World News Through the 3rd Lens: Islam, the Constitution, and the Bible

Islam has been around for 1400 years...

yet in 2015, in the age of social media, everyone seems to be talking about it. It's not just social media either. In a recent edition of the Johnson City Press, the front page banner read: "Vigil seeks prayer for Muslims, refugees. One of the vigil organizers said that in the face of many anti-Muslim headlines of late, their group would be "standing in solidarity with them, supporting them as good people and Americans." She also said, "It's unfortunate that so many Americans are judging those who practice Islam by their absolute extremists, but don't do so with Christianity," as she pointed to Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh and Robert Dear who is charged in the recent Planned Parenthood shooting in Colorado Springs,

Normally I would be the last person to criticize others for organizing a prayer vigil, but this one prompted so many questions and comments, I just could not let it pass.

     How do the acts of Timothy McVeigh and Robert Dear equate with extremist Christianity?
     Where is the Muslim community in all this?
     If more than 90% of Muslims in this country are moderate, why don't we here them proactively speaking out in support of the US Constitution and assimilation; against sharia law and special privileges?
     Why is there a difference in Islamic expression depending on the percentage of Muslim population in a given town, region, or state?
     Why are organizations like CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood given either a free pass or special privileges, in spit of written documents exposing their goal of overthrowing America?
     Why was Iran not only given an unbelievable boost in the attainment of their nuclear goals, all the while spewing epithets at the USA (great Satan) and Israel (little Satan)?
     Why was Iran recently praised by Secretary of State Kerry as being compliant with the terms of the nuclear agreement, when Iran has just tested medium range ICBM's in violation of two UN resolutions?
    
Those are just a few questions for which we should not seek answers, but our congressmen should be seeking/giving answers too?

Now for a few comments, and I'll be done (for now).

     The following document should be mandatory reading for all 535 members of Congress and for all Cabinet heads. Each one should be required to make a written commentary which constituents can access.

“ A N E X P L A N A T O R Y M E M O R A N D U M  O N  T H E  G E N E R A L

S T R A T E G I C  G O A L  F O R  T H E  G R O U P I N  N O R T H  A M E R I C A ”

 

The above Muslim Brotherhood document was entered

 

into evidence in the U.S. v Holy Land Foundation trial, and is

 

a primary source threat document that provides new insights into

global jihad organizations like the Muslim Brotherhood.

 

 

     The US government should take note of the fact that organizations like Open Doors consistently reveal "The one glaring fact that emerges from this report is that the overwhelming majority of Christian persecution around the globe today is being committed at the hands of [fundamentalist] Muslims of all races, languages, cultures and socio-political circumstances"

 

 

    

The

US government should make it a practice of looking at laws which are already on the books, and then enforcing those laws, rather than make new ones which are more politically correct. For example:

The Immigration and Nationality Act. passed June 27, 1952 and became Public Law 414, states in Chapter 2 Section 212 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." It also prohibits the entry of Aliens who are members of or affiliated with any organization that advocates or teaches, the overthrow by force, violence, or other unconstitutional means of the US or of all forms of law, and Aliens who publish, circulate and distribute materials teaching or advocating the overthrow by force, violence or other unconstitutional means of the US Government or of all forms of law.

This by its very definition would rule out Islamic immigration to the US, but this law is being ignored by the White House and by presidential candidates who think it divisive and reprehensible to ban the entry of those whose ideology is Islamic. All Muslims who attest that the Koran is their life's guiding principal subscribe to submission to Islam and its form of government. This is not religious discrimination because Islam, disguised as a religion, seeks to bring all people under submission to Sharia. It is in their Constitution, the Koran, which commands Islamists to conduct violence against or to kill those who do not submit to allah and the prophet--at least 109 times, in context.

  Isaiah 59:7 "Their feet run to evil, and they make hast to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths."

 

  And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you." Matthew 24:4

 

 

 

    



 

    

Thanksgiving (To whom? For what?)

Thanksgiving...

To whom? For What?

On my way to a meeting this morning, Glen Beck on the Patriot Channel on Sirius XM Radio announced that Turkey had just shot down a Russian war plane and that World War III had begun. NATO would be holding an emergency meeting in two hours in Brussels, a city still on extended lock-down because of terrorist threats. The US Department of Homeland Security had just issued a warning to all travelers to be on the alert this extended holiday weekend. And JC Penny announced that, for them, Black Thursday would begin at 3 P.M. And the verse of the day on my Bible app reads: "but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57

As I reflected on this verse, I remembered that it was written as the conclusion of Paul's defense of the resurrection. He had made the point that if there were no resurrection then Christ could not have been raised from the dead. If that were true, then we (Christians) would be the most miserable of all people, still dead in our sins and trespasses. Many Christians walk around in the shadow of the cross, overlooking the significance of the empty tomb. If Jesus had only died, claiming that His death was for the remission of our sins, but had not risen from the dead, at the end of day He would have been nothing more than a dead liar.

Paul even makes the outrageous claim that if Christ had not risen from the dead, it would be better to embrace the Epicurean philosophy ("Eat, drink, and be merry; for tomorrow we die.") than to embrace Christianity. But Jesus has indeed been raised from the dead. Paul had already presented incontrovertible proof of that fact, leading to the next fact: we too shall be raised from the dead. That is both good news and bad news.

Some of us remember the old Schlitz (?) Beer commercial: "You only go around once in life, so grab all the gusto you can!" It was a modern take on Epicureanism, and at it's core was the lie that when you die, that's it. Eternal nothingness! But the truth is, all will be raised from the dead, some unto everlasting joy and some unto everlasting torment. It all depends on what we do with this Jesus. Do we believer in His atoning death; justifying resurrection? Do we confess (accompanied by obedience) His Lordship and do we believe He is coming again as King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

If the answer is "Yes!" then there is a glorious eternity awaiting us. Current events are not so alarming, because as we pray, "Come, Lord Jesus, come!" we understand that things on planet Earth must wax worse and worse until He does. We understand that things like wars, famines, and earthquakes will increase in both intensity and frequency. Apostasy will increase within the visible church while the true church will be purified in the fires of affliction. There is the side of our prayer that we verbalize and the side we internalize. One cannot happen without the other.

