Chicago the Magnificent City

I’m from North Dakota. I’m glad I am. Glad I grew up there. But I’m glad I live here now.

Quoting an article that is appearing in tomorrow’s Sun Times. In it the Mayor of San Francisco is describing why San Francisco must emulate what Chicago has done. Why what Mayor Daley has accomplished is so exceptional it is turning the heads of Mayors all around the country. You can read it all here, but here a few key quotes of why people come and enjoy Chicago so much:

They're drawn not to the classic symbols of old Chicago, such as Wrigley Field or the Art Institute, but to such vivid new landmarks as Millennium Park, a 24.5-acre gathering place that attracts residents and tourists. They're captivated by the manicured streets and sidewalks that transformed once-gritty stretches of this city into urbane green paths.

"When you walk the streets of Chicago, it enlivens the spirit," Newsom said. "The intangibles are evoked. There's a spirit of pride and community."

He is describing such sights as the ornate stone railings along the Chicago River, part of the new mile-long Riverwalk Gateway that brings Chicagoans closer to the south bank of the waterway. Or Millennium Park attractions like "Cloud Gate," an enormous, bean-shaped sculpture of polished stainless steel that already is a staple of postcards.

This vitality also is leaving marks on the city's fabled skyline. Twenty-one towers taller than 50 stories are in the works, most of them for downtown's growing residential population; within two blocks of Millennium Park, five newcomers will exceed 55 stories.
"I don't think there's any similarity between the two cities as it relates to how you can govern," said former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. "San Francisco's about process, totally. In Chicago, the process begins and ends with results."

Considering the self-image of a city celebrated by poet Carl Sandburg as "proud to be alive and coarse and strong," not everyone was impressed. There also was snickering when Daley confessed to Chicago Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin that "I enjoy Martha Stewart, all her books and, uh, everything else."

But Daley didn't flinch. Now, Chicago has 73 linear miles of medians that stretch like tentacles from the city's high-profile core of the Loop and North Michigan Avenue, leading to such incongruous sights as beds of black-eyed Susans across from auto body shops and the Erotic Warehouse on West Randolph Street.

What Chicago demonstrates is the ripple effect of physical change. When promising initiatives take root -- literally, in some cases -- it raises expectations of what streets, parks and buildings should offer in terms of appearance and environmental sensitivity.

I have lived all over the world, Far East, South America and Europe. I think these places are very beautiful. But in my opinion there is no city in the WORLD that I know of any more beautiful than Chicago is today. I’m so happy to be here.

Hymnology??

Julie at LONE PRAIRIE wrote an interesting ironic article about hymnology. I think.

I was going to just comment but thought, what I have to say about all this is a bit more than a comment. Besides, this counts as a “Ping”.

I grew up in a hymn based church. Full on Lutheran. The big controversies were about which hymnal was better, red or green. I liked the old black one. It was arguing about the color of the vestments in 1917 as the Bolsheviks were at the door. Foolishness.

I got saved at 33 years old and began attending a Pentecostal Church in Fargo. I loved the old choruses. They were ditties I could sing in my quiet time in my head or under my breath. I still enjoy them. “From the rising of the sun…..”

But some things go around and come around. I attended a wonderful Sunday school class where the instructor just hauled out an old hymnbook and read the texts of the hymns and we would talk about what they meant. Some of those discussions were powerful. You can learn a great deal about theology by reading the old hymns. Now if we sing one of those hymns I get much from them. They mean something to me now.

I pity the one who sings them without apprehending the depth of meaning each word carries.

Of course there are bad hymns. Just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s good. I don’t revere something that is old simply of it’s antiquity. I love opera. Some old opera is banal.

Some old hymns are banal.

But the ones that are not are rich.

So now, what of today’s music in the Church? Some banal, some rich. Nothing changes.

Julie talks of the Jesus as my Boyfriend music. There is some of that. But there is a level of the genre that is Jesus as my lover that is more genuine. Same concept different depth. If Jesus Lover of my Soul is right then the Jesus as my Lover stuff is right on. Heather Clark is a rich source of this material.

Then there is new music that rips the guts out of anyone who Loves Jesus from it’s passion. I was listening to a Hillsong CD a few days ago. There is a song, More than Life, The refrain was, I love you Lord, more than LIFE. The song before that is called Take all of me. Now, that is the stuff of modern Hymnody that I’m talking about. I could want “I love you more than life” played at my funeral. That’s how rich that kind of music really is.

Music played at a communion service can be so focused that we never lose sight of twhat is happening. The old Hymnals in the past did that, today we treat the music selection so much lighter in the modern Church during Communion. Hillsong addresses this focus in the Songs for Communion CD.

There is so much really GOOD music in the mix today. And there is so much really BAD music. We have a Christian music radio station in our market. K-Love. It’s ubiquitous. I almost never listen to it. It’s dumbed down spiritually. There is another national Christian music station out of California, Air One. Hard loud rock passion. My kind of stuff. Then there is the Flagship Christian Station out of Chicago. 80% is unlistenable except for Saturday PM when they have pure praise and worship on. The rest is almost beyond the pale for me. I have heard teaching on this station that makes my spiritual skin crawl. Doubt and unbelief.

I want to hear music in my head. I hear I love you lord more than life right now. I hear Heather Clark, Take me away, I hear Misty Edwards, You were always on his mind.

I think that as the revival I believe for develops, we will begin hearing better deeper richer music. Better than bad hymns, much better than some (not all) of the Chris Tomlin tunes everybody plays in Churches today. We need better heart touching stuff. We can go deeper, we can come up higher.

And, if I have my guess right, some will be hymns. Come thou fount of every blessing touches me whenever it is done. Read the story of how Robinson drifted from the faith after writing such a wonderful hymn. Now I raise my Ebenezer.

So, let’s find the deeper places and go there. Admit to ourselves that bad church music has existed since the beginning of time. Let’s do good music. People respond to GOOD music, be it hymns or Choruses or some strong lead guitar, a hammer down drum beat, a great bass player and a Hammond B-3. Now that's hymnody.

And to Julie, a well written essay. You are in good form.

James Earl Carter is (Deleted really offensive word here)

I have tried to give Jimmy Carter a pass from time to time. But he is an idiot. He embarrasses himself and his country by talking out of school.

He is a classless nutcase that should be sequestered from the world.

Israel agrees too.

Update:
I wrote this in anger. An anger I have every time I see that man or hear him talk. He is the source of much of the problems we have right now in Iran. (so was Reagan with Iran Contra to be fair).

I just wish he would shut the heck up. He's embarrasing and the worst president ever in all of history, that takes a lot.

That by the way isn't just my opinon. Read these two:


Worst President in History

Jimmy Carter, Traitor and Coward

If he wasn't so old he should be imprisoned for giving aid and comfort to the enemy. Treason.

Dig out the Parka, you are gonna need it

Now, a Russian guy of Science credentials has come out and said, nope, colder not warmer.

That the whole global warming thing is about to end.

That we are about to see things get really nippy.

Just as I was getting used to global warming, I was enjoying the nice winters.

Heck.

Spoilsports.

Lois Lane Would Make a Lousy Wife, Superman

In an article from Forbes online a man in a debate format has advised men everywhere not to marry a career woman.

I don’t know for sure if he is right on or not. I will say that there is some truth in what he writes.

If you marry the gal at the office who is such a go-getter you may live to rue the day because according to the article:

While everyone knows that marriage can be stressful, recent studies have found professional women are more likely to get divorced, more likely to cheat, less likely to have children, and, if they do have kids, they are more likely to be unhappy about it.

Rush talked about it and said;

These are the reasons you should not marry a career woman: One, you're less likely to get married to her. She's not interested in it. Number two, if you do marry, you are more likely to get divorced if you marry a career woman. Number three, she is more likely to cheat on you if you marry a career woman. Number four, you are much less likely to have kids. That would be in my plus column. Number five, if you do have kids, your wife is more likely to be unhappy. Number six, your house will be dirtier. This is in Forbes magazine! This is the subject of a study done in 2005 by two University of Michigan scientists, concluding that if your wife has a job earning more than $15 an hour which is roughly 30 grand a year, she'll do two hours less housework a week. Number seven. If you marry a career woman, you'll be unhappy if she makes more than you do. And number eight, she'll be unhappy if she makes more than you do. And number nine, you're more likely to get sick if you marry a career woman.

I think I might agree if my wife lets me.

Jesus – a man without credentials or references

I’m not upset. I’m just a little puzzled. It’s a symptom of a wacky evangelical environment. I have again been uberquizzed about my bonifides in ministry by an organization that may want to use something I have written. There are a lot of nuts out there so I get it. But it raises a question.

While I lived in Germany I got to know Peter Pretorius. He’s famous for working with James Robinson in feeding the poor in Mozambique. He was really frustrated with the western church at that time. He was itinerating around Europe for his mission. It was going OK. But, in trying to approach the Church in America they wanted to know, what were his credentials, what degrees did he have, who was he licensed and ordained by, who would vouch for him? What references did he bring?

