Islamic Rebels |
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Beware the Trojan Horse
Monday, March 28, 2011
Prophesy for Today; The Return of Israel-Issue 5
"But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them."Just substitute the modern word for Philistine - Palestine - and you can see prophesy happening before your eyes! And this verse may not be finished yet.
Palestinian Children Training |
"I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and [for] my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land." – Joel 3:2The valley of Jehoshaphat means the valley of judgment! Those nations who divide up the land will all perish, and the reason – they tried to divide the land of Israel. In other Scripture God says He will make Jerusalem a 'burdensome stone' and all who try to lift it will injure themselves (Zechariah 12:3). History proves the veracity of this curse by God.
God is using these wars for two purposes: 1) They will humble Israel and bring her back to God, and 2) They will bring judgment on the nations that have earned it. There are at least two more such wars prophesied that you can read about yourself: 1) the war described in Psalm 83, every nation described there is a Muslim nation, and 2) the war of Ezekiel 38 and 39 which I believe is Russia at the head of a Muslim coalition. These may represent one war or they may be separate.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Prophesy for Today; Issue 4 - The Return of Israel
Fig Tree in Israel |
Jesus taught, "Now learn this parable from the fig tree. When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see these things, know it is near - at the doors." - Matthew 24:32. Israel is often referred to as a fig tree: God said, "When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your fathers, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree." - Hosea 9:10. I believe Jesus was referring to the nation of Israel being re-established.
Israel was re-established as a nation in 1948, against all odds. Many Bible scholars were teaching that the Church had supplanted Israel in God's promises and that Israel would never again exist. They are still teaching that false doctrine today, which is known as Replacement Theology. However, God has proven them wrong. God said He would use Israel as an "ensign to the nations".
"And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth." - Isaiah 11:12.The re-gathering of Israel is a sign to the nations. They went into captivity as two peoples - Judah and Ephraim, but they will return as one nation - Israel. After they return they will "fly upon the shoulders of the philistines ..." (Isa. 11:14), which speaks of the series of wars they have had since 1948. Each time the Arab nations attacked them, they won more land, coming closer to the borders promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
It is interesting that the modern word for 'philistine' is Palestine. Jeremiah even describes how they will return - without faith. Zionism is by in large an agnostic movement - without faith.
"Return, faithless people,' declares the Lord, 'for I am your husband. I will choose one of you from every town and two from every clan and bring you to Zion." - Jeremiah 3:14.There are signs of revival in Israel. They have re-established the Sanhedrin. They are training Priests to minister in the Temple and are producing their ceremonial robes and ministry utensils. There now some 60 Messianic congregations throughout the land. They are preparing to re-build the Temple. The fig leaves are getting tender, and the devil knows it! God will use him and the nations that follow him to purify both Israel and the Church.
The fact of Israel is God waving a flag to get the attention of the nations (Gentiles), and the message is - You don't long, get right with God and 'kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little!' - Psalm 2:12.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Prophesy for Today - The Second Coming; Issue 3
What is meant by the phrase "the falling away"? The word in Greek is 'apostasia' from which we get the word apostate. It means Christians no longer keep the Word of God, they do not obey the truth of Scripture, and they do not have the Holy Spirit to guide them because He is only given to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32). Friends, this is the condition of much of the Church today. Over a third of those who call themselves Christian do not believe in a personal devil. Almost half of those teaching our Seminaries do not believe in the virgin birth of Jesus. Even among Evangelicals (those Christians who declare they believe all the Bible), many do not believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit for today, even though the Bible nowhere tells us they were withdrawn. It does say that the Holy Spirit is only given to those who obey Him - hmm. Their churches are filled with people who, as Christians, are divorced and remarried, some multiple times, even though God says "I hate divorce" and because of it God will not hear our prayers anymore (Malachi 2). As a result, our children are scattered all over the place with no firm foundation to grow on. Instead of being the 'salt' and 'light' of the world, our past moral foundations are being eroded and our country is walking in darkness. Christians have turned their children (their heritage in the Lord) over to a godless school system that outlaws prayer to God and any mention of the name of Jesus. Several generations have now been trained to accept the theory of evolution as fact and the Book of Genesis as myth. In 1963 & 64, we - a so-called Christian nation, allowed prayer to God to be removed from our public schools and a blind man could see the results:
Our best students cannot compete against the students of the world in reading, science, or math. While we spend more per student than any other country except Switzerland, we have little to show for it. While the reasons for this problem are many, I suggest that the main reason is we have forsaken God, who was the reason for our prosperity and success.
