Category Archives: Sin

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Jewish Lives Matter

A Letter to the Editor This Christmas 2018

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I would like you to consider helping me get this inter-denominational Letter to the Editor of the Virginian-Pilot signed by Catholic priests in the Hampton Roads area. We have about 20 signatures from a wide variety of  protestant pastors so far. 
Here is an opportunity for protestant and catholic leaders to stand together on the right side of an issue: anti-semitism and the debt we Christians owe to Jewish people.
I have included a link to a form to help record the title and name of each signing leader: Click here to sign
Here is the proposed letter to the Editor of the Virginian-Pilot:
Jewish Lives Matter

This Christmas, Christians everywhere celebrate the birth of a Jewish man named Jesus born in Israel. Christians believe Jesus to be the Jewish Messiah, promised in the Old Testament.

While it is always appropriate to honor Jewish people for their many contributions to mankind,  it is even more important for Americans to honor them now, in the aftermath of the recent massacre at an American synagogue.

As Christian leaders in Hampton Roads, we wish to publicly express our gratitude, respect and love for our Jewish neighbors.  Christianity would not exist without the Jews.

The Old Testament—the Scriptures Jesus followed— was obviously written by Jews.   The New Testament was entirely written by Jews, with the possible exception of Luke’s Gospel.  Jesus was a Jew. All of his apostles were Jewish. Most of the early church were Jews.   Jesus said He came initially only to serve Jews.  Jesus said, “Salvation is from the Jews.”

This Christmas season we encourage the people of Hampton Roads to honor your Jewish neighbors. We encourage you to thank them for their courage, their incredible wisdom and for their generous forgiveness for all that non-Jews have done to them for over 2000 years.

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Prologue to The 24th Angel

Book One of the Scion Series

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It was just an ordinary day in heaven.

The sky today was a shimmering teal with millions of glistening gold filigree crosses around the entire horizon. Yesterday, the sky had been a pale yellow with a horizon framed in shades of peacock blue with raspberry red edges. Moving slowly across the center of heaven’s sky were multi-colored words in ever-changing languages, soaring and twirling to the rhythm of songs sung by the saints below them: “Jesus is Lord”, “God is Our Savior”, “The Lord of Hosts”, “Glory to God in the highest”. As usual, hardly anyone could read the bouncing words when they glided over the feverish musical beats of African worshipers beneath them.

But no one cared about blurry words in breath-taking skies. The very air seemed saturated with a palpable sense of love, joy and a peace never known on earth. The Presence of God radiated from the Throne room across the endless expanse of heaven in waves of glory that made redeemed humanity almost giddy with delight. No one was immune. King David himself loved to run up to the astonished new arrivals from earth and almost shout, “See, I told you so! In His Presence is fullness of Joy!” The cheers were always deafening–if that were possible in heaven.

Angels were everywhere. Billions of them. But it always wasn’t that way. God had originally created 18,000 angels to serve the Court of Heaven and to help and protect His people on earth. By the time Jesus went to earth, the Host of Heaven numbered only 12,000. Those 12,000 knew the story only too well.

6000 of their closest friends had been banished from heaven during the Great Rebellion eons before because they had allied themselves with the hideously wicked rebel leader, Lucifer. The Great Rebellion was immediately followed by the Great Grief. The love and unity those 18,000 had experienced for billions of earth years was deeper and stronger and purer than any human could ever know. That’s what made the depth of grief in heaven so terrible. 12,000 angels lost their best friends, their closest companions, their comrades in arms–never to return. Even God grieved deeply at the loss of 6000 sons.

This great grief seemed to suffocate the joy of heaven for a very long time. Some angel poets later wrote that the water that covered the earth during Noah’s time was just some of the tears God and the angels shed for the tragic loss of their loved ones. Most angels eventually got over their grief, but a few still struggled with it from time to time. There was one angel who was still tormented by his grief but the poor creature could not share it or resolve it…yet. So heaven plodded on despite the pain and trusted God to bring good from it all somehow.

But one day, all that changed when God activated His final solution to rescue humanity from sin and the devil: Jesus was about to come to earth! The angels were ecstatic and their thoughts of lost friends soon faded as God told them about the billions of souls that would soon come to heaven as His children through faith in Jesus. Heaven was about to explode with new sons and daughters of God. The party was on!

So, just as Jesus was born to Mary in Bethlehem, God began to create and train billions of new angels so that each follower of His Son could have a guardian angel to help them make it to heaven no matter what Satan and his forces did to them. He also began a revised school to train al the new angels, called Angel Academy.

About 5000 angels graduated in each class. If they failed to graduate, they could take the class again. If they failed the second time, they would never be given a coveted earth assignment and would be limited to strictly administrative duties, mostly dealing with earth life records for each human and the settlement of Christians arriving in heaven each day–a job that most angels found too routine. Angels were made for adventure!

Satan was also slowly in the process of expanding his forces to handle the increased demands that earth’s growing population required. The New Covenant changed all that. Now, for the first time, God was sending His people all over the world to help people make it to heaven. Every land Satan controlled was being invaded by the Host of heaven as they followed and guarded Christians in their global journeys. His 6000 dark angels and a few experimental demons were not enough. Demon spawning now became a massive operation in hell that produced billions of highly specialized demons that heaven had never seen.

