A Woman's Role

Is a woman's role in the kitchen?

I desperately hope not. If it is I'm in a world of trouble. I'm retired, and I'm sick of cooking. Fortunately my husband is one of a kind. He will eat anything.

Seriously, though, a woman's role is in the kitchen, in the laundry room, raising children, making lists, running the household, being a counselor ... often while having a job, balancing the checkbook, paying bills, handling the budget, doing the income taxes, handling all of the business, meeting the needs of her husband, sometimes her parents. Well, you get it.

Non-Christians just love to have fun with this topic. They just don't get it. I think a lot of women (and men) don't get it, either ... Christian and non.

It's quite simple once you get past the power struggle (SELF again). God made Adam and watched him for a while, shook his head and said, "He's never going to make it. He needs a helper." And, voila! Enter woman. Man was not good at multi-tasking, so He made a creature who could do ten things at once - woman. God mentions 'helper' twice in Genesis 2.

God intended this to be the closest relationship: "For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh." God also said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply."

This is a part of the order which God designed into all of His creation. In order for all of creation to run smoothly each creation has its own position and its own role to play in the Creator's plan. The sun does not want to be the moon, the stars do not yearn to be planets, the angels have a hierarchy specific to them. Birds do not insist on being elephants, and lions are not jealous of fish. Likewise, human beings are assigned roles and positions in order to carry out God's purpose.

I've never quite understood all of the hubbub, and I've never wanted to be 'like a man,' nor have I ever felt that I was, in any way, not equal. I am woman. I do not feel threatened in any way, or go sulk in a corner because I 'can't be a man!' I like being a woman.

And, once again, here is where we find that old serpent, the devil. He wasn't satisfied to be the most beautiful of all God's creation. He wanted to be God - to replace God - which he has been working at since way back when. And he was not satisfied to get only himself out of sync with creation. No. He had to come along and work on us so we, too, would be dissatisfied. Every place you look, and find disorder and confusion, there he is.

A woman can do anything she wants to do in God's orderly plan. Have you ever read about these women in the Bible? There were queens and prophets. Phoebe was a deaconess, an office common in early church history.

Ah, the trouble must be in 1 Cor. 11: "Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ."

But then consider this, in the same chapter: "However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God. "

Or perhaps the offense is here in Ephesians 5: "Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church.."

But then what about this: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her.." or this: "So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church..." (Eph. 5)

Do you see where it begins to be a little silly, this tit-for-tat? And what could be at the root of the problem here? Perhaps the same desire to take over the man's position and role - in the same way that Satan desires to have God's position? Hmmm?

Worrying about this type of thing seems to me to be gross spiritual immaturity. A better thing would be to start reading God's Word (all of it) with the desire to understand how God thinks, rather than men and women picking out the parts they can beat each other up with when taken out of context. Rather, husband and wife should each seek to be servants of each other.

God wants us to grow up and stop wasting time on such foolishness.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ladies, once you get this mastered, we'll talk:

Description of a Worthy Woman - Proverbs 31 -

¹⁰An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
¹²She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
¹³She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
¹⁴She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
¹⁵She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
¹⁶She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
¹⁸She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
²⁰She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
²²She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
²⁶She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
²⁷She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
²⁹"Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all."
³⁰Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
³¹Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.


And, finally: "...be subject to one another in the fear of Christ."

A Child of the King

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

2012: Should You Worry? PART 2 of 2

Continuing from yesterday....

How did the Mayans and a multitude of other pagan religions come to attach significance to the year 2012? They have calculated the astronomical cycles with a precision that exceeds modern knowledge, and they didn't even have such simple rudiments as telescopes.

How were the pyramids built? There are many other ancient areas of the world which have structures which would be impossible to be constructed with today's technology, let alone the tools available thousands of years ago. What about Stonehenge? I could name many others of which you are no doubt aware if you have cable television. How in the world did these 'primitive' people build such impossible things?

The answer in every case is contact with demons. Or perhaps you would know them more readily by using the name they use in our age ... extraterrestrials. The same ultimate entity has been behind all pagan religions since the beginning of time - demonic powers. Remember that God and the angels (bad and good) live outside of the dimension of time, by which we on earth are bound.

Satan and his evil angels, living outside of time, could see God's plan from beginning to end. However, God did not allow him access to all of his plans. Nor do the angelic hosts (good angels) know or understand every aspect of God's plans. However, Lucifer and the angels with him know far more than human beings were given to know. They were delighted to use this knowledge to their advantage in their battle to steal power from God, which they have tried for centuries by counterfeiting God's plan and using it to deceive humanity. Part of their knowledge extends to technology far beyond anything we know. God limited our knowledge because in His wisdom He knew that we would misuse it, as we have done ... especially with all the aid and assistance given to us by Satan, who has tremendous knowledge about the workings of this universe.

Recall the pyramids at Chichen Itza? As with all of the other grand pagan cultures in antiquity the Mayans built structures beyond our ken. They did it with technology shown to them by the demonic hosts who they worshipped, technology which we are still not privy to in the 21st Century, although our military knows of it, uses it and has kept it hidden from the public. That secrecy is about to end.

Let's take a look at the god the Mayans worshipped. His name was Quetzalcoatl, translated "Feathered Snake." Quetzalcoatl is one of the major deities of the Aztecs, Toltecs, and other Middle American peoples. The word 'snake' certainly has a familiar ring to Christians. Need I say more? Research into almost every ancient pagan religion curiously reveals that old serpent, or dragon, as an entity they deemed worthy of worship. The Kukulkan pyramid was built in such a way that the Seven Triangles of Light and Shadow appear on the west face of the northern staircase between 4:30 and 5:00 PM during the Spring equinox on March 21st. As the people gather annually for this event, their object of worship appears in the form of a shadow as an illuminated serpent wriggles down the steps - their serpent god, Quetzalcoatl.

How did the Mayans know how to build it this way? The serpent showed them. That old serpent of which the Bible tells us so much. The Mayans believed that Quetzalcoatl would return some day. Unfortunately for him, he will be returning to his own judgment after all the centuries of appearing in various disguises and under various identities, to be worshipped. His latest deception includes the 2012 'prophecy,' a clever counterfeit of God's judgment day, with such things as pole shift, solar armageddon, Planet X and the like. Even today's skeptics are becoming filled with fear.

There has never been a more opportune time for you to be armed with truth.

There is even more. Satan and his demonic hosts believe in Bible prophecy and will assist the coming Antichrist in his claim to be the Messiah. The Jews are awaiting their Messiah, and the Christians are awaiting the second coming of the true Messiah, Jesus Christ. The rest of the world is waiting for ETs to rescue them from worldwide catastrophe through 'ascension' to a new dimension. The devil is taking full advantage of this by speaking to millions through meditation or channelers. All religions are coming together in order to unify, to ultimately become "One" ... to become god. Good luck with that.

2012 is the fear factor that Satan can hook onto. He knows that God has told us through His Word that there will be chaos, tsunamis, earthquakes, famine, plagues, millions will die. Things of epic proportion are happening, which makes it easy for the serpent to suck people in, to turn things to his advantage for the finale of great deceptions at which he is so adept. He is the god of this world and intends to rule it completely, if only for the short time he knows he has.

Fear is not a part of the Christian vocabulary. Jesus Christ casts out all fear and promises his people deliverance from wrath. The Mayans and all ancient cultures were based on human sacrifices to the serpent in order to court the demonic world in return for technology, wealth, and eternal life promised them by the devil. Unfortunately they, along with the dark hosts, will not receive eternal life, but judgment and death.

Millions of people over the centuries have tried to pay for their sins with blood sacrifices - life for life. But we know that our redemption was paid for once, for all time, by Jesus Christ, the son of God. People inherently know they are sinful and are looking for solutions. So sad they don't know about the finished work of Jesus that redeems us from all sin forever.

What can you do to prepare for 2012? There is only one area of safety, of freedom from all fear. Jesus Christ is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE. Look to Jesus, who died once to save you from your sin to make you a royal heir of the only true God, the creator of the universe.

He's the one who is wrapping things up, and He is the only one who has, with 100% accuracy, predicted the future from beginning to END. There is no other religion which has had over 500 prophecies literally fulfilled, as the remaining ones will also be. There is no other religion with a resurrected and living God rather than dead ones. There is no other religion whereby you can have a person-to-person relationship with God.

