cast upon Him in sight, our faith made perfect because of His sacrifice. And the world will be made new. (Revelation 21:1). “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” (Hebrews 11:3)
Albino Killer Whale spotted off Russia’s east coast
“A team of Russian scientists have reported what they believe is the first-ever sighting of an all-white, adult killer whale in the wild. The discovery of the six-foot, pure white fin was made by scientists during a research cruise off the eastern coast of Russia, near the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Commander Islands in the North Pacific. “It is a breathtakingly beautiful animal,” Eric Hoyt, one of the scientists, told the AFP.”
It is a wondrous sight to behold. Isn’t God’s creativity amazing?! I’m looking forward to when we share the earth with the animals in love and not as predator and prey. “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” (Isaiah 11:6)
Soccer Hall of Famer nearly eaten by gator on golf course
“It’s not exactly news that alligators are occasionally spotted roaming golf courses, especially in Florida. It doesn’t make them any less of a potential danger, as 75-year-old Al Miller, an avid golfer, found out recently.Miller isn’t just your typical duffer. He’s a former golf coach and accomplished soccer coach. In fact, he’s in the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame. … The trouble began when Miller went to retrieve his ball, which had hooked near the pond. Suddenly, the gator bit him, tossed him in the air and then began to drag him into the water at the 15th hole. “He lifted me up three feet and slammed me down,” Miller told Lakeland newspaper The Ledger. The gator eventually released Miller, but not before inflicting a deep cut in his knee.”
“Price ran over and grabbed Miller under his shoulders while the animal was thrashing and pulling.The other two golfers in the foursome ran over to help.Miller said the animal took one look at him and clamped down harder. “It was excruciating to say the least,” Miller said. As the animal started dragging Miller into the water, Miller prayed for a miracle. He got one. “He let me go,” Miller said. “I was three feet from my life. He had me submerged up to my belt buckle.” (source, more photos).
Oh, where to go with this. It made me think of the plague of beasts, where actual deaths from animals will occur on a regular, daily basis to most of the world’s people. (“And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.” Rev 6:8b). Imagine, going along, la la la, and BLAM, a beast got you and is chomping on you, alive. Shudderrrrr! The news story also made me think of how one never knows when your number is up. God has ordained the number of our days, (Psalm 139:16) and today might be a person’s last. (“Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;” Job 14:5). That is why it is important to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. If death comes, for the Christian it will only be a gateway into riches beyond compare. For the lost, it is a gateway to unutterable agony.
I’m glad the golfer is OK and that he prayed a prayer (I hope he knows the REAL Jesus). But for many others today and every day, unfortunately, they put off making a decision about their eternal destiny and it will be forever too late. Don’t let that be you.
If you ever saw the movie Wall-E, which is a computer-animated post-apocalyptic romantic science fiction film, or so says the description, the plot involves a robot named WALL-E, who is designed to clean up a waste-covered Earth far in the future. He winds up in outer space on a spaceship where all the humans have gone, and by this time in the far future the humans have all gotten obese and can barely function without being in their movable sofas. The ones that look just like the ones unveiled in the Beijing Motor Show.
Unveiled personal vehicle at Beijing Show:
Of course, the connection was instantly made by many, who saw the similarities even between the two vehicles. LOL all that’s left would be for us to have an IV drip injected directly into our arms and a catheter on the other end and we would never have to leave our sofas.
But I want to make a comparison between the American Christian and the personal sofa vehicle for a moment. I said American Christian because that is the Christian I am familiar with. I think it is safe bet also for the generalization I’m about to make.
So often, American Christians enter their mega churches ready to be passively entertained. They have padded pews, a drink stand, technology to enhance the experience, a perfect climate controlled environment, worship songs that are hip instead of hymns that convict…
Comforts are good. I’m not against comforts. But let’s not get distracted by them. I wish for all of us that we would not stay on our padded pews, living individual lives absorbed in technology, but get out of the pews and into the world to bear fruit for His name. Here is what one blogger wrote:
“There are churches in our city that have no problem raising a million dollars for a new building (complete with paved parking lots, air conditioning and broadloom) but can’t seem to spare a fig for the dying and the damned on our downtown streets. The exact phrase my friend used to describe these churches was ‘Christian country clubs.’ “
I hope that you are blessed to be in a working man’s Christian church, sweaty, gnarled, externally unremarkable but with shining pure heart, with Jesus at the head.