To counter this greater enemy threat, the Lord created different types and sizes of angels for specialized tasks like covert reconnaissance. These angels were called called Mod2 angels. As each batch of Mod1 and Mod2 angels was created, they had to be trained for about six months in Basic Angel Duty Services at Angel Academy near Moses Park on the south side of heaven. New Mod1 angels all were six foot tall. As they grew in wisdom and skill, their height increased. By graduation, the Mod1’s were eight foot tall. Mod2’s varied from eight inches to five foot. Archangels who ruled large areas of earth were 10 foot tall. The Seraphim and Cherubim who only served the Throne Room were easily recognizable at 14 foot. Only Gabriel, Assistant to The Holy Spirit and Michael, General of the Armies of Heaven, were 30 feet tall.

As our story opens, we will meet a very large and powerful angel named Scion who was the Headmaster of Angel Academy ever since it reopened after the Rebellion. He was greatly respected but few got close to him. He was a stickler for rules and every student knew it. He was pleasant but he was all business. He never took time off to relax with other angels. He always seemed like he had a lot on his mind even though he had taught the same subjects for thousands of years. Scion was the only 12 foot angel in heaven–a relic of time gone by.

We join Scion now as he begins week three of Angel Academy with a fresh class of angels created just a month earlier. What begins as a normal school day changes rapidly as Scion faces tough questions and triggered emotions over events in heaven that still tormented him.

But just as Scion begins to open the main door to the academy, he hears a noise and looks over his left shoulder just in time to see three of his most unmotivated students goofing off by flying too low and frightening Femi and his parents. He waited at the door until the three pranksters arrived…late for class again.

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Chapter 1: Angel Academy

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“Look Papa–Moses!” A small family stood reading the inscription on the ten foot figure with his hands raised high in prayer. Like all the statuary in heaven, it was solid gold and yet translucent, shining from within with a soft yellow light that grew brighter when people prayed or worshipped nearby. “And the LORD repented of the evil which He thought to do unto his people.” (Exodus 32:14)

“Yes, Femi. He came from Egypt, like us, but he led God’s people to Israel so Jesus could be born there. He was a great man, Femi. I am proud to know he grew up in our Egypt.”

“But, Papa, why did God want to bring evil on His people?”

“Because they decided to abandon God and worship a statue of a cow. But God changed His mind!

“Papa, why would our Great God change His mind? He can do anything He wants, right?

“Because Moses pleaded with God to not judge Israel. He stood in the gap before God and saved Israel. God allows people like you and me to change His mind sometimes. He loves us that much!”

Without warning, three young angels appeared, diving right at the statue, shouting and laughing “Look out below”. The speeding trio swooped so close that seven-year-old Femi fell down as both parents desperately ducked to avoid a collision. “What is heaven’s name…”, the father fumed. “They almost hit us!” But the trio of angels had disappeared as fast as they had burst upon them.
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“Well, boys. Nice to see that you had time to come to class today.” But the look on the Headmaster’s face told the three knew that Scion was not at all pleased.

“you know what this means.” They all looked guilty as charged. “Yes, Master Scion,” they responded in unison. “You will all have to repeat the entire Academy. If you fail to graduate one more time, you will never be allowed to get an assignment to earth.” A pained look darkened each of their faces.

“But Master Scion…we were just having fun…”.

“I’m sorry boys. This is your second warning. You made your choices and I am compelled by Academy rules to dismiss you from the Academy. ” If you cannot keep the rules here in a school, what will you do when thousands of lives depend on your obedience on earth. Clean out your desks and report back to your base to await further instructions. And by the way, before you leave the area, go apologize to that family. They have suffered enough on earth.

As the three downcast angels trudged inside to retrieve their personal items, one angel named Nacham turned back. He ran to the the headmaster just as he was about to enter a classroom. skidding on his knees before Scion, he looked up with tears in his eyes, “I know I don’t deserve it, Mast Scion, but please forgive me. I will never do that again. I will never be late for class again. I will come early and stay late. I humbly repent for my disobedient behavior. Please allow me to finish with this class. I want to serve the saints on earth! In fact, I want to serve the saints in Egypt and protect them in every way!”

Scion’s frown slowly melted with each tearful appeal from the much smaller angel below him. “Nacham, you may be the first angel I have ever allowed to stay after two warnings–but stay you must! Anyone who can repent like that can become a great angel. I want to help you be that angel! Welcome back, Nacham!”

“O, thank you sir! Thank you, sir,” Nacham cried out as he hugged the huge legs of the grinning headmaster. “That will do, Nacham. Now get back to your classes,”Scion laughed as he picked him and sent him on his way.

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“Good morning, Class. Please come to order. I am sorry to be late but some of your classmates needed some…let’s say, help. The class laughed. They heard it all.

