Don't Suffer Fools Gladly

“Don’t make me get up”.  How many parents can admit to using this classic line?  If the children were smart, they would immediately cease the activity in question that instigated this parental response. 

This month is Halloween.  Every year my kids come home with their Trick or Treat bounty after a few hours of door knocking.  They spread their “loot” all over the family room carpet and separate the goodies into various categories.  Now, mind you, no child could possibly even begin to eat the amount of candy that they’ve collected.  It’s just the joy of getting free stuff that seems to appeal to them.  Invariably, sometime before the beginning of the New Year, we would end up surreptitiously discarding the overflow unbeknownst to them. 

Nevertheless, sooner or later that evening, the bickering would start.  "Hey! You have more Milky Ways than me!”--Or some other such nonsense.  When the pitch level exceeded the parental tolerance level, the inevitable line would result:  “Don’t make me come in there.” 

Sometimes this threat was enough.  If not, one of us would slowly rise and stealthily, yet swiftly, intervene in the ungrateful commotion.  Generally, we would give the kids one final warning as they heard our footsteps approaching:  “You’d better run”.  And they would scatter in different directions, leaving candy behind them being confiscated and put away until better behavior was the result. 

Sadly, we are at this point in America today.  We are the out of control children with a surplus of “free candy”.  This free candy is poured out in the form of government goodies and has resulted in more and more division and in-fighting.  Does Sandra Fluke really NEED the American public to pay for her birth control while we spiral into dangerous debt levels?  Seriously?   

My kids used to watch a show when they were very young called “Veggie Tales”.  In one of the episodes, the theme taught small children, through veggie characters, the inherent problems with jealousy or covetousness.  The little veggie kid says to his veggie father indignantly: “Billy has more toys than me!”—to which the father replied:  “Who’s Billy?”  The kid replied:  “I don’t know, but he has more toys than me!”  Today, this line may not get a very big laugh since it is the same philosophy of covetousness and greed that is being sold to the dazed and confused masses in America.  It doesn’t matter who has more stuff then you—simply that they dare to have more stuff than you!  It’s the “hamster wheel” of ignorant thinking. This is a never-ending rabbit hole.  There will ALWAYS be someone that has more than you.  How childish and juvenile to think any such other condition could possibly exist?  Even a child’s story can easily explain this to a five year old.

By any measurement or standard of living in the entire recorded history of mankind, we enjoy a quality of life that is the envy of the world.  Even those least fortunate among us live significantly better than the abject poverty that is known through out much of the world today.  Our poverty line would seem like paradise to some.  What we have in the United States today is a serious lack of gratitude. 

Today, in attempt to appeal to these base instincts of mankind, the current administration is giving away loads of “sweet” incentives that continue to sicken us.  I bet much of it is probably going to waste (can anyone say “ObamaPhone”)?  Some of it is downright dangerous—guaranteed to make a deep cavity in our very souls.  Now that we have upwards of 47% of Americans on some sort of government hand out are we happier?  More satisfied?  Getting along better? The current administration in Washington stokes this covetousness and jealousy with words like:

“They’re gonna put you all back in chains”

“The middle class has gotten buried in the last four years” 

“The rich need to pay their ‘fair share’.” 

This is foolish talk by fools.  At the recent Vice Presidential debate we saw our elected official laughing and smirking through much of the evening as serious issues were discussed. However, we are beginning to see the prayers of the faithful taking effect.  God, indeed, has arisen.  The fools will be dishonored and their “candy” taken away.   

There’s a scripture:

Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies.

~ Psalm 68:1

Here’s a message for the laughing, smirking “Candy Men” in Washington:

God is on the rise.  You’d better start packing.    

After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools!

~2 Corinthians 11:19

GOD who rules in the Armies of Heaven, and without whose Blessing the best human Counsels are but Foolishness

~John Hancock, 1775 (signer of the Declaration of Independence)     

Interested in National Repentance?

