Don't get me wrong, but there are some days when I look out on the events of the moment and I am certain I have it all figured out...then 15 minutes later something, or someone, comes along so profound, so transcendent that I am knocked off my self-constructed pedestal and put back in my place.
Pride and humility are both deceptive. Pride blocks communication and learning. Pride leads to misuse of friends and family. Pride is what causes people to calls themselves little gods, believe they can do what others can't, and refer to themselves in the third person.
Jesus, in word and deed, calls us to humility.
The deception in humility is in recognizing true humility and false humility.
To quote Dirty Harry: "A man's got to know his limitations." A succinct definition of humility.
Humility is not self-abasement - this is not being humble but is an excuse to avoid effort and responsibility. If you are called to teach, evangelize, write or to a place of leadership or public presence, it is not humility to demur - it is disobedience - and if you are led to such work, to be obedient, even if it seems otherwise, is not prideful.
On the other hand are those who pretend humbleness as a facade over pride. Their end is no different than any other liar.
Humility is doing what is required, in obedience, when required and knowing for whom we work. Constant reliance on the leading of the Spirit is the way to navigate that narrow path between pride and false humility.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Government and Authority - Rough Draft Part 1
In the beginning God created...and what He created was created for His pleasure. The entirety of creation was created by God for His use. Whatever is created for the use of the creator is owned by the creator. Therefore, all of creation is the property of God without limitation or restriction.
As the possessor of creation, God retains authority over it in entirety. God may delegate authority to subordinates (created entities) and if those subordinates act within the boundaries of the delegated authority then their exercise of that authority is legitimate and may not be challenged or opposed without challenge and opposition to God's authority. The delegation of authority includes the extent of that authority, the responsibilities of the delegee, and the universe subject to the authority.
If the subordinate fails to properly exercise the assigned authority he forfeits that authority.
A subordinate who assumes authority which has not been delegated to him is a usurper and is illegitimate.
Residents of the universe subject to delegated authority are as bound to recognize that authority as they are the authority of the creator. Conversely, the same residents are not obligated to recognize illegitimate authority and are, in fact, required not to acknowledge illegitimate use of authority.
All creations of God have been assigned specific authority. All creations of God recognize His authority; not all creations accept God's authority.
All legitimate authority is derived from this delegation.
As the possessor of creation, God retains authority over it in entirety. God may delegate authority to subordinates (created entities) and if those subordinates act within the boundaries of the delegated authority then their exercise of that authority is legitimate and may not be challenged or opposed without challenge and opposition to God's authority. The delegation of authority includes the extent of that authority, the responsibilities of the delegee, and the universe subject to the authority.
If the subordinate fails to properly exercise the assigned authority he forfeits that authority.
A subordinate who assumes authority which has not been delegated to him is a usurper and is illegitimate.
Residents of the universe subject to delegated authority are as bound to recognize that authority as they are the authority of the creator. Conversely, the same residents are not obligated to recognize illegitimate authority and are, in fact, required not to acknowledge illegitimate use of authority.
All creations of God have been assigned specific authority. All creations of God recognize His authority; not all creations accept God's authority.
All legitimate authority is derived from this delegation.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Some Advice to Immigrants
Americans think they are free men living in a nation with a tradition of upholding liberty. Unfortunately the freedom is illusory and the institutional liberty is a fable.
We are servants of the state - slaves if you will. We have to be licensed to travel, to marry, to trade, to work and to defend ourselves. We rent our property from the state, pay taxes on income we never received and register our children with the state.
There are some living on this land who are free...if they choose to be: the so-called illegal immigrants.
Those who have migrated here without using the system have the most liberty of anyone anywhere in America.
Of course I am aware that there are many horror stories about the exploitation of some of these good people: sweat shops; dishonest smugglers; forced prostitution and more. These are horrific events and those who are victimized by the evil ones deserve our prayers and assistance.
The vast majority who come here sans documentation, however, are not in these circumstances (nor are they gang members, reconquistas or welfare cheats). The greater majority are people just like us who want to have a home, a family and a decent life.
But they have an advantage we don't have: they are outside the matrix.
Recently there has been talk about an amnesty for the millions who are here without benefit of the the immigration system and it is this talk which is prompting my advice.
DON'T DO IT!! Don't let them put you in the system.
Stay free.
Don't register your children. Don't sign up for benefits. Don't get a social security number. Work for cash; pay in cash. Don't take the citizenship.
Preserve your liberty and reject their offer to become like the rest of us here.
We are servants of the state - slaves if you will. We have to be licensed to travel, to marry, to trade, to work and to defend ourselves. We rent our property from the state, pay taxes on income we never received and register our children with the state.