As you were. Now, I am Master Scion, Headmaster of this academy and I am honored to instruct all of you new angels whom the Lord created last month. I hope you are enjoying your new life here in heaven and the other classes you have already taken here. My staff tells me that you are a very bright and promising class.

Let’s get right to work so that you can graduate on time for your earth assignment in five months. I know you are all eager to get to earth and get your first assignment. I just heard yesterday that many of the saints in Europe are falling into sin due to the terrible wars going on there. Those saints need you.

So, today, we will be discussing another of your Emergency Angel Tactics when the Christian begin to sin. See page 33 in your syllabus.

This is one of the most important tasks you will have on earth as you work with God the Holy Spirit to bring your assignment safely home to heaven one day.

As you know, sin is the most deadly enemy of humanity. Sin deceives, sin corrupts and, if not corrected, sin can kill forever. Your task as guardian angels is to enforce the promptings of the Spirit of God on each Christian so that they repentance for their sins as quickly as possible. Repentance can change the course of a person’s life…or even a nation’s life. God always honors repentance”

“Question, Master Scion!”, an eager angel asks. What exactly is repentance?”

“Good question, Angel Jonah.” In a word, repentance is changing your mind so that you agree with God’s mind. Read the scripture II Chronicles 7:14 at the top of page 34, Jonah.

“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

“See–the power of repentance! That’s what you have to lead your saints to do. People who love God usually want to repent but sometimes they wait too long and sin captures their hearts and many blessings are lost.”

“Question, Master Scion!”, a muscular looking angel stood up to ask. He looked around to make sure everyone was listening.

“I know that is true about humans, but what about angels? If they disobey God, can they repent and be forgiven like the scripture says?”

“Good Question, Angel Tomas. Actually, that never happens. Angels may make innocent mistakes but they do not deliberately disobey God because …”

Rising to his feet again, the same angel interrupted, “Uh,..Master Scion, with all due respect. You know that isn’t true! What about the Great Rebellion of angels. I heard about it from Samos, an older angelI I met last week. He said no one likes to talk of it but everyone knows about it sooner or later. He said it was terrible–a war in heaven led by some angel called Lucifer who is now headed for hell.

Looking around now at the stunned faces of the class, Tomas seemed to enjoy the attention he was getting with his new fact about angelic history.
“So, Master Scion–what happened when all hell broke loose in heaven?”, the angel asked with a smirk as the class laughed. ” Those angels did not repent. If repentance is so important, why did they not repent?”

The powerful, twelve-foot Headmaster froze. The question hit Scion like a sucker-punch to the gut. He always dreaded having to answer. Every class of new angels always seemed to bring it up even before the class on the history of heaven–a class he always avoided teaching himself.

“Well, Angel Tomas… you are right. Lucifer,did lead what we call The Great Rebellion and 6000 angels followed him. Those 6000 are what we call Dark Angels today–the principalities, powers, dominion’s and authorities that rule large swaths of earth’s lands. Now they are banished from heaven forever.

“Eternal exile, “Tomas snickered! ” Why can’t the 6000 just repent and come back to heaven? I thought you said God always honors repentance?”

“Tomas, God is quick to forgive when angels make small mistakes and the angel repents. But the Great Rebellion was a premeditated, full-scale rejection of God’s authority over them. No angel who has seen the very face of God can do that and ever return to heaven. Like you, I grieve deeply for the 6000 who were once like us. They and Lucifer are banned forever and will one day enter of place of eternal torment.”

The classroom was suddenly very quiet for a long moment. Then,Tomas broke the stunned silence.

“But how could Lucifer deceive that many angels at one time? He must have had help. Who helped him?”

Another sucker-punch–only bigger. Scion’s heart began to beat faster, his palms started to sweat and and old-facial twitch returned.

Brilliant observation, Tomas,” Scion grinned to hide the pain in his eyes. Mola, the class assistant saw it.

“Tomas, that is a great question,” Mola interjected with a broad smile, “but we really need to let Master Scion complete his lecture. There’s a lot more material to cover, especially since earth was created and angels were assigned to serve humans who were following the Lord.”

“It’s OK, Mola,” Scion responded with a wave of his hand. I appreciate your assistance but I think I need to answer the question.

Yes…actually, Lucifer did have help…there were… 24 angels in the first class of archangels. They were completely devoted to Lucifer, as any disciple should be–or more so. The 24 were a band of brothers unlike any other in heaven at that time. The Spirit had also designed the 24 with extraordinary powers far above their peers. More importantly, a unique bond formed among them, a deep brotherly love that gave all of them great courage, wisdom and extreme loyalty to each other. Everywhere they went in heaven, angels were in awe of them. It seemed like every angel in heaven wanted to be like them.

So, when 23 of them sided with Lucifer, the first Master of Archangel Academy in the Great Rebellion,a third of the angels also followed them over to Lucifer’s side.” Another heavy silence came across the class.

“And the 24th…where is he?, an astonished Tomas finally blurted out.

There was, uh, well…the 24th…” Scion throat began to choke up now. He mind was beginning to spin with fear. “There was one student in that first class who did not rebel with Lucifer. He was on assignment in a very remote area of the cosmos where there was little need for communication with heaven at the time. When “all hell broke out in heaven” as you so aptly put it, no one had time to contact him until after it was all over.