While sharing a McDonald’s hamburger in Frankfurt he asked me this question, “Gene, what is with all the DR’s in America. Every preacher thinks they have to have a PhD. Earned or implied”. (I guess you can buy one on the internet. Never looked.) Then he made his point, “Any Church that requires that many Doctors is Sick”.

I have little against higher education. One of my best friends has a Doctorate or two. (sounds like something from segregation days, Some of my best friends are………..)

The issue is, what is with this super credentialed, super referenced, super educated church without fire in America?

I think of some great men of God, Smith Wigglesworth could hardly read yet if I had 1/10th his anointing I could raise the dead (as he did).

And Jesus. Wow, that would be something. Never went to bible school, college, no degree, no credentials. And now that I think of it the religious establishment rejected him.

I guess things never change.

Maybe the fact that we think we need so many Doctors in the modern church in America is because we really are SICK.

Trying it One More Time

Years ago when I was in business for myself in ND I asked Peggy to come in and help me. I thought she was smart (She is) and that she would be better at the job than anyone I could hire.

The problems developed when I told her I was in charge. She’s a first born too. We both like being in charge. We both are strong personalities. That lasted 6 weeks.

It’s hard to go home and sleep with the boss. Either way that goes.

We decided then that in the interest of marital bliss we would not work together any more.

Well, ever the optimist, I have asked her once more to make the leap. We visited several nurseries in Tennessee where the wife of the nurseryman is also the office person. It works very well.

She saw that model.

She has quit the school system. She is going to be the administrative half of the nursery biz.

I have higher hopes. Neither of us apart is as good as both of us together are. This isn’t for everyone. I know that. But I think it’s time. Besides, the ability to do what I do is a long-term security blanket for anyone. You can do this till you are a hundred. If Peggy can learn it, I’ve taught her to fish rather than storing up a bunch of fish that might rot in an IRA or 401K.

Oh, we still store, but isn’t it good to know how to make money anyway.

It’s nice having her here. Egos are wonderful, when they are under control. Particularly mine.

Attack from the Sky by the Yellow Dogs of Summer

Today has been a most beautiful day. Clear Sky, no wind, 78 degrees, no humidity. Just the kind of day we all wish were every day.

We even sat outside and had lunch. It was as beautiful as it ever gets.

Tomorrow is the 22nd. This is a day feared by many. Drudge is all over it. Lots of prophecy buffs are predicting the end of the world tomorrow. Iran is about to nuke the world. Even Nostrodomus predicted this. So, enjoy.

I enjoyed today. If the end of the world comes tomorrow I had today.

But I want to let you know that a day early we were attacked right here in sunny St. Charles IL from the sky, a day early, lethal flying enemy. Yellow jackets. Whatever we were eating outside they enjoyed too. Who knew that ripe red tomatoes and fried summer squash was on the agenda. They did.

But, I threatened them with a can of wasp killing stuff. They disappeared for a bit, and came back with brethren.

Wasps tremble at the sound of my name (or maybe not).

The Tide Rises

This week I was given a vision for the Church at large. I have many who read this blog who benefit from this kind of conversation. On the other hand if this language confuses you I suggest you skip reading this any further. This is closed circuit for Christians alone.

Last Night (Friday August 18, 2006) at the House of Prayer in Bolingbrook IL I delivered what the Lord had shown me in a vision as follows:

I saw seashore. It went for miles. All along the shore were boats. Except these were boats out of water. Some were run aground. Some were tethered to docks that were out of the water. There were large and small, fancy and humble boats. This seashore surrounded a huge harbor. There were some boats, not many, in the harbor still afloat in the deeper water.

Then an exceptional high tide came in. The boats up and down the shore were set afloat. Many were in such bad repair that when the tide came they couldn’t float and stayed under water. The fact that the boats were floating on the water again was an exhilarating thing for those who captained the boats. Many stood proudly on the decks of their boats and took credit for the fact the boat was now afloat instead of giving credit to the tide that had come in.

Boats out in the harbor communicated with the boats tied to the docks and those staying close to the shore that in order to stay afloat they should come out into deeper water to be safe. The Captains of the shore and dock boats told them they had always been boats of the shore. Deep water was strange. They didn’t need deep water. The people on their boats would rather be close so they could get on and off the boat easily, going into the village and then from time to time get back on the boat.

Then a call from the Harbormaster went out. “Come out here. Cast out into the deep. It’s safe and secure in deep water. You won’t run aground again”. A few decided to take the plunge. They burned the docks they had trusted and acted on the word of the harbormaster.

Many of the boats next to the shore and tied to the docks ridiculed those in the deep water. They said, our fathers always kept the boat close to shore. We need to be in control. There became a division of boats between deep-water crews and shore crews.

Then the tide went out again. Those boats on the shore and tied to docks were once again stranded aground. As time went by they talked of the old days when the boat was afloat. How thrilling it was to rise and fall with the waves. They hoped for another tide that would let them regain flotation. Some even said that next time the tide came in they would go out into the deep water so they wouldn’t be beached again.

The harbormaster had known and had warned the shore boats. He knew this seashore was a seismic area and that the potential for tidal waves was a serious threat. One day the world shook. Everything that could be shaken was shaken. As a result a huge tidal wave swept into the harbor. Boats that were in the deep rose higher as the wave passed by. But those on the shore and at the dock were destroyed by the powerful wave. Many people perished, many were offended that the harbormaster hadn’t insisted they come out; some blamed the captains of their boats that were destroyed for bad judgment. The end result was there were no boats left on the shoreline or at the docks. They were all rubble.

The boats safe in deep water came and rescued many of the refugees from the tidal wave. They mourned over the loss of life and property but from that day on it was known to all that the only really safe place is in the deepest water. There were no people willing to board a boat that wouldn’t go away from the shore. Security under the watchful eye of the harbormaster was where they wanted to be. Some people just retreated further inland to other villages and turned their back on the boats and the harbormaster. They felt safer inland. What they didn’t know what the danger of fire would be if they stayed deep in the woods of the inland areas.

I imagine you can determine what most of this is. If you have spiritual ears to hear, this all is clear.

The boats all represent ministries, churches and individuals. The tide is the grace and mercy of God. The docks are traditions and denominations. The Villages and inland are worldly pursuits. The harbormaster is Jesus. The captains are spiritual leaders and pastors.

The tidal wave is human crisis. It is also the outpouring of the Spirit of God and the shaking that goes with it. It turns upside down and destroys everything that these ministries and churches trusted in.

The very leaders or ministers and churches that resisted moving out into deeper water were destroyed. The pride they had for a short time when the first high tide of grace and outpouring came in was crushed by pressure.

Let the church and those who are in leadership with ears to hear what the Spirit of God is saying to the church right now.

The tide is high, but if you don’t get into the deep water now you will be crushed when the big wave comes.

Molek still Kills

I flew to and from Tennessee on business this week. No real hassles. The TSA took away my bottle of Anointing Oil from my carry on briefcase (I carry it in case I run into any sick people who need healing). When I told him what it was for, the look on his face was classic. I’ll bet he had a tale for his wife that night about this nut who… (I actually asked him if he needed healing?). Radical? Guilty as charged.

But, there were 3 events which caused me to ponder.

One was the news about the Muslim couple from Britain who had decided to put bomb material in baby bottles to blow up an airplane, themselves and their 6-month-old baby to kill us all. This really stirred me to think of an ancient god MOLEK. Molek in order to be worshipped properly needed couples to throw their babies in a fire. First born mostly.

How is that any different than some nutcase couple killing themselves and their baby in the name of whatever Islam is to them? This is Molek worship.

EVIL!

Second, while waiting at the airport and young Muslim woman needed to go to the bathroom or something. She asked if I would watch her bags for a few minutes while she did. We were leaving but someone else offered to. I’m sure she was nice. I’m sure she wasn’t a bomber. But this was not thru security. This was just inside the door of the Airport. That bag could have been full of C-4. It was a big bag. I won’t kid you, the further away I got the better I felt. Nothing happened, I’m sure she returned and all was well. But think about what that feels like for her as a scarffed Muslim woman to be looked at with suspicion. The Muslim religious fanatics have ruined it for everyone. Even for those who believe as they do.

Third, we went out for dinner before we jumped on the airplane at a nice restaurant in downtown Nashville named Demos’. We were waited on by a lovely man by the name of Dennis. Any time you go to Nashville, ask for Dennis. He was superb.

While we were eating I told my wife to look around. There in this large supper club were blacks, Hispanics, Whites, old, young, cowgirls in skimpy cowgirl outfits, and lots of hootin and hollarin. Yep, adult beverages were being drunk. People were smoking cigarettes. But everyone was happy, laughing and getting along. I said to Peggy, this is what the Islamic Fascists hate. The life of peace and joy we live here in the USA. All races all people all Americans getting along.

The left wing of our country doesn’t understand that when the fascistic turn the USA into the US Islamic Republic all that will go away.

The evil that is personified and the good that is threatened by the Islamic Fascists is a global threat that we must attack now. Later will be too late.

I believe war with Iran is inevitable. We can meet them now, or later.

What will be gained by waiting for them to hit us first?

