Standing Against the Flood of the Enemy

I went out to feed the horses early yesterday because I knew incredible weather phenomena was coming through. When I left to make the 1/8^th mile trek up to the horse barn the temperature was 70 degrees with no wind. By the time I got back about twenty minutes later; the temperature was 50 degrees and the wind was blowing around 50 mph. Some twenty minutes later, the temp was down to 35 degrees and the wind was still blowing about 40 mph. In fact, I think every leaf in Kansas has blown across the state of Missouri to where we live.

Although, thankfully, there are no storms at the moment (quite unusual), this experience with an extremely strong cold front brought back memories of many pictures and videos I have seen of the storm surge that wiped out the coast of Mississippi during Katrina. Amazing video was shot from the Air Force base at Biloxi of the surge engulfing the parking lot and in a matter of minutes totally covering cars and buildings.

The Bible speaks of the enemy "coming in like a flood." When he decides to "invade", he holds nothing back. He aligns his forces to smother an area just like in a storm surge, or like the winds we are currently experiencing. He holds nothing back when he decides to put a person, place, church or city under "siege". In the Old Testament, you can see plenty of examples of physical enemies putting a city under siege. Jerusalem certainly was in this category more than once.

There is little that can be done once a full scale attack commences. The work must be done ahead of time. As the scouts motto states; "be prepared" is the only way to withstand the rushing winds or rising floods of the enemy. Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the whole armor of God, leaving nothing uncovered where a dart might get through. Once the armor is in place, the preparation stage is complete, then it says to STAND.

The hardest thing to do is STAND when facing hurricane force winds. Yet, that is one of the great keys to victory in spiritual warfare. There are certainly times to back off and there are times to retreat. But, in the heat of the battle, the need is to STAND. The victor is determined by who is left standing at the end of the battle.

The principalities and powers in high places that we war against are not to be shrugged off or treated lightly. These high ranking officers in the devil's army are powerful and crafty beyond description. They seek only the destruction of those who they feel are a threat to the devil's aims and goals. All they do is ultimately directed at those who are STANDING for God. That is where the battle rages. Between those who are attempting to be "faithful in Christ Jesus" and those who are high ranking officials in the devil's chain of command. "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities…" Ephesians 6 tells us.

I believe God lets prayer warriors know ahead of time of an impending spiritual invasion. The heaviness and oppression we feel is the way God has set up to alert His warriors as to what is COMING. Once the sign has been given, the warriors must go into battle mode and pray as never before, and they must alert others to the upcoming event so they may prepare.

Last August I was attending a conference. After the key speaker spoke one night, there was the typical prayer service common to Assemblies denomination (where the conference was taking place). Not being of that persuasion, I didn't know what was coming. The speaker requested any and all those engaged in Christian service to come forward. I did as I was told and waited for the men to make their way down the line to me.

When they started praying over me, they were praying that whoever and whatever was seeking to destroy what I was doing for God would cease. Specifics were giving as to the particular person who was spreading deceitful lies and the prayer was made to make him stop. This was all news to me. I didn't know anyone was attempting to do such a thing.

Afterwards, I met up with the gentleman and asked for further details. He told me exactly what God showed him, complete with a "tattoo" on the arm. We prayed again and as much as I would like to say I found the person and stopped him, I never did. But, whoever it was succeeded in causing me no end of trouble. I must confess it was my own fault for not investigating further as to whom this mysterious person could be, but I got distracted and never did.

The enemy can be strong and powerful as well as crafty and extremely deceitful. Either way, we need each other's prayers to help us be strong enough to spot and withstand his attacks. "Be strong in the Lord and in the Power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Ephesians 6:10 and 11 says.

The word "wiles" can be translated as "strategies". The devil and his gang operate off of strategy. They don't do what they do on a whim. They study their target, find the weak points and then arrange a strategy to attack those weak points. Wicked spirits from on high are sent in to wage spiritual warfare against a saint, a fellowship of saints, a city, a state or even a nation. The book of Daniel speaks of Michael returning from battling the enemy in a certain geographical area.

Our mission, if we decide to accept it, is to PUT ON the whole armor of God and to STAND. We listen to the prayer warriors, we put on the whole armor of God, we pray and having done all, WE STAND. That is our mission and that is our calling in times of intense spiritual warfare.

The Price of Commitment

I deplore religion. I deplore those who use religion to promote 100% secular causes. I deplore religious people who don't have one ounce of Christian blood inside them. I am a Christian and I am proud of it. My citizenship is not of this world and I do not pledge my allegiance to any nation or government of man. My king is Jesus Christ and to Him and Him alone I am committed. No institution of man, no religious ruling authority, no principality or power has any right to my heart or dominion over my soul.

Those who wish to cower in the shadows and hide from the stomping boots of agents bent on the destruction of "Christians" should be the first ones shot. They are a disgrace to those who gave their lives as martyrs for Christ. Cowards run for cover when the enemy approaches. Cowards should be the first ones fed to the hungry lions.

I am very tired of "playing religious games" with people who never have or ever will know and love Jesus Christ as a true Christian does. "Religious" people are not Christians simply because they practice some religion. Christianity is not a religion; it is a way of life. Christianity is a FAITH, not a system of rules or traditions of men.

I pray the next time some crazed madman aims his automatic weapon at people that he would first dare any Christians to be first in line to be shot. I would pray that there would be some who value their King more than their physical lives. I would pray there would be some willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for God. Oh how I pray there will always be a few true Christians around to show the enemy he cannot intimidate everyone.

I thank God for those who have served in the military. I understand the concept of fighting for freedom. I also understand that in spiritual warfare, there is only one thing the enemy understands and that is boldness. Peter speaks of our foe as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. A lion's roar freezes its prey in their tracks. Out of fear they stop and the lion has an easy lunch. When the lion roars, roar back at him. Don't just stand there shaking in your boots. Take out the sword of the spirit and cut off his tail as a souvenir of your encounter!