“Well, that was convenient. I wonder why he was left behind?” Tomas snickered under his breath, but everyone heard it. The class looked at Tomas with disgust.

“Tomas–how dare you imply such things to another angel without proof,” Mola scolded.

Realizing his mouth had gotten him in trouble again, Tomas’ pink cheeks turned bright red. “Of course, Master Mola,” Tomas sheepishly conceded. “You are right. I was wrong to insinuate evil motives like that, he confessed with a hang-dog look.

But wanting to justify himself a bit, Tomas added: “It just seems so odd that out of that very tight-knit, deeply bonded class of 24, one of them did not leave with the other 23. Master Scion, you said it yourself–those 23 were his best friends! What kept him here? Why didn’t he follow them after he got back to heaven? And…who is he, anyway…and what role does he now have in heaven?

Mola shot a pained glance at the Scion who by now had recovered his composure.

“Tomas, you are obviously very gifted to ask such questions. I can only tell you that the lone survivor of the 24 has been serving the Lord i heaven faithfully and fruitfully for eons now in positions of great trust but he wishes to remain anonymous.

And with that, I think we will conclude today’s lesson. Come back tomorrow for the conclusion of History of Heaven, 1001. Be sure to study the documents you received from the Archives about the creation, fall and rescue of mankind via the Two Great Covenants. Please note the many different roles of angels throughout salvation history. I plan to….”

“Master Scion–Michael just arrived and is calling for you in the hallway,” Mola exclaimed with some concern.

“Uh…yes, …uh, tell him I will be right there, Mola.
Huh, I wonder what the Captain of the Lord’s Hosts wants with me, a Teacher,” Scion nervously mumbled to himself. His face twitched again.

“OK–class dismissed!”

A sudden tightness began to rise in Scion’s chest. He moved towards the classroom door but stumbled a little on the leg of a student’s chair as he reached for the door. Grim-faced Mola was right behind him. His face was ashen as he turned to gaze into Mola’s compassionate face. Something was wrong! Very wrong! General Michael had never come to Angel School before to see a teacher.

“What have I done, Mola? Why would he come here? Is there something you are not telling me? You are the one angel I trust more than any in heaven. You have always stood by me when others would not. Please tell me if I have made any mistake! I cannot afford any mistakes, you know that, ” Scion pleaded with tears in his bright, blue eyes.

“Peace, Master, peace! It must be a mistake. Everyone knows you are the best Headmaster that Angel Academy has ever had–the most competent, the most loyal, the most obedient, the most careful leader we have ever known. Surely, you are being summoned to receive an award of some kind in the Throne Room–or something like that, ” Mola cooed as earnestly as he could.

Yes–it must be something good. After all, I have spent eons here making sure I never would be criticized, never accused of making a mistake. I guess you are right. Let’s go out and see what Michael has to say.”

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The Fires of Revival in 2018

The Holy Spirit Is Bubbling Up Across Mid-America!

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God’s Spirit is continuing to fall on the United States of America and the fires of revival are spreading!

At the time of this article, the Greeneville Awakening is now going into its twentieth week, with no signs of stopping. In fact, on Friday night, the last night of week nineteen, when I was there, D.R. said “We are just getting started!” Over 600 people have given their lives to Christ under the tent. At least 30 states have been represented, coming from all over the country.

Up until a few weeks ago, these states were all states in the East. However, within the last few weeks, the revival fires have burned so bright that those from the West have made the trip, Utah and Washington now being represented under the tent! In addition to these states, over 300 churches have come together, churches spanning all denominations! The revival is now on the radio, broadcast all over the world, and the first day of the radio program, 27 different countries tuned in. It is estimated between 2,000-5,000 people gave their lives to Christ as a result of that one night, and it will be on the radio every night from now on!

Christ’s Fellowship in Georgia has been experiencing revival since February. It is not uncommon for more than 40 people to walk to the front and be baptized. For the past six months, physical healings, deliverance, and more than 500 baptisms have taken place during the Sunday night services. According to the pastor, “We had one woman come to pick up her sister from the service. She walked into the door, and she fell under the conviction and got baptized. It was amazing.” People have come from hundreds of miles away to experience what God is going in this congregation.

Around 100,000 people in Southern California gathered for the 29th annual SoCal Harvest from August 17-19.  Pastor and evangelist Greg Laurie spoke each night, placing special emphasis on California’s, and our nation’s, need for revival. More than 10,000 people responded to the nightly invitations to make a commitment to Christ.

A U.S. Army chaplain describes a revival that is occurring on a military base in Missouri. In one post, he writes, “Today, 380 soldiers came to salvation in Christ once and for all. Since March 11, 2018, we have seen 1,839 soldiers coming to Christ. God’s doing an unbelievable work through our military at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.”

A church in Corpus, Christi, Texas has seen an incredible move of God this summer. They planned four consecutive Wednesday meetings in July, and from the beginning it was obvious God was moving. The first Wednesday, over 100 people gave their lives to Christ and then the second Wednesday, an additional 100+ people came forward. “The following Wednesday, 200 people responded—many actually running to the altar.”