What a Great Vehicle

Peggy and I just returned from Tennessee on a nursery shopping trip. I looked at many thousands of trees and a good time was had by all.

When I go I fly into Nashville, rent a car and drive to the country to see trees.

This time I decided to rent a Jeep Liberty. That’s a large version of the WWII version but with a V-6.

It had 4-wheel drive. Shift in and out. Overdrive. And very high clearance.

WHAT A NEAT SUV. Not great mileage. Driving half time thru mud and ruts and half the time on roads for about 600 miles we got an average of 15 mpg. I understand on the road you can expect 20.

But this is one well engineered SUV, bigger than the RAV 4. Roomy but small enough to park in any garage. But for me, size and all and I am a big guy, I fit in it very well. Leg room was excellent. And so maneuverable.

I think there may be a Jeep Liberty in our future. I like it that much. I just hope they get the mileage up a tad. The Reviews on this SUV are fabulous. Well-done Chrysler.

Speaking of Mileage. A few weeks ago I was pontificating on the great mileage the high mileage Buick was getting. Then all at once the injectors started plugging up. I had to have them cleaned. Clean injectors cost me 4 MPG.

My theory (and I’m sticking to it) is the dirty injectors let just a tad too little fuel in and so we were running lean. Mileage great. But susceptible to dirt.

More tomorrow, it’s late and I have to work tomorrow.

Why I love the Prophetic Voice RE The Middle East

Chuck Pierce, August 14, 2006, writes TODAY--the day of the Brokered Cease-Fire between Lebanon and Israel:

In Daniel 5, as Belshazzar presumptuously moved forward in ruling his kingdom, God came down and wrote on the wall, a statement which caused him to ask for assistance from God for interpretation. His wife had him consult Daniel to interpret the meaning of the writing. Verse 9 says, "Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, his countenance was changed and his lords were astonished."

There will come a troubling moment for the present leader of Iran. Daniel spoke to the king and said, "But you, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart...."

Then Daniel interpreted the writing that was on the wall. I believe the handwriting is on the wall for this leader if he does not humble himself, and disconnect from the spirit that is empowering him to rule through destruction. He will be humbled. Iran is a nation that will be awakened to the things of God.

If changes do not come soon, this will be a nation that will be divided and the Spirit of God will rule in a new way in this land.

Chuck D. Pierce
Glory of Zion International Ministries
www.glory-of-zion.org


Kim Clement is my Favorite Prophet. I find what he says more accurate than anyone. So, Read on.

By Kim Clement

July 8, 2006--Hollywood, CA

"Rejoice, because your prayers are destroying the power and the influence that shall be endeavored, and be sent to the L.A. Airport of this place," says the Lord. For God says, "They are planning already, for they say, 'It is an easy target. It is easy access. They are cleaning it up.'"

But the L.A.X. Airport, and God said, "Those surrounding regions have been targeted with something very stupid, because they do not understand that the saints of the Most High God have been praying." And because they've been praying, God says, "I will once again take them and expose them as I did in Florida. I will expose them on the West Coast, and I will expose them over and over through the summer months as I promised you."

"I told you before, this prophet prophesied just a few months ago that come summer, I will expose, I will bring your enemies out from the very soil of this Nation and you have watched how I have done it. Ho, I am not finished yet," says the Lord. "If you would allow Me, and as your President has said to Me in his private moments, 'God Your will be done.'"

And surely says the Lord, "When the head of a Nation says, 'Your will be done,' then the Nation says, 'Your will be done.'" For surely God says, "My will shall be done through the summer months. I will multiply the vision of the Secret Service and the FBI, and I will cause My Spirit to come upon them so that they will expose, expose, expose."

July 16, 2006--Humble, TX

"I will save you from another war. I will save you from another war," says the Lord.

Syria, who do you think you are? You will not rise against the Lion. Listen to what God says, "Iran, you will not rise against this Nation or the Lion." (Lion referring to Great Britain.)

"Your enemies will come out, and they will bite the dust because of My light. I will send My light, I'm going to send My light to this Nation," says the Spirit of the living God.

July 29, 2006--Detroit, MI

God says, "A lion will roar. A lion will roar from Great Britain. Something shall change, a drastic thing shall happen. And greater shall be the unity of the nations that shall gather around and say that it must be brought to an end now. This is the summer, the one that I promised."

July 30, 2006--Detroit, MI

The Spirit of God says, "Do not take it lightly what you have heard tonight. For you shall watch and you will see in the news. How many times have they said, "It is impossible. This war is too much?'"

But God says, "Watch in these next few days what I do. Iran, Iran, watch now, watch now for you are going to be brought down to Hades. This will not be allowed, for the Spirit will take that which exalts itself."

God says, "They cry out, the blood of the innocent. It is the blood of the innocent in a war, but I will take the lofty ones and bring them down to certain deaths." God says, "Let this be a sign that I will bring the Middle East to a place of understanding of Messiah. I will bring them to that place. There is only one Prince of Peace. There is only one Prince of Peace. Shalom."

"I want you to understand Jerusalem. It shall come to pass that once again peace shall come in for a season as Christ is made known," says the Lord!


By Kim Clement
Prophetic Image Expressions
www.kimclement.com

If this is all weird to you. OK. Just hang in there, you get used to getting tomorrow's headlines today.

I did.

Off to Relationshipville

Peggy and I are going out of town. Business trip. Gone till Friday.

Sole purpose is restoring and building relationships. Nothing else. My business (Nursery) is 100% relationship. In fact everything we have or do in life is relationship. My next breakthrough may well come from the person I share a happy meal with at McDonalds. They know people I don’t. They are a bridge. They can help me and I can help them touch the next person etc.

I wish I had learned this earlier. I didn’t. Now I do.

SO, see you Friday.

Lost Vision

"Some men see things as they are and say why - I dream things that never were and say why not."

Most people think John F Kennedy created this. Nope. George Bernard Shaw is the origional author. Kennedy was just a good deliverer of someone elses words. But they are still good words.

Vision will drive a person for better or worse. The vision of the Islamic Fascists of world domination drives terrorism. If their vision succeeds I’ll need to buy a rug. I didn’t want to become a Muslim. Thank you UN, Ohlmert and Liberal Media for pushing our administration until at last Hezbollah Declares Victory. The free world has Lost the Vision.

I have been a staunch admirer of George W Bush because of his vision of Liberty and freedom. This is rare. He is wavering. The liberal media drip drip drip is neutering his vision.

That’s how all vision is destroyed. Public opinion. Eventually the person with a vision is driven back because he or she wants to be popular or well liked. I am of the opinion that wanting to get along is a the heart of liberal thinking. I know reasonable people who try hard not to have opinions in order to not offend anyone. The lie is being neutral or unopinoinated makes you popular. No it makes you inert.

The worst part of having vision is it alienates others. Vision that could be implemented means change. People hate change.

So, what are the options? To have no Vision? That is selling your soul. Vision is driven by the internal engine of creative discontent. Looking at the world around you and asking why do we do it this way? Looking into the future and asking why not? Why not us, why not here, why not now?

The problem vision carriers must deal with are people who say, “What’s wrong with things the way they are”? They refuse to question things. They resist the call to improvement. The vision carrier has to help them see what it could be like if thinks were not as they are and more as they could be. If many start to capture this vision things will change. If the vision killers win then nothing change and we stay stuck which ultimately means we drift slowly away. Supplanted by someone else's vision. Vision will always dominate, ours or someone elses. There is no happy medium.

The good news for conservatives is that liberals have no vision. They are only against everything. But, conservatives lack enough testicular fortitude to stay the course in the face of constant opposition. They need to get the vision back. Like they did in 1994.

This has been the problem with President Bush. He sees it. I see it. But most liberals, because they hate him so much, can’t see what he sees. I wish they could grasp the vision. He sees liberty planted in the navel of the world. Liberty that will spread into the rest of the Muslim World. The Liberal Media and the State Department have pressured him to back off from the vision. So, we drift into oblivion and inert life because of a lack of vision.

People perish because of a lack of vision. That’s in the Bible.

But, even it alienates every person I know, even if I bat against the wind for the rest of my life, I’m going to agree with Shaw and Kennedy.

"Some men see things as they are and say why - I dream things that never were and say why not."

Anything less is living death.

Islam is the problem.

Here goes one of the most politically incorrect thing I can say. There is no such thing as moderate Islam. Tooth Fairy. Santa Claus. Same deal..

Evidence?

The response of the "Moderate Muslim" population to the terror plot in the UK:

"The moderate Muslims' message, gives some comfort to the kind of people who say: 'Change your foreign policy or we'll blow you up'."

Until the culture of Islamic World Domination by use of force is crushed as the driving force of Islam there will be no stop to terrorism,

Evil. Pure Evil.

Book of Revelation stuff.

Perspective on Time and the USA

Recently I was in Philadelphia PA and visited the site where the Liberty Bell is and the Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed.

It’s a very old place and yet very young. Thinking this all over and thinking about world events the reality dawned on me. We are a very young country.

MY FATHER, was born in 1909. There were many people alive when he was born who were contemporaries of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, signers of the declaration and framers of the constitution. They died in 1826 on July 4th.

