Terror to Triumph – Part 10

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

Matthew 15:6 “You nullify the Word of God for the sake of your tradition.”

 

It was during this time (medieval age) that tradition began to set in. Three things come out that I think are important. First, we have the commands of the Lord. When it comes to these commands this is not something we debate, but simply obey.

 

Secondly, we have the commands of the apostles. Again these are things that we are to take seriously, but they are not in the same category as the commands of the Lord. For example, the early church, under the direction of the Apostles did something that has not really been repeated since: Acts 4:34-35 “There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.”

 

Thirdly, what we have coming in is that a congregation will set up some rules or regulations that they agree to be governed by. Again, there is nothing wrong with this, but what happens is that number three begins to take on the importance of number one and soon number one fades out. Isn’t this what happened in Jesus’ days when He rebukes the Pharisees and teachers of the Law when He said that they nullify the Word of God for the sake of their tradition?

 

Author Rodney Stark, when he was being interviewed by World Magazine, said that the growth of Christianity from its start to the time of Constantine was about 3.4 percent a year. This means that at this rate of growth almost 50 percent of the Roman Empire would have been Christian by the year 350.

 

One other aspect of this growth was the importance of women. Christian women enjoyed many advantages compared with pagan women and the early congregations were quite disproportionately women and they in turn saw their husbands, sons and brothers converted.

 

Constantine made Christianity the official religion, lavished it with financial support and ended the persecutions, but the results were quite disastrous. Before Constantine made Christianity the official state religion – to take on the mantle of being a Christian they faced serious risks and made real sacrifices that their commitment demanded of them, but now it was different.

 

During this period church officials were among the ruling elite and so the sons of the rich and powerful rushed into the clergy and soon holiness was a thing of the past. The church became lazy and soon tradition set in and the commands of Christ became a thing of the past.

 

According to Stark, medieval Europe was very irreligious. He went on to say that people today point to the huge and splendid cathedrals built during this time and that they reflected the great regard that the common people had for the church. But, like Stark said, look at all of the splendid castles and palaces built during this same period. Does this mean that the common people had a great regard for the nobility? They did not have great respect, because both the palaces and cathedrals were squeezed out of the peasants at a great price.

 

However, there were some bright spots during this time.

 

1. The final dissolution of heathenism in the eastern empire may be dated from the middle of the fifth century. In the year 435 Theodosius II commanded the temples to be destroyed or turned into churches. In the West, heathenism maintained itself until near the middle of the sixth century.

 

2. The literary triumph of Christianity. In the first three centuries Christians confessed their faith in the midst of suffering and death. Now they had to come up against hypocrisy, selfishness, ambition, intolerance, the charge of catering to the ruling class, etc. Apologists like Augustine came to the forefront (City of God) as Schaff’s, History of the Church said: “The City of God is the most powerful, comprehensive, profound, and fertile production in refutation of heathenism and vindication of Christianity, which the ancient church has bequeathed to us, and forms a worthy close to her literary contest with Graeco-Roman paganism. It is a grand funeral discourse upon the departing universal empire of heathenism, and a lofty salutation to the approaching universal order of Christianity.”

 

What is important for us to see that in the midst of all the turbulence we see that the Kingdom of God is continuing on.
 

The Living Word of God

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

In the Word of God this morning the Lord showed me something about why our nation has been experiencing so many unmatched disasters and rapid increasing tragedies.  Here’s the passage in Scripture He used:

 

“The Levites are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the covenant law so that My wrath will not fall on the Israelite community.”  Numbers 1:53

 

In America we have far too many priests and pastors no longer upholding the Word of God, by teaching the whole truth, and therefore all the people under them have a form of godliness (self-righteousness) yet denying the Holy Spirit power for real change; they are sheep without true shepherds of God.

 

The Levite men, of the tribe of Levi, one of Jacob’s 12 sons/tribes, were appointed by God to carry with them the “covenant law” from place to place as God led them through the desert to the Promised Land to possess so that what God told them (written down), would be carried out fully so that God’s wrath would not come upon the community of His people.

 

While the Lord’s ‘freed’ slaves were in the desert waiting for Moses to come down from the mountain with God – God gave Moses His Law: The Ten Commandments.  God told Moses to tell the people: “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now if you fully obey and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”  Then Moses came down the mountain with the Ten Commandments and many other instructions (Exodus chapters 20-31) for the people to live by for their good.

 

Moses received the two stone tablets with the Ten Commandments twice, because the first time as Moses came down from the mountain with it – all God’s people were immorally celebrating the golden calf they had formed with all the gold they brought with them from Egypt and with Aaron’s help, Moses’ priestly brother. Moses and Aaron were from the tribe of Levi, the priestly tribe of Levites.