One thread to each one of these revivals is a hunger for God. The revival in Texas “first started when senior Pastor Mike Fehlauer developed a deep hunger to see more of God’s presence.” The staff joined with him in prayer that an awakening would take place. The revival in Georgia was birthed out of a 21-day church fast. Shortly after this fast, the pastor noted “God sat down in our building and rocked our world.” Prayer has also been a major part of Greeneville.

One of the things I learned when I was in Greeneville is that the property where the tent is has been heavily prayed over. A lady used to walk all over the property, praying that God would send revival. Not only did God answer that prayer, but God answered it right on that very property! The service we attended began with probably a thirty-minute season of prayer. This was not a perfunctory opening prayer, but a time when people from all over the congregation came to the front and were pleading for the presence of God. Later in the service, as D.R. was still preaching, people were walking up to the front, kneeling in prayer. I could hear groans and cries being uttered (Romans 8:26), people desperate to encounter God. By the end of the message, countless people were up front, crying out to God. Each night after the services, at 11:00, the men meet for prayer. In the morning, the women meet for prayer. This praying, this fasting, this desperation is a key to seeing God move and as the body of Christ in America cultivates this desperation, God is on the move!

~~~Written by Pastor Ryan Martin of Lycoming Christian Church in PA. with infor from Charisma Media

Also:

Revival Broke Out Near Historic Cane Ridge, KY on Pentecost Sunday 2018

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On MARCH 30, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a National Day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer:

American Needs More days like This!

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During the Civil War, on MARCH 30, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a National Day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer:

“Whereas, the Senate of the United States devoutly recognizing the Supreme Authority and just Government of Almighty God in all the affairs of men and of nations,

has, by a resolution, requested the President to designate and set apart a day for national prayer and humiliation; and

Whereas, it is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow

yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history: that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord;

… And, insomuch as we know that, by His divine law, nations like individuals are subjected to punishments and chastisement in this world,

may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war, which now desolates the landmay be but a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people?

… We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity.

We have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.

But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious Hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us;

and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.

Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace,too proud to pray to the God that made us!

It behooves us then to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.

… Now, therefore, in compliance with the request and fully concurring in the view of the Senate,

I do, by this my proclamation, designate and set apart Thursday, the30TH DAY OF APRIL, 1863, as a Day of National Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer.

… And I do hereby request all the people to abstain on that day from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite, at their several places of public worship and their respective homes, in keeping the day holy to the Lord and devoted to the humble discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.

… All this being done, in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, thatthe united cry of the nation will be heard on high and answered with blessing no less than the pardon of our national sinsand the restoration of our now divided and suffering country to its former happy condition of unity and peace.

… In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this 30th day of March, A.D. 1863, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-seventh. Abraham Lincoln. By the President: William H. Seward, Secretary of State.”

Taken from Bill Federer’s excellent newsletter here. 

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Patrick Trueman, president of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation

Join a conversation to discuss a major legislative victory in Congress. Mar. 27 at Noon

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I highly recommend joining this free, phone conference call. Few subjects need more attention in American today than this.  Sexual exploitation is destroying lives of young and old alike–the victims and the perpetrators are both being damaged for many years, if not for life, by this hideous, evil and sinful practice

Let’s pray and work to protect our communities–especially our girls!

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Winning the War on Sex Trafficking (against High Tech Opposition)

Join us in a conversation with Patrick Trueman, president of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, as we discuss a major legislative victory in Congress.

Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at 12:00 pm (EDT)

Dial 515-739-1247; enter code 475246#

 

Something unthinkable just a year or two ago — something miraculous — has happened in Washington, D.C.  The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly last Wednesday, 97-2, to overturn a series of U.S. court cases that sheltered online sex traffickers like websites Backpage and craigslist.  In the most tortured reasoning, courts have ruled that those websites, and dozens more like them, had the right to promote sex trafficking and the federal and state governments could do little about it.

But the bill’s supporters, despite heavily funded opposition from Google and other top tech companies, prevailed, and the bill is going to the president’s desk, where he is expected to sign it.