The United States is the most Christian of all the nations on earth today - and we have become apostate!
Paul said after the great falling away the Antichrist would come - are we there? Paul also wrote, "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way." (2 Thes. 2:7). The Greek word translated 'letteth' means 'to hold back, detain, restrain'. Is Paul writing about the apostate church? You decide for yourself but, David prophesied, "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" - Psalm 11:3.
Although this is not a 'happy-go-lucky' teaching, don't despair. God is still on the throne of heaven and He still hears the prayers of the righteous. We can still be light and salt to this world. And, in Malachi God says, "Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them, so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name. They shall be Mine, says the Lord of Hosts, on the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked." - Malachi 3:16-18.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Prophesy for Today - The Second Coming; Issue 2
When Jesus ascended into heaven the first time, the angels declared to the disciples "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." - Acts 1:11. At His trial, Jesus told the High Priest, "Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." - Matthew 26:64. When Jesus comes a second time, He will come on the clouds of heaven. We are told in Revelation 1:7 that when He comes "every eye shall see Him". Paul gives further description of the event: "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:" 1 Thessalonians 4:16. Jesus Himself described His coming - "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." - Matthew 24:27.
Let me summarize: 1) He comes on the clouds, 2) He comes with the earth shattering shout of an archangel, and 3) His coming is so bright it is like lightning the shines from east to the west. His coming is so spectacular that every eye will see Him. It is certainly not a "secret" coming as some have taught. There will be no doubt as to who is arriving! The righteous and the wicked alike will know it is Him. The wicked try to hide, even calling the rocks down on themselves but, the righteous "lift up their heads, for their redemption draweth near." - Luke 21:28.
His second coming is so powerful that even the dead in Christ will rise from the dead! And those who yet alive will be changed and caught up to meet Him in the air - "Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." - 1 Thessalonians 4:17. In the Latin Vulgate version of the Bible, the words "caught up" is 'rapio' from which we get the word 'rapture'. Some have tried to separate this rapture from His revelation to support their secret coming theory, but, Scripture is plain - they all happen together!
As He comes with the clouds, and the shout of the archangel, and as lightning across the sky, so bright that every eye will see Him; the dead in Christ are resurrected and we who are yet alive will be transformed and caught up to meet Him in the clouds. Paul wrote the Corinthians about it as well; "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." - 1 Corinthians 15:52. The rapture and the revelation of Christ all happen at the same time.
There is another very interesting aspect of this event. In 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Paul writes that we rise to "meet" the Lord in the air. The Greek word translated 'meet' is 'apantēsis' and it is only used one other time in the New Testament. When Paul was on his way to Rome, the brethren there came out to 'meet' (same word apantēsis) them and escort them into Rome. So we see, that when we rise to meet the Lord in the air, it is to greet Him and accompany Him back to the earth, where we will help Him overcome and judge the wicked. The Book of Jude quotes a prophesy of Enoch that describes this; "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard [speeches] which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." - Jude 1:14, 15.
The redeemed of the Lord will be active in His victory right from the beginning of His second coming.
Prophesy for Today - The Second Coming; Issue 1
1st) Jesus, the Messiah, came to earth some 2000 years ago, fulfilling many Old Testament prophesies. The first time He came as the "suffering servant". Isaiah prophesied of Him "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken." - Isaiah 53:4-8.