 

God saw their idolatrous celebration as Moses was with Him on the mountain and God was ready to strike them all dead for disobeying God and Moses: “I have seen these people, they are a stiff-necked people. Now leave Me along so that My anger may burn against them. Then I will make you (Moses) into a great nation.” But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “Lord, why should your anger burn against Your people, whom You brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth?’ Turn from Your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on Your people. Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom You swore by Your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’ Then the Lord God relented and did not bring on His people the disaster He had threatened.”  (Exodus 32:9-14) Moses came down with the first stone tablets and threw them on the ground in front of them symbolizing how the people had already so quickly left the God who had delivered them with so many amazing miracles.

 

Moses then said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” All the ‘Levites’ rallied to him.  And all those who didn’t, were killed by the Levites, as instructed to do. (The yeast of wickedness spreads and must be removed.)  Three thousand died that day for rebelling against God and His servant Moses. After God showed Moses He placed in the cleft of a rock “His glory” by passing by Moses, showing him His back, Moses was now filled with all the confidence he needed to finish his purpose, for the Lord said to him: “ I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you Moses, and I will proclaim My Name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” (Exodus 33:19-20)

 

Moses then chiseled out two new stone tablets with God’s Ten Commandments and pleaded for the Lord to go with them to finish the journey to the Promised Land, after God said He wouldn’t because they are too stiff-necked, repeating their unbelief – tempting God to strike them dead. But the Lord honored Moses’ faith and said, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you Moses and I know you by name.” (Exodus 33:17)

 

Moses had this honor from God because Moses, a Levite, obeyed the Word of the Lord telling him what to do, but not without a personal struggle all along the way. And so we are also to obey and not deny God’s Word, but rather uphold all that Jesus Christ has told us to do in His name and for His heavenly Kingdom, our Promised Land. He’s given us His Holy Spirit so we can overcome every hindrance along the way: our flesh, the world and the devil always at us.

 

Are you a true Levite? You don’t have to be a Jew you know. The Gentiles who believe and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ from every race, tribe and peoples – have been grafted into the faith of Abraham for the “reward of faith” in following the Lord to the end of our time on earth.  God, through Moses, said of the tribe of Levi:

 

“Your Thummin and Urim belong to him. (Thummin and Urim = decision making, judgments and wisdom from God.) I tested the Levites at Massah; I contended with them at the waters of Meribah. Levi said of his own father and mother, ‘I have no regard for them.’ He did not recognize his brothers or acknowledge his own children, but he watched over My Word and guarded My covenant. He teaches My precepts and laws to the people. He obeys all My instructions for My people’s well-being and future inheritance. Therefore, I bless all his skills and I will be pleased with the work of his hands. I will strike down those who rise against him, till his foes rise no more.”  Deuteronomy 33: 8-11

 

Many years ago, when our children were still living at home, the Lord said to me that I was a “true Levite priest,” and I thought “I’m neither a man nor a Jew Lord!” Then He showed me it is because of my love and honor for God’s Word, faithful in daily reading, studying, teaching, and in judging everything by it, and along with their father, in holding our children accountable to what God tells us as a family. AND, in not allowing my mother or father any longer be the voice I listen to, and obey in what I’m to do with my life in Christ. Honor your father and mother YES! But never let your parents take the Lord’s place.

 

The Lord has told His ‘faithful’ church that we will be a “kingdom of priests” unto our God, but note that it’s only those who walk by faith in God’s Word – to the very end of my life on earth.

 

“Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying:

 

‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”  Revelation 5:6-10

 

In America, God’s Word is under severe attack, and far too many pastors are caving in to fear of what they will lose or suffer if they speak the truth and teach the whole Word of God, no matter who it angers or offends, because while most are angered or offended, a few will be reached and saved by faith in their Savior.

 

In the Lord’s letter to the ‘faithful’ church of Philadelphia He tells them how He will “keep them from that hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to TEST the inhabitants of the earth.” (Revelation 3: 7-13) The Lord commends them for NOT denying the Name of the Lord and for holding to His Word, and tells them what they will receive from Him for their faithfulness, and they will called “New Jerusalem” the Lord’s bride coming down from heaven at the end of the Lord’s reign on earth, making all things new and ready for eternity.

 

Keep On

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

When we understand the times we live in, it should cause us to pray. Remember that the armor mentioned in Ephesians 6 – must be used in the battle, if not for the battle what good is it?

