BEHIND THE MASK

   He is arrogant, and he has no fear.
   He is not concerned with the words people speak about him, write about him, or even think about him.
   He is not bothered by neither private nor public opinion about him.
   He is a man totally consumed with himself, of himself, by himself, and for himself.
   His goal is to control, dominate, manipulate, deceive, and rule.
   He has no shame, no apologizes, no admission for any naughty behaviours, or mistakes of any kind.
   In his own mind, he is perfect in all of his ways.
   He is not really interested in mundane or boring titles, such as president, poet, prophet, preacher,  priest, or pope; nor czar, dictator, monarch, caesar---or even king:  His Majesty has more of a heavenly ring to his ears, followed by trumpets and harps, with servants dancing and praising him, and subjects on bended knees.
   His biographical background is shrouded in mystery:  in shadows, sketchy, and protected by secrecy.
   Most of his adult life has been in institutions:  colleges, universities, law school.
   What is he hiding? 
   What is there about him that he does not want people to know? 
   What is behind the mask of this man we see every day?
   Who is he?
   Where is he from?
   How did he get to where he is so quickly?
   He came from out of nowhere. 
   There is no leadership experience on his resume, nor in his family history. 
   There is less known of him than is known, yet, when he speaks, people are moved to cheers and even to tears.
   Where is he going and what is his future?
   But wait!
   How would you characterize your husband?  Your wife?  A brother-in-law, sister-in-law, an uncle or aunt?
   How would you characterize your boss, someone you work with, or someone on your social circuit?
   Secondly, how do others characterize you?  What would people write about you in a personality profile?  And how would even strangers characterize you?
   To some degree, do not all of us live behind a mask at least some of the time?  Are there facts in our lives that we do not want others to know?  Do we have behaviours that we do not want revealed?  Do we really want others to know our fears and weaknesses? 
   To live where we live, not many people know us or know much about us.  We can live virtually unknown and the world will never know us in our lifetimes.  But if we should suddenly be plunged in the spotlight of national and international attention, all things change:  and our lives will be examined under microscopes. 
   It is easy to point fingers at people in public arenas; but when the fingers point at us, it's a whole new ball game, isn't it?
   When Jesus hung on a cross in Jerusalem, He was completely exposed.  The Romans stripped victims of their clothes as a way to humilate them in front of family, friends, foes, and even strangers.
   How would you characterize Jesus, the man without a mask?
   He had no private life.  Everything He did and said was public information.  The only time that He was ever alone was when He slipped away from people to pray to His Father.  And even with a never-ending assault against Him, they found no fault with Him.  He had no secrets, no hidden agenda.  He broke no laws of religion or laws of man.  Yet He was killed for telling the truth.
   If you take off your mask today and speak the truth, you will not be popular.  You will be hated and disliked, just as they hated and disliked the Lord.  You will be marked as a radical, an extremist, or a non-conformist in a world that is conforming to evil. 
   And this choice is up to you.  You can exercise your right to speak, or you can invoke your privilege to remain silent.

A COMING OUT

   Nicodemus, the Jewish priest who came to Jesus by night, came out of his religion to become a disciple of the Lord.
   All of the apostles and disciples of Christ in Jerusalem came out of their religion to take the good news of Christ to the uttermost parts of the world.
   Mary, the mother of Jesus, as well as many, many women, came out of their religion to become disciples of Christ.
   Over the past 2000 years, all of the martyrs of Christ were murdered because they came out of their religions to follow Christ.
   Having your faith in religion or in denominationalism is not the same as having your faith in Christ.
   For me, I came out of my religion in 1995 to follow Christ, for it is Christ who saved me.
   This blog I write is about Christ---and not about religion or denominationalism.
   To believe in Christ and to follow Him, there must be a coming out:  in your mind, in your heart, and in your action.
   Christ will give you the strength to come out.

