The Cross Tribe Network

Dr. Ben Carson: America the Beautiful - Today on The 700 Club

2012-02-13T16:34:00.000-08:00

Dr. Ben Carson: America the Beautiful
The world-renowned neurosurgeon talks about his new book, America the Beautiful.
From CBN TV ~ on The 700 Club ~ Monday, February 13, 2012

The "Why I Hate Religion" Controversy Explored

2012-02-01T21:15:00.000-08:00

By John Kubicek

In a way, I'm not a big fan of the word, "religion." The word can mean so many different things to people. In fact, it's right up there with "politics." Both words lead to great debates just because the words both bring about different opinions, which lead to debate, which leads to arguments and the inability for all of us to just get along.

So now, we have another public debate regarding "religion" because of a certain viral video that brought a lot of attention to how some people regard Christianity. The crux of the matter is that it now seems that a person was able to get the subject of "religion" expressed in a way that stirred much debate.

Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word

Video provided bybball1989 on Jan 10, 2012

And then there was the rebuttal:

Why I Love Religion, And Love Jesus || Spoken Word

Video provided by spiritjuicestudios on Jan 18, 2012

The above videos were brought to my attention on THEBLAZE.com by the following stories:

‘Hate Religion, But Love Jesus’ Creator Jefferson Bethke Discusses Controversial Viral Video on GBTV
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:18pm by Billy Hallowell

This Is a Catholic Priest Rapping His Response to the ‘Hate Religion, But Love Jesus’ Video
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:24am by Billy Hallowell

Win the 'war' (oops) – ignore the rhetoric ~ By Victoria Jackson

2011-01-23T01:15:00.000-08:00

Altadena, Calif., Aug. 12, 2009, Schiff Health Care Townhall
I will not be worn down. Although some TV liberals call me "weird," and "coo-coo for CoCo Puffs," and some liberal bloggers call me "a fat has-been," and Keith Olberman once labeled me the "second-worst person in the world," I will continue to speak the truth in this "fight" (oops), "battle" (oops) … um … disagreement thing. Conservatives call me names, too – names like "smart, educated, informed and honest." So, I like conservatives better!

Victoria Jackson makes a statement that is so true (I pray): "Look out. The Christians are waking up."

Now, let me ask you, have you ever heard anyone say something like, "As Christians, we should never mix politics and religion?" Of course you have! Or, at least I think you have, because I know I've heard it millions of times (I tend to make absurd exaggerations in order to make a point), and I actually did believe it until Ronald Reagan was campaigning for President in 1980. That was when I first realized that when Christians stayed silent, when Christians "left politics to the left," we ended up with Jimmy Carter.

So, today, I am praying that many Christians will see this post.

By the way, there is a note at the bottom of Vicki's column. As much as I love Glenn Beck, Vicki has brought something to light that you should be aware of:

Note: Referring to last week's piece on Glenn Beck's Mormonism, be sure to read this column.

Win the 'war' (oops) – ignore the rhetoric

VICTORIA JACKSON

By Victoria Jackson

January 21, 2011 ~ 1:00 am Eastern

© 2011

Video provided by PasadenaTeaParty ~ November 02, 2009

Something bad is happening. Small groups of moms are gathering by candlelight across the country. We will do anything to protect our children. Tonight I am at a WIN meeting. WomenImpactingtheNation.org is my newest attempt to "arm" myself for "battle." Oops! Not allowed to make "war" (oops) references in referring to "conquering" (oops) evil. My words may lead metaphor-ignorant folks to "attack" (oops) physically instead of ideologically their "enemies." (Oops!) Let's just say we moms are going to save our country for our children. With God's help.

We open in prayer. Spunky the pit bull is lying on Mary Margaret's lap snoring.

The book we are reading, "Take Back America" by Mathew Staver, is sitting on the coffee table beneath a small American flag that we are pledging allegiance to. My eyes are full of tears. How did my country come to this? I feel like we are hiding. Have we done something wrong? I feel like we are Anne Frank or the underground church in China.

First, we must acknowledge that we Christian moms "dropped the ball." Sports metaphors are still allowed, right? My new best friend from my cruise last week, Gary DeMar (AmericanVision.org and VisiontoAmerica.org) lists several reasons why Christians over the last 30 years have left politics to the left.

Look out. The Christians are waking up. Since most of our WIN group is made up of beginner political activists and I've had two years' experience, I share with them some of my new knowledge.
READ FULL STORY at WorldNetDaily.com

Be sure to check out
johnny2k's Tea Party Gear!

By the Sea ~ By Victoria Jackson

2011-01-13T23:52:00.000-08:00

Marriage and the family unit is the pillar of society. God invented it to be a beautiful, strong thing. Sometimes, I want to run away from mine. They know how to hurt me better than anyone else. But, I will obey God (Proverbs 14:1). He knows best.

Liberals are "redefining" the family. Conservatives are "recommitting" to the family. I'd rather be a conservative.

Victoria Jackson discusses God, family, and Glenn Beck's Mormon religion not being Christian.

By the Sea

VICKI JACKSON
By Victoria Jackson

January 14, 2011 ~ 1:00 am Eastern

© 2011

I'm sitting on the deck of my first cruise ship, looking out at the big, blue sea, listening to its lush loudness, sucking on a Coffee Nip and reading "Just Kids" by Patti Smith. It seems like she is saying that her god is art. On page 11, she has almost a religious experience during her first visit to the Museum of Art in Philadelphia, saying, "I knew I was transformed, moved by the revelation that human beings create art, that to be an artist was to see what others could not." On page 13, she describes her boyfriend, Robert Mapplethorpe, "having broken from his father, leaving his Catholic, commercial and military options behind in the wake of LSD and a commitment to live for art alone." On page 48, she says, "His service was to art, not to church or country."

It sounds strangely like the New Age–human secularist philosophy, "man is god."

Augusten Burroughs, one of my favorite writers, describes his mother as worshiping art. I love art. I melt in a museum. I try to paint, write poetry, write music. I can understand the passion, but we must worship the Creator, not the creation. Just as the Earth devotees like Gore and animal fanatics like PETA must worship the Creator, not the creation. Sex is god to some. God created sex. God is so awesome to give us these marvelous gifts; food, wine, the beauty of nature, the animals, music, creativity, art, talent, friendship, sex, marriage, children and love. We tend to worship the gifts instead of the Giver.

JARED LEE LOUGHNER
I'm alone on this cruise. The opportunity came up, and Husband had to work. Teenager had exams and cheer. I must admit I am quite enjoying my solitude. Keeping a family together and on the right path is hard work. On my cabin TV, I'm hearing bits and pieces of the news back home. There has been a shooting in Arizona. Families are devastated. Sarah Palin is being blamed! Conservative rhetoric is being blamed! I have two responses: 1) "If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun" – Barack Obama. He was referring to conservatives, the ones he wants "on the back of the bus," "the enemy," as he also referred to us. Blame him. Blame his rhetoric. 2) The murderer's favorite book was "The Communist Manifesto"! Sarah Palin explains it best – the rampage was the act of a "single, evil man."

GLENN BECK AT HIS 8/28 RALLY
On my first cruise, I'm meeting strangers who will be friends for life. One is Jerry Johnson. I am telling him how grateful I am for Glenn Beck and how he educated me on the progressives' secret agenda of destroying America, how he "outed" the Obama appointee, Communist Van Jones, and all the other scary czars like antigun animal-worshiper Sunstein and Holdren who wants to poison our water to limit population growth, how Beck exposed George Soros as the "Dr. Evil" that he is, trying to crash our economy and take over the world. Jerry brings up Glenn Beck's Mormonism and I start to realize that the god Glenn Beck has been praying to for the healing of our land is not the God I've been praying to. I've had a fuzzy understanding of Mormonism, but, in a quest for truth, I listen to the facts Jerry is sharing with me and decide Beck has the freedom to worship any god he chooses, but he and Mitt Romney cannot accurately call themselves "Christians." I now realize why the 8/28 event had a strange element with the ecumenical lineup Beck brought onstage with him. Praying to "any" god is not what 2 Chronicles 7:14 meant.

I think Glenn Beck should stick to politics.

READ FULL STORY at WorldNetDaily.com

A video that choked me up... "Porcelain Unicorn"

2010-11-14T02:20:00.000-08:00

You will understand why I included the video in this blog:

Video provided by ywilco105

Video description:

Grand prize winner of the Philips Parallel Lines "Tell It Your Way" international competition!

Credits:

German Boy - Trevor Teichmann
Jewish Girl - Fiona Perry
Older Man - Bruce Schroffel
Older Woman - Rita Zohar

Producer - Anselm Clinard
Director/Writer/Editor - Keegan Wilcox
DOP - Adam Biddle
Gaffer - Phil Badger
Production Designer - Alexa Roland & Ryan Berg
Sound Mixer - Carrie Sheldon
Hair & Make-up - Georgia Jacobs
Sound Designer - Jeffrey Alan Jones
Composer - Greg Nicolett
Coloring - Sebastian Perez-Burchard
VFX - Damian Drago / Tunnel Post

See more credits at http://www.porcelainunicorn.com/

An honest mistake - Priceless!

2010-06-23T01:45:00.000-07:00

This is one of those stories I received in my email this morning. Oh, yeah, it was a good reminder about how our faith can be put in a spotlight, and when we don't live up to it, see what happens?! Just sayin'...

An honest mistake...

The light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.

The tailgating woman was furious and honked her horn, screaming in frustration, as she missed her chance to get through the intersection, dropping her cell phone and makeup.

As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He took her to the police station where she was searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and placed in a holding cell.

After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects.

He said, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see,I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you and cussing a blue streak at him. I noticed the "What Would Jesus Do" bumper sticker, the "Choose Life" license plate holder, the "Follow Me to Sunday-School" bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk, so naturally... I assumed you had stolen the car."

(Priceless...)

God Lives Under the Bed

2010-06-19T06:27:00.000-07:00

I received this story in my email today, and felt that I should share it!

God Lives Under the Bed

I envy Kevin. My brother, Kevin, thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night.

He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, 'Are you there, God?' he said. 'Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed...'

I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.

He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult.

He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.

I remember wondering if Kevin realises he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life?

Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed.

The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child.

He does not seem dissatisfied.

He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work.

He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.

And Saturdays - oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. 'That one's goin' to Chi-car-go!' Kevin shouts as he claps his hands.

His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.

And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips.

He doesn't know what it means to be discontent.

His life is simple.

He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.

His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it.

He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax.

He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure.

He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue.

Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God.

Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an 'educated' person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion.

In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith.

It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions.

It is then I realise that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap. I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care.

Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God.

And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed.

Kevin won't be surprised at all!

America: Graduating from God? Part 2 ~ By Chuck Norris

2010-06-14T08:10:00.000-07:00

There could not have been a more appropriate way to open this prologue to Part 2 of Chuck's awesome series, "America: Graduating from God?" and the related columns I have posted here last night and this morning. (See RELATED STORIES at the bottom of this column.) Chuck wrote: "Glenn Beck put it well in one of his radio broadcasts earlier this year (April 20, 2010): "I beg of you to help me get this message out … faith is the answer. Get on your knees. Don't let it take a Sept. 11. Please, get on your knees. I don't care what church you go to … just turn to Him." Here's the video of Glenn in that glorious moment:

Glenn Beck: Turn to God!

Video provided by rightscoop

Normally, I am usually posting columns on another blog (Blogging in Our Time 2 Escape) on Monday mornings. However, there were these columns that I found that all referred to our need to ask God for his help in getting us through all that is facing us at this time, and it is definitely the only answer. This all started with Pat Boone's column, "Can things get any worse? You betcha." Pat was right on the money, in my humble opinion. The things that are happening in this world are way beyond our pay-grade to solve... Or maybe even over the pay-grade of "The One" (You know who I'm referring to, right? You will know that answer when you read this column by Chuck!).

And then there was Greg Laurie's absolutely outstanding column admonishing Christians to quit staying silent. America needs us. I took his advice. Apparently, so did Chuck Norris! In this column, Chuck reinforces the need to make sure that people in America understand what gave our Founding Fathers the strength to bring this country to Freedom. Yes, he notes that Obama seems to be trying to make America a secular nation, and he explains, from the point of view of Benjamin Franklin, why that is the wrong thing to do.

I must tell you that I am all for diversity of religions in America, and we must keep the freedom to keep it that way. And I believe the video of Glenn Beck's segment, that you saw above, says it all, and completely ties the posts I've put on this blog today all together. This column by Chuck Norris is an excellent conclusion, too, as it tells us that the man in the White House wants us to believe it is all about Man's solutions, and there is no need for the Lord. It is all about Obama and the government to be our savior. And folks, that just isn't working out so well. Just sayin'...

Ben Franklin could have been speaking before the president and Congress today when he gave these words at the Constitutional Convention:
In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for the divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard; and they were graciously answered. All of us, who were engaged in the struggle, must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor. To that kind Providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need its assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time; and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, That God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?
These are three questions every Washington politician in particular needs to answer: "And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need [His] assistance? And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise [again] without his aid?"

By Chuck Norris

Posted: June 14, 2010 ~ 1:00 am Eastern

© 2010

Last week in Part 1, I discussed a series of evidences about how God is being omitted from American life, culture and politics. In Part 2, I will detail the No. 1 advocate for a godless society: our president.

I believe there is no greater proponent of disposing deity and godly influence over government and society than President Barack Obama, who is right now spearheading a purely secular progressive agenda unlike any leader since America's inception.

First, even during his campaign for the presidency, Obama sarcastically belittled America's Judeo-Christian heritage and degraded its adherents with trite remarks typical of any atheistic antagonist: "Whatever we were, we are no longer a Christian nation"; "The dangers of sectarianism are greater than ever"; "Religion doesn't allow for compromise"; "The Sermon on the Mount [is] a passage that is so radical that our own defense department wouldn't survive its application"; and "To base our policy making upon such commitments [as moral absolutes] would be a dangerous thing." (See the YouTube video below)

Barack Obama On The Importance Of A Secular Government

Video provided by godbegone

And gone but not forgotten is Obama's religiously belittling statement on the campaign trail in April of 2008 about many residents in small-town America. You might recall, at a private California fundraiser, when he addressed the economic hardships of those in Pennsylvania, he quipped: "You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. … And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion … as a way to explain their frustrations."

Second, Obama has already denied America's rich Judeo-Christian heritage before the eyes and ears of other countries, as he publicly declared in Turkey on April 6, 2009, for the whole world to hear: "We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation." (Who are the "we" to whom he refers? Would our former presidents agree with his "we"?)

Obama In Turkey "We Do Not Consider Ourselves A Christian Nation"

Video provided by Speakmymind02

Overseas, Obama avoided both America's Christian heritage and his own alleged Christian faith. He was proud to share, "I have Muslim members of my family," but avoided any declaration like, "But I am a Christian"? My primary problem with his choice of words is that, while building up himself and his leadership before the Arab world, he repeatedly belittled the country he led, and that is unbecoming for any president.

By saying America was not a religious nation of any type, Obama implied that America is a secular nation with a secular heritage, which is also an incorrect notion of our people and our history. Any of a number of statements would have been more accurate: "America is a religiously free nation – both people and government." "America is a nation in which we welcome religious diversity." "We are a religiously diverse people, in which the majority still profess Christianity." "We have a religiously free government in which its citizens are encouraged to practice their own religious convictions freely without federal coercion." But Obama used none of these or similar statements.

For Obama to convey that "We are not a Christian nation," intentionally overlooks both our religious heritage and the Christian majority still in America. He could have even said, "America is no longer a Christian nation," but he didn't say that – and even that would have been incorrect. How is it he could speak to largely Arab nations and refer to them all as Muslim, but he can't call America a Christian nation, even though Christianity is the religion to which the majority have always adhered since our founders started it?

By contrast, Thomas Jefferson, hailed as the great separatist who fought against the tyranny of denominational sectarianism in the state (and vice versa), nevertheless endorsed the use of government buildings (like the Capitol) for church services, signed a treaty with the Kaskaskia Indians that allotted federal money to support the building of a Catholic church and to pay the salary of the church's priests, and repeatedly renewed legislation that gave land to the United Brethren to help their missionary activities among the Indians.

Third, quite contrary to Obama's negative tone and sentiments about Judeo-Christian belief, in countless speeches over the past year he has sympathized and supported pro-Islamic theology and practice. The New York Times recently published a multiple-page report on how the "White House quietly courts Muslims in the U.S." Obama even refused to say anything when the Muslim jihadist and president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, publicly accused the U.S. of actively planning and plotting to stop mankind's real savior: i.e. Mahdi, the Imam that Muslims believe will be the ultimate savior of mankind.

Fourth, Obama advocates his secular agenda like other progressives because (so they naively believe) if God can be disposed, government is no longer accountable to a deity. In fact, in so doing, government vies for omnipotence and usurps the position of God. As Obama emphatically declared early in his presidency, "only government" is our savior. That is what's so disheartening about America's present political environment: The majority in Washington is truly convinced that more and bigger government is America's primary solution for recovery, future growth and security.

A clear example of this came out just last month through Obama's Faith-Based Initiative Committee recommendations. Not only is the federal government seeking to minimize the language preachers use through politically correct hate-crime laws, but now the feds are seeking to alter the message they preach as well – from saving souls to saving the earth. Obama's Faith-Based Council specifically recommends, "Bringing the power of 370,000 houses of worship across the country to the fight of climate change by greening buildings and promoting environmental stewardship in their congregations."