Patrick Trueman is a former Chief of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Criminal Division at the U. S. Department of Justice from 1988 to 1993.

While at DOJ, Mr. Trueman supervised the prosecution of child sex crimes, child pornography, and obscenity. He managed an office of twenty of prosecutors and support staff, and worked with the nation’s 93 United States Attorneys to initiate and coordinate federal prosecutions.

During his 41 years as a lawyer, he litigated cases at all levels of the federal system, including at the U.S. Supreme Court. He has been an advisor to many municipalities on First Amendment law and has helped draft ordinances to end or curb the impact of sexually oriented businesses such as pornography shops, strip clubs, and related establishments. A recognized international expert, Mr. Trueman has traveled to Europe, South America, the Middle East, and other areas to speak about human trafficking or the effects of television sex and violence on the family.

As president of NCOSE, Patrick Trueman spearheads efforts to change corporate policies by publicizing a Dirty Dozen List. This aggressive project educates company executives, galvanizes public attention and spurs popular actions to defend human dignity. Under his leadership, NCOSE has produced policy improvements at a wide range of notable institutions, including Google, Wal-Mart, the Department of Justice, Verizon, the Federal Communications Commission and more.

In 2015, Mr. Trueman established the NCOSE Law Center, which serves as a resource for legal efforts to combat illegal pornography, sexually oriented businesses, and to bring innovative lawsuits against public institutions facilitating sexual exploitation. In 2010, he founded PornHarmsResearch.com to provide peer-reviewed research and talking points on the harms of pornography.

On a global level, Mr. Trueman leads NCOSE’s Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation, an international coalition that boasts nearly 300 organizations and academic experts who are committed to sharing strategies and resources for combating public & private harms caused by pornography.

Mr. Trueman served as chief of staff to a Member of the U.S. Congress. From 1976 to 1982, he was Executive Director and General Counsel to Americans United for Life, a national public interest law firm in Chicago.

He lives just outside Washington, D.C., and is married to Laura Clay Trueman.  Laura and Pat Trueman have three children:  Patrick, Claire and Elizabeth.

Please join us for this encouraging and informative discussion.

 

( All taken from the email newsletter of stand@standamerica.us)

 

 

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Invitation to Watch Livestream of Turnaround Prayer Conference

At a home in Chesapeake: Feb 22-24

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Hi Prayer Warriors!

We are entering a crucial time in the history of our Nation. A time for America to continue to spiral downward or rise up in the power and righteousness of Our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ! Intercession in the Holy Spirit is the pathway to revival!

Because of this call of the Lord to intercede like never before, we are opening our home this weekend starting on Thursday evening at 7PM and ending on Saturday afternoon in order to LIVESTREAM the Conference from D.C.

We’ll be listening and praying along with the prophetic prayer warriors gathered at the Trump Hotel. It will be a time of crying out to the Lord for Breakthroughs in America, the Supreme Court, the Administration, etc. Prepare yourselves to be used mightily as we pray with one voice to Heaven and push back the enemy! Together we will see victories this year!

Below is a message from Dutch Sheets and also Conference times listings!

Dear Friends,
Convene: to come together or assemble, usually for a public
purpose; to summon to appear, as before a judicial officer
As we gather on 2/22—some in Washington, D.C., others via Livestream—we are not gathering for a typical conference. As the above definition states, we have been “summoned to appear before a judicial officer”— the Supreme Judge of the universe, the Ancient Of Days, the Most High God. He has summoned us as His ekklesia, the expression of His Kingdom government on earth, to gather before Him.

We know that Christ is the “Head” of this ekklesia, the Church. In both Hebrew (rosh) and Greek (kephale), the concept of a head refers not only to a physical head, but to “the highest in rank or authority; the one to whom others are subordinate.”

Christ is the highest ranking ruler “in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18), and has delegated that authority to His ekklesia, in order to enforce His kingdom rule on planet earth through her. In His model prayer, He told us to COMMAND His kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

For more information on prayer points to be covered at the Turnaround Conference, go to
www.dutchsheets.org

See you this weekend. It will be history in the making! Praise God!

Thursday@ 7PM.
Friday starting@ 9AM, 2PM, & 7PM.
Saturday@ 9AM and
1 PM.

Blessings in Yeshua!
Mo and Bob Murray
1424 Birch Leaf Rd.
Chesapeake, VA 23320
479-0379

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Christian Denominations in Virginia Need to Apologize to Virginia Tribes

For 20th Century Offenses

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Leonard Crow Dog, a Lakota elder and highly-regarded activist, left, places his hand over Gen. Wesley Clark Jr.’s head during a forgiveness ceremony for veterans at the Four Prairie Knights Casino & Resort on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on Monday, Dec. 5, 2016.

 

I know some really good folks might not think so, but I respectfully disagree for several reasons:

1. I know of only two Christian apology services with Virginia Native Americans in the last 20 years: One at Williamsburg with the Spanish Ambassador and one at the 400th Anniversary of the Colony on the beach in Virginia Beach in 2007.  I was at the one on the beach that Rock Church hosted.  At the 2007 beach event, no specific offenses were repented of that I heard over the sound system. Pastor Marty O’Rourke washed Chief Ann Richardson’s feet as an act of repentance and honor.

The other one, at William and Mary, concerned the events surrounding the killing of the Spanish Jesuits by the tribe in February of 1671 and some other early events.  ( I was involved as an advisor in both apologies, by the way. This is something I have felt strongly about for many years. My book talks about that.)

