Your Ultimate Kingdom Destiny

What Destroys the Power of Pain?

2009-10-05T23:02:00.010-04:00

The power of pain in life is unmistakable and undeniable. Trying to avoid pain, mask it, or attempting to run from it just energizes its negative effects. So what destroys the power of pain in a person's life if the trouble that produces the pain is such an obvious part of living in this world (Job 5:7)?

First, every believer should accept that trouble, and the pain that results from it, are a part of life (Job 14:1). The enemy comes as a thief to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10a). He attacks with thorns in the flesh (II Cor. 12:7). He, the demons, and those who volunteer to do his bidding, or who unwittingly support him, press Christians hard on every side, bring difficulties that cause perplexing thoughts, persecute believers, and, even, strike them down (II Cor. 4:8,9). But the acceptance of the trouble in life with its resulting pain can't be an acceptance accompanied by resignation, raising the white flag of surrender, or capitulation. "Ok, my enemy is unseen and strong so I'll just accept defeat and wait for the bliss of Heaven, after he finally finishes me off. After all, it's Adam and Eve's fault for allowing him to bring his onslaught against me and win in this life. At least I win the war after arriving in Heaven, even though I lost the majority of the battles here on earth." If Jesus would have held this type of defeatist attitude, then He would have never raised from the dead (here on earth), but He would have had to raise in Heaven. No one here on earth would have been an eye-witness of His victory and the celebration on earth called Easter (really every Sunday morning) would have been negated. Crazy!

Secondly, Father has already provided for us to confront trouble and receive healing of our pain beginning with the cross. We are "always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh." Therefore, we are hard-pressed, yet not crushed. We are perplexed, but not in despair. We are persecuted, but not forsaken. We are struck down, but not destroyed (II Cor. 4:8-11). The thief steals, kills, and destroys, but the eternal abundant life provided by Jesus at the cross overwhelms his thievery, death, and destruction (John 10:10). The attacks that lodge like thorns in the flesh lose their sting in light of God's sufficient grace and mighty power resting on us (II Cor. 12:7-10). This means that death and burial result in resurrection for all our areas of trouble and pain one way or another. As a result, principalities and powers have been disarmed, and they have become a public spectacle (for those with Kingdom eyes to see) because of His triumph over them (Col. 2:15).

So.......we can firmly believe that the tribulation, trouble, suffering, and affliction of life WILL be comforted so that we can be a ministry of comfort to others. It is so important to trust in the consolation and deliverance of the Lord because it is always there for us to step into (II Cor. 1:3-11). Father will even give us the faith to believe it as a gift (Eph.2:8).

Next Installment: What Destroys the Power of Pain? 2

The Power of Pain

2009-09-20T07:21:00.004-04:00

Most people run from pain. They seek to avoid as much pain as possible. However, decisions made when running from pain just bring that much more pain to a person. Words spoken from the reservoir of pain result in more pain for the speaker and listener alike. A lifestyle lived with pain in control is a lifestyle so influenced by the power of pain that the hurt throbs inside to the point that every thought, word, and deed is infused with its negative effects. Every relationship tie then is strained by the need of the person wounded by mental/emotional damage to attempt to pull comfort from the relationship. But if the other person has a similar well of pain that he/she is drawing from, comfort won’t be found, only intensified discomfort.

Trouble, and the pain that comes from it, are a part of life (Job 4:8; Job 5; Job 14:1; Matt. 6:34; II Cor. 1:8). It is our reaction to trouble/pain that is the key.

Running from pain involves some of the following attributes/strategies (among others):

walls/filters/fear/mistrust/accepting lies of the enemy/unforgiveness/bitterness/blame judgment/critical spirit/control/resistant to the Spirit’s leading/resistant to the Spirit’s comfort/unteachable/stubborn/ignore issues/avoidance/hiding/rebellious

Pain can’t be masked with popularity, position, prestige, power, degrees, or titles. It is unaffected by self-help books/courses and inner peace techniques (Prov.25:19).Typical worldly counseling or surface-surfing Christian counseling can’t touch it. It always catches the one fleeing. It overwhelms the one avoiding. Pain is in control with prisons, chains, and locks that require keys beyond our own resources and devices.

The pain-filled person is in a constant battle against trouble(Job 15:24) so he busies himself blaming others/being bitter/being unforgiving/secretly, or not so secretly being mad at Father God/being defensive/being offensive/acting tough/being overly aggressive or overly passive/being boastful/craving significance/down on himself, etc. In this way pain wins - fear wins. The cycle of pain spins out of control in people no matter what demeanor they display as a mask for people to see. Pain is in charge. Pain is in control. Heb. 12:15

Next Installment: What destroys the power of pain?

Deception vs. Truth Part 1

2009-04-30T12:04:00.017-04:00

Deception and Truth cannot occupy the same spiritual space at the same time (adapted statement from Graham Cooke).

Deception Attributes Truth Attributes

self-absorption/ focus on self identity in Jesus

negative emotions/bondage freedom/fruit of the Spirit

circumstances/situations/problems rule overcoming

problems are a problem problems are overcome

discouraged encouraged

grieve/quench/resist Holy Spirit submission to Holy Spirit

rebellion loyalty

unworthiness worthy/treasure

cheap date extravagant courting

orphan son/daughter

angry/sad/mad glad/joyful dancing

death(process of sin) life(process of grace)

sin conscious/-centric God conscious/-centric

God is a heavenly tyrant God is a Heavenly Father

habits/additions rule His habitation rules

a prison a cruise

pittance abundance

mindless/confusion mind of Christ/on things above

foolish wise

critical positive affirmation

complaining/grumbling praising/thanksgiving

(language of Hell) (language of Heaven)

religion/cerebral faith experience/encounter presence

weak strong

fear faith/trust

worry/anxiety peace

diving/falling rising on eagle's wings

drowning rescued

empty full

words alone action

faith alone works/faith in action

vulnerable to attack refuge(place of safety)

target armored warrior

poor rich

lack of cover/ open field fortress/high ground

poverty/lack provision/abundance

debt/deficit source/resource

lame/crippled jumping/leaping/praising God

victim victorious

alone partner w/God

demonic influence/oppression delivered

sick healed

wimp warrior

desert dessert

stolen from/murdered/destroyed gifted/protected by Holy Spirit

hiding open/transparent

double-minded single-minded

natural supernatural

etc. etc.

