Covetousness and the current Financial Mess we are in:Part One

Jesus Christ made a simple statement which needs to be understood if we want to really be able to know what is taking place in the financial world. In Luke 12:15 it says:

“Take heed and beware of covetousness; for a man’s life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.”

The key word in this verse is the word “covetousness” which basically means a strong yearning or desire to have something and specifically something that belongs to someone else. In God’s original covenant with Israel, known as the “Ten Commandments”, this term appears in relation to a number of things as recorded in Exodus 20:17:

“Thou shalt not covet they neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet they neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.”

I do not know how much clearer God could make things. Under no circumstances is it allowable to yearn for anything that legally belongs to someone else. If this door stays closed, there is no reason to continue this study; but if the door is allowed to open even a little bit, it will inevitably lead down a road that is neither pleasant nor godly.

Very simply put; if you have a Rolex watch that I want badly but do not have the means to get legally, how am I going to get that watch? Logically I will figure out a way to steal it. Stealing stems from covetousness most of the time. The easiest (and also riskiest) way to get something that I want but cannot afford to purchase is to steal it. If I sneak in and take the watch, it is calling theft. If I put a mask on and hold a gun to your head and demand the watch, it is armed robbery. The basis of stealing is covetousness and greed.

If I were not so brazen as to literally steal your watch, there are other ways to get it. I could hire a private eye to watch your every move and document things which appear “shady”. I could then meet with you and show you the videos which put you in a compromising position. I then would demand your watch or else I would release my video to the media to ruin your life. This is known as “blackmail” or simply “extortion”. The basis of extortion is covetousness and greed.

I could also trick you into believing I have “the deal of the century” that you could buy into for a price. For your watch, I would let you in on the greatest investment scheme in recorded history. Within 30 days you will be guaranteed to make $100,000. All that is needed is either a deposit of $5,000 or your watch. Since your watch is easier to get than the money, you give me your watch. I then pack up and leave in the middle of the night for parts unknown. In this scenario, I obtained your watch by fraud. The basis of fraud is covetousness and greed.

The Old Testament is full of classic examples of people motivated by covetousness and greed. Among the most poignant is King David and his yearning for Bathsheba. David blatantly broke one of the Ten Commandments when he allowed himself to covet his neighbor’s wife. He then broke another commandment by committing adultery. David broke yet another commandment by bearing false witness against Uriah and he broke yet another commandment by having Uriah murdered.

How could such a Godly and righteous man such as David allow himself to break so many of God’s commandments? It all started with taking a little peek at the beautiful woman bathing. In his mind, David thought nothing bad would come from enjoying the scenery a little bit. The trouble was that he was not able to stop the progression of desires in his flesh and mind that arose from what he saw. He was no longer content to just look at Bathsheba; he sexually wanted her.

If, at this point David would have repented, the story would be bad, but the outcome would have not been nearly as disastrous for all involved. But, David was not content to have simply added another “conquest” to his little black book. He wanted to have Bathsheba as his wife. Now if she were single, that would be no problem, but she was married. Not only that, she was married to one of the most God fearing and upright men in all Israel—Uriah.

David tried by lies and trickery to “steal” Bathsheba from him, but to no avail. When all else failed, and again motivated by the overwhelming desire to have what was not his, he gave the orders to have Uriah killed in battle. Even though David did not personally kill the man, his orders made him part and party to the murder. History proves that most murders stem from jealousy, envy or greed. David proved history is right on the mark.

What happened with David has been repeated by others countless times before and since. Honestly, there were only two places in this horrible set of events where David could have simply said “NO”. If he would have turned away in the first place and not allowed himself to be tempted by the sight of a beautiful woman bathing, the story would have stopped before starting. If he would have stood his ground after watching her and said “NO”, she is not mine to have; he would have spared himself, his family and all Israel the horrendous things which came upon them.

The only way to stop covetousness is to nip it in the bud. The minute the desire arises for something that belongs to someone else-STOP IT RIGHT THEN AND THERE. Crush the yearning with the truth of God’s Word. Slam the Bible on the creeping crawling vermin before it slips into your heart. If you don’t allow the thought to turn into an actual yearning desire, there is no way covetousness will take hold.

So much of what has caused the stress on our financial systems is tracked back to greed and covetousness.  I hold that if we can gain a Biblical understanding of these words, we can gain an understanding of the current crisis.  More to follow on this crucial subject.

The Agenda Driven Quest to “Legalize Sin”

What exactly is an “agenda”? Well, the actual word means in the sense of personal motivation, an underlying personal viewpoint or bias. When evaluating what is being said and done in any realm, one must look at what is the agenda driving the proposal, plan or decision. Very few, if any things done in the political/governmental realms are NOT agenda driven. It seems that much of what is being promoted and propounded in Christianity is also agenda driven.

