Habakkuk Goes to Las Vegas

In what has been described as the largest mass shooting in US history, 59 have been left dead and over 500 injured when a gunman opened fire from the 32nd floor of a hotel on a crowd of more than 20,000 gathered at an outdoor country music festival.

While this has been labeled as the work of one crazed individual, unconnected to no larger plot to bring about death and destruction to our country, please allow me to connect a few dots. You can then decide for yourself whether or not there is a bigger picture to see here.

Imagine the prophet Habakkuk, not living in a period sometime between the Assyrian overthrow of the northern kingdom of Israel and the Babylonian overthrow of the southern kingdom of Judah (722 B.C. - 597 B.C.) Imagine instead that he was in Las Vegas, Nevada last Sunday night and following the carnage, cried out to God with these words: "The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw. ² O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you "Violence!" and you will not save? ³ Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. ⁴ So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted."    Habakkuk 1:1-4 

This was not a prophecy, but a complaint to God. Between verses 5-11 God answers  Habakkuk basically saying, "You ain't seen nothing yet! You won't believe what I am going to do next. I am going to raise up a ruthless people, the Babylonians, to come in as a vulture, swooping to devour." In other words, the justice for which Habakkuk was seeking would be meted out by a people even more ungodly than the people of his own nation. The Apostle Paul cites Habakkuk 1:5 in " 'Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.' " 42 Acts 13:41. So we see the Word of God presented as sharper than any two-edged sword: In Habakkuk the unbelievable thing is a fierce judgment meted out by a pagan nation; In Acts the unbelievable thing is the amazing salvation wrought in the person and work of Messiah Jesus.

The judgment was national and affected a lot of righteous people (Daniel, for instance). The salvation is personal and affects whosoever, removing those who believe from a state of condemnation into a state of righteousness (John 3:18; I Corinthians 5:21). So can we see any parallels between Israel and the United States. It's interesting to note that an actual nation called Babylon was used as an instrument of judgment against Israel; while Revelation reveals a religious and economic system that impacts the whole earth in the last days known as Mystery Babylon and Babylon the Great respectively. These systems, while not yet in their full blown state, have been active in the earth for centuries. They are serpentine in nature and employ an innumerable number of tentacles to grasp and ensnare both people and nations.

When Habakkuk cries out because of violence that is tolerated, laws that are paralyzed, and justice that is perverted, he could easily be crying about the United States in the year A.D. 2017. Violence is not only tolerated, but it is promoted - in music, movies, media, and mother's wombs. Laws that flowed from nature and nature's God 200 years ago have become paralyzed in the face of Roe v. Wade and Obergefell v. Hodges. Justice has become perverted as evil has been celebrated as good and good has been judged as bad. And he may be hearing God say that He will use an evil Babylonian system, even if it manifests from within, to judge a nation that once honored Him. This may well include judging a "church" that once honored Him as well. And in the meantime, those who still love God and His Word will lament as Habakkuk did.

It is time for a gut check. Although Habakkuk cried out to God for a second time, with words like this: "You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and are silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?"   (Habakkuk 1:13) But God does not back off. Speaking of both the evil instrument of judgment and the righteous in the same breath He says, "Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith."  (Habakkuk 2:4) This statement is also picked up by Paul in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11. Yes, whether it is in a time of national judgment, or in a season of grace, the righteous will always live by his faith.

"But," you may say, "the incident in Las Vegas was the result of just one crazed individual. How can God's judgment have anything to do with that?" On the practical side, there is already coming to light evidence that indicates that more than one individual was involved. Whether that plays out or not, here are two Scriptures that cannot be ignored:

"...therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you; because you did not hate bloodshed, therefore blood shall pursue you."    Ezekiel 35:6 

"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." Galatians 6:7

As we pray for the dead and the injured, their loved ones and their families, let us also pray for our country and the church. Keep living by faith and keep fighting the good fight of faith.

Of Jehu, Manasseh, and the 2016 Election

I woke up this morning to some new news ...

(Donald Trump had won the presidential election) and to some old news... (another 3,000+ babies were going to be killed today, while in their mothers' wombs). Both the praises and the laments for the former are LOUD, while the laments for the latter can barely be heard.

Much of the evangelical church jumped on the Trump Train, hailing him as perhaps a modern day version of Cyrus (The Persian king appointed by God [Isaiah:28-45:13] to release the Jews from captivity so they could return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple [2 Chronicles 36:22 - Ezra 1:8; 5:13 - 6:14]). I suppose there is some expectation that Donald Trump will be the one to release us from the captivity of the liberal/leftist/progressive/fascist elements of society, including an oversized and oppressive federal government.

May I submit that Israel's captivity had been both proclaimed by God (through His prophets), limited by God, and ended at the hand of the man appointed by God even before that man was born. So I wouldn't get too caught up in the Cyrus analogy. Perhaps a better analogy can be found in Jeremiah 8. There Jeremiah refers to the impending desolation of Jerusalem and Judah as if it had already occurred. Their fate would be the result of the people's stubborn rebellion and sin. Jeremiah's prophetic vision caused much sorrow, yet while he spoke doom and judgment, false prophets were predicting peace. The kingdom had arrived at a place described in these words:
     "'Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed,    Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; In the time of their punishment They shall be cast down,' says the Lord."  (Jeremiah 8:12)

"So what does this have to do with Jehu, Manasseh, and Josiah?" you may ask. Jehu was one of the kings of Israel, appointed to be anointed by Elijah (1 Kings 19:16-17) but actually anointed by Elisha (2 Kings 9:1-13). All of Israel's kings did evil in the sight of God, yet among them Jehu was most pleasing to God.
       "And the Lord said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in doing what is right in My sight, and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation." ³¹ But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart; for he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin." (2 Kings 10:30-31)

The main purpose for which God had placed Jehu on the throne was to obliterate the house of Ahab, including bringing wicked Jezebel to her prophesied demise (2 Kings 10:30-37). Perhaps Donald trump's appointed task is to bring judgment upon the Clinton Crime Family. This is just speculation on my part, but the analogy is pretty clear.