HOCUS POCUS

   Karl Marx said, "Religion is opium of the people."
   Religion is as an invisible drug, injected in the minds of people as a prescription medication to deceive people to believing in a system that is not real, but only imagined to be real, thus creating a fantasy of make-believe from the pages of dogmas and doctrines written from the imaginations of people. 
   The lights of December 25th are focused on Santa Claus, and the focus of Easter is on a bunny rabbit and chicken eggs:  from the world of fantasy and make-believe, straight from the imaginations of people.  In these two most important times in the life of Christ, the world has replaced Jesus with animated characters, straight from the teachings of pagan religions. 
   This method was injected in the minds of children, and, as children became adults, they taught their children the world of fantasy and make-believe:  so that, in time, Christ would be erased from December 25th as well as from Easter.  See how easy that was to do?  Children do not know the difference between truth and myth. 
   Religious people are addicted to religion because they have accepted the prescription from their religious ministers:  the people they know and trust to decide what is best for them and for their children.
   Religions, therefore, are pharmacies:  dispensers of medication in prescribed doses.
   When the Son of God arrived in Israel 2000 years ago, the Jews were addicted to religion:  they were bound and tied in knots to religious law.  They did not know the love of God, nor of God's grace and mercy.
   Jesus was Jewish, but there was something different about Jesus.  He was not a normal Jew. 
   To begin, Jesus quoted the Holy Scriptures instead of reciting the words of philosophers or religious gurus. 
   Jesus was not a subject to religion, nor was He a subject to the religious leaders, and nor did He bow to the Caesar of Rome. 
   Jesus stood up for God.  Jesus was not popular.  And because Jesus was not liked, nor appreciated, nor even understood, He was a problem for the religious dispensers of medication in prescribed doses.
   To the Romans, Jesus was never a problem.  And even Pilate said, I find no fault with him.
   Neither could the Jews find fault with Christ, and, even with no fault found in Him, they believed that Jesus had to die, anyway.
   Neither could the Jews or Rome find fault with the disciples and apostles of Christ, but they had to die, too, even though His followers were never convicted of any crimes.
   2000 years later and people still find fault with Jesus as they also find fault with the followers of Christ, even now. 
   Christians today represent the smallest minority on the earth; yet we are hated more than any group of people.  And later the world will declare a war against Christians upon the earth---led by the people of religion who control the world. 
   Religion is the hocus pocus of spells and incantations in order to keep people as spiritual prisoners in permanent lockdown to keep them from knowing God:  for the god of their minds is not God, but an image of God, created from the imaginations of religious gurus.  In reality, religion is the god of religious people.  For it is their religion to which they bow and obey.
   The birth of Jesus Christ is the most important birth in human history.
   The death of Jesus Christ is the most important death in human history.
   The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event in human history.
   And the return of Jesus Christ will be the most important day in the history of the universe.
   For even The heavens declare the glory of God!  (Psalm 19: 1)
  

TRANSFORMERS

      And be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  (Romans 12: 2)
      But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Chirst, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.  (II Corinthians 4: 3,4)
 
