The Trustworthy Prophetic Word

How do you know if the prophetic word you have been hearing is trustworthy? I don’t know if any of you have noticed but there seems to be a great wave of false teachers emerging with the goal of discrediting the bible as the word of God. I make it a habit to watch documentaries or videos on any subject that relates to the bible and Christ our Lord. I know Satan is stepping up his game because he knows his time is short but I don’t think I realized how badly he wanted to destroy God’s word. I fear for Christians with less knowledge on the subject who may take this information to heart and no longer believe or allow this to develop doubt in their hearts.

The documentaries I am referring to are: Who Wrote the New Testament (2013), Who Wrote the Bible? (2004) both are available on Hulu. The Bible Unearthed (2005), What the Bible Got Wrong: A Flat Earth (2011 ) and The God Who Wasn't There are available along with many more on the website: Top Documentary Films. Although I found their arguments interesting many are really reaching for anyway to discredit everything they possibly could.

What concerns me most about it is that so many people take anything on television, especially a documentary, as fact instead of an opinion or viewpoint with an agenda. I think that anyone can find an expert to lead others to their way of thinking because everyone seems to have an agenda. I have found that to be true especially concerning the medical profession and their studies. It’s a matter of simply following the money trail to reveal the truth.

Satan has a lot at stake here and he will stop at nothing to deceive you. So, I encourage discernment when watching these films and take nothing for granted. If you have any questions about the information they provide look it up yourself and verify it before you doubt what you believe. The computer makes this extremely easy to do. In less than a minute you can find out information about the author and verify or discredit the information they are portraying as truth. The bible warns about these things, they should come as no surprise to us:

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them and will bring swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their unrestrained ways and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. In their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation, long ago, is not idle and their destruction does not sleep. 2 Peter 2:1-3.

So, hold tight to your bibles, study God’s word, know it inside and out because if you don’t know what truth is you will be easily mislead down the path of destruction. I see so many good people being led astray all in the name of rights. Man is overriding the laws of God so that we don’t discriminate against anything evil, calling it a choice, or equal rights. 

For we do not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; instead, we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, a voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory: “This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him.”

And we heard this voice when it came from heaven while we were with Him on the Holy Mountain. So we have the prophetic word strongly confirmed. You will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dismal place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:16-19.

And I agree with Peter, we would do well to pay attention to the word of God for it is the only truth out there, the only light shining in the dismal place our world has become. We too are to be a beacon of truth and light by passing the word on to others. Sowing the seeds of faith to all we meet; I feel it has never been needed as badly as it is today.

If you have any thoughts on the matter or documentaries you would like to share with us please leave a comment below we would love to hear from you.

Ash Wednesday / Lent

I often get asked about the observance of Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent and why I fast during the 40 days before Easter. I will try to explain these practices and the reasons behind them as best I can. If any of you have similar questions I hope this helps.

Why do you have ashes on your head?

On Ash Wednesday or the “day of ashes” as it was once known, it was an ancient custom to approach the altar before the beginning of Mass. The priest would mark the forehead of the congregation in the sign of the cross with blessed ashes. He would say the words: “Remember man that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return.” The ashes came from the blessed palms given on Palm Sunday the previous year. They were collected, burned and mixed with holy water and infused with incense for use on this day. It is a symbolism of penitence that comes from both the New Testament and the Old. Men who repented their sins clothed themselves in sackcloth and threw ashes over themselves. Today we repent of our sins during the fast of the Lenten season and this practice reminds us that we too will leave our bodies and they will return to the dust of the earth. Only through the resurrection of Jesus does God guarantee us life after death.

Why do you fast for 40 days?

The Lenten fast was not always a season of 40 days of fasting. It has evolved into what we have today from many different versions over time. Originally it is believed to have been an apostolic institution but that has been proven false. They now believe that the original fast was only during Friday and Saturday of Holy Week - “the days of which the bridegroom was taken away.” The church of the apostolic age commemorated the resurrection weekly not annually. Sunday represented the resurrection and the Friday fast represented the crucifixion. It was later changed in duration to a week of strict fasting during Holy Week and then to three weeks alternating fasts on the first, fourth and sixth weeks of the season. Eventually it came to be 40 days of fast instead of fasting during the 40 days of the season. In Rome in 590-604 AD they practiced six weeks of only six days each, which totaled 36 days of fasting symbolizing approximately a tenth part of a year of 365 days and was considered spiritual tithing. Even to this day the Church of Milan adheres to that arrangement. So the 40 day fast has evolved to into what we have today some say to represent the 40 hours Jesus spent in the tomb, others the 40 days Jesus fasted in the desert or the 40 days Moses spent on Mount Sinai but I don’t think anybody really knows exactly why other than 40 is a significant number in the bible.

