The Darkness of Our Times

I have to admit, I never, ever dreamed that the closer we get to the end times (and, it's building each and every day), that the heresy and apostasy warned about in Scripture would be so evident and stark to some believers, while complete deception would rule within the heart and minds-eye of others.

The post called "The Law no longer applies! according to gay christians" written by Mark over at Chester Street is just one example of the not-so-subtle deception that is currently permeating Christian belief. Read the comments there, too, and you will see that deception can cause a 180 degree turn from what has been known and taught (through exegesis, Scripture interprets Scripture, and Sola Scriptura, and scholarly Biblical study & review) for two thousand years; into heretical beliefs spawned by secular humanistic desires masquerading as "tolerance," "diversity of opinion," "focusing only on Jesus' love without regard for his role as Judge of the universe," the "twisting of Scripture to accommodate sin," and the misuse of "thou shall not judge" as if all discernment should be thrown out the window.

A while back, I was startled to read the Barna Research pages that revealed how many label themselves as "Christians" today, yet not be willing to follow the true Gospel and Biblical mandates of Christian belief and scholarship. Jesus himself warns us:

Mar 13:22 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Mar 13:23 "But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.

Mat 24:24 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Mat 24:25 "See, I have told you beforehand.

How do we recognize one who professes to be a true believer but acts in the spirit like a false christ or false prophet? The only way to recognize deception like this is to be born again in Christ and to know God's Word. Otherwise, the sentiment of the people can be swayed so easily that they don't even realize that they are being deceived!


2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

1Jo 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Pro 16:2 All the ways of a man [are] clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

Jesus gives us insight into the world of demons in the following Scriptures and Dr. Guzik explains further in his commentary below.

Jesus speaking:

Mat 12:43 ¶ When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.


Mat 12:44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth [it] empty, swept, and garnished.


Mat 12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last [state] of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Guzik commentary:

3. (43-45) The dangerous consequences of their rejection of Jesus.

"When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation."

a. When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none: Jesus grants us an important insight into the world of demons. Apparently, they (or at least some of them) desire a human host, and look for such among those who have "unfilled houses."

b. And the last state of that man is worse than the first: How important it is that we be filled with Jesus; as He fills us, we cannot be filled with any unclean spirit.

In his informative book, "Antichrist Rising: The Coming Global Storm," Ed Hindson writes:

The Bible predicts that a time of spiritual apostasy will precede the revealing of the Antichrist ("man of sin"). The book of Revelation describes this apostasy as the religion of the "great whore." She is the epitome of false religion and spiritual adultery. By contrast, the New Testament church is pictured as a virgin betrothed to Christ.

Most Evangelicals believe this apostasy is made up of people who outwardly profess Christianity but have no inward possession of the Spirit of God. Peter Lalonde argues that the apostate whore is not made up of any particular denomination, but of "all those who do not truly love the Lord." Many view the false religion of the last days as a combination of corrupted Roman Catholicism, liberal Protestantism, New Age mysticism, and materialistic Evangelicalism all rolled into one grand deception.

Years ago, professing Christians almost always acknowledged the authority of Scripture. Whether they were willing to live by it or not, people believed the legitimacy of biblical morality. Today, that is often not the case. Even professing Evangelical believers will often disregard the commands of God. It is not unusual today for people to respond with an "I don't care" attitude when confronted with biblical truth. People used to say, "Pastor, I know what I'm doing is wrong, but I just can't help myself." Today, the more common response is, "I know what the Bible says, but I'm going to do what I want to do anyway."

This shift of attitude betrays the selfism that is so prevalent in our modern culture. People want what is best for themselves regardless of who they hurt or what moral principles they violate.

Does that aptly describe what is going on in the world these days or what??

Let's read that again:

People want what is best for themselves regardless of who they hurt or what moral principles they violate.

This list is by no means a comprehensive one, but even these few examples of "selfism" show the truth in that comment!

1. Abortion
2. Euthanasia
3. Porn
4. Pedophilia
5. Homosexuality
6. Polygamy
7. Sexual Predators
8. Radical Islam
9. Secular Humanism/Atheism
10. Anti-Christian Legislation
11. Sex trafficking
12. Drug abuse culture
13. Alcoholism epidemic
14. Violence
15. Hatred spewed via media
16. Rampant fornication
17. Evil endeavors
18. Rape
19. Murder
20. Assault
21. Physical, emotional, intellectual abuse
22. Propaganda/brainwashing

And I'm sure that every person reading this could add to the list!

What do all of these things have in common? They are all examples of the "spirit of antichrist." All of these things happening are setting the stage for the final rise of apostasy.

The apostle John warned centuries ago that the spirit of Antichrist is already at work through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. He added that there are "many antichrists" who "went out from us" because they "did not belong to us" (1 John 2:16-19; 4:1-4).

Now, this next statement is going to be hard to accept. It will grieve you. It certainly grieved me when I read it, but it is accurate (and backed up by Scripture). Professing Christians who really do not know Christ and do not possess His Spirit in their hearts are called little antichrists because they express the spirit and attitude of Antichrist. Now, I'm not calling them the Antichrist. They only prefigure the Antichrist, who is described in the Bible as the "man of sin." the "son of perdition," and the "beast out of the sea."

I know. The idea that such a great deceiver could come upon the world scene instantly and dramatically may see remote to some. But when the rapture of the church happens, it will have global significance and proportions that will shake the entire world population. Thus, it will have to be explained in some manner. The Bible warns that the explanation will be a lie that brings "powerful delusion" to the unbelieving world (2 Thessalonians 2:11) The mind-sets of liberal Christianity, New Age thinking, corrupted Roman Catholicism, and the seeker-sensitive Evangelicalism could all play a part. So you can see that we are coming dangerously closer than at any other time in history.

The rapture of the church (all genuine believers, not a denomination or building) is the blessed hope of the believer. But it is a sobering matter for those who are left behind. They will likely succomb to the great lie and will perish and be damned (see 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12) unless they come to Christ during the Tribulation period. With all the believers gone, God's warnings to a defiant and unbelieving world will be gone as well. Therefore, it will be more difficult for people to escape the huge delusions and deceptions.

When the Antichrist rises to power, he will oppose God, exalt himself above God, and even claim to be God (see 2 Thessalonians 2:4). The Bible warns us that the Antichrist will be empowered by Satan to do miracles of signs and wonders (see 2 Thessalonians 2:9). He will be assisted by the False Prophet who encourages the worship of the Antichrist as God.

There is more to share, but I will continue in the next post. Meanwhile, I wanted to show a chart done by Grant Jeffrey (an end times expert) that points out several contrasts between Christ and Antichrist.

Christ :

The Truth
Holy One
Man of Sorrows
Son of God
Mystery of Godliness
Good Shepherd
Exalted on High
Humbled Himself
Despised
Cleanses the Temple
Slain for the People
The Lamb

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Antichrist:

The Lie
Lawless One
Man of Sin
Son of Satan
Mystery of Iniquity
Worthless Shepherd
Cast Down to Hell
Exalted Himself
Admired
Defiles the Temple
Slays the People
The Beast

A simple survey of the characteristics of the Antichrist confirms the idea that he is both a false Christ (pseudochristos) and against Christ (antichristos). He masquerades as an angel of light only to plunge the world into spiritual darkness. Like Satan, he is a destroyer, not a builder. Promising peace, he pushes the world into war. In every conceivable way, he is just like Satan who indwells and empowers him.

The spirit of Antichrist is alive and well today. The New Testament authors assure us that the spirit of Antichrist was active in their day over 20 centuries ago. It has remained active throughout church history. He expresses himself in persecutions, heresies, spiritual deceptions, false prophets, and false religions. At the culmination of history, such a spirit will inhabit one man...as satan's final "masterpiece."

In the next segment, I will discuss the Scriptures that warn the church constantly of apostasy from within its ranks. (For a head start, see 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Galatians 1:6-12; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1-3; 2 John 7; Jude 3,4).

The warning:

1Ti 4:1 ¶ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;


1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;


The hope and comfort:

Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart.


