At the beginning of last year, the Lord gave us Joshua 1:9. - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  When we began looking at this scripture, we had no idea what lay ahead.  After that, the Lord told us that He was preparing our hands for war.  That was a message that did not, at the time, seem very encouraging.  However, as time passed, we realized that we cannot follow Jesus and escape the battle between the light and the darkness.  Next, the Lord took us to His prayer to the Father in John 17.  He tells us that He did not pray for the Father to take us out of this world.  He prayed for the Father to protect us when we went into the world.  Why would we need the Father's protection against the evil one?  Because we are in a battle.

This year has seen a divide in this nation that all can see.  It is not a fight between the left and the right, Democrat and Republican, liberal or conservation.  It is between the light and the darkness.  In this fight, we are to align with Jesus and His Word and not with any movement in the world.  This is our time.  Now, the messages the Lord began to give us a year ago make sense.  We are not to fear or be discouraged.  We have been trained for war and how to use the spiritual weapons the Lord has provided.  We do not fight with the weapons of the world or with its methods.  We fight the good fight of faith according to the ways of our Lord and King, Jesus using HIs Word as our weapon.  That Word is not to be changed, modified, reinterpreted, or misused.  We are to put on the spiritual armor of God and stand on that Word.  We use that Word to combat the lies and deceptions of the enemy.  Anything that does not align with God's word is to be countered with the Word itself.  This responsibility belongs to each one of us.  

The Bible tells us that the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.  As God's children, it should be foolish to us also.  Following are some examples of what happens when we place man's wisdom above God's wisdom.

When does life begin?

• Science and our elected officials say life does not begin until we take breath.  Therefore, a “fetus,” even though it has a beating heart, can react to outside stimulus, and can be affected by the food a mother eats, is not considered to be alive because it is not breathing.
• What about this scenario.  A husband and wife are deeply in love.  They get in a car accident, and the wife is seriously injured.  They rush her to the hospital but have to put her on life support until they can stabilize her.  Is she alive?  She is not breathing on her own.  She is not taking a breath.  Can someone simply decide to pull the plug?
• What is the difference between these two?  For the unborn, the mother does the breathing until the baby can breathe on its own.  For the severely injured mother, the machine breaths for her until she can breathe on her own. 

Abortion vs. murder

• In California, a 25-year-old mother has been arrested and charged with murder because she delivered a stillborn baby that had toxic levels of meth in its system.
• In California, it is legal for a woman to get an abortion for any reason whatsoever, and it is called a choice, a right.
• How can one be murder and the other a right?  How can you charge a person with murder when the state does not consider a fetus a living person?
• How can the death of an unborn child be both a woman’s right and murder?

Drugs

• The mother in the above story was charged with murder because she used meth.
• Yet, California gives away needles, provides safe places for people to shoot up, and offers free health checks.  All for people who use meth, cocaine, and other drugs.

Public nudity

• A United Airlines pilot was arrested for public nudity for walking naked in his 10th floor hotel room.
• He was unaware that others could see him from his window, but Denver authorities said that did not matter.
• Even though the charges were dropped, the pilot was placed on six-month probation.
• The 22-year veteran pilot had his reputation smeared because of “public nudity.”
• At the same time, Denver is hosting a Denver GoTopless Day 2019 on August 25.  This is the seventh year for the event
• It, of course, is an educational event about equal rights where everyone is encouraged to go topless.
• Why is a man arrested for public nudity for being naked in his room while crowds of people are allowed to go topless in the same city?

