Terror to Triumph – Part 12

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

CHRISTIANITY UNDER SIEGE 600-1400 AD

 

In the beginning of the seventh century a new paganism was coming on the scene called “Islam.” The last 1400 years has been a “jihad” to force people into Islam, or die or become slaves. In the first fifty years of Islam, most of the Middle East and North Africa came under the influence of Islam.

 

Winston Churchill said: “How dreadful are the curses which Mohamedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. In improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist whereever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammed Law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.”

 

610 AD, Mohammad had a vision supposedly from the angel Gabriel. There is no history of a nation changing to Islam except by force. A century after Mohammed’s death, the lands of Islam, under Arab leadership, stretched from Spain in the west across North Africa and most of the modern Middle East into Central Asia and northern India.

 

732 AD Islam was taking over the Iberian Peninsula advancing to take over Europe and on their way to England. It must have been a fearful sight to see 80,000 warriors with their curved swords coming at you. When Islam was spreading throughout Europe we had a problem with the church. Theology is the basis of civilization. If we do not have a right understanding of who God is then it will hinder the spread of a right and just civilization.

 

Medieval Christianity was more of a wholesale rather than individual conversion. The conversion to Christianity came about through the command of the leaders or by political influence with alliances made with heathen princes and their Christian wives. In other words, people became Christian in name only, and not through a new birth as laid down by the apostles. Christianity became more traditional (as taught through the fathers, monks and pope) than Biblical. It was more a baptism of water than by the Holy Spirit and fire. The missionaries of the time were mainly monks of little education or limited education, but they often had great zeal and self denial.

 

However, in the midst of all of this the contrast between Christianity and Islam that was spreading mainly through force and the sword. Christianity came with persuasion. Often when the Apostle Paul went into the synagogue he reasoned, proved and persuaded the people. Christianity carried with it the promise of freedom, family life and building a just civilization.

 

Islam came with the sword and brought in polygamy, slavery, despotism and desolation. The moving power behind Christianity was love to God and man, but the moving power behind Islam is fanaticism and the sword. I have been able to travel to a hundred different countries and have found that Christianity finds a home among all nations and different groups of people.

 

Islam forcefully marched and took over the lands of the Bible, the Greek Church, it seized the throne of Constantine, overran Spain and crossed over the Pyrenees and even for a time threatened the Church of Rome and the German empire. The Crusades originated with the desire to from the followers of Mohammed the “holy lands.” In the ensuing years of slaughtering one another, a hatred built up and even today when missionaries go out from the West to the Muslim lands the Muslims bring up the Crusades, and so the answer to other religions was “the sword.” In the crusades we tried the same thing and failed.

 

However, there were blessings in disguise. The conquest of Constantinople (now Istanbul) drove Greek scholars with the Greek New Testament to Italy where there was a revival of letters which in turn helped pave the way for the Protestant Reformation.

 

Several lessons that we can learn from this are: 1. True essence of religion is love to God and to man. The church cannot allow this to be eaten out by hatred and strife. 2. Disunity in the Body of Christ opens the door for the enemy to come in to steal precious souls from the Kingdom of God. We must keep in mind Jesus’ last prayer in John 17. The jealously between the Greek and Latin Church made the Body of Christ weak and there was no defense against marauding hordes. 3. God can take something that was made for evil and turn it around for something good. Islam coming in destroyed idolatry and, I believe, paved the way for the ‘real Gospel.’ Communism in China destroyed the ancestor worship and opened the door to the Gospel.

 

God did say, regarding the church, that the “gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

Terror to Triumph – Part 11

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

CHRISTIANITY UNDER SIEGE 600-1400 AD

 

Every few generations, every few hundred years – something comes up on the world scene that makes us think that this is the ‘end times’ or that the kingdom of God is not going to make it. However, the one common denominator in it all is that God is on the throne and the Kingdom of God marches on. It is unstoppable. Like I said before, we start with the will of God “in the beginning,” and we will end with the will of God “so that God may be all in all.”