Now for Manasseh and Josiah. Here the analogy is stretched a bit regarding the players, but it holds strong as to the over-arching principles. Manasseh was a king in the southern kingdom of Judah. He was extremely wicked...
      "He also built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, "In Jerusalem I will put My name." ⁵ And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. ⁶ Also he made his son pass through the fire, practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft, and consulted spiritists and mediums. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger."  (2 Kings 21:4-6)  "Moreover Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides his sin by which he made Judah sin, in doing evil in the sight of the Lord." ( 2 Kings 21:16)

Because of the sins of Manasseh and Judah, God said that he would destroy Jerusalem and take the people into captivity. This began with Manasseh himself being taken captive by the Assyrian army, a hook being put in his nose, and being taken prisoner to Babylon. It was there that Manasseh humbled himself greatly before God and sought His favor. God heard his prayers and restored him to Jerusalem where removed all of the idols and places of pagan worship. (2 Chronicles 33:11-17) It is important to note that in spite of God's mercy towards Manasseh, which extended to all of Judah, even to 4 generations (although it proved that even the most vile of sinners can find grace through genuine humility and repentance) did not negate the nation's sin of shedding innocent blood. Thus after the 2 year evil reign of Amon, the righteous 31 year reign of Josiah (which included genuine revival), the 3 month evil reign of Jehoahaz, there began the 11 year evil reign of Jehoiakim. It was during this time that the Babylonian invasion began which would ultimately result in the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of the Jews. The Bible's own commentary as to why this calamity fell upon God's chosen people follows:
       "Surely at the commandment of the Lord this came upon Judah, to remove them from His sight because of the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done, ⁴ and also because of the innocent blood that he had shed; for he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, which the Lord would not pardon." ( 2 Kings 24:3-4)

I am no more concerned with timing than Isaiah was when he prophesied the Babylonian invasion/captivity during the reign of Manasseh. Manasseh ruled Judah for 55 years - longer than any king before or after him. His sins ushered in the beginning of an Assyrian invasion, resulting in Manasseh being taken to Babylon. His repentance brought about a reprieve followed by a reformation, and several years later actual revival. There is no doubt in  my mind that the USA is as guilty of the shedding of innocent blood as was Manasseh and Judah. We have been doing it for over 43 years now, and God will judge that. When and how are up to Him.

It is interesting to note that the USA has been undergoing an invasion of people from a foreign land whose countenance is fierce and whose ideology of world conquest is veiled by a thin veneer of religion. I speak of Islam. Perhaps there will now be a temporary halt to the invasion. Perhaps there will be some reforms. Christians are well-known for dusting off 2 Chronicles 7:14 periodically, but the fruit of repentance remains sorely lacking. The continued genocide with the church's passive permission continues.

I am encouraging evangelicals everywhere, from the prominent TV figures down to the members of small village churches to take up the banner of Personhood. There may never again be a window of opportunity to put this national sin of abortion behind us and legally declare that personhood, and all of its due process protections, begins at the moment of conception. Whether Donald Trump is a modern day Cyrus, or representative of a repentant Manasseh, the duty of the church to be salt and light remains the same. As part of that, the "3.1.10 Initiative" (contacting our 3 congressmen at least 1 time per month to pass a Personhood Bill, and urging at least 10 friends to do the same) will be moving into high gear. I'm confident that Donald Trump will sign into law such a bill. May our efforts going forward outweigh our passivity of the past. In Jesus' Name!

World News Through the 3rd Lens: Connecting the Dots

What do evolution, abortion on demand, same sex marriage, and Islamic terrorism have in common?

 The Scopes Monkey Trial, was an American legal case in 1925 in which a substitute high school teacher, John Scopes, was accused of violating Tennessee's Butler Act, which made it unlawful to teach human evolution in any state-funded school.^[1] The trial was deliberately staged to attract publicity to the small town of Dayton, Tennessee, where it was held. Scopes was unsure whether he had ever actually taught evolution, but he purposely incriminated himself so that the case could have a defendant.

Scopes was found guilty and fined $100 (equivalent to $1,349 in 2016), but the verdict was overturned on a technicality. The trial served its purpose of drawing intense national publicity, as national reporters flocked to Dayton to cover the big-name lawyers who had agreed to represent each side. William Jennings Bryan, three-time presidential candidate, argued for the prosecution, while Clarence Darrow, the famed defense attorney, spoke for Scopes. (Wikipedia)

While the verdict itself proved indecisive, it opened Pandora's Box and over the next 35-40 years the theory of evolution was accepted more and more as true science and the teaching of it crept into every aspect of society. Creationism was swept aside, not even given a place as an alternate theory. Science books touted evolution, and its corresponding ancient earth (millions or billions of years old) theory; government and privately funded research projects at universities were built upon this premise; and the language of "40 million years ago this, and 250 million years ago that" became common everywhere natural history was displayed. Evolution became the science of the religion known as Secular Humanism, and of political systems such as Communism, Marxism, and Fascism. God was being squeezed out of all expressions of public life.