“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)
The just shall not live by lattes.
“But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” (Galatians 3:11)
The just shall not live by comforts.
“Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” (Hebrews 10:38)
The just shall not live by technology. Step off the padded personal chair and mix it up with the faithful walk, and let the glory that is Jesus shine through.
An article appeared in the Wall Street Journal today about the strange hum annoying Windsor Ontario. The article notes that the strange hum coming from Windsor is driving nearby Canada crazy. Americans apparently cannot hear it. It has been described as a very sharp, consistent rumble sound. The Canadians want something done, and it is causing a diplomatic fracas. What is noteworthy is not only the fact that the noise exists, and not only that the noise is loud enough to interfere with normal life…but that the article about it appears in America’s most conservative paper. AND that the diplomats are fussing over it. Pretty remarkable.
I have written specifically about the Windsor hum in August 2011, with a follow up in September 2011. I have written about the hums around the world in general many times. I’ll review what they could mean below the news. But first, the WSJ story:
Canadians Make a Racket Over Mysterious ‘Windsor Hum’
Unexplained Noise Spurs Diplomatic Fracas At Detroit Border; Americans Can’t Hear It
Last month, Bob Dechert, a senior aide to Canada’s foreign minister, was dispatched to Detroit with an important diplomatic mission: To stop a highly annoying noise. The so-called Windsor hum, described as a low-frequency rumbling sound, has rattled windows and knocked objects off shelves in this border community just across the Detroit River from the Motor City. Locals have said it sounds like a large diesel truck idling, a loud boom box or the bass vocals of Barry White.”
Barry White? Stop for a LOL moment. The journalists must have had a blast writing this. Ahem. To continue.
“Windsor residents have blamed the hum for causing illness, whipping dogs into frenzies, keeping cats housebound and sending goldfish to the surface in backyard ponds. Many have resorted to switching on their furnace fan all season to drown out the noise. Even weirder, Americans can’t seem to hear it. Canadians find that suspicious—especially since their research suggests the hum is coming from the Yankees’ side—and accuse U.S. officials of staying silent over the noise.”
Those damn Yankees!
“The government of Canada takes this issue seriously,” Mr. Dechert said after his recent fact-finding trip, which included a visit to a heavily industrialized area on the American side of the river that some Canadian scientists believe is to blame for the hum.”
I can’t figure out why the Americans cannot hear the noise.
“The sound has been plaguing Windsor residents on and off for two years. Last May, a particularly loud eruption shook Windsor resident David Robins as he watched the National Basketball Association playoffs. The room began to vibrate with a loud throbbing noise. Mr. Robins hit mute, fearing he had gone overboard on volume. But the noise persisted. Stepping outside, Mr. Robins said he found the “entire neighborhood pulsating.” “To be honest, I was scared,” he said.”
Now that IS scary. There is more at the link.
I explored the concept of the Windsor Ontario strange noise here, from the aspect of spiritual warfare ramping up and showing an example of a verse from the bible.
I explored the strange noises here, from the aspect of the verse in Jeremiah that ‘A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth.’
Now I’ve said before that there will be supernatural events happening in greater visibility as we approach the rapture, because afterwards will be total supernatural, visible, all the time. The inexplicable will occur on a normal, daily basis. In advance of that, the supernatural (or inexplicable, if that makes you more comfortable) will happen more frequently even though we haven’t been raptured yet.
I’ve also said, however, that just because something is currently inexplicable, it doesn’t mean it always will be. The strange noise may turn out to have a normal explanation.