 

The battle is prayer. If I have a battle coming, who would I want to go with me? The one whose armor is shiny with no dents, or the one who has armor is beat up with dents and with blood on his sword? Prayer is a mighty movement of my soul towards God. It is a stirring of my deepest forces toward Him. When I wrestle in prayer, I will come into His will. Then He will either bless me or give me the strength to do what He has asked me to do. Either way He will be with me; to hold on to, press on with, and even wait for – wait for Him to act first.

 

Restless desire, restful patience and strength are all embraced in prayer. Prayer is not an incident, or a performance, but a passion of my soul. Prayer is not a want, but a sheer necessity. If we are men and women of prayer, there is no limit to what He can accomplish through us.

 

If you pray you will not lose heart. So keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for by faith. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you? The key that will unlock the door is to “KEEP ON!”

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.

 

One other lesson that we can learn during this period is that we need to be intellectually ready to give a reason for the hope that is within us. When the barbarians came and the church was being wiped out in the Middle East and North Africa – this is what was needed.

 

It is said that history repeats itself. Also, it is said that the one thing that we have learned from history is that we do not learn. When we look back in history do we see any difference with what was happening then and what is taking place in our society today? I don’t think so.

 

For example, in his book RELIGION OF PEACE Robert Spencer brings out the following: “The ‘war on terror’ is an ideological conflict – one of which Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, atheists, secular Muslims, and others have a stake. But on that ideological front, the West is being notably deficient. And this is due, in no small part, not only to a lack of cultural self-confidence, but also to a sense that Christianity – upon which Western civilization is largely based – and Islam are at best morally equivalent. In the view of many left – liberal leaders, Christianity itself, or religion in general, is the real problem.”

 

Throughout history the early church faced “a war on terror.” Robert Spencer goes on to say: “If it is widely recognized, however, that the war on terror is in fact a struggle against an Islamic Jihad that would conquer and subjugate Western non – Muslims, and which is well on its way to doing so in Europe, and Western countries face a choice. They can acquiesce to the demands of their Muslim populations and, little by little, adopt provisions of Islamic sharia law until the Islamic social order is fully implemented. Or, they can choose to stand up for Judeo – Christian values and defend them against the ideological challenge of Jihad and Sharia Law.”

 

A question that comes to my mind is: Isn’t this what took place during the rise of Islam that began to spread through the Middle East and North Africa where the church had been planted, but was slowly beginning to disappear? They can ‘acquiesce to the demands of their Muslim populations and, little by little, adopt provisions of Islamic sharia law until the Islamic social order is fully implemented.’ We see this taking place in the West even today in countries like Great Britain, Germany, France and Sweden.

 

World Magazine interviewed author Rodney Stark about Islam and asked him the question: Why did the Muslims gain military victory with such ease during the seventh century? His response was: “They were very well-organized and led, and they were highly mobile (everyone rode on a camel and then dismounted to fight). In addition, they were opposed by fortress garrison troops who were poorly suited to fight battles of maneuver. Eventually, the Muslim invaders ran into quality Christian forces at Tours (Poitiers) and were routed. From then on the Muslim tide began to ebb. Christians soon began to retake Spain, then Sicily and Southern Italy, so that they were liberated.” However, it would be safe to say that there was no mass conversion to Islam. It took almost two centuries despite the immense financial and social benefits of converting.

 

It seems that the argument that Satan uses quite often is the argument of moral equivalency. In our Western world today (and it would seem the same in the Medieval Age as well) that we have modern liberals who would claim that there is no difference between the radical ideology of the Islamic Jihadist and the fundamental Christian today.

 

After September 11, 2001 very few in power would even suggest that Islam was the problem and that Christianity might be the answer. They saw the Islamist imposing Islam on their society, but the Christians doing the same thing and the latter posing a more serious threat. The modern liberal saw the Taliban beheading the people, but so would the Christians if they got the chance, according to their thinking.

 

Robert Spencer said: “It is a common assumption among many left – liberals in the West that Christian and Muslim extremist, radicals, or fundamentalists are two sides of the same coin.”

 

But is there a difference between Christians and Muslims? “When a tsunami devastated Muslim Indonesia and other South Asian countries in 2004, Western states pledged millions. The United States sent $950 million, Great Britain almost 800 million, Germany over 670 million, Canada of 400 million, France about 300 million, Norway 175 million and so on. The European Union also kicked in $628 million aside from the individual contribution of its member states, making Europe’s contribution two billion. The West contributions weren’t merely financial; the United States and Australia Armed Forces were the first responders to bring aid to people in need. This Western generosity, however, has gone largely unnoticed. What of oil rich Muslim nations? Qatar sent $25 million. After criticism of their initial paltry responses, Saudi Arabia sent 300 million, Kuwait 100 million, and the United Emirates 20 million.” (Quote from the book Religion of Peace)

 

What comes out to me is that we can learn from this period of history so that we need to know what we believe and be able to articulate it well. The more I look at history and the spread of the Kingdom of God the more I see that Jesus Christ is the answer and that the love of God conquers all; it never fails. Paul said: And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak.” 2 Corinthians 4:13 Do we believe that Christ is the way, the truth and the life? If so, we too will speak.

