WORD FOR THE USA

- Robert Makona, brother from Kenya visiting America for the first time.

Dear Brothers and Sisters In Christ in America,

AMERICA === HEAR THE CRY OF GOD AND HIS PEOPLE

Today is December 23rd, 2008, I stand in this great nation of America. I proclaim here this word and say,==Hear the word of the Lord all you America. Amend your ways and your doings, and God will cause you to dwell in this land and prosper.

I am speaking this word to all American People/Church. I am not ashamed or fearful for any face or words of rejection, slander, critism, judgement etc. It is on my heart to speak this truth in Love to you with a very humble spirit. The Lord I serve will protect, keep, sustain and deliver me.

America - The bible says - Jer.6:16 - Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it. Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, we will not walk in it. Also I set watchmen(Apostles, prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and teachers) over you (America) saying, Listen to the sound of the trumpet!! But they said, we will not listen.

Therefore hear, you nations, And know, O congregation, what is among them. Hear O earth!! Behold, I will certainly bring calamity (famine, storms, epidemic-sickness, terror, loss of jobs, houses, business etc) on this people. The fruit fo their thoughts, because they have not heeded my words, nor my law, but rejected it.

Ezekiel 7:23 - But this is what I commanded them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.

Yet they did obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.

Ezekiel 7:8-10 -Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit, will you steal, murder(millions of abortions), commit adultery (fornication) as thousands are divorcing each month.), swear falsely, burn incense to baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before me in this house (Church on sunday) which is called by my name, and say, we are delivered to do all these abominations.e.g-(gay and lesbian mariage-same sex, homosexuality, pornograph on internet, New Age movememnt, drugs, prostitution, false doctrines, cults, religions etc. (Iam not judging/pointing a finger at anyone). When we know the truth, the truth will set as free.

America awaken!!!!,America arise and shine !!!! America be Revived!!!!
America you are the light!!!!America you are the salt!!!America God has chosen you!!!!America God started this nation on His Foundation!!!with the word of God -BIBLE (Ten Commandments). America God has a plan and Purpose with you!!!! America open your eyes and incline your ear to what God is saying!! America Hesitate not!!! America time is running out and short!!!

AMERICA YOU ARE MESSENGER OF GOD TO THE WORLD

America the world is lost, hurting, perishing, in total darkness, no hope to many people. America where is your first LOVE, truth, your beauty in Christ, Your holiness, Foundation of Christianity?

America, time is short-Redeem the time. America be active and fast. America spread/reach out to the whole world -- You are His witnesses. Go and share, love other people with the love of Christ. Go and teach, train, feed the hungry, clothe those who are naked, comfort those who mourn, be merciful/kind to His people, show others the way, point others to Christ, heal the broken hearted, set the captives free, proclaim liberty to captives. Many millions are dying without hope and perishing in sin. Many are rejected, neglected, abused, abandoned, suffering, oppressed and forgotten by the outside world. Many are crying in loneliness, despair and hopeliness.

LOVE NEVER FAILS LOVE NEVER FAILS LOVE NEVER FAILS

America if you love God do His will. People are Crying for help/answers.
God has a plan and purpose for this great nation of America. America can you see and hear? God has given you power to be wealthy, so you can use these blessings for His purposes and plan and glory - Winning souls to Christ.

America - trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding(wisdom, wealth, philosophy, pride, ability) in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths..

America to you hear the cry of His people - uttermost parts of the world?
They are desperate,helpless,hopeless etc:

1.Starving to death-For lack of food. Here others dont care.

2.Walking naked/half naked-no Clothings. How many clothings to you have that you dont need?

3.No Hospitals-No medicines

4.No Clean Water

5. No shelter, schools, roads, electricity, etc.

Acts 3:44 -"Now all who believed were together,and had all things in common."

We were born without anything, and we shall go without anything. I beseech all believers-to share with others. The Body of Christ can make a big difference in the World, if they can put their LOVE into ACTION today.

