From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these thing ought not be this way. James 3:10
What we speak and confess is very powerful. It can affect us and others physically as well as spiritually. Those with positive attitudes often accomplish much because what the say can effect them internally as well as the atmosphere around them. Likewise those who always complain, even if justified in their complaints, can actually be working against their own best interests. Scripture is clear that often times it is better to bridle the tongue than to say negative things about others.
On a national scale that is not easy. Everyday we observe injustice and the acting out of hate, slander and violence. But what is happening is much more than a contest between one group of men and women against another group. The overriding conflict is between what is God's will for us and our nation and what is the ancient enemy's will.
In that regard there is not one side that is holy and another side that is evil. There are good people on each as well as bad people. But there definitely are some things said and some actions done or advocated that are clearly not in the will of God. I would say that the taking of an innocent life by abortion is one of those. And I would say that how people stand on abortion is a pretty good indicator as to how accurate that person's spiritual radar is in knowing what God's will is for our land.
I would also say that outward displays of hate, knowingly twisting or altering the truth to put someone else in a bad light and acting or inciting violence toward others or another group are signs that those who do so may be being influenced by evil spirits. And I would also throw in the ever advancing attacks on the family, traditional moral values and the Christian faith.
Mike Thompson is a pastor/prophet I follow. He is a white haired guy about my age whom I find to be both insightful and encouraging. About two weeks ago he said he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to call for Christians to begin to verbally speak out some specific things into the atmosphere. That means when we are in our prayer time we verbally declare, by the authority given us in Jesus name, the following things listed below. By the way, these are things that believers on any side of the political spectrum should be able to declare.
Note on what binding, releasing and rebuking do. When we declare into the atmosphere (the air around us) for something not in the will of God to be bound, we, as representatives of Christ on this Earth, help release the activity of angels to engage in spiritual warfare against principalities and powers in the high places as well as against evil spirits on our level. So we bind the activity of evil spirits, we release angelic activity and godly truth, and we rebuke or silence other evil spiritual activities or forces.
There are three spiritual forces that Pastor Thompson calls the "dogs of war".
In Jesus name
We bind the Spirit of False Witness.
We bind the Spirit of Hate.
We bind the Spirit of Murder (character assignation).
(Now we need to release a spiritual counter balance to those)
In Jesus name we release Truth and Justice into the atmosphere.
Next we rebuke three other major evil spirits.
In Jesus name
We rebuke the Spirit of Self-Righteousness
We rebuke the Spirit of Judgmentalism
We rebuke the Spirit of Ungodly Control
(Again we release a spiritual counter balance)
In Jesus name we release Truth and Justice into the atmosphere.
Finally Pastor Thompson suggests we say the Our Father but replace the words "on earth" with "the USA.
This really resonated with me. For a couple of days before I heard his message I had been waited down with concern about the floodgates for the above that seemed to open up two years ago. My dear friends, we are in a spiritual battle and this is something that we all can do to help bring about what God desires in our country.
Time to start using the spiritual authority that God has blessed you with in Jesus name!
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Blood Sacrifice
Sacrifices
day after day
hour after hour
minute after minute
heartbeat after stopping heartbeat
flesh and blood to feed our nation's strong man
lusting for the lives of the unborn
innocent blood to empower
to send out his minions
to blind and deceive
to blaspheme
to corrupt
to kill
Who will weep for the children?
ripped, torn and flushed from their mother's womb
some to be tossed aside into the garbage
some to have their little parts harvested
some to be chopped up or burned
none to be held in love
or buried by family
or cherished
There is a sound rising from the earth
blood crying out to the Perfect One
When will the strong man be cast out
his strongholds tron down
his lies brought to light?
Who will mourn for the little innocents
offer compassion to the grieving
demand that the killing stops
stand strong in the gap
and tremble at the
presence of a
Holy God?
day after day
hour after hour
minute after minute
heartbeat after stopping heartbeat
flesh and blood to feed our nation's strong man
lusting for the lives of the unborn
innocent blood to empower
to send out his minions
to blind and deceive
to blaspheme
to corrupt
to kill
Who will weep for the children?
ripped, torn and flushed from their mother's womb
some to be tossed aside into the garbage
some to have their little parts harvested
some to be chopped up or burned
none to be held in love
or buried by family
or cherished
There is a sound rising from the earth
blood crying out to the Perfect One
When will the strong man be cast out
his strongholds tron down
his lies brought to light?
Who will mourn for the little innocents
offer compassion to the grieving
demand that the killing stops
stand strong in the gap
and tremble at the
presence of a
Holy God?