1) Some of what you feel/believe strongest about is just plain wrong - process of unlearning is necessary.

2) Some of your habits or pieces of your lifestyle that you are most comfortable with are destructive to you - process of allowing the natural to transform into the supernatural.

3) All of the lies that you have believed about God and yourself are totally counterproductive to becoming more like Jesus - process of sanctification(accepting and relying on the mind of Christ as a gift to become more like Jesus in thoughts/attitudes/action).

Comments? Thoughts?

Blast from the Past #7: A Picture

2009-01-04T22:26:00.004-05:00

Here is a picture that came to me in a couple of chapters so I would like to share it with you. I saw a scale with the three chains holding each of two trays. On the left side was FAITH and SPIRIT. On the right side was FLESH and FEAR. Then I saw that dynamite was on the left tray and manure was on the right tray. Both sides were balanced. Then I saw MIND, WILL, and EMOTIONS were about to weight either side. When they weighted one side or another, the scale shifted to tip that side toward the floor. When they weighted the FAITH - SPIRIT side, the dynamite blew up and massive positive spiritual Holy Spirit energy was released. When they weighted the FLESH - FEAR side, demons filled the manure and it became even more of a cesspool. It also came to me that when EMOTIONS are allowed to take MIND and WILL toward one side or the other, it is the weakest part of us that is doing the leading.

Comments? Thoughts? Other pictures, words, dreams, visions, etc.

Blast from the Past #6: Elders and Youngers

2009-01-04T20:04:00.003-05:00

In I Peter 5: 1- 11 there is a wonderful truth to consider at the beginning of this pivotal year of 2009.

Consider verses 1-4, where elders are exhorted to

1) shepherd the flock of God

2) serve as willing, honest, and eager overseers

3) serve as examples, not Lords over those entrusted to them (the flock)

If they do this they will be rewarded by the Chief Shepherd with a non-fading crown of glory.

Consider verses 5-9, younger people (non-elders) are exhorted to

1) submit to elders

2) submit to one another

3) be clothed with humility (humble yourself under the mighty hand of God)

4) cast all your care on Him

5) be sober (serious-minded), be vigilant (carefully watchful), resist the enemy remaining steadfast (not changing, not moving, unshakable) in the faith BECAUSE, as your adversary, the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (completely eat, leaving no scraps)

The inference is that IF you submit to elders, submit to one another, become clothed in humility, and cast all your care on Him (actions) while being serious-minded, carefully watchful, and in a state of resistance to the enemy, steadfastly holding to your faith (states of being), then you will, after a time period of suffering, be perfected, established, strengthened, and settled by and in Christ (verse 10) and exalted in due time (verse 6). Compare Col. 2:6,7. If you DON'T receive God's grace to do the actions and live in the states of being listed, then you become a thanksgiving dinner for the enemy (only he won't be thanking God).

It is assumed that God's true elders/overseers/shepherds (not title only) have been faithful in this process (where there has been some suffering) and have been perfected, established, settled, and already exalted by God (to one degree or another) in order to shepherd the flock without Lording over it (being examples instead) and serving as willing, honest, and eager overseers.

What are your thoughts?

Blast from the Past #5: Casting Cares

2008-11-25T10:18:00.005-05:00

Cares of this world/cares of this life choke the Word of the Lord (Life) out of people making them unfruitful (dead to reproduction) and weighing down their hearts (Matt. 13:22; Luke 8:14; Luke 21:34). That is precisely why your loving Heavenly Father wants them thrown on Him (I Peter 5:7) since He is "wired" to bear them for you so you are not weighed down (experiencing freedom) and can become abundantly fruitful.

Here's an activation for casting cares. Make a list for yourself of any current burdens/cares that Holy Spirit brings to mind. Speak out loud in prayer to cast these cares on Jesus. If He shows you someone to share some of these burdens with so that person can help you bear the burden (Gal. 6:2) and be a part of the process of casting them on the Lord, then contact that person for prayer support. If you have previously cast a care on Jesus, check your progress and peace on that issue. Are you still worrying about it? Is it constantly in your thoughts? Does it cause your joy level to drop when you consider it? If so, you may need to revisit casting that care (or cares) on Jesus by declaring it out loud in His presence and possibly sharing it with a Godly friend. Remember, you are being released by Holy Spirit from a burdened heart and a deadly chokehold. Is it any wonder that there are so many hurting people when they are bearing the heavy burdens of life all by themselves without the burden-sharing of the body, and without the burden-bearer - Jesus! As you receive release and freedom, first testify. This will help solidify the Spirit's peace and comfort in your heart. Secondly, be on the alert for the Holy Spirit to connect you with hurting people who are your local harvest field to whom you are called to labor among because you have experienced the comfort of Holy Spirit, whereby you can now comfort (Is. 51:12; I Thess. 5:11; I Cor. 1:3-7).

