Heaven Bound

We’re all familiar with this image, the cowardly lion from the Wizard of Oz. The lion who joined Dorothy and her friends in a trip to see the wizard in search of that which they lacked; a heart, a home, a brain – and courage. Yes, courage. I came across an article on Raiders News Up-date recently regarding a HUFFPOST article by Pastor  Derek Penwell regarding a recent statement by Franklin Graham speaking at the Family Research Council Watchman on the Wall, where he ask this question of his audience. Who does God hate?

“Cowards” he said, “God hates cowards”.

A statement Pastor Penwell apparently takes great issue as demonstrated by his remarks on a recent blog.

But what does the Bible say about cowards?

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murders, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, idolaters and all liars – they will be consigned to the lake of burning sulphur – this is the second death”. Revelation 21:18

According to Penwell statements like these make it hard to convince anyone that God is a loving God.

From his article, Penwell is quoted as saying:

S

peaking as a Christian pastor, I attest that following Jesus is difficult enough without having to live down the advanced billing from folks like Franklin Graham, who are convinced that God has nothing better to do than to figure out new categories of people to despise. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/derek-penwell/franklin-graham-is-the-wo_b_5392373.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592

Really? New people to despise?  This in my opinion this rates up there with one of the most ludicrous statements I have ever heard, and from a Christian Pastor no less.

What planet is Pastor Penwell living on anyway? Or rather, what Bible has he been reading? Because it sure doesn’t sound like mine.

What startles me more than anything is the small view that Pastor Penwell obviously has of God. Small view and lack of understanding of character.

Yes, Pastor Penwell, God hates cowards.  And, so should we.  And, if we find it in ourselves, we need to do some serious thinking about what it means to be a Christian.

God hates because he loves. Did you get that —– GOD HATES BECAUSE HE LOVES!!

And, it is because the things he hates, are the very things that destroy those that he loves.

Pastor Penwell believes that we will have a hard time selling the love of God by condemning what God despises.  But, I have news for you Pastor,  It’s not my job to sell the world on God’s love. Its only my job to tell the world of God’s love. And, to defend it ….. something a coward will not do.

I don’t know about you but I think I have spent a big part of my Christian life in cowardice.  What will people think, what will they say, if they know I believe xyz.

I came face to face with this a couple of years ago, when I was confronted with a decision to make at my job.  My new position required making referrals for women for abortions. All I had to do what make a phone call, fax some papers etc ….. that’s it. Not like I was actively involved in the procedure. But, because of my beliefs I could not do it. I went to my supervisor knowing full well I could be fired and told her I would not do it. I trusted the Lord knowing that her response could go either way. As it turned out, they found someone else to do that job and I was out of the loop on that. But, what I did do was amass information for the local pregnancy center, which, I gave out to the girls when they came in in the hope that one of them would call the center and save their babies. If anyone had turned me I for this, again, I could have been fired.

We’re living in a time folks, when, we are going to be called on to be brave. The days ahead are no days for cowards.  In order to love what God loves, we must hate what he hates. And, be willing to take a stand for it.

I’m sorry Pastor Penwell, cowardice convinces no one of God’s love.

**Having trouble with the wordpress format.  The font has become so small that I cannot read it as I write nor to edit. You will probably need a magnifying glass to read this. I have not been able to find a way to change the settings, if anyone call help with this please let me know. Will go ahead and publish …   For some reason Revelation 21:18 is not showing up on final nor are Pastor Penwells comments.  Please see link to article..

And, “pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee”  Psalm 122:6

Watching and waiting with you for the soon return of Jesus!  Cindy

The weather is finally warming up here in Northern New Mexico and I had the opportunity to go out walking along the river yesterday afternoon. How different things looked from the last time I was down there just a few weeks ago. Tangled barren branches now sporting new green leaves.  Grass growing thick and wild along the river bank. People out walking, jogging, riding bikes and pushing baby prams.

I have a favorite spot where the water spills over some rocks creating a mini rapids of sorts. I sat for a while yesterday watching a trio of ducks and a piece of wood that was caught up in the fast-moving water. It made an interesting contrast and brought several thoughts to mind as I watched.  The wood  circling round and round in a never-ending cycle –  bobbing into the current and back out again – unable to release itself permanently from the currents strong grasp – this in contrast to the ducks, who smart enough to stay out of the faster moving water paddled freely and placidly about.

