What do the scriptures say? When we study the scriptures on a subject, we go by what the entire Word says, based upon the guiding of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will lead us into ALL truth. That’s how it works. (John 16:13, Jas 1:5) We are surrounded by lots of false teachings, and…
We have a corrupted nature “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.”—Rom. 7:21 Romans chapter 7 explains to us the purpose of God’s Law. It’s purpose is to reveal sin in us, so that it can be dealt with. Paul describes the struggle between law and…
Our Peace Comes Through Knowing Him “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”—Phil. 4:6-7 You’ve seen the slogan “Know Jesus. Know Peace.No…
I often run into Christians who speak of the devil as though he is powerless and weak. That he is a defeated foe and not a real enemy.
It’s almost like they haven’t actually read the Bible.
Yes, Christ defeated Satan on the cross.
Yes, God is in complete control.
But, no where in the scriptures have I found instructions for us to ignore the enemy. or act like he has no power.
As a matter of fact the Apostle Peter says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)
A lion will roar, and it will cause the herd to flee. This gives the lion a chance to devour the young, weak and infirm. We have the power through faith to resist. But, it is an obvious affliction on those who are attacked.
It’s not something to be ignored, or belittled.
We are told in the book of Jude to not be foolish in how we speak of Satan, the fallen angels and spiritual forces. They have power and authority. (Jude)
Paul says That we are not to be ignorant of the enemy. (2 Corinthians 2:11)
So, we need to know what we are facing. Not to treat the enemy as if he is nothing or ignore him, but to face the enemy properly.
We are called to resist. But, how can you resist if you do not know anything about the enemy? (1 Peter 5:8-9, James 4:7)
So, let’s do a quick overview of the enemy.
It is believed that Satan fell through pride because he wants to be God. (Isa. 14:12-15)
At some point after his fall, he used a Serpent to deceive Eve, and get Adam to fall. (Gen.3)
Adam had dominion of the Earth. But, when he fell Satan took that dominion. That is how he became the god of this world. (2 Cor. 4:4)
There’s a lot more to this story, but it could lead to an entire book.
So, Satan has authority in this world.
Paul plainly states it. All the Apostles state it.
When a person is born into the world they are born in a right standing with God. They are subject to death, but not hell. Until they commit the first sin, knowing it’s a sin. Then, they are subject to hell, just like all humans.
It is also at this time that the person becomes a slave to Satan. They are his children. They are his slaves to various degrees. (Ephesians 2:2)
Here’s where some Christians will jump up and say “Yeah but he is defeated! God is in control!”
Yes, Jesus defeated the enemy on the cross. And there will be a future victory as well. (Gen. 3, Luke 10:18, Revelation)
This means that when Jesus died and rose, He defeated Satan. He set the prisoners free. ALL the prisoners or slaves under Satan’s control are free. But, only a few will hear the call and turn to Jesus to obtain it.
Saints are free from the control of Satan. We are saved and cannot lose it. But, as the Bible warns we can open doors and let the enemy back into our lives again. We can fall under that power. Take addictions as an example. (Matt. 12:43-45)
We can also still be impacted by Satan working through other people or nature.
All of this is plainly taught by the scriptures.
But, there will still be those who say “Yeah but God is in control!”
He certainly is.
Nothing can happen to us that God has not allowed.
We see this both in the book of Job, and when Jesus tells Peter that Satan has asked to sift him as wheat. (Luke 22:31-33)
Why? Why does God allow the devil access to us?
It seems that Satan has some kind of legal authority to ask, and expect an answer. We can speculate on why this is. But, we do not fully understand how things work in the spirit realms.
What we can say is that we have faith and power in Jesus Christ to resist the enemy. We have access to the King in prayer. We have God’s Word and promises we can stand on. We also have a relationship with God. We know Him. We know His character, and the Holy spirit dwells in us.
So, we know that God is always good. He seeks good always. He loves us and wants us with Him. So, no matter what happens, He is on our side, and we can use it to grow closer to God, and grow in faith. We can turn evil around for good.
But, how can you do that if you do not recognize evil? If you ignore the fact that we have an enemy, how can you stand against him or turn his attacks around for good? (Rom. 12:21, 2 Cor. 10:1-6)
If you feel that everything comes from God, then how can you call anything “Evil”?
Does God do evil?
Of course not, but He does allow things to happen. It’s our job to have faith in Him and turn to Him. Then turn the evil for good. We use it to save people or help people.
The scriptures tell us that the enemy possesses power. So, let’s do a list of what this power is. And I am in know way stating that this is everything. But, starting from the beginning of the Bible and going through we see that the enemy has the power to…
Deceive people who are walking with God and know Him, if they are not careful. If they doubt God’s Word, and Goodness. He can use our loved ones to get us to turn from God. He can use nature as a cover for his activities. We see this in Adam and Eve.
We can see in the book of Job, that Satan and his angels go about the Earth. We see that He has the power to cause a tornado to kill people. He can get humans to rob and kill others. He has the power to cause disease. He has the power to get our loved ones to turn against us. He also has the power to kill. (God would not let Him kill Job.)
The book of Job shows us that no matter what happens God is with us and we are to stay with Him. Trusting Him and His Goodness.
But, we see here that Satan is the prince of the power of the air. He apparently has power to control the weather. Which explains why we see ancient people all over the world making human sacrifices of babies to gods, so they can have good weather for crops, and fertility. We see the destruction weather and climate can cause.
He uses humans to kill, steal and destroy, obviously. How does this control occur? It’s possible that it starts with a whisper into the mind of a leader who then gets men to follow him. A leader whom Satan worked to put into a position of power.