READ FULL STORY at WorldNetDaily.com

RELATED STORIES:
    Can things get any worse? You betcha ~ By Pat Boone
    Christians: Infiltrate, don't isolate ~ By Greg Laurie
    America: Graduating from God? Part 1 ~ By Chuck Norris

Be sure to check out
johnny2k's Tea Party Gear!

America: Graduating from God? Part 1 ~ By Chuck Norris

2010-06-14T02:05:00.000-07:00

Rep. Randy Forbes put a video on youtube.com, which now has 3,196,272 views, and is described as follows:

Our Judeo-Christian Nation

Congressman Forbes asks the questions "Did America ever consider itself a Judeo-Christian nation?" and "If America was once a Judeo-Christian nation, when did it cease to be?" on the floor of the US House.

Video provided by RepRandyForbes

When I went to Chuck's column on WND tonight, I noticed it was Part 2 of a two-part series, so I went back to this Part 1 to start from the beginning. (I missed last week's column because of that morning when technology failed, and didn't get a chance to get caught up.) Amazingly, this column was directly related to the two previous stories that I post on this blog this morning, which you can see under RELATED STORIES toward the bottom of this page. Pat Boone wrote about the problems facing America and the world that there seems to be no solutions for, except for turning to God. The column by Greg Laurie discusses the need for Christians to quit evading and start invading. In short, both columns said that Christians must be SILENT NO MORE. And in this column, Chuck Norris explains how Christianity is being eliminated from American culture. So, it is very fitting for me to conclude this introduction to Chuck's column by saying that we must pray, and begin taking back America. We need to be the shining city on the hill for all to see. Just sayin'...

George Washington gave a very wise and timely word in his "Farewell Address" to all prospective Americans (including all government officials) who even entertain the thought that they can graduate from God. It also serves as a great "commencement address" to all graduates this spring:
"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation deserts the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."
Our founders' America is on life support and breathing its last. And the only ones who can save it are the God who assisted our founders in its creation and the patriots who today bear His and our founders' baton. Our focus is no longer the total war, but one battle at a time – one rally at a time, one election at a time and one piece of legislation at a time.
By Chuck Norris

Posted: June 07, 2010 ~ 1:00 am Eastern

© 2010

(Note: This is Part 1 of a two-part series on spiritual regression in America.)

Last week I read a blog post that noted how prayer was banned at a high-school graduation in Indiana but not in Alabama. Then I read another news report about how another California high school changed its graduation "opening prayer" to "a moment of silence." No big shocker there.

Tragically, these types of devaluing religious news stories are a dime a dozen today. Spiritual regression is not only a trend but an epidemic.

The Fuller Youth Institute just reported that less than half (40 percent) of even church-going high-school seniors "significantly struggle with their faith and with finding a church after graduation." And other statistics show that, by the time they end their college education, 90 percent will have dropped out of church.

The Barna Group reports that only 29 percent of teenagers say they "will definitely" be attending church after graduation. That's about one in three if you're an optimist – about one in four if you're a pessimist. And about one in five if you believe these polled teenagers are either overly optimistic or over-exaggerators. Any way you look at it, the "Leave It to Beaver" family seems so passé and archaic in our times.

Long ago the Creator was replaced by natural causes in public classrooms. Prayer was ousted by human potential. Humans have become the kings of their castles and captains of their souls. Preaching has been overturned by political correctness. Church has been replaced by the NFL and Sunday commerce. And the government is now God, granting to all who has need. And we're shocked that more and more of our children and grandchildren want nothing to do with church?

Attrition in church attendance and faith in God is definitely on the rise. And so is animosity toward America's Judeo-Christian heritage.

Two Connecticut public schools were denied their graduation ceremonies from being held in a local church by U.S. District Court Judge Janet Hall. Hall ruled in favor of the ACLU on behalf of two local high-school seniors and their parents, who said the students were agnostic and would find it "difficult if not impossible" to attend the graduation if it were held in a church. Hall concluded that using a church for graduation would be an unconstitutional endorsement of religion. Leave it up to the ACLU and a federal judge to tell a local community where they could and could not hold their graduations, even though the majority favored it in the large church which was perfect for the big graduation crowds.

READ FULL STORY at WorldNetDaily.com

RELATED STORIES:
Can things get any worse? You betcha ~ By Pat Boone (READ THIS 1ST)
Christians: Infiltrate, don't isolate ~ By Greg Laurie (READ THIS 2ND)

Be sure to check out
johnny2k's Tea Party Gear!

Christians: Infiltrate, don't isolate ~ By Greg Laurie

2010-06-13T23:53:00.000-07:00

This column, along with the one by Pat Boone I just posted prior to this one, "Can things get any worse? You betcha," greatly inspired me. I hadn't been using this blog very often, and I have many regrets about that. Greg and Pat gave me the ONE-TWO punch that God needed me to receive today.

While I realize that the political columns are great tools to help teach people what is going on in America and the world today, Pat's column was like a beam of light shining into my eyes from a lighthouse. I wrote the following in the prologue to Pat's column: "If God is not in our lives, then who - or what - will we turn to for helping us through these times? Just sayin'..." The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I needed to remind people the ONLY source of peace in our hearts comes from God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

And then, Greg's column (this one) comes along, and reminded me of why I needed to return to speaking up about the only Truth that will really matter when it comes down to it. As Pat said, things may get a lot worse before it gets better. It is my belief that there will be a time when people will have a choice to make. Will they be willing to follow a man, like the one that promised hope and change? Or will they realize that only through Jesus Christ will they truly have salvation for their soul? Just sayin'...

...but attempting to isolate ourselves is not living out a biblical worldview. Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? … You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden ... let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:13–16 NIV). Jesus used two word pictures: salt and light, because the world is corrupt, and the world is dark. The world needs salt (a preserving agent) because it is corrupt, and the world needs light because it is dark.

However, as we go out to impact our culture with the good news, we must also realize that, by and large, people are not always supportive of and receptive to what we have to say. But we must say it anyway.

As Christians, we may try to withdraw into our own subculture, but that is not what we are to do. The objective of a Christian is not to isolate, but to infiltrate. It is not to evade, but to invade. We want to influence the world – not have the world influence us. We are to impact our culture without being compromised by it.

By Greg Laurie

Posted: June 12, 2010 ~ 1:00 am Eastern

© 2010

A few years ago I arrived home to one of California's rolling blackouts. The lights wouldn't turn on. The streetlights were dark. The Internet was down. People in the neighborhood had walked out into the middle of the street and were standing there as if to say, "What do we do now?" There was no light anywhere. All I had was my cell phone, which had a low battery, but there was a little light emanating from it that I used to find my way around. And what I discovered was that a little light can go a long way.

We are living in a very dark time culturally, where a little light can go a long way. Today, an entire generation of young people seems to be adrift morally and spiritually. Research has found that most Millennials, also known as Generation Y, don't pray, don't read the Bible and don't go to church. One expert was quoted in USA Today as saying that if the trend continues, "the Millennial generation will see churches closing as quickly as GM dealerships."

Part of the fault lies at the feet of my generation, the baby boomers. We are obsessed with being forever young. We are the generation that effectively started what we know as the youth culture today, and a lot of us just can't let go. As Glenn Frey of the Eagles joked on tour, "Welcome to the Eagles Assisted Living Tour." That is pretty accurate. Their hit, "Heartache Tonight," could now be changed to "Heartburn Tonight." Our generation has gone from acid rock to acid reflux.

The baby boomers have been so obsessed with themselves that we have forgotten to raise our children in God's ways. We have been so busy rebelling from our moral upbringing that we have raised a generation that doesn't seem to have any moral bearings whatsoever.

That is why the Gospel is so desperately needed today. The Bible teaches that the culture will not get better with time; it will get worse. Despite the fact that we have increased in scientific, medical, historical, educational, psychological and technological knowledge to an astounding degree, we have not in any way, shape or form changed our own basic nature, and we have not improved society.

Sure, our confidence has increased, but our peace of mind has diminished. Our accomplishments have increased, but our sense of purpose and meaning have all but disappeared. Instead of improving the moral and spiritual quality of our lives, our discoveries and accomplishments have simply provided new ways to show ourselves for what we really are: depraved, sinful and wicked.

There was a buoyant optimism in the 19th century, a time Mark Twain described as the Gilded Age. A new philosophy for living was emerging, and everyone felt that as the millennium had just dawned, man literally would build a heaven on earth. It was actually thought that humankind would best nature, and even God, through its version of modern technology.

READ FULL STORY at WorldNetDaily.com

Be sure to check out
johnny2k's Tea Party Gear!

Can things get any worse? You betcha ~ By Pat Boone

2010-06-13T22:45:00.000-07:00

Pat mentions many of the most difficult problems facing us, both in the United States, and in the world. After reading this column yesterday, I pondered on it for awhile, and thought of some more issues that face us. The one thing going on here in the United States that disturbs me the most is that the ACLU, the courts, and the public schools are doing their best to remove God from our lives. That is most disturbing in regard to what Pat has written about and regarding to what Ronald Reagan had said: "There are no human solutions to the world's problems now; there are only divine solutions." If God is not in our lives, then who - or what - will we turn to for helping us through these times? Just sayin'...

... Are things going to get a lot worse than they are already?

Yes, they certainly can – and very well may. Richard Fisher, head of NASA's Heliophysics Division, warns: "The sun is waking up from a deep slumber, and in the next few years we expect to see much higher levels of solar activity. A century-class solar storm could cause twenty times more economic damage than Hurricane Katrina."

I believe Ronald Reagan was right. If there are going to be real solutions to our problems today, we've got to be asking for divine help. No president, no human government is up to the job.

By Pat Boone

Posted: June 12, 2010 ~ 1:00 am Eastern

© 2010

My long-cherished friend, Ronald Reagan, during his second term as president of the United States, made this solemn observation: "There are no human solutions to the world's problems now; there are only divine solutions."

Chew on that a few minutes.

In just the last few years, and indeed in the last few months, problems and crises are erupting around the world that do defy human solutions. What can mere mortals do about the rash of cataclysmic earthquakes? Or tornados that sweep in violently from nowhere? Or hurricanes, even when the weather forecasters warn us they're coming?

As the Chicken Little of our day, Al Gore, wins a Nobel Prize for proclaiming "The sky is melting! The sky is melting!" to all who will listen, we learn that a growing majority of knowledgeable scientists disagree with him and also that some of the major "experts" on global warming have been "cooking the books."

And even the most serious believers in eminent meltdown, like the folks at Kyoto and Copenhagen, agree that if we earthlings did everything in our power to curb all carbon emissions for the next 20 years … the combined efforts would only result in less than one degree of change!

So what's the point? Humans really can't do anything about it – but pray, perhaps.

As the unimaginable gusher pours billions in precious oil into the Gulf waters, not only wasting precious fuel but murdering sea life and the ecological balance of our southern and eastern seacoasts, nobody from the president on down or the panicked brass at British Petroleum has been able to stop it. Try as they all will, it seems to be out of human hands.

What about wars and rumors of wars? All the attempts to bring about world peace and harmony among nations have failed miserably. Hatreds and animosities, that often seem inexcusable and pointless to all who aren't involved, roil on unabated and explode in senseless, inhuman violence in the Middle East and elsewhere. The recent high-seas killing by the North Koreans of their ethnic brothers; the deadly debacle that occurred when Palestinian sympathizers tried to run the Israeli blockade; the Taliban killing fellow Muslims and anybody else they can ambush – to accomplish what? Almost all this defies human reason, but nobody can bring it to an end.

Is there anywhere else to turn?

Here in America, a paralyzed president and Democratic Congress can't find any solution to the immigration problems. And they don't seem in any hurry to, either – at least not till after the elections later this year. They know that there are 14 million illegal aliens who have flooded across our borders and that a growing number of states are taking matters into their own hands, since the federal government is not performing its constitutionally mandated duty. But, lest they lose the possibility of adding 14 million new grateful voters to the Democratic rolls, all they can do is rail against Arizona for actually doing something about their own in-state rampage of drug traffic, home invasions, kidnappings and unbearable economic burdens.

They call the Arizona law "unconstitutional" and "racist," without actually reading the words or discovering that the federal laws are stricter than Arizona's. (And so are Mexico's.)

Is there a Solomon in the house?

We are being steadily and relentlessly bankrupted, of course. Instead of treating irresponsible banks and semigovernmental funds (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) like regional and local businesses, allowing them to claim Chapter 11 and regroup, swallowing their own self-imposed losses, our fledgling president and his team are subjecting 300 million Americans to trillions of dollars of debt we can never dig our way out of. It's insanity, but they have the reins, and no matter what the majority of citizens say, they are determined to pursue their course to the bitter end.

Overturning many decades of alliance with our close friend Israel, President Obama is blatantly siding with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. As the New York Times has just reported, Mr. Obama follows his rude and dismissive treatment of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu – in the White House – by meeting with Abbas and promising him a $400 million aid package for the Palestinian settlements in the West Bank and Gaza – in the White House.

What, in the name of God, can America possibly want from Mahmoud Abbas? What do we owe the Palestinians? Why, if their Arab and Muslim brothers care at all about them, can't they use some of the vast oil wealth they use to attack us to come to the humanitarian aid of Gaza? Why does our president think he should load even more outlandish debt on us to win him points with … whom? And what, again in the name of God, does he have against Israel and its right to do what it wants in its own homeland?

READ FULL STORY at WorldNetDaily.com

Be sure to check out
johnny2k's Tea Party Gear!

Carbon-phobia? Not me ~ By Joseph Farah

2010-04-24T22:47:00.000-07:00

Joseph writes a wonderful column that tells us not to be afraid of our "carbon footprint," but instead, fear the "sin footprint."

So, remember, carbon-phobia will get you nowhere. But we all need to have a healthy fear of sin. That's the ultimate pollutant in this world. It's the ultimate toxin. It's the ultimate threat to your life and the lives of everyone else on planet Earth.
By Joseph Farah

Posted: April 24, 2010 ~ 1:00 am Eastern

© 2010

Are you afraid of carbon?

Do you worry about the size of your "carbon footprint"?

Do you lie awake at night worried about how carbon dioxide might destroy the planet?

I don't.

And I'm simply amazed that so many otherwise intelligent people have been taken in by one of the biggest hoaxes in the history of the world – the notion that a naturally occurring gas, one absolutely vital to life on planet Earth, is being produced by man's activities at such levels that it threatens apocalyptic catastrophe.

It's not true.

There's no evidence to support the hysteria.

It's all a scam put forward by powerful people who want more control over your life and the lives of others.

It's the worst kind of superstitious nonsense. Yet, people believe it. They believe it because "scientists" say it. They believe it because they're taught to believe it in school and in college. They believe it because the media tell them to believe it. They believe it because Madison Avenue tells them to believe it. And, of course, they believe it because governments all over the world promote it because it empowers them.

Nevertheless, I tell you there is nothing to worry about with regard to your "carbon footprint."

God is not going to punish you or the world's population because of a "carbon footprint."

He made the world from nothing by breathing it into existence – not by assembling or rearranging atoms and molecules, but by creating all of them from nothing.

God doesn't care about "carbon footprints."

God cares about sin footprints.

He didn't tell us not to exhale.

He didn't tell us not to populate the planet, He told us to be abundant and multiply.

He never hinted we have anything to worry about with regard to our use of natural resources. He made a great big planet and gave us a few key rules to live by. He told us if we followed those rules, we would have a longer and better life.

And knowing that we would not be able to keep those few simple rules, He even gave His only begotten Son as a sacrifice for those trespasses, so that we would have the chance to live eternally with Him.

Maybe that sounds like a fairy tale to some of you.

I've got news for you. That's reality. "Global warming" is not. Man-made catastrophic climate change is the myth.

Your "carbon footprint" means nothing to God.

It's your sin footprint that counts.

READ FULL STORY at WorldNetDaily.com

Let not your heart be troubled, Jesus is coming soon!

2010-03-24T02:30:00.000-07:00

Jack and Rexella Van Impe on 03-23-10 talk about major scenarios facing us - catastrophes, wars, and pestilence - and that there is a reason to "Let not your heart be troubled." Jesus will be returning soon.

In this video, their greatest moment was when they castigated the Obama administration for their treatment of Israel in regard to the housing development in East Jerusalem. This part appears toward the end of the video. Don't miss it!

Video provided by TheREALjohnny2k

Be sure to check out johnny2k's Powered By the Lord Selection!
(still under reconstruction)

Places of the Heart

2010-03-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

On a day like this, when I believe we could lose our freedom, I really needed to see or hear something to lift me up. I found out, in a big way, that it pays to actually check out private messages that I receive on my youtube account. Today, I received one that recommended a video to see. I watched it, and though the video quality may not have been impressive, I quickly understood that this was not about the "video." (Nice scenery, though, but a little jerky). It was all about the music and the lyrics. Just read the lyrics as you listen to the song. I think you will be glad that I finally checked my messages!

Video provided by apinkowski77

And, now the beautiful lyrics:

(Written by Sheryl and Adam Pinkowski; Performed by KRISSY)

Places of the Heart.

Does your heart reach out to your soul
Feeling a need for you to belong
A place where no one feels alone
So warm and safe from every wrong
Why does the sun light up the sky
And the trees shade you and I
Why does the grape hold on to the vine
Rivers that flow through valley's of time
Look at the mountains they stand so tall
Look at the sea how the billows roll
Colours of Autumn leaves in fall
Oh Lord You made them all
And when you see how the eagle flies
Spreads her wings over mountains high
Then to her young ones in their nest
She folds them to her breast
Does your heart reach out to your Soul
Feeling a need for you to belong
A place where no one feels alone
So warm and safe from every wrong

What was God thinking? ~ By Patrice Lewis

2010-03-20T02:56:00.000-07:00

Patrice Lewis writes about the horrible misfortunes of a family she knows. It is a sad story. Yet, she does make a very good point about why things like this happen to good people. Does God have anything to do with it?