It occurred to me as I watched from my position along the  bank how like that piece of  wood I often am. They don’t call it drift wood for nothing. Without arms to swim or feet to paddle, the wood is completely at the mercy of the current. And without a change in water speed or depth, the wood would continue in that same cycle perhaps forever – or until the summer runoff subsides and the water level drops leaving the wood exactly where it was but this time stuck – stuck in the mud and going nowhere.

As I was doing my Bible reading this morning, I thought of these words from the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:17  –

 “…. where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom”. 

Yes, freedom!  And, as trite as that may sound it is exactly true.  For in and of ourselves, we are powerless to change much about our lives and the situations we find ourselves in. We can try this and try that but, it is only by God that we will find permanent release and change that will last. A thought I hope that will stay with me the next time I find my self “caught in the current” of life.  Less reliance on me and more on the one who has the power to effect a permanent change – after all, it is he who controls the water does he not?

I love how God speaks to us through the simple things, don’t you? It has made a difference in my day today – I hope it has in yours.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper who love thee”  Psalm 122:6

Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!  Cindy

After seeing the movie “God is Not Dead” yesterday, I was reminded by the quote or rather misquote by Mark Twain, “rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated”. And, so it is with God. No, God is not dead as some would have us believe. Nor is he away on vacation, napping on a cloud or backlogged on prayer requests that he just can’t seem to get to.

Funny the concept people have about God. Most of it a combination of wishful thinking and mythological lore. Kind of like the current Noah movie, more fantasy than fact. Ask a dozen people randomly about God and I am guessing you would get just about as many different answers. Even from Christians. The sad fact is that very little is being taught today about the nature and character of God; which leaves people grasping for an understanding of God that comes not from the Bible, but from their own imagination.  In the aforementioned movie, God Is Not Dead, the college Professor who challenged the Christian student turned out to be less of an atheist than he was a God hater. A man whose disappointment with God at a young age, soon became bitterness and bitterness; hate –  because bitterness left unchecked – like a river running downhill – will always turn to hate for it has no where else to go.

It’s important that we look to the Bible for the true nature and character of God. For God in his true nature will never disappoint. That is not to say that we will always understand why God allows some things. But, this we know. God is good and God is good all of the time.  Not some of the time, but all of the time. And, as his children he always has our best interests at heart. This is the nature of our  heavenly Father; the one our earthly Fathers are patterned after.  And,  while our earthly Father’s may sometimes fail us, our heavenly Father never will.  It is completely impossible and contrary to his nature and to his will to do so.

When we look at things like the horrific mudslide in Washington state, the missing Malaysian plane and the countless numbers of children abused and even murdered on a daily basis, we often wonder where God is. Does God see and does God care?  And, while we sometimes want instant answers, it is the Bible that emphatically assures us that yes; yes, he does. God not only cares, but, cares enough to have intervened on our behalf.

Where you say; where did he intervene?

Think about this. The Bible says that God is light. In him there is no darkness at all.  Before a single candle in a darkened room can even be lit, as soon as the first match is struck, the darkness is dispelled – for darkness can never over power light.  Light will always prevail.

We may not understand all the dynamics but, the Bible is clear.  Jesus, the light of the world has overcome sin and death. And, while God may intervene in specific ways in specific cases, the reality is that he already has. We can never accuse God of doing nothing.

We must understand that God has already accomplished what was needed most. When Jesus said, “It is finished” – he meant exactly that.  It is finished!  No longer would sin and death and evil and trouble have any power over us.  For Christ has triumphed on our behalf.  Do you not see – in Christ, whether we live or die – it’s all the same. Wherever we are, whatever our circumstances found in Him, we are safe. And, that can never disappoint.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee”  Psalm 122:6

Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!  Cindy

Can there be any more normal words than the ones above?  The last recorded words spoken by the pilot of MH370, the missing Malaysian jet.  Without a doubt, these four words have added as much to the mystery of the disappearance of the ill-fated jet liner as anything else.  With hearts broken for the families of the missing passengers and crew, we have all watched the news reports as the experts have speculated from every angle as to what may or may not have happened aboard that aircraft.

Just today, the families of the missing passengers were notified first by text message and then by official announcement that the airliner is most likely lost in the far reaches of the southern Indian ocean. An area so remote that it is astonishing to think that the airliner could have flown so far off course.  Add to that the difficulty of searching some of the most rough, turbulent and deep waters of the world have only added to the frustration.