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Killing England And Other Fun Stuff
I happen to be a bit of a history geek. Although while in college I majored in political science, history was my minor. Even today when I'm looking for reading material, my choice after spiritual and current events (with a slice of humor and poetry of course!) is always history. And many times history is my first choice.
As evidence of that I offer you the events of last week. On Friday I worked my last day at our Wyoming location. Needing to take a bathroom break I walked over to the nearby Goodwill store which has their bookshelf just outside the restrooms. I found two wonderful selections. The first was - The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged - New Updated Edition, translated by William Whiston. What a find! I am giddy beyond belief. Nine hundred and thirty pages in small print.
Josephus was a Jewish historian who was born in Jerusalem about the time of Jesus death and was present as an observer on the Roman side during Titus's siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. His writings include a history of the Jewish nation and a history of their wars beginning with the Maccabees around 165 BC and extending to the last Jewish stand at Masada. I have seen him cited often but most recently in some articles I've read which speculate about four possible locations of the Jewish Temple.
His mention of Jesus Christ is important because the stories about Him would still have been recent history and it's possible that Josephus could have even talked to eye witnesses. Here is a quote taken from his Antiquites of the Jews:
Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works - a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was (the) Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principle men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those who loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared alive to them the third day as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct to this day.
My second selection from Goodwill was the Oxford - Atlas of World History: From the Origins of Man to the Year 2000. Oh my gosh! Three hundred sixty-eight glorious 10" x 13" pages of photos, colored maps and coordinated historical timelines plus articles showing step by step the world's empires, migration of peoples and such as they relate from one region to another and progress through time.
Goodwill sells their books for 99 cents and after my senior discount I carried over ten pounds of joy for way less than two dollars.
Not knowing that things could possibly get better, when I got home there was a present waiting for me on our dinning table. A week before I had pulled out from our bookshelf one of the series of history books authored by Bill O'Reilly, called Killing Patton. Jackie noticed that and when I opened my present it was another one of his books, Killing England (history of the Revolutionary War) that one of my daughters brought over. Then Jackie presented me with 3 more of O'Reilly's NY times best sellers; Killing Lincoln, Killing the SS and Killing Jesus. Oh the joy!
Now you might be thinking that Jackie, whose eyes glaze over when I talk about history, is like the best wife ever. And she is, although I did notice that when our little grand kids came over with my daughter, Jackie found the thick Josephus book with it's small print and no pictures, handed it to one of them and said with a glint in her eye - "Here, you want to have some fun? Read this."
As evidence of that I offer you the events of last week. On Friday I worked my last day at our Wyoming location. Needing to take a bathroom break I walked over to the nearby Goodwill store which has their bookshelf just outside the restrooms. I found two wonderful selections. The first was - The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged - New Updated Edition, translated by William Whiston. What a find! I am giddy beyond belief. Nine hundred and thirty pages in small print.
Josephus was a Jewish historian who was born in Jerusalem about the time of Jesus death and was present as an observer on the Roman side during Titus's siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. His writings include a history of the Jewish nation and a history of their wars beginning with the Maccabees around 165 BC and extending to the last Jewish stand at Masada. I have seen him cited often but most recently in some articles I've read which speculate about four possible locations of the Jewish Temple.
His mention of Jesus Christ is important because the stories about Him would still have been recent history and it's possible that Josephus could have even talked to eye witnesses. Here is a quote taken from his Antiquites of the Jews:
Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works - a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was (the) Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principle men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those who loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared alive to them the third day as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct to this day.
My second selection from Goodwill was the Oxford - Atlas of World History: From the Origins of Man to the Year 2000. Oh my gosh! Three hundred sixty-eight glorious 10" x 13" pages of photos, colored maps and coordinated historical timelines plus articles showing step by step the world's empires, migration of peoples and such as they relate from one region to another and progress through time.
Goodwill sells their books for 99 cents and after my senior discount I carried over ten pounds of joy for way less than two dollars.
Not knowing that things could possibly get better, when I got home there was a present waiting for me on our dinning table. A week before I had pulled out from our bookshelf one of the series of history books authored by Bill O'Reilly, called Killing Patton. Jackie noticed that and when I opened my present it was another one of his books, Killing England (history of the Revolutionary War) that one of my daughters brought over. Then Jackie presented me with 3 more of O'Reilly's NY times best sellers; Killing Lincoln, Killing the SS and Killing Jesus. Oh the joy!