However, there are a few things that speak against that. First, it has been going on for only two years or so. The industrial area across the river has been in existence for so much longer, so one would wonder why the noises began relatively late. Secondly, the officials brought in seismographs and tested for tectonic activity. The noise must be persistent pervasive, and annoying enough to persuade officials to take such an action.
One thing I noticed in the article is that the witnesses say it is getting louder. That is the most interesting thing of all. HuffPo noted back in January that it is escalating.
As for noises, descriptions of them pervade the bible. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16 we read of the rapture, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”. In that verse we read of a shout, a voice and an instrument. Noise.
In Revelation 4:5 we read, “And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.” In this verse we read of thunderings and voices.
Isaiah 6:4 we read of Isaiah’s vision of heaven and the voices of the seraphims shouting holy, holy, holy were so loud they moved the posts of the doors.
There are many more such examples of noises heard by the visionaries and apostles throughout the Old Testament and the New. We’re drawing closer to the time of the end. The veil between our physical dimension and God’s physical dimension is lifted bit by bit, waiting for the final moment when it tears and there is an irruption into the world of demons, supernatural events, angels, and spiritual warfare made visible. We praise our Savior for making the word of prophecy sure (2 Peter 1:16-21). We praise Him for alerting us to the times and the events he foretold by His book, written out of time and given to us who dwell inside time. We praise Him who will lift us out of time at His will and bring us to the eternal.
If you are worried about these things coming upon the earth, and there will be worse coming, so much worse that men have heart attacks upon looking at them (Luke 21:26), then be saved now. Believe that Jesus is the man-divine son of God, come to seek and save the lost and by His sacrificial act of shedding blood as the holy and pure sacrifice acceptable to God made the way for us into heaven. Believe He was crucified, was buried and rose on the third day by the power of God. Believe He is the substitution for taking on our sin and God’s wrath. If you understand that your sins are very real and make God very angry, confess them to your Lord, and Jesus will forgive you.
In the WSJ article they said that the noises are “no laughing matter.” They aren’t. The one man said that the noise was scary. They are. Because if they presage something worse, that something is so petrifying that people drop dead on the spot. And if you draw your last breath before you know Jesus as savior you will enter the eternal as His enemy and dwell in the Lake of Fire. Please repent now.
“And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”(Mark 1:15)
How do you make decisions? Someone asked me the other day how I decide things. I realized I have fallen into using the Christian-ese lingo. One of the phrases I caught myself using is “I was led by God to…”.
When I say it I know that I mean that “I decided to…” I should just say that.
Other people wrestle with a decision for a long time, and unable to intuit the correct course of action, they pray and receive an impression. Or they put out a prayer rug or fleece and get a sign via internal urge.
I’ve never done those things (I have prayed but not been led by an impression, or at least when I felt an impression, or had a leading thought, I did not base my decision on it.) A lot of times my internal impressions are likely from satan, lol.
Other times I hear people say, after they ‘were led’, “I know it is from God because I had a peace about it.” I always used to wonder about that, because I rarely have a peace about my big decisions. I have certainty. But not peace. It is scary to move half a country away…to start a new job…to make new friends…to leave your home church. It is nerve-wracking to witness to a hostile person. I rarely have peace about those things. But when the time comes to do them, I am certain, and thus, I do them.
Jonah had peace about his decision to flee God’s will. He actually curled up in the bottom of the boat and went to sleep, while the crew was being tossed and throwing freight and ballast over to save the ship. Having peace about a decision is not a reliable indicator. Ananias and Sapphira likely had peace about their decision to withhold some of the proceeds of the sale of their real estate, at least, they did it without a second thought and Sapphira calmly lied to Peter. But that peace was not the right kind of peace either. (Acts 5)
I was always troubled by these things, fearing maybe I wasn’t ‘doing it right’ with regard to my decision making. Then I heard this question put to John MacArthur- “What is your perspective on the belief that the Holy Spirit leads us by nudging us or whispering to us or giving us dreams, things like that?” and he answered this way:
JOHN: Well, I think the Holy Spirit does lead us but there is no way to perceive that that’s happening. Right? … I don’t have a red light that goes on on my head and it goes around and around and around when the Holy Spirit’s leading. I don’t know when the Holy Spirit’s leading. I don’t know when I’m just following my impulses or my desires or whatever. I have no mechanism to know that. But in retrospect I see that. And I categorize that in the providences of God.”
