Easter is coming soon. You can tell because the Wal-Mart shelves are crammed with toys and baskets and candy, lots of candy, most of it some pastel shade. You can tell because the church signs are in full marketing mode.
We don't practice easter or christmas or any of those other adapted pagan celebrations.
We haven't for some time.
But some of our extended family just doesn't seem to have grokked our rejection of these unholy days.
This is now leading to a moment of decision: a long-time family friend wants to have an "easter" party for our children. He's a decent guy and no doubt he thinks he is doing something nice and fun for them.
What harm can it be? All our children know what easter is about and why we prefer to observe a Passover celebration and focus on the redemption Christ provided during this time. That being the case, how could a few easter eggs and some candy be bad, right?
Besides, if we decline, it will hurt his feelings, and that would be bad, right?
Wrong.
If we go, we will be teaching our children that it OK to compromise, especially if it brings a little pleasure or it helps to maintain a relationship. We teach them to put sense ahead of knowledge and relationship ahead of God.
This is one of those subtle devices the world employs to move you, however slightly, toward the broad and easy road.
Will it hurt our friend to say we can't go, maybe, but it would be more damaging to not stand firm.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Tribulation
One of the comforts of the rapture mythology is that we will be removed from the earth before the really nasty events take place. If you are a Christian in the United States or most other western nations, that idea might be rational, but if you are a believer in China, Sri Lanka, India, an Islamic nation, or nearly any other country, you might see the rapture doctrine differently.
We in the United States, especially, have no idea what persecution or tribulation is like. Court cases about school prayer or the teaching of intelligent design versus evolution or lesbian teenagers attending the prom are not persecution - nor tribulation. What we have experienced in this country up till now are not unwarranted assaults on an innocent people.
The American Church is experiencing the natural outcome of its participation in the synthetic process of politics and human governance.
By surrendering the independence of separation, accepting 501c3 and other non-profit corporate charters, becoming part of the system and adapting the message to the community, the Church has forsaken the spiritual high ground. The Church is compromised.
The corporate organizational structure is satanic.
The Church, by accepting corporate form, has become double-minded and will not be able to stand against what is about to come down upon it.
I noted in 2007 that the election of 2008 would be won by an unknown, dark horse, candidate and that "faith" would be a theme of the election. Earlier this year I also predicted that the health reform bill would pass and I have also predicted that the democrats would not lose power in the mid-terms.
Now, if you have noted the noise coming out of DC, you will have heard the growing accusations of threats, fears and terrorism being levelled against the opponents to the health reform bill. Some of these events are no doubt true, most of them are lies or false flags, many are the overblown reactions of guilty souls who know they did something wrong.
Regardless of the truth or falsity of the claims, they will be used to institute an assault on the Church because Christianity, in the eyes of the secularists, is synonomous with conservative politics. If, as I expect, the democrats survive the mid-terms, the oppression of Christians will increase exponentially.
That is assuming events are not managed so as to allow this administration to delay or cancel the elections.
I cannot promise that coming out of the corporate churches and separating yourself will save you from the looming persecution and tribulation...but I can promise you that if you don't come out now there will be no escape.
We in the United States, especially, have no idea what persecution or tribulation is like. Court cases about school prayer or the teaching of intelligent design versus evolution or lesbian teenagers attending the prom are not persecution - nor tribulation. What we have experienced in this country up till now are not unwarranted assaults on an innocent people.
The American Church is experiencing the natural outcome of its participation in the synthetic process of politics and human governance.
By surrendering the independence of separation, accepting 501c3 and other non-profit corporate charters, becoming part of the system and adapting the message to the community, the Church has forsaken the spiritual high ground. The Church is compromised.
The corporate organizational structure is satanic.
The Church, by accepting corporate form, has become double-minded and will not be able to stand against what is about to come down upon it.
I noted in 2007 that the election of 2008 would be won by an unknown, dark horse, candidate and that "faith" would be a theme of the election. Earlier this year I also predicted that the health reform bill would pass and I have also predicted that the democrats would not lose power in the mid-terms.