That in the scope of human time is a blink. Yet, here we are, without a doubt the greatest country in the world that has ever existed, a dreamchild of men of a few years ago.

So as we think of things happening in Iran, Iraq, Kurdistan, or anywhere else and the time they have been in motion we are a bright burning but not yet long lasting flame.

What we have is precious; preserve it with all your might.

End of World Update

50 years ago I would have had to worn a sandwich board and walked up and down the street.

I just blog now.

According to a British professor Iran is going to bomb Israel off the map on August 22. That's the date the President nutcase of Iran said he would answer the question about nuclear weapons in Iran. It's also a holy date in Islam.

So, read the article. Run up your credit cards. Buy that big screen plasma TV and order the rapid delivery option. You can watch the end of the world from your easy chair. 12 shopping days left till the end of the world.

Have a nice day.

Understanding Radical Islam

Takes one to know one they say. I’ll go with that.

I am a radical Christian. I believe the world would be a much better place if everyone were like me. I believe the world is filled with evil bad immoral people. I wish others would see the light. I wish they would stop engaging in behavior that hurts themselves and others.

I do all I am able to do within my earthly power to convince all people at all times that being a Christian is a better way to live. I have learned that arguing the fine points of theology with people that have no comprehension of the Bible (even if they have read it) is a hopeless quest.

So, I live my life, out in the open, trying to attract people to my way of thinking.

If I had my way I would see to it that prayer would be in schools, Jesus worshipped in the public square and our flag symbolically over struck with the Cross of Christ announcing to the world that to be an American is to be a Christian. I would have that flag raised above the White House, the Capital Building and every public building in the land.

I would want the 10 commandments as the law of the land and all laws must rise out of them. The Bible would be taught in schools as part of the curricula. I wish all that could happen.

I know it’s not. Wishing and hoping doesn’t make it so. I’m not going to bomb, march, attack, car bomb, blow up airplanes, or do anything of the type. I know we have laws about these things and although I don’t agree with them all I understand and I live in this country carrying a passport of the Kingdom of God. I’m in that way a resident alien. My allegiance is to Jesus first; To my country second.

I think everyone should live like this.

Now, if you transpose all of what I just said to the Islamic religion and then allow for the implementation of the dream of an Islamic World with people willing to kill themselves and others for the cause because of some false hope of heaven you have a better understanding of the mentality of the Islamic radical fundamentalist.

He believes of Islam:

• His laws should be the law of the land
• His flag should fly above #10 Downing Street and the White House
• That his Holy Book should be taught in Schools
• That time should be set-aside for Prayer in the Public Forum
• Everyone who is not a Muslim should convert or die (My belief is they will die, twice, once naturally, once eternally, the second death, I just don’t think they should or have to)
• His Allegiance is to no flag, no country, he is a soldier of Allah
• He believes the west is immoral, decadent and unworthy of living
• He will not argue the Koran, you are ignorant if you disagree and should be killed.
• He believes the Jews are a key part of this whole issue

The difference is there are very few recorded cases of Christians blowing themselves or anyone else up. They are not hanging little girls. They are not trying to blow up airplanes. They are not waging war on America, Israel, the UK, or Spain.

The Islamic Fundamentalist is led by Clerics who indoctrinate them with a belief that if they devote themselves to bringing about this new world domination of Islam somehow the world will be so much better a place that their children and grandchildren will live under a global ordered pure society without sin, without evil, and that Sharia law will be the law of the land. It will be safe and they will rule and reign as Caliphs.

So they fight and die for this utopia in the absolute belief they are winning. These nuts who tried to blow up airplanes in Britain today wear Armani Suits, work in the financial district, were born and raised in Britain, speak with a British accent, and at night go home, put on their Muslim outfits, face Mecca and pray for the day when the whole world by conversion or at the point of the gun and bomb will be just like them. They are not assimilated into society.

They are in America too. The men just discovered from Detroit area with $11,000 for support of Hezbollah are among us. Not immigrants, unassimilated Muslims.

They will be hard to get rid of. We must not let them win. They will kill or convert us all.

The worst is the left doesn’t get it. They think this is some equivalent of Christianity. We fundamentalist radicals are all the same. That lukewarm passive paganism is the answer. They don’t understand that people like those who elected Lamont in Connecticut are useful idiots for the disciples of world domination that is ISLAM. Being against the fight against radical Islam is unpatriotic at least and treasonous at worst.

I know what it means to be a radical fundamentalist. I understand them. They are very dangerous. They will settle for nothing less than killing or converting you. They are intent on taking over the whole world.

And the left just puts their head in a 5 gallon bucket and goes la la la la la la la la in the hopes it will all go away.

It’s not going away. We either face them here or over there. You have zero choice in the matter.

New Nazis

As a Christian Conservative I often am lambasted for what I believe.

It’s like the pagan left (not all are pagan) wants to rewrite the Bible to take out all the really hard parts about sin, Jesus and stuff.

Well, they are too late. Adolph Hitler beat them to it 65 years ago. He rewrote the bible and specifically rewrote the 10 commandments. He actually ended up with 12. You can read the whole thing here.

Here are der Fuehrer’s 12 commandments from the Nazi Bible:

1. Honour God and believe in him wholeheartedly.
2. Seek out the peace of God.
3. Avoid all hypocrisy.
4. Holy is your health and life!
5. Holy is your wellbeing and honour!
6. Holy is your truth and fidelity!
7. Honour your father and mother – your children are your aid and your example.
8. Keep the blood pure and your honour holy!
9. Maintain and multiply the heritage of your forefathers.
10. Always be ready to help and to forgive.
11. Honour your Fuehrer and master!
12. Joyously serve the people with work and sacrifice.

Now, if you look at these they all except numbers 8, 9 & 11 seem pretty harmless. Even a little familiar. I mean think of some of the left wing platitudes you see written. They sort of skirt sin and are all about taking care of yourself and caring for others. Not much about loving and serving God. God in Hitler’s context was pretty much HIM.

A lefty will immediately quote "let he who is without sin ----Cast the first stone". They have lots of weak badly interpreted bible verses that means for the most part opposite of what they are saying.

Is Hitler’s spirit alive and well in the Left Wing of our country?

Just asking.

Why I have SO MANY Left Wing Friends

This is a conundrum. I certainly have a lot of right wing people in my life, but they are of the ilk to say, “Yep, you are so right Gene, Absolutely”. I stole that, attribution here. You'll understand in a minute.

That’s fun for a while. But soon I look forward to some confrontation and argument. You remember the Monty Python skit, Eric Idle comes to John Cleese’s office and pays for an argument. Cleese just counters what he says. No arguments whatsoever. Idle argues that the arguments he paid for are not arguments. Hilarity ensues. Well that’s what’s missing in the righty on righty discussions I have. We all hate liberals. Commies. Whackos. Etc. You get the drift. 5 minutes of that and we’re done.

Sometimes when I have engaged controversy with online acquaintances that I might have otherwise agreed with 100% with a slightly differing opinion I am rewarded with anger, disdain or avoidance. I am suspect for having an open mind or a non party line opinion. Like my view on Wal-Mart. Or some of my “Religious” views. I am not all that orthodox in some areas. That appears to be a no no with some of my conservative brethren.

So, I have befriended several lefty people. I genuinely like them. Some I have never met. I just enjoy the give and take of intellectual intercourse. (That is the proper English use of that term for those of you that are shocked). Some left wing friends are less intellectual than others.

One liberal man who I have never met is a favorite of mine. Reality Based Bob. RBB. He comments often on Say Anything. He is always witty and able to execute an argument better than most anyone. I said to him the other day he would be someone who I think I would have enjoyed getting to know better. But he lives somewhere in California and I live in the great state of Illinois. I have encouraged him to start blogging or becoming a submitter to Say Anything.

RBB is as polar opposite to me in political and spiritual thinking as anyone could be. But he is great fun, clever and whenever I see his gravataar I always read his comments.

Today he commented on this blog. He said:

Comments:
What’s going on with you Gene…all these manly man posts?

Is that durn wife makin ya wear matching sweaters again?

Oh that just burns me up too.
# posted by RBB : 6:26 PM

The answer is I used this in a men’s group meeting in Church last Saturday as an opening. I wrote it all myself and was highly amused by it. It was meant to lighten up the open and set the tone. I don’t thing anyone other than RBB ever actually TOOK the test. I just got to use my joke about taking someone bear hunting and if they got one, next time I would give them a weapon. But, RBB, with a 47 you needs to become a pirate. Arrgh!

IF the truth were known, I have a rich internal life. I tell myself a joke and become my own best audience. And I enjoy what I write. I blog for ME. It’s a journal of sorts of what I’m thinking and feeling and reacting to in my life. Read my blog and you know me. For better or worse.

RBB and all my other liberal friends, now you know why I like you and hope you don’t go away. Oh, that doesn’t mean I won’t try hard to bring you back from the precipice of destruction and away from the dark side. Then you’ll become conservative and then I’ll have to find other liberal friends.

Nice to know you have a purpose in life isn’t it.