   Dear friends, please understand that the enemy of this world is invisible:  and he is Satan.  All lying, cheating, stealing, corruption, hatred, jealousy, envy, lust, and unbelief in God is because of the invisible influence of Satan, the "god of this world", whom the Apostle Paul writes about in his epistle to the Christians at Corinth, Greece.
   This world we live in and the total world system is the kingdom of Satan.  He is the power of powerful and wicked people.  People of governments, religions, entertainment, television, radio, newspapers, magazines, movies, music, and the internet are all under the influence of Satan by his power of deception.  For everything that we see and hear is not as it appears to be.  We are supposed to believe everything we hear and see in this world, which we will believe if that is all we hear and see. 
   Satan's agents have been operating secretly and indiscreetly for centuries as transformers of human minds in order to erase the knowledge of God from human consciousness, from human awareness, and even from human conversation.  If God does not exist in your mind, then, to you, God does not exist.  And if God does not exist, then you become as a Manchurian candidate, living the program that has been injected in your mind:  thus becoming a subject of Satan:  walking, talking, and believing just as your master, Satan, wants you to live.  Your life becomes his life in you as Satan owns you and controls you.  Your mind becomes his mind.  And you will be an enemy of God and a soldier marching against the Lord Jesus Christ.
   We are presently engaged in a transformation revolution.  The seeds of change were planted a long time ago in the minds of people through a network of deception, in slow and subtle ways. The harvest of this change is front of our eyes in the form of a spiritual, unseen war:  hate vs. love, evil vs. good, violence vs. peace, unrighteousness against righteousness, immorality against morality, and men, women, and even children raising their fists against God.
   This spiritual, unseen war is in the United States as well as in nations around the world.  It is a contagious disease in the minds of people and contaminating the lives of people of all ages.  It is moving quickly across the United States, as well as across other nations, and it will get faster as we move forward in time.  It is as a consuming flood of evil, straight from the mind of Satan.
   To combat this disease, the Apostle Paul writes:  be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.
   Read the Holy Bible.  Saturate your mind with the Word of the Lord.  In so doing, you will begin to see as God sees, to understand as God understands, and you will begin to think as God thinks.  You will begin to act and think as God prefers you to act and think.  You will see and understand the present, as God does, and you will see and understand the future as God does.  And as God wins, both now and in the future, you will also win, both now and in the future, and you will be on the winning team:  for God has never lost and He has never had a losing season!
   To be honest, your only hope is this invisible war, this war of transformation revolution, is Jesus Christ, the Son of God---without whom you have no hope.  Without Him, you will become a member of this unholy alliance against Almighty God.
   Without the Word of God, you have no defense against the transformers of this world system, for they are working to get your mind, and, if they get your mind, they will get your will.
   Therefore, I urge you to receive and accept Jesus Christ---a decision you will never regret.  And He will fight your battles for you.

THE COMING HOLOCAUST

   When you speak the truth today, you should also expect repercussions as well as retaliations.  This is the age in which we are living now.
   When righteousness is replaced by unrighteousness, lawlessness will follow. 
   When morality is replaced by immorality, look for the collapse of families, communities, cities, and nations.
   Even now, persecution of Christians is a movement, and this movement will produce a tidalwave, and the tidalwave will become a tsunami---sweeping across nations and around the world, bringing death and destruction to believers of Jesus Christ because of the hatred of Christ that is in people.
   In the future, look for the Catholic Church and Islam to merge, thus producing a super religion, which will produce a worldwide tsunami of terrorism, bringing death and destruction to millions of believers of Jesus Christ because of the hatred of Christ that is in people.
   Look also for the continued merger of churches and religions as people will lock arms in a common cause of immorality as men, women, and even children will exalt and glorify themselves instead of exalting and glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ.
   In the future, you will either stand for Christ, or you will stand against Him.  There will be no middle ground, no neutral zone, because God will divide sheep from goats in the last days.  Every home, every family, and every person will make a decision.
   In the future, do not be surprised to see a revived interest in death by crucifixion to believers of Jesus Christ.
   In the future, look also for a public worship of Satan:  and violence will sweep across the earth.
   In the future, rebel churches and all the religions of the world will merge, thus creating an unholy union, which will produce a worldwide holocaust against the believers of Jesus Christ.
   As it is written,
      This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without nature affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:  from such turn away.  (II Timothy 3:1-5)
  