It is with that truth in mind that we can "speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," Ephesians 5:19-20 And... "in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tennessee Massacre

In the wake of yesterday's tragedy in Chattanooga, my heart is filled with many things, so this post may be longer than most. Some Christian newsmen/writers/bloggers whom I respect have followed for the past 17 years how uncanny it is that every time our nation (government) does something to advance: 1) the pro-choice agenda, 2) the LGBT agenda, or 3) the endangerment of Israel, some sort of tragic event has hit this country. It may be a natural event, such as fire, flood, tornado, etc. It may be financial, or it may be of human origin (often terrorists). These men (and I agree with them) feel that God has been using this pattern to warn us. Thus far the warnings have not been heeded, and the murders in Chattanooga could very well be a harbinger of... Jeremiah 51:14, "I will fill thee with men, as with locusts; and they shall raise a battle cry against thee."
 

My heart is heavy and sorrowful (Roman 9:2) when I think of the lives lost yesterday and of the friends and families left to grieve. I also sorrow over the fact that Kuwaiti-born Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, as despicable as his acts were, was created in God's image, and God is not willing that any should perish, desiring that all come to repentance. I have read that the Islamic gunman attended UT Chattanooga, where he received a degree in electrical engineering. In the diversity section of their web page they state: "Christian groups have a large presence on campus. They often have meetings, free food, and live music on campus." I can only speculate as to what interaction there was (if any) between these groups and Abdulazeez.

Built upon the foundations of prayer removal from schools and the introduction of the theory of evolution as science in the 1960's, followed by the infamous Roe v Wade decision in 1973, most governmental decisions (executive, legislative, or judicial) have only proven to be foolish, futile, or fatal. If God is removed from the equation (as many are prone to do) the wounds to our nation seem to be self-inflicted. And somewhere in the midst of it all, the church has been self-absorbed to the point where post-modernism has crept in, carrying in its wake the follies of progressive socialism, Marxism, and Fascism.

These are just a few of the things I weep about. Not all the time, and not even every day. Even these things can stir up a joyous expectation in me, knowing that Jesus said that lawlessness, apostasy, and godlessness would increase before His return. The Christian community at UT Chattanooga did not effectively reach Abdulazeez with the Gospel for some reason. So while I say, Come Lord Jesus," I pray that this message will result, directly or indirectly, in at least one person being lead to a saving knowledge of Christ Jesus. That will turn many tears into much rejoicing.

World News Through the Third Lens: Hoof Beats

While this post, like all of my posts, makes no attempt to link specific news events with particular Scriptures, I must say that it appears that the sound of the hoof beats of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are getting louder.

So many things are breaking on the world scene that it is hard to ignore the fact that something of unprecedented proportions is about to break. It is wise to refrain from trying to set a date since Jesus said,  "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." Matthew 24:36 (NKJV) However, Jesus did answer His disciples questions, "...and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" It blesses me to see the parallel between Jesus' answer to these questions in the Olivet Discourse and the revelation given to John in Revelation 6.

Matthew 24:5 and THE FIRST SEAL (Revelation 6:1-2).

Matthew 24:6-7a and THE SECOND SEAL (Revelation 6:3-4).

Matthew 24:7b and THE THIRD SEAL (Revelation 6:5-6).

Matthew 24:7c-8 and THE FOURTH SEAL (Revelation 6:7-8).

Matthew 24:9 and THE FIFTH SEAL (Revelation 6:9-11).

Matthew 24:29 and THE SIXTH SEAL (Revelation 6:12-13).

Notice also that the 5th seal only hints at the persecution of the Antichrist. Jesus spoke of his appearing in Matthew 24:15 with a warning (which would be primarily to the Jews, since it takes place in Jerusalem) for those in close proximity to flee. I'm not saying that the Antichrist is a Muslim, but he will be against (anti) both the Saturday and the Sunday people, as radical Muslims are today. Jesus reveals more detail about him with the parenthetical insertion of Revelation 13. The timing of the appearance of the Antichrist is clear from the agreement of several Scriptures (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:2-3; Revelation 6:9-11) - midway through Daniel's 70th week and prior to the Lord's Second Coming.

The Lord's Second Coming will be immediately preceded by cosmic disturbances (Joel 2:30-31; Matthew 24:29 & Revelation 6:12-13) and will consist of several events (The great appearing, trumpet call and gathering of the elect [rapture/resurrection], Matthew 24:30, 36-41; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; Revelation 7:9-17), followed by the Day of the Lord (Revelation 6:15-17) and the wrath of God (Revelation 15:1).

There is so much more to be said on this subject. The good news is that God has not appointed the saints to suffer His wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9) and we know that events leading up to God's wrath (the Day of the Lord) will happen like birth pains do in a woman about to give birth (Matthew 24:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:3). These birth pains, which increase in both frequency and intensity, could be compared to hoof beats which get louder and louder as they get closer. May the Holy Spirit grant the church revelation with these things as a backdrop for some of the bulleted news events in our world over the past week or so.

• "The overall chairman of the National Day of Prayer event in Washington each year is Shirley Dobson, the wife of Dr. James Dobson. The military and every branch of government was represented -- except for the Administration -- as President Obama did not send a representative." -Wm. Murray, rfcnet.org
• "Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani's Iranian attorney has been convicted for his work defending human rights, leaving the persecuted pastor without legal representation." -ACLJ.org
• "The very real threat remains that Iran will get a nuclear weapon and we continue to pray on two fronts: that God will act sovereignly in shaking the nation of Iran and that he will use Israel militarily against Iran." ifi.org.il
• DOZENS OF DEATHS CONTINUE IN SYRIA DESPITE CEASE-FIRE PLAN jnnnews.com
• Iran's Navy has the ability to deploy its vessels three miles off the U.S. east coast, a high-ranking Iranian Navy commander was quoted as saying by the Fars news agency. watch.org
• A new report finds that Christians are the target of religiously motivated physical attacks, intolerance and discrimination more than the people of any other faith in Europe. (WorldNetDaily)
• "Islam as a tool for judgment!" Bill Wilson, KIN

World News Through the Third Lens: The last item in the above list might rightly be seen in light of the first chapter of Habakkuk. Habakkuk cries out to God in the first four verses concerning the sin that was part of daily life in Israel. He wonders how long God is going to allow wickedness to continue. God's answer (verses 5-11) was that He was going to use a fierce and ungodly people, the Chaldeans (Babylonians) who were a law unto themselves as an instrument of judgment against Judah. Habakkuk questions this response, saying, "You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he?" Habakkuk 1:13 (NKJV) God makes it clear that in His time, justice will be served, declaring,  "Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith." Habakkuk 2:4 (NKJV)

May we be filled with faith that God has everything under control, no matter how "out of control" things seem to get. May we say with the prophet,
¹⁷ Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls--
¹⁸ Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
¹⁹ The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments. Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NKJV)

Yes, may this be our praise and our song!