It is looking likely that the plane did indeed crash in to the sea, perhaps flying until it could fly no more.; running out of fuel until it plummeted in to the watery depths of the remote waters below.  I had thought perhaps (as many others did) that the plane may have been routed to Pakistan or some other hostile country where it was being weaponized for future use. That scenario is looking doubtful now but, given the times we live in anything is possible and I think we can expect to be surprised.  In other words, expect the unexpected.

 A TIME WHEN NO MAN CAN WORK

Jesus had said there was a time coming when no one could work. What did he mean by that?  In John 9:4 it says:

“As long as it is day we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work.”

There is a time coming when spiritually speaking no one can work.  A time of darkness and no light.  A time when day has passed away in to night just as the missing  plane with it passengers and crew  disappeared in to the early morning hours of the  night following these oh, so normal words –  “All right, good night”.

If you have never trusted Jesus as your Savior, I urge you to do so now. The times in which we live are unprecedented. Bible prophecy is being fulfilled at an alarming rate indicating that there is not much time left – everything is about to change in a dramatic way.  The rapture of the church is on the near horizon and the world is close to being thrust in to darkness. Are you ready?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee” Psalm 122:6

Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!  Cindy

Red sky at morning, sailor take warning, red sky at night, sailor’s delight

I’m not sure where this particular saying originated but, it has been long understood that the weather for sailors and just about everyone else, could be predicted with more than a little reliability by just a look at the skies.  When storm clouds gather it is most likely going to rain. We don’t need the weather channel to tell us that.  And, when it comes to prophetic understanding of the word,  the same could be true.  For Jesus himself said, “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” Luke 21:28  In other words, be on alert, pay attention. The time for sleeping is past. Be watching and be ready!

This Friday March 28th, the Noah movie will debut in theatres across the country. And, from what I have read it is a disgrace to the Biblical account. Not worth the paper the script was written on.  But, what I do find interesting is the timing of the film. For Jesus has said that in the days just prior to his return it would be as in the days of Noah; people eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage and basically living life to the hilt with little thought to anything beyond their own personal indulgences. Just as it is today. A point the film makes (I believe)  just by being there.  Why NOAH and why now?  To me it is like a big billboard – a gigantic sign saying – pay attention – red sky at morning – take warning, take warning.  A warning that most will not heed.  People like comedian Bill Maher who called God (in reference to the Biblical account of the flood)  a “psychotic mass murderer, who kills babies” – and, this from the mouth of someone who almost certainly support abortion rights – a statement as hypocritical as it is blasphemous.  No surprise, they didn’t listen then and most will not listen now.

How curious and delightful those first rain drops must have felt.  People stopping in the middle of what they were doing to look up.  One drop on the top of the head, another on the tip of the nose – little puddles forming,  splash, splash, splash,   …… plink, plink plink  …. until one drop becomes a million, then a hundred million and more … another and another  until suddenly its a deluge and what was once delightful becomes the worst nightmare one can imagine as everyone and everything is suddenly swept away.

It cannot be by accident that Jesus said, ” When you see these things, stand up and look up, your redemption draws nigh”.  For by the time, the people of Noah’s day began to look up, the rain had already begun to fall -and,  by that time, it was already to late.

Where are you today?  Are you looking up? I hope so. The sky has been red now for a while – take warning, take warning. Be ready, be ready for  Jesus is coming soon!

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper who love thee” Psalm 122:6

Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!   Cindy

A crowd gathers to watch as a two-year old baby giraffe is shot and dissected before being fed to lions. For fear of inbreeding, the Copenhagen Zoo made the decision to dispose of baby giraffe Marius after discovering the similarity of his gene pool to the rest of the herd. In spite of public outcry and offers to relocate the young giraffe the zoo went forward with the public execution and dismemberment of the young animal.  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2555079/Danish-zoo-kills-young-giraffe-deemed-surplus-feeds-lions.html

I find it interesting that this gruesome and sad spectacle was carried out in front of young school children who watched as the animal was shot, skinned, dismembered and fed to lions during the same week that the Danish government deemed kosher or ritual killing of animals as prescribed by Jewish and Islamic law to be inhumane  because kosher slaughter houses do not first use a stun gun before killing the animal.    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/denmark-bans-halal-and-kosher-slaughter-as-minister-says-animal-rights-come-before-religion-9135580.html

But is this what this is all about – animal rights?  I don’t think so.