"God does not cause our misfortunes. ... Some are caused by bad luck, some are caused by bad people, and some are simply an inevitable consequence of our being human and being mortal, living in a world of inflexible natural laws. The painful things that happen to us are not punishments for our misbehavior, nor are they in any way part of some grand design on God's part. Because the tragedy is not God's will, we need not feel hurt or betrayed by God when tragedy strikes. We can turn to Him for help in overcoming it, precisely because we can tell ourselves that God is as outraged by it as we are."
~ Rabbi Harold Kushner, "When Bad Things Happen to Good People."
By Patrice Lewis

Posted: March 20, 2010 ~ 1:00 am Eastern

© 2010

I'm going to do something I've never before done in my columns: ask for help. No, not for me; but for some people we know.

When tragedy strikes, it's a common reaction to ask, "God, why? Why would You let this happen?"

I received a phone call on the afternoon of St. Patrick's Day from my friend Tiffani. "I'm calling with a prayer request," she said, chocking back sobs. "Even as we speak, the Doles' house is burning down."

To receive such a call is shocking at best, but this case takes some explanation.

The Doles are a homeschooling family of eight children. They would have had nine, but they lost a baby (Tucker) a couple years ago. Mike Dole lost his job, so the family has been struggling. Tracy was pregnant with their 10th child when they learned the baby had a rare and usually fatal congenital heart defect. Little Jethro was born dead three weeks ago. The doctors revived him. He underwent surgery
and is in precarious condition. We don't know if he will live.

And now their house has burned down.

I asked my husband, "How much can one family take?"

And then I got mad at God. How could He let such a thing happen? One or two things, maybe. But to lose a baby? And a job? And possibly another baby? And their home? And all their possessions?

So yes, I was mad at God. What was He thinking? Couldn't He … maybe spread things out a little?

Why do bad things happen to good people? These kinds of multiple blows should be reserved for bad people. That's the kind of neat and orderly "payback" it would be nice to see. The only people to lose jobs, lose babies and lose homes should be those who … well, who deserve it.

But of course that's not how things work in this world. While some say God's plan is perfect, sometimes it sure is hard to see what that plan could be. What on earth is God doing, burning down the Dole's home in addition to losing their source of income and taking their littlest baby? Is He just plain mean?

Troubled, I turned to Harold Kushner's classic book "When Bad Things Happen to Good People." The author surmises that maybe things don't happen because God directly "causes" them to happen. Sometimes things just … happen. But it's what we DO with those things that make a difference. Do we turn to God or reject Him? Do we seek solace in prayer or in hatred? Do we cope by opening ourselves spiritually or by shutting ourselves off with bitterness? Better minds than mine have pondered these dilemmas for centuries.

There's a scene from an old Western movie about some pioneers. In the movie, a man's wife had died, leaving him with a small daughter. A woman, pregnant with her first child, loses her husband on the trail.

The woman looked at the wreckage of her dreams and blamed God for her troubles. The man took her aside and said, "I know you're mad at God. But God is not responsible for your problems." He added, "When I go for a walk with my daughter and she trips and falls, she knows I didn't push her down. But she also knows that I will be there to lift her up. To minister to her hurts, to support her on her journey and if necessary to carry her home."

I take comfort from this thought. Perhaps God didn't smite the Doles because He was having a bad hair day. Perhaps stuff just … happens. It's how we deal with the "stuff" that matters.

READ FULL STORY at WorldNetDaily.com

Be sure to check out johnny2k's Powered By the Lord Selection!
(still under reconstruction)

God helps those who ... ~ By Greg Laurie

2010-01-31T00:43:00.000-08:00

Commentary from WorldNetDaily

By Greg Laurie

Posted: January 30, 2010 ~ 1:00 am Eastern

© 2010

Some people think the Bible teaches that God helps those who help themselves. But you won't find this quoted in the Bible. In fact, it is not a biblical concept. The fact is that God helps those who can't help themselves. God helps those who see how radical their condition is, who recognize there is no way they can save their own souls.

The Bible tells the story of a man like this, a man who was in a very difficult state – a seemingly hopeless situation. I think it may even have been his utter helplessness that drew Jesus to him. He had been abandoned. He was a desperately lonely man, a man who, for all practical purposes, was an outcast.

Paralyzed for 38 years, he spent his days by a pool in Jerusalem called Bethesda, hoping for a miracle. All alone and in need, he was surrounded by people who were blind, lame and paralyzed. Each were waiting for the stirring of the water – believed to be the work of an angel – because the first one to step into the pool would be healed.

Perhaps the night before, this man had offered up a prayer to God. Maybe he prayed, "Lord, if you would just help me be the first one into the water when the angel stirs it up, I would be so grateful." Little did he realize that God himself would come in human form and give him far more than what he asked for. Instead of sending an angel to stir up the waters, God was about to stir up his life – not just physically, but – more importantly – spiritually. The Bible tells us that God is able to do above and beyond that which we could ask or think (see Ephesians 3:20). And that is what happened in this man's life.

The Bible says that "Jesus saw him lying there" (John 5:6 NIV). What I find interesting is that he wasn't the only person there at the pool. There were a lot of people. But we don't read that Jesus saw them. The Bible says that Jesus saw him. And that is important to realize, because when God looks into a crowd of people, he sees you. He sees you as an individual, just like he saw this man. In the midst of all this activity Jesus had time for an individual whom he knew by name.

Then Jesus asked him – and in a broad sense, all of us – a poignant question: "Do you want to get well?" (verse 6 NIV). Or to expand the question, "Do you want to change your life?" Jesus was essentially asking, "Are you willing to put yourself, just as you are, in my hands? Are you ready for me to do for you what you are unable to do for yourself?"

Now this may seem like a strange question. We might think, What kind of thing is that to ask a guy who is paralyzed and unable to move? Of course he wants to be made well. But not everyone wants to change. Not every drug addict wants to be free from the power of drugs. Not every immoral person wants to be a moral person. Not every person who has chosen a certain lifestyle wants to break free from it. So it is a valid question: Do you want to change your life?

READ FULL STORY >

Another great movie recommendation ~ By Joseph Farah

2010-01-30T02:29:00.001-08:00

Commentary from WorldNetDaily

By Joseph Farah

Posted: January 30, 2010 ~ 1:00 am Eastern

© 2010

I can't remember the last time I had two current movie recommendations to offer at the same time.

I told you last week about "The Book of Eli," an amazing new release starring Denzel Washington – the kind of movie one would never expect to come out of Hollywood. If you haven't yet seen it, do so. But remember, it is mega-violent and contains some very rough language and harsh scenes unsuitable for kids.

This week, I want to tell you about "The Blind Side," a movie for the whole family starring Sandra Bullock.

This one is the true story of Michael Oher, a homeless black teenager welcomed into a wealthy white Christian family.

What these two films have in common is a strong Christian worldview – not exactly considered part of Hollywood's formula for success.

Both are stories of faith in action – one fantasy, one very real.

"The Blind Side" is a feel-good movie all the way.

It's a story about the biblical admonition to care for orphans lived out by a mom and her family – and the joy and victory it brings not only to the young man, but to all those involved.

The movie is an adaptation of the 2006 book by Michael Lewis – "The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game."

Michael Oher was born to a crack addict mother in Memphis in 1986. he had trouble in school, was bounced around in foster care and spent periods of his life before the age of 16 on the streets.

Through the intervention of other adults in his life, Oher is enrolled in a private Christian high school, where he continues to flounder as a student and still faces the challenges of poverty, alienation and learning problems.

READ FULL STORY >

August 24, 2009 - The Blind Side Movie Trailer

This November, you'll get a hard-hitting football movie featuring no less than Sandra Bullock, Kathy Bates and Tim McGraw. It's called The Blind Side, and it might be the Rudy of the new millenium.

When a high school student, operating under the perfect storm of being poor, wildly undereducated and badly out of shape, gets recruited by a major football program that grooms him into the exact opposite, his life will change forever. But will it change it for the better? Check out the trailer.

November is the perfect time of year for this kind of movie to hit because it so clearly wants to go for an Oscar run. But at the same time, it should prove accessible to anyone who watches it. Dust off your thesauruses--you'll need synonyms for "heart-warming" because EVERYONE'S going to call it that. But do you want your heart warmed? Or does this one leave you cold? Hit the comments section and tell us what you think. Thanks for watching!

The Blind Side Cast: Sandra Bullock, Kathy Bates, Kim Dickens, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Rhoda Griffis, Ray McKinnon, Lily Collins

The Blind Side movie trailer courtesy 20th Century Fox. The Blind Side open in US theaters November 20th, 2009. The Blind Side is directed by John Lee Hancock.

Video provided by ClevverMovies

Building consensus on life ~ By Joseph Farah

2010-01-22T02:58:00.001-08:00

Commentary from WorldNetDaily

By Joseph Farah

Posted: January 22, 2010 ~ 1:00 am Eastern

© 2010

It's unusual for a newsman to offer up a diatribe on the sanctity of life.

Yet, today, as we mark the 37th anniversary of the most ill-conceived and most politicized Supreme Court decision in the history of our republic, I feel compelled to speak out again.

Any society, if it is to remain a self-governing, free and cohesive one, must have consensus on some foundational issues.

Our founders understood this. In fact, they knew well that slavery was an issue causing so much division within the early republic that it could well tear the nation apart – as it did in an internecine war that would be the bloodiest in which Americans ever fought.

From the beginning, however, there was a consensus on the sanctity of life.

It was written into the Declaration of Independence and, in a way, less directly, yet still clearly, into the Constitution of the United States.

Only when America began to lose its moral bearings did the idea that people had an inherent right to kill their unborn offspring and others who couldn't speak for themselves begin to emerge and even dominate our society.

Today, I am considered some kind of fanatic within my own profession because of my outspokenness about the sanctity of life.

Yet, child sacrifice, whether performed in the name of Baal or to the gods of feminism, political correctness, convenience or the "right to choose," is wrong, immoral, evil and sinful. It always was and it always will be.

On that principle, Americans need to rebuild a consensus.

Without some media support, that will be difficult.

It might surprise some that many of the greatest newspapers in America were founded on Christian principles. After the American Revolution, Christians dominated U.S. journalism, and their worldview characterized many major American newspapers. What was the largest circulation weekly in 1830? The New York Christian Advocate.

What were newspapers like in those days? Three-quarters of all material in papers at that time was religious, theological, ethical and devotional. And, in the early 19th century, New York City alone boasted 52 magazines and newspapers that called themselves Christian. Between 1825 and 1845, more than 100 cities and towns in America had explicitly Christian newspapers.

READ FULL STORY >

Go see 'The Book of Eli' ~ By Joseph Farah

2010-01-22T00:23:00.000-08:00

Commentary from WorldNetDaily

"If you are looking for an action-packed adventure movie that carries a powerful message and profound truth, I urge you to go see Denzel Washington's triumph."

By Joseph Farah

Posted: January 21, 2010 ~ 1:00 am Eastern

© 2010

I saw a great movie last weekend.

That's not something I can say very often.

It's called "The Book of Eli" and stars Denzel Washington.

In Hollywood high concept language, you might want to think of "Mad Max" meets "Raiders of the Lost Ark." But that wouldn't be doing it justice.

It's a hard movie to watch – dark, violent. It's not a movie for children. But its redemptive message couldn't be clearer or more needed for a time such as this.

The movie is set in the future, after an apocalyptic event or events leading to the destruction of organized society in America and the rest of the world. What's left after this somewhat mysterious disaster are marauding bands of criminals who prey on others, widespread cannibalism, drunkenness and pockets of communities with little sense of morality.

It seems after the "event," there was an effort to destroy all the world's Bibles. In their wisdom, world leaders deduced that it was this book that caused this plague to befall them.

One man, though, has a copy of the King James Bible and is given a mission by God to take it West. He is also promised that he will be protected in this quest.

The movie is about Eli's story and what he encounters on this trip.

I don't believe I have ever seen a more overtly Christian movie come out of Hollywood.

It shows what the world would be like devoid of God's Word, His law and the hope of salvation He offers. It shows what happens when the salt and light and truth are removed from the world. It shows the world in its most fallen state.

How a movie like this could even be made today is a mystery. One has to conclude it has much to do with Denzel Washington's own values and clout in the industry. He not only stars in the movie, he is one of the producers.

The overall theme is walking by faith, not by sight.

READ FULL STORY >

Satan's Meeting

2010-01-11T22:45:00.000-08:00

Watch this!

Satan's meeting: about how he keeps the Christians too busy and pulled away from the relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

Video provided by Terry Pollard on Tangle.com

www.revelationministriesoutreach.org

UPDATE 01/12/10 at 3:51 a.m.: I was not able to get the above video to work when I clicked on the PLAY button. If you are having the same problem, here is the direct link to the video:
http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=0edec55cb25411422efd

Last Week on TheREALjohnny2k - 12/21 through 12/31/09, Part II

2010-01-02T10:15:00.000-08:00

By John Kubicek

It was the 201st decade since the birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ. It was a decade of wars. and very little peace. While there was the actual wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and every where else in the world that terrorists were able to strike, there has also been the virtual war for the hearts and minds of the masses. The battlefront has become youtube.com, facebook.com, twitter.com, and on the blogs. Between those two fronts, I opted for the cyber side of the war. It doesn't require blood, guts, and glory, but it does involve a lot of blood, sweat and tears.

My ultimate weapon of choice has been my work on youtube.com, along with this blog. That's right, uploading videos to youtube.com is a fantastic way to keep many people informed of all the things that are involved in the way this world is now headed. I don't even feel the need to expound in the video descriptions. I'll just let the videos speak for themselves.

I hope that the videos I tell you about today, that you'll see below, will show that not everything I think about has to do with politics.

December 21, 2009 - Has Anyone Told You? You are loved!

Jack and Rexella Van Impe provided me with the perfect video for this wonderful season to upload to this channel.

This will hopefully help remind you of the Reason for the Season.

December 23, 2009 - The spiritual surge in sports

It seems to me that in this segment, the spiritual surge in sports is being attacked. Or,is it just me?

December 24, 2009 - Best Church Choir In America - The Atlanta West Pentacostal Church Choir

This is absolutely sensational! They really are deserving of the honor of Best Church Choir In America as you will see - AND HEAR - in this video.

Thank you all for visiting my channel, TheREALjohnny2k. Please have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I love you all!

December 27, 2009 - "Onward Christian Athletes" - The problem with turning athletes into "heroes"

Who should be our heroes? This video brings up some interesting questions about athletes being heroes, and if some are expressing their Christian faith only when they win.

December 31, 2009 - About a Christmas Miracle - This will make you smile!

This video is about a great miracle. This happened just before the Northwestern Flight 253 miracle, where a bomb ddn't work, 278 people were sill alive, on Christmas day. Here are two more people that made it. God just wasn't quite ready for them to go home.

FAVORITE OF THE WEEK

Maybe it's because of the season. I chose this one to be my favorite of the week.

December 04, 2007 - Christmas Story - Steven Curtis Chapman - BluefishTV.

Video provided by bluefishtv

The real beginning of Christmas ~ By Greg Laurie

2009-12-20T00:59:00.000-08:00

Commentary from WorldNetDaily

By Greg Laurie

Posted: December 19, 2009 ~ 1:00 am Eastern

© 2009

How often do you look at your watch in a given day? Or check the time? Or ask someone else what time it is? Why do we do that? We do it because we govern our lives by time. There is a time that we get up in the morning. There is a time when we go to work or school. There is a time when we go home. There is a time when we go to bed and when we get up the next morning and repeat the process. We live our lives by the clock, and we have a constant awareness of time.

According to the Bible, we even live our lives for a certain period of time – not a moment longer and not a moment shorter. You can eat free-range chicken and organic vegetables and use all of the lotions and potions and special vitamins available, but you will not live one day longer than God wants you to live. Nor will you live one day shorter. The Bible says, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die" (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 NIV).

As one person said, "Men talk of killing time while time quietly kills them." The problem is that we spend a lot of our lives doing things we would rather not be doing. We have control over some of these things, but not all of them. For example, the average American will spend six months of their lives sitting at traffic lights, one year searching desk clutter for misplaced objects, five years waiting in lines, three years in meetings and eight months opening junk mail.

As C. S. Lewis said, "The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is."

We live by time, while God exists outside of time. I am not implying that God is unaware of time, because He is completely aware of every minute and second of our lives and everything that is happening in them. But God lives in the eternal realm. Therefore, we might say that God's interpretation of time is quite different from ours.

God has His own timing, and there are times in life when it appears to us as though God is late, as though God is somehow disengaged and not paying attention. And sometimes as we look at the way the world is going, we wonder whether God is aware of what it is like right now.

That is how it was at the time of Jesus' birth. Israel was tired of waiting. They felt it was time for the Messiah to arrive. They were difficult and dark days in the history of Israel. In fact, the time in which they were living when Christ finally came was almost as bad as it was under Pharaoh's rule in Egypt, because they were under the control of Rome and the tyrannical rule of the puppet King Herod.