 

 

Who Did Jesus Call a Hypocrite?

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

In God’s Word this morning I read how and why Jesus called Israel’s governing leaders “hypocrites.” He called them hypocrites for many things they did, but in this case, it was for something that made me think of how our government has l-o-n-g been doing the same thing.

 

The Pharisees and Teachers of the Law (the government of Israel then) taught and instructed the people that to devote their wealth to God (give to them rather) what could be used personally to help support their own mother and father – was, according to Jesus, not honorable at all, not godly, not what God had said, but rather all about their own “human rules and human traditions.” Or, in our time, with our governing leaders: “government rules and traditional politics,” with their outrageous taxation so they can do what they want with OUR hard earned money. Jesus went on to say of these hypocritical governing leaders that:

 

“These people honor Me with the lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules. You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” Mark 7:6-13

 

I’m sickened by hearing Hillary Clinton, James Comey, Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, Chuck Schumer and all the other self-righteous politicians who use God’s Word to support what they’re doing that is so clearly very wrong and immoral, and not at all what God has said ‘in His Word’ that a government should do.

 

God put in office, this last presidential election, a man who feels like WE feel: fed up with a greedy, corrupt, incompetent, self-righteous, mismanaging, self-serving government! Like Jesus said, “Thus you nullify the Word of God by your human tradition that you have handed down. And you do MANY things like that.”  Like Jesus said: “HYPOCRITES!”  Like President Trump says: “Swamp-creatures!”  Trump is no Jesus, but God is using Donald Trump just the same.

 

And what are these “hypocrites” up to, with all they can think about and work on? Vilifying, maligning, slandering to remove him from the presidency; this man that GOD put there to expose them all! So who do you think they are really fighting against? And will they succeed?

 

It’s obvious from reading Scripture that God sent Jesus Christ FIRST to the government leaders of His people Israel to expose their hypocrisy, greed, self-righteousness, corruption and disobedience to God. Jesus Himself said that He was sent to them first, but they rejected Him as ‘sent from God,’ the God whom they supposedly serve. They were offended by Jesus’ confronting their waywardness, instead of being humbly convicted by the Truth and Righteousness sent from God, and turning from their wicked ways.

 

Before Jesus could reach out to the Gentiles and invite them into His Kingdom by faith in Him, Israel’s leadership had to be exposed and condemned, so that all people would see the truth, righteousness and justice of God’s Son and of His Kingdom that is to come in all fullness; that they follow Jesus Christ, Son of God, instead of false leaders in any generation and in any nation.

 

Jesus Christ is the only hope of the nations. Jesus Christ is the only Savior of this world. Worship and obey HIM!

 

 

Terror to Triumph – Part 9

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

“Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His Name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:47

 

It was during this time in the dark ages (400 AD – 800AD) that Islam began and it spread quite rapidly – mainly through the sword. This new religion moved into areas where Christianity had sprouted and soon the church began to disappear. If you were to go to Turkey today you will find the ruins of the seven churches of Asia Minor mentioned in Revelation chapters 2 and 3.

 

Islam spread throughout the Middle East, came across North Africa and then over to Spain and tried to cross over the Pyrenees Mountains into France and the rest of Europe.  I mentioned Charles “The Hammer” Martel who fought the Muslim invasion and the Islamic thrust into Europe that was checked when a battle was fought near Poitiers and the Emir of Spain was killed. During this time the “Tall Men of the North,” that terrified the southern Europeans with their height, blue eyes, fair coloring, and fierce, warlike ways were also pushing into other parts of Europe.

 

It was during this time that our church fathers had to make a decision. When they sat down and evaluated all that was taking place in the world – especially with the spread of Islam wiping out the church in the Middle East and across North Africa – they had to make a decision. Should they dig in and try to hold on to what they have or should they go out and evangelize the Norsemen/men of the north? They decided that to go out and not dig in. It was a right decision and 300 years later after the fall of Rome Christianity had taken over Europe except perhaps for Norway.

 

Matthew Henry said: “The mighty heroes of the world conquered nations for themselves and made them miserable. The apostles conquered them for Christ and made them happy.” This was true not only of the Apostles, but also those who followed in their footsteps. Part of that army were those who took in the babies that were going to be aborted, fed the poor, and did other acts of mercy. They were seen by the others and this led many to accept Christ. The one thing that you find with this army is their commitment and sacrifice of the Gospel.