No Christian leader or denomination has ever publicly apologized for what a Presbyterian Elder named Walter Plecker did. The hideous Plecker enforcement of the Racial Integrity Act of 1924 which he helped to draft effectively stripped Virginia Native Americans of their identity as Indians as they sought marriage licenses for 50 years. They could only register as white or black. Therefore, they all had to declare “Black” since they were not fully white. This law was an extension of the Virginia laws against mixed marriages  —another set of laws all Virginians should be ashamed of, too. White supremacists got them all passed. Plecker admired Hitler and wrote congratulatory letters to his staff. 

As a result of Plecker not allowing Indians to register as Indians, they cannot prove their ancestry. There are currently 566 federally recognized Indian tribes, only one of which are from Virginia–and that just got approved. The other 10 Virginia tribes have lost all the valuable federal benefits that the other 566 tribes have long enjoyed.

Walter Plecker was a physician, eugenicist and avowed white supremacist–and a devout Presbyterian Elder who helped start churches in Virginia. Most of the Virginia legislators and government officials who enforced these terrible laws would have claimed to be Christians in this Bible Belt state.  Hundreds of pastors and churches probably knew of these laws over the 50-year history of their enforcement.  Clearly, Christians have sinned against our Native American tribes in Virginia by using, encouraging or allowing such hateful laws to be passed and enforced for five decades.

I think that all the denominations that were here in Virginia during the 20th century need to take some responsibility for allowing or encouraging such laws. They never have…yet despite the Governor Mark Warner’s 2002 apology for these hideous laws, especially forced sterilization. 

The Canadian government and the Australian governments have both publically apologized for serious 20th-century offenses against their native tribes. Why not us?  Why not the Christain denominational leaders whose members perpetrated these awful offenses againts our tribes?

2.  I would bet that hardly any Christians in Hampton Roads knows of any public apologies to our tribes from Christian leaders.  Only a small number of people are aware of them. I think it would honor our tribes to have those previous apologies made very public.  I think it is somewhat hollow to honor VA tribes on April 17th in Richmond with a statue to our tribes without such public apologies from the state and from Christian denominations for the offenses we have committed against our tribes for 400 years. As you may recall, some Christian denominations and the State of Virginia did apologize for the slavery issue.

Many of my friends love our tribes and want to see them honored as they should be. The Jamestown Colony would probably not have survived with the food assistance of the Native Americans–some provided by the intercession of Pocahontas. Those tribes helped found America. For me, it is not only those motives but the principles of 2 Sam 21 that makes me sure that such public apologies need to be very public and detailed.

May God heal our state and nation even more through such acts of repentance! May our Virginia Tribes be able to bless our state and nation even more despite all we have done to injure them in the 20th century and before.

Virginia and our nation need the blessing of our Virginia tribes!  That’s the lesson of 2 Samuel 21.

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1907 Korean Revival

Do It Again, Lord!

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Revival swept the Korean peninsula in 1907 with wonderful results that resulted in many salvations and tremendous spiritual growth of the Korean Church

Here is one account by a student of revival.  I have included this article below to make it easier to read the text.

Here is a report from a Korean on this revival stressing the expressions of the Holy Spirit that happened then.

Let’s pray for the wells of revival there to be opened again!  Pray for the salvation of President Kim Song Un and his family!   God wants to sue him to set his country free to worship Jesus!

Pyongyang Great Revival (1907-1910)

From 150 Years of Revival by Mathew Backholer

The first Protestant missionary to Korea was a Welshman, the Rev. Robert Jermain Thomas. He arrived in Korea in 1866 where he sold classical Chinese Bibles (which could be read by Koreans, Japanese and Chinese) and risked decapitation if caught. Korea, known as the Hermit Kingdom was still a closed land to foreigners…

On the 2 September 1866, Rev. Robert Jermain Thomas was martyred on the river bank (alongside all the crew of the merchant-marine schooner that he was traveling on) outside of Pyongyang, (the present capital of North Korea) and the center where the 1907 revival broke out.

…In 1886, the first Protestant Korean was baptized and by 1887 there was seven Korean converts. Korea saw its first revival in 1903 and it was known as the Wonsan Revival Movement and both the Presbyterians and Methodists reaped large harvests as they were united to exalt Jesus Christ. In 1904, there was 10,000 converts in Pyongyang and by the middle of 1906, after 30,000 new converts in that year alone, the revival had waned and died out.

Pyongyang, Korea, in 1907 was known as a city of wine, women and song. It was a dark city in the early twentieth century with sin abounding. It even had its own Gisaeng (Korean geisha) training school. It was in this city that Korea’s second revival began in January 1907 after months of persistent prayer, 50,000 people were converted in that one year and Korea was set ablaze – it was known as the Pyongyang Great Revival (1907-1910).

Missionary, John McCune in a letter wrote: ‘…The work of the Holy Spirit here at the Jangdaehyun Church where revival first broke out would far surpass what we have read about the great revival in Wales and India…’