Lam 3:40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.

Before It's Too Late

I was prepared to type out today's T.V. broadcast of the final sermon from Turning Point Ministries series called "Searching for Heaven on Earth." But I discovered that you can watch the entire broadcast online!

Every day, millions of people try to find meaning in their lives by chasing pleasure, working endlessly, or acquiring as much wealth as possible. Yet without God, these pursuits turn out to be meaningless and empty. In the series, Searching for Heaven on Earth, Dr. Jeremiah will take you on a life-changing journey through Solomon’s findings in the book of Ecclesiastes.

Watch today's entire broadcast online here! You also have the opportunity to purchase the entire series Searching for Heaven on Earth at that website.

Even if you haven't seen, heard or read each segment of this series in the book of Ecclesiastes, this final sermon can still stand on it's own to minister to you. It is truly, a great conclusion to a fabulous, encouraging, wisdom-filled Bible study series!

Irony and Dem Politics

On the Fox News Channel website, we read this headline:

Dems Spar Over Who's More Anti-War at First Debate.

Above that headline, we find a perfect example of the reality of the war against radical Islam. The headline reads Saudis Crack Terror Plot; Arrest 172 militants training for attacks.

Irony.

Dem Politics.

The fact that this plot was unraveled and revealed the very next day after the Dem candidates ridiculous, Bush-bashing, anti-war debate?

Priceless!!

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P.S. It would be humorous if this were not such an important time for decision in our nation's history and in one of the major battles in the ongoing war against radical Islamic terrorism. The Dems have made the war in Iraq their "political football." What they fail to see is the dire consequences if we give up, pack up and go home from this crucial front on the war against radical Islam. In true, game form, the Dems are now scrambling for strategy after President Bush follows through on vetoing their pork-filled, ignorant time-stamped bill for withdrawal.

As the article suggests:

The question for Democrats now is: what's next?

There is no consensus among party leaders on an answer.

Democrats. The anti-war party with no ideas on how to fight the war against radical Islam. The cut and run party. The party that spews hateful rhetoric against our president and his administration, but has no ideas except defeatism and retreat. The party that hurts our troops and continually sends the wrong message to our enemies and the world.

SHAMEFUL!!! Absolutely SHAMEFUL!

Excerpt:

“Eighty days after President Bush submitted his troop funding bill, the Senate has now joined the House in passing defeatist legislation that insists on a date for surrender, micromanages our commanders and generals in combat zones from 6,000 miles away, and adds billions of dollars in unrelated spending to the fighting on the ground,” said Dana Perino, a White House spokeswoman.

Meanwhile, Gen. David Petraeus, the commander in Iraq, met in closed briefings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill Wednesday, and with reporters Thursday. Petraeus said Al Qaeda, the terrorist group behind most violence in Iraq, is listening to the Democratic rhetoric.

"One thing that he reminded us was, this is a test of wills and he admonished us, reminded us that what we say to the world, to our adversaries and our allies, is listened to by the other side," said Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., a Republican candidate for president.

I'm already praying for the Republican nominee to be president in 2008. At least every candidate in the current pool of contenders recognizes the seriousness of what we (and the world) face in this war against radical Islamo-fascists!!

Our Society's Need for Holiness

We are to wage war against wickedness. What we tolerate - little by little - eventually becomes accepted practice. When we find a group, organization, individual or government sponsored event that blatantly advertises or encourages filth that undercuts biblical morality in our society and degrades the quality of life in America, we need to speak up against it. We cannot remain silent, people. Silence feigns approval. Approval of sinful ideologies creates a society that is godless. By the grace of God, opposing evil should continue to be a regular effort in the work of each Christian.

Take a look at this article about the pope's condemnation against the EU for not acknowledging it's Christian roots during it's 50th anniversary celebration. He unequivocably states that Society fails without Christian conscience.

Today, on the Glenn Beck T.V. show, Glenn mentioned that what is currently happening in the U.S. is similar to what happened prior to the fall of the Roman Empire. We could apply these words of warning from the pope:

"A society in which the Christian conscience does not live anymore loses direction, does not know anymore where to go, ends up empty and bankrupt," the Pope told parish elders on Sunday.

Such a conscience was needed to promote justice and a sense of responsibility among one another, he said.

Moral bankruptcy. Doesn't that accurately describe our nation today? I think it does.

The pope went on to say:

The Pope made his displeasure over the matter clear in a strongly worded speech on Saturday, saying excluding values that helped forge its very soul meant Europe was committing a form of apostasy -- a total desertion of one's religion -- and doubting its own identity.

Of course, he was referring to Europe here, but couldn't this also apply to America? You bet it can!

Our Democratic-Republic was founded upon Judeo-Christian ethics and values.

The father of our nation, George Washington, reiterated this ideal in his First Inaugural Address, April 30, 1789. Note this portion:

In these honorable qualifications I behold the surest pledges that as on one side no local prejudices or attachments, no separate views nor party animosities, will misdirect the comprehensive and equal eye which ought to watch over this great assemblage of communities and interests, so, on another, that the foundation of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality, and the preeminence of free government be exemplified by all the attributes which can win the affections of its citizens and command the respect of the world. I dwell on this prospect with every satisfaction which an ardent love for my country can inspire, since there is no truth more thoroughly established than that there exists in the economy and course of nature an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness; between duty and advantage; between the genuine maxims of an honest and magnanimous policy and the solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity; since we ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained; and since the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered, perhaps, as deeply, as finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.

(bold and emphasis mine)

What was Washington talking about here? Holiness.

It's the matter of holiness that preserves our nation. These days, it is obviously something that is no longer discussed very often.

As Christians, we are called to be holy:

Rom 6:22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.


Just as we must not be ashamed of the Gospel we MUST NOT be ashamed to "pursue holiness without which no man shall see the Lord." And we need to promote it better than we do.

Hbr 12:14 Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

HOLINESS:

"Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture. It is the habit of agreeing in God's judgment - hating what He hates, loving what He loves - and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word. He who most entirely agrees with God, he is the most holy man.

He will have a decided bent of mind toward God, a heart desire to do His will, a greater fear of displeasing Him than of displeasing the world, and a love to all His ways.

Washington concluded his inaugural address:

Having thus imparted to you my sentiments as they have been awakened by the occasion which brings us together, I shall take my present leave; but not without resorting once more to the benign Parent of the Human Race in humble supplication that, since He has been pleased to favor the American people with opportunities for deliberating in perfect tranquillity, and dispositions for deciding with unparalleled unanimity on a form of government for the security of their union and the advancement of their happiness, so His divine blessing may be equally conspicuous in the enlarged views, the temperate consultations, and the wise measures on which the success of this Government must depend.

News Roundup 4/25/07

I'm not the only one who thinks that Cho Seung-Hui was a terrorist. Huge hat tip to Atlas Shrugs and much, much more to read here.

IMO, it is good that the murderer's videos aren't being shown on T.V., but I do think that the information about Seung-Hui's terrorist connections should be released! The New Media and blogs are our source...so read up!

It's about time that Rosie's exit from The Spew has been announced. I heard rumors about possible replacements. Wouldn't it be cool if they replaced her with Ann Coulter? (not a chance...but the thought is amusing!)

Michelle Malkin has Loser Harry Reid covered. Many calls for Reid to resign.

A must read: The Five Myths of Harry.


Ht's:

Atlas Shrugs

New Media Journal

Fox News Channel

Michele Malkin

Captain's Quarter Blog

Homosexuals Indoctrinating Children in Schools

The fact that today's public schools are becoming breeding grounds (sorry for the bad pun here) for pro-homosexual behavior advocacy should alarm every parent who has a student in a public school.

Read how students are punished for opposing 'gay' advocacy.


Below is a link to two videos that show how young children are being brainwashed and indoctrinated into gay advocacy acceptance. People can clearly see what is happening in classrooms all across America in order to change every child's Christian (or any other religious) upbringing regarding how one should view homosexual behavior. It's quite chilling...to say the least.

Homosexuals Indoctrinating and Brainwashing Children Parts 1 and 2.