 

Between these two book ends of God’s will we find many obstacles, hurdles, persecutions, doubts, discouragements and at times it seems that all is lost, but often at the last minute God raises up His men, His army and the kingdom of God continues on. This is the case between 600-1400 AD. The kingdom of God was up against not only the barbarians, but what we could now call bio-terrorism.

 

Up to this time in the history of the kingdom of God we see that dark kingdoms that had been dominated by pagan tyrants with human sacrifices are being liberated from misery to happiness.

 

During this period in the history of the church some dark clouds were gathering against the church and the powers of darkness were marshalling their forces. Several questions come to mind. During this period would the fledging kingdom of light survive an all out assault from the powers of darkness? Looking back we see that Satan threw everything that he had to stop the advance of the kingdom of God.

 

Savage armies would come up against God’s kingdom. Would they be able to fend them off? Armies were gathering, ideologies were being formulated to come against God’s kingdom. During this time three invading armies would come. Would the church be able to stand?

 

Islam, a new pervading religion was exploding on the scene and coming in to attack from the South. Vikings (the Norsemen of the North) were invading from the North and the Bubonic plague was coming in from the East. Was this the end? It certainly seemed so to those who were living at that time.

 

Another question to be asked during that time was whether the church would fall prey to the deception within its own movement? Not only do we have the enemies without, but also within. Right from the very start of the kingdom of God we see how deception throughout her history has dogged the advancement of the God’s kingdom. It became very acute during this period of time.

 

Along with the deception, another question arises: Would the church fall prey to the corruption of the very truths that set them free in the first place? I look at our own country, the USA, and see the Biblical truths that this country has been founded on, but today we find how corrupted our nation has become. Over twenty five hundred years ago Isaiah the prophet said: “So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.” Isaiah 59:14,15

 

A.W. Tozer said there are three types of faith: Faith that takes us over the mountain (problem), faith that takes us around the mountain, and faith that takes us through the mountain. Real Biblical faith takes us through the mountain. This is the question during this period: Will the faith of the church survive the biological pandemic to come?

 

In answering these questions (which we will do in the coming letters) it will shape the lives, faiths and future of generations to come.

 

One Nation Under God

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States is an expression of allegiance to the Flag of the United States and the republic of the United States of America, originally composed by Francis Bellamy in 1892 and formally adopted by Congress as the pledge in 1942.

President Eisenhower signs “In God We Trust” into law. On this day in 1956, two years after pushing to have the phrase “under God” inserted into the pledge of allegiance, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs a law officially declaring “In God We Trust” to be the nation’s official motto.

What does the phrase mean ‘One nation under God’?
Thus, in the phrase “one Nation under God,” the preposition “under” indicates the relationship of the Nation (i.e. the People) to God and God’s relationship to the People.

But here’s another way to think about “under God” in part of an essay by John Kyff, Jr.

“By definition, according to The American College Dictionary, a preposition is “one of the major form- classes, or parts of speech, comprising words placed before nouns to indicate their relationship or their function in the sentence.” Thus, in the phrase “one Nation under God,” the preposition “under” indicates the relationship of the Nation (i.e. the People) to God and God’s relationship to the People. By definition, that is theology (i.e. defining God’s relations with the universe). Specifically, our government declares that the People are “under” God, not “within,” God or “above,” God, or “around” God or “One with” God. In doing so, it declares that the People are separate from God or “without” God. After all, if one is not “within” God, one must necessarily be “without” God.

“If the intent of Congress was to declare a close relationship of the People with God, it has done just the opposite. It has separated the People from God and God from the People. How ironic. But then government is a poor theologian. It really should leave theology to theologians. Is not that the meaning of the First Amendment?

I do not agree with those who assert that the phrase “under God” in the pledge of allegiance is a trivial or unimportant issue unworthy of consideration by the Supreme Court. It is a fundamental theological (religious)and therefore Constitutional issue of far reaching consequence. If indeed this is truly a trivial issue, change (or even propose to change) the pledge to read “one nation, within God” and see the furor that erupts within the so-called religious right! I guarantee it! Or how about, “one nation, over God.”