2nd) At His first coming, He destroyed the devil's hold on all sinners and paid the blood debt to God, the Father, for Scripture declares "the wages of sin is death". Death could not hold Him in the grave and He resurrected after three days. He spent 40 days teaching His disciples and then He rose into the heavens. As they watched Him rise out of sight, two angels stood by them asking why they were gazing into the heavens - "Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.: - Acts 1:11. Hebrews 9:28 also declares the same truth - "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."
Many Messianic prophesies describe Him as a conquering avenger rescuing His people and meeting out judgment to His enemies as well as those, like Isaiah, who describe Him as a suffering servant. This is why many Jews did not receive Jesus as Messiah during His first coming, they were expecting Him to avenge them on their Roman conquerers. They did not understand that His first coming was meant to cleanse their hearts from sin. However, His second coming will not be as a lowly, suffering servant but as a conquering judge. David writes in Psalm 2 about the Son judging the nations and breaking them in pieces like a potters vessel, "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in him." In the Book of Revelation He is shown as a conquering general at the head of His armies -
"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." - Revelation 19:11-16.It is at this second coming that "every knee shall bow and confess to God" that Jesus is the Christ. While there is much more that could be said, this is enough for this basic teaching on the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Monday, March 21, 2011
The Reaper: The Falling Away
The Falling Away
"The book of Revelation is a work of fiction describing how a truly vicious God would bring about the end of the world. No half-smart religious person actually believes the book of Revelation. They are certain that their God would never turn into a malicious torturer and mass murderer beyond Hitler’s wildest dreams. Glenn Beck, of course, does believe the book of Revelation."But, he is just a symptom of the times we live in. A time when much of the Christian Church has turned away from the truth of God's declared Word. They have 'itching ears', that means something foreign has gotten into their ears causing an irritation. That 'something foreign' is their own desire to live according to their way and not God's way. After all, many so called theologians have denied the virgin birth of Jesus. They also deny the creation as declared in Genesis. They deny the God-given governmental order of the family and the Church. They ordain women as Pastors when God says that women are denied usurping authority in the Church. They ordain homosexuals as Pastors, when God says homosexuality is an abomination to him. The condone divorce, when God says "I hate divorce". When the Church falls away from God's standards, there is nothing to restrain wickedness from permeating the land. That is what has happened.
Paul taught that this falling away would open the way for the Antichrist to emerge, with all his evil. But, thankfully there are a group of believers that will escape this evil. In the Book of Revelation, the book O'Donnel declares to be fiction, Jesus writes a letter to them. They were the Church of Philadelphia who only had a little strength and were under much persecution. But, because they "kept My word, and have not denied My name" (Revelation 3:8) He promised to keep them from the hour of trial which would come upon the whole world to test them. Even so, at this time in history, there are those 'Philadelpians' who keep God's words and do not deny the word of Jesus.
I hope you choose to be one.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Be of Good Cheer
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33
Jesus, who certainly speaks much about the end of the age and the disastrous judgments that will befall the world, also speaks about those who in the midst of it all can be of good cheer! Who are those of good cheer? They are those who know the end of the story - Jesus has overcome the world and He wins in the end! Every knee will bow to Him, both human and demonic, and His kingdom of peace and love is coming - HALLELUJAH!
Jesus spoke much about "being of good cheer": in Matthew 9:2 He said be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee - in Matthew 14:27 He said Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid - in Mark 6:50 he said Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid - and in Acts 23:11 the Lord spoke to Paul, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
We can be of good cheer if our sins are forgiven, for the devil has nothing of which he can accuse us. We can be of good cheer and not be afraid because He said "I will never leave nor forsake you" in every situation, good or bad. We can be of good cheer because we get the privileged of witnessing about Jesus knowing He is with us as we witness.
There is so much written in Scripture about our reasons for not being afraid - "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me" and "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies" and "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." - Psalm 23.