“I just put that in the providence…my life is just one amazing act of divine providence after another, after another, after another, after another, after another, every single day of my life unfolds in ways that are so well planned by the divine mind that I…I’m in, you know, a sort of exhilaration day after day after day over what happens in my life. So I don’t know when the Spirit is leading at the time. The Spirit is leading…I can say, “You know, I think I ought to go preach over there.” I do that every day, you know. Friday they brought like, I don’t know, a big list of people who want me to come and speak and what did I do? Did I, you know, begin to go into some kind of mantra and say, “Ohm….” And see if I can induce the Holy Spirit to know what to do? No. I just look at it and say, “Well, I can’t do that. I don’t think I can do that. That wouldn’t be a priority. Maybe I should do that. And you know what happens if I just am open and want to do God’s will, it’s amazing how in retrospect I can look back and say, “Wow, it was absolutely critical that I be there because look what happened when I got there, and this happened and that led to this, and this led to that.” That’s how my whole life has unfolded. So there’s no mechanism that we possess that tells us at the moment when the Holy Spirit is leading us and in some supernatural way. But that in retrospect we will be able to discern by the providences of God that unfold.”
Right! In your decisions, do right by Jesus and do right by our family, and moving forward by logically weighing evidence and proceeding with maturity, and God will take care of all the rest. I look back on my decisions and they have all been good. Either they were wrong but made good by God or they were good and He was leading me but I didn’t have the advantage of having whispers or impressions to know that at the time. His providence!
“Divine providence is the means by and through which God governs all things in the universe. The doctrine of divine providence asserts that God is in complete control of all things. This includes the universe as a whole (Psalm 103:19), the physical world (Matthew 5:45), the affairs of nations (Psalm 66:7), human birth and destiny (Galatians 1:15), human successes and failures (Luke 1:52), and the protection of His people (Psalm 4:8).” (source)
Gary Friesen said in his book, Decision Making and the Will of God— “Impressions are real; believers experience them. But impressions are not authoritative. Impressions are impressions. Inner impressions are not a form of revelation, so the bible does not invest impressions with authority to function as indicators of Divine guidance. Impressions are real. Believers experience them. But impressions are not authoritative.”
If a person looks to their impressions, whispers, or nudges, then they are looking to something that is not only NOT authoritative, but is deceitful and corrupt!
Gary Gilley states, “Psalm 19 teaches us there are two sources of revelation, from nature (vv. 1-6) and from Scripture (vv. 7-14). The “general revelation” of nature, while speaking boldly of the glory of God, still has serious limitations. Romans 1:20 confirms that nature is capable of revealing to mankind the eternal power and divine nature of God; therefore even those who know nothing of Jesus Christ are without excuse when they reject God. But general revelation is incapable of exposing a multitude of things including Jesus Christ, the Cross, grace, eternal life and on and on. For such things we need the “specific revelation” of Scripture. …”
There is general revelation by nature and specific revelation by the bible, and nothing in between like impressions, urgings, or whispers.