Fear freezes people and renders them easy prey for the enemy. Animal experts say that if a wild animal senses fear in its victim, it will immediately attack them. So what if the enemy snarls and growls madly. Snarl and growl right back at him. No fear has to be a true Christian's ironclad rule of combat. If the enemy senses fear, he will immediately go for the jugular.

I am not the least bit afraid of dying. I especially look forward to the day when I am hauled before the authorities and given the choice of renouncing my faith or being killed. I would count it my greatest honor in life to give my life on behalf of my king. There is nothing in this life worth compromising my faith for. My life is not my own, for I have been bought with a price. If the greatest thing I can do with this life is give it as a sacrifice to my King; so be it.

In the past 8 months there has been a rash of shooting sprees. First there was Virginia Tech, and then there was Finland, then Minnesota,then Colorado,then Chicago and now Kirkwood. Out of nowhere a wild person suddenly opens fire on innocent bystanders. Is this a bad thing? Of course it is, and the latest incident bears out where this is heading. The gunman in the Colorado shootings stated on his pre-killing internet post that he was going out to kill as many Christians as he could. He hated Christians and his hate bred murder. This started with Cain and continues unto the present.

Cain hated his brother Abel and his intense hatred motivated Cain to kill Abel. The devil hated Christ and the devil hates true Christians for they represent Christ now. Anyone who is daring to walk as He walked and talk as He talked is at the top of the devil's hit list. John 10:10 states that the devil's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. He lives and breathes to disrupt and destroy true Christian's lives. He plots and plans circumstances to hinder, distract and burden those on his "list". He maneuvers people and situations around to present roadblocks, diversions and other things all for the purpose of thwarting God's plans. The devil is the ultimate orchestrator and manager.

Those who do not like battle, quickly make deals with the devil to leave them alone. They agree to do nothing that would threaten him in exchange for "immunity". They willingly shut up or water down the truth so as to not rile up the enemy. They find other "worthy" things to do with this life so as to not do anything worthy of getting the enemy mad. They are the ultimate pacifists and World War II proved conclusively what happens when you try and pacify the enemy. He steamrolls right over you.

Those who do not have the "heart" to fight the enemy want comfortable "desk jobs" far removed from the front lines of battle. These lukewarm Christians don't want anything to do with the actual "fight". They want to be spectators who get to sit in the stands and watch their Christian heroes do battle with the enemy like watching football on a Sunday afternoon.

Fighting the devil is difficult and entails putting on the whole armor of God found in Ephesians chapter 6. This section of Scripture specifically states that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, and powers and wicked spirits from on high. The battle is spiritual and it is not pretty. The devil and his gang are ruthless thugs when it comes to their hatred of Christians. They will stop at nothing to destroy anyone attempting to expose them and their father the devil. Thank God He gave us weapons to fight with. Thank God He has promised us He will never leave nor forsake us. Thank God for the victory, if not in this life, then eternally!

Christians need to stand up and be counted, not retreat into their fancy churches and hide. If Christianity is nothing more than a means to financial prosperity; it is nothing but a man-made religion. If Christianity is a means to become famous; then it is nothing but a man-made fraud. If Christianity is a fuzzy blanket to snuggle up in and hide from all the woes of the world; it is a counterfeit religion. True Christianity entails sacrifice and suffering. True Christianity demands separation from everything this world holds dear. True Christianity adamantly refuses to compromise with the enemy no matter how attractive his offers sound.

Christians need to have some "guts" or they will become fodder for the devil and his hungry legions of lions. Weak Christians breed a weak religion void of power and any real conviction. Christians need to understand that Christianity is not a religion but the rock solid faith of those totally committed to their Master. Christianity is simply that which describes and defines Christians. Christians are those who deliberately seek to become just like the Christ who lives within them.

I direct this post at no one in particular except the enemy. Jesus Christ needs warriors to rise up. He needs people not afraid of dying. He needs people more committed to Him than the world. He needs people unfazed by the screams of those demanding Christians shut up. He needs an army of men and women who count not this life dear to them. He needs people who would rather fight than compromise the truth. He needs people who are willing to burn rather than bow. He needs people unafraid of being cast into the lion's den or the fiery furnace heated 7 times more than normal.

Throughout this world, movements are arising that have one thing in common; their hatred for Christians. The day will come very soon when those who refuse to compromise the faith will suffer the consequences. Lord, I want to be in that number. I want to be one of those you can count on to fight and not run. I want to put on the whole armor of God so having done all; I can stand for God and withstand all the fiery darts thrown by the wicked one. I don't want the enemy to win and thus I feel compelled to fight for that which is true, honest, just and right; no matter the consequence and no matter the cost. Lord, please grant me the desire of my heart; to stand for you, no matter what.

Sobering Words From Proverbs Chapter One

As we approach the end of this first month of the new year, I thought it very appropriate to look at Proverbs chapter one. I can think of no other chapter to better lay out the basic outline for all of 2008 than this chapter. My heart cries out for God's people to stop and listen to what God in His everlasting wisdom has to say about life and living it His way.

The very purpose of the proverbs is laid out in the opening verses. Reading from the NIV, let's look at verses 1-7 of chapter one:

"The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

For attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight;

For acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair;

For giving prudence to the simple (those who lack judgment and are immature), knowledge and discretion to the young—

Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—

For understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."

More than anything else, the book of Proverbs is in the Bible to give knowledge and discretion to the young. Older people get stuck in their ways of thinking and living and have a difficult time changing. But, younger people are more capable of learning and changing quicker and with less difficulty.

The book of Proverbs is for wisdom, discipline, understanding words of insight, for acquiring a disciplined life and for doing what is right, just and fair. Think about this for a moment; do we not all want these things? Is it not the innermost heart's desire in all of us to want not only wisdom and understanding, but discipline to do what is right, just and fair in this life? If so, then the wise person must listen and receive their guidance from the wisdom of Proverbs.