Sharia Law Hangs Teenage Girl for Being Raped

Just in case some of you who read this thinks that the battle against Islamic Fascism is not worth the battle, read this story. Then ask yourself this question, when the Mullahs come for you will you be ready to submit to Mullah Law. Or your Children or your Grandchildren.

This Global War on Terrorism no matter if you like it or not, no matter if you support it or not, no matter if you support Israel or not, this is about you and yours. And I thank God that George Bush is willing to take the slings and arrows to save you're sorry behind if you don't support him in this.

This is evil personified and we must crush and kill them. You must not sanction this by hiding under the covers. The liberal treasonous traitors and cowards in the media aren't about Cut and Run any more. They aren't about planned withdrawal; they are now in full run and hide from the bad guy mode.

Cowards.

Well, I for one want none of this evil on our shores, and I'm not crazy about it over there either.



Iran: Hanged from a crane aged 16
Sunday, 23 July 2006

EXCLUSIVE JUSTICE IRAN STYLE: SICK GIRL EXECUTED BY JUDGE SHE DEFIED
Her crime? She had sex with an unmarried man

By Susie Boniface


The Sunday Mirror - It was exactly 6am and the start of another blisteringly hot summer day when 16-year-old Atefeh Rajabi was dragged from her prison cell and taken to be executed.

Every step of the way the troubled teenager plagued by mental problems shouted "repentance, repentance" as the militiamen marched her to the town's Railway Square.

The Iranian judge who had sentenced Atefeh to death was left unmoved as he personally put the noose around her neck (look at the link with theses pictures to get a flavor for what this is) and signalled to the crane driver.

Kicking and screaming, Atefeh was left dangling for 45 minutes from the arm of the crane as the crowd sobbed and - under their breath - damned the mullahs.

Atefeh's crime? Offending public morality. She was found guilty of "acts incompatible with chastity" by having sex with an unmarried man, even though friends say Atefeh was in such a fragile mental state that she wasn't in a position to say no.

But Judge Haji Rezaii was determined she should hang, regardless of the rules of international law which say only adults over 18 can be executed, and that the courts have a duty to children and the mentally ill.

The brutal end to Atefeh's short life has shone a new light on Iran's Shariah law, where adultery, theft and rape all carry the same punishment - death. Officially around 100 people - some just children like Atefeh - are executed each year. But human rights groups say the true figure could be much higher in a country where only half of the women can read, only one in 10 have a job and two-thirds are beaten in their homes.

Life was never easy for Atefeh, who was brought up in the industrial town of Neka, 250 miles from Tehran and close to the Caspian Sea. Her mother died when she was a child and her father Ghasseem, a heroin addict, left her grandparents to bring her up. She suffered from bi-polar disorder, which led to severe mood swings from hyperactivity to depression. Worried parents told their children to stay away from her - something many regret now. "Perhaps we should have helped her instead," said Hamid. "I think the death of her mother had a devastating effect. Before that, she was a normal girl. Her mother was everything to her. After she died, there was no one to look after her."

Mina, a childhood friend, said Atefeh was abused by a close relative. "She never dared talk about it with an adult," said Mina. "If she had told her teacher they'd have called her a whore. Tell the police? They lock you up and rape you." Atefeh first appeared in court, accused of having sex with an unmarried man at 14. Over the next two years she was accused of the same crime with different men.

They denied it and were sentenced to the lash and then released. But Atefeh pleaded guilty and each time received 100 lashes and a prison term. Mina said: "Atefeh sometimes talked about what these 'moral' Islamic policemen did to her while she was in jail. She still had nightmares about that. Atefeh said her mood swings made it easy for men to take advantage of her, and that most of her lovers were in the security force."

Two of them were members of the anti-vice militia. They encouraged other men to sign statements saying Atefeh had engaged in vice, and even claimed she had AIDS.

It was when Atefeh appeared before Judge Rezaii for a fourth time that she lost her temper - and also her life. In a rage she tore off her hi jab - a headscarf - and told the judge she had been raped and it was his duty to punish her tormentors, not their victim.

Rezaii told her she would hang for her "sharp tongue" and that he would put the noose around her neck himself. It became a personal crusade as he travelled to Tehran and convinced the Supreme Court to uphold his verdict.

Two petitions by her friends, saying she was mentally unwell, were ignored. Her father produced her birth certificate proving she was 16. Yet the judges "decreed" she was 22.

Atefeh also wrote to the Supreme Court: "There are medical documents that prove I have a weak nerve and soul. In some minutes of the day and night I lose my sanity. In a society where an insane person can be serially raped it is no wonder that a person like me is the victim of such an ugly act."

The day before she died she wrote again, saying: "Repentance, repentance, repentance." In Iranian law anyone who shows remorse has an automatic stay of execution and a right to appeal, but she was ignored.

A local pharmacist watched Atefeh's execution on August 15, 2004. "She looked so young standing there," he said. "Rezaii must have felt a personal grudge against her. He put the rope around her neck himself. I looked around and everyone in the crowd was sobbing and damning the mullahs." The family's lawyer has now filed a suit of wrongful execution against the judge and is preparing a murder case. Her life is also the subject of a secretly filmed documentary, Execution of a Teenage Girl, which will be screened on BBC2 on Thursday.

One of Atefeh's teachers said the authorities wanted to make an example of her: "She wouldn't take injustice from anyone, but the mullahs equate these qualities in a girl to prostitution and evil. They wanted to give all the girls and women a lesson."

Amnesty International UK director Kate Allen said: "The killing of Atefeh is a catalogue of the most appalling human rights violations. The public hanging of a child, believed to be mentally incompetent, totally beggars belief. To hang a child flies in the face of all that is humane."

CRUELTY OF SHARIA LAW

PENALTIES imposed by Iran's religious mullahs include:

THEFT: Amputation of hands or feet for persistent offenders.

ADULTERY: Death by stoning.

UNMARRIED SEX: 100 lashes.

CONVERSION TO RELIGION OTHER THAN ISLAM: Death.

SODOMY: Death for adults, 74 lashes for consenting child.

LESBIANISM: 100 lashes, or on the fourth occasion death.

HOMOSEXUAL KISS: 60 lashes.

RUBBING ANOTHER MAN'S THIGHS OR BUTTOCKS: 99 lashes - on 4th occasion, death.

Menaissance Evaluation

How much are you like John Wayne, Pilgrim?

1=not at all 2=seldom 3=occasionally 4=mostly 5=always

____ Stoic (If I get shot, I just wrap a kerchief around the wound, dig the bullet out with my knife and remove it with my teeth.) I never complain.

____ Self Respecting (I know who I am and if you don’t like it, well, pardner, that’s tough)

____ Decisive (I know what to do, when and how quickly to act. Never taken by surprise)

____ Assertive (I don’t go pickin fights but if you punch me, well, you better duck)

____ Doesn’t wear heart on his Sleeve (I might be ahurt’n but you’ll never know)

____ Able to react to dynamic situations, critical people, ornery sheriffs, and rapid change all without taking offense.

____ Dutiful to the Mrs. and to the family. (a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do)

____ Provides and protects those he loves (You come after my wife or kids, I got a gun and I know how to use it)

____ Responsible (If he gives his word you can count on him to do what he said)

____ Moral (He knows the scout law and although there were no boy scouts then, he lives by it)

God made nothing in vain, he made you a man, he made her a woman. “Male and Female made he them”. Let’s not get all confused by being girly men.

Score 10 or less. You shouldn’t be in this meeting, the slumber party is next week.

11-20 Good start, let me take you bear hunting, and if you kill one, next time I’ll give you a weapon.

21-30 You are sorta manly but you need to get out of the suburbs a bit more. Eat more meat.

31-40 You are a guy’s, guy, not quite a man’s man yet. But, there’s hope. Lay off the quiche.

41-50 Harrrrr, a parrot on the shoulder and a peg leg and we’re off to sea.


Let’s Celebrate Manliness:
Restraint, courage, stoicism, rational thinking, nutty professors working on inventions in their garages, guitars, geeks, football, sweating in a tee shirt, baseball, and loving it most when women are women.

Saloon Ethics

Don’t draw unless drawn upon. Sometimes people say and do stupid things
Overlook Most
Forgive Much
Correct only a little

Thin Skinned people end up taking offense. Taking offense will get you killed and worse break up a lot of good bar furniture and some really fine whiskey bottles. That’d be destroying the spirits.

If someone cheats you in a card game know who he is before you call him out on it.

Always tip the piano player. He might be playing at your funeral if you aren’t careful.

Watch your back, and you better have some good cowpokes you trust watch it for you. You cain’t never have too many friends.

Some fellows at the bar think they’re big shots when they get too much redeye in em, they want to be the center of attention and cause trouble by big talking. You could lose a good cowhand if you don’t help him off to the side and quiet him down.

Some blokes order a drink and if the barkeep don’t serve what they thought they wanted (“You call this whiskey, I’ve had better from a sewer”) they throw a fit become offended and never come back again; sometimes they leave in a box.

Let’s apply some good saloon ethics to the Church shall we?