Psalm 91 encourages us that if we dwell in the secret place of the Most High we shall abide under the protecting shadow of the Almighty and "He will deliver us from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence". A "thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you." He promises "No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling for He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways." Now, that's what I call a good insurance policy! Of course, we must abide in the secret place with God. Jesus said "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." - John 15:4. If we follow Jesus and submit to His ways, we will abide in the secret place with God.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Statistics of God's Moving
1/12/10 - magnitude 7.0 earthquake hits Haiti with over 500,000 casualties.
2/27/10 - Chile hit by 8.2 earthquake displacing over 1.5 million people.
4/4/10 - Violence in Mexico results in over 50,000 dead.
4/5/10 - Deadliest mining disaster in US history hits in West Virginia.
4/14/10 - Iceland's Mt. Eyjafjallojokull volcano erupts causing havoc .
4/20/10 - 5 yrs after Katrina, BP oil rig explodes spilling oil into the Gulf.
5/1/10 - Times Square narrowly saved from devastating bomb blast.
5/5/10 - More than 13 inches of rain falls in Nashville causing major flooding.
5/20/10 - In Guatemala's capital, a giant sinkhole swallows many buildings.
7 & 8/10 - Devastating floods hit Pakistan killing 1600.
Nov. through Jan./ 2010 - Australia suffers terrible flooding and loss of life.
12/1/10 - Worst forest fire in Israel's history killing at least 41.
12/31/2010 - Magnetic Pole shifts 40 miles causing air traffic shutdown.
Beginning of 2011 - thousands of birds fall from the sky all over the earth - millions of fish die in divers places - 40,000 crabs was ashore in UK - 10,000 antelope died in Kazakhstan - bees die in record numbers - 1000's of buffalo die in Indonesia - to list just a few of such events.
12/2/2010 - 6.9 earthquake hits New Guinea.
12/17/2010 - 7.2 earthquake on the California/Mexican border.
12/20/2010 - 5.6 earthquake hits El Salvador.
12/21/2010 - 6.2 earthquake hits Sumatra.
12/21/2010 - 7.4 earthquake hits Japan.
12/25/2010 - 7.6 earthquake hits Fiji.
1/2/2011 - 7.1 earthquake hits Chili.
This list could continue right down to the quakes hitting Christ Church New Zealand and Japan, which caused a devastating tsunami, the death toll for which is now over 25,000. This does not consider what might happen from the nuclear meltdowns that may occur.
These events are well documented, and there are more, giving witness to the claim that God is indeed Speaking. If you are a believer in Jesus, I urge you to set your house in order. If you are not, I urge you repent and save yourself while there is yet time - it is short.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
God is Speaking
Jesus said the 'last days' would be as 'the days of Noah', but what were the days of Noah like? Genesis 6 describes them as days filled with violence and every "intent of man's heart was only evil continually". They were filled with demonic manifestations and they celebrated them. They lied to one another, coveted one another's possessions, and delighted in evil. They had a form of religion but no time for God. Jesus described them this way: "For in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away." How do we compare to this?
In America, we are close enough to fitting this description to put the fear of God into all who will look. The courts are overbooked and backlogged with cases about fraud, physical abuse, lying, thievery and murder to name a few. The jails are full and we are having to build bigger ones or invent new ways to handle criminals, such as early release. The entertainment media is filled with violence and an increasing number of movies involve the occult and demonic themes. In most towns there are more bars than grocery stores and divorce and remarriage are destroying our families. And America is one of the few countries left in the world that still has at least a show of Christian morality. In our political parties, Democrat, Republican, and Libertarian, true Christianity is a dirty word. By true Christianity I mean those who believe the Bible and try to practice it. It is now against the law to publicly display the 10 Commandments or talk about Jesus in our public schools. As a nation, we are not far away from the 'days of Noah' condition.
Jesus said, "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near." (Matt. 24:32). We have already witnessed the return of Israel as a nation, as was prophesied, and we are seeing the 'fig tree' blossom, as Jesus predicted. Other signs of His soon return are also happening. As Joel Rosenberg recently wrote -
"The Lord Jesus Christ said that in the last days, "there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven….There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken." (Luke 21:11,25,26) Why? To get our attention. The Apostle Paul wrote, "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." (Romans 8:22, KJV) This will intensify towards the end."