And soon there will be no other religion at all. He is coming to reign and rule on earth, a time Christians greatly anticipate.

To remove all fear of 2012, you now know what to do. The only question remaining is:

Do you recognize TRUTH when you hear it?

The Futility of Idols:

²¹ “ Present your case,” says the LORD.

“ Bring forth your strong reasons,” says the King of Jacob.
²² “ Let them bring forth and show us what will happen;
Let them show the former things, what they were,
That we may consider them,
And know the latter end of them;
Or declare to us things to come.
²³ Show the things that are to come hereafter,
That we may know that you are gods;
Yes, do good or do evil,
That we may be dismayed and see it together.
²⁴ Indeed you are nothing,
And your work is nothing;
He who chooses you is an abomination.
²⁵ “ I have raised up one from the north,
And he shall come;
From the rising of the sun he shall call on My name;
And he shall come against princes as though mortar,
As the potter treads clay.
²⁶ Who has declared from the beginning, that we may know?
And former times, that we may say, ‘He is righteous’?
Surely there is no one who shows,
Surely there is no one who declares,
Surely there is no one who hears your words.
²⁷ The first time I said to Zion,

‘ Look, there they are!’
And I will give to Jerusalem one who brings good tidings.
²⁸ For I looked, and there was no man;
I looked among them, but there was no counselor,
Who, when I asked of them, could answer a word.
²⁹ Indeed they are all worthless;
Their works are nothing;

Their molded images are wind and confusion.

Isaiah 41:21-29

Royal Heir Through Redemption

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

2012: Should You Worry?

I wouldn't.

There is fear afoot ... a growing sense of doom. The end of the world will not occur on 12/21/12, nor will the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. However, something may happen - perhaps the arrival of the Antichrist?

Remember the "Harmonic Conversion" in 1987? This was the billed as the onset of the New Age, a time of metaphysical transformation to heal the earth and its people. Sixteen years later brought eight years of the Harmonic Concordance, introducing a new spiritual path beginning in 2004 and ending when? Why, 2012, of course.

Remember Jose Arguelles, author of The Mayan Factor? He's back as one of the 2012 champions. He says those who aren't spiritually evolved will be taken away from the world, a fervent belief of New Age leaders for many years. Hmmm. Sound a little like the Rapture?

And then there is 2012, the movie, featuring the slogan, "Who will be left behind?" That certainly has a familiar ring to it. Could that have been copied from Hal Lindsay, author of the Left Behind series of Bible prophecy books?

There is also the TV series, Flash Forward, where the entire world simultaneously blacked out for two minutes, seventeen seconds, and everyone saw a flash of their own future six months from the present day. One of the FBI agents says, "Well, one thing we know. It wasn't the Rapture!" Where did he get this?

So...does all of this sound somewhat familiar? Let's see: spiritual transformation, people being healed, new dimensions, spiritual paths, end of the world, rapture, doomsday, more rapture, FEAR.

Think DECEPTION!

The 2012 'prophecies' are nothing more than the New Age versions of Bible prophecy, an effort from the dark side to instill fear into people and lead them down the road to pagan prophecies. These tactics are used by the enemy - Satan - who has been engaged in copycat versions of God's plan for centuries. It's the best he can do (not being God).

Satan is well familiar with God's Word, holy scripture. Remember how he quoted scripture out of context to Jesus himself when Christ was fasting for forty days in the desert? Well, all of this 2012 fever is more of his piggybacking on the truth with his counterfeit versions for his own purposes. He is well aware that he has little time left before he is chained and thrown into the pit, so he's making the most of it.

How can this be? What were the Mayans predicting, and how did they know all these things?

You do not need to worry. Come back tomorrow and I'll tell you why.

Royal Heir

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Sifted by Satan

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22:31-32).

Christ said these words to Simon Peter on the evening before He was betrayed, tortured and tried. It was Passover, Jesus had just instituted the Lord's Supper and had told them that one of the disciples would betray him. There had then been a dispute among them about which of them should be considered the greatest. Christ had explained the servant nature of discipleship and that those who continued with Him in trials would sit on thrones and judge Israel.

After all this Jesus predicted Peter's denial of Him. Peter being Peter, he boldly proclaimed that he would never deny Christ, asserting that he was not only ready to go to prison for Christ, but to his own death, to which Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”

As was the case with Job, God allowed Satan to tempt Peter. Satan knew (as he still knows) that the fall of Christian leaders causes many others to fall, and if all of the disciples could be made to abandon the faith, the gospel could not be spread.

I think it was good for Peter to have heard this from Jesus in advance.

He was devastated by his own denial of Christ, which served to teach him important lessons.

One lesson was that although he was an intimate friend and follower of Jesus he was still human and susceptible to failure. He also learned that over-confidence can result in deadly disobedience when that confidence is in our own ability, even to remain faithful.

Another wonderful lesson was assurance of his salvation. Christ had informed him that he had been prayed for, that his "faith fail not." Because the Lord had predicted it in advance, on reflection Peter could be comforted and rest in the knowledge that Jesus knew he would fail, had in fact expected it, and yet still loved him and expected him to learn from it. Peter went on to become a missionary and a leader in the Jerusalem church.

Satan still desires to sift followers of Jesus, knowing the destruction it can cause to the believer and to those around him.

Aren't you glad for the stories of Peter that are in the Bible, and for the knowledge that the One who prayed for Peter "ever liveth to make intercession for (us)"? (Hebrews 7:25) What a great comfort it is to us to know that Christ will also intercede for us when we fail.

We all do.

Royal Heir

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

What's Your Passion?

What is the first thing you think of in the morning and the last thing you think of at night?

What would you rather be doing than anything else in the world?

When you have all of your work done, what is it you want to do most of all?

What is it that you want for your future?

If you had all the money in the world, what would you do with it?

What is your greatest passion?

THAT'S YOUR GOD.

Is it the right one?

Royal Heir

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Words I Have Learned To Hate

Inappropriate. This word is almost always used in an inappropriate way. In a world of ambiguity and the rejection of absolute standards, there is no wrong. No, a wrong act is now 'inappropriate.' Because your wrong may not be my wrong. The word 'inappropriate' was traditionally used for gaffes such as wearing boots with a sundress. Now it is applied to such things as rape or incest.

Disingenuous. This word is now used to cover up lies. When people lie, it is said of them that they are disingenuous. It's not as harsh. Not as true, either. The usage of the word itself is disingenuous. It's most frequent use is when referring to politicians.

Gentleman. This has always referred to a man of good breeding, well-mannered, of good standing. Not any more. Every murderer, robber, terrorist or low-life is referred to as a gentleman.

Lady. The female equivalent of "Gentleman."

Terrorist. Every CIA agent who has been subjected to mind control in order to be used by the government as a Manchurian Candidate to carry out false flag 'terror' attacks for the purpose of taking away our liberties, is referred to as a terrorist. The real terror is that we live under this type of deceptive and tyrannical government and most people don't realize it.

Fundamentalist. This has recently referred to a person who held to the set of basic tenets held by a particular religion (it was not in Webster's 1913 dictionary). Now it is used to identify that same person as crazed, unstable and dangerous in order to demonize the religion and the individual member of it, for political purposes.

Homeland security. This is a contradiction in terms, a non sequitur (An inference or conclusion that does not follow from the premises or evidence). There is nothing that is more of a threat to the citizens of the U.S. than 'homeland security,' which was set up specifically to take away liberties and put us under government tyranny.

Extremist. This has always referred to a person with unusual or unorthodox opinions. Now it refers to anyone who disagrees with you (if you can talk fast enough and loud enough to label them first). Most often used as a pejorative to disparage true Christians (born again, by definition) as a danger to society and your personal safety.

Radical. 1913 Webster's Unabridged: One who advocates radical changes in government or social institutions, especially such changes as are intended to level class inequalities. Now most often used as a pejorative to disparage true Christians (born again, by definition) as a danger to society and your personal safety.

Science. Traditional meaning: The study of a particular field with the object of setting down systematized knowledge. New meaning: A study designed to support a particular point of view; often engaged in by paid hacks with a political agenda.