Even the famous evangelist George Whitefield “mistook fancy for faith and imagination for revelation” when going forward by impression rather than scripture. He had prophesied that his pregnant wife would bear a son, and that the son would grow up to become a famous preacher. Whitefield did have a son, but unfortunately the child died at 4 months old. That is when Whitefield told Jonathan Edwards that he mistook fancy for revelation. (source, book Jonathan Edwards, by Iain Murray, pp. 240-42)
Precious brethren, inner impressions are bubbling up through our fleshly filter of putrid sin, a sin nature, and corruption. Ick! Who would want to make a decision based on that muck! I refute the logic and the method of Bill Hybels’ whispers, especially when Hybels says “Without a hint of exaggeration, the ability to discern divine direction has saved me from a life of sure boredom and self-destruction.’ In [Hybels’ book] The Power of a Whisper, vision is cast for what life can look like when God’s followers choose to hear from heaven as they navigate life on earth. Whispers that arbitrate key decisions, nudges that rescue from dark nights of the soul, promptings that spur on growth, urgings that come by way of another person, inspiration that opens once-glazed-over eyes…”
Mike Feazell said it better, much better when he said,
“Wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy the godly freedom to say: “Lord, I’ve got several paths before me, and based on all the facts as I understand them, here’s what I think I should probably do. Please have mercy on me as I enter into this. As you well know Lord I know I am often a moron. I know that in my need You have always been there. And I know you’ll see me through this too. Just please don’t make the bumps If there’s something I’m missing here, would you show me before it’s too late? And if I miss the cue, then please have mercy on me, a sinner and a frequent dumbbell. And one more thing, if this is a trap door instead of an open door, would you mind not letting go of my hand until I get back to where I ought to be? Thanks. Amen.”
Don’t look for a sign or a whisper or a nudge or urgings. Trust God. “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9). Even though you can’t hear or tell He is directing you, He IS. Appealing to your inner impressions is the same as appealing to yourself. His providence has you in the palm of His hand…therefore trust!
“I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” (Psalms 16:8)
I notice a pattern in the news stories about American politics. At the risk of being too America-centric with respect to applying prophetic indicators, let me say for the record that though the news excerpts below are about the American President, this by no stretch means that these indicators are absent from other global rulers.
Indeed, we have seen what fury the people participating in the Arab Spring/Days Of Rage wrought on Libya’s Qaddafi, Egypt’s Mubarak, and other rulers in Africa and the Middle East. We saw how nervous the kings of Bahrain and Jordan became during that revolutionary time. The Bahraini king even gave a large sum of money to each family in his kingdom to calm them down and to buy time. We see the population’s discontent with the (sexual) excesses of Italy’s Berlusconi, and that France’s Sarkozy, while apparently not as excessive or oppressive, will possibly lose his runoff election this weekend due to the faltering economy.
That said, I have noticed, as you no doubt have noticed, the US leadership veering drunkenly toward excess of spending, of regulation, and of uncaring attitude toward the people. You have heard, no doubt, of the unfortunate plethora of stories where bureaucrats close down lemonade stands, rip up front yard gardens, stop garage sales. Yet those in power like Michele Obama take 17 vacations in three years and seems to have forgotten the concept of public service. But they sure do remember how to have date night. Rep. Pelosi co-opts military airplanes for trips back home. Obama parties like it’s no tomorrow.
The bible has much to say about leaders who fail to honor God and help the people. The bible is replete with events, warnings, and punishments of kings and rulers who oppress the people they are supposed to govern wisely.
Verses like this one in Leviticus 19:13 are echoed throughout the pages of the Scriptures: “You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning.”
But the leaders, kings, and rulers of today continue to seemingly prosper, while pressing their thumb of power ever deeper into our lives and ripping out what valuables they can to continue to support their lavish and wanton spending. Though it is bad now, this kind of power abuse will be rampant in the Tribulation because the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit will cease His restraint of sin, and it will blossom like mold on a gushy banana. (Revelation 18:3- “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”)
James 5:4 says “Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.” Revelation 6 shows the poor working all day for a loaf of bread but in Revelation 18 the ultra rich continued their trade in ivory, spices, furniture, even the souls of men throughout the Tribulation.
The gap between the rich and poor continues to grow even now, the rulers increasingly deaf to the cries to stop spending, and the love of many even in the faith waxes cold for the brother. (Matthew 24:12). Our governments are increasingly interested in the peons like us rather than solving the problems we elected them to solve. They regulate us to death and scurry off to enjoy a sexcapade or a luxurious vacation and have forgotten how to govern righteously. We are plagued with Pharaohs and enduring a famine of Solomons.