 

It was during this time unknown to most that this new army was beginning to change society, culture etc. one person at a time. We can compare these two armies. First, we have the pagan army that for 4000 years had accumulated all the wealth and had ruled with unprecedented power over these years.

 

On the other hand there was a small band of people that had no influence politically speaking and no wealth, but they went out and began to spread the kingdom of God one person at a time until their influence permeated society.

 

Our view of God determines everything. If we have bad theology we will compromise and eventually our liberties will be taken away from us.

 

What can we learn from all of this for our day and age? One lesson that I would like to bring out is that we should never have a “dug in mentality.” After World War II some of our church and missions’ leaders in the early 1950’s sat down to evaluate the world after that tremendous war to see where we stand in regard to missions.

 

Communism took over China and the missionaries had to leave. Nationalism had taken over Indonesia and India (some of our largest mission fields) and missionaries could not come in anymore. Church and mission leaders had to make a decision: Should we hold on to what we have or advance? Sadly, they saw a down trend in missions and made the decision to ‘dig in’ and hold on to what they have.

 

When I was converted and sensed God was calling me to the mission field I took a course in missions. In that course the teacher spent so much time telling me about all the places where I could not go as a missionary which were the places where missionaries were needed.  I was questioning God if He was really calling me to the mission field. The teacher was thinking like those who have a ‘dug in’ mentality.

 

In Acts 2:14 Peter stood up in Jerusalem and preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and it began to spread. Through the Apostle Paul it took a westward course. In the last 50 years we have seen some of the greatest advancements of missions in the history of the church.

 

A couple of years ago I was in the Middle East and saw how there was such a movement of the Gospel back to Jerusalem. The thought that came into my mind was: The Gospel of the Kingdom has circumnavigated the world and is now coming back to Jerusalem. Luke said: “Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His Name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:47
 

 

There’s No Place Like Home

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

Yesterday I saw the movie “Judy” about Judy Garland’s life played by Renee Zellweger. Some of you may not know her except that she was Dorothy in the famous movie: Wizard of Oz. She also was the star in the first version of, “A Star is Born,” which has been remade twice since, the second time with Barbara Streisand and Kris Christopherson, and lately with Lady Gaga and Bradly Cooper.

 

Judy was a famous outstanding singer, dancer and actress. But the way she became all that should never be how a girl is treated, used and promoted in Hollywood, but that’s the world for you!

 

Judy’s parents were vaudeville people with their own little theater. Judy began performing in vaudeville as a child (2 ½ years old) with her two elder sisters, and was later signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a teenager. Her father was a homosexual as the rumors went. Her mother was the one who pushed them along into motion pictures. Judy struggled in her personal life from an early age. The pressures of early stardom affected her physical and mental health from her teens onward; her self-image was influenced and constantly criticized by film executives who believed that she was physically unattractive. Those same executives manipulated her onscreen physical appearance.

 

In the movie “Judy,” her producer of the movie: Wizard of Oz, had a woman administering pills to young Judy so she could work 16-18 hours a day and eating hardly anything so she would remain thin – looking like a little girl for the part of Dorothy. She was given barbiturates to control her appetite and more at night to get her to sleep. She became an addict as a teen, and then an alcoholic. Judy was looking for true love, even at a young age. The movie doesn’t bring out anything about her parents and upbringing.

 

Judy loved singing, dancing and acting, but it all became what she lived for – ending up an a drug and alcohol addict, married four times, with children she hardly saw.

 

In the end (from the movie) at the age of 47 when she was in London performing live on stage (having been booed out of America for), she humbly singing “Over the Rainbow,” that she couldn’t finish as she sat on the edge of the stage before her waiting audience. (Judy was always up close and personal with her audience.) As she sat there silent in the middle of the song, with her head down trying to hold back the tears of regret over her life, two gay men (fans of hers) that had become her personal friends, stood up to finish the song. Then the whole audience progressively stood up to join them. It was a touching moment for sure.

 

What hit me as so very very sad about Judy, was that she so desperately needed people to love her and remember her. “You won’t forget me – will you?!!!!”  Then at the end of the movie they showed a quote: “The test of the heart isn’t in how much you loved others but in how much you were loved by others.”  Hum.

 

As I thought about that – I tested that statement if it was really true. I guess it depends on who is testing your heart, the people of the world, or God. So I compared that statement to what the Creator, Refiner and Judge of our heart says about “love.”  I believe it’s God who perfectly tests the heart of people, not man. Someone can assume what is in your heart, why you do what you do and all, but man judges by his own heart’s condition. God judges by what’s really in our hearts. God says in His Word that man doesn’t know the depth of his own self-deception and wickedness, so how can he really know his own heart, or anyone else’s?