We see that he gave Job a disease. We do not know what disease. It doesn’t matter.
All of this, the destructive weather, violence of men and disease, came upon Job and led Him into despair. So, Satan can also cause despair. (Except for God. Job continued to trust God and lean toward Him, and that’s what saved him.)
Job also shows that Satan can get our loved ones to betray us, or at least add to our torment.
I tell you this so we can recognize what is going on around us and pray properly or respond correctly. We respond with spiritual warfare. We respond with love and prayer and praise and trust in God, and His promises. We overcome evil with good. We take the bad that happens to us and turn it around to serve God and help and save people.
So, let’s fast forward to the New Testament.
Immediately after Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. (Matt. 4:1-11)
This is a lesson for us. Have you ever considered that the moment you got saved and was baptized Satan was allowed to tempt you, and sift you as wheat?
I’m not saying he is. I’m not saying it happens to everyone, all the time.
But, the question must be asked. If you’ve never been tempted by the enemy, or faced spiritual warfare, then whose child are you?
The temptations Jesus faced are temptations we all face, except for Christ, they were far more extreme.
We learn that we can overcome these things by faith in God and His goodness, as well as using His Word.
So, we see that the enemy has the power to tempt us, and try to get us to fall. But, we can resist and if we fail we can turn to God and confess it to Him. (1 John 1:8-10)
We also see that Satan has power over the nations of the Earth. This is confirmed in the book of Daniel. (Dan. 10)
Paul also speaks of how the enemy has power in high places. (Eph. 6:12)
When we look at the ministry of Jesus we see that there are unclean spirits and demons that work in peoples lives. and we are called to wage war against them.
We also see that his greatest earthly rival was the religious leaders.
Jesus plainly said they were the children of the devil. (John 8:44-47)
So, we can say that Satan used religious leaders to kill Jesus and persecute the Church. He got these religious leaders, to use the governmental powers, to kill people, and impose laws upon them to destroy their freedom.
The Bible also says that there are false brethren, false teachers, and false prophets. (2 Cor. 11:26, 2 Pet. 2:1)
All of whom are probably listening to Satan.
Since he is the god of this world, and has power over the disobedient children. and he has power over nations, governments and religious leaders.
Then, we can say that the empires seeking to conquer the world, are doing it by his authority. That when they oppress people and persecute saints, it is by Satan’s authority, throughout history and even today.
Ok?
We see from Jesus’s ministry that the enemy can cause a friend to betray us and deny us. Even in the face of death. Even to betray us to people who will kill us.
Friends and family.
The Bible teaches that saints will be betrayed unto death by those closest to us. (Luke 21:16)
History teaches it.
We see saints dying the most horrific deaths for Christ, caused by the devil.
The enemy will attack and tempt our family in order to get them into terrible situations simply to hurt us. But, we turn this for good and tell them about Christ.
All of the apostles and saints around the world have faced persecution. And there is more to come. That is the reality, even though we might not face it in our current time.
So, as you can see the enemy has power. We are not called to belittle it, but to stand against it. We are not called to fear it, but to turn it around for good.
It is a tactic of the enemy to get believers to not wage war, by making us think he has no power.
Now, understand that through Christ we have power and authority over the enemy. Through faith we can stand on His Word. We are overcomers through Him who is in us.
But, if you think there is no enemy you won’t exercise that power.
People crack jokes and say “The devil made me do it.”
Well, maybe he did. Maybe instead of joking about it, we need to wage war and make sure of what is going on.
Maybe there is a devil behind every bush. Maybe it’s a roaring lion.
God is with us, but we are called to wage war. If we are saved we are free from Satan but we are still in a war.
God is with us. He protects us. Nothing can touch us unless it is allowed, and we can overcome it.
This life is just a moment. Every terrible thing only lasts for a second compared to eternity.
And when we die we go to be with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:1-8)
There’s no need for fear. There is no need to be focused on the enemy.
But, we are called to wage war.
We are called to turn to God and focus on Him, and we shall overcome.
The signs of the times Meteorologists warn us about coming storms. Whether it’s a freezing rain and snow or a summer tornado. Folks believe them. They stock up on bread and milk. They buy icy melt. They break out the snow gear and the shovels or flash lights. They check on family. They stay home…
We owe Him everything God gave us life. He gives us the things we need and the joys of this world. When we get saved and know Him, we see that He gives us so much more. We realize that everything comes from Him and all of it works together for our good. Our thankfulness…
Spiritual warfare and repentance When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other…
I was driving today; when I saw a Blue Heron, by a beautiful lake.
The sun sparkled; like fireworks on the water, and the bird fished in peace.
When I saw this it dawned on me, that man is the only creature of God’s Creation, who begs another man for food.
He is the only one, who is a slave, for food, water, health, and a place to dwell.
The heron took off in flight; majestic in freedom, to find a new lake.
While we are trapped, to the whims of fear, and the power of the Man.
Do you see the reality of the world we live in? This construct ruled by others? It’s a place where we struggle to produce something we never own. Like sheep for the shearer.
Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ a collection of dystopian short stories.“The Future is Coming” and his latest book “The Latter Days‘ is a book on Bible Prophecy and avoiding the deceptions to come.
Do We Follow Evil Authority? There’s a Christian concept that I have struggled with over the years. It is the idea that believers are supposed to bow down to Authority. No matter how evil it is. The concept comes from this verse, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no…
Father’s are under attack It’s Fathers Day and probably the sermons you will hear today, and the things posted on social media, will be attacks on Father’s. Little jabs talking about how they need to do better, and are the leaders of the household or some other form of guilt and shame. And we wonder…
God Doesn’t Do Like The World Does. Jesus said. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”—John 14:27 (John 14:1-31–in context) When God calls us, and we turn to Him, confessing Jesus…
She closed her wind up pocket watch, as the kids came running into the room.