The anti-God crowd had several willing spokespersons. Madelyn Murray O'Hair is best known for the Murray v. Curlett lawsuit, which led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling ending official Bible-reading in American public schools in 1963. This came just one year after the Supreme Court prohibited officially sponsored prayer in schools in Engel v. Vitale. It would take an encyclopedia to list all of the attempts to eliminate and public reference to the "Christian God" of "the God of the Bible" since then. They continue non-stop up to now, with no letup in sight.

So with evolution our national science, and God on the outside looking in, is it any wonder that man would be lured into codifying his position in the process of natural selection? Behind the scenes, Margaret Sanger, in 1921, opened a birth control clinic in Brooklyn, NY and founded the American Birth Control League. The name was changed to Planned Parenthood in 1942. Planned Parenthood championed eugenics, its founder being a rabid racist. While disguised by a lot of double-speak, the core thinking was that the black race was inferior and it should be eradicated, so why not accelerate the natural selection process. Such thinking under girded what became known as Nazism in Germany, only the inferior races included all Jews.

Do you see where this is going? In the USA, the idea that all life sprang from some random combination of proteins in a primordial soup, attacked the common concept that all human was sacred and valuable. Soon the attacks would turn into victory with the Roe v. Wade decision (by the Supreme Court, 5-4) on January 22, 1973. Since then some 60 million babies have been murdered while in or emerging from their mother's wombs. This doesn't count the number of babies killed while in the germinal stage of life by the morning after pill. All the while, a disproportionate (approximately 3:1) number of black lives are snuffed out by abortion.

Disregarding, on a national level, the fact that all human life comes from and reflects the image of the Creator has just led to more strange concepts and practices. One of them is to disregard God's definition of marriage as between one man and one woman for life. Little by little, the pressure from a segment of the population which numbers about 1-2% pushed for recognition of same-sex marriage until it became the de facto law of the land because of a 5-4 decision by the Supreme Court in the Obergefell v. Hodges case on June 26, 2015. It would be fair to assume that polygamy, incest, and dozens of other perversions will push for their day in court should the Lord's Second Coming be delayed.

 

 

Scripture declares "Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people." Proverbs 14:34 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance." Psalms 33:12 The Bible contains many Scriptures which state that god will judge the nations. One with end-times significance is "Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; For there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations." Joel 3:12 It is quite possible that God has been gradually judging the USA as we have gradually been turning from Him. Be that as it may, there are, and have been, natural consequences stemming from our unnatural national decisions. There are now millions fewer productive workers contributing to a more robust economy and contributing to the Social Security Trust Fund. Consequently the over-65 portion of our population has been increasing an to a degree is being supported by contributions from a shrinking workforce. Same-sex marriages do not naturally produce babies, and so the situation is further aggravated.

Now where does Islamic terrorism fit in? In ancient Israel, ultimate judgment for their rejection of God (often referred to as whoring after other gods) came at the hands of another nation (Assyria, Babylon, Rome). When God spoke concerning the coming destruction of Babylon by the Medes, He said, "Surely I will fill you with men as with locusts and they shall lift up a shout against you." (Jeremiah 51:14) This nation must beware of its enemies and Islam has declared itself as such. Islam is comprised of people described as "Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths.  The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace." (Isaiah 59:7-8) Because of various government practices, some intentional and some by bureaucratic ineptitude, the camel of Islam has gotten its nose in the American tent.

Since 1991 it has been known that the intent of the Muslim Brotherhood is to implement social jihad in this country. The MB stated plan (General Strategic Goal In North America 5/22/1991) is to unite those who believe in their work of destroying America from within. Then rule over them. At the same time The Immigration and Nationality Act passed June 27, 1952 revised the laws relating to immigration, naturalization, and nationality for the United States. That act, which became Public Law 414, established both the law and the intent of Congress regarding the immigration of Aliens to the US and remains in effect today. Among the many issues it covers, one in particular, found in Chapter 2 Section 212, is the prohibition of entry to the US if the Alien belongs to an organization seeking to overthrow the government of the United States by "force, violence, or other unconstitutional means." This, by its very definition, rules out Islamic immigration to the United States, but this law is being ignored by the White House.

The Islamic invasion may not be God's final judgment upon America because she has rejected God on a national level, but it certainly seems to be part of that judgment. The irony is, the very same government which has spurned God is the government opening the doors to an evil people bent on our destruction. As though given over to a strong delusion, the government of the United States is poised to shoot itself in the foot, and perhaps the heart. "Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands afar off; For truth is fallen in the street, And equity cannot enter." (Isaiah 59:14)

The American Christian must "...Take heed that no one deceives you." (Matthew 24:4) Jesus has told us what would happen before hand, not to scare us but to prepare us. "But he who endures to the end shall be saved." (Matthew 24:13)

 

 

State of the Union

State of the Union 2015

I believe Jesus is looking at the United States of America and weeping. He takes no pleasure in judging an individual or a nation, but judgment does come when grace has been spurned. The Scriptures declare:
"But he who did not know, yet committed things  deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more."   (Luke 12:48)

The United States of America has certainly known the way of righteousness; not that she was ever perfect. In days gone by, biblical morality was spoken of freely and expected in both public and private life. Today we have reached the point where that expectation has been replaced by a militant disdain for anything godly. Evil has been labeled good and good has been labeled evil. The Bible says "Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people."  (Proverbs 14:34 ) The state of the union in 2015 is that it is in crisis, on the brink of judgment. Why?