There are countless examples of agendas so I must try to pick out just a few to illustrate my point. Those who promote the global warming myth are agenda driven. Their viewpoint is biased and skewed and thus what they promote and do is driven by their agenda—to eliminate carbon emissions all around the world. However sincere some people are who participate in various “green” programs and projects; the movement as a whole is perhaps the biggest agenda driven machine in the world today.

Billions upon billions of dollars are poured into the various attempts to influence people’s thoughts and decisions regarding conservation and utilization of natural resources. As is many times the case; the good in an issue is lost in the flood of words and ideas of a bigger agenda. For instance, the green movement has been around far longer than the global warming/climate change one. Yet, in most people’s minds, they are one in the same and many lump the desire to preserve and conserve with global warming. The two have little to do with each other.

When agendas drive marketing, then that which is being marketed will inevitably reflect the skewed views of the agenda. The agenda of major corporations is to increase market share and make more and more money. Yet, through deviously conceived advertising, they give the appearance of being concerned about one’s health, beauty, financial well being or relationships. These corporations are not the least bit concerned about anything other than the bottom line. Their marketing will reflect their agenda whether obviously or subtly.

Perhaps the biggest agenda in recent times is the advancement of gay/lesbian rights. Those involved in these groups have relentlessly driven television and movies to their side of the spectrum. Those totally devoted to this movement have succeeded in getting states to pass laws not only protecting their cause, but actually promoting it. Those who are committed to changing the opinion of the masses to not only accepting gay/lesbian behavior as normal but promoting it as a better alternative than “straight” behavior.

With money and influential backers, any agenda stands a very good chance of succeeding. Without money and the backing of those in prominent positions, agendas usually fail to get off the ground. Properly promoted, programs and concepts driven by an agenda will over time switch from being agendas to the norm. Once to this point, the motivation is not longer based on personal bias but on the recognized standard for normalcy.

Just in the last decade, two of the huge agenda driven issues which the liberal left is identified with, global warming and gay/lesbian rights, have ascended from relative obscurity to universal prominence. Of course not everyone believes in these causes, but far more do now than just ten years ago. Through exceptional marketing, huge amounts of money and the backing of influential people; these two issues have already made the turn to accepted normalcy in the majority of people’s minds. This is quite an accomplishment.

Part of the reason certain ungodly issues become accepted as the norm, such as the homosexual issue, is because the church is divided itself on the topic. Due to some denominations fully accepting the premise that homosexuality is perfectly normal behavior, there is no united effort to combat the ever growing influence those who practice this lifestyle promote.

Afraid of being called “right wing wackos” or intolerant fake Christians devoid of love; many Christian groups have fully embraced the homosexual community as they would Latinos or Orientals (Asians). Once this happens, the church loses a pivotal part of its ability to confront behavior as undesirable or sinful. Truth be told, many churches do not want to lose the contributions of those members who are openly gay any more than those guilty of greed, adultery or lying.

Because the church fails to stand on principle, the church ceases to be anything but an instrument of the very thing it should be opposing. Because the liberal church refuses to deal with any absolutes, as far a sinful behavior is concerned, the is nothing anyone can do that is not considered personal choice. If a person wants to get an abortion, that is their business and their choice. If they want to rip off people’s money through trickery or abhorrent business practices, that is their business. This “hands off” approach to dealing with others lends itself to big offerings and huge numbers of bodies in the seats on Sundays.

Without the moral compass provided by the church, society is heading downhill at a rapid pace. With nothing to slow down the drive to liberalize every aspect of society, we will soon see lifestyles and behavior that only a generation ago was either illegal or ONLY done in secret become common place and acceptable as “alternative lifestyles”.

The agenda of those who oppose God’s Word is clear and simple. They will stop at nothing to discredit, disgrace and make the views of the Christian right look foolish to the masses of the world. Once sin is legalized and made acceptable, there remains little to deter it. Once sin is considered “normal”, then there remains no compelling reason to not commit it or sanction it. This is where we are heading very quickly in this country and around the world.

Self-Righteous Liars Abound because of the lust of the flesh

There is within all of us a lust. The one great lust everyone must confront is the lust to be RIGHTEOUS. In its least common denominator, the lust of the flesh is to become SELF-RIGHTEOUS. No one enjoys being wrong and no one sets out on life’s journey with the goal of being the most wrong person on earth. All the great arguments and battles in life revolve around the issue of who is right and who is wrong.

I have had many “bosses” who proudly displayed a sign in their office saying something to the effect of; “I am always right”. Rare are the times a disgruntled employee can sit in an office with that sign and come out anything but fired. The lust to be right has destroyed more relationships than anything else. More divorces are prompted by the adamant refusal of the two parties to admit they are wrong. When two people both stake their claim on being right, the end result is always bitter fighting and division.

Fueled by pride and ego, the lust to be right drives those with domineering personalities to positions of great power and influence. When a person honestly believes he or she is the only person on earth who is right, the natural course will be to tell the world this great truth. All great messianic figures who have developed great followings do so by projecting an aura of righteousness mixed with a charismatic personality.