I thought this man’s way of thinking about “under God” was interesting. But to me “under God” simply means that we understand who is in control and working for America’s good future: God! But in actuality, we do see part of Congress trying to manipulate a “change” in how we used to govern “indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

And, it’s clear that God is still OVER this nation by all we see happening since He put Donald Trump in the White House to expose this “change” with one party of government doing their best to convince all Americans that their ideologies and proposals are best for us. NOT!

My thought this morning and conversation with my Father God, was, “how did America end up with a government like we have now?” A government where one party thinks they are “over the nation,” to rule over the people, no matter how the people vote; a party with their own ideologies and self-serving agendas.

How did it come to this, where now we have a legal and duly elected president by “we the people” (who are clearly fed up with a corrupt and over-reaching government) where he is regarded as our nation’s #1 enemy (actually he’s THEIR enemy) and who needs to be removed from office so they can get back into power over us?

Why have God’s own people been so asleep, uninterested in politics, too busy with our own interests, not sacrificing to take leadership positions to preserve righteousness and justice in our land? I guess it’s because of what God says about what happens with His people when He has blessed them with so much, as He has done in America because of His covenant with our godly founding fathers?

“This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation:

‘I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.
Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.”” Revelation 3

The Dogs

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

Reading this morning – where a Gentile woman fell at the feet of Jesus to ask Him to drive the demon out of her daughter, and Jesus, testing her understanding of Him, answered her request this way: “First let the children eat all they want, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” (Mark 7:24-30) Wow! How mean and as we say today, “how racist!”  But is that what Jesus was/is, a racist? Why would He say such a thing to a desperate woman who believed in His power as well as His compassion? Who are “the children” He’s referring to? And who are “the dogs?”

 

We know from another passage in Scripture that Jesus said that He came first to His own people/children, the Jews, God’s chosen race/nation. This race of Abraham and Sarah’s line (not Abraham and Hagar’s line) is who God chose to show Himself to and to show all other races/nations that He will have mercy on whom He will have mercy, and He will show compassion on whom He’ll show compassion. It’s not about anything good in anyone or in any race that God does anything good for; it’s all about His plan of redeeming mankind to Himself.

 

By singling out one people’s group to reveal Himself to – the world would see that there is no other God but Him; that “anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him” – which Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did, not perfectly but faithfully, along with all the others whom God chose and called to serve Him. God knows what He’s doing, but we don’t see so well the ‘why or how’ God could choose and call someone that we don’t like – seeing what we see, or seeing only what we want to see; which is both self-righteous and hypocritical.

 

Who are the “dogs?” You think Donald Trump is vulgar and insensitive with what he calls people who viciously attack him, nip at his heels, bark at him to stop him.  If you were living in the day of our Lord’s ministry on the earth, you’d be considered “a dog” by Him too, if you were not a Jew of God’s chosen race.

 

Jesus told John in prison what to write about the end times, and who will be left outside the Kingdom, unable to go through the gates (when God’s whole plan of redemption has been completed by Jesus Christ). “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life (eternal life with God) and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the DOGS: those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” (Revelation 22:12-15) So a “dog” in God’s book is a person who rejects God in his/her life, and ends up outside suffering, outside all that God has prepared for those who love and obey Him, unable to get in and find the peace and joy they long for; forever suffering that torment.

 

We also know that anyone who believes in Jesus Christ and follows Him, can be from any race of people because the Scripture says that by faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ we have been “grafted into Abraham’s eternal promise from God.” Apostle Paul teaches this by God’s wisdom imparted to him:

 

“Did they (the Jews) stumble so as to fall away beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles (all other races) to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their (the nation of Israel) full inclusion bring!”  (Romans 11:11)  This “full inclusion” means the ‘later time at the second coming of Jesus Christ’ when they all will see Him differently than they did before. God veils their eyes so He could include the Gentiles, so their blindness then wasn’t all their fault, and is why God has not rejected Israel at all; they are still His chosen people for all God has planned for the nation Israel for their full redemption and inclusion. PTL!