Also see Probe Ministries 'Gay' Agenda in Schools.

And, you can be certain that homosexual advocates are not discussing the health risks of homosexual behavior:


Health Risks of Gay Sex

Need more reasons to reject gay advocacy indoctrination and brainwashing of our children in public schools?

Read this entire page. Caution! Very graphic stuff in some cases...you might...no...YOU WILL be horrified. Not for the faint of heart nor to be read prior to retiring to bed for the night. You might have nightmares!!

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In addition, be sure to see Mark's post over at Chester Street called Reality and the Bible being redefined, say it ain't so...

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Update @ 1:45 p.m. PT

This is just too good to miss. I have copied and pasted the entire letter from the MassResistance website:


Hard-hitting letter to school officials from a mother regarding Day of Silence in her child's school.

The following letter was written last week by a mother whose child attends a high school in northeastern Massachusetts that has been holding the Day of Silence for several years. She and many others in the town have had enough. She composed this letter with the intent of getting signatures, and then delivering a copy of it to every school official in the town. It's a relatively long letter, but we were so impressed that we're presenting it here. THIS IS what parents across America ought to be doing (in addition to participating in their own Day of Defiance)! Too many people are afraid of telling the truth; this letter is a breath of fresh air!

We are writing about the Day of Silence (DOS), an event which is scheduled for April 25 at xxxx High School. According to the GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network) website for DOS (http://www.dayofsilence.org/), "Students and teachers nationwide will observe the day in silence to echo the silence that LGBT and ally students face everyday."

The DOS is an extremely controversial event, and although GLSEN repeatedly claims that the event is student-driven, it is evident from the extent of materials and the sophistication of the resources available on their website that it is GLSEN who is the mastermind behind this event, and not the students themselves. It is no secret that GLSEN's goal is to systematically desensitize students to homosexuality.

The DOS drives divisiveness into the school by forcing students, parents, and teachers to take sides on an issue that is not relevant to the goals of taxpayer-funded public education. It uses a neutral setting to politicize a highly controversial issue. An environment of intolerance is created when those who hold differing viewpoints on homosexuality or whose religious beliefs do not condone homosexuality are "silenced" and made to feel that they are being mean-spirited or bigoted. We know of teachers and staff who are uncomfortable with the DOS, but feel that there is no "safe" way to voice their concerns and convictions. This is not a healthy situation.

Most egregious, is the fact that students are not being told the truth about homosexuality. GLSEN is preying upon the vulnerability of young people - their innocence, empathy and compassion - to aggressively promote its own agenda. In an unethical and manipulative way, students are being led to believe that homosexuality is normal, that homosexuals have been victimized, and that they need to be defended. When students choose to participate in the DOS, they don't even begin to understand the magnitude of what it is they are stepping up to defend.

The sexual practices of homosexuals involve serious health risks and illnesses. Specifically, sodomy is associated with significant and life-threatening health problems. While unhealthy sexual behaviors occur among both heterosexuals and homosexuals, the medical and social science evidence confirm that homosexual behavior is uniformly unhealthy, and that many diseases and injuries specific to homosex are virtually unknown in the heterosexual population. Men having sex with men leads to greater health risks than men having sex with women, not only because of rampant levels of promiscuity, but also because of the nature of sex among men.

Those students who are struggling with same-sex attractions, but who do not embrace homosexuality, are often led to believe that homosexuality is inborn, a condition that cannot be changed. This can lead to a situation of despair, and fails to take into the account the fact that many have overcome same-sex attractions, as ex-gays will readily attest.

GLSEN has no intention of revealing to students the truth about homosexual behavior. Nowhere on their website or in their literature is there information about how to overcome same-sex attraction or about the risks and dangers of the homosexual lifestyle. The voice of science and the ex-gay perspective have been "silenced."

Nowhere does GLSEN give voice to testimonials from those who now suffer with AIDS, cancer, and other diseases which have resulted from homosexual behaviors. And of course, nowhere does GLSEN talk about those who have been "silenced" by premature death, an inevitable outcome for many homosexuals. When the school administration, its faculty and staff, go along with GLSEN's agenda, they become players in a game of master deception and coercion. This is unacceptable, and borders on the criminal.

When young people are led to believe that homosexuality is just an alternate lifestyle, they are more prone to experiment with it. Is the school administration ready to take on the liability of enticing students to experiment with behaviors that could cost them their health and well being?
We find it difficult to believe that any adult who cares about young people would be willing to be an accomplice in the DOS or in the promotion of homosexual behaviors.

It is obvious that a political agenda is being allowed to trump scientific fact and the well-being of our children. The school enables this to happen when it allows GLSEN to push its agenda via the DOS, when it includes books promoting the homosexual lifestyle in its library, and fails to provide students with information they need in order to make an informed decision. This is nothing more than indoctrination.

The DOS is an obstruction to the educational process. Our children are in school to receive an academic education. When even one student refuses to speak or interact verbally in class, the goals of classroom instruction are impaired. The situation is exacerbated when faculty and/or staff also participate in the DOS. How can a teacher possibly teach when s/he refuses to speak?

When the school agrees to have a day of silence for one group of people, there is no reason that other groups shouldn't be accommodated, as well. There are many types of people who could demand to be recognized - e.g., those who are mentally and/or physically handicapped, those who are persecuted for their religious beliefs, skin color, ancestry, etc. The time taken to do multiple "Days of Silence" calls into question the goal of public education and the activities which occur during the regular school day.

For the sake of the educational process, the safety and well being of our students, and for the faculty, staff and students who feel pressured to remain silent about their opposition to the homosexual agenda, we are asking the school administration, the superintendent, and the school committee to not allow the DOS at XHS. We are asking that the school maintain an environment which is conducive to academic learning, and free from coercion and political agendas.

We will be following up with you regarding the issues outlined in this letter, and next steps.

Sincerely,
Concerned Parent

Timely Video Preview to Watch

The Day They Kicked God Out of Schools

(With thanks to my friend Dran for sending this link via email.)

Countering a Murderer's False Analogy

Kingdom Advancer has done it again! I was hoping to find an essay on one or more Christian blogs countering what the murderer, Cho Seung-Hui, said about Jesus Christ.

People who do not know Christ as Savior often have the habit of using the name of Jesus Christ as a swear word. Cho made the choice to go even further with his blasphemy...claiming that he "died" like Jesus did.

KA's excellent, biblical analysis exposes Cho's ignorant and false claim.

This reminds me of when Jesus stood before Pilot and Pilot asked, "What is truth?" Jesus didn't answer him. How ironic it was that Truth was standing right in front of him and Pilot missed seeing, seeking and thus knowing the Truth. Jesus' forgiveness, mercy and saving grace was available to him; yet he (Pilot) chose to ignore this fact.

Pilot was a leader in the Roman empire. He experienced all the pride, recognition, wealth, attention, and fulfillment of fleshly desires that a person of "privilege" could have. Yet, we know that he missed the huge significance of the most important Person to ever walk the earth.

On the other hand, a simple thief on the cross next to Jesus came to his senses, realized that he was condemned already because of his sinful deeds, and simply asked Jesus to "remember him when He enters His Kingdom." That simple, but profound, act of repentance, belief, and faith in Jesus while he was suffering and sprawled out on a cross next to our Lord allowed him entrance into Jesus' Kingdom. Jesus responded, "This day, you will be with me in paradise."

Cho, unfortunately, was similar to the other thief on the cross next to Jesus. That thief mocked our Lord and disparaged Him for not "saving Himself and us too" from the cross. Little did that thief know that Jesus could have called down legions of angels to "save" Him from dying on the cross that day. But if He did, Jesus would have returned to heaven, alone and we would not have the hope of heaven through our Savior.

Not knowing God's Word can cause anyone to miss the real purpose of, and in, this life. We are each like those two thieves on the crosses next to Jesus. We can either confess and repent of our sins, and believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ, or, like the mocker (and Cho), go to our physical deaths with our own sins upon our own souls. This results in spiritual death; being separated from our God, our Creator, for all eternity. That's a long time...