1. For 55 years we have been on an unrelenting mission to purge God from the public square.

      It began with the removal of prayer from our public schools. Not only was this an affront to God but it was a clear violation of the First Amendment provisions. Teachers and children praying in the school house had nothing to do with a religion having been established by congress. The camel now had his nose in the tent and he won't be satisfied until he is the sole occupant of the tent. Prayer and other expressions of faith have come under attack in virtually every area of public life, and in recent years the attacks have spread to private life... like whether a Christian photographer can refuse to photograph a same sex wedding. We need to repent and return to the place where "In God We Trust" is a fact and not just a slogan (which has also been attacked). "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance." ( Psalms 33:12)

2. We suffer from a lack of godly leadership

     Somehow the majority of voting America has bought into the idea that character has nothing to do with performance. There is a failure on the part of the church to declare the fallacy of such a notion and to hold up the truth of God's word.  "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan." ( Proverbs 29:2) So it could be said that we get what we ask for or we don't get what we don't ask for. It is a Christian duty to obey those in authority (Romans 13:1) yet in this country we the people are the ones responsible for placing "those in authority." When the church ceases to be salt and light, this is what happens.

3. We are reducing our military to pre-WWII levels

     Before King Solomon had strayed into taking for himself many wives, including their foreign gods, this was the state of his kingdom.
"For he had dominion over all the region on this side of the River from Tiphsah even to Gaza, namely over all the kings on this side of the River; and he had peace on every side all around him. ²⁵ And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, each man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan as far as Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. ²⁶ Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen."  (1 Kings 4:24-26) Weakness invites war. When you combine moral weakness with military weakness, you have a prescription for disaster. The purging of our military, the poor level of aftercare provided for those who have served, and an eroding of the moral foundation for any just war has been nothing short of a betrayal to our military.

4. Our government is no longer willing to defend our borders

     God made a unilateral covenant with Abraham, promising a land to him and his descendants. It had specific borders (Genesis 15:18-21). Israel never did fully possess the land they were promised, and as ungodliness from the leadership down became the norm, the borders they did defend became smaller and smaller. In the end the once proud nation was reduced to little more than the city state of Jerusalem which was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 586 B.C. To not defend our borders is to treat as profane the wonderful gift of this land that God has given to a people whose chief aim initially was to please Him. "O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain..." is no longer seen as the place upon which God has shed His grace, but as a place to be exploited and turned over to infidels, as criminals take advantage of our porous borders.

5. We refuse to balance our budget

     Figures don't lie; all the while liars figure. We are told over and over again what our deficit is (currently over 18 trillion dollars), but very few will remind us of the 100 trillion dollars of unfunded liabilities that needs to be added to that. We are told that the deficit has been reduced when in reality that means that the deficit is still increasing, only at a slightly slower rate. Things are labeled as free while somebody always has to pay for them. Inflation is stated at artificially low numbers because essentials such as energy and food have been removed from the calculation. Unemployment is said to be at the lowest point in years, yet the millions who have stopped looking for work are not included in the figures. In the background, the stock market is kept propped up by an Federal Reserve system that prints money at will. The debt can is constantly kicked down the road for the next generation to bear. All the while, two principles are all but forgotten;
    
      ^"The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender."  (Proverbs 22:7)

      ^"And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day."  (Deuteronomy 8:18 )

6. We have created and fostered a welfare state

     Government gets bigger and bigger, caught up in the perverted notion that it must play Robin Hood, forcing some to pay double while creating multiple programs where others get a free ride. This has extended WAY beyond the notion that a righteous people will care for the truly needy. True religion involves caring for widows and orphans (James 1:27), and such provisions should always begin at home (1 Timothy 5:8). The entitlement generation in this country now equals the entire population of Spain. Exacerbating the problem is the fact that in the last 42 years we have killed off and equal number of people through the genocide of abortion. Fewer and fewer are being asked to provide for more and more, creating a house of cards which shall surely fall. The idea of dreaming, and pursuing a dream has been crushed for so many by the indoctrination of welfare. This biblical admonition needs to be restored.  "For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat." ( 2 Thessalonians 3:10 )

7. America is rejecting Israel

     The rhetoric of support is still there, but gradually, over the past 25 years we have been distancing ourselves from Israel and their right to live in the land as a national people. We have gone against God's promise of a particular area as an inheritance to Abraham's descendants and have instead tried to force them to give up a large portion of the little they do possess. We have often painted Israel as the bully when all they do is (with great restraint) defend themselves. As we continue to ignore God and His word, we will run headlong into this... "I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."  ( Genesis 12:3)

8. Counterfeit Christianity has exploded in the land

     One prominent leader of the Pro-Life Movement has said, "Abortion will end in America when the church says so, and not one day sooner." So much of the visible church has accepted abortion as a fact of life (!!!) and has either gone silent on the issue or has actually embraced the abomination. Abortion is murder of the most egregious kind - the killing of innocent babies who do not even have a voice. The church needs to be their voice and deliver a mandate to congress to grant personhood status under the 14th Amendment to babies in the womb from the moment of conception - no exceptions.