American Friends -You can accumulate millions and millions of dollars - but you will take nothing when you leave this world. Many Preachers are claiming to be billionaires/millionaires now, but look around the world many people are dying without Christ, without food, clothings, no church buildings etc. Whatever you have today can save hundreds, thousands, millions across the world to Christ. Apostle paul said, I count all things as a loss/rubbish. AMERICA -YOUR LOVE CANNOT BE MEASURED WITH HOW MUCH YOU HAVE (wealth), BUT HOW MUCH YOU LOVE/SHARE!!!. It is good to have a lot of money, but use it wisely as a good steward of God for His glory and honour!!! I am not against wealth please. But the Love of money is the root of all evil.

America -----Jer.3:40 - let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the Lord. Read matthew 25:34-46 -Please read prayerfully and listen to the Spirit of God. Let me read matthew 25:40 -"And the king will answer and say to them, Assuredly, I say to you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of those my brehtren, you did it to me".
America --Luke 12:48 --For every one to whom much is given, from him much will be required, and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.".

READ CAREFUL WHAT IS BELOW:

AMERICANS ------------ OTHER PEOPLE

1.Much Food(wasted) --- 1. Starving to death.
2. Much water --- 2. No Clean water.
3. Much Clothings --- 3. Walking naked/half naked.
4. Luxury homes --- 4. No Shelter/No home.
5. Eating on dining table --- 5. Eating in garbage.
6. many hospitals/medicines --- 6. No Hospitals/No medicines some areas
7.Many Schools --- 7. No schools
8.Blessed --- 8. Languishing in poverty/suffering.
9. Hope,Joy,Peace --- 9. No hope,despair,broken heated.
10. You know God,Jesus,Spirit --- 10. Never heard of God,Jesus,Spirit.
11. Build many Churches --- 11. No Church
12. many Bibles --- 12. Never seen a bible
13. You are in the Light --- 13. They are in darkness.
14. You are free/liberty --- 14. They are in bondage/oppressed.

America ---- Arise and go, arise and shine. Arise and stand in the gap. Arise and bring in a big harvest of souls by going from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the world. The gospel MUST be preached to all nations (tribes) before the end comes.

America -You can do much in the kingdom of God by changing the world upside down within a short time. Not by power or mighty, but by His Spirit.

American Church can/should pray and train, equip and support national church leaders in the uttermost parts of the world to reach their own people with the gospel of Christ. What the national church leaders, need is to be trained and be given tools,materials and support. The world will be reached within a short time. The kingdom of God is at hand. Let us work now while it is still day, for night is coming when no man can work.

America -Do you hear the cry of your brethren?
America -Do you know that thousands are dying each day without Christ?
America -Are you ready, prepared to arise and go?
America -How will they believe, without a preacher/witness?
America -Are you willing, to stand in the gap?
America -Are you willing, to pay a price and sacrifice-For Christ sake?
America -Where is your first LOVE-For God and others?
America -Where is Revival in this land? and His power?
America -How much are you investing in missions? To win souls?
America -How many are willing to go into the world? The harvest is ripe.
America -Do you know the harvest is plentiful and few labourers? Who will go?
America -Do you know God's people are being destroyed for lack of knowledge-because of Church leaders. As church goes so is the nation or people. The body of Christ (Church)which is the salt/light of the world is lukeworm or cold.
America -Do you know that much is given to you, and much will be required of you -last day.
America -Do you know that, if you stay lukeworm/cold. God will vomit/spue you out of his mouth, and choose other nations and bless them and use/send them, if you dont wake up arise and go!!!
America -Remember the nation of Israel, Great Britain, and now America!! It is your choice to obey or disobey.
America -remember -God can raise up stones or other nations to preach/spread the gospel, if you will keep cold, lukeworm or give excuses.
America -Pray, fast and listen/obey the voice of the Lord your God.

My Prayer For America:
Father in Heaven, I pray for this great nation and church to rise up in Jesus name, and I pray for great revival in this land. Amen!!