“A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding, But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.” (Proverbs 28:16).
Take this example of unhealthy governmental interest in a person’s private life:
Blogger faces jail time over nutrition blog
“It’s the sort of story you expect to come from a third world superstitious kleptopcracy – yet it happened here on American soil, in North Carolina, thanks to good old fashioned state-level bureaucracy. Reason Magazine brings us the bizarre and senseless story of a Steve Cooksey, a former diabetic who put himself on the popular “Paleo” diet and decided to tell the world about his experiences, only to have the North Carolina Board of Dietetics and Nutrition (yes, that exists) come down on him: This past January the state diatetics and nutrition board decided Cooksey’s blog — Diabetes-Warrior.net — violated state law. The nutritional advice Cooksey provides on the site amounts to “practicing nutrition,” the board’s director says, and in North Carolina that’s something you need a license to do. Unless Cooksey completely rewrites his 3-year-old blog, he could be sued by the licensing board. If he loses the lawsuit and refuses to take down the blog, he could face up to 120 days in jail. The board’s director says Cooksey has a First Amendment right to blog about his diet, but he can’t encourage others to adopt it unless the state has certified him as a dietitian or nutritionist.”
Government is protecting us from our opinions. How thoughtful. Or this terrible example:
Barack Obama attempts to intimidate contributors to Mitt Romney’s campaign
“Try this thought experiment: You decide to donate money to Mitt Romney. You want change in the Oval Office, so you engage in your democratic right to send a check. Several days later, President Barack Obama, the most powerful man on the planet, singles you out by name. His campaign brands you a Romney donor, shames you for “betting against America,” and accuses you of having a “less-than-reputable” record. The message from the man who controls the Justice Department (which can indict you), the SEC (which can fine you), and the IRS (which can audit you), is clear: You made a mistake donating that money. Are you worried?”
“Richard Nixon’s “enemies list” appalled the country for the simple reason that presidents hold a unique trust. Unlike senators or congressmen, presidents alone represent all Americans. Their powers—to jail, to fine, to bankrupt—are also so vast as to require restraint. Any president who targets a private citizen for his politics is de facto engaged in government intimidation and threats. This is why presidents since Nixon have carefully avoided the practice. Save Mr. Obama, who acknowledges no rules. This past week, one of his campaign websites posted an item entitled “Behind the curtain: A brief history of Romney’s donors.” In the post, the Obama campaign named and shamed eight private citizens who had donated to his opponent. Describing the givers as all having “less-than-reputable records,” the post went on to make the extraordinary accusations that “quite a few” have also been “on the wrong side of the law” and profiting at “the expense of so many Americans.”
Rather than knowing that they exist to lead, to govern, to inspire, to serve, the President and other rulers today oppress, indict, and steal. Nice, Obama. Nice. Yet is his own house in order? No.
Secret Service scandal: ‘Party’s over, boys'”
The Secret Service scandal involving prostitutes in Colombia has brought new orders about personal behavior – no more carousing. On some trips, agents will even have chaperones.”
Now think about this for a second. The Secret Service men who are trained to devote their life to the highest official in the land, who define self-sacrifice by committing to hurl themselves in front of a bullet, have to be chaperoned like two year olds in a candy store so they won’t hurl themselves in front of a prostitute? Whatever happened to self-possession?
“For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well.” Proverbs 23:27
“For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.” Proverbs 11:14
“Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.” Proverbs 26:23
Blue-collar voter resentment building over Obama vacations?
“Blue collar Democratic voters, stuck taking depressing “staycations” because they can’t afford gas and hotels, are resentful of the first family’s 17 lavish vacations around the world and don’t want their tax dollars paying for the Obamas’ holidays, according to a new analysis of swing voters. …McLaughlin handled blue collar and Catholic voters in Pittsburgh on April 3 and Cleveland on March 20. He found that they are very depressed about the economy and feel that their tax dollars are being sucked up by both the rich and those living on government assistance.”
The bible says of kings, “But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’ Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.” (Deut 17:16-17).