Beautiful Hookers

In my recent foray to Atlantic City I was confronted by a mass of hookerdom.

One thing struck me. They were nearly all beautiful women. Stunning even.
The whore you see on TV in most movies is well worn and haggard. This was not them.

Oh they were in business for others or for themselves. No doubt about that.

I have thought about that since. I know prostitution is the world’s oldest profession. (There’s a joke here somewhere but I forget it). I know they make good money. I don’t think when they were 7 years old and grandpa sat them on his knee and asked what they wanted to be when they grew up they said, “Grandpa, I want to make big money on my back”. Grandpa would have had a cardiac.

I know all the socio-economic reasons women become hoes. Don’t bore my by rehearsing them.

What I struggle with is how and why beyond that. Everyone had a bad childhood. When I do talks to mixed groups on family issues I always ask this question, “Who here came from a dysfunctional family”. All hands go up. 100% of the time. We always think we had it bad.

So that’s not it. I look for someone to blame.

I think I know who. MEN!

Not because they patronize them. But because they don’t commit to a ring and a ceremony. Getting it on for $200 bucks is easier. Some would say cheaper.

I think the one hooker that disturbed me most was a beautiful young girl who couldn’t have been more than 18. She gave me a wave and a smile that broke my heart. Why wasn’t she out with a boyfriend rather than selling it? Why wasn’t she planning a wedding rather then planning her next trick? She was so stunning there are a lot of women who could take a clue on the flirt business from her. She had it down. Of course for her it was commerce. Smile for a buck. Or two.

The whole idea that girls make this choice because there isn’t a man who will love and treasure them for the rest of their lives is an indictment of men and not women.

I’m not living in a dream world. This isn’t because I saw the movie, “Pretty Woman”. I know how much a woman wants to be treasured by a man. Valued, esteemed, held up, reinforced, supported, encouraged, treasured.

Men are weenies at being lovers. They don’t get it. Yet it’s so simple. You just find her, then you give yourself to her unconditionally and without reservation. She don’t want stuff, she wants you.

How far is the distance between hookerdom and the loved lover? Tell me, I wanna know.

RAPTURE!

I know some of you like it better when I write my own stuff. Sometimes I do too. But when something like this comes across I just have to reprint it for those who may not get it directly. Olfunso Omadarin is a Pastor of a mighty ministry in Nigeria. I read what he writes, I have spoken with him by phone several times. I know he and I are nothing less than true brothers in Christ.

The rapture is a theology I waffled on for a while. I no longer do. The closer I get the more I long for that sounding trumpet. Evenso come Lord Jesus.


RAPTURE! Culmination of the mystery of all ages
The climax of salvation story, rallying point of all history
On that day, the truth shall be exalted above all lies
When the patience of the saints will be rewarded
The day when the hope of the elect will be realized

RAPTURE! The long awaited vindication of the righteous
It is the hour of gloom and doom for the backslider
It is the moment when the eternal ultimatum will be reached
When the Word of faith that men disdained and despised
Shall be confirmed in heaven and endorsed on earth

RAPTURE! When the harvest of the nations shall be full
The grave shall lose its power and the dead in Christ shall rise
The lovers of the truth, the martyrs of faith shall rejoice
The Resurrection-our expectation will come to manifestation
Those who are alive but dead to sin will be changed

RAPTURE! In a twinkle of an eye will all be gone!
For abject mortality shall put on absolute immortality
And weaknesses shall give way to priceless strength
The eternal will of God will be fulfilled in all nations
And the expectation of the saints will be resurrected

RAPTURE! It is the hour of an amazing judgment
When the unexpected will happen before the on-lookers
Men will be amazed at the sudden change in all nations
Petrified, dismayed, discomfited , frustrated and dazed
Flimsy excuses of men will be hopeless and needless

RAPTURE! Men who refused the gospel will run for cover!
Even those who frittered away opportunities to be saved
Skeptics will be drowned in the ocean of their doubts
Yea, the ignoramus will not be spared the rod for their folly
True men have beheld the Lamb in His blessed Word

RAPTURE! They shall also see Him sin His awesome glory!
But the remnant of the rebels shall be lost in their fiery gory
Wherefore shall careless men escape the certain judgment?
The beauty of the Saviour they must behold now
The message of the gospel they must receive now

RAPTURE! The power that saves is meant for all and onto all
But the joy of salvation will only be for those who believe
Iniquity is attractive only to those who must perish
The rage of hell is as a cruel and worrisome magnet
Unto which men of unbridled lust and sinful quest are drawn

RAPTURE! And the King shall appear in His majestic glory
As the trumpet is sounded with the shout of the Archangel
And then shall the saints rejoice in His ineffable glory
But endless woe betide all the company of transgressors!
Even their hopeless end, the endless shame of faithless men

Here is the mystery of the RAPTURE, an unmistakable story

-Olufunso J. Omidiran
http://www.livingsword.org/

Where the Church is RIGHT NOW!

Rick Joyner:
"THE NATION OF ISRAEL WILL AWAKEN TO ITS PURPOSE AND ITS MESSIAH"
Coming Out of Deep Darkness

Even a cursory look at church history, reveals many things that were not only contrary to the teachings and nature of Christ, but were diabolical in nature. Today the church tends to deal mostly with matters of insensitivity, but in times past, the issues were how to deal with the brutal and inhuman cruelty being inflicted on literally millions in the name of Christ. Certainly, progress has been made out of the deep darkness which the church had fallen into. So where are we now? What's next? This terrible time of darkness was clearly prophesied in Scripture, and it was allowed for a reason.

In the same way that the nation of Israel failed in its covenant relationship with the Lord and was scattered over many nations, the church failed also, and was likewise scattered into thousands of denominations. Just as Israel has been regathering to its inheritance in the natural, there is a corresponding regathering of the church to its spiritual inheritance.

As we are told in I Corinthians 15:46, "However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual." What is taking place in the natural is a forerunner and prophecy of what is about to take place in the spiritual realm. The Jew has always been a prophecy of the condition of the nations. Just as Israel has been regathering to its promised land, but has no peace within or without, and is still groping for its purpose, the church is likewise in a similar place. The nation of Israel will awaken to its purpose and its Messiah. When it does, we can expect the church to likewise awaken to its purpose in these times, which is linked to Israel's purpose in the natural.

The Seed of Abraham will Join in Purpose The spiritual seed of Abraham--those who are grafted into the vine by their faith, and the natural seed of Abraham, the Jew according to the flesh--will join in purpose. When they do, it will open a bridge between the Heavenly realm and earthly, leading to the restoration of all things lost by the Fall. Even death will ultimately be destroyed.

There was a time of about 2,000 years in which the Lord worked almost exclusively through the Jews to lay the foundation of His plan for the redemption and restoration of the earth. Now there has likewise been a time of about 2,000 years, the "times of the Gentiles" in which He has worked almost exclusively through the Gentiles. Contrary to what many believe, what we are about to enter into is not another time of the Jews, but a time of the Jews and Gentiles being joined together in purpose. We will witness the Jew--the natural seed of Abraham, and the church--the spiritual seed of Abraham, becoming the "one new man" Paul wrote about in Ephesians 2:15. When these two are joined, it will open the gate between the Heavens and the earth, and for the Kingdom of God to be established on the earth.

Because of the terrible history that both Israel and the church has suffered (and since the greatest threat to the existence of the Jewish people came from the institutional church or "Christian nations"), it will take a great miracle to cross the gulf between Israel and the church. This is a reflection of the similar gulf between God and mankind that seems to be greater than ever. How will these be bridged?

Just as all of Israel's problems are really beyond human remedy and will take a miracle from God to solve, so are the church's and the world's problems. The great troubles at the end of this age are the result of mankind trying to run this world without God, a lesson that will finally and profoundly be learned. However, God will resolve the entire mess that we have made of things.

Prepare the Way for His Return In the meantime, between now and these great miracles that will surely come, the greatest of all being the return of the Son of God Himself, it is our calling to help prepare the way for His return. How do we do this? In the prophecy that was quoted from Isaiah in relation to John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Him the first time He came, the same principle applies for how we are to prepare the way for His return: "A voice is calling, 'Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.'" "Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; and let the rough ground become a plain, and the rugged terrain a broad valley." "Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken" (Isaiah 40:3-5). Here we see that a highway must be prepared for the Lord in the wilderness, "Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed." So building this highway is first. How do we do this?

If you have ever been part of a crew building a highway, you know that this is some of the most difficult of all construction work. As this text declares, it requires mountains and hills being brought down, and valleys being built up. It is slow, tedious, and messy, as anyone who has lived near the building of a highway can surely attest. There are times when it is easier and faster than at other times, but it can be grueling work for days, weeks, or even months to make the smallest amount of progress, and it is fraught with constant danger.