     Much of the church has strayed from sound doctrine. God is no longer portrayed as a God of justice, and hell is declared to be a myth. The sanctity of marriage has been perverted to include that which God calls abominable. Sin is no longer called sin but an alternate life style or sickness. Repentance is seldom mentioned when presenting the Gospel. Ecumenicalism is growing by leaps and bounds, paving the way towards a one world religion. The church (and that includes me) bears much of the responsibility for the state of our union. We can't blame it all on the folks in Washington DC. Let us remember...  
    "For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" ( 1 Peter 4:17)

A Nation in Disarray

Government Shutdown ... Debt Ceiling ... Sequestration ... Weapons of Mass Destruction ... Syria ... Israel ... Palestine ... Iran ... Afghanistan ... Iraq ... Obamacare ... The LGBT Agenda ... Women's Right to Choose ... Islam ... Terrorism ... Benghazi ... NSA Spying ... 1st Amendment ... 2nd Amendment ... Democrat ... Republican ... Rhino ... Tea Party ... Progressive Liberal ... Conservative (fiscal or moral or both) ... The UN ...

Any one of the above topics (and many) will certainly wind up the pundits of every stripe and color, so I wish to talk for just a minute about a topic that is not all that dear to the hearts of many people. I have chosen to do so on a blog site because I do not have much access to the shakers and movers inside the beltway. I am forever grateful that I do have access to the One who will have the last shake (Hebrews 4:16; 12:26-27).

In any event, this is an open letter to the President of the United States, to every member of his cabinet and staff, and to every senator and congressman. You will spend a lot of time, energy, and money trying to resolve the many problems facing our nation, the above list being just a sample. I can tell you, based not on any personal expertise but on the unchanging Word of God, that all of that effort will be wasted until you first restore righteousness to the foundations of our country. We have lost our moral bearings as a nation, and until those are regained, all of our efforts will be in vain. For it is written:

"Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people." Proverbs 14:34 (NKJV)

"If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?" Psalms 11:3 (NKJV)

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance." Psalms 33:12 (NKJV)

Someone might ask, "Even if I agreed with you, where should we start?" I do not believe for a second that God requires a complicated answer to that question. Our own instincts agree with the Word of God that life is sacred, and comes from God. We wrote that into our Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life ..." That certainly agrees with ...

¹³ For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.
¹⁴ I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. Psalms 139:13-16 (NKJV)

We MUST, as a nation, pass laws granting personhood status, under the 14th Amendment, to all humans from the moment of conception. God has given us 40 years to remove the stench of blood-guilt from our land and we have not yet done it. We MUST do so before it is too late; before the problems listed above (and worse) consume us. You, as leaders of this once great nation, have a responsibility to put the ship of state back on the right course.

And we the people have a responsibility to communicate to you our desire that you do so. Therefore, this letter is also to all the people. You can become active participants in something called the 3.1.10 Initiative. Call your 3 congressmen at least 1 time per month and register your strong desire to see Personhood/Life at Conception legislation (H.R. 1091 and S. 583) passed into law just as soon as possible, and urge at least 10 of your friends to do the same.

The amazing thing about getting this message out on the world-wide web is that it can either sit there in cyber-space or it can go viral. Without righteousness being restored to the foundation of our nation, we will continue to be a nation in disarray. It's up to you.

World News Through the Third Lens: America's Problems Are Moral, Not Financial

A posting from the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform (CBR)stated today that America's problems are moral, not financial. They then went on to cite the Tea Party Movement (TPM) as being a reflection of America's discontentment with the the direction this country is going, while stating that the TPM doesn't go far enough. They stated that with few exceptions, the TPM fails to address the greatest human-rights tragedy of our day - the abortion of pre-born children. I agree completely with this statement.

CBR went on to say that this September they are going to be displaying large photos of aborted pre-born babies on truck mounted billboards in key gubernatorial and Senate states, such as Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Florida, and Ohio. Fr. Frank Pavone, Director of Priests for Life and a CBR board member is wholeheartedly behind this effort. I applaud this effort as well as the efforts of such dedicated organizations as Operation Save America. Please God, may the shedding of innocent blood end in this country, now!

Through the third lens of Scripture: The Bible is so clear and simple on this issue that it sounds almost trite to restate it; yet I declare this to be the absolute truth as revealed by the Holy Word of God - life is sacred from conception until natural death. In fact the idea of death of any sort is so contrary to the will and nature of God that in His great love for the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life.

Regarding life in the womb, God has this to say: Speaking to Jeremiah as He called him to be a prophet of Israel, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5) King David was given this divine insight which he penned as follows: "For you [God] created my inmost being; you knot me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well....your eyes saw my unformed body..." (Psalm 139:13-14,16)

God, the author and creator of all life has made it clear; it's not a lump of tissue; it's not a problem; it's not a woman's right to privacy' it's not a reproductive health care issue; IT'S A BABY! And this is a very important issue. God states clearly that He detests those who shed innocent blood (Proverbs 6:16-17) and He will exact vengeance because of the shedding of innocent blood (Jeremiah 22:17-19). While abortion may top the list of egregious national sins, it is still a symptom of the wholesale abandonment of righteousness that has occurred in the USA in the past 50+ years. "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." (Proverbs 14:34). God bless the people who don't shy away from controversial issues but who seek to promote righteousness on a community and even national level. It has become a huge task and is much more than one issue. Consequently (and this is not a criticism of them), but CBR hasn't gone far enough. The church, the body of Christ, hasn't gone far enough. The standard of truth, which is Jesus Christ and His Gospel has been entrusted to the church but what have we done with it? The answer to that is, "Apparently, not enough!" and is a subject for another day.