Go to the Congressional Prayer Caucus Website:

http://www.prayercaucus.org/

Annual National Day of Repentance: www.dayofrepentance.org
2013 Date: Yom Kippur September 13th (Sunset) through September 14th (Nightfall)

 

Feel free to join any number of events calling for National Prayer and Repentance as we lead up to the November 6th elections.

Gatherings:  

• David's Tent Washington DC: (24/7 Worship of Jesus Christ on White House Ellipse)

http://dchop.org/?doing_wp_cron=1348948399.4002270698547363281250

Prayer Initiatives:

• 40 Days to Save America
• 40 Days of Prayer
• The American Prayer Initiative
• 40 Days of Worship
• If My People Pray
• Pray 31
• Cry Out America
• 50 Days of Decision 

Birds Of Prey

This week, President Obama hunkered down, rolled up his sleeves and began doing his homework.  Earlier in the week, he had been quoted as saying the debate prep was a “drag”.  However, after the humiliating debate debacle, he was back in the stump within 14 hours doing some strong campaigning.  Despite his weak showing as an “empty podium”, he was ready to tackle the really, really tough issue overwhelming American thoughts today—Big Bird. 

Now, I’ve heard all the Big Bird spin I can handle this week.  We now know that Big Bird is a “1-percenter” with Sesame Street raking in over $122 million last year.  Saturday Night Live featured Big Bird on its program using all the classic aviary jokes such as he didn’t want to “ruffle any feathers” and he had gotten a lot of “tweets” since the debate. 

Yet all this levity actually depressed me.  The most important American election ever is in just 28 days.  What we are facing is no laughing matter.  While I’m sure President Obama would like to focus on a big walking, talking bird instead of the real issues, let’s not forget that this election is literally about Life and Death.  If President Obama is re-elected, Americans everywhere will be FORCED to provide abortifacients as part of the Obama"care" health bill.  But…I wouldn't want to spoil all the American “fun”.  So to keep it light I wrote a poem based on a Dr. Seuss book.  Hopefully it’s not too much of a “buzz kill” for our Kardashian Nation clueless mentality.  With the HHS mandate deadline rapidly approaching on January 1st, 2013--it’s not like President Obama is asking us to commit murder or anything, right? 

Dead Eggs and Scam 

I am Obama

I am Obama
Obama I am

That Obama-I-am
That Obama-I-am!
I do not like
that Obama-I-am

Do you like
Dead eggs and scam?

I do not like them
Obama-I-am.
I do not like
Dead eggs and scam.

Would you like them
here or there?

I would not like them
here or there.
I would not like them
anywhere.
I do not like
Dead eggs and scam.
I do not like them
Obama-I-am

Would you like them
in your house?
Would you like them-
 your conscience douse?

I do not like them
in my house.
I do not like them
with a douse.
I do not like them
here or there.
I do not like them
anywhere.
I do not like dead eggs and scam.
I do not like them, Obama-I-am.

Would you like them
in a box?
Would you like them
by a sly fox?

Not in a box.
Not by a sly fox.
Not in my house.
Not with a douse.
I would not like them here or there.
I would not like them anywhere.
I would not like Dead eggs and scam.
I do not like them, Obama-I-am.

Would you? Could you?
with my czar?
Take them! Take them!
Here they are.

I would not
could not
with a czar

You may like them.
You will see.
You may like them
if it’s free?

Not if it’s free.
I would not, could not if it’s free.
Not with a czar! You let me be!
I do not like them in a box.
I do not like them, you sly fox
I do not like them in my house
I do not like them with a douse
I do not like them here or there.
I do not like them anywhere.
I do not like dead eggs and scam.
I do not like them, Obama-I-am.

A fine! A fine!
A fine! A fine!
Could you, would you
with a fine?

Not with a fine! Not if it’s free!
Not with a czar! Obama! Let me be!
I would not, could not, in a box.
I could not, would not, you sly fox.
I will not like them in my house
I will not like them with a douse.
I will not like them here or there.
I will not like them anywhere.
I do not like them, Obama-I-am.