“Ok, Lacy get all the re-chargeable batteries ready for the outlets. Carrie, get the pots ready to cook on the electric stove for dinner, and make sure the radio is plugged up and on the news channel. Fred, make sure the laptop and phones are charging.” She said.
“No, Fred’s coming with me. We gotta go hunt, our food is getting extremely low. He needs to learn.” Dan said.
“Really dad?” Fred said.
“Yes, go put on your camo and boots.” Dan said.
Fred took off running down the dark hall to his room.
Ellen walked up to Dan as he dressed in his camo, and put his boots on.
“Are you sure he should go. The news says there are food riots everywhere and people are in the woods killing each other over food, hunting rights and land ownership.”
“He’s gotta learn. There’s no other way to survive. The rations they allow us to have at the store are just barely making it. We can’t even go there any more without being armed to the teeth. So, what’s the difference between the store and the woods? Beside’s I’m taking the rifle.” He said.
She nodded and walked away. Dan felt relieved that the discussion ended so easily. Maybe the reality of this new way of the world was sinking in.
“Fred, grab the 12 gauge pump, and put a box of squirrel shot and a box of slugs in your vest pockets. Pour them out of the box and zip them up so you don’t lose them. One box per pocket. Remember which pocket is which.”
Fred did as he was told. He placed the shotgun on the kitchen table and put the shells in his pockets.
Dan slid a 1911 style .45 into a holster on his right hip. Then, he put an AR-15 magazine in each side pocket of his cargo pants.
At that moment, the power kicked on and everything came to life. The news on the radio filled the room.
“Food riots continue across the country as people demand lower prices, and more rations. National Guard units have set up security check points around authorized stores, and points of need. Meanwhile, several counties have begun deputizing citizens to go door to door and search for food, and other needed items that people are hoarding. Sheriff Jones had this to say…”These hoarders should be ashamed of themselves. Everyone around them is starving and they want to keep things hidden for themselves. We won’t have it. They can take me to court or whatever they want, I’ll gladly violate their rights to save people in need.”
Dan shook his head.
“They orchestrated this collapse, and devalued our money, but they want to blame it on the little guy and get us to turn on each other.” He said.
Ellen came up to him and handed him a sack lunch.
“I’m going to be boiling water, and storing it. The news said that the water company will no longer be chlorinating the water, so we must boil it. I’ll also hide everything we have, that’s over the amounts we are allowed. I’m happy to share, but I’m not going to be robbed.” She said.
Dan kissed her on the forehead.
“We are going to Sam Wainwright’s property. He gave me permission. There are a lot of nut trees for squirrels, and we might come across some other stuff. We are going to take the car, its better on gas. And you won’t need it for work anymore.” Dan said.
“Stephanie texted. She said everyone at work is overwhelmed. They laid everyone off except a skeleton crew, and it’s impossible. They are closing down, so they won’t be calling me back to work, she said. We can’t afford this phone I got any more and I don’t need it for work. I got a contract on it. I’m not sure what to do? How am I supposed to find a new job with no phone?” Ellen said.
“We will figure it out. We always do. Just take care of what needs done today. I love you. We’ll be home a little after dark.” Dan said, and kissed her again.
He grabbed his rifle from behind the front door.
“Let’s go Fred.” He said.
Fred went out the front door carrying the pump shotgun, while his dad held the door for him.
Ellen walked up to Dan.
“Please watch him, he’s only 9.” She said.
“He’s fine.” Dan said.
He turned and walked out the door.
***
The forest grew darker as the late afternoon sun lowered.
Dan and Fred moved as silently as possible through the undergrowth. They moved a few steps, and then stopped to listen. They look up in the trees for signs of squirrels. Dan pointed to where he thought he heard a squirrel barking.
They moved slowly toward the noise. It was a squirrel, sitting in the crook of a tree limb barking at them. He had obviously seen them, but did not understand that the shotgun could reach him where he was.
Fred raised the weapon, took aim and fired. The squirrel fell from the tree with a flop. Dan patted Fred on the back as the boy ran over to the squirrel, picked it up and stuffed it into the back of his hunting vest, with the other squirrels they had gotten.
Dan walked up to him, and squatted down beside him.
“It’s getting late. We need to head back before it gets too dark to see.” He told Fred.
“Hey!” Someone yelled through the woods.
Dan looked around and spotted three men, armed with guns walking towards them through the woods. They were spread out and around 100 yards away.
“How’s it going?” Dan said, standing up and waving.
The men kept walking closer.
“You see him?” One said.
“Yeah” another answered.
“You’re trespassing!” The leader yelled.
“No, Sam Wainwright gave us permission.” Dan yelled back.
The men continued walking closer.
“Sam Wainwright don’t own this. You’re gonna need to give us your game and your guns, you don’t belong here.” The leader said.
“We’re sorry; we must have crossed a line somewhere. We will just head on out.” Dan said. He reached down and patted Fred on the head. “Let’s go.”
Fred rose and both of them started walking away from the men, who continued walking after them.
“No! You’re going to stop walking and do what we say!” The man yelled, and jacked a round into his shotgun.
Dan kept walking with Fred.
“Stop I Said!” The man yelled and fired a shotgun blast above Dan and Fred.
Fred jumped at the sound.
“Dad!”
Dan shoved Fred to the ground behind a large oak tree, then spun and opened up with the AR, sending rounds toward the Leader. He then dropped behind a tree.
The three men cussed and dove behind trees themselves.