I pray that this terrible tragedy makes people sit up and take notice that our only hope is in Jesus Christ. We each need to answer Jesus' question, "Who do you say that I am?"

Pilot, the second thief on the cross next to Jesus, Cho, and millions of people who have already died ignoring the salvation offered through Christ each got the answer to that question wrong. Dear readers, don't be one of them.

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Update @ 1:04 p.m. PT


Be sure to visit Charlie's blog at Another Think and read his very insightful post called, Uncomfortable With Evil.

News Roundup 4/21/07

This blogpost and the comments that follow say it all so well. Senator Harry Reid should apologize to our troops, our President and our nation. However, it will probably be a cold day in hell before he would EVER apologize to ANYONE for ANYTHING! That is the mindset of the far left. Spew your garbage as far and wide and as often as possible; even when it hurts our nation and our military and our government's efforts to win a war and protect our country. It is shameful and despicable!! The far left may want to just call it "freedom of speech." So be it. However, I think it borders on treason.

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Christian News Update

Gideons battling second round of charges. Why does Florida prosecute people who hand out Bibles?

Why indeed. I wonder...if they were handing out free copies of the latest "Harry Potter" book, would they object to that?

Probably not...

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Get this...apparently, having a Bible in a monument makes the monument "unconstitutional."

Ridiculous!

Will someone please inform the Houston court that just because an atheist complains, doesn't mean that the Bible has to be removed!

Sheesh!!

I just don't get these atheists. If they claim not to believe in the God of the Bible, then why does it bother them so much to see one in public? Does this make any sense? No. The complainer just wants to cause trouble.

If the latest copy of the "Harry Potter" books was in the monument, would the atheist complain?

Probably not...

But isn't witchcraft considered as a kind of "religion?" Would an atheist protest that a Wicca/witchcraft book violates the "separation of church and state" myth? (BTW, that phrase, "separation of church and state" isn't even in the Constitution!)

***more later***

What's Wrong With the Far Left? (Part 2)

Yesterday, I left off with the discussion about the danger of "hate crimes" legislation and how the ulterior motives behind it attempt to hide how negatively such legislation would affect religious freedom of speech.

The loss of Religious freedom on this issue would be the first to suffer amongst an entire host of terrible things that would result if such legislation were to pass.

Just click on that link and see what has happened to religious leaders and preachers in other nations where the former freedom of speech ability to share what the Bible tells us about homosexuality (being sin and an abomination to God) is no longer legal.

You see, there is much more at stake than originally meets the eye.

I sincerely hope that you clicked on that link and read everything on that page.

I happen to think that it's not all religious freedom of speech, in general, that will be affected, but Biblical, evangelical Christian speech and viewpoints that will be specifically targeted as "hate speech."

Why?

Because there aren't too many religions out there that even care anymore about the homosexual agenda, no less would have concerns that it would harm their freedom of speech, freedom of association, and freedom to spread the Gospel of Christ (of course). This is what is entirely unique about Biblical Christianity. It is the one fortress, if you will, that is still left, holding out against the raging attempts of homosexual activist extremism permeating every corner of society.

This morning, I read an excellent post over at Kingdom Advancing on the topic of Homosexuality and Christianity.

Please go read that post!!

It is tremendously important to see how strongly the Bible condemns homosexual behavior.

It's interesting. I felt "led" to see what Kingdom Advancer has written lately. My blogroll has grown so large that I don't always get to read every blog every week. But today, I was drawn to this particular blog. I now see why I had such a strong leading towards that blog on this day. It fit in perfectly with my previous blogpost and reiterates what I have often stated against the "gay behavior approval" Christian movement.

Here is what is written as the description for Kingdom Advancer's blog:

Advancing God's Kingdom...Defending God's Kingdom. Sometimes the best way to gain new territory is by defending the territory already had; sometimes the best way to advance God's Kingdom is by defending God's Kingdom. On the other hand, sometimes the best way to protect territory is by attacking others' territory; sometimes the best way to build up God's Kingdom is by tearing down Satan's strongholds.

Note what I have placed in bold.


...sometimes the best way to build up God's Kingdom is by tearing down Satan's strongholds.

My friends, to the average "eye" in the secular culture (and, even some Christians), the acceptance, condoning, celebration, and embracing of homosexual behavior is considered as a "good" thing.

I'm telling you that it is NOT a good thing.

It is truly, one of Satan's strongholds to keep lost people out of the God's Kingdom!!

As I have stated previously, the Bible does not call people abominations, it calls certain acts of sin abominations.

That is a huge distinction!!

No one is beyond the saving grace of our loving God!! The power of Christ's cross and saving grace that any sinner can gain is only given through repentance and belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!

First Corinthians warns us not to follow the "wisdom of men," but to adhere to the wisdom of God's written Word, the Bible, and God's Living Word, the Person of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NKJV)
Christ Crucified

2And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the *testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of *human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

We are to be diligent, and recognize the true wisdom of God being spoken, not the wisdom of anyone who would skew what is written in God's Word!!

1 Corinthians 2:6 (NKJV)
Spiritual Wisdom

However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.


1 Corinthians 2:7-16

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,

8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

9 But as it is written:
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."*

10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the *Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.

16 For "who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?"* But we have the mind of Christ.

Footnotes:
2:1
NU-Text reads mystery.
2:4
NU-Text omits human.
2:9
Isaiah 64:4
2:13
NU-Text omits Holy.
2:16
Isaiah 40:13

What's Wrong With the Far Left?

For some time now, I have been thinking about what the true motives of the radical liberal left ideology really is all about. It's time to speak out on what is really wrong with the far left and their dangerous ideology. Caution! You are about to enter another BIGOT post zone. (Don't claim that I didn't warn you!)

FYI, BIGOT is an acronym that represents:

Bible
Is
God's
Only
Truth

Several books and periodicals that I have completed reading have helped me immensely to see that the radical liberal left agenda covers so many areas that as a born-again evangelical Christian, I am called by the God of the Bible to personally reject and speak out against. In the past, some issues on the side of the radical left have not been as clear for me. However, it has been brought to my attention recently that just as I have suspected all along, there is one component that they all seem to have in common. More on that later. Meanwhile, here is a partial list of some of the issues that are 180 degrees opposite mine:

1. The far left wants to keep unfettered access to abortion legal. They don't want women who are considering abortion to see the new 4-D ultrasounds that show the growing child in the uterus. Why?

2. The far left wants homosexuality declared as normal, natural, and completely acceptable. They want anyone who disagrees with that punished through "hate crimes" legislation that would elevate a group of people based on sexual orientation to a degree over and above any other group. The real motive here is freedom of thought, freedom of speech, and freedom of association control. It doesn't matter if a person's faith (and the Bible) tells them that homosexual behavior is sin and an abomination to God, they just want you to no longer have the opportunity or right to publicly say so anymore! Why?

3. Darwinism is their "god" and any scientist who disagrees with the macro-evolution portion of the theory is not only automatically labeled as "not scientific," but also scorned and ridiculed. It makes one wonder just what they are so afraid of? Can't Darwinism hold up to the scrutiny of those who disagree? Apparently, rather than risk the exposure of this debunked part of the theory, they wish to silence all opposition in scientific journals, public schools, and secular universities. Why won't they allow students to question this hierarchy?

4. The far left's hysteria over global warming is but another example of the desire to squelch any opposition to such their own beliefs. Even qualified scientists who do not agree that all that was stated in Gore's "Inconvenient Truth" documentary is plausible are to be vilified, marginalized and silenced. Why?

5. The far left's " set in stone" ideology and rabid negativity about the war against terrorism in Iraq causes them to refuse to see the big picture of why we are fighting there. They ignore the good that we are doing over there and the leftist news media only accentuates the bad. They refuse to see and/or recognize the similarities and parallels between the danger of Nazism in the historical past and the current world-wide threat and obsession of Radical Islamo-fascism. Why?