 

Those two sympathetic gay men, who were Judy’s loyal fans, and then friends at the end of her life, understood her suffering with not being at peace with herself; their emotional sympathy for her was very ‘personal.’ Judy and these two friends of hers didn’t get to know the Savior’s love for them, as far as the movie revealed. For had Judy been able to live in her Savior’s love, she might had said in the end: “There’s no love like the Lord’s love; don’t forget that.”

 

Like Dorothy repeatedly said in the movie Wizard of Oz, “There’s no place like home,” I hope that Judy Garland had the opportunity before she died to know God’s love for her by faith in Jesus Christ.  For then she might have said on her death-bed, “There’s no place like HOME,” meaning her heavenly Father’s Home to which she was headed.

 

Judy Garland died at 47 years old from drug and alcohol abuse.

Yesterday I saw the movie “Judy” about Judy Garland’s life played by Renee Zellweger. Some of you may not know her except that she was Dorothy in the famous movie: Wizard of Oz. She also was the star in the first version of, “A Star is Born,” which has been remade twice since, the second time with Barbara Streisand and Kris Christopherson, and lately with Lady Gaga and Bradly Cooper.

 

Judy was a famous outstanding singer, dancer and actress. But the way she became all that should never be how a girl is treated, used and promoted in Hollywood, but that’s the world for you!

 

Judy’s parents were vaudeville people with their own little theater. Judy began performing in vaudeville as a child (2 ½ years old) with her two elder sisters, and was later signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a teenager. Her father was a homosexual as the rumors went. Her mother was the one who pushed them along into motion pictures. Judy struggled in her personal life from an early age. The pressures of early stardom affected her physical and mental health from her teens onward; her self-image was influenced and constantly criticized by film executives who believed that she was physically unattractive. Those same executives manipulated her onscreen physical appearance.

 

In the movie “Judy,” her producer of the movie: Wizard of Oz, had a woman administering pills to young Judy so she could work 16-18 hours a day and eating hardly anything so she would remain thin – looking like a little girl for the part of Dorothy. She was given barbiturates to control her appetite and more at night to get her to sleep. She became an addict as a teen, and then an alcoholic. Judy was looking for true love, even at a young age. The movie doesn’t bring out anything about her parents and upbringing.

 

Judy loved singing, dancing and acting, but it all became what she lived for – ending up an a drug and alcohol addict, married four times, with children she hardly saw.

 

In the end (from the movie) at the age of 47 when she was in London performing live on stage (having been booed out of America for), she humbly singing “Over the Rainbow,” that she couldn’t finish as she sat on the edge of the stage before her waiting audience. (Judy was always up close and personal with her audience.) As she sat there silent in the middle of the song, with her head down trying to hold back the tears of regret over her life, two gay men (fans of hers) that had become her personal friends, stood up to finish the song. Then the whole audience progressively stood up to join them. It was a touching moment for sure.

 

What hit me as so very very sad about Judy, was that she so desperately needed people to love her and remember her. “You won’t forget me – will you?!!!!”  Then at the end of the movie they showed a quote: “The test of the heart isn’t in how much you loved others but in how much you were loved by others.”  Hum.

 

As I thought about that – I tested that statement if it was really true. I guess it depends on who is testing your heart, the people of the world, or God. So I compared that statement to what the Creator, Refiner and Judge of our heart says about “love.”  I believe it’s God who perfectly tests the heart of people, not man. Someone can assume what is in your heart, why you do what you do and all, but man judges by his own heart’s condition. God judges by what’s really in our hearts. God says in His Word that man doesn’t know the depth of his own self-deception and wickedness, so how can he really know his own heart, or anyone else’s?

 

Those two sympathetic gay men, who were Judy’s loyal fans, and then friends at the end of her life, understood her suffering with not being at peace with herself; their emotional sympathy for her was very ‘personal.’ Judy and these two friends of hers didn’t get to know the Savior’s love for them, as far as the movie revealed. For had Judy been able to live in her Savior’s love, she might had said in the end: “There’s no love like the Lord’s love; don’t forget that.”

 

Like Dorothy repeatedly said in the movie Wizard of Oz, “There’s no place like home,” I hope that Judy Garland had the opportunity before she died to know God’s love for her by faith in Jesus Christ.  For then she might have said on her death-bed, “There’s no place like HOME,” meaning her heavenly Father’s Home to which she was headed.

 

Judy Garland died at 47 years old from drug and alcohol abuse.

Terror to Triumph – Part 8

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

1 Corinthians 4:11-13 “To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answered kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.”