Other verses to consider on "casting cares" include the following: Ps. 55:22; II Chron. 6:28-31; Is. 10:27; Matt. 11:28-30

Please post a comment or testimony

Blast from the Past #4: Gratitude

2008-11-16T22:48:00.003-05:00

I am certain that Kingdom disciples of Jesus must learn to graduate in attitude by growing in gratitude. It truly separates the effective disciples from the less-than-effective disciples. Consider this....don't you think that the Children of Israel would have had a much shorter journey in the desert if they had graduated in attitude by growing in gratitude? Wouldn't they have given Moses far less hassle? Don't you believe that they wouldn't have grumbled, groused, and griped if gratitude had gripped their lives? Wouldn't you say that they would never have made a golden calf if they had hearts filled with with the purified gold of gratitude to God? Don't you believe they would have run expectantly to the mountain of God's presence rather than avoid it, if their spirits were washed with wave after wave of gratitude? How about those ten spies....the challenges of taking the promised land would have been minimized in their eyes with gratitude towards a maximized God....it's not hard to see, is it? Compare and contrast the following passages on gratitude. Luke 17:11-19; Luke 7:36-50; Col. 2:6,7 How would you apply to your life what you learned from these passages?

Please comment or testify

Blast from the Past #3: The Power of Testimony

2008-11-09T22:41:00.005-05:00

From time to time we receive encouraging reports in person, by phone call, by snail mail, or by email of something that God is doing somewhere in the earth, or a revelation that God has given to a person. It is always awesome to receive these exciting, life-changing testimonies of our Father coming right down into the circumstances, dream life, prayer time, spirit, thoughts, imaginations, meditations (often on Scripture), spiritual eyes, spiritual ears, etc. of a person and showing himself to be our all-knowing, ever-present, all-powerful, loving Lord of Hosts! These positive reports speak life into the atmosphere and turn up His light in a darkened world. They fuel our faith fires to rise high into the air like a large bonfire on a November night.

In contrast, we are all familiar with some of the effects of the opposite kind of report to these positive, life-giving reports. Sometimes referred to as the "evil report," the "negative report,"or just as a "bad report," they have the ability to usher in fear, worry, and unbelief to the unsuspecting, or those unable to discern. They can paralyze some with discouragement or depression if they are received into their spirits. They speak death into the atmosphere and always add to the darkness. They can snuff out faith fires faster than sand poured on the left-over embers at a fire pit during a November rain storm.

I would like this blog to serve as an ongoing record of positive, life-giving testimonies of the communication of Father from heaven to earth, of healing and deliverance reports, of transformed lives, and altered circumstances because His goodness. Please send your testimonies to our email, info@frontline-ministries.org, or as a comment for this blog.

While you are considering your comments, please feel free to comment or testify on Numbers 12, 13 concerning good reports and evil reports.

Election and Life 2008

2008-11-05T09:04:00.005-05:00

November 4th.......what a day! I began the day with a phone call of life. About 7:15 A.M., I learned that at 5:59 A.M., Judah William Gokee entered the world. Life broke through and took its first breath.......once again. What joy he brings to the hearts of the parents, Josh and Christy! What joy he brings to the hearts of the aunts, uncles, grandparents, and great-grandparents! What joy he brings to friends and well-wishers! What joy he brings to the heart of his Creator! He is a precious gift and a glorious sign that in Father's Kingdom, life always is birthed to win the day!

Then there was the election. Many of my candidates didn't receive the majority votes of man. Many will not be taking office in January. Many will not be able to represent me and so many others who stand for life. Predictions were made. Hope was filled with faith, but mystery still abides in the plans and ways of Father God. I am left once again with the awe-inspiring meditation that His ways are higher than mine; His thoughts are higher than mine(Is. 55:8, 9). I guess my only choice once again is to fully trust my omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent Creator who is God, Father, Brother, Friend, Savior, Shepherd, Healer, Deliverer, and Lord all at the same time, and has an amazing plan for me, my family, and for those to whom I reach out to love (Jeremiah 29:11-13). It is not the first time that I have faced a mystery on this wonderful journey of learning to know and love Him; it won't be the last.

So this morning I am reflecting on the elections that I have voted in as I have traveled through adulthood. It is rather interesting to me that the Presidential candidate I voted for in 10 elections won exactly 50% of the time. Two Presidents during that time faced some impeachment proceedings against them, and I had voted for neither one. One President resigned from office and, yet, this was the President that started a process that eventually ended a war early. This meant my draft number was so high, I was not called up to enter that war. As I look back, 20% of my votes for President were flat out wrong (according to my present stand on issues, my philosophy of government, and my beliefs as molded by Holy Spirit). In all of this, Jesus has remained King, the Father remained positioned on the throne. The plans of the Godhead have not been taken by surprise, frustrated, adjusted, or threatened in any way. Instead, He weaves the strands of history and the eras of time into a beautiful tapestry that we often can only see the backside of with its loose ends dangling haphazardly in seeming disarray. After all, time is in His hand. Past, present, and future are all before His eyes at the same time. As they say in Jamaica, "No worries."

So, rather than entrusting part of the battle for life to like-minded (I hesitate to say, "like-spirited," since they are politicians, for sure) representatives, I must increasingly take the responsibility to ask Holy Spirit what I should do to passionately and boldly state the case for life in America. I will trust my Father to give me the wisdom and strength to make a difference in a society that increasingly accepts the fact that we can choose to throw away children who are inconvenient, since we have devised our own code of morality to replace our loving Heavenly Father's revelation. I will gladly accept the personal responsibility to bring Kingdom realities to desperate women (and men) in the throes of confusing choices, by pointing them to a Shepherd Father who loves them unconditionally and desires to provide them with living water and abundant pasture, rather than a graveyard. I will joyfully choose to contend for the glorious light of intimacy in order to navigate through a maze where the natural lights seem even dimmer this morning.

My precious grandchildren have survived and are thriving in an Egypt where so many evil schemes wish to crush their lives inside their woven-reed baskets. Love has accomplished miracles that evil is powerless to stop. If we are alert and vigilant on the wall in our generation as watchmen (and watchwomen) of our King, we will have the privilege of participating in the impossible becoming possible on a daily basis. Welcome to the battle, Judah William Jacquet! Not a casualty in the struggle for life, but part of a end-time army of mighty reinforcements who will be led by and filled with the Spirit of the Most High!

If you have read this, please comment!