World News Through the Third Lens: Birth Pains

Birth pains, with respect to child birth are something I have never experienced. I am told, by reliable sources, that they usually begin in relatively mild fashion and then increase in intensity as the birth draws ever closer. Likewise, the pains begin spaced quite far apart and increase in frequency as the baby's arrival approaches. When I was training to be an EMT, we were taught that when dealing with pain, one of the things we should ask the patient to do was rate their pain on a scale of 1 - 10 with 1 being very mild and 10 being the worst they had ever experienced. One of the students in the class, a mother of 3 piped up and said, "For female patients, they should add an 11th class - birth pains just prior to delivery.


In the picture above, birth pains are not necessarily being illustrated, but we can see the foot print of the little one pressing hard against its mother's stomach. At the very least, it's a picture of discomfort, and a sign that birth is not far off. I cannot say with certainty whether the world has now entered the birth pains stage of history, just prior to the return of Christ, or whether we are just in an ever-increasing state of discomfort. One thing is for certain, both the intensity and the frequency of troubling events is increasing.


I am far from being the most learned or informed person on the planet concerning the end-times and how current events fit into the prophesied scheme of things. I do know that many who claim to be experts, and who enjoy large spheres of influence are constantly getting it wrong. The errors range from naming the Antichrist to picking the date of the Rapture; from proclaiming an imminent (anytime, signless) Rapture, to preaching a feel-good Gospel with no mention of the prospect of suffering. And so they come, in Christ's Name, and deceive many with messages that appeal to the flesh.


In Matthew 24:3 Jesus' disciples asked Him three questions: 1) When will this happen (temple destroyed)? 2) What will be the sign of your coming? 3) What will be the sign of the end of the age?Jesus' first response was, "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name claiming, 'I am the Christ' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these things are the beginning of birth pains." (Matthew 24:4-8)


The "I am the Christ" deception is not speaking just of those who claim to be the Christ, but also of those who claim to speak for him. So little is being done these days to prepare the saints for the return of Christ. The Bible makes it clear that the saints will have to endure all the way through and up to the sixth seal of Revelation 6. That means that the false Christs, the false peace-maker who initiates a 7-year covenant with Israel, wars and rumors of war, famines and earthquakes, the breaking of the 7-year covenant and the persecution of both godly Jews and Christians that follows will all have to be endured. Thus, the Bible does not fit with a "Your Best Life Now" philosophy or any variation thereof. The Bible declares "...everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:12-13)


Jesus was asked to give signs of His coming. Jesus gave signs of His coming. The last sign, immediately preceding the return of Christ (the event which will cut short those days of terrible tribulation for the sake of the elect - Matthew 24:22) is the darkening and shaking of the heavenly bodies and the coming of the Son of Man visibly, as lightning from east to west (Matthew 24:27 - 30). And what happens at this coming? The angels are sent to gather the elect with a loud trumpet call (Matthew 24:31). This is the Resurrection/Rapture, right down to the trumpet call (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).


When Jesus was in the midst of listing all the things that would take place prior to His coming and the end of the age, He declared, "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm (endures) to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:12-13). It is from this verse 13 that Encouragement for End-Times Endurance was birthed as a ministry. The only way to prepare people to endure is to speak a challenging message about the necessity to gird up our minds with a "boot-camp" mentality. Some teachers and preachers have said, with an air of righteousness, "I'm not looking for the Antichrist, I'm looking for Christ." That sounds so nice, but it disregards the fact that right in the middle of the signs that PRECEDE His coming, Jesus speaks of the revelation of the Antichrist, and his persecution which begins in Jerusalem and spreads throughout the world (Matthew 24:15 - 21; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10; Revelation 13:7-8).


Contrary to other installments of this blog, there is no mention of a particular news item, followed by a Scriptural commentary. They are coming so fast and furious these days: Arab Spring Wars, Syrian oppression, Iran's nukes, economic chaos in Europe, floods in the Philippines, earthquakes in Turkey, famine in South Africa..........Rather than comment on any one, I would like to point out something I believe the Lord gave me. I say that, not to suggest that I am someone special, but to say that I have never read or heard this from any man. The signs which Jesus mentioned in Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21 would have meant little to people living 150 years ago, much less 1800 years ago. In fact, you and I are living in what has been dubbed "The Information Age." We are living at a time when virtually anything happening on the planet can be seen by anyone else on the planet. We are living in an age when the signs are more significant than ever, for they are signs for all people, signs that can be measured and counted, just just like birth pains.


"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:19-25)

World News Through the Third Lens: Israel Dominates the News

Israel dominates the headlines, but not in the United States. I found none of the following stories in the local paper, either yesterday or today. Life goes on in the West, with precious little concern for the land of God's promise, or the people to whom He promised it. Meanwhile things are heating up on all sides surrounding the little strip of land called Israel. US Veto of PA Bid for UN State Recognition Not the End of the Matter (Jerusalem Post). Palestine could still gain recognition as a non-member state, with observer status. This would require only a simple majority vote of the General Assembly. 120 countries have already recognized Palestine. A decision is expected before the end of September.