Say!
With my mark?
Here in the dark!
Would you, could you take my mark?

I would not, could not,
take your mark.

Would you, could you
with some pain?

I would not, could not, cross that line.
Not in the dark. Not with a fine
Not with your czar, Not if it’s a free.
I do not accept them, Obama, you see.
Not with a douse. Not in a box.
Not in my house. Not by a sly fox.
I will not accept them here or there.
I do not accept them anywhere!

You do not like
Dead eggs and scam?

I do not
like them,
Obama-I-am.
 

Could you, would you,
watch me gloat?

Would you, could you

With your vote?

I could not, would not, watch you gloat.
I will not, will not, with my vote.
I will not accept them though in pain.
I will not accept them this is plain.
Not in the dark! Not if it’s free!
Not with your czar! You let me be!
I do not like them in a box.
I do not like them you sly fox.
I do not like them in my house.
I do not like them with a douse.
I do not like them here or there.
I do not like them ANYWHERE!
I do not like
dead eggs
and scam!

I do not like them,
Obama-I-am.

You do not like them.
SO you say.
Try them! Try them!
And you may.
Try them and you may I say.

Obama!
If you will let me be,
I will try them.
You will see...

Say!
I like dead eggs and scam!
I do!! I like them, Obama-I-am!
And I would accept them to help you gloat!
And I would accept them with my vote!
And I will accept them and avoid the pain.
My heart’s in dark, my beliefs arcane.
And with your czar.  And now it’s “free”.
You are so good so good you see!

So I will accept them in a box.
And I will accept them you sly fox.
And I will accept them in my house.
And I will accept them with a douse.
And I will accept them here and there.
Say! I will accept them ANYWHERE!

 

And I will accept them---the Constitution revamp

And I will accept them in a concentration camp

And I will accept them-­- pull the plug on my spouse

And I will accept them—(never liked that louse!)

And I will accept elderly “early release”

And I will accept…Gee…the options never do cease!

 

 I do so like
dead eggs and scam!
Thank you!
Thank you,
Obama-I-am! 

My Obama”care”

Has all run dry

The next to go

I know is I 

Not only that

It’s clear to see

The cost was great

It wasn’t “free” 

It’s time to die

Obama-I-am

I must admit

What one great scam!

I now must face

 

THE GREAT I AM!

Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.

~Luke 17:37

I wish that the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country, he is a bird of bad moral character, he does not get his living honestly…where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor of the fishing-hawk, and when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish…the bald eagle pursues him and takes it from him.

~Benjamin Franklin 

Interested in National Repentance?

Go to the Congressional Prayer Caucus Website:

http://www.prayercaucus.org/

Annual National Day of Repentance: www.dayofrepentance.org
2013 Date: Yom Kippur September 13th (Sunset) through September 14th (Nightfall)

 

Feel free to join any number of events calling for National Prayer and Repentance as we lead up to the November 6th elections.

Gatherings:  

• David's Tent Washington DC: (24/7 Worship of Jesus Christ on White House Ellipse)

http://dchop.org/?doing_wp_cron=1348948399.4002270698547363281250

Prayer Initiatives:

• 40 Days to Save America
• 40 Days of Prayer
• The American Prayer Initiative
• 40 Days of Worship
• If My People Pray
• Pray 31
• Cry Out America
• 50 Days of Decision 

Cosmic "Do-Over"

My brothers and I used to play a board game as children named “Stratego”.  Recently I noticed it is still for sale in stores today, so I guess it remains popular.  The basic premise involves a war game with moving pieces comprising an imaginary military unit.  The ultimate goal is to capture your opponent’s flag while avoiding a minefield of obstacles and adversaries. 