Those who honestly believe they are 100% right 100% of the time will either through domination or charm seek to become the alpha dog in the pack and top hen in the pecking order. Self-righteousness is far more than just trying to attain one’s own salvation. That is only the theological aspect of it. The more dangerous side of self-righteousness deals with power, manipulation and domination of others to feed the lust of the flesh which is to be RIGHTeous.

There are few absolutes when it comes to people, but here is one of them. Anyone who claims to always be right is automatically wrong. Anyone who claims to be infallible has proven they are by the mere statement. The only person who was totally right all the time was Jesus Christ. No other person who ever lives will ever be able to claim what Jesus was and did.

The lust of the flesh is to be RIGHTeous and the paradox ends up being that people resort to lies to prove they are right. We had a President in this country look into television cameras back in the early 1970’s and flat out lie to the American people about his Watergate involvement. We had another President do the same thing ten years ago regarding a “woman”. I can assure you that every man who has been President of this country and any other throughout the world has looked in the eyes of the people he or she serves and lied to their face.

Those obsessed with power have sold their very souls to the gods they serve. No person whose only aim in this life is to be the most powerful person on earth can be anything but a professional liar and a person who cannot be trusted to ever tell the truth. Yet, even now, there are millions upon millions of naïve and foolish people who are caught up in the ridiculous fervor produced by men and women who daily claim to have all the answers and who SAY they are only interested in helping the people. What a line of you know what.

Ambition blinds people. Money changes people and power kills anything good in people. Those whose only desire is to build huge personal followings, whether political or religious, need to be avoided in these last times. Jesus warned that in the last days many would come in His name and would lure unsuspecting souls to follow them. When I look at the current political campaign, I see the fulfillment of this happening.

Those charter members of the PLA (Professional Liars Association) need to be marked and avoided at all costs. These are the most dangerous men and women on earth. Those who have sold their heart and soul to the ambition of becoming the most powerful and influential people on earth are the very people who carry out the enemy’s plans for the destruction of all that is right and good.

The only way the father of lies can succeed in getting one who knows the truth to believe a lie is through deceit. The serpent could in no way persuade Eve to eat of the fruit of the tree God said not to except through deceit. By planting doubts (Did God really say), by twisting the commands of God, by adding and subtracting words from the original Word of God etc. Ultimately the serpent issued a direct contradiction to the Word of God. “You shall NOT surely die”. Deceit led to the disaster of disobedience.

We live in dangerous times. Everywhere we are surrounded by illusions. It is extremely imperative that we sharpen our spiritual awareness and vow to not be gullible. Just because something sounds good does not make it good. Professional liars abound in every category of life. No matter where you go and who you talk to, there is an excellent chance the person is lying to your face and is perfectly sincere while doing so. Ephesians 5 tells us to walk circumspectly which means to walk with acute spiritual perception and awareness.

The old story was of the man ringing the doorbell trying to sell a toothbrush with only one bristle. He succeeded because he was so sincere. Sincerity is no guarantee for truth. In fact, those who usually the most sincere are many times the most devious, ruthless and malicious people on earth. Our government, universities, churches and workplaces are full of sincere sounding and harmless looking people who deep down inside are licking their chops in eager anticipation of their next meal.

Jesus told the twelve when He sent them forth to be wise as serpents yet harmless as doves. How wise was the serpent? This is referring to the acute perception and awareness needed to not get tricked by the sincerity of those feigning to be something they are not. In these final hours it is vitally important that we all be extremely careful, prudent and wise when it comes to whom we listen to, believe and entrust our hearts and minds to.

Go, Stand and Speak the Truth in Love–The Body depends on it

It rips at my gut like a bad case of food poisoning. It makes me feel like I am being smothered by a huge blanket. It blurs my vision and wipes all energy from my body. All I want to do is sit and cry. What on earth am I describing?

No, I am not attempting to describe clinical depression. What I am describing is how I feel when “the Man of Sorrows” manifests Himself through me. Jesus is not all happy and peaceful; not by a long shot. In fact, I am more sensitive to how much He grieves for the state of His Body than I am any other aspect of my Savior.

I honestly feel that when Jesus reflects upon the state of His church, He has no choice but to weep. What was once so glorious has been ripped asunder by doctrines of devils and arrogant frauds only wanting self glory. Any unity of the faith vanished long ago. Bickering has progressed to all out warfare among different factions all claiming to be the one true faith.

What once was a pure faith has been watered down and adulterated to the point it is powerless and counterproductive many times. When the far left fringes of Christianity are compared with the far right, there is no possible way they could both have the same faith. The sad reality is that the Body of Christ is crippled and on life support.

Certain issues have always divided believers into denominational factions. Whether baptism, ordination policies or monetary use; division is more often the result of Christians being together than any form of unity. Every member of the Body seems to have an agenda they are pushing and as a result the body is uncoordinated and so busy fighting itself it cannot get anything done.