What do you mean by fasting?

Generally, most people who observed Lenten fasts only ate one meal in the evening during the fast days. But as time continued on, the rules were relaxed more and more. It was difficult for the working men to abstain from food and maintain the ability to work consistently for 40 days.  It started with breaking the fast earlier in the day, at 3 PM instead of evening and later was relaxed further to noon. In the ninth century the Council of Aix la Chapelle conceded to allowing beverages to quench the thirst of those who were exhausted by manual labor during the day and then they allowed small quantities of food not counting them as complete meals. From these small beginnings much larger indulgences have evolved. Today it is so relaxed that most do not really fast at all. Children give up candy during Lent; adults abstain from one particular food that they favor. It’s really nothing like it was intended in the beginning. Let’s face it; Christ hung on the cross and died for our sins; that’s quite a sacrifice he made for us. What we call the Lenten fast is supposed to mimic that sacrifice in a small way to acknowledge what he did for us.

Why don’t you eat meat on Friday during Lent?

It was the practice in the fifth century to “abstain from every sort of creature that has life.” It comes from the Mosaic account of the creation. But sadly this tradition is also rarely held to today with the exception of the older congregation members; at least that has been my observations where I go to church and in the surrounding communities where I live.

So then where did the Easter Bunny and Easter Eggs come from?

They are pagan symbols that portray fertility and the earth awakening from winter as new life emerges. It really has nothing to do with why we celebrate Easter as a Christian.

In trying to explain Ash Wednesday and Lent, it makes me realize how often our religious holidays have been diluted with pagan rituals and commercialized. It’s hard to believe that most children today don’t know anything about Christ dying on the cross and rising from the dead on Easter but all of them know about the Easter bunny and Easter eggs.  Our faith is being watered down till it no longer exists in our culture. That is why I feel it so important to educate our children and participate in our faith based celebrations with more zeal and excitement than the secular or pagan versions before they disappear totally. It’s something worth pondering.

Which Easter do you celebrate, the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ or the pagan goddess `Eostre and the spring equinox? 

Seek First the Kingdom of God

We all shop and as we wander through the aisles of the stores we tend to let our impulses take over our intentions. I have been guilty of it myself on occasion and I found it necessary to be reminded what was my original purpose. Things have a way of getting into our carts that weren't on our shopping list. Let's face it, it happens to us all.

Our culture tends to collect material things whether they are necessary or not. As our homes fill up with items they eventually become a burden instead of the joyful little item we couldn't live without. Storage rentals have become profitable businesses, all in the name of storing the things we can no longer fit into our homes. A popular solution is a yard sale; others donate the items to Goodwill or Salvation Army. But inevitably the sequence is repeated over and over again creating an endless cycle of collection and disposal or storage.

I find it difficult to focus when my home becomes cluttered with things. Because I can't think or function as well I attempt to keep my home as "Feng Shui" or uncluttered as possible. It has been the most challenging task I have accomplished. Since I am naturally thrifty, I have difficulty parting with anything useful or beautiful.

It wasn't until I read Matthew 6:25-33, a passage I had read many times before, but for some reason it spoke to me personally this time. ~ Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, Oh you of little faith? So do not worry and say "What are we to drink?" or "What are we to wear?" All these things pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.

I realized that again, I was convicted. Always planning for the worst and hoping for the best. Saving every little thing I thought I would eventually need, trying to be most self-reliant. Instead of placing my hope in God and acknowledging that he would take care of my needs, I was putting my needs first. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, he says and all these things will be given to you. It's a hard concept to grasp and much harder to practice. Especially, when you are one to save and store.

So, I learned that I don't need to keep every book I've ever read, or every piece of clothing that is still in good shape whether I can fit into it today or after I lose those dreaded 10 pounds again. I have to say I have managed to collect quite an assortment of stuff that I truly don't need or will probably ever use. It is time to let go, it is NOT my security, God is. These things would be more useful given to those who really need them.

I encourage you today to look into your storage needs and see what is better served given to charity or a neighbor who could use it more than yourself. Clear the clutter from your lives and seek the kingdom of God first. Seek not what the pagans seek, but acknowledge the ability for God to supply your needs, trust in him and bless your neighbor.

Can You Love Your Enemy?

I think the most difficult thing Jesus asks us to do is to love our enemy. Anyone can love those they like or get along with but it is most difficult to love those who oppose us or have done us harm. Looking back over my life in retrospect I have not always done so and in another space in time I was not capable of doing it. But as you mature in the Word of God as well as mature in person things can and will change.