Your Brother In Christ From Kenya,
Robert Wanjala Makona
Founder/Director
World Revival and Salvation Ministries

More Great Quotes

"Someone asked 'Will the heathen who have never heard the
Gospel be saved?' It is more a question with me whether we --
who have the Gospel and fail to give it to those who have not --
can be saved." - Charles Spurgeon

"A thing is not necessarily true because badly uttered, nor false
because spoken magnificently." - Saint Augustine

"Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that
will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility."
- Saint Augustine

"Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the
soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other
virtue except in mere appearance." - Saint Augustine

"He loves God too little, who loves ANYTHING (together with Him),
which He loves not for His sake." - St. Augustine

"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship
Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word,
'darkness' on the walls of his cell."- C.S. Lewis

"If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most
for the present world were precisely those who thought most of
the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the
other world that they have become so ineffective in this." - C.S. Lewis

"The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft
underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without
signposts." - C.S. Lewis

"There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind."
- C.S. Lewis

"God doesn't call the equipped; He equips the called." - Anonymous

"The Devil is not afraid of the Bible that has dust on it." - Anonymous

"If men can get to heaven by being good then the death of Christ
is the worst waste in human history." - Dr. Toussaint

Edward Payson - criticality of prayer

EDWARD PAYSON - PRAYER Makes HISTORY
-by David Smithers.

E. M. Bounds in his classic little book "Power Through Prayer",
wrote, "What the Church needs today is not more or better
machinery, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but
men whom the Holy Ghost can use - men of prayer, men mighty
in prayer."

Edward Payson was just such a man; a man mighty in prayer.
"He prayed without ceasing and felt safe nowhere but at the throne
of grace. He may be said to have studied theology on his knees.
Much of his time he spent literally prostrated with his Bible open
before him pleading the promise; "I will send the comforter and
when He, The Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all
truth." Payson's advice to his fellow ministers was, "prayer is the
first thing, the second thing and the third thing necessary to a
minister. Pray then my dear brother, pray, pray." It has been well
said that the secret of Edward Payson's ministry was that he
prayed much in secret. The scars on his bedroom floor testify to
this fact. Next to Payson's bed were deep grooves in the hardwood
floor were his knees had pressed repeatedly in times of travail.

To read "Praying Payson's" diary is to be touched by his heart
longings and tender love for Jesus and the lost. On January 4,
1807, he wrote, "I was favored with a spirit of prayer beyond all my
former experience. I was in great agony and wrestled both for
myself and others with great power. God seemed to bow the
heavens and come down and open all His treasures, bidding me,
take what I would."

January 29th, "I never felt such longings after God or such a desire
to depart to be with Christ. My soul thirsted for more full
communion with my God and Savior. I do not now feel satisfied as
I used to with the manifestations of the divine presence, but still
feel hungry and craving." February 18, "I was enabled to lie at
Jesus' feet and to wash them with the tears of contrition. No
pleasure I have ever found in the Christian life is superior to this."
February 28, "I was favored with great enlargement in prayer. I
seemed to be carried out of myself into the presence of God."

Like all true men of prayer, Payson understood the need for true
humility. "It was the burden of his secret prayers that he might be
delivered from pride, from self-seeking, from preaching himself
instead of Christ Jesus the Lord." Through humility and fervent
prayer he was always in hopes of seeing a fresh wave of revival.
"The revivals which took place under his labors were numerous and
were characterized by a depth and power seldom seen." Often
Payson congregation was overwhelmed with a sense of Christ's
presence and power and irresistibly brought to tears. Mr. Payson's
diary testifies of the power and necessity of prayer for revival.
September 27th, "In the evening I was favored with great faith and
fervency in prayer. It seemed as if God would deny me nothing,
and I wrestled for multitudes of souls, and could not help hoping
there would be revival here." September 28, "I was favored with the
greatest degree of freedom and fervency in interceding for others. I
seemed to travail in birth with poor sinners and could not help
hoping the God is about to do something for His glory and the
good of souls." Within days, "Praying Payson" saw his prayers
answered through a fresh work of revival power.

On April 23, 1808, Edward Payson wrote, "My heart seemed
ready to break with its longings after holiness." Such longings for
heart purity, revival power and the person of Jesus are the marks
of a healthy and normal Christian life. The lack of these precious
things in the modern Church reveal a nominal Christian life. Too
much of what is called the Church today is not fit to live or die.
The nominal Christian is unfit to deal with our demon possessed
age or the coming judgment seat of Christ. Truly the Church's
greatest need is for men and women, mighty in prayer. We need
men and women who will pray and yearn for revival. Lord make us
a praying people!
__________________

References Used:

Memoir, Select Thoughts and Sermons of Rev. Edward Payson
Compiled by Asa Cummings

Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer by S. B. Shaw

Power Through Prayer by E. M. Bounds
--
~Source - WWW.WATCHWORD.ORG

Defending David Wilkerson - by Andrew Strom

DEFENDING DAVID WILKERSON
-by Andrew Strom.