Rights. Traditional definition: This word was not in the 1913 Webster's Unabridged Dictionary. New definition: Fair and humane treatment fundamentally due all individuals. Newer definition: "Fair and humane" replaced with "Everything you can get" fundamentally due all individuals even if you have to steal it from someone else. Definition has also been extended to all animals and plants (and possibly all inanimate matter).

Equality. The quality or state of being equal. New definition: All you can get, anyway you can get it, preferably without personal effort and backed up by law.

Child of The King

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved

They Will Not Endure Sound Doctrine....

"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Timothy 4:2-4

The above scripture tells us that 'the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.' That time has come.

Hosea tells us that the people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, and that those who reject knowledge will be rejected by God. These scriptures put the fear of God into me, but apparently most people have no fear of the Almighty these days. And, again, these scriptures tell us why. In fact, they give us many reasons why.

First, it says to preach the word. Our culture fails on those three words alone in the vast majority of churches in America today. The Word of God is not being preached.

Without knowing the Word, it is then impossible to fulfill the next admonition, which is to "reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." There is no such thing known to most Christians today as church discipline, and they would not tolerate reproof or rebuke, nor do they know - or have any interest in knowing - sound doctrine.

Why? Because "after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." Their ears itch to hear confirmation that their own desires and pleasures are right, and they will search until they find teachers who will give that confirmation to them rather than truth - something they will not tolerate. Rather, they want to hear lies (fables) which make them feel good. Unfortunately, they need not search very hard to find these false teachers and preachers. They are ubiquitous in the so-called church.

We don't want to be seen as radical, born again or separate from the world. And those are exactly the things Christ calls us to be.

The great majority of ministers, church leaders and laity have little knowledge or understanding of God's Word, nor does it concern them. (See my post of January 15, 2010.) The church is overtaken with heresy and false doctrine.

We are a decadent people. We are spiritually bankrupt. We are scripturally illiterate. We are filled with corruption and wickedness, as reflected by our government; and we are infested with idolatry. We are the perfect example of the blind leading the blind.

Our immortal souls are suffering the throes of death. We have no interest in telling people about the Lord because we don't know Him. If we knew Him, we couldn't keep from telling others.We are therefore unable to follow His instruction to 'go ye into all the world and preach the gospel' because we are disobedient.

We each have our own god and love to look in the mirror to see that god. It is called Self. It is the very thing that we must crucify in order to be a Christian. But we don't know, or care, about that. We call ourselves 'good'. We're busy doing church work. We think quite highly of ourselves. We've got Self Esteem, doncha know?

We are a deluded, deceived, willfully ignorant, foolish and stubborn people who give God a bad name (if that were possible) by pretending we know Him while living like ... and for ... the devil - who, I might add, we do not really 'believe in.' (He loves that.)

It is getting more and more depressing to enter the doors of most churches. Hollow, shallow, dead, are the words that come to mind.

Ignorance may be bliss, but only until you meet your Maker. And that may be very soon.

A Child of The King

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Maitreya Steps Forward

The way prepared by His Herald the ‘star’, Maitreya, the World Teacher, has given His first interview on American television. Millions have heard Him speak both on TV and the internet.

His open mission has begun.

He was introduced not as Maitreya, the World Teacher and Head of our Spiritual Hierarchy, but simply as a man, one of us. In this way He “ensures that men follow and support Him for the truth and sanity of His ideas rather than for His status”.

He spoke earnestly of the need for peace, achievable only through the creation of justice and the sharing of the world’s resources.

This is the first of many such interviews which will be given in the USA, Japan, Europe and elsewhere, bringing His message of hope to the world.

| Benjamin Creme
14 January 2010 |

http://www.share-international.org/

**************

If you do not know who "Lord Maitreya" is feel free to leave a comment requesting more information.

Royal Heir

For Grandparents & Grandchildren

This is something I wrote fourteen years ago and I thought you might enjoy it.

1996

My husband and I were sitting in our office working away when we heard a fax coming through. I accessed the fax center, opened the view of the incoming item, and there before my wondering eyes appeared a page full of scribbling.

No thought was required. Even though this was a first, I knew instantly who the sender was.

I pulled out the keyboard, went to "Send Fax," typed the fax, TO: Zak, and wrote my return message: "Hi, Zak! Thanks for sending the beautiful picture. Grandma loves you. See you Sunday, XOXO."

My grandson, Zak is 3-1/2 years old, and he had just sent and received his first fax. Both Zak and I were so thrilled with this new way of communicating that we went through the process once more. Then I went to bed happy.

We have a special communication with Zak that only occurs between grandparents and grandchildren.

Simply put, he doesn't have to do a thing. We love him because he exists.

Now we can express that special communication through the fax machine. That's what being a grandma in the '90s is all about!

_________________________FOLLOW-UP NOTE:

1/16/2010:

Now he is closing in on his 18th birthday, and I can attest to the fact that we still love him because he exists.

Isn't unconditional love wonderful?

Royal Heir

Copyright 1996. All Rights Reserved.

State of Christianity in the U.S.

It's not pretty.

Barna Research Group conducts research on Christian issues in the U.S., and I would like to lay out some of their findings in their Year-in-Review for 2009. Their findings are summarized into four themes.

1. Americans are increasingly more interested in faith and spirituality than in Christianity.

Many of our basic assumptions are no longer firm or predictable. They say that "these days the faith arena is a marketplace from which we get ideas, beliefs, relationships, habits, rituals and traditions that make immediate sense to us, and with which we are comfortable." The actual components of our beliefs are a result of our momentary needs and perceptions.

Being a Christian is not as attractive to Americans as it once was, for two basic reasons: 1) the media has unfavorably depicted Christianity, devout Christians and churches, and 2) it is rare to find a person who is an examplar of the Christian faith.

The result is that there is less loyalty to a faith brand than to SELF. Most Americans are not out to discover truth or God, but to become happy, successful, comfortable and secure. Only 50% of adults say that Christianity is their faith of choice, and most who say they are Christian believe that non-Christian religions teach the same truths and principles as does the Bible.

2. Faith is now individual and customized.

Most Americans concoct a personal faith from a broad spectrum of moral, ethical and spiritual sources. "We become our own unchallenged spiritual authorities, defining truth and reality as we see fit." People are engaging in hybrid faiths where there is no right or wrong and all beliefs are considered equally valid. Critique of beliefs is considered rude and 'inappropriate.' There are no absolutes; everything is relative.

Almost 75% say they will develop their own religious beliefs rather than accepting a particular doctrine and believe that God motivates them through various experiences. Only 1/3 believe in absolute moral truth.

3. Biblical literacy does not exist for most people, nor is it a goal in the United States.

Little, if any, progress is being made toward teaching people to become biblically literate. There is amazingly little interest in knowing and applying scriptural principles in the lives of most people, nor is there much, if any, spiritual growth in understanding the basic tenets of scripture. Most people who open the Bible at all will pick out a short passage, and without regard for context, will look at the primary thought. If they like it, they will accept it. If not, they reject it as not relevant to their interests, and move on.

Barna notes that the assumptions of preachers and teachers of the Bible is not accurate, saying, "The problem facing the Christian Church is not that people lack a complete set of beliefs; the problem is that they have a full slate of beliefs in mind, which they think are consistent with biblical teachings, and they are neither open to being proven wrong nor to learning new insights. Our research suggest that this challenge initially emerges in the late adolescent or early teenage years. By the time most Americans reach the age of 13 or 14, they think they pretty much know everything of value the Bible has to teach and they are no longer interested in learning more."

Other results showed that 68% of self-identified Christians have heard of spiritual gifts, but only 1/3 can actually identify themselves with a gift. Less than 20% has a biblical worldview, and only half firmly believe the Bible to be accurate in its principles. Only 27% are confident that Satan exists and less than 40% believe that an individual can be influenced by spiritual forces. And yet 81% say spiritual maturity is achieved by following the rules of the Bible.

4. Effectively measuring spirituality, either personally through self-examination, or through the church, is uncommon and unlikely to change in the near future.