Now, if you have noted the noise coming out of DC, you will have heard the growing accusations of threats, fears and terrorism being levelled against the opponents to the health reform bill. Some of these events are no doubt true, most of them are lies or false flags, many are the overblown reactions of guilty souls who know they did something wrong.
Regardless of the truth or falsity of the claims, they will be used to institute an assault on the Church because Christianity, in the eyes of the secularists, is synonomous with conservative politics. If, as I expect, the democrats survive the mid-terms, the oppression of Christians will increase exponentially.
That is assuming events are not managed so as to allow this administration to delay or cancel the elections.
I cannot promise that coming out of the corporate churches and separating yourself will save you from the looming persecution and tribulation...but I can promise you that if you don't come out now there will be no escape.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Burdens
When Jesus said, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" He was not speaking to us on the nature of Christian labor. Jesus was making a promise to us of deliverance.
It is not God who burdens us with the weights of life; it is the world and the master of its hierarchy, the Adversary, that layer upon us unceasing demands for labor, blood and treasure.
In this world all must be bought with a price calculated to be just beyond the boundaries of your ability.
Every man, whether in the lowliest station or at the heights of power, is left wanting, just short of satisfaction. The poor man is beset by a dearth of means and presented the promise of an apparent escape, if only he will give a little more, do a small thing, give up something dear. The man of power is led along the trail of accomplishment with the seeds of pride and the bread of position.
At the end, all proclaim with Solomon "...vanity of vanities, all is vanity."
Jesus promises us nothing here for the world to admire.
There are no men of renown who belong to God - no titans of industry, no giants of the intellect, no paragons of virtue - those all belong to the world and they already have their reward.
God requires simplicity and He returns understanding. God requires trust and He provides sufficiency. God requires weakness and He infuses strength. God requires obedience and He is faith. God requires surrender and He gives us liberty.
If you are tired, broken, lonely, burdened by the world, the escape is Jesus. Give Him everything and He will give you more.
It is not God who burdens us with the weights of life; it is the world and the master of its hierarchy, the Adversary, that layer upon us unceasing demands for labor, blood and treasure.
In this world all must be bought with a price calculated to be just beyond the boundaries of your ability.
Every man, whether in the lowliest station or at the heights of power, is left wanting, just short of satisfaction. The poor man is beset by a dearth of means and presented the promise of an apparent escape, if only he will give a little more, do a small thing, give up something dear. The man of power is led along the trail of accomplishment with the seeds of pride and the bread of position.
At the end, all proclaim with Solomon "...vanity of vanities, all is vanity."
Jesus promises us nothing here for the world to admire.
There are no men of renown who belong to God - no titans of industry, no giants of the intellect, no paragons of virtue - those all belong to the world and they already have their reward.
God requires simplicity and He returns understanding. God requires trust and He provides sufficiency. God requires weakness and He infuses strength. God requires obedience and He is faith. God requires surrender and He gives us liberty.
If you are tired, broken, lonely, burdened by the world, the escape is Jesus. Give Him everything and He will give you more.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Another Government Post
Tracking the events of the health-care summit yesterday brought many thoughts to my mind, but most of all I wondered just how anyone who watched or listened could ever believe that those dilectical schemers had any intention of reforming anything.
Universal health care is a fantasy; universal health care regulated, managed or provided by a government is a stop-action nightmare.
Insurance is immoral. Expecting someone else to subsidize your insurance is to actively participate in theft.
Please, please, please, please understand this, if nothing else, none of the existing propositions, on either side, will enhance the quality of medical care in this country and, in fact, will decrease the availabilty, quality and affordability. If passed, a black market will develop which will widen the gap between the haves and have-nots.
In order to understand why this legislation is so important to the powers in DC, you must first understand who they work for - and I don't mean the CFR, the Illuminati, Committee of 300, or any other suspect organization - I mean the power which sits above even them and controls them and to whom they pledge fealty.
Yes, you guessed it: Satan and his co-conspirators.