While Herod was known for the great buildings he erected, he was also known for his paranoia. He would have anyone he saw as a potential threat to his throne killed. He had two of his sons put to death because he thought they would try to lead a coup against him. It was said of Herod that it was better to be one of his pigs than one of his sons.

The fact is that 6 B.C. was a lousy time to be living in Judea. People were wondering when God was going to intervene. They had not heard from him for 400 years. Not a single prophet had delivered a message from heaven. There had been no miracles and no angelic appearances – only a stony silence from heaven. The people were probing. They were searching. They were wondering when things were going to change.

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Request For Transfer

2009-10-07T06:32:00.000-07:00

The following came in an email from my good friend Rev. Gerri. The author is unknown.

Request For Transfer

TO: Commander-in-Chief Spiritual Armed Forces, Jesus Christ

Dear Lord:

I am writing this to You to request a transfer to a desk job. I herewith present my reasons: I began my career as a private, but because of the intensity of the battle You have quickly moved me up in the ranks. You have made me an officer and given me a tremendous amount of responsibility. There are many soldiers and recruits under my charge. I am constantly being called upon to dispense wisdom, make judgments, and find solutions to complex problems. You have placed me in a position to function as an officer, when in my heart I know I have only the skills of a private.

I realize that You have promised to supply all I would need for the battle. But Sir, I must present You a realistic picture of my situation. My uniform, once so crisp and starched, is now stained with tears and blood of those I have tried to assist. The soles of my boots are cracked and worn from the miles I have walked trying to enlist, encourage, and instruct the troops. My weapons are marred, tarnished and chipped from constant battle against the enemy. Even the Book of Regulations I was issued has been torn and tattered from endless use. The words are now smeared.

You have promised You would be with me throughout, but when the noise of the battle is so loud and the confusion is so great, I can neither see nor hear You. I feel so alone. I'm tired. I'm discouraged. I have Battle Fatigue. I would never ask You for a discharge. I love being in Your service. But I humbly request a demotion and transfer. I'll file papers or clean latrines. Just get me out of the battle -- please, Sir.

Your Faithful, but tired, Warrior.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TO: Faithful, but tired, Soldier, Spiritual Armed Forces

LOCATION: The Battlefield

SUBJECT: Transfer

Dear Soldier:

Your request for transfer has been denied. I herewith present My reasons: You are needed in this battle. I have selected you, and I will keep My Word to supply your needs. You do not need a demotion and transfer. Besides, you'd never cut it on latrine duty anyway. You need a period of "R & R" (Renewal and Rekindling). I am setting aside a place on the battlefield that is insulated and fully protected from the enemy. I will meet you there and I will give you rest. I will remove your old equipment and "make all things new."

You have been wounded in the battle, My soldier. Your wounds are not visible, but you have received grave internal injuries. You need to be healed. I will heal you. Also, you have been weakened in the battle. You need to be strengthened. I will strengthen you and be your strength. I will instill in you confidence and ability. My Words will be rekindled within you, giving you renewed love, zeal and enthusiasm. Report to Me tattered and empty. I will replenish you.

Compassionately,

Your Commander-in-Chief, Jesus Christ

Validation

2009-10-04T22:22:00.000-07:00

By John Kubicek

A wonderful friend of mine, Leah, a truly amazing person that I was lucky enough to get acquainted with on twitter, sent me a direct message yesterday that linked me to an awesome video on youtube.com. Leah said that I would love it, and I did. I don't know if Leah knew, or not, just how much I needed to see this video right now.

And whether she knows it or not, Leah is always sending me incredible messages just when I needed to be lifted up. You could call it, "Validation." You will understand what I'm saying much better once you watch the following video:

October 03, 2008 - Validation from hughnewman1024

"Validation" is a fable about the magic of free parking. Starring TJ Thyne & Vicki Davis. Writer/Director/Composer - Kurt Kuenne. Winner - Best Narrative Short, Cleveland Int'l Film Festival, Winner - Jury Award, Gen Art Chicago Film Festival, Winner - Audience Award, Hawaii Int'l Film Festival, Winner - Best Short Comedy, Breckenridge Festival of Film, Winner - Crystal Heart Award, Best Short Film & Audience Award, Heartland Film Festival, Winner - Christopher & Dana Reeve Audience Award, Williamstown Film Festival, Winner - Best Comedy, Dam Short Film Festival, Winner - Best Short Film, Sedona Int'l Film Festival.

You are the Wind Beneath My Wings

2009-09-08T12:46:00.000-07:00

From Thespadecaller on youtube.com

Leaving with us this musical treasure, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, the giant man with the little ukulele and an angelic voice, passed away on June 26, 1997. This Spadecaller video presentation honors the man and his music. Aloha!

The Health Care System & the Mark of the Beast

2009-09-05T01:25:00.000-07:00

The following is lovingly brought to you by anewlife4us7 at youtube.com

(Formatted by John Kubicek for easier reading on this blog.)

September 5, 2009

anewlife4us7 writes:

In late 2008, I believe the Holy Spirit revealed to me that the Mark of the Beast will arise from the Health Care System. I had always believed that it would arise from the financial system, and although it will most certainly become the only means in which one will be allowed to buy and sell under the new world system, it will come under the guise of health care system. Unless you submit to this anti-christ system of world government, you will not be allowed to participate in the world system, but will rather be considered an appointment to the health and well being mankind.

I saw this in the spirit, had it confirmed in a Dream, and am now witnessing the fulfillment of this in our world today. The WORD of GOD says, that we know in part, and prophecy in part, therefore I do not claim to know the fullness of this truth, but I firmly believe we will see this come to pass very soon. Never before have I felt such an urgency to warn the body of Christ to seek the Lord, to truly know in whom you have believed, trust NO Man, but seek to know the true will of the father, hide his word in your heart, for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

The Bible says that my people perish for a lack of knowledge. Please do not take what I am saying as absolute truth, but rather humble yourself before the Lord your God, seek wisdom from Him who is able to make known that which is truth from err. There is a darkness and vile evil that is blanketing our world, all these things have been foretold, and will certainly come to pass. For God is not a man that he should lie, he has given us the gift of his word, more over the gift of eternal life, that is salvation through our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, and the power of his Holy Spirit, our comforter.

Seek him Beloved, while he can still be found, ask him to reveal himself to you, in all humility and brokenness, be ye separate from the world, less ye fall into the greatest deception this world has ever seen, or shall ever see again, for the day of the Lord is coming quickly, and is already upon us.

[See the video below, or click here to see it at youtube.com]

God’s Universal Health Care Plan ~ by Garland E. Harris

2009-08-30T06:21:00.001-07:00

From GarlandEHarris.com

By Garland E. Harris

God has a plan for universal health that doesn’t involve the government. Although God would heal the land of any of His people that complied with His Word.

Bible, Authorized King James Version:
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

If the land of a people is sick, then the food grown on that land will not be able to provide the proper sustenance for the people of that land and the people will get sick, sicker and sickest. There is so much to be dealt with in food growth, production and distribution that it is outside of the scope of this article, but God has provided health care for all people regardless of the current food problems.

First, God designed the body to heal itself. Almost every doctor and health care professional knows this. A doctor can set a broken arm, but the bone refuses itself together. Once a cause is removed, if removed in time, the symptoms will disappear. Even a tiny splinter would kill you if it wasn’t battled until it is ejected from the body and the wound is healed.

There are many herbs and foods that serve man by aiding in or jump starting the healing process for the body.
Psalms 104:14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;

The apex of God’s health care or healing plan is in the awesome power of His Word, whether it is spoken, written or incarnate (Jesus Christ).
Psalms 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

God’s Word is healing in itself, because it is light instead of darkness. God’s Word is life and makes life available to all those who believe it no matter where they live or who they are. God is so gracious and loving that even unbelievers in Jesus Christ can be and are healed divinely at times as long as they believe to be healed. So, I would like to prescribe to you the healings in the Bible. Take at least one of these a day and pray (believe) to receive. And please note that there are no incurable diseases. Only your negative believing can make a disease incurable. God can and will heal them all. [READ ENTIRE COLUMN]

Things can be tough, but God Is There

2009-08-21T10:31:00.000-07:00

"In the darkest time, God is there," says Marty of Diamond Rio.

There is no doubt that you may want to share this with your friends and relatives that may be going through a dark time. You may be surprised how much better you will feel to be able to support others that are going through "dark times."

It's all about lifting others up.

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

2009-08-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

By John Kubicek

It wasn't long ago - or at least I didn't think it was long ago until I realized it has now been three weeks - when I posted "Don't Give Up!". The music and the lyrics of that song by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush hit me hard, in a good way. It was what I needed to hear at that time.

So, last night, I had another deja vu moment. I accidently found this song, and then searched and found the lyrics. I came across a song that not only had I not heard for decades, but hadn't even thought about it. When I came across this one, it also hit me hard. Once again, it was another wonderful surprise to hear this song, and I'm sure it was no coincidence that this great song came back into my life at this time, for a reason! Listen to this song, and read the lyrics. It is a continuation of the theme, "Don't Give Up." I'll explain after you see this, hear this, and read the lyrics:

The Lyrics for "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" ~ By The Hollies

The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there

For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

If I'm laden at all
I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another

It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share

And the load
Doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy he's my brother

He's my brother
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

In "Don't Give Up," the theme was about having somebody give us encouragement during difficult times. The focus was on the part that Peter Gabriel sung, from his perspective, having somebody there for him, giving him a lot of tender loving care, and keeping him going. But, in this song, it would be from the perspective of the person giving the tender loving care. This song would be from the perspective of the words that Kate Bush had sung. It is from the perspective of those of us that have a burden of caring for somebody else above ourselves.

Isn't it amazing how our Lord has set this all up?

Our own burdens seem so much lighter when we go out and help to carry somebody else's burdens! The more we care about helping out somebody else, the more we tend to forget - and not worry - about what faces us, and the burdens that we carry!

And in hearing this song, you will find that Love lightens the load, our love will make the load to be no burden at all!

I think that the Lord has taught us something today. I know that I learned something, anyway. My life just became a little better, even if it is a long, long road. Loving people, it "Doesn't weigh me down at all." Again, read this segment of the lyrics:

"If I'm laden at all
I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another"

Does God exist? If so, what are His attributes?

2009-08-15T05:52:00.000-07:00

Let's get a little scientific... shall we?

I know, it has been way too long since I've posted anything here. I'll be honest, I've been busy on other projects, much having to do with the political side of my blogs. I don't feel bad about that, either, by the way. God has a purpose for all of us. We can't all be pastors. Some of us have to do what we need to do for God in our way, using our talents. A great example would be Mike Huckabee. He's been a pastor, a governor, ran for President, and now a great host on Fox News, not to mention a frequent guest on Fox and Friends.

But I digress. I saw the following in a great email this morning from my good friend Susan, and felt it highly worthy of being shared in this venue.

Does God exist? If so, what are His attributes? Is He a God of Love? Is He an angry God? Is He passive and complacent? Has He revealed His demeanor at all? Saul of Tarsus, commonly known as Paul the Apostle, a first century theologian, wrote to the Christian Church at Rome, "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). According to Paul, if we make an unbiased investigation of the world around us, we can determine God's existence and His attributes by merely observing the things of nature. In essence, by examining creation we can discover the Creator.

God: Necessity or Convenience?
Is God necessary, or merely convenient? 20th century science successfully proved with certainty that the universe is not eternal -- that it did have a beginning. An eternal universe is contrary to our Natural Laws (laws that remain unbroken within the observable universe). Furthermore, beginning with Einstein's Theory of Relativity, science has determined that space and time are intertwined. So much so, in fact, that they are no longer separate concepts, but referred to as the "space-time continuum." Once upon a time, there was a time when there was no time. Thus, explaining our origins by pointing to the eternal existence of the universe is no longer a valid position. Now, there are only two options to answer the riddle of the existence of all things: Either Someone made the world, or else the world made itself.

The first option is summed up by this formula: Matter + energy + information = concept and design (creation). The alternative is expressed by this formula: Matter + energy + time + random chance = complexity and apparent design (an incredible accident).

God: Concept & Design Revealed!
Do we see God's handiwork? Over several millennia, mankind has developed an appreciation of the beauty and complexity of the universe. However, it wasn't until 1953, with the discovery of the structure of DNA molecule by James Watson and Francis Crick, that mankind finally began to understand the incredible design that permeates all life. Anyone who truly investigates the mystery of the DNA molecule -- this incredible micro, digital, error-correcting, redundant, self duplicating, information storage and retrieval system, with its own inherent language convention, that has the potential to develop any organism from raw biological material -- understands that life is the result of concept and design. Information Science tells us that concept and design can only result from a mind. Therefore, a Creator is the scientific default for all that we see. Unless mankind is able to identify a natural mechanism by which the universe could have created itself, a Creator is necessary.

You are here: Philosophy >> God 2
(Read God Part 1 First)

God: Validated by Scientific Endeavor
In an attempt to disprove the necessity of God, graduate student Stanley Miller performed the famous Miller-Urey "spark and soup" experiment in 1953. Miller based his experiment on observations made by Harold Urey in 1952 regarding necessary atmospheric conditions for Spontaneous Generation of the "building blocks" of life. The ironic result of Miller's work was the validation of the Creation argument. Urey demonstrated that the presupposed atmospheric conditions of primitive earth were lethal to the "building blocks" of life. Oxygen destroys amino acids. However, without oxygen to deflect UV light, UV destroys amino acids. Thus, life can't develop as a result of Spontaneous Generation with or without oxygen. Geology indicates oxygen has always been a part of earth's atmosphere (every layer of strata, including the lowest layers, consist of oxidized rock). Furthermore, Miller demonstrated that Spontaneous Generation creates material lethal to life's "building blocks." The Miller-Urey experiment produced 85% tar, which is poisonous to life. Actually, Miller's experiment only produced amino acid "building blocks" in very small amounts (approximately 1.9% of the total product), but they themselves were harmful to life due to their structural makeup. The principle of "chirality" requires that all amino acids in proteins be 'left-handed', while all sugars in DNA and RNA, be 'right-handed'. Miller's experiment produced roughly equal amounts of left and right-handed material, thus establishing the mathematical absurdity of creating even the basic elements of life from a "spark and soup" process. Miller also demonstrated the necessity of information in his designed process. Miller performed the experiment twice, once under "natural" random conditions, and a second time using a manmade "trap" to keep the resultant amino acids from being zapped and destroyed by subsequent sparks. The first test, which represented "natural" random chance, produced no amino acids. Thus, science, even in an attempt to disprove God, further demonstrated the necessity for a Creator.

God: His Attributes
So what are the attributes of this Creator God? First of all, the Natural Law of Cause and Effect states that an effect is always less than its cause. If all of the energy in the universe came from God, it stands to reason that God is all-powerful (Omnipotent). If all the combined knowledge of mankind is the result of God, it's logical to propose that He is all-knowing (Omniscient).. If everything we see originally came from an unseen God, it holds that He exists outside our physical dimensions (Transcendent). If all humans were created by God to be personal beings, then God must be a personal being Himself. So what does this Omnipotent, Omniscient, Transcendent, Personal, Creator God want from mankind? Surely, man was created for a reason. What is it that all personal beings want? The answer: a personal relationship with other personal beings.

God: His Purpose for Creation
Interestingly, the Bible describes God as an Omnipotent, Omniscient, Transcendent, Personal Creator who wants a personal relationship with mankind. However, mankind is separated from God by sin, a result of His gift of freewill. Furthermore, the Bible tells us that there must be retribution for mankind's crimes against God -- the breaking of His Divine Law. But that's not fair. We did not create ourselves with this ability to sin. We should not have to pay the consequences. Well, what would be fair? If God paid the penalty for us? "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:9-10). "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

Explore More Now!

Jesus said "Seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." May you find Him now - He's right there waiting... and knocking... Can you hear Him?

Taking advantage of a crisis (In a good way!)

2009-07-17T12:48:00.000-07:00

By John Kubicek

Rahm Emanuel was right when he stated, "Never let a serious crisis go to waste … it's an opportunity to do things you couldn't do before." Only, I'm sure he wasn't talking about anything like this!

Did you ever wonder when you'd have a chance to share the Gospel with somebody? Would you want it to be in a situation such as what happened in the above video? God had a purpose, and He offered the opportunity. The elderly couple survived the ordeal by making use of that opportunity. I'm just sayin' ...

Happy Independence Day

2009-07-04T06:33:00.000-07:00

By John Kubicek

The following was derived from an email sent to me by a very good friend, Rev. Gerri Janeway. This came from an email by Bob Gotti, of Poetic Pulpit.

Faith of a Nation

An Unchanging Truth that truly changes some,
This is the work of The Spirit, sent by The Son.
The Father, The Son, and The Spirit are three,
And when we see Them as One, we are truly set free.

Free from the path of sin, as unbelievers we had trod,
Freed only through The Grace of an Unchanging God.
Once as a Christian, for we believed in His Name,
Our person and our lives will never be the same,

We strive to be different in what we might do or say,
However, some who have believed have fallen away.
As a Body in this Nation, we have truly been deceived,
And worse yet, by a peoples who do not even believe.

They say God Bless America and United we stand,
But, they fail to see the sin throughout our troubled land.
We are not truly United and divided we will fall,
For as a Nation our eyes are not on The Lord at all!

As a Nation we speak of our power and strength from within,
While we embrace and endorse all kinds of wicked sin.
Although we have Bibles, how much have we learned?
For even The Lord asked "Will I find Faith when I return?"