 

It’s easy to call Donald Trump a “racist” or whatever – for his choice of words to describe his enemies. Of course, Donald Trump is nothing like Jesus Christ, not yet that is, but like so many other men that God chose to do something with, who have been referred to as a “type of Christ,” Donald Trump is no different. None of the men of the Bible, referred to as a “type of Christ,” were perfect and without sin in their life. If you have been called to His purpose – you are also “a type of Christ.” Perfection was NEVER a qualification of God’s for using a man, or a woman. God sees the heart, and our future, as to whether we will finish what God called us to do. In fact, God will even see to it – that we DO finish.

 

“….being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus….. “   Philippians 1:6

 

We’re all growing in the Lord, some faster than others, but we’re all in need of God’s mercy and grace as we cooperate with His call in our lives. So, as ‘humble and wise’ Christians, we ought to be praying for our President to finish God’s will for him as POTUS. Amen?

Hook in their Nose, Bit in their Mouth

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

In God’s Word this morning He showed me what He’s doing in America, and for His own people who are looking to Him and crying out to Him.  According to God’s Word to Isaiah (chapter 37):

 

When the army against God’s people were ascending – God spoke to the king in Jerusalem as to what God was going to do to the army and it’s king and the king’s messengers who had ridiculed and blasphemed the Holy One of Israel. The Lord came against the proud king and his army boasting about how he would overtake Jerusalem. The Lord said through His prophet: “By your messengers you have ridiculed the Lord.”

 

There’s a time for peace, and a time for war. Do Christians in America even know what it will take to fight an army of “progressive ideologies” that have come against God’s truths, principles and against His will for America? Does the Church understand the power and authority they have from the Lord? Especially the power of His Holy Spirit uniting us with His mind and purpose?  Why are Christians so divided over what they see and think is happening in our nation?  This day calls for wisdom from God!

 

This king of Assyria took pride in his past victories in foreign lands. Like this proud king, America’s progressive politicians have also taken pride in their past accomplishments and victories – with a long list of mockeries that clearly oppose the will of God.

 

“You have turned fortified cities into piles of stone.” “Sanctuary cities and states” are destructive allowing criminal activity to thrive, taking away the authority and respect of law enforcement, protecting the lawless instead of law-abiding citizens who are threatened and attacked, fearful, and moving out. How long do you think a city or state, or nation can stand strong and productive (fortified) under this kind of government?

 

“Their people, drained of power, dismayed and put to shame.” Has the people of God (the church) been drained of power giving in to fear: the threat of losing their non-profit status if they preach the truth from their pulpits?  Has the people been drained of power – with politicians ignoring our rightful voting power, and career-politicians believing that WE work for them instead of THEM working for us? Have God’s people been drained of power – by their own wicked lifestyles instead of living the way God says to live for Him?

 

“I know who you are and when you come and go and how you RAGE against Me the Lord…. And because you RAGE against Me and because your insolence has reached My Ears, I will put a hook in your nose and My bit in your mouth, and I will make you return by the way you came.”  Wow! How might this look today in our nation with wicked leaders RAGING against our president’s purpose from God, with his righteous agenda that have prevented these haughty progressives from carrying out their plans?

 

What did God mean by saying “I will put a hook in your nose?” The nose you stick up at Me and My will for this nation that I founded for My purpose, not yours!  You turn up your nose to Me as if what I require means nothing to you! Therefore, the Lord putting a hook in their noses is to turn them from their evil plans of attack on this presidency; to humble them by shaming them as the fools they are.