 

When we look back at the extension of the kingdom of God starting from that small obscure village in Palestine we realized that in the past 2000 years there have been the ups and downs. However, the scale goes slowly upwards throughout these past 2000 years. In other words, there were times when we saw the church declining in influence as well as outreach, but the general direction has been upwards.

 

The next season of time that we look at is what has been known as the “Dark Ages” from 400 to 800 A.D. Although modern historians have called the next 500 years of European history the dark ages in reality, this era saw truth and light piercing paganism and bringing conversion and cultural liberation to Europe.

 

The barbarians who had learned their lesson of debauchery from their Roman masters had now conquered the empire. This was also a time of great men/women with faith. A new army was being raised up. It was an army that did not conquer by sword and force, but through love. They laid the foundations of Western civilization, not with swords of steel, but with the sword of the Spirit and its truth, which promised to set the captives free.

 

It was during this time unknown to most that this new army was beginning to change society, culture, etc. one person at a time. We can compare these two armies. First, we have the pagan army that for 4000 years had accumulated all the wealth and had ruled with unprecedented power over these years. On the other hand, there is a small band of people who had no power, no wealth, but they went out and began to spread the faith one person at a time until their influence began to permeate society.

 

They were men like Severus who had control over 100 men and had charge to keep order in the Temple of Venus while the people worshiped this idol. Not being able to stand any longer the worship of this false idol he stood in the temple and proclaimed Jesus Christ as Lord. This was not a popular thing to do and sure enough it was reported to the people higher up and he was brought before Caesar and while being held by two men they cut off his head.

 

There were others like Theodorus who had angels visit him. It is said that because of his faith he was stretched out on a rack with his bones being pulled out of their sockets. He was asked how he could endure the pain and he said: “For a while I did feel pain, but then a young man stood by and was wiping the sweat off my face and refreshing me with cool water and so delighted me that I regretted being let down from the rack.” His bravery was so great that the authorities let him go and helped him to recuperate from his wounds.

 

Thaddeus was another Christian who was so enraged against the gladiatorial events in the arena, where even Christians would come after church, that he rushed into the midst of the two gladiators who were fighting and shouted: “STOP!” The crowd was so enraged that they shouted, “Down with him!” Sure enough one of the gladiators ran him through with a sword. All of a sudden there was silence. While he laid there in a puddle of blood the people began to leave one by one. That was the beginning of the end of the gladiatorial events. One man made a difference.

 

When I think of the cultural war of the 21st century that we are in – how we need to see men and women like Thaddeus raised up who will stand in the midst of the malaise that we live in and say: “Stop; enough is enough.”

Division in America

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

Division in America

 

What it all boils down to is that America is divided by those who love God and those who say they don’t believe in God. Therefore, two opposing and even hostile – belief systems.  This division of opposing beliefs and values have two very different gods and kingdoms: Satan’s and Jesus Christ’s.

 

Satan’s kingdom of lies and deception – is on the earth ‘temporarily.’ The book of Revelation tells us all that the devil’s kingdom is about, on earth and in the heavenlies, and why and how it will all be destroyed with the “seven bowls of God’s wrath” poured out, and then with the return of Jesus Christ to reign as King on earth with His saints from glory. (Revelation 19 -22) For then, the prayer of Jesus Christ that He taught His first disciples – will be fulfilled: “As it is in heaven – it shall be on the earth.”

 

All things created that God once called good, will be renewed and made ready for eternity to begin.

 

“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

 

So, what will happen to the “god of this world” (a.k.a. anti-Christ, ancient liar, serpent, dragon, devil) and to his “beast and false prophet,” who have completely deceived the nations, turning all nations against God’s Israel and against all God’s people of faith in His Son?

 

At the coming of God’s King from heaven to the earth (Christ’s second coming Revelation 19), “the beast was captured, and with it (notice “it”) the false prophet who had performed signs on it’s behalf. With these signs he (the false prophet) had deluded those who had received its image. The two of them (beast and false prophet) were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest (the world’s armies) were killed with the sword coming out of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.” (Revelation 19:19-21) This is what happens to the devil’s beast and false prophet.

 

Many believe the “beast,” which is referred to as an “it,” is the internet world-web with its increasing power to ‘speak’ to all people in the world and to influence their thinking and behavior. The “false prophet,” is believed to be the ‘one-world religion’ of the devil personified (last anti-Christ said to take up his reign in Jerusalem’s temple) who falsifies who God is – deceiving the world by convincing the world that he is the Messiah that was to come.  Many believe this current Pope of the world-wide Roman Catholic religion could be Satan’s “false prophet” who prepares the way for the ‘false’ Messiah to be accepted. But there could come another far more deceived by Satan than this current Pope.