Apparently we weren’t very good sports in my family,  If someone was getting badly beaten he or she (or more accurately me) would flip the board over and declare a “Do-Over”—or a rearranging of the pieces in another attempt to be more strategically wise in our placement of assets and flag protection. 

I was surprised to learn that God also has a “Do-over” in the Bible.  According to the scripture, he instructed the Jewish nation in the Old Testament to declare every 50^th year “The Year of Jubilee”.  Sounds great doesn’t it?  Jubilee:  Joyous. Celebratory.  Well…like most everything in God’s Kingdom, it has several meanings. 

On one hand it’s a new beginning—a wiping clean of the slate.  It’s a chance to start over again and perhaps live more wisely on the next round.  A cancellation of debts.  A release of servitude and bondage.  One big joyous celebration or, for some,…a Day of Leveling:    

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,
² to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,

~Isaiah 61: 1&2

Notice verse 2:  It is BOTH the year of the Lord’s favor AND the day of vengeance.

Jubilees occur after a period of seven sevens (or 49 years) when God requires a BIG reset or Sabbath.  No one knows for sure when this year occurs in modern times.  There is much speculation as to when the very first Jubilee began and what phase of a Jubilee we are experiencing right now.  It seems no two historical scholars can agree on this. 

However, one thing is for sure.  God’s commands do not change whether or not we honor them.  The only thing that changes is US.  In a previous blog (“Zero Gravitas” dated June 17th) I joked about not believing in gravity.  Do we really think the principle of gravity changes on whether or not we accept its power?  Of course not, and neither do the other principles of God.  God said there would be a Jubilee year every 50 years.  Guess what?…there WILL be a Jubilee EVERY 50 years whether we want one or believe in one.  Just like gravity: it doesn’t matter whether we choose to respect it or we deny its very existence…it simply IS.

American History offers up a perfect analogy.  In 1863 President Lincoln issued “The Emancipation Proclamation”.  He proclaimed “freedom for the captives” so to speak.  It didn’t matter whether the South agreed with the concept or not—the sovereign United States of America declared it to be so.  And so it was.  Interestingly, January 1^st, 2013 will be exactly 150 years from this event.  Or perhaps we might say…three Jubilees ago.  

In his best-selling book “The Harbinger”, Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn tells of the eerie similarities playing out in modern U.S. history to the Jewish nation of Israel in the Old Testament.  Nine harbingers or omens preceded Israel’s final downfall in 722 B.C. and ultimately the destruction of that nation.  He claims that United States is “due” for a similar judgment and that all nine harbingers have already manifested in America. 

Today, what are we doing with our abundant American assets?  Are we sending billions of dollars to nations that wish to harm Americans and harm Israel?  How about “flag protection”?  There doesn’t seem to be much of that going on based on the U.S. and Israeli flag burnings throughout the world lately.  Are we willing to set the captives of Roe v. Wade free or must Sovereign God declare an “Emancipation Proclamation” against our disobedient will? 

Everyone knows this is a very significant and important election year.  Will January 2013 be a national celebration...or does God level the playing field and declare an epic “Do-Over”?

I don’t know…But this time it’s not child’s play…

It’s deadly serious.

 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed

~Luke 4:18

So may your children's children at the next return of this day of jubilee, after a full century of experience under your national Constitution, celebrate it again in the full enjoyment of all the blessings recognized by you in the commemoration of this day, and of all the blessings promised to the children of Israel upon Mount Gerizim, as the reward of obedience to the law of God.

~John Quincy Adams in his 1839 address “The Jubilee of the Constitution” 

That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State,… shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free

`Abraham Lincoln (The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863)

Interested in National Repentance?

Go to the Congressional Prayer Caucus Website:

http://www.prayercaucus.org/

Annual National Day of Repentance: www.dayofrepentance.org
2013 Date: Yom Kippur September 13th (Sunset) through September 14th (Nightfall)

 

Feel free to join any number of events calling for National Prayer and Repentance as we lead up to the November 6th elections.