A Dangerous Precedent – Rights over Religion

As I read these stories I was struck by the fact that there is much more going on here than meets the eye. First of all the assertion that the kosher slaughter of animals is inhumane is just not true for kosher butchers are very skilled at what they do, in fact, it is required that they be specially trained and licensed in order to ensure that the animals are processed as quickly and painlessly as possible according to Jewish law.  *see below

*The Hebrew term shechita (anglicized: /ʃəxiːˈtɑː/; Hebrew: שחיטה‎, [ʃχiˈta]), also transliterated shehitah, shechitah, shehita, is the ritual slaughter of mammals and birds for food according to Jewish dietary laws (Deut. 12:21, Deut. 14:21, Num. 11:22) The animal must be killed “with respect and compassion“^[1][2] by a shochet (Hebrew: שוחט‎, “ritual slaughterer”), a religious Jew who is duly licensed and trained. The act is performed by severing the trachea, esophagus, carotid arteries, jugular veins and vagus nerve in a swift action using an extremely sharp blade (“chalef”) only by a qualified shochet. This results in a rapid drop in blood pressure in the brain and loss of consciousness. According to Jewish religious sources, the animal is now insensible to pain and exsanguinates in a prompt and precise action.^[3] The animal can be in a number of positions; when the animal is lying on its back, this is referred to as shechita munachat; in a standing position it is known as shechita me’umedet. Before slaughtering, the animal must be healthy, uninjured, and viable.

So as you can see this is not really about animal rights at all.  What it is really about is setting a precedent – rights over religion – whether they be reproductive rights as it applies to abortion, gay rights as it applies to marriage or just about anything else.

No, this is a smoke-screen for something else; for if animal rights were so important, the baby giraffe would not have been killed – and killed in front of children.

Think about it. A giraffe for most children is a warm and fuzzy kind of animal. Crib toys are often shaped like a giraffe and on almost every depiction of Noah’s ark it is the head of a giraffe that can be spotted first towering high above the heads of the other animals.  Children love giraffes!

So if children can be convinced that it is more humane to kill a beloved animal such as this than it is to let it live, what’s next?  I can imagine the conversation at the zoo going something like this.

 “Children, poor Marius the giraffe is defective.  His genes are not right in a way that could hurt the rest of the herd. In fact, we would have to keep him away from the other giraffes and that would make him very sad.  So as you can see it would be best for him if he were not around. But, don’t worry, he won’t feel a thing and his meat won’t go to waste as we have some very hungry lions just waiting for a tasty meal!”

Yeah, right.

Fed to the lions. One of the favored methods for disposing of Christians at one time as we all remember. Interesting, the name Marius comes from the Roman god of war – Mars.

Friends, the stage is being set for war on Christians.  The day is coming and very soon, when people of faith will not be tolerated. Other religions will bow to secular pressure and surrender their rights but, Christians (true believers) will not – and, there will be a price to pay. Are you ready?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper who love thee”  Psalm 122:6

Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!  Cindy

If you’re like me, you have been watching the Olympics the past few days.  The competitors each doing their best to secure a place in Olympic history. Months and years of training all coming in to focus for this one moment in time. The Bible speaks much about running the race and for those of us who study and watch the unfolding of Bible prophecy, we are aware that the finish line is now in sight. The question I have for myself and perhaps for you, is this – with the finish line now so closely in sight, what kind of finish will I have? What kind of finish do I want?  Am I competing at all?

In 2 Timothy 2:5, the apostle Paul says:

“…if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules”.

In other words, an athlete may be the best in the world but if they fail to follow the rules and regulations of the game, they will never receive the crown or in this case the gold – in fact, they would be disqualified.

Because salvation is a gift which can never be earned, what then is Paul driving at?

One of the first thing that comes to mind for me is the training that goes on behind the scenes. Months and months, if not years of dedicated training that brings these athletes to this one moment in time. But, what good is training if one never enters the race. In order to win, one must first compete.

As believers, we have all entered the race. The starting line is Jesus and the course that is set  is the Christian life. But, how many for lack of training, lack of will and lack of dedication make much progress towards the finish line. It’s there alright, but, for lack of training many will never see it. Instead, like untrained athletes they spin out of control, coming dangerously close to crossing the boundary lines and never make any real progress toward the strong finish that God desires for all of us. The victor’s crown.