In many respects, the Christian faith has become somewhat of a “to each their own” faith. Whether speaking of doctrinal or practical issues, there is little for Christians to agree with each other upon. What one person considers the “pillars of their faith”, another considers meaningless. What one believer deems vitally important to godliness, another doesn’t even recognize.

Social issues have succeeded in ripping the Body of Christ limb by limb into many “bodies”. Those who have decided to use feelings and personal agendas as the basis of their faith have succeeded in turning those who still cling to the Bible as the only rule of faith and practice into Neanderthals. Those who demand freedom of choice in all matters of lifestyle and living have turned Christianity on its head.

Anyone who doesn’t understand just how deep the divide has become among Christianity has not kept up with the news. Whether ordaining gays, promoting gay rights as totally allowable behavior for a Christian or advocating anyone wrestling with “feelings” to come out of closet; the side of the Christian faith which is attempting to make tolerance for homosexuality the center piece of the faith are winning the tide of public opinion.

What has happened in the world has spread like a cancer into the Body of Christ. Like a cancer, it is slowing eating away at the general health of the Body. Once this cancer reaches vital organs, the Body will grow very ill. Once it reaches the heart of the Body of Christ, it is all over.

What those who are promoting this lie fail to understand is that they are in effect saying that Christ was a homosexual. There are countless thousands who believe this lie based on no documentation that Christ ever was with a woman. Crazy assumptions of what Jesus did with his band of men have been circulated among the gay circles for years. Just as different races want to make Jesus their race, gays have attempted to make Jesus gay.

I am sorry, but at this point of this insane discussion there is no more to say. The utter folly in even insinuating that Jesus was homosexual is blasphemy just as the ridiculous accusations that Jesus was married and had children. Anything to tear down the truth and lower the standard to man’s sinful nature. That seems to be the prevailing attitude of the times.

Jesus was not a homosexual neither did He marry, have children and retire to a nice house on Long Island. Jesus was exactly who the Bible says He was; nothing more and nothing less. To read into the Bible things which justify sin and unholy lifestyles is a disgrace and a smack to our Lord’s face.

I have heard preachers say for years that Paul had an entourage of women who traveled with him to meet his sexual needs. Of course these same preachers had the same thing for themselves. I have heard believers claim that Jesus sat around the campfire in the evening smoking some kind of Biblical times weed with His disciples. Of course these same people did the same in their own lives.

People have attempted to make the Bible say whatever they want it to say to justify the lusts of their flesh and of their mind. They pull verses out of context and twist around words to make them imply what they need them to say in order to use them to justify their wickedness.

There is no putting back together the Body of Christ. The damage has been done and will not be repaired until that time in the future when the “perfecting of the saints” takes place. Until then, all efforts should be directed at preventing the heresies floating around the Body of Christ like blood clots from lodging in the lungs or heart and disabling the Body totally.

Those who know and love the truth are charged with the responsibility of speaking it. If ever there was a time to that, it is now. Go, stand and speak the truth in love.

The Relentless Attack Against “Right Wing” Fundamental Christians

There is not a shadow of doubt in my mind that we are living in the final hours of the last days. Those that do not want to believe in such foolishness are free to believe as they want, but for those of us who DO believe; these are truly exciting yet harrowing times.

Not even taking into account the flood of newsworthy events taking place in the world, there is ample evidence spiritually that we must be nearing the end of a 6,000 year journey. With each passing day, the apostasy grows greater. With each passing day, the numbers of those who have allowed the world to turn their heart cold and have forsaken the first love of their life, Jesus, grow expeditiously.

The enemy appears to have been given a green light to launch an all out attack on the remaining remnant. Those who are still faithfully trying to stand on the integrity of God’s Word are being ridiculed, defamed and persecuted at every turn. Anyone who dares stand up for the truth is quickly shouted down and his voice drowned out by the throngs of angry people who absolutely despise those “right wing fanatics”.

The battle goes far beyond the old issues such as abortion. Far and away, the issue of the hour is homosexuality, same sex marriage and the elimination of differences between sexes. Old terms such as “mom” and “dad” are being threatened with extinction. For those intent on destroying the old concept of the family; there can be no distinction between mom and dad, for there are either two moms or two dads.

There are efforts being made in the courts to outlaw “boys” and “girls” restrooms. Why? Because the designation supposedly discriminates against a young boy or girl who doesn’t know which sex they really are yet. The same thing is coming with respect to separating boys and girls in gym classes. The effort on the part of the gay community has been relentless and progressively more demanding with respect to the elimination of any and all references which differentiate between the sexes.

Those who still stand fast on what the Bible says on this subject are relegated to the trash heap of worthless right wingers who would be better off dead than alive. The venom and pure hatred manifested by the gay/lesbian rights community toward those who “hide” behind the Bible is ugly and soon to be dangerous. The day will shortly come when the gay community will do to straight men what they used to do to gays.

The mantra of tolerance toward all is nothing but a smoke screen to cover agendas hell-bent on the destruction of the family the way God intended it to be. People want to be allowed to do whatever they feel like doing, whenever they want to and with whoever they feel like doing it with. They do not want someone telling them what is right and wrong. In fact, anyone doing such a thing is automatically marked as public enemy number one and all efforts are made to discredit and destroy them.