For several years I have been posting, with the Lord’s help, devotions.  Devotions focus on God’s word and how we are to apply those truths.  The devotions stem from those moments when God opens my spiritual eyes to bring better understanding and wisdom.  When sharing those devotions, I try not to include my personal feelings or ideas because God’s word is without prejudice.
For some time I have thought that a blog would enable us to share on a wider basis while continuing to focus on God’s word.  Some experiences are personal and not applicable for a devotion.  A blog would allow us to share our views on all topics because God is involved of all aspects of our lives, so that will become the focus of this first blog.
Growing up, I heard that we could discuss any topic except religion and politics.  As with any saying, there is some truth to that as these two areas seem to divide us instead of unite us.  Where the discussion of religion might separate us, the discussion of Jesus and His word should not.  We may differ on styles of worship, dress, meeting times, etc., those differences should not cause the church to divide itself.  The disciples obviously had differences of opinions, especially about who was the greatest, but Jesus kept them unified by keeping their focus on Him and on His purposes.  Therefore, these blogs will attempt to keep our eyes on Jesus and on His Word.  He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  We will not interpret what is the Way because Jesus has shown us the way; we will not seek to interpret the Truth through modern eyes because Jesus is the Truth, and because Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, His truth is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and we focus on life as given to us by Jesus.
As to politics, the Truth should apply to all equally.  If we do not “allow” Jesus into our political discussions and dealings, then we are giving free reign to the enemy.  God cares about the number of hairs on our heads, and He knows when a sparrow falls to the ground.  Therefore, He must care about our cities, states, and nations.  Again, this blog will focus on looking at issues through the eyes of our King and Savior.  We hope to feature different writers so as to get a better understanding of how and why God speaks to us.
We pray that any comments will not be confrontational but insightful.  The Bible tells us that we will have to give an account of every idle word we speak (or write).  May none of those words be found on this site.
 

Years ago, I taught a short story (I do not remember the name) about a father who had to raise his five sons after the death of his wife.  The father was a good man who worked for two brothers.  The brothers were not very good businessmen, so the father becomes the one who kept the business prosperous, but he did not receive any type of reward.  At that point, I would ask my students if they thought the father was too kind so as to let the brothers take advantage of him.
That question led to many good discussions about whether or not we can be too good.  Does our kindness mean we let others use us?  Does being kind and doing things in the name of Jesus make us weak?  Some o the news stories caused me to remember this story.  I am constantly reading stories about people being shamed or offended.  If you do not like a particular hair style, you are “hair shaming” that person.  If you comment on someone’s body, you are “body shaming” him or her.  Every day I read of another way to shame people.  Disagree with anyone about anything, and you are shaming that person.  In Broward County in Florida, the recount was a mess.  They recounted the senate votes first.  After they started the recount for governor, lawyers discovered they were counting the wrong ballots.  The person in charge lost her job.  She claimed it was due to racism.  
Now, as followers of Jesus Christ, where do we fit into all of this?  This brings me back to the short story.  The father was a gracious, kind person.  Those brothers were not taking advantage of the father because the father chose to help them.  As Christians, people cannot shame us unless we let them.  Look at all that was said about Jesus, yet He was never offended.  No one could shame Jesus because He was doing what the Father wanted.  We will be persecuted, but that is a path we have chosen to follow by following Jesus.  As Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Rom. 1:16).

Matthew 12:25 (NASB77) 25 And knowing their thoughts [Jesus] said to them, ” Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself shall not stand.
Let’s look at the definition of a few of these words.  Divided means “to separate into parts, to be divided or disunited by discord.”  Waste means “desert, wilderness, to be made desolate, to be destroyed.”  For those who believe in Jesus Christ, we cannot – we should not -ever disagree with His words.  He tells us quite plainly that no kingdom, city, or house that is divided against itself can stand.  Therefore, as followers of Jesus, we should do all we can to heal such divisions.  When we look around at our nation, we too often find that Christians are taking part in such divisions.
This nation is as divided as I have ever witnessed.  We are far beyond political differences.  We are not talking about taxes or policies.  Instead, we are talking about people.  We vilify anyone who thinks differently than we do.  We refuse to forgive, and we ignore Jesus’ command not to judge.  I believe Christians can stand on opposite sides of political issues.  However, we cannot stand on opposite sides of issues that divide in order to conquer.  Prior to Pres. Trump’s election, I read article after article by religious leaders who clearly stated that if I voted for Trump, then I was not a Christian.  Really?  When I get to heaven and stand before the King and He opens the Book, Jesus is going to look at it and say, “You voted for the wrong person,” and cast me out?  Forget the blood of Christ.  Forget any statement of faith and the power of grace.  This is an issue that divides Christians and, thus, the church.  Can Jesus stand on both sides of the abortion issue?  Can Jesus condone marriage as defined in Genesis and marriage as defined by society?  Can we find Jesus supporting the truth that when we accept Him we become new creations and the idea that salvation does not have to change us?
As I was reading through the gospels and Acts, I could see this division.  I could see man on one side arguing they knew God the Father better than Jesus.  The Pharisees and other groups stirred up the crowds claiming they were right.  The apostles and Paul were constantly confronted by crowds protesting and yelling that their way was the truth.  Today, we hear the same thing.  This church says it knows the Way and preaches the Truth.  This church proclaims it is living the Truth.  How do we know the difference?  When we look at the lives of the disciples and of Jesus, we find they never moved in crowds.  They never argued with others.  Instead, they stood their ground and LIVED the truth.  They spoke the truth and backed up that word by living that word.  The church established by Jesus is the church that not only proclaims the truth of Jesus, but also lives that truth.  