Guest Blog Author: Personal Convictions on Voting for John McCain and Sarah Palin

2008-11-04T00:06:00.008-05:00

We live in the greatest God-given nation in the history of the world. At this point, as the election is tomorrow, I want to share a few thoughts of my own. As a Christian man who submits himself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, my first and foremost resolution of heart in all matters is determined by His influence. I desire my core values, as a follower of Him, to be established by His heart, values, and nature. As a supreme ruler of the universe, the Lord's desire and plan for this nation was established on the basis of His character, His grace, His mercy and His life. Everything I believe is founded and run through the grid of the heart of God, as He is the only One who will guide, protect, and maintain the foundational elements of freedom in this land that all of us have been given the right to enjoy and the responsibility to cultivate for other generations to follow. This is not a light matter. I have a choice to embrace or not to embrace God's purposes for America, realizing that my choices always have consequences. You have the right of choice. So, amid all the rhetoric and opinions of man, my ultimate desire is to ask the Lord, what do You say and what are You doing in this hour? I believe that those who humble themselves under His banner will hear from Him and be used to carry out His heart, which is ultimate goodness for this nation. When a poisonous apple covered in gold is offered, true Godly wisdom will warn of the inherent poison of the apple. Our own thinking will see only the apparent goodness or outer gold. Most people would agree that evil should not be tolerated, so that goodness would prevail. Unfortunately, what the Lord considers evil is not understood or seen by many. Why? It takes a humbling of heart to allow Jesus to speak His desires and then for each of us to hear what He is saying. So many form their opinions according to what they personally think alone rather than on what the Lord says and directs. He is speaking. He is not an opinion. He is not an idea. He is truth. Can we as a nation hear what the Lord is saying and act on it? I believe we can.

We have witnessed this very scenario in the realm of the growing atrocity of the murders of those who have no voice. There has been no stopping the carnage of millions of aborted lives. To date, 42-52 million lives have been snuffed out since the 1973 Roe vs Wade decision. That's a fact, and it is not refutable. Many in America have tried to justify this with their multifaceted defenses that ultimately hold no weight when it comes to life and death. Their thoughts have been cleverly woven together, presented as moral acts to benefit our society. Ultimately those who defy what the Lord has put in place for us to enjoy in our families, workplaces, and communities, unknowingly allow the very enemy of their souls to steal it away. The bottom line is, millions and millions of lives have been snuffed out. Period. An entire generation of future scientists, governmental leaders, missionaries, business people, architects, mothers and fathers, lawyers, doctors, truck drivers, etc. are lost and can't be brought back. What does the Lord think about all of this? How does this affect us personally and as a nation? Compare this number to the entire population of many countries; it's amazing. Along that same line, look at the numbers of those lives taken during the Holocaust....6 million Jews. America has already murdered 42 - 52 million defenseless people. Who was (and still is) represented in this infanticide of the womb? An entire generation of American children, who had wonderful destinies and plans for their lives, have been eradicated from the land of the free and the home of the brave. This is unequivocally and demonstratively against the heart and law of the very Lord who has allowed us to live in this land and carry out His mandates fro true justice and freedom. We need to cry out for forgiveness and mercy so we can get back on track with His heart, as it grieves Him and will allow more of our rights, freedoms, and enjoyments to be taken away. We need to recognize the real enemy of our land and do what it takes to stop the evil. The law of life and love has been repeatedly ignored, pushed aside, resisted, and militantly opposed under the guise of preference for the rights of others. There is no comparison. Here is the golden apple. If we choose to lift up righteousness and turn away from evil, God promises to heal our land. The Word of God states in 2 Chronicles 7:14 that "If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, seek My face and turn from their wicked ways (which is lifting up righteousness), THEN I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land." We need a healing in our land. A nation that exalts righteousness will be blessed. Everything positive will spill out of that effort....the increase in our economy, world security, Godly family values, and all the other issues that challenge our nation. Anyone who studies the history of nations can see the contagious thread of unrighteousness being the cause of the elimination of true freedom. For us in America, nothing should be allowed to trump this vital issue of life and death, as only the knowledge of the truth will set us free and keep us free. We have been the recipients of life and goodness, and must strongly resist anything that will rob us (and future generations) of this inheritance from the Lord. Many have gone before me to protect my rights and have even given their lives for my freedom and yours! I must demonstrate my gratitude to them (and the Lord) through my attitudes and actions. Also, I have a responsibility to leave that precious inheritance to my son, David, his children, and grandchildren. Our purpose in living is not for ourselves, but for others, just as Jesus rose from the dead to give us new life in Him as we fully embrace who He is and what it means to follow Him wholeheartedly. In America, we need eyes to see these truths.

Obama said on national television for all to hear (during one of the Presidential debates) that the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision was a good one. My heart was deeply grieved when I heard him speak. He obviously has not seen the inherent evil of the slaughter of live (aka, abortion) in this nation. That's unconscionable. No matter the rhetoric, both Obama and Biden are firmly and blatantly pro-abortion. Someone who is against something will do whatever it takes to stop evil, not to promote it, or skirt around it. Their walk will match their talk. The Obama/Biden ticket has made it clear that, if elected, one of Obama's first actions as President would be the signing of the Freedom of Choice Act. This act would eliminate every other law against partial-, birth abortion, parental notification, etc. They hold many other unrighteous positions, but this one alone is particularly heinous, and significant enough to render my stand for total unacceptability of their ticket. Additionally, we need justices in the Supreme Court that would uphold the family values that undergird our society. Both Obama and Biden have track records that have voted against the justices who have attempted to uphold these traditions. Check it for yourself and don't be fooled, Obama has his own standard for the appointment of future justices, as well, and one of the "tests" will be where a person stands on Roe vs. Wade. This lack of understanding, judgment, and vision are clear indicators that the Obama/Biden ticket is not God's best for our country, as these qualities are foundational for all other issues. If we Americans think that we can freely exist in a country that continues to violate the very nature of the One who gave us life to begin with, we are grievously in error. Arrogance loves to take the form of true humility, but it's only a facade, and will rear it ugly head in due time. My hope is that America will wake up and realize the great stakes of this election, the seriousness of the timing, and God's attempts to make Himself, His purposes, and His goodness known. Obama is not the one who should be put at the helm of the greatest country in the world. We are at a crossroads in our nation, and I will vote for those who will stand for a voice for the unborn and will appoint justices who will attempt to be led by a voice bigger than their own. We must work toward the removal of the moral decay and societal degeneration of values from this great country so we can look forward to the future of one nation, under God, indivisible. with liberty and justice for all. This will then insure our national security, economic stability, educational advancement, energy viability, healthcare reform, family values, and more. Don't be caught up in the hype, ask the Lord for His vision. He is the One who is behind life and will open the eyes of any who truly want His heart to be carried throughout this great nation. I urge you to pray and vote for those who are determined to uphold the sanctity of life andf righteousness, which will unleash the true hope and prosperity that this nation had once valued so highly....and by God's grace, will again.