6. The far left take liberty and change it into licientiousness; allowing such horrible atrocities against children to occur in this nation simply because they (and lunatic liberal left judges) view pedophiles as people who "need to be helped" rather than locked away for life. Perhaps Judith Reisman has the answer as to where such a disgusting and lurid licientiousness hailed from. Those of the licientious mindset appear to refuse to recognize that pornography fuels physical and sexual abuse upon women and children. Yet they demand access to it in public libraries. They appear to want to ignore the huge problem of online sexual predators in this nation that has reached epidemic proportions (due to Kinsey's insanity under the guise of "scientific research" with the added scourge of easy access to internet porn). They appear to not care a thing about the sex trade industry that is destroying our young people and taking away the innocence of children. Why?

7. The far left want open borders and illegal alien amnesty in this country. Just the term "illegal alien" being used by T.V. news analysts like Bill O'Reilly invites scorn and invective accusations of racism. Why? What is it about the term "illegal" that they just don't understand?

8. Speaking of racism, dinosaur African-American "leaders" of the black community continue to keep the anger, hate, and oftentimes false accusations of racism against white people alive and festering; rather than taking the approach of reconciliation between the races. Why? What's more, have any of those leaders (i.e. Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton) taken the time to apologize to the Duke lacrosse team players who were falsely accused of raping an African American woman who chooses to strip for a living?? Why not? What's more, the African American leaders who have been elevated to high-ranking positions within the Bush Administration (i.e. Condi Rice; former Education Secretary Rod Paige; and former Secretary of State Colin Powell) have been constantly disparaged and vilified by the left and the media in this country just because they are conservatives. Why? Even worse, the African-American head of the "Black Panthers" gets away with calling Michele Malkin (while substituting for Bill O'Reilly on the O'Reilly Factor) a "political prostitute."

I ask you. Could you imagine the outrage if a white man said something as nasty as that to Oprah Winfrey on national television? Oh wait...we did have something similar happen. The "nappy headed ho's" comment by Imus.

So what's the difference?

The outrage and calls to fire Imus erupted on a scale larger than the Grand Canyon!

Malik Shabazz's bigoted rant against a petite, beautiful, conservative, Filipino young woman attempting to interview him? Just a blip on the radar screen. He certainly bashed her big time. But it was soon forgotten. What a coward! We all know that he would never have the courage to say such a thing to O'Reilly's face. Malik...you are a bully!

No news broadcasts filled with pictures and outraged pundits calling for his resignation from his position.

No calls for apology from Shabazz...oh no, of course not!

Just a blog post about the encounter on Hot Air and an apology from Bill O'Reilly to Michele because he felt that Michele did not deserve to be attacked in such an outrageous and disgusting way by that vile excuse for a man.

But I have even more questions.

Why the outrage and media firestorm against one person (Imus) who spewed a racial epithet and apologized profusely, yet media silence about what Shabazz spewed against a conservative Fox News contributer and well-known blogger? What is wrong with this picture? Can you recognize it yet?

There are probably tons of additional examples that I could give here, but I think that these few will suffice for me to share my point.

My morning started out by reading an article about Joseph Farah's new book called, Stop the Presses. In that article, it occurred to me that the powerful gay activism in the media today is just one of the reasons why hatred is often spewed Farah's way. In a former article, Farah exposed how Pressure groups are shaping press coverage and that one only needs to trace the dots on the obvious bias machine to see how the U.S. newsrooms have been infiltrated.

Farah wrote:

Another example of an extremist pressure group controlling press coverage, according to Farah, is the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association.

"Not only is the organization successful at working inside the media to ensure favorable coverage of homosexuals and their political agenda, it even persuades the corporate press barons to pay their freight," exclaims Farah.

Like the Society of Environmental Journalists, the NLGJA is well-funded, with support coming from the Hearst Corp., Chicago Tribune, National Public Radio, Bloomberg, Knight-Ridder, the New York Times, Newsweek, NBC News, Time, ABC, CBS News, CNN, Fox News Network, Washington Post, Newsweek, Newsday, the Ford Foundation, General Motors, Allstate, jetBlue, Toyota, Coca-Cola, Verizon and HBO.

Also, like speakers at the SEJ conference, some members of the NLGJA have suggested "getting the other side" on issues involving homosexuality is not necessary and probably not a good idea.

"At the group's 2000 national conference in San Francisco, the big debate was over whether journalists should even bother getting other points of view on homosexuals' issues and stories – whether such viewpoints should even be permitted," says Farah.

CBS correspondent and NLJGA member Jeffrey Kofman made the point: "The argument (is): Why do we constantly see in coverage of gay and lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues the homophobes and the fag-haters quoted in stories when, of course, we don't do that with Jews, blacks, et cetera?"

Paula Madison, vice president of diversity at NBC and news director for the NBC's New York City affiliate WNBC, added: "I agree with him. I don't see why we would seek out ... the absurd, inane point of view just to get another point of view."

Kofman rejoined: "All of us have seen and continue to see a lot of coverage that includes perspectives on gay issues that include people who just simply are intolerant and perhaps not qualified as well."

Farah says this kind of observation is exactly why activists should be prohibited from the newsroom – not in control of it.

"I wrote 'Stop the Presses!' as a unique effort to explain the institutional problems we see in the establishment press today from the perspective of an insider – someone who witnessed this takeover of America's newsrooms," says Farah. "But I also witnessed and participated in the antidote – the New Media, with all of its increased competition and the many fresh voices it welcomes to the national debate."

Many others have addressed issues of media bias before, says Farah. But few other insiders have blown the whistle on the problem. And no one else has exposed the tactics of pressure groups within the press.

Farah says the activists within the media, whether they realize it or not, are mapping a route to their own self-destruction and disfranchisement through the increasingly intolerant and close-minded way they practice their profession.

If you clicked on the links above, you will no doubt have noticed that the first article started with a blurb about the global warming frenzy. Now, at first glance, these two may not appear to be related in any way (except for the media bias against dissenting voices, of course). But, it wasn't until I read an article written by David Kupelian in World Net Daily's Whistleblower magazine entitled, "Hysteria: Exposing the secret agenda behind today's obsession with global warming" that I made the connection between what the Bible says about godless people and the type of world that the far left envisions for mankind.

Kupelian wrote:

Global problems, whether real or conjured up, seem to require global governmental solutions. Today, "environmentalism" is nothing less than the global elitists' replacement ideology for communism/socialism. With communism largely discredited today – after all, 100-150 million people died at the hands of communist "visionaries" during the last century – leftist elitists who desire to rule other people's lives have gravitated to an even more powerful ideology. More powerful because it seems to trump all other considerations, as it claims the very survival of life on earth is dependent on implementing its agenda.

[W]hat we're witnessing right now is a rigid global-warming orthodoxy permeating the would-be ruling class. Scientists and climatologists who dare question the unquestionable are openly ridiculed, censored and threatened with decertification and professional disgrace. Meanwhile, the movement toward global governance, complete with global taxation, massive international wealth transfers and the crippling of Western industrialized society, moves inexorable into the fast lane.

"Kyoto," insists French President Jacques Chirac, "represents the first component of an authentic global governance." You see, they don't even hide it - they think global governance is a wonderful thing.

[Note from Christine: Wow! Can you see how this would play into the hands of the anti-Christ prophecied in Scripture? Global governance and dominance; brought on by a "miracle" worker who is perceived to be good for the world, yet in the final years of the tribulation his evil intent shows up and turns against the very people who once "worshipped" him as some sort of "messiah."]

Kupelian continues:

Make no mistake. On the surface, people like Al Gore say they want environmentalism to be the central organizing principle of life on earth (Gore admits precisely that in his book, "Earth in the Balance"). But look deeper, and you'll see that pious concern for the environment masks an elitist, greedy, controlling, anti-democratic, anti-Western, anti-capitalist, anti-free-enterprise, anti-free-will philosophy, carefully honed as a weapon for tranforming civilation.

And just who are these people who want to control and change our lives? When all is said and done, they are just supremely egotistical but ultimately clueless human beings who, devoid of God's light in them, lust after power over others as a dismal substitute for having a real life.