When you combine the adamant pro choice crowd together with the gay/lesbian activists and then add in the extreme environmentalists and minority rights activists; you have a consortium that is politically powerful and absolutely committed to their respective causes. In fact, these people are some of the most committed people on earth. They work tirelessly to advance their ideas and are so strong willed very few can or will stand up to them.

The group which is the target of the wrath of these groups are the right wing Christians who quote Bible verses to expose their darkness and sin. These “kooks” must be silenced through either intimidation or defamation of character. Their families, business ethics, finances and all the years of their life come under scrutiny by those looking for one speck of dirt to dig up and discredit them. Of course the current situation with Gov. Palin shows this perfectly.

Those who have a backbone need to stand up and be counted. Right and left, those who once claimed to believe the Bible and what the Bible says about social issues have been either pressured or pleasured out of the battle. The causalities are enormous in number and stature. One after another person and ministry has been targeted and attacked relentlessly. Most have crumbled like a house of cards, for that is what they were. Others have withstood the attacks and though diminished in stature, have refused to compromise or cave in.

Is there anyone who really thinks the whole of Judea did not know that Jesus was, in the world’s eyes, a bastard? The Pharisees threw that at Jesus as a way to prove there is no way he could be right. I am quite sure there were very few people around who had not heard the rumors about Jesus birth. I am also quite sure that when the pressure was on at the end of Jesus ministry, people used this piece of gossip as justifiable reason to leave from following Jesus.

The enemy is highly skilled and extremely adept at digging up dirt on anyone “fighting the good fight”. If you have dirt in your life, come clean with it and for God’s sake do not try to hide it. Far better it would be to simply state the truth and face the immediate ridicule, then to cover up and try to hide the facts about anything in the past. The enemy and his agents will dig it up in due time, and when they do, it will not be pleasant.

The enemy is determined to make those of us who believe the Bible is the only rule for faith and practice to look like fools or mentally challenged freaks not worthy of believing. The enemy hates those who faithfully and boldly stand on God’s Word. Those who do, are targeted and marked for attack. Assassin squads are daily dispatched from hell to try and trip up those who are marked. Every possible effort is made by the enemy’s minions to deceive, trick or physically injure those on his “hit list”.

I pray that God’s remnant refuses to bow. I pray that no matter how difficult it gets for those of us who believe and boldly proclaim God’s Word, we will never compromise and never back down from speaking the truth in love. I pray that any of God’s children who deep in their heart are crying out to receive what is needed to have the full armor of God, can be led to those who know how to help someone receive that armor.

Ephesians 6 exhorts us to STAND and having done all, to STAND. As difficult as it is to do, especially if alone, we must strive with all of our hearts to STAND, no matter what happens to us or when it happens.

Whose word are we going to believe; God’s or the devil’s?

Either the Word of God is going to be our rule for faith or practice or it is not. We cannot say we believe the Bible and then turn around deny what it says. Either the Word of God is true or it is not. People cannot have it both ways.

The Word of God is perfectly clear as to what is currently going on both in the world and within Christianity. All we must do is allow the Word of God to speak for itself and quit making it say what we want it to say. Hear Ye the Word of the Lord:

“Now the Spirit expressly (specifically) says that in later times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.

Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.”

1 Timothy 4:1,2 NKJV

The whole discussion which came up yesterday concerning the subject of homosexuality is a perfect example of what these verses are talking about. When a person knows what the Word of God says but decides to walk away from all they know to be true; they have given heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.

The devil has his version of the Bible, and I am not talking about the Satanic Bible. In the devil’s version of the Bible, the prevailing theme is tolerance and the prevailing subject is self. In the devil’s version, personal liberty and satisfaction is the reason for living; and every effort is made to water down sections of the true Word of God that contradict this.

Since the true Word of God exposes the devil’s version as a lie; the devil must work to discredit that which is true and replace it with his own doctrine. Working through and in many of the modern versions of the Bible, he has done just this. Many of the versions written in modern language have removed the strict call to holiness and replaced it with a general call to “live right”. Many modern versions simply do away with sin and the consequence of it. These are the devil’s versions of the Bible.

When sin is belittled or done away with entirely, there remains to compelling reason to not sin. With the check and balance system God put in place removed, nothing remains to cause the conscience to object to behavior which is wrong, selfish or hurtful to others. The devil’s version of the Bible cleverly removes all moral constraints and thus opens the door for any and all ungodly behavior.

The only way the devil can persuade someone who knows what the true Word of God says about a subject to throw it away and believe the devil’s version is by way of deceiving spirits. Our world is full of deceiving spirits who spew forth their propaganda via television, magazines, newspapers and the internet. Everywhere a person goes and every form of communication is filled with deceiving spirits promoting that which is the lie as being true.