The Fight Continues
Sadhu Sundar Selvaraj received an angelic visitation today with a warning about an evil plan to remove President Trump from office. He sent the following message to Pastor Joe Sweet from Shekinah Worship Center.
This evening at 5.25 pm on November 13, 2018 (Singapore date and time), I had a visitation from an Angel of the Lord with a drawn sword in his right hand. He spoke to me about President Donald Trump. I wasn’t thinking about him nor praying for him at that time. I was just busy doing some other works.
The Angel of the Lord said: “I have been sent to tell you to warn the Christians to pray for their president. He is in danger of being impeached and removed from office. There are sinister forces working behind the veil on this. Several Attorneys, Judges, Senators, Congressmen and even Governors are working on it. It is not the plan of God for him (President Trump) to be removed. Ask the Christians to pray.”
Please prayerfully act on this Word.
This warning confirms the dream received by Christopher Harris on October 13 (see complete post). Christopher was told this plan would manifest within the next five weeks, which ends this coming weekend. Christopher was specifically shown former Speaker of the House, John Boehner, is one of the leaders of this plan. Since Christopher is an Australian citizen and resident, he did not even know who John Boehner is.
I believe what the angel told Sundar, “It is not the plan of God for him (President Trump) to be removed. Ask the Christians to pray.”
One person is in Singapore, and one is in Australia.  Why would these words come from other nations to people who were not even praying about the United States?  I believe it may be because we are not listening.  The church in America is so divided and set on its own paths that we might ignore such warnings.  I believe God is also telling us how important this issue is.  The fight is real.  Prayer is our weapon.  Prayer.  We are so far removed from political parties and ideology.  
We are involved in a global issue, so what do I do?  What difference can one person make?  I think of Abigail, the wife of Nabal.  After being insulted by Nabal, David was going to wipe out Nabal and all of his servants, which would have amounted to hundreds of people.  David was a powerful man with hundreds of brave fighting men.  Abigail, one woman, stood before David and convinced him this is not what God wanted.  David’s eyes were opened.  The lives of Nabal and his servants were saved.  David’s reputation was saved.  One person.