There are large sections of the modern 'Prophetic' movement who
for a long time now have bitterly opposed all that David Wilkerson
stands for. They describe him as a "Doom and Gloom" merchant -
always warning of what is coming and calling the nation and the
church to REPENTANCE.

I received an email from some U.S friends awhile ago who had
just gone back to a Pentecostal church after some years. They
told me, "If I bring up David Wilkerson, they all get a hateful,
angry look on their face." Isn't that terribly sad.

Even though David Wilkerson is the one man who has consistently
warned America of cataclysms just like the ones we are seeing,
he is still denigrated. Even though he is proved right, still they
detest him! I think it is because his major message is "REPENT".
And he doesn't pussy-foot around like a lot of these other so-called
"prophets".

When the "God Wants You Rich" prosperity message began to
spread, David was one of the few leaders who publicly refuted it
and called the people to repent from the "love of money". Many
hated him for that. Especially because he is so direct and
up-front.

And when the 'Toronto Blessing' came along, with churches full
of the most weird and often ugly behaviour - he called it like it
was. He was one of the few (if any) Pentecostal leaders who
actually stood up publicly and refuted this new 'spirit' that was
invading the church. You can imagine how despised he was
for that.

There is a 'Prophetic' movement in the world today that is in
my opinion very far removed from the word 'Prophet'. It sells
truckloads of books and holds untold conferences, but at the
end of the day it is a mealy-mouthed travesty of the word
'Prophetic'. It retains its popularity because it is almost always
"positive" and up-lifting. The voice of an Amos or Jeremiah is
rarely (if ever) heard in its ranks - let alone a "John the Baptist".
It is almost never blunt or confrontational - especially about sin.

A lot of this movement has a chronic obsession with the 'religious
spirit'. Everywhere these people look all they can see are religious
spirits of legalism, pharisaism, etc. Thus they are always talking
about "grace, grace, grace". The words "Sin, Righteousness
and Judgement" are almost a horror to them, because they are
so fearful of being 'religious'. And thus when they come across
a prophet who actually preaches on Sin, Righteousness and
Judgement (-which are the very things Jesus said His Spirit
would CONVICT of), they reject him. Every true prophet that I
know of down through history has been a 'Sin, Righteousness
and Judgement' preacher. So has every true Revivalist. (Finney,
Wesley, Whitfield, Edwards, etc). It is part of the job description!

We have invented a new meaning for the term 'Prophetic' in
our day that is far below the standard of the Bible. And far
below the standard that must be in place to see a true Revival.
I think it was God's spokesman Ezekiel who coined the term
"pillow prophets". That is the last thing that America needs in
her hour of crisis. What is needed are voices who truly tell it like
it is - who WARN the people, no matter what the cost. -A 'clear
trumpet sound'.

David Wilkerson has been just such a voice. And he is almost a
'lone' voice - though thank God he is widely heard. I believe
God has placed him in New York for this very hour - the city
that combines world political power (-The U.N) with world
financial power and world media power. David is "God's man"
in that city - I truly believe this. And if he says that God's
message to America through these tragedies is "REPENT" then
personally I will believe him rather than any mealy-mouthed
'prophet' who says otherwise. I am going to listen to the
"man on the spot".

David hates sin and deception so much, and loves God and
the people so much, that he cannot stand to be silent when
God's heart-truths are being trampled underfoot. That is the
mark of a true prophet. Keep it up, David!

God bless you all.

Andrew Strom.

What's in your future?

The times they are a-changing. (In case anybody perceives that as an ungrammatical sentence, I'll advise you those are song lyrics). The evidence starts adding up that we seem to be approaching the end times. Sure, people have been predicting the end of the world for a long time. Religions have been born from such bogus forecasts. A few years ago the members of a group in Korea sold all their property to get ready for the return of Jesus. I don't get that. If he was returning, what use was their money going to be?