When a person yields to these lies and begins considering them, they quickly start the slide to spiritual oblivion. The only defense is to NEVER under any circumstances consider the lie to be anything other than what it is—a lie. If Eve would have never considered what the serpent was telling her in the Garden, perhaps the horrible calamity could have been avoided. The first step down is ALWAYS when a person considers what is in the devil’s version of the Bible to possibly be true.

Deceiving spirits know the person and their weakness. They study a person and take very good notes of their behavior and where they are vulnerable. They then subtly insert “moles” into that person’s inner circle of friends to start dropping hints that perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad if such and such was done, because after all, God is full of mercy and we live in grace. Once a person considers the lie, they open the door to greater and greater deceiving spirits to enter and slowly but surely persuade him that not only is the sin allowable, but there will be no consequence.

Once the lie (the bait) is taken and accepted, then the devil orchestrates circumstances to present the person with the opportunity to do what had been suggested. The more the person does that which is wrong, the more their conscience becomes seared with a hot iron. In time, they get to the point where they simply believe the lie is true and the truth is the lie. At that point, the devil sits back and says; “Gotcha”.

The time has come for those of us who believe the Bible is the truth, and not the devil’s version, to stand up and let our voices be heard. Of course we will be scorned and ridiculed and called intolerant and many other things. Of course we will be hated and despised and accused of non-Christian behavior. We will suffer the same fate as all who have come before us who dared to stand up for and on what the Word of God says.

Unless God has some champions who are willing to pay the price associated with boldly declaring what His Word says, the devil’s version will keep growing and expanding and ensnaring more and more captives. Perhaps we all need to read again what the Lord Jesus said awaits those who are His true disciples as the end approaches in Matthew 24. Perhaps we all need to read again what Jesus said in relation to being hated, rejected and dishonored for being His disciple.

Those who want to turn Christianity into a popularity contest have ruined it. Those only interested in making church nothing more than a dog and pony show have turned it into the devil’s three ring circus. Those who are afraid to speak the truth out of fear of offending someone have turned so called Christianity into a politically correct batch of spiritual gutless wonders. Yes, the bottom line to the devil’s version is to turn everything around and make those trying to do what is right look like villains and those doing nothing right look like geniuses. Take a stand, brothers and sisters, somebody better, before it is too late.

There is Something HUGE Afoot in the World; Beware and Vigilant

Since this was written, the world’s money brokers have decided to swamp the banking system with dollars.  This has bred a euphoria among traders and the market will probably shoot up today.  So, perhaps those lipstick laden pigs I allude to in this post will fly after all.  Even if they do, it is impossible for them to fly very long due to inherent problems in the system.  They can pour all the phony money they want into the system, but until the system is fixed, it is like flushing money down the toilet.

Brothers and sisters, I do not want to be accused of being a “fear monger”, but there is something afoot that demands our vigilance and due diligence. Something took place today that was unprecedented. The price for an ounce of gold went up more today than any day in history. Gold went up over $90 per ounce IN ONE DAY! Even those of us without degrees in economics know this is huge.

People buy gold when they are afraid their “paper” investments are going bad. The more people buy something like gold, the more the price goes up. For gold to shoot up like it did today was an indication that all the selling on Wall Street was used to buy gold. Investors are “parking” their money in gold because it historically does better in uncertain economic times, just as it does worse when the stock market is in bull territory.

Yesterday, I listened to Jordan Goodman (a very well respected financial advisor) tell the listening audience that he had already liquidated most of his stock assets and moved the money to money market accounts, CDs and gold. Now, if someone as well known and respected as Jordan Goodman does this with his personal money; you can bet there are millions of other “in the know” investors also moving their money out of the volatile stock market into safer investments.

Does this mean the stock market is going to crash? It could, even though the “experts” say it is impossible. Does this mean we should all run to whoever controls our 401 k’s at work and demand to switch all assets to money markets and gold? Probably not, for it takes too long to do that. But, if you have investments languishing in stocks, I would highly recommend you try to get through to your broker and consider getting out of Dodge before Dodge is gone.

Things happen fast in the realm of finances once enough factors are in place. It has taken a year for the sub-prime crisis to become the monster that is gobbling up people’s life’s savings at an alarming rate. It took a long time to build to this point, but very little time for everything to implode. The events of the past couple of weeks are unprecedented what with the Federal Government officially taking over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and now AIG. No one was talking of anything like this happening even a few months ago.

For the past twelve months, those who make the decisions which end up causing all of us to either make or lose money have been assuring us that “all is well” and “don’t worry, we have this under control”. They said this as they kept lowing the rate for banks to borrow money lower and lower and lower. As they were doing this, the value of the United States Dollar kept getting lower and lower and lower. The world did not trust this country’s economic decisions, and as it turns out, for good cause.

Tomorrow the stock market could rally and shoot up 500 points. Tomorrow those illustrious pigs with lipstick could fly too. Based on what happened to the price of gold today; if I were a betting man, I would wager it all on another steep decline in the stock market tomorrow. One never knows and that is why playing the stock market is paramount to gambling in Las Vegas.