UN Secretary General: Palestinian Statehood is Long Overdue. (Ha'aretz) Ban-Ki-Moon went on to say, "The two state vision where Israel and Palestinians can live side by side in peace and security -- that is still a valid vision and I support it." As illogical as was the original Road map to Peace, it at least contained certain conditions that Palestine must keep for the process to move forward: 1) recognition of Israel as a legal state in the region, 2) renounce terror against the Jewish nation, 3) dismantle all terrorist groups within its territory, 4) end all forms of anti-Israel incitement within its systems. Not one of these conditions has been met, and yet the UN is about to recognize Palestine as a legal state. To Islamists, the two state solution is neither a reality nor a vision.

Israel Faces Worst Crisis With Egypt for 30 Years as Diplomats Flee (INN). Hundreds of protesters tore down the protective barrier in front of the building housing the Israeli embassy, stormed the building and entered the floors of the embassy, destroying hundreds of documents in the process, while 86 embassy members were air-lifted to safety. Egyptian security forces did not intervene, even as the Israeli flag was torn down and burned. This is the new face of "democracy" in Egypt which was supported by President Obama. The peace between Israel and Egypt has now been strained to the breaking point.

Jordanians Planning March on Israeli Embassy (INN). A group in Amman has called for one million people to gather at the large mosque near the Israeli Embassy, and to then march on it and do what protesters did in Cairo just last Friday.

Turkish Warships to Challenge Israel (DEBKA). Turkish PM, Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkish warship would henceforth accompany any aid ships on route to the Gaza Strip. This is in spite of the fact that this piece of land was given over to the Palestinians by Israel, and included in the cost was the displacement of over 9,000 Israeli citizens. The Palestinians destroyed most of the infrastructure left behind, killed many of their own during the infighting between Hamas and Fatah, and then continued to bombard the south of Israel with rockets and missiles. This lead to Operation Lead Cast in which Israel defended herself as any sovereign nation would, only to incur false defamation on the part of UN inspectors. Even now, rockets and missiles are fired into Israeli settlements, with no regard for targets.

Through the Third Lens of Scripture: "The burden of the word of the Lord against Israel. Thus says the Lord, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him: 'Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that i will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it'" (Zechariah 12:1-3). It's beginning to take shape, just as the Lord declared it. The problem in the Middle east, with Jerusalem the epi-center, will get so intense that peace will be sought at all cost; and to the relief of the un-believing world, it will be gained. Even the majority of Israel, gathered in the land in unbelief, will accept this 7 year peace agreement.

This will be the time for the saints of God to be watching and waiting for the return of their Lord and King. It will mark the beginning of Daniel's 70th week and the opening of the first seal in Revelation 6. It will be a time when faith must be strengthened, and trust renewed, for this will mark the beginning of sorrows. Follow the drama in Matthew 24. This will be a time when deception runs rampant, man-made and natural disasters increase, persecution of the true church intensifies, false prophets abound and apostasy runs rampant. This will lead right up to the "abomination of desolation" spoken of in Daniel 9:27, followed by the worst persecution the church has ever faced. Those days will be cut short by the return of Christ, who will raise the faithful dead, and in an instant transform those living in Him, gathering them all together to meet Him in the air (Matthew 24:22, 31; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

This is just a brief summary of events to expect in the future, and in no way is meant to predict the timing of Christ's return. However, it is important to say to anyone reading this, "Let no man deceive you..." There is much deception out there concerning the return of Christ, ranging from exact date predictions (like last May 21st) to an "any-time rapture." While we do not, and will not know the day or the hour of Christ's return, He has gone to great lengths to give us the signs. That is why Paul said, "...concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write you" (1 Thessalonians 5:1). He goes on to say that "the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night" (1 Thessalonians 5:2). Don't be deceived into thinking that the day of the Lord is the entire seven years of Daniel's 70th week. It is not! The day of the Lord is not unbelieving man's wrath against the church, neither is it the wrath of Satan through the Antichrist against the church. The church must go through all of this, by which she will be purified and made spotless. The day of the Lord comes and He pours out His wrath upon the world, sometime well into the second half of the 7 year period, and only after He has gathered His saints unto himself - thereby cutting short the Great Tribulation. This happens between the 6th and 7th seals of Revelation. The signs are all there. Today's headlines are just harbingers of the signs that are yet to come..........shortly, it seems.

"And when you see these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift your heads; for your redemption draws near" (Luke 21:28).

World News Through the Third Lens: Rejoicing & Weeping

Said Mussa Released: According to a report from the Religious Freedom Coalition today, Afghan Christian convert, Said Mussa, was released and escaped to a European nation. Even with our huge military presence in Afghanistan, the US media had little to say about this incident. Just a few days ago, Encouragement for End-Times Endurance posted a link on facebook by which people could pressure our US State Department to intervene in Mussa's behalf. This also pointed out the need for prayer for our Christian brother. Praise God for his release and escape to safety.

Through the Third Lens of Scripture: "Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." (Hebrews 13:3, NIV).

The Obama Administration Will No Longer Defend DOMA according to several news sources this past week. This makes official what the Justice Department has (not) been doing for the past two years - the only difference being that they will no longer have to fake it. DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act was signed into law in 1996 by President Clinton, and defined (for federal purposes) marriage as between one man and one woman. Once the LGBT agenda became a civil rights issue rather than a moral issue, the battle was lost. Now we have reached the point where one man (President Obama) has elevated himself above the Congress and the Judiciary, declaring a law to be unconstitutional. This is a quantum leap from a democratic republic into the realms of dictatorship.

Through the Third Lens of Scripture: "Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush" (Jeremiah 8:12, NIV). Conduct that was hardly spoken of in secret 50 years ago is now being paraded around as normal, as a civil right, and as legal. That's a far cry from blushing. God's proclamation on such behavior: "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter" (Isaiah 5:20, NIV). The people of God must be counted as those who "...grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done..." (Ezekiel 9:4a, NIV) and NOT as those who "...know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve deserve death (yet) they not only continue in such things but also approve of those who practice them" (Romans 1:32, NIV).