I have so many more reasons, but I hope you all take time to consider and pray what would be the will of God in this election-- as there are stark differences in the direction this country will be taking. God bless you all and God Bless America! May His perfect will reign supreme.

Michael Wheeler

Song: Sonnet to a Son

2008-10-28T01:08:00.003-04:00

In the silence of the womb grows a beautiful little boy

Growing well upon his own; the gift he'll bring is the gift of joy

But his mother doesn't want his gift, for she has made a selfish choice

She lets his body be torn limb from limb without a vote from his unheard voice

How can you say it?

How can you shout it?

That abortion is right

You preach for freedom

You scream equality

While you snuff out little lives

Have you viewed his silent scream, as he's burned with salt, or suctioned out

It's become a deadly dream, a nightmare scene without a doubt

But women's lib states that it's ok, because a woman has her right

So the silent voice is never heard; he must surrender without a fight

How can you say it?

How can you shout it?

That abortion is right

You preach for freedom

You scream equality

While you snuff out little lives

God's handiwork, God's design, His creation formed within

To deny this child the right to live; to erase his name is such a sin

For his mother is a vessel prepared for birth back in Eden

Why believe a lie, steal fruit again from God's own tree in His new garden?

How can you say it?

How can you shout it?

That abortion is right

You preach for freedom

You scream equality

While you snuff out little lives

Your comments?

Why it is Ok to be a Single-Issue Voter: Part 2 -Numbness, Civil Rights, and the Forgotten Lost

2008-10-26T22:10:00.007-04:00

When it comes to the subject of abortion, there seems to be such a numbness that sets into the proponents of this unconscionable, murderous action taken against the most defenseless treasure that the Creator has directly fashioned (Psalm 139: 13-16). As we have heard many times, this terroristic invasion of the womb is referred to simply as a "procedure." The "choice" of the mother is referred to as a "right," a civil right and/or a privacy right. However, it is more than legitimate to take away this free ability to choose death for a personhood she didn't create, but was created within her after her first "choice" in the process. In other words, she has a "choice" in the procreation (in the vast majority of cases), but not the creation. It is analogous to saying things like, "I should be allowed to kill a close family member if that "choice" would mean a better, freer, more prosperous life for me." Or, "If it is an inconvenience to have this close family member blocking my personal yellow brick road to a better life, then I should be able to "choose" to have he or she removed from the earth." Is it any wonder that since 1973, the hot debate over euthanasia and even the unthinkable, infanticide, have increasingly been deemed acceptable topics of discussion in a supposedly "civilized" society.

A dulling of the heart of compassion becomes the norm for so many people after hearing the lies of abortion supporters repeated over and over. "We want to reduce the number of abortions," they often declare to placate the impassioned supporters of life. Really? That is like saying to the firemen that come to put out a fire, "We sincerely want the raging fire to go out so we will help the firemen by spraying gasoline on the flames......vote pro-choice!" Or the sham of a supposedly lofty-sounding debate is often proposed, "We believe that life should be supported in all its contexts to be consistent, so if you are pro-life, you need to be against any war, and all capital punishment, also." Interesting...... Doctors with the permission of a mother acting legally on an morally indefensible decision by seven powerful judges in 1973 (judgment was made only respecting perceived constitutional law, not morality) invade the most sacred sanctuary on earth to destroy a voiceless and defenseless live entity fashioned by the Creator after the most intimate of human acts. This very personal choice to murder is being compared with two traditional actions of the state. It definitely is a smokescreen litmus test to add confusion in the debate, rather than a valid argument to consider spending lots of time discussing (while more lives are annihilated to the tune of an estimated 167 a minute during the deliberations).

There is such a deception that sets into the minds of those so easily accepting the immorality of abortion. There is no question that it is a spiritual deception. It is a clever lie of the enemy of mankind that has been dressed up as a very moral action to help the poor, defend women, and build a more stable society. But the loss of beautiful human life cannot be replaced after the termination has been finalized. 42-52 million lives snuffed out from our population since 1973 cry out from eternity. Odds are one may have been a genius to cure cancer or AIDS. One may have had the strategy to avoid (or solve) our national economic troubles. A terrific President or two may have been lost. Excellent and unique artists, engineers, scientists, architects, entrepreneurs, doctors, nurses, teachers, pastors, missionaries, mothers, fathers are gone forever. The list never ends; the possibilities are almost limitless. At the very least, extremely valuable human beings have been destroyed by an intolerable massacre that has been blandly approved as an acceptable option for unwanted pregnancies. A generation now exists with a gaping wound in its heart that will never heal; can never be treated. Only the new knife blows to the same wound can be prevented. When life is the topic, shouldn't we be as conservative as possible? If just one human life in the womb has been lost unrighteously according to the One responsible for all moral absolutes, then it is, of course, one too many! It is a moral outrage to simply dismiss these lives as "non-living tissue," "collections of cells," etc. The Creator begins creating life from day one, not after the first or second trimester. The womb is one of His Holy of Holies which no human hand should violate with a calculated malicious intent.