Gatherings:  

• The Summons - A Solemn Assembly in Washington, D.C.: An event with hundreds of leaders and citizens in our nation's capital on October 3 -7. This is a moment in time for God's people to stand in the gap on behalf of all Americans.  This special prayer gathering will focus on all institutions of government within Washington, D.C. with prayer at the Capitol Building, the White House, the Supreme Court, the Pentagon and the Washington Monument.  
• David's Tent Washington DC: (24/7 Worship of Jesus Christ on White House Ellipse)

http://dchop.org/?doing_wp_cron=1348948399.4002270698547363281250

Prayer Initiatives:

• 40 Days to Save America
• 40 Days of Prayer
• The American Prayer Initiative
• 40 Days of Worship
• If My People Pray
• Pray 31
• Cry Out America
• 50 Days of Decision 

Tread Cautiously

We are standing on holy ground.  For I know that there are angels all around.

 ~Lyrics by Bill Gaither

 Today on September 29^th, the Western Christian calendar will note the day as “Michaelmas” also known as “The Feast of Angels”.  This Festival of Angels celebrates the angels of the Bible: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.  Here’s a piece of esoteric trivia:  Raphael is found only in the Book of Tobit, which just Catholics and Anglican Christians consider to be scriptural canon.  However, while all three are often venerated as “archangels”, Michael was really the only angel in the Bible actually described as such, or as “The Chief of Angels”.  Legend has it that when Satan had the audacity to suggest that he could be “like the Most High”, Michael spoke up and objected by saying “Who is like God?”—The correct answer?  No one.  Thus, he received his name:  Mi (who) Ke (as or like) El (God).  In artistic depictions Michael is depicted with his foot on Satan’s neck and the Sword (the Word of God) raised to defeat him. 

Today, angels are portrayed with a distorted Hollywood image.  They are either depicted “fairy-like” as a baby-faced cherub or somewhat like the kindly old gentleman in “It’s a Wonderful Life”.  Neither of these is an accurate Biblical portrayal.  Angels in the Bible were mighty, strong, large and terrifying.  The occasional times that they visited mankind throughout the Bible, they were a frightful vision.  “Fear Not” was almost always the first thing they needed to say to the trembling lump of humanity huddling on the floor.  Angels, as God’s holy messengers, evoked respect, reverence and awe.  Many Old Testament angel visitations are widely interpreted to have been Christ himself.  

Unfortunately, our current worldview seems completely lacking in reverence and awe of Almighty God.  According to modern urban-speak, we have T-shirts that now claim “Jesus is my Homeboy”.  The recent spectacle at the Democratic National Convention commenced with the “booing” of God three times.  In 1882, the German philosopher Nietzche, often associated with Nazism and nihilism, declared “God is Dead”.  Now with the advent of the emboldened “New Atheism”, they don’t even bother to say He has died—they deny is very existence altogether. Utter dismissal and disrespect.

 

Christians are not immune to this impertinence. Our presumptuous bumper stickers claim “God is my Co-Pilot”.  The truth is that we are not piloting our own ship with God sitting passively beside us.  God is the “Pilot-in-Command”.  We are more like a squished bug on the windshield holding on for dear life. 

When God appeared to Moses through the Burning bush, Moses was commanded to take off his shoes.

God called to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” and Moses said “Here I am.”  “Do not come any closer”, God said.  “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground”.

~Exodus 3:4-5

Shoe removal was a sign of deep respect, similar to the removal of a hat that we see in cultures today.  Shoes off, hat in hand, head bowed we should gingerly approach the Great I AM. 

Remember the infamous shoe-throwing incident involving President Bush?  When he was at a 2008 press conference in Baghdad, one radical Islamic journalist stood up and threw both his shoes at the Presidents face.  Apparently, even today, shoes remain as a symbolic image of great disrespect to authority.  It is one of the highest insults in Islamic culture to wipe your shoes on something.  Thus we see the frenzied crowds stomping on top of the U.S. and Israeli flags almost daily in the news. 