Now you might be thinking that Jackie, whose eyes glaze over when I talk about history, is like the best wife ever. And she is, although I did notice that when our little grand kids came over with my daughter, Jackie found the thick Josephus book with it's small print and no pictures, handed it to one of them and said with a glint in her eye - "Here, you want to have some fun? Read this."
Sunday, January 13, 2019
How To Pass Your Driving Test (without scaring the crap out of the examiner)
The above is a working title for a book I will be writing about my 20 years experience as a examiner for people taking their driving test. I can see it being sold at the offices of organizations that conduct driving tests. Someone comes in to sign up, are a bit nervous about being able to pass, see the book and think, oh yeah, I could use any help I can get. And if that doesn't get them then maybe the implied humor of the title will. Which is good because, although I will provide a list of driving test do's and don'ts, the book will be a lot more about humor than about driving.
If it sells then maybe I'll get it translated into Spanish. That would be a big market although I'm not sure how the humor will come across. Unfortunately for me there is not only one African or one Asian language. I could incorporated hand gestures - but it wouldn't be the same.
The title came into my head in the middle of last night after having a dream about beginning to work on a project I knew nothing about and a guy says to me; "Why don't you just start on something you already know?" I woke up and realized that doing writing and driving tests is what I know and now is probably a good as time as any to get started on that book. Beginning this year I've already cut back to testing only 3 days a week so I might as well take advantage of the available time.
Which brings to mind a person that came in for a test yesterday. The only English he seemed to know was a smile and a nodding of his head, which was about the extent of his translator's English as well. He drives in, I walk up to his car and motion for him to roll down his window, introduce myself and ask to see his permit.
Middle age Kami smiles, nods his head yes and does nothing. "I need to see your permit" I repeat slowly and a look of understanding crosses his face and he presents me with the information sheet that our office hands out when a person makes an appointment. I shake my head no, give the sheet back to him and repeat "DRIVING PERMIT" while putting my hands on an imaginary steering wheel and turning it right and left.
"Ah!" exclaims Kami. He gets out his wallet, looks through every part of it, handing me in turn his state ID, his voter registration card, a picture of some nice lady and finally a tightly folded white paper out of one of the inside pockets which is indeed his driving permit.
That settled I ask to see his vehicle registration and proof of insurance. Kami does not understand what I am asking for until I again turn the imaginary steering wheel and point to his glove box. He and the "translator" scour through it and they first hand me a pink sheet of paper which is the application for vehicle title and registration that one gets when they buy a car, Next I'm handed the vehicle title, followed by a utility bill and on and on. At last out of nowhere they do produce first the insurance and a bit later the registration, both of which are actually up to date.
When I do the vehicle inspection Kami and the translator figure out I mean horn when I push my hand on an imaginary one and say "beep", do not catch on to the turn signals until I reach through the car window to move the signal rod up and I don't have to worry about Kami understanding "put your foot on the brake" because the entire time it has never left the brake.
When I am reading the instructions for how the parking lot portion of the test works Kami puts the car into drive and begins to go forward. He evidently knows what he thinks I am going to tell him and would like to now demonstrate his ability to master it. At this point I stop him and try to see if perhaps there is another person coming who can translate. It would be one thing for me in the parking lot to point with my finger which section to do but a totally different thing to get out on the road with someone and not be able to have them understand when I want them to safely lane change or do an urgent STOP if the need arises.
The test ends there. As the title suggests, I really would like them to pass the test, just not at my expense. Perhaps advice number 7 in my new book will be - If you can't read this you must bring a translator who can.
If it sells then maybe I'll get it translated into Spanish. That would be a big market although I'm not sure how the humor will come across. Unfortunately for me there is not only one African or one Asian language. I could incorporated hand gestures - but it wouldn't be the same.
The title came into my head in the middle of last night after having a dream about beginning to work on a project I knew nothing about and a guy says to me; "Why don't you just start on something you already know?" I woke up and realized that doing writing and driving tests is what I know and now is probably a good as time as any to get started on that book. Beginning this year I've already cut back to testing only 3 days a week so I might as well take advantage of the available time.
Which brings to mind a person that came in for a test yesterday. The only English he seemed to know was a smile and a nodding of his head, which was about the extent of his translator's English as well. He drives in, I walk up to his car and motion for him to roll down his window, introduce myself and ask to see his permit.
Middle age Kami smiles, nods his head yes and does nothing. "I need to see your permit" I repeat slowly and a look of understanding crosses his face and he presents me with the information sheet that our office hands out when a person makes an appointment. I shake my head no, give the sheet back to him and repeat "DRIVING PERMIT" while putting my hands on an imaginary steering wheel and turning it right and left.
