I'm back.

Actually, I only missed one Sunday since being diagnosed with a brain tumor, but I've been neglecting this blog for quite a while. I've been posting on Facebook and my personal blog, but I'll be posting here again on a regular basis.

Thanks to all who have been praying for my family and me. Your prayers, emails, blog comments, etc. have been so encouraging.

On Facebook and my personal blog I've tried not to be preachy or teachy but just share my heart about what we're going through. On this blog I want to get into the heart of spiritual matters and not talk about what I'm dealing with so much. There's so much going on in the world and we need to take a in depth look at what God would think and say about it all.

Stay tuned!

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I'm off to Nigeria tomorrow and will return on March 9th. If I have internet access I'll be posting here and on my personal blog as often as possible. You might even see some photos and video if the connection is good enough.

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Please consider praying for me, and for my family, while I'm gone.

Thanks!

I was reading a recent entry in Joel Rosenberg's blog and came across this sentence:

We explained the increasingly dangerous Iranian nuclear threat, and the urgent need for Christians to get ready and be prepared for the trials around the world and especially in the Middle East that will come in the last days.

Joel was speaking at his first Epicenter Conference in Asia (held in the Philippines). Did you notice the words "get ready and be prepared"?

Over the years I've learned that the Holy Spirit speaks in themes. Certainly the Holy Spirit speaks individually, locally, and very personally. I'm stressing the point of global themes because of their seriousness. Global themes are for the entire body of Christ and I believe the theme right now is Prepare.

Jesus warned all of us about what would be happening in the days preceding His second coming and Paul explained the general social and spiritual mood of the people in the last days. As the centuries have expired many thought they were living in the last of the last days. But, they weren't.

Now, predictably, many Christians (and pagans) think that we are definitely living in the last of the last days. But, what we think isn't that important. It's what God thinks that matters. And, if the Holy Spirit is saying to the church globally to get ready and be prepared we should pay attention.

Recently, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was speaking in Poland and stated:

“[After the Holocaust,” the Jewish people rose from ashes and destruction, from a terrible pain that can never be healed. Armed with the Jewish spirit, the justice of man, and the vision of the prophets, we sprouted new branches and grew deep roots. Dry bones became covered with flesh, a spirit filled them, and they lived and stood on their own feet. As Ezekiel prophesied: ‘Then He said unto me: These bones are the whole House of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone; we are doomed.’ Prophecy, therefore, and say to them: Thus said the Lord God: I am going to open your graves and lift you out of your graves, O My people, and bring you to the land of Israel.’ I stand here today on the ground where so many of my people perished (Auschwitz) — and I am not alone. The State of Israel and all the Jewish people stand with me. We bow our heads to honor your memory and lift our heads as we raise our flag-a flag of blue and white with a Star of David in its center. And everyone sees.  And everyone hears. And everyone knows – that our hope is not lost.”

To this Rosenberg commented:

The question for all Israelis and all people everywhere is now this: If the prophecies of Ezekiel 37 have come to pass in our lifetime, isn’t it remotely possible that the prophecies of Ezekiel 38-39 will come true in our lifetime as well?

I encourage you to read Ezekiel 38-39. Listen to the Holy Spirit. What is He saying to you, personally, and what is He saying to all of us, globally? I believe His theme is Prepare.

What do you think?

This is not going to be a "feel-good" post. In fact, there's no longer time for feel good messages.

If you've taken time to stay informed about the state of the church and our country in the last twelve months you already know how serious things have become. If you haven't, you need to.

Jesus died and rose again to provide, and guarantee, freedom for those who believe. Within every true believer is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Freedom. His Spirit never rests in His desire to bring as many as possible into the freedom bought and paid for by the sinless life, death, and blood, of Jesus Christ. Empowered and enlightened by His Spirit, He leads us to manifest His will and purpose to bring this freedom to anyone who will listen and believe.

As I write this, the church, and our country, are not pursuing His freedom. They are pursuing something that both God and our Founding Fathers warned us about: security and peace at the expense of both.

The wisdom of God determined the price for freedom and that price was the life of the Son of God. How is it that man can possible believe that any lesser cost will provide real freedom?

Many today in positions of authority are selling the church a false sense of security by instructing them to participate in all manner of ritualistic prayer, meditation, and "ancient practices" far to numerous to mention in this post. Like J. Z. Knight, they promise that through these they will enhance their relationship with God and release certain powers within themselves.

Our President and his cohorts are spreading a similar message: if we will trust them and allow them to carry out their policies based on the philosophies they've been schooled in, all our troubles will be solved and utopia will spring forth.

I say, "Hogwash!", to both the church leaders and our nation's leaders. Neither are pointing their fellow man to the One who can save them from death and provide the real freedom and peace offered only by Him. Not one of the policies currently being employed will succeed in bringing freedom to a single person in America, including those who are promoting them.

The Bible says that men are like birds who do not see the snare set before them. Without the guidance and revelation from the Spirit of God no man can see the real snare set right before their eyes.

As world conditions have worsened (or so we're told) men are convinced that catastrophic destruction will be inevitable unless they do something now. Many times, doing "something" is much worse than doing nothing at all. Common sense clearly says to wait when you don't know what to do. The Bible says to call upon the Lord and wait on Him for help. Tell me, leaders of the church and our nation, how many of you are calling out to the Lord for wisdom and how many of you are waiting for His answer before you "do" something?

Those who lay the snare are as blind as those who walk into it. They have no idea that they themselves are walking into a greater trap than the ones they set for others.

Children of God, listen to me. The Spirit that is within you is greater than the spirit of this world. He will guide you and tell you what to do. Listen to Him!