"Our studies showed that almost nine out of ten senior pastors of Protestant churches asserted that spiritual immaturity is one of the most serious problems facing the Church. Yet relatively few of those pastors believe that such immaturity is reflected in their church....those pastors who made any attempt to measure maturity were more likely to gauge depth on the basis of participation in programs than to evaluate people's spiritual understanding or any type of transformational fruit in their lives. "

It seems pretty clear where the problem lies.

The report goes on to point out that individuals have an avid interest in themselves and how they compare to others, but that interest does not extend to spiritual things. From the quote above, it seems obvious that the lack of motivation lies with pastors and church leadership who do not understand spiritual depth themselves.

Not only was an interest in spiritual growth lacking in individuals, but a majority of Americans did not even know how their church would define it.

Barna adds: "It may well be that spiritual evaluation is so uncommon because people fear that the results might suggest the need for different growth strategies or for more aggressive engagement in the growth process. No matter what the underlying reason is, the bottom line among both the clergy and laity was indifference toward their acknowledged lack of evaluation."

And we wonder why our entire culture is falling apart? God help us.

"These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked ... He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches... " Rev. 3

Royal Heir

P.S. The entire report may be found at www.barna.org.


Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

God's Waiting Room, Part 3 of 3

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God." Romans 8:18-19

All of God's children need to spend time in His Waiting Room. It is the place where the Potter molds the clay. It's where we mature, where we grow up, where He makes us fit for His work.

Think of those who spent years waiting. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, the prophets. And in the New Testament, John the Baptist spent his entire life waiting for the Messiah, as did Simeon and Anna.

We are too impatient in the 21st century. We want all the wrong things and we want them now. That's why we're in the mess we are in.

We need to welcome time in the Waiting Room. It is where we learn to worship. It is where we learn to know God personally. People can't hear God these days because they are too busy for Him. There is too much noise in our lives. Our priorities are wrong.

"Be still, and know that I am God," He says.

We need to SEEK the Waiting Room.

It can be painful at first. It takes time to slow down. It takes time to be able to be quiet, to be hidden, to learn solitude. We learn about ourselves, which is always painful. And we learn about God, we make his acquaintance, we learn to hear His voice and then to actually listen to Him. And we can learn to know Him intimately.

Christianity is not a religion. It's a relationship. With the very Creator of the universe.

Somehow I don't think we believe eternal life is real. It's just a word to most people. A ghostly, shadowy dreamlike idea of a spirit floating in the 'ether.' If so, we are in for a huge awakening. It's nothing like that.

The next phase of life after this one, for the Christian, will be far more real, far more exhilarating, exciting and interesting. This life is but a shadow of what's to come.

The Waiting Room is the schoolroom in which we prepare for everlasting life.

ENROLL NOW.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matt 6:19-21

An Heir of The King

"For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. ²³that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body."Romans 8:22-23


Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

God's Waiting Room, Part 2 of 3

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
And in His word I do hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
More than those who watch for the morning—
Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.
Psalm 130:5-6

Fast Forward to 2004. It is now thirty years later.

I had now been happily married for 23 years. My son, Michael, was happily married and we now had three grandchildren. We had moved to the country in 1993 and my parents moved in with us. Daddy had moved on to heaven in 2002. Mother still lived with us. The past thirty years had flown by.

It had been a wonderful thirty years. During those years I worked at UOP for nearly 25 years. I traveled to the Holy Land, the Middle East, Europe, Mexico, went on a cruise to the Bahamas. I had played the piano for many churches, taught Sunday School, and have many lifetime Christian friends. Mother and I began speaking together at churches and eventually I went on alone. David and I taught financial seminars for twenty years at various colleges. We went on three vacations in all those years. That's how busy we've always been. And yet so close.

I remained a student of the Bible even during the busyness of life, and I had been in God's Waiting Room a couple of times. I will tell you about the most recent one.

I decided to early-retire in 2004. David had a secure position, our finances and future seemed secure (Wrong! but that's another story...), and Mother was at home alone while I was at work now, and she was partially disabled. I needed to be at home more.

I had everything planned, the things I would do when I retired. Or so I thought - until the Lord nipped that whole thing in the bud, slammed that door shut, and before I knew it I was back in the Waiting Room. By this time in my life I wasn't even disappointed because I knew what that meant. I just wondered if I would be too old to do anything by the time I 'got out.' Well, it wasn't my problem. The Lord is in charge.

Back into the Waiting Room I went.

Mother, who was 91, was restricted to a wheelchair 100% of the time when I retired in 2004. Those were days I wouldn't trade for anything. She was my best friend. We spend many hours talking about spiritual things, politics, family, everything. She was mentally as sharp as she had always been. Many friends and relatives came to visit during those years, and for the first time in my adult life I was at home. What a blessing those years were for both of us. The greatest gift the Lord has ever given me was my Christian heritage.

There were two of us in the Waiting Room now. Mother and me.

I was able to spend many hours in research and Bible study during those years. Soon it got to the point where I was afraid to leave her for even an hour. I knew this was hard on my husband, but he never complained. He was like a son to my parents. They were very close. A man like that doesn't grow on trees.

Finally, in 2006, Mother had what the doctor thought was a series of small strokes, and in her delirium was taken to Hospice House in Stockton. Everyone thought she was dying, but over an eight-week period she completely recovered. Due to her deteriorating debilitative arthritis, however, her physical condition had become such that she needed 24/7 nursing. When she came out of Hospice House we had to put her in Skilled Nursing in the same facility that she and my father had lived in for a while, which made the transition easier because she knew so many people there.

I had always wanted her to be at home as long as she lived, so this was very difficult for me. I made the trip to see her in Stockton two or three times each week for the next two years. We would have lunch together and visit for a couple of hours. We would always be deep in animated conversation, and I know that everyone wondered what in the world we always found to talk about. What a privilege it was to have my parents for so many years, to have access to such quality and wisdom. What a blessing.

Then one day she took to her bed and five days later she was in the Lord's presence. She and I both knew she was going, and we had a wonderful five days. I never mourned or cried. How could I? I knew where she was going and knew that I would see her again. It was a tender and beautiful experience. As the Lord had done so often before, His hand just lifted me up above the circumstances and sustained me above and beyond the natural human realm.

Yes, in 2002 God had other plans for me. He would provide His precious child - my saintly mother - with my constant care. She would have at her side the one person on earth who loved her almost as much as He did. He provides for His own. Yes he does.

I've been in God's Waiting Room for eight years this time.

How rich it has been. How much I have learned. It may be true that I spend so much time on heavenly things that I'm no earthly good. It may be that the next time the Lord calls me out it will be when He comes to reign and rule right here on earth. I think that will be very soon.

A Citizen of Heaven

"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ..." Philippians 3:20


Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

God's Waiting Room, Part 1 of 3

"The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him." Lamentations 3:25

Do you wait well?

One of the most important and profound lessons I have learned as a Christian is how to wait.

I am not a naturally patient person. In fact, in my younger days, impatience was a hallmark of my nature. I am by nature an "action" person. I see a problem, decide on a course of action, and I want it done NOW. I set out immediately to get it accomplished. Grass never grew under my feet. This does not work well when one is dealing with the Lord because He requires you to act on His plan rather than on your own plan.

When you see how He works, you learn to love God's Waiting Room. And you learn that if you are willing to wait He leads you in a direction you never would have dreamed of on your own. I will give you two examples from my own experience.

I have played the piano since I was six years old. (I took violin lessons, too, but my dad made me quit those. He couldn't stand the noise.) Some time in the mid 1970s I was looking around to get involved in something new, and it wasn't happening. I was working full-time, had been involved in the pro-life movement, had almost completed a degree in Computer Systems Analysis going to night school, played the piano for First Baptist Church in Stockton, was involved with Concerned Women For America, and much more.

All of a sudden several of those activities wound down. And, after going through a university-wide computer conversion at my job as an accountant at UOP, and seeing the systems people being called in the middle of the night to come down and solve a problem, I decided that was not something I wanted to do. I quit my computer course just two classes short of that degree.

Now I had suddenly gained some blocks of time that I wanted to fill and began casting around for some new interest. Nothing emerged. Zip, zilch, nada.