World News Through the Third Lens: Judging and Being Judged

"Judge not, lest ye be judged," (Matthew 7:1) is a Scripture often quoted by people who respect neither God nor His word, just to silence someone who may be speaking Biblical truth. I wish to say at the outset, that i do not set myself up as judge over Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kagan - the Lord is more than capable of doing that. However, He will judge according to his revealed word. He is not going to pull out some ancient rule book that no one has ever seen and judge everyone according to some secret code. The general principle behind this statement can be seen in these two antithetical promises of God found in Deuteronomy 28.

"If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all His commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God." (Deuteronomy 28:1-2) The antithesis: "However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all His commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:" (Deuteronomy 28:15).

It should come as no surprise to you that there are judges in the modern world who place themselves above God, and judge according to some undefined standard that changes and evolves through time. They judge according to situational ethics or relative truth; meaning that there is always a surprise lurking in their judgment. There is some serious evidence that the current Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kagan, is one of those judges. There is evidence abounding that she is anti-life/pro-abortion; that she is pro-LGBT while at the same time supporting Sharia concepts which condemn LGBT people to death. It looks like she is for anything that is against Christianity and the bedrock truths of the Bible, which will never pass away. (Matthew 24:35) The video clip at the following link is evidence of this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZNQ7qcQ4&feature=player_embeded

Through the Third Lens of Scripture: The judges of Israel, who refused to judge according to the word of God wound up high on God's own judgment list. The directives given to judges was clear, as in this passage from 2 Chronicles. "He (Jehoshaphat) appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. He told them, 'Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for man but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. Now let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.....You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord. In every case that comes before you from your fellow countrymen who live in the cities - whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or ordinances - you are to warn them not to sin against the Lord; otherwise His wrath will come on you and your brothers. Do this and you will not sin......Act with courage, and may the Lord be with those who do well.'" (2 Chronicles 19:5-7, 9-10, 11b)

God's view of those who take the law into their own hands and judge with partiality is clear throughout Scripture. "Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly." (Leviticus 19:15) "So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways, but have shown partiality in matters of the law." (Malachi 2:9).

Lawlessness is already running rampant in the land. The executive branch of the federal government has been usurping powers not granted to it by the Constitution, and we have seen several signs of a judiciary legislating from the bench. The people have become confused and don't know where to turn. "We all growl like bears, and moan sadly like doves; we look for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us. Justice is turned back and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street and equity cannot enter." (Isaiah 59:11,14). Read the rest of Isaiah 59. Apart from God, and His Savior - the Lord Jesus Christ - there is no help. But they who put their trust in Him will not be disappointed.

World News Through the Third Lens: A Stench Rising to Heaven

The Book of Revelation describes an angel offering the smoke of much incense mixed with the prayers of the saints on the altar before God's throne. (Rev. 8:3:4). Immediately after this beautiful picture is described, the wrath of God is unleashed on the earth, as a censer, filled with fire from the altar is hurled to the earth, unleashing the seven trumpet judgments which contain also the seven bowl judgments. (v.5-6). While the prayers of the saints are described as a sweet incense before God, I can only imagine what a stench to His holy nostrils the wickedness of mankind must be.

Three items in particular which were in the news over the past few days caught my attention. The first was one in which I was caught right in the middle, so to say. Last week I had the privilege of attending the Watchmen on the Wall Briefing in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the Family Research Council. They are a class organization, led by some classy people who love the Lord and who love this country. During the 3-day briefing, those who had made arrangements, were given an opportunity to visit with our congressmen on Capital Hill. Since both Senator Lieberman (D-CT) and Rep. Courtney (D-CT) were busy with legislative matters, I had arranged to meet with their legislative aid and chief of staff, respectively. I was received with courtesy and was allowed to read Isaiah 59 in each office, pray for the congressmen and their staffs, and to make a plea for the nation to be returned to a foundation of righteousness. In short, I did everything that God laid on my heart to do.

To my dismay, Friday's news revealed that the House of Representatives had voted to repeal the Military's mandate of "Don't ask; Don't tell." This policy, implemented during the Clinton administration, while a far cry from the moral virtue of years gone by, it still allowed the military to function with a modicum of moral decency. So that's stench #1.

Today I received a video of vicious beatings suffered by innocent Christians in Asam, India. This was followed shortly thereafter by a very disturbing article concerning child trafficking and prostitution - also from India. The radical Hindus apparently are allowed to go on rampages with little or no intervention on the part of the police. The video showed unarmed people being beaten to death by club-wielding fanatics, while the police just stood on the fringes. Later, the police came in and supervised the removal of the corpses! If that isn't bad enough, www.Examiner.com of Hartford reported "hundreds of children are trafficked to Amur, Rajasthan region from Delhi and other regions in India. According to the report, girls as young as six months old are trafficked into the villages, where they were given sexual hormone shots, oxytocin, to accelerate their sexual maturity to enter prostitution. ......The Rajasthan police denied the allegation." These are stench #2 and #3.

Through the third lens of Scripture: How can you possibly extract anything biblical from such nasty news, and then publish it on a site entitled "End-Times Encouragement News?" My answer to that, in the vernacular, is that God is not a "sandbagger." Webster defines the slang use of this term as "to deceive (an opponent) by deliberately playing poorly. Some of you may remember Paul Newman, in the movie "Cool Hand Luke" getting his knuckles busted because he "sandbagged" by playing pool poorly when the stakes were low, suckering people in to bet the big bucks, only to clear the table. God does not do that. He does not sucker us into "summer time and the living is easy" life styles, only to hammer us when we are ill-prepared. That's the ploy of the devil, and I hate to say it, but too many sermons feed into his game plan. Godly encouragement comes from looking with open eyes at the things God has said concerning the end-times and preparing accordingly.