“Fred, load that shotgun with those slugs” Dan yelled to Fred. Fred quickly complied.
“Dad, what’s happening?” Fred said.
“It’s ok.” Dan said.
He yelled out from behind the tree to the three men.
“Hey, we don’t want any trouble. We just came hunting and must have crossed a line somewhere. Let us go, and we won’t be back.” Dan yelled.
“Oh you definitely crossed a line. You’re trespassing.” The Leader yelled.
“Do you own this?” Dan asked.
“We do now!” The leader yelled, and the other men laughed.
“We’re just gonna go.” Dan said.
“No, you’re going to give us your game and your guns, and we might let you leave.” The leader said.
Then, the three men fired rounds at Dan and Fred. The father and son lowered themselves behind the big trees.
Dan watched as one of the men rose up and started running to try and outflank him and his son, on the right side. Dan quickly aimed and sent three rounds at the running man hitting him.
“Ugh!! I’m hit!” He said. He dropped to the ground and squirmed around piling up leaves around himself with his movements.
“Joe! Are you hurt?” The leader yelled at the fallen man.
“I’m hit! I’m hit!” The man groaned back, squirming around.
“We’re gonna get you out.” The Leader yelled back.
He started firing at Dan, striking the thick oak trunk that Dan hid behind.
“Fred.” Dan said, across the path to his son who was hiding behind another tree.
Fred was terrified, but looked at his dad.
“I need you to start shooting at them, and keep shooting and reloading, till I tell you to stop. Ok?”
Fred nodded and rolled over onto his belly, then rose up to his knees. He peeked out from behind the tree, and quickly shot at the leader.
Both the other men ducked when he shot.
“Keep shooting, Fred!” Dan yelled. “Keep it loaded.”
Fred shot again, and shoved a shell into the shotgun from the bottom, and jacked another shell into the chamber and fired again.
Dan rolled out from behind the tree to the left and charged to another tree where he dropped down.
He waited.
The other men shot back at Fred, and where Dan was.
Fred shot again, while Dan maneuvered to get along the men’s flank, while their heads were down.
He dropped behind another tree, and lay on his belly aiming his rifle and waiting. One of the men rose up on his knees and began to shoot at Fred.
But, Dan dropped him dead with one shot center mass.
The Leader was alone.
He opened fired on Dan, while Fred fired at him again, driving his head into the dirt.
Dan rolled out and charged the Leaders position, dropping to his knee to fire when the leader looked up to shoot.
Pow.
Dan fired 3 three rounds into the man’s head and shoulders, ending him.
“Fred! Stop shooting!” He yelled.
Dan dropped into the prone position and listened to see if anyone else was coming. He was practically deaf from the gun fire, but he did not hear anyone else.
He rose up, and cautiously went over to where Joe was lying. He was dead also. A part of Dan told him to strip the bodies of useful gear before heading out. It was the wise thing to do in this new world, but it was still a crime scene. There were still laws, and cops; at least for now. The world was going downhill fast, but the worst thing to do was to get caught up in some kind of murder case. He had to play it straight.
“Fred, come on.” He yelled.
Fred came out from behind the tree.
“Let’s get to the car.” Dan said.
They moved quickly up the path to the road and down to where the car was parked.
Dan pulled out his cell phone and called the Sheriff.
Someone answered the phone on the other end.
“Sheriff’s office.” A female said.
“Yes, I need to report a shooting.” Dan said.
“Ok, sir I’ll be honest. No one is coming. Most of the deputies have stopped working because of no pay, and there are just too many shootings, and crimes going on everywhere. We will file a report, and have a record for later, but you are on your own.” The lady said.
“Ok, my name is Dan Harper. I had to defend myself against three armed men. I shot and killed them. They are on Sam Wainwright’s property, near the creek on Cudgetown Rd. The men shot at me first, and were seeking to rob me. They claimed they had done something to Wainwright, and his wife.”
“Ok, Dan. It’s in the book. Someone might come talk to you, but I doubt it. We are trying to maintain some kind of order, but it gets worse every day.” She said.
“What should I do about the dead men’s bodies and Sam Wainwright?” He asked.
“You can do whatever you want, really. Maybe contact Wainwright’s family, if you know them,” She said. “I’ve got a lot of calls coming in. Good luck to you.” She said.
The woods were completely dark, and the sun was setting. Dan was not going to go back into the woods. He wanted to get Fred home, before it was too dark.
“Come on, Fred. Get in the car.” Dan said.
Fred unloaded the shotgun and put it into the back seat. Then, he climbed in to the front and buckled his seat belt.
They headed toward home, and Fred looked at his Dad.
“We killed those men.” Fred said.
“Yes, we had to or they would have killed us and left mom and the girls alone.” Dan said.
Fred began to cry.
“I wish we didn’t have to kill them,” Fred said.
“I know, son. But there’s nothing you can do about evil except stop it. They were doing evil things.” Dan said.
“They just wanted food.” Fred said.
“They shot at us. If they had asked and behaved in a decent way, we would have helped them. But they might have killed my friend Sam and his wife,” Dan said. “Do you understand? The world is different now.”
Fred wiped his face and nodded.
“We don’t know if they killed them.”
“That’s true.” Dan said. “I’ll check on them in the morning.”
“Ok” Fred said.
“Now listen, we are almost home. You gotta be strong and let me tell your mother. She will freak out and not let you go hunting anymore.” Dan said.
“I don’t know if I wanna go any more.” Fred said.
Dan laughed out loud at that.
“Yeah, it makes you wonder if it’s worth it.” Dan said, ruffling Fred’s hair.
They pulled into the drive way of the house, and Fred bailed out of the car.