"Ah!" exclaims Kami. He gets out his wallet, looks through every part of it, handing me in turn his state ID, his voter registration card, a picture of some nice lady and finally a tightly folded white paper out of one of the inside pockets which is indeed his driving permit.
That settled I ask to see his vehicle registration and proof of insurance. Kami does not understand what I am asking for until I again turn the imaginary steering wheel and point to his glove box. He and the "translator" scour through it and they first hand me a pink sheet of paper which is the application for vehicle title and registration that one gets when they buy a car, Next I'm handed the vehicle title, followed by a utility bill and on and on. At last out of nowhere they do produce first the insurance and a bit later the registration, both of which are actually up to date.
When I do the vehicle inspection Kami and the translator figure out I mean horn when I push my hand on an imaginary one and say "beep", do not catch on to the turn signals until I reach through the car window to move the signal rod up and I don't have to worry about Kami understanding "put your foot on the brake" because the entire time it has never left the brake.
When I am reading the instructions for how the parking lot portion of the test works Kami puts the car into drive and begins to go forward. He evidently knows what he thinks I am going to tell him and would like to now demonstrate his ability to master it. At this point I stop him and try to see if perhaps there is another person coming who can translate. It would be one thing for me in the parking lot to point with my finger which section to do but a totally different thing to get out on the road with someone and not be able to have them understand when I want them to safely lane change or do an urgent STOP if the need arises.
The test ends there. As the title suggests, I really would like them to pass the test, just not at my expense. Perhaps advice number 7 in my new book will be - If you can't read this you must bring a translator who can.
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Quiet On A Christmas Night
Looking out to the woods across
when all is silent and the daylight lost
is this low brick house and a Christmas cross
They must be tired just like we
no other lights near their home do I see
except for the moon through the canopy
These busy days have flown by fast
with brighter lights and no long shadows cast
but now shall I rest, and ponder, and fast
when all is silent and the daylight lost
is this low brick house and a Christmas cross
They must be tired just like we
no other lights near their home do I see
except for the moon through the canopy
These busy days have flown by fast
with brighter lights and no long shadows cast
but now shall I rest, and ponder, and fast
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Measure Once, Read Twice: 2018 Collection
I am so excited to let everyone know that my latest compilation of poetry is now available HERE on Amazon.
Measure Once, Read Twice: 2018 Collection is a selection of poetry sharing my thoughts and emotions throughout the year. This collection includes a wide variety of poetic styles, including free verse, rhyme, haiku, brevity and prose. I've made an effort to create writes that are very accessible to the average reader.
Many of the works are spiritually focused, such as the spoken word piece - When I Worship as well as She Sees The Angels, If You Knew My Jesus and Great Lakes Revival.
A lot of them exhibit my odd ball sense of humor - Of Course The World Is Flat, The Plowman Cometh and Ode To My Big Toe.
Some are a bit political - Triple Trump Triumphs, Au Contrarier.
Some are recollections of family and the past - Grandpa Van, The Class of 68, Across The Mediterranean.
And then there are those pieces that reflect the beauty of living in West Michigan - Sleeping Bear, Dune Buggy Ride and Father's Day Picnic.
All in all there is a lot here for everyone.
This book will regularly list on Amazon for $14.98 but for now I am listing it for an introductory price of only $10.00.
As a preview, below is one of the poems mentioned above.
The Plowman Cometh
Cleared a piece of real estate
after a heavy snow
then put away my hat and gloves
to watch an evening show
Twas while reclining on my chair
there came a rumbling sound
up sprang I to a window ledge
feet on the shaking ground
Saw there were waves of churning froth
white as that angry whale
bright sparks from blades reminding me
of Dante's frozen hell
And hell it was when it came clear
our drive was blocked by ice
arraigned a jumbled tumbled mess
foot high - some places twice
So being one whose fought before
those battles avalanche
put on my boots and headed out
to leave nothing to chance
An hour later stood with pride
admired towering mounds
but walking back exhausted heard
some most disturbing sounds
It seems our street had only got
a solitary pass
they've come again to humble me
but I've run out of gas
Saturday, December 15, 2018
Changing Seasons
Actually, I've never thought of myself as particularly brave
there is a certain acceptance of risk in everything one does
more so in my occupation than many others
but brave, no. Dumb, yeah, dumb may be a better word
It has been almost twenty years and I have seen it all
people who pull up behind a parked car at the curb in residential
stop and wait for a person not there to drive forward
then after a few moments glance at me with a quizzical look
Drivers who can't figure out how to put the car they came with
into gear, or drive on the wrong side of the road, or stop at the
end of the entrance ramp to the freeway, or stop in the middle
of the freeway. Did I mention the word dumb?