Going through a divorce after 20 years of marriage due to the infidelity of my partner was a bitter pill to swallow. It was the most painful thing I had ever experienced in my life at the time. I went through all the range of feelings the situation caused from hurt, anger and hate to emptiness, sadness and self-pity. It was during this time that one particular scripture jumped out at me, convicting me and causing me to adjust the way I thought. 

It was Luke 6:27-36  ~  But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone hit you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. Give to everyone who asks from you and from one who takes from you and from one, who takes away your things, don’t ask for them back. Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you?  Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do what is good and lend, expecting nothing if return. Then your reward will be great and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

The way we perceive things makes a huge difference on how well and how fast we heal. I am not saying everything changed overnight because it didn't  but over time, it took a couple of years, actually. I stopped hating and started accepting, not only him but his new wife also. I had to realize she wasn't the enemy, she just happened to be there to pick up the pieces. The failure in the relationship was between him and me.  It really had nothing to do with her. 

Today, we have a wonderful relationship; it’s like having an extended family. Instead of losing a husband I retained a friend and gained another. I realized that we were truly friends from the beginning, that’s what made the relationship grow in the first place. I also had to forgive them and let go of a lot of harmful feelings that if I had chosen to wallow in would have destroyed me. Although I have no romantic feelings for him, I do count him as a treasured friend and extended family.

There are many people who see us all together today and thinks it’s quite odd that we can get along so well under the circumstances. But I feel that if there are two mature adults involved it is not only possible but a credit to those two people and gives glory to God. Our family benefits from this type of friendship and we have been there for each other’s family on many occasions when one or the other needed help. It definitely has been a wonderful experience for the children to see that their parents still care for one another although the relationship is no longer an intimate one. 

Don't get me wrong, it is always best to resolve the marriage relationship but that is not always possible, we tried for years and were unable to. I give the glory to God for showing us how to love one another again both as humans and as Christians. Although our marriage failed, there is life after divorce and the family can still fully engage with the children in a wonderful loving way. We just have to use the example Jesus has given us and consciously choose to do it. I hope this is an inspiration to others to amend relationships so that children no longer have to be divided or feel the need to take sides in a divorce situation. 

That kind of situation is not healthy or best for you or for the children involved. It is not what Jesus would have wanted for us either. Sometimes we must look beyond ourselves and do what is best for our children. Holding on to hate, resentment, anger and jealousy is not an environment our children need to be in. We also need to remember that what example we give our children through our actions are the ones they will remember, consider normal and live out in their own lives. 

There are a few of you out there that will not understand the ability to forgive someone who hurt you so deeply. But to you I say, forgiveness is the only way to go on without harboring hate and destroying yourself. I had to let it go to be able to forgive and to forgive to be able to see him, as you inevitably do when you share the children in your life. It is possible if you ask God to help you to do it.

Arkansas Repeals Gun Ban in Churches

On Monday February 4th, the Arkansas House passed the Church Protection Act and Gov. Mike Beebe is expected to sign it into law. Louisiana, South Carolina and Wyoming also have approved similar laws in their states to help protect the churches.

If you have been watching the news in the last couple of months there have been two major events where many people have been killed. The latest was the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting and of course the Theater shootings in Aurora, Colorado. There has been much talk about banning guns since that time. But what most people don't understand is that both of these shootings occurred in "Gun Free Zones." So if banning guns was a practical option to stop this kind of behavior they never would have happened in the first place.

The political climate of this nation is growing ever more aggressive towards people of faith in general and particularly those known as Christians. We oppose the wickedness of abortion that many are peddling as a women's rights issue and most churches do not agree with the gay marriage agenda either. These are not popular opinions in our culture today.

In view of these negative attitudes toward Christians in general, I think it is best for the churches to have responsible people that attend the churches regularly to be able to defend the congregations. It is the best chance to avoid the possibility of a massacre like those that have already occurred in gun free zones. It is apparent that these gun free zones have left the people in them as sitting ducks with no way to defend themselves.

Churches all over the world are being targeted by sects of religious extremists leading to may deaths. Why does everyone think it would never happen here? I think it can and will eventually. Christ tells us in Matthew 10:22 ~ "You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered." That even Brother will betray brother to death and a father his child. Children will even rise up against their parents and have them put to death." Matthew 10: 21. The evidence is there in black and white predicted by Jesus himself.