RECEPTION DECEPTION

   Religion is man's finest creative endeavor.
   Across the centuries, man has invested more time and more money in his religious projects than in any other institution.
   Man's religion is well polished, clean, inviting.
   On the inside, people take on the appearance of holiness:  without spot, without blemish, and even without sin.  Not only are they considered to be without sin, but they also believe they are fully capable of delivering you from your sinful ways; and you can be deceived to believe that they have the power to forgive your sins.  For if people can forgive your sins, why do you need God?
   The leaders take on the appearance of holiness, but the environment also takes on the appearance of a holy place.  Watch what you say, watch what you do, and be careful where you sit.  Above all else, be sure to honor and obey the rites and rituals.
   The whole world of man's religion is designed to deceive:  to have you to believe that if you will embrace religion, this is the same as embracing God.  For man believes that he has captured God within his religion, acting as if he has God in a box and thereby capable of controlling God as if God is one of man's puppets. 
   Once religion saturates your mind, you become a prisoner of religion:  you will think, act, speak, and do according to your religious masters;  therefore, it is not God who is a puppet, but it is you.  Thereafter, you will live a life of fear because you will not think, speak, or act outside of your religious dogmas and doctrines because you are under the control of your religious gurus.
   Not only is religion man's finest creative endeavor, it is also man's finest example of mind control.  People know that if they can control your mind, they can control you; and if they control you, then they will also control your children and future generations.
   But where is Christ in man's religious endeavors?  Christ is not there.  Christ is holy and He will not mix His holiness with man's prideful institution of sinful religion.
   Religion is a place for man to practice his continued rebellion against God.
   Man is deceived and man's whole world of religion is a world of deception.  It is a snare and it is designed to trap your soul.
   Please know and understand the truth today:
      Christ died for the sins of people, not for religion.
      Christ arose from death for people, not for religion.
      Christ will return to earth for people, not for the religious institutions of man.
   To know Christ, you must be willing to step out of religion. 
      Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.  (Revelation 18: 4,5)

STILL UNCHANGED

   As stated earlier, we must come to see, understand, and believe that religion and government are twins.
   Both are created endeavors out of the imaginations of men.
   All of the doctrines, disciplines, and laws of religion and government are written from the imaginations of men.
   Both religion and government have no feelings, no emotion, and therefore no life in them. 
   Religion and government exist as methods to control people by manipulation and deception.
   Therefore it is sufficient to say that both religion and government cannot love us or even like us.
   The reason Christ is different from religion and government is because the Son of God came to earth to restore our relationship with God. 
   Jesus did not come to earth to launch another, or a new, religion.  And when the disciples and apostles of our Lord went forth from Jerusalem to share the good news of Christ to the world, they preached Christ and Christ alone, and not a religion.  They quoted the Scriptures, not books written from the imaginations of men.
   When you believe in Christ, your faith is in Christ and Christ alone. 
   As for the future, both religion and government will change.  All the religions of the world will merge and become a global religion, and, all the governments of the world will merge and become a global government, thus creating a global religious-political system. 
   Meanwhile, Christ will continue to stand alone and still unchanged.
      For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 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.  (Romans 8: 38,39)
  

THE GREATEST PERSON EVER

   Jesus Christ is the greatest person in all of human history, and, in fact, in the history of the universe.
   More books, more songs, more poetry, and more writings are attributed to Jesus Christ than to any other person on the face of the earth.
   It is difficult to determine the total number of copyrighted, published works about Christ, and, as far as uncopyrighted and unpublished works of Him, those numbers will never be known, at least not by human accountants.
   Over the past 2000 years, we have no record of how many sermons have been preached about Christ, nor of the number of Sunday School lessons and Bible studies in churches, Bible colleges and seminaries, and homes around the world.
   The name of Christ is spoken by more people every day and around the world than the name of any other person, dead or living.
   Today, there are thousands of people writing about Christ and publishing their works on the internet, which are read around the world and around the clock, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
   Added to all of this, the name of Jesus is spoken by people in their daily lives:  in homes, businesses, streets, diners, restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, truck stops, sporting events, and also on Facebook and other internet places where people socialize and chat.
   Even now, people are continuing to write new books, songs, poetry, other writings, and blogs about Jesus Christ as the Lord continually gives new inspiration.
   No name is known by more people in more places than the name of Jesus Christ, for He truly is the King of kings and Lord of lords.  And when you meet this King and Lord, you will say something about Him.
   As it is written in John 21:25---
      And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.  Amen.
  