Many times in Proverbs, Solomon presents things using a grand analogy. He compares instruction and wisdom to a father and mother giving guidance to their son who is coming of age and getting ready to head out on his own into life. If Proverbs is looked upon from the perspective of imparting parental wisdom, it makes the book much easier to understand.

Verses 10 through 19 present the first of many warnings in Proverbs against various things. Here, the warning is against "enticement" which in today's world would be very similar to "peer pressure". It is very difficult to break away from the crowd and not give into the pressure to conform. Strength of character demands standing alone at times. Wisdom dictates doing what is right not what is popular.

"My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.

If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul;

Let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

We will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder;

Throw in your lot with us, and will share a common purse—

My son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;

For their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood.

How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds!

These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves!

Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it."

Those who use physical force to steal from others are committing spiritual suicide. The gang mentality that runs rampant in our cities and even suburbs is perfectly described in these verses. As unbelievably difficult as it is, a wise person HAS to SAY NO and NEVER yields to the pressure to conform.

The remaining verses in this chapter all reflect a general warning against rejecting wisdom. If 13 verses could be placed on television screens today instead of 13 hours of football; Proverbs 1:20-33 would be the verses I would choose out of the entire Bible to lay before people on this day. They are that important and essential to our future well-being, safety and freedom from fear:

"Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares;

At the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:

"How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?

If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you.

But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand,

Since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke,

I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you—

When calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

"Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me.

Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke,

They will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.

For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

But whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."

I have studied and worked these verses inside out and upside down for a couple of years now. They are extremely important verses when dealing with "disaster relief". When people through either their pride or arrogance disregard wisdom's call in any matter, they are going to suffer the consequences. People who build a beautiful mansion directly on the beach are going to someday face the consequences of their foolishness when a hurricane shows mere mortals who is boss! If have no pity for fools who reject wisdom and defy nature. In my humble opinion; they deserve all the horrible consequences that sweep in with the next calamity.

Wisdom, indeed, does "laugh" at people's disaster and mocks them when a calamity overtakes them through their foolishness and stubborn refusal to listen to wisdom's advice. Verse 27 bears repeating for I fear this verse will become the mantra of millions of people very soon. Reading from the Amplified Bible verse 27 again says:

"When your panic comes as a storm and desolation and your calamity comes on as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you."

A whirlwind is a tornado. I have heard the horror stories of people who lived through hurricane Katrina. Huddled in a corner of a house being blown apart defines panic, distress and anguish. I have personally lived through tornadoes passing directly overhead and felt the change in pressure in my ears, and heard the nails being pulled out of boards and sheets of plywood being ripped off the roof and discarded like cardboard. There is nothing that better describes "panic, distress and anguish" than living through a category 4 hurricane or tornado.

The rejection of wisdom is a very big deal to God. So big, in fact, that He chooses to equate the consequences of rejecting it to the panic and anguish one feels when living through a gigantic storm. Unfortunately, those who have arrogantly refused to listen to God's warnings dealing with what is coming to this world, will have to endure the consequences of having to live through a time too terrible to describe.

The day of God's wrath is quickly approaching. God has issued "Wrath Warnings" since the days of the Old Testament prophets. The last thing God wanted in His written Word was the "Wrath Warning" in the book of Revelation. Those who take heed to the warnings and repent will be "saved from the wrath which is to come". Those who reject the warnings and continue living in sin will certainly be sorry they did.

Well before a severe storm, the National Weather Service issues a "watch". The purpose of a "watch" is to allow people enough time to prepare for a coming calamity. "Watches" are issued in advance of blizzards, ice storms, dry winds that fan fires, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, tropical storms, hurricanes and even tsunamis. Wisdom dictates taking precautionary measures before an approaching storm. Wise people prepare for a coming weather event and usually survive. Fools disregard the "watches" and usually end up the victims in a disaster.

When a storm is guaranteed to be a reality a "WARNING" is issued. Warnings are not given unless the situation has reached a crisis point. Warnings of all kinds are there for a reason. Only fools disregard warnings out of their arrogance and pride. It is truly amazing to look back on a situation such as Katrina and realize there was ample time for evacuations if people had heeded the "Watch" which was posted well in advance of the event. There was even time to escape once the "WARNING" was issued. For whatever the reason, those who deliberately decided to "ride out the storm" were the causalities of it. Those who properly prepared were the ones who endured the storm and had to deal with only physical damage instead of physical death.

The message of Proverbs chapter one is very sobering. Remember it says that when the horrible calamity strikes THEN those who arrogantly defied wisdom's call will cry for help. The Bible says that wisdom will not answer. It can't answer for it is too late. Wisdom cannot help AFTER THE FACT. Wisdom can only provide answers BEFORE hand. When it is rejected and arrogantly discarded when it could have helped; it is of no use after the calamity strikes.

I do not envy what those who hate the true knowledge of God and choose to NOT fear the Lord have to look forward to in 2008 and beyond. Those who will not accept God's advice written in His Word and those who spurn and flat out reject His rebuke; WILL eat of their own fruit and that fruit will not be good. The waywardness (turning away, backsliding) of the simple (the fools) will kill them. The complacency of fools will destroy them.

In Isaiah 32:6-8 it says:

"For the fool speaks folly, his mind is busy with evil; He practices ungodliness and spreads error concerning the Lord: the hungry he leaves empty and from the thirsty he withholds water.

The scoundrel's methods are wicked, he makes up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just.

But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands."

In due time everyone will eat the fruit of their decisions in this life, whether good or bad. The fools and scoundrels will eventually receive the reward they are due for their wickedness, folly and selfishness. In due time, he who is noble and listens to the voice of wisdom and does what is right in the sight of the Lord will receive the reward due to them.

Allow me to close with repeating verse 33 from Proverbs chapter One from the Amplified Bible:

"But whoso hearkens to me [wisdom] shall dwell securely and in confident trust and shall be quiet, without fear or dread of evil."