Many Christians have the idea that Jesus is going to swoop down and rescue the believers before any bad stuff happens. Is that Biblical? There's a lot of argument on the topic. I have met a new friend and brother in the Lord who boldly goes where no man wants to go. He is predicting that Christians are going to face a lot of persecution (they already are in many foreign countries, but this show could be coming to the US of A sometime soon).
I'd like you to meet Joe Ortiz:

Former Talk Show Host Writes Book Challenging the Politics of Evangelicals

Redlands, CA - A former Los Angeles-based talk show host and Public Relations Consultant has written a book that challenges the evangelical doctrine that attempts to influence the U.S.’s political decisions concerning the state of Israel. Joe Ortiz, the first Mexican American to host and English-language talk show on a commercial radio station, claims evangelicals who support the dispensational, premillennial doctrine have been misinformed by proponents who have misinterpreted the Bible.

Ortiz (an Indio, California native) claims in his book, The End Times Passover (published by Author House) that careful scrutiny of the Bible proves that the Promised Land is not in the Middle East, the state of Israel is not God’s time piece to Armageddon, that there will be no Pre-Tribulation Rapture, and that God’s true disciples will experience great tribulation.

“Right wing evangelicals who promote the Left Behind doctrine (like Tim LaHaye, John Hagee, Hal Lindsey and others), believe the State of Israel is key to Bible prophecy,” said Ortiz. “The proponents of this erroneous doctrine have unwittingly been pounding their theological hammers on U.S. foreign policy for over a century, only to drive a bigger wedge between Jews and Arabs who want peace in the Middle East.

Ortiz stated his book is not a politically-motivated treatise designed to influence people to choose sides between Palestinians or Jews. He said his is an academic polemic designed for people to recognize their role should be one of peacemakers rather than promoting military solutions to a feud that’s been going on for centuries. He said his research was based on analyzing the etymology of key words in the Bible that prove conclusively that the Left Behind notion promoted by many evangelicals begins to fall apart when examined carefully.

“It took over 20 years of research to provide conclusive answers to the premillennial, dispensational debate,” said Ortiz. The author’s media experience includes more than 20 years of news reporting and hosting programs on TV and radio, as well as writing for a syndicated publisher in California. Ortiz claims that “when those preachers and teachers of Bible prophecy read this book, they will soon realize they have been promoting a militant and destructive doctrine instead of a genuine gospel of peace.”

Joe has also written a sequel called Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation
You can get more information and his books on his blog at:

http://groups.msn.com/TheEndTimesPassover

Is the future etched in concrete? Is there anything we can do to alter what is coming through repentance and prayer? Let me point out one sobering detail: John the Baptist led the way for Christ. He was beheaded. Jesus came next and was crucified. Ten of the original twelve apostles were executed. Paul was as well. Do you see a pattern here. Not exactly the picture that is painted when the pastor says - with everyone's eyes shut and no looking around the room - is there anyone out there who wants to give their heart to Jesus? Just slip up your hand.

I'm not a prophetic person, but I am able to look at facts and make sense of them and predict what could happen. Here is what I see as a possibility (and this is not original thinking on my part) Christians who stand for their faith will continue to reject evolution, the homosexual agenda, abortion, etcetera. In a world crying out for peace and unity they will stick out as a sore thumb as troublemakers. The only way for peace to break out is to remove the people causing the problem so the rest of society can get along with their attitude of anything goes. But surely our constitution doesn't permit that kind of thing. You're right; it doesn't. But people in high places are making their own interpretations of the Constitution that would make our founding fathers roll over in their graves.

Are people like Joe Ortiz doing anyone a favor by sounding the alarm about approaching tribulation? I truly believe that if one isn't ready for it and it does arrive, that it will be extremely difficult to stand firm in the faith. Many would choose temporary safety to save their lives, so they can die of cancer or AIDS or in a car accident. I don't want to face a guillotine or some other lethal method of dispatching rebels, but even less do I want to deny Christ.
We were born in order to die.Publish Post I just hope I have the courage to die like Stephen if faced with such a decision.