It was around this time that I really began to take my Christian life very seriously, and so I began to pray about it. What was it that the Lord wanted me to do? I didn't realize it at the time, but I was about to spend my first spell in God's Waiting Room.

I have always loved to read but figured I could do more of that when I got 'old.' But, the Lord was able to get through to me that I needed to study. And so I became commited to have regular devotions -- prayer and Bible study. Now when I commit myself to something there's nothing in the world that's going to get in my way. And I threw myself into it with my characteristic zeal.

Not only did I have my scheduled devotions, but I found myself spending hour upon hour reading the Bible and studying commentaries. To my great amazement it turned out to be -- and still is -- the most absolutely fascinating thing I've ever done. I was seriously hooked on God's Word! The whole thing...Old and New Testaments. The first time through, some of it was a little tough, but slowly the Lord opened it up for me. I spent every spare minute in it.

I didn't even know it ... but I was in the Waiting Room. And I stayed there for a couple of years. I could have stayed forever.

One evening the phone rang and it was a man named Stan Dennis. He had heard of me through a mutual friend and wanted to know if I would be interested in playing piano for a traveling gospel group, The Crusaders. Well, I was completely honest and told him I would be thrilled to do that but I was positive that I was not the person they wanted, since everyone in the group played their instruments by ear, and I played strictly from written music. And yet he persisted. When I hung up I wondered how it had happened that I had agreed to go to just one practice and meet everyone. I knew it would be a waste of everyone's time and almost called him back and cancelled.

I didn't know it at the time, but the Lord had just opened the door of the Waiting Room and was calling me out.

The next week I showed up and met the four others in the group and proceeded to have the most frightening and humiliating scene in my life. It was awful. They gave me written words with chords written in by hand. I didn't have a clue what to do with it. It wasn't 'regular' music ... there were no notes ... I had never heard the songs before ... there was no 'time signature' telling the rhythm or beat ... and they began to sing and play their instruments. At some point I had the idea maybe we could record them doing the songs and I could work at home from the tape, so that is what we did.

Somehow the session ended. It was impossible to believe they actually wanted me to come back for another practice. I think this was the first time in my life that I had ever really failed at anything and I felt like a miserable failure. It was terrible. Unbearable.

Yet - somehow the indomitable spirit rose up in me and I was determined to work from those tapes and learn how to do this. After all, my name isn't Carole (Noel...Song) for nothing! I worked as if my life depended on it during that week, listening to those tapes probably hundreds of times and trying to work out the chords from the home-made music sheets and play along.

I didn't feel great about it by the time the next session rolled around but it was a challenge. I wasn't as good at the practice session as I thought I had been at home, but it was a cut above the week before. (It would have been impossible for it to have been worse.) Somehow we got through it, but I pressed upon them my offer to just back out. They refused to hear it. The third week was another cut above the second week.

I traveled with the Crusaders for over 15 years. We were gone almost every Sunday to churches throughout California. I had to stop playing for First Baptist. My son, Michael, was at that critical age of transition from adolescent to teen, and I was a single mom. He joined the group and we were able to do that wonderful Christian work together for several years. I composed all of the arrangements, learning to not only play by chord only, but learning how to turn the wonderful 'freedom from notes' into a personal expression of gratitude, through music, to that beautiful Holy Spirit who was teaching me Himself.

I went on to play for some fantastic choirs and with a contingent from the Stockton Symphony.

I never played the piano the same way again. The Lord had taken me and my gift and had transformed both.

It was several years later before I realized that I had been in God's Waiting Room, a room I have returned to often at His beck and call. A room I have come to love.

A Child of the King

^" Therefore I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me." Micah 7:7


Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Eternally Thankful

I am so grateful. Hardly a day goes by that I don't marvel at how I could be so fortunate as to live in this particular time and place in all of human history. No society in history has known such freedom, no kings such splendor as the United States of America. It has truly been blessed.

When I was young, one of the concepts I pondered was the biblical idea of the 'sins of the fathers.' I now understand that not only the sin heritage is passed down from generation to generation, but also the heritage of blessings. This is the significance of one's heritage.

As an individual I have the great personal fortune to have had the blessings and benefits of a Christian heritage which goes back generations. We have all inherited a nation founded by a great many people of faith and freedom, and thus have a great duty and an awesome responsibility to pass those virtues on.

Our priorities reflect those values that hold the most importance to us. In my own life, time is always of the essence. I am very jealous of my time, wanting every second to count. I am always re-prioritizing, slashing and burning those things which are not essential, in order to focus on the most important things.

In past years that focus has been on my family and my God. I'm fortunate to have many dear friends and to have had a career in a beautiful setting with many fine people for almost 25 years. I'm so blessed to live in the countryside. There is peace and quiet. I'm thankful for music, my grand piano, indescribable sunrises and sunsets, for roses, for pets (well...), for deer, for coyotes and for the American eagles that sometimes perch on my trees.

I'm thankful for the beauty of the sun and the rain, the heat and the cold, modern appliances, cars, makeup, Pilates, QVC, UPS, FedEx, good neighbors, cable, cell phones, central heat and air, glasses, doctors, nurses, dentists and their staffs, and Avon ladies. I'm happy - as was my father - that The Stockton Record is on my doorstep each morning so that I can do the crossword puzzle (it hones my skills).

I'm thankful for churches, libraries, education, C-SPAN and for books, for email, the internet and access to world news. I appreciate missionaries and ministers who stay true to the gospel, hard-working laymen, teens, seniors and the miracle of tiny new souls. I'm grateful for the Bible and for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, who radically - and in one moment - transformed my life.

I'm appreciative of those who work for justice, truth and peace, for home schoolers, teachers and the people who were kind and considerate to my parents in the retirement apartment. I have been blessed with godly parents who walked the walk, lived with us and lived to a ripe old age. I have the best Christian son, daughter-in-law and grandson in the world. Not only are they my children, but they are my friends. Who could ask for more?

The Lord gave me a husband who is my perfect complement and my best friend. I love art, prose, poetry, fine restaurants, majestic music and the beauty of architecture and sculpture. I could go on forever when I start counting my blessings. My cup is overly full.

But if circumstances change (and they have)? What if we have more evil, economic tragedy, nuclear war in our land, a reduced standard of living, even poverty? What if? What if? Not to worry. Paul and the apostles, who made spreading the good news their top priority, also spent time in prison, were persecuted and died in a variety of terrible ways.

True joy and a thankful heart are not dependent upon circumstances, but are the calm of a soul at peace with its fellowman, with God, with eternity.

It comes with being a royal heir.

A Child of The King

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

You MUST Be Born Again

"Ye must be born again." John 3:7.

End of conversation.

I don't see how it could be any clearer. The words were spoken by Jesus Himself, if you're looking for even greater authority than the written word, the Bible.

And yet it seems like 75% of so-called "Christians" disagree with that statement, many even believing that there are many paths to God. I guess it depends on which God you're looking for. But the God who was born of a virgin, died for our sins, was resurrected on the third day and is coming back in power and glory to reign for eternity is the One I have reference to - Jesus Christ.

Maybe it's the 'dumbing down' of America that makes it impossible for people to understand plain English. Or, more likely, it's ignorance of the Word of God itself.

And yet we have the bulk of people who claim the name of Christian when it's beneficial, who think that if they were baptized as a baby and hit the church scene now and then, they're in like Flynn. I'm afraid they are in for an eternal surprise: "Depart from me. I never knew you."

It seems to be that if you claim to be "born again" you are ridiculed and harassed (like Jesus was) and people can't understand why you have to make such a fuss about it and embarrass all the rest of the church people. Why can't 'you people' just lay low and quit feeling like you have to always be proclaiming publicly what you believe in?

Answer: "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel," another statement from Jesus Himself instructing His people.

Church leaders and laity alike enjoy using the trappings of Christianity for its social conveniences, its rites of weddings and funerals, and they like to exhibit false piety should the occasion benefit them for their associations with a church. Or, they may enjoy it as a sort of discipline to remind them to do good works -- which ALSO will not get them to heaven. But they do not want anyone to think they are 'born again.' They needn't worry. No one does.

They are not born again, and therefore their lives have not been transformed. They do not have the Holy Spirit living in their lives, and they have no personal relationship with the Redeemer of the world, the very one who died for their sin. Even non-Christians recognize the hypocrisy.