Preparing the Way Can Be a Thankless Task After extraordinary labors, when the highway is finished, people will drive on it, and zip through at 70 mph in the same place where progress was at times measured in inches a day. And very few of those people who go merrily along the highway (which was so much labor to accomplish), will ever think for even a moment about those who built it, much less ever thank them. Few who build highways are celebrated, but they have made the progress of the modern world possible, both in the spiritual and natural. In this same way, the job of preparing the way for the Lord is hard, being done through the wilderness, the most inhospitable territory where the progress is usually slow and difficult. Few will thank us for what we are doing, and some will curse us for the mess we are making, especially if it brings them any inconvenience. Few who see the present mess have the vision to see how much better it will be when the highway is finished. It is quite a thankless task.

In seeking to see authentic, Biblical, prophetic ministry restored to the church, our team at MorningStar has experienced some of this. It has been hard work, with at times seemingly very little progress. Most who see us working, just remark about the mess we are making, with very little encouragement coming even from those who will ultimately benefit from what we are doing. We know also there will be very little thanks when it is finished, at least from people, but to hear the words "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21) from the King, will be worth it. We are doing it for the church, which may have little appreciation for it now, but more than this, we are doing it for Him, and are very thankful just to have a job in His service.

Even so, for those who labored for so long and hard to watch others walk on the path they have cut with such difficulty, just taking off, may be hard. However, that is the reason for building a highway--to make it much easier and faster for those who come behind us. If we have been successful, others will be able to go as far as we have much faster, easier, and safer.

In fact, that is what church history has been. Past Generations Have Made the Way For Us The great souls in history took ground that future generations could walk over much easier, faster, and safer. A good example is Count Zinzendorf and the Moravians, who took a generation to establish the principles of modern missions. They not only cut a path which others could follow, but at times, they wandered up box canyons and had to turn around, seemingly losing a lot of time and resources with their mistakes. However, even those diversions saved future generations from having to make the same ones. They prepared a highway and a good map to go with it.

We only stand where we are today because others fought through the forests and underbrush, cut down mountains and hills, and built up the low places--spiritual swamps that were full of dangers and disease. They left us a wonderful highway, so we could easily make it this far with relatively little effort. Let us resolve to carry this highway as far as we can in our own generation, making it much easier for others to make it as far as we have, and then go farther. Build A Highway There will be a generation who actually finishes the job. It could even be ours. We may go around the next turn, cut through the next acre of underbrush, and come face to face with His glory. Even if we are not the one who finishes the job, let us do our part as well as it can be done. The way we prepare the way for the Lord and His Kingdom to come to the earth, so that His will be done here just as it is in Heaven, is to build a highway.

If we have been wise in raising up those with true prophetic gifts, maybe we can send scouts ahead so that they can map out the territory well enough, so we do not go up any more box canyons. Maybe they can see easier paths, which to us would look like diversions from a straight line, but in fact, will make our progress toward the goal much easier, faster, or safer. If the highway becomes more clear, maybe others who are now all cutting their own individual paths in various directions, will join together, making the progress of our generation much greater. Instead of doing so much work that will not really be used (cutting down a lot of underbrush destined to grow right back because no one is going to follow on that path), wouldn't it be better to see our efforts actually result in a useful highway that leads to the Kingdom? There is a highway being built. We should all want to be sure that we are a part of building the one that really prepares the way for the King.

Rick Joyner
MorningStar Ministries
www.morningstarministries.org

The World is Wrong

Dennis Prager is a talk radio host on 560am in Chicago. I don’t hear him every day but I listen when I can. He is the most rational man on conservative talk radio and that includes Rush.

When I see him write something I read it. He just did. The Moral Bankruptcy of World Opinion. It was right on the money.

He submitted this poweful post for World Net. Read the whole thing. It will help you understand why sometimes doing the right thing is not the popular or even the majority opinion in the USA and Particularly in the World. Just because lots of people think thus and so doesn’t make it right. That's why I, like our beloved President Bush, pay zero attention to polls. They are nearly always wrong. Public opinion is worthless in decision making.

This week the Kansas Board of Education bumped off those nasty Christians who wanted to acknowledge the potential for creation by God of the world and humanity. The idea of openmindedness and free thinking outraged the godless left wing liberal educational establishment. This is further evidence of the total abandonment of all rational principle by public education. This will prove to be a fatal blow/last straw to public education. I'm mad as hell and I ain't gonna take it no more. Millions feel as I do. I can hear it all across America. I'm fed up. This is one more reason all public education should be abolished in favor of vouchers.

You want to send your kids to a school that only teaches the godless liberal party line like they do in the madrassas in Islamic countries? Then you can. Over there teaching whahbism and hatred for Christians and Jews yields brainwashs little kids into being anxious to blow themselves up. That is pretty much what our public education system in America has become. A secular godless humanist madrassa.

Shielding little kids from truth or at least truth which might challenge the secular humanist viewpoint is the goal of the cowardly public education system. Shame on them. How is the godless liberal secular humanist education system any different from the wahabist madrassas in Iran? HMMMM? Let’s do what we can to put a nail in this travesty once and for all. Let’s shut down the liberal brainwashing madrassas or at least don’t force me to send kids there.

Vouchers. That’s the ticket. Tine to stop this now. I'm contacting my congressman Hastert. Stop funding all education yesterday. Implement nationwide vouchers. They work everywhere they are tried.

Public opinion even when expressed in voting isn’t always the best choice. It was a popular vote that put Hitler in office, it was a popular vote that Saddam Hussein won to come to power, it was a popular vote that created the Golden Calf at Mount Sinai leading to the death of thousands, it was a popular vote that crucified Jesus.

Just because people vote doesn’t make it right.

We must fight hard as Christian Conservatives to keep the thugocracy of liberalism from pushing common sense and reason (Which means you are allowed to make rational choices of various opinions) off the pages of our textbooks. Not the censorship of ideas that is going on in Public education today.

The result is the banal uneducated MTV watching people you see on Jay Leno's streetwalking. What's worse is they vote. Yikes.

Vote Republican. It's not conservative enough, but it's better than the liberal moonbats.

Why I love, support and embrace Israel as my Brother

I have had some Christians and many non Christians question me on my unwavering support of Israel. Why this conflict in the Middle East is so important and prophetic. Why I know that this will work out for good to those who are lovers of God and called according to his purposes. I am reprinting this parable called Three Sons of Farmer from this website. Once you read the whole thing you will see how I, a poor lost begger, see my Brother Israel.

A farmer had two sons. The eldest worked with his father learning how to run the farm. The second son was studying at an Agricultural College. When he returned with his degree, he had several new ideas that would improve the farm operation. The father sent his son out onto the farm to work with his older brother. As they were working, he tried to tell his brother about the latest ideas and how things should be done. The elder son became angry and killed his "know all" brother.

When the father discovered what had happened, he had no choice but to call the police. The oldest son was arrested and the court sentenced him to 20 years in prison. He was incarcerated in a high security prison thousands of miles away from where his father lived. The prison clothes were uncomfortable and the food was terrible, so life for the son in prison was very miserable. His father could have provided him with food and clothing, but this was not allowed. The elder son was cut off from his father’s abundance.

The father could not manage the farm on his own. He found a younger beggar in the town and adopted him as a son. The father taught him how to be a farmer, as they worked the land together. The adopted son studied the younger brother’s college notes. He learned an applied the new methods so the farm prospered. However, the farm was too large for two men, so they were never able to bring it to the full potential.

In jail, the oldest son became extremely angry with his father. He was angry because his father had reported him to the police. He became even more angry when he heard that his father had given his inheritance to his adopted brother (this was not true, the adopted son would only inherit the dead brother’s portion).

One day the adopted brother and a friend travelled to visit the older brother in prison. He was still angry and started "mouthing off" about his father. The friend was so upset that he punched the imprisoned brother and gave him a black eye. This really spoilt the relationship. The older brother began to hate his adopted brother. The adopted son decided that his brother was not worth the trouble and that he would have nothing more to do with him.

When the older brother was fifteen years into his sentence, he was moved to a low security prison closer to his home. The father still loved his son and longed to bless him, but his son was angry and would have nothing to do with him. So the father asked his adopted son to visit his brother. He told him how much he loved him and that when his sentence was finished, he wanted to set him up on the land again. He explained that he wanted the two brothers to work together and that the oldest son would still inherit his half of the farm. For the first time the son saw his brother through his father’s eyes.

When the adopted son visited his brother in prison, he was filled with love and compassion for him. He began to bring his gifts of food, books to read and other things to make life in prison more bearable. Gradually a friendship began to develop between them.

During his stay in the high security prison the oldest brother had become a real "hard" man. He was still very angry, and he used his strength to bully some of the weaker prisoners. When his father heard about what he was doing, he was angry and wept, but he never stopped loving his first born son.

The adopted son continued to build a relationship with his brother. As he blessed his brother, his love for him increased and grew. However, he never pretended that his brother was not a murderer. He could see the brutalising affect of life in a high-security prison, but he did not condone his victimisation of his cell mates. He knew that his brother's bad behaviour in prison meant that he would have to serve his full term, so never gave him false hope by suggesting that would get an early release from prison. He also knew that before his brother could be returned to his place with their father on the farm, he would need to repent of his anger and violence. The adopted brother would gently remind him of this fault, even as he continued to love and bless him.