Leonard Ravenhill Quotes

Great RAVENHILL QUOTES
-Leonard Ravenhill.

“A popular evangelist reaches your emotions. A true prophet
reaches your conscience.”

“The last words of Jesus to the church (in Revelation) were ‘Repent!’”

“A true shepherd leads the way. He does not merely point the way.”

“Your doctrine can be as straight as a gun barrel—and just as empty!”

“John the Baptist never performed any miracles. Yet, he was greater
than any of the Old Testament prophets.”

“I doubt that more than two percent of professing Christians in the
United States are truly born again.”

“Our God is a consuming fire. He consumes pride, lust, materialism,
and other sin.”

“There are only two kinds of persons: those dead in sin and those dead to sin.”

[Concerning the darkness that has enveloped most of Christendom:]
“When you’re sitting in a dark room, you can either sit and curse the
darkness—or you can light a candle.”

“Children can tell you what Channel 7 says, but not what Matthew 7 says.”

“Some women will spend thirty minutes to an hour preparing for
church externally (putting on special clothes and makeup, etc.).
What would happen if we all spent the same amount of time
preparing internally for church—with prayer and meditation?”

“Maturity comes from obedience, not necessarily from age.”

“What good does it do to speak in tongues on Sunday if you have
been using your tongue during the week to curse and gossip?”

“The only time you can really say that ‘Christ is all I need,’ is when
Christ is all you have.”

“The Bible is either absolute, or it’s obsolete.”

“Why do we expect to be better treated in this world than Jesus was?”

“Today’s church wants to be raptured from responsibility.”

“Testimonies are wonderful. But, so often our lives don’t fit our testimonies.”

[Concerning one of the new “movements” in the church that was
causing a stir among Christians:] “There’s also a stir when the
circus comes to town.”

“My main ambition in life is to be on the Devil’s most wanted list.”

“You can’t develop character by reading books. You develop it from conflict.”

“When there’s something in the Bible that churches don’t like,
they call it ‘legalism.’”

“We can’t serve God by proxy.”

“We must do what we can do for God, before He will give us the
power to do what we can’t do.”

“There’s a difference between changing your opinion, and changing
your lifestyle.”

“Our seminaries today are turning out dead men.”

“How can you pull down strongholds of Satan if you don’t even have
the strength to turn off your TV?”

“Everyone recognizes that Stephen was Spirit-filled when he was
performing wonders. Yet, he was just as Spirit-filled when he was
being stoned to death.”

“If a Christian is not having tribulation in the world, there’s
something wrong!”

[Concerning the fixation that today’s church has with numbers,
with growth at any price:] “The church has paid a terrible price for
statistics!”

“Any method of evangelism will work—if God is in it.”

“Church unity comes from corporate humility.”

“You can have all of your doctrines right—yet still not have the
presence of God.”

“Many pastors criticize me for taking the Gospel so seriously. But
do they really think that on Judgment Day, Christ will chastise me,
saying, ‘Leonard, you took Me too seriously’?”

“If Jesus had preached the same message that ministers preach
today, He would never have been crucified.”

“You can know a lot about the atonement, and yet receive no benefit from it.”

“If the whole church goes off into deception, that will in no way
excuse us for not following Christ.”

RAVENHILL's MOST POWERFUL BOOK - "Why Revival Tarries".

~SOURCE - http://www.scrollpublishing.com/store/Ravenhill.html

Florida Revival - or Deception

A short time ago I got an electronic newsletter with an article about a revival happening down in Florida. I read the story with great interest. It would be wonderful to have God pouring his Spirit out upon his people. Stories of miracles abounded. More material followed from different sources. I actually watched a news story (yes – the press actually reported on something going on in church!) about the outpouring. Then I watched a video of some of the action. An aura of skepticism descended upon me. The man leading the revival, Todd Bentley, spent a lot of time yelling and playing up a miracle that a woman testified to. It was more like a carnival/circus environment than a tribute to Jesus. A man divided against himself is very uncomfortable. After watching this I was involved in an internal tug-of-war. I went on like that for a couple of weeks until I ran across a website called The Revival School ( www.revivialschool.com ). I read a lot of informative posts concerning the Florida "revival". I was even able to get a book written touching on it by Andrew Strom entitled True and False Revival. I read that book immediately when it arrived. I was no longer divided. Strom makes a clear cut case that what is happening down in Florida is not designed by the Lord. One thing to consider however is that God still might be working on some people in the midst of that mirage.