The majority of congress is acting with abject stupidity. How else can you describe educated, experienced people who defy nature and nature's God, by imposing their own warped thinking on our nation's military. There are a lot of commandments in the Old Testament which involve ceremonial law - those very detailed matters of worship which all pointed to the Messiah. Jesus was/is that Messiah and He fulfilled the entire Law. Consequently, Christians do not embrace any form of sacrificial worship. Many of the other commandments were in the category of "good advice" from the all-wise Creator. Obey them and you will reap natural benefits; disobey them and you will reap natural detriments. These include such matters as diet, sanitation, crop rotation and sewing patches on garments. Other commandments are what we would describe as God's moral law. As Christians we do not always live up to the high standards of God's moral law, but we should always aspire to do so. And we must never call God's moral law as evil and man's substitute as good (Isaiah 5:20). God calls "man lying with a man as one lies with a woman" (homosexuality) a detestable thing. (Leviticus 20:13)

Now, here's a passage of Scripture which describes those who thing that repeal of "Don't ask; don't tell" is something noble. "For though they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.... Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.... Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men.... 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 also approve of those who practice them." (Romans 1:21-32). This sounds awfully harsh, perhaps making the one who quotes it appear over the top in piety. So please let me remind you that in this same letter to the Romans we read: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption which came by Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:23-24). The problem is not that homosexuality is so much greater than the sin of some straight person; it's that the sin of homosexuality has been normalized and even placed in a category of special rights and privileges, and now is being forced on our military. This is just plain wrong! I urge you to let your congressmen know so.

The beatings of innocent, defenseless people is nothing but demonic. There is no logical explanation of such behavior. Jesus gives an apt description of the spirit behind such horrific activities and the people who commit them. "You are of your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44) For us who have not yet faced such persecution, let us "Remember those in prison, as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as you yourselves were suffering." (Hebrews 13:3) Keep in mind Jesus' promise: "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven..." (Matthew 5:10-12)

And what can we say regarding the poor little ones being used to satisfy the lusts and greed of men? Pray for them as Hebrews 13:3 exhorts, and remember that those who harm such little ones will reap their due reward (Matthew 18:6). The entire godless economic system, which the Bible calls "Babylon the Great" will suddenly come crashing down under the wrath of God (Revelation 18:2, 17). At the end of the list of all the merchants who suffer loss are those who "traffick in the bodies and souls of men." (Revelation 18:13) Divine justice will be satisfied, and the innocent little one, beginning with those conceived in their mother's wombs will be recompensed, for "...in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 18:10)

Be encouraged by Christ, that you might encourage one another. Rev. Les Young is the founder and director of Encouragement for End-Times Ministries, www.endtimesencouragement.com His teachings concerning the end-times and how we must live can be accessed from the website or directly at www.endtimesencouragement.blogspot.com

World News Through the Third Lens: Connect the Dots

"Teachers won't budge on contract. Union rejects concessions to help shortfall." Norwich Bulletin, May 14, 2010.

"State to pull troopers from schools. Officials cite lack of funding." Norwich Bulletin, May 14, 2010.

"3 arrested in Times Square bomb searches." The Associated Press, May 14, 2010.

"Thailand: Chaos in capital reignited by shooting." The Associated Press, May 14, 2010.

"Hispanics, rest of U.S. split on immigrants." AP-UNIVISION POLL, May 14, 2010.

"Top General: It's a draw in Afghanistan." Norwich Bulletin, May 14, 2010.

"BP will try to suck spewing oil to the surface." Norwich Bulletin, May 14, 2010.

"Business lobby joins health care lawsuit." Norwich Bulletin, May 14, 2010.

"Netanyahu: The battle for Jerusalem is a battle for truth." JNN News, May 13, 2010

"Israel's gestures to Palestinians met with slap in the face." JNN News, May 13, 2010

"59 women showed up, 13 turned around or changed their mind, 46 babies were killed." OSA-CT Street Report, May 1-11, 2010 (Summary of activity at Women's Summit in Bridgeport and Planned Parenthood in New Haven, where abortions are performed on a regular basis.

"Iran test-fires same missiles as handed to Hizballah." DEBKAfile, May 13, 2010

"PA finds Bibi's biblical reference distasteful" israelnationalnews.com May 14, 2010

"ACLU trying to stop Enfield graduations." Peter Wolfgang, Exec. Dir. Family Institute of CT, May 13, 2010

I could go on and on and on - "ad infinitum, ad nauseum" as some would say. There was nothing special about today, other than when I asked the Lord what to write, that still small voice responded, "Connect the dots!" The Lord God, knowing how each of us is wired, worked with me a bit until I understood to just gather together a few random headlines. I was not to do a search based on a particular subject; having been convinced that some common threads would be revealed in the process.

So I have completed my rather limited, albeit random survey of news banners from various sources, and there is a connection. I understand that there is some risk of being labeled as a fanatic (or worse) by suggesting that all of these headlines are connected. Risks aside, they are connected. They are not specifically connected to any one political party; they are not even specifically connected to some a-nationalistic group like the CFR or the Bildebergers; and they are not specifically connected to President Obama. They are all connected, however, to the Bible - the inerrant Word of God, and he who fails to connect the dots, does so at his own peril.

Through the third lens of Scripture: All of the world's problems, ranging from shortfalls in school budgets to violence in Bangkok, to environmental disasters in the Gulf, to continued unrest in the Middle East, all find their origin in man challenging the very first sentence in God's revealed word. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). Ken Ham, founder of the ministry, Answers in Genesis, claims that the reason many pastors fail to preach with power and authority is because they "have compromised with some of the books of the Bible - such as Genesis - and therefore don't really have a firm foundation for their doctrine." I agree with brother Ham, and when this happens in our pulpits, is it any wonder that the truth of God's Word is being challenged, dismissed and dishonored by virtually every facet of our western post modern culture?

The first challenge to God's Word is recorded in Genesis 3, when Satan, in the form of the serpent (we can only imagine what that beast looked like before he was cursed by God to crawl in the dust, ultimately to be defeated by the Messiah [Genesis 3:14-15]) said, "Has God indeed said.....?" (v. 1), "You will not surely die." (v. 4), "....eat of it....and you will be like God.." (v.5). Being deceived, believing the lie, disobeying God, the forbidden fruit which appealed to the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (v. 6) man ate of the forbidden fruit and death and the curse entered the Paradise of Eden (v. 8-24) and has spread throughout the whole earth (Romans 5:12-13).

When it comes to each one of us as individuals, responsible for our own actions, the Bible states, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). This is the good news, offered as a gift, meaning that it will benefit only those who truly receive it. So, while the Bible gives us an accurate record of how the trouble got started, and what the remedy is, it also gives us a pretty clear view of the future - which is now!