Isn't it tragically ironic that it is the very political agendas and votes of these people, for politicians who openly and shamelessly stand for all kinds of immorality and non-Christian beliefs, that has gotten this country into the sorry state it's in? And yet they still cannot see the truth, that they are disobedient and working against everything that Jesus stood for.

Is it surprising? No. It's the same problem the Jews had with God all throughout their history. They chose self and made self-serving decisions. It's the same story all over again under the new covenant God made through Jesus Christ on earth. As it says in Ecclesiastes, there's nothing new under the sun. That's why few will live eternally with Christ.

True Christians don't want anyone to miss out, and certainly not due to their own neglect of failing to tell others how Jesus has changed their lives completely. They want to share the Good News.

"Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." Mark 8:38.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16.

I rest my case.

Proud to be
A ROYAL HEIR

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Demonic Activity in America

Families across this nation from sea to shining sea are afraid for - and of - their children, largely because the increasingly immoral conditions of our culture have created a climate favorable for the entrance of demonic activity as a normal condition - or even a desired condition as we see in the case of "psychic children."

Twenty years ago there were over 8,000 satanic covens in the U.S. according to a Vatican spokesman. These covens have become specialized for various groups such as priests, homosexuals, military and, perhaps scariest of all, teens.

Forty years ago Satanism was a box office draw, but demonic possession is not just a dark tale of ogres and happy endings. It is real, and real prices are paid, documented for us in the disintegration of the family unit; in the breakup of our educational system; in the disappearance of publicly accepted norms of decency in language, dress and behavior; in the lives of our youth, everywhere deformed by stunning violence and sudden death; by teenage sexual activity and abortion; by drug and alcohol addiction; by disease; by suicide; and by fear.

The United States is arguably now the most violent of the so-called developed nations of the world.

Parents have every reason to be concerned. The great moral decadence in society has left our children virtually defenseless against demon possession. Little children are thrown into a veritable sea of rottenness when they enter public school. The priorities are not to read and write the language, or to become proficient in science, math, government, history and civics. No. They are taught about condoms, deviant sex, abortion and every other manner of evil, and are fed drugs and carefully selected political agendas. In school they are taught to meditate (the primary vehicle for the entrance of demons) and to seek spirit guides.

And yet parents still sacrifice their children to one of the most demonic organizations in existence, the public school system. And then they wonder what went wrong. They refuse to look at the evidence and accept the truth.

As individuals and as a society we seem no longer able to offer our children truth and goodness, providing unimpeded freedom for demonic possession to take root and flourish. Once again, as in the time of Christ, we find some of the major offenders to be the church hierarchies. The church leadership often no longer accepts, believes or teaches the faith, and they themselves often suffer from a diminished recognition of demonic activity, if not flat-out involvement in it through such demonic activities as labyrinths, 'Christian' yoga, centering prayer and a broad assortment of activities rampant in the currently-forming new satanic religion which has been infiltrating the Church for 100 years. We are seeing the ultimate example of the blind leading the blind.

The human soul is created in such a way as to require something finer and higher. That is why God created us in His image. If we, as a society, furnish our youth with no choices for purity and truth, but educate them only in evil, then all of our past achievements will be rendered meaningless. Such societies are doomed for destruction.

"Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues." Rev. 18:3-5

Heir of Salvation

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

No More Time

It is time to declare an end to political correctness, which should certainly have come to its natural conclusion with 9/11/01.

During the last several decades we have allowed, and become desensitized to, the most outrageous and immoral influences as they have impacted our children and destroyed our nation. This has been cleverly carried out as we have allowed ourselves to be silenced by the perpetrators. They've convinced us that the greatest virtue is in not offending anyone.

Well, the whole thing offends me. It is time to find our voices.

The majority of people know the truth and look furtively over their shoulders to see who might be listening as they make the simplest common sense observations that must not be mentioned aloud. We feel each other out, checking to make sure we are not talking to a member of the Thought Police.

We have arrived at the borders of tyranny and social control. No one is marched out and shot, of course. Yet. The penalties for non-conformity are far subtler. Intimidation is highly effective. You stand out if you turn down sensitivity training, gauchely point out the NEA's agenda or resist the arm-twisting to donate to someone else's favorite charity (which supports things contrary to your own values).

You are careful not to stand for the wrong thing. It is far easier to stand for nothing. After all, word gets around. You could be publicly humiliated, lose your job or become the target of a lawsuit. There goes your life.

Our children are being indoctrinated by the schools, the media, movies, TV and what erroneously passes for music. Any kind of sex, no matter how perverse, is good - and the younger the better. Teens are no longer considered capable of abstinence until marriage, though it has been the standard throughout human history.

Parents are prime suspects for keeping an eye on, especially those audacious enough to think they are the ultimate authorities over their own children or who have beliefs or rules of any kind. The important idea here is that parents are not to be trusted. After that, the rest is easy.

Moments of silence are popular as a nifty way to opt out of prayer to the Almighty ... offending God while pacifying mortals. This will work until you roll up to the Golden Gates. "Let's all get together and pray to our own gods" has a nice ring to it. Ecumenical services feel so civilized and friendly. And blasphemous.

The Bible says that God is a jealous god, unwilling to share the stage with other gods, saying, "I am he, and there is no god besides me."

Above all, one must tolerate absolutely everything. There are exceptions: the First and Second amendments, Christianity, traditional moral values, history before it was rewritten, a standard of right and wrong, individual achievement, personal responsibility, duty to country and a willingness to sacrifice one's life if necessary, for liberty or faith.

A recent poll of young people revealed that 75% do not believe American values are superior to those of other countries. How tragically right they are.

One must accept the idea that the Founders insisted on an armed citizenry so people would be prepared to go hunting at the drop of a hat; that animals and plants deserve the same rights as humans; and that it is a good idea to forego our sovereignty and freedoms by bending to the will of the United Nations and the NWO.

It also makes things easier if you are either a Democrat or a Republican who continually and automatically bashes the other party in all things. It's easier than thinking for yourself.

We must not question the concept of having thousands of our troops protecting borders across the world, while our own borders are a dream come true for illegal aliens. Give me your poor, your tired, your terrorists. We are asked to accept the insanity of ignoring a criminal's physical profile while subjecting ourselves to the indignity of undressing publicly at the airport.

We agonize about why everyone hates us so much without understanding that evil resides in the heart of those who hate rather than the one hated. We are not completely exonerated, though. The enemy we have met is at least partly us. We are up against evil, both inside our own hearts and in the corrupt politicians who rule from that cesspool, Washington, DC.

We must find and dust off our moral compass and use it. Today. We must separate ourselves from evil, speak the truth, get down on our knees and repent for allowing ourselves and our nation to sink into this moral morass and beg God for forgiveness and mercy.

We will never, ever again have the United States that we have known and loved. It's far too late for that whether you realize it or not. That war has been lost.

There is something far more important at stake now. And that is your eternal soul. The conflict we engage in now will be won only with spiritual armor and a deep commitment to our blessed hope, Jesus Christ.

The U.S. Supreme Court of 1892 said the following:

"Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon the teachings of the Redeemer of Mankind. It is impossible that it should be otherwise; and in this sense and to this extent, our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian."

That day is gone. There is very little left that is Christian today in this nation, even among those who call themselves by the name.

There is no time to waste. Set your clocks to eternal time.

In His Service,

Royal Heir

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Where Have All The Heroes Gone?

They say there are no heroes anymore. They are wrong.

Last week I attended the funeral of a man who was approaching 90. He was a plain, simple, hard-working man. He was married to the same woman for 60 years. He was a kind and gentle man, a father and grandfather.

He loved music and was a leader in his church. He loved the young people, and they loved him. As an old man he sat in the back of the church, and all the children came to sit with him. He was a hero.

He was not famous or powerful, wealthy or handsome, all of the qualities the world appears to admire but which are as elusive as stardust. He had the qualities that endure, qualities that touch the lives of others forever in a positive way: honor, integrity, truthfulness, love for those around him, commitment to his faith and dedication to a purpose in life. He was honest. His word was his bond. His life was consistently good. Not perfect, no doubt. But consistently maturing in wisdom, kindness and understanding. A life consistently moving in the right direction.