I don’t know about you but, I would like to be able to finish the race strong. In the last moments of any race it is tempting to slow down as weariness sets in. But, then suddenly the finish line is in sight and fresh stores of energy propel the body forward to do what it was trained to do. To receive the victor’s crown.

Brothers and sisters, press on. The finish line is clearly in sight. May 2014 be remembered not for the athletes that competed at Sochi but for those running the race for Jesus Christ.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper who love thee” Psalm 122:6

Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!  Cindy

“Of all the sons she bore there was none to guide her, of all the sons she reared there was none to take her by the hand. These double calamities have come upon you -who can comfort you — ruin and destruction, famine and sword – who can console you”. Isaiah 51:18,19

I live in a part of the country where Bronco fever is running high. Every where I look is orange and blue – bumper stickers, sweat shirts and assorted paraphernalia of every kind. Even the early morning sky in streaks of rusty reds and steely blues seems to be smitten with Bronco fever. The same could be said, I’m sure by those living in the Pacific NorthWest -the blues of the bay and the greens of the woods surely pointing towards a Seahawk win.

Superbowl 48.  The country geared up once again for the most exciting and anticipated sporting event of the year.

It was interesting to read on Drudge today –

“Half of American fans say “supernatural” forces are in play during sporting events”. 

Of course that can mean anything from the wearing of ones lucky socks to praying for ones favored team – and, all other kinds of crazy stuff. The kind of stuff I haven’t indulged in since at least the Elway years. Nonetheless, it’s an interesting thought – tieing the supernatural to sporting events. But, why?

There have been a number of blogs (including my own) which have explored the possibility that each years Superbowl match-up (especially in recent years) is prophetic (in at least a minor way) of the direction the country is headed – and, if not prophetic, at least a reflection or indication of.

Take for instance last years Superbowl, the match-up between two brothers – coaches for the opposing winning teams. Many of us saw in this match-up, the warning of a country becoming increasingly divided – a time coming (should things progress the way they are headed), when once again “brother would be pitted against brother”  – as it was during the bloody days of the Civil War.  And while this has not come to pass yet – it is at least eerie to note the parallel between each years Superbowl match-up with the mood or climate of the country during that particular year.

A HORSE AND A HAWK

In this year’s matchup we have a horse (Bronco) and a hawk (Seahawk).  A Bronco is a wild, untamed, and unbridled horse. And, a Seahawk ( as I found out from google) is a nickname for what is actually an Osprey, also known as a fish hawk or eagle hawk. A bird which preys on fish and is particularly suited for the job by virtue of a reversible fourth toe which allows them to grasp fish more securely.

Very interesting. In prophetic terms it makes me think of Revelation 6 and the opening of the seven seals – which begins with the riding of four horses – white, black, red and pale. And, includes (among other things) the persecution and death of the saints with the opening of the fifth seal.

This should be alarming to us who are Christians as the persecution of believers around the globe is growing by the day ( a fact that the main stream media chooses to ignore)  – with a climate for the same developing in our very own country.  Who would have believed even ten years ago that tolerance for just about everything would be growing with the exception of tolerance for Christians and those who hold to a Biblical world view. Sad to say but, if you are a Chistian in America today – you are under attack!

As I was reading in Isaiah 51 this morning I came across the double calamities of famine and sword  that befell Israel during a time when they had lost sight of God and according to scripture had no one to guide them. The same could be said of America today – we have not only lost sight of God but, we have no one who will guide us in a godly direction;  no one who will rise to the challenge of calling the country back to its Biblical foundation, no one, who will call the nation to personal and national repentance and no one, who will use the platform of democracy to speak and stand for the truth!  As the Bible says, when the blind lead the blind, they both fall in to the ditch.

On February 2, a nation unified on just about nothing anymore (with the exception of major sporting events) will gather for the match-up between an untamed and unbridled horse and a fish eating hawk.

And, should the horse prevail (as Bronco’s are picked to win), it’s almost guaranteed –

once this unbridled, untamed and rebellious horse is loosed – the fish eating hawk is sure to follow.

The supernatural Superbowl?  You decide.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper who love thee”  Psalm 122:6

Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!  Cindy