Copyright ©07/2002 Bob Gotti) / http://www.poeticpulpit.com/

Freedom In Christ

When we receive God’s Salvation, we are freed from condemnation,
No longer at enmity with our God, we’re now lead by Staff and Rod,
In Christ, with God, we have peace, a relationship that will not cease,
Saved out of the world of strife, we’re granted, by God, Eternal Life.

True Freedom from God we receive, when in Christ, we truly believe,
While in this life we are free of fear, as The Lord God is always near,
While seated now upon His Throne, Christ watches over all His Own,
And our Father has complete control, over every trial, big and small.

We can be free of discouragement, in The Spirit, who God has sent,
Sent to be our Counselor and Guide, to all believers, to dwell inside,
While in this life, to encourage us, as in The Lord, we place our trust,
With our eyes fixed upon His Son, through all trials when they come.

We too have freedom from defeat, for in Christ we’re now complete,
By saving us from the power of sin, we now can live our life for Him,
As His Spirit helps us to live above, all our trials, guided in His Love,
For in Jesus Christ we have victory, through His power from Calvary.

Believers today can rest assured, knowing Jesus Christ, as our Lord,
Even through life’s darkest night, we’re guided by The Savior’s Light,
With God’s promise of Eternal Life, through our Savior, Jesus Christ,
And we have this freedom eternally, all through the Cross of Calvary.

(Copyright ©06/2009 Bob Gotti) / http://www.poeticpulpit.com

Who’s Following Who?

Why do many politicians deceive, those in the land who truly believe,
The Word, written long before, these men stood on the Senate floor?
God’s Word, written by men of Old, regarding what God has foretold,
About the things to be fulfilled, not how man but how God has willed.

How can we be blessed by God, as these men with a convincing nod,
Speak to people across this land, while they assert a Godless stand?
Making stands that have inferred, new ways opposed to God’s Word,
Moving from our firm foundation, as they weaken this beloved nation.

How can politicians stand so aloof, while distorting fundamental Truth,
Only to further their own policy, while dismissing The God of Eternity?
Their ways are not apparent to all, as Knowledge of God is truly small,
In the minds of much of this world; as the darker policies are unfurled.

How can these men be so arrogant; pursuing policy, they’re truly bent,
On treading underfoot all God’s ways, in their quest for men’s praise?
Self-willed politicians, filled with pride, they cast all God’s ways aside,
Basing reason on human deduction, they pave the way to Destruction.

Are these politicians, truly deceived, by the power they have received,
Or fully aware of a darker plan, that is hidden from the common man?
A plan that’s known by many of us, who in God have placed our trust,
But, it’s God’s Plan that will prevail, while man’s dark plans surely fail.

Is there no Godly fear in their heart, while from Truth they truly depart,
Making policy on their own accord, dismissing the ways of our Lord?
In these days who’s following who, as mere men govern me and you,
Do they not realize and understand, God still reigns over every land?

(Copyright ©06/2009 Bob Gotti) / http://www.poeticpulpit.com

Slipping Away Into Silence

Some souls are considered foolish; some may be just a bit unwise,
As times become nearly ghoulish, all can’t seem to open their eyes.
Accepting things that should not be, accepting with a wink and nod,
Having eyes that will not see, minds dismiss the wisdom from God.

Some seem asleep in The Body, men who say in God they believe,
And ignore things morally shoddy, to follow men who truly deceive.
Aren’t we here to be God’s Light, in a world that is darker each day?
Instead of embracing what’s right, many appear to be going astray.

Today many of God’s Holy people, bought at an exceptional price,
Gathering weekly under a steeple, forgetting God’s Great Sacrifice.
We’re here to be vessels for Christ, to hold up high all God’s Truth,
But, it seems like we’ve been iced, frozen by fear of man’s reproof.

Have we been silenced by those, leaders without God who are lost?
By the devil they’ve been chose, to become an enemy of the cross.
Which side are you on these days, on Christ’s side to be His voice?
Or working for man’s empty praise, as in darkness he does rejoice?

The time may be slipping away, to be that voice for Christ our Lord,
It would be grand if we could say, all together in one strong accord,
That The Lord above changes not, and He’s coming back my friend,
And God has cast the enemy’s lot, and Judgment shall be their end.

(Copyright ©06/2009 Bob Gotti) / http://www.poeticpulpit.com

True Liberty

The day in which one celebrates, Independence of a union of states,
Independence from powers outside; freedom that was once denied,
The freest nation in this world, a point that others sometimes herald,
Causing many who are weary in heart, to come here for a fresh start.

A day of real joyous celebration, all across this now powerful nation,
As our voices together are raised, with full hearts a nation is praised,
Festive fireworks are always planned, in many cities across this land,
Celebrating what many of us see, as the greatest nation in all history.

Liberty we celebrate by proclamation, extends to all within this nation,
However that liberty extends only, to the borders of this dear country,
Beyond the borders and the sea, the nation’s people may not be free,
When many travel to other lands, freedoms turn into other’s demands.

Demands which turn into bondage, leaving this land of great privilege,
Privileges that others only dream of, as they look to this land we love,
A land that is so blessed by God, many agree, on this day with a nod,
But, forgetting Him most of the year; living so privileged, without fear.

There’s a freedom many don’t know, as their freedoms for them grow,
Liberty, from the bondage of sin, that captivates our land from within,
That freedom which we celebrate, doesn’t free men from Satan’s hate,
As the Devil leads a war against God, all across this land that we trod.

Freedom from such an evil foe, comes only when the Savior we know,
Who left all the Glory of Eternity, coming to earth to set captives free,
The only true freedom on this earth, comes to man, by a spiritual birth,
Through the Liberty in Jesus Christ, when in Him they receive New Life.

(Copyright ©07/2008 Bob Gotti) / http://www.poeticpulpit.com

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared
To all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and
Worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and
Godly lives in this present age, while we wait for The
Blessed Hope--the glorious appearing of our great God
And Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to
Redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself
A people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."
(Titus 2:11-14 )

In Christ's Love, Bob Gotti

Please be sure to visit the Poetic Pulpit!

I am most curious, Mr. Obama

2009-06-09T23:19:00.000-07:00

I bring you this open letter, with permission, by a great friend of mine, to President Obama. "Susie" asks the President where his heart lies. While the judgement of anyone is way above our pay grade, it doesn't mean that we can't ask somebody where they stand. We need to know. We want to know. Character matters.

The President has left us some questionable actions that may really make us ask the questions. "Susie" is not judging, but making an inquiry, so that we will know where the President's heart truly lies. There should not be any problem with just asking, right? But as "Susie" wrote in an email, "...if I get suddenly arrested by Homeland Security for being a 'terrorist' - by the new definition of the word - you'll know why. And that my intentions were Godly minded ones, not hate filled ones..."

I am most curious Mr. Obama, why on God's created earth you call yourself a Christian, i.e. a Christ Follower, and do none of the things that He has or would? In fact the things that you do do are completely and totally opposite to all that He is.

The Word of the Living God says that His children should pray for those in authority over them, and in obedience this I do in as far as it relates to what God Himself stands for..

Every night I pray for your salvation and for that of your family, too, as I know that the man is his families spiritual leader. I also pray for the restoration of this Christian nation to the principles upon which she was founded by the fathers. Just as I, too, again in obedience and love, always pray for the blessings of God upon His chosen people, the nation Israel. His written Word says in Genesis 12:3 "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you."

God is not a man that he should lie, Mr. Obama. What He inspired by His Holy Spirit to be written, no matter how many thousands of years ago it was, Mr. Obama, He still means today. God does not change. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of Almighty God.

I have spent much time on my knees recently, far more than at any other time in my life. Praying that we in this country will turn from our collective sins before and against the Holy and Righteous God. And turn back to Him in collective and united repentance, seeking first His wisdom and Will in all matters.

If we do not Mr. President? Then it will most certainly be just like the dearly beloved Ruth Bell Graham, Billy Grahams wife, said before she left this earth to go Home to be with our risen Lord and Savior. Ruth said these following words: "If God does not judge America for her sins, then He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah."

I end this inquiry the same way I began it. Why is it that you call yourself a Christian and deny all that He is in the choices that you are making? The massive decisions you make as the person God has allowed to become the elected president during these biblically prophetic times will have far reaching and devastating consequences sir.

This is a most sincere question that I have been led to come here and ask you. And I beg of you for the sake of your eternal soul, and the future, if any, of these once great United States, along with the millions of unborn children who are silenced before they have the opportunity to even have a voice with which to ask anything at all.

I implore you sir, to look deep within yourself even as with humbled human hands clasped and uplifted towards Heaven, asking Almighty Jehovah God to reveal to you the truth of this matter. As you sir, ask this most important question of all your life of your own self.

For in the end - it is His opinion that matters most of all and by which we all will be judged.

Thank you very much for your time.

In Christ Jesus, I gratefully remain,
"Susie"

Can you only imagine?

2009-06-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

To hear the song, click on the play button at the bottom of the following:

Please don't write me off while I am still alive!

2009-05-30T09:24:00.000-07:00

A message from John Kubicek (the Editor of this blog)

This is the first time I've written here for, uh... how long? WAY TOO LONG! Yeah, well, go ahead, YELL at me! You have no idea what I've been through, either, now do ya?

Life has been exciting, to say the most. Just for starters, a new friend in my life, and another mouth to feed. That would be my adopted kitty, Pearse. You can read more about that here.

I had been planning on writing to let you know that I had taken a short hiatus from this blog. I had been wanting to do a few things to enhance the appearance of the Cross Tribe Network. I'm working on it.

But there are those times when I wonder how I'll "find the time" to do all the things I want to do. I found that there is a good locator device available that helps us to "find the time": It is called Motivation. How about some great videos to help you with operating the motivation device?

Let's start with the video, "In My Life," which shows us how Life is a journey, and we choose the path that we want to take:

That was such a beautiful song! It is the perfect lead into this next video, where Cedar Rapids native and PGA tour pro Zach Johnson shares some thoughts about perseverence, striving for excellence, and supporting those that are dealt the hardships of life:

And I'm not even going to say much about this one, because it speaks for itself. Folks, this is what our "choice" is all about. This is about the freedom to choose to excel in life:

I'll do my best to keep this blog going in the months coming. Right now, I am still looking for the time to get everything done. Translation: So much to do, so little time.

Where Did It All Go?

2009-04-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

By Guest Columnist Rev. Gerri Janeway

Let me begin by saying, it did not happen overnight. Little by little, America began its downward spiral to moral decline. As a nation, it opened itself up for an attack by Satan, who had long awaited the opportunity to discredit and destroy the Godly influence of America, not only on all Americans, but also on the entire world. The Scripture foretold of this time, describing it as a time that never was, and never will be again.

It seems the entire world has gone crazy and has fallen apart overnight, but it didn't happen overnight. It was a subtle move. A little here, a little there, conditioning our people to accept the vile and immoral acts as commonplace and the norm. America accepted the attitude, "live and let live," and "what someone else does, doesn't effect me." (So wrong!) We sat idle as people like Madalyn Murray O’Hair campaigned and won her stand to take prayer out of schools.

We sat still and allowed mainstream TV to promote profanity first, and then sex and violence. And now, on the legacy (ABC, CBS, and NBC) and cable networks, homosexuality is being shown as “normal,” and making fun of Christianity has escalated into calling them right-wing terrorists bent on destroying America.

While men slept, the enemy came in and sowed tares among the wheat and now those tares are choking the very life out of America and smothering all signs of Christianity and morality. We have played our part in setting the stage for the “new world order” and the Anti-Christ. Our only hope is repentance as individuals and a nation for our sins and complacency and to fall on the mercy of Almighty God. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “IF my (Christian) people which are called by my name (Christians) will humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways, then will I (God) hear from Heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land."

So, what do we do now?

The answers are very plain. We must acknowledge our sins, both personal and collective sins as a nation, walk in humility, and pray and turn away from those sins. God will then hear us in Heaven and will forgive our sins and heal our land (nation). It is now up to the Christian community to repent and cry out for mercy.

First, the Christian community must repent and pray seeking the forgiveness and mercy of God, then present a time of repentance to the nation(s), much like Jonah did to Nineveh. We can sit idle and take this lightly, shake our heads and say this is a terrible time, or we can move to action and do our part to turn America and the world back to God. America's destiny IS in our hands and IS within our grasp. We all have a personal responsibility to participate in this united time of prayer of repentance.

It is my sincere hope that God will hear us and send Holy Ghost conviction into every heart and into every home, business, school, legislature, courtroom, place of entertainment, and visit the media with a call to repentance, one that no one can or will want to shake off. I pray that there is a renewal of the “fear of God” birthed in every heart of the people of America.

It is my prayer that every parent, both Mom and Dad, will take their place as parents and accept the responsibility of their children's destiny and restore family altars and guidance in both moral and Christian principles.

I pray that any and all who are involved in leadership positions – both secular and religious – will accept the responsibility of repentance and set a moral and godly example of purity and honesty

My prayer is that schools that have taken the responsibility to educate our children will once again promote moral principles, both by guidance and practice, and refuse to instill any immoral or ungodly instruction in the hearts of our children.

I pray that elected leaders, officials, and legislators will embrace Truth and be people of integrity and people who are trustworthy again, putting away the reproach that all politicians are corrupt and liars.

It is time that we have judges sitting on the bench who will understand that they have a tremendous responsibility to make righteous and true judgments as men and women who have been entrusted to this high office of responsibility. They should also be held accountable to those who entrusted them to this office.

There is a need for business people to repent and stop selling out godly principles and stop bowing to the pressures of the world and stop promoting immoral agendas for mammon (money). No wonder the Scriptures state that the love of money is the root of evil. We must become people of integrity again who refuse to compromise the destiny of our children and nation for a few dollars.

We must understand that human life is valuable and that we would repent of abortion and so-called "mercy-killing,” which are out and out murder and suicide. We must realize that God is the only one who has the right to give and take life, and all others will be held accountable to him. We must repent over killing millions of babies who we disvalued and murdered through abortion, covering every corner of our land with the blood that cries out, “why was I not allowed to live?”

We must begin once again to love and not hate, show respect and honor instead of moral decay and deceit. We must become a people of integrity and godly principles based on the Word of God as our forefathers had done. This nation was great because good men and women of God, men and women of integrity, men and women of faith and moral responsibility, gave all that we might have this freedom and opportunity to live free:

It time (past time!) to pray. We can no longer exercise the right of silence but must cry out to God in repentance and sincerity for forgiveness and mercy that God will heal our land. The answer lies within us as Christians to shoulder our responsibility on our knees in humility and repentance. What will you individually do for your nation? What are we willing to do collectively as the Christian community of America? Are we willing to pray and repent, or will we be momentarily be stirred but remain unchanged? We are responsible for our own destiny and entrusted with the destiny of our posterity (our children). Can we humble ourselves long enough to sincerely repent and join a united effort to turn America back to God?

Where do we begin?

A time of National Prayer has been called for the 30 days from April 15th through May 15, 2009 at 9:00 pm Eastern Time, for just 15 minutes of united prayer strictly for repentance and asking God to have mercy on our land. Then, on July 18, 2009, marches, demonstrations, outreaches and events will be happening all across America and in many other countries of the world as a united effort to call our people to repentance.

May God bless you and may God bless America again.

The ONE Reason to Celebrate Today and Everyday!

2009-04-18T23:43:00.000-07:00

By John Kubicek

Thanks to my very good friend on digg.com, 4Christ, who alerted me to this wonderful, awesome video that is on youtube.com, and that you can see below:

Revelation Song - Kari Jobe - Music Video

digg story ~ Submitted by 4Christ

Ten Reasons to Celebrate on Resurrection Sunday

2009-04-12T02:04:00.000-07:00

The following was posted at The Fox Forum:

Ten Reasons to Celebrate On Easter

By Bill Shuler
Pastor, Capital Life Church

1. The faith of multiplied millions throughout history rises and falls on an empty tomb.

2. Many have tried, but no one has ever been able to disprove the Resurrection.

3. According to Sports Illustrated, the greatest comeback of all time was Jesus of Nazareth in 33 A.D.

4. Jesus’ disciples were willing to be beaten, imprisoned, and executed for what they witnessed.

5. Jesus fulfilled every Old Testament prophecy foretelling the Resurrection.

6. After His crucifixion and death, the risen Christ made numerous appearances, over 40 days, to over 500 people.

7. The amount of evidence, and the number of witnesses, for the Resurrection would be a slam dunk in a court of law.

8. The Resurrection proves that truth will never be subservient to death.

9. The Resurrection told believers that God brings forth life, not mere rules and regulations.

10. Jesus said, because I live, you will live also.

The true meaning of Easter must never be lost amidst painted eggs and rabbits. Mankind was forever changed, when the angel proclaimed, “He is not here, because He is risen.” It has been said that if the Resurrection is false, the earth has no hope. But if the Resurrection is true, it represents the earth’s only hope.

Following the post were of course the forum comments. There was one that I really liked, written by a user going by the name, "ptemple2k":

ptemple2k says:
April 10, 2009 at 6:48 pm

Ten very good reasons for Easter indeed! You may scoff and may not believe but here is the dilemma. If I am wrong I have nothing to loose; I’ve lived my faith and trusted my God and Savior. But if you are wrong you will find eternity in a very ugly place.

I know the rest of the story; it began with the Resurrection and will see completion with fulfillment of the Book of Revelation. The battle has already been won — Christ has defeated the devil but the spiritual warfare is yet to be completed until Christ’s return.

Times are ugly now but will become more severe with no relief in site.

Pray for those who serve to protect our freedoms and safety; pray for those held captive by terrorists.