By the way, have you ever noticed that these people don't seem to be concerned about real dangers, like the global Islamic jihad movement that is negatively transforming Europe and Britain right now, and which has targeted the U.S. for massive attack and Israel for total annihilation? No, environmentalist-globalist elitist types - being darkly motivated themselves - have no ability to deal with real evil, nor even any motivation to do so. Rather, their fulfillment comes from confusing and upsetting good people into following them, for the sake of ego and power.

And that's the bottom-line principle here: Sociopaths know that if they can confuse, upset and frighten the masses, they can control them.

So don't be confused, don't be upset, don't be frightened - and most of all, don't believe these wackos.

Maybe you don't think they should be called "wackos." But I must agree that they do lack common sense and truth.

Arrogant of me to say that? Maybe. But I will share why I have reached such a conclusion.

Most people who hold a far left mentality fall into one of the following categories: atheists, agnostics, skeptics, false religion advocates or even cult religion (Scientology comes to mind) members. What do they all have in common? The rejection of God's Word, the Bible; non-belief in the Christian faith in general; as well as non-belief (and, more likely hatred) for the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, in particular. You will most likely never find a born-again, evangelical, Bible-believing Christian in the midst of the far left crowd.

Why?

Because they see the Gospel as foolishness.

The Bible is filled with verses telling us that 'the cross of Christ is foolishness to those who are perishing.' The cross of Christ is offensive to non-believers. Why? Because the Gospel reveals how man ignored God's warning to avoid evil. A fallen angel turned evil then tempted man to sin. Man chose to sin, thus separating himself from Holy God. This means that one day every man must be judged for the sin upon his own soul. The far left does not want any judgment to interfere with their actions or pleasures in life. Confession, repentance, recognizing that Jesus died on the cross for their sins and is the only way to be reconciled with God does not appeal to them. Their pride will not allow them to see that their lives have been negatively affected (and infected) with ego, lust, power, and marketing (plus participation with) of evil. Their rejection of the God of the Bible completes their fate.

When David Kupelian's book, "The Marketing of Evil" came out, the first radical group to protest were the homosexual activists.

Why?

They don't want anyone to be allowed to pass any judgment upon their behavior. They didn't want their marketing techniques (even when they knew they were lying to the public) using "tolerance" as a guise for total acceptance...or else...exposed.

So, what is the result of 30 years of "tolerance" without the truth? What exactly is happening today?

I'll tell you. It is no longer enough for people to tolerate who they want to be and what aberrant behaviors they wish to engage in. Now, they demand that we all must be in lock-step with their militant agenda, or we will be locked up in jail through hate crime legislation brilliantly marketed by the thought police activists.

I know, it sounds like I'm exaggerating. I wish I was...but I'm not!

The loss of Religious freedom on this issue would be the first to suffer amongst an entire host of terrible things that would result if such legislation were to pass. Just click on that link and see what has happened to religious leaders and preachers in other nations where the former freedom of speech ability to share what the Bible tells us about homosexuality being sin and an abomination to God is no longer legal.

You see, there is much more at stake than originally meets the eye.

***Part 2 in this series coming up tomorrow.***

News Roundup 4/18/07

There is lots of other news to share. Will post more here later. However, this video, post, and comments over at Hot Air are just too good to pass up!!

Tammy Bruce does a number on exposing the far-left Soros loonies who are obsessed with destroying conservative voices in the media.

HT: Hot Air

*******

Did you notice this too? Speakers at the Virginia Tech convocation yesterday called on Allah and Buddha in their efforts to minister to the survivors, family and friends of victims of the shooting massacre at the school but Jesus wasn't mentioned by name.

As WorldNetDaily reports in the article, I certainly was also dismayed and disappointed that they had:

A Liberal Lutheran Minister talking about 'healing,' etc. and how everyone needs to come together (blah, blah, blah…); BUT NOT ONE EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN PASTOR/PREACHER. NO INVOCATION OF THE NAME OF CHRIST JESUS."

Most of the other official statements of condolence released also ignored the Savior of the Christian faith.

Should we be surprised? Probably not...

*******
Update @ 7:00 p.m. PT

REALLY Good News to report today!

Supreme Court upholds constitutionality of federal ban on partial-birth abortion!

Praise God for this victory for LIFE!!

***more later***

In the Face of Evil Updates

4/18/07 Update:

Take a look at this blogsearch about the words, Ismail Ax

CrimeBlog.US has some very intriguing information; but near the end of the post concludes that it might all be just a hoax. Or, was there an attempt at cover-up? More research definitely needs to be done.

SCARY STUFF....PEOPLE!!

*******

Update @ 7:38 a.m. PT

Right Truth is asking the question on why the MSM is not discussing the possible meanings and/or implications of "Ismail Ax." The only time I heard it mentioned (yesterday) was on the Nancy Grace show at CNN Headline News. But NO ONE MENTIONED that it COULD have radical Islamic ties.

Hmmmm...

Right truth links to The Cassandra Page which discusses the news coverage (and lack of detail compared to the blogs!) on the still unfolding story of the Virginia Tech murders. Note this excerpt:

Today also we learned that the killer had the words "Ismail ax" written on his body. This phrase has (among other explanations) Islamic implications, which means that the MSM/DNC will never investigate its meaning.Aside from the usual MSM/DNC propaganda, the things we learn about the shootings in the next few days will make the posts of the last few days appear to be a strange time capsule.

Right Truth laments:

No one is talking about the "Ismail Ax" fact.. I mean no one. No TV, little print. I just watched the whole press conference and not one, not one, reporter asked about it. They asked about everything from soup to nuts (down to the class scheduling going forward) but not one query about Ismail AX. Am I nuts? The man had Ismail Ax written in red on his arm. Is that not deserving of some investigation or question?

Check back often...much more to come I'm sure!

*******
Update @ 7:55 a.m. PT:

Verum Serum discusses five possible theories; including whether the spelling on the murderer's arm was "Ismale" Ax or "Ismail" Ax.

The Islamic Threat discusses his theory that there is an Islamic connection. One piece of news is that the killer Hui had a Pakistani neighbor.

*******
Update @ 9:09 a.m. PT:

More "Ismail Ax" coverage from UnRest in the Forest, here and here.

*******
Update @ 9:30 a.m. PT:

IslamiCity has a detailed account of how the Biblical FACT of Abraham and Isaac is replaced with the false Muslim account of Abrahim and Ismail.

Excerpt from the FALSE ACCOUNT:

Meanwhile, Ibrahim who had not seen his son since he was a baby, came back to Makkah to visit him. Upon arriving, he heard that Hajar had died, but Ismail was still living there. Ibrahim was yearning to see his son whom he loved and missed a lot. He saw Ismail under a tree near Zamzam, sharpening his arrows. When he saw his father, Ismail rose up, hugged him and greeted him. It was the happiest moment for both father and son. But Allah wanted to put them to test, and it was a tough test indeed. During one night, Ibrahim had a dream. He came to Ismail and said: "O my son ! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you as a sacrifice to Allah, so what do you think?" They both realized that this was an order from Allah. Ismail said without hesitation: "Do what you are commanded, you shall find me very patient insha Allah." They had both submitted to the will of Allah. Ibrahim laid his son prostrate, put his forehead on the ground and directed a sharp knife towards his neck. At this very moment, Allah called him: "O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the dream! Thus do We reward the good doers !" A big sheep was sent down from heaven to be slaughtered instead of Ismail, which Ibrahim did, and they both had a big celebration that day. This event is celebrated every year by all Muslims. It is Eid al-Adha where we slaughter the sacrificial sheep.

The TRUTH from the Bible (NKJV):

Gen 22:1 NOW it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."

Gen 22:2 Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."

Gen 22:3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

Gen 22:4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.

Gen 22:5 And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad[fn1] and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you."

Gen 22:6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.

Gen 22:7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." Then he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"

Gen 22:8 And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together.

Gen 22:9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.

Gen 22:10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

Gen 22:11 But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am."

Gen 22:12 And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."

Gen 22:13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

Gen 22:14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide;[fn2] as it is said to this day, "In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided."