In closing, I can only encourage those who claim to be followers of Christ to take up your cross daily, and in denying yourself, make a difference in your world. Bring the truth of the Gospel to bear on an issue that burns in your breast. Our country's problems are many, and like Israel in Jeremiah's day - we may have crossed the line and can only expect judgment. That's not my call - my call is to speak and live the truth as well as I can, by the grace of God....and so is yours.

World News Through the Third Lens: The Economic Consequences of Abortion

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernake warned on Wednesday that "the federal budget appears to be on an unsustainable path".....Bernake, testifying before the House Budget Committee also recognizes that an "exceptional increase" in the deficit has been necessary to ease the pain of recession. To Republicans, he offered warnings about the fiscal perils of an aging population and the potential threat of soaring long-term interest rates. (Source: World Watch Daily, Koenig International News, June 11, 2010)

The picture above is of me and a good friend Vinny, standing in front of a place in Bridgeport, CT called the "Women's Summit" which is nothing more than an abortuary - where innocent babies are killed and women (and some men) are scarred for life - sacrifices made to the god's of greed, fear, and convenience. The picture that Vinny (who with other faithful saints come to this killing place twice a week, every week, regardless of the weather) is holding, as gruesome as it is, is real, truthful evidence of what happens when a baby is surgically dissected and ripped from its mother's womb. Few people, when they see these graphic pictures, just shrug them off. Praise God, across this land they arrest the attention of thousands of mothers before they enter the killing fields. What usually happens then is that the sidewalk counselors give them literature, encouragement, and genuine offers of real tangible and spiritual help. In Bridgeport alone, 120 mothers changed their minds and brought their babies to full term. Many of these mothers also entered into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, and made life-long friends.

The other side of that praise report is that last year, about 1500 babies were killed at the Bridgeport abortuary, and since January 22, 1973 over 50,000,000 babies have been killed because of the legalization of abortion on demand. The number of surgical abortions in the country has dropped somewhat in the last decade. Many abortuaries have closed. It's hard to tell whether that represents on any increased appreciation for the sanctity of life, or whether just more and more abortions are being performed by "the morning after pill." A conservative guess would be that at least 20-25,000,000 of those aborted babies would now be in the workforce, all contributing to social security and medicare (two huge unfunded liabilities carried by the federal government). They would also be consumers, helping to drive the economy.

Through the Third Lens of Scripture: God's dealings with the people of Israel, from the time of Moses, until the last king (until King Jesus returns) in the line of David serve as an ongoing object lesson for us (see 1 Corinthians 10: 1-11). We can see from Israel's history that time and time again they were judged when they turned to idolatry, often accompanied by child sacrifice. "They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood. They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves. Therefore the Lord was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance. He handed them over to the nations and their foes ruled over them." (Psalms 106:37-41) Without citing the many times that it actually happened, let this prophetic illustration suffice to show what happens to nations who reject God. His judgment often begins with some sort of financial disaster, which in an agrarian society would include famine. "Because you did not serve the Lord your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity, therefore in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the Lord sends against you. ..... They will devour the young of your livestock and the crops of your land until you are destroyed. They will leave you no grain, new wine or oil, nor any calves of your herds or lambs of your flocks until you are ruined." (Deuteronomy 28:47-48, 51)

Judgment is beginning - its footprint is all over the land, in the halls of government and in the so-called citadels of justice. One "pro-choice" (which really means "pro-death") advocate caught sight of one of those graphic signs, being held by a mother defending life, and yelled out, "How can you allow children to see those horrible pictures?" To which the mother rightly responded, "How can you allow children to become these awful pictures?" In an effort to stem the tide of judgment (or at least be a witness to the fact that God is both just and merciful) I am joining with Personhood USA to help bring the personhood initiative to Connecticut. Abortion must stop. If not now, when? If not through us, through whom? This is the first step towards financial reform - not Senator Dodd's proposed legislation.

World News Through the Third Lens

Obama bans federal funds from paying for private-insurance abortions by: Les Young, March 25, 2010

The captioned headline appeared in the local paper today, over the byline by David Espo of the Associated Press. At the same time a blog was posted by the editor of "Worth Reading" which reads: President Signs Meaningless Abortion Executive Order. Both reports stated that, unlike Tuesday's signing of the massive socialistic law which was done publicly, before cameras and a partisan crowd, this signing was done in private, with no cameras and in the presence of a small group of "anti-abortion" Democrats, including Rep. Bart Stupak. When comparing the two reports, it appears that the phrase, "bans federal funds from paying for private-insurance abortions" is key. The executive order covers only certain elective abortions. What it fails to cover are abortions that would be performed at community health centers - many of which will be Planned Parenthood Clinics - created by the legislation.

Barack Obama, the most pro-abortion president in history, signed the order as his payoff for votes from pro-life Democrats. The sad thing is that the executive order is basically worthless. As mentioned above, it does not even address certain abortions. It is no wonder that the head of Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the nation, was at the bill signing, smiling approval. Secondly, executive orders cannot stand up in court to the extent that they override law. Just think for a moment; if they could, there would be no need for the legislative branch of government. If President Obama didn't like the abortion provisions present in the bill, he should have vetoed it. Thirdly, executive orders can be undone at the drop of a hat, by Obama himself, or any succeeding president.