Pray that our nation return to One Nation under God and In God We Trust. If we do not do this God’s ears may fall silent as He allows men to succumb to their deeds.

More comments can be seen at the post referred to above.

digg this story ~ Submitted by Lizbett

Lord Give Us Strength

2009-04-03T13:05:00.000-07:00

By John Kubicek

Music and Lyrics by Anthony Damrow Music

Losing a loved one is never going to be easy. It is difficult even when we are "prepared" for it, as in the case of a long illness or old age. But there are times when we would least expect it to happen. A tragic accident or a sudden illness, somebody going "before their time". In either case, it is going to be difficult for us that are left behind. But, there is hope in knowing we'll see our loved once again.

It is ALWAYS going to be "before their time" from our point of view. But from God's perspective, we have to understand that life He creates will be for His Special Purpose!

I am not sure how he did it, but Anthony wrote that song and produced it to the audio - in a very short amount of time - that I put to the above video. I don't know, but I am not sure that Anthony was aware of the ultimate meaning of the lyrics when he wrote them. Thinking about the fact that this coming Sunday is Palm Sunday, it seemed to be fitting for this song to now be sent out into the blogosphere. I have the incredible feeling that the words in this song could very well be what Jesus would have been talking to His disciples about.

Hopefully, this song will be a touchstone for you, regardless of your situation. It is my prayer that you will appreciate what you have just a little more. And for those of us that have lost somebody, we'll know that we will see them again. That is the hope that Jesus gives us, and now is a time that we need to be reminded.

Anthony wrote the words to his song that may happen to deeply touch your heart at this time. While the words were written for the remembrance for his dad, he also made a statement about what Jesus meant to the people He taught, and what He means to us.

I can't think of a better way to think about what the Lord means to us at this time. It really all comes down to, "Lord Give Us Strength".

COME HIS CHILDREN

2009-03-24T06:36:00.000-07:00

Next month is Child Abuse Awareness Month. This poem was written and sent to me by my Sister in the Lord, Rev. Gerri Janeway.

COME HIS CHILDREN

By Rev. Gerri Janeway

Come His children and take a peek;
Come His children, listen, He speaks.

It seems yesterday was peaceful and calm
In just a few days peace has all gone.

Come His children and take a peek;
Come His children, listen as He speaks.

Daddies are drunken with selfish desires;
Not caring for families who are falling apart.
Fatherless children not knowing their dad
Hearts are broken, lonely and sad.
It's all about me, my fun and my pleasure,.
Not those children I father who should be my treasure.

Come His children and take a peek;
Come His children and listen as He speaks.

Mom’s not at home. She must work to provide
The needs of her children are often thrown aside.
Mom is tired, discouraged and blue;
Depressed and weary not knowing what else to do.
Latch key kids at home all alone.
Wishing for simple things, 'like a happy home'.

Come His children and take a peek;
Come His children and listen as He speaks.

Teens are struggling with school, home and peers
The world is bidding high for their souls.
Offering them everything that glitters but not all is gold.
Searching for Truth and Reality, Where were God's Seers?

Come His children and take a peek;
Come His children and listen as He speaks.

Young children abused and cast aside,
Many beaten and raped and destroyed inside.
Pain and affliction is all they've known.
Empty and hurting and all alone.

Come His children and take a peek;
Come His Children and listen as he speaks.

Look in the nursery where babies lay;
Unwanted and unloved in hospitals today.
Unwed young mothers are only children too.
Babies with daddies too young to care
Have rejected their children.
They can't find the time to spare.

Many small babies and children,
Abused and beaten, they die, it's true…
At the hand of daddies or boyfriends too.
Where are the ones to love and protect
The little ones who can't defend themselves.

Come His children and take a peek;
Come His children and listen as He speaks.

The blood of innocents cry out to me.
Abortion of millions of babies who sleep.
Children never allowed to live…
To great a responsibility and nothing to give…
A life so precious yet destroyed before birth;
You counted as nothing and said it had no worth.

Come His children and take a peek;
Come His children and listen as He speaks.

With lawlessness, cheating and lies.
Leaders think the things they do they hide.
Drunkards, liars, whoremongers too
Think it's alright the things they do.
Harlot and druggies, hypocrites too
False accusers, the proud and profane;
All who have reproached and despised His name.

Come His children and take a peek;
Come His children and listen as he speaks.

The stench of sin and shedding of innocent blood;
Has reached into the Heaven's above.

The Father's heart is broken and His Spirit grieved
Judgment is coming for the earth to receive.
Many are getting nervous and worried today
Hoping that things will change bringing a better day.

Come His children and take a peek;
Come His children and listen He's about to speak.

Earthquakes and fires, floods and storms;
Famine and drought, violence and want;
Freedoms lost, bondage and death
Will be the reward of those with whom He dealt.

Yet, turned a deaf ear and blinded eye
Those who where hard-hearted and would not cry out
For the innocent blood that was shed,
The sins of the people so vastly that spread;

From adults to teens, to the children too,
Tainting all that was beautiful and precious too.
Blood mixed with wine and pleasure they knew;
Now my wrath mixed with anger will visit you.

”Hide", they cry, "from him who speaks;
”From him who makes the nations weep".
You will not hide and escape His wrath.
You will be destroyed as the winter chaff.

I extended mercy and you would not heed.
Now in your fear you pretend to believe…
It is too late for you to repent.
The day of mercy is far spent.

Come His children and take a peek;
Come His children and weep as He speaks.

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God!

2009-03-22T03:01:00.000-07:00

This is an excerpt from a column on Tentmakers Ministries:

So the idea of rage did not enter the picture until the 13th century. Jonathan Edwards, I am sure, used the word in the sense of 'rage' and yet his god was also certainly a 'narrow,' and 'constricted,' god.

Isn't it rather peculiar that those we see exhibiting the most intolerance, anger, and short-temperedness also usually preach a god in their own image? Look to the preacher who spends a great deal of his time and energy raking people over the coals, warning them of the wrath to come and then spend a few days with them observing how they interact with people. You will most likely discover they act just like the god they preach. We do become conformed to the image we worship, don't we?

Those most adamant in their warnings of the "wrath to come" love to quote the scripture, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." Then they usually quote a few strong wrath scriptures and tie it all together with a good dose of hell-fire. They never quote this scripture in context because it would take the wind right out of their sail.
Romans 12:19 (KJV) Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
You see, children of the Beloved, our Father wants to take vengeance away from us because we kill with it, we are unjust with it, we falsely accuse with it. When we kill in the anger of vengeance, we cannot bring that person back to life. But our Father says that He can, "kill and make alive again." (Deut. 32:39)

Our Father says the way to overcome evil is with good. If your enemy is hungry, feed him-don't kill him! If you want to kill him, kill him with kindness. Jesus holds the keys to death and hell. Jesus is able to use death and "hades" for our good, not our ultimate destruction. Even Paul, learned how to use destruction in the proper way. Remember when he turned a member of the Corinthian assembly over to Satan for the "destruction of the flesh" that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord?

So then, those who preach an "angry" god, preach a narrow god, one who can't redeem most of those who he died for. He is either powerless to save, to angry to want to forgive, or too lazy to give a damn.

Within ancient religions, we find such gods. These are the gods today peddled by many preachers who still preach the "angry god." Yes, they even call Him Jesus. But it may be surprising to you that the Manichaeanism Babylonian religion also preached a Father, a Son named Jesus, a Holy Spirit, and a Satan.

In the Zoroastrian religion, the predecessor of Manichaeanism, the two leading gods were Ahura Mazda and Ahriman. Ahriman was also known as Angra Mainyu. The word "Angra" is also found as "Angri" in some dictionaries. "Angri" was the bad god who would eternally have all the bad people in his kingdom when time ceased.

Now it seems our friend Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" (a sermon copied by many modern day preachers) has made the God of Christianity an "angry" God. Unbeknownst to him, he has put himself in the hands of the bad god of the religion which is the basis for his theology. How ironic!! Those who want an angry god will get an angry god. But I am afraid they will be surprised to discover on whom the anger will fall. "Judgment will be merciless for the man who acted mercilessly. But mercy can laugh at judgment." (James 2:13, Barclay trans.) Angry people are usually least merciful. Ever notice how angry preachers get when they get into their hell-fire and brimstone routine? They are always pointing their finger at something which is going to be judged without mercy not realizing that when judgment falls, it will fall on their own heads. [Please continue reading]

digg story ~ Submitted by my friend and Brother in the Lord, ChristNewsWatch

What You've Just Seen...

2009-03-12T05:32:00.000-07:00

So, once again, my very good friend and Sister in the Lord, Rev. Gerri Janeway, sent me an email that I needed to share with you today. Now, I've seen this one before, this story has been around. Oh, but there's a good reason it has. It's a great story, and the rumor is, something like this actually happened... somewhere, sometime... Okay, I won't keep teasing you; here's the story:

What You've Just Seen...

His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans, and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He is brilliant. Kind of profound and very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending college.

Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative Church. They want to develop a ministry to the students but are not sure how to go about it.

One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat. The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. People are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit, and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet.

By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick. About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill.

Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a cane and, as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves that you can't blame him for what he's going to do.

How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?

It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes are focused on him... You can't even hear anyone breathing. The minister can't even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.

And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with him so he won't be alone.

Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains control, he says, "What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget."

Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read! I asked the Lord to bless you, as I prayed for you today. To guide you and protect you as you go along your way...

His love is always with you,
His promises are true,
And when we give Him all our cares,
You know He will see us through.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name!" ~ Psalms 103:1

This is just one of those remarkable stories that must stay "viral." It's a story that we must all stay aware of, and remember. God actually DOES use us all. We ARE part of His Creation, part of His Word. Our actions speak volumes.

Hillsong - Mighty to Save - With Subtitles/Lyrics

2009-03-11T06:46:00.000-07:00

Going Through a Dry Spell

2009-03-08T04:42:00.000-07:00

By David Wilkerson
Thursday, February 26, 2009

Even though I preach to thousands, there are times I feel very dry, far away from the warm presence of God. When I’m dry and empty, I have no great yearning to read the Word and little compulsion to pray. I know my faith is intact and my love for Jesus is strong, and I have no desire to taste the things of this world. It’s just that I can’t seem to touch God for days, maybe even weeks.

Have you ever watched other Christians get blessed while you feel nothing? They testify of God’s answers to their prayers and shed tears of joy. They seem to live on a mountaintop of happy experiences while you just plod along, loving Jesus but not setting the world on fire.

I believe all true believers experience dry spells at various times in their Christian lives. Even Jesus felt the isolation when he cried aloud, “Father, why have you forsaken me?” [Continue reading]

A Good Thing to Dream About!

2009-03-07T05:07:00.000-08:00

By John Kubicek

Yes, I know, I haven't been writing a lot on this blog lately. I've been a busy person. I do my best to go through all the email I receive. However, I have to resign myself to quickly scan through everything I get sent. Now and then, there will be one that catches my immediate attention. Like this one, that stated in the subject line, "My dream on 01/31/09......", that I received from my great friend and Sister in the Lord, Rev. Gerri Janeway, who had forwarded an email, originating with Dawn of Berea, KY:

I have intended to share this dream with you guys, but with all the work I was doing with Glenn on a "house flip", I was too tired to even check email for several weeks. This dream was amazing and one that I will never forget, and I hope it blesses and encourages you.

Here it is:

I was standing on a beach with a huge group of people. I didn't know any of these people; it was just a large mass of people. The people were standing a good distance from the water's edge, but I was standing apart from them facing them (ocean behind me). I turned to walk to the water's edge where I saw a HUGE window (the size of a movie screen). It was a window with glass, panes, and the wooden frame. The sky was very beautiful - almost like a sunset (shades of orange and red). I could hear the waves of the ocean crashing, and even though there was a large group of people, no one was making a sound.

There was only the sound of the ocean. When I walked to the water's edge, I looked into the window suspended in mid air above the ocean. I could see all sorts of "signs of the times" going on -- soldiers at war in a desert, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc. I ran back to the group of people and said, "He's on His way; He's coming!" (speaking of Jesus).

I ran back to the water's edge and looked into the window again. I saw the same things as before only they were closer to the window. Again, I ran back to the people with even more excitement and said the same thing as before, "He's coming! He's coming!"

And I ran back to the water's edge for a third time, looked into the window, and saw the same signs, but they were right at the window (just on the other side of the glass). When I ran back to the people, a man and child stepped out of the crowd and presented me with a t-shirt neatly folded. The child was standing to the right of the man. I could not see their faces and did not know them. When the man handed me the shirt, I unfolded it and looked at the front. It had "Psalm 44:4" printed on it in big letters and numbers. I took the shirt and laid it on the beach (careful to get all of the wrinkles out of it) facing the huge window.

As I laid face down on the shirt, I was still yelling to the people "He's coming! He's coming!"

The group of people also laid face down on the beach, facing the window. There was a bright light that began to shine brightly from the eastern part of the sky. It was so intense that I could feel it literally go through my body (somewhat hard to explain). There was also a great warmth and peace that came with it. As the light appeared, I said (very calmly and with sort of a "relief" in my voice), "He's here."

As the light became brighter and stronger, my body began to rise from the ground. I knew this was the Rapture talked about in the Bible, and at this point, I woke up. It was the kind of dream that felt so very real! I looked up Psalm 44:4 when I woke up as I had no clue what it said.

This is Psalm 44:4:
You are my King, O GodCommand victories for Jacob (another name for Israel)

I read the whole chapter 44, and there were some other Scriptures that reminded me of my dream, such as verse 3: But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the "light of Your countenance. Because You favored them."

Or verse 25: For our soul is bowed down to the dust; Our body clings to the ground."

Psalm 74:12 was a cross reference verse of Psalm 44:4
For God is my King from of old,Working salvation in the midst of the earth.

I truly believe that Jesus is coming SOON. I know we have heard this for many years, but never in history have all of the signs up to the Rapture been fulfilled. It is the next "big event" in prophecy. It is my prayer that you guys are ready to meet Him. If you have any questions or comments, I would be happy to hear them. Not one detail of this dream was "made up." I tried to remember every single detail so that you could, hopefully, "see" it as I was seeing it. It has truly made me more and more anxious to see Jesus.....what a wonderful day that will be!
God blessyou,
Dawn
Berea, Ky

What a wonderful thing to have a dream about!

And for some, I'm afraid, is that what was written about above was a nightmare. I'll explain. You see, there is a hotly disputed topic in the Christian theology: That topic is the Rapture.

Keep in mind that there are many denominations of the Christian RELIGION. For some Christian denominations, talk of the Rapture is considered to be blasphemous. At the same time, there are those that DO believe in a Rapture, but NOT in their lifetime, Heaven forbid!

The complexity gets even deeper when you consider the variances in Rapture theories. There are, as mentioned above, those that believe there is no Rapture. But for those that do believe in a Rapture, you have Pre-Tribulation, Mid-Tribulation, and Post-Tribulation Rapture ideologies. And among those that believe in any of the various Rapture scenarios, some believe it will be soon, and some doubt it will be in their lifetime.

I'm thinking, though, that God had a purpose for me today. Of all of the emails I received, and could have chosen to check out, I read this one sent to me by Rev. Gerri. It happened to be on a topic that I've been praying about, because I want to be ready when it happens, and I also want others to be ready. In that email, you'll see that Dawn does a very good job in the way she has describes the way that the vision in the window was approaching, coming closer and closer ("He's coming!"). It finally arrives with the ultimately great climax of Him being here for us!

To me, what I read from Dawn was a sign. I do believe that the time is getting short - very, very short - and I've been compelled to shout it from my rooftop (not literally, of course, because it is cold, windy, and raining). Really, this blog post today will probably do. And believe me, what it will do may not be pretty for those of us that understand Dawn's dream.

With that being said, let me ask: Are you ready?

The Church asks, "Is Science so bad?"

2009-02-15T08:21:00.000-08:00

By John Kubicek

I saw this one segment on Fox & Friends this morning, with Lauren Green, a Fox News correspondent, discussing "Evolution Week IV". The segment starts out with poll results that show a significant proportion of Americans that are "undecided" when it comes to the question of Faith vs Evolution.

So let's just watch the following video of that segment, and then we'll discuss what we're seeing here:

Of course, I won't be able to help us resolve an issue with this writing, one that has been debated for many years. That isn't my intent, either. At this time in our lives, the real question is how far the Church will go to satisfy the scientific community. It sure seems that the Church is doing as much as they can to reconcile religion with science. And there is a lot we can discuss in that area.

Centuries ago, the Earth was flat, and the universe revolved around the planet Earth, according to the professed ideologies of the Christian (Roman Catholic) Church and academia of the time. The "science" of that time was forced upon the people. But then, along comes Copernicus and Galileo, who discover evidence - with mathematical proof - that our universe is set up in a way greatly different from what the Church at that time was teaching.

What we are witnessing now, though, is a different story. Along came Charles Darwin, a couple centuries ago, with his theory of Evolution. Not long after Darwin's theories became the norm in academia, environmental alarmists came along, claiming that man was destroying the planet. We are now told of global warming (or climate change) being caused by man.

Our future generations are being indoctrinated the same way as were the serfs of the Middle Ages. We are now told to accept the ideologies of evolution and man-made climate change, in much the same way as when we were being told the Earth was flat. There is a parallel that should be bothering you, especially considering the video above. Once academia and recognized and accepted religions meet with ideas that aren't exactly proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, could we be facing another period of the Dark Ages when dissent was not allowed? Are we already there?