Our news has been filled with these very events of late. God is trying to get out attention with warnings on every level of our senses. "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" (Heb. 3:7) as the rebellious Israelites did in the desert with Moses - and they perished. The war described in Ezekiel 38 and 39 is not far off, in which radical Islam will be destroyed. It will soon be followed by the rise of Antichrist.
Isaiah warns, "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isa. 55:6,7). The Holy Spirit is also warning through King David, "For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him." (Ps. 32:6). Don't be fooled into thinking you'll get right with God later, you may not have the opportunity. As Scripture says, "Today is the day of salvation".
Monday, March 14, 2011
We are preparing to celebrate Passover and it represents the greatest blessing ever experienced by man - the cleansing of all our sins and making a way for us to enter the presence of God by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. But often forgotten is the fact that it came in the midst of great disasters on Egypt: 1) The water turning to blood thus causing the fish to die. Water is a mainstay of life, especially in Egypt and the fish as well. 2) The frogs covering the land, houses, and even their kneading bowls. Imagine your second mainstay of life, bread, being polluted with frogs. 3) Next lice (gnats) covered the land discomforting man and beast. If you have never seen cattle being driven mad by gnats, you cannot fathom the seriousness of this disaster. 4) Flies covered the people and their houses polluting and bringing disease. 5) Another mainstay of life was struck next, their cattle, horses, donkeys, camels, and oxen, on which their entire economy depended. 6) Boils on man and beast came next. All the Egyptian's false gods and magic could not reverse the maddening sickness that infected them. 7) If all this were not enough, hail mingled with fire came next killing any who were left uncovered, both men and beast. 8) Next came the locusts which destroyed every green thing in the land. 9) Then came darkness covering the land. Most do not appreciate the light of the sun until it is gone. Light is the engine of life. 10) Finally, all the firstborn of the Egyptians died. This represents not only the grief of untold numbers of families but also the very existence of the culture. Demographers tell us that if the birthrate of any nation falls below 1.9, it cannot sustain itself. All these disasters came because of an unwillingness to repent and give God glory.
Christ Church Cathedral |
Many don't know that Christ Church New Zealand was hit with two earthquakes just before the Japan event. After the first, a city wide Thanksgiving to God rally was set up, city permits and sound equipment were gathered. Then just before the sponsored event, city church leaders opposed it, shutting it down. They wanted a rock band concert instead, which took over the park set aside for the Thanksgiving rally and the sound equipment gathered for it. The man who had received the idea for the Thanksgiving rally, he says from God, was then told by God to leave New Zealand - and he did. Shortly after, another quake hit Christ Church, even bigger than the first. Every church that had opposed the Thanksgiving rally was severely damaged along with a good portion of the city.
We are entering a time of history which will see God once again actively interacting with mankind; earthquakes, birds dropping from the skies, dead fish washing up on the shores, beast dying mysteriously, tsunamis and volcanoes erupting. All of them are warnings to repent and meet God on His terms - not ours. Israel is back in her land, as God said. The Fig Tree of Jesus' teaching is once again blooming. The Islamic sword led by Gog predicted in Ezekiel 38 is about to fall on Israel. There is not a lot of time. As the writer of Hebrews warns "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." Pharaoh of Egypt made that mistake and he lost the argument with God - so will you.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Who Controls Public Schools?