“Mom! Some guys were shooting at us and Dad shot them dead!”
Dan climbed out of the car and shook his head.
“Boy couldn’t wait five minutes.” He said with a chuckle.
***
Note from author: I wrote this story because a lot of people believe that when the world collapses, they will just hunt for food. But, the fact is that everyone will be hunting for food, and we have killed off nature, to such an extent that there will not be enough wild game to feed humanity. Hunting trips will become combat operations, as people kill each other for the game they just shot. Raiders will attack homes and kill families to get supplies. All this depends on how bad things get.
(This story is from Chris’s eBook “The Future is Coming” a collection of dystopian short stories. You can purchase the book for various devices through the buttons below)
He is with you. Believe it. There are times in our lives when we feel that God has abandoned us. It seems that He doesn’t hear and we don’t feel His presence or see His movements in our lives. I have experienced the same. God has opened my eyes to the reality of it, and…
Both are working in this world. The spirit of antichrist is mentioned in God’s Word ( 1 John 2:18, 22, 1 John 4:1-6, 2 John 7 KJV) but very little is known of it. It is rarely mentioned in sermons or teachings to the saints. It is important to know what this is, because it is working…
We are all called by God to serve. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of…
I got debt free, years ago. After hitting rock bottom and losing everything, I just refused to get into debt again.
I started saving 10%. every pay.
I was also living within my means. Just rent and utility bills.
A minimalist lifestyle.
This allowed me to save up an emergency fund.
The power of debt free comes when you face trouble.
If you lose your job, you do not have huge amounts of debt, which keeps you enslaved to your boss.
When you are debt free you cannot be controlled by anyone. With a minimalist lifestyle, you need very little. You can leave everything in a moment. Then, replace it all later.
What I’m telling you is the opposite of what our debt-based culture will tell you.
What is it really? And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had…
The first mother “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.”— Gen 3:20 She was created after Adam; to be his helpmate. To be his companion. We do not know how long Adam was alone before God caused him to fall into a deep sleep, and removed a…
God calls us to Him “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”— Psalm 30:5 Things happen in our lives. Terrible things that break us and drag us down. Things that we cannot control and ruin us. Things that…
Jesus tells us a story about a young man who left home and went to make a name for himself. (Luke 15:11-32)
It could be a kid going to college with his parents credit card.
Or a kid chasing a dream with his fathers support and blessing.
We know this guy. We have seen him or her in our families or neighbors. We have seen them in ourselves.
We are free. We don’t have to answer to anyone.
We are trying to make it. We are chasing a dream or forced to take care of ourselves.
But we get pulled off the path.
Like the man in Jesus’ story.
He started riotous living. He started making friends in low places. He was meeting all the best guys or best girls. He was getting drunk and using drugs of all kinds. He was down at the club, or local bar. He woke up next to all kinds of people.
And all the dreams died.
We’ve been there, or seen people there. We can smell the smells, taste the tastes and hear the sound of the music thumping. We’ve done the beer runs, and smoked the things that make us wanna go get some more.
They are living for the party. Living for friends. Maybe living the dream. But, it’s not the real dream. It’s not real hopes and dreams.
Jesus says that trouble comes. A famine in the land.
And trouble always comes. The party always ends.
It could be an accident that causes it. Maybe a divorce or break up. The loss of income and friends. Illness.
But, the party ends.
This causes us to get desperate. These times of trouble can lead us to draw more into the party life, trying to hold on. Drinking and drugging more to try to numb the fear and pain. Chasing things that is not good for us. Trusting people we should not trust. Waking up in places we do not want to wake up in. As our friends abandon us.
And we break. We have no choice. We are ruined.
Jesus said, the man went and got the worst job possible. The lowest of the low, just to keep himself from starving.
But, even that wasn’t working. He wanted to eat the pigs food.
We might end up homeless, digging in the dumpsters. We might even consider a life of crime. Stealing, selling drugs, stripping and prostitution to survive.
We hit rock bottom. We are as low as we think we can go.
Do not be deceived. There are always worst things that can happen. Rock bottom has a basement.
Jesus said, that the man woke up. He was willing to be a slave in His fathers house.
How desperate are you? Are you desperate enough to turn to God and say “I can’t do it! I don’t know what to do! But, I need you! Do whatever you want but please save me and help me.”
Are you so desperate to be free from your troubles and addictions and life, that you just give it all to God, and even if He kills you or throws you in prison or cripples you, it’s ok.
How desperate are you?
Jesus said the man went to see his father. He was desperate. He had ruined his life and was not worthy for anything good.
But, the father saw his child a long way off, and ran to him. And hugged him and held him.
That’s God.
He sees our broken and desperate heart, long before we even get to Him. And He comes running. He comes running to save us and help us.
He wraps His arms around us and makes us His child. He brings us a robe and a ring and we are with the father forever.
And our life changes. We see things happening. Good or bad, but it’s ok because the Father is with us. He shakes it out and gives us hope. He grows our faith as we draw closer to Him. And we see him move. And more faith grows.
The dreams come back to life and we see them growing in Him. We see good things coming into our life, and it comes even more abundantly.
God himself is working in our life and everything is fine.
He blesses us where we are because we are His. We are His child and we turn to Him and know Him.
And He always comes running when we turn to Him. He always moves to help us, even when we can’t see it. He is working and it will work out. He is with us.
A Word on Being Ready For The Lord’s Return “Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the…
Walking in the Spirit is tough. Jesus said, For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.— Matt. 6:14-15 Jesus tells us this in explanation of the Lord’s Prayer. After this manner therefore pray ye:…
We are justified in Christ There was only one law in the beginning. Just one. “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”–Gen. 2:17 People want to act like God is some eternal killjoy,…
I have become very interested in trying to live a more healthy life style. Whether it’s spiritually, physically, mentally, financially or environmentally. I want to try to do better.