The Church is dangerously flirting with New Age philosophies. It wasn't that long ago that the Pope came out with the revelation that there could be a plausible chance of the fact that we are not alone in the universe. Could there be a better way to soften us up for the strong indoctrination to get us to accept all of the worldly dogma?

It wasn't that long ago that many leaders of the Christian Church jumped on to the global warming train. And now, they are being pressured to accept the Darwin theory of Evoloution. What is next? That is the question that Christians need to ask, and determine how far we must go to appease the social conscious of these times. It is an issue that we need to stay aware of.

End Times: Ready, or Not (Here He comes!)

2009-02-11T06:43:00.000-08:00

By John Kubicek

There are different ways that people look at the End Times prophecies.

Some will say that the End Times won't happen, ever. (That is, unless mankind is responsible for the end of the Earth and humanity.)

Some will say that the End Times will happen, but probably not in their lifetime. (Their fragile little minds are just so totally boggled by all that is going on, that for now, they will keep on ignoring the various events we keep hearing about.)

Some will say that the End Times will happen, just because there are people that want it to happen, and will do what they can to make it happen.

And then, there are those that are telling us that it WILL HAPPEN, according to Holy Scripture:

But wait, that video segment is an example of man trying to set a time. Only the Lord knows that time, and it is not up to us.

So, here is the stance that I take, which I am calling, "Ready, or not (Here He comes!)". While I am very convinced that the Lord is coming soon, that there will be a Rapture before the Tribulations, the only thing that I can advise is that you make sure that you are ready "if" and whenever the time comes.

In my philosophy of End Time scenarios, I believe in the Biblical prophecies, and I'm seeing things that seem to be getting the ball rolling. Setting the stage: More pieces of the puzzle are appearing before our eyes, on a daily basis. Unfortunately, many people just don't see it. Many are following the elite in thinking that only Man can comprehend and solve all of our complex problems.

But if you are one of those that believes that only God can get us through this, then this blog is for you. End Times? Who knows, but just be Ready, or Not.

Your Language Will Determine Your Destiny

2009-01-30T08:26:00.000-08:00

By John Kubicek

"Your words become your thoughts.
Your thoughts become your behavior.
Your behavior becomes your character.
Your character becomes your destiny."

The above came from the website, NoCussing.com. In the last week, I wrote two commentaries about this at johnny2k Is Home. That all came about when watching the news last Saturday (1/24/09), and was able to record what I put up on my youtube channel:

I then followed that up several days later with my diatribe about Glenn Beck using coarse language on his new show at Fox News and his "Swear Jar"..

However, today, I saw something on youtube.com like I've never seen before. While it was disgusting and vile, the youtube video that I saw seemed to be telling me about the fruit on the tree, and will probably show the truth of the title of this piece, "Your Language Will Determine Your Destiny." Somehow or another, somebody was able to collect a few "out-takes" (?) from various news sources. The people on this video, "journalists," better hope that their mothers never, ever watch this video that I will only give you a link to (see below). Sailors would blush! Should you go to the following link, you will quickly understand why I didn't embed the video here:

WARNING: The following video, should you click on the link, contains extreme obscenities. It is only provided here, that should you want to know more about people you may have respected at one time, you will see the bad fruit on the tree:

THIS IS WHY OUR COUNTRY CAN'T WAKE UP OR GET THE TRUTH!!!

I actually grew up at a time when cussing and obscenities were looked down at. The people that used that kind of language were not considered to be very decent people. Well, at least, that was the way I was taught. But then, I hit the upper grades in elementary school: Recess and trash talk. Then, when I started my high school job at a gas station, and summertime jobs while in college, foul language was all I ever heard. I suspect it was the same for everyone else growing up in the 60's and 70's. It was way more than many of us were used to. And then, the stint in the military? Forget about it. There weren't too many words uttered that didn't start with an "F". The sad thing, it has only gotten worse through my life, from the 80's until now.

It seems that people are no longer ashamed to say these words, let alone embarrased to hear them. People that use that language now assume it doesn't bother anyone. There is no more remorse; on their part, anyway. And what are we to do?

First of all, I can tell you something that I recommend doing. And I have found that it is difficult to do, even with a very conscious effort; don't be one that uses that language in any situation - even when you are alone. Yes, that's not easy, especially for those that commute to work... It's very difficult sometimes to hold back! However, I have personally challenged myself to make an effort to not even THINK in those words.... no matter how mad I am at people that change lanes without signalling.... Okay, it is just called doing what we can to CONTROL anger, to control our speech by controlling our thoughts. No easy task, in these days. Just think... continue to think: SELF-CONTROL. And seriously, "Your Language Will Determine Your Destiny".

RELATED STORIES:
The Audacity of a Young American Hero
Glenn Beck's "The Swear Jar"

A Red,White, and Blue Christmas - Year Around

2009-01-27T18:29:00.000-08:00

By John Kubicek

That annual pressure from the holidays, Christmas especially, is about to end. You may soon be just paying off the last of the credit card debt from your Christmas spending spree. In fact, for many of us, our annual Christmas "giving program" may be something that we make payments on throughout the year. And guess what? There is another segment of our society that also pays with their lives, limbs, and time lost from being with their families - year around.

The people that give year around, and that pay for that giving - year around - are our military forces. Many of them had to spend the Christmas and New Years holidays overseas, in Iraq or Afghanistan, or where ever they are stationed; obviously, unable to come home to spend time with their families.

"A SONG FOR OUR TROOPS" (Christmas Letters)

While that video displayed our love for our troops, especially during the holidays, the next one is all about displaying our love, year around, anytime:

A Red, White, and Blue Christmas, Anytime - For Our Troops!

Doing it all for the glory of God

2009-01-20T23:43:00.000-08:00

~ Guest Writer ~

By rjw

Recently, I offered to submit a contribution for an upcoming issue of Generations. I had in mind an accounting of a recent and difficult trial in my life that the Lord is still bringing me through. For several weeks I toiled to produce something, but I could not put down in few enough words the accounting of what occurred in my life. The text of my story did not allow enough space to include God and what He had done for me. For days I pondered over what I wanted to say and how to say it. The truth was, I had writers block and I could not write what I wanted to contribute.

I had made a commitment to get my contribution to Generations submitted within a certain time frame. I wrote, deleted some, then rewrote a little more without any result. Frustrated, I asked God a simple Question; “What am I doing wrong? What would you have me say, Lord?”

His answer came to me very quietly. Quiet as it was, His answer was very clear. I was focusing too much on the details of my recent trials. Too much print was being devoted to my problems, while too little space was devoted to the Lord. Additionally, I realized that I was glorifying myself through how I had suffered through my problems, while I failed to humble myself in giving God all the glory for what He was doing to handle everything.

1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

What I have learned, what God has taught me, what I believe Him to be inspiring me to say is the following; Whether I am writing a submission for Generations, or in all else that I set out do in my life, I am to do it to glorify Him.

I must learn to kick my pride to the curb through humbling myself. I understand that whatever I do, all of my actions and thoughts are to be done to Glorify God. This is such a simple lesson, yet it is also such a gargantuan task for me as just a mere man.

In my business dealings, personal relationships and in all of my deeds and thoughts, I must do all things in such a fashion that glorifies God, not me. The task before me is monumental which I will undoubtedly foul up from time to time. I know that over time, placing God before me in all that I set out to do will become easier as it becomes habit.

Thank God I have the saving grace of Jesus, that when I fail, He is forgiving and loving enough to let me have another chance in honoring and glorifying Him in all that I do.

Miracles Do Happen! But, are prayers always answered?

2009-01-17T09:12:00.000-08:00

By John Kubicek

I saw a clip today that I had to post here. Some good questions were asked.

And I was very intrigued by Huckabee's answers.

While this post and the video bring up some great questions that we all have, I was very impressed by the way Glenn Beck spoke of this incident on his Friday show. The question of whether it was a miracle, I believe, was answered affirmitively and conclusively. Yet, that second question, "But, are prayers always answered?" may be one that sticks with you.

There seems to be times when we can easily identify miracles. However, not knowing why the miracles happen when they do, and maybe when we feel they don't happen when we need them, is a question that's way above our paygrade, as the above video suggests. And sometimes, we may not even realize the Lord has answered our prayers - in His own way. That is why, when I pray, I make sure to ALWAYS include the part that I am so very thankful for all He has done for me!

It is good that life always provides us with the twists and turns. The times when we have the most doubt and fear are when God teaches us the most, assuming we allow it. The rougher our lives get, be assured, it is when God is teaching us the most!

RELATED STORY:
Glenn Beck: What a miracle looks like

Ladies and Gentlemen, Brace Yourself For Impact

2009-01-16T08:29:00.000-08:00

By John Kubicek

Maybe... just maybe, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Brace Yourself For Impact" could be the sweetest words you will ever hear. At least at that point, you get the final chance to repent, to say your prayers, or even think of all of the things that you missed doing, or wanted to do, in your life.

And I know, for those that have a terminal illness, there may be too much time to think about life. And there is the other side of that coin, where we are given no chance to "change our lives." There are those times when fatal circumstances can happen in a heartbeat. You know, like when they say, "he never knew what hit him," as they investigate a scene of a head-on collision...

No, it is not my intention to be morbid this morning. Not in any shape or form. What I mean to be saying is how amazing it could be when the Lord gives us a few moments to reflect on what we've learned in life. We get a chance to think about what we value.

And believe me, please, just know that the words, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Brace Yourself For Impact," won't necessarily apply to an imminent plane crash. For those of us that feel that we are getting a warning shot over the bow, we really, really want to know what the Lord wants us to do in our repentence. We are getting that feeling more and more, and I guess it is a great thing to focus on it a little while.

So, now, ask yourself these questions: Are you ready, should you find out that you will be in for a long terminal disease? Are you ready should you hear the words, "Brace yourself for impact?" And most importantly, would you be ready if you were to assume room temperature with no advanced notice?

To find out how you would deal with whichever scenario comes your way, have you ever spent any time evaluating your life?

And, is it coincidence that this story would come to you today? We saw a miracle yesterday, with the safe landing of a large airliner on the Hudson River... Just hours before that incident, as I was driving home from work, I was close to being involved in a major highway collision. No, there was no coincidence. God kept me around to write this post today. Was it meant for you?

From a "Closet" Longhorn Fan

2009-01-06T11:15:00.000-08:00

By John Kubicek

So, what does a college football bowl game have to do with Christian ministry? Or, maybe we should ask that question from a different perspective. Perhaps we could ask what Christian ministry has to do with a college football bowl game? From either perspective, I hope I'll be able to answer those questions.

If this blog post had to do with politics and religion, I wouldn't expect a large audience. Except for a person I know - a Longhorn fan - that went to sleep after the first half of the Texas vs Ohio State game, being that the score at that point was 6-3, in the favor of the Buckeyes, I would suspect that all of the Buckeye and Longhorn fans had the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game on Fox tuned in last night. I did, but I did it the right way. I slept during the first half, and watched the second half. That was the way to do it.

It was an amazing game. That second half was something you don't get to see all that often. A come-back by the Longhorns, and just when you thought that they would put the game away, another comeback - this time by the Buckeyes. With a little over two minutes left in the game, the Longhorns marched 79 yards down the field for a touchdown - another pass from Colt McCoy to Quan Cosby - and went ahead by a score of 24 to 21.

I was very happy about the outcome, as Ohio State is part of the Big Ten, and were the last hope for a Big Ten win in the college football bowl games - other than the Iowa Hawkeyes. That is one of the reasons, admittedly, that I was cheering on the Longhorns. But now, I have another good reason. It was during the post-game show that I saw something wonderful that the ACLU hasn't yet found a way to eliminate from our lives. There was an exposure of the Christian culture, a display of the willingness to display what many Christians are all about. Commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, in a national venue, in the view of millions of people.

I remember back when Kurt Warner (a Cedar Rapids, IA native) took the St. Louis Rams to the Super Bowl, and won, and in his post game remarks, happened to mention how much Jesus meant in his life. And I've seen him continuously doing the same thing at every opportunity. How great! And how awesome it is to see the public display and words straight from a Christian mouth, coming from a superstar - and not get bleeped. No, the most bleeping I've seen in a while on network television would be the garbage coming from the mouth of a misfit, Kathy Griffin. This gives me hope!

The fact that Christian testimonies are able to still be aired in the sports venues should give all of us hope! It might also explain why I've loved the Chicago Cubs games that are aired on a couple great networks. There have been many testimonies I've seen from the likes of Carlos Zambrano and others, all aired without censorship from those networks. And there is where we have hope: Sports networks that have allowed the message of knowing the Lord in our lives to be aired.

So, I guess I should now allow you to see the things I saw following the game last night. That explains the first video. The second one is a video that came up in related videos after uploading mine.

A Tribute to the Texas Longhorns from Iowa (Hawkeye Land)

Seniors Praying - James Laurinaitis, Malcolm Jenkins, Colt McCoy, and Marcus Freeman say a prayer after the 2009 Fiesta Bowl

If I ever decided to move from Iowa, which would obviously be in an attempt to escape Iowa winters, I'd probably move to Texas. I would always be a Hawkeye, but if I was living down there in the Republic, I wouldn't have to be a closet Longhorn fan! Hook 'em Horns!

Can we trust Biblical prophecy?

2009-01-03T08:31:00.000-08:00

From GotQuestions.org - The Bible has the answers.

Question: "How can we trust that Biblical prophecy can indeed predict the future?"

Answer: The main reason we can trust biblical prophecy is that it, like the rest of Scripture, was written — literally “God-breathed” — by the Creator of the universe. It is inerrant, perfect, and true. We must understand that before we can understand the role of biblical prophecy.

Biblical prophecy plays two roles. It foretells the future, and it explains what the positive or negative results of future events will be. Prophecy may announce events that bring joy and pleasure or fear and foreboding. When prophecy is ignored, it is usually because the hearers don’t like what they hear for one reason or another. Biblical prophecy is not usually general in nature. It normally is very specific as to how it will affect someone or something. But it is always dependable and worthy of our complete trust. We can allow prophecy to help shape our lives, giving us direction and guidance in serving our Lord. It should be a source of strength and instruction for us. Unlike what we hear called “prophecy” today, both in the church and outside the church, true biblical prophecy is always accurate and precise. What God prophesies always occurs. [Continue reading]

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2009: Make it the "Acts of Kindness YEAR"

2008-12-29T07:06:00.000-08:00

By John Kubicek

It was on my way home from work and my stop at the store when I had the impulse to do something nice for somebody. Yes, I said it was an impulse. The grocery store that I frequent enrout to my domicile was unusually busy this morning, but there was only one cashier. It was, as usual in the early morning on my trek home, Paula (name not changed to protect the innocent, and it doesn't matter, because I do not even know her last name). She's a nice lady, about my age. She knows my first name, too, and it is wonderful to have that kind of relationship with people where you always shop.

I only stopped at the grocery store to pick up a couple things. Hearing that we may be getting more snow in the next day or two, I decided to stock up. I picked up extra cans of various veggies along with some other essentials. Getting it today would save me the trouble of battling the elements to do any shopping in the next few days while I enjoy my weekend.

Being that I had a cart loaded with all of this stuff when my shopping was done ... uh, actually just a bunch of items, I let somebody go ahead of me at the cashier line because he only had a couple of things. No problem. And then, just as I started loading all of those things on that conveyor belt, somebody came up behind me, also with a couple little things. Paula had already started ringing up my desired merchandise, so I couldn't really let that guy go ahead of me. So, I simply stated that he should put those couple of things in with my stuff, I'd pay for it, it was on me. That way, Paula could give him his stuff and he could be on his way!

Of course, the gentleman balked at first. You know, the thing where the person says, "You don't have to do that...", and of course, I persisted, and he relented. Paula looked at me across the counter as she was scanning my goods, with the wide eyes that asked with out saying a word, "What are you doing?"

I told her a lie. I said it was "National Acts of Kindness Day." And I quickly added further to the fib by amending that to "National Acts of Kindness Week." Like I said, it was just one of those things that came to me, pretty much on the spot.

There is an alterior motive for me to relate this story to you today. Obviously, being that this all happened spontaneously, what I did wasn't premeditated, but there was the great reason - right there - why you needed to hear about this today.

I had written about it somewhere else this last weekend - oh, yeah, in the email I sent to Kevin Wall, filling in for the resting Glenn Beck - that we have to choose betwen "Individual efforts or dependence on the government.... " Kevin Wall talked about it, and Pat Boone wrote about it. It's a question of, "Would you rather?"

There will be many people that will face certain financial hardships in the coming year(s). I can tell you this from my usual right-wing slant: The government ain't going to be there to help every person through the financial storm. And, as drastic as things may be financially in 2009, I doubt that you and I will be able to bail out every individual facing financial devastation. But, guess what? We can help, just by doing nice things for people when it is possible. If anything, just to get their morale back up, to give people some hope.

By making 2009 the "Acts of Kindness YEAR," maybe we can make it contagious. Just doing some little things in quantity could make a difference in somebody's life. This is just an idea, based on what Jesus may have commanded us to do... Oh, yeah, he did! But, He didn't command us to pass on that awesome responsibility to some bureaucrats in high government positions.

No, He made it very clear that taking care of and loving people was our sole responsibility, to the best of our ability. And I don't know about you, but I'm not financially able to make a difference in that way most of the time, but it isn't that expensive to hold a door open for somebody or help a little old lady across a busy street, or allow somebody in heavy traffic to change lanes without us having a hissy-fit. Be kind. Being kind is an act of kindness. That is all it will take to make it contagious. I think you'll see.