No matter what the rest of this year brings, it is available to dwell securely and peacefully with no fear or dread of evil. PLEASE allow wisdom to guide and direct you to safety in this upcoming year of potential upheaval especially in the financial realm. God Bless You.

Disasters 2007: More Than Ever in This Country

Having witnessed the devastating effects of numerous kinds of natural disasters, I can say that regardless of the way in which nature vents her fury, man's edifices don't fare well. In a matter of a few weeks last spring, I surveyed the damage done by tornadoes in three separate places. The only thing different with each situation was the location. In each case, the physical damage and mental anguish was identical regardless of the community.

A tornado, more than any other meteorological event, is unique in its compact yet incredibly destructive character. Even the largest tornadoes on record rarely are greater than one mile in width. From that perspective, a tornado is an exceedingly small force. Although a tornado is compact, it is ferocious and tenacious. A tornado doesn't come close to impacting as many people as a hurricane; but those it does impact suffer more violent damage than most people who endure hurricanes ever have to deal with.

It is interesting to note that next to sustained winds over 100 mph and the storm surge; the thing most to be feared with a hurricane coming ashore are the tornadoes that many times erupt near the eye wall of major hurricanes. No one can definitively say for sure, but it was estimated that there could have been 50 or more tornadoes accompanying both hurricanes Katrina and Rita ashore back in 2005. Local people who lived through both of those hurricanes claim there were hundreds of tornadoes but the weather experts deny that is possible.

Regardless of how many actual tornadoes happened; the damage on the ground would indicate there were multiple tornadoes touching down for short periods of time in multiple locations. Even after a hurricane hits, the damage caused by a tornado will still be unique. Talking to people who were huddled in their homes or in shelters while those storms roared by, many of them described sounds and sensations tornado victims always speak about. Personally, I believe there is much not understood in the realm of tornadoes associated with land falling hurricanes.

This past week as I was driving up I-44 toward St. Louis from Springfield, I happened to look out the window and saw where a small tornado had hit a two weeks ago. There were the always present blue tarps hiding roof damage on numerous homes. There were piles of rubble where barns stood previously. Somewhere in the path of damage was a family suffering with the unexpected loss of a loved one who was killed by the tornado.

Just a couple of weeks ago we basked in 70 degree warmth for a few days here in Missouri. Sure enough, when a strong cold front came roaring through, the first tornado watches of 2008 were posted and Missouri had the distinction of having watch number one for the year. January tornadoes are very rare anywhere in the United States, but extremely rare in Missouri. Even so, when the watches and warnings started flying, I knew we would be in for a long evening.

A wise person can decide not to build a home near the Gulf or Atlantic coastlines; thus eliminating the possibility of a hurricane destroying the home. A wise person can decide not to live on top of a fault line and thus avoid earthquake damage. A wise person can decide not to live on the side of a mountain thus avoiding forest fires and mudslides. A wise person can decide not to live on the banks of a river or stream, so as to avoid the inevitable flooding all moving bodies of water experience.

Yes, a wise person can decide to live in a location immune from many natural disasters, but not tornadoes. Just about anywhere is a prime location for a tornado to hit. Certainly "tornado alley" in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas are more prone to twisters than say Idaho; but other than living on top of Pike's Peak, nowhere is immune from the possibility of a tornado happening. Where exactly is one supposed to live if they are sincerely desirous of escaping nature's wrath? About the only place might be Vermont, but even that state has its share of wild winter weather events.

Far too many times, the attitude shown toward those whose lives were uprooted by a tornado is that they did something wrong by living where they chose to live. Nowhere is this ridiculous attitude more prevalent than towards those living in the middle of the country. "Who wants to live in Kansas" was the refrain I heard for years when people heard I grew up in the state. All Kansas used to be known for was tornadoes, Indians, Dorothy and Toto, wheat and endless treeless flat land. Now at least it is also known for basketball and football teams.

When the unprecedented tornado wiped the town of Greensburg, Kansas off the map last spring, there was an outpouring of concern in this country that was unique and inspiring. For the first time, people wanted to help after a Kansas tornado tragedy instead of criticizing the victims for living in the wrong state. For the first time, the United States of America really got behind the cause of rebuilding a tornado devastated city in Kansas. For the first time, America proved what it could do when it sets its preconceived prejudices aside and rallies to help a city in Kansas.

Unfortunately, what happened in Greensburg was not duplicated in numerous other areas severely impacted by last spring's disastrous tornado season. Many more populated places than normal were devastated by major tornadoes or tornado outbreaks last year. Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, New Mexico, Indiana and Kentucky are just some of the states which suffered catastrophic tornado damage last year. Americans have extremely short memories. Most have long forgotten the horrible tornadoes that plowed through Alabama and Georgia last March, including the one that killed numerous high school students in Enterprise, Alabama.

Last year, in addition to the outrageous tornado outbreaks, there were abnormally high numbers of both flash floods as well as regular floods reported. Historic flooding took place in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Major flooding took place in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Kentucky and many New England states. The cost to repair flood damage was enormous. Yet, floods never capture the public's attention because they are not as dramatic as piles of rubble after a huge tornado or hurricane.

While parts of the country were enduring record floods, other parts were suffering through unprecedented drought. The states of Georgia, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia all experienced record breaking drought that in many locales still is going on. Last spring, before the summer rains helped, Lake Okeechobee in southern Florida had reached record low levels. Last spring, fires raged in the swamps of southern Georgia sending dense smoke through much of the northern half of Florida.

Last summer, horrific forest fires raced down the dry canyons outside San Diego and Los Angeles, California destroying thousands of homes in the process. Again, in October a second fire almost burned Malibu off the map. Also last summer, huge fires burned unchecked for months in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Although summer fires happen almost every year in the western states; the decade long drought has made them worse than they used to be.

Early this winter a series of storms pounded the coastline of Washington and Oregon with winds normally associated with a category 2 hurricane. The damage was also roughly equivalent to a hurricane. Millions of people were without power for long periods of time between Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. Within a week, the entire middle part of the country was paralyzed with an ice storm never seen before. Oklahoma was especially devastated by so much ice, it took the power companies weeks to get everyone's electricity back on.