 

For example: Abortion on Demand, and now with national leaders giving way to abortion up to the birth of a baby! No wonder CA. has raging fires! Another example: Progressives giving way to “illegal immigration” and promising them free this and that, at the legal law-abiding tax-payers expense. Another example: All the homelessness rapidly growing because of progressives doing what they should not be doing with policy making and our increasing taxes. Another example: Adam Schiff’s recent shutting down the Republican party from being a part of this Impeachment inquiry in their secret basement Star Chamber of biased interviews, set traps, preventing or silencing any witness from answering the questions that would get to the TRUTH. All to be kept from “voters.” Another example: God giving our president and his military victory in taking out the two top leaders of ISIS the other day. The democrats care more about taking down our president and his trusted administration, than giving credit to the president and his military for how they took down Baghdadi and his successor. They resent our president keeping it a secret from them – those who would’ve leaked in order to ruin the operation, with our own men and women being killed in the process.  Another example: The sticking up their noses at fair justice and fair investigations as distract from Hillary Clinton’s collusion with Russia over the 2016 election, not arresting proven true criminals in our government, and now with the Biden’s Quid-Pro-Quo – while doing their best to arrest our president for his legal and necessary conversation with Ukraine’s NEW president in getting to the bottom of “deep state corruption.” Hypocrisy and a double standard for justice – God HATES, and God will do what God says He’ll do.

 

What did God mean by “and I will but a bit in your mouth”?  A wild horse hates “the bit” in its mouth because a wild horse has been free to do what it wants and isn’t about to submit. The wild horse fights against serving anyone but itself. These political leaders with their progressive ideologies are “wild” and “running” with all they’ve got, picking up strays along the way.

 

Both “hook” and “bit” God says that He’ll use – to turn these proud leaders, to humble them in seeing that no matter what they think they can get away with in taking down the POTUS, God won’t let them. Everything they set out to do will only shame them and show them to be the fools they are in ever thinking that God does not see the intent and motives of their hearts with all their various schemes against the man God put in the White House, for God’s good purpose for America and for answering the prayers of His own people – fed up with how the progressives want to take over this nation for their own self serving godless agenda.

 

“The ZEAL OF THE LORD ALMIGHTY will accomplish this.”  (Isaiah 37:32b)

Sacrifice, Praise, Petition and Trust

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

“Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” Psalm 50:14-15

 

For weeks I’ve been coming back to this passage, with a determined desire to ‘practice’ it. “Sacrifice a thank offering;” just what does He mean by that? To sacrifice means that it will cost something that is hard to give up, something that you’ve have valued more than a relationship with God even.

 

Why does God want His people ‘of faith’ to thank Him when you don’t feel like it, when things aren’t going the way you want, and especially when you look back on your life and see that it isn’t the way you wanted it? How do we thank God then? It’s hard to do! But that’s what we need to do more than anything, more than cry and complain, more than wish and dream, more than pity ourselves and make others just as miserable as we are.

 

“God inhabits the praise of His people!” “The nearness of God – is my good.”

 

“Fulfill your vows to the Most High.” Have you ever vowed anything to God? Did you vow in your heart to give Him the first-fruit of your income, or your day, or your thoughts? When you first met Jesus, did you offer Him your life? Have you told Him you would live for Him, and serve Him no matter what happens?

 

“Call on Me in the day trouble and I will deliver you.” Oh yes, we all want Him to do that! But, He’s already given us His ‘condition’ for delivering us. When trouble of any kind comes, who do you call and talk to first? Where do you go before going to the Lord? What do you think of first to take? Are your cries to the Lord simply complaints, or are they petitions? Would you bring a petition before a king who favors you and not expect him to grant it? Will you wait for him to act on your petition, or take matters into your own hands – tired of waiting?

 

“And you will honor Me.” This “practice” in our daily life honors God; that of sacrifice, praise, petition and trust. God is far more faithful than we realize; far more than we give Him opportunity for Him to show how GREAT His faithfulness is towards us! Our life’s circumstances and situations depend a lot on how we see and treat the Lord our God. By not waiting on Him to act when we come to Him with our petitions, is saying to Him that He doesn’t care, He’s not in control and can’t be trusted.

 

One very good reason why we should read and study HIS WORD, from beginning to end, over and over, seeing more and more therein – is so we can see how good and true God always has been – to those who call on Him and trust Him at His Word.