Gen 22:15 Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven,

Gen 22:16 and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son--

Gen 22:17 "blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.

Gen 22:18 "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

Gen 22:19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.

Chuck Smith's commentary on Genesis 22 shares how this event between Abraham, Isaac and God the Father was a foreshadowing of the coming Messiah...God's Only Begotten Son (Jesus Christ), being sacrificed to satisfy the judgment for sin, and rising to life through the power of the Resurrection for the purpose of Him overcoming evil, sin and death. Through Christ (and Him alone) we can be reconciled back unto THE Holy and Righteous God of the universe.

Excerpt:

CHAPTER 21: THE BIRTH OF ISAAC

v.1-7 The birth of Isaac was a source of awe at God's power and joy in His blessing.

v.12 God promised Abraham that "in Isaac shall thy seed be called". This promise was to help Abraham in a later trial.

v.31 Beersheba means "the well of oath or swearing".

CHAPTER 22: THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERING

God's revelation of Himself to Abraham took the form of a progressive fellowship into which He led Abraham each time He appeared to him.

First appearance: fellowship of the discontent of God with the worldly society (Genesis 12:1 ).

Second appearance: fellowship with the plans and methods of God (Genesis 13:14-1 8).

Third appearance: fellowship with the patience of God (Genesis 15).

Fourth appearance: fellowship of the hope of God (Genesis 15:12-21).

Fifth appearance: fellowship of the sufficiency of God (Genesis 17).

Sixth appearance: fellowship with the justice of God (Genesis 18: 23-33).

Seventh appearance: fellowship of His suffering (Genesis 22).

v.1 "Test" is a better word than "tempt" to describe the experience God planned for Abraham.

v.2 This verse compares to John 3:16 where God the Father sacrificed His beloved Son. Calvary is located right on the crest of Mount Moriah.

v.3-10 Repetition of the word "and" denotes consistent, deliberate action.

v.5 The plural verb was used when Abraham said, "I and the lad will go yonder and worship and (we will) come again to you".

v.6 Isaac had to carry the wood for the sacrifice even as Christ had to carry the cross.

v.8 Abraham prophesies, "My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering (sacrifice)".

v.8-10 Hebrews 11:17-19. Since Abraham had the promise of God (Genesis 21:12) that his descendants would come through Isaac, and since Isaac had no children when God asked for the sacrifice, Abraham knew that, if necessary, God would raise Isaac from the dead.

Like Christ, Isaac was a willing sacrifice, for he was about thirty years old and could easily have overpowered his aged father.

v.14 Jehovah-jireh means "God sees, God provides". "In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen" was a prophecy of the sacrifice of Jesus by the Father on the same mount.

v.16-18 When Abraham gave his best to God, God rewarded him doubly. Abraham was allowed to enter into a deep, intimate fellowship with God in suffering over the sacrifice of a beloved only son.

*******
Note what the Bible says about Ishmael (Ismail in Arabic):

Gen 17:19 Then God said: "No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.
Gen 17:20 "And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
Gen 17:21 "But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year."
Gen 17:22 Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.

Notice that God's Covenant is established with Isaac and his decendents. Ishmael's decendents were only referred to as a "great nation."

This is the Biblical account of what happened to Hagar and Ishmael:

Gen 21:9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing.

Gen 21:10 Therefore she said to Abraham, "Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac."

Gen 21:11 And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham's sight because of his son.

Gen 21:12 But God said to Abraham, "Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called.

Gen 21:13 "Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed."

Gen 21:14 So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.

Gen 21:15 And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs.

Gen 21:16 Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, "Let me not see the death of the boy." So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept.

Gen 21:17 And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven and said to her, "What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is.

Gen 21:18 "Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation."

Quite different from what is claimed in the IslamiCity account.

In the Face of Evil

On this day of mourning a terrible tragedy, I haven't been in the mood for blogging. However, when I heard on the news (earlier this morning) that the killer's actions didn't "appear to be terrorism related," I became curious to see what the blogs have uncovered. As usual, they are WAY ahead of the MSM.

You can go to the various links below and judge for yourself whether or not this vicious and despicable evil act was a result of the influence of radical Islam. As the days go forward, I would not be a bit surprised to find that the "evil ties that bind" will likely be discovered about this cold blooded killer and radical Islamic terrorism.


Atlas Shrugs is where I first learned about the Ismail Ax signature on the killer's arm and signed on the note he left.

Trackback URL:http://www.typepad.com/
t/trackback/343429/17797108

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The Smoking Gun has a copy of the killer's very disturbing play that he previously wrote. Apparently, the creative writing instructor encouraged him to get counseling after reading it. Warning: VERY graphic and awful!!!

New York Post article reveals significance of "Ismail Ax" signature on killer's arm and in note.

Excerpt:

The reference may be to the Islamic account of the Biblical sacrifice of Abraham, where God commands the patriarch to sacrifice his own son. Abraham begins to comply, but God intervenes at the last moment to save the boy.

In the Jewish and Christian traditions, the son is Isaac, father of the Jewish people; in Islam, it is his brother, Ismail (Ishmael in Hebrew).

Abraham uses a knife in most versions of the story, but some accounts have him wielding an ax.

A more obscure reference may be to a passage in the Koran referring to Abraham's destruction of pagan idols; in some accounts, he uses an ax to do so.

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4/18/07 Update:

Take a look at this blogsearch about the words, Ismail Ax

CrimeBlog.US has some very intriguing information; but near the end of the post concludes that it might all be just a hoax. Or, was there an attempt at cover-up? More research definitely needs to be done.

SCARY STUFF....PEOPLE!!

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Update @ 7:38 a.m. PT

Right Truth is asking the question on why the MSM is not discussing the implications of "Ismail Ax." The only time I heard it mentioned was on the Nancy Grace show at CNN Headline News. But NO ONE MENTIONED that it COULD have radical Islamic ties. Hmmmm...

Right truth links to The Cassandra Page which discusses the news coverage (and lack of detail compared to the blogs!) on the still unfolding story of the Virginia Tech murders. Note this excerpt:

Today also we learned that the killer had the words "Ismail ax" written on his body. This phrase has (among other explanations) Islamic implications, which means that the MSM/DNC will never investigate its meaning.

Aside from the usual MSM/DNC propaganda, the things we learn about the shootings in the next few days will make the posts of the last few days appear to be a strange time capsule.

Right Truth laments:

No one is talking about the "Ismail Ax" fact.. I mean no one. No TV, little print. I just watched the whole press conference and not one, not one, reporter asked about it. They asked about everything from soup to nuts (down to the class scheduling going forward) but not one query about Ismail AX. Am I nuts? The man had Ismail Ax written in red on his arm. Is that not deserving of some investigation or question?

A Prayer in the Wake of Tragedy...

Heavenly Father, come with Your peace to the students, faculty and staff at Virginia Tech, and to the greater community of Blacksburg.

Calm their fears and bring Your comforting presence.

Give wisdom and strength to the administration of the University as they deal with this crisis. Grant healing and comfort to the injured and wisdom to those treating them.

Bring Your powerful strength and presence to those families who will soon hear the sad news that their loved one has been killed.

Send Your ministering Spirit to heal and restore the entire community as they seek to recover from this horrendous act of violence.

Call our nation to repentance and righteousness, that You may heal our land from all that troubles us.

Amen.

From the Presidential Prayer Team

(With thanks to Dran for emailing a copy to me.)

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Rom 8:38
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Rom 8:39
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Christian News Update

How interesting. One of the biggest haters of Christianity ended up being the first to see the new Creation Museum near Cincinnati's airport. The museum is scheduled to open on May 28th, however, Bill Maher used a deceptive method to gain early access to the facility. It remains to be seen what his "report" will cover. My guess? He came there as a nemesis in order to "steal, kill, and destroy" under the guise of "comedy" via an upcoming broadcast of his show. We shall see...


The "religion of peace" strikes again. This time, they conspired to bomb a Christian bookstore in the Gaza strip.