In 2 Peter 3:3-7, Peter outlines four things about which people in the last days would scoff at, sort of complimenting or rationalizing their own lustful life styles. They are: 1) the Second Coming of Christ (v. 4), 2) creation (v. 4-5), 3) the flood (v. 5-6), and 4) judgment (v.7). When men begin to scoff at these truths, such as a literal creation (which is made compatible with much that is currently observable by natural science by #3 in the list - the flood), he begins to forget God. He begins to forget that he is a created being, subject to his creator. He forgets that he is prone to deception and believing the lie that he can know it all and do it all. He joins together with his fellow creatures, where ultimately some form of human government, bereft of God and His laws, is presented as the savior of the world.

Consequently, individually and corporately we violate the first three commandments, thinking there shall be no adverse effects. The nanny state gives us public education, which began with the best of intentions, where now moral absolutes have been removed; replaced by relativism, diversity and tolerance. 50 years later, we have a problem because all this has led to a need for police officers in our school halls, but we no longer have the money to pay them. We have a healthcare problem because we have done precious little to punish the abusers and the thieves. Our medical ethics have become so messed up that we require parental permission for a 14-year old to receive an aspirin from the school nurse, but that same 14-year old can be taken by the school to get an abortion while the parents are kept in the dark.

The Scriptures declare that parents are to raise their children "in the training and admonition of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4). So what are we considering here in Connecticut as a possible means to raise more revenue? Lowering the gambling age at the casinos to 18. There are two verses which, while following one another, are profoundly connected. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. The rich rules over the poor and the borrower is servant to the lender." (Proverbs 22:6-7). A couple generations of parents teaching their children that nothing should be denied, thrift doesn't matter but the latest fashions do, and our debt-driven economy is about ready to implode. Governments need more, so legalizing gambling and promoting gambling look like good ideas. A decade or two later and all the increased revenues have done is stoke the the fires of spending other peoples money and promote the vices of greed and control. "A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him." (Proverbs 28:22).

I hope it is becoming clear to some that the dots are connected. All of our troubles stem from ignoring or rejecting God's Word. Teaching evolution instead of creation eventually devalues human life and produces a whole new vocabulary. A baby in the womb is called a fetus (check Luke 1:41). Abortion is not called murder but Women's Reproductive Health Care. The USA ignores the promise that whoever blesses Israel will be blessed by God (Genesis 12:3), and sets itself up as arbitrator to an ungodly 2-state solution. We quickly forget that "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." (Proverbs 14:34). Judgment has not yet come (except in limited warning signs which are more dots that need to be connected), so collectively we scoff. We say, "If there is a God, where/why...........?" May I remind you "The Lord is not slack concerning His promises, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan." (Proverbs 29:2) If that leads you to trusting God instead of man and government, that's a good thing. Connect the dots while you still can.

World News Through the Third Lens: Free Speech and the First Amendment

Free speech is a right that must be used with wisdom said the headline in an editorial by Kent Bush, of GateHouse News Service, May 4, 2010. Don't let the date bother you - the applications are timeless. Mr. Bush states: "There is a fine line between a tool and a weapon. A hammer is a very useful tool. Few structures would be built without one. But in a fit of rage, a hammer can be used in a gruesome attack." He goes on to state that the First Amendment gives all Americans the right to free speech, and that like a hammer, most applications are beneficial.

While espousing the value of the First Amendment, Mr. Bush wishes that more people would use this basic right with more restraint and wisdom. He says, "The difference is one of can and should. He points out the work of Matt Stone and Trey Parker in their crudely drawn and written cartoon, "South Park" as something that constantly pushes the bounds of decency, with mockery, blasphemy and obscenity in almost every episode. Recently they took a swipe at Islam by making a not so flattering depiction of the prophet Muhammad, just to show that they could.

A website called revolutionmuslim.com posted a poorly veiled threat saying that Parker and Stone might end up like Dutch Filmmaker, Theo Van Gogh - dead. So the South Park episode went in the tank. In response, Molly Norris, and artist from Seattle declared May 20 to be celebrated as "Everyone Draw Muhammad Day." She has since stated she is not involved with this any more. We may have freedom to speak, but words - like actions - often have consequences. Bush concludes his editorial with these words: "You have to choose wisely if you should say everything you can say. (My note: Today's issue of the Norwich Bulletin ran a blurb that Comedy Central was developing a cartoon series that would be titled "J.C." depicting Christ as a "regular guy" who moves to New York to "escape his father's enormous shadow." I think a typical Christian response to insult is seen by most people as being a polar opposite to an Islamic response to insult.)

Through the third lens of Scripture: The Bible has a lot to say about our manner of speech. I good place to start would probably be the Golden Rule. "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12) The Bible tells us that "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check....The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and itself set on fire by hell." (James 3:2,6)

As Christians find themselves aligned with Conservatives and Tea Partiers on many issues, we must be careful not to pick up on hurtful and defaming rhetoric. If there are things wrong in government, society, culture or even the church, we should "Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose (reprove) them." (Ephesians 5:11) If we, as followers of Christ, feel we must engage in such activities, "Let your speech be always seasoned with salt, that you may know how you should answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) We should remember and apply the words of wisdom from David and Solomon: "Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies." (Psalms 34:13) "He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin." (Proverbs 13:3) Although much more could be written on this topic, we'll close with words from James, the brother of Jesus. "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight reign on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." (James 1:26). The First Amendment grants us freedom, not license.

World News Through the Third Lens: Federal Flood Aid Denied

Individuals denied federal flood aid as reported by the Norwich Bulletin, April 28, 2010 - commentary by: Les Young

"Home and business owners won't be getting federal financial assistance to rebuild from March floods, a decision Connecticut's governor is vowing to fight. President Barack Obama has denied the state's request for individual aid to New London and Windham County homeowners, renters and employers. The White House on Friday approved aid to municipal governments in New London, Fairfield and Middlesex counties. 'This decision is not only disappointing, it's wrong, and I will appeal it," Gov. Rell said in a press release.'"