We need to be in a time of serious reflection and soul searching as a nation.  Unfortunately, this usually only occurs after a major national tragedy.  When people called out to God after 9/11 there was a temporary boom in church attendance and mentions of God in public.  Who can forget the members of Congress singing “God Bless America” on the steps of the Capitol immediately following this national tragedy?  This quickly dissipated back to “business as usual” instead of resulting in the much needed wake up call to repentance.  God’s “wake up calls” tend to get louder and more significant with each passing event if repentance is not the net result.  The Hebrew root word meaning of repentance signifies “turning back” or “returning to God”.  We MUST turn around as a nation.

In Revelation, we see a pattern:  First there are major warnings (like 9/11) or also identified as  “Trumpet calls”,  then a brief period of Contemplation—signified by the symbolic half hour of silence in Revelation.  Perhaps, God is giving us a chance to think about it…then… Judgement.   

The trumpet calls in the Revelation seem to increase in intensity as the people continue to blindly stumble forward unrepentant.  This next scripture always shocks me. It is almost beyond comprehension that after the six horrific tragedies (trumpet calls) described in Revelation, the public would not repent. Yet isn’t this exactly what we are seeing today in America as we hurtle forward towards economic and moral collapse?

But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to turn from their evil deeds.

~Revelation 9:20   

I have some advice for America.  If we don’t want to get burned, we need to “take off our shoes” before they are forcibly removed from us.  Based on the stiff-necked response in the U.S. today, let’s pray that Yahweh does not have to use a “Scorched Earth” policy in order to achieve this objective. 

Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am--so much greater that I'm not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.

~Mark 1:7

If men were angels, no government would be necessary.

~James Madison

Interested in National Repentance?

Go to the Congressional Prayer Caucus Website:

http://www.prayercaucus.org/

Annual National Day of Repentance: www.dayofrepentance.org
2013 Date: Yom Kippur September 13th (Sunset) through September 14th (Nightfall)

Feel free to join any number of events calling for National Prayer and Repentance as we lead up to the November 6th elections.

Gatherings:

• America for Jesus - A National Solemn Assembly:  A solemn assembly in Philadelphia on September 28-29 where tens of thousands of Christians will be gathering in focused prayer and fasting for our nation.  
• The Summons - A Solemn Assembly in Washington, D.C.: An event with hundreds of leaders and citizens in our nation's capital on October 3 -7. This is a moment in time for God's people to stand in the gap on behalf of all Americans.  This special prayer gathering will focus on all institutions of government within Washington, D.C. with prayer at the Capitol Building, the White House, the Supreme Court, the Pentagon and the Washington Monument.  
• David's Tent Washington DC: (24/7 Worship of Jesus Christ on White House Ellipse)

http://dchop.org/?doing_wp_cron=1348948399.4002270698547363281250

Prayer Initiatives:

• 40 Days to Save America
• 40 Days of Prayer
• The American Prayer Initiative
• 40 Days of Worship
• If My People Pray
• Pray 31
• Cry Out America
• 50 Days of Decision 

"Peace" de Resistance

Does anyone even remember or still talk about the fact that President Obama actually received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009?  In light of recent events, this is almost comical—if it wasn’t so seriously sad.  The very policies of this administration have seemed to bring about anything BUT peace.  The truth is that the more our leaders have tried to appease and apologize, the more aggressive our enemies have become.  Just the fact that the administration is even DISCUSSING the release of Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman, the “spiritual advisor” to the 1993 World Trade Center bombers, indicates how seriously off track we have become.  The clear message sent would be: “Please continue to attack and kill our Embassy leaders and you will get more U.S. capitulations.”  This strange foreign policy posture actually INCITES aggression.  It seems so obvious to most clear thinking Americans, yet the Obama Administration is almost perverse in moving in the opposite direction.  Thus, we have more “wars and rumors of wars”.    