Just in case I am not being clear, the US federal government is not a godly goverment..nor should they be expected to be.
This government, all governments in this present age, are not part of the Kingdom of Heaven.
So let's all get busy and change it, right!
Change it to what, may I ask?
In order to change the system, you must join the system, and to join the system you must pay the price. Can you afford that price?
On top of the cost, if you are truly one of the elect, they will take your payment and then destroy you anyway.
What those of us who desire to be in the Kingdom of Heaven have to realize that we cannot participate in the kingdom of hell and succeed. Why would you want to? The world system is nothing but an illusion. Success inside the system is a deception.
But there is a deeper issue, far deeper.
Who you look to for your provision is your god. If the state provides you medical care, i.e., is perceived to preserve life, then it is your god.
We are not to look to anyone but God for life.
It is a time for choice.
Universal health care is a fantasy; universal health care regulated, managed or provided by a government is a stop-action nightmare.
Insurance is immoral. Expecting someone else to subsidize your insurance is to actively participate in theft.
Please, please, please, please understand this, if nothing else, none of the existing propositions, on either side, will enhance the quality of medical care in this country and, in fact, will decrease the availabilty, quality and affordability. If passed, a black market will develop which will widen the gap between the haves and have-nots.
In order to understand why this legislation is so important to the powers in DC, you must first understand who they work for - and I don't mean the CFR, the Illuminati, Committee of 300, or any other suspect organization - I mean the power which sits above even them and controls them and to whom they pledge fealty.
Yes, you guessed it: Satan and his co-conspirators.
Just in case I am not being clear, the US federal government is not a godly goverment..nor should they be expected to be.
This government, all governments in this present age, are not part of the Kingdom of Heaven.
So let's all get busy and change it, right!
Change it to what, may I ask?
In order to change the system, you must join the system, and to join the system you must pay the price. Can you afford that price?
On top of the cost, if you are truly one of the elect, they will take your payment and then destroy you anyway.
What those of us who desire to be in the Kingdom of Heaven have to realize that we cannot participate in the kingdom of hell and succeed. Why would you want to? The world system is nothing but an illusion. Success inside the system is a deception.
But there is a deeper issue, far deeper.
Who you look to for your provision is your god. If the state provides you medical care, i.e., is perceived to preserve life, then it is your god.
We are not to look to anyone but God for life.
It is a time for choice.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Government
When I began to write this essay I had an idea in mind to survey the scripture for guidance on the construction of a God-approved earthly political system.
Personally, I have made a long and fitful journey from mainstream political programming to this point where my political philosophy lies somewhere on one side or the other of the blurry line between radical libertarianism and anarchy.
I confess, I hoped my exploration would lend support to my aversion to any kind of non-voluntary organization.
It is often said that government is, at best, a necessary evil. It seems to me, however, that the amount of government (evil) considered necessary, and the extent of the power it should be granted to enforce its policies depends on the perception of personal gain to be had from supporting the state.
In my mind, the insinuation of evil into any people, regardless of intentions or purposes, will still produce evil.
I still wish to explore what the Bible has to say about governmental structure, but I feel it necessary to expand the question to include how the individual believer is supposed to interact, or not interact, with the world outside the Church.
When I was much younger I was completely co-opted into operating within the system, captured by the idea that I could conform and work from inside and still retain my spiritual standing.
I don't believe that anymore.
In fact, I do not believe that there is any political system which meets God's standards - except the one He has already implemented in the heavenly realms - just as there no scripturally acceptable economic theory for the national government.
So I admit to coming to this examination with preconceptions - I will try not to allow these predispisitions and opinions to color my analysis of what I discover and will try to adapt to what is learned instead.
So here we go, beginning at the beginning and following the trails as they develop.
Hope I can stick with it...and I hope there will be some input from outside to instigate and question.
Personally, I have made a long and fitful journey from mainstream political programming to this point where my political philosophy lies somewhere on one side or the other of the blurry line between radical libertarianism and anarchy.