Ironically, I had a chance to participate in the Toronto outpouring back in the 90's. Coincidentally my company sent me to Toronto on an assignment at the same time my local pastors were visiting in Toronto. That was enough of a sign that I needed to attend one of the meetings to propel me into action. The service started at 7:00 PM. We left around 2:00 AM. My pastor was inflected with "holy laughter". He couldn't stop giggling. I was almost completely untouched by the experience, except the fact that people barking like dogs gave me much fuel for my skeptical fireplace. The dogs and other wild animals are being manifested down in Florida as well.

It is wonderful to see people seeking the Lord and wanting to be with Him. In this type of scenario, however, I had to question whether people were seeking God or seeking experiences (can we read signs here?) Jesus said it is an adulterous generation that seeks a sign. That always gives me pause to think – especially when I want to lay out my own personal fleece.

This situation leaves me in a state of confusion. How can two factions of the Lord's body be so diametrically opposed? What is going on here? This passage of scripture was mentioned more than once: Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Scary words. But words that need to be heeded. How do you judge this situation? Compare what Jesus taught with what is happening in Florida. Who is getting the glory down there? And who is reaping the financial benefits? And are the miracles being reported real?

I could go on here and talk about this situation but I feel others are much more qualified to speak on the subject. What I will say is that I'm convinced that the end is approaching. Everyone has to decide for himself/herself where truth lies. I just pray that you don't make such decisions hastily and without due caution. So check out the Revival School and read about revival which involves personal penitence, Godly sorrow, and holiness. God does perform miracles – but not on demand in the center ring of a circus.

The Birth of a Company - on D Day

June 6 – D Day. The momentous morning on which the Allied soldiers fooled the Germans and established a beachhead on the European continent will forever live in historical legend. It was a bold and daring surprise attack that led to the beginning of the end of the Third Reich.
Today is June 6th again – sixty-four years later. Another bold and daring attack is being launched today, and you are among the first humans to find out about it. D-Day takes on new meaning for Sword of the Spirit Publishing as this newborn company attempts to bring down strongholds of the little D – aka the Devil, Satan, Beelzebub, the Serpent, and etcetera. God has a plan for the world, and it's no secret that Satan's plan is to thwart God's blueprints for human life. He has launched battles on many fronts in an attempt to frustrate the Creator of the universe and destroy men's lives and souls. From my viewpoint, people either try to give Satan
too much credit or not enough. We're taking the middle ground. It is time to acknowledge that he is a potent adversary, and he does go about as a lion seeking whom he can devour. Our goal is to ensure that lion goes hungry.
The specialty of the house will be hard hitting books that expose sin for what it is and seek to discover truth in all aspects of life. Relevant doses of humor, romance, and adventure will be included in the recipes, but no book without a moral or spiritual message will carry our logo.
Our first new offering will launch on Friday the 13th. Reforming the Potter's Clay by Donald James Parker is a duel between magick and miracles. The power of God is manifested by a group of twelve to fourteen-year-old kids of a variety of ethnic backgrounds who allow the Holy Spirit to have reign in their life as they clash with the counterfeit powers of the world of the occult, including the power wielded by the fictional boy wunderkind with spectacles.
We are an equal opportunity publisher. We will irritate everybody at some point in time. For some we will be like the grain of sand that penetrates the oyster's shell, causing the formation of a beautiful pearl. For others, we'll the raspberry seed in their wisdom tooth. Future offerings will draw a bulls-eye on a false religion, masquerading as science, called Darwinism and sexual immorality. Other topics to be explored in the future include aging, prejudice, obesity, snobbery, homelessness, gambling, and popular Christian doctrines consisting of the antithesis of what Jesus really taught. The common thread through all of these books will be real and lovable characters who make the reader laugh and cry as they struggle through this hard experience
called life, seeking to find purpose and truth, and in doing so expose the readers to decisions about their own lives. Please visit our website at www.swordOfSpirit.net .