A few days before the older son was due to be released, he bullied a new inmate. A couple of rogue prison guards caught him in the act and turned on him. Their anger stirred, they beat him to "within an inch of his life". His injuries were so severe that on the day he was released, he could barely walk. So his adopted brother took him home and nursed him back to health.

Strangely enough, the hiding proved to be beneficial experience. For the first time in his life the older brother experienced anger from the other side. He decided that he would live differently in the future. As soon as he was strong enough, he went to his father and apologised.

The farmer who had never stopped loving his son welcomed him back to the farm. The adopted brother taught the other brother how to apply the principles introduced by the dead brother. The two brothers learned to work together and turned the farm into one of the best in the region. The father was delighted to have his oldest son home again. He really enjoyed the way that his two sons worked together to make the family farm a very successful business.

Interpretation

The father is the Father. The oldest son is Israel; the younger son is Jesus; and the adopted son is the church. The farm is the Kingdom of God and the rest is history.

The father never stopped loving his oldest son, even though he had murdered his younger brother. Although the father loved his son and did not remove his inheritance, the son still had to pay the penalty for his crime. The son had to repent and embrace his adopted brother before he could receive his inheritance.

The requirements of justice and mercy were both met.

Nuclear War has been put off Until Today

Those wacky Jews and their calendars. Everyone knows Tisha Be'av was Tuesday. Or not.

According to this story about the Temple Mount, Tisha Be'av is today. Thursday. Which in Jewish time, 13 hours ahead of us, is nearly gone. So, the projected nuclear conflagration in this post has been postponed till today.

I'm not making light, I just have struggled to completely understand a lunar calendar as the Jews use and how we move that forward.

So, all admonitions here still hold, just two days late.

I know the moonbat Secret Code

This is one of the funniest things I have seen in a long time. I got it from Julies Blog.

My Friend Ken must get all his ranting from this moonbat automation. I now know your secret Kennyboy.




Enjoy the fun. I'm mailing this to all my moonbat friends. I have moonbat friends.

This is so much fun.

If You Can’t Say Anything Nice, Don’t Say Anything at ALL!

This statement is a part of our national psyche. I heard this on the radio say this morning. It’s been ringing in my ears since. We are obsessed with nice in America. I grew up in the northern Great Plains. Nice is a way of life there. Minnesota Nice they call it. Even in Dakota.

At one level, not picking fights is a good thing. Keeps your nose from being bloodied. But, it has caused a whole nation to think that this is a more’ we must all live by.

That is so far from the truth. We were instructed Biblically to speak the truth in love. That means telling people what they need to hear because we love them enough to tell them. It has nothing to do with HOW you tell them. This is another case of Bible verse abuse.

So, now we have generations of people who think it is wrong to speak up. A friend of mine of over 10 years told me that I scare her. I asked why. She said that she knows I would be the one person in her life who would tell her the truth regarding her if I saw something that needed to be said. I thought about that. She doesn’t want anyone to say anything but nice.

Why should that scare anyone?

It does.

So where did this national psyche come from? You ready for this?

Thumpers Mom.

That's right. Bambi the movie. Thumper the bunny. His mom said, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”.

All we like sheep are led astray. So a nation becomes truth deniers. Silent sufferers. Incapable of confrontation. Hiding under a blanket. “Make it go away mommy, make it go away”.

GROW UP!

Truth makes you free. Sometimes it’s not always nice. But it’s always the truth and it’s always freeing. Just be sure you have enough of a loving relationship with that person to tell them the truth.

Speak the truth in LOVE.

Relationships give you the right to tell the truth or they aren't real relationships. They are shallow aquaintances. I need friends not aquaintainces. So do you. If nice is the only way to keep friends then they aren't friends.

I read Barry Kolb's blog. He has a great ecard. One of the ways you know you have a friend is if he or she is allowed to yell at you.

No yelling, no friend.

I have a friend Karma. She and I couldn't be more polar opposites in most ways politically. But I know she tells the truth. We are both german and dakotans. But we can talk at a level that allows for all yelling all the time.

Enough with all the nice.

Tolerance - Acceptance and Respect for Other Belief Systems

Today I was asked a question about what Religious Tolerance is to me. It's a valid question and I attempted to answer it. The text is below. The question rose out of the comments of a couple pastors from Kansas City who were intereviewed here. It's a good thought process and I share it now.

Tolerance and respect and acceptance are 3 distinct actions.

Tolerance says I will not speak out directly against a religion or belief system. For instance, If a person worships rocks, I may think it stupid, but it's harmless and I will tolerate it.

It is harmless in it's action and effect and I tolerate it as such. There are people who are earth worshippers (as the American Indians were) who are out in left field but harmless. Intolerance kicks in for me when it does actual harm. Child sacrifice by a religious sect will cause intolerance to kick in for me. Radical Islam that encourages people in destroying themselves to destroy others and indoctrinates children to hate all non Muslims is not a religion I am tolerant of. I will speak against that as I would some Satan worshipper who snatches kids off the street for sacrifice. I'm not tolerant of victimization.

Respect is another thing. The rock worshipper may be tolerated but I wouldn't respect them. I think they are whacked out. I certainly don't respect religions that I am intolerant of. But Buddhism is a religion I respect and tolerate.

I don't espouse it but it seems to be a sincere innocuous belief system. It doesn't seem to victimize people. Hinduism I'm not so sure of. I think it does victimise people. Radical Islam I certainly don't respect. Islam in it's form as practiced by the Turks is not a horrid religion (albeit the honor killings and some other practices that are beyond the pale). It's aberration of basic humanity that causes me to wonder about where the border between Moderate and Radical Islam is and whether that line is actually drawn. Other cults like scientology I don't respect. I think they are harmful. I can tolerate them.

Acceptance is the last consideration. Acceptance for me is not just accepting that they exist, or that they are harmless or not. Acceptance is that I receive them as fellow travelers. The catholic church is different from the expression of who God is to me, but I accept it. Most denominational churches are likewise acceptable. I can go there and worship and be in harmony with them. It may not be my "Flavor" but without the chandelier swinging or the rolling on the floor but it's still satisfactory. Acceptance. I feel this way about all forms of Catholicism, Coptic, eastern, Judaism (I have worshipped in Temple and like it), Mormonism (I'm not as narrow about this as some), snake handlers (never did it, don't fear them). For me, the issue is always, "what think ye of the Christ". For that reason I don't accept the Jehovah's Witness'. Tolerate and Respect but not accept. The fellowships that hold Jesus as God are fellowships I accept. Jews are looking into the future but they see him coming, just not yet. They are my brothers. Someday they will be brothers in Christ.

The abortive forms of Christianity (Phelps from Topeka of Funeral Protest Fame) is not my cup of tea and I don't respect, tolerate or accept him and his Ilk. On the other hand, I don't think David Koresh was dangerous as the US Government had him made out to be and believe he died wrongly. I think he was deluded. Delusion shouldn't be a capital crime.

Now, as to the article. I read it. I frankly am not quite as middle of the road as these fine gents are. Respectful and Tolerant but not Accepting. I think you have to take a stand. Some things are just wrong. If Hitler was to raise his head again do we say, "well, let's just tolerate and respect him?" I think we must war against evil as we see it. It's childish to think that if we ignore evil it will go away. That's why we used to put the covers over our heads as kids or hide under the bed. Those who somehow believe it's not our duty to stand down evil in the world today and just leave them alone are not facing reality.

One last thing. What about people with no religion? Agnostics. Atheists. Passive. Non-Practicing. How do I feel about them?

Tolerant - YES (no one can force anyone to believe or not believe so I tolerate)

Respected - NO I don't think in the end it's possible to be on no side of this issue. The great prophet Bob Dylan Said: "You Gotta Serve Someone". I think anything that is not clearly on one side of the fence is on the other side. There is no middle ground. As the earth goes thru the terror and trembling it is going thru right now the capacity to stay neutral is becoming less and less possible. I just may not respect one who is trying to stay out of the battle out of some ilfated desire to hide in the closet.

Accepted - NO If I think people need Jesus (And I DO) I am not accepting of anything less. I won't beat you about the head and shoulders but I will do all I can in all ways and in any language so as to persuade a few. I care too much about what it means to come into a genuine living relationship with Him be passive or accepting of anything less.

So, if you or anyone is offended by me or my persistence and determination, I'm still the same Gene, I'm still crazy after all these years. I've just come to a place where the day I see so clearly when I will step from time into eternity (which we all will) is will be a glorious day that if I'm fortunate enough and living the way I want to be living in Him I will virtually not notice the change. I want to live like this. I know I can.

I stumble, I do dumb things, but I live in a continual state of grace that allows me to walk in boldness and confidence that makes me less and less tolerant or accepting of a second rate life for anyone willing to take a peek at what I see beyond the veil for this side of the Age.

ONE MORE THING:

As a prime example of appropriate intolerance, below are links to another blog and a video (very long but worth the look) to help you understand what I am intolerant of. Radical Islam is EVIL. Long and Short, that's the truth. Get out from under the covers. They are to kill you and your kids. They are out to destroy your way of life.

Read this and you will see. Watch it and you will feel.

There is no room for tolerance in this except for fools.