OF GOD AND GOLF

   Over the past three years, God has taught me more from the game of golf than I could learn from many churches across the United States of America.
   Without sounding anti-God, anti-church, or anti-anything, this is the truth:  I do believe in God, I do believe in the fundamental purpose of churches, and I do believe in my country.
   At many churches, however, we are met at the door with a program, written and printed, and ushered quietly to a seat, as we are also taught how to sit, when to stand, when to bow our heads and say "Amen".  We listen to mellow music by the Christianettes, followed by a sermonette by the preacherette, arise and leave the building, all neatly wrapped and tidy-like in about forty minutes or less. 
   From golf, I have learned about pain and suffering, patience and perservence, pride and humility, of trying to play golf my way, or submitting to play golf the golf way.  I have also learned self-control, self-discipline, and self-denial.  I have learned to play golf alone, but I have also learned how to play golf with a team, all working together for the good of the team.  From golf, too, I have learned how to pray in order to become a better golfer.  I have experienced the agony of losing, trials and tribulations, and then the joy of sweet victory.  I have had the thrill of the shot of a lifetime, followed the spill of a swing gone beserk.  I have learned as I am learning to overcome anger and frustration of missing good shots that I have made so many times before.
   Above all else, I do not get a program at the first tee.  My day on the golf course will not be written and printed in advance.  Whatever I did well yesterday or last week will not matter unless I can do it again today.  For in golf, we play the game by faith:   believing that we can make good shots and produce lower scores.  Sometimes we win; sometimes we lose.  But for us with desires to succeed, we keep coming back, not knowing what the day ahead will be.  And this is faith.
   Where is Christ in churches today?  Where is Christ when we leave the buildings?  Is there any difference in your church today than from forty years ago, twenty years ago, or even last week?   If there is no difference, why do you keep going back?  What has your church done that is new and exciting that would compel you to invite another person to experience?  Or is your church stuck in an order of worship that is etched in stone and will never change?
   Perhaps it is good for us to remember that when Jesus died on the cross, He was dead.  But Jesus did not stay dead!  When the Lord came out of the tomb, He was alive, walking and talking!  And He is alive, even now, seated at the right hand of God the Father.
   In golf, when I make a lousy swing, I get down and dejected.  But I get back up on my feet and swing again, for I will not let my golf die and stay dead.
   Therefore, is your church alive, or is it dead?  And if dead, do something about it!  For when my golf game is not doing well, I arise and do something about it.
   Perhaps it would be good if churches would get back to the playbook---the Holy Bible---and get rid of the program.  For after church, the paper program is shredded and re-cycled. 

      I am the LORD:  that is my name:  and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.  (Isaiah 42:8)

A NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

   As humans, we become creatures of habits:  abiding in our comfort zones, not wanting to be disturbed or distracted, and managing our own lives as best as we can on the same set of tracks, always moving forward, being careful not to move to the left or drift to the right, not wanting to stop ahead, and certainly with no desire to reverse.
   As humans, we like our traditions, our rites and rituals, and we want everything and everybody in their assigned places, doing all that we have adapted and accepted in our lives, turning off the lights at a specific time, thank you, and going to bed.
   Families are quite proud of their rites, rituals, and traditions.  And everything in the family was perfectly normal until Sue married Hugh, and Hugh did not want to play ball at the family picnic.
   Businesses like and enjoy their rites, rituals, and traditions.  And everything in the business was perfectly normal until Pop hired New York Joe to manage the company instead of Mom's favorite boy.
   Churches and religions are also proud of their rites, rituals, and traditions.  And everything in the local assembly was fine until a certain family got out of line.
   A new set of golf clubs does not necessarily assure lower strokes on a scorecard no more than a new set of pews can increase the numbers of a church membership.
   Change is difficult for many people in many situations because many people do not like to change their habits, especially if changing habits means a loss of control.  As long as people are in control, they have power.  Take away their control and they lose their power.  Even though a change could produce better results, or at least something new and different, people prefer to keep things just the way they are, for no other reason than for the fact:  "That's the way we've always done it." 
   Before Christ was born in Bethlehem, no person in the whole world had never heard His name.  Yet for the past 2000 years, people in every nation around the world have heard the name of Jesus.  Isn't that something!
   So what is so different about Jesus?
   Everything.
   Jesus was a new kid on the block.  He ushered in a new way of thinking and a new way of living; therefore, Jesus is not concerned about your rites, rituals, and traditions:  He is interested in your soul.
   Jesus is interested in you as a person instead of your habits.
   With Christ, you can pray at any time, not just at church time.
   With Christ, you can be free from the shackles that bind you and hold you hostage.
      For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God.  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  (Ephesians 2: 8-9)
   When you meet Christ, you will stand with Him as a new kid on the block.
   And what is this block on which you stand with Him?
   The universe!
  