 

So, what is Satan’s end? An angel from God’s throne in heaven is given the key to the Abyss and a chain by which to seize the devil (a.k.a. the dragon/ancient serpent) and to bind him in prison for a thousand years (while God’s Son reigns on earth with His glorified saints). The angel with the key and chain “throws Satan into the Abyss, and locks and seals it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time….” (Revelation 20:1-3) “….so he can go about deceiving the nations again, and to gather them for battle against the camp of God’s people, the city He loves (Jerusalem).” But then, “fire came down from heaven and devoured them all. And the devil, who had again deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night for EVER and EVER.” Revelation 20: 7-10

 

Then God’s great white throne judgment begins and “anyone whose name was not found written in the (Lamb’s) book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” (detailed in Revelation 20:11-15) If your name isn’t in the Lamb’s book of Life, sadly you will pay for your own sins and be cast into the lake of fire tormented day and night forever and ever. This is not God’s will for any human being, but that all would come to the truth about His love and His Son’s sacrifice for them.  Now is the day for salvation in Jesus Christ, while there is still time. Its’ your choice.

 

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

 

“There is no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

 

“Religion” or “Relationship;” this is really all that divides people, and nations. And, to choose neither a religion nor a relationship with God’s Son – is to choose the lie that you can determine your own destiny and to believe what you want about life after death. Satan is the great deceiver! He’s got you again by you not believing in the truth from your Creator and Savior.

 

Satan is the god of all man-made religions, because Jesus Christ never taught about a “religion” of rules and regulations for worship, but rather He brought the invitation for anyone to have an intimate-love-relationship with Himself by faith in His own bodily sacrifice on the Cross and with His indwelling Spirit and Word.

 

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

 

 

 

Terror to Triumph – Part 7

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our God.”

 

The Dark Ages, or as some historians call the Medieval Ages, was a time of continual fighting between warrior kings of Europe. It was a time of lawlessness, superstition, magic, evil and dragons.

 

To the north, were the Vikings, who were known as the “Tall Men of the North.” They terrified the southern Europeans with their height, blue eyes, fair coloring, and fierce warlike ways. A prayer during that time was: “Lord, save us from the savages of the North.” The Vikings became known as the Norsemen – People from the North.

 

Few people could read or write. Most people lived in mud huts that were surrounded by a wooden stockade. Life was localized and self-sufficient. Scholars of the day found refuge in Arabia. There their records were made and kept safe. Societies and religions began during the Dark Ages. Much fighting took place, but it was also a birthing time.

 

Although there was much violence during this period it was also a glorious period in many ways. Scholars began to pave the way towards creating real scholarship, writing, books, printing, etc. Europe which had been demoralized by Rome’s tyranny of many years also began to break out in its new found freedom.

 

Shortly after his historic sacking of Rome, Alaric the 1st dies of fever in 410. He did not live long to enjoy much of his success, but future generations did. Throughout the fifth century – wave after wave of invading tribes flooded into Rome and fought to stake their claim on the waning Roman Empire.

 

Clovis, King of the Franks (through his wife Clotilda) makes a decision to accept Christianity as his religion and was baptized in 496 at the age of 30. He made Paris his capital and his kingdom was basically what is known as present-day France and southwestern Germany. He formed a crucial alliance with the Roman Catholic Church and brought about a certain stability in the land.

 

Justinian the 1st, also called “the great,” was the Byzantine Emperor (527- 565). He extended Byzantine rule in the West, beautified Constantinople and completed the codification of Roman law.

 

It was during this era of the Medieval Age what is known as the Justinian Code was formalized and became known as the body of civil law which still governs most of Europe today. It was also in this era that Mohammed was born in Mecca. He would often withdraw to a cave where he would meditate and pray. It was during one of these times that supposedly Gabriel the Archangel appeared to him and proclaimed him a prophet.

 

Another prominent man during this era was Charles “The Hammer” Martel (688-741). He was also the grandfather of Charlemagne. Eventually he became a Supreme leader of the Franks. His greatest achievement was his war with the Muslims from Spain who invaded France in 742. In a battle near Poitiers, the emir of Spain was killed and the Islamic thrust into Europe was checked.

 

Also in 742, probably in Aachen, Charlemagne the grandson of Charles Martel was born. Charlemagne led the Frankish armies to victory over numerous other peoples and established his rule in most of western and central Europe. He was probably the best-known and most influential king in Europe in the Middle Ages.

 

It was in this atmosphere of wars, bigotry, superstition, etc. that the kingdom of God was invading. Slowly, but like yeast beginning to work itself throughout the society and culture, the Kingdom of God was advancing.