Who is responsible for this sad state of affairs? Is it the teachers? Yes and no. As I watched the recent demonstrations in Madison, WI over the Governors Budget Repair Bill it became clear to me that teachers who do not practice truthfulness cannot teach it to their pupils. Am I talking about the politics of the issues? No! I'm talking about teachers who deserted their teaching posts, even causing some schools to close for the day and then took sick leave days to cover their absence. There were even doctors available who would issue "sick slips" to those who requested them - and many did. How will they explain to their pupils that cheating is wrong when their actions are displayed on national TV? I'm talking about teachers who carried very visible signs calling Governor Walker "Hitler", or "Nazi" and many other untrue slanders. How will they teach their pupils the value of civil discourse to solve your issues? No, they are teaching instead the rule of the mob as I saw one Republican Representative get surrounded by an angry mob having to be rescued by another Democrat Representative, or as a Fox News reporter was pushed and punched for merely reporting what he was seeing. How will these teachers ever teach the rule of law and proper order to their pupils? They are obviously not teaching our Republican form of government which led to our great nation but the Democracy form which led to the French Revolution.
I asked the question, are the teachers responsible? I answered yes and no because teachers have restrictions placed on them by society that also contribute to this breakdown of society. When you are restricted from saying the homosexual lifestyle is wrong or that divorce is destructive how can the value of strong families be taught. The truth is often half a class room of pupils come from 'broken' or single parent homes and some of the others come from dysfunctional homes as well. They do not have the support of a mother and father so, the teacher has to try and make up for this deficiency even though they really cannot. Drug and alcohol misuse and addiction, gangs and sexual fornication are all family problems that should be handled by the father and mother. Taxpayers pay exorbitant amounts for administrators and counselors who are supposed to help but they often do not, leaving the teacher with a problem they cannot control and us with added tax burden. Then there is the added pressure of government which says the teachings of Christ Jesus must never be heard in the school. The Ten Commandments are banned from public view even though they are the foundation of all our laws. Prayer in school is worse than cursing even though prayer to Almighty God is the only salve that can heal the wounds of Public Education. As President Washington declared in his first inaugural address -
Another source of blame is the American church which has allowed itself to be pushed out of the public arena, even though if one were read sermons from the time of our founding, they would quickly see that the Church was conspicuous in its involvement in political discourse. They do not teach the morality of the family because half their congregation are divorced and they might be offended. Few ever hear sermons preached against sin such as Charles Finney or Jonathan Edwards preached. They alone control the weapon of prayer that might be used to change the Public School situation but do not wield it.
What is the likely outcome of these problems for Public Education? We have allowed the foundational principles which could help to be outlawed from the schools and those few parents who see the problem and want to change it for their children are left with the alternative to home school because their correct understanding of the role religion and morality play in education will not be allowed in the Public School, even though they are forced to pay their taxes to support it. A failed system that has the power of government behind it will always gain support through force. The only hope left to families that care for their children will be to home school them and so pass on to them the values they know work to, " consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes".
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Starting Again
It has been a while since I last posted because of several reasons: 1) I have been involved in beginning a fellowship based on the Biblical principles used by the first church – 1 Cor. 14:26, 2) I have also been learning Facebook and several other programs, and at 74 my learning curve has slowed down, and 3) the political and spiritual conditions of the United States and other countries in the world have increasingly occupied my attention.
Our Fellowship is called Pleasant Valley Christian Fellowship and we meet in a beautiful barn that has been totally rebuilt into a retreat center. There are about 40 of us (men, women, and children). Our goal is to become a functioning church. By that I mean a fellowship that is founded upon the Word of God (that means we try to be faithful to all of it). We do not encourage spectators in the fellowship, although that naturally happens as members learn their gifting's and callings in the Lord. Young people ( about half of the fellowship) actively participate in music, prayer, and Bible reading. In some meetings we have more teaching, in some we have more prayer and sharing, however the Holy Spirit leads. Leaders are becoming recognized. Personal needs are shared and prayed for, dreams and visions are shared and prayed about. We generally take communion each meeting. After the fellowship we share a common meal together in which every one contributes – and enjoys!
We are not striving to become a big church. Rather we are striving to be a body where the Holy Spirit can increase each member in strength and life in Jesus. That usually happens best in smaller groups. We do expect as we grow and share this life in Jesus, we will grow. Then we will have to seek the Lord about what to do next but, I know He already has the answer and He will give it to us when we need it.