Further on in the article, after numerous town officials, business owners and homeowners voiced their consternation over President Obama's decision, one homeowner was quoted as saying, "I accept Obama's decision, especially after a Saturday tornado in Mississippi that killed 10. There are a lot of people worse off than I am," she said.

Through the third lens of Scripture: Don't worry, I am not going to launch into some comparison between the flooding in CT and RI on March 29-30, 2010 and the world-wide flood in Noah's day. Neither am I going to suggest that the flooding was some sort of judgment inflicted by an angry God on the people of southern New England. Jesus himself warned against such tactics in Luke 13:1-4. Jesus does go on to give a warning that is meant for anyone who has ears to hear. "I tell you no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish" (Luke 13:5). So the first point, whenever disaster strikes is to engage in personal judgment, knowing that we have this promise: "For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world" (1 Corinthians 11:31-32).

Another point is to remember the slogan of the Worth Reading blog site: "The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen." Then there are the words of Thomas Jefferson" "A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have." I don't criticize people in our area for rushing to meet deadlines and filing tons of paperwork in hopes that they might benefit from some government help. I would just hope to remind anyone who might read this blog that in God's order of things, the help pyramid should look like this: God first, then family, then the community of faith, and then maybe the government. In Bible times, "princes" were synonymous with "government, and the Bible says: "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes" (Psalms 118:9)

The next order was family, and the Bible says this: "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8). The next ordered source of help is to be the church. "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10). I don't expect that one short blog is going to change the way the country has gotten used to doing business, but perhaps someone will finally understand that God has a better way than either the Democrats or the Republicans.

World News Through the Third Lens: Socialism and Christianity

Socialism and Christianity by: Les Young

Normally the religious moniker of "Christian" is connected with the political label "Right Wing Conservative." This is not necessarily accurate or flattering. Take, for example, the group named "Hutaree," which means "Christian Warrior." The Bowling Green Daily News today labeled them as bad as the terrorists we are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The problem with all of this is that real Christians don't fight this way. On the other side of the coin, "Christians" have been formally connected with socialism for decades. As far back as 1966, in hearings before the U.S.A. House Committee on Un-American Activities on February 26, 1966, Richard Arens, general counsel to the Committee, declared: "Thus far, in the leadership of the National Council of Churches, we have found over 100 persons in leadership capacity with either Communist-front records or records of services in Communist causes. The aggregate affiliations of the leadership is in the thousands."

In the late 1970's, as an independent insurance agent who also had a Master's degree in Forestry, I had put together a special workers' compensation safety group, designed to improve safety and lower insurance costs for loggers. A contact was made with the "social justice" department of a well-known Protestant denomination, headquartered in New York. One of their projects at the time was to try and unionize loggers in Mississippi. Suffice it to say that in dealing with these people, there was nothing "Christian" about their strategies or their language.

As a nation, we have been moving in the direction of socialism for a long time. The biggest steps in that direction seem to come in times of crisis. (The New Deal during the Great Depression, the Patriot Act following 9/11, Federalization of banks, auto manufacturers following the economic crisis of 2008). If the passage of Health Care Reform sticks, we will have made another giant step in that direction. Religious groups seem to be lined up on both sides of many issues, earning them political labels such as: "Progressive Liberals" or "Tea Baggers." Just what are the politics of Christianity when it comes to the economy, labor, management, and profit and what tactics should be employed to effect reform? I can't thoroughly answer those questions in this blog, but I can put forth a few Scriptures that should at least cause us to think.

A Biblical (Third Lens) Perspective:

Concerning management and labor: "Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. Don't just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ's servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free. Masters, it's the same with you. No abuse, please, and no threats. You and your servants are both under the same master in heaven. He makes no distinction between you and them." (Ephesians 6:5-9, Mssg)

Concerning rewarding everyone equally, regardless of effort/results: "...his work will be shown for what it is because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss..." (1 Corinthians 3:14-15, NIV)


Regarding being able to earn from investments as well as labor: "The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more...The man who had received the five talents brought the other five....See I have gained five more. His master replied, 'Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness." (Matthew 25:16, 20-21)


Regarding being able to enjoy the fruit of your own labor: "A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too I see is from the hand of God, for without Him who can eat or find enjoyment?" (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25). And under the perfect rule of the Messiah: "They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands." (Isaiah 65:21-22)


All of this seems to be closely akin to the spirit of the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self evident; that all men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." And while Christians of good conscience have always been willing to take up arms to secure and defend such rights, the normal method of Christian combat (or reform) can be described in these two Scriptures: "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12). Christian! Fight the good fight of faith!

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

1,000 VISITORS TO JOSEPH'S TOMB IN SCHECHEM (as reported by INN, 2/28/10) Commentary by Les Young: The ancient Jewish Biblical sites in Judea and Samaria continue to make headline news: Following the mass entry into Jericho and an ancient synagogue there last week, and after PM Benjamin Netanyahu included the Machpelah Cave and Rachel's Tomb on the new National Heritage Site List, it's now the turn of Joseph's Tomb in Schechem. A crowd of over 1,000 people from across Israel made their way to Joseph's Tomb on Wednesday night, in honor of the Fast of Esther. MK Danny Danon expressed dismay at the Arab vandalism he saw there, especially the site's smashed dome. "It's shocking to see the barbarism of those who are supposed to be our partners in peace," Danon said.

A BIBLICAL (THIRD LENS) PERSPECTIVE: "And Joseph's bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Schechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the Father of Schechem. This became the inheritance of Joseph's descendants." (Joshua 24:32) It is this writer's opinion that incidents such as this stir up so many outcries of hatred and even violence for two reasons: 1) The discovery of such sites, or the reclamation of them is just further proof that the Bible is true. Many do not want to reckon with this notion, because to do so is to have to reckon with the God of the Bible and the fact that we are all accountable to Him. Often, those who do not wish to seriously consider biblical claim respond to them with anger; 2) They are reminders of God's special dealing with Abraham and his descendants, including promises concerning the land. Again, to accept such claims as valid will ultimately draw one into an encounter with many other biblical claims. I'll mention just two from Paul's letter to the Romans. "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23). "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) These are truth claims that should be seriously considered by every one of us.