Many will look at me and see a white male.  From that single observation they will place me in a category of “white, male privilege.”  In doing so, they assume to know all about me, and they conclude that they do not approve of me or my lifestyle.  I thought about this when I was mowing the other day.  I do a lot of thinking when I mow.  I enjoy it, and I enjoy these conversations with the Lord.  I want to address these labels by telling you a little about myself.
Yes, I am placed in the category labeled “caucasian” on all the forms I have been required to fill out.  Growing up, I never thought that that designation made me special or privileged.  My family never taught me that, especially my mother.  So, let me tell you about my family and my “white” designation.  My grandparents were Syrian. They accepted Jesus and were known as devout Christians in a small village in Syria.  My mother, aunts, and uncle were all born in Syria, a place that is not that pleasant.  When my mother was a young girl, my grandfather decided to leave Syria and come to America.  My brothers, sisters, and I are part of the first generation to be born in the United States of America.  That truth sometimes boggles my mind because I was one generation from being born in a country that is torn by war.  My grandfather went through all the steps to become a naturalized citizen and worked hard to provide for my family.  Mom never finished school because she had to work.  So, when people look at me and call me “white,” they only see the surface.  The do not see my heritage or the truth.  Plus, I had nothing to do with my being “white.”  All of that was in God’s hands.
Next, I am male.  I do not have much to say about this because, once again, I had nothing to do with that.  God formed me before I was even a thought in my parents’ minds.  Now, I am the baby of my family, and I have been told my brothers and sisters that I was spoiled.  If that is so, it was their fault and not mine!  That might have given me special privileges, but never did my mother raise me to think that because I was male that I was ever better than anyone else.  I cannot ever remember having a conversation with my brothers about our male privilege.  Enough on that subject.
Finally, the big topic: privilege.  I have been labeled as one who is privileged and, as such, should feel ashamed of myself.  Let me tell you about that privilege.  My family “escaped” Syria before it became deadly.  They had no one waiting for them here.  They could not enter this country immediately so they had to go to Cuba first and wait.  There my mother had to work, as did all in the family.  Eventually, they were allowed to travel to Ellis Island and enter this country.  My family’s name is recorded at Ellis Island. Is that privilege?
My mother’s first marriage was an arranged marriage.  She had three children, two daughters and a son.  Her husband was not a nice person to put it mildly.  He treated her so badly that her brother, my uncle, rescued her from that marriage.  Later, she married my father, a career Army man.  From that marriage came my brother, my sister, and me.  Dad was not the best husband either.  I saw him beat my mother.  He drank and wasted money.  My mother, who did not have an education, took whatever job she could find so she would have some spending money for herself and for us.  When I entered high school, my father left us.  Mom had to raise us on her own.  She woke early every morning to run a day care at a local church.  She could not drive so she walked every day in every type of weather.  Then, we learned she had cancer.  She never divorced my father and never said a bad word about him.  She was getting treated at the local military base until one day she learned that my father had gotten a divorce and remarried.  She no longer qualified for base privileges.  As the cancer worsened, the church dismissed her.  I was in college at this time.  I remember once writing home asking Mom for some spending money.  Yes, I know now how selfish that was.  Mom sent me $20 with a note apologizing for not being able to send more.  That note broke my heart.  (Cancer eventually took her life.)  Is that privilege?
After that, I worked on campus as I went to school.  I worked at night as a janitor for an insurance company.  I kept that job until I was fired.  They had shag carpeting that had to be raked every night.  It never dawned on me to close the door and rake the small area behind the door, so they fired me.  I worked for the landscaping crew, planting sod and watering plants and hoeing weeds in 100+ degree weather.  I froze in the winter as we tended the grounds.  Then, I moved to the trucking service where I was the only “long-hair” on the crew of “red-necks.”  Note, these are not derogatory names as that is what we called ourselves.  I was ridiculed and ostracized.  The others rode in the cab; I rode in the back of the truck.  Next, I worked in the soil testing lab.  I put on a a mask and ground soil samples all day.
Oh, one more thing.  I messed around a great deal in college.  I lost all my scholarships and was told not to return to campus for at lease a year.  In other words, I got kicked out of college. I worked at these jobs for that year  because I knew if I ever left campus, I probably would not return.  When I returned to school, my advisor told me that he did not think I would ever make a teacher so I was wasting my time.  Is that privilege?
Yes, it was.  I am privileged.  I am privileged to have had a grandfather and grandmother who saw the truth in Jesus Christ and passed that truth on to their children.  I am privileged that they sacrificed and left all they knew to come to this nation.  I am privileged that I was raised to love this country and to honor those around me.  I am privileged to have been taught the value of hard work.  I am privileged to have had a mother who loved Jesus and passed that love on to us.  I am privileged that she never, ever raised us with the notion that I had half-brothers or half-sisters.  No, I have brothers and sisters.  Period.  I am privileged to have had a mother who demonstrated what sacrificial love truly was.  I am privileged to have been raised with brothers and sisters who loved me, helped raise me, and love me still.  I am privileged that I had to work my way through college so I could learn responsibility.  I am privileged that I failed so that I could learn not to give up. I am privileged that my wife and I had to struggle financially so we would learn to depend upon Jesus.  I am privileged to have been able to work at the same teaching job for 41 years. Most importantly, I am privileged to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
Yes, I am white.  Yes, I am a male.  Yes, I am privileged.