He's not the only hero I know. I have had the good fortune to know many, including my own parents, who are no longer with us in the flesh. I wonder if all the heroes are old and will all be gone some day. It isn't true because my son is a hero, and my grandson shows every sign of one, too.

And then I think about some of my friends. Imperfect, struggling with difficult issues in life. Feeling sometimes they are failing; falling down and getting up again. But not as much anymore. Learning. Maturing. Being consistent. Being dependable. Working hard. Being self-reliant. Growing wiser. Knowing there is pain in loving. Loving anyway. Giving with no expectation of return. Sacrificing without noticing.

But caring enough to say no sometimes. Teaching their children and grandchildren and wishing they could learn without going through the suffering. Believing in their ideals enough to live up to them. Having a faith strong enough to sustain them. Recognizing that some things are important enough to die for. Hoping they would be strong enough to do it. Realizing they might have to. Being examples. Being heroes. Raising heroes.

Yes, there are still plenty of heroes around. If you look in the right places.

A Child of the King

Copyright 1999. All Rights Reserved.

Real Men

Are real men disappearing from society?

I look around at the young so-called males, and the crop seems infinitely depressing to me. Call me old-fashioned, but it seems that we're witnessing the slow sissification of the male sex, and I wonder at the implications for the nation's future - which is plenty bleak without this factor added in.

Sensitive and vulnerable, the modern youth is so in touch with his feelings that they have replaced thinking. If he does happen to show any errant signs of masculinity or aggressiveness, the school system medicates him out of it at a suitably young age. Fortified by his zombie-like state, he is able to endure a certain amount of pain, perhaps enough to have an ear or two pierced, and is able to relate this event with soft-spoken, whiny words such as, "Um, like, my mom let me borrow her earring."

This teen, with a doe-like look in his limpid eyes, donned in the latest fashion, every hair in place, is better groomed than most girls I know. There seems to be a latent assumption that all this will somehow translate into a successful life, although it's a safe bet that little time is wasted on such substantial thoughts as what the future might hold, especially when the simplest concepts and ideas are met with a blank look.

I wonder - even if he doesn't - what in the world he will possibly do in life. And when he will get started. It's a bleak speculation.

Thank God I wasn't born too late to hook up with a real man, one who knows how to handle a gun, hunt and fish, has a dog, a beard and a pickup truck.

No Neanderthal, he has a deep faith, something between his ears and can engage in conversation about almost anything. He has purpose in life, works hard, takes care of business and has deep enough thoughts to philosophize from time to time.

And...he's smart enough to know how to live with me.

He is not necessarily impeccable in his habits, often spends more time in the bathroom when the list gets too long, leaves unidentifiable sticky stuff on the kitchen floor and hasn't seemed to figure out what hangers are for. Another thing ... every time he fixes something he breaks two others.

He expects there to be hunting clubs, motorcycles and RVs in heaven - as perhaps there will be. (We may be going to separate heavens.) Grubby on weekends, covered in all manner of dirt, engine grease, lawn clippings, and smelling a bit like a mixture of dog and gun oil, this is the type of guy a real woman wants around when the chips are down.

I've made my own contribution of real men to society. I remember a few years ago when my grandson came home from a Cub Scout trip, ecstatic that he was the only one there who knew about guns and gun safety - thanks to my son, another real man.

Perhaps there is hope.

Royal Heir

Copyright 2002. All Rights Reserved.

Properly Using Your Gifts

Yes, there is a wrong way to use the gifts God gives to us. People like me have to live a long, long time to figure this out. The basic lesson is this: don't try to fit a round peg (yourself) into a square hole (Christian service).

Permit me to explain.

God gives each of us a specific nature to be used with our specific gifts. The proper use of our gifts will bring great joy to us, be of spiritual benefit to others and, above all, will glorify the Lord. If someone asks you to do something, and you hate every second of it, that's a huge clue that it may not be your gift. Using your gift as the Lord intends brings incredible satisfaction.

For example, we often expect our pastors to be brilliant preachers, gifted teachers, wise counselors, have the administrative skills of corporate CEOs, have perfect marriages, children to die for, be witty writers...and that's just for starters. We expect them to be on call 24/7, take a cut in pay when times are tough, never complain or show irritation, never disagree with anyone and generally keep everyone happy with themselves and with him. And the thanks he gets? If he makes one wrong move the members go home after church on Sunday and have 'roast pastor.'

How do I know this? My parents were in the ministry.

Now this is clearly impossible. We cannot make everyone happy. The Lord Himself certainly didn't. And yet the man is clearly called to the ministry, one of the toughest jobs on the face of the earth. Who does he go to for support and succor? The stress of the ministry is horrendous. Do you pray for your pastor and his family? Make sure you do it. And often.

(Now how did I end up going down that rabbit trail?)

This is not a case of a man going into the wrong field or misusing his gifts. He was called of the Lord. It's a case of people expecting too much of one individual. This is especially true in the smaller churches, and it's a shame because pastoral burnout is a rampant problem. Where is the class that teaches this truth to church members? There are all kinds of retreats, seminars, conferences, support groups, etc. for church members to attend, but I have never seen one that addressed support and consideration for the pastor's family.

Another example is my own experience. My gifts are essentially speaking, teaching, writing, counseling and music. The Lord gave me a nature to accommodate those things. I have done all of these for many years and have seldom run into any problem. You may notice that these are not 'team' gifts as a general rule. There is a ton of preparation to do any one of them, and I love working alone...thinking, reading, etc. I've been doing all of these for so many years that they are second nature to me. Give me a subject, give me five minutes, and I can talk about it, write about it, counsel others about it, maybe even write a song about it! That comes from experience.
I love to do them.

On the other hand, if you ask me to be on a church board, there's no way it's going to happen. To me, that would be like going to an insurance seminar or something. I would be bored, restless, and disgusted that there was so much talk about something like what color to paint the nursery. I couldn't care less. And all that discussion seems to me a colossal waste of time. It will irritate me no end. (But I won't say anything...I just won't make that mistake again.)

What else don't I do? I can't sew. I hate crafts. I feel that I don't relate well to children ... I don't know what to say to them. I dislike small talk. Preparing and taking a dish to a potluck makes me wonder if this is what having a nervous breakdown is like (although I will do it). I wouldn't want to ever plan an event. I hate practicing anything. Sitting and just being an observer is absolute torture, with one exception: the sermon is my favorite part of any service. In other words I must be learning, thinking or accomplishing something in order to sit still at all.

So, when one gets to a certain age in life, saying 'no' is not a problem. You've had your gifts for a long, long time. You've sifted out the things that do not spiritually benefit yourself or others, nor do they glorify the Lord. If anyone tells you they wish they could do what you do, tell them that they can do things you cannot do. No one does everything. I always wished that I (round peg) could be a soloist (square hole), but the Lord in His infinite wisdom did not give me that gift. Perhaps when I get to heaven.... :-)

Know thyself. There is no rule that says you must bake the best pie at the county fair.

And don't forget to pray for your pastor and his family.

A Royal Heir

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Climate Control: What Should We Do?

In a word - Nothing.

Only an arrogant society would even come up with the question, a godless conglomeration of pagan religions which claim that we are all god, part of 'the one' unified force. How can anyone be so deluded as to really believe that he or she is God?

Have these people looked in the mirror lately? Their god is definitely too small. They worship the creation rather than the Creator.

We have no control over the climate. God sits at those controls. He created the earth, the universe, the entire system -- including us. And even HAARP, the great invention of the world leaders, could be wiped out in an instant should God choose to do it. (And He will.)

If you read God's Word you very quickly learn that the weather is by far the primary tool that God uses in His miracles. It is strikingly obvious if you start with Genesis and begin reading through the entire Bible. He uses the tools and powers of His own creation to bring blessing or punishment to mankind: weather, mathematics, science and technology far surpassing anything we understand. When He wants us to have access to His secrets, we will. And not before.

Climate change is definitely occurring at an increasing pace just as Bible prophecy tells us it will. There is much more to come, and there's absolutely nothing that we can do about it because it is a part of God's plan and purpose.