Although it turned out to be another very quiet hurricane season (as far as the United States coastline), there was still one small hurricane that made land fall in almost the exact same place as Hurricane Rita did in 2005. The area was still recovering from Rita, so the damage was worse than would normally be expected with a category 1 hurricane. Even twenty-four hours before land fall, there were no warnings and no one expected the storm to blow up as it did immediately before hitting land.

2007 was a very active year weather-wise in this country. If the average American were asked if the weather was "wild" the past year, most would shrug their shoulders and say they didn't know. This is because there was little wild weather in the populated northeast part of the country. Even though there was a tornado that hopped through New York City; most people there would no longer remember it unless their house was damaged. In the absence of a huge hurricane, blizzard, ice storm or terrorist attack; the people in the Northeast cannot relate to the suffering experienced elsewhere in this country.

Images of demolished buildings in Kansas, ice on broken trees in Oklahoma, rivers swallowing up whole cities in Texas, entire towns blown away by a tornado in North Dakota, blackened hills and charred ruins where houses once stood in California and dried up lakes in Florida mean little to millions of people whose only daily concern is fighting traffic and seeing if their sports team won or lost. I hate to say it, but until a major natural disaster strikes the populated areas of the East Coast again; most people there will have little compassion for those suffering elsewhere in this country.

Whatever wonderful things come out of the Greensburg, Kansas tornado tragedy, I hope and pray they do not end there. I pray that anytime a community in this country is devastated by a force of nature, images will emerge quickly and be plastered on the Internet. I pray the major news organizations devote at least some of their precious newscasts to the plight of people whose entire lives were just turned upside down by earthquakes, wind storms and forest fires. I pray the major charitable organizations respond as quickly and in force as they did in Greensburg. I pray the average American is aroused by the images of destruction and suffering and finds within himself the motivation to help those in need either financially or by volunteering to help clean up or rebuild.

It is hard for someone to understand what a person goes through when they lose everything they have worked a lifetime to gain. It is hard for others to grasp the unbelievable suffering that is associated with the loss of one's home, its contents and especially a loved one. It is hard to comprehend the scope of a disaster that may affect upwards of a million people or more. It is hard to capture the hardships people must endure who have no electricity or water. It is hard to experience all these things unless you have seen, heard and been through it yourself.

This past year more Americans than ever before got a taste of disaster relief, for they found themselves in the middle of one. I sincerely pray that as nature once again starts unleashing her fury in the coming months that we remember to help and pray for those who through no fault of their own, found themselves in a natural disaster's path. After all, that is what America is supposed to be all about; neighbor helping neighbor and everyone helping anyone who needs it.

The True Heroes of our Time

Those who suffer in chronic poverty may seem to be solely responsible for their plight, but that is no more an honest statement than to say every woman who is raped "asked for it". There are some who chose to live in a state of abject poverty because of poor decisions made by themselves or ancestors. Others are thrust into that state because of circumstances over which they had little control. Still others are poor due to the general environment around them (i.e. inner city) or the lack of any way to prosper due to overall conditions surrounding them.

It is grossly unfair to label all those barely making enough to make ends meet as "lazy" or "munches" or any of the other terms bantered about by people who simply do not want to get involved with finding solutions. It is far easier to simply blame the person for the predicament they are in than to look for solutions to help them find a way out.

Politicians are always touting some new program that is supposedly going to eliminate poverty. This is certainly a brilliant way to gather votes among the poor, if nothing else. Starting with various programs instituted during the Great Depression and continuing through the Great Society; the federal government as attempted to solve the poverty problem through playing "Robin Hood". Take from the rich and give to the poor always sounds reasonable and noble, but rarely works in application.

Socialism by its very design is built upon the idea of "redistributing wealth". If those who have too much, in the eyes of the government, are taxed far more than those who have little; somehow this creates "fairness". What it does create is resentment and anger among those who make the most, and that which is collected from them ends up being squandered by selfish politicians who see a chance to bring home more and more pork to their districts.

By robbing from the wealthy through higher and higher taxes, under the pretense of redistributing this wealth to the poor; the government is trying to dictate to individual people how much money they should be allowed to make. Government's role is not supposed to be that of almighty judge and guardian of all. Government is to provide basic services for one and all; provide for a military to protect the country from enemies and pretty much stay out of people's lives.

When government attempts to solve the poverty problem it can be pretty well assumed that it will only make matters worse; and it has done just that. Jesus Christ himself said "the poor you will always have with you", and we will. There have been poor people around as long as there have been people. There have also been wealthy people around either taking advantage of the poor or helping them. The idea that the government is supposed to "eliminate poverty" through some program is utter foolishness. If a government could do such a thing, the Roman Empire should have succeeded if not other powerful dominions.

In a Theocracy, such as Old Testament Israel or Judah; the government and the religious sector were one and the same. Is such cases the role of the government is entirely different than when there is the strict separation of church and state such as in the United States. When a king, such as Solomon had the ability to both dictate as governing official as well as draw upon the resources of the vast number of religious citizens; he could do incredible things to confront the poverty issue. We do not live in a situation even remotely similar to King Solomon's.

Just as today, there were corrupt kings and other governmental officials mentioned in the Bible. These evil men would constantly oppress and fraudulently steal from the lowest members of society. If a person happened to come upon a few coins; someone from the government would be there immediately to demand payment for some obscure imaginary tax or debt from the ancient past. There was no way for the poor to ever get out of their state due to the corruption of governmental officials. Some things never change.

Even today, when someone who has lived their whole life below the poverty line obtains an inheritance or is given a large amount of money; by the time taxes are paid, they are still poor. Of all the evil schemes ever invented by greedy men who have no heart and compassion whatsoever; the IRS tops the list. Nothing is more grossly unfair to especially the working poor than the IRS code. Not just Federal withholding, but special taxes such as inheritance and other "one time" taxes. Any politician advocating the elimination of the current IRS tax code would win my vote any day of the week.