 

Praise the Lord for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness; praise Him with music and dancing; praise Him before His throne each morning and all through the day. With all we have and don’t have – PRAISE THE LORD!

 

“Because he loves Me,” says the Lord, “I will deliver him; because he knows My name, I will protect him.
When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16

 

“But to the wicked person, God says: ‘What right have you to recite My laws or take My covenant on your lips? You hate My instruction and cast My words behind you.” Psalm 50:16

 

Can We Turn America Back?

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

2 Peter 2:7 “Lot was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of wicked people around him – where he lived.”

 

“My burden for the United States of America”

 

I want to apologize to all the family, friends and associates that are offended by what I’ve written concerning my understanding of what has happened to America. But, I think it is necessary to understand why I believe the way I do, because we are NOT fighting against flesh and blood, but against rulers of the unseen world. These unseen rulers are the ones behind all of the changes in our land, behind the new policies, and behind our civil warring, and behind America’s destructive path – that I write about below.

 

The United States of America as it used to be – is gone; for we are not united by any means. For unity to return it would mean that the older generation has to die out. The older generation sees where America is headed and is not at all interested in supporting that in any way. This ‘new’ America will be in the form of socialism with the government in complete control of every part of our lives; a government designed to ‘supposedly’ meet your needs; which God calls a “false god” because this is not what ‘government’ is supposed to do. These progressives of new America will teach all children their new thinking that sounds good but is pure evil. This mindset of new America is opposite of the thinking of the older generations who trusted in God.

 

It is my belief that for the progressive agenda to succeed it has to destroy the family unit, remove Jesus Christ from everything except cursing, and to remove God’s Word (the Bible).

 

The progressives with their agenda first needed to change what a true family is as God designed the family, which is the strength of any nation. They needed to replace a family by new ideas that come from the real enemy behind the progressive agenda. The best place to start this new thinking is in our schools, and teach our children at a very young age that they need to open up their minds to this new thinking of what a family is. Therefore, the Bible is no longer the source of truth on this subject.

 

Birth control and abortion has attacked the family, with Margaret Sanger in the 50’s and 60’s forming Planned Parenthood primarily to extinguish the black race. But, birth control and abortion has spread like a disease everywhere. Then came the sexual revolution in the 60’s with the younger generation coming against the older generation’s ‘morality’ so that they could continue living a lifestyle of no rules or consequences for sexual activities. They coined the idea that love is about sex.

 

The progressive leaders of our day came out of this moral breakdown of the true family which had always been the strength of America under God’s blessings. So they got to work removing God/Bible/prayer schools and from public places saying that it offends some people, which grew to offend more and more people under the influence of America’s real enemy and his cohorts. The real enemy didn’t want America’s children influenced by the teaching of the Bible and by openly praying to God, so schools were no longer allowed to teach the Bible, or to pray and now children are not even allowed to say the Pledge of Alliance to our flag in school because of the words: “one nation under God.”  Then the “progressives” went about taking away the rights of parents to discipline and teach their children the way God tells us to, and if we do not surrender to their thinking – we are threatened with arrest if we do what God tells us.

 

Then began the propaganda of making any wife/mother who stayed at home with her children to be regarded as “less” than what a woman is; that a real woman is one who can have a family and a career outside the home. Women began competing with men going after their leadership positions. The purity of marriage started breaking down with adultery and divorce. Adultery no longer a crime. Divorce no longer shameful. Women wanted to fight like men and were allowed into the military branches. Children being left for others to care of and teach. This caused a redefining of what a man or woman is, and led to unnatural mixtures with men acting like women and women acting like men, even men wanting to have sex with men and women with women; all unnatural and destructive. The victories of the real enemy in our lives. Now children are growing up to think this is all right and good; going against their conscience, which comes from God, to harden them against godly conviction. Therefore, it’s all working to destroy the America God started with our founding fathers; a nation God wanted to use to bless people.