All poisonous legislation is given such innocuous labels. The so-called "health care reform bill" is now a law, titled the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act." Affordable! Caterpillar Corporation is estimating an almost immediate increase of $100 million in the company's health care costs. A law which ultimately socializes 1/6th of the U.S. economy is going to produce a fallout of horrific proportions. There are different degrees of socialism, but we are now past the moderate fringes of this ideological enemy of freedom and liberty. There is currently underway a strong movement in more than 30 states to take the law to court. The state of Virginia has already passed legislation refusing to comply with it.

Through The Third Lens of Scripture: In the history of Israel, following the death of King Solomon, Rehoboam ascended to the throne. A group of men, led by a man named Jeroboam went to Rehoboam and pleaded: "Your father put a heavy yoke upon us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put upon us, and we will serve you." (2 Chronicles 10:4) Rehoboam put them off for three days while seeking counsel. The elder statesmen who had served under Solomon said: "If you would be kind to these people and please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants." (2 Chronicles 10:7). Rejecting this advice, Rehoboam went to his own cronies who advised: "Tell them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions." (2 Chronicles 10:10-11). Reheboam listened to the advice of his younger peers and three days later, delivered his decision to the rest of Israel. Here's what happened: "When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king: 'What share do we have in David [for Rehoboam was grandson of David], what part in Jesse's son? To your tents, O Israel! Look after your own house, O David!'......So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day." (2 Chronicles 10:16, 19). This could be descriptive of the political and social fallout from this law, especially if it is followed up with more socialistic laws, such as cap and trade, amnesty for illegal aliens, etc.

Concerning the abortion provisions in the law, coupled with the fact that by split decision judicial fiat we have abortion on demand as the de facto law of the land already, and we have made a real mess for ourselves. Scripture is far from silent on this issue. Life begins at conception, is precious to God and not without purpose. Consider these words of the Lord, speaking to Jeremiah: "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5). Or this, where David is speaking to the Lord: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place...." (Psalms 139:13-15). Therefor, when children are sacrificed (innocent blood shed) to some false god, such as fear, convenience, necessity, etc. this is God's attitude. "There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him.....hands that shed innocent blood," (Proverbs 6:16-17). "Surely these things happened to Judah according to the Lord's command, in order to remove them from His presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all he had done, including the shedding of innocent blood, and the Lord was not willing to forgive." (2 Kings 24:3-4).

I hate to say it, but once the smoke is settled, many of us are going to have to deal with a battle of conscience. Virtually every person I know who takes the Gospel of the Kingdom to the streets, and offers the life alternatives to those for whom Jesus shed His precious blood, while standing against the shedding of innocent blood, are law-abiding, tax-paying citizens, who accomplish more good with one dollar than the government can with $100. But what will we do when it is for certain that our tax dollars are paying for the genocide of the pre-born? Hopefully there will be some jurisdictions who have enacted righteous legislation.

Let us not forget that there several different ways in which one can suffer suffer. You can suffer for being a law-breaker. To this, the Lord says: "If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler" (1 Peter 4:15). You can suffer for being a Christian, and again the Lord speaks: "However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that Name" (1 Peter 4:16). And you can suffer, Christian or not, just because you live in a nation that has rejected God and is undergoing judgment. This was the lot of Jeremiah, to whom the Lord said: "...Before your eyes and in your days I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in this place" (Jeremiah 16:9 - also the next 4 verses) Then there is the ultimate suffering of those who do not repent, but who continue to offend the Holy God, rather than cry out to Him for mercy. These may enjoy "the good life" for a season. Asaph struggled with this, but eventually God revealed truth to him; a truth which comforts all those who love the truth. "...I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.....They are free from the burdens common to man......always carefree, they increase in wealth....When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!" (Psalms 73:3,5,12,16-19)

World News Through the Third Lens

US BACKS OFF SPEEDY IRAN SANCTIONS PROMISED ISRAEL (DEBKAfile, 3/2/10) Commentary by Les Young: Washington eased the threat of harsh sanctions hanging over Iran's head because of its nuclear program at the very moment it was beginning to take effect and Tehran was showing signs of stress. Tuesday, March 2, US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton told reporters on her plane to Buenos Aires: "We are moving expiditiously and thoroughly in the Security Council, I can't give you an exact date, but I would assume sometime in the next several months." This abrupt reversal of US tactics on Iran's nuclear activities took place when Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, was hardly out the door from Washington after receiving assurances from administration officials that a new round of tough sanctions would be in place by the end of March, with or without the Security Council.

The news release goes on to say that Clinton had assured the same thing to a Senate panel last week and that she and US Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, were so sure of that timetable that a return visit to Washington by DM Barak had already been scheduled for a date that would be after the sanctions were in place.