So what should we do?  Let’s go to the ultimate source:  What does the Bible have to say about addressing evil? 

“Resist the Devil and he will flee from you”.

~James 4:7

Resist…not ignore…don’t just go with the flow.  Don’t apologize to evil.  Here’s the dictionary definition of “resist”:

 To strive to fend off or offset the actions, effects, or force of.

Apathy, apology or inactivity is not an option. Consider this quote from Author Joel C. Rosenberg, a Messianic Jew some consider to be prophetic:

“To misunderstand the nature and threat of evil is to risk being blindsided by it”.

During WWII, there was a colorful and diverse “Resistance Movement” that spanned every one of the countries under occupation by the German Nazis.  The movement was too individual and varied to go into much detail here, but suffice it to say—only a small remnant of the large population under oppression actually “resisted”.  While many people refused to actively participate in the genocide and societal madness of the Nazi regime, the effect of their silence and passivity was, indeed, tantamount to tacit approval.   There’s a famous quote directly attributable to one of the German Resistance fighters, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Pastor who was eventually executed by the Nazis:

  

“Silence in the face of evil is evil itself: God will not hold us guiltless.  Not to speak is to speak.  Not to act is to act.”    

Bonhoeffer knew that there was no peace in non-resistance.  True peace was only attainable in pushing back against the advancing darkness. 

Interestingly, a Polish Catholic Resistance fighter, Irena Sendler was nominated as a potential candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize also. She risked her life to valiantly rescue over 2500 Jewish children from certain death in the Holocaust.  She was captured and tortured by the Nazis for her bravery but somehow managed to survive the war. However, unlike President Obama, she did not receive the Peace award. Go figure. 

She was one of many “resistors”.  From the Dutch Netherlands to the Hills of Normandy, individual vanguards of freedom fighters fanned the flames of the Resistance fire.  All put their lives on the line for their acts of courage.  Many, like Bonhoeffer, gave the ultimate sacrifice for their fellow man.  Much like the brave souls that assisted fleeing runaway slaves during the Civil War, these resistance fighters answered to a higher trumpet call than the prevailing “wisdom” of the day. 

There is a common French phrase “Pièce de résistance” from which I obviously derived the title of this blog.  Here’s a direct quote from Wikipedia explaining the shades of meaning in this phrase:

“referring to the best part or feature of something, a showpiece, or highlight.  It can be thought of as the portion of a creation which defies (ie: “resists”) orthodox or common conventions and practices, thereby making the whole of the creation unique and special”. (emphasis mine).

Wow…that quote is the “Pièce de résistance” of this entire discussion.  No further elaboration is necessary.

Join the resistance and make the whole of God’s creation unique and special.

“They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious.  ‘Peace, peace’, they say when there is no peace. ~Jeremiah 6:14

"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains or slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take but as for me; give me liberty or give me death!"

~Patrick Henry

“The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crises maintain their neutrality.”

~Dante (The Divine Comedy)

Please join us in the Grassroots movement National Day of Repentance:

www.dayofrepentance.org

 
In honor of our Judeo-Christian heritage, Americans will pray and fast from Sunset on 9/25/12 through Nightfall on 9/26/12.

 This will also kick off 40 days of prayer until the 11/6/2012 election:
40 Days to Save America
http://www.visionamericaaction.us/

Sheep to the Slaughter

  I hear the train a comin’, it’s rollin’ round the bend”—Johnny Cash (Folsom Prison Blues)

     If you put your ear to the ground…It’s almost like you can hear it coming…The ever growing ominous rumblings of something sinister on its way.  This week, at last count, there were uprisings in 27 different nations each with various versions chanting “Death to America” while burning our flag.  An Iranian spokesperson claimed “Jerusalem will be an Israeli graveyard”.  Just how do they plan to do this if they don’t have any nukes?—Something to think about.