I confess, I hoped my exploration would lend support to my aversion to any kind of non-voluntary organization.
It is often said that government is, at best, a necessary evil. It seems to me, however, that the amount of government (evil) considered necessary, and the extent of the power it should be granted to enforce its policies depends on the perception of personal gain to be had from supporting the state.
In my mind, the insinuation of evil into any people, regardless of intentions or purposes, will still produce evil.
I still wish to explore what the Bible has to say about governmental structure, but I feel it necessary to expand the question to include how the individual believer is supposed to interact, or not interact, with the world outside the Church.
When I was much younger I was completely co-opted into operating within the system, captured by the idea that I could conform and work from inside and still retain my spiritual standing.
I don't believe that anymore.
In fact, I do not believe that there is any political system which meets God's standards - except the one He has already implemented in the heavenly realms - just as there no scripturally acceptable economic theory for the national government.
So I admit to coming to this examination with preconceptions - I will try not to allow these predispisitions and opinions to color my analysis of what I discover and will try to adapt to what is learned instead.
So here we go, beginning at the beginning and following the trails as they develop.
Hope I can stick with it...and I hope there will be some input from outside to instigate and question.
Friday, December 25, 2009
2010
There is little doubt that 2009 was a year filled with dreadful events - but so was 2008 and 2007 and 2001 and 1941 and well, you get the point. Death, mendacity and tyranny were the modus operandi of everyone from the politicians to the corporations to the religious establishment. What was most shocking this year to me was how naked and open evil has become; there was no attempt by the enemy to disguise his intents or for his henchmen to finesse their plots through to fruition. Evil was bold and unfettered as if it expected no opposition of any consequence.
As the secular calendar turns the page to a new year, it seems as if there may be some who are persuaded that there is reason to believe that the road to serfdom we are marching down can be blocked and that we can be returned back to the rightful path.
I wish I could agree.
Frankly, I don't see the efforts of the so-called patriot movement and the mainstream political opposition have accomplished any more than providing a false sense of empowerment to the people involved. They are doing the same things they have been doing since I came out of the TV stupor and began to understand where the real battle was and to recognize the false paradigms imposed on the world. The alarms are sounded, everyone scurries around, guns are sold, food is hoarded, gold and silver become scarce commodities, fear gives way to panic and then...nothing happens and it starts all over again the next week.
So, what is going to happen during the next 12 months?
The Health-care usurpation is still on track. Carbon regulation is about to take place by fiat rather than legislation. The state will soon actually, legally, take control over life and death and place it in the hands of bureaucrats whose only interest is to maintain their job, not solve problems.
Will the democrats be run out of office and replaced with republicans? Will the President declare martial law? Are we all getting bar codes?
Frankly, I don't see much changing.
Health-care will more than likely become law - and it will be a disaster. Yet I see the democrats retaining power because the real effects won't be felt until well after the election.
Don't be surprised if there are several million newly registered voters to make certain that happens as, by law or fiat, many currently illegal migrants are made citizens.
Journalism will still suck, but some of those who believed in the hope and change are becoming disillusioned and there will be some prominent defections this year.
Global warming and/or climate change will fall from favor and carbon taxes will start to take a back seat to other issues: inflation, fuel shortages, more terror (by someone) short credit, higher unemployment, a second wave of real estate failures, regional strife and the political battles moving to the local level and not in a peaceful way.
There's no better time for the believer to disengage from the system as much as possible.
What do you see for the coming months?
As the secular calendar turns the page to a new year, it seems as if there may be some who are persuaded that there is reason to believe that the road to serfdom we are marching down can be blocked and that we can be returned back to the rightful path.
I wish I could agree.
Frankly, I don't see the efforts of the so-called patriot movement and the mainstream political opposition have accomplished any more than providing a false sense of empowerment to the people involved. They are doing the same things they have been doing since I came out of the TV stupor and began to understand where the real battle was and to recognize the false paradigms imposed on the world. The alarms are sounded, everyone scurries around, guns are sold, food is hoarded, gold and silver become scarce commodities, fear gives way to panic and then...nothing happens and it starts all over again the next week.