I think the Church Protection Act is the right thing to do because if people know that a few of the people in the congregation are carrying weapons it will go a long way in deterring this kind of tragedy from happening. It doesn't take a lot of courage to shoot people who you know cannot defend themselves but it is another matter if you think that someone could shoot you back and you could possibly die in the process.

For more information go to  Arkansas Guns In Church Bill Passes in House . What do you think? Would you feel safer in church or more uncomfortable? Leave a comment below, I am interested in hearing your opinions.

Anticipating The Return of Christ

I was visiting my grandsons the other day and having a wonderful time with them, but they were very distracted. They would run to the back door every now and again to look out to see if their father's truck was in the driveway yet. Their father is a long haul truck driver and was due to come in that day. He is generally gone a few weeks at a time and they were looking forward to his return. They must have run to the back door twenty times in the space of an hour. It made me smile to think of how lucky their father was to have two boys as devoted to him as they were.  I could only imagine how happy they would be when he finally arrived home and they were reunited.

It reminded me of how we should feel about Jesus returning as it tells us in Luke 12:35-40 ~ Be ready for service and have your lamps lit. You must be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. Those slaves the master will find alert when he comes will be blessed. I assure you: He will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. If he comes in the middle of the night or even near dawn and finds them alert, those slaves are blessed. But know this: if the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming he would not have let his house be broken into. You also be ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.

Perhaps that is what Jesus meant when he said that we must be like children in our belief, because they believe without question. Children, when they know of a coming event act like my grandsons, they greatly anticipate the event. Have you ever driven your children anywhere and had them ask continually are we there yet? I think everyone who has ever taken a child anywhere has experienced that at one time or another. The eyes of children are open wide, they see so much more than adults see. They explore their world with excitement and wonder every day. They notice the little things that so many of us take for granted. You can learn a lot from a child.

So how do we become more like children in our walk with the Lord? We get excited about his return; we spread the message to others with the excitement we should feel. Living in the end times is a once in a lifetime event! How lucky we are to be living in this time period when the Lord's return is eminent. The signs are here, we are in the season of his return! Wake up and anticipate his return, we may not know the hour or the day but we can not stop looking for him or we will be caught unaware and unprepared. I for one do not want to be left behind or locked out of the wedding feast.

Do you anticipate the rapture as my grandsons anticipated the return of their earthly father? Do you constantly look up awaiting his return, knowing he will be coming in the clouds? Do you tell everyone you see that you are expecting the arrival of your Lord and savior?

My hope is in the Lord and in his return as I look around and see the increasing immorality spreading throughout the world. I know this is all in his plan and must happen because he has told us so. I look to the clouds and anticipate my salvation. I also tell everyone I see in my daily life that will listen, that they might also be saved, even if some may think I am crazy for I am not ashamed. Are you?

Superbowl Ads

The Super Bowl is the sporting event of the year for many people and the advertisers take full advantage of this audience to sell their goods. They pay unbelievable amounts of money to get a 30 second slot of time and the audience it brings. So much so, an hour football game turns into four with three hours of advertising.

I watched all the attention the media gave to the ads days before the game and after the game was long over. Showing previews of the ads and wetting your appetite so everyone would view the game to see the complete ad. After the game they asked that you rate the ads to see which one was favored. One episode on television was devoted to nothing but promoting those previews. I was wondering to myself why, why all the attention to the ads on one particular program was news worthy?

Perhaps the advertisers wanted to get more for the money they forked out for the initial ad time or are they also trying to reach more than the sports fan? My guess is they want to reach as many people as possible for the same advertising dollar. They have discovered how to get the viewer to want to see their ads instead of seeing them as a distraction from the game. Clever for the advertiser but it only shows how gullible we are and how easily we are led by the corporations.

I have been amazed of late of what the corporations will do to sell their products and what kinds of fleshy sins they use to appeal to the average person. They reek of loose morals and blatant sexuality as well as our intuitive sense of want. Covet; they try so hard to make us want everything they sell. I have to ask myself why they are so successful in reaching into the depths of our desires. Why are we so easily led to buy everything we see, perhaps instead we should be grateful for what we already have, because most of us have so much already.

I was reminded of Philippians 4:12~ I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

I also know that secret because I have been in both those situations many times over my lifetime. The secret is a combination of gratitude and worship. We first must be thankful for what we already have and learn to be content with it. We must accept our situation and make do with what we have, happily thanking God for what we do have to work with. 

The easiest way to do this is to turn off the TV and busy ourselves with our own work, in our own homes and in our own lives. There is always something that needs to be done, praising God for the home we do have and the family he has given us to do things for. If you have done all you can with what you have, take a look around your neighborhood to see if someone else has a need that you could help with, sharing God’s word and comfort.