The burden of caring for those who have "fallen on hard times", been devastated by a disaster or disease, have lost everything they owned to a crook or thief, been victimized by governmental policies or other administrative snafus; should fall on first the family, second the church, third the community and finally the government. Do you know what? This is exactly the way it worked until everything changed during the Great Depression.

My mom grew up in true abject poverty. Her entire family was "dirt poor". This included parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents and cousins. Her mother grew up in a large family with little way to provide for themselves. What is interesting is that as tough as times were, it was accepted and "lived with" and no one yelled and screamed for the government to bail everyone out. The vast majority of people were either poor or very poor. As the saying goes; "misery loves company", and back in the old days there was plenty of company to go around.

Because everyone was so poor, they took care of each other. When disaster struck, everyone pitched in and helped either a devastated family or even a community get back on their feet. Families took care of themselves as much as they could, and when they couldn't, the church and neighbors stepped in to help. Only as a last resort did any government agency get involved. Perhaps people need to read or watch again the "Little House on the Prairie" series. Times were different back in those days.

The human spirit is amazingly resilient. Humans learn quickly how to adjust to their surroundings. If in a cave, the body quickly adjusts to the cool temperature so it can live longer. If mentally challenged by stress and pressure; the mind naturally blows off steam so it doesn't go into overload shock mode. During major wars, humans are able to live in impossible circumstances normally never encountered. After a huge disaster, humans band together naturally and help each other (except in New Orleans). Humans are not as fragile as they think they are.

No one wants to live without air conditioning in the summer. But, not that many years ago, EVERYONE did just that; for it had not been invented yet. No one likes washing dishes or clothes by hand; but not too many years ago, EVERYONE had to do it that way since automatic washers had not been invented yet. No one likes having to send a letter through the Postal Service anymore. But, only thirty years ago EVERYONE had to send everything through the mail, for computers and e-mail had not been mass produced and distributed yet.

A person now who has no air conditioner, no automatic washer and no computer would be considered very poor. The same person 100 years ago could have had a million dollars in the bank and been looked up to as one of the wealthiest people in town, yet still not have any of those items. Poverty is in the eyes of the beholder and the criteria for defining it changes with each new generation.

It is very interesting to note that the two groups of people who do not seem to object to "doing without" are newlyweds and the elderly. Everyone in between wants what they want when they want it, and they will go however far in debt they must go to get it. The stubborn refusal to live within one's means has bred a nation of people who appear to be "well off", but in reality, are far poorer than those who have learned to "do without" and still be happy.

As the current financial situation spirals downhill in this country, more and more of those who have hidden behind their paper wealth and used plastic to make ends meet will fall into a state of poverty. There will be much wailing and gnashing of teeth as those who refused to learn how to "make do" with a 24" regular television will have their 82" plasma television hauled off to pay debts. There will be howling and crying as people who defiantly refused to live within their means and drive a late model Chevrolet, watch as their Hummers are towed away due to not making payments.

There is a whole new class of poor people getting ready to appear in America. They are not those who live in inner cities or in the mountains of West Virginia. They are the millions who live in suburbs all across America whose houses, vehicles and "toys" are being taken from them due to their inability to make all the payments needed to keep them. Suddenly homeless, without a vehicle and living out of suitcases and boxes; these newly crowned "poor people" will struggle to find help and someone to care for them the same way their Great Grandparents had to.

Ironically, many of the new "poor" are the very same people who scolded the "old poor" for being lazy and just wanting handouts. These newly impoverished people are the same ones who took pride in NOT helping the disadvantaged, the homeless or the unemployed. "Let them help themselves" used to be their mantra, but now that the shoe is on the other foot; they will cry out for someone to help them. Arrogant fools are the worst kind of fools on earth. But, arrogant fools are the first ones to be proven foolish and suffer the consequences of their foolishness.

No government hand out program will be big enough to help all the people getting ready to need assistance. No one group will be able to handle all the needs that will soon arise in this country. It will take a cooperative effort between families, churches, neighbors, communities and various levels of government to keep this country from settling into a state of riotous hell when the millions of "whiners" suddenly can't even find a bed to sleep on or a meal to eat.

This is the very reason I wholeheartedly support the efforts of those serving their communities through outreach programs. Whether providing meals or transportation or free medical clinics or job training or counseling or prayer; these not for profit groups are an invaluable asset to our communities and are worthy of our support, prayer and help.

Never forget those who labor in the shadows helping those lost in the night to find their way home again. Never forget those who serve without pay and give of their lives daily to love their neighbors as themselves. Never forget those who devote all they have or ever hope to have in this life to the betterment of people they do not even know. Never forget those who are on the front lines of compassion, who share their very lives fully with strangers and vagabonds. These are the true heroes of our time and will be even greater heroes in the days ahead. Please never forget them, support them and pray for them.

Expecting Error From Experts

"Hello, my name is Dr. So and So and I am here because you know nothing about … and I do. I am the expert, for I went to the University of such and such for 15 years. I am thus your master for I know more than you could ever hope to know on this subject. So, just sit back and listen to me bore you with my grand knowledge and you will know all you need to know."

 

The preceding paragraph pretty well sums up the attitude of most so-called experts in any field from medicine to sports to religion. I love the weather but I can't stand television weather broadcasters who feel they are everyone's parent when it comes to weather situations. I can't stand condescending experts in any field and just about everyone on television thinks that because they are there, it entitles them to be bowed down to as a god of whatever they are covering.

 

I have met my fair share of media personalities. Of those whom I have met, I can think of ONE I could stand being around for more than a few minutes. I vividly recall just a few years ago seeing a Cardiologist in downtown St. Louis at a brand new clinic. On the way out, I was approached by a guy and asked if I would mind doing a quick interview for the local television channel regarding my experience at the new clinic. Making a big mistake, I said fine.