And, I may as well say it, if you follow this plan, there's something in it for you. It is like crying with a great feeling in my heart all the way home from the grocery store today. The feeling that you get from it is better than the high the best drugs would ever give you.

Jesus didn't just suggest it, but he commanded: Love Thy Neighbor.

Glenn Beck's story of Christmas

2008-12-20T07:12:00.000-08:00

The Glenn Beck program brings you the story of Christmas.

You can either read the transcript, or listen to the actual audio from his show. And here's the really good part: It's free! Please read and/or listen to it. I know you've probably heard the Christmas story many times. However, in this segment, Glenn discusses a perspective of the birth of Jesus that I had not ever thought of or heard before. In other words, an overlooked part of the Christmas story that may help you.

This is a story, this is a story that has been told so many times. We all know where it begins and how it ends. It's a story of birth and death. Of hope and despair. Of great doubt and even greater faith. That's the part we're going to concentrate on, great doubt and profound faith. As anyone can tell you who has stood at the foot of Abraham Lincoln, the Memorial in Washington D.C. and gazed up into his face, our historical figures are so often painted with such bold strokes that they become more giants than men, yet I believe to truly understand their brilliance, their courage or their faith, we need to see them first as who they really were: People just like us, people with hopes and dreams and fears. Just like us. [Continue reading or listen]

digg story, submitted by bakeshowdotus

Walk On - By Rev. Gerri Janeway

2008-12-11T06:47:00.000-08:00

~ GUEST AUTHOR ~

Walk On

By Rev. Gerri Janeway

Don't let anyone or anything stop you, slow you, or detour you.
Walk on.

Your steps are ordered by God.
You will never walk alone.
Walk on.

Jesus promised never to leave you or forsake you.
Walk on.

The Lord will walk with you;
but, he cannot walk for you.
Walk on.

The faith walk is a choice.
There will be times that you do not feel like walking.
Walk on.

Jesus did not feel like walking the Calvary Road.
Yet, He walked on.
Walk on in persistence.

When others whom you love turn back,
Walk on.

When those you trusted and walked with turn aside,
Walk on.

When friends leave you and forsake you,
Walk on.

Don't turn to the left or the right;
keep your heart focused on your walk... And,
Walk on.

Remember, your walk is chartered and planned by God.
Walk on.

Straight is the way and narrow the gate.
Keep your feet on the Highway of Holiness.
Walk in His footsteps.
Walk on.

Never forget, many are called but, few are chosen
To walk that path.
Walk on.

He will give you courage and strength for the journey.
His Grace is sufficient.
Walk on.

We are nearing the end of the journey.
We are almost Home.
Walk on, my child, walk on.

Published with permission. © 2008 ~ Rev. Gerri Janeway. You may republish this by including this statement.

Who are we? The answer could be overwhelming...

2008-12-07T06:36:00.000-08:00

By John Kubicek

Very early this morning, on an extremely cold wintry day here in Iowa, I finished reading "The Christmas Sweater", the best-selling novel by Glenn Beck. I will never, ever forget the thoughts that ran through my mind as I finished the last several chapters. I was overwhelmed.

Overwhelming feelings can come in different ways. I remember, quite vividly, the way I was overwhelmed almost five years ago when my wife passed away. That was overwhelming grief. It was a storm in my life that I eventually got through, but it was difficult. It did take some time.

And then there are times when we can experience overwhelming joy. The birth of a child comes to my mind, right off the bat, especially when we are talking about the child born in a manger 2000 years ago, the great gift that God has given us.

Well, even the birth of our own children, and all that we see while our loved ones progress through life - even when they have to struggle through their own storms - can all lead to overwhelming joy!

However, each of us are going to have different reactions to the way we see the storms in our lives, just as we will take different roads to deal with the storms.

The way we deal with our storms defines who we are. For those of us who face our storms, and reach the other side of the storm as it eventually passes by, we are rewarded, in ways you may haven't thought of. You will find many people that have faced the storms in their lives and overcame them will go on to help many other people. Glenn Beck is a great example of that, as this gentleman attests to:

So, as you are struggling through your storms, the ones in your past, present, and future, you can feel additional inspiration and confidence by knowing that at some point you will be there to assist somebody else through their storm. And maybe that is why God puts those storms in front of us from time to time. That's an answer that is truly overwhelming!

How It Begins: The Turning Point

2008-11-28T06:33:00.000-08:00

By John Kubicek

No kidding, there is no way that I can describe how much the following video, an interview Glenn Beck did with Pat Robertson, has touched me today. And it is my prayer that this will touch many of you, too! Are you ready? Do you have a box of tissues close by? Okay, here it goes:

After seeing the above video, the thoughts were racing through my puny little gray sponge for a brain. And that was while I developed a major plumbing leak, and water was pouring out of my eyes. That, my friends, was one major TESTIMONY of the power of Jesus Christ!

As I was saying, I was overwhelmed this morning. But that was a very good thing. I came up with the title, "How It Begins: The Turning Point," for a reason, I guess. Yeah, well, that is the point. The turning point. That really is how it begins. Somehow, as those thoughts were skidding around the twists and turns in my cranial cavity, I realized how many of the people that became Christians, that I know, who were at their last straw.

Yes, as Glenn Beck testifies, it CAN happen! Praise Jesus!

I just realized, though, that while I ramble here, nobody is really listening. I know, you may still be totally stunned by the video I just shared with you. While there were millions of things that I wanted to say, Glenn Beck had already said it all. I am still trying to wrap my mind around how profound that segment was. That was when I realized, all I had to do was to share it.

Hugs.... They always work miracles - Anywhere!

2008-11-23T10:58:00.000-08:00

By John Kubicek

You know what's coming soon, right? Holidays. Thanksgiving. Christmas. Relatives. In-laws...

Well, here's a way I want to share with you on how to handle those things. Hugs. You may be surprised what they can do.

Before my late wife Connie came into my family, there were no such thing as hugs. Now, there are no times that we would ever get by without a hug. A coincidence? I don't think so!

And despite our differences, this is just more proof, we can all love each other. Maybe that is what Jesus taught us... Oh, I don't know, but it is my strongest hunch.

I love you all!

Falling on my knees

2008-11-23T08:21:00.000-08:00

By John Kubicek

Sometimes it takes a winter in our lives to realize just how much God blesses us.

And just when you are thinking things are getting a lot better, we deal with floods of problems...

I don't want to go too deep here, but I seem to be seeing a very Hegelian way of looking at the way we need to deal with our trials and tribulations. We can see the beauty in even the most harsh conditions, but, there are also times in which we find ourselves facing very undesirable conditions, where our efforts to recover would seem to be overwhelming.

In the two videos above, I showed both the way that we can find the beauty in our adversities, and also the way that there can be things in our lives that are beyond our ability to deal with on our own. Either way, though, look at the way God has found new ways to teach us. There are just those times that maybe we aren't able to turn lemons into lemonade, at least, not without God's assistance. There are those things that are not just beyond our control, but also where we need to realize that we need God to show His Mercy. And that is a fundamental concept that we should really start doing more to learn.

Kathleen Parker's Low Opinion of Evangelical Christians

2008-11-21T03:24:00.000-08:00

By John Kubicek

Thanks to David Limbaugh, in his column, "Evangelicals: A drag on the GOP?", he discusses the way that Kathleen Parker blames Evangelical Christians for the demise of the Republican Party. But this article isn't about politics. It is about what she wrote in a very scathing column, "Heresies and Other Truths," and I am going to have to take her behind the woodshed on this one.

Why do I get the feeling that Kathleen Parker has a very low opinion of Evangelical Christians? Hasn't she ever read the Bible? Did she skip over the New Testament? Forget to read the book of Acts?

I don't really appreciate being called a low-brow Christian, but that isn't what upsets me. Oh, I know, being "upset" isn't the word I should use. Well, let me just say that I'm not a "sit down and shut up" Christian... I'll be happy to turn my other cheek as soon as I express the displeasure I may have, in the most loving way that I can, of course. And I do try to avoid "outbursts," but some times I just need to "vent."

Here are the many insults that Kathleen Parker threw at Evangelical Christians:

"The evangelical, right-wing, oogedy-boogedy branch of the GOP is what ails the erstwhile conservative party and will continue to afflict and marginalize its constituents if reckoning doesn't soon cometh."

"Three little letters, great big problem: G-O-D."

"Armband religion is killing the Republican Party."

"To be more specific, the evangelical, right-wing, oogedy-boogedy branch of the GOP"

"as it has become increasingly beholden to an element that used to be relegated to wooden crates on street corners."

"Which is to say, the GOP has surrendered its high ground to its lowest brows."

"the party has alienated its non-base constituents, including other people of faith (those who prefer a more private approach to worship),"

"shifting demographics suggest that the Republican Party -- and conservatism with it -- eventually will die out unless religion is returned to the privacy of one's heart where it belongs."

"Anyone watching the two conventions last summer can't have missed the stark differences: One party was brimming with energy, youth and diversity; the other felt like an annual Depends sales meeting."

"Even Sarah Palin has blamed Bush policies for the GOP loss. She's not entirely wrong, but she's also part of the problem."

"Let's do pray that God shows Alaska's governor the door. "

"And the nonreligious won't get religion through external conversion. It doesn't work that way."

I don't apologize for my rant about Kathleen's article this morning. That was some pretty dark stuff that she was saying about people that she could, and should, consider as Brothers and Sisters in the Lord. I mean, could she have said any more that trashes those of us that consider ourselves as Evangelical?

I don't apologize for my beliefs. I actually feel very sorry for Ms. Kathleen Parker. In her in-your-face diatribe, she was pretty blatant about her disgust for Evangelism. Worse yet, she may lead many of us to think that "she's a fence-sitting Christian." So, Kathleen, are you afraid to admit you are a Christian? Is that it?

Hey, Evangelical Christians aren't out there wielding swords, ready to chop off the heads of the Infidels. We just want people to understand the message that Jesus gives us, that He died for our sins, and gives us hope of an Eternal Life with God. I am sorry that she didn't learn the main lessons that Jesus taught us, and that was to love our Brothers and Sisters in the Lord. Maybe she needs to go to a Bible study class or two. I'm just saying....

Ms. Parker, I recommend that you check out Our Forty Days of Purpose!, where I wrote about each chapter of Rick Warren's "Purpose Driven Life." Or, just go read that book. I was just trying to make it easier for you.

Now, in my final words for this writing, I need to explain a few things. At first, I was going to post this in one of my other blogs, the one called JOHNNY2K IS HOME, where I write mostly about politics. After all, Kathleen Parker's column was about how the Evangelical Christians are chasing away many of the potential base of the Republican Party, and it supposedly lead to Obama's victory (if he can find his birth certificate - but I won't go there right now...) in the election on November 4. But I changed my mind. I came to the conclusion that Ms Parker's disparaging comments about Evangelical Christians were much more about her distaste for our "religion" than it was with politics.

This blog was surely a better venue to deal with something that is dangerously permeating through American culture. You see, there are many people that really do want to silence Christians. There are the attacks on the First Amendment, those that use the erroneous phrase that isn't mentioned in the Constitution, anywhere: "Separation of Church and State." You know the folks, those that want to replace "Merry Christmas" with "Happy Holidays."

Lastly, I must thank David Limbaugh for bringing Kathleen Parker's column to my attention. Oh, and also for handling the political aspects of what she wrote and how wrong she was.

And then there is somebody else that also deserves my great appreciation. I had started on this post very early Friday morning after I read David's column. I was in the process of writng this when the Glenn Beck show came on the radio Friday (21 NOV) morning. And you'd never believe what Glenn spoke about, I think right at the beginning of the show: Kathleen Parker's column. And it was right in line with what I had already written and had been thinking about writing. Whoa! Believe me, it was very inspirational, not just for this writing, but in my life in general. Thank you, Glenn! By the way, a side note. I need to add that Glenn Beck said to "pray for our leaders," as he was closing the show. Believe me, I am.

Editors note: I should mention that I had actually posted this story to this blog yesterday morning, but after reading it this morning, I decided it needed vast revisions. I hope I have been able to achieve that enhancement to the best of my abilities today.

Crossing the Rubicon - by Hal Lindsey

2008-11-20T23:59:00.000-08:00

Do NOT MISS THIS STORY!

Crossing the Rubicon - by Hal Lindsey

Choosing Faith - Brian Welch quits Korn and kicks drugs

2008-11-19T10:34:00.000-08:00

By John Kubicek

Miracles DO happen. Brian Welch, formerly of one of those rock groups that we would dread having our kids listen to, turned to the Lord. Brian chose faith.

Sure, most of us could not imagine the kind of life he was going through. But, the truth is, we all have our "tipping points." There are things that go on in our lives that will push us to "higher" spiritual levels. From non-believer to believer, or making a decision to spread the message of the Gospel to a greater extent, there are those things that will inspire us. This is just one of them.

So, here was another video that I had uploaded to youtube long ago. Out of those 162 videos, this is NUMBER TWO (#2). It now has well over 100,000 views. It has given many people new opportunities to witness to the lost. Believe me, it is a big hit for a reason. God's reason.

Oh, and I am starting to understand why God lead me to start this blog. Yeah. It's ministry time. This is a brand new opportunity for not just me, but many others. We're just getting started. For some reason, too, today just seemed like a great day to ramp up my efforts here on this blog. I am hoping that it will also inspire others to get involved here.

Oh, yeah, I am just getting started. No, I keep forgetting... sorry about that...

WE are just getting started!

I am redeemed!

2008-11-19T10:16:00.000-08:00

By John Kubicek

I guess that I am not the only one that loves this particular video. Out of the 162 videos I have uploaded to youtube.com in the last two years, this is #4!

It is probably because this song seems to be able to tell the Gospel in very clear terms!

Yes, Jesus has changed my whole life! I am not afraid to admit it!

"Come up hither!" - The Rapture is coming! Are you ready?

2008-11-19T08:48:00.000-08:00

Jack and Rexella Van Impe discuss the Rapture. If the Rapture were to come now, would you be ready?

Blogging in Our Time 2 Escape: A sneak peak of Glenn Beck's "The Christmas Sweater"

2008-11-19T08:06:00.000-08:00

Introducing the incredible and amazing God-given talent and abilities of Glenn Beck.

Blogging in Our Time 2 Escape: A sneak peak of Glenn Beck's "The Christmas Sweater"

But, it has been almost five years!

2008-11-17T16:07:00.000-08:00

By John Kubicek

Sometimes, the loss of a loved one takes awhile to get over. What? Sometimes? No, I mean most of the time, at least for normal people. We just don't always get over a loss all that easily.

The following video was recorded about two years ago. It was more than two years after my wife passed away. While I had always tried to react in a positive way, there was always this tugging on my heart strings. I didn't hear any harps playing from Heaven, so I came up with this song... "Miss You So Much"....

In this video, you'll see the real ME. I know the feeling of losing a loved one. It's been a couple years since I thought about this, but here it is again. And, there is the one way to get through the sorrow. My faith. It wasn't always easy, but I can tell you that the Lord helped me get through these times. I depend on that every day. I depend on the Lord to get me through what ever comes my way.

Doing what I did in the following video was part of my healing process. And yes, I still have more healing to do.

Please see my forum post, Miss You So Much for the lyrics I wrote....

If We Are The Body

2008-11-11T22:32:00.001-08:00

This is a church made video for this awesome song by Casting Crowns... If this doesn't touch you deep inside you're spirit, then it's probably safe to say you may have religion, but you don't have Christ! Sorry if that sounds a little harsh, but sometimes the truth stings a bit. ~ From my friend at digg.com, ChristNewsWatch

UPDATE: Please be sure to see the video submitted at digg.com by ChristNewsWatch. In my negligence, I forgot to mention how I found this great video.

I also watched the video again, and realized just how good the message is. I don't know how I missed the message in my first views of this video. I guess I need to thank ChristNewsWatch for his persistence, because this video has touched my life in a big way. We get way too wrapped up in our own lives sometimes, and forget about to care about those that need some hope. So, for that reason, this is the PERFECT video to be in the initial launch of this blog. It's a good way to keep us in focus of what we're doing here. If WE ARE THE BODY, then we better start watching out for each other. Enough said.

Announcing the new Cross Tribe Network

2008-11-01T08:38:00.000-07:00

By John Kubicek

My friends, my Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, I am not sure where things will go starting on November 5, 2008. Things may soon change. And for that reason, it is time for me to begin thinking about a change in my focus.

Oh, please beleive me, the timing of this announcement is not "coincidental". I have to say that in the next few mohths, there will be many changes that may not be for our benefit as Christians. This may be a very short-lived effort, so I will take every advantage I can of our current freedoms.

So, what is this blog going to be about? Well, I just have one goal, one mission, one purpose, and all with a lot of passion. I want to take this blog to the limits of exposing the Lord to as many people as possible!

In this process, I want many guest writers. I will link to great blogs. I will bring you the best of great Christian videos. And I will depend on YOU, my Brothers and Sisters, to contribute!

Don't worry. I will relieve you of any further responsibility other than the effort to point me to what needs to be posted. I'll be doing the "editor" job. But, I know that with a great team effort, this can be a fabulous blog. I am already believing that we can get top writers in the Christian community to offer their works. And that is what this all about.

This is the network of the Cross Tribe. Now is our time. If you have been keeping in touch with the events over the last few years, months, weeks, days... you should know that there is a limited amount of time left for us to share the Gospel... at least without worrying about being intimidated and villified.

Hey, let's get 'er done!