What are your comments? How do you see it? How does this important issue enter into Your Ultimate Kingdom Destiny?

Next Installment: What about the poor, rape, incest, and the life of the mother?

Why it is Ok to be a Single-Issue Voter if that Issue is Abortion: Part 1

2008-10-18T21:18:00.008-04:00

You often hear that opponents of pro-choice, abortion-related social and political positions should be dismissed with contempt for being "single issue voters." However, there are numerous valid reasons for being a single issue voter (especially in elections for President/Vice President and U.S. Congress).

First, let's be clear that the issue of abortion is so impacting that it crosses over the boundaries of many intellectual, emotional, social, economic, political, moral, scientific, and spiritual questions and issues, easily linking each in a logical chain with the others. It cannot stay in just one stream of debate, but it naturally flows into so many other raging waters. Whenever any facet of the abortion debate is rehashed, it elicits a firestorm of reaction from the opposing viewpoint in the discussion because it touches so many "hot-button" issues at the same time. Take for example the issue/question of "When does life begin?" as it relates to the abortion discussion. This issue/question inevitably invites intense commentary from many angles of the facts-beliefs-opinions spectrum. Faith and morality become involved. Science becomes involved. Intellect becomes involved. Social, economic, and political concerns are voiced. All viewpoints are extremely emotionally charged because the stakes aren't just a negative economic impact on a group. It is not just a voting rights problem, nor a social standing issue that is the concern. But it is a question of life and death for a significant voiceless constituency within our populace.

Yes, what about that voiceless constituency? Would they appreciate some single-issue voters standing up for them? By the sheer magnitude of their numbers (an estimated 42-52 million since January 22, 1973), they are arguably the largest disenfranchised group in American history. With our present population at just over 300 million, they represent about 1/6 of the US populace. What other issue directly, and so drastically, impacts such a massive number of our citizens. You can see why the discussion of when life begins is so emotionally charged. Because if these entities were all considered living, breathing human beings (as in Psalm 139), then American doctors (who have taken the Hippocratic oath) would be culpable as terrorists who have viciously invaded the most sacred sanctuary on earth, the human womb, at the request of the person these little ones may have trusted the most had they been born - their mother.

Another way to look at this is to consider all the wrangling that has gone on about the involvement of US citizens (military personnel) in the Iraq war since it's beginning in 2003. Though extremely tragic, there have been just over 4,000 U.S. lives lost to date in that military conflict. You expect to lose lives in military conflicts whether the conflict is considered right or wrong. There were about 60,000 KIA and MIA in Vietnam. There were about 405,000 total US deaths in WWII (combat deaths, plus deaths due to disease, etc.) and 625,000 total deaths in our bloodiest, disease-ridden conflict - the Civil War (where every casualty in the war was an American on both sides). Even in the Holocaust during the Nazi years of terrorizing Europe, the estimated 6 million innocent Jews, that deplorably lost their lives, are exceeded in multiplied millions by those innocents who were mortally affected inside the womb by the worst form of domestic terrorism (instituted by the US Supreme Court decision of Roe vs Wade in 1973 in violation of their oath of office). An estimated 4,000 US citizens a day are disposed of by terrorists dressed in the garb of compassionate medical personnel. What a travesty of human justice and God's beautiful, amazing creation!

What are your comments? How do you see it? How does this important issue enter into Your Ultimate Kingdom Destiny?

Next Installment: Numbness, Civil Rights, and The Forgotten Lost

Rings Picture: Conclusion - The Enemy's Strategy

2008-10-13T11:20:00.007-04:00

This is a picture that was given to Mary Pat that has ministered to many Christians the past two years, so I asked her permission to include it on the blog.

The enemy's strategy is to try to craftily lure a person from one ring to the next (download spiral) with great trickery, deception, confusion, misunderstanding, etc. (a.k.a., lies). He also is determined to keep people from progressing to the next ring if there is an initial desire. His hope is to weaken the believer and keep him from threatening his (the enemy's) position. Since many people live somewhat comfortably in the second ring, but may experience a stirring to move toward the first ring, the enemy really tries to stop that from happening through increased warfare. He stirs up misunderstanding, conflict, confusion, increased distraction, among other things. If a person ends up finally soaring in the first ring, but starts moving away from it (towards the second ring), there will be initial distress (much internal conflict). However, once planted in the second ring, false contentment takes root. "Life becomes easier again." Intense hunger and passion diminish, and the enemy loves it as the person finds agreement from similar people. A person thinks "he's fine," unable to recognize the purposeful pull against him. The person begins listening to many voices during the luring process, which intensifies as he approaches the second ring. While possibly intrigued and somewhat interested in the first ring, he can't really get there (or get back there) easily due to the new blindness, which can only change with a yielding of his will to the Lord (a surrendered heart). Much religious activity (thinking and/or doing) takes place of the true intimacy. Visions/dreams can be more distorted with the enemy's increasing influence.

Moving from the second to the third ring is even less obvious to the person, but extremely destructive. The enemy's strategy to destroy a person's life increases in intensity, but he becomes oblivious to it and is no threat to the enemy anymore. Self has really taken root here. Fear has replaced real faith, and his life begins to show it. A person loses much hope and is marked for more/greater disaster. He may still declare a belief in God, but not knowing His heart/love in a tangible way during the intensified process against him. There may be a form of Godliness, but a hollowness of heart prevails. There may be sparks of interest in returning (at least to the second ring), but it takes some yielding of the heart to the Lord's ways.

Beyond the third ring is cold and darkness where hopelessness, loneliness, despair, defeat, ad delusion reign supreme, while the person tries to convince others he is fine. He is deeply hungering for "something," but doesn't know that that something is really someone - our powerful and loving Lord! He fills that need with everything but the true One.