 

Then came the arrogant idea and humanistic teaching that man has the answers and solutions to everything in the world. A modern generation has grown up to think men working together in unity can come up with the solutions to anything happening in the world. (Tower of Babel all over again!) All this “progression” away from God has caused a spiraling effect of corruption, injustice, a holocaust of babies in the womb, bold sexual perversions brought before the eyes of and ears of children, and the redefining of marriage, family and culture.

 

This new progressive thinking is not about the truth at all, and not about consequences for any wrong doing, and it’s not about helping people live the way they want either, but rather it is a growing society of people thinking self-centered thoughts all the time – influenced and led by the REAL enemy who has been working day and night to bring good old America down to her knees. These “progressive” teachers and leaders keep coming up with ideas, plans and policies that will allow their agenda of a “new” America to work for them. But sadly, nothing will work for the good except God’s design for family and government.

 

This “progressive” thinking is simply setting up America, like all nations, to welcome in a despicable man that the real enemy will embody. He will slip in when least expected and take over by flattery and intrigue. With deceitful promises, he will make various alliances. He will become strong despite having only a handful of followers. He will distribute among his followers the plunder and wealth of others – something his predecessors had never done; but this will last for only a short while.

 

Do I believe we can turn America back? Not likely! If we could then we would have to take over the schools and teach the children the truth according to God and get going sharing the Gospel of Jesus of Christ who is the Hope of all nations, and do it at any cost. We would have to stand as strong pillars in our society as to what a real marriage and family is all about. We would have to see godly mem taking over governmental positions. We would have to uphold righteousness in our personal lives as well as holding our own children to being responsible for truth and righteousness, and accountable for their bad choices. We would have to rally together in prayer to our God – asking Him to help us bring this nation back to Him. For this to be done it would take at least 50 – 60 years to bring about.

 

So what do we do then? I say get ready for judgment because this nation’s cup of inequity is full – according to God. The rotting of a nation starts from the head down. Study the Word of God so that you will understand what is to come and how to be prepared both spiritually and physically; how to teach your children and grandchildren so that they are trusting God and following through with what He wants them to do in their time – before our King comes to reign on the earth, just as He promised. The last kingdom of the earth – will be the everlasting Kingdom of God!

 

“As it is in heaven – it will be on the earth!” This is the truth, according to the Savior of the world: Jesus Christ – Son of the Living God and Creator of us all.

 

Raging Fires in California

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

FIRES RAGING UP AND DOWN CALIFORNIA, one right after another! I wonder why. No, I know why!

 

God is clearly judging the new law of Governor Newsom for “abortion up to birth.” And for his declaring: “Come one – come all for your abortions here, all the way up the birth of your baby!” And he and all the others are rejoicing?

 

God has been judging America for our legalizing abortion at all since Roe v. Wade. What will it take America?! More shootings at schools? More children being abused with transgender teaching? More homosexuals adopting children? More children being used for all kinds of perversions by perverts? What will it take America? We have a president and vice-president who see this evil, and are doing their best to end it, but it’s a “state” responsibility with the people of the state rising up and demanding from their governor and state senators too, to protect human life in the womb.

 

California’s fires are without a doubt, GOD being FIRED up about abortion of the worse kind, and so are those who know that life begins at conception, and the womb is to be the baby’s safe place to develop and be born into this world as REAL HUMAN BEINGS! You might think that’s the end of it, when you go get that abortion, but you will face that child one day who has returned to his/her Maker. You will have to answer for such ignorance after hearing the truth and deciding to end your baby’s life anyway for whatever reason. Ignorance is not bliss! Out of sight – out of mind, doesn’t work.

 

What our Governor has done is made legal what God calls murder: “the sacrificing of children to the gods.” Now whose side do you think Almighty God is on? And who is able to stand up to our CREATOR when HE is ready to deal with evil in this way?

 

Father God, we’re asking for a God-fearing governor to take Newsom’s place. Remove Newsom any way You want, but California needs to be RESCUED from the hands and laws of the wicked. We’re calling on You Father God, Creator of human life, and JUDGE of us all. If by fire and natural disasters, so be it! May the wicked turn to the wisdom of the righteous!

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.