     According to Muslim rage, America is “The Great Satan”, Israel is “The Little Satan” and we must both be destroyed.  Jihad is their openly stated and highest goal.  Whether the U.S. currently knows it or likes it—we are inextricably linked with Israel.    

     As our country continues lurching forward with its wheels off the rails, we are beginning to see major storm clouds forming.  We are hurtling towards moral and fiscal bankruptcy at breathtaking speeds with the momentum seemingly on the side of a stupendous lack of concern.  Everyone in Congress agrees that on January 2^nd we will hit a nightmarish scenario known as “the fiscal cliff”—but this hasn’t stopped them from plodding along mindlessly.  Another 1.047 trillion pumped into the unstable government just this past week to avoid a complete shutdown.  No major protests in the media over this—just business as usual.  Imagine…this astronomical amount of money is only enough to keep the government running for another SIX MONTHS!  We all know the definition of “Insanity”:  doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.  If this is the definition, our Congress is rapidly headed for the nearest psychiatric ward.

     On January 22^nd, 2013 we will hit an even more stupendous “moral cliff”--the 40 year anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.  Some may scoff and deny that this is even a real “road bump” to be concerned about.  Contrary to popular belief, I believe this is the more serious of the two pushing our country towards a major train wreck of exponential proportions.   

     Some days these concerns feel like a surreal bad nightmare.  There are moments that I want to believe it is just a temporary political or cultural ailment.  But the next day, the news gets darker and more foreboding.  Is this what the citizens felt like in pre-WWII Germany?  One day, life is pleasant and orderly--The next moment you are living in a cracked fun-house mirror of societal madness. 

     Just this week, I noticed four seemingly innocuous, unrelated pieces of information in the mail and news.  The first one offered a governmental sponsored program to reduce the interest rate on my home loan.  The next letter said that, due to Obama”care” provisions, a refund from our health insurer was possible.  Shortly afterwards, a news article reported that some homeowners were getting automatic interest rate adjustments as a settlement of the “robo-signing” mortgage scandal.  Last, but certainly not least, it seems that the Federal Reserve was about to do some more “Quantitative Easing” (doesn’t this sound so nice and pleasant?).  This is to help “ease” the weakening economy.  Translation in plain English:  the government is printing some more money.  Aahhhh…you can almost feel it hitting the U.S. vein as it destroys our moral and economic health. This is your beloved country…this is your beloved country on crack.  Any questions?

As we jettison two centuries of governmental and moral values with scarcely a backward glance, the hypnotized masses chant “Four more years, Four more years.”  We are lulled into complacency by the nonstop intravenous flow of free junk--trading our “Freedom for Freebies” and our birthright for a food stamps bowl of porridge.

Make no mistake…this is an orchestrated pounding of the American senses and sensibilities.  The current government wants to become your pimp and your drug pusher.  Just remember after the party, comes the hangover.  Based on the unrestrained licentiousness—It’s should be a doozy.

Suddenly the rhythmic click, click, click of the train wheels will cease and the doors will open.  The sign at the station may say “Jedem das Seine” or “to each his own”.  It was a statement used by the German Nazi’s to be propaganda for their Socialist agenda.  Just like America, they were selling their version of government snares, today more commonly known with the code words of “fair share” and “safety nets”. Unfortunately, if we don’t stop the runaway train in November, this Socialist philosophy may forever become part of American History. 

By the way, this phrase translated idiomatically means:

“Everyone gets what they deserve”.

Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

~ Romans 16: 17-18

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them"

~Thomas Jefferson

Please join us in the Grassroots movement National Day of Repentance:

www.dayofrepentance.org

We have already begun "10 days of awe" from 9/16/12-9/25/12--a season of "affliction of soul" to prepare for the upcoming Day of Repentance. 
In honor of our Judeo-Christian heritage, Americans will pray and fast from Sunset on 9/25/12 through Nightfall on 9/26/12.

 This will also kick off 40 days of prayer until the 11/6/2012 election:
40 Days to Save America
http://www.visionamericaaction.us/