Satan is still up to his old tricks that he used with Eve, convincing fallen man that he can become as god. In fact, pride and ambition is what will lead to the complete downfall of Satan and all who fall for his deception and lies.

I wouldn't want to serve a climate god who can't even tell which way the wind is blowing.

A Child of the King

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

We Have a Peace Treaty

We are now ten years into a new millennium. It is truly an amazing age in which we live. We really are a global community whether we like it or not, and the world continues to seek peace without the help of the Prince of Peace. Even the lowest-income Americans live in a manner known only to kings in previous history, while Christians are being tortured and persecuted on a regular basis in many parts of the world.

As we place things in perspective we are truly grateful for the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon us. Most of us have experienced the reality that one day's news is capable of bringing us such calamity that it changes our lives forever. Therefore, every day that passes without a tragedy is a day for which to give thanks.

He has blessed us with parents, with children and grandchildren, with good jobs, prosperity, good health and so much more. Many times I question, "Why?" as I contemplate how undeserving I am. And always, we want more.

We are so human. How even more off the mark would our priorities be did we not have small reminders to break through our busyness, reminders that cause us to be ashamed at our token commitment to him and cause us to ask for forgiveness as we turn our attention away from ourselves for the fleeting time we commit to prayer or to care for the needs of another.

It has been a "fat" society, and we are a "fat" people -- materially and spiritually. We have become bereft of such ideals as sacrifice, honor, truth, integrity, valor, honesty and courage. The words themselves are rarely used, much less acted upon. Even the very word "values" has taken on new and twisted meanings which have come to include ideas that are the very antithesis of the word.

Our morality is as overvalued as our stock market.

And yet the star of Christmas shines brightest in the midst of darkness. It always has! Two thousand years ago, God became one of us in the person of Jesus Christ. And through that one incredible event we know that because He lived in the flesh that He understands us so very well - and loves us anyway.

Inner peace! How pleasant the thought, but how elusive its reality. That need not be the case.

A little over 2,000 years ago mankind was sent a peace treaty. Announced by a heavenly host, it was delivered to an obscure Middle East village to be initially reviewed by lowly shepherds and high-born kings. The treaty was offered because a just and holy God loved His creation.

The sole provision of the treaty was Jesus Christ. It applied to whosoever would believe on Him. Some 33 years later the treaty was signed, and three days later ratified. It has been in effect ever since, and the peace it promises is available to every one of us.

For Jesus said: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27)

May peace of Jesus Christ be yours through this brand new year.

A Royal Heir

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Does God Want Us To Be Happy?

Some people seem to believe that once they become Christians all their problems are over, that if they pray to the great Santa Claus in the sky he will bring them wealth, worldly goods and smooth sailing. The "prosperity ministries" love to prey on human nature, touting this line by using isolated verses out of context, or more often by the force and charisma of their personalities, fortified by tall tales of their personal visits to heaven - a heaven of their own imagination, certainly not with the characteristics derived from God's Word. These false prophets are all over television. They appeal to emotion, a faulty barometer.

Just the opposite is true. Scripture makes it crystal clear that troubles are inevitable for the Christian, as they were for the apostles and Christians down through the ages, many of which were martyred for their beliefs.

The life of Jesus was no exception. During His ministry He was falsely accused, and primarily by the religious leaders. Most of His own people rejected Him, He suffered betrayal and death in the lowliest and most humiliating fashion. He was unable to do many miracles at all in His own home town, and His siblings did not become believers until after the resurrection.

American Christians have had easy lives for the most part, and have often indulged in service to the gods of Self, Money and Greed rather than the God of creation. Our ideas of what it means to be a Christian are too often skewed. We think we have everything; yet we have nothing of true value. We think we are rich, but we live in states of spiritual poverty.

Trials may come from our own poor decisions. You know...we have met the enemy, and it is us! They may come from the fact that we live in a world of humanity with a fallen nature. With America in this state of decline we are beginning to experience a measure of persecution. This will no doubt continue to increase.

There is another source for the trials of the Christian, and that is God himself. He does this just as a parent corrects a child. Scripture tells us plainly that who He loves, He chastens. We are, after all, His children, are we not? This life is a school. What rewards and duties will be given to us in the next phase (life on earth with Christ ruling as king) are directly related to the progress we make in this phase. Do you want to take Christianity 101 all over again?

For the truly devout Christian these hardships that God Himself allows seem the most difficult. We pray and pray for God to remove the difficulties, and yet they go on and on. Why isn't He answering our prayer? He is. These trials are for our direct benefit. He is molding us according to His purpose, preparing us for our role in His grand plan.

He will purify us. He will test us. He will test our endurance and our devotion, build up our endurance and character. He is maturing us and perfecting us.

" ...And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:3-5

And just when we have come through that last trial and breathe sighs of relief...here comes something else. Right out of left field.

One thing we certainly do learn is faith. Eventually we learn to trust Him completely. We have built a track record in our relationship with Him...faith upon faith. He gives us sustaining power and a deep and abiding joy (not pleasure or enjoyment).

Remember, He is the potter. We are the clay.

No ... He's not interested in making us happy. He wants us to grow up.

A Child of the King

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

A Blank Page ... 2010

Some people live in the past. Some live in the future. Personally, I live in the NOW.


The past cannot be rewritten. It is what it is. Gone.  I think occasionally of the wonderful family times, or recall the wonderful way that the Lord has worked so many miracles in our lives. That's about it. I hear that the elderly think often of the past in great detail with great long-term memory, but not-so-great short term memory. I guess I'm not that old yet.


The future is a blank page. I'm not convinced that we have a lot of influence over it. As the Bible says, "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," a truth that is even more vivid these days. I do have great anticipation of an eternity in a world where peace reigns and where I live as a child and heir to the creator of the universe, who will have a work for me to do which will be rewarding and exciting beyond my capacity to imagine. But eternity doesn't start when we 'die.' It starts when we are born again and receive the gift of eternal life. There is no death for the Christian.


And, besides, there is no such thing as time. It is merely a construct -- an illusion, if you will -- that the Lord has provided for our benefit while we live in these fleshly earth bodies so that we would have the ability to lead orderly lives in the limited dimension to which we have been assigned.


The now. Now that's my cup of tea! And that being the case, ironically I value time above almost anything else. It's inconceivable to waste something so limited and precious. I try always to be prepared for any moments that might otherwise be wasted, such as sitting in a doctor or dentist's office. I make sure I have the ubiquitous book or list somewhere within my reach.


The entirety of the year 2010 is, of course, future. But today, January 1st, it becomes the NOW ... as does each day that we live in what is called 2010.


Almost every prognosticator and expert in almost every field is predicting that 2010 will not be a good year - that it may be the worst year in the history of the world. I suspect that they may be right. Do not let that stop you from making the most of each moment because we are not victims of anyone or anything. A Christian's steps are directed by the King of Kings himself. There is no circumstance on earth that can intervene in His divine purpose. You can take that to the bank; in fact it is no doubt worth vastly more than those dollars that go to and fro, into and out of the banks. Each day He has a specific plan for you and me, and that intention resides out of reach of anyone or anything that surrounds us.


There is no need whatever to live in fear, which is diametrically opposed to God's will for us. The abundant life cannot be experienced if fear is hovering over our days. Fear is, in the simplest terms, a lack of faith. It boils down to just that. I have noticed that 90% of the things we fear never happen. The trials that do come our way are almost things we had never thought of at all. So why waste time worrying?


Hardship and great trials have no grip on you at all without your consent. Don't give it.

How can we live in these times without fear?

• Trust your Lord. Believe His Word and reflect on how He has been faithful in the past time and time again. He assures us that He limits our trials and enables us to triumphantly endure. 
• Persevere. Never quit. Stay close to the Lord daily through His Word and prayer.
• Praise Him in the midst of pain. In all things give thanks. As impossible as it seems, it is absolutely true. You can be joyous in the midst of great trial.
• Always remember that the Lord is in charge. He is in charge of everything ... yes, our government and all governments. They are serving His divine purpose. Never forget that.

If your spiritual house is built on the Rock rather than sand, all power is available to sustain you!


I wouldn't want to live in any other time than right NOW!

A Royal Heir

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.