The Deuteronomy verse expressly forbids kings to excess. Barnes Notes says “Excess is forbidden. Vast accumulation of treasure could hardly be effected without oppression; nor when effected fail to produce pride and a “trust in uncertain riches” 1 Timothy 6:17.” Kings were forbidden to use their office to heap up riches for themselves.
In the bible, there are hapless kings, apathetic kings, and kings who not only do not believe and who are sinful through and through, but who actively campaign against God. Pharaoh was such a one. Jezebel was such a one. Ahab was one too. The progression of evil kings always got worse. The next generation was worse than the one before, and so it is today. We started with Washington, Jefferson, Adams. We end up with Nixon, Clinton, Obama…
“Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed–and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors–and they have no comforter.” Ecclesiastes 4:1
So what shall become of them? Amos 5 & 6 speaks to the Day of the Lord when He deals with the unrighteous rulers who oppressed the people. They “… trample on the poor and force him to give you grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine.” (Amos 5:11).
“You put off the evil day and bring near a reign of terror. You lie on beds inlaid with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambsand fattened calves. You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments. You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph. Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile; your feasting and lounging will end.” (Amos 6:3-7)
Of these Amos versesJohn MacArthur teaches, “God really indicts the rich, not because just they’re rich, but because they have become rich at the expense of the poor.”
As for us brethren, especially those in either civic or ecclesiastical positions of leadership, “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:6). The word sober there in Greek is nepho, “to be sober, unintoxicated” refers to having presence of mind & clear judgment, enabling someone to be self-controlled.
Apparently at the highest levels of power self-control is a thing of the past. That is what makes the Christian stand out as light and salt. (Mt 5:13-16)
Anti-Bullying Speaker Curses Christian Teens
“As many as 100 high school students walked out of a national journalism conference after an anti-bullying speaker began cursing, attacked the Bible and reportedly called those who refused to listen to his rant “pansy assed.” … Savage was supposed to be delivering a speech about anti-bullying at the National High School Journalism Conference sponsored by the Journalism Education Association and the National Scholastic Press Association. But it turned into an episode of Christian-bashing. “I thought this would be about anti-bullying,” Tuttle told Fox news. “It turned into a pointed attack on Christian beliefs.”
It gets worse from there. If you want to read what Mr Savage said and how it was responded to by his sponsoring organizations, click on the link.
What is sad for me is that this was a forum for teen reporters. Teenagers…mocked, bullied, and called names, by an adult. Rather than being ashamed of his behavior in front of children, rather than apologizing for his screed that offended teens, Savage hurled scorn on them as they left and was supported by his organizations, needling the kids as the ones in the wrong and for failing to stay because “it’s important to be able to listen to speech that offends you”…
I know this verse from Ephesians 6:4 is targeted to actual fathers and their biological/adoptive children, but I dare to say we can widen it to apply here, even as a warning in general:
“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”.
“Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” (Colossians 3:21)
Is Mr Savage a father? An Uncle? Would he feel satisfied knowing someone had entered a place where children were gathered, including his own, and hurled insults directly at them for their beliefs?
“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 18:10
My favorite dinner used to be a cold beer and chilled Gulf shrimp with cocktail sauce. My favorite place to eat this dish used to be Florida, preferably Naples or Key West. I no longer drink alcohol and now it seems I will no longer eat Gulf Shrimp.
Remember the BP Macondo Well/Deepwater Horizon oil platform explosion that occurred two years ago this week? It is the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry.
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| Source: Wikipedia |
The oil gushed into the Gulf for three months, spilling about 5 million barrels of oil into the blue waters of the Gulf, and still seeps today. Now that’s got to affect the marine life, wouldn’t you think? Despite assurances that it wouldn’t? Of course. Shrimp in particular are first indicators of ecosystem shift. In other words, if something bad is happening, it’ll show up in the shrimp first.
Gulf shrimp this season are showing up eyeless, with tumors, deformed and toxic. Read more here and here. With photos. Pass the tofu, please.