So, I have made certain choices about what I consume and don’t consume.
I try to be organic, and avoid certain foods. I’m not telling you I’m perfect. But, I try.
Often this leads to certain conversations.
Them—“You want some butter for your biscuit.”
Me—“No thanks”
Them—“You don’t like butter?”
Me—“That’s not butter, it’s margarine and I think its poison.”
Them—“Well, you gotta die somehow.”
This will lead to me explaining to them that it’s true. We gotta die somehow. But, Cancer and other preventable diseases are a terrible choice.
If you have watched someone die of cancer then you know what I mean.
My father died of cancer. It started in his colon. It was from Agent Orange in Vietnam or from a million other chemicals he consumed throughout his life.
The government refused to admit that Agent Orange caused colon cancer, until sometime after my fathers death.
A terrible death.
The image still haunts me, and I try to live my life to avoid cancer, and I’m convinced that chemicals in virtually everything we consume and apply to our bodies are the culprits.
(I don’t care what your doctor told you, Karen. When they remove all chemicals and I see that cancer is still rampant in our culture, maybe then I’ll be willing to listen.)
It’s not just cancer.
I watched my grandfather have heart attack, after heart attack. He had several open heart surgeries and stints put in.
I watched him do everything the doctors told him to do. He trusted them. He trusted the corporations who sold him “Heart Healthy” margarine and cooking oils.
I watched him popping his heart healthy pop corn in the worst types of cooking oil. Then swallowing some cheap Wal-Mart “Fish oil” pills full of mercury from China.
Gotta die somehow
It’s how generations of Americans lived.
We trusted people we probably should not have trusted. And still do.
Heart disease is not a good way to die. Spending all your time at the doctor. Wondering if a heart attack or stroke is coming.
My mom ate the same way my grandfather ate. Because she felt that he hung the moon.
She had a stroke. Several to be exact.
I tried everything to get her to eat better, but she treated me like I was stupid.
Her doctor knows best. (Course she doesn’t really listen to him either. I doubt he prescribed Snickers bars and Rice Krispy treats.)
She says that between her strokes and diabetes she just can’t eat the way I claim.
Okay, I give up.
Gotta die somehow
So, what’s the point of all this?
Well, I’m pretty convinced that by eating right, and avoiding chemicals in our diet we can avoid cancers, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, and a million other ways to die that are terrible.
I know we gotta die somehow.
But, I think we can make some choices on that.
I don’t know what is the best way to die yet.
But, I’m sure I’ll stumble across it one day.
Suddenly…
Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ a collection of dystopian short stories.“The Future is Coming” and his latest book “The Latter Days‘ is a book on Bible Prophecy and avoiding the deceptions to come.
Abide in the Lord We all face trouble in life. It is something we can all agree upon. No matter who you are, something bad will eventually come to cause you trouble. Something will break your heart. Something will break you down. Something will make you crazy, concerned or confused. When we look at the…
Satan’s Insanity If you’ve read the Bible, you know that we have a spiritual enemy. Satan fell sometime after creation. We do not know exactly when, but it was because he desired to be “like the most High”. (Isa. 14: 12-17) He wants to be God. This desire led to his fall and corruption. It…
When we are walking with the Lord. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, ……… Wait for it Wait let it sink in for a few minutes Pay attention to how much it bothers you to just rest in Christ Hold Hold Hold Ok ……who walk not after the…
The bottom line with me on this subject is pretty simple. If we think a chemical is dangerous enough, that we need to test it on animals to make sure it does not hurt humans, then we should probably not use the chemical at all.
Duh.
Testing on animals occurs for chemicals in foods, drinks, hygiene/cosmetic products, cleaning products, industrial products, medicines, and war.
The fact that I have lived for many years using organic healthy products of all kinds, tells me that foods, drinks, hygiene/cosmetics and cleaning products can all be produced, that is healthy for humans, healthy for the environment, and therefore does not require animal testing at all.
With some minor lifestyle, cultural or societal changes, we could very easily adopt these things and get rid of the poisons. This would make us healthier, which would reduce health care costs. It would also help the environment, and stop animal testing for these particular products.
What about testing on animals for medical purposes? Well first, we need to adopt alternative medicines, methods, and prevention that have been proven successful. The medical industry refuses to try any of these alternative healing practices because of pride and money.
Second, if we eliminate the poisons in our food, drink, water, hygiene/cosmetics, and cleaning products, we would probably find a great reduction in the number of people suffering from the diseases, which lead to the top causes of death in America. These illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, cancer, diabetes, and others, all have links to things we consume in some way. We need to get rid of the poisons.
That still leaves a large amount of medicines that seem to benefit humans, but need tested.
Have you watched these television commercials about new drugs? They give you a list of possible side effects. Often terrible things, worse than the disease they seek to cure. Do you realize that they know about those side effects because they watched animals suffer from them in testing?
So, maybe we need to take a serious look at the pharmaceutical industry and whether or not these diseases can be cured or helped through more natural methods, or by eliminating things like chemicals, from our day to day lives. Perhaps make dietary changes.
How many medicines have chemicals in them that are not needed, such as preservatives? Preservatives are used to save the companies money, but are there other alternatives?
That brings us to industrial chemicals. We should ask ourselves; do we really need this new product or chemical? Are there healthier methods that would protect humans and the environment? Would you test it on your child? No? Okay so let’s assume it’s poison and then label it as such.