God bless you!

A video you should watch

This may very well unsettle you. Maybe you need to be challenged. This is one of the most impressive young men I've ever encountered. Check him out for yourself. Warning: May be dangerous to your comfort zone!!

Entertainment Tonight and Every Night

Posting this exhortation may be like a restaurant nailing a notice on the door informing patrons they shouldn't eat out often. Writing this article has caused me great anguish. I completed the original in about fifteen minutes. Finalizing those paragraphs has taken about fifteen hours. I'm not sure any of the original words survived the cut. Life could not have been easy for John the Baptist. I'm not eating locusts and wild honey, but I am perhaps crying out in the wilderness to people who don't want to hear a discouraging word. Let him who has ears hear. First of all, I'm a novelist. It would be in my interest for people to spend their whole lives buying and reading every book they could get their hands on. However, I can't, in all good conscience, advocate that lifestyle. The duties of life call, and it's hard to ignore the incessant ringing. There are consequences for people who fail to march to the beat of the system. The TV, movies, books, and video games cry out to us like the Sirens from the mythological travels of Odysseus to abandon the quest to fulfill our duties. (The sailors who were unable to resist the charms of the Sirens ended up shipwrecked.) Am I saying your life will be shipwrecked if you watch a movie or a TV show? Not even close, but I do suggest that some prudent navigation of shallow, rock-infested waters might be in order. Self-discipline is required. To add to Ecclesiastes, there is a season for entertainment and a season for abstaining from entertainment.

When life is hard, many of us want to escape from it all. Some people turn to drugs or alcohol to cope, but others choose the more acceptable route of entertainment. How do I know that? I've been there, done that, and my flesh would love to do it again. We run to the make-believe world provided by the entertainment industry. Amusement becomes an oasis in the desert of despair and a life-raft in an ocean of tribulation. Some of you might say, "Yeah, yeah, so what's your point?"

I'm glad you asked. I've learned many valuable lessons over the years by reading books and watching life on the screen. However, there is a danger of abusing this outlet just like with any other coping mechanism. It is possible to lose touch with reality, causing people to live in that make believe world. More likely, people will only become addicted and just need their fix.

One thing I've observed is that the threshold to obtain amusement keeps rising. People are growing bored with the common fare and want the exciting, thrilling dosage. This has escalated to the point we are at today with the proliferation of violence and blatant sex. What happens when those become blasé? I'm scared to think about it.

As a Christian, in addition to the other vocational and family duties, we have a responsibility to the Lord to minister to our fellow human beings. We are called to be good stewards of our finances, and the same is true of our time. We all need recreation of some type, just like we need nutritional sustenance and sleep. But, to rephrase an old adage, do we live to recreate or recreate to live? Unless I'm sadly mistaken, we need to do the latter. The Bible says that we will be rewarded for our good works here on earth. Reading a Christian novel or watching a Christian movie doesn't qualify as such. However, those vehicles might provide the inspiration and the resolve we need to help motivate us to spend some of those precious moments that God has given us in reaching out to others in spirit, truth, and love. And for that reason, we need to choose our entertainment carefully, so we might feed our spirits at the same time our souls are nourished. If we eat too much junk food, our physical health suffers. Too much junk entertainment will negatively impact our spiritual health. Fighting the good fight requires us to keep up our morale. Watching an inspirational movie can strengthen our resolve to follow Christ wherever He leads. Reading a book where a couple dodges the divorce bullet through prayer might actually help save our own marriage. To reiterate: we, as believers, need to seek diversion that will promote the fruits of the spirit.

To optimize time, try some of these techniques: Get creative in your recreation! Multitask by killing two figurative birds with one time-slot stone. Exercise while you watch television or read a book. Invite unsaved unbelievers to your house to watch a Christian movie with you. Watch uplifting material with the family and discuss them afterward to strengthen the family ties while getting an entertainment fix. Go down to the retirement home and read a book aloud to some people who can't read. And lastly, learn to be entertained by your ministry. It will be like learning to extract water from dry air, preventing any desert experiences.