 

A few minutes later, the woman who does all the medical related stories for the station arrived with loud "clickity clack" high heels and with such pomp I thought the Queen of England had shown up. She started barking out orders to her legion of drones that scurried about like ants getting everything just right for her 2 minute segment. It took someone 5 minutes just to get her hair perfect.

 

After all this time waiting and watching, she was finally told that I was the appointed patient to be interviewed. She looked at me and said; "Not him, get me someone who looks good on camera." That was it, my chance to be a celebrity went down the drain. I didn't make the cut because the "expert" didn't like how I looked. It didn't matter that the reason I didn't "look good" was because I was sick and thus I was visiting the clinic AS A PATIENT which was being highlighted for the news.

 

Eight years ago I spent many weeks cooped up in a motel room in Rochester, Minnesota while subjecting myself to the varied "experts" at Mayo Clinic. The end result of my nearly two month stay was a laundry list of wrong diagnosis and no help for what had brought me there. All I had to show for the huge investment of money and time was error. I vowed then and I still vow to never again throw myself at the mercy of a legion of experts in the medical field.

 

I, like I am sure many of you also, have had the unfortunate experience of taking my vehicle to an "expert" mechanic. Sometimes they really are experts, but usually the job is delegated to some guy with some initials after his name who took a class to become an "expert". Isn't it interesting how an "expert" can make the vehicle run WORSE after "fixing it?" My favorites are "tech experts" that handle computer problems over the phone. Some are really good and fix the problem. I have had others who succeeded in so trashing my computer I had to drag it to an electronics store to get what the "tech support" experts did--UNDONE.

 

Thank you for indulging me as I threw my little tantrum on "experts". Hey, I am an expert too. I am expert on what NOT to do if you want to do things right. I am an "expert" on failure, for I have failed more often than I have succeeded. I am an expert on who not to believe for I have fallen for the lies of more people than I care to admit. I am an expert on many matters that produce nothing of any merit.

 

I do take pride in the one diploma I would gladly hang on my wall, and it is NOT a worthless "Associate of Theology" one from a now defunct school. No, the one diploma I take pride in owning is the one indicating I have attended the "School of Hard Knocks". This school is open for anyone who has had to learn the hard way what life is all about. This school specializes in those who have been hoodwinked, taken for all they had, sweet-talked, abused and deceived. There are no graduates, for the curriculum never ends. But, there is pride in being able to say you have attended.

 

Initials before or after a name mean little to me. In fact, most of the people who have hurt me the most in this life, in every realm, had plenty of those letters either preceding or following their hallowed name. No, I prefer to look at the humility of the person who claims to have all the answers and see if they are humble enough to consider all the facts before making a decision, diagnosis or judgment on a matter. I would rather entrust certain matters in my life to someone who has failed and LEARNED from their mistakes than someone who projects the aura that they NEVER make a mistake.

 

I absolutely cannot stand arrogant and condescending people in any field. Those who look down their noses and make no attempt to hide their feelings of superiority can have someone else's business. I would rather sit with a guy in his "office" out under a tree than sit in a million dollar ornate palace of an office of the foremost "expert" in the world. All I care is that the person is real and treats me as a real person and not a "subject". Unfortunately, most experts only know how to approach others as someone who needs to be "subjected" to their expertise.

 

It certainly appears that the more one attends various schools and the more initials one gathers to flaunt all the knowledge one has obtained; the more ignorant one becomes of what is real and genuine in this life. All the degrees in the world do not guarantee truth. All the initials in the alphabet following one's name do not guarantee the person knows a single thing about what is real and genuine. All the degrees and initials imply is that a person has subjected themselves to a multitude of hours of propaganda on a particular subject. Such propaganda is only as true as the people presenting it. If they are right, then that which they teach is right. If they are wrong, and only passing on error to the next "generation", then all those degrees and initials stand for is error.

 

The millions of naïve people in this world who entrust their physical, mental, emotional, financial and spiritual well being to "experts" with 5 degrees and 15 initials following their name usually end up in no better shape than the wise people who listen to a multitude of counselors, but entrust their life to no one but God. Life is a fragile thing and should not be thrown at the altar of arrogant fools whose only interest is vain-glory or financial gain. Woe unto those who abuse helpless souls to further their own ends and serve their own interests.

 

If I have learned anything from my experiences in this life, it is to be extremely leery of anyone who hides behind their titles. The vast majority of those who "demand" to be called Dr. or Rev. or Sen. or Professor, or "Most highly esteemed", or any other prefix are to be consulted, but never entrusted with one's life or heart. Anyone so arrogant or insecure as to demand their title be publicized and known to all, is someone I can do without in this life. Arrogance and elitism make the skin crawl right off my bones.

 

I appreciate the sacrifices made by those who attend extra years of college to get a "Masters" degree or the ultimate goal—"Doctorate" of anything. I understand there should be something done to honor the extra effort made to reach such an esteemed level of knowledge. But, to use that title as leverage for wealth or fame is terribly wrong. A title does not make a person any better person than the rest of us. A title does not guarantee a person is right. It only means they have attended school a long time and have received extensive training in a particular field.

 

If the average person was wrong even half as much as the "experts", he would have no credibility, no friends and no respect. Somehow the "experts" can be dead wrong most of the time, and they are still considered experts. This makes no sense to me and since I can't figure it out because I don't have enough degrees and initials; I will leave be content to be who I am and let others pretend to be who they think they are.

Be Not Overcome With Evil, But Overcome Evil With Good

If one were to take a survey with the sole purpose of determining what people think is their reason for existing; the results would be as varied as the people asked. Many people would say their reason for being is to make money, others would say it is to raise a family, still others would say it is to be a leader in a particular field. Religious people would say it is to attend church and follow the rules set forth. Angry people would say it is to change the world. Beaten down people would say it is to support someone else.