I am not a broker, nor am I a financial advisor (although I received training in the field). What I am is an educated citizen who has a large degree of common sense. Anyone with eyes to see should be able to see what is going on. The market is spooked and when money flows out of stock market the way it did Monday and then today, somebody knows something that is REALLY BIG. I pray whatever they know, God shows us too.

Dealing with the Ray Boltz Bombshell

Back in 1993 I was desperately looking for Christian music with some real “meat” in the lyrics. Ever since Keith Green died tragically in a plane crash, Contemporary Christian music was not meeting my needs for songs with a punch that really communicated either the Bible or principles of Christian living.

In this time period I found and came to deeply love the songs of Steve Green, Dallas Holm, John Michael Talbot and Ray Boltz. That which was common in these great Christian musicians was their obvious love for the Lord and their lack of fear in singing the truth of God’s Word even if it meant not selling as many records than if they watered down the Gospel.

I was particularly intrigued by the music of Ray Boltz. His words were like listening to a story being told, especially his ballad “See the Lamb” which I have always loved dearly. I remained a fan of Ray for years as his music styled changed and his ministry changed course. I was very glad when he produced a new CD back a few years ago, for it had been awhile.

The news yesterday that he announced he was gay and happy hit me like a ton of bricks. If there was one thing I never in a million years would have thought would come out of his mouth, it was that he was gay. Even typing these words make me cringe. Knowing his conscience is seared with a hot iron and that he has no plans to “repent” or re-think his lifestyle change makes me sad, with unspeakable sadness.

People “blow it” everyday. Some of the sins committed by well known Christian leaders and entertainers are really bad. But this one takes the cake. I can think of nothing a person with the influence Ray Boltz has could do to drive a wedge among Christians faster than to make his announcement. The battle between “gay and straight” Christianity has been heating up anyway. Ray’s announcement only serves to push the issue over the cliff.

For a man with the upbringing and ultra conservative roots that Ray Boltz has to somehow come to the conclusion that something as Biblically deplored as homosexuality is justifiable in his case is equal to a Christian leader being caught snorting cocaine and then he say it is allowable for him. Or what about the Pope getting caught in a relationship with a nun and him telling the world it is allowable because he is the Pope.

It is truly sad that so many Christians are rallying behind Mr. Boltz as if he is a victim. This putrid worldly behavior is sickening. Let us call a sin a sin no matter who commits it. People can debate whether homosexuality is a sin all day long, but as long as the Bible is to used as the standard for what is sin or is not; there is no issue—homosexuality is a sin according to the Bible.

People must live with the choices they make. Ray Boltz must live with the choice he has made not only in this life, but also in that which is to come. He must live with knowing that the vast majority of people he blessed with his music, myself included, now have a bitter taste in our mouths and will not be able to listen again to him without the taste of bile surfacing.

I will pray for all involved as any Christian should. God help us all.

A Day to Be Very Aware and Spiritually Alert

This is a day to be “on guard” as the world takes stock of all that has happened since Friday. Not only was there a horrific commuter train crash in southern California and Hurricane Ike; now we have the crashing and burning of two Wall Street giants in one weekend. If what is going on around the world in financial markets is any indication; this day could be one of the worst days ever on Wall Street.

Whenever the world is going through convulsions, the shock waves are bound to reach each of us in one way or another. Whether higher gasoline prices, sudden loss of investment income or dealing with the growing fear among many people that there is something going on that is not being reported; there are numerous ways events taking place in the world manage to influence us.

This would not be a good time to take a mental vacation, let alone a spiritual one. Don’t be surprised if the Lord brings out the “cattle prod” and gives you a good jolt today. There is massive need for prayer today. The situation in southern Texas and Louisiana is 1,000 times worse than is being reported. FEMA and other agencies are hiding the real statistics as to fatalities and damage. Sooner or later the whereabouts of the 140,000 people told to evacuate or face certain death must be accounted for.

Political turmoil is boiling over in Bolivia, Thailand and other remote countries. The military situation in Afghanistan is growing worse by the day. Threats being made by Israel towards Iran indicate an attack is imminent. The problems between the United States and Venezuela and Honduras are reaching the critical point. Nations such as Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas are tattered and lay in ruins due to relentless hurricanes over the past few weeks.

The wise person should take stock of their situation and do whatever is necessary to not be directly impacted by anything going on in the world, especially in the financial markets. The bombshell which was dropped yesterday and that will be manifested later this morning when the markets open is going to adversely affect many people. In the same vein, the possible gasoline shortages due to the hurricane may temporarily drive up the cost of gasoline to record highs even as the price of oil keeps dropping.

Certain items are always in short supply after a major hurricane hits a port city. The laws of supply and demand dictate if an item is in short supply, the price will go up. A prudent person would stock up on any items that are vital to survival and relative comfort. Time does not allow me to share details of the horror stories coming out of Houston from people who failed to prepare for the storm they all knew was coming. There is no excuse for having a generator but never thinking to buy gasoline to run it.