Take the agricultural industry for example. There are alternative methods, to pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer. We could eliminate a huge need to use animals for testing, and from letting poisons into the environment by increasing organic farming.
The knowledge exists we just need to overcome the greed and get it done.
I realize that there are diseases we seek to cure, and people hurting. Animal testing can help us discover drugs or technology that can cure them.
We might not be able to totally eliminate animal testing.
But, we can reduce the need.
There is really no reason to continue to test on animals for food, drinks, hygiene/cosmetics, or cleaning. I see no reason why our society could not switch to healthier products.
You might not care about animals getting used for testing. But, you must realize that animal testing does not stop poison from getting to you and your family. All the testing does is help those in positions of power find out exactly how much poison they can give you before you get sick or develop cancer, or some other illness.
Companies aren’t saying. “Maybe we should try a healthy alternative.”
No.
They are saying “Test this chemical on animals so we can see exactly how much we can give a child before it dies, or has an allergic reaction. We can’t use a healthy alternative because it costs too much money and I want to take my kids to Bali for the summer. and increase my million a year salary.”
Think about it. Why are they testing?
Do you need to test fruit juice? Maybe. But, not very much.
Do you need to test water or natural things? Perhaps some.
But they are testing things they already suspect are poisons. You get that, right?
No one says, “Let’s see if this water will burn this pigs face.”
No. They say “Let’s see if our new chemical will burn this pig’s face before we put it into our new lipstick. Let’s see if it leads to breast cancer years from now, if we put the chemical on this pigs face every day for 10 years.”
They already suspect a problem. They just want to know how much they can give you before you die. They want to know how many parts per million can they put into this product before they get sued because you had a reaction.
The industry is not surprised you had a reaction, or got sick. They are surprised that the monkey or pig didn’t get sick sooner than you did.
They test because they don’t want to be jailed or sued. They love money, not people.
Animal testing is a direct picture of you and your family. They want to give you poison, but not enough to actually get caught doing it, or getting punished for it. The poisonous chemicals will help make them more money, if it doesn’t kill anyone.
By stopping animal testing in certain areas, it stops them from poisoning you and your family.
They would be forced to use healthy products, which they know for a fact is safe.
Testing lets them push the envelope with your health. If they can’t test they are forced to use what they already know is safe, or reasonably safe.
We might find that if companies are forced to use healthy products, we no longer need to create new drugs. Because many of our diseases will just magically go away.
The Spirit battles against the flesh This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye…
He is faithful God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.—1 Cor. 1:9 How is trust built? With anyone, whether it’s parents or friends or enemies or government or neighbors, trust is built or destroyed by relationship, and experience. It is the same with God.…
It will happen in these last days “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day (The Day of The Lord) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”— 2 Thess. 2:3 (2 Thess 2:1-15) It seems that this event…
I always have been. I do not just obey, for the sake of obedience.
You will notice this in my writing and style. I probably drive some editors and English teachers crazy, because I don’t obey their rules unless it suits me.
I’ve been this way since I was a child. I’m not dumb. I obey rules that make sense and are fair, or I am forced to obey. But, I am very quick to see that many of the rules are wrong. Many are biased, make life easier for the rule maker, and keep people down.
So I followed their rules, when they marked up my paper in school. But, they never really taught me anything. It was just rules. Some made perfect sense and I changed my ways, but others were more about an opinion. Things that were not technically wrong, but everyone agreed with because someone somewhere made a rule and everyone who went through a college followed it.
In his book, Rudolph Flesch made some statements that really stuck with me. Basically, he asks the question. Why do Americans write like English people? I am not quoting him. But that’s the gist of it.
We don’t talk like them. So, why is it that when we switch to writing, we suddenly start writing like them? Our use of certain words. The way we become all proper in our terms.
I can appreciate communicating in a way that is agreed upon so that everyone can understand. That makes sense. It’s valuable.
But, there are things in language that is nothing more than snobbery.
In England, you had High English and Low English. This is the difference between the proper well-educated English spoken by royalty, the aristocrats and highly educated, or the lower classes who used lots of slang and shortened words.
Those who spoke High English, owned and ruled over those who spoke low English, and the way a person spoke was an obvious indicator of which class you belonged to. If you spoke low English you were considered stupid, uneducated and worthy of being oppressed and abused apparently. The same thing happens in America today.
The publishing houses and editors of that day were also owned and educated by the higher classes, and acted as gatekeepers to prevent the low born from speaking out by forcing a certain level of education, in their writing. Course, by the time you reached that level of education, you no longer remembered or cared about the lower classes from which you came. it is a method of control.
The British did the same to all “Savages” they encountered. They destroyed their languages, and by the time the natives in the colonies reached a level where they were respected, they had lost the will to make real changes. They were civilized, and no longer savage. Or so they were brain washed to believe. Thus the power, stayed in power.
Of course, none of this is in Rudolph Flesch’s book. He just wanted to teach a different style of writing. (Which has been very useful by the way.) The history lesson is purely my own.
Where did I get this from? What great and important teacher told you this? You cannot have an opinion unless it comes from the masters who came before.
There are no sources. Because as I stated before, when a person becomes educated enough to be considered a source, they have also become compliant and do not rock the boat they are now firmly established on. The sources for rebellion will never be found within the oppressors libraries. You have to go find them somewhere the media and your leaders tell you not to go.
I have taken the question. Why do Americans speak a certain way, and yet write in another? And used it to show a level and method of oppression and control, most do not realize, or care about. I care, because I do not like people telling me what to do, just because they think they are better than me.
If I wrote the sentence. “I ain’t gonna do it. I don’t care what you think.” An English teacher, would puke.
I said the much hated word, “Ain’t”. Watch your head, the internet is collapsing.