In my twenty years and thirty thousand times out on the road
there have been some accidents, the worse a few years ago
when the fore mentioned stop on the freeway led to being rear
ended by a semi. Driver and translator OK, head bump and rib for me
Yet still I carried on toward my goal to work full time until 70
then part time to stay busy and earn a few bucks until I tired of it
but a month ago something happened which made me reconsider
the young lady I was testing hit a 9 year old running across the road
Spotting him from the corner of my eye I yelled STOP, she slammed
her foot on her brakes but nailed him while the car was still moving
flying to the side of the road he escaped with just a bloody nose
a voice inside my head started to say - hey buddy, watch the clock
It is surprising how fast plans and priorities can change
although it is common for me to have to grab the steering wheel
to keep someone from turning left in front of on coming traffic
since hitting the child I've twice had clients freeze while turning left
Then early this week a woman whose daughter was translating for her
while slowly merging into a left turn lane was not going to clear the
semi truck stopped in front of us. When I said STOP she put her foot
on the gas and turned back to the right, slamming us into the truck
As the Vietnamese lady, her translator daughter and uncle Tran who
had been waiting for us at the test site but when getting the phone call
ran two miles to get to us, were crammed into the cab of the wrecker
brought by another Vietnamese, I began to wonder if this was a sign
Walking over to the police cruiser I asked for a ride to our test site
and while sitting on the hard molded plastic seat in the Plexiglas
enclosed back seat (which if you were wondering, does not open
from the inside) I decided that this test location was for the birds
Beginning the first of the year I will no longer be working there
although there is certainly risk whenever one is out driving with
someone trying to get their driver's license, my new location will
be much better, as will be working three days instead of five
So what to do in my partial retirement? Jackie has already suggested
checking out gyms where I can sweat off those handful of M&M's
and I do have a few projects that have been on hold because of time
but my mind has been thinking of stories to tell and books to write
there is a certain acceptance of risk in everything one does
more so in my occupation than many others
but brave, no. Dumb, yeah, dumb may be a better word
It has been almost twenty years and I have seen it all
people who pull up behind a parked car at the curb in residential
stop and wait for a person not there to drive forward
then after a few moments glance at me with a quizzical look
Drivers who can't figure out how to put the car they came with
into gear, or drive on the wrong side of the road, or stop at the
end of the entrance ramp to the freeway, or stop in the middle
of the freeway. Did I mention the word dumb?
In my twenty years and thirty thousand times out on the road
there have been some accidents, the worse a few years ago
when the fore mentioned stop on the freeway led to being rear
ended by a semi. Driver and translator OK, head bump and rib for me
Yet still I carried on toward my goal to work full time until 70
then part time to stay busy and earn a few bucks until I tired of it
but a month ago something happened which made me reconsider
the young lady I was testing hit a 9 year old running across the road
Spotting him from the corner of my eye I yelled STOP, she slammed
her foot on her brakes but nailed him while the car was still moving
flying to the side of the road he escaped with just a bloody nose
a voice inside my head started to say - hey buddy, watch the clock
It is surprising how fast plans and priorities can change
although it is common for me to have to grab the steering wheel
to keep someone from turning left in front of on coming traffic
since hitting the child I've twice had clients freeze while turning left
Then early this week a woman whose daughter was translating for her
while slowly merging into a left turn lane was not going to clear the
semi truck stopped in front of us. When I said STOP she put her foot
on the gas and turned back to the right, slamming us into the truck
As the Vietnamese lady, her translator daughter and uncle Tran who
had been waiting for us at the test site but when getting the phone call
ran two miles to get to us, were crammed into the cab of the wrecker
brought by another Vietnamese, I began to wonder if this was a sign
Walking over to the police cruiser I asked for a ride to our test site
and while sitting on the hard molded plastic seat in the Plexiglas
enclosed back seat (which if you were wondering, does not open
from the inside) I decided that this test location was for the birds
Beginning the first of the year I will no longer be working there
although there is certainly risk whenever one is out driving with
someone trying to get their driver's license, my new location will
be much better, as will be working three days instead of five
So what to do in my partial retirement? Jackie has already suggested
checking out gyms where I can sweat off those handful of M&M's
and I do have a few projects that have been on hold because of time
but my mind has been thinking of stories to tell and books to write
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