…In September 1906, Dr. Howard Agnew Johnston, of New York, whilst in Seoul, informed a group of missionaries and Korean Christians about the Khasi Hills Revival, (1905-1906) in India. Jonathan Goforth, a missionary to China and Manchuria wrote that because of this more than twenty missionaries from Pyongyang Presbyterian and Methodist missions resolved to meet together to pray daily for ‘greater blessings.’ Over the Christmas period, the Pyongyang Christians met each evening for prayer, instead of their usual festive celebrations. The evening prayer ceased at the start of the Pyongyang General Class but continued at noon for those who could attend.

A Bible colporteur from Kan Kai Church along the Yalu River, of 250 believers was also in Seoul. He heard Dr. Johnston and encouraged his church to meet for prayer at 5am through the autumn and winter of 1906-1907. For six months they prayed until the Holy Spirit came as a flood.

…Jonathan Goforth, missionary to China and Manchuria on his tour of the country in June 1907 said, “Those missionaries seemed to carry us right up to the throne of God. The Korean movement was of incalculable significance in my life, because it showed me at first hand the boundless possibilities of the revival method. Korea made me feel, as it did many others, that this was God’s plan for setting the world aflame.” Jonathan Goforth went on to have a powerful ministry and saw revival in China and Manchuria during 1907-1909 and again in 1915 in various cities.

…South of Pyongyang, Jonathan Goforth passed through Songdo, the ancient Korean capital. In 1907 the revival had added 500 to the Church, but during a month of special meetings in 1910, 2,500 were added to the Church because of the incredible fields which were white unto harvest (John 4:35).

Jonathan Goforth wrote: ‘When we visited Seoul in 1907, every church was crowded. A missionary said that on a six weeks tour he had baptized 500 and recorded 700 catechumens, and that his five out-stations, in one year, had increased to twenty-five. During 1910 there were 13,000 people in Seoul who signed cards saying they wanted to become Christians, and in September of that year, the Methodist churches of the city received 3,000 by baptism.

‘Directly west of the capital, at the port of Chemulpo, the Methodist Mission, in 1907, had a church with 800 members. Opposite the harbor was an island with 17,000 inhabitants. The churches on the island had a baptized membership of 4,247, and more than half of them had been brought in that year. The Christians were praying that soon the whole island would become the Lord’s.’

…In 1910, the British and Foreign Bible Society through its Bible Colporteurs sold the immense total of 666,000 books to the people of Korea, most of them single gospels! A Church at Sang Sim Li, which had birthed sixteen other churches in the district, in connection with the ‘Million Movement’ (the aim of which was to win one million souls for the Lord) were believing for four hundred new converts; their share of the million, and so stepped out in faith and enlarged their church from 36ft. sq. to 225 ft. sq.!

…Paget Wilkes, founder of the Japanese Evangelistic Band visited Korea in March 1911. In his journal, he wrote about the story of the Sensen Magistrate, a town in the north, where one in three of the population were Christian. When asked how things were going in his city he replied, “Go and ask the missionaries; they rule in Sensen.” Paget wrote: ‘He had but little to do. Quarrels and differences were settled before the Church, and not brought into the public courts – as St. Paul lays down in the Corinthians letters.’

Paget Wilkes wrote that on the 26 March 1911 he ‘spent a pleasant evening with Dr. Underwood, one of the oldest missionaries in Korea’ who said, “Twenty-four years ago I came to Korea and there was not one protestant Christian. Today there are 200,000, i.e. one to every fifty of the population…”

150 Years of Revival by Mathew Backholer

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Mathew is the author of:
Revival Fire, 150 Years of Revivals Go
Extreme Faith, On Fire Christianity Go
Global Revival, Worldwide Outpourings Go
Discipleship For Everyday Living, Christian Growth Go
Understanding Revival and Addressing the Issues Go
Revival Answers, True and False Revivals Go
Revival Fires and Awakenings, Thirty-Six Visitations of the Holy Spirit Go
How to Plan, Prepare and Successfully Complete Your Short-Term Mission Go

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Does God Want His Children to Confess Their Sins to Him?

A new debate. Why?

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Anyone who says they love someone and chooses not to apologize when they hurt them–deliberately or not–is very confused about how to have a close, loving relationship. If we love God and yet sin against him, we should apologize and ask forgiveness to repair the quality of the relationship. If we sin seriously and persistently, we can lose any relationship–even with God. ( viz. “Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. 13But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.” –Matt. 24:13

God’s People Have Always Confessed Sin

The Jews repented for their sins for 1500 years–at God’s command.

Jesus ( Who is THE TRUTH ( i.e. He cannot say anything that is not eternally true. He only said what the Father told Him to say) taught His disciples to confess sin for forgiveness ( Lord’s prayer), the early church confessed its sins ( 1 John 1:8-9 is written to Christians–as are all the books of the Bible. There is no real proof to the contrary).

God warned the Ephesian Church to repent or face severe discipline:
Rev. 2:5 ‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place — unless you repent.”

Why would God suddenly not want His children to confess sins to repair the quality of the relationship? Heb 12 teaches that God disciplines us so we will become more righteous–because He loves us, like a good Father.

This new-fangled teaching ( 10 years old?) that we do not need to confess sin to repair the closeness of our relationship with God is pure nonsense. It does not work in any human relationship and humans were made in God’s image. That should tell you something.

We want apologies because God wants apologies –and He has always taught His children to confess and apologize. He wants us to confess and repent of sin so He can bless us more. Every command is meant to open new pathways to bless and protect us.

His discipline for unrepentant sin is to give us more motivation to repent so He can draw closer to us and bless us more. That’s what a good Father does!!