There are some living on this land who are free...if they choose to be: the so-called illegal immigrants.
Those who have migrated here without using the system have the most liberty of anyone anywhere in America.
Of course I am aware that there are many horror stories about the exploitation of some of these good people: sweat shops; dishonest smugglers; forced prostitution and more. These are horrific events and those who are victimized by the evil ones deserve our prayers and assistance.
The vast majority who come here sans documentation, however, are not in these circumstances (nor are they gang members, reconquistas or welfare cheats). The greater majority are people just like us who want to have a home, a family and a decent life.
But they have an advantage we don't have: they are outside the matrix.
Recently there has been talk about an amnesty for the millions who are here without benefit of the the immigration system and it is this talk which is prompting my advice.
DON'T DO IT!! Don't let them put you in the system.
Stay free.
Don't register your children. Don't sign up for benefits. Don't get a social security number. Work for cash; pay in cash. Don't take the citizenship.
Preserve your liberty and reject their offer to become like the rest of us here.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Changing Weather
If you thought the revelation of just how sold out to the world climate scientists are, how they put money, fame and religion ahead of truth and objectivity, would put a damper on the push to regulate your breathing habits - you were wrong. Congress is going to put a carbon tax bill through. Oh, they won't call it that and it will be sold as only affecting a few companies or people who need taken down a peg anyway, but that won't be true. As always those with the leastest pockets will wind up paying the tab.
Personally I never found any anything compelling about the global warming hypothesis just like I rejected the global cooling and overpopulation hype in the Seventies. I'm pretty sure the repeated and rotating scare memes are a cause of my disenchantment with socialist philosophy.
By the way, where are all those global cooling, overpopulation experts...oh yeah, they are the senior statesmen of the global warming faith. Wow, that should probably tell me something.
What I do accept as fact, however, is global climate change. I don't mean the change of seasons either. That there are strange events occuring is beyond question. What does happen, rather than tending toward the mean as I would expect, seem to be deviating more and more often toward the extremes. Hot times are hotter, cold times are colder, storms stronger, droughts longer, typical weather for the season is less frequent, even the moderate days are out of place (though not always unwelcome).
This is just the weather. The same trends are notable in other events: earthquakes, volcanos, politics, culture, etc.
Add it all up it sums to a lot of changes and strangeness - all of it caused by man.
Yes, you read that right, I blame all of the climate changes on us - not in the sense that the defenders of Gaia do because nothing man does to the material earth has any permanent effect.
There are higher order effects, though, that have little to do with slash and burn, carbon output or nuclear reactors. Here is where they began:
17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Genesis 3:17-19.
And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. Luke 21:11
There can be no doubt: the gyrations of weather and climate were caused by man.
Jesus told us more than just the coming of unusual weather, he warned us how it would be used, what would happen to us, and our hope for the future.
21:7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Personally I never found any anything compelling about the global warming hypothesis just like I rejected the global cooling and overpopulation hype in the Seventies. I'm pretty sure the repeated and rotating scare memes are a cause of my disenchantment with socialist philosophy.
By the way, where are all those global cooling, overpopulation experts...oh yeah, they are the senior statesmen of the global warming faith. Wow, that should probably tell me something.
What I do accept as fact, however, is global climate change. I don't mean the change of seasons either. That there are strange events occuring is beyond question. What does happen, rather than tending toward the mean as I would expect, seem to be deviating more and more often toward the extremes. Hot times are hotter, cold times are colder, storms stronger, droughts longer, typical weather for the season is less frequent, even the moderate days are out of place (though not always unwelcome).
This is just the weather. The same trends are notable in other events: earthquakes, volcanos, politics, culture, etc.
Add it all up it sums to a lot of changes and strangeness - all of it caused by man.
Yes, you read that right, I blame all of the climate changes on us - not in the sense that the defenders of Gaia do because nothing man does to the material earth has any permanent effect.
There are higher order effects, though, that have little to do with slash and burn, carbon output or nuclear reactors. Here is where they began:
17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Genesis 3:17-19.
And the result:
"We know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."—Romans 8:22-23.
We are housed in a body of death. We live in a dying world. Is it any wonder that the same decay and deterioration which we are subject to as individual persons also plagues our planet?
So when Jesus says in Luke:
And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. Luke 21:11
There can be no doubt: the gyrations of weather and climate were caused by man.
Jesus told us more than just the coming of unusual weather, he warned us how it would be used, what would happen to us, and our hope for the future.
21:7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Relationship
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.
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.
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.
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