While the best and safest place to be is the first ring, it must be carefully guarded lest one fails to recognize the enemy's ongoing attempts to help us choose a different path. The area between the first and second ring is highly volatile. The enemy is never stagnant....he's always moving. The road between the rings is hazardous since the enemy never wants us to move forward, but is always trying to take us backward. Sometimes we think that we live in the first ring, but reality might be that we are between rings (being pulled/lured away), or living in the second ring. The Spirit of Truth will lead us/guide us into all truth! Our God has to be much bigger to us than the enemy so he becomes a defeated foe in experience. The bigger our God becomes, the smaller and less influential the enemy becomes. The Lord is on the throne and wants every part of our hearts....and is standing at the door always knocking....always loving. Open our eyes, Lord, that we may see!

Comments? Questions? Share what has hit your heart through the Rings picture.

Rings Picture: Second and Third Ring

2008-10-12T15:56:00.007-04:00

Second post in a series from a picture Mary Pat received which has ministered to many Christians the past two years.

The second ring area represents an average Christian lifestyle, lukewarmness for many aspects of the Kingdom while typically not realizing it. This is the place where unhealed hurts, wounds, and hindrances in our lives remain hidden (a general disinterest to either "go there" or walk out the process). The warmth of the Lord is reduced significantly making it difficult to receive on a regular basis. There is hindered revelation of what God is really doing and many decisions are made intellectually, lacking true anointing. It's a place where vulnerably and transparency are not the norm, only occasional. There is a lack of desire for consistent radical Christian living, which demonstrates itself in complacency, control, and many emotional ups and downs (as opposed to a general state of rest). This is a place where we are not really "in love" with Jesus (in a practical way) even though we say that we love HIM. Pride rules more than humility, but doesn't seem to be evident to the person. Intimate moments with the Lord can occur, but don't seem to "last." Self is more important than wholehearted submission to the Lord (usually nor seen by the person). Distractions in life have overshadowed the passionate pursuit of, and intense zeal for, the Lord. Great declarations of intent occur with sparse follow-through as a result of only inconsistently receiving the Lord's transformation. Spurts of thankfulness replace a truly grateful heart.

The third ring area represents more blinding of the eyes. There is an inability/refusal to receive love and direction from the Lord. It's where hardening of the heart has significantly increased from the second ring, and little warmth from the Lord's love is felt. Willingness to be led by self rather than the Lord is now evident for many to see. While saying they believe in some version of Christianity, their lives truly reflect major unbelief. There is little relationship with the Lord so major strongholds are prevalent, causing the person to lead a very defeated life while thinking he's fine. This is where great rebellion, religion, ingratitude, and control thrive while doing some "good Christian things." Because of the lack of light/heat from the fire of God, the enemy has infiltrated for the "kill." It's not good to be on this slippery slope.

Comments? Questions? Share your heart!

Next installment: The Enemy's Strategy

Rings Picture: Overview and First Ring

2008-10-10T16:51:00.007-04:00

This is a picture that was given to Mary Pat that has ministered to many Christians the past two years, so I asked her permission to include it on the blog.

I saw a picture of a very huge camp-fire-like flame with a ring surrounding it, which was about five feet from the flame. The Lord then showed me another ring that circled the flame considerably farther from the original ring. He completed the picture with the third ring that was much farther out from the second ring (much greater than the distance between the first and second ring). Each ring was white. Beyond the third ring was darkness.

The Lord indicated to me that He desires for all of us to be positioned within the first ring where we can constantly enjoy the fiery presence and warmth of our Lord, and true Kingdom living takes place. It is a place where we walk in safety, as well as, joy, peace, and righteousness in the Holy Ghost while experiencing the Father's love, being "in love" with Jesus (a.k.a., deep intimacy), and intimately relating with Holy Spirit. It is where destiny is walked out and great demonstrations of the Kingdom will come to pass. Enjoying the Lord's manifest presence is what happens within this ring on a regular basis. Hunger and passion for the Lord and His ways are priority. There is an intense desperation for Him and it is always possible for the voice of the Lord to be heard. Power and authority over the enemy are greatly increased in this realm and show in one's life. No independent spirit exists here...a team mentality prevails. Trust issues and fears are healed, or are in the process of being healed. There's a huge openness to being refined by His fire no matter what the cost. Gratitude to the Father, leaders, and others is an aroma that can be sensed within this ring. The Lord increases individuals exponentially in this realm. There is a heart-felt yieldedness to the Master's plan and desires.

Comments? What is on your heart?

Next installment: Second and Third Ring

Blast from the Past #2

2008-10-08T18:15:00.005-04:00

It is so often within our power to choose blessing or cursing for ourselves. Check out Jeremiah 17:5-8. In verse 5, it says a man (generic, of course) is CURSED if he 1) trusts in man 2) makes flesh his strength (either someone else or himself) thereby allowing his heart to depart from the Lord. In verse 6, it explains that he becomes like a scrubby bush in the desert and tragically won't see (blind) when GOOD comes - he lives in a waterless, salty, lonely wilderness without favor (because he can't see when good is right in front of him)!

In verse 7, it says a man (generic, of course) is BLESSED if he 1) trusts in the Lord 2) if his hope is the Lord. In verse 8, it relates that he becomes an incredibly fruitful, flourishing tall tree next to a moving water source where his roots receive a constant life-giving supply which produces never-ending green leaves and fruit even in extended seasons of high temperatures and drought. This results is no FEAR or WORRY in the worst of conditions. One of the keys to reaching your ultimate Kingdom destiny is to contend always to trust fully, completely in the Lord and allow Him to be your hope. The promise is a that a state of BLESSING will exist. Obviously, it is worth the battle. It is precisely the message we need to hear from Holy Spirit in these challenging times.