IN THE YEAR 2012

   In my short life of 65 years, I have never witnessed temperatures above 100 degrees for as long as we have experienced here in southern Illinois in the months of June and July, 2012.
   In my lifetime, I have never seen the dirt of the earth as dry and as hard as it is today, and I have never seen dirt cracking because of the intense heat of the sun.
   In my lifetime, I have never seen dead leaves falling from trees in July---when falling leaves is usually an event reserved for October.
   At the same time, I have never heard about as many thunder, lightning, and damaging storms that have happened in as many states in a single year as have happened in the year 2012.
   People of the western states of America have never before experienced as many raging wildfires that are out of control. 
   People in the state of Texas have never seen hailstones four feet in height before the year 2012.
   And in Washington, D.C., Representative Barney Frank became the first sitting congress person of the United States to marry a man, here in the year 2012.
   The United Kingdom is experiencing its wettest June and July "since records began" in the summer of 2012.
   Floods are happening in various parts of the earth while tornadoes and earthquakes are being recorded at historical levels.
   New diseases are also increasing in various parts of the world, including 300,000 cases of chagas in the United States.
   Manufacturing jobs in the United States is at its lowest level since the Great Depression years of the 1930s.
   In India, on July 7, six million people were forced to leave their homes because of heavy flooding caused by monsoon rains.
   In 2012, at least 382 terrorist rockets have been fired at Israel from Gaza. 
   Biblical prophecy is happening in our lifetime, in front of our eyes, and the year 2012 is only half over.  It would be wise to read the Bible and see that God is telling us to be prepared, for all of the events that are happening worldwide are by no means an accident, nor a fluke of nature.
   In all honesty, situations and circumstances are going to get worse in the year 2012 and all of these trials and tribulations will not correct themselves. 
   In the year 2012, God is beginning His judgment of nations for the wickedness of people, even the wickedness of the nation of the United States of America.  God's judgment will become more extreme and harsh as time goes by.  Little by little, the Lord will bring the world to its knees and every knee shall bow to the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
  

A PEACEFUL MIND

    The sooner people can accept the fact that the Holy Bible is 100% truth, the sooner they will come to understand more about God, more about themselves, and more about human behaviour.
    Please understand and know that God is presently restraining the hearts and minds of evil people upon the earth; for if man's intention is not kept on a leash, man would destroy the earth and all living people because of his prideful nature.
   Pride seeks to dominate, to control, and to destroy.  Pride wants to be boss.  Most of all, pride wants to be God.  This is why prideful people hate God, which is also why prideful people curse the name of God; and therefore prideful people blame God for everything that is wrong in this world; for in man's own prideful mind, man could do a better job of being God than God. 
   For this cause, prideful people crucified the Son of God because Jesus is the Light of the world:  and His light exposed the sins of His accusers.  Therefore, they sought to extinguish the Light because they believed if they could kill Him, they would not face God with their sins, and that His death would be the end of the story of Jesus:  for they did not believe that the Lord would arise from the grave, nor do they believe that Christ will come again, just as He said He will do.  But they were wrong. 
   Please read the Holy Bible and discover the wonderful world of the truth from God.  God wants you to know the truth and the truth is that He loves you.  And when you accept the love of God, you will have a peaceful mind.