 

Perhaps there might be an element of truth in many of these answers, but in reality there are only a few reasons for living. The first and foremost reason is to worship and give praise to our Creator who put us here. Without His very life within us, we would not have a life to begin with. Praise and thanksgiving to our God for allowing us to live is the foundation for understanding our purpose in living.

 

The other predominant reason for being here is to help others. Compassionate care for those in need defines love. Jesus said to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Moses said the same thing. Paul said the same thing. John said the same thing. Peter said the same thing. David said the same thing. Woven throughout the Bible is the underlying concept that the very purpose we have in being alive is to love and worship God and to love everyone we come in contact with.

 

During Jesus "Sermon on the Mount", he laid out some basic principles to being "blessed" known as the Beatitudes, and then spent a very long time describing the details of how to live righteously before God and how to manifest love to each other. Many of the things Jesus brought up were already found in the Old Testament, but many things he taught were new and extremely revolutionary for his time.

 

Little of what Jesus ever taught was easy to do. Everything he taught was simple, but not easy to carry out. A simple command would be; "Go to the store and get a gallon of milk". At first glance this is a very simple statement that should not be too difficult to carry out. But, what if there is a huge blizzard going on and instead of driving, you have to walk through 3 foot snow to get to the store? What if the store was 10 miles away? What if it was the middle of the night? Simple statements may be easy to say but very hard to do.

 

A classic example of this is found in those of us attempting to lose weight. It is a very simple thing for a Doctor to tell us; "You need to lose 50 pounds." That is a easy sentence to say but a very difficult one to carry out. The same thing holds true with any addiction, whether smoking or drugs or alcohol. It is very easy to say; "Just say NO." or "Just quit doing it." But addictions are far too involved and complex of issues to be resolved by simply saying "NO". Chemical dependency necessitates professional help to overcome usually.

 

Another classic example is found in "housebreaking" a puppy. It is simple to say; "Stop peeing on the carpet." But the dog is unable to understand words and thus not capable of doing what it is told. The dog must be taught and through repetition it learns to go outside to do its "thing". It is truly amazing how quickly a dog can learn new habits and thus obedience to new commands if they are taught how to do them. People are the same way.

 

People cannot simply be yelled at and told to "Stop sinning". Whatever the sin is that they are doing has probably been there for many years and consists of strong habit patterns that must be broken and replaced with new ones before they can obey the command. Too many times, religious leaders lose patience with people thinking they don't want to change, when in reality they don't know how to change. The development of new habit patterns takes instruction, practice and repetition to ever take place.

 

Jesus was the expert at both stating profoundly simple statements, but also laying out the practical application of how to do them. He did not simply tell people "Stop it"; he showed them how. Time and again in Matthew chapter 5, Jesus introduces a profound and revolutionary new way of thinking and living with the phrase; "You have heard" or "It has been written" or "It has been said." After introducing the subject, he then presents a whole new way of approaching it. One of the more difficult ones was when Jesus said in verses 43 and 44 the following:

 

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy".

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you."

 

It is easy to love your friends, but Jesus said to love your enemies. It is easy to bless them that bless you, but Jesus said to bless them that curse you. It is easy to do good to them that love you, but Jesus said to do good to them that hate you. It is easy to pray for them who take care of you and build you up, but Jesus said to pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you.

 

We live in a culture that demands justice and restitution for every bad thing said and done. We live in a culture that dictates "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth". Go back some time and read verses 38 through 42 and see what Jesus had to say about this subject. In a nutshell, he said to resist not evil, but whoever smites you on the right cheek, turn and let him smite you on the left one also.

 

We have spent billions upon billions of dollars resisting evil, hating our enemies, cursing them which curse us, doing evil to those who hate us and never praying for any of those people and nations responsible for the attack on September 11, 2001. This supposedly "Christian" nation has violated every one of Christ's rules he introduced in Matthew 5. In our zeal to render evil for evil and to "pay back" those who dared smite us on the cheek; we have dug our nation into a hole from which there is no way out.

 

We have sacrificed thousands of our very best young men and women to the gods of revenge, hate and greed. We have spent enough money to totally eliminate poverty and hunger on military missions that amounted to dropping atomic bombs on someone who spit in our face. No lessons were learned from the Viet Nam fiasco, for the same fiasco has now taken place in Iraq and Afghanistan. In our quest to prove to the world how big, bad and mean we are; we have shown how small, weak and vindictive we really are.

 

If the Gallup poll stating this country is 80% Christian is right, then this country is made up of more hypocrites than all the other countries in the world combined. The Christian response to being provoked is to turn the other cheek, love, bless, do good and pray for those who seek to harm us. How can our enemies think anything but evil of us when all we want to do is destroy them? How can non-Christians think anything good about us when we behave in the same manner as them?

 

It is high time for the so-called Christian majority in this country to stand up and speak the truth in love. The answers to the world's terrorist problem are not found in the might of the United States Military machine. The answers to the world's financial woes are not found in the strength of the United States dollar. The answers to the world's poverty problems are not found in the greed of United States capitalistic corporations. No, the answers to any of the world's problems are found in Christians doing what their supposed Lord and Master taught them to do.

 

Our purpose in living is not to overcome the world. Jesus did that 2,000 years ago. Our purpose in living is to show the world the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. Somewhere along the line we as a nation got off track and instead of reaching out to help our enemies, we now feel obligated to crush them. Instead of praying for those who want to destroy us, we pray for might to destroy them. Instead of "heaping coals of fire" on the heads of those who hate us to warm them with love; we heap bombs of fire on them to burn them up.

 

There is no New Testament justification for war. Peter thought there was on the night Jesus was apprehended. He took out his sword and cut off the ear of one of the guards. Jesus immediately healed the guard and rebuked Peter. Jesus said; "He who lives by the sword will also die by the sword."

 

I pray daily for the safety of our troops. I pray daily God allows them to return home as quickly as possible. I pray daily for those who make decisions that they realize the error of their ways and stop living by the sword. That is all I can do. That, and write things like this in hopes it stirs a few to stop and think about the hypocrisy of our militaristic response to evil.