So, what is going to happen during the next 12 months?
The Health-care usurpation is still on track. Carbon regulation is about to take place by fiat rather than legislation. The state will soon actually, legally, take control over life and death and place it in the hands of bureaucrats whose only interest is to maintain their job, not solve problems.
Will the democrats be run out of office and replaced with republicans? Will the President declare martial law? Are we all getting bar codes?
Frankly, I don't see much changing.
Health-care will more than likely become law - and it will be a disaster. Yet I see the democrats retaining power because the real effects won't be felt until well after the election.
Don't be surprised if there are several million newly registered voters to make certain that happens as, by law or fiat, many currently illegal migrants are made citizens.
Journalism will still suck, but some of those who believed in the hope and change are becoming disillusioned and there will be some prominent defections this year.
Global warming and/or climate change will fall from favor and carbon taxes will start to take a back seat to other issues: inflation, fuel shortages, more terror (by someone) short credit, higher unemployment, a second wave of real estate failures, regional strife and the political battles moving to the local level and not in a peaceful way.
There's no better time for the believer to disengage from the system as much as possible.
What do you see for the coming months?
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Sorting It Out
I come from a long line of ordinary people - common folk - from among those who conform to the world because that is what you do. You conform and hope that with some sweat and toil, with yes sir and yes ma'am, giving it all up, that everything will work out. The American dream can be had if you only do it right.
There was just one small issue: I couldn't do it. I really tried! Really I did! But there was nothing in the world, at least the ordinary world, that attracted me.
Don't take that the wrong way. I'm not saying I wasn't attracted to worldly things...pretty women, exotic ideas, mind-alteration - big things, weird things.
All I knew then was that I couldn't do what I saw everybody else doing, the way they did it, for the reasons they had.
And most of my life I have paid for it.
For years and years I was convinced that my problem was that I was lazy, or rebellious, or, sometimes, stupid. I'm still not sure that there isn't some truth there. But I find that when I start to work on something that is interesting or that I enjoy or important to me, I can work hard and long and well.
Rarely, however, do I find that what I want to do coincide with what I know the world deems to be important.
I am very dysfunctional in the ordinary world.
So the question before me is one of sorting out priorities - separating responsibilities from conformities, desires ffrom needs, right from wrong.
I am not even sure how to go about that, well, perhaps I really know, but I am finding distractions to keep me from the really hard work - the work of turning away from the world and turning to God.
The full truth is that I am sitting on the proverbial fence...and I despise myself for doing that.
What I really need to do is throw everything at the feet of Jesus and wait for Him to tell me what to pick up and work on.
Can I do that?
I don't know, but I think it is a matter of life or death.
There was just one small issue: I couldn't do it. I really tried! Really I did! But there was nothing in the world, at least the ordinary world, that attracted me.
Don't take that the wrong way. I'm not saying I wasn't attracted to worldly things...pretty women, exotic ideas, mind-alteration - big things, weird things.
All I knew then was that I couldn't do what I saw everybody else doing, the way they did it, for the reasons they had.
And most of my life I have paid for it.
For years and years I was convinced that my problem was that I was lazy, or rebellious, or, sometimes, stupid. I'm still not sure that there isn't some truth there. But I find that when I start to work on something that is interesting or that I enjoy or important to me, I can work hard and long and well.
Rarely, however, do I find that what I want to do coincide with what I know the world deems to be important.
I am very dysfunctional in the ordinary world.
So the question before me is one of sorting out priorities - separating responsibilities from conformities, desires ffrom needs, right from wrong.
I am not even sure how to go about that, well, perhaps I really know, but I am finding distractions to keep me from the really hard work - the work of turning away from the world and turning to God.
The full truth is that I am sitting on the proverbial fence...and I despise myself for doing that.
What I really need to do is throw everything at the feet of Jesus and wait for Him to tell me what to pick up and work on.
Can I do that?
I don't know, but I think it is a matter of life or death.
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