Should we be at all surprised by this? Of course not! The truth of Christianity permeates the very souls of those who seek to know the truth about God, the Bible, and Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior of the world. Radical Islamic jihadists fear the truth getting out to their people more than anything!!

Notice that they also bombed two internet cafes. Why? Because Christians in free countries are reaching Muslims with what it means to have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness! They are learning all about America's freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of association, and most important of all, Gods love for us all through the true Gospel of Christ! Muslims are being reached in record number via the internet!!

In contrast, just what is it that obsessive, radical, Islamic, jihadist, terrorists are offering Muslim/Arabic people via the internet? Fear, lies, hatred, oppression, ignorance, deception, squalor, propaganda, brain-washing (more like brain-dirtying !) beheadings, suicide-homicide bombings? Just one big culture of death scenario after another!

Article excerpt:

A group calling itself the Sword of Islam claimed responsibility for the blast, which targeted a store funded by American Protestants that exclusively sold Christian books. Two nearby Internet cafes also were bombed.

The Sword of Islam previously has stated it is allied with al-Qaida and is seeking to impose an Islamist theocracy in the Gaza Strip. It has taken credit in recent months for the bombings and attempted bombings of Internet cafes, music stores, pool halls and other establishments considered secular. Palestinian security officials say the Sword of Islam is an offshoot of the Gaza-based Popular Resistance Committees terror organization.

Sheik Abu Saqer, a prominent Gaza-based preacher and leader of the Jihadia Salafiya Islamic outreach movement, claimed to WND the Christian bookstore was "proselytizing and attempting to convert our people."

Hmmm....if I had to live with what this "preacher and leader" had to offer, I would leave such an awful "Islamic outreach movement" too!!

Let's see... Sheik Abu wants to offer:

Fear
lies
hatred
oppression
ignorance
deception
squalor
propaganda
brain-washing (more like brain-dirtying !)
beheadings
suicide-homicide bombings
death (both physical and spiritual)

Christians in a Democratic Republic want to offer:

life
liberty
and the pursuit of happiness
freedom of religion
freedom of speech
freedom of association
God's love for us all
purpose in life
the true gospel of Jesus Christ
eternal life

Tough choice...right??

No wonder:

"As a principle we believe that Jews and Christians will always do everything in order to keep Muslims far from their religion," Abu Saqer said.

Can you blame us?

In John 8:32, Jesus said, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

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HT: WorldNetDaily

Cohorts of Leftist Bias

As the "letters to the editor" copied and posted below will show, today there is not only a huge divide between liberal and conservative thought, but there exists, as well (unfortunately), a great divide between liberal-leftist Christian thought and conservative, Biblical Christian TRUTH!

As a believer in free speech, liberal Lynn (her letter appears below) has every right to spew her rhetoric. But Lynn, I have to say that your hatred is showing...big time!

But that's O.K.! Free speech means that people can spew their hatred if they want to.

The difference is, on a conservative journalistic website such as WorldNetDaily, many liberal, anti-conservative letters are posted.

I'm wondering..would we find such a thing on liberal websites?

Hmmm....I'll have to do some investigating to find out. I do not frequent them very often. I do know this, however; Liberal Media Bias is alive and well over at ABC's "The View" show. Rosie gets to spew not only her hatred for Christians, but also downright lies when it comes to her hopelessly ignorant rants about "Tower 7 being the first scientific impossibility of fire melting steel."

Do you think that the show's producers would let a spokeperson from Popular Mechanics (who would absolutely destroy Rosie's ignorant scientific "knowledge") on the show to confront and debate Rosie about this?

Not a chance!

Rosie (and ABC, apparently) only wants the "token Christian" Elizabeth Hasselbeck on the show to feign the appearance of "several viewpoints being represented on the show." But, as we all see and hear day in and day out, Elizabeth has no free speech rights on that show! Each time she opens her mouth in protest to something that Rosie is spewing, Rosie's foghorn blarring cuts her off and prevents her from sharing any opinion that disagrees with Rosie's.

Speech anarchy, anyone?

I can't even stand to watch that show. Most of the time, I find out about the latest, uncontested rabid rants going on there via short clips shared on the news analyst shows.

I have a few questions.

So, why does Rosie get a free pass to insult so many people but Imus gets fired?

Why doesn't Rosie apologize when she says hateful, insulting, or mean things but Imus still gets fired after apologizing profusely?

I have come to the conclusion that there is a sinister plot afoot!

It is because there is a specific liberal agenda going on today, and they are willing to "sacrifice one of their own" to get at the real target...conservative radio hosts.
Doug Powers has a great post up called Imus and Free Speech.

The last three paragraphs of this WND article tell us what this "fire Imus agenda" is really all about!

Imus, once named one of the 25 Most Influential People in America by Time magazine and a member of the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame, issued repeated apologies as protests intensified.

Brock's Media Matters was "developed" with help from the Center for American Progress, funded by billionaire George Soros, a major financial backer of the Democratic Party and allied groups such as MoveOn.org.

Brock, formerly of the conservative American Spectator, is backing a "Renew the Fairness Doctrine" campaign to have the Federal Communications Commission monitor and regulate talk radio. His group is "dedicated to correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media."

Being that Imus is no conservative, one of the conservative radio hosts mentioned in the article (think it was Savage) said on his radio show yesterday that the liberal left regressives were willing to "sacrifice one of their own" in order to wage a bigger war and win a victory against the hated (albeit highly successful!!) conservative radio talk-show hosts.

It is my hope that Imus will sit up and take notice just who is sticking up for his free speech rights!

It's certainly not his liberal left loonie cohorts!

Moving on to the second main point of this post.

First, the example of liberal Christian thought in a rant against Joseph Farah of WorldNetDaily:

Satan's mouthpiece

[To Joseph Farah:] A true follower of Christ sees no enemy, does not feel threatened or fearful. A true follower of Christ makes no plan for defense or war. A true follower of Christ spends no time involving themselves in the political machinations of the mammonists.

Day after day, your column and your paper illuminate new fears, hatreds and enemies. Your words are focused only on the dissemination of distrust and disharmony between people.

You are an envious and rebellious soul, as revealed by the content of your own words. You take no regard for the teachings of Christ, though you loudly proclaim yourself as a banner carrier for His message.

You are a friend of the devil and an obstacle to the transmission of the Lord's message. You have become a mouthpiece for Satan.

Lynn Walker

Now, contrast that letter with these:

Who is speaking for Satan?

This is for Lynn Walker ["Satan's mouthpiece," E-mail to the Editor, April 10]: I can tell you are a liberal " follower of Christ," as revealed by the content of your own words, for they are your words and not of God. I am always amazed how weak liberals' knowledge is of their Bible.

Though you want to appear wise by using phrases like, "... involving themselves in the political machinations of the mammonists," please get a Bible (hopefully a NKJV with a concordance). Look up every accusation you used in your raw spewage against Joseph Farah, and find out what God really has to say about enemies, fear, defense, war and hatred.

You called Farah "an envious and rebellious soul." Well, I Samuel 16:7 says, "For man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." So now, not only do you falsely believe to know what God says in his Word, but you think you can see into a man's soul as God does. Lynn, the Bible says people like you are fools and liars. In your own words, "you have become the mouthpiece for Satan."

WorldNet Daily is more in tune with the real battles we face as followers of Christ than most pulpits in this country. Thank God for raising up brave men like Joseph Farah that shout truth with no concern for political correctness. He is not afraid to say there is evil in this world, that sin is sin no matter how you want to twist it.

Lady, we have an enemy, and he is Satan . You had better plan a defense in your life. If you don't think you're at war against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places, perhaps you have already surrendered.

Jeff Wenzel

Take a chill pill

Lynn Walker ["Satan's mouthpiece," E-mail to the Editor, April 10], you need to lighten up and take a chill pill. If you are a true Christian, you would not be heaping such contempt and vitriol against WND. You would do well to look yourself in the mirror when you pronounce such damning words. It shows your true colors.

Edge Lee

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HT's:

The Powers That Be

WorldNetDaily