Much of what Mary Pat and I am led by God's Spirit to teach and counsel people has to do with helping them see the destructive aspects of relying on their own (or someone who gives them poor advice) natural answers/solutions to the situations and difficulties that they face. When someone hears with their spiritual ears and sees with their spiritual eyes, then the results, of course, are DRAMATICALLY different from what they would have been. We are committed to partnering with the Lord as He reveals a lifestyle to individuals that will lead them to constantly green leaves and abundant fruit as they spread their roots into the sustaining river of His Presence and power by faith.

Your thoughts/comments..........

Blast from the Past #1

2008-10-06T15:50:00.008-04:00

Some will remember the old Monday challenges that I use to write for our Frontline School of Supernatural Ministry. I will be adding appropriate ones (revised and sometimes expanded) to the blog from time to time under the title "Blast from the Past." For those of you that read them before, you can see how your progress has been in the area of challenge - please share in the blog. For those who haven't read them, it will provide a challenge for your spiritual walk - please share in the blog.

In verses 7 and 8 of Romans 13 it says, "Render therefore to all their due; taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." Basically, I heard Holy Spirit saying from this passage that I am to be paid up (or in the process of paying up) to meet my earthly obligations to earthly authorities, but never to be paid up in loving others because my heavenly obligation to love is never paid off or finished....it should always be an open account that I deposit into continually. My savings account of love should never be closed out and my mortgage of love should never be paid off.

Then I was reminded of a passage in the Old Testament which added even more light. Malachi 3:8-12 says, "Will a man rob God? Yet, you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try me now in this," says the Lord of Hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," says the Lord of Hosts; "and all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land," says the Lord of Hosts.

It is a serious matter to rob earthly authorities by not meeting my obligations to them, but to rob God by not giving to Him means that I am not showing Him love (which is what I am always to owe others, especially God because of who He is and what He has done so generously for me). It can even cause a curse on personal finances or an entire national economy (v9). When the man or woman of God is generous with their "love gifts" to God's Kingdom, or the Body is generous to the Kingdom economy, then overflowing blessing is the norm (v10b and 12), and the curse is cancelled (v11). If we seek Holy Spirit for the gift of faith to be generous in our giving, He will supply the faith that is needed, and, quite often, the very gift to give!

So....hit me back with some feedback on this post.....speak up....speak out......

Forgiveness #1

2008-10-04T11:22:00.012-04:00

I can think of no other subject that would be the premier first post to encourage you in the pursuit of your ultimate Kingdom destiny than forgiveness. Like so many challenging life teachings in God's Word, it is much like a greased pig in the sense that in the application of it, I am able to grab onto a piece (or limb, as the case may be) for a short time, but then it seems to quickly wiggle through my most intense grasp. Even if I corral the entire porker, it can still escape inside the confines of the pen and remain elusive because it is hard to pin it down due to it's.....well....slipperiness! Maybe that's why it is so much easier if I kill the pig, make it into a football, and toss it on to someone else. In other words, many Christians are teaching a form of this key Biblical concept with such passion, but are lacking the power to live it out in their own personal lives. They have called the audible and passed on this responsibility to others, usually the vulnerable people under their teaching. They choose whom they will forgive according to their own list of preferences.

It is certainly a sobering proposition that if I fail to forgive, then I will not be forgiven(Matthew 6:14, 15; Mark 11:25, 26; Luke 11:4); that if I judge, I will be judged in like manner (Matthew 7:1-5). In fact, unforgiveness and judgment seem to be bosom buddies, an unholy couple. On the other hand, forgiveness and mercy are the perfect partners, redeeming spouses (Matthew 6:12; James 2:13). Even in the midst of the greatest injustice in human history, Jesus forgave, showing amazing mercy(Luke 23:34).

Now this doesn't mean that we are a doormat for every evil person to use us to clean his feet. Even in Jesus' teaching in Luke 17:3-5, he says to "rebuke" the person who sins against us and, when he repents, forgive him (also see Matthew 18:15-17). The point is that we need to ask Holy Spirit what to do and say in each situation with which we are faced, but our heart should be embracing merciful forgiveness to follow the generously forgiving example of Jesus.

One very interesting passage in this regard is Luke 6:37-38: "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." So, the measure that I use to judge, condemn, forgive, and give will be the same measure that is measured back to me in those spiritual actions (which reveal the degree to which my heart is responding spiritually or naturally to Holy Spirit).

A parable that illustrated the previous spiritual principle was given by Jesus in Matthew 18:23-35. It tells of a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. One servant had a debt so large, he had no hope of paying it. The plan became to sell him and his family into slavery and sell all their possessions, as well. The servant humbly sought the patient mercy of the master and his plea elicited a compassionate response from the king. He released the servant and his family, and forgave the debt. However, the servant failed to do likewise to a fellow servant that owed him a much smaller debt. When the fellow servant pleaded for patient mercy, it was abruptly denied, and he was thrown into prison until the debt could be paid. Observing all of this, several fellow servants brought the incident to the attention of the king. In verse 32, the master said, "You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?" The parable ends with an extremely sobering couple of verses: "And the master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due him. So my heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his tresspasses." Whoa! That's bone-tingling no matter what interpretation is give to those final two verses.......

Well, how about some feedback, questions, and comments on the subject of forgiveness. Let me hear from you!

Welcome to Your Ultimate Kingdom Destiny!

2008-10-02T00:00:00.011-04:00

Welcome to my blog to encourage you in your pursuit of your Heavenly Father's Kingdom destiny for your life! My desire for this blog is that it be a place that you can visit often to lift your spirits as you journey toward all that the Father has planned for you. I would hope that it would be a place that you could come on those difficult days to pour out your heart and to receive the courage to face your situations and circumstances with faith given as a gift from Holy Spirit. I would hope that it would be a place that you could come on those high days, when things are going well, to share your victories and to receive a word in season that would take you even higher. In short, don't be a stranger to this blog so you can consider my fatherly pastoral heart as I cheer you on to an ever-growing intimacy with your Heavenly Father, who is Your Ultimate Kingdom Destiny.