I used this word a lot as a kid. I still use it when I get passionate or ticked off.
Here’s my point.
What is wrong with the word “Ain’t”?
Nothing. The sentence I wrote above perfectly expresses a thought. It communicated my meaning. But, it would be rejected because of slang.
So, communication is not the issue. It’s about using the proper words, they taught you to use when you were a child. You use the proper words in order to prove you have been educated into a system designed by people who oppress you.
Woah! Crazy talk right?
Consider that the British Empire, from before the days of William the Conqueror have fought wars to oppress people. They called it “Civilization”, or “Civilizing the savages”. You have to imagine some English aristocrat saying this in an English accent while sipping tea, to get the full effect of what I’m saying.
Say it, “We are trying to bring civilization to the savages.” Now sip tea from a fancy cup, with your pinky out.
See. you got it.
The British first colonized and ruled over my people the Scots. Then they turned to the Irish. By this time, the royals and their lackeys had become quite adept at oppressing people. So, they forced the lower class people to obey them and through wage slavery and oppression used them to create an empire.
They colonized and educated the Africans, Australian Aborigines, and Native Americans. Where are these people groups now? Civilized yet?
So again, Why do Americans speak one way and write another?
Am I saying that my English teachers were part of some grand scheme to keep the people down? No. Not knowingly. But, through education we have brainwashed people into accepting certain ideas that do nothing but keep us divided and oppress each other. Even if it is by very quiet subtle means.
I’m sure that in the 1800’s, the English teacher who worked in the government schools teaching native children English, felt she was helping them. She was teaching them how to communicate within the oppressive system that was destroying their culture. She probably felt she was helping when she called the cavalry soldier stationed outside, to come and disciple an unruly native child. The kid must learn to obey their masters, right?
So, what’s the point of all this?
It’s just trying to point out the depth of control, which still works to keep the lower classes down. The level of brainwashing that exists to make sure the working class obey the bosses. Ever wonder why you need a bachelors degree for a job, that only required a high school diploma a few years ago?
Because schooling is not education. Schooling is designed to get people to obey, under the guise of teaching them something. You can read every book your teacher reads, and you will still not be accepted. Because it’s not about what you know. It’s about whether you have submitted to the authority of a boss, long enough to be accepted as a good servant for your aristocrat masters who own everything. (Yes, America has an aristocracy. You know it when you see it.)
You don’t believe me?
Try going to work and disobeying the voice of your master. See how far that gets you.
I want to apologize to Rudolph Flesch for using his fine book as a tool for my rebellion. But, I do not read books for what the writer wants to teach me. I read books for what I can glean from them. I read books for what I find valuable.
It’s like recipe books. I read recipes and then change them to make them less bland, more healthy or better tasting for my low class palate.
This is why I love the internet. The current internet is our last gasp of freedom. It allows people to have a voice regardless of who they are. They can speak out somewhere online to find people who agree with them or at least are willing to listen.
For years, I thought I was insane because of my rebellion. I thought, “Why can’t I just obey these people and do right?” Something is wrong with me. But, after the rise of the internet I learned that millions of people see the same things I see. That I am not alone.
The internet allows a young child a place to learn and grow and actively participate in society as themselves. They no longer have to wait for years for superiors to accept them. They don’t need to prove they can obey the proper rules and speech and mathematics. They can bypass the gatekeepers and let their voice be heard right now.
A poor or working class kid can speak out online and be heard by others like them, and it doesn’t matter what the government school teacher says. They can find a way to survive and thrive even if they use the word “Ain’t”. They can get things done, even if they refuse to pass algebra. (Yes, I do carry a calculator every where I go today. In my phone.)
So, quit worrying about writing like an aristocrat and get those gate keepers to lighten up. You might have ideas that can change the world for the better. And you better get those ideas out, before the system schools them out of you. Or the internet shuts them down.
Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ a collection of dystopian short stories.“The Future is Coming” and his latest book “The Latter Days‘ is a book on Bible Prophecy and avoiding the deceptions to come.
Have You Tested God? “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”—Luke 6: 38 First, I wanna say that this verse and all…
He rewards those who seek him. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 11 If a son shall…
So, we know the seasons. The Bible is 30% prophecy, as some have stated. But, when you consider that the whole thing is about Jesus Christ, and that all the stories and pictures speak of Him, His First Coming and Second Coming, I think its more like 100%. God has called all believers to be…
Who would change the oil, at exactly three thousand miles?
Who would rake the leaves, and let them smolder all day?
And mow the grass at noon, on a zero turn?
Who would drive the speed limit, on a beautiful sunny day?
Who would listen to baseball, on the radio in the car?
Shhhh…the game is on.
Who would let us know, what the weather is soon to be.
And keep us aware, of what the doctor had to say.
Who would make sure, we are doing things right?
And give us tips, on the project we’re working on?
If you don’t know; I certainly do.
All the old men. That’s who.
Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ a collection of dystopian short stories.“The Future is Coming” and his latest book “The Latter Days‘ is a book on Bible Prophecy and avoiding the deceptions to come.
God works to build the Kingdom through us. James 2:14-26 In this passage. The apostle James, speaks of works being an aspect of our faith. It ends with the famous phrase “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” In the verses James shows that God commanded…
Why does God let us struggle? When we get saved, we might notice that there are things that change in us immediately. But, there are other things that do not. It’s like God saves us and removes some things but leaves other things in our lives for us to struggle with. I mean if God…
We are corrupt at the very core. What I am going to present to you today is something different. A different way to look at the world, and humanity. Something different than the legalism around us. As Christians we are taught and have come to understand a view of God, Scripture and the World based…
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