Whether this day turns out to be just another day or ends up being one of those days the world literally shudders, we as believers need to pray for personal protection, guidance and avenues where we can share the love in our hearts with those in need. The only reason to pray for God to take care of us in times of trouble is so that we are able to help others. God knows there are countless people locked in the throes of staggering circumstances literally pulling them apart.

I beseech you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to prayerfully consider all that is going on this day and with great humility ask the Lord what you can do to help Him. After all, the very reason we are alive is to be a blessing to the Lord and His people. We were not given all we have from Him just so we could sit around laughing at the trials and tribulations of those around us. To the contrary, we have been charged to do the work of an evangelist and to comfort, encourage and edify with all the love of Christ in our hearts.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080915100149.qdzqexmo&show_article=1&catnum=0

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N14363975.htm

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/14/america/arms.php

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080915/ap_on_re_us/severe_weather

Empathetic Identification=Philippians 3 which is my goal in this life

Many years ago, I spent dozens of hours studying Philippians chapter three, especially the second half of the chapter. I did this because I wanted, more than anything in life, to be able to say what the Apostle Paul said of himself in that chapter. From the time this yearning started thirty years ago, my life’s greatest goal is to honestly say with convection and by experience the following:

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.

Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.

And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.

THAT I MAY KNOW HIM AND THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION, AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS, BEING CONFORMED TO HIS DEATH.

IF BY ANY MEANS, I MAY ATTAIN TO THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:7-14 NKJV

That which represents my life’s dream is to be able to KNOW by experience the power of Christ’s resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings. This is done by being conformed to his death. Unless we die with Jesus we can never experience the power of his resurrection. We can never die with Him unless we are willing to share fully in His sufferings.

The past few days have taken much out of me. I was up much of Friday night due to the empathetic identification I felt with both the Lord Jesus and many of His people suffering in Texas and Louisiana. I have besought the Lord for thirty years to allow me to share in His pain when His people are hurting. Thousands upon thousands of born again believers had to endure an experience Friday night and Saturday morning few of us could comprehend. Due to their suffering, the heart of our Lord Jesus Christ was burdened with suffering also.

Jesus did not just suffer through the beatings and other things associated with paying the price for our redemption and healing. Jesus still suffers every time His people let him down or are subjected to torture, persecution or pain. This suffering is not related to our salvation, it is related to the LOVE and COMPASSION which fills the heart of our Lord Jesus. Times such as this weekend literally cause Him to sit on His throne and weep.

I have diligently prayed that my Lord would allow me to share fully in His sufferings both past and present. I have diligently prayed for my Lord to allow me to be conformed to his death. I take pride in little in the life, but one thing I do thank God for is that I can honestly say there is nothing in this life worth me living for outside of my Lord, His people and the furtherance of His Kingdom.

Long ago I cast all my accomplishments, aspirations and desires at His feet and asked Him to grind them to pieces. Long ago I turned my whole life over to Him and asked Him to do with me as He pleased. This life I live is not my own, for I have been bought with a price so that this life can be a glory to Him.

My heart is still filled with heaviness for I know many of God’s people are suffering greatly. Not only in Texas and Louisiana, but all around the world. The degree and extent of persecution against Christians is rising rapidly in some countries. The degree and extent of Christians turning their back on their Lord is rising just as rapidly.

One by one, I have watched as first one and then another lifelong friend, relative or acquaintance seeks to distance themselves as far away from me as possible due to my beliefs. One by one, the fellowship of those whom I counted as yokefellows or comrades has shrunk to the point of only a few remaining. I feel the pain as one by one, great men and women for God get sucked away from Him like those who perished in the storm surge the other night. Their very life sucked out of their lungs.

These are trying times in which we live, for God is trying and testing His people to see who is REAL and who is not. Through pressures and pleasures, God is winnowing His flock as we approach the end of the age. Those whose hearts have grown hard and whose love has become cold will suffer greatly in the time to come. Those whose commitment to the Lord has grown stronger and whose love has become deeper will be rewarded with being a part of an event all but a scant few have totally rejected as a lie.

Yes, I will believe in the rapture of those who have “passed the test” till the day I cease to draw breath on this earth. Whether anyone else believes as I do is between them and our Lord. As for me; I have devoted my life to ridding myself of worldly baggage and becoming in all ways as much like my Lord as I can. I have willingly sacrificed this world’s fame and fortune in order to “gain Christ” and to be a part of the “out-resurrection” from the dead.

I have tried to forget all that is behind me and concentrate only on serving and giving my life to Him from this time forward. I want NOTHING this world has to offer and would gladly give my life instead of compromising my faith to have fame or fortune. No amount of money on earth could sway me to forsake my Lord and become someone just like everyone else in this world. This world can come take this house, my van, my dogs and even my wife. Under no circumstances will this world take my soul, for it belongs only to my Lord Jesus Christ.