A BIBLICAL (THIRD LENS) PERSPECTIVE: "Again you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' But I tell you, 'Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by earth, for it is God's footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.'" (Matthew 5:33-37) Jesus speaking here, tackles what had become a tradition of the Jewish people. They felt that if a person swore an oath, and swore by something divine, then it was really binding. If one swore an oath by something common, it was somewhat binding. Jesus said in essence, "Never mind all that dead traditional stuff. I'm telling you that everytime you say a simple "Yes" it should mean "Yes!" Similarly, a simple "No," should mean "No!" And how about this from the Old Testament? "It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin..." (Ecclesiastes 5:5-6a)

LIEBERMAN: HEALTH CARE WILL PASS (Norwich Bulletin, 3/2/10) Commentary by Les Young: U.S> Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, I-Conn., believes a version of health care reform will get through Congress this year..... Speaking with the Norwich Bulletin's editorial board on Monday, Lieberman said he believes a health care bill based on one that passed the Senate will be worked through the House of Representatives with enough compromises to pass. He also believes it will pass again in the Senate by the politically risky move of reconciliation, by which the Democratic majority can pass it with 51 votes while warding off a Republican filibuster. He went on to say that it wouldn't be easy and that nobody has seen the bill language.

Most observers of this donkey and elephant show concerning government health care reform are convinced that the bill that may be "forced" through by a process called "reconciliation" (Can you see Huxley's "double-speak" at work here?) will contain provisions for abortion on demand being funded by tax-payer dollars. Concerning a government takeover of health care in general, I could cite several Scriptures as warning shots. Today I'll use two. "He (God) said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you." (Exodus 15:26) "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." (Psalm 20:7) Regarding the taking of innocent life in the womb for any reason, consider that among the things that God hates, yea even detests, are "hands that shed innocent blood." (Proverbs 6:17).

And here's a scary thought for you. Since 1988, Washington Correspondent Bill Koenig of watch.org and some of his colleagues have been keeping track of something that has gone way beyond coincidence. It seems that over the last 22 years every time the U.S. government has acted so as to: 1) advance the pro-death agenda (abortion, euthanasia, etc.), or 2) advance the GLBT agenda, or 3) advance the exchange of land for peace agenda in Israel, or otherwise squeeze Israel or reduce support for Israel, some sort of calamity visits the U.S. Sometimes its of the natural variety (flood, fire, hurricane, etc.) and other times it's financial (stock market fall, ENRON, S&L, Madoff, etc.). They've kept the records and it always happens: sometimes within minutes, other times within a week or two. Based on the above two news items, we are probably in for one hit and perhaps a "double whammy." There is no time like the present to begin trusting the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

World News Through the Third Lens

Presenting the world news through the third lens of Scripture is both a joy and a challenge for me. If the Lord should see fit to provide the necessary resources, I could spend more time at this endeavor, and perhaps even employ some research assistance. There are a number of Christian and/or conservative news sites out there which report events bypassed by the MSM (Main Stream Media), but precious few who put the headlines into a biblical perspective. In the meantime, I intend to enjoy doing what I can do, rather than complain about what I can't do.

EXPLOSION AT KLEEN ENERGY PLANT IN MIDDLETOWN KILLS FIVE, DOZENS INJURED. What could the Bible have to say about this event? Nothing, from a prophetic perspective. However, the Bible has plenty to say concerning our response to such an incident. Romans 12:15 says, "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." Often these antithetical emotions will be connected to the same people and to the same location. Undoubtedly, on Sunday there were many workers who rejoiced at the prospect of working their trade and earning 1-1/2 or double time. Suddenly, in a second, things changed; able-bodied workers were now dead or seriously injured. People on scene, biblically literate or not, heard Cain's question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9) and answered with a resounding, "Yes!" Many from around the state gave the same answer, and rescue/recovery efforts continued throughout the night.

The needs resulting from this tragedy, just like the needs resulting from the tragedy in Haiti and countless other tragedies that happen every day, will continue on into a string of tomorrows. The symbolically place before us the needs of Christ, who expressed it this way. "For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison [like the 10 missionaries jailed in Haiti] and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" (Matthew 25:35-40) The initial responses to a tragedy are motivated by many different things, some good and some not so good. The long-term response to tragedy is usually born out of compassion and commitment.

HEALTHCARE REFORM UPDATE

Does anybody remember this? Congressman John Fleming, who is also an MD, representing Louisiana's 4th District, with co-sponsorship from 100 other representatives, introduced House Resolution 615: Call on Members of Congress to Enroll in the Public Option. This was nicknamed the "Put your money where your mouth is resolution." Rather than continue the debate about all of the ills of the government's intrusion into a vital 17% of our economy, this resolution would have said, "OK! Then if this is so good for the American people, all representatives and senators must take the lead by enrolling in the public option themselves." Today, Fleming reported on his web site, "Predictably my amendment was rejected out of hand by the Majority and was not given a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives. Here's a biblical commentary on such activity: "For although they knew God, they neither glorified His as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools." (Romans 1:21-22)

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RADICAL EXTREMIST APPOINTED TO HEAD LEGAL COUNSEL - This from the Religious Freedom Coalition - President Obama has nominated a radical, baby-hating feminist to head the Office of Legal Counsel. The nominee, Dawn Johnsen, has filed legal briefs in which she compared pregnancy to slavery. She also called pregnant women "losers" and "fetal containers." Johnsen has compared those who oppose abortion to members of the Ku Klux Klan. Johnsen is so radical as a baby hater that she opposes Democratic plans to reduce the demand for abortion. As head of the Office of Legal Counsel, she will not represent all [or most] Americans, only a minority of baby hating feminists. Representatives of numerous organizations have written to Senators asking that her nomination be rejected. A biblical commentary: "Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things, but they also approve of those who practice them." (Romans 1:32) It is common knowledge now that life and personhood begin at conception, and as such, babies in the womb should be afforded equal protection as per the 14th Amendment.